It appears that sport shooters, collecters, and self-defense whackos (according to AHSA) aren’t the only ones spending more money on their hobby right now. Hunting license sales are also on the rise here in Pennsylvania, turning around after years of losses. In fact, archery, muzzleloader, furtaker, bear, and migratory bird licenses are also on the rise.
Category: Hunting
Wet Beavers
Sorry of this disappoints you, but at least it’s safe for work.
Ignorance on Parade
Poaching is Serious, But Not a Felony
There’s a proposal in Pennsylvania to make poaching a felony level offense under some circumstances. I can’t agree with this:
House Bill 97, sponsored by House Game and Fisheries Committee chairman Edward Staback, proposes to do just that for a variety of wildlife violations. The 21-page bill would create felony-level offenses, with the possibility of imprisonment, for significant poaching activity. The bill, which was introduced and referred to the Game and Fisheries Committee on Jan. 28, has 23 co-sponsors, none of whom is a local elected official.
“This [bill] would elevate the punishment for those who willfully steal Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources to the same degree as any other major theft offenses,†said Carl Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Presently, such violations are classified as summary offenses, which are on par with a traffic ticket.â€
The most it ought to be is a low misdemeanor. One hangup the sponsor has is the fact that NRA would not back the bill with language in it to confiscate the firearms of poachers. That has now been taken out. I hope the NRA will not back this bill even without the language in it. Anyone found guilty of felony poaching will have all their firearms confiscated for life, because they will become prohibited under federal law.
I don’t have a problem with certain, more serious poaching offenses being a low level misdemeanor, but not a felony. Poaching is often something done by young people with poor judgement. People shouldn’t have their lives ruined by it.
WSJ Covers Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show
Very positive coverage, I would say, from this article. Looks like outfitters aren’t doing too badly during the bad economy either. I’m wondering if hunting is benefiting from reductions in gasoline prices as much as it might be hurt by the economy. With travel not costing as much, it might be a good explanation.
Crossbow Hunting
One issue happening, probably below the radar for most gun blogs, is the controversy going on right now in Pennsylvania over crossbow hunting. Many bow hunters are angry at NRA for their support of crossbow hunting in Pennsylvania, which was recently approved by the Game Commission over the objections of United Bow Hunters of Pennsylvania.
I question whether this was an issue NRA should have been involved in, but I think more from a “is it worth the trouble” perspective, rather than because I agree with the bow hunters.  Hunting is in decline. By many measures, this decline is serious, and is only going to get worse as more hunters die off, or get too old to go afield. Opportunities for hunting are dwindling. Anything that opens up more opportunities to get more people into the sport is ultimately beneficial to both the hunting and shooting communities.
The Humane Society of the United States will relentlessly dog hunters until they ban hunting in this country, one species at a time. They’ve already had success ending dove hunting in Michigan, and we all know about the bear hunts in New Jersey. They were also instrumental in the California lead ammunition ban, and are supporting a nationwide ban on lead ammunition. These people are good at what they do, and they are organized and well funded. In a lot of ways, they make the Brady Campaign look like pikers in comparison.
If hunters want to commit slow motion political suicide by supporting policies that restrict access to their sport, and ultimately reduce their numbers, and their political power right along with it, I’m not sure NRA really ought to stop them. Perhaps it’s not worth the grief. But both hunters and shooters will suffer if hunting disappears in North America. Hunters should get behind anything that expands opportunties for hunting. Bow hunters are being dangerously short sighted on the crossbow issue.
Case Against Lead Ammunition Building
We’re seeing more and more stories like this. This one from Wisconsin pointing out birds are dying of lead poisoning, and it’s the fault of ammunition from hunting and lead sinkers. Here are some questions I ask when I see these studies:
But, he said, “I think the lead bullets in venison reopened the door again. I do believe that over the past couple of years that a lot of things have changed.”
What studies have shown that lead fragments in venison contribute to lead poisoning in humans? Humans have been consuming animals killed by lead shot and lead bullets (musket bullets have a lot more lead in them, in fact) for centuries. Why is it only now that it’s a problem?
The DNR study also found lead fishing tackle in all loons that died of lead poisoning.
What’s the overall incidence of lead fishing tackle in loons? Have they found loons that had lead fishing tackle in their gizzards that did not have lead poisoning?
Elemental lead is actually not that remarkably toxic. Cases have been reported of human ingestion of lead shot with little ill effect. Most cases of human lead poisoning come from people (mostly kids) consuming oxides of lead found in chips from leaded paints. Hunting groups need to fund their own studies that start asking the right question. Right now, the environmentalist are driving the debate, and for them, no amount of lead in the environment is acceptable.
Wolf Control
John Lott asks why Ashley Judd wants wolves to starve to death. Too many of us have lost touch with our evolutionary role as an apex predator. In regards to the Bathroom Baboon, TD of the Unforgiving Minute passed this interesting bit to me in regards to predatory behavior of Baboons in Africa, and one outfitter’s war against a tribe that attacked a woman and killed her baby.
Google Killed Bambie!
I’m going to guess the Google car hit its bag limit for this season.
For the Condors?
Washington State is looking to ban lead shot across the board. The hearing on the bill is today. Why? To save the California Condor. The problem?
This is the California Condor’s established range. Notice a problem? Remember, it’s all about saving wildlife! It’s not about driving up costs to stamp out a politically incorrect sport. Not at all!