Howl For Wildlife - HOWL CAST

FERAL HORSES in AZ an ongoing dilemma with Johnathan Fusaro

FERAL HORSES in AZ an ongoing dilemma with Johnatan Fusaro
WHY ARE THE ARIZONA SPORTSMEN FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND 32 SPORTSMEN ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTING THE HUMANE REMOVAL OF FERAL HORSES?
In 2011, The Wallow fire consumed vast portions of the Apache National Forest. It also destroyed parts of the White Mountain Apache Tribal lands (WMAT). With the fire, the boundary fences between the WMAT and the Apache National Forest were destroyed.  During the next 11 years, horses from the WMAT came over to the Apache National Forest and migrated to the portions of the riparian areas that are home to the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse and a recovery area for the Apache trout.
The photos that have been provided were taken by Dr. Robin Silver from the Center For Biological Diversity during 2019 and 2021. He documented that over 80% of the tracks and droppings were from horses.  While horse advocates may try to claim that the horses were there for centuries, the truth is that they have migrated from tribal lands since the Wallow fire to the forest and need to be removed.
During extensive studies for the Wild Horse and Burro act in 1971 and 1973, there was no evidence of wild / feral horses on the Apache National Forest. The feral horses are growing in numbers each year and the head count exceeds over 400 animals.  The habitat degradation that they have caused is severe and removal is the only means of rebuilding these areas for all wildlife.
 
READ THE FOREST SERVICE STATEMENTS HERE
READ FAQ's HERE
 
GROUPS IN SUPPORT OF THE HUMANE REMOVAL OF FERAL HORSES:The Arizona Sportsmen For Wildlife Conservation, The Center For Biological Diversity, Arizona Wildlife Federation, Anglers United, AZ Antelope Foundation, AZ Bass Nation, AZ Big Game Super Raffle, AZ Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, AZ Chapter of Safari Club International, AZ Council of Trout Unlimited, AZ Deer Association, AZ Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, AZ Elk Society, AZ Flycasters Club, AZ Houndsmen's Association, AZ Outdoor Adventures, AZ Outdoor Sports, AZ Predator Callers, AZ State Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation, Ben Avery Clay Busters, Christian Hunters of America, Diablo Trust, Maricopa Audubon Society, Mogollon Sporting Association, Mule Deer Foundation, No Excuse Hunting and Outdoors, Outdoor Experience 4 All, Southern AZ Quail Forever, Southwest Wildlife Foundation, SRT Outdoors, The Bass Federation of AZ. Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Valley of the Sun Quail Forever, Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club.

Is Az Deer herd struggling? with Terry Herndon

Terry gives us a run down of the current situation in AZ with its declining deer herd.
We talk about the current outlook
Some things we should be focused on 
And ways to get involved 
 
 
Terry Herndon of the Arizona Mule deer Organization 

Emergency Episode ! Blue Mtn Elk herd needs your help

We have Bart George on with us to discuss his lion research and the current situation we are facing in Washington.  Want to get involved click here or speak at the meeting  click here 
 
Content from: Northwest Sportsman |  Author: Andy Walgamott
WDFW is taking public comment over the next five weeks on a proposal to allow hunters to take a second mountain lion “in the areas where monitoring has shown a high level of cougar predation on elk calves in the Blue Mountain Elk herd.”
A COUGAR PEERS OUT OF A TREE IN NORTHEAST WASHINGTON. (WDFW)
GPS monitoring of young elk that began last spring show that just nine of 125 made it through this past never-ending winter, with 77 of their deaths attributed to predation, mostly by mountain lions.
The capture-collar effort will be repeated this spring, but it has also sparked calls from hunters and local officials to do something about the problem now.
Under WDFW’s proposal, hunters would be able to tag two of the big cats in what are known as Population Management Units 9, 10 and 11, which encompass Game Management Units 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181 and 186.
(WDFW)
That’s also the range of the Blue Mountains elk herd, which is classified as “at risk” under a recent population assessment because it has dropped so far below its management objective of 5,500 animals.
The decline began following the killer winter of 2016-17, but despite reduced permits for antlerless cows – the reproductive engine of the herd – numbers are not bouncing back as would be expected, and WDFW is pinning that on cougars, which accounted for 54 of the 77 dead calves. Bears, wolves, coyotes and even bobcats took down the rest.
This year’s aerial survey found 3,600 elk on the range and only 17 calves per 100 cows, well below levels needed to stabilize let alone rebuild this hard-bitten herd.
“This proposed rule is in response to a recent WDFW monitoring effort that showed higher than expected calf mortality attributed to cougar predation in the Blue Mountains,” said Anis Aoude, WDFW Game Division manager, in a press release. “We are seeking your feedback on this proposed rule change.” 
The agency “anticipates a corresponding increase in juvenile elk survival” if the increase is adopted and hunters harvest more cougars, but notes that it does not actually change the season structure in the Blues, where cats can be pursued during the September 1-December 31 general hunt and then from January 1-April 30 under a harvest management guideline that sets out a range of animals that can be taken.
In Population Management Unit 9, the northeastern Blue Mountains and foothills, that number is seven to nine cougars; in PMU 10, the range’s western side, that’s six or seven; and in PMU 11, its rugged southeastern face, it’s five or six. The ranges correspond to 12 to 16 percent of the cougar population.
Only one of the three PMUs – 10 – met the quota before the end of this year’s winter season.
Essentially, the proposal would allow the best cougar hunters to take a second one. A second transport tag would be required. (this is important to understand.  The real issue is there are no effective or efficient methods of take available, such as hunting with hounds, and the mountain lion quota as it stands today is not high enough to be effective for proper balance & management of Washington's wildlife).
Comment is being taken through June 25. You can do so via this link to WDFW’s input page, via email or snail mail to: WDFW Wildlife Program, PO Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504-3200.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission will also hold a public hearing on the proposal at its June 23-25 meeting, and is scheduled to make a final decision July 15.
What the commission does will be interesting.
The citizen panel that oversees WDFW policy has been increasingly loath to address predation, voting twice in the last six months to kill the limited-entry spring black bear hunt for 2022, which with its 158 tags in the Blues could have at least helped disrupt bruin predation on elk neonates during May’s birth pulse.
Last December a former and current member also suggested controversially the solution would be just to lower the elk herd objective and reduce hunting opportunities more.
By taking action below you'll be sending one of over 30 pre-drafted emails/comments to WDFW surrounding this subject.  Of course you can edit these emails to reflect if you are a resident that would be affected by this bill, or your own personal experience, etc...  Please be respectful.  

National outlook on deer herds in the US Kip Adams

In this episode we catch up with Kip Adams of Nation Deer Association 
Kip and I discuss the over deer herd health of North America.  
Kip breaks down CWD and EHD common deer diseases that are affecting deer herds. 
Some of the things we can do to mitigate spreading these diseases   
 

Action Center review 1

Once a month we will be diving into the current issues we sportsmen are facing. 
This month we break down:
 Bears in North Carolina
Land use restrictions in NJ
Federal land grab in the west
 Lead ammo ban in NY
and we touch on the elk and lion problem we are having in Washington
 
Howl For Wildlife - Action Center Review
 
Title:Action Center Review 1
Show Notes:
One of our bill researchers and content writers, Travis Halls, joins me for our Action Center Review. He has hands-on experience with some of the bills we’re working on in our action center. Bill season is typically January through April, but it’s mid-June and there’s still a lot going on. Travis gives us a rundown on the expansion of bear hunting in the western part of North Carolina. The commission decided that since the population is expanding, they opened up more areas, even in what were known as “sanctuaries” and off-limits. This ruffled some feathers within animal rights groups.
 
We then get into Utah’s “Houses Act”, which was introduced to the Senate in April. The bill was put forth to propose to take some federally managed land and free it up for purchase from state and local municipalities. It would make the land affordable, which would then sell to developers for housing. If the bill goes through, it will pose a risk for wildlife habitation. This isn’t just a Utah thing, and it’s happening in other areas. 
 
Speaking of land use issues, in New Jersey, there’s a bill currently in the NJ house that takes an existing buffer zone from 150 yards from a residential area to 400 yards. It also requires private landowners to inform adjacent landowners of their intent to hunt. Before you can start hunting, you’d have to receive some sort of acknowledgement from your neighbors. We talk about how this kind of rule impacts the hunting community.
 
Another current topic is the lead ammo ban in New York State. While banning lead bullets seems like a good idea, it can discourage people from hunting. Lead is a lot cheaper than ammo like copper. Travis and I close out with a discussion on what’s going on in Washington with elk and lion. 
What’s Inside:
Expansion of bear hunting in North Carolina and challenges.
The proposed Utah Houses Act and long-term implications for wildlife.
New Jersey land restriction rules.
Lead ammo ban in New York.
Elk and lion problem in Washington.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Howl For Wildlife
Short Description:. 
Travis Hall is a bill researcher and content writer and together, we go through our current Action Center Review. It’s mid-June and there’s still so much happening in terms of bills. Travis and I go through several topics, including the expansion of bear hunting in NC, the federal land grab in the west, land use restrictions in NJ, and the lead ammo ban in NY. 
 
Tags:
Bills, land restrictions, bear hunting, lead ammo, land use, federal land, deer hunting, hunting community, howl for wildlife, 
 

What’s Wrong with SB856 Charles Whitwam and Mike Costello

Charles Whitwam and Mike jam on the issues, problems and outright threats embedded in SB856. This California legislation has some shiny and attractive bait to attract hunters' attention, but the boring sections of the Senate Bill are NOT GOOD for California hunters, outdoors enthusiasts, farmers and ranchers. OPPOSE SB856. 
New Original episodes coming soon!
 

John Chats with Sam Ayers about AZ lion hunting

Earlier this year AZ was under attack during the open comment period of AZGFD guidelines meetings . Anti-hunting groups organized to try to get rid of Lion , bear and bobcat hunting. John And Sam discuss the issue... New Original episodes coming soon!
Let your voice be heard.. Protect the North American Model of Conservation 
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