1 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: From Meat Eaters World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This 2 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: is Cow's Week in Review with Ryan cow Klaian. Here's 3 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: cal Next month, Col's Week in Review will turn seven 4 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: years old. That means we've officially reviewed three hundred and 5 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: sixty weeks and still going strong. A little bit more 6 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: gray hair, a little softer in the middle, but you know, 7 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: can still talk. Feels like a long time. Lots has 8 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: changed since twenty nineteen, but one way of putting it 9 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: in perspective is to consider that the show is still 10 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: less than one tenth as old as Wisdom, the lais 11 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: and albatross, who we covered back on the first episode, 12 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: and who is the oldest known bird in the world. 13 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: At age seventy five, Wisdom has flown well over three 14 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: million miles since she was born. That's the equivalent to 15 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: more than six back and forth trips to the moon. 16 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: Wisdom has been a constant well spring of headlines for 17 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: the Week in Review, and this week is no exception. 18 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: As reported in Popular Science and elsewhere, Wisdom is now 19 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 1: the proud grandmother of a new chick hatched sometime in 20 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: the last month to the male albatross known by his 21 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: leg band number N three three three, who was in 22 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: turn born to Wisdom aka Z three three three in 23 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: twenty eleven. Albatross famously mate for life, and typically once 24 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: their mates die, they tend not to mate again. But 25 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: when Wisdom's historic bo didn't appear on the Midway Atoll 26 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: National Wildlife Refuge after twenty twenty one, she proved she 27 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: still had it by engaging in mating dances on the 28 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: atoll in twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four, laying 29 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: an egg in December of twenty twenty four. You know, 30 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: it's like bendover. Let me see you shake a tail feather. 31 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: That's where that comes from. Banding birds itself also has 32 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: a long history. Although the US Geological Survey effort that 33 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: banded Wisdom has been going since nineteen twenty, John James 34 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: Autobond was the first to do it in America. In 35 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: eighteen oh three, at his house in Milgrove, Pennsylvania, he 36 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,399 Speaker 1: attached silver thread to the legs of several Eastern thebes, 37 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 1: and he managed to catch two of them the following spring. 38 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: So although I'm not too confident that Cow's Weeken Review 39 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: will be around in seventy five years, I'm hopeful that 40 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: Wisdom's new Grand Chick and bird banding more generally will 41 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: still be going strong. This week, we've got hunting poles, legislation, crime, 42 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: and so much more. But first I'm going to tell 43 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: you about my week. And my week has been spent 44 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,839 Speaker 1: running all over Capitol Hill here in d C, which 45 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: is where I am recording this week's podcast. Our areas 46 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 1: of focus have been House Joint Resolution one point forty, 47 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: the use of the Cira trius in the mining moratorium 48 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: in the Rainy River Watershed of northern Minnesota, which is 49 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: of course upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe area, which, 50 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: due to the nature of copper sulfide, we are opposing 51 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: not anti jobs, not anti mining, but anti mining when 52 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: it comes to the wrong mind in the wrong place, 53 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: which this is. I'm sure you know all this by now, 54 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: but to reiterate again, not like you could stop me. 55 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: It would be smart and helpful for you to write 56 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: some emails and make some phone calls to your senators 57 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: on this one. I talked to my Senator Tim Sheehey 58 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: today and let him know that this one is just 59 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: not one he wants to get involved with. It does 60 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: not do the mass currently there's no vote for this schedule, 61 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: and all we're asking is to keep it that way. 62 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: Wrong mind, wrong place. Twenty years of production is not 63 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: worth one hundred years of mitigation work or the contamination 64 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: of our cold, clean water, the threat to a completely 65 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: renewable annual billion dollars a year in recreational economy. Water 66 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: is an extremely valuable resource or asset on our collective books, 67 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: if you want to think about it that way. We 68 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: also talked about the Roadless Rule recision, emphasizing that what 69 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 1: we're looking for here is an opportunity to improve the 70 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 1: Roadless Rule. We don't want a blanket rollback. It doesn't 71 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: make any sense. We talked a lot about travel management plans. 72 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,679 Speaker 1: If you've been paying attention, that word access keeps getting 73 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 1: thrown around. Access, access, access, and sometimes gang access just 74 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: doesn't mean what you think it means. Access under the 75 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: umbrella of responsible use is what we're after. Our big, awesome, 76 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: unique public lands and public waters and public wildlife can 77 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: exist while we provide access. It just has to be 78 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: done under that responsible use ethos and mindset. Right. Not 79 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: everybody can be every where, all at once or else. 80 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: The flora, the fauna that good clean water that we're 81 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: after isn't going to last. So we're encouraging our lawmakers 82 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 1: right now, our decision makers to keep that in mind 83 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: when these travel management plans come up for review or 84 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: if they also get rescinded in the name of expanded 85 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: motorized use. What else are we talking about, boy, All 86 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: sorts of thanks, lots in the hoppers so much that 87 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,799 Speaker 1: we of course depend on all of you, the royal 88 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: we to get in there, write email, call, testify, and 89 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: go to Backcountry hunters dot org. Become a member. I'll 90 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: thank you personally right now ahead of time membership matters, 91 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: and then hit that action alert to let your representative 92 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: or senator know exactly where you stand on these issues. 93 00:05:55,600 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: Moving on to the survey desk commissioned by the Michigan 94 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: Wildlife Council has found that support for hunting remains strong 95 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: in the Mitten State, but support for hunters not so much. 96 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: The surprising poll found that seventy five percent of Michiganders 97 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:16,119 Speaker 1: either strongly or moderately approve of hunting. That's a solid number, 98 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: but what's even better is that only nine percent moderately 99 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: or strongly disapprove responsive management. The outfit that conducted the 100 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: survey noted that disapproval has dropped significantly in the state. 101 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: That's great news because it means that the vast majority 102 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 1: of the non hunting public isn't motivated to restrict hunting rights. 103 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 1: They're happy to let hunters do their thing while they 104 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: focus on issues they have stronger feelings about. However, when 105 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: it comes to hunters themselves, just fifty eight percent of 106 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: respondents approve of these individuals. While the public might support 107 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: hunting in theory, they have more mixed opinions about the 108 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,799 Speaker 1: guys and gals who actually participate in the activity. Anglers 109 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: also didn't escape unscathed. Of people support fishing, but only 110 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: sixty nine percent of prove anglers themselves. I suppose this 111 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,559 Speaker 1: makes some sense. It's easier to have positive feelings about 112 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: an activity than about the person doing it. You know, 113 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: you golfers, you love the game, you don't mind that 114 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: it exists, but you can really dislike that guy in 115 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: the loud pants ahead of you that's playing so slow. 116 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: You might be the only hunter some of your friends 117 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: and family know, which makes you the ambassador to all 118 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: of hunting. Don't be the reason they'd check no on 119 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: the question do you like hunters? You can't make everyone 120 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: like you all the time, but as far as you're able, 121 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,559 Speaker 1: be a good rep. Moving on to the crime desk, 122 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: ramp season. That's right, you know, a little onion type 123 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: of things delicious are ramping up in states across the country, 124 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: and the US four at Service is hard at work 125 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: protecting these delicious native delicacies. Ramps are a highly seasonal 126 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: plant p by foragers and chefs. Also known as wild leaks, 127 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: ramps have a pungent, garlic y onion flavor. The bulbs 128 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: look a little like tiny onions, though they aren't as spherical. 129 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: They're part of the genus Allium, which includes other vegetables 130 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: like onion, garlic, scallions, shallots, and chives. They can be 131 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: harvested in the Northeast, South, and Midwest starting in April 132 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: and ending in June, though this year's mild winter likely 133 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: means they'll start popping up earlier. They make a great 134 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: addition to any meal, and I'd encourage you to look 135 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: them up and pick a few on your next hike, 136 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: as long as you follow all the rules and regulations 137 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: and you know best practices guidelines, which brings us to 138 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: why I'm talking about ramps on this week's Crime Desk. 139 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: The US Forest Service published a press release last week 140 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: highlighting an investigation into a ring of ramp poachures operating 141 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 1: in the non Tehala National Forest. Forest Visitors reported seeing 142 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 1: individuals leaving with a suspiciously large quantity of ramps. Foragers 143 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: are allowed to harvest up to three pounds ramps for 144 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,439 Speaker 1: personal use in some parts of the forest, and commercial 145 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: harvest permits are available, but these folks appeared to be 146 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: taking more than was legal, and the subsequent investigation revealed 147 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 1: they didn't have commercial permits. Once all was said and done, 148 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: Forest Service law enforcement confiscated four hundred and twenty five 149 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 1: pounds of illegally harvested ramps. These individuals have not been convicted, 150 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: but they were charged with seventy Class B misdemeanors, each 151 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: carrying a maximum penalty of up to six months in 152 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: jail and or fines up to five thousand dollars per charge. 153 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: They will also not be able to purchase a forest 154 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: Products Removal permit for a minimum of one year. One 155 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: of those things is going to hurt them. The other thing, 156 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: Rollaby isn't going to be a consideration. Fortunately, all those 157 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 1: delicious ramps aren't going to waste. The Forest Services working 158 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: with local partners to donate them to fire departments, police departments, 159 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: and area churches. Sounds like those officers, firefighters and church 160 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: goers can look forward to a ramp suffer and probably 161 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: shouldn't talk to each other when they're standing too close. 162 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: Ramps cooked and lard and bacon fat and served with 163 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: cranberry and pinto beans, corn bread, fried eggs, and bacon. 164 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: My buddy's in West by God, Virginia like to smoke 165 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,959 Speaker 1: them with salt and then dehydrate everything and grind them 166 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: together to make a ramp infused salt that is very good. 167 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: Over in Ohio, the Department of Natural Resources reported some 168 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: disturbing actions from a deer processor in Harrison County. According 169 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: to DNR press release, fifty nine year old Rodney Shields, 170 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: the owner of Rod's Custom Deer Processing, has pled guilty 171 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,599 Speaker 1: to illegally selling venison. The agency reports that many of 172 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: these venison sales came from animals that had been donated 173 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,439 Speaker 1: by hunters and were supposed to go to local food 174 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: banks and homeless shelters. On four days in December Ohio 175 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: hunters could drop off deer carcasses to be checked and 176 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: collected by DNR officers. The carcasses were processed by meat 177 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: processing facility at the Pickaway Correctional Institution, and then the 178 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:00,079 Speaker 1: meat was distributed by the Mid Ohio Food Collective and 179 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: the Ohio Association of Food Banks. Most states have a 180 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: program like this and they're helpful for nonprofits trying to 181 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: feed the less fortunate. One deer can provide meat for 182 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: two hundred meals, so you can see how these programs 183 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: are so successful. It's unclear exactly how mister Shields got 184 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 1: access to these donated deer, who he was selling the 185 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 1: venison iiO, or how much he sold. The DNR has 186 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: declined to comment to the media, and Shields has gone 187 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: a wall. What we do know is that he wasn't 188 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: alone in these crimes. Thirty five individuals were convicted of 189 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: a total of fifty five violations, and they collectively received 190 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: six three hundred and thirteen dollars in fines, eight years 191 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: of hunting licensed suspension, and twenty four months of suspended 192 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: jail time. Shields himself was ordered to pay sixteen five 193 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: hundred dollars in restitution which was divided among victims whose 194 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: venison was stolen and sold and the DNR. He also 195 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: received seventeen months of suspended jail time and two years 196 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: of community control. Given the number of people involved, I 197 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: wonder if Shields was working with hunters who received a 198 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: kickback from those venison sales. I don't know if that's true, 199 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: but most small time deer processors don't employ thirty five people. 200 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: Moving on to Wyoming, late last year, we talked through 201 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: the trade offs involved with helicopter hunting into landlocked public land. 202 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: We knew that conflict was inevitable between ambitious hunters, werryland 203 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: owners and established outfitters. There was going to be some 204 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: budding of the heads. Well, that has turned out to 205 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: be more true than we could have known. This week, 206 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: a rancher from k C, Wyoming that's the home of 207 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: Chris LaDou if you didn't know, has been charged with 208 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 1: misdemeanor theft after allegedly taking the head of a trophy 209 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: elk from a kill site on public land adjacent to 210 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: his property and hiding it in a stand of trees. 211 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: After pleading not guilty, Brett de Lapp is scheduled to 212 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: appear in court on June twenty six. It seems that 213 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: back in November last year, a group of five people 214 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: hired a helicopter to bring them onto a mix of 215 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: BLM and state school trust land in Johnson County, Wyoming, 216 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: all surrounded by private land. From the hunter's point of view, 217 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: things start out just great. Three hunters got dandy bowles 218 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: after just two days in the field, but then things 219 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: took a turn. When the hunters returned to the kill 220 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: site early in the morning, they spotted a man with 221 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: an elkhead in his hands, later identified as Brett de Lap, 222 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: hurrying down the slope below them. They saw him go 223 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 1: into the woods, and after they yelled for him to 224 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: come out, he emerged empty handed. After a tense exchange, 225 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: they asked him why he had taken the head, and 226 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,839 Speaker 1: he responded, quote, because I don't want you guys hunting 227 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: on this outfit. To his credit, the Lap then led 228 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: them to where the head was stashed and helped them 229 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: retrieve it. All of this was captured on camera and 230 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: posted to YouTube. After two more days, the hunters flew 231 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: back out with their meat, trophies and gear. One of 232 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: the hunters, Ryan Chuckle, filed the report with the Johnson 233 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: County Sheriff's Office, which resulted in the theft charge. Wyoming 234 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,319 Speaker 1: Game and Fish have declined to bring a hunter hangrassment 235 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: case against the LAP, possibly because the incident technically happened 236 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 1: after the hunt had concluded. Definitely got some comments there. 237 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: In response, Chuckle said quote, I don't wish ill upon 238 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: the rancher, but I feel that it's not a good 239 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: message that Game and Fish didn't pursue hunter harassment charges 240 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 1: right because the guy stated he was stealing because the 241 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: purpose was to deter hunting on that outfit. If that's 242 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: not hunter harassment, I would love to hear from the 243 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: state of Wyoming what the heck is. The LAP doesn't 244 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: come out of this looking great now. As you recall 245 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: back in episode four thirty eight, many questions arose out 246 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: of the use of this helicopter flying up there to hunt, 247 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: most of which land on the Wyoming Guides an outfitters association, 248 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: not the hunters. However, the Wyoming Outfitters Board has already 249 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: met and there has not been anything new to address 250 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: the type of outfitting that was being done by the transporter, 251 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: i e. The helicopter pilot in this case, We're dying 252 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: for updates on this one. Again, that's public land out there, elk, 253 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: dear wildlife, or a public resource. There's got to be 254 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: a means of access to public ground. Corner crossing is 255 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: a great step in the right direction, but this particular 256 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: case could use an easement. Moving on to the legislative desk, 257 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: listener Jay Scarr wrote in with an interesting policy controversy 258 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: from his neck of the woods in South Dakota. For 259 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: the last few years, the Mount Rushmore Estate has operated 260 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: a bounty program for nest predators. The state offered ten 261 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: dollars per tail for every raccoon, skunk, possum at red 262 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: fox harvested. No person could earn more than five hundred 263 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: and ninety dollars in one year, and no roadkill could 264 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: be brought in. The goal is to decrease nest predator 265 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: numbers at a local level while introducing kids to trapping. 266 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: It was open to all ages, but gave kids eighteen 267 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: and under a one month head start. In March. Bounties 268 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: were paid out until the state allocated five hundred thousand 269 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: dollars dispense. However, the South Kota Game and Fish and 270 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: Parks Commission recently announced a major change to this program. 271 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: Now only two hundred thousand dollars is available for bounties 272 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: on nest predators, and only kids eighteen and under can 273 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: submit tales. The remaining three hundred thousand is reserved for 274 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: a new bounty program targeting coyotes. This program offers thirty 275 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: dollars per coyote tail and is open to all South 276 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: Dakota residents. You can't earn more than five hundred and 277 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: ninety dollars per year, but you have three months from 278 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: April to July to harvest your nineteen coyotes. As j 279 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: pointed out, it's an odd switch for a program that 280 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: was designed to eliminate nest predators and give upland birds, 281 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: migratory birds, and turkeys a better shot at raising a 282 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: large brood. Coyotes eat animals like raccoons, skunks, possums, and foxes, 283 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: so eliminating more coyotes actually keeps nest predators on the landscape. 284 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: It's also strange to allocate more money for coyotes and 285 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: to offer more per tail. Coyotes can do a number 286 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: on livestock during calving season. How the Koda ranchers can 287 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: already take advantage of programs to dispose of problem coyotes. 288 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,199 Speaker 1: I should point out that these changes were recommended by 289 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: the Game Fishing, Parks Department, but the Commission's resolution doesn't 290 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: explain why the nest Predator program was successful. Last year, 291 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: fifty one nine hundred and two tails were submitted, which 292 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: exceeded the allocated five hundred thousand dollars. That strong participation 293 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 1: and the vast majority of the bounties were claimed after 294 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: the youth season. In fact, only one hundred and forty 295 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: eight people submitted tales during that first month of the 296 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: youth season. The remaining two one hundred and twenty three 297 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: submissions came in the following three months, so it's unclear 298 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 1: if the youth will even be able to meet the 299 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: new lower two hundred thousand dollars quota. South the gotins. 300 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: If you want to weigh in on this one, shoot 301 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: me an email askcl that's Ascal at the meeater dot com. 302 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: Moving on to the Illinois Bill HB five to one 303 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: sixty five, the River Access Modernization Act has been introduced 304 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: in the state legislature, although it hasn't yet come to 305 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: a vote. Heads up, all you out there and the 306 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: Land of Lincoln. You want to be ready to call 307 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: your reps once this one makes it to the floor. 308 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: It may surprise you that Illinois has some of the 309 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,719 Speaker 1: most restrictive stream access rules in the US. In nearby Wisconsin, 310 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: any water you can float on is public, and you 311 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: are legally allowed to walk all lake and stream beds 312 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: below the high water mark. However, if you float south 313 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: to Illinois, only about two percent of the flowing water 314 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: is open for public use. The other ninety eight percent, 315 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: the landowner on each side of the river owns the 316 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: water all the way to the boundary in the middle, 317 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: and that property line has the same and forceability as 318 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,400 Speaker 1: the one separating your backyard from your neighbors. All law 319 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 1: enforcement in the Land of Lincoln carries chest waiters. This 320 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: is not only terrible for all the people who want 321 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: to paddle, float, and fish in Illinois, it also leads 322 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: to some truly bizarre situations. For example, the Middle Fork 323 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,159 Speaker 1: of the Vermilion River is the only designated National Scenic 324 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: River in Illinois, but the state doesn't recognize it as public. 325 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: It's only accessible because local governments own the land on 326 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: either side. In twenty twenty, the town of Mahomet built 327 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 1: an eighta accessible public boat ramp into a non public 328 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: portion of the Upper Sangamon River. In twenty twenty one, 329 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: the town of Lyle did the same into the non 330 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: public DuPage River. It's madness. All of this confusion comes 331 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,679 Speaker 1: down to how the state defines quote unquote navigability, the 332 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: concept that allowed commercial watercraft to carry logs or beaver skins, 333 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: or copper or any other cargo down rivers that were 334 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: bordered by private property in the age before railroads and highways. 335 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 1: That's where HB five one sixty five comes in. The 336 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: bill would define what exactly navigable water means in Illinois 337 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 1: and would affirm the public's right to use that water. 338 00:19:55,480 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: Would also respect private property rights and protect landowners from liability. Critically, 339 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: the bill grant's rulemaking authority to the Illinois Department of 340 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: Natural Resources to designate public access points, resolve conflicts, and 341 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: maintain a listing of navigable waterways. Even though it might 342 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: seem a little self serving, I need to recognize the 343 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 1: Illinois Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the organization where 344 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: I serve as President and CEO, not only has Illinois 345 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: BHA tirelessly worked to draft and advance this bill. They've 346 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: also been putting a ton of work into educating people 347 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: across the state about stream access. In twenty twenty four, 348 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 1: they put together the Muddy Waters Tour to get people 349 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: invested in to address worries about what changes might mean. 350 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: It's that kind of work that turns nifty ideas into 351 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: concrete change. So now that you know what the Illinois 352 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 1: River Access Modernization Act would do, stand by for when 353 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 1: the bill gets closer to a vote, and let's get 354 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: those phones in the State House ringing off the hook. 355 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: Moving on to the re visited Ethiopian hyena desk, final 356 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: quick hit for you. Scientists recently published a study in 357 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 1: the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence quantifying the quote unquote 358 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: ecosystem services provided by wild scavengers, most notably the spotted hyena. 359 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: The study estimates that humans in the city of mckle, Ethiopia, 360 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 1: produce about thirty four thousand metric tons of food waste 361 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:31,360 Speaker 1: every year, and that the scavengers who consume that waste 362 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: save over one thousand tons of carbon emissions and hundreds 363 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: of thousands of dollars in waste disposal and environmental impact costs. Now, 364 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: these numbers involve a lot of guesswork, but I think 365 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: the study provides a good opportunity to appreciate all the 366 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: scavengers in our lives. Sure, we might not want to 367 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: get up close and personal with the hyenas, coyotes, raccoons, rats, 368 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 1: and pigeons around us, but we humans are gross. We 369 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: leave a lot of our food around and without those scavengers, 370 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 1: that rotting food would be sitting around off gassing and 371 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: becoming a disease vector. Another way of thinking about scavengers 372 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: that they're composters of last resort. Still, hyenas in the 373 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: wild have been documented crushing giraffe bones that are over 374 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,880 Speaker 1: three inches in diameter, and that definitely makes me grateful 375 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 1: that the critters who sometimes get into the trash where 376 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: I live are snort size the grizzer bears ever made 377 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: her into town. That's all I got for you this week. 378 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening, and remember to write 379 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,679 Speaker 1: in askcl that's Ascal at the meat eater dot com. 380 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: Let me know what's going on in your neck of 381 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: the woods. I appreciate it. Do me a favor, write 382 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: an email, make a call, America's wilderness areas, such as 383 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: the Boundary Waters Canoe area. We're not making any more 384 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: of them, gang. They are rare gems that are increasing 385 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: in scarcity, which means they're increasing in value. This particular 386 00:22:56,119 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 1: one is located in a watershed. We're twenty percent of 387 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: all the water in the US Forest Service system is located. 388 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: Old Teddy Roosevelt himself designated the superior National Forest. Let's 389 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: make sure that legacy lives on and we respect it 390 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 1: and value what's there. So write your senators, give him 391 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: a call, let them know how you want them to 392 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: vote on HJAR one forty if she comes up there 393 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: in the Senate. The return on investment for the American 394 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 1: people just isn't their gang. That's all I got for you. 395 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,680 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening, and I'll talk to 396 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: you next week.