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S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 1 9 7 itself, it simply licks the insect free and then eats it. "I had no suspicion they'd be such efficient tick-killers," said Richard Ostfield of the Cary Institute. Along the same lines, foxes kill a lot of white-footed mice, which are believed to carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Wild Forever AlliAnce Ask a big-game hunter what his biggest sporting concerns are and almost invariably, access to public hunting and rising costs top the list. British Columbia's Greg Williams and Newfoundland's Shane Mahoney share these same concerns but chose to take action against the continued loss of a true wilderness hunting experience as well as the rising costs of hunts. They formed Wild Forever Alliance, which uses a club model, wherein hunters join via membership fees. The Alliance in turn gives away fully guided hunts- of-lifetime via drawings. Launched in 2013, the group provided their members with hunting adventures in Alaska and the Yukon for moose, grizzlies, and black bears, and in addition to trips for Rocky Mountain elk, mountain caribou, bison, mountain goat, pronghorn, and mountain lions. In time, the Alliance will use proceeds from membership fees to donate to conservation groups that also support hunters' rights. The founders designed the alliance in such a way that the odds of winning always remain 1 in 100— favorable odds by most standards. As club membership grows, a free hunt will be added for every 100 new members. The cost to join includes a one-time activation fee of $99 and then $365 annually. The value of the trips ranges from $5,000 to more than $25,000. Since its launch in 2013 the Alliance has given away 28 hunts that exceed more than $350,000 in total value. Standard contest rules apply and are outlined on the club's website (www.wildlifeforeveralliance.com). Or for more information, call Greg Williams at (250) 263-5987 or Shane Mahoney at (709) 754-4780. —Tom Keer Shooting SAFAri Practice for an African hunting safari is as close as Texas. The Monty Kalogeras Safari Shooting School offers to improve your shooting and instincts through real- field scenarios and personal one-on- one instruction. The school sits on 250 acres in Mason, Texas, which is 1½ hours from either Austin or San Antonio, and lies in the heart of the beautiful Hill Country. The entire acreage is devoted exclusively to the school's operations. The full course includes access to all shooting facilities on the ranch along with personalized instruction on how to improve your hunting, rifle, and ammunition assessments to match specific game animals and gear recommendations. Time in class and on the range builds to a simulated safari, complete with steel silhouette targets, PHs, shooting sticks, and a review of each shooting scenario. The targets range from 35 to 250 yards or more, and include shots that are either uphill, downhill, or across a valley. Kalogeras and his staff place emphasis on preparation for hunting a particular terrain or species. Two days of instruction compose the full course, and fees include meals and lodging. The newly constructed guest cabin provides privacy, and meals are served in the main cabin, which is also a gathering point. Other facilities include a 400-yard shooting range with chronograph, a very well equipped reloading room, and a patio with African-style fire pit. For more information call (512) 217-4252, email monty@ safarishootingschool.com, or visit www.safarishootingschool.com. devotion to his art, he is a dedicated conservationist who has helped raise millions of dollars worldwide for wildlife causes. Spies is a past winner of the Federal Duck Stamp competition, and Wildlife Art magazine once named him one of the top 16 wildlife artists. He currently lives and paints in Watertown, South Dakota, with his wife and their two sons. For more on the SCI convention, visit www.showsci.com. our ugly Friend, the opoSSum Researches have found that possums are more than just ugly. They are tick-killing machines. According to The News Times of Danbury, Connecticut, researchers with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies researched the roles various mammals and birds play in the spread of ticks and disease. Their methods included capturing white- footed mice, chipmunks, squirrels, possums, veerys, and catbirds, then caging them and subjecting each animal to 100 ticks. The possums killed a larger percentage of the parasites—more than 90 percent— than any of the other animals. This is especially good news for folks who live in areas where the ranges of possums overlap with black-legged and western black-legged ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease. The possums make great tick killers for two reasons. One, they eat anything they can fit into their mouths, including mice and roaches and other insects. Two, despite their pitiful appearance, possums are very concerned with hygiene. They continually lick themselves clean. If a possum finds a tick while cleaning