Big Game Harvest Finishes Strong In Northwest Montana

Results at the six northwest Montana check stations indicated that the 2006 big game season ended on a strong note for whitetail deer hunters. In total, hunters checked 1,938 whitetails, the highest number since 1996.

"The weather finally cooperated over the Thanksgiving weekend and provided excellent snowy conditions for hunters," said FWP Wildlife Manager Jim Williams. "Hunters, young and old alike, bagged a number of nice bucks and elk over the last few days of the season.

" Williams added that good numbers of antlerless deer were also taken for the freezer.At the six check stations for the season, hunter numbers were 21,960, down a substantial 12 percent from last year. These hunters checked 1,938 whitetail deer, 288 mule deer, and 214 elk. The harvest for whitetails was the highest since 1996; mule deer harvest was down 23 percent and elk harvest was down slightly from last year’s record total. Totals also could have been affected by early closings of several check stations because of severe weather and concerns for traffic safety on snow packed roads.

FWP thanks all the volunteers who worked at the check stations this fall, including a strong contingent of high school students at the Highway 2 check station. These students were organized by Kelly Morrow, a science teacher at Flathead High School.

The actual game harvest by hunting district will be available in June. The actual harvest is determined by a detailed phone survey of licensed hunters. The check station numbers given above represent only a sample of the total harvest in each hunting district but trends are usually similar.

Attached: 2006 big game hunting check station results
2006 Big Game Hunting

Check Station Results R1 Check Station Trends Week 5.pdf

Results BY Check Stations in the Region 2006 Final Hunting Results by R1 Check Station.pdf

MT - Now that hunting season is over, tend to your game

Andrew McKean

Now that the season is over, tend to your harvested game Hopefully most Montana hunters have a head full of happy memories of this year’s seasons, and a freezer full of nutritious wild meat. But if your harvest is still hanging from a garage rafter or aging in a game bag, this is the time to convert the carcass into groceries.

Montana state law requires hunters to process their animals – whether birds or big game – into a state fit for human consumption. Whether you have the carcass commercially processed or do it yourself – whether you donate the meat or feed your family – the hunter is responsible for ensuring that the meat is suitable for table fare.

For big-game species such as elk, deer, antelope or bear, the four quarters of the animal above the hock, plus the loins and backstrap, are considered fit for human consumption. For upland birds and waterfowl larger than a partridge or a teal, the breasts and thighs must be retained. And for wild turkeys and swans, the breast, thighs and wings must be retained.

“Waste of game becomes a problem this time of year,” says Region 6 Warden Captain Mike Herman. “The carcass is hanging, then it becomes frozen and people don’t want to deal with it. It’s not uncommon to see these carcasses get dumped or hang until they thaw out and spoil. Don’t let a successful season be ruined by neglecting the meat.”

MT - Mountain Lion Hunters Need To Be Aware Of Wolves On the Landscape

With the winter season for mountain lion hunting with hounds opening Dec. 1, lion hunters need to be wolf-aware to avoid conflicts between hounds and wolves."Wolves look at all domestic dogs as competitors," said Carolyn Sime, FWP wolf coordinator.

"Competition for territory, food or a mate drives wolves to be aggressive toward dogs. Sime said that in Montana only a few cases of wolves killing domestic dogs are reported each year, though some incidents may go unreported.Mountain lion hunting hounds could risk a wolf attack if houndsmen release them to track lions for long distances in wolf territory.

The risk is compounded by the fact that the Montana lion harvest and chase season is open during the wolf-breeding season, which generally begins in February. At this time, wolves are especially territorial and aggressive toward any canid—wolf, dog or coyote.While one can’t fully protect lion hunting dogs from wolves, lion hunters in states where wolves are well established have developed the following precautions that can reduce the hunting dog’s exposure to wolves.

* check the area for wolf sign. Don’t release hounds if there are fresh wolf tracks, a recent wolf kill, or wolves howling nearby.

* release hounds only on fresh mountain lion tracks to shorten the chase time.

* use bells on hound collars and yelling periodically to signal a human is with the hounds.

* run more hounds to discourage lone wolves from attacking dogs.

* use radio telemetry tracking collars to help relocate lost dogs quickly.

* howl to see if any wolves in the immediate area respond. If they do, hunt elsewhere.* use protective dog vests. The vest may shield hunting hounds from a wolf attack long enough for the hunter to reach the dog before a wolf can kill it.

* use spiked collars. Spikes have helped reduce injuries in some wolf attacks on herding and guarding dogs in Montana.

* be aware of wolf pack locations in Montana. A map is available on the FWP web site.

Mountain lion hunters need to keep in mind that federal regulations determine what a lion hunter can do to protect hounds during a wolf encounter. Regulations differ depending on whether the incident takes place in the endangered area (north half of Montana) or the experimental area (south half of Montana) and whether the encounter takes place on public land or private land.

For details on regulations that apply on lands you plan to hunt and for a wolf-location map, see the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov under Wild Things. On the Threatened and Endangered page click on Wolf Management And Conservation.

NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 47 12/01/06

States with updates this issue: Idaho, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
BETTER MEETING YOUR ACTIVIST NEEDS
If it's one thing we pride ourselves on in the Grassroots Division it's constantly evaluating our programs and publications to ensure we are providing our volunteers with information in which they are interested and that they can use. Because many of you also receive our monthly newsletter "Freedom's Voice," we recently changed the format of that publication to provide readers with information they can put to use, that won't be found in the Friday Grassroots Alert. The major change in the newsletter is that we are now running more stories on grassroots activism. Among the types of stories you will be seeing more of in future issues of "Freedom's Voice" are: · Grassroots activist tips to enhance your ability to affect the outcome of legislation and elect pro-gun candidates to office · Tips on writing effective letters to the editor of your local newspapers and taking advantage of t! alk radio shows · Guidance on becoming an effective pubic speaker · Guest commentary from your fellow NRA members and grassroots activists · Letters to the editor of "Freedom's Voice" · Information on new Grassroots programs and updates and improvements to existing ones, and more. In short, we are working to transform "Freedom's Voice" from a replay of stories of interest from the Friday Grassroots Alert, into a pro-gun grassroots activist road map! We will still be reporting on stories of interest, and will work to expand upon stories you may have seen previously in the Friday Grassroots Alert. However, with the continued streamlining and improvement of NRA-ILA's electronic communications abilities, we want to fully utilize these opportunities to affirm and improve upon what you, and NRA, does best--grassroots activism! To begin recei! ving "Freedom's Voice" please go to ww w.NRAILA.org and choose "Get Involved Locally." Once there, click the link to sign-up for NRA-ILA FrontLinesT, complete the on-line Volunteer Information Form, note that you wish to receive "Freedom's Voice," and then provide your e-mail address. You may also contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683 to sign-up, by providing us your name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.
We hope you enjoy the new "activist-laden" "Freedom's Voice" newsletter, and we recommend you encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to sign up to receive this free e-newsletter.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
(***For all of the action items below, you can find contact information for your legislators by visiting www.NRAILA.org, clicking the "Take Action" icon, and then clicking the "Write Your Representatives" icon. As always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: Idaho, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
IDAHOEarlier this year, anti-gun neighbors of the Farragut Shooting Range filed a lawsuit against the Idaho Department of Fish and Game attempting to close down its shooting range by claiming safety and sound violations. The trial is set to begin December 12, at the Kootenai County Courthouse, with closing arguments on Friday, December 15. The Department is confident that it has a solid case for keeping the range open but it hopes that sportsmen and women will make a showing of support by attending some or all of the trial. For more details about the trial, please contact Dave Leptich at dleptich@idfg.idaho.gov.
INDIANAState Representative Eric Koch (R-65) has filed NRA-supported HB1011, the "Indiana Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act" for the upcoming 2007 General Assembly session. In filing HB1011, Representative Koch seeks to ensure that law-abiding firearm owners in the Hoosier State will not be stripped of their Right to Keep and Bear Arms during a declared state of emergency or disaster. Specifically, this proposal states that, "The state, a political subdivision, or any other person may not prohibit or restrict the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transportation, storage, display or use of firearms or ammunition during a disaster emergency, an energy emergency, or a local disaster emergency." A special thank you goes to Representative Koch for stepping forward to offer this important bill, and for his continued efforts to protect the Second Amendment. Please be sure to contact your representatives in the Genera! l Assembly at (317) 232-9600, and strongly encourage him or her to support and vote for HB1011 in the 2007 legislative session.
OHIOHouse Bill 347, sponsored by Representative Jim Aslanides (R-94) of Coschocton, passed in the State Senate by a vote of 19-10, and in the State House by a vote of 74-14. It now heads to the desk of Governor Bob Taft (R). HB 347 would create statewide preemption, ensuring that firearms laws are uniform throughout the state. There are currently 43 states with similar laws. Passing statewide preemption will eliminate problems for gun owners who have been unduly burdened by local ordinances such as Columbus's "assault weapons ban."
In addition, HB 347 will correct a number of problems that have surfaced during the past year for Right-to-Carry permit holders. The most common complaint by license holders has been the "plain sight" requirement in a motor vehicle. HB 347 will eliminate this requirement. Please contact Governor Taft today at (614) 466-3555 or (614) 644-HELP, or via e-mail at http://governor.ohio.gov/contactinfopage.asp and respectfully urge him to sign this important bill and to defend your Right to Keep and Bear arms. Also, please call your State Legislators today to find out how they voted on HB 347. If they voted in favor of HB 347 please thank them for defending your Second Amendment rights. If they opposed HB 347, please respectfully remind them that you are a constituent and will remember their vote at election time. A special thanks to Speaker Jon! Husted (R-37), and Senate President Bill Harris (R-19), for their outstanding leadership. Please give them a call and thank them for their hard work and dedication to the Second Amendment. Senate President Bill Harris can be reached at (614) 466-8086, and Speaker Husted can be reached at (614) 644-6008.
PENNSYLVANIAAttorney General Tom Corbett (R) has announced that a reciprocal agreement was reached allowing persons with valid Right-to-Carry licenses from Tennessee to carry within Pennsylvania. All Tennessee license holders will be required to follow Pennsylvania laws while in the state, including age restrictions and type of handguns permitted. For a complete list of reciprocal states and state licenses that are honored by Pennsylvania, please visit: www.attorneygeneral.gov/crime.aspx?id=184.
TEXASTwo more pro-Second Amendment bills have been prefiled since we last reported to you: HB 284, by Representative Joe Driver (R-113), is NRA-supported "Castle Doctrine" legislation that would make changes to Texas's self-defense and use of force statutes that favor the rights crime victims over criminal predators; and SB 122, by Senator Bob Deuell (R-2), an NRA-backed Concealed Handgun License (CHL) confidentiality bill. Please begin contacting your State Senators and Representatives and urging them to support these important measures! Legislators' contact information and the text of the bills listed above can be found at http://www.house.state.tx.us/bills/welcome.php.