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Wyoming Tribe wins right to hunt

Bald Eagles

A recent ruling by the federal government has granted a Wyoming tribe the right to kill two bald eagles for a religious ceremony. Native Americans are calling this a victory for American Indian sovereignty.

On March 9 the Northern Arapaho Tribe was granted a permit allowing it to either kill or capture and release two bald eagles this year.

Conservation groups have questioned why the Arapaho

tribal members can�t meet its religious needs without

killing wild eagles, citing the tribe�s capacity to raise captive birds, substitute feathers, or use an eagle that died of natural causes in their ceremonies.

According to Harvey Spoonhunter, a tribal elder and former chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council, eagle hunting �has been since the beginning of time with us, and we respectfully utilize the eagle in our ceremonies. We get to use the eagle, which we consider a message to the Creator.�

Bald eagles were removed the endangered species list in 2007.

Brite-Strike Tactical Blue-Dot Light

For Law Enforcement, safety, security

Brite-Strike Tactical Blue-Dot tactical LED flashlights were designed by police officers for police officers. The body is CNC machine milled from a single billet of high grade aerospace aluminum. The proprietary black anodized finish exceeds Mil Spec class two type III. The unique tri-sided body is more ergonomic for better gripping.

The front crenelated strike crown is blunted and the rear crown is more aggressive for maximum effectiveness in applying pressure point control techniques. The pocket clip is specifically designed for line officers and is reversed from other tactical lights. The clip features a greater clearance for lighting fast draws from either a BDU pocket, duty belt, or six pocket police pant. It also allows for quick mounting on a uniform epaulet, and quick removal when needed. The beam is a brilliant white light with a wider �spread� for a flood effect, which illuminates the entire area of a vehicle on a motor vehicle stop.

The Tactical Blue Dot series was designed to have features that a patrol officer needs, such as the tri-sided barrel design for a more ergonomic grip, front and rear tri-strike-crown, provides maximum impact for pressure point and weapon retention techniques.  The Tactical Blue Dot can be turned on and all modes accessed using a single

finger or thumb on one hand, thus meeting our definition of a true �Tactical Flashlight�.

The patented hi-tech HLS (Hi/Lo/Strobe) "Tactical Touch" switch design allows the operator to turn the light on with a full click on, then allows the user to rapidly and silently move to low then strobe, then back to high. The switch has six chips to perform these functions, and is protected from damage by being slightly recessed within the crenelated crown. As today�s LED�s are nearly indestructible, it is the chips in the light and end cap that are prone to damage causing a light to fail.

Specifics Include:

Output: up to 220 lumens / Lo-90 Lumens

Switch: High/Low/Strobe

LED Life: 100,000 hours

Runtime: Hi-(2.5 Hours)

Runtime: Lo-(8+ Hours) Strobe-(3 Hours

Length: 5.2 inches

Ballistic Nylon Holster (included)

Ergonomic Grip

Other models/variations available

About $250.00

508-746-8701  www.brite-strike.com

[email protected]

All Purpose Adhesive Light Strips

With active Illumination technology � for safety

All Purpose Adhesive Light Strips (APALS are a super thin LED light/battery unit that comes in five visible colors and true IR (Infrared).

APALS with Active Illumination Reflective Technology, is a micro-thin LED light strip that operates in three modes; fast strobe, slow strobe and steady on.

They are waterproof and shockproof. They're great for hiking, jogging, cycling, water sports, motorcycles, coming home late at night from the train station, or even walking

the dog, as they can be seen from up to 1/4 mile. They are

1" x 2.5" and they have a heavy duty adhesive back that can be placed anywhere, e.g. on the back of running shoes, on a running shirt, life jacket, helmet, or hat.

APALS and APALS-AIR will revolutionize the way we keep our military, public safety workers, and the public safe at night.  They have an operation time of 35+ hours.

About $12.00 per 4-pak

508-746-8701   www.brite-strike.com

[email protected]

New National Ocean Policy Draws Criticism from Sportfishing Community in House Hearing

Industry is concerned that the planning process will place more restrictions on recreational fishing

Alexandria, VA � March 22, 2012 - Responding to the administration�s intention to establish a new national policy to manage the nation�s ocean territory and the Great Lakes, today the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs held a hearing titled �Empty Hooks: The National Ocean Policy is the Latest Threat to Access for Recreational and Commercial Fishermen� to address how this new policy will impact recreational fishing�s access to our public waters.

Gary Zurn, senior vice-president of Big Rock Sports, LLC, headquartered in North Carolina, testified about the growing concern within the recreational fishing community about how increased fishing restrictions, regulations and closures, and the further uncertainty about the National Ocean Policy will impact the industry and the nation�s 13 million saltwater anglers. Zurn serves on the American Sportfishing Association�s (ASA) Board of Directors and is the Chairman of its Government Affairs Saltwater Committee.

�I�m here today to not only represent my company and our fifteen thousand outdoor sporting goods retailers, but also the millions of recreational anglers across the nation who are facing increasingly complex and restrictive fishing regulations, rising gas prices and unprecedented new threats to fishing access, particularly in our marine waters,� said Zurn in his testimony before Congress. �Fisheries and public waters are being closed at an alarming rate, and this has made the recreational fishing community increasingly sensitive to efforts to restrict our access to public lands and waters. Rather than providing an opportunity to expand and promote recreational fishing, anglers cannot help but view the National Ocean Policy, particularly the Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning process, as another effort to make public resources inaccessible to the people who help pay for their management and conservation.�

On July 19, 2010, President Obama issued an Executive Order to establish a new national ocean policy for conserving and managing the United States ocean territory and the Great Lakes. Of particular interest to the recreational fishing community is a call within the National Ocean Policy for Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning, a process of planning where and how uses can take place in the ocean and Great Lakes. Since the release of this

policy, ASA and others in the recreational fishing and

boating community have continuously expressed concerns about how recreational access will be treated in the planning process. Despite continued comments by ASA and the recreational fishing community, the policy does not adequately acknowledge the important economic, social and conservation values of recreational fishing.

�Over the past two years, the recreational fishing and boating community has provided substantial input to the administration advocating that the social, economic, public health and conservation benefits of sustainable recreational use of our nation�s public resources receive priority consideration in the new coastal and ocean management policy,� said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. �Closing our public resources to recreational activities can have a devastating impact on businesses and livelihoods that are dependent on those activities. We need to ensure that our public resources remain open for American families to experience these recreational pursuits consistent with conservation goals and with the administration�s America�s Great Outdoors initiative.�

Zurn cited areas such as California�s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and Biscayne National Park, the nation�s largest urban recreation area located in Miami, Fla., where unwarranted no-fishing zones have been proposed despite strong opposition from the recreational fishing community. Through the MLPA process, California has placed hundreds of square miles of the state�s most productive coastal waters off limits to recreational fishing through a spatial planning process. Zurn urged the administration to avoid this when contemplating coastal and marine spatial planning on a national level.

�It is our hope that the administration will assure that ocean planning will not result in more fishing closures, but rather follow the lead of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington State which elevated the status of recreational fishing in their planning processes. We do not want to see the administration follow the contentious and unproductive path that California has taken,� concluded Zurn.

The most recent National Ocean Policy planning document � the Draft Implementation Plan � is open for public comment through March 28, 2012. The American Sportfishing Association is calling on its members and anyone interested in the future of ocean resources management, to review the plan and provide comments before the deadline. Click here to view comments recently submitted by ASA and six other leading national recreational fishing and boating groups on the Draft Implementation Plan

Coast Guard changes how Mariners Activate Radio-controlled Fog Signals

The Coast Guard announced a change to the marine radio frequency that mariners must use to activate fog signals on navigable waterways of the Great Lakes.  Until the change takes effect on July 1, mariners are advised to use both the new and the old frequency.

Since the 1990s, mariners encountering decreased visibility have been able to activate fog signals on certain aids-to-navigation by tuning their marine radios to VHF-FM channel 79A (156.975 MHz) and keying their microphone

five times.  Doing so activates the fog signals, allowing

mariners to locate and identify the aids when they are hard to see, which results in safer transit.  The channel used for this purpose is being changed to channel 83A (157.175 MHz).

Mariners who wish to activate fog signals should key their microphones on both channels until July 1, when they should only do so on channel 83A.  This change is being made to shift radio traffic from channel 79A, a commercial channel, to channel 83A, a frequency owned and operated by the Coast Guard.

Great Lakes Water Levels for March 23, 2012 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

A week ago, tornadoes touched down in the Great Lakes basin.  Storms dropped heavy precipitation, including damaging hail in some areas.  Through the week, record high temperatures were reached in the Great Lakes basin for this time of year, with multiple locations seeing temperatures over 40 degrees warmer than average.  Chances of scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecasted from now through Saturday.  Temperatures are expected to drop 10 to 20 degrees by Sunday, but still remain above seasonal averages.

LAKE LEVEL CONDITIONS

Currently, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are 2 and 7 inches, respectively, higher than they were last year.  Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 4, 10, and 9 inches, respectively, higher than a year ago.  Over the next thirty days, Lakes Superior and Michigan Huron are projected to rise 2 and 4 inches, respectively, from their current levels.  The water level of Lake St. Clair is forecasted to increase 3 inches over the next month, while the water levels of Lakes Erie and Ontario are each expected to rise 1 inch.  See our Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

FORECASTED MONTHLY OUTFLOWS/CHANNEL CONDITIONS

Lake Superior's outflow through the St. Marys River is projected to be below average for the month of March.  Lake Huron's outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow from Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River are expected to be near average throughout the month of March.  Lake Erie's outflow through the Niagara River and the outflow of

Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River are both predicted to be above average in March.

ALERTS

The water level of Lake Superior is below chart datum and is forecasted to remain below chart datum until July.  The water level of Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to be near or slightly below chart datum through March.  Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings. 

Anglers Provide Insight to Improve Ohio River Fishery

Survey will be conducted with anglers in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia

COLUMBUS, OH � A river-wide creel survey of Ohio River anglers will be conducted this summer and fall to determine the effort anglers dedicate to fishing in the Ohio River, the types of fish anglers are catching and the numbers of each species that are caught and harvested.  

The cooperative survey is being conducted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources� (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR).

Surveys began on March 18 and will continue through Oct. 20. Creel clerks will be stationed at various fishing areas and boat ramps on both sides of the Ohio River from the Ohio-Indiana state border to the New Cumberland Lock and Dam. 

Anglers that encounter a creel clerk will be asked a series of questions relating to their current and previous fishing 

trips, fishing habits and their attitudes and opinions about issues affecting Ohio River fisheries. The interview will take approximately five minutes, and anglers are encouraged to participate in this survey to provide information needed to enhance fishing opportunities. 

Understanding what anglers are catching and trying to catch is essential to the effective management of the Ohio River fishery. Information collected by creel clerks will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations, assess stocking and better understand why anglers fish the Ohio River and what they expect from their fishing experiences. ODNR, WVDNR and KDFWR will work together to complete this study to determine how to better meet the needs of Ohio River anglers.

Fisheries in the Ohio River along the Ohio border are managed cooperatively through agreements between Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at www.ohiodnr.com.