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Let�s Manage Wolves Like We Manage Lions and Elk

By Walker S. �Buddy� Smith, Jr.

If there�s anything that can grab the attention of an elk hunter faster than the bugle of a big bull, it�s the howl of a wolf. Want to stir up a roomful of elk hunters? Don�t bother yelling Fire! Just say wolf. Everyone has an opinion, most of them passionately held.

That passion will always exist among hunters, but I�m hoping over the next few years it might ease down to a gentle roar. The 1995 reintroduction of gray wolves into Idaho, Montana and Wyoming has been highly successful from the viewpoint of most biologists. Whether you think that was the worst or best idea anybody ever had, wolves look to be a permanent part of the landscape in the northern Rockies.

Wolf populations in all three states are well above the minimum thresholds for recovery set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They no longer need the help of the Endangered Species Act. On January 29, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting wolves in Montana and Idaho and handing control of them over to the game and fish department in those states.

That�s great news. I hope Wyoming and the FWS can hammer out their differences so wolves can be returned to state control there as well. Each of us�the public�now has 60 days to submit written comments on this delisting proposal.

Since the day wolves were reintroduced, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has strongly encouraged the Fish and Wildlife Service to remove wolves from the endangered species list as soon as possible and transfer management responsibility to the states. The Elk Foundation applauds both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the individual states for all the hard work they�ve put in over the last 12 years to reach this point.

A couple of years ago, Carter Niemeyer, Idaho wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told the Elk Foundation�s magazine, Bugle, �The quicker we can start thinking about wolves as just another game animal, the better off all involved will be.� Amen.

It is time to set politics and posturing aside and define reasonable plans for wolf management. I�ve hunted elk in Montana every fall since 1971. It�s one of the driving passions of my life and I�m pretty good at it. In my experience, the

deadliest, most efficient elk hunter is not the wolf. And much as I hate to say it, it�s not me, either. If you�re betting on who�s going to bring home the elk steaks, put your money on a mountain lion.

That�s why I think it�s worth looking at how Montana manages its lions. In 1978, the state changed the status of mountain lions from a year-round bountied animal to a licensed big game species, with specific seasons and quotas. Since then, annual harvest has gone from 50 per year to 450 per year. The range occupied by lions doubled. Yet during that same time, elk and deer populations flourished all across that expanded range. Hunting opportunity for elk, deer and lions is excellent. That�s because the state teamed up with hunters as hands-on managers. This is where we need to get to with wolves.

Give the states the ability to set seasons and region-by-region quotas for wolves in the same way they do for lions and black bears�and for elk and deer�and we can have healthy populations of both prey and predators. Combined, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming are now home to about 350,000 elk and 1,240 wolves. Elk hunting success, in terms of both total harvest and mature bulls, is strong across all three states. That doesn�t mean that in areas where wolves are active there aren�t fewer elk�or that the hunting hasn�t gotten a lot tougher. It means we should be managing wolves in those places.

Wolves can and will impact game populations. But as someone who loves to hunt in wild country, I�m convinced that the greatest threat to both our elk populations and the future of hunting is  . . . us. There are now 300 million people in the United States and a little over 1 million elk. The way we�re filling up elk country with houses and roads and strip malls makes me heartsick. That�s why I�m so proud that in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho alone, the Elk Foundation has permanently protected more than 220,000 acres of prime wildlife habitat and greatly enhanced another 1.2 million acres.

If you care about the future of elk and elk country, I urge you to do two things. Speak up for state control of wolf management during the next 60 days. And step up and support the conservation groups that are working to ensure that future generations have places to hike, hunt and enjoy.  Walker Smith is Chairman of the Board, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Recreational boating generates upwards of $25 billion

TAMPA, FL� A university study showed that recreational boating has a $25.6 billion economic impact on this country.

Ed Mahoney of Michigan State University's Recreational Marine Research Center presented the study at the International Marina and Boatyard Conference.  The survey, conducted at the end of 2005, polled 12,000 people and included power- and sailboats of all lengths.

The money is spent is as follows:

● $3.1 billion on storage

● $1.8 billion on insurance

● $4.1 billion on repairs

To verify the survey�s accuracy, Mahoney compared his numbers with industry leaders in individual segments to make sure the figures matched.  The study also looked at how much was spent on day and overnight trips.   On average boaters spent $103 a day for day trips and $588 for overnight trips. That comes out to about $21 billion spent on trips by all boaters each year. Of that, $4.3 billion is spent on trips from boats stored in marinas, Mahoney said.

Hunters Set New Record

A survey commissioned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and conducted by an independent firm, found that 50 million Americans said they�ve hunted in the past two years.  � A new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services shows that hunters spent more than $723 million on

licenses, tags and stamps in 2005.

� 14.5 million Americans purchased a license in 2005.

� Data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services on hunting license buyers shows that 25 states performed better than the national average.

Retail value of a hunter

During his or her lifetime, an average American hunter spends $17,726.59 on hunting equipment. When licenses and lodging, food and fuel, magazines and meat processing, plus other expenses are included, the average lifetime total spent on hunting jumps to $96,017.92. These figures were calculated as part of 2006 NSSF-commissioned research. The study looked at hunters' total expenditures from age 16 to 

75. During that period, an average hunter in the U.S. annually spends: $70 on rifles, $53 on shotguns, $9 on muzzleloaders, $21 on handguns, $49 on ammunition, $12 on decoys, and $49 on dogs and supplies.

Source: The National Shooting Sports Foundation

www.nssf.org/news/PR_idx.cfm?PRloc=common/PR/&PR=091306.cfm

Youth Hunting Barriers Poised to Fall in Five States

Young hunters in five states may soon find it easier to enjoy the hunting tradition thanks to campaigns from Families Afield, an initiative that seeks to remove age and other barriers preventing people from hunting.

California, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin each have legislation being prepared and introduced to eliminate or reduce unnecessary age restrictions and allow young people and novices to experience

hunting with a mentor before completing hunter education courses.

The Families Afield initiative is a partnership of the NWTF, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the U.S. Sportsmen�s Alliance.  Since the Families Afield program began, twelve states have changed laws and regulations to create additional hunting opportunities for youth and novice hunters.

Bass Pro Shops to open in Olathe, Kansas, Feb 22

Star-Studded Celebrity Cast joins BPS for Grand Opening

Olathe, Kansas�The new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is opening February 22nd. The Olathe store is located at I-35 at Renner and 119th.  It anchors the 140-acre, $268 million project being developed by the RTR LLC.  The Grand Opening is set for Thursday, February 22nd at 8 AM but a special �Evening for Conservation� to help benefit area conservation groups will be held on Wednesday night, February 21st beginning at 6 PM.  This exciting, celebrity-packed event is free and open to the public.

The Grand Opening Celebration begins Thursday, February 22nd at 8:00 AM and will include special exhibits, more celebrity guests, store wide savings and fantastic giveaways.  You can also visit with today�s experts on fishing, hunting, dog training and more.  See huge displays from the industry�s top manufacturers and talk with factory reps for answers to your product questions.

An all-star cast that reads like a who�s who in the world of sports, entertainment and the great outdoors joins together to help Bass Pro Shops celebrate a spectacular Evening for Conservation, Wednesday, February 21st.  On hand will be NASCAR� driver Martin Truex, Jr., former Royals Hall of Famer Short Stop Freddie Patek, and several Kansas City Chiefs players including Guard Will Shields, Wide Receiver Eddie Kennison, Tackle Jordan Black, and Defensive End Jimmy Wilkerson. 

Kansas City Chiefs mascot KC Wolfe and three members of the Chiefs� cheerleaders will also make a special appearance.  Other celebrity guests include America�s favorite fisherman and TV host Jimmy Houston, �Mr. Crappie� Wally Marshall, Bass Pro Shops National Pro Team members Stacey King, Mike Webb and Gary Parsons, and 2000 Bassmaster Classic champion Woo Daves.  Miss Kansas USA 2007 Cara Gorges and Miss Kansas Teen USA 2007 Jaymie Stokes will also appear.

Words to ponder

Ever wonder how can meteorologists and other scientists

predict global warming 100 years from now when they can�t predict the weather 3 days from now?

Mayflies and Phosphorus Loading in Lake Erie

New Research from Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory

Research conducted at Ohio State�s Stone Laboratory on Lake Erie by Dr. Doug Kane, of Ashland University, and Justin Chaffin, a senior at Bowling Green State University, sheds light on a possible new source of internal phosphorus loading � mayfly nymphs.  

According to Kane�s and Chaffin�s research, mayfly nymphs, the immature stage of adult mayflies, can increase the

amount of phosphorus in the water column to 26 times the average amount. The nymphs burrow into the sediment at the bottom of Lake Erie, causing the release of phosphorus, which stimulates algae growth and is an important factor in determining water quality.

This research, conducted during the summer of 2006, is published in the latest issue of Ohio Sea Grant�s quarterly newsletter, Twine Line.     http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/publications/twineline

Lake Michigan Fishery workshop March 3rd

Michigan Sea Grant is holding its annual fishery workshop March 3rd in Spring Lake, MI.  The workshop will be held at the Barber School Community Bldg, 102 W. Exchange, Spring Lake, MI 49456.

Sea Grant agent Chuck Pistis tells us the topics to be discussed include:

+Arrival of Red Shrimp in Lake Michigan

+Brown Trout and Coho salmon Mgmt

+Avian Botulism in the Great Lakes

+VHS implications for fisheries

+Changing Lake Michigan forage base

A registration of $14 is due by February 27.  Make checks payable to: Ottawa County MSU Extension, and mail to:

Ottawa County MSU Extension

Fishery Workshop

333 Clinton St

Grand Haven, MI  49417

Commission Releases 2006 bear harvest

HARRISBURG - According to official 2006 bear harvest figures released by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hunters took a total of 3,122 bears. That included 79 bears during the first ever archery bear season, Nov. 15-16; 2,569 bears during the statewide 3-day season, Nov. 20-22; and 476 bears during the extended season, Nov. 27-Dec. 2, that was open in select areas of the state. 

This harvest ranks second only to the 2005 harvest, which set a record of 4,164 bears harvested.  Other recent harvests

were: 3,075 in 2000; 3,063 in 2001; 2,686 in 2002; 3,000 in 2003; and 2,972 in 2004.

Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist, noted that bears were taken in 52 counties. The largest bear taken was a 693-pound (estimated live weight) male taken in West Branch Township, Potter County, by John Eppinette of Adamstown on Nov. 20. In all, 11 bears taken by hunters weighed 600 pounds or more. In addition, female hunters took 55 bears and junior licensed hunters took 93 bears during all three seasons.

Conservation Congress annual county meetings April 16

Questionnaire now available on DNR Web site

MADISON � Wisconsin residents will be able to nominate and elect new local representatives to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and express support or non-support for a range of advisory questions on conservation and natural resources management issues at the congress� spring meetings held in every county on April 16 starting at 7 p.m.

Held jointly with the Department of Natural Resources Spring Wildlife and Fisheries Rule Hearings, the meetings traditionally are held on the second Monday in April. However, due to unforeseen legislative changes, this year the Spring Hearings and county meetings will be held on the third Monday in April. The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is a statutorily established advisory group to the state Natural Resources Board (NRB).

At the meetings, citizens will have the opportunity to comment and vote support or non-support for congress proposals that someday could become the rules that regulate fishing, hunting, trapping and other outdoor recreation activities in Wisconsin. They may also submit resolutions addressing conservation needs or concerns they observe.

�All citizens are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings and participate in the process,� said Kurt Thiede, DNR liaison to the Conservation Congress. �Questions posed by the congress are advisory only, but if supported, they could advance to become rule proposals at next year�s spring hearings.�

Results of the votes will be presented to the Natural Resources Board in May. If there is significant support for a proposal, the advisory question could become a DNR rules change proposal in following years.

This year the Conservation Congress will seek public input on 16 advisory questions on a range of topics.

Some of which include:

+Authority to enforce captive cervid (deer and elk) fencing requirements;

+Special license consideration for active duty military

personnel;

+Use of sharpshooters in Chronic Wasting Disease areas;

+Canada goose and duck hunting season and regulation changes;

+Licensing requirements for professional outfitters;

+Musky size limits on the Wisconsin River; and

+Catfish and northern pike regulations on the Winnebago system.

"Conservation Congress advisory questions originate from citizens with good ideas." said Ed Harvey, Chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. "If resolutions presented at the county level meetings are supported, the resolution is advanced to one of the congress' study committees and the congress executive council for consideration.

"Each year, there are approximately 80 resolutions submitted locally, not all pass, but the ones that do begin their journey to become a rule, policy or legislative change in the subsequent years," Harvey said. "It is a true grassroots process that empowers the citizens of this state to shape natural resources policy."

Anyone submitting resolutions must submit two copies of their resolution typed or neatly printed on 8 1/2 by 11 white paper.

In addition to the voting, the county meeting is also reserved for the election of delegates to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. To vote for Congress delegates, people must be 18 years old and provide identification along with proof of residency in the county.

"Any citizen of the county, who is a Wisconsin resident and is at least 18 years of age may be nominated to the congress for a two or three year term," says AnnMarie Kutzke, Wisconsin Conservation Congress Coordinator. "Nominees must be willing to volunteer their time and represent their local citizens on natural resource issues.�

A list of seats that will be up for election in 2007 is available on the Conservation Congress pages of the DNR Web site. In addition, the DNR Spring Fisheries & Wildlife Rules Hearing and Conservation Congress County Meeting Questionnaire can be downloaded from the same website.

Spring wildlife and fish rules hearings April 16

MADISON � In addition to getting taxes filed, Wisconsin residents will have another stop to make on the way home from the post office on April 16: the 2007 Spring Wildlife and Fisheries Rule Hearings, which are held annually in every county of the state.

At the hearings, people�s comments on proposed rules that regulate fishing, hunting, trapping and other outdoor recreation activities in Wisconsin are recorded. Those results, along with written comments on proposed rules, are presented to the state Natural Resources Board for their consideration in acting on the proposed rules. Votes are non-binding and are presented to the Natural Resources Board as advisory only.

Traditionally, DNR fisheries and wildlife spring rules hearings were held on the second Monday in April. However, due to unforeseen legislative changes, this year the spring hearings will be held on the third Monday in April.

The public can access the Spring Wildlife and Fisheries Rules Hearings hearing agenda and rule proposals from the Department of Natural Resources Internet site [dnr.wi.gov]. The Web site also list hearing locations for every county of the state. All hearings begin at 7 p.m.

The hearings are combined with the Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings during which, residents can introduce resolutions that if found popular, could appear on future spring rules hearing agendas.

State Natural Resources Board elects officers

MADISON � The state Natural Resources Board has elected Dr. Christine Thomas as chair for 2007. Also elected were Jonathan Ela as vice chair and John Welter as secretary. The board conducted elections at its Jan. 24 meeting in Madison.

Thomas is Dean of the College of Natural Resources and professor of resource management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the largest undergraduate program of its kind in the United States. In addition to her role as a university educator, Thomas developed a program that teaches women outdoor skills, �Becoming an Outdoors-Woman.� Thomas has received numerous awards for her educational and conservation pursuits, including Educator of the Year by Safari Club International and Woman of the Year by the American Sportfishing Association. Thomas was appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle to serve on the Board through May 1, 2009.

Jonathan Ela, Board Vice-Chair, is a conservationist, retired from multiple regional and national positions with the Sierra

Club. He also served on the staff of then U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, helping to establish the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and protecting the St. Croix River under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. He was appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle.

John �Duke� Welter, Board Secretary, is an attorney in Eau Claire Wisconsin. Welter has served as chapter president, state council chair, and national trustee of Trout Unlimited; and as a member of the Eau Claire County delegation to the Conservation Congress. Welter has been actively involved in state conservation issues including groundwater protection. He was twice appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle and will serve on the Board through May 1, 2011.

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board sets policy for the Department of Natural Resources. Current members of the Board are Christine Thomas, Plover; Jonathan Ela, Madison; John Welter, Eau Claire; Gerald O�Brien, Stevens Point; Howard Poulson, Palmyra; Dave Clausen, Amery; and Jane Wiley, Wausau.

Free turkey hunter education clinics offered statewide

Clinics begin in February and run through early April

MADISON -- Free Turkey Hunter Education Clinics are being offered again this year around the state. These free clinics are presented by volunteer instructors, and are sponsored by the Wisconsin DNR and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Clinics are designed to help hunters brush-up on skills and learn new techniques to help hunt the elusive wild turkey. Clinics typically last two-and-half to three hours and are 

designed to cover turkey biology and behavior, hunting methods, regulations, safety precautions, hunter/landowner ethics, scoring trophy birds, and a few ideas on preparing turkeys at home.

These clinics will be held February through early April. Information on where and when clinics are being held is available on the DNR Web site and at DNR Service Centers or by calling (608) 261-8458. For the latest additions or changes in the schedule please refer to the DNR Web site