FalconerKitty

This is a compelling story from one woman hunter who had a frightening experience with coyotes. http://www.womenhunters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1818:coyotes-quarry-when-the-huntress-becomes-the-hunted2&catid=31:compound-bows&Itemid=122

Again, look at the facts before you make up your mind. The proceedings were started by a falconer who also gun hunts pronghorns. When he x-rayed the carcass, and saw all of the lead fragments in the meat that he fed his family, he was concerned that he was harming his family. Also, look at this site: www.projectgutpile.blogspot.com. Started by gun hunters who worked with raptors and saw first hand the dangers of lead in the environment from spent ammunition and offal from field dressed game. I hunt, with guns, bows, hawks, hounds, terriers. Not everyone hunts with a firearm. Firearms manufacturers are seeing the big picture. They have already started to make non-toxic ammunition.

I hope you have looked at the video and read the conference proceedings and studies before you made your decision. Lead ammunition is causing secondary poisoning of our scavengers. Especially birds, which are more sensitive to lead poisoning than mammals. Birds have less 'sophisticated' livers than mammals. A compensation they have to be able to be light enough to fly. That is why they are extra sensitive to toxins. (Canary in the coal mine is the prime example). I have a good friend who is a competitive high powered rifle marksman. He is also a falconer and worked with a wildlife rehab center. When he saw the lead poisoning of our raptors and eagles from ingesting lead fragments from wounded game and offal from field dressing. He became convinced of the dangers of lead ammunition.

This video has a compelling argument regarding lead ammunition and it's effects on our wildlife. I only want to kill the animal I'm hunting, not have secondary poisoning of our eagles, vultures and other scavengers on the offal left behind. The Peregrine Fund held an important conference on lead ammunition and it's effects on non-target wildlife. The proceedings are on their website www.peregrinefund.org. Just read the lead precaution literature that is included with your gun service manual and you will see just how we need be extra cautious about the use of lead ammunition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHZGQ8i8AwI

Here is a link to a sattelite phone rental. http://www.satellitephonestore.com/ I agree, a sattellite phone as a back up is a good idea. Wyoming is very remote, and places can be hard to get to. My cell service was non-existent after went from Casper to Jeffrey City. May be better now though. Snakes are more of a concern in the lower elevations, very few are found in the mountains, if at all. (too cold). I've found small western diamondbacks, but I did not do anything but let them be after looking at them. If you have never been there before, be prepared to be at higher elevations, make sure your areobic fitness is good and have good climbing fitness, (stair steps or incline intermittent treadmill wearing a backpack). You will be glad you hit the gym for the extra conditioning.

This article describes my philosophy of conservation. I joined the Florida Wildlife Federation when I found that they supported the take of peregrines for falconry after a 35 year hiatus. http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2010/may/26/diane-roberts-greens-guns/

Filson, She Safari, Foxyhuntress (I really like She stuff) has smaller sizes. I'm tall, so finding things LONG ENOUGH is my big problem. Let us know how you like what you find.

I've found two of interest. The Mule by Kawasaki, 4010 4x4 Diesel. And the Husqvarna 4421D. The Honda sounds interesting too. What about Kubota? I want feed back on comfort (I will be in and out of the thing all day). Reliability,

I will be looking to purchase an off-road vehicle in the future. The vehicle would be sort of a like an ATV/golf cart combo. It will have a covered roof like a golf cart, but have beefier tires for rougher terrain. It will be used in getting around farming operations for pest bird abatement work with my hawks. (www.birdstrikeforce.com). I also will need a flat bed in the back for holding dog boxes. My husband strongly suggested that I stick with diesel engine power and I agree. So, I don't have to mess with the more nasty gasoline, and the safer diesel fuel is easier to manage. Let me know what is out there for my needs.

This is a series of stories that put hunters and trappers in a positive light. The ethical trapper who turned in the by-(accidental) catch of a golden in one of his traps, where the eagle was treated and released by the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota (I've been there, (theraptorcenter.org). Considered world FINEST facility for treating birds and raptors. Vet students apply from all over the world to learn from them. Also the the two coyote hunters who diligently waited until skilled people could arrive and catch the golden with the injured sternum. Again treated and released by the Raptor Center. http://mn.audubon.org/news-events/golden-eagle-42-release

Making it pink did not get me interested in the outdoors. It was the appeal of the outdoors itself. The females who I saw had 'pink' everywhere in their lives were clueless, helpless ninnys, that I avoided (and still do) like the plaque. I like to go fishing, I did not hunt until I was a teenager. Became a falconer when I was a teen. I had decided that I was NOT going to be a helpless female. I learned how to use guns properly from an ex-marine sniper, I taught myself how to drive a standard transmission, use mirrors for backing up my dads 1971 4x4 1 ton Dodge truck. Learned to change a tire, change oil and lube the chassis in my own vehicles, check fluids. Not be a female victim of unscrupulous car repair shops. (They had better watch our for me there, I'm from 3 generations of auto mechanics) Use tools properly, Learn the basics of mechanical systems, such as heating and air conditioning, so I know what they are explaining to me when repairs are done. And definately NOT be afraid of bugs, spiders, mice, snakes, etc. Some things I'm limited because I'm simply not strong enough. Yet, I still do domestic things. I am a good cook, and enjoy sewing.

This site for women's hunting clothing offer a small number of pink casual wear items, and NO PINK TRIM THANK YOU!!! I have some of their shirts they fit well and are proportioned tall, with sleeves actually long enough for me. BTW: Their stuff is really good looking too, http://shesafari.com

Marisa Lee mentions that she is tall, like me. 5'10" So, she and I have the same problem with women's clothes, most are proportioned too short. She mentions in the article that she was pleasantly surprised when one brand (I don't remember which one) was long enough for her. Talls have much fewer choices in clothing. Go to any store, you will see petite and large sizes, but a tall section? I've not seen one yet. So, we end up buying men's clothing. When someone puts out a new line of women's hunting clothes, if they don't offer tall sizing, I just don't shop there. I say don't offer EVERYTHING for females with pink. Have a percentage in pink. I just have never been a 'girly girl' and never was attracted to the frilly stuff that my younger sister loved. I also strongly feel that guns should look like guns not like kids toys. The pink guns I feel is a really, really bad idea. When I first saw a pink .22 last year for little girls, I was appalled I felt that this is a cheap shot to get females interested.

I am a professional falconer. I'm expanding into the wildlife and bird abatement business using birds of prey. www.birdstrikeforce.com My educational business site is: www.birdsofprey.net

I've become really tired of the 'pink' stuff and trim in women's hunting gear. The most recent article on the 'Power of Pink' at www.womenhunters.com really shows how narrow minded the market is for women hunters. I don't wear pink, have always disliked the color avoided it and find that the ' make it pink' movement for females entering formerly male avocations is a huge turn off for me. Pink is for flowers, not in my wardrobe thank you. If there is pink on any of the hunting gear I look at, it goes back on the shelf. I will not buy it. In the fall issue of the International Hunter Education Association Journal (Vol 9, No 3, page 18, there is a fellow woman hunter (Marisa Lee) who also has the same distain for pink hunting stuff for women. Marketing people, listen to us. NOT ALL WOMEN ARE INFATUATED WITH THE COLOR PINK!!!!

http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=2F98A862-90A1-07B5-71DCA2BCAC826881

It's about time: In a landmark RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) lawsuit certain to have far-reaching implications for the animal rights movement, Feld Entertainment and the Ringling Brothers circus sued the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), its lawyers, and several other animal rights groups last week. The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) unearthed the lawsuit in federal court records today. CCF is making the lawsuit available online at its newest website, www.HumaneWatch.org. "America's farmers, ranchers, hunters, fishermen, research scientists, fashion designers, and restaurateurs have seen for decades how the animal rights movement can behave like a mobbed-up racket," said CCF Director of Research David Martosko. "But it's still shocking to see the evidence laid out on paper. In a treble-damage lawsuit like this, a jury could actually do the humane thing and finally put HSUS out of business completely." In its February 16 lawsuit, Feld leveled bribery, fraud, obstruction of justice, and money laundering charges against HSUS and two of its corporate attorneys; three other animal rights groups; the Washington, DC law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal; and all three of that firm's named partners. On December 30, 2009, Federal Judge Emmitt Sullivan ruled that these defendants collaborated to pay more than $190,000 to Mr. Tom Rider, a former Feld employee who was an elephant "barn helper" for two years in the late 1990s, in exchange for his impeached testimony against Feld in an earlier lawsuit-testimony Judge Sullivan declared "not credible" and disregarded in its entirety. That lawsuit was dismissed. Feld is also suing Mr. Rider, and a nonprofit "Wildlife Advocacy Project" charity, claiming that Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal used it to funnel money from their plaintiff clients to Mr. Rider. These clients included the Fund for Animals, which merged with HSUS in 2004. "The new HumaneWatch website is the only place the public will be able to read this lawsuit," Martosko added. "We're publishing a treasure trove of information about the Humane Society of the United States, including lots of surprising documents that HSUS would rather remain hidden from its contributors." Last week CCF launched www.HumaneWatch.org , an online watchdog project dedicated to analyzing HSUS's activities and keeping the group honest. It includes a blog, an interactive document library, and a growing body of information about HSUS-related organizations and staff. www.humanewatch.org

This is an interesting essay on the two following blogs: www.terrierman.com (his blog page) and Mike Rowe: The Dirty Jobs guy: http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2010/02/what-is-in-americas-future/

An how many cats do you think you pass on the way home? I'm talking about farm cats, barn cats, pet cats, etc. Cats breed YEAR ROUND, they have litters of up to about 8. A female cat will be pregnant with her next litter while she is nursing. Then, there are the ignorant people who feed that 'stray cat' in their neighborhood, making the problem much, much worse. Hawks breed ONCE a year, with 3 being the average brood. So tell me which do you think is doing more damage? Population dynamics should simply answer the question. Show me some studies to support you position. I've not seen any from you yet. See the studies by impartial scientists at www.abcbirds.org You will see why Florida FWC (www.myfwc.com) and every other pro-hunting-wildlife organization supports the Cats Indoors program.

Another reason for the rapid growth of ground predators is the falling of fur prices, hence the decline of trapping, or the banning of trapping altogether in many states. I support trapping, my neighbors in Maryland used to trap about 70-100 fox per year. But they stopped when the fur prices plummeted. They kept several foxes alive to collect and sell the urine. My dog got caught in a leg hold trap once. He was unhurt when released. My free-ranging cat also got caught in a leg hold trap. The trapper was kind enough to bring her to me, I did not get mad at him. I thanked him for bringing her to me. It was my choice to let my cat roam, and the consequences of her roaming free were mine. If I ever get another cat, I would not let it roam unattended after now learning how destructive free-range cats are to our small wildlife populations. Don't blame the hawks, blame the rapid growth of human populations, the spread of the cats, dogs, coyotes, raccoons,opossums, skunks, fisher cats and other ground mammals, that come along with the spread of suburban neighborhoods. Also, show me a scientific study that supports your point of view. For some reason, you have a pathological hatred of hawks. When you should be thinking like a wildlife manager, removing the non-natives first then, worry about population dynamics of your favorite species. Manage brush piles, do controlled burns, you will find that quail will come back and rabbits will thrive. www.quailrestoration.com

Here is another study of the result of diets by casting analysis of red-tailed hawks. http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog/bholzman/courses/Fall00Projects/redtailedhawk.html

Here is a statement from OK Wildlife: http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/upland.htm

Our bird and small populations are down due to several factors. Human encroachment on their nesting habitats, fragmentation of forests for deep forest nesting birds, where the cowbirds are now destroying their nests. (human overpopulation again) along with outdoor and feral cats that come alone with neighborhoods. FYI: there are now the misguided and I feel criminal negligence in the formation of feral cat colonies supported by people like Alley Cat Allies. www.alleycatallies.org. What a waste of money, and human resources, for an invasive, destructive, non-native predator!!!! The Cats Indoors Program by the American Bird Conservancy is an excellent, well-thought out program (www.abcbirds.org).

Thank you. I have relatives in Bethel Alaska.

I don't know about mule deer dynamics. I do know that when we let other invasive species graze (such as the horses and burros) which are decimating our grazing lands. The native ones suffer. Then there is the elephant in the room that at every single wildlife meeting I've seen, one lone person brings up (not me). That is human overpopulation. The speaker calls it the third rail, the 'elephant in the room'. I do know that whitetail deer are in HUGE numbers now. Eagles do take young animals. But, they don't kill in packs like coyotes (I've seen personally where coyotes killed 7 sheep in on a ranch in Wyoming in one evening). The coyotes did not take ONE BITE out of any sheep. They chased the sheep until they died of exhaustion and stress. Falconers are HUNTERS, we just hunt with a weapon of a different type. Here is one thing about falconers. We realize that when we turn our birds out to hunt, we have entered the food chain. Our birds catch prey, and sometimes they are robbed or killed by another predator. I've had friends get their valuable falcons killed by a pirating golden eagle, bald eagle, great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, etc. You get the picture. We don't go around killing every other 'competing' raptor to keep the sky safe for our falcon. We mourn our losses and accept that as part of the cycle and move one. That is the way of falconry. Read some of Stephen Bodio's work. He is a hunter, fine sporting arms enthusiast, falconer, outdoorsman and all around good guy. Also read Grays's Sporting Journal. The best outdoors writing today.