US Fish & Wildlife Employee’s Who have the Most Knowledge have been Gagged

Actions by the Interior Department to gag US Fish & Wildlife Biologists just prior to the anticipated release of the court ordered Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement about the Outlying landing field (OLF) can only be viewed as actions to protect the Navy and avoid further embarrassing the government. It would appear that the Navy continues to plan to take privately owned land by eminent domain and to further risk endangered species and important wintering grounds for thousands of waterfowl. This is land that the US Fish & Wildlife has worked for years to protect and preserve to restore black bear populations, reintroduce the red wolf, and of course the millions of birds that winter here. In addition much of this area is important in efforts to save and restore river herring.
The US Fish & Wildlife has been opposed to this plan but as we get nearer to these announcements, other potential areas outside of the state of North Carolina have been removed from consideration, the biologists have been gagged.

As reported earlier large flocks of birds and Navy jets don’t mix, if you don’t care about the impact this will have on the environment what about the pilots who will be risking their lives every time a flock of tundra swan fly up or a flock of snow geese. The plan makes no sense and the potential for loss of life should open the eyes of the Navy even if the US Fish & Wildlife have to stand by dumbstruck.

Other Posts About the OLF I’ve written

Red Wolf Throws a Wrench into Navy Plans
Navy and Marines Compromise with Environmental Groups

The Lore of the Net

Not a week goes by that some odd or unbelievable story or set of photos find their way to my email box. On occasion I post them out here but often I just chase down the real story for my own sense of satisfaction. Tom over Black Bear Blog gets many of the same posts and today I saw his post about the young girl shooting the record book brown bear. Although parts of the story are true and some are not I find this story fascinating and that is why it is filling up many of our email boxes. Fern Spaulding – Rivers is the young lady who took this massive (although not a world record or a man eater) brown bear this past May. Here is Bear Hunting Magazine’s write up;

From “Biggest Bears Of 2006″ in the March/April 2007 issue of Bear Hunting Magazine, due on newsstands late February 2007:
If the “biggest bear” is determined as a ratio of the size of the bear to the size of the hunter, Fern Spaulding-Rivers is probably setting records that will never be broken. The 10 year-old from Talkeetna, Alaska has already harvested great trophies of most of Alaska’s major game species, and she is a handloading fanatic as well. Fern’s larger caliber rifles have a muzzle brake and a recoil pad and she also wears a custom-made padded shooting vest from McCoy Shooting Armor to help her withstand big bore recoil. Fern was carrying her Remington 700 Stainless chambered in .375 H&H while brown bear hunting on the Alaskan Peninsula with her father and mother on May 10th, 2006 (when she was 9 years old). As the day progressed she and her father saw 11 bears. At one point, they were charged by a pack of wolves, and they had to dispatch some with the nearest at only 8 paces! Later, they spotted a big bruin in a gully at 32 yards. With all the excitement of the day beginning to show, Fern asked Larry to hold her legs steady while she shot because her knees were shaking. Fern rolled the bear with her first shot, but the bruin regained it’s footing and tore off across the tundra. Shooting again from a prone position, Fern dropped the behemoth for good with a second 270 grain Barnes Triple-shock at 112 yards. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service measured the bear’s hide at 11′4″ from nose to tail. The skull has been officially scored at 29 1/16″ Boone and Crockett. What does Fern think of bear hunting? “Do you know how big an 11′ bear looks at 30 yds? It’s kinda scary! They are about the size of a Volkswagen bus and when they swing their head to look your way they remind you of a T-Rex in Jurassic Park!” Her trophy brown bear now puts her in an elite class. Fern is a tremendous example to young hunters everywhere, and she is a great hunter regardless of her age.

What an impressive young lady and what a story, as I was researching this I stumbled across Fern’s website. She has a very impressive trophy page already going and in this case I think the real story is more impressive then the “urban legends”. Read some of here adventures and see if it doesn’t rekindle the dreams of your youth. It’s great to see the future of hunting is in such capable hands.

Nature Photography Club Forming

Today I got together with a group of people who share the love of photography at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs. I stumbled across the announcement for this group when I was researching items for this blog the other day and I had to go check it out. I kind of suspected that there would be 4 or 5 people and wasn’t I, like many of them, surprised when 20 of us gathered. Like good photographers not a one of us snapped a photo of the first meeting so I guess we all have something to learn.

From the introductions it sounds like we have a wide variety of skills level and experience among the group and could use a few more. So join us if you can. The meetings will be the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7 to 9pm at Bass Lake Park. I’m looking forward to improving my skills and learning some things. For those who asked me about some of my big game animals here is some Links to Photos I’ve taken over the years. Hope you enjoy.

Alaska
GSMNP
The Fight
NC Elk
California
Photo Shoot
Lab Chasing down Cripple Tundra Swan

Lifting the Ban to Save Our Sport?

It’s no secret to those who know me or read my blog that I’m opposed to lifting the ban on Sunday hunting. I read Mike Marsh’s (well known NC Outdoor writer) article today and his opinion on why the ban should be lifted.
My view is based more on a “lets not rock the boat” approach then from a religious view. We currently enjoy a very liberal season in this state and overall support from the general public is strong. I think other land users have a right to pursue their activity and the concern, whether actual or a perceived, over safety is a valid issue.
Any sportsman that has uttered anything about not wanting to hunt public land because of safety issues shares the blame in this perceived notion over how unsafe our sport is. Actually like Mike points out in his article hunting is a very safe sport and from my reading of NC hunting accidents Public land is far safer then private lands. One would never know this if they only listened to what most hunters say when the topic of public land hunting comes up. There is no wonder that horseback riders and hikers don’t want to share the woods on the same day.

The latest hunter recruitment and retention surveys say hunters will be extinct if present trends continue. At the present rate of loss, no North Carolina hunters will remain within 30 to 50 years. While the state’s human population has doubled in my lifetime, hunters’ numbers have halved. There will be no one left to argue for or against Sunday hunting. The debate will end.

These rare gems, the multiple-use properties paid for by hunters, will disappear, and those horseback riders, paddlers, bikers and hikers who enjoy using the lands paid for by hunters will disappear along with hunters.

This is an interesting point that Mike makes and not one that I’ve heard in all the stuff I’ve read and discussed on this topic. The topic of youth retention comes up often but I’ve yet to find a state that allows Sunday Hunting that has youth statistics that suggest this is a factor. Mikes point is that many of the lands will become developed because of the lack of hunters supporting the open land and the other users will lose out as well because of the lack of hunters supporting the open land and the other users will lose out as well because they do not pay anything to support it. I think that even if our numbers weren’t dwindling as fast as they are the rate of development would still overtake us. North Carolina has taken some steps to ensure funding in the future with the Life Time License Program and that money being held in trust. Once again the trend of hunter lose is no greater then what others states are seeing so I’m not sure this is a valid argument.

At the Wildlife Meeting the other night the issue of Sunday Hunting was the first thing on the agenda. The Legislators have asked NC Wildlife to follow up the Sunday Hunting Study with a question to see if there is support to open some Game Lands to hunting on a limited basis as a study on the overall topic of Sunday Hunting. The feedback they got at the two meetings I went to I don’t see as being helpful at all because the vast majority was off topic and on Sunday hunting in general. I asked for some clarification on species that would be open or if all species would be opened? And more specifically would waterfowl be open? NC Wildlife can not answer those questions but did say that if waterfowl was open then the overall waterfowl season would have to be reduced.
That is what the problem with this topic is that it’s very broad and not very well defined. I think the question should be “Should the Sunday hunting ban be lifted?” Leave 1pm opening, Bow Hunting only, Private Land Only, limited Game Lands, etc. out of it Up or Down Vote by the legislators. Will we see that? I doubt it.

The Final Wildlife hearing / District 3

Tonight was the last of the 9 public hearings the NC Wildlife Commission conducted for public comment on the 2007/ 2008 proposals. At least three of the Commissioners including the chairman Wes Seegars was in attendance.

They followed the same agenda in the same order as they did in the earlier hearing I went to for District 5 but of course items of interest varied between the two places given that some of these items are somewhat geographical in nature. For example there are some proposals for changes to Mountain Trout both of the hearings I went to breezed over but I’m certain the mountain hearings spent more time going over them.

The Sunday Hunting was the lead off topic and I would say that based on the folks that talked there was a slight edge for those in favor of lifting the ban. There was some representation from the trail riders association of NC and they spoke out in opposition because they want to horseback ride.

The early turkey season was overwhelmingly meet with disapproval, not a single person voiced support for this proposal. NWTF Biologist presented once again sound biological reasons this is a bad idea to open the season up early, risking losing hens to hunter error, hens may not all get bred etc. I really hope the commissioners remember the overall public outcry on this issue and flush this proposal down the toilet.

The bear hunting proposal in regards to baiting is a nightmare. Most opposition was around how can you enforce it and if you do enforce it aggressively some hunters could get tickets unknowingly. Concerns that animal right wacko’s could dump donuts on someone’s land to purposely get it closed for the entire year. At the District 5 meeting there was support for this law by the few bear hunters at the meeting. Tonights meeting was just the opposite. There were a few bear hunters in attendance as well as an individual who identified himself as the president of the North Carolina Bear Hunters Association who spoke out in opposition to this proposal.

Tim Langer who has done extensive research on the black bear in North Carolina talked about the advance cases of tooth decay they are finding in bears because of all the sugar. He basically encouraged the state to look at allowing natural grains to be used as a bait because based on his research with telemetry collared bears only a small percentage will go to a corn pile.
There was no one that spoke in favor of this proposal.

The big issue that kind of took off was dog hunting and the shenanigans that many dog hunters pull. There was two clubs at this meeting one being a dog hunting and the other a still hunting club that bordered each other. There certainly was no love lost between these two clubs. What boiled out of this after the name calling and accusations died down was a proposal for the Wildlife Commission to look at having separate seasons one for dog and another for still hunting.

The other big issue was baiting and a lot of recommendations to end the practice much of this seemed to be coming from dog hunters and I took as a retaliatory strike back at the still hunters.

Over all I thought the hearings were good and the two I attended drew a good crowd. I hope the Commissioners listen to the public comments and follow what we want. The meeting where all these proposals get voted on comes up in March and we’ll be watching.

Peregrine Falcon Calling Winston Salem Home

Photo courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife

Usually at home in the mountains the tall buildings of the city of Winston Salem seem like a good substitution. The hunting is good with plenty of pigeons to feed on the young bird seems very comfortable in the city.

As of earlier his week, the falcon was still hanging out on the top of downtown’s high-rises. It uses the perch to chase after pigeons, starlings and other smaller birds.
Peregrines are considered the fastest creatures on the planet. During their steep hunting dives, the medium-size raptor can reach speeds of nearly 200 mph.
Because of Winston-Salem’s ample population of pigeons, this bird probably hasn’t had any problems finding enough to eat. Haire said he has seen the falcon feeding on pigeons it has hauled back to its roof top perch. But he has yet to see it catch one.
Although peregrines are known to live in cities in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, they aren’t residents or even regular visitors of cities here. The closest peregrines spotted in recent years were a nesting pair at Hanging Rock State Park in 2004

Winston Salem Journal

It seems birds of prey are finding North Carolina as a place that has suitable habitat for them. They are an important piece in the control of other bird and rodent species to keep their populations in check. Unfortunately from time to time case like the Bald Eagle shooting take place and these masters of flight are taken so we can no longer enjoy observing them. I hope anyone in the Winston Salem area gets the opportunity to get out and see this rare sight.

Additional Links

South East Climbing Webpage on Falcons including areas closed because of Falcon activity.

NC Zoo Info Page on Peregrine Falcon

NC Wildlife Non Game Species – Peregrine PDF Great info on the bird in the state

I’m Still Wondering

I’m still wondering about the OLF plan. The story I read in the Charlotte Observer today about the Navy’s plan to build the OLF rings true.

It’s difficult to believe without seeing it firsthand how singularly rich is the northeast region of this state — not in financial or other material ways, but in the astonishing diversity of its wildlife. Researchers say there are more black bears here than in the mountains, and the red wolves are showing signs of flourishing. One large adult red wolf, spooked away from its post studying a flock of swans for breakfast, bounded away and across the road a few hundred yards ahead of a truckload of journalists and conservationists. An adult bear and two cubs bounded across the stubble of a cornfield and birds flew over. You don’t see that every day at Trade and Tryon.
It is in this corner of the state that the U.S. Navy wishes to build a practice jet landing field. It plans to change the crops grown to discourage the waterfowl — 5- and 6-pound geese and 15- to 20-pound swans that can bring down a jet — from flying near the practice landing field.
The fowl are still likely to come every year, and they’re still going to fly in search of food. And when they do, we believe, there will be collisions of bird and plane and pilot, and nothing good can come of that. Perhaps the Navy, in a forthcoming environmental statement, can show how it intends to control nature and command the birds to change their ways and avoid any harm to costly machines, highly trained pilots and lovely avian life. Perhaps. So far, the Navy has failed to make a credible case.

Will the Navy ever come to their senses? We can only hope so.

Tundra Swan It’s What for Dinner

Like many of people figuring out what to cook for dinner was the question as I left the office and headed home. I had a tundra swan breast marinating in the fridge so how to fix it was the big question. I opted to go with an adapted Irish Dish, Guinness Pie, to get in touch with my roots.
Here is the items you’ll need to make 2 pies and if you don’t want pie it makes a killer stew.

2 packages of rolled pie crusts
6oz of Beer (Guinness if you got it)
Tundra Swan Breast or Goose or Venison or if desperate beef (Aprox 3lbs)
3 or 4 slices of Bacon
1 Can of French Onion Soup
1 Can of Beef Mushroom Soup
¾ lb of chunked Potatoes boiled
1 lb of sliced carrots boiled
½ mushrooms
Corn (I used a small can but could use leftovers)
Green Peas “ “
Dash of Heinz 57
4 tablespoons of Bisquick
1 onion Chopped
Fresh Rosemary

Day before I made up a marinade of Dales Sauce, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and spices and put the swan breast to marinade. Today I cooked up the bacon to add grease to the pan and then cooked the swan breast to medium in the bacon grease. If your not using lean game meat you could skip the bacon. I removed the breast from the pan and sliced it up into bite size chunks and dumped it back into the pan with the onion and the mushrooms, some fresh rosemary and sautéed.

The sauce
Dump the soups into a pan (do not add water), the beer, a dash of Heinz 57, and the Bisquick and stir well to reduce lumps.

Then add the rest of the items including the swan and mix. Follow directions for pie crusts and then pour the mixture into the pie crust and then put on the top crust with vent holes. Pop the pies into a preheated 350 oven and bake for an hour. Pull out let cool for a few minutes and then slice and enjoy.

In My Book Motives Carries More Weight

In today’s Black Bear Blog the Oregon Fight over elk farming and the linking of polar opposite organizations is really a sham. Does anyone really believe that the HSUS and RMEF really see eye to eye on any issue? I’m certain the motives behind the Oregon Sportsmen Organization opposition to elk farming and HSUS motives are not even on the same level. I know a little about the topic but not enough to have formed a firm position on either side of the issue. I have a lot of respect for organizations like the RMEF & NWTF and would submit that if they have concerns about an issue as a sportsman I should too. Just because the HSUS lines up on a particular issue does not mean that we should ignore these groups concerns.
I believe the motivation behind the HSUS strategy to end the outdoor activities we hold dear is to divide and conquer. Trapping inhumane sport…. Bow Hunting to much game loss… dove hunting who would want to kill the symbol of peace…. Etc. Lets not play into the antis hand by encouraging such behavior, we can debate but lets not offend each other by calling names.

CWD seems to be the most serious threat to elk and deer populations right now. I understand as an industry the farmers have an interest in keeping their stock disease free. However the history of CWD suggests that the disease is as widespread today is because of farming. In North Carolina deer farmers have pushed to have the department of agriculture oversee them instead of wildlife even though the most knowledgeable people on the subject work for wildlife. They have fought sensible safe guards like double fencing and transportation bans on stock that are not certified disease free and have clear histories.
If that is what the sportsmen of Oregon are up against then I understand where they are coming from.

Some Dream Others Live it Out

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One of the many blogs I regularly check out is Deer Camp Blog and today he has a grand adventure story for sure. Many of us dream of living back in the wilderness somewhere and Alaska is for sure the premier destination. He has the story of his brother and family living out that dream, selling everything and moving to the wilds of Alaska.

Folks back home have a lot of questions about Jamie Howell’s decision to leave Oxford and his stockbroking career for the Alaskan wilderness. The main one is: “Why’d you do it?”It’s an easy answer for Howell and his wife, Kecia, and one they don’t regret after 10 years of eating off the land, hunting for a living and raising seven children in a log cabin they built by hand.

Well worth the read so go check out the rest of the story

Bald Eagle Killing Investigation Continues

A juvenile bald eagle banded this past June by US Fish & Wildlife in Youngsville Ohio and hanging out the last several months around High Rock Lake was killed in Churchland NC on December 27th. North Carolina Wildlife Enforcement Officer Brian Perkins reports progress is being made following up several leads in this case. The bird was shot while sitting on a power line.

“The eagle was probably about 2 years old,” Perkins said. “It appeared to have a gunshot wound to the head.”

A reward of $2500 is being offered by the Federal Government for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information about the killing can call 859-1891 or (800) 662-7137.

Whoever is responsible for this crime stole from all of us. If you’ve never had the opportunity to witness a bald eagle soaring above you I hope you do. The Eagle is a majestic creature that has come back from the brink of extinction with the help of a lot of people and organizations. One such organization I’ve just learned about helping injured raptors here in North Carolina is Carolina Raptor Center that I’m sure could use any gifts or assistance in their mission.

Earlier Stories

Two Year Old Bald Eagle Poached in Churchland
Investigation Continues into the Senseless Killing of a Bald Eagle

A Couple of News Articles Get Me Wondering

Record number birds counted on Pocosin Lake and a jet crash in Mississippi on the surface would seem like two unrelated stories but there really not. So if you’ll indulge me I’ll explain.
The military is still pushing on for a Outlying Landing Field (OLF) in Washington County North Carolina despite the obvious dangers this site presents. Washington County is the wintering grounds of numerous waterfowl including Tundra Swan which are extremely large birds not to mention the flocks of snow geese that winter here. The Charlotte Observer had a story this week despite the record number of birds on Pocosin Lake, 75,000 to 80,000 snow geese and 26,000 Tundra Swan one day in December 2006, the Navy will not change it’s plans.

The Navy argues that the thousands of birds won’t endanger the pilots or their aircraft and the new numbers don’t change that stance, Navy spokesman Ted Brown said.

Large concentration of birds and low flying military jets seems to me to be a recipe for disaster to say the least. Just this week a military jet over Mississippi hit a flock of Canadian Geese and crashed thankfully the flight crew ejected safely.

A military aircraft participating in a training exercise crashed Thursday afternoon in Northern Mississippi.
Officials with Columbus Air Force Base said the accident happened at 1:30pm Thursday afternoon approximately 10 miles west of Batesville on Curtis Road, near Highway 6.
The crash occurred in an extremely remote area of Panola County, a place where military jets frequently fly training missions. But on this training mission, the student got a much different lesson.
Military and medical personnel rushed to the crash scene of a T-38 jet in a remote area of Panola County….
…Investigators say the pilot and trainee ejected moments before the T-38 went down. “I asked one of the pilots what happened. He said a flock of geese flew up and they went down,” said land owner Kevin Locke.

KLTV7
This will be what happens here in Washington County if the Navy is allowed to proceed with this asinine plan.

Other Posts About the OLF I’ve written

Wolf Throws a Wrench into Navy Plans

Navy and Marines Compromise with Environmental Groups

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