Member News Archives - Outdoor Writers Association of America

Game Wardens Taking On Cartel Marijuana Growers

OWAA Developer — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 17:20:09 +0000

A new 24-minute documentary WAR IN THE WOODS: Raid to Reclamation https://vimeo.com/212713167 has just been released by producer Rick Stewart of American Zealot Productions. http://americanzealotproductions.com/.
In WAR IN THE WOODS: Raid to Reclamation, Rick Stewart and his crew take the viewer on missions with the Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), a recently developed special operations tactical unit of California game wardens. The MET introduces the viewer to a new world of outdoor public safety threats, egregious environmental crimes and widespread wildlife destruction. Throughout the documentary, the wardens show us the impact of marijuana cartel trespass cultivation operations the team has battled for the last three and a half years. Over that time period the team has gone on 583 missions, eradicated 2.1 million poisoned marijuana plants, arrested 745 armed felons, confiscated 433 illegal firearms, removed 335 tons of grow waste, fertilizers, toxic poisons and pesticides, removed 1.65 million feet (311 miles) of black plastic irrigation pipe and removed 614 illegal dams. Also highlighted in the story is the team’s lifesaving K-9 Phebe, who has 114 physical apprehensions in the last three years and over 700 additional arrests on armed and dangerous felons over her 11 year career.
While California has the greatest number of illegal marijuana grows on state and federal wildlands, as of 2015 at least 21 states and 67 national forests have also reported finding large trespass marijuana grow sites tended by organized crime. In addition to dangers to recreationists, these grows also typically use large volumes of illegal pesticides and fertilizers that poison water sources and consume considerable water that would otherwise be used by farmers and wildlife.
Little wonder then that according to the FBI, game wardens are now seven times as likely to be assaulted with a deadly weapon as a police officer or deputy sheriff.
Besides the 6.5 million NRA members who will have access to it on NRA TV, the documentary will also launch worldwide on Apple TV and Sportsman Channel. The film is the second in a two part documentary series that was inspired by the non-fiction book, WAR IN THE WOODS: Combating The Marijuana Cartels On America’s Pubic Lands by Lt. John Nores Jr. and James A. Swan, Ph.D. The book has been endorsed by Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Congressman Jared Huffman, and editor/publisher of the Outdoor Wire Jim Shepherd.
The situation in California is not unique for law enforcement protection for wildlands. There are fewer US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents, about 250, than there are whooping cranes — about 340. Numbers of all state and federal conservation officers on wildlands are declining. A decade ago there were nearly 1000 Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers (LEO’s), today there are 550 to cover all the nation’s National Forests. The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for managing more land than any other federal conservation agency and yet there are only 300 BLM law enforcement officers. There are 1500 Rangers for all the US Army Corps of Engineers made-made lakes and recreation areas for the entire US, and in most cases they do not carry firearms. In 2005 there were 1548 National Park Service Rangers. By 2014, there were 1,322 and less than 400 seasonal rangers. Right now there are approximately 7,000 state game wardens for the entire US; about as many men and women as the New York City Police Department deploys on Times Square at New Year’s Eve.
Fewer officers and more crime means that it’s increasingly dangerous to be a wildlands law enforcement officer. National Park Rangers and Forest Service Rangers have become the federal law enforcement officers most likely to be assaulted in the line of duty. For example, PEER, (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) reports that there were 34 incidents involving attacks on US park rangers in 1995, but by 2005 there were 477 – a 13-fold increase.
According to PEER, in 2012 reported assault incidents rose more than 40% in wildlife refuges and in areas patrolled by the U.S. Park Police, and by more than 12% in national parks, and many assaults were not reported in final tolls. And according to the FBI, game wardens are now seven times as likely to be assaulted with a deadly weapon as a police officer or deputy sheriff.
For media inquiries of WAR IN THE WOODS the documentary film contact: Rick Stewart at rick@americanzealotproductions.com
For media inquiries or a review copy of WAR IN THE WOODS the book, contact: James A. Swan at sgsprods@gmail.com

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Richard Smith wins Michigan Outdoor Writers Association award

OWAA Developer — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 21:39:48 +0000

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One of the organizations I belong to besides OWAA, is the MI Outdoor Writers Association. They held a meeting recently at which annual awards were handed out. I was honored to receive the Dave Richey Commmunicator of the Year Award from the organization. Richey was a longtime member of MOWA and OWAA who passed away a number of years ago. Dave was a veteran writer, having written thousands of magazine articles and numerous books. He was the outdoor writer for the Detroit News for a number of years before he retired. What makes the award extra special for me is Dave was one of my mentors. He helped my writing career and I got the chance to spend time afield hunting and fishing with him.
–Richard Smith

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Kids Fishing Weekend, Wellesley Island State Park, June 11-12, 2016

OWAA Developer — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 19:29:51 +0000

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The Friends of the Nature Center and local author Spider Rybaak will host a kids fishing weekend on June 11-12, 2016 at the park’s Minna Anthony Common Nature Center.
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Saturday fishing classes:
A basic fishing class will launch the event on Saturday. Held from 11 a.m. through 1 p.m., kids will receive instructions in bait and lure fishing at the dock behind the nature center.

Fly-fishing will be taught from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Bait and tackle will be provided free of charge for the fishing class.
Classes are open to kids of all ages. Anglers 16 and over must possess a current fishing license.

Sunday fishing derby:
On Sunday, a kid’s fishing derby will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. A $2.00 entry fee, proceeds go to the nature center, will be charged.

The derby is restricted to children 14 and under.
Participants are encouraged to provide their own equipment.
Fishing packages containing a rod and reel, and various lures and tackle will be awarded as prizes in three categories: Longest fish, heaviest fish and most fish.

Sponsors
The weekend is made possible through donations by the Friends of the Nature Center, SAMPO, Shakespeare, Berkley, Johnson, and Cortland Line Co.
For more information, contact the Nature Center at 315-482-2479; or Spider srybaak@yahoo.com.
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OWAA board member Sam Caldwell named as one of two inductees to the Perry Bass Wall of Fame

OWAA Developer — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 20:22:14 +0000

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Monday, March 21, 2015 at Noon in the Maritime Collections and Education Center of the Texas Maritime Museum, two individuals will be inducted into the Texas Maritime Museum’s Perry R. Bass Memorial Sports Fishing Wall of Fame.
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Rockport, Texas – Monday, March 21, 2015 at Noon in the Maritime Collections and Education Center of the Texas Maritime Museum, two individuals will be inducted into the Texas Maritime Museum’s Perry R. Bass Memorial Sports Fishing Wall of Fame. This exhibit opened in March 2007, and inducted David Noling, David Sikes, and Mary John & Larry Hoffman last year.
Mr. Bass was not only an integral part in the founding of the Texas Maritime Museum, but was also known as an avid angler, and conservationist, insuring future generations will be able to experience the thrill of “the big catch.” It is his legacy in this area which became the basis for honoring Mr. Bass in the naming of the Wall of Fame.
The first inductee is the Honorable Judge C.H. “Burt” Mills. Judge Mills ancestry features a succession of local anglers and outdoorsmen. Mills Grandfather, J.H. Mills, was the first Manager of St. Charles Hunting & Fishing Club and founder of Mills Wharf. His father and uncle, Herbert & Harry Mills, were instrumental in expanding Mills Wharf (now Seagun) and the St. Charles Hunting & Fishing Club in the early 1900s and were inducted in 2011. Judge Mills loves our bays and its eco-system, and has a history with Cedar Bayou & Vinson Slough from his youth. This aided him in taking a local lead role in the project to open up Cedar Bayou and Vinson’s Slough. This project came to fruition in September 2014, and from early indications seem to be assisting the fish health and populations throughout the bay system.
The second inductee is Sam Caldwell. Early in his career, Sam became involved in outdoor organizations including Ducks Unlimited and the Coastal Conservation Association. He remains deeply involved in promoting coastal scenes as fine art, and uses his printed images to help the coast. He is proud that the American Red Cross chose one of his paintings to help provide funds for 9-11 relief. The Coastal Conservation Association has benefited from numerous Caldwell art prints. Ducks Unlimited named Caldwell Texas State Artist for 2006-2007, and again for 2011 and 2012.
Both of these individuals were nominated and selected by their peers who have already been inducted into the Wall of Fame.
The Wall of Fame is located in the Robert J. Hewitt/ O’Connor & Hewitt Foundation Collections & Education Center. The Texas Maritime Museum is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit privately-funded and the “Official Maritime Museum” for the State of Texas located across from the Rockport Harbor. Hours of Operation are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm and Sundays from 1 pm – 4 pm. Closed Mondays. For more information call 1-866-729-AHOY, or check out the website www.texasmaritimemuseum.org.
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"Arizona Wildlife News" wins regional Emmy Awards

OWAA Developer — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 17:31:34 +0000

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The producers of “Arizona Wildlife Views,” the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s television show, took home eight regional Emmy Awards in four different categories from the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) on Oct. 17.

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PHOENIX — The producers of “Arizona Wildlife Views,” the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s television show, took home eight regional Emmy Awards in four different categories from the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) on Oct. 17. The awards ceremony took place at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale.
The award recipients and categories were:
Environment — Program/Special

Arizona Wildlife Views 2015 – Show #1 (https://youtu.be/v9BIvPCAppc). Producers: Carol Lynde, David Majure, Ben Avechuco. Segments in this show covered the fun-filled Wings Over Willcox nature festival, Arizona’s endangered Mexican wolves, and a reminder that people’s desire to help seemingly abandoned baby wildlife can have unintended negative consequences.

Politics and Government Program

A Public Trust — State Stewardship of Wildlife (https://youtu.be/WEK58Zzvlpo). Producers: Carol Lynde, David Majure, Ben Avechuco. For more than 100 years, state conservation agencies have been leading heroic efforts to restore endangered species, repair critical habitat, and maintain our nation’s natural abundance of fish and wildlife for generations to come.

Environment – Program Segment

A Growing Population of Mexican Wolves (https://youtu.be/IfMg24z1lsY). Producer: David Majure. Endangered Mexican wolves are making a comeback in Arizona and New Mexico. Watch as wildlife managers count Mexican wolves to find out if 2014 is a record-breaking year.

Informational Program Segment

Flagstaff Eagle Event (https://youtu.be/PqI_OWVt3ZQ). Producer: David Majure. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, and Liberty Wildlife treated participants in the 2014 Flagstaff Eagle Event to a day of eagle discovery, information, and fun! They saw wild eagles near Lake Mary, learned about eagle conservation, and watched one lucky kid transformed into a bald eagle right before their eyes.

More than 900 entries were submitted for this year’s Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter Emmy Awards by television and video production professionals in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and El Centro, Calif. For more information, visit: http://rockymountainemmy.org.
“Arizona Wildlife Views” is a half-hour original series produced by the Information Branch of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The show airs on local PBS stations, city cable channels across the state and YouTube. The current 13-week season is airing at 4:30 p.m. on Sundays on Arizona PBS Channel 8. Full episodes and individual segments can also be viewed on the Game and Fish website at www.azgfd.gov/video.
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Dallas CCA names Sam Caldwell Conservation Sportsman of the Year

OWAA Developer — Tue, 19 May 2015 21:16:10 +0000

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Dallas Coastal Conservation Association announces the 2015 Conservation Sportsman of the Year
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Dallas Coastal Conservation Association announces the 2015 Conservation Sportsman of the Year
Sam Caldwell has been named the Conservation Sportsman of the Year. Previous recipients were Gary Lumas, Dr. Gregg Stunz and Lefty Kreh. Caldwell, an OWAA Board Member,accepted the award at the 2015 CCA banquet on April 16.
Caldwell said, “There are others who deserve this award more than me—but I’m going to keep it.”
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OWAA members win at NOWA

OWAA Developer — Thu, 14 May 2015 21:29:23 +0000

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Several OWAA members took home awards at the annual Northwest Outdoor Writers Conference.
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At the annual Northwest Outdoor Writers Conference Awards Dinner held May 2, 2015 in Richland, WA, the following OWAA members were award winners in the following categories in the Excellence in Craft Contest:
Natalie Bartley (Managing our World), Dennis Dunn (Fishing and/or Hunting – digital; also Photography – digital), John Kruse (Outdoor Audiotape; also Audio – digital), Peter Schroeder (Apps and Multi-Media; also General Outdoor – digital), and Risa Wyatt (Travel, Camping, or Recreation).
In addition Risa Wyatt was elected to the NOWA Board of Directors and Peter Schroeder received the NOWA Outstanding Board Member Award.
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Free Kids Fishing Class

OWAA Developer — Thu, 14 May 2015 21:08:24 +0000

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Free Kids Fishing Class
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Free Kids Fishing Class
• Date: May 16, 2015
• Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Place: Lake Neahtahwanta, Park at Bullhead Point (where the pier reaches out into the lake), NY 3, west side of Fulton.
If you don’t have fishing equipment, no sweat…Loaner Shakespeare rods and reels will be available for the day.
Free Bait and tackle, donated by Shakespeare, Berkley Marukyu Baits of Japan, Alvey, Mustad, Cortland Line Co., SAMPO and flies by McGrath & Associates will be available.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
NYS fishing license required for students 16 and over.
Fly-fishing lessons will also be offered.
Sponsored by Spider Rybaak (srybaak@yahoo.com) and McGrath & Associates Carp Angling Services (315) 882-1549.
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Peluso recognized for his record catch

OWAA Developer — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 14:45:08 +0000

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OWAA member, Angelo Peluso, was recently recognized by the NYS DEC for his state record catch of an Atlantic Bonito.
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OWAA member, Angelo Peluso, was recently recognized by the NYS DEC for his state record catch of an Atlantic Bonito. The same year this fish was caught, Angelo also caught three IGFA fly rod tippet class world record bonito. All fish were caught from the Long Island Sound. Although the NYS record fish was caught in 2003, Atlantic Bonito were only recently added to the list of marine species eligible for record status. At the time Angelo caught this bonito he recognized its special qualities and took all measurements, photos and had it weighed on a merchant scale validated by the NYS Bureau of Weights and Measures.
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OWAA member Kristen Schmitt featured in radio segments

OWAA Developer — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 01:15:20 +0000

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OWAA member Kristen Schmitt was recently featured on two radio segments.
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OWAA member Kristen Schmitt was recently featured on two radio segments.
One aired on Vermont Public Radio on December 29, 2014: “For Organic Meat, Some Localvores Take To The Woods.” Here is the link to the article/podcast: http://digital.vpr.net/post/organic-meat-some-localvores-take-woods.
The other aired this morning on New Hampshire Public Radio: “Tradition Vs. Technology: The Debate Over Drones, Smart Rifles In Hunting.” Here is the link to the article/podcast: h ttp://nhpr.org/post/tradition-vs-technology-debate-over-drones-smart-rifles-hunting.
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