by Mark Prado, Marin Independent Journal

Adult Male Spotted Fallow

Animal rights activists called for a moratorium on the shooting of non-native deer in West Marin [California] as another 18 of the animals were killed Monday.

“They want them gone because they are non-native, and that’s not good enough,” said Karen Wilson, executive director of San Rafael-based WildCare. “We are non-native – what are they going to do, take out people next?”

In the past year, the Point Reyes National Seashore has killed 475 fallow deer as part of a controversial plan to eliminate non-native deer through shooting and contraception. The latest round of culling began last week when crews from Connecticut-based White Buffalo Inc. arrived to shoot the animals.

“The fallow deer are displacing our native (black-tailed) deer,” said Don Neubacher, Point Reyes National Seashore superintendent. “For every two fallow deer, you have one less native deer. Our goal in the park service is to preserve native biological systems.”    

In the 1940s, the non-native deer were purchased by a West Marin landowner from the San Francisco Zoo. The animals were released as part of a hunting program. When the land became part of the Point Reyes National Seashore, established in 1962, hunting ceased but the deer thrived.

“They did come from a zoo, and we are not running a zoo here,” Neubacher said, adding that environmental groups such as Marin Audubon and the Marin Conservation League support the park’s effort.

The deer are damaging the park to the detriment of native species that include tule elk and the black deer, whose population should be greater than the current 1,200 animals, park officials said.

Non-native animals eat 5 percent to 10 percent of their body weight a day, taking in a ton of forage daily, food that otherwise would be available to native deer. Rabbits, rodents and other animals are affected, too.

There were about 950 fallow deer before the program started last year. The plan is to eliminate the non-native deer by 2021, with a majority of the shooting occurring through 2010. Another 250 non-native axis deer will be targeted later.

The venison has been sent to two food banks, the St. Vincent de Paul Society in San Rafael and the Redwood Empire Food bank in Santa Rosa, as well as to local American Indian groups. The venison also has also been shipped to a California condor recovery program in Ventura County.

With steps made in cutting back the non-native population, those opposed to the shooting program said it’s time to stop and simply manage what is left.

“I want a moratorium,” said Point Reyes resident Trinka Marris of Friends of the White Deer, which supports injected contraception to control the herds. “The population has been cut in half, so we know they won’t be doing any major damage. We need objective experts to come in and take a look at this.”

It costs about $300 to kill a deer by shooting and between $2,000 and $3,000 to inject a chemical contraceptive, Neubacher said. He added that using contraception alone would not work.

“You couldn’t get them all; it’s just not practical,” Neubacher said “It’s also experimental.”

Wilson said the remaining deer should be saved.

“These deer are icons; they are historically and culturally popular,” she said. “Just for that reason they should stay. There is no reason to take them out. They are beautiful creatures, they are wonderful animals – almost magical if you see them.”

For more articles from Mark Prado or the Marin Independent Journal visit www.Marinij.com

The Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday identified the victims as the 40-year-old pilot, Brian Keith Faglie of Uvalde (yoo-VAL’-dee), and 52-year-old Dale Allen Jones of Houston. DPS says both were pronounced dead by a La Salle County justice of the peace.

The cause of Saturday’s crash of a Robinson R22 is sought. The accident happened at a ranch about 13 miles north of Cotulla, in the Dilley area. The small helicopter went down in a field.

Investigator Tim LeBaron with the National Transportation Safety Board says Faglie was the pilot during the hog hunting trip. LeBaron says the weather was not bad at the time of the crash late Saturday morning.

AAE thoughts and prayers go out to the Jones and Faglie families.

Doughboy Lodge Hunting Safaris - New Zealand

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
by Will Leschper

“A good plan today beats a perfect one tomorrow.”

That saying has been attributed to many sources, but it applies nowhere more than in outdoor pursuits, and if you’re looking to plan a hunting or fishing excursion for 2010 and don’t have your agenda well under way, you’re behind everyone else.

There are an amazing array of sporting opportunities in the Lone Star State and elsewhere, and narrowing down your choices can be tough, but now is the time to nail down your one big trip – or two or three if you’re lucky – for this year.

So, where do you start?  

First, look at what you’re heart is set on – perhaps a trip you’ve never done, a species or place that always has caught your fancy or simply more success in your home range that you’ve always known was there. From there, you can zero in on where you want to go, what you want to do and how much you can spend on an adventure.

The easiest way to go about the situation is to jump on the Internet and search for as much specific detail as possible. From there, you can narrow your quest to specific guides and outfitters that target particular species in woods or waters you’re interested in. Once you have what could be a good match, you should make contact by phone or e-mail, getting as much information as possible.

It’s foolish to simply book a trip off a Web site unless you’re setting up a side outing while you’re at your favored destination and the outcome of a less-than-stellar-trip won’t ruin the whole excursion. You also should look up outfits mentioned in quality outdoor publications and don’t be afraid to contact writers and editors to get more information or to verify a story.

Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to book a quality trip, and friends can be the best people to ask about outdoor excursions, especially if they’ve been to a destination you’ve had your sights on or are planning a return trip of their own. Maybe you can tag along since they’ve already done most of the heavy lifting or know the lay of the land and can offer up firsthand accounts.

There’s no doubt that hunting and fishing outfitters and guides are able to charge a premium rate. For instance, a guided bass excursion on a lunker hot spot could cost $400 a day, while guides on the Texas coast start there and run up to $600 an outing. However, price also is relative in this situation. If you’ve saved up for a year or more to spend one week abroad or simply upstate or downstate and will have 51 more weeks of anticipation until the next one, there’s no bargain in scrimping while cutting down on your chances of success.

You’ve got to pay to play anyway, so you may as well have a good day.

You also should consider your companions on your big outing and plan accordingly. The worst thing you can do is sink a wad of dough on a trip and then have it ruined by an unknown band of partners. Family and friends make outdoor trips for me regardless of success, and in the end it’s better to go it alone rather than risk having an excursion turn out negatively by someone who’s irritating or unsafe.

Once you’ve narrowed your destination, you should build a broad checklist of general items including ideal dates, guides, accommodations and budget. As the trip nears (two or three months out), you should nail down items such as airfare or rental vehicle, room reservations and gear needs, all of which can be cheaper if you buy earlier at non-peak times.

One thing to always do when planning a trip is to stack the deck in your favor, pinpointing the perfect dates, especially if this is your one big excursion for the year. Target nature’s cycles (moon phases, tidal movement, migrations) and seek out optimum times for activity. For example, hunting the opening weekend of deer season is much different from targeting whitetails at the height of the rut, as is angling for bass during the spawn versus doing it in the heat of the summer.

Hunting and fishing pursuits across Texas have become crowded – it’s just part of the game. For this reason, you should consider hitting hot spots during the week or other times when peak activity is diminished. Some fishing guides simply won’t fish the weekends or pick their fights due to increased boat traffic. I’ve seen parking lots that hold 100 boats and pickups filled on a Saturday that had only five rigs on the following Tuesday.

It’s natural to seek perfection on a big outdoors trip, but honestly good planning is all you need. And in the end, it’s almost as fun as the trip itself.

WILL LESCHPER is an award-winning member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Texas Outdoor Writers Association. Write to him at leschperw@yahoo.com.

Location: RAZ Livestock Sales – Hwy 290, Harper, Tx

Date: March 20 & 21

Saturday (begins @ 10 am):
Animal Related Items, Watusi, Watusi Cross, Longhorn Cattle, Buffalo, Auodad, Blackbuck, Addax, Oryx, Llamas, Zebra, Elk, Red Deer, Nilgai, Waterbuck, Gazelle, Zoney, Eland,Fallow, Axis, Sika Deer, Ibex Goats, and much more. Rabbits, Ferrets, Ducks, Small Caged Animals, Geese, Pheasants, Turkeys, Fancy Chickens, Doves, Parrots, Macaws, Cockatiels, Finches, Parakeets, Black Swan, Birds, Pot Bellied Pigs

Sunday (begins @ 10:45 am):
Sicilian Donkeys, Ponies, Mules, Miniature Horses, Boer Goats, Fourhorn Sheep, Catalina Goats, Fainting Goats, Pigmy Goats, White Texas Dall Sheep, Black Corsican Sheep. Mouflon Barbado sheep

For more information visit RAZ Livestock Sales

or call 830-864-4538 or 830-864-4334

email: info@razlivestock.com

Leading wildlife conservation through commerce, the Exotic Wildlife Association (EWA) announces its 43rd Annual Annual Meeting & Fund-Raising Auction will be held on March 11, 2010, through March 13, 2010, at the Inn of the Hills Resort & Conference Center in Kerrville, Texas.

The event will attract hundreds of exotic animal enthusiasts from around the  country, and focus fund-raising efforts and media attention on the EWA’s ‘Save  the Species Campaign’ to help preserve the legal status of the Scimitar-Horned  Oryx, Addax and Dama Gazelle antelope and many other exotics like Blackbuck and Axis deer.

…one of the most important conferences ever as we address the critical issue of saving three rare antelope species.

The annual EWA convention features exhibitors from  around the hunting and wildlife industries, fund-raising auctions that include exciting exotic hunts, hunting gear and firearms; and other exciting events,  such as the Eighth Annual Video Animal Auction, tropaeology school, educational seminars on wildlife management, ranch tours, golf tournament and  much more.

“The Annual Membership Meeting is one of the largest EWA events of the year, and this year will be one of the most important conferences ever as we address the critical issue of saving these three rare antelope species,” says Charly Seale, executive director for the Exotic  Wildlife Association. “Thanks to the management efforts of EWA members, these animals have rebounded by the thousands but the recent federal ruling puts these animals future in jeopardy. Hundreds of industry professionals, ranchers and sportsmen will be in attendance at the conference and we need everyone to pull together to preserve the legal status of these animals.”

Although the Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax and Dama Gazelle are classified as an endangered species, the special rules by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service  enacted in September 2005 made it possible for owners of captive herds to  engage in activities including the purchase and sales of the animals and to breed these animals on ranches across the United States. In fact, the program  has been so widely successful that it now fuels a $1.3 billion industry and  thousands of jobs.

However, a Federal judge ruled earlier this year  that the three species, which are born and raised in the United States, will  no longer be exempted from their listing on the endangered species list. As a result, ranchers who have owned and cared for these animals for years will be  required to cease all culling and other management activities without special permits by the Federal government.

The EWA has filed an appeal regarding this judge’s ruling which overturned a special rule put in place by  the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department that allowed three antelope species to be born, raised and freely traded in the United States without the USFWD permitting process.

To learn more about the Exotic Wildlife Association  or to donate to the Save Exotic Wildlife Fund, call 830.367.7761, email saveanimals@exoticwildlifeassociation.com or visit  www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com.

Headquartered in Ingram, Texas, the Exotic Wildlife Association is dedicated to encourage and to expand the  conservation of indigenous and non-indigenous hoofstock animals, and to foster development of the alternative livestock market through agricultural diversity. For more information on EWA, call 830.367.7761 or visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com.

AUSTIN, Texas — Preserving the legend of the North American Bison, the Texas Bison Association (TBA) announces it will exhibit at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and showcase its new FFA Chapter Award Program that introduces the bison industry to agricultural students. The TBA will be in booths #9 and #10 at the Ag Expo, located in the Reliant Center, from March 2, 2010 through March 7, 2010.

In an effort to generate interest and involvement in bison production among Texas youth through education, exposure and incentives, the Texas Bison Association is offering financial and scholastic awards for FFA students. The TBA’s new FFA outreach program also includes opportunities for Texas FFA Chapters to receive cash awards for participation.  

These incredible animals are a significant part of our Texas history and Western culture

“Buffalo ranching and bison products are becoming increasingly popular and we want to extend a special invitation to FFA students and teachers to stop by the TBA booth during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo to learn more about how they can get involved,” says Tim Frasier, president of the Texas Bison Association.

Growing in popularity among consumers and restaurants, bison meat is very lean and has become popular in supermarkets across the country. It contains far less calories and cholesterol than either beef or chicken and is a great alternative for people who want to improve their diet without giving up red meat. In addition, bison contributes about 69 percent more iron to a diet than beef and contains higher levels of vitamins and minerals, and is more non-allergenic and digestible than most other meats.

“These incredible animals are a significant part of our Texas history and Western culture, and there is nothing more satisfying than working side by side with a symbol of nature’s design and American heritage,” adds Frasier.

The Texas Bison Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 by bison owners and individuals concerned with the preservation and promotion of the North American Plains Bison. Today, the TBA provides assistance in raising and producing bison and promotes the nutritional health aspects of the North American Bison to consumers. The TBA hosts two major events during the year — the Texas Bison Exposition, which features exhibitors from the bison industry, informative seminars on raising bison, the World Championship Buffalo Burger Challenge, and more; and its Spring Banquet & Fund-Raising Auction, an event which brings together bison industry professionals and enthusiasts for a fun celebration of the North American Bison.

For membership or sponsorship information, call 512.331.8618 or visit www.TexasBison.org.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the Texas Bison Association is a non-profit organization of producers, ranchers and bison enthusiasts. For more information on Texas bison, bison ranching or membership in the Texas Bison Association, call 512.331.8618 or visit www.TexasBison.org.

Email your submissions to: Kevin@TheRanchRadio.com**

**While you’re at it, copy us to your email (craig@allaboutexotics.com).  If you submission is of an exotic animal on our site and your photo is selected, we’ll give you an additional $50 Cabela’s gift card to spend on your shopping spree!!

Winner will be announced 5pm on Friday, February 26th on 95.9 – The Ranch

Head to Cabela’s Spring Great Outdoor Days for gear
that is field tested and field proven! Find top of the line brands at bottom
line prices during the biggest show and sale of the year only
at Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter!

The drawing for your exotic dream hunt is taking place in only a few months.  There are now less than 100 tickets left (only 500 will be sold)!  Buy a ticket & have a chance at a once-in-a-lifetime Texas hunt; all while supporting a great cause!  We purchased our chance (ticket #253).  Here are some more details on the raffle and info on how you can do the same:

Enter now for your chance to win a Fully Guided Exotic Hunt on the Harkey Ranch Lodge near Christoval, Texas!

Winner receives his/her choice of a Fallow Deer, Blackbuck, or Oryx

1 Hunter & Guest – 3 day/2 night hunt

Package Includes:  Trophy Fee, Meals, Lodging, Guide Fees, and Trophy Preperation**

**Guide service & meals provided by Travis Weir and Texas Specialty Hunts

$100 per ticket   or  6 tickets for $500

Only 400 tickets will be sold – so don’t wait!

This is a fundraiser for “The Spicy Bunch”, a team with the Relay For Life, which will be held 5/21/2010 at the Legrand Sports Complex in San Angelo, Texas.  This is a 12-hour walk with approximately 120 teams of 15 people each, raising funds with a total goal of $250,000.  All proceeds from the auction go to the American Cancer Society.  The drawing will take place on the day of the event.

Contact: Jesse Wier @ 325-277-4719 or Ginger Bruton @ 325-234-1678

Please make checks payable to the American Cancer Society

For more info on the Harkey Ranch Lodge visit www.wildlifesystems.com

Now, a channel dedicated solely to exotic game animals.  From videos of unique behavior to exotic hunts across the globe, this channel is all about education & entertainment at your fingertips!  Join in the fun!

We will be adding lots of videos in the near future including submissions from our members and visitors**, as well as all videos that are on our site now, plus AAE hunts and events down the road.

Check it out and become a subscriber today!

www.YouTube.com/AllAboutExotics

**If you have a video that you would like to share and be seen by millions, email us: info@allaboutexotics.com

Diamond TF trailcam pic of a non-typical axis buck known as "Half & Half"

This 1,900 acre, low-fenced ranch, is home to a large and ever-growing herd of free ranging axis deer that seem to find the large irrigated fields and brushy draws of the Diamond TF irresistible.

“We have a great combination of food, water and available cover that seem to keep them here year after year” - Tryon Fields, Diamond TF

Couple that with extremely low hunting pressure from a only a select few of whitetail hunters each season and you have all the makings of a true axis deer  mecca.

As AAE staff members, we have hunted on the Diamond TF for the past 2 years and the axis never cease to amaze.  The shear number of bucks has to be the most impressive aspect of this axis herd. The buck to doe ratio is an amazing 3:1…if not better. — Craig Ellwanger, AAE

'09 axis buck taken by AAE's own, Craig Ellwanger

The trailcam photo of “Half & Half” (above) is just one of many mature, trophy-quality axis bucks that roam the ranch.

Whether you’re hunting with rifle or bow…hunting true, free range axis deer is a challenge that any hunter should experience atleast once.

Booking has just begun and openings are limited for the 2010 season, so call today to be one of the first to take a ‘crack’ at trophy axis.

For more information or to schedule an axis hunt on the Diamond TF Ranch this Spring (or Fall), visit their AAE webpage.  **Special Note: Mention you found them on AllAboutExotics.com to receive a special AAE member discount!