Court Invalidates 30-Year “Eagle Take” Rule

 

Bald Eagle, Chris Hill/Shutterstock

Feds’ Violation of Environmental Laws Cited

Washington — The U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, in San Jose has ruled that the Department of the Interior violated federal laws when it created a final regulation allowing wind energy and some other companies to obtain 30-year permits to kill protected Bald and Golden Eagles without prosecution by the federal government. The court decision invalidates the rule.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), a plaintiff in the lawsuit, hailed the decision. “We are pleased that the courts agreed with us that improper shortcuts were taken in the development of this rule,” said Dr. Michael Hutchins, Director of ABC’s Bird Smart Wind Energy Program. “The court found that important laws meant to protect our nation’s wildlife were not properly followed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, putting Bald and Golden Eagles at greater risk.”

The court wrote: “… substantial questions are raised as to whether the Final 30-Year Rule may have a significant adverse effect on bald and golden eagle populations.” Read more

Wildlife

Deer Hunting: Strategies To See More Deer


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Online in the newest video at www.GrowingDeer.tv they share practice ideas for bow hunters. Then it’s a look at the strategy and creation of a new, small food plot designed to intercept the whitetails between food and bedding! Plus, see how a problem hunting a sloped food plot is resolved with a new tower stand. For those deer hunters that have oak trees, watch to learn how Dr. Woods identifies and scouts for red and white acorns from a distance! HERE to subscribe today! Read more
Hunting, Wildlife

Safari Club International Issues Statement Defending Hunting, Supporting True Wildlife Conservation

TUCSON, AZ–Safari Club International is serious about hunting and true wildlife conservation. Some people may question the propriety of hunting, but no one can refute the tremendous dedication and accomplishments of hunters when it comes to true conservation of wildlife around the world.

It cannot be denied that hunters kill individual animals – but true conservation is not about saving individual animals – it is about saving entire species. In several key ways, hunters are better at conserving species than anyone else.

First, hunters make significant financial contributions to wildlife conservation. Those who criticize the “pay for play” system are misguided. Conservation takes money and hunters are always first in line to provide those funds. The money that hunters pay to participate in hunts, particularly in Africa, goes in part to habitat restoration and wildlife management. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Concealed Carry Permit Holders Across the United States

Abstract:       By John Lott, Jr., John E. Whitley, Rebekah C. Riley

Since President Obama’s election the number of concealed handgun permits has soared, growing from 4.6 million in 2007 to over 12.8 million this year. Among the findings in our report:

— The number of concealed handgun permits is increasing at an ever- increasing rate. Over the past year, 1.7 million additional new permits have been issued – a 15.4% increase in just one single year. This is the largest ever single-year increase in the number of concealed handgun permits.
— 5.2% of the total adult population has a permit.
— Five states now have more than 10% of their adult population with concealed handgun permits.
— In ten states, a permit is no longer required to carry in all or virtually all of the state. This is a major reason why legal carrying handguns is growing so much faster than the number of permits.
— Since 2007, permits for women has increased by 270% and for men by 156%.
— Some evidence suggests that permit holding by minorities is increasing more than twice as fast as for whites.
— Between 2007 and 2014, murder rates have fallen from 5.6 to 4.2 (preliminary estimates) per 100,000. This represents a 25% drop in the murder rate at the same time that the percentage of the adult population with permits soared by 156%. Overall violent crime also fell by 25 percent over that period of time.
— States with the largest increase in permits have seen the largest relative drops in murder rates.
— Concealed handgun permit holders are extremely law-abiding. In Florida and Texas, permit holders are convicted of misdemeanors or felonies at one-sixth the rate that police officers are convicted. Read more

Firearms, Self Defense

Winchester Model 70 Ultimate Shadow Hunter SS

The new Model 70 Ultimate Shadow Hunter model features a lightweight synthetic stock in the new Mossy Oak® Break-up Country® camo pattern. The forged stainless steel receiver features the popular pre’64-style controlled round feeding with claw extractor and fixed ejector.

This new rifle also features:

  • Lightweight synthetic stock with Mossy Oak® Break-Up Country® camo helps you hide from wary game
  • Gray overmolded rubberized gripping surfaces offer enhanced control
  • Matte metal surfaces help reduce glare
  • Alloy one-piece bottom metal with steel floorplate adds rigidity for better accuracy
  • Forged stainless steel receiver with integral recoil lug is bedded front and rear to eliminate shifts in zero for exceptional long-range accuracy
  • Pre-’64 style controlled round feed with claw extractor fully controls cartridge from magazine, to chamber, to ejection
  • Three Position Safety shows safety status at a glance
  • Sporter weight free-floating stainless steel barrel for years of pinpoint accuracy
  • Recessed target crown enhances accuracy and protects the rifling
  • M.O.A. Trigger System with zero take-up, zero creep and zero overtravel gives you outstanding accuracy
  • Blade-Type Ejector for full ejection control
  • Win-Sorb™ Technology recoil pad for optimal protection against felt recoil

Available in most popular short action and long action calibers. Suggested Retail: $1,099.99 – $1,139.99. Read more

Firearms

Lipsey’s Exclusive Adds Two Big Calibers to Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley

Baton Rouge, LA—Lipsey’s, nationally renowned firearms distributor, announces the addition of two new Ruger revolver exclusives. New to the lineup are the Super Blackhawk Bisley chambered in 480 Ruger and 454 Casull.

Lipsey’s is no stranger to Ruger revolver collaborations but this is the biggest in the truest sense. For years, the partnership has yielded some of the most sought-after revolvers on the market and this is no exception. With this particular venture, bigger is in fact better.

This pair of hard hitting single actions both feature 6.5″ barrels and stainless steel construction with five shot unfluted cylinders. The popular Bisley grip frame is used to help tame the recoil. Ruger has also incorporated two new features unique to these models; a locking base pin to prevent it from walking out while shooting and recessed chambers to ensure the loading gate is fully supported. Read more

Firearms

CENTURY ARMS Announces New TP9SA Crush the Competition Consumer Rebate Program

Consumer Summer Rebate Program will provide a $25.00 rebate to all consumers who purchase a TP9SA pistol from dealers from July 27 until September 15, 2015. This program encourages consumers to try the TP9SA Pistol and see for themselves why it provides the best value compared to any other 9mm pistol on today’s market.

“The TP9SA offers a pistol capable of delivering world class reliability with a price every patriot can afford,” said William Sucher, Century Arms Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “With our additional rebate offer, the TP9SA is more affordable than ever.”

The TP9SA is a 9mm single action, striker-fired pistol. A smooth single action trigger delivers top-notch accuracy and faster than ever follow-up shots. Interchangeable backstraps and aggressive serrations ensure that the sculpted grip meshes comfortably in your hand for even greater control. In addition, the TP9SA boasts a striker decocker that allows for convenient disassembly without the hassle of pulling the trigger to field strip the pistol. Also featured is a cold hammer forged barrel, an ambidextrous top-slide-mounted decocker, fixed 3-Dot steel sights, loaded chamber indicator, striker status indicator, reversible magazine catch and an MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. Read more

Firearms

Nikon Introduces Buckmasters II Riflescope

For more than a decade, Nikon’s Buckmasters line of riflescopes has been the trusted optic for avid American deer hunters. Now, the tradition continues with the announcement of the new Buckmasters II riflescopes – two well-equipped additions to the Buckmasters line-up that will be favorite among the next generation of deer hunters.

The Buckmasters II riflescope comes in either 3-9×40 or 4-12×40 with matte black finish.
Each model offers users the brightness and clarity of Nikon’s Fully Multicoated lenses. Sight-in is made easy with precise ¼-inch @ 100 yards reticle adjustments and thanks to Spring-Loaded Instant Zero-Reset turrets, the turrets can be returned to the zero-mark after sighting in to make in-the-field adjustments incredibly simple. The Buckmasters II also has a 100-yard parallax setting, generous eye relief and is waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. Read more

Optics

Walther Introduces a New Caliber PPQ

(FORT SMITH, Ark.) – New to the Walther line of legendary pistols is the PPQ .45 ACP. Designed for personal protection and recreational shooting, this .45 represents the pinnacle of German craftsmanship. The gun is equipped with the Carl Walther signature quick defense trigger, which improves accuracy and allows for precise follow up shots. The PPQ .45 is fashioned with the traditional front and rear slide serrations for superior handling during use, and features fully ambidextrous controls like all PPQ models.

The PPQ .45 is without equal in the striker fired polymer framed centerfire pistol market. Like all other PPQ models the trigger is a crisp 5.6 lbs. making it the best out of the box trigger in the industry. This new .45 houses three separate safeties helping make it a truly capable and safe handling firearm when being used on the range or when carried concealed. Accessories can easily be mounted on the mil-spec Picatinny rail. The overall length is 7.4 inches, and a magazine capacity of 12 rounds, and a polygonal rifled 4.25 inch barrel which is an upgrade from the traditional button rifling process.

Cyndi Flannigan, Walther Arms’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing says of the new pistol, “We are excited to bring a .45 Auto to the Walther line. This new caliber and product offering is a benchmark for Walther and the PPQ,” says Flannigan. “We have built it to the same exacting German standards that deliver the ultimate home defense and personal protection firearm.”

Adding the .45 caliber to the Walther handgun line expresses Walther’s dedication to continued innovation and expansion in the fast growing personal protection industry. The PPQ .45 ACP will hit the market and be available in retail stores on October 1st, 2015.

Walther has earned the trust of law enforcement professionals, recreational shooters, and athletes through its line of reliable pistols, competition guns and tactical rimfire replicas. Walther Arms manufactures and markets firearms of various calibers ranging from .22 to .45.

Firearms
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