Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Mandeville, LA – In less than two months, radio and TV host Tom Gresham delivered 16,630 new Lifetime Members to the National Rifle Association, amounting to more than $4.9 million dollars in membership dues. Gresham announced a special $300 Lifetime Membership deal with the NRA on Thursday, January 10th, via Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Guntalk, complete with a special direct phone number. The deal ended last Thursday. Read more
The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) will attend and participate in the annual business conference of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) in Columbia, S.C., March 6-9. Read more
 |
BELLEVUE, WA – Thursday’s edition of the Washington Times includes a special 12-page section focusing on gun rights paid for and sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation. Read more
Anti-trapping bills have been introduced in Connecticut, New Mexico, and Oregon. Sportsmen in these states need to contact their legislators and ask them to oppose the bills. Details are below. Read more
Massachusetts State Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) recently introduced a bill that would allow private individuals to file lawsuits for the “protection and humane treatment of animals.” This is of great concern for all sportsmen, farmers, and dog owners. Read more
On Tuesday, February 26th the New Mexico House of Representatives shot down House Bill 316, a measure banning “coyote killing contests,” by a 38 to 30 vote. Sponsored by Representative Nathan Cote (D-Las Cruces), it would have prohibited holding or participating in organized competitions with the objective of killing coyotes for prizes or entertainment. Read more
As of Feb. 25, hunters and trappers reported killing 219 wolves during the state’s third season and first that allowed trapping, which was 53 more than last year’s total. More here…
Columbus – Dick Cabela, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA), and Orrin Ingram, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF), jointly announced that, after 16 years of distinguished service, Bud Pidgeon, President and CEO, will step down from this leadership position by the end of 2013. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Wildlife management strategies in Michigan have produced some rather dubious results over the years and recent results depict an ongoing trend. For example, deer/vehicle collisions are up 6 percent over the past 10 years making Michigan second in the nation at 97,856 in 2011/2012. At an average cost of $3,000 per incident, all Michigan drivers share in the expense through insurance premiums. At the same time, hunters have killed one-percent less antlerless deer over the past three years. We are also in second place in the country for the most antlered bucks taken by hunters, but the figures reflect a whopping 59 percent being adolescents. That percentage places Michigan at the very top (or, bottom, if you will) when it comes to quality hunting opportunities. We continue to kill more juvenile deer than any other state.
Is it any wonder why Michiganders travel to neighboring states to spend their hunting dollars? If ever we are going to turn it around, we must change strategies. The antler point restrictions being proposed in northern Michigan will prove to be a wise decision, but more needs to be done. And, the DNR’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget displays a bold move toward that end. Read more
GW: I guess they’d rather people use full metal jacket bullets for everything. I wonder if they’ve ever heard of the dangers of over-penetration – as in through attackers and then walls. This type of legislation demonstrates, once again, how little gun grabbers understand ballistics and the subsequent and unintentional consequences of their dumb ideas. Of course, innocents will be killed with richochets, as well, because of the inherent dangers of non-expanding ammo. But, as long as they can “save one life” it doesn’t matter how many they sacrifice in the process.
The bill draft that provides whoever intentionally sells, transports or possesses any bullet that expands or flattens easily in the human body is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill would outlaw 99% of all self-defense ammunition on the market, including most hunting ammunition. Read what the whack jobs have cooked up here…