Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Although early winter snow in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was mild compared to the past few years, precipitation late in the season resulted in above-average snow depths that are continuing well into spring. These conditions are challenging deer in the region, and are expected to lead to lower survival and fawn recruitment rates than seen during the last few years. Read more
Old Saybrook, CT – Traditions™ Performance Firearms, known for their extremely accurate and dependable muzzleloaders, is proud to introduce the next innovation in muzzleloading – the Vortek StrikerFire™. In development since 2008, this patent-pending rifle takes features from the popular Vortek™ series but incorporates a StrikerFire™ system which has no external hammer. Read more
We have one chance to defend the right to hunt, fish and trap from out-of-state anti-hunters for good.
On Wednesday, the Senate rejected a gun control agenda that President Obama has adopted as his own over the last few months, but to which other gun control supporters have bitterly clung for years: banning an ever-lengthening list of semi-automatic firearms, banning magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, and expanding background check requirements to require government permission for many transfers of firearms among private citizens. Read more
In 2013, the TriStar Arms Viper G2 semi-automatic line will include left-handed models in both a synthetic stock and camouflage stock. Read more
NEWTOWN, Conn. — Today, the U.S. Senate voted on several measures that would have impacted the firearms and ammunition industry and our Second Amendment rights. Thanks to the hard work of our allies in the Senate, in the end no anti-gun measures were adopted. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
With spring turkey season upon us, every hunter would like to be able to pattern the birds’ activity before deciding on an ambush site. Scouting is a great way to begin, but finding time to hide and watch is difficult for anyone attempting to make a living. That’s where assistance from the Day 6 PlotWatcher Pro camera comes in.
This compact trail camera is designed to perform surveillance work during daylight hours and is just the ticket to scout in absentia. And, so far, I like what I’ve seen.
Imagine watching an entire field from sunrise to sunset through a review process that takes mere minutes. Time is money and this camera pays dividends after the one-time retail price of approximately $250 is paid plus the cost of an SD memory card of $15 to $30 and eight AA batteries.
The PlotWatcher is a time-lapse camera Read more
BEAVERTON, Ore. – Redfield® is offering a limited run of 1,000 U.S. Marine Corps M40 edition riflescopes through SWFA Outdoors. These OD green, 3-9x40mm riflescopes feature a Mil Dot reticle, a tactile post on the power selector, and have an appearance that is more authentic to the original USMC M40 riflescopes used in the Vietnam War. Read more
Later today, the U.S. Senate is expected to begin debate on gun-control legislation including The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, S. Amdt. 715, proposed by Sens. Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Toomey (R-Pa.) that will hurt our industry and infringe upon your Second Amendment Rights. Your senators need to hear from you now!
The Manchin-Toomey Amendment, which is co-sponsored by anti-gun Sens. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirk (R-lll.), would effectively shut down all storefront National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) checks on weekends by requiring that gun show checks must be COMPLETED before any store check can be completed. Read more
The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) recently helped establish three wildlife management cooperatives that unite public and private hunting lands for better deer habitat and hunting thanks in part to a $50,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The three cooperatives – two in Oklahoma and one in Michigan – are built on and around National Wildlife Refuges and encompass nearly 65,000 acres of public and private hunting land.
Wildlife management cooperatives (WMC) are groups of neighboring landowners or property lessees working together to improve wildlife and/or habitat management programs. The grant to establish the three new WMCs was announced last September, and as of late March, all three Cooperatives have now been launched:
· The Shiawassee Flats QDM Cooperative, which surrounds the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Michigan, was formed on March 12 and includes 25 individual landowners and 12,039 acres.
· The Washita River Deer Management Association, which surrounds Washita River NWR in Oklahoma, was formed on March 26 and includes 12 individual landowners and 40,311 acres.
· The Deep Fork Deer Management Association, which surrounds Deep Fork NWR in Oklahoma, was formed on March 28 and includes 15 individual landowners and 12,484 acres. Read more