The bison at the Jolon ranch are really showing the benefits of the spring green-up.
It’s been a fairly wet winter here in the central coast region of CA, and the hills and canyons are booming with life. Grasses and wild flowers are going gang-busters, and here at Native Hunt, the critters are looking fat and sleek.
I was able to get out for a short tour at the Jolon Ranch with Native Hunt owner/operator, T. Michael Riddle this past weekend. It’s my first visit in a few months, and I’ve got to say it was refreshing just to get back up in those beautiful hills. Everything is in bloom or nearly so, and from what I saw of the wildlife, there’s going to be a good crop of youngsters this season as well.
Of particular note were the bison. The trophy bulls are looking great right now, still in their full, shaggy coats. This would be the time for the hunter who wants a prime rug and trophy, and with all the fat on these guys, they’ll probably be pretty toothsome as well. Of course, for the meat hunter, there are a couple of young bulls that are at the perfect size and weight. They’re still fattening up on the green feast that covers the ranch, and they look great!
The Eurasian boar are also doing really well. While the animals are sticking primarily to the thick brush right now, Riddle and I were able to observe several excellent looking animals, including a couple of real trophies. We also saw a couple of sows that looked like they were about to pop, so there’ll be another generation of “Euros” on the ranch soon.
We didn’t get out to the other ranches, but from what I’ve seen so far, the feral hogs are also having a great spring. Food and water are plentiful in the hills. The hogs are fat and sassy, and should provide great sport AND great eating for the fortunate hunter.
It promises to be a banner season at all of the Native Hunt ranches. The hunting is going to be off-the-hook, and the scenery in the hills is at its best right now.
I used to keep a fairly neutral, or even positive, attitude toward the Sierra Club. In general, I liked the fact that the organization usually stays focused on environmental issues such as fighting pollution and preserving wilderness areas. I like that local chapters get people out of their houses and into the field, even though I find those field trips annoying and disruptive when they come trooping over the hills, chattering like magpies. At least they’re outside.
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.
Hi All,
The CA Fish & Game Commission has posted its proposed changes to mammal hunting regs for public review & comment.
There are important changes to Sec. 265 related to hunting with dogs: All language that prohibits the use of GPS tracking equipment is stricken ( to be deleted. )
Please write, call, fax or email the Commission to support this proposed regulation change.
California Fish and Game Commission
1416 Ninth St.
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
Phone (916) 653-4894 fax (916) 653-5040
to email, go to www.fgc.ca.gov. Click on contact tab, scroll down & click on ” Submit comments to proposed regulations” link.
To view the text of the regulations changes: http://www.fgc. ca.gov/regulations/new/2010/ proposed regs10.asp.
Thanks,
KZ
As is the case with any struggling economy, the negative effects on business stretch deep and wide. I have personally witnessed three major nationwide recessions in my 50 years of living here in the U.S.A., and each time it has been the same with the service industry, an industry which includes outdoor sports such as: Hiking, Camping, Fishing and HUNTING.
You have seen the effects of recession on the service industry at your local restaurants. As clientele drops, so do the number of employees making good service wishful thinking. Then the perks and freebies, like free refills & bread, become things of the past. Next to go is the advertising budget. As the number of patrons continues to dwindle, the restaurant is forced to lower the quality of the food by buying cheaper ingredients and hiring cheaper chefs… Pretty soon the restaurant is a totally different place and they are forced to close their doors forever.
We here at NATIVE HUNT have acted completely contrary to the norm during this recession and we have actually hired MORE EMPLOYEES, remained a FULL SERVICE OUTFITTER and have added some FREE PERKS to our already existing ones. Where others have cut marketing budgets, we have kept our advertising going strong. But most importantly, we have listened to YOU the customer, and have worked hard at improving what we do here at NATIVE HUNT to make it the best possible customer experience in the industry!
As a direct result of our diligence and commitment to place our customer’s satisfaction and hunting experience as our first priority, we have not had to close our gates. We have all seen other hunting companies go the way of the dinosaur these last two years, while Native Hunt is still going strong. We owe this success to you, our valued clients and prospects. We recently announced a special “buy one get one free” offer exclusively to our past clients, and due to the success and popularity of that offer, we wanted to make it public.
As you know we added new property to our list of leased lands, and this particular ranch is located a mere 2 minutes away from our PRIEST VALLEY RANCH and will afford you the opportunity to experience all of our properties while still only staying for one night.
This newest addition has not been hunted for several years and is literally over run with Wild Hogs, Black-tailed Deer, Turkey and Tule Elk!
For the regular price of $975.00 (a standard Feral Hog Hunt) we will allow you to take a second Feral Hog for FREE! You read that right. At no extra charge you will be able to take home DOUBLE the amount of MEAT! This deal was originally available only to the first 10 people that contacted us. We are going to open it up to ten more people, so stop what you are doing and call 1.888.HUNT.321 now.
You can also comment on the blog or visit the website and fill out a submission there. As always, we are still offering our standard FREE PERKS*, FIRST CLASS FACILITIES, and unmatched TIER 1 SERVICE to all of our hunters.
Happy Hunting to you all and I am looking forward to a very fruitful and prosperous year here in 2010 for us all!
T. Michael Riddle C.E.O. NATIVE HUNT ENTERPRISES INC
* Free Perks Include: ICE, COLD STORAGE, SKINNING, GUTTING AND MEAT QUARTERING FOR TRANSPORT, LUNCH FOR SINGLE DAY HUNTS, TOURS OF THE RANCHES, FULL SERVICE FOR ALL HUNTS!
Received this in email recently, and it sounds like a good opportunity for some guides I know. Here’s the information:
Want to let everyone know about a new contest called “Are You Carhartt Tough?” You submit a short essay about why your job is tough…many hunters and outdoorsman certainly have tough jobs…and you could win a weekend duck hunting trip, designed by Ducks Unlimited or a Stihl Timbersports Series trip. Just go to www.CarharttRental.com to enter.
Have a go at it!
The following is a response to the following press release (California Legal Expert, Biologist Find Significant Flaws in Proposed State Bear Hunting Expansion). The release outlines the latest in the animal rights activists’ attempts to quell our God given rights not only to hunt, but also to protect ourselves from the dangers that arise when bear populations get out of hand.
This entire situation is all about politics and not about real wildlife management ( I hate it when lawyers think they’ve got a new publicity machine for their business)….This BS, taxes, open door policy to illegal immigrants (my mother had to learn to speak English to become an American citizen, why can’t the newcomers??)…I’m counting the days until this summer, when my legal residency is outside of what WAS the best state in the Union….!
Want to help the bears? Let hunters with hounds condition the bears to run at the sight of a human, instead of thinking of us as they did when I was a baby legally permitted to feed bears in Yellowstone fried chicken through the window of my parent’s station wagon…a free meal.
As for those biologists who think that hunting bears is a waste of time (they’re cannibalistic and eat their own)–NO it’s not a waste of time or bad conservation! Like all predators, when their food source is gone, they move to other areas in search of fresh meat: that’s why there’re so many more bear, and human and pets confrontations than before. Lions and bears don’t starve locally like deer, elk and moose: when there’s no food, they migrate big time. That’s why bears are ending up in pools of Santa Barbara’s multi-million dollar homes, and hungry coyotes and mountain lions are caught on camera in downtown LA and San Diego in the middle of the night, eating fido and fifi.
Want to learn about real bear behavior? Get a copy of Tom Hron’s book, Fighting for Your Life: Man-eater Bears (as one who was as an Alaska resident, I enjoyed what he had to say about that idiot, Timothy Treadwell, who not only got himself killed, but his girlfriend…and what did his animal rights fanatic ex-girlfriend Palovak [enjoying the money of the bear organization she started with Treadwell] and the rest of the community do? Tried to hide the video that recorded the screams as bears did what they normally do when given the opportunity–eat humans, like everything else on their list of edibles). It’s refreshing to read something about wildlife management/conservation that’s not so politically correct that it’s not only dangerous but so self-serving to the writer’s image and so ignoring of helping sound wildlife management practices…In CA the only sound wildlife management practices are those occurring on private lands, where the public can’t get access to unless they pay. That’s not the case in OR, WA, MI, SD, ND, and WY.
It’s time for us as outdoors writers and bloggers, those of us who write about hunting, to educate ourselves fully and not just take PR from these animal right fanatics as gospel. Sadly that means going beyond the biologists of California DFG (except for a few like Sonke Mastrup who when I just starting as an outdoor writer was only a biologist…and loves to hunt–many biologists at CA DFG these days haven’t so much as picked up a fishing rod) and contact those from places where DFG is doing well and as a result, the animals game and non-game within their borders, such as OR, WA, ID, MT, WY, MI, UT, NM, TX, NY, ME. There’re are also a ton of documents that I originally had to get as large 8X11, 800 page volumes on bear, pig, deer and waterfowl research that have been released as PDFs in some cases. This is ALL FREE information, paid with your fishing/hunting license fees: please take advantage of it!
These guys have a better idea of wildlife management and ecology, and sustainable programs: http://www.perc.org/
Wayne Pacelle and Ingrid Newkirk haven’t won, yet, but they and their brethren are not wasting time rewriting the history of hunting’s relation to animal health and population to meet their needs…
Cheers,
Cork
If you have any questions or want to be part of the discussion just leave a comment here or visit me at my blog, Cork’s Outdoors.
COMPETITIONS —
Rockcastle Shooting Center Hosts Tenn. Winter Series Sporting Clays Shoot
Overcast skies, wind and chilly temperatures could not keep away the many registered shooters, from six states and as far away as Brazil from attending this past weekend’s Tennessee Winter Series Sporting Clays Shoot at Rockcastle Shooting Center, part of Kentucky’s Park Mammoth Resort. | For More…
Team Bertha Jr./McKenzie Take Opening IFA Redfish Event
Sam Bertha Jr., of Daytona Beach, and Gary McKenzie, of Bartow, Florida, weighed in a two-redfish limit that totaled 14.42 pounds to win the IFA Redfish Tour event at Jacksonville. | For More…
— ENVIRONMENT —
Watermen Collect Nearly 1,500 Abandoned Crab Pots
Maryland watermen have pulled nearly 1,500 abandoned crab pots from the West, Patuxent and Patapsco Rivers as a part of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Ghost Crab Pot Retrieval program. | For More…
— FACILITIES —
Alabama Forever Wild Opens New Horse Trail in WMA
The Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust has recently opened a new horse trail in the Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in Colbert County, 5 miles south of Highway 72 near Barton and Cherokee, Alabama. | For More..
— FIREARMS —
AWC Systems Introduces TurboDyne Suppressor for Compact, Effective .50 Caliber Suppression
When deploying a .50 BMG rifle in any trouble situation, silence is the key to keeping the operator safe and hidden. The TurboDyne suppressor from AWC Systems Technology was designed to be the most compact, effective and quiet .50 caliber suppressor on the market, designed to reduce the noise of a .50BMG to less than that produced by a .22LR. | For More…
— FISHING —
Bass Pro Shops Kicks Off Annual Anglers’ Legacy Promotion
To coincide with Bass Pro Shops’ 2010 Spring Fishing Classic, the sporting goods retailer kicked off an annual Anglers’ Legacy promotion designed to leverage their Spring Fishing Classic to introduce newcomers to the sport for a third consecutive year. | For More…
— HUNTING —
New York Deer Harvest Continues At High Rate
Hunters harvested approximately 222,800 deer in the 2009 season, virtually the same number as were harvested statewide the previous season. The annual deer hunting report also showed that nearly 16,000 14- and 15-year-olds signed up for the “Junior Big-Game License”. | For More…
— INDUSTRY —
Cabela’s Expands Management Team
Cabela’s Incorporated (NYSE: CAB) announces the addition of Doug Means to the executive team as Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. | For More…
Crosman Corporation Announces New European Distribution Center In Shannon, Ireland
Crosman Corporation announces the opening of a new warehouse and distribution facility in Shannon, Ireland. The state-of-the-art facility will serve as the company’s European distribution center (EDC) and warehouse. | For More…
Leupold Promotes Mundy
Leupold & Stevens, Inc. announces the promotion of Pat Mundy to communications manager. An avid hunter, shooter and handloader, Mundy oversees a staff of six in developing and implementing advertising, public relations, interactive and other marketing communications. | For More…
— MEDIA —
Outdoor Magazine Radio and Host Take Broadcast Excellence Awards
Veteran outdoor journalist Mike Avery has received a “Broadcast Excellence Award” from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB). | For More…
— NEW PRODUCTS —
Federal Premium Introduces New Black Cloud Snow Goose Offerings
Federal Premium® Black Cloud® ammunition announces new loads designed especially for snow goose hunters. The new 1-1/8 ounce, 3″ 12-gauge loads feature a muzzle velocity of 1635 fps for added effective range. Product now available. | For More…
— PARTNERSHIPS —
RMEF, ISE Partner for Stronger Expos, Elk Camps
For 35 years, no company has produced better consumer sportsman shows than International Sportsmen’s Expositions (ISE). Annual events in Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City and San Mateo, Calif., draw hundreds of thousands of hunters, anglers and conservationists. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has announced an expanded partnership with ISE to promote RMEF’s annual national convention, called Elk Camp. | For More…
— PEOPLE —
Longest Serving Wildlife Council Member Retires
Howard L. Calhoun of Akron, Ohio has retired from his position on the Ohio Wildlife Council His forty-six year tenure included nineteen years as chairman. | For More…
— PRODUCTS —
“Go Green” With Vita-Rack Seed Mixes
Rodney Dyer, certified wildlife biologist and consultant to Hunter’s Specialties®, recently explained how consumers can save money and reduce the amount of chemical fertilizer needed to maintain healthy food plots. | For More…
— RECRUITMENT —
Elementary School for Fishing, Hunting & Shooting Opens Its Digital Doors
The “elementary school” for America’s sporting traditions has opened at www.learnoutdoorsports.org. The School of Outdoor Sports is designed to be an outreach and educational site to help recruit and retain the next generation of outdoors enthusiasts. | For More…
— REGULATIONS —
PSA Says Fish And Game Commission “Betrays Recreational Anglers”
As part of the South Coast region’s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process, yesterday the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) voted to only keep in consideration the alternative created by the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF). The Commission’s action effectively terminates consideration of the three proposals created by the citizens selected to participate in the process. | For More…
North Carolina Approves Changes in Hunting, Fishing Regulations
After a yearlong process of gathering input from stakeholders, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has approved changes to state hunting, fishing and trapping regulations. | For More…
— SPONSORSHIPS —
Mission Archery Official Bow Sponsor Generationwild.com
Field & Stream announces that Mission Archery as the official bow sponsor of GenerationWild.com, the magazine’s youth-oriented blog and online destination dedicated to providing comprehensive information to young hunters and anglers on a wide range of outdoor topics. Mission will outfit the site’s four Junior Pro Staffers with archery equipment and accessories. | For More…
Brazos Custom Gunworks, Montana Gold Bullet and Shooters Connection Sign On as Area 6 Sponsors
The list of stage sponsors for the 2010 USPSA Area 6 Championship sponsored by Glock continues to grow as three more companies, Brazos Custom Gunworks, Montana Gold Bullet and Shooters Connection, sign on to support the match. | For More…
Gemini Increases Support for Collegiate Anglers
Careco Multimedia announcs Gemini Sport Marketing’s return as a sponsor of the 2010 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series. | For More…
— TELEVISION —
Name Change For Timberline Wild Adventures
When GhostBlind’s Timberline Wild Adventures begins on Sportsman Channel in July, it will be a new name, reflecting the addition of sponsor GhostBlind to the show formerly known as Timberline Wild Adventures. | For More…
VERSUS Features Fishing Friday Night
VERSUS Country presents an entire night of the best fishing shows on television with premiere episodes of Hunt for Big Fish with Larry Dahlberg and City Limits Fishing with Mike Iaconelli on Friday, March 5, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. | For More…
— WILDLIFE —
FWC to Premiere “Living With Florida Black Bears”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will premiere its new, 15-minute, “Living with Florida Black Bears” video during a public workshop Saturday on Okaloosa Island. | For More…
— WORKSHOPS —
March 9 Workshop to Focus On Recovery Plan for North Bay Tidal Marshes
A sweeping but voluntary plan to restore the health of more than 17,000 acres of San Pablo and Suisun Bay tidal marshes will be the focus of a public workshop by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), on Tuesday, March 9 in the PRBO San Francisco Bay Center, Petaluma. | For More…
— YOUTH —
NRPA and Hershey’s Track & Field Games to Support More Active and Healthy Youth
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Hershey Company announce their 2010 partnership for the Hershey’s Track & Field Games program. Founded more than thirty years ago, Hershey’s Track & Field Games was created to promote physical fitness in a fun atmosphere for youth ages 9-14. It is the largest youth program of its kind, hosted by park and recreation agencies, schools, youth serving organizations and community groups in the United States and Canada. | For More…
FEATURE
McDonald v. Chicago: What constitutes a win?
Most of the conversational around the industry since Tuesday’s Supreme Court oral arguments in the McDonald v. Chicago case has been pretty optimistic. It seems a foregone conclusion that the Supreme Court will vacate both firearms restriction ordinances in Chicago and its suburb, Oak Park, lllinois.
But there’s been very little said about Otis McDonald, the 76-year old retired maintenance engineer who’s the primary name on a lawsuit that may become yet another fundamental rib in American jurisprudence.
McDonald and his wife live in the far South side of Chicago where they’ve watched their neighborhood deteriorate from familial to downright dangerous. Despite having his home wired with burglar alarms “wired right into the police station” and owning a legal firearm (a shotgun), McDonald said he felt he would be better protected if he also had a handgun. His rationale was simple: a handgun would be easier for an aging husband or wife to handle.
Despite the fact that Chicago police point out the fact that it’s mainly property crimes in his neighborhood, they can’t deny the fact they’ve gotten worse. Burglaries and thefts in McDonald’s area risen from 881 in 2006 to 1,215 in 2008 (the latest figures available). Murders have remained steady at 17 per year.
So, Otis McDonald joined the Illinois State Rifle Association, hoping to find an answer. What he found was attorney Alan Gura, looking for Chicago residents to bring a challenge to the city’s handgun ban – and a broader interpretation to the Heller decision.
For Gura, McDonald was a perfect case, an elderly black man seeking to protect himself and his neighbors in a neighborhood going downhill. McDonald, on the other hand, saw the situation as an answered prayer. Today, he still maintains his reason for wanting the ban overturned was a simple one, “I was doing this for me.”
As expected, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against McDonald and the other defendants, holding that the Supreme Court had ruled -more than 100 years ago – that the Second Amendment applied only to the federal government.
Chicago, like other cities with a liberal political philosophy, believes, unlike Otis McDonald, that allowing law-abiding citizens to possess handguns will create a wave of handgun violence, firearms accidents and suicides that trump any possible good a handgun could bring.
In a city where handguns were used in 410 of 412 murders in 2008, it would seem that the criminal element had empirically proven that handguns were more than present in the city. Overwhelmingly by the criminal element.
And as has been pointed out many times, the criminal element isn’t concerned with the law. They are unmoved by boundaries adhered to by law-abiding citizens.
Speaking with the NRA’s special counsel, former Solicitor General Paul Clement, following the oral arguments, he said the argument he presented to the court on behalf of the National Rifle Association (accorded a portion of Gura’s time) was pretty simple “Does,” Clement asked, “a citizen in Chicago have the same right as a citizen in Washington, D.C. We believe the only answer is ‘yes’”.
In presenting the only argument of the morning that wasn’t constantly interrupted by the sometimes sarcastic justices, it would seem Clement made a compelling case for a simple argument.
If the Supreme Court were to find that they didn’t, Clement said, it would be equivalent of the court saying “our decision on Heller really wasn’t all that big a deal.”
No one thinks that likely.
That unlikelihood is despite the fact that the three remaining justices who dissented on Heller still worked – energetically at times- to make the case for gun regulations. As Justice Stephen declared flatly during one of his more vocal points, “guns kill.”
That’s where the philosophical divide between gun owners and gun opponents seems irreconcilable.
To those who oppose firearms, it’s the tool that ultimately makes the decision to act, not the person using it.
To gun owners, that’s simply absurd.
Unfortunately, in situations where, as Chief Justice Roberts pointed out, “politics will still decide” emotional parades of weeping relatives will influence enough voters to keep the issue at a rolling boil.
Meanwhile, I have no way of knowing if the U.S. Supreme Court will take a look at a decision last week from the Supreme Court of the state of Washington regarding Second Amendment rights. But they should.
In that opinion, Justice Richard B. Sanders wrote a paragraph in his decision that could prove to be a critical point:
“Supreme Court application of the United States Constitution establishes a floor below which state courts cannot go to protect individual rights. But states of course can raise the ceiling to afford greater protections under their own constitutions.”
(pg 18. No. 82154-2, State of Washington v. Christopher William Sieyes. http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/821542.opn.pdf)
That simple bit of writing may go a long way toward establishing states’ recognition of the fact that a Supreme Court decision is not the far limit of a law; it’s the minimums for protection. This decision says the decisions from the high court establish a broad-brush national minimum – one designed to work in all jurisdictions.
It also says that while states may go further to guarantee rights. That recognizes -at least in Washington’s State Supreme Court – that it may be necessary to do more to protect individual rights.
That would seem to reinforce recent legislative measures passed by Tennessee and Montana that extend firearms rights. Their new laws say firearms made, sold and kept only in those respective states are exempt from all federal laws.
On Wednesday, the Wyoming legislature passed a similar measure that actually assigns fines and sentences for any state or federal official trying to any federal gun law on firearms and sold in Wyoming. Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal says he’ll sign the bill into law.
That extension of rights is admittedly, not much more than a symbolic push back at the federal government’s current tendency to try and regulate, well, everything, but it is a definite message that residents of these states will vigorously protect their constitutional rights.
Finally, the Washington State decision establishes an instance of twenty-first century law with a lower court recognizing the intent -and appropriateness – of the Supreme Court in most instances.
It is especially significant for the Heller ruling, recognizing a first step in guiding the states in creation of jurisprudence at all levels of the court systems that will provide a web of overall guidance on the Second Amendment and firearms rights.
It wouldn’t be accurate, however, to say that the individual interpretation of the Second Amendment is now written in stone.
Earlier this week, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg -one of the three remaining dissenting justices in Heller- comment that perhaps a “future court” would reverse the Heller decision.
For those who hold an individual right the founding fathers considered to be “granted by the Almighty” can’t be taken away by the stroke of a pen, we can only hope that the comment was Ginsberg’s wish and not a prophecy. Regardless, barring something sudden change in the makeup of the court, it seems unlikely she will serve long enough to vote on that reversal.
But there is only one rule regarding the Supreme Court that seems to always be quoted and believed: the court will do what the court will do.
That’s why it’s the Supreme Court. It’s also why we’ll be watching, and we’ll keep you posted.
–Jim Shepherd
Mar 4-7Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo Reno/Sparks Convention Center, Reno Nevada
Mar 5Alabama State Championships Steel City Ranges, Hoover, AL
Mar 10-12Pairs Conventional Pistol Shooting Camp U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Phillips Range, Fort Benning, Georgia
Mar 12-14World Ice Fishing Championships Boom Lake, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Mar 19-21STI International Double Tap Championships Double Tap Ranch, Wichita Falls, Texas
Mar 26-2823rd annual California Association of Taxidermist’s, Western States Taxidermy competition and show Red Lion’s Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA
I suppose it’s not really news that BLM officials have been trapping wild hogs off of Fort Ord. I tried a couple of years back to get some information about the possibility of opening some of the Fort up for hunters, but never got a reply. Well, from the looks of things, it’s too late now…
Officials have success trapping wild pigs on Fort Ord
By LARRY PARSONS – Monterey County Herald
Posted: 02/28/2010 01:30:21 AM PST
The real battle began in 2006, after federal land managers for thousands of acres of Fort Ord back country realized wild pigs had invaded their space.
Since then, the Bureau of Land Management, employing a trapping program so as not to spook the feral pigs deep into hiding, have rooted out more than 100 of the animals, whittling their numbers down to about five to 10.
“They are getting harder and harder to get,” said BLM botanist Bruce Delgado, who oversees efforts to rid the bureau’s natural resource lands at the former Army base of the critters.
You can read the full article here, in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
I wonder how long that investment will last? Anyone taking odds on when the hogs will be back?
Anyone ready for a Wild Boar hunt over in TURKEY? Our good friends at GONYE VENATORIA have some of the most beautiful specimens you can find. We should know, some of our very own Eurasian Wild Boar here at Native Hunt were purchased from over there!
You can contact them at: info@gonye.com Don’t forget to tell them that Native Hunt over here in the states sent you!!
Sorry for the copy and paste but all of us here at Native Hunt are extremely busy with our out of state shows, manning the booths at these shows and working out at the ranches.
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.
— 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
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