Archive for February 13th, 2010

Arizona Wildlife Violations Hit Record Levels In 2009

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 Posted in Law Enforcement | 1 Comment »

Wildlife poaching in Arizona increased during 2009 and wildlife violations reached a record level, said Arizona Game and Fish Department officers. “Arizona experienced a record year for wildlife violations that include outright poaching. With that, we are also experiencing a record number of reported and solved wildlife crimes. Call it a target rich environment, if you will,” said Officer Ken Dinquel, who operates the Operation Game Thief Program. In calendar year 2009 the Operation Game Thief Program received 768 reported wildlife related violations through the Operation Game Thief Program, which is a significant increase from 2008 when there were 451 OGT reports and in 2006 when there were 360 reports. Read more..

No Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Deer in 2009 in Michigan

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 Posted in Deer Hunting News | No Comments »

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment found no traces of chronic wasting disease in deer tested in 2009. “That’s good news,” said DNRE Veterinarian Steve Schmitt. “We haven’t found anything since 2008 when we found that positive deer in a captive facility. But you can never really give up the testing. You always have to be on guard.” Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), an always fatal neurological disorder of the deer family, was found in a white-tailed deer in privately owned facility in 2008 in Kent County. The DNRE began wide-scale testing for the disease with mandatory testing of all deer taken from the nine-township area immediately surrounding the infected facility. Read more..

Register Online for Hunter and Bowhunter Education Classes

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 Posted in Archery Hunting News, Hunting News | No Comments »

Don’t miss opening day of your favorite hunting season because you didn’t get the Hunter Education certification class you needed. Now is the time to register online for Hunter and Bowhunter Education classes, so you can get your license and head for the woods! New hunters must take a hunter education course before they can purchase their first hunting license in N.H. (those age 16 and older need a license to hunt). To meet this requirement, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department offers Hunter and Bowhunter Education classes around the state, as well as Trapper Education. Courses are available from now through October, but fill up quickly in the early spring and fall months, so sign up soon! Read more..

Winter Habitat Key to Pheasant Survival

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 Posted in Environmental News | No Comments »

The winter of 2009-2010 is already one for the record books, leaving many South Dakotans wondering how their state bird, the pheasant, can survive the elements. A Christmas storm brought widespread blizzard conditions. Since then, subsequent blasts of snow, wind, and freezing rain have belted the state. Harsh conditions can lead to high mortality for pheasants and other wildlife, but providing critical winter habitat – such as woody cover and food plots – can boost winter survival. “Fortunately, pheasants rarely starve to death even during the harshest winters because of available food plots and waste grain,” said South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks resource biologist Andy Gabbert of Sioux Falls. “Most winter mortality is due to predation, although exposure to severe weather can also cause mortalities.” Read more..

« Previous Entries