Reliable Commercial Test for CWD Prions in Deer Scents Exists, Is in Wide Use
Scent Companies Call on Government Agencies to Catch up With Technological Advances
Ramsey, MN- A commercially available test that can be used to analyze deer urine for the presence of CWD prions before its distribution to the public has been in use by Wildlife Research Center® and Tink’s® for a year, and most of the major scent companies are also adopting this technology in 2020. Real Time Quaking Induced Conversion, RT-QuIC ™ for short, is a proven and reliable method for detecting the misfolded proteins that cause CWD. Read more
Leon, IA- Fore Runner Blinds is the first portable soft-sided blind of its kind in the hunting industry. For a limited time, Fore Runner blinds are $100 off and FREE shipping! The blind was designed by hunters to hold up to harsh late season elements while being completely user friendly. Fore Runner blinds have an integrated hitch system, allowing them to be towed by your ATV or Side-By-Side. The wheels are designed to easily engage and disengage in a matter of minutes making the mobility of the Fore Runner blind the best in the industry. Once you get to your favorite hunting spot, just unhook from the ground blind and raise the wheels up.
The Fore Runner Ground Blind’s advanced durability is designed with an aluminum frame to withstand the wind and snow. This rigid, self-supporting aluminum frame will survive the harshest of elements. It’s because of this, you no longer need to secure your blind to the ground with tent stakes and tie-downs. It’s easy set-up with worry-free, minimal effort, allowing you to focus on the task at hand. When you need to move the blind there is no need to worry about fiberglass rods or hubs to collapse. Read more
Three buttons: that’s all it takes to get the Switch™ and Switch Lightsout™ cameras fully operational. This dummy-proof trail camera is the easiest setup we’ve ever created.
For over two decades, Wildgame Innovations has led the way in affordable trail cameras. With the Switch™ and Switch Lightsout™ cameras, we’ve addressed user comments by providing the simplest setup of any game camera on the market. Choose a capture mode, delay, setting and time zone and you’re done. The Switch™ and Switch Lightsout™ cameras capture crisp 12- megapixel images and 720p HD videos, and update the date and time automatically (even during Daylight Savings). Spend your time hunting, not setting up cameras, with the Switch™ and Switch Lightsout™ cameras.
The Switch™ is outfitted with high-intensity infrared LEDs, while the Switch™ Lightsout™ uses both invisible black infrared LEDs and the Lightsout™ invisible infrared LED flash. As a result, hunters will capture crisp and vivid high-definition photos and videos to help hone in on your next hunt.
Switch™ Features:
Extremely simple toggle switch user-interface for ease of setup
Automatically syncs date and time – self-corrects for daylight savings
Includes adjustable tree strap
Unique shape reduces footprint for easier concealment
Eligible online hunter education students will be able to hunt this spring despite the postponement of field day classes, which normally are required. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is providing temporary hunter education safety certificates to select online students who have not been able to attend a field day due to cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Field days are the required final step in earning a Michigan DNR hunter education safety certificate for online students. Safety certificates are mandatory to purchase a Michigan hunting license. The face-to-face classes have been postponed as a result of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order. Read more
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association
As we wade through these unprecedented times of trouble, a daily sameness has developed courtesy of the things we can no longer do. Penned up, hemmed in, or locked down – whatever one calls it, we are all living it. However, those of us living in rural America have the means to escape the madness of solitary existence, because our land offers the get-away we all crave. There is always another chore to cross off the list. And, then there’s hunting.
With a backpack full of gear and enough coffee to float a boat, and my trusty shotgun slung over my shoulder, I began the walk in darkness with a full bevy of stars overhead. The yellow-orange sliver of moon to the east stopped me in my tracks – sort of a smelling-of-roses moment that I had to take in and appreciate. If this was confinement, it was good.
In the darkness I stepped off 28 yards and poked my lone hen decoy into the soft earth. The tight confines of my portable blind would provide an open window to a world unaffected by the hysteria that we’ve all come to know in one way or the other.
A hard frost had descended upon the sprouting legume vegetation of the field before me and the welcome comfort of the propane heater and hot coffee melted the crispy beginning in short order. The annoying sounds of jets flying overhead and the typical din of highway traffic were non-existent; only the melodious yodeling of myriad robins whistling their favorite springtime tunes could be heard.
The large blind allowed for a tripod and camera to be my sidekicks and the remaining gear was positioned strategically within reach. I made mental notes of certain trees – measured from the blind with a rangefinder – as limits for any ethical shots.
It didn’t take long for the action to heat up. A single hen came from the woods, noticed the decoy and strolled past. Then another followed and finally another hen entered the destination field, and this one was content to hunt and peck in the vicinity. Oh, yeah. A live decoy!
Without a sound an adult gobbler debuted and focused his attention on the single hen. Fanned out, puffed up and strutting back and forth, the energetic male used every trick in the book to gain a response from a potential mate – all to no avail, as the unimpressed hen vanished into cover. The minute she left, the gobbler’s attention was entirely directed to my rubber trickster.
I recognized the young, adult bird from scouting episodes because of a certain style of its beard hanging to one side and the one-inch spurs it was sporting. Being opening day, I would let this guy continue his involuntary dance routine to his heart’s desire in hopes that he’d survive for another season.
I even messed with his brain a bit by scratching out a few hen calls when he wasn’t too close to me just to elicit a few gobbles. Although it wouldn’t usually be wise to run the risk of detection, I didn’t care. And, he didn’t get it.
The bird never really figured out that decoy and hung around me for quite a while. But, when he strolled by my hideout a mere 10 feet away, we made eye contact. With that, the young gobbler did the double-time step right out of view.
Soon thereafter, four jakes (one year-old males) got up enough nerve to court the rubber princess and were eventually numb to its lack of reciprocation. When they finally left my presence, I hiked away in the early afternoon.
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association
One pull of the shotgun’s trigger reminded me just how potent turkey loads are. Even though the Winchester Long Beard 12-gauge ammo contains less shot than typical, shoulder-pounding shells designed specifically for turkeys, it packs one heck of a punch. Nonetheless, with opening day of turkey season around the corner, it was time to take my medicine.
Fortunately, the EOTech optic sitting atop my scattergun, made short work of the sighting-in session, thus minimizing shoulder abuse. It just isn’t fun!
With that out of the way, I packed my portable blind and headed afield to set it up. Even though it will stand out like a beacon in the night to the whitetails, turkeys on the other hand just don’t see the conspicuous traps for what they are.
This season is shaping up as a unique one, as I’ve observed a group of 11 birds growing up together. One adult hen and her offspring were once a tightly knit assembly of drumsticks but have since become scattered about. The six males in the family unit always seemed to have promoted instability, as they chased each other in games of hierarchy.
But, now they have been pushed aside and chased away by bullies with beards. Full-fledged gobblers now run with their chosen circle of hens, and that took some doing. Just last week, two adult males were in mixed-martial-arts mania jumping into the air kicking and flapping. When the aerobatics were complete, one gobbler finished the foray by running the loser out of sight. Like everything else in life, there are winners and losers.
In the midst of the Corvid-19 pandemic chaos, I will head afield before dawn to watch and listen to the wild world waking up. A little coffee, some welcome warmth from the propane heater, a cushioned seat and all the paraphernalia any turkey hunter could desire will be at my disposal.
There I will listen with my old ears and will remain hidden from the reality of the world’s troubles. Within the confines of the blind, I will be one with my thoughts – wherever they may lead. What more could a person want? Oh, sure a turkey dinner would be a nice reward but I may just prolong the adventure this time around.
New hunting and fishing opportunities across 2.3 million acres at 97 national wildlife refuges and 9 national fish hatcheries
WASHINGTON – Continuing the Trump Administration’s significant efforts to increase recreational access on public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced today a historic proposal for new and expanded hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres at 97 national wildlife refuges and 9 national fish hatcheries. This proposed rule is the single largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in history.
“America’s hunters and anglers now have something significant to look forward to in the fall as we plan to open and expand hunting and fishing opportunities across more acreage nationwide than the entire state of Delaware,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hunt Fish Chiefs have been instrumental in our effort over the past two years to streamline our regulations and identify new opportunities for sportsmen and women like no other previous administration.”
This proposed rule would create nearly 900 distinct new 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 4 million acres nationwide.
“Once the Trump Administration’s effort to eliminate the threat of COVID-19 has been successful, there will be no better way to celebrate than to get out and enjoy increased access for hunting and fishing on our public lands,” said Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “I deeply appreciate everything sportswomen and men do for conservation and our economy, so I am delighted when we can do something to expand opportunities for them. I hope it will help encourage the next generation of hunters and anglers to continue on this rich American tradition.” Read more
TrueTimber® AirPack™ Inflatable Ground Blinds Feature Revolutionary Air Technology
INMAN, S.C. – April 7, 2020 – The new patent pending TrueTimber AirPack inflatable ground blind series is a groundbreaking improvement on complacent technology. For decades hunters were sold on different sizes, shapes and configurations erected with the same old framework. Advancing beyond cumbersome and breakable rod and pole frames, TrueTimber AirPack blinds are supported by ultra-durable beams filled with air, giving the blinds a strong support system while maintaining flexibility and an ultralightweight design. TrueTimber AirPack ground blinds, constructed in multiple TrueTimber camo patterns and material options, are expected to be available mid-2020.
The AirPack blind can go anywhere a hunter can—it fits into a standard-sized backpack in matching TrueTimber camo and weighs between 15 and 22 pounds depending on the model. The package includes the backpack, a one-handed silent air pump and blind with additional pockets for extra gear. The blind can be completely inflated and ready to hunt in less than two minutes.
“This is truly revolutionary technology that will change the mindset hunters have about ground blinds,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “Ground blinds have always been a hassle to transport, set up and maintain once out in the field. With these blinds, we have virtually eliminated all of those issues and created a lightweight, easy to move and set-up package that is strong enough to handle the elements, including wind, rain/snow and even trees and limbs.” Read more
