Wolves and Tapeworms

According to a new study available in the October issue of the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, three-millimeter-long tapeworms known as Echinococcus granulosus, are documented for the first time in gray wolves in Idaho and Montana. And the authors didn’t just find a few tapeworms. It turns out that 62% of Idaho gray wolves and 63% of Montana gray wolves tested positive. The researchers wrote: “The detection of thousands of tapeworms per wolf was a common finding.” This leads to the interpretation that the E. granulosus parasite rate is fairly widespread and established in the Northern Rocky Mountain wolves.

Wolf Advocate Tries to Cheat System

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) -- The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has confiscated a wolf carcass from central Idaho wolf advocate Lynne Stone.
Stone put a wolf-hunting tag on the carcass after it and other Basin Butte pack members near Stanley were killed in November by state officials in a control action.
Officials say Stone tracked down the alpha female and attempted to claim it as her own kill. Officials say she took the carcass home and called the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to report it as a kill.
Reporting the kill meant it would apply to the hunting quota for that area.
But Fish and Game officials disagreed that it qualified as her kill and confiscated the carcass in December.
Regional Conservation Officer Gary Hompland tells The Times-News that wolves killed in control actions become the property of Idaho under state law.
Stone says she first called state officials to make sure she could claim the wolf but received inconsistent answers.

A Tough Sport

I used to think that the deer hunting industry was competitive and that egos got the best of some people. Turkey hunting competitions were also bad. There were a lot of assholes out there and a lot of backstabbing occurred. Then I competed in waterfowl calling competitions. It was ten times worse. But I’ll tell you what, the predator hunting industry is 100 times worse.

These are not my words but rather a paraphrase of a conversation I had with a well-known predator hunting “expert” who was kind enough to speak with me for about an hour during SHOT. We had a nice conversation, and I believed we had established a good rapport. We spoke about coyote hunting and about the predator hunting industry in general. A few hours later I learned about a conversation he had with another predator hunter. My name was brought up in passing and this same guy said that I was a smart kid, but I was not a hunter. It only got back to me because of how absurd that statement was. This other predator hunter and I had a good laugh at the “expert’s” expense. You see, this other predator hunter knew about my obsession with coyote hunting. The industry “expert” had no idea of my hunting experience but was eager nonetheless to make that statement to a near stranger.

I’ve had worse directed toward me. I have thick skin, the result of being a young Ph.D. I even crack a smile when I hear such things.

I’m not going to tell you that I have killed more coyotes than the “expert” in question. I probably haven’t. I may never kill as many, but that really isn’t the point. I’ve hunted for many years. I’ve killed my fair share of animals.

What separates me from this “expert” is that he is paid to be in the industry. His job is to hunt. I’m like you. I have a job that doesn’t involve hunting. Hunting is a hobby. Coyote hunting is my passion and obsession. I do it whenever I get a free moment. Sound like you?

Perhaps it is my demeanor that is misleading. Perhaps it is my style of dress or my speech. Maybe I need a southern twang, a cowboy hat, and a fistful of colloquial phrases to fit in and be accepted as a hunter.

Perhaps it is just me and my history, but I try not to judge a person’s hunting ability by how they look or sound or by their age. I’m nearly 29, and I have been hunting for almost 20 years. Many of those years were dedicated to marksmanship and the pursuit of coyotes. Does that make me a hunter? Despite my nickname of “gran cazador blanco,” probably not, especially to someone who has hunted for 30 years.

My point is simple. There is no standard by which someone can be elevated to the label of hunter. There is no panel of judges or wise hunting guru to bestow such an honor.

It is simply a matter of perspective. I know a few military snipers who think you aren’t a hunter until you have put crosshairs on a man knowing that you will determine when he takes his last breath. The people who perform such deeds look at our sport and laugh when we swell with pride from our hunting accomplishments. Over the top? How about the USDA animal control officers who literally kill thousands of coyotes over the course of a career. They see these “experts” on TV and video high-fiving each other after calling in a triple and only putting one in the truck, and they are appalled. I know they are…they tell me about it.

My humble advice to my “expert” friend would be to be careful about what you say about other people. It might make you look foolish in the eyes of others. Worse yet, it may provoke someone else to make that same statement about you. Maybe this is the hunting lesson of the day for my esteemed predator hunting colleague.

PostScript:

I got an email from this expert yesterday asking me for free advice on how to improve their company's products. I politely declined. Had he not spouted off about me to someone who has hunted with me, I would have been more than happy to help.

No Les No More

After a brief courtship, Les Johnson and Kanati Tek have gone their separate ways. Kanati Tek continues to grow and has had a very good year. Predator Quest remains a fan favorite. The separation was reported to be amicable.

A Sad Goodbye

I arrived at SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV and had a quick chat with two employees of Grand View Media. After exchanging some pleasantries, I pried for information regarding my status as a writer for Predator Xtreme magazine. I had a good idea of what the answer would be, and I was right. Perhaps I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s back up.

It all started at SHOT Show 2009 in Orlando, FL. My editor tasked me with an e-caller roundup and capabilities test. I eagerly undertook my task and began hounding manufacturers for test units. Many were very interested and agreed. Some were hesitant but desired the free advertisement. Others were dead-set against it. After several months of prodding and checking the mail, I had most of my units. One of the companies that balked at the idea was FoxPro. They wanted more information regarding the testing process. While at lunch with my wife and a friend, I received a call from Mike Dillon of FoxPro. After some small talk, we got to the heart of the matter. I explained the e-caller test and he questioned my ability to test them properly. As further due diligence, he wanted to schedule a conference call between a cohort from FoxPro and myself. I agreed knowing that this call would be a vetting process. The conference call never happened due to Foxpro’s scheduling conflicts. I eventually got word from PX that FoxPro had declined to be involved in the e-caller test. I was actually relieved having heard stories about FoxPro’s mafia-like tactics with writers and editors. I thought the problem was over and smooth seas were ahead. For a time, they were.

My editor had been invited to attend the World Coyote Calling Championships (WCCC) in Cortez, CO. Unfortunately, he had scheduled a deer hunt and would be unable to attend. I got the nod. The event went well. I hunted the event and killed a few dogs. I covered the ceremonies for PX and took photos. I got the chance to speak with several notables from the predator hunting industry. I thought the event went well. As soon as I got home, I got an email from PX stating that Mike Dillon had pulled FoxPro’s advertisement from Predator Xtreme because of something I said at the WCCC. Knowing that nothing was said, I played the game and asked what I had said. I was told that I would know what I had been accused of saying as soon as anyone found out. A month went by with no word. Finally at SHOT, I found out that in order to keep FoxPro as an advertiser, I had to be fired. Let me rephrase so there is no misunderstanding about what happened. FoxPro threatened to pull its $250,000 per year’s worth of advertisement unless I was fired.

So, the question you may be asking yourself is, “What did Charles say to make them do that?” I hate to let you down, but the truth of the matter is that nothing was said. When pushed, Mike did not come up with anything that I said. Then Mike’s issue with me became my articles. He said that he had an arm’s length list of errors in my “Intro to E-Calls” article. Despite several requests from PX, no list was ever received. Nevertheless, it was determined that I should be let go to keep the advertiser happy and the money flowing.

It is a sad truth in the industry. These are troubling economic times and print media is struggling. Editors are losing pages, advertisers are rolling back ad size, and the money belt is tightening. Some titles have been abandoned, and everyone is feeling the crunch. Advertisers wield more power than ever. Companies like FoxPro control content with their dollars, which is why articles have turned into glorified product placement ads.

So, why would a company like FoxPro want me fired? On the surface, it makes no sense. I didn’t review their products, and I have never made public statements about FoxPro. I neither mention them in radio interviews nor during my seminars. There must be a reason…and there is, but the truth will have to wait a little while longer.

Mike’s course of action puzzles me. It would have been much easier for them to control me had I remained with PX. I would have simply remained silent and loyal to PX, its readership, and Grand View Media’s general interests. When FoxPro forced PX to set me free, it liberated my obligation to the magazine and its publishing group, and best of all, it loosened the gag.

As a result of my liberation, I have established Science of the Hunt Outdoor Writing (http://www.scienceofthehunt.com), a place where you can find information regarding shooting and hunting products. It is intended to be a place where consumers can get the info they need to make informed decisions. So I’m forced to say goodbye to PX. Onward and upward.