Iowa's deer
donation program surprised even Department of Natural Resources officials with a
windfall of 6,344 deer given by hunters, almost 30 percent more than
expected.
The DNR piloted the
donation program in 2003 and 2004 to help reduce the deer population by giving
hunters a place to donate deer so they would continue to shoot more. Last year,
the legislature added $1 to the cost of a deer permit to help pay for the
program and expand it from just central Iowa to statewide.
"Deer hunters are
to be thanked for their major contributions in providing highly popular venison
to Iowans in need," said Jeff Vonk, DNR director.
Vonk said that
hunters donated deer at 88 locker locations in 60 counties throughout Iowa. Deer
donated to the Help Us Stop Hunger (HUSH) program, with distribution to the
needy and coordinated by the Food Bank of Iowa, amounted to 5,608. At seven Iowa
lockers, hunters could choose to donate deer to Iowa Department of Corrections
facilities. That Prison Venison Program resulted in 736 deer going to five
nearby prisons.
Vonk said more than
1 million quarter-pound servings of venison were received by Iowans through the
network of food banks. About 135,000 venison meals were served at the
prisons.
The extra $1 on
deer permits came up about $42,000 short on paying from the program, but the DNR
will pay the additional out of its regular budget. Lockers received $60 per deer
to process the venison for HUSH; the Food Bank of Iowa received $5 per deer for
distribution and administration; and the DNR spent about $17,000 to promote the
program.
National Hunting and Fishing Day
National Hunting
and Fishing Day is set for Sept. 23, 2006. A new Web site dedicated to the
celebration has been launched at www.nhfday.org.
Country music star
Tracy Byrd has been named honorary chairman for National Hunting and Fishing Day
2006. President George W. Bush recently acknowledged the importance of the day
and a special video release of the event. View the video clip.
$523 Million: Taxes Paid by America's Recreational Shooters,
Hunters, Anglers and Boaters
Interior Secretary
Gale A. Norton announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will distribute
more than $523 million in excise taxes paid by America's recreational shooters,
hunters, anglers and boaters, to state fish and wildlife agencies to support
fish and wildlife conservation and education programs. Read
about it here.
Project ChildSafe
Project ChildSafe
is the nation's largest firearm safety education program. Since 2003, the
nationwide distribution of safety kits that includes a cable-style gun locking
device and safety education materials, has reminded gun owners to properly store
firearms in the home in order to prevent a loaded firearm from falling into the
hands of a child, thereby preventing tragic accidents.
When Eva Longoria, star of the ABC’s Desperate Housewives,
went on Oprah recently and stated, “I can skin a deer, a pig, a snake — and
rabbits,” many in the hunting community stood up and took notice. So did some
others. PETA spokesman Michael McGraw replied in typical fashion by saying “If
Eva is set on going hunting, we hear Vice President Cheney is looking for a new
partner.”
After learning of
Miss Longoria’s comments, Whitetail Fanatic CEO Tom Fassbinder immediately sent
correspondence to her offering a trophy whitetail hunt at Knupp
Outdoors where she would hunt along side the winner of Whitetail
Fanatic Magazine’s Annual Membership Sweepstakes. At the time this
newsletter went to press, Miss Longoria had not yet replied to the
offer!
Minnesota - Chronic Wasting Disease Detected
Chronic wasting
disease (CWD) has been detected in one domestic white-tailed deer on a cervid
farm in Lac qui Parle County, which is located in southwestern Minnesota. DNR
officials will conduct a local deer survey to determine the number of wild deer
in the area. It is expected that not many deer will be found because the area is
highly agricultural, with little deer habitat surrounding the farm.
To aid in
determining the extent of the problem, the DNR will conduct opportunistic
sampling of deer, like road kills, in the immediate area now and will conduct
intensive hunter-harvested surveillance during the 2006 firearm deer season.
From 2002 to 2004, DNR staff collected nearly 28,000 CWD samples statewide and
no disease found in the wild herd.
Hunter-killed Deer From West Virginia Tests Negative For
CWD
According to
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials, the good news for a Lancaster County
hunter who visited Hampshire County, West Virginia, is that the two deer he
brought back from that state's 2005 seasons tested negative for chronic wasting
disease (CWD). Hampshire County is the area of West Virginia from which
Pennsylvania hunters are restricted in what parts they may bring back to the
Commonwealth to prevent hunters from unknowingly returning with any parts that
could spread CWD.
However, the bad
news for Joseph C. Clement, 50, of Manor Street in Lancaster, is that he was
charged with two counts of unlawful possession of game not properly marked by
Lancaster County Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) John Veylupek. If convicted
of both charges, which were filed in District Justice Cheryl Hartman's office,
Clement faces up to $1,600 in fines and the possible loss of his hunting and
trapping privileges.
Penn Agency Posts Deer Harvest Estimating Procedure On
Website
As part of its
ongoing efforts to keep the public informed about deer management, the
Pennsylvania Game Commission has posted a more detailed version of its
white-tailed deer harvest estimating procedures on its website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). Click on "Deer
Program" in the "Quick Clicks" box in the upper right-hand corner of the
homepage and select "Deer Harvest Estimate Process."
Postage Stamps to Benefit Anti-Hunting Organization
An online company
is using the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as a pawn to raise money for the Humane
Society of the United States (HSUS). The problem is that HSUS is this nation's
largest anti-hunting organization.
Zazzle.com, a
website that allows customers to create custom postage stamps and other
personalized items, is selling stamps that promote HSUS programs. Customers can
purchase stamps which support HSUS disaster relief efforts as well as campaigns
against seal hunting in Canada and agricultural animal usage. Twenty percent of
the net sales are donated to the HSUS. The organization's name is prominently
displayed on the stamps
It is unacceptable
for a federal agency to be used to promote policies that most Americans do not
support. Whitetail Fanatic Magazine strongly urges our members to avoid
Zazzle.com until such time that they suspend their support of anti-hunting
organizations. We urge you to contact your state and federal legislators, the
USPS and Zazzle.com to voice your opposition. To express your dissatisfaction,
contact Zazzle.com at (650) 328-6700 or write to Mr. Robert Beaver, Chief
Executive Officer, Zazzle.com, 66 Willow Place, Menlo Park, CA 94025. To contact
the USPS about this practice, call your local postmaster at (800)
275-8777
When Eva Longoria, star of the ABC’s Desperate Housewives,
went on Oprah recently and stated, “I can skin a deer, a pig, a snake — and
rabbits,” many in the hunting community stood up and took notice. So did some
others. PETA spokesman Michael McGraw replied in typical fashion by saying “If
Eva is set on going hunting, we hear Vice President Cheney is looking for a new
partner.” 
