Michael Waddell to Chair National Hunting and Fishing Day

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Outdoor television star Michael Waddell has been selected as honorary chairman for this year’s National Hunting and Fishing Day, set for Sept. 27.

In the volunteer role, Waddell becomes the official spokesman for the annual commemoration’s key message: Conservation succeeds only because of America’s 34 million hunters and anglers. In fact, through license fees and excise taxes, hunters and anglers generate $100,000 every 30 minutes for fish, wildlife and habitat programs. Read more

Sierra Club Opposes Arizona Right To Hunt

Not much of a shocker there I’d say. The problem is the information the Sierra Club is presenting to the public about HCR2037, which is a proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution that would give citizens of that state a guaranteed right to hunt. The Sierra Club is saying that a passage of this bill would remove control of wildlife management from the fish and game and put it in the hands of the legislature. But that’s not true. Read more

And What’s Wrong With The Endangered Species Act?

It’s getting worse before, if ever, it will get better. Abuse of the Endangered Species Act is at an all-time high and rising like a rocket. Something must be done! (Scroll to bottom to find links to related articles)

Can it get any worse? Millions of dollars are being spent on lawsuits aimed at preserving habitat and some species of wildlife needlessly, with no end in sight. The ESA is being used as a lethal weapon that will destroy our property rights and further sink us into economic recession. It’s out of control. Read more

2008 International Sportsmen’s Exposition Returning to University of Phoenix Stadium this March

Entire Spectrum of Outdoor Sports Covered at Arizona’s Largest Sportsmen’s Show

PHOENIX – Jan. 17, 2008 – If you’ve ever wanted to learn to cast or tie a fly, call elk like an expert or even “bone up” on the latest Dutch Oven cooking or bar-b-que techniques, the eighth annual International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) – to be held March 7-9 at Glendale’s University of Phoenix Stadium – is the West’s premier event for everything outdoor related. Read more

National Heritage Areas Stealing Your Property And Limiting Your Rights

I have written some here at the Black Bear Blog and Blogging the Maine Outdoors about National Heritage Areas. Just last week, I wrote an article at Blogging the Maine Outdoors about a summit which also took place last week at the Sunday River Ski Resort. That summit was to discuss the economic impact of trails to Maine’s economy.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci has been pushing for more promotion of Maine’s natural resources and appears to be an advocate for the establishment of more “preserved” lands including National Heritage Areas. Part of this summit at Sunday River was to discuss the prospects of mapping and inventorying lands and waterways in order to protect them. Included in that process was to tap into federal money available to protect these lands through National Heritage Areas. Read more

GMS® Partners with Tex-Star Wildlife Services

***NEWS RELEASE***

GMS® Partners with Tex-Star Wildlife Services

WACO, Texas — Designers of the No. 1 Tool in Game Management — GMS® is proud to announce it has partnered with Tex-Star Wildlife Services to offer full-service wildlife consultant services to its customers. As part of the all-new service, Tex-Star will provide hands-on guidance and instruction for large and small hunting operations as well as breeder operations to optimize the wildlife and habitat potential of customers’ properties.

“Our GMS technology is a tremendous tool in successful game management, but we want to also make sure our customers have the benefit of experience and knowledge which can help them achieve the best results for their wildlife program,” says Mike Owens, co-owner of GMS. “A lot of property owners or ranch managers have an idea of what they want, but they need guidance on how to get from Point A to Point B. Tex-Star can give them the guidance they need.”

Through GMS, the Tex-Star wildlife consultant services include: micro- and macro-game management, livestock and habitat management, watering facilities, supplemental feeding, record keeping, budgets, census-keeping, predator control, food plot management, fence layout and construction, harvest recommendations, brush management, land acquisition and many more.

“Some ranch owners’ goals may be easy to achieve, while others may be unrealistic given the habitat or other factors,” says Joe Guidry, co-owner of Tex-Star Wildlife Services and a wildlife management professional with 15 years of experience. “Either way, we work closely with each landowner to ensure that all their wants and needs are addressed whether it be macro-managing for general wildlife populations or micro- managing for specific goals such as trophy whitetails.”

GMS is no stranger to wildlife management. The GMS software has been endorsed by some of the largest game ranches in the country, and is considered by most industry experts to be the most complete, yet ‘easy to use’ game management software on the market today. GMS helps hunting operations and land owners manage properties, whose focus is on quality deer and game management (including deer farmers/breeders), organize and maintain all of the pertinent information needed to manage a successful ranch. Innovative and comprehensive, the GMS program allows users to begin quality deer management, track all aspects of a hunting property, develop plans to help maximize herd health, quantify herd ratios, compositions and age structures, develop a wildlife management plan, schedule hunts, record information in the field via Pocket PC technology and much more.

“Efficiency in game management is the key to success,” adds Owens, “and — whether it’s with our GMS software or through 20-plus years of wildlife management experience — we want to help ranch owners reach their goals efficiently and cost-effectively.”

To learn more about the GMS game management software, call 254.752.1608, email gamesolutions@sbcglobal.net or visit www.wildlifemanagementsoftware.com.

Located in Waco, Texas, GMS® offers technology for successful game management and is the No. 1 Game Management Solution in the Deer Industry. For more information on GMS, call 254.752.1608 or visit www.wildlifemanagementsoftware.com.

Media Contact:
John Meng
Meng & Associates Inc.
“Marketing That’s Custom Fit”
P. 512.930.7100 F. 512.864.0033
mengassociates.com

DFG Announces Changes to the 2007 Recreational Fishing Regulations

Contact:
John Budrick, Associate Marine Biologist, (650) 413-1501

The sport fishery for rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, and greenlings will close from Pigeon Point to the Oregon Border (North and North-Central Management Areas) on Oct. 1. Shore-based anglers and divers are not affected by this action, announced the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). The closure will remain in effect through the end of the calendar year. DFG approved these conforming fisheries management measures following the adoption of similar regulations for federal waters by the Pacific Fishery Management Council at their meeting on Sept. 13, 2007. Seasons and other recreational fishing regulations will remain in effect for these species in areas south of Pigeon Point (See 2007 California Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet, Sections 27.35-27.50).

Recreational catch estimates through July, and projected catches for the remainder of the year, indicate that harvest guidelines will be exceeded for canary and yelloweye rockfish (“overfished” species) if these measures are not taken. Factors that led to the increase in projected catches include redistribution of recreational fishing effort to the northern areas where canary and yelloweye rockfishes are more common, poor salmon catches resulting in salmon fishermen switching to groundfish, and an increase in the daily catch rate per angler for yelloweye and canary rockfish. Exceeding California’s recreational harvest guidelines for these species could jeopardize rebuilding of these species to healthy population levels.

“While we are aware that a shortened season will affect sport anglers, we are also concerned that failure to take action at this time would jeopardize the future rebuilding success for these important “overfished” species,” said Marija Vojkovich, marine region manager.

Under current management measures, the Director of DFG has the authority to take in-season action deemed necessary to prevent catches from exceeding federal harvest limits. As a result, beginning Oct. 1, 2007 the seasons and depth restrictions for boat-based anglers in the Northern and North-Central Management Areas will include:

Northern Management Area (Oregon border south to 40°10′ north latitude near Cape Mendocino in Mendocino County): CLOSED - Fishing for rockfish, cabezon, greenlings and lingcod is closed to boat-based anglers beginning Oct. 1, 2007.

North-Central Management Area (40°10’ north latitude near Cape Mendocino in Mendocino County to 37°11’ north latitude near Pigeon Pt. in San Mateo County): CLOSED - Fishing for rockfish, cabezon, greenlings and lingcod is closed to boat-based anglers beginning Oct. 1, 2007.

Regulations for all Management Areas south of 37 degrees 11’ north latitude: Seasons remain as noted in the 2007 California Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet.

For more detailed information about the action taken by the Pacific Fishery Management Council visit www.pcouncil.org.

For more detailed information regarding recreational groundfish regulations and to stay informed of in-season regulation changes, call the Groundfish Hotline (831) 649-2801, or visit the Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine.

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Four Arrested Friday in DFG Delta Poaching Case

California Department of Fish & Game

Four Arrested Friday in DFG Delta Poaching Case

Contact:
Capt. Brian Naslund, DFG Enforcement, (916) 838-7426
Harry Morse, DFG Office of Communications, (916) 322-8962
Kyle Orr, DFG Office of Communications, (916) 322-8958

Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wardens today arrested four individuals suspected of illegally harvesting and selling sport-caught fish from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Sport-caught fish are caught for recreational purposes only and are not to be sold.

“The Department of Fish and Game works diligently to protect the fish populations in the fragile Delta ecosystem,” said DFG Chief Nancy Foley. “Illegal take and sale of this valuable resource jeopardizes conservation efforts by the department and our partners.”

Wardens obtained a search warrant and four felony arrest warrants from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office for conspiracy and the sale of sport-caught fish.

Thirteen wardens executed the warrant and two felony arrest warrants at 3502 Novara Way in Stockton while five wardens served two felony arrest warrants at 8404 Dartford Dr. in Sacramento. Evidence seized from the suspects included one 14-foot aluminum fishing boat, 36 bags of blue gill, each bag containing about 20 fish, commercial quantities of individually packaged striped bass with weights marked on each package, and two scales used to weigh fish.

The investigation began in September when DFG’s Delta Bay Enhanced Enforcement Unit received anonymous tips claiming a group was illegally catching and selling a variety of fish species from the Delta.

Wardens followed up on the information and observed the suspects involved in what appeared to be the illegal commercialization of several sport fish species. The individuals caught the fish under the authority of a sport fishing license and then transported them to locations in Elk Grove and South Sacramento where they were illegally sold.

“This is another example of the Department of Fish and Game’s ongoing effort to protect California’s sport fish from illegal commercialization and poaching,” said DFG Capt. Brian Naslund. During the past year, other groups have been arrested by Fish and Game for the illegal commercialization of striped bass and sturgeon taken from the Delta river system.

Charged and arrested were, Tam Thi Dang, 46, of Sacramento, Dong Van Le, 48, of Sacramento, Thiet Van Nguyen, 50, of Stockton, and Nguyen Doan Thi Hui, 50, of Stockton. Three of the suspects were booked into the Rio Consumnes Correctional Center in South Sacramento and one was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail. The maximum penalty for a conviction of Penal Code Section 182 (a) (1), (Conspiracy) is $10,000 and up to one year in state prison or county jail. The maximum fine for a violation of Fish and Game Code 7121 (Sale of sport caught fish) is $7,500.

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Lawsuit Filed Against ALS Enterprises, Inc.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL 42 PAGE PDF FILE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA

Theodore Robert Carlson, Mike Buetow, CIVIL ACTION NO.: 07W3970 RHKIJSM
Gary Steven Richardson, Jr., and Joe
Rohrbach individually on behalf of
themselves and all other Minnesota CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
residents and entities similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

v.

A.L.S. Enterprises, Inc., Cabela’s Inc., JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
Gander Mountain Co., Bass Pro Shops,
Inc., and Browning Arms Co.,

Defendants.

Plaintiffs Robert Carlson, Mike Buetow, Gary Steven Richardson, Jr., and Joe
Rohrbach individually on behalf of themselves and all other Minnesota residents and entities similarly situated, by and through their attorneys, Merchant & Gould and Hein Mills & Olson, P.L.C., as complainant against defendants A.L.S. Enterprising, Inc., Cabela’s Inc., Gander Mountain Co., Bass Pro Shops, Inc., and Browning Arms Co., (collectively “Defendants”), allege the following:

CLICK HERE FOR FULL 42 PAGE PDF FILE