Posted in Big game hunting, Ecology, Hunting, Mountain lions, Wildlife habitat, Yosemite National Park, mule deer, outdoors, wildlife conservation, wildlife management, tagged Add new tag, Yosemite National Park on June 23, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Researchers in Oregon have concluded, after extensive research, that prey species have a fear of predators and that prey species move away from their mortal enemies in an effort to survive. They have also concluded that this natural system has an important relationship to the success of other plant and animal life.
Impressive conclusion?
Interesting how a bit of [...]
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On September 11, 2001 Rob and I were packed and ready to fly to Fairbanks. As we approached Oakland Airport, we came to realize that our trip would be delayed. It was four or five days later that we finally boarded a different plane and flew to Fairbanks.
Our trip was to be a self guided [...]
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Posted in Big game hunting, Ecology, Hunting, Wildlife habitat, legislation, mule deer, outdoors, wildlife, wildlife conservation, wildlife management, tagged wildlife conservation on June 11, 2008 | 1 Comment »
SB1172 creates California Fish and Game Commission oversight over expenditure of funds generated from sale of all tags and stamps issued for take of big game animals in California including funds generated from Fundraising Tags, deer, elk, bear, sheep, antelope and pig tags as well as upland game bird stamps.
This video shows the testimony of Senator Dutton [...]
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Another Bay Area endangered butterfly is the callippe silverspot. The reason for its decline is clear. Its habitat is grasslands in San Francisco and other cities surrounding San Francisco Bay.
In the Livermore Hills we find a variety of callippe butterfly that is similar. As with the callippe silverspot, this callippe butterfly is associated with violets [...]
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This is a photo of a chalcedon checkerspot butterfy. The photo was taken by Rob Fletcher on May 28, 2008 in the hills south of Livermore.
May is the time when the butterflies are out at the ranch. A different (from the one in the photo) species of checkerspot, the bay checkerspot, is closely associated with serpentine soils. Some soils [...]
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Posted in Big game hunting, Hunting, Wildlife habitat, mule deer, wildlife, wildlife conservation, wildlife management, tagged Add new tag, boar hunting, Conservation, Deer hunting on May 24, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The Mule Deer Foundation is an active member of the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, sponsor of State Senate Bill 1172.
COHA has announced that SB1172 has passed the State Senate with a 39-0 vote. The bill must now pass through the State Assembly and the Governor’s office to become law.
Below is a news release from [...]
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Looks like ethanol production is causing more than just a shortage of corn for cattle feed. Not only is the price of gas going up, but so is the price of food. Increased food prices means more corn and wheat production this year.
These prices are good for farmers, in fact they may be too good [...]
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Saw a pair of fawns yesterday. First of the year for me. Whenever I see my first fawn of the season, I can’t help but count back to the date it was conceived. I’ve been told that the blacktail gestation period is about 7 months. Various internet sites say it’s about 200 days. That sounds [...]
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Posted in Ecology, Endangered species, Hunting, Land Ownership, Wildlife habitat, blacktail deer, deer, outdoors, wildlife conservation, wildlife management on April 19, 2008 | No Comments »
Our Alameda County ranch, like most ranches, has a variety of habitat types - oak woodland, oak grassland, riparian and chaparral. One thing that’s clear to me is that the effects one can have upon habitat in the hills are more subtile than the results one sees on valley farm ground. Our delta property responds quickly and [...]
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In my perfect world, everybody would be a hunter.
It is interesting to imagine how our lives would be changed if everybody hunted. There are many effects that such a change would have on our collective psyche, and also the habitat around us.
At a time when space is at a premium, it is interesting to theorize [...]
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