Category: Hunting

African Lion Conservation Crippled by USFWS Ruling

DALLAS, TX – In a year when the vocal anti-hunting minority was as loud as it was uninformed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is going against its own proven conservation policies and those of foreign countries in an effort to appease anti hunters at home. The end result is severe crippling of lion conservation efforts in Africa.

On December 21, a USFWS press release announced the addition of two lion subspecies to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This politicizing of wildlife conservation and oppressive restrictions on specimen importation will result in a devastating reduction of funds necessary to conserve the species in their home range, causing African lion populations to plummet.

According the USFWS statement, Panthera leo leo, located in India as well as western and central Africa, will be listed as endangered. However, Panthera leo melanochaita, with a population of more than 19,000 and growing thanks to sportsmen-funded conservation efforts, will now be listed as “threatened.” The USFWS service claims unidentified pockets of P.l. melanochaita populations, a subspecies of lion found throughout southern and eastern Afrcia, remain at risk due to “ongoing threats,” identified as “habitat loss, loss of prey base, and retaliatory killing of lions by a growing human population.” In its release, the USFWS does not list sustainable, lawful hunting as a threat to lion populations. In fact, without lawful, sustainable hunting, the threats faced by these lions will only get worse.

“The Service determined that this subspecies (P.l. melanochaita) is less vulnerable and is not currently in danger of extinction,” the USFWS statement reads. “However, although lion numbers in southern Africa are increasing overall, there are populations that are declining due to ongoing threats. As a result, the Service finds the subspecies meets the definition of a threatened species under the ESA.”

Perhaps the problem is not the people of the USFWS who are doing their jobs and enforcing the law. Maybe the problem is a flawed ESA which denies species in foreign countries classified as “endangered” or “threatened” any opportunity for help from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Sustainable Use and Livelihood Specialist Group (IUCN-SULi), the United States government or its citizens. Barring help from these groups, creatures like the African lion are doomed. Now, no one and no entity will do anything to help the remaining lions in west Africa and, in time, the last remnants of these populations will be gone. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

NEW HAWK® BIG DENALI™ LADDER STAND


Frankenmuth, MI— HAWK®, industry leader in innovative, hunter-driven treestand design and accessories, introduces their latest new ladder stand, the BIG DENALI™. The HAWK® BIG DENALI is sure to live up to it’s name offering the largest and most comfortable seat ever offered on any one-man ladder stand. The XXL MeshComfort™ Seat is the same size as a deluxe patio furniture chair and is approximately 30-40% LARGER than other mesh seats offered on treestands!Although certainly the highlight, the XXL MeshComfort seat is not the only unique feature on this stand. The Big Denali™ features Patent Pending SLS™ Stacking Ladder System. With SLS™ that ladder sections stack [nest] together to create a portable package that is easy to carry or transport. The SLS™ results in a wide-stance base, which creates a stable and safe footprint and the combination of HAWK® heavy-duty tubing, solid-bolted sections and proprietary tensioning system make this stand hard to rival in any comparison. Also, features a Comfort Footrest, Adjustable Shooting Rail and Integrated Bow/Gun Holder. Read more
Archery, Hunting

New Moultrie Panoramic 180i Game Cam


Birmingham, AL – Moultrie Products®, LLC, the leader in game camera design and innovation, introduces a game camera with a full 180-degree field-of-view, the Panoramic-180i™.Without a camera on every tree, hunters are left to wonder what goes unseen on their hunting property just out of the range of their game cams. And while hanging a camera on every tree is unrealistic, it is completely realistic for hunters to cover 3 times more ground with the expansive viewing capacity of the Panoramic-180i game cam. It’s literally like having 3 cameras in 1. Read more
Hunting, Wildlife

Rinehart Introduces Motion-Focused Whitetail Doe Decoy


Janesville, WI – With years of experience in crafting the most lifelike, durable and realistic archery targets in the industry, Rinehart Targets® expands the scope of their brand with the introduction of the new Rinehart Deloma Series Doe Decoy. The new Doe Decoy, like all Rinehart targets, is hand-sculpted by world-class wildlife artists for unmatched realism.Rinehart has built its reputation on using specialized, durable and life-like material—and the Deloma Series Doe Decoy is no exception. She features a patented design, ultra-quiet Rinehart foam for silent transport and an easy-carry folding configuration for nimble treks to and from any hunting location.

Aside from her stunningly realistic looks, the Doe Decoy’s strongest attribute is her natural head turning—and neck turning—abilities. The ability to naturally turn her head in the slightest breeze to simulate life-like movement will draw in the wariest of bucks. Read more

Hunting

Scent-Free Bug Spray Finally Available

GW: More effective than DEET?


Scent-Free Bug Spray is Finally AvailableWarner Robins, GA —Lethal Scent Elimination, a leading provider of extremely effective and powerful odor eliminating products has finally created and produced a product that big game hunters have been waiting on for years, scent-free bug and tick repellent.Lethal Bug and Tick Repellent was developed by the same in-house chemists who have spent the last 30 years researching and developing some of the most effective household, scent eliminating products on the market today. This unscented, non-greasy, quick-drying repellent is effective for up to eight hours and works well as part of the Lethal System or separately; either way, the scent-free repellent is the first on the market and undoubtedly will be the leader in the category in the future.

Since September, Lethal has given the Bug and Tick Repellent to a few key dealers and the Lethal Pro-Staff to, not only test in the field, but in retail, as well. Results were outstanding with sell-through numbers at 100% and feedback from the pro-staff supported the test results with the product being more effective than DEET. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Thinking spring? Apply for spring turkey hunting now

Spring Turkey Digest coverThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the spring turkey hunting application period is now open.

“If you are looking to hunt one of the limited-license turkey hunts, make sure to apply now,” said DNR upland game bird specialist Al Stewart. “If you’re looking for broader statewide options in your hunt, you may want to wait and purchase Hunt 234.”

The 2016 spring turkey season runs April 18 through May 31, with several different hunt periods to choose from.  The Spring Turkey Digest explains regulations, season dates and hunt units.

Hunt 234 licenses go on sale over the counter, with no application required, March 15. Hunt 234 offers the most days to hunt, as it is valid from May 2-31 and is open statewide except on public land in southern Michigan. Read more

Hunting

RMEF Speaks Up for Elk, Sportsmen as California Unveils Wolf Plan


MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation wishes to offer clarity regarding reports about California’s new wolf plan. Various media outlets reported that RMEF was part of a collaborative effort with other organizations, including environmental groups, to develop the plan. Such verbiage is misleading and seems to indicate RMEF’s support, approval and advocacy of the plan.”Plain and simple we asked for a seat at the table to speak out on behalf of elk as well as sportsmen and women,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

“We are extremely concerned about a wolf policy that will cause the same issues that we have seen in the Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd where wolf reintroduction had a drastic effect on elk herds. We question several elements of the plan itself and are also very concerned about recent comments by some groups that want less hunting so wolves can prey on more elk.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Photograph Your Bucks for Under $50


Dallas, TX – First-generation scouting cameras were bulky, drained batteries quickly and, frankly, didn’t work that well. Thankfully, those frustrating days are in the past. Scouting cameras have evolved to a level that was unimaginable only a few years ago. These amazing tools have become standard equipment for anybody who needs to be there… but can’t really be there.While some outdoorsmen relish the thought of a game camera with features far exceeding anything they’ve used in the past, there are many who appreciate practical simplicity – an economical scouting camera that will perform basic functions flawlessly. The NEW Wildgame Innovations Terra 5 IR Camera fits these needs perfectly.

Don’t be fooled by the terms “economical” or “basic”. The new Terra 5 IR performs beyond its highly affordable $49.99 price, offering capabilities in line with more expensive models, including a lightning fast, one-second trigger speed and a 21 pc high-intensity LED infrared flash. With a generous flash range up to 50 feet, the Wildgame Innovations Terra 5 IR is ideal for monitoring scrapes, mineral sites or other localized spots where long-range images are neither desired nor required. Read more

Hunting

Browning Sub-Micro Trail Cameras: Even More Elite in 2016

Birmingham, AL: After another year of establishing themselves as leaders in the trail camera industry, Browning Trail Cameras has taken their wildly popular Sub-Micro trail camera series and made it even better for 2016. For this year, the Strike Force Elite HD and Dark Ops Elite HD trail cameras have been equipped with FIVE new features to continue taking the Browning Trail Camera experience to unprecedented heights and build on a remarkable customer base. Read more

Hunting

Ranging in the Realm of Reality


Dallas, TX – Halo hit the sweet spot with their 2015 release of the XRT6 Laser Rangefinder, a rugged and compact 600-yard unit providing hunters with an unbeatable combination of performance features for a great price.

For 2016, Halo builds on the XRT6’s popularity; continuing the theme of performance and value with the release of the NEW XRT7 Laser Rangefinder – the latest XRT family member delivering reliable and lightning-fast performance ranging out to an impressive 700 yards; more than enough capability for any eastern hunt, and plenty of range for most western or even African plains game hunts. Read more

Hunting, Optics
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