Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell will be looking at signing HB 13, a bill that would guarantee liability protection to landowners when hunting accidents happen on their land.

Last year a court in the Keystone State found a landowner partially at fault in the accidental shooting of a pregnant woman. Even though existing laws should protect landowners who keep their land open to hunting, the overwhelming majority of legislators wanted to spell it out so this wouldn’t happen again.

Read more about this bill here.

Tom Remington

Hat tip for the heads-up to my good friend Erik in Idaho!

This comes to us from the Post Register. I am not a paid subscriber but I got the headline and a short teaser.

Rex Rammell to run for Senate
- The former elk rancher said he will announce his candidacy Tuesday.

Larry Craig says he’ll decide this summer whether to run for a fourth term in the United States Senate. If Craig calls it a career, Lt. Gov. James Risch says he’s in. Congressman Mike Simpson is a wild card. He could run for Craig’s seat or stay put with an eye toward a future gubernatorial run. Now we can add one of Idaho’s biggest lightning rods to this already volatile mix: Rex Rammell. Rammell said Friday that he will formally…

For those who may not remember, Rex Rammell was the owner of the Chief Joseph Elk Ranch just outside Rexburg, Idaho where last summer several of his elk got out of his fenced enclosure. It was reported that a bear tunneled under the fence, inciting an elk riot knocking down the fencing (that’s hard to do by the way), to Rammell had poorly maintained fences and even that the elk were deliberately set free by one or more of Rammell’s enemies, or even the Idaho Fish and Game.

The result of the escape lead to a series of extremely controversial events. In the end, Rammell lost several of his elk as they were slaughtered by hired guns of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game under the direction of then governor Jim Risch, who incidentally would like a shot at a vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Needless to say, a campaign pitting Dr. Rex Rammell against former governor Jim Risch would probably create more fireworks than any Fourth of July celebration in Idaho.

I’m trying to make contact with Dr. Rammell and will keep all interested readers informed. I was told that this news should be making the Associate Press wires soon.

For any readers who would like to refresh or read firsthand the accounts of the “Great Elk Escape”, Dr. Rex Rammell, former governor Jim Risch, the IDFG and others, go to the “Idaho Hunting News” category in the right hand sidebar and click on the link. There’s hours of enjoyment.

Tom Remington

Found this on the Internet and thought readers might get a charge out of seeing what a little creativity can do.

Tom Remington

This press release came from the office of State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG, June 29 – State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, has introduced legislation aimed at increasing the deer population on game lands in Pennsylvania. The bill would require the state Game Commission to implement new policies and procedures for sports enthusiasts.

“The tradition of hunting on state game lands is popular in Pennsylvania,” said Mahoney, a member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. “My proposal would increase the deer population so more deer would be available for hunters to harvest.”

Mahoney said the legislation (H.B. 1667) has four major features. It would:

* Establish citizen task forces for every wildlife management unit across the state. The game warden in each unit would be required to hold biannual town meetings where interested sports enthusiasts would be able to meet and discuss the deer population in their area. The warden would then forward suggestions and recommendations to the Game Commission.
* Return the antler requirements to pre-2003 status by requiring that a buck would only have to have two points on an antler or a spike at least three inches long to be harvested.
* Require the Game Commission to adopt policies to increase the deer population on game lands and to submit an annual report on the status of those policies.
* Require the Game Commission to collect mandatory harvest report cards from hunters.

The Fayette County lawmaker said Pennsylvania has more than 3.6 million acres of public land, which accounts for about 25 percent of all forested land in the state.

Mahoney’s legislation has been referred to the House Game and Fisheries Committee for consideration.

Tom Remington

Once again the talk is next to feverish about someone having seen a mountain lion in Maine and they have produced a photo as evidence.

An anonymous person gave this photo to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife claiming to have seen a mountain lion in the Sydney, Maine area. According to an article in the Sun Journal, Mark Latti of MDIFW says the photo is authentic but cannot confirm the animal in it is a mountain lion.

Officials are investigating the scene to measure the rocks and surrounding objects to help better put to scale the size of the animal in the photo. As is usual with lions, experts use the tail as the first positive indicator of a lion. A puma’s tale is long and a pretty definitive trait. None can be seen is this photo. Officials hope to also be able to find tracks and scat.

I certainly am no expert on identifying animals but I question that the animal is a mountain lion. Here are two photos. One is of a mountain lion, the other a Canada lynx. Granted the photos are a considerably different setting but it should give you an indication of some of the key features of each of the animals.

Mountain lion, cougar, puma, catamount – these are name common to the lion.

Markings and colorings on the Sydney photo don’t seem to match those of a mountain lion. It is difficult to say as some of the color variations could be caused by shadows, etc.

Either way, these sightings have gone on for decades and MDIFW officials still report that there are no wild mountain lions in Maine. Until it is easily proven that Maine has a breeding pair of lions, that status will remain.

Tom Remington

Remember the story of the man from Georgia who killed the black bear with a stick of firewood to protect his six-year old soon who went after the bear with a shovel? Stephen Dubner at the Freakonomics Blog asks if perhaps the officers in charge of the investigation should have fined Everhart $75 for failing to properly care for his camp food.

What’s most interesting is reading the comments left there by readers. As a matter of fact several don’t think Everhart killed the bear with a stick of firewood.

What do you think? Do you think a person can kill a bear with a stick of firewood? How easily? Should the officers shown lenience and waived the fine?

Tom Remington

Am I just an over sensitive guy? Has anyone else noticed something about the hypocritical, over-the-top, extremist, yada, yada, yada, animal rights activists?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has just announced that it will remove the bald eagle from the endangered species list and there’s no lawsuits, no complaining, no whining and very little if anything, being said from these people. Could it be that because we don’t hunt them, they have really nothing to complain about? After all, the feds say that there are over 10,000 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the U.S.

Could it also be that with this announcement comes truth that in several of the lawsuits these groups have to stop trapping because one in a million bald eagles might get caught in a trap and released, they will have that many less arguments to support their foolishness?

I just don’t think that 10,000 nesting pairs are enough to guarantee that the species will survive!! I’m just such a cynic aren’t I?

Tom Remington

Nowhere actually. I am still here. I am on the road. I spent most all day yesterday on the road taking photos, gathering information, eating too much and paying way too much for gasoline. I should be back home by this evening sometime but I’ll get a few blogs up this morning before I hit the road again.

Tom Remington

Hal Herring, blogger and outdoor writer for Field and Stream magazine, interviewed Ted Nugent about high-fence hunting.

What? Can you believe some people actually thought it wouldn’t be heated and passionate?

Always a heated debate. Never an answer. Lies continue to be spread as fact and game ranches take the rap for issues it shouldn’t.

Interested in reading the interview and leaving comments of your own? CLICK HERE!

Tom Remington

Actually, it should read, “Americans Beware the Fairness Doctrine”. Diane Feinstein and others are already talking about reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine was something the FCC began a long time ago because it felt that it needed to control what kind of news people heard. They mandated that news services provide both sides of issues in a fair and balanced manner.

As you can imagine, this was bad right from the beginning and almost immediately the FCC began tearing down their own doctrine. At different times in our history, those who believe government should control what we can see, hear and read, have tried unsuccessfully to reinstate the doctrine.

When the FD was created it was meant for television, newspapers, radio, etc.. The grumbling today from those who think conservative talk radio has an unfair advantage, is a means in which they want to censor free speech. This is completely contrary to our Constitution and the American way, yet politicians like Feinstein, John Kerry and others have either called for a complete implementation of the doctrine or some form of it.

The “New Media”, which includes us bloggers can and probably would be affected as well. There are those who recognize and understand the power of the Internet and in particular the so-called “citizen journalists” who have brought a completely new perspective on presenting the “news”.

As a blogger, do you want to have to go out and find someone with an opposing view in order to be able to express your opinion? If this kind of legislation passes, that’s exactly what we all may be having to do in short order. In other words, it would effectively kill the blogosphere, talk radio and any kind of insightful media.

Government and people like Feinstein and Kerry think you and I are stupid. They believe it is government’s responsibility to spoon feed its citizens their kind of news. This is censorship and another form of governmental brainwashing.

Part of the problem for those who favor the Fairness Doctrine is that they are seeing a growth in talk radio, television and Internet entities that oppose their views. It just so happens that much of these businesses are successful. It’s what people want to hear, see and read.

Talk America, a liberal biased radio talk show, has declared bankruptcy. Some say because of a poor business plan. Other say because content is bad and not enough people want to listen.

It doesn’t really matter which side of the aisle you land on as a blogger, if you enjoy what you’re doing, you cannot support bringing back the Fairness Doctrine. If you have something to say and can put together a piece of written text that has interesting enough content, no matter what the slant, people will come and read it. If not, you’re sunk. That’s life.

Below is a press release issued by the office of Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana. Pence today is proposing legislation that will ensure that this Fairness Doctrine is not given a chance to be reinstated.

“The American people love a fair fight, especially where the issues of the day are debated. In a free market, fairness should be determined based upon equal opportunity, not equal results. As some voices are calling for Congress to enforce their idea of ‘fairness’ upon the American people, it would be good for us to proceed with caution whenever some would achieve their ‘fairness’ by limiting the freedom of others.

“Beginning in 1949, the Federal Communications Commission and its precursor developed and enforced the so-called Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to present controversial issues in a fair and balanced manner. However, because of the lack of clarity in the Commission’s ruling, broadcasters opted to offer non-controversial programming in lieu of hours of paperwork or countless legal fees.

“Thankfully, the FCC began to overturn its own ruling on the Fairness Doctrine in 1985. And, following that change in policy by the FCC and President Reagan’s veto of attempts to reinstate it, the results have been dramatic. The lifting of the Fairness Doctrine has opened the public airwaves to free and vigorous discussion of controversial issues by individuals of all political stripes.

“Since the demise of the Fairness Doctrine, talk radio has emerged as a dynamic forum for public debate and an asset to the nation.

“Unfortunately, in the name of fairness, there has been much talk in recent days about the need to level the playing field of radio broadcasting by restoring the Fairness Doctrine.

“A liberal think tank recently condemned what they called the ‘massive imbalance’ on the radio airwaves.

“Some elected officials have said that Congress should ‘deal with that problem’ and others are ‘looking at’ bringing back this outright regulation of the American political debate.

“Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine would amount to government control over political views expressed on the public airwaves. It is a dangerous proposal to suggest the government should be in the business of rationing free speech.

“Congress must take action to ensure that this archaic remnant of a bygone era of American radio does not return. There is nothing fair about the Fairness Doctrine.

“During my years in radio and television, I developed a great respect for a free and independent press. Since being in Congress, I have been the recipient of praise and criticism from broadcast media, but it has not changed my fundamental belief that a free and independent press must be vigorously defended by those who love liberty. It is with this in mind that I will introduce the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

“The Broadcaster Freedom Act will prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from prescribing rules, regulations, or policies that will reinstate the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints in controversial issues of public importance. The Broadcaster Freedom Act will prevent the FCC or any future President from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. This legislation ensures true freedom and fairness will remain on our radio airwaves, and I would encourage my colleagues to cosponsor and support this bill.

“John F. Kennedy stated, ‘We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.’”

Contact your representative and tell them you value free speech and not censorship.

Tom Remington