Weekly News Archives

                         or

       New Product  Archives

Army Intelligence officer shot dead at Fort Bragg

Investigators say it could have been hunting accident

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) � An Army intelligence officer from Montana who was shot to death at Fort Bragg may have been accidentally killed by a hunter.  Army Criminal Investigation command spokesman Christopher Grey says the death of Capt. Jeremiah Sipes of Belgrade, Mont. is being treated as a

homicide.  Grey says investigators are exploring the possibility that Sipes was shot by a hunter. Hunters are allowed on parts of the base, and a hunter called police after finding the 33-year-old officer's body. Sipes was the squadron intelligence officer for 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

Sportsmen Comments Needed to Oppose Potential Gun Hunting Ban

The U.S. Forest Service is now accepting comments on a proposed gun hunting ban for areas of the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan. 

In September, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Forest Service�s regulations required that it consider banning hunting with firearms on lands designated as �semi-primitive� within the Huron-Manistee National Forest.  The Court feels that the noise associated with gun hunting could harm the quality of the recreational experience of hikers, backpackers, and cross country skiers.  Additionally, the Court ruled that the Forest Service had to consider closing these areas if other public hunting land was available for gun hunting nearby.

As a result of the court ruling, the Forest Service began a formal review to determine if it should move forward with a gun hunting ban on these areas. 

Currently, the Service is considering two options: 

1. a �No-Action� alternative which would allow hunting to

continue without change; and

2. a �Modified Closure� alternative that would implement either a complete or partial ban on hunting with guns in the semi-primitive areas.

Take Action!  Sportsmen should submit comments to the Forest Service supporting the �No-Action� alternative that would continue to allow hunting with firearms on areas designated as semi-primitive. 

 Sportsmen can mail comments to:

Lee Evison, Forest Planner, Huron-Manistee National Forests
1755 S. Mitchell Street
Cadillac, MI 49601

Sportsmen can also fax comments to Lee Evison at (231) 775-5551 or email comments to [email protected]. 

Please include your name and address with your comments.  Emailed comments must include �Forest Plan SEIS� as the subject line of the email.  All comments must be received by February 11, 2011

3 Rod Proposal on the table

A 3-line rule proposal is on the table of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. 

Recently, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. It pertains to amending the (2) lines per angler law to 3 lines per angler.  This does not pertain to ice fishing, and will become effective January 1, 2012 if approved. The comment period expires February 11, 2011, so you need to act now if you agree. You can be from out of State or own an out of State fishing related business to comment if your business is effected by this. 

 Take a moment to write a letter or email the PFBC now.

Recreational anglers have indicated that they favor this proposed amendment. Currently, Michigan and New Jersey have a (3) rod rule and New York State has a pending written proposal for such. There proposal is endorsed by the community and was introduced by Senator Libous.

The State of NY justification for change is as follows:

�The new 3-rod rule is designed to favorably impact a fisherman�s experience by increasing his probability of catching a fish. Catching a fish enhances angler satisfaction more than any other factor and is the prime determinant in deciding whether or not to make return visits to the fisheries of New York.

Return visits to the fishery are a boon to the local economies. Return trips mean more spent locally for food, fuel, lodging, launches, parking, and rentals. The 3-rod rule will not guarantee that people will catch more fish; rather it will give them the potential to locate the fish a little easier. The small crewed boats, the �weekend warrior�, the recreationalist, the vacationer, the retired couple who saved up for a boat and now have the time and health to use it will all benefit from this.

It does not mean they must use 3 rods, it will mean they can use 3 rods per person, whether they are operated from land or from a boat, if they so choose. New Jersey and Michigan both

have a 3-rod rule, to which they have continued to see a favorable impact to their recreational fisherman.

In addition, the 3-rod rule will not exploit the fishery since exploitation is constrained by creel limits that would still be in effect.�

Some differing or similar reasons for supporting the proposed change from 2-rods to 3:

1. Assist fishermen in finding a presentation pattern that is successful in taking the desired fish. It is a daunting task for fishermen who don�t go out every week to try and put a sufficient number of trolled baits at varying depths, with action, sizes and colors in an area of the Lake containing fish.

2. Assist fishermen who find themselves in a low bite per hour fishing situation.

3. Assist bank fishermen targeting underutilized resources such as carp and catfish.

4. Adoption of 3-line proposal is projected to make PA a more desirable and competitive fishing destination which will impact jobs and the economy in a favorable fashion.

5. Science based limits are already set by the PFBC and there is no evidence to suggest adverse impact on the fishery.

6. We may see a positive difference in recruiting young people as well as adults to begin to fish by helping their success rate.

7. The sales of fishing licenses should increase with more success and just the �possibility� of an increased catch rate.

8.  Increased license sales are healthy for the economy and benefit all

9. Michigan and New Jersey have not returned to their original 2-rod law which implies the �change� was both successful and beneficial.

Submit written comments, to:  Executive Director, Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000.  Comments also may be submitted electronically by completing the form at www.fishandboat.com/regcomments .  Comments submitted by fax will not be accepted.  To read the PFBC Notice of Proposed rulemaking: http://fishandboat.com/rulemakings/224nprp.pdf

Cathy Stepp appointed Secretary of the Wisconsin DNR

Former Republican State Senator Cathy Stepp has been appointed the new Wisconsin DNR Secretary.  Stepp served as Racine�s state senator from 2002 to 2006, and co-chaired the Senate's natural resources committee, but most of her experience has been in the private sector.

She has a deep business background. Stepp and her husband have run a construction company and they currently operate a trucking equipment firm.  Stepp said the agency needs a "culture shift" and promised to streamline the DNR's permitting process and improve the agency's customer service. But she said she'll listen to environmentalists, too.  "They'll grow to be comfortable working with me," she said in a telephone interview Thursday. "They'll be welcomed and listened to."

 Ed Harvey is president of the Conservation Congress, a group of sportsmen who advise the DNR. He said the group had hoped for someone with more deer hunting experience, but Stepp knows the DNR well and worked well with the organization when she was a DNR board member.

 Stepp has hired state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, a former chair of the Assembly's natural resources committee, to serve as her executive assistant. He will focus primarily on deer and wildlife issues, she said. Plus, Walker has promised to appoint a so-called deer czar to oversee herd management.

 She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Paul, and two children, Hannah and Mitchell.