MDC Discusses Elk Restoration at OPRC Meeting

When asked by State Representative Don Wells for a show of hands by those opposing introduction of elk in Missouri, all but five of the 100 plus in attendance at the Ozarks Property Rights Congress(OPRC) August 26 meeting raised their hands.

For the full story, go to: http://ozarkspropertyrightscongress.com/meeting-report/mdc-discusses-elk-restoration-at-oprc-meeting/

Endangered or not, wolf killings set to expand


Associated Press
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -- Government agencies are seeking broad new authority to ramp up killings and removals of gray wolves in the Northern Rockies and Great Lakes, despite recent court actions restoring the animal's endangered status across most of the country.

Various proposals would gas pups in their dens, surgically sterilize adult wolves and allow "conservation" hunts to drive down the predators' numbers.

Once exterminated across most of the West, wolves made a remarkable comeback in recent decades. Yet as packs continue to multiply, their taste for livestock is stoking a backlash.

Wildlife officials say that without public wolf hunting, agencies need greater latitude to eliminate problem packs.

Elk Industry Honors Keith Warren
 

One of the most celebrated personalities in the outdoor television industry, Keith Warren has been named the ‘2010 Presidential Award’ winner by the North American Elk Breeders Association (NAEBA), the nation’s leading voice in the protection and propagation of elk. Warren hosts and produces the highly acclaimed, award-winning, national television show Keith Warren’s Deer & Wildlife Stories, which airs on The Pursuit Channel.

A vocal proponent hunting rights for more than 25 years, Warren has spoken passionately about the critical need to preserve our outdoor lifestyle as well as of the agricultural and habitat benefits of raising deer and other cervids.

“I’m very honored to receive this award and to have the support of the North American Elk Breeders Association,” says Warren, who received the 2009 Sportsman Choice Award for ‘Best Show Host.’ Just as the deer farmers we feature on our show, NAEBA members are advanced livestock managers who are always concerned about their animals' welfare. They care deeply about preserving the species and promoting a respect for the outdoors.

“We presented Keith with our Presidential Award because of his outstanding efforts in education and promotion of the farmed cervidae industry and all forms of hunting,” says Kim Kafka, a board of directors member of the NAEBA. “There are not enough words to convey our appreciation for what he does and we are deeply thankful for all that he does for the industry.”

The North American Elk Breeders Association is a non-profit organization, founded to promote and protect the elk farming and ranching industry. NAEBA holds an annual convention in late summer where the membership meets to discuss issues of mutual interest, learn the latest animal health and herd management techniques, and meet others interested in the husbandry of these magnificent animals.

Warren and his programs have enjoyed huge support on several national networks for more than two decades. His current productions include Deer & Wildlife Stories and The High Road with Keith Warren. Deer & Wildlife Stories airs three times a week on The Pursuit Channel (Direct TV 608), showing on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 12 a.m. The High Road also airs three times a week on The Pursuit Channel, Friday at 12 a.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 8:30 p.m. All times are EST.

Whitetails of Wisconsin Hosts Open House
 
WOW!  This word says it all when describing this year’s annual event for the deer and elk farmers of Wisconsin. Hats off to Whitetails of Wisconsin for hosting a very successful summer picnic for the W.O.W. and the Wisconsin Commercial Deer and Elk Farmers Association’s membership. 

This year’s event included an open house invitation to the general public, and more than 300 people, made up of deer and elk farmers and deer enthusiasts, gathered at the Gilman, Wis., whitetail deer farm owned and operated by Laurie and Charly Seale.

The Country Today, a state-wide farm newspaper, did a full page article on the Seale farm and featured pictures of some of their biggest antlered bucks. This feature article left deer enthusiasts wanting to see more. The phone literally rang non-stop with people calling to register for the open house.

Guests came from all parts of the country including Texas, South Carolina, Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado, Minnesota and Wisconsin. They were treated to food, drinks, entertainment by a blue grass band, and a farm tour of the handling facility and all of the buck pens. The Seale’s have more than 100 antlered bucks, with a wide variety of antler characteristics, making the farm tour even more intriguing for their guests.

Whitetails of Wisconsin saw this as a golden opportunity to enlighten the general public about the cervid industry. Charly Seale talked to the group about private property rights and the need for all sportsmen to support all ethical types of hunting, including high fence hunting. He asked the group to join together to fight our true enemies; the folks who are opposed to private gun ownership and all types of hunting. Seale is from Texas where they take private property rights seriously and is very passionate about property rights and hunting issues.

Seale talked about high fences being nothing more than a management tool for ranchers.  High fences allow ranchers to manage the genetics and the age of the animals, thereby allowing bucks to reach maturity before being harvested, unlike bucks in the wild where the average age of harvest is 1 ½ years. 

Many folks walked away with a positive attitude about the cervid industry after visiting the Seale’s deer farm and seeing first hand how deer farming is done.  It was a great day for the cervid industry and well worth the effort to educate the uninformed!

Whitetails of Wisconsin is making plans to include an open house with their summer picnic again next year.  Plans are underway to also include an open house at a hunting ranch so uninformed folks can see that part of the industry first hand as well.  More of these types of events need to take place if the cervid industry is to succeed and prosper well into the future. W.O.W. would like to encourage each state association to consider hosting a similar event in their state.  It’s time to stop preaching to the choir.  Let’s play offense instead of defense for awhile!

*  Whitetails of Wisconsin is an association representing more than 400 deer farms in Wisconsin.  They represent the deer industry by working closely with state and federal legislators and regulatory agencies to develop rules and regulations that govern the deer industry.  W.O.W. is dedicated to the promotion of deer farming and ranching as an agricultural pursuit and serves its members through its educational programs, publications and by providing leadership in setting and maintaining quality standards.

ADWA Holds First Deer Farming Seminar for Texas FFA Teachers
 

Deer farming is one of the fastest growing industries in rural America, and it might soon be part of children’s homework in the Lone Star State. While raising deer and other alternative livestock has been practiced in North America for more than a century, the industry itself has always been perceived as a novelty when compared to traditional livestock options, such as cattle, goats or sheep. However, times might be changing.

ADWA recently held the first-ever deer farming seminar for a standing-room only crowd at the Texas Vocational Teachers’ Professional Development Conference held in Galveston, Texas.  The new workshop for Texas FFA teachers is the first step in introducing deer farming to the students in public schools. Dr. Dick Cain of Trophy Ridge Whitetails was the guest speaker.

“Deer farming must become ‘mainstream’ and working with FFA groups across the country is a huge step toward achieving that goal,” says John Meng, president of ADWA. “We have already made contact with the FFA teachers’ associations in Oklahoma and Louisiana and there is strong interest elsewhere in the country too.”

MO Dept. of Conservation,

After reading your press release, concerning the proposed elk restoration project for MO, I am disappointed to see that you are using the same tactics that TN and KY Wildlife Agencies used trying to mislead the general public into thinking that the elk for the restoration project would meet higher health standards than the elk that farmers import.

There has been no live animal CWD test approved for elk.

If you truly want your elk restoration project to be successful, I strongly suggest that you use the same exact import regulations that MO farmers have to abide by as a minimum standard for your wild elk.

Respectfully,
David L. Autry
Vice President
Non Traditional Farmers And Ranchers Coalition

MO considers an elk restoration project and may get wild elk from KY or TN

Facts

1. KY Wildlife Officials imported elk for restoration from states that have a known CWD problem. Once they had received all of the elk needed for their restoration project, they influenced regulations that not only stopped farmers from importing healthy elk and deer but also stopped farmers from other states from traveling across KY with elk or deer going to another state.

2. TN Wildlife Officials imported elk for restoration from Elk Island in Canada and this is a high fenced government run game farm with a long history of disease issues. Also, some of the elk released in KY have migrated into TN and VA possibly spreading disease.

3. Both KY and TN Wildlife Officials placed their state's livestock producers at risk for disease when they imported and released elk that had not been properly tested and monitored for several different diseases.

4. The Government Wildlife Agencies in KY and TN are not interested in elk but instead are interested in the money that can be generated by raffling off hunts for these animals. By TN's own estimates, they expected to make $50,000.00 to $100,000.00 per bull through their get rich quick scheme and they had no problems with risking the state's other wildlife and livestock, subjecting them to disease.

Does MO really want to consider importing wild elk from KY or TN knowing that these animals are originally from areas with known disease problems? DO NOT ALLOW ANY ELK TO BE IMPORTED INTO MO THAT DOES NOT MEET THE SAME HEALTH REGULATIONS THAT ELK FARMERS HAVE TO MEET, NO WAIVERS OR EXCEPTIONS.

Senator Ted Stevens is known to this industry as the man that got Elk, Reindeer and Bison to be considered livestock by the USDA.

USDA now defines farm raised Elk, Reindeer and Bison as Livestock
The US Department of Agriculture will now consider elk, reindeer, and bison as livestock in the administration of certain programs within the department. When Alaska Senator Ted Stevens learned that some farmers and ranchers were being denied access to the livestock assistance programs being administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), he included language in the Omnibus Bill, HR 4818, to correct this inequality. Specifically, the Act directs the Secretary to include elk, reindeer, and bison under the definition of “livestock” in carrying out livestock assistance, compensation, or feed programs. Elk, reindeer and bison ranchers who want to participate in USDA programs should contact their local county FSA office for information and to sign up for available assistance. It may require both patience and persistence on the part of the producer to obtain benefits as this will be a new addition to FSA and it may take time for staff to understand the
needs of the elk, reindeer and bison industry. The livestock programs that are available will vary by region but it is important that every elk, reindeer and bison rancher contact their local office, update their records, and provide data to assist in the implementation of the programs.

For additional information you may contact: Karina_Waller@stevens.senate.gov, aide to Senator Ted Stevens. The exact language can be found by researching //thomas.loc.gov and reviewing the final conference report on HR 4818, Consolidated Appropriations Act. It will be found under Division A, Agriculture – Title VII, General Provisions – Section 785.

Former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens dies in plane crash

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_alaska_plane_crash
           

 AP – FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2008 file photo, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, speaks in Anchorage, Alaska, announcing … By BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press Writer Becky Bohrer, Associated Press Writer – 29 mins ago
JUNEAU, Alaska – A single-engine plane carrying former Sen. Ted Stevens crashed into a remote Alaska mountainside, killing the state's most beloved political figure and four others and stranding the survivors on brush-and-rock-covered slopes overnight until rescuers could reach them.

Volunteers discovered the wreckage late Monday and tended to the injured, including Stevens' fishing buddy, ex-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe, until help could arrive Tuesday.

The 86-year-old Stevens' death stunned both lawmakers and residents alike, even in a state familiar with plane crashes, because of his pre-eminence in Alaska history: A decorated World War II pilot who survived a deadly 1978 plane crash, he was the longest-serving GOP senator in history and spent his 40-year Senate career bringing billions of federal dollars home. One failed effort — the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" — became part of his national legacy, as did convictions that helped foil his 2008 campaign but were later tossed out.

"He is one of the real giants," said Paul Brown, a consultant to nonprofits who was having lunch at an outdoor cafe in Anchorage. "He dedicated his life to this state."

Investigators arrived late Tuesday at the crash site outside Dillingham, located on Bristol Bay about 325 miles southwest of Anchorage. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, but the flights at Dillingham are often perilous through the mountains, even in good weather.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus said the plane, a 1957 DeHavilland DHC-3T registered to Anchorage-based General Communications Inc., took off at 2 p.m. Monday from a GCI corporate site on Lake Nerka, heading to the Agulowak Lodge on Lake Aleknagik.

He said the plane was flying by visual flight rules, and was not required to file a flight plan.

National Weather Service data shows that weather conditions deteriorated between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Monday — the approximate time the FAA said the plane took off. Visibility at Dillingham, the nearest observation area, was about 10 miles with overcast skies at 1:49 p.m.; it was 3 miles by 2:22, with light rain, fog and mist reported.

Volunteer pilots were dispatched around 7 p.m. after the plane was overdue at its destination. They came upon the wreckage about a half hour later, authorities said.

The weather soon took a turn for the worse, with heavy fog, clouds and rain blanketing the area and making it impossible for rescuers to arrive until after daybreak. O'Keefe, his son and two others were flown to the hospital. The O'Keefes had broken bones and other injuries, former NASA spokesman Glenn Mahone said.

Stevens and O'Keefe, 54, are fishing buddies who had been planning a trip near where the float plane crashed.

Alaska National Guard spokesman Maj. Guy Hayes offered no details about the survivors' conditions or their identities.

The bodies of Stevens and the other four victims remained at the scene Tuesday, investigators said.

The Stevens crash is the latest in a long line of aviation accidents to claim political figures over the years in the U.S., including Pennsylvania Sen. John Heinz in 1991, South Dakota Gov. George Mickelson in 1993, Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan in 2000 and Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone in 2002.

Plane crashes in Alaska are somewhat common because of the treacherous weather and mountainous terrain. Many parts of the state are not accessible by roads, forcing people to travel by air to reach their destinations.

In a similar accident by another GCI-owned plane, an amphibious, float-equipped Havilland plane flipped after landing on Lake Nerka in 2002. The pilot drowned and a passenger was injured. The plane was landing on the lake in front of the lodge when the accident occurred.

Stevens was one of two survivors in a 1978 plane crash at Anchorage International Airport that killed his wife, Ann, and several others. In 1972, Nick Begich, who was Alaska's only congressman, was killed when his plane disappeared over Alaska with then-House Majority Leader Hale Boggs of Louisiana.

"Alaska has lost one of its greatest statesmen and a true pioneer of our state with the passing of Senator Ted Sevens," said Begich's son, Mark, an Anchorage Democrat who narrowly defeated Stevens in 2008.

His counterpart, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, said the state had lost a hero and "I lost a dear friend," praising his service during World War II. He flew cargo planes over "the hump" in the Himalayas and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama called Stevens' widow, Catherine, on Tuesday afternoon to express his condolences.

"A decorated World War II veteran, Sen. Ted Stevens devoted his career to serving the people of Alaska and fighting for our men and women in uniform," Obama said in prepared remarks.

A moderate Republican, Stevens was appointed in December 1968 and became the longest-serving Republican in Senate history. (The late Strom Thurmond was in the Senate longer than Stevens, but he spent a decade there as a Democrat before switching to the GOP.)

Battle for Scimitar-Horned Oryx Airs on The High Road with Keith Warren
07-04-10
INGRAM, Texas — The federal court ruling that threatens the thoughtless extinction of the scimitar-horned oryx, as well as two other exotic species and a $1.3 billion industry, is receiving national attention. Award-winning television producer and host Keith Warren is putting the spotlight on the Exotic Wildlife Association (EWA) and its fight to preserve these majestic animals in a new episode of The High Road with Keith Warren. The show will air three times during the week of July 12, 2010, on the Pursuit Channel (Direct TV 608). Last year, the EWA appealed the ruling of Federal Judge Henry Kennedy who overturned a special rule by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department that allowed three antelope species to be born, raised and freely traded in the United States without the USFWD permitting process. Without the special rule, conservation efforts will most likely cease and the populations for the three species are expected to dramatically deminish. “The scimitar-horned oryx is a perfect example of how successful the special rules exemption has been to the species’ survival,” says Charly Seale, executive director of the Exotic Wildlife Association. “While these animals are all but gone in their native country, there are currently thousands of these amazing animals being cared for and raised on preserves and ranches across the country. Many endangered species are virtually extinct in their native lands, but are now flourishing in the United States because ranchers are able to buy, sell and breed the animals. “However, new federal regulations which are now pending could threaten the survival of these species,” adds Seale, “and could soon impact the ability to hunt other more common exotic species like Blackbuck, Axis deer, Aoudad and others. Preserving the current legal status of these species is critical to the survival of the species and our industry.” In July 2009, the judge ruled that three species — Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax, Dama Gazelle — which are born and raised in the United States, will no longer be exempted from their listing on the endangered species list and no longer freely traded without federal permits. The three species are classified as an endangered species, however, special rules enacted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2005 made it possible for owners of captive herds to purchase, sell, move and manage these animals on ranches across the United States. The program has been extremely successful, increasing the animals’ population by the thousands and adding $1.3 billion annually and thousands of jobs to the U.S. economy. The High Road airs three times a week on The Pursuit Channel (Direct TV 608), Friday at 12 a.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 8:30 p.m. Warren’s other program, Keith Warren’s Deer & Wildlife Stories also airs three times a week on the Pursuit Channel, showing on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 12 a.m. All times are EST. The EWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to leading wildlife conservation through commerce. As a part of its public education efforts, the EWA publishes a full-color bimonthly magazine, Exotic Wildlife, which updates EWA members on current legislative news and important issues impacting game management and private property rights. The EWA also hosts an annual meeting and video animal auction in March and the annual Trophy Game Records of the World Banquet in July. To learn more about the Exotic Wildlife Association or to donate to the Save Exotic Wildlife Fund, call 830.367.7761, email saveanimals@exoticwildlifeassociation.com or visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com. Headquartered in Ingram, Texas, the Exotic Wildlife Association is dedicated to encourage and to expand the conservation of indigenous and non-indigenous hoofstock animals, and to foster development of the alternative livestock market through agricultural diversity. For more information on EWA, call 830.367.7761 or visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com.

Keith Warren Named Speaker at Cervid Congress
07-26-10

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - Host of the popular Deer & Wildlife Stories outdoor program, Keith Warren will be a featured guest speaker at the 2010 Cervid Congress, an annual event bringing together representatives from national and state deer associations and businesses to discuss issues affecting the $3 billion per year deer industry.

Hosted by the Iowa Whitetail Deer Association, the national conference will be held on July 29-31, 2010 in Des Moines, Iowa.

“With our society becoming increasingly urbanized every day, it is more important that ever before to preserve our outdoor lifestyle and agricultural pursuits, and I’m very proud to support the men and women who work to improve the quality of our deer herds across North America,” says Keith Warren, a longtime proponent of the deer industry. “Deer farmers are at the forefront of whitetail research and working hand-in-hand with biologists and wildlife authorities on ways to improve deer health and management. We feature their efforts every week on our show, Deer & Wildlife Stories, and I’m excited to participate in the Cervid Congress this year.”

According to Economic Impact Study of the United States Cervid Farming Industry by Texas A&M University, the deer (aka cervid) industry includes nearly 10,000 facilities, mostly in rural areas of the nation. and generates $3 billion of economic activity while supporting nearly 30,000 jobs. These results highlight the fact that the cervid farming industry continues to be a vital contributor to the rural economies of the United States.

One of outdoor television’s most outspoken celebrities, Warren has been an advocate for outdoor participation for more than 25 years. Through his television programs, special guest appearances across the country, Facebook and other venues, Warren stresses to sportsmen the importance of ‘taking the High Road,” not only within the industry, but in their every day lives as well. The High Road is a positive message that focuses on the privileges that Americans enjoy because of those that blazed the trail of freedom. He recently received the 2009 Sportsman’s Choice Award at the Sportsman Channel's annual awards ceremony during the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show.

Warren currently produces Deer & Wildlife Stories and The High Road with Keith Warren. Deer & Wildlife Stories airs three times a week on The Pursuit Channel (Direct TV 608), Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 12 a.m. The High Road also airs three times a week on the Pursuit Channel, showing on Friday at 12 a.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 8:30 p.m.  All times are EST.

For more information about Keith Warren, his programs or for advertising/sponsorship opportunities, email troy@keithwarren.net or visit www.KeithWarren.net


Based in New Braunfels, Keith Warren Outdoor Adventures produces The High Road and Deer & Wildlife Stories programs, airing on The Pursuit Channel. Keith Warren productions are designed to encourage others to become actively involved in the outdoors as the ultimate conservationists and stewards of the land. For more information on Keith Warren Outdoor Adventures, visit www.KeithWarren.net.