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Whitetail Fanatic
Iowa Deer Hunters Donate Unselfishly 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. Learn more about Project ChildSafe here. Eva Longoria – The Hunter 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
© Copyright 2005 by Bowhunting.net |
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.” 