The newly acquired property within the Pigeon River Country State Forest contains a nearly one mile stretch of the Black River and approximately one-half mile of Saunders Creek. Both waterways are situated in the headwaters area of the Black River system, an area that is a highly regarded “blue ribbon” brook trout fishery.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has completed a recent purchase of more than 500 acres of private land within the Pigeon River Country (PRC) State Forest in northern Michigan.

The acquisition of the property occurred through a partnership with the Little Traverse Conservancy, assistance from the Headwaters Land Conservancy, and with funds from the Natural Resource Trust Fund.

“This land acquisition simply makes sense,” said Scott Whitcomb, DNR unit manager for the Pigeon River Country State Forest. “Given the size and location of the property and the natural resources that occur there – this is a perfect addition to the PRC.”

The 517-acre tract of land, the second largest piece of private property within the PRC, is a natural fit for the state forest system. The land is bordered on two and a half sides by state-owned land with a level to gently rolling topography. The property also contains a nearly one mile stretch of the Black River and approximately one-half mile of Saunders Creek. Both waterways are situated in the headwaters area of the Black River system, an area that is a highly regarded “blue ribbon” brook trout fishery.

“We are excited about this land acquisition. It nicely ties together the southern portions of the Pigeon River Country State Forest,” said John Walters, chairman of the Pigeon River Advisory Council and president of the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

“The Pigeon River Country is a special place and the addition of the portions of Saunders Creek and the Black River make it all that much more special, especially for folks interested in quiet recreational opportunities.”

The property will be managed as part of the Pigeon River Country State Forest in accordance with the Concept of Management. This includes managing for timber and wildlife, specifically elk and other forest wildlife habitat, as well as for fisheries habitat. The property will also be open to the public at all times for hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife viewing and other resource-based recreation.

“Thanks to the Natural Resources Trust Fund, the purchasing of this land is an outstanding addition to the PRC and should provide to be a huge benefit to the citizens of Michigan,” added Whitcomb.

With funds provided by the Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Department of Natural Resources was able to purchase over 500 acres of land within the Pigeon River Country State Forest.

For more information on the Pigeon River Country State Forest and the Concept of Management, visit www.michigan.gov/dnrpigeonriver.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- For hunters who do not have access to privately-owned land, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is providing low cost access to nearly a million acres of department-managed lands for hunting, including most wildlife management areas, some state parks and many leased properties under the Annual Public Hunting permit program.

The Annual Public Hunting Permit is a $48 permit, valid from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 of the following year. The permit allows an adult access to designated public hunting lands in the TPWD public hunting lands program. Hunting is allowed during legal hunting seasons for squirrel, rabbits and hares, white-tailed deer, feral hogs, spring eastern turkey, predators, furbearers, and fishing without having to pay daily permit fees and in most instances, without having to be selected in a drawing.

The North and South Zone Duck Season re-opened December 10 and while TPWD WMAs have strong hunter numbers taking advantage of hunting on weekend hunt dates, the weekday hunt dates leave plenty of available hunting areas and quality hunting for those hunters who might have hunting time during the week.

According to Jim Sutherlin, Upper Coast Wetland Ecosystem project Leader, duck hunting is quite good on public hunting lands and reservoirs where fresher water conditions and waterfowl food resources can still be found.

“Puddle ducks prefer shallow water, and we have an abundance (record numbers of several species) of ducks on the continent this year,” Sutherlin said. “Specifically, check out the duck hunts on the Big Hill Unit of the J D Murphree WMA where the hunter daily duck bag was close to 4 birds per man per day during the first waterfowl season split.”

Waterfowl hunting isn’t the only game available. There is still plenty of feral hog hunting to be found. According to survey results compiled by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service 74 percent of Texas’ 254 counties contain feral hog populations and there is a good chance TPWD offers feral hog hunting opportunities in those counties on public hunting lands.

“Right now is as good a time as any to hit the woods hard for ol’ pig sooie,” said Bill Adams, Pineywoods Ecosystem Project Leader. “In East Texas there are several WMAs that offer year-round hog hunting, but staff recommend keying in on those areas associated with rivers such as Alabama Creek, Alazan Bayou, Angelina Neches/Dam B, North Toledo Bend, and Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Areas. “

Along with the appropriate Texas hunting licenses and stamps, permit holders may take youth under age 17 hunting free of charge on these public hunting lands. Youth hunting on departmental public hunting lands must be accompanied by a supervising adult 18 years of age or older who possesses the required Annual Public Hunting Permit, a valid hunting license and any required stamps and permits.

A new online map feature allows for “virtual scouting” of public hunting areas. By clicking on the locator points, you can follow links to detailed aerial maps with highlighted boundaries and links to information pages from the APH information map booklet. A downloadable Google Earth file (.kml) is also available that contains all the boundary information along with links to the corresponding APH map booklet pages.

Permits are available wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, online through the TPWD Web site (tpwd.state.tx.us) or by calling 1-800-TX-LIC-4U and paying by major credit card. There is a $5 convenience fee for online and phone purchases. If the permit is purchased at a TPWD office, the public hunting lands map booklet and supplement will be provided immediately at the time of purchase; otherwise, the publications will be mailed to the purchaser within two weeks of purchase.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- Department of Natural Resources Director Rodney Stokes has authorized the Department to proceed with purchasing 2,354 acres in Menominee and Dickinson counties in the Upper Peninsula to create the Menominee River State Recreation Area.

The DNR will purchase the land for $2,534,400 in funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and DNR Land Exchange Facilitation Fund. The land is currently owned by Wisconsin Electric Power Company.

The acreage includes two separate tracts – Piers Gorge and Quiver Falls. Piers Gorge is located one mile south of the community of Norway, and includes 145.35 acres of land and 1.5 miles of access along the Menominee River. The acreage includes whitewater rapids and waterfalls, and contains some of the fastest-moving water in Michigan or Wisconsin. It is not navigable for general canoeing, but has become a popular destination for expert class kayakers seeking challenging Class IV whitewater. The parcel also contains good wildlife viewing opportunities for eagles, osprey and waterfowl, as well as public fishing access.

Quiver Falls is eight miles south of Piers Gorge and contains 2,208.83 acres of land and provides eight miles of access along the Menominee River. It is adjacent to the existing Menominee River Natural Resource Area, a 4,450-acre tract along five miles of the Menominee River managed by both the Michigan and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources.

The Quiver Falls parcel contains river frontage on both sides of the Menominee River, scenic rocky gorges with significant drops in the river and waterfalls. The area is popular with hunters and anglers, as well visitors because of the scenic sightseeing opportunities.

“This acquisition will give the Michigan Department of Natural Resources a unique opportunity to co-manage this area with our counterparts in Wisconsin,” said Ron Olson, chief of the Michigan DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division. “This would be our first jointly operated public recreation area and river corridor park, and would protect and make open to the public more than 5,000 acres along the Menominee River. The tourism potential of this project is enormous.”

For more information on the purchase, including a map of the area, go to www.michigan.gov/nrc and click on the Nov. 10 agenda for the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. The purchase is outlined in Item 6 under Land Transactions.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

FRANKLIN, Venango County, PA --(Ammoland.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced the beginning of a three-year, 700-acre habitat improvement project on State Game Land 314 in the western portion of Erie County to provide “early successional” habitat for species such as the American woodcock and the blue-winged warbler.

“Young forests with dense seedlings and shrubs are needed to benefit early successional dependent species such as the American woodcock and blue-winged warbler,” said Howard Wurzbacher, Game Commission Northwest Region Forestry Supervisor.

“These species, as well as other early successional species have exhibited dramatic declines related to habitat loss in recent decades. Over the next three years, the habitat project will involve timber harvesting on about 700 acres, or around 20 percent of the State Game Land.”

Formerly known as the USX Property, U.S. Steel Property or Conneaut Farms, SGL 314 is in the extreme northwest corner of the state and borders Lake Erie and the Ohio state line. This property was acquired by the Game Commission in 1991, and contains about 3,400 acres. Many farms on the property were abandoned in the 1940s and 1950s. Through succession over the last 60 to 70 years, many old farm fields have reverted into red maple, aspen and shrubs. A variety of hardwood tree species, such as white ash, red oak, hickory and sugar maple are found in areas that were not previously farmed. They are forest stands that contain large trees with a dense shrub understory.

“To benefit wildlife, we conducted commercial timber harvesting, along with ‘cut and drop’ non-commercial cutting, and there has also been mechanical mowing of shrub and sapling areas treated in the past,” Wurzbacher said. “All past cutting has regenerated very successfully.

“As part of the contract, the Game Commission will realize nearly $177,000 to be used for other wildlife management programs and habitat improvement projects throughout the State Game Lands system.”

The goal is to create a large amount of early succession habitat for species dependent on this habitat type. American woodcock and the blue-winged warbler are currently recognized as priority species in numerous management plans including the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan, the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, and Partners in Flight.

Additionally, the Nature Conservancy and the National Audubon Society have identified woodcock as a crucial species of management concern because it is an important species to the public.

“Hunters enjoy pursuing woodcock with dogs, and non-hunters are awed each spring by the courtship displays of males,” Wurzbacher said. “They are a cryptic bird, preferring young forests and other early successional habitats for cover.

“This preferred habitat also is shared by other important animal species, and, subsequently, managing habitat for woodcock benefits a plethora of birds, mammals and reptiles, including popular species such as deer and wild turkey.”

American woodcock are habitat specialists, preferring early forest stages, they regularly seek scrub/shrub or seedling/sapling habitat, comprised of dense cover. This range of cover on proper soils provides the habitat needs for woodcock, and it is the quality and availability of these habitats that determine population densities. Research has indicated that creating early successional forest habitat on suitable soils is beneficial in increasing populations of woodcock.

Timber harvesting is expected to begin on the area in the late summer of 2011. This will involve cutting of trees within 17 blocks, which are areas marked and designated for cutting. Logging will be done using a whole-tree harvest and chipping method. The cut trees will be moved to areas near the roadside, where they will be sorted by size and species. Sawlogs, good quality large logs of desirable species, will be moved from the site to provide raw material to sawmills for the production of hardwood lumber.

All other trees will be chipped on site, and the chips will be loaded onto trucks and transported to facilities for use in papermaking and manufactured panels. Harvesting is to occur during dry or frozen conditions, so work on the State Game Land can be expected during the summer and winter seasons, with the possibility of activity during periods of the spring or fall if conditions are appropriate.

“It is important to note that the Game Commission has inserted restrictions into the timbering contract to prohibit timbering-related activity on SGL 314 on all Saturdays from October through January, and all Saturdays during spring gobbler seasons,” Wurzbacher said. “This was done to avoid conflicts with the peak hunting seasons.

“Other days that timbering activities will not be permitted are the first two days of regular firearms deer season, and Saturdays of all deer seasons, including muzzleloader and late archery, as well as junior hunting days.”

Wurzbacher said visitors to this area may, at first, be concerned about the initial visual impact to the area. However, he urged visitors to remember that re-vegetation and growth on the sites is expected to occur quickly after cutting.

“The use of whole-tree harvesting for the project is designed to maximize the use and removal of woody material such as logs, trees and limbs from the site,” Wurzbacher said. “This will enable land mangers to have easier access to treat areas with equipment so that the desired seedling, sapling, and shrub habitat conditions can be re-cut at 10- to 15-year intervals to maintain early successional habitats.

“Also, we plan to avoid cutting in many sensitive areas, such as streamside corridors, the Lake Erie shoreline north of Lake Road, and locations of unique habitat features.”

Wurzbacher also emphasized that this project is unique from a number of perspectives: first, it is occurring on a State Game Lands identified as a critical habitat area for American woodcock, blue-winged warbler and other early successional dependent birds and animals; second, it is ambitious, and planned to impact a large landscape scale; and third, the use of whole-tree harvesting should allow for the maintenance of this important habitat type on a perpetual basis.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved agreements with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) to purchase 195 acres of land to add to State Game Land 294 in Mercer County, and 81.5 acres of land to enhance State Game Land 314 in Erie County.

In Mercer County, the 195 acres of land in Cool Spring Township adjoins SGL 294, and are subject to an existing reservation of oil, gas and mineral rights, excluding peat. The option price is $90,000, with the Game Fund obligation limited to $62,487.89 and the remaining $27,512.11 coming from a donation from the Estate of Margaret Metcalfe.

The property is mostly wetlands with about 130 acres in emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetlands. The upland portion of the property is 60 acres of woodland comprised of oak, maple, cherry and ash. The remaining five acres are reverting farmland.

Otter Creek flows through the property, as well as an unnamed tributary to Otter Creek. A Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory review indicates the presence of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, a state-listed endangered species within the vicinity of this property.

Acquiring this property will fill in gaps between two separate tracts of SGL 294. This contract is contingent upon the WPC being able to secure an option with the owners of the property and approval by the WPC Board of Directors. If the WPC is unable to secure an option on this property, a cooperative agreement between the Game Commission and the WPC will allow the $90,000 to be used to acquire other lands acceptable to the Game Commission.

In Erie County, the 81.5 acres in Springfield Township are adjacent to SGL 314, and will be paid for through a partnership with the WPC. The Game Commission’s cost-share amount for the purchase of the land is $400 per acre, and related survey costs.

The acquisition is subject to the WPC purchasing the property, which is mainly forested with sugar maple, red maple, red ash, American beech, white pine and black cherry, with small pockets of open wetlands and old fields reverting back to early succession. Raccoon Creek flows through the southern portion of the property, and public access is from Old Lake Road.

Ducks Unlimited

ROCKWOOD, Ill--(Ammoland.com)- Ducks Unlimited recently donated 318 acres at Rockwood Island to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion into the recently established Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

The site is located along the Mississippi River and is accessible from the Great River Road National Scenic Byway (Illinois Highway 3) which follows the Mississippi River from its headwaters in Minnesota to its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.

DU originally purchased the Randolph County property in 2005 using a grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Council. Since that time, DU has planted more than 145 acres of frequently flooded cropland to bottomland hardwood trees and allowed the rest of the property to naturally revert back to wetlands for the benefit of waterfowl and other wildlife.

“Getting this land protected and restored is a real group effort,” said Eric Schenck, Ducks Unlimited regional biologist. Schenck noted that DU’s donation is part of a strategic partnership effort to conserve wetland and wetland forest habitat along the Mississippi River corridor.

“The Mississippi River is America’s river supporting the lives of fish, wildlife and millions of people. DU is proud to be doing our part to preserve this national treasure.”

DU’s work at Rockwood Island has been in close cooperation with the American Land Conservancy . In recent years, DU and ALC have acquired nearly 2,000 acres at Rockwood Island and on nearby Crain’s Island with the intent to transfer all property to the FWS for the Middle Mississippi River NWR. DU helped ALC cover a portion of the acquisition costs of these land transactions with grant funds from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

“We are very grateful for this donation from Ducks Unlimited,” said Robert Cail, refuge manager of the Middle Mississippi River NWR. “If it were not for DU and our other Middle Mississippi River partners, this refuge would not have been possible.

About:
Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. Visit www.ducks.org

Information about the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway is available at http://www.greatriverroad-illinois.org/.

Boone and Crockett Club

MISSOULA, Mont.--(Ammoland.com)- MISSOULA, Mont.–Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, today introduced legislation –the “Making Public Lands Public Access Act of 2011″– that guarantees funding for improving hunter access to existing public lands.

This bipartisan legislation is supported by the Boone and Crockett Club, the National Rifle Association and other hunting organizations.

The bill directs the U.S. Forest Service and BLM to acquire rights of way and other land interests from willing-seller landowners to open access to existing public lands where public access for hunting and fishing is closed.

“Sportsmen and women want the Forest Service and BLM to provide better access to our national forests and BLM lands for hunting and fishing. Senator Jon Tester and Senator Jim Risch are tackling this problem head on with this bill,” said Ben Wallace, president of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Additionally, Wallace praised Tester and Risch for “their deep commitment to enhancing hunting opportunities on our public lands.” Tester is the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus within the U.S. Senate. Risch is the vice co-chair of the same caucus.

For the 32 million American hunters, anglers and recreational shooters, federal public lands are an increasingly vital to their participation in outdoor sports. Nearly half of all hunters, for example, conduct a portion of their hunting activity on public lands. Reduced access is cited as a primary reason that hunters, anglers and target shooters stop participating in these traditional sports. A 2004 report to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations concluded that more than 35 million acres of U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land have inadequate access.

Specifically, nearly 2 million acres (or 10 percent) of USFS lands in Montana and 8.4 million acres (or 29 percent) of BLM lands in the Montana/Dakota’s region were identified as having inadequate access.

Sportsmen and women make important contributions to both wildlife conservation and the nation’s economy. The hunting and shooting sports industries create over 160,000 full-time jobs nationwide, generating an economic benefit of over $20 billion annually.

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.

Montana’s public lands are some of the best in the world, and they’re where we pass on our outdoor traditions to our kids and grandkids.

Congressional Sportsmen

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Hundreds of thousands of acres of Federal public land could soon be open to hunting, fishing, trapping and shooting as legislation was introduced in the United States Senate today to guarantee funding for improving public access to federal public lands.

The Making Public Lands Public Act, introduced in the U.S Senate today by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Senate Co-Chair Sen. Jon Tester of Montana and Senate Vice Chair Sen. James Risch of Idaho, would require the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to utilize 1.5% or a minimum of $10 million annually of their Land and Water Conservation Fund budgets for projects that secure recreational public access to existing federal lands through easements, rights-of-way, or fee title acquisitions from willing sellers.

“Montana’s public lands are some of the best in the world, and they’re where we pass on our outdoor traditions to our kids and grandkids,” said Sen. Tester. “But we’re seeing too much of this land blocked, surrounded by private land with closed gates. Montanans who own land are good neighbors. Most are good partners in our fight for public access, and this bill builds on that partnership.”

“This legislation is an important step in opening access to Federal land that is currently inaccessible or significantly restricted to sportsmen’s activities,” said Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation President Jeff Crane. “Access to quality habitat is a key to the future of our sportsman’s way of life, and this bill will directly improve access to more public lands so all Americans can enjoy the great outdoor traditions of hunting and fishing.”

Last August, similar language passed the U.S. House of Representatives, as an amendment by CSC Member and former Co-Chair, Rep. Ron Kind, overwhelmingly 404-1 as part of H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act.

Federal public lands are an important destination for millions American hunters, anglers, trappers, recreational shooters, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Nearly half of all hunters, for example, conduct a portion of their hunting activity on these lands. In addition, lack of access is cited as a primary reason that hunters and anglers stop participating in these traditional sports. A 2004 report to the House Appropriations Committee, stimulated by a Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) report, concluded that more than 35 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S Forest Service (USFS) land have inadequate access.

“America’s public lands are one of its finest resources and all recreational users should have access to them. This action will help ensure that our children and grandchildren can enjoy the same fishing holes and hunting grounds that our parents and grandparents shared with us,” said Sen. Risch.

CSF, in cooperation with allies in the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), a group of over 40 non-governmental organizations representing millions of hunter conservationists, launched the “Making Public Lands Public: Enhancing Hunter & Other Recreational Access to Federal Public Lands” initiative two years ago and subsequently requested that BLM and USFS utilize funds to improve hunter and other recreational access to Federal land and have identified opportunities in its list of funding priorities. Such opportunities have been identified as important projects by the Congress as expressed in the U.S. House Report to the FY 2010 Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Whitetail Properties Farm Real Estate Auction

Whitetail Properties

Pittsfield, IL -(Ammoland.com)- Whitetail Properties, a real estate listing and auction business that unites buyers and sellers through its team of farm and ranch land specialists, has just made it easier for those buyers and sellers to do business.

Whitetail Properties’ new online-only auction platform will offer great convenience to buyers who will be able to bid on tracts of land from anywhere that has Internet connection.

Whitetail Properties auctioneers already conduct live onsite auctions but saw the need to add an Internet-only auction, which can save the seller both time and money as well as offer a great convenience to bidders. Whitetail Properties will continue to offer live auctions and sealed bid auctions in addition to the new online only land auctions.

“The National Association of Realtors says 82% of people begin their search for real estate online,” Jason Smith, auctioneer and land specialist, says. “Many investors are far removed from the Midwestern Farmland and timberland they’re considering for investment.”

Dan Perez, real estate broker, says, “We have invested heavily in not only television and print marketing, but also Internet marketing to capture the attention of that 82%. The new Internet bidding system makes it possible not only to find farm real estate on the Internet but also buy it on the Internet.”

Sellers that want to achieve full market value need to have their property on a nationally marketed website like whitetailpropertiesauction.com to make sure they are getting maximum exposure with these people.

Advantages to sellers:

• No contingency cash offers.
• Reduced costs compared to live auctions, sellers can save up to 50% on marketing/event fees.
• Auctions put no cap on price like a listing does.
• Auctions create spotlight attention for the property, unlike listings that are all lumped together.
• Auctions leave the seller in control of all aspects of the sale, including date, time and terms.
• Auction marketing is aggressive and saturates the market while a listing slowly “drips” the marketing to the public.
• Auctions can sell property faster and eliminate long term holding costs — no long delays sitting on the market.

Advantages to buyers:

• Convenient to bid from anywhere that has an Internet connection 24 hours a day.
• No wasted travel time and expenses for properties you may or may not be able to buy.
• Ability to attend many more auctions virtually.
• Extended research time.
• Easy to use bidding system.
• Whitetail Properties serves many states eliminating the need to establish relationships with multiple brokers.
• Site has extensive documents, mapping and videos to help buyers become as familiar with the property and details as possible.

An online real estate auction is no different than the live auctions Whitetail Properties is already conducting. Properties are marketed exactly the same using all of Whitetail Properties’ powerful tools, but rather than buyers and sellers coming together for a bidding session all at one time, the bids are placed on the website over a period of time. Buyers can still visit the property for a showing when it is convenient for them. All properties are well documented with High Definition video and professionally produced videos to give buyers a good feel for every nook and cranny of the property.

How the site works:
A potential buyer creates an account at www.whitetailpropertiesauction.com and is then required to submit several screening documents to participate in a phone interview with the auctioneer. Each buyer must provide proof of funds and evidence of financial ability, agree to the site’s Terms and Conditions and satisfy the auctioneer they are a sound bidder. Much like E-bay’s ranking system, the auction site has built in checks and balances.

Each buyer will be given “Purchasing Power” that cannot be exceeded. A buyer will be approved for the Purchasing Power they qualify for to keep buyers from overbidding properties or from bidding on multiple properties if the combined total is above their purchasing power. The Internet auctions will run between 30 and 60 days depending on each situation.

“We are excited about the powerful land sales tool we have built,” Smith says. “Sellers can take advantage of Whitetail Properties powerhouse land marketing system to find the perfect buyer for their property without having to leave their property on the market for a lengthy listing period.

Perez says, “The new system is especially good at handling large farm multi-parcel auctions where a seller desires to divide a large farm into smaller tracts to increase their return on the property. It’s a very exciting development not only for our company, but also for those using our real estate marketing services”

For more information, check out www.whitetailproperties.com and click on Auctions

Treadlightly.Org

Ogden, UT --(Ammoland.com)- The nonprofit organization Tread Lightly! has announced a new small grant program to support volunteer stewardship projects across the country.

The program is designed to help individuals and clubs organize clean-ups, trail maintenance work days, and other small stewardship projects. The maximum grant amount is $500, and those funds can be used to purchase supplies like seedlings, tools, garbage bags, water for volunteers, or to rent equipment.

To be eligible for a Tread Lightly! Stewardship Grant, applicants must be either a Club Member or an Individual 3-Year Member of Tread Lightly!.

Tread Lightly! Launches Stewardship Grant Program

The first grant cycle is now open with a deadline of May 18, 2011. The simple online application process requires a letter of support from a representative of the land management agency or land owner and, if applicable, any additional documentation including photos of the area. Projects can start anytime after June 1, 2011. All projects or events must be completed and final reports submitted by September 30, 2011.

Application deadlines will follow a quarterly schedule to encourage the ongoing efforts of volunteers in revitalizing their favorite recreation areas throughout the year. The second grant cycle will have a deadline of August 18, 2011.

The program is funded through a partnership with Quadratec, which donates a portion of the proceeds from several off-road vehicle products such as floor liners and grab bars to Tread Lightly!’s Restoration for Recreation program.

“Stewardship of our public and private lands and waters by outdoor enthusiasts is an essential component of treading lightly,” said Lori McCullough, executive director of Tread Lightly!. “When we head outdoors we should always pack it in, pack it out and leave an area better than we found it, but sadly that is not enough. We also need the collective efforts of volunteers for clean-ups and trail maintenance to mitigate the damage caused by a few irresponsible recreationists—and this is where the new Tread Lightly! Stewardship Grants can assist.”

To apply for a grant or for more information, visit www.treadlightly.org

Whitetail Properties Launches New Website

Whitetail Properties

Pittsfield, IL --(Ammoland.com)- Whitetail Properties introduces its newly updated, user-friendly website www.whitetailproperties.com.

Thanks to the fresh design and new features, this attractive and innovative website now brings buyers and sellers of hunting land together more effectively than ever!

Whitetail Properties primary purpose is to unite buyers and sellers through its team of recreational land specialists. Owning a prime piece of hunting land is every hunter’s dream and Whitetail Properties makes those dreams come true.

“Our goal was to provide an easy-to-navigate website chocked full of relevant information for those who are searching for recreational property,” says Dan Perez, host of Whitetail Properties TV Show and broker and land specialist. “This website will constantly evolve as technology and information changes. It will reflect the forward-thinking attitude of our entire operation.”

New features include:

• A dynamic mapping application featuring custom Google Map tools
• Detailed options for state and county search
• Multi-media integration, including new video showcases and photos, for each property

The mobile-friendly site currently features 550 real estate listings, which is more than any other independent hunting/recreational land brokerage in the country. Thanks to the website’s new, easy-to-use features, visitors can get a true feel for the properties without leaving the comfort of their homes.

Additional website features include:

• Whitetail Properties Dream Dirt Blog
• Episodes of Whitetail Properties TV
• Bio and contact information for agents and brokers
• List of upcoming land auctions
• Link to information on hunting leases across the country

“With Whitetail Properties, our goal was to deliver a user-friendly platform that would educate potential buyers on recreational land by utilizing the latest technology,” said Jake Fagan, president of Caddis Interactive. “We wanted to create a site where people could experience every detail each property has to offer.”

Owning a prime piece of hunting land is every hunter’s dream and Whitetail Properties makes those dreams come true. Hunting properties are the specialty and Whitetail Properties takes pride in matching the needs of buyers and sellers with the experience and services provided by highly trained real estate agents. For more information, call 217-285-9000, or check out www.whitetailproperties.com.

Outdoor Industry Association

Boulder, CO. --(Ammoland.com)- Citing the need for balance in federal land management and the role public and wild lands play in supporting jobs across the American economy, The Conservation Alliance (Alliance), Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and companies they represent sent a letter to members of the House Natural Resources Committee supporting the Bureau of Land Management’s new wild lands policy.

“Proper management of wilderness-quality lands and congressionally-designated Wilderness signals our national commitment to conservation of our public lands, clean waters, healthy wildlife, and cultural and historical landscapes,” the industry said in backing the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Secretarial Order 3310.

“The outdoor industry depends on a full spectrum of public lands and waters to provide places for our customers to use the products we make and sell. Outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy, and supports nearly 6.5 million jobs across our country. Ensuring that some of our BLM lands are preserved for recreation and habitat is an investment in our economic future and the quality of life in communities,” stated the letter signed by the Alliance, OIA and 19 leading outdoor companies.

“Secretary Salazar’s order ensures Western communities have the opportunity to choose a balanced economic approach. Active outdoor recreation generates $289 billion in annual retail sales and supports sustainable, domestic jobs in every American community – rural and urban, said Frank Hugelmeyer, President of OIA. “Jobs vs. conservation is yesterday’s logic. The recreation economy balances boom and bust cycles of extractive industries,” Hugelmeyer said.

“Conservation is an investment in the future of the outdoor industry,” said John Sterling, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance. “Secretary Salazar’s order requires that the BLM preserve the wilderness characteristics on some of its lands; the same lands where outdoor customers recreate using the products our members make and sell.”

The Conservation Alliance
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas. Membership in the Alliance is open to companies representing all aspects of the outdoor industry, including manufacturers, retailers, publishers, mills and sales representatives. The result is a diverse group of businesses whose livelihood depends on protecting our natural environment.

Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Industry Association® is a national trade association whose mission is to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. OIA provides trade services for manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. OIA provides industry-defining resources and support in government/legislative affairs, market and social research, business-to-business services and youth outreach initiatives

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a regulatory change to allow the placement of portable hunting treestands and blinds from two weeks before the opening of the first big game season to two weeks after the close of the last big game season within each respective Wildlife Management Unit, excluding the spring gobbler season.

“Hunters need to remember that locating a treestand on State Game Lands does not reserve a hunting area,” Commissioner Weaner said. “The first person to arrive in a certain spot has the right to hunt that area.”

A portable treestand is one that is not permanently attached to a tree.

They include climbing, hang-on and ladder treestands, as well as those constructed and lashed to trees. Treestands nailed or bolted to trees are illegal on State Game Lands.

As approved, hunters will be able to place their treestands on State Game Lands two weeks prior to the archery deer season, and then have to remove the stands two weeks after the late flintlock deer seasons.

Leopold Conservation Award - 2011 Call for Nominations

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- The Leopold Conservation Award, the top honor within the Lone Star Land Steward Awards proram, recognizes landowners who exemplify the land ethic of Aldo Leopold, translating their love for the land into responsible stewardship and management.

Texas’ 2011 awardee receives an Aldo Leopold crystal and $10,000.

If you, or someone you know, is a former Lone Star Land Steward Award recipient for their ecoregion, we invite your nomination for the Leopold Conservation Awards.

Nomination deadline: November 30, 2010

To download a Nomination Form, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

The Leopold Conservation Award is presented by Sand County Foundation in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as part of the Lone Star Land Stewards Awards Program.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- With big game animals continuing to be abundant in many areas, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff will again direct hunters to farms and ranches in Region 6 this coming season through referral lists kept at FWP offices in Glasgow and Havre.

“Landowners call and say they’re experiencing game-damage problems or too many deer, and they don’t have anyone stopping to hunt,” said FWP Region 6 Supervisor Pat Gunderson.

“By maintaining lists of landowners who contact us and making those details available to hunters, FWP can help get the parties connected. This has worked very well in the past, and we’re encouraging landowners to use this service even more this year.”

Gunderson said special focus is again being put on connecting hunters with farmers and ranchers in the Milk River Valley between Havre and Harlem and in the Glasgow and Nashua areas. That’s generally where the highest concentrations of white-tailed deer are found in Region 6.

“This year we’re again selling a total of 5,000 of the 699-00 antlerless white-tailed deer licenses, which can be used in any Region 6 hunting district, and that’s on top of all the other whitetail and mule deer licenses and permits that are available,” Gunderson said.

“We also have a strong Block Management program that this year includes more than 300 cooperators on more than 1 million acres of private land in Region 6. Our Block Management program and the landowner listing program both help address the issue of hunter access. And they’re also a benefit to farmers and ranchers.”

With the general archery season already underway, Gunderson said it’s not too early for landowners who are seeking hunters to get on the FWP lists. The quickest way is by calling the Region 6 office in Glasgow at (406) 228-3700 or the Havre Area Resource Office at (406) 265-6177 or stopping by with the contact information.

Pair Convicted Of Growing Marijuana On State Game Land

Pennsylvania Game Commission

BOLIVAR, Westmoreland County PA --(Ammoland.com)- Two Washington County residents recently pled guilty to charges filed by Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Dan Sitler for growing marijuana on State Game Land 117 in Smith Township, Washington County.

Joshua M. Morrissey, 35, of Cuddy, and Robert N. Hoff, 32, of Cannonsburg, each pled guilty to one felony count under Title 35 – The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, Section 780-113 (a) (30) – for the manufacture, delivery, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, and one count of Title 34 (Game and Wildlife Code) for the unlawful planting of marijuana on State Game Lands. District Judge Gary Havelka, of Burgettstown, sentenced Morrissey and Hoff to 23 months of probation and 90 days of house arrest with an electronic monitoring device for the felony drug conviction, and $300 fine for the damage to SGL 117.

WCO Sitler consulted the Washington County District Attorney’s office and the Washington County Drug Task Force on this case.

On June 7, Washington County Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Daniel Sitler and Deputy WCO James Lorch, while on routine patrol on SGL 117, encountered two individuals who were acting suspiciously during the brief conversation.

“After this odd exchange, we decided to try and determine what they had been doing while visiting SGL 117,” WCO Sitler said. “We back-tracked where they had been and soon discovered 21 marijuana plants planted in thick vegetation along a Game Commission food plot.”

Following this discovery, the officers used video surveillance technology to establish the connection between the suspected individuals and the marijuana plants.

“The Game Commission has a long history and tradition of passing down our investigative techniques from one generation of Wildlife Conservation Officers to the next through our training structure,” said Scott W. Tomlinson, Game Commission Southwest Region Law Enforcement Supervisor. “In recent years, we’ve been able to incorporate new technologies, such as the use of newly-developed surveillance equipment, to our list of tools used to solve these types of crimes.

“As similar sites have been known to be booby-trapped, this type of activity poses a safety threat to both the public that use our State Game Lands, and agency employees, such as Food and Cover Corps workers, who work there on a daily basis developing food plots and wildlife habitat.”

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is seeking public comment on a proposal to purchase 24,170 acres of important fish and wildlife habitat in the Marshall Creek drainage, near Seeley Lake.

The land is currently owned by Plum Creek, but is under contract to be sold to The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land as part of the Montana Legacy Project. FWP identified the property as one of its highest statewide native fisheries and wildlife conservation priorities and began applying for federal grants to aid in its purchase in 2008. The property would become part of the FWP’s system of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) to be managed for fish and wildlife habitat and public access.

The proposed Marshall Creek WMA includes approximately 25 miles of streams that provide important habitat for native fish in the upper Clearwater lakes and river system. The proposed WMA would also provide habitat for over 160 native species including over 37 identified Species of Concern and is critical habitat for three federally listed Threatened species (bull trout, Canada lynx, and grizzly bears). Additionally, the property includes the most important unprotected Canada lynx habitat in the western United States.

“The Marshall Creek country is a critical piece of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem,” said Mack Long, FWP Region 2 Supervisor. “From bull trout to grizzly bear, this purchase is of national importance and would keep these wild lands open to the public.”

The total purchase price is expected to be $18.4 million. Funding would come from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native Fish Habitat Conservation Plan grants, a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service State Wildlife Grant, a Department of Agriculture Forest Legacy Program grant, the FWP Habitat Montana Program, the FWP Hunting Access Enhancement Fund and private funds donated by the Blackfoot Challenge.

FWP is seeking comments on the draft environmental assessment for the proposed purchase. These documents are available for review on the FWP Web site, fwp.mt.gov, under “Recent Public Notices,” and at the FWP regional office in Missoula (3201 Spurgin Road), by calling 406-542-5500, or by emailing fwprg22@mt.gov.

FWP will hold a public hearing in Seeley Lake to discuss the proposal and take public comment on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Community Hall, just north of town on the east side of Hwy 83.

Comments should be directed by email to: MarshallWMA@mt.gov or by mail to Region 2 FWP; Attn: Marshall; 3201 Spurgin Road; Missoula, MT 59804. Comments must be received by FWP no later than 5 p.m. on August 31, 2010.

Build a Wildlife Area Campaign Yields Waterfowl Production Acres in Minnesota

Pheasants Forever

Buffalo, Minn. --(AmmoLand.com)-  Minnesota’s 2009 Build a Wildlife Area campaign has resulted in a new Waterfowl Production Area in Wright County.

The 65-acre addition to the Pelican Lake West Waterfowl Production Area will be officially dedicated on Tuesday, August 3rd. In eight years, Pheasants Forever and partners in Minnesota Build a Wildlife Area campaigns have led in the creation of 3,165 acres that have been opened to public hunting and outdoor recreation as federal Waterfowl Production Areas or state Wildlife Management Areas.

The 65-acre Weldele tract - sold by John and Sandra Weldele - connects to the Pelican Lake West Waterfowl Production Area and also neighbors the Pelican Lake state Wildlife Management Area, strengthening a great wildlife complex.

“This land has been in their family a long time,” said Eran Sandquist, Pheasants Forever Regional Wildlife Biologist, “An honest and hardworking Minnesota family, the Weldeles wanted to protect their land from development. Not only is the area permanently protected, but thanks to the Weldeles and the Build a Wildlife Area campaign is a place countless others will enjoy.”

In addition to the Build a Wildlife Area campaign, major funding for the land acquisition came via the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Pheasants Forever’s Minnesota Habitat Fund, Pheasants Forever chapters, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Minnesota Waterfowl Association, Ducks Unlimited and Muller Family Theaters.

The dedication ceremony will take place on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 at 6PM. The location is Edmondson Ave NE / County Highway 15 (South of 60th St. NE, north of 50th St. NE), Buffalo, MN 55313. Representatives from Pheasants Forever, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be on hand, and photo and interview opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Eran Sandquist, Pheasants Forever regional wildlife biologist, at (763) 242-1273 or esandquist@pheasantsforever.org.

Build a Wildlife Area – Minnesota
Pheasants Forever National and the Anoka County (Minnesota) Chapter of Pheasants Forever combined forces with Outdoor News (a series of Midwest outdoor publications), Gander Mountain and Game Fair to launch the initial effort Build a Wildlife Area campaign effort in 2003. Major partners have also included Ron Schara Enterprises, Federal Premium Ammunition, Apple Auto Group, and KFAN Radio. Since then, Minnesota Build a Wildlife Area campaigns have resulted in more than 3,000 acres that have been opened to public hunting and outdoor recreation.

Build a Wildlife Area: $1 = $3
Through a unique funding mechanism, the Build a Wildlife Area program puts 100 percent of the funds raised directly toward land acquisitions utilizing state, federal and other grants. It’s been Pheasants Forever’s pledge from the beginning to see that every dollar of your donation is multiplied x3 through matching grants that Pheasants Forever has in place with state natural resource agencies, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other partners. In other words, your $25 donation is worth $75 and your $10,000 donation is worth $30,000 for the Build a Wildlife Area campaign.

Build Wildlife Area Accomplishments in Minnesota

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Respected Access Campaign

Treadlightly.Org

Ogden, UT – -(AmmoLand.com)- The nonprofit organization Tread Lightly!, in partnership with some of the nation’s most influential shooting sports organizations, has released nine tips to help shooters minimize their impact on the environment.

The tips are part of a recent public awareness campaign developed to help shooters and hunters keep their access open by encouraging proper environmental and social behaviors. The multifaceted campaign is called Respected Access is Open Access.

1. Target shoot only on lands open to shooting.
2. Use only appropriate targets. Shooting at trees and other natural objects is illegal and leaves a negative image about shooters.
3. Only shoot where there is a good backstop to stop your bullets.
4. Shooting at signs, kiosks, trash containers, buildings and other property is vandalism and illegal.
5. Be sure to pack out your trash including food wrappings, shotgun shells, brass or steel cases, fragmented clay pigeons, and other targets. Be a thoughtful shooter and pick up litter and target trash left by others.
6. Do not shoot household appliances or other objects dumped in shooting areas. It is misconstrued that shooters are the dumpers.
7. Shooting across roads, trails, waterways or into caves or rocky areas is unsafe. Be sure you see your target clearly and you know what lies between you, the target, and beyond.
8. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
9. Shoot away from developed recreation sites such as campgrounds, trailheads, parking areas and boat ramps.
10. Travel on designated routes. Avoid traveling in sensitive areas such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams.

“The message of the campaign is simple—responsible behavior leads to continued access,” said Lori McCullough, executive director of the nonprofit Tread Lightly!. “Outdoor opportunities in America are dwindling at a rate so serious it demands our immediate action. Damage caused by a few uninformed or uncaring recreationists is contributing to the loss of access for everyone. This campaign will help change that.”

Funding for the campaign has come through grants from Yamaha Motor Corporation’s OHV Access Initiative, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Safari Club International, National Wild Turkey Federation, Boone and Crockett Club, US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Tread Lightly! created Respected Access is Open Access at the request of the Federal Lands Hunting and Shooting Sports Roundtable.

Public service announcements, web banners, decals, brochures, and more quick tips can be found at the campaign’s website: www.respectedaccess.org.

Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible recreation through ethics education and stewardship. Tread Lightly!’s educational message, along with its training and restoration initiatives are strategically designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with our need to maintain a healthy environment. Tread Lightly! offers unique programs and services to help remedy current recreation issues.

In 2006, a consortium of fish and wildlife conservation organizations and three federal land management agencies signed the Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing & Shooting Sports Memorandum of Understanding. As a result of this agreement, the Federal Lands Hunting and Shooting Sports Roundtable was created to focus on improving access and opportunities for hunters and recreational shooters across America. The Respected Access education campaign is one of the Roundtable’s top initiatives.

The organizations and agencies signed on to the Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing & Shooting Sports MOU are: USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, American Sportfishing Association, Archery Trade Association, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Bear Trust International, Boone & Crockett Club of America, Bow Hunting Preservation Alliance, Campfire Club of America, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Wild Sheep Foundation, Houston Safari Club, Izaak Walton League of America, National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, National Rifle Association of America, National Shooting Sport Foundation, National Trapper’s Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, North American Bear Foundation, North American Grouse Partnership, Orion – The Hunter’s Institute, Pheasants Forever, Pope & Young Club, Public Lands Foundation, Quail Unlimited, Quality Deer Management Association, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ruffed Grouse Society, Safari Club International, Sand County Foundation, Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers Institute, Texas Wildlife Association, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Whitetails Unlimited, Wildlife Forever and the Wildlife Management Institute.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Alabama --(AmmoLand.com)- The Alabama Senate recently passed legislation that will require the state to maintain at least the current acreage of hunting land that is available today.

The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Bob Riley (R).

House Bill 330, introduced by State Representative Craig Ford (D- Etowah), requires the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to open new hunting land if a department owned property currently open to hunting is closed.

The bill also directs the department to make every effort to open the replacement hunting land in the same region of the state as the property that was closed. The bill is similar to previous efforts in other states that were promoted by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA). The USSA has also developed and supported “no-net loss” legislative language at the national level including two current bills pending in Congress collectively known as the Hunting Heritage Protection Act.

HB 330 cleared both the House and Senate unanimously and the Governor’s office has indicated that he plans to sign the bill early next week.

“No net loss bills like House Bill 330 are very important in a time where access to hunting land is increasingly becoming difficult for sportsmen,” said Rob Sexton USSA vice president for government affairs. “We appreciate the efforts of all Alabama sportsmen who made this bill possible.”

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

CROWNSVILLE, MD —-(AmmoLand.com)- Maryland landowners protected 5,747 acres of farmland, woodland and scenic open space in 2009 by agreeing to permanent conservation easements with the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET).

The 24 properties are located in 11 counties across Maryland. The easements will forever protect habitat, wetlands, forests and farms and will help to restore the Chesapeake Bay.

“This accomplishment demonstrates that Marylanders care deeply about the preservation of open space and that the State has one of the strongest statewide land trusts in the nation,” said Governor Martin O’Malley.

These conservation-minded landowners pass the development rights of their properties to MET. The conservation easements held by MET ensure that these significant properties are protected from future residential and commercial development. MET and local land trusts are responsible for monitoring these properties while the land remains in private ownership and stewardship.

One of the easements is on the 355-acre Browning Creek Farm in Cecil County, currently owned by local farmers and conservationists Jack and Charlotte Loller.

“It is nice to know that there won’t be any new houses put up – we don’t like to see farmland developed,” said the Lollers, who own three other farms in Cecil County and have participated in agricultural preservation for all of them.

In Frederick County, a 188 acre property was protected which includes nearly 90 acres of the Cunningham Falls Ecologically Sensitive Area. The property is the only currently place in Maryland known to house the Queen-of-the-Prairie (Filipendula rubra), a state endangered plant that grows in an unusual seepage wet meadow found on the property. Peter Fedak and his late wife, Susan, purchased the property in sections over the years. Fedak first came to know and love the Catoctin Mountain area when he came to Camp David while working for the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s.

Andelot Farm, in Kent County, was the largest easement of 2009, protecting 2894 acres which includes approximately 1,087 acres of forest, 1,692 acres of farmland and 50 acres of freshwater ponds.

Dr. Micheal Pistole and Richard Bradshaw protected 61 acres of their Hidden View Farm in Anne Arundel County. The easement aims to preserve the property’s ecological functions and natural features, which include regionally important bird habitat, a 450-year-old red maple tree and stunning views of Bacon Ridge Branch and the South River. Hidden View Farm forms part of a greater conservation initiative in the area known as the South River Greenway which encompasses four watersheds that drain into the South River, and over 10,000 acres of undeveloped forest. A growing portion of the Greenway is publicly-owned parkland, and though Hidden View Farm will not be open to the public, it provides an essential wildlife corridor in the Greenway’s ecosystem.

The 24 easements, many jointly held with MET’s local land trust partners, include acreage in the following counties:

• 317 acres in Anne Arundel County
• 84 acres in Baltimore County
• 31 acres in Carroll County
• 355 acres in Cecil County
• 163 acres in Dorchester County
• 407 acres in Frederick County
• 770 acres in Garret County
• 3,019 acres in Kent County
• 151 acres in Somerset County
• 375 acres in Talbot County, and
• 75 acres in Wicomico County

“2009 has been an incredible year for MET,” said MET Director Elizabeth Buxton. “Together with local land trusts, MET has preserved more acres this year than any other year in its history. We are proud to be one of the largest land trusts in the country and to partner with local land trusts to protect Maryland’s most treasured landscapes and natural resources.”

MET accepted its first conservation easement in 1972 and recently celebrated its 1000th easement.

A statewide land trust governed by a citizen board of trustees and affiliated with the Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Environmental Trust was established in 1967 by the Maryland General Assembly. MET is one of the oldest and most successful land trusts in the country. It holds over 1000 conservation easements and has protected over 122,000 acres across the State. MET promotes the protection of open land through its Land Conservation Program, Monitoring and Stewardship Program and Local Land Trust Assistance Program. MET also provides grants to environmental education projects through the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program. For more information, visit the website www.dnr.maryland.gov/met.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland’s forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland’s effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state’s number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov

Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries

WEST POINT, MS --(AmmoLand.com)- Just as Toxey Haas’ passion for hunting spawned the creation of Mossy Oak Brand Camo, his passion for resources and the management thereof has sprouted another branch of the Mossy Oak Enterprise, Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries.

For years one of Toxey’s favorite hobbies has been collecting special seed and hand growing many plants and trees in his backyard. It became his obsession to discover rare species and naturally occurring hybrid varieties never before offered to the public.

As Mossy Oak grew, a larger source was needed for plants and trees; one that carried the many wildlife varieties that you couldn’t find readily available. Not only was a source for these “naturally beneficial” plants and trees needed, but a source was needed that would provide genetically advanced varieties from superior parent trees – varieties that had preferred characteristics like taste, vigorous growth, health and early abundant mast production – characteristics that wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts prefer.

Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries is dedicated to providing the most naturally beneficial plants to landowners and land managers. Whether its White Oaks or Crabapples for whitetails, American Beautyberry for songbirds, native flowers for butterflies or hummingbirds, landscaping the cabin, or our incredible collection of rare oak hybrids, it’s all about taking care of things for the future and benefiting nature.

Toxey Haas, Founder of Mossy Oak stated, ” Not only has the team here at Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries identified and hand cultivated the very best genetically superior species available today, we have opened the door to never before offered, naturally occurring hybrids, most of which are vastly superior to the traditional species. It is with great excitement that we offer many of these rare and genetically exceptional plants through Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries.”

We are picky! Our plant species are hand selected from superior trees that exhibit the traits we desire, hand grown and cared for with special attention to be sure each species is getting the care it deserves. Look for Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries plants at your local nursery or Lowe’s. Visit www.monativnurseries.com or call 662.494.4326 for more information.

Hand Selected. Hand Grown. Plants for Wildlife.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USA - -(AmmoLand.com)- How ‘green’ is your garden? Well now may be the time to ensure that it is truly sustainable. You can order seeds of wildflowers native to your region that will give you low-maintenance blooms next spring and all summer long. Not only will they thrive — they’ll support native birds, insects and other pollinators that depend on familiar, home-grown species for a healthy ecosystem.

So I advise many conservationists, including biologists in the National Wildlife Refuge System, the premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s wildlife and plants. National Wildlife Refuges strive to use native plantings or seeds on refuge land or plants unable to escape cultivation.

“Native species evolved in the local environment and have developed complex interrelationships with other area plant species as well as fine tuning to local climate and soil conditions,” says Kathleen Blair, a plain-talking Ph.D. ecologist at Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona. Exotic plant species — non-natives, including many commercially available garden flowers — haven’t. That means, she says, “If you plant non-native or exotic species, a whole lot of other local species cannot use them.”

It’s possible that going native might help save a local ecosystem, or at least parts of one. That’s what motivates Pauline Drobney, a land management research demonstration biologist at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, where the staff is working to restore the globally threatened tallgrass prairie savannah. Each year, says Drobney, staff and volunteers plant up to 250 species of native plants on the refuge.

Does planting native mean sacrificing flash and drama? No way, says Drobney, who won over a skeptical neighbor by showing him the butterfly milkweed and blazing star in her yard. “It was just knock-your-socks-off color,” she says.

Getting it right matters. Some non-natives or exotics have become ecological nightmares, escaping backyards to rampage across entire regions, choking out native species as they spread. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria, native to Europe) is a prime example.

“It’s a nightmare of a plant. It’s now clogging up the wetlands of the East Coast,” says Blair.

Beyond that, planting an appropriate species will improve your odds of success. Some wildflowers are highly site-specific in terms of rainfall, elevation and soil type.

Native plants can generally be started either in seed trays at home in the winter or sown directly in the garden in spring. If you are directly sowing your seeds or putting ready-grown seedlings into a new bed, be sure the soil is bare (nothing growing in it) and free of weeds — native plant seeds cannot compete easily against weeds. While the seeds of some native plants may cost more and may be harder to find, they require less watering, fertilizer and pesticides, and are not as prone to damage from diseases and insects.

Here are just a few examples of some native wildflower favorites by region:

• Great Plains/Prairie: blazing star, cream gentian, fall sunflower, prairie phlox, prairie violet, heath aster, bird’s foot violet. (“Not only does it bloom profusely, but it’s the obligate host food for the rare regal fritillary butterfly,” says Drobney about the last plant species.)
• Southwest: lupin, beard-tongue (or penstemon; a real hummingbird favorite)
• Chesapeake Bay watershed: butterfly weed, Joe-Pye weed (also known as trumpet weed), eastern or willow bluestar
• Southeast: bee balm, black-eyed Susan
• Pacific Northwest: broad-leaf lupine, spreading phlox
• Upper Plains: rigid goldenrod, wild lily
• Northeast: blue flag iris, New England aster

Drobney says Master Gardeners, who can be found through the USDA Extension Service (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/), are tremendous sources of information on native plants and home gardening.

Eileen Robb is a Polk County, Iowa, master gardener, native plant expert and internist, who took an early interest on in ecosystem recovery efforts underway at Neal Smith Refuge. Robb says, “Master Gardeners are not just garden club members, but highly visible volunteers who bring expert horticultural experience to local communities.” You can also find information about many local home and garden centers on extension service Web sites.

For reliable information on plants native to your region, consult your local native plant society. Almost every state has one. Find yours through either the New England Wild Flower Society (enter http://www.newfs.org/, then search “native plant societies”) or the Michigan Botanical Club ( http://www.michbotclub.org/links/native_plant_society.htm).

Other good sources include:

• USDA Nature Resource Conservations Service http://plants.usda.gov/ – provides a complete resource for all things plants
• Native Plant Information Network http://www.wildflower.org/ – houses a native plant database and searchable image directory maintained by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• Plant Conservation Alliance http://www.nps.gov/plants/ – contains links to plant guides by region
• USDA Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/nativegardening/index.shtml – offers a variety of links ad native plant information
• U.S. National Arboretum http://www.usna.usda.gov/ – search “native plants”
• Iowa Prairie Network http://www.iowaprairienetwork.org/ – recommends prairie resources
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/ – search “native plants”
• National Wildlife Federation http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/create.cfm – how to create a wildlife friendly garden
• Wild Ones http://www.for-wild.org – provides native plant landscaping practices and a large list of local chapters, links and educational information

Visit a Refuge
Many refuges offer exceptional native wildflower viewing, given adequate rainfall. Here is a sampling of a few:

• Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas: The refuge Web site lists local wildflowers by color, where to spot them on the refuge and what time of year. Among the easiest to find in the spring and summer are dayflower, prairie bluet, lazy daisy and Indian blanket. Visit: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/aransas/ or contact 361-286-3559.
• Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware: Spring wildflowers you can spot are bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, May-apple and purple violets. Black-eyed Susan, showy aster, blazing star, marsh mallow and swamp rose mallow can be found throughout the summer and into the fall. Visit: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/bombayhook/ or contact 302-653-6872.
• Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washington: In the spring, look for common camas (or Indian hyacinth), a native western bluish-purple flower, blanketing some of the wet meadows at the base of Mt. Adams. Visit: http://www.fws.gov/conboylake/ or contact 509-546-8300.
• Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida: From late spring into the fall, coreopsis (tickseed) and gaillardia (blanket flower) burst into color along the roadside and open areas. Woody, fragrant tarflower can be found in the scrub and pine flatland areas. Visit http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ or contact 321-861-0668.
• Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Indiana: Stop by in late summer early fall and look for butterfly weed, swamp milkweed, goldenrod, blue mistflower, tall ironweed and Joe-Pye weed. Visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/muscatatuck/ or contact 812-522-4352.
• Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Idaho: During the spring and summer, you will see the country’s largest re-creation of a tallgrass prairie that includes many native prairie flowers, such as blazing star, prairie flax, prairie violet and bird’s foot violet. Visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/nealsmith/ or contact 515-994-3400.
• San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, California: The best time to visit is in March when the San Diego sunflower and chocolate lily bloom. Visit http://www.fws.gov/sandiegorefuges/Sweetwater.htm or contact 619-409-5900.

Comprising hundreds of thousands of miles and landscapes ranging from southwest desert to Alaskan tundra and nearly every conceivable ecosystem in between, the Refuge System represents the last best hope for survival for many endangered and threatened species. These include the ocelot, manatee, spotted owl, California jewelflower and polar bear.

There are 551 refuges — one within an hour’s drive of most major cities — offering people a welcoming, safe and accessible place to nourish their spirits and reconnect with the land. To learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge System, visit http://www.fws.gov/refuges/.

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.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- A nine-year land conservation project has been completed near La Grande, Ore., permanently protecting habitat and securing public access on nearly 850 acres. The parcel, now part of Ladd Marsh Wildlife Management Area, has been transferred to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The area, known locally as the Glass Hill winter range, is prime elk habitat. An estimated 120 elk use the area throughout the year. In winter the herd can swell to more than 500. Upland birds, deer and several sensitive species also inhabit the area.

“Back in the late 1990s, RMEF and ODFW identified this tract as important habitat threatened by future recreational and residential development. That prediction held true. Today realtors are marketing subdivided properties on neighboring lands and no doubt the same thing would have happened here,” said Bill Richardson, RMEF lands program manager for Oregon and Washington.

RMEF purchased the 848.98-acre parcel in 2000. The goal was to hold the property while ODFW gathered funding for a conveyance.

In the meantime, the two partners signed an MOU committing the agency to manage the property for wildlife and public access, including hunting. Over the years, ODFW expended more than $150,000 and RMEF volunteers donated countless hours of labor on restoration and habitat activities, perimeter fence maintenance, interior fence removal, planting trees, spraying weeds, reseeding and more.

“In the past nine years, and through four different agency directors, we made several attempts to put a purchase package together and close this transaction. This year we got it done. It’s great to see a long-term commitment come to fruition,” said Craig Ely, ODFW’s Northeast Region manager.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the transfer at its October meeting. RMEF sold the property to ODFW at a bargain price and donated the balance of the appraised value to ODFW to match federal grants that funded the transaction. The donation will result in $420,000 in matching funds being available for future land projects benefiting elk and other wildlife.

RMEF paid property taxes to Union County annually and ODFW will continue to do so.

Richardson said, “This project took longer than expected but RMEF is in this for the long haul. We understand that it can take years or even decades to conserve an important piece of habitat. The complexities of administrative changes and strained budgets will always be surmounted by dedicated partners who never give up.”

He added that stewardship never totally concludes. Successful projects always lead to more collaboration, partnership and efforts to expand the conservation footprint, he said.

Since 1986, RMEF and its partners have completed 611 projects in Oregon, conserving or enhancing about 675,000 acres, including more than 38,000 acres of permanent land protection.

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 5.6 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.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Open Fields and Waters program began offering hunting and fishing access opportunities this fall, and Nebraskans have responded. Hunters have begun taking advantage of the new program.

“Our first big spike in use was especially noticeable during the November firearm deer season,” said Kirk Nelson, an assistant director with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “It seemed like there were always people using the sites.”

Enrollment is open to landowners who wish to enroll for 2010. “We expect a lot more interest this year since landowners have had a chance to talk about the merits of the program,” Nelson said. “These kinds of programs always seem to gain traction in the second year.”

Open Fields and Waters pays landowners who allow walk-in hunting and fishing access to their enrolled property. The program complements Conservation Reserve Program-Management Access Program (CRP-MAP). While the focus of CRP-MAP is upland game, Open Fields and Waters targets habitat for deer and turkey hunting and also opens streams, ponds and lakes to public fishing access.

Open Fields and Waters began as a two-year pilot program this fall, with contracts providing access on enrolled acres from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31. There are 37,242 acres available for public hunting and fishing access, including 371 acres of ponds and lakes and 38 miles of stream. Enrolled acres are published in the Nebraska Public Access Atlas, which also includes other public areas, including CRP-MAP. Enrollment in CRP-MAP is also open at this time through Commission district offices.

Landowners interested in the program should contact their nearest Commission district office at their earliest convenience to ensure a place in the program.

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina - -(AmmoLand.com)- As we were alerted by members in the Blowing Rock area months ago, the Town of Blowing Rock plans to turn over town-owned land that local hunters have hunted on for generations to the National Park Service.

The issue started nearly a decade ago when the North Carolina Land Trust purchased a 192 acre tract of land from a local hunting club outside the city limits of Blowing Rock. Local hunters, believing they were protecting a treasured hunting area, generously donated to the Land Trust for purchase of the tract. As testament to the past use of hunting on the land, the Land Trust wrote language into their deed which designated hunting as an allowable activity on the land for perpetuity.

A few years later however, the Town of Blowing Rock, unbeknownst to the general public, purchased the 192 acre tract from the land trust for potential trade to the National Park Service. In late 2005 the purchase revealed itself to sportsmen when police tried to close the area, including the NC Gamelands portion, to hunting.

Hunters and GRNC members, concerned with suddenly being told they were not allowed to hunt public lands, began questioning recalcitrant town officials. It was then that the questionable land trade was uncovered. Further investigation revealed that an influential town councilwoman’s expensive home overlooks the land, as well as the fact this very same councilwoman is an outspoken anti-hunting, anti-logging activist. Some grassroots members are even beginning to question the Town of Blowing Rock’s role in the Land Trust’s original purchase of the tract. Letters written to Mayor J.B. Lawrence regarding these and other questions have not been answered. The town maintains the trade is necessary to gain full control of the town reservoir located on Park lands between Boone and Blowing Rock. This does not seem plausible given the fact Blowing Rock already has water interconnection permits with Boone as well as an unused intake permit at the! confluence of Payne Branch and Middle Fork.

As a new twist, Mayor Lawrence recently declared the 190 acres as closed to hunting via a vague town code prohibiting loaded guns on town property (i.e. town hall). Coinciding with the Mayor’s announcement, National Park Service spokeswomen Shelia Dixon indicated that if NPS acquires the land, all hunting, trapping, and shooting will be prohibited as per NPS policy. This deal will cut in half the last public lands that Blowing Rock hunters, shooters and trappers can easily access. Hunters attempted to voice concerns with Mayor Lawrence during a March 10, 2009 town meeting, however the Mayor decided to convene an illegal closed meeting to discuss the issue. No recordings or minutes exist of this meeting.

Now it seems that Senator Richard Burr and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx are on board with this deal as well. Burr’s and Foxx’s offices purport that their support stems from the dubious water issue. Locals are skeptical about this and again point to the councilwoman’s home which overlooks this land. Several times GRNC members have requested from both Burr and Foxx to have a voice in the questionable land deal, but that has not happened.

What Sen. Burr has not addressed is if this is part of a larger bill. If so, he can introduce a floor amendment to remove the land grab and protect the rights of hunters in this area. Remember, this could be your county where this happens next.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
* Call Senator Burr and ask him to remove the Blowing Rock land grab: (202) 224-3154

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina.

Hunting With Permission Signs

Whitetails Unlimited

Wisconsin’s Door County - -(AmmoLand.com)- Project POLITE is Whitetails Unlimited’s long-running program to encourage cooperation and respect between hunters and landowners.

The popular program supplies bright green Hunting With Permission signs to landowners, providing potential hunters with a name and phone number to contact for permission to hunt on posted land.

The second component, the Hunter-Landowner ID Card, is an easy way to exchange names, addresses and phone numbers, greatly increasing the trust and understanding for both parties.

The program has been assisting hunters and landowners for more than 20 years.

“It’s not too late for landowners to call us and get the bright green Hunting With Permission signs before the deer season,” said WTU Executive Director Pete Gerl. “This is a very simple way to manage hunters on their land, and to be able to reduce the numbers of deer that may be damaging their crops.”

The signs can help avoid the time-consuming process of trying to find out who owns a particular piece of land; and landowners who allow hunters on their land find this an easy way to have hunters contact them.

The signs are available at no charge (in limited quantities) by contacting WTU national headquarters at (920) 743-6777. Larger quantities are available at a very reasonable cost.

The second component of Project POLITE is the Hunting With Permission ID card, which is a wallet-sized card that hunters can simply fill in with contact information and provide to the landowner. This lets the landowner know exactly who is on their land, providing a level of confidence for the landowner. Since the program’s inception more than 20 years ago, WTU’s Project POLITE has opened tens of thousand of acres to the sport of regulated hunting.

“The ID cards are a simple, effective way to elevate the level of trust for landowners,” said WTU Executive Director Pete Gerl. “For hunters, this is an easy way to build a file of possible hunting locations for the future, and also provides an easy way for the hunter to send the landowner a thank-you note later, and remember a name and phone number for future requests to hunt.”

The Hunting With Permission ID cards are also available at no charge (in limited quantities) by contacting WTU national headquarters at (920) 743-6777. Larger quantities are available at a very reasonable cost.

About:
Founded in 1982, Whitetails Unlimited is a national nonprofit conservation organization. Our mission is to raise funds in support of education, habitat enhancement and acquisition, and the preservation of the hunting tradition for the benefit of the white-tailed deer and other wildlife. When it comes to the whitetail and its environment, WTU’s degree of professionalism and dedication has earned us the reputation of being the nation’s premier whitetail organization.

Ohio Department Natural Resources

COLUMBUS, OH –-(AmmoLand.com)- In 2007, Wallace “Wally” O’Dowd of Powell left a bequest to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife to acquire land for the purpose of wildlife conservation, propagation, and habitat management.

The bequest was the single largest donation in the history of the Division of Wildlife.

In September of 2009, O’Dowd’s dream became a reality when the Division closed on property along the Athens-Hocking County line. The newly purchased 3,600-acre parcel, which is contiguous to the existing Trimble Wildlife Area, will be combined to create one 6,694-acre site to be known as the Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area. The newly formed wildlife area will be the sixth largest in the state.

Mr. O’Dowd’s bequest of more than $4.5 million was combined with an additional $560,326 from the ODNR Division of Wildlife to cover a few extra acres and other costs associated with the acquisition. The land was purchased from the Sunday Creek Coal Company.

As stipulated in the O’Dowd will, the newly purchased land will be open to public hunting, fishing and trapping. Wally had requested that the property acquisition be a contiguous block of land in southeastern Ohio.

“I am sure Wally would be pleased that not only were we able to identify and purchase a sizeable portion of land, but that it is adjacent to an existing land holding that will result in more habitat and therefore greater opportunities for enjoyment by the state’s sportsmen and women,” said David M. Graham, chief of the Division of Wildlife. “We believe this is a fantastic legacy and an outstanding example of generosity to and for all Ohioans.”

Wallace “Wally” O’Dowd was an avid sportsman who traveled the world following his passion for hunting and fishing. A veteran of the Korean War, Wally was also an entrepreneur who had established his own manufacturing business.
A dedication ceremony for the new Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area will be held in the spring of 2010.

Wildlife conservation is an interest and love for many individuals. Persons who might like to consider a bequest for wildlife conservation or make a donation in memory of a loved one can contact the Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543).
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Pennsylvania Game Commission today has cancelled vehicular tours of State Game Lands 110 and 211 in Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties because roadways in these areas have become too soft to accommodate large volumes of traffic and rain remains in the forecast through Sunday.

“It is unfortunate that these tours had to be cancelled on such short notice,” said PGC Southeast Region Director Doug Killough. “But conditions in these natural areas simply have deteriorated to the point where we were left with no choice.”

Signs announcing the tour cancellations will be posted at the Ellendale gate of SGL 211 in Dauphin County’s Middle Paxton Township, just northeast of Dauphin, as well as at the SGL 110 parking lot on Mountain Road, midway between the Shartlesville exit of Interstate 78 and Route 61.

Each location is the starting point for these two vehicular tours.

Mossy Oak Properties

West Point, MS --(AmmoLand.com)- With attendance from 15 states and over 50 offices, the Mossy Oak Properties Annual Conference posted record attendance, September 23-24 in West Point, Mississippi.

“This year’s record conference attendance can be contributed to the stability of the investment and recreational property markets. Despite current economic conditions investors and outdoorsmen alike realize the long term value and stability of rural land.”

stated Lannie Wallace, EVP of Mossy Oak Properties. “This is a testimony to the need in the national market for a network of specialized land brokers and to the success of Mossy Oak Properties – America’s Land Specialists.”

Wallace continued, “This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. John Baen, Professor of Real estate at the University of North Texas. Baen (as he prefers to be addressed) spoke about how land ownership was one of the cornerstones of long term wealth and one of the most stable investments available today.” Also speaking at the conference were Dr. James Henderson and Dawn Holland Manning, both from Mississippi State University and Joe Mallard and Jeremy Brock both from Federal Land Bank.”

Co-Founder and CEO, Chris Hawley, offered this summary of the event: “This was the best conference ever. It was so exciting to witness the positive attitudes and energy despite the past years economic pressures which is proof of the resiliency and commitment of the entire Mossy Oak Properties team. We feel great about the entire team as we position ourselves for the future. The challenges ahead present opportunities for Mossy Oak Properties to further define ourselves as America’s Land Specialist.”

For additional information regarding Mossy Oak Properties please contact Resa Vickers at 866-667-2289 or via email rvickers@mossyoak.com. Each Mossy Oak Properties office is independently owned and operated.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. --(AmmoLand.com)- The week-long primitive weapons deer hunting season begins Saturday, Oct. 10. During primitive weapons season, hunters may use archery equipment (including crossbows), muzzleloading shotguns (20 gauge or larger) and muzzleloading firearms (.44 caliber or larger).

“Our primitive weapons deer season provides hunters the opportunity to hunt with traditional or inline black powder firearms or to continue hunting with archery gear,” said John Bowers, assistant chief of Game Management for the Wildlife Resources Division.

“Hunters are allowed to hunt either-sex deer during this week-long opportunity. Primitive weapons hunters have a wide variety of options depending on their personal choices and needs without being burdened by complex regulations.”

More than one million acres of public hunting land is available to hunters in Georgia, including more than 100 state-operated wildlife management areas where special hunts are offered throughout the season, including primitive weapons hunts. Dates and locations for these hunts are available in the 2009-2010 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations guide, and WMA maps are available at www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

During the 2008 primitive weapons season, 58,264 hunters harvested 16,897 deer – a harvest rate that has remained relatively stable in recent years.

Hunters are allowed a season total of ten antlerless deer and two antlered deer (one of the two antlered deer must have a minimum of four points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers).

Under the new hunting and fishing license sales system, the primitive weapons license is no longer required to hunt during archery and primitive weapons seasons. However, a valid hunting and big game license is required, as is a deer harvest record. In most cases, a separate WMA license is required to hunt on a WMA.

All hunters, including archers, must wear at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange above the waist during primitive weapons season. Scopes and other optical sighting devices are considered legal for muzzleloading firearms and archery equipment.

Georgia is considered the top destination in the country for non-resident hunters and continues to draw tens of thousands of deer hunters from across the country each year. The state’s quality deer herd and the more than one million available acres of public hunting land serve as the main appeal.

For more information on deer hunting seasons and regulations, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)-Americans of all ages have the opportunity to help restore the beauty and vitality of our public lands on September 26 as part of the 16th annual National Public Lands Day. Across the nation, people will join the largest coast-to-coast, single-day volunteer effort to improve America’s public lands.

Many of this year’s events will focus on water and its importance in healthy ecosystems. More than 130,000 expected volunteers will clean up waterways, rivers and wetlands, build fish habitats, reduce runoff by planting native vegetation and test water quality in streams and rivers. National Public Lands Day provides Americans with a great chance to get outside and improve our public lands, while answering the new administration’s call for Americans to participate in public service.

“National Public Lands Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to get outside and become a naturalist for a day. We are proud to be a long-time partner in this public-private partnership,” said Sam Hamilton, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “I encourage citizens to volunteer in local efforts, spruce up public lands and introduce children to the natural environment.”

This year, organizers are expecting a record number of volunteers to participate at events. Nonprofit organizations, community groups and land management agencies at the local, county, state and federal levels are among the participants in these activities and events.

“Many of our refuges are designated to protect rare natural features or particular species of birds, animals and plants. During National Public Lands Day, volunteers will make significant contributions at refuges, such as maintaining visitor facilities, restoring precious dune and salt marsh habitats, collecting wildflower seeds for prairie restoration and cleaning up beaches,” said Greg Siekaniec, Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

A list of refuges participating in National Public Lands Day is available at www.fws.gov. The special events Web site at www.fws.gov/refuges/SpecialEvents/FWS_SpecialEvents_Search.cfm has additional locations, and to find a specific refuge, visit the locator map at www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/index.html.

“Wherever Americans go outdoors to explore, hike, fish, paddle, jog or just enjoy nature, that location is likely to be a candidate for a National Public Lands Day event,” said Robb Hampton, director of National Public Lands Day, a program of the National Environmental Education Foundation. “For 2009, we have a special focus on the connection water has on our public lands.”

Planting vegetation and trees near bodies of water can help improve water quality in many ways. Trees remove pollutants and carbon dioxide from the air. When trees and shrubs are planted as a “buffer zone” along the edges of rivers and streams, they are effective in reducing the amount of polluting runoff that would otherwise end up in those bodies of water. Just one tree can eliminate 4,000 gallons of runoff annually.

National Public Lands Day is now the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to enhance the public lands that all Americans enjoy. Last year, more than 120,000 volunteers planted an estimated 1.6 million trees, fixed hundreds of miles of hiking trails and removed trash at nearly 1,900 sites.

National Public Lands Day partners include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Defense, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Invasive Species Council, over 30 states, numerous local agencies and nonprofit groups, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA. Community members can find an National Public Lands Day site in their area or register a location of their own at www.publiclandsday.org.

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) provides knowledge to trusted professionals who, with their credibility, amplify messages to national audiences to solve everyday environmental problems. Together, we generate lasting positive change. NEEF partners with professionals in health, education, media, business and public land management to promote daily actions for helping people protect and enjoy the environment. www.neefusa.org.

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.

Ruffed Grouse Society

Coraopolis, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- As the one international wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting conditions suitable for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and related wildlife to sustain our sport hunting tradition and outdoor heritage, the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) is proud to be a part of the Thread Lightly “Respected Access is Open Access” outreach campaign.

Since its inception in 1961, RGS has always supported initiatives that will open more land to hunting, and the “Respected Access” campaign looks like it will certainly do that.

There are many indiscretions that would make a landowner cut off access to his or her property, with littering, natural resource damage, unsafe shooting practices and visitor conflicts high among them. Drawing attention to these transgressions, by way of public service announcements, social networking, website resources, an online awareness course, trail kiosks, press coverage and outreach at key events, may be just what is needed to curb the misbehavior.

“All it takes is the inexcusable actions of one individual, to give landowners reason to close off their land to hunting and other outdoor activities; and more often than not, once that land is gone, it’s gone forever. Reaching those who have no regard for private and/or public property is no easy task, but this educational campaign is a step in the right direction, and the Ruffed Grouse Society is proud to be a part of it,” said RGS executive Director and CEO Mike Zagata.

As RGS Director of Conservation Policy Dan Dessecker has often said, “Throughout the range of the ruffed grouse, the vast majority of our forests are owned by private individuals. Hunters need to treat these lands with respect to help secure hunting access for the future.”

About:
Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is the one international wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting conditions suitable for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and related wildlife to sustain our sport hunting tradition and outdoor heritage.

Information on the RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org .

Pheasants Forever

Saint Paul, Minn. --(AmmoLand.com)- Last week, Pheasants Forever (PF) closed on a 233-acre parcel in Pipestone County using funds from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund.

The new 233-acre Dubbledee addition connects to the existing 310-acre Winter Wildlife Management Area (WMA) creating a 543-acre tract. This is the first land acquisition using funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment approved by Minnesota voters last November.

The new 543-acre Winter WMA provides critical habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and is in one of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) highest priority areas in the state. PF plans to turn the land over to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with the possibility of it being open yet this year to public hunting.

The acquisition was led by the Pipestone County Chapter of PF, with funding partners in addition to the Outdoors Amendment funds including: The Nature Conservancy, North American Wetlands Conservation Act, PF’s Minnesota Habitat Fund, and the Minnesota DNR. The seller, Al Dubbledee, also donated a portion of the sale. In total, the acquisition was $583,300.

The original 310-acre Winter WMA was acquired by the 2005 Build a Wildlife Area campaign. Developed by PF, the Anoka County Chapter of PF, Game Fair, Outdoor News and Gander Mountain in 2003, the Build a Wildlife Area campaign raises funds for the acquisition of public wildlife areas. Through the unique partnership, every dollar raised is tripled through matching grants from the DNR and the USFWS. All acquisitions are then transferred to DNR or USFWS and are open to the public.

“This is the perfect example of the great projects we’ll be able to accomplish thanks to Minnesota voters supporting the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. This acquisition is in a very important area for Minnesota wildlife and it connects to another parcel of critical habitat at a time a willing seller was ready,” explained Ron Leather’s, PF’s Government Grants Administrator.

PF has 77 chapters and over 22,000 members in Minnesota. Join Pheasants Forever online at www.PheasantsForever.org or attend a local Pheasants Forever Chapter Banquet in Minnesota this autumn.

About:
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 125,000 members in 750 local chapters across the continent.

For additional information about Pheasants Forever, please visit www.PheasantsForever.org

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, Pa –-(AmmoLand.com)- As part of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s efforts to highlight its ongoing habitat improvement initiatives, the public is invited to take part in upcoming tours of several State Game Lands between Sept. 20 and Oct. 18. All tours are free.

“State Game Land tours provide the opportunity for those who enjoy nature to come out and talk with our employees – the people who are directly responsible for managing and protecting these lands,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “With autumn nearly here, these tours will provide a chance to see some of the best scenery the Commonwealth has to offer. These tours afford hunters and trappers and others who appreciate wildlife the opportunity to see how the Game Commission is spending hunting and furtaker license fees to acquire and to manage these lands for wildlife.”

Roe noted that staff shortages and limited financial resources forced a reduction in the number of State Game Land tours this year.

“Recognizing the benefit of the tours, the agency has maintained some tours,” Roe said. “It was a difficult decision to scale back on the number of tours we offer this year. However, the agency’s current financial situation required that we make tough choices.”

In 1919, the Game Commission was granted authority to purchase lands for the protection, propagation and management of game and wildlife, and to provide areas for public hunting and trapping. Since that time, the Game Commission has acquired more than 1.4 million acres in 65 of the state’s 67 counties (Philadelphia and Delaware counties being the exceptions).

With few exceptions, State Game Lands were purchased using revenues from hunting and furtaker license sales; State Game Lands timber, coal, oil, gas and mineral operation revenues; the state’s share of a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition, known as the Pittman-Robertson Program; from Working Together for Wildlife artwork and patch sales; and from the Pennsylvania Waterfowl Management stamp and print sales.

Information on the various tours is as follows:

Warren County: Sunday, Sept. 20, State Game Land 143, which encompasses 8,261 acres. At 11 a.m., tour participants will meet at Route 27, at the Blue Eye Gate, just east of Garland. This will be a driving tour and will involve stops to view various habitat management practices and projects. Cars will be suitable for this tour.

McKean County: Saturday, Sept. 20, State Game Land 62, between Mt Jewett and Ormsby, adjacent to Kinzua Bridge State Park. SGL 62 consists of 1,526 acres. Tour participants should gather at 1 p.m. at the Game Commission booth at the Kinzua Bridge Park Fall Festival. From there the group will use their own vehicle to travel 1.5 miles to the McKean County SGL headquarters. The group will travel on some short walks and some short drives through SGL 62 to see food plots, warm season grasses, aspen cuts, timber harvests, fruit tree plantings, Pennsylvania Conservation Crew projects, the Kinzua Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation projects and other habitat work done on this SGL. The tour will last about two hours, ending at the Game Commission Food and Cover headquarters, where equipment used to implement habitat improvements will be on display.

Bradford County: Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. (rain or shine). This will be a 28-mile, self-guided, circular driving tour through State Game Lands 12 and 36, and will take about two hours to complete. SGL 12 consists of nearly 24,480 acres in Bradford and Sullivan counties, and SGL 36 is comprised of 18,987 acres in Bradford County. The route will start at the SGL 12 parking lot on top of Wheelerville Mountain along Route 154 just south of Canton, Bradford County. Roads are passable for most vehicles. It will go along East to the Barkley cemetery area than down the hill to Laquin area turning west onto the railroad grade to Wheelerville. Once you reach Wheelerville you will come to a “T” in the road, which is SR 154, and marks the end of the tour. You could go north along SR 154 to Canton, or south along SR 154 to Shunk and points south in Sullivan County. Since the tour goes by Sunfish Pond County Park, a picnic lunch may be the order of the day! The local history of the mountain and the Game Commission’s refuge system is intriguing. A tour guide packet that is full of information and old Game Commission photographs will be given to each vehicle at the start of the tour.

Westmoreland County: Sunday, Oct. 4, State Game Land 42, consisting of about 15,600 acres, from noon until 3 p.m. This will be a self-guided, nine-mile circular driving tour through SGL 42 that will begin and end at the SGL maintenance building off of Furnace Lane, just outside of New Florence. Tour participants will be able to view Game Commission habitat equipment, habitat improvement projects and plantings on the SGLs, forestry practices and fencing areas, gas well sites, and a historic iron ore furnace along the route. Game Commission personnel will be on hand at various stops along the route to explain various aspects of the habitat and work being done on SGL 42. The tour is free, and traverses the picturesque Laurel Ridge with some magnificent views along the route of the surrounding countryside. Children will enjoy a stop on this tour where they can see and touch some of the furs, skulls and mounts of local wildlife found in the area. Each tour participant will be provided a brochure with directions and information about various features along the tour route. A high-ground clearance vehicle is a must for this tour. Directions to SGL 42 maintenance building: From New Florence, take State Route 711 south and turn left onto Furnace Lane at the edge of town. On Furnace Lane, travel about one mile to the stop sign at the intersection with Boswell Road. Bear right at the stop and travel across a small bridge and turn right at the SGL sign. Follow this road about eight-tenths of a mile through the SGL gate and you will see the maintenance building on the left.

Bedford/Blair counties: Sunday, Oct. 11, from noon to 3 p.m., State Game Land 26, which encompasses 12,062 acres in a four-county area. This popular tour highlights mountainous terrain and fall foliage. The seven-mile, self-guided auto tour begins at the parking area on the northeast side of Route 869, between Pavia and Beaverdale, and concludes near the village of Blue Knob. Youngsters will enjoy the opportunity to locate and identify mounted wildlife specimens placed in their natural habitat along the drive. Game Commission personnel will be on hand to answer questions relating to Game Commission programs and activities.

Luzerne/Wyoming counties: Sunday, Oct. 11, State Game Land 57, which consists of nearly 44,650 acres. Registration to be held from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the headquarters building complex on SGL 57, Ricketts Station, Forkston Township, Wyoming County. Game Commission personnel will be on hand to explain various points of interest, including wildlife habitat improvement projects. Four-wheel-drive vehicles with high clearance are strongly recommended for this three-hour, 30-mile, self-guided driving tour. Directions: Take Route 487 north at the intersection of Route 118 and proceed 7.5 miles and turn onto a dirt road near SGL sign on right. Travel on dirt road one-tenth of a mile to a “Y” intersection and proceed left three-tenths of a mile to the headquarters complex. Each vehicle will be provided a map and brief explanation of wildlife management programs being carried out on this magnificent tract of public hunting land.

Berks/Schuylkill counties: Sunday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., State Game Land 110, which encompasses nearly 10,150 acres of historical, scenic and recreational property in a two-county area. The nine-mile trip will begin at the agency’s parking lot on Mountain Road, midway between the Shartlesville Exit of Interstate 78 and Route 61; and will exit onto Route 183, north of Strausstown. Game Commission Officers will be on hand to answer questions relating to Game Commission programs and activities.

Dauphin/Lebanon counties: Sunday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., State Game Land 211, which encompasses more than 44,400 acres in a three-county area. The tour will start at the Ellendale gate in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, just northeast of Dauphin Borough. The 19-mile trip will be made along an abandoned railroad bed, and will end at Goldmine Road in Lebanon County. Game Commission personnel will be on hand to explain various points of interest, including wildlife habitat improvement projects.

Facts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: During the 2007-08 fiscal year, state law required the Game Commission to spend a minimum of $5,338,377 on habitat improvement projects. Demonstrating its understanding and commitment to habitat improvement, the Game Commission spent a total of $6,299,116, which exceeded the legislative mandate by $960,739.

PUEBLO WEST, CO. - -(AmmoLand.com)-  Enjoy your sport on your own land! www.UsCountryProperties.com has a great selection of hunting and recreational properties for sale in the Greater Rocky Mountain Region including properties in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, New Mexico, Idaho and Montana. Here hunters and outdoor lovers find the perfect dream property for their sport.

Hunters can search the data base of real estate for sale throughout small towns and the country as well as find independent brokers who are a part of the premier www.UsCountryProperties.com network, specializing in rural and recreational properties.

www.UsCountryProperties.com is the online site for the print magazine Rocky Mountain Properties, mass distributed seven times per year at over 1500 locations. Other country websites including:

• www.nebraskacountryproperties.com
• www.wyomingcountryproperties.com
• www.coloradocountryproperties.com
• www.southdakotacountryproperties.com

Each are sponsored by independent brokers who can help hunters find properties in specific states.

Hunters visiting these states in hunting season or other times of the year will find Rocky Mountain Properties for free at area hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, visitor centers, real estate offices and more. Or the most recent digital version of the magazine can be viewed at www.uscountryproperties.com/rocky-mountain-properties.

“Hunters flock to the Rocky Mountains each fall and can now not only pick up a copy of our magazine, but can view listings online from the comfort of their own home once they return from busy trips,” said Jenny Paulson, Publisher of Rocky Mountain Properties. “From the mountains to the plains our brokers have properties listed that will fit various dreams and budgets.”

Land and recreational property continues to be a great investment as well. In states like Nebraska even during the economic slowdown of 2008, land continued to increase in value. Today there are more properties on the market then ever, along with deals because of the slowdown.

“Don’t miss out on the steals and deals available now,” said Paulson. “This is the time to find your dream property at prices that have drastically come down in most areas.”

To search for properties or a recreational real estate broker please go to www.uscountryproperties.com. Or contact Rocky Mountain Properties for a free mailed subscription at 719-423-0386 or info@uscountryproperties.com. Also see the company blog at www.countrypropertiesjournal.com.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OLYMPIA, WA - -(AmmoLand.com)- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recently acquired 201 acres of shrub steppe habitat in Yakima County with help from two private, non-profit organizations – the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy.

The property was a private in-holding within the 1,800-acre Snow Mountain Ranch, which was acquired by the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy in 2005 to maintain the natural landscape for public hiking, wildlife viewing, and other uses.  About two miles southwest of the town of Cowiche (northwest of Yakima), it is adjacent to WDFW’s 5,107-acre Cowiche unit  of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.

The 201 acres, which support a variety of shrub-steppe wildlife species, was purchased for $141,000 from a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant.  WDFW will make annual payments in lieu of taxes on the land to Yakima County.

“We are very pleased that the Department has been able to acquire this parcel of private land contained within Snow Mountain Ranch so that it can also be maintained for similar purposes as undeveloped shrub steppe habitat,” said Tom Coleman of Cowiche Canyon Conservancy.  “We very much appreciate all the work of department staff to make this acquisition possible.”

Peter Scholes, protection director for The Nature Conservancy, called the project a great example of the Department reaching out to partners to get the job done. “Being able to put this important piece of the puzzle in place was critical for the long-term conservation of these lands and waters,” Scholes said.

“Conservation of critical fish and wildlife habitat is the Department’s top priority and getting it done depends on local partners,” said Jeff, Tayer, WDFW southcentral regional director. “Acquiring this property will provide Yakima County residents and visitors great opportunities for hiking, birding and enjoying central Washington’s native shrub steppe habitat.”

Whitetails Unlimited’s Project POLITE Cards

Whitetails Unlimited

Wisconsin – -(AmmoLand.com)- With hunting season just around the corner, finding places to hunt can be a chore for hunters, and a distraction for many landowners. WTU’s Project POLITE can be a simple tool for making hunter access more successful.

Project POLITE Hunter-Landowner ID Cards are an easy way to exchange names, addresses and phone numbers, greatly increasing the trust and understanding for both hunters and landowners. Supported in part by Winchester Ammunition, the paper cards are simply filled in with contact information and provided to each other.

“This is a very simple way to elevate the level of trust for landowners, allowing them to know exactly who is on their land,” said WTU Executive Director Pete Gerl. “For hunters, this is an easy way to build a file of possible hunting locations for the future, and also provides an easy way for the hunter to send a thank you to the landowner.”

A set of five cards and a Tyvek® envelope are available free of charge by contacting WTU national headquarters at (920) 743-6777.

Since the program’s inception more than 20 years ago, WTU’s Project POLITE has opened up over one million acres to the sport of regulated hunting.

For landowners that want to make their land available to hunters, Project POLITE’s bright green Hunting With Permission signs will provide potential hunters with a name and phone number to contact for permission to hunt on posted land. The sign makes it clear that permission must first be granted by the landowner. For hunters, the sign avoids the time consuming process of trying to find out who owns a particular piece of land; and landowners who allow hunters on their land find this an easy way to have hunters contact them. This component of the program is also generously supported by Winchester Ammunition.

Quantities of the 11 x 14-inch signs are available at a reasonable cost by contacting WTU national headquarters at (920) 743-6777.

Companies interested in participating with WTU in a program like Project POLITE can contact Kevin Devault at WTU national headquarters (800) 274-5471.

About:
Founded in 1982, Whitetails Unlimited is a national nonprofit conservation organization. Our mission is to raise funds in support of education, habitat enhancement and acquisition, and the preservation of the hunting tradition for the benefit of the white-tailed deer and other wildlife. When it comes to the whitetail and its environment, WTU’s degree of professionalism and dedication has earned us the reputation of being the nation’s premier whitetail organization.

Ohio Department Natural Resources

COLUMBUS, OH – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry is seeking public input on a recently completed draft management plan for the Shawnee State Forest Wilderness Area. Comments will be accepted through September 14.

The 8,000-acre Shawnee State Forest Wilderness Area, located in Adams and Scioto Counties, was created by state law in 1988 with the intent of creating an area in which past human influences go largely unnoticed, to allow for natural forest succession and to provide an area with outstanding opportunities for solitude and recreational experiences.

The law creating the Shawnee State Forest Wilderness Area specified that every ten years the Wilderness Area’s management plan should be updated. ODNR Division of Forestry staff members have reviewed the existing plan and have suggested several revisions designed to provide quality wilderness experiences over the next decade.

Some of the suggested changes include:

• Restricting camping access during severe wildfire hazard conditions;
• Requiring the use of a camping stove and prohibiting open fires;
• Changing approval for wildfire and emergency response within the wilderness area from the Shawnee State Forest Manager to the Incident Commander dealing with the incident.
• The current plan and the proposed plan can be found at www.ohiodnr.com/forestry. Click on the link, “Shawnee State Forest Wilderness Area Management Plan being reviewed.”

Comments regarding the proposed plan can be submitted by one of the following methods:
E-mail comments to State Forest Program Administrator Nate Kirk, Nate.Kirk@dnr.state.oh.us.
Attend one of the scheduled open houses at the Athens ODNR office on August 19, 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.; or the Shawnee State Forest office on August 20, 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Mail comments to:
Nate Kirk, State Forest Program Administrator
ODNR Division of Forestry
2045 Morse Rd., Building H-1
Columbus, OH 43229-6693

About:
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas — Research surveys show that finding a place to hunt is a barrier for many people in today’s Texas, which is why Texas Parks and Wildlife Department created the Hunt Texas Online Connection, a free Web service that allows anyone to view hunting opportunities posted by private landowners across the state.

In early 2008, the department invited landowners to list hunting lease opportunities in Texas for free, including last-minute openings. Currently, hunters can search more than 450 hunting opportunities by lease type, county, game animal, cost per hunter and other parameters. The service is free to both hunters and landowners.

“Anyone looking for a hunting lease in Texas can use this free service to find listings from landowners throughout the state,” said Linda Campbell, TPWD program director for private lands and public hunting. “This is one way we’re trying to better serve our license-buying public. It’s important to keep the Texas hunting tradition strong, since hunting supports wholesome family recreation, pumps more than a billion dollars per year into Texas local economies, and provides an economic incentive for private land stewards to protect wildlife habitat.”

To register, landowners can visit the main Hunt Texas Online Connection Web area on the TPWD Web site. Click “Get Started,” select a username and password, log in, and start looking at hunting opportunities. Leases can be seen without registering and logging in, but users must register in order to contact landowners.

After users fill out the online registration form, they’ll get an email with a long URL ending in the word “activate” — users must click this link to complete registration. If users don’t receive the activation email, it might be because a security system is blocking it. In that case, users could try placing hunt.texas@tpwd.state.tx.us in their address book or allowed e-mail rules.

Hunters and landowners will determine if they are the right fit for each other, and all transactions will be between landowners and hunters. The new service also provides links to privately operated hunting lease Web sites as a convenience for the public. TPWD does not independently verify, endorse or warrant any of the information posted on Hunt Texas Online Connection, or any information contained on the privately operated hunting lease Web sites that are linked from the service.

Anyone can e-mail questions, comments and suggestions about Hunt Texas Online Connection to hunt.texas@tpwd.state.tx.us. The TPWD Wildlife Information staff at (512) 389-4505 can also provide basic assistance with the service.

On the Net: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/hunttexas/