Field Notes

According to the National Wildlife Federation, the budget resolution recently passed by the House Budget Committee is a “victory for wildlife” in that it is free of language facilitating Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling or the sale of federal lands to fund rural schools.

Of the latter issue, NWF president Larry Schweiger says, "America needs a permanent solution to funding rural schools that does not abandon hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts who depend on access to public lands. Once these lands are sold they are lost forever."

This development is far from a complete victory however, as both arctic drilling and the public-land sale will come up again during the House-Senate conference process.
http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=4C1206A4%2DF1F6%2D7B10%2D376837FFD21AF40D

If you’re a Field & Stream reader, there’s a good chance that fishing is an enriching and joyous part of your life—and an experience you may wish to share. If so, log on to the Anglers’ Legacy website linked below. As part of the national Take-Me-Fishing campaign, this resource offers all the advice and information you need to get involved locally—and take someone fishing.
http://www.anglerslegacy.com/default.aspx?id=755

At the conclusion of the first-ever ice-fishing contest on Norway’s Vaagvannet Lake, none of the 66 anglers had caught any fish in the conventional manner. One Jan Petter Johansen, however, did find a couple of stickleback tangled within some seaweed he pulled in. At .07 and .05 ounces each, they won the $770 first and $154 second prizes, respectively.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-ice29.html 

On Tuesday, Tucson Police Lt. Michael Lara told the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security that a malicious investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) devastated his career and personal life after he gave a gun to a licensed friend. A pro-gun attorney testified that Lara’s case is not uncommon and that the ATF also routinely holds gun dealers to unreasonable standards. According to this CNSNews.com article, the House subcommittee is considering legislation to curb any overreaching by the agency. Check out this important story linked below. 
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200603%5CNAT20060329a.html

Only a week after the Indiana Natural Resources Commission approved new rules intended to end high-fence hunts, Rodney Bruce, owner of Whitetail Bluff's shooting preserve, has received a temporary injunction preventing the Department of Natural Resources from shutting him down—that is until his lawsuit challenging the state’s authority to do so is concluded. Speaking with the Associated Press, DNR Director Kyle Hupfer seemed undeterred: "I have no doubt (high-fence hunting preserves) will be shut down. It's just a matter of time."
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/14210875.htm

Bullwinkle, a robotic decoy designed to nab those who would shoot Nova Scotia’s mainland moose (an endangered species since 2003) has bagged it’s first poacher. Robert Lee McLaren, 49, of Pugwash Junction, has pled guilty of attempting to kill an endangered species. His shot at Bullwinkle will cost him his hunting license for 20 years, along with about $4,000, his car, and his rifle.
http://www.lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/National/2006/03/29/1510223-sun.html

This seems to be the year for high-profile bass pro disqualifications. Only a few weeks after Mike Iaconelli was booted from the Bassmaster Classic for an unofficial record-setting second time, Kevin Van Dam has now been tossed from the Elite Series Santee-Cooper Showdown for breaking a boating rule. Van Dam has already release a statement, saying in part:  “I take full responsibility for violating a BASS rule. I did not do it purposely and I did not realize I was breaking any rules.”
http://www.fishingworld.com/News/Read.php?ArtID=000017281

lThis seems to be the week of wildlife vs. the elderly. Yesterday, we ran a link about a confrontation between a 92-year-old Colorado man and an 800-pound bull moose. Now, southwest Florida’s News-Press.com reports that 82-year-old John Turney of North Fort Meyers has taken on and subdued an 4-foot aligator with nothing more than a broom and a garden hose.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/NEWS0111/603280411/1075

Last week, we asked whether Mac Weakley’s 25-pound Dixon Lake largemouth is the same fish as the number four and number nine bass of all time, both also caught in Dixon by Jed Dickerson and Mike Long respectively (click here for that story). We also provided a photo gallery for you to compare the fish (click here to view that photo gallery). Most of those pictures, however, did not provide a clear view of what all three anglers say is the bass’s identifying characteristic: a dime-sized black spot near the gill plate.

Now we've found a shot (see above) showing the spot on Long's 9th place fish that proves these three bass were indeed the same creature (click the picture to enlarge it and look for the spot on the lower part of the gill plate).You can see more big bass pics in our new photo gallery of giant Dixon Lake largemouths that was posted to the main site today. 

As reported on ABC’s World News Tonight, the legendary maker of the gun that won the American West is about to close up shop and move to Belgium. It’s a situation, according to this report, that embarrasses the company’s current remaining employees: "Belgium," said one. "I mean they probably don't even know where New Haven is." Check out the latest below, including a video clip.
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Business/story?id=1770471&page=1