“The next chairman of a key house committee with oversight over federal funding for wildlife conservation has a long history of opposing hunting, trapping, and gun ownership.

U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D- VA) is expected to be named Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. This subcommittee oversees funding for the Department of Interior and its various agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This makes this chair one of the most powerful positions influencing public policy on federal lands including whether to keep such land open to sportsmen.

Rep. Moran has sponsored and cosponsored a number of anti-hunting and anti-trapping bills during his time in Congress. One of his most high profile battles against sportsmen was an effort to ban the use of bait to hunt black bears on federal land despite being considered a valid management option by wildlife professionals in numerous states. This effort earned him the support of the nation’s leading anti-hunting group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Further anti-hunting and anti-trapping bills supported by Rep. Moran during the current Congressional session include co-sponsorships of:

* HR 3710- which would prohibit the use of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System; and
* HR 2480- “Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2009” which would enforce more restrictive labeling requirements on fur.

Rep. Moran’s anti efforts were not the only thing that earned him applause from HSUS. In February, 2009, he helped form the “Creature Caucus” in order to promote animal rights issues in Washington. The head of HSUS’ lobbying wing, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, gushed about this group at the time by saying, “We could not be more excited about this new organization of humane lawmakers.”

Whenever the Humane Society celebrates, sportsmen should brace for government intrusion. Sportsmen should take notice when a powerful congressional committee leadership position goes to a politician who is eager to be photographed with animal rights extremists.

Even more disturbing in Representative Jim Moran’s involvement in the donations-for-appropriations scandal.

“In summer 2007, for example, senior executives at a small McLean defense firm tried to figure out which of them would buy a ticket to a wine-tasting fundraiser for Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), a member of the Appropriations subcommittee on defense. At the time, the company sought help from Moran’s office in securing contracts through special earmarks added to the defense bill.

In an e-mail exchange, one senior officer said he didn’t understand why he had to attend the fundraiser when he didn’t even drink wine. “You don’t have to drink,” Innovative Concepts’ chief technology officer, Andrew Feldstein, shot back in an e-mail. “You just have to pay.” “LOL,” responded the other officer.

The fundraiser was hosted by the PMA Group, a powerful lobbying firm whose unusual success in obtaining “earmarked” contracts from members of the military subcommittee was a key focus of a recent House ethics investigation.

Moran raked in $91,900 in campaign checks to his personal campaign and leadership PAC that day. He secured an $800,000 earmark for Innovative Concepts in the 2008 defense appropriations bill.”

Hen-house, meet the fox.

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Here we see yet another act of benevolence by sportsmen, this time in the great state of Delaware.

“During the 2009-2010 deer season, hunters donated 777 deer to the Delaware Sportsmen Against Hunger Program.

The donations were processed into 26,546 pounds of venison, which will provide more than 100,000 meals for needy Delawareans. DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife staff is working to distribute the frozen ground venison to more than 30 charitable organizations and food pantries throughout the state.

This venison has been processed by nine participating private butchers plus a butcher shop located at the Sussex Community Corrections Center in Georgetown. The venison processing facility is staffed by offenders who are serving sentences in the SCCC’s Violation of Probation Center, and who have been specially trained for the job.

Since the program began in 2005, the facility has processed nearly 40,000 pounds of venison. This year, the facility processed 213 deer into 8,110 pounds of venison at substantial savings to the program.”

Here we see more action by sportsmen to share with those in need. We salute everyone involved with the Sportsmen Against Hunger efforts in Delaware.

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As vehicle access to good camp grounds becomes restricted, bike camping emerges as a good alternative.

“Bike camping is this simple: What do you need to spend a night outside? Food, clothes, shelter, flashlight, harmonica, book, pen and paper – everyone’s list is different. Just put it on your bicycle and ride somewhere nearby to sleep out.

On my first trip, I brought all the gear I owned – a sleeping bag. My pal and a group of his friends rolled me over the Golden Gate Bridge, down through Sausalito and up into the Headlands.

As dusk settled, I was on a dirt path in a meadow, following road bikes and cruisers as the people riding them debated if skunks were stalking or avoiding us. Soon we arrived at a dark campground, where we had the place to ourselves, and we ate and drank and talked and laughed. I had no idea where I was.

I awoke in a warm sleeping bag on the green and gold ground of a quiet valley, a lifetime away from the pavement and buildings of San Francisco. At a picnic table, my new friends were chatting and making coffee. A breakfast feast emerged from bicycle baskets and panniers.

I can’t list everything I learned, but a Frisbee doubles as a plate – and always carry a handkerchief. The biggest eye-opener was how simple it was. Regular folks – bike commuters, not weekend warriors – easily escaped town for a night. Go ride, sleep out, feel refreshed, ride home. Now I’m doing that once a month – and living better for it.

What to take

Pack heavy or pack light, cook a feast or feast on takeout – it all works. On a recent overnighter, I took a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, travel pillow, cook stove, fuel can, big cup/small pot, spoon, pocket knife, coffee cone, books, headlamp, paper and pen, camera, bike and personal toolkits, long underwear, hat and not much else. Food and water – refilled frequently.

Other items to consider: flashlight, rope, tarp, binoculars, maps, music, raingear, newspaper, candle lantern, field guide, kindling, sunscreen, knitting project, deck of cards, bandana and definitely wool clothing.

Getting it there

A commuter bike can probably take you bike camping. The bike needs a rack or two, or a big basket that you’re used to pushing around full.

Ideally you have panniers – a.k.a. saddlebags – for big, easy carrying capacity. If not, make a pile on your front or back rack and strap it down with bungee cords or old inner tubes. Make a platform of big items like tent, pad and bag as a base. Don’t pack top-heavy; it’ll make the bike feel tippy.

With a full load, ride a tad slower than usual on the hills – shift sooner, sit up, look around at birds and clouds. But don’t sweat the extra weight – if it weren’t easy and fun, we wouldn’t be doing it.”

Where to go
Good first trips include:

– Angel Island State Park: Great ferry ride from San Francisco and a short bike ride to camp. The ridge sites have bridge and city views; sunrise sites are on the east side. Water, pit toilets, no campfires. Go now, or book now ($30 per site) for summer weekends.

– China Camp State Park: About 11 to 15 miles from Larkspur Ferry Landing, serving San Francisco’s Ferry Building. Lovely wooded walk-in campground; open weekends only through March. Shared hiker-biker campsite is $3 per person; great site but small. Miles of bike-legal dirt trails. Water, bathrooms, campfires.

– Samuel P. Taylor State Park: About 15 miles from Larkspur Ferry. Big drive-in campground. But: cool redwoods, great bike path and huge hiker-biker site – $3 per person – with multiple food boxes, tables and tent spots that are easy to share.

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Here we have a tale of courage and heroism by Colorado math teacher David Benke.

“During regular emergency drills at Deer Creek Middle School in suburban Denver, math teacher David Benke always told himself and his students that, should something dire occur, he would try to protect them.

So when he spotted a rifleman shooting at students who were leaving school Tuesday, Benke didn’t hesitate. “I made a promise,” he said.

The 57-year-old teacher charged the gunman and knocked him to the ground. While an assistant principal grabbed the rifle, Benke and another teacher kept the shooter pinned until police arrived.

On Wednesday, a judge ordered the accused gunman, 32-year-old Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, held on $1-million bail on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder. Two students were wounded — one in the arm, the other in the rib and lung.

The shooting was a few miles from Columbine High School, the site of one of the worst school massacres in U.S. history, where in 1999 two teenage gunmen killed 12 students and one teacher. Authorities said Benke’s heroism may have staved off a similar tragedy at Deer Creek.”

The lessons I took away from this incident:

-Schools seem to frequently be targets of mass murder attacks for the following reasons:
>The strong emotional events in the lives of students and memories of those who were once students may evoke emotions that may trigger acts of evil.
>Individuals intent on causing massive emotional trauma frequently choose schools to attack for the strong sentimental attachments Americans have for the school setting.
>Weapon-free zones at schools make for excellent kill zones as killers are assured of a large number of disarmed victims.

-Individuals in schools cannot count on the authorities to protect them and must defend themselves.

-If weapons are banned in schools individuals should be prepared to fight hand-to-hand against armed killers.

-In cases like this appeals for ‘diplomacy’ and ‘pacifism’ would have resulted in higher body counts.

-If you value the defense of innocent human life, then stand ready to swiftly confront evil with valor.

Thank you David Benke for demonstrating courage by placing yourself in harm’s way to protect others.

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SOTS maintains a strong support of law enforcement officers. They are the thin blue line protecting individuals from anarchy. In order for law enforcement to be effective, they need to maintain certain minimum levels of competence.

This was not the BATFE’s greatest hour:

“One glance at the headlines would have convinced you that a major tragedy was averted by the keen eyes of U.S. Customs inspectors at the Port of Tacoma recently. KOMO blared: “Customs agents nab shipment of machine guns in Tacoma.” Other news outlets pointed out the dastardly nature of the shipment. KIRO in Seattle claimed: “Automatic Rifles Labeled As Toys Seized In Tacoma.” The Seattle Post-Intelligencer went with: “Customs seizes gun shipment labeled ‘toys.’”

Working from a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press release entitled “Tacoma Seaport U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Shipment of Machineguns,” these news organizations had every reason to feel that they were just reporting the news, especially when Customs and Border Protection Area Port Director Rolando Suliveras Jr. claimed:

These rifles could have had far-reaching and potentially devastating ramifications if they had gotten into the hands of individuals who wanted to do harm in the American population. This was a good interception by our officers.

But there was much, much more to the story that Suliveras and the CBP failed to mention, starting with the fact that the 30 “machine guns” seized in the raid really were toys.

To be specific, the items seized were 16 WE TTI (WE Tech) M4A1 and 14 WE TTI (WE Tech) M4 CQBR gas blowback Airsoft rifles that shoot plastic BBs.

For those unfamiliar with these toys, Airsoft offers a less messy and more realistic looking alternative to paintball for both gamers and tactical training. The lightweight BBs can sting and leave welts at close distances on bare skin, but they don’t pose the same threat of shooting your eye out we’ve come to associate with more traditional BB guns and their copper-coated steel payload. Because Airsoft guns can be made to look like existing firearms and can mimic their controls, they are sometimes used for military and police training scenarios where real firearms using live ammunition would be unsafe, and at a per-round cost far cheaper than alternatives.

Of course, Airsoft guns are not real firearms, even the most realistic looking ones.”

We hope BATFE leadership can focus on cases that actually threaten the safety of innocent Americans. We are counting on them.

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Obama’s campaign promises gave some anglers hope regarding habitat conservation and defense of fishermen’s rights. As ‘Field And Stream’ magazine has discovered, it was these anglers that were hooked.

“Field & Stream, the world’s leading outdoor magazine, issued a conservation report card for President Barack Obama’s first year in office—and the results don’t place the administration on the honor roll. The magazine graded the President and his administration on four conservation issues critical to sportsmen and the most common mark was an I for Incomplete. The report card appears in the March 2010 issue of the publication which hits newsstands this week.

“Obama’s campaign made many promises to sportsmen, and a year later we’re still waiting for him to deliver,” says Bob Marshall, conservation editor for Field & Stream. “Hopes were high for Obama’s team in part because the bar on conservation had been pushed so low during the Bush administration. While there’s been some good news on the energy front in 2010, most in the conservation community fear this administration is taking hunters and anglers for a familiar ride of all talk and no action.”

The four conservation issues Obama and his administration were graded on by Field & Stream were: Clean Water Restoration Act; Conservation Reserve Program; Energy Policy Reform; and Mining Reform.”

We would like to remind President Obama that should he lose sporstmen, he will feel the heat when he runs for re-election.

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The International Sportsmen’s Expo offers family fun for a reasonable price.

“University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale will host the International Sportsmen’s Exposition for outdoor enthusiasts this weekend. The 10th annual exposition will bring together products, seminars and events covering an array of outdoor sports adventures, including fishing, hunting, camping, boating, kayaking and ATV riding.
Enthusiasts can purchase outdoor sports gear at special prices. Travel experts will provide information and reservations at outdoors-oriented vacation destinations in such places as Arizona, Alaska, Mexico, Canada and Africa.
ISE spokesman John Kirk said one of the goals this year is to increase the value of the show and provide fun attractions without any additional fees.”

This year’s lineup of activities includes:
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation rifle raffle and great elk display.
• Catch magazine photo contest.
• Spey-casting pond.
• Accuracy casting contest.
• Elk-calling adventure.
• Adventure Theater, sponsored by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
• Kayak-fishing theater.
• Aquarium bass tank.
• Arizona Game and Fish Department Youth Fair.

International Sportsmen’s Expo
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, off Loop 101 and Maryland Avenue.
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Admission: Adult tickets $15; youths age 15 or younger are free. Purchase at the stadium box office or online at phoenix.sportsexpos.com. Free parking with paid admission.

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Non-indigenous python species have been released over the years into the wetlands of Florida. The python has flourished particularly in the prey-rich areas protected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision.

Besides competing for prey, there have been multiple documented occurrences of pythons and alligators preying upon each other with the alligators usually winning.

The invasive python species now threaten species in Florida and as a result, the state of Florida has announced a python hunting season to cull python populations.

“TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — State wildlife officials have created a special python hunting season to try to stop the spread of the nonnative snakes throughout the Everglades.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says anyone with a hunting license who pays a $26 permit fee can kill the reptiles from March 8 to April 17 on state-managed lands around the Everglades in South Florida.

The season is open for Burmese and Indian pythons, African rock pythons, green anacondas and Nile monitor lizards.

Thousands of the nonnative Burmese pythons are believed to be in the region, upsetting the natural balance of the ecosystem.

Wildlife officials on Monday trained a group of hunters on how to identify, stalk, capture and remove them.”

No word from the state of Florida if they called-in a specialist.

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Safari Club International put on the 7th annual Feed The Hungry Feast in Reno, Nevada. Hunters from SCI along with local charities fed hungry families with the meat harvested from local hunts.

Kudos to hunters and SCI for yet another act of benevolence and conservation.

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