Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns

I know, not exactly on subject, but what can I say, I thought this was a cool story.

From Houston Chronicle:

PHOENIX — A missing handwritten transcript from a coroner’s inquest done after the legendary gunfight at the OK Corral has resurfaced in a dusty box more than 125 years after the most famous shootout in Wild West history.

The document resurfaced when court clerks stumbled on the box while reorganizing files in an old jail storage room in Bisbee, about 20 miles south of Tombstone.

Stuffed inside was a modern manila envelope marked “keep” with the date 1881.

Court officials turned the document over to state archivists on Wednesday. Experts will immediately begin peeling away tape, restoring the paper and ink, and digitizing the pages.

The first pages could show up on the library’s website for historians to review as soon as next week.

It’s unlikely the transcript will provide any shattering revelations, since historians have already reviewed photocopies of the document and the inquest was covered in detail by local newspapers at the time.

But history buffs said the transcript is enlightening nonetheless, clearing up fuzzy points in the copies and revealing small notes that might not have appeared on the photocopies.

“They were handled by the people of that moment, and they’re the actual artifact that encapsulated that time period,” said GladysAnn Wells, Arizona State Librarian.

The 1881 gun battle between the forces of law and a gang of rustlers left three men dead, made folk heroes of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday and inspired numerous movies about the untamed Old West.

The inquest was done on the same day Earp, his two brothers and Holliday confronted a gang of drunken outlaws, sparking a 30-second gun battle in the streets of Tombstone that killed Frank and Tom McLaury and Bill Clanton.

The document has been missing for decades — last seen when it was photocopied in the 1960s. The pages include verbatim testimony from eyewitnesses to the shootout.

The document is legible, but the paper has darkened to an amber beer color and is brittle like a potato chip, said Cochise County Court Clerk Denise Lundin. The handwriting can be difficult to read because the court reporter was rapidly taking notes, she said.

Even if the document doesn’t reveal new information, the discovery helps historians feel more comfortable with the record, said Gary Robertson, a Wild West historian and author of the book “Doc Holliday, the Life and the Legend.” But most importantly, it sparks the imagination.

“Every time you find one it gives you hope that maybe you’ll find some more,” Roberts said. “Maybe there will be something else that we’ve all been dying to get our hands on.”

Lundin is convinced that somewhere in her courthouse are records of the inquest for Johnny Ringo, another legendary outlaw.

“These things aren’t something you can go search for,” she said. “You really just have to watch for them.”

In doing a little online reading about the shootout, it appears the Clantons are still pissed about getting there ass kicked a century ago

• Bird dog training (part I) The following is the first article, written by my brother, in a series on how to train your bird dog. Darla. his lab, is an awesome bird dog. He has trained her since she was a puppy. Not only is she awesome hunting dove, she's great hunting quail also. If you've......
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Communist, no dove hunting, that would be like no birthday or Christmas.

From the PostStar.com

It may have been nearly 50 years ago, but local real estate agent David Collins still fondly remembers his dove hunting outings while stationed with the U.S. Army in Kentucky.

“It was a whole lot of fun,” he said.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t hunted doves since, because New York does not allow dove hunting.

But Collins is among a group of bird hunters statewide that is making a push to convince state officials to create a dove season. As he has gotten older, the 68-year-old was looking for a less labor-intensive bird hunting opportunity that he could share with his grandchildren.

Unfortunately, misconceptions about doves have not helped the cause, he said. The dove population is healthy, and hunters nationwide account for only about 10 percent of dove mortality. However, many still think of them not as a potential game bird, but as the cute birds that frequent their bird feeders.

“It’s not a songbird, it’s not a bird of peace,” he said. “Yes, people feed them in their backyard, but they also feed deer in their backyard.”

Then there’s the issue of the potential revenue the state could bring in through additional hunting license sales, Collins pointed out.

The sportsmen federations of Warren and Washington counties have gotten behind the movement, as have their counterparts in Greene and Columbia counties.

The New York State Conservation Council has also gotten on board, asking the state Department of Environmental Conservation to survey hunters on the issue.

Collins is working with hunters from around the state, and has gotten support from other sportsmen federations, as well. He said he and other would-be dove hunters plan to meet with Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, R-Willsboro, this week to discuss the issue.

Efforts to get New York to allow dove hunting have popped up periodically since the 1980s, but for some reason have not garnered the political support needed.

Thirty-nine of the 48 lower states have dove hunting seasons of up to 70 days, with daily bag limits of up to 15 birds in some states. Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among the states that allow dove hunting.

At the request of the NYSCC, the state Department of Environmental Conservation surveyed 5,000 small game hunters last year about their thoughts on a dove hunting season

The survey found 23.4 percent answered that they’d support or strongly support dove hunting in New York, while 11 percent said they went out-of-state to hunt doves, wrote Bryan Swift, the DEC’s game bird unit leader. More than 64 percent either did not answer the question or responded that they didn’t care either way.

“There is no biological reason why doves could not be hunted in New York,” Swift wrote. “However, until political support increases to the point that a bill to amend the Environmental Conservation Law is introduced, passes both the Senate and Assembly, and is signed into law by the governor, we encourage small game hunting enthusiasts to continue to enjoy New York’s other game bird hunting opportunities for turkey, grouse, woodcock and waterfowl, available in a variety of habitats across the state.”

Collins said anyone interested in helping the effort can call him at 791-0188 or e-mail him at davecollins@roadrunner.com.

• Texas Weekly Migratory Bird Report Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February. North Zone Dove: The North Zone season closes at sunset Oct. 25, but reopens Dec. 26-Jan. 9, 2010. Generally, the season has been fair at best, but not for lack of birds. Rains hampered most flight patterns......
• Humane Society Trying to Control Hunters In an article from West Virginia Outdoors News, the government in Kanawha County in conjunction with the humane society has passed an ordinance requiring hunting dogs to be be brought inside if the temperature outside is over 80 degrees or below 40 degrees. I mean really, how can an ordinance......
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1700 fps is pretty darn fast for a shotshell. Remington will introduce their new ‘Hypersonic’ high speed steel load later this year. I can only imagine the price.

From Field and Stream:

Later this year, Remington will offer the heaviest, fastest steel loads yet made. The new HyperSonics will containing 1 1/8, 1 ¼ and 1 3/8 ounce loads launched at a screaming 1700 fps. (I know, for you rifle guys, 1700 fps is plodding. In a shotgun, 1700 fps is off the speedometer). The nearest competitor in the speed derby is Kent, whose Fasteel clocks in at 1625, but with lighter payloads.

The technology behind the HyperSonics is ingenious. A new wad called the Turbo Jet (see picture) makes it possible for ……  Remington to put so much shot at such high velocity in a shell without reaching dangerous chamber pressures. A hollow stem running from the bottom of the shotcup to the primer holds a small powder charge; the main charge surrounds it. Upon ignition, the first charge starts the wad and shot down the muzzle. Then, the second charge ignites in the larger space. The increased volume behind the wad allows the remainder of the powder to burn without creating excessive pressure. The result is a shell capable of launching more shot faster than any other I am aware of.

The shotcup is actually self-slitting. It starts out as one piece, to keep the shot together and pattern tighter (like Federal’s Black Cloud) then the “stress concentrators” on the sides cut the shotcup into petals, releasing the pellets.

All of this speed and technology will give you:
1. 16% greater pellet energy.
2. Leads reduced by 8 inches on 40 yard crossing shots.
3. A recoil headache. The 1 ¼ ounce Hypersonics will generate almost 50% more recoil than a “standard” 1450 fps 1 ¼ ounce high velocity steel load.

High velocity steel does seem to work even better in the field than it does on paper* but my gut reaction to HyperSonics is, the extra recoil isn’t worth the extra killing power and shorter leads. Of course, I am easily bruised. So, is it worth it? You tell me

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This has to be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. A guy in New Hampshire decided to hoist his loaded 50 caliber muzzle loader (muzzle up appaently) anda branch pulled the trigger and shot him in the right hand. It just as easily could have been in the face.

The guy was 63 years old. I wonder how many times he has done this in the past. He’s lucky and hopefully if you have kids this will make you want to go out and teach them some more gun safety.

You can’t teach stupid, it just comes natural, but you can teach safety, safety, safety.

Here is the full storry.

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From the Houston Chronicle:

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to decide whether strict local and state gun control laws violate the Second Amendment, ensuring another high-profile battle over the rights of gun owners.

The court said it will review a lower court ruling that upheld a handgun ban in Chicago. Gun rights supporters challenged gun laws in Chicago and some suburbs immediately following the high court’s decision in June 2008 that struck down a handgun ban in the District of Columbia, a federal enclave.

The new case tests whether last year’s ruling applies as well to local and state laws.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld ordinances barring the ownership of handguns in most cases in Chicago and suburban Oak Park, Ill.

Judge Frank Easterbrook, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, said that “the Constitution establishes a federal republic where local differences are to be cherished as elements of liberty rather than extirpated in order to produce a single, nationally applicable rule.”

“Federalism is an older and more deeply rooted tradition than is a right to carry any particular kind of weapon,” Easterbrook wrote.

Evaluating arguments over the extension of the Second Amendment is a job “for the justices rather than a court of appeals,” he said.

The high court took his suggestion Wednesday.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, then an appeals court judge, was part of a three-judge panel in New York that reached a similar conclusion in January.

Judges on both courts — Republican nominees in Chicago and Democratic nominees in New York — said only the Supreme Court could decide whether to extend last year’s ruling throughout the country. Many, but not all, of the constitutional protections in the Bill of Rights have been applied to cities and states.

The New York ruling also has been challenged, but the court did not act on it Wednesday. Sotomayor would have to sit out any case involving decisions she was part of on the appeals court. Although the issue is the same in the Chicago case, there is no ethical bar to her participation in its consideration by the Supreme Court.

Several Republican senators cited the Sotomayor gun ruling, as well as her reticence on the topic at her confirmation hearing, in explaining their decision to oppose her confirmation to the high court.

The case will be argued next year.

The case is McDonald v. Chicago, 08-1521.

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10,000,000 satisfied customers. A stunning achievement in any industry. In order to celebrate, Remingtin is offering you a chance to win your very own 870. You can enter to win at www.remington.com/10milu.

 Remington’s press release

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Like Browning, Remington is offering a fall promotion with a some really good deals (but I think Browning’s are better).

Here is the basic program:

The 2009 “Rebate Roundup” Fall Promotion offers $30 cash back on Model 870 Express Shotguns, $40 cash back on Model 700 SPS & 700 ADL Rifles, $50 cash back on Model 11-87 Shotguns, $40 cash back on Model 770 Rifles,  Up to $10 cash back on Premier Copper Solid Sabot Slugs and Up to $5 cash backon Core-Lokt Cartridges!  This offer is valid from 8/1/09 through 12/31/09. Click the image for complete details.

Remington also has a coupon good for two dollars off per box on STS and Nitro 27 loads (up to $100). The coupon is valid through October 31st. Click on the image to get the coupon.

Get your Remington needs at Impact Guns.

• Remington's New 1700 FPS Shotshell, 'Hypersonic'   1700 fps is pretty darn fast for a shotshell. Remington will introduce their new 'Hypersonic' high speed steel load later this year. I can only imagine the price. From Field and Stream: Later this year, Remington will offer the heaviest, fastest steel loads yet made. The new HyperSonics will......
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In an article from West Virginia Outdoors News, the government in Kanawha County in conjunction with the humane society has passed an ordinance requiring hunting dogs to be be brought inside if the temperature outside is over 80 degrees or below 40 degrees.

I mean really, how can an ordinance like this be passed. What’s next, is the government is going to tell us what temperatures our kids can go outside? I’ve read some ridiculous things before but this takes the cake. If the dumb-asses from the humane society ever went hunting with a dog and actually saw how happy the hunting dogs are, then maybe they wouldn’t pass this stupid s%#t.

I’ll tell you what is in-humane, that is preventing a hunting dog from doing what it has been bread to do for generations, hunt. All the bird dogs I’ve ever been around live to hunt birds, the rest of their time is just waiting until bird season opens again.

I’m afraid this is a small example of the infringements on our rights that are coming in the future.

Here is the full story:

The leader of one of the state’s sporting dog organizations says a recently approved Kanawha County ordinance may very well be a covert effort to eliminate hunting with dogs. 

Gary Knapp, president of the West Virginia Bear Hunters Association appeared before the Kanawha County Commission last week to raise his concerns about the stiff stipulations of the ordinance, aimed at preventing mistreatment of dogs.  

“We could live with most of it,” said Knapp on West Virginia Outdoors. “But it doesn’t matter if you have beagle dogs, squirrel dogs, coon dogs, bear dogs, or bird dogs, they’re outside dogs.  They’re temperament is for outside activities.  It’s like putting a bull in a china shop.”

Knapp says the ordinance, as it was approved, requires dog owners to bring their animals in the house when temperatures outside go above 85 degrees or below 40 degrees.   The range would encompass more than half the year in West Virginia.  Knapp say it also renders the dog ineffective on a hunt if he or she isn’t in proper condition.

“You have to get the animal used to the environment he’s going to be functioning in,” said Knapp.  “If you sit in an air conditioned office all day, then go home and try to mow the yard, it’s had on you.   These animals need to be conditioned to the environment they’re going to hunt in.”

Bear hunting season is in December, coon hunting and rabbit hunting are wintertime pursuits and 40-degrees would be considered a warm temperature during those months.

Nobody seems sure of just where the writers of the ordinance came up with the arbitrary figures of 40-degrees and 85-degrees.   Knapp says he was told by the attorney for the Humane Society it was a recommendation of their organization.    The Humane Society of the United States has long been opposed to any and all hunting.  Knapp says there was a not-so-veiled indication that may be what’s at play here.

“When I was speaking to the commission, one of my friends who’s a coon hunter was sitting beside me and a lady from the Humane Society was sitting behind him,” explained Knapp. “When I explained to the commission this would end bear hunting, her reaction was, ”
Good!”"

Knapp and other dog enthusiasts fear the ordinance is well on its way across the state.  

“It’s like the smoking ban, which started in Kanawha County. This will spread just like it did to other counties,” said Knapp.

The Kanawha County Commission did agree to put a six-month moratorium on the ordinance to address the hunters’ concerns.   Knapp says they hope they can work with the commission to solve the issue and preserve bear hunting in the county.

“There’s not enough bear hunters that live in Kanawha County and that’s evident.   That’s why they have to get guys from other parts of the state and out of state, to hunt these bears,” said Knapp. “They can’t stay out there in a camper or even in a motel, stake their dogs out and comply. 

For some interesting comment go to Field & Streams Field Notes Blog; 

• Migratory Bird Report North Zone Dove: Rain showers last week put a damper on the flight, however, between showers doves were good in corn, milo and along treelines. Fields near Paris enjoyed good shoots in harvested corn and soybeans. Amarillo fields of corn and milo hosted steady shoots. Abilene saw half-limits to near-limits......
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INDUSTRY NEWS

From sknnymoose.com

Some will tell you it is a buyers market out there. If you think now is a great time to purchase a home or automobile, wait until you see the stimulus package Browning has created to put a new shotgun in your safe while doing its part to jump start the economy.

There has never been a better time than now to head on down to your Browning dealer and take advantage of one or more of the four programs designed to put a Browning in your hands while hanging onto more of your hard earned cash.

* Cynergy Club – Receive $500 in Browning merchandise including a $100 check from Browning when purchasing a Cynergy shotgun.

* National Trade-In Days – Trade in any used firearm and purchase a new Browning Citori or BT-99 the same day from participating dealers and get a check from Browning for $150.

* Locked and Loaded – Purchase any new Citori over/under shotgun and receive $150 from Browning towards ammunition.

* Youth Purchase Program – What started as a 4-H program has quickly spread to include SCTP and AIM members as well. Receive the following rebates when purchasing a new Browning…

Cynergy or Citori $200

BT-99 $100

Silver $75

BPS $50

Note: Browning stimulus promotions cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Get your ‘cash for shotguns’ deal at Impact Guns.

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From Ottawa Sun:

He’s really, really sorry.

Really.

David Fraser can’t apologize enough, as he talks about ducks, guns and stupid decisions, knowing the anger of countless Canadians will soon be focused on the little Saskatchewan town he calls home.

“What can I say? We’ve never been in any kind of trouble before. We’re just three young guys who made a stupid mistake,” says Fraser.

“Not that it’s any excuse, but we honestly didn’t know it was crime — if we did we wouldn’t have uploaded it to the internet and we never would have done it in the first place.

“We really didn’t know and we’re very sorry about it.”

That Fraser speaks quickly, sounding worried and a bit jittery as he throws out explanations and apologies, isn’t too surprising.

This morning, 30-year-old Fraser will join his 23-year-old brother James Fraser and their brother-in-law Jeremy Rowlands at a Saskatoon courthouse, where the trio will answer to charges of slaughtering ducks for fun.

A flood of tips to Saskatchewan’s anti-poaching line led to the arrests made by wildlife officers and RCMP.

Until today’s court appearance, the trio had anonymity to shield them from the barrage of loathing aimed at the unknown men in the online video, who laugh with cruel glee as they shoot at ducks swimming in a small pond.

Now, the three men from Cudworth, Sask., will be known to all. Public fury that’s been festering for more than a week will finally have a focus. It won’t be pretty and Fraser knows it. There’s already been vague threats.

“I have children, and we live in a small town, and I read one post about the ducklings being orphaned, and there was a post saying, ‘I hope they have kids so we can take care of their kids and show them how the ducks feel’, ” says Fraser.

He knows many people, including furious hunters and livid animal-rights advocates, see him and his comrades as blood-thirsty savages who killed the ducks for a sick thrill.

But really, says Fraser, that’s not who they are. Not at all — the laughter over orphaned ducklings and dying birds was out of character.

“Is there remorse over killing the ducks? Absolutely. We’re all pet owners here, both cats and dogs, and we’re not in the habit of killing animals normally.”

He says sorry again, repeating that he had no idea duck hunting from the window of a car, with a rifle, was not allowed in Saskatchewan.

Fraser and his brother, you see, aren’t from the West. They arrived in Saskatchewan a half-year-or-so back, from Toronto, where he says the only birds they ever saw were seagulls and pigeons.

Fraser says the video which has acted as a catalyst for anger and outrage was only posted because it looks so much like other YouTube videos, showing proud hunters and their quarry.

“We’d been on YouTube, and we saw all sorts of things being killed, like skunks and rodents,” he says.

“It was just one of those silly things — we didn’t think hunting ducks was that big of a deal.”

Except when you shoot ducks out of season, with a rifle, from your car and the roadside, it’s called poaching.

It’s that clear difference that’s enraged the hunting community across North America, and catching the trio of duck killers has been the hottest topic on hunting forums from Alberta to Texas.

Fraser says sorry to the hunters, too.

“It was a really stupid, stupid mistake,” he says.

“I feel bad for the hunting community and we understand how this has portrayed them, giving hunting a black eye.”

And today, in court, the charges will be heard and their names will be made public. Fraser says he’ll say sorry one last time and he hopes it’s enough.

“If they give us a chance to speak, we’re going to offer up a very sincere public apology,” he says.

“We’re really sorry.”

MICHAEL.PLATT@SUNMEDIA.CA

The infamous video can be seen here.

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” Ron White.

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