Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Members of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission will be available to meet with the public Thursday, July 14, in Lansing. The commissioners will be at the DNR Lansing Customer Service Center, 4166 Legacy Parkway, Lansing, 48911, from 8 to 8:45 a.m.
Part of the commission’s “Coffee with the Commissioners” program, it’s a great opportunity for area residents to sit down with commissioners over a cup of coffee and share their thoughts, suggestions and concerns about Michigan’s natural resources.
“It’s important that we give Michigan residents every chance to hear from them on the management and long-term future of Michigan’s natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities,” said NRC chairman John Matonich. Read more
The Sanctuary’s high-tech skin is made from Ameristep’s proprietary Durashell Plus Fabric in the versatile Realtree Xtra camouflage pattern. This extremely durable, dull, woven-polyester fabric is lightweight, soft-to-the-touch, and stealthy quiet. It also boasts the industry’s highest print quality. Inside, a black Shadow Guard coating devours silhouettes. Read more
Wichita, KS — Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors announced today Cabela’s Outdoor Fund has awarded the organization a grant to fund the development of a revolutionary Digital Mentoring program delivered via the Powderhook app. The app functionality will provide hunters and anglers with ready access to Digital Mentors in their area. Digital Mentors who use the app provide advice and tips, making it easier for new people to begin, and helping people of all experience levels enjoy better days outdoors.
“Thanks to the generosity of Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors and Powderhook will be able to provide a valuable resource for new hunters and anglers through an online social support system,” stated Mike Christensen, President of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc. “We are grateful that Cabela’s Outdoor Fund shares our vision and is lending their support to our efforts. We believe we can multiply our impact by adding a technology component to our existing programs, and expanding through an app in places we don’t yet work on a daily basis.”
According to Powderhook CEO, Eric Dinger, mentoring has been a hot topic among the 50 state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as leading non-government organizations, but solutions that scale to meet the demand for mentoring have been tough to find. “A traditional mentoring relationship remains the backbone of how we’ll get more people started in the outdoors. Most people reading this can probably harken back to their mentor, whether it was their father, grandpa or neighbor. But, being a long-term mentor to a single child or new person via a traditional mentoring approach requires a lot of time. We believe many people who may not be able to commit the time to a full mentoring relationship will be willing to lend an answer here or there via an app. Read more
Michigan United Conservation Clubs had its most important event of the year this past weekend in Big Rapids: our Annual Convention, where delegates representing our 50,000-plus members and 250-plus affiliated local sportsmen’s clubs vote on what hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation policies we will pursue, honor dedicated conservationists, elect officers and even improve local wildlife habitat.
New conservation policies adopted by MUCC’s membership (and their sponsors) this weekend include:
GW: Welcome aboard, Mr. Powell!
MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Ducks Unlimited’s (DU) Director of Communications, James Powell, was elected volunteer President of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) at their annual conference in Montana last week.
“It’s truly an honor to be elected President of such a highly regarded organization,” Powell said. “I’m looking forward to working with other outdoor media leaders to help POMA grow and reach the goals set out in our mission.”
Powell has been DU’s Director of Communications for the past four years, and has served on the POMA board for two years. As President, he will preside over all meetings of the POMA Board of Directors and act as the liaison between the Executive Director and the Board. He is also responsible for member communications, the development of strategic partnerships and oversight of strategic marketing programs.
“We learned at the board meeting last week that POMA’s corporate partnerships have grown by 18 percent, which is a big increase from previous years,” he said. “While corporate partners undoubtedly allow POMA to do even more great things, we’re certainly going to be focused on membership growth as well.” Read more
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Boone and Crockett Club announced its support for a new fair-chase policy recently adopted by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. The new policy for hunting and angling in the state is in response to emerging technologies that have the potential to undermine the long-standing traditions of sportsmen in upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in the field.
The Club defines fair chase as the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild, native North American big-game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper advantage over such animals. Colorado has now adopted a similar definition for Colorado sportsmen and its wildlife.
“Definitions are important, but even more so is a general understanding of the concept of fair chase,” said Morrie Stevens, president of the Boone and Crockett Club. “Fair chase has been a important part of the values of our organization and our members dating back to our founder, Theodore Roosevelt. We’re certainly pleased to see a state with such rich outdoor traditions and values in hunting and angling like Colorado step up to say, ‘how we hunt and fish is just as important as why.'” Read more
