Bighorn sheep tag sells for $245,000 | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune
February 11, 2009
Bighorn sheep tag sells for $245,000
By MICHAEL BABCOCK • Tribune Outdoor Editor • February 11, 2009
The owner of a chain of sandwich shops in Champaign, Ill., paid $245,000 for a Montana bighorn sheep hunting tag last weekend at the Wild Sheep Foundation Convention in Salt Lake City.
The Wild Sheep Foundation, headquartered in Cody, Wyo., would not release the winner’s name, but they said the tag brought in $50,000 more than last year.
The highest price ever paid for a Montana wild sheep tag was $310,000 in 1994.
“Yes, the bidding was spirited,” said Terry Ziehl of the Sheep Foundation.
A Whitefish hunter paid $10,000 for a Montana mountain goat tag sold at the same show.
Also at the auction, the Mule Deer Foundation sold a Montana mule deer tag for $8,500.
In all, Montana’s 2009 big game auction licenses drew a total of $263,500.
The special tags allow the holder to hunt in any hunting district where there is a season for that species.
The show was the 32nd Annual Wild Sheep Foundation Convention and the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo. Next year’s show, called The Sheep Show, will be held in Reno, Nev., on Feb. 3-6 Click link below for full story
via Bighorn sheep tag sells for $245,000 | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune.
Bowhunters group decries crossbow ruling – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
February 11, 2009
By Bob Frye, TRIBUNE-REVIEW OUTDOORS EDITOR
The leaders of the United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania did not immediately make an official statement after Pennsylvania Game Commissioners approved crossbows for use in the statewide six-week archery season.
They have now.
It’s clear that the group’s positions have not changed: they disagree that crossbows are a primitive weapon and want the commission to track their use somehow.
“The United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania remain steadfast that the crossbow is a superior weapon to a bow and should not be permitted in archery seasons other than by those hunters who qualify as physically unable to draw and hold a bow,” reads the statement, released by the group’s president, Wes Waldron.
The statement goes on to say that allowing an unknown number of crossbows into the archery season, with no way to track participation or impact on the deer harvest, “represents a departure from the limited and incremental approach historically utilized when providing new or expanded hunting opportunity.” It further “depicts an overall deviation from the scientific, biological and social concerns of conscientious wildlife management.
“Therefore, we feel that any hunting license increase package must include a crossbow license to accurately track harvest and participation,” it concludes. Click link bel0w for full story
via Bowhunters group decries crossbow ruling – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Game Commission to expand crossbow hunting regulations – The Pocono Record
February 2, 2009
Pocono Record Writer
February 02, 2009
Bow hunters in Pennsylvania will be joined by hunters armed with crossbows during deer and bear seasons after the state Game Commission voted last week to expand crossbow use into regular archery season.
Under previous regulations only hunters with a disability permit signed by a doctor were allowed to use crossbows during archery season.
In years past, bow hunters have had a six-week archery season before firearm hunting begins to hunt in warmer temperatures before rifle-hunting season begins. The regulations will now prohibit the use of magnifying scopes on crossbows.
“We’re going to sell more crossbows because (the new law) is going to put more people in the field hunting,” said Terry Hill, archery department manager at Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitter in Stroudsburg. “The important thing is this will get more people hunting that otherwise would not be able to.”
Hill said crossbow use is easier than bows that have to be pulled and the warmer temperatures during archery season are helpful to older hunters. But anyone who thinks crossbow use is akin to using a rifle is mistaken.
“The fact is guys are going to find out crossbows are not guns,” he said. “The effective area is wider than a bow but it is not like firing a gun.” Click Link Below for Full Story!
via Game Commission to expand crossbow hunting regulations – poconorecord.com – The Pocono Record.
Game Commission Awards NWTF With Pennsylvania’s First-Ever Elk Tag for Auction
February 2, 2009
HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Under a new law, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that he has selected the National Wild Turkey Federation to auction off a special antlered elk license at its upcoming national convention Feb. 19-22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Since its creation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, as well as its Pennsylvania and local chapters, have been important wildlife conservation and management partners with the Game Commission,” Roe said. “The members of this organization have invested millions of dollars in Pennsylvania for wildlife habitat improvements, acquisitions of State Game Lands and input into wild turkey management and research. Additionally, NWTF live auctions are proven money raisers when it comes to auctioning off such hunts.”
Noting that Pennsylvania’s modern-day elk hunt, which began in 2001, has produced several Boone & Crockett book entries, George Thornton, NWTF CEO, said this tag represents an incredible opportunity to harvest a trophy elk while doing great things for wildlife conservation.
“The NWTF has had a great relationship with Game Commission throughout the years,” Thornton said. “We’ve worked together to help restore wild turkey populations, improve wildlife habitat and strengthen the state’s hunting heritage. When this tag goes up on the auction block, bidders can expect a lot of action and know that the winner is doing great things for conservation.
via Game Commission Awards NWTF With Pennsylvania’s First-Ever Elk Tag for Auction.
Ten tips when applying for elk or antelope hunting permits | Prescott Arizona News and Events
February 2, 2009
Arizona Game and Fish Sunday, 01 February 2009
Arizona Elk and Antelope hunting permit tags deadlineApplication deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 10; apply early to avoid long lines
If you have visions of elk steaks on the grill or sending those trophy horns of a 70-class pronghorn to the taxidermist, don’t forget the most important step – applying for a hunt permit-tag before the deadline.
The final deadline to submit paper-only applications for a 2009 hunt permit-tag for pronghorn antelope and elk hunts through the draw process is Tuesday, Feb. 10 by 7 p.m. (MST). Applications must be received by mail or hand delivered to a department office before the deadline; postmarks don’t count. Remember, there is NO online application process for the draw.
To help hunters navigate the application process, the Arizona Game and Fish Department offers these tips:
1. Buy your 2009 hunting license before applying. If you need your license before the draw is completed (April 24), buying your license now will eliminate the wait and long lines at department offices. (Note: This is a great year for a combo hunt and fish license – the fishing should be fantastic this year.)
2. Use the new editable PDF application. By using a computer to fill out the application, many errors are eliminated, including legibility issues. Just fill it out, print it out, sign it, include your payment, and deliver it to the department. Remember, there is no online application process for the draw.
3. Consult the 2008 Hunt Arizona booklet. Research draw odds, hunt success, tag allotment and more with this valuable resource available online in PDF, or purchase a hard copy for only $6 at any department office.
4. Pay by check, money order or cashier’s check. The department doesn’t accept cash or credit/debit card payments with the hunt permit-tag application. (Note: You may pre-purchase a license at the front counter with cash or credit/debit card.)
5. Include the correct payment amount. Be certain to double-check your math when making out your payment. There is a worksheet on the second page of the application. Also, make certain you don’t transpose any numbers when writing out your check, money order or cashier’s check (it’s more common than you may think).
6. Use a separate application for each species. If you are applying for both elk and antelope, you must use two separate applications, envelopes and payments.
7. Use the “Hunt No.” in the first through fifth choice fields. This is the four-digit number in the far left column under each Commission Order. Don’t use Game Management Unit numbers (which are typically alphanumeric).
8. Consider what type of hunter you are. When looking over the Hunt Arizona information, keep in mind what type of hunt you are after. Do you just want elk meat, or are you dead set on harvesting a trophy? Do you have flexibility in your travel time, or is it limited? All these play a key role in your odds of being drawn. It could take time to draw that rutting bull tag compared to a late-season muzzleloader cow hunt.
9. Include your social security number – it’s a federal law. Even if you use a department-assigned identification number, you are still required to include your social security number. If you only use one number, it must be your social security number.
10. Only use one choice when applying for a bonus point. If you are just applying for a bonus point, use the first Hunt No. listed under each Commission Order in the first choice field and include the $7.50 application fee (leave the second through fifth choices blank)
Click link below for full story!
Vermont moose hunting applications available: Times Argus Online
February 2, 2009
WATERBURY — Vermont moose hunting permit applications are available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com ) and at license agents statewide, the department said in a release issued today.
On Fish & Wildlife’s website, look under “Hunting and Trapping,” and then click on Lottery Applications.
Lottery applications are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. The deadline to apply is June 2.
Winners of the permit lottery will purchase resident hunting permits for $100 and nonresident hunting permits for $350. Hunters also will have the option to bid on five moose hunting permits in an auction to be announced later.
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will propose a regulation including permit numbers for the hunting season at a February 18th meeting of the Fish & Wildlife Board. Vermont issued 1,251 permits in 2008, and hunters took 605 moose in the 2008 hunting season. Proposed 2009 hunting season dates are October 17-22, or October 24 through November 1
via Vermont moose hunting applications available: Times Argus Online.
State Walleye Record Broken – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
February 2, 2009
Cattaraugus County Ice Angler Catches Record Fish
The start of 2009 marked the first record-breaking fish caught in New York State since 2007. Fishing with tip-ups, Thomas Reed of Kill Buck, NY pulled a 16 pound 9 ounce walleye through the ice on Mystic Lake on January 20th. Located in Cattaraugus County, Mystic Lake sits along Tunungwant Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River.
“Reed’s walleye surpassed the now historic 1994 state record by 2 ounces, which was caught from the Allegheny Reservoir, also in Cattaraugus County,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Fisheries Manager Paul McKeown. “Very few state records have been broken during ice fishing season.”
Reed’s walleye was brought into New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC’s) office for inspection, where fisheries biologists estimated the fish to be over 20 years old.
Walleye are one of New York’s most popular game fish species, and can be found in over 150 waters. The northern and central regions of New York contain about 80% of the State’s walleye waters, but outstanding fisheries can be found in every major watershed, from Lake Erie to the eastern end of Long Island. Many of New York’s finest walleye fisheries harbor self-sustaining populations, while others require periodic boosts through DEC stocking efforts. DEC raises and stocks approximately 200,000,000 walleye fry (recently hatched fish) and about 500,000 fingerlings (1.5 – 4 inch long fish) in about 25 to 30 waters every year.
The fishing season for walleye opens on the first Saturday in May and extends through March 15. The general statewide regulation is a 15 inch minimum length and a daily limit of 5 fish; however, many waters have special regulations where length and daily limits vary, so be sure the check the Fishing Regulations Guide.
New York State record fish make up one of the three categories of the Angler Achievement Awards Program. Through this program, anglers entering freshwater fish meeting specific qualifying criteria receive official recognition of their catch and a distinctive lapel pin commemorating their achievement. The three categories that make up the program are: Catch & Release, Annual Award and State Record. Further information on the Angler Achievement Awards Program, including a downloadable application form, can be found on the DEC website. Past winners from previous years can also be accessed by visiting the webpage. Don’t have access to the internet? Program details and an official entry form can also be found in the current Freshwater Fishing Regulations
Guide.
For additional information on the Angler Achievement Awards Program contact (518) 402-8891 or email fwfish@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
Weekly updated fishing hotlines are available on DEC’s website. Additional NYS Freshwater Fishing Records can also be found online
via State Walleye Record Broken – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.
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