And while previous leadership in the organization tried to push an anti-hunting agenda, the official stance on hunting remained fairly neutral.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case now, as the Sierra Club has jumped into the fray regarding an expanded CA bear season.  More specifically, they are calling for a ban on hunting bears with hounds, calling the practice inhumane to both dogs and bears. 

I haven’t seen the press release directly, but there’s a pretty clean write-up in the Mt Shasta Herald.  Check it out, and let us know what you think.

We have also seen a HEAVY increase in the amount of WILD BOAR HUNT bookings (does this mean that the recession is finally over?) or could it be that people are truly ready for CHANGE!   Sorry for the little pun there but I just simply couldn’t help myself considering how the Global Warming Alarmist’s, H.S.U.S. and our current Presidential Administration have all proven themselves to be….. Um! a little less than truthful shall we politely say!

Anyway, things are most certainly looking good for all of us and especially here at the N.H.E. Inc. headquarters. And as I have stated earlier, that with all of the booked hunts and newly leased properties we now have to take care of, we most certainly are seeing the worst of everything being put behind us. Now, for a little NEWS OF THE WORLD (for all you youngster’s whom are reading this, that was the title for one of the biggest selling albums to date from the highly acclaimed rock band QUEEN !)
T. Michael Riddle

— TOP STORY —
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Chicago Gun Ban
Tuesday’s Supreme Court oral arguments in the case of Otis McDonald, et. al, versus the City of Chicago were not a Heller rematch. They were the next logical step in establishment of the base of legal precedents that will finally decide if the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States is really an individual right that may not be regulated out of existence by state or municipal governments.

On the surface, McDonald, et al, v. Chicago, et. al is set to answer a question that sounds simple: does the Second Amendment apply to state, county and local governments the way it does to the federal government?

For nearly 220 years, the lower governments have taken the position that the Second Amendment was a collective right -applicable to militias, not individuals.

In essence, they have ignored the individual right to firearms possession through the passage of firearms laws that range from unreasonable to ridiculous.

In this morning’s edition of The Shooting Wire, Jim Shepherd, who attended the Supreme Court arguments yesterday, writes on the case, the arguments, and the likely development of another major firearms case. You can read the entire report at www.shootingwire.com.

— ARCHERY —
NASP Texas Tournament Draws 800 Shooters
Eight hundred -five students from thirty schools competed in the fifth annual Texas-National Archery in the Schools Program State Scholarship Program in Waco. | For More…  

— BOATING —
Ranger Z521 Comanche Named to Top-10 Boating Magazine List
The March 2010 edition of Boating magazine unveils their list of the Top-10 boats of the year. The ten included Ranger’s all-new Z521 Comanche, praised for its running service and smooth ride as well as many features for competitive anglers and performance enthusiasts. | For More…

North Carolina Boating Changes Go In Effect
A new law goes into effect in 2010 for boaters in North Carolina, especially those under 26 years old. Beginning May 1, anyone younger than 26 operating a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater on a public waterway must meet the requirements for boating safety education. | For More…

— COMPETITIONS —
SIU Wins Murray State Kentucky Lake Invitational
The Southern Illinois University team of Ben DeBlois and Christopher Piha cranked their way to the top spot and $2,000 at the first Murray State Kentucky Lake Invitational, weighing 10 bass during the two day event for a total weight of 31.89 pounds. | For More…

Smith & Wesson Hosts 2010 IDPA Indoor National Championships
Smith & Wesson Corp., hosted the 3rd Annual International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Indoor National Championships over the weekend, awarding five division titles during the three-day event. Despite inclement weather conditions that blanketed the northeast, over 250 competitors took part in the IDPA event, which is considered by many to be one of the premier matches of the season. | For More…

— EVENTS —
Sportsman’s Program Fed More than 200 Needy
Sportsman Channel’s Hunt.Fish.Feed national public affairs program to help feed the needy made a stop in the Twin Cities on February 28, feeding nearly 200 with venison and fish collected from hunting and angling sportsmen. | For More…

QDMA Lends Hand In Dixie Deer Classic
When the thirtieth annual Dixie Deer Classic kicks off March 5, the Quality Deer Management Association’s North Carolina State Chapter will be playing a major role in the development and delivery of hands-on education and entertainment at the event. |  For More…

LDWF Teams With LWFF to Kickoff Tag and Release Tournament
The inaugural Louisiana Saltwater Series Fishing Tournament, hosted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation (LWFF), will open March 6, 2010, in Lafitte, Louisiana at the SeaWay Marina. | For More…

— FISHING —
Redfish and Kayak Fishing Tours Headed to Punta Gorda
Anglers from across Florida and surrounding regions will converge on Punta Gorda, Florida, on March 6-7 for the first Florida West Coast Division regular-season tournaments for both the IFA Redfish Tour Presented by Cabela’s and the IFA Kayak FishingTour Presented by Hobie Fishing. | For More…

Spring Trout Releases Bring Ohio Fishing Opportunities
Public fishing opportunities will be enhanced this spring when more than 80,700 rainbow trout, each measuring 10-13 inches long, are released into 45 Ohio lakes and ponds. The releases will take place between mid-March and mid-May. | For More…

— GEAR —
VMC® Hooks Celebrates A Century Of Excellence
This year, renowned French hook giant, VMC®, celebrates its 100th anniversary of creating the world’s finest fish hooks. | For More…

— INDUSTRY —
Unexpected Resignation Sends NASGW Back to Executive Search
Citing “unforseen personal and family matters” Mark Kresser, president of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers since January 1, 2010 has announced his resignation. The NASGW is now re-launching its search for a new president. | For More…

— MISCELLANEOUS —
Country Singer Will Return to NRA Bianchi Cup
Chart-topping country performer Mark Wills plans to once again compete in the MidwayUSA/NRA Bianchi Cup, in Columbia, Missouri, May 26-29, 2010. | For More…

— NEW GEAR —
Bond Arms Teams With Buck to Create a New Self Defense Knife
Bond Arms, best known for manufacturing the finest double barrel handguns in the world, has teamed up with Buck Knives to produce a Signature heavy duty, high quality knife perfect for self defense needs. | For More…

— NEW MEDIA —
Benelli USA Brands Launch Facebook Fan Pages
Benelli USA, an acknowledged leader in the firearms industry, has joined Facebook, the popular social networking site. Benelli USA brands, including Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger, Uberti and Stoeger Airguns now have their own dedicated fan pages. | For More…

— NEW PRODUCTS —
Hornady Releases Superperformance 308 Win Match Cartridge
Hornady® unveils the next generation of match ammunition – the Superformance™ 308 Win 178 gr BTHP Match. Achieving 2,775 feet per second from a SAAMI spec 24″ test barrel, this new load is approximately 175 fps faster than any comparable commercial load available today. | For More…

— ORGANIZATIONS —
Berkley Conservation Institute Honors New York Bass Federation Nation
The Berkley Conservation Institute (BCI) awarded the New York BASS Federation Nation Club Salt City Bassmasters the annual Berkley Angler Conservation Award. | For More…

Predator Camo Joins Whitetails Unlimited as a Partner in Conservation
Whitetails Unlimited welcomes a new sponsor, as Predator, Inc. joins WTU as a partner in conservation. | For More…

— SHOOTING —
Amateurs and Professionals Race for Targets on Shooting USA
It’s the second installment of a skins match from the past-the ProAm from Tulsa, this week on Shooting USA only on Outdoor Channel. | For More…

— WILDLIFE —
Pronghorn Released in Gunnison Basin
The Colorado Division of Wildlife has released 62 pronghorn in the Gunnison Basin to supplement the population in that area. | For More…

— YOUTH —
Indiana State NASP Tournament March 12
Indiana’s fourth annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament, which promises to be the largest indoor youth archery tournament in state history, will be held Friday, March 12, in Muncie, at Horizon Convention Center. | For More…

— AWARDS —
Melbourne Beach Women in the Outdoors Chapter wins national award
The Melbourne Beach Women in the Outdoors, from Melbourne Beach, Fla., was honored as the Best New Event Award winner during theNational Wild Turkey Federation’s 34th annual National Convention and Sport Show. | For More…

— BLOG NEWS —
Understanding Issues: It’s complicated
With so much fun subject matter to watch on TV or online, it’s easy to lose sight of the things we should know. While some of the issues surrounding wildlife management and hunting seem hopelessly complicated at first, Tammy Sapp seeks to show the benefits will outweigh the effort of digging into these topics.

Read Blog Post

— EVENTS —
Kentucky state park hosts woods lore weekend
Step back in time, when American Indians and European Americans lived closer to nature at a Woods lore and Tracking Weekend at Kentucky’s Carter Caves State Resort Park, March 19-21, 2010. | For More…

New Hampshire BOW program offers workshops this spring
New Hampshire’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program is offering three exciting new “Beyond BOW” workshops this spring, giving women a chance to explore turkey hunting; overnight backpacking; and map and compass skills. | For More…

Women’s Get-A-Way planned at West Virginia State Park
Girlfriends, mothers, daughters, aunts and sisters – West Virginia’s North Bend State Park has created a weekend to get away, just for women. Women’s Get-A-Way weekend is March 19-21 and offers options to relax, get pampered, or enjoy a craft, book and more. | For More…

— HUNTING —
Hunting open-field gobblers with Alpen binoculars and Preston Pittman
Preston Pittman shares his tips for using binoculars when he’s hunting gobblers in open terrain. A close-up look can tell Preston which way birds are headed and allows him to read their body language to determine if they’re nervous or at ease. | For More…

— INDUSTRY NEWS —
NWTF names Peggy Anne Vallery as its new chairman
The National Wild Turkey Federation’s National Board of Directors recently named Peggy Anne Vallery of Arizona, as its chairman. | For More…

— WOMEN WHO INSPIRE —
Tracey Cramer-Kelly: Author, businesswoman, wife, mom, biker chick and taiko dummer
Last April, Tracey Cramer-Kelly was featured in the Women’s Outdoor Wire, fresh from the adventure of writing and publishing a novel. She posted an update to her blog recently, catching everyone up on where she is with her life today. | For More…

FEATURE
What’s in your daypack?
By Judi Janofsky & Rich Steck

This is the last of a three-part series involving Wilderness Wildlife Week, an eight-day hiking and lecture event held each January in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

“Even for day hikes, I take enough stuff to keep me going for 72 hours,” says Lee Lewis, hiker, tracker and search and rescue expert and our lecturer on packing daypacks at this year’s Wilderness Wildlife Week. “You just never know what can happen and what you’ll need to survive.”

As he went down the list of what should be included in a pack, we got a little nervous. We often go for hikes in the nearby woods with only our lunch in our backpacks. Obviously we’ve been defying nature.

Here’s what we should have packed and what we’ll do from now on – ’cause you never do know what can happen.

Backpack
First, starting with the pack on your back, it should be 1800 – 2500 cu in – (a ping pong ball is one cubic inch so envision 1800 of them and that’s the minimum size you should have). Serious backpacks have frames; Lewis felt that an internal frame is better than an external frame because it carries better on your body, using your hip instead of your shoulders to support the weight.

Map & Compass
Learn how to use them together. Every year, lots of people are lost every yuea who have both but don’t know how to use them in combination.

Shelter
In case you are hurt or lost and have to spend the night, this is essential to have. It can be as simple as a nylon backpacker poncho or tarp. Also could be a tube tent or an all weather blanket and 15 meters of small rope, or small tent. Find multi-purpose things for your pack.

Rain Gear
Plastic poncho, coated nylon backpacker poncho (Gore-Tex), coated nylon jacket/pants.

Dry Clothing
You’ll be glad you have it In case you get wet. Lewis recommended layering: a dry base layer, fleece or insulation layer, and socks (a dry pair can change your whole attitude!).

First Aid Kit — including:
Personal medications
Wound management items
Fire Starter (even steel wool and a battery can start a fire)
Toilet Paper – doubles as fire starter also
Knife
Duct Tape
Pen, pencil, sharpie. If necessary, the pencil can be burned; the sharpie can be used to write and leave a note (before you go you should always let friends/family/rangers know where you’re going and when you expect to return).
Mirror – for signals

Food
Anything high in carbs
GORP (stands for Good Ole Raisons and Peanuts)
Energy Bars
Dried Fruit or food in case you plan to cook a meal
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Water
Minimum 2 liters per person per day

Water Treatment System
There are several ways you can treat water from streams or rivers to make it safe to drink.
1. Bleach (2 drops per quart) of 5-6% chlorine (Clorox) for 2 minutes.
2. Iodine for 30 minutes or longer. People with auto-immune problems or allergies may have problems with iodine which was banned by EU for use as water treatment. Iodine makes water taste tinny.
3. Boil 3-5 minutes in rolling boil
4. Filter – must be 0.4 microns bacteria or lower (at 25 microns you can get tapeworms). It must be cleaned every day and kept warm. If it freezes, it will break. Most filters on market are 99.9% effective. For 100% effectiveness, use chlorine.
5. Ultraviolet light (90 seconds per quart). Water still needs to be strained but it is safe to drink.

Cooking Equipment
Isobutene stove
Pot
Fuel
Utensils

Flashlight
Look for extended burn time, powerful wattage
Extra bulb, batteries

Whistle
It can be heard up to 2 miles away compared to your voice which may carry only a few hundred yards. Focus the sound with your hands and give three strong blasts – universal signal for help – and repeat often.

Cell phone – take it with you but keep it turned off to conserve battery.

According to Lewis, with a good pack, warm lunch and dry socks you can take on the world.

Next year’s 21st annual Wilderness Wildlife Week will be January 8-15, 2011, when over 100 experts will offer nearly 60 hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National park, plus over 125 lectures, seminars and demonstrations. Participation is free. For more info about Pigeon Forge special events, visit www.mypigeonforge.com. For Great Smokey Mountains National Park, see www.nps.gov/gsm.

Mar 4-7 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo Reno/Sparks Convention Center, Reno Nevada
Mar 5 Alabama State Championships Steel City Ranges, Hoover, AL
Mar 10-12 Pairs Conventional Pistol Shooting Camp U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Phillips Range, Fort Benning, Georgia
Mar 12-14 World Ice Fishing Championships Boom Lake, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Mar 19-21 STI International Double Tap Championships Double Tap Ranch, Wichita Falls, Texas
Mar 26-28 23rd annual California Association of Taxidermist’s, Western States Taxidermy competition and show Red Lion’s Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA

THE OUTDOOR WIRE DIGITAL NETWORK > FISHING WIRE : SHOOTING WIRE : TACTICAL WIRE : DEALER WIRE : WOMEN’S OUTDOOR WIRE © Copyright 2010 The Outdoor Wire. All Rights Reserved.

Stay Tuned!

We really need to stay tuned to the latest news and be prepared to jump into action when it comes to our HUNTING RIGHTS!   Notice I say rights and not privileges because the antis would love nothing more than to make it a privilege and then turn around and take that privilege away from us.

Monday afternoon the Native Hunt crew will be at our State Capitol and you can bet we will be voicing our opposition at Wayne Pacelle, H.S.U.S. and Senator Dean Florez attempt at taking over our Department Of Fish And Game (among other animal related offices) through their newly proposed Animal Rights Caucus!

Stay tuned for more information and updates, and do not just sit at home and let this happen like Californians did concerning the Lead Ban and Hand Gun Ammunition issues which are here to stay because we just did not get up the gumption to go out and FIGHT!

Be at our States Capitol Monday February the 8th, or be prepared to let the anti’s waltz right in and take over!

We have an uphill battle against the Monster known as Animal Rights!  these organizations will stop at nothing to get their totalitarian views recognized by lawmakers and eventually have ALL Hunting, Firearms, Animal Ownership and everything related continuously attacked until we are all forced into Veganisim!

Don’t believe me?  just take a look at the latest from these warped individuals: H.S.U.S.

Please take the time to thank Ms. Diane Amble for all the hard work she does in fighting these A.R.G.s and their egregious encroachment upon our very freedoms!

www.cavoteralliance.com    call: (712) 432-8595  Press option 7 For A Call To Action Alerts

Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and make them happen!          ”old Chinese proverb”

Please keep in mind that I have found some of  Ms. Doris  post’s very informative and have actually agreed with her in a few instances such as, Factory Farmed Meat and the cruelties found within the industry. But this particular post is very disturbing to me, as well as it should be to “every” outdoor sportsman and sportswoman because this is the same type of  propaganda literature which can be compared to what the Nazi’s perpetuated in pre-Nazi germany concerning the Jewish race.

Extremism in its purest fashion and what is being taught to our college youth in the newly added college curriculum concerning Animal Right’s Law and how to use the legal system to strong arm their philosophies and make you compliant by law.

What are your thoughts?  Alarmist or Realist!

It's not all climbing hills and chasing hogs!

So I had a little time to hang out with Michael over at his music studio the other night.  Our new friend, Cork Graham came over for our first face-to-face meeting, and as usually happens around this group, the stories flowed freely.  Conversation ranged from Cork’s new book to hog-dogging, and all points in between.

One topic that came out though kind of hung with me.  We were talking about Michael’s operation, and how it’s becoming more and more common in many parts of  the country.  Hunting land is being locked up by entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to hunt it will have to pay admission.

It wasn’t that long ago that all you had to do to get access to a property was just ask a property-owner’s permission. I remember my youth back in NC, when it was a matter of getting my dad to run me over to Mr. Batson’s house so I could ask permission to hunt his farm for whitetail, doves, and squirrels. With a stern warning against shooting his pigs (domestic, not wild) or shooting up his barns, and to leave gates the way I found them, he turned me loose over his place.

Of course, a large part of Mr. Batson’s farms are gone now… seeded over with subdivisions and mini-estates along with the blight of golf courses that cover such a huge chunk of the southeastern US.  The remaining large land-holders (big farms, paper and lumber companies, etc.) are now drawing down thousands of dollars per year in leases from hunting clubs, effectively locking out the individual hunter, or the father-and-son partnerships who could once wander these lands for the price of asking permission.

Likewise, out here in central CA, 15 or 20 years ago it wasn’t at all unusual to be able to simply ask a farmer for permission to come hunt hogs.  In fact, many ranchers were happy to have folks come shoot the destructive beasts, and would throw open the gates with an enthusiastic, ”come kill as many as you can!”

Since then, the spectre of the almighty dollar crept into the picture.  Ranchers found out that folks would pay for the privilege of shooting hogs, turkeys, or deer.  At the same time, outfitters and guides began to lock in leases on these properties, in order to take paying clients to these productive areas. 

It’s happening all over the country.  Prime, private land is being locked up and folks who want to hunt it are going to have to pay.  Texas is a prime example, of course, with almost 98% of the state in private hands, but we’re seeing it in other places as well.  Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina are all experiencing the phenomenon. 

On the other hand, there is a trend in other direction.  In Montana, the Access Montana  program has been working with private landowners to provide access to public hunters by offering incentives to the landowners.   Other states, particularly in the west, are trying similar things.

In California, the DFG and other organizations are working on similar programs with private landowners.  The California Waterfowl Association (CWA) has a program called “HUNT”, and the CWA is also working with California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) on the SHARE program.  Both of these programs are designed to open private lands to public hunters, either for free hunts, or for a reasonable fee. 

Even so, the bottom line is that someone has to “pay” the landowners for access to their lands.  What happens to the hunter who doesn’t have the means to pay the price?  Public land is the only remaining option, and as more people take to the field, that option gets more and more crowded. 

Not that this is new.  In 1960, Outdoor Life magazine ran a three-part series on Paid Hunting, and addressed a running argument about whether pay-to-play would spell the end of hunting, or if it is simply the way of the future.  The articles looked at the upsurge in pheasant preserves, land leases, etc.  The final part of the series, in the November edition, left the question pretty-well unanswered. 

That was almost 50 years ago, and the biggest change since then is that we’ve lost huge tracts of huntable land to development and the flight of suburbanites into formerly rural areas.  More non-hunters are taking to the field, even as hunter numbers have dwindled.  The influence of these non-hunters threatens to close areas to hunting, as conflicts (real and perceived) arise. 

 All in all, the picture of the future is murky.  Will hunting become a rich man’s sport… the domain of the monied and privileged?  Or will the “common man” still prevail?  Any readers out there have an opinion on this?