Big Game Forever Blog

Big Court Victory Keeps Wolf Harvest Open in Montana Support Wolf Harvest bill HB 73 at Montana Legislature

BigGameForeverAdmin — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:09:55 +0000

Folks,

As you are aware, Big Game Forever is tirelessly working to allow for recovery of elk, moose and deer populations in Montana and other states. We continue to fight efforts that would delay this recovery. We are pleased to announce a big court victory and provide an update on two other important developments on the wolf hunt closures North of Yellowstone National Park.

Here is a quick summary of these developments:

1-We are happy to report that we have decisively won last week’s hearing. Judge Gilbert has now ruled on the wolf hunt closures and issued a preliminary injunction. This injunction will keep the wolf harvest open in the “closure” areas in the hard-hit Northern Yellowstone Herd. Thank you to every Big Game Forever supporter for making this court victory happen. We couldn’t do it without your tireless support. We are also grateful for Alan Redfield, Citizens for Balanced Use, Montana Guides and Outfitters and Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife who are co-plaintiff’s in this lawsuit. Please email me if you would like a copy of the Judge’s order.

2-Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Commission has indicated that they will “short circuit” the lawsuit by holding a properly noticed public meeting on January 29^th. One commissioner has indicated that this new hearing is in response to concerns of lack of public notice raised by our lawsuit and by Montana sportsmen. Many observers expect that the Commission will again close the wolf harvest in these areas. Here is a link to FWP Commission agenda for January 29^th: http://fwp.mt.gov/doingBusiness/insideFwp/commission/meetings/agenda.html?meetingId=28628377

3-The Montana Legislature is now getting involved. HB 73, co-sponsored by Kelly Flynn and Ted Washburn, will prevent the creation of wolf harvest buffer zones and related wolf harvest closures around national parks. Just as important, the legislation loosens current restrictions on wolf management in hopes of recovering elk, moose, deer and other wildlife populations in Montana. The Montana House recently voted 100-0 in support of this new legislation. We expect this bill will go to the Montana Senate as early as this week. Here is a link to the bill: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2013/billpdf/HB0073.pdf

The Billing’s Gazette has an article on our lawsuit, the Jan. 29^th Commission meeting and HB 73 being considered by the Montana Legislature. Here is a link to the article:

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/judge-keeps-wolf-season-going-outside-yellowstone/article_1818ad2a-fc8a-5263-ade0-76320938ff3e.html

In light of efforts to prematurely close wolf harvest in portions of Montana, we strongly encourage concerned sportsmen to support HB 73. We are encouraged by the efforts of the Montana legislature to allow responsible predator management. Recovery of healthy ungulate populations in Montana will be a big job. HB 73 is a big step forward to restoring proper balance of predators and other wildlife. With your help we look forward to providing the grass-roots support needed to allow this recovery effort to continue.

–
Ryan Benson
http://biggameforever.org/
ryandbenson@msn.com

Details on Judge Gilbert’s Ruling

As many of you are aware, last week attorneys for Big Game Forever presented arguments before Judge Brenda Gilbert in Montana requesting that the wolf harvest remain open in areas of the Northern Yellowstone Elk and Moose Herd. The Montana Fish and Game Commission had closed these areas due to pressure from anti-hunting groups due to harvest of collared wolves in areas North of Yellowstone National Park.

We are happy to report that we have decisively won this hearing. Judge Gilbert has issued a preliminary injunction after last week’s hearing finding the following:

First, Judge Gilbert issued an injunction allowing regulated wolf harvest to remain open in the “closure” areas North of Yellowstone National Park.

Second, Judge Gilbert ruled that Big Game Forever and the co-plaintiffs have established a “prima facie showing” of “violation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights.”

Third, Judge Gilbert ruled that plaintiff’s established that the Commission’s Agenda “did not provide notice to the public of wolf hunting district closures” would be considered at the meeting;

Fourth, Judge Gilbert ruled that the commission’s cover sheet would lead the average reader to conclude the action regarding the wolf hunting districts would NOT be decided at the December 10, 2012 meeting.

Email me if you would like a copy of the Judge’s ruling.

How do we fix Utah’s Mule deer herd?

BigGameForeverAdmin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:28:22 +0000

Big Dollars for Predator Control in Utah

Two bills before Utah’s legislature aim to use sportsmen and public/private partnerships to address challenges in mule deer fawn survival. Under these bills, sportsmen will once again be the key to fixing Utah’s Mule Deer herd. These bills would place over $1 million dollars in bounties and other incentives for private coyote removal. The bill S.B. 87 is entitled, “Predator Control Funding” and is sponsored by Senator Hinkins. S.B. 87 places a $5 dollar surcharge on big game tags to raise money for coyote removal by trappers and hunters. It is estimated that this S.B. 87 surcharge will raise an additional $500-600,000 for predator control.

The other bill, S.B. 245, is entitled “Mule Deer Protection Act” and is sponsored by Senator Okerlund. This bill provides a $750,000 state general fund match to the sportsmens dollars provided by S.B. 87. $500,000 of the S.B. 245 dollars will go to DWR and $250,000 will go to Wildlife Services to help fund a new helicopter for predator control work aimed at fixing Utah’s Mule Deer herds. These bills are yet another illustration of how the state of Utah and hunters cooperatively are contributing dollars for mule deer restoration. Collectively, these two bills provide $1-$1.1 million dollars of ongoing funding to fix mule deer populations in Utah. Funding will also be directed to USDA Wildlife Services to augment existing removal efforts in mule deer fawning grounds.

Bounties in Utah

Currently 12 of 29 Utah counties provide bounties to private individuals for coyote removal. These bounties are typically $20 or $25 dollars per coyote and are administered in various ways in the different counties. We suggest that coyote bounties be increased to $50 dollars and be implemented statewide in a consistent fashion to incentivize greater efforts by hunters and trappers to take more coyotes. Let’s make sure these dollars are being spent on Utah coyotes. It will be the responsibility of concerned sportsmen to not only make sure these dollars are utilized, but to ensure that these dollars are used to fix Utah’s mule deer problem.

Federal Removal Efforts

Currently, USDA Wildlife Services re

moves approximately 4,500 coyotes statewide. This important program targets coyotes impacting agriculture and mule deer fawns. This program is administered in cooperation with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Utah DWR using almost $950,000 in private and state funds. At an estimated cost of up to $600 per coyote on mule deer areas, due to the cost of these control efforts, consistent removal is not provided annually in most problem areas. By providing funding for a second helicopter, existing control efforts can be increased and mule deer and agriculture control work can be performed on the same days in different areas.

The Value of Private Removal

Hunters and trappers remove 8,000 coyotes annually from Utah landscapes in addition to coyotes removed by USDA Wildlife Services. At a cost of $20-25 per coyote (or in many cases at no cost), sportsmen actually remove more coyotes in this state than by any other program. If greater incentive dollars are provided to cover costs associated with private removal work, our goal is that this greater funding for private efforts will allow sportsmen to spend more time and effort on coyote removal, especially in mule deer fawning areas. Let’s make it our goal to remove approximately 20,000 coyotes annually. Just as importantly, these bills recognize key role of sportsmen in maintaining predator/prey balances and provide economic help and incentives provide more consistent private efforts. With targeted efforts in mule deer impact areas, dramatic increases in fawn survival and reductions in overall mule deer mortality are aimed at growing Utah’s mule deer herd.

Predator Control Coordination

Utah DWR is also exploring the possibility of employing two full-time coyote removal specialists to help administer these programs and dollars for maximum impact for mule deer. These individuals would be tasked with focusing full-time on finding ways to use predator control to increase mule deer fawn survival and overall population growth. Additionally, the specialists would be tasked with helping direct the effort of sportsmen to provide the greatest value to mule deer recovery. These specialists would also work to ensure that trouble areas are being targeted every year and to minimize overlap with the efforts of federal wildlife services. It should be noted that in some instances, collaborative efforts with federal wildlife services may prove to provide the most dramatic increases in fawn survival.

Conclusion

We are not ready to give up on Utah’s mule deer. It is time to once again have over 400,000 mule deer in the state of Utah. Not only is this a sustainable minimum population goal, but 400,000 mule deer will allow for more real hunting opportunity for families and more big bucks, even in general season areas. We owe it to Utah’s mule deer. We owe it to our kids, grandkids and future of wildlife conservation in Utah.

Click here to read S.B. 87

Click here to read S.B. 245

Click here to read Utah DWR Predator Control Fact Sheet

Feds announce delisting of wolves in Western Great Lakes

BigGameForeverAdmin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:56:09 +0000

Folks,

Today’s landmark announcement of wolf delisting in the Western Great Lakes is making major headlines across America.

Here is a quote from the release: Secretary Salazar said. “Thanks to the work of our scientists, wildlife managers, and our state, tribal, and stakeholder partners, gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region are now fully recovered and healthy.”

To read the official press release visit: http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Salazar-Announces-Recovery-of-Gray-Wolves-in-the-Western-Great-Lakes-Removal-from-Threatened-and-Endangered-Species-List.cfm

Wisconsin wolf management to start February 1st, 2012

BigGameForeverAdmin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:46:30 +0000

Wisconsin isn’t wasting any time to start implementing its wolf management plan.

From Wisconsin DNR’s press release: “Gov. Scott Walker has charged the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with being ready to begin implementing Wisconsin’s Wolf Management plan by Feb. 1, 2012.”

“ ‘We are eager and ready to take on the challenges of wolf management,’ said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. ‘We appreciate Governor Walker’s attention to this issue.’ ”

To read the full release visit: http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=2255

Minnesota ready to assume state’s wolf management again

BigGameForeverAdmin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:39:26 +0000

Minnesota is ready to take over management of wolves. That is great news for many Minnesota residents.

Here is a great quote: “We are pleased with the final decision to delist wolves in the region,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “This is a great success for the Endangered Species Act. Minnesota is ready to assume management of wolves under the guidance of the state’s wolf plan.” Later Landwehr explains, “Today’s announcement by the federal government reaffirms the fact that the wolf is not threatened or endangered in Minnesota.”

To read the full release: http://news.dnr.state.mn.us/2011/12/21/minnesota-ready-to-assume-state’s-wolf-management-again/

Michigan DNR responds to Western Great Lake Delisting

BigGameForeverAdmin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:29:14 +0000

For those of you who are interested how today’s delisting will impact wolf management in Michigan, there are some very interesting comments in Michigan DNR’s press release.

DNR Director Rodney Stokes. “Treating wolves as an endangered species, when the population has exceeded federal recovery goals in Michigan for more than a decade, has negatively impacted public opinion in areas of Michigan where wolves are established on the landscape. I firmly believe that the more flexible management options allowed under the state’s Wolf Management Plan will help increase social acceptance of the species while maintaining a healthy, sustainable wolf population.”

Read the full release: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-38946-267852–RSS,00.html

Wolf Reintroductions Proposed for California

BigGameForeverAdmin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:01:34 +0000

Big Game Forever has been suggesting that there are plans to expand wolves across the entire West. New article indicates that Defenders of Wildlife is advocating for wolf reintroductions in California.

Game Processor watches Idaho Elk harvest Disappear

BigGameForeverAdmin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:45:29 +0000

Dec. 12 Letters to the Editor

Lewiston Morning Tribune

Elk harvests declining

I would state a few comparisons in response to Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s woes as printed Nov. 13 in the Lewiston Tribune.

My wild game processing plant has a large five-rail cooler for elk and a large five-rail cooler for deer.

Hunting season 2008 started with a loaded elk cooler (40-60 elk) and 60-70 deer out back. Long hours of cutting did not empty the refilling rails for six weeks.

Hunting season 2009 yielded only 60 percent compared to 2008 and in 2010 the numbers dropped another 20 percent.

Hunting season 2011 did not fill two rails of elk and only two rails of deer. From 2008 through 2011, wild game carcass numbers have dropped more than 60 percent.

My son has guided hunters on the South Fork, Middle Fork and Main Salmon River. In the last 15 years, he has witnessed the disappearance of elk in Chamberlain Basin and very depleted elk numbers on all main forks of the Salmon River hunting areas.

Hunters coming into the plant from Elk River and the Clearwater Drainage are not finding elk and most hear wolves howling at night.

It would seem the reason license sales are down is because there is no game left to hunt. I feel that Fish and Game and government have nobody to blame but themselves.

I hope the Lewiston Tribune’s Nov. 28 front-page doesn’t prove to be Washington’s trophy elk demise before some young hunters get to harvest one.

Terry Gregory
Moscow

Female Bowhunter shoots wolf at 10 feet in self defense

BigGameForeverAdmin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:42:39 +0000

This huge wolf was taken by grandmother and avid bowhunter Rene Anderson. The wolf spotted Anderson then ran at her from down wind. Realizing that this wolf showed no fear, she shot the wolf at a mere 10 feet.

Oregon Wolf Travels 730 Miles

BigGameForeverAdmin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:10:12 +0000

News of Oregon’s traveling wolf are amazing. This particular wolf traveled 730 miles from Eastern Oregon to Western Oregon. The story is not new, but it’s attention overseas is making headlines.

Here is a quote from the article:“It’s not every day you see a wildlife biologist pictured next to the future queen,” Dennehy said. The Italian paparazzi (or at least an Italian photo agency) emailed for a photo or video of the wolf “traveling along Oregon to find his love,” she said.