The Outdoor Pressroom

Montana wolf hunt winds down with 219 killed

The general rifle and trapping seasons for gray wolves in Montana end March 1, with 128 wolves shot and 91 trapped, with most taken in the 77 districts in western Montana. Fish, Wildlife and Parks plans to release an updated population estimate later in March. At the end of last season, the agency reported at least 653 wolves in 130 verified packs and 39 breeding pairs in Montana. There were believed to be at least 1,774 wolves living in the Rocky Mountain region. Flathead Beacon.

Trophy buck taken illegally with rifle costs Illinois man $10K

After pleading guilty to a laundry list of charges associated with illegally using a rifle to kill a trophy buck during the 2011 Illinois bow season, Weldon "Jesse" Bean of Kankakee received fines and was assessed restitution totalling $10,000 this week. Charges included hunting without permission, hunting within 300 yards of a dwelling, illegal possession of a whitetail deer, failure to immediately tag the deer upon kill, illegal transportation of an uncased bow on an ATV and invalid archery deer permit. Kankakee Daily Journal.

Legislation introduced to block Corps' fishing access ban

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) has introduced a “Freedom to Fish” act, to prohibit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from its plan to block boating access below 10 dams on the Cumberland River system. "I’m...frustrated that the Corps, in numerous meetings at all levels, has placated the public rather than attempting to work with us to reach a compromise," Whitfield said. "This has left me with no other choice than to seek a legislative solution to the corps’ overreach.” Chattanoogan.

Bill exempts Idaho-made suppressors from federal law

Idaho state Sen. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, has introduced what he calls a "public health" bill to exempt firearm suppressors manufactured in the state from federal law. "Anybody can buy a suppressor now, but there's a $200 (federal) tax and about an eight-month wait for the permit to be approved," Hagedorn said. "In the meantime, their hearing is being damaged. It only takes one shot for your hearing to start to degrade." Lewiston Tribune.

Utah bill limits target shooting during high wildfire risk

After amending legislation permitting the state forester to ban target shooting during times of high wildfire risk to add the requirement that the forester work with local sheriffs implementing restictions, the Utah Senate unanimously approved SB120 and sent it to the state House for action. In June, a fire sparked by two shooters using exploding targets near Saratoga Springs burned 5,507 acres and cost $2.1 million to fight.  Salt Lake Tribune.

Milestones: Archery innovator Tom Jennings, 88

Tom Jennings, archery industry icon and pioneer bowmaker widely known as "Mr. Compound Bow," for his decades of innovative bow designs with the Jennings Compound Bow company and subsequent collaborations with other manufacturers, died yesterday at 88. A 1999 inductee in the Archery Hall of Fame, Jennings headed the first company licensed under the H. Wilbur Allen patent to commercially manufacture compound bows. The Archery Wire.

Anti-doping agency tests ice fishing contestants

Lance Armstrong with a tip-up rod? Not exactly. But it's reported by The New York Times that an official from the United States Anti-Doping Agency ordered several winners in the recent World Ice Fishing Championship held last week on Big Eau Pleine Reservoir near Wausau, Wis. to undergo a surprise urine testing for steriod and growth hormones. "We do not test for beer, because then everybody would fail," said Joel McDearmon, chairman of the United States Freshwater Fishing Federation.

Singer won't go on same show as 'Duck Dynasty' crew

Vegetarian activist singer Morrissey canceled his scheduled appearance on Tuesday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" program after he found out that the cast of A&E's smash hit show, "Duck Dynasty" was also booked to appear. "As far as my reputation is concerned, I can't take the risk of being on a show alongside people who, in effect, amount to animal serial killers," Morrissey said in a statement. Yahoo.

Veteran fishing writer, editor John Henry Merwin, 66

Veteran fishing writer John Merwin, who served as fishing editor for Field & Stream magazine for nearly two decades, died Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.. Merwin, 66, who was a resident of Dorset, Vt., edited or authored 15 books, including “Trailside Guide to Fly Fishing” and “The New American Trout Fishing.” Rutland Herald and remembered by Jerry Gibbs.

Dumping of donated venison riles Louisiana hunters

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals' confiscation and subsequent destruction of 1,600 pounds of hunter-donated venison from the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission's has enraged hunters and sparked action from legislators. "Hunters are going nuts over it," said Richard Campbell, one of the founders of Hunters for the Hungry, a group that has been donating wild game to shelters since 1993. "It’s created an outrage across our state and even over into Mississippi.” Fox News.

Politics v Science: Minn. wolf bill introduced

A measure introduced in the Minnesota Legislature on Thursday would place a five-year moratorium on the state’s wolf hunting season and call for other options for wolf population control. "This is about fairness and doing the right thing for the majority of Minnesotans that do not want a wolf hunt," said the bill's chief sponsor and House Majority Whip Chris Eaton, DFL-Brooklyn Center. Duluth News-Tribune.

Hunting participation in Vermont at all-time low

Hunting participation—and license-generated revenues—in Vermont have reached historic lows. In 2000, the total number of hunting licenses issued peaked at over 100,000. About a decade later that number was only 75,000. Further, the number of  non-resident hunters has decreased by nearly 50 percent. WCAX

UK academic says TV wildlife programs 'ignore gay animals'

We have officially heard everything. Dr. Brett Mills of the University of East Anglia says television wildlife documentaries like those famously produced by Britain's David Attenborough perpetuate the notion that animal relationships are predominantly heterosexual. Mills' study, published in the European Journal of Cultural Studies, concludes evidence shows animals have "complex and changeable forms of sexual activity, with heterosexuality only one of many possible options." The Independent and The Christian Post.

Study: Presence of Asian carp DNA doesn't signal live fish

The discovery of genetic material from the invasive Asian carp in canals leading to Lake Michigan does not necessarily signal the presecne of live fish, according to a new study by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The material may be transported by fish-eating birds, on boat hulls and by other methods. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Aspen's nuisance bear calls up 1,200% in 4 years

In 2008, the Aspen (Colo.) Police Department dealt with 82 calls regarding problem  black bears. The figure swelled to 351 calls in 2010 and 1,040 last year, refelcting a nearly 1,200 percent increase over the four-year period. “The bears took up a huge amount of time and resources,” Aspen Police Chief Richard Pryor said. “At the same time, we felt we really had good cooperation from the community, and people did try to make a difference in their habits in terms of trash and using the right containers." Aspen Times.