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NEWS ABOUT HUNTING, GUN RIGHTS, AND LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Yoskowitz Named TPWD Executive Director

Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners named David Yoskowitz as the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in October at a special meeting of the TPW Commission in Austin, Texas. Yoskowitz previously served as the senior executive director and Endowed Chair for Socioeconomics at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Carter Smith, TPWD’s previous executive director, will officially retire in January 2023 but will serve as deputy executive director until then to help with Yoskowitz’s transition into the state agency.

Commissioners accepted the recommendation of the search committee in a public meeting. The search committee included TPW Commission Chairman Arch Aplin, and commissioners Anna Galo, Jeffery Hildebrand, and Oliver Bell.

“As an avid outdoorsman, David lives the mission of TPWD,” said Chairman Arch “Beaver” Aplin III. His business and economic acumen in the field of our cultural and natural resources will suit TPWD perfectly. David will continue a culture of inclusion with stakeholders and staff at the agency. Sixteen years at the Harte Institute in Corpus Christi has been a wonderful training ground preparing David to be our new executive director. Carter Smith will be missed immensely, but I could not be happier handing off the baton to David Yoskowitz.”

At A&M-Corpus Christi, Yoskowitz served in many roles, including professor of environmental economics, associate

David Yoskowitz

director for research, policy and development, Endowed Chair for Socioeconomics, and since 2020, the senior executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. His experience as an economist and his interest in critical environmental and natural resource issues paved the way for collaboration with natural science colleagues to study the links between environmental and human well-being with a particular focus on the resilience of the Gulf of Mexico region. During his time in Corpus Christi, Yoskowitz and the institute’s team of scientists and researchers worked to develop science-based solutions for pressing fisheries, watershed, coastal, and ocean challenges.

“It’s such an honor to join the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and a privilege to work alongside the talented women and men throughout the agency that dedicate themselves to conserving the natural and cultural resources, and the outdoor legacies, that make Texas such a special place,” Yoskowitz said. “As a lifelong outdoorsman, a father, and someone who has spent the last several years of my career working toward creating a better future for the Gulf of Mexico, the TPWD mission is near and dear to my heart. I am incredibly grateful for the work I’ve done for the last 16 years at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies and at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and that work has really been about developing the science, as well as some of the solutions, that help support TPWD’s mission. I’m so excited to now be a part of the implementation of that science for present and future generations of Texans.”

Yoskowitz’s passion for pursuing connection with the natural environment reaches back to younger years when he fought forest fires and gained an appreciation for the connection between humans and nature. Yoskowitz spent much of his career as a leader on the A&M-Corpus Christi campus, with research extending his presence through much of North and Central America including Cuba, Nicaragua, Belize, El Salvador, and Mexico.

“This is bittersweet news for the Island University, as Dr. Yoskowitz has been an integral part of a highly successful and dedicated team at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies,” said Dr. Kelly M. Miller, President & CEO at A&M-Corpus Christi. “At the same, this is an amazing opportunity for him, and his appointment to such a prestigious role brings a great deal of pride to our campus. We appreciate his service and look forward to a continued relationship with him in his new role.”

Yoskowitz served as chief economist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2014-2015) where he helped develop the agency’s first Social Science Vision and Strategy. He also served on the National Research Council Committee on the Effects of the Deep-

water Horizon Mississippi Canyon-252 Oil Spill on Ecosystem Services in the Gulf of Mexico. He previously sat on the Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committee for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. He serves on the Board of Directors of Indifly, an organization dedicated to using recreational fisheries to create sustainable livelihoods for indigenous peoples around the world.

Yoskowitz earned a Ph.D. in Economics, an M.A. in Economics from Texas Tech University, and a B.S. in Economics and Finance from Bentley College. —courtesy TPWD

TPWD Establishes Two New CWD Surveillance Zones

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission directed Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith to establish by emergency rule two new chronic wasting disease surveillance zones located primarily in Gillespie and Limestone counties. The new surveillance zones went into effect prior to the start of the general hunting season on Nov. 5.

TPWD developed the zones following the detection of CWD earlier in 2022 in a deer breeding facility located in Gillespie County and a deer breeding facility located in Limestone County.

Surveillance zones cover areas where the presence of CWD could reasonably be expected and enhance efforts to monitor and contain disease spread. Surveillance zone rules require hunters who harvest mule deer or white-tailed deer within the zone to bring their animals to a TPWD check station within 48 hours of harvest. Hunters must check each animal harvested and receive a CWD receipt before taking any part of that animal, including meat or quartered parts, from the zone.

“Testing for CWD allows wildlife biologists and animal health officials to get a clearer picture of the prevalence and distribution of the disease in those areas,” said TPWD Wildlife Division Director John Silovsky. “Proactive monitoring improves the state’s response time to a CWD detection and can greatly reduce the risk of the disease spreading further to neighboring captive and free-ranging populations.”

The surveillance zone located primarily in northwest Gillespie County encompasses 117,282 acres and includes parts of Kimble and Mason counties. TPWD will have two check stations – one in the city park in Harper, and the other on the grounds of the community center in Doss – along with self-serve drop boxes. The surveillance zone located primarily in northern Limestone County encompasses 118,687 acres and includes parts of two other counties – Navarro and Hill – allowing access to a processor in Hubbard and a check station in Coolidge.

Hunters can find maps of these and other zones, along with locations and hours of check stations and self-serve drop boxes, on the TPWD website. —courtesy TPWD

Legends Dove Hunt Breaks $4 Million Mark

The Legends Dove Hunt has raised $4.2 million for the Hendrick Children’s Hospital in Abilene. The vision for the annual dove hunt came from Lanny Vinson, after his son Ross had a horse-riding accident and the Abilene hospital had no way of treating him. Ross was airlifted to a Dallas hospital where he was treated and brought back to good health.

After the ordeal, Lanny brought up the idea for a dove hunt with Drs. Bob Wiley and Shannon Cooke, which would raise money for a children’s wing of Hendrick Hospital. With the help of numerous sponsors in the Abilene area, and a staff of dedicated assistants, Lanny announced the first dove hunt in 2004.

Several hundred hunters, funded by their sponsors, hunted doves on various ranches near Abilene. The net profit from the first hunt was minimal, but it showed Lanny and his team an annual dove hunt could raise considerable funds for the hospital. That was 18 dove seasons ago, and the annual hunt has funded a children’s wing of Hendrick Hospital and bought equipment to create a ward for children in need of special treatment and care. Today, when a child in the Abilene area gets a traumatic injury, they get proper pediatric care at Hendrick.

The 2022 dove hunt, involving over 400 hunters, brought in $400,000, pushing the total money made for the kids to $4.2 million. Some folks wouldn’t believe dove hunters could accomplish such a feat—but they have, and the hunts are still going strong. Of course, such hunts for humanity would not be possible without the help of volunteers, sponsors, local ranches, and assistance from camo companies, local businesses, and the general support of the community.

The original hunts involved dove hunting, a steak dinner, an auction, and a Saturday 5-stand clay bird shoot, accompanied by a barbecue dinner at the shooting range. In 2020, Covid-19 seriously affected the hunt, but they accomplished everything except the steak dinner. Lanny says plans are underway for the 2023 dove hunt, which should push funds for the hospital over the $4.5 million mark, all because of a dove hunt for the kids. —Horace Gore

The Legends Dove Hunt staff works hard each year to raise money for the Hendrick Children’s Hospital in Abilene.

[ THE JOURNAL ] VOLUME 48 NUMBER 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 HUNTING NEWS Murkowski Helps Cut Red Tape for International Hunters

In late September, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced after extensive negotiations and continued advocacy from both Alaska’s senate delegation and sportsmen and women across the U.S, the Department of Homeland Security updated the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form 4457 by eliminating the expiration date from it.

CBP form 4457 is required for U.S. citizens to travel abroad with their firearms. Up until late September, the form’s deadline and agency’s inability to update forms in a timely manner created unnavigable and unclear procedural hurdles for hunters, too often forcing compliant and prepared hunters to cancel trips for which they had already put significant time and money into planning.

As we enter the peak season for international hunting, CBP’s repeal of the arbitrary deadline on this form could not have come at a better time for American hunters looking to go afield outside the U.S.

“Since its inception, the internal, government expiration date on the CBP Form 4457 has caused undue headaches for U.S hunters travelling abroad. Thank you, Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Sullivan, for your efforts to finally resolve this issue. With the international hunting season in full swing, hunters can focus on their legal pursuit rather than an irrelevant date,” said Ben Cassidy, Executive Vice President of International Government & Public Affairs, Safari Club International. —courtesy SCI

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Montana Senator Introduces Bill to Protect Hunting Access

Sen. Steve Daines of Montana introduced the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2022. The Act addresses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2022 Hunt Fish rule, which includes several bans and phaseouts of lead ammunition, and which will significantly limit access for hunters across the country. Safari Club International extends thanks to Sen. Daines for introducing this bill and for his constant support of the hunting community. —courtesy SCI

Federal Advisory Council Members Announced

The Departments of Interior and Agriculture announced the 18 members of the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council after being chartered last February. This announcement comes at a critical time as the hunter’s voice has gone unheard by the Biden Administration. With no commitment to maintaining hunting and fishing access, we’ve seen massive public land closures in Alaska, the recent Hunt Fish Rule that bans lead ammunition, no action on wolf issues, and a mounting backlog of import permits. While the charter for the council does not include protection of hunting and fishing access, SCI encourages the members to make this a priority. Hunting advocates want to see meaningful work done around international hunting and imports; state management authority; support of Pittman-Robertson; traditional ammunition; and No-Net-Loss. SCI members will continue to champion for these critical issues every day. —courtesy SCI

Safari Club International Opposes Fish and Wildlife Service Settlement

The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have achieved a settlement in principle regarding CBD’s lawsuit challenging the 2020 FWS rule opening new hunting and fishing opportunities on more than two million acres of federal lands. CBD alleged these new hunting and fishing opportunities put endangered species at risk from harassment and the detrimental impact of increased use of lead ammunition and tackle. Safari Club International and partners, including the NRA, Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, denied these allegations and sought to intervene and to dismiss CBD’s baseless claims.

Bill to Create NOAA Youth Fishing Program

On Sept. 22, U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Don McEachin and Sens. Roger Wicker and Maria Cantwell introduced the Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act of 2022, a bill that would establish a grant program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for youth fishing projects. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation supports the legislation and recently joined members of the recreational fishing and boating community on a letter expressing our appreciation for the development of the program under NOAA.

While the nation’s coastline represents less than 10% of the contiguous land area in the United States, around 40% of our population lives near the coast. The close proximity of so many Americans to our rich marine and Great Lakes resources provides a perfect opportunity to introduce young people to recreational fishing and instill a deeper appreciation of our nation’s marine and freshwater environments.

NOAA is the only federal land management agency that does not have a dedicated recreational program to introduce the public to the outdoors. This bill would create another pathway for federal agencies responsible for management of our natural resources to connect the public with those resources. Specifically, this program will provide grants to eligible entities to: • Purchase or rent fishing equipment • Cover the cost of transporting participants to and from a youth fishing project • Cover the fees associated with boat rental, pier access, or other facilities • Purchase a fishing license(s) • Cover the cost of a fishing guide(s) • Cover other expenses related to conducting a youth fishing project

Recreational anglers were among the nation’s first conservationists. The Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act will be instrumental in introducing more young people to the outdoors and help to build upon our nation’s conservation successes, ensuring we have abundant marine and Great Lakes fisheries resources for future generations. —courtesy Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation