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Date 2-2-99 Time 8:00 central Just got done watching abc's drama/comedy "Sport's Night" and was disgusted by the blatant anti-hunting story line they just aired. I'll sum it up for those that didn't watch it: Setting of show: The production of an ESPN-like sports show called "Sports Night" Plot: New kid-on-block reporter is assigned to put together a show about hunting in the Adriondack Mtns with a guide. Turns out the reporter gets ill and has to go the hospital, fakes story and gets confronted by production manager. Reporter then goes off on several minute rant about how the story made him ill because they harvested a deer. False statements made by reporter character in regards to hunting: - Describes weapon, some sort of imaginary shotgun with a bunch of made up high tech stuff (ie side mounted sight scope, .30 cal. repeating magazine, other crap) - Describes hunt, guide and him not seeing anything, then reporter goes off by himself to a stream, see's a "family" of deer, holds out a twinky to the deer, deer comes up and eats out his hand, guide comes up behind him, guide tells reporter to back away so he can shoot deer, deer just stands there and gets shot - Changes mind of production manager by stating that hunting is no longer needed in todays society, production manager agrees with him I haven't had the time to find abc's email, but I will be looking. I will post it when I find it, otherwise, someone please post it if you know it. We need to inform them of the things they got completely wrong. We can go as far a telling them that they stereotyped us, and that this could be seen as a form of discrimination against the hunting community! One this is for sure, I will never watch that show again! Please send an email to ABC ASAP!

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Date: 29-Jan-99 Minister Snobelens remarks were reported Monday by CBC radio and have been confirmed by MNR staff. Snobelen has an ego the size of Montana, and he likes to brag about his past associations, e.g. his work with President Carter and his involvement in rodeo and horse breeding. Says he spends a lot of time in Colorado, Wyoming and Texas with these interests. Know anyone in the horse business in those states ? Check it out.

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Date: 29-Jan-99 Just as an update - the Ontario Bear hunt story is still generating a lot of press attention across Ontario. Canadian Press carried a story today that reported the resignation of two Fish & Wildlife Advisory Board members yesterday over the bear hunt issue - Brian Dykstra and Dr. Duncan Sinclair. The story seems to be taking on a life of its own each day now. Even people that don't hunt are angry at the meanspirited way that the Premier is hammering outfitters and other small family businesses across Ontario by the way this has been delivered. There are public meeting across the North almost every evening and people are getting really angry

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Date: 29-Jan-99 BEAR OUTFITTERS READY TO FIGHT by Dave Lammers Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal Hundreds of bear outfitters are banding together to fight the province's decision to eliminate the spring bear huntand to seek millions in compensation. Walter Fleming, a Jellicoe bear outfitter said Sunday about 200 outfitters will form the Ontario Black Bear Association to seek to have the decision overturned. I've got outfitters that are crying over the phone in trouble", said Fleming. "They've got mortgages due in the spring - all on the strengths of the bear hunt". Natural Resources Minister John Snobelen announced Friday the cancelling of the spring bear hunt. The spring hunt is controversial, with opponents saying shooting mother bears in May and June leaves cubs orphaned and not old enough to survive on their own. The fall bear hunt, when cubs are older, is less of an issue. It also attracts fewer hunters. Outfitters are crying foul saying they weren't given any warning and have already spent thousands on this spring's hunt. The government said it will meet with the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association to discuss compensation. Fleming said he isn't comforted and warned there will be a backlash affecting other aspects of tourism in Northwestern Ontario. "The Americans are just wild over this," said Fleming, adding he has received calls from sporting groups across the U.S. "They're boycotting everything - fishing, hunting, every kind of tourism." He also blamed NOTO for entertaining thoughts of ending the hunt. NOTO President Hugh Carlson said perhaps the association shouldn't have been as friendly toward the anti-bear hunting Schad Foundation when, last fall, it agreed to hear its concerns about the hunt. Though, he said, the group would have launched its anti-bear hunting campaign anyway. "Maybe we shouldn't have let those people come (talk) to us", said Carlson...

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Date: 30-Jan-99 and speaking of boycotts... just found out that chevy luminas and monte carlos are built in ontario. would it do any good to tell chevy you're canceling an order on one of their $20,000 cars because of where its made?

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This Message posted on a US Hunting Board for US Hunters. Subject: RE: URGENT: Ontario bear hunting!!!!!! From: NOTO Board member Date: 27-Jan-99 Dear Angered Hunters: I can assure you that NOTO has not, or will not accept any funds from Mr. Shad. The resolution that 80 camps passed at the NOTO Convention merely was an attempt to negotiate amiable solutions to this "Orphaning" perception problem. It was discussed that perhaps there were better baiting methods, etc. These changes that were brought forward were ideas for futher investigation. Mr. Shads' team threatened us with a two million dollar media campaign against Ontario Tourist Operators. We all felt that it would do severe damage to our businesses. Much like your call to boycott outfitters. At NO TIME DID THE OUTFITTERS IN THE ROOM AGREE TO END THE SPRING BEAR HUNT. NOTO seems to be taking it on the chin for a purely political government decision. It is clear that the Ont. Government has attempted to "purchase" Southern Ontario female votes by making Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters pay the price. Their offers of compensation clearly admit their guilt. NOTO has once again been placed in the unttenable position of the "middle man scapegoat" Comments like the one above prove only that government has succeeded in dividing the Outfitters in this province. Mr. Snobelens' staff told us in August that ending the Spring Bear Hunt was very high up on the Ministers agenda. This was months before the convention. The Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters are NOTO, The board and all it's members represent the industry and are looking for direction from our Members and non members as to the positions that they wish us to hold. Until such time, we will continue to push government officials to change their mind (they have short of 26 days). But we will also work with Outfitters Members and future members, to negotiate fair compensation for losses that have already be felt. I would ask all of you to continue to send the emails, letters and faxes to government. I find it difficult that you would think that hitting your Outfitter in the face while he is down is the answer to your problems. Instead I encourage you to continue to support fishing and hunting with your Outfitter to allow them to stay in business. At the same time NOTO will lobby continually to reinstate the Spring Hunt and increase fall hunt opportunities. If we don't have any Outfitters left in the hunting business, Mr. Shad wins all around because there will be no fishing either. Respectfully submitted. (name omitted)

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Date: 29-Jan-99 We will never commit to just a fall hunt. This is a step backwards. We need to attack the decision to cancel the spring hunt, not wait around for them to cancel even more hunts. Give in once and you will be coming at them from a weaker position than you previously held. You NOTO members must stand up and be counted NOW! Don't wait or you will loose more. I still think that your members do not have guts to stand up for your RIGHTS. Yes , RIGHTS! The right to hunt , right to have a good living, right to have a truely representative government, and the right not to have to bend to the whim of some rich jerk called shad.

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Subject: I need a Spring Bear Hunt From: Iowa Bowhunter Date: 28-Jan-99 Since Ontario has dis-invited us this year for our 15th annual bear hunt, any Outfitters from Manitoba, Sask., or Alberta that have openings for 2 or 3 bowhunters, please e-mail me asap at: goldmine@revealed.net thank you!

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