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The ‘Goat Man’ Calleth

July 26, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

You just cannot make this stuff up. How could I not go right to this story when it came down the pike into my Google Alerts? “Goat Man in Utah Mountains Identified as Hunter.”

The story goes, according to ABC Good Morning America’s website, that a hiker saw someone dressed like a goat among a herd of wild mountain goats on July 15 in the mountains about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City. Of course, he alerted the authorities.

What did that call sound like, “Uh, I think I saw a dude dressed up like a goat in the mountains?”

Photo courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Actually, the hiker said that this particular goat stuck out from the herd, and trailed behind it. Said the hiker, “We were the only ones around for miles. It was real creepy."

So, naturally, the folks at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources expressed an interest in finding the creepy “goat man.”

Shortly afterward, the “goat man,” a 57-year-old Californian (no, really, keep reading … it gets better), called and confessed that it was he who was among the goats. And that he was just trying out his goat suit in preparation for a Canadian mountain goat hunt. Supposedly, the “goat man” gave the wildlife officer enough information that the officer felt confident he was, in fact, talking to the right “goat man.”

The Californian fashioned the goat costume out of a painter’s uniform and a fleece. It also sported fake horns and a cloth mask with eye-holes cut in it.

Although it is not illegal (yet) to dress as an animal, it is dangerous – especially during hunting season.

Photo by Scott Root, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Personally, I think that it’s unnatural and might upset the ecosystem of the species if hunters insist on spending their off-seasons dressed as whitetail or antelope or God forbid, elk (Would that take two guys in a suit?) and stalking herds.

What do you think?

Do you think, and who woulda thunk, that a new law is now required from wildlife agencies – that dictates that humans may not dress as animals and stalk them?

How Hot Is It?

July 23, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

Enough already! We’re choking and sweating and finding it hard to swallow when we’re outdoors here in the Ozarks. How about in your neck of the woods? The drought that is sucking the life out of our crops and woods and waters is really doing that … sucking the life out of the earth and affecting our wildlife for years to come.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports that its fish kills are up, and not by bowfishers. Said Brian Schults, a DNR assistant regional fisheries manager, “Natural summer fish kills are not unusual. In the past several days, however, we’re getting increased reports of dead and dying fish in many lakes from around the state.”

The hot temperatures affect cool water species fish, such as northern cisco and lake whitefish. It also affects walleye, yellow perch and bluegills.

An accelerated growth of algae, because of the hot weather combined with fertilizer from fields and lawns, can kick off a chain reaction causing oxygen depletion, too. If you own a pond, you might help alleviate the problem there by agitating the water with a pump or fountain or finding a way to keep air moving through it.

Indiana State University professor Rusty Gonser said the impact of the drought might last for two to five years. Insect levels drop. Nocturnal animals start wandering in the daytime to find food and water. We haven't even touched on the problem of lack of vegetation.

What are you doing to help alleviate some of the drought problems? Setting out a birdbath, filling a cattle-watering tank for deer?

I set out a few mineral licks for nursing does, just for an extra boost. Of course, it helps that bucks like them, too, as it also boosts their rack growth.

Any other ideas?

Anti-Wolf-Hunting Groups Bark Up the Wrong Tree

July 20, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources It’s not always true that the best and most important parts of the news are at the top of the article. Take, for example, Doug Smith’s recent piece in the StarTribune Outdoors regarding Minnesota’s inaugural wolf hunt, set to start in November during its deer rifle season. The Department of Natural Resources asked for input from people, and as a result of that input, extended the second season for 25 days. It was supposed to end on Jan. 6, but now will end on Jan. 31 – unless the quotas are reached in the three zones earlier.

The total harvest number is set at 400 with 6,000 licenses available by lottery for hunters and 600 available for trappers. According to Smith, 79 percent of public comments opposed a wolf hunting and trapping season. But, 42 percent of the comments came from people who live outside of Minnesota. People from 42 other states, the District of Columbia and even foreign countries weighed in. This is why democracy doesn’t always work, folks. It’s Minnesota’s land. And even then, there comes a time when you must trust your wildlife ecologists and biologists, or hire new ones. Futhermore, as Smith stated, "DNR officials said the survey wasn't a scientific poll, nor was it to be used to decide whether to hold a wolf hunt, because the Legislature had already mandated that." It is estimated that Minnesota is home to 3,000 wolves.

Smith then adds that anti-wolf-hunting groups comprised 2,000 responses, and the biggest number – 1,747 – came from howlingforwolves.org.

Kudos to the DNR for looking at what really matters: conservation, not popularity.

A Hunter’s Friend: The Range Report

July 18, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

Range. The word often connotes shooting indoors or even if outdoors, finely disciplined shooting amidst other shooters, maybe having to wait your turn for a long time or having to pick up your brass immediately, while it’s still hot.

//rangereport.org/ So, a publication titled “Range Report,” offered quarterly by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), might seem to be geared toward the trade – that being for range owners. But, it’s more than that, and with the launch today of its new associated website, this is one resource that hunters should check out.

Why?

The all-digital (read goodbye print) "Range Report" is the centerpiece for its associated website, where you can find archived articles from past issues. It also features “Ranges in the News.” Maybe a local range is doing something to benefit hunters, or providing new shooters' courses, or holding a benefit. You might find out about it first, here.

In the latest "Range Report," a hunter can benefit from reading these articles, especially:

An introduction to the newly launched free NSSF app “Where2Shoot,” available for iPhone and iPod Touch. Where2Shoot will tell you where ranges are located, along with video tips for shooters, news and other firearms safety information.
“Surviving in an Industrial Complex” – an article about how a shooting club in an industrial development works with the community. Do you belong to a hunting club? Or own a lease somewhere? Maybe you can pick up a few pointers here for how to coexist with encroaching urbanites.
"Undercover Shooter – Two for Trap”: where a married pair of shotgunners discover what they like about a range close to home.
I like to look at the ads in outdoor magazines. This issue features links to GalleryofGuns.com, Winchester ammo (with its special offer) and KMA Overhead Target Retrieval System, to name a few. If these advertisers are in the NSSF, they're credible.

You might give it a look-see. Also, if you’re not a member of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, why don't you give that a think, too? It is fighting for your rights and for the traditions of hunting and shooting every day.

Read the "Range Report."

HUNT: A Good Four-Letter Word

July 16, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

It’s our land. We just cannot get on it to hunt or fish.

Last week, Rep. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico introduced the Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures Act (HUNT Act). The act first instructs federal agencies to inventory all public lands that are greater than 640 acres and that allow hunting and fishing, but that are difficult to or have no access.

Photo courtesy of New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Another important piece of the legislation mandates that federal managers must list all routes leading to these aforementioned public lands and publish these access routes on websites. To that, I say, “Eureka! Get out your GPS!”

It then recommends financing land acquisitions for right-of-ways and access points from private property owners, funded by 1.5 percent of Land and Water Conservation Funds. These funds come from offshore oil and gas leasing taxes.

It is a step in the right direction for providing more access to our national treasures. However, it seems like someone was searching for a word that started with "u" and chose "unrestricted." There is never hunting without restrictions -- as it should be. I give Rep. Heinrich an "A" for creative effort with that one.

We, as hunters, understand the importance of conservation on these vast lands. If this act passes, we should see hunting and fishing in public places where there previously had been none, solely because no one could get there. Hopefully, we also will see the effects of an economic boost to rural communities near these properties.

In the past week, many outdoor organizations and individuals have made their voices heard in support of this act. You should, too.

In fact, you can track this bill here.

Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in outdoor and travel markets. A former small-town newspaper editor and reporter, she constantly hunts for news headlines you need to read. Barbara also publishes Women’s Outdoor News online and pens columns for the National Wild Turkey Federation and Shooting Sports USA. Hailing from the Ozarks of Missouri, this avid hunter is now mentoring the second generation of hunters - her own little bevy of Realtree-wearing grandchildren.

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