Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Michigan’s fishing, hunting and ORV licenses will change beginning March 1, 2014. The new license structure – authorized by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2013 – makes buying a license easier and provides vital funding to improve outdoor recreation opportunities for anglers, hunters, trappers and ORV riders. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Long before animals had lawyers representing a small segment of society that values the lives of animals above humans, man existed by hunting. In fact, there are millions of traditional rural Americans that, in essence, hunt to subsidize their existence today. As a sportsman, I am among them.
Predictably, the leading anti-hunting organization in the world, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), based in Washington, DC and not connected to our local shelters, has ridden its gravy train into our small town with a plea to now save Michigan’s wolves from extinction by aid of petition – even though in the history of regulated hunting, no animal species has ever been in peril, as a result.
Their leaders, Wayne Pacelle and Mike Markarian have a plan for Michigan, and it doesn’t involve our wildlife biologists and scientists; it does involve suing us, however.
These extremists have a dream inconspicuously absent in a recent Argus-Press editorial: Wolf delisting isn’t based on best available science, by Mke Markarian, of The Humane Society Legislative Fund. So, sharing their vision for America is my pleasure. Read more
EAST ALTON, Ill. (Feb. 18, 2014) — In 2014, Winchester® Ammunition will extend its AA® TrAAcker™ shotshell line into the popular sporting clays offerings of 12 and 20 gauge. This provides more options to consumers to assist shooters in identifying where and why they’re missing their targets. During this process, shooters and instructors are able to visibly see where they are missing with the AA TrAAcker technology, and can easily make adjustments to correct it.
Legendary innovation at Winchester Ammunition continues with the award winning AA® TrAAcker™, the first game and target load to feature a weighted wad that actually tracks with the shot string. This allows the shooter or an instructor to quickly determine where the shooter is missing – making it easy to adjust and hit flying targets shot after shot. “A new shooter now can learn how to lead a clay target or game bird almost immediately – that’s the results you get with AA TrAAcker,” said Brett Flaugher, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing, sales and strategy. “Now we’ve made it more versatile by offering the AA TrAAcker in 20 gauge, not just 12 gauge. It continues to be a great training tool for shooters, hunters, and shooting instructors, especially when youth or beginning shooters are learning every aspect of the sport.” 
The secret of AA TrAAcker is in the revolutionary wad. Read more
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Global warming may be a hot topic in the news, but for millions of Americans, this past winter has been anything but warm. Wintery weather has blanketed many parts of the country in snow and ice with everything from Augusta, GA, to Augusta ME, feeling the impact. But for hunters, traditionally considered a hearty crowd for their perceived ability to rough bad winter weather, how cold is too cold to keep hunting? According to a recent HunterSurvey.com poll, the majority of hunters are still willing to hit the woods even as temps plunge into the single digits. But when it drops below zero, most agree, it’s time to call it quits. Read more
Game Calls pulls predators in to your setup for a closer look. The Lure Motion Decoy features a rabbit-like fur sleeve that spins and quivers by the flip of its on/off switch. The decoy extends upward to mimic a helpless, distressed rabbit that no predator can resist.
Designed to work in combination with a predator call, the Lure Motion Decoy brings predators in range and can act as a distraction in low-cover situations. Read more
HUNTSVILLE AND MONTGOMERY, AL – Governor Robert Bentley on Monday announced Alabama has recruited the country’s oldest firearms manufacturer to Alabama.
Remington Outdoor Company (ROC) will expand to the old Chrysler building in Huntsville, and create more than 2,000 new jobs within the next ten years. Governor Bentley joined Remington Chairman and CEO George Kollitides and other state and local leaders for the official announcement. Read more
(Sydney, NE) Richard N. Cabela, co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of the world’s largest outdoor retailer, Cabela’s, Inc. passed away today at the age of 77. Read more
In an effort to increase elk numbers, officials in Idaho want more wolves killed. Details of the proposal are here…
Pro-hunting group says lawsuit indicates that anti-hunters lack in-state support
LANSING— The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)-financed front group Keep Michigan Wolves Protected (KMWP) is suing the State of Michigan to allow out-of-state petition gatherers as the anti-hunting group tries to repeal a law that provides free hunting and fishing licences for active military members and authorizes the bipartisan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to designate game species and issue fisheries orders using sound science.
“The anti-hunters wouldn’t be suing the state to allow out-of-state circulators if they had the support of Michigan citizens,” said Drew YoungeDyke, spokesman for Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management (CPWM), which is circulating a competing petition for a citizen-initiated law that would protect free military licenses, the NRC’s ability to name game species and issue fisheries orders, and establish a $1 million rapid response fund to fight Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species. Read more