Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a public meeting in Bozeman on Tuesday, May 22 to share information and answer questions on the proposed 2012-13 wolf hunting and trapping season. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn-Bozeman (5 East Baxter Lane).

The proposed 2012-13 general wolf hunting season would run from September 1 to February 28, 2013, with trapping allowed from Dec. 15 to the end of the general wolf season (trapping and hunting of wolves is provided for in Montana’s wolf conservation and management plan).

Under the proposed 2012-2013 wolf season, there would be no statewide quota, but quotas would be established in two areas near Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.

“With a healthy wolf population we can offer additional opportunities to harvest a wolf while comfortably maintaining the base population and genetic diversity that is important to the long term health and management of the species,” said Ken McDonald, FWP wildlife bureau chief in Helena.

“We’re proposing a season that aims to get us closer to a post-season population count of 425 wolves as stated in 2011,” McDonald said. “This number only represents an annual target for the 2012 hunting season. The 2012 season is designed to help Montana meet management objectives that include reduced impacts to livestock and ungulate populations while maintaining a viable wolf population.”

Features of last year’s hunt that would remain in place include mandatory harvest reporting within 24 hours, and the FWP Commission would have the authority to close the season in any wolf hunting unit or portion of a wolf hunting unit if necessary to prevent overharvest. In addition to reported harvest, criteria used to assess any potential closures would include last year’s harvest, harvest in adjacent units, rate of harvest, amount of open season remaining and population modeling predictions.

Trappers would be required to take a mandatory trapper orientation and to conduct mandatory trap-checks. Snares would not be allowed.

The proposal includes potential adjustments to bag limits and electronic calling if statutory adjustments are made in the 2013 legislature.

Montana’s 2011 wolf season included a statewide hunting-only quota of 220 wolves aimed at reducing the minimum population to about 425 wolves. Hunters harvested 166 wolves last season.

The public is encouraged to read the complete wolf hunting season proposal and submit public comments online. To comment, and to find more details on the proposed changes, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting.”

The public may also comment in writing through June 25 to: FWP – Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment; P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701. For questions, call the FWP Wildlife Bureau at 406-444-2612.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Meeting on Proposed Wolf Season May 22 in Bozeman, Montana

Officials in Texas have adopted rules allowing hunters to use suppressors (often called silencers) on their firearms effective September 1, 2012. Texas has now become one of a growing number of states that allow or are considering allowing suppressed hunting. Arizona just enacted permission for their use in March of 2012.

Interested sportsmen and women will still have to apply for specific permits for hunting with suppressors in addition to going through the BATFE’s process of acquiring the actual hardware. Suppressors may be used for the hunting of alligators, game animals or game birds. Prior to the ruling, only hunting exotic animals and feral hogs with suppressed firearms was allowed.

Joshua Waldron of Silencerco, a suppressor manufacturer, said suppressors are an advantage to hunters’ safety in an interview with CW33.

“A lot of people will put hearing protection on to protect their ears, but then they can’t hear their surroundings. … that’s actually dangerous when you’re hunting, to not be able to hear, you know, other hunters.”

Earl Ates, lifelong National Rifle Association member and hunter in Longview, has doubts about the benefits of silent hunters. He is worried that they will be used for illegal activities including poaching.

Statesman.com Commentator Mike Leggett also has his own undecided views on suppressors. In an article titled Should we care whether hunters can use silencers on their guns?, he says, “none of the silencers I’m familiar with are totally silent. And all of them compromise the speed and power of the bullet,” supporting the notion that suppressors are not simply illegal activity-enabling devices.

Leggett states that most people wouldn’t use suppressors for game birds, such as quail, but that these suppressors will mainly be used for deer. Leggett also points out that for many hunters, using suppressors may not be a very prudent economical choice.

“First, you’ll have to have a federal firearms license, which costs $200. Then you’ll need the rifle — which most of the time will be a military style, semi-auto selling for up to $1,500 — and the silencer/suppressor, which is going to be about $400. That’s more than $2,000 just to start.

Then, to make the gun really quiet, you’ll need hand-loaded, sub-sonic ammunition that costs more than $50 a box in .308 or .223.”

Be it as it is, hunters in Texas now have the option to hunt a little more quietly and will be able to use them as soon as September 1.

The following video is from Connect Amarillo, published on March 8, when legislation was still pending. Here is what citizens on both side of the story had to say:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgJD1YftNP8

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Texas Expands Use of Suppressors for Hunting of Non-exotic Game

Our next spotlight on this year’s Region Volunteers of the Year is a twofer. Jeremie and Stephanie Wallace, together, are the 2011 Southern Region recipients.

A select committee of senior NRA staff choose the Region volunteers from the pool of Field Rep-selected Area volunteers. To call attention to their exception service, the Region Volunteers of the Year were brought up on stage during the National NRA Foundation Banquet at this year’s Annual Meeting and were recognized as honored guests.

Jeremie & Stephanie Wallace call Valdosta, Georgia, home and are the current chairman and treasurer, respectively, of the Valdosta Area Friends of NRA committee. With only five years of service these two are relatively new members of the Friends of NRA family, but they’ve made quite the impact in their short time.

The Wallaces raised over $43,000 for their committee in the 2011 banquet season, a number that includes banquet tickets sold, sponsorships, underwriting, and donations. Formed in 1996, the Valdosta Area Friends of NRA committee hosted 63 attendees at its inaugural banquet, raising about $3,000. By 2011 both of those numbers had leaped considerably, with the committee sporting 158 attendees and over $22,000 raised at its 2011 banquet. All in all the Valdosta Area Friends of NRA have had 2,085 attendees to its 16 banquets and has raised $174,195 for NRA programs.

“Jeremie and Stephanie embody the spirit of the Friends of NRA mission. They are truly working solely to raise funds for the future of the shooting sports. Their passion and determination is infectious and wonderful to be around,” Brad Ward, NRA Field Rep, Georgia. “This team deserves our recognition and our sincere thanks, as they are the heart and soul of the Friends of NRA.”

Jeremie and Stephanie have run Georgia’s most successful banquet for the last three years, accomplishing this by securing underwriting for the entire cost of the event prior to opening the doors – impressive. Wanting to share the wealth – literally – the Wallaces stepped up to lead their committee as well as educate other committees in Georgia on how to obtain underwriting and run the event like it is a business.

Outside of the NRA, the two are both extremely active within community organizations such as the 4H, Boy Scouts, and almost any local youth education program or event.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - The Wallaces from Georgia are NRA Volunteers of the Year

Beginning this week, sportsmen will have the option to donate $1 to Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry when they purchase their Arkansas Game and Fish Commission license.

AHFH is a nonprofit organization that helps Arkansans in need of food. AHFH also is designed to partner with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to provide a healthy, balanced deer herd and provide a much-needed free, low-fat, high-protein food source to the many feeding agencies and organizations across the state. The organization also allows participating hunters a venue to give back and share their bounty with others.

It is a community-minded program that provides venison and other wild game to those in need. Organizations, businesses and churches have joined farmers and hunters to transform an abundant white-tailed deer population into a renewable food source for the hungry.

Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry is a highly successful program that has provided more than 2 million meals to the state’s most needy citizens. The success of the program depends upon the generosity of hunters to donate venison and other wild game, cooperation from meat processors throughout the state, support from local food distribution organizations, and the financial contributions of businesses and other citizens.

The organization needs to raise about $100,000 annually to fund the program. For more information about the organization go to: www.arkansashunters.org.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Arkansas Sportsmen Get the Opportunity to Donate to AHFH Through License Sales

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has completed the nonresident deer permit drawing for the 2012 seasons, and for those applicants who were unsuccessful, there’s good news: more than 4,000 permits are left over from the initial drawing. These permits will go on sale first-come, first-served beginning June 18, online at ksoutdoors.com.

Nonresident hunters who were successful in the drawing should expect their permits in the mail about the second week in June. Those who were unsuccessful — more than 600 applicants — will be notified about the same time. Applicants can check the number of deer permits by unit that are still available online at the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com, under “Hunting/Applications-and-Fees/Deer/Quotas-and-Draw-Stats.” Department staff will update this site frequently.

Applicants will be able to check the status of individual applications at https://www1.ks.wildlifelicense.com/results_lookup.php about June 1.

June 8 is the deadline for resident-only firearm and muzzleloader antelope permits. Antelope archery permits may be purchased online and over the counter July 25 through Oct. 30. Archery antelope permits are available to both resident and nonresident.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Kansas Nonresident Deer Drawing Complete

2012 Outdoor Adventure Dream Giveaway

The 2012 Outdoor Adventure Dream Giveaway sweepstakes is a nationwide drawing where your entry and donation financially help the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance protect the rights to hunt, fish and trap. Up for grabs in this amazing sweepstakes is a brand new Ram Truck, a boat, an off-road vehicle, a five-day elk hunt, a 4-day fishing trip in Costa Rica, plus so much more! Find out more about the sweepstakes this week!

Craig Harper – University of Tennessee

Craig A. Harper is a Professor of Wildlife Management and the Extension Wildlife Specialist in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries at The University of Tennessee. Dr. Harper is responsible for developing wildlife-related programs and one of the many focuses on establishment and management of wildlife food plots, especially forage plots for white-tailed deer. Tune in for his food plot analysis this week!

NorthCountry Whitetails – Craig Dougherty

Craig Dougherty has been involved in the hunting industry for almost 30 years. He is the co-founder of NorthCountry Whitetails and along with son Neil, created “Kindred Spirits”, one of the most recognized properties in the North. Craig puts his vast knowledge of food plots on us this week with tips and advice on how to create a whitetail paradise of your own.

Whitetail Institute – Steve Scott

Steve Scott is the Vice President of the Whitetail Institute. With more than 20 years in the whitetail industry he knows and understands the importance of forage and management. Tune in as Steve details what it takes to turn your mound of dirt and money into a successful food plot, instead of an expensive disaster.

FREE GIVEAWAY – ENTER TO WIN!!!

The weekly giveaway is a Gear Aid Camping Kit by McNett. It includes Zip Care cleaner & lubricant, Seam Grip Field Repair Kit, an Outgo Microfiber Towel and more camping supplies. Enter Here to Win!

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - This Week’s The Revolution with Jim and Trav Features Food Plots

Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American sportsman, announced today that new show host John Riggins will kick-off his new venture with Sportsman Channel this Sunday as he helps host the network’s unique Hunt.Fish.Feed. event in Boston for The Cable Show 2012.  Sportsman announced earlier this week that Riggins, an NFL Hall of Famer and former New York Jets and Washington Redskins running back, had agreed to host a new celebrity-loaded series — “Riggo on the Range” — scheduled to begin airing January 2013 on Sportsman Channel.

Riggins will join numerous volunteers, including local elected officials, to help feed local residents in need at the Pine Street Inn shelter in Boston’s South End on Sunday, May 20, starting at 2:30 pm ET.  Sportsman Channel’s Hunt.Fish.Feed. is a unique outreach program that taps an underutilized food source—game meat and fish donated by sportsmen—to feed those struggling with hunger across America.  Sportsman is partnering locally with The Cable Show 2012 to help organize, staff and transport volunteers.  Hunt.Fish.Feed. has served more than 13,000 meals since its start.

“As an avid sportsman and chef, I’ve always placed a high priority on harvesting game,” said Riggins. “Sportsman Channel’s Hunt.Fish.Feed. is an extraordinary program that helps deliver nutritious and hearty meals to thousands at a time when food and money donations are down at shelters and facilities all across this nation. I’m proud to be part of this network and its unique program, and I look forward to helping serve those in need this Sunday in Boston.”

In his new show, “Riggo on the Range,” Riggins will treat viewers to a culinary twist on hunting, featuring guest celebrities from food, entertainment, music and sports worlds. Each segment will follow Riggins around the world in pursuit of extraordinary hunting, outdoor and cooking adventures.

“Riggo on the Range” will be a unique show in the outdoor television category. It marries the “larger than life” persona of Riggins with his love of hunting, the outdoors and culinary arts to create a series that has never been done before. In an added twist to the show, Riggins will take his prizes from the field into the kitchen to show viewers how to create a round-table feast using the assortment of in-season game and fowl he and his guests will hunt. In the first segments, Riggins and his guests will be traveling to Kansas and New Mexico as well as locations in Canada.

Riggins’ film crew is led by Curtis Fleming, award-winning host and executive producer of “Fly Rod Chronicles.” The series is produced by Fly Fishing Explorations Inc., based in Winchester, Va.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Hall of Famer John Riggins Kicks-Off his New Venture with Sportsman Channel at Hunt.Fish.Feed.Event in Boston

Women who are interested in taking up hunting and fishing should sign up for a special upcoming weekend workshop sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

This women’s-only event will be held June 22-24 at the Jim Olterman/Lone Cone State Wildlife Area in Dolores County.

“This is a great event for women who are curious about hunting and fishing but have never had a chance to give them a try,” said Kelly Crane, district wildlife manager in the Ouray area. “No experience is necessary and we have a lot of fun.”

At this workshop women will learn the fundamentals of archery, fly fishing and shotgun shooting. Participants will also learn about the basics of wildlife biology and wildlife management. Expert instruction will be provided by Parks and Wildlife staff.

The weekend is especially designed for novices. All equipment and ammunition will be provided. Participants can bring their own fishing rods, bows and shotguns. Those bringing guns must provide their own ammunition.

Participants age 16 and older must have a current Colorado fishing license.

Food will be provided; but those with specific dietary requirements should bring their own.

A cabin and camping are available on site. Participants must bring their own sleeping bags and can bring their own tents if they wish.

The registration deadline is June 4, but call early as this event usually fills up quickly. The workshop is limited to 15 women, ages 14 and older. A $40 refundable deposit is required.

The event will start at 5 p.m., June 22, and conclude at noon on June 24. The state wildlife area is located 25 miles south of Norwood.

To register, or for more information, contact Dawn Bresett at the Parks and Wildlife office in Montrose at 970-252-6000, or by e-mail, dawn.bresett@state.co.us.

To learn more about hunting and fishing in Colorado, see: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Pages/Home.aspx

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Women’s Outdoor Skills Workshop to be Held in Montrose, Colorado

by Phil Bourjaily

Today’s tip: Have a backup plan, and have a backup to your backup plan.

This morning’s Plan A was to hunt a gobbler I found earlier in the week. The season is almost over and the wildlife area I hunt has been deserted for days so I was very surprised to find the only other vehicle on 6,000 acres parked at my spot this morning. So much for Plan A.

Plan B was to sit in the woods near the exit to a field where I know birds have been strutting first thing before they wander off into the woods. Plan B might have worked if I hadn’t had to stop and change a flat tire. The time it took me to change the flat put me behind schedule and I arrived at the Plan B location exactly when the turkeys got there. I was just picking out a tree to sit under when I noticed red heads looking at me. They went scuttling away. So much for Plan B.

Plan C was to go sit and blind-call at the edge of a field near the Plan B spot. Turkeys have been passing through the field at mid-morning and sometimes strutting there.

There was no Plan D, so I figured I would stick with Plan C for the rest of the morning. Two hours and fifteen minutes after I sat down this gobbler showed up. He may have been one of the birds I spooked earlier, maybe not. I don’t care. He strutted in just the way they are supposed to with the mid-morning sun on his feathers.

This morning, Plan C was the winner.

Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department has scored big with many hunters and landowners, by creating new regulations that would allow an unlimited number of mountain lions to be taken in one area of the Black Hills.

This new regulation is one of many proposals officials suggested after fielding complaints about lion numbers and their potential impact on livestock and public safety. The dwindling deer population is another indicator that the mountain lion numbers are too high.

WGFD plans to add a third hunting area, Hunt Area 32 near Hulett, which will have no bag limit during hunting season. The other hunting areas are changing quotas and sizes in hopes of satisfactorily managing the mountain lion population.

Most Wyoming residents were happy with the proposed changes, however there are some opponents. “It’s counterproductive to be killing large cougars and trophy cougars,” Cougar Fund co-founder Tom Mangelsen told the Star Tribune. “In reality, it will exacerbate the problem and create juvenile delinquents.”

Whether these changes will have a positive effect or not is yet to be seen. What do you think?