The Arizona Game and Fish Department was in full-mode damage control this morning after the Associated Press released an article with a Flagstaff dateline that incorrectly stated that bull elk hunters "…who come up empty-handed after a week will have their hunts extended." It's hard to imagine no one at AP questioned the information and identified it for what it was: bogus.
After a decade on the run in Canada, a fugitive in the largest eco-terrorism case in U.S. history turned herself in to federal authorities yesterday at the international border in Blaine, Wash. Rebecca Jeanette Rubin, who had ties with the radical groups Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and Animal Liberation Front (ALF), allegedly plotted with 12 others to carry out 20 acts of arson from 1996 to 2001 in five Western states, including one that destroyed a Colorado ski lodge in 1998. Christian Science Monitor.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission proposal to permit handguns for hunting alligators is drawing oppostion from some experienced guides and hunters. "Shooting any type of round into the water is dangerous," said Jeff Kraynik, a fishing and hunting guide and firearms instructor in Palm Bay. "We're going to get ricochets. People are going to get hit, and people are going to get killed." Fort Myers News-Press.
Biologists with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife tranquilized a blacktail buck that became entangled with Christmas lights in Eugene this week, when it became apparent it could be choked by the tightening strands. "Because it was wrapped around the deer's neck, it had the ability to restrict air flow or restrict the ability to eat or swallow," said ODFW biologist Brian Wolfer. WTSP.
By a 23-15 vote, the Michigan state Senate this week approved a measure calling for the Natural Resources Commission to establish a wolf-hunting season and create a $100 license for residents and $500 for nonresidents. The bill now goes to the House where supporters hope it will be passed and move to the governor's desk by year-end. Detroit Free Press.
Jim Robey, a lifelong outdoors enthusiast who covered the hunting and fishing beat for two Dayton, Ohio papers—the Journal Herald and Dayton Daily News from 1963 until 1993—died on Sunday, Nov. 25. He was 81. His father George founded the Outdoor Writers of Ohio and was a longtime outdoors writer for the Columbus Citizen-Journal.
The Atlantic Wire reports that based on published shipping and handing guidelines, the heaviest thing that Amazon will ship as part if its "Super Saver" free-shipping program is the six-foot-tall Cannon Safe CO54 Commander Series Premium 90 Minute Fire Safe, which holds 48 guns and carries a price tag of $3,486.57.
Tangy rabbit nachos, a vegetarian lasagna, potato soup, a salsa-inspired raccoon dip and fried raccoon did not divert attention from the headliner at the 13th Squirrel Fest held in Romney, W. Va. the Sunday before Thanksgiving. “With the current state of the presidency, we probably ought to get used to eating more wildlife,” said Winchester resident Kevin Moore, 40. Washington Post.
The manager of a Christmas tree lot on Chicago's Northside summoned police after he saw a large wild goose locked in the back of Angel Bautista-Perez's SUV Sunday night. The 29-year-old told cops he had "taken possession of the wild bird in order to drive him to his brother's house," the report said. He was arrested and charged with animal cruelty and possession of a migratory bird, both misdemeanors. Chicago Tribune.
According to early numbers from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, hunters registered 243,739 deer through the nine-day season that ended Sundaym an increase of 7.7 percent from 2011's early count of 226,260. The final 2012 kill totals will likely be higher; the 2011 numbers were later revised upward by about 31,000 animals. AP.
Three recent trail camera photos of mountain lions in Michigan's Upper Peninsula have been verified by the Department of Natural Resources. Two photos, both of a cougar with a radio collar, were taken in October in Menominee County, one near Cedar River and one near Menominee just north of the Wisconsin border. The third was taken in northern Marquette County in November. MDNR.
A 78-year-old Sidon, Miss. man faces 30 federal charges of illegal hunting in North Mississippi, including baiting dove fields, illegally guiding hunt tours into wildlife refuges, exceeding game limits and not reporting game kills. If convicted on all 30 misdemeanor counts, Pass Taylor Jr. faces up to 211⁄2 years in prison and $1.52 million in fines. NEMS Daily Journal.
William "Spook" Spann, celebrity bowhunter and cable TV show host, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Kansas City Tuesday to illegally killing a trophy deer in Kansas in 2007. A court press release reports Spann, 50, of Dickson, Tenn., admitted to killing the whitetail buck in Stafford County on land owned by another person. His permit for that year required he only hunt on property that he owned. Michael Pearce in The Wichita Eagle.
California Department of Fish and Game officers arrested two Sacramento men they say poached a buck and threw it in the back of their Toyota SUV on Nov. 18. The deer, which was not fatally shot, regained consciousness and in the ensuing struggle, was eventually stabbed to death by one of the men. Dripping blood from the rear of the vehilce led authorities to Scott Lee, 46, and Nai Saechao, 32. Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Will Byington, who lives near Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, was leaving a neighborhood club one recent night when he heard people talking about two coyotes they'd seen in the area. By the time he made it outside, he said the pair was congregated around the Ernie Banks statue, reports redeyechicago.com. "They were just kind of chilling. Like I've seen people literally doing, stopped, looking at Ernie Banks," Byington said. "They were paused, looking north down Clark, checking out McDonalds."
