Mule Deer Foundation Donates to Restore Habitat

The Mule Deer Foundation donated 11,600 pounds of Sage Brush seed valued at $253,000 to reseed important California wildlife habitat destroyed by fire.

MDF donated the seed to the Eagle Lake Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Susanville, CA to reseed portions of Eastern Lassen County, which was devastated by one of California's largest fires in recent history. The Rush Fire destroyed more than 315,000 acres, including some of the best deer hunting habitat in the state.

MDF California Regional Director Randy Morrison said, "The Rush Fire burned almost exclusively in hunting unit X5B, a limited-entry only area, and 80% of it was burned completely to the ground. It was critical deer habitat that is now gone. It looks like the dark side of the moon. It needs this help from MDF."

He said the seed from MDF conservation partner Native Seed Company of Lehi, UT will help restore approximately 75,000 acres of habitat for both mule deer and sage grouse, as well as a host of other wildlife species.

Morrison worked with Valda Lockie of the BLM and Justin Dean, owner of Native Seed, which will store it until next summer, when the BLM will begin planting.

Volunteers who want to help bring this area back to life are encouraged to contact Randy Morrison with the Mule Deer Foundation at 707-592-9998. There will be seed planting opportunities as well as a number of water development projects

About MDF

The Mule Deer Foundation's national convention will be held in conjunction with the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 21-24, 2013, featuring a keynote address by Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association. Visit www.huntexpo.com.

The Mule Deer Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 charitable non-profit organization, is one of the key conservation groups in North America working to restore, improve and protect mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. With a focus on science and program efficiency, MDF has put millions of dollars and countless hours on the ground for mission-critical projects. MDF acknowledges regulated hunting as a viable management component and is committed to recruitment and retention of youth into the shooting sports and conservation. Get involved at www.muledeer.org or call 1-888-375-3337.

Press release found at the Outdoor Wire

Elk Hunters Offered a Challenge with AZ Tag

Hunters that are looking for a physically challenging hunt in an area with limited vehicular access should consider applying for tags for the “Peaks Hunt Area” in Game Management Unit 7 East, just north of Flagstaff.

For the second year in a row, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission has approved any-elk and antlerless elk tags in the Peaks Hunt Area in Unit 7 East to promote successful aspen regeneration. Approximately 90 percent of all aspen found on the Coconino National Forest are found in this limited hunt area. Recent wildfires have killed some of the adult aspen trees, but have also stimulated extensive sprouting of young aspen that elk prefer to eat especially during the fall. Wildlife biologists believe that by focusing elk management in this area now, chances will increase for robust aspen regeneration. 

“We are offering these permits in coordination with the Coconino National Forest as another habitat management tool for aspen regeneration on the Peaks,” says Carl Lutch, wildlife program manager for the Flagstaff regional office. “There are other factors impacting aspen trees, but reducing the number of elk that utilize aspen is one piece of the puzzle in helping aspen recover on the Coconino National Forest.”

For more than a decade, wildlife biologists and land managers have been working to keep aspen stands healthy on the San Francisco Peaks. The U.S. Forest Service has invested more than $600,000 in recent years to promote aspen regeneration in the area through a variety ofmethods. Monitoring indicates that without intervention many of the aspen in the area could be lost. In addition to browsing by wildlife and livestock, some of the factors that affect aspen health include lack of fire, disease, drought, insects, late frosts, and crowding by other species of trees like conifers. While aspen are short-lived trees that are susceptible to many disturbances, their natural defense is to sprout vigorously from the roots when adult trees die. If sprouts are killed several years in a row, the root system and the trees will eventually die.

Game and Fish and the Forest Service want hunters who put in for this area to know that the hunts are primarily wilderness hunts that are more physically challenging than other hunt areas. These hunts are tailor-made for hunters who want to get away from roads and hunt on foot or horseback. An added benefit to hunters is that the Peaks Hunts are offered at a time of year when elk are rutting and the aspen are in full fall splendor. The unit includes both the San Francisco Peaks and the very scenic Hart Prairie.

The Flagstaff Ranger District on the Coconino National Forest is anxious to help motivated hunters who choose this hunt unit. Limited areas of the unit are closed to horseback access to protect Flagstaff’s water supply in the inner basin. Special regulations also apply in the Kachina Peaks wilderness, but with advance planning this unit provides outstanding opportunities to hunt elk in a remote setting. The Forest Service will have a special link on their website that will provide Peaks Unit hunters with updated information and tips on access into prime hunting locations. 

“This hunt unit offers the type of setting you would normally expect somewhere like Colorado or Montana, so the tactics need to be a little different,” says U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Mike Elson. “In addition to providing a unique experience in Arizona, this hunt is also a critical tool in helping us manage for healthy aspen and healthy elk habitat.”     

The 2013 Pronghorn and Elk hunt regulation booklet is available now. The deadline to apply for hunts is by 7p.m. on Tuesday, Feb.12.

To view the hunting regulations and apply for fall hunts on line, go to www.azgfd.gov/draw.

For more information about the Coconino National Forest visit www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.

Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show Cancelled

Reed Exhibitions has decided to postpone, for now, the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show given the controversy surrounding its decision to limit the sale or display of modern sporting rifles (also called ARs) at the event. The show was scheduled to take place February 2-10 in Harrisburg, PA.

“Our original decision not to include certain products in the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show this year was made in order to preserve the event’s historical focus on the hunting and fishing traditions enjoyed by American families,” said Chet Burchett, Reed Exhibitions President for the Americas. “In the current climate, we felt that the presence of MSRs would distract from the theme of hunting and fishing, disrupting the broader experience of our guests. This was intended simply as a product decision, of the type event organizers need to make every day. 

“It has become very clear to us after speaking with our customers that the event could not be held because the atmosphere of this year’s show would not be conducive to an event that is designed to provide family enjoyment. It is unfortunate that in the current emotionally charged atmosphere this celebratory event has become overshadowed by a decision that directly affected a small percentage of more than 1,000 exhibits showcasing products and services for those interested in hunting and fishing.

“ESS has long been proud to participate in the preservation and promotion of hunting and fishing traditions, and we hope that as the national debate clarifies, we will have an opportunity to consider rescheduling the event when the time is right to focus on the themes it celebrates.”

Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show Fallout Continues

Despite the withdrawal of at least 183 exhibitors, and 23 scheduled celebrities, British-owned Reed Outdoor Exhibitions refuses to budge on a prohibition of the presence or display of images of the modern sporting rifle at its Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show scheduled for February 2-10 at the State Farm Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Yesterday, Smith & Wesson, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) joined the growing list of companies withdrawing both their participation and sponsorship of the east's largest sport and outdoor show. In protest of the Reed Decision, former advertiser MyNortheastOutdoors.com plans to build and host a no-cost "Virtual Sports Show" online for vendors who have pulled out of the show. 

Click here for a complete list of companies withdrawing from the show.