"When some of my friends have asked me anxiously about their boys, whether they should let them hunt, I have answered, yes - remembering that it was one of the best parts of my education - make them hunters."

Henry David Thoreau, 1854


“A citizen who shirks his duty to contribute to the security of his community is little better than the criminal who threatens it.” - Robert Boatman


Thursday, October 7, 2010

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

HARASSING BIG GAME WITH AIRCRAFT IS ILLEGAL, UNETHICAL

MONTROSE, Colo. -- As the big game rifle seasons approach, hunters are getting out in the field for some on-the-ground scouting. Unfortunately, not all scouting activity is done on the ground -- some types of scouting are unethical and may even be illegal.

Some hunters and guides scout for animals using aircraft -- planes, helicopters and ultra-lights. While not all scouting that is done from the air is illegal, the manner in which it is done could lead to violation of federal and state laws. The Colorado Division of Wildlife is asking for help from anyone who suspects that aircraft are being used improperly in the pursuit of big game.

"Scouting an area from the air well before the season starts is not illegal," explained Renzo DelPiccolo, area wildlife manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife in Montrose. "But we have seen and have had reports that aircraft are being used to harass animals so that they move into a specific area. That type of activity is illegal."

The federal Airborne Hunting Act prohibits hunting or harassing animals from aircraft. Anyone convicted of that activity can be fined and sentenced to a year in jail.

DOW regulations prohibit using aircraft for hunting, for directing and communicating with hunters on the ground, and for hunters on the ground to take directions from someone in an airplane. State rules also prohibit hunting in an area the same day or the day aft er a scouting flight was made. The penalties can include a fine of $2,000 and 15 penalty points.

"Hunting for large trophy animals is big business. Unfortunately, there are some people who will behave in an unethical or illegal fashion when there is a lot of money at stake," DelPiccolo said.

Airborne scouting activity would probably not be apparent to a non-hunter. But hunters and people who live near big game wildlife herds might notice unusual flight patterns by aircraft that could indicate animals are being harassed or herded into an area.

Anyone who suspects that aircraft are being used illegally should contact the nearest DOW office or call Operation Game Thief at 1-877-265-6648.

Pilots who are taking to the air to scout for clients should first contact the DOW to talk about regulations.

"The North America hunting model is based on the concept of 'fair chase' for the animal," DelPiccolo said. "It's important that hunters and guides live by that ethic."

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

Concealed Permits up 43% in Pueblo

I sniped a couple of paragraphs from the Pueblo Chieftain for the information included


The surge is because of the 2008 election of Democratic President Barack Obama and, according to gun advocates, his track record on gun issues and the threat they say he possess to the Second Amendment right to bear arms."I think the election was the catalyst to the hysteria. That and a lot of misinformation about concealed handguns," said Taylor, a Democrat who said he's a "strong" supporter of the Second Amendment.

Two examples Taylor offered on the misconception of state gun laws is possessing a gun in a vehicle and the regular carrying of a firearm.

"People think you need a concealed handgun permit to carry a gun in your car. By law, you can carry a gun in your car because it's an extension of your house," he said.

"Colorado is also an open-carry state, which means you can openly carry a firearm, except in places where it's prohibited, like the courthouse and schools. Now, if you walk down the street with a .45 strapped to your leg, that doesn't mean a citizen isn't going to call you in to the police, but you can openly carry a firearm in Colorado."

To read the entire article at Chieftain.com click in the article above

Monday, October 4, 2010

Scores from APG IDPA Match 10/2/2010

Here they are all concise and posted at Scribd. Check it out by clicking on any part of this post.



Questions or comments:

Joseph W. Olt, Jr., Director

Action Pistol Group IDPA
P.O. Box 1421
Grand Junction CO 81502

(970) 243-1155
(970) 243-1177 FAX

joltlaw@fone.net E-mail