'Shark Men' premieres Sunday on National Geographic Channel

Expedition leader Chris Fischer, marine biologist Michael Domeier and crew are back for another season of "Shark Men," premiering Sunday at 9 p.m. on National Geographic Channel with two hourlong episodes. Additional episodes will follow, airing at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights through June 12.

Though the name of the series has changed (it was “Expedition Great White” last year) the focus is still the same -- attempting to learn more about the mysterious great white shark and its life cycle -- where the sharks are born, where they migrate, how they mate, and where they congregate.

Using a specially designed, 126-foot-long mothership that includes a 37-ton hydraulic platform for hoisting a living shark out of the ocean, the crew returns to Mexico's Guadalupe Island, 160 miles west of Baja California, in the hopes of landing, tagging and releasing sharks -- specifically females -- alive. This season, they also secure a permit to hook a white shark at Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of San Francisco, and also travel to just off the shores of Malibu, hoping to catch juvenile great white sharks in an effort to learn more about the younger years of the apex predator's life cycle. 

"Shark Men" episode descriptions through April are after the jump (the rest of the descriptions are still pending):

Extreme angler Jeremy Wade back for third season of 'River Monsters' beginning April 10 on Animal Planet

Extreme angler and biologist Jeremy Wade is back, tracking down and fishing for some of the most threatening-looking freshwater fish worldwide for season three of "River Monsters," premiering April 10 at 10 p.m. on Animal Planet.

"This season, I get into even more unfamiliar territory," Wade said in a press release. "The destinations are diverse, the stories strange, and the fish every bit as fearsome but in unexpected ways. I encountered fish with invisible powers, others that live to a century, the largest true freshwater fish so far and the longest struggle I’ve had with a live fish to date."

This season will feature seven new episodes plus two specials, "Tribal Fishing" and "Most Bizarre."

The "River Monsters" series schedule and episode descriptions are after the jump.

One of the youngest female hunters to take Africa's 'Big 5'

Liz Caddell knew since she was a youngster what she wanted to do, something many girls likely don't even think about.

"I was probably 8 or 9 when I wanted to start hunting," Caddell says on her website. "It seemed like boys always got to have more fun -- riding four-wheelers and going hunting."

Caddell has taken that interest and run with it, and at 20 years old she became one of the youngest female hunters to take Africa's "Big 5" -- a lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and Cape buffalo. (Since it's illegal to kill rhinos, Caddell used a dart gun to tranquilize it. A veterinarian was with the hunting party to ensure the animal wasn't harmed.)

The Fort Smith, Ark., resident and her hunting accomplishment will be featured on an episode of "Christensen Outdoors," airing Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and again on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on the Sportsman Channel.

Caddell got her leopard in Namibia in 2008 and in 2009 bagged a lion. Caddell returned to Africa in 2010 needing a rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo to complete her Big 5.

The elephant, deemed a "problem animal" by local government officials because it had taken to raiding and damaging villager's crops, turned out to be a memorable hunt for Caddell for an unforseen reason.

'Charlie Moore: No Offense' premieres Friday on Versus

 

Versus will be debuting another original series on Friday. "Charlie Moore: No Offense" will follow the avid angler, also known as "the Mad Fisherman," as he travels throughout the country on numerous outdoor adventures with celebrity and non-celebrity guests.

The 10-episode series, airing Fridays at 5:30 p.m., features the loud, brash Bostonian immersing himself in the local flavors of various cities and towns across America.

This season will feature celebrity guests from sports and entertainment, including Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, former New England Patriots offensive lineman Todd Rucci and NHL Hall of Famer Ray Bourque. Rickey Medlocke, guitarist for rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, and DMC, of legendary rap group Run/DMC, will also appear.

Viewers are being invited to try to appear in an episode by completing an application detailing why they would like to be part of the show and why "the Mad Fisherman" should come to their area to fish.

"Charlie Moore: No Offense" episode descriptions through February are after the jump (the rest of the descriptions are still pending):

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

Outposts looks back at 2010: Passings

With the year ending, it is worth looking back at memorable posts of 2010. Each day this week through Friday, Outposts will recount some of the records broken, the achievements reached, the notable passings and the downright unusual during 2010 in the outdoors, action and adventure world.

Three-time world surfing champion Andy Irons, 32

Legendary surfer Andy Irons died at the age of 32. The three-time world champion passed away during a layover in Dallas en route from Puerto Rico to his home in Hawaii. His body was discovered in a hotel room Nov. 2, after he failed to respond to a wake-up call.

Irons, who was raised on Kauai, became ill during an ASP World Tour event in Puerto Rico. He was apparently suffering from symptoms similar to those associated with dengue fever.

Photo credit: ASP

Capt. Phil Harris, 53, of 'Deadliest Catch'

Phil Harris, the hard-talking captain of one of the crab-fishing vessels featured on the Discovery Channel series "Deadliest Catch" died Feb. 9 after suffering a stroke Jan. 29 while in port offloading his boat, the 128-foot Cornelia Marie. Harris was 53.

Harris captained the Cornelia Marie for 18 years and had two sons, Josh and Jake, who worked as deckhands on the vessel.

Photo: Discovery Channel

 

Extreme skier Fredrik Ericsson, 35, falls to his death scaling K2

Fredrik Ericsson, one of the world's leading high-altitude skiers, fell to his death Aug. 6 while attempting to scale and then ski from the 28,251-foot summit of K2. Ericsson was 35.

Featured in a June Outposts item, the extreme skier was on a quest to ski down the three highest peaks on the planet -- K2, on the border between China and Pakistan; the Himalayan peak of Kangchenjunga; and Mt. Everest, on the border of Nepal and Tibet.

Photo: FredrikEricsson.com

 

'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."

California Fish and Game wardens in the spotlight on 'Wild Justice,' premiering Sunday on National Geographic Channel

California Department of Fish and Game wardens certainly have an interesting work schedule. Dealing with illegal hunters, methamphetamine users, illegal pot growers and probation violators, it seems no two days are alike. 

These 240 law enforcement men and women patrol wide swaths of the state's 159,000 square miles of land, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 1,100 miles of coastline, often alone and in rural areas where backup can be hours away. And often, many of the people they come in contact with are armed.

The real-life bravery of California game wardens is brought to light in the new National Geographic Channel series "Wild Justice," premiering Sunday at 9 p.m. with two hourlong episodes before moving to its regular night and time, Wednesdays at 10 beginning Dec. 1.

The 11-episode series follows the lives of California’s Fish and Game wardens, on call 24/7, as they defend against human threats to the environment, endangered wildlife and the cultivation of illegal drugs.  On foot or horseback, by car or off-road vehicle, by plane or by boat, this small group of law enforcement officers covers a large territory in pursuit of poachers, polluters and illegal marijuana growers, while still making sure hunters and anglers follow the rules.

Though the show appears to focus on the "dirty" side of the job, it's not all trouble -- wardens also promote and coordinate hunter education programs and represent the DFG at schools and meetings of hunting and fishing clubs and other special interest groups.

"One thing about this job is that everything changes," DFG Warden Brian Boyd comments in one episode. "It's one reason why I like it and the reason some people don't like it, cause you can't set your clock to it."

"Wild Justice" episode descriptions through mid-December are after the jump (the rest of the descriptions are still pending):

Travis Pastrana makes the jump to NASCAR

 

Action sports phenom Travis Pastrana is making the leap to NASCAR in 2011.

Pastrana, 27, has signed with Michael Waltrip Racing with inital plans to race Toyotas in seven Nationwide Series events in 2011 and 20 races in 2012 for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing, a new team owned by Pastrana, Michael Waltrip Racing and Gary and Blake Bechtel.

"I’ve been following NASCAR closely for years as a fan of the sport, with competing in the sport a lifelong dream," Pastrana said. "I decided it was time to try and turn that dream into reality and with the help of the Bechtel family, Michael Waltrip Racing and Wasserman Media Group I’m now one step closer!"

Waltrip, a a two-time Daytona 500 champion, noted the importance of the youth demographic Pastrana brings to NASCAR.

"Travis has built an enormous and unique following all over the world," said Waltrip. "As a race team owner, we are always looking for ways to deliver to our partners and engage our fans better. This is an opportunity to showcase our company and our sport to a new generation of young fans. We’re also looking for that next big star.  Travis already is one and action sports is full of talented athletes. Having Travis as a part of our program adds another great dimension to our team and NASCAR."

Pastrana has won 16 X Games freestyle motocross gold medals and also has multiple supercross, motocross and rally car championships under his belt. Pastrana also stars in MTV's "Nitro Circus," which includes the television series, live tours and a soon-to-be-released feature film.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Video: Travis Pastrana gets ready for NASCAR. Credit: Pastrana Waltrip Racing via YouTube

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.)