--Chad Love

In response to a large turnout at its latest meeting, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will not close the sage grouse season in NE Wyoming.

From this story in the Casper Star Tribune:

Despite recent declines in sage grouse in northeast Wyoming, a three-day hunting season will continue this fall. Dozens of people came to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission meeting Wednesday protesting a proposal to close the sage grouse hunting season in northeast Wyoming. After hours of debate, largely from falconers and other groups, the commission ultimately voted to keep the season open. Game and Fish biologists proposed closing the season because of declines in the population and because some members of the public worry hunting a species that could be placed on the endangered species list isn’t a good idea, said Tom Christiansen, sage grouse program coordinator for Game and Fish.

--Chad Love

Outside of animal rights organizations that routinely block attempts to control or eliminate it, you won't find many fans of the mute swan, an invasive species that adversely affects native waterfowl and shorebird populations wherever it spreads. It's an altogether nasty, ill-tempered and destructive bird. But now it appears you can add murder to its list of negative attributes.

From this bizarre story on abcnews.com:

An angry swan is being blamed for knocking a man out of his kayak in a Chicago pond and then continuing to attack until the man drowned. Anthony Hensley, 37, of Villa Park, Ill., worked for a company called Knox Swan & Dog which used swans and dogs to keep geese off the condominum’s properties.

--Chad Love

The state of Wisconsin is currently embroiled in a debate over sandhill crane hunting, but according to numbers released by the state department of natural resources, Wisconsin residents overwhelmingly support the idea.

From this story in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Outdoor lovers overwhelmingly endorsed the idea of hunting sandhill cranes, according to a tally state wildlife officials released Wednesday. The Wisconsin Conservation Congress asked everyone who attended its annual statewide spring hearings Monday whether they support a sandhill season. Attendees approved the idea by more than a 2-1 margin, according to a count the state Department of Natural Resources released Wednesday afternoon.

--Chad Love

Remember last month, when the EPA was petitioned (once again) to ban lead ammo and fishing tackle? Well, guess what? The EPA has (once again) rejected the petition...
 
From this story on infozine.com:
 
The Environmental Protection Agency today rejected a request for federal regulation of toxic lead in hunting ammunition, again abdicating its responsibility to protect the environment from toxic substances. Earlier this year, 150 organizations in 38 states petitioned the EPA for federal rules requiring use of nontoxic bullets and shot for hunting and shooting sports to protect public health and prevent the lead poisoning of millions of birds, including bald eagles and endangered condors.