Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA. – Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world’s leading manufacturer of high performance sports optics, is expanding its award-winning TERRA 3X riflescope line with four 50mm low-light models: the 3-9×50 Z-PLEX, the 3-9×50 RZ6, the 4-12×50 Z-PLEX and the 4-12×50 RZ8. Read more
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Southwick Associates has announced the brands hunters and shooters purchased most frequently in 2013. This list has been compiled from the 36,680 internet-based surveys completed by hunters and shooters who volunteered to participate last year in Southwick Associates’ HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com polls. In 2013, brands most frequently purchased included: Read more
Starting Saturday, March 1, Michigan sportsmen and women will see something they haven’t witnessed in many years: changes to the state’s hunting, fishing and ORV license options – a lineup that hadn’t undergone real change since 1997. The changes are happening for good reason.
The new license structure provides a simpler license-buying experience, brings Michigan’s license options and prices in line with those of other states, and generates the revenue necessary to deliver the best in outdoor recreation opportunities.
The first thing customers will notice is an easier-to-navigate number of license choices – from 227 down to just over 40. Individual archery deer and firearm deer licenses? Gone. Restricted fishing license? Ditto. Pricing on several items has changed, too; some prices have risen, some remain the same, and others have decreased. Read more
Just in time for the 2014 turkey hunting season, TriStar Arms is announcing their new Raptor ATAC Turkey shotgun in 12 gauge. The Raptor line has been a popular and dependable line for TriStar, and now turkey hunters will be able to use many of the same features in the field this spring. The Raptor ATAC Turkey shotgun patterned in Mossy Oak Break Up camouflage (on the stock and forearm only), features a picatinny rail and ghost ring mounted sight, a fixed pistol grip and a fiber optic bridge front sight. The gas operated semi-automatic shotgun will come in a 24-inch barrel with a 3” chamber, and will utilize a removable choke system that is fitted with Beretta® Mobile threads and will include one (1) extended turkey choke tube. Read more
Michigan’s fishing, hunting and ORV licenses will change beginning March 1, 2014. The new license structure – authorized by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2013 – makes buying a license easier and provides vital funding to improve outdoor recreation opportunities for anglers, hunters, trappers and ORV riders. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Long before animals had lawyers representing a small segment of society that values the lives of animals above humans, man existed by hunting. In fact, there are millions of traditional rural Americans that, in essence, hunt to subsidize their existence today. As a sportsman, I am among them.
Predictably, the leading anti-hunting organization in the world, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), based in Washington, DC and not connected to our local shelters, has ridden its gravy train into our small town with a plea to now save Michigan’s wolves from extinction by aid of petition – even though in the history of regulated hunting, no animal species has ever been in peril, as a result.
Their leaders, Wayne Pacelle and Mike Markarian have a plan for Michigan, and it doesn’t involve our wildlife biologists and scientists; it does involve suing us, however.
These extremists have a dream inconspicuously absent in a recent Argus-Press editorial: Wolf delisting isn’t based on best available science, by Mke Markarian, of The Humane Society Legislative Fund. So, sharing their vision for America is my pleasure. Read more
EAST ALTON, Ill. (Feb. 18, 2014) — In 2014, Winchester® Ammunition will extend its AA® TrAAcker™ shotshell line into the popular sporting clays offerings of 12 and 20 gauge. This provides more options to consumers to assist shooters in identifying where and why they’re missing their targets. During this process, shooters and instructors are able to visibly see where they are missing with the AA TrAAcker technology, and can easily make adjustments to correct it.
Legendary innovation at Winchester Ammunition continues with the award winning AA® TrAAcker™, the first game and target load to feature a weighted wad that actually tracks with the shot string. This allows the shooter or an instructor to quickly determine where the shooter is missing – making it easy to adjust and hit flying targets shot after shot. “A new shooter now can learn how to lead a clay target or game bird almost immediately – that’s the results you get with AA TrAAcker,” said Brett Flaugher, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing, sales and strategy. “Now we’ve made it more versatile by offering the AA TrAAcker in 20 gauge, not just 12 gauge. It continues to be a great training tool for shooters, hunters, and shooting instructors, especially when youth or beginning shooters are learning every aspect of the sport.” 
The secret of AA TrAAcker is in the revolutionary wad. Read more
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Global warming may be a hot topic in the news, but for millions of Americans, this past winter has been anything but warm. Wintery weather has blanketed many parts of the country in snow and ice with everything from Augusta, GA, to Augusta ME, feeling the impact. But for hunters, traditionally considered a hearty crowd for their perceived ability to rough bad winter weather, how cold is too cold to keep hunting? According to a recent HunterSurvey.com poll, the majority of hunters are still willing to hit the woods even as temps plunge into the single digits. But when it drops below zero, most agree, it’s time to call it quits. Read more
Game Calls pulls predators in to your setup for a closer look. The Lure Motion Decoy features a rabbit-like fur sleeve that spins and quivers by the flip of its on/off switch. The decoy extends upward to mimic a helpless, distressed rabbit that no predator can resist.
Designed to work in combination with a predator call, the Lure Motion Decoy brings predators in range and can act as a distraction in low-cover situations. Read more