"I, like many natives of Upstate New York, grew up in a hunting family and own a gun. I learned at an early age how to safely handle a gun and I believe that every law-abiding citizen should always have the right to own arms."

     That is how Congresswoman Kirsten E. Gillibrand begins her statement regarding the Second Amendment on her government Web site. As New York Governor David A. Paterson's choice to fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's senate seat, Gillibrand will be sworn in January 27 as the Empire State's new junior senator. Congresswoman Gillibrand's issues statement continues: 

   "In September 2007, I introduced a resolution to make Hunting and Fishing Day -- the 4th Saturday in September -- a nationally recognized holiday. I have also cosponsored a resolution to recognize hunters for their continued commitment to safety.

   "In Congress, I have also sponsored measures to protect and open up more federal land for conservation programs that will promote and allow hunters and fishermen to enjoy their passion for the outdoors." 

     While she's also supported the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Improvement Act and has spoken of her belief in common ground, combine the statements above with the Congresswoman's A-rating from the NRA and I'm all ears. Of course, I'd love to know what kind of hunting she grew up with and what kind of gun she owns (I'm working it). As much as I want to think of Ms. Gillibrand as someone at least approaching the real thing, there's much to be learned about this little-known democrat. 

     Also, a piece of blog business: despite appearances the 2008/09 season Gear Giveaway is not yet over! Some of the changes associated with this shiny new site have gummed up the Giveaway works a bit. But I had a winner chosen last Friday, who will now be announced this week. In the meantime, the swearing in a new pro-gun U.S. Senator can be your reward! -K.H. 

I was planning to do a post on that most charming of SHOT Show phenomena, the Booth Babes (because, really, the women hunters blog can't leave that discussion to the men). But considering that it's Inauguration Day 2009, I can't imagine blogging about anything other than the 44th President of the United States.

     We've talked about now President Barack Obama on the blog before, and I realize his support among our readers is divided at best. But while the post-inauguration news analysis examines everything from the President's rhetoric to the First Lady's wardrobe, I thought we'd cut through the banter and revisit what then Senator Obama told Field & Stream editor-in-chief Anthony Licata during a 2007 campaign interview.

     Asked if he supported the Supreme Court's ruling on gun rights, Mr. Obama replied that, "the Second Amendment is an individual right," and added, "I am very mindful of the fact that sportsmen in America may have gone hunting with their fathers, their grandfathers, their mothers, their grandmothers, and that this is part of a tradition and a way of life that has to be preserved. And there's nothing that I will do as president of the United States that will in any way encroach on the ability of sportsmen to continue that tradition."

     On a lighter note, when asked about his own outdoors pursuits, Mr. Obama said that most of his fishing experiences were confined to his childhood growing up in Hawaii. But he also mentioned that he loved hiking and was considering some post-election plans: 

     "One of the pleasures of being a presidential candidate has been traveling all across the country, and we spent quite a bit of time in Montana recently. And I've got to say that I am absolutely certain that one way or another, after this presidential process is over, whether -- because I lose or because I win -- and I've got a little vacation time coming, I'm going to learn how to fly fish, because that land is spectacular." 

     Until that day when the 44th President does have time to pick up a fly rod, I hope he'll protect the waters and lands cherished by the sportsmen who currently do. Among other rights that certainly need protecting. -K.H. 

First of all, welcome to the new FSHuntress page on the new Field & Stream site! I apologize for the brief "service outage" while we got switched over, but we're back in the saddle now. I'd say these are certainly brighter and more spacious quarters than our old ones, so I think we'll settle in here just fine. 

Now, onto the news, where this National Geographic article is reporting on a study that found hunting to "speed up" evolution in game species such as bighorn sheep and caribou, resulting in smaller animals. 

The study, led by Chris Darimont, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, looked at 29 mammal, fish, and plant species that are hunted or harvested by humans. It found that the rate of evolution among what it collectively termed "harvested organisms" was 300 percent faster than in "natural" systems. In addition, trends toward smaller body size occurred 50 percent faster due to hunting than as a result of other human-caused factors like habitat destruction and pollution. Among bighorn sheep in particular, body and horn sizes were found to have declined by 20 percent over the past three decades.

The study is clear that these evolutionary changes are brought about more by human hunters than other stressors such as pollution or habitat loss. The story also pointed out that humans hunt at a higher rate than other predators such as sharks or wolves. It's little surprise, then, that the paper's lead author calls for a decrease in trophy hunting, which removes larger animals from a population's gene pool. 

Now I'm no trophy hunter, but of course I'd be lying if I didn't say I at least 'tended towards' larger animals. And I'm certainly no scientist. But I'm interested in the assertion that hunting outperforms environmental stressors like pollution and habitat loss when it comes to altering the evolutionary patterns of certain game species. That's quite a claim. And if it's true, what's to be done about it? More regulations? Or do we need to look at a few more studies? K.H. 

     The Giveaway is back after a holiday break, and our first winner of 2009 is reader "Sarah M.!"  She's relatively new to the blog, but from her comments on her black Lab and Shih Tzu to her four-in-one New Year's resolution plan, she's contributed a lot to almost all our recent conversations. 

     Sarah will be receiving the very cool combo prize of broadheads from Muzzy and scents 
from Tink's.