Outdoor Writer

That's a dandy. They don't give those away for peanuts. -TONY

Actually, it's a big NO on both counts. -TONY Tony, How do you know I didn't say # 1 Perhaps you did, but you're not "noted." Obviously, you're not dead either. -TONY

Yup, #4 was indeed Slammin' Sammy Snead. Guess you work for Ping, huh? And....so far the other correct asnwer, which Amanda posted first, is Edward Abbey for #2. The quote was from his A Voice Crying in the Wilderness. Four more to go folks!! A couple of clues: 1. Noted gunsmith/writer and world-wide big-game hunter now dead 3. Author and naturalist 5. Writer of noted classics. His life spanned the 19th & 20th century 6. Wrote several well-known fictional novels, including one popular with kids. His life also spanned the 19th & 20th century -TONY

Bingo! Exactly why I proposed such a reason. -TONY

Here's one Marc Plunkett at Wildlife Creations did for me. I built the roll-around wooden base, he did the rest. -TONY

But geez, you would think they would try to AVOID being caught and deported rather than blatantly hitch along the main road in the area where the BP presence is so evident. Obviously, it took a bit of effort to get where he was already, so why paint a "here I am" on his back if he would have to go through it all again? Makes no sense. -TONY

Here's a somewhat amusing story about 36B -- my fav unit for Coues, although I haven't hunted it for about 5 years. The last time my son and I drew permits for the Dec. hunt, we set up camp on the little road that heads north just after passing the Sycamore Canyon trail head area. Nearly every day, a couple of BP agents in an unmarked dunebuggy passed beside our camp, which was only yards from a gate. So they had to stop and open it each time. If I happened to be around, I would exchange pleasantries with them. Of course, during the days we traveled about the unit, we also saw numerous BP vehicles on the Ruby Road. So fast forward to our last day. We pack up camp and load it all into the truck and trailer I was hauling and begin the journey on the Ruby Road out to I-19. We went only a few miles when we came upon a guy hitch-hiking along this MAIN road. It was mid-morning! Yup, an illegal -- complete with the requisite liter pop bottles filled with water and a blankie dangling from heavy twine over his shoulders. My son and I cracked up because we both thought the same thing -- how the heck did this guy know we weren't BP agents. We figured it took either a lot of nerve or complete stupidity to actually stick out his thumb. -TONY

Actually, it's a big NO on both counts. -TONY

That same snippet appeared in Jim Sheperd's Outdoor Wire today. It has a VERY large e-mail distribution, especially among media members. -TONY

Okay, update.... So far, only ONE guess has been right. -TONY

I'm not going to confirm or deny any guesses before folks get their shots at them. -TONY

Here's another: "No, I'm not a good shot, but I shoot often." And NO cheating!

Arizona Game and Fish Department offers new "introductory" hunter education course Can be taken in classroom or online with field day Prospective hunters now have another option for taking hunter education training in Arizona. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has rolled out its new “introductory” hunter education course. The new program can be taken either in a classroom setting or by independent study online over the Internet. Both the classroom and online formats require students to demonstrate proficiency and pass an exam during a field day with certified instructors to complete the course. "The new course was developed as a convenient alternative for beginning hunters who either don’t have the time to take the traditional 20-hour basic class, or who can’t find a class or an opening in their area,” says Michael Golightly, chairman of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. “The curriculum includes the most important elements of the basic class that beginning hunters need to know. Content was developed over the past year through collaboration between Game and Fish education staff, wildlife managers and biologists, and volunteer hunter education instructors throughout the state. The course meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) national standards but is also tailored to Arizona’s specific needs. This new offering now gives people three primary alternatives for hunter education training in Arizona: The new “introductory” course, which can be taken through 7-10 hours of classroom study or through self-paced, independent study online. Both options also require a 4- to 5-hour field day. The traditional “basic” course, which encompasses about 20 hours, including a 4-hour field day. The expanded “basic plus bowhunting” course, a 28-hour course that includes the basic class and the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF)/International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP) bowhunter education class, and a 5- to 6-hour field day. Non-residents who have completed hunter education training in another state have an additional option: a "supplemental" course that educates them on Arizona hunting issues. One of the cornerstones of all the courses is the development of a new, state-of-the-art hunter education manual. It covers firearms safety, ethics, hunting skills, hunting laws, survival skills and wildlife conservation, among other topics. “The manual includes updated information on new technology and biology, as well as educational information on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” says Ed Huntsman, acting education branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Arizona’s current hunter education program graduates about 4,000 students annually. Courses are taught by about 460 volunteer instructors who are certified by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It is anticipated that more students, particularly young people, will take hunter education now that the new course is offered. Huntsman says the new course isn’t meant to replace the existing basic course. “It’s offered as a convenient alternative for people who might otherwise be deterred from taking a hunter education class due to time constraints,” he says. “But we encourage people to get as much education as they can, and the classroom format offers a chance to ask questions of the instructor and interact with peers." Huntsman encourages people to take advantage of other educational opportunities offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and sportsmen’s groups. “Programs such as small game camps, clinics and watchable wildlife programs are available to give people the chance to learn more about hunting and wildlife and get reconnected with the outdoors. Keep checking the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov for information on these activities,” he says. The cost to take the new introductory hunter education course is nominal, typically under $10 for the classroom option or $15 for the online course. To learn more about the course and to see when classes are offered, visit www.azgfd.gov/education and click on the “hunter education” link.

Welcome Seth! -TONY

Geez, that was quick. Yuppers. Teddy Roosevelt is the dude. Did you know he hated the name Teddy? He much preferred Theodore. Guess I'll have to make the next one real tough so no one will get other than by cheating. -TONY

Great guess...........but it's wrong in this case. You can change the "unknown" to Aldo now! -TONY

I doubt I have that much pull with them. But I'll call the HE supervisor later and see if he has any idea when more will be added. He's in a meeting this morning. -TONY

Yep I am very familiar with the age's cause this is my third time going thru it. My first two made it by the chinny chin chin. Just in time for their spring hunt. Back in Jan/Feb I was just banking on being able to find her a class that graduated sometime after her 10th b-day. As I sit right now it does not look good. I sure am going to hate to tell her that she has TAG SOUP. Just talked to my contact at G&F. You guys have it all right, so I won't repeat it other than the need to be 10 BEFORE actual completion of the HE course. So keep up the good work. We need more kids involved! -TONY

This is the list of FDs already on the schedule. I would guess more will be put in place if the demand warrants, however. Also, I would assume they have scheduled them until the 2007 holidays and will add more immediatelt after Jan.1 in time for the Feb. elk/antelope draw deadline. This is a typical time for them anyway to educate all those kids who get firearms for Xmas. -TONY That's what I was afraid of. My daughter turns 10 on 11/9. Five day's later. AARRGGHH I sure hope that they have a class on one of the next three weekends. Obviously, she would be 10 before actually applying for a permit. I know the regs state that a youngster must be between 10 and 13 to take the classes, but I have a call into G&F to clarify it nonetheless. I'll let you know fer shure! -TONY

This is the list of FDs already on the schedule. I would guess more will be put in place if the demand warrants, however. Also, I would assume they have scheduled them until the 2007 holidays and will add more immediately after Jan.1 in time for the Feb. elk/antelope draw deadline. This is a typical time for them anyway to educate all those kids who get firearms for Xmas. -TONY

Way to go. I'm going to do the same thing before the next elk/'lope draw. -TONY

Here ya go. -TONY “The time will come when public opinion will no longer tolerate amusements based on the mistreatment and killing of animals. The time will come, but when? When will we reach the point that hunting, the pleasure in killing animals for sport, will be regarded as a mental aberration?”

And the winner is.............Bob. Good show! A little about the man and the reason for the quoted text that started this thread: The Nobel Peace Prize of 1952 was awarded to Dr. Albert Schweitzer. The Problem of Peace lecture by Albert Schweitzer is considered one of the best speeches ever given. Schweitzer's worldview was based on his idea of reverence for life ("Ehrfurcht vor dem Leben"), which he believed to be his greatest single contribution to humankind. His view was that Western civilization was in decay because of gradually abandoning its ethical foundations - those of affirmation of life. It was his firm conviction that the respect for life is the highest principle. The will to live is naturally both parasitic and antagonistic towards other forms of life. Only in the thinking being has the will to live become conscious of other will to live, and desirous of solidarity with it. This solidarity, however, cannot be brought about, because human life does not escape the puzzling and horrible circumstance that it must live at the cost of other life. But as an ethical being one strives to escape whenever possible from this necessity, and to put a stop to this disunion of the Will to live, so far as it is within one's power. Schweitzer advocated the concept of reverence for life widely throughout his entire life. The historical Enlightenment waned and corrupted itself, Schweitzer held, because it has not been well enough grounded in thought, but compulsively followed the ethical will-to-live. Hence, he looked forward to a renewed and more profound Renaissance and Enlightenment of humanity (a view he expressed in the epilogue of his autobiography, Out of My Life and Thought). Albert Schweitzer nourished hope in a humankind that is more profoundly aware of its position in the Universe. His optimism was based in "belief in truth". "The spirit generated by [conceiving of] truth is greater than the force of circumstances." He persistently emphasized the necessity to think, rather than merely acting on basis of passing impulses or by following the most widespread opinions.

And it would be neat if more members used their REAL NAME, at least as signature in a message. I hate having discussions with anonymity. -TONY

Exactly. I, too, think kids should attend a class in person where possible because one important aspect is the ability to ASK the instructor questions. OTOH, I'm the perfect example of someone who can utilize the online system. I went through both the basic and instructor courses long before the bonus point deal was initiated. So for me to get that point, I need to retake the course/test. Obviously, I'm pretty savy about most of the course materials, so spending 20 hrs. again isn't necessary. But I'll gladly do the field day/test part. -TONY