Rules of Fair Chase - Pitchstone Waters

Sign in Subscribe

Rules of Fair Chase

A collection of 47 posts

circle_ranch_drough_busters

"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters 101 : A 21-Minute Video on Desert Grassland Restoration

“Drought Busters” is an inexpensive, quick, physiologically and economically sustainable method of habitat and wildlife restoration. We call it Drought Busters because it increases effective rainfall by rebuilding soil fertility and the soil’s ability to absorb and store water. This 21-minute video explains Drought Busters, and our experience on

Attacking Aoudad on Behalf of Bighorn

"Invasion Biology"

Attacking Aoudad on Behalf of Bighorn

NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on February 6th, 2017 The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) say aoudad harm desert mule deer, pronghorn and desert bighorn, and habitat, because they (1) eat plants, (2) drink water and (3) do well. In

Everything You Need to Know About Browning Shotguns

Browning Shotguns

Everything You Need to Know About Browning Shotguns

John Browning was the greatest gun designer who ever lived. He was from Ogden Utah, down the road from Pitchstone Waters Ranch. This video is all about Browning shotguns. Jonny breaks down some of their history/ historical significance & gives his opinion on where they stand in today’s market.

purdys_shotguns

The World's Most Beautiful Shotguns

Purdeys may not be the most reliable shotguns built, but they are hands-down the most beautiful – and expensive. NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on July 16, 2018.

Securing a Future for Wolves in the West

"Invasion Biology"

Securing a Future for Wolves in the West

Another excellent article by the Property and Environmental Research Center (PERC) the free market conservation think tank based in Bozeman. This one is about how to address people and livelihoods while achieving the essential ecological need to return wolves across the West. NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.

"Invasion Biology"

The Sounds of Elk

Most Texas elk hunters must draw permits in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico etc., pay many thousands of dollars and travel out of state for a chance to hunt free-ranging trophy elk. Yet, elk are native and present in far-West Texas. It should be possible for Texans to hunt wild elk

Grand Teton Cull Ends With 58 Mt. Goats Killed, Primarily in Park’s North End

"Invasion Biology"

Grand Teton Cull Ends With 58 Mt. Goats Killed, Primarily in Park's North End

According to the article below, the National Park Service (NPS) has decided to exterminate wild mountain goats in the Teton-Yellowstone Parks because they (1) are non-native, (2) “compete” with bighorn and (3) might infect them with diseases. NPS claims to follow the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (the Model)

Drought Busters 101

"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters 101

“Drought Busters” is an inexpensive, quick, physiologically and economically sustainable method of habitat and wildlife restoration. We call it Drought Busters because it increases effective rainfall by rebuilding soil fertility and the soil’s ability to absorb and store water. This video explains Drought Busters, and our experience on how

Nevada Board Rejects Proposal to Ban Coyote Killing Contests

Nevada Board Rejects Proposal to Ban Coyote Killing Contests

The article below illustrates (1) the lack of understanding of the need for predators in our natural systems, and (2) why ethical hunting must always be an essential part of our outdoor pursuits. NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on on November 6, 2021. RENO, Nev. (AP)

bill_negley_bwana_bowman

Bill Negley: Bwana Bowman

Bill Negley of San Antonio, Texas, remains the only sportsman ever to successfully hunt all of Africa’s “Big Five” (elephant, lion, cape buffalo, rhino and leopard) with a conventional bow (102-pound recurve) and no rifle backup. This film documents his first elephant taken in this way. He killed his

A Death Of Ethics: Is Hunting Destroying Itself?

A Death of Ethics: Is Hunting Destroying Itself?

Quoting the article below, “Hunting historians today say Theodore Roosevelt, as a student of science, would embrace the knowledge that touts predators’ important ecological role. They say he would be opposed to predator-killing contests and be appalled by the practice of running down wolves and coyotes on snowmobiles. NOTE: this

Mountain Goat Removal Temporarily Closes Areas Of Grand Teton National Park

"Invasion Biology"

Mountain Goat Removal Temporarily Closes Areas Of Grand Teton National Park

According to the article below, the National Park Service (NPS) has decided to exterminate wild mountain goats in the Teton-Yellowstone Parks because they (1) are non-native, (2) “compete” with bighorn and (3) might infect them with diseases. NPS claims to follow the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (the Model)

aoudad_feature_sept2018

"Invasion Biology"

Aerial Shooting in Big Bend Park Spooks and Angers Hikers

On Texas’ public lands, helicopters are routinely used by bighorn sheep managers to kill ‘exotic’ animals and predators – often while counting game. This terrifies wildlife. Years of doing this has taught sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn to associate helicopters with mortal danger. This places extreme stress on animals – especially fawns

Hunting's Remarkable Resilience

"Invasion Biology"

Hunting's Remarkable Resilience

Hunters defend their tradition because it helps control population, generates conservation revenues and Fair Chase expresses good sportsmanship. But predation is also physiologically better for wildlife and habitats. Hunters are often as unaware of this natural principle as non-hunters. Just like wolves, cougars, bears and other apex predators, humans have

hunting, wildlife, west-texas

Book Review: Fair Chase, the Sportsman’s Legacy

When people discuss Fair Chase, they often view the topic through a tunnel instead of holistically — and miss the fact that predation is central to conservation. Hunters are often as unaware of this natural principle as non-hunters. Hunters defend their tradition because it helps control population, generates conservation revenues and

pronghorn_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Are Wolves the Pronghorn's Best Friend?

Wolf and coyote eradications have exploded coyote numbers across North America. This has increased coyote predation of pronghorn fawns. Coyotes are pronghorns’ most effective predators; wolves will not tolerate coyotes. 150-years of coyote ‘management’ using methods that have proven highly effective with wolves, actually increase coyote populations and range. Coyotes

Mountain Lions of Far-West Texas

"Invasion Biology"

Mountain Lions of Far-West Texas

Much of what we used to ‘know’ about mountain lions turns out to be wrong, starting with the belief they are a threat to livestock or humans. Lions – and all other predators – are necessary to the health of wildlife and habitat. Note: This amazing video was produced by Yeti in

Legislation Reclassifying Elk as 'Exotic'

"Invasion Biology"

Legislation Reclassifying Elk as 'Exotic'

Here is the legislation that changed Texas’ native elk from treasured, protected game animals to vermin that are shot on sight at all state-managed lands in far-West Texas. The legislative declaration that elk are not native is scientifically incorrect and meaningless. This legislation was introduced under the normal “radar,” declaring

Circle Ranch - Reds on Shrimp

"Invasion Biology"

Reds on Shrimp, Gulls on Reds

On May 21, 2011 we were fly fishing for redfish in the lower Laguna Madre. Here’s a wonderful photograph of a redfish pod feeding on shrimp, and gulls trailing the redfish to pick up their leavings. You might wonder why this picture has been entered on a blog dedicated

feral_pigs_caged

"Invasion Biology"

Kaput Maker Pulls Feral Hog Poison Out of Texas

Those who oppose the idea of drenching Texas ranges with the rat poison Warfarin, are either “lawyers, misinformed or radical environmentalists”. Kaput has been withdrawn by its manufacturer, who in doing so reiterated all these false health claims about free range pigs. There has been no epiphany within Big Wildlife,

Texas Hunters Want to Put the Kibosh on Ag Commissioner’s ‘Feral Hog Apocalypse'

Texas Hunters Want to Put the Kibosh on Ag Commissioner’s ‘Feral Hog Apocalypse'

The “feral hog apocalypse” is brought to you by Big Wildlife: The same folks who gave us CWD. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on February 22, 2017 State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s call for a “feral hog apocalypse” has hunters across Texas up in arms about

"Invasion Biology"

Wild Boar Trappers Fear Hog Poison’s Effect on EU Wild Meat Market

The feral pig ‘problem’ is a regulatory issue. The one bright spot is that the Europeans – whose food safety standards far exceed our own – love our free range pork. The brilliant idea to use Warfarin to control pigs will destroy that market, and produce unknown and unintended consequences to other

circle_ranch_feral_pigs

"Invasion Biology"

Meat Production Helps Offset Wild Pig Problem

When properly prepared, the taste of free-range pork is the same as factory pork. NOTE: article initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on November 6, 2016 SNYDER, Texas (AP) — Sure, feral hogs cause their share of trouble. But if you like bacon and pork chops, Texas’ pig problem has a swine

"Invasion Biology"

America’s Wildlife Body Count

Wild animal eradications directly attack biodiversity thereby harming all wildlife and habitat. The methods by which these eradications are accomplished pose huge ethical questions. NOTE: This post initially appeared on NYTimes.com on September 17, 2016 Until recently, I had never had any dealings with Wildlife Services, a century-old agency

Antibiotic Use on Farms Helps Fuel Antibiotic-Resistant Diseases

Antibiotic Use on Farms Helps Fuel Antibiotic-Resistant Diseases

Feral pigs, according to our wildlife and food quality experts, are unfit to eat because they carry diseases. But do they? Over the last 30 years, the two largest processors of wild pigs in Texas have slaughtered and tested tens of thousands of animals. They have never found a diseased