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June 23, 2022

CWD Precautions Continue in Area This Deer Season | Sports

This fall and winter, Kentucky’s regular deer hunting seasons will very much be a repeat of that of 2020-21, as will precautions against the potential spread of debilitating chronic diseases.

Hunters in five far-western Kentucky counties (Marshall, Calloway, Graves, Hickman and Fulton) faced additional restrictions when those counties were grouped into a CWD Watch Zone after a white-tailed doe with CWD was identified in the county. of Humphreys, Tennessee. Parts of those five Kentucky counties were within 30 miles of where the infected doe was taken, the closest CWD find to Kentucky borders yet.

Chronic wasting disease is a deadly brain disease to which deer and elk are susceptible, and while the ailment has never been identified in the state, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife managers monitored closely last season to see if the disease could be occurring here. CWD not found.

Last year and again this year, additional precautions were put in place to prevent the potential spread of CWD should it occur in the surveillance zone.

Restrictions within the five-county zone include a ban on baiting deer during hunting seasons, as well as a ban on feeding grain or any treats such as salt or mineral blocks to wildlife. (Legitimate agricultural practices and planted food plots, as well as hanging bird feeders in residence yards, are permitted.)

Within the zone, deer taken during parts of the modern firearms season must be recorded at designated monitoring stations. This year there will be 13 check stations in the area that will be open and require deer to be checked on Saturday and Monday, Nov. 12-14 at the opening of the modern gun season, then Saturday and Sunday of the second and third weekends of the gun season.

One regulation that will affect many successful hunters in the watch zone is that no whole deer carcass may be removed from the zone. A whole deer killed in any of the five boroughs may be transported only within the zone.

Because CWD is caused by abnormal proteins known as prions that are associated with the brain, spinal cord material, and lymph glands of deer, any deer taken from the surveillance zone must be reduced to meat that has been boned from the carcass. Antlers can be removed on clean skullcaps, but brain material is not allowed and whole heads are certainly not allowed.

Any deer caught in the watch zone, including bow and crossbow deer outside of gun seasons, must be tagged prior to removal from the field. Hunter-made tags must include the hunter’s name, address and phone number, the sex of the deer, the date and county in which he was taken, and the Telecheck confirmation number. Therefore, the Telecheck must be performed before moving the channel.

The KDFWR website, www.fw.ky.gov, has a wealth of information on CWD. Full details of this season’s regulations will be posted there.

Last year, KDFWR staff sampled and tested 7,547 deer and 55 elk for CWD statewide. A total of 4,347 deer assessed came from the five-county watch zone alone. Again, none of those samples showed the presence of CWD.

The last of Kentucky’s spring hunting seasons, spring squirrel season, concluded Friday at the close of hunting hours.

Maybe there were two or three people in the entire state who were hunting bushy tails yesterday, but maybe not. Entering seriously overheated weather, the non-traditional late-spring season that usually takes place in the sweltering steam of breezy forests doesn’t attract much turnout.

That is the final season for fur or feather hunting until the so-called “fall” hunting seasons begin in late summer. First up are the familiar creatures, the same arboreal rodents that were on the hunting menu: squirrels.

Traditional squirrel season begins on the third Thursday in August throughout the state of Kentucky. It’s probably just as sweaty and miserable in the woods at the time, but even though the popularity of small game hunting has faded, hunters still maintain a level of fidelity to hunting squirrels during the traditional season. That’s especially with regards to the early days of the season before other “fall” seasons vie for attention.

Seasons that start in late summer are often labeled fall seasons because their dates extend into fall or even well beyond. The traditional squirrel season currently runs through February, dwarfing parts of all three seasons.

Kentucky’s spring squirrel season is precisely contained within spring, but without much to spare. The season ended yesterday, while spring ends on Monday. Sure enough, something else follows. That makes Tuesday the first day of summer.

There are those who love summer as the main season of the calendar, but those of us who yearn for cooler days appreciate autumn and the conditions it will bring three months from now.

For those, when it comes to cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and the eventual appearance of golden foliage, it’s a long way off, but the arrival of summer on Tuesday is the longest day of the year. That means that starting on Wednesday, the days start to get shorter.

Steve Vantreese is a freelance outdoor writer. Submit outdoor items by email to [email protected] or call 270-575-8650.

June 23, 2022

Targeting protected non-game birds and protected ground squirrels is illegal | Idaho

Summer is a popular time of year, not only for recreational shooters, but also for some ground squirrels and protected non-game birds that nest on the Idaho plains.

The temperatures are starting to rise and the days are long, and that’s good news for recreational shooters looking to get out of the city limits to shoot. Summer is a popular season for recreational shooters statewide, but it’s also a critical time of year for some non-game bird species that nest or are commonly found in popular shooting areas.

While most recreational hunters and shooters follow the law, Fish and Game law enforcement officials want to remind shooters that they are likely to encounter protected wildlife that is not game, and to pay a high price for pulling the trigger on a protected species.

Two men recently pleaded guilty to illegally capturing a golden eagle (a protected bird of prey) in the Morley Nelson Snake River National Raptor Conservation Area. A judge sentenced both men to two years probation, as well as a two-year ban on hunting and possession of firearms. They each had to pay restitution of more than $3,000.

A golden eagle was shot and killed west of Oakley in February 2020.

It is a shooter’s responsibility to know the law, and a good rule of thumb is to shoot at targets rather than wildlife, unless you know exactly what you are shooting at and are doing so legally.

“Illegal shooting of protected non-game wildlife such as owls, hawks, eagles and other birds such as long-billed curlews is a persistent and frequent problem in Idaho,” said Deniz Aygen, observable wildlife biologist at Fish and Game. “Long-billed Curlews and many species of raptors are identified by Fish and Game as most in need of conservation, and unfortunately substantial poaching occurs in areas that were established to aid in their conservation, but are also Widely used by recreational shooters.”

Nearly all non-game bird species found in Idaho are protected and therefore illegal to shoot. There are some non-native species that can be taken year-round with a valid hunting license, including European starlings, Eurasian collared doves, house sparrows and rock pigeons.

Shooting protected birds may seem harmless, but it has been shown to affect some bird populations.

Research published in 2020 shows that shooting at protected non-game species, specifically raptors and long-billed curlews, is more common in areas with high recreational shooter use and occurs more frequently than previously known.

Where was the study conducted? In southwestern Idaho, in the Morley Nelson Snake River National Bird of Prey Conservation Area.

The study suggested that illegal shooting may play a role in the observed long-term declines in the local long-billed curlew population in the conservation area, which had declined from more than 2,000 in the late 1970s to less than 200 in 2014. and now has fewer than 100 curlews.

The study also implied that a small segment of recreational shooters appear to be poaching protected non-game species while target shooting or hunting unprotected non-game species such as ground squirrels.

This time of year, many shooters target ground squirrels throughout the state. While there are some species of ground squirrels open to hunting, such as the Uinta or the Colombian ground squirrel, some ground squirrels are protected.

For example, northern and southern Idaho ground squirrels, rock squirrels, Piute ground squirrels (in eastern Idaho), Merriam ground squirrels, golden-mantled ground squirrels, and Wyoming ground squirrels ( in southwestern Idaho) are all protected species and should not be attacked.

If you can’t tell the difference between an unprotected and a protected species of ground squirrel, or any other wildlife, you shouldn’t target them.

Visit Fish and Game’s Ground Squirrel website for a complete list of protected and unprotected ground squirrel species before you head out.

Individuals can help preserve Idaho’s hunting and fishing heritage by reporting poaching. Make the call if something doesn’t seem right. Contact Citizens Against Poaching at 1-800-632-5999.

June 22, 2022

How to use spotting scopes for hunting

Spotting scopes are vital for open country hunting where they serve several important functions.

When I look at large spaces with my 10x binoculars, I make a mental note of the areas I couldn’t see to my satisfaction. These can include thick patches of cover, shaded areas under rock ledges or downed trees, or just interesting shapes that are hard to make out with my binoculars.

When I’m done with my initial scan, I’ll bring out my spotter and examine these areas carefully and closely. The second great benefit of having a spyglass is that you can analyze critters that you have already located. This is especially important when it comes to legal size and gender restrictions.

When I’m hunting bucks, whether it’s at the request of a landowner who doesn’t want to kill his young bucks or because I have an antlerless deer tag, I use my spotting scopes to make sure I’m not making a mistake. a small deer with barbed antlers for a doe. When it comes to hunting mountain sheep and elk, a spotter is ideal for determining whether or not an animal is legal size.

In much of the West, bighorn sheep need to reach ¾ curl size to be legal. In Alaska, moose generally need to have 3 or 4 brow teeth, or a total span of 50 inches to be legal. In these situations, you want all the visual power you can get. The difference between having or not having a spyglass can be the difference between having a dead animal or going home empty handed.

When selecting a spotting scope, you need to weigh your concerns about image quality against your concerns about portability. If you’re strictly a long-range backpack hunter getting into the Brooks Range, get a spotting scope that weighs around two or three pounds with an objective lens no larger than 60mm and about 10x-30x variable magnification.

If you’re a truck hunter prowling the wide expanses of the Texas Panhandle, an 85mm scope weighing seven pounds with variable magnification from 20x to 60x will fit the bill. If you’re looking for a single scope that can do it all, it’s hard to beat a 65mm scope with variable magnification of around 15x – 45x. In truth, most spotting scopes, even the highest quality ones, have a distorted image at their highest magnification setting.

June 22, 2022

Ask MeatEater: What’s on your backcountry pack list?

Every day fellow MeatEaters send us over 100 emails about hunting, fishing, cooking, conservation and more. So we decided to publish a series dedicated to our favorite FAQs. Ask MeatEater is powered by onX, makers of the best digital mapping tool for hunters and anglers.

I go crazy over hunting equipment lists, especially field hunting ones. I made sure to save some good spreadsheets that I found over the years, including one by Nate Simmons from western hunter in 2015, one for the Barney’s Sports Chalet Dall Sheep Hunt in Anchorage, and I’ve also referenced team lists in Cameron Hanes’ book “Backcountry Bowhunting.” It’s not only entertaining for me to see how other backcountry hunters pack their gear, but it’s also educational and usually sparks ideas on how to improve my gear. In this case, “better” means higher quality equipment, lighter equipment, and less team.

I’m heading out on my first, and possibly only, bighorn sheep hunt in September. For such an important and once-in-a-lifetime hunt, I thought I should write down a list of equipment so I don’t forget a crucial item. I created a spreadsheet, weighed the items and uploaded all the information. Like all team rosters, it can and will be refined.

I added a list of gear at the bottom of the spreadsheet that is my backup/inclement weather gear. If a snowstorm hits or my water filtration system fails, I’m covered. I did not add my truck camping kit or truck food list to the spreadsheet. I’ll talk about that another time, but I want to mention the importance of having a stock of high-calorie salty food and beer waiting for you after a long period in the mountains. I’m usually starving for calories and ready for a non-dehydrated meal. I’ll have brats and smoked buns, some bags of chips, beer, and a cold pizza waiting for me this time.

What’s interesting to me is how my team roster has changed, even after only three or four years. On the one hand, my cooking system has become lighter and more efficient. I have lost almost a pound in that category. My water filtration and transport system is another category in which I have reduced weight. By switching to the soft sided filter water bottle instead of the Steripen and just soft plastic reservoirs instead of a Nalgene bottle, I lose almost a pound more. Plus, because of First Lite’s advances in clothing technology, I can pack less and still stay warm and comfortable.

Another big change is the lack of a handheld GPS unit or camera in my backpack. My iPhone has replaced both. Trust me, I was a late adopter, thinking there was simply no way the smartphone could be a reliable option. But I can tell you that I am now going into my fourth drop without carrying a handheld GPS or camera. OnX maps, functions and features make my phone ten times bigger than the GPS unit I used to carry. Even in the field with no service, I can use offline maps in the app and navigate mountains with ease.

Finally, especially in clothing, the biggest change is simply in quantity. What used to be necessities like camping shoes, a pillow, and a change of under layers, I now leave behind. Everything has to be carried, and the less I carry, the happier I am.

Although I am hunting bighorn sheep this trip, this gear list is only a few changes away from being ready for an archery moose hunt, or any September hunt for that matter. The obvious variable would be the weapon. I’d also pack elk calls, a bugle pipe, and maybe larger game bags. And if you were packing a bow, a simple archery repair kit would also come with it.

Click here to read the full list of equipment. Happy hunting!

June 22, 2022

A squirrel causes a large blackout in a North Carolina city

Expect to lose power during a storm. Whether it’s a summer storm, snow and ice, or a hurricane. But those moments when it’s sunny but the lights go out, they always come as a surprise. And this morning in Asheville, it was one of those days. Power was restored in downtown Asheville after a squirrel caused a power outage. Yes, a squirrel. The local news program Nuevo 13 reported that as of 8:30 this morning the power supply had been restored to more than 3,000 customers. Duke Energy says the animal made its way into a wire that caused the blackout. The affected customers were in the downtown Asheville area.

I guess squirrels have more power than we think. 100% intentional pun.

GALLERY: List of Native Animals of North Carolina

As found by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

June 22, 2022

Kimi Werner Spearfishing Equipment

All nuances aside, there are actually two distinct types of spearfishing. First, there is the spearfishing in Hawaii. Then there is spearfishing everywhere. Don’t confuse one for the other – do it and you might find yourself off the coast of Hawaii exhausted, cut off and frustrated with the fish.

The waters around Hawaii are so difficult to navigate because the surf is significantly stronger than in many other parts of the world. It’s very easy to get caught in the surf and find yourself thrown onto some rough rocks, as you may have seen happen to Steven Rinella in MeatEater Season 10 Part 2. I’m also convinced that the fish here are smarter than anywhere else. , but could be partial. Here are some pieces of gear I use that help me get the upper hand under the waves.

Reefs Euro 110 speargun
Riffe is a pioneering name in the world of spearfishing. Jay Riffe started making his own spearguns at a young age, over 40 years ago, eventually setting several world records with them. The Euro 110 is a super versatile gun that works for any spear fisherman, beginner or professional. The long stock is made from teak so it’s super lightweight, and the expert construction will stand up to anything it can throw its way through.

All Riffe underwater spearguns also come with pre-threaded holes to attach a Riffe horizontal spool. This versatility allows you to switch between a reel rig and a floating line rig, so you can go from shallow reefs and medium sized fish to deep blue waters and the monsters that call it home. This pistol is possibly the most crucial part of my kit.

Women’s Riffe Digi-tek 3.5mm 2 Piece Wetsuit
It’s a fairly recent phenomenon for a dive company to make a women’s specific wetsuit. For a long time, female divers were forced to slip into men’s wetsuits, and many still do. But men’s styles can be too tight in some places and too loose in others. Any annoyance is annoying at best and a performance drag at worst.

The Riffe Women’s Digi-tek 3.5mm couldn’t be a better solution to this problem. The fit is super comfortable and the camo is beautiful and seems to blend in with every environment I find myself in. With an average thickness of 3.5mm, the neoprene material is flexible and also retains heat very well. The knees and elbows are reinforced, so you’re more protected from tearing if you throw yourself onto rocks.

Riffe by DiveR Digi-Tek Composite Fiberglass Fins
Riffe worked with fin blade manufacturer DiveR to create these medium flex fiberglass fins, and they are possibly one of the most versatile models on the market. The medium-flex fiberglass is perfect for spearfishermen and divers of any level, so he can buy them once and use them from day one until he breaks records like Jay.

This model comes with foot pockets, but you can also buy the blades without foot pockets if you already feel comfortable or are committed to a different brand such as Omer, Mares or Salvimar. The ability to glide smoothly through the water is crucial to a successful underwater hunt, and these fins keep me stealthy and fast, whether I’m moving through seagrass, clinging to rocky cover, or surfacing with a catch. fresh.

Spearfishing is nothing more than gear intensive. Curious to know what else is on my checklist? You can see the rest of the essentials here. And head over to Netflix to see Steve, Cal, and I use all this cool gear to put a real Hawaiian dinner on the table.

June 22, 2022

How to improve rifle accuracy in the off-season

Your skill with the rifle will not be the most important ingredient for success in the coming year. But when all that planning comes together and you’re in the right position at the right time, you need to be able to put the bullet where it needs to go.

get spotted
Veteran hunters may not need to hear this, but I’ve seen plenty of aspiring hunters on the shooting range who do. Before you do anything else, get some sandbags or a sled and properly zero your rifle scope. All the practice in the world won’t do you much good if your viewfinder is 6 inches to the left.

Get yourself a .22 LR trainer
These days, centerfire hunting ammunition is expensive and hard to find. Even if you had the money to burn through 50 rounds of .270 Winchester, you may not be able to find that many cartridges for love or money.

A .22 LR training pistol is a great way to avoid this potential situation. Double deuce cartridges can still be found online and in stores, and 100 rounds will only set you back about $10.

“I didn’t buy my .22 scope to hunt squirrels,” MeatEater’s Janis Putelis told me. “It’s because it was bolt action and it feels like a hunting rifle. I was trying to mimic how my other weapons feel.”

In other words, if you’re using a deer bolt-action rifle, don’t get a modified semi-auto rimfire firing pin. A .22 bolt-action rifle will allow you to practice cycling the action, and most modern .22s come with triggers that mimic their larger cousins.

Practice from probable positions and distances
Whether you decide to go with a .22 LR or your hunting rifle, you need to tailor your range time to the scenarios you are likely to experience in the field. As every coach always says, practice how you play.

If you are hunting from a tree stand or from a hideout, this is simple. Try to find a way to rest your rifle that mimics the rest it will have on the mount, and practice shooting at the ranges you are likely to encounter. It won’t do you much good to practice upside down on 500-yard targets if your real-world shot will be 60 yards from 20 feet in the air.

The same principle applies for spot-and-stalk, but it will be more difficult to predict your exact hunting scenario.

To cover your bases, Janis recommends three field positions to try to master this offseason: standing with a break, sitting with a break and kneeling. If he can’t go face down, these three options will cover most hunting scenarios.

“We all hope we can drop our pack and shoot upside down. But what happens when you’re in 3 foot tall sagebrush? You have to improvise or use a tree,” Janis said.

For a great day of training at the shooting range, split your available ammo among these three shooting positions in sets of five rounds. Shoot at distances you’re likely to see in the field. If you are using a .22 LR, you can mimic longer distances by shooting at smaller targets.

To add even more realism to your practice session, Janis recommends doing a few jumps or running for a few minutes before picking up your rifle. Nothing can mimic deer rush perfectly, but taking shots while your heart is pounding is excellent preparation.

Practice not only improves your skill with the rifle, it reveals your limitations.

“You’ll learn what your real skill set is,” Janis said. Shooting on the spur of the moment (independent) seems easy in the movies, but in real life it is much more difficult. “If you practice, maybe you can hit a wide shot 100 yards. But I bet most guys couldn’t make that shot.”

Unless you’ve tried these shots at the range, says Janis, you won’t know one way or the other.

dry fire
Not everyone is lucky enough to have access to a range that allows for different shooting positions. For those folks (and everyone, really), dry cooking is a great way to get some activation time in the comfort of your own home.

Ask any competitive shooter for their best advice and they will recommend dry fire. Janis says the same thing.

“Dry fire at home. Work on moving forward with that trigger,” she said.

Safety is paramount when handling a working firearm in your home. Triple check that the gun is unloaded, and for added safety, point it in a safe direction as you practice. A gun safe or basement wall works well for this purpose.

As with live fire shooting, work in positions you will likely use in the field. Put a sticker or pin on the wall and try to keep the reticle on target while slowly pulling the trigger. Take a few steps back or use a smaller target to increase the difficulty.

To add more realism, use dummy rounds to practice cycling the rifle after taking a “shot”. Practicing the bolt action pays off, especially if you’re using a new weapon.

Why practice?
Some hunters only shoot a few rounds each year, but that won’t maximize your odds. You may not be able to control the deer or the weather, but you can control whether you’re prepared to take an accurate and ethical shot when the time comes.

Janis is motivated to practice out of a sense of humility. Awkward shooting positions, high winds, and rushed shots can defeat even experienced hunters, and she continues to hone her skills because she knows another miss could be just around the corner.

“It is not Yes you’ll get lost, it’s when,” he said. “You’re going to run into a situation you haven’t run into before. You’re going to miss out. If you practice, maybe it’ll be in two seasons instead of this season.”

There is much more to say on this subject. Shooting with or without gloves is something to consider, as is shooting with cold or numb fingers. Know your bullet drops, practice at different distances and get a good idea of your limitations as a shooter.

Bottom line? Work on scenarios you’ll see in the field and you’ll be in good shape once rifle season starts next year.

June 22, 2022

Exploring These Public Land Spots Will Help You Kill More Deer

When it comes to hunting on public lands, it’s rare to find consistency from stretch to stretch. Each area presents its own challenges and often has little in common with the next. Over the years, one trend I continue to see is mature males using public land as a part of their range, rather than living exclusively on it. Of course, there are exceptions, including large BLM tracts, 10,000-acre national forests, and the like.

Because males do not spend all of their time on public land in many cases, it is vital to find the areas with the best chance of hosting a male in daylight. When you find one of these rare sweet spots, you can find out exactly when and how it’s using the area and hunt it down accordingly.

Greater and better use
It’s no secret that public land dollars are masters at reacting and circumnavigating pressure. The key to beating them at their own game is to determine what a particular dollar offers. Start with a map far enough out to cover at least a 2-mile radius. Take note of where potential food sources, security cover, and travel corridors might be. Based on that broad view, draw conclusions about how far the food is from the deck or vice versa. Do this for multiple properties in one area. Once you identify what looks good, take your e-scouting a step further to dig into the best access, potential travel routes, and general use areas like bedding and prep spots.

Don’t be fooled into thinking there is little or no food on public land if you don’t see agricultural fields or planted areas. While these food sources may have strong drawing power to attract deer, a deer’s diet is still primarily made up of native vegetation. You won’t know what quality of food the property has until you put your boots on the ground. Whether you’re looking at home or on a short trip out of state, use antennas to prioritize properties worth exploring. This is essential to maximize your time when searching for a mature male on public land. Once you’ve got your list of properties set up, it’s time to narrow down the main options.

Working from the outside in
You can draw some useful conclusions from the maps, but perhaps the most useful of all is the property line. One of the best ways to start learning about public lands is by walking the boundaries. Here’s a necessary disclaimer: I am in no way advocating hunting property lines. This strategy simply helps you see where deer most commonly come and go on public lands. Don’t be that hunter. Be careful of the line and give the landlord the respect and courtesy you would like in his situation. Once you determine these entry and exit locations, follow them further into the public land. The goal is twofold: prove or disprove your predictions about the best use of property for a dollar, and identify ambush points to hunt them down.

Consult your previous mapping to think about the use of the property while you explore. If the area offers more food, you can structure your approach primarily around a nighttime strategy. If it’s more of a safety cover and bedding, you’ll have a few more options. Take note and determine key locations such as funnels, transitions, and other potential ambush sites.

Putting it all together
Now that you’ve determined the highest and best use for a dollar and narrowed down a specific area you’re using on the public parcel, it’s time to mark your death spot. Thinking carefully about the details, conditions and other key points helps to maximize the chances of choosing the right moment. Trails and travel routes are a good starting point, but digging deeper is essential.

Pay close attention to the sign, not just the scuffs and scratches, but also the position of the scuffs and scratches in relation to the paths of travel. Then, think analytically about what prevailing wind directions offer a deer’s scent advantage when traveling. Ask yourself how the terrain and structure can allow you to manipulate the direction of the wind to get a false sense of security for the money. Divide your exploration by types of vegetation. Look for spots in thick cover with diverse plant cover. Wooded areas with different types of trees and understory often channel movement along transition points where one type meets another. This outside-in approach gets you into the area most used by a male in daylight.

Consider other influencing factors such as hunting pressure, food sources, and the phase of the season you plan to hunt. All of this affects the travel routes and signs you see. Efficiently exploring the highest and best use of a portion of the crowd by examining the perimeter of as many quality stretches as possible will help ensure you remain effective, adaptable and have plenty of options throughout the season.

June 22, 2022

Backyard Badgers and Ground Squirrels Are Easy Prey, But They Shouldn’t Be | natural world | curve | the weekly source

Yyou have seen them They are large furry creatures the size of a bear cub that roll on the surface of the earth as they run from point “A” to point “B”. If you get too close to them, while investigating what that blur of fur was that snuck up behind the sagebrush, you’ll hear a deep growl, and if you’re quick, you’ll also see a lot of flying dirt and stuff. group of skins disappear underground.

You’ve probably already guessed it, if you’ve had an encounter with the American badger. They are very common in the High Desert, where, unfortunately, most so-called “jocks” and too many horsemen shoot them on the spot.

click to enlarge
Caleb Anderson watches a badger killed and hanging from a fence in Oregon's Great Sandy Desert. - JIM ANDERSON

anderson

Caleb Anderson watches a badger killed and hanging from a fence in Oregon’s Great Sandy Desert.

There is no wild animal in the state of Oregon that eats ground squirrels faster and more frequently than badgers. Wildlife biologists say they have a huge impact on Sisters Country’s biodiversity, which is an understatement. The agricultural industry in this part of the forest, with its irrigated farms, has had a profound impact on increasing populations of various ground squirrels, particularly Belding, which has created a new business: shooting ground squirrels, or “sage rats”. as some people know them.

At the Hampton station, you can see an old bus that was converted into a shooting platform that takes patrons to the edge of the hayfields to shoot (like kill) ground squirrels. This is causing a terrible calamity to the various birds of prey that also kill (and eat) ground squirrels.

Ground squirrels that have been killed with lead shot become carriers of lead that enters the lifestream of eagles, hawks, and owls in the region. Lead from dead ground squirrels is ingested by raptors, with horrible results.

There is no worse sight in nature than a bald eagle suffering the results of lead ingestion. Death eventually overtakes them as they crawl on their bellies, unable to eat, drink, or fly. In most cases, if the birds make it to a veterinarian’s lab, it will take up to a year of medication to remove the lead from their bodies.

To make matters worse, if the lead-infested ground squirrel-eating raptor is nesting, the adult will bring the contaminated ground squirrel and feed it to the chick. The result: the baby bird dies before it can fletch.

Then there is the badger which also preys on large numbers of ground squirrels. They are nocturnal most of the time, bringing ground squirrels out of their burrows at night and throughout the winter. Yeah, it’s that hellish digging that gets the poor badger in trouble with the horsemen. Time and time again, one hears reports of horses that fell into a badger hole, broke a leg, and had to be euthanized.

There’s no easy answer to that problem, except for horse lovers to chase the badgers far enough off the pasture that they don’t come back. But ground squirrels and horse pastures go together like hand and glove. Using lethal means to rid the grass of the ground squirrels causes more trouble than shooting the badger, so that’s out.

Trapping ground squirrels is labor intensive, but by far the best solution, especially if one hires a high school student to do it; he or she can create a wonderful college fund.

And then there’s hand-shooting (like killing) badgers for the heck of it. Unfortunately, the badger is not protected by any state or federal regulations. Early settlers who didn’t like badgers, or their appearance, could just kill them and that was that; it’s the same today, except you must have a hunting license and permission to be on the land.

That has to change due to the badger’s vital role as a member of the juniper, sage and grassland ecosystems. And on top of that, they are living members of our wildlife community.

Viewing badgers as prized members of the total Oregon wildlife community should be the attitude we all share whenever we see one crossing the street, or digging in a meadow removing pestiferous ground squirrels. We need them, and they need us!

June 22, 2022

The best headlamps for hunting

Two universal truths for outdoor excursions of all kinds are that they tend to take a little longer than we originally planned, and most of them should be intentionally experienced at night or well before sunrise at least once.

Hunters are obviously used to both scenarios. Pre and post daylight functionality is a must. That’s why a headlamp is arguably the most important piece of emergency equipment you’ll carry. Whether you suddenly find yourself chasing a trail of blood after sundown or your alarm is set for a time that starts with a 3 or a 4, having the best headlamp you can buy is necessary for your safety, efficiency and general enjoyment of any nighttime activity. experience you are having.

Conceptually, headlights are quite simple. All are variations on the theme of an adjustable elastic strap with a small battery-powered light. But when you delve into the various specifications of today’s wide range of offerings, it can be easy to get lost in all the different features, modes and settings. Fortunately, our team isn’t short of both accidental and intentional activities after dark or before dawn, so we know a thing or two about choosing the right headlamp. In short, we are looking for:

1. Reliability

As with most outdoor gear, one of the most important aspects of a headlamp is that it works when we need it to. That’s why we call reliability our number one consideration. This encompasses how long the battery will last (or how convenient recharging will be), how durable the headlamp is, and whether it comes with any waterproofing or all-weather performance guarantees.

If you’re going to be spending long periods of time in the field, you’d be better off prioritizing longevity over lumens. Sure, being able to see the next county is great, but it’s not worth the total darkness that comes when the battery finally dies and you realize you forgot to pack extras. It’s also worth mentioning that dishing out good batteries can make all the difference.

2. Lighting modes

Another important consideration is what modes the headlamp offers. We usually try to stay invisible to critters, so a red light mode comes in handy. We also frequently get in and out of tents and vehicles, and we definitely don’t want to blind our friends, so a dimmer switch helps to quickly suppress the brightness of the main light.

3. Comfort and Fit

We also want our headlights to stay absolutely glued to our heads, whether we’re sweating, shivering, hiking through the woods, or setting up camp. Some headlights have a second perpendicular strap that runs over it, which can add security to the grip. We also frequently wear headlamps over hats or under hoods, so making sure the strap and trim fit with these extra layers is key.