By Glen Wunderlich

More young hunters are sure to be heading to the woods this fall as new legislation awaiting Governor Snyder’s signature will remove the arbitrary minimum hunting age requirements.  The concept will allow Michigan youngsters to hunt with adult mentors under a program administered by the state’s Natural Resources Commission.  But, before putting youngsters behind a firearm, it is wise to consider which gun may fit them best.  A good starting point is always a .22 rimfire.

Mossberg Model 152

The last thing an experienced mentor should do is “over-gun” youth.  Firearms that are suited to adults are often too large and too abusive to youngsters, and therefore, careful consideration should be given to proper fit.  With the surge in youth participation in shooting sports across the nation, many inexpensive youth model firearms are on the market that can help in the introductory process.  And, there is no better choice than a .22 rimfire. Read more

Here, one of our cats learns that birdseed is not just for the birds.

BIG SKY — Montana will allow hunters to take 220 wolves during the fall hunting season, the state’s wildlife commission decided this morning.

During its meeting at this mountain resort south of Bozeman, the five-member Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commission voted unanimously to approve the hunting quota that would reduce Montana’s gray wolf population to at least 425 during what one FWP official called the state’s “first full-fledged wolf hunt.” More here…

A Springfield father and son are both barred from hunting for life

In the words of a prosecutor, hunting season will now be jail season for a Springfield, Oregon father and son who pleaded guilty Tuesday to more than 130 poaching-related charges.

Rory Donoho, 60, and Shane Donoho, 37, received the unusual sentence for leading what is purportedly Oregon’s largest illegal hunting scheme, wiping out the deer population in a portion of the McKenzie Wildlife Management District near Vida.

Instead of presumptive prison terms of three years and 6½ years, respectively, for their racketeering, identity theft and poaching convictions, the Donohos must report to the Lane County Jail for a 90-day sentence on Oct. 1, the first day of deer season, in each of the next four years. More here…

SALT LAKE CITY — An animal rights activist who burned down a Colorado sheepskin store, as well as a leather store and restaurant building in Salt Lake City, pleaded guilty to federal charges Wednesday.

Walter Edmund Bond, 35, pleaded guilty to felony counts of arson and violence involving animal enterprises. He has already been sentenced to five years in Colorado and could face between five to 20 years for the Utah fires when sentenced Sept. 19.

Photo and more here…

Washington, DC – A coalition of sportsmen’s groups working toward delisting of recovered gray wolf populations from the Endangered Species Act (ESA), sent a letter to Rep. Mike Simpson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, and committee member Rep. Cynthia Lummis last week, supporting their efforts in advancing Sec. 119 of the 2012 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill, approved Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee, to address the issue of recovered wolf populations in Wyoming and the Great Lakes region. Read more

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – As a result of a proposal by a private company to use radio frequency bandwidth right next to the existing GPS radio bandwidth, the future reliability of the GPS system across the United States is now in question. The nation’s largest recreational boaters group, BoatUS, says boaters could have a hard time avoiding treacherous shoals or simply finding their way home if GPS signals are interfered with, and is urging boaters to speak out during a 30-day comment period. Read more

OROVILLE, Calif. – RCBS® announces the launch of an upgraded website. The redesigned www.RCBS.com is a complete resource for reloaders of all skill levels and is now live.

Helpful for All Reloaders
The revamped www.RCBS.com is filled with useful information for reloaders of varying skill levels. Users can view reloading guides, search through frequently asked questions, and more. A video series from RCBS experts is also available. More than 10 helpful clips are queued-up online, at www.RCBS.com/guide/#videos. Read more

The Forest Service paid $6.1 million in legal fees to groups that sued it over a six-year period, according to an academic study that casts new light on a politically charged issue. 

The flagrant abuse of the system is being curtailed but only after Republicans seized power.  More here…