Michigan: This year’s winning Deer Management Cooperator Patch revealed

More than 200 entries vied for the honor of being the DNR’s winning design in the 2018 Deer Management Cooperator Patch contest. See all of the submissions in this short video.

In the end, Matt MacDonald of Toronto, Ontario, submitted a design that captured DNR staff’s attention. Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s contest.

Cooperator patches are used as an incentive for successful hunters to bring their deer to DNR check stations. A deer head (antlers must still be attached on bucks) or an entire carcass must be presented to receive a patch. Patches are not available by mail. Hunters are urged to call ahead whenever possible to confirm hours and days of operation. Read more

Hunting

USCCA: Time For An Honest Debate About “Gun-Free” Zones

America’s Malls & Schools Remain Soft Targets Where Law-Abiding Americans Should Be Allowed to Protect Themselves & Others

oncealed Carry Association Pres President Tim Schmidt joins "Var rry Permit Holders Role In Ele

West Bend, WI – The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), which is the country’s largest and fastest growing association whose sole focus is the responsibly armed American, said today that in the wake of this latest attack in a so-called “gun-free zone” in Jacksonville, all Americans should have the right to defend themselves whether at home, at school or at mall:

“This was sadly another attack by a clearly deranged individual and we pray for the victims and their families. As we learn more about the individual who perpetrated this attack and the details surrounding it, our nation is once again having a conversation about gun violence and how we can stop future attacks, particularly as our schools re-open around the country for a new year. It’s my hope the critical role of concealed carry rights can play in incidents like this and the abject failure of so-called ‘gun-free zones’ will be part of that conversation.

“Like many other scenes of gun violence in the past, Jackson Landing was a ‘gun-free zone,’ which did nothing to stop an evildoer bent on violence, but which prevented law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves and others. We don’t know if an ordinary citizen with a concealed carry permit could have stopped this attack, but we do know that once again this feel-good policy did nothing to protect innocent lives. Read more

Self Defense

Trijicon’s Electro Optics Division Expands the REAP-IR® Thermal Riflescope Line

Wixom, Mich. — Trijicon® Inc, manufacturer of Brilliant Aiming Solutions™, is pleased to introduce the latest additions to the REAP-IR family of thermal imaging systems. The new and improved

REAP-IR models retain Trijicon’s leading image quality, ease of use, and durability while adding new, user friendly features.

Trijicon is now offering two additional magnification options with enhanced features to the 35mm effective focal length variants (2.5x base optical magnification). The REAP-IR will now be available in 60 mm EFL (4.5x base optical magnification) and 20 mm EFL (1.5x base optical magnification) models. The new and improved variants and the existing REAP-IR configurations will be available for purchase.

The new REAP-IR variants feature a simplified “Easy Zero Method” which makes sighting in the optic easier and more intuitive. Getting rounds on target is now a matter of aligning an on-screen digital icon with bullet impacts using provided MOA readouts. Read more

Optics

Hear the call? It’s elk season in northern Michigan

The first hunt period of the 2018 elk season starts Aug. 28, and 100 Michigan hunters will have 12 days to fill 30 any-elk and 70 antlerless-only licenses issued in the northern third of the Lower Peninsula.

“In general, elk hunters have a remarkable success rate during this first hunt period,” said Brian Mastenbrook, DNR wildlife field operations manager working out of the Gaylord office. “With only 100 hunters, we can really work closely with hunters and landowners to find elk.”

The first hunt – also known as Michigan’s early elk hunt – allows hunters to harvest an elk in any location in the elk management unitexcept within the core elk range; this approach helps to target animals that have moved outside the core elk range. Regulated hunting is a management tool used to influence how many elk are present and where they are located. The goal is to keep the majority of elk within the core elk range.

Michigan’s elk population has been hunted annually since 1984 and at this time has an estimated population of more than 1,200 animals – above the state’s current population goal of 500-900 elk. That goal was set by the Elk Management Advisory Team and outlined in the 2012 Elk Management Plan. Read more

Hunting

New Inflatable Sea Eagle FishSUP FS126

Fishing from a SUP will never be the same. The new Sea Eagle®super stable, inflatable FishSUP™ FS126 is for serious SUP anglers. Heavy duty .90 drop stitch material covers top, bottom and sides for superior protection against punctures. The 90”x18” thick camo EVA pad not only adds extra protection against sharp fins and hooks, it provides a non-slip, comfortable footbed. The SUP is a full 12’6” long and 40” wide making standing and casting stable and secure. There’s multiple d-rings and an elastic cord to keep gear in place and easily accessible. With the Sea Eagle Swivel Seat Fish Rig attached you get a high view of the water. There’s a large d-ring at the back for a leash and two small ones to tie down a battery box for your optional electric motor or other gear. Oh yes, this SUP includes a motormount that can take up to a 34-lb thrust electric motor but can be removed quickly if you want to use good, ol’ fashioned man power and paddle with either a SUP paddle or double ended kayak paddle. Getting to that secluded fishing spot will be easier than ever. The hunter green bottom & sides will blend into the surroundings and the grey top will stay cool even on the hottest days. Read more

Fishing

Scent Crusher Responds to District Court Ruling

From Scent Crusher…

Wichita, KS – Earlier today, we received a ruling from the District Court Judge granting Ozonics’ request for a preliminary injunction. While we are disappointed in this decision and intend to continue to vigorously defend our right to sell a competing product in a market Ozonics deliberately abandoned, we must follow the court’s ruling and temporarily suspend sales of 2 newly released products, the Scent Crusher Field Pro and Field Lite products. We believe this is a temporary condition as we did not begin production of our Field Pro and Field Lite products without seeking outside legal counsel. We produced and marketed the units consistent with this guidance; however, the legal process can be difficult to predict, and the court has initially ruled against our position. We continue to believe our legal rights are sound, and that we will be able to return the Field Pro and Field Lite to market soon.

We maintain strong partnerships with our retailers and as we work through the legal and logistical issues resulting from the court’s ruling we will continue to support our retailers as we always have.

Hunting

Texas Authorizes Big Bore Airgun Hunting

(Fort Worth, TX) – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has passed new rules at their August 23rd meeting that will become effective in late September for the 2018 hunting season big bore, pre-charged pneumatic air guns will be a legal means of harvesting big game, turkey, alligator, and furbearers with the following stipulations:

For Big Game, Turkey, and Alligator – .30 caliber minimum shooting either a minimum of 150 grain bullet at 800 fps at the muzzle or any combination of projectile weight and speed that produces at least 215 foot/pounds of energy at the muzzle.

For Furbearers – A Minimum of .30 caliber is required. Read more

Firearms

Michigan: Walleye Stocking Program Continues to Succeed

Walleye are one of the most popular sportfish in Michigan, but most people already knew that. What most people don’t know is the process the Department of Natural Resources uses to rear walleye and stock them in public waterbodies throughout the state. It’s vastly different then our traditional fish rearing methods.

After the DNR’s Pacific salmon program kicked into high gear in the late 60s and early 70s, the focus shifted toward intensive culture of trout and salmon rather than coolwater species – like walleye. Michigan’s state fish hatchery facilities didn’t really have the means to rear those types of species, but some fisheries managers were interested in what could be done to jump start walleye populations, particularly in Saginaw Bay.

“We had some key staff, Leo Mrozinski and Bill Deephouse, who worked together to develop this idea of using ponds to rear walleye that we could stock,” said Ed Eisch, the DNR’s fish production manager. “They started by using old borrow pits located along the highways that had filled with water.”

As if by magic it was discovered this extensive rearing process – one where not much labor or financial resources was needed – was effective and could be replicated throughout the state.

“It’s kind of a cool concept,” Eisch explained. “You basically take these walleye fry, put them in the ponds, and let them do their thing, which is foraging on plankton. All you really have to do is keep track of the plankton and harvest the fish before the system crashes.” Read more

Fishing

Velocity Outdoor Releases the New Benjamin Fortitude

Bloomfield, NY – – Velocity Outdoor (formerly known as Crosman Corporation) is now shipping the much-anticipated Benjamin® Fortitude™, the latest generation pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles for hunters and shooters, in .177 and .22 calibers.

The Fortitude is packed with the most highly desired features and technologies that demanding air gun consumers will appreciate, including a regulator that delivers up to 90 shots per fill at a stunning 950 fps in .177Caliber/800 fps in .22 caliber, with consistent velocities from the first trigger pull to the last. Read more

Firearms
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