The Gray Wolf Lawsuit Yo-Yo

In court, out of court. In court, out of court. The entire gray wolf issue all through the United States is nothing but a legal yo-yo that benefits only the lawyers. While many of us had our eyes on the legal wrangling and the current gray wolf hunts taking place in the Northern Rocky Mountains Distinct Population Segment region, the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment has, once again, been placed back under federal protection.

Last September, 2008, federal judge Paul Friedman, in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. remanded a lawsuit brought against the Department of Interior back to the USFWS “for further proceedings”. This, according to Friedman’s ruling, was because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to show that they had authority under the Endangered Species Act to create a Distinct Population Segment of wolves in order to delist a population of wolves. (Also known as a clerical technicality that really has no bearing on the case, in my opinion.)

According to the USFWS, they took care of their “further proceedings” and printed a Final Rule in April 2009, removing, once again, the gray wolf from federal protection. I know it may be difficult to fathom, but immediately a lawsuit was filed by The Humane Society of the United States, et. al., against the Department of Interior. Their claim being that USFWS violated the ESA by not providing a proper 60-day comment period before publishing the final rule.

A settlement was reached between the USFWS and HSUS and signed by Judge Paul Friedman that halts the delisting of wolves, places them back on the endangered and threatened species list and, should the USFWS decide to proceed again to delist the wolf, they must abide by the rules of administrative procedure, including a 60-day public comment period. (As well as be subject to paying plaintiff’s legal fees.)

I think you can clearly see the Yo-Yo effect here. I’m not a lawyer and am surely no expert on legal affairs but it would appear to me that the USFWS should have known that once Judge Paul Friedman remanded the case back in September 2008 and ruled that wolves be returned to federal protection, that any movement toward delisting again would require the same fundamental ESA administrative procedures. Give me a break. Are these guys wasting the courts time and taxpayer money?

But here’s the bigger question that I have. Judge Paul Friedman, in his September 2008 ruling, says he cannot see where the USFWS has the authority under the ESA to create a Distinct Population Segment of wolves in the Western Great Lakes for the purpose of delisting. He says the ESA is ambiguous and does not provide a definition. He also says the USFWS failed to present evidence that they could do this. This was all part of the “further proceedings” that Friedman remanded back the the Department. The question I have is what did the USFWS do about this defining of and creation of DPSs?

Because the Final Rule of April 2009 is no longer valid, we can only go by what the USFWS said about this.

The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs because, in the judge’s opinion, the Endangered Species Act is ambiguous on the issue of whether a DPS can be identified and delisted simultaneously and, therefore, the Service should have provided an explanation for their interpretation of the ESA. To address the court’s concern, this Rule explains why simultaneously identifying and delisting DPSs of currently listed species is consistent with the ESA’s text, structure, policy objectives and legislative history, and relevant judicial interpretations.

The way I see it is that if the USFWS once again, attempts to delist the wolves in the WGL DPS, and they follow the procedures correctly, they will have to rely on the fact that they presented a good enough explanation in any Final Rule to satisfy Judge Friedman. My guess is that this is simply another court case looking for a place to happen.

This is all quite asinine really and a waste of resources, time and money. We have judges in different portions of the country who seemingly are not in agreement on rulings. It’s becoming a dog and pony show making a complete mockery of the Endangered Species Act and its intentions.

Now the Department of Interior will have to decide what they want to do. They must love this Endangered Species Act as it chews up their budget and the valuable time employees could be spent doing something productive. But hey, that would run contrary to big government now wouldn’t it.

One final thought that I really don’t want to explore. If this Yo-Yo effect continues, one would have to wonder exactly what the agenda is for the Department of Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

I’ll leave it at that.

Tom Remington

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Did Feds Address Court Rulings For Wolf Delisting?

Yesterday Deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett announced the intentions of the Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the gray wolf from protection of the Endangered Species Act in the Western Great Lakes region and portions of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Following legal procedures, the USFWS will post the Final Rule in the Federal Registry next week and then 30 days thereafter, the rule takes effect.

The process of attempting to get the wolf delisted has been a confusing mess, mired in lawsuits, twisted out of shape by frustrating and puzzling rulings by judges and just as disturbing was the direction or seemingly lack thereof, the Feds took in dealing with the issue.

When looking at the whole picture of wolf delisting that includes both the Western Great Lakes and Northern Rocky Mountains regions, according to court rulings there were three distinct issues the Feds had to address in order for the courts to be satisfied (perhaps) and allow delisting – Wyoming’s wolf management plan, genetic connectivity/exchange and the USFWS being able to create a Distinct Population Segment and delist a species simultaneously. Let’s address them one at a time.

Create and Delist

This past September 2008, in a federal court in the District of Columbia, Judge Paul Friedman told the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that because the Endangered Species Act was unclear about the use and definition of Distinct Population Segment, he felt the Service did not have the legal authority to create a DPS while simultaneously changing the status of the species recognized within that DPS.

Consequently and for no other obvious reason, Judge Friedman ordered the wolf placed back under federal protection and required the Service to provide a better explanation of the use of DPS.

What is expected to be part of the Final Rule next week is a complete history of the Service’s use of Distinct Population Segments. The preliminary information I have indicates several pages of analysis and history of DPS. Included in that explanation will be examples of other species where the Service created and delisted or changed status of certain species. Examples of that are the grizzly bear, Colombian whitetail deer, brown pelican, American crocodile, among others.

We can only assume this will satisfy the courts.

Wyoming, the Lone Wolf

Further out west, on February 27, 2008, the USFWS published its Final Rule and officially removed the Northern Rocky Mountains population of gray wolves from the protected species list of the Endangered Species Act. It was short lived as was expected. On July 18, 2008, Judge Donald Molloy issued a preliminary injunction placing the gray wolf back under protection of the federal government.

One of the two issues expressed by Judge Molloy was that Wyoming’s Wolf Management Plan, approved by the state and approved by the feds, was inadequate to sustain a viable wolf population.

With the recent announcement to delist the wolf, Wyoming has been left out of the delisting process. This is how the USFWS handled the Wyoming wolf management plans they had approved of previously.

In light of the July 18, 2008, U.S. District Court order, we reexamined Wyoming law, its management plans and implementing regulations, and now determine they are not adequate regulatory mechanisms for the purposes of the Act.

Genetic Connectivity

The second issue Judge Molloy had difficulty dealing with is known as genetic connectivity or genetic exchange. This is when wolves from one area disburse into the areas of other wolves and undertake breeding, believed by some to be essential to the long term sustainability of a wolf population.

The preliminary information I have indicates that the Feds will offer a lengthy explanation about what role genetic exchange/connectivity had in the scientific approach to wolf recovery. In their explanation they will tell us that genetic exchange was discussed and that the evolution of the importance of genetic exchange changes very little from 1987 to present. They also intend to show that from the beginning, the Service has said all along that they believed genetic exchange would be verified by showing natural dispersal of the animals and if that wasn’t occurring then they would resort to man-assisted dispersal.

We explicitly stated the required genetic exchange could occur by natural means or by human-assisted migration management and that dispersal of wolves between recovery areas was evidence of that genetic exchange (Service et al. 1994, Appendix 8, 9).

The Final Rule to be published more than likely will reaffirm the Feds’ commitment to ensuring genetic exchange.

Development of the Service’s recovery goal clearly recognized that the key to wolf recovery was establishing a viable demographically and genetically diverse wolf population in the core recovery areas of the NRM. We would ensure its future connectivity by promoting natural dispersal and genetic connectivity between the core recovery segments and/or by human-assist migration management in the unlikely event it was ever required.

Essentially what we see is that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service really hasn’t changed anything in regards to genetic connectivity. They’ve only clarified, and in my opinion beefed up, what role genetic exchange/connectivity has in wolf recovery in hopes of satisfying the courts.

This shows me one thing very clearly. When the USFWS went to court, it was no secret that one of the issues being discussed at length on more than one occasion was genetic connectivity, yet the USFWS was ill prepared to explain and present what they will attempt to explain in the upcoming Final Rule.

Let’s hope they are better prepared this time because we know the lawsuits will begin and every aspect discussed in the past and any new ones the animal rights and environmentalist can dig up, will be dragged before the judge.

Personally, I look for nothing to change.

Tom Remington

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More Confusion On Feds “Distinct Population Segment” Creations

The Western Institute for Study of the Environment (WISE) has a story this morning covering information they found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Federal Register that officially places the gray wolf back on the Endangered Species Act list. This includes the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Oregon and Washington. Areas of Idaho south of I-90, southern Montana and all of Wyoming remain part of a “Nonessential Experimental Population”. Minnesota’s wolves remain listed as “threatened”.

According to the article, the USFWS was forced into doing this because of three court rulings. Those rulings, along with returning the wolf to federal protection, also force the USFWS to eliminate any Distinct Population Segments they created within the states listed, in order to delist the wolves. It was the ruling of Judge Paul Friedman in a Washington, D.C. federal court that said the USFWS did not have the authority to create these DPSs.

Where does that leave us in dealing with endangered species then? Certainly if the courts ruled that the USFWS can’t create smaller DPSs, then it would only seem logical that they don’t have the authority to create any DPSs, expand or modify existing DPSs. Friedman’s ruling also would have to bring into question as to whether any existing Distinct Population Segments are legal.

I’m am having difficulty accessing the Final Rule on this at the registry. All I have for information on this right now is what I found at my friends over at WISE. I’ll report more on this and provide a copy of the Final Rule once I’m able to get my hands on it.

Tom Remington

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Obama: “My Policies, Actions and Decisions… Will Advance the Goals of Hunters and Anglers.”

*Note* Much of the material in this article was sent to me by readers. A big thanks goes to Bitter Bitch of the Bitch Girls and “jes”.

The above words in the title of this piece where those used by Barack Obama in his email interview with Outdoor Life back last month. Those written words and most of his others on hunting, fishing and Second Amendment are absolute lies meant to deceive the American people!

I have probably shared this story before but I’m going to again because I can. I visited my brother’s house one day about midday several years ago. When I arrived he was attempting to get his son, about four at the time, to eat his lunch, a task nearly every parent has had to deal with at some time or other.

My brother gave his son some simple instructions that he had to eat what was on his plate and then he could get down and play. The two of us migrated to the living room to chat.

After a few moments, my nephew appeared in the living room, big-eyed and sucking for air and explained to his Dad, “I’ve finished eating all of my lunch, Dad, but don’t go look!”

Politicians today have taken on that same childish thinking when it comes to dealing with the voters. They believe, and in most cases can, say anything they want and they know that voters “won’t go look”.

Barack Obama has, throughout this entire campaign, repeated that he supports the Second Amendment. He believes that, providing that the Second Amendment reads and is changed to read the way he wants it to. More on this in a moment.

He has also said, although not as often, that he supports hunters and fishermen. In his email interview with Outdoor Life that I linked to above, Obama says there weren’t too many opportunities to hunt and fish on the South Side of Chicago. He’s never hunted but has fished some while living in Hawaii. He also says he “recognizes” the conservation legacy of hunters and fishermen and what he does as president will advance those goals.

While I did not grow up hunting and fishing, I recognize the great conservation legacy of America’s hunters and anglers. Were it not for America’s hunters and anglers, including the great icons like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold, our nation would not have the tradition of sound game management and an extensive public lands estate on which to hunt and fish. There are close to 40 million Americans who hunt and fish. Hunting and Fishing plays an important part in our economy and our heritage as a nation. I am courting sportsmen because my policies, actions and decisions as President will advance the goals of hunters and anglers.

This is where I should insert, but don’t go look!

While Barack Obama was an Illinois State Senator, it seems he did absolutely nothing to support hunting, fishing and outdoor activities, including some programs designed to encourage kids to get outside – even when asked.

Here is a YouTube video of a recent Sportsmen for McCain Rally held in Oley, Pennsylvania. Aaron Hobbs, National Director of Sportsmen for McCain, shares with the crowd on hand the blatant lack of support by Obama toward the Illinois DNR and hunting and fishing opportunity programs.

It makes it a bit difficult to believe that a man with a past such as this can now claim that his “policies, actions and decisions will advance the goals of hunters and fishermen”.

Just a reminder, don’t go look!

I have spent a fair amount of time working to reveal the lies perpetrated by Obama about his support of the right to keep and bear arms. Once again, it is easy to say pretty much what you want to when you believe nobody is going to exert any effort to see if it’s true. The real truth comes from his past, which requires going and looking. I’ll help you out a bit.

If interested, you can begin here by reading past articles I have done on Barack Obama. You may have to scroll down through some of them to find those specifically about guns and gun rights. Also, check “related articles” at the bottom of the page.

Who better to tell us about Obama’s past record on Illinois gun issues than that states biggest gun lobbyist? On October 10, 2008, Rich Pearson, Executive Director of the Illinois State Rifle Association and chief lobbyist for that group, sent a letter to his fellow sportsmen relaying some of his past experiences in dealing with Barack Obama as a state Senator.

Much of the letter confirms much of what I have written in past articles about Obama’s past voting record on gun issues. There are two parts of the letter that need a bit further attention. Part one:

I lobbied Barack Obama extensively while he was an Illinois State Senator. As a result of that experience, I know Obama’s attitudes toward guns and gun owners better than anyone. The truth be told, in all my years in the Capitol I have never met a legislator who harbors more contempt for the law-abiding firearm owner than Barack Obama.

Coming from a person who I would have to agree has first hand experience in dealing with Obama on gun issues, this confirms all previous reports of his desire to rid his world of guns.

The second part that needs attention will lead us into another article that was sent to me by a reader.

Obama has shown that he is more than willing to use other people’s money to fund his campaign to take your guns away from you. While a board member of the leftist Joyce Foundation, Barack Obama wrote checks for tens of millions of dollars to extremist gun control organizations such as the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence and the Violence Policy Center.

We can add to this list the Handgun Control, Inc., now commonly known as the Brady Campaign.

David T. Hardy of Pajamas Media, earlier this month wrote an article investigating Barack Obama’s past involvement with the Joyce Foundation, of which he was director from 1994-2002. He asks why Obama has kept this so quiet?

During Obama’s tenure, according to Hardy, the Joyce Foundation spent millions of dollars creating and supporting anti-gun organizations, some of which have already been listed. But Hardy spends more time sharing his discovery of Obama’s efforts to target the Supreme Court. The goal? “The plan’s objective was bold: the judicial obliteration of the Second Amendment.”

You must read the article. It is eye opening and definitely frightening. This man is a liar who has been successful in keeping from the public the truth about him and his past.

Barack Obama claims to understand the importance of our hunting and fishing heritage. He also says his “policies, actions and decisions as President will advance the goals of hunters and fishermen”. He claims he is a supporter of an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.

And his biggest hope for his future is that you “WON’T GO LOOK!”

Tom Remington

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Pittman-Robertson Act Provides Funds For Hunter Safety

On Monday of this week I reported that eight states (Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio) were going to request grant monies available through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, also known as Pittman-Robertson, in order to conduct studies on tree stand safety. The article I wrote generated some discussion and comments, one coming from reader MadJack.

Yes the P/R Act was to improve hunting & wildlife habitat, NOT to WASTE in an attempt to control hunters & how they hunt! I believe this would be a direct violation of the Pitman Robertson Act as well as very unlawful.

More Government waste!

While I tend to agree with MadJack, I wasn’t aware that revenues generated through PR were used via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund programs for hunter safety and education. According to PR Act Title 16, Chapter 5B, section 669h, $8 million will be apportioned back to each state for certain hunter safety programs.

Of the revenues covered into the fund, $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002, and $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 and each fiscal year thereafter, shall be apportioned among the States in the manner specified in section 669c(c) \1\ of this title by the Secretary of the Interior and used to make grants to the States to be used for–

(A) in the case of a State that has not used all of the funds apportioned to the State under section 669c(c) \1\ of this title for the fiscal year in the manner described in section 669g(b) of this title–
(i) the enhancement of hunter education programs, hunter and sporting firearm safety programs, and hunter development programs;
(ii) the enhancement of interstate coordination and development of hunter education and shooting range programs;
(iii) the enhancement of bow hunter and archery education, safety, and development programs; and
(iv) the enhancement of construction or development of firearm shooting ranges and archery ranges, and the updating of safety features of firearm shooting ranges and archery ranges; and

(B) in the case of a State that has used all of the funds apportioned to the State under section 669c(c) \1\ of this title for the fiscal year in the manner described in section 669g(b) of this title, any use authorized by this chapter (including hunter safety programs and the construction, operation, and maintenance of public target ranges).

An act that was originally designed for the protection of wildlife and habitat, it has been amended many times in order that these funds can be used for other programs not directly related to it original purpose. As I understand the Act, monies are apportioned back to each state for the specific purposes described concerning hunter safety and education programs. If that money has been used up, USFWS grants additional monies collected via PR for further hunter education and safety programs.

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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EHD Or Blue Tongue Showing Up In More States

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease or blue tongue is affecting whitetail deer herds in several states now. On the list are Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and now New Jersey. There may be more.

Fred J. Aun of the Star-Ledger, in reporting about the discovery of the disease in New Jersey, describes EHD this way.

EHD is not uncommon and it’s not dangerous to humans. It is caused by the bite of certain midges and results in high fevers and hemorrhages in the mouths, noses and eyes of deer prior to death. Fish and Wildlife said deer usually expire within 10 days of getting EHD.

Vice President of Global Operations for Skinny Moose Media and U.S. Hunting Today, John Stabley, called Dr. Colleen O’Keefe, IDOA division manager of Food Safety and Animal Protection, in Illinois to ask her specific questions about the disease, its affect on deer and other animals as well as humans. You can read the entire interview at Stabley’s blog, Stabley Outdoors.

J.R. Absher, the Newshound, has been keeping his readers abreast of the locations and severity of the disease.

In the meantime, as we hunters head into the woods to do our scouting or for the start of any of hunting seasons, keep an eye open for the possibility of EHD being present in deer. If you encounter any cases you are encouraged to contact your fish and game department with the information.

Tom Remington

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Longer Hunting Day Bill Goes To Illinois Governor

A bill to extend the hunting day to one half hour after sunset is headed for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s office for signing. Sen. Gary Forby sponsored the bill and says it will give hunters a bit more opportunity to hunt and will help also with the reduction of a deer population that has been described as out of control. Read more here.

Tom Remington

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Coyote Problems Everywhere

Coyote populations are on the rise all across this country and more and more each day we hear of increased human/coyote/pet encounters sometimes not ending in a happy way. In Ohio, a woman was attempting to move what she thought was a dead coyote that had been hit by another car. When she went to move the animal, it bit her.

In Illinois, Claudia Daigle took her award winning poodle out into here own backyard around 11 p.m. when I coyote came running out of the woods and grabbed the poodle by the neck and ran off. The coyote dropped the dog just into the woods but the dog died on the way to the emergency room.

Meanwhile in Massachusetts, residence there are discussing increasing a hunting season on the coyote. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing a lengthening of the season to hunt coyotes because of the effects a growing population is having on other wildlife species and increased human encounters.

As one would expect there is opposition to any kind of hunting from animal protectionists.

“The coyote does not necessarily pose a public safety threat,” Scott M. Giacoppo, deputy director of advocacy for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said in speaking against lengthening the hunting season.

Too many coyotes necessarily can pose a public safety threat. People are getting bitten, dogs attacked, etc. The truth is the coyote needs better management and history has shown that doing such is a difficult task. The last thing the animal needs right now if further protection.

Tom Remington

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Getting Hunting Permits With Head-Of-The-Line Privileges

I’ve been in the business world for a long time in many different areas, from construction to tourism and stops in between. I understand the need, if you will, for a business to offer “freebies” as a way of promoting its business. But is it right to give away hunting permits to professional athletes and politicians when those permits are issued in a lottery format?

Such is the case in Illinois following an audit that involved the Department of Natural Resources. Yesterday I introduced you to the story that had limited available information and told you how more than 1,200 permits had been given away. Now, more information is trickling in as to who were the recipients of free hunting permits. In addition to Colorado Rockies first baseman, John Mabry, a host of others got some free passes.

According to the documents, other players who received the permits include pitchers Jake Peavy and Cal Eldred, former catcher Mike Matheny and former utilityman Eli Marrero. Chicago White Sox slugger Jim Thome, a Peoria-area native, also received one of the special permits.

In addition to ballplayers, the list included a number of current and former state lawmakers, including state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, and state Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro

If you are one of those who think politicians are just like you and me and think the same way, read this.

When asked if he thought it was wrong that extra permits were given out – some to prominent, well-connected people – Forby said he wouldn’t mind if twice as many licenses were distributed.

“We have too many damn deers in my district,” Forby said.

Not convinced yet? Try this.

While the agency defended its practice, Holland said the program allowed the state to give preferential treatment to certain people.

Bost, too, said he didn’t see a problem with his receiving a turkey hunting permit through the special process. He said he’d do the same thing for one of his constituents if asked.

So my suggestion to all of you who are in Mr. Bost’s district, to get on the phone and call him up and ask for a special permit for turkey or deer. Oh, heck! You might as well ask him for both. It would be fitting for him to become inundated with telephone calls. Here’s his contact information.

Springfield Office:
202-N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-0387
(217) 557-0571 FAX
District Office:
300 E. Main
Carbondale, IL 62951
(618) 457-5787
(618) 457-2990 FAX
Jackson County

If this is the case, then why does Illinois even bother with permits in the first place?

Tom Remington

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Illinois DNR Has Questions To Answer

A recent audit of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources showed that over 1,200 hunting permits were given away. Who they were given to remains unclear as the audit showed 15 permits went to ammunition company officials but no accounting of the others. What is also disturbing about this report is that it appears some of those permits were given away resulting in some applicants for lottery-style hunting permits not getting a chance.

Whether it will come out as to who received these free hunting permits remains to be seen but this audit brings to the forefront that IDNR needs to answer some questions and resolve this issue.

Tom Remington

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CWD Still Being Found In W. Virginia And Illinois

Officials in West Virginia continued to collect sample from harvested deer in search of the presence of chronic wasting disease. One more sample was found in Hampshire Country bringing to total 10 found this year in that county.

Officials in the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources say preliminary test results have detected the disease in one hunter-harvested deer collected during this year’s hunting season.

Another deer with the disease was killed on the road and eight others were collected by D-N-R officials.

D-N-R spokesman Frank Jezioro says samples were collected from more than 13-hundred deer in the area.

He says based upon the findings, the disease seems to be in a relatively small geographical area.

In Illinois testing there is showing that the disease may be spreading further south as authorities confirmed 16 more cases.

The positive tests came from deer killed by firearm and archery hunters and a few suspicious deer taken by DNR staff.
Winnebago and DeKalb counties each had six; Boone County four.

All but one case was from deer in previously infected areas. The exception was a deer killed in southern DeKalb County, about seven miles from the LaSalle County line.

The state has included southern DeKalb in next month’s special CWD hunt because of the new discovery.

The latest positives came from about 2,500 deer. Tests have not been completed on all deer sampled during the firearm seasons.

Tom Remington

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I Went Hunting The Other Day And Saw Three Deer, A Moose, A Coyote And A Meth Lab

What? No, I’m not kidding. This is all I read and hear about these days. I read newspaper accounts and hear from hunters everywhere that they are running into out-of-the-way, home made methamphetamine labs. Meth, for short, is a highly addictive drug that is usually made on home concocted apparatus. Because of police trying to crackdown on the manufacture, use and sale of it, makers have moved operations into the woods so they won’t so easily be found. Because of this, hunters roaming the woods during hunting season are finding them.

It has gotten so bad that states like South Dakota have issued warnings in their Hunting Handbook(pdf.file) about what to do if you come upon a meth lab.

Because of the illegal nature of their activity and the extreme paranoia these ‘cooks’ may be experiencing, approaching them in camouflage clothing and carrying a firearm can be a recipe for disaster.

The Handbook goes on to explain what to do if you come across a user, also known as a “tweaker”.

Keep your distance. Coming too close can be perceived as threatening.

􀂄 No bright lights. The tweaker is paranoid and bright lights may cause them to react violently.
􀂄 Slow your speech, lower your voice.
􀂄 Slow your movements. The tweaker may be paranoid and may misunderstand your actions.
􀂄 Keep your hands visible, or they may feel threatened and become violent.
􀂄 Keep the tweaker talking. A tweaker who falls silent can be extremely dangerous. Silence often means that his paranoid thoughts have taken over reality, and anyone present can become part of the tweaker’s paranoid delusions.

USA Today has a story today about the widespread problems of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts coming upon meth users and labs in the woods. The article states that some hunting organizations are actually spending their money to warn hunters.

The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association sponsors public-service announcements on radio stations each fall to warn hunters to be on the lookout for meth labs. “How can people abuse our natural resources like this?” asks Mark Johnson, the group’s executive director.

Lt. Carl Lamb of the Seymour, Ind., police department has conducted seminars for hundreds of area hunters and farmers. After the training sessions, he says, “They recognize what to look for and know not to mess with it.”

Larry Dale, a hunter and hunting safety instructor in Petersburg, Ill., says hunters can be “useful eyes and ears” for law enforcement when they know how to identify meth-related equipment. The drug and its makers, he says, are “a general menace to society.”

What has become of our society? Is this it? Is this what we have to look forward to? I can see it now as I sit down with my now 5-year old grandson when it’s time to take him into the woods for a hike, or to fish or to hunt. I’ll not only have to begin telling him of the respect we as outdoor users need to have toward nature, wildlife and the land and landowners but now I must warn them that their life might be in danger because some sorry loser is out in the woods cooking up meth.

The warning issued in the South Dakota Hunting Handbook also tells those who come across a meth lab, not to touch anything.

Most of these chemicals are hazardous by themselves, but when mixed in the cooking process and disposed of they become toxic waste, which is harmful to humans, animals and the environment. These mixtures are also highly flammable and even explosive. Manufacturing of one pound of Meth produces 5-6 pounds of hazardous waste. These chemicals can cause severe health problems, even death if handled improperly. Exposure may cause respiratory problems, skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness. If you believe you inadvertently came into contact with a lab or dumpsite and experience any of these symptoms, first seek immediate health care

This is a sad commentary on what has become of people in this country that they have to resort to such self-destructive behavior. Maybe if these people had grown up with their dads or moms taking them out hunting and fishing and just enjoying the outdoors, they wouldn’t be doing what they are today.

With this many toxins now being dumped in the woods, think of the number of animals that are probably dying from this. Where are the so-called animal rights activists? Maybe if they spent their time and money on important projects like this and began viewing hunters as not the enemy, their work would be better recognized and appreciated.

Tom Remington

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