By: Trevor Simmons
David and Taylor Rather invited my father and I out a couple weeks back to go turkey hunting on some of their properties. After a whole week of rain and storms, it finally dried up long enough to head their way. We had no idea where we were going or what to expect but we had faith that the Rather family would know exactly what to do. After an hour and half drive, and driving by their driveway three or four times we finally got there. We all packed into David’s truck and headed into the pitch black for another mystical morning.

After a short curvy drive, we pulled into a wooded parking spot and unloaded all our gear. We did a check of all our gear and got all our camera gear in order then we began our silent walk down a well-packed dirt road. We veered off that quiet dirt road to some crackling pine needles and leaves about 150 yards from the truck. I ran into a few limbs and small trees in this weird almost completely pitch black darkness. About fifty yards from the field, right above our heads a loan turkey flew out and everyone but David heard it.

MISSOULA, Mont.—A partnership between the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has reached the $1 million mark in projects for elk, other wildlife and their habitat in Wyoming.

Trust funds are generated by a tax on oil exploration in Wyoming. A nine-member, governor-appointed board of directors administers contributions to groups like RMEF.

Since 2006, the Trust has supported Elk Foundation habitat projects such as prescribed burns, aspen restorations, water developments and more. Eleven counties in Wyoming have benefitted including Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Hot Springs, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sublette and Weston. Most of the work has enhanced Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands.

Additional funding commitments to RMEF have expanded the slate of projects for 2009.

Our Thoughts and Prayers go out to Tred Barta as he recovers from a stroke.

You can read more about this story here

I have had several opportunities to meet Tred Barta and talk with him and his passion for hunting and the pursuit of his passions has inspired many.  Our thoughts are with him and his family!

(ANCHORAGE, May 20, 2009) -- The crew of the F/V Northwestern and stars of The Deadliest Catch, America’s top-rated cable television show, are speaking out about a massive hard-rock mine that developers want to build in the heart of Alaska’s wild salmon country. The proposed mine, called Pebble, straddles the headwaters of the two of the world’s most productive salmon rivers. If developed, Pebble could be North America’s largest open-pit mine, generating 35 billion gallons of waste annually and exposing the Bristol Bay region to the risks of acid mine drainage and potentially catastrophic industrial accidents.

“We don’t mind crab fishing in the dead of winter in the Bering Sea. But there’s no way we’d take the risk of developing the Pebble mine. Putting the world’s largest earthen dam holding toxic waste right in the middle of the Bristol Bay watershed is one of the most bone-headed ideas we’ve ever heard of,” said Sig Hansen, captain of the F/V Northwestern, one of the fishing vessels featured on The Deadliest Catch, which airs on The Discovery Channel in over 150 countries.

“One earthquake, one leak, and we’d send a river of poison rushing down our best salmon streams, heading straight for Bristol Bay. Help us stop the Pebble mine before it becomes an Alaska disaster,” Hansen said.

After 24 years on the road doing archery exhibitions on stage, you'd think I'd be ready to slow the pace.  As my hero John Wayne used to say, "Not hardly..."  My instinctive shooting guru Rev. Stacy Groscup performed with me when he was 82 years old.  Amazing huh?   So I figure I have a few more years of shows to do.  Some of my winter dates are booked three years out and that's a great feeling.  I just enjoy hitting the stage and giving the audiences a good show.  It's a great gig.  And after all, it beats a real job.

The economy may go up or down but folks are going to participate in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing and camping and archery has seen tremendous growth when the economy is at it's worst.  1978 was a banner year for the sport of archery.  When money gets tight outdoor sports may even be the most popular choice for more family vacations.  So I am optimistic that our industry will weather out the storm.  Perhaps as more families are exposed to these activities the popularity will rise and we'll see even more growth.  Remember, the glass is NEVER even close to half empty....  I refuse to get a negative attitude no matter how bleak the newscasts get.  Things could be worse.

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) have added a new partner—the Silverton Casino Lodge in Las Vegas—to their Cowboys for Conservation program.

The Silverton is now the official headquarters hotel for Cowboys for Conservation as well as the first presenting sponsor of the program’s “Trophy Bulls” competition.

“Silverton’s Livin Lodge is the perfect Las Vegas home to host activities surrounding our partnership with RMEF,” said Sean Gleason, PBR chief operating officer. “Their incredible outdoor themed facility, along with the attached Bass Pro Shops location, are a natural fit with conservation minded RMEF attendees from across the country.”

Washington, D.C. - May 18 -

Members of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) Climate Change Working Group, comprised of representatives of leading sportsmen's and conservation groups, praised the efforts of members of the Energy and Commerce Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives to include funding for fish and wildlife adaptation strategies to combat climate change in the American Clean Energy and Security bill (ACES).

"A wide range of fish and wildlife will feel the effects of climate change, which could dramatically affect hunting and fishing," said David Nomsen, Vice president of government affairs for Pheasants Forever and working group co-chair. "The funding that the energy and commerce committee agreed on will provide a good start on a fiscal base for state wildlife agencies to implement climate change adaptation strategies for fish and wildlife."

The ACES bill will work to limit the effects of global climate change by imposing a cap on greenhouse gas emissions while investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The bill also would create the Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation Fund to assist federal and state agencies in implementing natural resources adaptation strategies and measures. The ACES bill released today included a tiered allocation from carbon allowances auction revenue, with the adaptation programs receiving 1 percent from 2012 to 2021, 2 percent from 2022 to 2026 and 4 percent from 2027 to 2050.

Gillette, Wyo. - May 18 -

Hunters and conservationists from Campbell County, Wyoming have formed the state's newest Pheasants Forever chapter, known as the Thunder Basin Chapter of PF. The chapter is dedicated to improving habitat for pheasants and other wildlife, as well as providing ways for youth to become involved in outdoor activities.

"One of our tops goals is bringing children to the outdoors through education and participation," said Paul Connelly of Gillette, the Thunder Basin chapter's newly-elected president, "By holding youth outdoor days, working with local schools and also partnering with other organizations in conservation efforts, we feel we can enhance Pheasants Forever's No Child Left Indoors® initiative." Launched last year, No Child Left Indoors® is part of a national movement aimed at getting youth unplugged from electronics and turned on to the outdoors, nature and wildlife.

"With over 45 people at the chapter's start meeting alone, it's evident there's a spirit for conservation in Campbell County," said Bob Hix, PF Field Representative in Wyoming, "With Pheasants Forever's local model, there's a tremendous opportunity to better wildlife habitat for pheasants, but also sage grouse, chukars, antelope and mule deer." Pheasants Forever and its quail division, Quail Forever, are the only national conservation organizations that empower local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. As a result, chapter volunteers are able to see the fruits of their efforts locally, while belonging to a larger national organization with a voice on federal and state conservation policy.

BOGART, Ga. - The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is gearing up for its 9th Annual National Convention and Whitetail Expo to take place in Louisville, Kentucky, July 23-26. Joining the previously announced celebrities attending the event are members of Team Primos and distinguished wildlife biologist Dr. Grant Woods.

From Team Primos, Kevin Meacham, Keith Burgess, Shane Smith, and Chris Ashley, all featured in "The Truth" television series, will be available for autographs during the Whitetail Expo on Saturday and Sunday.

During Friday's Research Sessions, Dr. Grant Woods, Charter Life Member and long-time supporter of the QDMA, will deliver a presentation entitled "Fine Tuning a Deer Management Program: What's Next After Balancing the Adult Sex Ratio and Establishing Food Plots." Attendees will receive top-quality instruction and information from one of the nation's most experienced wildlife management consultants.

Tyonek Village, AK-The Paralyzed Veterans of America Heritage Fund, in cooperation with the Tyonek Lodge have coordinated an Alaska black bear hunt at a village just outside of Anchorage.  The hunt itself will span over a period of four weeks beginning on May 20th in four separate groups to properly accommodate the needs of 20 wounded service members.  They will be accompanied by representatives from many sponsor companies to assist and share in the joy of celebrating our heroes and assisting in their outdoor rehabilitation.

The Tyonek Native Corporation has undertaken extensive renovations to the Tyonek Lodge in order to accommodate the needs of our paralyzed service members, as well as other individuals with disabilities into this somewhat remote lodge.  http://www.tyoneklodge.com/  They will have the opportunity to enjoy of Alaska's great outdoors and a chance to hunt black bear in one of the most densely populated black bear areas in the state, if not in all of North America.

Country music recording artist Aaron Tippin and Jim Zumbo, TV host of Jim Zumbo Outdoors on the Outdoor Channel are Spokesmen for the PVA- Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund (ORHF) and both will be attending and assisting on the hunt.  "I am honored and humbled whenever I get to share a camp with our wounded military heroes," said Zumbo.  "This doesn't happen without a lot of support from sponsors and donations from individuals to the Heritage Fund. I've witnessed firsthand how these heroes respond to this type of therapy in their recovery." added Zumbo. The Fund, a 501 (c) (3), incorporates the traditional outdoor pursuits of hunting, fishing and shooting, along with other outdoor activities, to help wounded veterans rehabilitate and re-establish important connections with post-injury daily life.

This hunt is made possible by the generous support of sponsors including Ken Onion Custom Knives, Tyonek Native Corp, Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, Wasilla Alaska AM-VETS, Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife, James Whitlock, Sr., Hugh Tanner-Norman S. Wright Mechanical, Rick Rydell with Radio 650 KENI, Colorado Buck on Sportman's Channel, Wild TV, Pursuit Channel, Jim Zumbo Outdoors on the Outdoor Channel, Surefire flashlights, Kershaw Knives, Bushnell, ZT Knives, Strider Knives, Thermacell, Wild West Guns, Graham Knives, Aimpoint, The Hunting Shack,  Under Armour, VangComp-Tactical Shotgun systems, Ballistic Solutions Technologies, Princeton Tec headlamps, Stedi-Stock, ALS Technologies, Inc., Columbia River Knife and Tool, The Last Frontiersman-Dan McDowell-Kenai River fishing guide, Alaska Custom Firearms, BuckShot energy drinks, Pacific Mercantile Bank-Costa Mesa, CA and Sportsman's Warehouse- Wasilla, AK.

For more information or interest in contributing to this effort, please contact Doug Warren, Paralyzed Veterans of America by email at dwpva@biggamehuntinggear.com  or by phone at 903-276-1246.

In 2001, the PVA Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was established to permanently support PVA's many outdoor sports programs, including hunting, fishing, recreational shooting and other outdoor recreational pursuits. Donations are tax-deductible and will fully support PVA's many outdoor sporting activities and programs. Anyone interested in donating to PVA's Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund, go to: www.pvaheritagefund.org