Coast Guard Cautions Ice Anglers on Great Lakes

CLEVELAND —  Proper preparation is vital for people recreating on or near frozen lakes and waterways as ice coverage across the Great Lakes makes a resurgence this week.

Coast Guard units, working with first responders, have performed more than 40 ice rescue cases since December 2017. Many of the rescues were successful because the survivors were properly prepared prior to going out on the ice.

Proper preparation includes the following: Read more

QDMA Releases 2018 Whitetail Report

ATHENS, GA (February 13, 2018) – The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) today released its 10th annual Whitetail Report, a comprehensive update on the status of white-tailed deer including deer harvest trends through the 2016-17 season, the most recent hunting season with complete deer harvest data available from most whitetail states and Canadian provinces.

“There are some very positive tends occurring,” said Kip Adams, QDMA Director of Conservation. “Yearling buck harvest remains at record low numbers, and we took 4 percent more antlered bucks in the 2016-17 season than the year before.”

Conversely, said Adams, other trends and issues are not as positive. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to spread and make major headlines. Also, the antlerless deer harvest has now declined 19 percent in the past decade, potentially ending a nearly 20-year streak in which hunters annually took more antlerless than antlered deer. Read more

NWTF, Federal Premium Ammunition Unveil New Products

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Just in time for spring turkey season, Federal Premium Ammunition and the National Wild Turkey Federation have teamed up to bring turkey hunters the most advanced turkey loads on the market.

No matter where Federal Premium Ammunition’s premium turkey loads are purchased, hunters will positively impact the NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative, as a portion of the purchase price will come back to the NWTF, ensuring the future of hunting for years to come.

These products will be on display at the 42nd annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show in Nashville at the Federal Premium Ammunition booth No. 1113 and available for purchase at the Turkey Shoppe.

Federal is offering an innovative new lineup of premium turkey loads, all sporting the NWTF logo showing the support of the mission. All the new loads feature the FLIGHTCONTROL FLEX wads that work in both ported and standard chokes for consistent and tight patterns.

    • The GRAND SLAM line features copper-plated shot, buffered with a clear wad card and a roll crimp.
    • The new HEAVYWEIGHT TSS line features tungsten-based shot that is 56 percent denser than lead at 18 grams/cc, and is available in No. 7 and No. 9 shot, as well as a .410 option. (Check your state game laws)
    • The updated 3rd Degree line now has HEAVYWEIGHT TSS No. 7 shot as a part of its three-stage payload that also includes No. 6 FLITESTOPPER and No. 5 copper-plated lead.

Read more

Redesigned Savage AXIS II XP

WESTFIELD, Massachusetts – – The redesigned AXIS II XP package rifle from Savage offers hunters even better out-of-the-box performance at the same affordable price, in a wide variety of full-size and compact models and a complete spectrum of popular hunting calibers. Shipments of these firearms are currently being delivered to dealers.

In addition to a new look with improved ergonomics, the AXIS II XP is loaded with features that deliver tack-driving accuracy on every shot, including the user-adjustable AccuTrigger, thread-in headspacing, and a factory-mounted, bore-sighted Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm scope. Read more

Xpedition Xcursions for 2018

Yankton SD- The Xpedition legacy of speed was firmly cemented in 2014 with the ground breaking Xcentric. Over the years we made incremental changes that increased speed. We added models with single cams and added higher brace height versions for those with longer draws or a preference for more forgiving brace heights. For 2018, the Xcursion series comes full circle. All 2018 Xcursions can be ordered with Xpedition’s Patent Pending XS Plus or PX3 high performance hybrid cam variants for unparalleled accuracy in a speed bow. The Xcursion 6 and Xcursion 7 will also be offered with our proven XP-1 single cam. With its silky-smooth draw, Dual Plane Riser bridging for vibration control, ease of tuning and IBO speed ratings crowding 340 fps the 2018 Xcursion XP will continue to define performance in the premium single cam bow category for years to come. 2 risers, 3 cams, unlimited satisfaction. Read more

ISIS Supporter Sentenced to Prison for Firearms Offense

Casey Charles Spain, 29, of Richmond, Virginia, who is a previously convicted felon and supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, was sentenced today to the statutory maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, for being a felon in possession of a firearm less than three weeks after he was released from prison.

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Edward C. O’Callaghan, Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy Doherty-McCormick for the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Lee of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement.  The sentence was issued by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr.

According to court documents and statements made in court proceedings, Spain was in prison for over seven years after being convicted for abducting a 15-year-old girl with the intent to rape her.  Separate and apart from this incident, Spain previously served time in prison for stabbing an individual with a sword.  During his most recent period in prison, Spain became radicalized and swore a pledge of loyalty, commonly known as bayat, to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS.  Spain also obtained a tattoo of the ISIS flag on his back, and repeatedly expressed a desire to engage in acts of violence.  Spain was reportedly fixated on attacking a target such as the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, and was excited about potentially attacking police stations, as well as an armory in Richmond.

After Spain was released from prison on Aug. 11, 2017, he discussed on recorded telephone calls with still-incarcerated prisoners his desire to travel overseas and join ISIS.  The FBI began conducting surveillance of Spain immediately upon his release, including making covert contact with him using FBI undercover employees (UCE) and a Confidential Human Source (CHS). Spain spoke on multiple occasions to the CHS about his strong desire to obtain a firearm.  During that same time period, Spain established a Facebook account to speak with individuals located overseas about ISIS and his desire serve as a mujahid (fighter) for the terrorist organization.

During a meeting on Aug. 30, 2017, with the CHS and a UCE, Spain described his intention to purchase a semiautomatic handgun with a 50-round barrel canister, and that he had made arrangements to buy the handgun from an individual online.  Given Spain’s criminal history, his desire to obtain a firearm, and his apparent impatience to obtain one, the CHS — as part of a controlled FBI undercover operation — offered to provide Spain what the CHS described as his own personal weapon.  In reality, the firearm, which was a 9mm Glock semiautomatic handgun, was the property of the FBI that had been rendered inert for safety reasons.

The next day, as part of the undercover operation, the CHS and UCE met Spain outside of his Richmond residence.  The CHS provided Spain the Glock handgun, at which point members of the FBI Richmond SWAT team moved in to arrest Spain.  Spain initially attempted to escape arrest by running and jumping a nearby fence, but FBI SWAT members pursued and quickly apprehended him.

Trial Attorney Raj Parekh of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hood prosecuted the case.

Federal Premium Receives Ammunition Contract from U.S. Naval Surface Warfare

ANOKA, Minnesota – – Federal Premium is proud to secure a significant domestic military ammunition contract award. The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division, operated under the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command, committed to a five-year contract beginning in 2018 for the delivery of up to $20 million in 40-caliber frangible training rounds featuring Federal Premium’s lead-free Catalyst high-performance primer.

Unlike other lead-free primers, clean-burning Catalyst is not hygroscopic, so it won’t absorb ignition-inhibiting moisture and always delivers the most reliable ignition possible. In addition to surefire performance, Catalyst fuels a more efficient powder burn, improving the consistency of bullet velocities. Read more

Florida Wildlife Commission Approves Air Powered Weapons for Fall 2018 Hunting Season

 Airbow™ becomes legal for harvesting deer and turkey starting in the Fall of 2018. The rule change will allow for lawful use of .30 caliber and above for deer and .20 caliber or larger for turkey.

Florida joins a growing list of states allowing for the use of big bore airguns and/or the Airbow during their hunting seasons. Arizona, Virginia, Missouri, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Washington State allow big game animals to be legally taken with the Airbow. Feral hogs can be taken in Georgia, Florida and Texas while coyotes and other predators may be hunted with the Airbow in over 30 states. Georgia and South Carolina allow the Airbow to be used for alligator hunting. Read more

First Lone Star Predator Calling Classic a big success

LAMPASAS, TEXAS — At the first annual Lone Star Predator Calling Classic in Lampasas sponsored by the Hoffpauir Group and Lone Star Outdoor News, 103 teams vied for more than $26,000 in prize money. Teams hunted beginning Saturday at noon and had to be present at the noon weigh-in at the Hoffpauir Expo Grounds in Lampasas by noon Sunday.

A cold front had some teams hunting in the sleet, with some teams coming from the north arriving in ice-covered trucks for the weigh-in that featured hot gumbo from Toupsie’s Creole restaurant, a warm fire, door prizes from Lee Hoffpauir and giveaways from Hornady.

In the team competition, the heaviest stringer (coyote, bobcat, grey fox and raccoon) went to the Brush Country Boys team from Falls County, with 91.2 pounds, who won $12,720.50 for their overnight effort. Read more

UTG Recon FlexT Bipods

Last Year, UTG introduced their long awaited Recon Flex™ bipod series. These Bipods save on the weight and eliminates bulky mounting bases by fully taking advantage of direct attachment at the 3 and 9 O’clock positions of long guns equipped with either M-LOK® or Keymod handguards. This year UTG has released a new pair of Recon Flex Bipods with an increased center height for even more versatility among different types of long guns, especially ones with longer magazines. The bipod legs unlock, rotate, and lock into place within its 5 position bidirectional base via an easy to use spring-loaded locking ring. This base allows for both forward and rearward stow positions along with 90 and 45 degree deployable positions. With the legs being adjustable in length one can get enough magazine clearance and be compatible with a larger majority of different applications and magazine capacities. Each individual leg features locking retention thumb wheels that secure whatever height adjustment you make to them. The New Recon Flex™ Bipods (TL-BPDM02 M-LOK®, TL-BPDK02 Keymod) have a center height of 8″-11.8″ while the smaller original versions (TL-BPDM01, TL-BPDK01) have 5.7″-8″ center height. Read more

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