Alabama And Oklahoma File “Firearms Freedom Act” Bills

Alabama State Representative Mac Gipson has introduced the Alabama Firearms Freedom Act as House Bill 48.

And Oklahoma State Representative Lewis Moore has introduced a “Firearms Freedom Act” for the state – it’s pre-filed for February 1, 2010 as House Bill 2884.

Firearms Freedom Act

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Elk Foundation Grants for Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma

MISSOULA, Mont.? Elk and other wildlife in the nation?s breadbasket will benefit from $31,343 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The grants will help fund conservation and education initiatives in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Grant amounts are based on RMEF fundraisers held in the respective states.

?Elk Foundation volunteers drove the 2008 banquets, auctions and other fundraising events that made these grants possible. This is where their work begins to transform into on-the-ground conservation benefits, and it?s part of the payday for our supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,? said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

RMEF grants will help fund the following projects, listed by state:

Kansas – ?Received RMEF 2009 grants totaling $15,250. Projects include reducing depredation on private land by managing about 200 forage plots covering 750 acres for elk and other wildlife at Fort Riley military reservation in Riley County; enhancing riparian habitat by treating noxious weeds and planting cottonwood, willow and native shrubs on 777 acres at Cimarron National Grasslands in Morton County; and sponsoring Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops statewide, Big Brothers Big Sisters Pass It On Outdoor Mentors programs statewide, and Ninnescah Valley Archery Club youth education programs in Pratt County. RMEF partners include the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and other conservation groups.

Nebraska – ?Received RMEF 2009 grants totaling $8,075. Projects include developing methodology for aerial elk surveys in the western panhandle of Nebraska including Dawes and Box Butte counties; and funding two scholarships for wildlife conservation students at Chadron State College. RMEF partners include the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Oklahoma? – Received RMEF 2009 grants totaling $8,018. Projects include creating forage openings for elk, rejuvenating water impoundments and maintaining firebreaks at Spavinaw Wildlife Management Area in Delaware and Mayes counties; and enhancing forage for elk and other wildlife by prescribe burning 8,195 acres at Pushmataha Wildlife Management Area in Pushmataha County. RMEF partners include the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and other conservation groups.

Since 1984 in these three states, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed 155 conservation and education projects with a value of more than $9.8 million.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Oklahoma’s Proposed Bear Hunt Brings Out The Best In Outrageous Rhetoric

While I’m still attempting to get definitive answers from someone at the Oklahoma Division of Wildlife Conservation as to the thought process in deciding to allow for the hunting harvest of 20 black bears by archery hunting first, followed by muzzle loader hunting after that, if the 20-bear quota hasn’t been reached. All I’m trying to do is find out why preferred treatment is being given to archery hunters. In their thinking, there maybe a good explanation but inquisitive minds can’t help but ask why.

In the meantime, the press, specifically the Associated Press, prints for it’s readers utter nonsense concerning bears and bear hunting. In an article link sent to me by a reader, we find the AP traveled from Oklahoma all the way to Oregon to find an anti-bear hunting organization willing to speak out against the proposal.

What I found interesting was the AP’s decision to call someone who heads up an animal advocacy group that claims the following:

Big Wildlife was formed in 2006 to provide a voice for carnivores such as cougars, bears, coyotes, and wolves in North America. Dynamic, gutsy, and visionary, Big Wildlife combines innovative media strategies with nuts and bolts grassroots organizing. We provide training to activists – including hands-on skills development workshops in organizing, outreach, lobbying, and media – coordinate grassroots efforts at the local level, build effective coalitions with alternative voices, and work closely with activists to generate media.

Not only that, the guy they contacted for input, Spencer Lennard, was referred to as a “wildlife conservation official”.

But some wildlife conservation officials fear Oklahoma is moving too quickly without having a firm number on how many bears there are in the state.

The AP then went on to quote Lennard. Evidently it is the view of the Associated Press that anyone with an agenda to end hunting is a wildlife conservation official. I find that interesting. Have they no other credibility?

But let’s look at what Lennard said. He tells AP, who I’m sure was quite eager to run with this, that hunting black bears in Oklahoma creates what he calls an “empty forest syndrome”. Doesn’t that conjure up wonderful images. Is that out of the Walt Disney book of top one hundred fantasies? He describes this “empty forest syndrome” as “animal populations are wiped out across large swathes of their natural habitat.”

Out of an estimated black bear population of between 700 and 800 bears, the killing of 20 bears is going to “wipe out animal populations across large swathes of their natural habitat”? With such an outrageous and unsubstantiated claim, one would think that if the Associated Press, which pretends to be a legitimate source of news, would just question that statement. It would be simple really. Here, let me help the AP out a little on how to ask a question. They could have asked: If there are 700-800 bears in Oklahoma, how is killing 20 of them going to create your “empty forest syndrome”? Could you elaborate on that and give us some scientific support to your claim? Too, responsible and it might not sell well enough or promote their own agendas.

False claims continue to get printed by the AP.

“For whatever reason we give for wanting to kill these animals … we’re ending up with a serious reduction in biodiversity.

I’ll agree with Lennard that IF we created an “empty forest syndrome” by wiping out animal populations over a large swath of their habitat, we would have a serious reduction in biodiversity. We’d also have a fish and game department that is in serious need of being replaces. Maybe we could replace them with some of those “wildlife conservation officials” up in Oregon.

Do we not give any credence to the state of Oklahoma’s Division of Wildlife Conservation? Could the AP have asked that question?

But I want to give the AP some credit. They also talked with Lynn Rogers, a researcher at the North American Bear Center in Ely, Minnesota. Rogers says he doesn’t think killing 20 bears would have any effect on the growth of the bear population in Oklahoma but instead he opted to attack the archery hunters with this claim.

“If you’re going to kill them, you want to kill them dead,” Rogers said. “If you’re using inferior methods to shoot them, you’re going to have a higher-than-normal wounded loss, and by the time you reach 20, you might have 50 dead out there.”

Are you kidding me? He’s suggesting that at least 30 bears will end up wounded and die from archery hunters. I sure would like to see the facts that support that claim. I’ll admit the rate of wounded game animals is probably higher with archery than rifle, maybe even higher with muzzle loader than rifle but I have serious doubts that 50 bears are going to get killed. I just don’t understand the reasoning for making such a comment. If that was an honest and verifiable statistic, archery hunting should be banned.

But again, unless the person collecting the information about this story is a total moron, shouldn’t the AP have questioned whether that rate was high or golly, gee whiz, they might have asked how that rate compares to rifles or shotguns or muzzle loaders, etc. I wonder if they know what a bear is?

So on it goes. The AP full well knows that people read their crap and swallow their crap and crap tastes good and it serves all their purposes. And they continue on.

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Oklahoma Bear Hunting Rules

It was nearly three years ago that I reported that Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed a bill that would allow for bear hunting in Oklahoma. At that time, it was made very clear that even though he was signing this bill there were no immediate plans for a bear hunt.

By golly, he was right. Three years later rules have been laid out for a bear hunt.

?Hunting would be allowed only in Pushmataha, Le Flore, McCurtain and Latimer counties.

?Only archery and muzzleloader hunting would be permitted.

?The archery season would begin Oct. 1 and run through the Friday before deer muzzleloader season, which begins Oct. 25.

?Only 20 bears could be killed. If a total of 20 bears had not been taken by bow hunters, then muzzleloader hunting of bears would be allowed during the deer muzzleloader season: Oct. 25-Nov. 2.

?No cubs or female bears with cubs could be killed. No den hunting would be allowed. No dogs could be used.

?Baiting would be allowed on private land, but not public land.

?A bear hunting license would cost $100 for Oklahoma residents and $500 for non-residents.

I always get in trouble when I begin questioning the methods when new opportunities for hunters have been presented and so here I go again. I’ll do what I always do and say right up front that I welcome all new hunting opportunities no matter what they are. In this case, Oklahoma is offering hunters a chance at hunting black bears and I think that is exciting. But I’m having a difficult time understanding some of the methods chosen.

Above I highlighted one part. 20 bears will be the quota. I don’t have an issue with that. Officials should know how many bears can be taken to meet their management goals. What I don’t understand is why the opportunities where preferential to archery hunters? I might be missing something here, so if I am, please weigh in.

It says 20 bears will be taken total by archery hunting. If 20 bears haven’t been taken at the conclusion of the archery season, the remaining number of tags to be filled will be given to muzzle loader hunters. Why are the other methods being shut out?

I emailed the Oklahoma Division of Wildlife Conservation and as soon as I get an explanation from them, I will share it here.

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Oklahoma Moves Toward Constitutional Amendment On Hunting, Fishing, Trapping

The state of Oklahoma moved a step closer yesterday when the senate, in a vote of 45-0 approved a bill that would amend the state constitution to guarantee to its citizens the right to hunt, fish, trap and take game. Senate Joint Resolution 38 in part reads like this:

Section 36. A. All citizens of this state shall have an inherent right to engage in hunting, trapping, fishing, and taking game and fish, free of state laws which explicitly or implicitly effectively prohibit the ability of citizens to engage in such activities. Hunting, trapping, fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage and will forever be preserved for the people. The Wildlife Conservation Commission shall be vested with the power and authority to approve methods, practices and procedures for hunting, trapping, fishing and the taking of game and fish.
B. Nothing in this section shall:
1. Be construed to prohibit reasonable regulation of the hunting, trapping, fishing and taking of game and fish; or
2. Operate to repeal or invalidate any laws or rules in existence on the effective date of its adoption.

This measure will be presented to the general electorate in November.

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

41-Point Buck? Could It Be?

Alright all you Black Bear Blog junkies. I got this in my email box. True or false?

“A 9 year old in Oklahoma bagged a 41 point buck!

If you will notice in the pictures, there is electric fencing wire all in his horns. That wire had mysteriously went missing from his papa’s black-eyed pea patch.

Supposively Cabelas has offered $150,000 for the deer.”

Tom Remington

Check out some gift ideas at the Oregon Knife Shop

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Hand Wrestling Coyotes

That’s right. A man from Oklahoma who catches and wrestles coyotes.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Kerr, Tulsa World.
Doug Eoff — Frederick town character and self-proclaimed coyote hunter — poses with his dog, Candy.

“If a coyote bites down on me,” he says, “I don’t panic.”

If you jerk your hand back, the coyote’s teeth will rip flesh off the bone. So Eoff calmly digs a fingernail into the soft roof of the coyote’s mouth.

“When it lets go, grab it by the throat and yank it up,” Eoff says. “When you get all four legs off the ground, the fight is over. You’ve won.”

Read the rest of the story here.

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Oklahoma Eases Age Restrictions, Required Hunter Safety

A new mentoring program signed into law in Oklahoma by Gov. Brad Henry provides for young hunters under the age of 16 to hunt small game without first taking the required hunter safety class, providing that hunter is with a licensed hunter over the age of 21.

The same law allows hunters 16 – 35 to hunt all game without first taking a hunter safety course and they must be accompanied by a licensed hunter over 21.

South Carolina also has a newly signed bill with a similar mentoring program. The National Wild Turkey Federation has more on both stories.

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Oklahoma Governor Signs Bear Hunting Bill, But What Does That Mean?

Senate Bill 1296 was signed into law by Governor Brad Henry on May 9, 2006. This bill provides for a hunting season on black bear, mountain lions and limited trapping of otter. But wildlife officials are saying that just because the Governor signed the bill doesn’t mean there is going to be a bear hunt anytime soon.

A five-year study of the black bear has been extended for another year and a half and it appears no bear hunts will take place during this study period.

Wildlife officials report that the bear population is growing rapidly with cubs being born at 2 to 3 at a time. The most bears can be found in the southeast part of the state but other populations exist in the panhandle and in the northeast. More human – bear encounters are showing up and nuisance bears are generally trapped and released to another location. Three bears have been euthanized because of problems.

It appears that wannabe bear hunters in Oklahoma are going to have to wait awhile longer but mountain lion hunters should get a year-round open season on a minimal cat population. Officials say the lion hunt will be similar to the one used in Texas.

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Oklahoma May Go Bear and Lion Hunting Soon

All hunters in Oklahoma need is for the Governor to sign a bill that would give the Wildlife Commission permission to open up hunting seasons for black bears and mountain lions.

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Oklahoma Votes to Approve Hunting Rules

After the conclusion of several public meetings between Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission and hunters, fishers and trappers, the WCC has voted on and passed several new measures that will change some hunting rules.

One of the new changes will be adding a youth-only turkey hunting day in the spring. This change will take effect in 2007. The youth day will happen the weekend just prior to the regular spring turkey hunt and each youth is allowed one tom which will count toward their 3 tom spring turkey limit.

Other changes that were approved include, removing the limit of one tom turkey per day. This change will take effect in 2007.

They voted to reduce the length of the hunter education class from 10 hours to 8 and to allow for a “test only” certification for those who are exempt in Oklahoma.

There were other measures passed as well. For a complete list of what passed and what didn’t, visit the Oklahoma CWW web site.

The following proposals were not passed.

Allowing recorded turkey calls.

Reduce the number of antlered deer a hunter can take from three to two.

Increase the number of deer a bow hunter can take from 4 to 6 and allow bow hunters to take a deer of either sex during the time period of January 1 – 15.

Lengthen the muzzle loader season by adding 7 days to the beginning of the season.

Tom Remington

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Black Bear Paw Found in Oklahoma

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!