Fewer pheasants mean hunters in North Dakota could bag fewer than half a million roosters for the first time in a decade, state officials said. BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Fewer pheasants mean hunters in North Dakota could bag fewer than half a million roosters for the first time in a decade, state officials said. A roadside survey conducted in late July and August found the pheasant population was down 36 percent statewide from last year. Brood surveys, which are considered the best indicator of pheasant production, showed a 38 percent drop. "Brood survey numbers from this summer match closely to numbers from 2001, when hunters harvested 420,000 roosters,'' said Stan Kohn, state Game and Fish Department spokesman. "If fall weather conditions hold through most of the year, I could see a fall harvest of about 400,000 birds. "But if winter sets in early, we could be much lower.'' Pheasant counts show the most in southwestern North Dakota, Kohn said. While the number of birds and broods were down 26 percent in that area, that's less of a decline than elsewhere. Wildlife officials attribute the low numbers to three straight difficult winters with above average snowfall, wet conditions during peak hatch in three of the last four years, and the loss of nesting habitat as the result of Conversation Reserve Program acreage being removed from the pheasant range. "Boiled down, hunters will likely have to put in more time to find success,'' Kohn said. The regular pheasant hunting season opens Oct. 8 and continues through Jan. 8. A two-day youth pheasant hunting weekend is scheduled for Oct. 1-2.

Indiana Sees 82 Percent Spike In Lyme Disease Cases Indiana's confirmed human cases of Lyme disease soared 82 percent over a five-year period, and experts say the surge might have been caused by an increase in the tiny ticks that spread the illness to humans. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Indiana's confirmed human cases of Lyme disease soared 82 percent over a five-year period, and experts say the surge might have been caused by an increase in the tiny ticks that spread the illness to humans. The Journal & Courier reported (http://bit.ly/paPVQD ) that Lyme disease cases in Indiana rose from 34 in 2005 to 62 in 2009, the most recent year for which detailed data has been released. Health officials aren't sure what's behind the increase, but theories range from an upswing in reporting of cases to an increase in ticks infected with the Lyme disease bacterium. Deer ticks, which are black-legged and about the size of sesame seeds, feed on deer and can pick up the bacterium when they also feed on white-footed mice. Infected ticks then spread it to humans by feeding on them. Purdue University entomologist Timothy Gibb said the deer tick is most likely being transported south and east across the state on the backs of deer, especially as the state's deer population increases. Antibiotics easily cure most people of Lyme disease. But early symptoms are vague and flu-like, except for Lyme's hallmark round, red rash. People who aren't treated can develop arthritis, meningitis and some other serious illnesses. "Chances of transmission are pretty slim but still the consequences of the disease are serious enough that we've got to be careful about it,'' Gibb said. "It's prudent for people to use discretion as much as possible to prevent it.'' In northwestern Indiana, where a possible surge in cases has occurred, nearly 20 people at a recent town hall meeting in Ogden Dunes said they had Lyme disease. Jennifer House, an epidemiologist with the state health department, said she could not confirm the number of Lyme disease cases in that area. She said the situation in Ogden Dunes, a town along Lake Michigan, is under review. Gibb said it would not be surprising for that area to see a surge in cases since northwestern Indiana, northeastern Illinois and southern Wisconsin are "traditionally a hot spot for deer.'' He said less than 3 percent of deer ticks — the only tick species that transmits Lyme disease — are infected with the bacterium. State health officials say May through September is the period in which ticks are most active. In 2009, 83 percent of Lyme disease cases were reported during that span, with the bulk occurring in June, July and August. Six cases were reported in September and five in October. Gibb said that as adults, deer ticks primarily feed on deer and not people. "So hunters or taxidermists who deal with deer will sometimes get the adult ticks on them,'' he said. Other ticks such as the American dog tick are more common and often find their way onto humans, Gibb said.

North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that additional concurrent season antlerless deer gun licenses can be used with a bow during the archery season in the designated hunting unit. Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas. The Game and Fish Department annually receives inquiries from bowhunters regarding tree stands that are stolen, moved or tampered with. Tree stands are private property and theft constitutes a criminal violation that should be reported to the local sheriff's department. Bowhunters are also reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3F2. The archery season is open through Jan. 8, 2012. Hunters should refer to the 2011 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.

Wyoming ranchers and hunters fed up with wolves attacking livestock and other wildlife would be able to shoot the predators on sight in most of the state under a tentative agreement state and federal officials announced Wednesday. CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming ranchers and hunters fed up with wolves attacking livestock and other wildlife would be able to shoot the predators on sight in most of the state under a tentative agreement state and federal officials announced Wednesday. Gov. Matt Mead and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said they've come to terms over how to end federal protections for gray wolves in Wyoming — the last state in the Northern Rockies where the animals remain under federal management. Hours later, a judge rejected a legal challenge to a federal budget bill rider that removed protections for the gray wolf in the other Northern Rockies states. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula, Mont., said precedent by a federal appeals court required him to uphold the provision passed earlier this year that stripped wolves of their endangered status in Montana and Idaho, and in parts of Washington, Oregon and Utah. It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether conservation groups planned to appeal. While some neighboring states plan to let licensed hunters kill wolves at certain times of the year, Wyoming would be the only one to allow people to shoot wolves in most of the state year-round without a license. Environmentalists swiftly blasted the agreement, saying it offers wolves too little protection and would fail judicial review unless Congress approves pending language to insulate it from legal challenges. Mead said state management of wolves is overdue in Wyoming, where many say the animals have taken a heavy toll since they were reintroduced in the 1990s. "For years, ranchers and sheep producers have been asked to sacrifice, and they have. We have lost significant numbers of elk and moose, and we have not had a say in the management of an animal inside Wyoming,'' Mead said. "It's time for that to change. ...'' Salazar has traveled to Wyoming repeatedly in recent months to work on the agreement. He said the gray wolf's recovery serves as a "great example'' of how the Endangered Species Act can work to keep imperiled animals from becoming extinct. "The agreement we've reached with Wyoming recognizes the success of this iconic species and will ensure the long-term conservation of gray wolves,'' Salazar said Wednesday. Environmental groups, however, said the deal doesn't afford wolves adequate protection. "We do think that it's important that wolf management decisions be based on science, and not on these kind of closed-door political negotiations,'' said Collette Adkins Giese, a lawyer with the Center for Biological Diversity in Minnesota. Under the agreement, Wyoming would commit to maintaining at least 10 breeding pairs and 100 wolves outside Yellowstone National Park. There are now about 340 wolves in the state, of which 230 are outside the park. Wolves immediately outside Yellowstone would be subject to regulated hunting in a zone that would expand slightly in the winter months to give wolves more protection in an area south of Jackson. Those in the rest of the state would be classified as predators that could be shot on sight. Wyoming's commitment to classifying wolves as predators in most of the state has been a stumbling block to ending federal wolf management for years even as neighboring states have taken over their own wolf management. Idaho and Montana are planning licensed hunts this fall in which hundreds of wolves could be killed. Wyoming has filed several lawsuits over the issue, trying without success for years to force federal officials to accept its plan. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service went as far as helping Wyoming revise its wolf management plan in 2007 and approving it the next year. But the agency repudiated the plan just months later after Judge Molloy criticized it in response to a lawsuit brought by environmental groups. Wyoming's shoot-on-sight policy continues to generate controversy. Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey announced Wednesday he had written to Salazar questioning his decision to reach a deal with the state. "Science, not politics, should ensure the conservation and management of the gray wolves in Wyoming, should they be delisted,'' wrote Markey, the ranking Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., has inserted language into a pending Interior appropriations bill that specifies any delisting of wolves in Wyoming would be exempt from court challenges. Congress approved similar language earlier this year for delisting wolves in Montana, Idaho and other Western states except Wyoming. Some environmental groups had mounted a legal challenge in Molloy's court, but his ruling Wednesday said Congress had authority to shield the delisting actions from legal review. Steve Ferrell, Mead's policy adviser on endangered species, said Wyoming hopes Congress will act to stipulate that any final delisting plan for the state will be exempt from legal challenges. Ferrell said the federal government plans to propose a draft delisting rule by Oct. 1. He said it could take a year for the final rule to be approved to allow Wyoming to take over wolf management. The Wyoming Legislature will consider changes to the state's current wolf management plan when it meets early next year. Chris Colligan, Wyoming wildlife advocate for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, says the push to exempt the agreement from legal review shows the deal is politically motivated and not supported by sound science. "It says that Wyoming and certainly our congressional representatives, they know that this plan is not legally or biologically sufficient,'' he said.

A Southern California woman walking her leashed dog has been knocked to the ground by a coyote that snatched her pooch and ran away. California City Authorizes Firm To Shoot Coyotes LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California woman walking her leashed dog has been knocked to the ground by a coyote that snatched her pooch and ran away. Karen Sherif was on her usual Tuesday morning walk in Laguna Woods when she suddenly felt a tug on the leash and was knocked down. Her 12-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Pooh was in the mouth of a coyote. The coyote took off, dragging the 64-year-old woman into the road by Pooh's leash. Sherif let go of the leash and neighbors rushed out of their homes to help. The woman's injuries aren't serious. Pooh's body was found about 100 feet away, her neck broken. Laguna Beach police Lt. Jason Kravetz tells the Los Angeles Times that authorities are looking for the coyote involved in Tuesday's attack. California City Authorizes Firm To Shoot Coyotes On the shady paths of this sprawling Southern California retirement community, neighbors have been told to carry sticks. TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) — On the shady paths of this sprawling Southern California retirement community, neighbors have been told to carry sticks. The menace is a group of emboldened coyotes who have attacked leashed pets, killing two dogs in the last week and dragging down pet owners who rushed to their rescue. On Thursday, the city of Laguna Woods voted to take matters into its own hands by authorizing professional exterminators or animal control experts who obtain permits to shoot the wild animals. Officials promptly issued a permit to one such firm, which is required to notify law enforcement within 10 minutes if any shots are fired, said Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Steve Doan. The city — a network of gated retirement communities shrouded in trees — already has tried other tactics to round up the pack of roughly seven animals who, unlike most coyotes, don't scatter at the sight of humans. Officials used pepper spray to disrupt trails and dens. Tranquilizer guns and traps were also utilized. But most of the coyotes have eluded capture. "We just have not been able to catch the other four and the incidents just seem to be escalating,'' City Manager Leslie Keane said. Coyotes are often a problem in the vast suburbs in Southern California where homes are built right up to creeks and foothills where the animals roam. But coyotes are perfectly content to live in urban environments where the food supply outstrips that of the wild _ garbage, tree fruit, pet food and pets offer ample grub, said Kevin Brennan, a wildlife biologist with California's Department of Fish and Game. Laguna Woods is unique because the city made up of retirees has a median age of 77 — which has local officials concerned that such a tussle could take a bigger toll. But confrontations between coyotes and suburbanites aren't new. Jurisdictions including Riverside and the county of San Bernardino also have hired private firms to trap or shoot the animals when preventative measures to keep them out have failed, Brennan said. "What happens is familiarity breeds contempt,'' he said, "The longer coyotes hang around people, they lose their fear and they start becoming more bold.'' "Basically you should never allow a coyote to feel comfortable around your home. You should always scare it off.'' In Laguna Woods, two women were injured in the last week when they were knocked over after coyotes pulled on leashes to maul their small pet dogs. City officials said they don't want to wait until someone gets attacked by a coyote to take action and state authorities only get involved when there an imminent threat to public safety. One of the challenges is many retirees have smaller pets who keep them company. In the absence of their now-grown children, the dogs and cats often become family and are attractive to coyotes. Lorraine Barr, 92, said she took her 7-pound Yorkshire Terrier named Pumpkin on a late-night walk last week and was watching out for coyotes, but was still stunned when one of them went for her dog and ran off with it. "My wrist was yanked so hard that I fell forward on my stomach, and I'm a heavy woman,'' Barr said. One of her neighbors later found the collar, bloody. The dog was not found. Barr called the loss of Pumpkin "exceptionally difficult emotionally.'' "We understood each other. She followed me around my small apartment, and after her naps the first thing she would do was get up and make sure how I was,'' Barr said. "It's the hardest thing I've ever experienced since the first person I loved ended the relationship 65 years ago.'' Another woman, Karen Sharif, suffered a black eye, a swollen cheek and a cut lip when a coyote snatched her dog Pooh in the middle of a midmorning walk. Sharif refused to let go of the leash, and she fell on her face before eventually having to let go. The coyote soon dropped the dead dog, and she got it back. "Dog owners know that when they buy a dog, they're going to face their pet dying in 10 years, 15 years, but they don't expect to see the vision of it in the mouth of a wild animal,'' Sharif said. "That's what's causing me sleepless nights.'' But some in the community don't want to see the animals shot. Organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and some Laguna Woods residents have said the city could review other options before reaching for a gun. That includes Barr, who despite losing her dog to coyotes said she doesn't want them dead. "Everyone I know is aghast, and I'm aghast, at the thought of killing the coyotes,'' she said. "They serve a purpose too. I would hope that they could be captured and re-released.'' Sharif agreed, saying "I am not blaming this coyote. It did a natural thing.'' But Sharif said she learned from city officials that the coyotes can be trapped but there is nowhere to take them. "In the short run you've got to kill them, I'm afraid,'' she said. Officials say the problem likely starts in communities where residents didn't take measures to keep coyotes away before they got aggressive. Local officials have found leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes left outside, leading them to believe residents were feeding the wild animals, Keane said. That would lure coyotes to retirees' homes instead of shooing them away. Mayor Bert Hack said most coyotes run off when they see people. He said he recently spotted one take off down the street with a cat in its mouth. "We have dealt with this — it waxes and it wanes,'' Hack said. "But when people get hurt, you tend to want to do something about it.''

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — A 57-year-old hiker was killed Wednesday morning in Yellowstone National Park when he and his wife encountered a sow grizzly bear with cubs. Torrence, California native Brian Matayoshi and his wife Marylin were hiking along the Wapiti Lake Trail, which is a 32-mile round trip hike that starts at the Upper Falls trail head just south of Canyon Village and spans east to Wapiti Lake. According to NBCMontana.com, the couple were a mile and half away from the trailhead, hiking west towards their vehicle mid-morning when they arrived at an open meadow after traveling through a forested area. Matayoshi spotted the bear and her cubs 100 yards away and immediately started to back track away from the bear. When the couple turned around to look, they saw the horrifying site of the sow running down the trail after them. The couple immediately started running, but the bear caught Brian, savaging the hiker with multiple bite and claw wounds. The bear then turned her attention to Marylin who was now laying down near her fallen husband. The bear chomped down on her day pack, lifting her up, before slamming her back to the ground. As Marylin lay still, the grizzly sow eventually left, leaving Marylin frantically calling 911 and screaming out to other hikers. When park rangers arrived, Brian Matayoshi was pronounced dead at the scene. The attack occurred just south of Canyon Village along the Wapiti Lake Trail. “It is extremely unfortunate that this couple’s trip into the Yellowstone backcountry has ended in tragedy,” said Dan Wenk, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. “Our heart goes out to the family and friends of the victim as they work to cope with their loss.”

A coalition of sporting groups is urging the Department of Environmental Conservation to ban hunting of yearling bucks in parts of southern New York, saying the new approach to deer management has led to dramatic improvement in the deer herd.   ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A coalition of sporting groups is urging the Department of Environmental Conservation to ban hunting of yearling bucks in parts of southern New York, saying the new approach to deer management has led to dramatic improvement in the deer herd in pilot areas. Some hunters oppose a mandatory restriction on hunting yearlings, also called spikehorns, saying it's unfair to hunters and hard to enforce. The proposed restriction, affecting parts of Sullivan, Ulster, Delaware, Greene and Schoharie counties, is part of DEC's new five-year deer management plan. The agency is taking comments through July 28. David Hartman, president of the New York State Whitetail Management Coalition, says Tuesday that hunters in Ulster and Sullivan counties have harvested the biggest bucks since the late 1920s in antler restriction areas.

ONLY 6 SPOTS REMAIN FOR OUR MISSOURI WHITETAIL ARCHERY HUNTS! $1,000.00 per person. for 1-Buck, 1-Doe and 2 Turkey's with Bow. 3 the week of Oct. 17-21st 3 the week of Oct.24-28th These are awesome self guided Bow hunts for true Giants. These prices end July 15th and go back up to our Normal rates of $1,500.00 50% deposit holds your spot. Plevna Missouri is Deer Camp 573-.833-6433 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1526940058280.67854.1378043042 These hunts are a tremendous adventure as there are just so many Deer. Give us a call because these Hunts will close out and fast. Thanks. Tom