Montana hunters find booming waterfowl numbers

In the Prairie Pothole region, wildlife biologists had estimated the duck numbers up 8 percent since last year’s record numbers – a total of a 43 percent increase over the past 60+ years.

This spring, biologists estimated the duck population to slightly top 49 million birds. That was an 8 percent increase over the record numbers of ducks seen just the year before.

That population represents a 43 percent increase over the long-term average of ducks that have been counted the past seven decades.

Thank you hunters and your conservation contributions in the form of licenses and excise-taxed gear over the years!

Hat tip from The Missoulian here…

Hunting, Wildlife

The NY Times publishes Darren Wilson’s address

GW:  It’s difficult to comprehend the level of lame journalism, as the New York Times lets the sickos know where to find officer Darren Wilson.  If there has been any doubt about the liberal media being complicit in the Obama Administration’s efforts to cause more chaos and harm to already-tense circumstances in Missouri and beyond, the scoundrels at the NY Times answers the question.  The disgusting account is here…

General

Great Deals on Black Rifle Parts & Glock Mags at Brownells

MONTEZUMA, Iowa – Brownells caps its “Back In Black Rifle Event” with Black Rifle Friday sales featuring even more incredible bargains on AR-15 parts and accessories, plus discounts on Glock® magazines, 1911 barrels, ammunition, reloading equipment, trail cameras and action cameras. Popular Emergency and Survival Gear products will also be marked down.

The sale starts at 12:01 AM on Black Friday, November 28. Customers can also enter the code J2Y at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount on all orders for any products totaling $150 or more. Read more

Firearms

Enter Cornell Lab’s BirdSpotter Photo Contest

Gary Mueller of Missouri submitted this photo of a Lego feeder that was the Judge’s Choice during the first week of the contest.

Ithaca, NY-The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s BirdSpotter photo contest is underway! The contest is sponsored by Vanguard and offers weekly prizes for the photos that receive the most votes on the contest website. Special “Judge’s Choice” photos are also recognized.

Gary Mueller of Missouri submitted this photo of a Lego feeder that was the Judge’s Choice during the first week of the contest.
BirdSpotter is being run through the Project FeederWatchcitizen-science project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada. FeederWatch participants keep track of their feeder birds from November through April and report what they see online. This information helps scientists learn more about the changes in bird distribution and population numbers in North America over time.

Each Wednesday from now through February 11, 2015, a new BirdSpotter photo theme will be posted, such as “birdbaths” or “chickadees only.” You can upload one entry per week and then vote for your favorite photo. The winners will be announced on Monday morning. Each weekly winner receives a prize pack from Vanguard that includes binoculars, plus gifts from the Cornell Lab. Read more

Wildlife

LaserLyte® Receives Patent for Center Mass Laser

Cottonwood, Ariz. – LaserLyte®, innovators in firearms laser technologies, is proud to announce that the Center Mass laser has been assigned a US patent. The Center Mass laser system offers users a choice between two laser patterns: single dot or the popular Center Mass pattern. The Center Mass laser projects a ring of eight laser dots with one dot in the center as the aiming laser. The circle grows at one-inch per yard, approximately the same configuration as a shotgun aimed at a moving target. The laser gives the user the advantage of a wide field-of-view while using both eyes for aiming.

The Center Mass laser fits AR-15, AK-47’s, and rifles and shotguns with at least a 3-inch Picatinny rail. The popularity of the Center Mass laser system has leading manufacturers including the Center Mass system as part of a firearm package. Mossberg ships the Center Mass laser on their 500 Cruiser® and 500 Persuader® Tactical Tri-Rail shotguns making it the ideal home defense weapon. Read more

Firearms, Self Defense

Total Source Distribution, LLC Exclusive Distributor of Battle Rifle Company Rifles

Alpharetta, GA-TSD, LLC. is proud to announce the exclusive offering of Battle Rifle Company’s BR4 Attaché and BR4 Trooper. The feature packed Battle Rifles have evolved from over 20 years of experience to bring it all into one precision package for use under any condition.

Battle Rifle Company was started in April of 2010. With proven reliability, functionality and performance, their rifles have been proven through all weather conditions to perform, stay accurate and function for the operator time and time again. Their rifles keep working when others don’t – and they stand behind them with the best warranty and customer service after the sale.

You will not find a better rifle built with quality components, providing the best performance at a better value than with Battle Rifle Company. You can be assured of use of the best components and the best practices with each rifle they build. Read more

Firearms

General Dynamics, Smith & Wesson Partnering on Modular Handgun System

ST. PETERSBURG, FL- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. are partnering to pursue the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS) solicitation to replace the M9 standard Army sidearm. The strategic partnership’s Modular Handgun System will be based on the Smith & Wesson M&P Polymer Pistol platform.

Designed with a reinforced polymer chassis, superior ergonomics, ambidextrous controls, and proven safety features, the M&P is used by U.S. and law enforcement agencies worldwide. The M&P’s features make it well suited for the MHS requirement by providing sidearms that exceed the military’s expectations for a future modular handgun in terms of performance, reliability and durability. The M&P pistol has been in production since 2005. Read more

Firearms

Blackpowder Shooters Redefining Accuracy, Performance

GW:  This innovative bullet design looks like a major improvement over typical muzzleloader bullets.

ANOKA, MN – Trophy® Copper Muzzleloader Bullets with B.O.R. Lock MZ™ System from Federal Premium® are designed to maximize the effectiveness of modern, in-line muzzleloaders. Muzzleloading shooters across the nation are now redefining accuracy and performance with this bullet that delivers 200-yard accuracy in a non-sabot bullet design that is easy to load, scrubs fouling from the breech and ensures consistent seating.

The bullet’s exclusive B.O.R. Lock MZ System features an expanding and permanently attached polymer base cup that is forced onto a raised band along the bullet shank. Upon ignition, the polymer base cup expands its diameter to engage the rifling and seal the bore for increased velocity and accuracy. The rear of the B.O.R. Lock MZ cup with its hard, fiber-reinforced polymer ring scours fouling from the breech when the bullet is loaded into the breech. This reduces the need to clean between shots and helps ensure that the bullet is seated at the same depth for every shot.

With no bulky sabot in the way, Trophy Copper bullets require half of the loading force of most sabots, require less cleaning and are approved for hunting in most areas. See video of the projectile in action here.

Like other projectiles in the proven Trophy Copper line, the copper-alloy bullet features a polymer tip with a deep, hollow cavity and skiving that allows for consistent, devastating expansion and maximum weight retention. With its high ballistic coefficient, the bullets produce flatter trajectories and less wind drift to increase maximum effective range in the field.

Part No. / Description / MSRP
PMZ50TC1 / Trophy Copper, .50 caliber, 270-grain (15 pack) / $24.99

For more on Federal Premium and its full line of products, visit www.federalpremium.com.

 

Firearms, Hunting

2014 Deer Season Biologist Video Updates

Click here to play the videoThe final round of biologist updates for this season are ready for you to view! As we enter the final week of firearm deer season, everyone is curious about what’s happening out in the woods. These biologists will give their take on what they’re seeing, what they’re hearing from hunters in the area, what can be expected based on available food sources and more. This week we hear from biologists Dusty Arsnoe (south central Upper Peninsula), Zach Cooley (southeast Lower Peninsula), Chad Fedewa (central Lower Peninsula) and Nik Kalejs (southwest Lower Peninsula) about what to expect in their part of the state. If you haven’t picked up your deer licenses yet, head to your local retailer or E-License so you don’t miss out on the hunt. Also, don’t forget to tweet your harvest photos on twitter with the hashtag, “#MiDeerPic.” Good luck this last week of firearm deer season!

Hunting

Long Beard® XR™ Sets New World Record in NWTF Still Target Competition

 

 GW:  I’m a believer and since taking a gobbler with this stuff last spring, I’ll stick with it.  The best patterning shotgun ammo ever and the price beats the competition, too.

EAST ALTON, Ill. (November 25, 2014) –Fall is officially here…the World Series is over, professional and college football games are in full swing, and competitors in the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Still Target Competition have set world records with Winchester® Long Beard XR turkey ammunition. Not just once, but three times, and in Long Beard XR’s first year of competition.

It’s safe to say Winchester rose to the top of the innovation platform yet again by dominating competitive and hi-dense loads. Winning the 12-gauge Open Division and winning the 12-gauge Hunter Division with 54 pellets in a three-inch circle at a distance of 40 yards, is impressive to say the least, but setting a new world record knocks it out of the park. Introduced in 2014, Long Beard XR quickly became a turkey slamming game changer while turning hunters into true believers.

12 Gauge Hunter: Bobby Sears (Hazelhurst, GA), new world record holder
12 Gauge Open: Scott Kirsch (Plainfield, IN)

“We knew we had something truly innovative with Long Beard XR,” said Brett Flaugher, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing, sales and strategy. “To be able to see our product completely dominate the competition, shatter the current record and set a brand new world record, makes us very proud.”

Be on the lookout in 2015 for Long Beard XR Magnum loads featuring Shot-Lok™ technology, offering the tightest patterns and longest shot capability of any lead turkey load in history. It will be available in 12 gauge, 3 inch, 1 7/8 ounce shot and 12 gauge, 3 ½ inch, 2 1/8 ounce shot both in shot sizes 4, 5 and 6.

Read more

Ammunition
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