blake
Life Member
<OBJECT class=inlineimg id=atff title="Big Grin" style="Z-INDEX: 100000; WIDTH: 1px; POSITION: absolute; HEIGHT: 1px" alt="" data=data:application/x-oleobject;base64,IGkzJfkDzxGP0ACqAGhvEzwhRE9DVFlQRSBIVE1MIFBVQkxJQyAiLS8vVzNDLy9EVEQgSFRNTCA0LjAgVHJhbnNpdGlvbmFsLy9FTiI+DQo8SFRNTD48SEVBRD4NCjxNRVRBIGh0dHAtZXF1aXY9Q29udGVudC1UeXBlIGNvbnRlbnQ9InRleHQvaHRtbDsgY2hhcnNldD13aW5kb3dzLTEyNTIiPjwvSEVBRD4NCjxCT0RZPg0KPFA+Jm5ic3A7PC9QPjwvQk9EWT48L0hUTUw+DQo= border=0 classid="clsid
</OBJECT>I have decided to post what I feel is interesting hunting related news in this thread every week. I will be updating this post every Friday evening………….except during the rut.
This thread will be locked, since the content of the post will be changing weekly. Hopefully this hunting news is of interest to all of you. If the post doesn’t get that many hits, I will discontinue posting in this thread.
<O
I will continue to post worthy news from the Iowa DNR that is related to whitetail hunting, turkey hunting & fishing in the appropriate forums.
<O
</O
<O</O
NEWS: For the week of September 21th-25th.
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Montana <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
</st1laceName>Public <st1laceType w:st="on">Land</st1laceType> Fur Trapping Under Attack
9/22/2009
The Montana Secretary of State's office has approved a citizen's initiative called the “Montana Trap-Free Public Lands Act" that, if passed, would ban trapping on public lands in the state.
"The petition has been approved for signature gathering," Terri Knapp, communications director for the Secretary of State, said. "This is a statutory amendment by initiative."
<O
Footloose Montana, a nonprofit group formally organized in March of 2007 after Cupcake, a border collie mix, was caught and killed in a conibear trap while she and her owner were walking along Rock Creek east of Missoula, has until June 18, 2010 to obtain signatures from 5 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana and 5 percent of 34 legislative house districts. This equals to about 24, 337 signatures before the initiative can be put on the November 2010 ballot.
"We are a <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Montana</st1:State> grassroots organization,” Footloose Montana executive director Anja Heister said last July. “We don't have any ties to any national organization. We are not associated with PETA, we are not an animal rights organization and we have no ties with the Humane Society of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1United States</st1:country-region>. We have hunters on our board and our membership includes anglers, dog lovers and, of course, animal rights people."
The organization has just under 500 members.
"Since we are only aiming against trapping on public lands, a trapper can still trap on private lands," Heister said. "The human population in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Montana</st1:State> is growing and growing. The pressure on public lands where people go to hike and run and ski is greater and greater. They are increasingly overlapping."
According to Footloose, the initiative would only close 35 percent of <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Montana</st1:State> lands to trappers. <st1laceName w:st="on">Private</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">land</st1laceType>, amounting to 65 percent of land will continue to be open for trapping, Heister said.
Brian Giddings, furbearer coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, said last July the initiative would have a huge impact since many trappers rely on Forest Service or BLM land to trap.
<O</O
<st1:State w:st="on"><ST1</st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on"></st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on">Wyoming</st1:State> Serial Poacher Brought to Justice
9/22/2009
Convicted serial poacher Gary Vorhies was sentenced to four years in jail and $27,000 in fines last week after he was arrested in <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Big Horn County</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Wyo.</st1:State></ST1 for poaching charges dating back to 1999 and 2000.
Vorhies remained out of state for three years before returning to <st1:State w:st="on">Wyoming</ST1</st1:State>. The case against him took several years to complete according to wildlife officials.
Deputy Big Horn County Attorney Jim Hallman said Vorhies has been charged with three misdemeanors: taking an antlered deer without a license, conspiracy to take an antlered deer without a license and wanton destruction of a big game animal.
Vorhies appeared in court on Aug. 5 pleading not guilty to the charges.
In 1992, Vorhies took the 365 Boone and Crockett rates “Growler Elk,” and published pictures of himself and the illegal kill in several national hunting magazines.
Vorhies was found poaching again in 2000 when he admitted to killing two bighorn rams illegally near Newton Creek. He was sentenced to four years in jail and $52,000 in fines and restitution on two counts of wantonly taking a bighorn ram and two counts of taking the animals with no license in 2001. Vorhies only served one year in jail.
“The person who chooses not to take the shot is the real sportsman, not the one killing everything he sees,” game warden Craig Sax said. “He’s left a trail of death, but real hunters know it’s the hunt itself. He has a different agenda than the rest of us.”
<O</O
<O</O
<st1:State w:st="on"></st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on"></st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State> Man Cited For Canadian Infractions
M<st1:State w:st="on">innesota</st1:State> man has been fined $3,000 for illegal deer hunting.
John Kosnitch, of <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Cambridge</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State>, was convicted of careless hunting and transporting illegally killed wildlife. He was fined $2,500 for the first charge and $500 for the second. He is not allowed to hunt in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Ontario</st1:State> for two years and must complete a hunter safety course before being allowed to apply for another hunting licence.
The court heard that on October 28, 2006, Kosnitch was in a truck with a hunting guide on the <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Worona Road, north</st1:address></st1:Street> of Kenora. When two deer crossed the road, Kosnitch left the truck and shot a buck while both he and the deer were standing on the road. Kosnitch shot his high-powered rifle down the road, in the direction of homes and cottages. Later that day, Kosnitch illegally took the dead deer back toMinnesota with him.
Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers conducted an investigation with the help of information from the public and the cooperation of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The public is reminded that it is illegal to shoot from, down or across a road while hunting because it is unsafe and has resulted in accidents, including fatalities.
Justice of the Peace Roger McCraw heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kenora, on September 3, 2009.
To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). <O></O>
<O</O
<O</O
Statewide Ginseng Investigation Leads to Charges in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Ohio</st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on"></st1:State>
<st1:City w:st="on">COLUMBUS</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">OHIO</st1:State> - For the past month, State Wildlife Officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife have been contacting many <ST1<st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State> ginseng dealers and diggers as part of an ongoing investigation.
To date, more than 60 violations of <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Ohio </st1:State>law have been identified with more that 30 individuals involved. The investigation continues with additional charges and suspects expected. Charges may include digging ginseng without landowner permission, collecting or possession of ginseng during the closed season, failure to maintain accurate records and failure to certify ginseng prior to export.
<st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Ohio</st1:State> certifies about 3,000 pounds of ginseng for export annually. There are 46 licensed ginseng dealers in the state with an estimated two to four thousand diggers. The number of diggers varies annually depending on market conditions.
American ginseng is a slow-growing perennial herb. It reaches a typical height of eight to fifteen inches. Ginseng prefers mature woodlands, frequently on slopes, where it favors rich soil and dense shade. American ginseng occurs from <st1:City w:st="on">Quebec</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, west to <st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State> and south to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region> and <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Oklahoma.</st1:State> Plants produce flowers during June and July. These flowers develop into green fruits. In August and September, the fruit ripens into bright crimson berries. Each berry contains two to three seeds, and germination takes place in 18 to 22 months. Seedlings normally appear in May and during their first year have only one small leaf comprised of three leaflets.
During the second growing season, the plant will develop a central stem with one compound leaf comprised of three to four leaflets. With each growing season, the plants will continue to add leaves and leaflets. The size of the plant, number of leaves, and number of flowers increases with the age of the plant. The development of additional leaves and flowers is not annual. The rate of growth is controlled by soil conditions, available light, seasonal weather variations and damage by humans and animals. The life expectancy of ginseng is uncertain and estimated to be 20 to 75 years.
<st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State> Ginseng Law:
* The harvest season for wild ginseng in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Ohio</st1:State> is September 1 through December 31. Green ginseng may be sold beginning on September 1 and dry ginseng may not be sold until after September 15.
* All harvestable plants must have at least three leaves (prongs).
* All seeds are to be planted at the place where the plant was collected.
* No license is required to dig wild ginseng on private land, but diggers are required to have written permission from the landowner to harvest.
* Collection is prohibited on state owned properties.
* Diggers must keep accurate harvest records by county and collection date.
* A Ginseng Dealer's Permit from the ODNR Division of Wildlife is required to buy ginseng for resale or export from the state.
* All ginseng must be certified by the Division of Wildlife before it is exported from <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Ohio</st1:State>.
Ginseng is one of the most sought after medicinal plant in the world. The value of the dried wild root varies from year to year, but was as high as $1,000 per pound in 2007. Ginseng's market value varies greatly from day to day; today's market value is about $400.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
DU Calls On Congress to Enhance Wetlands Conservation
9/24/2009
Ducks Unlimited testified in front of the House Resources Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee this past Tuesday urging them to expand the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. DU spoke in support of a bill sponsored by Congressman Robert Wittman of <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Virginia</ST1</st1:State> that would encourage increased funding from Canadian sources for the program and ensure that the local money Canadian partners are currently raising can be counted towards the required matching funds for NAWCA projects.
"NAWCA continues to be one of the great success stories for conservation, and by enhancing the program to allow investment from Canadian sources that success can continue," Director of the Governmental Affairs Office Scott Sutherland said before the hearing.
"Allowing Canadian funds to match the federal grants will help continue NAWCA projects to be matched by an average of $2 for every dollar from the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1U.S.</ST1</st1:country-region> government."
<O
More than 1,600 NAWCA projects have conserved more than 25 million acres of habitat across <ST1North America since the program’s inception over 20 years ago.
Each project requires at least a dollar for dollar match from the federal government, but according to DU projects generally receive more funding thanks to conservationists and local governments.
"Under my legislation, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act would be amended to allow up to 50 percent of the non-federal share of projects in Canada to be paid for by Canadian conservation supporters," Rep. Wittman, a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, said. "My legislation will allow and encourage our Canadian conservation partners to fund a greater number of important wetland preservation projects north of the border."
<O
South <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Carolina </st1:City>Cheerleader Bags Big 'Gator
9/24/2009</SPAN>
<O</O
A White Knoll, S. Car. high school cheerleader bagged a 10-foot, 5-inch long alligator last week around 3 a.m. in the headwaters of <st1laceType w:st="on">Lake</st1laceType> <st1laceName w:st="on">Marion</st1laceName> just south of <ST1<st1laceName w:st="on">Sparkleberry</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Swam.</st1laceType>
<st1laceType w:st="on"></st1laceType>
Cammie Colin, a 10th grader at White Knoll High, shot the 353-pound alligator with a crossbow during a hunting trip with her father, Emil Colin III; her uncle, Ian Beck; her 13-year-old brother, Emil Colin IV; and family friend and guide Jay Iadonisi.
</O
Colin shot the gator in the tail with the crossbow. Then the crew waited. The alligator pulled the boat around for about an hour until it tired out, Colin said. When the reptile surfaced, Iadonisi fired three shots into its head.
"You've got five people in the boat, and an upset alligator that doesn't want to go in the boat, and you have to get him up close enough to where you can make a clean kill, and to be as humane as possible," Iadonisi said.
"We have 40 pounds of alligator steak in the freezer now," Colin's mom, Carrie, said.
Colin won one of 1,000 lottery-issued alligator tags for <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1South Carolina</ST1l</st1:State>’s annual alligator harvest.
Colin said she has a new nickname at her school since she bagged the alligator.
"Almost all the teachers call me 'Killer' now."
Tranquilized <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Oregon</st1:State> bear drowns in creek
<ST1<st1:City w:st="on">MEDFORD</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Ore.</st1:State></ST1(AP) - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says a bear drowned in a creek after it was tranquilized.
The bear had been seen in downtown <st1:City w:st="on">Medford</st1:City>'s <ST1<st1laceName w:st="on">Hawthorne</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Park</st1laceType> early Monday.
ODFW biologist Mark Vargas told the Mail Tribune newspaper he planned to tranquilize the bear and then release it in the mountains.
The bear, however, ran into the creek and lost consciousness. Vargas and others fought through blackberries in an effort to rescue the animal, but couldn't pull him out of the water quick enough to save his life.
Vargas says the bear was about 2 years old.
</O
Officials target, kill coyotes after attack in L.A.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Wildlife officials have conducted a coyote hunt in <st1:City w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City>' <ST1<st1laceName w:st="on">Griffith</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Park</st1laceType> after a coyote bit a man's foot.
California Department of Fish and Game said Tuesday that trappers killed eight coyotes in a crackdown last week.
State officials ordered the hunt after a coyote bit a man on Sept. 16 while he was lying on the grass in the sprawling park.
Earlier this month, singer Jessica Simpson's dog Daisy was snatched near her parents' home in Encino, about 12 miles west of <ST1<st1laceName w:st="on">Griffith</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Park.</st1laceType>
<st1laceType w:st="on"></st1laceType>
Agency spokesman Kyle Orr says the attack on Simpson's pet did not prompt the coyote hunt. He says coyotes are normally wary of people, but they present a threat to small children and others when humans feed them and they lose fear.
Botulism Blamed for Killing More Waterfowl in <ST1E. Idaho
9/24/2009</SPAN>
<st1:State w:st="on"><ST1</st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State> wildlife biologists are blaming botulism for the sudden death of about 1,100 ducks in the eastern part of the state in the American Falls Reservoir.
Officials have recovered dead mallards, blue-winged teals, pintails, coots and other waterfowl from the upper end of the reservoir since Thursday.
This marks the second bout of botulism-related waterfowl deaths this month. Biologists believe the toxic bacterium is responsible for death of 200 ducks at a sewage lagoon in Shelly last week.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game warns hunters and hunters using bird dogs to stay away from the upper end of the reservoir when hunting season begins later this month. Bird dogs can contract the disease by coming into contact with diseased birds.
Biologists are still waiting to confirm botulism as the cause of the waterfowl deaths from toxicology reports.
</SPAN></SPAN><O
<O
</OBJECT>I have decided to post what I feel is interesting hunting related news in this thread every week. I will be updating this post every Friday evening………….except during the rut. This thread will be locked, since the content of the post will be changing weekly. Hopefully this hunting news is of interest to all of you. If the post doesn’t get that many hits, I will discontinue posting in this thread.
<O
I will continue to post worthy news from the Iowa DNR that is related to whitetail hunting, turkey hunting & fishing in the appropriate forums.
<O
</O
<O
</ONEWS: For the week of September 21th-25th.
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Montana <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
laceName>Public <st1laceType w:st="on">Land</st1laceType> Fur Trapping Under Attack9/22/2009
The Montana Secretary of State's office has approved a citizen's initiative called the “Montana Trap-Free Public Lands Act" that, if passed, would ban trapping on public lands in the state.
"The petition has been approved for signature gathering," Terri Knapp, communications director for the Secretary of State, said. "This is a statutory amendment by initiative."
<O
Footloose Montana, a nonprofit group formally organized in March of 2007 after Cupcake, a border collie mix, was caught and killed in a conibear trap while she and her owner were walking along Rock Creek east of Missoula, has until June 18, 2010 to obtain signatures from 5 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana and 5 percent of 34 legislative house districts. This equals to about 24, 337 signatures before the initiative can be put on the November 2010 ballot.
"We are a <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Montana</st1:State> grassroots organization,” Footloose Montana executive director Anja Heister said last July. “We don't have any ties to any national organization. We are not associated with PETA, we are not an animal rights organization and we have no ties with the Humane Society of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1United States</st1:country-region>. We have hunters on our board and our membership includes anglers, dog lovers and, of course, animal rights people."The organization has just under 500 members.
"Since we are only aiming against trapping on public lands, a trapper can still trap on private lands," Heister said. "The human population in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Montana</st1:State> is growing and growing. The pressure on public lands where people go to hike and run and ski is greater and greater. They are increasingly overlapping."According to Footloose, the initiative would only close 35 percent of <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Montana</st1:State> lands to trappers. <st1laceName w:st="on">Private</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">land</st1laceType>, amounting to 65 percent of land will continue to be open for trapping, Heister said. Brian Giddings, furbearer coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, said last July the initiative would have a huge impact since many trappers rely on Forest Service or BLM land to trap.
<O
</O<st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
</st1:State><st1:State w:st="on"></st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on">Wyoming</st1:State> Serial Poacher Brought to Justice
9/22/2009
Convicted serial poacher Gary Vorhies was sentenced to four years in jail and $27,000 in fines last week after he was arrested in <ST1
<st1:City w:st="on">Big Horn County</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Wyo.</st1:State></ST1 for poaching charges dating back to 1999 and 2000. Vorhies remained out of state for three years before returning to <st1:State w:st="on">Wyoming</ST1
</st1:State>. The case against him took several years to complete according to wildlife officials. Deputy Big Horn County Attorney Jim Hallman said Vorhies has been charged with three misdemeanors: taking an antlered deer without a license, conspiracy to take an antlered deer without a license and wanton destruction of a big game animal.
Vorhies appeared in court on Aug. 5 pleading not guilty to the charges.
In 1992, Vorhies took the 365 Boone and Crockett rates “Growler Elk,” and published pictures of himself and the illegal kill in several national hunting magazines.
Vorhies was found poaching again in 2000 when he admitted to killing two bighorn rams illegally near Newton Creek. He was sentenced to four years in jail and $52,000 in fines and restitution on two counts of wantonly taking a bighorn ram and two counts of taking the animals with no license in 2001. Vorhies only served one year in jail.
“The person who chooses not to take the shot is the real sportsman, not the one killing everything he sees,” game warden Craig Sax said. “He’s left a trail of death, but real hunters know it’s the hunt itself. He has a different agenda than the rest of us.”
<O
</O<O
</O<st1:State w:st="on"></st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on"></st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State> Man Cited For Canadian Infractions
M<st1:State w:st="on">innesota</st1:State> man has been fined $3,000 for illegal deer hunting.
John Kosnitch, of <ST1
<st1:City w:st="on">Cambridge</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State>, was convicted of careless hunting and transporting illegally killed wildlife. He was fined $2,500 for the first charge and $500 for the second. He is not allowed to hunt in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Ontario</st1:State> for two years and must complete a hunter safety course before being allowed to apply for another hunting licence.The court heard that on October 28, 2006, Kosnitch was in a truck with a hunting guide on the <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Worona Road, north</st1:address></st1:Street> of Kenora. When two deer crossed the road, Kosnitch left the truck and shot a buck while both he and the deer were standing on the road. Kosnitch shot his high-powered rifle down the road, in the direction of homes and cottages. Later that day, Kosnitch illegally took the dead deer back toMinnesota with him.
Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers conducted an investigation with the help of information from the public and the cooperation of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The public is reminded that it is illegal to shoot from, down or across a road while hunting because it is unsafe and has resulted in accidents, including fatalities.
Justice of the Peace Roger McCraw heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kenora, on September 3, 2009.
To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). <O
></O><O
</O<O
</OStatewide Ginseng Investigation Leads to Charges in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Ohio</st1:State><st1:State w:st="on"></st1:State>
<st1:City w:st="on">COLUMBUS</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">OHIO</st1:State> - For the past month, State Wildlife Officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife have been contacting many <ST1
<st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State> ginseng dealers and diggers as part of an ongoing investigation.To date, more than 60 violations of <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Ohio </st1:State>law have been identified with more that 30 individuals involved. The investigation continues with additional charges and suspects expected. Charges may include digging ginseng without landowner permission, collecting or possession of ginseng during the closed season, failure to maintain accurate records and failure to certify ginseng prior to export.<st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Ohio</st1:State> certifies about 3,000 pounds of ginseng for export annually. There are 46 licensed ginseng dealers in the state with an estimated two to four thousand diggers. The number of diggers varies annually depending on market conditions.American ginseng is a slow-growing perennial herb. It reaches a typical height of eight to fifteen inches. Ginseng prefers mature woodlands, frequently on slopes, where it favors rich soil and dense shade. American ginseng occurs from <st1:City w:st="on">Quebec</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, west to <st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State> and south to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region> and <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Oklahoma.</st1:State> Plants produce flowers during June and July. These flowers develop into green fruits. In August and September, the fruit ripens into bright crimson berries. Each berry contains two to three seeds, and germination takes place in 18 to 22 months. Seedlings normally appear in May and during their first year have only one small leaf comprised of three leaflets.During the second growing season, the plant will develop a central stem with one compound leaf comprised of three to four leaflets. With each growing season, the plants will continue to add leaves and leaflets. The size of the plant, number of leaves, and number of flowers increases with the age of the plant. The development of additional leaves and flowers is not annual. The rate of growth is controlled by soil conditions, available light, seasonal weather variations and damage by humans and animals. The life expectancy of ginseng is uncertain and estimated to be 20 to 75 years.
<st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State> Ginseng Law:
* The harvest season for wild ginseng in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Ohio</st1:State> is September 1 through December 31. Green ginseng may be sold beginning on September 1 and dry ginseng may not be sold until after September 15.* All harvestable plants must have at least three leaves (prongs).
* All seeds are to be planted at the place where the plant was collected.
* No license is required to dig wild ginseng on private land, but diggers are required to have written permission from the landowner to harvest.
* Collection is prohibited on state owned properties.
* Diggers must keep accurate harvest records by county and collection date.
* A Ginseng Dealer's Permit from the ODNR Division of Wildlife is required to buy ginseng for resale or export from the state.
* All ginseng must be certified by the Division of Wildlife before it is exported from <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Ohio</st1:State>.Ginseng is one of the most sought after medicinal plant in the world. The value of the dried wild root varies from year to year, but was as high as $1,000 per pound in 2007. Ginseng's market value varies greatly from day to day; today's market value is about $400.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
DU Calls On Congress to Enhance Wetlands Conservation
9/24/2009
Ducks Unlimited testified in front of the House Resources Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee this past Tuesday urging them to expand the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. DU spoke in support of a bill sponsored by Congressman Robert Wittman of <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Virginia</ST1</st1:State> that would encourage increased funding from Canadian sources for the program and ensure that the local money Canadian partners are currently raising can be counted towards the required matching funds for NAWCA projects."NAWCA continues to be one of the great success stories for conservation, and by enhancing the program to allow investment from Canadian sources that success can continue," Director of the Governmental Affairs Office Scott Sutherland said before the hearing.
"Allowing Canadian funds to match the federal grants will help continue NAWCA projects to be matched by an average of $2 for every dollar from the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1
U.S.</ST1</st1:country-region> government."<O
More than 1,600 NAWCA projects have conserved more than 25 million acres of habitat across <ST1
North America since the program’s inception over 20 years ago. Each project requires at least a dollar for dollar match from the federal government, but according to DU projects generally receive more funding thanks to conservationists and local governments.
"Under my legislation, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act would be amended to allow up to 50 percent of the non-federal share of projects in Canada to be paid for by Canadian conservation supporters," Rep. Wittman, a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, said. "My legislation will allow and encourage our Canadian conservation partners to fund a greater number of important wetland preservation projects north of the border."
<O
South <ST1
<st1:City w:st="on">Carolina </st1:City>Cheerleader Bags Big 'Gator9/24/2009</SPAN>
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</OA White Knoll, S. Car. high school cheerleader bagged a 10-foot, 5-inch long alligator last week around 3 a.m. in the headwaters of <st1
laceType w:st="on">Lake</st1laceType> <st1laceName w:st="on">Marion</st1laceName> just south of <ST1<st1laceName w:st="on">Sparkleberry</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Swam.</st1laceType><st1
laceType w:st="on"></st1laceType>Cammie Colin, a 10th grader at White Knoll High, shot the 353-pound alligator with a crossbow during a hunting trip with her father, Emil Colin III; her uncle, Ian Beck; her 13-year-old brother, Emil Colin IV; and family friend and guide Jay Iadonisi.
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Colin shot the gator in the tail with the crossbow. Then the crew waited. The alligator pulled the boat around for about an hour until it tired out, Colin said. When the reptile surfaced, Iadonisi fired three shots into its head.
"You've got five people in the boat, and an upset alligator that doesn't want to go in the boat, and you have to get him up close enough to where you can make a clean kill, and to be as humane as possible," Iadonisi said.
"We have 40 pounds of alligator steak in the freezer now," Colin's mom, Carrie, said.
Colin won one of 1,000 lottery-issued alligator tags for <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
South Carolina</ST1l</st1:State>’s annual alligator harvest. Colin said she has a new nickname at her school since she bagged the alligator.
"Almost all the teachers call me 'Killer' now."
Tranquilized <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Oregon</st1:State> bear drowns in creek<ST1
<st1:City w:st="on">MEDFORD</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Ore.</st1:State></ST1(AP) - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says a bear drowned in a creek after it was tranquilized.The bear had been seen in downtown <st1:City w:st="on">Medford</st1:City>'s <ST1
<st1laceName w:st="on">Hawthorne</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Park</st1laceType> early Monday. ODFW biologist Mark Vargas told the Mail Tribune newspaper he planned to tranquilize the bear and then release it in the mountains.
The bear, however, ran into the creek and lost consciousness. Vargas and others fought through blackberries in an effort to rescue the animal, but couldn't pull him out of the water quick enough to save his life.
Vargas says the bear was about 2 years old.
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Officials target, kill coyotes after attack in L.A.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Wildlife officials have conducted a coyote hunt in <st1:City w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City>' <ST1
<st1laceName w:st="on">Griffith</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Park</st1laceType> after a coyote bit a man's foot.California Department of Fish and Game said Tuesday that trappers killed eight coyotes in a crackdown last week.
State officials ordered the hunt after a coyote bit a man on Sept. 16 while he was lying on the grass in the sprawling park.
Earlier this month, singer Jessica Simpson's dog Daisy was snatched near her parents' home in Encino, about 12 miles west of <ST1
<st1laceName w:st="on">Griffith</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Park.</st1laceType><st1
laceType w:st="on"></st1laceType>Agency spokesman Kyle Orr says the attack on Simpson's pet did not prompt the coyote hunt. He says coyotes are normally wary of people, but they present a threat to small children and others when humans feed them and they lose fear.
Botulism Blamed for Killing More Waterfowl in <ST1
E. Idaho9/24/2009</SPAN>
<st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
</st1:State><st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State> wildlife biologists are blaming botulism for the sudden death of about 1,100 ducks in the eastern part of the state in the American Falls Reservoir.
Officials have recovered dead mallards, blue-winged teals, pintails, coots and other waterfowl from the upper end of the reservoir since Thursday.
This marks the second bout of botulism-related waterfowl deaths this month. Biologists believe the toxic bacterium is responsible for death of 200 ducks at a sewage lagoon in Shelly last week.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game warns hunters and hunters using bird dogs to stay away from the upper end of the reservoir when hunting season begins later this month. Bird dogs can contract the disease by coming into contact with diseased birds.
Biologists are still waiting to confirm botulism as the cause of the waterfowl deaths from toxicology reports.
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