HSUS Launches Lame Web Defense to Criticism

This from www.humanewatch.org…

SkepticalPupIt’s clear that our campaign to expose the deceptive “Humane Society” of the United States has been successful. We have one main message: Only 1 percent of the money given to HSUS winds up at local pet shelters. Most people—including HSUS donors—don’t know this, and it’s due to HSUS’s deceptive fundraising chock full of cats and dogs that funds other things—attacking farmers, pushing a PETA-like agenda, buying cheap direct-mail gifts, etc.

Our success is in the numbers: HSUS’s contributions declined by millions in 2013 as people learned the truth (and, hopefully, gave to their local pet shelters instead, helping needy dogs and cats).

Now, predictably feeling threatened by the truth, HSUS has launched a new website to answer some criticisms about the organization (as of this writing, though, it doesn’t address the Oklahoma Attorney General’s investigation of HSUS, Charity Navigator’s Donor Advisory against HSUS, or CharityWatch’s “C-minus” grade of HSUS, or a whole host of other things). With tens of millions of dollars on the line from a group whose income relies on people being deceived, it’s no surprise that HSUS is once again misleading the public. Let’s debunk each of HSUS’s attempts to defend itself.

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Animal Rights

Michigan’s trapping tradition grows in popularity



Doug Reeves remembers his first time as though it were yesterday.

“The first thing I ever caught was an ermine, a white weasel,” said Reeves, assistant chief of the Department Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division and a lifelong trapper. “I sold it for 50 cents to a traveling fur buyer. To me that was big time.”

He was 9 years old. And he was hooked. The next year he got three traps and starting chasing muskrats. He progressed from there.

“Back then you had to be 12 years old to trap beaver,” he said. “The first one I got I brought home in the basket of my sister’s fat-tire bike.”

Now, 50 years later, Reeves is still trapping – muskrats, raccoons, coyotes, fox – just about everything.

“You have to learn a lot,” Reeves said. “The learning curve is very steep. The element of exploration and discovery is a lot of fun. It’s a blast. I just love it.”

Reeves isn’t alone. In Michigan, trapping is growing in popularity.

older and younger trappers holding muskratAccording to DNR records, just more than 10,000 people bought a fur harvester license in 1994. Two decades later, that number has tripled.

“It’s been increasing,” said Adam Bump, the DNR’s furbearer specialist. “Some of it may be because of pelt prices. When you have generally increasing pelt prices, you have an increase in trapping and the last three or four years the pelt prices for muskrats have been near or at record highs. But price for every species varies on its own, so just because ’rat prices are up, that doesn’t mean they all are.”

Indeed, it’s not all about fur prices, said Dale Hendershot, president of the 1,200-member Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, one of three fur-taker associations in the state. A 64-year-old retired diesel mechanic from Gladwin who’s been trapping since he was 14, Hendershot said “the vast majority of trappers are not professionals.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

First bats to die from white-nose syndrome this winter reported in

dead bats, WNS - KeewenawThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced that it has received the first reports this winter of bats dying from white-nose syndrome. Members of the public found dead bats outside the opening of an abandoned copper mine near Mohawk in Keweenaw County and reported it to DNR field staff.

White-nose syndrome was first discovered in Michigan in late winter 2014 in Alpena, Dickinson, Keweenaw, Mackinac and Ontonagon counties. Widespread die-offs of hibernating bats are expected in all of these counties, and potentially others, this winter. Experience with white-nose syndrome in northeastern states suggests that most dead bats will be found within 100 yards of the openings to the mines, caves or other places in which they hibernate (called ‘hibernacula’), but some bats may travel a mile or more before dying.

dead bats, WNS - PennsylvaniaBecause most of the major bat hibernacula in these counties are in relatively remote areas, most people will probably not see the bat die-offs. However, in towns like Iron Mountain, Hancock and Norway, where large numbers of bats hibernate in mines within the city limits, area residents may see dead and dying bats. These bats may be on the ground, or roost on trees, buildings or other structures close to humans and domestic animals. Read more

Wildlife

Late Winter Plot Management

By this time of the year, most everyone’s hunting season is over or starting to wind down and not many guys are thinking about growing plots or feeding their deer. With some cold and nasty weather still possible for the next few weeks, it’s a great time to sit down and start planning for the upcoming growing season. There may be some things you thought of while sitting in your deer stand this fall that you would like to accomplish on the property you manage. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Sportsmen Mobilize to Stop Transfer and Sale of Public Lands

LAS VEGAS – Sportsmen’s groups and industry members have launched an aggressive new campaign to rally against efforts by special interests to transfer or sell America’s federal public lands, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announced.
Via the website www.sportsmensaccess.org, the rapidly growing coalition of groups and businesses includes the National Wild Turkey Federation, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Trout Unlimited, Dallas Safari Club, Mystery Ranch Backpacks, Sitka Gear, First Lite, Simms Fishing Products and Sage. The coalition supports a grassroots effort by sportsmen to urge lawmakers to reject any actions that would deprive citizens of their public lands. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Streamlight Launches Stinger HPL and Strion HPL

New Models Deliver Blinding Lumens and Hotspot Illumination at a Distance

Stinger® HPL™ And Strion® HPL™

EAGLEVILLE, PA – Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, launched the rechargeable Stinger® HPL™ and Strion® HPL™ (High Performance Lumen) lights, new high lumen, long-range lights with an ultra-bright hotspot for illuminating a broader area on targets. The Stinger HPL also is available in a dual switch model, the Stinger DS® HPL™.

Powerful tactical tools for law enforcement and first responders, the compact Stinger and Strion HPLs are designed for room clearing, search operations, and other maneuvers under low-light conditions.

“The new Stinger and Strion HPLs function as high lumen lights, yet deliver a blinding ‘hotspot’ for more light on a target at a distance,” said Streamlight President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Sharrah. “For example, other downrange beam patterns might illuminate a target’s head and shoulders, but the HPL beam lights up the target’s entire upper torso at a distance, providing a clear tactical advantage.”

The new models offer three microprocessor-controlled, variable intensity modes – high, medium, and low – plus a strobe function. On the high setting, the Stinger models feature 740 lumens and 48,000 candela with a one-hour and 15-minute run time and a beam distance of 438 meters. On low, the lights feature 190 lumens, 12,000 candela, a run time of 4 hours and 30 minutes and a 219-meter beam distance. Read more

General

CORE Debuts Hardcore System X Precision RIfles

CORE Rifle Systems of Ocala, Florida, debuted their new Hardcore System X line of premium high performance precision rifles at the 2015 SHOT Show. Built to the same exacting standards as its current line of rifles, the Hardcore System X will be offered in four feature-packed models.

Under close leadership and design, we wanted to offer a premium rifle at an affordable price. With an all billet platform, we feel this rifle will rival other competitors at an aggressive MSRP. “Along with our first entries into the affordable MSR marketplace, we’re raising the bar on both performance and design,” stated David Welch, National Sales Manager of CORE Rifle Systems. “The new visual look of our Hardcore line was created specifically around both the precision and competition shooter”. In addition to the Hardcore System X launch, CORE Rifle Systems has also launched a premium AR Pistol line. The “Roscoe” will be offered in 2 calibers including .223/5.56 and 300BLK. These will be featured with the ever popular Sig TAC Stabilizing brace or without. Read more

Firearms

Knife Rights’ Knife Owners’ Protection Act Re-Introduced

Washington, DC- Knife Rights’ Knife Owners’ Protection Act, H.R.419 (KOPA), was re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday by sponsor Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ). Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter explained, “KOPA will protect law-abiding knife owners travelling throughout the U.S. from the vagaries of restrictive state and local laws. As long as possession of the particular knife is legal in the state where the journey starts and ends, and provided the knife is secured in accordance with KOPA, a knife owner would no longer be threatened with arrest simply for traveling from one place to another.” KOPA is the first proactive pro-knife federal legislation introduced in the nation’s history.

Additional co-sponsors are: Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) (more co-sponsors are expected to sign on shortly)

“Those who travel across the country with knives for work, recreation and self defense are presently subject to arrest and prosecution under a confusing patchwork of inconsistent state and local laws and regulations, said Ritter, “what is perfectly legal in one place may be a serious crime in another, resulting in forfeiture of property and carrying significant penalties including jail time. Enforcement is not uniform even within jurisdictions and is subject to the vagaries of political expediency at times. Sportsmen and workmen who travel are particularly vulnerable.” Read more

Cutlery
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