CCal Bergsma with a Pending Illinois State Record.

Boone and Crockett Club

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Trophy whitetail entries from 2011 hunting seasons are beginning to pour into Boone and Crockett Club headquarters.

But while the sporting world waits to see which states are hot, or not, producers of giant bucks, North America’s overall robust trend in whitetail entries is a story for all conservationists to celebrate.

B&C historical records show that trophy whitetails are up 400 percent over the past 30 years.

“It’s worth remembering where America’s favorite big-game species stood not so long ago, at the brink of extinction, said Ben Wallace, Club president.

“In 1900, less than 500,000 whitetails remained. But habitat programs, research, science-based management, regulations and enforcement, all led and funded by hunters, brought this game animal back to extraordinary levels. Today there are more than 32 million whitetails!”

The Boone and Crockett system of scoring big-game trophies originated in 1906 as a means of recording details on species thought to be disappearing. Over time, these records evolved as an effective way to track the success or failure of conservation efforts.

As North America’s whitetail herd has grown, numbers of big bucks also have risen.

• For the period 1980-1985, hunters entered 617 trophy whitetails into Boone and Crockett records.
• For the period 2005-2010, the total jumped to 3,090, an increase of 400 percent.

During this 30-year span, many states and provinces saw percentage gains much greater than the continental average (see data below). For example, trophy whitetail entries from Wisconsin have risen 857 percent. In Illinois, the increase is 896 percent. Ontario went from a single entry to a whopping 41—a 4,000 percent gain!

Six states and provinces had zero entries in 1980-1985. For 2005-2010, they combined for 48.

Boone and Crockett offers two premier ways to trace and detail historic conservation developments, not just with whitetails but many other species as well.

A book, “Records of North American Big Game,” offers detailed tabular listings for trophies in 38 different categories of game. Each entry includes the all-time entry score, date harvested, location of kill, hunter and owner names, and selected measurements. At 768 pages, the book retails for $49.95.

A searchable online database, called “Trophy Search,” is another exceptional resource. By buying an annual subscription, users can sort B&C archival data in infinite ways to identify national as well as local trends. An annual subscription is $50.

Boone and Crockett Club Associates receive discounts on both items. Order online at www.boone-crockett.org or by calling 888-840-4868.

The list below includes state-by-state rankings for whitetail entries during the period 2005-2010, plus comparative data from 1980-1985.

B&C Trophy Whitetail Production, 2005-2010
(Typical and non-typical trophies combined)

1. Wisconsin, 383 entries (1980-1985 rank 3rd, 40 entries)
2. Illinois, 299 entries (1980-1985 rank 6th, 30 entries)
3. Iowa, 224 entries (1980-1985 rank 2nd, 59 entries)
4. Ohio, 215 entries (1980-1985 rank 14th, 16 entries)
5. Missouri, 214 entries (1980-1985 rank 9th (tie), 25 entries)
6. Kentucky, 199 entries (1980-1985 rank 9th (tie), 25 entries)
7. Indiana, 195 entries (1980-1985 rank 16th, 14 entries)
8. Kansas, 181 entries (1980-1985 rank 4th, 35 entries)
9. Minnesota, 172 entries (1980-1985 rank 1st, 76 entries)
10. Saskatchewan, 147 entries (1980-1985 rank 7th (tie), 27 entries)
11. Texas, 132 entries (1980-1985 rank 12th, 19 entries)
12. Alberta, 115 entries (1980-1985 rank 7th (tie), 27 entries)
13. Nebraska, 78 entries (1980-1985 rank 18th (tie), 12 entries)
14. Oklahoma, 48 entries (1980-1985 rank 22nd (tie), 7 entries)
15. Ontario, 41 entries (1980-1985 rank 42nd (tie), 1 entry)
16. Arkansas, 40 entries (1980-1985 rank 34th (tie), 3 entries)
17 (tie). Michigan, 39 entries (1980-1985 rank 17th, 13 entries)
17 (tie). Mississippi, 39 entries (1980-1985 rank 18th, 12 entries)
19. North Dakota, 31 entries (1980-1985 rank 31st (tie), 4 entries)
20. Pennsylvania, 26 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)
21. New York, 25 entries (1980-1985 rank 28th (tie), 5 entries)
22. South Dakota, 24 entries (1980-1985 rank 20th (tie), 8 entries)
23 (tie). Georgia, 23 entries (1980-1985 rank 5th, 31 entries)
23 (tie). Maryland, 23 entries (1980-1985 rank 28th (tie), 5 entries)
25 (tie). British Columbia, 19 entries (1980-1985 rank 24th (tie), 6 entries)
25 (tie). Maine, 19 entries (1980-1985 rank 11th, 20 entries)
27. Virginia, 17 entries (1980-1985 rank 22nd (tie), 7 entries)
28. Tennessee, 15 entries (1980-1985 rank 20th, 8 entries)
29. Colorado, 13 entries (1980-1985 rank 42nd (tie), 1 entry)
30. Idaho, 11 entries (1980-1985 rank 24th (tie), 6 entries)
31 (tie). Massachusetts, 8 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)
31 (tie). Quebec, 8 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)
33. Delaware, 7 entries (1980-1985 rank 42nd (tie), 1 entry)
34 (tie). Louisiana, 6 entries (1980-1985 rank 28th (tie), 5 entries)
34 (tie). Manitoba, 6 entries (1980-1985 rank 15th, 15 entries)
34 (tie). Washington, 6 entries (1980-1985 rank 31st (tie), 4 entries)
37 (tie). Montana, 5 entries (1980-1985 rank 13th, 17 entries)
37 (tie). Alabama, 5 entries (1980-1985 rank 34th (tie), 3 entries)
37 (tie). North Carolina, 5 entries (1980-1985 34th (tie), 3 entries)
40 (tie). Connecticut, 4 entries (1980-1985 rank 38th (tie), 2 entries)
40 (tie). New Hampshire, 4 entries (1980-1985 rank 38th (tie), 2 entries)
42 (tie). New Jersey, 3 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)
42 (tie). New Brunswick, 3 entries (1980-1985 rank 24th (tie), 6 entries)
42 (tie). West Virginia, 3 entries (1980-1985 rank 34th (tie), 3 entries)
45 (tie). Mexico, 2 entries (1980-1985 rank 24th (tie), 6 entries)
45 (tie). Wyoming, 2 entries (1980-1985 rank 38th (tie), 2 entries)
45 (tie). South Carolina, 2 entries (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)
45 (tie). Nova Scotia, 2 entries (1980-1985 rank 31st (tie), 4 entries)
49 (tie). Oregon, 1 entry (1980-1985 rank 38th (tie), 2 entries)
49 (tie). Rhode Island, 1 entry (1980-1985 rank 45th (tie), 0 entries)

About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For details, visit www.boone-crockett.org.

EuroOptic Ltd & Blaser USA Announce Retail Sales of 2012 Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari Rifle Package

Blaser USA

Montoursville, Pennsylvania --(Ammoland.com)- EuroOptic Ltd is pleased to announce that in cooperation with Blaser USA, they will be the US retailer of the 2012 Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari package.

As a modular rifle, the Blaser R8 has no peer and offers an excellent selection of calibers to accompany you on your next big game hunting trip.

This particular offer includes the Blaser R8 Big Bore steel receiver with savanna colored synthetic stock for the utmost in durability and strength. It is paired with two Selous style barrels both with banded sling swivel and front sight. One barrel will be semi weight contour chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. A second barrel is available in safari contour with choice of calibers ranging from .375 H&H Magnum to the extremely powerful .500 Jeffery. Combine this with choice of Blaser scope mounting system, all weather airline approved Pelican case, the option of Blaser’s innovative illumination control system and you have the aptly named Ultimate Safari Package. So whether you are taking plains game or dangerous game, the Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari package prepares you for any situation.

EuroOptic specializes in premium sport optics, as well as hunting and tactical rifles. We feature the world’s largest inventory of Nightforce, Swarovski, Zeiss, and Schmidt & Bender rifle scopes as well as a large selection of Blaser, Sauer and Mauser rifles. Unlike modern day web stores that forwards orders to the manufacturer for fulfillment, we process and ship from our own inventory. We point this out as many of the items on our shelves simply are not available elsewhere, even though they are listed as in stock elsewhere. Please visit us online at www.EuroOptic.com. Our knowledgeable staff is waiting to assist you.

For more information on Blaser’s complete line of rifles and shotguns visit us on the web at www.blaser-usa.com.

Kansas DWPT Commission Awards Big Game Hunting Permits

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

SALINA, KS -–(Ammoland.com)- Seven Kansas conservation organizations were awarded 2012 Commission Big Game permits in a drawing conducted at the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission meeting Jan. 5 at Kansas Wesleyan University’s Hauptli Student Center Salina.

Ninety-eight eligible applications were submitted for the seven available permits, which could include deer permits, one elk permit, and one antelope permit.

Winners of the permits include the following:

• National Wild Turkey Federation, (NWTF), Hays (elk permit) — Jared McJunkin, west conservation field supervisor, jmcjunkin@nwtf.net, 785-396-4552;
• Ducks Unlimited (DU), Wichita Chapter No. 017 (antelope permit) — Roger Zettl, district chairman, rzettl@cox.net, 316-722-0951;
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), Greater Wichita Chapter (deer permit) — Steve Bell, Kansas volunteer chair, sbell@bellmirrorandglass.com, 316-648-1993;
• Friends of the NRA, Pratt County No. KS-40 (deer permit) — Rick Chrisman, field representative, rchrisman@nrahq.org, 913-294-9956;
• DU Topeka (deer permit) — Jeff Neal, district chairman, jneal1998@yahoo.com, 785-221-6625;
• NWTF Iola (deer permit) — Jared McJunkin, west conservation field supervisor, jmcjunkin@nwtf.net, 785-396-4552; and
• Friends of the NRA, McPherson County No. KS-38 (deer permit) — Rick Chrisman, field representative, rchrisman@nrahq.org, 913-294-9956.

Qualified applicants must be local nonprofit conservation organizations or Kansas chapters of national organizations based or operating in Kansas that actively promote wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage.

Commission Big Game permits were first awarded in 2006. Winners purchase the permits and typically auction them at their respective conventions and banquets to raise funds for conservation projects. After a permit is sold by an organization, the amount of the permit is subtracted, and 85 percent of the proceeds are sent to KDWPT to be used on approved projects. After the projects are approved, the money is sent back to the organization for the project. The other 15 percent may be spent at the organization’s discretion.

KDWPT regulations allow someone who buys a Commission Big Game permit at auction to also purchase another deer permit valid for an antlered deer or, if the Commission Big Game permit is for an elk, to also draw (or have drawn in the past) an antlered elk permit. These would be the only situations in which an individual could have valid permits for two antlered deer in one year, or to have previously drawn an antlered elk permit and still be able to obtain another one. One antelope and one elk Commission Big Game permit are offered in the drawing.

In 2011, permits were won by two National Wild Turkey Federation Chapters — McPherson Smoky Valley Strutters Chapter (deer permit sold for $6,000) and St. Paul Neosho River Struttin’ Toms Chapter (deer permit sold for $6,500); two Ducks Unlimited Chapters — El Dorado Chapter No. 027 (deer permit sold for $6,000) and Johnson County Chapter (deer permit sold for $5,000); two Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams chapters — I-70 Chapter (deer permit sold for $4,000) and Southeast Chapter (elk permit sold for $9,100); and the Safari Club International Kansas City Chapter (deer permit sold for $5,100). The permits sold for $41,700, providing $32,320 for state habitat projects.

The Commission also listened to discussion about potential changes in the wildlife rehabilitator regulations, including a staff decision to no longer permit outdoor holding facilities located within city limits and primarily in residential areas. Potential regulation changes to reduce user conflict on public lands were discussed and included use of treestands and ground blinds, decoys, baiting, and commercial guiding. Discussion about potentially allowing hunters 16 and younger and those 55 and older to hunt with crossbows during the archery carried over to the evening session.

The only items discussed during the public hearing session included Secretary’s Orders to approve 2012 Free Fishing Days for June 2 and 3, and setting Free Park Entrance Days for all Kansas state parks. The approved resolution allows all parks to have an Open House with free entrance on March 31. Each park then selected an individual Free Entrance Day that coincided with a special event held at the park. For a complete list of Free Park Entrance Days, visit www.kdpwt.state.ks.us.

Oregon Cougar Hunting Closed In Coast & North Cascade Region For Rest Of Year

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

SALEM, Ore --(Ammoland.com)- ODFW is closing cougar hunting through the end of this year in the Coast/North Cascades region, after reaching the zone’s quota of 120 cougars.

Since Jan. 1, 2011, 120 cougars have been killed by sporthunters or in response to damage or public safety concerns in Zone A (Coast/North Cascade). ODFW closes sport hunting if a zone’s quota is reached.

The closure only applies to sport hunting. Cougars may still be killed if they are threatening livestock, pets or human safety.

This is only the third year that cougar sport hunting has been closed in Oregon. Previous closures occurred in 2001, with one zone closed, and 2002, when two zones closed.

Most of the increased take of cougars in Zone A this year is from “non-hunter” kill, or cougars taken due to damage, public safety concerns, roadkill or other reasons. So far, 59 cougars were killed in this category in 2011, compared to 48 in 2010 and 38 in 2009. Sporthunter harvest of cougars was 61 in 2011, 55 in 2010 and 61 in 2009.

ODFW closely tracks the take of cougars. Sporthunters and any landowner that kills a cougar due to damage or public safety issues must check in the cougar’s skull and hide (with proof of sex) at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest. During the check-in, ODFW collects data to estimate the cougar’s age.

The data is used to estimate the overall cougar population in Oregon, which is about 5,700 cougars today. To keep the cougar population healthy, ODFW closes sporthunting zones when a certain quota is reached as it was today in the Coast/North Cascades.

Cougar sport hunting in the Coast/North Cascade region will resume on Jan. 1, 2012, when the 2012 season begins with the same quota for the new year.

Find a map of zones and each zone’s quota at the link below: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/big_game/cougar/quota.asp

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- On October 5th, 2011, the House Natural Resources Committee passed Rep. Don Young’s (R- Alaska) bill to allow the importation of legally hunted polar bear trophies (H.R. 991) by voice vote.

H.R. 991 would allow Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to issue import permits for polar bear trophies legally taken in sport hunts in Canada, prior to listing of world-wide polar bear populations under the Endangered Species Act.

On May 15, 2008, the Department of the Interior listed the world-wide polar bear population as a threatened species. Due to the Endangered Species Act listing, polar bears are automatically listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits the importation of hunting trophies for a depleted species. On the date of this listing, approximately 41 hunters had successfully hunted a polar bear from an approved population in Canada. H.R. 991 will reunite these legal hunters with their prized trophies.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org

Arizona Game and Fish Department

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(Ammoland.com)- Early big game hunting is off to a good start across the state, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The following is a look at harvest as of Sept. 29:

Pronghorn antelope – Hunters have taken 274 animals, according to check station reports: 175 by archery, nine by crossbow and 90 by muzzleloader. Muzzleloader seasons ends Oct. 2 and archery season runs through Dec. 31.

The pronghorn antelope firearm season is Oct. 8-23. Those hunters must check their antelope at check stations.

“Pronghorn populations are at a 25-year high and a record harvest is expected,” said Kit Hams, Game and Parks’ big game program manager.

Elk – Hunters have harvested 44 bulls and at least four cows since the seasons opened Sept. 24. Among those bulls were 16 checked at Crawford, 13 at Chadron and 10 at Bridgeport. Three cows were checked at Crawford and one at Bridgeport. The bull and cow seasons close Oct. 23. The cow season reopens Dec. 1-21.

“Record harvests of trophy bulls are expected as elk populations and hunting opportunities continue to increase,” Hams said. “Game and Parks is aging all bulls harvested this year to determine age structure. Hunters should mail incisors to Game and Parks for this project.”

Deer – Archery deer hunters have harvested 898 whitetails and 56 mule deer since Sept 15. Forty whitetails and two mule deer were taken by crossbow hunters.

The October antlerless season opens Oct. 1 in much of the state. Harvest is expected to exceed 3,000 over the 10-day hunt as the $11 October antlerless permit allows the take of two antlerless whitetails.

“Game and Parks has expanded antlerless deer hunting opportunities across the state and hunters are expected to harvest more than 40,000 antlerless whitetails this season,” Hams said.

Mossy Oak

WEST POINT, MS --(Ammoland.com)- Karl Badger lives in Salt Lake City, Utah and is the Big Game Regional Pro Staff Manager for the states of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

He is also the Marketing Director and Field Editor for Top Rated Gear. Top Rated Gear is a printed and online Trade Journal that evaluates equipment and services for the benefit of Professional Guides and Outfitters.

Karl is an experienced high country, wilderness hunter; and has packed over most of the Rocky Mountains, in pursuit of mule deer, elk, antelope, moose and big horn sheep.

Even though there are still many trophies that he plans to chase, his current priority is to mentor the next generation of sportsmen and women, through seminars, endorsements and promotions.

He is a local Boy Scout leader and enjoys introducing his troop members to the benefits of his outdoor lifestyle.

Mossy Oak Pro Staff Member Karl Badger

Karl has been married for 30 years. He and his wife have four children, three daughters and one son. Their combined family interests are hunting, horseback riding, snowmobiling, hiking, sailing, rock climbing, snowboarding, camping and fishing.

Q: Should I hunt Western Big Game on my own or with a guide or outfitter?
A: Many premium hunting areas are in wilderness areas, which require a licensed guide. Additionally, a guide will know the area and game habits.

Q: If I need a guide, how do I find a good one?
A: Request a guide and outfitter directory from the state association. Make sure the guide is licensed, ask for referrals, and call the referrals.

Q: I hear that a lot of Western outfitters are ranchers. Do they make good guides?
A: Many do. They hike the country on horseback and are familiar with the country like where water is and game habits.

Q: How much research should I do before booking a hunt out West or in Canada?
A: A lot of research! These hunts cost money and could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Q: Is fitness as important as I hear when it comes to hunting out West?
A: Absolutely! High elevation, steep terrain and short, hard days require fitness.

Q: Are combination hunts worth it? Example: Deer/Elk, Bear/Caribou or Moose/Goat.
A: Yes, if you have the time. Tags are expensive and you want to make sure you have enough time to get something on the ground.

Q: Can I hunt big game out West with the same set up I use back East for hunting, either bow or gun?
A: No. Western game like elk, deer, moose and sheep all have different habits and instincts.

Q: I hunt back East with a bow and only shoot 20-30 yards. Do I have to practice and be able to shoot out to 50 yards and beyond?
A: Yes, you need to practice shooting at longer distances.

Q: What is the industry standard for tipping your guide or outfitter?
A: 10-15%. You may also want to tip other help like the cook.

The Mossy Oak ProStaff is a group of top outdoors men and women from across the country that act as spokespersons for the Brand. Members of the Elite ProStaff are people the hunting community will recognize from their hunting expertise and accomplishments, videos, TV and magazine articles. Our Regional ProStaff is a group of accomplished hunters who promote Mossy Oak in various regions across the U.S. They also manage a more localized Field Staff in their regions. From event support to retail store grand openings to radio and TV appearances, our ProStaff adds value to the Mossy Oak Brand nationally, regionally and locally.

Larry's Brown Bear close up

Sportsman Channel

New Berlin, Wis. --(Ammoland.com)- There are brown bear’s and then there is the Alaskan bear Larry Weishuhn, host of A Hunter’s Life, harvested this week on Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American Sportsman.

Watch this can’t miss episode of A Hunter’s Life on Wednesday, August 31 at 10 p.m. EST.

Weishuhn and friend/guide, Wayne Woods, head to the coastal region of the Chugach Mountains of Alaska to search for some of the biggest brown bears in the area. After 10 days of hunting for a “big” brown bear, Weishuhn accomplished his hunting dream of taking a10-foot plus “squared” trophy brown bear.

The Alaskan brown bear hunt took time to develop, Weishuhn tells viewers during this episode. He and Woods set up their base camp in an area where there was a big herring spawn. After several days of glassing and stalking different sizes of bears, Weishuhn and Woods spotted “their bear” about 500 yards away. The team eventually moved to within 150 yards where Weishuhn waited patiently for his opportunity.

“I quickly set up my shooting sticks and waited for a decent angle and squeezed the trigger and hit him hard, said Larry Weishuhn, host, A Hunter’s Life. “The bear hardly shuttered as Wayne and I squeezed off two more shots. Moments later we found the bear and it took my breath away by its sheer size. I have finally accomplished taking a monstrous brown bear; it literally brought a tear to my eye.”

This unique Alaskan bear hunting episode of A Hunter’s Life was a long and exhaustive journey for Weishuhn and Woods and essentially involved hunting the bear to exclusion of others. The bear weighed an estimated 1100-1200 pounds and Boone & Crockett scored the bear’s skull at 28 2/8 inches. This could be a record, but the final score will have to wait until after the skull has dried.

For photos and the inside scoop from host, Larry Weishuhn, check out the Sportsman Blog: http://thesportsmanchannel.com/community/blog

To learn more about A Hunter’s Life, visit http://outfitterrating.com and http://larryweishuhntv.com

InterMedia Outdoors: InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. is the largest media company in the outdoor-enthusiast category, exclusively serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts, with the largest network of websites dedicated to hunting, shooting and fishing; a portfolio of 15 magazines including powerful brands such as Petersen’s Hunting, North American Whitetail, Guns&Ammo, In-Fisherman, Fly Fisherman, and Florida Sportsman; syndicated radio programming; 23 market-leading television productions, the largest library of outdoors television programming and Sportsman Channel, the only television network dedicated exclusively to hunting, shooting and fishing.

About:
Sportsman Channel Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities. Sportsman Channel is now available in HD, check with your local cable or satellite provider. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel reaches 27 million U.S. television households and is a part of the nation’s largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. Visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com, follow on Twitter, @SPORTSMANchnl (www.twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl), become a Fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/sportsmanchannel and download Sportsman App at www.itunes.com/appstore

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Louisiana --(Ammoland.com)- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) wants to remind citizens that a valid Louisiana hunting license is still required to take outlaw quadrupeds including feral hogs with the new laws that went into effect today, Aug. 15.

Legislation passed during the 2011 Legislative Session, provides additional options for citizens to take outlaw quadrupeds (armadillos, coyotes, feral hogs) and nuisance animals (nutria and beaver).

House Bill 294, signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal as Act 95, makes it legal beginning today, to take outlaw quadrupeds, nutria and beaver at night from March through August on private property with any legal firearm.

Anyone taking part in these activities at night is required to notify the parish sheriff’s office 24 hours in advance of any such hunt.

Additionally, House Bill 169, signed into law by Governor Jindal as Act 29, allows the take of nuisance quadrupeds at night using sound suppressors on the firearm(s) utilized, beginning today. Anyone using such a weapon must have in possession a valid permit issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The use of sound suppressed weapons is restricted to the take of outlaw quadrupeds, including coyotes and feral hogs, from March through August on private property.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania --(Ammoland.com)- Hunters interested in learning the age of the bear they harvested during the 2010 seasons can log onto the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

To access the database providing this information, click on “Hunt/Trap” in the menu bar at the top of the page, then click on “Hunting,” scroll down and click on “Black Bear” in the “Big Game” listing, and then scroll down and click on “Black Bear Age Data” in the “Reference” listing.

“As a cost-cutting measure, the Game Commission no longer mails a certificate and letter to successful bear hunters notifying them of their bear’s age,” said Carl G. Roe, agency executive director.

“To maintain this valued customer service, however, we provide hunters with a certificate at the check station when their bear is processed, and information about how and when they can find the age data, which is determined by examining a tooth from the bear that is extracted as part of the check station processing, on our website.”

Ages are available only for bears from which a tooth was pulled. To access the data and learn the age of their bear, a hunter will need to have their legal seal number from the check station certificate. If the hunter no longer has the seal number, age data also is provided in charts broken down by county of harvest.

In 2010, Pennsylvania’s 161,119 licensed bear hunters took 3,090 bears, which is the state’s fifth highest harvest recorded in Pennsylvania. The record bear harvest of 4,164 was set in 2005.

Safari Club International Foundation

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) testified today in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee in support of H.R. 50, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2011 which would extend funding for important conservation projects until the year 2016.

“It was an honor to testify before the committee today, and I hope that our message was clear: that these projects are a needed investment for sustainable wildlife conservation,” said Joseph Hosmer, President of SCIF.

“Support for international conservation projects is necessary for the continued growth of wildlife populations and stability of rural economies throughout many nations of Africa and Asia.”

As a result of the funding from the U.S. Congress, many grants, matching contributions, and in-kind funds have been donated to these programs from other organizations, host countries, and conservation groups.

For example, as a result of the 2009 Congressional appropriation of $2 million for the African Elephant Conservation Fund, over $11.2 million in matching funds were received from outside sources and went to fund 33 African elephant projects.

About SCIF
Safari Club International Foundation is an international non-profit 501(c)(3). SCIF’s mission is to support and promote hunting as a major benefit for wildlife conservation and the sustainable use of wildlife and to fund and manage worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services. Learn more at: www.safariclubfoundation.org.

Becoming an SCI Member
Joining Safari Club International is the best way to be an advocate for continuing our hunting heritage and supporting worldwide sustainable use conservation, wildlife education and humanitarian services. JOIN NOW: www.safariclub.org/Join.

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

Connecticut --(Ammoland.com)- The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said today that results of genetic tests show that the mountain lion killed in Milford, Conn. in June made its way to the state from the Black Hills region of South Dakota and is an animal whose movements were actually tracked and recorded as it made its way through Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Genetic tests also show that it is likely that the mountain lion killed when it was hit by a car June 11 on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford was the same one that had been seen earlier that month in Greenwich, Conn.

DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty said, “The journey of this mountain lion is a testament to the wonders of nature and the tenacity and adaptability of this species. This mountain lion traveled a distance of more than 1,500 miles from its original home in South Dakota – representing one of the longest movements ever recorded for a land mammal and nearly double the distance ever recorded for a dispersing mountain lion.”

“The confirmation of a wild mountain lion in our state was the first recorded in more than 100 years,” Commissioner Esty said. “This is the first evidence of a mountain lion making its way to Connecticut from western states and there is still no evidence indicating that there is a native population of mountain lions in Connecticut.”

Link to South Dakota Population and Animal Tracked through Wisconsin and Minnesota

The genetic tests reveal information about the mountain lion’s origin and travels were conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Wildlife Genetics Laboratory in Missoula, Montana. DNA tests show that tissue from the Milford mountain lion matches the genetic structure of the mountain lion population in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

The Forest Service lab also compared the Milford mountain lion’s DNA to DNA samples collected from individual animals occurring outside of the core South Dakota population. This led to a match with DNA collected from an animal whose movements were tracked in Minnesota and Wisconsin from late 2009 through early 2010. DNA from the Connecticut specimen exactly matched DNA collected from an individual mountain lion at one site in Minnesota and three sites in Wisconsin.

The Midwestern DNA samples were obtained by collecting scat (droppings), blood and hair found while snow tracking the mountain lion at locations where sightings of the animal were confirmed. In addition, at least a half dozen confirmed sightings of a mountain lion in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan are believed to be of the same animal. The distance between the first documentation in Minnesota and the spot where the animal was killed by a vehicle is nearly 1,000 miles and is nearly double the longest distance previously recorded for a dispersing mountain lion.

Dispersal is a normal behavior of young male mountain lions searching for females but they seldom travel more than 100 miles.

The path of the mountain lion led Wisconsin biologists to dub the male cat the “St. Croix Mountain lion,” after the first county where a confirmed sighting of it occurred.

Link Between Milford Mountain Lion and Animal Scene in Greenwich, Conn.

There were sightings of an animal that was believed to be a mountain lion in Greenwich, Conn. in early June. The last verified sighting was June 5, at the Brunswick School there. A scat sample at that location was taken by the Greenwich Police Department and sent out for testing.

Genetic tests performed by the U.S. Forest Service Wildlife Genetic lab, Missoula, Montana on this scat determined that it was from a mountain lion and indicate it was from the animal killed in Milford.

DEEP is having additional tests conducted by a second lab to see if a more definitive link can be established.

Results of Genetic Tests Substantiate Necropsy Findings
Results of genetic tests on the Milford mountain lion have substantiated information and observations obtained through a detailed necropsy performed by a veterinary pathologist from a United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) forensics lab.

The necropsy, performed at DEEP’s Sessions Woods Wildlife Center, Burlington, Conn., showed the young, lean, 140-pound male mountain lion was not neutered or declawed – characteristics that seemed to indicate it was not a captive animal that had escaped or been released.

The examination of the animal also showed it had no implanted micro chips, which are commonly used in domestic animals. Porcupine quills were also found in the animal’s subcutaneous tissue indicating it had spent some time in the wild. Examination of the stomach contents, tissues and parasites is continuing. It was estimated to be between two and five years old but a more precise age is being determined by microscopic analysis of an extracted tooth.

Labs Involved in Testing with DEEP
Personnel from several agencies have expended a great deal of time and effort in investigating the mysterious appearance of this mountain lion in Connecticut. These include the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service’s Wildlife Genetics laboratory, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources , and the New York State Museum in Albany.

Additional Comment from Commissioner Esty

“A wild mountain lion traveling through our state is certainly an anomaly,” Commissioner Esty said. “It is, however, a strong symbol of what we all hope for – that wilderness areas and biological diversity can be preserved and protected. Thankfully, through the hard work and dedication of conservations, wildlife experts and everyone who cares about our environment and natural resources our state and nation have made great progress in achieving this goal.”

Background on Mountain Lion Siting in Connecticut
At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2011 DEEP was notified by State Police – Troop I, of a collision between a motor vehicle and a mountain lion Northbound on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in the area of Exit 55 in Milford.

The animal was struck and killed by a 2006 Hyundai Tucson SUV. The operator of the vehicle was uninjured.

DEEP had been working with the Town of Greenwich Police Department to investigate prior sightings of a large cat in that town. Based on photographs taken of the animal and other evidence it appeared that the animal was a mountain lion. The last “credible sighting” in Greenwich was June 5.

Connecticut Mountain Lion

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

Connecticut --(Ammoland.com)- At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2011, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was notified by State Police – Troop I, of a collision between a motor vehicle and a Mountain Lion Northbound in the area of Exit 55 in Milford.

The operator of the involved vehicle was driving a 2006 Hyundai Tucson SUV when it collided with the Mountain Lion. The Mountain Lion died due to injuries sustained during the collision and the driver was uninjured.

The 140-pound male Mountain Lion has been transferred to a DEP facility for further examination. The large cat may be the one sighted in Greenwich on Sunday, June 5.

The Connecticut DEP has been cooperating with the Town of Greenwich Police Department to investigate recent sightings of a large cat in the King Street area of Greenwich. Based on photographs taken of the animal and other evidence it appeared that the animal was a Mountain Lion. Mountain lions can travel long distances and may have found its way to Milford.

There is no native population of mountain lions in Connecticut and the eastern mountain lion has been declared extinct by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

This incident is still under investigation by DEP EnCon Police, part of which will be to determine if in fact the cat killed in the collision is the same cat seen in Greenwich.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- Let the planning begin.

The drawing results for Arizona’s 2011 fall big game hunting permits are now available at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Draw results are also available by telephone at (602) 942-3000 by selecting option two.

The more than 107,000 applicants, an increase of 3 percent from last year, can find out if they were issued a permit-tag for deer, fall turkey, fall juniors-only javelina, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo, or pheasant by providing their sportsman’s ID and date of birth.

Game and Fish officials report that hunt permit-tags will be mailed out to successful applicants no later than Aug. 12 (archery deer tags will be mailed out earlier). Refunds for unsuccessful and rejected applicants will be mailed out to applicant “A” no later than Aug. 23 (less application fees).

For those individuals who missed the drawing application deadline or were unsuccessful in getting a permit-tag, there are more than 5,767 hunt permit-tags remaining. These remaining tags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and include more than 4,600 deer tags, more than 700 fall turkey tags, and nearly 400 tags for the juniors-only fall javelina hunts.

There are two methods to obtain a leftover tag. Applications will first only be accepted by U.S. mail (U.S. Postal Service) beginning at 8 a.m. (MST) on Aug. 1. Starting on Aug. 8 at 8 a.m. (MST), hunters can obtain a leftover tag in person at any of the seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices. A list of office locations is available at www.azgfd.gov/offices.

For a detailed listing of leftover permits which includes hunt number, number of permits available and unit number, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw and click on the “Leftover Permits for 2011 Fall Hunts” link under the “2011-12 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations, season dates and drawing information” section.

Hopi hunts with leftover tags are available to everyone, tribal and non-tribal members. For those who qualify, there are military hunts available for Fort Huachuca. Call (520) 533-8763 for additional information.

For those that applied for a fall turkey permit in unit 1 (hunt number 4501) or unit 27 (hunt number 4518), there was a reduction in permitted tags issued through the draw compared to what was listed in the regulations. On July 8, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted to reduce the number of permit-tags by 1,075 permits due to the Wallow Fire. The commission action was taken after the application deadline, but before the draw was processed.

Hunter clinics and seminars
Getting prepared and planning for an upcoming hunt is almost as fun as the hunt itself. It’s also the most important. Many of the local hunter conservation groups are hosting hunting clinics to teach the basics, all the way up to how to score a trophy. Many of these clinics offer biology and ecology of the species; hunting tips and techniques; knowledgeable guest speakers, and other great information from experienced hunters. The popular hunting clinics are open to all, not just tag holders, and include:

• July 30: Arizona Elk Society Elk Hunting Clinic
• Aug. 13: Arizona Deer Association Hunting Clinic
• Sept. 24: Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society Clinic

For more details on these clinics, upcoming hunting camps for first-time hunters, and events hosted for families and juniors-only hunts, visit www.azgfd.gov/outdoorskills.

Note: The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive any of the state’s general funds to operate. Wildlife conservation and management of the state’s game animals, which also benefits many non-game species, is made possible through a user-pay, user-benefit system. Funding from the direct sale of hunting and fishing licenses, big game tags, and matching funds from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (a federal excise tax that sportsmen pay on a variety of hunting and angling related equipment) remain the primary sources for funding wildlife conservation in North America.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Hunters who applied for New Mexico 2011-2012 deer, elk, antelope, ibex, javelina, bighorn sheep and Barbary sheep licenses can see if they made the drawing “lucky list” Wednesday, June 8, on the Department of Game and Fish website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Hunters who were successful in the drawings will be mailed licenses and carcass tags according to species. Unsuccessful applicants will receive refunds for prepaid license fees — by check if the application was on paper, or by credits to credit cards if payment was online.

The Department received 141,462 applications for about 65,500 licenses, an increase of 8,701 applications – 8,179 residents and 522 nonresidents — from the previous year.

This was the second year the Department began requiring all applicants to pay the full license fees at the time of application. Previously, only those who submitted paper applications were required to submit full upfront payments, and online applicants were only charged the application fee upfront, with their credit cards charged for the license fee only if they were successful in the drawing.

More than 80 percent of this year’s applicants took advantage of the Department’s online application process, which was first offered in 2004.

Hunters wishing to check their drawing results can log in to their account on the Department website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Hunters also can check their results in person by visiting Department offices in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Raton, Roswell and Las Cruces. Results will be available June 22 by telephone at (505) 476-8000.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) awarded over $13.6 million in Multinational Species Conservation grant funding for 216 projects in 2010 through its Wildlife Without Borders program to provide support for conservation efforts for Asian and African elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles around the globe.

In recognition of an unprecedented international decline of certain flagship species, the U.S. Congress established the Multinational Species Conservation Funds, which are dedicated to saving some of the world’s fastest disappearing and most treasured animals in their natural habitats.

The Service administers these funds through the Wildlife Without Borders Species Programs, awarding grants to efforts aimed at conserving globally-valued endangered species found outside U.S. borders.

“These grants provide vital support for the conservation of some of the world’s most endangered and charismatic animals.” said Service’s acting Director Rowan Gould.

The funds help support community conservation efforts, anti-poaching and law enforcement initiatives, mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts and capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, outreach and education, promoting wildlife health, partnership building and protected area management, along with a wide variety of other essential conservation activities.

In 2010, the multinational species conservation funds were used to leverage over $18 million in matching funds resulting in over $33 million being provided to help to conserve African and Asian elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes and marine turtles throughout the world.

Examples of these projects include: providing emergency protection to African elephants in Gabon by implementing training programs and supplies for anti-poaching missions; translocating rhinos from an area of high human-wildlife conflict to Manas National Park in India; mitigating the impacts of roads on tigers and their prey to reduce casualties in Malaysia; improving law enforcement and monitoring of Asian elephants to reduce poaching in Thailand; protecting and safeguarding the largest known population of eastern chimpanzees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and protecting hawksbill marine turtle nesting populations in Nicaragua through beach patrols and nest monitoring.

To learn more about the grants provided through the Wildlife Without Borders Species Programs, go to: http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/species/species.html

Follow us on Twitter @USFWSInternatl and on Facebook, USFWS_International Affairs.

About:
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Mexican Bighorn Sheep Join Herd At Red Rock Wildlife Area

New Mexico Game and Fish

LORDSBURG , NM--(Ammoland.com)- After months of quarantine, desert bighorn sheep from Mexico were successfully released to join the existing herd at the Red Rock Wildlife Area.

The 10 rams will supply new genes to a herd that began at Red Rock in the 1970s.

The newly introduced rams appear to be in good shape and the Department of Game and Fish is excited to see the outcome of years of collaborative efforts and wildlife roundups come to fruition with the release of these young sheep.

“It’s nice to see that they all survived and they’re doing really well,” bighorn sheep biologist Elise Goldstein said.

“They’re feisty and I think they’re going to be some good sturdy rams to add to the stock.”

The state of New Mexico received the rams in exchange for pronghorn antelope that were moved to three wildlife management areas in Mexico over the last two years.

Desert bighorn sheep propagation began with just five ewes from Mexico and one ram from the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge on the White Sands Missile Range in 1972.

The Red Rock herd’s offspring has helped restore desert bighorns across New Mexico’s desert mountain ranges. Over the next decade, offspring from the Mexican rams will be used to augment desert bighorn populations across the state.

In 1980, desert bighorn sheep were listed as a state endangered species when the population was estimated at fewer than 70. Today, through management efforts including releases, selective predator control and support from numerous wildlife conservation groups, the population estimate is more than 565. This number exceeds delisting criteria as defined by the recovery plan for the species and desert bighorns are currently being reviewed as candidates for delisting.

The Department will conduct public hearings Sept. 6 regarding the recommendation to delist desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) from the New Mexico threatened and endangered species list, pursuant to the Wildlife Conservation Act, Sections 17-2-37 through 17-2-46, NMSA 1978. The meetings:

• 6 p.m. Sept. 6, Truth or Consequences, Civic Center Chambers, 400 W. 4th St.
• 6 p.m. Sept. 6, Deming, Special Events Center, 2300 E. Pine St.

Mule Deer Foundation

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - -(Ammoland.com)- MDF raised $96,500 in 2011 for California’s Big Game Program through the sale of several special California fundraising tags.

The Shasta/Lassen Chapter in Redding started things off by auctioning a Golden Opportunity Deer Tag at their banquet for $15,000.

A Desert Bighorn Sheep Tag was sold at MDF’s National Convention for $50,000. The North Bay Blacktail Chapter in Santa Rosa followed with the sale of a Statewide Pronghorn Tag for $5,500, and the Central Coast Chapter in San Jose finished up with the auction of another Golden Opportunity Deer Tag for an impressive $26,000.

Every dollar raised from the sale of these tags went directly into the Special Big Game Account held by the California Department of Fish and Game to be used specifically for the benefit of big game species and the hunters who pursue them.

About MDF (www.muledeer.org) The Mule Deer Foundation is one of the key conservation groups in North America working to restore, improve and protect mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. With a focus on science and program efficiency, MDF has raised millions of dollars and put countless man-hours on the ground for conservation and related projects. MDF also acknowledges regulated hunting as a viable management component and is committed to recruitment and retention of youth into the shooting sports and conservation. Get involved at www.muledeer.org or call 1-888-375-DEER.

California Department of Fish and Game (www.dfg.ca.gov/) The Department of Fish and Game maintains native fish, wildlife, plant species and natural communities for their intrinsic and ecological value and their benefits to people. This includes habitat protection and maintenance in a sufficient amount and quality to ensure the survival of all species and natural communities. The department is also responsible for the diversified use of fish and wildlife including recreational, commercial, scientific and educational uses.

Mastiff

San Francisco, CA --(Ammoland.com)- Leading video game publisher Mastiff LLC today announced they have shipped Remington Super Slam Hunting: Alaska, the latest edition in the best-selling outdoor action franchise for the Wii system from Nintendo and Windows PC, to retailers across North America.

Test yourself with a wide array of real guns and bows as you take down some of the most terrifying game on the planet in a hunting adventure of a lifetime.

In Remington Super Slam Hunting: Alaska, players can track 25 of the biggest, baddest and most aggressive wildlife throughout 19 levels of unique and dangerous Alaskan landscapes.

Your arsenal includes a huge selection of real weapons, including rifles, pistols and bows, as well as an array of scopes and accessories.

Track your progress with over 100 achievements, trophies and medals, and post your success to the online leaderboard.

The game supports up to four players in co-op and versus modes for the ultimate in competitive hunting action.

Remington Super Slam Hunting - Alaska

Remington, whose brand recognition is second only to Nike with sportsmen, is featured prominently throughout the Super Slam Hunting Series. Whether players are looking for the power of the 870 Express Shotgun or the accuracy of the Model 7 CDL hunting rifle, players will see and hear accurate recreations of the latest Remington firearms, such as:

• · Marlin Model 1894 Cowboy
• · Model 700 XCR II Camo
• · Bolt Action Model 770
• · Model R-15
• · Model R-25
• · Model 11-87 Sportsman Field
• · Versa Max Synthetic Semi-Auto 12 Gauge
• · Model 11-87 Sportsman Super Mag ShurShot Turkey 12 Gauge
• · Model 887 Nitro Mag Bone Collector 12 Gauge

The Remington weaponry will compliment additional hunting gear from companies such as Wiley X, producer of ballistic sunglasses, and Magnum Research, the manufacturer of legendary magnum-caliber Desert Eagle® Pistol. The addition of this gear ensures that the Remington Super Slam Hunting Series is one of the most exciting and realistic hunting franchises ever.

More information about Remington Super Slam Hunting: Alaska can be found on Mastiff’s website at Mastiff Website or on Mastiff’s Facebook page at Mastiff Facebook Page

About Mastiff
Mastiff is a leading publisher of outdoor action and licensed products for consoles, PC and all mobile platforms including iPhone and iPad. Mastiff has offices in Tokyo, San Francisco and Orlando, Florida. Titles from Mastiff include outdoor hits such as Deer Drive, Remington Great American Bird Hunt, and Shimano Xtreme Fishing for Wii as well as the tactical shooting simulation, Reload, and the award winning Moon for DS and critically acclaimed Gurumin for PSP. For more information please visit Mastiff Website.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- For those hunters with hopes of getting one of the few remaining hunting permits for elk and pronghorn antelope, the first-come, first-served process, issued through application by U.S. mail (U.S. Postal Service) only, begins on Monday, April 25 after 8 a.m.

To apply for these permits remaining after the drawing process, a valid hunt application must be sent via U.S. mail (U.S. Postal Service) to:

Arizona Game and Fish Department
Attention: Draw/First Come
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ, 85086

Game and Fish officials caution applicants not to use the standard envelope provided with the hunt application form. The PO Box address listed on that preprinted envelope is for the draw process only and should not be used for the first-come, first-served leftover process.

Applications received by any other delivery method, at any other address, or prior to 8 a.m. Monday, April 25, will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

Absent an electronic service, the most equitable way to achieve a first-come, first-served process is by U.S. mail (U.S. Postal Service) only. The U.S. mail-only process allows applicants the same chance at being first in line regardless if they are from the far reaches of the state, from out-of-state (resident or nonresident), or from the Phoenix metro area.

A detailed listing of the leftover permits remaining and their associated hunt numbers is posted at the Game and Fish website at www.azgfd.gov/draw under the link “Leftover Permits for 2011 Elk and Pronghorn Antelope Hunts.”

For those who qualify, there are military hunts available at Camp Navajo. For more information, contact Camp Navajo at (928) 773-3158 or at www.campnavajo.com.

There are three archery-only antelope permits. For general elk, there are seven bull elk permits remaining and six antlerless tags remaining. For archery-only hunts, there are eight bull elk permits and five permits for antlerless elk hunts.

Also available are 335 limited opportunity general antlerless elk tags, two limited opportunity general any elk tags, and 199 limited opportunity archery-only antlerless elk tags.

Applicants should note that hunt numbers in the 3800 series shown on the leftover permit list are not listed in the 2011 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklet. These hunts were Hopi hunts only during the draw process and did not carry a public hunt number in the regulations. However, for the first-come process these hunts are now open to all hunters (tribal and non-tribal members).

Therefore, to match the 3800 series numbers in the regulations, applicants will have to carefully match the hunt type (general, limited opportunity), the season dates, the open areas, and the legal wildlife gender (bull, antlerless) to find any other notes applicable to that hunt of interest.

If any tags remain following the first-come, first-served by U.S. mail (Postal Service) only process, these tags will become available for purchase in person over-the-counter at any of the seven Game and Fish offices across the state after 8 a.m. on May 2.

However, leftover tags for these coveted hunts go very quickly, considering the demand for these hunts far outweighs the available resource by more than 4 to 1. During the draw process, more than 121,000 people applied for the approximately 26,000 total permits allocated for the 2011 elk and pronghorn seasons.

To learn more about leftover tags, hunting regulations, drawing process, bonus points, future drawing cycles and more, please visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

Global Rescue

Cameroon, Africa --(Ammoland.com)- Global RescueGlobal Rescue has rescued a client from a remote camp in Cameroon over the weekend and transported him to his home in Eastern Europe.

Bela Hidvegi, a veteran of African travels, was hunting dwarf buffalo in the rainforest about 15 hours by car from the capital, Yaounde, when he began to experience nausea, vomiting and digestive problems.

A rudimentary local clinic diagnosed him with malaria and prescribed medication. Because his condition continued to deteriorate over the next 48 hours, Global Rescue’s medical team reviewed the case, believed the diagnosis to be incorrect and recommended an immediate field rescue from the jungle to Yaounde.

Global Rescue dispatched a helicopter to Hidvegi’s camp near the town of Doume and flew him to the capital for further evaluation. There, he was seen at a private hospital, diagnosed with a bacterial infection and prescribed antibiotics. Hidvegi was then transported to his home in Budapest. He is expected to make a full recovery.

About Global Rescue
Global Rescue provides best-in-class medical, security, evacuation, and crisis response services to individuals, corporations, travelers and expeditions worldwide. The company’s emergency response teams are comprised of paramedics, physicians and security personnel, many of whom are veterans of elite special operations units of the U.S. Military. Through an exclusive relationship with the physicians of Johns Hopkins, Global Rescue members also benefit from the advisory services of some of the world’s finest physicians.

Examples of Global Rescue’s work includes extracting and evacuating hundreds of people from the Middle East during the uprisings of 2011 and deploying medical and security personnel to earthquake ravaged Haiti to secure, treat and evacuate more than a hundred travelers, humanitarian workers and orphans. Other recent missions include evacuations from Chile, the Republic of Georgia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Mexico, Alaska, Argentina, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Thailand. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

For press inquiries, please contact our press office at (617) 459-4200 or email press@globalrescue.com.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OLYMPIA, Washington --(Ammoland.com)- The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will accept public comments on big-game hunting seasons and other issues during its March 4-5 meeting in Spokane.

The commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene at 8:30 a.m. both days in Room 206 A/B on the second floor of the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

A complete meeting agenda is available on the commission’s website at www.wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html .

On March 4, the commission will consider approval of land transactions and amendments to Puget Sound recreational clam and oyster seasons. The commission will also be briefed and take public comment on:

• Bald eagle protection rule amendments.
• Landowner hunting permits to increase access for deer and elk hunters to private lands in Asotin County.
• Public-conduct rules on private lands open for hunting under cooperative agreements.

On March 5, the commission will be briefed and take public input on 2011-12 big-game hunting seasons and game management unit boundaries. The proposed changes include:

• Increasing spring black bear hunting by permit in western and northeast Washington to help reduce timber damage bear nuisance activity.
• Adjusting moose and bighorn sheep hunting permits and maintaining mountain goat hunting permit levels.
• Simplifying Game Management Unit boundary descriptions for deer and elk hunting.
• Adjusting elk and deer special-permit levels.

Several proposals would modify hunting rules in northeast Washington for white-tailed deer to address population declines from recent harsh winters. WDFW has proposed reducing antlerless deer hunting in the region, while maintaining some hunting opportunities for youth, senior and disabled hunters.

In addition, the commission will consider whether to adopt a proposal to impose antler-point restrictions in some units or maintain the status quo.

Details on proposals are available on the commission website at Game Regulations for 2011.

The commission is scheduled to consider adoption of 2011-12 hunting seasons at its April 8-9 meeting in Olympia.

Diizche Safari Adventures Launches New Blog

Diizche Safari Adventures

LINCOLN, CA --(Ammoland.com)- Diizche Safari Adventures is proud to announce the launch of its new blog, designed to provide big-game hunters with helpful articles and updates.

In addition to hunting information, Diizche Safari Adventures will also be working closely with Dick’s Taxidermy to bring you pertinent information regarding field care of trophy animals.

Blog posts, found at diizchesafari, are posted by Shawn Christopher Joyce, owner of Diizche Safari Adventures. Shawn has many years of do-it-yourself hunting experience and has recently released his first book Coastal Black Bear Hunting: Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.

The book has been well received by some familiar names in the business, including Massad Ayoob, Craig Boddington, and Mark Sullivan. To learn more or to order this book and other products from Diizche Safari Adventures, go to www.diizchesafariadventures.com.

For the latest news, events and information from Diizche Safari Adventures, follow DiizcheSafari on Twitter or Diizche-Safari-Adventures on Facebook and be sure to visit diizchesafari on Blogspot.

The Hog Hunter, Ronnie Robison with Prize Hog

Horus Vision

San Bruno, CA --(Ammoland.com)- I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ronnie Robison, a true American adventurer, who made me aware of an ongoing problem, which in no way, shape, or form is a new development- but I, being from the northern part of California (I know, I probably shouldn’t publicize this information so freely) was clearly unaware of.

The issue has to do with an overpopulating breed of wildlife, not native to the U.S.

There are anywhere between 2-3 million in Texas alone! And on average, each female can reproduce 280 offspring in a lifetime…

No, I’m not referring to illegal immigrants (that I do know about, living in California). I am talking about feral hogs!

Luckily, there are people like Ronnie Robison in the world to help defeat the war on these ghastly and atrocious creatures. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an animal lover, but these are not your domesticated pigs, like Babe and Wilbur. And even though Disney tried to give wild hogs a good name, with Hakuna Matata singin’ Pumba, they won’t fool anyone who has had first hand encounters with the real deal.  I contacted Mr. Robison after my co-worker, Michelle, came across some pictures he had sent over months ago. She started reminiscing about her conversation with the “Hog Hunter” and how it topped her list of best customer conversations she ever had. I stopped and asked her what she was talking about, and she snapped out of her trance, surprised, realizing she had not shared her convo with me earlier.

Michelle went on to tell me how he called about a mishap with the H-3 Horus Scope (an older version of the Raptor 4-16x, which we don’t make anymore). We had sent him a replacement with a newer version, but later realized his zero on the H-3 had been altered in the process. He was so thrilled his scope was still in tip-top shape; he called to tell Michelle he sent the replacement scope back, because it was a false alarm and his was working just fine.

To give Michelle an idea of the line of work he used our scope for, he told her about a mission he had with the local airport. The air strips at this particular airport are made of dirt, and hogs were going in and rooting for food right on the runway. These “hog holes” were so large, they actually caused a plane to flip over.

So Ronnie “The Hog Hunter” Robison was called to the rescue!

Robison and his wife rolled in with a trailer, which is designed to hunt coyotes and hogs. Robison designed a two-story trailer that will carry two four wheelers. From the trailer, they shoot hogs with their 300 mag rifles. He calls this “East Texas Homeland Defense.”

Michelle sent me pictures to confirm her explanation and exclaimed, “You have to call him, Liz! He has some great stories, but best of all is how animated and vivacious he is when he tells them. You’re going to love him! He uses our scope to hunt his hogs,”

Michelle’s enthusiasm was persuasive, so I decided to give this mysterious hog hunter a call.

I gave Ronnie Robison a call, introduced myself, and instantly, it was as if we were best friends and had spoken on the phone hundreds of times before. He said in his heavy Texan twang, “This is such strange timing, because my Palm I use your ATrag program from, died today! I’m not lying. I’ve had it for something like 10 years and the day it dies, you happen to call me! I am very sad to see that thing go, as I hunted many hogs with it. I think it finally bit the dust for good. But anyway… let me just tell you about some of the experiences I’ve had with your Horus System…”

Robison began by premising his origin of residency to give me an idea of the environment where he hunts hogs. He is from Orange, Texas, a small town on the border of Louisiana and 20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. By his description, half of Orange is swampland, while the other half is marshland. He clarified the difference (since I didn’t know) and that is while swamps have trees, marshes do not, and consist of only grass.

According to Robison, “Except for antelope, every law can be broken in Orange County.” He could hunt anything he wanted, but chooses to hunt hogs. This is for several reasons.

First, feral hogs have the ability to double their population every four months with proper nutrition and favorable conditions. They can reproduce at rates of two litters of 10-13 piglets every 12-15 months. Besides the volume of hogs, their size is also a factor. On average, a hog is 130 pounds, a sow 110, but they are now getting up to 450-500 pounds.

Second, they are a farmer’s nightmare. They are not native to our country, but highly adaptable and extremely destructive to our environment. They are omnivores and will eat just about anything. Robison reported one measly hog of only 65-pounds doing $35,000 worth of damage in a single night (just imagine what a 500-pound hog could do).

Besides being destructive to landscaping, they are tremendously dangerous. There are reports of wild hogs killing humans. They tend to go after weak and injured humans, vulnerable children, as well as dogs and pets. They are highly attracted to birthing premises to feed off fetal tissue. They rarely leave remains, since they eat the entire subject, so their damage is often underestimated. Plus, they are notorious for transmitting parasites to domesticated animals and humans.

There have been recent discussions in media about the reason for the increase of growth and viciousness within the feral hog community, and one speculation is the cross-breeding between hogs, creating a genetically superior hog with a lot of hostility.

On top of it all, hogs are highly intelligent and hard to catch. They are nocturnal, so when deer hunters are going in for the day, Robison is making his way out to catch some hogs. He said to me, “They’re kind of like vampires- when it’s dark, then that’s when the blood flows.”

The feral pig problem is ongoing and as Ronnie stated, “It takes coots like me to get drenched and catch the hogs. I’d rather hunt hogs than deer any day.”

To illustrate the misconception on these hogs and the perception people have in regard to them, he told me a story about a woman who was the former Miss Orange years ago, and needed his help handling a hog who went wild in her yard.

Miss Orange was an animal lover who fed the raccoons, opossums, and even the hog who showed up at her back door one day. She named it “Miss Piggy” and soon learned of Miss Piggy’s wrath when she woke up to find her flower beds in shambles.

Miss Orange called Robison to help her control Miss Piggy, but she had one rule- he couldn’t hurt the hog.

Robison told her it would be tough to get the hog under control graciously, but he assured her he would not harm the hog.

Robison and a buddy set-up traps, but the highway was 30 yards away and created a problem. Hog traps are $300-$400 a piece, and highly sought after in Hog country. Luckily, Miss Orange had several Lincoln Navigators to spare, so they parked the vehicles strategically to block the traps from highway rubberneckers.

The hog was eventually corralled, but it wasn’t pretty, as Robison ended up with a sliced ear, and his buddy ended up with a gash in the stomach.

Miss Orange was horrified, as she had no idea how dangerous Miss Piggy really was. She forced $100 on Robison for his endeavors, and many apologies, but Robison refused the money. When he lost that battle, he took the $100 and donated it to the Salvation Army.

Now the part I’ve been holding back on, which makes Ronnie Robison even more intriguing, is besides the fact he decides to hunt such an unruly mammal, but that he does it all from his trailer or on a pair of crutches, because he has minimal use of his legs. He contracted a disease over 14 years ago, restricting use of his legs, as they have become weak and painful with any stress placed upon them. Robison didn’t let this stop him, though. He innovated new ways to get around and said, “If I want something, don’t get in my way. I’m going to get through. You have to cut my head off to get me to quit.”

The crutches he uses are not ordinary crutches, but All Terrain Crutches (ATC) Robison developed after his car died in the middle of a rice field and he had to crawl two and a half hours in the heat of August to civilization. The bottoms of the crutches have welded teeth so they can be used in rice fields, but also in marshland and swampland surrounding Robison’s home.

Robison uses his Horus Scope for every hog hunt. He said, “The scope is an old 4-16x H-3. I would not be afraid to pull it off the rifle and beat a hog to death with it, then put it back on the gun.”

Horus Reticle

The farthest hog-kill Robison has made is 524 yards, and that was in the dark! His goal is to kill a hog at 1000 yards one day. He likes the thick lines of the reticle for hogs.

He said, “You need one hell of a crosshair to find black hogs in the dark. It’s the only scope I ever use for hog hunting because of the abilities.”

We discussed some people’s resistance to the Horus grid, and he said, It’s so virtually simple! Have a street map. Can you go to 6th Street and turn right on Green Street? People look at the grid, not through the scope. You have to look at the target- then the grid disappears. Take it to the simplest way.”

As Robison stated, “When it’s not my terms, I need Horus. I don’t have time to set-up a different scope. Don’t have the luxury of light to check charts. That’s why I use Horus. If the target was under my control, I could use any high quality Schmidt & Bender, whatever, but don’t have that luxury.

Robison’s hog-killing record was 29 in one month, 62 in a year, in one 400 acre pasture. The hogs just kept coming through, and Robison just got a lease extension for another three years. He is planning on having some new hog stories soon.

I asked if he ate the hogs he killed. And his answer was, “Of course!” He has a waiting list of people who want hogs to chow down on. He also donates hogs to a “Feed the Hungry” program. Nothing goes to waste.

The pig problem is not nearly under control, but Ronnie “The Hog Hunter” Robison is making a killing in every way he can to help stop feral hogs from taking over Texas.

To show our appreciation for his hard work, dedication, testimonial, and excellent entertainment, he received an iPaq to make up for his Palm that died that day. Someone needs to keep those hogs under control, so they don’t migrate over to California (we have enough problems).

Robison sent me an e-mail after our conversation and wrote, “You probably think I’m crazy, but I assure you I’m telling the truth!” He sent me references to confirm his stories, but I didn’t check, because as I told him, I definitely can’t argue with him about being crazy to engage in such an activity, but I know he is not lying.

Many thanks to the Hog Hunter!

About:
Horus brings cutting-edge technology to long-range shooting to help you shoot farther with ultimate accuracy. Horus reticles, scopes, ballistics software and accessories offer a simpler solution for making fast, precise, bulls-eye hits consistently. Our easy-to-use reticle design and targeting software deliver dramatic improvements no matter what your skill level. Visit: www.horusvision.com

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- YUMA, Ariz. — The recently completed survey of the desert bighorn sheep population on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Arizona resulted in a population estimate of 402 sheep.

The survey estimate is down from the 2009 survey estimate of 410 sheep, but it is still slightly above the lowest recorded estimated level of the 2006 survey of 390.

Due to standardized survey methodology and scientific margin of accuracy, biologists’ analysis of the past five surveys indicates no significant decline or improvement to the herd’s population. Wildlife management agencies remain concerned about the low population levels on the refuge compared to the estimated 812 animals of the 2000 survey.

Once a very robust population, the size of the herd on the refuge has dropped significantly since 2000. Wildlife experts attribute the decline to a variety of potential factors including drought, predation, water availability, disease and human disturbance. Due to the significance of this sheep population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) and Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) are conducting an ongoing, joint study to collect data on these and other suspected causes of the population’s decline.

Seasonal rains in 2010 were good, consequently habitat conditions are also favorable throughout the refuge. All of the sheep appeared healthy during the aerial surveys. Biologists observed lamb-to-ewe ratios of 24 lambs per 100 ewes, which is above the long-term average of approximately 20 lambs per 100 ewes for the refuge. However, a slightly higher lamb-to-ewe ratio has not yet translated into an increase in the population – it has only stabilized it.

2010 Survey Results Released For Desert Bighorn Sheep On The Kofa NWR

The New Mexico State University Cooperative Studies Unit is studying the relative health of bighorn sheep on the refuge. In November 2007, 30 ewes were fitted with tracking devices to monitor nutrition, movements, and mortality to assist in making active management decisions to assist in restoring the herd’s population. The project study is scheduled to run through the fall of 2010. The ewes were evaluated in November 2010 using ultrasound technology. Body fat composition indicated good nutrition and nearly all of the ewes were pregnant. Other biological samples were collected for disease analysis and have been sent to various laboratories.

AGFD and USFWS biologists captured a male mountain lion in November 2010 on Kofa NWR. A satellite (GPS) collar was fitted on the lion pursuant to the ongoing effort to monitor mountain lions and remove lions that regularly prey on desert bighorn sheep as described in the final environmental assessment “Limiting Mountain Lion Predation on Desert Bighorn Sheep on the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge” and the AGFD Kofa Mountains Complex Adaptive Predation Management Plan.

To view the management documents and learn more about the restoration efforts of the Kofa desert bighorn sheep herd, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/kofa. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa National Wildlife Refuge website is at www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/kofa/index.html.

About Arizona Game and Fish Department:
The mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department is to conserve, enhance, and restore Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs, and to provide wildlife resources and safe watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation for the enjoyment, appreciation, and use by present and future generations.

About U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

Armalite AR-10(T) Rifle

ArmaLite Inc

Geneseo, IL – -(Ammoland.com)- ArmaLite announced the return of its popular Hog Gun, the AR-10(T) Carbine. Within 10 days every one of them was gone. Now, nine months later, IT’S BACK, it’s in stock, and you can have one for this year’s hunting season.

But if you want one, don’t wait. This finely crafted weapon has been produced once again in a small batch. Quantities are limited and will not last long.

“This AR-10(T) Carbine combines the light weight and compact size of the carbine with the accuracy of the Target Model to give you a rifle that outperforms all other carbines. You will be ready on your next hunt with the easy carry and weather resistant stainless steel barrel chambered in 7.62 NATO.” says Tacticle-Life.com.

Specs:

• Model: AR-10(T) Carbine with Free Float Handguard in Black
• Caliber: .308/7.62mm NATO
• Barrel: 16″ Stainless Steel Barrel
• Rifling Twist: RH 1:11.25″
• Muzzle Device: Flash Suppressor
• Front Sight Base: Gas Block with Picatinny Rail
• Upper Receiver: Forged Flat Top Receiver with Picatinny Rail and Forward
• Assist
• Trigger: Two Stage National Match
• Overall Length: 37.5″
• Weight: 8.6 lbs
• Accuracy: 1 MOA

Included with Rifle: One 10 Round Magazine, One 20 Round Magazine, Black Case, Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Your Price: $1,892.00 ea.

Armalite AR-10T Hog Gun

About:
ArmaLite has one of the broadest product lines in the firearms industry. We manufacture and sell semiautomatic rifles in a variety of calibers including 5.56mm and 7.62mm, long range super-accurate bolt action rifles in calibers including .308 Winchester, 300 Winchester, 338 Lapua, and 50 BMG, and classic 9mm pistols. Visit: www.armalite.com

Pennsylvania Elk Hunters Harvest 41 Elk In 2010

Pennsylvania Game Commission

Pennsylvania --(Ammoland.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that 41 of the 51 licensed elk hunters were successful during the 2010 elk season, which includes a possible new state record for the typical elk category.

Of that total, 18 were antlered elk and 23 were antlerless elk.

“Elk are one of North America’s premier big game animals,” Roe said.

“Pennsylvania is privileged to offer this unique hunting opportunity, a product of successful wildlife management that supports Pennsylvania’s rich hunting heritage. It’s an unparalleled experience for hunters, particularly those who can’t afford to go on an expensive one- or two-week guided elk hunt out West.”

The heaviest antlered elk was taken by John A. Murray Jr., of Grindstone, Fayette County. He took a 880-pound (estimated live weight), 7×7 on Nov. 1, in Benezette Township, Elk County.

Those hunters rounding out the top five heaviest (all estimated live weights) antlered elk harvested, were: Charles H. Stowman, of Westover, Clearfield County, took a 868-pound, 8×7 on Nov. 3, in Grove Township, Cameron County; Domenic V. Aversa Sr., of Woolwich, New Jersey, took an 867-pound, 7×7 on Nov. 1, in Jay Township, Elk County; Richard R. Lundgren, of Kittanning, Armstrong County, took a 852-pound, 8×9 on Nov. 1, in Jay Township, Elk County; and James F. Wolfe, of Mercersburg, Adams County, took an 823-pound, 7×7 on Nov. 1, in Covington Township, Clearfield County.

Roe noted that the antlers from Aversa’s elk green-scored at 389 and seven-eighths on the Boone & Crockett Club’s official scoring system. If that score holds after the required 60-day drying time, it will set a new record for Pennsylvania state typical elk taken with a firearm. The current record is held by John A. Polenski, of Meyersdale, Somerset County, who, in 2009, harvested a 6×7 antlered elk that scored 370.

The heaviest antlerless elk was taken by Mark E. Gowarty, of Johnstown, Cambria County, who harvested a 582-pound (estimated live weight) antlerless elk on Nov. 2, in Benezette Township, Elk County.

Those hunters rounding out the top five heaviest (all estimated live weights) antlerless elk harvested were: Nicholas J. Draghi, of Elmira, New York, took a 575-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 2, in West Keating Township, Clinton County; George R. Shupe, of Scottdale, Westmoreland County, took a 571-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 1, in Jay Township, Elk County; Russell P. Krut, of Beaver Falls, Beaver County, took a 555-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 3, in West Keating Township, Clinton County; and Timothy J. Conners, of Monroeville, Allegheny County, took a 549-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 4, in West Keating Township, Clinton County.

Roe also noted that Robert Ehle, of Orefield, Lehigh County, who was the successful bidder for the Elk Conservation Tag, harvested an antlered elk, as well. Ehle harvested a 5×6 on Oct. 7, in Shippen Township, in Cameron County. Ehle purchased the Conservation Elk Tag during the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundations’s national conference in early 2010, and was able to hunt from Sept. 1-Nov. 6.

Agency biologists extracted samples needed for chronic wasting disease testing. Results are expected in early 2011.

For more information on elk in Pennsylvania, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), choose “Hunting,” and then click on the photograph of an elk.

Bob Kuhn Leopard Hunting "A Folding Action" Bob Kuhn is without peer. His work represents the best of wildlife art and has been described as having the ability to take its viewers into the very midst of nature's secret places, almost into the minds of the animals themselves.

Sporting Classics Magazine

Columbia, SC --(AmmoLand.com)- The hound music swelled to a yelping intensity as the pack gained on the leopard.

Then, from deep in the Namibian brush came a loud, snarling cough. The moment of truth was finally at hand. The next few minutes would end the affair one way or the other.

My African adventure began to take shape when I asked Frank Cole of Cabela’s Outdoor Adventures to arrange a leopard hunt with dogs. I have never really enjoyed still-hunting the big cats from a blind. To me, hunting a leopard with hounds seemed much more exhilarating and exciting.

Cole contacted Barry Burchell of Frontier Safaris who proposed a 15-day leopard hunt at Trudia Game Ranch in northern Namibia, just south of Etosha National Park. They had never hunted leopard before on the ranch, but judging by the number of tracks, the big predators seemed abundant.

After a long but uneventful flight, I arrived at Windhoek where Barry then drove us 300 miles north through rocky, semi-arid hill country covered with low brush and stunted trees. It was late September and while the nights were cool, each day the temperature would climb to 90 degrees or higher by mid-afternoon, forcing us to do most of our hunting in the morning. To avoid dealing with the problems of transporting a firearm, I used Barry’s Remington Model 700 in 7mm Mag.

At the ranch I met Roy Sparks who had brought his pack of bluetick and treeing Walker hounds. An experienced hunter, Roy devotes most of his time to training his hounds and pursuing predominately livestock-killing leopards. Two other members of our entourage were Moshile, a Zhosa tribesman who is an extraordinary tracker and dog handler, and Alex, a tracker.

The first afternoon we drove along woodland roads looking for leopard spoor. Constantly harassed by ranchers, the area’s cats are wary and seldom come to bait, though we decided to hang two gemsbok baits just in case.

At 4:30 the next morning we began hunting in earnest. Our approach consisted of Moshile and Alex riding on the hood of the Land Cruiser using a spotlight and the vehicle’s headlights to search for leopard tracks as we slowly drove along the sand roads. They found a number of prints several days old as well as where a leopard had marked his territory with scent and scat. After driving about six miles, Moshile and Roy seemed quite satisfied that a large tom was in the area.

We quit at 11 a.m., then returned five hours later without the dogs. After hanging several more baits, we spent a couple hours scouting for leopard sign in a different area.

The next morning was a repeat performance of the previous days’ events. We found the remains of a gemsbok killed by a large leopard about two weeks earlier, but we failed to find any fresh tracks and none of the baits had been touched.

Early in the morning on our fourth day, after we’d passed all of the uneaten baits and moved toward one end of the area the big male had been using, the situation changed abruptly. Moshile raised his hand, and smiling broadly, signaled to stop the truck. Fresh tracks! – at least that’s what Moshile and Roy decided.

I had a hard time making out the tracks even when they were pointed out to me.

Moshile and Alex began following the leopard’s trail along with three hounds outfitted with tracking collars. Moshile carried a radio to keep in contact with us. He called no more than ten minutes later, indicating that he’d found a fresh track in a dry stream-bed. About that time one of the dogs opened up from a brushy ravine on the opposite side of the riverbed.

Over the next hour the trackers walked up the depression for nearly a mile, with the hounds sounding off more and more frequently. At this juncture, Roy released another hound that opened up almost immediately. Roy smiled and explained that the dog would bark only when on a fairly hot track.

All the hounds were giving tongue as they unraveled the leopard’s trail. After moving the vehicle twice to keep ahead of the pack, we heard Moshile’s excited voice on the radio. He’d seen the leopard! Roy stopped the truck and dropped the tailgate so the remaining six hounds could join the chase.

A sign on the truck – “When the tailgate drops, the B.S. stops” – was prophetic.

Rather than going up the hill behind us, the leopard turned in our direction. For the next ten minutes the air was filled with hound music. Then, some 200 yards to our left, the hounds finally bayed. The rasping snarl of the leopard, which had taken his stand on the ground rather than in a tree, was quite audible.

As we hustled over to the hounds, I began to experience a rapid heartbeat. It’s a problem that occurs infrequently, but when it happens, my heart rate zooms to more than 160 beats-per-minute. For a few seconds my condition left me feeling quite woozy. Then I thought, The hell with it, and taking a deep breath I hurried toward the fracas.

We moved closer to the dogs, but we couldn’t lay eyes on the leopard. The big cat moved off another hundred yards and stopped again, mad as hell and growling constantly at his tormentors. When we had slipped to within 30 yards of the leopard, I could just make out a patch of yellow just beyond a black-and-white hound named Charlie. In the thick brush, all I could see was the leopard’s body; the head and tail were not visible. I eased the rifle onto the shooting sticks and waited.

After a minute or so Charlie moved so I had a clear view of the cat’s chest. My shot was greeted with a loud growl. The leopard lurched to his left and disappeared in the dense brush, though the continued baying of the hounds convinced us he was still close.

We walked over to the dogs; Barry in the middle, Roy to his left and myself about two yards to their right and slightly to the rear. Barry, who is quite tall, saw the cat lying on his left side, barely breathing, no more than eight yards away. From my position I was unable to see the leopard.

“He’s dying,” Barry exclaimed. “No need for us to shoot again.” The leopard disagreed.

Without uttering a sound, the leopard suddenly stood up – silent as death – and charged hell-bent in Roy’s direction. Instantly the air was filled with a hail of gunfire. I saw the charging leopard just as he piled up less than two yards in front of Roy. The hunt was over!

It wasn’t until then that I noticed my rapid heartbeat was gone, replaced by a thrilling sense of achievement.

Interestingly, unlike the hounds used to hunt raccoon and hogs in the U.S., Roy’s dogs only sniffed at the carcass and showed no interest in chewing on it. Maybe they’d learned that mixing it up with even a supposedly dead leopard could be hazardous to their health.

While reliving the final, dramatic moments, Barry confided to me that he’d made a big mistake, dictated primarily by his desire not to puncture the leopard’s skin with too many holes. I’m sure he won’t refrain from shooting a “dying” leopard in the future.

Moshile picked up the heavy leopard, draped him around his shoulders to carry back to camp.

Moshile picked up the heavy leopard, draped him around his shoulders and walked back to the truck where he laid the majestic animal over an uprooted tree. The leopard measured seven feet, five inches from nose to tail, and Roy estimated his weight at 165 pounds – a very large male. Later, while skinning the cat, we found where my bullet had penetrated through one edge of his heart, filling his chest with blood.

How he managed to stay alive long enough to charge his pursuers remains a mystery.

The hounds came through the fracas generally unscathed. Several had fairly deep scratches and one had been either bitten or clawed on his leg. However, the bleeding had stopped and he seemed oblivious to the wound.

All in all, it’s certainly possible to have a more exciting leopard hunt, but our adventure was enough to last me a lifetime.

Sporting Classics Magazine Sept/Oct 2010

About:
Sporting Classics is the magazine for discovering the best in hunting and fishing worldwide. Every page is carefully crafted, through word and picture, to transport you on an unforgettable journey into the great outdoors.

Travel to the best hunting and fishing destinations. Relive the finest outdoor stories from yesteryear.

Discover classic firearms and fishing tackle by the most renowned craftsmen. Gain valuable knowledge from columns written by top experts in their fields: gundogs, shotguns, fly fishing, rifles, art and more.

From great fiction to modern-day adventures, every article is complemented by exciting photography and masterful paintings.

This isn’t just another “how to” outdoor magazine. Come. Join us! Visit: www.sportingclassics.com

Glock Pistols

SMYRNA, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Hunting season is right around the corner and while some people believe that personal protection in the outdoors means carrying bug spray or sun screen, savvy hunters are increasingly carrying a GLOCK pistol on their side for personal protection – just in case that bear, boar, coyote or snake gets too close for comfort.

Tennessee and Missouri have recently joined a growing list of states now allowing hunters to carry handguns for personal protection while on public land for hunting and recreation. State Wildlife Agencies and lawmakers are addressing the safety needs of bow hunters and anglers alike.

GLOCK, a leading global manufacturer of handguns, is currently seeking personal stories about how a GLOCK pistol helped a hunter safely escape a perilous situation, or when a hunter ended up in a situation where they wished they had a GLOCK on their side. Hunters are encouraged to post their story on the “GLOCK, Inc.” official Facebook page www.facebook.com/GLOCKInc.

Keith Warren, host of The High Road with Keith Warren and a vocal proponent of hunting rights for more than 25 years, is an advocate for carrying a sidearm, like the GLOCK 20 with a hunting barrel that he carries on every one of his hunts.

“I love to hunt because it’s fun and a great challenge; however, I want to know that if my long gun or crossbow has a problem or gets jammed that I’m not going to be defenseless against dangerous game,” Warren said.

“I don’t like taking chances, that’s why I always carry my GLOCK with me, whether at home or in the field.”

A side arm can also be a real life-saver while tending to downed game that could quickly attract predators such as coyotes, and having that sidearm at your side can help to help keep you protected against any possible attacks. The sidearm is also beneficial for the humane hunter to deliver a coup de grace and end the suffering of a wounded animal.

Gary Fletcher, vice-president of sales and marketing for GLOCK, said, “Hunters oftentimes find themselves in circumstances where their long-gun or crossbow isn’t a feasible option when safety is an immediate concern – placing them in a vulnerable situation. Having a GLOCK on your side is the surest way to protect yourself if you end up feeling like you’re the one being hunted.”

Warren added, “While carrying a sidearm wasn’t typical for your grandfather’s hunt, it’s quickly becoming more of a must-have accessory in today’s hunting community for personal protection. If you want to explore the option of carrying a sidearm during this year’s hunting season, be sure to educate yourself on the laws in your region by visiting your state’s DNR website.”

About GLOCK, Inc.
GLOCK, Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of pistols and accessories. GLOCK’s superior engineering has produced a pistol with only 34 parts and a rugged polymer-frame, providing industry-leading reliability shot after shot. GLOCK is renowned for its pistols which are safe, featuring three safeties; simple, offering a low number of components to provide reliability; and fast, with no encumbering parts to slow the speed to fire. This combination makes GLOCK pistols the first choice among consumers and law enforcement, with 65% of agencies nationwide choosing to carry GLOCK. Austrian-engineered, the company has manufacturing facilities in the United States and Austria. Based in Smyrna, Ga., GLOCK, Inc. is an advocate for our nation’s law enforcement and military personnel, as well as all citizens’ Second Amendment right to bear arms. For more information, please visit www.teamglock.com.

Bighorn sheep. Photo courtesy of CDOW.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) officials report that pneumonia continues to persist in the Lost Creek (Anaconda) bighorn sheep population in west central Montana. The usually fatal respiratory disease was first detected in the herd on Aug. 20.

FWP spent the rest of August and all of September monitoring the Lost Creek herd and killing diseased sheep in an effort to protect healthy animals from exposure.

“Some of our helicopter surveys in mid September gave us hope that we might have killed enough sick sheep to get ahead of the disease, but as the weeks continue we’re still observing more symptomatic sheep and seeing some advanced cases of pneumonia in the samples we collect,” said Ray Vinkey, FWP wildlife biologist.

“We’re also seeing pockets of healthy sheep, which is telling us that there is still some potential to keep the disease from reaching all the sheep, so our efforts aren’t over yet.”

There are no known vaccines to prevent pneumonia in wild sheep, or medications that can be practically applied to prevent the death of sick individuals. Instead, potential relief lies in protecting healthy animals from exposure.

FWP crews now have plans to mobilize efforts to intensively monitor the herd through the fall season and to continue killing sheep exhibiting symptoms of the disease.

This means that big game hunters and others can expect to see occasional helicopters monitoring sheep in Lost Creek and West Valley and Blue-Eyed Nellie and Garrity Mountain Wildlife Management Areas this fall.

“We’re also asking hunters and others that plan to cover a lot of ground in these areas over the next few months to give us a call with their reports,” Vinkey said. “All of these public observations are important to us as we work to get a complete picture of the spread of the disease and condition of the animals.”

Vinkey said that twelve hunters drew coveted licenses to hunt bighorn rams in Hunting District 213 this fall, and their hunt will continue.

“We have enough rams to sustain the population and that’s a good thing for ram hunters,” said Mike Thompson, FWP regional wildlife manager. “Many hunters never draw a ram license, and most who do may never get another chance. Right now, it looks like we can manage the disease along with ram hunting, and still have enough rams left over for some to survive a full blown pneumonia outbreak.”

Another 30 hunters drew ewe licenses and were given a chance at a license refund or to start the hunting season knowing that an early season closure was a possibility. Hunters that opted to start the season had a few weeks in the field, and then FWP made the decision to close the ewe season on Sept. 24 after continuing to detect more diseased sheep.

Thompson says that the closure was necessary because ewes are essential to the recovery of the population in the event that a large die-off occurs later this fall and winter.

FWP cautions sheep hunters across western Montana to cook harvested sheep meat well and contact FWP with any questions about the suitability of the meat for consumption. There have been no known cases of humans or pets contracting pneumonia from wild sheep, but FWP cautions anyone who finds dead or sick bighorn sheep to leave the animal alone. FWP also encourages the public to immediately report any observations of sheep exhibiting symptoms of an illness or strange behavior.

For more information or to make a report, call FWP in Missoula at 406-542-5500

Clarence thought stalking a lion in the rain was something only a crazy East African hunter would do.

Sporting Classics Magazine

Columbia, SC --(AmmoLand.com)- Stalking a lion in a downpour is something only a crazy East African hunter would do.

It was a hot and dry September day in Tanzania, just south of the little village of Loiborserrit.

We left our camp under the stand of tall fig trees and drove off in the hunting car with clients Clarence and Carol, bouncing over tracks someone had the audacity to call roads. We were looking for a good lion in a heavily hunted concession, which meant the big cats were well-educated and keeping to cover during the day.

About 40 miles from camp we happened upon some promising tracks and immediately set out to acquire some bait for our blinds. By late afternoon we’d collected an old buffalo bull, then cut up and tied the hind-quarters at two sites several miles apart. Close by the bait trees we built ground blinds that blended in perfectly into the surrounding brush.

“Cat’s in the bag,” I jokingly bragged on the torturous drive back in the utter blackness of an African night.

The next morning found me relaxing in my tent, listening to mourning doves and green pigeons and my staff preparing breakfast. The couple had bagged everything except a lion, and I was determined to leave the baits undisturbed for at least two days. Other than a few hours of bird-shooting, sitting around camp seemed like a good choice.

My tent man brought hot shaving water, poured it into the canvas washbasin and hinted that bwana should get his rearend in gear and shave. While shaving, I noticed a respectable bank of clouds – definitely rain clouds – but in Septemember? The clouds continued to build up throughout the day and by afternoon, the humidity was oppressive, the air warm and still.

In the wee hours of the following morning the heavens opened and rain cascaded down, accompanied by streaks of lightning that crisscrossed the sky. Water rushed everywhere and so did we, hammering in longer tent pegs to prevent our tents from collapsing. By noon the rain was falling steadily and the little waterhole next to camp had become a small lake.

The deluge didn’t stop until early the next morning, and by sunrise the dry bushveld was alive with the sounds of insects, birds and even the hysterical laughter of a hyena scouting out our camp.

This will be Clarence’s day, I thought, though we’ll probably have to put up with more rain.

After loading our guns and gear in the Land Cruiser, we headed to the closest bait, plowing through muddy, red water and with the tires slinging mud in all directions.

About five miles from the blind, my Number One bearer and I left the vehicle and walked to the bait site. Our approach was good, but the last few hundred yards were tricky because of sparse cover. Finally, we reached a big acacia bush where we stopped to glass the bait and surrounding area.

Suddenly Number One began nodding his head, like Kavirondo cranes during their mating rituals. I never could understand how he could see better than me, especially with my Zeiss binoculars. He had spotted something out of the ordinary, perhaps just a shadow, ghosting through the dense thornbrush. Number One was all for taking a closer look, to find long mane hairs, proof of a good lion, but something told me to back off, as simba might be close.

After checking the second bait, which had not been touched, we stopped to eat lunch and quench our thirst under the shade of a big tarp.

The air was hot and muggy, and we could see another mountain of dark clouds coming toward us from Ol Doinya Lolbene near camp.

Despite the approaching storm, I thought our best bet was to hunt from the first blind – to give it a shot, rain or no rain, because our area permit would expire in a couple days and we had to leave. Number One thought bwana was off his rocker, but was willing to follow my intuition.

The rain was pouring down when he stopped the vehicle and once on the trail, we were quickly soaked to the skin. Clarence’s wide-brimmed hat lost its shape and it appeared he would need windshield wipers to keep the water off his tri-focals. At least the rain felt pleasantly warm.

We slipped and slid the last 200 yards to the blind, where the downpour blanked out everything but a faint outline of the bait tree. The thunder rumbled while raindrops drummed on the parched soil and splattered the leaves and branches; at least the noise would cover our approach.

Huge drops continued to bombard us as we hunkered down inside the blind, our boots covered in mud. I focused my binoculars on the bait and the area around it, but failed to see anything. I wondered: Can a person get any wetter than wet . . . or be more miserable and have such fun?

Late that afternoon, as the rain let up and our visibility improved, Number One and I really began to concentrate. I had to wipe my binos constantly though Clarence didn’t seem to notice; he was bent over like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and I don’t think his mind was on lion hunting.

And then I saw him, looking as ragged and wet as us, walking over to the bait tree to get out of the wind and rain.

Breathless minutes passed. How long would he stay there? Would he even come out to eat in the rain?

Dusk was approaching and if we waited, good shooting light would soon be gone. In my mind, our only chance was to leave the blind and stalk closer.

Number One said it might work, but Clarence thought stalking a lion in the rain was something only a crazy East African hunter would do.

I saw him, looking as ragged and wet as us, walking over to the bait tree to get out of the wind and rain.

It was crazy, I admit, but soon all three of us were crawling over the wet grass and mud toward the big tree. It seemed like hours had passed before we were within 20 yards of the tree and the remains of the buffalo dangling from a heavy limb. I figured it was time to stand, abandon caution and see what in hell was going to happen. We were certainly well-armed for whatever came next; I had my .416, Number One carried a .416 and Clarence his .375. You need that kind of firepower in a situation like this.

Fifteen paces . . . ten . . . then I was so close to the tree I could have reached out touched it with my rifle barrel.

Sensing something wasn’t right, the lion popped his head out from behind the tree. Instantly, his big eyes blazed like coals and he issued a deep, rumbling growl.

Then, like hot oil gushing from a drum, his huge, tawny body seemed to flow around the tree as he flung his huge paws right at my head. Three heavy-caliber bullets tore into his head, neck and chest, and old simba dropped heavily to the soggy ground, barely a step away from my feet.

Hours later, after a good meal and with some elixirs to warm our bodies, the rains finally stopped and the southern sky was once again studded with stars. We sat around the campfire, reliving our adventure and trying to make sense of the heavy rains that seemed so out of synch with the season. But my gunbearers had the answer: The heavens had to weep, because a simba died.

Editor’s Note: Born in Tanzania (East Africa) in 1933, Robert Reitnauer was formerly a fully licensed Professional Hunter and Safari Operator in southern Africa.

Sporting Classics Magazine

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Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) announced today that pneumonia was confirmed in a sixth bighorn sheep population in west central Montana.

The latest occurrence of the usually fatal respiratory disease was confirmed in a bighorn that FWP wildlife biologist, Ray Vinkey, collected late on Aug. 20 from the Lost Creek population west of Anaconda.

Other pneumonia outbreaks affected bighorn populations in the East Fork of the Bitterroot late last fall and in the Bonner area and Lower and Upper Rock Creek herds in January and February. Most recently FWP detected pneumonia in the Skalkaho population east of Hamilton on August 9.

Once bighorns contract pneumonia they usually die within a few weeks. There are no known vaccines to prevent pneumonia in wild sheep, or medications that can be practically applied to prevent the death of sick individuals.

A hunter, Wayne Estay of Butte, first reported signs of sick sheep west of Anaconda during a preseason scouting trip on Aug. 17. Vinkey and another FWP wildlife biologist, Jay Kolbe, responded and shot four sheep that exhibited clinical signs or behavior suggesting pneumonia. They collected blood and tissue samples for further analysis at the FWP wildlife lab in Bozeman. Field necropsies showed everything from early to advanced infection in the lungs, which in the worst case had also compromised the heart and liver. The varying stages of infection suggest that the disease is spreading over time.

“We’re too early in this to know everything we’d like to know. But, until we are able to survey and collect more sheep, we have to proceed as if we are dealing with a pneumonia outbreak,” Vinkey said.

“We can’t afford to miss the chance of removing the last sick sheep before they infect the rest of the population. Right now we’re taking it one day at a time.”

Last fall, FWP undertook experimental aggressive campaigns to kill diseased animals from the East Fork and Bonner populations to try to protect healthy animals from exposure to the fatal disease. However, officials allowed the disease to run its course in Lower Rock Creek, due to the treacherous terrain and difficulty in finding and approaching the bighorns there. The disease also ran its course in Upper Rock Creek, where it was too widespread to try to control. Bighorns wandering to or from Rock Creek could have spread the disease to the Anaconda herd this summer, but the source may never be proven, according to FWP.

“Our experience so far in the East Fork of the Bitterroot demonstrates that killing sick sheep can succeed in saving the rest of the population,” said Mike Thompson, FWP Region 2 Wildlife Manager.

“This kind of work is hard on everyone. But, the key is early detection and a quick, aggressive response.”

Chris Anderson, a student volunteer with FWP from the University of Minnesota, documented the survival of 32 lambs per 100 ewes in the East Fork this summer, where FWP removed 80 sick individuals last fall and winter, and at least 87 seemingly healthy sheep remain. But where FWP let the disease run its course last winter, Anderson was unable to find any lambs that had survived exposure to the pathogens persisting in Rock Creek bighorns, and landowners have been finding dead lambs and sick adults in that area this summer.

The Lost Creek (Anaconda) herd was established in 1967, with help from the Anaconda Sportsmen’s Club, when 25 bighorns were transplanted from the Sun River herd. Over half of the population was lost to pneumonia in 1991, but has since recovered to number at least 297 sheep. Twelve hunters hold either-sex licenses and thirty hold ewe-licenses for this hunting district (HD 213), which are valid beginning Sept. 5. FWP will contact hunters as more becomes known about the outbreak.

There have been no known cases of humans or pets contracting pneumonia from wild sheep, but FWP cautions anyone who finds dead or sick bighorn sheep to leave the animal alone. FWP also encourages the public to immediately report any observations of sheep exhibiting symptoms of an illness or strange behavior.

“Reports from the public were responsible for the first detection of pneumonia in most of our recent outbreaks,” said Vinkey. “These reports from the public help us determine how widespread the sickness is and give us a chance at catching it in its early stages.”

For more information or to make a report, call FWP in Missoula at 406-542-5500.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. -(Ammoland.com)- Elk and elk hunting opportunities are abundant in much of North America, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is offering a sneak peek at upcoming seasons in its annual roundup of hunt forecasts for 28 states and provinces, now posted at www.rmef.org.

“Generally speaking, elk populations are in great shape and hunters have much to look forward to across the West, as well as in several Midwestern and Eastern states,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the Elk Foundation.” A mild winter, much needed spring and summer moisture and our habitat conservation successes all factor into our optimism for the upcoming hunting season.”

This summer, RMEF passed the 5.8 million acre mark for habitat conserved or enhanced for elk and other wildlife.

Allen added, however, that wolves continue to be a growing concern in regions where the predators share habitat with elk and other big game herds. In some areas, elk calf survival rates are now insufficient to sustain herds for the future. The urgent need to control wolf populations is a localized wildlife management crisis now compounded by a recent court decision to return wolves to full federal protections under the Endangered Species Act. RMEF has asked Congress to intervene and grant management authority to the states.

Here’s a condensed look at elk data from state and provincial wildlife conservation agencies. To see these forecasts in their entirety, with links to respective elk regulations or other Web pages, visit www.rmef.org. For even more coverage, see the Sept./Oct. 2010 edition of the RMEF member magazine, Bugle. To join, call 800-CALL ELK.

Alaska

• · Elk Population: Kodiak Archipelago (GMU 8), 650; Etolin (GMU 3), not available
• · Bull/Cow Ratios: Not available
• · Nonresidents: $85 hunting license plus $300 elk tag, and must hire a guide
• · Hunter Success: GMU 8, 17 percent; GMU 3, 5 percent

While bulls in the lower 48 average 700 pounds, bulls in GMU 3′s South Etolin Wilderness in southeast Alaska can get up to 1,300. However, recent success rates hover at just 5 percent with an annual average of six bulls killed for the entire unit. Zarembo Island northwest of Etolin has remained closed to hunting since 2006 because of low elk numbers. For GMU 8 in southern Alaska, odds are considerably better at 17 percent. Area biologist Larry van Deale says some recent trophies would have made the record books had the hunters cared to enter them.

Alberta

• · Elk Population: 33,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: Not available
• · Nonresidents: $255, must hire a guide
• · Hunter Success: Not available

This province offers opportunities for fine elk hunting as herds expand east and south onto the prairies and parklands. As herds grow, managers establish more hunting opportunities–last year alone saw three new areas open to elk hunting. Some of the biggest bulls are in these new units. The northern-most units have hunts well into January, and landowners typically welcome responsible cow hunters with open arms. The best (and only) shot for a nonresident is to go through an outfitter, as they are allotted roughly 10 percent of draw tags.

Arizona

• · Elk Population: 25,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 34/100
• · Nonresidents: $121 hunting license (nonrefundable to enter drawing) plus $595 elk permit
• · Hunter Success: 30 percent

Even though the state claims 25,000 elk, its mesas and arroyos could be hiding upwards of 40,000, says Brian Wakeling, Arizona’s game branch chief. They conduct elk counts in August and September, and the thick tree cover makes it tough to get accurate counts with aerial surveys. Overlooked elk means better odds for hunters. Plus, with abundant moisture this winter and little winterkill, elk herds are flourishing. Last year saw little daylight rut activity with bulls bugling only by moonlight, which held bowhunter success to around 25 percent. Logic says those big bulls that survived merely got bigger for this season. Also note the agency’s goal to get bull/cow ratios down to 25/100 to create more hunter opportunity. Translation: more bull tags.

Arkansas

• · Elk Population: 500
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 40/100
• · Nonresidents: varies for private landowner tags and three auction tags
• · Hunter Success: 42 percent

When Arkansas held its first elk-hunting season in 1998, hunter success was close to 100 percent. Now the elk are far wilier. Out-of-state hunters have a couple options: either buy an auction tag or contact a landowner for access. For the latter, hunters must receive written permission from the landowner to hunt their private property, and can only hunt there. Available tags remain the same as last year: 29 public-land tags (8 bull, 16 antlerless, 2 either-sex youth tags, plus 3 either-sex auction tags).

British Columbia

• · Elk Population: 50,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 20/100
• · Nonresidents: $189 hunting license plus $262.50 for elk permit. Must hire a guide.
• · Hunter Success: Not available

This province boasts a thriving population of Rocky Mountain elk and some of the biggest Roosevelt’s bulls in the world, says Stephen MacIver, wildlife regulations officer. However, a hunter must first hurdle the odds of drawing a limited-entry tag. The odds are roughly 35:1. However, guides are allotted a percentage of the tags. Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast in the far west have strong populations of Roosevelt’s. For Rocky Mountain elk, your best bet would be the Kootenay region in the southeast, which boasts the province’s highest success rates. Another good option is the agricultural zones in the Peace River region.

California

• · Elk Population: 1,500 Rocky Mountains, 6,000 Roosevelt’s, 3,900 tules
• · Bull/Cow Ratios: 20/100 to 90/100
• · Nonresidents: $145 hunting license (nonrefundable to enter drawing) plus $1,173 elk permit
• · Hunter Success: 75 percent

Conditions are ripe for a world’s record tule, says Joe Hobbs, California Fish and Game elk coordinator. On the East Park Reservoir Unit, good spring rains this year and a low harvest of old bulls last year have left the environment in top shape for antler growth. The bad news? Your odds of drawing a bull tag there are 1 in 350. On the Grizzly Island unit, odds are 1 in 1,000. Auction tags are a possibility, too, but if odds and auctions aren’t your thing, private landowners receive a limited number of tags, and some are available for sale. The Marble Mountains unit in the northwest has 35 bull tags, 10 antlerless and 5 late-season muzzleloader/archery either-sex tags.

Colorado

• · Elk Population: 286,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 30/100
• · Nonresidents: cow $354, any elk $544
• · Hunter Success: 23 percent

Colorado is the land of plenty for elk and elk hunters but it isn’t currently known for producing behemoth bulls. That could be a different story this hunting season. The past two falls have been cursed with warm weather. In the northwest where many of the bigger bulls roam, elk migration didn’t even begin until after regular rifle seasons were over. Couple that with abundant spring and summer moisture producing high quality forage and the setup is perfect for more trophy bulls. The state’s more-than 200,000 elk hunters also will find that cow tags have gone up $100, the Division of Wildlife has recommended cutting 1,500 cow/either-sex rifle tags across the state, and over-the-counter archery licenses for units 54, 55 and 551 have been nixed. On the other hand, places where herds remain above objective, such as the Gunnison Basin, will see more rifle tags available.

Idaho

• · Elk Population: 101,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 25/100
• · Nonresidents: license $155, tag $417
• · Hunter Success: 20 percent

Since 2007, Idaho’s elk population has fallen by 24,000. And for the second year in a row, out-of-state tag revenues in the state have mirrored that trend. Hunters list wolves, the economy and nonresident tag prices as factors. This isn’t ideal for state wildlife coffers, but it could be ideal if you’re looking for elk hunting all to yourself. Wolves have hit elk populations hard in the classic elk country of the Lolo, Sawtooth and Selway areas, and the state has capped tags. Bull/cow and cow/calf ratios are in tough shape, and the statewide population could fall below 100,000 for the first time in decades. But the declines are by no means across the board. Elk populations are at or above objectives in 22 of 29 elk hunt zones. And a mild winter boosted cow and calf elk survival rates across most of the state. The Beaverhead, Lemhi, Island Park, Teton, Snake River, Palisades and Tex Creek zones all have healthy herds and offer the kind of elk hunting Idaho is famous for.

Kansas

• · Elk Population: 250-275
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 40/100
• · Nonresidents: Private landowner permits and one Commissioner’s Permit, usually sold at auction
• · Hunter Success: 75 percent either sex, 50 anterless

Kansas now has unlimited over-the-counter either-sex elk tags. In certain counties across the state, namely those not adjacent to Fort Riley or Cimarron National Grasslands, any resident can purchase one, hook up with a landowner and hunt elk. Landowners in Hamilton County in western Kansas voiced concern over crop depredation, and biologists responded with the liberal permits. If you care to play the odds, enter the drawing for a once-in-a-lifetime tag. More than half the state’s elk reside on and around 100,000-acre Fort Riley, which allows hunting: 12 either-sex (up 4 from last year) and 15 antlerless permits.

Kentucky

• · Elk Population: 10,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 35-40/100
• · Nonresidents: $10 to apply, $365 for permit, $130 for hunting license
• · Hunter Success: 80 percent

This year, the Bluegrass State’s wapiti hunt was so in-demand that applicants from all 50 states applied, plus the District of Columbia. That’s a great vote of confidence for the East’s biggest herd, but it means the odds of drawing got even longer for nonresidents: 1:200. For Kentuckians, you’re competing against 29,000 other hunters for 720 tags–far better odds at 1:42. Permit numbers in the state have been on a rollercoaster. Last year, permits rocketed up 50 percent to 1,000 tags. Hunters had 60 percent success on cows and 91 percent on bulls. So, managers reined in the number of permits this year back to 800 in hopes of beefing up the population.

Manitoba

• · Elk Population: 6,500
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 35-45/100
• · Residents only
• · Hunter Success: 20 percent

Elk are the “most desired species to hunt” among province residents, says Ken Rebizant, provincial big game manager. Traditional strongholds such as the Porcupine, Interlake and Duck Mountain regions are going to have elk, and big ones, but they’re tough draws, as the province has no over-the-counter tags. But, since bovine tuberculosis has impacted the Riding Mountain herd, provoking managers to reduce herd numbers, interest in that area has waned. That may be all a resident needs to finally draw an elk tag.

Michigan

• · Elk Population: 780
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 60/100
• · Residents only
• · Hunter Success: 70 percent

For years, the state has tried to get its elk numbers down to around 800 and now it seems managers have succeeded. The tendency for elk to wreak havoc on some ag operations in the northern lower peninsula had managers working hard to reduce the herd. Now that they’ve hit their mark, Michigan will offer 230 tags, 150 less than last year. This year, the state will offer 75 any-elk tags with 155 antlerless.

Minnesota

• · Elk Population: 170
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 50/100
• · Residents only
• · Hunter Success: 79 percent

This year, Minnesota will issue 11 once-in-a-lifetime tags for two separate seasons. Last year, 2,072 applicants put their name in for 30 permits. The state gives landowners 20 percent of the available tags. Last year, managers were able to work out a five-year management plan that calls for 30-38 elk in the Grygla herd, 20-30 animals in the Kittson Central herd and a currently undetermined number in the Caribou-Vita herd. Discussions are being held between the state DNR and Manitoba Conservation regarding population goals for the Caribou-Vita herd, which freely travels across the border.

Montana

• · Elk Population: 150,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 5-25/100
• · Nonresidents: $593
• · Hunter Success: 22 percent

There are plenty of elk in many pockets of Big Sky country. In fact, Montana continues to boast the second highest elk population of any state by a margin of 30,000 animals. But some populations have plummeted in the past five years. The northern Yellowstone herd is down to 6,000 animals from 19,000 in 1996. Areas north of Yellowstone National Park have seen permits cut and over-the-counter tags change to a draw. Populations in the West Fork of the Bitterroot River and the lower Clark Fork River are 60 percent below objective with just 7 calves per 100 cows. All antlerless tags have been cut and bulls will be hard to come by. Elk populations are well below objectives throughout much of Region 1 in the northwest. Hunters will find elk widely dispersed and wary throughout their traditional ranges in the western third of the state where wolves howl. But the farther one goes east of the Continental Divide, the more elk appear. Most of the eastern portion of the state is 20 percent above population objectives.

Nebraska

• · Elk Population: 2,400
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: Not available
• · Residents only
• · Hunter Success: 80 percent bulls, 58 percent cows

The state’s elk herd is still growing consistently around 15-20 percent every year. As numbers grow, opportunities to hunt grow with them, but only if you’re a resident. This year, the state will issue 272 tags, up 40 from last year, with 98 bull and 174 cow permits. To promote strong landowner relations, one-third of those permits are available to private landowners in a drawing and are non-transferable.

Nevada

• · Elk Population: 12,300
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 32/100
• · Nonresidents: $142 hunting license plus $1,200 tag
• · Hunter Success: 44 percent

In the past two years, the state’s elk population has grown nearly 30 percent. Opportunities for hunters to chase them have followed suit. A few hundred tags more than last year will be issued this season for a total of 3,350. Ten percent of those tags go to nonresidents who are looking at pretty decent 1:44 odds to draw a bull tag. The quality of bulls in the harvest remains high with more than 67 percent of bulls reported being six points or better. The state’s Elk Management on Private Lands Program distributed 66 tags to property owners to do with as they wish. Estimated revenue generated from those tags topped nearly $500,000 for the landowners.

New Mexico

• · Elk Population: 75,000-95,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 42/100
• · Nonresidents: $27 nonrefundable fee to enter drawing, plus $562 standard bull tag or $787 quality bull tag
• · Hunter Success: 30 percent

Out-of-staters looking to hunt here will find no over-the-counter tags. Those who didn’t draw may be able to contact a landowner for one of their tags (be ready to write a hefty check). The state has no bonus or preference point system. Residents get the bulk of the tags, 78 percent. The state’s units are broken into “quality” and “opportunity” hunts. The former will get you a better chance at bigger bulls, but odds are steep. The Gila area holds around 20,000 elk.

North Dakota

• · Elk Population: 2,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: Not available
• · Nonresidents: One auction tag available
• · Hunter Success: 42 percent

Big news this year is the hunt inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. With 950 elk, the park is looking to control elk populations, possibly killing 275 elk for the next five years to get the population at 100-400. For the rest of the state’s elk, things are pretty much status quo. Managers issued 561 tags–with 245 any-sex and 315 antlerless tags, the same as last year. Almost all hunting is now in the western Badlands.

Oklahoma

• · Elk Population: 2,300
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: Not available
• · Nonresidents: $306
• · Hunter Success: Not available

The Sooner State’s elk population is holding steady and the number of permits to hunt public land still hovers around 330. Odds of pulling one of those tags are dismal, less than 1 percent. But, if you do draw, there are some truly fine Okie bulls. Nonresidents looking to hunt here might do best to purchase a tag and then find a landowner who wants elk out of his winter wheat. For cow hunts, seasons are extended well into December and January.

Oregon

• · Elk Population: 120,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 15/100
• · Nonresidents: license $140, tag $500
• · Hunter Success: 13 percent

Due to budget constraints, biologists aren’t exactly sure how many elk they have as aerial surveys have been limited. But they think populations are stable. And, this year, managers plan to issue nearly 1,000 more permits than last season. Rocky Mountain elk dominate the east side of the Cascades while Roosevelt’s reign to the west. Most hunting in the steep and dark west is open to all comers with over-the-counter tags, while eastern Oregon is draw-only for rifle hunters. Bowhunters can hunt most of the east side with a general tag. Those eastern elk have some new neighbors, as a couple wolf packs have dispersed into the state from Idaho.

Pennsylvania

• · Elk Population: 700
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 28/100
• · Nonresidents: $250 for elk tag, $101 for general license
• · Hunter Success: 94 percent bull, 73 percent cow

To be blunt, this state has been growing some absolute toads. In 2006, a hunter killed a 425-2/8 non-typical, while just last year a hunter killed a 423-6/8 non-typical. Both bulls were around 6 years old. Records remain to be shattered if a bull can tack on a few extra years. Managers are currently revising the state’s elk management plan to determine how many elk that habitat and society will support. In the meantime, 51 tags will again be issued this season, with 18 bull and 33 cow.

Saskatchewan

• · Elk Population: 15,000-16,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 20/100
• · Residents only
• · Hunter Success: 20 percent

Landowner tolerance for elk dictates seasons in this province. In the south where there is a lot of private farmland and the only predator carries a rifle, you’ll find ample antlerless quotas meant to get elk off the crops and into freezers. If you want a bull, this just might be your year. With so much open ag land, bulls are easy to spot. To help them gain a little antler weight, managers only allow them to be hunted every third year, which has produced some 400-inch monsters. Moose Mountain Provincial Park in the southeast corner is home to 1,400 elk and has seen numbers gaining strength in the past decade. This is a draw-only unit, open to either-sex hunting, and also has outstanding bulls.
For challenging over-the-counter hunts, the north-central and western regions offer forests and meadow fringes that hide elk along with plenty of their four-legged predators.

South Dakota

• · Elk Population: 5,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 75/100
• · Residents only
• · Hunter Success: 50 percent

The state’s largest herd in the Black Hills National Forest numbered as many as 5,000 animals back in 2003. Aggressive management knocked that number down to the current 3,000. But public attitudes have shifted and there is once again a cry for more elk and more hunting opportunity. To reach a goal of 4,000 in the Hills, managers have had to cut rifle tags again this year to 1,065–a drop of 300 from last year. Still, residents’ odds of hunting a bull in the Black Hills are a solid 1:10. If you pull a tag, make the most of it, as you have to wait nine years to apply again.

Tennessee

• · Elk Population: 400
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: Not available
• · Nonresidents: $10 fee to enter drawing, $300 if drawn
• · Hunter Success: 100 percent

“We want to grow this elk herd and add more hunters,” says Steve Bennett, elk restoration project coordinator. The herd seems to be cooperating. Last year, five lucky hunters participated in the state’s first sanctioned elk hunt, taking five elk, four on the first day. State wildlife managers hope to see the herd reach 2,000 animals within the next two decades.

Utah

• · Elk Population: 68,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 15-80/100
• · Nonresidents: $65 hunting license, plus $388 general tag, $795 limited-entry tag or $1,500 premium limited-entry tag
• · Hunter Success: 17 percent

Statewide, hunters kill bulls that average around 6½ years, and Utah has seen good moisture this past winter and spring, keeping the hills green and lush. Translation: healthy brutes with big headgear. The most popular units include San Juan and Fillmore Pahvant but odds of drawing a limited-entry tag are tough. For residents, it’s 1:16. Nonresidents, 1:44. There are over-the-counter options, especially for archery hunters who are willing to hike into wilderness.

Washington

• · Elk Population: 55,000-60,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 12-20/100 in most units
• · Nonresidents: $432
• · Hunter Success: 8 percent

Washington has more hunters per elk than any other state. Managers help control densities by making hunters choose either westside Roosevelt’s or eastside Rocky Mountain elk. Both hunters and elk are split about 50/50. Generally, herd numbers are stable this season but the Yakima herd has seen a drop in calf recruitment, thus special permits for both branch-antlered bulls and cows have been cut 30-40 percent. While it may take some time for the Yakima herd to rebound, the state has plenty of other hot spots like the classic elk country of the Blue Mountains. This area in the southeast corner has seen an increase in bull permits the last few years. The southwest also offers over-the-counter permits, especially on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest around Mt. St. Helens where managers are trying to knock down herd numbers. Wolves have established at least two confirmed packs on the eastside.

Wyoming

• · Elk Population 120,000
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 23/100
• · Nonresidents: $577 for permit, $288 for cow-calf permit, $1,057 for special permit
• · Hunter Success: 43 percent

Certain places in Wyoming have seen significant impacts from wolves and other carnivores. Much of the Cody herd, near Yellowstone, is seeing poor calf-recruitment made worse by predation. Once a general hunting area, it is now a limited-entry draw. Areas around Jackson Hole and the Gros Ventre and Teton Wilderness Areas will see tightened seasons and antler-point restrictions to try and boost bull/cow and cow/calf ratios. Outside the northwest corner, the state’s elk populations are up 15,000 from last year and many units are far above objectives. The statewide objective is 80,000 elk. That’s 40,000 less than where the herd stands now. The state expects to have lots of leftover antlerless licenses. Aggressive seasons have been set in many places including the Snowy Range, Laramie Peak and Sierra Madre. Last year, the state shifted to a first-come/first-served online licensing system. Out-of-staters can now search for leftover licenses without having to wait in line (in Wyoming) for reduced and full-price tags. For those more interested in hunting bulls, the state allots 16 percent of its limited quota and general licenses to nonresidents.

Yukon Territory

• · Elk Population: 250-300
• · Bull/Cow Ratio: 60/100
• · Residents only
• · Hunter Success: 29 percent

This province, which boasts 70,000 moose and only 35,000 people, last year held its first official elk hunt in 25 years. Twenty-six hunters took an elk home for the freezer. While much of the Yukon’s northern boreal forest can’t support elk, the Takhini Valley to the
south along the Alaska highway, and Braeburn to the north along the Klondike Highway, are elk strongholds. A total of 63 permits will be distributed by lottery for Takhini. Up in Braeburn, six permits are available.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.8 million acres–a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Mule Deer Foundation

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah --(AmmoLand.com)- The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) has announced that in 2010 there were 129 State Auction and Raffle Hunting Tags sold for a record $1.84 million.

The tags were sold at MDF’s National Convention (Western Hunting and Conservation Expo) in Salt Lake City, Utah, in February and at several local banquet events. These tags are highly prized by big game hunters throughout North America.

No other conservation organization has matched MDF’s record in dollars or diversity of tags sold in 2010. The previous record was 175 tags which sold for $1.66 million in 2008.

MDF, in partnership with eleven different state wildlife agencies and the Jicarilla Tribe, sells big game hunting tags to provide much needed funds for the management of mule deer, black-tailed deer, elk, bison, antelope, turkey and other game species. Over 93 percent of the money either goes back to the state wildlife agency for management programs or is spent on habitat projects.

Highlights in 2010 included the sale of a Utah Statewide Mule Deer Tag for an all-time high of $260,000. Arizona’s Statewide Mule Deer Tag sold for a record $177,000. Colorado’s Statewide Deer Tag sold for a record $130,000. The New Mexico Big Game Enhancement Package sold for $130,000 and included five hunting tags which consisted of a mule deer, elk, oryx, antelope and ibex. The unique California Golden Opportunity Grizzly Island Tule Elk Tag sold for $32,500.

Beginning in November of 2010, MDF will once again be selling the 2011 Auction and Raffle Tags at our fundraising events. If you are interested in bidding on a tag or buying a raffle ticket, log on to www.muledeer.org for event dates and locations. The Web site is updated frequently so keep checking for a fundraising event near you. Many of the higher valued tags are sold at MDF’s National Convention which will be held in conjunction with the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 3-6, 2011.

About MDF (www.muledeer.org)
The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)3 organization, with over 12,000 members. MDF’s mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitats. MDF is dedicated to restoring, improving and protecting mule deer habitat (including land and easement acquisitions) resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and hunt-able deer populations; encouraging and supporting responsible wildlife management with government agencies, private organizations and landowners; promoting public education and scientific research related to mule deer and wildlife management; supporting and encouraging responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer; and acknowledging regulated hunting as a viable component of mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation.

For information about the Mule Deer Foundation please call 888-375-DEER (3337).

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Nebraska --(AmmoLand.com)- It’s a big game hunter’s second favorite time of year – the time when big game permits go on sale.

Hunters can get an early start on making their fall plans and begin daydreaming about cool, crisp November mornings just as the steamy hot weather of summer hits its stride.

Right now big game hunting in Nebraska is the best it’s ever been.  The state has record populations of deer, turkey and even elk.  Deer and turkey permits are easy to get, and with $5 youth permits for both species available, aspiring young hunters can become part of the trips afield.

Those hunters hoping to harvest something to hang on their wall will be pleased by the fact that the average age of our bucks has increased in recent years, with 30% of the bucks taken in 2009 being age 3 or older.

A new October 2-11 antlerless firearm season has also been added for 60% of the state, with $10 permits for residents and $55 permits for nonresidents. The January firearm antlerless season has also been extended for 9 days.

Archers will be happy to note the minimum draw weight for bows has been removed, and archery equipment can now be used to fill firearm permits.

Another extra perk to deer hunting in Nebraska is the fact that a majority of our deer permits include an antlerless bonus tags. Statewide archery and muzzleloader permits, as well as many firearm units and most season choice units, offer a bonus tag. Enjoy the hunting, but don’t need the extra meat? Our Deer Exchange program is available to help share the venison.

2010 antelope permits are still available to both residents and nonresidents. A limited number of resident landowner elk permits remain as well.

So start making plans and lining up your permits today.  We encourage you to become familiar with the changes noted in the 2010 Big Game Guide, including the new Earn-A-Buck units (Elkhorn and Wahoo Firearm) and the Mule Deer Conservation area.  Click here to purchase your permits

Super Tag Lottery (Nebraska residents only) Also new in 2010 is a Super Tag Lottery that is open to Nebraska residents. The tag includes one permit for elk, antelope and deer, and two permits for turkey (Spring or Fall seasons).

Once-in-a-lifetime bull elk permit holders are eligible to participate in this lottery.

The application period for this tag is open now through July 7, with an application fee of $25. (One entry per person.) The winner will be drawn at the July meeting of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and will have two years (2010 and 2011) to fill the permits.

Click here to enter the Super Tag Lottery in the Big Game Permits section of the permitting system. (After creating your profile, select the “Multi-Species” button. Scroll to find the 2010 Nebraska Resident-Super Tag Lottery-Multi Species option; click the green check-mark button in the “Select” box on the far right-hand side.)

Fair Chase Javelina Hunting

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- Hunters, don’t start your summer vacation just yet. Applications for fall hunt permit-tags for the 2010-11 hunting season are due to the Arizona Game and Fish Department on or before Tuesday, June 8 by 7 p.m. MST (the previous notice incorrectly stated June 9; we apologize for any confusion). Postmarks do not count.

Hunters interested in a permit-tag for fall deer, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo, fall turkey, juniors-only fall javelina, or pheasant are required to submit a paper application for the drawing process.There is no online application process available.

Applications may be hand delivered to any of the seven department offices or sent by U.S. mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Drawing Section, PO Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052. For the locations of department offices, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

To apply, refer to the 2010-11 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations and application forms available at any department office, license dealer, or online at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Directions on how to apply for the draw are outlined on pages 16-20 of the regulations. The digital editable PDF application can be typed using a computer and then printed, signed, and submitted to the department. A blank form can also be printed and filled out using an ink pen.

A 2010 hunting license is required to apply. Licenses can be purchased through the application process, at department offices, from license dealers, or at www.azgfd.gov.

Youth hunts
Hey kids, do you want to go deer hunting, but don’t know how to get started? There are three mentored deer hunting camps designed to help new hunters learn how to hunt. Each camp offers experienced instruction on hunting, camping, care of game, and other tips for first-time hunters. A tag issued through the draw is required for these hunts. Below is a list of the hunt numbers where the camps will be. Use the appropriate hunt number on your application depending on your schedule and location needs:

Mogollon Rim Area, Oct. 8-10: Apply for hunt number 1156, juniors-only deer.
The Unit 23 Juniors Deer Camp is hosted by the Arizona Deer Association.
Southern Arizona, Nov. 19–21: Apply for hunt number 1162, juniors-only deer.
The Unit 36A Juniors Deer Camp is hosted by the Arizona state chapter of Safari Club International.

Central Arizona, Nov. 19–21: Apply for hunt number 1154, juniors-only deer.
The Unit 20C Juniors Deer Camp is hosted by Youth Outdoors Unlimited.
Other great opportunities for the kids are several hunts that are like a two-for-one hunt. Juniors-only deer hunts for hunt numbers 1158, 1159, 1162, 1163, and 1176 (hunt areas include units 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 36A, 36B and 16A muzzleloader) are also eligible to purchase an over-the-counter restricted javelina nonpermit-tag (companion tag) at any department office. The companion tag is valid for the same area and dates as the deer hunt, and gives kids twice the reason to go hunting.

Buy a ticket, support wildlife
To increase your odds of getting a big game tag, and possibly one of a lifetime, take part in the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle. There are 10 special big game tags and every dollar raised for these tags goes directly towards wildlife management projects that benefit that species in Arizona. Winners will be able to hunt for 365 days almost anywhere in the state of Arizona during the 2010-2011 hunting season. Tickets range from $5-25. The deadline to get a ticket by mail is July 9. Online ticket sales end on July 11. The public drawing will be held July 15. For more details, visit www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive any of the state’s general funds to operate. Wildlife conservation and management of the state’s game animals, which also benefits many non-game species, is made possible through a user-pay, user-benefit system. Funding from the direct sale of hunting and fishing licenses, big game tags, and matching funds from the Pittman-Robertson Act, a federal excise tax that sportsmen pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment, remain the backbone of wildlife conservation in North America. To learn more, visit www.azgfd.gov/h_f/northamericanmodel.shtml.

Global Rescue Evacuates Bear Hunter From Remote Camp In Kamchatka, Russia

Global Rescue

Kamchatka, Russia --(Ammoland.com)- While hunting brown bear deep in the forests of Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula, a Global Rescue member severely injured his leg leaving him in need of medical evacuation.

Global Rescue evacuated the member to a local hospital for stabilization and ultimately to his home hospital of choice.

Global Rescue launched a helicopter to extract the 63-year-old man from the remote camp to a hospital in Petropavlovsk Kamchatskiy, where he was diagnosed with a badly fractured leg and torn ligaments.

After the leg was immobilized, Global Rescue physicians evaluated the results of the member’s x-rays and approved him for travel.

The member was then evacuated by Global Rescue’s medical personnel to his home hospital of choice in St. Louis, Missouri for follow-on care.

Global Rescue made arrangements to have the member’s weapon accompany him on his flight home and to have his bear skin sent to a taxidermist near his home in St. Louis.

While hunting brown bear a Global Rescue member severely injured his leg leaving him in need of medical evacuation.

About:
Global Rescue provides best-in-class medical, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue and security services to individuals, corporations, travelers and expeditions worldwide. The company’s emergency response teams are comprised of paramedics, physicians and security personnel, many of whom are veterans of elite special operations units of the U.S. Military. Through an exclusive relationship with the physicians of Johns Hopkins, Global Rescue members also benefit from the advisory services of some of the world’s finest physicians.

Examples of Global Rescue’s work include rescuing a safari client from Mozambique and dispatching a special operations team to Africa to protect and prepare to evacuate Americans from a country experiencing political unrest. Other recent missions include evacuations from Haiti, Chile, the Republic of Georgia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Mexico, Alaska, Argentina, Ethiopia, and Thailand. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

Boone and Crockett Club

MISSOULA, Mont.--(Ammoland.com)- Conservation groups and the hunting industry are rallying for unprecedented support of an upcoming public exhibit of big game trophies.

Hosted by Boone and Crockett Club, the triennial event is a free showing of world-class antlers, horns and mounted specimens from across North America. The exhibit is set for June 24-26, 2010, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev.

“Since 1947, these exhibits have helped citizens understand more about the hunter-funded conservation system that continues to produce ever-increasing numbers of trophy-class game,” said Tony Schoonen, chief of staff for Boone and Crockett Club.

“This year, we’re honored to have a record number of supporters from across the sporting industry to help us recognize these special animals, their hunters and the fair chase hunts that produced them.”

Sponsors for the Boone and Crockett Club’s 27th Big Game Awards include:

• Boyt Harness Company
• Buck Knives
• Cabela’s
• Dallas Safari Club
• Eastman’s Hunting Journal
• Federal/ATK
• Hornady Manufacturing
• Intermedia Outdoors
• Leupold & Stevens
• Mule Deer Foundation
• Nikon Hunting Optics
• Pope & Young Club
• Remington Arms and Ammunition
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Trijicon
• Wild Sheep Foundation

Funding from sponsors helps to produce many facets of the event, including the free-to-the-public displays of Top 5 trophies taken during the past three years, along with Boone and Crockett-class trophies taken by hunters age 16 and under, in 36 categories of native North American big game, plus a variety of seminars and exhibits.

Registered attendees also can enjoy raffles, an auction featuring hunts in top trophy regions across the continent and evening awards banquets and presentations.

Details are available at www.biggameawards.com.

The Boone and Crockett system of scoring big game trophies originated in 1906 as means of recording details on species thought to be disappearing because of rampant habitat loss and unregulated hunting. Science-based conservation efforts led and funded by license-buying hunters brought those species from vanishing to flourishing.

Boone and Crockett records remain a classic gauge of habitat and management programs.

In addition to its prestigious history and tradition, the Boone and Crockett scoring system is strongly associated with the highest tenets of fair chase and hunting ethics.

About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For details, visit www.boone-crockett.org.

Arizona Game And Fish Department Annual Survey, Harvest and Hunt Data

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Do you want to find the hunts with the best chances of putting a tag in your pocket. Or, are you more interested in which hunts have the best harvest success? You can find that information and much more in the 2010 edition of Hunt Arizona [PDF, 9.5MB].

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s annual collection of survey, harvest and hunt data for big and small game has the latest 5-year data as well as historical data that you are bound to find of interest, some of it dating back to 1930s.

“From this one book, you have access to how many people apply, what kind of hunt success they have, and if permits are increasing, decreasing or static,” said Game Branch Chief, Brian Wakeling. “This is an incredible resource that can help a hunter, new or experienced, balance the odds for getting drawn with the odds for successfully harvesting wildlife.”

What does an incredible resource like this cost? Nothing, it is free and available for downloading at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Beginning this year, the resource is no longer available in a printed book format due to the popularity of the online version. The online PDF format (192 pages, 9.5Mb) allows for conveniences not afforded by the printed format, including keyword searching, copy and paste for creating your own custom comparisons, and the ability to zoom the text to any size to aid in reading.

With the application deadline approaching, Hunt Arizona is out just in time for applying for the upcoming fall hunts.

Hunters interested in a permit-tag for fall deer, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo, fall turkey, juniors-only fall javelina, or pheasant (antelope and elk took place in February) should note that the deadline to apply is Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 7 p.m. MST.

The 2010-11 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations [PDF, 6mb] and application forms are now available in department offices and license dealers statewide, and they can be downloaded at the department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

If you submit your application early (received by the department before May 27 at 5 p.m.) you can still take advantage of the correction period, where the department will attempt to call you three times in a 24-hour period to correct the mistake. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected.

Applications may be hand delivered to any of the seven department offices or sent by U.S. mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Drawing Section, PO Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052 before the deadline. Postmarks do not count. There is no online application process available.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive any of the state’s general funds to operate. Wildlife conservation and management of the state’s game animals, which also benefits many non-game species, is made possible through a user-pay, user-benefit system. Funding from the direct sale of hunting and fishing licenses, big game tags, and matching funds from the Pittman-Robertson Act, a federal excise tax that sportsmen pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment, remain the backbone of wildlife conservation in North America.

Boone and Crockett Club

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- A celebration of conservation, hunting and extraordinary big game trophies is set for June 24-26, 2010, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev. Hosted by the Boone and Crockett Club, the event is a free public exhibition of world-class antlers, horns and mounted specimens from across North America.

Free attractions include displays of Top 5 trophies taken during the past three years, along with Boone and Crockett-class trophies taken by hunters age 16 and under, in 36 categories of native North American big game, plus a variety of seminars and exhibits.

Registered attendees also can enjoy raffles, an auction featuring hunts in top trophy regions across the continent and evening awards banquets and presentations.

More information on this triennial event, the Boone and Crockett Club 27th Big Game Awards, is available at www.biggameawards.com.

“This tradition dates back to 1947. That’s when Boone and Crockett Club began inviting the public to see the trophies that we honor as symbols of the world’s most successful model for wildlife conservation,” said Eldon Buckner, chairman of the Club’s Records of North American Big Game Committee.

“The exciting fact is that we are receiving four times the trophy entries that we received 30 years ago. This means wild, free ranging, trophy class animals are more plentiful today than ever before. And that is a tribute to those who manage our wildlife and the sportsmen who participate in that management,” added Buckner.

The Boone and Crockett system of scoring big game trophies originated in 1906 as means of recording details on species thought to be disappearing because of rampant habitat loss and unregulated hunting. Science-based conservation efforts led and funded by license-buying hunters brought those species from vanishing to flourishing.

Major outdoor news outlets are picking up on this conservation success story. InterMedia Outdoors, which owns Sportsman Channel and several publications including Petersen’s Hunting, is the Boone and Crockett Club’s media partner for the event.

“InterMedia Outdoors is proud to be a part of this story about conservation success and history,” said Jeff Paro, president of InterMedia. “We want to make sure our audience of avid sportsmen and women know about this celebration and the critical role they have played in the most successful wildlife management system in the world.”

Boone and Crockett records remain a classic gauge of habitat and management programs.

In addition to its prestigious history and tradition, the Boone and Crockett scoring system is strongly associated with the highest tenets of fair chase and hunting ethics.

About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For details, visit www.boone-crockett.org.