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TalkVOLUME 30, ISSUE 3 APRIL 2017

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CampD S C N E W S L E T T E R

IN THIS ISSUELetter from the President ................. 3

Hunting Feature .................................. 4

DSC Foundation ................................. 8

Legislative News .............................12

Obituary – Matt Busiek ..................17

Outdoor Education ..........................18

Writing Tips ........................................18

Hunting News ...................................19

Conservation News ........................20

Chapter News ...................................22

New Corporate Sponsor ...............23

Reloading ...........................................24

Member Bulletin Board .................26

New Members .................................26

UPCOMING MeetingsRSVP: members.biggame.org

Monthly Meetings are $35 per person, $45 day of event and for walk-ins

APRIL 20Monthly Meeting – Annual Trophy

and Photo Competition AwardsOmni Hotel at Park West

1590 LBJ Freeway, Dallas 75234

MAY 18Monthly Meeting

Witherspoon Distillery 225 S. Charles StreetLewisville, TX 75057

JUNE 15Monthly MeetingLarry Weishuhn SAVE THE DATE

s part of its $1 million annual grant program, DSC has dedicated funds over several years to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Project.

The program explores ways to help the pronghorn population to recover. The translocation of 109 pronghorns from the Texas Panhandle to the Marfa Northeast area was completed in January 2017, but efforts did not start nor end there. A successful translocation is more than loading pronghorns into trailers. Extensive planning and research is required as well as careful execution and follow-up.

Every year more is learned about the best ways to support pronghorn recovery. The survival rate of the January 2016 translocation was 85 percent. By analyzing data since 2011, the project partners attribute this successful survival rate to favorable range conditions, successful protocols used during capture and transport, predator management and fence modifications in the translocation area.

Analyses of the 2017 translocation site showed that the area could support more than the 100 pronghorns that resided there. After the 2016 translocation revealed positive results from fence modifications, project partners worked with private landowners in Marfa Northeast to install 195 modifications to facilitate potential herd movements across the 20,000 acres of rangeland.

Researchers have also discovered that the

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Pronghorn, Relocated and Ready for New Home

GRANTS IN ACTION

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Each pronghorn was carefully prepared for the translocation from the Panhandle to the Trans-Pecos.

B I G G A M E . O R G A P R I L 2 0 1 7 | 3

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTTalkCamp

13709 Gamma Road • Dallas, TX 75244 USAPhone 972-980-9800 • Fax 972-980-9925

Email: [email protected] • Website: biggame.org

Advertising inquiries, letters and stories are welcome. Dallas Safari Club reserves the right not to publish, or to edit for content and length. The views expressed in Camp Talk are expressly those of the author and are not necessarily those of Dallas Safari Club, its members, employees or assigns.

Craig Nyhus, DSC President

s we turn the page to a new fiscal year at DSC, we have a lot of great things ahead, along with a few challenges.

The viability of sustainable use hunting is gaining momentum across the globe, gathering favorable attention from unusual sources like the New York Times.

At DSC, we will continue and strengthen our efforts to share the message. There are those who don’t like what we, as hunters, do, even though we know the value of hunting in conserving wild animal species, the animals’ habitat and the surrounding communities. We have ambitious goals on serious issues, but we won’t lose sight of another goal − having fun!

We survive through the efforts of volunteers, and there are several events coming up to round up more of them. The DSC Conservation Society Crawfish Boil is April 29, and it’s a chance to meet the future leaders of DSC (translation: younger members) and enjoy a basket of mudbugs and a beer while under the shadow of the Dallas skyline.

We’re also infusing more fun into DSC’s monthly meetings. In May, we’ll meet at a whiskey distillery!

Each DSC event is a chance to both recruit new members and especially new volunteers. Once people see the camaraderie and passion of our members, and especially once they see the smiles on all of the faces, gaining a new member and volunteer is an easy next step.

So, please, check out the events calendar, and bring some friends!As the current president, the goals are simple. Serve DSC’s members, board

of directors and exhibitors and carry out DSC’s simple but effective mission: To conserve wildlife and wilderness lands; to educate youth and the general public and to promote and protect the interests of hunters worldwide.

We have hundreds of great volunteers and thousands of great members who sacrifice their time and resources in support of this mission, especially in carrying out the Greatest Hunters’ Convention on the Planet™.

This coming year, let’s bring in more — more fun, more friends, more of everything!

Mixing Mission With Fun

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DSC’s Mission

To conserve wildlife and wilderness lands; to

educate youth and the general public

and to promote and protect the interests

of hunters worldwide.

CAMP TALK PRODUCTION STAFFBen F. Carter III, PublisherJay Ann Cox, Ph.D, Director of PublicationsTerri Lewis, Associate EditorKarrie Kolesar, Assistant Editor/Awards CoordinatorTerry Blauwkamp, Reloading EditorCrystal Allison, Membership & CirculationCameron Kuenzer, Social Media Manager@ Graphics, Art and ProductionNieman Printing, PrintingSafari Classics Productions, Online Media Services

DSC STAFFAdministrative Ben F. Carter, Executive Director Barri Murphy, Executive Assistant/Grants Coordinator Christina Juarez, ReceptionistAuctions Lori Stanford, Auctions Manager Kamille Martin, Auctions AssistantChapter Development Kim Rappleye, Chapter Development CoordinatorConvention Events Lynda Rexrode-Adams, Convention Events Manager Events Ben Kimmel, Events ManagerExhibits Terri Lewis, Exhibits Manager Tyler Williams, Exhibits AssistantMembership Crystal Allison, Membership Manager/DSC 100Publications Jay Ann Cox, PhD, Director of Publications & Digital Media Karrie Kolesar, Assistant Editor/Awards CoordinatorFor advertising opportunities and rates, contactJay Ann Cox at [email protected], (972) 980-9800.

OFFICERS 2017-2018Craig Nyhus, PresidentAllen Moore, Immediate Past PresidentRod Wooley, President-electJohn Eads, CPA, TreasurerRebecca Evans, Secretary

DIRECTORS2015-2018 2016-2019 2017-2020Mike McKinney Charlie Barnes Karl EvansTori Nayfa Mark Little John PattersonAmy Callender Jim Tolson Scott Tobermann

VICE PRESIDENTSRoss Jackson Mark Rose Brent Karrington Carol WooleyRavin Reddy

APHA LIAISONDavid Oakes

DSC-PAC CHAIRMANM. Lance Phillips

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS ADVISORYSteve Weinberg

CONSERVATION SOCIETY LIAISONSNic Drayovitch Martha Justice Moore

4 | D A L L A S S A F A R I C L U B N E W S B I G G A M E . O R G

Crossing the finish line

HUNTING FEATURE

Spot, Stalk, and Shoot: Part 3, The Finale on Sheep, Moose

s you may recall reading in previous issues of Camp Talk, last spring I drew both a bighorn sheep and a Shiras moose tag in Wyoming after

accumulating almost two decades of points. To get in shape for this once-in-a-lifetime October, I made good use of the training for the Maryland Ironman triathlon (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles) on October 1, a week before the hunts began.

The consistent theme that wildly impacted all events was the uneven weather. The wind and surf came up so badly that the swim turn buoys would not stay anchored, and the run course flooded. It is always something in Ironman. So while the swim portion was cancelled (a nod to the participants’ safety), a flooded run course simply means that after you bike 100 miles, you run through knee deep water at times during the marathon. I did finish, and the training did set me up in as good of shape as I have been in for a long time. In my mind, I was ready to sheep hunt.

The arrival to Cody coincided with news from sheep camp that a couple of deep snows had initiated a premature migration of sheep out of the area. My guide (Colby

Gines) would be staying in the woods a day or two more to verify where we should begin chasing sheep. With a flexible schedule, I sat on my hands for two days while he scouted, and I tried not to think too much. Honestly though, it was sort of like “wait for your father to get home.” Colby verified we needed to try to intercept them on their way to winter range so spike camp was set up on the Elk Fork River and the hunt was on!

With a day of glassing under our belts, we found the first ram to hunt and set out for him the next day. Then, reality set in. Rock slides look and feel completely different when you are halfway across them. In the spotting scope the day before, I was all in.

“We can follow that timber off the ridge, hop over those three rock slides and we will be at the base of that clearing he is on,” said the guy from Dallas

A BY DANIEL GOWAN, DSC LIFE MEMBER

Sheep hunting – now I get it. Not sure I want any more of it.

D AL L A S S A F A R I C L U B

L I F E M E M B E R

– the same guy that chose to run the Ironman in Maryland because it was flat. Anyway, that quote was made about the terrain from a scope two miles away. In real time, half way across the slide, I realized that there is a significant difference between reality and fantasy.

But I did not quit. Colby was fantastic, encouraging me and working with what he had (at 6’5” and 265 lbs, I was the limiting in factor for the hunt, not him). And that first sheep slipped over the top and was not seen again.

It was a true, old time “ride out and ride back in the dark” sheep hunt. I walked places I did not know I could. I mastered fear on the back of the horses that carried me to impossible places. At one point, as we passed the willows on the river, I was told that the noise was probably a grizzly guarding his kill and “no matter what happens next, the safest place to be is on top of your horse.” Fortunately, the horses never spooked to the bear. I led the same stock down icy, muddy trails that were too steep to ride. Twenty years ago, I was fearless. Today at 57, I don’t know if the concussions have taken their toll, or if wisdom has begun to creep in, but 10 days of the sheep experience put me very much in touch with my mortality.

In the end, the weather continued to dog us with overcast mountains, with snow, and with clear days that would yield tracks but no sheep. Ewes and lambs were all over us at camp, but we never connected with a ram. Colby did his part, I tried to do mine, and we had a great hunt.

From Cody, Wyoming, I headed south to meet up with Bald Mountain Outfitters, in Pinedale, to chase moose. It began to warm up. Normally, active moose retreated to dark timber to lie down and pant in whatever snow they could find. So moose sightings dried completely up. The Pollards, who run Bald Mountain, recognize the significance and difficulty drawing the moose tag and treat it like the once-in-a-lifetime tag it likely

Continued on page 6


is. All eyes in camp are used to scout for moose in the area and when we had not seen the usual number of animals, I began to fret that the weather was going to do me in again.

We started out on horseback the third day and guide Nichole Pollard pointed out a cow on the hill above us. The second spot turned out to be a small bull. As light continued, both the cow and the bull stared down, and gave away, another bull with them. Nichole counseled that we needed to wait this out (to get more light) to assess this bull. When we identified adequate width, I set up as if. Once we caught the double shovel on the left and she rightly identified him as a mature bull, I took the shot.

At 342 yards, the bullet did its magic. Nichole explained that the usual variety of bulls they put in front of clients were scarce because of the unusual heat. Nonetheless we connected on a mature representative animal, and I am delighted with both the moose hunt and the overall Wyoming experience.

There is some regret that there is not a taxidermist somewhere working on my sheep mount. But I am now a sheep hunter, and have the utmost respect for you if you have one on the wall, or if you did the hunt as well and do not. With the huge expense associated with sheep hunting tags, I doubt seriously another one is in the budget any time soon, not sure I would want to if I could. (I must say however, that every time I have completed Ironman, I have sworn off doing another, and I have done four to date.) So for now, I plan to leave the door at least cracked open to sheep and spend the immediate future reflecting on my October in Wyoming.

On my return, I began laughing at the contrast in just a week’s time. On the Elk Fork River, I learned to keep my mount out of the string of pack mules when we crossed the river − a Wyoming traffic jam. Back home, I now deal with the George Bush Tollway on a daily basis. It is good to be home.CT

Nichole Pollard scouting for Shiras

Gowan walking on rockslide

The author with his moose

HUNTING FEATURE


DSC FOUNDATION

Where Did My Donation Go?BY RICHARD CHEATHAM, DSC FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

n the grants page of the DSC Foundation website, www.dscf.org, there is a complete list of all projects supported

by DSC Foundation in 2016. But that’s just one part of what you should be asking.

Every donor wonders what their funds are used for, and better yet, how effective was the grantee in putting that money to good use? Did the grant from DSC Foundation make a difference on the ground where it matters?

Thanks to new, stringent reporting requirements imposed on any and every successful grant applicant, DSC Foundation now receives periodic feedback and reporting so that the Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, its members and all Foundation donors can find out for themselves. Look also for “Grants In Action” articles in DSC Publications.

One shining example of the impact that DSC Foundation funds can have is Zambezi Delta Safaris (ZDS). They received a grant from DSC Foundation to assist with anti-poaching efforts. Over the past six months, the ZDS anti-poaching units have:

• Seized almost 1,300 snares• Seized over 200 gin traps• Seized over 2,600 suni snares• Collected nearly 100 spears and machetes• Arrested 114 individuals accused of poaching• Destroyed over 50 poacher camps

These actions have saved thousands of animals from the hands of poachers. Because of these intensive and effective anti-poaching efforts, hunters might selectively harvest animals humanely, and then provide thousands of pounds of meat to local villagers and tribes who may have no other source of protein.

If you multiply the efforts of ZDS by a factor of 50, you may get an idea of what is actually happening in southern Africa. To realize what is possible, multiply their work by 500. Let’s find a way to do the possible. CTSupport the DSC Foundation − visit www.dscf.org and make a donation.

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In the Texas Legislature’s 85th regular session, convened in January 2017, there are a number of pieces of legislation that

could have a direct impact on the members of DSC. As with the previous two sessions, the majority of the bills

affecting wildlife revolve around the raising and transport of white-tailed deer. With the recent changes in rules and regulations governing the deer industry implemented by Texas Parks and Wildlife this year, the focus of several measures is directly to address changes breeders would like to occur.

At press time, none of these bills have been scheduled for hearings, however, it is anticipated several will be considered in the month of April. Specific changes recommended by these bills include allowing farmed deer to be marked with only a microchip and allowing for the automatic approval of the transfer of deer between certain facilities.

Of these bills introduced this session related to deer and deer breeding, perhaps the most controversial is HB 3833

by Representative Biederman. This legislation would make white-tailed deer, which are raised under state permit, the private property of the breeder. This transfer of ownership of a wildlife resource would constitute the first time in Texas this might occur in direct conflict of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model. Again, there has yet to be a hearing scheduled for this bill.

Also of interest is the protection of private property rights. There are several bills which have been introduced to protect the private property of Texans from condemnation under eminent domain. These have a variety of impacts but perhaps the largest is related to the condemnation of property in the path of the proposed commercial and commuter rail line between Houston and Dallas. We will continue to monitor the progress of these pieces of legislation and update the membership as things progress. CT

STATE LEGISLATIVE NEWS

U.S. LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Texas Legislature Moving On Deer Industry Regulation

HJ69: Predator Control Resolution To Be Signed By President

s covered in the March issue of Camp Talk by Glen LeMunyon, the House Joint Resolution 69

passed in the House on February 16, 2017 with votes of 225-193. On March 21, the Bill passed the Senate without amendment by votes of 52-47. Now the bill moves to be signed by the President.

Debate in the Senate was similar to the House’s discussion with a clear party divide on the issue of states’ rights.

To recap, the original FWS rule prohibited the ways certain wildlife refuges in Alaska could carry out predator control. CT

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S-4 Murray Deluxe Rifle Case

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$75

$595

Designed for maximum protection of your big game rifle, this case is made from the very finest saddle leather and completely encases the gun. Lined with an exclusive man-made sheepskin that is breathable and non-reactive to gun oil, it will protect the gun blue as well as the stock finish. This scabbard will conveniently fit inside most hard cases for travel. A detachable leather grip enables this scabbard to be used as a rug- ged year-round gun case.

S-2 designed for scoped (up to 44 mm) rifles $595 S-2A designed for scoped (up to 56 mm) rifles. $650

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$75

S-2 Murray Ultimate Saddle Scabbard

Black add $10With US mil spec swivels add $10

Long Model for rifles withbarrel band swivels add $10

A1-AR15 Quick Set Sling $90 (For rifles with fixed swivels)

5 round 416 Rigby, Ultra-mag, 470, 500 etc. $957 round: for 06, 300, 375 & short mags $95

Available in 7 round standard cartridge (243 through416 Remington mag, 5 round short mag, and 5 round African cartridge).

Belt type with pre-formedleather loops, nylon stitched,rattle proof, silent opening withbrass stud, saddle tan oiled finish,soft point protection, very compact.

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Belt type with full leather enclosure, 7 round capacity withheavy duty elastic retention loops, rattle proof, softpoint protection, fits one row of cartridges flat againstyour belt. Fully nylon stitched, available in most cartridgesizes. Some African calibers are limited to 6 rounds.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

number of fawns and the overall fawn production increase when the numbers of bobcats and coyotes in the area are controlled. Because they attribute weight to health, project partners were pleased to find that the average weight of fawns in 2016 was twice the 2011 average.

Through the financial support of grants, this project can continue the research efforts that help partners learn more about the steps necessary for the most successful translocations and habitat recovery. CT


Volunteers and partners of the Trans-Pecos Relocation Project ensure that each pronghorn is carefully handled.

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ARE YOU ONLINE?

Join in the conversation on our Facebook community. In the past weeks, posts have

reached out to over 70,000 users, including these headlines:

Visit www.facebook.com/dallassafariclub and follow @officialdsc on Instagram.

SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATE

• Important Link Between Hunting and Tourism• Ready for Turkey Season?• Some Good News: Elephant Poaching Increase Halted


Matt Busiek, Colin Caruthers Award Winner

man who brought laughs and solace to everyone he met, Matthew Southgate Busiek died February 26, 2017 at his home in Boulder, Colorado from

complications of a unique trachea condition. He was 43.Matt’s father, George, is a DSC life member who showed him hunting and culture

through safaris in Africa. Matt spent time in five African countries by the age of 19. These experiences contributed to becoming the second recipient of the Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award in 1992. Beyond the excitement of the outdoors, the immersion in different languages eventually became Matt’s gateway to understanding music.Matt was born and raised in the Dallas area, where he developed a sharp intellect, an

air of open-minded independence and an early affinity for the rhythm of rock and roll. While pursuing music, Matt joined forces with various musicians and made countless

friends performing in Austin and then Boulder, Colorado where he eventually settled down with a job at a hardware store.The strange, unexplained 14-month illness was frustrating for Matt because a lifestyle

of restricted mobility did not suit him. Matt is survived by his bulldog Dixie, his mother, father and stepmom, a brother, a

sister and other family and countless friends. CT

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OBITUARY


OUTDOOR EDUCATION

WRITING TIPS

Winners for DSC-sponsored Youth Writing Contest

Spring Nature Journal

o spark youth interest in the outdoors and conservation, DSC and Outdoors

Tomorrow Foundation sponsored the 2017 Texas Outdoor Writers Association Junior Outdoor Journalist Adventure Story Writing Competition. Any Texas middle or high school student could submit an essay describing a personal outdoor experience and the importance of such adventures in life. The large number of entries this year is promising for the future of outdoor writing and sportsmanship.The first and third prize winners in the

high school category, Micayla Pearson of La Vernia High School and Kayla Welch of Lowery Freshman Center respectively, are students from participating schools with OTF’s Outdoor Adventures program. Outdoor Adventures is a regular in-

school course that is taught as a physical education class, local school elective, or as an agricultural science, or wildlife management course. DSC is a major supporter of this groundbreaking curriculum. CT

ne of the joys of spring is getting outside after all the cold weather and early sunsets. But before you head

out the door − whether it’s for a turkey hunt or walk in the pasture, the woods or around the lake − grab a few pens/pencils and a nature journal to create a record of your outing. Any notebook or blank book from the dollar store will do. Even pocket-sized booklets can get you started.

1. Make a list and/or a sketch of any birds or insects you see. You can look them up later.

2. Draw leaves and blossoms from the trees along the way, including those weird oak “wooly caterpillar” things.3. Try and replicate all the different colors you see, from the many greens, reds and yellows to the blue sky and fiery-tinged clouds at sunset.

Keeping a nature journal or helping a kid create one encourages conversation about nature, conservation, ecology and love of the outdoors, and gives them something to inspire any future naturalists, biologists and outdoor writers. CT

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Congratulations to all of the winners! GRADES 6-8 WINNERS1st place Holden Kelly, 6th gradeTitle: River of MemoriesTeacher/School: Tanya Kelly at Regents Academy, Nacogdoches, TX2nd place Caroline Alders, 8th gradeTitle: Fourteen MilesTeacher/school: Sherry Wiggins at Regents Academy, Nacogdoches , TX3rd place Lillian Hook 8th gradeTitle: In a World of GreenTeacher/School: Sherry Wiggins at Regents Academy, Nacogdoches, TXGRADES 10-12 WINNERS:1st place Micayla Pearson, 12th gradeTitle: GoosiesTeacher/school: Lynn Jarzambek at La Vernia High School, La Vernia, TX2nd place Madison Franks, 9th gradeTitle: The True TrophyTeacher/school: Amy Franks, homeschooled, Idalou, TX3rd place Kayla Welch, 10th gradeTitle: Free the WormsTeacher/school: Jason Anderson at Lowery Freshman Center, Allen, TX

Holden Kelly (center) winner of grades 6-8 category.


From the Caribou cam

HUNTING NEWS

Quebec Caribou Hunt to Close, Research Continues

fter the 2017-2018 fall season, the Quebec caribou hunt will close for an undetermined period of time.

(Recreational hunting is closing – the subsistence hunt continues.) The provincial government has also called for the number of permits to be reduced by half for the upcoming final season. Before a hunt will be reinstated, officials want a more thorough understanding of the current state of the population. Declining caribou numbers have become a serious concern with the cause yet unknown.Research is ongoing to gather insight on the caribou’s

lifestyle. Since many young caribou are not surviving to adulthood, biologists with Caribou Ungava have equipped select females with collar cameras in the Leaf River area of Quebec. With careful monitoring, scientists hope to uncover the cause of high mortality rate and move forward with appropriate measures to combat the decline.

The camera collars are put on the animals in early spring and turn on automatically in June to send GPS updates and live video. Then, around 90 days later, the collars are programmed to fall off automatically. After the successful collection of all 14 collars from 2016, the project is set to continue for its second year with 24 caribous.The lead researcher Steeve Côté commented on the

government’s ban of the hunt. He explained that the problem is not with the few animals taken for sport, but with the lack of documentation during the subsistence hunt. Scientists cannot create accurate models for population growth because the numbers harvested during those hunts are not accurately recorded. CT

To see some of the video captured by these collars, visit tinyurl.com/cariboucam2017. Source: CBS News

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CONSERVATION NEWS


This Antelope May Be Close to Extinction

Faced with Starvation, Island Reindeer Get Creative

isted as Critically Endangered by the IUCN since 1996, the hirola, or Beatragus hunteri, is considered the world’s

rarest antelope with fewer than 500 individuals remaining in the African wild. Until a recent study published in Journal of Applied Ecology, there was little understanding on the decline of the species, which led to futile conservation efforts. With the new research, changes may be made to ensure that we do not witness the first extinction of a mammalian genus on mainland Africa in modern human history.

Why is this species so close to extinction?The habitat of the hirola borders Kenya and Somalia, which

has been a politically unstable area for years. The conflict deterred most researchers from conducting long-term studies. Previously, biologists had found evidence of rinderpest, a viral disease more commonly known as cattle plague, in the area. They figured it was the culprit hurting the antelope, but when the disease was eradicated, the population did not recover as anticipated.

Research at University of Wyoming, led by Kenyan-born

Abdullahi Ali, revealed that contributing factors to the population decline included ecosystem changes. Tree cover has increased by over 250 percent over the last 25 years, causing the hirola to overgraze the small patches of grass that they eat. Elephants were lost to poaching and fires did not occur as frequently, causing changes in the food cycle and disrupting local ecosystem dynamics.

The good news is that local communities welcome hirola in the surrounding areas because they are positive signs of a healthy environment. With a better understanding of the factors contributing to their decline, new conservation efforts can begin. The researchers suggest removing shrubs and trees and increasing conservation efforts. CT

Sources: Rainforest Trust and Journal of Applied Ecology

population of reindeer on Alaska’s St. Paul Island has shocked researchers by adopting a new behavior.

Although experts anticipated to find the group malnourished from battling warm weather conditions and an exhausted food supply, they were pleasantly surprised to observe a thriving group of reindeer.

The warming weather has stunted the growth of lichen, the reindeer’s sugar- and starch-rich food source. Lichen cannot compete with the increasing wildfires, erratic rainfall and success of other plants in the new state of weather. In many places around Alaska, the reindeer have eaten the lichen faster than it can recover. Expected to starve, the reindeer on St. Paul Island have instead found a new food source.

These reindeer have begun digging and turned to roots and grasses. Some experts worry that if a freeze happens too quickly after a rainstorm, the reindeer will not be able to stamp through the ground to reach any food source, which was the cause of thousands of reindeer deaths in Russia.

Although some biologists remain concerned for long-term success, the reindeer population on St. Paul Island is strong.

While reindeer are not native to Alaska, these animals have become important to many communities since the late 1800s. Today, subsistence hunting of reindeer provides families with a necessary alternative to the expensive cuts of store-bought meat. The continued survival of the reindeer will be important for the livelihoods of many surrounding communities. CT

Source: NPR

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The hirola has been decimated by cattle plague.


CONSERVATION NEWS

Best Method of Conservation for Urial Sheep?

he short answer to that question is hunting, as the Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department has discovered

through their successful programs in the Salt Mountain region of Pakistan.

In their Urial Trophy Hunting Program this year, 16 hunts have been permitted, and six Americans have already completed their hunts, raising well over $100,000.

The Wildlife & Parks Department gives 80 percent of the hunting fees to community-based organizations that use the funds for both conservation initiatives and local community support. With this model, the community sees firsthand benefits of animal conservation. The remaining amount goes to the government treasury because the Parks Department is a source of revenue for the government, not the other way around.

The results of this revenue are tangible. The protected hills,

valleys and low mountains of the northeast Pakistan region have provided a thriving ecosystem for the urial, or ovis orientalis punjabensis, and the Parks Department can closely monitor conservation efforts, including hunting, to keep the urial population on the rise. Not all species in Pakistan receive this much attention.

Although the wild areas remain protected, animals that are not hunted rarely receive targeted studies or resources, which has led to mismanagement, and even extinction, for a majority of animal populations in Pakistan. CTSource: Dawn (Pakistan’s English-language newspaper)

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CHAPTER NEWS

DSC Adds Seventh Chapter – DSC HeartlandSC welcomes the seventh group to join its chapter affiliate program – DSC Heartland. The new chapter

has come together to join DSC in their vision of a society that values wildlife, engages in its conservation, and understands and supports the role of well-regulated hunting in the sustainable use of wild resources.

“While DSC is based in Texas, we are a national organization with members spread across the world,” said DSC Chapter Development Coordinator Kim Rappleye. “Iowa and Nebraska lie in the heartland of America, so it is a fitting name for our latest chapter. The new chapter is full of passionate hunters who want to do their part to conserve wildlife and wild spaces. We welcome them into the DSC chapter family.”

DSC Heartland will be headquartered in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but will encompass the states of Iowa and Nebraska. The chapter features 89 members, including nine Life Members. The group already has three events lined up: youth carp shoot/fishing extravaganza, youth archery clinic and the youth trap shoot and hunter education course.

“The best days in my life are when I see my kids smile when they catch a fish, shoot their first deer or make a perfect shot at an archery tournament. So, what could be better than forming a chapter under DSC that has a primary focus on youth,” said DSC Heartland President Corey Goss. “I think I speak for all our members and the board of directors and officers when I say the only thing we want or expect out of the DSC Heartland chapter is to produce smiles on the faces of the youth of today. When we do this we will have done our part to ensure there is a future and a freedom in the great outdoors, whether they want to hunt, fish, shoot or just go for a nature walk.”DSC Heartland joins DSC Northeast, Lubbock Sportsman’s Club, DSC Austin, DSC South Texas, DSC New Mexico and DSC Permian Basin in a network of ardent hunters-conservationists. The new chapter helps connect individuals without geographic ties together to achieve the club’s mission. DSC has more than 6,000 members worldwide. CTInterested in forming a new DSC chapter? Contact Kim Rappleye, [email protected], or (970) 389-0160.

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Sixsite Gear New Platinum Sponsor ixsite Gear is joining in the growing effort to promote

conservation, educate youth and protect hunters’ rights with their platinum level sponsorship of DSC for the next three years. The high-end, camouflage gear company is now the official “Camo Clothing” for DSC and will be featured throughout DSC’s Convention and Expo in Dallas, Jan. 4-8, 2018.

“Our convention serves as our major fundraiser to fulfill our mission to conserve wildlife and habitat and protect our hunting tradition,” said DSC Executive Director Ben Carter. “Our continued success is only possible due to committed sponsors such as Sixsite Gear. Their support enables us to continue to expand our conservation and educational efforts around the world. We

are proud to have their support in the coming years.”

Sixsite Gear is owned and operated by a U.S. veteran and produces all of its products in the U.S. Drawing from his five years serving as a Navy SEAL, Sixsite Gear founder and owner Stephen Holley began his commitment to producing high-quality, innovative and purposive gear by customizing other brand’s lacking hunting apparel to create a better fit and function for optimal performance. The gear introduces tactical elements into hunting attire to help create a more effective hunter.

“Sixsite Gear is extremely pleased and honored to be the official camo

clothing sponsor of DSC, a stellar organization that has set the benchmark for conservation, education and advocacy for sportsmen and women around the world,” Holley said. CT

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CORPORATE SPONSORS

DSC’s Tracks Across Africa — Outdoor Channel

Hornady’s Dark and Dangerous — Sportsman Channel

DSC’s Trailing the Hunter’s Moon — Sportsman Channel

Trijicon’s World of Sports Afield — Sportsman Channel

Under Wild Skies with Tony Makris — NBC Sports

Dallas Safari Club sponsors the following television programs.

Watch for DSC ads and features each week!

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB ON TELEVISION


RELOADING

Same Caliber? Same Thing? BY TERRY BLAUWKAMP

ecently I was in a local sports store and you won’t believe what happened.A fellow walked up to the counter and asked for a box

of .30-30s. Now that sounded simple enough, until the clerk asked if he wanted 150-grain or 170-grain bullets.

Getting only a blank look from the customer, she asked if he knew what brand of ammo he wanted − Remington, Winchester, or Federal. Again getting a blank “deer in the headlights” look, she asked if he knew if the bullets were Core Lokt, Power Points, or Silvertips.

Finally the customer said, “Just give me the ones that come in a green box”. As she handed him a box of Remington he said, “that wasn’t so hard was it? The deer don’t know the difference anyway.”

I guess he is right, but when it comes to ammunition, the .30-30 Winchester is the simpler of the many options available, as a .30-30 is a .30-30.

Last fall, I really thought being at the range just before deer season was going quite well. As usual I always check the dumpsters and buckets for any brass that might be left behind and sure enough I found some very interesting cases.

They looked just like .300 Weatherby Magnum with the double round radius shoulders, but they had a very short neck, and had .300 Win Mag stamped on the back. Upon further searching, I found 13 cases that looked like that and figured out that what some fellow had done is fired .300 Winchester Magnum ammo in his .300 Weatherby Magnum rifle.

Since belted magnum cases headspace on the belt, they would have fired “just fine” but the shoulder has a big excessive headspace problem. Since it was factory ammo in virgin brass, they just stretched out to fill the chamber.

This is certainly not an accepted practice and I doubt if his accuracy was very good, though I wonder if the fellow even knew it.

Odds are he went to the store and asked for some “.300 Magnum” ammo and did not specifically ask for Weatherby Magnum ammo. The clerk (who usually works in the golf department) just reached over and handed him some .300

Winchester Magnum ammo not knowing the difference plus the customer is not paying attention either.

Another “300” that gets folks into trouble is the opposite situation where the fellow is given .300 Weatherby Magnum ammo only to find it will not fit in his .300 Winchester

Magnum. A customer could also ask for .300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) ammo and be handed .300 RUM (Remington Ultra Magnum) ammo, or vice versa. I’m not so sure I’d want to fire a WSM cartridge in a RUM chamber as it has no belt to hold it in place and the WSM case is .280 shorter than the shoulder on the RUM case.

It would come out looking like a cylindrical case with no neck at all, and hopefully not separate and be stuck in the chamber.

Thankfully, the base diameter is the same on both cases so it should not leak out the back, but I am not about to shoot one and find out.

To the (uneducated) store clerk, the caliber numbering system is mind-

boggling as we have the .300 Savage, .300 Winchester, .300 H&H, .300 Weatherby, .300 WSM, .300 RSAUM (Remington Ultra Short Magnum) and a .300 RUM (Remington Ultra Magnum).

Another numbering situation that gives many folks equal trouble is the .270 calibers and the 7mm designation. An unsuspecting customer could walk up and ask for .270 Winchester ammo, only be handed .270 WSM ammo or even 270 Weatherby Magnum ammo. Firing one of these in the wrong chamber, I can assure you, will not go very well either. The 7mm designation is a real hot spot as we have the old 7x57mm ammo, coupled with the new 7mm Remington Magnum, a 7mm RSUM, the 7mm STW (Shooting Times Westerner) and 7mm WSM.

The moral of the story is “check, check and double check” the ammo you purchase. Be absolutely specific and be sure of what you have purchased. Remember, not only will you get in trouble upon firing it, or not being able to fire it, but you can’t return it to the store either as they just will not take ammunition back, period. CT

If you have some unique experience, by all means tell me about it at [email protected].

RThe short answer is “not hardly.”

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Web|Blog: dwell-dfw.com | Email: [email protected]

Diego and Cynthia LopezEbby Halliday RealtorsD.FW Metro Luxury Real Estate Diego – 214.769.3099Cynthia – 214.769.2142

DSC LIFE Members

DSC Member Portal URL

JOIN, RENEW, SIGN UP FOR AN EVENT

http://members.biggame.org


MEMBER BULLETIN BOARD

As a service to DSC members, we are happy to offer the Member Bulletin Board. DEADLINE: the 1st day of the month prior to the issue date. Example: April 1 is the deadline for the May Camp Talk. Please keep your information brief and send via email or an attachment to [email protected]. No placements by phone. All ads will run for three months at no charge to DSC members. If your item sells, please notify the DSC office for removal. If you wish to continue the ad, please send your request to [email protected]. No commercial ads. Buy and sell at your own risk. All sales should be conducted in compliance with federal, state and local laws. Thanks! ~DSC Staff

FIREARMS & AMMO FOR SALECustom Dakota Safari 76 RH Rifle: Cal. 375 H&H; XXX English Walnut Stock w/point wrap checkering on forend w/ ebony tip & cheekpiece w/ shadow line; Matte Blue 22” barrel; LOP13 5/8”; Mauser type extractor w/controlled round feeding; 3 position safety; Barrel band & inletted Ken Howell swivel studs; Pachmayer Decelerator 1” Recoil Pad & Mercury Recoil Reducer in stock; 2 Ebony Cross Bolts; Excellent Condition, used twice. Pictures available; $5,495. Serious inquiries only. Contact Bill @ 972-740-1820 or [email protected]. March

Two bolt action Ruger Big Game rifles – (1) 416 ruger, wood stock (2) 375 ruger, new in box, syn stock, vortex scope. Ammo reloading supplies for both included. $2200. Call-Ken Kooser, Conroe 713-725-3754. Can deliver to Dallas. January/February

HUNTS FOR SALESpain Big Game Hunt for Sale: 2 person – 5 day hunt, or 1 person – 10 day hunt. Good

for 2017 or 2018. Auction item FRI-49 in 2017 DSC Convention Auction Catalog. Plans have changed and can no longer make the hunt. Willing to sell for price I paid at auction ($3,000). Retail value $14,000. Includes all food and lodging and $4,000 credit toward trophy fees for Spanish Ibex, Iberian red deer, Fallow deer, Iberian Mouflon, Roe deer, Chamois, Aoudad or Balearean Boc. Great opportunity for anyone that wants to hunt in Spain. www.GiuseppeCarrizosa.com Contact Stephen Everett @ 225-810-8962 or [email protected]. April

Van Wijk Safaris. 10-Day 2X1 plains game hunt for two hunters and two non-hunters in South Africa. Includes Trophy fees for 2x impala OR 2x common blesbok. Not included is round trip transport from Johannesburg to base camp. A $1000 deposit is required to secure hunt dates. Retail cost of hunt $11000. My age/health prevents me from going I would like to get $1100. Call-Ken Kooser, Conroe. 713-725-3754. January/February

HUNT WANTEDHusband and wife, both life members, looking for place to hunt turkeys. Have all the equipment needed to hunt. First in 5 years without a place. Contact Alan Vogel at 214.418.0792 or [email protected]. March

VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT AND GEARBrand new Americase 4004 Single Scoped Rifle Case: Blue velvet interior with the DSC logo and “2017” embroidered in the lid interior. It holds 1 scoped rifle, has two tie down straps & a large storage area. The case measures 50” x 10” x 3 ½”. It will not hold wide turret scopes. $500.00. Call Graham @ 469-337-2655. March

REAL ESTATEFabulous Hunting Ranch for Sale – Turn Key. Less than 2 hours from North Dallas. Atoka, OK, beautiful ranch w/ abundance of white tail deer (to 160 BC), turkey, hogs, coyotes & great fishing. Remarkable facilities. Lodge and guest quarters sleep 20. Sellers are Life Members of DSC. Brokered by No Fences Land Co. For photos, all-inclusive inventory list, video w/aerial drone video, game cam pics go to www.nofencesland.com “Find Property” & click on “Circle K Ranch”. For more info contact Richie Nye w/ NFLC, 918-649-4110. All you need is your hunting gear and a toothbrush! Serious prospects only, please. March

Beautiful Game Farm for Sale in South Africa. Visit the following link for more info http://www.pamgolding.co.za/property-details/346-hectares-game-farm-for-sale-modimolle-nylstroom/1mm1264674. March

Livestock grazing land available for lease. Cattle, sheep, goats. Located in Edwards County, west edge of Texas Hill Country, end of public road, no thru-traffic. Well-watered, good net wire fences, no cedar. Owned/operated by conservation-minded family for 100+ years. If interested, call 830-683-5107. January/February

MISCELLANEOUSShoulder Mounts for Sale: Cape Buffalo $400, Kudu $400, Large Caribou $400. Pictures available upon request. If interested, please call 972-567-7455. March

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSRandal Garrett .............Crystal Allison, Ben CarterXavier Reyes ........................................... Jared BassChris Wilson .................Crystal Allison, Ben Carter

CORPORATE MEMBERSHigh Heel Huntress - Sierra Bishop .....................................Mike Simpson LIFE SPONSOR MEMBERSEmerick Huber .............Crystal Allison, Ben CarterRavin Reddy .................Crystal Allison, Ben Carter

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSWilliam van Niekerk ..Corey Goss/DSC Heartland

SPONSOR MEMBERSGreg Biehle, DVM .......Crystal Allison, Ben CarterKyle Brown ...................Crystal Allison, Ben CarterDavid Butler........................................Charles ButlerNicole Capossela ........Crystal Allison, Ben CarterConnor Danielowski .....................Brent KarringtonByron Farmer ...............Crystal Allison, Ben CarterMatthew Frizzo ............Crystal Allison, Ben CarterRick Gibson................Corey Goss / DSC HeartlandKevin Goebel ................Crystal Allison, Ben Carter

Gary Griffith ..................Crystal Allison, Ben CarterDon Holder....................Crystal Allison, Ben CarterCody Hudson ................................DSC New MexicoKenneth Kirkeby ..........Crystal Allison, Ben CarterAnthony Madrid ..........................DSC New MexicoLeslie Noack ................................DSC New MexicoDavid Reese .................................DSC New MexicoOwen Schaffer............Crystal Allison, Ben CarterAlex Sturges ...................................Brent KarringtonBarrySullivan ...............Crystal Allison, Ben CarterDjoko Sutrisno .............Crystal Allison, Ben CarterMike Zadalis ..............Corey Goss / DSC Heartland

New Member Sponsor

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

New Member Sponsor New Member Sponsor

R E T U R N S E R V I C E S R E Q U E S T E D

13709 Gamma RoadDallas, TX 75244

MEMBER EVENTSApril 20 Monthly Meeting – Annual Trophy and Photo Competition Awards Omni Hotel at Park West 1590 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, 75234

April 29 10th Annual Crawfish Festival Hosted by Conservation Society Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. 1933 E. Levee St., Dallas, 75207

May 6 10th Annual Big Bore Shoot I-45 and Belt Line Rd, Wilmer, TX

May 13 Conservation Society Pistol Fundamentals DFW Gun Range 1607 W Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75235

May 18 Monthly Meeting Witherspoon Distillery 225 S. Charles Street, Lewisville, TX 75057

June 15 Monthly Meeting Larry Weishuhn SAVE THE DATE

dsc newsletter - dallas safari club · the value of hunting in conserving wild animal species, the...

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