tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033950446784300142024-02-07T21:15:07.850-08:00MT FWP WatchAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-9969067482683636072013-04-08T12:16:00.002-07:002013-04-08T12:38:39.837-07:00MT FWP Dishonesty Causes Rifts Between Sportsmen Groups<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnaMPjJ_tDpQxomYbHXAu9gourwp6-XHykfB78IwaeLKg_YgfigdZm9tY2PI2gq26SDXdm22S-7bkrtjfK6UvGrmXGMR2YUSKJR_3TcgnPWIvCbYlOZx4EDvac48U2vvkYHMCQ7ma3A/s1600/Cougar+brings+bighorn+down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnaMPjJ_tDpQxomYbHXAu9gourwp6-XHykfB78IwaeLKg_YgfigdZm9tY2PI2gq26SDXdm22S-7bkrtjfK6UvGrmXGMR2YUSKJR_3TcgnPWIvCbYlOZx4EDvac48U2vvkYHMCQ7ma3A/s400/Cougar+brings+bighorn+down.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Last week, Montana Senate Bill 397, for "Establishing provisional hunting seasons for certain large predators" passsed through the state Senate...and tomorrow goes to the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee. This legislation would establsih more aggressive management of wolves, bears and mountain lions, in an effort to curb excessive depredation of elk, moose, deer and other big game - ONLY in those hunt districts that have been hard hit by predators. Many of the those districts have lost as much as 80-percent of their elk herds, perhaps even more of their moose populatons, and now have deer populations that are barely half of what they were 10 to 15 years ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Surprisingly, the Montana Bowhunters Association has come out in opposition of SB397.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Joelle Selk, MBA president and legislative chairman has issued a legislative alert to members of the organization, urging them to contact legislators to insist that the bill be defeated, commenting, "<strong><em>Despite its seemingly limited scope, this bill impacts bear, lion and wolf hunting regulations as well as threatens multiple delisting actions. The MBA has supported increased harvest and expanded seasons during recent Tentatives cycles. Proper management of bear populations depends on responsible harvest and population monitoring to determine harvest impact. Proponents of this bill argue that we need to have more aggressive predator control measures. We believe the FWP has taken an effective and responsible approach to controlling predators."</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><strong>Following is an e-mail that LOBO WATCH sent to the members of the MT House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee...</strong></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4T5xlIOOyQHgZLzm0vzCKNsylNDfex_NVbmyiK5ojrGRF6gQ0aaF7llSse4cUKAzQfbrF4ZryXTIuVElaVjpmQ58w5karj8CkGWPGaOQXr4VcdTVoC53HIuDywVGLimnsQEgMLeN_A/s1600/yellowstone-wolves+-+YNP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4T5xlIOOyQHgZLzm0vzCKNsylNDfex_NVbmyiK5ojrGRF6gQ0aaF7llSse4cUKAzQfbrF4ZryXTIuVElaVjpmQ58w5karj8CkGWPGaOQXr4VcdTVoC53HIuDywVGLimnsQEgMLeN_A/s400/yellowstone-wolves+-+YNP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dear Members of the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The Montana Bowhunters Association has come out in opposition of SB397, which would establish provisional hunting seasons to reduce the number of predators that are currently ravaging big game populations in the Western 1/3 of Montana.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Either that organization has lost all touch with the reality of what we've lost, or they simply don't understand that the problem, all along, has been Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The agency has bent over backwards to hide the truth from the sportsmen of this state...to cover up the true numbers of wolves, bears and lions in Montana...and went so far as to actually lie about the degree of damage predators have dealt elk, moose, deer and other big game - until they could no longer keep the truth hidden. (Example: For the past five or six years, FWP has claimed that the entire state's grizzly population to be 600 to 800. Under pressure from angry sportsmen who saw elk nearly disappear in Region 1, at a very heated meeting in Kalispell, the regional wildlife manager openly claimed that there were 1,000 of the bears in that region alone - and that the number of wolves in that region was 2 or 3 times what FWP claimed. The same lies and deceit are practiced in other FWP regions as well.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Like so many sportsmen who spend so much time afield, I've seen the damage first hand. And like so many sportsmen who will now turn against the Montana Bowhunters Association for going against legislation that offers some emergency relief from predator impact, I find it extremely difficult to accept that any group of real sportsmen who have witnessed the game losses would still bow down and worship the phony agency which has worked all too willingly with those who brought this disaster to our state and our hunting heritage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Apparently MBA President Joelle Selk hasn't really absorbed what SB397 is truly all about. The legislation does NOT open overly liberal seasons on all predators across the state...it simply calls for more dramatic reductions of wolf, bear and lion numbers in those hunt districts where big game populations have been devastated by depredation. Thus, the term "provisional seasons". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">If the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee shoots this legislation down, big game hunting in Western Montana will come to an end. It is now far closer to being lost than what FWP will admit. The sportsmen of this state have lost all trust in the agency, and when the word gets out that the Montana Bowhunters Association is fighting this last ditch effort to take control of predator problems, I have a feeling that membership in that organizaiton will begin to nose dive. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a look at what this legislation is really all about - </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.lobowatch.org/adminclient/Legislation13/go" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: medium;"><strong>http://www.lobowatch.org/<wbr></wbr>adminclient/Legislation13/go</strong></span></a></span><br />
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Toby Bridges</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">LOBO WATCH</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/" target="_blank">www.lobowatch.com</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-60557530590694182312013-03-07T06:28:00.001-08:002013-03-07T09:25:47.116-08:00Sportsmen Across The Country Are Beginning To Lose All Faith In State Game & Fish DepartmentsMontana sportsmen have run out of patience, waiting for the state's Fish, Wildlife and Parks to actually end efforts to "manage" wolves as a sport-hunted big game animal...and to begin to "control" wolves for what they really are - a major predator that has already wiped out decades of big game conservation efforts in as much as 1/3 of the state. The same devastation of wildlife resources has now taken place in as much as half of the Northern U.S. Rockies, and it's now beginning to spread Westward and Eastward.<br />
<br />
The same thing is now taking place in other regions of the country as well, now in the Upper Midwestern states and through plans to "reintroduce" wolves into other states. Have state wildlife agencies switched sides? Do they now cater to the wants of radical environmental and animal rights groups instead of the sportsmen who have funded those agencies since their inception during the early 1900's?<br />
<br />
Following is an early 2009 LOBO WATCH release that shared what was happening in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Since this release was published, wolf numbers there have basically doubled...and several hundred thousand deer, moose and elk have been lost - not to mention the growing impact on livestock production and the loss of pets.<br />
<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UxcjT6LvERydyPUg5UdXcSERoMyoR1jbabyAcj3kD6Tbo35y8LExp4d5vwgsG963e86mmSb7znEg6oE8n2S3SuobSzmFbkPuOMLpNrS1oK28n8cwOWRix6RysvjiQ8oC1VlbfX-1Yg/s1600/peering+wolf+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UxcjT6LvERydyPUg5UdXcSERoMyoR1jbabyAcj3kD6Tbo35y8LExp4d5vwgsG963e86mmSb7znEg6oE8n2S3SuobSzmFbkPuOMLpNrS1oK28n8cwOWRix6RysvjiQ8oC1VlbfX-1Yg/s400/peering+wolf+-+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Heavy","sans-serif"; font-size: 48pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> LOBO WATCH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Heavy","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Sportsmen Taking Charge of
Predator Problems<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Heavy","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #c00000;">News Release<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">For Immediate Release</span></u><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Heavy","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">December
16, 2009</span></u><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Heavy","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 20pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wolves Impact Deer Populations</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 20pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Upper Midwest <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With
the close of the 2009 firearms deer season, Wisconsin deer hunters took home
nearly 30-percent less venison for the freezer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They experienced the worst deer season in that state in 27 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the hardest hit were the northernmost
counties, which just also happen to be the heart of the state's wolf range.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
Florence County, which borders the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the white-tail
deer harvest was down a whopping 62-percent...in nearby Oneida County the
hunter take was down 50-percent...and in Villas County to the west hunters took
59-percent fewer deer than they did during the 2008 season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All across Wisconsin's northern tier of
counties, the harvest was significantly down 40- to 60-percent from last
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that's mostly due to deer
populations that have plummeted during the past several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSc9p9mE71Z8JtRqOnFF0dIqkKsSvmM2s3TOuCdoge-YEhPWGAgaYnc15ovt3CQQMg1s0ScYgDvYZl-DtKSdhue0Cy06JT_ui_Vt7g5vOKL08vaodztD_xYCikNEz2njwn5HcsLCUDQ/s1600/Wolf+Pack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSc9p9mE71Z8JtRqOnFF0dIqkKsSvmM2s3TOuCdoge-YEhPWGAgaYnc15ovt3CQQMg1s0ScYgDvYZl-DtKSdhue0Cy06JT_ui_Vt7g5vOKL08vaodztD_xYCikNEz2njwn5HcsLCUDQ/s320/Wolf+Pack.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
region is now home to a growing number of gray wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the Wisconsin DNR, the
population is at about 625 to 650 wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, the hundreds of thousands of sportsmen who hit these woods
every fall feel there are more - many more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, that is very likely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
seems that today's wildlife managers do not have the savvy to get a very
accurate count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
great example can be seen far to the west, in Montana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, wildlife biologists have been stuck at
around 500 wolves as their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"official count"</i></b> for
several years now - completely disregarding the fact that wolf populations,
left unchecked, will typically<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>increase
25- to 30-percent annually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. David L.
Mech, arguably the world's leading wolf authority, was called on as an expert
witness for the 2008 hearings to remove the gray wolf of the northern Rocky
Mountain states from protection of the Endangered Species Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dynamics of wolf population growth he
presented during his declaration clearly show that the wolf population in
Montana is more likely 1,000 to 1,200.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And hunters tend to agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
western Montana's wolf range, which runs from the Canadian border south to
Wyoming, there has been a near "0" calf elk survival for several
years now, due to wolf<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>depredation, and
elk numbers are dropping like a rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
one region, the 2009 elk harvest was down 45%, whitetail deer harvest down 50%,
and the mule deer harvest down 45% from the average past five year
harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those hunters who did see elk
reported seeing no calves whatsoever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
same thing is now happening to the spring whitetail fawn crop in northern
Wisconsin, as well as next door in northern Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
Wisconsin study has shown that 55% of a wolf's diet in this state is made up of
white-tailed deer, and another DNR report claims that each wolf <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">consumes</i></b>
an average of 20 deer per year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
would mean the wolves of northern Wisconsin are taking down between 12,500 and
13,000 deer annually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for a state
that claims to have around 1.5 million deer at the start of fall, that seems
very tolerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the same <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"deer
kill per wolf"</i></b> holds true next door in Minnesota, that means
hunters there are losing 60,000 whitetails annually to the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3,000 wolves claimed by the state - which the
MN DNR likes to tout as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">conservation success story</i></b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks2VmWMBJBhLoydaehlSxPkSs-HLbi9xpCFf40w6gxUx6SSkNueDQ65CXvNMnRmgqVf0KuNGWSeh1C3L0m6ugl9IffZej0-tvOj0g1T_5On1oqG0DTiThi9TRVDBihigDYZlBhba-kg/s1600/yellowstone-wolves+-+YNP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks2VmWMBJBhLoydaehlSxPkSs-HLbi9xpCFf40w6gxUx6SSkNueDQ65CXvNMnRmgqVf0KuNGWSeh1C3L0m6ugl9IffZej0-tvOj0g1T_5On1oqG0DTiThi9TRVDBihigDYZlBhba-kg/s320/yellowstone-wolves+-+YNP.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
these figures ignore and hide is the residual impact wolves are having on the
deer population of northern Wisconsin, and likewise in northern Minnesota and
Michigan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Out West"</i></b>,
where more is now being done to manage an out-of-control wolf population, it
has become very evident that the constant pushing of elk and deer by wolves is
creating enough stress to cause cow elk and doe deer to abort their young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Yellowstone National Park, in 2001 there
were an estimated 16,000 elk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And thanks
to the annual birth of new calves, the average age of those elk was 4
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, that herd is down to 6,000
- and the average age is now 8 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wolves are the reason for the decline in numbers, due to both the direct
loss of elk to escalated wolf kills, and the loss of calf recruitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yellowstone's elk herd is quickly getting
old, and sportsmen know it's headed for a disastrous crash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many feel that within five years, it could be
totally lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Deer,
or elk, that are constantly hunted by wolves don't have the luxury of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fattening up for winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consequently, they go into the toughest part
of the year undernourished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when an
extended stretch of cold and snowy weather sets in, those that have been run
thin by the wolves are more apt to be the first to succumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Across the snow belt of the upper Midwest,
where 3-feet deep snows are very common in February and March, the deer are
often trapped in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"yards"</i></b> for a month or longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those that are even moderately
undernourished at the beginning of an extended period without sufficient feed,
it's a sure death sentence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
most troubling impact wolves are making are the documented occurrences of
wolves killing for the mere pleasure of killing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one instance alone, a small group of
wolves in Montana went on a blood-letting spree, and in one night killed 130
domestic sheep - without eating anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And they are doing the same thing with deer and elk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the claims of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"wildlife experts"</i></b>
that wolves only kill the sick, weak and injured, there are now many cases that
strongly support that wolves kill as much, if not more, for sport than for
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times, dozens of wolf-killed
deer or elk carcasses have been found - without any evidence of being fed
upon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as wolf numbers grow, so do
such instances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
astonishes many veteran big game hunters is how state wildlife agency
biologists continue to down play the impact wolves are having on deer and other
big game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minnesota DNR fur bearer
biologist John Erb has stated, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"The data continues to support a
conclusion that wolves in Minnesota have not caused, nor are they likely to
cause, a substantial multi-year decline in deer numbers."</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoytP1et81gcmF49zvFCa_N4tD9acvCB1vLYwRIC7NyTMoXxpfs0QNBwhLRxRLU-sAOe2K3JINc9Mve7nSe-WJy-E3nKPpLco8K75mA_TDUuZime0FlzzoIko1Cu0FkBBg_Z_FVVG99g/s1600/WOLF+KILL+03-20-2011+MERCER+WI_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoytP1et81gcmF49zvFCa_N4tD9acvCB1vLYwRIC7NyTMoXxpfs0QNBwhLRxRLU-sAOe2K3JINc9Mve7nSe-WJy-E3nKPpLco8K75mA_TDUuZime0FlzzoIko1Cu0FkBBg_Z_FVVG99g/s320/WOLF+KILL+03-20-2011+MERCER+WI_.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sportsmen
are now crying <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Hogwash!"</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to
such <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"data"</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Despite
Erb's claim, northern Minnesota has now had back-to-back deer harvests that
have been significantly down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironically, although the state's wolf population has basically tripled
over the past 25 or 30 years, Minnesota's big game biologists just can't put their
finger on why moose numbers are crashing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
is a fast growing resentment against state wildlife agencies which now seem to
put far too much effort toward covering up for the wolf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, most hunters want wolves in the
northern Midwestern states removed from federal protection, and to get much
needed management hunts established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sportsmen are losing faith in these departments to wisely manage these
apex predators, which are now making a very negative impact on deer and other
big game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mark
Johnson, of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, observes, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"It
is pretty obvious that the public tolerance of increasing and expanding wolf
numbers is nearing its limits in part because of lower deer numbers, but also
due to more wolf sightings and caution caused by reports of more aggressive
wolf behavior."</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
regard to a 2009 season harvest that was 30-percent lower than the 2008 season
in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, one hunter says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"I live in the Upper
Peninsula and hunt in the lower peninsula and I did shoot a deer this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don't shoot deer in the upper
Peninsula anymore because wolves have ate a majority of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not what the DNR tells you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don't want to say that wolves go into
the deer yards in the winter and have a deer killing frenzy." </i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
manner in which the game departments in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan are
handling the wolf issue has a lot of sportsmen wondering if these agencies now
have a new agenda - to let wolves replace the human hunter's role in wildlife management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most hunters are not happy with how these
game departments continue to turn a blind eye to the devastation wolves are
dealing wildlife populations. - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Toby Bridges</i></b>, LOBO WATCH</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">__________________________________________________________</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What has happened to wildlife management in this country? It's as if state wildlife agencies are now working hard to insure that major predators destroy big game populations to the point that human hunters have little to harvest - or even the opportunity to hunt. Educate yourself to what's really happening in America. For dozens of other LOBO WATCH releases, go to the following link...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.org/adminclient/NewsArchive/go"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">http://www.lobowatch.org/adminclient/NewsArchive/go</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-35803653334114993472013-02-26T11:20:00.001-08:002013-02-26T11:42:30.717-08:00Emergency Predator Control Needed Right Now To Save Any Hope For Western Montana's Big Game Herds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFiio9l16ddo1v1-EmDnbMVHMzrIxATqq8GABDbGl0BYCOCxWLQGL_qmdejDkPgMLJexBe2quCGqgs68E5xRA5wxkfxe2gxUQylr4ws4uWeZ_d6juLc91jQCmb7i_s2GxwzLnvAeoHg/s1600/ID+mt.+lion+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFiio9l16ddo1v1-EmDnbMVHMzrIxATqq8GABDbGl0BYCOCxWLQGL_qmdejDkPgMLJexBe2quCGqgs68E5xRA5wxkfxe2gxUQylr4ws4uWeZ_d6juLc91jQCmb7i_s2GxwzLnvAeoHg/s400/ID+mt.+lion+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">This morning, the following e-mail and an attached LOBO WATCH release <span style="color: orange;">(link provided for the published release below)</span> went to Governor Steve Bullock, to the FWP Commission, some FWP supervisors and managers, and to a number of state senators and representatives, plus it went to dozens of sportsman/conservation organizations and to several hundred Montana residents.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The State of Montana has pussyfooted around the predator issue in this state for far too long. For the past seven or eight years, sportsmen who have witnessed the continued crash of big game populations all along the Western one-third of this state have cried out that time was running out to save those herds. Well, time has run out!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The attached release takes a look at the problem, who's at fault, and the ONLY chance we have at saving what's left as seed for bringing these herds back.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Please take a few minutes to write Governor Steve Bullock at "Governor Steve Bullock" </span><a href="mailto:governor@mt.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;"><</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: medium;">governor@mt.gov</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: orange;">></span> and insist that he take a strong stand in favor of the drastic reduction of predators in this state. It's the ONLY chance our big game herds have at recovering.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Toby Bridges</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">LOBO WATCH</span></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange; font-size: medium;">www.lobowatch.com</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">_________________________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>Dear Governor Bullock;</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>The token wolf seasons which have been conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, coupled with totally inadequate harvests of other major predators for more than a decade, have resulted in a glut of predators which are now destroying the past 75 years of wildlife conservation in this state.</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>Following the 2012 big game hunting season, during which hunters in roughly the Western 1/3 of this state experienced the worse hunting season of their lives, preceded by seasons that have progressively gotten worse, the sportsmen who have funded MT FWP clearly see the problem. Our state wildlife agency has concentrated way too much on managing predators, allowing our big game herds to take a real beating.</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>There is only one way to reverse the loss, and that is to dramatically reduce the number of wolves, mountain lions and bears in Montana. The attached LOBO WATCH release takes a more detailed look at the problem...and what it will take to allow big game and other wildlife populations to recover.</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>This will be the hottest issue you will have to face through your term in office. How aggressively and effectively you work to save this Montana treasure during your first term in office will surely dictate whether or not you even have a shot at a second term.</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>MT FWP has already proven that predator management does not work, now it's way past time for some serious predator control.</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>Toby Bridges</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><strong><em>LOBO WATCH</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>Missoula, MT</em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange; font-size: medium;"><strong><em>www.lobowatch.com</em></strong></span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">To read the release sent to the Montana Governor Steve Bullock, Go To - </span><a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/adminclient/Legislation12/go" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">http://www.lobowatch.com/<wbr></wbr>adminclient/Legislation12/go</span></a> </div>
</span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-54305322986315284122013-02-24T07:37:00.000-08:002013-02-24T11:19:14.812-08:00Could It Be That The Entire U.S. Wolf Hoax Has Been Entirely Driven By The U.S. Government?<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following LOBO WATCH Editorial Release was written and
first circulated back in July of 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It takes a look at how the gray wolf has never been endangered in North
America, and the manner in which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manipulated
wolf science in order to achieve their goal of dumping an entirely
non-indigenous wolf subspecies into the Northern Rockies, plus how they have
allowed wolf populations to artificially increase across the Upper
Midwest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, state wildlife
agencies like Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks fell in with the USFWS agenda,
and to this day continue to remain in denial and continue to withhold the truth
from this country's citizens. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">_________________________________________________________________________________________________</span></span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Click On Photos To Enlarge</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49obD7YPyOMl1bDdYpAXZozRsQwMHLySvZchWE-tfVVvSCpRAs-FFNcb-rrJqp8nQrIKTwO5ppoj5IQxprNHevgx6LiPl-Y0HyrxX-cqmq8qxvzIchcbJmtoF63k9-TmNK9xvu0brrg/s1600/Wolves+Arrive+At+Yellowstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49obD7YPyOMl1bDdYpAXZozRsQwMHLySvZchWE-tfVVvSCpRAs-FFNcb-rrJqp8nQrIKTwO5ppoj5IQxprNHevgx6LiPl-Y0HyrxX-cqmq8qxvzIchcbJmtoF63k9-TmNK9xvu0brrg/s400/Wolves+Arrive+At+Yellowstone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Has The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Become A Rogue Agency?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"> There are now a number of very dark clouds hanging over the
fish and wildlife arm of the U.S. Department of the Interior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the tallest thunder cell has to be the
manner in which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has handled the so-called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wolf Recovery Project</b> in the Northern
Rocky Mountain states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana - especially in how the
agency resorted to the manipulation of wolf science and wolf facts to expedite
restoring wolf populations where they had been missing for most of the past 70
or 80 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, were they?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;"><strong>(Photo Above - Illegal wolves arrive through Yellowstone's northern entrance back in 1995 - a phony project financed with money stolen from Pittman-Robertson funds.)</strong></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcESYVVlSKducMyKEyRKLLuHNn6qbq6hy2uzsWqbJEwvhb5M91UCoCkfb3sIcLz51rQHo6V0_D3SaiYFJuaOw8PA_fAst5KuQNnc824Rzm6yaZuAQeGPCxXUR9opnPS3Da0jkKxMEL8A/s1600/Wolf+Lovers+-+Sportsmans+Enemy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcESYVVlSKducMyKEyRKLLuHNn6qbq6hy2uzsWqbJEwvhb5M91UCoCkfb3sIcLz51rQHo6V0_D3SaiYFJuaOw8PA_fAst5KuQNnc824Rzm6yaZuAQeGPCxXUR9opnPS3Da0jkKxMEL8A/s400/Wolf+Lovers+-+Sportsmans+Enemy.jpg" width="292" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Endangered Species Act was established in 1973, to protect and restore
endangered or threatened wildlife species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Back when that act became law, there were between 50,000 and 60,000
wolves of varying subspecies roaming freely across Canada (and likely just as
many in Alaska).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, since there were
only about 700 to 1,000 wolves known to exist in northern Minnesota and in
several small pockets in northwestern Montana, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service pushed to get the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"gray wolf"</i></b> added to the
ESA list of endangered species in 1974. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the
tools used by FWS to facilitate their management of a species/subspecies that
is endangered or threatened is to establish it as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Distinct Population
Segment"</i></b>, separating it from the management of that species or
subspecies as a whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is
likely where the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"gray"</i></b> area lies in the ESA listing and the
management of the gray wolf as an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"endangered species"</i></b>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Garamond;">(Photo Above Right - Wolf recovery in the Lower 48 States has been one extremely costly screw up after another, thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlfie Service. Yellowstone National Park was sacrificed to appease radical environmental groups and ego driven wildlife biologists.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First of all,
the gray wolves of central Canada were never really endangered, or threatened
for that matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite ongoing wolf
control efforts in Ontario, the wolf population just to the north of the
U.S.-Canada border was not endangered back in 1973 when the ESA was
established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither have wolves been
endangered or threatened there since that act was put into place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, there has not been any efforts to
prevent their migration south, into northern Minnesota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mad wolf scientists</i></b> of
the FWS felt compelled to write themselves into the annals of wildlife
conservation and took it upon themselves to classify the wolves of the upper
Midwest as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Distinct Population Segment"</i></b> , and endangered - even
though absolutely nothing separated them from the tens of thousands of wolves
north of the Canadian border.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And their
muddling with such wolf facts came back to nip them hard on their backside.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As wolf
numbers began to grow and spread, from northern Minnesota into upper Wisconsin
and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USFWS moved to remove them from the
Endangered Species List in early 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At that time, there were likely close to 4,000 wolves spread across the
upper Midwest, and the agency determined that the gray wolf of that region was
no longer an endangered species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FWS
decided<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to delist the wolf there.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ7VBMXlZbnvKx4qWbEOT4OC82zN3ipa_oCG3kwruP3foU0T0tT-g1MljecAmGtta2ZHPNFQh-5HoidyNMzw1j4b1aBtKj4LweBusYH2uB1ofYD92MQB4aRVo6R_-ksyFQOnuZTwUnA/s1600/Wester+Great+Lakes+Wolf+DPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ7VBMXlZbnvKx4qWbEOT4OC82zN3ipa_oCG3kwruP3foU0T0tT-g1MljecAmGtta2ZHPNFQh-5HoidyNMzw1j4b1aBtKj4LweBusYH2uB1ofYD92MQB4aRVo6R_-ksyFQOnuZTwUnA/s320/Wester+Great+Lakes+Wolf+DPS.jpg" width="295" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In short
order, the Humane Society of the United States (and a number of other <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"environmental"</i></b>
co-plaintiffs) challenged the USFWS <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Final Rule"</i></b> on removing
Midwestern wolves from the protection of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Endangered Species Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>HSUS
also asserted that the ESA does not authorize USFWS to designate and delist <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Distinct
Population Segments"</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
other words, the act does not allow the agency <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"to carve out"</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>healthy sub-populations of otherwise
endangered or threatened species.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Garamond;">(Map Above Left - Here is the currrent USFWS map showing the Western Great Lakes gray wolf DPS. Note how the agency has already more than doubled the expected range of these wolves - right into the heart of this country's finest whitetail deer hunting.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The court
questioned, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Whether the ESA permits FWS to use the DPS tool to remove the
protection of the statute from a healthy sub-population of a listed species,
even if that sub-population was neither designated as a DPS nor listed as
endangered or threatened beforehand."</i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The delisting
of the wolf in the upper Midwest did not happen in 2008, and management of
those wolves is still on hold - even though there are now between 5,000 and
6,000 wolves across upper Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whitetail deer herds in many areas where
wolf numbers are at their highest have now been reduced by 40- to 60-percent,
and moose have practically disappeared where they were once abundant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, years of trying to re-establish elk
herds in these states is now in real jeopardy, with the wolves destroying
spring calf recruitment.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wrongly,
USFWS had established a line, an international boundary, that separated the
wolves of the U.S. from the wolves of Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And largely because of that intervention and poor decision making, big
game resources and livestock production across the upper Midwest are now being
severely impacted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, across the
border, in Canada, aggressive control of the same <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"non endangered"</i></b>
wolves continues.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Faced with
establishing a recovered wolf population in the Northern Rockies, USFWS threw
professional wildlife management ethics right out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To say that the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wolf Recovery Project</b> of the West has been plagued with lies and
deceit from the very start is putting it mildly.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviL_eLkDOZGj0ojIZYyZRCxPPhNJHzhLIsTooNSyJBPQJ1dhWOvwHv2XkYRxp3BL3pBJeCeAnbzPi8TYJoL1Xjwg-LvNFixza1G0ZrZikU0R8ScyTtq33Y2RDetbYFT4hK5b40SJZKQ/s1600/Wolf_Protest_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviL_eLkDOZGj0ojIZYyZRCxPPhNJHzhLIsTooNSyJBPQJ1dhWOvwHv2XkYRxp3BL3pBJeCeAnbzPi8TYJoL1Xjwg-LvNFixza1G0ZrZikU0R8ScyTtq33Y2RDetbYFT4hK5b40SJZKQ/s320/Wolf_Protest_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well before
Canadian wolves were dumped into the mountains of Idaho, northwestern Wyoming,
and western Montana, many residents were aware of small pockets of wolves in
several areas - wolves which had been there for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, since they had not been <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"discovered"</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by some recognized wolf expert, they were not
accepted as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Distinct Population Segment"</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, USFWS took it upon itself to ignore the
possibility of any real resident wolves (similar to its decision to draw the
line between the wolves of northern Minnesota and the wolves of Canada) in
order to simply accelerate the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"reintroduction"</i></b> of wolves
in the Northern Rockies, where in their opinion wolves had been missing for the
past 75 or 80 years.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Garamond;">(Photo Above Right - Residents of the Greater Yellowstone Area protested the dumping of non-native wolves into the Northern Rockies - USFWS, MT FWP, IDFG, agenda driven politicians and university academics ignored their pleas.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Research as
hard as you may, you will not find where Congress authorized funding for the
capture, transportation, care, or handling of those wolves before being
released into what <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i></b> America's greatest wildlife wonderland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So,
where did USFWS get all of those millions of dollars needed to fund such a
major project?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jim Beers, a
former Chief of National Wildlife Refuge Operations, who spent the latter part
of his 32-year career with the agency working with the disbursement of
federally collected tax dollars to help fund state wildlife departments and
conservation programs, says USFWS literally stole the money from those funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, these aren't the tax dollars collected
from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ALL</i></b>
U.S. taxpayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, these are the
excise tax dollars that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">America's sportsmen</i></b> voluntarily pay
on firearm, ammunition, archery gear, fishing tackle and other outdoor related
product purchases - under the Pitman-Robertson Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And those funds are, by law, to be used
exclusively for wildlife habitat and fisheries improvement.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hh614E4QoZlp4b4hC2l-6U3nwGr39lJqNG_4Fskj6RdwNQXE4-g6oBAYo6kVqE9DABH1F4N97g_ozpK_WwvDuG0Jxms5ZbcX6cafSXwXfLXyN9ImE9cb__o2ocOv42jZBIaFFHEVyA/s1600/Photo+1+-+Jim+Beers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hh614E4QoZlp4b4hC2l-6U3nwGr39lJqNG_4Fskj6RdwNQXE4-g6oBAYo6kVqE9DABH1F4N97g_ozpK_WwvDuG0Jxms5ZbcX6cafSXwXfLXyN9ImE9cb__o2ocOv42jZBIaFFHEVyA/s320/Photo+1+-+Jim+Beers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According to
Beers, through the 1990s USFWS embezzled between $60- and $70-million from
Pitman-Robertson funds, with a healthy chunk of that money used to illegally
finance capturing northern Canadian wolves and transplanting them into the
Northern Rockies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Garamond;">(Photo Above - During a presnetation in Bozeman, Montana - Jim Beers addresses a large audience of concerned sportsmen, residents and rural landowners in regard to how USFWS literally broke many laws in order to force wolves on those who live in the Northern Rockies.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"> Once again, USFWS
stepped way beyond its authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
wolves they brought to Idaho, Wyoming and Montana are found all across northern
British Columbia, the Yukon, northern Alberta and northern Saskatchewan - and
are in no way endangered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, they
are not the native wolf of the U.S. Northern Rockies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The transplanted wolves are a significantly
larger and more aggressive wolf than the wolves that were native to the
Northwest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those residents who know that
small pockets of wolves still existed here now accuse USFWS of actually
violating the Endangered Species Act.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Plaguing this
project even further is that it seems USFWS purposely eliminated any sort of
paper trail that would document how much money was spent on bringing in several
different invasive subspecies of wolves, the actual subspecies brought across
the border, or even the true number of wolves involved in the initial
releases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The agency did not file the
required Form 3-177, which would have documented all of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically, this is a USFWS form, required
for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i></b>
importation of wildlife into this country.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcu3jU260-XgSHA0d2H_LmwMui5716hcZyvMCnm0J4Cgd3ZyQtLkJrhf3gZAkOTw7-6J3xW370dQ-puZsz302goJV5U-VydgNySxPr8x4i89eHB5iguN6dDpZpz0chdGGQ6HaLa8p0A/s1600/NR_feature_EdBangsWolfCollaring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcu3jU260-XgSHA0d2H_LmwMui5716hcZyvMCnm0J4Cgd3ZyQtLkJrhf3gZAkOTw7-6J3xW370dQ-puZsz302goJV5U-VydgNySxPr8x4i89eHB5iguN6dDpZpz0chdGGQ6HaLa8p0A/s1600/NR_feature_EdBangsWolfCollaring.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even the
Environmental Impact Statement, filed by project leader Ed Bangs, is suspect of
being filled with false information in regards to the impact wolves would have
on elk, moose, deer and other big game populations, as well as on livestock
production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The depredation numbers
shared in that statement are only about a third of the impact now being
realized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The residents of the Northern
Rockies now feel that the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"experts"</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who put together the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Plan</b> either didn't know enough about
wolves to play a role, or the misinformation was presented on purpose to sway
the opinion of the general public in favor of bringing back a major predator
which was eliminated decades ago.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Garamond;">(Photo Above Right - USFWS Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Project leader Ed Bangs.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The sportsmen
of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, who have paid the way for the conservation
programs that brought big game populations back from nearly being lost during
the early 1900s largely feel that USFWS, and their own state wildlife agencies
to some degree, are now selling them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They know that a large percentage of today's wildlife managers do not
hunt, and that they now tend to side more with the major environmental
organizations which have a strong anti-hunting stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing they are paying these managers
salaries angers many hunters - and so does the thought that USFWS could steal
$60- to $70-million of their tax dollars to introduce a non-indigenous wolf
subspecies that is now destroying the past 75 years of big game conservation
work. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE4kKIz9JwqO17quDLVIbDbKZdkUixSRnN1B_ka-xumLOsMusYalc2EYTFfVuq8BKNIyQwW5XUy4JL6dbF8F4e17NBY8qjwnhaDkGc3EwBjkAVecIgViQknp4vu4YTUDpjxRYMmpRGg/s1600/WY+wolf+being+collared+2+-+WGFD+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE4kKIz9JwqO17quDLVIbDbKZdkUixSRnN1B_ka-xumLOsMusYalc2EYTFfVuq8BKNIyQwW5XUy4JL6dbF8F4e17NBY8qjwnhaDkGc3EwBjkAVecIgViQknp4vu4YTUDpjxRYMmpRGg/s320/WY+wolf+being+collared+2+-+WGFD+photo.jpg" width="293" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In some
areas, wolves have already decimated elk herds by as much as 60- to
80-percent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The once great northern
Yellowstone herd, which numbered around 19,000 at the time the first northern
Alberta wolves were released inside the park in 1995, is now down to only a few
thousand remaining animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And those
elk that have managed to survive non-stop pressure from the wolves are quickly
growing old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to the near
100-percent loss of elk calves in the spring, the average age of Yellowstone
elk is now 8 to 9 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before the
USFWS <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"introduction"</i></b> of an invasive wolf subspecies, elk
there averaged 4 years of age.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="color: orange;">(Photo Above Left - Hundreds of millions of dollars have been wasted on introducing and researching a wolf that has never been endangered, and hundreds of millions more have already been lost to the idiocy of dumping wolves where they are not wanted.)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond;">Despite all
the manipulation of wolf science and wolf facts, along with the theft of
sportsmen provided money to illegally fund the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Northern</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rockies Wolf
Recovery Project</b>, and all the lies and deceit to hide the truth from the
public, the wolf fiasco continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
who are feeling the bite of the wolf on their economy </span><span style="font-family: Garamond;">and way of life are now questioning a legal system that bows
down to the demands of environmental groups, which have profited hundreds of
millions of taxpayer dollars from frivolous lawsuits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many sportsmen and tax-paying citizens now
feel that the USFWS relationship with the greenie groups needs to be investigated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, that the financial loop hole known
as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Equal Access to Justice Act"</i></b> needs to be eliminated,
preventing environmental organizations from receiving financial restitution
from the U.S. Government for grossly padded legal expenses when they do file
those thousands of lawsuits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
favorite <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"defendant"</i></b> tends to be USFWS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has the agency become an all too willing
participant in these legal actions?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most of all,
Americans have grown weary of government agencies that repeatedly step beyond
their authority, to use whatever means or methods necessary to achieve <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their</i></b>
desired goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service is one such rogue agency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Toby Bridges</i></b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">LOBO WATCH</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond;">___________________________________________________________________________________</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has been an all too willing
a partner in the Northern Rockies Wolf Fiasco, primarily under the poor
leadership of former Governor Brian Schweitzer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, Schweitzer seems to have aspirations of replacing Senator Max
Baucus in the U.S. Senate, which may better explain the manner in which the
former governor's bragging about taking control of the wolf problem was never
really backed by any action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps
Schweitzer was afraid he might sever political purse strings with the same
environmental groups and political activist groups (posing as "sportsman
organizations") that it took to get Senator Jon Tester re-elected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the near future, we'll take a look at
those phony Montana sportsmen organizations - and what and who they really are. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">MT FWP Watch is an affiliate blog of the LOBO WATCH website at </span><a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">www.lobowatch.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-38308578439167879502013-02-18T07:43:00.001-08:002013-02-18T07:49:26.213-08:00February 18, 2013 E-Mail To MT Governor Steve Bullock<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayMrqgaLhLOJGlredcws70SJfGOiOH1NSroyRLbsIE3mPHyEuG7yvHIEA_JS9W8TAZS0YukAR6ZKjeVi7c76LxLldBnYsHeqo4WtjkI0s_yco0cHbhNaaXnNUpzuSzfBELubz3ewn1g/s1600/Steve+Bullock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayMrqgaLhLOJGlredcws70SJfGOiOH1NSroyRLbsIE3mPHyEuG7yvHIEA_JS9W8TAZS0YukAR6ZKjeVi7c76LxLldBnYsHeqo4WtjkI0s_yco0cHbhNaaXnNUpzuSzfBELubz3ewn1g/s320/Steve+Bullock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong> February 18, 2013</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Dear Governor Bullock; </strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Many Montana sportsmen are now questioning your choice of Director for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Is that the best you could come up with? Hagener's reputation is severely tarnished, directly connected with easily the darkest days of big game and other wildlife management in the State of Montana. More wildlife was lost under Governor Brian Schweitzer's watch, and under the <em>"Direct</em></strong><span class="text_exposed_show"><strong><em>ion"</em> of FWP by Hagener and Maurier, than during the terms of any other Montana governor. <br /> <br /> Is that what you plan to give us as well? <br /> <br /> Thank you for signing HB 73 into law, wolf hunting regulations needed to be severely relaxed, but they still do not go far enough. Before wolves can be managed at an acceptable level, their numbers first have to be reduced to that level - and the harvest this season isn't even close. <br /> <br /> Why is it FWP is so hell bent to try managing wolves as a big game animal, when around the world where wolves have been a problem forever it has been proven that sport hunting wolves does not, cannot adequately reduce population levels? Why is it our amateur FWP <em>"wolf specialists"</em> ignore what seasoned and professional wolf managers...wolf regulators...have learned in other regions of the world, namely the republics that once made up Russia, or even to our due north in Canada - and that is wolves must be stringently controlled through aggressive measures, and held at those levels? Anything less simply means the continued loss of big game, and escalated wolf depredation of livestock and pets. <br /> <br /> Through the sportsman network in this state, I've learned that Dr. Robert Ream has been working to be reinstated to the FWP Commission. While he may make a good <em>"other"</em> book end to Jeff Hagener, he certainly has no business in any decisive or steering role in wildlife management in this state. Dr. Ream has already contributed way too much to the destruction of wildlife resources in Montana, and the Northern Rockies, and certainly does not represent the best interests of the sportsmen who financially support FWP. He should have never sat on the Commission, let alone serve as the Chairman of the FWP Commission. <br /> <br /> With Hagener's appointment as Director of FWP, your term as Governor is already getting off to a very rocky start. Put Bob Ream back on the FWP Commission, and you will most certainly feel the wrath of Montana's outdoorsmen and women.<br /> <br /> I know you are a very busy newly elected governor, but please take the time to read the article, titled Montana's Wildlife Resources"<em>"Too Many Predators, MT FWP And Radical Political-Environmental Agendas Destroy</em> , at the following link. <br /> <br /> </strong><a href="http://mt-fwpwatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/too-many-predators-mt-fwp-radical.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>http://mt-fwpwatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/too-many-predators-mt-fwp-radical.html</strong></a><br /><br /><strong> Please don't let this become the epitaph of the wildlife and the outdoors of this state.<br /><br /> Toby Bridges<br /> LOBO WATCH<br /> Missoula, MT 59801</strong></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-90449218930245810012013-02-17T13:12:00.000-08:002013-02-24T07:49:48.933-08:00Too Many Predators, MT FWP And Radical Political-Environmental Agendas Destroy Montana's Wildlife Resources<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0xqCp0IckBrwFbsOIzZToRfhMUc-R7mxLj-f6PHvld9gXWFSoLVzqQ2sdkTRmXfOE0aXBQZblUc3R3SG3-Pk2EB0SXFkksU-sASODn6BNeQLoa4qys4sYyO2j-U11z4WktL5UvyPUw/s1600/peering+wolf+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0xqCp0IckBrwFbsOIzZToRfhMUc-R7mxLj-f6PHvld9gXWFSoLVzqQ2sdkTRmXfOE0aXBQZblUc3R3SG3-Pk2EB0SXFkksU-sASODn6BNeQLoa4qys4sYyO2j-U11z4WktL5UvyPUw/s640/peering+wolf+-+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Big game hunters in the western one-third of Montana just finished what may have been the <br />
absolute worst hunting season of their lives. During the late 1950s and 1960s, some of the better <br />
hunting districts in the Bitterroot, Sapphire, Garnet, Cabinet, Mission, Absaroka, Pioneer, <br />
Madison and other mountain ranges up and down the Rocky Mountains of Western Montana commonly saw hunter success rates of 30- to 50-percent. Often the percentage of elk, deer, moose and other big game hunters taking home game for the table even exceeded those success rates. Well, things have certainly changed, and not for the better. Depending on the specific geographical area, 2012 hunter success rates were more like 6- to 10-percent.<br />
<br />
Why such a nose dive in the wild game harvest? That's the easy question to answer - there's no game to be hunted! The difficult question to answer is, why did Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks allow big game populations to crash by as much as 80-percent - without taking the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyygBbE7oS8ik8yMVQMblgzaEiWojnndKudqoGLD97CrnsHW4GU184O3BBKY1Pvz1cb4cG2VK-2uXKk8-SAk7Z8uQ9aPkq8LS14KVdNKs6yE7bbxvaXQ6hsMxwj-6enzdTQLIj2E2Ww/s1600/Schweitzer+branding+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyygBbE7oS8ik8yMVQMblgzaEiWojnndKudqoGLD97CrnsHW4GU184O3BBKY1Pvz1cb4cG2VK-2uXKk8-SAk7Z8uQ9aPkq8LS14KVdNKs6yE7bbxvaXQ6hsMxwj-6enzdTQLIj2E2Ww/s400/Schweitzer+branding+party.jpg" width="266" /></a>necessary actions to stop the loss?<br />
<br />
It's not because the agency lacks the professional wildlife managers and biologists to tackle and reverse such a downward trend in game numbers. The problem lies with a drastic change in the political agendas of those who direct, steer and literally dictate the direction that wildlife management now takes in this state. Unfortunately, it does not favor the sportsmen who have financially supported FWP since it was founded way back in 1901, originally as the Montana Fish and Game Department.<br />
<br />
This wildlife agency is directly controlled by the Governor's office. Limited to two terms in office, Governor Brian Schweitzer vacated that office last month, and was replaced by fellow Democrat Steve Bullock - who formerly served as Montana's Attorney General, under Schweitzer. While an ever growing number of this state's sportsmen are proud to see Schweitzer leave office, they also now fear that they will see the same agenda driven leadership from Bullock.<br />
<br />
<strong>(Photo Above Left - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer...During his two terms in office, the state lost more wildlife than during the term of any other governor.)</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
Under Schweitzer's watch, the wildlife resources of the state took a severe beating from a glut of major predators - primarily wolves, bears and mountain lions. That destruction of big game herds was lead by the federal government - namely the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Justice Department. America's wildlife wonderland, also known as the Northern Rockies, became the test lab for a wildlife conservation experiment that went terribly wrong - the <strong>Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Project</strong>. Unfortunately, as it turned out, the <strong><em>"Project"</em></strong> had absolutely nothing to do with conserving the native wolf of the region, and in the end has proved to be little more than the U.S. Government encroaching upon the state rights of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming - and a legal system which bent over backwards to stand behind the wants of radical environmental groups which collectively have one big plan. Their goal is to push the rural residents of the Northern Rockies off the land, and to return the region to one big wilderness area that's pretty much human free, and much of which will be off limits to human use.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiC-7igLGcPCD7ElGNxD9LjJxWIycAhOTMt2RQIkxkVZHiElwcKzPrRBkN0_z4y_xStPQw6cbguhUVKhCd_94YtNeJS2xfonQD4SSW3X6jkS7ysklpazWGOQVT6Do1BIU9lVk7ESnhg/s1600/Gray_Wolf_Health_Examination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiC-7igLGcPCD7ElGNxD9LjJxWIycAhOTMt2RQIkxkVZHiElwcKzPrRBkN0_z4y_xStPQw6cbguhUVKhCd_94YtNeJS2xfonQD4SSW3X6jkS7ysklpazWGOQVT6Do1BIU9lVk7ESnhg/s320/Gray_Wolf_Health_Examination.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Prior to the launch of the wolf recovery project, when the USFWS released a non-native Canadian subspecies of wolf into the Northern Rockies in 1995, elk, deer and moose were thriving in the region - despite healthy numbers of mountain lions and bears - both black and grizzly. Weather related game losses took place from time to time, but through the years hunter harvest in Western Montana tended to vary from around 30- to 50-percent. It was the return of the wolf, a non-indigenous one at that, into the Montana-Idaho-Wyoming ecosystem that quickly proved to be the straw that broke wildlife management's back, and which destroyed hunting opportunities.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Had native wolves been thoroughly extirpated in the northern U.S. Rockies?</em></strong> <br />
<br />
There were then, and still are today, many resident hunters, hikers, campers, ranchers, and rural dwellers who said and still claim that pockets of the native wolf (<strong><em>Canis lupus irremotus</em></strong>), which the locals called the <strong><em>"timber wolf"</em></strong>, still existed - with minimal impact on various big game populations.<br />
<br />
(<strong>Photo Above Right - Millions of taxpayer dollars had already been expended on wolf <br />research before the kickoff of the Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Project...just to falsify that there were no native wolves in the Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Area.)</strong><br />
<br />
Working with the wildlife studies at the University of Montana, Missoula, professor Dr. Robert Ream headed the school's Wolf Ecology Project, which was established in 1972. The primary goal of that study was to determine whether or not wolves naturally still existed in the state, and whether or not reproduction had occurred. At the end of more than 15 years of supposedly in-the-field wolf investigation with student researchers, expending taxpayer dollars, Ream's pet project concluded that native wolves did not exist, that the wolves of Northwest Montana were merely moving back and forth across the U.S.-Canada border, and that other than a pair that had mated in Glacier National Park, then moved back into Canada, reproduction had not taken place.<br />
<br />
One Montana hunter who doesn't buy that has been former State Senator Greg Hinkle (R-Thompson Falls).<br />
<br />
This past fall, Hinkle commented, <strong><em>"No native wolves in the Northern Rockies? Let me tell you all a little history about the Rocky Mountain Wolf and FWP. Twenty-one years ago this December (Christmas) my wife and I were on a walk near our home. About a foot of snow on the </em></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldyoI2jSvzwRtKdPwXxH7pBq3gGPISFGcyEvLrt7q0oTBqd3DaNVpSc9jA0UyhvmdwDsMqmv2Mox1oeAt0dnF3UtmBHIwRcgszshUmpkhyphenhyphenuVhMnPdq12gnTro9p8ScajjaoQ8qTPiow/s1600/GregHinkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><em><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldyoI2jSvzwRtKdPwXxH7pBq3gGPISFGcyEvLrt7q0oTBqd3DaNVpSc9jA0UyhvmdwDsMqmv2Mox1oeAt0dnF3UtmBHIwRcgszshUmpkhyphenhyphenuVhMnPdq12gnTro9p8ScajjaoQ8qTPiow/s1600/GregHinkle.jpg" /></em></strong></a><strong><em>ground. Out of the trees about 80 yards away a wolf stepped out. Beautiful critter. He loped along through an open area giving us a few moments to observe it well. It was the first wolf my wife had </em></strong><strong><em>seen. I have seen many while working and hunting in Alaska. Definitely a wolf."</em></strong><br />
<br />
(<strong>Photo At Left - Former Montana State Senator Greg Hinkle (R-Thompson Falls)</strong><br />
<br />
Hinkle called the regional FWP biologist to report it.<br />
<br />
He was told he saw a <strong><em>"large coyote"</em></strong>. He insisted he knew what a wolf looked like and told the biologist it was a wolf. He denied they were here. Hinkle wondered at the time what was up with that kind of response. The next year he saw another wolf while hunting in the same area. Up close. It was during a heavy downpour, and a wolf stepped out in front of him not twenty feet away. It had a look of surprise, as Hinkle says he surely did as well. He says the wolf spun around and vanished into the thick cover. He again reported it, and was again told he had seen a <strong><em>"large coyote".</em></strong><br />
<br />
Greg adds, <strong><em>"The next year I saw another one in another drainage and tracks of another in yet another drainage a couple of days later. I did the same, reported it to FWP, with the same response. I no longer call FWP for anything. It became very apparent to me that there was some kind of 'agenda' afoot. A few years later the wolf introduction program began. 'No native wolves here'. Now we know the 'agenda'. That is when I became aware of the lies, deception and false propaganda spewed by environmental groups, the USFWS, and MT FWP concerning the wolf issue. Current FWP management is running part and parcel with the Y2Y agenda of re-wilding the Rockies. It also fits nicely with Agenda 21. The truth is out. The genie will not be stuffed back into the bottle."</em></strong><br />
<br />
Another Montana resident who questions just how thoroughly Bob Ream's project investigated the hundreds of reported wolf sightings is Allen Schallenberger, of Sheridan. He is a former state wildlife biologist and researcher who went to work with Montana Fish and Game - before <strong><em>"Parks"</em></strong> were thrown under that umbrella, stealing sportsman dollars which should be devoted entirely to fish and game management. Schallenberger worked as the Fish and Game biologist for the Eastern Front of the Rocky Mountains, plus conducted a five year study researching grizzly bears in that region. His work was conducted during the same time period as the Wolf Ecology Project. He spent 60+ hours a week working in the field, and says there were many documented reports of wolves in Montana prior to 1980. He feels historic wolf observations prior to 1995 including all pups, packs greater than two, with one exception of three, were covered up and eliminated in order to get the transplant wolves. Without any reservation whatsoever, he accuses the University of Montana, MT FWP, the National Park Service and the USFWS of that cover up - and says that Bob Ream and FWP continue that cover up to this very day.<br />
<br />
In a letter written in May 2011, to FWP Commissioner Dan Vermillion, Schallenberger commented, <strong><em>"I listened to the last Commission meeting and heard Ream tell the audience that wolves first moved into Montana from Canada in 1980 and that 60 per cent of our present wolf population is made up of wolves which migrated from Canada. Where he got both items is unknown as I am not aware of any research which says 40 percent of the wolves present have ancestry traceable to the wolves</em></strong> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf24vMAO0Us6wM33JINzr59ZB2VNjkVQ4hiXESeWc3OTHkPylSjqFBr4J-OYvWK7T7owF-m8shBEVHC0l9KlJ8aPMuAciytxghzqoODr4qDsL1Uft2fIwQraubXxmwnqCAbs5_Rz5dWQ/s1600/gray-wolf-kill_10671+-+YNP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf24vMAO0Us6wM33JINzr59ZB2VNjkVQ4hiXESeWc3OTHkPylSjqFBr4J-OYvWK7T7owF-m8shBEVHC0l9KlJ8aPMuAciytxghzqoODr4qDsL1Uft2fIwQraubXxmwnqCAbs5_Rz5dWQ/s320/gray-wolf-kill_10671+-+YNP.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong><em>which were airlifted into the state."</em></strong><br />
<br />
Re-elected in 2008, Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer appointed Bob Ream Chairman the FWP Commission in 2009. Ream had served as the Chairman of the Montana Democratic Party during Schweitzer's first run for that office in 2004, and played an instrumental role in getting him elected. Many residents of this state realize that during his second term in office, Schweitzer used positions within the state's fish and game department as a way of rewarding political allies and friends. One old friend, who had been the Governor's roommate during their college days had been Joe Maurier - who Schweitzer appointed Director of FWP, even though Maurier had no background in fish and game management. Other equally unqualified individuals were also brought in from other states to head FWP divisions or bureaus.<br />
<br />
One Montana resident sportsman who disagrees with how the agency has changed is Jack Jones of Butte. He is a retired fish and game biologist who worked with the Bureau of Land Management for nearly 33 years. Incidentally, his career in this field began with his initial employment with Montana Fish and Game, before it became Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Today, he is the Vice President of the Montana State Lands Coalition, which is devoted to opening up access to public lands in the state.<br />
<br />
He is one of the majority of Montana sportsmen who feel the agency needs an overhaul, proclaiming, <strong><em>"FWP has failed due to poor leadership with unqualified personnel and politics. FWP directors must have a degree in the field of wildlife management, with field experience. That doesn't exist today. The commission should represent the hunter, not the environmentalists who want nothing more than wolves - and no hunting of bison."</em></strong><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvzUYG8nkP3V3cacpdVcC2dJUaSKwAf9hMYLW84jBHa2dLTHNz3XekR2JHEBxLKrpz05XRyGfSOy7hh1xAOUl2f3IgzHN0CcHw6VNwn3Z3RpQJLDysPeVD3ewT2VeuyNGnA6q19NzwQ/s1600/Flying+In+Canadian+Wolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvzUYG8nkP3V3cacpdVcC2dJUaSKwAf9hMYLW84jBHa2dLTHNz3XekR2JHEBxLKrpz05XRyGfSOy7hh1xAOUl2f3IgzHN0CcHw6VNwn3Z3RpQJLDysPeVD3ewT2VeuyNGnA6q19NzwQ/s320/Flying+In+Canadian+Wolves.jpg" width="320" /></a>Like many, Jones feels that <em><strong>"Parks"</strong></em> have no business being lumped together with the management of fish and game. He fully realizes that sportsman provided funding is being misused, and has no problem sharing that <strong><em>"Parks"</em></strong> needs to be placed within the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Jones says that fish and game management now faces many problems, and that an all out effort needs to be launched to address those problems. He fully blames the decimation of big game herds across much of the state to wolf impact.<br />
<br />
Jones commented, <strong><em>"Bringing these larger killing-machine wolves down from Canada was a </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>biological fraud from day one. They have plenty of the same wolves, and classifying them as </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>threatened when they crossed the border was all a lie."</em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>(Photo Above Left - USFWS illegally flies totally non-endangered Canadian wolves across the U.S.- Canada border - and once across the border those apex predators are given full federal protection as "endangered" or "threatened".)</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
He says he won't hold his breath waiting for a politically motivated agency to turn things around on their own, and adds, <strong><em>"We need better representation within the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for providing big game animals available to hunters. FWP has lost their mission over the past eight years, and has become an environmentally-oriented agency — not a game management agency. The commission is purely political and follows the wind."</em></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zQuIRZgPtkrXCh-SuF2mMrnhyLWph9OlZN13_YpwrVOfQxOA3Q5LKAbGFLkN4b1oIv0WmYbJiRdj0kL4NGzMTGB5RC3-Zu4FYv0ZSCsiThUjILBStqRUZVYYLf-5pUEg-LqVLeI6Ow/s1600/Wolf+kill+-+russia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zQuIRZgPtkrXCh-SuF2mMrnhyLWph9OlZN13_YpwrVOfQxOA3Q5LKAbGFLkN4b1oIv0WmYbJiRdj0kL4NGzMTGB5RC3-Zu4FYv0ZSCsiThUjILBStqRUZVYYLf-5pUEg-LqVLeI6Ow/s320/Wolf+kill+-+russia.jpg" width="320" /></a>Robert Fanning, of Pray, Montana, who threw his hat into the 2012 gubernatorial race, points out that the Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Project has had absolutely nothing to do with conserving wolves. Using the rationale modern day wildlife managers and biologists have used, lumping all subspecies of gray wolves into just one, <strong><em>Canis lupus</em></strong>, he states that wolves are far from being endangered or threatened, with a minimum worldwide count of at least 250,000, and maybe as many as 1,000,000. He feels that the forced introduction of Canadian wolves into the Northern Rockies of the U.S. is simply a piece of another agenda jig saw puzzle - the United Nation's driven Agenda 21.<br />
<br />
<strong>(Photo Above Right - USFWS biologists, out of convenience, classified all grey wolf subspecies as simply Canis lupus, to facilitate dumping a non-native wolf into the U.S. Northern Rockies.)</strong><br />
<br />
Here in North America, the Agenda 21 effort is better known as the <strong><em>"Wildllands Network"</em></strong>. The goal is to return nearly 50-percent of the U.S. back to wilderness cores and corridors, where human use is severely limited or restricted - establishing a travel network for apex predators to move freely without human contact. To achieve this will require moving millions of people off the land, and into cities that have been established as <strong><em>"safe zones"</em></strong>. Another goal is to dramatically reduce human populations. It all fits in far too nicely with the U.N.'s Agenda 21, which looks to establish itself as the single world government - and to reduce the human population of Earth by 80-percent. Does this scream <strong><em>"conspiracy theory"</em></strong> to you? If so, you need to spend some time researching Agenda 21.<br />
<br />
Bob Fanning says, <strong><em>"Wolves in the United States are receiving special protections not because they are endangered, but because they are the 'keystone' species driving the rewilding agenda."</em></strong><br />
<br />
He points out that before major predators can achieve a major impact on the rural lifestyle of Montanans, the populations of wolves, grizzly bears and even black bears and mountain lions are being artificially protected in order to permit wild ungulate numbers to hit rock bottom, to be thrown into a <strong><em>"Predator Pit"</em></strong>. With no game left for sustenance, these predators will then turn to livestock, making it impossible for ranchers and farmers to derive a living off the land. Fanning lives near the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and has witnessed the destruction of big game herds first hand. He is the founder and c.e.o. of the group known as the Friends of the Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd, and since the introduction of the Canadian <strong><em>Canis lupus occidentalis</em></strong> subspecies of wolf in 1995 and 1996, plus a rapidly growing number of grizzly bears, he has watched the northern Yellowstone elk herd, which winters near his small Montana ranch, dwindle from about 20,000 to fewer than 4,000 today. It's the same story all along the western side of the state.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m5LV_5pzA25u9GfrSYIT21mXIaQWX8k-NXNeuYqAexljrLldYN3NjavY2il4vXFZX3r5LX8hPpai-reENNoRfhXccxq9Ek8bfHi3aWlOtXKhmoaU7dTfamk9YYAj_xzDy6E8vrChuw/s1600/Steve+Bullock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m5LV_5pzA25u9GfrSYIT21mXIaQWX8k-NXNeuYqAexljrLldYN3NjavY2il4vXFZX3r5LX8hPpai-reENNoRfhXccxq9Ek8bfHi3aWlOtXKhmoaU7dTfamk9YYAj_xzDy6E8vrChuw/s320/Steve+Bullock.jpg" width="320" /></a>A major proponent of this <strong><em>"rewilding"</em></strong> of America has been the FWP Commission's Dr. Robert Ream. During his 28 years of teaching new wave wildlife management to tomorrow's game managers, he also was one of the founders of the Wilderness Institute at the University of Montana, which fully supports the closure of access to public lands so major predators such as grizzlies and wolves can enjoy interconnected wilderness areas and travel corridors.<br />
<br />
Montanans now have a new governor in that office, and among the state's sportsmen there is now a great deal of uneasiness and a real lack of trust that Steve Bullock has chosen the right and best qualified director for FWP, and an FWP Commission that is chaired by someone with far less environmental and anti-sportsman baggage as Robert Ream.<br />
<br />
<strong>(Photo Above Left - New Montana Governor Steve Bullock - Will he allow MT Fish, Wildlife <br />and Parks to operate as an honest state wildlife agency...or will he continue to hold them hostage the same as the governor he replaced?)</strong><br />
<br />
One rumor circulated among hunters and anglers late last fall was that Bullock was considering appointing State Senator Kendall Van Dyk (D-Billings) as Director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. That would have meant another administration with a totally unqualified individual heading the agency. Van Dyk's closest claim to being <strong><em>"professionally"</em></strong> associated with fish and game issues would have been his role in helping to found the group known as Montana Hunters and Anglers Action, which has been nothing more than a political activist group for Senator Jon Tester.<br />
<br />
During the 2012 political campaign, this phony sportsman organization spent more than <br />
a million dollars to attack Congressman Denny Rehberg, who was running against Tester for his seat <br />
in the U.S. Senate. Many Montana residents now feel that some of those non-disclosed funds were <br />
also spent to throw the governor's race as well, and for Governor Bullock to reward Van Dyk <br />
by appointing him Director of FWP could have been an extremely explosive powder keg. <br />
<br />
Instead, Montana's new governor appointed former FWP Director Jeff Hagener back to that position. Former Governor Schweitzer had replaced Hagener with old college chum Joe Maurier. His return to the Director's office is now being closely watched by the sportsmen of the state, who no longer trust or believe much of anything in regard to MT FWP...or for that matter, the Governor's office. - <strong>Toby Bridges, LOBO WATCH</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>(This is an updated version of a release published on the LOBO WATCH website this past December. For the links to more than 50 LOBO WATCH releases, covering a wide range of similar topics and issues, go to - </strong> <a href="http://www.lobowatch.org/adminclient/NewsArchive/go"><span style="color: orange;">http://www.lobowatch.org/adminclient/NewsArchive/go</span></a> )<strong> </strong><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-20706228207743713622013-02-15T08:51:00.001-08:002013-02-15T08:51:03.716-08:00Paradise Lost...<span class="userContent"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_511e64f6d92c50727662315">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNKgMS-ijSmCfe4IMIisuHnrXn0n282y8Gb4U6s7pQfX_uEwpZvHaYsNiA9_11vOYO-p6vkK2-_cikuzUrk8RmMwPzXXX-8lZQ9AqxPWN4m2z5B2eT7tsnmJ5VGcc5eeA1686vuhhkQ/s1600/The+Old+Treestand001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNKgMS-ijSmCfe4IMIisuHnrXn0n282y8Gb4U6s7pQfX_uEwpZvHaYsNiA9_11vOYO-p6vkK2-_cikuzUrk8RmMwPzXXX-8lZQ9AqxPWN4m2z5B2eT7tsnmJ5VGcc5eeA1686vuhhkQ/s400/The+Old+Treestand001.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
<a href="http://mtnchronicle.blogspot.com/2011/04/old-tree-stand.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://mtnchronicle.blogspot.com/2011/04/old-tree-stand.html</a><br /> <br /> This article was published in 2011, and takes a look back at what we've lost to wolves and extremely poor wildlife management. Much of Western Montana is now a wildlife wastelan<span class="text_exposed_show">d...thanks to FWP's new agenda...and to universities such as the University of Montana which have strayed from teaching the North American Model of Wildlife Management.<br /> <br /> Toby Bridges<br /> LOBO WATCH</span></div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-73476016523993617292013-02-11T10:37:00.001-08:002013-02-11T11:30:31.344-08:00Wolves Are Threatening A Unique Population Of Canadian Bison In Siberia<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has tried as hard as it could to cover up the tremendous loss of elk, moose and deer to wolves - until they ran into a wall. That wall was when the sportsmen of the state began letting them know, in no uncertain terms, they were sick and tired of being lied to by an agency, and a game commission, that is supposed to insure healthy populations of wildlife. That is mandated by the Montana State Constitution...and by state law.</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
FWP and those on the FWP Commission have blamed everything from global warming to a severe winter 12 or 14 years ago for the drastic decline of the big game herds. And even more recently began claiming that "other predators" (i.e. mt. lions and bears) were the cause of a large majority of the predation impact.</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
That has angered sportsmen even more. Those who spend a great deal of time in the outdoors fully know that the loss is directly linked to wolves - and the inability of FWP to come even close to accurately assessing the wolf population of Montana. Still, the agency seems to remain in denial...and often act as if they don't have a clue about what's happening.</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
Well...perhaps they should stop looking at Univeristy of Montana generated wildlife population/management models - and start observing what's happening elsewhere in the world. Following is a look at a similar problem in part of what used to be the USSR...and what they are doing to alleviate that problem. - <strong>Toby Bridges, LOBO WATCH</strong></div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
__________________________________________________________________________________ </div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
</div>
<div class="topListAuthor cTitle">
<strong>By The Siberian Times
reporter</strong></div>
<strong></strong><br />
<div class="topListDate">
<strong>26 January 2013</strong></div>
<br />
<div class="topListText">
</div>
<br />
<div class="topListItems" sizcache="2164" sizset="0">
<a href="http://siberiantimes.com/ecology/casestudy/news/wolves-are-threatening-a-unique-population-of-canadian-bison-in-siberia/" title="Wolves are threatening a unique population of Canadian bison in Siberia"><img src="http://siberiantimes.com/upload/information_system_40/7/2/8/item_728/information_items_728.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<div class="topListText" sizcache="1973" sizset="0">
<div class="topListAlt">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Two bison calves born in 2012 are seen as particularly vulnerable to wolf
attacks. Picture: Lenskie Stolby Nature Reserve, Yakutia.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The bison - or buffalo - are under special protection from hunters amid rising concern over wolf attacks.</strong><br />
<strong> </strong></div>
<strong>The threatened animals were airlifted to the Sakha Republic - also known as
Yakutia - from Alberta in Canada in recent years. </strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>'Local hunters are guarding two nurseries that are a home to about 100
animals,' said Andrei Popov, an official at the republic's Nature Protection
Ministry.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>The wood bison, anyway a threatened species, were brought to Siberia to boost
the animal's long term chances of survival. Some 10,000 years ago, the related
steppe bison roamed this part of sub-Arctic Russia. But the 800 kilogram
creatures are powerless against attacks by packs of wolves. </strong><strong>Two bison calves born in 2012 are seen as particularly vulnerable to wolf
attacks.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>This region in Siberia - and others - have seen unprecedented attacks this
winter by wolves on herds of both reindeer and horses. But it is clear the bison
are also in jeopardy. A state of emergency was declared in the republic and
teams of hunters are now engaged on a purge of the wolves with the government
ordering a cull in the population from an estimated 3,500 to only 500. </strong><strong>Hunters are on financial incentives to slaughter the wolves.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>A fall in polar hare numbers has led to wolves switching to other food
sources, say zoologists. </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>More than 16,000 reindeer and over 300 horses were lost last year.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>The bison were flown in to Sakha by a heavy Russian transport aircraft
between 2006 and 2011. </strong><strong>The aim is for the population to become self-sustaining and then to release
them to the wild. <em>"</em></strong><strong><em>Bison haven't been present in that part of the world for over 10,000 years,"</em>
said Todd Shury, a Parks Canada wildlife veterinarian involved in the bison
relocation in 2011.</strong><br />
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-31489050904067451262013-01-09T19:08:00.000-08:002013-01-10T11:14:29.986-08:00Will The MT FWP Nightmare Continue?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQlE3I24jfIu7H26sqQqQgWbN0DVTy_7xlf_3gWtaZcdF5aHjDVhRb9SIrqaJwmEzMpqkIGmgA5-Vl6crruRDjeZ3xT87iWOY0mHdJjUxkDe63flVBYd-lqOUxvCy-4w-uQpkX2SIfQ/s1600/Wolf+sign+of+the+times+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQlE3I24jfIu7H26sqQqQgWbN0DVTy_7xlf_3gWtaZcdF5aHjDVhRb9SIrqaJwmEzMpqkIGmgA5-Vl6crruRDjeZ3xT87iWOY0mHdJjUxkDe63flVBYd-lqOUxvCy-4w-uQpkX2SIfQ/s400/Wolf+sign+of+the+times+3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<strong></strong><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>Montana's Epitaph...Unless Sportsmen Take Back MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks</strong></div>
<br />
___________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiPECVEBDs3x69XnC9k5MCd_i2TyePAYYvma27JJoH2lvFw5BHEqzGbQYaHNBvnBFI68Q_zMSClj4VhBNIan3E3zw9Y7gYpgTdUuhzZvPxP3gPUtYvSF5_BGjAu7CIz6N_rVLJjqfJIc/s1600/Christy+With+Protest+Signs008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiPECVEBDs3x69XnC9k5MCd_i2TyePAYYvma27JJoH2lvFw5BHEqzGbQYaHNBvnBFI68Q_zMSClj4VhBNIan3E3zw9Y7gYpgTdUuhzZvPxP3gPUtYvSF5_BGjAu7CIz6N_rVLJjqfJIc/s400/Christy+With+Protest+Signs008.jpg" width="400" /></a>This blog site is simply the old <strong>LOBO WATCH</strong> blog that was published under the name of <strong>"Wolf Hunt Update"</strong>. That blog served its purpose, helping to get the word out when it was time to organize protest rallies at federal court houses...to attend sportsmen rallies calling for far more stringent wolf and other predator control...to take over pro-wolf rallies...to announce important state wildlife commission meetings...and to bring together sportsmen any time there was a need to have our voices heard when it comes to how poorly wildlife is now being managed in the Northern Rockies.<br />
<br />
Here in Montana, we had high hopes that a new Governor would appoint a new <strong>Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks</strong> director who would take charge, and turn the agency around. What newly elected <strong>Governor Steve Bullock</strong> gave us is former FWP Director Jeff Hagener, who headed the agency from 2001 to 2008 - until Governor Brian Schweitzer replaced him with ol' school buddy Joe Maurier. Hagener's appointment to head MT FWP is now being met with very mixed emotions. Many sportsmen in the state still associate him with the far less than adequate stand against major predators during his previous stay in the Director's office.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbML5QyhSZckdt-yhhR5H_b_BuYy6rwe-_0ubY_DqWc8Omx7s3e8_SVqr7a29zQ_b5NagikpshHhPP583k93mhptqPR52-xifN2DSCH79XA64wqmpt9oqVWORdgbovAbaZ_gt8Lfu3snE/s1600/Photo+5M+-+Wolf+Killed+Elk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbML5QyhSZckdt-yhhR5H_b_BuYy6rwe-_0ubY_DqWc8Omx7s3e8_SVqr7a29zQ_b5NagikpshHhPP583k93mhptqPR52-xifN2DSCH79XA64wqmpt9oqVWORdgbovAbaZ_gt8Lfu3snE/s400/Photo+5M+-+Wolf+Killed+Elk.jpg" width="400" /></a>Robert Fanning, of Pray, MT recently pointed out that <span id=".reactRoot[65].[1][2][1]{comment452652568135470_68158102}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[2]">Hagener presided over years and years of litigation abuse by animal rights and eco fascists, who whistled the tune to which Hagener danced.</span><br />
<br />
He said that groups like Defenders of Wildlife, the Natural Resources Defense Council, EarthJustice, and others repeatedly stalled wolf delisting, and milked the legal system through the Equal Access to Justice Act (for millions of dollars). Fanning acknowledges that, as FWP Director, Hagener's legal department enabled all of this, and did nothing to fight back. During all of this political jockeying, wolf populations grew 30-percent per anum (compounded) - and Western Montana's big game herds went into a nose-dive spiral.<br />
<br />
Fanning presented three Ph.D's in wildlife ecology to the Governor's office that warned how Montana's ungulate herds would be pushed into a<strong><em> "predator pit"</em></strong>, and how a $237-million per anum hunting industry would be destroyed. Today, the western one-third of Montana has become a big game wasteland, with barely 15- to 20-percent of the elk, moose and other big game found in this region before Jeff Hagener's first go around as Director of FWP.<br />
<br />
Bob Fanning says, <strong><em>"Hagener ignored the warnings and licked the boots of his federal overseers. Now, Bullock and his Agenda 21 keepers just served up another dish of hot steaming wolf scat to Montana sportsmen."</em></strong><br />
<br />
During Bullock's campaign for office, opponents repeatedly spotlighted his close ties with radical environmental groups, who do indeed push hard for the rewilding of the West...which means moving people off the land. While Bullock regularly reverts back to the chorus line <strong><em>"openning up more public access for Montanan's"</em></strong>, the fact remains that the agendas of those radical environmental friends he keeps is to revert much of this state back to wilderness areas, effectively shutting out most state residents.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFPcyjj1arJe0JvqOtSUT0kUjCnLxcSrLNeY_j9dZp06rxR2xt-1f-14MF2dR5eHoixvAGNM-haYrHP17gXhCemcwxQeRL6gztzHVRfRKNiSWn3EaNqJQS53BxJ5fMiY8tS0Y1Mw3nQ4/s1600/yellowstone-wolves+-+YNP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFPcyjj1arJe0JvqOtSUT0kUjCnLxcSrLNeY_j9dZp06rxR2xt-1f-14MF2dR5eHoixvAGNM-haYrHP17gXhCemcwxQeRL6gztzHVRfRKNiSWn3EaNqJQS53BxJ5fMiY8tS0Y1Mw3nQ4/s400/yellowstone-wolves+-+YNP.jpg" width="400" /></a>Bullock's appointment of Jeff Hagener as the once again Director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks likely comes out of pure convenience. <strong>Hagener is already in step with what it takes to destroy huntable populations of big game, making Montana a less desireable place to live.</strong> Fewer people, far fewer people, is indeed the goal of Agenda 21. Now we have a governor who just may be positioning himself to be an even greater threat to Montana's outdoor lifestyle than the extremely lame governor he replaces.<br />
<br />
Sportsmen of Montana, if there ever was a time when pulling together was needed...it's right now. For the next four years, this state must be run through the legislature...not the Governor's office. And that includes any and all legislation regarding Fish, Wildlife and Parks issues. Now is the time for all hunters and anglers to become extremely politically active, and to dominate FWP Commission meetings. Learn who's your State Representative and State Senator, get their e-mail address, and inundate them with your opinions when it comes to legislation that will make it easier for the likes of Steve Bullock and Jeff Hagener to further destroy the wildlife resources of this state.<br />
<br />
The new direction of this blog will become the FWP Watch Dog. Anytime that any one of you catch wind of anything related to FWP that's either unethical or illegal, drop me an e-mail at <a href="mailto:lobowatch2@gmail.com">lobowatch2@gmail.com</a> .<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/">www.lobowatch.com</a> <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-30821944512761616222012-02-17T08:46:00.000-08:002012-02-17T16:27:15.396-08:00Wolf Management Should Be Year-Round<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OFRo-5zb-pSsDW23AgpYh3TPOAFDrJ1GzN6DcJaloEiF5pOWy3xaKviqn7chhWiSBb-8G6kvTnhOjUo-bxxZa98_sYCXWdG_l6JZQsC2_pCOqPTiIqMMz9YjA5JatLICpzyqU3ADrw/s1600/Wolf-Elk+stand+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="196" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OFRo-5zb-pSsDW23AgpYh3TPOAFDrJ1GzN6DcJaloEiF5pOWy3xaKviqn7chhWiSBb-8G6kvTnhOjUo-bxxZa98_sYCXWdG_l6JZQsC2_pCOqPTiIqMMz9YjA5JatLICpzyqU3ADrw/s400/Wolf-Elk+stand+off.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>By Toby Bridges (<i><a href="http://www.lobowatch.com">www.lobowatch.com</a></i>)</b><br />
<br />
The sportsmen who spend a great deal of time in the outdoors, and who have witnessed the destruction of big-game herds, now openly challenge the effectiveness of controlling wolf numbers by treating these apex predators as a <b><i>“big-game animal”</i></b>, and hunting them only during a regulated season. Many now realize the intelligence of wolves, and their ability to remain hidden in the thick cover of the Northern Rockies—and to disappear in the blink of an eye.<br />
<br />
Several-hundred thousand elk, deer and other big-game hunters participate during the big-game seasons held in each of the two states where wolf hunting is legal, but once those seasons come to an end, not many venture out to just hunt wolves. For example, in Montana the general firearms elk and deer seasons closed on November 27, 2011. At that time, 100 of the 220-wolf quota had been harvested. A few had been harvested earlier during archery hunts, but the vast majority of those wolves were shot by hunters looking to hang their tag on an elk or deer during the 5-week-long gun season. During the six weeks after the close of that season, just 25 additional wolves were culled. What are the chances of the 220 quota being filled, and if it is, just what real impact will it have on the wolf population and depredation of game and livestock?<br />
<br />
Sportsmen are now calling for more sensible control of wolf numbers. They feel an established season and quotas will never gain any control of burgeoning wolf numbers. Many want wolves to have the same status as coyotes—shoot on sight year-round, no license or permit required! Only this approach has made any impact on wolf numbers in Canada, where wolves have always been a major problem.<br />
<br />
During the 72nd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, held in Portland, OR in 2007, the University of Montana’s Mark Hebblewhite presented a study on <b>“Predator-Prey Management in the National Park Context: Lessons from a Transboundary Wolf, Elk, Moose and Caribou System”</b>, and stated <b><i>"Based on experiences in BNP (Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada), I show that wildlife managers face tough choices ahead and must come to terms with the truth that maintaining pre-wolf ungulate harvest regimes may be a fantasy in post-wolf landscapes…”<br />
</i><br />
</b> He went on to state, <b><i>“The typical conclusion of previous studies where wolves limited prey densities to low numbers was usually a recommendation to reduce predation via large-scale wolf control. While there is some controversy over the success of wolf controls, there is some experimental evidence that wolf control—when applied consistently to reduce wolf populations by greater than 80 percent over huge areas for long terms (5-years) at great financial costs can be partially successful at enhancing ungulate populations for short periods of time. I feel compelled to reiterate, however, that the main conclusions of the authors of perhaps, to date, the best executed wolf-control study in the Yukon pointed out the seeming futility of their wolf-control program as a long-term solution to ungulate population declines. Within 2 years of the end of wolf control, wolf densities and ungulate vital rates returned to pre-control levels. To be successful, wolf control needs to be conducted for long periods of time with greater than 70 percent of the wolf population removed from huge areas. While future harvest plans for wolves once delisting occurs will undoubtedly include some wolf harvest, it remains difficult to conceive of states being able to conduct wolf control at the spatial and temporal scales required to even obtain short-term increases in ungulate populations. Within national parks, where management objectives are often ecosystem based, low-density elk populations may be consistent with long-term management objectives. However, in the managed lands surrounding national parks, management objectives include both consumptive and non-consumptive wildlife use. In this context then, low-density populations of elk may not meet historical agency management objectives. This contradiction will become a common management problem in ecosystems with recovering wolf populations.”<br />
</i><br />
</b> Mark Hebblewhite is one of the professors now teaching future wildlife managers and biologists at the University of Montana, in Missoula. More and more, the sportsmen who have funded state wildlife agencies are seeing a change in management practices that they really don’t like, and that is a move to supporting the agendas of radical environmental groups rather than the sportsmen who have footed the bill for wildlife conservation. Hebblewhite’s study does a great job of exactly identifying what’s happening inside Canada’s Banff National Park, as well as in Yellowstone National Park—and that is a move to permit nature to balance itself—by allowing major predators to dramatically reduce big game populations. Only problem is, the practice has spilled outside of park boundaries, and those who have strongly supported the <b>North American Model of Wildlife Conservation</b> for the past 75 years are now witnessing state wildlife agencies literally robbing them of hunting opportunities.<br />
<br />
The sad truth is, this is all by design. The University of Montana is one of more than a hundred collaborators of the <b><i>“Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative”</i></b> (Y2Y) along with anti-hunting organizations such as <b>Defenders of Wildlife</b>, the <b>Sierra Club</b>, and the <b>Wildlands Network</b>. It’s their goal to establish a near human free wild corridor nearly three times the size of California running from Yellowstone National Park all the way into the Yukon. This corridor would be returned, as much as possible, back to wilderness, where wildlife could move freely north and south for more than 2,000 miles — and where wolves, grizzlies and cougars would serve as the wildlife managers. The Y2Y, followers neither endorse nor condone the hunting of large carnivores. For many Northern Rockies hunters who have lost all trust in IDFG and MFWP, it does not come as any surprise to learn that those two state wildlife agencies are also listed as collaborators of this environmentalist dream world. <br />
<br />
Last Minute Update - 2-16-12...<br />
<br />
The above was written last month (January)...and sent out to several hundred members of the media and the shooting & hunting industry. Due to pressure from sportsmen and sportsmen groups, both IDFG and MT FWP have withdrawn their names from the list of Y2Y collaborators. But, a MT FWP Commission meeting on February 16 revealed that they are still reading from the script that was handed them by their radical anti-hunting environmentalist partners. <br />
<br />
When the original closing date for the Montana 2011 wolf season rolled around on December 31, hunters had only filled about 50-percent of the 220 quota. The MT FWP Commission extended the season to February 15, 2012. When that date rolled around, the harvest was still more than 50 wolves shy of meeting the quota. A commission meeting on February 16 voted unanimously to NOT extend the season a second time. MT FWP cannot control the wolf population in this state...if we are to save the big game herds of the Northern Rockies, it's time for wolves to be shot-on-sight 365 days a year. <br />
<br />
The above was sent out to the media a second time, plus also went to Montana's Governor Brian Schweitzer, the two Montana U.S. Senators, to the state's only U.S. Representative, and to more than 70 state senators and representatives. To read the accompanying e-mail, which further points the finger at MT FWP, go to the following link - <a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/adminclient/WolfWar4/go">www.lobowatch.com </a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-37637752944849860332012-02-07T08:12:00.000-08:002012-02-07T08:14:30.742-08:00Spanish Hunting Magazines Look At Needed Wolf Control In The U.S.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3pfEu3wwSv3roTo-J0M7xdkEQ3Q54z9YPrgdiOVzT9YoWuco9jU_k-7dd0nn38cUubBPlngpNMkbaSnmfbKEVe6mO0gCszDerqXR6b32OKx42CAIc0u6msNyEEjSS2r6lDcCaNp7_w/s1600/Spain+Wolf+Hunt+Article+-+2+-+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3pfEu3wwSv3roTo-J0M7xdkEQ3Q54z9YPrgdiOVzT9YoWuco9jU_k-7dd0nn38cUubBPlngpNMkbaSnmfbKEVe6mO0gCszDerqXR6b32OKx42CAIc0u6msNyEEjSS2r6lDcCaNp7_w/s400/Spain+Wolf+Hunt+Article+-+2+-+002.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>This past September, I wrote and circualted a LOBO WATCH editorial/news release titled "Building A Dedicated Wolf Hunting Rifle". That story is published on the LOBO WATCH website at -<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/adminclient/WolfControl1/go">http://www.lobowatch.com/adminclient/WolfControl1/go</a><br />
<br />
Somehow, a copy of that release, or a link to the published article, got to Peter Menzel - a shooting & hunting writer who lives in Spain. He contacted me about using the information in my release to spotlight the rifle and load I chose for hunting wolves, while at the same time covering the wolf problem here in the Northern Rockies.<br />
<br />
Wolves...the destruction they are dealing other wildlife...and what it is going to take to control this predator are now gaining international attention.<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-29585453345012851722012-01-09T12:07:00.000-08:002012-01-09T12:39:14.398-08:00Where In The Hell Is Wildlife Management Headed These Days???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmSXsEN8AmruqWsx31qJ2QGB-9_rPVu9381lhQLl2MUYT-XqkR5X3rkGUQytArE7rqrYXwHuNjOvq0Z79H1UlcEIeP2Tsx5oOTuf2vdX-OCFeVvmHg4EioWe1_4c8s8rYnQCen3iX1w/s1600/Wolf+Losses+-+Taxpayer+Dollars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="264" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmSXsEN8AmruqWsx31qJ2QGB-9_rPVu9381lhQLl2MUYT-XqkR5X3rkGUQytArE7rqrYXwHuNjOvq0Z79H1UlcEIeP2Tsx5oOTuf2vdX-OCFeVvmHg4EioWe1_4c8s8rYnQCen3iX1w/s400/Wolf+Losses+-+Taxpayer+Dollars.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Following is an e-mail that was sent today to Steven Williams, President of the Wildlife Management Institute...It also went to the heads and upper management of many sportsmen-based wildlife or conservation organizations.<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Dear Steven;<br />
<br />
I really need to ask...What in the hell are universities teaching those who are majoring in wildlife studies these days? One thing is for certain, it sure isn't the good ol' <b>North American Model of Wildlife Conservation </b>that has served us so well over the past 75 or 80 years. Is it? <br />
<br />
Last week, I read the study presented by <b>"Professor"</b> Mark Hebblewhite, of the University of Montana, at the <b>72nd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference</b> (2007). The title of that study was, <b>Predator-Prey Management in the National Park Context: Lessons from a Transboundary Wolf, Elk, Moose and Caribou System</b>. In that study, Hebblewhite referred to wolf recovery in the Lower 48 as <b>"one of the great conservation successes of the 20th century"</b>. In reality, it has been the biggest wildlife disaster in our lifetimes. <br />
<br />
But then, I guess that all depends on whatever one's real agenda happens to be. The University of Montana is a collaborator of the <b>Yellowtone to Yukon Conservation Initiative</b>, and for that matter so are <b>MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks</b> and the <b>Idaho Department of Fish and Game</b>. And I guess I don't have to tell you the <b>"agenda"</b> of that environmental pipedream. But for some of those in the "Cc:" field, I will anyway. The <b>"agenda"</b> is to pretty much remove the majority of human inhabitants from western Montana and Idaho, on through Canada, to establish a wild corridor three times the size of California - which would allow major predators to travel freely North-South for more than 2,000 miles. One of the Y2Y policies states that the effort neither <b>"endorses"</b> nor <b>"condones"</b> the hunting of wolves, grizzly bears and cougars...the very predators which are now destroying big game populations in MT, ID and WY. <br />
<br />
Is this the new wave wildlife management that's now being taught? Is that why the mismanagement of predators and big game now leans so heavily in favor of our anti-hunting enemies with organizations like the Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club, and the Humane Society of the United States? <br />
<br />
If this is the direction that the Wildlife Management Institute has also chosen, forsaking all of the members of all the sportsmen based organizations and groups in the "Cc:" field - tighten your belt, the sportsmen of this country have had their fill of this idiocy. <br />
<br />
The change just may begin here in Montana come November 2012 - when the voters purge our political ranks of those who have stood in the way of getting back to the business of managing wildlife the way the sportsmen who have footed the bill want wildlife managed. And when we get a like minded governor into office, rest assured that MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks will get one hell of an overhaul...and those who are not with the program today's sportsmen want will be the first to be shown the door. <br />
<br />
We're going to take wildlife management back, and make it harder than ever for radical environmental NGO's to do business in this state. America is as mad as hell right now, and the stupidity of allowing wolves and other major predators to destroy the wildlife resources that have taken nearly a century to rebuild is a powder keg that will explode right in the faces of those who continue to practice such idiocy. <br />
<br />
Where does the Wildlife Management Institute get its funding? <br />
<br />
You can't play both sides of the fence. The Wildlife Management Intitute is <b>either</b> part of the problem or part of the solution. There is no middle ground.<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
</i><br />
</b><br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com">www.lobowatch.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-69911155480637799942011-08-23T07:07:00.000-07:002011-08-23T08:17:16.268-07:00"Wolf Lies" Presentation In Kalispell on August 25th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWDEwhTw60SiS38uAfg8zYnKkm3Zrg_eMsC9E6CMM7HjJt10-_GM30CkNBx4vhzLzfWUZl55y1OcS5Sg6Moutnr_KQjbd-dg2xqDv_EhhxmUloiG24uPdHwP82bzF2ZM2cumjw3ZM9A/s1600/WolvesFarside-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWDEwhTw60SiS38uAfg8zYnKkm3Zrg_eMsC9E6CMM7HjJt10-_GM30CkNBx4vhzLzfWUZl55y1OcS5Sg6Moutnr_KQjbd-dg2xqDv_EhhxmUloiG24uPdHwP82bzF2ZM2cumjw3ZM9A/s400/WolvesFarside-a.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>How Many Lies Can The Wolf Recovery Project Support And Continue To Have Any Validity Whatsoever?</b><br />
<br />
Everyone who is now affected by an out of control wolf problem in the Northern Rockies needs to revisit the <b>Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Plan </b>and the <b>1994 Environmental Impact Statement </b>issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before wolves were <b><i>"reintroduced"</i></b> into this region of the country. If you do, and fully realize the negative impact wolves are now having on our wildlife populations, the increased rate of livestock depredation, the threats to human health and safety, the loss of hunting opportunities, the destruction of the rural economy, and the overall <b><i>not-so-good </i></b>psychological impact wolves are now having on human residents, it's easy to realize just how gullible most of us were to believe that anything good would come of this government orchestrated disaster. <br />
<br />
It also becomes even easier to realize that those who were <b><i>"in charge"</i> </b>of the <b><i>"plan"</i></b>...those who assessed the impact wolves would have...those who promised that the wolf population would be <b><i>"managed"</i></b>...were either too stupid to get the job done - or outright lied from the very start, and have had an entirely different agenda since well before the first wolves were released into Yellowstone National Park in 1995.<br />
<br />
When one takes the time to compare what has really happened since those wolves were released into America's wildlife wonderland to what was stated as fact, as known, as real, anyone capable of rational thinking knows that <b><i>"wolf recovery"</i></b> in the Northern Rockies has been little more than one great big lie. And that lie began well before USFWS released those first wolves 16 years ago. <br />
<br />
Likewise, the agency knew fully what the outcome would be, before the door of the first wolf cargo box was opened. And USFWS has lived the wolf lie ever since. <br />
<br />
The need for wolves in this ecosystem was likely the first big lie. For that matter, so has been the need for greater grizzly bear densities. The wolf that USFWS released as a <b><i>"replacement"</i></b> for the native wolf was not the same, or in other words was also a lie. How the funding for the project was stolen from Pitman-Robertson funds, under the <b><i>"assumption"</i></b> it was okay - is just another lie. How wolves have <b><i>"spread on their own"</i></b> is a lie. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks became a willing partner in this wildlife disaster, and has repeatedly lied about the true number of wolves in this state...and has lied to cover up the loss of big game to wolves. The states of Idaho and Montana have lied to residents about the health threats and physical danger that wolves pose humans. State and federal agencies who have vowed to cover livestock losses to wolves repeatedly refuse to pay that reimbursement due to lack of <b><i>"evidence"</i></b> that wolves were involved - even though sheep and cattle carcasses had been ripped apart by wolves, and the ground has been covered with wolf tracks. In other words, those sent to assess whether wolves caused the death or not are also living the wolf lie.<br />
<br />
These and other wolf lies will be the topic at a presentation given by LOBO WATCH founder Toby Bridges in Kalispell, MT on Thursday, August 25. His <b>"Wolf Lies"</b> presentation will be at the Outlaw Inn, on Highway 93 South, and begins at 6:30 p.m.<br />
<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/">www.lobowatch.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-37663437372438561672011-07-20T09:07:00.000-07:002011-07-20T09:07:49.388-07:00Will Judge Molloy Challenge Congress When It Comes To How Wolves Were Delisted For A 2011 Management Hunt?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MnlTujfIzNo5F8Fbd9qMgfPm8v3_NsIRjQbuMRvAJFCLx3MqexDKOhNbuzmILtUhKjqxaNioszYUMafOThmhbiu71G2Ofo2k4TnQpTM5cqPtq7-LY4385PtwYNM1l_Gj7ybaYheMeA/s1600/Missoula+Protest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MnlTujfIzNo5F8Fbd9qMgfPm8v3_NsIRjQbuMRvAJFCLx3MqexDKOhNbuzmILtUhKjqxaNioszYUMafOThmhbiu71G2Ofo2k4TnQpTM5cqPtq7-LY4385PtwYNM1l_Gj7ybaYheMeA/s400/Missoula+Protest.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Above, Scott Rockholm, of Save Western Wildlife, is being interviewed during a protest rally at the U.S. Dsitrict Court - Missoula courthouse back in March. JOIN US ON JULY 26TH...WE NEED SOME NUMBERS!<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<br />
Back in April, President Barrack Obama signed H.R. 1473 into law. This legislation, known as the <b>Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriation Act of 2011</b>, also contained a briefly worded rider which removes wolves in several states from the protection of the Endangered Species Act. And that has not set well with several pro-wolf environmental organizations, who are challenging the constitutionality of the manner in which Congress slipped this issue in among the 459 pages of the continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded, and working.<br />
<br />
The wolf rider reads: <b><i>"Before the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall reissue the final rule published on April 2, 2009 (74 Fed. Reg. 15213 et seq.) without regard to any other provision of statute or regulation that applies to issuance of such rule. Such reissuance (including this section) shall not be subject to judicial review and shall not abrogate or otherwise have any effect on the order and judgment issued by the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming in Case Numbers 09-CV-118J and 09-CV-138J on November 18, 2010."<br />
</i><br />
</b> Judge Donald Molloy, of the U.S. District Court in Missoula, MT, has accepted a lawsuit filed by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Center for Biological Diversity, and despite the wording <b><i>"shall not be subject to judicial review"</i></b> found in the wolf rider, it is now very apparent that this federal judge has decided to do just that. Many residents of the Northern Rockies now feel that this issue no longer has anything to do with establishing and maintaining a recovered wolf population, but rather it has become all about a federal judge making law instead of enforcing the law.<br />
<br />
The lawsuit filed by the <b>Alliance for the Wild Rockies </b>and the <b>Center for Biological Diversity </b>seeks to determine the legality of adding the wolf rider to a budget continuing resolution. Their goal is to stop the wolf management (i.e. control) hunts in Montana and Idaho this year. Despite the fact that the number of wolves in these two states are now upwards of 10 to 12 times the recovered population goals established in the early 1990s <b>Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Plan</b> and the 1994 <b>Environmental Impact Statement </b>filed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, such environmental groups keep moving the goal post - and the over population of wolves is now making a severe negative impact on elk, moose, deer and other big game herds, with escalated depredation of livestock as well.<br />
<br />
A large segment of those sportsmen and ranchers who have been fighting to gain control of wolf numbers now see Judge Molloy as the real threat. His decisions have stalled wolf control hunts, resulting in a tremendous loss of wildlife and making it more difficult for ranchers to raise livestock profitably. One such decision cancelled a much needed 2010 wolf hunt. Molloy found that Montana and Idaho could not conduct such a hunt, even though both states had approved wolf management plans, because Wyoming's plan had not been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.<br />
<br />
Actually, the Wyoming plan had been approved by USFWS. However, Molloy did not agree with the manner in which the state intended to manage wolves in only the northwest corner, to insure the 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs mandatory under the <b>Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Plan </b>and the <b>1994 EIS</b>. In the rest of Wyoming, wolves would be considered a predator, and could be shot on sight. Donald Molloy so harshly criticized the plan that USFWS turned around and disapproved how the state intended to manage wolf numbers. A couple of months after Molloy's decision, a federal court in Cheyenne, WY stated that USFWS had been wrong to reject the <b>Wyoming Wolf Management Plan</b>. Still, the 2010 wolf hunts did not take place in Montana and Idaho, and tens of thousands of big game animals were lost to a burgeoning wolf population.<br />
<br />
Last month (June), Molloy received the briefs for the wolf rider lawsuit, and on Tuesday, July 26th, he will hear oral arguments by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Center for Biological Diversity, and by the U.S. Department of the Interior. In June, a dozen or so sportsman, conservation and ranching organizations filed to become interveners in this case, which Molloy denied. <b>The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., at the Russell Smith Federal Courthouse, 201 E. Broadway, Missoula, MT.</b><br />
<br />
This could prove to be a <b><i>"no win"</i></b> case for this judge. Should he side with the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Center for Biological Diversity, and rule that Congress did not have the constitutional right to add a wolf delisting rider to the budget continuing resolution, that could be the catalyst to push Congress to amend the ESA, returning wolf management to every state. Should Molloy decide in favor of the rider being added, Montana and Idaho will conduct wolf control hunts this fall and winter - on top of which Congress could very likely still act to amend the ESA.<br />
<br />
That same day, sportsmen groups from the Northern Rockies are organizing a wolf protest on the sidewalks around the courthouse, to show support for wolf control, and calling for an end to wildlife management being decided by an extremely biased federal judge. <b>The rally will begin at 9 a.m. and run until the hearing has ended.</b> There's sure to be some extremely colorful protest signs being carried that day. - Toby Bridges, LOBO WATCHAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-18512368506268471862011-07-01T07:58:00.000-07:002011-07-01T08:05:25.617-07:00At The Heart Of The Northern Rockies Wolf Problem Is USFWS & State Wildlife Agencies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwMOKZ-RRaVCiFLkrCruYKkd9xMaXHb0fvDx5bbjPKhWHUi9Ej4zNexCmXd_fqYKwXMPFANRX0zxT_igC_sMYxedTOzzWUQTHQ_uV0FE_w4C1VuYX0uu7DUdcXMj0W5BuV4j9ATZsTA/s1600/Wolf+Killed+Calf+-+Sanders+Cty+5-30-11001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="276" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwMOKZ-RRaVCiFLkrCruYKkd9xMaXHb0fvDx5bbjPKhWHUi9Ej4zNexCmXd_fqYKwXMPFANRX0zxT_igC_sMYxedTOzzWUQTHQ_uV0FE_w4C1VuYX0uu7DUdcXMj0W5BuV4j9ATZsTA/s400/Wolf+Killed+Calf+-+Sanders+Cty+5-30-11001.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Following is some correspondence I received from one of our state senators here in Montana. That senator had requested some info on how neighboring Idaho would attempt to get a handle on an out of control wolf population, and this is what was sent.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>"I was finally able to speak with Idaho Fish and Game today about their current wolf management efforts. Here's what they've been doing under the most recent delisting:<br />
<br />
1) Ungulate protection: use of control activities in the Lolo game management unit. This includes:<br />
<br />
a) aerial control -- which was used for less than a month after delisting in the Lolo unit due to the weather and a change in wolf movement. The wolves moved into the timber, making aerial control unfeasible. 5 or 6 wolves were killed in the effort, but that's far less than the goal, which sounds like it was 20-30 wolves.<br />
<br />
b) authorization for licensed outfitters to shoot wolves on site in the Lolo game unit during the spring black bear season which runs through June 30. None is believed to have been taken this way yet.<br />
<br />
2) Hunting: the Idaho Commission is expected to adopt its hunting proposal in July. The details of the proposal are expected to be released in the next week or so for review. The commission is expected to be more agressive than the 2009 hunt, authorizing trapping as well as rifle and perhaps use of more liberal quotas and issuance of multiple tags to individual hunters.<br />
<br />
3) Designation of sheriff's officers as special agents in Idaho County, specifically in the Elk City area. Elk City apparently has traditionally had elk within its boundaries and the wolves have followed the elk in. The agreement between the county and Idaho Fish and Game delineates the circumstances under which sheriff's officers may shoot wolves. Apparently, the first wolf was just taken in the city limits. <br />
<br />
The person I spoke with promised to send me some written materials related to Idaho's efforts via email next week. I'll be happy to forward them to you if you like.<br />
<br />
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance."<br />
</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>One concern this elected official has centers on the liklihood that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will, once again, adopt a quota that will accomplish nothing in the way of controlling wolf numbers...or the damage wolves deal the state's wildlife resources and the ranching community. Following is some of what I sent back...<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>"The biggest obstacle we face here in Montana is the false image of just 566 wolves in this state. <br />
<br />
I have personally now seen 16 wolves in the state over the course of the past 12 months. If one person can physically see that many wolves while travelling a state the size of Montana...there are a heck of a lot more wolves here than the "at least" number that Fish, Wildlife and Parks is now touting. <br />
<br />
If we use the math that wolf biologist Dr. L. David Mech used in his 2008 delisting declaration, Montana now surely has "at least" 1,500 to 1,600 wolves (possibly as many as 2,000). If FWP sticks with their 566 population count, and fills a quota of 220...that means there will still be 1,280 to 1,380 wolves in this state. <br />
<br />
And with the birthing of pups next spring, at a 25% reproduction increase, the number of wolves will jump right back to anywhere from 1,536 to 1,656 wolves - more than the number we truly have now.<br />
<br />
The wolves we already have here are already decimating game populations, and putting an ever bigger dent into livestock production. Still, FWP is hell bent to insure that with each new year, we will have more wolves than the year before. And that will mean still greater depredation losses."<br />
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>This morning, the senator sent a link to an article in today's Idaho Statesman newspaper, headlined "Idaho To Offer Looser Wolf Hunt Rules As Tag Sales Lag". The only comment made was... <i>"The gap between Idaho and Montana management just grows and grows!"<br />
</i><br />
<br />
<br />
To which LOBO WATCH responded...<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>"Here is how the majority of sportsmen now see this issue. USFWS and state wildlife agencies (MT FWP and IDFG) have created the problem, this bona fide wildlife disaster, by "managing" wolves to insure that their numbers rapidly increases year after year. And now that this not-so-grand experiment has gone terribly wrong, with excessive wildlife resources lost and growing livestock depredation, these agencies now expect the sportsmen to step up to the plate and save wildlife in this country once again. The real fallacy of all this, at this point, has been any talks of quotas...and selling "wolf hunting permits".<br />
<br />
Those agencies created the problem, now they want sportsmen to pay to fix the problem they created. And that is pure hogwash. <br />
<br />
MT FWP's extremely low "at least" wolf number is part of the junk science that plagues this failed project. What FWP needs to do this year, is to allow any hunter with any valid hunting license/permit to shoot a wolf (or wolves)...and to keep a count of the number killed...those wolves need to be checked in. No "wolf" permit...no "wolf" quota...no "wolf" season. When, say 400 wolves are killed, then close down the hunt, and then make an all out honest effort (through the winter) to get a feel for how many wolves are still here. Rest assured, there will still be far more wolves than what was culled. <br />
<br />
Over the weekend, I will be putting together a July LOBO WATCH news/editorial release that looks at the junk science behind the Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Plan, and in the crosshairs will be state wildlife biologists and wildlife managers, the greenie academic type professors now teaching wildlife ecology (and their new agenda), the lack of technology and manpower to adequately research and account for wolf numbers and the damages caused by wolves, and how the radical environmental groups are now buying off "scientists" (and probably a few politicians, wildlife department heads, educators, etc.) for them to support their environment/wildlife cause or agenda. <br />
<br />
Hope you don't mind, but I want to share this with a few others...some of which I do believe have been enticed (or ordered) to outright lie to or misslead the public when it comes to wolf numbers, wolf impact, what it will take to get a handle on this problem, and other threats and dangers of allowing wolves to spread basically unchecked across a settled land (i.e. - physical harm and the more than 30 infectious diseases wolves carry and spread)."<br />
</i><br />
<br />
What are your thoughts?<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
<br />
<br />
</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-67351325193121301652011-06-10T06:38:00.000-07:002011-06-10T08:00:34.258-07:00State of New Mexico Pulls Out Of Mexican Wolf Re-Introduction Program!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPQ7OCxhHqgA_Yd3_BoT1_1tc0Tn92B4MZirpFI0rYQan4Kk5qm1s7GKVZLdFq965-AzTe6ELSF2h6FlkxZPf2cAfRtNkvBxq5JwidHllFq1b9GqiiY1t7tPMV51oJYBfDIoMRRG7oA/s1600/Kid+Shelter+from+wolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="341" width="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPQ7OCxhHqgA_Yd3_BoT1_1tc0Tn92B4MZirpFI0rYQan4Kk5qm1s7GKVZLdFq965-AzTe6ELSF2h6FlkxZPf2cAfRtNkvBxq5JwidHllFq1b9GqiiY1t7tPMV51oJYBfDIoMRRG7oA/s400/Kid+Shelter+from+wolves.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>The above photo shows what some rural New Mexico residents have had to revert to, in order to protect their children, waiting for the school bus, from ever bolder Mexican gray wolves. On 6-19-11, the State of New Mexico decided they had had enough of this idiocy, and voted to pull out of the Mexican Gray Wolf Reintroduction Program. Following is an e-mail received from LOBO WATCH follower, New Mexico outfitter Jess Carey...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>I would like to report to you; On May 18th, 2011 the Catron County Commission sent a letter to The N.M. Game Commission and Governor Martinez requesting them to remove the State from Mexican Wolf Re-Introduction. Six documents were attached to show the damage the children and folks of Catron County has suffered due to Mexican Wolf Recovery. At the New Mexico Game Commission meeting today, 06-09-11, the Commission voted unanimously to remove the state from Mexican Wolf Re-Introduction. Governor Martinez also supports the state being removed from Mexican Wolf Re-Introduction. Governor Martinez and the Game Commission will be receiving a lot of flack from the pro-wolf supporters and wolf organizations, it is "imperative" that we all send a letter or email to Governor Martinez and each Game Commissioner to support them and thank them for the action they have taken.<br />
<br />
Now the USFWS cannot blame the Game Department on wolf issues, now the USFWS can be held accountable. We want Governor Martinez to take action on documented wolf interaction to remove those wolves. Every wolf livestock depredation and habituated wolf interaction around homes and people needs to be documented.<br />
<br />
Catron County Commissioner Glen Griffin did an excellent job in his presentation to the Game Commission, as did all the folks who spoke against the wolf program. Many could not attend the Game Meeting due to the fire at the Arizona state line.<br />
<br />
You can be assured that the liberal press will only use the same old pro-wolf advocate statements in their paper and make everyone else look bad.<br />
<br />
Please pass this email on to everyone you know and ask them to send a letter or email in support to remove the state from Mexican Wolf Re-introduction.<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
Jess Carey<br />
</i><br />
</b><br />
Addresses below:<br />
<br />
<b>Office of the Governor<br />
490 Old Santa Fe Trail<br />
Room 400<br />
Santa Fe, NM 87501</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Those wishing to send an e-mail message to Governor Susana Martinez can use the form on the official state website at... <br />
</b><br />
<a href="http://http://www.governor.state.nm.us/Contact_the_Governor.aspx">http://www.governor.state.nm.us/Contact_the_Governor.aspx</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>LOBO WATCH sent the following response to New Mexico resident and outfitter Jess Carey...<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Thanks Jess,<br />
<br />
This afternoon, I will circulate this throughout the Northern Rockies, and I will send a letter to the Governor of New Mexico, and to the New Mexico Game Commission thanking them for doing what had to be done.<br />
<br />
Wolf control begins with the populace of a state saying "No!" to forced federal programs which so severely impact the health, safety and welfare of the people as negatively as has forced wolf introduction. Not only have wolves destroyed wildlife resources and created undue hardships for ranchers, USFWS wolves are also destroying a way of life and delivering the <br />
"cou de gras" to an already dying economy. <br />
<br />
I only wish our Governor here in Montana was man enough to do the same thing. He's a big talker, but not much of a doer. He continues to play the USFWS wolf game, and because of his lackluster stand against wolves, the state of Montana, the "Treasure State", is fast losing one of its most precious treasures - the abundance of wildlife once found all along its western mountains. Wildlife conservation in this part of the state has suffered a 40 to 50 year set back...now the ranching community is being forced to feed far more wolves than our Governor and our Game Commission <br />
acknowledge here. They have become an integral part of the problem, and Montanans have grown sick and tired of the idiocy behind the Northern Rockies Wolf Recovery Project, and those responsible for the tremendous losses this state has suffered, and continues to suffer.<br />
<br />
Thanks for getting this information to me.<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
</i></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com">www.lobowatch.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-86737724752585097702011-06-01T08:49:00.000-07:002011-06-01T08:49:44.627-07:00Rehberg Among Army of Western Lawmakers to Introduce Legislation to Combat Frivolous Lawsuits on Taxpayer Dime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBj8WVNS7Aa_sChyM5h6Ghat6h27kKn2mFl8pJupVnmk1onYrtkKsK2EmB1bwnP9sBWgXm8078tA43ExlBHh0Ed112ttAf5WkIfWOvqtArMNd5fwidaSdQMK4IVpIaSxBCodO-275VQ/s1600/3%253D24-11+Rally+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBj8WVNS7Aa_sChyM5h6Ghat6h27kKn2mFl8pJupVnmk1onYrtkKsK2EmB1bwnP9sBWgXm8078tA43ExlBHh0Ed112ttAf5WkIfWOvqtArMNd5fwidaSdQMK4IVpIaSxBCodO-275VQ/s400/3%253D24-11+Rally+photo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has introduced legislation with Representative Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL) to reduce taxpayers’ burden to pay for the attorneys’ fees of environmental obstructionist groups who abuse the legal system to block economic development and destroy jobs. The Government Litigation Savings Act makes long overdue reforms to the implementation and oversight of funds distributed through the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).<br />
<br />
“The abuse of our legal system and attack on Montana jobs is a big enough problem without the government asking the taxpayer to foot the bill for the lawyers,” said Rehberg, a member of the Congressional Western Caucus. “Whether it’s wolf management, timber production or energy development, you can’t walk across the street in Montana without being sued by an out-of-state environmental obstructionist group. And while these groups have millions in the bank, they’re using tax dollars to fund their legal obstruction. This bill helps change that.”<br />
<br />
“When the government stopped tracking EAJA payments in 1995, it was a dream come true for radical environmental groups. Lack of oversight has fueled the fire for these groups to grind the work of land management and other federal agencies to a halt -- and it does so on the taxpayer’s dime. Americans have unwittingly funded these obstructionist political agendas for far too long at the expense of individuals, small businesses, energy producers, farmers and ranchers who must pay out of their own pocket to defend the federal government against relentless litigation,” said Lummis. “This common sense legislation would help restore integrity to EAJA and return the program to the original intent of Congress.”<br />
<br />
In 1980, Congress passed EAJA to help individuals, small businesses and non-profit organizations with limited access to financial resources defend themselves against harmful government actions. EAJA allows for the reimbursement of attorney’s fees and costs associated with suing the federal government. When operating as it was intended, EAJA allows plaintiffs who sue the federal government to recover part of their attorney’s fees and costs if they “prevail” in the case.<br />
<br />
The original legislation required annual reports to Congress on the amount and nature of EAJA payments, but those reports ended in 1995. Two private studies, one by a Wyoming law firm and another by Virginia Tech University, have shown that despite congressional intent to assist small organizations, some large environmental obstructionist groups appear to be the biggest beneficiaries of EAJA payments. The Wyoming study, for example, found that more than 1,200 federal cases were filed in 19 states and the District of Columbia by just 14 environmental groups. The cost to the taxpayer was $37 million.<br />
<br />
Rehberg’s legislation returns EAJA to its original intent reforming eligibility requirements to receive EAJA reimbursements, limiting repeated lawsuits, and reinstating tracking and reporting requirements to make EAJA more transparent. Under the Government Litigation Savings Act, veterans, social security claimants, individuals and small businesses will still enjoy full access to EAJA funds.<br />
<br />
“No one wants to restrict access to the courts,” said Rehberg. “But let’s use some common sense and stop asking the taxpayer to fund the very lawsuits that are destroying their jobs and livelihoods.”<br />
<br />
The legislation has been endorsed by over 85 agriculture, sportsmen, recreation and energy groups including the Montana Association of State Grazing Districts, Montana Public Lands Council, Montana Stockgrowers Association and Montana Wool Growers Association. The full list is below:<br />
<br />
• Boone and Crockett Club<br />
• National Rifle Association<br />
• Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies<br />
• National Federation of Independent Businesses<br />
• Public Lands Council<br />
• National Cattlemen’s Beef Association<br />
• National Association of Conservation Districts<br />
• Congressional Sportsman Foundation<br />
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association<br />
• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives<br />
• Safari Club International<br />
• Western Energy Alliance<br />
• National Mining Association<br />
• United States Cattleman’s Association<br />
• American Sheep Industry<br />
• National Association of Forest Service Retirees<br />
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership<br />
• Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association<br />
• Motorcycle Industry Association<br />
• Americans for Responsible Recreational Access<br />
• Specialty Vehicle Institute of America<br />
• American Agri-Women<br />
• Mule Deer Foundation<br />
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation<br />
• Independent Petroleum Association of America<br />
• Foundation for Environmental and Economic Progress<br />
• Women in Farm Economics<br />
• National Trappers Association<br />
• Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever<br />
• U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance<br />
• Wildlife Forever<br />
• Wildlife Management Institute<br />
• Archery Trade Association<br />
• Campfire Club of America<br />
• Catch-a-Dream Foundation<br />
• Masters of Foxhounds Association of America<br />
• Orion-the-Hunter’s Institute<br />
• Quality Deer Management Association<br />
• Ruffed Grouse Society<br />
• Tread Lightly!<br />
• Pope and Young Club<br />
• Association of National Grasslands<br />
• Specialty Equipment Market Association<br />
<br />
Regional, State, and Local Associations<br />
• Western Legacy Alliance<br />
• Western Business Roundtable<br />
• Intermountain Forestry Association<br />
• Wyoming Stock Growers Association<br />
• Black Hills Forest Resource Association<br />
• Wyoming Wool Growers Association<br />
• Colorado Timber Industry Association.<br />
• Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation<br />
• Idaho Farm Bureau Federation<br />
• Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts<br />
• South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Wyoming Petroleum Association<br />
• Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas<br />
• Dallas Safari Club<br />
• Houston Safari Club<br />
• Delta Waterfowl Foundation<br />
• Texas Wildlife Association<br />
• Texas Cattle Feeders Association<br />
• Oregonians for Food and Shelter<br />
• New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association<br />
• New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc.<br />
• Arizona Farm Bureau Federation<br />
• Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association<br />
• Arizona Public Lands Council<br />
• California Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• California Wool Growers Association<br />
• Central Committee of Nevada State Grazing Boards<br />
• Nevada Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Colorado Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Colorado Public Lands Council<br />
• Colorado Wool Growers Association<br />
• Florida Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Georgia Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Idaho Cattle Association<br />
• Idaho Wool Growers Association<br />
• Iowa Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Kansas Livestock Association<br />
• Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Montana Association of State Grazing Districts<br />
• Montana Public Lands Council<br />
• Montana Stockgrowers Association<br />
• Montana Wool Growers Association<br />
• North Dakota Stockmen’s Association<br />
• Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Oregon Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Utah Cattlemen’s Association<br />
• Utah Farm Bureau Federation<br />
• Washington Cattlemen’s Association</b><br />
<br />
<br />
CONTACT: Jed Link, 202-225-3211 <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>From LOBO WATCH:</b><br />
<br />
Environmental groups, among them spurious organizations like the <b>Defenders of Wildlife</b>, the <b>Sierra Club</b>, the <b>Center for Biological Diversity</b>, and the especially lame and misnamed <b>Humane Society of the United States</b>, have raped this country for far too long, and have banked BILLIONS...not millions mind you...but BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars by milking the cash cow known as the <b>Equal Access to Justice Act</b>. They have also abused the <b>Endangered Species Act </b>thousands of times over the past several decades, keeping hundreds of lawsuits in court at just about any given time. <br />
<br />
Yanking this financial rug from beneath them will be a major step in regaining control of wildlife issues in this country. With so much of this <b><i>"easy money"</i></b> flowing into their coffers, rest assured there are a lot of extremly dirty people in some mighty high places, who have pulled political and legal strings for these groups. There are many who need to be investigated, most likley including a governor or two, several high ranking judges, and a whole lot of state and federal wildlife agency directors and high ranking appointees.<br />
<br />
Along with putting this choke hold on the <b>Equal Access to Justice Act</b>, more effort than ever needs to be made to get the gray wolf removed from the protection of the <b>Endangered Species Act</b>. Likewise, management hunts for grizzlies in the Northern Rockies are way past due. <br />
<br />
<b>Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
</b><br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com">www.lobowatch.com</a><br />
<br />
<b>(To bring yourself up to date on the wolf issue, go to the above website link, and on the opening page, click on <i>"News Releases"</i>.)<br />
</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-83093077789291437092011-05-25T07:34:00.000-07:002011-05-25T07:36:22.425-07:00Oregon Congressman Blumenauer Supports Growing Wolf Numbers...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRaZkeqZLEYbSrSIdV1OZij2-lpC-MsImnS2eD58La-IL25776wZ3FEmm62VBh6lff9XZGbeOR7mXe2REUiqgWrQ-ip3IyIFpPTIxxiEZ7uHCes-G3ND4PJhubvULFJWE05wyRrOWPg/s1600/La+Grande+OR+Wolf+Protest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRaZkeqZLEYbSrSIdV1OZij2-lpC-MsImnS2eD58La-IL25776wZ3FEmm62VBh6lff9XZGbeOR7mXe2REUiqgWrQ-ip3IyIFpPTIxxiEZ7uHCes-G3ND4PJhubvULFJWE05wyRrOWPg/s400/La+Grande+OR+Wolf+Protest.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Recently, Oregon resident Cathy Keach wrote to Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer in regard to the growing impact of wolves in that state. Cathy and her husband Mike are ranchers, and have concerns about the negative impact wolves will have on their livlihood. They are also extremely outdoor oriented people, and are also worried about how wolf depredation will rob them and others of the opportunity to hunt elk and other game - as it is robbing sportsmen in Idaho and Montana right now.<br />
<br />
Typical of extremely out-of-touch politicans these days, Representative Blumenauer sent her back the following form letter. <br />
</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Dear Mrs. Kaech,<br />
<br />
Thank you for contacting me about the fate of gray wolves. I share your concern about undermining the wolves' protection under the Endangered Species Act, and I strongly opposed the inclusion of this policy rider in the recent budget deal. I am especially concerned about the precedent of Congressionally delisting species from the Endangered Species Act, as I believe these decisions should be made by wildlife experts and scientists, not members of Congress. <br />
<br />
I have been inspired by the recovery of the gray wolf in Yellowstone, and have watched the positive impacts it has had on the rest of the ecosystem. While I support state efforts to manage wolves, they must do so in a way that ensures healthy wolf populations over the long term. Especially in light of lax state protections, I strongly support the wolves' protection under the Endangered Species Act and I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that the gray wolf makes a full recovery.<br />
<br />
Thanks again for contacting me about this important issue. Please continue to be in touch. <br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Earl Blumenauer<br />
Member of Congress<br />
</b><br />
</i><br />
<br />
<b>LOBO WATCH used the form on Congressman Blumenauer's website to send the following message...which we're sure never got read...by him or even his staff. But...it is here for you to read.<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Dear Congressman Blumenauer;<br />
<br />
This morning, I read a letter that you sent to one of your constituents about all the positive and beneficial things that growing wolf populations have done for our environment. <br />
<br />
Earl, it's quite clear that you don't know squat about wolves...and it's what you don't know which is bad for the State of Oregon and its <br />
residents.<br />
<br />
I will post that letter on the popular LOBO WATCH website tomorrow...along with a very long list of NEGATIVE impacts that wolves have on our wildlife populations, on rural residents who rely on livestock production, as well as on outdoor recreation, along with the health and safety threats that wolves present to humans. (You are aware that wolves carry and spread more than 30 infectious diseases...don't you?)<br />
<br />
By any chance, are you up for re-election in 2012?<br />
<br />
If you are, you may really want to get a darn site more educated about wolves. As I said, it is very apparent that you don't know anything about this apex predator...and it's impact on human life. Wolves are the wildlife equivalent of cancer...or plague. To boast that you support the full recovery of the wolf population in this country is akin to supporting the spread of rabies, cystic hydatid disease, trichinosis, and many other "living" viruses, bacterias, and infections which wolves spread widely.<br />
<br />
I would be very interested in hearing just what benefits you feel wolves bring to an ecosystem that was rich with wildlife before the forced introduction of non-native, and non-endangered, Canadian wolves. If you want that side of your argument of why wolves belong here included, please get (by e-mail) that information to me today or tonight. If I do not receive that information, tomorrow I will share with everyone what it is that you DO NOT KNOW about wolves. And why you have absolutely no business adressing this issue.<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
Missoula, MT</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>LOBO WATCH will publish ALL that Representative Earl Blumenauer apparently does not know about wolves on the LOBO WATCH website this evening - May 25, 2011.<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
</b><br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com">www.lobowatch.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-46044693314801720222011-05-17T06:03:00.000-07:002011-05-17T06:03:28.150-07:00Have You Left Any Comments With MT FWP In Regards To The 2011 Wolf Hunt?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3ubgu1cEHPcIStrwnLxjp9biQ8Qbe_VOFuNJxaZu2xcbNiLsJDN13c8c9IDTm0WOuzXTiG9ngfDYvEikGR1R8tG9qAdz5M83FlSyWcDsYZm1phBbsgNNY_s2Kenmc17r6SAdJfeZ4g/s1600/Wolf+Sign+of+the+times+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3ubgu1cEHPcIStrwnLxjp9biQ8Qbe_VOFuNJxaZu2xcbNiLsJDN13c8c9IDTm0WOuzXTiG9ngfDYvEikGR1R8tG9qAdz5M83FlSyWcDsYZm1phBbsgNNY_s2Kenmc17r6SAdJfeZ4g/s400/Wolf+Sign+of+the+times+-+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Montana Fish, wildlife and Parks is now seeking comments in regard to the wolf quota, season dates, hunt units and boundaries.<br />
<br />
Following are the comments I sent yesterday. <br />
</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>"When is MT FWP going to get honest about the number of wolves in this state? To say that killing <br />
220 wolves will reduce the state wolf population by about 25-percent, to around 425, is pure hogwash. <br />
<br />
Why do you people continue to lie to the hunters of this state? <br />
<br />
Last year, when proposing the 2010 hunt (that did not take place), FWP had no problem proclaiming that a <br />
quota of "186" wolves represented a 13-percent decrease in the state's wolf population. Perhaps you guys <br />
need calculators...or at lease take off your boots when ciphering numbers, so you have more digits to work <br />
with. If "186" represented 13-percent of the population, that means there were around 1,430 wolves in <br />
Montana LAST YEAR. Now you are saying that a quota of "220" represents 25-percent of Montana's wolf <br />
population...or in other words, you are now saying there are 880 wolves in Montana. <br />
<br />
What happened to the other 550 wolves??? Also, I guess those 1,430 wolves you acknowledged last year <br />
didn't have any pups, eh? Come on, admit it, MT FWP has absolutely no idea how many wolves are in this state. <br />
How could you, you do not possess the technology for counting wolves, nor do you have the personnel in the <br />
field to get even a close count...let alone a count that's reasonably right. <br />
<br />
What mysterious mathematical equation are you using to pull your numbers right out of blue sky? If you mad <br />
scientists used the math presented by Dr. L. David Mech, in his declaration for the 2008 wolf delisting, you <br />
would surely realize that the true number of wolves in this state is well over 1,500 (more like 2,500) - which <br />
would account for the excessive depredation of big game in a number of areas. <br />
<br />
Also, you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves for lying to the sportsmen of Montana, who have fully <br />
supported FWP since its start, and for the shoddy manner in which your agency continually tried to cover up the <br />
loss of elk, moose and other big game to wolves. You've now built a wall between FWP and Montana's sportsmen. <br />
Your actions and lies have revealed your true agenda, and that is no longer to insure the health of our wildlife <br />
resources. FWP has sold out to the radical green environmental groups, and with the 2012 election, the sportsmen <br />
of this state will seek revenge. They will elect a governor that best represents them...and who will have absolutely <br />
no reservation about giving FWP a total overhaul. And that will start by skimming off the scum at the top....then <br />
seeing who is left that's true to their chosen professions. We now realize that the top management of FWP can no <br />
longer be trusted. <br />
<br />
Toby Bridges <br />
Missoula, MT" <br />
<br />
</i><br />
</b><br />
To leave comments of your own, go to the following link, and click on <b>"For Hunters"</b>, that will take you to a list of <br />
topics open for Public Comment, scroll down to the <b>2011 Wolf Hunting Seasons</b>, and click on <b>"Submit Comments"</b>. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/headlines/nr_3955.html">http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/headlines/nr_3955.html</a> <br />
<br />
Don't hold back. It's bad enough that our wildlife agency has willingly allowed wolves to destroy hunting up and down <br />
most of western Montana. What's even worse is that by forcing YOU to buy a tag in order to control wolf numbers, they <br />
are now making you pay (once more) to fix their screw up. <br />
<br />
<b>Toby Bridges <br />
LOBO WATCH </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-62612017469276374702011-05-06T09:10:00.000-07:002011-05-06T11:15:38.609-07:00The Wolves Are Now At MT Governor Schweitzer's Door!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjMyXV74NDBH89V898WoCI5ZeNvU4e6ysLFPd-W8EZa3bQyIijhps_driTxGFdj0nXROdGqiAQBZ4FY3ho4qUhYv5QRjmuu23Y26ULqvGkbKXEqiK1QKfVSdVzQ4z7_nPh2pC9yHiAQ/s1600/100_0669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="228" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjMyXV74NDBH89V898WoCI5ZeNvU4e6ysLFPd-W8EZa3bQyIijhps_driTxGFdj0nXROdGqiAQBZ4FY3ho4qUhYv5QRjmuu23Y26ULqvGkbKXEqiK1QKfVSdVzQ4z7_nPh2pC9yHiAQ/s400/100_0669.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>In Western Montana, These Elk Calves Have Less Than A 10-Percent Chance Of Surviving To Reach 1-Year Of Age - Thanks To Wolves & A Spineless Governor! </b> <br />
<br />
<br />
Is Montana's <b><i>"Lame Duck"</i></b> Governor Brian Schweitzer running scared of the Department of the Interior and USFWS when it comes to EVER taking control of the wolf issue in this state? It sure seems so. In fact, the following letter he sent to Montana Secretary of State, Linda McCulloch, in regards to vetoing the opportunity for a spring wolf hunt definitely says that he's shaking in his undeserving cowboy boots.<br />
<br />
I doubt if he's reading this...but just in case he is...here is an e-mail I plan to send him today (5-6-11)...<br />
<br />
<b><i>"May 6, 2011<br />
<br />
Brian;<br />
<br />
You continue to prove that you have very little regard for the will of Montana residents, and you certainly are no sportsman - or even a friend of the sportsmen in this state.. The following letter proves that you are so out of touch with the problem, you have absolutely no business even discussing it - or having the right to veto Senate Bill 402. This legislation would have gotten a jump start on "wolf control" - not "wolf management".<br />
<br />
You, and your not-so-crack team of wolf "managers" with Fish, Wildlife and Parks, seem to have a problem with comprehending that Montanans DO NOT want to manage for MORE WOLVES...they want to put into action control measures that insure there will be FEWER WOLVES. Rest asured, the FWP Plan will have absolutely no effect on controlling wolf numbers in this state...or the loss of our big game herds.<br />
<br />
FWP's approach is a joke at best...and none of us are laughing. But we will be organizing to do some serious house cleaning after the 2012 election, when your regime will become only a bad memory.<br />
<br />
Let me put this as simple as possible - so you and FWP Director Joe Maurier may be able to comprehend what is being said.<br />
<br />
The proposed spring hunt was in no way (EVER) intended to be a trophy wolf hunt - it was merely an opportunity to get a handle on the elk calf massacre that lays just ahead. The 2011 elk calf crop is just about to hit the ground...and waiting are the 1,400 to 1,500 wolves in this state, ready to enjoy another spring killing spree that will wipe out 90-percent or more of those calves before they have the opportunity to reach one-year of age. Due to the continual loss of young-of-the-year, our elk herds in western Montana have become geriatric, now averaging around 9 years of age. Before wolves, these herds averaged a healthy 4 years of age. They have now reached an age, that even without the stress of wolves, their chances of reproducing have become extremely slim.<br />
<br />
Congratulations for driving another nail into that coffin. I hope you and your old college roommate buddy Joe Maurier can live with that. The sportsmen of Montana will long remember how you played a role in selling them out. I certainly hope you do not have any aspirations of remaining in politics in this state. If you do, I'd say that your chances of ever being elected again to any seat or office are even less than those of a 2011 newborn elk calf ever reaching maturity. The wolves are now knocking at your door.<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
Missoula, MT"<br />
</i><br />
</b><br />
Following is Schweitzer's letter to the Secretary of State... <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR<br />
STATE OF MONTANA<br />
BRIAN SCHWEITZER<br />
<br />
JOHN BOHLINGER<br />
GOVERNOR LT. GOVERNOR<br />
<br />
April 29, 2011<br />
<br />
The Honorable Linda McCulloch <br />
Secretary of State <br />
State Capitol <br />
Helena, MT 59620<br />
<br />
Dear Secretary McCulloch:<br />
<br />
In accordance with the power vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Montana, I hereby veto Senate Bill No. 402 (SB 402), "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR SPRING WOLF HUNTS; ESTABLISHING FEES FOR SPRING WOLF HUNTING LICENSES; AMENDING SECTIONS 87-1-304, 87-2-523, 87-2-524, AND 87-5-131, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."<br />
<br />
Senate Bill 402 was introduced in anticipation of federal delisting of wolves from the Endangered Species Act. According to proponents, Montana "lost" the fall 2010 hunting season to the relisting of wolves earlier in the year, and SB 402 was an effort to allow, essentially for the purposes of just the current year, a spring hunt of wolves. This legislation provides a mandate for this single-year spring hunt, despite numerous biological, administrative, and practical difficulties associated with such a hunt.<br />
<br />
In federal legislation recently shepherded through Congress by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, wolves have been delisted. This uncommonly helpful congressional action was passed in uncommonly quick fashion. At the moment, Montana awaits the necessary federal regulations and protocols for implementation of the recent delisting, which I understand may take up to 60 days. For purposes of a hunt, that timeline would put Montana into the middle of June, at which time the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) Commission would take up matters such as season-setting, quotas, hunting districts, public input, and license sales. The net result is that Montana would be looking at July or August for its "spring hunt," even as we expect fall wolf hunting in the backcountry to begin in mid-September. Because of these difficulties with timing, and for practical reasons involving the mingling of hunting seasons, and for the sake of public safety during the summer months when Montana families are enjoying other activities in the woods, I believe a wolf hunt outside of fall to be unworkable and ill-advised. In any event, stated otherwise, it is not practically possible for a "spring hunt" to occur, as S8 402 would require.<br />
<br />
There are several biological and social reasons why a spring wolf hunt is further ill-advised. Female wolves with pups will be vulnerable and tied to their dens. Montana has long-avoided hunting during these times, due not only to biology, but social acceptance. The prospect of field-dressing pregnant females or the likelihood of starving, abandoned pups does not meet ethical standards of fair chase or humane treatment of animals.<br />
<br />
Further, wolves are undernourished and in their poorest condition coming into the spring, and the young are immature through the summer. The harvest of animals in poor condition with mangy pelts and the taking of underdeveloped animals are not what most Montanans have in mind when buying a hunting license. FWP and the Commission already have the authority to set any season that is appropriate to the agency's mission, including a special season for wolves as circumstances may dictate. However, a statutory setting of mandatory hunting without consideration of these broader implications, in my opinion is ill-advised.<br />
<br />
Additionally, FWP has a wolf management plan, and the substance of that plan helped secure passage of Senator Tester's legislation to de-list wolves in Montana. Enactment of SB 402 has the potential to jeopardize Montana's delisted status, a result none of us desire. Ultimately, delisting was facilitated by Montana's sensible and scientific approach.<br />
<br />
Montana will indeed have a wolf hunt this fall, and I am not willing to jeopardize recent hardfought gains to put wolf management back where it belongs, in the hands of the state. I respectfully ask for your support to sustain my veto.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
BRIAN C. SCHWEITZER<br />
GOVERNOR<br />
<br />
cc: Legislative Services Division</b><br />
<br />
Drop Governor Brian Schweitzer an e-mail...and give him a piece of your mind...<br />
<br />
brianschweitzer@mt.gov<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-75162408844744822882011-04-25T10:47:00.000-07:002011-04-25T10:47:09.883-07:00LOBO WATCH Is Now Also On Facebook!<a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000470507642#!/pages/Lobo-Watch/213339158676640">http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000470507642#!/pages/Lobo-Watch/213339158676640</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-36705456539952323622011-04-23T08:24:00.000-07:002011-04-23T08:41:35.165-07:00LOBO WATCH Mails Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBVMNGXqo4UsWWwknp19O9buIMOVLP2tLjiYyAsWicW7vAMfDeA4SCkeZEoETVbf3buMObjH06wDpVZ1ThOWhpV9FpZ5bJmCGTYGTucw9fG9H6bpQa-G0zZyCzY5v2yr-b4Wwb6Natw/s1600/WOLF+KILL+03-20-2011+MERCER+WI_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBVMNGXqo4UsWWwknp19O9buIMOVLP2tLjiYyAsWicW7vAMfDeA4SCkeZEoETVbf3buMObjH06wDpVZ1ThOWhpV9FpZ5bJmCGTYGTucw9fG9H6bpQa-G0zZyCzY5v2yr-b4Wwb6Natw/s400/WOLF+KILL+03-20-2011+MERCER+WI_.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Dear Governor Walker;</b><br />
<br />
I've been reading where the residents of your state have finally gotten tired of living the wolf lie - as have the residents of every other state where wolves are destroying wildlife resources, negatively impacting livestock production, and posing both physical and health threats to human residents.<br />
<br />
Much of this animosity toward wolves could have been prevented...if...<br />
<br />
And <b><i>"if"</i></b> is indeed a mighty big word when it comes to this issue. <b><i>If</i></b> states would have stood up to the federal government 20 years ago, wolves would not be the problem they are now. <b><i>If</i></b> state wildlife agencies like the WI DNR would have rejected the idiocy of the USFWS wolf project, states would have a lot more control than they enjoy now. <b> <i>If</i></b> those same state wildlife agencies had more carefully employed state biologists true to their career, we wouldn't be living as big a lie as we are now. The <b><i>"ifs"</i></b> could go on and on.<br />
<br />
Fact is, EVERY state with an established wolf population has one heck of a lot more wolves than state and federal wildlife agencies admit. They are simply covering up the mess they've created, and perpetuate the lie by down playing the number of wolves in the major <b><i>"wolf states"</i></b>...including Wisconsin. I recently read where the WI DNR/USFWS is saying there are now 800-850 wolves in Wisconsin. Isn't the true number more like 1,200 to 1,500? I have been to northern Wisconsin many times. There is absolutely no way that anyone using any available technology could come even close to accurately counting wolves. And it is what your DNR experts don't know which is wiping out whitetail herds, damaging the rural economy and placing harsh impositions on the residents of your state. <br />
<br />
During the <b>Wisconsin Conservation Congress </b>meetings held this past week in every county of the state, those attending all of these meetings were fairly unanimous in taking a stand against wolves. Issues included 1.) Establishing a wolf population of 350 or less...2.) WI DNR to implement meaningful wolf control...3.) To have the wolf federally delisted...4.) And to no longer simply relocate problem wolves (instead to eliminate them). All 72 counties voted in favor of these measures.<br />
<br />
The bounty of wildlife that Wisconsin enjoys has been the result of nearly a hundred years of sound wildlife conservation practices, all paid for by the sportsmen of your state - not <b><i>Johnny-Come-Lately </i></b>organizations like the National Wildlife Federation...Defenders of Wildlife...the Humane Society of the United States...and other similar so-called <b><i>"environmental"</i></b> or <b><i>"animal rights"</i></b> groups, which have learned to milk the wolf <b><i>"cash cow"</i></b> for hundreds of millions of dollars.<br />
<br />
Here in Montana, the sportsmen of this state are on the very edge of full revolt. They have grown sick and tired of the foot dragging and political grandstanding of do-nothing politicians, not to mention a state wildlife agency that has repeatedly lied to them - and those elected officials and politically appointed persons which have either contributed to the dramatic loss of wildlife or which have done little to nothing to stop the damage will most likely find themselves soon standing in the unemployment lines! <br />
<br />
With wolves now at everyone's door in Wisconsin, you are now sitting on one very explosive powder keg. Attached is a release I sent out here in the Northern Rockies. More than ever, those who are being affected by out-of-control wolf populations and levels of depredation want to know who are their political enemies.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Toby Bridges</i></b><br />
<b>LOBO WATCH</b><br />
<br />
<b>(Note: The release mentioned can be read on the LOBO WATCH website at the following link.)<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.org/adminclient/Legislation6/go">http://www.lobowatch.org/adminclient/Legislation6/go</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-40653816823977210722011-04-19T12:02:00.000-07:002011-04-19T20:37:09.583-07:00Support A Fellow Wolf Warrior!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-Lhtboeg-oF3A-qne96FTTHujTlVvj4hu9TLUfjIX2MdSI8y93zpUHY9VuVGwM57qpvNWuWrcXuANxFo_txhG26B0t8IKpffNyZK2DtquLshcz6Qb9imwzXevA1TGKwoL2sXW5OdUQ/s1600/Shawn+Andres+Sign+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="301" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-Lhtboeg-oF3A-qne96FTTHujTlVvj4hu9TLUfjIX2MdSI8y93zpUHY9VuVGwM57qpvNWuWrcXuANxFo_txhG26B0t8IKpffNyZK2DtquLshcz6Qb9imwzXevA1TGKwoL2sXW5OdUQ/s400/Shawn+Andres+Sign+001.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The combined efforts of many fighting to win control of growing and extremely destructive wolf populations are beginning to help insure that wolf numbers will be dramatically reduced. Much has been done on both state and federal levels. And as things get bashed around within our state legislatures and back in Washington D.C., we're learning who our political friends and who our political enemies are.<br />
<br />
This arena will become the main thrust for LOBO WATCH as we now head toward the 2012 elections. There is some serious house cleaning to be done at all levels of government. And the sportsmen and true wildlife conservationists of this country continue to become more organized. We can and will make a major difference in future elections. We have grown tired of wishy-washy, flip flopping politicians who say one thing, then support efforts which are not in the best interest of hunting...fishing...and the outdoors in general.<br />
<br />
<b>It's time to remove them from office.</b><br />
<br />
Another area that LOBO WATCH will now begin to focus on is to organize sportmen boycotts of those companies and services which financially support major anit-hunting enviromental groups - such as Defenders of Wildlife, the Humane Society of the United States, the Sierra Club, and the Center for Biological Diversity.<br />
<br />
On local levels, LOBO WATCH will encourage all to scrutinize who they do business with...and to support ONLY those businesses who are with us in this battle to save America's wildlife from major predators - be they animal or human.<br />
<br />
One business here in the Northern Rockies which needs to be recognized for being in this fight all the way is <b>Alpine Artistry Taximermy</b>, of Arlee, MT. The sign above, along U.S. 93 between Arlee and Ravalli, used to carry the shop's name, but owner Shawn Andres felt it needed to convey another message - to halt the devastation non-native and non-endangered Canadian wolves, wrongly forced on the residents of Montana by USFWS, have dealt elk, moose, deer and other wildlife species.<br />
<br />
If you are looking for one true <b>World Class </b>taxidermist, take a look at Shawn's work at the following link. He is with us 100% in this Wolf War, strongly supporting wolf control hunts, attending sportsman meetings to discuss the problem, and protesting against wolves at rallies.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.alpineartistry.com/">www.alpineartistry.com/</a><br />
</b><br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCHAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-68397495816228512662011-04-11T06:45:00.000-07:002011-04-11T12:00:35.604-07:00Congress To Authorize Wolf Hunts...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b6z6xcTZ684fwFki7bbpchphy1nGVlimfnk3uzKMN7CCJZwuX3c3D4mpAKeOI-YVrgF0dRtusC_42qUP-8cUc_pI80PODEM_zX2KVBXjwoQAhjNwU8MNhTERM2YvR-UJAUZdYgxQeQ/s1600/Photo+3+-+Wolf+Management.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b6z6xcTZ684fwFki7bbpchphy1nGVlimfnk3uzKMN7CCJZwuX3c3D4mpAKeOI-YVrgF0dRtusC_42qUP-8cUc_pI80PODEM_zX2KVBXjwoQAhjNwU8MNhTERM2YvR-UJAUZdYgxQeQ/s400/Photo+3+-+Wolf+Management.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>The following just came in from Don Peay, the founder of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, in regards to Congressional legislation that could result in wolf control (a.k.a. "management") hunts in Idaho and Montana as early as late this month.<br />
<br />
LOBO WATCH will have a release out on this tomorrow...and who to contact to push for those control/management hunts to get wolf numbers down before calf elk begin hitting the ground.<br />
<br />
Get up to date on the wolf issue...Go To...<br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com">www.lobowatch.com<br />
</a><br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>"Fellow Sportsmen,<br />
<br />
I am writing with a very important update on wolf delisting. Recent developments have added to what was already a very complex and dynamic situation. Hopefully, this email will help clarify the situation and what we can do as sportsmen to help wolf delisting move forward in Congress.<br />
<br />
All indications are that the Long Term Continuing Resolution to Fund the Government for the Rest of the year will contain wolf delisting provisions for some states, but not others. Specifically, the 2009 Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment Delisting Rule would be given the full force and effect of law. Additionally, part of the Congressional language would specifically precludes the ability of anyone to litigate the decision. So, wolf hunts, per state fish and game agency direction in Montana and Idaho can begin this year, potentially as early as this spring.<br />
<br />
As many of you are aware, this language is far from perfect. So, here is what we believe it means to the overall wolf delisting effort:<br />
<br />
1. All of Idaho, Montana and parts of eastern Oregon and Washington and a small part of northern Utah will remove wolves from ESA protection, and states will be allowed to manage wolves according to state management plans. This is potentially a very positive development, especially for Idaho and Montana.<br />
<br />
2. nfortunately, the entire state of Wyoming, the majority of Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, New Mexico and other states were not included. In fact, this action by Congress to codify the language of the 2009 delisting rule may be interpreted to reverse some of the important ground gained by Wyoming in support of dual management status and other aspects of their wolf management plan. This is a very concerning development which reinforces the need for further Congressional action to finish what we started.<br />
<br />
3. Big Game Forever has already started the process to get the REST of the wolf states, including the Upper Midwest, and all of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska delisted as well in the next few months, in Congress. We are not done and we must ask Senator Tester, Senator Baucus and Congressman Simpson to help us finish the fight.<br />
<br />
This is our understanding on process of how this wolf delisting bill will be passed into law. The wolf delisting language is being printed into the Continuing Resolution to fund the government on Monday, it will be voted on in the house on Wednesday, the Senate on Thursday, and President Obama will sign it into law on Friday. States should be able to immediately begin to manage wolves, just as they were, prior to the Malloy Decision to stop wolf hunts. This bill stops short of returning full state management authority back to these states, including Idaho and Montana. So USFWS remains in a supervisory role. But, if USFWS does not interfere and allows the states do their job, a wide variety of wolf management activities can be resumed by these states. We are hopeful this is a step in the right direction.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, on Saturday (two days ago), Judge Malloy rejected the settlement brokered with the Animal Rights groups. These group had decided to drop the law suit against wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho – they wanted to settle so Congress would not act. To be clear, without the pressure in Congress built by our cosponsors, sportsmen, SFW and BGF, this proposed settlement would not have happened. This decision by Malloy to reject the settlement just proves once again, Judges cannot be allowed to decide issues about wolf management, they won’t even agree with the ENEMY, when the ENEMY is ready to surrender.<br />
<br />
So, this Congressional Action is a GREAT Victory, and at the same time, it is a Great defeat if we allow this to be the end of the road.<br />
<br />
The Great Victory is that just over one year ago, when other groups and experts said (1) Congress would not touch wolf delisting; and (2) the only solution was to fight it out in Court. SFW and BGF said Congressional action was the clearest path to restoring the rights of states to manage. Some very dedicated folks believed we could win in Congress if we changed the game. Randy and Coni Brooks stepped up with a $100,000 donation and Big Game Forever was formed. Increasingly, people began to believe. Independently, a Great American Sportsmen, Texas trial Attorney Ted Lyon, who owns a ranch in Montana, and was disgusted to watch wolves destroy elk herds in his back yard, independently began legal work on drafting what would become HR. 509 and S. 249. In Mid September, Mr. Lyon and BGF went to DC and began to obtain significant Congressional support to move wolf delisting legislation forward. Over 10,000 wolf warriors joined the effort at Big Game Forever to do what was said couldn’t be done. These wolf warriors not only joined the effort, they have worked week after week to make by making phone calls, sending emails and spreading the word on the need for Congressional action. Other groups have joined the effort and worked with us to make wolf delisting a reality.<br />
<br />
It has not been an easy road. Even as late as last September, many in the hunting industry said BGF was foolish to think wolf delisting could occur in a Continuing Resolution (CR).<br />
<br />
After meetings with Senate Leader Reid, and strong leadership by Senator Hatch, Barrasso, Kyle, McCain, and Congressman Matheson, Ross, Rehberg and others, an incredible amount of progress was made to educate Congress about the destruction of jobs, wildlife herds, rural economies. The case was made and it became clear that CONGRESS was ready to Act to save elk, moose, deer and other wildlife from further delays in delisting. We knew Congressional Action could be achieved, it would just be an incredibly hard and intense fight, requiring strong grass roots support in many states.<br />
<br />
So, now the animal rights community and some radical environmental groups want to stop any wolf delisting form occuring. While the bill is not perfect, and in fact has some clear problems, it does clearly set a precedent for Congressional action to delist wolves. This precedent can be helpful to other states who need delisting, including Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, New Mexico and states like Utah, Nevada, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa who do not want the destruction to spread to their states. We suggest that for wolf delisting to move forward for all states, we need to counter the efforts of the these anti-hunting groups to kill this bill. We need to thank Senators Tester and Baucus of Montana for Sponsoring this legislation, and for Congressman Simpson for finding a way to get something done. Congresswoman Lumis of Wyoming tried to amend the bill and include Wyoming after the Judge Johnson decision, but house rules are peculiar, and after the cake had been cooked, it couldn’t be changed. So let’s thank Senate President, Leader Reid, Tester, Baucus and Simpson and ask them to join the 60 cosponsors who have already said they will fight for delisting for all states and all Americans.<br />
<br />
It will also be important to drop some emails, make some phone calls this week, into the Whitehouse. There are some indicators that Obama will sign the bill. Tester and Baucus were in the press yesterday saying the Democratic Senators and Obama had agreed to put this languate in the hotly debated CR. This was agreed to in principle late Friday night.<br />
<br />
The great defeat is that all the other wolf states were left out of this language. And here are some reasons for that:<br />
<br />
ON Feb. 16, at the BGF sponsored DC event in the US Capitol, Senator Risch’s Chief of staff came with a DRAFT bill they said they had Democratic Support included all of Utah and all of Wyoming.<br />
<br />
After that meeting, sportsmen groups in Michigan, MN and Wisconsin began to engage to get their states delisted as well.<br />
<br />
Tremendous support for and All state delisting HR 509 and S. 249 was growing, and looking to become a reality, so opponents to wolf delisting, including the USFWS, Animal Rights groups, and some Democratic Senators who had been completely opposed to any Congressional Action on wolf delisting said, “We have got to do something or this issue will run us over.”<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, some hunting groups decided to work toward accepting an easier two state deal, instead of taking a four state deal, or even fighting for a better deal. As I said earlier, now the cake has been baked and this will be the incremental victory for now. So we all need to work this week to make sure this important precedent is established that shows that Congress must act to delist wolves, even if just for a few states. If we can win this incremental victory, we must then all work to finish the job. There will be those who will try to use this two state deal to end further delisting in the Midwest and West. We know that this incremental step is not good enough for ranchers, for sportsmen and for America in the long run. We must return the full rights of all states to manage wolves and all wildlife without strings attached. Our commitment is to keep up the fight to stop the destruction, restore balance and begin recovering wildlife populations for all of America.<br />
<br />
Some very powerful groups have made this solid commitment to keep up the fight and work with us until it is done. We have requested meetings with some of the other groups to put the divisiveness behind us and hopefully, we can move forward in the future, together to solve this wolf issue, for all states, for all sportsmen, with all groups working together.<br />
<br />
Great Victory, lets go finish the job to return full state management of all wolves, in every state to State Fish and Game Agencies and remove the Federal Government from State wildlife management.<br />
<br />
BGF is rapidly growing membership and endorsements and respect amongst Congressional Leaders. We will not rest until we have achieved Victory and stopped the efforts by animal rights groups to (1) destroy the future of responsible management; and (2) destroy what sportsmen have invested billions to restore."<br />
</i> <br />
<b>When sending this to the newly formed Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, which is just now turning 1-year old, Don Peay added...<br />
</b><br />
<i>"Congratulations MONTANA SFW. Clearly your efforts have FORCED the agenda. I hope you will now do two things<br />
<br />
1. Start Engaging MT FWP to have a wolf hunt starting on NEXT Monday<br />
<br />
2. Stick with Rehberg, and encourage Tester and Baucus and continue to help BGF and SFW fix the rest of the country.<br />
<br />
You guys efforts have born real fruit for Montana. Should be signed into law by Friday."<br />
<br />
</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303395044678430014.post-7479129257170427492011-04-07T11:57:00.000-07:002011-04-07T12:14:11.492-07:00Contact Idaho Governor Butch Otter And Ask Him To Sign HB-343 Into Law!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYZXh9NNHbunSr4BSnJCbaqc4WJvTHd1iw-aSz7BxQIhcl8F7_EglwxlshF381oM42DZs-4koWoQfHe3hPgW4xTZMt8dmfV-pLvjXnyKiKL7fz0Bub7IpR9TlVPZgW4y_vPrN9e2XUw/s1600/Wolf+Killed+Elk+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="140" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYZXh9NNHbunSr4BSnJCbaqc4WJvTHd1iw-aSz7BxQIhcl8F7_EglwxlshF381oM42DZs-4koWoQfHe3hPgW4xTZMt8dmfV-pLvjXnyKiKL7fz0Bub7IpR9TlVPZgW4y_vPrN9e2XUw/s400/Wolf+Killed+Elk+3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Subject: HB-343 on Governors desk</b><br />
<br />
Please contact Governor Otters office and request that he sign HB-343 Wolf Emergency Legislation, and take appropriate action to enforce its provisions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gov.idaho.gov/ourgov/contact.html">http://gov.idaho.gov/ourgov/contact.html<br />
</a><br />
<br />
<b>FOLLOWING IS THE MESSAGE I SENT TO GOVERNOR OTTER IN REGARD TO THE IDAHO EMERGENCY WOLF DECLARATION...<br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Dear Governor Otter;<br />
<br />
Although I live in neighboring Montana, I do spend a great deal of time in your state, and like many, I have seen the devastation wolves have dealt wildlife resources there.<br />
<br />
Please be man enough to sign HB-343 into law. Yes, it challenges the federal government...Yes, it challenges the Endangered Species Act...Yes, it challenges the rulings of Judge Donald Molloy. However, most importantly it challenges radical environmental groups who have worked so hard to destroy a way of life here in the Northern Rockies.<br />
<br />
The residents of Idaho are looking to you to stand up to government and environmental idiocy. Idaho's House of Representatives and Senate have voted the will of the people. Will you let them down by not signing this legislation?<br />
<br />
Toby Bridges<br />
LOBO WATCH</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>For A Look At Why Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin And Michigan Are All Now Working On Wolf Management Legislation...And Why There Are Now Two Bills In Washington D.C. Aimed At Removing Wolves From The Protection Of The Endangered Species Act - Go To This LOBO WATCH Article -<br />
</b><br />
<a href="http://www.lobowatch.com/adminclient/WolfWar2/go">www.lobowatch.com/adminclient/WolfWar2/go</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737107020771110518noreply@blogger.com0