Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
FAIRFAX, Va.- Hunters passionate about lightweight gear have an ideal package to try for in a double gift giveaway at www.nrahuntersrights.org this month-a 12-gauge Benelli Ultra Light shotgun and a pair of Bushnell compact binoculars. One winner will be picked to win both on June 1, 2012. Read more
Twenty years ago, MidwayUSA owners Larry and Brenda Potterfield launched a special program that helps fund the fight against anti-gun initiatives. To date, this program has accumulated over $7 million in MidwayUSA Customer donations. Read more
Montana officials want more wolves taken out of the gene pool and have a plan to loosen restrictions on hunting and trapping. The public is invited to chime in on the use of electronic calls, bag limits, etc. More here…
With my turkey hunting season opener less than one week away, it was time for some scouting. I perched myself above a wildlife food plot in a deer hunting shack so that I could remain comfortable with a clear view. 
Within 15 minutes, a lone hen appeared and seemed to be on a mission, never slowing much and disappearing to the north. The action continued throghout the 3.5 hours of observation with wildlife in view the entire time.
A few deer here and there
and at about 8:05 the first distant gobbles sounded. From the broken-off calls, I assumed they were jakes, and my suspicion was confirmed 30 minutes later.
All in all, a good day of viewing, but still looking for the boss gobbler.
Distant Jakes
by Bill Horn
As regular U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance readers know, on April 17th, the House of Representatives passed the most important fishing and hunting bill in 15 years – HR 4089, The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act – by a lopsided 274 to 146 vote. A bipartisan majority of 235 Republicans and 39 Democrats voted yes. The bill has two fundamental features: (1) establishing that 700 million acres of federal public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service are open to fishing, hunting, and recreational, as a matter of law, until or unless closed for good specific reasons and (2) confirming recent EPA decisions that the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act does not allow the agency to regulate lead in fishing gear or ammunition. The overwhelming support from America’s real conservationists, the angling and hunting community, demonstrates this is good public policy and ought to be non-controversial.
But nothing in Washington, D.C. ever is. So it’s little surprise that the usual suspects are screaming about the bill and peddling disinformation about what it does. Read more
– Government Not Accounting for Costs
MISSOULA, Mont. (May 2, 2012) Studies released independently by Notre Dame Law School and the Government Accountability Office show that environmental groups pad their claims for reimbursed legal fees using a social program entitled the Equal Access to Justice Act, and the U.S. is not keeping track of expenditures.
A Notre Dame law review article shows that a 1980 law intended for seniors, veterans, and small businesses is utilized by environmental groups to get pay-backs for their lawsuits as well. A GAO study shows that no one really knows how much money has been spent, but the amounts are at least several million dollars a year.
See the Notre Dame Law School study at the link below:
http://www.boone-crockett.org/images/editor/ND_EAJA.pdf
See the GAO study at the link below:
CVA has licensed exclusive rights to the PalmSaver Ramrod design from Perry Hunsaker, world-famous elk guide and inventor of several innovative hunting products. The ramrod was first introduced on the new CVA ACCURA MR (Mountain Rifle), but has now been expanded as a standard feature on all of CVA’s 2012 break-action muzzleloaders. Read more
Overland Park, Kan. – Bushnell Outdoor Products, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics for more than 60 years, has announced a $25 mail-in rebate for its popular BackTrack D-TOUR personal GPS device. The BackTrack series of simple to operate navigation devices have revolutionized the handheld GPS market, giving users an easy way to mark waypoints and find their way from point A to point B without a lot of unnecessary, complicated features. Read more
Call Senator Debbie Stabenow today to help protect your right to hunt, fish, and shoot!
The most significant pro-sportsmen’s legislation of the past 15 years is now in the U.S. Senate. Michigan’s Senator Debbie Stabenow is one of a handful of Senators that can determine whether the bill makes it to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature.
H.R. 4089, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, addresses top priority issues of the sportsmen’s community. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support on Tuesday, April 17th by a vote of 274-146. Read more on H.R. 4089 below.
Without Senator Stabenow’s support, the bill may not get a vote in the Senate! Michigan sportsmen should call Senator Stabenow today and ask her to support H.R. 4089.
Facing re-election, Senator Stabenow is in an influential position to push Senate leadership for a vote on the measure. Sportsmen need to call on the Senator to do just that.
Michigan sportsmen can help protect the future of hunting, fishing, and shooting by contacting Senator Stabenow and asking for her support. Contact Senator Stabenow at: Phone: (202) 224-4822 Online: Click here to contact Sen. Stabenow online.
The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, H.R. 4089, would: Classify Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands as open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting unless closed or restricted based on scientific evidence; Confirm that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot ban lead in traditional ammunition or in sport fishing gear; Protect recreational shooting on BLM National Monument lands; and Allow the import of 41 legally hunted polar bear trophies tangled in federal red-tape. Read more
A Faribanks hunter, Rodd Moretz, had killed a bear and then came too close to a bear den and was attacked from the den but was fortunate to escape. More here…
Rodd Moretz’ description of the encounter is here…