Just saw this posted by Tom over at the Black Bear Blog: Judge places gray wolf back on endangered species list.

Tom says this:

Judge Donald Molloy of the U.S. District Court in Missoula, Montana returned the Northern Rockies gray wolf back under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. One report stated that Molloy said he thought the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acted “prematurely” in removing the wolf from protection “despite scientific evidence”.

Once again this ruling shows us that science plays no role in the decisions that drive the Endangered Species Act or any kind of wildlife management programs for that matter. Whichever organization pushing or defending a lawsuit that can present the most emotional case wins, the rest can be put to hell.

Of course those who filed the lawsuit seeking the injunction are happy and stating that removing the wolf from protection will endanger its survival. The scientists, whose job it is to manage wildlife, say that is not true but obviously have little say in these matters anymore.

This is ludicrous. Just when I think nothing will surprise me any more, something does. I wouldn’t want this judge deciding a traffic ticket.

You can read the full article in the Denver Post online: The Trophy Hunter

The trophy hunter
By Nancy Lofholm
The Denver Post

A Colorado Division of Wildlife photo shows a bighorn sheep that was part of the investigation of Kirt Darner. DOW agents spent eight years on the investigation before a New Mexico grand jury indicted him on 41 counts. CRAWFORD”N — o Hunting.”

The faux rustic sign that decorates the front porch at Kirt Darner’s ranch house is an obvious joke, placed under an antler porch light and within sight of an outbuilding jammed with hunting gear and legions of glassy-eyed mounted animal heads.

But the joke is over. Kirt Darner, a once-legendary hunter and outfitter, is now branded a felon who broke the rules, not the records. As bloggers on hunting websites put it, he has dropped from the penthouse to the outhouse. He can never hunt, fish or own a firearm again.

Darner, 69, pleaded guilty last month in New Mexico to illegally transporting wild elk and receiving stolen bighorn sheep heads — charges that cap what appears to be a series of

Kirt Darner, once a nationally known outfitter with a reputation for big kills and record-setting racks, can never hunt, fish or own a gun again after pleading guilty last month in New Mexico to illegally transporting wild elk and receiving two trophy bighorn sheep heads that were stolen from the Colorado Division of Wildlife in 2000. lies and cheating that span at least 30 years, driven by a passion to claim more records and more trophy heads than anyone else.
“I can understand how the drive pushes people over into the unethical. It’s primal instinct. There is something about the biggest and the best,” said David Virostko, managing editor of MuleyCrazy magazine, a publication devoted to those crazy about mule deer. “But it’s so not worth it. His life is over.”

Darner did not answer requests for interviews, but his story unfolds in the two hunting books he published in the 1980s and in numerous articles written about him in his glory days.

According to a chapter written by Ida Darner in “Hunting the Rockies, Home of the Giants,” her son’s hunting obsession began in the mountains of New Mexico where the family hunted and fished, and heard campfire tales about coveted giant racks. In grade school, Darner drew pictures of hunters aiming at bucks for every art project.

The hunter’s glory days

Darner stood out early on as a hunter who would track animals on foot or horseback for days through weather that would turn back the fainter of heart. His advice was eagerly sought by other hunters and those who paid dearly to hunt with Darner.

“I was raised by a father who believed that big-game hunting is the world’s most healthful, invigorating and challenging activity,” Darner wrote in the preface to “Hunting the Rockies.”

By the early 1980s, he had been featured in Outdoor Life and Field & Stream magazines and in ads for Remington rifles and Redfield scopes.

He had 11 record trophy heads — more than any other hunter ever — in Boone & Crockett, the conservation organization founded by another legendary hunter, Teddy Roosevelt.

Aside from size and symmetry, antlers show more subtle differences such as blood veins, calcium deposits and beading, which make a set of antlers akin to human fingerprints. No two are exactly alike.

And that is where Darner first ran into trouble.

He had submitted measurements and a photo of a huge mule deer he claimed to have killed in Colorado in 1977. It went into the Boone & Crockett books.

Darner used a photograph of himself gazing pensively into the distance behind those antlers for the cover of his first book, “How to Find Giant Bucks.” He billed himself as “The Man Who Rewrote the Record Books.”

That book and “Hunting the Rockies” were actually ghost written by Rich LaRocca, an avid hunter and outdoor writer, who after hearing whispered and unsubstantiated rumors about Darner’s reliability for several years, ultimately came forward with the evidence that showed Darner cheated.

LaRocca received a photograph from an anonymous source that pictured another man holding a giant rack that looked a lot like the one Darner had claimed. Close inspection showed the rack was the same.

The trophy mule deer had been killed by a World War II veteran in 1948 in New Mexico and sold to a taxidermist for $5 to cover the cost of a hunting license in those lean times. The taxidermist died before the investigation began, so how the rack ended up in Darner’s hands is unknown.

It took Jack Reneau, director of big-game records with Boone & Crockett years of travel through multiple states to find irrefutable proof of the violation, which the organization takes very seriously.

This is everything that hunting is NOT about. Some will make excuses - “He just got caught up in the hype”. Too bad. He is a thief and a liar. I like big racks and B&C records as much as the next guy, but that is not why we do this. In my mind, if that is all that motivates you, then it won’t be long before you are a poacher too.

I truly want to thank Scott Mackie, the President/CEO of Crimson Talon for taking some time to answer my questions.

1) How long have you been in the broadhead business?
We started experimenting with new designs in 1999. We officially went to market in 2003.

2) What made you decide to take the plunge?
Being a life-long bowhunter, I would have to buy several different brands of broadheads prior to each archery season opener. Then I would experiment with each trying to find three individual heads that would fly straight out of my set-up. It got to be both expensive, as well as frustrating. Every year bows got faster; making huge leaps in technology and performance. However, broadheads remained the same. As speeds annually increased, it became harder to find a broadhead that didn’t wind-plane.
I had an engineering acquaintance that worked for NASA. We spoke at length about the problem of inaccurate flight. Being in the aeronautics industry, it was readily apparent to him that the flat blades on broadheads were incapable of “flying” accurately. He said, “after all, how many airplanes have you ever seen that fly with flat wings?” It made sense.
After several rounds of prototyping, we came up with our first Crimson Talon. That design has undergone several revisions. As with any start-up company, you make some mistakes along the way. We have now, in my opinion, the toughest, most accurate and deadliest broadhead on the market.

3) Can you talk a little about your manufacturing process?
For the first few years, we manufactured everything in the US. However, with the cost of doing business in the US escalating exponentially, we found it necessary to outsource some of our components. Currently we have parts shipped to our manufacturing facility in Maryland, where we hand assemble and package of entire product line.
We have a 6,000 square feet facility and employ four full-time and sometimes as many as 6 part time employees.

4) The broadhead business seems very competitive - talk about the challenges involved.
See #6.

5) Is it hard to keep coming up with fresh new concepts, or do you just concentrate on perfecting what you already do well?
See #6.

6) Broadhead debates seem a lot like “Chevy/Ford/Dodge” arguments - how much marketing effort is spent trying to win “converts”? What other marketing strategies do you employ?
The broadhead industry is very competitive. There aren’t that many bowhunters (last projection around 3 million) and there are numerous companies making broadheads. As you mentioned, it is also a very brand loyal customer base.
So we have spent a considerable amount of time and money trying to convince bowhunters to give our products a try (“convert” as you put it). I think the biggest driver, the one that has more and more hunters trying our products, is the patented technology that sets us apart from all other broadheads.
It is simply impossible to defy the laws of physics. Physics dictate that a flat surface (broadhead blades) cannot “fly” as they have no aerodynamic properties. Our blades all have airfoils built into them. It’s these airfoils that when shoot, impart rapid high-speed rotation on the arrow shaft - “spin-stabilization.”
It’s like a spinning top. No matter what you do to it while it is spinning, it corrects itself. Another huge advantage to our airfoils is they cause the broadhead to screw through the animal, much like a drywall screw. This screwing action results in literally a round hole. This is a wound that cannot close or clot. It is hands-down the most lethal in the hunting industry.
Flat blades make small incisions that immediately close back up. This leads to poor blood trails, and in many cases, lost animals.

7) Do you hunt? Bowhunt only? Preferred game? Preferred head? Fixed or mechanical?
I have been an avid bowhunter for almost thirty years now. In fact, I rarely hunt with a firearm any more. My favorite species is hands down whitetail. I personally use our Crimson Talon XT (our most popular head). I have harvested so many animals with it, it’s hard for me to switch.

8 ) Some of my readers may never have heard of your company - what would you want them to know?
See #6.

9) How is business? Steady? Growing? Exploding? Most popular head?
Business continues to grow each and every year. There were many bowhunters who were very skeptical of our claims. After all, we profess to cure all the ills of traditional flat-bladed broadheads. It’s hard for some out there to believe the hype.
After all, every broadhead manufacturer claims that their heads “fly like a field point.” Anyone who has ever shot a bow knows this simply isn’t true. Once they give us a try, we get piles of e-mails and pictures from hunters that are overwhelmed by the performance of our products.

10) Anything else you’d like to add?
Crossbows are quickly gaining acceptance as an “archery season” weapon. We build our Crimson Talon Hyper-Speed XT for crossbows and ultra-fast compounds. They have eleven aggressive airfoils that impart a tremendous amount of spin-stabilization. They have been tested to 500 feet per second.

There is all kinds of information on the website - I suggest you stop by and visit today!

I have to give a big tip of the hat (again) to Vince over at Alpine Archery. They have for all intents and purposes, pretty much outfitted my Ben Pearson bow. The only non-Alpine attachments are the drop-away rest, and the sight. In all fairness, Vince sent me a rest as well, but I already had agreed to do a review on the Trophy Taker rest. Have no fear though - my good friend Dan happened to be in need of a rest. He’s a great writer too, so he agreed to do a review on the Whisper Flite rest. Alpine doesn’t do sights, so I will be going with one from Vital Gear. Vince really has gone above and beyond - he’s been extremely generous to this not-yet-famous outdoor writer/blogger, and it is VERY MUCH appreciated. As is the cooperation and support that I have received from all of the manufacturers involved.

A couple of other miscellaneous mentions also (is this starting to sound like an Emmy Award acceptance speech?) My Pearson bow comes with Bowjax. Bowjax makes a variety of highly effective dampeners which significantly reduce vibration. My bow also comes with Vapor Trail strings and cables. Vapor Trail is known industry-wide for their high-quality products.

Back to the task at hand. You can review some previous posts HERE. My most recent post in the series can be found here.

The stabilizer I chose for my bow is the MR Series. According to Alpine, “The Alpine Archery stabilizer line is designed with every feature being a practical standard. The Pro Flex Stabilizers dissipate more recoil than any other stabilizer in the industry today. The rubber body and ribbing are designed specifically to tame any of today’s most radical bows. The MR Series Stabilizer’s function is recoil reduction and counterbalance. The “Six Shooter” head weight is designed to give you the ability to change the weight up to 2 oz. by adding or subtracting the 158 grain .357 slugs that are provided with the stabilizer. Using the Flex Coupler (licensed Doinker Technology), the MR stabilizers reduce recoil and keep vibrations to a minimum. The MR stabilizers are fitted with the Alpine exclusive Tactical Rubber Bra. This feature works as a dampener as well as protects the stabilizer from making noise when bumped against a treestand or brush. If noise and recoil are an issue, Alpine Archery Stabilizers are the answer…”

There’s nothing wrong with taking your pride and joy down to Ol Jimmy at the Bow Emporium to work on, but there is another option. I’ve been talking to James and Adam over at Pro Bow Tuning Services. These guys are taking bow tuning to the next level.

Owners Adam Guggisberg and James Loesch are no strangers to archery. (From their website): Adam has been successful in many areas of archery competition including NFAA, NAA, & 3-D shooting a compound bow as well as Olympic style FITA competition.

Adam has been competing for over 26 years. He has gained knowledge of equipment setup, tuning, form, and shot execution & the various mental aspects of the sport thru years of local & national level tournament experience. He has been providing equipment setup services as well as private instruction for Houston area shooters for more than 7 years.

Adam is a level II NAA certified archery instructor. You can read more about Adam here on his website. www.GuggisbergArchery.com.

James has been involved in archery since age 10 (1980). He won his first National Championship at age 13. Since then, he has been fortunate enough to have won twelve more. He has also been a member of two US Archery Teams (USAT).

James has been providing custom bowgrips for archers around the world since 1994 (www.bowgrips.com). He has most recently provided a release aid solution for archers struggling with target panic with his superior true back tension design. (www.truebacktension.com)

As a level III NAA certified instructor, James has provided highly effective guidance to archers all across the state of Texas for over 14 years!

These guys offer an impressive variety of services, priced competitively into great packages, or on an individual basis. Services include Bow Tuning Services, Arrow Tuning Services, Tuning ans Set Up Packages, and Individual Instruction as well.

The value of their services to anyone in the Houston area is imminently obvious. I asked Adam if it was practical for people living in other locales to send work to their shop. Adam’s reply:

Marshall - It (our site) is absolutely intended to support a national level audience. The intent is to help those folks that do not have a shop close to them or within reasonable driving distance as well as those who simply want more out of their setup. The service that I offer is above & beyond what a typical archery can or will offer. We focus on the details that make a difference when it comes to performance! Most pro shops are great at getting equipment setup and out the door. This allows folks to start flinging arrows; however when they reach a certain level they want more accuracy and more performance out of their equipment.

Any hunter that has an expensive once in a lifetime hunt booked would benefit from our service by ensuring that they have a solid foundation that will not stretch or move, and that their bow is properly setup & tuned. The cost of my service versus the peace of mind and performance gained is very small in comparison to missing the Deer or Elk of a lifetime that you spent $5k to get a shot at!!! Note also that the cost of shipping vsthe cost of gas and it is a no brainer if you are looking for the ultimate setup! Especially if you do not have a shop right around the corner.

Whether you’re in need of a tune-up or a complete overhaul. You seriously ought to talk to these guys. If you need some hands-on instruction to improve your accuracy, same thing - look them up.

From AZGFD:

Commission expected to set dove, crane and band-tailed seasons

During its upcoming two-day meeting in Phoenix on June 27-28, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will set the seasons for dove, band-tailed pigeons and sandhill cranes, consider what organizations get special big game tags to auction or raffle to raise funds for wildlife management, and make awards for shooting range grants.

The meeting will be held at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix.

The Friday portion begins with an executive session at 8 a.m., followed by the public meeting. Friday’s agenda includes consideration of department budget proposals for fiscal years 2010 and 2011; briefings on legislative and Arizona lands activities; informational presentations on a state trust land ballot initiative and the T.I.M.E. Coalition’s transportation initiative; and license revocation hearings.

Saturday’s agenda includes:

Consideration of applications from organizations for 2009-2010 special big game license tags to raise money for wildlife management efforts;
Approval of the 2008-09 commission orders for doves, band-tailed pigeons and sandhill cranes;
Awarding of shooting range grants for fiscal year 2009;
An informational briefing on the status of new air quality regulations by county and local governments (and their potential impact to vehicular access by hunters and anglers in Maricopa and Pinal counties) pursuant to passage of Senate Bill 1552.
A complete agenda is available at the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/commission.

You may recall my Bow Project. Well, I think I am finally ready to start. Photography has been holding me up, but think I will finally move forward. If I have better photos to add in the future, I will.

First, my old bow. I enjoy shooting this bow immensely. It is a 2003 Ben Pearson Diamondback VX. It has a Trophy Taker Shaky Hunter Rest, and a Copper John sight. It is a single cam bow, set at about 63 lbs and a 27″ draw length. I especially enjoy the Bio-Grip. Obviously, since it is my personal hunting bow - I have no “harvest pics” to post. (Inside joke, for those who know me). Once my new bow is ready to rock, I plan on taking the Diamondback in for a much-needed tune-up and a new set of strings. Not sure which shop - but I will keep you posted. Here is the Diamondback:

My new bow is a 2006 Ben Pearson Pride. It is new-in-the-box. Have a look:

Here are some specs…

To be continued……….

I just got off of the phone with Neil Large, Editor of Canyon State Hunter. A great guy for sure, and he’s pretty excited about their plans for a brand new Arizona hunting magazine. You know what, whether I am directly involved with the new publication or not, I am pretty excited too! I think Arizona’s hunters are ready for a fresh new magazine.

Stay tuned for future announcements as we follow their launch, and subsequent growth. I know a few of the folks involved, and I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed.

You may recall the controversy that enveloped the “Droptine Bull” killed in Northern Arizona last summer. You can read my first post here, and a follow-up post here.

My friend Thunder Dan just made this post over on the AHT Forums. I always admire Dan for his well-thought out missives on a variety of subjects.

Many of you may recall the issue concerning Guide/Outfitter John McClendon and an elk hunting client he guided, Mike Malik. If not, here’s a synopsis.

During a guided elk hunt in 2007, client Malik was issued a citation for taking of a bull elk within a quarter mile of an occupied dwelling in Arizona. Guide McClendon, hired by Mr. Malik, was also cited in the event.

Since the G&F investigations have concluded, John McClendon (understandably) mailed out letters to various wildlife conservation groups requesting that they write a character witness letter on behalf of both men and forward them to the Law Firm of Aspey Watkins and Diesel, attorney of record for both McClendon and Malik. The charges faced by Mr. Malik carries possible revocation of his hunting privileges for up to 5 years. At the present time, I’m uncertain what sanctions Mr. McClendon is facing.

To date, and to my personal knowledge, officers of the Arizona Elk Society have written letters on behalf of these men. In copies I’ve obtained, two officers from the AES have enjoined that request. They both wrote character witness letters - listing the undeniable credentials of both men. In specific, their letters cite that Mr. Malik has purchased the Arizona Commissioners Elk Tag on five occasions, which has generated over $500,000 for elk habitat improvement projects. Furthermore, these letters make note that John McClendon was a founding member of both the RMEF and the AES - and that he’s donated his professional guide services for the Auction Tag holders on many previous occasions. Credit is deservedly due to both men for their personal and professional roles in improving wildlife habitat, as well as perpetuating the hunting traditions in this state.

Much like the recent Cabela’s TAGS fiasco, and even the career suicide by Jim Zumbo over his blog assault on “black guns”, many similarities exist with this case. This is a slippery slope, no doubt. To support such a letter tears at the very fabric which makes up most ethical hunters / conservationists.

While it’s generally admirable that various conservation groups would come to the defense of these men, it also sends a clear message of the dynamics at play. If leniency is due these men, we can only hope that the Commission exercises wise judgment in the disposition of this case.

In the opinion of myself and others, it’s not the best idea to write letters of support outside of a majority support of it’s members. To date, the RMEF has neither written nor endorsed a letter on behalf of either men. I think the reasons are quite clear - writing such a letter has the distinct potential to be divisive.

Regardless of the money spent, the multitude of hours donated for conservation projects, or any other support of wildlife conservation - there is no excuse for breaking a law, intentional or otherwise. Investigations by G&F has concluded that there was, in fact, a violation, and they are progressing with sanctions against these men. Accountability should prevail, and I’m choosing to believe that in the end, both men will accept their accountability in this matter.

Do I think John McClendon is a good man? You bet I do. I’ve gone on record as having recommended his guide services on this very forum. Because of the recent events in this case, would I recommend his services again? You bet I would. And while I personally know very little about Mr. Malik, I do know he’s spent a great deal of money to hunt here in Arizona, and that he has, indeed, donated plenty to help conservation efforts in this and other states. None-the-less, I think accountability for one’s actions is what’s important here.

As for me, I personally feel that the RMEF is doing the right thing by remaining silent on this issue. I just hope their silence isn’t construed to be more divisive than it’s currently shaping up to be. IMO, the AES would better serve their membership, and these men, had they remained neutral on this matter. As the title of this thread suggests, this is an excellent example of when “silence is golden”.

Wooo hoooooo! From AZGFD:

Arizona Game and Fish Department

NEWS RELEASE

April 30, 2008

Hunters start your computers:

Fall hunting regulations now posted at www.azgfd.gov

PHOENIX – Hunters start your computers – the fall hunting regulations have been posted on the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

You can now apply manually using paper permit applications for the remaining fall big game hunts.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials said the newly posted regulations cover small game as well as the hunting seasons for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo, bear and mountain lions, and establish season dates, bag and possession limits, permit numbers and open areas for the remaining 2008-09 seasons (elk and antelope hunt-permit tags have already been drawn).

The printed version of the 2008-09 regulations is expected to be shipped to license dealers throughout the state by the third week of May.

Don’t forget: the deadline to apply for the remaining permitted hunts is June 10 (the second Tuesday in June) at 7 p.m. MST – postmarks do not count.

Also keep in mind that there is still no online application process available – it is a manual paper-permit process again. However, you can even download a copy of the permit application at www.azgfd.gov/draw and mail it in along with your check or money order (no cash please).

Be sure to apply by May 29 to take advantage of the APPLICATION GRACE PERIOD. During the grace period, if you make a mistake on your hunt-permit application, the Game and Fish Department will attempt to call you three times in a 24-hour period and give you the opportunity to correct the mistake. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected. So, go for the grace and avoid the deadline race.

Don’t forget, there are some changes this year on the hunting scene, especially for youth. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission established the first-ever over-the-counter turkey tags for youth in designated units.

In addition, the fall javelina hunts are now juniors-only. Those youth javelina hunts coincide with juniors-only antlered deer hunts in respective units.

The commission also approved a youth-only 600-permit antlerless deer season for Unit 12AW in response to continued high-fawn production on the Kaibab Plateau.

For the general fall turkey season, it is relegated to shotgun shooting-shot, and there are 6,100 permits, which is a 230-permit increase over 2007. Plus there are seven units (Hunt Unit 1, 6A, 8, 10, 12A, 23, and 27) with juniors-only seasons where over-the-counter nonpermit tags are being offered.

A significant change this year is the permitting of specific archery hunts based on a harvest apportioning formula. In units where archery season structure was down to a single early season and harvest exceeded 20-percent of the overall harvest, the commission established the first-ever archery draw permits.

The various small game hunts have also been set for a two-year period. The Gambel’s and scaled quail season opener will now be the first Friday in October each year. Mearns’ remains unchanged, with a season opener of Nov. 28 this year.

There is a longer tree squirrel season – it was increased five weeks – and it now closes on Dec. 31. In the past, the squirrel season has traditionally closed at the end of the Thanksgiving holiday. This new season gives everyone, especially youth, an opportunity to hunt squirrels during the holidays, especially the winter school break time.

Awhile back I posted that I was going to do an online build-a-bow project. You can see my initial post here. For the record, I did not solicit free or reduced cost product for this project. I decided the components I liked beforehand, and I then contacted the companies concerned. Some were very excited and appreciative. Others didn’t show much interest - which is OK, too. “Desert Rat Blog” is doing very well these days, but I have no delusions about it being an online powerhouse.

So, with no further “ado” - here is what I have going so far:

Bow - New (2006) Ben Pearson Pride

Rest - XFC drop-away rest by Trophy Taker

Stabilizer - MR2 by Alpine Archery

Sight - Hollow Pino with Single Angular Pin by Vital Gear

Quiver - Probably a 3-arrow (still deciding) by Treelimb Products

That’s where I am so far. I may or may not go into arrows, broadheads, release, etc., depending on what kind of interest this series of posts generates. Each new post will contain info about the specific product and the company, a mini-review, photos of the product, and of course I put up their links again. Suggestions from readers are always welcome.

I am not a hard-core bowhunter, but I do enjoy it. This series is meant to be fun and informative. I tried to pick products that may not be as common as some of the other products. If you are looking for extensive reviews ladened with volumes of technical data, you will be sadly disappointed!

Wow. It’s not often I come across sensible comments regarding hunting from a non-hunter. The views expressed by Rachel Lucas in this blog post were as reasoned and thoughtful as they come. Bravo - and not just because I agree!

Some excerpts:

Well all rightee then. According to Walter, all those millions of humans over the last 150,000 years who killed animals with any weapon other than a bow and arrow weren’t “true hunters”. I bet it sure felt like hunting to them, using spears and clubs.

Also according to Walter, it is not “hunting” if you hide from the animals or use bait to lure them. Because clearly, the pure-hearted people of the past didn’t do those things. They stood right out in the open and asked the wildebeest to come forward for slaughter.

And then guns had to come along and ruin everything! NOW people start hiding from the animals they want to kill. NOW human beings grasp the concept of bait, which they apparently somehow managed to avoid figuring out for all these millenia.

Riiiight. If you say so Walter.

Even the comments were pretty decent. Well done to all who took part, over there.