Chris Avena 's Entries

• 04 Apr 2011
  Ten Alaskan Wolves Killed for Predator Control

  State wildlife officials say a six-month effort to remove wolves considered dangerous has succeeded, with 10 of the animals killed in the Anchorage area. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — State wildlife officials say a six-month effort to remove wolves considered dangerous has succeeded, with 10 of the animals killed in the Anchorage area. Mark Burch of the Alaska Fish and Game Department estimated that four wolves remain in the area, after one died in a collision with a car that was not connected to the predator-control effort. "We believe we've mitigated the risk,'' Burch told the Anchorage Daily News. "We're not trying to eradicate wolves. We're trying to reduce the risk.'' Fish and Game officials and wildlife officers said the control efforts are necessary because of a pattern of increasingly bold wolf behavior. Last November, a man walking his dogs on base was briefly surrounded by four wolves. The predators also treed two female runners with a dog for about two hours nearly a year ago. "It's not common for wolves to become aggressive toward people, but when they do, it's a public safety issue,'' Burch said. "While wolf attacks on humans are rare, this lack of fear and aggression is the kind of behavior seen by wolves that have attacked people in the past — so we are doing what we can to minimize the risks.'' Others think the fears are overblown. Gary Gustafson, chairman of Chugach State Park Citizens' Advisory Board, has criticized the fish and game department for nearly wiping out the wolf population in a portion of the half-million-acre park. "I'm not a biologist in any way, shape or form,'' Gustafson said. "But what's troublesome to us is that the department has decided one size fits all and that the plan is to exterminate all wolves.'' Pete Panarese, another member of the board and a former state parks deputy director, agreed. "If somebody sees a wolf and it just looks at them and doesn't run away, is that grounds to shoot the wolf?'' he asked. "Sometimes wolves, when they show up, they're checking something out to see if it will go away. "They're predators, looking at you to see what you're going to do. A very small number of them keep pushing the envelope.'' Food, trash, unsecured dog food and habitation to humans tends to draw them in, Panarese added. Burch said that though the winter-long control effort is over, Fish and Game employees can still kill wolves they deem dangerous. "It's the same judgment that's involved with dealing with moose, bears and wolves on a daily basis,'' he said. "The public accepts the judgment of professionals on matters like this that involve public safety.'' State wildlife officials say a six-month effort to remove wolves considered dangerous has succeeded, with 10 of the animals killed in the Anchorage area.   ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — State wildlife officials say a six-month effort to remove wolves considered dangerous has succeeded, with 10 of the animals killed in the Anchorage area. Mark Burch of the Alaska Fish and Game Department estimated that four wolves remain in the area, after one died in a collision with a car that was not connected to the predator-control effort. "We believe we've mitigated the risk,'' Burch told the Anchorage Daily News. "We're not trying to eradicate wolves. We're trying to reduce the risk.'' Fish and Game officials and wildlife officers said the control efforts are necessary because of a pattern of increasingly bold wolf behavior. Last November, a man walking his dogs on base was briefly surrounded by four wolves. The predators also treed two female runners with a dog for about two hours nearly a year ago. "It's not common for wolves to become aggressive toward people, but when they do, it's a public safety issue,'' Burch said. "While wolf attacks on humans are rare, this lack of fear and aggression is the kind of behavior seen by wolves that have attacked people in the past — so we are doing what we can to minimize the risks.'' Others think the fears are overblown. Gary Gustafson, chairman of Chugach State Park Citizens' Advisory Board, has criticized the fish and game department for nearly wiping out the wolf population in a portion of the half-million-acre park. "I'm not a biologist in any way, shape or form,'' Gustafson said. "But what's troublesome to us is that the department has decided one size fits all and that the plan is to exterminate all wolves.'' Pete Panarese, another member of the board and a former state parks deputy director, agreed. "If somebody sees a wolf and it just looks at them and doesn't run away, is that grounds to shoot the wolf?'' he asked. "Sometimes wolves, when they show up, they're checking something out to see if it will go away. "They're predators, looking at you to see what you're going to do. A very small number of them keep pushing the envelope.'' Food, trash, unsecured dog food and habitation to humans tends to draw them in, Panarese added. Burch said that though the winter-long control effort is over, Fish and Game employees can still kill wolves they deem dangerous. "It's the same judgment that's involved with dealing with moose, bears and wolves on a daily basis,'' he said. "The public accepts the judgment of professionals on matters like this that involve public safety.''

  1339 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Ten Alaskan Wolves Killed for Predator Control

  State wildlife officials say a six-month effort to remove wolves considered dangerous has succeeded, with 10 of the animals killed in the Anchorage area. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — State wildlife officials say a six-month effort to remove wolves considered dangerous has succeeded, with 10 of the animals killed in the Anchorage area. Mark Burch of the Alaska Fish and Game Department estimated that four wolves remain in the area, after one died in a collision with a car that was not connected to the predator-control effort. "We believe we've mitigated the risk,'' Burch told the Anchorage Daily News. "We're not trying to eradicate wolves. We're trying to reduce the risk.'' Fish and Game officials and wildlife officers said the control efforts are necessary because of a pattern of increasingly bold wolf behavior. Last November, a man walking his dogs on base was briefly surrounded by four wolves. The predators also treed two female runners with a dog for about two hours nearly a year ago. "It's not common for wolves to become aggressive toward people, but when they do, it's a public safety issue,'' Burch said. "While wolf attacks on humans are rare, this lack of fear and aggression is the kind of behavior seen by wolves that have attacked people in the past — so we are doing what we can to minimize the risks.'' Others think the fears are overblown. Gary Gustafson, chairman of Chugach State Park Citizens' Advisory Board, has criticized the fish and game department for nearly wiping out the wolf population in a portion of the half-million-acre park. "I'm not a biologist in any way, shape or form,'' Gustafson said. "But what's troublesome to us is that the department has decided one size fits all and that the plan is to exterminate all wolves.'' Pete Panarese, another member of the board and a former state parks deputy director, agreed. "If somebody sees a wolf and it just looks at them and doesn't run away, is that grounds to shoot the wolf?'' he asked. "Sometimes wolves, when they show up, they're checking something out to see if it will go away. "They're predators, looking at you to see what you're going to do. A very small number of them keep pushing the envelope.'' Food, trash, unsecured dog food and habitation to humans tends to draw them in, Panarese added. Burch said that though the winter-long control effort is over, Fish and Game employees can still kill wolves they deem dangerous. "It's the same judgment that's involved with dealing with moose, bears and wolves on a daily basis,'' he said. "The public accepts the judgment of professionals on matters like this that involve public safety.'' State wildlife officials say a six-month effort to remove wolves considered dangerous has succeeded, with 10 of the animals killed in the Anchorage area.   ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — State wildlife officials say a six-month effort to remove wolves considered dangerous has succeeded, with 10 of the animals killed in the Anchorage area. Mark Burch of the Alaska Fish and Game Department estimated that four wolves remain in the area, after one died in a collision with a car that was not connected to the predator-control effort. "We believe we've mitigated the risk,'' Burch told the Anchorage Daily News. "We're not trying to eradicate wolves. We're trying to reduce the risk.'' Fish and Game officials and wildlife officers said the control efforts are necessary because of a pattern of increasingly bold wolf behavior. Last November, a man walking his dogs on base was briefly surrounded by four wolves. The predators also treed two female runners with a dog for about two hours nearly a year ago. "It's not common for wolves to become aggressive toward people, but when they do, it's a public safety issue,'' Burch said. "While wolf attacks on humans are rare, this lack of fear and aggression is the kind of behavior seen by wolves that have attacked people in the past — so we are doing what we can to minimize the risks.'' Others think the fears are overblown. Gary Gustafson, chairman of Chugach State Park Citizens' Advisory Board, has criticized the fish and game department for nearly wiping out the wolf population in a portion of the half-million-acre park. "I'm not a biologist in any way, shape or form,'' Gustafson said. "But what's troublesome to us is that the department has decided one size fits all and that the plan is to exterminate all wolves.'' Pete Panarese, another member of the board and a former state parks deputy director, agreed. "If somebody sees a wolf and it just looks at them and doesn't run away, is that grounds to shoot the wolf?'' he asked. "Sometimes wolves, when they show up, they're checking something out to see if it will go away. "They're predators, looking at you to see what you're going to do. A very small number of them keep pushing the envelope.'' Food, trash, unsecured dog food and habitation to humans tends to draw them in, Panarese added. Burch said that though the winter-long control effort is over, Fish and Game employees can still kill wolves they deem dangerous. "It's the same judgment that's involved with dealing with moose, bears and wolves on a daily basis,'' he said. "The public accepts the judgment of professionals on matters like this that involve public safety.''

  Apr 04, 2011 1339
• 04 Apr 2011
  Planned Montana Wolf Kill Clears First Federal Hurdle

  Federal officials on Monday signaled their preliminary support for a plan to kill gray wolves in western Montana that have preyed on big game herds along the Idaho border.   BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Federal officials on Monday signaled their preliminary support for a plan to kill gray wolves in western Montana that have preyed on big game herds along the Idaho border. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a draft environmental review of a Montana proposal to kill 18 of an estimated 30 wolves along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. That would include the elimination of between one and three packs in the area. A similar petition from Idaho remains pending. Wildlife advocates have challenged the states' plans in court. A proposed settlement in a related case would lift federal protections for wolves and render the challenge moot. A final decision will follow a 14-day public comment period, said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Shawn Sartorius. He did not have any further timeline for action. "On the face of it, it appears to meet the requirements we made,'' Sartorius said of Montana's plan. However, he added that officials could alter their initial inclination to approve the plan based on the public comments received. Montana wildlife officials say elk populations along the West Fork have suffered due to increasing wolf numbers. Other measures to boost elk numbers have not worked, including more hunting of other predators such as black bears and mountain lions, habitat improvements and changes in elk hunting harvest limits. An estimated 764 elk live in the area where wolves would be targeted. That compares with a population objective of 1,600 to 2,400 of the game animals, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "We want to be able to keep things in balance and, from what we can see, the only way to get there is to start managing wolves,'' said agency spokesman Ron Aasheim. Wolves have also been blamed for declining elk herds in other parts of the state, particularly around Yellowstone National Park. Aasheim said there are no current plans to submit additional petitions to kill wolves in those areas — but added that could change depending on the outcome of the proposed settlement. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula has been asked to approve the deal. Molloy has rejected prior attempts to lift protections for wolves. Four wildlife advocacy groups have objected to the settlement, saying it would put the animals at risk of widespread extermination.

  933 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Planned Montana Wolf Kill Clears First Federal Hurdle

  Federal officials on Monday signaled their preliminary support for a plan to kill gray wolves in western Montana that have preyed on big game herds along the Idaho border.   BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Federal officials on Monday signaled their preliminary support for a plan to kill gray wolves in western Montana that have preyed on big game herds along the Idaho border. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a draft environmental review of a Montana proposal to kill 18 of an estimated 30 wolves along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. That would include the elimination of between one and three packs in the area. A similar petition from Idaho remains pending. Wildlife advocates have challenged the states' plans in court. A proposed settlement in a related case would lift federal protections for wolves and render the challenge moot. A final decision will follow a 14-day public comment period, said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Shawn Sartorius. He did not have any further timeline for action. "On the face of it, it appears to meet the requirements we made,'' Sartorius said of Montana's plan. However, he added that officials could alter their initial inclination to approve the plan based on the public comments received. Montana wildlife officials say elk populations along the West Fork have suffered due to increasing wolf numbers. Other measures to boost elk numbers have not worked, including more hunting of other predators such as black bears and mountain lions, habitat improvements and changes in elk hunting harvest limits. An estimated 764 elk live in the area where wolves would be targeted. That compares with a population objective of 1,600 to 2,400 of the game animals, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "We want to be able to keep things in balance and, from what we can see, the only way to get there is to start managing wolves,'' said agency spokesman Ron Aasheim. Wolves have also been blamed for declining elk herds in other parts of the state, particularly around Yellowstone National Park. Aasheim said there are no current plans to submit additional petitions to kill wolves in those areas — but added that could change depending on the outcome of the proposed settlement. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula has been asked to approve the deal. Molloy has rejected prior attempts to lift protections for wolves. Four wildlife advocacy groups have objected to the settlement, saying it would put the animals at risk of widespread extermination.

  Apr 04, 2011 933
• 03 Apr 2011
  6 Tips For Keeping Pressure Off Bucks

  by Bob McNally If you want to shoot a big buck, you’ve got to play it cool and keep from alerting him that you’re hanging around. These six tips will help you fly under his radar.   1. Scout from long range, using high-quality binoculars and spotting scopes. This helps avoid contaminating prime buck areas with human scent. 2. Use long-range rifles with top-quality scopes, and set stands to allow for shots of 200 yards and longer. The farther from bucks and their home areas you can get, the more likely it is that you can capitalize on a mistake they might make. 3. Only hunt your best spots during optimum hunting conditions — perfect wind, cold weather, when the rut is rocking, etc. 4. Get on the trail-camera bandwagon. They allow hunters to "watch" numerous locations without setting foot on the property. 5. Move stands frequently to keep human contamination low in prime buck locations. 6. Hunt the periphery first. Especially in new hunting areas, learn from long range where to move in on a buck or choice location.

  895 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  6 Tips For Keeping Pressure Off Bucks

  by Bob McNally If you want to shoot a big buck, you’ve got to play it cool and keep from alerting him that you’re hanging around. These six tips will help you fly under his radar.   1. Scout from long range, using high-quality binoculars and spotting scopes. This helps avoid contaminating prime buck areas with human scent. 2. Use long-range rifles with top-quality scopes, and set stands to allow for shots of 200 yards and longer. The farther from bucks and their home areas you can get, the more likely it is that you can capitalize on a mistake they might make. 3. Only hunt your best spots during optimum hunting conditions — perfect wind, cold weather, when the rut is rocking, etc. 4. Get on the trail-camera bandwagon. They allow hunters to "watch" numerous locations without setting foot on the property. 5. Move stands frequently to keep human contamination low in prime buck locations. 6. Hunt the periphery first. Especially in new hunting areas, learn from long range where to move in on a buck or choice location.

  Apr 03, 2011 895
• 23 Mar 2011
  Deal Reached to Lift Wolf Protections in Two States

  Facing mounting pressure from lawmakers over gray wolves, wildlife advocates reached an agreement with the Obama administration Friday to lift protections for the species in Montana and Idaho and allow hunting.   BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Facing mounting pressure from lawmakers over gray wolves, wildlife advocates reached an agreement with the Obama administration Friday to lift protections for the species in Montana and Idaho and allow hunting. The settlement agreement — opposed by some environmentalists — is intended to resolve years of litigation that has kept wolves in the Northern Rockies shielded by the Endangered Species Act even as the population expanded dramatically. It also is meant to pre-empt action by Congress, where Western Republicans are leading efforts to strip wolves of their protections nationwide. "For too long, wolf management in this country has been caught up in controversy and litigation instead of rooted in science, where it belongs. This proposed settlement provides a path forward,'' said Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes. Court documents detailing the proposed agreement between the U.S. Department of Interior and ten conservation groups were filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Montana. If approved by a federal judge, the deal would keep the species on the endangered list at least temporarily in four states where they are considered most vulnerable: Wyoming, Oregon, Washington and Utah. And it calls for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to set up a scientific panel to re-examine wolf recovery goals calling for a minimum 300 wolves in the region _ a population size wildlife advocates criticize as inadequate. Supporters of the settlement hope that process will accelerate wolf recovery efforts in Washington and Oregon, where populations are just beginning to take hold. Wolves last century were exterminated across most of the lower 48 states. By the end of 2010, there were an estimated 1,651 wolves in the Northern Rockies following a 15-year, $30 million federal restoration effort. That program has stirred deep antipathy toward the predators among western ranchers and hunters, who are angry over livestock attacks and a recent decline in some elk herds. Court rulings blocked prior efforts by the Bush and Obama administrations to lift protections for the species. With Congress now threatening to intervene, the 10 national and local groups involved in Friday's settlement said they wanted to head off what they regard as precedent-setting legislation. They fear pending bills to delist wolves would broadly undermine the Endangered Species Act, with ramifications for imperiled fish, animals and plants nationwide. "Both the Fish and Wildlife Service and ourselves were in the middle of a political firestorm that all parties wanted to resolve,'' said Kieran Suckling of the Center for Biological Diversity, which signed onto the settlement. "The nature of a settlement is you can't get everything you want.'' Four groups that had been co-plaintiffs in the case did not agree to the settlement. That will complicate efforts to garner approval from U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula. Attorneys for Earthjustice previously represented most of the plaintiffs in the case. They withdrew this week citing "ethical obligations,'' but three of the four groups opposed to Friday's agreement already have brought on new attorneys. Western Watersheds Project executive director John Marvel said the groups agreed to the settlement "should be ashamed'' to give up the fight on wolves in the face of threats from Congress. "What we've seen is a series of politically-motivated decisions that have clearly violated the law in order to achieve a political end, and this proposed settlement is no different than that,'' he said, adding that his group will ask Molloy to reject the deal. Support from Molloy is crucial. He is being asked essentially to reverse a ruling he issued last summer that reinstated wolf protections in Idaho and Montana. Molloy is slated to become a senior judge in August, meaning another judge eventually would be appointed to take over his duties. But his office said Friday he will continue to carry a full caseload for now. Some Republican lawmakers dismissed the settlement as insufficient. Wyoming Rep. Cynthia Lummis, whose state was carved out of the deal, referred to it as "a wolf in sheep's clothing'' and said there was no guarantee the lawsuits would stop. In Montana, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said wolf hunting could begin as soon as this fall if the settlement holds. Schweitzer last month had encouraged Montana residents to shoot wolves illegally if they attack livestock. He also said state officials were going to start eliminating any packs involved in such attacks — a prospect that wildlife officials warned could drive the population to unsustainable levels. He said Friday the comments were meant to "nudge'' the issue toward a settlement. "Sometimes you get the crosshairs of the scope on something and it gets attention,'' he said. Almost 1,300 wolves were tallied in Montana and Idaho in recent counts by state, federal and tribal biologists. The population reached the original federal recovery goal a decade ago but many of the groups involved in Friday's settlement had long maintained that those goals were too modest. Wolves in Wyoming also are considered biologically recovered. They have been kept on the endangered list because of concern over a state law that allows them to be shot on sight across most of the state. The federal government announced earlier this week that it was resuming negotiations with Wyoming. About 40 wolves have moved into Oregon and Washington over the past several years. Suckling said the settlement agreement lays the groundwork to for more wolves in those states and beyond, by protecting them through their anticipated expansion. "In 15, 20 years you could have 1,000 wolves in those states. Then you're going to start to see wolves in Nevada, Utah, California,'' he said. "We could really repopulate the West.''

  1043 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Deal Reached to Lift Wolf Protections in Two States

  Facing mounting pressure from lawmakers over gray wolves, wildlife advocates reached an agreement with the Obama administration Friday to lift protections for the species in Montana and Idaho and allow hunting.   BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Facing mounting pressure from lawmakers over gray wolves, wildlife advocates reached an agreement with the Obama administration Friday to lift protections for the species in Montana and Idaho and allow hunting. The settlement agreement — opposed by some environmentalists — is intended to resolve years of litigation that has kept wolves in the Northern Rockies shielded by the Endangered Species Act even as the population expanded dramatically. It also is meant to pre-empt action by Congress, where Western Republicans are leading efforts to strip wolves of their protections nationwide. "For too long, wolf management in this country has been caught up in controversy and litigation instead of rooted in science, where it belongs. This proposed settlement provides a path forward,'' said Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes. Court documents detailing the proposed agreement between the U.S. Department of Interior and ten conservation groups were filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Montana. If approved by a federal judge, the deal would keep the species on the endangered list at least temporarily in four states where they are considered most vulnerable: Wyoming, Oregon, Washington and Utah. And it calls for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to set up a scientific panel to re-examine wolf recovery goals calling for a minimum 300 wolves in the region _ a population size wildlife advocates criticize as inadequate. Supporters of the settlement hope that process will accelerate wolf recovery efforts in Washington and Oregon, where populations are just beginning to take hold. Wolves last century were exterminated across most of the lower 48 states. By the end of 2010, there were an estimated 1,651 wolves in the Northern Rockies following a 15-year, $30 million federal restoration effort. That program has stirred deep antipathy toward the predators among western ranchers and hunters, who are angry over livestock attacks and a recent decline in some elk herds. Court rulings blocked prior efforts by the Bush and Obama administrations to lift protections for the species. With Congress now threatening to intervene, the 10 national and local groups involved in Friday's settlement said they wanted to head off what they regard as precedent-setting legislation. They fear pending bills to delist wolves would broadly undermine the Endangered Species Act, with ramifications for imperiled fish, animals and plants nationwide. "Both the Fish and Wildlife Service and ourselves were in the middle of a political firestorm that all parties wanted to resolve,'' said Kieran Suckling of the Center for Biological Diversity, which signed onto the settlement. "The nature of a settlement is you can't get everything you want.'' Four groups that had been co-plaintiffs in the case did not agree to the settlement. That will complicate efforts to garner approval from U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula. Attorneys for Earthjustice previously represented most of the plaintiffs in the case. They withdrew this week citing "ethical obligations,'' but three of the four groups opposed to Friday's agreement already have brought on new attorneys. Western Watersheds Project executive director John Marvel said the groups agreed to the settlement "should be ashamed'' to give up the fight on wolves in the face of threats from Congress. "What we've seen is a series of politically-motivated decisions that have clearly violated the law in order to achieve a political end, and this proposed settlement is no different than that,'' he said, adding that his group will ask Molloy to reject the deal. Support from Molloy is crucial. He is being asked essentially to reverse a ruling he issued last summer that reinstated wolf protections in Idaho and Montana. Molloy is slated to become a senior judge in August, meaning another judge eventually would be appointed to take over his duties. But his office said Friday he will continue to carry a full caseload for now. Some Republican lawmakers dismissed the settlement as insufficient. Wyoming Rep. Cynthia Lummis, whose state was carved out of the deal, referred to it as "a wolf in sheep's clothing'' and said there was no guarantee the lawsuits would stop. In Montana, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said wolf hunting could begin as soon as this fall if the settlement holds. Schweitzer last month had encouraged Montana residents to shoot wolves illegally if they attack livestock. He also said state officials were going to start eliminating any packs involved in such attacks — a prospect that wildlife officials warned could drive the population to unsustainable levels. He said Friday the comments were meant to "nudge'' the issue toward a settlement. "Sometimes you get the crosshairs of the scope on something and it gets attention,'' he said. Almost 1,300 wolves were tallied in Montana and Idaho in recent counts by state, federal and tribal biologists. The population reached the original federal recovery goal a decade ago but many of the groups involved in Friday's settlement had long maintained that those goals were too modest. Wolves in Wyoming also are considered biologically recovered. They have been kept on the endangered list because of concern over a state law that allows them to be shot on sight across most of the state. The federal government announced earlier this week that it was resuming negotiations with Wyoming. About 40 wolves have moved into Oregon and Washington over the past several years. Suckling said the settlement agreement lays the groundwork to for more wolves in those states and beyond, by protecting them through their anticipated expansion. "In 15, 20 years you could have 1,000 wolves in those states. Then you're going to start to see wolves in Nevada, Utah, California,'' he said. "We could really repopulate the West.''

  Mar 23, 2011 1043
• 22 Mar 2011
  Kentucky Bow Hunt

  SeeMeHunt. On September 9th to the 12th 2011, SeeMeHunt.com will Sponsor a Bow Hunt for Deer, Still in Velvet at the Double Deuce Outfitters in Kentucky.   Come Join us and spend a long weekend with other members of SeeMeHunt. This is a Semi-Guided hunt. It is $800 for the Hunt and Lodging. You are responsible for your own licensing ($200 for Out of State license), Food and transportation.   For further details you can email Derek Lloyd on SeeMeHunt.com   We look forward to Hunting with you.   Sincerely,   SeeMeHunt Management

  1058 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Kentucky Bow Hunt

  SeeMeHunt. On September 9th to the 12th 2011, SeeMeHunt.com will Sponsor a Bow Hunt for Deer, Still in Velvet at the Double Deuce Outfitters in Kentucky.   Come Join us and spend a long weekend with other members of SeeMeHunt. This is a Semi-Guided hunt. It is $800 for the Hunt and Lodging. You are responsible for your own licensing ($200 for Out of State license), Food and transportation.   For further details you can email Derek Lloyd on SeeMeHunt.com   We look forward to Hunting with you.   Sincerely,   SeeMeHunt Management

  Mar 22, 2011 1058
• 20 Mar 2011
  Minnesota Black Bear Population Continues to Expand

  Researchers have found the state's black bear population continues to expand from its usual forest habitat into farmland in northwestern Minnesota, raising the chances of dangerous run-ins with humans.   HOLT, Minn. (AP) — Researchers have found the state's black bear population continues to expand from its usual forest habitat into farmland in northwestern Minnesota, raising the chances of dangerous run-ins with humans. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been in northwestern Minnesota studying the bear migration, which began in the mid-1990s when natural foods, like acorns and berries, in the traditional bear range became scarce. That becomes a nuisance for farmers, and DNR experts warn it could mean more bears will get shot. "If those foods fail then they have corn and sunflowers as a backup. That's here every year,'' DNR bear biologist Dave Garshelis told Minnesota Public Radio News. "The risk for the corn and sunflowers of course is that they're going to get shot in a farmer's field.'' The DNR is trying to learn more through a research project in which it studies bears in their natural habitats. Researchers are studying where the bears travel, what they eat and how healthy they are. The state is estimated to have 20,000 bears, but it is not clear how many are in northwestern Minnesota farmland. The state's bear population is stable, except for the growing group in the northwestern region. There is no limit on how many bears hunters in the state's northwestern region can shoot, but the DNR could soon impose limits to protect the bear population.

  1034 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Minnesota Black Bear Population Continues to Expand

  Researchers have found the state's black bear population continues to expand from its usual forest habitat into farmland in northwestern Minnesota, raising the chances of dangerous run-ins with humans.   HOLT, Minn. (AP) — Researchers have found the state's black bear population continues to expand from its usual forest habitat into farmland in northwestern Minnesota, raising the chances of dangerous run-ins with humans. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been in northwestern Minnesota studying the bear migration, which began in the mid-1990s when natural foods, like acorns and berries, in the traditional bear range became scarce. That becomes a nuisance for farmers, and DNR experts warn it could mean more bears will get shot. "If those foods fail then they have corn and sunflowers as a backup. That's here every year,'' DNR bear biologist Dave Garshelis told Minnesota Public Radio News. "The risk for the corn and sunflowers of course is that they're going to get shot in a farmer's field.'' The DNR is trying to learn more through a research project in which it studies bears in their natural habitats. Researchers are studying where the bears travel, what they eat and how healthy they are. The state is estimated to have 20,000 bears, but it is not clear how many are in northwestern Minnesota farmland. The state's bear population is stable, except for the growing group in the northwestern region. There is no limit on how many bears hunters in the state's northwestern region can shoot, but the DNR could soon impose limits to protect the bear population.

  Mar 20, 2011 1034
• 20 Mar 2011
  Oregon County Approves Wolf Compensation Fund

  An Oregon county has approved a compensation fund for ranchers who lose livestock to wolves in the northeastern corner of the state, next to Idaho and Washington.   ENTERPRISE, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon county has approved a compensation fund for ranchers who lose livestock to wolves in the northeastern corner of the state, next to Idaho and Washington. The Community Alliance Livestock Fund, or CALF, was approved unanimously on Monday by Wallowa County commissioners, who hope it can serve as a statewide model for Oregon, The East Oregonian newspaper in Pendleton reported. The fund was proposed to commissioners last June by Dennis Sheehy, a rancher who grazes cattle in the heart of the Imnaha wolf pack's territory in northeastern Oregon. CALF will begin as a community-based program accepting donations from individuals, businesses and nonprofits, but the long-term goal is to receive state and, or, federal funding, either through U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife or possibly through the federal farm bill, said Rod Childers, wolf committee chairman for the Oregon Cattlemen's Association. Without a statewide plan, Oregon cannot receive federal funds for compensation — as Idaho and Montana do, Childers said. The 2011 grazing season will be run as a pilot, he said. Compensation won't be given out until after the 2012 season. However, Defenders of Wildlife will be compensating on cattle losses confirmed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife to be caused by wolves through Sept. 30. Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Hayward said there may be problems with a compensation program based on the honor system. Childers agreed and said, "We are looking at ways to handle verification. It is the biggest challenge.'' Commissioner Susan Roberts said she understands the challenges. "We all know it isn't going to be perfect out of the box,'' she said. One measure that will help, Roberts said, is that a producer must be signed up for the program in order to receive potential compensation. "Part of that is having someone verify your counts,'' she said. Wallowa Stockgrowers President Todd Nash said he and others have discussed different ways to make verification more uniform. One idea was to pay the brand inspector $2 more per head of cattle to help with counts, but that just adds more cost. "Every time we try to help ourselves it seems it costs more money,'' Nash said. He also said he worries that the compensation plan may send out the wrong message about the cattlemen's attitude toward wolves. "The plan makes it seem like we think it's OK to have wolves, but the stockgrowers voted to do it to get compensation and to provide education on hard numbers of losses,'' Nash said. Oregon State University Extension Agent John Williams said some ranches heavily affected by wolves in Idaho estimate a loss of $268 per head, which includes body score loss, wounding and increased staff time necessary to protect herds.

  1082 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Oregon County Approves Wolf Compensation Fund

  An Oregon county has approved a compensation fund for ranchers who lose livestock to wolves in the northeastern corner of the state, next to Idaho and Washington.   ENTERPRISE, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon county has approved a compensation fund for ranchers who lose livestock to wolves in the northeastern corner of the state, next to Idaho and Washington. The Community Alliance Livestock Fund, or CALF, was approved unanimously on Monday by Wallowa County commissioners, who hope it can serve as a statewide model for Oregon, The East Oregonian newspaper in Pendleton reported. The fund was proposed to commissioners last June by Dennis Sheehy, a rancher who grazes cattle in the heart of the Imnaha wolf pack's territory in northeastern Oregon. CALF will begin as a community-based program accepting donations from individuals, businesses and nonprofits, but the long-term goal is to receive state and, or, federal funding, either through U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife or possibly through the federal farm bill, said Rod Childers, wolf committee chairman for the Oregon Cattlemen's Association. Without a statewide plan, Oregon cannot receive federal funds for compensation — as Idaho and Montana do, Childers said. The 2011 grazing season will be run as a pilot, he said. Compensation won't be given out until after the 2012 season. However, Defenders of Wildlife will be compensating on cattle losses confirmed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife to be caused by wolves through Sept. 30. Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Hayward said there may be problems with a compensation program based on the honor system. Childers agreed and said, "We are looking at ways to handle verification. It is the biggest challenge.'' Commissioner Susan Roberts said she understands the challenges. "We all know it isn't going to be perfect out of the box,'' she said. One measure that will help, Roberts said, is that a producer must be signed up for the program in order to receive potential compensation. "Part of that is having someone verify your counts,'' she said. Wallowa Stockgrowers President Todd Nash said he and others have discussed different ways to make verification more uniform. One idea was to pay the brand inspector $2 more per head of cattle to help with counts, but that just adds more cost. "Every time we try to help ourselves it seems it costs more money,'' Nash said. He also said he worries that the compensation plan may send out the wrong message about the cattlemen's attitude toward wolves. "The plan makes it seem like we think it's OK to have wolves, but the stockgrowers voted to do it to get compensation and to provide education on hard numbers of losses,'' Nash said. Oregon State University Extension Agent John Williams said some ranches heavily affected by wolves in Idaho estimate a loss of $268 per head, which includes body score loss, wounding and increased staff time necessary to protect herds.

  Mar 20, 2011 1082
• 18 Mar 2011
  Waddell: Eight Must Know Turkey Calling Tactics

  Use these eight calling techniques to become a turkey assassin. Michael Waddell     It takes different calls to consistently close the coffin on longbeards. Have several calls and know how to use them.     Mastering a mouth call is critical for those last few crucial moments when you can't have any movement and your hands need to be free.     The author has found success by creating the illusion of a moving bird by using directional calling techniques.         While I dedicate a lot of time to chasing whitetails and other antlered monsters, spring turkey hunting is still one of my favorite pursuits. It's a great time to be in the woods, you don't have to freeze your butt off, and best of all, I can do most of it right near my home in Georgia. I grew up hunting ol' Booger Bottom right behind where my daddy still lives today, and I look forward to taking time off from my hectic traveling schedule every year to return there and hunt. But whether I'm hunting familiar woods I've hunted all my life or am chasing Rios or Merriam's in front of a camera in some place I've never even seen before, I use the same key skills to be successful. The most important skill I rely on is my ability to call. Calling is not only one of the things that makes turkey hunting so much fun, it's also the most important skill every turkey hunter needs to have in order to bring that big gobbler into gun range so he can ride home in the back of your truck. Here are a few tricks I've learned over the years. Maybe some of them will help you. 1 Mix It UpA lot of turkey hunters, especially beginners, learn to use one call pretty good, but never become proficient on other types. Or they may be able to use other calls, but they rely on that one they like almost exclusively. Bad mistake. Every call has its own pitch and sound and not every one is going to appeal to a particular longbeard. While one turkey may gobble his head off at your box call on Friday, that same turkey or even a different one, may ignore it on Saturday. Different calls may fire a tom up at different times. That's why it's important to learn to use several different calls and be able to run each of them as proficiently as the next. If turkeys aren't responding to your box call, switch to a mouth call or a slate. Even a tube call can work wonders in areas where gobblers have heard everything else thrown at them. If you prefer a box or a pot-and-peg type call, and are really good at that type, then buy several different ones and learn to use each of them as well as the other. Then you can keep inside your comfort zone, though I still recommend becoming versatile with different types of calls. 2 Master the Mouth CallMy favorite call to use, without a doubt, is a mouth call. To me, it's one of the most versatile. With a mouth call or diaphragm, you can make virtually every sound a turkey makes, varying rhythm, pitch and volume all with how you hold your mouth and huff air across the reeds. Best of all, it keeps your hands free so you can keep them on your shotgun when a gobbler is in close, but you need to work him just a little closer with a few light yelps or purrs. 3 Cadence is Key As varied as a hen's yelping and many other calls are, they nearly all follow a basic rhythm. In fact, I would say, when calling to a turkey at a distance at least, it is more important to have the right cadence than to even have the right sound. Listening to real turkeys in the woods or watching videos and TV shows of turkey hunts is one of the best ways to observe this cadence and learn to mimic it perfectly. Yelping, the hen's most basic call and the most important one for you to master, is delivered with evenly paced beats. Whether it is a casual yelp or one that is more excited and delivered with a little more speed, those yelps will always be spaced evenly apart. Cutting, which is really just a very excited, short burst of one-note clucks, will be more unevenly delivered, but still have a certain general rhythm to them. 4 Add Motion I bet you're scratching your head right now. "Add motion, he must be talking about decoys now," you're probably thinking. That can be helpful, too, but what I'm talking about here is adding some motion to your calling. How many guys, walk in the woods, plop down at the first gobble they make and just start calling from that same spot? If a gobbler is hopped up and ready for action, that will be enough. But when he is feeling more cautious and would rather the hen show herself, you're going to have to change positions. If a longbeard is far enough away, or even if the gobbles have gone silent on a particular morning, I will stand up and walk around, cutting and yelping and turning my head and body in different directions to make it sound like the hen is coming toward the tom and then moving away from him. I've walked 20 or 30 yards toward a gobbling tom that kept strutting back and forth out of sight to make him think I was a real hen. In these situations, try walking toward the turkey and then away while calling. Then shut up and move back to where you were closest to him and set up. The longbeard might think the hen is leaving him and finally show himself. When calling on the move like that, it is not only important that you do it when you are far enough away from a tom that he can't see you, but also that there is no chance of other hunters being around for obvious safety reasons. 5 Directional Calling Just like moving around while calling, it is important to be able to cast your sound in different directions as a gobbler approaches. With a mouth call, I cup a hand to the side of my mouth and use it to throw the sound of my calls in a particular direction. With a slate call, cup your hand beneath the sound board of the call and do basically the same thing. With a box, turn the sound chamber in a different direction, though I've found it's easier to throw a call's sound with a mouth call--one of the reason I prefer them. 6 Back It OffWhen trying to get a tom to offer up that first gobble or calling to one far off in the distance, it's perfectly fine to call as loud as you can. It's not okay to do that as that longbeard closes to within a 100 yards or less. Be sure to tone down the volume as the turkey gets closer. I've hunted with guys who had a gobbler hung-up 50 or 60 yards in front of them and then suddenly started calling as loud as if they turkey was in the next county. Loud calling will merely blow the turkey out, spooking him and sending him the other direction.  7 Clucks and PurrsThe yelp is the turkey's primary call, while cutting really works to get a longbeard fired up, but sometimes you need to go easy. That's where a single-note cluck and soft purrs can really come into play, particularly when working birds in close. Purrs are made when turkeys are content and can make a nervous tom relax as he works within range. 8 Keep It CleanWhen using friction calls such as a pot-and-peg or a box call, be careful not to touch the calling surfaces with your fingers. You also want to keep the surfaces free of dirt and free of moisture (unless the call is made to run wet.) Over time, oils in your skin can clog the pores in wood and slate, while it can make a striker slip and squeak on glass or metal. Likewise, don't touch the end of your strikers or stick them down in the dirt. Proper care will keep friction calls working a lifetime--at least yours.

  1577 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Waddell: Eight Must Know Turkey Calling Tactics

  Use these eight calling techniques to become a turkey assassin. Michael Waddell     It takes different calls to consistently close the coffin on longbeards. Have several calls and know how to use them.     Mastering a mouth call is critical for those last few crucial moments when you can't have any movement and your hands need to be free.     The author has found success by creating the illusion of a moving bird by using directional calling techniques.         While I dedicate a lot of time to chasing whitetails and other antlered monsters, spring turkey hunting is still one of my favorite pursuits. It's a great time to be in the woods, you don't have to freeze your butt off, and best of all, I can do most of it right near my home in Georgia. I grew up hunting ol' Booger Bottom right behind where my daddy still lives today, and I look forward to taking time off from my hectic traveling schedule every year to return there and hunt. But whether I'm hunting familiar woods I've hunted all my life or am chasing Rios or Merriam's in front of a camera in some place I've never even seen before, I use the same key skills to be successful. The most important skill I rely on is my ability to call. Calling is not only one of the things that makes turkey hunting so much fun, it's also the most important skill every turkey hunter needs to have in order to bring that big gobbler into gun range so he can ride home in the back of your truck. Here are a few tricks I've learned over the years. Maybe some of them will help you. 1 Mix It UpA lot of turkey hunters, especially beginners, learn to use one call pretty good, but never become proficient on other types. Or they may be able to use other calls, but they rely on that one they like almost exclusively. Bad mistake. Every call has its own pitch and sound and not every one is going to appeal to a particular longbeard. While one turkey may gobble his head off at your box call on Friday, that same turkey or even a different one, may ignore it on Saturday. Different calls may fire a tom up at different times. That's why it's important to learn to use several different calls and be able to run each of them as proficiently as the next. If turkeys aren't responding to your box call, switch to a mouth call or a slate. Even a tube call can work wonders in areas where gobblers have heard everything else thrown at them. If you prefer a box or a pot-and-peg type call, and are really good at that type, then buy several different ones and learn to use each of them as well as the other. Then you can keep inside your comfort zone, though I still recommend becoming versatile with different types of calls. 2 Master the Mouth CallMy favorite call to use, without a doubt, is a mouth call. To me, it's one of the most versatile. With a mouth call or diaphragm, you can make virtually every sound a turkey makes, varying rhythm, pitch and volume all with how you hold your mouth and huff air across the reeds. Best of all, it keeps your hands free so you can keep them on your shotgun when a gobbler is in close, but you need to work him just a little closer with a few light yelps or purrs. 3 Cadence is Key As varied as a hen's yelping and many other calls are, they nearly all follow a basic rhythm. In fact, I would say, when calling to a turkey at a distance at least, it is more important to have the right cadence than to even have the right sound. Listening to real turkeys in the woods or watching videos and TV shows of turkey hunts is one of the best ways to observe this cadence and learn to mimic it perfectly. Yelping, the hen's most basic call and the most important one for you to master, is delivered with evenly paced beats. Whether it is a casual yelp or one that is more excited and delivered with a little more speed, those yelps will always be spaced evenly apart. Cutting, which is really just a very excited, short burst of one-note clucks, will be more unevenly delivered, but still have a certain general rhythm to them. 4 Add Motion I bet you're scratching your head right now. "Add motion, he must be talking about decoys now," you're probably thinking. That can be helpful, too, but what I'm talking about here is adding some motion to your calling. How many guys, walk in the woods, plop down at the first gobble they make and just start calling from that same spot? If a gobbler is hopped up and ready for action, that will be enough. But when he is feeling more cautious and would rather the hen show herself, you're going to have to change positions. If a longbeard is far enough away, or even if the gobbles have gone silent on a particular morning, I will stand up and walk around, cutting and yelping and turning my head and body in different directions to make it sound like the hen is coming toward the tom and then moving away from him. I've walked 20 or 30 yards toward a gobbling tom that kept strutting back and forth out of sight to make him think I was a real hen. In these situations, try walking toward the turkey and then away while calling. Then shut up and move back to where you were closest to him and set up. The longbeard might think the hen is leaving him and finally show himself. When calling on the move like that, it is not only important that you do it when you are far enough away from a tom that he can't see you, but also that there is no chance of other hunters being around for obvious safety reasons. 5 Directional Calling Just like moving around while calling, it is important to be able to cast your sound in different directions as a gobbler approaches. With a mouth call, I cup a hand to the side of my mouth and use it to throw the sound of my calls in a particular direction. With a slate call, cup your hand beneath the sound board of the call and do basically the same thing. With a box, turn the sound chamber in a different direction, though I've found it's easier to throw a call's sound with a mouth call--one of the reason I prefer them. 6 Back It OffWhen trying to get a tom to offer up that first gobble or calling to one far off in the distance, it's perfectly fine to call as loud as you can. It's not okay to do that as that longbeard closes to within a 100 yards or less. Be sure to tone down the volume as the turkey gets closer. I've hunted with guys who had a gobbler hung-up 50 or 60 yards in front of them and then suddenly started calling as loud as if they turkey was in the next county. Loud calling will merely blow the turkey out, spooking him and sending him the other direction.  7 Clucks and PurrsThe yelp is the turkey's primary call, while cutting really works to get a longbeard fired up, but sometimes you need to go easy. That's where a single-note cluck and soft purrs can really come into play, particularly when working birds in close. Purrs are made when turkeys are content and can make a nervous tom relax as he works within range. 8 Keep It CleanWhen using friction calls such as a pot-and-peg or a box call, be careful not to touch the calling surfaces with your fingers. You also want to keep the surfaces free of dirt and free of moisture (unless the call is made to run wet.) Over time, oils in your skin can clog the pores in wood and slate, while it can make a striker slip and squeak on glass or metal. Likewise, don't touch the end of your strikers or stick them down in the dirt. Proper care will keep friction calls working a lifetime--at least yours.

  Mar 18, 2011 1577
• 18 Mar 2011
  Top Tips For Opening Day Toms

  By Aaron_DeckerCreated 03/17/2011 Top Tips For Opening Day Toms 1. Roost A TomYour season really begins the afternoon before opening day. Get there the last hour of daylight and listen for the tell-tale flapping wings of birds flying up to roost and longbeards gobbling from the limb. If you hear one that sounds like it is in a tree, ease as close to him as you dare without spooking him. Ideally you want to pinpoint exactly what tree he is in so you can set up close to him in the morning. Try to roost at least three birds so you have multiple back-up plans incase your choosen bird fails to pan out. Many factors can come into play from a blown set up to simply an unresponsive bird. It is best to not put all your eggs in one basket. 2. Be FirstWhether you hunt public land or a shared lease, nothing is worse than planning the season's first hunt only to arrive at your spot and find somebody else there. It's crucial that you get there first. Leave home in plenty of time. Have your gear organized and ready to go and don't be afraid of spending extra time sitting in the dark--its worth it to make the plan come together. 3. Call With CautionNever call excessively to a gobbler on the roost. Call softly once or twice to a bird gobbling from the limb in order to make him think a hen is there. If he responds to your call, shut up. He knows you're there, and barring getting intercepted by a real hen, he will likely come your way when he hits the ground. Once he is on the ground, give him a more energetic series of calls to get him cranked up and marching your way. Once he starts coming, revert back to the earlier technique of keeping your calls to a minimum. The key is to be flexible. If hens suddenly light up, start calling aggressively again to get the longbeard fired up and coming your way in a hurry. Remember, once he's with the other hens, your morning just got a lot tougher.

  893 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Top Tips For Opening Day Toms

  By Aaron_DeckerCreated 03/17/2011 Top Tips For Opening Day Toms 1. Roost A TomYour season really begins the afternoon before opening day. Get there the last hour of daylight and listen for the tell-tale flapping wings of birds flying up to roost and longbeards gobbling from the limb. If you hear one that sounds like it is in a tree, ease as close to him as you dare without spooking him. Ideally you want to pinpoint exactly what tree he is in so you can set up close to him in the morning. Try to roost at least three birds so you have multiple back-up plans incase your choosen bird fails to pan out. Many factors can come into play from a blown set up to simply an unresponsive bird. It is best to not put all your eggs in one basket. 2. Be FirstWhether you hunt public land or a shared lease, nothing is worse than planning the season's first hunt only to arrive at your spot and find somebody else there. It's crucial that you get there first. Leave home in plenty of time. Have your gear organized and ready to go and don't be afraid of spending extra time sitting in the dark--its worth it to make the plan come together. 3. Call With CautionNever call excessively to a gobbler on the roost. Call softly once or twice to a bird gobbling from the limb in order to make him think a hen is there. If he responds to your call, shut up. He knows you're there, and barring getting intercepted by a real hen, he will likely come your way when he hits the ground. Once he is on the ground, give him a more energetic series of calls to get him cranked up and marching your way. Once he starts coming, revert back to the earlier technique of keeping your calls to a minimum. The key is to be flexible. If hens suddenly light up, start calling aggressively again to get the longbeard fired up and coming your way in a hurry. Remember, once he's with the other hens, your morning just got a lot tougher.

  Mar 18, 2011 893
• 18 Mar 2011
  Nevada Assembly Passes Gun Bill Making Purchases Easier

  The Nevada Assembly has unanimously approved a bill making it easier to buy and sell guns across state lines.   CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Assembly has unanimously approved a bill making it easier to buy and sell guns across state lines. AB217 repeals a section of state law that only allows such sales if the buyer and seller live in states adjacent to Nevada. The bill allows sales of rifles and shotguns between a resident of one state and a federally licensed firearms dealer in another state. Sales must comply with the laws of both states included in the transaction. Nevada's law reflected the 1968 Gun Control Act but did not reflect updates from the Firearms Owners' Protection Act of 1986. Thirty legislators, including members from both parties, co-sponsored the bill. AB217 passed Monday and now heads to the Senate.

  1094 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Nevada Assembly Passes Gun Bill Making Purchases Easier

  The Nevada Assembly has unanimously approved a bill making it easier to buy and sell guns across state lines.   CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Assembly has unanimously approved a bill making it easier to buy and sell guns across state lines. AB217 repeals a section of state law that only allows such sales if the buyer and seller live in states adjacent to Nevada. The bill allows sales of rifles and shotguns between a resident of one state and a federally licensed firearms dealer in another state. Sales must comply with the laws of both states included in the transaction. Nevada's law reflected the 1968 Gun Control Act but did not reflect updates from the Firearms Owners' Protection Act of 1986. Thirty legislators, including members from both parties, co-sponsored the bill. AB217 passed Monday and now heads to the Senate.

  Mar 18, 2011 1094