Knight Rifles is pleased to announce their return to making muzzleloaders.

In 1985, Knight Rifles pioneered the modern inline muzzleloader. Today, Knight Rifles is proud to announce they will continue in the tradition of muzzleloader hunting.

Knight Rifles launched its 2011 gun lineup on their website (www.knightrifles.com) this past week. These will be the first rifles to be manufactured under the new ownership of P.I. Inc., located in Athens, Tennessee. Rifle production will be in Athens, while warranty and gunsmith work will be done in the Centerville, Iowa location.

With this launch Knight announces a brand new rifle, the “Mountaineer”.
This rifle has been in the works since before Knight was acquired last March.Brand manager, Gordy Edwards says, “I believe this rifles performance will surpass even the best of rifles manufactured in the past, with the unique ignition system built around the use of Blackhorn 209 powder, we are very excited about it.”

“We’ve already received great feedback and anticipation from customers who haven’t been able to purchase a Knight for the past 2 years'” says Sam Brocato, sales manager.

Knight Rifles plans to begin production in February with shipments beginning in May.

Contact; Sam Brocato, Sales Manager (423_ 746-1313 or sbrocato@pi-inc.com

For more information contact us at www.knightrifles.com or by calling 866.518.4181

Citing the need to prevent lead toxicity hazards to wildlife, the Federal Government’s primary wildlife management agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildife Service (FWS) has banned the use of lead ammunition for hunting nuisance birds. The decision was published by FWS as a final rulemaking action in the Federal Register.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation’s leading bird conservation organization, expressed support for the decision in a letter sent today to Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan W. Gould.

Depredation orders are issued by FWS to allow the killing of migratory birds such as crows, grackles, and blackbirds which are causing damage to public or private property, pose a health or safety hazard, or are damaging agricultural crops or wildlife. This new regulation will require the use of non-toxic ammunition in the control of these nuisance birds.

“We’re very supportive of FWS in siding with wildlife on this issue. Depredation hunting tends to leave large amounts of highly toxic lead ammunition on the ground that non-target birds and other wildlife consume while mistaking it for food. Those birds or other wildlife will either die agonizing deaths

shortly thereafter or suffer severe illness for a prolonged period. We have had many discussions with FWS about using non-toxic shot for all agency operations and we are very glad they have made this decision” said Dr. Michael Fry, one of the world’s leading avian toxicologists and Director of Conservation Advocacy for ABC.

ABC had been one of the leaders in a group that had petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency on August 3, 2010 to ban lead ammunition used for hunting and lead fishing gear because of the toxic threats they posed to wildlife. EPA responded that they did not have the authority to regulate lead ammunition, though Congressional legislative history records document that they did have such authority. EPA then later denied the fishing gear portion of the petition saying that evidence of impacts from fishing gear were being addressed by some States, and national regulations would be overly burdensome. In the original petition, ABC and the other petitioners presented almost 500 scientific studies that documented widespread lead impacts to wildlife that result in the lead-poisoning deaths of up to millions of birds each year in the United States.

“This decision is important not only because it will keep a highly toxic substance from being strewn across the landscape, but it will also prevent birds or other wildlife that might scavenge the remains of lead-shot nuisance birds, such as Bald Eagles, bobcats and raccoons from becoming innocent mortality victims as well,” Fry added.”

“The paint industry got the lead out, the gasoline industry got the lead out, the toy industry got the lead out, the home building industry got the lead out of plumbing, and even the automotive industry most recently is getting the lead out of the wheel weights on cars. The lethal impacts of lead in our environment are so well documented and accepted by the science and health community that any deliberate release of lead into a public environment should be viewed as unacceptable. The Federal Government has shown concern for human impacts of lead – we are very glad they are showing the same level of concern for wildlife,” Fry said.

American Bird Conservancy (www.abcbirds.org) conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats while building capacity of the bird conservation movement. ABC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization.

Contact: Robert Johns, 202-234-7181 ext.210, bjohns@abcbirds.org

GW: As passed by the Michigan House of Representatives…

A concurrent resolution to express opposition to the imposition of a ban of firearm hunting and snowmobiling in certain areas of the Huron-Manistee National Forest.

Whereas, In compliance with a U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, the U.S. Forest Service is revisiting its 2006 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Huron-Manistee National Forest. Currently, the Forest Service allows firearm hunting and snowmobiling in all of the forest. However, a Michigan attorney has sued the Forest Service in an effort to stop firearm hunting and snowmobiling in all primitive areas and semi-primitive non-motorized management areas; and

Whereas, The 2006 Land and Resource Management Plan was available for and received extensive public comment before being implemented. Yet the public’s access to 70,000 acres of public land is being threatened by one individual’s preference; and

Whereas, The desire to pursue quiet recreational activities in the primitive and semi-primitive areas of the forest does not preclude hunting. Many hunters enjoy the quiet and solitude of the forest when hunting. Additionally, snowmobiles operating in a forest of this size rarely impose on the enjoyment of the forest by others. Given the size of the forest, a snowmobile operator can ride many miles without ever encountering another person and it is likely that others enjoying the forest in winter would not encounter a snowmobile;

Whereas, The Federal Land Policy and Management Act provides the Forest Service the authority to determine where hunting may or may not occur on public lands. This authority should be left to the Forest Service, rather than the political bias of individuals. Wildlife managers and experts should have the final say in how the public land is used; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we oppose the imposition of a ban of firearm hunting and snowmobiling in certain areas of the Huron-Manistee National Forest; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.

The DeadShot FieldPod offers hunters bench rest accuracy when it matters most – in the field. With the DeadShot FieldPod, hunters can achieve in-field accuracy comparable to what they’ve experienced at the range.

The hunting rest allows you to take stability along for the hunt. With a fully adjustable dual frame supported by a solid tripod base, it’s capable of supporting nearly any weapon. Length and elevation adjustments ensure fit and balance, while the precision cast aluminum hub system allows the rest to pivot up and down, and rotate left and right. Constructed of high-quality, lightweight cast aluminum, it weighs less than 6 pounds. With a height adjustment range from 20 to 42 inches, it works great for hunters sitting on the ground or in a chair. It collapses quickly for easy transportation and its innovative frame design makes the rest fully compatible with detachable magazine rifles like the popular AR-15.

It’s ideal for shooting rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and crossbows from inside a ground blind. It helps deer, turkey, and predator hunters maintain perfect gun position on every set while minimizing movement and speeding up target acquisition.

For more information about Battenfeld Technologies and Caldwell Shooting Supplies, visit www.BattenfeldTechnologies.com or call 573-445-9200.

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Powered by an exclusive new rangefinder engine technology, Leupold’s® RX®-1000i with DNA™ fits in a shirt pocket, yet offers hunters and shooters even more ranging precision and speed, along with an exceptionally bright target image.

DNA (Digitally eNhanced Accuracy), a next-generation Leupold technology, not only increases ranging speed, but makes the RX-1000i accurate to 1/10 of a yard against all background colors and textures. DNA also provides the RX-1000i with greater ranging capability against soft targets such as deer and trees.

A digital laser rangefinder, the compact RX-1000i with DNA measures only 3.8 inches long and weighs just 7.8 ounces. Its multicoated lens system produces a bright, pristine image, helping to transmit 80 percent of available light to the eye – three times greater than the light transmission of traditional Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) rangefinder models. Actual 6x magnification and a vivid red Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display also make it easier to spot and range game, even through dark timber and in low-light conditions.

The advanced RX-1000i TBR® with DNA models also offer Leupold’s exclusive True Ballistic Range® technology to help place shots with exceptional accuracy.

All RX-1000i units are weatherproof and rugged, with a tough aluminum casing and rubber armor. The RX-1000i with DNA has a black finish, while the TBR model is available in either gray/black or Mossy Oak® Break-Up® Infinity™ camouflage.

“Following on the heels of our successful RX-1000 introduction in 2009, the new RX-1000i with DNA models once again raise the bar on compact rangefinder function and performance, giving hunters and shooters a handy tool to easily spot targets and range them faster and more precisely than ever,” commented Pat Mundy, communications manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “These are truly innovative rangefinders that offer the best of all worlds: shirt pocket size for easy and convenient carrying, exceptionally rugged to withstand the hardest hunt, and superior ranging performance to help set up for an accurate shot.”

Maximum range of the RX-1000i with DNA is 1,000 yards (914.4 meters) on reflective targets. Minimum range is 6 yards (5.5 meters). In bow mode, maximum range is 125 yards (114.3 meters). Scan mode provides continuous range updates to help stay on target when tracking movement or scanning an area. Measurements are provided in yards or meters.

Other key features include:

* OLED display has variable brightness settings, making it easier to see in dim light than LCD displays typical of most other rangefinders
* fast-focus eyepiece with precision clicks
* redesigned Quick Set Menu provides on-screen prompts for easy use in the field
* selectable reticles – hunters can choose from three different reticles to best suit the terrain and game, from elk to small varmints
* fold-down rubber eyecups accommodate users with or without glasses
* convenient battery power indicator

The RX-1000i TBR with DNA units can automatically calculate the shot angle and provide the True Ballistic Range rather than the straight-line distance to the target. Optimized for most popular bow and rifle trajectories, the rifle settings also work in conjunction with Leupold’s Ballistic Aiming System® riflescope reticles for exceptionally accurate shot placement. Available only in the RX-1000i TBR, milliradian outputs can precisely match mil based reticles such as the Mil Dot, TMR and Horus Vision® offerings.

Each rangefinder comes with a Cordura® holster, lanyard, CR2 lithium camera battery and complete instructions. For more information, go to www.leupold.com or call 1-800-LEUPOLD.

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., the preeminent American-owned and -operated optics company, employs more than 700 people in its state-of-the-art facility near Beaverton, Ore., where rugged, dependable, high-performance Golden Ring® optics, Mark 4® riflescopes and Redfield® Revolution™ riflescopes are designed, machined and assembled. Leupold is a fifth-generation, family owned company whose products are sold worldwide to hunters, competitive shooters, American military warfighters, law enforcement personnel and wildlife observers. The product line includes rifle, handgun and spotting scopes; binoculars; rangefinders; trail cameras; flashlights; mounting systems; and optical tools and accessories.

Contact: Patrick Mundy (503) 526-1467 or pmundy@leupold.com
Jeff Patterson, Swanson Russell (402) 437-6410 or jeffp@swansonrussell.com

HSUS’s tax returns show that it gave just $81,124 to hands-on pet shelters in Michigan between 1998 and 2009. That’s only $6,760.33 annually. Last year HSUS gave just $7,039 to hands-on pet shelters in Michigan.) That may sound like a lot, but considering its income stream and purported purpose, it’s a waste of your money.

During that same 12-year period, HSUS spent $767 million on expenses including lobbyists, lawyers, payroll, and (of course) more fundraising. America’s pet shelters typically get about one percent of that. HSUS’s executive pension plan gets far more. More than $11 million in the past seven years…More facts about the veiled enemy of well-meaning, yet gullible Americans who donate to these anti hunters at the titel link. HSUS: Enemy of man.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Groundhog Day has come and gone, as has another reason to party in Punxsutawney. It almost makes me want to cry. Almost. But, what really bothers me is the way ol’ Phil is treated. I mean just how humane is it to drag him from his burrow and parade him in front of the world demanding he predict the weather. And, a six-week prognostication, at that. I can understand why he’s so popular; heck, our best meteorologists only go out on a limb with 7-day predictions, and usually by the end of the given timeframe, a little revision is in order.

But, not Phil. He never takes anything back. He uses no computer models, no weathervanes, and no almanacs. No wonder he’s so popular!

But, at least one among us – and, my guess is just one – wants one of her own for purely selfish interests. Ms. Debra Firmani, writing for the United States Humane Society’s (HSUS) website puts it this way: “For me, it’s not about their annual weather-prediction gig—I just think they’re wonderful animals to watch. For some reason, though, my wildlife-friendly yard—endorsed by countless birds and squirrels—has attracted no groundhogs. Not far away, I often see them foraging along roadsides and trails. But these fleeting glimpses are not enough. I still dream of the day when a groundhog will explore my yard, judge it burrow-worthy, and start digging.”

There must be some way we can help. I don’t suppose those folks in Pennsylvania would ever give up Phil. Besides, why waste the talents of one so illustrious and clever, when any ol’ hay hog – excuse me, woodchuck – will do.

Notwithstanding Phil’s skills, we may have missed a fantastic opportunity with the recent passing of Groundhog Day. But, could you have imagined the ruckus if someone had snatched ol’ Phil away from the circus. (Sorry. I think that’s a bad word.) Such a slithering scoundrel undoubtedly would go to the top of the most wanted list – yes, even ahead of Bin Laden.

Is there a hay farmer out there that wouldn’t allow Ms. Firmani an opportunity to help herself to a few of yours? Hey, I’ll spring (get it?) for a live trap, as long as I get it back after relocation is complete. Now, we must be careful here because HSUS warns on its website that timing is everything: “Before attempting to evict and exclude woodchucks, consider that breeding female woodchucks have dependent young in their burrows from late winter until spring or early summer, and evicting them during this time can be inhumane.”

Now, I’m thinking snatching them from their home at any time might be inhumane, but what would a cold-blooded killer like me know about such things. Wait a minute. We go after the female that’s already bred! That’s it!

Look, Ms. Firmani could hit the jackpot with only one snatch-and-grab. Sure momma ‘chuck might complain a bit, but the rest of the soon-to-be family would never know the difference. Now, if the HSUS will volunteer one of its many animal-friendly weasels to tunnel in with a pregnancy test…

On February 22 the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will host a national event called “Spay Day” to encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. It’s a great idea, of course, but HSUS can and should do much more.

Spay Day used to be run by the Doris Day Animal League, which spent its own money to promote spaying and neutering. Now, with HSUS in charge, the event is essentially a fundraiser: Americans are being asked to donate a minimum of $5-and, of course, they will be asked for more money later.

HSUS typically shares less than 1 percent of its income with hands-on pet shelters-the facilities that actually spay and neuter dogs and cats. And it has a staggering $191 million in assets. That’s enough money to spay or neuter every unsterilized dog in America.

If you want to actually make a “Spay Day” difference, make a visit to your local humane society or another pet shelter in your community. Donate your money, your time, and your helping hands. The animals will thank you, and your mailbox won’t be overflowing with junk mail from HSUS.

David Martosko

Director of Research, Center for Consumer Freedom

Washington DC

Friday, February 04, 2011

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to respond to allegations that it allowed suspicious firearm transactions to proceed, and that a gun sold in one of those cases may have been involved in a shootout that claimed the life of a Border Patrol agent.

In a letter to the bureau, Sen. Grassley criticizes the agency’s conduct of its southwest border program known as Project Gunrunner, saying, “There are serious concerns that the ATF may have become careless, if not negligent, in implementing the Gunrunner strategy.” In a follow-up letter, Sen. Grassley questions whether bureau officials tried to silence an internal whistleblower who brought the issue to the attention of congressional staff.

The BATFE has routinely asked for cooperation from gun dealers to identify suspicious gun purchases. Just as routinely, dealers contact the bureau when they suspect straw purchases are occurring. The allegation now is that the BATFE has instructed dealers to complete those sales and report descriptions of the buyers, but that the agency then failed to prevent those firearms from being smuggled to Mexico.

If true, the allegations cast grave doubt on the value of the bureau’s new proposal for multiple sales reporting. In December, the BATFE asked the White House to approve a requirement that licensed gun dealers in the border states report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles larger than .22 caliber that have a detachable magazine, much as dealers now report multiple sales of handguns. The agency claims the move is needed to assist in the efforts to stop gun running into Mexico.

This initiative has met bipartisan opposition in Congress and — although requested on an “emergency” basis — has yet to win approval from the White House. The NRA strongly opposes the implementation of the new regulation as it clearly falls outside the range of powers granted by Congress.

The question raised by the new allegations is this: If the BATFE cannot follow up effectively on real-time reports of suspicious sales, how can it possibly make effective use of a flood of new multiple sales reports?

The new charges against the BATFE have already drawn attention from the national media. Stay tuned here for new developments.

GW: This was copied – word for word – from Democrat Senator Feinstein’s website…

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein urged President Obama to prohibit the importation of military-style assault firearms that contribute to violence in the United States and Mexico.

Following is the text of the letter from Senator Feinstein to President Obama:

January 31, 2011

The Honorable Barack H. Obama
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I write to urge you to review enforcement of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) provision, 18 U.S. Code Section 925(d)(3), which prohibits the importation of firearms except those that are “generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.” Previous Administrations have used this authority to limit the importation of military-style assault firearms, and it could once again be a helpful tool in preventing the gun trafficking that is fueling the horrific gun violence in Mexico, the Southwest border region, and many cities and towns across our nation.

Since December 2006, more than 30,000 people have been killed in Mexico in drug-related violence. Every day, there are reports of ruthless and brutal gun murders as Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) fight for control of smuggling routes and terrorize anyone who might get in their way. The DTOs have killed mayors, judges, and other officials who have tried to stop the carnage. They have even targeted young people, murdering 14 teenagers at a birthday party in Ciudad Juarez in October of last year.

Regrettably, firearms trafficked from the United States help fuel the violence in Mexico. Of the firearms recovered by the Government of Mexico and traced through ATF in the past 4 years, more than 50,000 were manufactured in, or imported into, the United States prior to being recovered in Mexico. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and other federal, state and local law enforcement are working to stop this gun trafficking and related violence, but they need additional help. The Administration recently took an important step forward with ATF’s initiative to collect information on multiple sales of semi-automatic assault rifles from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. I applaud you for this initiative. However, much more must be done.

Under the GCA, the Administration has the authority to prohibit the importation of non-sporting firearms. In 1989, in response to growing drug gang violence, the ATF under President George H.W. Bush denied applications to import a series of semiautomatic rifles that it found were designed and intended to be particularly suitable for combat rather than sporting applications. Similarly, in 1997, President Clinton used this authority and ordered ATF to conduct an expedited review to determine whether modified semiautomatic assault-type rifles were properly importable under the statutory sporting purposes test. In April 1998, ATF determined that rifles with the ability to accept a detachable large capacity military magazine “are not generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes and are therefore not importable.”

Since the Clinton Administration’s efforts, the GCA’s prohibition against non-sporting firearms has not been aggressively enforced, and many military-style, non-sporting rifles have flowed into the United States civilian market. Some of the rifles are cheap AK-type variants from former Eastern bloc countries, while others are more expensive, high-tech weapons. All of them, however, share military-style characteristics that should make them ineligible for import. Furthermore, it appears that some importers are bringing in rifle parts and reassembling them with a small number of domestically manufactured components. This practice has gone unchecked, despite Section 922 (r) of the GCA, which prohibits using imported parts to assemble any semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun which is identical to any rifle or shotgun prohibited from importation under 18 U.S. Code Section 925(d)(3).

I urge you to review enforcement of the GCA and take any regulatory steps necessary to stop the both the importation of all military-style, non-sporting firearms, and the assembly of those firearms from imported parts. We must ensure that law enforcement has all the necessary resources and tools needed to stop the gun violence that is taking a deadly toll in Mexico and in our country. I look forward to working with you toward that goal. Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein
Chairman
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control

cc: Eric Holder, Attorney General
Kenneth Melson, Acting Director of the ATF