Hunters Save Bird From Extinction

Any news that gets the word out that hunters and conservation go hand in hand is welcomed, way to go!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- A hunting lodge with antler chandeliers and stuffed ducks on the walls seems a strange place to celebrate the comeback of the ivory-billed woodpecker, but wildlife officials are doing exactly that. They credit hunters in particular with helping bring the rare bird back from presumed extinction in the Big Woods section of Arkansas."The people of Arkansas, the hunting and fishing community, conserved these woods," Scott Simon of The Nature Conservancy told reporters on Monday at the Mallard Pointe Lodge, where a coalition of environmentalists, academics and wildlife officials rejoiced in woodpecker's return to the living.Simon said hunters and others helped save the bird in large part by buying Duck Stamps, at $15 each. These stamps are not for postage, but pay for a federal migratory bird conservation fund, and eventually added up to $41 million to reclaim much of the habitat of the endangered woodpecker."The $41 million went into the land before the ivory bill showed up," Simon said.The ivory-billed woodpecker was believed extinct for the last 60 years, and various reports of sightings of the big bird -- jet black and bright white with a red crest on the male -- were dismissed by professional ornithologists.Their skepticism was warranted because of the destruction of the big old trees over much of the American southeast that began after the U.S. Civil War. The ivory bill's large size, with a body perhaps 20 inches long means it needs large trees to nest in. It is known to scale the bark off old, dying and dead trees to get at the cigar-sized grubs that live there.But that was before an amateur naturalist said he saw one while paddling in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in February 2004. When he brought two bird experts to the same spot, they saw it too. And when a professor captured the bird in flight in fuzzy but authentic video, an analysis of all the data pointed to the startling fact that the ivory bill was back.The ivory bill's public rediscovery last April energized a massive search in eastern Arkansas. Starting in November, teams of paid experts and volunteers have been scouring the Big Woods for signs of the bird.In this, too, hunters are allies, according to Scott Henderson, director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission."The deer hunter and the duck hunter out there are some of the best eyes and ears we've got," Henderson said. "We have 7,000 hunters in this same area for eight hours at a time or more in some cases."Good observers are essential to catching a glimpse of the camera-shy ivory bill. So far, some 20,000 hours of searching by dozens of trained observers have failed to spot the bird. But that is understandable, given each woodpecker's presumed 12 mile foraging range. Experts do not know how many ivory-billed woodpeckers might exist in this area.The total search area in Arkansas takes in 550,000 acres of forest and swamp. Since last year, searchers have covered about 62 square miles.Henderson acknowledged that hunters were concerned at first that the urge to protect the woodpecker's habitat would limit access to hunting areas, but he said this has not happened.Game officials want to avoid what Henderson called a "spotted owl situation" -- the clash of interests that occurred in the 1980s between wildlife preservationists and loggers in the U.S. northwest over protecting the small bird.

Ted Nugent on CNBC

Just caught an interview with Ted Nugent on the Donny Deutsch Show on CNBC. Listening to Donny Deutsch was eye-opening because it was amazing to see how some segments of the media are actually incapable of seeing the merits of hunting.

Ted Nugent made some great points about our roles in conservation, fostering discipline in our kids when teaching them to hunt, the hunter's oath to make harvests quick, and maintaining population control on wildlife.

The question is how do we educate the rest of America about the merits of hunting? I would love to hear your comments.

Regards,

Joe

http://www.deersecrets.com

The Top Ten Myths of Deer Hunting

In talking with hunters all over the US, I have found that even some great hunters still hold on to common myths of deer hunting. In this article I would like to expose what I consider to be the top ten myths of deer hunting.

Myth #1
Big bucks roam frequently roam.

Truth #1
Big bucks have a home territory that they usually stay in. They may roam some during the rut in search of does in estrus.

Myth#2
Bucks bed in the thickest cover.

Truth #2
Bucks will bed in thick cover but they will also bed in thin cover on hills and ridges where they can view approaching predators

Myth #3
Finding frequent scrapes close together means there is a big buck in the area.

Truth #3
This is most likely the work of a younger buck that is showing off his prowess. A mature buck will make big scrapes but not as many as a 1 to 2 year old.

Myth #4 and #5
Big bucks don't walk in doe trails.

Bucks follow behind does to avoid danger.

Truth #4 and #5
Big bucks normally don't walk in doe trails except during rutting season. A dominant buck will walk a doe trail and behind does when he is following a doe in estrus.

Myth #6
A full moon is bad for hunting.

Truth #6
Scientific research has found that the second full moon after the fall equinox starts the rutting season in central and northern states.

Myth #7
Spooked deer run for miles.

Truth #7
While deer can run 35 - 40 mph, they will run for only a couple of hundred yards when frightened.

Myth #8
The rut lasts only a few days.

Truth #8
Does come into estrus individually. Does that do not breed during their first estrus of the season will enter into estrus again in about a month.

Myth #9
The size of a buck's antlers indicates his age.

Truth #9
While antler size usually increases with age, the age of a buck cannot be determined by the size of his antlers. Antler size and number of points varies with the individual based on genetics and nutrition.

Myth #10
There's no need to stay out hunting in the middle of the day because the deer are resting.

Truth #10
Especially under the pressure of the hunting season, deer (including bucks) will be on the move all day.

I hope you enjoyed the Top 10 Myths of Deer Hunting!

Learn More By Visiting My Website!!

Regards,

Joe Pineland

A Great Secret For Gun Owners

One of the subscribers asked me a question about
buying guns wholesale. The best
way to do this is by getting a
Federal Firearms License.

If you have a Federal Firearms License
you can save yourself money by buying wholesale
and sell to your friends and coworkers. You will never
pay $20-$50 for a transfer fee again. You can buy and
sell guns with this BATF approved license.

Get Your Federal Firearms License Now!

You can get them through the mail,
with no hassle and no time wasted.

It can take time but it may be worth. There is a
kit that can make sure you do it right the first time.
Or you can do it for free on your own.

Expect to pay some money by the time
you finish the gov. process but if you have
any hunting buddies or relatives looking
to buy a gun you will make it up in no time
and may even consider starting a side business.

Check it out at this link.

Get Your Federal Firearms License Now!

Regards,
Joe Pineland

http://www.deersecrets.com

Hunters Feeding The Hungry

I just wanted to tell you about a great organization if you are not aware of it.
The name of the organization is called Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH).
There website says it all ",During our first six years (1997-2003) FHFH has been responsible for the processing of 1,400 tons (nearly 12,000,000 servings)of venison and other big game for soup kitchens and food pantries across America. These 'little cows' providean abundant and nutritious source of protein desperatelyneeded by feeding programs. From the beginningof time farmers and hunters have been the members ofsociety called to provide food for others. FHFH allowshunters to return to their heritage as 'food providers'."
Awesome!
http://www.fhfh.org
With the much maligned status of hunters in some segments of the media, it is up to us to continue a great tradition and further it by helping those with the time and inclination to provide clear and charitable work that furthers the integrity of the sport and its long established tradition in North America! FHFH is doing great work. I encourage you to check them out!
Visit their website at:
http://www.fhfh.org
Regards,
Joe Pineland
http://www.deersecrets.com/