New Florida FWC rule prohibits feeding of wild monkeys

At its December 2017 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted to prohibit the feeding of wild monkeys in order to promote greater public safety and decrease health concerns associated with these animals. This amendment to the General Prohibition Rule went into effect Feb. 11. Free-roaming, non-human primates join coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bears, pelicans and sandhill cranes as species included in this rule.

“The health and safety of the public is the Commission’s number one priority. Feeding wild monkeys creates an elevated risk to human health because it brings them into closer contact with people,” said Dr. Thomas Eason, Assistant Executive Director of the FWC. “This amended rule provides our staff the tools we need to effectively address a situation that can have serious consequences.” Read more

Wildlife

Michigan DNR reminds anglers of ice shanty removal dates and urges caution

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that mandatory ice shanty removal dates are approaching. Regardless of the date, shanties must be removed as soon as the ice is unable to safely support them. The ice quickly can become unsafe for anglers to retrieve their property in warmer weather.

Ice shanties on Lake St. Clair must be removed by sunset Sunday, Feb. 25.

For counties in the southern Lower Peninsula, shanties must be removed from the ice by midnight Thursday, March 1.

The deadline for removal from waters in the northern Lower Peninsula is midnight Thursday, March 15. Counties in this area are Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin,Grand Traverse, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford. Read more

Fishing

Federal Premium’s All-New HEAVYWEIGHT TSS Turkey Loads

Hunters can now kill gobblers at longer distances than ever before with new HEAVYWEIGHT TSS from Federal Premium. Its payload of No. 7 or 9 HEAVYWEIGHT Tungsten Super Shot provides the highest pellet counts possible—up to double those of lead No. 5 loads of the same weight. The product line includes various 12- and 20-gauge offerings, as well a low-recoil .410 load. Shipments are being delivered to dealers.

HEAVYWEIGHT TSS pellets have a density of 18 g/cc—20 percent higher than standard tungsten and 56 percent more than lead. The result is the most penetration energy and the highest velocities at extreme range. Its rear-braking FLITECONTROL FLEX wad performs flawlessly through ported and standard turkey chokes for the most consistent, deadly patterns possible. Note, the .410 load (PTSS419 9) does not feature the FLITECONTROL FLEX wad. Read more

Ammunition

Sightmark Signal DNV Monoculars

New Sightmark Signal Digital Night Vision Monoculars are helping people see flawlessly at both day and night. With two different models, the 320RT 4.5×30 (SM18024) and 340RT 4.5×30 (SM18025), seeing in pure darkness (up to 380 yards away!) has never been easier.

Replacing the popular Ranger Digital Monocular series, the Signal lineup hits shelves packed with enhanced features. A new and improved high-sensitivity 640×480 CMOS sensor and high-resolution 640×480 LCD display ensure night time and low light performance. Both models feature available built-in video recording with sound, allowing users to take images and videos to show their friends or upload to the internet. The Signal can even stream directly to your smart phone or tablet for remote view via the Stream Vision app. Read more

Optics

T/C Triumph Bone Collector Muzzleloader in Realtree Original

COLUMBUS, Georgia – ? Thompson/Center’s popular Triumph Bone Collector Muzzleloader, now offered in Realtree Original, features an assortment of T/C’s impressive modern enhancements, including the Speed Breech XT breech plug, Flex-Tech recoil-reducing stock, an ultra-light frame made from aircraft-grade aluminum and the ability to fire 150-grain magnum charges of black powder or equivalent black powder substitute.

Features at a glance:

  • Speed Breech XT® — The Speed Breech XT is as simple as it gets. No tools necessary—just turn 90 degrees and it’s out.
  • Fluted Weather Shield Barrel — The fluted barrel increases the firearm’s accuracy by increasing the stiffness of the barrel and increasing the barrel’s cooling rate. The Weather Shield coating is 50 times more corrosion resistant than stainless steel alone.
  • FlexTech Recoil Reduction System — What’s behind the Bone Collector’s FlexTech recoil reduction system that absorbs harmful vibration, weakening shooter performance and potentially damaging scopes? Four synthetic recoil arches create a crush zone that allows the stock to compress during the recoil process.
  • LimbSaver Recoil Pad — The LimbSaver® recoil pad has dual compression chambers that displace the shock over a broad spectrum. All of this is built into the stock of the Triumph Bone Collector, to give shooters better performance and comfort every time out on a hunt. The FlexTech Stock with SIMS LimbSaver* Recoil Pad absorbs shock and vibration and reduces felt recoil by 43%.
  • Reversible Hammer Extension — The Bone Collector’s Reversible Hammer Extension makes for easy cocking, for both left- and right-handed hunters.
  • The American-made Triumph Bone Collector is backed by the famous T/C Lifetime Warranty, protecting your investment for a lifetime of hunts.
  • Quick Load Accurizor — Quick Load Accurizor (QLA®), is yet another T/C technology that is standard on all T/C muzzleloaders. QLA makes loading simple and fast. Unlike other muzzleloaders, QLA allows the hunter or shooter to quickly and easily load their muzzleloader by incorporating a false muzzle design into the end of the barrel. In the midst of the hunt, QLA can help save you precious time when loading that second shot.
Firearms

Michigan: Enjoy Winter #MiFreeFishingWeekend Saturday and Sunday

Everyone in Michigan is invited to fish for free Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17 and 18, for the 2018 Winter Free Fishing Weekend. A license is not required to fish those two days, but all other fishing regulations still apply.

These two days make up #MiFreeFishingWeekend – an annual effort to promote Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will bundle up and head out to fish for free on their own, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources points out that there are many events organized throughout the state to get you started, too. Here are a few: Read more

Fishing

EOTECH Launches New VuduTM 5-25 x 50 mm Rifle Scope

ANN ARBOR, MI  – EOTECH, an L3 Technologies company, announced today the expansion of its VuduTM precision rifle scope line with the new 5-25 x 50 mm rifle scope. Debuting at SHOT Show 2018, the first focal plane 5-25x includes an XCTM high-density glass, one-piece aluminum body and eyepiece, as well as EZ ChekTM zero stop turrets found in the first-generation Vudu scopes. Additionally, this 34 mm rifle scope features a smooth, locking elevation turret and capped windage turret to prevent inadvertent changes in zero along with a parallax adjustment out to 1,100 yards to properly align the focal plane to the target.

“At under 11.5 inches, one of the biggest advantages of the 5-25x is that it allows the shooter to attach clip-on thermal or night vision sights and maintain the ability to make adjustments to these devices without leaving the scope,” said Mark Miller, Product Manager for EOTECH. “Longer scopes with high magnification push those devices out too far on the rail where quick adjustments can’t be made.”

The 5-25x is one of the shortest scopes currently on the market in this magnification category and will begin shipping in July 2018. It will be available with milliradian adjustments and two reticle options that include a Mil-dot and the Horus® H59TM. MSRP begins at $2,099. Read more

Optics

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Invites You To View Trailer for Bird of Prey

The Great Philippine Eagle is the national bird of the Philippines, yet it’s clinging to survival with fewer than 1,000 birds remaining. Bird of Prey is the story of the men and women of the Philippine Eagle Foundation who are toiling to give this magnificent bird a future—and of an American cinematographer who’s made it his life’s work, too. We’ve just released a trailer for the film: watch it now.

Wildlife

Coast Guard Cautions Ice Anglers on Great Lakes

CLEVELAND —  Proper preparation is vital for people recreating on or near frozen lakes and waterways as ice coverage across the Great Lakes makes a resurgence this week.

Coast Guard units, working with first responders, have performed more than 40 ice rescue cases since December 2017. Many of the rescues were successful because the survivors were properly prepared prior to going out on the ice.

Proper preparation includes the following: Read more

Fishing
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