Showing posts with label hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hunting. Show all posts

Saturday, April 16, 2011

It's Open Season on Wolves

Big Game Forever
Dedicated to common sense conservation
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2011

President Obama has just signed H.R. 1473 the Budget Resolution, continuing government operations until September 30. A provision within that act will have wide ranging effects on the control of the Grey Wolf populations within some western states. The act requires that in the states of Montana and Idaho the Wolf be removed from the Endanger Species Act (ESA) and returned to individual state management. Language was also included which allows Wyoming to move toward delisting.

Sen. Orrin Hatch expressed, “I couldn’t be more pleased with the inclusion of wolf-delisting language in the budget bill that passed this week. The return of wolf management in northern Utah to state wildlife managers is a very important step in the right direction. This wouldn’t have happened without the resolute efforts of Big Game Forever and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. I remain committed to doing everything that I can to ensure that the states, not the federal government, have the responsibility for managing wolves. ”

The sportsmen of America are grateful for the leadership of Leader Reid, Senator Tester, Senator Baucus, Senator Hatch, Senator Barrasso, Senator Enzi, Senator Risch, Senator Crapo, Senator McCain and Senator Kyl, Congressman Rehberg, Congresswoman Lummis, Congressman Matheson, Congressman Bishop, Congressman Ross, Congressman Chaffetz, Congressman Simpson and the over 60 total cosponsors who played a role in building the consensus of a need for Congressional action to delist no longer endangered wolf populations.

“We are encouraged that Congress has acknowledged the need to delist no longer endangered wolf populations. It is unfortunate that multiple administrative delisting decisions and ultimately Congressional action were required to obtain a partial delisting of a species that has been recovered for years. We applaud the beginning of the return of management of wolves to state wildlife managers who manage and protect hundreds of game and nongame species so capably,” said Ryan Benson of Big Game Forever.

U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis explained the importance of including language preserving Judge Alan Johnson’s November 2010 ruling. “Upholding Judge Johnson’s ruling is crucial to advancing negotiations on a common sense wolf management plan. This language removes obstacles that would have otherwise hindered discussions on the status of the fully recovered gray wolf in Wyoming. Returning management of the gray wolf to the State of Wyoming is the ultimate goal. Much work remains, but with this provision intact, I am confident we are closer than ever to realizing a full delisting. I look forward to that happy day.”

Don Peay, founder of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, said, “With the need to trim billions from the federal budgets, this was first step to return management of wolves to all states and end redundant federal expenditures for a job states can do better. More importantly, with high unemployment rates and losses of jobs, abundant big game herds are an American Treasure, a renewable resource, and with proper management can sustain tens of millions of dollars in annual economic activity, tens of thousands of jobs, and the opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Americans to put food on the table.”

Big Game Forever and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife are grateful for the selfless and dedicated efforts of countless conservation minded sportsmen of America. The responsible livestock producer organizations, the conservation groups and many other organizations who have added their voice to this important effort have helped tremendously to educate for the need to protect healthy wildlife populations and America’s livestock industry.

We appreciate all your efforts Don, Ryan and Big Game Forever, keep it up. – Hunters Against PETA

Hunters Against PETA

Friday, April 15, 2011

More Good Wolf Fight News

House and Senate pass bill today with wolf delisting language

Folks,

Congressional action to delist wolf populations in Idaho and Montana appears to be moving quickly toward passage. The House of Representatives voted today in support of the Continuing Resolution by a margin of 260-167. The Senate also has voted to pass the Continuing Resolution. We are awaiting confirmation of the actual vote tally in the Senate. The bill continues to include wolf delisting language for a portion of the Northern Rockies.

The President will need to sign the bill into law by midnight tomorrow April 15, 2011 to avoid a shut down of the government. It is expected the President will sign the bill into law.

As many are aware, the wolf language in the bill codifies the April 2009 delisting rule which focuses on the approved wolf management plans for Idaho and Montana. Despite language that would delist portions of Oregon and Washington and a nominal portion of Northern Utah in the delisted zone, the focus on approved management plans in the 2009 rule make clear that the states where management authority will be returned are Idaho and Montana.

Passage of this bill will demonstrate that Congressional delisting is not only possible, but also necessary for states to be able to manage and protect wildlife populations, including wolves, within their borders. We are hopeful the passage of a wolf delisting bill for a few states will be followed by a broader delisting bill which would include additional states in the West and Midwest. While passage of this bill is significant step in the right direction, it clearly does not solve the issue. We continue to support the right of all states to manage wolves and other wildlife within their borders without federal intervention.

The environmental and animal rights community have been working hard to derail the legislation. Feel free to take a minute and call or email your Congressional delegation to let them know your feelings on the pending wolf delisting language in the Continuing Resolution.

Ryan Benson

http://biggameforever.org/

Hunters Against PETA

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Good News on the Wolf Battle

Folks,

It appears that a wolf delisting bill will very likely pass this week in Congress. The wolf delisting language is included in the continuing resolution to keep the government funded. We expect that this bill will pass by the end of this week. The language will be a victory primarily for Idaho and Montana, though portions of Utah, Oregon and Washington are also included in the delisting. Important language was also added yesterday to preserve Wyoming’s court victory in support of important aspects of its wolf management plan.

This bill stops short of returning full state management authority back to these states, including Idaho and Montana. So USFWS remains in a supervisory role. If USFWS does not interfere and allows the states do their job, a wide variety of wolf management activities can be resumed by these states. We are hopeful this would be a step in the right direction for some of these states. This action does very clearly show that Congressional action is not only possible, but also necessary to delist no longer endangered wolf populations.

We could name a long list of names of members of Congress who have worked so diligently to delist wolf populations. Specifically, thanks go out to Senator Hatch and Lee of Utah, Senators Barrasso and Enzi of Wyoming, Senators Crapo and Risch of Idaho, Senators Kyl and McCain of Arizona, Senators Tester and Baucus of Montana, Congressman Rehberg of Montana, Congresswoman Lummis of Wyoming, Congressman Simpson of Idaho, Congressmen Matheson, Bishop and Chaffetz of Utah. We have not always agreed with some of these members, but all played an important role in getting wolves delisted.

Thanks also go to many sportsmen and conservation organizations that have lent their efforts and donations to Big Game Forever and to the wolf delisting efforts. Most importantly, this victory belongs to thousands and thousands of sportsmen from all 50 states who have truly gotten in the fight to protect the future of hunting through Big Game Forever. This week we will win an important victory in Congress that many experts said couldn’t be won. You can’t win a fight, if you are not willing to fight. So thank you to all those who have worked so diligently to make this happen. Your phone calls, emails and ongoing efforts were constantly a major conversation among members of Congress and legislative staff. This was truly a game changer in this fight for the future of wildlife in America.

While this has been an extremely difficult victory, it is hard to celebrate too much when we know that this bill does not delist most Western and Midwestern states. To our friends in Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and many other states: We share your frustration that you were not included in this delisting. While it was not our decision to go with a two state bill, the actions of a few made this a self-fulfilling conclusion. We also worked very hard to make sure the bill did not destroy Wyoming’s court victory in support of the right of states to make important wildlife management decisions. So while we celebrate the fact that Congress has now recognized that they must act to delist wolves. We know this is not good enough to fix the challenges of unmanaged wolves across the country.

We call on all sportsmen and all members of Congress to increase their effort and resolve to finish the fight. Thousands of emails are going to members of Congress to try to slow wolf delisting for the rest of the country. Let’s counter this effort with thousands of emails asking members of Congress to finish the fight. There are some who will use this two-state provision to try to kill the momentum on additional Congressional actions. We cannot let this happen. It is time to delist wolves in all states. Wildlife populations in the Midwest and West have suffered terribly. It is clear that Congress is willing act to address the problems of unmanaged wolves for some states. It is time for members of Congress to engage in the battle to delist wolves in your state and restore the primacy of states to manage their own wildlife.

Help us finish the fight. Ask all of your friends to join the effort at Big Game Forever to engage in this important fight for the future of hunting and wildlife in America. Signing the petition is fast, it’s easy and it’s free. Make a donation to help fund the ongoing efforts.

Let’s finish what we started.
–
Ryan Benson

National Director, Big Game Forever

Please take a minute and ask your friends to sign the petition at http://biggameforever.org/

Thanks for all of your efforts Ryan, Don and everyone at Big Game Forever, you’re much appreciated. – Hunters Against PETA

Hunters Against PETA

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Bob Parsons the CEO of Godaddy gets uneeded heat from PETA

If you haven’t heard already the CEO and founder of Godaddy, Bob Parsons was recently slammed by PETA. Many other animal rights groups have also joined in the attack against Bob for having hunted and killed a problem elephant in Zimbabwe. They’re angry because he killed it then posted the video online.

We at Hunters Against PETA first want to say “Great job Bob”. There’s a lot of problem elephants in Africa that cause farmers a lot of damage to their crops each year and some deaths resulting from them as well.

Secondly, PETA and other animal rights groups will forever continue to attack our values, our lifestyle and our passion. It’s up to us to stand up and fight back against groups like these. And never apologize or justify our way of life.

It’s great to see that Bob didn’t apologize for helping these people out and for doing something he loves to do.

PETA said they’re going to stop using Godaddy’s services. We’re going to continue to use their services and always recommend them.

You have our support Bob. – Hunters Against PETA

Monday, April 11, 2011

Defenders of Wildlife call Hunters "anti-wildlife"

“Help Stop the Wolf Assault”. This is what reads on the home page of the Defenders of Wildlife’s website. It should read “Help Stop our Elk, Deer and Moose Assault and Slaughter”. This quote was also taken directly from their website – “Our wildlife needs your voice. Please write your senators today and oppose this extreme anti-wildlife agenda”.

Anti-wildlife? Do they not know and understand that no one and I mean no one cares more and does more to sustain the wildlife in America than hunters and sportsmen. Half of species thriving and living in America today wouldn’t even be living here today if it weren’t for sportsmen and their efforts.

The Defenders of Their Own Agenda, I mean the Defenders of Wildlife need to read their history and find out who truly protects and cares most about America’s wildlife.

How many elk, deer, moose, cattle and livestock have been needlessly killed, half eaten or not eaten at all and left to rot by wolves since they’ve been reintroduced back into the Rockies? (Where they don’t belong now). More than I want to know about.

Rest assured we at Hunters Against PETA will put up our best fight against groups like these who are trying every single day to take away our hunting rights. As long as they’re fighting us we’ll be fighting them.

Hunters Against PETA

Monday, February 21, 2011

APNewsBreak: “Montana won’t wait to kill wolves”

“BILLINGS, Mont. — Defying federal authority over gray wolves, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Wednesday encouraged ranchers to kill wolves that prey on their livestock — even in areas where that is not currently allowed — and said the state will start shooting packs that hurt elk herds.

Schweitzer told The Associated Press he no longer would wait for federal officials to resolve the tangle of lawsuits over wolves, which has kept the animals on the endangered species list for a decade since recovery goals were first met.

“We will take action in Montana on our own,” he said. “We’ve had it with Washington, D.C., with Congress just yipping about it, with (the Department of) Interior just vacillating about it.”

State wildlife agents and ranchers already kill wolves regularly across much of the Northern Rockies, where 1,700 of the animals roam parts of five states. Rules against killing wolves have been relaxed significantly by federal officials over the past decade but hunting remains prohibited.

Livestock owners in southern Montana and Idaho have authority to defend their property by shooting wolves that attack their cattle, sheep or other domestic animals. And federal agents regularly kill problem wolves, with more than 1,000 shot over the past decade.

But Schweitzer is moving to expand those killings beyond what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has so far allowed, including to parts of Montana where ranchers are not allowed to shoot the predators.

Fish and Wildlife spokesman Chris Tollefson said the agency was working with Montana and other states in the region to address their concerns over the wolf population.

“We’ve been in negotiations with Montana and the other states for some time, and we’re committed to continuing that and trying to find a solution that works for everybody,” he said.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar provided by Schweitzer’s office, the Democratic governor said state game wardens will be directed to stop investigating wolf shootings north of Interstate 90, the part of the state with the strictest protections for the animals.

That follows a similar show of defiance from Idaho’s Republican governor, C.L. “Butch” Otter.

Otter said in the fall that Idaho Fish and Game agents would no longer participate in wolf management efforts, including shooting investigations. The move forced federal officials to step in to enforce restrictions on killing the animals.

Federal enforcement of laws against killing protected wolves also would be expected in Montana.

But critics of federal wolf policies appeared emboldened by the governor’s Wednesday statements. Robert Fanning, who heads a group that advocates protecting elk herds around Yellowstone National Park from wolves, sent out an e-mail urging Montana residents to “lock and load and saddle up while there is still snow on the ground.”

In the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula, Schweitzer directed Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to begin removing wolf packs blamed for driving down elk populations.

The state has a pending petition before the Fish and Wildlife Service to remove a dozen wolves in the Bitterroot. A decision on that petition is pending, according to federal officials.

But Schweitzer indicated Wednesday he was not going to wait, and would leave it to state wildlife agents to decide when to kill the wolves. He was less adamant in the letter to Salazar, which said the Bitterroot packs would be killed “to the extent allowed by the Endangered Species Act.”

Department of Interior spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said the agency agreed there was an “urgent need” to turn over wolf management to states that have acceptable management plans for the animals.

“But the governor’s letter is not the answer,” she added.

Federal wildlife officials have tried twice in the last four years to lift endangered protections for wolves and turn over management to the states. Both attempts were reversed in federal court.

A provision in a budget bill pending before Congress would revoke endangered species status for wolves in Montana and Idaho. Other measures introduced by lawmakers would lift federal protections across the lower 48 states.

Despite the bitter public divide on the issue, attacks on livestock by other, unprotected predators such as coyotes far exceed damage from wolves, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics. But the lack of state control over wolves because of their endangered status has frustrated both livestock owners and elk hunters, who complain that their hands are tied by federal protections.

“This is a real-life problem in Montana — and we plan to start solving the problem,” Schweitzer said.”

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Sportsmen Please Take Action

Concerned over the growing momentum behind the American Wildlife and Livestock Protection Act, H.R. 509 and S.249, the environmental community and their champions in Congress have gone on the offensive.

Senator Boxer (D) California and Senator Cardin (D) Maryland have chosen divisive political rhetoric over responsible wildlife management by suggesting the bill sets “a dangerous precedent that undermines the Endangered Species Act and threatens the continued existence of the Gray Wolf across this country.” Sportsmen are being accused of “hysterical anti-wolf hatred” for simply asking the federal government to fulfill longstanding commitments and the promises of the ESA.

Senator Boxer and Cardin, you still don’t get it. Trust the American People, trust local people, not Washington DC Bureaucrats. You can trust the people, the sportsmen, the ranchers, and the state wildlife professionals who have fixed the federal government failures over the last fifty years. Wolves, and all wildlife will be in better hands being managed by the states, than mismanaged by the people who have put our country fifteen trillion dollars in debt and kept our country at ten percent unemployment.

The stage has been set. Anti hunting groups now claim to have sent tens of thousands of emails to members of Congress to slow down this important legislation. It is time for the 65,000,000 American Sportsmen to stand up to the environmental bullies, to protect our rights and to protect America’s wildlife.

Please take 30 seconds and email all of your elected officials using our automated system at http://capwiz.com/biggameforever/home/ Simply click on “Take Action” and with some basic information the system will automatically email your representatives in Congress. Take a few minutes and get the word out to your friends.

Ryan Benson and Don Peay
Founders Big Game Forever
http://biggameforever.org

We support Big Game Forever 100% and urge all sportsmen to take action and contact your elected officials ASAP, together we can win this war. – Hunters Against PETA

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Here's Your Chance to Help Stop the Wolves

The Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho For Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Idaho Outfitters and Guides and a host of other groups are working together on a public policy event on wolves in Idaho on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at Boise State University in the Jordan Ballroom at 7:00 pm. Our featured presenter will be Mr. Jim Beers. See his bio below.

We are writing to request your help and support in three possible areas:

1. Help market – promote the event to your members, friends and other like-minded groups

2. Be an event sponsor – so far we have a $200 and two $500 sponsors

our event budget is about $3500

3. Donate an item for fund raising auction – outdoor item, gift certificate, adventure trip, etc.

If you can help in any way please let me know asap. We are just 3 weeks away from this important event and need people to help market and help sponsor the event. We have promises of $1200 so far and the event cost will be about $3500. We also need items for the silent auction.

Sponsor donations of any amount may be mailed to Idaho Freedom Foundation, PO Box 2801, Boise, ID 83701. Put wolves in memo.

You can go to this site to RSVP or for more information http://www.facebook.co/event.php?eid=148285101894174

The Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho For Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Idaho Outfitters and Guides and a host of other groups are working together on a public policy event on wolves in Idaho on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at Boise State University in the Jordan Ballroom at 7:00 pm. Our featured presenter will be Mr. Jim Beers. See his bio below.We are writing to request your help and support in three possible areas:

1. Help market – promote the event to your members, friends and other like-minded groups

2. Be an event sponsor – so far we have a $200 and two $500 sponsors our event budget is about $3500

3. Donate an item for fund raising auction – outdoor item, gift certificate, adventure trip, etc. If you can help in any way please let me know asap. We are just 3 weeks away from this important event and need people to help market and help sponsor the event. We have promises of $1200 so far and the event cost will be about $3500. We also need items for the silent auction. Sponsor donations of any amount may be mailed to Idaho Freedom Foundation, PO Box 2801, Boise, ID 83701. Put wolves in memo. You can go to this site to RSVP or for more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148285101894174

We encourage all sportsmen to help out and do their part to help out these groups and help save our wildlife from being wiped out by wolves. – Hunters Against PETA

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Hunters and Sportsmen Please Help Out Michigan Hunters

In September, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Forest Service’s regulations required that it consider banning hunting with firearms on lands designated as “semi-primitive” within the Huron-Manistee National Forest.

The Court feels that the noise associated with gun hunting could harm the quality of the recreational experience of hikers, backpackers, and cross country skiers. Additionally, the Court ruled that the Forest Service had to consider closing these areas if other public hunting land was available for gun hunting nearby.

As a result of the court ruling, the Forest Service began a formal review to determine if it should move forward with a gun hunting ban on these areas. Currently, the Service is considering two options:

1. a “No-Action” alternative which would allow hunting to continue without change; and
2. a “Modified Closure” alternative that would implement either a complete or partial ban on hunting with guns in the semi-primitive areas.

Take Action! Sportsmen should submit comments to the Forest Service supporting the “No-Action” alternative that would continue to allow hunting with firearms on areas designated as semi-primitive. Sportsmen can mail comments to:

Lee Evison, Forest Planner, Huron-Manistee National Forests
1755 S. Mitchell Street
Cadillac, MI 49601

Sportsmen can also fax comments to Lee Evison at (231) 775-5551 or email comments to comments-eastern – huronmanistee@fs.fed.us.

Please include your name and address with your comments. Emailed comments must include “Forest Plan SEIS” as the subject line of the email.

All comments must be received by February 11, 2011.

We urge everyone who reads this to please take a few minutes and submit your comments and opinions opposing this idea by voting that they take option #1 “NO ACTION”. – Hunters Against PETA

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Thursday, December 30, 2010

All lower 48 states with wolves?

Can you possibly imagine a super predator much like the black plague in the 13th century going through your home state and wiping out nearly all of your big game animals within only a few years time? Well it is happening right now in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. And will absolutely happen to the surrounding states and all states if sportsmen sit back, remain idle and do nothing to fight the animal rights groups and the wolves they reintroduced back into the wild.

There are anti-hunting groups right now that are trying their damndest to reintroduce wolves into all of the lower 48 states. Their argument is that wolves were here first and so they should be allowed to roam free and kill at will. Well in our opinion humans were here first and its up to us to control the wildlife populations not a super predator (killer) that will wipe out every big game animal in its path if given the chance. Wolves have no sense at all of wildlife population control. There wolves right now in Montana and Yellowstone that are dying of starvation because they wiped out all of their food source.

The elk and deer that are roaming the mountains in America right now have never seen or dealt with a super predator like this and that makes them very easy targets. It was a very bad idea to reintroduce wolves back into Yellowstone and an even worse idea to want to reintroduce them back into the lower 48 states. We at Hunters Against PETA have made this serious wolf problem our crusade and personal fight and will keep fighting this threat until we win.

If wolves spread throughout all the lower 48 states our big game will disappear and our hunting rights and hunting period will disappear.

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Update Regarding Our Wilderness

This article was pulled directly from MSNBC.com

DENVER — The Obama administration on Thursday undid a Bush-era policy that curbed some types of wilderness designations within the 245 million acres managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management.

While Congress remains the only body allowed to create “Wilderness Areas,” the move gives BLM field managers the go ahead to protect areas determined to have “wilderness characteristics.”

“I am proud to sign a secretarial order that restores protections for the wild lands that the Bureau of Land Management oversees on behalf of the American people,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in Denver, where he announced the shift.

Congressional Republicans pounced on the announcement as an attempt by the Obama administration to close land to development without congressional approval.

“This backdoor approach is intended to circumvent both the people who will be directly affected and Congress. I have to question why this announcement is being made only after Congress adjourned for the year,” said Washington state Rep. Doc Hastings, a Republican tapped to lead to the House Natural Resources Committee when the GOP takes control of the House in January.

The order essentially repeals a policy adopted in 2003 under then Interior Secretary Gale Norton. That policy stated that Interior could not designate some wilderness protections on its own and had to rely only on Congress for any designations.

The 2003 policy reflected an out-of-court deal struck between Norton and then-Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt to remove protections for some 2.6 million acres of federal land in Utah.

The policy allowed oil and gas drilling, mining and other commercial uses on land under consideration as wilderness areas.

The new policy creates a management category called “Wild Lands”.

The Interior Department said that “‘Wild Lands,’ which will be designated through a public process, will be managed to protect wilderness characteristics unless or until such time as a new public planning process modifies the designation.

“Because the ‘Wild Lands’ designation can be made and later modified through a public administrative process, it differs from ‘Wilderness Areas,’ which are designated by Congress and cannot be modified except by legislation, and ‘Wilderness Study Areas,’ which BLM typically must manage to protect wilderness characteristics until Congress determines whether to permanently protect them as Wilderness Areas or modify their management.”

BLM Director Bob Abbey said it hasn’t been decided how many acres are expected be designated as “Wild Lands” and whether those acres will be off-limits to motorized recreation or commercial development while under congressional review. It’s also unclear whether there will be a time limit on how long acres can be managed as “Wild Lands” before a decision is made on their future.

Salazar said the agency will also resume evaluating federal BLM lands that could be recommended to Congress for designation as wilderness areas.

The BLM has six months to submit a plan for new wilderness evaluations, Salazar said.

Ranchers, oil men and others have been suspicious of federal plans to lock up land in the West, worrying that taking the BLM land out of production would kill rural economies that rely on ranchers and the eastern Montana oil and gas business.

Their suspicions have been heightened since memos leaked in February revealed the Obama administration was considering 14 sites in nine states for possible presidential monument declarations.

That included 2.5 million acres of northeastern Montana prairie land proposed as a possible bison range, along with sites in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

Environmental groups praised the reversal, though there has been grumbling that it took the Obama administration nearly two years to overturn the Bush-era policy.

“Washington D.C. always takes longer than you want, but we’re glad we’ve gotten here,” said Suzanne Jones, regional director for The Wilderness Society.

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Group Pushing for Wolves to be Put Back into all lower 48 States

This article was pulled directly from ‘Heraldextra.com’

BILLINGS, Mont. — Environmentalists said Tuesday they intend to sue the Obama administration to force it to restore gray wolves across the lower 48 states — even as Republicans in Congress sought unsuccessfully to strip the animals of protection.

The Center for Biological Diversity said in a formal notice to the Interior Department that it will sue the agency in 60 days unless the government crafts a plan to bring back wolves throughout their historical range.

“Wolves once roamed nearly the whole country and down into Mexico, but at this point there just in a fraction of that range,” said Noah Greenwald, director of endangered species for the Center for Biological Diversity.

About 6,000 wolves live in the lower 48 states. They are protected from hunting except in Alaska.

Biologists for the Arizona-based group argue there is enough wild habitat to support thousands of wolves in New England and New York, the southern Rocky Mountains, parts of Colorado and the Cascade Range of Oregon and Washington.

But prospects for new wolf packs in other parts of the country are uncertain at best, given how polarized the debate over wolves has become in recent months.

Like the Bush administration, the Obama administration has pushed to end federal protections for wolves and turn control over the animals over to states. Lawmakers from states where wolves already roam say there are too many of the predators.

On Tuesday, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, tried to force a full Senate vote on a bill to strip wolves nationwide of federal protections.

The measure was backed by Republicans in Wyoming and Utah, but failed in the face of Democratic objections.

Wolves were poisoned and trapped to near-extermination in the United States in the last century. They have bounced back in some wilderness areas over the last few decades, in part through government-sponsored reintroduction programs.

Crapo said the growing population of wolves in the Northern Rockies — more than 1,700 at the end of 2009 — was harming big game herds and domestic livestock.

“The longer we wait to resolve this issue, the more difficult it’s going to be,” he said.

But Sen. Benjamin Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, said the Republican bill would undermine the Endangered Species Act. He criticized what he called an attempt “to solve politically what should be done by good science.”

Cardin suggested he would support a compromise pushed by Montana lawmakers and the administration that would limit the scope of the bill to include only wolves in the Northern Rockies.

Crapo said that proposal was unacceptable because it would have forced Idaho to change the way it manages the animals.

Public hunts for wolves were allowed briefly in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming in recent years. Those were halted after the federal government was rebuffed by the courts in several attempts to take the animal off the endangered list.

Judges have ruled that the government has not proved existing wolf numbers would ensure the population’s long-term survival.

Wolves are notorious predators. Experts say they could survive in most of the country if they were allowed. But a hunger for livestock often gets the animals into trouble, particularly in the Northern Rockies where ranches and wolf territories often overlap.

Young adult wolves sometimes travel hundreds of miles when looking to establish a new territory. In the last several years, packs have gained a toehold in parts of Oregon and Washington. Others have been spotted in Colorado, Utah and northern New England.

“We’ve learned from where wolves have been reintroduced that they have a tremendous benefit,” Greenwald, of the Center for Biological Diversity, said. “They force elk to move around more, which allows riparian vegetation to come back and increases songbirds, and they control coyote populations.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently analyzing research into wolf genetics to see how populations in different parts of the country relate to one another.

Agency spokesman Chris Tollefson on Tuesday said the effort is not part of a nationwide recovery plan, but declined to say if it could be used for such an effort in the future.

He said results of the agency’s work are expected in early 2011.

“It’s designed to establish the best scientific foundation to make future management decisions about wolves. That’s about all I can say about it at this point,” Tollefson said.

We will fight this and do whatever it takes to stop wolves from being reintroduced back into the 48. – Hunters Against PETA

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

New Mexican Wolf Dies

This article was pulled directly from NewsWest9.com

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says a Mexican gray wolf found dead in southwestern New Mexico in October probably died of an intestinal rupture.

A preliminary report says the female wolf from the Morgart pack ingested a plastic ear tag commonly used on domestic cattle and that a rupture in the small intestines likely killed the animal.

An analysis found no sign of cattle hair in the wolf’s digestive tract, and officials had no reports of wolf-related cattle depredations in the area.

Fish and Wildlife law enforcement says the wolf’s death appears to be accidental.

The agency wasn’t able to determine how the animal swallowed an ear tag.

The federal government began releasing wolves in 1998 along the Arizona-New Mexico border in an effort to establish a wild population.

We wonder where the cow is that was wearing that plastic ear tag? – Hunters Against PETA

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Monday, November 29, 2010

The HSUS gets support from Pepsi

The HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) which happens to be the largest anti-hunting organization in the world is very close to receiving a $250,000 dollar grant from Pepsi.

Pepsi will give $250,000 to the top two vote getters in an online grant program it developed to provide funding to a variety of different projects. Currently, the HSUS is leading the race.

This program is called the ”Pepsi Refresh Program” and was started in January, 2010. Here’s the rules: “an online grant program which makes available millions of dollars to be granted to projects which are intended to improve communities through an online, democratic voting process…”

“Basically is states that up to 1,000 ideas can be submitted each month by individuals, companies and non-profit organizations. Thirty two of those ideas will be approved for funding based upon the number of votes received from registered online users. Of those thirty two; two will receive $250,000 and ten each will receive grants of $5 thousand, $25 thousand, or $50 thousand.”

“The Pepsi Refresh Program rules state that no proposal seeking funding can involve lobbying for the changing of laws.” The HSUS’s proposal that is leading in the current round of voting claims its goal is to “rescue animals who are suffering from extreme neglect.”

However the HSUS can do whatever they like with the grant money if they win, consequently putting more money in their pocket to further fight our hunting rights.

All sportsmen please take action and let Pepsi know that you’re displeased with them supporting the HSUS.

•Register at the Pepsi Refresh Program website, www.refresheverything.com and vote for a more worthy proposal.
•Contact Pepsi through their consumer phone number, 1-800-433-2652 or Click here to send an e-mail by picking “Question or comment about the Pepsi Refresh Project” from the drop down menu. Please ask Pepsi Co. not to support the HSUS. Explain that HSUS is the number one anti-hunting organization in the United States and has opposed sportsmen on many issues for years.
We at Hunters Against PETA are currently putting together a letter that we will send to Pepsi telling them the truth about the HSUS and our disapproval of them supporting the HSUS.

Other great groups such as the USSA and the Animal Agriculture Alliance have sent letters expressing their disapproval and we encourage all sportsmen to follow suit. – Hunters Against PETA

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Wolf News from Wyoming

Wyoming Wolf Coalition News Release–November 18, 2010

U.S. District Judge Johnson: USFWS rejection of Wyoming Wolf Management plan was arbitrary and capricious.

CHEYENNE, Nov. 18, 2010–In a Nov. 18, 2010 ruling, United States District Judge Alan Johnson ruled that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) rejection of the Wyoming Wolf Management plan was arbitrary and capricious. The court remanded the issue back to the USFWS to fix.

“We are pleased with the decision,” Harriet Hageman, attorney for the Wyoming Wolf Coalition, stated. “We have felt all along the USFWS actions weren’t based on science.”

The Wyoming Wolf Coalition is a petitioner-intervenor in the case of the State of Wyoming v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The deal from the beginning was that the gray wolf would be introduced into and managed in the Yellowstone area,” Hageman continued. “The FWS rejection of the Wyoming Wolf Management plan was an effort to force Wyoming to adopt a management plan that ensures that the wolves move throughout the State. That is directly contrary to everything that the FWS told us when they brought the wolves into Yellowstone.”

Judge Johnson wrote in his ruling: “There is no scientific or commercial data that suggest the state’s dual classification of wolves, in and of itself, cannot meet, accomplish, and maintain the identified recovery goals in the GYA, including northwestern Wyoming.”

He continued in his writing: “….the agency’s requirement that the trophy game management area, rather than that portion of northwestern Wyoming (including the GYA recovery area) necessary to facilitate movement and ensure dispersal of wolves so as to preserve genetic connectivity and to ensure that self sustaining populations will be maintained above recovery goals, is arbitrary and capricious and should be set aside.”

In the order Judge Johnson remanded the matter back to the USFWS saying the agency should determine: “…whether the proposed regulatory framework ensures the conservation and protection of gray wolves in an approved trophy game area in northwestern Wyoming as required by the Endangered Species Act, and to analyze in this context the defense of property and wolf depredation laws in considering whether the management plan is an adequate regulatory mechanism.”

It is now up to the USFWS to determine if they will appeal the decision. If they appeal, the case would go before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

In 2004, 27 different associations, including agriculture, wildlife interests and county government joined together to form the “Wolf Coalition.”

“Wildlife interests, county governments and agriculture have come together recognizing the need to protect livestock and the depleted wildlife populations,” Hageman stated. “This broad diversity of organizations shows the significant impacts wolf introduction is having on Wyoming citizens.”

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Thursday, November 18, 2010

“Help Us Save the Sheldon Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep & Antelope Herds”

“The back fence of my 5~Mile Ranch is the Sheldon National Wildlife Range. The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is half a million acres of high desert habitat for large wintering herds of pronghorn antelope, mule deer, scattered bands of bighorn sheep, and a rich assortment of other wildlife.A truly unique high desert with sage brush and mountain mahogany which used to be one of the most superb mule deer and antelope habitats in Nevada or the western U.S. Large groups of deer and antelope could be seen at almost any time and whether you were a hunter, wildlife photographer or just someone that likes to watch wildlife in their natural beautiful habitat the Sheldon was the place to be.

I have run Nevada Trophy Hunts for close to twenty years. I also have a 160 acre ranch that joins the Sheldon and from my point of view it was heaven. Just a few short years ago I would guarantee my clients that every third hunter would get to take or at least have a shot at a 30” plus wide 180 B&C type buck and I had the photos to prove it. Many of you receiving this email have taken those bucks with me in the past. Well, the genetics are still there and with your help we can bring our mule deer back.

A dark cloud has descended on the Sheldon in the form of an out of control feral horse and burro population championed by the liberal California and Colorado Wild Horse lobby the same people that champion and brought you the wolf! The overpopulation of non-native feral horses has an obvious and lasting impact to resources like fisheries, sage-grouse or other non-game species, as well as the large native bighorn sheep, antelope and mule deer. Large grassy riparian areas around the clear flowing springs of the refuge that used to give cover to sage hen are gone. Now these important areas are dusty areas devoid of grass or sage brush and the springs are mud holes. These devastated spring areas are guarded most of the day by aggressive feral horses that not only prevent antelope and bighorn sheep the opportunity to come to water, as I have witnessed, will chase them from water.

There is one hope of saving this wonderful refuge and it is that U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is in the process of drafting a management plan to deal with the Feral Horse & Burro Population among other issues and you are being invited to give your opinion. Only you have the power to make the Sheldon what it was set aside to be, a true wildlife refuge. Only you have the power to remove the destructive non-native species that are there now, feral horses and burros. It will only take a few minutes of your time and with a few clicks of your computer you will be helping to restore one of the greatest mule deer habitats that has ever been from becoming a horse corral.

Be assured the liberal Wild Horse lobby is taking those few minutes to push for no control.

Use this link to take you to the Sheldon webpage.


http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/NV/docssheldon.htm

then at the left side of this screen click on: Use this link to submit your comments to us electronically link on the left hand side of the page below the antelope photo. Fill out the form info and scroll down to the first set of choices.


~Managing Feral Horses & Burros~

Then check alternative “ 2” = Remove all feral horses and burros within five years

Then in the comment box make a comment:

For example: “Please make the Sheldon a true wildlife refuge as it was set aside to be and take out all feral horses & burros.”

Then click Submit Comments

If you will take the time to do this small thing we may be able to save one of the greatest wildlife areas in the western United States. Then maybe in a few years you or your kids may be lucky enough to hunt one of those thirty inch plus 180B&C mule deer that used to be common on the Sheldon. Like I said the genetics are still there we just need your help.

This is a time sensitive comment period that ends in December so do not put it off. Send this to every hunter you know and we can whip the liberal horse lobby on this one.

Thanks in advance for helping on this very IMPORTANT issue,

Tony Diebold

FiveMileRanch@gbis.com”

This is a cause we want to get behind and support. We’re urging all sportsmen who read this to complete the survey and submit your comments. – Hunters Against PETA

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Monday, November 15, 2010

Thanksgiving Time

Could you possibly imagine having Thanksgiving without any turkey meat? Well that's exactly what the animal groups want and what they're pushing for. Every year around this time the anti's start sending out letters to turkey farmers and grocery stores urging them to stop selling and killing turkeys. Saying it's cruel and unusual to kill and eat so many turkeys.



Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I can still remember how excited I would get when I was a kid and Thanksgiving rolled around. My family has had a tradition that's been going on for the last 50+ years. We all get together and play a football game in the morning before dinner and we call it the "Turkey Bowl", do you notice that it's not called the "Soy Bowl" or "Vegetarian Bowl". Eating meat is as natural to man as waking up everyday or the sun rising in the east.



Thanksgiving just wouldn't be Thanksgiving if we didn't consume some delicious turkey meat. As a matter of fact, if I get lucky next year and draw a turkey tag I'll be eating some wild turkey for my next turkey day.


Some of the best turkey I've ever had, was a wild turkey that was deep fried in peanut oil. Peanut oil gives turkey meat some of the flavor I've ever had.


I wish and hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. We must do whatever we can to carry on our American traditions. We must fight to keep our freedoms and rights to carry on our traditions to future generations.



Take care and good hunting.

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Great Job Sportsmen!

Recently is was announced that the EPA rejected the petition to ban all lead fishing tackle that was being pushed by the animal rights groups. This victory is a huge stepping stone in the right direction to protecting our rights. If sportsmen would've lost this fight, it would've spilled over making it easier to ban lead ammo which animal rights groups are pushing as well right now.



When I read the email that was sent to me stating that sportsmen had won this fight and that over 48,000 sportsmen voiced their opinions of disapproval. I nearly shouted in excitement, it's great to see so many sportsmen stand up and voice their opinions. This goes to show that sportsmen will not just sit back and let their rights get taken away by anti-hunting/fishing - animal rights groups. If they had it their way everyone would be vegetarians/vegans, driving electrical cars and eating soy steaks and soy hot dogs instead of a good ole prime rib beef steak.



This fight has nothing (ZERO) to do with lead fishing tackle or lead ammo. This is 100% about trying to take away our fishing and hunting rights. Animal rights groups do want us to hunt and fish any more and they'll keep pushing their agenda and beliefs onto to us as long as they're in business.



We at Hunters Against PETA want to say thank you and congratulate all those sportsmen who took a stand to fight this. It's only because of you that we were able to win this fight.



Thanks for you support.



http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Lead Fishing Tackle is Safe

Thanks to your help, on Thursday, November 4, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rejected the petition to ban lead in all fishing tackle.

The EPA and Members of Congress received more than 43,000 messages from anglers just like you opposing a federal ban on lead in fishing tackle. Your voice was heard and had a direct impact on the EPA’s decision.

Despite the good news, the fight is not over! There is still work to be done and we can’t do it without your help.

Donate now to help KeepAmericaFishing™ keep the EPA out of fishing.

Legislation recently introduced in Congress will ensure future efforts to ban lead in fishing tackle are based on scientific fact, not guess work or unproven claims. If this legislation fails to pass, the costs of sinkers, jigs and other fishing tackle will significantly increase.

Donate now to help KeepAmericaFishing advocate and preserve your right to fish on our public waters.

Your contribution will directly support KeepAmericaFishing’s efforts to keep our nation’s waters open, clean, and abundant with fish now and for generations to come.

Thank you for sharing your voice.

Here’s to tight lines!

Gordon Robertson
KeepAmericaFishing™

This is great news and a victory for all sportsmen across America. It’s great to see sportsmen ban together and fight for something we all love. – Hunters Against PETA

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com

Monday, November 8, 2010

Get Your Hunters Against PETA Apparel Now!

We've been around for over a year now and during that time we've received a lot of requests asking us when we'd have hats, shirts and window decals available.

Well they're finally available and we have some great and different options to choose from and just in time for Christmas. Make sure you add HAP apparel to your Christmas list.

Check them out and order yours today. Show that you're proud to be a hunter/sportsmen by sporting HAP apparel around town.

http://www.huntersagainstpeta.com/store

Thanks again for all of your support. We couldn't of made Hunters Against PETA what it is today without everyone's support.

Sincerely.

Jason Fackrell
Founder of Hunters Against PETA

http://www.huntersagainstpeta.com/store