Court Ruling Reopens Comment Period on North American Wolverine Proposed Listing Rule

Ø The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reopening the public comment period on a proposed rule to list the North American wolverine as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Ø The Service had proposed to list the North American wolverine, which is a Distinct Population Segment of wolverines found in the lower 48 states, but withdrew its proposal in 2014 after concluding that the factors affecting it were not as significant as were once thought.

Ø However, the District Court for the District of Montana overturned the Service’s withdrawal, effectively returning the wolverine population to the point at which it was proposed for listing as threatened. Read more

Wildlife

Sightmark Mounting Rings

(MANSFIELD, TEXAS) – No matter how nice your gun and scope are, substandard mounting rings can make or break your entire shooting experience. Sightmark’s mounting rings deliver rock solid holding performance designed to optimize optic reliability.

Constructed from durable 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, Sightmark Tactical Rings fit both Picatinny and Weaver rail. All Sightmark Tactical Mounting Rings include reduction inserts, making them compatible with 30mm and 1-in. scopes. Available in 4 different heights (low, medium, high, and extra-high), Sightmark offers mounting elevations to help you achieve proper clearance. Sightmark also offers a 30mm Fixed Cantilever Mount featuring a non-reflective matte finish and a 1-in. forward offset for proper scope mounting and eye relief on AR platforms. Read more

Optics

Grim Speaker Callers from Johnny Stewart Wildlife Calls

Johnny Stewart® Wildlife Calls has introduced the new GS1 and GS2 Grim Speaker e-callers for 2016 with a host of features that can help hunters get the drop on predators.

The GS1 Caller includes five pre-programmed 16 bit authentic Johnny Stewart sounds, including Cottontail Distress, Howls, Coy Pup Distress, Fawn Distress and Vittles al a Jackrabbit. The 30 second sounds can be played in a continuous loop for extended calling sessions.

The GS1 Caller comes with a 6-button remote that has a 50-yard range. The pivoting carrying handle also doubles as a stand for aiming the call. The caller base operates on four AA batteries and the remote on a 12v 23-27A battery (included). The Johnny Stewart Grim Speaker GS1 Caller sells for a suggested retail price of $49.99. Read more

Hunting

Endangered Whooping Cranes to Move Through OK

Each year, sportsmen, bird-watchers and other wildlife enthusiasts can join forces with the Wildlife Department to track federally-endangered whooping cranes as the birds migrate south.

“We rely on the public to help us monitor this rare bird’s path through Oklahoma,” said Matt Fullerton, endangered species biologist for the Wildlife Department. Outdoor enthusiasts can report the location of migrating whooping cranes, along with information about the sighting, at wildlifedepartment.com. Read more

Wildlife

NSSF Launches Hunting Works for Michigan

LANSING, Mich.-The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms industry, is proud to announce that the Hunting Works For America footprint has grown again and now includes a state chapter in Michigan. The newly formed Hunting Works For Michigan partnership has over 100 partner organizations and is looking to educate the public and elected officials about the impact of hunting. Along with current state chapters in Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oregon, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and another recent addition, Alabama, Hunting Works For Michigan is the 14th chapter to be added to the ranks of the award winning program. Read more

Hunting

Steelhead in Southeast Michigan

Steelhead laying on wood boards

Many people agree that steelhead are one of the country’s top sport fish. The bulk of anglers take advantage of their spring spawning runs in March, April and May, but some rivers also have a fall run of steelhead when fish come into the rivers well before their normal spawning period and then hang out all winter. This means the next fishing opportunity is just around the corner.

Most parts of the state offer great waters to target steelhead on – and southeast Michigan is no different! Primarily you’ll find fall steelhead runs in the Huron and Clinton rivers, which both have lots of public access points along the stream. Read more

Fishing

Judge Strikes Newtown Parents’ Suit Against Remington

A Connecticut Superior Court judge today decided in favor of the Remington Outdoor companies, Camfour Holding and Riverview Sales and struck the amended case brought by some families of the victims in the Sandy Hook School tragedy based on allegations of negligent entrustment.

In the decision, the judge said that the plaintiffs’ allegations did not meet the narrow exception for “negligent entrustment” allowed in the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) nor did it meet this standard under Connecticut law.

“The court ruled as it should in this case,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane. “We are again reminded of the bulwark that the PLCAA provides the industry against unreasonable litigation of this type even as Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has repeatedly called for its repeal.”

You can read the 54-page decision at http://www.nssf.org/share/PDF/SOTO_v_Bushmaster_Order_Granting_Motion_to_Strike.pdf

Firearms, Gun Control

Michigan: Legislation to Expand ORV Use On State Managed Forest Roads Goes Into Effect in 2017, 18

Revised rules will follow Lower Peninsula trail inventory process

With fall hunting seasons in full swing, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds off-road vehicle enthusiasts that while the expansion of ORV riding opportunities on state-managed forest roads in the Lower Peninsula is in the works, the new rules won’t go into effect until 2017 and 2018 – after the completion of a statewide inventory of forest roads.

The inventory will include the mapping of five regions, including four in the Lower Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula serves as one region and already allows ORV use on most state forest roads.

On Sept. 28, Gov. Rick Snyder signed Public Act 288 of 2016. The approved legislation sets forth a timeline for the new rules to go into effect. This includes examination of the two northernmost regions in the Lower Peninsula by the end of 2017 and the remaining regions by the end of 2018. This review will allow the DNR to determine which forest roads should remain closed and which roads will be open for ORV use.

State-managed forest roads in the Upper Peninsula currently are open to ORV use unless closed by the DNR. The law has been the opposite in the Lower Peninsula, where state forest roads are closed to ORV use unless posted as open. Read more

General

Featured MI Managed Waterfowl Hunt Area: Nayanquing Point

Looking for a new place to hunt waterfowl this fall? Take a trip to Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area for a quality hunting experience.

Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, just north of Linwood, Michigan, on the western shore of the Saginaw Bay, has a family feeling. The hunters there take great pride in this local resource and appreciate the natural beauty and abundant waterfowl in the area. Read more

Hunting
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