MT Campaign for Roadless Areas

From the MT Wildlife Federation

Poll: Is Hunting Deer Over Bait Fair Chase?

From Field and Stream - Whitetail 365

by David Hurteau

There is a difference between ethical hunting and fair-chase hunting. Fair-chase is typically ethical. But ethical hunting is not always fair-chase. For example, there is nothing unethical, as far as I can tell, about baiting deer.

Vote


Note from Eric - I don't agree with David that ethical hunting is not always fair-chase, unless you are including culls and subsistence hunting.

Hunting Think Tank Update

Hunting Think Tank II

September 6-8, 2011

Dundee, Illinois

Convened by Orion-The Hunters’ Institute and supported by the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation and the Pope and Young Club

Prepared by Eric Nuse

The value of hunting as a tool of wildlife management and to the economy is well known. However, the intrinsic values of hunting to society and to hunters is not well articulated or researched.

The meaning of the term hunting is regularly contested. Many organizations and writers use descriptors to narrow what they believe hunting to be, such as modern, sport, or subsistence.

At the first Hunting Think Tank we explored these topics in depth. We came up with a list of next steps that led to Think Tank II.

Questions we explored:

1.    Has there ever been a comprehensive literature review of works seeking to define hunting? If not, find a way to do this.

2.    Based on the results of our work, can we frame the word “hunting” so that it is accurately understood by the public and evokes a positive image?

3.    Can we develop mental tools to help with decision making prior to going afield and during the hunt to help hunters make good, ethical choices?

Our first step will be to conduct an exhaustive literature search on hunting, resulting in an annotated bibliography of the hunting literature with a focus on defining hunting, both historically and in the modern era. This work will help us build a better foundation on which to define hunting – both what it is and what it is not. Professor John Edwards at West Virginia University will oversee a graduate student in doing this work starting January 2012.

A working group headed by Dr. Thomas Baumeister will be collaborating to build an “American Model of Hunting” analogous to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.  The Model will be based on the core tenets and principles inculcated in modern hunting that hunters can be proud of and that the conservation community can use to build public support.

By articulating what makes up the core of hunting, organizations and individuals can examine different hunting practices and based on the specific facts, determine if they meet the definition of hunting. The tenets could be incorporated into hunter education training and other hunter curricula.

Currently, several writers who participated in the Think Tank are writing articles based on issues explored that will be published in the outdoor press.  An outdoor writer workshop with a textbook is also being developed.

This information will be made available to professionals, outdoor writers and hunters for distribution and discussion.

The anticipated long term results are: clear, honest thinking on why we hunt; clarifying the values we collectively bring to hunting; recognizing the needs hunting fills for us; and recognizing the individual and societal benefits it brings. This clarity and focus on what is important should result in raising the bar of hunter behavior, enable a rational and clear defense of hunting, assist in recruiting and retaining quality hunters, and increase public support for democratic hunting.

Participants:

Dr. John Edwards, West Virginia University

Jim Posewitz, Orion-The Hunters’ Institute, author

Galen Geer, author and lecturer

Phil Seng, DJ Case and Associates

Dr. Thomas Baumeister, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Del Benson, Colorado State University and McGraw Wildlife Foundation

Michael Sabbeth, Attorney and author

Jim Dudas, McGraw Wildlife Foundation, writer

Eric Nuse, Orion-The Hunters’ Institute

Also assisting:

Dr. John Organ, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Dr. Jim Tantillo, Cornell University

The Mindful Carnivore

Tovar's just released book, The Mindful Carnivore, is a must read for thinking hunters and folks who care about where their food comes from. This thoughtful book is more than a journey from vegan to hunter, it is also a review of human thought on our place in nature and our impact on the land and other creatures. Well written and well researched, I rate it right up there with books by Richard Nelson, Rick Bass, Jim Posewitz and Ted Keresote.

From the jacket of the book here is what others say about it:
"A remarkably candid, nuanced, and engaging meditation on what it means to be human. There are no prescriptions or preachy admonitions—just an honest account of the mindful unfolding of a person who has taken seriously the responsibility of being dependent upon the death of other organisms in order to live. The Mindful Carnivore is a bracing read."

—Jan E. Dizard, author of Mortal Stakes and Going Wild
"An unflinching account of one omnivore’s dilemma, drawn with psychological sensitivity and ecological sense. Cerulli treats compelling arguments on both the pro- and anti-hunting sides of the environmental divide with equanimity, while being just as equally impatient with both sides’ time-worn clichés and sound-bite slogans. A nourishing read!”

—Mary Zeiss Stange, author of Woman the Hunter and Hard Grass
"Tovar Cerulli has written the book I’ve been waiting for. It’s memoir, adventure story, and exploration. His journey is from vegan to hunter, but it’s more than that. It’s a journey into history, ethics, nutrition, ecology, and philosophy. An entertaining read—and an entertaining ride—into the human experience. A savory morsel indeed."
—Daniel Herman, author of Hunting & the American Imagination

I recommend picking up a copy at your local book store (or have them order it if they don't have it) and give it a read.
For those of you in the New England area here is a partial list of events Tovar is hosting. He is a great guy that you will enjoy meeting   

Events in 2012

Thursday, Feb 16 – 7:00 pm – Concord, NH
Discussion and signing at Gibson’s Bookstore (RSVP here)

Tuesday, Feb 21 – 7:00 pm – Montpelier, VT
Discussion and signing at Bear Pond Books (RSVP here)

Sunday, Feb 26 – 1:00-3:00 pm – Montpelier, VT
Book launch party at the Unitarian Church, sales by Bridgeside Books (RSVP here)

Friday, March 2 – 5:30 pm – Brattleboro, VT
Discussion and signing at Everyone’s Books (RSVP here)

Saturday, March 3 – 1:00 pm – Webster, MA
Discussion and signing at Booklovers’ Gourmet (RSVP here)

Tuesday, March 6 – 7:00 pm – Northampton, MA
Discussion and signing at Broadside Books (RSVP here)

Tuesday, March 13 – 5:15 pm – Middlebury, VT
Discussion & signing hosted at 51 Main by the Vermont Book Shop (RSVP here)

More

A Mindful Carnivore

From my friend Tovar Cerulli:

Lone Wolf Commands a Following

 New York Times article on the first wolf tracked into California:

...Ardent wolf fandom and ire do not surprise Ed Bangs, the federal Fish and Wildlife Service’s recently retired wolf recovery coordinator. “When wolves come back, one side says it’s the end of civilization, our children will be dragged down at the bus stop,” he said. “The other side thinks nature is finally back in balance and can we all have a group hug now.”

California will see the same divisions, said Mr. Bangs, who in his 30 years in gray wolf management attended hundreds of contentious meetings with residents, ranchers and environmentalists.

“I like to say wolves are boring,” he said, “but people are fascinating.” 

Wild Hogs and the Role of Hunters

From Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partners "Conservation Field Notes"

http://bcove.me/sm2kkw8v

From Wisconsin DNR:

Wild hogs in the woods

Wildlife and agriculture officials take a stand in the mud to ferret out feral pigs from pockets of the Wisconsin countryside.

Kyle LaFond

Feral pigs have gained a foothold in 23 states, including Wisconsin, mostly in Crawford and LaCrosse counties. 

 From California Fish and Wildlife:

California is “hog heaven” for wild pigs

The relationship between California residents and wild pigs could be described as “love/hate.” That is, hunters love them while everyone else seems to hate them. Classified as a game mammal in California, wild pigs provide year-round hunting opportunity. 

Montana's wildlife policies raise ethical question

From the Washington Examiner:

Montana is looking to recreational hunters for help in enforcing more of its wildlife management policies, but one regulator worries they are being asked to cross an ethical line in doing so.
The question is whether the state is unwittingly putting those hunters in a fix: Does their new role fall within ethical hunting guidelines or does it reduce them to wildlife management mercenaries whose actions could give hunting a black eye?
That's the concern of Fish, Wildlife and Parks commissioner Ron Moody, who recently questioned whether the agency's policies and proposals are asking hunters disregard what it means to be an ethical hunter.
...The man who wrote the book on ethical and fair-chase hunting, Jim Posewitz, said public perception is very important for hunters. The FWP's use of hunters to enforce wildlife management policies can work, provided the agency uses the right hunters, he said.
FWP should provide training so the hunters used have an understanding of the last century's conservation efforts in North America and also understand that the overall goal is to have sustainable, manageable wildlife populations, he said.
"We need to make sure they're very elite and a very respected group of hunters. We're not sending out assassins or SWAT teams. We are sending out sensitive, trained hunters to handle a very sensitive situation," Posewitz said.
Aasheim said additional hunting training has previously been suggested, but has not been implemented. Currently, the state provides a basic hunter education course and each person who participates in the annual bison hunt receives a 30-minute DVD that discusses ethics and hunting, he said.
Posewitz worked for the FWP for 32 years and founded Orion — The Hunters Institute, an organization that advocates for ethical hunting. More than 600,000 copies of his book, "Beyond Fair Chase: The Ethic and Tradition of Hunting" have been handed out as part of hunter-education programs.
He cited Helena's program to control urban deer as a model of how it can be done right. Each year, the city receives authorization from FWP to kill a number of deer to maintain a manageable density of animals within the city. This year, that number is 220.
"They're not out there liquidating the deer. They're keeping the deer in balance with the carrying capacity of the city, and they're doing an excellent job of that," Posewitz said.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2012/01/montanas-wildlife-policies-raise-ethical-question/2123696#ixzz1kIaCnEDb

A Murder at Paradise

From the New York Times By TIMOTHY EGAN
PARKLAND, Wa. — The next time somebody mindlessly bashes a “federal bureaucrat,” as if the term itself were a parasitic disease, remember the bright young woman we said goodbye to here a few days ago: Margaret Anderson, a park ranger in a flag-draped casket.
...The other point worth noting is about how selfless and valuable so many public employees are — especially those who work the parks, forests, deserts and wildlife refuges owned by every citizen. The hours are torturous, and the rewards inconsistent.
more:

Hunting Access & Hunter Behavior

A recent study done by Responsive Management titled, Issues Related to Hunting Access in the United States, indicated that difficulty gaining access to lands for hunting has become a constraint to recruiting and retaining sportsmen. Adequate access to land is one of the fundamental issues that affect the future of hunting.
The survey asked hunters about possible reasons that landowners may close their land to public hunting. The top three related to the misuse of the land: irresponsible shooting, alcohol use, or other bad behavior by hunters. Other top reasons cited were property damage caused by hunters; litter;landowner wanting to allow only personal/family use of the land; and liability concerns.
Unfortunately asking landowners that have closed their land was not within the scope of this study. My reading over the years points to landowners wanting to be in control of what goes on on their land and the only way currently open to them is posting.

The Meaning of Meat: Adult-Onset Hunters Look to the Land for Sustenance

From http://northernwoodlands.org/ by Tovar Cerulli 
As a teenager, Deborah Perkins found hunting repulsive. During her years at Greely High School in Cumberland, Maine, she wrote a passionate essay arguing that the pursuit was morally wrong. Two decades later – now living 25 miles north, in Poland, and working as a consulting wildlife biologist – she hunts grouse, turkey, and deer.
more:

Celebrating 2011

A hearty New Year’s cheer from all of us here at Orion-The Hunters’ Institute to you and yours.

With all the problems in the world and hard times here at home, it is easy to get a bit gloomy - not to mention the fact that most hunting seasons are over until spring.

However, as I look back on 2011 there are many accomplishments to be proud of:

·      The concept of fair chase is now common knowledge, as evidenced by the passing of the 600,000 sales mark of Jim Posewitz’s classic Beyond Fair Chase

·      Wildlife as a public trust resource was restored and strengthened in a state legislative battle coordinated by Orion that has positive national ramifications

·      Hunting Think Tank II was successfully held at the Max McGraw Wildlife Center with support from McGraw, the Pope and Young Club and a great group of deep thinkers

·      Our Fair Chase Hunting blog is averaging over 2,000 page views per month

·      The Orion message of ethical hunting is being wonderfully portrayed on the normally dismal TV hunting channels through Randy Newberg’s On Your Own Adventures show

·      Founder Jim Posewitz has published a new book, Taking A Bullet for Conservation, The Bull Moose  Party- A Centennial Reflection 1912-2012

·      Poz is also engaged in an effort to restore a free ranging, huntable bison population on 3 million acres of eastern Montana prairie.

The day-to-day value of Orion was summed up to me in a phone message I got last month from Leslie Kaufman, a reporter and blogger with the New York Times. She said, “I have a question about hunter ethics and I was told that Orion is the place to go.”

 I am optimistic about the future of hunting and the role of hunters in wildlife conservation and look forward to more successes in 2012.

Wishing you a productive and successful 2012!

A hunter’s new years cheer,

Eric and Ingrid Nuse

and the entire Orion family: Mark Hirvonen, Jim Posewitz, Jim Tantillo, Pat Hudak, John Organ, Randy Newberg, and Gayle Joslin

Interior secretary announces recovery of wolves in the Western Great Lakes, removal from Endangered Species List

FromThe Wildlife Society NewsBrief:

U.S. Department of the Interior    Share   
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced that gray wolf populations in the Great Lakes region have recovered and no longer require the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is publishing a final rule in the Federal Register removing wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and in portions of adjoining states, from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. More

Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA's Fisheries Service propose policy to improve implementation of Endangered Species Act

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service    Share   
A new federal policy proposal will help clarify which species or populations of species are eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act and will provide for earlier and more effective opportunities to conserve declining species. The public is invited to comment on the policy, proposed by the Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, the two federal agencies responsible for administering the Endangered Species Act. Comments will be accepted for the next 60 days. More