Coraopolis, Pennsylvania -- In what will probably be remembered as one of the most important fundraising campaigns in the 47-year history of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS), the conservation-minded organization recently announced the kickoff of its $5 million Restoring Upland Forests' Future (RUFF) capital campaign that would fully endow its biologists within two years.

According to RGS Executive Director and CEO Mike Zagata, the campaign is off to a great start. Members of four families have already stepped forward to make a combined pledge of $1.5 million of pour $5 million goal with $1 million earmarked to endow the Wisconsin biologist position.

Frankfort, Kentucky - It seems like we haven't had a decent rain in months. August rainfall was the third lowest for that month since 1895. September is likely to post a similar record. Throughout the state, moderate to severe drought conditions are causing streams to dry up, leaves to turn and fall earlier than usual, and deer hunters to ask questions about how this drought will affect their season.

Drought can affect deer movement. Deer are usually able to meet most of their water needs with the moisture contained in plants they eat, as well as dew licked from forage in the morning. But when drought sets in, plants dry up and deer must rely more on other water sources.

WASHINGTON - In honor of the 150th birthday of Theodore Roosevelt, famed guide and fly tyer Craig Mathews and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership are teaming to introduce a new twist on the timeless Woolly Bugger - the "Bully Bugger."

"Throughout his life, T.R. hunted way more than he fished," says TRCP President and CEO George Cooper, "but things might have been different if he'd had the Bully Bugger. It evokes the same patriotism that T.R. exuded, and they've got similar flair."

MOSS LANDING, CA—Scientists say endangered leatherback turtles have returned to Monterey Bay to feast on jellyfish after nearly disappearing from the area in recent years.

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories researcher Scott Benson says marine biologists counted more than 300 of the giant endangered turtles in the bay this year.

Benson said a strong upwelling of nutrient-rich cold water this year brought greater stocks of jellyfish, which attracted the turtles.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) kicked off its "Florida Wildlife: On the front line of climate change" summit Wednesday with important messages from several prominent experts.

"Over the next 50 years, according to the models, South Florida will see a high increase in temperatures, but unlike the rest of the southeastern United States, it will also see increasing drought conditions," said Dr. Virginia Burkett from the United States Geological Survey and a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. "This is an accelerating trend, but we are not helpless. There are things we can do now through mitigation and adaptation."

CLINTON, Illinois - Ducks Unlimited and Clinton Lake Waterfowl Association are hosting a dedication of the newly established Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area (WMA) at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 4 at Clinton Lake State Recreation Area. The new 40-acre wetland site, located along Route 54 about four miles west of Farmer City, was restored by Ducks Unlimited in cooperation with Clinton Lake Waterfowl Association, Illinois Waterfowl Alliance, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Exelon. The public is invited to attend the dedication and participate in the project tour that follows.

"This project is unique because of the number of conservation partners who worked together to make it happen," 

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will hold a public meeting on restoration of Paiute cutthroat trout to historic habitat in Silver King Creek. Paiute cutthroat trout is a threatened species. The meeting is on Oct. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. in Markleeville in Alpine County. DFG in cooperation with the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U. S. Forest Service (USFS), seek written public comment on the proposal and agency representatives will be available to answer questions on the proposed project at the meeting.

DFG and USFWS are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to evaluate direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the proposal to restore Paiute cutthroat trout into 9.1 miles of historic 

XENIA, Ohio - A western Ohio manufacturer is offering a custom-designed hunting bow inspired by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.Lakota Industries Inc. announced its "Sarah-Cuda" bow Wednesday in honor of the Alaska governor's "lifelong passion for the sport of hunting."

Lakota chief executive Dick Williamson said the bow also pays tribute to women who "bear the responsibility of family

NELSONVILLE, Ohio - As autumn hunting seasons open around the country, ROCKY launches its "Rate a Rack" photo competition for hunting enthusiasts to share photos of their best racks of the season.

"We had a 'Give us the Bird' competition in the spring, and it was quite a success," said Joe Hanning, Consumer Marketing Director. "People had a lot of fun with it, so we thought we'd try it again this fall."

The contest begins October 1, 2008. To enter, visit rockyboots.com and upload your best photo, or take the opportunity to vote on all contestants' photos. All entries will be qualified to win free ROCKY boots, and the top vote earners will 

PHOENIX - Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner Norm Freeman, as part of his annual Pumpkin Festival, has opened his farm in Chino Valley to host a variety of free Arizona Game and Fish Department educational events on the weekends of October, or "pumpkin season."

The main event will be Saturday, Oct 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Freeman Farms, 1096 E. Road 3 South, Chino Valley, Ariz. (north of Prescott). Families are invited to come and learn more about outdoor opportunities in Arizona and how you and your kids can get involved.

Washington, DC- President George W. Bush signed an amendment to Executive Order 12962 which allows for the most significant extension of recreational fishing on federal lands and waters in the last 30 years. This revised order originally signed by Bill Clinton in 1995, ensures that recreational fisherman will have a place to pursue their pastime now and into the future.

President Bush's order states that "…recreational fishing shall be managed as a sustainable activity in National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, National Monuments, Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Protected Areas or any other relevant conservation or management area….."

The City of Newberry, Easton Sports Development Foundation, National Alliance for the Development of Archery and Florida Wildlife Commission cordially invites you to celebrate and participate in the Ground Breaking for the Easton- Newberry Sports Complex Regional Archery/Recreation Center October 7, 2008 at 11:00 o'clock am.

The Complex is located at 24820 NW 16 Avenue, Newberry, Florida - North on SR 27/41 Approximately 1.5 miles from the intersection of Newberry Road (SR 26) and SR 27/41.

Park visitors can enjoy two fun-filled days of crafters, food vendors, antique cars, antique tractors, lots of kid activities and more at the Harmonie State Park Harvest Weekend and Craft Fair on Oct. 11-12.

Craft show times are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. You won't want to miss the hayrides on Saturday evening.

The gate admission fee will be reduced to $3 per car on both days.

Montgomery, Alabama - Blackfin™ Pro Staff father and son team of Steve and Barnie White completed the FLW Redfish Series tournament in Venice, LA with a 4th Place finish. This finish will advance them to the $300,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship Oct. 30-Nov 1 in Biloxi, Miss. The winning team in the championship will earn as much as $100,000.

The Blackfin team entered the final round in fifth place with a two-day total of 31 pounds 14 ounces. A tremendous catch of 15-pounds, 5 ounces on day three raised their total to 47 pounds 3 ounces and put them into fourth place The 4th Place finish paid out $1928 in prize money.

Washington, DC - President George W. Bush has signed an amendment to the 1995 Executive Order on recreational fishing that ensures that federal agencies maintain recreational fishing on federal lands and waters, including marine protected areas.

"Our nation's sportsmen and women are among our foremost conservationists", confirmed President Bush. "I was pleased to amend Executive Order 12962 to recognize the value of recreational fishing as a sustainable activity in Federal waters."

"This is a major victory for sportsmen and we commend the President for this initiative ," declared Jeff Crane, president of theCongressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF). " CSF has been concerned that the spawn of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) will include no fishing provisions, thereby locking recreational anglers out of miles of prime fishing areas."
 

KANSAS CITY, Kansas -- Bass Pro Shops gas announced a $1 million donation to Victory Junction Gang, a year-round facility that enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment.

In response to the Tony Stewart Foundation's fundraising effort in June via the Old Spice Prelude to the Dream dirt late model race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Bass Pro Shops decided to match that generous effort by contributing $1 million to Victory Junction.

Bass Pro Shops has been a strong advocate and supporter of Victory Junction's mission since 2002 and has pledged more than $150,000, donated equipment to offer

A 76-year-old man from Lanesborough, Mass., died in an apparent drowning on Thursday. His body was located at approximately 10 a.m. today (Friday) by a Portland Water District employee who offered to help in the search.

WASHINGTON, DC - Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) Policy Director Donna Stine issued the following statement about the passage of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact in the U.S. Senate:

"It's not too often that Michigan receives good unexpected news from Washington, but today the U.S. Senate passed landmark legislation to protect the Great Lakes that define our state and outdoor heritage," said Stine. "MUCC and its 45,000 members applaud Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and their colleagues for their leadership in protecting one of the world's greatest treasures."

PHOENIX -- Sportsmen and sportswomen wishing to hunt big game in Arizona this fall can start applying for leftover hunt permit-tags beginning at 8 a.m. (MST) Monday, Aug. 11. For those who either missed the fall drawing or were unsuccessful in the draw, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has tags for deer, turkey and juniors-only javelina hunts, to be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends of the family can take advantage of the many available juniors-only permits. There are more than 2,000 fall juniors-only javelina tags and 106 juniors-only

Again this year, we will be conducting a traditional Bowhunter Education Course the day prior to the Florida Bowhunting Jamboree. Every year we present the course on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, this year falling on August 30. It is held at the Citrus Wildlife Management Area in Inverness, and begins at 8:00 am. The Jamboree follows on Sunday and Monday, in the same location.

Learn how to bowhunt, for free.

TABERVILLE, Mo.-The puzzle of which came first, the chicken or the egg, could be a metaphor for the prairie chicken and the prairie. One without the other is unthinkable, if not impossible, yet Missouri is close to having prairies without their iconic birds. The Missouri Department of Conservation is trying to bring prairie chickens back from the brink of extirpation, partly for the birds’ own sake but also to give meaning to the ecosystem that spawned them.

The latest effort to restore prairie chickens to western Missouri is a two-phase reintroduction program. Phase one began in late March, when Missouri biologists and volunteers traveled to the 

Hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts can now experience the great outdoors on their computer by immersing themselves in “a.m. Colorado”, a new online video series from the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW).
 
Filmed in high-definition (HD) video and recorded in digital audio, “a.m. Colorado” captures the early-morning sights and sounds of some of Colorado’s most unique landscapes and wildlife species.  At 6-to 7-minutes in length, these mini-documentaries provide stunning visuals and sound, and incorporate informative captions that both educate and entertain.

CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers have successfully completed an investigation in conjunction with Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers and the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement that focused on numerous unlawful clamming activities of Charles R. Eaton III of Seabrook and Gregory Lee Egnew of Portsmouth. The shellfish violations ranged from digging shellfish without a license to digging shellfish during a red tide closure, clamming during the closed season, and possession of an overlimit of soft shell clams.
 

LITTLE ROCK - With the stroke of a pen, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on Monday unanimously agreed to gas leases on two of its wildlife management areas. The leases will generate about $29.5 million for the agency. The lease agreements were signed during a special meeting of the AGFC at its headquarters in Little Rock.

Petit Jean River and Gulf Mountain wildlife management areas will be the site of the drilling operations by Chesapeake Energy of Oklahoma City. Chesapeake was the winning bidder out of four bids for the right to drill in the WMAs. The agreement also calls for a 20 percent royalty over the

Waterbury, VT– Vermont’s third annual auction of five moose hunting permits closed on July 28, with more than $22,000 taken in to help fund Fish & Wildlife educational programs, such as the Green Mountain Conservation Camps for 12 to 16 year old youths. 

Seven bids ranging from $401 to $5,582 were submitted from people as far away as Virginia.                            

Bids do not include the cost of a hunting license ($20 for residents and $90 for nonresidents) or hunting