Rise in Bear Populations Calls for Hunting

How hunting is key for responsible wildlife management

Many states throughout the continental U.S. are seeing a rise in black bear populations. Population growth pushes bears into human-dominated areas that are unsuitable for wildlife, precipitating a comparable increase in dangerous conflicts with humans, pets, and livestock.

Undoubtedly, this warrants a wholesale reevaluation of population management strategies. Bears play an essential and unique place in our ecosystem, but they must be managed at a level coincident with human populations.

Only feasible tool

Regulated hunting is the only feasible tool for this aspect of wildlife management. While most U.S. states have implemented regulated bear seasons, some have not and should strongly consider this as an option.

The state of Louisiana recently approved its first black bear hunting season in 40 years, a move supported by the SCI Foundation. Maria Davidson, SCIF’s Large Carnivore Program Manager,(pictured) has been instrumental in this decision, having previously worked for the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department on black bear recovery. Read more

Wildlife

Davidson’s Exclusive Pietta “Clementine” in 22LR and 22WMR

PRESCOTT, Ariz. – Davidson’s, one of the nation’s top firearms, ammunition, optics, cutlery, and accessories wholesalers, has collaborated with Pietta, Italy once again to produce a unique and desirable exclusive single-action revolver.

Pietta is known worldwide for their authentic historical firearms reproductions. Davidson’s is pleased to partner with an Italian firearms company that has such a rich history and continues to develop exclusive firearms with them.

This new exclusive Pietta single-action is the first rimfire revolver Davidson’s has offered in their extensive 100% Italian-made Pietta collection.

The Clementine comes with both a .22 LR and a .22 WMR cylinder. Both fluted cylinders have a ten-round capacity. Read more

Firearms

Pietta and Sports South Trump Revolver Collaboration Continues

Pietta Firearms, the leader in refined, historical firearm reproductions and quality, innovative, modern firearms have once again collaborated with one of their long-standing partners, Sports South to create not one, but two highly sought after 2024 Trump single-action revolvers.

“It comes as no surprise that we’ve been getting a lot of requests for Trump products,” said Jared Long, Merchandising Manager at Sports South. “In 2020, we had great success with the first Trump edition and due to the political climate now, we’re anticipating even greater successes with this edition. We’re anxious to let our valued dealers have the opportunity to purchase these exclusive guns.”

The “Trump 2024” Collection consists of two single-action revolvers that can either be bought as a set or individually. Both revolvers are adorned with engraving throughout, including the Presidential Seal on one side of the grip and a map of the USA with the American flag on the other side, Trump himself is depicted on the cylinder, “Donald J. Trump” on one side of the barrel and “Keep America Great 2024” on the other, and several other Trump specific engravings. Individually, customers have the choice of an all-black revolver (including grips) or a nickel-plated revolver w/ ultra-ivory grip. Available in either .45LC or .357 Magnum. Regardless of the election, these revolvers, whether bought separately or as set, are sure to become collectors items. Read more

Firearms

Henry Repeating Arms Donates 50 Custom Rifles for 10-Year-Old Florida Girl’s Cancer Treatments

Henry Repeating Arms, the world’s leading lever-action firearm manufacturer, announced today the release of a limited-edition series of fifty “Team Baylee” lever-action rifles to raise funds for the family of 10-year-old Baylee Rish of Wewahitchka, Florida. The donated rifles, which are now available for purchase while supplies last are a continuation of the company’s ‘Guns For Great Causes’ charitable efforts, focusing primarily on pediatric cancer cases and children’s cancer hospitals.

In December 2022, Baylee was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), a rare and aggressive form of blood and bone marrow cancer. Treatment is intense, with some weeks consisting of up to four consecutive days of chemotherapy treatment, spinal tap chemo injections, and spinal bone marrow sampling, and there is still more to come as her course of treatment runs through March 2025.

Available exclusively through Henry Repeating Arms’ website, all proceeds from the “Team Baylee” rifle sales will be given to the Rish family to help offset mounting insurance copays and the out-of-pocket expenses associated with traveling 2.5 hours each way for treatment.

Additionally, the first and last rifles in the collection, serial numbers TEAMBAYLEE01 and TEAMBAYLEE50, are up for auction to allow collectors the chance to enhance the fundraising effort. Total proceeds should exceed $40,000.

“There are few things in this world more unfair than a childhood cancer diagnosis,” said Anthony Imperato, Founder and CEO of Henry Repeating Arms. “To endure what these kids go through during treatment and still be able to crack a smile that lights up the room is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The opportunity to help these families is a part of our business that I deeply cherish, and I’m sending a big hug to Baylee and her family.” Read more

Firearms

Whitetails Unlimited Grants Over $191,000 to 4-H

In the last fiscal year, Whitetails Unlimited has granted over $191,000 to 4-H groups in multiple states that are providing kids with a sense of community, mentors, and learning opportunities to develop the skills they need to create positive change in their lives.

Head, Heart, Hands, and Health are the four Hs in 4H, and they are the four values members work on through fun and engaging programs. Whitetails Unlimited is the nation’s premier nonprofit white-tailed deer organization and a strong supporter of educational programs and shooting sports.

With their DEER Program (Developing Educational & Environment Resources) that focuses on outdoor education, Whitetails Unlimited partners with 4-H, a U.S.-based network of youth organizations whose mission is “engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development.” Environmental and wildlife education programs such as shooting teams, focusing on safe handling of firearms, and clay target shooting by 4-H certified coaches can help youth develop a sense of responsibility, initiative, and self-worth, and build life skills such as confidence, independence, resilience, and compassion. Read more

Hunting

Michigan deer hunting regulation changes: What you need to know for 2024

On , 2024, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved the scheduled deer hunting regulations for this fall. The full package of regulations includes updates that won’t begin until after the 2024 seasons have ended; those updates will be explained at a later date. The commissioners and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources thank everyone who gave their time, insight and feedback to the work of the DNR’s Deer Management Initiative, which contributed to many of these regulation changes and decisions.

The following updates apply to the fall 2024 deer hunting seasons. (For ease of reading, the acronym DMU is used throughout for deer management unit.)

Upper Peninsula

  • A 3-point antler point restriction, or APR, was implemented on the single deer license in DMU 122.
  • In the western central part of the Upper Peninsula, in DMU 352 when using a universal antlerless deer license, it is required to also have an antlerless deer hunting access permit. The eastern central part of the U.P., DMU 351, is closed to antlerless hunting with a universal antlerless deer license in 2024.
    • DMU 352 is made up of DMUs 027, 036, 152 and 252. DMU 351 includes DMUs 017, 021, 117, 149, 249 and 349. See the online deer management units map for locations of all DMUs.
    • 500 access permits will be available in DMU 352. The application period is

      -Aug. 15.

    • For each deer harvested, you will need one antlerless deer hunting access permit for the DMU you’re hunting in, plus one universal antlerless deer license.
  • Antlerless deer can be taken in DMUs 017, 021, 027, 036, 117, 149, 152, 249, 252 and 349 during archery season on the single deer license or the combination deer license until Dec. 10, 2024.

Lower Peninsula

Extended archery season

  • Archery season is extended through Jan. 31, 2025, for select counties: Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except DMU 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne.

Legal firearm expansion – Zone 2 muzzleloading season

  • If you are hunting deer during the muzzleloading deer season in the Lower Peninsula, you can use all legal firearms to take a deer. If you are hunting in the limited firearms deer zone, you must follow equipment requirements for that zone.

Early and late antlerless firearm season expansion to public land

  • Early and late antlerless firearm seasons in open counties have been expanded to include public land in addition to private land. The early antlerless firearm season runs Sept. 21-22, 2024, and the late antlerless firearm season runs Dec. 16, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025.

New EXTENDED late antlerless season

  • A new extended late antlerless firearm season is open Jan. 2-12, 2025, in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair (excluding DMU 174), Shiawassee, Wayne and Washtenaw counties; DMU 311 (Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties); DMU 312 (Branch, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties); and DMU 332 (Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties).
  • A discounted antlerless license for this extended season will be available for $5 per license.
Hunting

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Trapping Announcement

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, in conjunction with Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within eastern portions of the Custer Gallatin National Forest as well as private lands, east of the Yellowstone River and south of I-90, in Montana. Biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin the field captures July 17 and continue through August 9. Capture 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. Read more

Wildlife

Iowa’s 2024 Pheasant Nesting Outlook

Iowa’s pheasant population typically shows increases following mild winters with springs that are dryer and warmer than normal. While last winter was average to below average snowfall, spring was wetter than normal, with May coming in as the eighth wettest in 152 years of records.

Given the statewide information, the weather model is predicting pheasant populations will likely be lower for the 2024 hunting season.

“I expect there to be regional differences in the population this fall,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist with the Iowa DNR. “Our best counts will still likely be in the northern and central regions, but likely lower counts in the southeast and south-central regions. With the severe cold and snow in south central and southeast regions, quail numbers will likely be the same or lower than last year, but perhaps higher in the southwest region.”

This prediction is based on weather data, Bogenschutz said, and it can be wrong. The DNR’s August roadside survey is the best gauge of what upland populations will be this fall. The survey is conducted between Aug. 1 – 15, and the results will be posted on the DNR webpage www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey around Sept. 15.

Hunting, Wildlife

Rock River Arms Announces Rebate Program

Rock River Arms, the industry’s most respected name in Modern Sporting Rifles and pistols, has launched a new consumer rebate program effective now through September 2, 2024.

The RRA Webstore Special rebate program is open to all consumers who purchase a new RRA AR rifle or AR pistol (excluding RRAGE and 22LR models) from July 22 through September 2, 2024. All qualified consumers are eligible to receive a $50 RRA gift card redeemable on purchases made through the RRA webstore.

To claim the $50 rebate, qualified purchasers will be required to upload a copy of the dated sales receipt showing the serial number of the new AR firearm purchased via the program’s QR code. This rebate is not redeemable for cash, and all rebates must be submitted no later than the October 2, 2024, deadline. The rebate cannot be applied to existing orders or combined with any other offer. Read more

Firearms, Promotions

Springfield Armory Announces Release of 1911 DS Prodigy 9mm in Coyote Brown

Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the launch of the Prodigy™ AOS 9mm pistol in a Cerakote® Coyote Brown finish. This new Prodigy variant is available in both 5” and 4.25” variants, in both standard-capacity and 10-round versions.

The 1911 DS Prodigy represents a modern take on the proven 1911 platform, providing shooters with double-stack capacity and a performance-driven feature set. The Cerakote Coyote Brown coating not only enhances the durability and performance of the firearm, but also offers significant benefits in terms of longevity and ease of care.

Featuring an expertly engineered double-stack magazine, the pistol is optics-ready with raised fiber-optic front/u-notch rear sights. It also features an ambidextrous safety and Picatinny rail. Mounted to the pistol’s forged steel receiver is a polymer grip module that offers capacities of 17+1 in a flush-fit magazine and 20+1 in an extended magazine, both included with the Prodigy. An optional 26-round magazine is also available. Read more

Firearms
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