Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer has appeared for the first time in Buffalo, Custer and Holt counties, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

There were 1,565 lymph node samples collected from deer taken during the 2011 November firearm deer season, with 26 samples testing positive for CWD.

In addition, samples were taken from 37 culled deer that showed clinical symptoms for CWD, with one male mule deer from Garden County testing positive.

Those symptoms include a rough, emaciated appearance and a lack of fear of humans.

There were a record 51 positives from 3,645 samples in Nebraska in 2010. However, the surveillance effort was reduced in 2011 due to a lack of funds. The 2011 effort focused on central Nebraska, the leading edge of the disease as it spreads from west to east.

Game and Parks confirmed CWD in the state’s deer population in 2000. CWD is a disease that can affect deer and elk and always is fatal to the affected animal. Humans have never been known to contract CWD.

Letters to the AmmoLand Editor: Got something on your mind? Let us know and you can see it here.

Montana --(Ammoland.com)- I firmly believe that the wild bison of the Yellowstone Ecosystem should not be slaughtered simply because a few ranchers outside of the historic entrance to Yellowstone National Park think that wild bison spread disease, which has not been proven scientifically.

What has been proven is that domestic animals spread disease to various types of wildlife.

Furthermore, I firmly believe that all wild bison should be hunted without roaming restrictions and I support efforts by Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to relocate wild bison to various public land masses. I also support the relocation of excess wild bison to other state, tribal and federal land systems.

Wild bison are not cattle or other domestic animals and should never be managed by the Montana Dept. of Livestock. They are not livestock.

As a Montana hunter, I firmly believe that excess wild bison should be hunted under the rules of Fair Chase and that wild bison should be allowed to roam outside Yellowstone National Park without being slaughtered by paid shooters.

For years I have supported the permit hunting of wild excess bison within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park during a special hunting season. Money collected from these hunting licenses would then go back to the management of wild bison. I also support the legal hunting of wildlife within the boundaries of other national parks where populations of some wildlife are in excess of the land’s carry load, such as the elk population of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

I do not support the introduction of wolves to national parks to control excess wildlife populations of cervids and believe that the natural reproduction of wolves in the wild is the appropriate way to allow wolves to thrive. I also believe that excess populations of wolves must be reduced through legal hunting, not sharpshooting.

In the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Ding Darling, Horace Albright and those Americans that began our public land systems in the early 1900s at the state and federal level, I say, the wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so I must and I do and so must we all for those wildlife.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a public meeting in Deer Lodge Oct. 5 to discuss and seek comment on an environmental assessment of interim placement locations and management for about 150 disease-free bison pending the development of a statewide bison conservation strategy.

The interim locations assessed include FWP’s 28,000-acre Spotted Dog WMA near Avon and the 5,800-acre Marias River WMA near Shelby. Also under consideration are the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation near Malta and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation near Wolf Point. Under the proposal, bison could be moved to one or any combination of the potential locations.

The public meeting in Deer Lodge will be held Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 146 Cottonwood Street; in Shelby on Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m.at the Marias River Electric Cooperative, 910 Roosevelt Highway; and Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Glasgow Civic Center, 319 3rd Street S.

The bison are part of a project that began in 2004 aimed at determining if bison can be kept free of the bacteria that causes brucellosis, a disease that results in miscarriages in some pregnant animals, including domestic cattle, and bison and elk. The bison, which were repeatedly tested for the disease, are considered brucellosis-free, but to complete the feasibility study additional follow-up testing will continue.

FWP Wildlife Bureau Chief Ken McDonald said the goal is to relocate up to 150 of the disease-free bison from the quarantine facility and from a temporary site at the Green Ranch near Bozeman. A “no action” alternative would have the bison remain at these locations.

Should the animals be relocated to the WMAs, the bison would be held for an interim period pending completion of a statewide conservation strategy which is expected by 2015. That conservation strategy would identify potential permanent locations for brucellosis-free bison.

There are no infrastructure costs associated with the interim tribal lands under consideration. A range of infrastructure improvement costs between $637,000 to $2 million are possible on the wildlife management areas for potential boundary fences, pasture fences, gates, corrals, chutes, and outbuildings.

“It’s FWP’s intention to keep monitoring and testing all of the bison at any of the interim sites,” McDonald said. Management plans for each site would also include commitments by FWP or the Tribes to immediately respond to any escapes of bison from the facilities.

For more information and to comment visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov. Click Recent Public Notices. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 19.

Wild bison exist in Alaska, Arizona, Utah, Canada and other places. Today in Montana wild bison that migrate north from Yellowstone National Park are found in winter near West Yellowstone and Gardiner. In years past, animals from Yellowstone were used to help restore elk, antelope and other wildlife herds in Montana and other areas of the West.

Texas Bison Association

AUSTIN, Texas --(AmmoLand.com)- Preserving and promoting American Buffalo, the Texas Bison Association (TBA) is pleased to announce that the Texas Legislature has officially designated the first week of May as ‘Texas Bison Week.’ During the commemorative week, the TBA will host its Spring Meeting and ‘Buffalo Banquet’ on May 8, 2010 in conjunction with Buffalo Boogie 5K Fun Run sponsored by the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge in Fort Worth.

After the TBA’s membership meeting, the First Annual TBA Buffalo Banquet will feature a fund-raising auction with a wide array of trips, art, custom knives, furniture, jewelry, trips, and other Texas- and buffalo-related products. The banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the La Quinta – Lake Worth and all bison enthusiasts are welcome to attend. Cost is $50 and includes TBA ‘Friend of the Herd’ membership, bison steak dinner and chances to win some great auction and raffle items. A portion of the proceeds from the banquet will also be donated to the American Heart Association.

“The Texas legislature’s official recognition of Texas Bison Week acknowledges the resurgence of bison and the growing popularity of bison as a heart-healthy red meat alternative,” says Tim Frasier, president of the Texas Bison Association. “Buffalo ranching and bison products are becoming increasingly popular, and our all-new Buffalo Banquet is bringing together bison enthusiasts for a fun evening commemorating the rich, unique history and tradition of our American buffalo.”

Bison meat is very lean — containing less calories and cholesterol than either beef or chicken — and is a great alternative for people who want to improve their diet without giving up red meat. In addition, bison contributes about 69 percent more iron to a diet than beef and contains higher levels of vitamins and minerals, and is more non-allergenic and digestible than most other meats.

The Texas Bison Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 by bison owners and individuals concerned with the preservation and promotion of the North American Plains Bison. Today, the TBA provides assistance in raising and producing bison and promotes the nutritional health aspects of the North American Bison to consumers. The TBA hosts two major events during the year — the Texas Bison Exposition, which features exhibitors from the bison industry, informative seminars on raising bison, the World Championship Buffalo Burger Challenge, and more; and its Spring Banquet & Fund-Raising Auction, an event which brings together bison industry professionals and enthusiasts during “Texas Bison Week.’

For membership or sponsorship information, call 512.331.8618 or visit www.TexasBison.org.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the Texas Bison Association is a non-profit organization of producers, ranchers and bison enthusiasts. For more information on Texas bison, bison ranching or membership in the Texas Bison Association, call 512.331.8618 or visit www.TexasBison.org.

Custer State Park To Hold Annual Bison Auction

South Dakota Fish, Game & Parks

CUSTER, S.D. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The 2009 Custer State Park Fall Classic Bison Auction will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the park corrals. This year’s offering includes six mature cows, 10 two-year old heifers, 20 yearling heifers, 65 heifer calves, 85 bull calves, 40 yearling bulls, 12 two-year old breeding bulls, and 12 burros.

The auction will begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m. (Mountain Standard Time) at the Custer State Park corrals, located 15 miles east of Custer on Highway 16A and then 9 miles south on the Wildlife Loop Road. Signs will be posted to assist in locating the corrals. A buyer’s reception will be held prior to the auction on Friday, Nov. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Creekside Lodge, located next to the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park.

For the past 44 years, the park has made its surplus bison available for sale to the private sector. Revenue from the park’s bison herd is a significant amount of the capital generated by the park and goes toward continued operations of the state park system.

For additional information about the upcoming bison auction, contact Custer State Park at (605) 255-4515 or e-mail questions to CusterStatePark@state.sd.us

MedjetAssist

Birmingham, Alabama —-(AmmoLand.com)- Imagine yourself on a dream safari, deep in the Bushveld and hundreds of miles from civilization. But instead of enjoying the expedition that took years to plan, you’ve taken ill and can’t even get out of bed.

Baking under the sweltering African sun, you’re disoriented, queasy and drifting in and out of consciousness, and despite the best efforts of a paramedic who happens to be sharing your camp, you’re not getting any better. A day’s travel from the nearest medical facility, your fellow campers begin to believe that you’ll be lucky to make it out of there alive.

But it’s not luck you need. You just need one phone call to MedjetAssist. For William Fisher of Eagle River, AK, that one call to Medjet in October may have been the difference between life and death.

The last thing 63-year-old Fisher expected from his Zambian Cape buffalo safari was to be the subject of an emergency remote evacuation. But instead of harvesting a trophy bull on his dream hunt, four days after arriving in the camp along the South Luangwa River, he found himself on a medical jet bound for Nairobi, Kenya.

A former Air Force pilot who flew in Vietnam and career special agent with the Immigration and Nationalization Service, Fisher was no stranger to high temperatures. But the four-and-a-half hour, 105-degree ride in the sun-drenched, open-top hunting vehicle into camp was the first blow to Fisher’s system, which was already weakened by a recent bout with a respiratory illness.

Despite successfully scouting hundreds of elephant, hippo, antelope and several fine specimens of Cape buffalo in the first two days, the scorching temperatures only increased as Fisher’s condition spiraled downward, confining him to his bed. It worsened to the point that his son and hunting partner Billy, a trained paramedic from Oregon, had expended all of his resources and began to fear for his father’s life. He grabbed the satellite phone and called MedjetAssist.

The elder Fisher was suspected of suffering heat stroke and severe dehydration. Medjet immediately went to work arranging a remote evacuation to get Fisher to a major medical facility for stabilization and treatment. Fisher was transported to Nairobi via a medically equipped Citation jet and was given five liters of fluid intravenously by the onboard doctor. At the hospital, he was treated for exacerbation of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heat stroke.

Normally, a medical evacuation like this would have cost Fisher nearly $20,000. Fortunately as a member of MedjetAssist, the nation’s leading emergency medical evacuation and repatriation membership program, Fisher and his family’s only out of pocket expense was their membership fee. Luckily on this trip they were in the capable hands of MedjetAssist.

“I’ve been around the world my whole life, but this trip was different,” said Fisher from his Alaska home. “Medjet saved my life, and I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

If a Medjet member is hospitalized more than 150 miles from home—virtually anywhere in the world, Medjet will arrange for medical transportation to the hospital of their choice at no additional cost.

Medjet is a pre-paid annual membership with no monetary limit to its benefits. Annual membership dues are $250 for an individual, $385 for a family, and short-term memberships start at $95. Annual domestic-only protection is also available for $175 for an individual and $305 for a family.

About MedjetAssist
Medjet was established in 1991 and is the premier medical evacuation and repatriation membership program for travelers. MedjetAssist has its corporate headquarters in Birmingham, AL, and was recently named the exclusive provider of worldwide air ambulance and medical repatriation services for AARP. For additional information, visit www.medjet.com.

South Dakota Fish, Game & Parks

CUSTER STATE PARK, S.D. –-(AmmoLand.com)- This morning was a busy one in Custer State Park as park staff corralled 1,500 buffalo during the 44th annual roundup. Initial reports indicate that attendance was up significantly from last year.

“Custer State Park hosted 2,861 cars and 40 motor coaches for the Roundup this year,” said Craig Pugsley, Visitor Services Coordinator at Custer State Park. “That is up dramatically from 2,360 cars and 29 motor coaches in 2008.”

Guests arrived from 41 states, three Canadian provinces and many foreign countries. Journalists from across the globe covered the event for their readers and viewers back home.

“This has grown to be a great event and we’re happy we can share a little bit of the Old West with those who are here for a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” added Pugsley.

The annual roundup serves as a tool to help manage the park’s buffalo herd. Around 200 buffalo will be sold at the park’s annual auction on Saturday, Nov. 21. For additional information on the auction, contact the park by phone at (605) 255-4515 or by email at CusterStatePark@state.sd.us.

Utah – -(AmmoLand.com)- Last winter, the transplant of 30 bison from the Henry Mountains to the Book Cliffs drew the attention of people across the country.

Bison on the Book Cliffs

DWR biologists know of four calves that have been born into the new herd. So how are those bison doing?

Very well, biologists with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) are happy to report.

“Our surveys this spring and summer have documented not only great survival but also fairly good reproduction,” says Dax Mangus, DWR wildlife biologist.

“[It doesn't appear that any of the 44 bison that we reintroduced in two separate releases died this past winter]. And we’ve seen four calves. That’s a sign of good reproduction and good nutrition. Among the bison we moved, only a few cows were pregnant, [so seeing four calves is great].

“The bison are adapting well to their new environment.”

The Book Cliffs are in east-central Utah.

Two releases

Last summer, the Ute Indian Tribe donated 14 bison to the DWR. Biologists released the bison onto public land in an area in the Book Cliffs that doesn’t have any roads. This area is known as the “Roadless Area.”

In January 2009, another 30 bison were collected from a public herd on the Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah. These bison were released on two ridges in the western area of the Book Cliffs that has roads.

“We put radio collars on eight of the 14 bison we released in the Roadless Area,” Mangus says.

After the bison were transplanted, Mangus says these yearling bulls and cows moved downstream and farther into the Roadless Area.

Within a few weeks, however, almost all of them were seen on the edge of Ute land, or on the tribal land itself. “Human activity during the first few weeks of the hunts likely spooked them off the public lands,” Mangus says. “As the winter progressed, some of these bison moved off the tribal lands and back into the Roadless Area.”

Meanwhile, the 30 bison from the Henry Mountains, which were released in the middle of the winter, stayed close to their release sites. “The exception were a couple of bison that headed down the south slope of the Book Cliffs divide,” Mangus says. “Fortunately, they decided to stay on the south slope. They didn’t try to cross the Cisco Desert and make their way back to the Henry’s.”

Exploring their new homes
As spring moved into summer, the bison began exploring their new homes.

“Four of the eight collared animals from the Ute tribe moved well into the Roadless Area, where they were joined by bison from the Henry Mountains release,” Mangus says. “At least four more from the tribe have checked out the southern slopes, but all of them have since returned to the divide area.

“Our last survey in mid-July showed most of the bison from the original Roadless Area release have moved into the head waters of West Willow and Hill Creek. That puts them on the border of the tribal land, or just inside the tribal boundary.

“From what I could see on my last trip into the Roadless Area, it’s likely that they moved to the tribal land to avoid people. There isn’t much difference in the habitat between the two units, but there is a major difference in the number of people in the two areas.”

Mangus says the largest concentration of bison is in the roaded area near the divide. “This herd includes animals from the Henry Mountain releases, a few left over from a private herd and some bison that have made their way over from tribal land,” he says. “As a result, this herd is a bit larger than expected.

“These animals seem to be more tolerant of people, but that may be because in the Roadless Area, people are on foot or horseback and are easier to see. In the roaded area, most people are partially hidden inside their vehicles. And the vehicles generally follow specific routes along the roads.”

Watch from a distance
Mangus wants visitors to enjoy seeing the bison, but he asks you not to approach the bison too closely.

“These bison are large, wild animals, and they can be dangerous if they’re cornered or spooked,” he says. “We also have a herd of young animals that haven’t become established yet. We don’t want people to frighten them off the areas they’ve found. These areas have good habitat.

“So, if you see them, go ahead and watch, but please keep your distance,” he says. “If you see them start to move or react to your presence, then you’ll know you’re much too close.”

Bison taken with Steyr SSG 04 .300 Win. Mag. Chris Bouse, Delta Junction, Alaska, November

Steyr Arms

Trussville, AL - -(AmmoLand.com)- Steyr Arms would like to thank Chris Bouse for giving us the idea to launch a photo gallery for all Steyr fans to show off their trophies and their Steyr Rifles.

Click here to check out Chris and a few others that were sent in. We only have a few for now so feel free to upload your own picture so that you can brag to all your buddies!

Remember to tell us a little about your hunt like your name, the location, the animal displayed, and most importantly make sure your beautiful Steyr is in focus.

About:
All STEYR MANNLICHER Arms are not only technically mature, but through their subtle elegance also communicate the harmony between appearance and substance.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX - -(TheOutdoorWire.com)- For as little as five dollars you can get a chance at a great hunt. For $25, that highly sought-after tag for desert bighorn sheep or a bull elk may be yours.

The Arizona Big Game Super Raffle now has 10 special big game tags up for raffle to raise money for wildlife conservation in Arizona. The deadline to purchase tickets by mail is July 3 (postmarks don’t count). The deadline to purchase tickets online is July 12.

The big game tags up for raffle include one each for pronghorn antelope, black bear, buffalo, Coues whitetail, desert bighorn sheep, elk, javelina, mule deer, turkey (Gould’s or Merriam’s), and now mountain lion. In addition, there will be a Swarovski optics package raffled, which will pay for the administration costs of the Super Raffle.

What makes these tags so special? The season dates for each hunt will be 365 days starting Aug. 15 and there are very few limitations on hunting areas.

Launched in 2006 by a consortium of sportsmen’s / conservation groups in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission as a way to raise money for wildlife conservation, the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle returns all ticket proceeds to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Every dollar raised for each species will go directly toward the management of that particular species.

Last year’s raffle raised $478,860.

Raffle tickets cost between $5 and $25, depending on species, and a ticket for all 11 raffles is only $150. Tickets can be purchased by mail using the downloadable order form and making a check payable to AZBGSR. Mail the form and payment to AZBGSR, P.O. Box 61713, Phoenix, AZ 85082. You can also buy tickets online at www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com. The site is a verified Authorize.Net merchant site and accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards.

The public drawing is Saturday, July 18. The time and location will be announced soon.

Special big game tags are granted to qualifying nonprofit organizations, dedicated to wildlife conservation, by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission through a public application process each year per A.R.S. § 17-346 and R12-4-120.

Wildlife conservation and management of game animals by the Arizona Game and Fish Department is made possible by funding generated from the sale of hunting licenses, hunt permit-tags, and matching funds from federal excise taxes hunters pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment.

So, the next time you see a herd of elk near Flagstaff, or antelope in an open plains of Prescott, or if you’re lucky to spot a desert bighorn sheep peering down from a cliff in the desolate desert, remember to thank a hunter – wildlife’s original conservationists.

About:
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.