Category: Hunting

Leupold’s Project Hunt: Apply to Have Your Hunt Filmed

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear sport optics, is pleased to announce the return of the Project Hunt contest, which offers hunters across the United States the chance to have an upcoming hunt filmed and shared across Leupold’s digital media platforms.

It’s your tag, your hunt, and your story. Leupold’s Project Hunt, presented by GOHUNT, is offering contest entrants the chance to star in a Leupold digital series. You plan the hunt; you call the shots. Leupold will provide a videographer to capture the story. A short film or limited series about your hunt will be produced by Leupold and released digitally in 2023.

Hunts must take place before March 1, 2023, to be considered. In addition to the provided videographer, selected entrants will also receive a prize package of Leupold optics, and an annual GOHUNT Insider membership.

“Last year we launched our first-ever ‘Project Hunt’ contest and it was a huge success,” said Bruce Pettet, President and Chief Executive Office of Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “This year we’re back and looking for another incredible story to tell. No one is more relentless than the members of the Leupold Core, and we’re asking you to help us prove it. Whether you’re going on the hunt of a lifetime or hunting close to home with your family, it’s time to tell your story.”

In 2021, Leupold chose two winners for the Project Hunt contest. Jesse Shiner and Matt Hicks will each have their stories unfold in upcoming short films to be released in 2022.

“I’ve been putting in 23 years for a bighorn sheep tag in Arizona…Couldn’t believe when I got drawn for it,” Hicks said. “It was an amazing experience, just a real trip of a lifetime. Leupold sponsoring this, they really went above and beyond, what a great company. Provided me tons of gear, the scope I used, binoculars, spotting scope, tripod, everything they provided we used. Couldn’t thank those guys enough.”

The deadline to enter is June 18, 2022. Entries must be submitted at Leupold.com/ProjectHunt. A 2-minute video explaining why your submission should be selected is required to enter. Read more

Hunting

NRA Joins Appeal of District Court’s “Erroneous” NWR Decision

NRA Appeals District Court’s Erroneous National Wildlife Refuge Decision

Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association on April 15 joined with Safari Club International, Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to appeal an erroneous decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana denying the pro-hunting organizations’ efforts to intervene in and defend the expansion of hunting opportunities on federal lands.

In Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the plaintiff challenged a 2020 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulation, that expanded hunting and fishing opportunities on almost 100 National Wildlife Refuges around the country. The plaintiff wrongly asserts that this expanded hunting and fishing threatens Endangered Species Act-listed species and challenges the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on National Wildlife Refuges. The pro-hunting organizations seek to defend the 2020 regulation, which is consistent with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act’s directive to prioritize hunting and fishing on refuges.

In the appeal, the hunting organizations will demonstrate that the district court erred in ruling that hunter advocacy organizations do not have a legal interest in maintaining a rule that expanded hunting access. NRA, along with the adjoining groups, are leading hunter advocacy organizations and submitted multiple declarations of members who want to take advantage of expanded hunting and fishing opportunities provided in the 2020 rule.

“The NRA has always fought to ensure America’s sportsmen and women have ample access to this country’s great outdoors, and the district court’s ruling deprives them of the opportunity to be heard in this case,” said Amy Hunter, NRA spokeswoman. “On behalf of our five million members, we urge the appellate court to reverse this ruling.” Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative Announces Inaugural Funding

Contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698 or pmuller@nwtf.net

EDGEFIELD, S.C.— The National Wild Turkey Federation launched its new Waterways for Wildlife Initiative by awarding 14 high-priority conservation projects with funds totaling $2,807,947 with partner match.

“We are extremely proud to begin delivering on-the-ground conservation within the first year of the Waterways for Wildlife Initiative,” said Jared McJunkin, NWTF director of conservation operations for the central region. “The fast-building momentum of this initiative is a result of our strong conservation partnerships and the all-encompassing work our Waterways for Wildlife seeks to accomplish. It was really easy to bring a diverse group of partners to the table for the common good.”
NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative was announced just last year in November and requested proposals for conservation projects that will enhance wildlife habitat along rivers and streams, while improving the critical water resources these areas provide, primarily in NWTF’s Great Open Spaces Region in the Big Six of Wildlife Conservation. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Mini 3-D Bear Shot Placement Model Available from National Bowhunter Education Foundation

The Mini 3-D Durable Foam Bear Model is an excellent tool for hunter education classes and hunter certification courses.

Mini 3-D Bear Shot Placement Model Available from National Bowhunter Education Foundation

Improve accuracy and reduce game recovery time

RAPID CITY, SD (April 12, 2022) – The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) offers educational items to increase success and safety for bowhunters. Bear hunters can refer to this effective tool to improve shot accuracy for a quick harvest and game recovery.

The Mini 3-D Durable Foam Bear Model is an excellent tool for hunter education classes and hunter certification courses. Made exclusively for the NBEF by Rinehart Targets, the realistic model is molded from high quality, durable foam. The reverse side is cut away to show vital organs and major bones. Use the included stick pin to demonstrate shot placement. The model is 12.5” long and 8.25” high. Suggested retail is $7,5 but the re-introductory sale price is $65. Read more

Archery, Hunting

MAPLand Act Passes Senate, Heads to President’s Desk

MAPLand Act would fund land management agencies to standardize, compile, release digital map records to public

WASHINGTON – The Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act, or MAPLand Act, which would modernize and digitize map records for the benefit of public lands hunters, advanced through the U.S. Senate late Wednesday under a procedural vote that allowed the unanimously supported bipartisan bill to move without objection.

Led by Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Angus King (I-ME), the Senate vote follows the MAPLand Act’s near unanimous passage through the House of Representatives in March. Strong support by sportsmen’s and women’s groups, including Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, helped propel the bill to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“Inadequate or faulty data can spell disaster for the public land hunter,” said BHA President and CEO Land Tawney, “and the importance of reliable, comprehensive information on access opportunities on our public lands cannot be overstated. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers thanks our Senate and House leaders who championed this foresighted, commonsense effort to address the problem of limited public access.”

The MAPLand Act would fund public land management agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers, to standardize, compile and release digital map records to the public. The publicly available information would include the open or closed status of roads and trails on public lands, vehicle-use regulations and boundary details. Read more

Fishing, General, Hunting

Black Bear Shot Placement Aids Available from National Bowhunter Education Foundation

Improve accuracy and reduce game recovery time

RAPID CITY, SD – The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) offers educational items to increase success and safety for bowhunters. Bear hunters can refer to these tools to improve shot accuracy for a quick harvest and game recovery.

The Advanced Black Bear Anatomy and Shot Placement Guide is an informative shot placement training aid with full color 8.5″ x 11″ transparent overlays. The bear muscular system, skeletal system, circulatory system, and vital organs are illustrated on separate acrylic overlays. The accompanying booklet includes shot placement information and illustrations for both firearm hunters and bowhunters. Hunting guides, hunter education instructors and informed hunters will appreciate this useful information in a convenient format. Responsible hunting includes knowledge of accurate shot placement for a quick kill and game recovery. This is part of the International Bowhunter Education Program Hunter Responsibility Series which includes anatomy and shot placement guides for white-tailed deer, turkey and elk. Suggested retail $12.50 each. Read more

Hunting

Ducks Unlimited Releases Season in Review

Second-annual document shows trends in large-scale waterfowl patterns

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – April 5, 2022 – For the second year in a row, Ducks Unlimited (DU) has released their Season in Review, a report designed to show broad-scale habitat conditions, weather and regional duck abundance from the 2021-22 waterfowl season.

Notable additions to this year’s report are an expanded look at the 2021 drought and its likely impacts on the fall flight and a concluding section that looks ahead to 2022 breeding habitat conditions across North America.

“With the lack of traditional large-scale waterfowl surveys over the past two years due to the pandemic, we feel that this snapshot of habitat conditions and waterfowl populations is a great resource for wildlife managers, partners and hunters alike,” said Dr. Karen Waldrop, DU’s Chief Conservation Officer. “Ducks Unlimited’s work is grounded in science, and the success of this inaugural paper last year showed us that the information is definitely well-received from the waterfowl community.”

Descriptions in the report are based on a collection of empirical data for weather and weather-related events – such as streamflow and ice cover – as well as numerous discussions and field reports provided by our staff, partners, members and other contributors. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

The Profound Effects of Anti-Gun Rhetoric

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Through the tough times of the pandemic, Americans have begun to reacquaint themselves with a sense of self-reliance some may never have known heretofore.  We’ve seen firsthand the empty store shelves and how common necessities have been hoarded without a clue as to their return to the marketplace.  We are learning to grow our own food, catch our own fish, and to hunt for meat.

This wave of self-sufficiency extends to home protection and self-defense, as well.  One only needs to look to the demonization of law enforcement and the resulting chaos inflicted upon law-abiding citizens, as we watched nightly scenes of our cities burning to understand the rationale for alternatives to self-preservation.  Plus, the anti-gun sentiment and the continuous desire to restrict Second Amendment rights by officials, who’ve sworn to protect those rights is more than hypocritical; they’re threats to freedom and Americans have taken notice.

Since year 2008, the firearms industry has been booming and continues to be a bright spot in our otherwise struggling economy, as evidenced by 5.4 million new gun owners in the country this past year!  Again, that’s new gun owners.  Regardless of economic conditions across the country, the industry has grown and created over 375,000 new, well-paying jobs since the middle of the Great Recession in 2008.   These are good jobs paying an average of $56,900 in wages and benefits.

In the United States, the industry and its employees pay over $7.86 billion in taxes including property, income, and sales-based levies.  A report by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) also notes the significant impact the firearm and ammunition industry has on wildlife conservation funding in America through its growing Pittman-Robertson excise tax contributions to the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund which exceeded $1.1 billion in 2021.  Along with hunting and fishing license sales, it is these funds that support sound wildlife management.

Particular to Michigan’s economic contribution of arms and ammunition for the year 2021 are the following examples.  Direct jobs:  5155; Resulting Wages:  $210,684,600; Direct Output:  $643,807,600.  Although Michigan is not one of the top 10 states in these figures, it rates as the 10th leading state in related growth and economic development and for related jobs it is 9th in the country.

According to the NSSF, not only does the manufacture and sale of firearms and hunting supplies create good jobs in the United States, but the industry also contributes to the economy as a whole. In fact, in 2021 the firearm and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $70.52 billion in total economic activity in the country.

The broader economic impact flows throughout the economy, generating business for firms seemingly unrelated to firearms.  Americans working in industries as varied as banking, retail, accounting, metal working, and even printing, all depend on the firearm and ammunition industry for their livelihood.

Our freedom, self-reliance and enjoyment of the outdoors all benefit from the industry that our misguided leaders love to hate.

Ammunition, Archery, Firearms, Fishing, Gun Control, Hunting, Self Defense, Wildlife

Meet the Arnold Palmer of Duck Habitats

As commodity prices go, few have been tracking mallard dividends as closely as Steve Farris. After a stellar career as a Grammy-nominated guitarist and one of the cofounders of the 80’s band Mr. Mister, Farris has turned his creative energies and life-long passion for duck and goose hunting into another art form—buying, transforming, and selling some of the best waterfowling properties west of the Mississippi. The fact that Mr. Mister’s two Grammy nominations came for hits, Broken Wings and Healing Waters, might have foreshadowed his calling to the world of duck hunting real estate.

For those who follow the recreational real estate market and the extensive habitat improvements that Farris has made to some of them, he could be known as the Arnold Palmer of duck hunting courses. “Every blind is a different hole,” muses Farris. Like any great artist, he sees land the way a painter sees canvas—an opportunity to manifest a vision of something perfect. In his case, it’s land and water that is irresistible to ducks and geese and, ultimately, to those who love to hunt them. That’s a unique talent and skill set that Alex Maher recognized shortly after meeting Farris a few years ago. Maher is the founder of Live Water Properties, a Jackson, Wyoming-based ranch and recreational real estate brokerage firm specializing in some of the best hunting and angling properties across the country.

To read the rest of the column, click here

Hunting, Wildlife

CZ-USA’s Top Turkey Shotgun Picks for Tagging Spring Gobblers

Kansas City, KS (March 30, 2022) – Spring gobbler season is firing up, and CZ is making sure hunters are well gunned as they hit the turkey woods. Three hard-hitting 12-gauge shotgun options will allow hunters to carry more longbeards over their shoulders and enjoy more turkey breasts on the smoker.

CZ Reaper Magnum is CZ-USA’s over/under designed for max flexibility in those common situations where gobblers either strut into hunters lap or hang up at the outer margins of range. Clad in Mossy Oak Obsession Camo the Reaper is built to slay turkeys with the same 3 ½” chambers of the Swamp Magnum.

The beauty of hunting with an Over/Under is that each barrel can be equipped with a different choke. Putting an open choke in the bottom barrel for the optimum effectiveness at close range and an extra full choke in the top barrel, to deliver lethal pellets at longer distances, a simple flip of the selector switch lets hunters pick which barrel to fire. Read more

Firearms, Hunting
1 … 56 57 58 59 60 … 382