billrquimby

Good luck to you, Ajohunter. My wife broke her ankle when she slipped and fell on the ice on our cabin's deck after that early snow we had in Greer October 17. They removed the cast three weeks ago, but she still must use a walker. It may be another three months before she's walking as she did before the accident, the doctor says. Meanwhile, I've been doing the housework, laundry, shopping and cooking. I never realized how much work she did until I had to take over. Bill Quimby

In the late 1960s, two friends and I found our way to a place called Pigeon Canyon on the Arizona Strip and built a camp the day before the season opened. We left on foot at first light -- this was before we hunted with our eyes instead of our feet -- when the season opened and began climbing a high ridge above our camp. It wasn't long before we were separated. We'd been hiking for maybe 30 minutes when I stopped and glassed across the canyon and saw several bucks. What I should have done is find my friends and tell them where I was going, but I didn't. Before I got to where I'd seen the deer I had to cross a shale-covered slope. I started across and the whole mess started sliding and took me over a small cliff, and I landed on my back, knocking the wind out of me. When I realized how lucky I was that no bones were broken I also realized what would have happened if I were unable to walk. My friends would have searched for me a mile away across that wide canyon and would never have imagined I'd gone where I did. The Arizona Strip was a heck of a lot more remote 40 years ago than it is today and my bones could still be up there.

Leave the .300 and .270 home and use your 7 mag. You can take it around the world and collect everything that walks (except Cape buffalo and elephant -- it's not legal for them anywhere they can be hunted) by tailoring bullet weight and type to your game. Bill Quimby

In August 2007, President Bush issued an executive order directing all federal agencies to develop a 10-year plan to promote and facilitate hunting. The following is the full text: EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - FACILITATION OF HUNTING HERITAGE AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of this order is to direct Federal agencies that have programs and activities that have a measurable effect on public land management, outdoor recreation, and wildlife management, including the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat. Sec. 2. Federal Activities. Federal agencies shall, consistent with agency missions: (a) Evaluate the effect of agency actions on trends in hunting participation and, where appropriate to address declining trends, implement actions that expand and enhance hunting opportunities for the public; ( Consider the economic and recreational values of hunting in agency actions, as appropriate; © Manage wildlife and wildlife habitats on public lands in a manner that expands and enhances hunting opportunities, including through the use of hunting in wildlife management planning; (d) Work collaboratively with State governments to manage and conserve game species and their habitats in a manner that respects private property rights and State management authority over wildlife resources; (e) Establish short and long term goals, in cooperation with State and tribal governments, and consistent with agency missions, to foster healthy and productive populations of game species and appropriate opportunities for the public to hunt those species; (f) Ensure that agency plans and actions consider programs and recommendations of comprehensive planning efforts such as State Wildlife Action Plans, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and other range-wide management plans for big game and upland game birds; (g) Seek the advice of State and tribal fish and wildlife agencies, and, as appropriate, consult with the Sporting Conservation Council and other organizations, with respect to the foregoing Federal activities. Sec. 3. North American Wildlife Policy Conference. The Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (Chairman) shall, in coordination with the appropriate Federal agencies and in consultation with the Sporting Conservation Council and in cooperation with State and tribal fish and wildlife agencies and the public, convene not later than 1 year after the date of this order, and periodically thereafter at such times as the Chairman deems appropriate, a White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy (Conference) to facilitate the exchange of information and advice relating to the means for achieving the goals of this order. Sec. 4. Recreational Hunting and Wildlife Resource Conservation Plan. The Chairman shall prepare, consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations, in coordination with the appropriate Federal agencies and in consultation with the Sporting Conservation Council, and in cooperation with State and tribal fish and wildlife agencies, not later than 1 year following the conclusion of the Conference, a comprehensive Recreational Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Plan that incorporates existing and ongoing activities and sets forth a 10 year agenda for fulfilling the actions identified in section 2 of this order. Sec. 5. Judicial Review. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, trust responsibility, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person. GEORGE W. BUSH THE WHITE HOUSE August 16, 2007.

The only way it will make a difference is for hunters to remind bureaucrats that they've been given marching orders. It would have been great to have known about this when commenting on proposed road closures in the White Mountains. Road closures if not done properly definitely will affect hunters by reducing access as well as limiting the distribution of hunters and their camps. This was not a feel-good proclamation, such as Congress passes every year for National Hunting and Fish Day. This was an executive order to all federal agencies and the language is pretty clear: Federal agencies must determine what is necessary to promote and preserve hunting and then do it! It wouldn't be out of place, I think, for individual hunters to write the regional directors of the BLM, Forest Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs to see what they're doing to comply with this order. Bill Quimby

"Yup, and the beat reporters can do that because of the Freedom of Info Act, of course. In reality, if I wanted to take the time, I could do the same with the AGFD. " Actually it predates the FIA, Tony. Information about charges, trial dates, outcome, sentencing, etc., are public records that have always been open to anyone who knew how to work the system. A good court/police beat reporter also develops sources at middle and low echelons who will slip him tips about what's going on. If AZGFD is making you fill out FIA forms to learn who they have charged with what, outdoor writers as a group need to complain to the commission. The public has the right to know it, and we shouldn't have to go to the courts and county recorders to find it. If the commission doesn't allow public records information to be released to anyone who asks for it, then we need to go to the governor and/or our legislators. Bill Quimby

I'm working on it, Bill. This has been an ongoing debate between myself and the folks at the AGFD for the last few years. In reality, we're lucky we got as much as we did on this case because several years ago, the department decided that providing info on poaching cases -- charges, convictions, etc. -- provided the wrong sort of publicity for hunting. To that aim, most of what you normally see is requests for information on suspected poaching incidents but little after-the-fact information if someone is nabbed. Also, when results are provided, the cases often involve another agency such as the USFWS, who doesn't have such a policy. Thus, I have urged the folks at AGFD to change its policy and do like most every other state does -- provide the outcome of such cases. Of course, all of the information is available if someone requests it because of the Freedom of Information statutes. In the case of someone being charged and yet not convicted, I'm sure the powers are concerned about litigation. BUT...revealing such would be no different than what occurs daily in the local papers when the names of murders, rapists, pedophiles, etc. are printed when they are merely charged with the crimes. Anyway, hang loose on the names. I'll post them as soon as I get them. -TONY Thanks, Tony. Revealing names of poachers often can be more punishment than merely fining them. In the case of murders, rapes, etc., it usually is not the law enforcement agency that makes a news release. If newspapers waited for that it would be old news before they learned anything. They have beat reporters who check police logs every day ... sometimes twice a day. I was always suspect of what was going on when a law enforcement agency alerted me of something. It usually meant they didn't have enough material for conviction (or had screwed up somewhere) and wanted to try the case in the press. Bill Quimby

My question is why didn't AZGFD release the names of the people they charged? Bill Quimby

At age 71, there are not too many years left to hang onto anything. It's time to convert some things into cash. Bill Quimby

"If all of the houses went into foreclosure the rest of us that have no problems with our motgages would be the ones suffering with collapsing property values. Imagine what your house would sell for if there were 18 other houses on your street for sale by the banks, who would be selling at rock bottom just to keep from having to pay insurance, taxes and maintenance on those properties." There aren't 18 houses around them up for auction up yet, but property values already have crashed on the real estate I own. Part of my retirement plans included selling off my real estate when I got tired of writing books. I've reached that point, but there is no way I would put a "for sale" sign on anything now. Does anyone know someone who needs an experienced author to write his hunting memoirs? Bill Quimby

Wider lead ban in condor range By Matt Weiser - mweiser@sacbee.com State officials on Friday expanded a ban on toxic lead ammunition to protect the California condor, a rare bird that repeatedly has been poisoned and died after eating dead animals left behind by hunters. Meeting in Sacramento, the California Fish and Game Commission took steps to implement AB 821, a controversial bill by Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, that was adopted in October. And the commission went further, adding more ammunition to the banned list to effectively cover more kinds of hunting. The Nava bill restricted lead bullets in centerfire ammunition typically used for hunting big game, such as deer, elk and pig. The commission added rimfire ammunition, such as the popular .22-caliber, and bullets used in black-powder guns and calibers that are commercially obsolete. Starting July 1, the new rules ban the use and possession of bullets in condor country containing more than 1 percent lead, a threshold that ammunition manufacturers said was realistic. A violation by a hunter is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and a year in jail. Nonlead ammo that meets the 1 percent standard is already available for centerfire calibers. It is slightly more expensive but is considered ballistically superior to lead ammunition. No alternatives are yet available for rimfire cartridges, meaning the industry will need to develop new products. "This issue is fundamentally about removing lead from the condor's food chain and diet, and that is why I am in support," said Commissioner Michael Sutton. "If we leave any sources of lead ammo in the condor food chain, we will be in violation of the spirit of what we're trying to do." The commission voted 3-1 to adopt the rules. It did not expand the geographic area governed by the Nava bill, a V-shaped swath of land between San Jose and Los Angeles that covers about one-fifth of the state. The dissenting vote came from Commissioner Jim Kellogg. He supported the overall intent, but wanted to exempt rimfire ammunition with the condition that these hunters dispose of their carcasses. "Given the opportunity, hunters will work with us and they will pick up their carcasses," Kellogg said. "I think we just have to take smaller steps and not do it all at once." The endangered condor was nearly driven to extinction by hunting and the effects of another man-made toxin, the pesticide DDT. With those risks diminished, a leading threat to its survival today is lead ammunition. The condor is a scavenger that primarily feeds on dead animals. Many cases have been documented in which condors died or became ill after ingesting lead bullets or residue from carcasses left behind or lost in the wild by hunters. The commission's ruling, unlike the Nava bill, effectively governs all rifle and pistol ammunition within condor country. It extends lead limits to the hunting of nongame animals such as rodents, coyotes and wild pigs killed as a nuisance. Jeff Miller, a conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said one area still unaddressed is lead pellets in shotgun shells used for hunting upland game birds. Yet he was pleased by Friday's action. "This is significant in that it covers almost all the hunting activity that could result in lead exposure for condors," Miller said. Several hunting and shooting groups protested the rules, claiming there is inadequate proof that a lead ban will benefit condors. Ed Worley, a National Rifle Association lobbyist, also objected to the ban on simple possession of lead bullets in condor range. "You're talking about opening up a huge Pandora's box for hunters who happen to inadvertently carry lead ammunition with them," said Worley. The issue reached a flashpoint in September when Commissioner R. Judd Hanna resigned his post. He said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked him to quit after 34 Republican lawmakers complained in a letter that Hanna had distributed his own research on the lead issue to fellow commissioners.

Tony, if you're happy with the California law, I'm happy too. Bill Quimby

Reddington Pass seems like such an out-of-the-way place. For those who live on the northwest side of town as I do it's at least an hour away. Bill Quimby

Probably the same thing as they now do if you possess shotgun shells with lead pellets in a home near a lake -- nothing. Me thinks the possession part means having them in the field in the designated "condor country," just like having shotgun ammo with lead pellets when waterfowl hunting is a no-no. -TONY You must trust zealous law enforcers more than I do. Me thinks me wanna see the exceptions written into the regs. Bill Quimby

Mountain lion joins woman in hot tub Deadwood (South Dakota): A relaxing soak in a hot tub came to an abrupt end when Marlene Todd came eye to eye with a mountain lion in her backyard. "I was kind of hidden, sitting with my back up against the side of the tub, and I heard a little rustling sound in the needles right beside me," she said. Todd said she thought it might have been her house cat until she saw "this big, tan, hairy body" just 4 inches away. "I didn't realise what it was until it took a leap and jumped up on the side of my hot tub," Todd said. The cougar was cornered somewhat because the deck stairs blocked its retreat. It would have to go up and over the hot tub. "It just took a leap. It jumped on the side of the hot tub," Todd said of the Thursday morning encounter. "We locked eyes, and it kicked off of the hot tub and ran away. When it jumped, it flipped my robe into the hot tub." She summoned Deadwood police, who surmised the big cat was stalking some deer in the neighbourhood and may have been attracted to the warmth of the hot tub on the frosty morning. "Now I know what a goldfish feels like when the cat is staring in its bowl," Todd said.

I wonder what a law-abiding hunter should do if his home is within the zone where lead ammo possession has been banned? Bill Quimby

California expands lead banned area, prohibits possession of lead ammo Despite the strong opposition of SCI and other sporting groups, the California Fish and Game Commission expanded a statutory ban on the use of lead ammunition in condor "range" in central and southern California (about a 1/3 to 1/4 of the State). Lead ammunition is now prohibited in condor range for all big game (e.g., deer, elk, bear, wild pig) and non-game birds and mammals (e.g., crow, coyote, ground squirrels). While the legislative ban recently passed by the California Legislature and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger did not include non-game bird and mammals (other than coyote) and did not cover rimfire firearms, the regulatory ban covers all of these. Most troubling, the regulatory ban covers .22 caliber rimfire rifles, used mainly for small game. Currently, no nonlead ammunition exists for this firearm. In addition, the State's environmental review concluded that nongame bird and mammal carcasses do not represent a significant threat to the condor. The regulatory ban tracks the statutory ban's definition of condor "range" to include large areas of historic range where no condors currently exist. Consistent with SCI's comments, the Commission did define nonlead ammunition as allowing up to 1% lead, as currently available nonlead ammunition contains trace amounts of lead. Under the statute, the Commission must establish procedures to certify nonlead ammunition and a coupon reimbursement program if private funds can be found. Finally, the Commission established that mere possession of uncertified (i.e., leaded) ammunition and a firearm capable of discharging it in condor "range" is a violation of the law punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and a year in jail. The lead ammunition ban goes into effect on July 1, 2008.

The last elk I saw that big was in Africa and it had a trunk, floppy ears and long teeth. Congratulations to you and your son, Jim. Bill Quimby

The .303 Savage is NOT the same as the .303 British. The Savage round is similar to the .30-30. The .303 British is a military caliber closer ballistically to .30-06. I have no idea where you might buy ammo. A lever action Savage Model 99 in .303 Savage was my first centerfire rifle and I shot my first deer with it when I was 12 years old in 1947. Back when you still could buy ammo just about everywhere, I saved up 40 cases and reloaded them over and over with a Lyman nutcracker-like tong tool until I retired the rifle when I bought a .270. I still have the rifle, the tong tool, and those 40 cases. I haven't shot the gun in 30 years, but when I came across two boxes of old factory ammo in the original boxes at an antique fair in Phoenix a couple of years ago, I bought them. (They're not for sale.) If you find some brass I'd be happy to load it for you. Bill Quimby

For Immediate Release December 6, 2007 SCI Files Comments Opposing Lead Ammunition Ban Expansion in California Washington, D.C. - Safari Club International filed two sets of comments opposing regulatory expansion of the lead ammunition ban in condor range, recently enacted by the State of California. The statutory ban covers big game and coyote hunting, but the proposed regulations would go much further. One set of comments went to the California Department of Fish & Game on November 26 and the other went to the California Fish and Game Commission on November 30. The California Fish and Game Commission is considering whether to adopt a regulatory lead ammunition ban for nongame bird and mammal hunting other than coyote hunting. California law currently allows the hunting of these species without any limitations on ammunition used. According to the State environmental review document, the use of lead ammunition for these types of hunting does not adversely impact the condor. SCI also urged the Commission to define non-lead ammunition, for purposes of the statutory ban, to allow trace amounts of lead. According to testimony given to the Commission, non-lead ammunition contains trace amounts of lead. A strict definition requiring absolutely no lead content would effectively end big game and coyote hunting in the expansive area of California classified as condor range, which is roughly one-third of the state. The Commission may vote on the regulatory ban as early as December 7, 2007. "SCI's efforts in California amount to a pulling back of the lead curtain," said SCI President, Dennis Anderson. "The Commission appears to believe extending the lead ammo ban to all types of hunting is a foregone conclusion. But although SCI disagrees with them on the need for a lead ammo ban at all, the California Legislature and Governor have spoken. The Commission should not expand the statutory ban any further. Instead, the focus should be on implementing the statutory ban, monitoring its impacts, and further research, not on further overburdening of hunters."

toad noun 1 a tailless amphibian with a short stout body and short legs, typically having dry warty skin that can exude poison. • Several families in the order Anura, in particular Bufonidae, which includes the common toad ( Bufo bufo). 2 a contemptible or detestable person (used as a general term of abuse) : you're an arrogant little toad. 3. an Arizona Coues white-tailed deer, mule deer, or elk with antlers larger than average. Also may describe pronghorn antelope with above-average horns. First used in 1987 by John R. T. O’Malley while hunting in the Santa Rita Mountains: “Fortunately, I missed all four shots at that ol’ toad with huge horns and was able to shoot this delicious spike buck instead.” (see definitions No. 1 and 2.)

Does Texas have a million-dollar whitetail? With a 46-point rack and a Boone and Crockett score of 334, it's hard to argue that a whitetail named Stickers isn't the biggest buck to ever consume protein in Texas. Sammy Nooner of Hondo brought Stickers home in February. Since then, deer breeders have been speculating on the price tag. Some estimates involve seven figures for the 6-year-old monarch buck, whose semen fetches $4,000 to $5,000 per straw. Nooner, however, said the price is going to stay between him and the seller -- Tommy Dugger, one of the state's top deer breeders. 'It's probably as high as anybody's ever paid,'' he said, 'but we're not letting it out; Tommy and I have a gentleman's agreement.'' Damon Thorpe, director of operations for the Texas Deer Association, aid there are probably only two deer in the United States bigger than Stickers. 'I think you can say with confidence he's the most expensive deer ever in Texas,'' Thorpe said. 'It's not inconceivable at all to think a deer like that is worth $1 million.'' Dugger told the Lone Star Outdoor News it would not be accurate to say the deer sold for one million dollars. Wildlife consultant Chase Clark, who works with both Nooner and Dugger, said the biggest buck title was previously held by Jake the Dream Buck, which was owned by Dugger. Jake died of a respiratory illness in the winter of 2005, Clark said. In the meantime, Dugger acquired the up-and-comer Stickers, who was born in 2001 on the Glen Morgan ranch. But Stickers had something else going for him, Clark said. This deer is the offspring of a doe impregnated by artificial insemination with semen from an Ohio legend named Redoy Ben. The elder whitetail, who was only about 2 years old at the time, showed a lot of potential, Clark said. Redoy Ben died that same year, also to a respiratory illness. Nevertheless, Clark said the big deer's potential was realized through his son, Stickers. 'It wasn't until October of 2006 that a tape was put on those antlers,'' Clark said of Sticker's headgear. 'Now Stickers represents the ultimate in the Texas deer breeding industry.'' Nooner, a South Texas gasoline distributor, is also known for the quality dove hunts he offers from his base in Medina County. 'We just wanted to help the genetics,'' he said. 'It was fun just trying to see how big a deer could grow.'' But Nooner may be on the verge of seeing his profits grow as well. 'Let's assume he did pay $1 million for the deer,'' Thorpe said. 'All he has to do is sell 200 straws to get his money out of him. You can easily get that in a year, and do it safely.'' But despite his pedigree, Nooner and Clark agree there's nothing uppity about Stickers. 'Some deer are more nervous than others,'' Clark said. 'They don't do well in breeding operations. But Stickers is pretty laid back. He's great at posing for the camera.'' :angry:

I guess we could say the same about elk in Arizona. Whether or not we ever had Merriam's elk here can be debated, but it's a fact we have a bunch of the introduced Rocky Mountain variety today. Given that, I'll modify my earlier statement. Some exotics are OK as long as they're free-ranging and don't compete with idigenous game. As for record books, I agree. Animals taken behind high wire do not belong in the same books with free-ranging game. Bill

Which Congo? The Brazzaville Congo or the Kinshasha Democratic Republic of Congo? To answer your question about what to hunt: Bongo, bongo, bongo, and then a couple of elephants with 100-pound teeth. Don't try anything smaller than .375 for bongo or elephant. Any "deer rifle" .270 or larger will do fine on everything else. Bill Quimby

Scottyboy: Ouch! That's why I added the disclaimer (that I know of) to my statement. It had to happen, I guess. There simply are too many people with more money than sense in this world. If I were king, even though I edited a record book for many years and once set off to collect as many deer species as I could, record books would be banned, "collectors" would be shot at sunup, and "exotics,""introduced" and "estate taken" would be declared four-letter words not fit for use in mixed company. Bill Quimby