00:00:10
Speaker 1: From Meat Eaters World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is Cow’s Week in Review with Ryan cow Calahan. Here’s cal some tough news this week for adherence to a popular belief system whose holy land is the Pacific Northwest. A new documentary has dropped allegedly proving that the nineteen sixty seven video footage of Bigfoot is a hoax. You know this video sasquatching black swinging her arms and looking over her shoulder before strolling away into the forest. The documentary really does seem to close the door on the case. The director turned up new footage of a dress rehearsal of the nineteen sixty seven video, talked to the beefy man who admitted to wearing the sasquatch costume, and interviewed the son of the original filmmaker, who also said he had known it was a hoax the whole time, and had even watched his father burn the Bigfoot costume in the backyard. For a lot of us, the simple fact that no one has ever found the dead body of a Bigfoot is proof enough that they don’t exist. And once you see a bear walking upright on its back feet and get familiar with all the strange sounds in the woods, you know right away what all those alleged sightings actually are. And in my opinion, bears are just as interesting as sasquatches, in fact more so. In fact, almost all the native cultures of the Northern hemisphere thought that bears were non human people, in large part because of how they walk. Bears have a plant to grade foot, meaning they set their heel down midfoot and toes in that order, just like we do. Dogs and cats, in contrast, walk on their toes with their heel lifted, so they’re known as digit to grades. Digit of course man’s finger or toe in Latin. Deer and horses are ungula grades. They walk on their hoofs or toenails, and you guessed it. Unguis means fingernail or toenail in Latin. That’s why we called deer and elk ungulates. Look at how much knowledge you just got in the first thirty seconds of this here show thank us later. Okay, back to Bigfoot. I would say that this new debunking film makes me feel a little sorry for Bigfoot believers. But if I’ve learned anything about people who want to believe something they’ll just keep on a trucking no matter what. This week where wildlife and crowdsourcing, meat legislation, and so much more. But first I’m gonna tell you about my week. And my week was interesting as always. Just returned from DC in the Big Horn Show in Spokane, Washington, which was just a fun pit stop on the way home. Oh. Bart George wrangled me into that one, and the crowd was super fun. Spent some time at the BHA Washington chapter table. Great engaged folks who are working hard to raise money for wildlife and habitat there at the Big Horn Show. Really cool crowd, great to see, tons of kids, good time. And if you don’t remember Bart George from the Meat Eater Universe, Bart’s Mountain lion biologist for the Kallus Bell tribe, so he’s married a love of hound hunting into a real deal profession. My travel itinerary should be a reminder for folks who fly and can’t help, but not like people who are in the first class section. I get it. I’ve never purchased a first class seat in my life, but the airlines occasionally decided that my rear end has earned enough time through countless connections in non first class seats to get bumped up there and on the way home out of a very early flight in Spokane. Then the very next morning I did fly in a slightly larger seat. And I’m not being honest, I’ve purchased one first class seat. It just wasn’t for me. It was for my oldest sister during a family emergency scenario. But yeah, I know what real idea is to why I mentioned this. It was just kind of the free thinking process I go through. I suppose it’s kind of a cosmic gumbo.
00:04:06
Speaker 2: It almost moves to the beat of jazz.
00:04:10
Speaker 1: Anyway, after jogging through the tunnels and streets between the House and Senate last week, I have reason for cautious optimism on several things. I think there are quite a few lawmakers on both sides of the aisle that are getting pretty darn sick of the politics and headline grabbing shows going on and our itching to make some good work happen. Our government affairs guy Jack Polnis and I had several long discussions with folks primarily on the Republican side, that want to get work done in the conservation space and frankly have no interest in voting on the resolution to rescind the mining moratorium in the Rainy River watershed. Stopping quickly here to point out that there’s a lot of Democrats that feel this way too, but it’s a Republican majority, so that’s where the bulk of the time was spent. Anyway, it was really refreshing to actually talk in earnest about the Rainy River boundary waters and the fact that we have a lot of options for copper mining in America and this one does not provide the return on investment for the American people. I feel like it’s a real breakthrough. We’re hitting the policy, not the politics, which in my simple mind are the death knel distraction of real work. Technically, this vote can happen at any minute, but if you’re paying attention to the news, all sides of the aisle agree there’s much more important things to vote on. So let’s just not vote. Let’s let this losing proposition for those who drink water die at quiet death. So what does this mean for you? Turn that little light of optimism on this particular issue into action. Head on over to Backcountry hunters dot org and hit the action alert, write or call your senator again, tell them how much you appreciate places like this and how much you’d appreciate their time representing you be spent on something else. Vote no would be great if that opportunity comes up, but right now, ask them to just let people know that you do not want to vote on this one. Best of all, those lefty green groups won’t get a win, no big headlines, no touchdown dance. It just quietly goes away, and that’s good enough for me. Also, if you have not already, please become a member or renew your membership at backhuntry hunters dot org. Part of your return on investment for your thirty five dollars membership fee is having a full time representative advocating for public lands, waters and wildlife and access to those things on Capitol Hill, and it makes a big difference. Unfortunately, it’s expensive as hell. Flight’s food and lodging and travel for my week was about twenty one hundred bucks, which is cheap for DC. But just like in hunting, consistency kills for those of you listening who happen to be Hill staff or members of the Hill, we will be hosting our first ever reception the week of April twenty one, we have this pie in the sky idea to reinvigorate what used to happen all the time, which is bringing Democrats and Republicans together, you know, to just mix it up, enjoy each other’s company, share good ideas. Also, at the back Country Hunters and Anglers reception, you’ll get wild game, some beer, celebrate our shared public lands together for exactly three hours because we can’t afford the venue rental any longer than that rental was actually covered by some of our amazing corporate partners. If you are interested, we’ll have our BHA member chefs rolling out unique amazing wild finger foods and its walking distance from the hill, so get a hold of our guy Jack. Moving on to the crowdsourcing desk, wildlife managers have a big job, and sometimes they turn to the general public. For last week we saw two great examples. First up, the National Park Service announced that it plans to expand opportunities for hunters to eradicate faral hogs and nutria. These expanded opportunities will be available at two parks, the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve in Louisiana and the Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia. It’s unclear right now precisely what these expanded opportunities will look like, but they sure sound like a good time. Hunters can already chase hogs and nutrient at the Barritaria Preserve, which is located within the Jean Lafitte Park. Hunters must first obtain a free permit and follow the preserve’s rules and regulations. But we might see expanded seasons or hunting areas. Hunting is currently not allowed anywhere in the Cumberland Island National Seashore, so expect to see an announcement about ways to get involved down there. In both cases, volunteers who sign up specifically to help control invasive species might be required to undergo additional training, education, and vetting that your average hunter in those states may not have to go through the registration. Background screening and safety training will more than likely be what’s required to get you in the door. Other opportunities may include seasonal programs, some organized events, or authorized participant roles. Not entirely sure what that speak is, but I will define these things better once we get more info. I’m also hearing that more announcements like this might be coming down the pike, which, if true, would represent a pretty big shift in how we manage our national parks for invasive species. We’ve historically relied on professional wildlife managers and contractors to get rid of invasives. Hunters have been a part of these plans, but usually not as official volunteers. The shift is good news for hunters who want more opportunities to chase game and who want to help make a big difference in their local ecosystem. As we’ve seen in the past, Hunters, because we are hunters, not eradicators, can have an impactful role here. But I do want to make sure that this doesn’t come at the cost of paid personnel, because if we really want to eradicate stuff. Just being honest with my hunting and angland brethren, the type of hunting we do I do is not about killing every last living thing. That’s where the pros come in, the exterminators. If you hear about opportunities to help control invasives in your local national park, you should definitely sign up. It’s a great opportunity. You get to hunt some new country and you can definitely help. Future generations will thank you when they have an abundance of native plants and animals to enjoy. Moving from the national to the state level, Pennsylvania recently announced it’s renewing a program that gives residents free native plants if they remove invasive ones. The Pennsylvania Invasive Replacive Program offers three native trees or shrubs to people who remove an invasive species and take a photo. Residents then submit the photo on the pre registration form and claim their native replacement plant at one of eight events in the month of May. The free trees and shrubs are available on a first come, first served basis, so you’ll want to be there promptly when your local event begins. Last year, the program planted one three hundred and thirteen native plants, though I’m sure directors are hoping to increase that number this year. Even if residents aren’t able to replace an invasive plant with a native one, programs like this are great at educating people about what to look for. Many times, people don’t even know that the bushes and trees in their yard are invasive, or at the local lows or home depot for that matter, and can actually cause ecological damage. To help fill this education gap, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a list of invasive plants that are especially dangerous. These include the Bradford pair, tree of Heaven, Princess tree, and Norway maple. Invasive trees and shrubs can disrupt native habitat, make it harder for wildlife to flourish and push out native critters, and give room for harmful species to flourish. Whether you live in Pennsylvania or another state, here’s your reminder to identify the plants on your property and get rid of them. It’s just as important as hunting feral hogs or nutria, and it’s a lot easier to do. Moving on to the legislative desk, the Massachusetts governor has announced her intention to file legislation lifting the state’s ban on Sunday hunting. Massachusetts is currently one of only three states that place restrictions on hunters who want a chase game on the Sabbath. Governor Mora Heey’s legislation would lift that prohibition, though I have yet to see any specific language. The bill would also allow crossbows to be used during archery season and reduce the setback distance from buildings current law prohibits archery hunters from releasing an arrow within five hundred feet of a dwelling without permission, but Healey’s legislation would lower that number to two h fifty feet. This is especially good news for bow hunters who chase deer in urban or suburban environments. Here’s BHAs Chris Borgatti speaking at the press conference announcing the legislation.
00:13:12
Speaker 2: I think of two members Boston residents, live work in Boston. A couple that love to spend their time hunting. It’s essentially impossible for them to get out in the field during the week traffic logistics, travel the race against the setting sun, so having the additional day is momentous and their ability to get in the field.
00:13:35
Speaker 1: It’s worth pointing out that three Republican legislators have introduced similar legislation in the past without success. But it’s an election year and Governor Healey would like to keep her job. I think it’s a testament to the continued influence of hunters that are willing to show up that one of the ways she’s hoping to beat her Republican opponents is by appealing to those of us who like to spend our sundays with a bow or a gun in hand. Speaking of sunday hunting, another state with restrictions is also considering a bill that would lift some of them. In Delaware, current law allows sunday hunting on private land and gives the Department of Natural Resources the latitude to open the parcels it designates for deer hunting, but in order to do that, the Department is required to inform the public and provide quote adequate opportunity for public comment. House Bill two seven eight would remove that requirement, which should make it a lot easier to open new public land to sunday hunting. This legislation also expands public land sunday hunting to all game birds and animals, not just deer, which is how the current law is worded. In New York, the Department of Environmental Conservation announced several new rule changes aimed at increasing the antlerless deer harvest. Currently, less than fifteen percent of licensed hunters harvest one antler list deer per season, and only about three percent of hunters harvest two or more. Those numbers aren’t good enough to keep the population in check, so wildlife managers are implementing new policies to make deer management permits, or DMPs, easier to obtain. DMPs are permits for antler list deer, and these regulations would allow hunters to obtain up to four DMPs so long as you slide into the rnc’s dms. That’s just a joke, kids. Hunters would also be able to transfer an unlimited number of DMPs to and from other hunters, and the nine day antler list deer hunt in September would be expanded to ten additional wildlife management units. The biggest changes is what the department is calling the earn a second buck system. Current rags allow hunters to harvest two bucks a year with a bow or muzzleloader tag and a regular season tag. This new rule would require hunters to harvest a dough before getting that second buck tag. That second buck tag could be used with any weapon, not just bows and muzzleloaders, but this will be an adjustment for buck hunters used to the current system. If you live in New York and feel annoyed by this change, remember that hunters play an important role in wildlife management. It’s one of the reasons the non hunting public continues to support US bagging a few extra dos, keeps them off the roads and flower beds, and keeps the public on our side. It also gives us another reason to get out into the woods, so I’d say that’s not a bad gig. Up In DC, some in Congress are trying to pass a bill that would prohibit federal land managers from banning lead tackle and ammunition. HR five to five six would bar the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service from prohibiting or regulating the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal land or water. This prohibition would not apply to the lead shot ban for migratory game birds, but it would end many of the lead ammo bands currently in place on national wildlife refuges. The only way federal land managers would be able to impose such a ban is proving that lead ammo or tackle is the primary cause of a decline in a wildlife population in that particular unit of public land. That’s a high bar, but it gets even higher. The led ammoban would also have to be consistent with the law of the state where the federal land is located, and it would have to be improved by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Department. Opponents of this legislation argue that lead AMMO and tackle has been proven dangerous to individual animals, especially raptors and scavenging birds, which supporters say these harms do not have a population level effect. We’ve covered these arguments many times before, but now this policy actually has a shot at becoming law. The US House passed the bill largely along party lines, but it got support from seven Democrats. When this legislation goes to the Senate, I’ll be watching to see if some of those Democrat senators consider pulling the trigger on HR. Five to five six to get that sixty vote threshold. If you have an opinion one way or another, be sure to send a note to your United States senators. You know my opinion on this one is I want all my land managers to have all the tools in their tool belt, So legislating how and when our wildlife managers restrict lead right and keep in mind, like the migratory bird, led restriction is a huge reason as to why we have migratory birds to hunt right now, so we know it is effective in certain use cases. The fear is it will just be rampantly banned and will have negative effects on hunting. Lead is a largely like renewable resource when it’s shot in places that we can harvest it, and then you know, we turn it right back into lead shot. So anyway, you know the deeo. The scary language in this one for me is your wildlife managers can’t make any moves until they see a population decline, which is reactive, not proactive. Think it over. The heat wave out west is everyone worried about this year’s fire season, and fires have already hit Nebraska especially hard, where an unprecedented eight hundred and thirty thousand acres have now burned. Although those fires have mostly been contained, they burned huge expanses of the state’s grasslands at a critical time of the season when grazing animals are pregnant and need as many calories as possible to deliver healthy young. Anticipating its own hot, dry summer, the Aspen Fire Protection District is taking a bold step that I have mixed feelings about. They’re going to put fire extinguishing drones up in the air. As reported in ArsTechnica, a Bay Area startup called Seneca has signed a contract with the town of Aspen to supply a so called fire strike team ahead of the summer dry season. The strike team consists of five foam spring drones with a trailer to haul them around in The drones have a range of three to five miles, and they can carry enough water to create fifty gallons of fire suppressing foam, which, to be honest, sounds like more than your kitchen fire extinguisher, but not all that much more. The idea here isn’t to throw things at a fully estabi alish fire, but instead to spot new fires as soon as possible and control them before they grow. Aspen fire Chief Jake Anderson said, quote, we have panoramic AI cameras that are very good at rapidly detecting a fire. What we’re not always good at is getting people there immediately. Aspen also doesn’t have its own manned firefighting aircraft, and it can take hours for neighboring jurisdictions to send those aircraft to help out, especially when they might be busy with their own fires. I don’t see these drones making the fire crews themselves obsolete. They could possibly prevent small blazes from getting out of control by the time firefighters are able to reach them. If this pilot list program is successful, ASPEN will consider buying more of the drones and establishing permanent bases throughout the region. Another tool in the tool belt. I suppose when we talk about rapid response to fire, that’s great in like the wildland urban interface, But keep in mind our critters love fire when they’re in the right spots, So hopefully our land managers are still recognizing when to let things run and guiding those drones appropriately. Speaking to drones, and I’m not talking about Iran or Ukraine, I’m talking, of course about ishuin Omaki, Japan. The northeastern municipality on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, is planning to deploy bear spray wielding drones now that Japan’s grizzlies are beginning to emerge from their winter dents. According to the Japanese bear statistics mapping website kumamap dot com, Ishinomaki had twenty bear sightings last November, and despite a drop off during the winter, they still had nine sightings in January. Anticipating a spike in activity, the city has bought several units from a company called Terra Drone, which demoed their product in a video posted to YouTube. In the segment, an actor dressed in a light brown Teddy bear suit crouches on an airport Timac while a drone hovers overhead and miss him with an aerosol canister pointing straight down. You got to ask yourself, is it an actor who wears the bear suit in these demonstrations? Where’s that career going? Are we having fun yet? Anyway? You might remember from last year that the bear problem in Japan got so bad that the military was deployed to assist with culling operations. In the US State Department issued a notice to American travelers to Japan warning them of the threat of bears. Also, nobody reached out and took me up on my offer to come over there and hunt bears. They’re delicious and it would just be so fricking cool to see the Japanese cuisine take on the brown bear. Moving on over to the Rhode Island Shoreline Access issue, huge shout out to the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers along with the Surf Rider Foundation, who submitted an amicus brief to the Rhode Island Supreme Court as the judges consider a legal challenge to the twenty twenty three law that improved shoreline access in the Ocean State. That’s right, Hoa’s development are trying to privatize the frickin beach and the ocean. Until that law passed, you could legally at high tideline, which sounds pretty generous, but in practice no one could actually see where that was on the beach, and so all kinds of disputes arose. The twenty twenty three law moved the boundary to ten feet inland of the quote unquote recognizable high tideline. So that means just look for the dried band of seaweed along the beach, stay within ten feet of that, and you can pick up seashells, or stroll along or put out, you know, your your lawn chair. I suppose well sounds good, but beachfront land owner David Welch sued the state with the support of the Pacific Legal Foundation, saying that the law encroached on his private property rights by allowing people much closer to his house without so called just compensation. A superior court judge ruled in his favor, saying that the law was quote unquote unconstitutional, taking critically. The law was actually not taking anything new. It is, in fact re establishing historical shore access in Rhode Island that existed before nineteen eighty two, when the State Supreme Court handed down a decision establishing the mean high tide definition. We don’t know when the State Supreme Court will try the case, but the Amykus brief will remind that court that public access and private property rights can be balanced in a sane and open way. Let’s hope they agree, or else roadies will need to bring survey equipment with them every time they want a surf cast for bluefish. That’s all I got for you this week, right in to askcl that’s Ascal at the meaeater dot com. You know we want to hear from you and we appreciate you. Thanks again. We’ll talk to you next week.
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