Category: Hunting

Vista Outdoor Brands Donate Two Gearbox Giveaways, #RangeChallenge Prizes

NEWTOWN, Conn. – NSSF®, the firearm industry trade association, is pleased to announce that Hoppe’s, RCBS, Champion and Butler Creek have signed on as sponsors of two +ONESM Gearbox Giveaways in support of 2020’s National Shooting Sports Month®. All four companies are part of Vista Outdoor, a global designer, manufacturer and marketer of consumer products in the outdoor sports and recreation markets.

For the 2020 National Shooting Sports Month, these four brands created two Gearbox Giveaways, one for hunters and one for target shooters. Read more

Ammunition, Firearms, Hunting

Secretary Bernhardt Announces Historic Expansion of Hunting and Fishing Opportunities on Public Lands

New hunting and fishing opportunities across 2.3 million acres at 138 national wildlife refuges and nine national fish hatcheries

SAGINAW, MI – Continuing the Trump Administration’s unprecedented efforts to increase recreational access on public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced today at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge the historic opening and expansion of over 850 hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres at 147 national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. This rule is the single largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in history.

“On the heels of President Trump signing the most significant conservation and recreation funding in US history, providing nearly $20 billion over the next 10 years to fix and conserve the American people’s public lands, the Trump Administration has now made an additional 2.3 million acres accessible to new hunting and fishing opportunities,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “We continue to take significant actions to further conservation initiatives and support sportsmen and women who are America’s true conservationists.”

The final rule opens or expands 859 hunting and fishing opportunities (an opportunity is defined as one species on one field station in one state). On top of last year’s expansion of 1.4 million acres for new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities, this proposal would bring the Trump Administration’s total expansion to over 4 million acres nationwide.

“The Trump Administration and Secretary Bernhardt have made access to public lands for hunting and fishing and other outdoor recreation a priority beginning day one. Hunting and fishing are a part of our American history, and we continue to ensure we provide opportunities for these activities which epitomize our American heritage,” said Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “Furthermore, we have maintained our commitment to promoting good government by reducing the regulatory burden by working with states to facilitate these outdoor activities.”

This rule increases the number of units in the Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System open to public hunting to 430 and those open to fishing to 360. The rule also formally brings the total number of National Fish Hatchery System units open to hunting or sport fishing to 21. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

POMA and Mossy Oak Announce Pinnacle Award Winners

Johnstown, PA – The Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) 2020 Pinnacle Award honorees were announced by Jake Meyer, Public Relations Manager at Mossy Oak, during POMA’s Virtual Conference on Tuesday, August 11. Mossy Oak has been the presenting partner of the Pinnacle Awards since the program’s inception in 2008, and this year they were joined by Duluth Pack.

The Pinnacle Awards honor content creators for remarkable achievement in traditional outdoor sports-focused communications, including writing, photography/illustration/art, and broadcasting as well as content focused on wildlife conservation.

“The outdoor media has always been a key part of what we do,” stated Toxey Haas, founder and CEO of Mossy Oak. “We started our company with their help and we’ve grown it with the same. They’re our business partners as well as our friends.”

“We’re proud to sponsor the Pinnacle Awards to recognize the best of the best every year,” Ben Maki, Mossy Oak’s Chief Marketing Officer, added. “It’s an important way to reward excellence in outdoor journalism and encourage more in the future.”

 

2020 POMA PINNACLE AWARD WINNERS

Art/Photography:

Winner – Keith Crowley “Danger in Yellowstone”, Hawke Optics – Hawke Life

Outstanding Achievement – Keith Crowley, “Falls Bear”, Hawke Optics – Hawke Life

 

Book:

Winner – Richard Bernier, “Gleanings from 50 years on the Whitetail Track for Reviewers”, Big Whitetail Consultants

Outstanding Achievement – Kristine Houtman, “Why Women Hunt”, Wild River Press of Oregon

 

Broadcast:

Winner – Nick Hoffman, “Nick’s Wild Ride – Full Curls and Float Planes”, Outdoor Channel

Outstanding Achievement – Ryan Gresham, “The 24-Hour Antelope”, YouTube

 

Conservation:

Winner – Michael Fernald, “The Land Between the Lakes”, NWTF TV

Outstanding Achievement – Paul Wait, “Hunter Recruitment”, Delta Waterfowl Magazine

 

Magazine:

Winner – Shane Townsend, “Fly for a Try: A Day on Scotland’s Famed River Tay”, Hatch Magazine

Outstanding Achievement – Tom Keer, “A Bunny Pulpit”, Outdoor Life Magazine

 

Newspaper/Web:

Winner – Ken Perrotte, “Mentor Young Hunters”, Fredericksburg Freelance Star

Outstanding Achievement – Phil Phillips, “Antis Cry to Close Hunting as Grizzlies Expand Range”, NRA’s Hunters’ Leadership Forum website Read more

Fishing, Hunting

R4K Scouting Camera from Black Gate Hunting Products

Higher standards and lower prices. That’s the name of the game for Black Gate Hunting Products. When that mantra is applied to the trail camera industry it results in the R4K, an innovative new trail camera that is packed full of impressive features and won’t break the bank.

The R4K features an extreme high definition 32 MP camera and a 5 MP CMOS sensor. With a multitude of optional photo quality settings, including 5 MP, 8 MP, 12 MP, 16 MP, 20 MP, and 24 MP, you’re sure to find a setting that captures the right level of detail and maximizes your storage capacity. Capable of three shooting modes – Photo, Video, or Photo+Video – the cameras can shoot 4k quality video and also include multiple shooting options to tailor the set up for each specific user application.

Forget about having images of the back half of your quickly moving game. An ultra-wide detection zone means you’ll pick up every nearby motion and the near instant trigger speeds of 0.2-0.6 seconds ensures they’ll stay in frame of your photo. The fully automatic IR filter is coupled with 940NM No Glow technology and 45 IR LEDs to make this camera capable of capturing crystal-clear low light images. It also boasts an impressive sensing range and night-time lighting distance of 65 feet. All of this is driven by dual PIR sensors covering a full 120’ of angle. Read more

Hunting

SneakyHunter Bootlamps: Taking Stealth to a New Level

SALMON, Idaho (Aug. 10, 2020) – SneakyHunter Bootlamps – essentially, headlamps for your feet – eliminate the problem of accidentally spooking game with a headlamp or flashlight, as well as inadvertently temporarily blinding your companions by accidentally shining your light in their eyes. They make navigating rocky, uneven backcountry trails safer and easier. The lights operate using three AAA batteries and have three settings – white, for general hiking; red or optional green, for hiking with a red or green light that will not spook big game animals; and violet, which illuminates a blood trail better than conventional lights.

Hands-free activation is done by simply pushing the button on top with your foot – one click for white, two clicks for red, three clicks for violet. The lid is rated as highly water resistant. The SneakyHunter Bootlamps attach to your boot via an easy-to-use 18-inch long, 1-inch wide elastic cinch strap. The hook and loop strap is placed under your instep, and the two prongs on the front of the unit are slipped under your boot laces, resulting in a slip-proof attachment. The unit is made so that when it is mounted in the proper position, the light will shine where you will be walking.

SneakyHunter Bootlamps are a unique invention, not a knockoff of a product already on the market. They were created after Jim Manroe — a serious big game hunter who got hooked on his passion when his father took him for the first time at age 6 — kept unintentionally spooking elk with his headlamp on the way into his favorite honey hole. “After I spent time reviewing my unsuccessful hunts,” Manroe said. “I realized there were missed opportunities from my headlamp illuminating the eyes of big game, or generally disturbing them with scattered light. I decided I had to figure a way to eliminate that problem.”

Made in the USA, the SneakyHunter Bootlamps hunter version is available at retailers nationwide and conveniently online at www.sneakyhunter.com for a suggested retail price of $59.99 for a pair. They are available in green. To order yours now CLICK HERE. Read more

Hunting

Hank Forester to Share Field to Fork R3 Success at POMA’s Virtual Conference

ATHENS, GA– Hank Forester, Assistant Director of Hunting Heritage Programs for the unified Quality Deer Management Association and National Deer Alliance (QDMA/NDA), will share the success of the Field to Fork adult hunter recruitment program when he speaks at the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s virtual conference on Wednesday, August 12 at 11 a.m. EST.

Forester co-founded Field to Fork as food-based outreach to non-hunters that provides instruction and mentored hunting experiences to adults who are interested in learning how to hunt their own wild, local venison. Piloted in Georgia in 2016, Field to Fork expanded to 25 events in 17 states in 2019. Nearly 80% of participants are continuing to hunt on their own.

Forester will join Jim Curcuruto, Director of Research and Market Development for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), to speak on the importance of engaging new outdoorsmen and women. The role of traditional outdoor media in supporting programs like NSSF’s +ONE Movement and Field to Fork will also be discussed. Discussion will also include ways to build on the initial shooting-sports industry Field to Fork hosted for Ruger and Sig Sauer employees, proving that the industry can lead by example and mentor aspiring hunters within their companies while inspiring their customers to do the same.

POMA pivoted this year to a two-day virtual conference, August 11-12, for members and interested outdoor communicators. For more information and to register, visit www.professionaloutdoormedia.org.

QDMA is a Cornerstone Corporate Partner of POMA and has been since the media organization was formed in 2005. POMA’s mission is to foster excellence in communications at all levels, help members build their businesses, connect media and industry, promote fair and honest communication of the traditional outdoor sports and conservation stories, and mentor the next generation of traditional outdoor sports communicators. Read more

Hunting

Optics and Ethics of Technology

Relative to hunting, the term “fair chase” could be defined in many ways depending on the subjective perspectives of sportsmen and women across the land.  Fortunately, conservation groups such as the Pope and Young Club have already put a lot of thought into hunting ethics as a guide to those that want to do the right thing afield.  Of course, ethics is another conceptual idea that needs boundaries apart from the written law.

With the ever-increasing advent of electronics and all manner of technology being incorporated into hunting gear, it becomes easy to blur the line between what’s fair and what is not.  A new product named the Omega is one such sighting device that uses a mil-dot sight, real-time rangefinder up to 600 yards, and HD Video camera.  All this comes in one neat package that accommodates vertical bows, crossbows, shotguns, rifles, black powder, or even handguns and it comes with all the necessary hardware to mount it accordingly.

The first ethical question should be is it legal in Michigan (or any state that you may hunt)?  In terms of Michigan regulations, since it employs a common mil-dot reticle in its scope, there’s nothing unfair about that aspect of the apparatus.  There is also no rule against recording a hunt with a camera, nor are rangefinders prohibited.

The Omega addresses an issue I’ve had with my crossbow since the day I began using it:  ranging an animal with a separate rangefinder.  To do so, requires movement on the part of the hunter – a distinct disadvantage to taking game.  While today’s fast bows minimize rainbow trajectory, crossbows – especially lower velocity models like mine – are problematic.  Compared to typical, conventional vertical bows, the crossbows ‘ arrows/bolts shed velocity faster than vertical bows’ projectiles when weight for weight is equal.  That means a slight miscalculation in distance to the target could mean a miss or worse yet, wounding an animal.  Nobody wants that.

Digging deeper into the ethics questions, a position statement from the Pope and Young Club may help.  The Pope and Young Club is a non-profit North American conservation and bowhunting organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of bowhunting by striving to increase awareness and appreciation of bowhunting foundations, principles, and values. The Pope and Young Club is focused on Fair Chase hunting ethics that support the ethical pursuit of free-ranging, wild game animals without unfair advantage, while promoting the conservation of both habitat and wildlife. (The Club also maintains the universally recognized repository of records and statistics on North American big game animals harvested with a bow and arrow.)

Before taking any shot, it is paramount for any sportsman to consider if the shot will result in a humane kill.  If not, it may be legal but certainly is not ethical, and in my book that makes it unfair.

Therefore, the Omega sight checks the boxes of fairness and if $400 fits into one’s budget, it may be worth investigation.  Manufactured by Lil Bow Peep, LLC, of Medina, Ohio, information and purchase information is available at www.omegasights.com.

Archery, Firearms, Hunting

POMA Hires New Executive Director

Johnstown, PA The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) has hired Thomas MacAulay, former Marketing Director of BPI to lead the organization as its new Executive Director. Thomas will take the helm of the organization on August 11, 2020.

Tony Bynum, President of the Board of Directors said, “I’m super excited to have Thomas on board. Thomas’s availability came at the right time. We had a vacancy and went through a dozen interviews. Thomas was the last person interviewed. His passion and commitment to working with people, along with his financial and business management background really sealed it for us. He [Thomas] had a plan for POMA coming into the interview and his passion and desire to make this organization grow really came through.”

Tony Smotherman, a current board member, worked with Thomas at BPI Outdoors and assured the Board that it made the right choice in bringing him on.

Thomas has some big shoes to fill – literally and figuratively. Thomas is the third Executive Director of POMA and replaces the most recently departed, Kevin Orthman. Orthman helped build a solid brand making POMA the premier national outdoor media organization for the traditional hook and bullet community. Kevin recently left POMA to pursue other life goals with his family.

About POMA:

POMA works with its media members and Corporate Partners to foster excellence in communications at all levels. POMA helps its members build their businesses, connects media and industry, promotes fair and honest communication, and mentors the next generation of outdoor sports communicators. www.professionaloutdoormedia.org

For further information contact:

Tony Bynum, Board President

board@professionaloutdoormedia.org

Fishing, Hunting

Michigan Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Expo Canceled for 2020

LANSING, Mich. — As a result of the escalation of COVID-19, Michigan Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Expo, Bonnier Events has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Expo presented by Suzuki KingQuad, scheduled for August 14-16 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI.

We are cancelling due to our concerns over the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state of Michigan. The safety and health of our Exhibitors, Attendees and Employees is paramount to us and we don’t feel as though moving forward at this time is the correct thing to do.

Save the date, as next year’s Michigan Expo is scheduled for March 12-14, 2021.

The staff of the Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Expo presented by Suzuki KingQuad appreciates your patience and support as we work through this unprecedented situation. We look forward to seeing you in 2021.

For more information on the Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Expo presented by Suzuki KingQuad, visit www.fieldandstreamexpo.com.

Fishing, Hunting

Hunter Safety Systems Introduces the Shadow

DANVILLE, Ala. (August 3, 2020) — Known for its premium line of treestand harnesses, Hunter Safety System is now entering into a new price-point category with the introduction of its Shadow harness. This new harness is the latest in affordable treestand safety. Simple by design yet comfortable and extremely rugged, the Shadow is a great harness at an incredible value, priced at just $49.99.

At a mere 27 oz., the new Shadow is the lightest harness in the Hunter Safety System line. Like all Hunter Safety System harnesses, the Shadow features a comfortable fit design and tactical release buckles so that it goes on easy and has no dangling straps or weave-through buckles. It can be worn over lightweight clothes or underneath cold weather gear for all season use. Whether you are a seasoned hunter or just entering the market, the Shadow is a great harness.

“The Shadow harness is our most economical harness, but it still retains the quality customers have come to expect from Hunter Safety System,” said Joe Laseter, sales manager. “We believe it is the best harness available at this price point.” Read more

General, Hunting
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