Hunting and fishing participation on the rise nationally

[Grave Grumbler]

http://www.denverpost.com/willoughby/ci_21345999/hunting-and-fishing-participation-rise-nationally

While much ado has been made about President Barack Obama's Great Outdoors initiative, the question remains whether the policy designed to encourage more Americans to get outside and rediscover the traditions of fishing and hunting has really made a difference.  The answer? A resounding maybe.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is convinced though, recently announcing that preliminary results of a national survey of outdoor recreation show a significant increase in the number of hunters and anglers the past five years. The results of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation mark a reversal of decades of declining numbers.

"Seeing more people fishing, hunting and getting outdoors is great news for America's economy and conservation heritage," Salazar said. "It is vital that we continue to support policies and investments that help Americans get outside, learn to fish or go hunting.

"That is why, through President Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative, we have been focused on helping Americans rediscover the joys of casting a line, passing along family hunting traditions and protecting the places they love."

(more at link)

[Warpy]

1. If you've already got the equipment

it's a cheap way to put extra food on the table as well as spend a day outside that doesn't involve a lawn mower or hedge trimmers.

The problem is that hungry people are starting to eat the local wild stream fish, usually catch and release because they're contaminated with heavy metals. Only the artificially stocked fish ponds are completely safe here.

This is not a surprising trend, not to me.

[rfranklin]

2. Will get more popular as food prices rise...

SQUIRREL STEW

3 squirrels
2 cans tomatoes
2 lg. onions
Juice of 1 lemon
Dash of hot sauce
1/2 stick butter
2 to 3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. catsup
1 can yellow corn
Salt & pepper to taste


Dress 3 young squirrels and let soak in salt water several hours. Remove and put in pot and simmer until tender. Pull meat from bones and strain liquid to avoid small bones. Add 2 cans tomatoes and 2 large onions. Cook slowly for 1 hour. Add to liquid juice of 1 lemon, dash of hot sauce, 1/2 stick butter, 2 to 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire, 1 cup catsup, salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Add 1 can yellow corn and simmer about 10 minutes, stirring to keep it from sticking. Makes about 1 gallon.
This stew may be made with chicken, rabbit, deer, beef or any other meats.
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1848,156172-250194,00.html

[Cleita]

4. That will work for possum and rat too.

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. I think I'd rather try racoon. Seems like there is one in every yard here!

RACCOON FOR CROCKPOT
Printed from COOKS.COM

Read more about it at http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,181,150164-251202,00.html
Content Copyright © 2012 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.

1 med. size raccoon
1/4 c. honey
1 c. chicken broth
3 tbsp. vinegar
3 tbsp. cream sherry
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic salt

Clean raccoon, quarter, and remove all surface fat. Put pieces into crockpot. Mix all other ingredients and pour over meat pieces. Cover and cook 6 to 8 hours. Remove grease and discard before thickening remaining liquid for gravy. Meat will brown and be tender and delicious.

[jsr]

37. Squirrel is currently very popular in the UK

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2086571/Anyone-grey-squirrel-pie-Victorian-delicacy-enjoys-revival-bid-save-red-cousins-extinction.html

Anyone for grey squirrel pie? Victorian delicacy enjoys revival in bid to save red cousins from extinction
Thousands of grey squirrel have been sold to restaurants and butchers
By Ryan Kisiel
UPDATED: 09:06 EST, 14 January 2012

It was a popular delicacy served up until the last century when it dropped off Britain’s menu.

But grey squirrel pie is currently enjoying a revival due to attempts to save its less aggressive red cousins from extinction.

Thousands of grey squirrels have been sold to restaurants, butchers and are on sale at farmer’s markets after being legally trapped and shot in woodland and rural areas.

Conservationists have attempted to increase numbers of red squirrels through campaigns to cull thousands of the grey variety.

[Cleita]

3. Yeah, the more fish and deer we take for ourselves, the less there is for the bears

and mountain lions who rely on them for food. Then we can kill the bears and lions when they encroach on civilization because they are hungry. Good thinking there.

[nobodyspecial]

6. In a lot of areas, there are overpopulation problems, especially with deer,

that lead to much worse problems. Personally, I don't eat meat, but for those who do, I think this is the purest way to do it if it is done in a responsible manner.

[Cleita]

7. Overpopulation is due to ranchers killing predators.

As I said, I have no objection to cultural norms of feeding one's family. A lot of people prefer deer meat to beef. However, we have caused the imbalance in nature, not the deer, not the wolves, not the cougars and not the bears.

[Ya Basta]

13. Not when it comes to the wild pig population explosion

The Telegraph:

Wild pigs in U.S. are 'out of control'


They have been branded an "ecological train wreck", threatening wildlife and plant habitats across the US while causing millions of dollargermanys worth of damage to farmland and property.

America's population of wild pigs is so out of control that states are adopting increasingly radical steps to rein in their growth.

Federal strike teams armed with machine guns stage aerial assaults while landowners in badly affected areas turn to a growing band of private trappers and hunters.

According to government estimates, there are now more than 4m wild pigs in over 40 states across the US. Worst affected is Texas, which has over 2m followed by California, Florida and Hawaii.

The hogs, as they are known, breed rapidly, having up to three litters a year each with nine to 10 young. Fully grown they are huge - over 20 stone - and insatiable, rapidly devouring acres of crops such as corn, wheat and sweet potatoes. They compete with wildlife for food, destroy enclosures around livestock, eat animal feed, even prey on their young.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3315551/Wild-pigs-in-US-are-out-of-control.html

Looks like its time for some carnitas and al-pastor tacos.

[Cleita]

16. Betcha coyotes would take care of a lot of those.

Again it's states that have largely exterminated their predator populations. Remember here in CA our mascot, the grizzly bear is practically extinct. The coyotes have been harder to deal with because they adapt really well to human incursion.

[Ya Basta]

18. Coyotes cannot take on a wild boar

I mean its not even a close fight. The coyote is way out matched by a wild boar. A large mountain lion mayyyyybe. Believe me we have mountain lions here in California and there's a reason why we don't even see mountain lions preying upon the wild boars. Wild boars are not only very aggressive but they are just way too tough.

In a wild boar vs coyote contest. Hands down I'd go with the wild boar every time. In a wild boar vs mountain lion contest. Almost every time I'd go with the wild boar again.


Here's an old video of a mountain lion going after the less aggressive and less tough peccary.

[Cleita]

19. So you think that there should be unrestricted trophy hunting for these animals instead of

a better solution? Betcha a grizzly bear could take care of one. However, we don't have those guys around very much do we?

[Ya Basta]

20. Wild boars are not native to California or North America and do major damage

First I made no mention about trophy hunting. I am not someone who looks favorably toward trophy hunting. I do not see a killed animal head as a trophy. In my opinion I think that's sick. So please no strawmen. Thanks.

I also am not someone who would promote the fish & game department to increase the number of tags issued for other game animals such as deer just because there's more hunters.

With wild boar on the other hand because of the population explosion we are experiencing from them and based on the fact that wild boars are destructive to the environment our native species such as deer rely on. Plus in addition the destruction they cause to farms and livestock ranches, and in rural areas the health and safety risk they pose to the public, especially children and pets.

Therefor I agree with our current department of fish and game policy on there being no limit to how many tags for wild boar may be issued. No limits to how many tags one hunter may purchase, and no limit on what time of year a wild boar may be taken. When their numbers come down to a more reasonable and manageable number then I'd be for implementing limits.

But for now my answer is I agree with the policy of the California Department of Fish & Game.

[Cleita]

21. I am aware that wild boar aren't native but a species gone feral.

However, wholesale hunting or other solutions like introducing diseases don't seem to work either as has been proved in Australia. However, managing the species might be a better solution. I believe some biologists are trying to introduce birth control in some whitetail deer populations to keep down the numbers. Couldn't this be a solution and setting aside a small portion of public land for them to live?

[loli phabay]

22. why not just let there be a quota that can be hunted, then you control the population

and allow people to eat the venison, were i live we are overun by deer but it also fills the freezer for the winter months and saves a lot of families from spending a lot of money on meat.

[Cleita]

23. Got nothing against filling freezers, however, those kind of hunts

aren't about that. Hunters who are in herd thinning expeditions admit using high powered rifles that shred the animal and make it not fit for consumption. It's just slaughter and I really do believe we have evolved our bigger brains to come up with a more humane solution. Pigs also are very smart and they feel as much as any sentient animal. What do you think the survivors of what is a massacre goes through? It's very inhumane not only for the victims, but those who survive. What if we found a way to reduce the populations without such trauma?

[loli phabay]

24. what kind of rifle do you think they are using a 150mm, hell ive seen deer hit by a truck

and still able to be harvested so i dont know what the hell you think these guys use. If you dont think we should hunt animals for food then say it and i will respect you fot it but still disagree. personally 90% of the meat we eat comes from trapping, hunting and fishing.

[Cleita]

25. There have been hunters who admit using the high powered military

rifles to cull deer with, you know the kind, us anti-NRA types would like to see banned. The hunters admit the meat is not fit for consumption. Here's an article about it although in this case the hunt was put on hold. In other places they have occurred.

http://www.tompkinshosting.com/tompkinsweekly/TompkinsWeekly120116.pdf

[loli phabay]

27. still want to know what rifle they are using that makes the meat unfiot to eat

didnt see any reference on the link to the calibre used,

[belcffub]

29. you really have no idea what you are talking about do you

I have taken deer with 12ga (largest heaviest round I use) shotgun, 300 weatherby, 30-30, 30 06, 7.62 x 39 (AK style rifle) and 5.56 (ar-15 rifle) rounds. The meet has always been fit for consumption afterwards...

can you explain why the meat was not fit for consumption after using a rifle anti-NRA types would like to see banned???

I looked at the linked article... $1k to sterilize a deer & $400 to kill one... why not opened it up to hunters who will do it for free... if the area is heavily populated open it to bow hunters... what a waste of money...

[Ya Basta]

39. I have only one point I disagree with you on

But I am sure you know what I mean.

That is. No, hunters wouldn't do it for free. Hunters would "pay" to do it.

By the way I too have used a 12ga (00buck & Slugs), .30-06 plus a .338win mag and a .270win

[belcffub]

46. I have not hunted hogs yet...

just because they are not in our area... when they do I will start...

I also assume that if they numbers increase in NY the state will start allowing the donation to food pantries... I have no need for more then one a year...

[backwoodsbob]

41. I hunt deer with some of the highest power rifles available

it is the surest way of a clean kill.I have never seen a rifle that makes a deer or hog inedible.

[X_Digger]

44. Unless you're using explosive rounds, taint no such gun, McGee.

Crew-served artillery? Sure, that isn't much good. But there is no gun that one can buy over the counter, or even with a lot of paperwork, that would make the meat 'not fit for consumption'.

*sigh* Opinions like this are why the NRA gets folks voting.

[Ya Basta]

30. For me environmental health is most important

I wouldn't be against any solution which would bring down this population explosion of wild boar so long as it itself didn't pose dangers to the environment, native species or the public. Birth control as you mention would be a good idea to help in that.

Also since we are currently experiencing major economic problems causing a large increase of people going hungry I would prefer seeing a policy which took advantage of the wild boar explosion to provide food for the needy.

As for hunting not being able to provide a solution. I have to agree and disagree. Yes there are examples that show hunting failed to solve this sort of problem. But on the other hand there are plenty of examples in history which show species being hunted to near extinction.

Not that I am for hunting anything to a point anywhere near extinction. To me that would be bullshit and I would join in any protests against that unless it was against something that was so dangerous to public health and safety that there wasn't any other choice.

The point is hunting can be a viable solution but in this case it would likely take something else in addition. But hunting should be part of the solution especially since we're on the verge of a major economic crash due to a credit bubble the likes of which has never been seen and people will sure be able to use that as a food resource.

[backwoodsbob]

36. I have a solution to the wild boar population

unlimited hunting season year round

[belcffub]

38. thats what we have in NY

but then again they are not a real problem here yet... just showing up in the southern counties... but you can take one anytime... just need a small game license I think...

[Ya Basta]

43. That's what we have here in California too

Click on the photo and scroll down to page 55

[X_Digger]

47. We have that in Texas.

Unlimited season, no bag limit.

Yes, they are THAT bad a problem.

[quaker bill]

45. Allowing hunts is a management strategy

commonly used by wildlife professionals. A census is taken, a quota is set, a specific number of take licenses (wildlife management area stamps) are issued. The population is monitored and the health of the herd is checked by gut parasite load at the check stations where scientific samples are taken. There is actually alot of thought that goes into this.

I don't hunt but have no problem with people that do, in a properly managed, licensed, and regulated hunt.

[quaker bill]

33. Threre are no grizzlies in FL

They are much too close to an even match for the Florida black bear. Panthers are too rare and too small to take on a boar.

There is an open season 24/7 365 on feral hogs in FL and the numbers still increase. No body takes them for trophies, some do take them for BBQ and sausages. Land managers just shoot them and allow them to decompose where they fall.

There is no better solution, feral hogs destroy habitat for native species.

[backwoodsbob]

34. there are hundreds of thousands of boars

maybe millions.What do you suggest next...godzilla?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

42. Bears vs Boars?

You have to be joking

[Ya Basta]

50. Yes happens all the time

Well they are different football leagues but made you look..

[hunter]

49. I hunt 'em with a rake...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/112721453

[Ya Basta]

52. Wow thanks hunter I enjoyed reading your post.

"Then our youngest dog, who looks like a big fox or a little red coyote, a fearless hunter of mice and chaser of road-runners, suddenly leaps out of the brush, falls six feet sideways into the river, swims across, and hides behind my wife."

LOL!

I busted up laughing at the mental image of this. It reminded me of a time when my sister's cocker spaniel darted off after some geese in a park with my sister's two young kids following. When the kids caught up the geese went after the kids chasing them all over the place. Everybody in the park started cracking up laughing. Geese chasing two kids screaming and crying with a cocker spaniel barking and chasing the geese. It was hilarious.

Anyway glad to see you didn't get hurt and none of your dogs got hurt, or at least not seriously. Yes these wild boar are no joke. They are dangerous and cause problems.

[backwoodsbob]

28. whatever

I'll think about that while making my first deer stew

[ProgressiveProfessor]

40. Eastern and Northeastern US is crawling with deer and there are very few ranches.

This winter, due to the drought, many will starve to death

[NutmegYankee]

10. In the east there are few bears or mountain lions.

In fact, mountain lions were believed extinct in Connecticut (and some argue they are again ) until one was killed on a highway last year.

But it certainly wasn't from lack of food. Deer and turkeys are hunted and still turn up in my yard. Just last week I had to whack a turkey with a broom to get it away from my car. And if you have little experience with wild turkeys, let me warn you that they are rather aggressive, hence the need to use the broom.

[Cleita]

12. We have wild turkeys here and they are kept in line by our coyotes. n/t

[Scuba]

32. In Wisconsin hunters harvest some 600,000 deer every fall....

... and another 45,000 are killed by automobiles. The wolves and cats take what they want and there are STILL many deer that succumb to starvation each winter.

Despite these numbers taken each year for the last 40, there remains an abundance of deer.

Our fish are primarily being threatened by warming waters, not over-fishing. Bears, meanwhile, expand their territory farther and farther south.

[FarCenter]

5. Whitetail deer and Canada geese! Please help yourself.

Every poor person deserves a Canada goose for Christmas. It would be a start.

[Cleita]

9. Cougars like Canada geese, but humans try to prevent them from

hunting around their natural habitat, hence too many geese.

[petronius]

14. I'm sure a cougar would eat a goose, but considering the relative abundance of both species

I'd be really surprised if cougar predation (or lack thereof) has ever played a meaningful role in goose populations. It's probably more the smaller predators (foxes, crows, owls, raccoons, etc) preying on eggs and goslings that matter...

[Cleita]

17. Probably, but every time a lion tries to snuff out a few geese and ducks in

our local wetlands for a meal, the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife kills them. Says they are too close to humans. By that they mean the tourists that swarm our beaches and of course the businesses that prey on the tourists. Instead of creating some wild life preserves and zones and keeping the humans away from them, they would rather just kill the bigger predators.

[loli phabay]

26. every time i drive in to the city i see hundreds of canada geese at the side of the road walking alo

i gotta say these things are everywhere and look nice and plump.

[gollygee]

8. I know lots of people who hunt and fish to feed their families

People think it's all about trophies but the people I know who hunt do so mainly for food.

[KurtNYC]

11. Same here -- neighbors have a freezer full of deer.

More people hunting recyclable cans too but unlike this press release I wouldn't say that is a good sign for the economy.

[Brickbat]

31. Good.

More money for fish and wildlife programs, more people with a stake in the environment, and more people who pay attention to where their food comes from.

[Scuba]

35. +1,000 for the "stake in the envornment" comment.

[X_Digger]

48. Every hunting license (and gun and ammo and bow, and.. ) contributes to wildlife conservation.

Thanks to the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittman-Robertson_Federal_Aid_in_Wildlife_Restoration_Act

[Sick of the GOP]

54. Prey conservation, sure.

As for the predators, their "conservation" is a bullet to the head.

[X_Digger]

55. The state campgrounds you enjoy? The state parks? Funded in large part with these funds.

Thank a hunter for those.

[MotherPetrie]

51. I don't eat meat... and anyone who enjoys killing animals for sport is sick in my book

[Sick of the GOP]

53. I've no problem with hunting but I wish "conservation" groups would include predators.

Hunters, hunting magazines, the NRA, etc all like to talk about "wildlife management" but to them that means "we want bears, wolves, coyotes, cougars, etc. extinct ASAP." The treatment of wolves especially pisses me off, as they're near extinction even with Canada's population. It was pure insanity they were taken off the endangered species list.