Huckabee The Target Of Hunting And Religious Ridicule

It’s to be expected when you are running for president of these here United States. But multiply that substantially when you just come off winning the Iowa caucus heading into New Hampshire as the front runner. Let’s face it, when your a nobody, nobody cares. Lead the pack and you’re a target.

Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas has too very large targets on his back, at least so far, and everyone is taking aim. One target has a Bible in the middle of it. Huckabee is a Baptist minister and well, we know how this religion thing sits with some people. The other target has a hunting rifle in it. Mr. Huckabee likes to hunt.

One person has taken it upon himself to doubly ridicule and poke fun at Huckabee because he talks to God while hunting. David Rossie in the Press and Sun-Bulletin finds time to share with readers about Huckabee’s friendship with God and the NRA.

He’s got two things going for him that helped decide the last two presidential elections. Like the current occupant of the White House, he says he is on intimate speaking terms with God, and given that he’s also an ordained Baptist parson, who’s to say he’s not? He is also much admired by the National Rifle Association. You want more? Try this: God not only talks to Huckabee, but he also tags along with him on his hunting trips.

Rossie goes on to explain how Huckabee shared with NRA members at a recent meeting an experience he had while hunting antelope in Wyoming. In his tale, he referenced God in ways that most people who make God a significant part of their lives. I think Rossie is obviously very uncomfortable with the idea that a person can actually be in communion with God. (Not that I know much of anything about Huckabee’s spiritual life. I’m talking about spirituality in general.)

But that’s alright. Not too many people these days are that way and those that aren’t seem to have a need to ridicule those who are.

There is one thing that these media people do need to learn though. When you take it upon yourself to poke fun of and ridicule someone for something they might have done or said, you better make sure you don’t end up making a fool of yourself out of ignorance.

Recently, Chris Matthews of MSNBC fame, tried his hardest to belittle Mike Huckabee because he went pheasant hunting in Iowa just prior to the Iowa caucuses. Out of Matthews’ ignorance, he made a fool of himself as he tried to convince his listeners that hunting was a prerequisite to being a member of the Republican party and of course he had to toss in the test of manhood garbage to boot.

But that wasn’t enough. Matthews showed the world his true colors as an elitist by nearly vomited at the prospects of Huckebee stating that he liked to shoot squirrels and eat them – cooked. The shame! I bet Matthews eats raw fish eggs and drinks bubbly quaff that tastes more like WD-40 than any kind of drink I would care about. But hey! To each his own, right?

We can always expect that someone is going to take pot shots at whomever they think is the biggest threat to them. Rossie, in a further attempt to poke fun of Huckabee says that the presidential hopeful has an unfair advantage and likened it to using steroids.

Well, there you are. Talk about divine intervention. My only concern is that in light of all that has been written about steroid and growth hormone use by athletes, the Landers Hunt people might slap an asterisk on the end of Huckabee’s award considering that he apparently had help not available to the other participants.

I’m sure Rossie knows the difference here but just in case let me try to explain something. Steroids and growth hormones are available to everyone but at a cost – money and legally. God is available to everyone with no cost or strings attached. Not only that, but having a relationship with God is legal, at least to this point in our country’s history. That may change. If Huckabee is perceived to have had a clear advantage because he conversed with God, the others have no excuses because the same phone line is open to them as well and it’s free. No excuses!

But like most things, I’m sure those who find no personal use for such things as faith, church, religion or talking to God on a regular basis, they will work hard to pass laws banning the practice.

In the end, Rossie gets his digs in in two ways. He first resorts to the old tried and proven tactic of instilling fear when you have no more facts to go on and the old faithful standby of pulling up the Dick Cheney references.

And this: “Another bird surfaced (surfaced?) and it flew and flew and flew. Right toward us. Pop! Pop! Pop! We ducked our heads and scattered. ‘That was too close,’ a cameraman said. Nobody was wearing orange anything. The hunting expert said the buckshot wouldn’t hurt us if it landed on our heads.”

Is it too much to ask that someone could explain to reporters and editors that not everything that comes out of the barrel of a shotgun is buckshot? Put it this way: If Oliphant had taken a single buckshot to the head, chances are he would not have been around to file his story.

But say this for Huckabee: He’s no Dick Cheney.

Obviously Rossie was not there nor does he understand what took place – or maybe he does. I think the so-called expert referred to, was explaining that when bird shot falls out of the sky it is pretty much harmless. Rossie wants to believe or at least wants his readers to believe that Huckabee’s shotgun blast was directed right at them and anyone standing in the direct line of fire probably wouldn’t come away looking too good.

So Mike Huckabee is not Dick Cheney? I guess with that I am left to fill in the blanks and you will too.

My advice to those seeking to make mockery out of political candidates is get some expert help before you make a bigger fool out of yourself than you are doing of them.

As the campaign continues and the battles heat up, we can expect more and more of this kind of thing as media people take a break from trying to figure out the issues.

Tom Remington

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5-Year Old Descendant Of Davy Crockett Kills Him A “Bar”

“Born on a mountain top in Tennessee.
Killed him a “bar” when he was only three.
Davy, Davy Crockett.
King of the Wild Frontier”

We all learned the song as a kid growing up (well, those of us with a little age behind us) and about the legend of Davy Crockett. Now, 5-year old Tre Merritt, whose grandfather claims is a ten-times removed great grandson of Davy Crockett, has perhaps written his own legend by bagging a 445-pound black bear, shot and killed in Arkansas.

According to Fox Sports, this isn’t the first time young Tre has taken big game.

According to the report, Tre’s father said his son began shooting when he was 2 1/2 and killed three deer last year. What else would you expect from a decendant of the “King of the Wild Frontier?”

You can watch video of Tre and his grandfather from KATV at this site.

Tom Remington

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EHD A Bit “Ho-Hum” In The Deep South

We are at a point where it would be safe to say that this year’s outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is quite widespread. Here’s a list of states that have confirmed cases of the virus that is carried to deer by biting midges or no-see-ums: Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, Montana, Mississippi and Georgia. In addition, some states are waiting for test results to confirm what they already suspect – South Carolina is one such state.

To confirm the presence of the disease, blood and certain tissue has to be analyzed.

According to both the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Alabama Department of Conservation, dealing with EHD is quite routine. Charles Ruth, Deer/Turkey Project supervisor for the South Carolina DNR says flair-ups in that state seem to run in cycles of 3-5 years and there’s a reasonable explanation.

“This is probably related to the fact that once deer are exposed to the disease they are more resistant to it. Therefore, if you have disease one year the deer become exposed or inoculated to the disease and you do not see much disease activity until there is turnover in the deer population. After several years you are dealing with another cohort of deer and their systems are ‘naïve’ to the disease. The last time there was significant hemorrhagic disease activity in South Carolina was in 2002, therefore, disease activity could be relatively high this year.”

This theory is confirmed by a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“We have some cases every year,” said Keith Guyse, a whitetail specialist with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division in the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “In the Coastal Plain, the virus is there frequently enough that deer have been exposed to it and have some resistance to it.

Both representatives indicate that EHD in their respective states is pretty much routine only because of the build up of a certain degree of immunity. Therefore, these southern states don’t see wide outbreaks of the disease that often. When EHD hits the more northern climes, EHD seems to grab harder. Ruth explains.

Deer likely die in South Carolina each year from hemorrhagic disease, however, there is no indication that a major outbreak has occurred in the state since the mid 1970s. The disease is part of life for deer in the Southeast and fortunately it appears that Southern deer have acquired some immunity to the disease, said Ruth. Northern deer, on the other hand, are not exposed to the disease as frequently since the insect vector is not as common in cooler climates. For this reason, significant outbreaks and mortality from hemorrhagic disease are more likely in northern deer populations.

Guyse from Alabama makes reference to the same theory.

“Typically in North Alabama and above the fall line, they’re not exposed to it as often. So over a period of time you have a population that doesn’t have much resistance. When you have (outbreaks) up there, it tends to be more noticeable.”

This helps us understand why some states may have more severe outbreaks, killing larger numbers of deer, than others but why this year are outbreaks so widespread across the landscape of the country? Some have related it to the summer heat and drought. That may be true, I don’t know. It would be logical to assume that being that the virus is carried and spread by tiny midges or gnats, a larger than normal population of that insect would be directly proportional to the spread of the disease. Of course science isn’t that simplistic and we know that there are probably many more factors to consider or it could be just merely a coincidence.

However, Guyse from Alabama eludes to the theory of increased numbers of midges, somewhat.

“Auburn (researchers) had traps out to catch the flies and they might catch a few every once in a while, and then all of a sudden they catch hundreds,” Guyse said. “Much of that still is a mystery.”

Obviously, they don’t have a good handle on it either.

Hunters and others should be aware of the symptoms they may find on deer suffering from the disease.

Symptoms of hemorrhagic disease include poor physical condition, sloughing hooves, abrasions or sores on the brisket and legs, and ulcerations on the mouth, tongue, and rumen (stomach).

As I said earlier, verification of the disease has to be done in the lab.

If you see sick or dead deer in your travels, please report it to the appropriate authorities. It is highly recommended that nobody eats any of the meat from deer sickened by EHD.

Tom Remington

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EHD Outbreak Widespread And Following Drought

As most hunters are aware, several states are experiencing outbreaks of EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease). To date, states involved are, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey and Montana. In those states, some are experiencing widespread outbreaks while others are sporadic. Either way, it appears that this year’s outbreak is one that could be classified as the most widespread in some years.

J.R. Absher, the Newshound, and I sent a couple emails back and forth this morning about what’s happening with EHD. In one of my emails, I asked J.R. if this was what he would consider a large outbreak from his years of experience in the field. What he told me was that in a previous article he mentioned that he had talked with a friend of his, Doug Markham, information officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, about this year’s outbreak.

My good friend Doug Markham, information officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, dropped me an email over the weekend saying it’s as bad as he’s ever seen it in his 20 years with the agency.

Some especially hard-hit areas of the Volunteer State could lose half their deer to EHD this year, Markham speculated.

One other thing that J.R. mentioned was that it seemed that the EHD outbreak was following a similar path as this summer’s drought. I’ll have to do some investigating to see if I can find out if that is a common occurrence.

In the meantime, we all need to be praying for some frost and freezes to kill this thing off.

Tom Remington

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Further Spreading Of EHD And Troubles With Water Contamination In Pennsylvania

We can now add Montana to the growing list of states confirming outbreaks of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, EHD, or blue tongue. EHD is contracted by the bite of insects called “biting midges.” The virus usually kills the animals within five to 10 days. It is not spread by deer-to-deer contact and is rare in domestic cattle. States already having confirmed cases of EHD are: Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and New Jersey.

Montana officials have confirmed the presence of EHD in the southeastern part of the state.

So far “hundreds” of antelope and deer carcasses have been reported.

The heaviest concentration of the disease appears to be in the Melstone area east to Ingomar and Sumatra.

There really is not much that can be done about the disease. We just wait until the first good frost or freeze that will kill the midges that carry the virus.

In the meantime, troubles from dying deer in Pennsylvania are raising concerns about the possible contamination of drinking water supplies. In Beaver, Greene and Washington counties estimates are that over 1,000 deer carcasses are lying about rotting and stinking up the air. For some, there is concern that the decaying carcasses, many of which are lying in water, are contaminating the water supplies.

Russell Morgan is a Greene Township Supervisor and a farmer. He’s concerned about the water problems but is getting no help from the Pennsylvania Game Commission to get the carcasses cleaned up.

Already, Morgan said, he has confirmed 17 dead deer on and around his property. Township secretary Sandy Wright said one resident found 50 dead deer within a short distance of each other. Another resident reported finding 35 dead deer, Wright said.

Morgan said the game commission should at least help remove the remains from water sources. Instead, he was told removal of the deer is the responsibility of the homeowner,

“No one wants to take responsibility for what’s going on,” he said.

One of the side effects of the disease in deer causes the body temperature to rise, thus sending the deer to water to cool off. This is often where they expire.

Game Commission Supervisor Barry Zaffuto says it isn’t the responsibility of the PGC to take care of the dead animals and that the rotting deer are not contaminating the water.

“A deer is 100 percent natural,” he said. “This virus is not transferable, so it would be just like a deer that dies in the water naturally, because it does happen.”

The commission, he said, does not have the resources to search across a three-county area for deer and then remove them, especially when nature is taking care of that for them.

“That would just be totally impossible. What would we do with them?’ he said. “Deer decompose naturally and rapidly.”

Morgan isn’t buying Zaffuto’s explanation about deer being all natural and wouldn’t ruin the water. As a farmer, he is required by law to remove any of his livestock if it should dye in or near water. Under the watchful eye of the Department of Environmental Protection, he is made to clean up the carcass immediately because it will contaminate the water. Morgan wants to know what the difference is between a cow and a deer?

Morgan isn’t the only one concerned about the dying deer and how to clean up the mess. According to the PGC, it’s the landowners’ responsibility but this is angering citizens because of the double standards being exemplified in this video.

Tom Remington

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The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker – To Save Or Not To Save?

It was back in late 2003 or early 2004 when I first heard about the possibilities that scientists had rediscovered the existence of the ivory-billed woodpecker deep in the swamps of Arkansas. As a matter of fact, it was so long ago, by cyberspace standards, that the blog I did about it was on my first blog of which I never transfered the stories over to this format – regrettable.

Ever since the claim was made that one of these thought to be extinct woodpeckers was still alive, there has been continual disagreement as to whether it was really seen. After all, it wasn’t like they caught it and put it in a cage. The claiming of rediscovery, if my memory serves me correctly, was a quick snapshot/video of a fleeing bird and some audio sounds that some scientist disputed as being of some other species. At Ivorybill.org, you can read “the story” of the rediscovery.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has formulated a “Draft Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Recovery Plan” that is estimated to cost the taxpayers $27 million. Go to this link and you can download a pdf file of the plan and get information on how to comment on the proposal.

According to an article today in the Memphis Flyer, no further sightings or rediscoveries have occurred since 2004 but scientists are hopeful.

While the woodpecker’s existence has not been confirmed since, tantalizing evidence continues to be gathered in Arkansas, Florida’s panhandle, South Carolina, and other locations across its historic range.

So tell me readers. Is $27 million taxpayer dollars worth the investment on “tantalizing evidence” and a sighting in 2004 that has been questioned?

While intriguing, I think that better substantiated evidence needs to be employed here before I would be willing to spend $27 million on hopefully finding something. I think USFWS tax dollars could be much better spent on other projects.

Leave comments below if you would like.

Tom Remington

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Last Chance To Offer Input In Arkansas Deer Management Plan

Arkansas deer hunters are reminded that the chances to participate in offering ideas and providing comments about a new deer management plan are dwindling. The final public forum will be the summit meeting on September 29 at the La Quinta Inn in Little Rock.

Here is a list of the last of the upcoming public deer meetings and more details about the summit.

The summit will be from 1-5 p. m. at the La Quinta Inn on Broadway, in downtown Little Rock. Public deer meetings All times 6: 30 p. m. HARRISON Sept. 20, Comfort Inn Convention Center; 1210 U. S. 62 / 65 North DUMAS Sept. 20, Dumas Community Center BATESVILLE Sept. 21, UA Community College-Batesville, Independence Hall, 2005 White Drive CAMDEN Sept. 21, Charles O. Ross Center JONESBORO Sept. 22, Huntington Building HOPE Sept. 22, UA Community College at Hope, Student Center, purple meeting rooms BRINKLEY Sept. 24, Convention Center, Pintail Room MOUNT IDA Sept. 24, Mount Ida High School cafeteria LITTLE ROCK Sept. 25, Ferndale 4-H Center OZARK Sept. 25, North Franklin County Fair building

Information can also be obtained at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website.

Tom Remington

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It’s Obvious States Are Gearing Up For Hunting Seasons

All across the country talk is increasing along with excitement as several hunting seasons are upon us. With this increased chatter, it’s easy to browse the Internet and find countless articles loaded with information concerning the upcoming seasons. Here’s a few I have selected for you.

In Minnesota, warnings are up for dog owners, including waterfowl hunting dogs, that a blue-green algae outbreak can kill your dog. With the low water levels and high air temperatures, it is prime breeding for the algae. Dog owners are cautioned.

Shannon Tompkins of the Houston Chronicle is saying that this year’s waterfowl season in Texas should be a good one.

In Skowhegan, Maine, the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation sponsored a free field day for kids. The events provided opportunities for the kids to shoot clay pigeons with shotguns, try their hand at a rifle or a BB gun as well as archery. It was a great event and is retold in an article in the Morning Sentinel by Colen Hickey.

In Pennsylvania, Ron Tussel of the Pocono Record, reminds bobcat hunters that the deadline for applying for a permit is nearing. He also has some great information about bobcats.

The first ever alligator hunt is scheduled to begin soon in Arkansas and all permit holders are required to take an orientation class.

The state of Washington is also gearing up for a great waterfowl season. Get the highlights from Mark Yuasa of the Seattle Times.

If you’re planning a dove hunting trip to Texas, Steve Knight of the Tyler Morning Telegraph tells readers, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Dove Hunting“.

Alabama sets bag limits.

Indiana opens for squirrel hunting on Wednesday. Bill Scifries of the Chronicle-Tribune has an article on some of the changes hunters should be aware of for the upcoming seasons.

And for all dog owners preparing their canines for the fall hunting season, Kurt Mueller of the Sheboygan Press gives owners tips on getting your dog tuned up for the fall hunting season.

Let the games begin!

Tom Remington

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Apply For Free And Win A Free Elk Hunting Permit In Arkansas

Who ever heard of such a thing? This can’t be right, can it? Arkansas is giving away 18 of 20 available elk hunting permits for free. This is absurd! (I’m being facetious).

If you are an Arkansas resident, you have until June 1st to apply, for free, for a chance to win one of the 18 permits that will be made available. Applying is free and if selected, the permit is also free.

Two of the twenty available permits will be auctioned off as a fund raising effort by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. They say 85% of the proceeds will be returned to the state of Arkansas to improve elk habitat.

Online applications must be received prior to May 31st, midnight.

About the drawing and other permit information.

The drawing for the public land permits will be Saturday, June 30, on the Newton County Courthouse Square in Jasper, near the Buffalo River and center of Arkansas’s elk country. Persons applying for permits don’t have to be present, but many attend each year, joining in the festivities and activities.

There is an added attraction this year. One permit will be issued to someone who makes application at the Elk Festival in Jasper. Sign up, stick around and you may win a permit. For this one, you have to be present to win it. And like the other public land elk permits to be drawn, you have to be an Arkansas resident.

About the Elk Festival.

Tom Remington

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Arkansas Forms Deer Management Advisory Group

The last viable deer management plan that Arkansas enacted was 10 years ago. It is time for a new one and to help accomplish that task, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced the formation of a Deer Management Advisory Group made up of a diverse group of hunters from all corners of the state. Their goal will be to offer ideas and suggestions to AGFC in formulating the plan.

The Arkansas News Bureau reports that in a meeting held recently in Dardanelle, the state was divided into three regions and the diversity of the Advisory Group was good.

The AGFC has divided Arkansas into three sections for this project. Called Deer Management Units, they are (1) Ozark Mountains, Arkansas River Valley and Ouachita Mountains, (2) Gulf Coastal Plan – South Arkansas, and (3) Delta and Crowley’s Ridge.

The Dardanelle meeting had about 25 hunters from various points of the Ozarks, river valley and Ouachitas. If diversity was a goal in the AGFC choosing the advisers, that part of the plan was accomplished.

On hand were bow-hunting specialists, private landowners, public land hunters, biologists with other agencies, storekeepers, insurance agents, a mayor and a couple of newspaper writers. Two of the group said they were avid dog people – they like to run deer with dogs – and for the AGFC wildlife people to select deer dog enthusiasts was notable in itself.

Read more here.

Tom Remington

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Stupid Is As Stupid Does

I would have to classify this as a bit of fiction. Why? I have a hard time believing someone is actually this stupid. For nothing else it is entertaining. The title is, “Dope Tries To Rope Deer“.

Tom Remington

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“If A Picture Paints A Thousand Words…….”

This is most incredible.

Have you ever seen anything quite this incredible? This has to rank near the very top of my all-time favorite pictures. So what’s the story behind this picture?

Keith “Catfish” Sutton is an author and outdoor writer. Not only does he write for us for our many hunting websites as part of U.S. Hunting Today but he also writes regularly for ESPN Outdoors.

Just today I published a story of his called, “The Great Rabbit Chase” at Arkansas Hunting Today. Sutton is a resident of Arkansas and the photo is one that goes with the story. The boy in the photo is Keith’s son, Zach, taken a few years back.

I hope you take the time to drop on over to Arkansas Hunting Today are read Keith’s story about rabbit hunting. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Tom Remington

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Arkansas Department Of Game And Fish Make Website Changes About Non-Resident Deer Quotas

The stir is over. My work has paid off and thanks to the email sent to me by George Atkinson, the Arkansas Department of Game and Fish has already gone ahead and made changes to their website as a way of better notifying non-resident hunters that there is a difference in deer and turkey quotas depending upon which license you opt to buy.

Now, when someone goes the the website, they can click on hunting, then on Licensing and Permits and then Non-resident Licenses for Deer Hunting and right on the top of the page is this.

License Descriptions

Nonresident Annual All Game Hunting License (NBG) entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers. Valid through June 30. Four deer tags and four turkey tags are included with this license. Cost: $300.00

Nonresident 5-Day All Game Hunting License (AG5) entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers for the five-day period specified. Two deer tags and two turkey tags are included with this license. Cost: $150.00

Nonresident 3-Day All Game Hunting License (AG3) entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers for the three-day period specified. One deer tag and one turkey tag are included with this license. Cost: $100.00

Now that’s what I call service. A big thank you to the ADGF for taking care of that problem so quickly, efficiently and professionally.

Tom Remington

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“Arkansas Pulling The Wool”, Part II

If you’re planning to go to Arkansas to hunt deer as a non-resident, you better pay close attention. There are some rule changes and evidently it’s a pretty well kept secret. Whether it’s intentional or not remains to be seen. I don’t believe that it is. I think it is more a matter of somebody not thinking the process through.

In case you are just joining this story, on Saturday I brought you the story about Arkansas’ changes in deer hunting quotas for non-residents. The new law gives different deer and turkey quotas to non-residents than for residents AND different quotas depending on which license you buy, i.e. quotas for a full season non-resident licensee is different than a 3-day or a 5-day one.

I have no beef with Arkansas changing license fees for non-residents or even changing quotas, although I don’t think this change will not do much good for some fence sitters. I believe some non-resident hunters may opt to go somewhere else to hunt and maybe this is ultimately what ADFG wants. Time will tell. My complaint, which is one that was brought to my attention by George Atkinson of Texas, a long-time hunter to Arkansas. As he related to me, when he bought his license for another season of hunting, he and his hunting companions, many from other states, had no idea the law had changed.

I’ll also be the first to admit that it is ultimately the responsibility of the hunter to know the rules governing his sport and to look for any new rule changes prior to embarking into the woods in search of game. But at least let’s make the task of finding that information a little bit easier.

I began a hot line of email communications with different people at the Arkansas Game and Fish Department. They have been kind, courteous and professional. If you will recall from Saturday’s story, I got a link given to me from the information officer, Kim Cartwright, that directed me to information about fishing licenses. I returned her email explaining the error.

It is now Monday morning and my mailbox has been very busy, much more so than most Monday mornings. The first email I got was once again for Kim Cartwright, information officer. She gave me a link to a place I had been many times before through my search efforts. It contained license pricing information but nothing about quotas for deer and turkey.

Once again I replied of the error and followed that up with another email to Kim to make sure she completely understood what I was asking for. I got a response back from Keith A. Stephens, title unknown, giving me THE LINK that explains deer and turkey quotas for non-resident hunters.

Tom,
I’ll try to help you out. On page 16 of our printed hunting guidebook is a breakdown of the various hunting licenses. It clearly states how many tags are attached to each license. Here’s the link for your readers: http://www.agfc.com/data-facts-maps/publications/guidebooks.aspx. It is located under the ‘Data, Facts and Maps’ button on the homepage. From that guidebook, I’ve copied the information you are concerned with. Let me know if you need anything else.

Licenses

$300.00 Nonresident Annual All Game Hunting License (NBG)
entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers. Valid through $300.00 Nonresident Annual All Game Hunting License (NBG) entitles the to hunt all game species except furbearers. Valid through June 30. deer tags and four turkey tags are included with this license.

$150.00 Nonresident 5-Day All Game Hunting License (AG5) entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers for the five-day period specified. Two deer tags and two turkey tags are included with this license.

$100.00 Nonresident 3-Day All Game Hunting License (AG3) entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers for the three-day period specified. One deer tag and one turkey tag are included with this license.

$80.00 Nonresident Annual Small Game Hunting License (NRH) entitles the holder to hunt migratory birds, quail, rabbit and squirrels. Valid one year from date of purchase.

$55.00 Nonresident 5-Day Small Game Hunting License (SG5)
entitles the holder to hunt migratory birds, quail, rabbit and squirrel for the five-day period specified.

I began to retrace my footsteps and to make a long story short, the information I’m looking for is short of easy to find. Not only that, it is a pdf format file that contains the information. I’m no novice when it comes to finding my way around a website and as a web designer myself, I understand the importance of easy navigation.

Once I opened the pdf Hunting Guidebook, I knew to look under licenses in the table of contents because Keith told me that’s where it was. That information is somewhere between page 14 and 18.

I returned Keith’s email with a couple of questions.

This is what I was looking for. Now for a question. Don’t you think it would be important to include this information on the website, easily seen, where someone would be about to purchase a non-resident hunting license online? Or at least an easily recognized link to this page?
To add to the “inconvenience factor” anyone who is on dial-up Internet, will not download a pdf because it takes so long. This would further impede the process.
For clarification, I’m not trying to be a pain here. I hope that you will understand this problem and better provide information to your users.

While I was emailing between Kim Cartwright and Keith Stephens, evidently someone at some time had forward on to Arlene Green the webmaster for ADGF, my previous emails. She also sent me an email.

Page 16 of the Hunting Gidebook http://www.agfc.com/pdfs/guidebooks/06-07_guidebook.pdf shows the number of deer that can be taken with each non-resident license.

We will make sure our website reads a little more clearly about the non-resident tags in the future.

We all will anxiously await the changes and hope that in the meantime nobody gets charged with poaching game because they didn’t know of the rule changes.

One more time for anyone who might not be aware of the quota changes for non-resident deer and turkey hunters, here they are.

$300.00 Nonresident Annual All Game Hunting License (NBG) entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers. Valid through June 30. Four deer tags and four turkey tags are included with this license.

$150.00 Nonresident 5-Day All Game Hunting License (AG5) entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers for the five-day period specified. Two deer tags and two turkey tags are included with this license.

$100.00 Nonresident 3-Day All Game Hunting License (AG3) entitles the holder to hunt all game species except furbearers for the three-day period specified. One deer tag and one turkey tag are included with this license.

Tom Remington

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Is Arkansas Pulling The Wool Over Non-Resident Hunters Eyes?

A few days ago I received an email via the tip line from George Atkinson from Texas. He wanted to give me a heads up about hunting license changes in Arkansas. Thank you George for the alert. Maybe this will save someone from being charged for illegal hunting. This is what he said.

I dont know if you or your readers are contemplating on hunting in Arkansas, as a non-resident. You should be aware of a few changes in their laws concerning non-resident hunter license fees and deer quotas.
Two hunting seasons ago Arkansas saw fit to issue non-resident deer quotas in relation to the type of license bought.
Example: 3 day – 1 buck, 5 day – 1buck, 1 doe and the annual non resident license was the same as a resident, 2 buck, 1 doe. This may seem just fine except that this was done without any published notice to non-resident hunters or the sales personnel at the license outlets.

The near catastrophic dilemma occurred when Atkinson’s party went to tag their first deer. According to Atkinson, they were not aware of any changes in the quota for non-resident deer hunters. Atkinson says he’s been hunting in Arkansas since 1985. When he bought this year’s license, he was not told or given any publication to indicate that there were changes.

It was only after his party tagged their first deer were they told of the quota changes. They asked for something in writing because they couldn’t believe no one in the group was aware of any changes. Nothing could be produced to verify the quota changes.

Atkinson wrote to the Arkansas Fish and Game asking for verification and an explanation. He received a letter back stating that in fact they had changed the quota for non-residents but if I understand Atkinson correctly, there was no other explanation. I do not have a copy of the print publication of the Arkansas hunting guide but Atkinson claims there is nothing in the book about the changes. He says the only place it is written is on the license which you have to buy first.

Does the licensing agent just assume that everyone, even from out of state, is aware of these changes? These are quota changes. Breaking quota laws can become quite costly. Why isn’t the state publishing the changes in the law book? Most states that I am familiar with will have a section in the rule book that specifically states all rule changes for that season. This way they don’t have to completely re-write the book each season.

I sent an email to the Arkansas Fish and Game asking for verification of this rule change. I first received this response.

Mr. Remington,
Yes that is correct.
A non-resident Annual All Game ($300) comes with 4 deer tags and two
turkey tags.
Non-Resident 5-day ($150) comes with 2 deer tags and 2 turkey tags.
Non-Resident 3-day ($100) comes with 1 deer tag and 1 turkey tag.
Thank you,

Sandra Garrett
AR Game & Fish Commission
Wildlife Division

Kim Cartwright
Information Officer
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Obviously, this verifies the change in quotas according to the license I would elect to purchase as a non-resident hunter but it doesn’t solve the problem. What if I were a first-time deer hunter to Arkansas from out of state? If I had made my plans to go on a hunt there and I went to the website to purchase my non-resident license, which I can do quite easily, how would know anything about this? I searched everywhere because I had been tipped off and I couldn’t find anything that described deer quotas for non-residents. It showed cost differences between a non-resident full season, five-day and three-day but nothing about quotas.

Had I opted to buy my license this way and went to Arkansas to hunt, I could be facing some serious charges for breaking game laws.

Then within minutes I received another response.

Tom, I think this is what you are asking for.
http://www.agfc.com/fishing/anglers-corner/license-info-fishing/prices-d
ecriptions-fishing.aspx

I have forwarded your previous question to the department that would
best answer it for you. I will send you the response as soon as I get
it.

Kim Cartwright
Information Officer
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

That was all well and good if I was going to Arkansas to fish. I am looking for published information so that if and when I opt to buy an Arkansas deer hunting license, I know what the laws are concerning quotas.

I responded to that email pointing out the error in their link and am now awaiting another response. I was going to wait on this post until I had collected all the information but I felt it important enough to alert would-be non-resident license buyers.

Atkinson further points out another troubling aspect of this change that makes one wonder just exactly what is the state up to.

When we hunt in Arkansas, we hunt on the wildlife management areas which in most part are obtained by a application and fee draw system. When successful, a permit is issued after the fee is paid but the permit reflects the same deer quota as a resident hunter. The permit quota is not consistant with the hunting license quota.

I’m not a lawyer but it seems the state would have a difficult time getting charges to stick that concern non-resident deer quota infractions. This is a confusing mess. One the state needs to address immediately. But there is another issue that Arkansas might not being seeing but then again maybe they are. I’ll explain.

In the email I received from Atkinson he explains what has happened to his hunting party since they found out about this new quota changes.

I am the only hunter in our camp from Texas, the rest come from Maryland and Pennsylvania of which we lost three hunters this year because of these changes.

He further explains.

The result of all of this is a sizeable reduction of hunter dollars spent in the state and local community. We are now considering a move of our camp to another state.
I have been hunting as a non-resident, in the state of Arkansas, since 1985 and the deer quota was always the same as the resident quota. There was never a reason to suggest otherwise. It makes no sense to us.

Many questions need to be answered. Is Arkansas so disorganized and the fish and game so poorly run that they are not aware of the potential problems this law change without any notification or publications alerting license buyers can be? Or is this a deliberate back-door way of forcing non-resident hunters out of the state?

If it is the second, and I doubt that it is, they don’t need to be so sneaky about it. The Supreme Court has ruled in other states that each state can set its own seasons, license fees and quotas for non-resident hunters. This was challenged as part of the Commerce Clause in the Constitution that states that a business in one state should be able to conduct business in another state in a free and equal manner. Some have tried to link hunting as a business, especially when it comes to guiding, etc. The courts have failed to see it that way.

This seems more of a case of poor planning and foresight. It is difficult to fathom that a state agency would make such a significant law change and not carry out the entirety of the change to ensure that all non-resident hunters are aware of any and all changes. If Arkansas intends to continue offering non-resident hunters a place to go and spent their dollars, they better be addressing this problem now.

I will await further responses from the Arkansas Fish and Game.

Tom Remington

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