Editor’s Note: Not every billionaire is rushing to take their ego ride into not-so-outer-space. Some, like Bass Pro Shops’ founder Johnny Morris, are investing their money far closer to home.

SPRINGFIELD, MO – Noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris joined with Helping a Hero to award a home to a deserving amputee, Marine Sergeant Joe Bartel of Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as to pay the mortgage for Army Staff Sergeant Daniel Barnes of Waynesville, Missouri. Originally Morris pledged 10 new specially adapted homes in May through the Helping a Hero organization. Johnny Morris made a surprise announcement that Bass Pro Shops will cover 25 percent of funding for the next 100 donated homes to encourage Americans to get involved in Helping a Hero’s Wounded Hero Home Program.

Veterans and their families gathered last Thursday at Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters Store in Springfield, Missouri for the surprise announcement. This week, the families had the opportunity to visit the “Grandaddy” Headquarters Store along with Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium and Big Cedar Lodge.

Morris officially presented the key to the first adapted home funded through the Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops donations to Bartel and his family of six in front of a national TV audience. The announcement led to tears and emotional reactions.

“Helping a Hero is an awesome organization,” said Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris. “When I hear the words to Helping a Hero’s national ambassador Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA,’ every word of that song hits home and reminds us how lucky we are to be able to call America our home. We’re coming up on our 50th anniversary at Bass Pro Shops, and it wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for those who have defended our freedoms and those who support conservation. My Dad was in World War II in the Battle of the Bulge, and my friend Emil Martinka served in World War II as well and has been with our company for many years now.”

“It’s humbling, and a great honor to host the veterans we have here with us today,” Morris continued. “We can never do enough to thank these families and all of our veterans who defend our freedoms. They mean everything to us and we’re very grateful. That’s not just from me; it’s everyone in our company and the outdoor community we serve. We’re all very proud to salute our veterans. We’re proud – everybody from Helping a Hero and from Bass Pro – to present Sergeant Bartel and his family with a new home and to support Staff Sergeant Daniel Barnes, from right here in our home state of Missouri, by paying off the mortgage on his new home. We would also like to pledge to chip in 25 percent for the next 100 homes and challenge people and encourage others to get involved with the Helping a Hero home program.”

Making an Appeal to Americans to Join the Cause
Morris and Bass Pro Shops have launched a nationwide challenge to inspire and encourage Americans to support and make a difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes. Individuals and businesses can get involved by visiting HelpingaHero.org.

New Outdoor Speaker Built to Handle Any Adventure or Gathering

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. –– Bushnell®, an industry leader in performance optics, announces the release of its new Outdoorsman Bluetooth speaker, a rugged sound solution that was designed for outdoor adventures. From the woods to the backyard, the boat to the beach, and from the UTV to the tailgate party, this speaker is specifically designed to handle all things outside.

The Bushnell Outdoorsman™ features a rubber EXO™ Armor that protects the speaker from bumps and bruises, while its waterproof design shields it from rain and other moisture on land or water. Equipped with a Bite™ magnet on the back for metal surfaces, as well as Bite™ strap, D-ring loop and tripod mount, the Outdoorsman can be mounted just about anywhere, from a 4-wheeler or boat to a tree trunk or fencepost.

With 10 hours of battery life, the Outdoorsman can outlast an all-day party. An integrated charge port allows you to use the speaker as an external battery pack to recharge your phone, and it packs enough power to recharge most phones two or three times when fully charged. Read more

Tuskegee, AL – There’s a new conservation group on the scene, dedicated to improving turkey populations for future generations. Turkeys For Tomorrow (TFT), was born of a reunion of veteran turkey hunters who got together last June in central Alabama for a weekend of fellowship and good food. TFT received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in February and launched its new website, www.turkeysfortomorrow.org. On Facebook and Instagram, they’re @turkeysfortomorrow, and on Twitter it’s @ForTurkeys.

“During that initial meeting, we agreed something was hurting turkey populations in many areas, especially the Southeast,” said Ron Jolly, TFT’s co-Board Chairman. Jim Ronquest, the co-Chair, added: “Conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation have been working for decades on behalf of the wild turkey, and we’re not trying to replace any of those groups. But we feel they can benefit from the involvement of a more grass-roots group, to work alongside them on identifying and funding smaller, individual habitat improvement projects.”

Already, TFT is on the radar of many potential sponsors and partners. The group is also actively seeking individual, tax-deductible contributions from individuals, outdoor-related companies, and other conservation organizations. Several donor levels have been established.

“For the present, TFT will concentrate on the southeastern states, where the problem seems to be more serious,” Jolly said. “When our support base expands to the point that we can do it, we’ll start looking beyond this region for worthwhile projects to support.”

We’ve partnered with the Michigan Geocaching Organization and Jay’s Sporting Goods to bring you a new set of exciting geocaches.

Search for new “Trust the Tradition” geocaches statewide in honor of the DNR’s centennial and Jay’s Sporting Goods’ 50th anniversary. New caches will be released each month through September for a total of 50 new finds.

Find a list of caches along with their coordinates for the new “Trust the Tradition” and the ongoing Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour. You can also search for “TrustTheTradition” on Geocaching.com.

MidwayUSA is excited to announce on Tuesday, July 6,2021, Customer contributions to the NRA Round-Up Program surpassed $20 million.

The MidwayUSA NRA Round-Up program began in 1992 and serves as a conduit for Customers to help support the fight for our Second Amendment rights. During checkout, Customers have the option of rounding up their purchases to the next dollar. The change is then donated to the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

Larry Potterfield, MidwayUSA Founder and Executive Chairman, gives credit to the Company’s loyal Customers for the success of the Round-Up program. “It’s important to note this isn’t money from the Potterfield family,” said Larry. “It’s from Customers who recognize we need a strong NRA fighting for us, and they want to help.”

“For nearly three decades the Potterfields, their staff, and the dedicated customers of MidwayUSA have provided an unprecedented level of support to NRA-ILA and our mission to protect Americans’ Second Amendment rights,” said Jason Ouimet, NRA-ILA Executive Director. “The years ahead promise to be filled with nonstop attacks on those rights and thanks to the funds raised through the Round-Up program we’ll be able to face them head on.” Read more

New Haven, MO – ALPS Mountaineering, manufacturer of performance-driven technical support gear for wilderness adventures, exploration, and family camping, has added two new tents to its ever-expanding line of premium outdoor gear.

The new Acropolis series of lightweight camping tents were designed to comfortably accommodate families and multiple campers in locations offering a limited camp footprint. Sized for either three or four adults, the Acropolis utilizes a free-standing pre-bent pole system with a top cross pole that creates more expansive interior space than conventional dome tents. Further contributing to camper comfort are dual doors with spacious vestibules to protect gear while ensuring ample room for occupants.

The Acropolis is a three-season tent. Generous mesh walls provide warm-weather sleeping comfort and ventilation, while a rugged 75D 185T full-coverage polyester fly boasting 1500mm coating can be quickly deployed for cool nights or inclement weather. Additional features include easy-to-use pole clip assembly, factory-sealed fly and floor seams, mesh storage pocket, and a gear loft.

The new Acropolis 3- and 4-Person tents are available for purchase at https://alpsmountaineering.com/acropolis-3-person.html and at various retail locations throughout the U.S. For more information on ALPS Mountaineering, visithttps://alpsmountaineering.com and alpsbrands.com.

Acropolis 3-Person Tent Specifications

• base size: 7’4 x 6’9
• center height: 51″
• vestibule depth: 36″
• tent area: 49.5 ft2
• vestibule area: 22 ft2
• minimum weight: 7 lbs. 14 oz.
• total weight: 8 lbs. 11 oz.
• packed size: 6″ x 24″
• pole diameter: 9.5 mm and 11 mm

Acropolis 4-Person Tent Specifications Read more

Hunters, birders and stamp collectors celebrated as the 2021-2022 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp – commonly known as the Duck Stamp – went on sale. The new Federal Duck Stamp and its younger sibling, the Junior Duck Stamp, debuted today and are now available for purchase.

“As one of the most well-known and revered conservation programs in the country, I am excited to buy my very own Federal and Junior Duck Stamps to help contribute to waterfowl and wetland conservation,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “I am so encouraged by the enthusiasm this program and the annual design competitions continue to elicit. I feel proud to both support this artwork and invest in the protection of wetlands and outdoor spaces for future generations.”

The Federal Duck Stamp plays a critically important role in wildlife conservation. Since 1934, sales of this stamp have raised more than $1.1 billion to protect over 6 million acres of wetlands habitat on national wildlife refuges around the nation.

“Purchasing Federal Duck Stamps is a great way to support bird habitat conservation and is one of the most successful conservation tools in our toolbox. Of every dollar spent on a duck stamp, 98 cents of the purchase goes directly to acquiring and protecting waterfowl habitat, said Martha Williams, Service Principal Deputy Director. “First Day of Sale is also our opportunity to celebrate and congratulate the youth artists who lend their talents to the Junior Duck Stamp.

Waterfowl are not the only species that benefit from wetland habitat preservation. Thousands upon thousands of shorebirds, herons, raptors and songbirds, as well as mammals, fish, native plants, reptiles and amphibians rely on these landscapes as well. An estimated one-third of the nation’s endangered and threatened species take advantage of these habitats.

The lesser scaup drake painted by artist Richard Clifton of Milton, Delaware, adorns the new Federal Duck Stamp and will raise millions of dollars for habitat conservation to benefit wildlife and the American people.

The Junior Duck Stamp, which also went on sale today, raises funds to support youth conservation education. This year’s stamp features hooded mergansers painted by Margaret McMullen, of Kansas.

The new duck stamps are available for purchase online, at many sporting goods and retail stores, and some post offices and national wildlife refuges. Find all buying options at http://www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp/buy-duck-stamp.php. Read more

Public can help by texting “SENDWATER” to 41444

PHOENIX — Water is the essence of life, and it’s just as precious for Arizona’s wildlife.

As drought conditions continue to worsen across the Southwest, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is preparing for another record-setting year of delivering lifesaving water to thirsty Arizona wildlife.

AZGFD trucked and airlifted an unprecedented 2.4 million gallons of life-sustaining water to catchments throughout the state in 2020. With little relief in sight, AZGFD anticipates hauling close to 3 million gallons of water in 2021.

“We usually get a break from hauling water in August after monsoon rains refill much of our water catchments,” said Joseph Currie, habitat planning program manager, who oversees AZGFD’s water-catchment efforts.

“However, due to this extreme drought, we haven’t stopped hauling water from 2020. We anticipate having to haul more water this year than we ever have before.”

Trail cameras document the results of this critical work, with images of elk, deer, bighorn sheep and other species leaning over for a refreshing drink at one of 3,000 catchments maintained by AZGFD. Read more

There’s still time to sign up for the Outdoor Skills Academy Walleye Fishing Clinic, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 19 at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon.

Pro walleye tournament angler Dan Miller will cover walleye fishing from A to Z. Learn about seasonal activities, how to set up your boat and more. DNR staff will be on hand to answer any rules and regulations questions you may have. Plus, a master taxidermist will offer tips on how to care for your trophy fish when you catch it and want to have it mounted.

Cost for the class is $45, which includes lunch and instruction.

To register, go to Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses and click on the “Purchase a license” button. Sign in (using either a username and password or your ID and birthdate), and find the class under the Outdoor Skills Academy tab.

For more information, contact the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center at 231-779-1321.

If you would like to stay overnight, please contact the RAM Center at 989-821-6200 for reservations with meals included. Cost is $80 for an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast.