Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Looking for a new place to hunt waterfowl this fall? Take a trip to Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area for a quality hunting experience.
Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, just north of Linwood, Michigan, on the western shore of the Saginaw Bay, has a family feeling. The hunters there take great pride in this local resource and appreciate the natural beauty and abundant waterfowl in the area. Read more
On October 5, thirty-four of the nation’s leading hunting, angling and conservation organizations sent a letter to Senate and House Energy bill (S. 2012) conferees in strong support of including important provisions from the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act (S. 405) and Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406) in final conferenced energy legislation. The 47 bipartisan conferees from the Senate and House include 34 members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC).
S. 405, introduced by CSC Members Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK), Martin Heinrich (NM), and Senate CSC leadership, expands access to and opportunities for hunting and angling and promotes wildlife and habitat conservation. On April 20, the Senate adopted many of the provisions within the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act with a vote of 97 – 0 under the Natural Resources Title of the Energy Policy Modernization Act (S. 2012). The House followed suit by adding its version of comprehensive sportsmen’s legislation, H.R. 2406, to S. 2012.
The SHARE Act, introduced by the bipartisan House CSC leadership, includes provisions such as the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act; the Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act; Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act; the Farmer and Hunter Protection Act; the permanent creation of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee; and the Preserving Public Access to Public Water Act, among others.
The inclusion of these provisions in the final conferenced energy legislation between the House and Senate Committees, and ultimately signing them into law, is crucial to the traditions of sportsmen and women across the country as well as fish and wildlife conservation for the future.
Each packet of Odor Shield contains the proprietary formula of Silver Ion concentrate with Titanium technology. Simply adding one packet to the rinse cycle of your washing machine, can provide up to 30 days or more of scent elimination. Odor Shield won’t stain or fade clothing and is safe for all washing machines. It works great for hunters who will be on extended trips where laundry service is unavailable.
Odor Shield is sold in a four pack, which will treat four average sized (medium to large) wash loads. Odor Shield sells for a suggested retail price of $9.99. Read more
MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation strongly opposes Initiative 177, a measure on Montana’s November ballot that would immediately ban trapping on all public lands in the state. If passed it would severely cripple scientifically sound management practices that maintain healthy wildlife populations across Montana.
“Removing trapping as a management tool flies in the face of the science-based North American Wildlife Conservation Model which is the foundation of maintaining the healthiest and most successful wildlife populations in the world. And managing wildlife at the ballot box is extremely dangerous for our wildlife and should remain in the hands of state wildlife agencies,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “A trapping ban would lead to an immediate jump in the wolf population of at least 15 percent and likely greater than that, which would trigger an even greater detrimental impact on the overall size and health of our elk, moose and deer populations.” Read more
ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland – Internationally recognized conservationist, wildlife biologist, speaker, and author, Shane Mahoney, has just launched Building a Coalition Between Hunters & Non-Hunters, the fourth video to be released as part of his new Conservation Matters vignette series. Building a Coalition Between Hunters & Non-Hunters is available to view on Facebook, or via Conservation Visions’ YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2cx0Rpf.
In this short film, Mahoney discusses breaking down the barriers that prevent or hinder the formation of broad and diverse coalitions in the modern conservation movement. In just under nine minutes, he provides historic examples of cooperation from our shared past, while warning against present day division among the individuals and organizations that work on wildlife’s behalf.
LEGENDARY OUTDOOR BRANDS BASS PRO SHOPS AND CABELA’S TO COMBINE
*Attached: an open letter from Johnny Morris.
MERGER WILL ENHANCE ABILITY TO SERVE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS WITH COMPLEMENTARY PRODUCT OFFERINGS AND GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINTS
CABELA’S SHAREHOLDERS WILL RECEIVE $65.50 PER SHARE IN CASH
BASS PRO SHOPS ENTERING INTO MULTI-YEAR CREDIT CARD PARTNERSHIP WITH CAPITAL ONE
BASS PRO SHOPS AND CABELA’S CLUB CUSTOMER LOYALTY PROGRAMS REMAIN UNCHANGED
Springfield, Mo. and Sidney, Neb. – October 3, 2016 – Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Incorporated (NYSE:CAB), two iconic American outdoor companies with similar humble origins, and with a shared goal to better serve those who love the outdoors, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Bass Pro Shops will acquire Cabela’s for $65.50 per share in cash, representing an aggregate transaction value of approximately $5.5 billion. Read more
Leading specialty outdoor retailer celebrates bigger, better location with celebrity appearances, giveaways and more for Lansing outdoor enthusiasts
Lansing, Michigan – Gander Mountain, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing outdoor specialty retailer, is celebrating the opening of its new store in Lansing with a three-day grand opening celebration starting on October 7, featuring celebrity appearances, giveaways and family activities for the community. Read more
The leading reason many individuals participate in deer hunting is simply the opportunity to spend time outdoors with friends and family, but harvesting a deer is important to many deer hunters as well. No amount of hunting guarantees a harvest; however, preparation and hard work are keys to producing the best opportunity to see and take deer, or to mentor a new hunter through a safe and enjoyable season. The 2016 deer season is expected to be a successful year for many hunters.
Persistence can pay off for deer hunters. Nationwide, successful deer hunters hunt an average of 18 days – slightly more than the average of about 14 days that Michigan deer hunters spent afield last year. Chances for success are greatest for those who are prepared. Part of hunting preparations each year includes becoming familiar with the most recent regulations. The DNR deer website provides highlights of regulation changes, information about deer management and links to additional resources, such as deer check station locations. Please refer to the 2016 Hunting and Trapping Digest and Antlerless Digest, which are available online and at DNR Customer Service Centers and license agents, for a map of all Deer Management Units (DMUs) and other regulation details.
Some successful hunting trips are just a result of being in the right place at the right time. Overall, deer activity tends to be highest a few weeks prior to breeding. The peak of breeding activity for Michigan deer generally occurs just prior to the opening of the firearm deer season. These peak breeding dates are earliest in the southern Lower Peninsula (LP), except that many does in the region that were born just this spring will already conceive their first fawns this year. Those breeding events for young does often occur a month or more later than they do for older deer, often not until mid-December. Hunters often seek to take advantage of these times of high deer movements, so archery hunting activity is often highest in late October and early November, followed by the busiest deer hunting day of the year – the opening of the firearm season. In southern Michigan, another late period of deer activity can occur several weeks prior to the late breeding events among young does, which can coincide with the end of the firearm season.
More sage advice from Sporting Classics’ shotguns columnist Robert Matthews
Not all shotshells are created equal. Shoot wisely this dove season. (Photo:
A couple weeks ago I passed out a few tips that I thought might be helpful for guys heading into the dove season. Now the opener has come and gone. I’ve been out several times, but the season is still in and a few other things came to me that I wanted to pass on. Watching the boys pop away at ’em reminded me of a few things that I didn’t mention last time.
First of all, use the best shell that you can afford. Many shell manufacturers offer cheap loads at this time of year in an effort to get you to buy more. The problem with these loads is that they contain soft shot (which is cheaper than hard shot) and it doesn’t pattern as well as the better shot. A lot of those “misses” and “feathered” birds that you’re getting are really well-hit birds. They end up as fox food because of sparse, irregular patterns.
I don’t mean to imply that you need high-brass shells or a stiffer charge. The issue isn’t power—it’s consistency. Read more