blacktailslayer

I found this by TR Michels. Hope it helps a little. "Over the next few weeks I'll discuss some of the apsects of elk biology and behavior, which might help you better undeerstand where, wen and why elk do what they do. If you have questions - fire away. Chapter 2: Elk Biology & Behavior The more you know about elk biology and behavior, the better you should be at understanding why and when the elk are most active. The more you understand what type of habitat and forage elk use, and how and when they use it, the more you will understand where to find them when you hunt. Social Structure In the winter, spring and summer elk often group together with the cows and calves in one herd, the older bulls in another herd and the younger bulls in still another herd, although young and old bulls may be found together, and yearling bulls may be found with the cow herds. During the spring and summer cow elk travel in large herds with their calves. These herds are often made up of an older dominant cow, her sisters, their daughters and their daughter's daughters etc. Research on European red deer shows that young females often follow their mothers to their summer grounds for up to three years, and that they often return to their mother's summer area even after that. Young males often follow their mothers to the summer ground for only two years, and then often "pioneer" or seek out new areas for summer ranges. The older bulls often remain apart from the cows until the beginning of the rut in late August/early September, and stay with them until November. However, I have seen bulls with cows as early as July. After the rut the bulls generally form loose groups and go off by themselves. Elk of both sexes and all ages may be found together in the winter, especially when food sources are limited. Habitat Elk are grazing animals; therefore they are primarily a species of plains, open forest and semi-open forested mountains. However, they are very adaptable and thrive in the sparsely forested areas of the badlands of the Dakota's, and the semi-desert areas of New Mexico, Arizona and Oregon. In Minnesota and Michigan elk inhabit mixed hardwood and softwood forests near agricultural lands in the proximity of humans. In mountainous regions elk utilize open coniferous forests in foothills or mountains near creek and river drainages. These areas provide a mixture of different habitats with edges, where several forage species occur, and where there is fresh water for daily use. Research has shown that elk prefer to stay within 1/2 mile of free flowing water. Preferred habitat for elk include drainages where evergreens meet aspen, alder, willow and shrubs, and where those species meet meadows or wetlands. Studies have show that the edges between two different types of habitat provide twice the number of species and amount of food than 50 yards into either habitat. As a result of this, elk use of the habitat declines after 100 yards into specific habitats. Habitats covering 30 to 80 acres satisfy the normal biological needs of elk for feeding or cover. Meadows Elk prefer feeding areas from 20 to 45 acres in size, with from 0 to 25 percent cover and. In their daily movement elk routinely cross openings of 490 feet. However, when meadow or openings reach 985 feet, elk prefer to travel around rather than across the openings. Elk use open mountain top meadows adjoining forests on two or more mountains, because these meadows offer forage, cover, and access to different microclimates within a relatively small distance. The meadows provide the grasses, sedges and forbes (wild flowers/weeds) that elk prefer to feed on. Slopes and Drainages The angle of the slope has a noticeable effect on elk use in mountainous regions because of plant growth and microcline (temperature in specific areas). Elk use increases with the steepness of the slope to a maximum of 30 to 40 percent, with preferred slopes between 15 and 30 percent. There is a noticeable decline in elk use when slope angles exceed 40 percent. Upper slopes are preferred over middle and lower slopes in both the summer and winter. River drainages and valleys are used extensively by elk in the summer because they provide thermal cover and late summer food, and they are often used as travel lanes. Northeast slopes are heavily used in summer and early fall because they retain moisture and provide succulent forage for the animals. South facing slopes are used twice as heavily in winter as north facing slopes, probably because of solar radiation, which causes snow melt and exposes available forage. The steep, rugged terrain of mountain slopes provide the elk with escape routes and succulent forage in late summer. Coniferous Forest; Thermal and Security Cover, Bedding Sites Coniferous forests offer escape and security cover for elk by providing protection from heat through shade, protection from the cold by retaining heat, protection from the wind and wind-chill factors by reducing wind speed by 50-70 percent, and protection from precipitation. The preferred coniferous forest for thermal cover (shade in the summer, wind protection in fall and winter) is ponderosa pine/Douglas fir or other mixed conifer types. For thermal cover to be effective it needs to be 30 acres or more in size in order to reduce wind speeds. Ponderosa pines 40 feet or more in height, without lower limbs, surrounded by sparse ground cover, are used in hot weather, because they provide shade for the animals while permitting cooling breezes to blow through the trees. When security cover is used for hiding, the forest overstory is usually of moderate height with downed woody material and abundant browse on the ground, with approximately 200 trees per acre; preferred security cover is 600 feet wide. This same type of cover is used by elk in cold weather to reduce heat loss. Elk use of security cover declines between 450 and 600 feet into the cover; and elk rarely go deeper into heavy cover than 600 feet. When the avoid danger elk move an average of 375 feet into cover before feeling secure. Preferred bedding cover for elk is often 75 to 100 percent closed, and 30 to 60 acres in size. During warm periods elk day beds are often found on north facing slopes; night beds are often found on south facing slopes, often in open areas. During cold periods day beds can be found on south facing slopes; night beds are usually on the downwind side of slopes. Most bedding sites are found near timber clumps, with the exception of warm weather night beds, that are often in open areas. Forage A study of Roosevelt Elk showed that from June through August their forage consisted of approximately 20 percent forbes (wild flowers/weeds), 20 percent browse and 60 percent grasses and sedges. Their diet changed from September through November, when 20 percent was browse, and 75 percent was grasses and sedges. This change can be attributed to the lack of succulent forbes later in the year. Preferred forbs of Rocky Mountain elk during the fall include Common commandra, slimpod shootingstar, American licorice, dotted grayfeather, alfalfa, yellow sweetclover, mountain bluebells, cord-leaved montia, Siberian montia, alpine forget-me-not, Wilcox pentsemon, Columbian goundsel, Sitka valerian, wyethia and Common beargrass. Preferred fall grasses and grass like plants include bluestem wheatgrass, bearded bluebunch wheatgrass, blue wildrye, Idaho fescue, sheep fescue, Pary rush, millet woodrush, Timothy, bluegrass, and needle-and-thread. Preferred fall trees and shrubs include curlleaf mountain mahogany, quaking aspen, bitter cherry, Antelope bitterbrush, prickly rose, willow, blueberry elder, blackbead elder and American mountain ash. Elk are opportunistic feeders and relish the upper boughs and needles of freshly fallen spruce and pine, the bark of freshly fallen aspen, and acorns where available. They eat between 1.7 and 2.9 pounds of dry meadow grass per hundred pounds of body weight; large bulls may eat from 12 to 18 pounds a day. Bull elk and cow elk often use differing amounts of the same food sources. In one study bulls used 10 percent more grass and cows used 10 percent more Salmonberry in September than they did in August. During one study there was a marked difference in the amount of food intake between the bulls and cows in mid-November, after the rut. Overall cow intake declined from September to October, while bull intake was highest after the rut (late October through November). This was probably due to the fact that bulls need to put on fat after the rut to get them through the winter, and the cows eat less during the fall because the calves have begun to forage more and drink less milk. Disturbance Factors Disturbances for elk include other game species, domestic livestock and the different activities of man, including habitat encroachment and destruction; the sights, scents and sounds associated with humans; and hunting activity. Other Game Species In most areas elk and mule deer are socially compatible, but heavy elk use of an area will usually cause mule deer to stop using the area, because the deer feed primarily on sedge and grass in the spring, forbes in summer; and on browse in winter. Elk use these same forages throughout the year, and because of their larger size and herding tendencies, elk use most of the food base in the area, causing mule deer to search for food elsewhere. Since white-tailed deer are primarily browsers, and prefer lower elevations and more heavily wooded areas than elk do, they usually do not compete with elk, which prefer open/alpine meadows. Domestic Livestock Elk show less tolerance to domestic livestock than other game animals, probably because there are often humans nearby. In areas with light cattle use elk grow accustomed to season-long cattle usage. But, when cattle are moved in and out of an area on a rotation system, as is often the case on national forest land, elk are less tolerant of this movement, probably due to increased human activity when the cattle are moved. After the cattle have been removed from the habitat the elk may return. Elk tend to utilize areas not used by the cattle, probably because they both use the same forage base, and the cattle leave little forage behind. Studies show that in most instances elk prefer to stay at least 300 feet from cattle, probably because they cannot hear and smell as well with the cattle nearby. If a large flock of sheep is introduced into elk habitat the elk often move, and remain a half mile or more away from the sheep. Human Activity While elk may become accustomed to the moderate seasonal human activities of camping, hiking, fishing, and light vehicle use, they quickly learn that running engines, vehicle doors slamming, campfires, loud talking and increased human activity signal the beginning of the hunting season. In moderate human use areas elk tolerance distances are about one half mile. In one research study the movements of 12 female elk, all of which had radio collars, were monitored. The radio collars recorded the movements of the deer and elk every 20 seconds, 24 hours a day. The animals' locations were established with a global positioning system. A five-day off-road activity period would be followed by a nine-day period of no activity to determine how deer and elk were affected. Elk responded most dramatically to ATVs. Mountain bikers had the next biggest impact. Horseback riders and hikers followed although their impact was significantly less. On average the elk began moving when ATV riders and mountain bikers were 1,640 yards away; when horseback riders were within 820 yards; and hikers were about 550 yards away. Their movement rates were substantially higher in the morning. Movement slowed significantly at noon when those involved in off-road activity took a lunch break. The movement rates of the elk picked up in the afternoon, but were not as high as they were in the morning. The study revealed that elk movement was high at sunrise and sunset during the off-road activity days, even though there was no human movement at these times. This may be because the elk had been pushed by off-road activity away from favorite feeding areas. However, it is more likely that this movement was a result of the normal daily activity patterns of elk. Frequent movement triggered by off-road activity could have a detrimental effect on elk; the energy expended by the elk, and the loss of time for eating, could cause the body fat level of elk to fall below 9 percent, making it much harder for them to survive the winter. When disturbed by predatory behavior and hunting activity elk move an average of 375 yards, usually into heavy cover, where they can no longer see, hear or smell the disturbance. On heavily hunted land they may move from 3 to 8 miles, often farther into the wilderness, or they seek the security of refuges or lightly hunted private property. God bless, T.R."

Contact Your Federal Legislators to Stop Ban on Lead in National Parks Sportsmen nationwide must immediately contact their U.S. representatives and senators. Ask your congressman and two U.S. senators to urge the Obama Administration to stop the National Park Service from its plan to stop the use lead ammunition and fishing tackle on its lands. The park service, which administers many lands that permit hunting and fishing, including National Preserves, National Recreation Areas and National Rivers, announced March 10 that it would ban lead ammunition and sinkers from its lands. Acting NPS Director Dan Wenk stated that the NPS goal is to eliminate all lead in ammunition and tackle by the end of 2010. Over 20 million acres of NPS land is open to hunting and would be adversely impacted by this decision. This decision is seen as a blatant anti-hunting move. It is clearly designed to limit hunting by imposing high priced alternative products like tungsten, copper, and steel. It will reduce available conservation dollars as sportsmen reduce purchases of hunting and angling gear. Take Action! Sportsmen are urged to contact their congressperson and their senators and tell them to ask the Obama Administration to oppose this measure. Tell them banning lead will destroy both part of America’s heritage and reduce conservation dollars. To find your Representative’s phone number use the Legislative Action Center. For more information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alert Network, call 614-888-4868, or email Greg R. Lawson, director of communications at [email protected] or Sharon Hayden, assistant director of communications data at [email protected]. U.S. Sportsmen's Alliancee 801 Kingsmill Parkway Columbus, Ohio 4322929 614-888-4868 www.ussportsmen.org [email protected]

For those who don't want to see a dam and reservoir built on the Siletz River. Valsetz Lake Bed is Eyed for Water: Panel discussion of the Valsetz Reservoir and Dam Proposal. Panelists include: Mike Propes/Austin McGuigan, Polk County Mark Milligan, Buell-Red Prairie Water Association Barry McPherson, Retired Fisheries Professional Stan van de Wetering, Siletz Tribe Fisheries Biologist TBN, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Professional Polk County received a $160,00 grant in January to fund a feasibility study. The proposed dam and five mile long, three mile wide reservoir would be for a water source for Polk County's future water needs. It would be built where the old Valsetz Lake dam site was that was torn out in 1988. That is a reservoir larger than Detroit Lake. It will reduce wildlife habitat, including main deer and elk habitat. The big problem is when you flood the upper river and the small tributaries you lose all the spawning beds for salmon and steelhead. Did you know that if a dam is built and a reservoir created, it would destroy prime spawning and rearing habitat for wild summer steelhead, spring and fall Chinook, and coastal cutthroat trout. Here is what some people have said: "Why not just dam up Rickreall Creek more and up the size of the reservoir they have already? At least that one is on the right side of the divide!” “My grandfather worked at the Valsetz mill for many years.....could probably take you to the exact spot where 55 gal drums of toxic materials were disposed of (and it wasn't at the landfill either)....I have heard these stories many times...I would not drink that water!!! I first heard of this 3 years ago...It was the tribe that first kicked this idea around and wanted to use the lake for a casino resort area....I think that is the real driving force behind this. There is no shortage of water on either side of the hill.” You can contact Polk Co. commissioner’s office at: Ph: 503-623-8173 Fax:503-623-0896 Commissioner Propes also has an email address. Send your message to [email protected] Some interesting reading if you are interested. http://www1.wrd.state.or.us/pdfs/OWS...nal_Report.pdf http://www1.wrd.state.or.us/pdfs/Fun...olk_County.pdf http://www.co.polk.or.us/ComDev/Docu...sment_2004.pdf Very interesting point on page 41 section 4.2.6 Other Options I wonder what has changed in five years that makes the Valsetz site acceptable now.

Thought I would give everyone a heads up about what was talked about the Valsetz in a ODFW & OHA meeting. It sounds like Polk county, Luckiamute Watershed Council, and the Grande Ronde Tribe want to bring back the Valsetz Lake at three times its old size. It doen't even seem the public really knows this is going on. ODFW is not liking the idea, since it will take away a lot of elk habitat. Does anyone have any new information or updates about the proposed project?

http://huntersagainstpeta.com/Recent_Anti_Hunting_News.html A lead ban on all hunting ammo and fishing tackle was brought up in a meeting with ODFW and OHA. Who knows what will happen and where it will end.

http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/?albumview=slideshow

Thanks for everyones help. There is no native grasses left in the meadow, since a waist high broad leaf weed has taken over the whole meadow. I believe we will plant native grasses in the meadow next year. I was thinking of giving it a year and make sure we don't have to do anymore spot spraying are getting any new growth from seed in the ground. I always thought the best time to spray is not in the spring when weeds are growing, but right before fall and the weeds draws everything down. Wouldn't it be better to mow right now and then wait until July or Aug. to spray? We are still getting some rain over here in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Thanks again. I will try and make a trip over there a get some pics. I'm real busy with school until the middle of June.

I have a question about spraying and killing weeds in a meadow on a friends property. 1. When is the best time to spray and kill weeds? After mowing, in late summer before fall hits and weeds start sucking down all their nutrients instead up pushing everything up like during spring growth? 2. How many times would you spray? How long would you wait to see if spraying worked (months or years)? 3. How long should a person wait until putting down lime and fertilizer? 4. How long to wait for lime and fertilizer to work before putting seed down? 5. I still need to take a soil sample and determine the name of the weed taking over the meadow, but could anyone answer what kind of spray for a (leafy/grassy weed) and what kind of fertilizer to use? Hopefully I will make it out there sometime soon to get more information. Thanks for the help.

Here is a good post I found by TRMichels. "Scent Glands and Organs Deer use scents pheromones and hormones to communicate their type of sex, sexual readiness, dominance, their travel route and direction, and alarm by: 1. self-impregnation (leaving scent on themselves) and, 2. leaving scents on the ground and vegetation, and at the visual and chemical signposts of rubs and scrapes. These scents are so specific that deer have the ability to distinguish individual scent no matter how many other deer are in the area. Glands produce many of these deer scents. Forehead Glands: The forehead glands are located between the top of the eyes and the antlers. They are most active during the rut. The activity of these glands has been positively correlated with age and probable social status; they are most active in older, dominant bucks. The glands produce an oily substance making the hair appear dark. The oil is transferred to rubbed trees and the overhanging branch at scrapes when the head of the buck comes in contact with the tree; and is used by dominant bucks to advertise their presence to both sexes. Marking trees and branches with forehead scent is a means of dominance and recognition among bucks. It has been noted that dominant bucks create most rubs, and they rub more often than subdominants. The scent from the forehead glands may be used as a priming pheromone to bring does into estrus; and to synchronize the timing of the rut between bucks and does when it is left in areas used by does. Pre-orbital Gland: Located in front of the eye, this gland is under muscular control and may be opened by rutting bucks to signal aggressive behavior. Females open this gland when tending fawns. It may not be rubbed on the overhanging branch as previously thought. Nasal Gland: These two almond-shaped glands are located inside the nostrils and are probably used to lubricate the nose. They may also be used to leave scent on overhanging branches. Vomeronasal Organ: This diamond shaped organ is located on the roof of the mouth and serves some of the same purposes as the nose. It is used primarily to analyze urine, possibly while performing the lip curl and sniff, or Flehmen gesture, when a buck curls its upper lip and sucks air into its mouth so that scents come in contact with the vomeronasal organ. It is usually performed by a buck that is with/trailing an estrus doe. Analysis of urine through the vomeronasal organ may help to synchronize the breeding readiness between bucks and does, and ensure that both sexes are in peak breeding condition at the same time. Salivary Glands: These glands inside the mouth produce saliva, which contains enzymes to help in digestion. The enzymes in the saliva may contribute to the scent left on the overhanging branch at scrapes, and on rubbed trees when a deer licks or chews the branch or tree. Interdigital Glands: These glands are located between the hoofs of all four feet of white-tailed deer. The scent is left each time the deer takes a step. It is also left in large amounts when a deer stamps its foot, and when a buck makes a scrape. Each deer has its own scent, and because some of the compounds in this scent may be present in higher concentrations in mature males (3 1/2+ years), they may alert other deer of the presence of a dominant buck. Does use this scent to track their fawns, bucks use it to track does. Because scent molecules evaporate at different rates deer can determine which way another deer went by the amount of interdigital scent left behind. The scent from these glands is the primary tracking scent of deer. Preputial Gland: This gland is located on the inside of the buck's penal sheath and may be used for lubrication. Metatarsal Glands: These glands are a light tan colored circle of hair of about 1 2/3 inches in length located on the outside of the hind leg between the toe and the hock, or heel on whitetails. They are not actual glands, because they have no duct. Mule Deer exhibit the largest glands, then the Black-tailed Deer, and the White-tailed Deer. It has been suggested that blacktails open this gland when alarmed to express danger. It is not totally understood in whitetails, but I have seen it flared when two bucks fight. Tarsal Glands: These true glands appear as a tuft of erectile hairs, measure about 4 inches in diameter, and are located on the inside of the hind leg near the hock. The lactones of these glands are specific, allowing other deer to determine age and sex of the deer leaving the scent. The strong smell of the tarsal gland is caused by the deposit of urine on the deer's gland during rub-urination. Rub-urination occurs when the deer brings the back legs together and urinates over these glands. Bucks rub-urinate to display social dominance by marking themselves with the scent, and they determine social ranking by sniffing each other's tarsal. Does rub-urinate to make it easier for their young to follow them; and possibly to express social status among doe groups. Young animals rub-urinate as a means of self-marking. Part of the function of the scent from this gland may be to act as a warning signal. The scent from this gland is the primary recognition scent of deer. Urine: Bucks smell estrogen in the urine of females when they are sexually ready to breed. It has been suggested that does smell testosterone and protein levels in buck urine and are able to determine the health of the buck by the smell, which allows them to choose a healthy dominant buck to breed with. The combination of scents left behind during rub-urination at a scrape (urine, testosterone, and tarsal) may serve as priming pheromones to bring female into estrus. Bucks may form bachelor groups and travel together prior to the rut. They often groom each other’s head/neck region, and know the smell of each other by the forehead, tarsal, metatarsal and interdigital scents. Older bucks exert dominance over subdominants throughout the year by threats; kicking with the foreleg, and attacking with the antlers. When sparring begins in the fall the younger bucks already know which other bucks are dominant and stronger. They also know which dominant used a rub, overhanging branch and scrape by the smell left behind; this eliminates much of the fighting between bucks that might otherwise occur. If you have questions - fire away God bless, T.R."

Found this on another website. "The show 20/20 tonight seemed to really support hunting and other similar uses for threatened species, and put the anti-hunting groups in their place! They talked about how allowing hunting and photo safaris in various countries in Africa have brought back Rhinos, Elephants and many other species because it gave the natives and local governments a financially vested interest in protecting them, rather than the natives and government being part of the poaching problems because the wildlife had not other value to them. They outright told the anti-hunting representative that their methods of protection and bans just flat don't work and that hunting or farming for these species has been very successful in saving species and increasing populations!! It is spot on and it was very nice to see the normally liberal media looking at something rationally and responsibly! Here's a link to the episode. It is Part 4 of their series of "You Can't Even Talk About It". This episode is called: "How to Save Endangered Tigers: Kill Them?". It's worth the 7 minutes!” http://abcnews.go.com/2020

There are however correct about wolves not legally being treated the right way with the ESA. I think they may win the legal battle about the way the wolves have been de-listed. I do believe that the wolf genetics are plenty diverse and we don't need the high population counts they listed in their paper.

Another link. http://www.earthjustice.org/news/press/2008/twelve-conservation-groups-challenge-federal-wolf-delisting.html

http://www.defenders.org/resources/publications/programs_and_policy/in_the_courts/60-day_notice_letter_on_gray_wolf_delisting_(april_2009).pdf This should work.

Yes, it will...the case is "Defenders of Wildlife v. Salazar". The 60-days is up June 2, 2009. The clock started on April 2nd, the day the decision was published in the Federal Register. If anyone wants to read their reasons I have provided a link to thier website outlining the actual Notice Letter of Intent to Sue: http://www.defenders.org/resources/p...pril_2009).pdf

Yep. Look at what wildlife ballot voting has done for Oregon. Don't you think we should let our bio's who go to school and get paid to study our wildlife actually manage them?

http://www.adn.com/nation/story/784789.html

So when are you guys going to fix your wolf management plan so you can get control of the wolves like all the other states? Does WY really think the feds and animal rights groups are going to let WY stick with their management plan? If you go back through time in the U.S. and wildlife management; the federal government always trumps the states. WY doesn't have a chance if they don't change their plan. Several wildlife cases of the states vs the feds will show that.

Wolf radio-collared and released in eastern Oregon Date: May 4, 2009 Contact: Michelle Dennehy, (503) 947-6022 / (503) 931-2748 Fax: (503) 947-6009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contact: Phil Carroll, (503) 231-6179 Russ Morgan, ODFW wolf coordinator, with the wolf as it recovers from anesthesia used during the radio-collaring effort. - Photo by ODFW- The wolf just after its release, with ear tags and a radio collar. - Photo by ODFW- LA GRANDE, Ore. – A joint effort by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife specialists resulted in the capture, radio-collaring, and release of a male wolf on Sunday morning, May 3, at approximately 7 a.m. PT. The event marks the first radio-collaring of a wolf in Oregon. The wolf captured and radio-collared was an 87-pound male estimated to be about 2 years old. The track size and a second, smaller wolf seen at the capture site indicate that the wolf is one of two involved in several livestock depredations in the Keating Valley area of Baker County over the past few weeks. The male wolf was trapped about 2.5 miles from the ranch house where this pair of wolves attacked a calf on April 17. Tissue samples were taken from the wolf for genetic analysis. USFWS and ODFW had been attempting to trap these wolves since mid-April, after confirming the first known livestock depredation by wolves since they began their return to Oregon in the late 1990s. The radio collar will be used as a tool to help prevent further livestock losses. ODFW staff will be monitoring the radio collar to determine the wolves’ movement patterns and alert ranchers to wolf activity in the area. They can also be used with RAG (radio activated guard) boxes, which emit loud noises when a radio-collared wolf approaches. As of today (May 4, 2009) wolves in the eastern portion of Oregon (east of highways 395, 78 and 95) are “de-listed,” or removed from protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Wolves in this area remain protected by Oregon’s ESA, while wolves west of the boundary remain protected by both the federal and state ESA. Oregon’s Wolf Management Plan provides livestock producers and wildlife managers with specific tools to respond to wolf depredation. For more information, see ODFW’s wolf Web page or call ODFW’s La Grande office at (541) 963-2138. Great job Russ. You deserve it after all the hard work and long hours you have dealing with wolves. Good luck on your next wolf. I hope ODFW will give you a little more help with a busy summer ahead of you or at least archery season off. Blacktail Slayer

So what decoys does everyone here use?

There has to be more than just me. Oh well. I will pass the word around other sites. This is a great chance to talk with a committee that makes a lot of wildlife management decisions along with our Fish and Wildlife Commission.

This should be everyone's chance to speak about their feelings about the wolves and the wolf management plan. Don't miss out on your chance to voice your opinion!

I found this for people in Oregon that are interested in going to the hearing at the capitol in Salem. I'm not sure about the details. Date: Thursday-April 30 Time: 8:00 A.M. Room: HRD Informational MeetingWolf Management Plan Public Comment Staff respectfully requests that you submit 25 collated copies of written materials at the time of your testimony.Persons making presentations including the use of video, DVD, PowerPoint or overhead projection equipment are asked to contact committee staff 24 hours prior to the meeting.

That would be great since I typed it in a WORD DOC. and then pasted it here.

Well it looks like in my newsletter today from the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance; they claim organizations are using the ESA to stop hunting.