Monday, June 10. 2013
Alberta man grabs cougar by the tail to save dog
An Alberta man who grabbed a cougar by the tail in attempt to rescue his dog from the cat's jaws says he was acting on instinct and adrenaline.
"Everything happened very quickly," said Dean Hordal. "After I thought about what I done, it's not something I would probably do again."
Hordal and his wife Lori were walking their schnauzer Mikah on a multi-use trail near the western Alberta forestry town of Hinton, when a streaking blur caught their eye.
"We saw a cougar," said Hordal. "It was pretty much in full flight. We noticed the tail right away. That's why we realized right away it was a cat."
Mikah was about 10 metres ahead of the couple when the cougar knocked him down and, "effortlessly" grabbing the 30-pound dog by the neck, continued over the embankment on the far side of the trail.
Hordal followed hoping the cat would drop Mikah and when it didn't, he too went down the embankment.
The cat stopped.
"I'm not sure if he was trying to get a better grip on him or what," Hordal said.
But instead the cougar shot up a tree.
"I went up after him a bit and managed to get a hold of his tail," he said. "He actually dropped the dog and the cat continued up the tree and I continued down the tree."
They couple retreated back to town with their injured pet.
(read more)
Wednesday, June 5. 2013
Judge Strikes Down NMFS's Red Snapper Emergency Rule
Ruling Means Longer Fishing Season in Federal Waters off Texas Coast
AUSTIN ? A federal judge in Brownsville has ruled in favor of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) in a joint lawsuit brought by both agencies challenging an emergency regulation enacted by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The ruling means that the 2013 recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters off the Texas coast will be longer than it would have been under the emergency rule.
?The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is relieved the court has invalidated a rule that was arbitrarily unfair to Texas anglers, coastal communities and businesses,? said T. Dan Friedkin of Houston, TPW Commission chairman. ?At the same time, we remain committed to a cooperative regional management approach to support the existing Gulf plan for the continued recovery of red snapper.?
Friedkin also praised Judge Andrew Hanen for his careful study of the issues and his acceleration of a final decision before the rule could be enforced to shorten snapper fishing in federal waters off Texas.
?Texas Parks and Wildlife supports a move toward science-based regional management for red snapper stocks that acknowledges differences between various regions of the Gulf, and we plan to advocate that position in future Gulf council meetings,? said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director.
On Feb. 8, over the strong objections of state agency representatives from Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) voted to implement an emergency rule that could shorten the recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters off the Texas, Louisiana, and Florida coasts, while extending the seasons in federal waters off the Alabama and Mississippi coasts.
Just weeks later, on April 18, the Gulf council voted 8 to 7 to overturn the emergency rule, in effect reversing the Feb. 8 vote. However, NMFS declined to rescind the original emergency rule as requested by the April 18 vote.
As published in the federal register on March 25, the emergency rule would empower the NMFS southeast regional administrator to reduce the red snapper season in federal waters off Texas, Louisiana and Florida since those states had set seasons in state waters that were different than the seasons in federal waters. In Texas, federal waters begin nine nautical miles from the state?s coast and extend 200 nautical miles.
The joint lawsuit alleged that there was no emergency to justify the proposed rule. The last stock assessment indicates red snapper recovery remains on track. The two states also alleged that the emergency rule violates the federal policy of cooperative federalism by improperly attempting to regulate the red snapper season in state waters. The lawsuit also alleged that the emergency rule violated federal law by discriminating against anglers and charter boat operators in Texas, Louisiana and Florida. The three states have been trying to make sure their anglers have equal opportunity. The Charter Fisherman?s Association, a group of charter boat operators, also had filed a separate suit against NMFS that was later combined with the states? suit, likewise seeking to overturn the emergency rule.
Judge Hanen?s opinion found the federal agency exceeded its authority under federal law when it declared an emergency instead of following the required normal procedures for providing public notice and seeking comment, including comments from fishermen. The court also found the rule did not enhance red snapper conservation, but instead redistributed fishing opportunity from anglers in Texas, Louisiana and Florida to anglers based in Alabama and Mississippi. Judge Hanen held that such redistribution discriminated against anglers in states with fishing seasons that do not match the federal season and rewarded those living in states that do, in violation of federal law.
TPWD was represented by the Texas Attorney General?s office in filing the lawsuit.
?This is the latest example of the federal government getting slapped down for illegal, overreaching regulations,? said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. ?This is a big win for Texas fishermen, jobs along the Gulf Coast and ? most importantly ? the rule of law. Calling the federal government?s actions ?totally unacceptable? the court struck down the government?s blatant and discriminatory attempt to punish Texas simply because federal bureaucrats disagreed with state rules about fishing in state waters. The court recognized what I have said all along ? that the federal government was merely looking to penalize fishermen in certain states because they do not agree with the state regulations. Texans will not stand by idly while federal bureaucrats attempt to govern by illegal emergency rule ? we will fight back and we will prevail.?
The Texas and Louisiana agencies have maintained that while a proposed shortened season will have no apparent conservation benefit, it would definitely have an economic impact. TPWD estimates that the originally projected 27-day season would generate at least $28 million from recreational fishermen in Texas, while a 12-day season would cut that figure by at least $16 million in lost retail sales in Texas. For Louisiana, reducing a 45-day season to a nine-day season could result in an estimated decline in economic value of approximately $8 million to recreational anglers in that state.
It will now be necessary for NMFS to implement Gulf-wide seasons in accordance with the court?s decision. Prior to the enactment of the emergency rule, NMFS had estimated that if all Gulf states were treated equally, the season would have been approximately 22 days. However, recent communications from NMFS suggest that a Gulf-wide season will be longer than that.
AUSTIN ? A federal judge in Brownsville has ruled in favor of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) in a joint lawsuit brought by both agencies challenging an emergency regulation enacted by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The ruling means that the 2013 recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters off the Texas coast will be longer than it would have been under the emergency rule.
?The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is relieved the court has invalidated a rule that was arbitrarily unfair to Texas anglers, coastal communities and businesses,? said T. Dan Friedkin of Houston, TPW Commission chairman. ?At the same time, we remain committed to a cooperative regional management approach to support the existing Gulf plan for the continued recovery of red snapper.?
Friedkin also praised Judge Andrew Hanen for his careful study of the issues and his acceleration of a final decision before the rule could be enforced to shorten snapper fishing in federal waters off Texas.
?Texas Parks and Wildlife supports a move toward science-based regional management for red snapper stocks that acknowledges differences between various regions of the Gulf, and we plan to advocate that position in future Gulf council meetings,? said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director.
On Feb. 8, over the strong objections of state agency representatives from Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) voted to implement an emergency rule that could shorten the recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters off the Texas, Louisiana, and Florida coasts, while extending the seasons in federal waters off the Alabama and Mississippi coasts.
Just weeks later, on April 18, the Gulf council voted 8 to 7 to overturn the emergency rule, in effect reversing the Feb. 8 vote. However, NMFS declined to rescind the original emergency rule as requested by the April 18 vote.
As published in the federal register on March 25, the emergency rule would empower the NMFS southeast regional administrator to reduce the red snapper season in federal waters off Texas, Louisiana and Florida since those states had set seasons in state waters that were different than the seasons in federal waters. In Texas, federal waters begin nine nautical miles from the state?s coast and extend 200 nautical miles.
The joint lawsuit alleged that there was no emergency to justify the proposed rule. The last stock assessment indicates red snapper recovery remains on track. The two states also alleged that the emergency rule violates the federal policy of cooperative federalism by improperly attempting to regulate the red snapper season in state waters. The lawsuit also alleged that the emergency rule violated federal law by discriminating against anglers and charter boat operators in Texas, Louisiana and Florida. The three states have been trying to make sure their anglers have equal opportunity. The Charter Fisherman?s Association, a group of charter boat operators, also had filed a separate suit against NMFS that was later combined with the states? suit, likewise seeking to overturn the emergency rule.
Judge Hanen?s opinion found the federal agency exceeded its authority under federal law when it declared an emergency instead of following the required normal procedures for providing public notice and seeking comment, including comments from fishermen. The court also found the rule did not enhance red snapper conservation, but instead redistributed fishing opportunity from anglers in Texas, Louisiana and Florida to anglers based in Alabama and Mississippi. Judge Hanen held that such redistribution discriminated against anglers in states with fishing seasons that do not match the federal season and rewarded those living in states that do, in violation of federal law.
TPWD was represented by the Texas Attorney General?s office in filing the lawsuit.
?This is the latest example of the federal government getting slapped down for illegal, overreaching regulations,? said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. ?This is a big win for Texas fishermen, jobs along the Gulf Coast and ? most importantly ? the rule of law. Calling the federal government?s actions ?totally unacceptable? the court struck down the government?s blatant and discriminatory attempt to punish Texas simply because federal bureaucrats disagreed with state rules about fishing in state waters. The court recognized what I have said all along ? that the federal government was merely looking to penalize fishermen in certain states because they do not agree with the state regulations. Texans will not stand by idly while federal bureaucrats attempt to govern by illegal emergency rule ? we will fight back and we will prevail.?
The Texas and Louisiana agencies have maintained that while a proposed shortened season will have no apparent conservation benefit, it would definitely have an economic impact. TPWD estimates that the originally projected 27-day season would generate at least $28 million from recreational fishermen in Texas, while a 12-day season would cut that figure by at least $16 million in lost retail sales in Texas. For Louisiana, reducing a 45-day season to a nine-day season could result in an estimated decline in economic value of approximately $8 million to recreational anglers in that state.
It will now be necessary for NMFS to implement Gulf-wide seasons in accordance with the court?s decision. Prior to the enactment of the emergency rule, NMFS had estimated that if all Gulf states were treated equally, the season would have been approximately 22 days. However, recent communications from NMFS suggest that a Gulf-wide season will be longer than that.
Sunday, May 12. 2013
New Species of Black Bass Identified
DNA testing has confirmed that a unidentified species of black bass has been swimming amoungst some of us all along mascerading as a regular spotted bass.
Florida biologists made the announcement but don't think it is going to mean anything practical. You will probably never know it when you catch one because without DNA testing there is no way to tell the difference.
The exact range of the new species is not clear yet. But it is suspected that they will eventually be shown to inhabit a range from the Pearl River in La. Eastward to somewhere in Florida.
The new species has been tagged with the name Choctaw bass.
The fish was first indications of the new species were tested at least as early as 2009.
You might be able to tenatively identify a Choctaw bass by counting scales, fin rays and gill rakers. But only DNA testing can confirm definitevly. Scale counts and such have some variablitiy within species and counts often over lap.
And of course fears they could be threatened immediately emerge. Stocking of other native bass into Choctaw bass range has been identified as a potential threat. I won't be losing any sleep over it.
Florida biologists made the announcement but don't think it is going to mean anything practical. You will probably never know it when you catch one because without DNA testing there is no way to tell the difference.
The exact range of the new species is not clear yet. But it is suspected that they will eventually be shown to inhabit a range from the Pearl River in La. Eastward to somewhere in Florida.
The new species has been tagged with the name Choctaw bass.
The fish was first indications of the new species were tested at least as early as 2009.
You might be able to tenatively identify a Choctaw bass by counting scales, fin rays and gill rakers. But only DNA testing can confirm definitevly. Scale counts and such have some variablitiy within species and counts often over lap.
And of course fears they could be threatened immediately emerge. Stocking of other native bass into Choctaw bass range has been identified as a potential threat. I won't be losing any sleep over it.
Thursday, May 9. 2013
Hunter Education Course - The Time Is Now
Is it to early to think about and start getting ready for hunting season? Any hunter can tell you that it is never to early. If you have kids or friends of you own kids that might be wanting to make their first hunts this year than now is the time to prepare. And successful completion of a hunter safety course is going to be the first thing on the preseason checklist that you will need to address.
Hunter numbers have been dropping and some people blame the burden of taking an entire 3 day weekend to successfully complete a hunter safety course. Keep in mind these are kids that are not yet hooked on hunting. Who wants that burden just to give something a shot that you might not even like?
Well thanks to modern technology and the internet the process has be streamlined and the headaches associated with taking the course have been greatly reduced. For instance you can go to http://www.huntercourse.com/usa// to access and start your course work. Much course work can now be done online.
Regardless of which state you plan on attending a hunter safety course, if you follow the link above and enter your state you will be taken to a page that will have links to all sorts of information relevant to the hunter safety course in that state.
States generally accept courses taken in other states to meet their own state requirements so it is normally not necessary to travel to the state you are going to hunt in, just to take the hunter safety course.
Getting into a course at the last minute could end up costing you money and time. Planning ahead will assure you that you can take a course when and where you like and not have you hunting for a course with an opening just before hunting season. The time is now!
Hunter numbers have been dropping and some people blame the burden of taking an entire 3 day weekend to successfully complete a hunter safety course. Keep in mind these are kids that are not yet hooked on hunting. Who wants that burden just to give something a shot that you might not even like?
Well thanks to modern technology and the internet the process has be streamlined and the headaches associated with taking the course have been greatly reduced. For instance you can go to http://www.huntercourse.com/usa/
Regardless of which state you plan on attending a hunter safety course, if you follow the link above and enter your state you will be taken to a page that will have links to all sorts of information relevant to the hunter safety course in that state.
States generally accept courses taken in other states to meet their own state requirements so it is normally not necessary to travel to the state you are going to hunt in, just to take the hunter safety course.
Getting into a course at the last minute could end up costing you money and time. Planning ahead will assure you that you can take a course when and where you like and not have you hunting for a course with an opening just before hunting season. The time is now!
Friday, April 19. 2013
GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL DOES SOMETHING RIGHT
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans designed to manage fishery resources from where state waters end, out to the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Council meets five times a year at various locations around the Gulf coast. Prior to taking final action on any proposed rule change public hearings are held throughout the Gulf. Public testimony is also heard during the meeting at which final action is scheduled. Proposed rule changes are then submitted to NMFS for further review and approval before implementation.
OK so now that you know a little about what the GMFMC is all about, also know that they have not really been a friend to recreational fisherman. The management, or should I say mismanagement of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico has gotten so bad that all kinds of actions on the state level are being proposed, introduced and often passed to try to fight NOAA and the NMFS who appear to have a real hatred for recreational fisherman.
Well all these new laws and pending legislation all around the gulf might be having some positive outcomes. The GMGMC has voted to eliminate 30b and to allow for regional management of the Snapper stocks.
.
Continue reading "GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL DOES..." »
The Council meets five times a year at various locations around the Gulf coast. Prior to taking final action on any proposed rule change public hearings are held throughout the Gulf. Public testimony is also heard during the meeting at which final action is scheduled. Proposed rule changes are then submitted to NMFS for further review and approval before implementation.
OK so now that you know a little about what the GMFMC is all about, also know that they have not really been a friend to recreational fisherman. The management, or should I say mismanagement of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico has gotten so bad that all kinds of actions on the state level are being proposed, introduced and often passed to try to fight NOAA and the NMFS who appear to have a real hatred for recreational fisherman.
Well all these new laws and pending legislation all around the gulf might be having some positive outcomes. The GMGMC has voted to eliminate 30b and to allow for regional management of the Snapper stocks.
.
Continue reading "GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL DOES..." »
Sunday, April 7. 2013
UN General Assembly Passes Arms Trade Treaty, Senate Rebuffs
On April 2, the United Nations General Assembly voted 153-4 to pass the Arms Trade Treaty, with the United States voting in favor and several countries abstaining. The vote in the General Assembly was necessary to push the treaty process forward after negotiations twice failed to deliver on the goal of developing the treaty by unanimous consent. The Obama Administration is expected to sign the treaty soon after it is opened for signature June 3.
The text of the approved treaty is deeply problematic and threatens the rights and privacy of American gun owners. Signatories are encouraged to keep information on the "end users" of arms imported into their territory and supply such information to the exporting country. Exporting nations, nearly all of which have civilian firearm control regimes far harsher than the U.S., are encouraged to take the firearm control laws of an importing country into account before approving a transfer of arms. The treaty also encourages states to adopt domestic legislation to facilitate the treaty's onerous requirements.
Read more at (here)
The text of the approved treaty is deeply problematic and threatens the rights and privacy of American gun owners. Signatories are encouraged to keep information on the "end users" of arms imported into their territory and supply such information to the exporting country. Exporting nations, nearly all of which have civilian firearm control regimes far harsher than the U.S., are encouraged to take the firearm control laws of an importing country into account before approving a transfer of arms. The treaty also encourages states to adopt domestic legislation to facilitate the treaty's onerous requirements.
Read more at (here)
