Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
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
Overland Park, Kan. – Uncle Mike’s, a leading provider of shooting accessories for more than 60 years, has launched the Ultimate Tactical Sweepstakes, a prize package that includes a Daniel Defense rifle, Bushnell Tactical optics, and tactical accessories from Butler Creek Tactical, Millett, and M-Pro 7. Read more
“When we went over there and looked I said, ‘Holy cow, this thing has more beards than you can imagine, ” said Idaho turkey hunter Terry Baird. A photo and details are here…
Norfolk, Va. — PETA will soon have some impressive new weapons at its disposal to combat those who gun down deer and doves. The group is shopping for one or more drone aircraft with which to monitor those who are out in the woods with death on their minds. PETA aims to collect video footage of any illegal activity, including drinking while in the possession of a firearm, a common complaint from those who live near wooded areas; maiming animals and failing to pursue them so that they die slowly and painfully; and using spotlights, feed lures, and other hunting tricks that are illegal in some areas but remain common practices among hunters. PETA currently has its sights on Australia-based Aerobot and its state-of-the-art remote-controlled CineStar Octocopter. Read more
The Scientific Wildlife Management package (Senate Bills 288 & 289 and House Bills 4552 & 4553) will:
· Establish a right to hunt, fish and trap in state law.
· Allow the Natural Resources Commission to designate game species and issue fisheries orders.
· Provide $1 million in conservation funding for fish and game management and research.
· Provide free licenses to active-duty members of the military.
The anti-hunters, led by the Washington, D.C.-based Humane Society of the United States, are attacking this legislation because it means they won’t be able buy their way onto Michigan’s ballot to take away any more hunting rights. They’re even telling their members that it will lead to “dog, cat and horse” hunting, just as they lied about the wolf management law by telling people it would lead to “aerial gunning from helicopters.” And they’re repeating these lies to your legislators.
In 1996, hunters, anglers and trappers banded together and passed Proposal G to manage wildlife using sound science and defeat the anti-hunters’ attempt to limit bear hunting rights. In 2006, we were silent and the anti’s took away our rights to hunt doves. Now they’re back, like a wolf that’s lost its fear of humans, to attack your hunting rights one by one. What happens now is up to you.
Please call your state representative and state senator and tell them you support the Scientific Wildlife Management package. Don’t let the anti-hunters be the only ones your legislators hear from!
MINT SPRING, VA. – Parker Bows, a manufacturer of high quality Compound bows, Crossbows and RED HOT brand Crossbow Accessories is giving away a ThunderHawk Crossbow during the month of April (2013) through their Facebook page.
Participants can register for their chance to win the ThunderHawk Crossbow by visiting Parker’s Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/ParkerBows/app_425988140824649 or http://l.inkto.it/423e if you are using a Smartphone. The winner will be selected the first week of May and notified by email. Read more