Category: Hunting

Youth rabbit hunt a new tradition for DNR, conservation groups

What started out as an experiment has turned into a tradition. The youth rabbit hunt at the Belding Sportsmen’s Club, near the Flat River State Game Area – now in its third year – attracted 45 youngsters last Saturday for a morning of stomping brush piles, following beagles and tromping through the snow.

 

young hunter shooting with mentor“We’re getting great participation from everyone,” said club president John Burns, “club members, parents and youngsters.”

 

The idea for the youth hunt sprung from John Niewoonder, the Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist at Flat River, who had been on a campaign to improve the small game habitat by building brush piles for “rabbitat” at the area. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

QDMA to Convene First-Ever Whitetail Summit to Address Declining Deer Herds and Other Threats

GW:  It had to happen.  What goes up must come down.  But, what are the answers to land development, diseases, predators, etc?  Time to find out…

Declining deer herds and other threats to North America’s deer-hunting heritage will be the focus of the first-ever North American Whitetail Summit being convened by QDMA, March 3-6, at Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, Missouri.

“Whitetail numbers are down throughout much of their range due to many factors including EHD, predators, and even over-harvest,” said QDMA CEO and wildlife biologist Brian Murphy.  “In some areas, herds are below what the habitat can support and what provides a quality hunting experience. This is a serious issue with significant long-term implications for the future of deer hunting.” Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

Safari Club International and Hunters Helping the African Lion

GW:  Another example of how hunting helps…

Tucson, AZ – From the outside looking in, a non-hunter might find it hard to comprehend. What needs to be understood is that hunters have a deep care and passion for the animals they pursue to ensure that a healthy population of that resource remains.

Hunters commit a large amount of resources and time to help promote species of game to sustainable levels to be able to pursue them for hunting.

The impact of hunters on the African lion has become a hot button issue, to say the least, over the past few years. What should be a discussion based on science has turned into an emotionally charged topic. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Merkel Announces RX Helix Explorer

GW: At least a man can dream…

BESSEMER, Ala. (Jan. 22, 2014)-Having cast aside the century-old design of conventional bolt-action rifles in favor of its revolutionary straight-pull RX Helix that cycles faster than any other manually operated centerfire rifle, Merkel has taken the platform a step further with the introduction of the RX Helix Explorer, complete with a synthetic stock.
The RX Helix Explorer is a straight-pull design that retains all the strength and safety of a rotary bolt head with seven locking lugs as well as a fully enclosed, hard-anodized-aluminum action housing. The linear motion of the bolt handle is transmitted to the bolt head in a two-to-one ratio by way of an innovative transmission gearing system within the action, providing for smooth and fast cycling without the rotational or tipping movement found on other straight-pull bolt-action rifles. Read more

Firearms, Hunting

Ranchers, Hunters Get Reprieve from Excessive Government Restrictions for Three Antelope Species

Washington, D.C. – With the passage of the Omnibus spending package that keeps the U.S. government funded until September 30, 2014, America’s hunters and ranchers received a welcome surprise that eliminates government restrictions on the hunting of U.S. populations of scimitar-horned oryx, dama gazelle, and addax (three antelope species). The legislative fix, first written by Safari Club International’s Washington, D.C. staff, reinstates a 2005 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulation that facilitates U.S. conservation of these species. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

The Paradox of Good Intentions

By Glen Wunderlich

A paradox of good intentions is the only description that comes to mind with a story from Texas relative to the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  Although the ESA has been with us for some 40 years and is touted as having credible successes with certain species (and, rightfully so), it’s having a severe, negative impact on three antelope species:  horned oryx, Dama gazelle and addax.  These antelope species are known in Texas as the “Three Amigos.”

The U.S. House and Senate will consider Dallas Safari Club (DSC)-backed legislation that would exempt from ESA protections three antelope species nearly extinct in their native countries but thriving on ranches in Texas.  The exemptions would clear the way for ranchers to maintain their herds and to offer hunts for these game animals without government intervention.

Once again, the seemingly counter-intuitive rationale to allow hunting is being used as an argument to save the species.  Yes, they are not indigenous to Texas, but tell that to the once-thriving herd.

First, we must understand that the imposition of ESA mandates brings with it certain prohibitions Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

HSUS “Ambassador” Caught with Illegal Ivory

This from www.HumaneWatch.org

We reported earlier this week about the controversy around an auction for a hunt of a single, non-breeding black rhino that raised $350,000 for anti-poaching efforts. It’s interesting that the biggest complainer about this auction, the Humane Society of the United States, isn’t apparently spending much, if anything, toward rhino conservation itself, according to its tax returns.  If HSUS had its way, this $350,000 wouldn’t make its way to anti-poaching programs, simply because HSUS is ideologically against hunting.

And now, the latest setback in the fight against illegal poaching comes from HSUS’s own “global ambassador,” the music artist calling herself Ke$ha. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

ATTEND THE NRA UNIVERSITY IN DUNDEE, MI!

Join NRA-ILA Grassroots staff on Saturday, February 8, for our FREE NRA University (NRA U).   NRA University (NRA U) is a FREE training seminar geared toward college students, but open to all interested in learning more about NRA, the Second Amendment, the real facts surrounding the gun control debate and how to become an even more effective grassroots activist. Attendees who are not current NRA Members will receive a complimentary one-year membership to NRA, along with hats, t-shirts, and other important materials.

At this NRA U you will hear from NRA staff on the challenges and opportunities we will face this year and what you can do to ensure the preservation of our Second Amendment rights. Success in the 2014 elections is critical if we are to preserve our Second Amendment rights from a relentless barrage of attacks by President Obama and Michael Bloomberg, and victory in November is dependent on your activism, which has never been more important. Read more

Ammunition, Firearms, Gun Control, Hunting, Self Defense

Outdoor Life Awards DNR for Habitat Partnership with Michigan United Conservation Clubs

Michigan On-the-Ground program engages volunteers to improve habitat

LAS VEGAS, NV— The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) earned Outdoor Life magazine’s first ever Open Country award, which recognizes individuals, organizations and agencies for protecting and improving public hunting access. The DNR won the agency award for its public-private partnership with Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) in the Michigan On-the-Ground program, a statewide series of volunteer fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects. The award was presented at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday.  Read more

Hunting, Wildlife
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