Ted Nugent won't be charged with violating South Dakota hunting laws

Rock star and hunting advocate Ted Nugent will not be charged with violating any South Dakota state game laws for shooting pheasants last fall.

"A determination was made not to prosecute," Sara Rabern, a public information officer for the South Dakota attorney general's office in Pierre, told the Rapid City Journal. "And the Fall River County state's attorney concurred."

Nugent was being investigated by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks to determine whether any game laws were broken after some of his hunting privileges were revoked in California on Aug. 13.

Nugent lost his California deer hunting license through June 2012 after a 2009 deer baiting incident, and may have been prohibited from any hunting in South Dakota because of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, an agreement that recognizes suspension of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses in member states, which include South Dakota and California.

The rocker went pheasant hunting at Dakota Hills Shooting Preserve in Oral, S.D., on Oct. 16 while filming for his television show, "Spirit of the Wild," on the Outdoor Channel, sparking the investigation.

Officials determined that Nugent's license revocation in California for deer hunting didn't disqualify him from getting a license to hunt pheasants, and that Nugent was exercising a small-game privilege that didn't have anything to do with what happened in California.

RELATED:

South Dakota officials investigating if rocker Ted Nugent illegally hunted pheasant

Rock star Ted Nugent pleads no contest to California deer baiting charge

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Ted Nugent, center, waits with Travis Lantis, left, and Mark Reilly for hunting dogs to retrieve a pheasant he shot. Credit: Aaron Rosenblatt / Rapid City Journal / Associated Press

Tennis great Martina Navratilova recounts having to give up Kilimanjaro climb after becoming seriously ill

Times sports columnist Bill Dwyre was one of a handful of reporters who spoke to Martina Navratilova by  telephone Sunday morning following her release from a hospital where the tennis legend had been after becoming seriously ill during her attempt to climb Tanzania's 19,341-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro.

"We began climbing Monday," Navratilova, 54, said.  "Immediately, it started to rain, then snow. It was foggy. I brought binoculars and never used them. It was so bad that I got lost trying to find my own tent at base camp.

"This was supposed to be fun, but nobody had fun. It was just survival. It is not an experience one would enjoy."

And that was before she got sick.

Navratilova, who was leading a team of 27 climbers to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation charity, was taken ill on the fourth day of the climb. She was assisted down the mountain by porters and driven to nearby Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre for assessment, then flown to a Nairobi hospital for further tests that showed she was suffering from pulmonary edema, excessive fluid in the lungs.

During the early-morning phone conversation, Navratilova was asked whether she'd consider trying the climb again.

Her response, as well as Dwyre's full column, can be read here.

RELATED:

Martina Navratilova begins Mt. Kilimanjaro climb

Martina Navratilova's Mt. Kilimanjaro climb reaches toughest going yet

Martina Navratilova suspends Mt. Kilimanjaro climb

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova rests during her charity attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. Navratilova suspended her climb after becoming ill. Credit: Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Enter SOG's 'Are You The Gunny?' contest to win SHOT show admission and meet R. Lee Ermey

  

Think you've got what it takes to be "The Gunny?" If so, SOG Specialty Knives and Tools wants you -- to enter its "Are You The Gunny?" contest.

The most talented entrant with the grit, guts and gall to show his or her best impersonation of the one-and-only retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey, a.k.a. The Gunny, will win a trip for two to January's not-open-to-the-public Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas, plus get to meet The Gunny himself.

Ermey has a long history of film and TV appearances, recently as the "caring" therapist in the above GEICO commercial.

Entries may be submitted by uploading a video no longer than 4 minutes to YouTube and then posting the entry video to the SOG Facebook page. The submission deadline closes at noon on Dec. 21. Full contest details and rules are available online.

SOG will announce the top three entries on Dec. 23 on its Facebook page and then public voting will commence, closing at 5 p.m. Dec. 29. The grand prize winner will be announced Dec. 30, also on Facebook.

The SHOT show is the largest and most comprehensive exposition of firearms, ammunition, archery, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, camping and related products and services. Owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, admittance is restricted to the shooting, hunting and outdoor trade and to commercial buyers and sellers of military, law enforcement and tactical products and services.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Video: GEICO commercial featuring R. Lee Ermey. Credit: GEICO via YouTube

 

Martina Navratilova suspends Mt. Kilimanjaro climb

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has suspended her first attempt to climb Tanzania's 19,340-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro after feeling unwell on the fourth day of the ascent.

Navratilova, 54, was assisted down the mountain by porters and driven to the nearby Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre for assessment. The statement released by Laureus, the sponsor of the climb, said Navratilova was in good spirits as she left the campsite at Horombo but disappointed to have to leave the mountain.

The nine-time Wimbledon champion, who was leading a team of 27 climbers to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation charity, had reached 14,763 feet during the day, the highest point of the climb so far.

The Laureus team has faced unseasonal weather of blizzards and mists during their ascent, which began Monday. The rest of the team, which includes German Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber and British Olympic badminton star Gail Emms, are continuing with the climb and are expected to reach the summit on Saturday.

RELATED:

Martina Navratilova begins Mt. Kilimanjaro climb

Martina Navratilova's Mt. Kilimanjaro climb reaches toughest going yet

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, left, and German Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber during their charity attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. Navratilova suspended her climb after feeling unwell. Credit: Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Martina Navratilova's Mt. Kilimanjaro climb reaches toughest going yet

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has reached Day 4 of her attempt to summit Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro and is finding the ascent, and the weather, more challenging thus far than she imagined it would be.

Here's an excerpt from Navratilova's most recent post on The Laureus Blog:

The weather is a little better, but the going is getting tougher and tougher. It seems to be constantly steep and as we started to approach the highest point yet, 4,500 metres above sea level, sheer exhaustion sets in for much of the group, and with heavy legs and chests pounding due to a lack of oxygen, every step becomes an effort.

We have two days to go before we reach the summit and the group’s mood is fluctuating between exhaustion and exhilaration. It has been tougher than I imagined, but that is when everyone has come together to support each other.

Navratilova, 54, embarked Monday on her summit attempt of the 19,340-foot Kilimanjaro in an effort to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a charity helping disadvantaged youth worldwide through sports-based projects.

The nine-time Wimbledon champion is joined on the challenge by a group of 27 fundraisers, including German Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber and British Olympic badminton star Gail Emms.

RELATED:

Martina Navratilova begins Mt. Kilimanjaro climb

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is encountering snow conditions sooner than she expected during her attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. Credit: Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Martina Navratilova begins Mt. Kilimanjaro climb

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova embarked Monday on her attempt to summit Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro in an effort to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a charity helping disadvantaged youth worldwide through sports-based projects.

The nine-time Wimbledon champion is joined on the challenge by a group of 27 fundraisers, including German Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber and British Olympic badminton star Gail Emms.

Ascending via the Rongai Route, it is expected to take six to seven days to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro, which at 19,340 feet is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

"I've been planning to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro since early this year, even before my breast cancer diagnosis, so it feels really great to finally be underway," Navratilova said as the team was about to depart. "I'm feeling well prepared for the challenge, and although I'm sure we'll all be in for a tough few days of climbing, I am determined to reach the summit."

Navratilova, 54, finished radiotherapy treatment in June after having been diagnosed with breast cancer in April.

Fans can follow the team's progress via The Laureus Blog, where Navratilova will be issuing daily blog posts, as well as by subscribing to receive e-mail updates.

Added Navratilova: "I am really pleased to be joined on the climb by a team of international fundraisers, and I hope everyone will support us by donating at www.laureus.com."

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Martina Navratilova embarks on her attempt to summit Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro. Navratilova and her team are climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Chris Jackson / Getty Images for Laureus

'The Bachelorette's' Ryan Sutter raises more than $100,000 completing his First Descents Challenge

An update on Ryan Sutter, the Vail, Colo., Fire Department lieutenant likely better known to the public as the finalist on Season 1 of "The Bachelorette," who participated in the 10.10.10 First Descents Challenge.

Sutter was pushing to reach his goal of completing 10 athletic challenges and along the way inspire 10,000 people to contribute $10 each, hoping to collect a total of $100,000 for First Descents, a nonprofit organization that provides free outdoor-adventure therapy for young adults with cancer.

Sutter finished the last of 10 events, completing the Nov. 7 New York City Marathon in 3:20:39. He also reached and surpassed his fund raising goal, ending up with $100,424 donated, which will provide 100 young adults the opportunity to attend the weeklong First Descents camp.

"Going into this journey I expected a test of my physical endurance. What I did not anticipate was the profound affect the 10.10.10 Challenge would have on me as a father, husband and man," said Sutter. "Through the eyes of the young adults in the First Descents programs I was given a window into life’s tremendous potential and the importance of each day. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given me so much."

South Dakota officials investigating if rocker Ted Nugent illegally hunted pheasant

Rock star and hunting advocate Ted Nugent is being investigated by South Dakota wildlife officials to determine whether any game laws were broken by his hunting pheasants after some of his hunting privileges were revoked in California.

The Rapid City Journal reports that Nugent, who lost his California deer hunting license through June 2012 following a 2009 deer baiting incident, may be prohibited from any hunting in South Dakota because of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, an agreement that recognizes suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses in member states, which include South Dakota and California.

Nugent went pheasant hunting at Dakota Hills Shooting Preserve in Oral, S.D., on Oct. 16 while filming for his television show, "Spirit of the Wild," on the Outdoor Channel.

Andy Alban, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department law enforcement administrator, would not discuss Nugent or the investigation.

"It’s against our policy to comment on active investigations," Alban said.

Patrick Foy, California Department of Fish and Game spokesman, told The Journal that California revoked Nugent's deer hunting license on Aug. 13 after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of deer-baiting and not having a properly signed tag.

As South Dakota officers try to determine whether Nugent violated state regulations, the species-specific nature of the California suspension is likely to be a factor because Nugent is only barred from hunting deer.

"Ted Nugent is prohibited from hunting deer in California until after June 30 of 2012," Foy said. "He can hunt pheasants. He can hunt pigs. He can hunt whatever else he wants to hunt. He is prohibited from hunting deer."

While he couldn't speak for South Dakota and what it might do on the issue, Foy added that Nugent has "gotten along well with the wardens" in California.

"We certainly have no ill will toward him. He was cooperative with our investigators. And he appears to have accepted responsibility for his actions."

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Ted Nugent holds up a rooster pheasant he shot at the Dakota Hills Shooting Preserve. Credit: Aaron Rosenblatt / Rapid City Journal / Associated Press

'The Bachelorette's' Ryan Sutter has one more event to go in his 10.10.10 First Descents Challenge

Ryan Sutter spends his workday helping people as a lieutenant with the Vail, Colo. Fire Department. Sutter, however, is likely better known to the public as the finalist on Season 1 of "The Bachelorette," in which he won the heart of Trista Rehn in 2003 (they married later that year and now have two children).

Now, the 36-year-old Avon, Colo., resident, is out to help people -- specifically, young adults -- battling cancer.

To do so, Sutter is participating in the 10.10.10 First Descents Challenge, pushing to reach his goal of completing 10 athletic challenges and along the way inspire 10,000 people to contribute $10 each, hoping to collect a total of $100,000 for First Descents, a nonprofit organization that provides free outdoor-adventure therapy for young adults with cancer.

By the end of 2010, Sutter will have trained for 700 hours, traveled 8,500 miles and climbed the equivalent of Mt. Everest four times.

"The point was to really challenge myself, to see what I could accomplish and to take some of the inspiration that I've gotten from watching some of the campers at First Descents," Sutter said.

The Lazy Marathoner: So this is what V.I.P. looks like

Thank you, Mother Nature, for smiling down on my back-to-back half-marathons.

Despite all the cold and rainy weather we've had of late, the conditions were excellent for Sunday's inaugural Rock 'N' Roll half-marathon, which started in Griffith Park and ended up in downtown Los Angeles. I did this on a bit of a whim, feeling strong after last week's walk/run in the Long Beach half- marathon, and I'm glad I did. Those guys really know how to put on a race.

Perhaps that's no surprise, given the cross-country slate of marathons and half-marathons they put on under the Rock 'N' Roll banner. But this team has it down to a science. By the time I decided to do the race, I'd missed the online-registration window. I arrived at the L.A. Convention Center late Friday afternoon, dreading the possibility of long lines at the registration tables and at the Expo. All that worry was wasted: I registered, paid for my bib and had my race packet in hand in about four minutes. Seriously. It seemed like the race organizers had one volunteer for ever runner in attendance. Was it different on Saturday when the crowds were larger? What was your experience like?

While at the Expo, I met race spokesman Dan Cruz, who kindly invited me to visit the V.I.P. tent on race morning with others from the media who were largely there to cover the celebrity quotient of the race. Among the competitors: actors Jerry O'Connell, Jennifer Love Hewitt and James Marsden, as well as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his girlfriend, KTLA TV reporter Lu Parker. (The mayor began the race but peeled off shortly after the start for work obligations: He was there to support Parker, whose charity, the Lu Parker Project, helps at-risk youth and homeless animals and raised more than $7,000 on Sunday. Perhaps even more amazing? The Miss USA 1994 looked as picture perfect at the end of the race as she did at the beginning of the race. Maybe even better, thanks to the post-workout glow. See photographic proof below.)

Versus televising six hunting show season premieres Friday

Versus will televise six season premieres Friday of some of the channel's popular hunting shows. Beginning at 4 p.m., viewers can tune in for new episodes of "Winchester World of Whitetail" with Larry Weishuhn; "Winchester Whitetail Revolution"; "Remington’s The Buck Stops Here" with Mike Hanback; "The Bucks of Tecomate" with Jeff Foxworthy and David Morris; "Elk Fever"; and "The Best and Worst of Tred Barta."

Featuring celebrity hosts and outdoor authorities hunting various game around the country, including elk in Colorado and white-tail deer in Kentucky, Colorado and Montana, each series' premiere episode description is below -- full schedules can be found on the Versus website.

4 p.m.: Winchester World of Whitetail

Track along with Larry Weishuhn as he works with new ammo, attends a Dallas Safari Club event and hunts for whitetail.

4:30 p.m.: Winchester Whitetail Revolution

Hunter and host Joe Codd is in Kentucky, where he is in the thick timber and pulling out all the stops to score a trophy buck.

5 p.m.: The Buck Stops Here with Mike Hanback

Mike heads to Montana to pursue whitetail deer on the famous Milk River.

5:30 p.m.: The Bucks of Tecomate featuring Jeff Foxworthy and David Morris

David Morris and friends hunt the vast open prairies of Eastern Colorado for monster bucks.

6:30 p.m.: Elk Fever

Guide Kessler Canyon takes out a first-time elk hunter through the beautiful mountain-lined terrain of Colorado.

7 p.m.: The Best and Worst of Tred Barta

Tred is back in action and he’s heading out to hunt for elk in this action-packed episode.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Jeff Foxworthy, left, and David Morris will be back on another season of "The Bucks of Tecomate," premiering Friday on Versus. Credit: Orion Multimedia, LLC

Rock star Ted Nugent pleads no contest to California deer baiting charge

Legendary rock star and hunting advocate Ted Nugent was fined $1,750 in Yuba County Superior Court Friday after pleading no contest to charges of baiting deer and not having a properly signed hunting tag stemming from a 2009 incident in California.

California Department of Fish and Game spokesman Patrick Foy told the Appeal-Democrat that a game warden "just about fell out of his chair" when he saw Nugent kill an immature buck on an episode of "Spirit of the Wild," Nugent's hunting show on the Outdoor Channel, which aired earlier this year.

Further investigation into the incident revealed that the area had been baited with "C'mere Deer." Using any sort of wildlife attractant is illegal in California.

Nugent was originally facing an additional charge for killing an immature buck but this was dropped during negotiations between his attorney and the Yuba County District Attorney's Office, Foy said.

Nugent and two co-defendants -- Mitchell Moore and Ross Patterson, who also pleaded no contest -- did not appear in court. Patterson was fined $1,225 for taking an animal with bait, while Moore was fined $700 for possessing an animal illegally.

-- Kelly Burgess

twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Ted Nugent. Credit: Michael Ives