Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Spring weather seems to be here a bit early this year and according to the Department of Natural Resources, that means it’s time to finish pruning oak trees to prevent the spread of oak wilt.
The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oaks between the end of March and the beginning of October. However, with the recent warm weather conditions, property owners should finish pruning oaks by the middle of March. Read more
The Shooter 3D Bear measures 38 inches wide and has a shoulder height of 24 inches, the Shooter 3D Hog is 32.5 inches wide with a shoulder height of 19 inches, and the Shooter 3D Turkey is 31.5 inches wide and 32 inches tall. The Shooter 3D Bear and Shooter 3D Hog feature a set of vital-area scoring rings on each side, and the Shooter 3D Turkey has a scoring ring on both sides as well as rings on the front and back of the target.
These new 3D Shooters are tough enough to stop all field tips, broadheads and even expandables and will withstand hundreds of shots. Made in the U.S.A, each Shooter 3D target comes with a set of ground stakes to secure the targets in the ground. The Shooter 3D Bear, Shooter 3D Hog and Shooter 3D Turkey are now shipping to retailers nationwide and retail for $79.99, $69.99 and $59.99, respectively. Read more
“In a milestone year for Winchester, we are extremely proud to offer this very limited, once-in-a-lifetime series of five cartridge-firearm boards, which truly represent legacy and innovation,” said Brett Flaugher, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Strategy. “A lot of time and meticulous work goes into building these boards … they are remarkable pieces of art.” Read more
NSSF Corrects the Record on Firearms Industry Liability
In a Democratic presidential primary debate in Michigan Sunday, Mrs. Clinton again falsely charged that the firearms industry is totally immune from liability due to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) and that the law should be repealed. Mrs. Clinton has prevaricated about the law on several occasions. To cite one example, at an Oct. 7, 2015 forum in Iowa, Clinton wrongly claimed, “They are the only business in America that is wholly protected from any kind of liability. They can sell a gun to someone they know they shouldn’t, and they won’t be sued.”
Politifact found Mrs. Clinton’s rhetoric about the law to be entirely false. In fact, Congress has passed limitations on liability for other industries, including small aircraft manufacturers, internet service and content providers, and vaccine makers.
The PLCAA was passed by Congress with support from both sides of the aisle in response to dozens of baseless lawsuits filed in the late 1990s orchestrated out of then President Bill Clinton’s White House to put gun companies out of business by seeking to blame them for the actions of criminals who misused firearms. On Sunday, Hillary Clinton described this spurious line of legal reasoning as “promising.” Read more
WEST VIRGINIA (WVVA) West Virginia will soon be among seven other states where residents can carry a concealed weapon without a permit.
This comes after West Virginia Lawmakers voted this weekend to override Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s veto on House Bill 4145.
The override on Tomblin’s veto means that if you’re older than 21 and live in West Virginia, permitless concealed carry will be law in 90 days. Read more
The new Rage Hypodermic +P will come packaged with a practice tip. They are available at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $49.99. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
When a Shelby Township, MI woman let her Pomeranian mix dog outside before retiring for the night, it would be the last time she would see her family pet alive. In another incident in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a miniature Schnauser spent his last minutes on a leash in front of his home. And, in the sanctuary of a fenced-in backyard in Hacienda Heights, California, a Papillion mix family pet met its fate. The common denominator? Coyote attacks.
As coyote numbers have increased, so have deadly encounters in urban settings. Because of the secretive nature of coyotes, many folks are oblivious to their existence until we hear of such horrific acts of terror.
In an ongoing study of predators in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by Mississippi State University, 142 fawns were radio-collared and coyotes were found to be responsible for 26 of 53 deaths – as many as bobcats, wolves, bears, and bald eagles combined.
Coyotes are found throughout Michigan in both rural and urban areas. With an increase in complaints from the public regarding coyotes, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) believes that an expansion of the opportunities to take coyotes may help reduce these concerns.
The DNR has recommended several coyote hunting regulation changes to the Natural Resources Commission, including year-round hunting opportunities and implementation of a Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association resolution to allow the use of #3 and #4 buckshot at night for coyotes.
The DNR held discussions with internal staff and many external stakeholders to develop recommendations to amend our state’s Wildlife Conservation Order. The amendment would include expanding the coyote season statewide, year round, along with clarifying nighttime hunting of furbearers, and to expand the time frame in which nighttime hunting with artificial lights may occur. The Department is also giving a recommendation to expand allowable ammunition for taking all furbearers which may be hunted at night to include both 3 and number 4 buckshot.
Michigan’s current coyote regulations include daytime coyote hunting from July 15th to April 15th which is a liberal season with a few minor restrictions on the methods of take, devices, and ammunition. The current season for nighttime coyote hunting is from October 15th to March 31st. However, the nighttime coyote hunting season is a restricted season with limited methods of take, devices and ammunition. Individuals must possess a fur-harvester or resident base license. Throughout the entire year, individuals may take a coyote on private property if the coyote is causing or about to cause damage.
Several other proposed resolutions by MUCC that would not become MUCC policy unless adopted at its Annual Convention are as follows:
Coyote Bounty (Straits Area Sportsmens Club) | Reverse MUCC’s opposition to bounties and institute a coyote bounty.
Nighttime Predator Hunting with Centerfire Firearms (Chris Kettler, Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association) | Remove restriction on using centerfire firearms for nighttime predator hunting.
Any type of coyote control is difficult but removing some of the encumbrances to willing sportsmen may be the best option available to wildlife managers. It’s past time that we quit protecting the varmints that are helping to reduce our declining deer herd.
Within the Z8i rifle scope SWAROVSKI OPTIK introduces the first switchable reticle called the FLEXCHANGE 4A-IF. This new feature enables the user to switch the illuminated ring around the illuminated center dot on and off, with the press of a button, (For example you can switch from a 4A-i to a CD-i style reticle.) The FLEXCHANGE is offered in the Z8i 1-8×24 and the Z8i 1.7-13.3×42 P rifle scopes. Another option on the new Z8i is the ballistic turret flex (BTF) which can be configured separately using several different types of ballistic compensation correction, and be attached and removed at any time without tools. The BTF comes as a set with both the windage and elevation turrets. If used as a top turret, it can compensate for bullet drop, and when used as a side turret, for windage adjustment. Another optional accessory for the BTF, the personalized ballistic ring (PBR) offers yardage or Mil adjustments for all the relevant hunting distances. Read more
At 19 feet 4 inches long with a 94-inch beam, the Z19 features the same NITRO Vortex Technology™ hull as the Z18 and Z20. NITRO Vortex Technology is a revolutionary design that uses a series of parabolic curves instead of traditional strakes. This results in higher top end speed and lift and improved acceleration. The Z19 has a substantial fuel capacity of 50 gallons. The Z19 will be available in a Z-Pro Package option with popular tournament upgrades. Read more