Where Is The Adult Supervision Or Is That Adult Exploitation?

A cockfighting protest using 10 year olds from the Oz School in Santa Fe

Just How Close To Child Abuse And Misuse Is That?

10 Year Olds Are Used In New Mexico To Promote An AR Agenda But......

......According to the research, 20 states restrict youth participation in hunting. These restrictions include minimum ages for young people under 13......

Report Shows that Young Hunters are Safe Hunters

(Columbus) - A new report shows that young hunters supervised by an adult mentor have one of the lowest injury rates of all hunters.

“The most important factor affecting youth hunting safety is the presence of a responsible, attentive adult hunter, which is often a parent,” said Jim Wentz of Silvertip Productions who compiled the report along with the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA). “The research shows that supervised young hunters are the safest even in states that don’t restrict hunting based on age.”

The Youth Hunting Report was funded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) has led the charge in promoting youth hunting opportunities and has teamed up with the USSA and NSSF to do just that.

“Introducing our children to hunting is important for several reasons,” said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. “First, hunting allows families to spend time outdoors and share quality time together. Second, research shows those who start hunting early in life are more likely to hunt as adults. With those positive outcomes and the proven safety record of young hunters, why would we prevent young people from hunting?”

According to the research, 20 states restrict youth participation in hunting. These restrictions include minimum ages for young people under 13 and rigid hunter education requirements before most participation is permitted.

“By making the opportunity to hunt so difficult, we’re taking potential hunters out of the game and by the time they can legally hunt, they’re interested in other activities,” said Doug Painter, NSSF president.

The data also shows that youngsters are less likely to take up hunting in states that have the most restrictive requirements for youth participation. However, states that removed barriers to youth hunting have a much higher youth recruitment rate.

“This research proves what we have been saying for years,” said Bud Pidgeon, president and CEO of USSA. “States with strict age limits produce fewer young hunters and that means fewer adult hunters for the future. If we don’t start replenishing hunters now, we could let our heritage slip away. Then, who will shoulder the responsibility of conservation in the future?”

The time to recruit young hunters is now so we can take advantage of the large number of mentors available to introduce youth to hunting. The report shows that more than 45 percent of American hunters are between the ages of 35 and 54, an age group likely to have children old enough to mentor. However, there are considerably fewer hunters between the ages of 25 and 34, meaning in the future, there will be fewer people to pass on our hunting heritage.

States that have opened the door to young hunters are finding it’s a positive and safe experience. The Missouri Department of Conservation initiated a special youth turkey hunt in spring 2001 and then started a youth firearms deer hunt in the fall of the same year. These special seasons allow youth age 6 to 15 to purchase a permit where they can hunt with an adult who has passed a hunter safety course.

For more information about the Youth Hunting Report, call Steve Wagner of the National Shooting Sports Foundation at (203) 426-1320; Jonathan Harling of the NWTF at 1 (800) THE-NWTF or Doug Jeanneret of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at (614) 888-4868.

About NSSF: NSSF, formed in 1961, is the non-profit trade association for the firearms industry. It directs a variety of outreach programs to promote greater participation and a better understanding of shooting sports, emphasizing safe and responsible ownership of firearms. For further information, visit www.nssf.org.

About the NWTF: In 1973, when the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded, there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Thanks to the work of wildlife agencies and the NWTF’s many volunteers and partners, today there are 6.5 million wild turkeys and approximately 2.6 million turkey hunters. Since 1985, more than 193 million NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on over 29,000 projects benefiting wild turkeys throughout North America.

The NWTF is a nonprofit organization with nearly 525,000 members in 50 states and 12 foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.

For more information about the National Wild Turkey Federation, call (803) 637-3106, visit www.nwtf.org or e-mail questions to nwtf@nwtf.net.

About the USSA: The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

From North Carolina Comes..........

.........according to Animal Control Deputy Tim Bass.......

.......Mr. Bass said the charges stem from cutting off the rooster’s combs, a common practice in cockfighting.

“That is the only time a rooster’s head is shaved, is for fighting,” Mr. Bass said. “When they take it off, the other rooster can’t grab that comb and pull him down.”.........

Isn't That Strange, Mr. Bass? These Universities Say.......

SHOWING GAME BREEDS

There are two breeds of game chickens -- Modern Game and Old English Game. Cocks from such breeds should be dubbed to be shown. Dubbing involves removal of the comb, and sometimes the wattles. Nondubbing is a disqualification. In a youth poultry show, nondubbed game cocks will receive white ribbons.

SHOWING GAME BREEDS

And These Poultry Individuals Say.......

Dubbing
By Doug Pierson

At the present time (1997) no other variety of poultry rivals the high level of competition found in the more popular colors of Old English Game Bantams. To win one must not only have the very bird in type and color but also in showiness and the winning bird will always be one dubbed in an attractive manner.

Dubbing--Here is how one person deals with dubbing

Old English Game males have to be dubbed if they are over a year old in order to show. Most people trim them as cockerels at 6 to 8 months old. I have never had to put anything on the combs just trim the top comb about an 1/8 inch from the top of the head. Do not trim close to the head as it will count off in points at a show. You also trim the wattles and the ear lobs.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/kelliann293/shows.htm#Dubbing

Dubbing
Dubbing is the removal of the comb and wattles from the males. With breeds having large combs and wattles (such as the New Hampshire and Leghorn) dubbing prevents frost injury to the comb and wattles, resulting in temporary sterility. Males with frozen combs are inactive and sore. The males' combs freeze because high humidity induces rapid heat loss when cold. A dry cold seldom freezes the combs of healthy birds.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/kelliann293/shows.htm#Dubbing

So The Next Time You Hear.....

“That is the only time a rooster’s head is shaved, is for fighting,”

You Might Wonder What ELSE Is Being Misrepresented By The AR?

Drugs, Fighting Roosters Found

Jon Soles
Reporter
In a sweeping operation in northern Sampson County, sheriff’s deputies from Sampson and Johnston County uncovered 2 1/2 pounds of cocaine in a trafficking operation. In an unrelated investigation, Sampson deputies broke up a cockfighting ring and charged a man with 85 counts of animal cruelty.

Both operations were carried out Tuesday, according to a press release from the Sampson Sheriff’s Office.

According to the press release, a two-year investigation by Johnston County’s narcotics unit led agents across the county line to a home at 14489 U.S. 701 near Newton Grove. Sampson County drug agents joined the investigation and served warrants Tuesday.

Deputies arrested 42-year-old Pascual Valle Saucedo of 8061 U.S. 701 and 22-year-old Santos Espinoza Valdez of 413 McIver St., Sanford.

Mr. Saucedo and Mr. Valdez face identical charges of trafficking cocaine by possession, trafficking cocaine by sale, trafficking cocaine by delivery, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and maintaining a dwelling. In addition, Mr. Saucedo was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and Mr. Valdez was charged with trafficking cocaine by transportation.

Both men were placed in the Sampson County Jail in Clinton under secured bonds of $250,000 each.

Deputies found the 2 1/2 pounds of cocaine in a single “brick.” They also seized six shotguns and two handguns.

Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said he could release few details because of the sensitive nature of the undercover investigation into Mr. Saucedo and Mr. Valdez.

The State Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation. Sheriff Thornton said the investigation is continuing with more charges and arrests possible.

Cockfighting Raid

Sampson deputies investigating a Sage Lane residence near Newton Grove for possible drug activity instead found a rooster cockfight in progress, according to Animal Control Deputy Tim Bass.

“The drug agents went there the night before to investigate and they saw two men run and when they caught them, they had two chickens fighting behind a building,” Mr. Bass said.

The two suspects, 21-year-old Jose Alvarez Balderas and 35-year-old Flabio Reynosa Pineda, both of Sage Lane, were charged with cockfighting and gambling.

The following day, deputies went back to the residence and discovered a large-scale cockfighting ring complete with an “arena” converted from an above-ground pool.

Mr. Bass said 85 “modified” roosters were found at the residence. The rooster’s combs and natural spurs had been shaved off. Metal razor spurs were attached to their feet, he said. A total of 140 roosters, along with hens and an incubator for chicks were also found, Mr. Bass said.

“We found spurs, medication, scissors, hand saws used to cut off spurs,” Mr. Bass said.

In addition to the animals, two rifles and what appeared to be a gold-plated handgun were seized.

Mr. Balderas was cited and released but Mr. Pineda, who owned the animals, was charged with 85 counts of felony animal cruelty.

Mr. Bass said the charges stem from cutting off the rooster’s combs, a common practice in cockfighting.

“That is the only time a rooster’s head is shaved, is for fighting,” Mr. Bass said. “When they take it off, the other rooster can’t grab that comb and pull him down.”

Mr. Bass said the 85 fighting cocks were seized by animal control. Mr. Bass said they will likely be euthanized, because of their aggressiveness.

“We are going to try to get the judge to give us a court order to put them to sleep. If they are released they will do nothing but fight each other,” Mr. Bass said.

Mr. Pineda was jailed under a $100,000 secured bond. He will make his first court appearance Friday.

Mr. Bass said it appeared Mr. Pineda’s residence was a community gathering spot for cockfighting. He said people would come and bet money on cockfights. He said the “arena” was made from the body of an above-ground pool, and even had a canvas roof.

“He had the whole nine yards,” Mr. Bass said.)

From The OGBA News Comes.......

Subject: Letter to a District Attorney from Mexican-American Political Association(MAPA)

The Honorable Richard L. Gray

District Attorney, Oklahoma District 27

Sallisaw, Ok 74955

Dear Mr. Gray:

The Mexican-American Political Association, with over half million members nationwide and supporters of not just Latinos but of people of all walks of life and nationalities would appreciate your attention on a very delicate matter.

Just recently several Oriental people were arrested for involvement in a cockfighting venture, which of course is illegal, and nobody in Oklahoma should be involved in. We, in association with the Oklahoma Gamefowl breeders and a multitude of State Senators have tried to reduce the felony penalties to no avail.

Here in Rural Oklahoma we have one common adversary and that is a group that consists of PETA, ELF, ALF and the Humane Society. This group’s goal is to eliminate all animal use and they of course are picking the softest targets first. At the same time they are targeting the emotions of Soccer Moms. The have been able, by having access to millions of dollars, to make their personal feelings and beliefs into law. They claim that the Judeo Christian Religion is their worst enemy and also support terrorist activities like bombing animal research centers. All this can be found on the Internet.

The Gamefowl industry in Oklahoma and specially in your district has been a multi-million dollar industry. It was bringing in more than a hundred million dollars a year to our state. If you will ask just a few of your local merchants what effect the cockfighting law has done to their economy you will realize the harm Peta and the Humane Society has done. Now they are demanding that you, a Rural Oklahoma supporter and representative of your community take sides with them, but hopefully you will support the people that you represent and not an out of State entity like PETA.

Your Friend,

Tony Villalobos

(MAPA Regional Director)

From Mississippi........