Savage Arms Combines Accuracy and Value with New Rimfire Packages

GW:  Now, if we could only get our hands on some affordable rimfire ammo!

SUFFIELD, CT – Savage® Arms has worked long and hard to exceed the needs of new shooters by offering scoped-rifle packages that combine ease of use, convenience and accuracy. The company is continuing this track record in 2014 with two new rimfire packages offered at surprising prices, providing its customers with excellent value.

The Mark II FXP in 22 Long Rifle and 93 FXP in 22 WMR are both topped with a reliable, waterproof 3-9x40mm Bushnell scope that comes mounted and boresighted. Shooters need only send a few rounds downrange to confirm their zero-then they’re ready to start plinking or head to the field.

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Firearms

Tips for targeting Michigan steelhead this fall

Weekly Fishing Tip: Tips for targeting steelhead this fall

If you decide to target steelhead on Michigan’s rivers while in a boat, there are two reel options you can turn to. Consider offering bait underneath a centerpin style reel, which are becoming popular with steelhead anglers. The line will come off smoothly allowing for float-suspended baits to work long distances downstream, plus it offers drag-free drifts.

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Fishing

NWF Calls for Hunters, Anglers to Protect Streams & Wetlands With Action Today

Public comment on proposed protections closes today!

Hunters and anglers want the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) to take action to better protect America’s streams and wetlands. That’s the message in a new letter signed by 210 hunting, fishing and sporting groups from across the country.

For the past decade, it has been unclear if two million miles of streams and many types of wetlands were protected under the Clean Water Act, the result of two controversial Supreme Court decisions. Since those decisions, the rate of wetlands destruction has gone up 140% nationwide – the first such increase in wetlands loss since the 1980s. Read more

Wildlife

Migratory Bird Conservation Commission Approves $28 Million to Conserve Waterfowl, Shorebirds and Other Species in 16 States

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission yesterday approved $28 million in funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners to purchase, lease, restore or otherwise conserve more than 128,000 acres of wetland habitats for ducks, bitterns, sandpipers and other birds in the United States.

The commission also recognized the contributions of Rep. John Dingell, who is retiring after an unprecedented 45 years of service as a member.

“Our nation’s efforts to conserve migratory birds have no better supporter than Congressman Dingell, who has worked tirelessly over more than four decades to protect and restore the wetland and upland habitat so vital to them,” Jewell said. “Today, during his final meeting, we continued this legacy with the acquisition and conservation of vital habitat so important not only to birds but to countless other species of wildlife.” Read more

Wildlife

Groups Opposed to Citizen Petitions in Colorado

On November 4, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined a host of sportsmen’s organizations in signing two letters expressing opposition to citizen petitions that will come before the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission at their meeting in Burlington on November 13. The first petition on the agenda includes a request that the CPW Commission use its regulatory authority to ban the use of traditional lead ammunition for hunting.

However, supporting documents submitted in support of the petition fail to cite any evidence of population-level impacts to the state’s fish and wildlife resources caused by traditional ammunition and also greatly underestimate the effect that a ban would have on consumers’ access to readily available, affordable ammunition throughout the state. Furthermore, the petition fails to recognize the role that hunting and recreational shooting play in supporting fish and wildlife through the American System of Conservation Funding, which serves as the primary mechanism to generate critical conservation dollars for state agencies such as Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Click here to view the letter.

The second petition before the Commission was initiated in response to a legal moose harvest at the U.S. Forest Service’s Brainard Lake Recreation Area during archery season. Subsequent to a licensed hunter shooting a moose in the area during the established hunting season in September, a group of non-consumptive public land users who witnessed the event have asked the CPW Commission to prohibit hunting within a one-mile radius of the Recreation Area.

Granting this petition based on the whims of public land users who do not wish to be exposed to hunting would fail to acknowledge the critical role that sportsmen and women have played in establishing a healthy moose population in Colorado and would unnecessarily limit hunting access in an area that has been enjoyed by hunters for many years.

Using state wildlife management authority to close off federal lands that are open to hunting would set a dangerous precedent and imply that hunters should be held to a different standard than other public land users when it comes to accessing the outdoors. Click here to view the letter.

Colorado state law provides any interested person with the right to petition the Parks and Wildlife for the issuance, amendment or repeal of a rule. Pursuant to the Commission’s policy, petitioners will present evidence of the need for a rule change and the Commission will determine whether to support, reject, modify or accept a petition for further consideration, in which case the petitioners will be asked to work with agency staff to develop regulatory language and any other supporting materials to be considered at a later date.

Ammunition, Animal Rights, Hunting

Food Plot Fencing Options

As gamekeeper’s, we are constantly preaching on the importance of spring and summer nutrition for whitetails. There are huge upsides for your deer herd when they are provided quality high protein groceries during the growing months. Anyone who has tried to grow a small food plot of soybeans, lablab, or other highly attractive warm season annual, has likely experienced a failure. Although there are a number of reasons for plot failure including, lack of rain or poor seedbed prep, the number one reason for warm season plot failures is over browsing. Even with low to moderate deer densities, a 1 acre soybean plot planted in the middle of hundreds of acres of timber, can be destroyed in a few days time. In the first few days after germination, popular spring plantings such as iron clay peas, soybeans, or lablab that are bitten off below the terminal bud are killed and will not grow. So, now that we have identified the problem, what are some solutions?

For the purposes of this topic, let’s take for granted that you are doing your part in controlling your deer density through good trigger finger management, but are still having problems with over browsed food plots. Physically keeping the deer out of the plots until they are established and mature enough to withstand the browse pressure has proved to be an effective tactic. This can be achieved by utilizing a number of different fencing options. After all, what sense does it make to go to the trouble and expense of planting warm season plots if you know they are going to be over browsed quickly and provide only a week’s worth of food? Take the time and make a plan to protect your crops so you get the most for your labor and money.

For many years, BioLogic has had a product called P2 Plot protector. This kit contains a woven poly tape that will protect an acre. After installing t-posts or rebar around the perimeter of the field, the tape can be put on. Also included in the kit is a small jug of concentrated solution to spray on the poly tape. This spray has an unpleasant odor to a deer’s nose and keeps them out of the plot for a couple of weeks after each application. After heavy rains, it is necessary to reapply the spray to the tape to refresh the smell. We have also found it effective to spray the tape from the outside with a backpack or atv sprayer and allow the overspray to fall on the crop you are trying to protect. In moderate deer densities, the P2 kit is often all that is needed to keep deer off the plots until you see the crop is mature enough to handle heavy browse pressure.

Another temporary fencing option is a 7.5 ft polypropylene material called Plot D-Fence. This UV resistant fence is very strong but lightweight and can last 10+ years in the field. With this type of fencing, when the plot reaches maturity you have a couple of options to let the deer in to enjoy the groceries. The Plot D-Fence is flexible and can be lifted up and folded from the bottom to allow your deer herd into the plot. The other option is to fold from the top and allow the deer to jump over the now shortened fence. This latter method however may still keep some lazy deer or fawns out of the plot from their unwillingness to hop the fence. This fence comes in 330 ft sections and can be rolled up and stored away and is lightweight enough for one person to carry a roll. This fencing system may be better suited for guys with heavy deer densities. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan Deer Habitat Improvements

Southeast MI deer habitat projectSoutheast Lower Peninsula – Jackson and Washtenaw Counties A lovely spot for deer hunting is Sharonville State Game Area in Grass Lake. With a combination of agricultural fields, forested ridges and open grasslands, Sharonville has outstanding deer habitat. With money from the 2014 Wildlife Habitat Grant program, extensive work has been done this spring and summer to increase hunter accessibility to the area, especially for hunters with disabilities as part of the Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors partnership. Food plots have also been planted in several parts of the game area to improve deer habitat. Take a trip to Sharonville this fall!   

South Central Lower Peninsula – Gratiot County Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area is seeing positive improvements for deer and deer hunters alike. Currently, within the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, timber sales have created great young forest that deer will use as food and cover. Several areas also have been mowed for more accessible hunting places for hunters and grazing habitat for deer. If you’ve never visited or hunted Gratiot-Saginaw, you will find over 16,000 acres to explore. Take the time this deer season to expand your hunting range!    UP deer habitat project

Upper Peninsula – Southern Marquette County Several small openings, totaling 16 acres, have been planted to rye or mowed in southern Marquette County this year to provide a great food source for deer. The openings are located on a two-track used by hunters, just north of the deer wintering complex, and were last managed in 2009 with U.P. Whitetails helping to sponsor the project.  “This is great to be able to work these fields again,” said DNR wildlife biologist Brian Roell.  “Because of the new license structure, the fields have been put back into production, providing more great places for deer and deer hunters.”  

Northern Lower Peninsula – Isabella and Midland Counties Sometimes access to public land can be a big draw to hunters establishing deer camps and looking to find an area to hunt.  In both Midland and Isabella counties, thousands of acres of public land are available for those not wanting to travel too far north. Major highways and county roads can get you to these areas for a quick hunt after work or a weekend of hunting, not driving.  Recently road work was completed on two-tracks into the public land in order for the roads to be passable by vehicles.  “These counties can have some pretty wet low-lying areas, great for hunting, but hard to maintain good vehicle access,” said DNR wildlife biologist Bruce Barlow. “We try to make sure areas are accessible with a few roads, but balancing the habitat to provide a great hunting experience.”  Visit Mi-HUNT to see public lands in the area to plan your hunting adventure.

Hunting, Wildlife

Colt Wiley Clapp Models Available Through TALO Distribution Network


WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Colt’s Manufacturing Company, one of the world’s leading designers, developers and manufacturers of firearms, in conjunction with Wiley Clapp and TALO Distributors, announces all three exclusive Wiley Clapp handguns are now available at independent sporting goods and gun shops serviced by TALO. The two original Wiley Clapp models are the O4840WC Lightweight Commander® and the O1911WC Government Model®. Clapp’s newest edition to his specialty line of Colt handguns is the O9840WC Concealed Carry Officers Model®.

“The first Colt-TALO-Wiley Clapp model was a Lightweight Commander, the best go-anywhere, do anything .45 ever made. Next came a classic 1911 of the style beloved by a century of handgunners,” said Clapp. “Popular models both, but sensibly upgraded with Novak® sights, Tactical Oval grips and Pete Single checkering to become modern classics.” Read more

Firearms

Buck Knives launches new website

GW:  If you’re tired of Chinese junk, get some good ol’ American-made, heat-treated steel you can be proud to pull out of your pocket.

Website update includes more custom knife options

Buck Knives is pleased to announce the transition to a new website, updated with valuable information, mobile access, user-friendly navigation, an innovative new look and the Custom Knife Builder filled with more knives to customize with unique handles and blade treatments.

In addition to a new modern design, the Custom Knife Builder will now offer the famous 113 Ranger Skinner and 112 Ranger in addition to the 110 Folding Hunter, 501 Squire, 503 Prince, and the 505 Knight. Users can customize their knives with different blade, handle, bolster, and rivet options, as well as custom engraving. Custom handle materials include, but are not limited to, Stag, Elk, Cherrywood, Waterbuffalo, and American Oak. These options, along with the many others, allow customers to create a one-of-a-kind knife tailored to fit their needs. Read more

General, Hunting
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