By Dave Hurteau & Chad Love

By now you’ve probably heard that Mike Iaconelli was disqualified from the 2006 Citgo Bassmaster Classic on Friday shortly after bringing two dead fish to the weigh in. Here are the details.

According to the story below, an ESPN video shows that upon finding the dead fish in his livewell, Ike lost his cool, destroyed a running light, and swore a blue streak in front of spectators.
"Once we saw the videotape, it didn't take long to make the decision," said a tournament official. Ike sees it differently, though, saying, "I totally feel like I'm targeted. I totally feel like I'm being sabotaged here.” Whatever the case, this is the second time Ioconelli has been disqualified from the Classic--an unofficial tournament record.
http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16205752&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512560&rfi=6

By Dave Hurteau & Chad Love

Since the Bush Administration announced it’s latest plan to sell off federal lands (see http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2006/02/21/news/01burns.txt), a diverse group of academics, environmentalists, individual hunters and fishermen, and sportsmen’s groups are lining up to oppose it. It’s not just the loss of public land that bothers them, but also what many see as a frightening precedent of selling off our national heritage to pay for budget shortfalls.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/OPINION/602260308
http://sltrib.com/utah/ci_3548948

By Dave Hurteau & Chad Love

Since 2001, when the sage plains of western Wyoming’s Pinedale region teemed with game, the Bureau of Land Management--our nation’s primary caretaker of public land and wildlife--has overseen the area’s transformation into one of the most productive and profitable natural gas fields on federal lands. But mule deer, sage grouse, and pronghorn numbers have plummeted.

What are BLM wildlife biologists doing about it? Filing more gas-drilling permits, according to this Washington Post story, and with the hearty support of the Bush Administration and some members of Congress. For a revealing look at how energy production on public lands affects wildlife, check out the full story below.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/21/AR2006022101793.html

By Dave Hurteau & Chad Love

On Wednesday, the New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow hunters or other game meat buyers to go onto a farm where elk are raised, choose their animal, shoot it, and take the carcass home for meat. They are calling this “hunting.” We ask you: Is this hunting?
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/outdoors/cnhinsoutdoors_story_054125624.html