WSF Mountain Minutes

Drawing completed for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat licenses

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

Wyoming's version of the lottery was held recently with 733 resident and nonresident hunters hitting the jackpot in the annual drawings for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat licenses. Game and Fish records show that 485 moose licenses were issued, 399 of which went to residents for overall drawing odds of 4.3 percent. Nonresidents received 86 licenses for a total drawing percentage of 5.9 percent.

Your 2013 IRA distributions can be tax-free

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

The new tax law enacted by Congress allows individuals 70½ or older to make tax-free IRA distributions up to $100,000 if made directly to charitable organizations. It's a way for individuals who will be taking their 2013 minimum distribution to withdraw all or a part of it tax-free. For more information, please contact Gray N. Thornton, Wild Sheep Foundation's president and CEO, at gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org or 307-527-6261.

Desert Bighorn Sheep workshop applications due June 14

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

The Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman office is set to host two, two-day Desert Bighorn Sheep workshops July 26-26 and Aug. 2-3. The first night of the workshop is mandatory classroom education from 6 to 8 p.m. The second day provides the opportunity for a four-hour boat ride on the Colorado River beginning at 10:30 a.m. The excursion will take participants between Willow Beach and the Hoover Dam.

Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation's 30th Annual Convention and Fundraiser

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

The Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation is one of 13 chapters of the Wild Sheep Foundation, whose purpose is to "promote and enhance increasing populations of indigenous wild sheep on the North American continent, to safeguard against the decline or extinction of such species and fund programs for professional management of these populations, keeping all administrative costs to a minimum." In recent years, efforts of the Foundation and its state chapters and affiliate organizations have expanded beyond the needs of wild sheep to include all wildlife, its habitat and support of sportsmen's rights.

New Mexico seeks court ruling on bighorn sheep, ibex and oryx hunting license quotas

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

The New Mexico Game and Fish Department asked a federal court to lift a decades-old order preventing the agency from providing New Mexico residents with the majority of annual licenses to hunt bighorn sheep, ibex and oryx. The department wants the U.S. District Court to lift an injunction in place since 1977, when the court determined that New Mexico discriminated against out-of-state hunters by limiting licenses that would be issued to them for the three species.

Wild Sheep Foundation to sponsor B&C event

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

The Wild Sheep Foundation has stepped forward to sponsor one of North America's longest-running celebrations of big-game conservation and management — the Boone and Crockett Club 28th Big Game Awards, July 17-20 in Reno, Nev. The triennial event will be held at the Silver Legacy Hotel in Reno. It features a public exhibition of World's Records, Top 5 trophies and records-book specimens taken by hunters age 16 and under during the past three years.

New gun control bill inspired by latest James Bond movie 'Skyfall'

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

A House Democrat inspired by the last James Bond movie has offered legislation to produce handguns with "personalization technology." The idea is to produce guns that can only be used by the gun's owners. Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., cited the latest James Bond movie, "Skyfall," as inspiration for the bill.

Little risk to population in late-day gobbler hunts

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

The science behind afternoon spring gobbler hunting has little to do with gobblers. It's all about the hens. Traditional conservation theory held that by mid-May, morning breeding activity was waning and after noon hens were settled on their nests incubating eggs. Approaching hunters could frighten hens off the nests, leaving the unprotected eggs vulnerable to predation.

Police chief asks citizens for ammo, gets 1,500 round loan amid strong response

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

As the "Great Ammunition Shortage" continues, police departments across the country are struggling to supply their arsenals. One police chief turned to the community for help, and citizens stepped up. In Proctor, Minn., police chief Walter Wobig says that his suppliers have told him he'll have to wait "months" for the 1,000 rounds he's requested.

1st time hunt program in Oregon guarantees big game tag for youth

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

Youth in Oregon must apply in the regular controlled hunt draw and not draw a tag. Once a youth draws a tag in a series, they are no longer eligible for the “First Time Hunt” program for that series.

New Mexico Game and Fish asks court to vacate big game residency ruling

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

The Department of Game and Fish filed a motion seeking to have the U.S. District Court vacate an injunction from 1977 that prevents New Mexico from allocating ibex, oryx and bighorn sheep licenses based on residency.

SuperTag chances on sale

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

Montana's SuperTag chances are on sale. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hopes to beat last year's sales that topped 76,400 SuperTag chances sold.

Antler art — Senior project incorporates hunting

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

Combining the love of hunting and a high school art project might be unusual, but not for Mimi Sams, a senior at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas. The Art Studio class project required creating a collection of art with a theme, so a hunting theme seemed suitable for the daughter of Lone Star Outdoor News founder David J. Sams. "I wanted it to be something that reflected my life, and to do something different from paintings or clay sculptures," Mimi said. "And I wanted something that related to my lifestyle and hunting experiences."

1st time hunt program in Oregon guarantees big game tag for youth

21 May 2013 15:09:39 CDT

Youth in Oregon must apply in the regular controlled hunt draw and not draw a tag. Once a youth draws a tag in a series, they are no longer eligible for the "First Time Hunt" program for that series. After failing to draw a tag, youth should apply for a guaranteed First Time Hunt from July 1 – Sept. 1. Fill out the application and submit to Licensing Division. Youth must choose a hunt that meets the minimum tag allocation. ODFW posts eligible hunts on the First Time Hunt page in late June of each year.