|
||||||
|
There are seven things to keep in mind when hiring a goose hunting guide: References, type of hunt, advice on clothing & equipment, hunting territory, guide effort, cancellation policy, and additional hunts available. Read details on clickforcarson.com. The 9th Circuit Court ruled on Monday, February 1, that the National Part Service could allow “continued use of motorized activities,” in spite of its own policies. The court ruled that the policies are not enforceable, and could be waived at will. The park service had maintained that motorized services were “necessary and appropriate for public use and enjoyment” of the corridor. Overview: www.courthousenews.com Outfitters on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River saw revenues drop between 15% and 30% or more in 2009, according to a survey by Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association and the America Outdoors Association. Many outfitters put off business development plans. Some towns dependent on the tourist activity, such as Salmon and Stanley, were hard hit with the loss of business. Outfitters expect a modest upturn in activity for 2010, but expect real improvement to take 2-3 years. Typical trips on the Middle Fork run 6 days. Contrast this drop in activity with Colorado’s Arkansas River, which saw a drop in business of only 3.9%. Since trips on this river are much shorter in duration, they still work for cost-conscious consumers in the current economic downturn. The Colorado River Outfitters Association is meeting in Pueblo at the Pueblo Convention Center. The main issue will be the River Outfitter Viability Act, which would explicitly permit outfitters to float rivers that go through private properties. The Denver Post covers the dispute at the heart of the act, House Bill 1188, sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Curry of Gunnison. While floating through private land is not a criminal act in Colorado, it isn’t clear whether it is a civil infraction or not. Local Inuit claim the Baffin Bay polar bear population is on the rise, but scientists disagree. Environment Canada claims that “there is available evidence for conservation concern,” and has banned the export of fur, claws, skulls and other polar bear products from this area. Hunting outfitter Titus Allooloo says his company will probably lose $300,000/year from the move.
A man from Olmstead, Minnesota, found a 21-day hunt on the Web and wired $6,000, which he never saw again. The site was reportedly for Beattie Lake Outfitters in Canada. The man reported that he talked to people connected to the site before sending the money. Let this be a lesson: The Web can be a dangerous place. Doing your homework is important. If you find a hunt on the Web, check for online reviews. Verify the outfitter’s contact information with the state or province Fish & Game Department. Make sure the contact information on file matches with the contact info on the Web. Remember that if you ask for references, the references could be part of the scam. The more geographically dispersed the references, the more confidence you have that the outfitter is legitimate. Optimally, you will be able to contact references who live in your area. Elmer and Joseph T. Payne of Lethal Impact Outfitters pleaded not guilty to 15 counts, including felonies, in association with their outfitting business. Charges include trespassing by guiding hunts on private land without permission from the landowner. Lotsaguides.com had covered the original guilty plea of the father/son team in September, stemming from game violations. While they are innocent until proven guilty on the new charges, they’ve already earned the Lotsaguides “Naughty Guide” award for their earlier convictions. Climate change makes for an uncertain future for people in the hunting, fishing, rafting, skiiing, and birdwatching business, according to multiple speakers at a forum in Glenwood Springs on Thursday, January 21. Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and other conservation groups, the forum posed questions and challenges. Ken Murphy of Rock Gardens Rafting says that the rafting season is starting earlier and earlier, and flows have decreased. Average temperatures in Colorado will rise 2 to 5 degrees Farenheit by 2050, according to projections, with increases being most noticeable in the summer. Joe Barsugli of the University of Colorado, who collaborates with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says that Colorado is already seeing increased in temperature. While it isn’t known if precipitation will increase or decrease in the long term, decreased water flows could cause a number of problems. The Idaho House State Affairs Committee agreed to increase the sticker price for canoes and rafts by $20 for in-state boaters, and $4 for outfitters, guides, and out-of-state boaters. The intent is to generate funds to fight the spread of invasive mussels. See story at fox12idaho.com and details on the Idaho Invasive Species Fund at parksandrecreation.idaho.gov and www.agri.state.id.us. The World Wildlife Fund and TRAFFIC, an international NGO that monitors trade of wild plants and animals, say that polar bears are not threatened by trade in their parts, calling into question the U.S. move to have polar bears designated as extremely endangered worldwide. The true threats to polar bears are greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, so trade restrictions would not help the bears. The restrictions do harm the Inuit culture and economy, however.
|
|
||||
|
Copyright © 2010 Guides and Outfitters - All Rights Reserved |
||||||
