1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: From Mediator's World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,960 --> 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 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal Callahan. Seven 5 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: crab fishermen working off the coast of England are lucky 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: to be alive as last month their boat was hit 7 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 1: with a German bomb and no fraud line. This was 8 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: not a training exercise gone wrong. Germany and England are 9 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: not currently at war. This bomb had been sitting at 10 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: the bottom of the Atlantic since World War Two, just 11 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: waiting for an unsuspecting crew to haul it up and detonate. Unfortunately, 12 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: for these unlucky fisherman, that's exactly what happened. According to 13 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch, the crew of the 14 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: gal wad More had been hauling up one hundred crab 15 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: pots when they felt quote a lot of tension on 16 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: the main line. Like any self respecting angler with the 17 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: stuck lure, the skipper opted to gun the engine and 18 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,839 Speaker 1: break the string. That turned out to be the wrong move, 19 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: as seconds later the crew felt three loud explosions on 20 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: the main deck. The skipper banged his head and four 21 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: crew members were severely injured, but everyone remained conscious. The 22 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: boat lost power and water began flooding the deck, but 23 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: the skipper was able to send a distress call to 24 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 1: the coast guard. The s O S was also picked 25 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: up by the captain of a nearby vessel, who arrived 26 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: first and was able to pull the crew to safety. 27 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: A subsequent investigation found that the bomb was likely an 28 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: SC two fifty, a two hundred and fifty kilogram explosive 29 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: the Germans used during the blitz. The SC to fifty 30 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: was so widely used that unexploded wartime bombs have been 31 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: found in South London, Belarus, Birmingham, Ukraine and Macedonia all 32 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: since two thousand fifteen. Let's send some good thoughts to 33 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: those crab fishermen and hope they make a full recovery. 34 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: Next time you're out searching for Wally and the wind 35 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 1: really starts to rip, be grateful you at least don't 36 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 1: have German bombs to worry about. If you really want 37 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: a positive spin, these fishermen can add the fact that 38 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: they survived the last shot of World War two to 39 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: their fishing stories. Down at the bar for now anyway, 40 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: went into the water. This will end done in twelve minutes. 41 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 1: This week we've got COVID, Spike, Call to Action, Wolves, 42 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: and so much more. But first I'm gonna tell you 43 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: about my week. And my week was good. Zip down 44 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: to a friend's place in the Sacramento Valley and managed 45 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: to come home with some birds. Blue sky sixty plus 46 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: degrees makes for a beautiful day, but it does not 47 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 1: suck in the big fat Mallard's pintails, wid Jim speckle bellies, 48 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: snow geese as automatically as one would like. Snort made 49 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: some great retrieves out in the flooded rice. That little 50 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: girl is good. She's gotten sloppy around some things during 51 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: this season, but she has gotten incredibly good at others. Mainly, 52 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: if I had to pick one her math skills, that 53 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: dog can calculate the speed and angle of a dropping duck, 54 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: taking into account the drag coefficient, and put herself within 55 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: feet of a tiny teal that falls away way outside 56 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: the spread. I know I sound exactly like your average 57 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: gushing dog owner, but it is just incredibly impressive. Every 58 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: time a couple of things I gotta tell you so 59 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: even though the hunting was not that great this week. 60 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: Last year, at this time we were down filming an 61 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: episode of Cow in the Field that will be out soon, 62 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: and it was happening, big fat birds coming into the spread. 63 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: You're gonna want to see it. That's coming up pretty quick. 64 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: And then another thing that I want to tell you, 65 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: and this is a thing everyone here listening has got 66 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: to do before we move on. The North American Grasslands 67 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 1: Conservation Act still needs co sponsors. So drop what you're doing, 68 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: call your elected officials today, right now, and tell them 69 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: how much life are native grasslands, shelter feed, hide, duck's 70 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: nest in the mule deer, white tails, pheasants, prairie chicken, 71 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: sage hands, sharp tailed grouse, hungarian partridge, bees, butterflies, moths, 72 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: and my goodness, do you want to talk about soil health, 73 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: drought tolerance and fat cattle. How about the federal dollars 74 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: that will be available to private land and public land 75 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 1: managers to not only implement good grass growing strategies, but 76 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: also the education on how to do this all on 77 00:04:54,360 --> 00:05:00,159 Speaker 1: your own. And did we mention free balloons for the kids? No, 78 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: because balloons are terrible and they are not a part 79 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: of the North American Grasslands Conservation Act. But you can 80 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: be by calling to zero two to two four three 81 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: one two one and saying I'd like to speak to 82 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: my senator, or just punch that into the search bar. 83 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: How do I contact my senator? Ask them if they 84 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: like tall grass, fat cattle, Ask them if they love 85 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: pollinators in big racked mule deer bucks, or early mornings 86 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: watching greater sage grouse dance. No matter their answer, they 87 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 1: work for you and let them know you as a conservationist, 88 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: a taxpayer, a constituent, and an American need them to 89 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: co sponsor the North American Grasslands Conservation Act. And speaking 90 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: of grass cheech, don't forget it's time to sign up 91 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: for CRP. This is from our good friends at Pheasants 92 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 1: and Quail Forever in the U. S d A. The 93 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,679 Speaker 1: Conservation Reserve Program is running until March eleven, two thousand, 94 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: twenty two, and Grasslands CRP sign up from April four 95 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: till May. CRP has long been the nation's most important 96 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: tool for targeting environmentally sensitive lands with conservation practices that 97 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 1: produce wildlife habitat, cleaner waters, healthier soils, and a more 98 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: resilient climate. If you are a landowner who want to 99 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: learn more, visit your nearest us d A service center. 100 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: The Conservation Reserve Program or CRP, has supported wildlife populations 101 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:43,239 Speaker 1: and rural communities since President Ronald Reagan signed CRP into 102 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: law on December. The program reached peak enrollment in two 103 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: thousand seven, with thirty six point eight million acres, corresponding 104 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: with modern day highs for upland bird harvest in many 105 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: Midwestern states as in It's not a coincident habitat creates 106 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: wildlife producers and landowners and rolled four point six million 107 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: acres into CRP sign ups in two thousand twenty one, 108 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: including two and a half million acres in the largest 109 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: grasslands CRP sign up in history. There are currently twenty 110 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: two point one million acres enrolled, with a twenty five 111 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: and a half million acre cap set for fiscal year 112 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: two thousand twenty two. Additionally, producers and landowners cannon roll 113 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: acres under the continuous sign up, including through the Conservation 114 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: Reserve Enhancement Program and State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative. 115 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: Higher payment rates and incentives CRP is another way that 116 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: we're putting producers and landowners at the center of climate 117 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: smart solutions that generate revenue and benefit our planet. This 118 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: is one of the best programs to ever come out 119 00:07:54,400 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: of the government, Friends and neighbors. It benefits wildlife far, far, 120 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: far beyond what we can harvest and put on the table. 121 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: It is a good thing if you like you know, 122 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: clean air, clean water, things like that. Moving on, it's 123 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: been a banner year for hunting and fishing in the 124 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: United States. The COVID nineteen pandemic sp a renewed interest 125 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: in the outdoors, and states across the country have reported 126 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: rises in licensed sales and equipment purchases. First, all those 127 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: new equipment purchases resulted in a one point one billion 128 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: dollar increase in funds for the federal Sport, Fish and 129 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: Wildlife Restoration Program. That's sixty five point seven percent increase 130 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: in a single fiscal year. The Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund 131 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: is also known as the Pittman Robertson Fund. As we've 132 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: covered numerous times on this show. This money comes from 133 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: an eleven percent excise tax on long guns, ammunition and 134 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: archery equipment, and a ten percent tax on handguns. The 135 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: money is you is for conservation work throughout the United States, 136 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: and such a drastic increase all but proves the existence 137 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: of the so called COVID bump. Here's another data point 138 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: for you. During the season, hunters harvested more white tail 139 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: bucks than any season since at least two thousand nine. 140 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: According to the National Deer Association's Annual Deer Report, hunters 141 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: harvested and estimated six point three million white tail last year, 142 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: three million of which were bucks. That makes last year 143 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: the largest white tail harvest since two thousand eleven and 144 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: the largest buck harvest since the National Deer Association started 145 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: publishing its Deer Report in two thousand nine. This is 146 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: all great news for folks hoping to get more hunters 147 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: out in the woods. For the last few years, at least, 148 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: the overall contingent of American hunters has grown, and those 149 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: hunters are spending money on gear that helps fund conservation. However, 150 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: while resident hunting sales are up in many states, nonresident 151 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: sales are down. COVID may have produced some new hunters, 152 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: but it also kept many hunters in their home states. 153 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: That stay at home trend doesn't impact conservation funding in 154 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,719 Speaker 1: the US, but it's been a serious problem in Africa. 155 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: A large portion of Africa's conservation funding comes from wildlife 156 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: based tourism. This includes hunting as well as photography and 157 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: animal viewing. Wildlife based tourism contributes twenty nine billion dollars 158 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,199 Speaker 1: that's with a b't cool, you know it's cool every 159 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: year in Africa, while employing three point six million people. 160 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: According to Biographic, This money is used to operate wildlife 161 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: refuges and combat poachers, among other projects designed to protect 162 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: Africa's iconic and threatened species. With COVID restrictions significantly hampering 163 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: international travel, this funding stream dried up virtually overnight. Of 164 00:10:55,520 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: African tour operators have experienced a sevent or greater decline 165 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: in booking. In Mozambique, for example, hunting companies use and 166 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 1: manage more than half of the country's protected land. A 167 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 1: wildlife refuge called Kutata relies on these hunters for one 168 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: of its budget, but it's lost every foreign client in 169 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: the last few years. Lion poaching is on the rise 170 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: in Kitata because the reserve has been forced to lay 171 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: off one third of its scouts, and the local community 172 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: will be losing most of the money they garner each 173 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: year from foreign hunters. This situation has prompted some of 174 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: the continent to pursue alternative sources of conservation funding. Relying 175 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: on foreign tourism for such a large chunk of that 176 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: funding left these wildlife refuges vulnerable to policy changes that 177 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: affect travel. Some have turned to philanthropists, nonprofits, European Union, 178 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: the United States for additional funding to bridge the gap. 179 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: Others have suggested that African countries could charge for their 180 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: ecosystem services, such as biodiversity and carbon offset projects. The 181 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,199 Speaker 1: question both an Africa and the United States is whether 182 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: these changes are here to stay moving on. Turkey season 183 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: might seem far away as you sit over a hole 184 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 1: in the ice or just count the days, but realize 185 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: it or not, the days are getting longer, Spring is 186 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: getting closer, and we have some idea how Turkey populations 187 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: are likely to be this year. Each season's outlook depends 188 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: on pulp production from two years prior. Even if you're 189 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 1: relatively new to hunting or fishing, I'm sure you have 190 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: heard some old timer in a coffee shop say, you know, 191 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: it's not this year, it's next year. That will tell 192 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: us how the birds handled the snow or the tornado 193 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: or drought or poulter guys or too much rain at 194 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: the wrong time. What that means is recruitment into adulthood. 195 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 1: The birds that will be entering the adult flock the 196 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: year following a bad year are the true indication of 197 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: how bad or possibly good the year was or has been. 198 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. Droughts across the West have 199 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: not been kind to young birds, but it's not all 200 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: bad news. In southwestern Montana, numbers have remained steady, with 201 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: riparian zones or corridors along the rivers allowing a critical 202 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: massive birds to make it through dry periods, the same 203 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: as ruined Utah, although a lot of those river banks 204 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 1: are on private land. In Colorado and Wyoming, pulp production 205 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 1: was solid in two thousand, twenty and twenty one, so 206 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: although opportunity is still below the peak of the mid 207 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: two thousands, there's still a good chance of success out there. 208 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: In California, turkeys and low elevation habitat near major rivers 209 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: in the Central Valley are doing better than other areas 210 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: hit harder by drought. Hunters in the Los Padres, Mendocino, 211 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: Shasta and Trinity National Forests could make out pretty well. 212 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 1: Numbers look steady in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, but the 213 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: last several years in Ohio have been very cold and wet, 214 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: and that means that the state's two thousand twenty two 215 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: limit has now fallen to one yr did bird. However, 216 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: better weather in one as well as a bumper crop 217 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: of Cicada's last year, mean that the limit could return 218 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 1: to two bearded birds next year. In the southeast state, 219 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: fishing game agencies saw declines in the spring harvest, likely 220 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: due to the covid hunting bump and the severe ice 221 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: storm in twenty one. However, turkey reproduction in Arkansas in 222 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: twenty one was more successful than any year since two thousand, 223 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: twelve and thirteen, so this season is expected to be solid. 224 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: For more info from your neck and Wattle of the woods, 225 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: visit your state fishing game website and don't be shy 226 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: about calling up and asking who you should speak with 227 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: in regards to your hunting plans, or maybe not your 228 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: hunting plans. One particular agency I want to shout out 229 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: is Florida Fishing Wildlife, which recently released an amazingly detailed, 230 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: in useful turkey habitat and population map on its website. 231 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: Go check out my f WC dot com, navigate to 232 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: the Turkey hunting page, and there you will find a 233 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: map that will show you likely turkey abundance down to 234 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: an area smaller than an Olympic swimming pool, which brings 235 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: up a great bit of turkey advice from my old, 236 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: old haggard old buddy Jim, who says you kill elk 237 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: with your feet and turkeys with your ass, Meaning if 238 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: all the area you have to hunt is about the 239 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: size of an Olympic swimming pool, and you're willing to 240 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: sit there long enough, you may just kill a turkey now. 241 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: If you want to know even more about why America 242 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: is so attracted to the turkey, you will likely remember 243 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: from grade school the drawing of Ben Franklin channeling lightning 244 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: through a kite strain. Well, that was hardly his first 245 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: foray into electrical experimentation. Years earlier, Ben became convinced that 246 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,479 Speaker 1: killing a turkey by electrocution would result in a tastier 247 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: bird rather than the traditional methods of neck ringing or 248 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: whacken one's head off with an axe. The Japanese method 249 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: of e k G may destroys the fish's nervous system 250 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: with a wire down the spine before rigor mortis can 251 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: set in. In modern slaughter houses, beaves are shocked immediately 252 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: after death. For this same reason, Franklin is recorded as saying, quote, 253 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: birds killed in this manner eat uncommonly tender. His method 254 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: was to build up static electricity he generated through friction 255 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: into a storage device called a laden jar, then to 256 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: touch the electrode coming out of the jar to the bird. 257 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: The laden jar is in fact that device Franklin would 258 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: later use to store that famous lightning bolts electricity. These 259 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: jars could store up to sixty thou volts, which is 260 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 1: ten thousand more volts than a taser puts out to 261 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: neutralize your standard two and fifty pound drunk fella. That's right. 262 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: I'm telling you that one of our founding fathers regularly 263 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: tazed turkeys to death. And that's not all. On December, 264 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: Franklin was testing his tasty turkey tazing technique in front 265 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: of a group of friends when he accidentally touched the 266 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,360 Speaker 1: electrode of the jar while his other hand was grounded, 267 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: causing the electricity intended for the bird to pass through 268 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: him instead. He recalled that and said the flash was 269 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: very great and the crack as loud as a pistol. 270 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: It raised around, swelling on my hand where the fire 271 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 1: entered as big as a half a pistol bullet. He 272 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: described the feeling of shock as a universal blow through 273 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 1: my whole body, from head to foot, which seemed within 274 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: as well as without. He concluded, I'm ashamed to have 275 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:47,120 Speaker 1: been guilty of so notorious a blunder. Well, we've been 276 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: there in one form or another band and if you're 277 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: looking to, you know, flirt with the same mistake, let 278 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: me know what you come up with. I prefer to 279 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: pluck fast and then let the bird hang for about 280 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: twenty four hours if possible. But it sounds a lot 281 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: less fun than what old Ben got up to, and 282 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: you could try this spring. Adult supervision is required, Mr Franklin, 283 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: I would say you are probably one of the sexiest 284 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: presidents ever. Well, actually I never was president, Yes, but 285 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: Franklin was quick update. Piney Point fertilizer plant in central 286 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 1: Florida has sprung a new series of leaks as a refresher. 287 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 1: A private fertilizer company went out of business in the 288 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: mid two thousands, leaving an open wastewater holding pond behind 289 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: a Decayne Dam. In two thousand eleven, a breach in 290 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: this pond poured one hundred and seventy million gallons of 291 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: wastewater into nearby Bishop Harbor. Then, last year, with the 292 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: dam threatening to collapse and unleash hundreds of millions of 293 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: gallons of waste into surrounding neighborhoods, fields, and habitat, the 294 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: state authorized the pumping of two hundred and fifteen million 295 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: gallons of water more gradually into tam Pabey to relieve 296 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: the pressure on the dam. The nitrogen, phosphorus and other 297 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: chemicals in the water likely contributed to the massive two 298 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: thousand twenty one red tide and subsequent fish die off 299 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: we covered here on episodes one, O two and one nineteen. Well, 300 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: the damn's leaking again. I am shocked. Shocked, Well, not 301 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 1: that shock, And as a result, the long term plan 302 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: is for Manatee County to build a deep well system 303 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 1: so that the wastewater can be injected into the Lower 304 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: Floridian aquifer for quote safer storage. You heard that right. 305 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: The situation is so bad that injecting fertilizer waste into 306 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: the area's aquifer is the best case scenario. I mentioned 307 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 1: this again as a general heads up a p s A. 308 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:58,719 Speaker 1: When developers present the advantages of projects near sensitive habitat, 309 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: they also need to show a track record of being 310 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 1: good stewards and a commitment to cleaning up their mess 311 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: even when business stinks. That's a fertilizer joke for you. 312 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: And last, but not least, we covered a viral news 313 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:21,120 Speaker 1: story claiming that twenty three Yellowstone wolves have been killed 314 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 1: this year in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. The wolves were 315 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: all killed outside the park boundary, and the Yellowstone wolf 316 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: population is still well within the average for the last 317 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: decade or so. That didn't stop park officials from urging 318 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 1: the surrounding states to limit wolf hunting along the park border, 319 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: and this week Montana Wildlife Commissioners did just that sort of. 320 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: Under the unanimous commission vote, the wolf hunting season in 321 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 1: southwestern Montana will end once eighty two wolves have been killed. 322 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: This area of the state, known as Region three, includes 323 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: the two management areas that border Yellowstone. Seventy six wolves 324 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: have been taken so far in this region, meaning that 325 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 1: hunters will only be able to take six more. Commissioners 326 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: rejected calls to end the wolf hunting season immediately, as 327 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: well as calls to re establish small wolf quotas for 328 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: the area's bordering the park. Also in related news here 329 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: in Montana, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Michael 330 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 1: McMahon has denied the request of Trap Free Montana and 331 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 1: Wolves of the Rockies to suspend means of take listed 332 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: in the hunting and trapping regulations, such as artificial light 333 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: and thermal or infrared scopes and the use of aircraft 334 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: to kill wolves. Now, no matter how much a wolf 335 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: hater you may be, this is one case where you 336 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 1: could side with the most ardent wolf lover. This case 337 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 1: is not based on the killing of wolves, but on 338 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 1: the principle that wildlife has managed in the public trust 339 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,199 Speaker 1: and as such there has to be public involvement in 340 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: the process, notices, hearings, public comment periods. Protecting this principle 341 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 1: is likely far from the intent of the two groups 342 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 1: in the lawsuit, but I think it's very fun to 343 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 1: point out the overlap of where all of our interests 344 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: should lie. That's all I've got for you this week. 345 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening. Please right in to 346 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 1: a s k, C, a L. That's asked cal at 347 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: the meat Eater dot com and let me know what's 348 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,880 Speaker 1: going on in your neck of the woods. And don't 349 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:31,400 Speaker 1: forget to find a local, knowledgeable steel dealer near you 350 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: by typing in steel dealers in your search bar, which 351 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 1: is funny to think about because they may just ask 352 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 1: you how big of a bar are you looking for. 353 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:44,239 Speaker 1: Don't worry, they will send you home with what you 354 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,639 Speaker 1: need and not with what you don't. Thanks again and 355 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: I'll talk to you next week.