Maryland’s Farmers and Hunters Feeding The Hungry

Are you interested in helping out a worthy cause? Check out Huntonly.com’s participation in Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry along with upcoming events.

Tom Remington

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State Record Bear Taken In Maryland Bear Hunt

Yesterday concluded the first day of the Maryland bear hunt in which 36 bears were taken. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources wants to reduced the western Maryland bear population by around 50 bears. Having great success during the hunt was Coty Jones. She’s a junior at Corcoran College of Art and Design. She brought down a state record 615-pound black bear. That weight bests the previous state record by 129 pounds.

During yesterday’s hunt, the Humane Society of the United States was announcing the results of a recent telephone poll stating the poll showed that 61% of Maryland residents were opposed to the hunt. According to the Baltimore Sun, there were some results of that poll the HSUS wasn’t eager to share.

However, 63 percent of those polled in Western Maryland, where the bulk of the bears live, favor the hunt.

This fact surely indicates what some have been preaching for years that once people are directly involved in wildlife problems and have accurate, first-hand knowledge of the facts, their outlook changes dramatically. It’s easy for the city people, some who have never seen a live bear, to say they are opposed to hunting. If provided with all the facts, often they change their minds as most reasonable people would.

With 36 bears taken on the first day and the second day underway right now, there’s a reasonably good chance the bear hunt will end after today.

Tom Remington

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Maryland’s Black Bear Hunt Gets Underway Today

Despite protests from a few who believe animals are equal to humans, the planned black bear hunt in Maryland will begin this morning. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says that once 50 bears have been taken, the hunt will end.

Good luck to all the Maryland bear hunters and hopefully you won’t run into people like this one who posted the following comment on this blog over the weekend.

I’m voting for the bears. I hope the hunters drink lots of beer during their big hunt. I love reading about fatel hunting accidents.

What perversion!

You know I got a real kick out of one media account of the planned bear hunt for this morning. I think they tried their darnedest to report the story with as little bias as possible so I got a real chuckle at this one writer’s attempt to discredit Maryland and the bear hunt when they finished their piece this way.

There are several states with much larger bear populations that do not allow bear hunting.

Isn’t that a hoot? It really shows the lack of knowledge about what wildlife management is all about.

Tom Remington

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Maryland Will Go Ahead With Fall Bear Hunt……..This Year

With a new governor in Maryland, the Humane Society of the United States is eager to lie, cheat and steal to convince Gov. Martin O’Malley to put an end to the bear hunt that was reinstated by former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.. So far, Gov. O’Malley is sticking with the plan.

Still, the governor plans to continue to allow the hunt as part of the state’s effort to control the bear population, said O’Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese.

“The governor certainly understands and respects the diverse viewpoints on the issue, but the growing bear population and its impact on citizens, especially in Western Maryland, requires some action,” Abbruzzese said.

With a growing bear population of about 10% per year, residence there are finding out that living with too many of these large predators can be not only a challenge but down right scary.

One person eager to see the hunt continue is Charlotte Stanton, whose home on wooded property in Grantsville was attacked by a rabid black bear Aug. 29.

Stanton, 39, said she was at home with her husband and two children when they saw a black bear climb up on their fence. She said she screamed to try to scare it away, but instead of running, it charged and tried to break in the door – which she held shut.

“The bear went to the window, and started yanking out the air conditioner,” she said. “Me and the bear wrestled over the air conditioner, with the bear trying to pull it out and me trying to hold it in.”

Finally, she said, her husband, Michael, found his shotgun and shot the bear. Tests showed it had rabies. All four members of the family had to get rabies shots because they had touched the bear’s blood and saliva.

“The state needs to let people shoot more than 50 bears because that’s not near enough,” Stanton said. “These bears just aren’t afraid of humans anymore.”

The lottery style bear hunt in the western part of the state calls for the taking of just 50 bears. Around 2,800 people applied for the 220 permits issued. When a hunter takes a bear, they must notify the state and take the bear to a registration station. Once 50 bears are taken, the hunt will be called off.

The bear hunt is scheduled to begin on October 22 and will run until either the 50 bears are taken or until October 27.

Tom Remington

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Human Poop Pellets Ward Off Deer?

In the Washington, D.C. area sewage treatment plants are manufacturing human poop pellets. A poop pellet is a fertilizer derived from the treatment of human waste. Yes, stuff that used to be in your toilet bowl. The product is called TLC, Tuscarora Landscaper’s Choice, and people who use it say it is an incredible fertilizer that makes lawns green and lush and one user claims in grows vegetable plants where no seeds where ever planted. Such a deal.

Some users are claiming that using this stuff, which has a bit of a pungent odor, keeps deer at bay. In areas of Virginia and Maryland where deer herds are so numerous, farmers and homeowners are being eaten out of house and home by the deer. They are looking for anything that will help.

But not all people say the stuff works as a deer repellent.

The Washington Post covers the story.

Tom Remington

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More Information On Savage River Lodge Hunting And Land Access Issues

Yesterday I said that the Maryland DNR had announced they were going to shrink the once granted hunting safety zone back to the legal minimum around all dwellings of the Savage River Lodge. Today, there is more information available at the MDNR website.

The Savage River Lodge sits on private property within the Savage River State Forest. Maryland state law requires no hunting within 150 yards of any dwelling. This is called a safety zone and because of complaints by the owners of the lodge, the DNR increased the safety zone which in turn prompted complaints from public users of the forest, including hunters.

The MDNR has been addressing the complaints and at a meeting with constituents on February 27, 2007, they spelled out the steps they have taken so far. The first issue deals with the hunting safety zone.

The primary issue raised at the meeting was opposition to the “No Hunting, No (Loaded) Weapons” signs posted along Mt. Aetna Road and the Green Trail.

DNR’s original reason for posting the signs centered on public safety concerns. DNR agreed to conduct a re-evaluation of the need for signs by Feb. 2007.

Based on the number and nature of law enforcement complaints that occurred on the tract during the 2006 rifle and muzzleloader hunting seasons, DNR agreed to remove the signs along Mt. Aetna Road and the Green Trail. However, the Department will maintain a 150-yard safety zone around all occupied structures on the Savage River Lodge property, where standard safety zone signage will be posted.

Click on map for a full page-sized map.

At issue as well, were concerns by citizens about “no parking” signs posted by Savage River Lodge along the Mt. Aetna Road that leads into the forest.

The “no parking” signs posted by Savage River Lodge along Mt. Aetna Road have been removed. However, DNR will be placing State “no parking” signs along the road in the turn-out areas to prevent parking in those locations.

While parking along the road is not legally prohibited, it would be extremely difficult to park legally along this road. Due the narrow width of the road, a vehicle would need to be parked completely off the road to avoid blocking traffic.

There are two gates located on or near this same road. One gate sits on public lands, the other on private. Citizens want the gate left open so that they can have access to the state forest.

DNR and the Savage River Lodge have a shared legal right-of-way (ROW) from Old Frostburg Road to the Savage River Lodge property line. As a State agency administering public lands, DNR’s ROW is shared by the public and is available for public use.

Therefore, the “limited access” signs have been removed, and DNR will instruct Savage River Lodge to remove the gate placed across the road on state property.

The gate on private land will remain in place and will be used to open and close the road.

Public access to the road will be adjusted seasonally, based on the public’s need for access to the Mt. Aetna tract for legitimate recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, etc. DNR will determine gate openings and closures based on what is best for the tract. Due to the shared ROW legal status of the road, these determinations will be made in consultation with Savage River Lodge.

An issue of concern was the request for the state to build a parking area at the entrance to the forest.

DNR has conducted an inter-disciplinary team review of this request. A final decision on whether or not to install an additional parking area on the tract is pending.

*Previous Posts*
Maryland DNR Shrinks Savage River Lodge “Safety Zone”
Maryland DNR Tells Landowner To Remove Gate And Take Down Signs
Savage River Hunting Land Appears Useless To Hunters As State DNR Panders To Private Lodge Owners
Savage River Hunting Land Up For Debate
Maryland DNR Giving Away Public Lands For Private Use??

Tom Remington

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Maryland DNR Shrinks Savage River Lodge “Safety Zone”

Savage River Lodge is a private retreat that sits amid the Savage River State Forest. State law says hunters must remain 150 yards from any dwelling. Owners of the lodge complained to DNR officials who responded by expanding that zone more than doubling the size of the safety zone.

Hunters began complaining to DNR and other state officials that actions being carried out by the owners of the lodge, Michael Dreisbach and Janis Russell, essentially prohibited access to the public lands and limited hunting to a point where it was nearly impossible to use any of the land.

A hiking trail that criss-crossed the park also had been granted a safety zone. Some complained that the layout of the trail combined with the safety zone virtually closed down the park.

There was also much dispute about a gate leading into the park and signs erected by the owners of the lodge. People complained that the gate was being illegally closed and locked and that Savage River Lodge owners erected “No Firearms Permitted” signs and tried to enforce it. The DNR ordered Savage River Lodge to remove the signs and leave the gate opened.

The DNR announce yesterday that they are reducing the size of the granted safety zone to what is supposed to be the original zone granted by law. It is unclear whether this affects only the dwellings or the dwellings and the hiking trail.

*Previous Posts*
Maryland DNR Tells Landowner To Remove Gate And Take Down Signs
Savage River Hunting Land Appears Useless To Hunters As State DNR Panders To Private Lodge Owners
Savage River Hunting Land Up For Debate
Maryland DNR Giving Away Public Lands For Private Use??

Tom Remington

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Maryland DNR Tells Landowner To Remove Gate And Take Down Signs

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has told the owners of the Savage River Lodge to remove the gate blocking public access and take down their signs.

I just received a heads up from Sid Turner, one citizen who has been actively concerned about the Maryland DNR giving away public land for private business, that the DNR has told Michael Dreisbach, owner of Savage River Lodge, to remove the gate that blocks entrance to public lands inside the Mount Aetna Track. These public lands surround the Savage River Lodge.

I covered this story earlier this fall. You can scroll down for links to all previous posts.

According to Turner, he received a letter from the MDDNR with instructions for Dreisbach.

I have received a copy of a letter dated 11/21/06 from the md. dnr to the lodge owners. (T)he letter states the lodge must remove the gate blocking access to the state land, remove the no parking signs that allow the access road to the state land and the private road signs. (T)he contract with the lodge for trail cutting and clearing on state land will be terminated 12/31/06 as well.

The owners of Savage River Lodge were granted a permit to cut trails throughout the public lands that surround the property. He also had posted the lands all around the trails making them virtually unhuntable, only to Lodge guests. Local citizens became outraged and went to work to get something done about it. Public meetings were held to examine facts and to receive public comment.

I assume as a result of the actions of concerned citizens, the DNR either decided themselves or were told by the state, to fix it. But it appears that even though the letter has instructed Dreisbach to remove the gate and signs, dated 11/21/2006, the signs and gate are still there. Turner, in his email to me, states that as of today the gate and signs remain.

Turner also stated that local newspapers have reported the Savage River Lodge owner, Michael Dreisbach as saying he will not obey the orders of the DNR.

(T)he lodge owner has stated in the local times news newspaper he is not inclined to follow the instructions in the letter! (T)he dnr states (M)ike the lodge owner does not have the option to delay these matters or legal action will be taken.

It appears that Turner is correct in his statement. According to an article in the Cumberland Times-News dated December 28, 2006, Dreisbach did say that.

In a November letter, Mike Dreisbach and Jan Russell, the husband-wife owners of the lodge, were told to remove the illegal signs and to discontinue locking a gate on the edge of Savage River State Forest. The letter was written based on advice from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

“They have kept the gate open, but Mike told us he is not inclined to remove the signs,” said Mike Slattery, assistant natural resources secretary, Wednesday.

The DNR has stated that if the owners do not remove the signs, forestry staff will take them down.

Some of the signs say “No Weapons” which is being contested as to whether Dreisbach and the state have the right to determine the public lands weapons free. The issue concerning the “safety zone” around the trails cut by Savage River owners remains in debate.

Dreisbach successfully requested the no-weapons zone in an effort he has said in the past is to protect guests at his lodge from the hunting public.

He said his guests have been approached and intimidated by unruly and sometimes inebriated hunters. Several Garrett County hunters said they have been approached by Dreisbach in a confrontational manner and ordered off public land. The Maryland Natural Resources Police was unable to document such claims by either side.

Slattery said that by February, the agency will determine whether to allow the safety zone to remain. It has been protested strongly by local hunters and is opposed by Senator-elect George Edwards.

I will continue to follow the story.

*Previous Posts*

Savage River Hunting Land Appears Useless To Hunters As State DNR Panders To Private Lodge Owners
Savage River Hunting Land Up For Debate
Maryland DNR Giving Away Public Lands For Private Use??

Tom Remington

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Camp David Looking Too Much Like Washington

Camp David, the Presidential retreat only a few minutes ride by helicopter from the White House, is looking too much like Capital Hill these days. Camp David is overrun with whitetail deer much the same way as Washington, D.C. is overrun with politicians and the like. The major different is that at Camp David plans are being discussed to hire sharpshooters to cull the numbers. In Washington……….never mind.

The forested area around Camp David comprises well over 5,000 acres and authorities estimate a robust deer population of nearly 500 animals. According to the Washington Times, it’s even got to the point where some are concerned about the security and safety of the President.

The deer have stripped the lower levels of trees so clean that there has also been concern about the security and seclusion of the camp where presidents have sought refuge since the 1940s, the Associated Press reported in 1997.

A plan to bring in sharpshooters to cull the herd has followed very typically along party lines (just kidding) but has resembled many other plans in Washington where this one has been the the works for 25 years.

The plan, which is open for public comment through Jan. 26, follows 25 years of research and debate into a deer herd blamed for damaging the 5,770-acre park by browsing excessively.

But if you’re a sharpshooter, don’t get your hopes to high. The plan is still in the discussion stages where hearings will be held and the Humane Society of the United States has become involved in trying to put a stop to the thinning. At this rate, my great-grandchildren might get to witness a plan.

Shooting the animals and donating the meat to charitable services to feed the hungry is the logical step to address the problem but we all understand who is making the decisions here. With the upcoming lame duck Congress, we’re apt to see more deer brought in and feeding troughs set up. Who knows? It may provide jobs for illegal aliens.

Tom Remington

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Savage River Hunting Land Appears Useless To Hunters As State DNR Panders To Private Lodge Owners

Hat Tip to Sid Turner and Rita Crowe!!

A second public meeting was held yesterday at the Grantsville Library in Grantsville, Maryland to discuss ways for Maryland residents to get back use of public lands around the Savage River area – Mount Aetna Track or Compartment 40. At this meeting, representatives of the Department of Natural Resources were on hand to answer questions and advise citizens. Those in attendance were, John F. Wilson – Deputy Director, Public Lands Policy & Planning DNR, Steve W. Koehn – Director/State Forester, Maryland DNR Forest Service, Ken Jolly – Associate Director of Field Operations, Forest Service, Larry Maxim – Forest Manager, Savage River State Forest, Officers Marple and Stafford – DNR Police.

Also present was Delegate George Edwards representing his constituancy and the state of Maryland.

Before I get into issues that were discussed at this meeting, I have to say that this is the most ludicrous set of events that have happened to the citizens of Maryland. They have been robbed unknowingly because of extremely poor decision making on the part of the Department of Natural Resources all for the purpose of pandering to a private land owner. The actions undertaken by the DNR of Maryland on this issue are a clear example of what can happen when too much authority is granted any one individual or group of individuals. We as individuals have to pay closer attention to what those in authority are doing with your tax money, in this case your public lands.

From the information I am receiving from individuals like Sid Turner who have walked the land in question, it appears that little, if any, of the 640 total acres of land in the Mt. Aetna Track is usable for hunting because of agreements made between DNR and Savage River Lodge owner Michael Dreisbach.

Let’s back up for a moment and let me make a clarification that was brought to my attention by Sid Turner, concerned citizen for the future of these public lands. I had stated in my article yesterday that Dreisbach had purchased the land for his lodge from the state. According to Turner, Dreisbach purchased the land from a previous owner who couldn’t get permission from the DNR to do many of the things the new owner has been able to do.

the lodge land was not purchased from the state but was purchased from an individual. that person could not seem to get the state to give him a permit to build a bridge or a wider right-of-way across state land so he sold the land to the new lodge owners. low and behold a year or 2 later the new lodge owners had the permit for the new bridge across savage river and a new 30/40′ right-of-way across state land!

If this is true, then it would be interesting to try and figure out what connections Dreisbach had to get the necessary permits, etc.

Maryland state law says that it is illegal to discharge a firearm without 150 yards of a structure. Because of this existing law, which certainly is not unreasonable, hunters have to remain 150 yards away from the Savage River Lodge, the 18 cabins and the house that sits nearby. People are complaining that this 150 yards (450 feet) has grown considerably by the lodge owner posting land outside the boundaries of his own land.

But the issue becomes more bizarre. Dreisbach was able to reach an agreement with DNR to construct/maintain trails throughout a great deal of the public lands that his property abutts. In that agreement, the DNR granted Dreisbach a 150-yard safety zone around any and all trails that Dreisbach maintains for his lodge guests. Once again I remind you that this is all on public lands owned by Maryland taxpayers. Included in this agreement about maintaining trails is permission for Dreisbach to cut firewood in exchange for his work of maintaining the trails. People have complained that unless you are a guest you cannot use these trails without first paying Dreisbach a $5.00 user fee.

At yesterday’s meeting, here’s what Sid Turner had to say about what those trails and the buffer zone has done to the entire parcel.

“If you look at the map, you’ll see that SRL was allowed to encircle the mountain – twice – with trails. This allows them to control the use of the entire mountain, although it is State property.”

Turner also says that when he and others walked the property, he found signs (I would assume he meant no hunting or no trespassing signs) as much as 690 feet from the trail. For clarification: If Dreisbach has a 150-yard buffer from the trail, that means 150 yards on either side, totalling 300 yards or 900 feet. Loops or zig zags of trails strategically placed throughout 640 acres could easily render the land completely unhuntable.

For whatever the reason(s) Maryland DNR personel has given the owners of the Savage River Lodge free reign over the Mt. Aetna Track, the fact is the public is being run off the property and it appears DNR is doing very little to change that. DNR claims they are looking out for the safety of everyone in granting this buffer safety zone around the trail yet they don’t grant such buffers at other public lands that have trails on them. So what makes this case different?

Hunters want to get on this land to hunt this deer season, which is already underway, but it doesn’t appear that this is going to happen. There are some issues at the access road that look like they will be addressed soon but as far as the safety issue around the hiking trails, DNR says that won’t change until at least next year.

DNR has established these “Safety Zones” to see how it works during this hunting season, will then evaluate and then consider removing them.

And the DNR says they can’t address the agreement that exists about the trails.

“In essence, there was a pre-existing agreement between the owner and the Department. We can’t address that [as it was entered into by another department].

We will be taking a look at that agreement, re-evaluating it and deciding whether the agreement should be changed.

The group of citizens that gathered are becoming frustrated and are not sure where to go from here. Perhaps the best thing they have going for them at present is the support of Del. George Edwards. He sat quietly through much of the meeting and then addressed the group including the DNR.

“I am irritated that Mike Slatterley (Assistant Director of DNR) is not here today. He should have been here, as he’s been involved in the past. You can tell him that I’m irritated, and I will also let him know. It was after a meeting with Mike Slatterley and Mike Dreisbach in Annapolis – which I wasn’t aware of – that the signs went up.”

I received a letter from the Savage River Forest Citizens Advisory Board, and I will read a part to you: “…we neither approved nor disapproved the actions re: signs. We were informed of the actions taken at our Spring (April 2006) meeting…”
There should have been a public meeting about this. Or the Citizens Advisory Board meeting should be advertised in the newspaper.

I’ve been told that the signs are there because of SRL’s concern for liability issues. If the State is willing to take responsibility, then take the signs down.

“I want to see where 150 yards from the occupied buildings is, and see how this jives with what you have their now.”
“I want to see the difference on a map.”

“This situation may be unique, but I want you to go back to what’s in the guidelines, which is 150 yards from occupied structures, not a trail.”

“Do we have this kind of Safety Zone posted at the Savage River Hiking Trail, which gets a lot of hiking use?”

No, sir.

“We don’t have signs on New Germany Road + State Park either.”

Return to the Rulebook Guidelines, 150 yards from an occupied structure, which in the case of SRL would include the house the owners live in, the Lodge, and the 18 cabins.

“As for the parking lot, you tell us 18 months to get funding, but I also know that you can do thin[g]s faster. You have the authority to work faster.”

“You have got to have a place for them (the hunters, the public users) to turn around and park. This would not be a big expense, as it is relatively flat up there.”

“I want this to get settled, so people here can get on to supporting other important issues.”

Public lands are for the use of the citizens of that state. These lands are bought and paid for with tax dollars and should be managed in a way that completely preserves the best interests of the public. I can think of no legitimate reasons why the Maryland DNR should grant this or any other private landowner the permissions they have been given in order to profit from their business at the expense of others.

It is not uncommon for parcels of private land to be found surrounded by larger tracts of lands. Sometimes these lands are parks, state and national forests and in this case public lands. Laws allow for the access to those lands. It is also not uncommon for states to grant permits for a private landowner to build a bridge across a stream to gain access and to build a road. It is uncommon for the state to pay for that and then gate it and not allow the public use. It is even a fairly common practice to grant or allow the construction of trails, whether hiking, atv riding or snowmobiling, across public lands. Many different kinds of agreements have been reached in states all across America. I would question whether any match the one in question here.

In Maryland, lawmakers have determined that 150 yards from a dwelling or structure is a sufficient safety zone in which hunters are not allowed to discharge a firearm. During the hunting season everyone, including hikers, need to understand that at certain amount of risk, although extremely minimal, exists when entering the woods during that time. Had this trail been a direct route used by many people to get from one point to another, I could concur that a safety zone should be set up. This buffer has been created for the Savage River Lodge users only. What is completely ridiculous is the fact that guest of the lodge come their to hunt. They now have their own private preserve complete with trails to walk on in which to hunt.

One can only conclude that somebody knew somebody when permits and agreements were made between the DNR and the Savage River Lodge.

Tom Remington

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Savage River Hunting Land Up For Debate

On Sunday nearly 140 concerned citizens attended a meeting at the Avilton Community Center to ask questions and get information about what can be done to get their land back. Representatives of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources were expected to attend this meeting but according to the Cumberland Times reporter Maria Smith, nobody showed. Present though was Maryland Delegate George Edwards, who recently was elected to the Senate and will take up that position in January. Edwards spoke in support of the group of citizens who want the state to do something about public lands that seem to be disappearing in the Savage River area.

At issue is land sold by the state to private owners, Michael Dreisbach and his wife Janis Russell. They purchased from the state land which now comprises 42 acres in Garrett County, smack dab in the middle of 640 acres of public lands called the Mount Aetna Tract or Compartment 40. The owners have built their dream lodge consisting of a lodge, 18 cabins and a house. It is named Savage River Lodge.

Why this was allowed to be sold by the state to Dreisbach and Russell is unknown to me but for whatever reason or reasons, it appears that this may have been a big mistake. As I understand the story, the state constructed a road through the public lands for access to Savage River Lodge. Over time the owners of the lodge have posted signs at the entrance to the lands prohibiting parking, trespass, guns, hunting, shooting, you name it the owners of Savage River Lodge have attempted to keep other hunters and recreationists out.

According to Sid Turner, one of those concerned citizens who attended the meeting and gave me the heads-up on this story and sent pictures, not only have they posted their land around the lodge but have taken the liberty of posting much of the public lands as well. It must be pointed out to readers that guests of the lodge hunt the lands as well as enjoy hiking and other outdoor interests.

Those in attendance of the meeting on Sunday aren’t disputing the lodge owner’s right to post their land, what they are protesting is the lodge owner posting public lands they don’t own, such as the land around their lodge and the roadway leading to it.

Jeff Connor, one of those who helped get the meeting together, described the activities on the land this way.

the owners of Savage River Lodge have “No Hunting No Weapons signs laced around the outskirts” of their property, which lies within the Savage River Forest.

The signs, which were to have been removed by now, are posted around his premises, a hiking trail and the road that leads to the lodge and are the only such signs in the state.

“It’s taking up a lot of the state forest we’re hunting on,” Connor said. “Some say we’re being run off.”

Sid Turner says that the lodge is slowly but surely taking over the entire 640 acre public parcel. He says that the state has paid for the construction of the road to the lodge and has built hiking trails connecting to the lodge specifically for lodge guests to use. He doesn’t think this is right.

the state gave them and built them a road to access the property. since then the lodge has been slowly taking control of the 640 acre tract of state hunting land. they have enlarged their property by placing a safety zone around it and now they have convinced some state officials to post state land for their lodge guest to use. the state has also provided labor to cut trails, build bridges, etc… so the lodge guest have a pretty trail to use.

Many of the signs in question have been put up by the Maryland DNR, or one would only assume being that the signs are official looking with MDNR printed on them.

Also at issue is the fact that the lodge owners charge non-lodge guests $5.00 to use the trails on state land. According to Del. George Edwards, they can do that but a percentage has to be turned back over to the state.

state law says Garrett County is to receive 25 percent of all revenue generated from state land. The same is true for each county that has state land within its borders.

“By law, he can charge but the state and county should get their money,” he said. “At this point, there’s been none (received).”

Edwards assured those in attendance that things would change and that signs would be taken down and put where they belong.

Edwards assured those in attendance that he hears them “loud and clear” and is on their side. He said he’s told Dreisbach that this is “not his private little park” and that as public space, it needs to be open to all. He also reminded him that a number of adjoining property owners had hunted there long before he arrived.

“You will see some changes,” he said, adding the signs never should have stated what they do now. “You will see signs moved to where they ought to be.”

Edwards, who already has called for the removal of the bright, yellow signs, wasn’t sure if they would be moved in time for Saturday’s opening day.

Sid Turner asked those at the meeting to obey the signs even if they don’t agree with them.

Turner, however, encouraged the hunters to “take the high road and do the right thing.” If the signs that state “No Hunting No Weapons” are still up, abide by them, he said.

There will another meeting to discuss the same issues at 1:00 P.M today at the Grantsville Library. It is hoped that representatives of the DNR will attend.

Tom Remington

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Maryland DNR Giving Away Public Lands For Private Use??

I received an email the other day from Sid Turner with an announcement about at meeting to discuss Maryland public land that has been closed to the public and made available to a private lodging establishment and their guests. Not wanting to believe what I was reading, I returned an email asking for more information to verify this as authentic and got pictures and contact information where I could verify.

In the notice about the public meeting, I read that Delegate George Edwards would be at this meeting. I have contacted his office and have as of this blog not heard anything back. Following further research, I now can sadly report that I have every reason to believe this is a true event.

If you live in Maryland, I would strongly encourage you to attend this meeting or at least contact your delegate and let them know how you feel about the state closing public lands to the public and turning it into a private hunting preserve for one abutting business owner. Everybody else will want to keep tabs on this story, as I will, as it can have sweeping effects on all of us.

Here is the first email as I received if from Sid Turner announcing the meeting.

CITIZENS AND HUNTERS MEETING
THIS MEETING WILL BE TO GATHER INPUT AND SUGGESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE STATE/DNR ALLOWING “SAVAGE RIVER LODGE” TO POST AND USE PUBLIC LAND FOR LODGE GUEST AND LODGE OWNERS. APPROXIMATELY 75 ACRES OF STATE HUNTING AND PUBLIC LAND HAS BEEN POSTED NO HUNTING NO WEAPONS BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND THE DNR FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE BY LODGE GUEST AND ITS OWNERS. THE STATE HAS ALSO PROVIDED A RIGHT-OF-WAY ACROSS STATE LAND TO THE LODGE AND THIS RIGHT-OF-WAY IS POSTED AS WELL. SIGNS ARE POSTED AT THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ENTRANCE TO STAY OFF AND STAY OUT UNLESS YOU ARE A GUEST OF THE LODGE. THIS PREVENTS ACCESS TO THE 640 ACRES OF STATE LAND SURROUNDING SAVAGE RIVER LODGE. STATE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN USED TO CUT TRAILS AND BUILD BRIDGES ON THIS 640 ACRES OF YOUR STATE LAND FOR THE USE OF LODGE GUEST AND OWNERS. LODGE OWNERS ARE ALSO ALLOWED THE UNRESTRICTED USE OF GATORS (ATV’S) TO TRAVEL THE TRAILS ON STATE LAND. BE AWARE THIS CAN AND WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR STATE HUNTING LANDS IF WE DON’T STOP THE ABUSE NOW. THE STATE LAND BELONGS TO YOU THE HUNTER, THE HIKER THE CITIZEN. PUBLIC LAND IS NOT FOR THE CHOSEN FEW TO POST AND CLAIM AS THEIR OWN. HELP US RECLAIM YOUR LAND. THE MEETING WILL BE TO COLLECT SUGGESTIONS AND INPUT SO THE POSTED SIGNS CAN BE REMOVED AND YOU THE PUBLIC CAN USE THE STATE GIVEN RIGHT-OF-WAY TO DRIVE INTO THIS PUBLIC LAND FOR USE BY ALL. THIS MUST BE DONE IN A LEGAL MANNER AND WITH THE PUBLICS SUPPORT. DELEGATE EDWARDS WILL BE ON HAND TO LISTEN AND SHARE HIS IDEAS AND WELL AS THE MEDIA. PLEASE BE ORDERLY AND CORDIAL.

WHERE: AVILTON COMMUNITY BUILDING IN AVILTON. 1.5 MILES OFF EXIT 24, SOUTH ON THE AVILTON LONACONING RD.

WHEN: SUNDAY NOV. 19TH AT 5PM.

Tom Remington

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Once Again Maryland Opens For Bear Hunting

In 1972 the black bear in Maryland was listed as endangered. Officials then believed the bear population to be around 12 animals and has since grown to somewhere between 350 and 500 animals, depending on whether counters want to include cubs or not.

In 2004, bear hunting resumed. A limited number of permits were issued hunters and that year 20 bears were taken. The following year twice that number. On Monday, the third consecutive year of bear hunting opened in Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties. The season will be split in two sessions. The first running until this Saturday. Officials will conduct an evaluation and if quotas aren’t met, then a second season will run from Dec. 4 – 9.

As we have all come to expect, the hunt doesn’t come with a certain amount of controversy. Animal rights activists are out doing what they can to stop the hunt and one group called the Humane Society Legislative Fund has gone so far as to run ads on television and create a campaign against Governor Bob Ehrlich, who is up for reelection.

“Bob Ehrlich is an enemy of animal welfare, and is simply out of step with Maryland’s humane values,” said Michael Markarian, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund. “His personal actions and his absolute fealty to the trophy hunting lobby resulted in dozens of bears being killed for trophies and bearskin rugs—including the first bear killed legally in Maryland in more than half a century, an 84-pound, 10-month-old, female bear cub.”

Notice the play on emotions. They got all the right keywords in there to stir as much emotion as they could. Would have made a difference if the cub was a male?

But like with any campaign by animal rights groups, this one is no different in spewing out lies and misinformation.

“There’s no purpose for shooting them,” said Markarian

HSLF says that bear problems can be solved with simple, non-lethal solutions like pepper sprays and bear-proof refuse bins. The DNR also captures and relocates, and has the authority to euthanize, problem bears. Markarian added, “Of the 40 bears killed in the last hunting season, the DNR determined that only six were nuisance bears. That means the other 34 posed no threat to western Maryland garbage cans or birdfeeders. A bear hunt is no more likely to reduce conflicts with bears than randomly shooting people on the street cuts down on urban crime.”

When groups like this one begin talking, they generally reveal what their true agenda is. They want us to believe they are interested in the protection of animals but that is not their first objective and in some cases it doesn’t apply at all.

The statement above shows this in that the groups says there is no reason to shoot these animals yet they use as an argument against shooting that the DNR can euthanize any nuisance bears. Is it now more humane for DNR to put a bear through hell by capturing it and then killing it, than a hunter making a quick clean kill, all to accomplish the same end?

The logic used in forming their statements is absurd at best. When stating that only 6 of the 40 bears killed last year had been tagged as nuisance bears only shows their real ignorance. Although the reasons for conducting a bear hunt are numerous, one of the reasons is the reduction of bear populations in order to provide a healthier species and at the same time reduce or eliminate bear and human conflicts. If they cared about the bears, they would see that it is much more inhumane for DNR to keep capturing, drugging, tagging and releasing nuisances bears. It needs to be stopped before that happens.

And tell me what kind of a statement is this? “A bear hunt is no more likely to reduce conflicts with bears than randomly shooting people on the street cuts down on urban crime.” Is there supposed to be a hidden message here or is this just plain and utter nonsense coming from groups who function on emotional irrationality?

Why animal rights groups continue to tell their lies to the public is beyond me. It is a well known fact that wildlife scientists use hunting as the best tried and proven means of maintaining a healthy and prosperous game population. This includes population controls. If we used animal rights’ logic, there should be no restrictions on how many bears we can shoot. They say that when bears are hunted, they will produce more bears to make up for the shortfall. What is interesting is the hypocrisy and double standards that have become a common theme with these people.

The DNR defends its use of hunting as an affective management tool.

Getting rid of nuisance bears is only one goal of the hunts, which were only reinstated after public education about putting garbage and pet food away failed to reduce the number of human-bear interactions, said DNR Assistant Secretary Michael Slattery.

“Bears, without regulated hunting, become accustomed to human presence, grow bolder and bolder, so we have to [hunt] to slow the rate of population growth,” he said. “We love having bears, we don’t want to reverse [their numbers], we just want to slow the rate of growth.”

Wildlife scientists have made this same basic statement for years, yet these activists don’t want to accept science over emotion. Slattery then went on to reveal more hypocrisy.

He criticized bear hunt detractors for “trusting us before with resource management and now all of a sudden … we don’t know what we are doing.”

There’s certainly a lot of truth in that statement.

Good luck to all the Maryland bear hunters this week. Many people are thankful for the efforts you put in to help keep the bear population in check. George Shifflett is one such landowner.

“There are way too many bears up here. I’ve videotaped seven different ones in an hour,” he said, watching state wildlife biologists weigh and measure the kill. “There’s one that makes this one look like a baby – 5 1/2 [550 to] 600 pounds – that keeps tearing our apple trees down.”

Tom Remington

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Application Deadlines Loom For Maryland and Pennsylvania – Bear and Elk

The deadline for a chance at bagging a black bear in Maryland is rapidly approaching. Below is information as received from the Maryland DNR.

DNR will be accepting black bear hunting permit lottery applications by phone from Monday, August 28 through Friday, September 1 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at 888-579-6768. Applicants are required to pay a $15 nonrefundable application fee and are limited to submitting only one application. Online applications for the lottery will be accepted through 6 p.m., Friday, September 1 at http://blackbear.dnr.state.md.us. The 2006 black bear hunting season is October 23-28 and December 4-9. Once DNR’s harvest objective of 35-55 bears is reached, the 2006 season will be closed.

And in Pennsylvania the application deadline for a chance at an elk hunt is also running out. This information was received from a Pennsylvania Game Commission press release.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Pennsylvania hunters are
reminded about the upcoming deadlines for submitting applications for one
of the 40 elk licenses (15 antlered and 25 antlerless) to be awarded for
the Nov. 6-11, 2006 season, and the 10 elk licenses (2 either-sex and 8
antlerless) that will be awarded for the Sept. 17-22, 2007 season, during a
public drawing at the upcoming Elk Expo.
Hunters planning to participate in the elk hunt have until Friday,
Sept. 1, to get their paper applications and $10 non-refundable fee into
the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s U.S. Post Office box. Applications also
may be completed over-the-counter at any of the Game Commission’s six
region offices or Harrisburg headquarters by 4 p.m. on Sept. 1.
Individuals submitting applications via “The Outdoor Shop” on the
agency’s website (http://www.pgc.state.pa.us ) have until Sept. 15.

Good luck!

Tom Remington

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Maryland Will Continue With Bear Hunts

With a 40% growth in the black bear population of Maryland, DNR officials announced that they will continue to issue bear hunting permits for 2006. Below is from the Maryland DNR.

ANNAPOLIS, MD —The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service (WHS) today announced the results from the latest black bear population study, which was conducted in Garrett and Allegany counties during the summer of 2005. As expected, the number of bears found in Maryland’s core bear area (Garrett and western Allegany counties) has increased since 2000. The 2005 study produced a population estimate of 326 adult and subadult (yearling) black bears in Garrett and western Allegany counties. This represents a 44 percent increase over the 227 adult and subadult bears estimated 5 years earlier by a similar study.

To conduct the study, In May and June of 2005 WHS staff collected black bear hair samples at trap sites throughout Garrett and Allegany counties. The samples were then forwarded to a laboratory where genetic analysis technology was used to examine each sample and identify the individual bear that left the hair behind. The results of the DNA identification process were then subjected to a rigorous statistical analysis.

According to WHS Director Paul A. Peditto, “The results of this study and the analysis reinforce our commitment to ensuring a sound scientific foundation as the basis for all of our decision-making for black bears in Maryland. Conducting a scientifically sound study to estimate a population of wide-ranging wild animals across a largely undeveloped landscape is a difficult and time-consuming task. The results of this effort reinforce the department’s commitment to using state-of-the-art technology and techniques to fully understand and manage the black bear resource in Maryland.”

In addition to periodic population estimates, WHS conducts a number of annual surveys used to monitor trends in the black bear population. All of these data sources indicate that our black bear population continues to grow.

In addition to providing the foundation for future management decisions, this estimate was used to refine the black bear harvest quota for the 2006 bear-hunting season to be held in all of Garrett and Allegany counties. WHS has set a quota of 35 to 55 bears for the upcoming season that will be held Oct 23-28 and Dec 4-9, 2006. WHS will award 220 bear-hunting permits through a random drawing process. This year’s quota is similar to last year’s and is in keeping with our commitment to slowing the growth of the bear population in Maryland while ensuring that bears, people and their environment can co-exist peacefully.

Interested hunters may begin applying online for a bear-hunting permit at http://blackbear.dnr.state.md.us at 9:00 AM August 1, 2006. Online applications will be received through 6:00 PM September 1, 2006. Phone applications will also be accepted at 888-579-6768 between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM from August 28 through September 1, 2006. Applicants will be required to pay a $15 nonrefundable application fee. Applicants are limited to submitting only 1 application. Multiple applications will result in the rejection of all applications from that individual.

Tom Remington

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