FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg R. Lawson (614) 888-4868 x 214
September 11, 2009 Sharon Hayden (614) 888-4868 x 226
Hunting and Gun Rights Opponent Formally Confirmed

Senators Collins and Snowe Vote for Confirmation
(Columbus) – On Wednesday, the sportsmen’s community came within five votes of stopping the nomination of Cass Sunstein to serve as the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), otherwise known as the “Regulatory Czar.” Sunstein is an avowed anti hunter and does not believe the second amendment applies to individual gun ownership.

While a confirmation vote took place yesterday, it was a formality after the Senate voted to over-ride a hold placed on the nomination by Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson. It would have taken 40 votes to prevent the confirmation. Opponents of Sunstein were only able to earn 35. For the confirmation vote yesterday, which was in essence a formality, there would have had to be 50 no votes. Thus, the real vote regarding Sunstein took place Wednesday night. Alarmingly 22 out of 53 senators who are members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus voted in favor of Sunstein on Wednesday.

“Having 42 percent of the sportsmen’s caucus vote for an anti-hunter when we were just five votes away was a real blow,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president and CEO. “As we have, sportsmen should take note which of their ‘friends’ voted for them and which did not.”

Republican senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe are two sportsmen’s caucus members that voted for Sunstein.

The USSA and others argued for weeks that Sunstein’s views against recreational hunting, the second amendment and on giving animals standing in court should persuade the Senate to defeat the appointment.

Dick Cabela, founder of Cabela’s, is the Chairman of the Board for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

Sarah Palin’s newly released autobiography, “Going Rogue”, is causing quite a stir inside and outside of the political arena. The former vice presidential candidate has also been targeted by anti’s as the book pokes fun at vegans and discusses the merits of being a meat eater. Most recently, the former Alaska governor took several shots from Ingrid Newkirk in an “open letter‘ posted on the PETA founder’s blog November 17.

Newkirk is unhappy with quotes from Palin’s book such as, “If any vegans came over for dinner, I could whip them up a salad, then explain my philosophy on being a carnivore: If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come he made them out of meat?”

Not surprisingly, Newkirk sharpens her own knives and questions whether “there is an original line” in the book and suggests Palin should “keep an eye on the New York Times Bestseller List” to see that vegan cookbooks are all the rage. She then proceeds to criticize Palin for her pro-meat stance and concludes by saying, “Ms. Palin reportedly finds evolution a bit hard to swallow. Judging from her book, that applies to the evolution of ideas and attitudes as well.”

“It’s no surprise PETA and Ingrid Newkirk do not like Sarah Palin,” said Doug Jeanneret, USSA vice president of marketing. “Maybe Ms. Newkirk should follow her own advice and evolve her ideas and attitudes to fit the majority of Americans who eat meat, think it’s fine to use animals to protect human life, and who support hunting.”

Palin in 2012?…….Nah……Ted Nugent in 2012!!!!!
Let me know what you think………leave a comment here!!!!!

Thoughts
These verses invite us to experience the sufficiency in our God. They instruct us to depend upon Him, realizing that He is really all we need! He alone can protect us. God alone can satisfy the void that comes with the disappointments of life like a missed shot at a trophy buck.

We must reverence Him. Fear refers to awesome respect and submission to His will and ways. The saint is one who is saved, one who has been declared right because the Judge of the earth has declared him not guilty. This happens when we believe in His Son, Jesus, personally, and commit our souls to Him for eternal safe keeping.

Different names of God are spelled differently in our translations so we can understand the significance of each Old Testament name. He is the personal, covenant keeping God. This is implied by the use of all capital letters when writing His name, LORD. . This is the Hebrew name of God, Jehovah. LORD is God’s personal name, His Covenant name. It summarizes His entire character. His saints are secure because He is our protector. This name implies a relationship with His own. (Jackie M)

Action Point
Involve yourself with God. Experience His goodness. He alone can truly satisfy the longing of your inner being. God provides for the animals, but they cannot know him personally as humans may. Involve Him in everything you do.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day

Carry along some basic snacks and trail food for energy. This can be a life saver if you are stranded, injured, or lost. You may also be able to share this with someone else who needs help. Such food is enjoyable, and can make the hunt more attractive for young hunters that you bring along!

At least that’s the case as evidenced by this email I got from my friend, Scott.  He and our buddy Chris went down to Camp Roberts for the weekend, and it sounds like they had a great time!  Here’s Scott’s short, but exciting email:

It was a good trip, we were in the hogs most of the time we were in the field. I got this one Sunday morning and should have shot another that was with it, but I’ve been hunting Tejon so long, I forgot you can shoot two hogs. By the time I remembered, it was too late.

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• False starts?
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We surmised the bucks would be deeper in the canyons so we drove down to a lower access point some 1500 feet lower. The wind and rain picked up in intensity, as we arrived at the trailhead. Right away we spotted a spike buck that let us get to 60 yards in the wide open before he trotted off into the manzanita. We skirted the edges of the trees and brush as we dropped further in the canyon. Our afternoon hike took us another 2000 feet lower in just a mile and a half.

We turned around with 2 hours of light left, and used nearly an hour and a half of it to climb back out of the hole. We spotted the same spike, and two does and fawns on the way back to the truck. They were headed to the small piece of private land where a fork horn buck fed with another couple of does. Our shivering vigil in the saddle the does came through was uneventful except for the thermoregulatory challenge of being sweat soaked from a strenuous climb and rain and wind beaten on the outside.

We crawled into the truck, fired up the heater and began the four mile climb up to the main road. At the higher elevation, the rain turned to snow and we put the truck in 4×4 for the last 4 miles to get back to camp. It was a slow drive with the flakes being blown across the road and the wipers trying to keep up with the flurries.

What awaited us at camp was three inches of wet snow and a collapsed dome tent. Rich suddenly had to leave the next day. (He had mentioned that earlier in the week, but it became a joke in regards to the timing) After some pictures and cussing, we straightened it up. At that point the snow has stopped and it just got cold. Rich would hunt with me the next morning before he headed home.

Officers responded to an apartment in the App South complex on Faculty Street early Sunday morning in reference to a gunshot victim.

According to BPD, Derby was in attendance at a party at Ruble’s residence. During the course of the evening, Ruble brought out a black powder primitive single-shot rifle. He attempted to discharge a percussion cap in Derby’s direction to frighten those in attendance.

Watauga Democrat

A number of gun safety rules were violated if what is reported is accurate. Joking around with a gun can be extremely dangerous and in this case it was fatal. A horrible story for all that is involved two young lives destroyed for a joke. Please remind everyone, but especially young folks, about gun handling safety rules so tragedies like this doesn’t have to happen.

The fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling are:

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.

3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.

When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:

* Know your target and what is beyond.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.

* Know how to use the gun safely.
Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun’s mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.

* Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun’s general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun’s ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.

* Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.

* Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.

* Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.

* Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person’s particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.

* Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.

* Cleaning
Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate correctly and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used.

A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly.

Before cleaning your gun, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded. The gun’s action should be open during the cleaning process. Also, be sure that no ammunition is present in the cleaning area.

NRA

Such a sad story… both these families and this young man are in my prayers.

Related Articles:

• My Thoughts On The NC Bow Hunters Association and Why I’m No Longer a Member Part One
• Survivor Friday: You Can’t Call A Bullet Back
• Accidental Fall From Tree Makes Opening Day In Allegany County Bitter Sweet
• Hunters Should Be Cautious As Remnants of Ida Grip the State
• Muzzleload Eve I Can Hardly Wait
• The Meat Hunt
• Success On Opening Morning
• Black Powder Season Opens Tomorrow
• Magnet Gun Caddy A Handy Device
• Majority Of Hunting Proposals Get Delayed For A Year

Aerial view of Pea Island Headquarters site taken on November 19, 2009 showing ocean encroachment to facilities. The residence is located further to the west on higher ground and is not shown in this picture. Photo credit: FWS, Dennis Stewart.

Pea Island is one of those gem of a places I’ve stumbled upon with my camera in tote so I was surprised when I saw the above photo. Ida rolled through here about two weeks ago and the pounding the coast took here in North Carolina was massive.

As is evident after any major storm, the profile of Pea Island has shifted. But, the refuge still looks and acts exactly like what it is – a simple, overwash-dominated barrier island. Refuge Biologist Dennis Stewart explained, “On this refuge, storms redistribute the sand. If the sand were left where the storms deposited it, the island would continue to migrate to the southwest, and the elevation would build as a result of the overwash. These barrier islands have been doing this for thousands of years.”

During this storm, NC 12 was overwashed in a number of places. Sections of dunes were flattened in a few areas and severely eroded along most of the refuge length. “We understand the responsibility of the NC Department of Transportation to provide a transportation corridor, and we have worked with them judiciously to allow them to repair NC 12 within their right-of-way as quickly as possible,” added Stewart. “But, we’re not surprised to see the effects of this storm. History and the best available science tell us we’ll see more of the same with each storm that comes.”

US Fish & Wildlife Press Release

NC Highway 12 will have to be moved according to DOT Road Engineer Jerry Jennings

the road was so damaged by the storm, they want to move it over 25 feet west of where the road is currently. He says they have to reconstruct it anyway, and officials hope that by moving it over, that will provide the road with more protection from storm overwash. He said they plan to move an 1800 foot section. They will not begin this work until after the Thanksgiving holiday in order not to create problems during that long weekend.

NC News Network

Building on shifting sand is never a good idea and that is basically what a barrier island is made of. Pea Island is open for visitors and guided tours have resumed so check the website. A great place to visit, explore and photograph especially this time of the year when all the migratory birds are wintering there. So check it out.

Related Articles:

• Hunters Should Be Cautious As Remnants of Ida Grip the State
• Woodlot Stewardship Classes Being Offered
• Pea Island Photo Blind
• A Day At Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
• On Line Option Now For Webless & Early Waterfowl Season

While the collective findings are still being analyzed as part of the final Census report to be released in London on October 4, 2010, scientists say patterns of the abundance, distribution and diversity of deep-sea life around the world are already apparent.

Edward Vanden Berghe, who manages the Ocean Biogeographic Information System, the Census’ inventory of marine life observations, has compiled records of 5,722 species for which all recorded observations are deeper than 1,000 meters (.62 miles) and 17,650 species for which all recorded observations are deeper than 200 meters, the depth where darkness stops photosynthesis.

One of the stranger animals at the depths has a gelatinous body and big flapping “ears” that it use to swim. They call it dumbo. Click here for pictures of dumbo and some of the other animals being found way down at the bottom of the sea.

BUTTE – It was the big cat’s eyes that haunted Eric Boyd. The 14-year-old from Anaconda was hoping to bag his first elk on opening day Sunday. Instead, he found himself face to face with a large mountain lion.

“It was his eyes that really hit me,” he told The Montana Standard Friday. “They stared right at me and were glowing yellow-green.”

Eric Boyd and his dad, Mike Boyd, were hunting in the Jerry Creek area, southwest of Butte. They were tracking a lone elk, so Eric took up a position near an outcropping of rocks while his dad moved up the ridge to try to push the elk toward his son.

The young hunter waited for a long time but never saw the elk.

“I heard a twig crack behind me and I thought my dad was coming back,” he recalled.

It wasn’t his father.

The Anaconda High freshman turned and walked a few steps, then he saw it: A cougar stepped from behind a tree about 25 yards ahead of him. The animal sat there and the two just stared at each other for what Eric Boyd felt was about 20 seconds.

“I was more shocked than afraid. I was face to face with this animal and I had never seen one in the wild before,” he said.

The cat then hunched its shoulders and started walking toward him.

Read the rest here.