March, 2008 - Wildlife Management Pro

Oklahoma Wildlife Youth Camp

Youth interested in attending the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s annual Wildlife Youth Camp still have time to apply, and those that attend may just discover a future career.

Held at Oklahom University’s Biological Station near Lake Texoma, the camp is open to Oklahoma youths ages 14 to 16 and is designed to increase awareness of protecting and managing Oklahoma’s wildlife resources, but participants over the years have even found the camp beneficial in helping choose a wildlife-related career for their future. Prime examples include Spencer Grace and Robin Pugh, both game wardens for the Wildlife Department who also attended the very first Department Youth Camp as teenagers 10 years ago. Continue reading Oklahoma Wildlife Youth Camp

Mule Kills Mountain Lion – Photos

Mule kills mountain lion

You may or may not have seen this before, but I received these photos in an email regarding a couple of people hunting in Montana when one of their mules actually killed a mountain lion. Now mules are commonly used to protect herds of goats and flocks of sheep, but no one really expected this!

Here is how the story goes:

A couple from Montana were out riding on the range, he with his rifle and she (fortunately) with her camera. Their dogs always followed them, but on this occasion a mountain lion decided that he wanted to stalk the dogs (you’ll see the dogs in the background watching). This turned out to be a very bad decision for the cat.

The hunter got off the mule with his rifle and decided to shoot in the air to scare away the lion, but before he could get off a shot the lion charged in and decided he wanted a piece of those dogs. With that, the mule took off and decided he wanted a piece of that lion. That’s when
all hell broke loose… for the lion.

As the lion approached the dogs the mule snatched him up by the tail and started whirling him around. Banging its head on the ground on every pass. Then he dropped it, stomped on it and held it to the ground by the throat. The mule then got down on his knees and bit the thing all over a couple of dozen times to make sure it was dead, than whipped it into the air again, walked back over to the couple (that were stunned in silence) and stood there ready to continue his! ride.. as if nothing had just happened.

Fortunately, even though the hunter didn’t get off a shot, his wife got off these 4 photos!

Sumbit Photos to Outdoor Oklahoma

Oklahomans with a digital camera and an interest in the outdoors may just see their work published in this years Annual Reader’s Photography Showcase edition of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine but they better act fast. Submissions will no longer be accepted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation after March 31. Last year’s competition marked the first all digital Reader’s Photography Showcase.

“We are encouraging everybody who enjoys the outdoors in Oklahoma to make a submission this year,” said Nels Rodefeld, editor of Outdoor Oklahoma. “Photos can be of anything related to the outdoor heritage in Oklahoma, such as shots of wildlife, birds, insects, landscape and people enjoying hunting and angling trips or even watching bird feeders in their own backyards. We just want to see how people participate in Oklahoma’s great outdoors.”

Continue reading Sumbit Photos to Outdoor Oklahoma

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy

Wind Energy

Wind energy offers many advantages, which explains why it’s the fastest-growing energy source in the world. Research efforts are aimed at addressing the challenges to greater use of wind energy.

Advantages

Wind energy is fueled by the wind, so it’s a clean fuel source. Wind energy doesn’t pollute the air like power plants that rely on combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas. Wind turbines don’t produce atmospheric emissions that cause acid rain or greenhouse gasses.

Wind energy is a domestic source of energy, produced in the United States. The nation’s wind supply is abundant. Continue reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy

Profits Take Priority Over Property Rights

Profits Over Property Rights

Once I thought that with proper laws and setbacks wind turbines could play a limited role in our area, but now I see the true wind damage: eminent domain, the poster child for wind power. Property rights are the heart of the issue. Can rights to profit of a few trump the rights of many? Do wind power supporters sanctify the seizure of people’s private property to make a project feasible?

Transmission lines will be needed for the Galloo and all the proposed wind projects. Seems that in making a project feasible, energy companies get a legal right to confiscate your land against your will for transmission lines. This gives them total power over our property rights and our private property. Continue reading Profits Take Priority Over Property Rights

Climate Change and the Impact on Texas Water

Texas River

This timely conference will take a look at what we know about climate change and what we need to know to prepare for the effects on Texas water availability, and on the communities, both natural and human, that depend on reliable sources of water.

Over the three days, Forecast: Climate Change impacts on Texas Water 2008, will highlight national climate change scientists who have conducted cutting-edge work in the prediction of global warming and the impending changes on the earth’s climate. It will also highlight climatologists and scientists who are working to understand what these impacts mean to Texas and our water resources. Continue reading Climate Change and the Impact on Texas Water

2008 Photographer-Landowner Symposium

Spring flower

2008 Photographer/Landowner Symposium: Ranch Nature Photography For Fun And Profit Images for Conservation Fund (ICF) and Texas Agrilife Extension, in conjunction with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department present Nature Photography Symposium: Ranch Nature Photography for Fun and Profit to unite landowners and photographers in the new enterprise of Private Land Nature Photo Tourism for Conservation.

The Saturday, March 29th Symposium will be held at Texas A&M Kingsville. For more info, go here.