Bass Pro Shops sued for discrimination

The lawsuit alleges that qualified African-Americans and Hispanics were routinely denied positions at Bass Pro stores and managers of stores in Houston, Louisiana and other locations made derogatory racial comments acknowledging the practice.
The commission also alleges that Bass Pro destroyed documents related to applications and internal discrimination complaints and retaliated against those who spoke up.

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Hunting with Eagles, see eagles catch deer and wolves

Absolutely amazing. Ok, I know this is off-topic, but it was too stunning not to share and I aian't startin' a hunting blog. ;)

On this guy's Flickr page, a video clip of hunting deer using an eagle!

This Youtube video is of ancient hunting techniques using eagles to hunt wolves. Wow, this so dwarfs my memory of being 9 years old and watching an eagle grab a kitten just about 3o yards from me. Warning: the Youtube video is not for the faint of heart, some scenes will be disturbing for some people!

Lions and tigers and...well, just bears, but still.

We've got lots of bears in Western PA, but most people don't realize it because bears tend to keep away from people. The thing is, when the population increases, the bears start to smell what you've got in your backyard and want to investigate.

A friend of mine lives less than a mile from one of my favorite fishing spots, and she sent me these pictures of a "friendly" that keeps investigating her backyard. Keep in mind, she lives on a major state road that is heavily trafficked!

Black Bears...yow. This friend has drastically reduced the number of spots where she'll hang out with me while I fish now. A firm prerequisite is that there be lots of open space in case she needs to run! :D

Every man has a giant

My name is Mark, and I have a problem.

Every man has his giant.

Captain Ahab had Moby Dick. Steve Fawcett had his insatiable need for adventure. Rocky Balboa had his relative ignorance, and I have a giant too. Something I face that haunts me at every turn, that greets me not long after I wake, visits me throughout the day, and sometimes visits me in my dreams. It is the thing which I have to conquer.

My giant...is fishing.

To be honest, I have to concentrate on keeping it from becoming an obsession, and it isn't easy. Right now as I sit before my laptop, I know that there are Hybrid Stripers over ten pounds swimming within 2 miles of where I am. I know that I have what it takes to catch them, and I know that there are bigger fish swimming in the same waters. I know what the wind feels like on my face as my eyes begin to water from the breeze, and the anticipation of waiting for that first strike, and the next.

I know that within 45 minutes I could be on some of the best panfish water in the state of Pennsylvania, and most of my favorite spots on that lake are spots that I've never seen anyone else fish right, and I can slip in there and catch fish right under their noses.

I know where the Flatheads swim.

It gets to me. Those days where someone outfishes me and it takes me until just before I have to leave to break the code. Then I go back and the next time that method doesn't work. I must learn to break the code faster.

I get nervous every time I get to waist deep while wading, yet I've watched guys zoom past me until they are nearly up to their armpits in the water, yet continue to cast. Not that I think that's particularly safe (or smart) but when it gets quiet, and I'm in weeds up to my thighs, water up to my pockets, I wish I could be crazy like those guys and stop wondering what's going to pop up next to me (it's happened) or if a Snapping Turtle is going to decide to sample me (it nearly happened: thankfully it was clear water.).

I need to slay that giant.

I can't do a great Roll Cast with my fly rod. I can't use a bait caster reel at all. There are people who are better fishermen than I, who tie better flies than I, tie better knots than I, who get a perfect circle in their cast net nearly every time...

There's something in me that wants to do everything involved in sport fishing and to eventually perfect every aspect of it.

As long as there is even one part of fishing that I haven't conquered, it will be a giant looming over me, casting its shadow across my point of view. Whispering in my ear that I have failed to do something...and it wins again. Every time I try to adjust the lip of a Rapala and it makes no difference, I'll know my giant is there. When I catch only a single White Bass and I'm using minnows, I know it's there.

My giant is fishing itself, but if I am careful and don't let it beat me, don't let it come between me and what's important, instead letting it push me just enough to get better all the time, one day my giant will fall.

On that day I wonder if I'll laugh or cry?

Merry Christmas!

Hi fish folk, I just wanted to take a moment and wish you a very Merry Christmas in the name of The Savior Jesus Christ. I hope yours brings Him home to you!