Everglades National Park and Florida FWC to Expand Python Removal Efforts

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Everglades National Park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are partnering together to expand efforts to remove Burmese pythons from within the park. The partnership will expand the park’s Python Removal Authorized Agent Program by allowing paid FWC contractors to remove pythons in Everglades National Park. The expansion will triple the maximum allowed number of participants in the park from 40 to 120, allow FWC contractors to use firearms or other humane methods to euthanize pythons in the wild, and qualify additional trained NPS personnel to live capture and turn in pythons. The purpose of this controlled invasive species management program remains to remove invasive pythons and other invasive species from the wild and advance research in methods to control pythons.

The Park is working closely with the FWC on the terms of the agreement which would allow FWC contractors to engage in python removals in the park, potentially as early as July 2018.

“We are excited to partner with FWC on invasive species management and are certain this partnership will increase python removals within our park,” said Everglades National Park Superintendent Pedro Ramos. “We worked hard in planning this expansion to ensure it won’t harm the park and its exceptional resources.” Read more

Wildlife

Ruger Introduces New Scout Rifle and 77/17 Configurations

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is excited to introduce two new model configurations: the Ruger® Scout Rifle chambered in .450 Bushmaster, and the Ruger 77/17® chambered in .17 WSM.

A frequent request from hunters, the Scout Rifle chambered in .450 Bushmaster features a stainless steel finish and a lightweight synthetic stock. Combining the versatility of the Scout Rifle with the powerful knockdown capability of the .450 Bushmaster cartridge, this new rifle delivers the accuracy and reliability customers have come to appreciate and expect from Ruger® rifles.

Following on the heels of the successful reintroduction of the 77-Series bolt-action rifles, Ruger is also introducing the 77/17 chambered in .17 WSM with a 20″ blued alloy steel barrel and American walnut stock. Flat shooting and superbly accurate, this rifle also features an improved trigger pull over previous 77/17 WSM models.

“These two additions to proven Ruger platforms will benefit a wide variety of shooters,” said Ruger President and CEO, Chris Killoy. “Both rifles are examples of how we at Ruger listen to our customers and work hard to deliver on their requests.” Read more

Firearms

Starline Kicks Off American Summer Giveaway to Help Veterans

SEDALIA, MO – Starline Brass has recently kicked off an exciting new promotion – The American Summer Giveaway. Starline is giving away two amazing reloading prize packs to two lucky winners. Enter to win at www.starlinebrass.com/giveaway orhttps://www.facebook.com/StarlineBrass/.

What’s even better? Starline is donating $1 for every unique entry in the giveaway and $1 for every order received during the promotion period to America’s Mighty Warriors, an organization that honors the sacrifices of our troops and the fallen and their families by providing programs that improve quality of life, resiliency and recovery.

The first reloading prize pack includes a Dillon XL650 Progressive Reloading Machine, 8 lbs of Hodgdon Powder of the winner’s choice, 500 Sierra Bullets of the winner’s choice and 500 Starline cases of the winner’s choice.

The second reloading prize pack includes a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Kit, RCBS Charge Master, RCBS Universal Case Prep Center, 8 lbs of Hodgdon Powder of the winner’s choice, 500 Sierra Bullets of the winner’s choice and 500 Starline cases of the winner’s choice.

Enter to win one of these two amazing reloading prize packs at www.starlinebrass.com/giveaway or https://www.facebook.com/StarlineBrass/. Read more

Ammunition

Federal Premium Working With States to Update Turkey Hunting Shotgun and Ammo Regs

ANOKA, MN – Due to the introduction of new high-density HEAVYWEIGHT Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) loads, Federal Premium is working with a number of U.S. states to legalize the use of .410 shotguns and smaller shot sizes for turkey hunting.

“Hunters have better options for effective turkey loads with smaller shot than ever before,” said Federal Premium Director of Conservation Ryan Bronson. “Federal Premium is working with wildlife agencies and policy makers in the 16 states that currently prohibit turkey hunting with shot smaller than No. 8 and shotgun bores smaller than 20 gauge to rethink their regulations and give turkey hunters of all ages, statures and physical abilities more options.”

“Most of these turkey ammunition restrictions were put into place when lead was the only shot material available,” continued Bronson. “While TSS shot has been very popular among hand-loaders for some time, by making our factory loaded turkey ammunition available to a broader segment of the hunting public, we are hoping all states and Canadian provinces will consider updating their regulations to allow these new configurations.” Read more

Ammunition, Hunting

Michigan Wildlife Habitat Grant application period opens June 1

June 1 through July 23, the Wildlife Habitat Grant Program will be accepting applications, with projects enhancing game species habitat enhancement given a priority.

“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with others in the state to increase the habitat available for game species in Michigan and to enhance the existing habitat for the benefit of hunters, trappers, and wildlife viewers,” said Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason.

Funding is available for local, state, federal and tribal governments, profit and nonprofit groups, and individuals through an open competitive process. Minimum grant amounts will be set at $15,000 with the maximum being the amount of funds available for that grant cycle.  The 2018 overall available grant amount is approximately $1 million. Read more

Wildlife

Five Men Indicted In Louisiana for Conspiracy to Smuggle Birds

Five men have been charged in New Orleans with crimes related to illegally exporting birds protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) from the United States to Taiwan.  William McGinness, 59, of Buena Park, California; Paul Tallman, 55, of Destreham, Louisiana; Rene Rizal, 62, of La Mirada, California; Wayne Andrews, 46, of Royal Oaks, California and Alex Madriaga, 76, of Buena Park, California; were each indicted in federal court in the eastern District of Louisiana today.

On May 31, 2018, a five-count indictment was returned charging McGinness, Tallman, Rizal, Andrews and Madriaga with conspiracy to smuggle CITES-protected birds from the United States to Taiwan. McGuinness was also charged with smuggling birds to Taiwan and three counts of making and submitting false records under the Lacey Act, and Tallman was charged with smuggling and one count of making and submitting false records under the Lacey Act.

The indictment alleges, among other things, that McGinness, a resident of California, and his co-conspirators created false statements and submitted them to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in order to illegally export CITES-protected birds from the Port of New Orleans to Taiwan. The shipment included 90 CITES-protected birds, including parrots, macaws, cockatoos and corellas. Several of the birds were in crates that were falsely labeled. The USFWS seized 14 of the birds at the airport in Houston, Texas before they were exported. Read more

Poachers

NOW LIVE: Watch Endangered Wild California Condor Chick

Watch California Condor chick # 923 grow into a magnificent adult on the live cam! Photo: USFWS.

Ithaca, NY & Fillmore, CA–People across the world can get up close and personal with an endangered California Condor chick in real time through live-streaming video of a wild nest in the Hutton’s Bowl area–a small piece of property surrounded by private land and overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. It’s near the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County, California. The chick and its parents make up one of the 12 California Condor nests in the mountains of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Kern counties–the highest number of nests ever recorded in Southern California.

“Watching a condor chick and its parents in the wild is a unique and remarkable experience, and one that can be shared with millions of viewers through live streaming technology,” said Molly Astell, wildlife biologist with the Service’s California Condor Recovery Program.

The 2018 nesting season marks a significant milestone for California Condor recovery with more wild nests documented in Southern California than ever recorded. “Not only do we have more nests, but they are also spread out across a broader area, indicating that California Condors are expanding back into parts of their historic range,” Astell said.

California condor chick #923 hatched on April 6 and is being raised by 16-year-old female condor #289 and 13-year-old male condor #374. This is the pair’s first year to be featured on the live-streaming Condor Cam, and is the pair’s first attempt at raising a chick together, though both previously nested with other condors in the past.  The chick’s father, condor #374, has fledged 3 other chicks in the past with 2 previous mates. The mother, condor #289, has fledged 1 chick previously and has nested with 3 other mates.

Read more

Wildlife

‘Three Free’ weekend June 9-10 makes fishing, off-road riding and state park entry easy

Grab a fishing rod, ride Michigan’s off-road trails and/or pay a visit to your favorite Michigan state park for free – all in the same weekend.

On two back-to-back days, June 9-10, the Department of Natural Resources invites residents and out-of-state visitors to enjoy Free Fishing Weekend, Free ORV Weekend and free entry into state parks.

All fishing license, ORV license, trail permit and Recreation Passport fees are waived those two days, though all other regulations still apply. Read more

Fishing

Michigan Outdoor News Offers Free Subscription Tied to Hunter, Bow, Trapper Education

(Plymouth, MN) — Hunting is a time-honored Michigan tradition, providing challenging outdoor recreation and helping develop an appreciation for the wilderness and wildlife. To celebrate this heritage, Outdoor News Inc., publisher of locally written fishing and hunting outdoor newspapers in seven Great Lake states, is offering youth aged 17 and younger who have successfully completed the hunter safety education program through the Michigan DNR with a complimentary three-month subscription to Michigan Outdoor News. New for 2018, the three-month junior subscription has been expanded to include the Michigan DNR Bow Ed and Trapper Ed programs for adults entering these sports for the first time as well. Read more

Fishing, Hunting
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