This past winter, heavy snows in some parts of the West created major problems for wildlife. Many deer and elk were forced onto highways due to deep snows, leading to heavy mortality. For example, in Nevada, many deer were killed on roads around Reno. Herds of over 100 were seen crossing highways. Once on the roads, deep snows often prevented them from leaving, making auto collisions much more likely. In response to the problem, the highway department posted warnings on portable message boards warning motorists of the dangers.
Meanwhile, Utah officials fed mule deer in two counties where heavy snows were unusually deep. But the elk near Gardiner, Montana, are suffering from another problem -- wolves. Apparently wolves, bears, and mountain lions have hit elk so hard that this year's winter hunt, aimed at cows that leave the park, was reduced from 1,180 to 148. Ever since wolves were introduced into Yellowstone in 1995, elk numbers have slowly but steadily declined. Of course, the problem here is that you can manage the elk, but managing the wolves is an entirely different biological and political problem.
Will Virginia Get Crossbows?
In recent years we've seen Georgia, Alabama, Maryland, and other states adopt some form of crossbow hunting. Apparently Virginia will be the next state to move in that direction. House Bill 2200, which gives authority to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to create a crossbow license, easily passed the Virginia House and Senate and now awaits the Governor's signature. That is almost assured, leading to a state wildlife agency proposal to create the license. Public hearings will address all upcoming regulations changes, including the crossbow issue. A final vote will occur in October. Unless there is more opposition then there was to Bill 2200, the crossbow will become legal in the 2006 archery season.
Check These Court Cases
Idaho law makes it a felony to illegally kill any combination of wildlife species within a 12-month period that has a total assessed value of more than $1,000. The law further notes that the assessment involves killing a trophy big game animal and defines a "trophy" as any big game animal that meets Boone and Crockett standards. In a recent court case a defendant was charged with killing a trophy whitetail after dark using a spotlight. He wanted the charges dropped, stating that the definition of "trophy deer" was vague. Since the officer who measured the deer was certified by Boone and Crockett, and since the measuring methods are standard for all, the court found that the definition was not vague, and, on appeal, the defendant was found guilty.
In another case in Montana, an undercover officer posed as a nonresident hunter. He did so as part of a Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigation of a person acting as an outfitter without a license. After extensive interactions, the defendant helped the officer purchase a resident license. He was charged with guiding without a license and with assisting an unqualified applicant to obtain a resident license. The defendant appealed, stating that the conservation officer was a resident of Montana, and, thus, was not "unqualified" to get a resident license. The court ruled in favor of the defendant on this portion of the charges.
North American Whitetall
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