Frankfort, Kentucky - Hunters now have three extra days to apply for the 2009 Kentucky elk hunt. Citing technical problems over the past few days with state government's online payment application, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources officials today extended the original April 30 deadline to midnight Eastern Time, May 3.

"We want to ensure that everyone who wants to apply has that chance," said Wildlife Division Director Karen Alexy. "We've already had a record number of applicants because Kentucky is issuing a record number of its elk permits. The word is getting around that a Kentucky elk hunt is truly the hunt of a lifetime."

To date, more than 37,500 people have applied for the 2009 general elk hunt while an additional 375 people have applied for the special Paul Van Booven Wildlife Management Area (WMA) youth hunt. Kentucky will issue 1,002 permits for the general elk hunt, and five permits for the WMA youth hunt. The deadline extension applies to both the general hunt and the WMA youth hunt.

Congratulations to the guys at Sitka Gear for creating such a great pack.  This Pack is an absolute winner and it will be what we will be carrying in the mountains this year!!!

MISSOULA, Mont.—Wild elk populations in 23 states are higher now than 25 years ago when the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) was launched to help conserve habitat for elk and other wildlife.

Nationally, elk numbers grew 44 percent, from about 715,000 to over 1,031,000, between 1984 and 2009 (see chart) .

During that same time span, Elk Foundation fundraisers generated millions of dollars, which helped leverage millions more, for a conservation effort that has enhanced or protected nearly a square mile of habitat per day—now totaling over 5.5 million acres.

Population highlights among top elk states: California, Nevada and New Mexico experienced the greatest increases with growth exceeding 100 percent. Colorado, Montana and Utah herds are 50-70 percent larger. Oregon and Wyoming are up 20-40 percent.

Temecula, Calif., April 27 -- Outdoor Channel, America's leader in Outdoor TV, today announced an exclusive partnership with Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, a leading national organization dedicated to providing youth with mentors who will share with them the experiences of traditional outdoor activities. Outdoor Channel's relationship with Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors adds to its existing partnerships with more than a dozen conservation organizations and champions of the outdoors including Boy Scouts of America, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International, Trout Unlimited and Pheasants Forever, among others. It is one more demonstration of Outdoor Channel's robust commitment to promoting the preservation of the outdoors and encouraging future generations to enjoy traditional outdoor pursuits.

As part of the relationship, Outdoor Channel will serve as Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors' exclusive television partner, participating in all of Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors' youth mentoring events and filming select events for inclusion in Outdoor Channel's growing slate of original programming. Outdoor Channel will also use its extensive access to a roster of popular outdoor celebrities and personalities to endorse Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors in public service announcements on-air and on its Web site located at www.outdoorchannel.com. Outdoor Channel will also leverage its leadership position with affiliates, advertisers and outdoor affinity and conservation organizations to create customized marketing programs around Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors and youth mentoring.

Cpl Matt Reyes Pro Staffer with Huntin' with the Judge and Third Eye Guides and Outfitters sent me the following letter and some great pictures from the 3rd Annual AFF Huntin' The Hill Country Exotic Smackdown.  It looks they had an amazing time taking these service men and women out hunting.  The Judge and the entire team at Huntin' with the Judge should be absolutely applauded for the work they are doing with these servicemen and women.

READ Cpl Matt Reyes Letter Here

Introducing Logan Hinners, our newest Team HuntingLife Pro Staff Member.  We are proud to have Logan on our team and we look forward to many more of his stories and reviews and some great footage this fall.

My favorite hiding spot in the world is also the place I’m able to see most clearly. Whether it is in the middle of a quit woods watching the stillness and patients of a deer, or on top of a mountain watching the courage and strength of a majestic bull elk, I’m able to really think about why hunting is so important to me. I am able to see how it has affected some of the most important things in my life; family and personal self worth. This leads me to an antelope hunt in Northern Colorado with my Dad and little brother Kale.

After a mid-morning brunch my dad, brother and I returned to the field. While driving down the road, I happened to glance off to my left; immediately hitting the brakes as I grabbed for my binoculars the pickup skidded to an abrupt stop. “Good Buck!” was the only words needed to get my younger brother Kale, reaching for his rifle. Dad leaned forward from the back seat and agreed with my observation, “Yep, good one!”   

NEWTOWN, Conn. --With hunting facing a range of challenges from access to urbanization, the National Shooting Sports Foundation has announced grants that will assist states with projects designed to keep current hunters active and introduce newcomers.

For the seventh year, NSSF will give promising program proposals its support, with $499,060 going to nine state agencies. Arizona Game & Fish Department earned two awards, totaling $82,500, and Arizona, Colorado and Oregon were first-time grant recipients. Since its inception, NSSF's Hunting Heritage Partnership program has contributed more than $3.3 million in support of projects managed by state natural resource agencies.

"Hunting faces challenges that are often state-specific, and these grants from the National Shooting Sports Foundation help make possible programs that state agencies might not otherwise be able to provide," said Steve Sanetti, NSSF president and CEO. "This year's recipients are right on target with initiatives addressing access issues and encouraging inactive hunters to go afield once again."

TUCSON, AZ –As the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) prepares for the largest national tournament in history, it announced another historical landmark. NASP and the Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) announced that 250-350 educators each year will be trained as archery instructors through SCIF’s American Wilderness Leadership School near Jackson, Wyoming.
 
“This will be the largest single source of new National Archery in the Schools instructors,” said NASP’s Roy Grimes, who has been working closely with SCIF Education Director Sue Hankner to launch the historic initiative.
 
SCIF President Merle Shepard said: “SCI Foundation understands that archery helps students improve lifelong skills like concentration, self-control, discipline and dedication, while it also introduces them to the fun of the shooting sports.”

Hunting and angling groups call on Sec. Vilsack to ensure Colorado roadless rule
sustains important fish and wildlife habitat

WASHINGTON – An assemblage of prominent sportsmen-conservationist groups today pointedly criticized a proposed plan for management of Colorado’s national forest roadless areas and asked U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to intervene in the rule-making process until fundamental problems with the draft plan can be resolved.

Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Colorado Trout Unlimited, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Trout Unlimited’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project expressed significant concerns about the ability of the proposed Colorado roadless rule to sustain important fish and wildlife habitat. The groups stressed that finalization of the Colorado roadless rule should be deferred until key officials are appointed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service and a review of the proposed rule can be undertaken.

“The proposed Colorado roadless rule does not adequately conserve Colorado’s roadless areas and can be substantially improved and clarified,” said Joel Webster, TRCP associate director of campaigns. “Colorado’s backcountry areas are world-class, and hunters and anglers have a huge stake in assuring their responsible management.”

By Don Rickards, (eldondo) Team HuntingLife

That may not mean a lot to some, but for me it means I have a place in history now.

Sometimes things happen for a reason.  My wife and I had purchased plane tickets (last fall) for the beginning of the 2009 hunting season in Africa, but our plans were to spend more time visiting than hunting this trip.  In December, our dear friend and remarkable PH, Pieter Potgieter of Motsomi Safaris acquired the hunting rights in a new concession in Mozambique. It is about 60 miles into the Gaza strip and north of Chicualacula bordering the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe.

Because we have been hunting with Pieter for years (and he is the only person I would ever willingly trust with our lives in Africa), he was comfortable with us going to the new place before the lodge was totally finished. And he wanted to go and see the progress since there were delays in the building because of the record level heavy rains this year. What a great side trip!