TRCP News

1. Celebrate the T.R. Sesquicentennial, Exercise Your Right to Vote
   
2. Season Premiere of TRCP’s Life in the Open Airs This Saturday
3. Craig Mathews, TRCP Release “Bully Bugger”
4. TRCP Takes a Stand on Irresponsible Energy Development in Wyoming
5. Comment Period on Colorado Roadless Rule Ends This Month
6. TRCP Convenes Summit on New Open Fields Program
7. Legislation Introduced to Combat Fish Habitat Decline
8. AFWA Honors Dale Hall for Lifetime of Service
9. TRCP’s Franklin Elected to Sustainable Forestry Initiative Board
   
   

1. Celebrate the T.R. Sesquicentennial, Exercise Your Right to Vote
   
   

   “The government is us; we are the government, you and I.” - Theodore Roosevelt
   

   T.R. speaking to a crowd. Photo courtesy: LOC

   T.R. had it right: Our government is what we make of it. The most fundamental action Americans can take to shape the course of our nation’s policies is to vote. The ballot box provides each of us the power to hold our elected officials accountable for decisions made on our behalf.

   In that spirit of civic responsibility, the TRCP wants to ensure you have the information you need to register to vote and exercise this important right on Election Day. When more hunters and anglers participate in the electoral process, conservation of fish and wildlife habitat and access to sporting opportunities will benefit.

   The National Mail Voter Registration Form Web site was created by the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission to help voters. By simply following your state-specific instructions on the Web site, you can easily print, complete and submit the application to your appropriate state office. It only takes a few minutes but will prepare you to exercise your fundamental right as a citizen this Nov. 4.

   As T.R.’s 150th birthday approaches and we honor this great man and his legacy, we must remember his respect for “the man in the arena,” the person who takes action. Do not pass up your chance to vote, one of the most important actions you can take as an American.

   
   

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2. Season Premiere of TRCP’s Life in the Open This Saturday at Noon E

   "TRCP's Life in the Open" Host Ken Barrett starts his adventure in Quebec.

   Join host Ken Barrett as he travels to Quebec in search of caribou and brook trout in the season premiere of TRCP’s Life in the Open on Saturday, Oct. 4, at noon EDT on VERSUS Country. Following the premiere, the series will air every Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern with encore airings each Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern.

   Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, TRCP’s Life in the Open explores today’s pressing fish and wildlife issues while taking you to some of the best hunting and fishing destinations that also are accessible and affordable. Barrett will transport you from your living room into the wild to pursue fast-flying birds and stealthy big game in inspiring destinations across the United States and beyond. Some of this season’s features include ducks in Uruguay, whitetails in Illinois, elk in Colorado, mule deer in Wyoming and even an old-fashioned squirrel hunt in south Georgia. Every hunter and angler will find something to enjoy this season on TRCP’s Life in the Open.

   Don’t miss any TRCP’s Life in the Open adventures. View the complete schedule. Find your VERSUS Country channel number.

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3. Craig Mathews, TRCP Release “Bully Bugger”

In honor of the 150th birthday of Theodore Roosevelt, famed guide and fly tyer Craig Mathews and the TRCP are teaming to introduce a new twist on the timeless Woolly Bugger – the “Bully Bugger.”

“Throughout his life, T.R. hunted way more than he fished,” says TRCP President and CEO George Cooper, “but things might have been different if he’d had the Bully Bugger.”

“The Bully Bugger was inspired by Roosevelt’s patriotism and flair,” says Mathews, whose Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, Mont., has outfitted countless anglers for success on the water. “Heck, they’ve even got the same prescription,” he quips, referring to the wire-rimmed spectacles donned by both the 26th president and the Bully Bugger.



Mathews will tie a limited edition of only 150 Bully Buggers. Of these, 149 Bully Buggers will be mounted in hand-made wooden shadowboxes and presented to TRCP partners who donate $150 or more to the TRCP. “Bully Bugger #1,” the first in the series, will be auctioned at www.ebay.com starting on Dec.1. Visit our Web site for more information.

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4. TRCP Takes a Stand on Irresponsible Energy Development in Wyoming


With its goal the responsible development of public-lands energy resources, the TRCP recently filed formal protests of a broad land-use plan for Wyoming’s Upper Green River Basin, near Pinedale, and an Oct. 7 federal energy lease sale, also in Wyoming. Both actions continue the TRCP’s advocacy for common-sense fish and wildlife management and hunting and fishing traditions on America’s public lands.

The Pinedale resource management plan, or RMP, paints a grim future for conservation in America. The federal government’s proposal for the region lacks proactive measures for habitat management in the Upper Green River Basin, an area known for its world-class fish and wildlife resources. The Bureau of Land Management oversees the 1.2 million acres encompassed by the Pinedale RMP, a plan that is distinct from the recently released Pinedale record of decision, or ROD, which presents a project-specific decision regarding how development of the Pinedale Anticline natural gas project will proceed on approximately 300,000 acres.

A well near the Upper Green River.

The Pinedale RMP includes federally prescribed management actions for wildlife that fail to conform to current, peer-reviewed science. The ramifications of this failure are twofold – one, important habitat for big game and sage grouse will suffer and these species’ populations will decline and, two, the multiple-use mandate that the BLM is required to follow to is being ignored. And American hunters and anglers will be among the first to experience the impacts.

Based on this federal plan, game animals in the Upper Green River Basin are afforded no assurances for the future. Large blocks of habitat and wildlife are protected only if no oil and gas are discovered, and criteria for reducing habitat protections are not identified. Compounding the well-documented, dramatic reductions in mule deer on winter range in the Pinedale project area, this plan assumes an annual 2-percent decline in mule deer hunting for the larger region. Essentially, the Pinedale RMP is a plan for industrialization of the Upper Green, not a plan for conservation of its resources for the future.

“Overall, the Pinedale plan ignores a wealth of scientific information and a range of state and federal guidelines for fish and wildlife management,” stated Dr. Rollin Sparrowe, a TRCP board member and past president of The Wildlife Society. “President Bush’s executive order on hunting? The Wyoming governor’s sage grouse implementation strategy? The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s mule deer plan? U.S. Forest Service planning documents? None are mentioned in this plan, and all should influence how the BLM manages the public’s lands and resources.”

Similar concerns for Wyoming’s game populations and sporting traditions spurred the TRCP protest of one of the largest BLM energy lease sales in the state’s history. Approximately 190,000 acres of sage grouse habitat and big-game migration corridors and winter range comprise the TRCP protest. Energy development in these areas would affect public lands and hunting and fishing throughout the state.

Clearly we have reached a watershed moment for energy development, not just in Wyoming. The federal government is pushing a blueprint for development that fails to address the needs of fish and wildlife and dismisses the interests of public-lands users. The Pinedale RMP is a prime example of how not to pursue energy projects on our public lands, yet this plan is being promoted as the model for future projects.

Learn more about the TRCP’s actions on the Pinedale Anticline.

Keep on fighting for sportsmen’s interests in public land energy development. Consider making a donation to the TRCP and help ensure that energy development is balanced with our hunting and fishing traditions.

Want to join other hunters and anglers working for responsible development?

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5. Comment Period on Colorado Roadless Rule Ends This Month;
T.R. Advocates on Behalf of Sportsmen, Responsible Backcountry Management

Horses and riders enjoy Pagoda Peak Inventoried Roadless Area. Photo credit: Jason Gilsinger, High Lonesome Outfitter and Guides

More than a century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt played an instrumental role in creating Colorado’s extensive public lands system. Between 1903 and 1909, Roosevelt worked to establish a network of national forest lands in the state, making it possible for all sportsmen, regardless of social stature, to use and enjoy these rich game habitats and stunning landscapes.

Since then, the state’s big-game herds have experienced dramatic changes, once approaching extirpation but later rebounding to the plentiful numbers seen today. Due in large part to contributions by sportsmen and the leadership of visionaries like Roosevelt, Colorado now enjoys the highest elk and mule deer populations of any state in the country.

President Roosevelt (OK, a T.R. impersonator) visited Colorado recently to advocate with sportsmen on behalf of Colorado’s roadless areas and their responsible management. Along with the president, TRCP staff attended the series of public meetings convened by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to preview the draft Colorado roadless rule, which will establish guidelines for the future administration of the state’s national forest backcountry.

Colorado’s roadless rule-making process began in 2007, when Gov. Bill Ritter submitted a petition to promulgate a federal rulemaking process by the state of Colorado and the USFS. The governor has publicly stated that he intends conservation measures in the Colorado rule to be largely consistent with those in the 2001 rule. But in July 2008, the USFS released a draft Colorado roadless rule riddled with loopholes and exceptions allowing substantial development in prime backcountry habitats.

Problems with the Colorado roadless rule lie in its details. For example, entire roadless areas could be logged, supposedly to reduce wildfire threats, rather than focusing such efforts near communities. Massive power line corridors could be routed through the backcountry instead of on lands already developed. Approximately 70,000 backcountry acres could be opened to road building, and natural gas pads could be installed in sensitive roadless areas where less-invasive directional drilling would be more appropriate. All of these actions could dramatically affect game populations and hunting and fishing opportunities.

Since the plan’s release, sportsmen have been intensifying criticism of the rule and its effects on prime fish and wildlife habitat. Fortunately, the Colorado rule is still in draft form. Its flaws can be corrected. By acting now to right the wrongs of the draft Colorado roadless rule, Gov. Ritter and the USFS can ensure that Colorado’s backcountry traditions and millions of acres of public lands enjoy a secure future.

“As a third-generation Coloradan and lifelong sportsman, I was galvanized to attend the Forest Service meetings reviewing the draft Colorado roadless rule,” said TRCP Field Representative Jason Sorter, “and I was honored to meet with hunters and anglers all over the state who care deeply about the future of our backcountry, the exceptional fish and wildlife habitat it sustains and the outdoor traditions it supports. By raising our voices together, we can ensure that sportsmen’s concerns are addressed in the final plan for management of Colorado’s roadless areas.”

The comment period for the draft Colorado rule closes on October 23, 2008. Stay tuned for an upcoming TRCP actiongram enabling you to directly comment to the U.S. Forest Service on the Colorado rule. Take a moment now to contact Gov. Ritter and make sure that sportsmen’s values are represented in the management of Colorado’s backcountry.

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6. TRCP Convenes Summit on New Open Fields Program


To maximize the program’s benefit, the TRCP will convene a summit on the new Open Fields program to facilitate a discussion among USDA officials, state wildlife agencies and conservation organizations on Oct. 13-14 at the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation in Dundee, Ill. This program will provide $50 million in federal funds to assist states in expanding their voluntary hunter access programs. State agencies will hear directly from USDA representatives regarding plans for the new program and provide instant feedback on the needs and challenges unique to their states. This summit also will include a workshop for states currently without an access program to discuss how to start a fledgling program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been drafting new rules that will govern how the program is implemented and the monies are distributed. State agencies are anxiously anticipating the opportunity to utilize these resources. The TRCP and the rest of the sporting community have a keen interest in ensureing this program’s success. Not only will Open Fields translate into increased access to hunting and fishing opportunities, but a high demand for these funds could mean increases in funding for the program in the future.

Protecting Open Fields Still a Priority

Even as plans to implement Open Fields are devised, vigilance against raids on the program’s funding still are a necessity. Just months after Open Fields was passed, its funding has been targeted by the White House’s recently released supplemental budget request for fiscal year 2009. The proposed plan would strip Open Fields of all funding before it even has a chance to get started.

On behalf of sportsmen and conservationists, the TRCP organized a letter to key policymakers in Washington supporting full funding for Open Fields. We are pleased that 37 national and regional hunting, angling and conservation organizations signed the letter. We will continue to monitor this situation and keep you updated on this issue in the coming weeks.

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7. Legislation Introduced to Combat Fish Habitat Decline


In September, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Christopher Bond (R-Mo.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio) introduced in the U.S. Senate the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act of 2008, a comprehensive strategy to allocate conservation dollars for effective restoration of our national waterways.



“The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act … will revolutionize how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approaches fish habitat conservation.  With 40 percent of our fish populations in decline and half of our waters impaired, the current fragmented approach to fish habitat protection and preservation has clearly not worked,” said Sen. Lieberman. “This bill encourages collaborative regional conservation efforts that bring together federal government agencies, state and local governments, conservation groups, fishing industry groups and businesses.

Conservation Status of Imperiled North American Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes

This legislation comes at a critical time. According to a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), nearly 40 percent of fish species in North American streams, rivers and lakes are in jeopardy. The report, published in Fisheries, was produced by a USGS-led team of scientists that examined the status of continental freshwater fish and offers the most detailed evaluation performed in the last 20 years. The 700 fishes now listed as imperiled represent a startling 92 percent increase from the 1989 study. The report also identified the major causes of the decline in freshwater fish as habitat loss, dwindling range and the introduction of non-native species.

“The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act will provide new money for fish habitat conservation in this country,” said American Sportfishing Association Vice President and TRCP policy council member Gordon Robertson. “It represents a ground-up approach to fishery conservation and is complimentary to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Act. By improving the nation’s fishery resources, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act also will provide more recreational fishing opportunities for America’s 40 million anglers.”

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8. AFWA Honors Dale Hall for Lifetime of Service


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall Photo courtesy: USFWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall has been recognized by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) for his career-long history of working with states and other conservation partners on issues ranging from climate change to endangered species protection. Hall received the special award for his support of AFWA and the states at the organization’s annual meeting held recently in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

“Dale Hall has championed state-federal collaboration since he began his conservation career more than 30 years ago, and it has defined his tenure as the Service’s top executive,” said Matt Hogan, AFWA executive director and TRCP board member. “In the face of challenges such as global climate change, urban sprawl, water management and generations of children who are becoming disconnected from nature, he regularly has sought to leverage the efforts of the Fish and Wildlife Service by building bridges to AFWA and his state agency counterparts.”

Hall has stood strongly with states to support hunters and anglers and emphasizes the need to recruit new generations of them and enlist their support in conservation. During his tenure as director, the Federal Aid in Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs exceeded $11 billion in excise taxes paid by manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and archery, fishing and boating equipment. The funds are used by state wildlife agencies to maintain and restore fish and wildlife resources, educate hunters and fund sport shooting ranges nationwide.

Hall said, “Any success I’ve had in my career is not my own doing, it’s the people I’ve had around me. When we work together, we achieve much more than we could by ourselves.”





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9. TRCP’s Franklin Elected to Sustainable Forestry Initiative Board


TRCP Senior Vice President Tom Franklin with a striper he caught in the Chesapeake Bay.

Tom Franklin, senior vice president of the TRCP and a certified wildlife biologist, has joined the environmental chamber of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Inc. board of directors. SFI Inc. is a fully independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. It works with conservation groups, local communities, resource professionals, landowners and other organizations and individuals who share a passion for responsible forest management.

SFI Inc.’s forest certification standard is based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and forests with exceptional conservation value. This standard is used widely across North America and has strong acceptance in the global marketplace, facilitating the delivery of a steady supply of third-party certified wood from well-managed forests. This is especially important because of the growing demand for green building and responsible paper purchasing at a time when only 10 percent of the world’s forests are certified.

Franklin’s appointment to the SFI Inc. board honors his commitment to resource conservation and expertise on matters affecting America’s fish and wildlife populations. Learn more about SFI Inc.





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A big thanks to everyone who sent in answers to last month's T.R.ivia question. Congratulations go to our September winner, Karin Bivins. Karin was the first person to correctly identify the Roosevelt family motto, "Qui Plantavit Curabit" or "He who has planted will preserve." Karin has won a copy of Historic Images of Theodore Roosevelt. Enter now for your chance to win a TRCP hat.

Email your answer to this month's question to bblodgett@trcp.org for your chance to win.

Updates from TRCP Partner Organizations - News from the National Conservation Community

American Fisheries Society Check out photos from the 2008 annual meeting held in Ottawa. More>>
American Sportfishing Association Read the new “Sportfishing in America” report. More>>
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies AFWA named Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Director Rex Amack its new president during the Association’s recent Annual Meeting in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. More>>
BASS/ESPN Outdoors Learn more about what BASS/ESPN conservationists have been up to in New York. More>>
Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited The Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited annual symposium is approaching. More>>
Coastal Conservation Association Read the latest edition of TIDE magazine.  More>>
Delta Waterfowl Delta Waterfowl is working to restore waterfowling culture by getting kids excited about ducks. More>>
Ducks Unlimited DU examines the early fall habitat conditions in Canada. More>>
Federation of Fly Fishers FFF lists the endangered fisheries of 2008. More>>
International Game Fish Association The 10th Annual IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held at the International Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Fla., on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008. More>>
International Hunter Education Association Meet some of the IHEA students. More>>
Izaak Walton League of America Take the clean boat challenge and enter to win a new boat. More>>
Mule Deer Foundation Register for the 2009 National Convention next February in Salt Lake City, Ut. More>>
The Nature Conservancy Research conducted by the Nature Conservancy chief scientist Peter Kareiva challenges the notion that there are trade-offs between protecting the environment and alleviating poverty.  More>>
North American Grouse Partnership Learn more about the Conservation in Action program. More>>
Pheasants Forever Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Government Grants Coordinator Ron Leathers has been selected to be part of the 2008-2009 National Conservation Leadership Institute.  More>>
Quail Forever Read QF’s quail hunting forecast. More>>
Quail Unlimited You could win the 2008 stamp/print when your fill out the QU survey. More>>
Quality Deer Management Association QDMA member Al Brothers is up for Budweiser’s Conservationist of the Year award. More>>
Trout Unlimited TU has asked fishing equipment manufacturers to stop producing felt-soled waders and wading shoes by 2011 to help stop the spread of aquatic nuisance species.  More>>
Trust for Public Land National Parking Day was celebrated on Sept. 19. More>>
Whitetails Unlimited WU has made radio public service announcements available online. More>>
Wildlife Management Institute Dirk Kempthorne announced changes to the consultation process under the Endangered Species Act.  More>>
The Wildlife Society The Wildlife Society submitted comments that cited major flaws in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Final Recovery Plan for the northern spotted owl. More>>

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Featured Conservation Leader

Scott Kovarovics, Izaak Walton League of America

Scott Kovarovics, TRCP policy council member

Can you please tell us a bit about the Izaak Walton League?

The Izaak Walton League was founded in 1922 by sportsmen in the Chicago area who were concerned about water pollution and unethical fishing practices. Today, the League has about 36,000 members belonging to nearly 300 chapters and state divisions across the country.  These members are leading efforts in their communities to improve water quality, teach hunter and firearms safety to thousands of young people and connect youth to the outdoors and conservation. At the national level, the League is a leader in conserving natural resources across tens of millions of acres of farmland, developing the next generation of alternative energy resources and bio-fuels and engaging citizens as strong advocates for protecting the streams, lakes and wetlands in their communities.

Who got you involved with hunting and/or fishing? When?

My father took me fishing for the very first time when I was five. I remember catching my first blue gill that day. The grandfather of a close friend introduced me to shooting and hunting in junior high. He spent hours teaching us how to use guns safely, the techniques for shooting skeet and the keys to a successful deer hunt.

What is your most memorable experience afield?

No single memory stands out more than any other. I remember time outside in New England more than anything. The cool fall afternoons with the air filled with the scent of freshly chopped corn silage and dry leaves, the annual Thanksgiving morning deer hunt and the stillness of water and the silence surrounding the farm pond on a summer evening. For me, these are the experiences I remember (and miss) more than the size of the antlers on the deer or how many Canadian geese fell following the shotgun’s blast.

What do you think are our most pressing conservation issues today?

One of the most pressing needs is to reinvest in the lands that provide the foundation of conservation in America. Our National Wildlife Refuges have been woefully under-funded during the past five years, which has produced real consequences on the ground in terms of habitat quality, visitor services and law enforcement. Addressing climate change and mitigating the impacts on habitat and fish and wildlife also will be critically important. Helping wildlife to adapt is key, but we have to address the root causes of the problem as part of a long-term response.

What is your approach to facing conservation challenges?

Our approach at the League is to work with diverse partners to develop common-sense solutions to the challenges ahead. Our members want solutions that fundamentally safeguard the natural resources that make this country unique in the world.

Why are you involved with the TRCP?

The League was a founding member of the TRCP and is active today because the focus remains on solving problems and ensuring sportsmen have a strong and united voice on critical conservation issues.

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Bookshelf

The Gigantic Book of Hunting Stories, edited by Jay Cassell

This volume has something for everyone who hunts, be they rabbit hunters in the deep South, Cape buffalo hunters in the African bush or white-tailed deer hunters in the woods of North America. Its selections celebrate hunting for big game, small game, waterfowl, upland birds, turkeys, African and Asian game and much more. The book has been put together in keeping with the spirit and philosophy of Theodore Roosevelt, our twenty-sixth president, who not only believed in the preservation of our wildlife and natural resources, but in the importance of hunting to the fabric of American life. Part of the proceeds from this book will go to the TRCP. When you make a donation of $35 to the TRCP, you will receive a signed copy of The Gigantic Book of Hunting Stories in appreciation of your donation. Visit our Web site to make a donation now.

Tight Lines: Ten Years of the Yale Anglers' Journal edited by Joseph Furia and illustrated by James Prosek

Drawing on the Yale Anglers' Journal's first decade of publication, this solid collection of 50 short stories, travelogues, memoirs, scientific explorations, speeches and poems covers popular and obscure aspects of the sport: fly fishing, spin fishing and cane poling, along with catfish, striped bass and sunfish. The Yale Anglers' Journal was founded in 1996 by James Prosek, an upperclassman from New England, and Joseph Furia, a freshman from the West Coast, who bonded over their love of fishing and the written word. Contributers include household names such as W.B. Yeats, President Carter and Christopher Buckley as well as less well-known writers. Prosek's magnificent watercolor illustrations lend the volume a coffee table book-feel, making it a visually appealing gift for any angler.

For more information, click here.

Photo Gallery

Check out How Your Fellow TRCP Partners Fared this Season

Kendall Van Dyk with the bull elk he got on public lands this fall in Montana.

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Roosevelt Reflections

Theodore Roosevelt's 150th Birthday
by Ken Barrett

Oct. 27, 2008, will mark the sesquicentennial of Theodore Roosevelt’s birth in New York City. He died just more than 60 years later on Jan. 6, 1919.

T.R. jumping boldly on his horse. Photo courtesy: LOC

From a sickly asthmatic child, he rose to become president. Along the way he was a boxer, cowboy, sailor, soldier, naturalist, writer, politician, statesman, trust buster, explorer, husband, father and what can best be described as a force of nature. He packed as much or more than any man could into 60 years.

T.R.’s legacies are many, but none are greater than the public lands estate he expanded and established for the American people. He set aside 230 million acres of national parks, forests, monuments and refuges. It is a legacy that grows in value and importance with each passing generation and is made all the more valuable by the continuing and increasingly fast paced development that consumes so much of our lands.

We cannot know if Roosevelt was paying attention to the advice of his contemporary Mark Twain – “buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” What we do know, what is important and most fortunate for us is the fact that T.R. went on a land acquisition spree, saving so many of our nation’s wild and wonderful places for us all.

The best way to celebrate T.R.’s life and birthday is to help keep these great public lands intact and available for the next generations. No doubt, that’s just what Teddy would want us to do.

       Learn more about donating to the TRCP.

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