As Michigan’s State Park Improvements Ramp Up, Visitors Reminded About Planning for Closures

GW:  More money we have to borrow for ARPA funds.  So, sad we have to burden people yet to be born.  Of course, our hands are extended to accept debt.

Thanks to a massive $250 million investment made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act, many critical improvements at Michigan state parks are underway or getting ready to break ground in the coming months.

Although the work will cause slight disruptions to overnight and day-trip plans at some locations, state park officials say it’s a worthwhile tradeoff – governed by a strict timeline – that will yield substantial long-term visitor benefits. The federal relief funds will help the Michigan Department of Natural Resources address a decades-long backlog of repair and maintenance needs and help build a new state park in Flint.

“In the construction world, this is much like a race against time to design, bid and plan these projects in such a short time frame,” said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief. “The ARPA funds must be committed by Dec. 31, 2024, and spent on those projects by Dec. 31, 2026. It’s an exciting opportunity, but one that requires careful planning, broad action and thorough execution.” Read more

General

Introducing the Ruger American Rifle Generation II Predator Models and Expansion of Existing Lines

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is excited to announce 36 new configurations of the Ruger American® Rifle Generation II, which includes 18 configurations of the new Predator variant of this popular rifle. Predator rifles are available in the full Gen II caliber assortment, from traditional predator calibers like .204 Ruger up to .300 Win Mag.

Generation II Predator models feature a durable, Burnt Bronze Cerakote barreled action and an attractive green stock textured with black and bronze splatter for excellent grip and control in the field. The longer 22″ medium contour, cold hammer-forged barrel features deep spiral fluting on most models, improving the balance of the rifle without sacrificing rigidity or accuracy. The threaded muzzle features a factory-installed radial muzzle brake. Read more

Firearms

SB Tactical Announces New SBA5 Adjustable Pistol Stabilizing Brace

SB Tactical®, inventors and manufacturers of the Pistol Stabilizing Brace®, is proud to continue supporting the large frame pistol market with the release of the new SBA5™ Pistol Stabilizing Brace.

Designed for all platforms capable of accepting a mil-spec carbine receiver extension, the SBA5 is 5-position adjustable and greatly enhances the usability of the host firearm by adding an additional point of contact.

Featuring an integral, ambidextrous QD sling socket, the SBA5 is available in both black and FDE. With an arm cuff size based on the original SB15®, the SBA5 weighs only 9 ounces, and ships with an adjustable nylon strap for a custom fit. Read more

Firearms

Michigan DNR Collecting Walleye Eggs on Muskegon River This Spring

Muskegon River anglers should be on the lookout for Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam this spring. Collections with electrofishing boats will start as early as the week of March 18 and conclude by April 12.

Anglers who wish to avoid the walleye collection activities should fish downstream. The DNR asks anglers to exhibit caution when fishing near the electrofishing boats. For angler safety during the electrofishing work, those wading will be asked to exit the water when boats approach.

The DNR plans to collect approximately 23 million walleye eggs from the Muskegon River this year, which will result in fry (fish that have just hatched) for transfer to rearing ponds and direct fry plants throughout the Lower Peninsula. Walleye fry transferred to ponds will be raised to fingerling size (approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches) and stocked in late spring or early summer in lakes and rivers throughout the state. Read more

Fishing

GOA Appeals to SCOTUS in Illinois Lawsuit

Yesterday afternoon, Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court in their challenge to the Illinois ban on standard capacity magazines and so-called “assault weapons.”

These bans took effect in January 2023, and GOA quickly filed suit and secured an injunction from Judge Stephen McGlynn. As Judge McGlynn put it, the Illinois laws in question “seem to be written in spite of the clear directives in Bruen and Heller, not in conformity with them.”

Frustratingly, the anti-gun 7th Federal Circuit quickly blocked Judge McGlynn’s ruling, leaving Illinois gun owners with no choice but to request relief from the nation’s high court.

Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, issued the following statement:

“GOA has been at the forefront of this challenge since before the bans even took effect, and while our goal was never to have to end up before the Supreme Court, we were fully prepared to do so.

“We urge the Justices to hear the pleas of millions of Americans in Illinois and several other states nationwide who cannot purchase many of the commonly owned semi-automatic firearms available today because of the unconstitutional laws passed by anti-gun politicians.” Read more

Gun Control

SAF Wins Summary Judgement in Cal. One Gun A Month Challenge

The Second Amendment Foundation has been granted summary judgement in a federal challenge of California’s One-Gun-A-Month (OGM) purchase law.

U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes stayed his decision for 30 days for the defendants to facilitate an appeal.

SAF is joined by the North County Shooting Center, San Diego County Gun Owners Pac, PWGG, LP, Firearms Policy Coalition and six private citizens including Michelle Nguyen, for whom the case is named. They are represented by attorney Raymond M. DiGuiseppe of Southport, N.C. The case was filed in December 2020 and is known as Nguyen v. Bonta.

“This is a win for gun rights and California gun owners,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “There is no historical justification for limiting law-abiding citizens to a single handgun or rifle purchase during a one-month period, and Judge Hayes’ ruling clearly points that out.” Read more

Gun Control

“Multi-Caliber Contentedness” With The SSK-50 In April GUNS

The SSK-50, an elegant new take on the Contender idea, is produced to the specifications of the last iteration of the Thompson/Center Contender and distributed by Haus of Arms. Roy Huntington explores the multi-caliber shooter in the April issue of GUNS Magazine.

The SSK-50 showcases a stainless steel frame with a black nitride-finished trigger guard and black oxide-finished hammer and trigger. Roy approves of the simplified safety and firing pin selection lever on the top of the hammer itself. Flip it right or left to go from rimfire to centerfire and the middle is safe. He notes, “The SSK-50, the “UnThompson” Contender-style frame, not only revives the beloved multi-caliber shooter but takes it to new heights with better material and manufacturing.” Read more

Firearms

Michigan March ‘Wildtalk’: American Woodcock, Black Bears and More

The newest episode of the DNR Wildlife Division’s “Wildtalk” podcast is now available. The March show covers Michigan’s largest carnivore, the black bear, and does a deep dive on the American woodcock, a peculiar little ground-nesting bird with lots of charisma and some unique physical adaptations.

James Miller, a DNR wildlife biologist based in southwest Michigan, stops by to talk about spring infrastructure projects such as maintenance of the dike systems and water control structures at Maple River State Game Area, habitat work at Allegan State Game Area to support the Karner blue butterfly and prescribed burn planning for several locations.

DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing also drops in with an overview of hunting and trapping opportunities, plus a nod to filmdom’s famed mountain man, Jeremiah Johnson.

Visit the “Wildtalk” webpage for the March episode, as well as show notes and links to past episodes. Questions about the podcast? Email DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov.

Wildlife

InfiRay Outdoor Announces the M6 LRF 25mm Vehicle-Mounted Thermal PTZ

iRayUSA, the United States Distributor of InfiRay Outdoor thermal optics, introduces the M6 LRF – a vehicle-mounted 360° Thermal Pan/Tilt/Zoom scanner with integrated laser rangefinder and a visible laser pointer/designator.

The M6 thermal PTZ camera system is designed to enhance scanning capabilities while on-board a vehicle and is over-built to maintain performance through years of use and exposure to the elements. Our mission is simple—to create the highest quality thermal PTZ systems available for night hunters. The M6 is packed full of useful features including video recording, gyro stabilization, and mobile app connectivity with wireless streaming. The new M6 includes an integrated laser pointer and laser rangefinder for increased situational awareness. The M6 kit has everything you need to add thermal to any vehicle including power and signal wiring harnesses and an easy-to-use wired thumbstick controller. In just a few minutes you can upgrade any vehicle with powerful thermal imaging technology. The new M6 (M6T25) includes a four-point suction mount and all wiring harnesses for multiple 12v DC power configurations. The M6 launches with a retail price $6,999.

“Anyone who has used a thermal scanner has probably tried to run it from inside a vehicle and observed that thermal optics can’t see through glass, which is a thermal reflector” said Pliny Gale iRayUSA Marketing Director. “With the M6, you can sit inside the truck with the heater on and scan 360° to search for hogs or coyotes. This device unlocks a whole new world of potential for die-hard night hunters as well as security applications.” Read more

Optics
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