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Archery Deer Hunting Season Opens Soon - Ohio Department of Natural Resources
09/29/03
Approximately 200,000 bowhunters are expected to participate in the statewide archery deer hunting season, which opens on October 4, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
During last year's four-month archery season, bowhunters took a record 48,904 deer, up 18 percent from the previous season's record harvest of 41,526.
Both longbow and crossbow kill totals set records last year. Crossbow hunters totaled 28,352 deer, and longbow hunters took 20,552 deer. Overall, archers accounted for 24 percent of the 204,652 deer taken during Ohio's combined 2002 archery, primitive and gun seasons.
Licking County led the state in crossbow and longbow harvest. Coshocton, Tuscarawas, Holmes and Guernsey counties rounded out the top five counties in crossbow kills. Completing the top five list for deer taken by a longbow were Knox, Coshocton, Holmes and Muskingum counties.
"Archers should expect another fantastic season in terms of deer numbers and opportunities to harvest one of Ohio's Buckeye Big Bucks," said Mike Tonkovich, wildlife biologist for ODNR's Division of Wildlife. "We're expecting a statewide archery harvest similar to last year."
This year's statewide archery season is open from October 4 through January 31, 2004 including the week of deer-gun season, which is December 1 through December 7. Wildlife biologists estimate Ohio's deer herd at 681,000 prior to the start of hunting season.
Archery hunters may hunt one half-hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, except during the statewide gun and primitive seasons when they are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
During the statewide gun and primitive seasons, archery hunters are reminded that they must meet the hunter orange requirements of those seasons.
To hunt deer in Ohio, hunters must possess a deer permit ($20) in addition to a valid hunting license ($15). State law allows hunters to take only one antlered buck per year, regardless of the type of deer season, deer permit or implement used for deer hunting.
Ohio is divided into three deer hunting zones. Zone A consists of 29 northern and western counties, which have a one-deer limit. The 54 counties in Zone B, mostly in southern and eastern Ohio, have a two-deer limit. And a restricted zone, Zone R, encompasses five northwest Ohio counties with a one-deer limit with special restrictions during the gun season.
Hunters may purchase up to four urban deer permits at a cost of $10 each to take antlerless deer only within the urban deer zones or during a special controlled hunt. Urban deer zones are located around Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Toledo, Dayton and Cincinnati.
In addition to the statewide deer gun season, archers may also participate in the special area primitive season held October 20 through 25 on Salt Fork, Shawnee and Wildcat Hollow public hunting areas as well as the statewide primitive season December 27 through 30.
A detailed listing of deer hunting rules is contained in the 2003-2004 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest that is available where licenses are sold, or may be viewed on-line at http://ohiodnr.com.
Applications Available for White Lake Youth Hunt - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
09/29/03
White Lake Preservation, Inc., is holding a guided youth waterfowl hunt on November 1 and 2, on the White Lake Preserve near Gueydan. Applications are now being accepted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. To participant in the lottery drawing, applications must be received in Room 461 of the Wildlife and Fisheries Building in Baton Rouge by close of business October 6.
Applicants must be under the age of 16. Interested youth hunters may apply for each date, however if they are selected for one date they will be ineligible for the second date. Each successful applicant must be accompanied in the blind by a parent or guardian. A hunting guide will be assigned to each blind. The hunts are being held during the waterfowl youth weekend that was established by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, therefore only hunters under the age of 16 are allowed to possess a firearm and shoot.
Applications may be delivered in person or mailed. The mailing address is: Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Attention: White Lake Youth Waterfowl Hunt at P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70898. Applications may be obtained from the LDWF website at: http://www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=950.
One applicant will be selected from each of 7 geographic regions in the state and one participant will be selected from the state at large. Selected participants will be provided overnight accommodations and arrival times will be sent to each hunter prior to the hunt. In the event the applicant is not able to participate in the youth hunt, he may transfer that permit to a qualified hunter (under the age of 16) of their choice. Transfers must be in writing and presented to the Hunt Coordinator on the morning of the hunt.
Future Hunters Encouraged to Sign-Up Early - Idaho Fish and Game
09/29/03
Lewiston-area youth wanting to hunt next year should plan now to sign-up for one of the two hunter education classes offered this November and December. Because of a recent law change allowing 10-year-old children to hunt small game with an adult, classes are expected to fill-up early.
The Clearwater Region generally educates around 800 youth each year. Adding 9 and 10 year-olds to the equation, over 2,500 students are expected to sign-up for upcoming classes.
"With so many eligible students, some may have a tough time finding a class that will fit their schedule before it's time to go hunting," said Kent Henderson, Clearwater regional hunter education coordinator. "To avoid the rush and to reserve a spot, we encourage those wanting to hunt next year to register early."
Registration for November and December classes in Lewiston will occur from October 20 to October 24 and will be held at IDFG's Clearwater Regional Office, 1540 Warner Avenue. Registration times are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 22.
To guarantee a spot in a class, parents or guardians are required to provide an address, phone number, date of birth and social security number for each student. Cost is $8 per student.
For more information, call IDFG at 799-5010.
Biologists Monitor White-tailed Deer Deaths - North Dakota Game and Fish Department
09/29/03
Recent reports of white-tailed deer deaths in southwestern North Dakota have wildlife biologists on the alert for a possible reoccurrence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease or EHD. To date, approximately 45 dead deer have been reported since the first of September. Aerial flights conducted by the State Game and Fish Department along the Little Missouri River and Cedar Creek yielded an additional 12 dead white-tailed deer.
"It appears that EHD could be the culprit," said Jacquie Ermer, disease biologist at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's Riverdale office. "However, its presence has not yet been verified."
If it is EHD, occurrences appear to be on the edge of a more serious outbreak in northwestern South Dakota. So far, game and fish officials say losses are not significant enough to warrant suspension of antlerless licenses that are still available in affected units, or to justify refunding licenses already sold.
Only four reports yielded carcasses that were fresh enough for sampling, according to Bruce Stillings, big game biologist, Dickinson. Three of those samples were negative for the virus, with results of the fourth still pending.
EHD is a natural virus spread by a small biting fly - culicoides variipenis. Historically, EHD has been reported from more than 32 states and provinces across North America. It surfaces periodically in southwestern and western North Dakota, and primarily affects white-tailed deer. Sometimes the incidents are isolated and affect few animals. In other cases the disease is spread over a large geographic region with significant white-tailed deer mortality in localized areas.
Historically, EHD events are most noticeable in western North Dakota when high whitetail populations combine with a hot and humid late summer and early fall, which creates ideal breeding conditions for the culicoides fly. The last severe outbreak occurred in 2000, when the disease ranged through many counties south of Interstate 94 and west of the Missouri River.
White-tailed deer populations in the southwest are high again this year, Ermer said, and that part of the state has been hot and dry. "We are concerned and will continue to follow up on reports, and will keep the public informed if anything changes," Ermer said.
EHD causes dehydration and a high body temperature, causing deer to seek water prior to death. Some dead deer reported were found in or near water, Ermer confirmed, but said the carcasses were too badly decomposed for testing. To isolate the EHD virus, and many other disease agents, the animal cannot have been dead for more than 24 hours. "I would urge outdoor enthusiasts to report sick or dead deer to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department as soon as possible," Ermer emphasized.
Other clinical and behavior symptoms may include respiratory distress; swelling of head, neck, and tongue; lesions on tongue and roof of mouth; indifference to humans; and in later stages, hemorrhaging from body orifices.
Deer losses to the disease occur every year and are sometimes significant in localized areas, especially during dry years. Most deer that die from the disease are infected before the first hard frost, which kills the biting midges that spread the disease.
EHD is not a danger to humans. However, Ermer said, "Hunters should not shoot or consume a deer if it appears sick, rather contact the department."
Presently there is nothing that can be done to prevent EHD in deer populations, Ermer said. "Our best defense against EHD is to maintain deer populations below a level where disease becomes a major mortality factor," she added, "and the best proven method of doing that has been through a legal and regulated harvest."
Game and fish personnel also took fresh samples for chronic wasting disease testing. Signs of CWD - which so far has not been detected in North Dakota - can appear similar to EHD, however, the diseases are very different. Both diseases may cause the deer to become weak, depressed, or lose their appetite, but EHD kills a deer much quicker and is spread through a biting fly. CWD works slowly and is likely spread through close contact with other deer. CWD is most likely caused by an infectious protein called a prion that may be spread through feces, urine, or saliva. Deer are able to develop immunity to EHD, but not CWD.
Observations of sick or dead deer could increase in the coming weeks as hunting seasons continue to open and more hunters are in the field. Persons finding dead or sick deer should contact the game and fish department immediately, Stillings said, due to time constraints in obtaining fresh samples for testing. "Reports from the public will also assist the department in determining the distribution and severity of the outbreak," he said.
Public Hearing on Moose Hunt Point System - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
09/29/03
The point system in the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery will be the topic of a public hearing on October 15 at 7 p.m. at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department on Hazen Drive in Concord. The proposed rules are necessary to implement a law passed this year that establishes a new system starting in 2004 under which hunters who enter the moose lottery and are not selected will earn a point that entitles them to an additional chance in the next year's lottery.
While most of the criteria for the new point system were set out in the law and cannot be changed through administrative rules, the proposal would change the identifying information applicants must provide and clarify when an applicant would lose points. Under the proposal, hunters must continue to apply in the lottery annually to prevent losing accumulated points, and hunters who receive a permit will lose all accumulated points and not be eligible for a permit for the following three years. Click here for the complete rulemaking notice form, with original and proposed rule language.
Written comments may be submitted by October 27, 2003, to: comments@wildlife.state.nh.us; or Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; or fax (603) 271-1438.
This year, more than 14,000 applicants entered the lottery for the chance to win one of 485 permits issued for the moose season. Click here for more information on moose hunting in New Hampshire and the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery.
CWD Incentive License Winners - New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
09/29/03
Michael Salmon of Albuquerque and Douglas Grant of Easley, S.C., are extremely lucky hunters. Last fall they had their deer or elk heads tested for Chronic Wasting Disease and this fall they were rewarded for participating.
Salmon will receive an authorization for the first bull elk hunt on the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest. The hunt starts Oct. 11. Grant will receive an authorization to purchase an oryx license for White Sands Missile Range. He may choose to hunt during any regularly scheduled oryx season on the Range.
Kenneth Owens, a hunter from Odessa, Texas, selected the authorization recipients during a simple drawing at the Game and Fish office in Santa Fe Wednesday.
Captive Wildlife Fees Raised - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
09/29/03
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has increased fees for certain licenses authorizing the possession of captive wildlife. The license fees increases went into effect July 1, 2003.
The fee increases are for the following licenses: License to Possess Wildlife for Exhibition or Sale, Game Farm License, Hunt Preserve License, License to Possess Class II Wildlife for Personal Use, and License to Possess Venomous Reptiles.
The fees for licenses to exhibit or sell wildlife increased depending upon the number of Class I and/or Class II specimens possessed. The license fee for the possession of not more than 25 Class I and/or Class II specimens is $150. The license fee for the possession of 26 or more Class I and/or Class II specimens is $250. Additionally, a new fee of $50 was created for any number of Class III wildlife specimens. This was the first fee increase for this license since it was created in 1969.
The fee for a license to possess Class II wildlife for personal use increased to $140. Class II wildlife is defined as wildlife considered a real or potential threat to human safety. This was the first fee increase since this license was created in 1974.
The license fees for a license to keep, possess or exhibit venomous or poisonous reptiles increased to $100. This was the first fee increase since 1953.
The license fee for a private hunting preserve increased to $70. This was the first fee increase since the license was created in 1959.
The license fee for a game farm and preserve increased to $50. This was the first fee increase since the license was created in 1929.
The license fee increases enable the agency to recover the costs of inspection and issuance of licenses.
EHD Detected in Portion of Harding County - South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks
09/05/03
Hunters considering a trip to a portion of Harding County this fall need to be aware that a common deer disease is effecting the white-tailed deer population.
A die-off of white-tailed deer has been documented in the southwest corner of Harding County. According to the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, the probable cause of the die-off is Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). This is an acute, infectious disease that occurs almost exclusively in white-tailed deer and is often fatal to the deer. It is not a health risk to humans. The disease is spread by tiny biting midges, and infected deer are most often found near water. The disease is especially prevalent during late summer periods of high temperatures and drought.
"We have encountered EHD a number of times over the past several years, and with the weather conditions we have had the past several weeks, we are not surprised to have reports of an outbreak like this," said Ron Fowler, game program manager for the Division of Wildlife.
Fowler said the West River deer hunting unit where the die-off of white-tailed deer has been most significant is in the unit 335B area of Harding County. Hunters planning to apply for a unit 335B leftover license in the second drawing may want to consider applying for a leftover license in a different West River deer area.
Fowler added that GFP staff have and will continue to monitor for signs of EHD breakouts. "These die-offs occur in some remote areas, so it is necessary to rely on landowners who are out working their property and hunters who may be out in the field as information sources for EHD outbreaks," he said.
If several deer are found dead in a specific area, it is important that individuals contact a GFP office or a conservation officer with information on where and when the discovery was made and how many deer were involved.
"We will continue to monitor the EHD situation throughout the state," Fowler said. "We have specific management plans in place for handling these events once we are notified and verify them. If the situation is serious enough, we will notify hunters of possible changes in the hunting situation in their area."
Information on leftover licenses may be obtained online at http://www.state.sd.us/gfp or by calling the GFP Information Office at 605/773-3393 or 605/773-3485.
Private Land Ranch-Only Elk Hunt Season Extended - New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
09/05/03
Ranch-only elk hunts on private lands have been extended until Feb. 28, 2004, except in Game Management Unit 4, to help reduce elk depredation on private lands. The State Game Commission extended the date at its Aug. 20 meeting in Santa Fe, following a request by the Department of Game and Fish. The new date extends the season for private land ranch-only permits statewide by 28 days, although no additional permits will be issued.
"We want to extend ranch-only hunting to accommodate a late harvest of cows," said Luis Rios, Division of Wildlife chief. "The private land cow harvest is below ideal. We're not increasing the number of permits, just the window of opportunity to hunt."
Rios noted that elk may not be present on some ranches until February, making it difficult for those landowners to offer valuable hunting opportunities under the current closing date of Jan. 31. Unit 4 was excepted from the change at the request of outfitters and landowners in the area, who want the opportunity to raise quality bulls.
The Commission approved the changes only for the 2003-2004 season, because the Landowner Sign-Up System, or LOSS, is under review.
Deer Hunting Opportunities Increase - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
09/05/03
Deer hunters this fall and winter will be able to purchase more licenses, and have an extra season for hunting in most of the state. Licenses for the fall/winter deer seasons and fall turkey season are now on sale.
The special late season, January 11-18, has been expanded from the southern couple tiers of counties to statewide. The state Natural Resource Commission (NRC) also approved an additional 30,150 antlerless deer tags, and allowing hunters in the early muzzleloader season, first shotgun or disabled hunter season to purchase an additional antlerless tag. The changes stem from 2003 legislative action and increased deer population.
"Our surveys showed the population up about 10 percent, after last season," explains Willy Suchy, wildlife biologist for the Department of Natural Resources. "By putting more antlerless tags in each county and by expanding that late January season to all the state, we can deal with it that way."
The later January season in the south and the sale of antlerless tags were established several years ago, to increase the harvest of does. A hunter's first tag costs $26. Each additional tag is $11. Each county in the late season had a specific number of tags available. "Last year, the January season sold out in every county," says Suchy. "This spreads that availability to the rest of the state. It might take away from some of those southern counties, though, if hunters decide to stay closer to home to hunt antlerless deer."
The addition of antlerless tags for early muzzleloader and first shotgun season hunters is another incentive to take does. Traditionally, more hunters pass up does for bucks in those seasons. "This provides an opportunity for them to take the first doe they see. That provides them with venison. They can still go for the trophy buck," assesses Suchy, saying it could also reduce the harvest of yearling bucks, allowing for more trophy class bucks in years ahead. The upcoming late September-early October hunt for disabled hunters also offers the extra antlerless tag option.
The NRC approval for additional county antlerless tags pushes the quota to 53,500 statewide. A hunter can now purchase three such tags, instead of two. "The added season and tags are a good response," offers Loren Forbes, vice-president of the Iowa Wildlife Federation. "We need to get the idea across to hunters that taking more does is the most effective way to control Iowa's deer herd." Forbes foresees an increase in venison donations and 'hunters helping the hungry' type campaigns.
The NRC also approved special deer hunts in 22 locations; primarily parks and urban areas where high deer populations cannot be dealt with through regular hunting seasons. They range from a 500 tag quota across all seasons in Linn County to a 35 tag archery zone at Lake Manawa State Park. The special hunts target antlerless deer, although an increasing number feature several 'any sex' tags available, as incentives. An 'any sex' tag allows a hunter to try for a buck, after taking a doe.
Special Deer Hunts to be Held - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
09/05/03
Special deer hunts will take place this fall in 21 Minnesota state parks for those persons selected in a special hunt drawing to be held by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
While most of the parks will remain open to the public during the hunts, for public safety reasons a number of parks will have some use restrictions. Restrictions will range from closing trails or areas of the park to restricting use of the park to special hunt permit holders only during the duration of the hunt. For example, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park will be open to the public during the special hunt in the park, but the park’s horse trails will be closed and use of the other hiking trails is discouraged. Due to the extensive area being hunted at Afton and Crow Wing State Parks, use of these parks is restricted to special permit holders.
PICK UP A MAP; WEAR BRIGHT COLORS
DNR officials said that visitors who plan to use the parks during the special hunt event should stop at the office when they arrive to pick up a map of the no hunting zones in the park. Maps of these zones will also be posted in various locations in the parks.
DNR officials strongly suggest that visitors wear blaze orange while they are in a park that is holding a special hunt and that they take care to remain within the designated no hunting areas.
Visitors might also think about choosing an alternative park nearby for recreation if a special hunts is being conducted at the park they had planned to visit. For example, Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River will not be hosting a deer hunt this year and is an alternative choice for fall hiking or picnicking on the weekends that park use is restricted to hunt permit holders only at nearby Wild River and William O’Brien state parks. The public may contact the DNR Information Center at (651) 297-6157 or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) for assistance in choosing alternate locations.
HUNTS HELP CONTROL EXPLODING DEER POPULATIONS
State parks annually host a number of deer hunts in order to manage park resources, according to Ed Quinn, resource management coordinator for Minnesota state parks.
“Deer are part of the natural communities that we seek to preserve or restore in state parks,” Quinn said. “When deer populations in an area become too high, however, they can have significant negative impacts on the natural balance of plant and animal communities. Heavy deer browsing on seedling trees during the winter, can nearly eliminate regeneration of some tree species, such as pine.”
Quinn added that deer browse can also greatly reduce the numbers and varieties of wildflowers and other herbaceous plants that grow on the forest floor.
“Techniques, such as bud-capping and exclosures are also used to control levels of deer browse,” Quinn said. “Our overall goal is to manage deer so that populations are at levels that do not negatively affect the other natural resources. In some cases, that is best accomplished through special hunts.”
While most of the hunts are designated for regular firearms, nine parks will hold hunts for muzzleloaders. The hunts at Wild River, Rice Lake and Lake Bemidji state parks include opportunities for hunters with disabilities. Flandrau State Park is open to use by the public during the city of New Ulm archery deer hunt.
For more information on special hunts, call the DNR Information Center at (651) 297-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), or visit the state park pages on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.
STATE PARKS THAT WILL HOLD SPECIAL HUNTS INCLUDE:
*Afton State Park (Dec. 3-4) Muzzleloader Big Island State Park (Nov. 29-Dec. 1) Muzzleloader; (Dec. 13-14 Muzzleloader
*Crow Wing State Park (Dec. 5-7) Muzzleloader
Flandrau State Park (Part of New Ulm City Hunt) Archery
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park (Nov. 22-24) Regular Firearms
Gooseberry Falls State Park (Nov. 8-23) Regular Firearms
*Jay Cooke State Park (Nov. 29 – Dec. 3) Muzzleloader
Itasca State Park (Nov. 8-16) Regular Firearms
Lake Bemidji State Park (Nov. 8-11) Shotgun and Muzzleloader (Nov. 10-11, up to five disabled hunters will get a partner from Bemidji Minnesota Deer Hunters Association)
Lake Bronson State Park (Nov. 8-10) Regular Firearms
*Lake Shetek State Park (Dec. 6-9) Muzzleloader
Maplewood State Park (Nov. 15-18) Regular Firearms
Nerstrand Big Woods (Nov. 29-Dec. 1 and Dec. 5-7) Muzzleloader
Rice Lake State Park (Nov. 29-Dec. 1 and Dec. 5-7) Muzzleloader (Hunting blind will be available for hunters with disabilities)
*St. Croix State Park (Nov. 15-16) Regular Firearms
*Savanna Portage State Park (Nov. 15-21) Regular Firearms
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park (Nov. 8-23) Regular Firearms
**Tettegouche State Park (Nov. 8-23) Regular Firearms
*Wild River State Park (Nov. 8-9) Regular Firearms (Accessible elevated platforms for disabled hunters available.)
*William O'Brien State Park* (Nov. 8-9) Regular Firearms
Zippel Bay State Park (Nov. 8-16) Regular Firearms
*These parks will restrict park use to hunters only.
**In Tettegouche State Park, the only portion of the park that will remain open to the public is on the Lake Superior side of Minnesota State Highway 61. This includes Shovel Point and the mouth of the Baptism River, the park's cart-in campground, Palisade Head and the Baptism River wayside. Note that the park's main campground, the Illgen Falls cabin and the cabins at Tettegouche Camp will be closed to the public during the hunt.
Moose Research Underway in North Country - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
09/05/03
If you spot a pink or yellow ear tag and a collar on that moose you're watching up north, don't worry, your eyes aren't fooling you. The animal is marked as part of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and New Hampshire Fish and Game Moose Research Project in Coos County, a study that is providing critical management data about the rates and causes of mortality and the habitat needs of moose in this region of New Hampshire.
The joint research project has been underway since December of 2001, when Fish and Game and UNH biologists kicked off the cooperative effort to study moose in northern New Hampshire. That season, forty Coos County moose (25 cows and 15 calves) were captured using helicopter net-gunning techniques and fitted with radio collars and yellow ear tags. In December 2002, 25 more moose (4 cows and 21 calves) were fitted with radio collars and pink ear tags. Currently, 39 study moose remain (26 adult cows, eight yearling bulls and five yearling cows). Most of the study moose are in the Milan, Success, Cambridge, Errol and Dummer townships, but you may see these study moose, especially yearling bulls, in many neighboring towns as well.
The radio collars on the moose allow research technicians to track the movements and habitat use of the study population, giving researchers valuable information on population dynamics, mortality and habitat needs. Information collected on the study moose will enable Fish and Game biologists to more effectively manage the state's overall moose population. This beneficial study, funded solely by moose hunters, will run through the summer of 2005.
It's easy to spot a study moose -- they can be differentiated from other moose by the distinctive yellow or pink numbered ear tags and brown or white radio collar. Each moose's ear tags are uniquely numbered so that they can be identified by simple visual observations. The general public can aid the project by contacting the researchers stationed at the Kilkenny Guard Station on York Pond Road in West Milan with any observations of tagged moose (telephone: 603/449-2094). The ear tag number is particularly important to identify, but also note the location, time, activity and whether the moose was sighted with any other moose (especially calves).
Always remember that the study moose are still wild animals, so approaching them, or any other wild animal, is not recommended, according to Fish and Game Wildlife Biologist Kristine Bontaites. Enjoy the sight of these magnificent animals from a distance and call in your observations to the researchers at Kilkenny Station.
Buckskin Network Enters 46th Year - Colorado Division of Wildlife
09/05/03
Ruth Wade, a Colorado State Patrol communications supervisor in Craig, doesn’t take the Buckskin Network lightly.
In cases of emergency, she asks hard questions: Where is your husband hunting exactly? What kind of vehicle is he driving? When was he supposed to return home? Is he carrying a cell phone?
She expects the public to provide good answers.
“We’ve had calls—I know it sounds crazy—from wives at home who want to get a message to their husband because they haven’t heard from him for 24 hours,” Wade says.
“The single most important thing (the public needs to know) is the Buckskin Network is for life-or-death emergencies.”
Colorado’s Buckskin Network, now in its 46th year, is a unique program involving law enforcement and media in a cooperative effort to assist the public in getting emergency messages to hunters in the field during big-game rifle seasons. The goal is to provide a reliable public service that connects hunters to their families in times of unexpected crises, such as emergency childbirth, serious accidents, or death.
Wade stresses that childbirth per se is not considered a Buckskin emergency, unless there is a serious mitigating medical factor.
“The husband knew she was pregnant before he left. If it’s that close to birth, maybe he should have rethought his hunting trip,” she says.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) also depends on the network to inform hunters of new developments and important hunting information. Last year, the DOW relied on the system to inform sportsmen about chronic wasting disease.
This year, the program runs from Oct. 11-Nov. 12. During that period, hunters can tune into one of 43 Colorado and New Mexico radio stations to listen for updates. Television stations in Craig, Crested Butte and Montrose and newspapers in Craig, Frisco, Durango, Gunnison, Telluride and Sterling also will participate in the program. Printed announcements depend on the frequency of publication.
Hunters with emergencies at home will have their name, state and hometown announced on commercial radio at least three times daily. Broadcast times will vary from station to station, but will occur as close to 6 a.m., noon and 8 p.m. as possible.
Anyone heading into Colorado’s back country for the hunting season should leave their families with complete vehicle information, including license plate numbers, hunting locations and their expected date of return. When plans change, hunters should notify their families of any new itineraries. Hunters also should find out which radio stations can be heard in their proposed hunting areas.
Proper preparation is part and parcel of any good hunting expedition. Well-prepared hunters should be aware of valuable communication resources, including the Buckskin Network, in case they need to reach someone—or need to be reached.
Hunters who hear their names and hometown announced immediately should call the Colorado State Patrol in Craig to receive a detailed message. State patrol officers note it is important to cancel received messages so valuable airtime can be conserved.
Frank Hanel, owner and general manager of KRAI Radio in Craig says the Buckskin Network has been phenomenally successful in getting important messages to hunters in years past.
“There’s no question it’s solved a lot of issues over time,” he says.
While the radio executive argues that widespread cell phone use has cut demand for the service, he nonetheless agrees hunters should not solely rely on wireless handsets.
Hanel and others acknowledge that mobile phones are not always dependable in remote, rugged parts of the state, where phone networks are not as robust and communications towers not as plentiful. In many rural areas, Enhanced 911 (E911) technology that enables law-enforcement officials to zero in on a lost or injured person calling from a mobile phone in an emergency is not yet readily available.
“If somebody comes from a big city and is using one of (the phones) that just doesn’t work out there, then the Buckskin Network is extremely valuable,” Hanel says. Wade concurs: Hunters should not lull themselves into a false sense of security just because they are carrying a cell phone.
“Cell phones are wonderful things. They’ve helped and assisted in getting help to a lot of people who need it. But people should not rely on them completely. People need to let others know where they are going and what time they will be back. And they need to hold to it,” she cautions.
For more information on the Buckskin Network,
visit this web page ,
http://wildlife.state.co.us/hunt/huntereducation/thebuckskinnetwork.asp
or call (970) 824-6501.
G & F Responds to Wildfire License Inquiries - Wyoming Game and Fish Department
09/05/03
With the Boulder Basin 2 fire spreading southwest of Cody and other wildland fires in Wyoming generating inquiries about potential hunting license refunds, the Game and Fish Department is alerting hunters about the G&F regulation which covers such situations.
If the G&F determines a majority of the hunting opportunity for limited quota big game hunt area has been lost because of government administrative action, which closes access to the hunt area, the license holder may a request a 50 percent license refund. If 100 percent of the access is closed, hunters can request a 100 percent license refund. Bighorn sheep and moose hunters who request a refund would also have all their preference points restored.
Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat hunters whose areas meet the closure criteria can also opt to turn in their licenses and reserve the same license for the next hunting season.
If an area qualifies for a refund, the request must be received by the G&F by 5 p.m. on the fifth day following opening day for the regular hunting season in that area.
General license elk and deer license holders are not eligible for refunds because of numerous general license hunt areas open throughout the state.
As of the afternoon of Aug. 22, no hunt areas were close to qualifying for refunds. The access to bighorn sheep area 5 is estimated to be 15 percent closed.
“We hope the weather breaks, and we get some rain to make this situation moot,” said John Emmerich, G&F assistant Wildlife Division chief. “But it is very possible this situation could grow worse, so we wanted to alert hunters to the regulation governing license refunds if fire closes access.”
Hunting Season Heats Up - Idaho Department of Fish and Game
09/05/03
The bull elk's scream cuts the morning silence as the hunter lies in wait. His heart races as the bull moves into sight and he slowly draws his bow.
In another drainage, the crack of the shotgun resonates through the trees. The stream is silenced for a moment as the ruffed grouse bust from its grassy cover from under the nose of a trembling dog. Feathers follow the birds decent as the dog rushes in to retrieve the quarry.
With hunting season upon us, sportsmen have returned to the mountains, the wooded valleys and the deserts in pursuit of game throughout the Magic Valley and most of the state.
Currently hunters can pursue deer, elk and antelope with their bows; forest grouse with nearly any weapon and doves with a shotgun. Dove hunters need the Federal Migratory Game validation on their license.
Within the next few weeks several other hunting opportunities will be opening. Here is a list of season openers:
Big game
Elk and deer have a variety of openers. In most of southern Idaho, deer seasons open Oct. 5 and close Oct. 19 or 31. Elk seasons and openers vary from Zone to Zone with most ending in early or late November.
Game birds
Bobwhite and California quail - Sept. 20 through Dec. 31
Turkey - Sept. 15 through mid or late October
Sage Grouse - Sept. 20 and closes Sept. 26 in Area 2 and Oct. 12 in Area 3
Chukar and gray partridge - Sept. 20 through Jan. 15
Sharp-tailed Grouse - Oct. 1 through Oct. 31
Pheasants - Oct. 18 and goes until Nov. 30 in Area 2 and to Dec. 31 in Area 3
Forest Grouse - Is open and closes Dec. 31
Dove - Open until Sept. 30
For more information check the hunting regulations for more details on the hunting seasons or call the Magic Valley Regional Fish and Game Office, at 324-4359.
Coyote Control Takes a Back Burner - New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
09/05/03
The Department of Game and Fish will discontinue coyote removal activities this spring except in situations where the program can demonstrate positive cost benefits. The State Game Commmission provided that directive to the Department after hearing an update on the program, which indicated deer populations had not significantly improved in those areas subject to coyote control.
"The Department spent a total of $292,000 on contracts with trappers, who removed 1,334 coyotes - that's about $219 per coyote," said Luis Rios, Division of Wildlife chief. "The contracts were written for trappers to spend 160 hours a month in the field, there was no minimum number of coyotes."
The program was implemented in Game Management Units 5B, 10, 17, 23, 37 and 56, chosen for their potential to provide good habitat for improving deer herds. However, the trapping program showed no appreciable increase in deer populations in those areas.
"Recent data shows deer going into the winter in poor condition," said Commissioner David Henderson. "The habitat is not providing for their needs. To grow more deer, we must provide better habitat. Predator control is a tool but habitat is the key."
John Boretski, who represented the New Mexico Council of Outfitters and Guides, referred to the success of the Double H Ranch and the Pipe Ranch improving deer populations with aggressive coyote control measures. Henderson cautioned that those ranches were contained areas controlled by one entity, while the Department of Game and Fish has the entire state to contend with.
Rios said there is still $82,000 in the budget, to be allocated to coyote control or other contract work. The Commission advised not to get rid of the coyote control program but to develop a program that makes good sense overall in managing deer.
Carolina 19, New Orleans 13
By JENNA FRYER
AP Sports Writer
October 5, 2003
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Stephen Davis was fighting cramps alone in the locker room, determined to get back on the field and finish the best start in Carolina Panthers' history.
Davis made it back out after taking intravenous fluids to run for a final 10 yards that sealed the Panthers' 19-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, moving Carolina to 4-0 for the first time.
``My goal was just to come back and finish,'' Davis said. ``When I got out there, I didn't say anything in the huddle. They told me, `Let's get it.'''
Davis, who finished with 159 yards and a 1-yard touchdown run, headed to the locker room with the Panthers leading 19-10 late in the fourth quarter.
The Saints (1-4) cut it to 19-13 on John Carney's 26-yard field goal with 1:43 to play, and Carolina needed one last first down to close the win.
The Panthers knew it was time for Davis.
``We needed a first down, so I looked at Stephen and told him to 'Go get it, let's finish it here,''' quarterback Jake Delhomme said.
Davis gained the final 10 yards on three straight runs. When he gained the first down on his 30th carry of the game -- allowing Delhomme to take a knee on the final two plays -- Delhomme excitedly pounded on his teammates' helmets to celebrate the win.
``Stephen Davis is the best thing that has ever happened to this football team,'' safety Mike Minter said. ``Never before have we had a running back who could just grind the game out for us and it's a pleasure watching him seal it for us from the sidelines.''
There's little flash or fanfare to this team, just a steady dose of Davis in every game.
Signed during the offseason, Davis set an NFL record as the first back to pass the 100-yard mark in his first four games with a new team. With 565 yards rushing this season, he also set a record for the most total yards with a new team, besting Ricky Williams' 460 yards in four games with Miami last season.
Rod Smart -- aka ``He Hate Me'' -- had the flashiest play for the Panthers, returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. John Kasay added field goals of 49 and 23 yards.
It was a confidence-building game for the Panthers, who opened last season 3-0 before going on an eight-game losing streak. It was a stat second-year coach John Fox reminded them off all week in emphasizing how important it was to beat New Orleans.
Fox was still cautious after the game.
``It is what it is,'' he said. ``It's still the end of the first quarter ... and we are in a four quarter race.''
The injury-riddled Saints, down six starters on defense, lost their third consecutive game but showed marked improvement from last week's 55-21 embarrassing loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Saints had 344 yards total offense -- 155 on the ground against a Carolina team that prides itself in stopping the run.
``These guys are not going to give up,'' coach Jim Haslett said. ``I was proud of the effort they gave all week in practice. The extra time they put in, the film work. Everything they did, they stuck tight with it.''
Deuce McAllister, who had a stiff back and a slight touch of the flu, ran for 124 yards for the Saints. He also added four catches for 59 yards.
``This is my job and those are my teammates, those are my brothers,'' McAllister said. ``I told them whatever I got, that's what I'm going to give to them.''
New Orleans never led, but was still fighting at the end.
Carney's second field goal pulled them within a touchdown late in the game, and the Saints then tried to recover an onside kick. But Carney's kick went out of bounds and the Panthers simply had to hand the ball off to Davis to run out the clock.
Delhomme, a Louisiana native who spent five seasons as the backup in New Orleans before signing with the Panthers in the offseason, finished 15-of-23 for 124 yards.
He said he woke up at 6:05 a.m., too excited about facing his former team to fall back to sleep.
``I was fine all week, then when I woke up and looked at the alarm clock I thought, `You've got to be kidding me,''' he said. ``I was ready to play. I hadto calm myself down a little bit.''
Notes
Carolina linebacker Dan Morgan returned from a two-game absence with a pulled hamstring to finish with a team-high nine tackles. ... The Saints offensive line kept the Panthers from registering a quarterback sack for the first time in nine games. ... Horn's 21-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was the 26th of his career, moving him into fourth on the Saints' all-time list. It was the first touchdown the Panthers have given up since theseason opener.
Dallas 24, Arizona 7
By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer
October 5, 2003
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Emmitt Smith was all smiles. Fans were cheering his every move and flashbulbs were popping. He looked around happily, savoring his return to Texas Stadium just like he'd hoped. Everything was going his way.
Then the game began. And nothing went right again.
Smith lost 4 yards on his first carry and finished with minus-1, the worst outing of his career. He was pounded nearly every time he got the ball and was knocked out early in the second quarter with a sprained left shoulder.
He spent the rest of Sunday's game in the locker room, his arm in a sling, as his former teammates on the Dallas Cowboys polished off a 24-7 victory over his new teammates on the Arizona Cardinals.
``Every player wants to play four quarters, play his best and do everything possible to help his team win,'' Smith said. ``I wasn't able to do that today.''
There was no immediate word from the team on whether Smith would miss any time. He's missed just four games in his 13-plus NFL seasons.
``We have to go back and do more tests on it,'' Smith said. ``But the early diagnosis is a sprained AC joint. I think I'll be OK, though.''
Quincy Carter threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and the defense allowed just 151 yards and provided two safeties in a four-play span in the third quarter as Bill Parcells earned his first home win as coach of the Cowboys.
Dallas (3-1) already was up by a touchdown when Smith went out, then pulled away for its first three-game winning streak since opening 1999 at 3-0.
``This game was nothing personal to Emmitt,'' said safety Darren Woodson, who spent 11 years playing with Smith. ``It was about beating the Cardinals.''
Smith, the NFL's career leading rusher, usually performs his best in big games, and no game this season will be bigger to him than this one.
Thousands of fans wore blue No. 22 jerseys, and even a few red ones. There were many welcome back signs, including a huge one that read ``Once A Cowboy, Always A Cowboy'' next to the Cardinals' tunnel. None poked fun at his statement that he felt like a ``diamond surrounded by trash'' during his last season in Dallas.
He was applauded from the moment he stepped onto the field, even sharing a brief hug with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who wished him good luck.
Smith took part in the coin toss, then returned to the bench giddy over winning it. Cameras clicked as he swapped a ballcap for his helmet, pulled up his red socks, looked around proudly and got in place to watch the opening kickoff.
His fun ended on the first play. La'Roi Glover blew through blockers and wrapped up Smith 4 yards behind the line.
With six carries for minus-1 yard and two catches for 2 yards, Smith had the least-productive of his 206 career games, 201 of which were for Dallas.
He had only 25 yards on 12 carries his previous game and has just 192 yards through five games with Arizona (1-4).
Smith lost yards on four of his eight touches and had no gain twice. His best effort was 6 yards on a third-and-8 swing pass.
The Cowboys usually didn't just tackle him. They tried humiliating him, too.
Dat Nguyen swiped his arms to gesture an emphatic, ``No!'' after a 1-yard loss. Former dominoes mate Willie Blade stood over Smith in a Muhammad Ali-type taunt after Smith fell and lost 4 yards on a screen.
On his final play, Smith went between the guard and tackle on the left side. Williams arrived in the hole when Smith did.
``I gave him a little love tap,'' Williams said, smiling. ``Seriously, I hope he's all right.''
The Cowboys insisted they weren't trying to prove a point or get back at Smith for the trash quote.
``We didn't want to get embarrassed by him,'' Nguyen said. ``He knows our defense inside and out.''
Smith's exit ended the most ballyhooed return of an ex-Cowboy since Jimmy Johnson came in as coach of the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving 1999. Still, fans had plenty to cheer.
Carter, who lost his job after an awful performance against Arizona last season, opened Dallas' second drive with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Terry Glenn on a perfectly executed flea flicker. Carter followed with an 18-yard TD pass to Richie Anderson, and finished 20-of-31.
Billy Cundiff sandwiched two field goals around halftime, then the Cowboys sacked Jeff Blake in the end zone on consecutive possessions. Both were set up by pinpoint punts, with Arizona's rookie sensation Anquan Boldin making the mistake of calling for a fair catch at the 4 before the first.
Blake was 14-of-28 for 121 yards, two interceptions and a 24-yard touchdown to Brian Gilmore that made it 7-7.
Smith said the trip to Dallas wasn't a total loss. He got to see one of his daughters play soccer Saturday.
``The experience in itself was everything,'' Smith said. ``Just coming back here and seeing Texas Stadium and having a chance to play here in front of the Cowboys fans, it was wonderful.
``It will go down as one of the unique experiences I've ever experienced.''
Notes
Boldin, who came in with 30 catches for 464 yards, had just 33 yards on three receptions. ... Glenn had four catches for 104 yards. In four games, he's been shut out twice and had two 100-yard outings. ... This was Dallas' 13th straight home win over Arizona -- in the regular season. The Cardinals won herein the playoffs in January 1999.
San Francisco 24, Detroit 17
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
October 5, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Once Terrell Owens and Jeff Garcia got back in step at the pregame breakfast, not even Steve Mariucci could trip them up.
Owens caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown as the San Francisco 49ers spoiled their former coach's homecoming, methodically beating the Detroit Lions 24-17 on Sunday.
Garcia completed 15 of 27 passes for 192 yards and rushed for another score, but his biggest play came in the hours before kickoff. Over breakfast, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback and his All-Pro receiver reached a delicate peace in their tumultuous relationship -- and they celebrated by making several big plays against Mariucci's Lions.
Garcia barely spoke to Owens all week after the receiver criticized him, but he was the first to greet Owens for a celebration after a TD catch in the first quarter.
``Both of us were very uncomfortable with the way it had gotten and didn't want to see it go on any longer,'' Garcia said. ``I don't like having any sort of negativity in the locker room. ... Considering the distractions that took place this week, it was a difficult week.''
It was similarly difficult for Mariucci, who knows plenty about the 49ers' penchant for high drama. He went 57-39 in six seasons with the Niners, leading them to the NFC West title and the second round of the playoffs last season.
Three days after the 49ers lost to Tampa Bay last January, Mariucci was fired by owner John York. Waves of contradictory feelings flowed through Mariucci as he faced the team he helped build into a contender.
``I suppose a little bit of everything -- hard, exciting, different,'' Mariucci said. ``I tried to minimize it as much as I could. Needless to say, it was different.''
Mariucci paced the sidelines with his usual vigor, but Detroit (1-4) couldn't move the ball consistently in its fourth straight loss. By the final minutes, Mariucci was shivering in the cold winds at Candlestick Park as San Francisco ran out the clock.
The 49ers (2-3) snapped a three-game losing streak with just enough offense to extend the Lions' road losing streak to 19 games.
``It was a game that meant a lot to the organization, because we needed to come back with a win,'' York said. ``Our need for a win today far outweighed playing Detroit and Steve Mariucci.''
Owens' bitter public fights with Mariucci dampened the 49ers' success in recent seasons, and the receiver hasn't changed his tune under new coach Dennis Erickson. Owens has been vocal about his teammates' shortcomings and his displeasure with his role the 49ers' offense.
But his five catches Sunday all were important ones, and he appeared to be getting along with his teammates a week after saying they had no heart. Owens wouldn't comment after the game, but he wore the vintage jersey of Michael Irvin, the former Dallas receiver who was no stranger to controversy.
The 49ers took a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter after Garcia's 1-yard TD sneak late in the third, but Olandis Gary quickly scored for Detroit on a 2-yard run. Neither team scored again, and San Francisco ran out the clock at midfield.
Joey Harrington was 19-of-35 for 200 yards, but threw two key interceptions as the Lions never led despite one of their defense's most impressive recent outings.
``I like that we showed up and played hard,'' said Lions guard Ray Brown, who played six seasons with the 49ers. ``I hate that we didn't do enough to win the ballgame. ... We'll win some football games, and a couple of them will be on the road.''
Mariucci's familiarity with the 49ers was expected to be a big advantage for the Lions. After scoring on their first three possessions, the Niners dropped into the offensive funk that's plagued them for a month -- and the sellout crowd booed them repeatedly.
But San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora knew a few things about Mariucci's offense as well, holding the Lions to 128 yards after halftime.
``We've seen that offense in practice for four years, so we knew a lot of what to expect,'' Mora said. ``He coaches the West Coast offense in its truest form, and we attacked it that way. We were able to do some good things.''
Ahmed Plummer intercepted Harrington on the opening drive, and San Francisco scored in six plays. Owens caught a 15-yard pass across the middle, then got free in the end zone for a 6-yard score -- and an impromptu dance with the 49ers' mascot.
The Niners also scored on their next two possessions, with rookie tight end Aaron Walker catching a 14-yard TD pass early in the second quarter for a 17-0 lead.
The Lions came back with two scores, including Mikhael Ricks' 6-yard TDcatch 2:58 before halftime.
Notes
San Francisco LB Jeff Ulbrich was knocked out of the game in the second half with a concussion. Afterward, Ulbrich had no memory of the play on which he was hurt. He's listed as questionable for next week. ... Garcia's TD pass to Owens was the 100th of his career. ... Lions TE John Owens also had aconcussion.
Kansas City 24, Denver 23
By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer
October 5, 2003
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- He cut left, then right, then stutter-stepped and actually ran backward toward the end zone.
Surrounded by Denver tacklers and just a couple of yards from the goal line, Dante Hall cut back left, looped around to the outside and darted 93 yards into the end zone -- and the record book.
His NFL record fourth touchdown return in four games came with 8:20 left and gave Kansas City a 24-23 victory over Denver and the Chiefs' first 5-0 start.
But to the other Chiefs players, the game between previously unbeaten AFC West rivals was almost secondary. They all seemed to want to talk about their remarkable teammate.
``He's a human highlight reel,'' Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks said. ``He's like Michael Jordan. It's ridiculous. The play he made, really nobody was blocked on the initial part of the play. My God, I've never seen anything like that in my life.''
Hall began his streak with a 100-yard kickoff return against Pittsburgh, then had a 73-yard punt return against Houston and followed with a 97-yard kickoff return for a score against Baltimore. Until then, nobody in NFL history had ever had touchdown returns in more than two consecutive games.
Now with 11 regular-season games left, Hall has already tied the NFL's single-season record for touchdown returns.
``I was beside myself I was so excited for him,'' head coach Dick Vermeil said. ``I said to myself, `Oh, Dante, don't go backwards.'''
The Broncos (4-1) had never trailed when Micah Knorr punted to Hall with a little more than 8 minutes left.
When he started running backward, he feared he might be about to get tackled for a safety and be guilty of a colossal error.
``I thought, `Oh, I've got to get out of this jam,''' Hall said with a laugh.
But the Chiefs didn't have a return set up. By the time he finally got outside, there were plenty of blockers to clear the way.
``The first part of that return was not smart at all,'' Hall said. ``I caught it maybe on the 8, then I retreated back to the 5, then the 2. I got dumber and dumber and dumber.''
Dating to last season, Hall has seven touchdown returns in 10 games.
``He's the best in football,'' said Denver wide receiver Chris Cole, a former teammate of Hall's at Texas A&M. ``Probably one of the best ever. One guy's not going to tackle him. You have to put 11 hats on him. You can't have a let down.''
The Broncos might have had an insurmountable lead had they scored a touchdown after getting a first-and-goal from the 4 late in the third. But three runs netted only 2 yards and Jason Elam kicked his third field goal, a 21-yarder, for a 23-17 lead.
On the third play of the third quarter, Clinton Portis broke through a big hole on the right side and ran 65 yards for Denver's longest run in almost three years, putting the Broncos on top 20-10.
Then Trent Green hit Eddie Kennison for 12 yards to launch a 5-play, 77-yard drive that pulled Kansas City to 20-17. After Priest Holmes picked up 22 yards on a run and 6 on a shovel pass, Johnnie Morton beat Deltha O'Neal in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown catch.
The Broncos took a 7-0 lead on their second possession on Jake Plummer's 6-yard pass to Dwayne Carswell after wide receiver Rod Smith hooked up with Portis on a 72-yard gain.
Gary Stills recovered a muffed punt on the Denver 25. And on third down from the 20, Green threw a jump ball into the end zone and 6-foot-4 Tony Gonzalez easily outleaped 5-11 Nick Ferguson for the touchdown.
Morten Andersen kicked a 23-yard field goal, drawing Kansas City even at 10 in the second quarter after Elam had kicked a 48-yarder for Denver.
O'Neal appeared to have a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown. But the play was called back by a holding call on Donnie Spragan. Then on the final play of the half, Elam made it 13-10 with a 29-yarder.
Hall said he's feeling more confident than ever.
``It's kind of bringing me back to my high school days when I was so confident and so natural that I was able to do things that I did today,'' Hall
Notes
Elam's 48-yard field goal moved him past former Chiefs kicker Pete Stoyanovich for 20th place on the NFL's career scoring list. ... Portis' 65-yard touchdown run was the longest of his career and the longest run by a Bronco since Mike Anderson's 80-yard touchdown run against Seattle in 2000. ... Gonzalez has caught a pass in 41 consecutive games. He tied Otis Taylor forsecond on the Chiefs career receptions list with 410.
Sara, how 'bout them 49'ers? They, like the Cowboys, did a little Homecoming spoiling. Good win for your team.
Colt
You can say bad things about the Cowboys, until they get back into the playoffs. <g> They are playing much better so far, but time will tell if they can sustain it and get back into the playoffs. Some hot teams right now...Chiefs, Colts, Panthers and Vikings.
Colt
Great Win, Ruellit. I would have liked to have seen that game. The way Bill Parcells has turned the Cowboys around (so far) we may see your Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Cowboys in the stands watching the game with the rest of us and the Chiefs down on the field playing the game. Damn, your Chiefs are tough this year. They can beat you big or they can win these close games. That's what it takes to become a Champion and the Chiefs sure look like they're heading to the big dance.
I saw the Highlights on ESPN and I have to say that Dante Hall is something else. A jitterbug.
As far as Emmitt going for 300 yards, it was aparant that the Cowboys game plan included shutting Emmitt down. I would have liked to see it also but, from the looks of things, Emmitt is having a tough time running with his team.
Colt
Welcome to BullNBear52, who has been added as an Assistant. I am letting him take charge as my time this time of the year is very limited. Whatever he says goes. Any contest for the Regular Season, Playoffs or Super Bowl will be set by BullNBear and Ruellit. Any input of ideas are welcome and BullNBear has the Final say.
If anyone has a problem of any kind let him know. If it is personal, PM him. If a post is political in a way, such as the issue with Rush, I have no problem with that on this board, just no personal attacks. If Bull, Ruellit and I, can be good boys, then anyone can. LOL
Welcome BullNBear52.
Thanks, BnB...wasn't sure after I had posted the complete article. So many of the iBoxes change the Rules everytime I click on the site and I didn't even think about it until I had already posted it.
Colt
Portis expecting to play against Chiefs
October 2, 2003
DENVER (AP) -- Running back Clinton Portis expects to play for the Denver Broncos against Kansas City after testing his bruised chest in contact drills Thursday.
``Really, I don't have any concerns,'' Portis said. ``I feel good and if I didn't, I don't think I'd put myself in this situation. I'm ready to go out and test it.''
Portis missed last week's game against Detroit and played half the previous two games after being hit in the chest against San Diego on Sept. 14. He went through light drills Wednesday, then took some hits in full pads Thursday.
``Clinton had a good practice, had some contact and felt pretty good,'' Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. ``He said he had no setback, so he should be ready to go unless something happens tomorrow.''
Portis expects to play Sunday, but won't weigh himself down with tape or extra pads to do it.
``I don't think I'm going to go out and take any safety measures where I'm going to go out there playing with 20 more pounds of pads on and then you all will be like, 'Well, Clinton don't look the same,''' he said. ``I'm going to go out and play. If it's going to pop back out it's going to pop back out.''
The emperor had no new clothes
By JIM LITKE
AP Sports Columnist
October 2, 2003
It sure was noble of Rush Limbaugh to say he resigned from ``Sunday NFL Countdown'' to avoid becoming a distraction.
Go figure. I thought that's why ESPN hired him.
Every so often, the folks at the all-sports network crave buzz in the worst way. This time they got what they deserved.
Early Tuesday, when Limbaugh's remarks about Donovan McNabb turned up the heat on ESPN, a spokesman for the network said Limbaugh didn't give interviews, then noted ratings for the show were up 10 percent overall. That, he said, was largely because of Limbaugh.
The bravado didn't last long.
By Wednesday night, Limbaugh limped away from the network and left behind a statement. Some fighter he turned out to be.
``The great people at ESPN did not want to deal with this kind of reaction,'' Limbaugh said. ``The path of least resistance became for me to resign.''
We can assume he didn't get much resistance from George Bodenheimer, who heads ESPN and ABC Sports. Instead of thanking his latest hire for a job well done, Bodenheimer all but told Limbaugh not to let the door hit him on the way out.
``We regret the circumstances surrounding this,'' Bodenheimer said. ``We believe that he took the appropriate action to resolve this matter expeditiously.''
It's a safe bet ESPN didn't put Limbaugh on the air because of his extensive NFL contacts or his expertise, because you only had to catch the emperor's act once to realize he had no clothes on.
For Limbaugh to call McNabb overrated is well within bounds, since last time we checked, this was America and everybody is entitled to their opinion.
But the only thing the right-wing radio talk-show host offered to back that up was the same vague conspiracy theory he uses to belittle his opponents on the left: ``I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well.''
Limbaugh said afterward that his remarks were not racially motivated, and the ``tempest'' they created only proved his underlying point was true -- that the media is biased in favor of blacks. Those statements are even tougher to back up than his assessment of McNabb.
For starters, Limbaugh is the media, or at least a considerable chunk of it. He has a radio show that is syndicated in more than 650 markets worldwide, his own Web site and access to as many other media outlets as he has time to talk.
And had ESPN bothered to listen or look in during some of those appearances, here is a sample of what they would have found:
According to a group called Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting -- or FAIR -- Limbaugh once told a black caller to ``take that bone out of your nose and call me back.''
On another occasion, Limbaugh said, ``Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?''
OK, so maybe he meant not everybody in the media wants to see black QBs succeed.
But whatever opinions the rest of us harbored about the topic were pretty much exhausted a few years ago, right around the time black quarterbacks became commonplace in the NFL. By then, it seemed that everybody else had moved on, too.
And so maybe the strangest thing about this whole controversy is the timing.
Only Limbaugh knows why he chose to slam McNabb now. It's not like there was a groundswell building to send the Eagles' quarterback straight to the Hall of Fame before last weekend. Besides, McNabb's career resume marks him as anything but an easy target for critics.
He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft, he led his team to consecutive NFC title games and went to three straight Pro Bowls.
If he's fooling people, it's not just the media. No less an expert on quarterbacks than Redskins coach Steve Spurrier -- whose team faces McNabb on Sunday -- just labeled him ``one of the best in the league.''
Then again, McNabb was a convenient target, especially for someone with an agenda. He was off to the worst start of his career and ripe for criticism. Limbaugh wasn't the only member of the media riding that bandwagon, just the only one lazy enough to suggest that race was an appropriate measuring stick.
Exactly why ESPN expected Limbaugh to do anything different on his ``Countdown'' segments than the rest of his shows is anyone's guess. But maybe they should have told him that first.
Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write tohim at jlitke@ap.org
Players react to comments made by Limbaugh
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
October 2, 2003
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Some NFL players were still upset Thursday at last weekend's comments about Donovan McNabb that caused conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh to resign from ESPN.
On ``Sunday NFL Countdown,'' Limbaugh said the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.
``You can have your opinion, but there are certain things that are sensitive that you have to adhere to and certain lines that you don't cross,'' Carolina Panthers quarterback Rodney Peete said. ``And I think he definitely crossed that line with that particular comment.''
As one of McNabb's closest friends, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kevin Johnson offered another view.
``He's disappointed,'' said Johnson, a teammate of McNabb's at Syracuse. ``He has done everything right as a player. He's been a perfect role model. He has done everything that you would ask him to do as an NFL quarterback.''
Limbaugh resigned from the show Wednesday night.
Rev. Jesse Jackson told The Associated Press on Thursday that Limbaugh's remarks were ``a painful insult.''
``It is not true and it is demeaning to the black athlete,'' Jackson said in a phone interview from California. ``It is wrong to suggest that the hard work of black coaches and black quarterbacks are breaking in by the gratuity of the media.''
In 2000 Tennessee's Steve McNair became the second black quarterback to start a Super Bowl.
He said the fans always treated him fairly and he was surprised the issue of race has resurfaced.
``Until this episode, I thought it was gone,'' he said. ``Evidently, there will always be a small portion out there. That's just people's opinion and how people look at different things.''
Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said Limbaugh's opinion doesn't ``represent how the majority -- the high majority '' of people involved in the game for a long time think.
``I know it doesn't represent anything near what I think,'' he said.
Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier was far from agreeing with the overrated part of Limbaugh's opinion.
``They didn't give him all that money because he's an average quarterback,'' Spurrier said. ``He's one of the best in the league.''
Many Redskins players took issue with both the premise and conclusion of Limbaugh's statement. They felt McNabb is indeed worth all the attention he gets, and they wondered what on earth race has to do with it.
``Who's Rush Limbaugh to make a statement like that?'' linebacker LaVar Arrington said. ``He needs to stay in his area of expertise because clearly he's out it. That's one of the most asinine comments a person can make. It shows his IQ level in football.''
A bittersweet return
Don Banks, SI.com
Emmitt Smith claims he doesn't know what to expect, but of course we know that's not really true. He's the biggest star to ever don the helmet with the star, and he'll be welcomed back into Texas Stadium on Sunday like the familiar and beloved icon that he remains in Dallas.
Yes, Cowboys fans will stand and cheer when the most famous Arizona Cardinal runs onto the field in that trademark gliding stride of his, as well they should. They'll be cheering that he's back, and if they're thinking straight, cheering, too, that he's gone.
Because the obvious truth in Dallas is that there is life after Emmitt, and the Cowboys and their fans are better off without him. From the sound of the hurt in his voice this week, that hard, cold early season fact has begun to dawn on even old No. 22 himself.
Let's face it, as long as Smith was around, still carrying the mail each week, Dallas was in some ways going to be a franchise forever looking back, at the team's mid-'90s glory era, at the memorable coaching tenures of Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer, or at those hazy, crazy days when the Cowboys were the center of the NFL universe.
Smith was the Cowboys' lone star and every day that he still wore one was a day that his glittering track record and his accomplishments obscured almost everything else in Dallas.
But without Smith, the Cowboys -- and most importantly new head coach Bill Parcells -- were free to embrace the future unencumbered by the last walking, talking reminder of the team's rich recent history. The move, as jarring to the senses as it was, closed the book on Dallas' blinding Lombardi Trophy reflection of the past, and was the symbolic step toward crafting another glory era with all new names and faces and big moments to come.
This week, with the big weekend reunion looming, there's been a little revisionist history, or least some selective recall, being practiced on both sides. Smith says he still might be a Cowboy if Parcells had only wanted him. Parcells says it wasn't his call to make, and termed it a situation he didn't feel qualified to jump into the middle of.
For starters, with the NFL career rushing mark well in hand, I don't believe Smith ever had much of a chance of returning to Dallas for a 14th season. As for Parcells' disclaimer, the next key decision he sits out will be his first.
"It is what it is," said Smith on Wednesday, in one of his many reunion-week interviews. "I think [Parcells] got what he wanted, and he's doing well with what he has. Obviously, the decision was good for him."
Just as obviously, Smith doesn't think the decision was good for him. Asked about saying at the time of his release that he didn't think he would fit into Parcells' plans, Smith said:
"I don't ever recall saying that I wouldn't fit in with Parcells, because I never knew what the system was going to be like. I don't know what I could have [done]. I never had a chance to talk to the man about his system and how he saw his system.
"[But the] wishing is over. The situation has moved on. I've moved on. It is what it is. I can't cry over spilled milk, because I'm no longer there. I still don't know if I could fit in that system, because I never had a chance to play in that system."
I'm convinced that the Cowboys have moved on. I'm not so sure about Smith. It has to be gnawing at him that Parcells-led Dallas is 2-1 and one of the better early season stories in the NFL, while his sad-sack Cardinals sit at 1-3, fighting their perennial struggle against a lack of playing talent and an overabundance of fan apathy.
Buoyed by their two-game September road trip to the Meadowlands, Dallas has won consecutive road encounters for the first time since 2000, and boasts a winning record for the first time since December 1999. This weekend it will be going for its first three-game winning streak since 1999, the last season in which it made the playoffs. Most remarkably of all, the Cowboys' offense is ranked No. 1 overall in the NFL, with a fourth-ranked rushing game that has averaged 152.7 yards in its first three games of the post-Smith era.
Smith's replacement, Troy Hambrick, has run 61 times for 240 yards in just three games, while Smith is plodding along at under 50 yards per game, totaling 193 yards on 59 carries. That projects to a career-low 772 yards, and Smith has carried more than 20 times only once, an indication of just how much of the time the Cardinals have trailed.
"We've been consistently poor," Smith said of his new team. "Consistently shooting ourselves in the foot. Consistently making immature mistakes. Consistently turning the football over. ... I get tired of talking about it. At some point we have to do it."
It must all be so new and disorienting for Smith. Once the Cowboys won because of him, and now they're winning without him. And even reveling in it. This week some of the Cowboys even piled on their old teammate, still smarting from Smith's self-serving decision to describe himself in an August Sports Illustrated article as "a diamond surrounded by trash" last season.
"I think sometimes it felt as though the season was based on him getting his rushing record rather than us having a successful winning percentage," defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. "It was a distraction. ... [This season], we have better things to focus on as a team, and that's winning games."
Smith also endured questions this week as to whether his homecoming will be tainted by his controversial comments, a development he couldn't have been thinking of on the March day he signed a two-year deal with Arizona, and began marking time until this celebrated Week 5 trip to Dallas.
"Taint? Taint what?" Smith said. "What are we tainting? Take away from what? It is what it is. I don't know what to expect. I don't know how they're going to receive me. They may receive me as the enemy. They may boo me, I don't know. I can only hope that they will receive me with open arms, but I understand what the situation is."
Smith needn't worry. He's a living legend in Dallas, and no two-bit regular-season football game is going to change that. And rightfully so. His 13-year career as a Cowboy is the stuff of Texas-sized achievement: Three Super Bowl rings, four league rushing titles, and the kind of lasting fame that comes with being the man who broke the heroic Walter Payton's career rushing record.
Shoot, he probably could decline to ever step foot in the state of Texas again after Sunday and still be even money to be elected governor. That's how strong and enduring his image and legacy are in that part of the country, and I don't think he could break those bonds if he tried.
You want proof? How is Tom Landry remembered in Dallas these days? Gone? Yes. Forgotten? Never.
In some ways Smith's departure was almost identical to the hard choices that had to be made in Dallas at the beginning of the Jones era. Landry had molded the Cowboys into an American institution, and taken the team to five Super Bowls, winning twice. But when it came time to start a new chapter in franchise history, the team's legendary head coach found his services were no longer required.
It was Landry's turn to step aside gracefully then, and Smith's now. Jones eased his latest franchise great off the stage with a good deal more skill than he did his first one, but the Cowboys owner can only hope things work out as well as the last time he went through just such a risky maneuver.
After all, Smith's name remains synonymous with the Dallas Cowboys to most of the country's football fans. And for three hours this Sunday, it'll probably make us all a bit warm and fuzzy to see him running again on that familiar Texas Stadium field.
That's why it's only right that Dallas fans can't wait to stand and cheer Smith's return this week, taking time to recall all those great days gone by. As long as they remember one more thing once the game starts: These Cowboys are better off now that Smith is gone.
Chiefs and Broncos meet in duel of NFL unbeatens
October 2, 2003
KANSAS CITY, United States (AFP) - Seeking the first 5-0 start in team history, the Kansas City Chiefs go for the record here Sunday in an American football showdown against undefeated division rival Denver.
The 4-0 National Football League clubs share the AFC West division lead and are among six clubs that are unbeaten after the first month of the season. That's the most in the NFL since 1998, when the Broncos began the season 13-0.
The Chiefs are led by star rusher Priest Holmes, whose seven touchdowns make him the NFL's top scorer among non-kickers. Their impressive start has sparked talk that the Chiefs are Super Bowl bound. But it's a bit early for such hype.
"All this means is that we're off to a good start. But we know that there are things we can do even better," Chiefs receiver Johnnie Morton said.
"It would be crazy for guys to start thinking that this means we're automatically a great team. There is a lot of football that needs to be played before we can even start thinking about things like that."
The Broncos are 4-0 for the fifth time in their history. They reached the Super Bowl the other four times. Denver won here 37-34 in over-time last year but the Broncos haven't won back-to-back games at Arrowhead Stadium since 1979.
The matchup features two of the NFL's top offenses. The Chiefs are averaging 31.8 points a game and on pace to break the franchise season record of 467. The Broncos rank second overall with 118 points, averaging 29.5 points a game.
Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil and Denver coach Mike Shanahan each collected their 100th career victories last week. Vermeil led St. Louis to a Super Bowl crown but plays down this season's early success.
"It does demonstrate that we're going in the right direction and doing the right things with the right people. I can tell people are excited," Vermeil said. "We're excited. But we are a lot more realistic about where we are right now. We're pleased but we know we have to keep getting better."
The Chiefs, who are 48-38 all-time against Denver, are sparked by Holmes, who rushed for 273 yards and three touchdowns last year in two games against the Broncos.
But Kansas City's other big threat is dangerous Dante Hall, the first NFL kick returner to score touchdowns in three consecutive weeks.
Hall was named the American conference special-teams player of the week for a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown that lifted the Chiefs past Baltimore 17-10. Hall avergaes 17.1 yards a punt return and 35.5 yards on each kickoff return.
"So many people who have watched us play since Dante has been with us knows it only takes one," Vermeil said. "Our special teams has been great."
Hall ran back a punt 73 yards to beat Houston two weeks ago and returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to beat Pittsburgh on September 14.
And the Broncos know firsthand how elusive he can be, having surrendered touchdown receptions of 49 and 75 yards against him last year in Denver.
"Nobody is more elusive than him. Nobody," said Broncos kickoff returner and defender Chris Cole, a college teammate of Hall at Texas A and M University.
"It's going to be a challenge for us on special teams, but I think we are up for it," Cole said. "We have a lot of speed, we can get down there and cover the field and we are not going to let him get out on us like that.
"We are going to be in his face. I think we've got special special teams, so we'll be all over him."
The NFL's other feature match sends unbeaten Indianapolis (4-0) to reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay (2-1) Monday night.
Former Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy now coaches the Colts while Jon Gruden, who replaced him at Tampa Bay, took the club he built and nurtured and made it an NFL champion.
"Tony's impact on this team has been obvious. But this game is what it is. Jon's our coach now," Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber said. "Tony's our old coach. I'm sure it will be special for him. He got his start here."
Dungy wants the focus to be on the field, but knows his reunion with many friends on the Tampa Bay team will be a major theme.
"I hope the game doesn't turn into a sideshow with the game itself being the small part of things," Dungy said.
In Sunday's other games involving undefeated clubs, the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) travel to Atlanta (1-3) while Seattle (3-0) travel to Green Bay (2-2) and the Carolina Panthers (3-0) play host to New Orleans (1-3).
At the other end of the NFL spectrum, a battle of the winless finds San Diego at Jacksonville in a matchup of 0-4 clubs. The Chargers and Jaguars have some consolation. They cannot both lose.
Other games Sunday find Oakland at winless Chicago, Arizona at Dallas, Miami at the New York Giants , Cincinnati at Buffalo, Washington at Philadelphia, Tennessee at New England, Detroit at San Francisco and Cleveland at Pittsburgh.
Idle this week are Baltimore, Houston, St. Louis and the New York Jets .
49ers: More looks for Lloyd
by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Thursday, October 2, 2003
News
Rookie receiver Brandon Lloyd does not have a catch this season, but that may change this week. Head coach Dennis Erickson said that Lloyd will get more playing time in three-receiver sets on Sunday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Lloyd is currently behind Terrell Owens, Tai Streets, and Cedric Wilson on the depth chart.
Views
The move to get Lloyd more involved may be part of an overall game plan change for Sunday's game with the Lions. Thus far Erickson's system has not been much different from Steve Mariucci's, and the 49ers will need to give Detroit some different looks. Also, with Owens and Streets both in the final year of their contracts, San Francisco needs to give their youngsters a few looks as the season progresses. All that being said, Lloyd is not expected to be a fantasy factor. T.O. and Tai are still the top dogs in this passing game.
Chiefs: Johnson injures hamstring
by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Thursday, October 2, 2003
News
According to the KC Star, rookie Larry Johnson left Wednesday's practice after injuring his hamstring. It is not known if he can play in Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Views
Nothing to worry about here, as Priest Holmes, Derrick Blaylock, and Tony Richardson are healthy.
No apologies for 49ers, Mariucci
Cam Inman
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
SANTA CLARA - Not even some eight months later is Steve Mariucci willing to accept the reason 49ers owner John York publicly gave for firing him as the 49ers coach on Jan. 15.
York cited philosophical differences related to the front office rather than on-field performance in dismissing Mariucci after six seasons, four of which ended in the playoffs.
Does Mariucci buy that?
"No," Mariucci responded Wednesday in a conference call with Bay Area media.
Did his on-field production have more to do with it?
"I don't know the answer. It's hard for me to explain it," Mariucci said. "My father asked me that question and I couldn't explain it to him, so how can I explain it to you guys?"
Mariucci avoided making bitter comments about his former employers during his 18-minute interview. He instead touted the goals of the new team he's coaching, the Detroit Lions, and downplayed his personal feelings about returning to Candlestick Park for Sunday's game against the 49ers, who share the Lions' 1-3 record.
But as smooth talking as Mariucci can be, he didn't exactly mask any resentment he might feel toward York and general manager Terry Donahue.
Has York apologized to him for the way he was fired?
"No."
Has he talked to York since then?
"No."
Has he talked to Donahue?
"We haven't had any conversations. I think I said hello, and I remember seeing Andrea, his wife, at the league meetings."
York said Jan. 15 that the move came after Mariucci's alleged demand to take on a bigger role in personnel matters, and that there was "just too much noise" the previous two years regarding friction between Mariucci and Donahue, as well as Mariucci and team consultant Bill Walsh.
Two days after Mariucci's firing, quarterback Jeff Garcia said: "It's more than just a conflict between Dr. York and coach Mariucci. It's something that's probably been an issue the past couple seasons. It's something everybody outside the organization can see or recognize. It's not any secret."
Mariucci has long defended his relationship with Walsh, whom he said he's admired and noted Wednesday that he's had a "few conversations" with him since leaving.
Donahue said Monday he couldn't recall whether he's spoken to Mariucci since his dismissal, adding that he didn't expect Mariucci's return to distract the 49ers this week.
"I don't think it's an issue, a distraction," Donahue said. "The only things we can possibly have on our minds is us. We're worried about us and what we're doing wrong. It's not on anything else. Steve was here as coach and moved on to a really good job. We wish him well. We want to win Sunday and there's nothing to talk about."
York, in an interview last week with the Times, said things are quieter upstairs at the team facility as a result of more open communication between the coach and general manager.
"There's no question about that," York said. "You see Dennis and Terry together. You see Dennis get irritated about something and it gets resolved. You see Terry get irritated about something and it gets resolved. ... You can have differences of opinion and you can express those loudly. But when there's a decision made about which direction to go, we ought to be pulling the same wagon, and I think we really are pulling the same wagon today."
York said he still believes he made "the right decision" in changing coaches, but he said he regrets how events transpired Jan. 15. "It came down a little messy," said York, who informed Mariucci of his firing during a 11/2-hour meeting.
Mariucci wasn't in York's office more than 20 minutes before team officials let national and local media know of the move. Mariucci's wife, Gayle, reportedly heard the news on the radio, drove to the team facility and was consoled by players and coaches in Mariucci's office before Mariucci emerged from York's.
"I've tried to make my apologies to Steve, and through Steve to Gayle," York said, "because that should not have happened as it did, and I apologize for that, and I meant it."
Among those players who visited Mariucci as he packed boxes in his office was wide receiver Terrell Owens, whose public feud with Mariucci died down last year after Mariucci made an April visit to Owens in Atlanta.
"We had spent six years together," Mariucci said of Owens. "He had a lot of success and growth as a wide receiver and a 49er. We sort of did it together. It wasn't always perfect. But I suppose deep down there was certainly a mutual respect."
Mariucci said he doesn't have time to think about sympathizing with or relating to 49ers coach Dennis Erickson's plight in terms of dealing with Owens, who got called into Erickson's office Monday for recent outbursts on the sideline and in the media.
Lions guard Ray Brown, who played with the 49ers from 1996 to 2001, said he wasn't too surprised by the 49ers' firing of Mariucci.
"The NFL, this business per se, you would think it would be a meritocracy, and it's not. It has a lot to do with being wanted in a place," Brown said. "That's probably the case. He probably wasn't wanted there and he was wanted here."
Added Mariucci: "I look at my 49er experience as an awesome one. I loved it. I learned so much from it. ... I gave it my all. Circumstances led to me being elsewhere. Now I am enjoying this."
Not much changed: SF 49ers
Daniel Brown
Mercury News
It took some effort to set off Steve Mariucci on Wednesday. So steeled was he against the predictable questions -- about being fired by the 49ers, about owner John York, about combustible wide receiver Terrell Owens -- that he defused them with a diplomat's deft touch.
But then there was the one about his "conservative" play calling.
Three, two, one.
Liftoff.
"If you consider Jeff Garcia throwing 30 or more touchdown passes for two consecutive years, the first time any 49ers quarterback has ever done so, and him setting the yardage record, and T.O. leading the league in touchdown catches for the last couple of years and on and on," Mariucci said evenly, "Then, yes, I was conservative."
Mariucci's new employer, the Detroit Lions, visits Candlestick Park on Sunday in a matchup between one team that was expected to be 1-3 and one team that was not. The 49ers dismissed Mariucci in January, in part because they felt he was not the type of coach who could get them to the Super Bowl.
Enter the new boss, Dennis Erickson, who has talked openly since his arrival about souping up the offense. As Mariucci studies film in preparation for this weekend, however, a lot of what the 49ers do under holdover offensive coordinator Greg Knapp looks familiar.
"There are a couple of tweaks," Mariucci said. "It is mostly the same, but I know their playbook. . . . I'm sure Greg Knapp will have a few new wrinkles, but obviously I am familiar with most of it and they are probably familiar with most of what we are doing, too."
Under Mariucci last season, the 49ers averaged 356.3 yards per game. This year, they average 354.5 yards.
In 2002, they had 216.1 passing yards per game. This year it is 222.
So has anything really changed?
"I believe by play calls, yes, we have been more aggressive," Knapp said. "But are defensive schemes allowing us to take advantage of it? No, it hasn't been that way. I'm surprised how much we're seeing schemes designed to stop that thought of us being more aggressive."
The 49ers' dreams of going deep have taken a hit because of injuries to the offensive line, most notably to starting left tackle Derrick Deese and left guard Eric Heitmann. Also, opponents often are in the Cover 2, a zone defense in which two deep safeties split the field and keep the ball in front of them.
So, almost out of necessity, Mariucci's offensive hallmark -- short, high-percentage passes -- remains the 49ers' main mode of transportation.
"I haven't really seen a total difference in the mentality," quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "What you have is an overlap of Coach Knapp continuing to be the offensive coordinator. I think that we've played much the same in terms of play calling. We just haven't been consistent on the field. We haven't been effective."
Something else should seem familiar to Mariucci upon his return. Owens spent the past two weeks grumbling about the 49ers' lackluster play and indicating a desire to get more involved in the offense. Such sentiments ought to make Mariucci nostalgic; the two clashed frequently during their time together, with Owens knocking the coach for his lack of "killer instinct" and for not utilizing him enough in game plans.
Mariucci said Wednesday that he has not paid much attention to the latest Owens saga, saying he has his own receivers to think about. But he did recall an act of kindness by Owens, who stopped by the coach's office to say goodbye shortly after Mariucci was fired.
"We had spent six years together and he had a lot of success and growth as a wide receiver and 49er," Mariucci said. "We sort of did it together. You know, it wasn't always perfect, but I suppose deep down that there was certainly a mutual respect."
Mariucci went 60-43 (.583) in six seasons as the 49ers' coach, including 10-6 and a second-round exit from the NFC playoffs last season, before York let him go, citing philosophical differences. Mariucci said he has not spoken to York or to General Manager Terry Donahue since, and he sounded eager to put his 49ers connections in the rear-view mirror.
"Wounds? I don't know about wounds," he said. "In this coaching profession, if we stay in it long enough, we are going to have some detours and some roads. Some are smooth and some are bumpy, and all kinds of different experiences as we go through a coaching career.
"So, I look at my 49er experience as an awesome one. I loved it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I learned so much from it. I met so many great people, from players to other coaches to the front-office staff to workers in the building to the fans.
"I loved it. . . . I've said it before, I don't look back nor do I look over my shoulder. I simply look forward, and I enjoy coaching this football team and building it to be a contender at some point."
Chiefs well-rounded now
ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
If the Chiefs are looking for positive omens going into Sunday's showdown with Denver at Arrowhead Stadium, they won't get any from history.
The only other Chiefs team to start a season 4-0 promptly came unglued. The 1996 Chiefs lost their next two games, eventually finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
A repeat could happen, but it's unlikely. The 2003 Chiefs are built much differently than their predecessors from seven years ago.
These Chiefs, who beat their four opponents by an average of 17.3 points, appear to be a more complete team.
“There's been some pretty good teams through the years,” said Denver coach Mike Shanahan, who coaches one of the league's three other 4-0 teams. “That one defense (in 1997), they had some great teams then. But, they're No. 1 in point production (this year).
“Maybe a combination of everything — offense, defense and special teams — this probably is their most complete team.”
The Chiefs are indeed much more balanced than the '96 Chiefs, or any Chiefs team at least since the start of the Marty Schottenheimer era.
The defense almost always was forced to carry the weight for Schottenheimer's Chiefs. The offense was generally along for the ride.
“That was our offensive philosophy: Don't make any mistakes, don't turn the ball over, make positive yards when you run, throw when you have to,” said fullback Tony Richardson, who joined the Chiefs in 1995. “You knew the defense was going to keep you in the game. Our job was just to not mess that up.”
That approach often allowed the Chiefs to beat inferior teams but not teams with equal or better talent. The '96 Chiefs faced opponents geared to stop their running game.
When they did, quarterback Steve Bono wasn't skilled enough as a passer to make them pay. The defense collapsed, unable to carry the weight.
The Chiefs now appear strong enough in all areas that they have some margin for error.
“We know this is a game where one phase of our team is going to have to outshine the others,” Richardson said. “There's no way everything is going to be clicking against a team like Denver. We still have a chance to win because we do so many things well.”
The 2003 Chiefs offense is much more versatile. Coordinator Al Saunders believes the Chiefs will always have something in their bag of tricks to allow them to attack the weaknesses of a defense, no matter what it is.
That proved true the first three games of the seasonbefore they struggled offensively in last week's 17-10 win in Baltimore. Circumstances can explain at least some of that.
The Chiefs were saddled with poor starting field position most of the day. They started inside their 20 on their first four possessions and scored their only touchdown and field goal when starting with its best field position of the game.
“One of the goals of our offense is to be balanced, to be able to run and pass with equal effectiveness,” Saunders said. “Then, you're playing the game on your terms. You're not playing on the terms of the defense. You're putting the defense at a disadvantage because you're keeping them off-balance. If you know what somebody is going to do, it's a lot easier to stop it.
“You can't just be a one-dimensional team. If you're a one-dimensional football team, you won't win very many games when it counts. If your dimension is as a passing offense, you won't be able to close out games very well. If your dimension is purely run, you've got to play field position football like Baltimore did last week. They came out on the short end because we ended up getting the big play at the end.”
It's too soon to get a read on how good the Chiefs are defensively. They played well against the run early in the season before breaking down in Baltimore.
But the Chiefs also have cut down on the number of big plays allowed and lead the NFL in takeaways.
“They've made an adjustment,” Denver quarterback Jake Plummer said. “They've got some free agents in the off-season, and the defense is playing with confidence.
“They're getting other teams' offenses off the field and giving their offense a chance to go out and score some points. It will be a challenge for us. ”
Reality rush: Smith vs Hambrick
Clarence E. Hill Jr.
StarTelegram Staff Writer
IRVING - As Emmitt Smith's primary backup the past two seasons, Cowboys running back Troy Hambrick lived in a world of make-believe.
If given the opportunity, the fourth-year veteran believed he could do this better than Smith and he could do that better than Smith.
Hambrick's dream came true when the Cowboys released Smith in the off-season and anointed him as the starter.
But as the Cowboys (2-1) prepare for Sunday's game with the Cardinals (1-3) and the much-anticipated reunion with Smith, who signed a two-year contract with Arizona, Hambrick is finding that his current reality is no fairy tale.
Hambrick, 26, has improved in each of his first three games this season and is coming off a career-high-tying 127 yards rushing against the New York Jets. He also admits that being the starter is much tougher than he imagined.
"We are still winning, but it's been a humbling experience to know how serious this thing is," Hambrick said.
So while his teammates may be heading into Sunday's game looking to pay Smith back for the "trashy" comments he made about the Cowboys during the preseason, Hambrick will bring in a renewed respect for his former teammate.
Hambrick, who disparaged Smith's chase for the all-time rushing record last season with negative comments about his declining abilities, said he now understands what Smith was going through.
"Now I see he was hard at work and I was just the plug-in and change-of-pace guy," Hambrick said. "He was working hard. I thought it was easy, but it's not like that."
Ironically, among the people Hambrick turned to during his early struggles this season was Smith, who remained supportive, telling Hambrick to "keep plugging away and things will open up."
"I regret what I said last year, but I haven't apologized," Hambrick said. "He understands. He didn't have to return my calls or talk to me but my calls go right through. Me and Emmitt have a unique relationship."
Smith echoed those sentiments, saying Hambrick and safety Darren Woodson remain the two people he talks to the most among his former teammates.
"We have a great relationship," Smith said. "I try to talk to him at least once a week. Our relationship is still going to be intact. I have respect for him. He has respect for me. It's nice to see he had a great game last week and it's good to see he is doing well."
Their friendship hasn't altered Hambrick's continued desires to outdo Smith on the field and especially in their first head-to-head battle on Sunday. Hambrick has made a huge statement already, rushing for 240 yards on 61 carries compared with Smith's 193 yards on 59 carries in one more game.
Yet, Smith's stature as a future Hall of Famer and the most celebrated player in Cowboys history remain driving forces for the former understudy.
"Everything I do now is compared to Emmitt," Hambrick said. "I want to be the first Cowboy after Emmitt to get a thousand yards. That would be big. I want to be the first guy to do this after Emmitt and that after Emmitt. But I know I can't do it overnight."
If Hambrick does achieve his goals, he will have Smith partly to thank. The former Savannah State star, who signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, said Smith taught him to be a professional. He has copied Smith's routine of taking care of his body with weekly massages and finds himself coming to Valley Ranch at 7:15 a.m. daily to watch film and study game plans.
Credit for Hambrick's new and mature approach to the game must also be attributed to his being a newlywed, which has given him more focus, and the teachings of Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon and fullback Richie Anderson.
Talks with Parcells after the first two games played a huge role in his success against the Jets. After trying to show off his speed with outside runs to no avail in the previous game against the Giants, Hambrick said he followed his coaches' wishes by ramming it up the middle with his 233-pound frame.
"I'm not ready to put him in Canton just yet," Parcells said. "He ran hard. He ran tough. He didn't give up on any runs. He was a punishing runner. He made yards after contact. He was bringing it in there pretty good."
Said owner Jerry Jones: "[The Jets game] was such a meaningful situation for us, our team, our franchise, to win that game. ... He seemed to have a sense of how much was on the line there. And it wasn't just about, well, let's make a few carries here. I hadn't seen that out of Hambrick. We've seen him get his yards in behind Emmitt. But the other night I was impressed that when it was really on the line, when it was tough, he stepped up to the plate."
And it was a practice tip from Anderson that paid off on the 31-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Hambrick said Anderson had been talking to him in practice about "taking six or seven carries at least 15 yards down the field because when you do it in practice it will feel natural in the game. That's what happened."
Anderson's tips are offset by Carthon's mental beatings.
"Maurice stays on me," Hambrick said. "But I know he believes in me. He makes me learn the game inside and out. I know what coverage they are in. I know where the safety is coming from. In practice he makes me call out the coverage. He makes me know the tendencies of my opponent to the point that he asked where the guy went to college."
Though he believes the Jets game might have been a turning point for him, Hambrick chooses to remain patient. He knows if he hopes to have a future as Smith's permanent successor, he must show consistent production. And even that might not be enough to stop the Cowboys from drafting a running back in the off-season.
"I have to earn it," Hambrick said. "I want to be a Parcells guy. I am going to do everything I need to do. I have to do it week in and week out."
Smith says he'd be a Cowboy if Parcells wanted him
By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer
October 2, 2003
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Emmitt Smith said he would still be a member of the Dallas Cowboys if Bill Parcells had wanted him.
``I think he got what he wanted,'' Smith said Wednesday in a conference call with local reporters. ``And he's doing well with what he had. So, obviously, the decision was good for him.''
The Cowboys are 2-1, holding a winning record for the first time since December 1999, heading into a game Sunday at home against Smith and the Arizona Cardinals (1-3).
Smith left the Cowboys in late February in what both said was a mutual decision between the leading rusher in NFL history and team owner Jerry Jones.
Jones said then, and reiterated this week, that Parcells stayed out of the process. It was something they settled on the very first time they spoke about Parcells taking the job. Parcells and Smith did not get together during the eight weeks they overlapped in the organization.
While Parcells' silence on the matter could've been interpreted as a lack of interest, he said it shouldn't be read into one way or another.
``I didn't want to get in the middle of that and have an opinion on something I didn't know much about,'' Parcells said Wednesday, several hours before Smith's call. ``I didn't know the ramifications of anything in terms of the salary cap or anything else.''
During the news conference announcing his release, Smith said he didn't want to be a distraction. He said that if he stayed, his role would be an ongoing source of controversy.
``I didn't want to put the team through that,'' he said then. ``I didn't want to put myself through it. There's a clean slate now.''
Jones said something similar Tuesday, saying Smith's stature might have become an issue.
``I think our staff would've been more compromised than Emmitt,'' he said.
On the conference call Wednesday, Smith was asked whether he felt the Cowboys let him go because they didn't want him. He asked for specifics about who didn't want him. Told Parcells, he calmly said, ``Yeah,'' without elaborating.
Asked how that made him feel, he said, ``It is what it is.''
Smith spent 13 seasons in Dallas, winning four rushing titles and helping the Cowboys win three Super Bowls. His crowning moment came last season when he passed Walter Payton to become the NFL's career rushing leader.
During training camp, he was quoted in Sports Illustrated as saying that last season he ``felt like a diamond surrounded by trash.''
This week, teammates who earlier said it didn't bother them admit they'll be using that as motivation on Sunday. For the first time, they also said this week that Smith was part of the problem last season.
``I think sometimes it felt as though the season was based on him getting his rushing record rather than us having a successful winning percentage,'' defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. ``It was a distraction.''
And now?
``We have better things to focus on as a team,'' Ekuban said, ``and that's winning games.''
They say you have to be good to be lucky so I guess Miami is very good. I was pulling for W. Virginia tonight just because Miami has won so much. But, the Canes can be beat, just like everyone else.
Colt
14 seconds left and Miami is kicking a Field goal. How lucky can they get? Sheeeesh! LOL
Colt
Texas happy with QB situation
By Kyle Davoust
The Battalion
(U-WIRE) COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- ESPN's "College Gameday" will be in Austin, Texas Saturday to watch the No. 13 Texas Longhorns host the No. 16 Kansas State Wildcats. The last time the "Gameday" crew visited Austin was in 1999, when the Longhorns upset No. 3 Nebraska on their way to a Big 12 South title. The Longhorns hope to duplicate that success in a game that should be this year's first marquee matchup between two Big 12 teams.
Texas enters this game with the quarterback collaboration of Chance Mock and Vincent Young. UT coach Mack Brown is quick to point out that this time around there is no controversy in Austin.
"We like the fact that both quarterbacks are playing well," Brown said in his weekly press conference. "Right now, we like the one-two punch they bring us."
This one-two punch is making game planning harder for opposing defenses. While the Longhorns are working on the collaboration of two quarterbacks, Kansas State is just happy to have starting quarterback Ell Roberson back. After missing two and a half games, Roberson will be ready to suit up Saturday.
Roberson's return can only mean trouble for the Longhorns.
"He can beat you with the quarterback draw, the quarterback counter, with the option and scrambling," Brown said. "Then he can beat you with his arm. He's a guy that will give us as big a challenge as we will have the rest of the year."
SNAKEBIT CYCLONES
There is not a more lopsided matchup historically in the Big 12 than that of No. 1 Oklahoma and unranked Iowa State. The Sooners hold a 64-5-2 overall record against the Cyclones, who have only one win and a tie to show for their last 37 meetings against Oklahoma. None of Iowa State's wins have come since the inception of the Big 12.
Things aren't looking any better for the Cyclones this time around. The team has 15 players who have been lost for the season or have missed games. The latest victims are running back Hiawatha Rutland, out for the rest of the year, and defensive lineman Jordan Carstens, sidelined indefinitely. "It's one of the very few things I dislike about coaching football," Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said of the injuries while talking to The Associated Press Monday. "You still love them, you still support them and help them in any way we can. But obviously it's one of the toughest things we deal with in this position."
With such a history of dominance and a banged-up team in front of them, many would assume the Sooners would be looking ahead to next week's Red River Shootout against Texas. OU coach Bob Stoops denies this claim.
Stoops refused to answer questions about the Texas game and even grew angry when asked about the upcoming rivalry game. After letups against marginal teams have squashed Oklahoma's national title hopes in each of the past two seasons, Stoops has stressed realizing the importance of each game.
BUFFS WARY OF SINGING BAYLOR BLUES
After losing back-to-back games against Washington State and Florida State, the Colorado Buffaloes are eager to start conference play.
"It is a two-season type of arrangement for us," said Colorado coach Gary Barnett during his Tuesday press conference. "Coming off of two losses, you sort of want that part of the season to be gone. There is no question that this starts a second season, and it's what you gauge all of your goals around in the conference."
Baylor is looking for its fifth conference win since joining the Big 12, and its first victory over Colorado since beating the then-No. 12 ranked Buffaloes 16-14 in 1991. The Bears hope that an improved running game featuring senior Rashad Armstrong will help them finally compete against the big boys in the conference.
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