Get a Utah Bull Elk Hunting Permit

30,000 permits went on sale July 11

If you want to hunt bull elk in Utah this fall, it’s easy to get a permit to hunt during the general season. Just log onto www.wildlife.utah.gov, or visit a Division of Wildlife Resources office or your nearest Utah hunting license agent, and buy one.

A total of 30,000 rifle and muzzleloader permits went on sale July 11.

If you didn’t get a permit on July 11, don’t worry: it usually takes a few weeks for general elk permits to sell out. “Don’t wait too long, though,” says Lindy Varney, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR. “If you want to hunt elk in Utah, I’d encourage you to buy a permit as soon as you can.”

General archery elk permits are one type of elk permit that won’t sell out. They aren’t limited in number, so you’ll have no problem getting one.

General archery elk permits also went on sale July 11. They’ll be available until the extended archery elk hunt ends on Dec. 15.

Two types of units

Before you buy a rifle or muzzleloader permit, you need to decide which units you want to hunt on: any-bull units, where you’re allowed to take a bull of any size, or spike-only units, where only spike bulls may be taken.

If you buy an any-bull permit, you can hunt on all of the any-bull units in Utah. If you buy a spike-only permit, you can hunt on all of the spike-only units in the state.

While many hunters dream of taking a large, branch-antlered bull, Varney says a hunt on a spike-only unit provides several advantages.

“One of the neat things about hunting on a spike-only unit is the chance to hear and see big, mature bulls,” she says. “The spike-only hunts are held on the same areas where the limited-entry hunts are held. You can’t take a branch-antlered bull with a spike-only permit, but you can still experience the thrill of being near these big elk.”

The spike-only units are mostly public land, so you’ll have lots of places to hunt. And—just like taking a branch-antlered bull—taking a spike bull will provide you with lots of tasty, healthy meat.

If you’d rather hunt branch-antlered bulls on an any-bull unit, Justin Shannon, big game coordinator for the DWR, says two units in the Uinta Mountains—the North Slope unit and the South Slope unit—are the most popular units in the state. “Hunting any-bull units can be a challenge,” Shannon says, “but they hold some big bulls.” Read more

Hunting

Kimber Releases 2017 Limited Texas Edition 1911

YONKERS, N.Y. — Kimber Mfg., Inc., a leading American firearms manufacturer, today announced the release of a new Kimber® Royal II (Texas Edition) 1911 pistol to celebrate the superior American values and 2nd Amendment rights activism shared by the people of the great State of Texas. The new Texas Edition blends Kimber’s reputation of providing unsurpassed quality in 1911 pistols with the timeless look of western scroll engraving and bonded ivory.

The Royal II (Texas Edition) 1911 is an 800 unit, Limited Edition model with a unique serial range beginning with the prefix “TXEB”. A deep black oxide finish with high polished flats on the slide and frame beautifully accentuate the western leaf and scroll engraving with saw tooth border on the slide. A matching engraving pattern is also on the mainspring housing. The 1835 motto, “Come and Take It” appears on the left bonded ivory grip panel, and the “Lone Star Flag” embedded inside an outline of the State of Texas graces the right grip panel. This striking new pistol has a 5-inch barrel, weighs in at 38 ounces and is offered in .45 ACP. Read more

Firearms

Cabela’s Shareholders Approve Bass Pro Shop Merger

It only took about 35 people around 20 minutes yesterday to approve a $4 billion merger that’s been lingering for months.Backed by that Cabela’s CEO Tommy Milner calls “overwhelming support” the shareholders of Cabela’s approved their proposed merger with Bass Pro Shops. Under the current terms, shareholders will receive $61.50/per share for the stock which has been trading in the $58.90-$59.94 range. After the merger, the companies will be based in Springfield, Missouri. No word on how many of the 1,000 workers in Cabela’s Sydney, Nebraska, headquarters will be retained. Cabela’s stock closed trading yesterday at $59.97, up eight cents.
General

S&W Performance Center Launches “Texas Whitetail Hunt Sweepstakes”

Enter for a Chance to Win a Hunting Experience with Wade Middleton

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Smith & Wesson Corp. today announced the launch of the “Performance Center – Texas Whitetail Hunt Sweepstakes“, which began on June 23, 2017 and will run until October 30, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Thewinner of the Texas Whitetail Hunt Sweepstakes will be awarded a Performance Center 460XVR™ revolver, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to participate in an exciting, three-day, filmed hunt with Wade Middleton of Yamaha’s Whitetail Diaries at his ranch located outside of San Antonio, Texas.

Tony Miele, General Manager of the Performance Center, said, “With all of the recent interest in handgun hunting, we are excited to offer an opportunity to hunt with one of the Performance Center’s flagship handguns and learn from Wade Middleton of Yamaha’s Whitetail Diaries, a professional handgun hunter. It’s not often that we are able to offer this type ofexperience, and we are looking forward to hosting the sweepstakes winner at Wade Middleton’s ranch this fall.”

The Performance Center – Texas Whitetail Hunt Sweepstakes is open now for entries, and will close October 30, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

To enter the sweepstakes, visit the Performance Center Facebook Page. Read more

Hunting

Food Plots Lead the Way Among Hunter Land Management Practices

FERNANDINA BEACH, FL. —While roughly three out of 10 surveyed hunters are actually involved in managing or attracting wildlife on the land where they hunt, of those who do, more than 80 percent of their efforts are spent on creating food plots. In fact, the HunterSurvey.comsurvey conducted by Southwick Associates found that food plots were the leading practice by nearly double most other practices.

Following are the top five management practices as revealed by the survey:
Food plots 81 percent
Mineral sites 49 percent
Timber management 45 percent
Plant management 42 percent
Feeders 39 percent
Other practices measured included creating man-made water sources (17 percent), controlled burns (15 percent), maintaining water level or flow (11 percent) and other (6 percent).

The survey also examined the interaction of hunters around their feeding sites. Of those hunters who do use feeders (where legal) to enhance opportunities, 86 percent monitor those sites with trail cameras, 67 percent of them do so year-round, 33 percent run feeders year-round, and 83 percent hunt over them or near them.

“This survey shows that food plots and other means of attracting and holding game in an area or on a particular property are important management tools among a third of today’s hunters,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com.

To help continually improve, protect and advance hunting, shooting and other outdoor recreation, all sportsmen and sportswomen are encouraged to participate in the bi-monthly surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and/or AnglerSurvey.com. Every other month, participants who complete the surveys are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice.

Wildlife

Biologists Set To Begin Grizzly Bear Trapping For Research Purposes In The Custer Gallatin National Forest

Public Reminded To Heed Warning Signs

BOZEMAN – As part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the U.S. Geological Survey is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific trapping operations are about to begin within the Hebgen Lake drainage basin in the Hebgen Lake Ranger District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana. Biologists, with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST), will begin work in the area beginning July 15th and will continue through August 31st. Trapping operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is being conducted will have major access points marked with warning signs. It is critical that all members of the public heed these signs.

Monitoring of grizzly bear distribution and other activities are vital to ongoing recovery of grizzlies in the Yellowstone Ecosystem. In order to attract bears, biologists utilize natural food sources such as fresh road–killed deer and elk. Potential trapping sites are baited with these natural foods and if indications are that grizzly bears are in the area, culvert traps or foot snares will be used to capture the bears. Once trapped, the bears are handled in accordance with strict protocols developed by the IGBST.

Whenever bear trapping activities are being conducted for scientific purposes, the area around the site will be posted with bright warning signs to inform the public of the activities occurring. These signs are posted along the major access points to the trapping site. It is important that the public heed these signs and do not venture into an area that has been posted. For more information regarding grizzly bear trapping efforts call the IGBST hotline at 406-994-6675.

Wildlife

Barrett Takes 2nd in the 2017 King of 2 Miles


Team Barrett preparing for final course of fire (7° inclination)


Team Barrett wind coaching for Team Cutting Edge

(Raton, NM) Barrett Firearms walked away with a 2nd place finish at the 2017 King of 2 Miles (Ko2M) shooting a stock Barrett Model 99 chambered in .416 Barrett. Shooter Ronnie Wright was named “Prince” of The 2 Mile displaying Barrett Firearms ability to deliver precision fire on Extended Long Range (ELR) targets from a production rifle. Barrett is proud of its ability to manufacture stock precision rifles while having an individual place in the top 3 shooters at the Ko2M, and humbled by the world record holders in attendance and impressive equipment used. Barrett Firearms would also like to congratulate Derik Rogers and the Applied Ballistics team for their first place finish and all the hard work devoted to advancing the ELR community.

The King of 2 Miles is a competition designed for extended long-range target engagement. King of 2 miles was founded in 2015 and each year more shooters are making hits at longer distances. In the years since its inauguration there as been an influx of shooters and industry advancements making it possible to do what seemed impossible only a few years ago. Barrett Firearms Manufacturing would like to thank the King of 2 Miles, shooters and industry partners who strive to support and improve this fast growing sport. Read more

Firearms

Stevens Unveils New 301 Single-Shot Shotgun

SUFFIELD, CT – Stevens by Savage Arms is pleased to offer practical hunters more performance from the trusted single-shot, break-action shotgun platform with the rugged and reliable new Stevens 301. Shipments of these firearms are currently being delivered to dealers.

The Stevens 301 features a crisp, reliable break action and rugged, modern synthetic stock that withstands even brutal abuse afield. It is available in .410, as well as 12- and 20-gauge models.

Features & Benefits
• Single-shot shotgun
• Break action
• Standard and compact models available
• Rugged synthetic stock

Part No. / Description / MSRP
22557 / 301 Single Shot, 12-gauge, 26-inch barrel / $173
22558 / 301 Single Shot, 20-gauge, 26-inch barrel / $173
22559 / 301 Single Shot Compact, 20-gauge, 22-inch barrel / $173
19201 / 301 Single Shot, .410, 26-inch barrel / $173
19202 / 301 Single Shot Compact, .410, 22-inch barrel / $173

Stevens by Savage Arms is a brand of Vista Outdoor Inc., an outdoor sports and recreation company. To learn more about Savage Arms, visit www.savagearms.com.

Firearms

Bovine tuberculosis – a disease still worth fighting


DNR continues to work to eradicate bovine TB; help neededMichigan Department of Natural Resources
After more than two decades of study and testing white-tailed deer for bovine tuberculosis, Michigan has become world-renowned for its research and expertise on managing this serious contagious disease.

Over this time, Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife managers have learned a great deal, including that continued assistance from hunters and others remains vitally necessary to make significant gains in battling bovine tuberculosis into the future.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by certain bacteria that attack the respiratory system of animals and humans.

There are several types of tuberculosis, but bovine tuberculosis (bTB) can infect the widest variety of animals and is what wildlife managers have been trying to eradicate from white-tailed deer in Michigan.

“Michigan is one of the leading experts in management and information related to bTB,” said Kelly Straka, DNR state wildlife veterinarian. “We are the only state in nation that has bTB established in wild deer.”

Although originating and typically occurring in cattle, bTB can infect nearly any mammal, including humans. Bovine TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), which is part of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Read more

Wildlife
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