FEATURE

Updates Before a Long Weekend

Lots to take care of before many of you disappear for what is traditionally the last long weekend of the summer.

First, we reported a few days ago that Arizona officials were concerned about one of their collared mountain lions that had apparently developed a keen taste for - and ability to find - bighorn sheep. According to information collected from his tracking collar, this wily lion had single-handedly accounted for fifteen sheep since being captured and collared in February. Yesterday, as was to be expected, the highly effective hunter was "lethally removed" from the Kofa Mountains Complex Predation Management Area.

Now, Montana ranchers hope the common sense approach will be allowed to spread to wolves in their area. In a single incident at the Rebish/Konen Livestock Ranch south of Dillon, Montana, wolves killed 120 male sheep, the largest known predation case in recent history. Officials say that only 111 animals were killed all last year.

And Idaho's first successful wolf hunter says his notoriety isn't all that much fun. According to Robert Millage, he's received fifty phone calls and hundreds of e-mails since calling in and taking the wolf. "I'm all about them calling me up and having a discussion," says Millage, "but they call me a fat redneck and a wolf killer and compare me to Michael Vick."

Apparently ethical treatment of animals doesn't apply to fellow humans.

In Ohio, it seems hunting and fishing licenses are disappearing.

Not the entire license, just the printing on the licenses. Officials say they've had "several instances" where hunters and anglers reported their licenses, purchased in the spring, are now blank. The most likely explanation is bad ink from old license printers. Not wanting to let the opportunity pass, officials say it's another example of the desperate need to update their equipment. Anyway, if you're one of our Ohio readers or know someone with a license gone blank, request a new license at 1-800-945-3543. You'll get a PDF file via email. If that's not workable, they'll mail you a hard copy.

The first sign of hunting season. Catfish, equipment and conversation at Mark's Outdoor Sports. Yes, you can get camo with either Alabama or Auburn logos.

Yesterday, I saw the first real sign of fall just a short distance from my house. It was Mark's Outdoor Sports' kickoff to hunting season. My favorite local retailer holds an annual deal where he officially kicks off hunting season with one of his mini-outdoor expos.

As always, there were plenty of new gadgets and pieces of gear to look at and consider while munching on fried catfish (he feeds several hundred folks every time he has one of these), but this year it seemed the big attraction was the stacks of ammo.

It was one of the few times in months I've seen large quantities of ammo in many of the hard-to-find calibers. In this area, it's definitely the first sign of fall that's not in some school colors.

And regarding people in the industry, MyOutdoorTV has named Albie Del Favero its new chief executive officer. The website aggregates and hosts thousands of hunting, fishing and shooting sports videos and television shows as well as outdoor travel destinations from across North America. Del Favero was formerly publisher for The City Paper in Nashville.

Not all the news about industry folks is positive today. Word late yesterday of the death on Monday of Norma Minneman, wife of Bill and mother of the Minneman's of MTM/Case-Gard. William Bednar, father of Ten Point Crossbow's president Rick Bednar, died on Wednesday. Our thoughts and condolences to both families.

If you look for your regular Monday edition of The Outdoor Wire in your email box on Monday, we will not be there. In observance of the Labor Day weekend, we will be taking this opportunity to spend some quality time with our families -and in the outdoors.

And on Tuesday, we'll be welcoming another editor to The Outdoor Wire Digital Network. Alan Clemons, formerly outdoor editor of the Huntsville, Alabama Times, will join our crew as editor of The Fishing Wire.

Clemons' name is no stranger to many of you. His byline has appeared in a variety of outdoor publications, from Outdoor Life to ESPN Online, BASS, and many others. We're excited to have his considerable expertise added to our services. Having been serving as what I've always considered to be a caretaker's position at The Fishing Wire, I can tell you that Alan will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that will have an almost immediate impact on The Fishing Wire. We'll also be calling on his knowledge from time-to-time here at The Outdoor Wire.

As we've continued to grow, I want each of you to know we're not losing sight of a promise I made several years ago: we'll keep you posted.

Have a great holiday weekend and enjoy the outdoors.

--Jim Shepherd

Sep 3-6	2009 Bassmaster Central Division Open Event Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper, Texas
Sep 7	California Free Fishing Day STATEWIDE
Sep 7	Labor Day NO WIRES PUBLISHED
Sep 11-14	QDMA Deer Steward II Union City, Pennsylvania
Sep 18-19	Recycled Fish 24 Hour Fish-A-Thon National Locations
Sep 19	Florida Boater's Safety Course IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, Dania Beach, Florida
Sep 19	Mercury Family Fishing Clinic IGFA Museum and Hall of Fame, Dania Beach, Florida
Sep 23-26	IDPA National Championships Tulsa, OK
Sep 24-26	2009 Bassmaster Northern Open Event Lake Erie, Sandusky, Ohio
Sep 25-27	Gun Rights Policy Conference Airport Renaissance, St. Louis, Missouri
Sep 25-27	2009 Firearms Civil Rights Conference Sheraton Long Island Hotel, 110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Smithtown, NY
Sep 26	National Hunting and Fishing Day Nationwide

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