By Chad Love

Youth deer hunting in Ohio is growing, thanks to an apprentice program that lifts age restrictions for young hunters-to-be.

From this story on the Coshocton Tribune:
Deer hunting isn't just for the adults. More youths have been getting into the swing of things, learning their way around tree stands , the finer points of tracking and how much pull to expect on their gun or bow. For 14-year-old Lyndsie Rizzolo, hunting is becoming old hat after five years of bagging deer with her father, Scott. Hunting on her grandfather Lyndie Slaughter's farm outside of Warsaw, the younger Rizzolo passed her hunter safety course and got her first license at age 9, then got her first kill, a doe, the next year.

"Ohio is pretty much a new hunter-friendly state because we don't have a lot of barriers like age restrictions that other states do," said Susie Vance, spokeswoman with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Southeast District. In 2005, Ohio started the Families Afield Program, which allows youth to hunt through an apprentice license program with a licensed adult until they are ready to tackle the hunter safety course.

By Chad Love

Some Montana hunters are questioning a state study to to look at shooting brucellosis-infected elk.

From this story in the Helena Independent Record:
A study that could end with the state-sanctioned killing of elk infected with brucellosis in Montana is raising concerns among some Helena hunters. The Helena Hunters and Anglers are holding a meeting on Dec. 1 and have asked two Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks representatives to explain the five-year program, which is slated to begin at the end of January. “We just want to get it all on top of the table and start talking about some things,” said Jim Posewitz. “We haven’t seen an EA (environmental assessment) of this thing, and it seems like it’s been kind of a stealth effort. They’re not keeping it a secret, but they’re not publicizing it in front of people.”

By Chad Love

Defenders and opponents of a proposed Nevada black bear hunt are sharpening their legal pencils over the coming battle to get a bear season approved.

From this story on theunion.com:
Some regional wildlife advocates are gathering petitions and urging state officials to reject the legalizing of black bear hunting for the first time in Nevada's nearly 150-year history. The Nevada Wildlife Commission — composed of representatives from throughout the state and governing the Nevada Department of Wildlife — meets Dec. 3-4 in Reno. A hearing to consider legalizing black bear hunting is scheduled for Dec. 4. Nevada is home to 200 to 300 bears along the eastern Sierra, according to NDOW, with most in the Carson Range on Lake Tahoe's East Shore. There also are an unknown number of bears in the Wassuk and Sweetwater ranges to the south.

By Chad Love

In a move that shocked absolutely no one, three groups have filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency after the EPA denied the groups' petition to ban lead in fishing tackle and ammunition.

From this story in the Los Angeles Times:
Three environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to force it to prevent lead poisoning of wildlife from spent ammunition and lost fishing tackle. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court by the Center for Biological Diversity, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the hunters group Project Gutpile. It comes after the EPA denied their petition to ban lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle, which the groups say kills 10 million to 20 million birds and other animals a year by lead poisoning. "The EPA has the ability to protect America's wildlife from ongoing preventable lead poisoning, but continues to shirk its responsibility," said Jeff Miller, conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity.