Officials with the Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks are basking in the success of 2009's historic wolf hunting season in which 31 females and 41 males were taken over a wide portion of the state. “Montana just pulled off a very successful hunt of a new species, especially given the level of scrutiny on the hunt,” Carolyn Sime, the FWP wolf coordinator. The Ravalli Republic.
As of January 1, all U.S. saltwater anglers must be registered with a National Saltwater Angler Registry program being administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. The NOAA will issue registration numbers to anglers in eight coastal states whose licenses lack details required under the new federally mandated law. The Baltimore Sun.
As part of its annual waste of time, effort and resources, the LA County Sheriff's Dept. collected 252 firearms in yesterday's no-questions-asked "Gifts for Guns" program in Compton. One man's cache comprised fully one-quarter of all those firearms turned in--58 pieces, mostly cheap handguns--earning him thousands of dollars in retail and supermarket gift cards. LA Times.
Two foxes forced the temporary closure of a runway at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport this morning, briefly delaying two arriving flights before a sharpshooter was dispatched to the scene. One fox was "eradicated" while the other "left the field of its own accord," said Patrick Hogan, an airport spokesman. St. Paul Pioneer Press.
A woman is suing a Lower East Side New York City bar for unspecified damages, claiming she was struck by a mounted moose head while there one night in October. The suit claims Raina Kumra has suffered "chronic neck pain, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness and other serious and severe personal injuries," including "embarrassment," after the mount dislodged and struck her on the head at the White Slab Palace. The New York Post.
A Nevada couple who relied on their Toyota Sequoia's GPS navigation system became stranded in eastern Oregon's Winema-Fremont National Forest for three days last week before atmospheric conditions changed enough for their GPS-enabled cell phone to get a weak signal and relay coordinates to a sheriff's dispatcher so they could be rescued. Via AP.
A snow storm that swept across eastern Kentucky last weekend is being blamed for preventing hunters from taking a single black bear in the state's first bear hunting season in more than 100 years. State Bear Biologist Steven Dobey said hunters simply couldn't access areas where they likely would have been able to shoot bears during the 2-day season. Via AP.
Following an investigation with wildlife agencies in neighboring states, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has issued 120 citations to individuals who illegally claimed residence in Wyoming for the purpose of obtaining resident hunting or fishing licenses, resulting in fines of more than $36,000. The Casper Tribune.
A Tennessee defense attorney hoping to see his client's case of boating under the influence dismissed is charging the state Wildlife Resources Agency with unfairly seeking out specific judges familiar with game and fish regulations to preside over such cases, calling the practice "judge shopping." Attorney Jerry Summers has subpoenaed two judges and three TWRA officers to testify at a Jan 7 hearing. The Chattanooga Times Free Press.
In a poll to celebrate its 125th anniversary, the American Kennel Club asked online voters to rank the Top 125 canines made popular through movies, television, art and literature. In first place was Peanuts' Snoopy, followed by Texas A&M's collie mascot, Reveille (we suspect a fix). Other notables included the poker-playing dogs painting at number 6, Lassie at 11 and Old Yeller at a distant 34. See the entire list.
Optics maker Leupold® has posted a customer alert on its Web site regarding bogus Leupold products that are apparently being illegally imported from the People’s Republic of China. According to the posting, counterfeited Leupold Mark 4® riflescopes have begun to arrive with increasing regularity at the firm’s Beaverton, Oregon, headquarters for service in recent months.
As reported here yesterday, a mountain lion photographed by a trail camera Saturday night near Downsville, Wis. in Dunn County is believed to be the same one that left tracks last week near Spring Valley, Wis. and earlier in December in the Twin Cites' northern suburbs. In The St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Calvin Hugh "Rusty" Gates Jr., 54, lodge owner, conservationist, fly angler and outdoorsman, died Saturday at his home on the Au Sable River near Grayling, Mich. following a long battle with lung cancer. Gates founded the Anglers of the Au Sable conservation group in 1987 and served as its president until his death. The Traverse City Record-Eagle and the Chicago Tribune.
A Minnesota elementary school principal who allowed a parent to shoot helium-filled balloons that had floated to the roof of the gymnasium with a BB gun brought from home has apologized for his decision. "It is my hope that my decision did not send a mixed message regarding the importance of safety at Red Pine Elementary," said principal Gary Anger. Mnpls Star-Tribune.
A young whitetail buck—possibly looking for deer plot-growing advice—crashed through a window at the Chilton County Extension Office in Clanton, Ala. yesterday morning, eventually seeking refuge in the appropriately named Clover Room. The animal was tranquilized and safely removed by police and animal control personnel. The Clanton Advertiser reports.
