By combining the Lead Sled system of recoil reduction with the groundbreaking performance of the Fire Control mechanism, Battenfeld Technologies has introduced the industry’s most advanced shooting platform ─ The Lead Sled Fire Control Xtreme (FCX).

Lead Sled recoil reduction technology captures recoil energy from firearms, and then transfers it through the frame system to the weights in the weight tray. By eliminating up to 95% of felt recoil, Lead Sleds enhance accuracy by helping to prevent flinching which promotes smooth trigger pulls.

The Fire Control mechanism is an advanced alignment system actuated by a “joystick” style control arm. The control arm can be moved 360 degrees to perfectly align the crosshairs. When released, it holds the rifle in that exact position. This precision alignment prevents leaning, pushing or pulling the gun, allowing for a completely relaxed shooting posture resulting in enhanced accuracy.

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

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

To seed or not to seed, that was the question. The hit and miss showers over the past month or so had an uncanny nature to miss our precious food plots, which were seeded according to the book on the first of August. As a result, I became nervous whether all the hard work and expense would bear fruit – or in this case, turnips, rape, and biologic maximum. With only a small fraction of brassica seed having germinated, I placed a call to food plotter extraordinaire, Ed Spinnazola three weeks ago.

Although Ed was away on a field day demonstration, his wife was able to relay a return message to me: Wait it out. Ed indicated that the drought conditions, although unfortunate, would not harm the seed and that patience was required. I took his advice and wondered why I never learned to dance – rain dance, that is.

Week after week the minor amounts of precipitation never penetrated the desert-like soil conditions. I then wondered if it were possible that the little bit of moisture we had received, may have caused the shallow-planted seed to germinate and then succumb to the high heat. After discussing this possibility with several farmers, I became convinced that it was likely and ordered more seed.

The next issue was how to proceed. I chose not to spray again for newly sprouted weeds that never seem to need rain. A closer look at the volunteer vegetation revealed that deer had been browsing on the pigweed, so killing it off didn’t make sense. Plus, unless a spot spray was used, I’d have killed off the desirable brassica plants, sparse as they were. So, on September 1, I broadcast over the top of it all just ahead of a rain-producing cold front moving in from the west.

I ruled out cultipacking the seed this time around to avoid damaging existing plants during the process. My theory was that merely broadcasting seed would produce less germination, thus not overcrowding what has been growing. In addition, any seed planted a month ago, that may still be lying dormant and in need of a good soaking to germinate, may sprout.

With the high temperatures and lack of rain, this season’s food plots are not expected to be a strong as in years past. Even if all goes well with the weather from this time forward, the growing season will have been shortened by one month. No doubt, that means smaller plants but I am wondering what the net effect will be.

If we were selling turnips, they’d probably be laughable; however, the deer won’t be as judgmental. And, since several acres have been planted, there just may be enough to go around for the harsh winter months ahead. In years past, we have had an over-abundance of brassicas – so much so that a fair amount actually rots in the field in the following spring. Of course, the decayed matter creates better soil for future plantings. This time, we’ll just have to wait and see.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK-VERSUS, the most-watched sports cable network in the country for outdoor programming, will debut six season premieres of heart-pounding hunting shows on Friday, September 3. New episodes of Winchester World of Whitetail with Larry Weishuhn, Winchester Whitetail Revolution, Remington’s The Buck Stops Here with Mike Hanback, The Bucks of Tecomate featuring Jeff Foxworthy and David Morris, Elk Fever and The Best and Worst of Tred Barta begin tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Viewers can watch all of VERSUS’ respected hosts and outdoor authorities hunt various kinds of game, including whitetail in Kentucky, Colorado and Montana and elk in Colorado. Descriptions for the premiere episodes are below. For a full schedule please visit www.VERSUS.com.

7:00 p.m. ET Winchester World of Whitetail
Track along with Larry Weishuhn as he works with new ammo, attends a Dallas Safari Club event and hunts for whitetail.

7:30 p.m. ET Winchester Whitetail Revolution
Hunter and host Joe Codd is in Kentucky, where he is in the thick timber pulling out all the stops to score a trophy buck.

8:00 p.m. ET The Buck Stops Here with Mike Hanback
Mike heads to Montana to pursue whitetail deer on the famous Milk River.

8:30 p.m. ET The Bucks of Tecomate featuring Jeff Foxworthy and David Morris
David Morris and friends hunt the vast open prairies of Eastern Colorado for monster bucks.

9:30 p.m. ET Elk Fever
Guide Kessler Canyon takes out a first time elk hunter through the beautiful mountain-lined terrain of Colorado.

10:00 p.m. ET The Best and Worst of Tred Barta
Tred is back in action and he’s heading out to hunt for elk in this action-packed episode.

GW: Much easier than anything being done in Michigan. I like the concept.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters again will be able to provide deer meat to anyone willing to accept it, thanks to a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission program.

Nebraska has an ample deer population, as well as many hunting opportunities. The Deer Exchange is designed to accommodate the additional harvest of deer. Hunters who have filled their freezers may still bag a deer and have somewhere to take the meat.

Deer Exchange participants may register by visiting OutdoorNebraska.org, and then selecting Hunting, Programs, and then the Deer Exchange Program link.

Here is how the free program, which runs through March 1, 2011, works: Donors and recipients of deer meat register, search a database for participants in their area, and then make contact by telephone to set up the transfer of deer meat. Deer meat may not be sold.

The recipient may accept field dressed deer, skinned and boned deer, or wrapped and frozen deer meat. The donor is responsible for properly field dressing and checking the deer before transfer.

Game and Parks is not responsible for the quality of the meat or failure of the donor or recipient to follow through with the transfer. The agency provides the necessary transfer cards online.

Other benefits of the program include:

— Venison is a good source of protein in a diet.

— The interaction increases communication between hunters and nonhunters.

— Opportunities exist to recruit new hunters.

GW: I was not aware that this rule has been effective in Michigan, as well. We sure don’t want to lose another valuable resource such as has been done with our ash trees.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has issued an emergency rule banning the transportation of walnut products from nine western states and Tennessee to prevent the introduction of Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) that afflicts black walnut trees and other walnut species, including butternut.

The emergency rule, issued by the DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology, became effective yesterday and will help protect Indiana’s black walnut trees from the disease.

The rule applies to walnut products from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington.

Banned products originating from or traveling through the affected states include walnut nursery stock, unprocessed walnut lumber, or any other walnut material, such as logs, stumps, roots, branches, mulch, wood chips, other products created from walnut trees, and hardwood firewood.

Products exempt from the rule include nuts, nut meats, hulls, kiln-dried lumber with squared sides and no bark, and finished products such as furniture, instruments, and gun stocks.

Indiana joins Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Nebraska in banning the transport of walnut products from the infested states.

Although TCD has not been found in Indiana, it is a major threat to the state’s black walnut resource. Black walnut is the most valuable tree in Indiana based on the dollar value of wood produced, mainly walnut veneer, as well as timber and nuts.

There are an estimated 31.5 million walnut trees in Indiana. Approximately 17.7 million board feet of black walnut is harvested annually with a value of $21.4 million. If all forest walnuts in Indiana were lost because of TCD, it would represent a $1.7 billion loss. State Forester John Seifert, director of the DNR Division of Forestry, said the estimates do not include the value of urban trees and investments landowners have made for black walnut plantations and tree improvement over the past 30 years.

“We have much to lose from the spread of TCD,” said Phil Marshall, state entomologist and director of the DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “It is crucial that we avoid its introduction into Indiana. This rule essentially protects our state, allowing us to prevent potentially infected material from entering Indiana.”

Forest landowners do not need to harvest or cut their black walnut trees as a result of the disease or the emergency rule. If you notice a suspicious decline in black walnut trees or otherwise suspect an infestation of TCD, call 1-866-663-9684 (1-866-NO EXOTIC). If approached by individuals offering to cut a black walnut because of the disease, contact the DNR or a consulting forester to have the tree checked for disease.

Originally found in Arizona, TCD affects many types of walnut trees to varying degrees but is lethal to black walnuts, which often are grown in plantations in Indiana but also are common in the state’s urban and rural forests.

TCD is spread by walnut twig beetles carrying a newly identified fungus. Smaller than a pinhead, the beetles bore into walnut branches, feeding on the tree’s tissues and depositing the fungus that creates a canker, or dead area, under the bark. Multiple feedings cause the formation of thousands of cankers under the bark and destroys the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. Gradually, branches die, and then the entire tree.

Walnut trees affected by the disease typically die within two to three years after symptoms are noticed.

“It is amazing that this much destruction could come from such a tiny beetle,” Marshall said. “The walnut twig beetle is just the latest invasive pest to threaten Indiana’s forests and our $8 billion timber industry. Indiana already has issues with the gypsy moth and emerald ash borer. It’s fairly simple. To preserve our forests, people must not bring destructive insects and diseases into Indiana, and we need to do our best to inform the public and take management steps to protect our forests.”

More information on TCD can be found at www.dnr.IN.gov/entomolo or at www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/current_interest.html#WTCD. The timber industry businesses needing assistance with this rule need to contact the Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology at (317) 232-4120.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has issued an emergency rule banning the transportation of walnut products from nine western states and Tennessee to prevent the introduction of Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) that afflicts black walnut trees and other walnut species, including butternut.

The emergency rule, issued by the DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology, became effective yesterday and will help protect Indiana’s black walnut trees from the disease.

The rule applies to walnut products from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington.

Banned products originating from or traveling through the affected states include walnut nursery stock, unprocessed walnut lumber, or any other walnut material, such as logs, stumps, roots, branches, mulch, wood chips, other products created from walnut trees, and hardwood firewood.

Products exempt from the rule include nuts, nut meats, hulls, kiln-dried lumber with squared sides and no bark, and finished products such as furniture, instruments, and gun stocks.

Indiana joins Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Nebraska in banning the transport of walnut products from the infested states.

Although TCD has not been found in Indiana, it is a major threat to the state’s black walnut resource. Black walnut is the most valuable tree in Indiana based on the dollar value of wood produced, mainly walnut veneer, as well as timber and nuts.

There are an estimated 31.5 million walnut trees in Indiana. Approximately 17.7 million board feet of black walnut is harvested annually with a value of $21.4 million. If all forest walnuts in Indiana were lost because of TCD, it would represent a $1.7 billion loss. State Forester John Seifert, director of the DNR Division of Forestry, said the estimates do not include the value of urban trees and investments landowners have made for black walnut plantations and tree improvement over the past 30 years.

“We have much to lose from the spread of TCD,” said Phil Marshall, state entomologist and director of the DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “It is crucial that we avoid its introduction into Indiana. This rule essentially protects our state, allowing us to prevent potentially infected material from entering Indiana.”

Forest landowners do not need to harvest or cut their black walnut trees as a result of the disease or the emergency rule. If you notice a suspicious decline in black walnut trees or otherwise suspect an infestation of TCD, call 1-866-663-9684 (1-866-NO EXOTIC). If approached by individuals offering to cut a black walnut because of the disease, contact the DNR or a consulting forester to have the tree checked for disease.

Originally found in Arizona, TCD affects many types of walnut trees to varying degrees but is lethal to black walnuts, which often are grown in plantations in Indiana but also are common in the state’s urban and rural forests.

TCD is spread by walnut twig beetles carrying a newly identified fungus. Smaller than a pinhead, the beetles bore into walnut branches, feeding on the tree’s tissues and depositing the fungus that creates a canker, or dead area, under the bark. Multiple feedings cause the formation of thousands of cankers under the bark and destroys the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. Gradually, branches die, and then the entire tree.

Walnut trees affected by the disease typically die within two to three years after symptoms are noticed.

“It is amazing that this much destruction could come from such a tiny beetle,” Marshall said. “The walnut twig beetle is just the latest invasive pest to threaten Indiana’s forests and our $8 billion timber industry. Indiana already has issues with the gypsy moth and emerald ash borer. It’s fairly simple. To preserve our forests, people must not bring destructive insects and diseases into Indiana, and we need to do our best to inform the public and take management steps to protect our forests.”

More information on TCD can be found at www.dnr.IN.gov/entomolo or at www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/current_interest.html#WTCD. The timber industry businesses needing assistance with this rule need to contact the Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology at (317) 232-4120.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

In 2007 I learned of Santa Rosa Island off the coast of California, which was home to over 1000 Roosevelt elk and Kaibab mule deer. Because the animals were not indigenous to the island, an underhanded maneuver by U.S. Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer of California has set the stage for total extermination of these animals by aerial slaughter by the end of year 2011. When then U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter proposed to allow paralyzed veterans to manage the herd through controlled hunting rather than total annihilation at taxpayers’ expense, his idea was shot down; so too will be these magnificent creatures. So much for supporting the troops!

Now, years later, when the boiling controversy has withered into oblivion, legendary outdoorsman, Jim Zumbo, has accepted an appointment by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans ), as the national spokesman for the organization’s Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund. But, Jim’s doing a lot more than talking about helping our wounded heroes.

Zumbo’s 40-year career in the great outdoors makes him arguably the country’s most prominent big game hunter. He is a champion of ethical hunting, and has reached out to wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, when he began taking them on no-cost hunting trips – a program he started five years ago.
“I’m proud to serve as spokesman for the Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund (ORHF), and am looking forward to representing this important function of PVA,” said Zumbo. “I’ve had my share of wonderful outdoor experiences in my lifetime and have enjoyed plenty of camps with all sorts of folks, but hunting and fishing with disabled military veterans has been a highlight of my trips. It’s my small way of thanking these heroes, for which I have the utmost respect, for their service and sacrifice.”

He added, “In addition to assisting in fundraising efforts for the ORHF, I eagerly anticipate sharing many more hunting and fishing camps with our disabled military.”
In 2001, Paralyzed Veterans of America established the Fund as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to permanently support the organization’s many outdoor sports programs, including fishing, handcycling and triathlon, track and field events, and recreational shooting and hunting.

There are several ways you can help, too and all gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. You can make a personal gift and businesses can help through sponsorships. If you are so inclined, you can organize a fund-raising event, or even lend a helping hand by volunteering at one of the hunt events. Just log on to www.pvaheritagefund.org.

“It’s amazing what these trips do for their (veterans’) attitudes and confidence as they rehabilitate from their injuries and work towards building a new, productive and happy way of life”, says Chris Chaffin, national marketing and public relations coordinator for PVA-ORHF. Chris is ready to help and can be reached at Chris@ChaffinCommunications.com or by telephone at 321-729-0280.

Supporting the troops has never been easier.

GW: I have several Hunt Comfort seats and for good reason: they are the best! Being comfortable afield helps to eliminate unwanted movement which come from squirming around on hard seats. With these, a hunter or sports spectator can sit for hours. And, they are made by American experts in America.

Field & Stream has selected the Hunt Comfort Specialist seat pad for its “Best of the Best” Award in the “essentials” category for 2010. The “Best of the Best” judging criteria include the significance of innovation, the quality of the design and the value it brings to hunters. The judges, comprised of F&S editors, writers and seasoned hunters, decided that the Hunt Comfort Specialist met the winning quality of excellence in its field.

“We are honored to receive the Field and Stream ‘Best of the Best’ Award,” said David Robinson, president and owner of Hunt Comfort Cushions. “I am especially happy for the wonderful people at Hunt Comfort who work hard every day and take great pride in product excellence – they deserve the award.”

The Specialist is a new, high-tech folding cushion set featuring Hunt Comfort’s patented SuperLight gel cushion technology, which dramatically reduces resting pressure on the body. Superlight cushions are built on Hunt Comfort’s new “rich stack” foam formula, a system of three layers of varied compression foams designed to improve pressure distribution and comfort afield. Two elliptical gel pads embedded in the cushion dramatically improve seating comfort by relieving and spreading out seated pressure. The Specialist cushion set is simple to set up and gives hunters ample seat and back protection coverage for all-day hunting and camping conditions.

The Specialist is covered in ComfortTEX outdoor seating fabrics developed by Hunt Comfort. Available in Mossy Oak New Breakup® and Treestand® patterns and Hunt Comfort’s new Foliage Green and Coyote Khaki solid colors.

For more information about Hunt Comfort or the new Specialist, please contact David Robinson at Hunt Comfort 888.757.3232 or visit our website atwww.huntcomfort.com.
Contact:
David Robinson 888.757.3232 or email dbr@huntcomfort.com.

A gun registry bill in California is dangerously close to passage.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance has sent out an action alert to California sportsmen regarding Assembly Bill 1810. The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D- LA), would require the state to keep registration information for all firearm transfers, including from transfers of commonly used hunting rifles and shotguns.

Current California law requires the state to keep a database containing information acquired from handgun transfers only. The information kept by the state includes the owner’s name and address as well as a description and serial number of the handgun. Under AB 1810, this same information would be kept for all firearms transfers.

“It’s bad enough that the state keeps personal information from handgun transfers,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “There is no compelling reason for Californians’ Second Amendment rights being further infringed through this legislation.”

Earlier this year, AB 1810 passed the California Assembly and, on August 12, the bill passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill could now be voted on by the full Senate at any time.

Take Action! California sportsmen should immediately contact their state senators and urge them to oppose AB 1810. Tell them there is no justification for expanding the state’s registry to include all firearms transfers by law abiding gun owners.

To find your state senator’s contact information, please visit www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.

As a decision on the future of the Canadian Firearms Registry draws near, Canadians hold differing views on whether the so-called long gun registry should be scrapped, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of a representative sample of 1,005 Canadian adults also finds that respondents are almost evenly divided on whether it should be illegal for ordinary citizens to own firearms.

Gun Violence

Seven-in-ten Canadians (70%) believe gun violence in Canada is a “very serious” or “moderately serious” problem.

About half of respondents (49%) think implementing a complete ban on handguns would be justified, since current regulations are not working and guns stolen from legal owners are being used in crimes. Conversely, two-in-five Canadians (39%) believe a complete ban would be unjustified, as it would affect law-abiding Canadians such as collectors and target shooters.

Ontarians, Quebecers and British Columbians tend to side with the pro-ban argument, while Albertans, Atlantic Canadians and those in the Prairie Provinces are more likely to reject this notion.

The Canadian Firearms Registry, also known as the long gun registry, requires the registration of all non-restricted firearms in Canada. Two-in-five Canadians (43%) believe the registry has been unsuccessful in preventing crime in Canada, while three-in-ten (29%) think it has had no effect on crime. Only 13 per cent of respondents believe the Canadian Firearms Registry has been successful.

A plurality of Canadians (44%) calls for scrapping the long gun registry—including large majorities in the Prairies (65%) and Alberta (59%). More than a third of respondents (35%) are opposed to this course of action, including 51 per cent of Quebecers.

Since a survey conducted in November 2009, the proportion of Canadians who oppose the long gun registry has dropped by seven points, while the proportion of supporters has increased by one point.

Canadian are split on another question, with 40 per cent of respondents saying it should be legal for ordinary citizens to own firearms, and 45 per cent wanting to make this illegal. There are some major geographic differences on this question, with majorities in Quebec (54%) and Ontario (53%) wanting to keep firearms away from ordinary citizens, and more than half of Albertans (51%) expressing support for the legality of this practice.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

In June I covered possible changes being considered by the Natural Resources Commission regarding Michigan’s burgeoning use of crossbows. I’ll cover some of the highlights here (lowlights, if you are a cantankerous member of the vertical bow-only fraternity). The complete list of approved changes can be viewed at an August 17th post on my blog, thinkingafield.blogspot.com.

The minimum age for crossbow use has been lowered from 12 to 10 years of age statewide. Those that choose to grumble over kids afield and crossbows in general, will have more reasons to hate life; as for me, this change has the most potential for the good of the herd, if ushered in properly.

Since adults must accompany youngsters afield, it’s up to them to see that young hunters are ready for the challenge of ethical hunting. If their children are not ready for whatever reason, they should be held back until they are. It’s the adults’ call. This was already the case to be sure, but now more responsible youngsters will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their ability afield.

Granted, 10-year olds were already permitted to hunt deer with vertical bows, but let’s face it, few have the strength to pull back and hold a bow with the power to be ethical. With cocking devices, or an adult to cock a crossbow, these physical limitations are overcome. No longer must strength be the deciding factor for a young adult to have a legitimate chance to fill the family freezer with protein-laden, low-fat table fare.

Before, if a youngster wanted to hunt deer with archery equipment, which was his/her only option at the younger ages, wimpy vertical bows were the only choice – not always the best from an ethical standpoint. Expensive equipment would be outgrown quickly, thus limiting youth hunting to a select few. Since crossbows fit everyone, parents can share in their use when the “owners” might be in school.

One final point regarding youths and crossbows is in order. It would behoove us adults to instill a better sense of deer management in our youth contingent. While I can understand the misdirected bragging rights of killing a buck, a vast majority of youngsters take yearlings, which are 1 1/2-year old deer. (Of course, many adults have this same perverted condition.) These deer are typically uneducated in the ways of the woods and are often easy prey – much more so than a mature doe – and, this mentality is the precise reason that Michigan’s doe to buck ratio is so out of whack! By encouraging young adults to take does and only more mature bucks, we will help our children toward the development of a stronger and healthier herd in the years to come. It’s a worthwhile sacrifice for us all.

Another significant change eliminates a provision that limited the maximum bolt velocity for crossbows. The 350-feet-per-second speed limit has been lifted. Although that’s fast in the archery world, there are crossbows that are faster, but until now, could not be marketed for use in Michigan. The speed limit never made sense to me; heck, no such provision applies to vertical bows, muzzleloaders, shotguns, or centerfire rifles, so why did our lawmakers pick on crossbow users? I guess they’ve come to their senses.

With the practice of high ethical standards, these new crossbow regulations have the potential to not only help our economy in several ways, but they can provide us with better tools to manage the imbalance in our deer herd. While some may argue to the contrary, it’s up to us to show them wrong.