WE TOOK a somewhat
"Over the past two months, we have met one-on-one with fellow hunters, major hunters' rights organizations, industry leaders and top outdoor journalists from all over the country to gain their perspectives. Consistently, their major concerns centered on the proposed use of non-fatal darting," said association Commissioner David Farbman of Detroit in a Web-site announcement.
According to the organization's Web site, the "hunting tour" will have 12-day tournaments. "Pro hunters can take up to six deer--four does, one management buck and one trophy buck. Certain bucks that are featured and studied on the Internet portal [world hunt.com] will not be eligible for harvest during competition, but the hunters can gain bonus points for bringing the deer into effective range and capturing the footage on camera."
Contestants must use a bow, rifle and muzzleloader during the competition, taking at least one deer with each.
Concern still remains about the issue of trying to transform (or some might say, "reduce") the process of hunting, which is largely a very internalized, personal experience, into a hyped competitive event like a big-dollar bass tournament. Granted, taking an animal in some very large, fenced operations isn't always a "fish in a barrel" challenge, but it's usually more of a sure thing than a purely free-roaming hunt grounded in fair-chase principles.
The whole concept still makes me uneasy.
In other news:
High Point bass season recapLake Anna's High Point Marina recently concluded its evening bass tournaments that have been held every Friday since June 2.
The top 40 teams of the 157 that competed over the course of the season qualified for the "Top-40 Fish-Off" Sept. 9, which was won by Frank Sipe Jr. and Holland White of Fluvanna. According to a High Point media release, an average of 66 teams fished weekly and caught 2,325 total pounds of bass. Lester Leonard and Mark Peel of Spotsylvania had the year's biggest fish with a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass.
Weekly winners included the following anglers: Glenn Deale and Roger Carter of Spotsylvania (two wins); Matt Hawkins and Codey Taylor of Catlett; Martin Villa and Jeff Gibson of Crozet (two wins); Larry Wollersheim and Preston Cox of Mineral and Fredericksburg, respectively (three wins); Darrin Bache and Larry Meadows of Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg, respectively; David Chisholm and David Chisholm of Louisa; Glenn Vico and Wayne Dorman of Spotsylvania and Louisa, respectively; and David Butler and Jeff Muller
Winchester ended 140 years of firearms production in its historic New Haven, Conn., factory earlier this year, prompting concern about many popular Winchester models. A recent announcement of a long-term license agreement with Browning may assuage the situation.
Browning will manufacture and distribute Winchester brand rifles and shotguns under the license. The Olin Corp. owns the Winchester name.
"With this new agreement, Winchester is confident that Browning will produce innovative firearms worthy of the Winchester name, continuing a tradition that people around the world associate with the Winchester brand," stated Richard Hammett, president
A five-state review by the American Bird Conservancy underscores that many birds, including rare native birds around the country that nest or feed on the ground, are vulnerable to cats. Among the many bird species identified in the review are the piping plover, California clapper rail, Florida scrub-jay and Hawaiian petrel.
According to a release by the conservancy, "Free-roaming cats kill hundreds of millions of birds and other small creatures every year." The study finds that the now-popular trap/neuter/release programs are largely ineffective at controlling either the number or predatory habits of free-roaming cats, which continue to prey on birds and other wildlife even if the cats are well fed by people. Basically, cats hunt and kill instinctively.
The study estimates there may be as many as 90 million stray and feral felines in the United States. See it online at abcbirds.org/cats.
Virginia girl has pending world recordThe International Game Fish Association reports that a 63-pound, 6-ounce black drum caught earlier this year by 11-year-old Emilee Dize of Onancock is a pending world record in the female junior class. It will top the existing 63-pound record that was set in 2004. It reportedly took Dize 40 minutes to boat the whopper.
Remington cookbookWhether elegantly prepared as "company vittles" or skillfully seasoned and cooked over a fire or on a camp stove, wild-game meals are among the finest gifts a hunter can bestow upon family, friends and comrades.
Still, it's easy to get into a cooking rut, sticking with old standbys and family favorites. Break out by trying some of the wonderful recipes in "Field to Feast--The Remington Cookbook," written by South Carolina authors Jim and Ann Casada.
Besides the Casadas' recipes, the book also features some from Remington staff members past and present. Some employ creative sauces. I can't wait to sample "Blueberry Backstrap," "Loin Steak With Crab, Shrimp and Scallop Sauce" or some of the salsas and toppings recommended for venison burgers. How about "Turkey Scaloppini With Asparagus Sauce" or "Rabbit Pie"?
Sections cover venison, waterfowl, turkey, upland game and non-game foods from nature. A menu-planning section at the end is based on main courses listed in the book. Side dishes and wine or other beverage pairings are suggested.
The 200-page hardcover book has spiral-bound pages for easy handling in the kitchen or camp. It is illustrated with prints of 22 beautiful color paintings from the Remington collection. The book sells for $35 plus $7 shipping. Order it at 800/849-1004 or see sportingclassics.net. The ISBN is 0-9660212-7-4.
KEN PERROTTE can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia Street, Fredericksburg, Va. 22401; by fax at 373-8455; or e-mail
Email: outdoors@freelancestar.com.