The Outdoor Scene

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.  ~Chinese Proverb

As much as I embrace learning, rest assured I won’t be studying at the Humane Society University.
According to a U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance press release, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) plans to educate the next generation of anti-hunting, animal rights activists now that it has received “a license as a higher education degree-granting institution by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission.”

The Humane Society University plans to offer on-site and Internet courses including those devoted to advocacy.  A potential activist can become a “Certified Advocacy Management Specialist” by completing five courses that focus on research and planning, influencing corporate behavior, message development, becoming a citizen lobbyist and building a grassroots movement.

While I know there are educational opportunities for those entering wildlife and fisheries professions, will there be advocacy training for our nation’s hunters, anglers, trappers and target shooters?

I learned something else last week. While I didn’t expect to hear back about how peregrine falcon restoration was funded, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) took me up on my request for information and responded back to me two days after my blog was posted. Getting the answers took a fair amount of digging, according to the agency’s media relations senior editor.

First, FWC’s 2009 Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration dollars (from excise taxes on firearms and ammunition) combined with 2008/2009 hunting license and permit revenue totals $14.7 million or 4.5 percent of the total agency budget. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, if someone suggested the agency cut their budget by that amount, it would likely cause concern.

However, it’s not perfectly clear whether or not Wildlife Restoration money was part of the mix when it came to peregrine restoration. Nongame Wildlife Trust Funds, which come from fees for previously owned vehicles titled in Florida for the first time and a portion of speeding fines, also might have been used. The agency can confirm peregrine restoration dollars came mainly from Section. 6 funds, which are federal tax dollars appropriated through the endangered species act. Bradley J. Gruver, Ph.D., of the FWC’s Species Conservation Planning Section has this to say:

“It really is not as simple as a particular source being the primary source of funds for the recovery.  The peregrine was added to the federal endangered species list in 1970 (under the Endangered Species Conservation Act, the predecessor to the 1973 Endangered Species Act [ESA]) and removed from the ESA in 1999.  Over those 29 years, many things funded from many sources contributed to the peregrine’s recovery.  Probably the single most important thing in the peregrine’s recovery was the banning of DDT by the federal Environmental Protection Agency in 1972 under authority granted by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.  I don’t believe it would be possible to credit any one particular source for such an act.

“Other contributors to the peregrine’s recovery were protection and enhancement of habitat, minimizing disturbance and mortality, monitoring contaminants (DDT), and reintroducing captive-bred birds to the wild.  Many states use Section 6 funds and Pittman-Robertson (PR) funds to protect and/or enhance habitats for a wide variety of species, including listed and unlisted species.  It is very likely that Section 6 and PR projects helped peregrines, but I cannot specifically identify either funding source as the source for peregrine recovery.

“It is very likely that Section 6 funds were used for projects that minimized or investigated peregrine disturbance, mortality, and contaminant monitoring because during the ‘70s and ‘80s, for many states, Section 6 funds were a major source, probably the most important source, of funding for work on listed species, including the peregrine.

“Reintroducing captive-reared peregrines was primarily an effort of the USFWS, some states, and private or private-public partners, including The Peregrine Fund, Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, and the Midwestern Peregrine Restoration Project.  It is likely that some Section 6 funds were used for this, but it is also possible that some PR was used as well.  It is likely that the majority of the funding came from the private partners and their memberships.”

So while Brian Millsap of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said “I don’t think this is one where the sportsmen can claim much credit, outside of the falconers who donated their birds to start up the captive propagation programs,” it does look like taxpayers should get a pat on the back. And I still contend we take every opportunity to shine the line on what sportsmen and women have contributed, when and where it’s appropriate.

On a completely different note, women can look forward to a new online resource from the National Wild Turkey Federation. In addition to a 16-page section devoted to women’s interests in each issue of the bi-monthly publication, “Turkey Country,” NWTF announced on its Web site they are in the early stages of ramping up their Women in the Outdoors Web site. NWTF invites you to provide your opinions of what you want from www.womenintheoutdoors.org. 

Also announced at the site, more resources for event coordinators and outreach volunteers are on the way in 2010. Plus, soon NWTF will no longer require a membership as part of the registration fee for participants who are already NWTF/Women in the Outdoors members.

I invite you to follow my updates on Facebook at facebook.com/tammy.sapp2 and Twitter @TammyDianeSapp.

Last Thursday, I received a news release from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) celebrating the fact the peregrine falcon was delisted as an endangered species in that state. As a hunter and wildlife enthusiast, I was pleased to hear the news and settled in to read the particulars.

However, after reading the article, I was dismayed to find when it came to the thanking part, only “wildlife managers and individuals” were recognized for their efforts. No specific mention of the role hunters, and target shooters for that matter, have played to help fund conservation efforts through hunting license sales and the excise taxes they pay on firearms and ammunition.

Known as the Pittman-Robertson Act when it was enacted in 1938, it was designed to fund wildlife conservation at a time this country’s wildlife populations were in danger of disappearing forever. In was an excise tax sportsmen and women not only tolerated, they requested it. Today called the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, it is considered a user-pay, user-benefit program. However, the notion of user benefit is a misnomer because everyone, whether you’re a hiker, paddler or wildlife watcher, benefits from the funding provided by sportsmen and women on behalf of wildlife.

In the conservation community, the rallying cry has been we’ve got to tell our fellow Americans that it’s hunters who helped restore America’s wildlife, and they continue those conservation efforts today. So, I was concerned when I saw a news release touting a restoration success story but not mentioning how hunters and target shooters contributed. So I immediately emailed Patricia Behnke, who sent me the press release, to ask her why this was so. After all, it was a great opportunity to preach beyond the choir because news such as this was likely to get picked up by the mainstream media.

A couple hours later she responded:

“I received your question about the individuals who helped with the conservation of the peregrine. The key players were conservation organizations and especially falconers who assisted in the rearing and release of captive bred peregrines.  I hope that helps clarify.”

Well, it helped a little. If falconers were involved, then sportsmen did assist with the effort as falconers are after all, hunters and as such, must purchase a permit. But it still didn’t answer my question. So, I wrote her back to inquire whether or not the agency, which is partially funded by hunters, had any role in the peregrine’s recovery other than issuing the press release. I also left a voicemail after becoming curious about what percentage of the agency is supported by hunting license and Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration dollars and how the FWC’s peregrine falcon management plan leader is funded.

After not hearing back Thursday or Friday, I called the agency’s media relations senior editor on Monday who explained a three-day commission meeting had preoccupied the media staff. Fair enough. I understand the challenges of a big meeting like that. So I resubmitted my question. As of Tuesday at 5 p.m., I still had not received any additional information.

While I don’t think the agency omitted the role of sportsmen and women on purpose, the end result is the same - a possible missed opportunity to tell those who don’t hunt about how we have footed the bill to restore populations of white-tailed deer, elk, antelope, wood ducks, wild turkeys and even “non game” critters such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

In all fairness, I am sure the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is not the only agency to have neglected to recognize hunters and target shooters in their press releases. And there may be more to it than that. It could be peregrine restoration is handled from an earmarked source of funds unrelated to license or Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration monies. If that’s the case, I hope to receive more information. However, when possible, I hope agencies, conservation organizations and outdoor communicators take every opportunity to make it known how sportsmen and women helped save wildlife.

To read the release yourself, visit:

http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/09/statewide/News_09_X_PeregrineFinal.htm

In this post, I’m sharing a sampling of exclusive survey results from women who hunt and target shoot. You have never seen this data because it was specially pulled for the Women’s Outdoor Wire from Southwick Associates’ March 2009 hunter survey. See how you stack up against those women who took the survey.

What is the average age of hunter survey respondents?
Under 18 – 0%
18 to 24 – 5.08%
25 to 34 – 27.44%
35 to 44 – 29.54%
45 to 54 – 24.43%
55 to 64 – 10.36%
65 and older – 3.16%

Did you hunt this past month?
Yes – 15.38%
No – 84.62%

Species Sought in the past month by respondents who hunt.
Deer – 11.13%
Elk – 0%
Turkey – 53.94%
Waterfowl – 7.65%
Small Game – 16%
Dove – 4.81%
Upland Game Birds – 7.54%
Predator/Predator Calling – 12.23%
Varmint – 0%
Coyote – 19.09%
Bear – 0%
Moose – 0%
Prairie Dog – 0%
Other – 24.39%

Did you target shoot last month?
Yes – 44.58%
No – 55.42%

Target shooting activities by respondents who went target shooting.
Rifle shooting (plinking, benchrest, tactical, cowboy, etc) – 42.64%
Handgun shooting (plinking, benchrest, tactical, cowboy, etc) – 39.37%
Bow/archery – 44.48%
Air rifle – 8.65%
Shotgun – 30.06%
Sighting rifle or muzzleloader – 26.25 percent
Other – 2.71%

Did you purchase any hunting or shooting items last month?
Yes – 35.62%
No – 64.38%

The primary purpose of the purchase was:
Hunting – 53.14%
Target shooting – 20.39%
Self defense – 9.92%
Gift – 8.34%
Other – 8.22%

What survey respondents reported buying:
Firearms – 9.17%
Ammunition – 28.09%
Blackpowder – 0.29%
Bowhunting – 12.03%
Game Calls – 13.94%
Hand loading – 0.61%
Optics – 0%
Hunting apparel – 18.55%
Hunting accessories – 8.66%
Shooting accessories – 8.48%
I did not purchase anything - 0.17%

Types of stores where hunting equipment was purchased:
Gun shows or expos – 5.2%
General sporting goods (Sports Authority, Dicks, Academy) – 15.7%
Local shop (bait tackle, specialty fly shop) - 18.7%
Mass merchant – (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sams Club) – 51.1%
Outdoor specialty store (Bass Pro, Cabelas, Gander Mountain) – 58.1%
Printed catalog – (Bass Pro and Cabelas) – 6.4%
Used - 0.4%
Web site (Cabelas, Bass Pro) – 5.0%
Other – 12.9%

For those women who desire more choices when shopping for hunting and shooting equipment and apparel, this type of information is exactly what the industry looks at when making decisions. Manufacturers and retailers aren’t going to deliver what we want based on a gut feeling. Business is business and it requires hard numbers to measure demand. The good news is this data is being generated. The bad news is the number of women who take the survey is miniscule compared to the number of men.

If we’re serious about wanting more retail choices, we’re going to have to prove it. I recommend you visit www.huntersurvey.com and share insights about your purchasing habits. If you’re an angler, you can do the same at www.anglersurvey.com

Results of the surveys are used by wildlife agencies and sportsmen’s groups to protect and enhance hunting opportunities. Also, your participation will help the industry develop new products and improve services.  As a bonus, every month you complete the survey, you can win one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of your choice.

So go ahead, make your wishes known.

And don’t forget you can catch up with me on Facebook at facebook.com/tammy.sapp2 and Twitter @TammyDianeSapp.

When I was a kid, the moment my mom fired up the fire-breathing dragon, or “vacuum cleaner” as she called it, that was my cue to head outside and play. Sometimes I explored bug life on my own in the backyard and other times I belonged to a tribe of little bicycle riding, tree climbing, crick piddling hooligans. Supervised play included time spent fishing with my dad, learning about plants from my mom and camping, hiking, canoeing and bird watching with both of them. And to this day, I still hate vacuum cleaners and still love to play outdoors.

Sometime between when I was a kid and now, outdoor play fell out of fashion. Due to a myriad of factors, kids began spending more time at organized sports and activities while unsupervised time became dedicated to TV, video games and social networking.

While those of us in the hunting and fishing industry have been painfully aware of these changes, I’m not sure the rest of the world was until Richard Louv’s “Last Child in the Woods” gave it a name, nature-deficit disorder.

That book became a turning point in our collective social consciousness. Today, there’s a profusion of organized activities and events offered by state and local parks and nature centers. You and your children can experience everything from touring a wetland to identifying owls on a night hike.

However, some parents, such as Connecticut mom Jodi Valenta, enjoy taking the “home school” approach to introducing their children to nature. Not only is Jodi taking nature education into her own hands, she’s also sharing advice, activities and experiences in her new blog, Kids Discover Nature.

Jodi, who has a five-year old daughter and two-year-old son, relies on more than her maternal instincts when it comes to connecting kids with nature. She received her master’s degree from the University of Florida in wildlife ecology. And during her tenure as a director at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, she encouraged people to get outdoors via their Step Outside Program and helped break down barriers for young hunters through Families Afield.

After Jodi left her professional career to start a consulting firm, she felt the tug of wanting to do something creative as well as give parents the tools and resources they needed to raise children who love the outdoors.

“It is well-documented that children do not spend nearly enough time enjoying free play in the outdoors and are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow. They receive many benefits from exploring and playing in the natural world such as relaxation, creativity, imagination building, exercise and more,” Jodi said. “For 14 years, my professional career was devoted to fish and wildlife ecology and conservation. Now, as a blogger, entrepreneur and mom, my goal is to pass my knowledge and love of nature onto my children and others. Through my blog, I hope to inspire parents and caregivers to tell their kids to “go play outside” and provide useful tips and fun ideas to help them motivate their children to head outdoors and simply enjoy nature.”

I asked Jodi when she thought parents should begin introducing their kids to the outdoors.

“My children enjoyed being outdoors when they were newborns,” Jodi said. “We would take them for walks in their stroller so they could look at the trees and hear nature sounds. When they were fussy, we’d take walks because it would calm them down so they could fall asleep. It’s important to start getting outdoors early.”

Jodi stressed that it’s important to make outdoor play a regular part of your child’s life. By offering fun activities and giving yourself permission to play, your kids will look forward to it as a normal part of their day. You’ll have a good time, and so will your children.

The outdoor activities you plan for your kids don’t need to be complicated either.

“For toddlers, simple activities such as puddle jumping, cloud watching, exploring the backyard or identifying nature sounds are ideal,” Jodi said. “You don’t need special equipment, just your time.”

She also recommends projects such as pressing flowers, throwing and kicking a ball in the grass or creating a special place in the backyard such as a fort or fairy garden. With older kids, you can hike on local nature trails, picnic in the park or identify plants or birds.

“The important thing to remember is make a plan, but allow for deviations. It’s fun to have the freedom to explore.”

A few weeks ago through her blog, Jodi launched the 30-day outdoor challenge.

“Since summer officially has begun, I thought it would be fun to do an online, community-wide promotion to get kids outside every day for a month,” Jodi said.” “Over the next 30 days, I will be providing activity ideas. Some will be my own, but I also plan to include ideas from my favorite blogs, Web sites and books.”

Even if it rains, Jodi said that shouldn’t put a stop to the fun. Instead, put on rain boots and coats and join your children in discovering how the backyard looks different on a rainy day versus a sunny one. For example, you’re more likely to see earthworms when it’s rainy, which can lead to another activity - starting a worm farm. Or turn over rocks with your kids to examine the bugs underneath.

Because Jodi’s blog is a community environment, she hopes readers give her feedback, provide reports of their activities and share ideas.

I recommend learning how you can get involved in the 30-day outdoor challenge by visiting Jodi’s blog at www.kidsdiscovernature.com. You can also catch up with her on Twitter @KidsDscvrNature.

Last weekend I visited my hometown, Wausau, for the first time in years. Riding in the back of my mom and dad’s car, I gawked at the sights of this north central Wisconsin city of 38,000 people like I was in New York City or Washington, D.C. A lot has changed in the 25 years since I left. And a lot has stayed the same.

Of course in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, I was the kid who read too many books and heard too much music, causing me to believe Wausau was a dead-end, backwater burg. There was a world of things happening out there, and I had to go find them. While I never found the hub, I have discovered some interesting people and places along the way, as well as a milder climate.

During my visit last weekend, I saw plenty of evidence to remind me what made Wausau such a terrific place to grow up.  First, several rivers traverse the city, including the mighty Wisconsin. In fact, it was the Wisconsin River that first drew settlers to the area originally known as “Big Bull Falls.”  And it still attracts people today with its plethora of paddling adventures. The same rapids that first provided power to the lumber mills of Wausau’s early residents are now the site of world-class whitewater kayak and canoe competitions.

Outdoor traditions such as fishing are holding strong in my hometown, too. Kids still ride their bikes to Lake Wausau, fishing rod in hand ready to do battle with pike, walleye, muskie and pan fish. While not crowded by any means, kayaks, canoes and motor boats dotted the reservoir and neighboring wetlands last weekend.

Mountain bikers have it good, too. Nine Mile County Forest Recreation Area has great trails for bikers as well as hikers and horseback riders. In the winter, this area becomes the domain of cross country skiers and is famous for its fabulously groomed trails.

Speaking of skiing, did I mention I grew up in a town with a downhill skiing area? Known as Rib Mountain back then, today Granite Peak is becoming one of the premiere ski facilities in the Midwest.

Then, of course, there’s my mother’s garden to enjoy. It’s a work of art, worthy of envy by any horticulturist for its color, variety, fragrance, wildness and sheer presence. Sorry, folks, it’s not open to the public.

Wausau is not without culture either. And I was able to sample a bit of it by visiting the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, which focuses on art in nature. The museum’s permanent collection features birds in historic and contemporary paintings, sculptures, and sketches. I can tell you, I felt right at home strolling past a beautiful sculpture of wild turkeys at the front entrance.

I’d love to go back in September or October when the museum hosts its annual Birds in Art exhibition. This internationally acclaimed, juried exhibition showcases a variety of styles created by artists the world over. In conjunction with Birds in Art, the Woodson Art Museum selects an artist to receive its Master Wildlife Artist Award. This year, Scottish watercolorist and draftsman John Busby is honored with the award for his outstanding achievements in using bird imagery in his work. If you can’t be there in person, the art is documented in a full-color catalog available for purchase.

Stately gardens dotted with sculpture are another treat at the museum. It’s worth taking a turn along the brick walkways of these outdoor galleries, which also offer views of the picturesque museum, an updated 1931 English Tudor period Cotswold-style residence.

You can learn more about the Woodson Art Museum by visiting http://www.lywam.org/. If you’re planning a visit to central Wisconsin, you’ll also want to check out this site: http://www.visitwausau.com/.

For the life of me, I can’t imagine why I’d want to leave a town where I played at riverside parks, enjoyed downhill and cross country skiing as well as hiking, biking, canoeing and bird watching. Sometimes, you just never know what you have until you leave it.

If you get the chance, stop by and say hi to me on Facebook and Twitter @TammyDianeSapp