This makes me furious. For the umpteenth time, the public associates these utter and absolute assholes with hunters. We need to do everything we can to eradicate these assclowns from our midst, and we all need to lobby for harsher punishments. A baby bighorn?? Seriously? I’m so mad I can barely type. Friggin scum. ~Desert Rat

Read the full article here: Information Sought

APACHE JUNCTION, AZ - State authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for help in finding whoever is responsible for the illegal killing of a baby bighorn sheep near the Phoenix suburb of Apache Junction.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department got a call on Aug. 24 from a citizen that a bighorn sheep lamb had been hit by a car along Highway 88, also known as the Apache Trail.

Game and Fish investigators found the animal hadn’t been hit by a car, but was illegally shot.

Read the full artiicle at the link above.

Neat idea but don’t be nearby when they get the munchies! ~DesertRat

You can read the full article here: ‘Tame’ bears guard Canadian marijuana farm

However initial alarm wore off when officers realised the 10 or so bears did not behave aggressively and were in fact docile and tame.

Police believe dog food was used to attract the animals onto the farm in British Columbia.

But they say the bears may have to be put down if they have become accustomed to living around humans.

Two people were arrested in the raid.

The five police who went to the farm near Christina Lake, close to the US border, to dismantle the marijuana plantation were amazed when the bears loped into view.

And a video:

Surrenders for now. They are already working on alternate methods.. ~DesertRat

Read the full article here: EPA Surrenders to NRA on Gun Control Issue

In a swift and unexpected decision, the Environmental Protection Agency today rejected a petition from environmental groups to ban the use of lead in bullets and shotgun shells, claiming it doesn’t have jurisdiction to weigh on the controversial Second Amendment issue. The decision came just hours after the Drudge Report posted stories from Washington Whispers and the Weekly Standard about how gun groups were fighting the lead bullet ban.

The EPA had planned to solicit public responses to the petition for two months, but this afternoon issued a statement rejecting a 100-page request from the Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, and three other groups for a ban on lead bullets, shot, and fishing sinkers. The agency is still considering what to do about sinkers.

Read the full story at the link above.

4×4 Recovery Device Firm launches brand new Corporate Image

Pillowtrack Ltd, the popular 4×4 Recovery device company has been re-branded with a fresh new
look under their new name LiftTrax (www.LiftTrax.com
)
LiftTrax is the ultimate gadget for anyone with a Truck, 4×4 or AWD vehicle. A drive-on device for
when your vehicle gets stuck in sand, mud or other difficult terrain, this ingenious device rolls out of
a small carrying bag and inflates to become mobile traction. Developed by 4×4 Enthusiasts Dan Hermann and Eyal Benjamin who are both engineers by trade, LiftTrax can take the weight of a 4 tonne (8800lb)! vehicle and roll up into a small carry bag.

A fraction of the size and weight of metal or plastic boards used by off road vehicle owners to get
unstuck, LiftTrax are a compact insurance policy against getting held back by Mother Nature. In addition, while other off road gadgets only work in specific scenarios such as mud, sand or rocks, LiftTrax are multi-purpose as, with their built in flexibility, they mould themselves to the shape or texture of the different terrain or obstacle.

Another distinct advantage of LiftTrax is that they don’t just provide stuck vehicles with traction, they simultaneously lift the vehicle as well. Boasting twice the bursting pressure of the commonly known exhaust jack , LiftTrax raise the beached vehicle up and allow it to drive away. Inventor Dan Hermann says “It’s an all-in-one device that is compact enough to keep in your vehicle at all times but big and tough enough to get you out of some really sticky situations.” “People are finding LiftTrax useful everywhere. From off-roaders in the Australian outback to Hunters and Fisherman in the United States; it’s a must-have for all outdoor enthusiasts”

LiftTrax are usually sold in pairs and are available from reputable outdoor equipment stores or
online at www.LiftTrax.com.

The Poacher Chronicles Unveils New Line of Apparel

Political correctness, while it may be prominent in DC, will not be found on the Poacher Chronicles Outdoor Radio Show, which airs the 4th Sunday every month streamed LIVE around the globe on www.xplortheoutdoors.com. “Poachers are what they are, thieves plain and simple and we’re going to expose them whenever and where ever we can in over 43 states and Canada”, explains Jim Solomon, the creator and host of the show.

This is why Solomon has come out with new apparel designed by Rodney Holmes of Wolf Creative Services that tells it like it is. Two new product designs will hit the market in the next 30 days and already there is a buzz behind the growing anti-poaching movement and the message that the shirts convey.

Members of The Anti-Poaching Posse, an elite group of individuals in the industry, will be listed on the back of each shirt not only to show their support, but also to relay a message to the rest of the industry. “There is no middle of the road when it comes to poaching, Solomon explains, either you are for it and a poacher, or you are against it and should let your voice be heard”.

Posse members can be found on www.poacherchronicles.com. We welcome anyone who is willing and brave enough to join the posse and take on poaching where it hurts by exposing poachers on the only anti-poaching radio show in the United States, “The Poacher Chronicles”.

The Poacher Chronicles was created by Jim Solomon over 12 years ago beginning as the” Bad Boys Poaching Report” with in the state of Arizona. It has evolved into “The Poacher Chronicles” just 4 short years ago. During the course of one hour, convicted poachers are listed by name, their fines, revocations, forfeitures and the evidence that led up to their arrest, in over 43 states and 8 Canadian Provinces will be exposed.

Only members of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact or the International Association of Natural Resources Crime stoppers IANRC are asked to participate.
By purchasing the apparel you are not only supporting the Anti-Poaching movement but a portion of the sales goes to the International Association of Natural resources Crime stoppers, to buy body armor for game wardens.

As Solomon says, “You don’t want your 15 minutes of fame on this program.” A quote that stuck with the show from Rob Young with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (Retired)

Media contact:
Jim Solomon
jim@xplortheoutdoors.com

Wildlife viewing basics workshop scheduled at Sipe Wildlife Area

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will conduct its annual public wildlife-viewing basics workshop on Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area, near Eagar in eastern Arizona. This popular program is designed to help people find, observe and enjoy many of the state’s wildlife species on their own.

The program begins at 2 p.m. with an information program that focuses on wildlife viewing in Arizona, giving suggestions on how and where to find wildlife. Department personnel will also discuss natural history and behavior of one of Arizona’s most recognized wildlife species, the Rocky Mountain elk. Workshop participants will go into the field that evening on the Sipe property, applying viewing principles and techniques to find and observe some of Arizona’s majestic elk up close. The wildlife area is located seven miles southeast of Eagar.

“We’ve designed this workshop to provide people with sufficient information for them to have a quality, first-hand experience in the outdoors, and to be able to regularly find and watch wildlife on their own,” says Bruce Sitko, spokesman in the department’s Pinetop office. “If you’ve never heard a bull elk bugle in the rut, you’ve missed one of nature’s most awesome sounds. This will be an excellent opportunity to see and hear elk.”

Because it will be necessary to maintain a small group once in the field, the clinic is limited to 30 participants. “Also, because wildlife viewing in general does require patience and a minimum of movement and noise, we request that children under the age of 14 not attend,” Sitko says.

The workshop is free, but pre-registration and a refundable deposit of $20 per person are required to ensure that spaces aren’t blocked off and then not used. The deposit will be returned to those who attend, but cashed if someone doesn’t show up.

Registration can be done at the Pinetop Game and Fish office at 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., or by calling the office at (928) 367-4281 and giving a name, contact phone number and the number of people attending to one of the customer service representatives. Participants will be given instructions at that time for mailing in the refundable registration deposit.

Wildlife viewing events for the public such as this are supported by the Heritage Fund, a voter initiative passed in 1990 to assist wildlife conservation efforts in the state through Arizona Lottery ticket sales.

“Arizona is a state rich in wildlife resources,” Sitko notes. “More than 900 different species of fish and animals can be found here. We highly encourage folks to pause and discover not just the visual beauty of Arizona’s settings, but also to learn to find, view and appreciate the different creatures that live in and about our state’s diverse landscapes.”

OK, I rarely write on here about anything other than hunting or fishing. Once in awhile, I might talk about politics if it’s related to outdoors issues.

This is a first for me. I have never been one to be vocal about my religion (or lack thereof). It’s been personal. After we moved, our old Church, which we liked, was too far away. We were looking for a new pastoral home.

The morning we headed out to find a new Church, we had narrowed it down to two choices to try. We were going to visit several and then pick one. As it turns out, we were running a little late for Option #1 that had a 10:00AM service; we went with Option #2 that had a 10:30 service.

This was a giant (to us) “non-denominational” Church. With modern music and a much less formal service than what we were used to. We were astounded at the organization. We were in disbelief that such a large congregation could feel so small and make us feel so welcome. We were sold on the first visit.

Honestly, you would need a heart of stone to sit through one of these services and not be touched in some way. Whether it is the music, Pastor Mark’s remarkable sermons, or the vast array of things to do at this Church. Honestly, I’ve been going to Church a long time and have never quite felt this way before.

So, if you’re in need of a Church, or just looking for something different, visit Mission Community Church. It really is something to experience.

The Church Motto is: Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly.

Micah 6:8 (New International Version)

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Services are 9;00AM, 10:30AM and Noon each Sunday. The Church is located west of Power Rd on Elliot in Gilbert, AZ.

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Nominations sought for 2010 Commission Awards

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is soliciting nominations for the 2010 Commission Awards to recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the welfare of the state’s wildlife and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Categories for nomination include Award of Excellence, Youth Environmentalist of the Year, Outdoor Writer of the Year, Media of the Year, Conservation Organization of the Year, Conservationist of the Year, Natural Resource Professional of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Educator of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Advocate of the Year, and License Dealer of the Year. Descriptions of each category are on the nomination form.

To download a nomination form, click here.

Nominations may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nomination.

Return the nomination form and all supplemental materials to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Marty Fabritz - DOHQ, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Forms can also be faxed to (623) 236-7299 or e-mailed to Mfabritz@azgfd.gov.

The submission deadline is 5 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2010.

Winners of the 2010 awards will be honored at the Meet the Commission banquet in Phoenix on January 15, 2011.

For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/commission_awards.shtml.

Well, this is going to sting for a lot of fans of The Nuge. Ted Nugent has been a dynamic and outspoken supporter of hunting and 2nd Amendment rights practically forever. From the article it appears to be a relatively minor mistake, and he did cooperate with authorities. That being said - we preach it all the time - the onus is on the hunter to know the laws. ~Desert Rat

You can read the full story over at Moose DroppingsTed Nugent Pleads No Contest To Multiple California Game Violations

A snippet:

Yuba City attorney Jack Kopp, representing Theodore Anthony Nugent, entered the plea to Department of Fish and Game charges of baiting deer and not having a deer tag “countersigned” at the closest possible location, said Deputy District Attorney John Vacek.

Nugent, who did not appear in court, also illegally shot an immature buck on the show but was not charged, according to Fish and Game.

Baiting deer is legal in some states but not in California, said department spokesman Patrick Foy. Baiting supplies are sold at some outdoor stores, he said. The deer was killed in El Dorado County toward the end of deer hunting season last fall but brought to Yuba County. Two co-defendants, Mitchell Neil Moore and Ross Albert Patterson, live in Yuba County, said Vacek.

The story of the hunt in Ted’s words can be read here: God Loves Me Blacktail. I think this story was posted well before the violations came to light, so there is no mention of them.

Public sees bighorns-a-plenty at two viewing workshops

Another awesome event - kudos to AZGFD! ~DesertRat

Standing majestically along a ridgeline, or bent down at the Colorado River’s edge, the Black Mountains desert bighorn sheep made for a memorable experience for nearly 100 members of the public.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region III office in Kingman hosted two bighorn sheep workshops on July 30-31 and Aug. 6-7 for the attendees, who were drawn at random from approximately 150 applications.

Following a Friday night classroom presentation on bighorn sheep, participants were taken on a four-hour boat trip from Willow Beach to the Hoover Dam to view these majestic animals in their native habitat. More than 90 bighorns were seen over the two weekends, many of which were bending down for a drink at the river’s edge.

Mocarski said as the population becomes urbanized, the disconnect people have with nature has increased, and it’s important to provide people with education and to get them outside to see these animals in their native habitat.

“These workshops, and others conducted by Game and Fish, provide an opportunity for people to learn about wildlife and the issues the animals and the department face, and to get outside and see what the outdoors has to offer.”

The classroom segment provided information on bighorn sheep biology, predation, disease, habitat, and efforts to prevent continued habitat fragmentation, as well as an overview of the activities of the Game and Fish Department.

Along with the bighorn workshops, Game and Fish offers watchable wildlife opportunities involving bald eagles, elk, California condors, and hummingbirds in various regions. There are also numerous birding festivals around the state. These types of opportunities for the public are made possible by the Heritage Fund, which was passed by voters in 1990 to help further wildlife conservation efforts in the state through Arizona Lottery ticket sales

“There’s no shortage of opportunities for people to see and learn about wildlife,” Mocarski said. “I’d really like to see more people join us on these workshops rather than sitting in front of a television. You’ll learn a lot more getting out than sitting down.”

Highlights from the August commission meeting

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission met on Aug. 6-7 at the Game and Fish headquarters in Phoenix. The commission took the following actions:

* Removed the slot limit on Roosevelt Lake starting Aug. 17 (for more details on this and the next two items below, click here);
* Set the Spring 2011 hunts;
* Set the 2010-11 waterfowl and snipe seasons;
* Approved the hunt permit-tag application schedule for the spring hunts;
* Approved the department continuing with negotiations to purchase the Horseshoe Ranch in Yavapai County along the Agua Fria River;
* Heard and processed revocation/civil assessment cases for violations of wildlife laws;
* OK’d a two-year agreement with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to translocate Merriam’s turkeys from Arizona to Utah;
* Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Reclamation to be a cooperating agency for the nonnative fish control below Glen Canyon Dam.
* Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Reclamation to be a cooperating agency for the high-flow experimental protocol for releases from Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Assessment.
* Approved an agreement with Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department to permit a section of the Maricopa County Trail System to traverse a portion of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Eloy regarding hunting with firearms within city limits.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Marana regarding hunting with firearms within city limits.
* Approved a memorandum of understanding with Iberdrola Renewables to cooperate on mutually beneficial wildlife projects.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission makes rules and regulations for managing, conserving, and protecting wildlife and fisheries resources, and for safe and regulated watercraft and off-highway vehicle operations for the benefit of the citizens of Arizona. The commission is composed of five members appointed by the governor pursuant to ARS 38-211. The commission appoints the director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the director serves as secretary to the commission. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county, and no more than three may be from the same political party. Each commissioner serves a five-year term, staggered. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.