I just read an article about some teens from Minnesota that killed 100 Coots

Two juvenile teen brothers from Laporte and another juvenile teen from Akeley have been fined $1,600 and placed on probation after pleading guilty on Feb. 4 to killing 109 American Coots. Coots are defined as migratory game birds and protected by both state and federal law.

I really believe that kids today are being desensitized to violence and killing by video games and media. I think if more kids got off the couch and out in the field with a parent or mentor that could teach them the value of conservation these types of things wouldn't happen as often. What's your take on the issue?

Do you have some pictures of taxidermy projects you have completed or have you taken some pictures of unique taxidermy mounts? www.taxidermytube.com has just released a new photo gallery section that allows registered members of the site (Free Registration) to post pictures of taxidermy projects. "It is our hope that this becomes a gallery of inspiration for taxidermists across the globe" say Jon Ballard of Taxidermy Tube. To view the gallery please visit: http://www.taxidermytube.com/Resources/TaxidermyPhotoGallery/tabid/1003/Default.aspx

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced the distribution of more than $740 million to 56 state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies to fund fish and wildlife conservation efforts, boat access, shooting ranges, and hunter education.

The Funds are generated by federal excise taxes on purchases of firearms, ammunition, archery, and angling equipment and boat motor fuels.

It's great to see some of that money going back into conservation.

I read a feel good story that made my stomach turn today. The title of the article was: An Unusual Menu Item Is on Its Way to New York Soup Kitchens

The story was written by the "Editorial Board" of the New York Times and the first thing that strikes me as funny is the writer wasn't brave enough to sign their name. Anyway, the article was about how the Governer of New York was shutting down a state run pheasant breading operation and donating all the birds to a soup kitchen. The author went on to say that birds from this operation cost tax payers $100 each and they clipped the wings before releasing the birds into the field (No sources sited)

"In the past, the Reynolds Game Farm near Ithica raised pheasants that were released for bird hunters who could go out to the woods in season and shoot one of nature’s most elegant of winged creatures. (In most cases, these pheasants had their wings clipped, so in reality it was about as sporting as shooting squirrels in Central Park)."

You can read the complete article here:
http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/an-unusual-menu-item-is-on-its-way-to-new-york-soup-kitchens

I posted a comment but since I don't agree with them it will proabally never get published so I felt like I should rebut the article. Here are my comments on the issue:

If I had to guess I would say you have never been hunting in your life. Many of the states in the US raise and release pheasants for hunters. Were did you get your facts related to the wings of the birds being clipped? I have worked with 100’s of different bird breading operations across the country and none of them clip the birds wings. Hunters want birds that fly. The second point that you completely missed is that most of the money used to support these operations comes from hunters paying a special fee through their license purchase in the form of a pheasant stamp or habitat management fee. The fees collected help not only pay to support the game farms that raise the birds but also help pay to maintain undeveloped wild life areas and habitat restoration for hunters and non-hunters alike to enjoy. Not to mention all the people at the breeding operation that will be loosing their jobs and the revenue generated from hunters purchasing sporting goods, gas, lodging etc for their pheasant hunting trips. If you plan to write a article like this I suggest you check your facts and consider both sides of the coin.

Jon Ballard
http://www.gamebirdhunts.com

What do you think? Should states be cutting their budgets on pheasant breading operations with the economy the way it is currently?

There is a lot of bad news coming at us all the time these days but I just have to say I have a lot to be thankful for. A great wife and kids, health, great friends and the the blessing to hunt and fish.

Today (Thanksgiving 2008) my 4 year old son decided to join me in the woods for a little deer season. He did great. We didn't last long but he sat still and even thought he heard a deer. We didn't see anything today but the time spent was memorable for me and I hope it to be the first of many father son trips.

Some times all the bad news gets me down but that's not really what matters. Spend some time in the woods with some friends and family and remember what is really important.

Wisconsin Pheasant Hunting Season Opens Saturday.

Is anyone going? This year pheasant season opener is on the same day as a 2 day deer gun hunt. This T-zone hunt is for does only and is, in my opinion, yet another blunder by the Wisconsin DNR's in their attempt to control the deer population. But that is a good topic for another post. To get back on track here, the T-Zone hunt and pheasant opener are on the same day so if you get out were extra orange and get some orange on your dogs. The public grounds will have hunters on them hunting deer with rifles so be careful!

Here is a link to the 2008 Pheasant Stocking Information for Wisconsin Public Hunting Grounds

The whitetail deer's antlers are truly amazing. Did you know that a whitetails antlers are one of the the fastest growing tissues known to man and have been recorded to grow up to ½ inch per day? In some far eastern cultures deer antlers are even used for medicinal purposes. Want to be a hit at your next cocktail party? Learn more amazing facts about deer antlers

Ok, it will probably only impress a few people but it is still pretty interesting stuff. Maybe instead of a cocktail party you could use your new found wisdom at poker night.

The New Gamebirdhunts.com Hats Are Here. Pheasant Hunt In Style This Year!

Don't hit the field this season with out a new pheasant hunting hat from Game Bird Hunts. This adjustable hat is great quality and features a split cut out featuring Real Tree Hardwoods Camo on the bill. The Gamebirdhunts.com logo is embroidered onto the front. This hat would make a great gift for the pheasant hunter on your list. Be on the look out for hat give away's as well in the near future. $15/ Hat

Could 2007 soon be referred to as the good old days of pheasant hunting? It could unless we as hunters get involved in the new farm bill-

Why you ask???- The answer is the massive habitat losses year and into next year from the acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that are soon-to-expire and the high price of corn and beans.

So what can we do????- Contact your congress man or senator and tell them that you want a new strong farm bill that favors conservation. The Farm Bill will be introduced in the U.S. Senate soon, so get your butt going.

Did you know??? - CRP and other federal farmland conservation programs accounting for over 50 million acres nationwide. You have probably even chased some birds on this land over the past 10 years.

I borrowed some of this info from my buddies over at Pheasants Forever. To read their complete report please visit their site: www.pheasantsforever.com