Hunters Asked to Submit Teeth of Mule Deer Bucks from GMUs 54, 61, 62 and 80

Colorado Division of Wildlife

Hunters Asked to Submit Teeth of Mule Deer Bucks from GMUs 54, 61, 62 and 80

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is asking hunters for help this season with a research project focusing on mule deer in selected areas of southwest Colorado. Hunters who participate will be entered into a drawing and could win a Weatherby .270 rifle that is being donated by the Mule Deer Foundation.

Big game managers in Gunnison, the San Luis Valley and Montrose would like to examine the age structure of mule deer bucks harvested in game management units 54, 61, 62 and 80.  The intent of this project is to evaluate how various management prescriptions are working in units with contrasting objectives.

Approximately 2,000 buck hunters should have received a mailing for this project, asking them to remove a middle incisor from the lower jaw of their harvested buck and to send it to the DOW.  The mailing also included a brief survey card and a pre-paid return envelope in which to submit the tooth.

“We’re making it as easy as we possibly can for hunters to return a tooth,” said Brandon Diamond, terrestrial biologist in Gunnison. “It looks like we had about a 10 percent response rate from the archery and muzzleloader hunters. We’d like to increase the return during the rifle seasons so we’re asking hunters to please participate in this project.”

Biologists are able to determine the age of an animal by laboratory analysis of cementum annuli in the tooth.  Hunters participating in this project also will be able to find out the age of their deer, with results likely being posted in the spring of 2008 on the DOW’s web site.

“It doesn’t matter if a hunter harvests a big buck or a small buck, we need to get back as many teeth as we can,” Diamond said. “This information will help us learn more about our mule deer management prescriptions. This is a great chance for hunters to contribute to big game management in Colorado.”

To give hunters more incentive to send in the teeth, the Mule Deer Foundation is donating the rifle. All hunters who submit teeth will have their names entered in a drawing for the rifle. The drawing will take place in early December.

Game management units 61 and 62 are located west of Montrose; game management unit 80 is located southwest of Alamosa; and game management unit 54 is northwest of Gunnison.  Hunters are being asked to return teeth by Dec. 1, 2007.

Hunters can also drop teeth off at one of the DOW offices. Please, use the envelope that was provided. Gunnison DOW office: 300 New York Ave.; Montrose DOW office, 2300 S. Townsend Ave.; San Luis Valley DOW office, 0722 S. Road 1E in Monte Vista.

Hunters with questions about this project can call Diamond at (970)641-7060. 

DFG Offers a New Passport Challenge to State’s Adventurous Anglers

DFG Offers a New Passport Challenge to State’s Adventurous Anglers

Contact:
Carrie Wilson, DFG California Fishing Passport Program Coordinator, (831) 649-7191

The Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) first California Fishing Passport Challenge is now underway. The Fall Passport Challenge invites anglers of all ages to catch fish from lakes, streams and ocean waters throughout the state, using their catch to enter drawings for great prizes provided by California Fishing Passport Program sponsors.

“We are very excited to offer the Fishing Passport Challenge to California anglers,” said Carrie Wilson, DFG California Fishing Passport Program Coordinator. “The Fall Challenge is designed to encourage adults, children and families to pursue fishing experiences throughout California, and our partners Bass Pro Shops, Berkeley, and Abu Garcia are providing some great incentives for everyone.”

The Fall Passport Challenge requires participating anglers to catch a variety of fish from California’s many lakes, rivers and ocean waters between now and Dec. 31, 2007. Challenge participants must document their catch with a digital photo and submit it with catch details via the DFG’s Passport Program Web site to qualify for prize drawings. Prizes will include tackle packages worth up to $500.

The Fall Passport Challenge was officially announced by Ronnie Kovach, internationally recognized freshwater and saltwater fishing expert and best-selling author, to a large crowd of fishing enthusiasts during kick off festivities at the Bass Pro Shops store in Rancho Cucamonga in September. Lucy’s Pond, a 10,000 gal. fishing pool provided by Wilderness Unlimited, was stocked by the DFG with rainbow trout, bass, catfish and sunfish and provided a unique fishing experience for hundreds of young anglers. DFG supplied each angler with a California Fishing Passport and stamps for the fish they caught, and a picture of their catch was provided courtesy of United Anglers of Southern California.

To learn more about the California Fishing Passport Fall Challenge, visit the Passport Program Web site at www.fishingpassport.org.

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Enforcement Officers Conduct Sting Operation – Lee County Man Nabbed for Selling Illegal Rattlesnakes

PRESS RELEASE

Enforcement Officers Conduct Sting Operation – Lee County Man Nabbed for Selling Illegal Rattlesnakes

CONTACT: Chief Allan Andress, 334-242-3467

William Gornto, 47, of Phenix City, Alabama was arrested in Lee County by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division conservation enforcement officers on 57 counts of possession of non-indigenous (non-native) venomous reptiles. The arrest was made on Oct. 3, 2007 after officers obtained a search warrant for Gornto’s premises.

Tips from concerned citizens led to the discovery and arrest of Gornto who was illegally selling the snakes on the Internet. ADCNR regulations make it illegal to sell, offer for sale or to possess non-indigenous venomous reptiles without a permit. If convicted, Gornto faces a maximum fine of $500 per count and six months in jail.

The non-indigenous venomous reptiles confiscated included 35 Western Diamondback, 19 Prairie and three Black Tail rattlesnakes.

“If these non-indigenous highly poisonous snakes had escaped and began to breed, it could pose a serious threat to native wildlife,” said ADCNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division Enforcement Chief Allan Andress. “More importantly, these types of snakes pose a severe threat to people, especially in populated areas.” Currently the confiscated snakes are safely contained at an undisclosed location.

Anyone having information regarding non-indigenous venomous reptiles being held in captivity is asked to please call the ADCNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division Law Enforcement Office at 334-242-3467 or 1-800-272-4263.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Slow Elk

By Becky Sather

Growing up in a big city I never got the chance to enjoy the simple pleasure of hunting. Moving to Prineville Oregon, a major hunting town, the year of my high school graduation was a huge culture shock. I worked at a gas station during hunting season my first year in Prineville. Seeing so many people; male, female, rich, not so rich, young, and old filling up their vehicles to go out in the woods to shoot at Bambi confused me. Filling up the homebound hunter’s vehicles that had the head of Bambi proudly strapped to the truck in a spot just right for the deer to stare at me—extremely confusing. All hunters came through the gas station with stories about the one they shot, the one they missed, or the big one they had seen. It wasn’t until I married a local hunting enthusiast that I learned what the big deal was all about. But before I discovered the joy of hunting there was my first hunting experience.

My husband Nathan and I left the night before opening day pulling our camper trailer out to a campground that had no water, sewer, or electrical hook-ups (remember I was still a city girl). All that the camp consisted of was dirt and trees. Nathan announced at about 7:00 pm that it was bed time. Even though I didn’t understand why we were going to bed so early, good thing Nathan knew what he was doing because 4:30am comes very early.We got up in the dark and put on the very fashionable camo outfit and orange vest, threw our rifles over our shoulders and went to find some deer.

A few weeks before opening day I had practiced shooting the rifle. I was going to use a 7MM Mauser. The first time I fired the rifle I bruised my shoulder. I wasn’t prepared for the noise or the kick of the gun. Nate tried to warn me but I didn’t believe him. Every movie I had ever watched with a rifle in it made me think that there was nothing to it. The bruise on my arm proved otherwise. I learned from this mistake and became an O.K. shot by opening day.

We hiked up hills, down draws and around clearings in search of the mighty buck (Nathan explained to me that deer with horns were called bucks) that would feed our family. I remember getting tired of all the walking but pushed on because of the excitement of spotting a buck, getting the perfect shot and impressing my husband. The city girl was going to show country boy that she too could be a hunter.

Being in the woods seeing all that Mother Nature had to offer, kept me going too. Some time during our long walk, we came to a cliff, looking down was awe-inspiring. Pine trees blanketed the whole valley. Aspen’s with leaves turning crimson, yellow and brown scattered themselves between the pines. But the most beautiful sight was how the clouds sat just below us circling the forest. Sunrise being in motion gave the clouds a pink fluffy appearance; they reminded me of cotton candy during a county fair. All of these wonderful sights working together gave me a sense of peace greater than any sight I had ever witnessed in the city.

Shortly after leaving the cliff, we came into some thick pines. How I was suppose to see anything in that dense of forest was beyond me. I hoped that Nate’s experienced eyes would be able to see something. Within in seconds of this thought Nathan pointed to our right, “Becky look—slow elk.”

Now at this point in my hunting career I didn’t realize that there was a deer season and a separate elk season, I figured if it had horns it was free game. What I couldn’t figure out is why Nate wasn’t taking aim. I looked in the direction where he had pointed and caught a glimpse of a brown hide and what appeared to be horns. My line of sight was obscured by all the darn trees but from what I could see the creature behind the tree was enormous.

I lifted my rifle to my shoulder, found what I could see of the slow elk with my cross hairs and decided my husband must want me to take the first shot. My finger trembled as it looked for the trigger. I drew in a deep breath steadied myself for the kick back of the 7MM and, “BECKY! What the hell are you doing!” fired.

Nathan screaming my name caused me to jerk at the same moment I pulled the trigger. My bullet flew high tearing through a tree just above the animal’s head. With the loud noise of the rifle report, Nate yelling, and the bullet causing shrapnel, the Moo Cow ran off.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I had almost shot down a poor rancher’s cow. How was I to know that a cow had the silly nickname of slow elk? Or that ranchers let their cows roam freely on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land? I set down my rifle and looked at my husband. The man was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face. I tried being pissed off at him for laughing at me but just couldn’t do it. I had almost shot a cow because of a slight misunderstanding between country boy and city girl—that’s funny stuff. Both of us were laughing by this point so hard that we were doing the potty dance. We called it a day and headed back to camp.

Though this story would be told for years to come with the same reaction from others as we had reacted, my skills would not stay the same. I am happy to report that I can tell the difference between an elk and a cow. I have been hunting many times since the cow incident and have learned the ways of the hunter. As a matter of fact, I shot my first buck this hunting season, a beautiful three by four. Hunting is a skill and a tradition that is now being passed down to our three children. The first thing that I taught them was that cow’s are also called slow elk.

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