iPhone users can now download Winchester® Ammunition’s award-winning Ballistics Calculator for free. Winchester has taken all of the features and functionality from its Web site version of the Ballistics Calculator and developed a user-friendly interface for the iPhone.

The iPhone version of Winchester’s Ballistics Calculator will allow users to choose their type of ammunition and compare up to three different Winchester products with easy-to-read, high-tech ballistic charts and graphs. You can customize shooting conditions by entering wind speed and outside temperature, adjust zero marks for sighting in.

The Web based calculator is also live at www.winchester.com/ballistics.

“With so many of our customers using iPhones these days, it’s only fitting that we provide this feature to them,” said Brett Flaugher, vice president of domestic and international marketing and sales for Winchester Ammunition. “Having the Ballistics Calculator plugged into your iPhone while you’re at the range, or in the field will be a valuable tool. Users will be able to plug in conditions, test their ammo and then make adjustments, if necessary.”

Winchester teamed up with Quilogy, a St. Charles, Missouri-based IT and Marketing consulting company, to develop the state-of-the-art ballistics calculator for the iPhone. The Winchester ballistics calculator for the iPhone was designed to leverage the latest iPhone technology, such as the touch and tilt features; providing Winchester customers with a rich end engaging experience.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

When overreaching governmental entities threaten Second Amendment rights, The National Rifle Association (NRA) has a way of reigning in power grabs. No matter how willful the opposition is to fundamental rights, the NRA is strong enough to fight back on any level. Most times, I applaud its efforts, but this time I am concerned that it may be crying wolf.

In the February issue of American Rifleman (its official journal), Executive Vice President, Wayne LaPierre, lays out an ominous scenario of global gun control by the United Nations (U.N.) in a piece titled “The First Step in Trampling Our Rights.” He points out how past U.N. representative, John Bolton, firmly opposed any transfer of rights in the name of global civil disarmament, which would, in effect, abrogate the Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms. Good for him. But, Hillary Clinton is “our girl” (her words) now and supports international control of the firearms and ammunition trade. In an official U.N. report by the George Soros funded International Action Network on Small Arms written by American Professor, Barbara Frey, she states, “Self-defense is sometimes designated as a right. There is inadequate legal support for such an interpretation…” in her assessment of international law.

However, as a sovereign nation, we Americans have rights that by definition are above all others and no treaty can, or will ever, change that. Here’s why: Hillary Clinton has no authority to enter into an international treaty; only the President has this power, but Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution authorizes the President “by and with the advice and consent of the Senate…provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.” Good luck with that one, Hill. But, let’s say it happened.

Under Article VI, paragraph 2 requires “…all Treaties made…under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby…” Scared yet? Don’t be.

The President has sworn to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. All Federal and State officers have done the same. However, the U.S. Constitution does not provide any authority for the U.S. to be subject to or bound by any “mandate” that abrogates rights guaranteed by our Constitution. Therefore, no treaty has the ability to supersede, and thus violate, any provision in the Constitution and would therefore be pronounced null and void.

There’s one final issue: We the people. No snake oil sales force will ever overcome the will of the people of these United States. And, The Second Amendment – the one right that guarantees all others – will come into play. And, if Ms. Clinton or any of her ilk don’ t believe it, just back us Americans up to the wall.

So, Mr. LaPierre, with all due respect, I’m not scared enough to check if the sky is falling. Heck, I’m not scared at all.

Second Amendment Foundation
12500 NE Tenth Place • Bellevue, WA 98005
(425) 454-7012 • FAX (425) 451-3959 • www.saf.org

MISSOULA – The United States has made its first response to a lawsuit filed in federal district court in Missoula to test the Montana Firearms Freedom Act (MFFA), passed by the 2009 Legislature and signed into law by Governor Schweitzer.

The MFFA declares that any firearms, ammunition or firearms accessories made and retained in Montana are not subject to federal regulation under the power given to Congress in the U.S. Constitution to regulate commerce “among the several states.” The MFFA is a states’ rights challenge on Tenth Amendment grounds, with firearms serving as the vehicle for the challenge.

This lawsuit to validate the MFFA was brought by the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) and Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). The suit names U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as defendant, and is referred to as MSSA v. Holder.

The first response to the lawsuit by the United States is a Motion to Dismiss, submitted January 19th and considered to be a standard procedural maneuver in lawsuits against the U.S government. This motion seeks to avoid the legal merits by asserting that the Plaintiffs lack standing to sue, that a justiciable controversy does not exist, and that prevailing case law is against Plaintiffs.

MSSA President Gary Marbut, also a Plaintiff in the lawsuit explained, “The first import of this response is that the legal game is now on. There was some concern that the defendants would forfeit the game with no response in an effort to prevent this important issue from being adjudicated properly. We are now beyond that hurdle.” However, the Motion to Dismiss by Washington also seeks to sidestep proper adjudication.

SAF Founder Alan Gottlieb said, “We are disappointed but not surprised that the government would try to kill this suit on standing, rather than arguing about the merits of the case.”

The MFFA concept has gained traction across the Nation since its passage in Montana. Tennessee has enacted a clone of the MFFA, and other clones have been introduced in the state legislatures of 19 other states, including: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. . Ten or more additional states are expected to introduce yet more MFFA clones in the next few weeks. (See: http://www.FirearmsFreedomAct.com)

The U.S.’s Motion to Dismiss and Brief in Support are viewable at: http://FirearmsFreedomAct.com/montana-lawsuit-updates/

MSSA and SAF have assembled a litigation team for this effort consisting of three attorneys from Montana, one from New York, one from Florida and one from Arizona. Lead attorney for the Plaintiffs is Quentin Rhoades, partner the Missoula firm of Sullivan, Tabaracci and Rhoades. Other interested parties from both in and out of Montana are preparing to weigh in on this issue of national interest and national importance as amicus curiae (friends of the court).

Marbut commented, “The FFA concept has created a firestorm of interest nationwide. Lots of people and other states are watching carefully to see how Montana fares in this challenge to overbearing federal authority and to Washington’s attempt to control every detail of commerce in the Nation, especially including activity wholly confined within an individual state. That level of micro management certainly was not the intent of our founders when they gave Congress limited power in the Constitution to regulate commerce ‘among the states’.” (See: http://FirearmsFreedomAct.com/what-is-the-commerce-clause/)

MSSA is the primary political advocate for gun owners and hunters in Montana, having gotten 54 pro-gun and pro-hunting bills through the Montana Legislature in the past 25 years. SAF is a pro-gun foundation in Bellevue, Washington, established to press the rights of gun owners primarily in judicial fora. SAF has been a party to numerous lawsuits to assert the rights of gun owners across the Nation.

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and an amicus brief and fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – State lawmakers have approved a special gun deer hunt for Wisconsin soldiers who missed the regular hunt because they were overseas.

The program announced Friday will link returning soldiers with landowners whose crops are being damaged by nuisance deer.

Representative Chris Danou of Trempealeau was the bill’s chief sponsor. He says a special hunt is a great way to thank the more than 3,000 returning soldiers for their service.

The Wisconsin State Journal says the original legislation would have allowed the additional season to run only from Feb. 4 to Feb. 7.

But lawmakers expanded the season substantially. Now veterans will be able to hunt any day between now and September that’s convenient for them and the landowner.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

A friend asked me last week what I was doing now that deer hunting season was over. “Gettin’ ready for crow season,” was my immediate response. He laughed a bit and then said, “How do you get ready for crow season?”, somewhat inquisitive and somewhat as if he figured I couldn’t actually be doing anything to prepare. My “Loadin’ ammo” retort seemed to wipe that smirk off his face but most people still think there’s something wrong with looking forward to hunting crows. Now, I’m not talking about animal rightists, who are opposed to any form of hunting; the average hunter doesn’t get it either – unless, of course, he’s seen it rain crows.

I had never been very successful at bagging the crafty troublemakers but results began to improve when I re-read a segment of Bert Popowski’s “Crow and Varmint Hunting Bible” relating to shot size. One would think that heavier shot would carry farther and that magnum loads would do the sky-busting trick best, but it never worked for me. We’d drop one here and there but for the most part, the crows would get the last laugh. Bert indicated that it was a common fallacy for hunters to use shot that was too heavy, and for crows, even loads designed for pheasant were not optimum. Since Bert used number 9 shot, I decided to give it a try and that’s when results began to change.

What really surprised me was the length of some of the kills. Of course, that got me thinking. If 9 shot was capable of long-range success, bigger would be better. Not bigger in shot size but bigger in payload. So, this season our crazy crow club has graduated to magnum, home-brewed 3-inch bird blasting bombs carrying 1 7/8 ounces of shot.

We had to hand load the shells, because no store (or ammo manufacturer) has any demand for such a concoction. And, that’s understandable. The shot size is too small for larger birds, such as pheasant or turkey, and the magnum wallop would tenderize partridge and woodcock beyond recognition. However, since we weren’t interested in deep fried crowquettes, why not give it a shot?

With all the components gathered, I headed over to Shawn Weaver’s house with Matt Arnold (the other members of our crow-crazy clan) to manufacture our own brand of perforating punch. In short order, the assembly mission was complete and it was time for testing.

Although manufacturers do not agree on what pattern percentage constitutes a particular degree of choke (ratio of total shot in a load versus total shot within a 30-inch circle at 40 yards), there is agreement that full choke patterns fall within 65 to 75 percent. Since our pet brand contained an astounding 1097 pellets, patterning would be not be an easy chore but, since I wasn’t content to rely on what was stamped on my choke tube, it had to be done for reference.

Back home, another crow buster, Joe Reynolds and I, drew a crow outline on a large sheet of paper and stapled it to the backstop at 40 yards. One blast and it was back to the garage to begin the arduous task of counting holes. We sectioned off the target and a half hour later, when the counting was complete, a total of 676 pellets had hit the 30-inch circle making for 62 percent of the load. Although it was a little less than I had hoped for, the pattern density indicated the shot was a bit high and that some of the shot missed the paper. More interesting, however, was the number of holes in our flying crow outline: 106! Since only about 4 pellets are necessary to kill a crow, maybe it’s a bit of overkill. Then again, maybe there’s no such thing when it comes to crows.

More testing will be performed at extended ranges but it appears we may be on to something. Just don’t let any crows know what we have in store for them in a few weeks.

LANSING, MICH – MUCC today congratulated Becky Humphries on being named Director of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). Humphries will take the helm of the new Department on January 17, the date when it officially takes effect under Governor Granholm’s Executive Orders 45 and 54 of 2009, which recombined the Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality.

While MUCC maintains strong opposition to the gubernatorial appointment of the DNRE director, the organization thanked Granholm for choosing a leader with a proven track record of supporting the hunting, fishing and trapping community. “We look forward to working with Director Humphries to create a Department that is more transparent, user-friendly, and effective”, said MUCC Executive Director Erin McDonough. “As we work to build a foundation for the future of conservation, wise use, and science-based management of Michigan’s natural resources, it is essential that we have a Director with the leadership skills, commitment to resource management and passion for our outdoor heritage that Rebecca Humphries possesses.”

McDonough also emphasized the importance of hiring a Director who is knowledgeable and respectful of the user-pay system. “Director Humphries has frequently displayed a commitment to making sure restricted funds generated by license fees are spent appropriately. In an era where budgets slashes are the norm instead of the exception, MUCC is confident that Director Humphries will defend attempted diversions of these restricted funds.”

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

The Michigan DNR has reported that the November firearms deer season was the safest on record with no fatalities. “Michigan has seen a continued drop in hunter casualty incidents since implementation of mandatory hunter education and mandatory hunter orange laws,” said Sgt. Jon Wood, program supervisor for the DNR’s Hunter Education Program.

The 2009 hunting season recorded 12 hunting-related accidents, and just one fatality during turkey season. In 2005, the DNR recorded 19 accidents with three fatalities; and in 2000, there were seven fatalities and 32 accidents. In 1950, the department recorded 25 fatalities and 190 accidents. Credit is given to the mandatory hunter safety training, which began in 1971 for first-time hunters ages 12 through 16. In addition, in 1977 hunter orange laws became effective, and 10 years later, fatalities and accidents were cut in half.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), 92 percent of Americans believe all new hunters should be required to pass hunter education courses before being permitted to get licenses. Interestingly, however, is that 32 percent of non-hunters do not agree that hunting is a safe recreational activity. So, it is understandable, that when a proposal to lower age requirements to hunt in Michigan was in the offing, opposition sprung up against the idea based on safety concerns. We now know, based on results, that their claims have not come to fruition.

The NSSF also points out an interesting finding that half of the general population believes that hunting causes more deaths among participants than does fishing. However, statistics reveal the truth: More people die while fishing than while hunting. The Coast Guard’s 2006 Boating Statistics show that fishing deaths are typically from drowning while fishing from boats. In year 2005, a total of 225 of the 710 boating-related fatalities occurred to people whose activities included fishing from boats. In fact, about twice as many people die while fishing than while hunting nationwide.

When elevated stands were legalized in Michigan to hunt deer with firearms, more hunters were taking to the trees, thus creating more opportunity for falling accidents. At the same time, however, by virtue of downward shooting angles from elevated blinds, it stood to reason that safety would improve in that respect. No doubt, hunters have injured themselves from falls but much credit goes to the treestand industry for minimizing accidents. Hunters’ safety vests or harnesses are standard equipment with stands today and are far superior to simple belts many hunters used years ago. Technology has played a role, too. Instructional DVDs emphasizing proper safety techniques are now a part of packaging. Certainly, treestand manufacturing companies are motivated to manage their risks of lawsuits by hunters but, nonetheless, have stepped up and done their part with safe products.

And, to think these improvements in safety have come without some nannyesque mandate to actually wear safety belts while above ground and without having to paint our blinds orange.

Freedom Group, Inc. through a wholly owned subsidiary has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire certain assets of Barnes Bullets. The transaction closed on December 31, 2009.

Madison, NC (PRWEB) January 4, 2010 — Freedom Group, Inc. through a wholly owned subsidiary has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire certain assets of Barnes Bullets. The transaction closed on December 31, 2009.

Barnes Bullets, located in Mona, Utah, is the industry-leading supplier of copper bullets, including copper-tin composite core bullets. These products are used by hunters, shooters, military and law enforcement professionals around the world. With their innovative designs, advanced manufacturing techniques and core focus on the end-user, Barnes Bullets has been a leading choice of commercial consumers, law enforcement and military users since its inception in 1932.

We welcome Randy and his team to the Freedom Group family
Barnes Bullets will continue day-to-day operations at their Mona, Utah-based location under the guidance of company founder, Randy Brooks.

“We welcome Randy and his team to the Freedom Group family,” commented Ted Torbeck, CEO of the Freedom Group, Inc. “With the acquisition of Barnes; the Freedom Group continues to demonstrate our commitment to the ammunition business. Barnes offers a premium line of high performance bullets for the hunting and shooting communities; and for law enforcement, military and commercial consumers around the world. We are excited about their research and development capabilities and the breadth of the products they bring to our portfolio.”

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Many states are showing increases in the percentage of adult antlered whitetails harvested over the past few years, but not Michigan. Based on 2008 year-end statistics, Michigan continues to rank among the leaders in the country for killing off potential wallhangers by removing yearling bucks from the herd each season at a disappointing rate of 61 percent of the total antlered buck kill. Add to these depressing figures the anti-motivational 50-percent cost increase in antlerless tags this season and it’s easy to understand why our herd is so out of balance. With all preliminary harvest indicators for 2009’s season pointing down, there’s no reason to believe we will get a grip on effective management strategies without substantial changes in our practices.

Antler restrictions have been remarkably successful elsewhere, where implemented, in balancing the age structure of herds including right here in Michigan. During the years 1999 through 2002, Leelanau County hunters harvested 67 percent yearlings of its total antlered kill. After that, antler restrictions were voted in by hunters and the positive impact has been startling: Yearling buck harvest totals dropped to 38 percent of the buck harvest after rules change with 2.5 year-olds comprising 52 percent of the kill. The harvest of 3.5 year-olds rose from only 6 percent before and by year 2006 rose to 38 percent! Harvest of 4.5 year-old bucks improved from a minuscule 2.5 percent before to over four times that amount afterward. That’s change we can believe in!

Elsewhere in the country, where hunters have enough restraint to pass on yearling bucks, statistics show even more impressive results. Vermont’s hunters harvested 54 percent 2.5 year-old bucks of its total antlered harvest, while Indiana and Tennessee averaged 40 percent 2.5 year-olds. Midwestern states (other than Michigan) showed harvest increases in 3.5 year-olds in the past few years, as well. Of their antlered harvest totals, Mississippi took 58 percent 3.5 year-olds, Arkansas 49 percent, Kansas 49 percent, Louisiana 50 percent, and Texas 54 percent.

These age structure improvements are an important piece of sound herd management practices. So why don’t we learn from these examples? We have the deer; we have the habitat; we have not the leadership to make it work, however. Self-imposed restrictions can help, but unless there is substantial cooperation from sportsmen, it will not be enough. Without fear of bellyachers, without fear of being re-elected, without fear of taking a temporary step backward for future rewards, here is a prescription for success in Michigan.

Impose antler point restrictions throughout the state to a minimum of 4-points on a side.
Only one buck per licensed hunter per season.
Harvesting a button buck fawn ends one’s antlered hunting.
Provide an incentive to harvest more does in high-density areas by reducing fees.

Quality Deer Management (QDM) is proving to work where it has been implemented, but in all honesty, states such as Texas have much larger parcels of land under the control of land managers and that’s why it works so well. In Michigan, we don’t enjoy the privilege of hunting on vast expanses of territory and that’s why new rules should be mandated. Although QDM interest is growing in our state, it is has not been sufficient on its own to have quality results overall. Unless we change what we are doing, we’d be fools to expect different results from the status quo.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

With the late-season antlerless deer season underway, time to wait for another chance afield was running out. The predictable attractiveness of the lush -and still green – brassica food plot had provided ample opportunities with snow on the ground and many chances were well within range with my modern Knight smokepole over the past few weeks. My second whitetail was harvested on November 28th and immediate reloading of the stout Barnes bullet had me wondering if the three-week old load would still ignite. They have never failed to shoot with the 209 shotshell primers but the notion of a misfire with an older load always seems to creep into my mind. But, I had made my mind up on the 22nd day of December to fill a tag, if the deer cooperated.

I set up a decoy about 100 yards from my blind hoping it would draw some interest from the more curious in the crowd. It was already past 5 PM and shooting light began to wane but the Leupold glass atop the rifle brightened prospects. One by one deer began filing onto the stage at the far end of the food plot. At the other end of the field, more hungry deer rushed to the turnips for evening sustenance amid the snow cover. I then moved the muzzleloader into position and began focusing on body sizes and lengths of snouts. Careful to single out a mature doe, which had tuned into the unfamiliar silhouette of my feeding decoy cutout, I waited for the doe to move from its head-on position.

The smokepole belched a cloud of temporary blindness and the field emptied in seconds. Even though I couldn’t be sure of the hit at 130 yards, the unmistakable sound of the projectile’s audible thumping downrange gave me confidence. Without delay, I headed to the scene before natural light completely vanished and found specks of blood in the snow. I noted the tracking direction of the victim and departed. That’s when I phoned my friend, Joe, keeper of his wonder dog, Cocoa, for assistance.

Cocoa began her deer fetching career last year on a New Year’s Eve doe mission that was worth repeating. Actually, we have used the services of Cocoa several times already this season with 100 percent success. In fact, I now purposely rely on Cocoa to keep her in shape and to personally witness the nose that knows.

I gathered all the field-dressing necessities and Joe jumped into the front seat and Cocoa in the pickup’s bed. She knows she’s in for some wild action with this arrangement far from her confining comforts of a small city yard in Lansing. Once on the trail, she began a furious nose-down scamper to the downed deer. In 60 seconds it was all over – well, almost. The chore of field dressing had to be suspended, while we restrained the frenzied hound from the animal she claimed for her own. She doesn’t have an off button, so we tied her to a sapling for our mutual benefit.

It’s ironic that only a few years ago I couldn’t comprehend the level of enjoyment a houndsman shared with me about treeing cougars out West. I sure get it now.