Nevada Big Game Draw is Open!

The big game tag application process is now open. Applications must be received through the mail 5 p.m., and through the Internet by 11 p.m. by April 15 to be eligible for the drawing. You will be officially notified of the draw results by June 10. However, initial tag draw results will be posted online at huntnevada.com within 48 hours of the actual draw, which is usually held in late May.

Hunters can review hunt choices in the 2013 Big Game Seasons and Application Regulations book, which is posted online at ndow.org and available at NDOW offices and license agents statewide. NDOW will once again hold tag application workshops in Las Vegas (March 28) and Reno (March 27). The workshops include information on Nevada's big game management, tag quotas and allocations, draw odds, and bonus points. NDOW staff will explain common application errors, the computerized draw system and any new procedures or regulations for this year's drawing.

When selecting a hunt, it is always important to do your homework and know what to expect from the units you are applying for. The NDOW website is a valuable tool with several resources to help sportsmen select the right hunts. In an effort to make things easier, NDOW has placed the Top 10 Big Game Tag Application Resources on one page. The page includes maps, hunter information sheets, bonus point tables and hunt statistics and draw odds.

Take a Shot at One of Nevada's Specialty Tags

Nevada Dream Tags

The Nevada Dream Tags Program is a raffle that allows resident and nonresident sportsmen a chance at the hunt of a lifetime while also contributing to Nevada's wildlife habitat. The tags are similar to other western states' raffle tags and "hunt of a lifetime" tags.

All that is required to get started in the raffle is to first purchase a Resource Enhancement Stamp (RES) for $10. Once you have your stamp, you can purchase an unlimited number of raffle tickets for each species available for only $5 each. You can purchase both the RES Stamp and the raffle tickets at Nevada Dream Tag.
One of the best aspects of this raffle is the ability to purchase tickets for your family and friends. Anyone can go online and purchase their favorite hunter chances at the hunt of a lifetime for their birthday or Christmas or any special occasion.
 Tickets for the Nevada Dream Tag raffle are available now and will be sold until June 30. The winners will be announced in early July.

Partnership in Wildlife (PIW)

Partnership in Wildlife (PIW) is a voluntary and optional participation program that offers unique hunting opportunities to hunters for a few statewide big game tags. A person with a PIW tag may hunt in any unit with an open season for the species listed on the tag, during the season dates when that unit is open for that species, and only with the weapon authorized to be used during that open season.

Applicants who are eligible and apply for hunts in the first big game drawing of the year can apply for PIW hunts at the same time. Marking the PIW box with your initials for the same species you applied for in the first drawing will let us know that you want to participate in the PIW drawing for some very special tags. (Doe, cow, depredation and junior hunt applicants are not eligible for PIW hunts.) The PIW tag fee donation is $10 for each species applied for. If successful for a PIW hunt tag, the entire tag fee the participant submitted with their main draw application will pay for the PIW tag. If unsuccessful in the PIW draw, $10 of the tag fee received will be placed in the Wildlife Heritage Trust Account. The remainder of the tag fee received from an unsuccessful applicant for a big game tag will be refunded to the applicant.

Silver State Tags

The Silver State Tag is similar to the state's Heritage Tags and will provide lucky recipients with the opportunity to hunt a specific big game animal statewide in those hunt units where there is an established season for the species specified on the tag. But unlike the Heritage Tags, which generally sell at auction for thousands of dollars, Silver State Tags will be available through Nevada's normal tag application process at a far lesser price.

Tag applicants can expect to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $20 plus the $3 predator control and $2 online convenience fee, which brings the total to $25 for mule deer, Nelson (desert) bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope. An additional $5 is required for the elk application. Tag recipients will be charged the current fees established for the tag received. Applications may only be submitted electronically at Hunt Nevada.

In addition to expanded choice of hunt location, tag holders also will have an extended season in which to harvest their game animal. Tag holders also can use their legal firearm of choice throughout the season's duration – bow, muzzleloader or rifle.

Hope this is helpful. I have drawn four mule deer tags, two antelope tags over the past 15 years so you can draw.

A Young Americans Views

 TRANSCRIPT:   

  Delivered to the New Hampshire Legislative Assembly
  January 22,  2013

Dear citizens of  New Hampshire ,
 
Four days ago, I was across the street for a gun rally on the steps of the Capitol. I had  never been to a gun rally before. I expected it to be all about hunters and guns. I was surprised: People were not afraid of not being able to hunt. They were not afraid of criminals at all. Do you know who they were afraid of? The Federal Government. I was shocked. They were afraid of the government taking away their freedoms. 
 
The reason I went to the rally in the first place was that I heard children, like me, talking with President Obama about guns on the radio. I think those kids were far too young to make policy, and got it all wrong. 
 
Naturally, I don't want my mom or dad to die either, nor my friends or family. But I learned in school that the First Amendment gives us our Basic Freedoms, like Freedom of Speech,  Freedom of Religion and Freedom to Assemble. To  protect our God-given rights, our Founders gave us the 2nd Amendment: The Right to Bear Arms.
 
My Civics teacher  taught us that the reason our Founding Fathers gave us the right to bear  arms is to protect ourselves from the government of man because when man is given absolute power, he becomes absolutely corrupt. In 1776, guns freed us from the abuses of King George.  Today, guns keep us free from tyranny by government.
 
If President Obama wants to take our guns, isn't he taking away our means to protect our  right to freedom? Wasn't the 2nd Amendment given to us to protect our 1st Amendment rights? It's not by chance that those are the first two amendments. They were the two most important gifts our Founders gave the American people.
 
I don't know. I'm just a 14 year old girl, and that's what I thought I learned in school.  Did Mr. Obama learn something different in school than that? 
 
I think it is terrible for someone to use a national tragedy for political gain, don't you? So, when I heard Mr. Obama issued 23 gun control orders in the wake of the Newtown tragedy, I was upset. In school I was taught executive means to execute laws -- not make them.  When did that change? Didn't the president swear an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution? Doesn't the 2nd Amendment state: "the  right for people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." ˇ Tell me  how 23 orders on gun control is not an infringement. Can someone please tell me that? Has King George returned?
 
I hope New Hampshire members of congress remember their pledge and do not use this  tragedy to create unjust laws. 
 
So I ask myself,  what gun would our Founders want their citizen militia to have today to  protect us from a government greedy for power.  I think Thomas  Jefferson would recommend a semi-automatic rifle  with 50-round clips, and pistols that hold 20. But, I'm sure George  Washington would demand these  arms.
 
Just so you know, I don't even own a gun, nor does my mom, or dad . But when I'm old enough, I want the right to buy a gun if I want to, so I can protect the America that I love. I hope I never need one, but I always say, "plan for the worst and hope for the best".  Unfortunately, that's sort of why the government is taking away our guns: they are planning for the worst Americans, and not thinking of the best. Maybe the question we should be asking is what caused the morality of the United States to decay? Are parents no longer  teaching their kids "thou shalt not kill?"
 
I want to live in an America with laws that protect the best people on Earth, not the worst, don't you? Wouldn't that be more free? Wouldn't that be more  American? Isn't freedom  what America is all about? The right to bear arms is our best guarantee to live free. 
 
Finally, at my  track meet at UNH on Sunday, I read the banner on the wall. It said three words: Tradition. Pride. Excellence. I hope and pray that New Hampshire will continue its tradition of excellence and lead the way for  the rest of the county, and never infringe on my rights. May the people  of the great state of New Hampshire carry on their long tradition of freedom, so we can proclaim with pride the  words our forefathers gave us: Live Free or  Die!
 
This is our United States . This is our New Hampshire . And that should never change.
 
Live Free or Die,  New Hampshire !
 
  Thank you,
Daphne  Jordan
Nottingham , NH

What do you think abut Daphine's views? Comment.

Contact your California Legislators and voice our opinion!

Hola, The noise level about gun rights, gun ownership, coyote hunting, bear hunting, 2nd amendments, Bill of Rights, Our Constitutional rights, Sandy Hook, Colorado shooting and on and on and on.  Is this not getting a little out of hand.  Where is the common sense to solve these issues and be logical about the solutions.

Common Sense people are informed people and take action(voting) on social issues. Common Sense people think about the issues and find out the truth about the issues and act accordingly. They are not influenced by the ill-informed media who only cares about ratings and sensationalism.

I talked to people all the time who do not hunt, are not sporting participants, are not against owning guns or against hunting, but are  just citizens trying to live their lives. Interestingly, when asked about hunting and gun ownership, most say they believe in the 2nd amendment and the need for managing wildlife with hunting as one of the options.

They are not afraid of guns and ownership, in fact, many have guns. What is missing is action to voice their logical comments. They are just too busy to make a statement of record. Apathy is the biggest culprit for change or no change in addressing the policies being discussed right now. Why? because the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" The anti's are vocal, organized, and make the most noise about these issues while the majority of reasonable citizens are apathetic to the causes.

Are you a logical citizen who wants to voice your opinion? Well here is how you do it.


How do you  contact your individual state legislators.  Please go to http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ ; enter your street address, city and zip code and your California state senator and assembly member will be displayed. 

Clicking on those names will take you to the state legislator's home page which provides contact information, biographical information, etc. about that legislator.  Because of redistricting, only one-half of the senators (odd-numbered districts) were elected in 2012; the remainder (even-numbered districts) will be elected in 2014.

Ok, this is how you let your opinions known to your elected officials. Simple but you have to do it or your apathy will prevail. 

Obviously, these views are mine. I just feel the majority needs to be heard. Thanks Dan for your motivation to address this issue.

Two Supreme Court Decisions that Affect our 2nd Amendment Rights

Ok, here is another point of view of the laws of the land on gun rights, what do you think?

Two Supreme Court Decisions That Affect Our 2nd Amendment Rights

There are two Supreme Court rulings that directly relate to the current anti-Assault Weapon issue everyone needs to be reminded of.

 The first is United States v. Miller 1939. Miller possessed a sawed-off shotgun banned under the National Firearms Act. He argued that he had a right to bear the weapon under the Second Amendment, but the Supreme Court ruled against him. Why? At the time, sawed-off shotguns were not being used in a military application, and the Supremes ruled that since it didn't, it was not protected. Even though Miller lost that argument, the Miller case set the precedent that protected firearms have a military, and thus a legitimate and protected Militia use.

The military now uses shotguns regularly, but not very short, sawed-off shotguns, but an AR-15/AK-47 type weapon is currently in use by the military, therefore it is a protected weapon for the Unorganized Militia, which includes just about every American citizen now that both age and sex discrimination are illegal.

(The original Militia included men of age 17-45) Therefore any firearm that is applicable to military use is clearly protected under Article II, and that includes all those nasty-looking semi-automatic black rifles, including full 30 round magazines.

 The second important case is that of John Bad Elk v. United States from 1900. In that case, an attempt was made to arrest Mr. Bad Elk without probable cause, and Mr. Bad Elk killed a policeman who was attempting the false arrest. Bad Elk had been found guilty and sentenced to death. However, the Supreme Court ruled that Bad Elk had the right to use any force, including lethal force, to prevent his false arrest, even if the policeman was only trying to arrest him and not kill him.

Basically, the Supremes of the day ruled that as a citizen, you have the right to defend against your civil rights being violated using ANY force necessary to prevent the violation, even if the offending party isn't trying to kill you.

Both of these cases are standing law to this day.

 The Miller decision clearly includes AR-15/AK-47 type weapons as having a military application. The Bad Elk decision means that if the government tries to confiscate your  AR-15/AK-47, or arrest you for having one, you can kill the offenders on the spot, even if they are not trying to kill you.

Also consider this about gun registration:
Why Convicted Felon's Don't / Won't Have to Register Their [Illegal] Firearms
 U.S. Supreme Court’s 1968 Haynes v. U.S. decision:

Haynes, a convicted felon, was convicted of unlawful possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun.   He argued that for a convicted felon to register a gun was effectively an announcement to the government that he was breaking the law and that registration violated his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.   The court, by an 8 – 1 margin, agreed, concluding:

 “We hold that a proper claim of the constitutional privilege against self-incrimination provides a full defense to prosecutions either for failure to register a firearm…or for possession of an unregistered firearm.” (Summary from American Rifleman, March 2000, page 20)

 So, when these gun registration schemes are announced, be aware that only lawful gun-owners are required to register their firearms.   Unlawful owners are exempted from registration laws due to their constitutional protection against self-incrimination.  

Amazing but true…  Want to see more about hunting and my experiences, follow me on Ryan's Roost.

Sensor Safari at the ISE Show in Sacramento

Last weekend was the International Sportsmans Expo at Cal Expo.  Granite Bay SCI set up a Sensory Safari in the Youth Tent for three days.  What is so interesting about this project is that the Sensory Safari started out as a way for blind people to feel animal skins, mounts, and skulls.  This was so successful years ago that it became an experience for anyone.

It is hard to believe how many people have never touched an animal skin or even been close to an animal whether it was dead or alive.  It was amazing to see the thrill in their faces to touch a buffalo skin, feel the softness of a mule deer hide, be amazed at a Spanish Ibex.  For three days, hundreds of people passed thru our booth touching and experiencing the wonders of wildlife.

Guess what the most popular animal was for children and adults?  The duck- billed platypus from Australia. People could not believe this animal was real.  Did you know they are egg laying mamals and can be poisonous?

This was so much fun and we thanks all the people who came by. A special thanks to ISE for letting us have a booth and a special thanks to Jenna Copeland-Perry, from Wilderness Unlimited,  the camp director. The Youth Tent was well planned, well run and the food was great.

If you have a chance to experience a Sensory Safari, you will be amazed.
Want more information on how you can put on a Sensory Safari, contact me at cal2032@sbcglobal.net or Granite Bay SCI at www.granitebaysci.com.