FORT SMITH, AR – New Big Blast Caps turn used plastic bottles into reactive targets with a boom! An innovation from Umarex USA, Inc., the Big Blast Target Inflator Cap is now available at various retail stores and ready to turn your trigger time into a big blast!

The Big Blast Cap Target Inflator is a fun way to turn your used plastic soda bottles into a non-explosive, boom-making reactive target that merely operates by air pressure. With a Big Blast Cap, you can pump air into a plastic bottle using a standard bicycle pump or 12-volt tire pump and an athletic ball needle. The amount of air pressure you can pile up inside depends on the weather and size of the bottle. Recommendations and tips can be found atBigBlastCaps.com. Then just place it down range at least 60 feet away and shoot it with a fast-moving projectile. The pressurized air immediately disperses to normalcy creating a “big blast” as the air molecules rush out into the normal atmospheric pressure.

They’re perfect as a fun target for the whole family. Fill with almost anything you want! Shimmering explosions with glitter, spectacular booms with colored liquids or simple air-only “detonations” are just a few examples of visually loud fun! There are many ways to shoot bottles with a Big Blast Cap Target Inflator – .22s, 9mms, bows, dart guns, and airguns to name a few. Read more

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Coast Guard Flood Punt Teams rescued more than 100 people Monday in Jacksonville.

The Coast Guard has deployed assets and resources from across the country to assist in rescue operations for Hurricane Irma.

Flood Punt Team from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Paducah, Kentucky, saved 91 lives and 41 pets.

Flood Punt Team from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Huntington, West Virginia, saved 18 lives, 5 pets and conducted 150 wellness checks.

Flood Punt Team from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Sector Lower Mississippi River, Tennessee saved 9 lives, a pet and conducted 900 wellness checks.

Earlier this year, Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff at Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park discovered that vandals had broken in and carved three images on the rock that holds carvings made hundreds of years ago.

“We are all deeply saddened by this disrespectful act,” said Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan History Center, which interprets the petroglyphs for the public at this state park near Cass City, Michigan. “The petroglyphs were created by people who lived in what is now Michigan centuries ago. They are part of all of our history, and they have a deep spiritual meaning for many Anishinabek who live in the Great Lakes Region today. Read more

Mossy Oak t-shirt sales go to support Hurricane Harvey Victims

WEST POINT, MS – Mossy Oak, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), B.A.S.S., Ducks Unlimited (DU), National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) have come together to produce specially-designed “Rise Above” t-shirts with all proceeds going to support victims of Hurricane Harvey.

“Texas is a special place to the outdoors community, and seeing the devastation left from Hurricane Harvey and the many hurting people, we had to do something,” said Daniel Haas, New Media Coordinator for Mossy Oak. “We have joined conservation organizations, and with the help of Gildan that donated the t-shirts for screenprinting the ‘Rise Above’ design, to step up and help the people of Texas with 100% of the t-shirt purchase price going to help those affected by the hurricane.”

Share the link with your friends and family and help Harvey victims by buying your Hurricane Harvey Relief T-Shirt at the Mossy Oak online store. Read more

The 2017 Annual Programs Report is based on calendar year 2016 information. It illustrates the division’s successes in protecting Michigan’s natural resources and citizens and in educating outdoor enthusiasts on recreational safety.

The report includes a statewide map of Law Enforcement Division districts, a statistics table showing the number and types of interactions between conservation officers and the public, the number of students certified in hunter, boating, snowmobile and off-road vehicle safety, and a summary of each program area. Read more

PHOENIX — The occurrence of two boat explosions two days in a row at Lake Havasu is an important reminder of the crucial role of ventilation systems, which work to remove flammable gases. Properly installed ventilation systems greatly reduce the chance of a life-threatening explosion.

A properly functioning ventilation system circulates air through the engine and fuel tank compartments to remove fuel vapors from the bilge. A best practice to follow is to always open an inboard engine compartment and let it air out before starting an engine — this allows you to smell for gasoline fumes. Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites residents and out-of-state visitors to enjoy Free ORV Weekend Aug. 19-20. During the weekend, Michigan residents and nonresidents legally can ride DNR-designated routes and trails without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit.

Free ORV Weekend not only offers access to nearly 3,700 miles of off-road trails, but also includes use of the state’s five scramble areas, including St. Helen’s Motorsport Area, Black Lake Scramble Area, Silver Lake State Park, Bull Gap and The Mounds. All ORV rules and laws still apply. Read more

A new exhibit at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park in Copper Harbor takes visitors into the actual hospital ward where sick soldiers were cared for during a mysterious epidemic there more than 150 years ago. The “Ward Room” exhibit, which opened recently in the park’s former U.S. Army post hospital, also looks at the health care methods of that time.

Over the winter of 1844-45, an unknown disease with flu-like symptoms hit the garrison at Fort Wilkins. According to the fort doctor at the time, at least 13 cases were reported, and one soldier eventually died from the disease.

“We were excited to have the opportunity to create a new exhibit focusing on the stories of the epidemic,” said Fort Wilkins site historian Barry James. “It allowed us to open a space that the public has never had access to before, the hospital ward where those sickened by the epidemic were treated.”

Visitors stepping into the ward room will find patient beds, tables and medical instruments that re-create the original hospital environment. They will meet Charles Isaacs, the fort doctor who worked diligently to heal the infected patients. Read more

Can-Am adds features to the 89hp 2018 Outlander Mossy Oak Hunting Edition 1000R

Factory-equipped for modern hunting enthusiasts, the 2018 Can-Am Outlander Mossy Oak Hunting Edition 1000R features a design and enhancements that were influenced through our cooperation with the camouflage concealment and hunting experts at Mossy Oak, including direct input from the Mossy Oak Pro Staff team. Read more