Evel Knievel Was A Hunting Guide

As most of you know, Evel Knievel passed away last week and millions of people worldwide are mourning his passing. I was never a huge fan of his but I did sit in awe many times as I watched him perform his over-the-top stunts and wondered to myself what a man was made of that would overcome the fear and cheat death on a regular basis.

I never knew much about the man prior to becoming a stunt man but today I learned something about Mr. Knievel that I thought I would share with readers. This is my way of honoring the passing of Evel Knievel.

*Big Hat Tip to David Robert Crews*

The Joie Chitwood experience may have planted the seed that helped Knievel decide he wanted to be a stuntman, but something happened in 1961 that was equally if not more important in forming the persona that would become “Evel.”

During this period in his life when the young man was trying on many different hats in an attempt to find his calling, Knievel started a hunting outfitting service called Sur-Kill. As a man who always insisted on walking the walk he talked, Knievel found himself right in the middle of a conservation debate between Montana’s hunting guides and outfitters and the National Park Service. There had been a long-standing practice of park rangers slaughtering the excess elk numbers in Yellowstone National Park, giving the meat away to regional Indian tribes, homeless shelters and food banks. In 1961, the Yellowstone herd numbered over 10,000, calling for a drastic reduction of some 5,000 animals.

The guides and outfitters were demanding that the excess elk be transplanted to areas in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, rather than senselessly slaughtered in unsportsmanlike fashion and given away.
Knievel made himself his new profession’s spokesman and hitchhiked from Butte to Washington D.C. – along with a six-point trophy elk antler rack – to protest the cause to the Kennedy administration’s top officials. He was amazed when he found himself on the front page of the Washington Post, his name all over the media and eventually, himself, face to face with JFK’s Administrative Assistant, Mike Manatos and then Secretary of the Interior Stuart Udall. The Department of Interior called off the elk slaughter in Yellowstone and started to transplant the animals to national forest locations in the area shortly after Knievel’s trip to the Capitol. A massive elk rack and an even greater amount of self-confidence and guts got Knievel into America’s executive offices and his cause the attention it demanded.

Tom Remington

Statement Of The Year

I laughed until I fell out of my chair yesterday when I read an article in the Billings Gazette about a judge who has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider putting the sage grouse on the endangered species list. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill made this decision after reviewing previous information that was used by former USFWS employee Julie MacDonald who has been accused of using strong-arm tactics among other things to keep some areas not declared critical habitat for certain wildlife species. Habitat for the sage grouse was declared not critical by MacDonald.

So, let me explain what was so funny. I’m not going to get into the debate about the sage grouse but what was funny was a quote written in the Billings Gazette that Judge Winmill said.

The judge “makes it very clear that political tampering in what’s supposed to be a science-based decision is wrong,”

When was the last time any decision dealing with the Endangered Species Act was science-based? Is this judge living in a vacuum? I sure wish that these decision could be made based on science and not political agendas. That’s how the ESA is supposed to work but unfortunately wildlife science was tossed out the window several years ago. Now we have lawyers and Disney wildlife managers using their financial backing to strong-arm fish and wildlife in order to achieve their own goals.

Wouldn’t it be nice if just once a judge would rule that science trumps money?

This statement is the first recipient of the Black Bear Blog’s “Pile of Horse Excrement Award”

Tom Remington

Encore Presentation Of Open Air With Tom Remington

Because of demand, today we are going to do an encore presentation of last week’s show where I interviewed Dr. Rex Rammell. Dr. Rammell is seeking the republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by outgoing Sen. Larry Craig. The show will air at 3 p.m.

For all previously aired broadcasts of Open Air With Tom Remington, you can log onto the Skinny Moose Radio website and select any show to listen to.

Tom Remington

U.S. Senate Candidate Rex Rammell Speaks Out On Wolves

Dr. Rex Rammell, a retired rancher and veterinarian now living in Rexburg, Idaho is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Larry Craig at the end of this term. Below is an article written by Dr. Rammell addressing the issue of gray wolves and in particular what the state of Idaho should do in order to save what he calls the “Crown Jewels” of Idaho – the elk, deer and moose herds that in areas where wolves live are in serious trouble.

For more information about Dr. Rammell and the issue of wolves and the abuse of the Endangered Species Act, you can listen to my Skinny Moose Radio interview on Open Air With Tom Remington that I did last week. It’s a great interview and if you haven’t listened to it yet, click here and click on the show dated November 21st, 2007.

Here’s Dr. Rammell’s letter:

The Crown Jewels of the Rockies in Serious Trouble

Idaho became famous for its potatoes, but its real crown jewels are the elk, moose, and deer herds that grace its breathtaking landscapes. Unfortunately, the day is soon approaching when it will be an uncommon sight to find the mountains with any significant numbers of big game.

Those who believed that the reintroduction of wolves would have minimal impacts on the herds need to spend some time in the mountains. According to Idaho Fish and Game some herds are already in serious trouble. Speaking of the low number of calves per cows in the elk herds of the LoLo and Selway zones of the Clearwater the IDF&G stated in 2006, “This level of recruitment is inadequate to sustain natural mortality in the absence of hunting.” The LoLo and the Selway zones are full of wolves.

In an attempt to curtail the low calf recruitment numbers the IDF&G petitioned the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2005 to eliminate 43 wolves under the 10(j) amendment to the endangered species act. Their petition was summarily denied; inconclusive evidence. Meanwhile the wolves continue to multiply and our elk, moose, and deer continue to die.

In 1995, 66 wolves were reintroduced into Central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park. Twelve years later, there are roughly 800 wolves in Idaho with another 800 in Yellowstone and Western Montana. The impact on the northern Yellowstone herd can only be described as catastrophic.

Yellowstone has become a predator’s pit. Uncontrolled the wolf and bear populations have exploded. In 1995, the northern Yellowstone elk herd numbered 19,000 head. Ten years later, after the reintroduction of the wolves, the herd is now under 9,000. In a few years the elk, moose, and deer herds will all but disappear. Idaho, due to its larger area is declining more slowly. However, the numbers are indisputable; the herds in many locations are taking a major hit from the wolves. It is only a matter of time before Idaho’s herds catch up to the Yellowstone herds unless there is a drastic reduction of wolves.

In an attempt to mitigate the damages to the big game herds and the domestic livestock operations, Idaho agreed to a wolf management plan along with Montana and recently Wyoming. According to Steve Nadeau, the large carnivore manager for Idaho, now that the three states have wolf plans, wolves will be delisted in February 2008 and hunting will begin. In the same breath at a recent Anti-Wolf Coalition meeting he admitted 27 environmental groups were lined up with law suits in hand to file for injunctions to the proposed delisting.

The truth is if and when the US Fish and Wildlife service ever delists the wolves for hunting, the states will immediately be stopped by court actions. In the mean time, the wolves will continue to multiply and the big game herds will continue to decline.

What are Idaho’s options? #1. Stay in the wolf plan and wait for the day when the court injunctions are removed, which could take a decade or more, all while the big game herds continue to decline. Or, #2 pull out of the wolf plan and demand the Federal government remove the wolves. And if they won’t, we must! It is time Idaho made a stand to save our crown jewels; the majestic big game herds we have spent decades building.

Rex Rammell

367 Talon Dr.

Rexburg, Idaho 83440

Candidate for the US Senate

Tom Remington

Take A Kid Hunting

By Robert Lane

Bob Lane is a Licensed Master Maine Guide and photographer. He has also guided Caribou Hunters and Fishermen on float trips in Southwest Alaska.

Deer season in Maine is a longstanding tradition marked by cold, frosty mornings, treks through the pre-dawn darkness to a coveted tree stand, a swamp’s edge, or a favorite stand of hardwoods in quest of the elusive whitetail. Lifelong friends share the camaraderie of hunting camp with stories of seasons past, traditional, hearty early morning breakfasts with strong coffee, and enough fat and cholesterol to fuel a skidder. Read more

Recap of Mt Lions In Southwestern Maine

by
A. Sayward Lamb

For several years I have been hearing from several friends and acquaintances, telling me of sightings of the very elusive mountain lions which they have seen personally, or have been told of sightings by their friends. My earliest recollections of sightings were back in the mid-nineteen fifties, when I was living in South Woodstock. My friends, Leon Poland, and Joe Pete Appleby, repeatedly told me of sighting a Mt. Lion that crossed the highway in front of their vehicles on several occasions, just about dusk or shortly after dark, about a quarter of mile from where I resided. Others were reluctant to tell about their sightings for fear of people thinking that they were “crazy” and making up these stories. Read more

My Deer Season Bonus

By Richard L. Julian

The closest I’d come to killing a bear in self-defense happened in 1995. I was deer hunting in Maine. A storm was scheduled to come in that afternoon so we were thinking that the deer might already be in some thick stuff. We hit an area that had been logged 15 years prior and left to grow wild. It was a tangled mess. My buddy and I were attempting to still-hunt through the area about 100 yards apart hoping to kick something to each other. Read more

Through Better Men than I

By Master Sargent Mike Sibley

I can hear their whispers wherever I go. “Control your breathing, concentrate on the blade, and squeeze.” “Feel your way along with your toes instead of watching your feet.” “Work your way down through that black-growth and you’ll find ‘em in that stand of beech.” So persistent are they that I sympathize with a schizophrenic who feels as if he’s never alone. Unlike him, my voices are not a psychotic delusion created by chemical imbalances crying out for the saving grace of lithium. Real men spoke those words and no amount of time or distance will ever silence them. They are my last connection to a past that I crave but know I’ll never see. They define the man who hears them. And I pray they shape the lives of my sons. Read more

Nine Survival Tips if Ever Lost in the Woods

By Steven T. Remington

We all enjoy getting out in the woods and searching for game. Our thoughts of coming up victorious are in the forefront of our minds throughout the season, but are we prepared for the worst case scenerio? Usually the times when we are unprepared is when we least expect it. Make sure you hope for the best experiences while at the same time expect the worst. Below are 9 basic survival tips when lost in the woods. If you remember these tips your chances of survival will increase dramatically if ever you become lost while in the woods.

1) Stay Together!
DO NOT separate if you are with a friend or even a pet. A friend or a dog can provide body heat for one another in colder temperatures. You are able to cuddle up and stay warm. Do not let a dog loose, but keep them close by. Companionship is also important. A lot of times people act strange while alone and lost and are quicker to make irrational decisions. You and your friend have a better chance of surviving by keeping each other in check and bouncing ideas off each other.

2) Stay in one place or area.
DO NOT WANDER! This is the most important rule. If you can walk away from reading this list and are able to remember just one of these survival tips, please remember this one. When you wander around you are almost impossible to find. The reason is that those searching for missing people move very slowly while searching for clues and if you are constantly on the move then it becomes difficult to catch up to you. Sometimes surviving depends on hours, or even minutes. Another reason for not wandering is the great possibility of falling and getting hurt. When you are lost and then become hurt you can become hopeless and it is quite a tragic event.

3) Keep Warm.
Keep warm with the clothes you are currently wearing. Never shed any clothes! Look for exposed skin such as fingers, neck, and even your face. Try to find ways to cover these parts even if they don’t feel cold at the time. This strategy is not to “become” warm BUT to “remain” warm. If you are wearing a jacket, make sure it stays zipped. Though you may feel more warm than desirable the heat may save your life in near future encounters with changing weather temperatures and conditions.

Try to keep moving by collecting brush, branches, and leaves. Later it can be used to stay warm while you sleep. Try not to over exert yourself. The key is to keep moving so you keep your blood flowing through your body so you can remain warm, and at the same time not tire yourself. Make sure to keep your eyes open for any possible searches if you choose any little projects.

A good tip learned the hard way is to watch out for shoe laces. Branches have a tricky way of sticking into the tied laces and undoing them. Double knot your laces. If you lose a shoe for just a few seconds, your toes may never find warmth again until you are found. The most important article of clothing is a hat. If you do not have a hat try to find something that will cover up your head as best as you can. Over 70% of all your body heat escapes through your head.

4) Find a Cozy Waiting Place, Not a Hiding Place.
A cozy waiting place means, a warm place out of the wind and rain but not a place where people searching for you can not see you. Find a large tree and remain still. If you jump into thickets or bushes it is quite possible searchers will walk right by you.

5) Put Out Something Bright.
While you sit and stay warm, put out something bright to make searchers aware of where you are. We don’t expect you to create an entire camp from scratch but make a flag using what you have. Try not to take off any clothes to make your flag. It is important for you to keep your clothes on to remain warm. Some suggestions offered by trained search and rescuers are white paper, money, hair ribbons, a strip from an orange garbage bag, etc.

Also what has helped in past situations is spell the word “HELP” or “SOS” on the ground using rocks and sticks or even make a large arrow with them, pointing to where you are. Do anything that will attract attention to where you are.

6) Look For Searchers.
In previous situations people who become lost give up hope and forget people are searching for them. Always expect searchers to be coming and begin looking for them. If possible, your waiting place should be near an open space. When you hear someone coming, move to the middle of the clearing and call. Never run in the direction of the noise. Let them come to you. If it is an aircraft you heard, lie down so the pilot has a bigger target to look at. Then wave with both your arms and legs, like making an angel in the snow. Stand up immediately after the aircraft has passed because the ground can be very cold.

7) Do Not Lie on the Bare Ground.
The only exception to this rule is when an aircraft is flying above you, so laying on the cold ground for a very short period of time, attracting attention, will be more beneficial. Being in direct contact with the ground for any length of time is dangerous. The cold ground will steal your body heat from you. Build a mattress using available materials such as branches, moss, leaves, etc. Try to make the mattress as thick as the one you sleep on at home! After the mattress is completed, gather the same amount or more, of the same material and use it for the blankets. This is called a survival bed.

Do Not Eat Anything you are not sure of.
Do not eat any berries, mushrooms or anything else unless you are 100% sure what they are. Being hungry is not as bad as compared with being violently sick. Even field experts have made mistakes by not properly identifying wild berries. In turn, this can be fatal. If it doesn’t directly kill you, it can inhibit your chances of staying warm, being found, and making rational decisions. And remember, there won’t be anyone there to look after you. You can go without food for a long time, but you cannot go without water.

9) Stay Away from Large Rivers and Lakes.
You must have drinking water to survive, but be careful where you get it from. Do not go near any large bodies of water. Instead, drink from a water supply that is smaller than you are, so you can not fall in. Another source of water can be found on leaves in the form of dew.

By Steven T Remington

Turkey Hunting Tip for the Beginner

When and How Often to Call
By Scott Ellis
My name is Scott Ellis. I am a member of the Crossroads Cabin (fullstrut). I am also a member of Quaker Boy Game Calls Pro Staff.

The best two tips I can offer to the new turkey hunter is one: Practice your calls regularly and become proficient in more than one type of call. Also, be sure to gain confidence in your calling ability. Nothing is worse than a “newbie” out in the woods that is afraid to talk with a gobbler because his calling lacks confidence.

The second tip is to learn when and how much to call. This is something that a hunter will learn in time but a good rule of thumb is if the bird is coming, shut up!! Overcalling is probably the number one reason rookies don’t bag toms. In addition if you know anyone that has been successful hunting and taking turkeys, pick their brain for knowledge, or better yet take to the field with them and see what makes them successful. You can learn more from one hunting trip with a good turkey hunter than many a seasons a field by yourself.

If you have any other questions my email address is Proturkeyhntr@aol.com - I would be more than happy to answer any questions your readers may have via email…

Thanks!!!
Scott Ellis
Quaker Boy Pro Staff

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