Investigation into Altai functionaries’ illegal helicopter-hunting of animals, entered into the Red Book of Endangered Species, is over, says Russia’s Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin in an interview with the RIA-Novosti news agency.

The MI-171 helicopter crashed near Mt Chernaya in January 2009.

Seven people died in the crash, including the Russian President’s Plenipotentiary in the State Duma Alexander Kosopkin.

Another four, including the Deputy Prime Minister of the Altai Republic Anatoly Bannykh, were injured.

Following the crash Internet sites featured photos of killed animals amidst the helicopter wreckage.

The investigators have established that the accused used the helicopter to hunt the Argali wild sheep.

The illegal hunting is punishable by up to two years behind bars.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/08/31/18037180.html

Now is the time to get in the woods with your GPS. Now is the time to hit the woods and establish your GPS waypoints and trails for your stands, blinds and favorite hunting locations.

Yes I know that it is hot out there, but a little preseason scouting with you marking your stands and routes to them will be an invaluable asset when the actual season begins. So douse yourself with bug repellant, tote along some extra water, a comfortable hat, a machete, a decent map of the area and, of course, your GPS receiver, and hit the trails.

Your trip can actually serve several purposes if you bring your GPS unit with you.

One benefit of an early trip is that you may be able to use an ATV, motor boat or even a road vehicle on some of the access roads or foot trails. The ATV vehicles or power boats may not be feasible or wise during the actual hunting season. Using such a boat or vehicle now during your trip would also allow you to bring in repair materials for your stands. The trip will also allow you to check the safety of the permanent stands as well as allowing you deer hunters to try out your climbing stands.

Making such trips now lets you get the job done without worrying about the noise you may make getting to and working on your stand.

Another benefit is seeing out-of-season pirogue waterways and game trails that are in the grass and bushes that are not normally showing during the actual hunting seasons. Naturally, these pirogue trails, trail junctions, creek or stream crossings and other selected points should be logged in as waypoints in your GPS unit.

Most units allow you to “lay a trail” to and from the stand area. Make an effort now to understand how your GPS unit works. The use of your GPS will give you an insight of the locations of your favorite hunting locations, especially if the unit has internal maps and/or if it can be connected to a computer-based mapping program.

Sometimes these locations are just over a ridge or across a creek, but you thought they were miles apart because you reached them by using a different route. The GPS mapping allows you to “get a lay of the land” and actually see how these locations may interact with one another. The GPS will allow you to choose a more direct route to your area than the one you have previously used to access the area.

If you don’t have a handheld GPS unit and a computer-based mapping program, now is the time to get the items together for your fall hunting season.

Following are some tips that will make your hunting better during the oncoming season.

Let’s start with the GPS unit. Most handheld units have the antenna placed in a coil that is concealed inside the top of the case or have a protruding antenna that may be movable. In order for the GPS to work properly, the antenna must have a clear view of the sky. Even those new highly sensitive receiver units need the antenna to be in a position that offers the best chance of receiving the satellite signals.

The GPS signals are transmitted at a power roughly equivalent to a 50-watt domestic light bulb. The signals pass through space and our atmosphere before reaching your unit after a journey of about 12,500 miles. A broadcast TV signal that is transmitted from a large tower 20 miles away is usually transmitted at a power level of 5,000 to 10,000 watts.

If I wear my GPS receiver in a holster on my belt, the antenna of the unit may be shielded by my body. This may cause the unit to give me an inaccurate GPS position or not work at all.

Remember, if the antenna is covered or concealed by metal or another mass, the signals may not be able to reach the GPS unit. This will cause the unit to lose its position. To get my unit away from my expanding waistline, my wife made a GPS pocket on my hunting vest. The new pocket is located on my off gun shoulder as high as possible. It is in a nearly perfect position to receive the satellite signals. I attach my GPS unit to the vest by a safety pin and its lanyard and a shoe lace. This protects the unit from falling and becoming lost in the event that I stoop over or lean when I am using my climbing stand.

You should start your day by clearing your track log. Either save your important existing tracks that you may later use or delete them from the internal memory of the unit. This will give you a clean slate of new tracks for your present journey in the woods. Be sure that you turn on the track feature after clearing the existing memory. If you are going to a tried-and-true stand, the unit will trace your steps to it. If you have to scout for a stand, the unit will again trace your steps showing the route you chose for getting to the stand.

Next, when you get to your starting point for getting into the woods, turn your unit on and mark the position as a waypoint in the GPS. I call mine “Truck,” as the location where my truck is parked, and I begin my trail journey. Of course, any similar name would do so long as you know it is the location where you started. Place the GPS in the highest pocket you have, and start your trail.

If you note special locations such as trail junctions and other necessary points, mark the locations in your GPS as a waypoint. Use an alphanumeric name that would rekindle your memory as to what the name represents. Scrape 2, Our Pond, N Blind, Rub 1, 14 Point, XX cross, Shoot Ln1, 1ST turn, creek X, Ft of hill, etc. would be appropriate for some of your waypoint names.

As you move through the terrain, the GPS will record your movements as a Track, or Trail, depending on the nomenclature of the software in your unit. When you reach your stand area, save the location as a waypoint in your unit. I call mine “STAND-1.” If you are not venturing farther in the woods, save the existing or active track to a file in the unit. This will then give you a fresh track for your return trip. If you can, take a different route or vary your return trip by doing some scouting of the general area. This will give you some different trails to use should the need arise.

After marking your hunting area and returning to your starting point, access the tracks and again save the return track to your starting point.

This will give you two distinct trails or tracks to your hunting area from your starting point.

When your outdoor day is complete, turn the GPS unit off. After returning to your home or camp, transfer the waypoints, tracks and trails to your data transfer program in your computer or to an appropriate mapping program such as the My Topo Terrain Navigator Pro that I use.

This will allow you to view the waypoints and trails on the mapping program. It will allow you to have your waypoints projected on various maps, and with the My Topo program even on ortho-aerial photos.

You may be surprised at the locations you traveled and where your stands are in relation to other features and other stands.

It is worth your time and effort to get the most current information you can for the upcoming hunting season.

Get out now and prepare for the season.

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=2473

MONTPELIER — Doug Nelson, operator of the Big Rack Ridge elk-hunting park in Irasburg, was fined $4,250 Wednesday for failing to comply with provisions of a law he himself had sought.

Nelson was fined for failing to meet the first deadline under the new law, the Aug. 1 submission of a plan to manage his captive elk as well as the native deer and moose trapped inside his seven miles of fencing.

In a move that provoked much controversy in the hunting community, the state Legislature earlier this year transferred oversight of the shooting park from the Fish and Wildlife Department to the Agriculture Agency.

The Legislature approved the proposal — which had been drafted behind closed doors, without the knowledge of Fish and Wildlife officials — on its final day.

Nelson had sought the transfer because Fish and Wildlife regulations would have required him to shoot all the native deer and moose inside his fence as a disease prevention measure. The new law requires no such liquidation.

Nelson, the state’s largest dairy farmer, apparently has had plans for some time to sell the right to hunt those whitetail deer, according to his advertising.

Fish and Wildlife officials and some hunters were angry about the new law, saying it essentially gave Nelson ownership of wild deer and moose on his property. They also fear the elk herd could spread disease, although no evidence of disease has been found in Nelson’s herd.

Nelson missed the Aug. 1 deadline, despite a July 7 letter from Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee outlining the requirement in detail and emphasizing the importance of compliance.

Instead, Nelson asked Aug. 2 for a two-month extension in filing his plan.

A hearing on that request was scheduled for Wednesday morning. Instead, Nelson agreed to accept a fine and signed a document committing him to supply his management plan by Sept. 10.

Nelson left the meeting without speaking to reporters. His lawyer, Brooke Dingledine, said her client regretted missing the deadline but was waiting for the technical assistance of national deer management expert, James Kroll, who had not been available.

Dingledine declined to say why Nelson waited until after the deadline to request an extension.

“It is regrettable that the plan wasn’t in on time,” she said. “I’m not going to worry about the past. We are endeavoring to make sure all the Agriculture Agency’s concerns are addressed.”

She said Nelson has run his elk park according to best management practices and will continue to do so.

Allbee, the agriculture secretary, said he was “totally surprised” that Nelson failed to file his plans as required. “He had full knowledge of what we expected. He asked for this law.”

Allbee said his agency has emphasized to Nelson that the wild deer and moose behind his fence are state property. They can be legally hunted at Big Rack Ridge during the state’s hunting seasons. Any other plan to shoot them out of season would have to be approved by his agency, he said.

Allbee said he believes Nelson will take responsibility and comply with regulation in the future.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/ar ... Elk-hunt-park-owner-fined

SEARCHERS hunting for a 55-year-old angler who failed to return from a fishing trip have found a body.

Mark Bryant, from Beamsley, near Bolton Abbey was last seen fishing on Ullswater, in Cumbria, at about 1.30pm on August 31.

When he failed to return to Side Farm campsite in Ullswater, where he was staying, his partner reported her concerns for his welfare to Patterdale Mountain Rescue team, which began a search of the surrounding area.

A large scale search of the lake began and his dinghy was located during the early hours of Septmber 1.

The search was halted at about 3.30am, but began again at daylight, at about 6am, in the lake and surrounding areas including campsites, hotels and guest houses.

Police are continuing their inquiries and have been circulating descriptions of Mr Bryant in the local community and via Farmwatch and Voice Connect systems.

An underwater search team has also been contacted to help with the search and a body was found late on September 1.

Police are appealing for anyone who has seen a white man, of a stocky but slim build with long grey/blonde hair who was last seen wearing shorts and sailing shoes to get in touch.

He was last seen wearing shorts and sailing shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cumbria police, on 0845-33-00-24-7.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news ... missing_angler_continues/

Vasili Melnic of Hillsborough recently caught a 50-inch American eel while fishing from a raft at Round Valley Reservoir.

Melnic caught the eel using a live shiner as bait on his friend Chris Fricke’s pole. Weekly fishers at Round Valley, Fricke said he and Melnic knew eels make their home there but had never caught one before.



Vasili Melnic of Hillsborough holds a 50-inch American eel he caught while fishing from a raft at Round Valley Reservoir in Clinton Township recently.

"We were not expecting it at all," Fricke said. "It took a few minutes to reel in. It fought pretty well."

The eel might have broken state records, but Melnic brought the eel home for dinner.

Fricke said, "I didn’t try it. He said it was great … It was several meals."

According to the state Fish and Wildlife Division, the state record eel was caught at Round Valley in June 2005 and was about 42 inches long.

This photo is courtesy of roundvalleyfishing.com.

http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-de ... _caught_at_round_val.html

Justin Bell, fishing guide for Adam’s Fishing Charters, shows off a wild sockeye salmon caught in waters off Victoria.

The fish have hit their stride.

This year’s sockeye salmon run could be the best in almost 100 years, as 25 million fish are expected to make their way back to the Fraser River – and into local waters – the most since 1913, said fishery officials.

The return rate for sockeye this year is roughly 10 times what it was last year and for Greater Victoria fishers and charter operators it couldn’t be better news.

Adam Heffelfinger, owner of Adam’s Fishing Charters, was cautiously optimistic heading into the summer, but strong fishing has treated his business and others in the industry extremely well.

“It is making our jobs a little easier that is for sure,” Heffelfinger said. “There has been days in the last week or two where we have our quota well before the trip is over and that has been fantastic.”

Five-hour fishing charters have been over in an hour, due in large part to the influx of sockeye. Clients have either decided to come in early with their bounty, or stay out on the water to enjoy whale watching or sightseeing with remaining charter time.

That’s fine by Heffelfinger. In fact, he has been phoning up regular clients who ask him to call when fish are biting.

Despite an abundance of fish, Heffelfinger isn’t sure that increased volume will have a huge effect on the price for the highly-sought sockeye, especially locally.

“I am hearing that there is a banner year and they are having difficulty processing all this fish,” he said. “But it only dropped less than a dollar per pound … To me that is not huge.”

He believes the world market for the sockeye in places such as Japan where the prized fish is used for sushi, will keep demand high and prices from plummeting too low.

Gordy Cauthers of Island Outfitters has also seen a change in buying patterns at his downtown store and it isn’t letting up.

“We sold so much sockeye gear through the year it is crazy,” Cauthers said. “All the pink squirts, (a 7.5-cm-long pink piece of rubber legs uses specifically for sockeye) we are selling them like mad.”

Not only is the bait selling, the fishing rods have been jiggling off the hook.

“A lot of people are getting double headers and triple headers, (catching a fish on more than one fishing rod at the same time) he said. “It is all pretty darn good out there.”

All in all, it appears the sockeye are back.

“The way we are going right now we are setting new escapement (fish returning to spawning grounds) records,” said Barry Rosenberger, spokesperson for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. “We will set new records this year.”

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_ ... anews/news/101833043.html

LINN COUNTY, Ore. -- Linn County Sheriff's deputies rescued a Portland man who broke his leg while elk hunting in the mountains east of Sweet Home.

Deputies say Jim Sloan, 56, was hunting in the Gate Creek area when he fell and broke his right leg.

His companion, Wendy Wente, 40, hiked 45 minutes to get cell service and called 9-1-1.

Fire crews were first on the scene and stabilized Sloan's leg before Linn County personnel transported him using a rescue system to help raise and lower him over nearly vertical terrain.

http://kezi.com/news/local/187278

Durban — The Departments of Rural Development and Environmental Affairs have signed an agreement which is expected to assist in transforming the biodiversity and conservation sector.

The National Co-Management Framework was signed on Monday at the People and Parks Conference at the University of Zululand.

Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica said that strides have been made in certain sectors already. She was referring to the hunting industry which is transforming without much pressure from government.

"It is clear that the industry is aware of the need for transformation and they are willing to make it happen," said Sonjica.

It is also an industry which has been identified as a potential platform for the involvement of local communities in economic activities.

Government will publish hunting norms and standards to ensure there is sustainable usage of resources.

Sonjica said transformation efforts must be expanded beyond male domination and training and include previously disadvantage individuals.

Another reason for the importance of the framework, is the continuation of the People and Parks programme.

"There is evidence of local economic development which is rooted in the communities with dividends accrued shared with the affected communities," said Sonjica.

But government is still not satisfied with the number of communities benefiting from such programmes given that fact that the country's biodiversity is ranked fifth in the world.

"I am disappointed that we have such a small number of beneficiaries... We need to double our efforts to ensure that in 2012 the number of benefiting communities should have increased, at least ten times," the minister said.

The absence of women is an issue which the departments want to address with urgency.

"We need them to play a vital role in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and their involvement in all decision-making processes," said Sonjica.

In addition, biodiversity and conservation transformation will play a crucial role in the development of a green economy.

Sonjica said government has committed to a new growth path in the form of green economy and realise that new and innovative financial instruments need to be developed.

"Gone are the days when the environmentalists were viewed as obstructing development. We believe that the environment portfolio has a substantial role to play in economic development and ensuring that as we grow our economy, we do so in a manner that is sustainable and pro-green," said Sonjica.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201008310182.html

State officials are pursuing multiple ways to manage wolves in Montana, including requesting two ways to enable conservation hunts and asking Congress to affirm that wolves can be considered endangered in one state but not in another.

One of the conservation hunts is asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for a "enhancement of survival permit application" to be processed and issued by Nov. 30, which would allow wolves to be hunted this year. Under that request, the state is saying that a conservation hunting season for wolves would enhance the survival of the species, according to Dave Risley, FWP fish and wildlife division administrator.

"The 10(a)(1)(A) permit is a mechanism under the Endangered Species Act that allows for the lawful taking of a listed species," Risley said.

FWP is also making a simultaneous request that the federal agency downlist wolves in the northern have of the state from endangered to threatened, which could allow a statewide conservation hunt in 2011.

"We view the use of public hunting as the optimum population management tool," FWP Director Joe Maurier wrote in a letter sent to Rowan Gould, the USFWS acting director.

On a separate track, the FWP has drafted legislative language asking Congress to reaffirm its original intent in enacting the Endangered Species Act and its subsequent amendments. In particular, the state wants Congress to say that species can have different classification in different significant portions of the specie's range.

That action is being sought based on a recent decision by U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy, who ruled that based on his interpretation of the intent of Congress, multiple listing classifications of a species wasn't allowed. Molloy decided that wolves in Idaho and Montana couldn't be delisted while those in Wyoming remained listed, and put all of the Northern Rockies gray wolves back under the protections of the Endangered Species Act.

Idaho plans to make a similar request.

http://helenair.com/news/state-and-re ... df-a70f-001cc4c03286.html

A CAPE mountain zebra, an endangered species, has been shot dead on the edge of the Addo Elephant National Park.

The incident occurred in the Darlington section of the park, next to the main road, about 75km from Somerset East, and the animal was apparently shot through the fence.

SA National Parks spokesman Megan Taplin said the carcass of the zebra, a young stallion, had been found by rangers during a routine patrol on August 11.

“It appears it was shot some time during the previous night by a person standing on the outside of the park boundary fence that runs parallel to the R400 road to Somerset East.

“The zebra was standing no more than 30m from the fence when it was shot in the eye. It stumbled a few metres before dying.”

Somerset East detectives found evidence of vehicle tracks and a man’s shoe print.

Taplin said there was no evidence of the culprit trying to get through the fence to the carcass. “We have had incidents in the hunting season in winter where this kind of thing has happened with kudus, but those incidents were more clearly linked to poaching because efforts were made to breach the fence.”

A mountain zebra shooting had not occurred before at either Addo or the other stronghold of the species in the Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP), she said.

The animal was one of a group of 25 Cape mountain zebra introduced to the Darlington area this year. The transfer had occurred from the MZNP to inject new genes into the small mountain zebra population in Addo, Taplin said.

“SANParks is particularly concerned about the incident as the zebra is an endangered species. The loss of a stallion affects the breeding dynamics of the zebra herd.”

Somerset East police detective division chief Captain Richard Muller said yesterday no arrests had been made, but the police were investigating. Anyone with information on the incident can contact the Somerset East police on 042-2432233 .

http://www.weekendpost.co.za/article.aspx?id=595090

Even the most ardent “bunny-huggers” can't deny what hunting does for wildlife: It really does seem that “perhaps the best way to save wildlife is to kill it,” as the Safari Club International's newsletter recently stated.

It's true, undeniably so: Wildlife is thriving, not only in the United States but worldwide, because of hunting.

With the big game seasons opening up this month, let's look at why we need to hunt, besides for recreation. What are the benefits of hunting, and what does hunting provide? Two things: money and management.

The Kaibab Plateau is arguably the best example of mismanagement.

The Kaibab Plateau is bordered on the south by the Grand Canyon, on the west by Kanab Canyon, and on the east by Houserock Valley. The plateau, which is entirely in Arizona, slopes gently downward to the north and ends near the Utah state line.

The North Kaibab, or simply the Kaibab, is famous for producing large-antlered, record-book mule deer. The Kaibab historically, however, is also noted for something else — controversy. The Kaibab figures prominently in the history of mule deer management in the West, and even the U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on the Kaibab.

The Kaibab was established as a Forest Reserve in 1893, and in 1906 it was designated as the Grand Canyon National Game Preserve by President Theodore Roosevelt. Hunting was no longer permitted on the Kaibab.

In response to those measures, the mule deer herd erupted from about 4,000 animals in 1906 to an estimated 100,000 head in 1924. As might be expected, the growing deer population severely overgrazed both the summer and winter ranges. The plateau's mule deer experienced a major die-off, and by 1931 fewer than 20,000 animals were left.

Through responsible management, the Kaibab mule deer herd is thriving again, and the genetics of these deer offer a once-in-a-lifetime trophy for the big-game hunter.

African governments have also increasingly recognized wildlife as a precious natural resource that can be managed through sustained utilization, which is to say, hunting.

Some African countries have tried bans on hunting. There are two examples of this: Kenya and Tanzania. Tanzania closed hunting in 1973 and reopened it in 1978 after poaching reduced its elephant population by more than half. Once hunting reopened, the elephant rebounded to a current population of about 125,000.

In 1977, Kenya banned hunting and has never reopened it. The costs have been staggering. According to the African Conservation Foundation, 70 percent of Kenya's wildlife outside national parks has been poached out. Kenya's elephants fared even worse: Between 1979 and 1989, the elephant population fell from 130,000 to 17,000.

In the 2007 hunting season in South Africa, 16,394 foreign hunters spent $91 million, according to the South African Professional Hunters Association. The association estimates that 70,000 jobs are created by South Africa's game-ranching industry.

In 2010, district councils in Tanzania will receive $600,000 as their share of hunting license revenues from the 2009 season.

The elephant is another excellent example of the benefits of hunting.

The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species, or CITES, was formed in 1973 as African elephants were being hammered by commercial poachers for their ivory. The elephant population in Africa dropped from more than

1 million in 1970 to at least 472,269 in 2006, according to the World Conservation Union. Most estimates say the actual elephant population in Africa is around 600,000 today.

In 1989, CITES banned commercial ivory sales yet allowed hunted trophies to be exported. Once the ivory trade was stifled, elephant populations in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa bounced back. The countries without growing elephant populations today are in unstable regions, such as the Congo, where poaching is still a problem.

But the bottom line is obviously the bottom line. Whether it's the Kaibab mulies, African wildlife, or upland game birds in the Midwestern states, wildlife must pay its way in the modern world.

Again, the two reasons why we hunt: money and management. Hunters provide that vital revenue and are our best managers.

Jim Vanek is a longtime hunter who lives in Greeley with his family.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article ... 9/1010&parentprofile=1010

North Dakota Game and Fish Department big game biologist Bill Jensen is currently working with 33 landowners in 20 hunting units across the state who would like to host antlerless deer hunters in 2010.

“The current list of landowners has more than 400 openings for doe hunters,” Jensen said. “We will continue to add landowners and doe hunters over the next several months, and by time the season is over with we could match more than 500 antlerless deer hunters with perhaps 40 landowners.”

Landowners currently participating in 2010 are located in hunting units 2C, 2D, 2G2, 2I, 2J2, 2K2, 3A2, 3A4, 3B3, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4D, 4E and 4F.

“The program is designed to direct antlerless hunters to specific areas to reduce deer depredation problems in the future,” Jensen said. “It is not intended for buck hunters.”

The Game and Fish Department first started working with landowners in developing a contact list in 2006, and the program has been very successful, Jensen said. “In fact, several landowners have now dropped out of the program because they have either gotten on top of their depredation problems and/or developed solid relationships with hunters over the past few years that they now welcome them back every year,” he added. “This is how we intended it to work.”

Interested hunters can get their name on a list of possible participants by accessing the Game and Fish Department’s website at http://gf.nd.gov/gnfapps/huntercontact/. Hunters who do not have Internet access can call the department’s main office in Bismarck at (701) 328-6300.

Hunters will provide their address, hunting unit(s) where they hold valid antlerless licenses, and if using rifle, muzzleloader or bow. From this list the department will select the number of hunters landowners have agreed to host. These hunters will be sent the landowner’s name, phone number and any information relating to the landowner’s specific situation.

Not everyone who signs up will end up with a new place to hunt, Jensen said, because not everyone’s schedule will match up with a landowner’s, and more people will likely put their name on the list than there are openings with landowners.

North Dakota’s 2010 regular deer gun season runs from Nov. 5-21. In addition, the archery season extends from Sept. 3 through Jan. 2, 2011; the youth season is from Sept. 17-26; and muzzleloader runs from Nov. 26 – Dec. 12.

http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/art ... id/118253/group/Outdoors/

WHITE MOUNTAINS- Children with life-threatening illnesses have been given a chance to fulfill their dreams of visiting exotic places or meeting with their heroes. Plenty of organizations are dedicated to making those dreams and wishes come true.

Hunt of a Lifetime is one such organization and fulfills hunting and fishing adventures for youth 21 years of age and younger with serious illnesses. Run by volunteers, the nonprofit organization is on a mission that has been very successful.

Arizona's chapter of Hunt of a Lifetime is very active and this year they have an archery bull elk tag available and would like to see it go to a seriously ill child in the White Mountains.

Recent legislation in Arizona allows hunters who have successfully drawn a tag in the state to donate it to a non profit dedicated to providing outdoor opportunities for minor children.

Anyone who knows of a child who would love the opportunity to bow hunt elk should contact group at www.hoalarizona.org or www.huntofalifetime.org. Anyone wishing to donate a tag, volunteer, help out or make a donation, can also go to the above websites.

•Reach the reporter at kwarnick@wmicentral.com

http://www.wmicentral.com/news/latest ... df-824e-001cc4c03286.html

They are the weapons of a 64 000-year-old hunting scene in KwaZulu-Natal - quartz segments that still carry the traces of blood and tissue of the prey.

What that prey was has been lost to time, but the evidence of the kill is what Dr Marlize Lombard can see when she peers into her laboratory microscope.

There is a reddish-brown blob of animal tissue, white bone fragments still clinging to the stone-age tool, and there is the coppery tinge of a prehistoric blood smear, 64-millennia old.

This forms part of the evidence that has enabled a team of South African scientists to deduce the quartz segments are the earliest-known examples of stone-arrow heads.

This, at a time when mammoths and Neanderthals still roamed Europe.

The team's findings were published last week in the journal Antiquity.

The tools were excavated in Sibudu Cave, near Ballito, and the possible presence of such technology in the deep stone age, is making academics reassess just how complicated and modern-human-like our ancestors really were.

These arrow heads could be at least 2 000 years older than a bone arrow that was discovered at the cave, two years ago.

"It is like piecing together a crime scene and we were following multiple lines of evidence," says Lombard, who uses the jargon of a modern-day forensic investigator.

Lombard, an archaeologist at the University of Johannesburg, and other members of the research team have been able to replicate these impact fractures, using-modern day replicas of bows and spears and thrusting them into carcasses of wildebeest and other game.

But it is not just blood and animal tissue Lombard found on the tools; she also observed the remains of what the team believe is gum-based resin, used to glue the tips to the shafts.

It is the use of this prehistoric glue that would have required following a recipe and intricate multi-staged planning that has academics wondering.

Lombard said manufacturing such bows and arrows would have demanded a high level of cognitive reasoning and thought to understand how to make rope and know how to tie a good strong knot.

"We are convinced they were or were at least similar to us cognitively and behaved like us too," says Lombard."

What Lombard cannot tell is whose blood is on the arrow heads, but other researchers working at the cave have drawn up a list of likely suspects.

"We have come across blue duiker, bush pig and buffalo," explains Lombard.

The presence of yellowwood shows that the environment then was wetter, but colder and the makers of those stone-tipped arrows would have hunted in a forest.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id ... n20100830065032258C803585

WHEN it comes to fishy stories, ace Toowoomba angler Carl Jocumsen reigns supreme.

Jocumsen has just claimed his third Australian Angler of the Year title and to celebrate his latest success, he plans on taking a plunge into the United States professional fishing ranks.

Jocumsen wrapped up his national championship win last weekend at Lake Glenbawn in the Hunter Valley with his victory in the fourth and final Bass Pro round of the year.

The 25-year-old claimed the $2700 winner’s cheque with his haul of six bass weighing in at 6.79kg.

Runner-up Wayne Reed, from New South Wales, was next best of the 120 competitors with a 6.53kg catch.




Jocumsen began fishing in bass tournaments as a 16-year-old.

Since then he has landed almost $60,000 in fishing career prize money earnings.

That total makes him Australia’s highest money earner in bream, bass and barramundi tournament fishing.

The Fish ‘N’ Bits Bait & Tackle manager will now line up in the Australian Bass Tournament grand final which carries for the winner an expenses paid trip to the United States.

Jocumsen won a similar trip last year before finishing second in the US Open on Lake Mead.

After reeling in just about every goal Australian bass fishing has to offer, Jocumsen will now turn his attention to fulltime fishing in America.

“I really enjoyed the opportunity of fishing in the States as part of a prize win last year,” Jocumsen said.

“Now that I’ve made some good contacts over there, I’d like to take the next step and base myself in the US fulltime.

“I’ve been lucky enough to achieve just about all there is in Australian tournament fishing and I’m planning to move to the States in January and fish professionally.

“It will be something different and a great challenge.”

I really enjoyed the opportunity of fishing in the States as part of a prize win last year.

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/ ... stralia-champion-fishing/