"Puppy Mill" Bills in several states will affect hunters all around!

Here is yet one more way the government is trying to take away our rights.

You may not be a breeder or own several dogs, but if they get this passed, they won't stop. Next they will start to limit how many horses, chickens, cows, cats, lizards (you get the point), that you can own.

If HUSA is really wanting to help this situation they would be trying to help fund the States in providing more inspectors and not letting people treat their dogs terrible!

What they are doing is using a select few bad apples to insinuate that all breeders treat their dogs as a "puppy mill".

Unfortunatully this is just another ploy by HUSA (Humane Society) to get the public sympathy and more money for their "non-profit" cause!

I'll hunt and eat meat to my hearts content! Vegans - you've been warned!! :)

Here is the article copied in full from the website of:

US Sportsmen Alliance
http://www.ussportsmen.org/Page.aspx?pid=1837#

“Puppy Mill” Mania Ensnares Sporting Dog Breeders

Sportsmen Action Needed in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska
1/29/09

One of the newest, and most insidious, tactics used by the anti-hunting movement in its war on our heritage involves the regulation of so-called “puppy mills.” Right now, major efforts are underway to pass legislation mandating extremely onerous regulations on all dog kennels in numerous states throughout the nation. Sportsmen must oppose these efforts.

The USSA has been busy sending state action alerts to sportsmen in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska in an effort to oppose this growing movement. If these bills pass, legitimate sporting dog kennels could easily find themselves out of business in those states. Also, it is practically guaranteed that this mania won’t stop there.

Lumping sporting dog breeders into the whole debate over “puppy mills” is a sly way of attacking the entire foundation of breeding sporting dogs. Anti-hunting groups like the Humane Society of the United States understand this very well, which is why they are always speaking up and pushing as broad a piece of legislation as they can in every state.

Take Action! Sportsmen in these states must contact their state legislators today. Urge them to oppose the following measures and ask that before any legislation is passed they ensure it includes protections for sporting dog kennels.

In Colorado, HB 1172 sponsored by Representative Beth McCann (D- Denver), currently in the House Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Committee

In Illinois, HB 198 sponsored by Representative John Fritchey (D- Chicago), currently in the House Rules Committee

In Minnesota, Senate File 7 sponsored by Senator Don Betzold (DFL- Dist 51), currently in the Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee.

In Minnesota, Senate File 201 sponsored by Senator Steve Dille (R- Dist 18), currently in the Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee

In Nebraska, LB 241 sponsored by Senator Rich Pahls (Dist- 31), currently in the Agriculture Committee

To learn more details about the individual bills in each state, please click on the following links: Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

Remember, all sportsmen should get into the action. While a legislator in one state only cares about their own constituents, you can still play a key role by alerting fellow sportsmen you know in those states about these atrocious bills. Also, by passing the word along, you’ll help keep everyone vigilant and on the look out for similar legislation in their own states.

(the bolding of the last paragraph was done my The Mechanic's Wife)

Bird Hunting, a Bum Leg and new earrings!

So what does bird hunting, a bum leg and new earrings have in common?
well...let me tell you about my Friday the 14th of November!

It all actually started months ago when Matt and I were invited to go to the BOAC Charity Bird Hunt in Calhan, CO at Rocky Mt. Roosters.

I have been eagerly awaiting Nov. 14th., as I had never been "bird" hunting like what we were going.

I have been Dove hunting and Duck hunting (basically pond jumping), but had never been on a guided Bird Hunt.

The weeks kept coming and the more excited I was getting.

I had no idea what to expect on our hunt. Last week, as I was doing chores, one of my Boxers was chasing birds - just regular tweeties in our yard - and needless to say, I stepped right in her way, and boom, out goes the knee!

After a little doctor visit and a few x-rays it was decided that I had tore my Lateral ligament (LCL), put a crack in my small bone that my LCL attaches to by my calf, and a possible mincus tear on the opposite side.

Plus come to find out I had cracked my knee some other time pretty good, and didn't know about it!

So, I was now basically sidelined to do about anything much over going far from the couch.

Well a week wore on then, two, and my knee steadly has gotten better.

I called Paul, and told him I didn't know how well I would be able to hunt, but I was coming anyway!

Morning rolled around, and low and behold...its snowing...my battery on my pickup won't start...and I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do.

I decide I will be disappointed if I don't go, so I get the battery recharged and head to Calhan.

Unfortunatully my directions were not the best, and I had to stop for directions.

Once I got there, I walked on the property that had guys out shooting trap at 5 different stations, had a cleaning house and the main building.

I walked in and found Paul, Joel and Marcia.

I bought $20.00 of tickets for the bucket drawings, said hi to my friend Will, then proceeded to talk him and 2 of his buddys into trap shooting with me (even though they had already practiced.)
Paul also joined us.

This was unlike any trap shooting I have ever done.
It was all by remote and you could have 2 different "rabbits" or "brids" going at the same time.
It was great...push button simple! I loved it.

We took turns shooting and changing stations for a little over an hour!

Next was lunch. Yum, yum.

With BOAC, they do bucket drawings. Paul and Joel had went to Sportsmens Warehouse and purchased over $2000.00 in prizes including 3 guns that were raffeled of as well!
They had dang near everything you would need to hunt there!
$300.00 GPS systems, $300.00 Binaculars, and more!

I got lucky enough to get to draw numbers out of the bucket and win a cover for one of my guns.

Now time for the real fun - bird hunting!

At first I had resigned myself to just trap shooting, but when I got there I got a bit more excited and decided to hunt. Figured if my knee was shot, and had to have surgery, might as well hunt anyway, I couldn't make it much worse!

I got to hunt in a group with my friend Will and the two guys, Dave and Mike who I also shot trap with.

Our guide was Jarod and he took us about 10 miles to the ground that was actually his families.

He explained what we would do and that we would basically walk a line and let the dogs do the work of ferreting out the birds.

He had a black and yellow lab that did a great job. (check out my photo!)

We were hunting phesant and chucker.

Although I had a huge knee brace on with only a 15% moveablilty, it was a ton of fun and I would recommend it to anyone!

I was able to get a few shots off, but thankfully Will was with us and we were able to bag 7 birds!

Once we returned to the lodge, we went into the chophouse and began the process of cleaning our birds.

I wanted the feathers and sent all the meat home with Will, as we still have birds in our freezer.

Phesant feathers are beautiful and I brought mine home to use in several different projects. My first is to make earings and a pendant out of them. There are so many different colors its fun to experiment with them!

I will also use them in flower arrangements and for Prom crosages and bouts!

Now you know how bird hunting, a bum leg and new earrings all come together for a wonderful day! Oh, and my knee didn't have to have surgery...Thank the Lord!!!