December 2014

The logjam broke for a number of natural resource-related bills during the last few weeks of the 113th Congress. Legislation to increase the cost of the duck stamp passed, as did a defense authorization bill that included a number of public lands measures, and an omnibus appropriations bill that included a legislative rider on sage-grouse. One issue that failed at the finish line was a bill that included a permanent extension to conservation tax incentives. The flurry of activity resulted in a mixed bag of success for conservation. While many tout the overall benefits of the bills that...

The Program Committee for the 2015 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference has announced the event's line-up of four concurrent Special Sessions scheduled to follow the Plenary Session on Wednesday, March 11.

In coordination with the Program Committee, Special Session co-chairs have drafted brief descriptions of the session topics. Persons interested in presenting at one of these Special Sessions are welcome to contact the appropriate co-chairs, and should do so as soon as possible.

The...

The Archery Trade Association (ATA) just concluded its 2014 Archery and Bowhunting Summit in Louisville, Kentucky. Now in its 10th year, this annual gathering of professionals from state and federal agencies, non-profits and the archery industry focused on the aggressive implementation of target archery and bowhunting recruitment programs. From range design, location and construction to the development of programs that capture the interest of potential hunters and shooters, cutting edge ideas about archery participation were the focus of this year's Summit. Many state fish and wildlife...

The most popular waterfowl book ever is once again available ? new and much improved. Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America was first released more than 70 years ago and sold more than one million copies in its first three editions. Now, nearly 35 years since the last revision, Johns Hopkins University Press (JHUP) has released the fourth edition of this seminal reference of the continent's waterfowl. The latest edition is a magnificent, two-volume Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) book, authored by the late Guy Baldassarre.

With the help of dozens of North...

Research conducted at Iowa State University indicates that establishment of a small amount of native prairie vegetation at strategic locations in crop fields can substantially reduce the loss of topsoil and nutrients to adjacent waterways, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. Researchers found that converting just ten percent of crop fields into prairie at strategic locations in the fields could reduce soil loss by 95 percent, phosphorous loss by 90 percent and loss of nitrogen from the field by 85 percent.

"The first year that prairie strips were strategically planted...