By JIM MATTHEWS

www.OutdoorNewsService.com

Here’s more hypocrisy from the radical environmentalist community.

The usually ultra-liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals actually upheld Congress’ power to order wolves removed from Endangered Species Act protection when it added a rider to the budget bill approved in April last year.

Of course, this caused an uproar with the extreme enviros and was challenged repeatedly in court.

All Congress effectively did was mandate what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists who had been in charge of relocating and monitoring the wolves have said for several years now: the wolves were recovered and management should be turned back over to the states.

But according to the environmental fringe, returning management back over to professional biologists in the states will be the beginning of an assault on wolves that will result in their total destruction. Again.

Does anyone else here in California find this at least mildly amusing?

Most of these same people were shouting for the resignation of Dan Richards, the president of the California Fish and Game Commission, because he legally hunted for a mountain lion in Idaho. Their rationale for his resignation was simple: Hunting lions has been illegal in California since 1972 because of legislative and initiative decrees. They said he was defying “the will of the people.”

But when “the will of the people,” though our elected officials in Washington, D.C., goes against their viewpoint on how wolves should be non-managed, they are outraged. USFWS biologists, Congress, and President Obama are all wrong on wolf management, according to these people. These fringe folks, who are taking over the environmental movement, are really the people who have been defying the will of the general public since their very first lawsuits were filed on how wolves and mountain lions were being managed by wildlife professionals.

To them, this is all about their hatred of hunting and use of hunting as a management tool to maintain wildlife populations at healthy, stable levels.

It’s getting a little tedious for me because they don’t even have the best interest of mountain lions or wolves at heart. And they certainly don’t care about people or our “will.” It is about imposing their world view on the rest of us. And I’m not just talking about hunters here, but all people who really care about wildlife.

I may have pointed out these two facts before, but they are worth repeating.

-- During the last two legal hunting seasons for mountain lions in California in 1970 and 1971, there were an average of 59 per cats per year killed. Since 1990, the year Proposition 117 passed banning the hunting of lions in California, an average of 92 cats per year are killed on depredation permits. So how has banning DFG management and sport hunting of cats helped the population? Or saved cats? It hasn’t. The only thing it did was ban public hunting and remove a revenue stream (tag sales) used for wildlife work. (More here on this topic.)

-- Wolf sport hunting and trapping, as it’s done today in Idaho, Montana, and (mostly likely this year) in Wyoming will never put a serious dent in the wolf population. First, the quotas set by the game managers are too low to even hold the population as its current level. According to the USFWS, the wolf population increased by three percent in 2011 to nearly 1,800 wolves in 287 packs with 109 breeding pairs. The USFWS biologists say this is a minimum population, and the actual numbers are probably 15 to 25 percent higher. This population growth is in spite of the removal of 487 wolves from the population, 166 by agencies killing wolves preying on livestock and 321 taken by legal hunters in Idaho and Montana. The number killed is probably an underestimate because so many Westerners believe in the shoot-shovel-shut up wolf management model.

Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said, “most of the suitable [wolf] habitat is now occupied and likely at or above long-term carrying capacity. This population has exceeded recovery goals for 10 consecutive years.

“Wolves are a resilient and resourceful species, and we’ve worked with the states to ensure that they retain sufficient protections within their core habitat. They’ve demonstrated a remarkable ability to reproduce and thrive in this habitat despite years of high mortality rates,” wrote Ashe this week in a guest commentary for the Billings Gazette.

Ashe is basically saying two things: First, wolves are having an impact on their prey base because (in some areas) there are too many wolves. This validates what many wildlife enthusiasts and hunters have been saying about elk and moose numbers where wolf numbers are highest: the big predators have reduced the population of these species. Second, he’s saying the population will continue to expand its range outside of the greater Yellowstone and central Idaho regions.  Wolves are being displaced from those core areas, and they are showing up in Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and even here in California. Those new populations will also grow.

Wolves are back in the West to stay. The environmental extremists need to stay out of the picture and leave the management to the professionals at the state and federal wildlife agencies or we could end up with a wolf debacle like the one we have here in California with mountain lions.

END


OUTDOOR CALENDAR -- 14mar12

MARCH 16-18 WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE WORK PROJECT: Volunteers are needed for the Mojave Desert Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group’s work party from Friday through Sunday, March 16-18. Spearheaded by Cliff McDonald, the work party will restore guzzlers in the Old Woman Mountains south of Interstate 40 in the East Mojave. Morning and evening meals will be provided to volunteers. Future dates for guzzler repair projects in this area are April 13-15, May 18-20, and June 8-10. For more information contact Cliff McDonald at 928-788-4107 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
MARCH 17-18 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes four days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $20 per person, but each student who passes the course receives a $20 Bass Pro Gift Card. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
MARCH 17 WEST VALLEY FRIENDS OF NRA FUND-RAISER: The West Valley Friends of the National Rifle Association will have its annual fund-raising dinner banquet beginning 6 p.m., Saturday, March 17, at the Central Park Center, 11200 Baseline Rd., Rancho Cucamonga. Dinner tickets start at $50. For more information contact Steve Gomez at 909-560-6000 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
MARCH 22-25 FRED HALL DEL MAR SHOW: The Fred Hall Show, the West Coast’s premier fishing, boating, hunting, travel and outdoor adventure show, will be held March 22-25 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This is the one of the two largest sports shows held in Southern California, with hundreds of exhibitors and non-stop seminars and shows. Admission to the Hall Show is $15 for adults, $14 for military and seniors, and kids are free. For more information, go to www.fredhall.com or call 805-389-3339.
MARCH 24 SAN GABRIEL QUAIL UNLIMITED FUND-RAISER BANQUET: The San Gabriel Chapter of Quail Unlimited will be having its annual fund-raising banquet beginning 5:30 p.m., Saturday, March 24 at the Oak Tree Room, 1150 Colorado Blvd., Arcadia. Tickets are $85 each or $120 per couple. Special shotgun raffle is a Winchester Model 101 field. For information, call 866-206-9070.
MARCH 24-25 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The next dates for the Bakersfield gun shows are May 5-6, June 16-17, Aug. 25-26, and Nov. 17-18. For information, call 805-481-6726 or go to www.centralcoastgunshows.com.
MARCH 24-25 COSTA MESA GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Costa Mesa Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Orange County Fair and Event Center (Orange County Fairgrounds), Costa Mesa. Admission is $10. The next Costa Mesa show will be June 2-3. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons are available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
APRIL 7-8 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes four days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $20 per person, but each student who passes the course receives a $20 Bass Pro Gift Card. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
April 13-15 WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE WORK PROJECT: Volunteers are needed for the Mojave Desert Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group’s work party from Friday through Sunday, April 13-15. Spearheaded by Cliff McDonald, the work party will restore guzzlers in the Old Woman Mountains south of Interstate 40 in the East Mojave. Morning and evening meals will be provided to volunteers. Future dates for guzzler repair projects in this area are May 18-20 and June 8-10. For more information contact Cliff McDonald at 928-788-4107 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .   APRIL 14 RAAHAUGE’S HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The 2012 class dates are May 5, June 16, July 7, Aug. 11, Aug. 18, Aug. 25, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, and Dec. 1. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge’s at 951-735-7981.
APRIL 21 CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL SHOOT AND BARBECUE: The 11th Annual California Waterfowl Southern California Shoot and Barbecue fund-raising event will be held beginning 7 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Triple Bs Clays, 831 North Rosemead Blvd., South El Monte. Cost is $100 per shooter, which included 50 sporting clays, 25 skeet, and 25 trap targets, CWA membership, barbecue, and hat. Non-shooters are $50. For more information, contact Adam Weleba at 805-975-8170.
APRIL 21-22 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES: Bass Pro Shops is offering hunter safety classes four days per month on the first and third full weekends, with classes on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $20 per person, but each student who passes the course receives a $20 Bass Pro Gift Card. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
MAY 5-6 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The next dates for the Bakersfield gun shows are June 16-17, Aug. 25-26, and Nov. 17-18. For information, call 805-481-6726 or go to www.centralcoastgunshows.com.
MAY 8-9 ONTARIO GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Ontario Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario. Admission is $10. The next Ontario gun show will be July 28-29. Information, directions, tickets, and $1 off coupons are available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
MAY 18-20 WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE WORK PROJECT: Volunteers are needed for the Mojave Desert Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group’s work party from Friday through Sunday, May 18-20. Spearheaded by Cliff McDonald, the work party will restore guzzlers in the Old Woman Mountains south of Interstate 40 in the East Mojave. Morning and evening meals will be provided to volunteers. The final guzzler repair project for this year will be June 8-10. For more information, contact Cliff McDonald at 928-788-4107 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CALENDAR RESOURCES
For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state, including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
CALIFORNIA DEER ASSOCIATION (SOUTHERN CALIF0RNIA CHAPTER): The Southern California Chapter of the California Deer Association meets 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact Glenn Tessers at 310-429-5222.
CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site: www.csvca.com.
CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
CONEJO VALLEY BASS CLUB: The Conejo Valley Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Elks Club, Thousand Oaks. Events are the third Saturday. Contact Kevin Gelsinger at 818-951-1630.
DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
GOLDEN STATE FLYCASTERS: The Golden State Flycasters and Trout Unlimited Chapter 920 meets 6 to 9 p.m. Monday before the third Thursday of each month at Tio Leo’s Restaurant, Del Mar. Information at www.goldenstateflycasters.org.
HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Information at hidesertflyfishers.com/wordpressblog/.
HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (High Desert Chapter): The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Road, Victorville. Contact Karen Shackleford at 760-887-1092.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER): The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, 7777 Victoria Gardens Lane, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact David Halbrook at 760-694-1191 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County usually meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Old World German Restaurant, 7561 Central Ave., Huntington Beach. 2011 schedule of meetings: Jan., Feb., Mar., first Wednesday of month, other months first Tuesday. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
QUAIL AND UPLAND WILDLIFE FEDERATION: The Santa Clarita Valley Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation meeting the third Thursday of every month beginning 7:30 p.m. at the Oaktree Gun Club. Contact Derek Fong at 661-297-0876 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site: www.scvquwf.com.
QUAIL FOREVER (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Forever meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Trap tune-up shoots are the first Sunday of each month beginning 9 a.m., also at Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Phil Garo at 760-241-9011 or go to the web site at www.highdesertquailforever.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Hunny’s Restaurant, Main Street and 4th Street, Corona. Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site: www.quriverside.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.sdqu.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
QUAIL UNLIMITED (VENTURA COUNTY CHAPTER): The Ventura County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at Smogie’s Smog Shop, 3940 Market St., Ventura. Contact Till Tocci at 805-659-2226 or 805-981-3426 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Jeff Simonides at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Steve Prough at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The club’s web site is www.tcsportsmen.org.
TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.

[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or e-mail it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Following the style used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the likelihood of it being included here.]
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