conservation

The Sportsmen’s Loss: Planned Budget Cuts Threaten Conservation Programs

Sarah Smith — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:29:00 -0400

by Bob Marshall

Devastating.

That’s the word many conservation leaders use to describe the impact of dramatic budget cuts some in Congress are proposing for programs that benefit fish, wildlife, and sportsmen.

In its rush to reduce the national debt, the same forces in the House that took a sudden ax to these programs last spring are pushing for an additional $4.7 billion in cuts to Agriculture and Interior and Environment appropriations for 2012. Those funds are applied to programs that directly benefit land, water, and wildlife.

“Much of the progress we’ve made over the last decade or so will be in jeopardy,” says Dale Hall, president of Ducks Unlimited. “And the real tragedy is most of these cuts are to programs that actually add revenue to the Treasury—so they actually help reduce the deficit, not add to it.

“Anyone who cares about hunting and fishing had better get involved in this fight.”

Here are six of the most damaging cuts sportsmen are facing.

Natural Gas Drilling Threatens Trout in Pennsylvania (and Other Appalachian States)

Online Editors — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:55:57 -0400

Western sportsmen have been dealing with the ramifications of natural gas extraction for years, but now Eastern sportsmen need to brace for impact. Widespread gas drilling is hitting Appalachia, and unless environmental regulations and enforcement catch up with the drilling, there could be major damage to world-class trout water, from small mountain streams to the Delaware River.

Five Crucial Conservation Goals for Sportsmen

Online Editors — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:15:05 -0400

When I was in college years ago, one of my professors used a simple but very effective symbol to illustrate the urgency underlying conservation issues that involve public lands: He lit a candle.

The candle represented public land; the flame represented the forward march of development. The longer the flame burned, the more land was consumed. So the longer we debated the issues, the more we lost.

Darting Rocky Mountain Bighorns In Arizona

fieldandstream-editor — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 04:00:00 -0500

Bears, Moose, Caribou, and More: Selected trophies from the Boone and Crockett books

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 06:15:00 -0400

Exclusive Interview: H. Dale Hall, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 04:05:00 -0500

F&S:Should hunters be expecting more or less access to public land?
Hall: One of my concerns is the future of hunting and the ability to recruit young hunters. With the cost of leases going up, public lands become extremely important, and we need to do everything possible to open up all opportunities for hunting so that we can make sure that it's not an elite sport 50 years from now.

F&S: On that topic of hunter recruitment, what can be done at the federal level?
Hall: Our role is to work with the major hunting and fishing organizations, and arms, ammunition, and fishing tackle manufacturers, and also with the state game and fish agencies. It's critical to reach the next generation and have them understand the aspects of hunting that go beyond shooting a gun. To a lot of people, the outdoors is a cathedral; it's their place to commune. Hunting is just one avenue for that to happen, but it's one that we can't afford to lose. If we get young people interested in hunting, then we can preserve more natural habitat in the United States.

F&S: As you assumed the directorship, what was No. 1 on your agenda?
Hall: I have priority issues in each of our programs. For example, in fisheries, the National Fisheries Habitat Initiative is super important to us. In endangered species, finding some clarity and consistency in how we approach the law and getting some better definitions. In refuges, getting some better guidance out on our policies to make sure that we give every opportunity to hunters and fishermen.

But the most important thing that I'll want to do is to strengthen our roots in conservation. The Fish and Wildlife Service for over 130 years has been a conservation organization. And I really appreciate the hunters and fishermen of the United States as being staunch conservationists. We are where we are today because of them. They're the only group I've known to ask to be taxed so that they can contribute to natural resources. They started off asking for the duck stamp, then they asked for sport fish and wildlife restoration programs that now generate up to $700 million a year.

F&S: What's a typical hunting season like for you?
Hall: Well, it fluctuates, but let's go through the fall of '04. I started off dove season in Arizona having those little birds embarrass me. Then I had a wonderful duck hunting trip in Oklahoma. My favorite way to hunt ducks is to wade out about waist-deep and behind a tree, put the decoys out there. After that I went quail hunting in New Mexico. Actually right before that I killed a 274-pound wild boar. The last thing was an elk hunt. Now, I scheduled three turkey hunts in there that got cancelled because of business. But this past September, I killed an oryx down on the White Sands Missile Range. Then in October I went pheasant hunting in South Dakota.

F&S: Not a bad year. What do you enjoy the most?
Hall: I just love duck hunting in bottomland hardwoods.

F&S: Anyone you'd like to hunt or fish with?
Hall: Chuck Yeager. He epitomizes for me the roll-up-your-sleeves-and-earn-your-way-through attitude.

The Interview Outtakes
When we spoke with Dale Hall a few months after he'd been named head of the USFWS, we couldn't fit all of his comments into our March 2006 issue. Here's the balance of that interview.

F&S: What do you think the Federal Government's role should be in the containment of CWD?
Hall: Well, we've been fairly involved with the International Associaation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which is the representative group of all the state game and fish agencies. Since the deer, elk, and other animals that tend to be impacted by CWD are really state species, our role is to support each state in any way that we can. How they'd like us to work with them varies from state to state, but we're there to assist them in managing issues within the states that are under their jurisdiction.

F&S: How high is the issue of exploding wolf populations on the USFWS' priority list?
Hall: It's very high on our list. We were extremely disappointed with the Oregon decision where we were moving to down-list and de-list certain populations of the gray wolf, and turn it over to the management of the state where it should be when populations are healthy. That court case stopped all of that, which means that we have to continue to work even harder with the states in the interim to reach a solution.

Finding the proper balance between predator-prey relationships is really important. When you've had a species in the environment that for a long time didn't have one of its predators, then we reintroduce that predator, there has to be a new equilibrium that is reached between predator and prey. If we can't manage and control the predator populations, the prey populations are the first to suffer. So we're very concerned about that, and we're working in every way that we can with the states to get that under control.

F&S:On a related issue, do you see wolves and grizzly bears coming off the endangered species list?
Hall: Well, for the grizzly bear we have proposed a re-classification to make Yellowstone a distinct population segment and to propose its de-listing. And to me, that sends a very positive message that by working in cooperation with all of the groups that were involved in the Yellowstone experience, we can reach a point in the future where we can take the bear completely off the list. I'm optimistic that we can do that. And I'm optimistic about the wolf for the same reasons.

F&S: Growing up hunting and fishing in Kentucky, did you always set out to make a career out of your love of the outdoors?
Hall: You know, no I didn't. After I got out of the air force and went back to college, I was actually pre-dental-I was going to be a dentist. And along the way I took a fisheries course, and realized that that's what I really wanted to do, and I shifted. And I think that it was my background and foundation in the rural environment I grew up in that subliminally told me that that's what I would be happy doing, and it wasn't wrong. I've absolutely enjoyed my entire career.

F&S: Are your kids growing up into outdoorsmen?
Hall: Oh yes, they're pretty outdoorsy. I have 2 daughters and a son. My son probably is-it's kind of hard for me to accept-but he might be more fanatical about hunting and fishing than I am. My daughters enjoy going outdoors, they enjoy fishing, they haven't grasped hunting so much, but they appreciate hunting. And they sure like to eat the game.

Conservation Tip: Yule Catch More Fish

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 04:10:00 -0500

Don't throw away your Christmas tree at the end of the holidays. Drag it onto the ice along with some hardwood limbs broken off during winter storms.

This brushpile will sink in the spring, providing gamefish with cover and forage, and you with a secret honey hole.

TIPS:

Never drop hardwood limbs that still have their leaves, which collect silt the way a Hoover collects dust.
Cut branches from your Christmas tree to supply gamefish with holes to hide in.
Use large limbs, and make sure branches stick up at angles so that cover will extend upward from the bottom for several feet.
Bundle trees and limbs together with rope and attach it to a cinder block or two to keep them from drifting out of position.

Note: This practice isn't legal in every state.

Conservation Tip: Yule Catch More Fish

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 04:10:00 -0500

Don't throw away your Christmas tree at the end of the holidays. Drag it onto the ice along with some hardwood limbs broken off during winter storms.
This brushpile will sink in the spring, providing gamefish with cover and forage, and you with a secret honey hole.
TIPS:

Never drop hardwood limbs that still have their leaves, which collect silt the way a Hoover collects dust.
Cut branches from your Christmas tree to supply gamefish with holes to hide in.
Use large limbs, and make sure branches stick up at angles so that cover will extend upward from the bottom for several feet.
Bundle trees and limbs together with rope and attach it to a cinder block or two to keep them from drifting out of position.

Note: This practice isn't legal in every state.

The Charity Chart

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 06:10:00 -0500

Half of all private donations are made at this time of year, and there are plenty of sportsmen's conservation groups that know how to make good use of the help. Charity Navigator, which evaluates and maintains ratings on more than 5,000 charities, notes that "conservation groups promoting the protection of wildlife and game lands for hunters and fishermen operate more efficiently than the average charitable group." Of the 14 hunting and fishing groups that the watchdog organization reviews, these 11 received the highest ratings.

United Anglers of Southern California
Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 88
Total Budget: $912,219
Who They Are: Works to restore California's fisheries and marine resources. Founded 1996; 40,000 members.
U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation
Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 86
Total Budget: $1,528,504
Who They Are: Protects conservation programs and the pursuits of hunting, fishing, and trapping. Founded 1978; 35,000 contributors.
Pheasants Forever
Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 91
Total Budget: $26,012,363
Who They Are: Enhances and protects pheasant and other wildlife populations in North America. Founded 1982; 100,000 members.
Quail Unlimited
Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 91
Total Budget: $9,086,372
Who They Are: Helps support the wise management of America's wild quail populations. Founded 1981; 50,000 members.
Ruffed Grouse Society
Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 90
Total Budget: $3,160,177
Who They Are: Improves habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other forest wildlife. Founded 1961; 23,000 members.
Ducks Unlimited
Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 86
Total Budget: $182,989,127
Who They Are: Manages and restores wetlands and other habitats for North America's waterfowl. Founded 1937; 600,000 members.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 89
Total Budget: $35,963,202
Who They Are: Ensures the future of wild, free-ranging elk, other wildlife, and their habitat. Founded 1984; 130,000 members.
Trout Unlimited
Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 74
Total Budget: $13,924,667
Who They Are: Conserves North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. Founded 1959; 125,000 members.
California Waterfowl Association
Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 84
Total Budget: $7,463,205
Who They Are: Supports California's waterfowl, wetlands, and waterfowling heritage. Founded 1945; 150,000 members.
Delta Waterfowl Foundation
Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 76
Total Budget: $3,551,281
Who They Are: Works for a sustainable waterfowl population by supporting education in ecological sciences. Founded 1938; 40,000 members.
National Wild Turkey Federation
Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars
Percent of budget spent on conservation: 91
Total Budget: $28,429,126
Who They Are: Dedicated to the conservation of wild turkeys and the preservation of the hunting tradition. Founded 1973; 500,000 members.

Hurricane Aid It's been only three months since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, but it will be a long time before the Gulf Coast fully recovers from the impact. These two area sportsmen's organizations are still accepting donations to relief funds they've set up for those affected in the hunting or fishing industry.
The Houston Big Game Fishing Club
Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
281-326-0209, info@hbgfc.com
To help individuals and groups in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama directly involved in the big-game fishing industry who have suffered the impact of Hurricane Katrina on their lives and livelihoods.
Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association
LWAA Disaster Relief Fund
337-577-2171 dmoore@wlf.louisiana.gov
To help wildlife agents who have been affected by the hurricane, including 13 who lost their homes. Most were rescuing victims while their own properties were being destroyed.