blacktailslayer

Here is where you can send your emails. [email protected]

Here is everyone's chance to send in emails on what you would like to see stay the same or change with our Refuge System here in the U.S. I know I would like to see hunting stay and even increase on all of the refuges. Not just hunting in general, but also more species being able to hunt on a refuge. Get those emails sent in. AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS: Salazar Announces Draft Vision for Future of Refuge System WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced a draft vision plan to guide the growth and management of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The draft document, developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Wildlife Refuge Association, articulates a 10-year vision for the Refuge System. The vision document, entitled Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation, offers nearly 100 draft recommendations to protect and improve the world’s premier system of public lands and water set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants for the continuing benefit of the American people. Starting today, the draft document will be available for public comment until Earth Day, April 22, 2011. The Conserving the Future process comes on the heels of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative to develop a conservation and outdoor recreation agenda for the 21st century. The process to develop a new vision for the Refuge System goes hand-in-hand with many of the priorities identified through the America’s Great Outdoors national dialogue, including greater access to recreation and connecting a new generation of conservationists to the outdoors. “The National Wildlife Refuge System is one of the crown jewels of our conservation efforts and we must ensure that the System has the tools and vision to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” Salazar said. “I encourage all Americans to participate in the Conserving the Future process and to voice their bold ideas about the future priorities and management of our national wildlife refuges.” There are 553 national wildlife refuges with at least one in every state and U.S. territory. Spanning more than 150 million acres of land and water, the Refuge System conserves wildlife habitat for hundreds of animal and plant species and includes more than 20 million acres of designated wilderness. The last time a vision statement was articulated for the System was 1999. Among the draft vision’s recommendations are: To engage youth in an array of work and volunteer programs; To review the Appropriate Use Policy, so a wider variety of nature-based experiences may be possible; Within the next 10 years, to increase the number of minorities and people with disabilities who work for the Refuge System, in part by reaching high school and college youth from diverse communities and exposing them to Service conservation careers. To develop a five-year plan to “green” the Refuge System; To encourage a ‘Friends’ group for every staffed refuge; there are now about 230 Friends groups; To develop standards for credibility, efficiency and consistent application of science in planning and management; Working with state fish and wildlife agencies, to prepare a strategy to double youth participation in hunting and fishing by 2020, paying special attention to individuals of all ages with disabilities. A website, http://americaswildlife.org, has been created to gather comments and ideas. A refined vision document reflecting the comments and ideas received online is expected to be published in July 2011. “The use of new technologies and social media for this process invites the American people to contribute their bold ideas to set a new direction for the Refuge System,” said Rowan Gould, Acting Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. “The time to engage is now. Join the conversation online through the website.” For more information on Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation, please visit the website at http://americaswildlife.org. Learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge System at http://www.fws.gov/refuges.

I got this message and pics in an email today. Quote: “This is what the wolf advocates are responsible for in NE Oregon. They are inhumane and I believe criminal!!!! They fed on the one cow while she was alive, drug twin calves out of her and scattered them a ways away. Investigators verify at least 7 wolves were potentially involved. USFW says the ranchers in the area “have not done enough preventative measures to allow them to take lethal measures against the wolves”. What they did last season doesn’t count even though USFW had issued an order for Wildlife Services to kill 2 wolves which never happened. They have buried bone piles and hired riders all summer. Now they are doing the other useless things invented by the wolf advocates for the purpose of keeping offending wolves alive a little bit longer and costing ranchers thousands. How did it come about that we have to ask government permission to protect our property????” http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/WolfKill.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/WolfKill1.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/WolfKill2.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/WolfKill3.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/WolfKill4.jpg

I would also highly recommend everyone look online and see if your counties have newer GIS Maps available online for public use. Some have pictures only a couple or few years old as well.

I found a new map server that seems to have newer aerial photos compared to "Google Earth" and "Arc GIS Explorer". Google "National Map Seamless Server" then click on "Seamless Viewer". Click on "Orthoimagery" on the right hand side of map and then click or check-mark "NAIP". Hope this helps some people with their scouting and hunting.

Here is a current gun law poll. 76% of the people so far are in favor of stricter gun laws. Let’s see if we can change that by getting our vote in. Obama must man up on guns -- take the political heat and fight for sane limits to firearm sales By Judith Miller Friday, January 14th 2011, 4:00 AM http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2011/01/14/2011-01-14_obama_must_man_up_on_guns__take_the_political_heat_and_get_tough_on_sane_limits_.html

Please take the time to read and email comments to the Forest Service that you recommend they take the "NO ACTION" alternative. Sportsmen Comments Needed to Oppose Potential Gun Hunting Ban 1/7/11 The U.S. Forest Service is now accepting comments on a proposed gun hunting ban for areas of the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan. In September, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Forest Service’s regulations required that it consider banning hunting with firearms on lands designated as “semi-primitive” within the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The Court feels that the noise associated with gun hunting could harm the quality of the recreational experience of hikers, backpackers, and cross country skiers. Additionally, the Court ruled that the Forest Service had to consider closing these areas if other public hunting land was available for gun hunting nearby. As a result of the court ruling, the Forest Service began a formal review to determine if it should move forward with a gun hunting ban on these areas. Currently, the Service is considering two options: 1. a “No-Action” alternative which would allow hunting to continue without change; and 2. a “Modified Closure” alternative that would implement either a complete or partial ban on hunting with guns in the semi-primitive areas. Take Action! Sportsmen should submit comments to the Forest Service supporting the “No-Action” alternative that would continue to allow hunting with firearms on areas designated as semi-primitive. Sportsmen can mail comments to: Lee Evison, Forest Planner, Huron-Manistee National Forests 1755 S. Mitchell Street Cadillac, MI 49601 Sportsmen can also fax comments to Lee Evison at (231) 775-5551 or email comments to [email protected]. Please include your name and address with your comments. Emailed comments must include “Forest Plan SEIS” as the subject line of the email. All comments must be received by February 11, 2011. Here is a comment I saw posted on one of my threads from another hunting website. Quote: “You can only comment on projects that are proposed. If you want to know what’s proposed, there are 3 ways to stay informed. 1. Contact the forests/districts in all of the areas you are interested in and ask to be put on a mailing list and you will be kept in the loop (thanks again Baltz for doing so!) 2. Constantly scan the small print in all of the newspapers for the required notice in the back of the paper 3. Check out the SOPA area of national forest websites, it stands for schedule of proposed actions, and I believe it is usually several months/years in advance and updated quarterly. here is ours:http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua/projects/ if you click on the SOPA which is third down ,it takes you to all of the 'stuff' we are trying to get done and goes back several years. FYI We ARE trying to do some harvest, and the more comments folks make in support of proposed harvest, the better argument we can make in favor of it.” hilclimber

Killing any wolf right now anywhere in the lower 48 states will cause a person to pay a $100,000.00 fine and 1 year in jail. People like to talk and stories get out. Be careful or losing your hunting right for one year is not the only thing that will happen to you.

National Wolf News that affects EVERYONE! http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2010/wolves-12-21-2010.html For Immediate Release, December 21, 2010 Contact: Noah Greenwald, (503) 484-7495 Lawsuit Launched to Recover Wolves Across Country National Plan Would Focus on Saving Existing Wolf Populations and Returning Wolves to West Coast, New England, Southern Rockies and Great Plains WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Interior Department for failing to develop a recovery plan for wolves in the lower 48 states. Such a plan is required by the Endangered Species Act, and according to today’s notice should have been developed 30 years ago or more. In July the Center submitted a scientific petition to Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service asking that a national recovery plan be developed, but never received a response. A national plan would provide a roadmap for recovering existing wolf populations and returning wolves to some of their historic range around the country; suitable wolf habitat exists in the Pacific Northwest, California, Great Basin, southern Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and New England. “Wolves are an integral part of this country’s natural history and need a national recovery plan now,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center. “Although wolves have made important strides toward recovery in parts of the northern Rockies and Great Lakes, these areas represent less than 5 percent of their historic range. We call on Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to stop playing politics and use his legal authority to do right by the wolf.” With passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, four subspecies of wolves were originally protected under the Endangered Species Act: the Mexican gray wolf, northern Rocky Mountain wolf, eastern timber wolf and Texas gray wolf. Because of questions about the validity of these subspecies, protection of the wolf was consolidated to include all wolves in the lower 48 states in 1978. But despite this consolidation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service never developed a national recovery plan for the wolf. Instead, it finalized plans for three of four of the previously protected subspecies. These plans cover a small fraction of the wolf’s former range, are decades old and set population goals well below what scientists now know are necessary for population health and survival. “It is time for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to chart a new course for wolf recovery,” said Greenwald. “This plan is badly needed to establish new goals and management for existing wolf populations and as a blueprint for establishing wolves in additional areas.” In recent years, states with wolf populations have demanded that federal protections be lifted based on the outdated recovery plans. But the Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts to appease these demands and remove protections for northern Rockies and Great Lakes wolves have been repeatedly rebuffed by the courts in lawsuits brought by conservation groups, including the Center. A national recovery plan could specify a legally defensible path for truly recovering wolves and provide certainty for states that have wolf populations. “The Department of the Interior’s failure to develop a national recovery strategy for the wolf, as it has for other species like the bald eagle, has led to tremendous confusion and hampered true wolf recovery,” said Greenwald. “Wolves have been an integral part of North American landscapes for millions of years and are cherished, iconic animals that deserve a certain future in this country.” Wolves are a keystone species that benefit prey populations by culling sick animals and preventing overpopulation. Studies of wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park show that they also benefit other species, including pronghorn and foxes by controlling coyote populations, and songbirds and beavers by dispersing browsing elk and allowing recovery of streamside vegetation.

!

The Begining of the End for Hunting in Michigan? Can get an appeals court to change the Huron-Manistee forest plan? Wow. http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/i...y_set_new.html Kurt Meister v. U.S. Department of Agriculture Sep 29: In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Case No. 09-1712. The Appeals Court says that an agency is not entitled to deference simply because it is an agency. It is true that agencies are more specialized than courts are. But for courts to defer to them, agencies must do more than announce the fact of their comparative advantage; they must actually use it. And that means, among many other things, that the agency must apply -- rather than disregard -- the relevant statutory and regulatory criteria. Kurt Meister, a Michigan attorney appearing pro se [representing himself], argues that the United States Forest Service disregarded the relevant criteria here. Specifically, he claims that the Service failed to comply with several of its own regulations and one federal statute in developing its 2006 management plan for the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Northern Michigan. For the most part, we agree with him; and to that extent we reverse the district court's entry of judgment in the Service's favor and remand the case so that the Service may comply with those requirements forthwith. The case concerns the Service's management of recreational activities in the Huron-Manistee National Forests. The Forests occupy about 970,000 acres on each side of the northern one-third of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. In the east, the Huron National Forest ranges between 12 and 30 miles long from north to south, and stretches 60 miles wide from west to east, reaching the shores of Lake Huron. In the west, the Manistee National Forest is about 75 miles long and 40 miles wide, reaching Lake Michigan near Manistee. The Service issued a management plan for the Forests in 1986. In 2003, the Service published a notice of intent to revise the plan. The Service thereafter held public meetings and solicited public comments as to how to revise the plan. Meister commented on the Plan throughout its development. Those comments reveal fluency with the language of the relevant statutes and regulations; and they explained in considerable detail why Meister thought the Service was not meeting its obligations under the law. His principal comment was that, in developing the Plan, the Service had disregarded certain processes prescribed in its own regulations, so as to favor gun hunters and snowmobile users over other persons—for example, hikers and birdwatchers -- who use the Forests for quiet, solitary activities. He also commented that the Service should close more areas of the Forests to motorized activity than the Service seemed likely to close in the Plan. The Appeals Court said, "It appears that the Service disagreed with all of Meister's comments." Following an administrative appeals, Meister filed suit in district court and the district court granted the Service's motion, holding in general terms that the Service had complied with the applicable regulations. The district court denied Meister's motion. The Appeals Court summarize its holdings saying, "First, the Service's estimates of snowmobile and cross-country visitors to the Forests are arbitrary. . . Second, the Service has not complied with the requirement that it coordinate its recreational planning with that of the State of Michigan with the aim (to the extent feasible) of "reducing duplication in meeting recreation demands" with respect to gun hunting and snowmobiling. . . Third, the Service's reasons for keeping pre-designation and club trails open to snowmobile use are arbitrary. . . Fourth, the Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act when it failed to consider whether to close Primitive and Semiprimitive Nonmotorized areas to gun hunting and snowmobile use, as Meister has proposed." The Appeals Court ruled, "Each of these failures was material to the Plan's development. To that extent, the Plan's approval was arbitrary or without observance of procedures required by law. Given that holding, we have authority to 'set aside' the Plan. . . We choose not to exercise that authority today, but instead grant the Service a reasonable time to adopt a plan that complies with the law. Ninety days from the date of our mandate seems to us ample time for that compliance. The district court may extend that period upon some showing that the court finds compelling; but in any event the Service shall comply forthwith. The district court's judgment is reversed with respect to the claims summarized . . . Meister is entitled to judgment on those claims to the extent described . . . and the claims are remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The district court's judgment is otherwise affirmed." BTW., Appearing "pro se"? Right! His wife, Kathi Kuehnel practices law with her husband, Kurt Meister, including pro-bono legal work to protect the animal habitat of the Huron Manistee National Forests. She is on the board of this group. http://www.stewardshipnetwork.org/si...ip_Network.htm Of course non of this is reported in this article.

Here is where you can find your states elected officials to send comments to. We don’t need something like this to happen across the U.S. http://capwiz.com/ussportsmen/home/?external_id=10405.0

Huron-Manistee National Forests to review Forest Plan Date: Nov 29, 2010 Cadillac, MI Contact(s): Ken Arbogast The Forest Service is beginning a formal review of the Land and Resource Management Plan of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. As a result of a ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Forest Service will prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement to assess the environmental impacts of a proposed ban on firearm hunting, subject to existing rights, and snowmobile use on National Forest System lands within Semiprimitive Non-motorized Management Areas and a ban on firearm hunting, subject to existing rights, in the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. This analysis will allow the agency to make a decision in accordance with federal regulations. On September 29, 2010, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a favorable District Court ruling in a lawsuit involving the Huron-Manistee. Kurt Meister, a Michigan attorney, claimed that the Forest Service failed to address his concerns about noise created by gun hunters and snowmobiles in Semiprimitive Non-motorized Management Areas and the Wilderness. Public involvement will occur during each phase of the review process. At a minimum, the process to consider a plan amendment includes: Consultation with Native American tribes. Publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register and Michigan newspapers announcing a 45-day comment period. Analysis of the comments received and possibly develop additional Alternatives to respond to these comments. Preparation of a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and analyze effects of the Alternatives. Public review and comment period on Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Preparation of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Publication of a Decision Notice in the Federal Register. A 90-day appeal period. The public will be notified when the public comment periods will occur through news releases, legal notices, the forests’ Website and the Federal Register. For more information, contact Kenneth Arbogast, public affairs officer for the Huron-Manistee National Forests, at (231) 775-5023, Ext. 8726 or visit the forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/hmnf -- USFS --

I would hate to see if they is the future for hunting on public land! This is why we hunters need be very active in fighting for our sport. U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Forest Service to Consider Banning Gun Hunting in Parts of Huron-Manistee National Forest (Columbus, OH) - As a result of a recent anti-hunting court ruling, the U.S. Forest Service is starting a formal review of its Management Plan for the Huron-Manistee National Forest to consider banning hunting with firearms in some areas. In September, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Forest Service’s regulations required that it consider banning hunting with guns on lands designated as “semi-primitive.” The Court found that the noise associated with gun hunting could harm the quality of the recreational experience of hikers, backpackers, and cross county skiers. Just as troublesome, the Court ruled that the Forest Service was required to consider closing these areas to gun hunting in places where there is other public, non-Forest land nearby that is open to gun hunting. This could require the Forest Service to close lands currently open for gun hunting when other state or federal hunting lands are opened. The court ruling has prompted the Forest Service to start a formal review of the Huron-Manistee Management Plan. Primarily, the review will focus on whether or not hunting with guns should be banned on the “semi-primitive” areas. Sportsmen will be given opportunities to submit comments to the Forest Service throughout the review process. “This court ruling is a major threat to hunting on these lands and across the country,” said Rob Sexton, USSA vice president for government affairs. “Anti-hunters will likely use this ruling to try and force the Forest Service to ban gun hunting on other Forest lands.” On October 26th, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and a coalition of nineteen other leading conservation groups sent a letter to the Forest Service requesting that it rewrite the regulations the Court used to render the anti-hunting decision. The USSA will keep sportsmen apprised of when and where they can submit comments on this issue.

First I need to start by thanking a ton of family and friends that not only helped with get this buck but made my second season possible at all. My truck has been out of commission for over two weeks now needing a new engine. My wife Marci allowed me to use her car a few times to take out hunting and even dropped me off for a day to later pick me up after dark. Later my friend Mark let me drive his and wife’s spare car to be able to hunt. I would have never hunted this great spot during the late season if it wasn’t for my friend Ryan who called me about a huge 4pt. days a couple of pieces of property down from where I hunt before season even started. I had Tcams out all summer with tons of does and only one pic of a spike. The first week of November only produced two new young bucks. I decided to give up and move my Tcams and set up my treestands on other pieces of property that I knew had two huge 3pts and one 3pt on the verge of being a shooter. I’m glad Ryan told me about the huge 4pt because I ended up have numerous different bucks come by my blind all season. I also need to thank my friends Chuck and John for encouragement to hold out and hunt hard every day and my dad who helped load and hang my buck. This property was amazing from November 24th until December 2nd. Each day after that I would see less bucks and does. I decided to shot this buck for several reasons. The only other deer left on or coming through the property the day I got him was a doe and spike. He is only the 4th largest buck on this single piece of property and I know of three other big bucks on different properties I can hunt on for next year. One of those other bucks left the property as soon as it started to flood and the other two bucks I never really knew about until the middle of late season. I will have my hands full for next year on trying to determine where and how to hunt for all those bucks. I finally got to use my Carryall Buddy, Spot Hogg Tommy Hogg Sight, and Spot Hogg Wiseguy Release. They all worked flawlessly and I can not wait to get out next season to use them again after one of those other big blacktails. I will post pics if I ever can get that huge 4pt on Tcam. I saw him twice chasing does and twice jumped him up from his bed. Maybe next season will be the year. http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/

I took those pics from inside my blind. No Tcam there.

Here are a few blacktails that I have passed up this season from my blind. I have passed up a few others, but never got any pics. Still waiting for the big guy. http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1169.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1166.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1161.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1159.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1157.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1156.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1152.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1179.jpg http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk232/blacktailhunter/IMG_1176.jpg

Wolf Petition. Let's get it signed! http://biggameforever.org/

We need to encourage Secretary Salazar and our local senators to get behind full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million a year. "Created in 1965, the LWCF is a federal trust fund that improves public access to federal lands by accumulating revenues, primarily from oil and gas leases, for acquisition of protected lands and easements. As the primary source of funding available to federal land management agencies to develop and assure access to the places where we hunt and fish, the LWCF has helped save some of America’s most popular sporting destinations from development and closure. Congress, however, has consistently diverted these funds from their intended purposes of acquiring critical fish and wildlife habitat and sustaining public access. Voice your support for full and dedicated funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund NOW." http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5389/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4498

Thank you everyone. I couldn't ask for a better wife.

Well my wife finally decided to hunt for her first year after going out with me on numerous hunting and scouting trips over the years. She got a BowTech Equalizer with a Spot-Hogg Real Deal 1 1/2 years ago to start shooting with me. It has always been great to spend time out in the woods with my wife and I have to say this was the highlight of my archery season this year. I spent the summer trying to find the best location with the most deer activity for tree stands since she didn't care if her first animal was a doe or a buck. We saw four deer from the stand in three hours and she finally had a clear broadside shot at 20 yds on this blacktail doe. I feel extremely lucky to have such a great wife that likes the outdoors whether it is camping, backpacking, scouting, and now hunting. Next year she is going to try elk hunting and I can not wait. Good luck to everyone rifle hunting right now. Marci out helping me hunt elk.

Wolf Vote: The Bozeman Daily Chronicle has a NEW poll online asking if you agree with the legislation being introduced to delist gray wolves. http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/poll_60d42232-cf43-11df-a90d-001cc4c002e0.html

This is pretty interesting and not very surprising about some wildlife video's. That includes a video on wolves. http://news.yahoo.com/video/environment-15749659/22174797 http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/10/01/wildlife-filmmaker-chris-palmer-says-nature-docs-are-manipulative/?icid=main|main|dl5|sec1_lnk3|175062

Here are some pics of a Crossfit workout that I did tonight to get ready for hunting season. I ran a marathon 5 weeks ago, but have switched over to Crossfit workouts since then. Warm-up: 2,000 meter row Workout #1 5 rounds Snatch 65lbs 10 reps Burpees 15 reps 11 min 22 sec Workout #2 4 rounds Kettlebell Swing 52lbs 25 reps Jump rope double-unders 25 reps 11 min 20 sec (This really needs to improve)

Get your comments in before Aug 30th! http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/surveys/10tenj/