Spring birding tours at Michigan’s Wetland Wonders

 Nothing says spring like the “conk-a-ree” call of a red-winged blackbird or the raucous sounds of a sandhill crane. Celebrate spring and explore Michigan’s Wetland Wonders with a birding tour at one of the Department of Natural Resources’ Saginaw Bay managed waterfowl areas.

trumpeter swanHighlights of the birding tours may include diving and dabbling ducks in full breeding plumage, trumpeter and tundra swans, osprey, bald eagles, sandhill cranes and many more. The tours, led by DNR wildlife biologists and technicians, will include a “sneak peek” driving tour into refuge areas that are normally closed.

Birding tours will be held on the following dates:

  • May 3 at 8 a.m. – Shiawassee River State Game Area 225 East Spruce St., St. Charles; 989-865-6211
  • May 10 at 9 a.m. – Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area 1570 Tower Beach Road, Pinconning; 989-697-5101 Read more
Wildlife

New Bushnell Elite Long Range Hunting Scope Offers Versatile Magnification Range and a First Focal Plane Reticle

Overland Park, Kan – Bushnell, an industry leader in high performance sports optics for 65 years, has introduced the Elite Long Range Hunting Scope (LRHS). This 3-12x 44mm configuration, the inaugural offering in the Elite Tactical Hunter product line, showcases the integration of technology and functionality from the acclaimed Bushnell Elite Tactical series in a scope designed specifically for the long range hunter.

The LRHS is the first hunting riflescope Bushnell has offered with a first focal plane reticle. The new G2H milliradian-based reticle is designed to give hunters the ability to range targets at any magnification setting. The G2H reticle has .5 mil hash marks with eight mils of holdover and six mils of windage adjustment. In addition, the center of the reticle features a Vital Bracket that has a diameter of two Mils at any range, equivalent to 7.2” at 100 yards. Read more

Firearms, Hunting

Clean Your Game Quickly and Easily with KwikHoist

Post-Harvest Difficulties are a Thing of the Past with the Viking KwikHoist
Viking Solutions LLC prides itself in making a hunter’s experience with downed big game easier, faster and more enjoyable. The introduction of the all new Viking KwikHoist is no exception. The Viking KwikHoist is a simple yet rugged hoist for deer and other large game that is used to elevate the kill for cleaning and hanging. Read more

Hunting

Obama Administration Will Limit Exported Mags to 30 Round Capacities

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reports  the U.S. State Department has made a “policy decision” to limit the export of 30 round and higher capacity magazines solely to government, law enforcement and military end users. The policy is expected to be posted to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) website this week. NSSF will provide updates on this policy development as more information becomes available.

Ammunition, Firearms, Gun Control

NSSF Challenges Local Boy Scouts Councils WIth $50,000 in Grants

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Boy Scouts of America Councils that take up the challenge to develop or expand their activities in target shooting and marksmanship can receive a portion of $50,000 in grant funds provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
For the fourth year, NSSF is making challenge grants available to qualifying BSA Councils. NSSF is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. Read more

Firearms

Hawk Eggs Hatching: Watch on Cornell’s Live Cam

Ithaca, N.Y.–It was an eventful weekend for Big Red and Ezra, the Red-tailed Hawk pair nesting on a light pole high above the Cornell University campus. Two of their three eggs hatched Sunday, April 27. Viewers can watch at AllAboutBirds.org/CornellHawks to see the parents feeding two fluffy chicks and to watch the last egg hatch out.
In addition to the hawks, viewers can watch nesting Barn Owls, Barred Owls, Laysan Albatrosses, and other birds at AllAboutBirds.org/Cams.

Wildlife

Obama Administration’s latest “Executive Action” aims to curb ammo imports

The BATFE sure doesn’t care about ballistics and Obama sure doesn’t care about the Second Amendment.

According to John Lott, the 5.45×39 is slightly narrower and a little longer than a .22 magnum.  If you want to see the illogic of banning the importation of the 5.45×39 compare it to the .44 magnum or the 38 special.

In inches 5.45 is about .21 inches, so that is less than half the diameter of the .44 inches magnum shell.  The 38 special is .359 inches in diameter.
The 39 millimeter length is 1.535 inches, while the .44 magnum is 1.61 inches (41 millimeters).  The .38 special is also slightly longer than the 5.45×39 — it is 1.55 inches long.

More details here…

Ammunition, Firearms, Gun Control

Ruger Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the 10/22®

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 10/22®, is proud to announce the 10/22® 50th Anniversary Design Contest Winning Rifle. The contest winning rifle, available only in 2014, takes the legendary action and renowned, reliable rotary magazine of the 10/22® and combines them with the best features of other popular Ruger® rifles. The result is a fun, versatile .22 rifle that enthusiasts of all ages are sure to enjoy. Read more

Firearms

Winchester’s Deadly Long Beard XR Turkey Loads

By Glen Wunderlich

At the end of a day’s session at the firing range, a friend plopped down a 12 x 18-inch turkey target thoroughly covered with shot from Winchester’s new Long Beard XR 12-gauge load.  “60 yards!” he exclaimed.

12-Gauge Winchester Long Beard XR, No. 5 Shot, 60 Yards

12-Gauge Winchester Long Beard XR, No. 5 Shot, 60 Yards

 

I knew right then that further review was necessary.

Winchester obliged by supplying some of its Long Beard XR copper plated, 3-inch loads of 4s and 6s and some test targets.  It was time for the testing to begin.

With a “scant” 1 ¾-ounce load of shot, it’s almost incomprehensible how science could make it more effective than much heavier loads.  A proprietary Shot-Lok compound insures the plated pellets’ roundness under impact in the barrel.  The result:  more pellets on target.

Since it doesn’t need as much costly shot to get the job done, the price of $23 for a box of 10 rounds is significantly less than other high-end shotshells.  Plus, the felt recoil seemed to be a bit less punishing – even with the added weight of an additional ¼ ounce of shot buffer material.  Winchester claims the load offers 10 percent greater penetration over standard loads beyond 50 yards and twice the number of pellets in a 10-inch circle out to 60 yards.

Here’s what I learned.  At 40 yards, a charge of #4 shot put 39 pellets on target in the head and neck. No. 4 Shot, 50 Yards I backed up to 50 yards and 16 pellets resulted in the kill zone.

Read more

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