Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Found in Western Antrim County

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently verified a new detection of invasive hemlock woolly adelgid near Torch Lake in western Antrim County. The extent of the infestation has not yet been determined, but an extensive survey of the surrounding area is underway. With this new detection, Antrim becomes the seventh county in the state with an active hemlock woolly adelgid infestation, joining Allegan, Benzie, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa, and Washtenaw counties.

“The new infestation was found by a landowner who learned about the hemlock woolly adelgid while attending an educational outreach event held by the Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area that serves Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska, and Emmet Counties,” said Steve Carlson, MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. “Situations like this demonstrate the importance of public awareness in our fight against invasive species.” Read more

Wildlife

How Old is My Buck Knife?

POST FALLS, ID— Buck Knives, Inc., a widely-recognized global leader in the hunting, outdoor, and everyday carry (EDC) knife markets, has been manufacturing knives since 1902. Across the span of nearly 125 years, that means many knives have been manufactured, shipped, purchased–and cherished–by knife users and collectors.

A question often received at the company’s headquarters in Post Falls, Idaho is “how old is my Buck knife?”

There is an easy way to determine the answer: Visit w HYPERLINK “http://www.buckknives.com/about/behind-the-blade/how-old-is-my-knife/”w HYPERLINK “http://www.buckknives.com/about/behind-the-blade/how-old-is-my-knife/”w.buckknives.com/about/behind-the-blade/how-old-is-my-knife/. There you will discover a chart with 39 symbols which indicate date of manufacturing, and on the knife’s blade you will find one of the symbols on the pivot point where the knife blade opens from the handle. On the company’s website there are also details about the dots that could be discovered on a knife’s blade. Those many dots, and on which side of the blade the dots are placed, could help determine when the iconic 110 Folding Hunter and 112 Ranger knives were manufactured. There are also numerous details about the knives with the company’s trademarked anvil stamped into a blade to detail more manufacturing information. These symbols have been applied to blades since 1986. Read more

Cutlery

Firearm Manufacturer Defendants File Motion for Judgement on the Pleadings in City of Gary Lawsuit

Defendants in the City of Gary public nuisance lawsuits are moving to end nearly quarter of a century of legal maneuverings after Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed HB 1235 into law last week. Today the defendants filed a joint motion for judgement on the pleadings with the court. Indiana’s law that reserves the right to seek legal action against the firearm industry to state authorities, instead of municipalities, went into immediate effect when it was signed March 15.

“The time has come to end this legal charade. The City of Gary has had nearly 25 years to present a case for their frivolous claims and hasn’t been able to do so. That’s because there was no substance to their outlandish claims,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “Indiana’s new law allows the firearm industry, the state of Indiana and the City of Gary, to end this legal fishing expedition. The defendants in this case are ready to move on and resign this case to the same category as the many others like it from that era over two decades ago. This case is, and always was, frivolous, an abuse of the legal system and a losing strategy to bypass state and federal legislatures to implement special-interest gun control policy through the courts instead of through the elected bodies that represent the will of the people.”

The City of Gary, Ind., first filed their claims in 1999, as part of a coordinated effort by 40 big city mayors who conspired together through the U.S. Conference of Mayors with lawyers from the gun control group Brady United (formerly known as the Brady Center), and trial lawyers.

All these municipal lawsuits have either been dismissed by the courts, e.g., Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Fransico, Detroit and St. Louis, or simply dropped by several cities, e.g., Boston, Cincinnati and Camden. Many of these municipal lawsuits were dismissed based on state preemption laws enacted between 1999 to 2001 and upon which H.B. 1235 is modeled. Read more

Firearms, Gun Control

Michigan NRC Owes Michigan Voters an Explanation

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

In year 2016, the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) requested the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop a recommendation to expand the coyote hunting season. Subsequently, the coyote hunting season was changed from July 15 to April 15, to year-round.  At the time, the DNR did not expect a year-round season to have a significant biological impact at the statewide level and all indications are that it did not.

However, at the March NRC meeting, closure of the season was adopted on a 4-2 vote, and it takes effect April 15.  So, why the about face?

Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ Policy and Government Affairs Manager Justin Tomei spoke at the meeting and said the science on coyote management is clear.

“Today, we laid out a clear scientific argument for the use of lethal coyote management, via hunters, during the spring and summer months,” said Tomei. “Coyote management is most effective in the spring when you can actively control local predator populations, limit depredation and increase deer densities.”

“The first question during the first DMI [Deer Management Initiative] meeting was about predator management,” Trotter said. “The DMI will inevitably make some recommendation regarding predator management, and the commission should wait to ensure all stakeholder opinions are considered.”

The vote came after commissioners rejected attempts from NRC members Nyberg and Walters to remove the closure from the wildlife conservation order and table the vote.

Since Proposal G of 1996 was passed by a whopping 69 percent of Michigan voters, it granted the NRC exclusive authority over the taking of game and required the commission, “to the greatest extent practicable, to use principles of sound scientific management in making decisions regarding the taking of game.”

“No scientific evidence has been presented to justify the closure of the coyote hunting season, and the NRC had an obligation to oppose this part of the order per Proposal G and the authority it provides to them,” Amy Trotter of MUCC said. “Now enacted, it will make the fight to defend lethal wildlife management that much harder.”

However, concern exists and has resurfaced about social perception and future loss of management tools, if the open season continues to allow coyotes to be taken when there are dependent young present. The proposed change will result in not allowing coyote harvest while female coyotes have dependent young. Additionally, coyotes will still be able to be taken year-round on private land if a coyote is doing damage or physically present where it could imminently cause damage.

But an animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) says that while shortening the hunting season is a step in the right direction, banning coyote hunting altogether is a better solution.

It appears that our NRC has supplanted science for emotional rhetoric, and accordingly, owes Michigan voters an explanation relative to its betrayal of the peoples’ trust.

Hunting

Warden K9 Storm, Game Warden Robertson Locate Missing Abbot Man

Warden K9 Storm and Game Warden Chad Robertson located a missing 71-year-old man in Abbot last night, deep in the woods, approximately 1.5 miles from his house.

Howard Weymouth, age 71 of Abbot, had gone for a walk on his property yesterday afternoon at approximately 3:30 p.m. His family became concerned when he did not return, as Weymouth has alzheimers, and they began searching for him, following tracks in the snow behind his house.

When they were unable to locate him, they contacted the Maine Warden Service, and the Maine Warden Service began searching for Weymouth at approximately 7:30 p.m. last night. A family member and Game Warden Taylor Valente located new tracks that appeared to be going in circles and backtracking over a mile and a half from his house.

Game Warden Robertson and K9 Storm were given the coordinates, and they were able to quickly locate Weymouth at approximately 9:30 p.m. Weymouth was still able to walk under his own power with assistance, and he and several game wardens walked out to the nearest road where they met other wardens who transported him back to his home and family.

Wildlife

FWC Officers Stop Vessel with Multiple Illegal Haitian Immigrants, Guns, Drugs and Night Vision Equipment

On Feb. 29, at approximately 7:30 p.m., two Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers conducting nighttime water-based patrol near Sebastian Inlet stopped a 42-foot vessel returning from offshore. Immediately upon stopping the vessel, the officers knew they had intercepted a human smuggling operation. The operator of the vessel was armed and onboard; lying prone on the deck of the boat, they discovered 25 individuals, including five unaccompanied children, illegally entering the country.

In addition to the individuals onboard, officers discovered firearms, night vision gear and drugs. The vessel operator and a passenger, both U.S. citizens, were turned over to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the case was referred to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the BCSO for further investigation.

General

Maximize Turkey Hunting Efficiency with NBEF’s Precision Shot Placement Tools

RAPID CITY, SD – As spring turkey hunting season approaches the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) reminds bowhunters to revisit shot placement information. NBEF’s Advanced Turkey Anatomy and Shot Placement Guide is an essential resource to elevate success rates and promote responsible hunting practices. A quick harvest and reduced game recovery times are considered best practices for wild turkey hunters.

The Advanced Turkey Anatomy and Shot Placement Guide is an informative shot placement training aid with full color 8.5″ x 11″ transparent overlays. Separate acrylic overlays feature the muscular system, skeletal system, circulatory system, and vital organs specific to turkeys. Accompanying text includes shot placement information and illustrations for both firearm hunters and bowhunters. Useful for hunting guides, hunter education instructors or today’s informed hunter. Responsible hunting includes knowledge of accurate shot placement for a quick kill and game recovery. Technical expertise and guidance for this booklet was provided by the National Wild Turkey Foundation. This is part of the International Bowhunter Education Program Hunter Responsibility Series which includes anatomy and shot placement guides for whitetail deer, bear and elk. All guides are 3-hole punched making it easy to collect all four booklets. Suggested retail $12.50 each. Read more

Hunting

New QuietKat Ranger AWD E-Bike

Eagle, CO – QuietKat Electric Bikes, a leader in off-road eBikes and a Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) brand, is proud to unveil the latest innovation in electric biking, the Ranger All Wheel Drive (AWD) eBike. Building on the renowned Ranger model, the AWD version introduces dual 750w motors and a 17.25Ah UL certified battery, coupled with a single-speed drivetrain and a premium comfort saddle for an unmatched off-road experience.

The Ranger AWD’s all-wheel-drive capability, enabled by a unique controller scheme, minimizes the front wheel “tug” commonly experienced with AWD bikes, offering better traction, more power, and ultimately more fun. Designed for both thrill-seekers and casual adventurers, the Ranger AWD’s motor selector switch allows riders to toggle between front, rear, and both motors, accommodating various riding conditions and preferences.

With an emphasis on efficiency, durability, and rider comfort, the Ranger AWD stands out with its whisper-quiet operation, peak system input of 2000W, and specialized components that ensure a seamless integration of power and performance. Highlights include a suspension seat post, a linear throttle response system, and the bike’s capability to handle the most challenging terrains without compromising on riding experience. Read more

Wildlife

SAF Files for Summary Judgment in Challenge to NY Gun Ban

BELLEVUE, WA – Attorneys representing the plaintiffs in a federal court challenge to New York’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” have filed a brief seeking summary judgment in the case, which is supported by the Second Amendment Foundation. The case is known as Lane v. Rocah.

SAF and the Firearms Policy Coalition have supported the case since it was filed in December 2022. Plaintiffs J. Mark Lane and James Sears are represented by attorneys Cody Wisniewski, Adam Kraut, who is also SAF’s executive director, and Nicolas J. Rotsko. The brief was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

“Because New York has banned an entire class of firearms that are in common use across the country,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “and there is no historical evidence that could possibly justify such a law, we are continuing to support this case and believe the court should grant summary judgment. Read more

Gun Control

NSSF Praises Indiana Governor Signing Law to End City of Gary Lawsuit

NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, praises Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s signing of House Bill 1235, legislation that “provides that only the state of Indiana may bring or maintain an action by or on behalf of a political subdivision against a firearm or ammunition manufacturer, trade association, seller, or dealer concerning certain matters.” The bill “prohibits a political subdivision from otherwise independently bringing or maintaining such an action.”

The industry members the City of Gary sued are expected to promptly file a motion to dismiss the case based on this new law that became effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature. Lawyers representing the city acknowledged in their testimony opposing the bill that if it were to be enacted it would mean the City of Gary’s lawsuit will be dismissed. The City of Gary’s nearly quarter-century old frivolous lawsuit against firearm manufacturers seeks to hold them responsible for the criminal actions of unrelated and remote third parties. Read more

Gun Control
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