1 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: From Mediators World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Cal's weekend review, presented by Steel. Steel products are available 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: only at authorized dealers. For more, go to Steel Dealers 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal Callahan. If 5 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: you live in New Mexico and see a tiger cub 6 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: wandering around your neighborhood, don't worry. You didn't wake up 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: in Texas, but you should probably call your conservation officer. 8 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: They'd appreciate it. The state of New Mexico is on 9 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: the hunt for a thirty two sixty pound tiger. They 10 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: believe the tiger is being held illegally somewhere in the state. 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: Back in August, conservation officers with the New Mexico Department 12 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: of Game and Fish obtained search warrants for two residences 13 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: in Albuquerque South Valley. They had reason to believe that 14 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: a tiger was being kept as a pet, and while 15 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: they found drugs, cash, guns, and an alligator, the tiger 16 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: had already been moved. Tigers and alligators are listed as 17 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: Group four prohibited species, which means only a permitted zoo 18 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: is allowed to possess them. Private individuals are not allowed 19 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: to have them for any reason, but investigators suspect the 20 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: tiger remains in private hands in New Mexico or a 21 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: nearby state. Local officials have this to say, ride the tiger. 22 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: If you can see his stripes, then you know he's clean. Oh, 23 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: don't you know what I mean? The cub is less 24 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: than a year old right now, and it's not any 25 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: larger than a golden retriever, but that won't last long. 26 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: Tigers can grow up to six hundred pounds and their 27 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: tail is there only appendage that isn't sharp. If you 28 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: have any info, give New Mexico Operation Game Thief a call. 29 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: This week we've got big fish, bigger birds, crime and access. 30 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: But first I'm gonna tell you about my week. In 31 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: My week was spent walking. I've been hitting a bunch 32 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: a new bird hunting country, trying to find a spot 33 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: with a more dense bird population, which I have not 34 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: found this season. Is hard on the legs, hard on 35 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 1: the gas budget, and easy on the shotgun shells. I'm 36 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: averaging about seven a half miles a hunt and getting 37 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 1: an opportunity per hunt, which is definitely better than a 38 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: lot of walking without opportunities at all. It's hard on snort, though, 39 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: she's a little beat up. She just weighed in at 40 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: fifty eight pounds. She's light on her feet. But if 41 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: I'm covering seven miles on average per hunt, then what's 42 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: she covering twice that? Three times that? This is just 43 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: like a for instance of a hunt. Okay. We started 44 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: out on a place that looked really good from the 45 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 1: on X satellite imagery. On that first spot, we covered 46 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: two point seven miles and flushed one lone sharp tail grouse, 47 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: no shots. Then we shifted to a new location. We 48 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: covered four point eight miles. I killed three doves and 49 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: two sharp tails in the first one point three miles. 50 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: Then we moved to a third location where we walked 51 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: one point eight miles and killed three Hungarian partridge. Then 52 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: at our final location, we walked point six miles and 53 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: killed one dove. Which sounds like a good day, but 54 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: the day before we did one point six miles no birds, 55 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: two point three miles no birds, one point two miles 56 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 1: no birds, four point three miles one covey of huns. 57 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: We put three of those in the bag, and then 58 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: to finish out the day, we did another two point 59 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: one miles and no birds. So Day one recap eleven 60 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: and a half miles. Three birds are about a third 61 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: of a bird per mile, and day two was almost 62 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: a mile per bird at nine point nine miles for 63 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,119 Speaker 1: eight birds total, or eight tenths of a bird per 64 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: mile walked. And keep in mind some of those birds 65 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: were dubs, which, as their friends at PETA recently pointed 66 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: out in a Texas op ed, an ounce of lead 67 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: shot for roughly three ounces of bird does not make 68 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: a lot of sense. Moving on to the fishing desk. 69 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: When you think world class spear fishing destination, northwest Arkansas 70 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 1: probably doesn't come to mind, but don't tell that to 71 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: Chris Cantrell of Berryville, Arkansas. Earlier this month, Cantrell was 72 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: spear fishing for stripe bass near the dam On Beaver 73 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: Lake when a much larger fish caught his eye. Cantrell 74 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: was fifteen to twenty ft underwater, and at first he 75 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: thought it was a car, but when he swam closer, 76 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: he realized it was a huge paddlefish as long as 77 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: he was tall. He shot it with his spear and 78 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: dropped the gun so the fish wouldn't pull him under. 79 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: By the time he got back to the surface, the 80 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: fish had already pulled out all the line from the gun, 81 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: as well as fifty feet of his floating line. It 82 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: took about fifteen minutes to get the fish on the boat, 83 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: and when he did, he realized he had some special 84 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission was closed for the 85 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: holiday weekend, so he took the fish to the certified 86 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: scales at his local UPS store. Kudos to that UPS employee. 87 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,559 Speaker 1: At least it was not an average day at work. 88 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: The ninety pound twelve ounce fish beats the previous international 89 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: spear fishing paddle fish record of seventy one point eight 90 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 1: pounds set in two thousand nineteen. The Arkansas hook and 91 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: line record is eighteen pounds, so Contrail isn't too far 92 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: behind that either. Fossil records indicate that paddle fish or 93 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 1: spoonbill as they're called in the South, are older than dinosaurs. 94 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: In fact, they're the oldest surviving animal species in North America. 95 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: Their native to the Mississippi River basin, but the population 96 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: in Beaver Lake is a remnant of a stocking program 97 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: that took place between and two thousand. According to the 98 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the fish were stocked in 99 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: Beaver Lake as a backup in case the populations in 100 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: nearby rivers took a downturn. Congrats, Ris, that's a cool 101 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: fish and an even cooler story. Moving on to the 102 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: crime desk, a pair of Wyoming men were charged with 103 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: wildlife violations after two severed antelope heads were found outside 104 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: a hotel and Campbell County, which, as you know, Campbell 105 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: County is home of the Camel's Campbell County Campbell's, at 106 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: least it is to me. I know there's another high 107 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: school in Gillette these days, but come on, as far 108 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: as high school mascots go, a camel and Cowboy Country 109 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: is a fun one to beat. According to local media, 110 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: and as far as we know, the heads were not 111 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: discovered in a bed and had nothing to do with 112 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: cor Leoni's Cannolis or Frank Sinatra, which is Godfather reference. 113 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: Little movie that you know won a couple of awards. Kids, 114 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: look it up. It's not going to be on TikTok anyway. 115 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: Jeremiah A. Beeson and David Hernandez have both been charged 116 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: with knowingly taking horned big game animals without a proper 117 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: license and during a close season. They allegedly shot the 118 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: two buck antelope from inside at a truck with a 119 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: rifle chambered in three hundred blackout, which is a really 120 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: interesting round. Uh. Not a long distance shooter, big arc 121 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: A lot of power upfront, you could say, but you know, 122 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: when you're poaching, you're probably not shooting too far. Anyway. 123 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: They cut off the heads and for reasons that remain unclear, 124 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: stashed them in some bushes near the dumpsters at the 125 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: Candlewood Suites and Gillette, Wyoming. Wildlife officials were tipped off 126 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: to the crimes by a witness at the hotel. Down 127 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: in Texas, the Coastguard snagged fourteen poachers who were illegally 128 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: fishing in federal waters off the southern portion of the state. 129 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: The three boats seized were filled with approximately four hundred 130 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: and forty pounds of shark two thousand four pounds of 131 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: red snapper, according to a Coastguard press release. The Mexican 132 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: men were using boats known as a launches. These slender 133 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: boats are between twenty and thirty ft long with small 134 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: outboard motors. Launches are frequently used to transport illegal narcotics 135 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: to the US and illegal fish into the United States. 136 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: This happened in the Exclusive Economic Zone near the US 137 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: Mexico border in the Gulf of Mexico. The fishermen were 138 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: detained and have been sent to border enforcement agents for processing. 139 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: Jumping across the pond to the International Desk. Poachers have 140 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: been killing wildlife and damaging crops on a nightly basis 141 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: in North Yorkshire, England. According to a report in The 142 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: Yorkshire Post, gangs of poachers run their dogs across private property, 143 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: killing deer hairs and anything else they can find. They 144 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: also drive their vehicles across crop fields and use angle 145 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: grinders to cut through gates. As you can probably guess, 146 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: these aren't your stereotypical English poachers just looking for a 147 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: bird or some venicon for supper, or you know, like 148 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: that book Danny Champion of the World. It's been a while, 149 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: but I remember that being a good one. These guys 150 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: are organized, armed and reportedly run betting rings to see 151 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: which dog can kill the most game. A report from 152 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: September of last year called poaching the number one rural 153 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: crime issue in the area, and police set up a 154 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: s Actual Rural Task Force to address the growing problem. 155 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: As with poaching around the world, landowners must often decide 156 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: between allowing poachers to escape and putting themselves in harm's way. 157 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 1: The poachers have reportedly threatened farmers with arson and assault 158 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: if they try to stop them. If any listeners out 159 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 1: there from North Yorkshire, send me an email, give me 160 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: an update A s K C. A. L. At the 161 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: Meat eater dot com. Moving on to the bird desk, 162 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: you probably know that the ostrich is the world's largest bird. 163 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: Ostriches can grow up to nine ft tall in way 164 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: as much as two hundred and eighty seven pounds. That's 165 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: a big bird, but it's not the biggest bird this 166 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: planet has ever seen, not by a long shot. That 167 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: honor goes to a long extinct species of flightless Australian 168 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: bird known locally as thunderbirds. Scientists, however, called them dramm 169 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: and thorne. If it's we're gonna go with the locals. 170 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: The largest of the thunderbirdsdra Mornis steer Tony, lived about 171 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 1: seven million years ago. They were about as tall as 172 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: an ostrich, but they weighed in astonishing pounds. That's over 173 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: four times larger than an ostrich and twice as large 174 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: as you like your typical Montana grizzly bear. Thunderbirds looked 175 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: a bit like an emu, but their beaks were rounder 176 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: and larger, sort of like a puffin. If you found 177 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: yourself face to face with one of these giant critters, 178 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: scientists aren't sure whether it would try to eat you 179 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: or leave you alone. Many paleontologists believe thunderbirds were herbivorous, 180 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: but others think at least some may have eaten meat. 181 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: Based on the shape and size of their skulls and beaks, 182 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: and just their overall size, they probably had a wider 183 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: diet anyway. A new paper published in a scientific journal 184 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: called The Anatomical Record tells us more about why thunderbirds 185 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: didn't stick around in Australia long enough for humans to 186 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: get a better look. According to the paper, the birds 187 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: took too long to grow up and become sexually mature. 188 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: The largest thunderbirds took fifteen years to become sexually mature, 189 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: while the smallest did it in about two years. That 190 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 1: wasn't fast enough to compete with modern birds, which reached 191 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: their full size in a year and can start breeding 192 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 1: at two. As we've covered several times on the podcast, 193 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: a slow growth and breeding cycle means that a species 194 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: is less able to adapt to changing conditions, As the 195 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: climate became warmer and drier, thunderbirds were out competed by 196 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: other birds like the emu, and they went extinct about 197 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: forty thousand years ago. The papers authors developed this hypothesis 198 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,719 Speaker 1: by observing thin sections of fossilized bone under a microscope. 199 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: One of the researchers told fizz dot org that the 200 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: microscopic structure of the bones can tell them how long 201 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: thunderbirds took to reach adult size, when they reached sexual maturity, 202 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: and even when the females were ovulating. That's a lot 203 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: of information from an old bone. Next time he's in 204 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,959 Speaker 1: ostrich at the zoo, you can imagine how much more 205 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: intimidating that bird would be if it were a foot 206 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: taller and six times larger. And next time you meet 207 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: someone new, consider asking them, you know, for a thin 208 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: cross section of bone. Then you're going to know what 209 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: they're really like. Moving on to the science desk, whenever 210 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: wildlife biologists talk about the population of a species in 211 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: a particular area, they're talking about population estimates. With few 212 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: exceptions Yellowstone wolves, for example, it's virtually impossible for scientists 213 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: to lay eyes on every individual animal. Instead, they rely 214 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: on in the field surveys and mathematical models to estimate 215 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: population sizes and compare those numbers zero over a year, 216 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: as we talked about the wolf situation over in Idaho, 217 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,719 Speaker 1: Idaho Fishing Game has implemented camera traps and they're doing 218 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: a lot of population modeling off of those in conjunction 219 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: with aerial surveys. I bring this up because a listener 220 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: wrote in with some great questions about the hog and 221 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: turkey study we talked about an episode. The study was 222 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: conducted by the Auburn University Deer Lab and suggested that 223 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 1: eliminating hogs can increase turkey abundance in a particular location. 224 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: This listener, who also happens to be a biologist, pointed 225 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: out that the study has not yet been published in 226 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: a scientific journal, which means it hasn't been peer reviewed. 227 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean the study is wrong, but I should 228 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: have mentioned that important context on the show. He also 229 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: wondered how the studies author estimated turkey populations. Counting turkeys 230 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: on trail camp photos sounds like a good strategy, but 231 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: it's not perfect. Turkeys might still be in an area 232 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: even if they aren't appearing at bait sites, especially if 233 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: hogs are out competing turkeys at those sites. To help 234 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: me answer these questions, I reached out to the studies 235 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: author Matthew mcdonnaugh. Mcdonna explained that after reviewing the trail 236 00:13:56,440 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: cam footage in each area, he used in exture models 237 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: to estimate turkey abundance based on the detection probability of 238 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: turkeys appearing at those sites. The model can account for 239 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: pigs out competing turkeys, so while it's not as precise 240 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 1: as fitting all the turkeys with GPS collars, it's more 241 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: sophisticated than just adding up all the birds and trail 242 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: camp photos. Mcdonna also pointed out that he set the 243 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: feeders to keep bait on the ground at all times, 244 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: so even if turkeys avoided bait sites in the presence 245 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: of pigs, they still had an incentive to feed as 246 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: soon as the pigs moved off the site. Mcdonna said 247 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: he also plans to submit his studies to scientific journals 248 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: in the near future. If it withstands scientific scrutiny from 249 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: other biologists, it will be another important data point in 250 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: our understanding of wild turkeys. If it doesn't, that just 251 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: means the scientific process is working as it should At 252 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: the very least McDonald's estimates are better than those for 253 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: the Australian buff breasted button quail, which is another study 254 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: going on right now. Steve Murphy, a wildlife biologists at 255 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: the University of Queensland, wrote in to tell me about 256 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: an unfortunate discovery made by one of his students in 257 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: a nutshell. Birdwatchers in Australia have been misidentifying the buff 258 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: breasted button quail for over forty years, which has had 259 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: serious conservation implications. Contrary to popular belief among Australian birders, 260 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: the rare buff breasted button quail is similar in size 261 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: to the much more common painted button quail. To make 262 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: matters worse, during the wet season, female painted button quail 263 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: molded into a much brighter plumage, which makes them look 264 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: like the rare buff breasted quail. This understandable mistake has 265 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: meant that scientists weren't aware of the buff breasted quails 266 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: decline until recently. According to Murphy, the most recent confirmed 267 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: evidence of the bird's existence was collected. Everything since then 268 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: has probably been a case of mistaken identity. The buff 269 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: breasted quail has been listed as critically endangered but Murphy 270 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: says it's likely the species has gone extinct right under 271 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: everyone's nose. Animal conspiracy theorists obviously point towards the painted 272 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: button quail for having pulled off the perfect crime impersonate 273 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: your foe while out competing them. It's clever and it 274 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: may have just worked. We do have some very positive 275 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: examples of birdwatchers finding species that we thought were extinct. 276 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: Hopefully the bird watchers in Australia can pull another one 277 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: out of their hat and this time be you know, 278 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: accurate about it. Moving on to the legislative desk, the 279 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: Wyoming State legislature is gearing up for a big fight 280 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: over trustpassing laws, and public land users in the state 281 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: are going to pay attention right the corner crossing controversy. 282 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,479 Speaker 1: We've been tracking as garnered nationwide interest, and five trustpass 283 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: related bills have already been introduced, according to the Sheridan Press. 284 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: Thanks to Gabriees for sending me this story. Not all 285 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: the bills are likely to affect hunters, anglers, and other recreationists. 286 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: One of the bills, for example, prohibits people from using 287 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: drones to take photographs of prisons and other penal institutions. 288 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: Free speech advocates are worried about that one, but you know, 289 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: I've seen Shawshank redemption. Imagine how faster Tim Robbins could 290 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: have busted out if he had intel from drone footage. Anyway, 291 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: Another one of the bills would amand Wyoming law to 292 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: make it illegal to travel through private property to hunt 293 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 1: or collect antlers. Current law prohibits anyone from quote entering 294 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: upon private property of any person, but this new bill 295 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: would add the words travel through. This is supposedly intended 296 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 1: to clarify that entering private property is illegal even if 297 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: the hunter never hunts or collects antlers on that property, 298 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: which is a strange thing to clarify, unless, of course, 299 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:59,199 Speaker 1: you're trying to be kind of a weak spind person 300 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: and address owner crossing for like some of your cronies 301 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,120 Speaker 1: that want corner crossing to be illegal. While this bill 302 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: might affect the corner crossing issue, it appears it's authors 303 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 1: are intentionally avoiding the topic. There was a version of 304 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 1: this bill last year, it failed to pass. This year's 305 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,719 Speaker 1: draft has a section that reads, quote for purposes of 306 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: this sub section, travel through requires physically touching or driving 307 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: on the surface of the private property. Now, that sub 308 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 1: section would make it not apply to corner crossing, so 309 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: it would be very very important to make sure if 310 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: you are pro this current version of the bill that 311 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 1: that sub section stays intact. Another bill to watch would 312 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: prohibit drones from entering quote the immediate reaches of the 313 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: airspace over the private property of a landowner in a 314 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,239 Speaker 1: manner that quote substantially interferes with the landowner's use and 315 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 1: enjoyment of the land. The bill doesn't find immediate reaches, 316 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: but that could quickly have serious implications for the corner 317 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: crossing issue. As I believe, and please right in to 318 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: help me, this bill would define immediate reaches of private 319 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: airspace and private air is a big question mark in 320 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: corner crossing. Keep an eye out for amendments on that 321 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 1: one as well. Moving over to Oregon, archery, elk hunters 322 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 1: in the northeast part of the state are dealing with 323 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 1: tag limits for the first time this year. In previous years, 324 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: archery hunters could depend on getting a tag nearly anywhere 325 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: in the state. Now, the Oregon Department of Fish and 326 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: Wildlife has placed limits in thirteen units in a bid 327 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 1: to allow more bowl elk to reach breeding maturity. Officials 328 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 1: who spoke with Oregon Public Broadcasting say the change was 329 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: necessary after so many elk hunters switched to archery after 330 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 1: similar limits were placed on rifle hunters. Some bow hunters 331 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: argue that the Department of Fish and Wildlife should do 332 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: more to restrict nonresident hunt rather than limit archers staying 333 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 1: out West. Colorado's also gearing up for a big fight, 334 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: this one over hunting license allocations. In two thousand twenty one, 335 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: the Colorado legislature considered a bill that would have restructured 336 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:21,120 Speaker 1: license allocations to prioritize Colorado residents over non residents. Colorado's 337 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: understandably believe that they should get priority when the state 338 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: dolls out big game hunting licenses, but non residents account 339 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: for a larger percentage of revenue. In fiscal year two 340 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen two twenty, for example, licensed sales to non 341 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: residents made up the majority of the state's wildlife cash fund. 342 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: These sales only represented about thirty one point six percent 343 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: of all licenses sold, but over sixty five point eight 344 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: percent of total revenue. Colorado Senate Bill WON fifty, dubbed 345 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: the Reserve big Game Hunting licenses for residents bill failed 346 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: in the legislature last year. Now, the Colorado Parks and 347 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: Wildlife Commission is planning to consider the issue, which is 348 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: exactly where the decision should have been made in the 349 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: first place. Hopefully the Commission will take the perspectives of 350 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: all stakeholders into account to resolve this issue without cutting 351 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: off crucial funding for wildlife conservation. But the only way 352 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: that's going to happen is if they hear from US hunters. 353 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: So Colorado's read up on the issue, form an educated opinion, 354 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: something more than Hey, I like it or I don't 355 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: like it, and write your Parks and Wildlife commissioners. And 356 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: here's another big one to pay attention to. Minnesota Supreme 357 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: Court is considering a case that would close many access 358 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 1: points to public waters. This gets into some pretty complex 359 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: property law, but I'll give you a thirty thousand foot 360 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: overview and tell you what the Minnesota d n R 361 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: told me about this case. Thanks to listener Todd for 362 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: bringing this to our attention. All the way back in 363 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: nineteen eleven, a fella named Healy C. A. Kley dedicated 364 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 1: a parcel of land quote to the public forever sounds 365 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: like a great fella. This parcel changed hands over the years, 366 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: but it was eventually whittled down to a thirty foot 367 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: wide strip of land abutting Trout Lake in Itasca County. 368 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 1: Residents in the area still rely on this strip of 369 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,640 Speaker 1: land to access the lake. However, in two thousand eight, 370 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 1: Timothy Muratska purchased three parcels that included the disputed thirty 371 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: foot strip. Murratska argued that because no government entity has 372 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: claimed a public interest in that property in the last 373 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:43,199 Speaker 1: forty years, a ninety three law known as the Minnesota 374 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 1: Marketable Title Act allows him to close public access. Basically, 375 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: this ruling would allow private landowners to petition to remove 376 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: public access roads if local governments haven't submitted the correct 377 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 1: paperwork within the last forty years. You heard that right, 378 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 1: even though the public is actively using it, because the 379 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 1: county has not put in the paperwork, it could be 380 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: taken by a private individual and closed off to the 381 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: public that is actually using the property. I reached out 382 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to get their take, 383 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: and here's what they said. If the Supreme Court upholds 384 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: this ruling, many streets throughout the state that were dedicated 385 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: to the public and intended to provide access to public 386 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 1: waters may no longer be available for this use. Various 387 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 1: parties filing amaricust briefs to the Supreme Court provided many 388 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: examples of streets that are widely used by the public 389 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 1: to access public waters. County cities and outdoor recreation, hunting, fishing, 390 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: and other groups have expressed concern over the potential loss 391 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 1: of public access to numerous public waters if this decision 392 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: is affirmed. This case has flown largely under the radar, 393 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 1: but could have serious implications all over the state. Contacting 394 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Supreme Court won't help here, since judges are 395 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: supposed to operate without regard for public opinion. However, it's 396 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: still worth contacting your state legislators. Even if this case 397 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: doesn't go our way. State legislators can pass a law 398 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 1: that amends or clarifies the Marketable Title Act. If you 399 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: have a public access road in mind, you should also 400 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: get in touch with your local government officials. They can 401 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,679 Speaker 1: file the paperwork to declare public interest in those roads, 402 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: which should head off any future lawsuits along these lines. 403 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 1: And to Tim Muratska, who is attempting to pe on 404 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 1: the grave of Healy C. Aikley who decided to provide 405 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: land to the public forever. Please get in touch with 406 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: us and give us the story from your side of 407 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: the private fence. That's all I've got for you this week. 408 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening. As per usual, please 409 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: write in to A s K C. A L. That's 410 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: a cal at the Meat Eater dot com and let 411 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 1: me know what's going on in your neck of the woods. 412 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:08,199 Speaker 1: Keep in mind the leaves are starting to fall. You 413 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: can start seeing those dead branches. You may want to 414 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,120 Speaker 1: trim up those lanes along that public access road. If so, 415 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: go to www dot steel Dealers dot com and find 416 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 1: a local, knowledgeable steel dealer near you. They're gonna get 417 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: you set up with what you need and they won't 418 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: try to send you home with what you don't. Thanks 419 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: again and I'll talk to you next week.