Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
With assistance from the Solutions Journalism Network, several community gatherings helped define what people love and worry about on their respective rivers, and how those experiences might shape the future of the Clark Fork River. More here…
By Glen Wunderlich
It never really sunk in until I was at the counter of the Morrice Hardware and intended to purchase an antlerless deer license. When I was asked my opinion of the new regulations aimed at suppressing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, I stated that I didn’t see any better options. Pressed about a specific change from last season, whereas discounted antlerless licenses were available at the reduced cost of $12 for all of the combined seasons in the CWD Management Zone but would now expire November 4, 2018, it hit me. What sense does that make?
No doubt, it was a change, but what will be the result of effectively raising the cost of antlerless tags in an area where the intent is to reduce the herd? Personally, it made no sense to me, because my policy is to take antlerless deer with a firearm later in the season. To me, a firearm is a better tool for the job and the weather is more conducive to hanging deer, as the season progresses. With all the warm weather and rain we’ve experienced in the early archery season, my beliefs have been solidified.
As any experienced archer understands, a deer shot with an arrow will typically run off. Depending on the placement of the shot, the distance it may travel could be well over a hundred yards. That may not seem consequential, unless the habitat it heads for is thick cover, which is usually the case. The wise archer also knows that it’s good policy to wait and hour or so to begin tracking chores and this is where things can get complicated.
I’d venture to take an educated guess that most deer are taken in late afternoon, as twilight sets in; that means, it will be dark, when recovery begins. Add to that a little rain and the hunter’s challenge becomes more difficult, if not virtually impossible. Should the hunter get on the trail immediately and run the risk of pushing a deer that has yet to expire? Or, should the hunter wait an extended period of time, as most knowledgeable hunters do, and risk the potential of rain washing away any sign of the trail?
The dilemma is compounded by the fact that October weather is naturally warmer than that of the late seasons. That same scenario played out in during a chilly December hunt may allow an ethical hunter to wait until morning light to recover the prize; however, that same hunter now faces a quandary of risks that fly in the face of ethical conduct.
With all of this in mind, it didn’t take me long to pass on the “new” reduced rate for antlerless licenses, which wasn’t new at all; only the counter-intuitive expiration date was new.
Personally, I wasn’t about to change my philosophy to save $8 and to go against long-held beliefs. I handed over $20 to get all the benefits of taking an antlerless deer when the snow is on the ground. It made no sense to do otherwise and I would venture to guess a fair amount of hunters will have made the same decision. However, if the reduced rate is meant to prompt more license sales, only time will tell of the wisdom, or lack thereof, of the new policy to reduce the herd.
MDT has just released their latest chassis system for precision rifle competition called the ACC. The ACC (Adjustable Core Competition) Chassis is designed around an integrated, modular weight system which allows you to customize the balance and mass of your rifle to maximize performance and minimize recoil.
“This gives shooters complete control over balance and recoil reduction – with a little help from solid steel.” says Sales Manager, Kyle Van Ruitenburg. “Balance your rifle, reduce recoil, stay on target – with the ACC you can make your rifle as heavy as you like it.” Read more
For more than 50 years, families have enjoyed the legendary Crosman 760 Pumpmaster air rifle for beginner plinking and target shooting. Today, Crosman proudly announces they are shipping a new and improved version – the 760 Pumpmaster Classic. The new 760 features a high-capacity reservoir that holds up to 1,000 BBs, a new trigger for a smooth pull, and redesigned easy access BB and pellet loading ports.
The simple, short-stroke pump action of the Crosman 760 Pumpmaster lets you control your power level, making it a versatile choice for plinking and target shooting. Pump twice to send a pellet down the barrel at a velocity of 350fps or pump 10 times to get a blazing 700fps. Read more
(Accokeek, MD) Now through December 31, 2018, Beretta will be running a promotion in which you will be eligible to receive a $50 rebate when you buy any Beretta APX striker-fired pistol.
Eligible guns for this offer include all Beretta APX pistols, new at retail, that are purchased and paid in full between the dates of October 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018.
When customers purchase their APX pistol, they can submit their rebate at promo.beretta.com until January 31, 2019. Once the promotion redemption has been processed, Beretta USA will ship the customer their rebate in the form of a $50 prepaid card. Read more
SIG SAUER to Present Ceremonial M17 Pistols to U.S. Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Newington, N.H. – SIG SAUER, Inc. is honored to announce the production and presentation of the M17 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Pistols for the U.S. Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) for the Tomb Guard Sentinels.
The M17 Tomb of the Unknown Pistols are unique M17 pistols that were created using the same specifications for the U.S. Army’s M17 Modular Handgun System. The ceremonial pistols are 9mm striker-fired pistols with a non-railed aluminum grip module, stainless steel slide, wood grip inserts, a 21-round magazine, and features the same optic cut as specified by the MHS contract, front night sight, removable rear plate, and black controls. The pistols also feature a high polish to withstand the inclement weather while the Tomb Sentinels stand guard. Read more
AUGUSTA, GA — Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announces the addition of three new vehicles to its Textron Off Road Prowler™ Pro lineup. The new, six-passenger Prowler Pro Crew XT brings quiet power and performance to the multi-passenger market, while the new three- and six-passenger Ranch editions offer premium accessories and a custom Atomic Copper color for a more customized look.
“We continue to develop state-of-the-art Textron Off Road vehicles that meet a wide variety of enthusiasts’ needs,” said John Collins, Vice President, Consumer for Textron Specialized Vehicles. “The new Prowler Pro XT Crew builds off of the innovative Prowler Pro platform and continues the legacy Textron has instilled in all of its highly engineered brands.”
Similar to its three-seat counterpart, the Prowler Pro Crew XT offers quiet gas power and unmatched reliability, with the addition of a second row of seating. The vehicle is powered by a whisper-quiet, 50-horsepower, 812cc EFI engine offering plenty of power to not only haul six people, but also additional cargo or game. To complement the engine, vibration-reducing mounts and bushings were used, and a tuned exhaust utilizes a rubber isolator with the muffler to lessen exhaust noise. Read more
Chatfield, MN – Throughout the history of its Conservation program, the Pope & Young Club has supported various big-game wildlife research studies. That continues with the Club’s support of a study being conducted in Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park on how the overpopulation of moose directly affects their habitat. The principal goal of this study is to assist land and wildlife managers in promoting and managing a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. For fifty-nine years the unique wolf, moose, predator/prey relationship found on Isle Royale has been studied by land, and wildlife biologists and P&Y is honored to assist in the continuance of those studies.
“The Pope and Young Club has been vital to conservation efforts with their focus on education and outreach, it was for that reason I chose to apply for a research grant through this organization,” stated Zachary Merrill, M.A., Ph.D. Student, Graduate Teaching Associate Geography Department, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. “The grant will go towards assisting me in my summer travel and fieldwork expenses incurred during the summer of 2018 on Isle Royale National Park. Because of the grant money, I was able to hire a local undergraduate student to assist me in the field and teach them about conservation practices and dendrochronological applications. My research entailed sampling balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and white spruce (Picea glauca) trees to investigate evidence of moose herbivory and identify periods of possible overpopulation starvation events that have occurred in the past. Evidence of moose browse on the balsam fir is prevalent from the exterior conditions of the tree, and preliminarily results suggest that there is sufficient evidence within the tree rings to possibly reconstruct moose population. This is important in terms of conservation because it potentially adds a new tool for conservationists and wildlife managers to look into past populations of a variety of ungulate species across North America. In the end, this will assist in better understanding the effectiveness and implementation of sustainable harvest.” Read more
The 300LE rifle is an out-of-the-box, duty-ready workhorse
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma – RISE Armament, a premier manufacturer and supplier of AR firearms and components is pleased to introduce the all-new 300LE rifle. This firearm is set to be the headliner of RISE Armament’s new Law Enforcement (LE) Division — RISE LE.
Motivated by the July 7, 2016, Dallas police ambush, RISE Armament set out to ensure that no police officer is ever outgunned by a criminal. RISE made it their mission to develop a supremely accurate, highly dependable rifle that’s affordable on a law enforcement budget. The 300LE is that rifle. Read more
The Department of Natural Resources will conduct its annual walleye assessment in the west basin of Lake Erie near Monroe, Michigan, beginning Oct. 8 and continuing through Oct. 12.
“This year marks the 40th anniversary of a survey that is the cornerstone of the DNR’s annual efforts to assess the walleye fishery in Lake Erie,” said Todd Wills, DNR Fisheries’ Lake Huron-Lake Erie area research manager. “The data from this survey are essential for the DNR and its partner agencies to estimate walleye abundance throughout the west and central basins of Lake Erie. These estimates help determine the daily possession limits for anglers who fish for walleye in Michigan waters.”
The fall walleye assessment will be completed by DNR fisheries staff aboard the research vessel Channel Cat, which is celebrating its 50th year in service and has a home port at the Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station in Harrison Township. Gill nets are fished near Stoney Point and Luna Pier and are marked with a large, orange staff buoy on each end with a number of small, round floats in between. The 1,300-foot-long nets are suspended in the water column, fished overnight, and hauled aboard the R/V Channel Cat where the catch is sorted, identified and measured. A sample of the dorsal fin spine is taken from captured walleye to determine their age.
The DNR reminds anglers and boaters to avoid navigating in between the staff buoys to prevent entanglement in the nets and to give the R/V Channel Cat room to maneuver while it is actively lifting and setting the gear, which is indicated by displaying a double-cone day shape from a mast on its roof. Read more