New Sea Lamprey Barrier Construction Begins This Month at Little Manistee River Weir

Construction will begin the week of July 21 on a new sea lamprey barrier and trap at the Little Manistee River Weir and egg take facility in Manistee County, Michigan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will design and build the project in coordination with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The Little Manistee River Weir, which has been in operation since 1968, is Michigan’s primary egg collection site for Chinook salmon and only site for steelhead (rainbow trout) egg take. The weir underwent major renovations in 2019 to upgrade aging infrastructure; this new project will further improve the weir’s function and prevent sea lamprey from infesting 41 miles of the Little Manistee River upstream of the weir.

Sea lamprey — an invasive species that parasitizes other fish in the Great Lakes — migrate upstream in numerous Great Lakes tributaries to spawn. Barriers and traps are two of several means employed by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to control sea lamprey populations; the other primary method of control is dispensing lampricide in streams to target larval lamprey before they metamorphose and migrate out to the lake to feed on fish. Each sea lamprey is capable of killing up to 40 pounds of fish during its feeding period, making sea lamprey control measures vital to the health of Michigan’s fisheries.

“This new sea lamprey barrier and trap will also significantly improve operations for Chinook salmon and steelhead egg collection. The new design will reduce the risk of weir failure, allow post-spawn steelhead easier movement downstream, and maintain fish passage past the weir when egg collections are complete,” said Scott Heintzelman, DNR Fisheries Division’s Central Lake Michigan Unit manager. “We know this is a popular site for anglers and paddlers, and we will make every effort to minimize the disruption of access due to construction.”

The biggest change to access site operation will be portaging around the facility. Read more

Fishing

Premier AccuTip MZ Now Available from Remington Ammunition

Remington Ammunition is pleased to announce the availability of its all-new Premier AccuTip MZ, bringing the accuracy and on-game performance of Premier AccuTip ammunition into the world of muzzleloading. These new bullets are now available on the Remington website and at authorized Remington retailers across the country.

Accutip Muzzleloader Bullet, .50, 260 Grain

Premier AccuTip MZ’s bonded bullet is guided by the innovative Power Port Tip, the same industry-leading technology used in Remington’s popular Premier AccuTip rifled shotgun slugs. On impact, the tip enables quick expansion for deadly energy transfer while the 260-grain bonded bullet provides optimal penetration and 97-percent-plus weight retention. Read more

Ammunition

New for 2025: No application needed for Michigan’s fall turkey hunting

Starting this fall, Michigan hunters no longer need to apply for a license to hunt wild turkey in Michigan. All fall turkey licenses will now be sold over the counter on a first-come, first-served basis. This update simplifies the process and improves access while still supporting healthy turkey populations and hunting opportunities. It also reflects the shift in focus for the fall season – from population control to providing more recreational opportunity.

     Important reminders for the 2025 fall turkey season are as follows:

  • No application period – just purchase your license online at eLicense, through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app or at a license retailer. Fall turkey licenses will go on sale Aug. 15 at 10 a.m.
  • New turkey management units – two large units replace the old 11-unit system:
  • Unit M (Upper Peninsula). License quota: 2,200. Licenses can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis starting Aug. 15 at 10 a.m.  Plus Unit I (Lower Peninsula, excluding Monroe County). Unlimited quota.
  • One license per hunter, valid for one bird of either sex on public and private lands within the designated fall TMU.
  • Season dates for the fall turkey season for both Unit I and M are Sept. 15 – Nov. 14, 2025.

Fall turkey regulations ?Questions? Email DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov or call 517-284-9453 (WILD).

Hunting

ECO Contributes $25,000 to Range Rider Program to Reduce Mexican Wolf Depredations on Livestock

The Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) has made an important contribution of $25,000 to support the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) Range Rider Program that is directed by the department’s Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team.

Created in 1993, ECO includes Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties. The ECO counties have developed a leading role in natural resources and public lands management issues in eastern Arizona, including forest and watershed restoration, travel management and public land access, threatened and endangered species management, rural economic development, and recreation issues.

“The Arizona Game and Fish Department and its conservation partners are grateful to ECO for their support of the Range Rider Program,” said Jim deVos, AZGFD Mexican wolf coordinator. “One of the key activities AZGFD engages in is reducing livestock production/wolf recovery conflicts on the shared landscapes. Based on the number of documented depredations since 2019, when range riding was initiated, we have seen a decline in depredations which I believe can rightfully be attributed to the Range Rider Program.” Read more

Wildlife

Mountain Biker Safely Repels Bear Encounter Near Troy

A mountain biker safely managed a close encounter with a bear while riding on the Starry Goat Trail on national forestland near Troy last week.

The incident occurred when the biker, riding alone, noticed a bear approaching along the trail. The biker quickly dismounted, retrieved bear spray from his bike’s water bottle cage, and discharged it when the bear came within range. The bear reacted immediately, retreating approximately 20 yards into the woods. The bear sat at the base of a tree and the biker rode off without further incident. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The bear’s exact species remains unconfirmed, though the biker believed it was a grizzly bear based on its characteristics.

The Starry Goat Trail, located off Callahan Creek Road west of Troy, remains open but users are urged to remain cautious of possible bear activity. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff set up cameras on the trail to try and identify the bear but did not see any activity and recently pulled the cameras. Read more

Wildlife

SPYPOINT Releases FORCE-24 Non-Cellular Trail Camera

SPYPOINT, a global leader in trail camera technology since 2004, is proud to announce the official release of its newest non-cellular trail camera: the FORCE-24. Anything but basic, the FORCE-24 delivers the perfect balance of performance and value; 24 MP photos, 2K video with sound, and customizable settings for a reliable, easy-to-use scouting setup that’s ideal for areas without cellular coverage.

“No one should have to spend a fortune to ensure quality,” said Jimmy Angers, President and CEO of SPYPOINT. “The FORCE-24 has everything you need in a trail camera—without the price tag for features you don’t.” Read more

Hunting

Fiocchi Introduces Affordable, Hard-Hitting Copper Rifle Line with Backwoods Hunter

CSG Member, Fiocchi of America, a global leader in defensive, target, and hunting ammunition, proudly announces the release of Backwoods Hunter™, a new line of centerfire rifle ammunition engineered to deliver uncompromising performance, affordability, and ethical lethality in the field. Featuring a precision-engineered copper hollow point (CHP) projectile, Backwoods Hunter is built for hunters who demand devastating terminal ballistics without sacrificing reliability or value.

“Backwoods Hunter represents a fusion of effectiveness, efficiency, and affordability,” said Chris Tinkle, VP of Sales at Fiocchi of America. “This line is purpose-built for those who expect clean, consistent performance from their ammunition—whether they’re hunting whitetail in the Midwest, black bear in the Rockies, or hogs in the South.”

Backwoods Hunter™ loads incorporate a monolithic all-copper hollow point designed to expand aggressively on impact while retaining weight and driving deep. This ensures superior pass-through penetration and massive energy transfer—resulting in clean, ethical kills on a wide range of game, including deer, hogs, black bear, and coyotes.

Key Features: Read more

Ammunition

XS Sights Introduces Smith & Wesson Revolver Sights with Adjustable Rear

Fort Worth, Texas – If you own a Smith & Wesson revolver you now have multiple sight upgrade options from XS that come with an adjustable rear to make sighting in easier. The classic DXW2 Big Dot and Standard Dot sights – both with windage adjustable white stripe express rear sights – are available with a green, orange, or white front dot sight. The Minimalist with an adjustable, anti-glare blacked out rear notch is also available with a front sight in green, orange, or white. All have pre-drilled pinned front sights and windage adjustable rear sights.

“Revolvers have made a big comeback, and the resurgence is driven by a mix of nostalgia and their mechanical simplicity and reliability. These firearms are popular for personal defense, backwoods hunting, and as backup protection against potential bear or mountain lion attacks,” said Jeff King, Marketing Manager, XS Sights. “Upgrading factory sights with XS sights makes these revolvers all the more effective by driving your eye to the target for faster acquisition and improved accuracy.”

These new sight offerings fit S&W K, L, and N frame revolvers with pinned front sights and adjustable rears. Common models include the 229, 329, 585, 625, and 686.

Retail Price: $137.99

XS sights are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. The company also offers a 12-year illumination warranty on all tritium products. For more information, visit www.xssights.com. Read more

Firearms

Smith & Wesson Releases New M&P15 AXE Rifle Series

MARYVILLE, TN. – Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select: SWBI), a leader in firearm manufacturing and design, announces today the release of the M&P15 AXE Rifle Series.

Purpose-built with modern features, the new M&P15 AXE rifles are reliable, durable, and change the game when it comes to suppressed shooting. All four models, chambered in 5.56 NATO, share a 7075 T6 Aluminum upper and lower receiver, ambidextrous controls for right- or left-handed users, a Radian® Raptor™ charging handle, Williams folding sights, and an M&P grip that ships with four interchangeable backstraps. Each AXE rifle utilizes a suppressor optimized GVAC® system upper to help minimize gas blowback when shooting suppressed and includes a Gemtech’s ETM® Flash hider installed on the muzzle. The bolt carrier group for these rifles is designed with a Carpenter 1580 steel bolt, 8620 steel carrier, and chromed firing pin for dependable ignition. Read more

Firearms

GOA and GOF Challenge Federal Law Prohibiting Mailing of Handguns via USPS

Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), together with Pennsylvania resident Bonita Shreve have filed a lawsuit against the United States Postal Service, seeking to overturn the Prohibition-era federal ban on the mailing of handguns. The Complaint alleges that this ban is “inconsistent with Founding-era historical tradition” of firearm regulation.

Since 1927, federal law has denied ordinary Americans the right to utilize the mails to ship the “quintessential self-defense weapon”: handguns. Yet all the while, the USPS handles handgun shipments on behalf of businesses and government officials every single day. This ban is as arbitrary and discriminatory as it is violative of the Second Amendment – and its criminal penalties are steep. Read more

Gun Control
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