Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Now on A1F.com: As the U.S. Department of Defense weighs whether to take privately owned guns from contractors and members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Pete Hegseth, a Fox News co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend and an Army combat veteran, has a lot to say about what is happening and what needs to happen to help our military members.
Find this and other stories related to your right to keep and bear arms at A1F.com.
To help boost awareness of changing conditions at Great Lakes beaches and save lives, double red warning flags are now in place at state-designated swim beaches along the Great Lakes in Michigan state parks.
It’s a change to the Great Lakes flag warning system that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources began integrating last year at several state parks, and for good reason.
“We actively reevaluate our safety measures and public education efforts, especially when it comes to Great Lakes safety,” said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief. “Many people underestimate the power of the Great Lakes and don’t always understand how quickly even the most experienced swimmer can get into a life-threatening situation and swept away. That’s why the DNR is committed to making beach safety and public education a top priority.” Read more
VERNAL — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will once again be coordinating with the Ashley National Forest to treat two drainages in the High Uintas in an effort to help restore native Colorado River cutthroat trout.
For the past several years, DWR biologists have treated different waterbodies on the north and south slopes of the Uintas with rotenone to help with native cutthroat trout conservation. Rotenone is a natural substance that comes from the roots of a tropical plant in the bean family. It’s a respiratory toxin to fish, but it is not dangerous to people, pets or other wildlife, in the extremely low quantities that biologists use to treat streams and lakes. However, there will be a lot of crews and equipment in the area during treatments, and the U.S. Forest Service will be closing the impacted areas. The public should stay out of the area during the treatments, so the DWR can safely and effectively complete the projects.
This year, biologists will be conducting treatments in the following areas in the High Uintas: Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)
If a man does not make new acquaintances, as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone; a man should keep his friendships in constant repair…Samuel Johnson 1709-1784
It’s always a comforting feeling to arrive at one’s vacation destination – this one being the Rifle River Recreation Area in Ogema County. 
Even with a detailed camping list and having checked all the boxes, suspicion that I had forgotten something crept in on the way north. Sure enough, upon arrival, it was discovered that my large cooler full of hand-picked food was left behind. After establishing camp, a trip into Rose City was necessitated to restock provisions.
Fortunately, the Family Fare market had the requisite necessities. However, a detour ensued, when I motored in the opposite direction from camp following the signs to Terry’s Gun Shop a mile west of Rose City. The refrigerated items would be fine for a little while, thought I.
The sign at the side of the road indicated the shop opened at 1pm. Dang! I was too early. As I began to turn around at the drive, an ol’ boy was mowing and alertly noticed my vehicle’s maneuver and promptly waved me in. “Are you Terry?” I called out. “I am he” was the response and he proceeded to open the shop’s door.
I told Terry that I was looking for a .410 gauge repeating shotgun for hunting, after which he asked what that meant to me. Terry then removed a few firearms from his safe and carefully pulled out an old J.C Higgins bolt-action shotgun made for Sears Roebucks by Savage Arms in the 1950s.
.410 Shotgun made for Sears Roebuck by Savage
It was a shining example of American craftsmanship and quality of days gone by. Bluing was flawless and the straight-grain walnut stock was better than any modern-day synthetics.
The action was tight and slick.
Magazine Tube Feed
“I’ll take it” involuntarily seemed to jump from my lips.
When asked how long he had been this location, Terry replied, “All my life.” We then learned we had acquaintances in common – one from the area and one from Owosso – both having passed on. We hit it off and began to talk guns – old guns – like the gem I had in my hands.
However, one hitch evolved: Credit cards were not accepted and I didn’t have the cash in my pocket. With the refrigerated food still in the truck outside, I decided to get to a fast-cash machine in town and then head back to camp for my first meal of the day.
Back to the gun shop, the previously vacant lot now had five vehicles in front belonging to five men sitting indoors with Terry behind the desk. I felt like I was among friends and shared a few laughs with the local boys. Returning to camp was one happy camper. (Ugh! I usually hate that reference, but not this time!)
Back home, the old scattergun was function tested and patterned at 25 yards with different loads and the results couldn’t have been better.
In summary, the fishing was more than slow, but gaining a friend made my northern visit worthwhile.
Minden, LA – Lightweight yet durable, the Highland 30 from Mammoth Coolers is perfectly convenient for the demands of daily outings or long trips.
Constructed of high-density nylon with thick TPU lamination, the puncture- and tear-resistant cooler features an EVA molded bottom for added durability and stability. Premium closed-cell foam keeps contents cold, while the waterproof and leakproof zipper creates an air-tight closure. The Highland 30’s antimicrobial liner resists mold and mildew, creating hygienic storage for food and drinks.
Measuring 18? x 10? x 22?, the 30-quart soft cooler can accommodate 24 cans and boasts 2-3+ days of ice retention. The Highlander 30 is available in sportsman tan or light gray for $239.99. Read more
Beginning this week, personnel from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will renew a ground search for the source of an unregulated water supply near a roadside access point in Greenland Township.
In April, the DNR said it would begin its new search for the water source once springtime weather conditions allowed.
The water has been used for drinking water and other needs for decades. The roadside access is located along the Bill Nichols Rail-Trail, off M-38 at the former site of Lake Mine, a historic mining community.
A group of state, county and local entities, including the DNR, is working cooperatively to find the source of the water to try to ensure it is a safe supply for drinking. The water source is believed to be on land administered by the DNR.
The DNR is under and order from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to disable the makeshift drinking spigot along the roadside and close off access to the water. Read more
RICHMOND, Va. — GPO USA is pleased to announce the launch of its Summer Savings rebate program. Kicking off on May 1st and running through July 31, 2023, outdoor enthusiasts have the opportunity to purchase one of GPO’s popular ED binoculars and get $100 of their hard-earned cash back.
This popular line of binoculars is available in four sizes, 8×32, 8×42, 10×32 and 10×42, and in four rich colors of Deep Green, Desert Sand , Dark Brown Earth and Black. With its unique magnesium micro-bridge and body, the ED binoculars are compact and ultra-lightweight yet incredibly durable. They feature premium ED objective lenses, high-transmission GPObrightÔ lens coating technology and they are fog proof and waterproof. The cutting-edge field of view afforded on this line of binoculars makes them ideal for a variety of glassing situations. They are popular among all outdoor enthusiasts and some of the best-selling items in the GPO portfolio.
In order to take advantage of this great GPO savings opportunity consumers simply need to purchase one of the GPO ED binoculars through an authorized dealer or conveniently online at www.gpo-usa.com before the end of July, 2023, complete the rebate certificate available online at www.gpo-usa.com and either take a picture of the purchase receipt and the completed redemption form and email both photos to promotions@gpo-usa.com and insert “$100 VISA Gift Card” in the subject line or mail the redemption form along with the original copy of the sales receipt to: GPO USA Rebates, 711 Moorefield Park Drive, Ste C, North Chesterfield, VA 23236 or CLICK HERE and follow the instructions. Mail must be postmarked by September 30,2023 to be eligible for the rebate. A VISAâ gift card will be received from GPO in four to six weeks. Read more
Appleton, WI, March 25, 2023— Law Enforcement equipment manufacturers Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) and Hero’s Pride have joined forces to put together a unique new prize drawing that any police officer or security professional would love to win. The grand prize in the Ultimate Duty Gear Giveaway includes an ASP Expandable Baton, two sets of handcuffs, a tactical flashlight, a pair of unique handcuff keys and a multi tool pocket knife. The Hero’s Pride side of the prize pack includes a duty belt, and pouches and cases to hold all the ASP gear. All told, the top prize willer will haul in 18 pieces of kit, with a total retail value of over $1000. Second and third prizes will also be given away. Read more
Commute across town or explore the trails and backroads with the new Villager crossover eBike.
EAGLE, Colo. — QuietKat Electric Bikes, the leader in off-road eBikes and a Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) brand, is proud to introduce the all-new 2023 Villager E-Bike – built to transform your urban and weekend adventures. The Villager E-Bike is your ultimate companion for cruising around town, commuting in comfort, and navigating your village with ease and efficiency. And with crossover all-terrain capabilities, the Villager is perfect for backroads and trails, opening up a world of adventure for weekend warriors wanting to travel beyond the campsite and the crowds. “The Villager is the perfect bike to run to the store for groceries, carry your books to class, and to go explore further down your favorite gravel road or trail. It’s a great economical and efficient ebike that can be used every day for chores, commuting, and recreating.”, explains Michael Mayer, the Marketing Director for QuietKat.
Featuring a powerful but efficient 500-watt motor and equipped with 5 levels of pedal assist and a throttle, the Villager gives you the perfect balance of power and control when you need it the most. Conveniently haul everything you need with a heavy-duty integrated rack with 100 pounds of load capacity that you can trust with the even most important cargo. Integrated headlights and taillights ensure you stay visible to others, day or night while hydraulic brakes provide premium stopping power in the toughest conditions. Whether you’re exploring the bustling city streets or escaping to the tranquility of nature, the all-new Villager E-Bike by QuietKat will help you redefine your limits. Experience the freedom, versatility, and adventure that comes with the Villager E-Bike. Read more
OLATHE, Kan./April 18, 2023 – Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) Monday announced the Foretrex® 801 and Foretrex 901 Ballistic Edition – the latest additions to its wrist-based GPS navigators for outdoor and tactical applications. Foretrex 801 and 901 keep users on track thanks to multi-band signal reception technology for improved positional accuracy, dedicated tactical and ballistic features, and up to 100 hours of battery life in default tracking or up to 1000 hours in expedition mode. Foretrex 901 also helps streamline aiming solutions for precision rifle competitions with an onboard Applied Ballistics (AB) solver and integration of the AB Synapse – Garmin app.
“Foretrex is an essential piece of kit for adventurers, tactical personnel and competitive rifle enthusiasts who need robust, dedicated features that can be quickly accessed while keeping their hands free. Now with enhanced positional accuracy and dedicated features for special applications, the Foretrex 801 and 901 will be indispensable tools whether on assignment or at your next competition.” – Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales
Purpose-built features
Foretrex 801 and 901 now provide Stealth Mode and Kill Switch features to support users located in sensitive areas. Customers can utilize Stealth Mode, which collects distances traveled without recording location data, while training or during operations. Leveraging this feature ensures customers can use Foretrex 801 and 901 – and even upload logged data – without concerns about revealing location information. By not recording location data to the device, Stealth Mode protects operational security should a device become lost. Activating the Kill Switch hot key quickly resets a unit to factory settings, discarding any stored data. Users may find this option useful if they work in a position where data saved to their unit could be considered sensitive.
Thanks to the Applied Ballistics Elite® solver integration, the Foretrex series has become a trusted tool for competitive shooters within Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and Extreme Long Range (ELR) events. In addition to the Applied Ballistics Elite solver, Foretrex 901 is now compatible with the AB Synapse – Garmin app to provide users with more streamlined shooting solutions. When downloaded to a compatible smartphone, this app allows users to manage ballistic profiles on their Foretrex 901 while the integrated Applied Ballistics solver provides state of the art solutions for calculating long-range rifle trajectories. Read more