Category: Hunting

Pheasants Forever in Montana Selected for $6.4 Million Regional Conservation Partnership Program Award

Big Game HIP focuses on iconic species with ancillary benefits for upland birds

Malta, MT –Pheasants Forever and twelve dedicated partners have been selected to receive a major Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) award from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) totaling $6.4 million for habitat delivery efforts in north-central Montana. Matched dollar-for-dollar through partner contributions, the Big Game Habitat Improvement Project will focus on outreach and technical/financial assistance programs to farmers and ranchers for improving grazing operations, restoring grassland habitat, and retaining intact rangelands on 60,000 acres in one of the state’s most coveted big game migration corridors.

“Pheasants Forever’s Big Game Habitat Improvement Project is set to make a landscape-level impact for wildlife habitat in north-central Montana,” said Hunter VanDonsel, Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill biologist and the primary grant writer for the RCPP award. “This massive effort will work closely with local communities to improve grazing systems and anchor intact grazing lands that are vital to wildlife migration and wintering habitat. When we focus on Prairie Grasslands Region improvements for Montana’s world-class big game species – elk, mule deer, and pronghorn – upland birds such as sage grouse, sharptails, pheasants and partridge all benefit. This project wouldn’t be possible without amazing partnerships led by producers ranging from the Canadian border to the Musselshell Plains.”

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand the nation’s collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. NRCS announced on Monday its intent to invest$330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Awards $300K Grant to The National Wild Turkey Federation

Landmark grant to provide support for priority NWTF local and national projects, including the Western Shared Stewardship Initiative

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is proud to announce it has awarded a $300,000 grant to the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) to benefit priority local and national conservation projects including the Western Shared Stewardship Initiative, a unique partnership set to address urgent wildlife habitat needs, wildfire challenges and watershed improvements in the western United States. The landmark grant, enabled by noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris and generous Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s customers who round up purchases in stores and online to the Outdoor Fund, is a gamechanger for the NWTF’s critical conservation needs in 2021.

“I want to give Johnny and his entire team, as well as Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s customers who support the Outdoor Fund, a resounding thank you for their continual support the advancement of our outdoors lifestyle,” NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said. “Our partnership with Bass Pro and Cabela’s is the result of two organizations dedicated to conserving our nation’s natural resources and preserving our hunting heritage. Contributions from the Outdoor Fund will continue to drive the NWTF mission to unprecedented heights and expand our past successes even further.”

Like the NWTF, the Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Outdoor Fund encourages more than 200 million Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s customers to round up purchases to support conservation partners and projects that connect new audiences to the outdoors, protect and conserve wildlife habitat across America and advocate for sportsmen’s rights and the outdoors, a mission that closely aligns with the NWTF’s. Read more

Hunting

Boone and Crockett Club Calls for $45 Billion Infrastructure Investment in Forest Management and Restoration

MISSOULA, MT– Today, the Boone and Crockett Club released a new fact sheet outlining the need for $45 billion in federal infrastructure investments in forest management and restoration on federal lands over the next decade. The document notes that the U.S. Forest Service has over 80 million acres of land at moderate to high risk from catastrophic fire and that there are millions of acres in need of reforestation when high-intensity fires reduce the potential for natural regeneration. The Club notes that President Biden’s American Jobs Plan outlined a goal to, “Maximize the resilience of land and water resources to protect communities and the environment,” and that forest management must be a significant part of this investment. Yesterday, Colorado’s Senator Michael Bennet introduced the Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act that would address these forest management funding needs; his state was one of several that witnessed unprecedented damage during the devastating 2020 fire season.

“Restoration and management of America’s national forests is an investment in our natural infrastructure that protects our communities, municipal water supplies, and fish and wildlife habitat – and provides natural climate solutions. These projects also deliver jobs to American workers in communities across the country,” commented Club President Jim Arnold. “The Boone and Crockett Club calls on Congress to make an investment of $40 billion in federal forest management and $5 billion in reforestation over the next 10 years to make our forests more resilient and reduce our risk of catastrophic wildfires.” Read more

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

Pheasant licenses available online, in store — planning for fall release underway

Michigan pheasant licenses are now available for purchase online or through in-person license vendors for the 2021 season.

A pheasant license costing $25 is now required to hunt public and hunter access program (HAP) land in the Lower Peninsula for those 18 years of age or older. The pheasant license was created through passage of HB 4313 in 2020. All license monies will be used to purchase and release pheasants on state lands.

In 2017, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC)  member Ken Dalton brought forward a resolution at the organization’s Annual Convention asking that staff lobby legislators to create a pheasant stocking program aimed at recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) of hunters. Dalton’s resolution also asked MUCC staff to find funding for the program.

In late 2018, MUCC successfully secured general fund money to initiate a two-year pheasant stocking pilot program. The first year of the program (2019) was completed, and a DNR study was conducted afterwards to determine metrics. The second year of the program was eliminated because of COVID-19 and shifting budget priorities for the administration and legislature.

The pheasant license and its passage are a testament to the grassroots strength that MUCC harnesses, said MUCC Executive Director Amy Trotter. Read more

Hunting

FOXPRO Releases Scout Pack

Lewistown, PA — FOXPRO continues to be the leading innovator within the predator hunting industry with the recent release of the Scout Pack. The Scout Pack is a carry pack specifically designed to exceed the expectations of today’s predator hunters.

The FOXPRO Scout Pack holds and protects your portable FOXPRO Game Call (except all Prairie Blaster and Krakatoa models). The FOXPRO Scout Pack can transform from a traditional carry bag into a vest pack that will make your hunt more comfortable when on-the-go. This pack features a remote holder compatible with all FOXPRO remotes and also features fold-down side pockets with mesh screen that allow you to operate your XWAVE while it is still inside of the bag. Designed specifically for the XWAVE, but will also house other smaller FOXPRO callers as well as your hunting accessories. The Scout Pack features moly webbing on the exterior of the bag so you can further accessorize by adding your own moly attachments. D-rings on the bottom of the bag will allow you to add a seat for extra comfort in the field making the FOXPRO Scout Pack a necessary addition for today’s Predator Hunter. Read more

Hunting

BIG 8 PRODUCTS Releases Turkey Beard Hanger

Atlanta, GA – April 15, 2021 – BIG 8 PRODUCTS®, your go-to for tough, DIY taxidermy products, has recently released a new product––Turkey Beard Hanger.

The Turkey Beard Hanger is BIG 8’s new solution to displaying turkey beards. It takes seconds to install the beard into the bottom of the Turkey Beard Hanger. The beard grip uses friction fit tabs to hold the beard in place. No tools or glue are required, which means no mess, and no hassle. Another key feature of the Hanger is the ease of switching out the beards whenever you’d like.

T.J. Eads, CEO of BIG 8 PRODUCTS® said, “Every turkey hunter we have met saves their beards – big or small. There are very few taxidermy options out there for displaying turkey beards. Therefore, we have spent the last year refining the best Beard Hanger for all turkey hunters. Our ‘Flex Fit Grip’ design allows you to mount your beard in seconds at an affordable price that looks great; after all, those memories matter.” Read more

Hunting

ISOtunes Launches ADVANCE: Hearing Solutions for Sport Shooters

Carmel, IN – ISOtunes®, creator of some of the world’s most innovative outdoor hearing protection, recently announced it has officially entered the shooting sports market with ISOtunes Sport. Now ISOtunes is excited to announce one of the first products to come from its new Sport lineup, the ISOtunes Sport ADVANCE. Blending cutting-edge design with advanced protection, ISOtunes Sport ADVANCE is full of innovative features.

A tactical shooter’s dream, ISOtunes Sport ADVANCE is the first of its kind in-ear tactical hearing protection. The ADVANCE provides firearm enthusiasts a unique combination of protection and functionality. Environmental awareness, active gunshot noise reduction, Bluetooth connectivity, and a comfortable fit are just a few of the baseline features of the ADVANCE.

Thanks to features like Tactical Sound Control™ and SafeMax Technology™ the ISOtunes Sport ADVANCE does what no other sport hearing protection can do. The ADVANCE enhances your hearing by 8x while protecting you from high-impact noises in under 2 milliseconds. It has a noise-isolating microphone for clear communication in loud environments, provides up to 10 hours of Bluetooth connectivity on a single charge, and limits volume output to no more than 85dB for all-day, damage-free listening. ADVANCE’s innovative design allows it to weigh less than 24 grams and is completely dust, sweat, and waterproof with an IP67 durability rating. With an assortment of eartip options to guarantee shooters a comfortable fit, ADVANCE is an ideal hearing protection solution for shooters of all shapes, sizes, and activity levels. Read more

General, Hunting

NWTF Launches Online Wild Turkey Record Form

EDGEFIELD, S.C.—The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wild Turkey Records Program began in the fall of 1982 and has since been the authority of wild turkey records for anywhere wild turkeys are legally harvested, accumulating over 27,000 registered birds. And with recent upgrades to the NWTF’s website, the program will now allow harvests to be submitted digitally.

“The NWTF Wild Turkey Records Program houses some of the greatest birds ever harvested,” NWTF Chief Information Officer Jason Burckhalter said. “As more folks are getting outdoors and just in time for this spring season, we are excited to streamline the submission process. We also recognize some folks prefer the traditional submission process, and we will continue to accommodate them.”

NWTF members will be able to record their bird’s beard length, weight and spur size on the online form. Once approved, a score will be awarded, and the turkey will be accounted for on NWTF’s interactive map, allowing individuals to see how their wild turkey ranks among others in their county, state and throughout the country. It also allows users to search for the highest-scoring turkeys ever registered. Read more

Hunting

FOX PRO’s Crooked Spur Series Mouth Calls

Lewistown, PA — FOXPRO’s Crooked Spur Series mouth calls have long been a proven staple in their turkey call line and offer a wide range of tone, pitch, and realism and are easy to use.

The Crooked Spur Series comprises three unique diaphragm calls giving you the best advantage in the woods. They feature a printed design and provide unique colors for quickly choosing the right call. Each Crooked Spur Series mouth call is individually stretched and handmade to ensure a perfect call every time, and they are proudly made in the USA.

The Crooked Spur Black V-Cut uses three-and-a-half reeds and a regular frame design, making it easy to use while producing incredible realism. The Crooked Spur Orange Batwing utilizes three reeds producing extraordinary clucks and cutts. The Crooked Spur Gray Double is a two-read design making it an easy-to-use, high-pitched call. Read more

Hunting

Michigan spring turkey season begins April 17

The spring turkey season is the perfect way to kick off spring!

Are you looking for a more flexible option this spring? For a longer season, private-land hunters in southern Michigan can purchase a Hunt Unit ZZ (Hunt 0301) license for April 17- May 31.

The Hunt 0234 license is another great option for new or seasoned hunters. This guaranteed license allows you to hunt the entire month of May on public and private lands statewide, except for public lands in Unit ZZ (southern Lower Peninsula). Learn more about the Hunt 0234 license in the Spring Turkey Digest.

If you didn’t apply for a spring turkey license, or if you weren’t successful in the license drawing, leftover licenses and Hunt 0234 licenses can be purchased online.

Visit Michigan.gov/Turkey for season dates and regulations.

Hunting
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