The endangered California condor population that now spans Arizona and Utah is celebrating a significant milestone this month: the 15th anniversary of the first release of the birds into Arizona after being gone from the area for nearly 100 years.

  In December 1996, six condors were released from an acclimation pen atop the Vermilion Cliffs in northern Arizona. Today, the population consists of more than 70 birds that now also use Utah as part of their range.

  "This milestone is a significant accomplishment for the reintroduction program and demonstrates what cooperative, adaptive conservation can do for wildlife," says Eric Gardner, nongame branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "We would not have any condors flying over Arizona and Utah if it were not for the experimental, nonessential designation that allowed the project to begin. Now we have over 70 birds."

  Since reintroduction began, challenges have been identified in the program and adaptive management has been implemented to address issues like lead poisoning from spent ammunition and predation. Of 42 known mortalities, 19 birds have died from confirmed lead poisoning. The second leading cause of death is predation with 12 cases recorded.

  The Arizona Game and Fish Department implemented a voluntary non-lead ammunition program in 2005 for hunters drawn for hunts in the condor’s core range. The free program has had voluntary participation rates of between 80 and 90 percent each of the past 5 years, demonstrating the willingness of hunters to play an active role in conservation and that voluntary programs can be successful.

  To continue to address lead’s impact on condors, Utah implemented a non-lead program in 2010 to further conservation as the population of condors expands its habitat into southern Utah. Biologists expect to see a reduction in lead toxicity deaths once more Utah hunters begin to use non-lead ammunition in the field.

  The Arizona-Utah condor population is classified as an experimental, non-essential population by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the 10(j) rule of the Endangered Species Act. This special rule provides The Peregrine Fund and Game and Fish with more flexibility to manage the population. The 10(j) rule allows the agencies the ability to handle, treat, transport and fit birds with radio transmitters, activities that would be much more difficult to carry out without the special designation. The 10(j) rule also provides that land management practices will not be restricted due to the presence of condors.

  Condors are a long-lived species with low reproductive rates, making its population more slow-growing than most wildlife. While they can live up to 60 years in the wild, they do not sexually mature until six or seven years of age and only mate every other year.

  The California condor has gone from only 22 birds left in the world in 1982 to nearly 400 today. The original 22 birds were captured in an effort to breed and save the species. Condors bred and raised in captivity are now periodically released at sites in California, Mexico and at the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona.

  The species was added to the federal endangered species list in 1967. The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 9 1/2 feet.

  The Arizona-Utah condor conservation effort is a joint project of many partners, including The Peregrine Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Kaibab National Forest and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

  For more information on condors, visit www.azgfd.gov/condor or The Peregrine Fund website at http://www.peregrinefund.org/.

  And for more information about the great outdoor adventures waiting for you in Arizona, visit their website at http://www.gf.state.az.us/.

   Welcome a new feature to The Bullet, Profiling the States. Each month we will attempt to bring you some tidbits, about an individual state such as their nickname, size, some of their fishing and game records or whatever else we deem interesting to pass along to our readers. There won’t be any set rules to this so each state’s profile can vary from the next. We start this month with our home state of Illinois.

  ILLINOIS

  Nickname: Land of Lincoln

  Size: 55,593 square miles, ranked 24th in size.

  Admitted to the Union: 1818, 21st state.

  Fishing Records - Rod & Reel:
    Bluegill: 3 lbs. – 8 oz.
    Redear Sunfish: 2 lbs. – 12.3 oz.
    Largemouth Bass: 13 lbs. – 1 oz.
    Smallmouth Bass: 6 lbs. – 7 oz.
    Channel Catfish: 45 lbs. – 4 oz.
    Flathead Catfish: 78 lbs. – 0 oz.
    Black Crappie: 4 lbs. – 8 oz.
    White Crappie: 4 lbs. – 7 oz.
    Muskellunge: 37 lbs. – 13 oz.
    Rainbow Trout: 31 lbs. – 6.72 oz.
    Lake Trout: 38 lbs. – 4 oz.
    Walleye: 14 lbs. – 0 oz.

  Game Records – According to Boone & Crockett Club, (www.booneandcrockettclub.com):
    # 1 Typical Whitetail: 204 4/8 inches. Taken in 1965.
    # 2 Typical Whitetail: 200 2/8 inches. Taken in 1993.

    # 1 Non-Typical Whitetail: 304 3/8 inches. Taken in 2001.
    # 2 Non-Typical Whitetail: 295 3/8 inches. Taken in 2004.

  Quick Facts:
    Cahokia, oldest city in Illinois, founded in 1699
    Historic Lewis & Clark Expedition starts near Wood River in 1804
    Illinois Territory created in 1809
    Chicago World’s Fair held in 1893
    Chicago Cubs win their second World Series in 1908
    Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX in 1986

  It’s that time of year to once again empty out the inbox and pass along a sampling of the mail we receive each week. Long time readers of The Bullet know what’s in store and for you new subscribers here’s the gist. Some of the following letters are pleasant in nature while others are just….well you be the judge. In no particular order here they are bad spelling and all (we edit the offensive words only). Enjoy this batch of ‘Letters From The Inbox’.

  You guys are sick people and this should be band from society and all of man kind, I am a strong believer in animal life. And this should be illeagl! - Alena Fords

  She followed up with this recipe;

  Recipe name = baked squid with squirrel blood fried in a buket of dog pee
Recipe = 2 pounds of squid
7 pounds of squirrel blood
20 pounds of dog pee
Alena Fords

  How are you supposed to make this without killing a lot of squirrels for their blood?
Here’s another recipe for squirrels;

  Recipe name = squirrle gravy with secrete sauce
Recipe = 4 all u mother f&*$#*s out ther who thanks it funny, and tasts good, 2 kill squirrles f*%k off b#@&*^%s!! - card_nerd

  O.M.G. I'm not crazy. Thank you so much for you web site. People were calling me an idiot. I live in Yankee territory and they don't eat raccoons up here. There was a scare about rabies. I talked to ODNR and there have been 2 coons in the whole state with rabies. Coon is back on my menu. A old wise man once told a game warden in front of me that hot grease will kill anything. Eat on my friends! - Phillip Jones

  Hi, Loved looking over your site, but just don’t have the time to download all the great recipes for the various critters. Could you please make available a printed and CD ‘Backwoods Bound Recipe Book’ with all the critters? I know at least 6 other folks who would enjoy being able to sit near their fire(box) and read about what they will cook up next! Plus, the old eyes are not enjoying the computer much these days. I find it much easier to read a book. Thank you for keeping outdoors knowledge a family issue in America! God Bless America! - Gene

  This is gross!!! Save The Squirrels!!! - John Horner

  I have a complaint. this website is discusting i don't like it and it is weird! Save The Squirrel’s no one should suffer this pain. - Clare Rubin

  im going to eat u cuz u eat squirrels so if u put more stuff bout eating squirels we going to eat u right now so stop cuz we love squirrels so stop k k and liten to the song bed inntruders kk - samantha and alyssa and kennedy and casey

  ur mean What kind of person, eats squirrels?? They are cute and cuddly and fuzzy - You dont need to know

  They didn’t give their name but gave their e-mail address. Doesn’t make sense.

  Just wanted to let you know your Recipes section is fantastic!!! Thank You and Keep up the great work!!! - Randy Slayback

  If you've ever read any books by Zane Grey, you'll remember that he always mentions how good Cougar meat is. Just read "Roping Lions in the Grand Canyon". I finally got me one, and ol' Zane Grey is right: You've never had a better tasting meat! - JP. Harris - Owner, Chef: Cow Camp Cafe

  Thanks for printing my Deer Hash & Catfish Stew recipes! These have been handed down in the family for a while. Really luv your webpages, taken off like wildfire down here in southern North Carolina. Keep up great work. PS Do you have a Facebook Page? I would really like to spread it around! Take Care, Dru Martin.

  Love your recipes and your website!! It’s very informative and love the nature and wildlife photos. It's great!!! - Kim Asmus

  There you have it. Another sample of the mail we receive. Please indulge me a few more comments about them. Man, people sure love their squirrels. Apparently they didn’t have them destroy their tomato and pepper crops this past summer. Or have the rabbits eat several hundred dollars’ worth of daisies and Hibiscus plants.

  One last thing, if you take the time to write and voice your opinion/complain to someone shouldn’t you try and spell correctly? Don’t most computers have spell check on them? And what’s up with not giving your name? No guts? Keep the letters rolling in. We love them all! – J. E. Burns, Editor-in-chief