Boyds Gunstocks Make The Difference

Many people never consider that over 50% of a rifle is the gunstock, or that replacing a stock can actually improve shooting performance. But the craftsmen at Boyds Hardwood Gunstocks are well aware of this and have set out to tell the world.

“As you learn more about guns, you begin to realize just how important the gunstock is to shooting performance and accuracy,” said Dustin Knutson, General Manager at Boyds. “We’ve been making hardwood gunstocks for over 30 years and we test new stocks all the time. When you replace a factory gunstock with a Boyds handcrafted gunstock, the difference is significant.” Read more

Firearms

Wildlife Management the Right Way

By Glen Wunderlich

When Michigan voters head to the polls this November, they’ll have an opportunity to vote for principle – and, principle only – as two particular referendums have already been rendered moot.  The reason is that the Michigan House of Representatives passed the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act with a bipartisan vote of 65-43.  This in turn means the seemingly endless wolf hunt controversy is settled and the Department of Natural Resources’ biologists will be able to establish hunting seasons based on science.

Looking back to year 1996, when Proposal G was overwhelmingly approved by a 70-percent margin, Michiganders actually believed science would dictate how we would manage wildlife.  Proposal G was a referendum on Public Act 377 of 1996, which amended the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to grant the Natural Resources Commission exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game in this state. The amendment also required the Commission, to the greatest extent practicable, to use principles of sound scientific management in making decisions regarding the taking of game.

Ah, but if enough emotion and money could be leveraged into the mix, anti-hunters found a way to override the intent of Proposal G through referendums designed to trump science in favor of hype.  Not anymore!

Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a Washington, D.C.-based anti-hunting organization, the referendums aimed to repeal two bills that would have allowed a regulated hunting season for wolves in certain areas of the Upper Peninsula where wolves have killed pets and livestock. Because the initiative contains an appropriation ($1 million to protect fisheries from aquatic invasive species), it is not subject to a third referendum by HSUS or its front group, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected.

After the language was adopted, Michigan United Conservatin Clubs’ Drew YoungeDyke was asked if MUCC or Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management planned to campaign for a “yes” vote on the referendums.

“We’re not going to waste resources on it,” he said. “No matter what happens in November, there’s not going to be a 2014 wolf hunt because there isn’t time for the DNR to scientifically craft a season structure for it. And no matter what happens in November, there will be a hunting season in 2015, 2016 and every year thereafter as long as it continues to be supported by sound science.”

Jill Fritz, Michigan director for the Humane Society of the United States and director of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, told reporters that they would campaign heavily for a “no” vote on Proposals 1 and 2, including television advertisements. The Humane Society’s Legislative Fund spent $750,000 on “media” for Keep Michigan Wolves Protected in late July, according to campaign finance reports.

She also told reporters that they planned to sue to block the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, although it has not been made clear on what grounds.

Said Representative Jon Bumbstead (R-Newago), “This is about more than wolves. It’s about protecting the rights of our constituents to hunt and fish by managing our fish and wildlife with sound science.”

It’s also about keeping the noses of out-of-state extremists out of our business, just like we thought we were doing 18 years ago.

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Taking Odor Control to the MAX

One of the worst sounds a hunter can hear is a whitetail deer sounding off the nose blowing, foot stomping alarm when they have busted you. If you have spent any time in the woods, this has happened to you. It probably has played out something like this; you hold completely still as you see a mature buck or doe heading your direction, then without warning or reason you see the deer’s head pop up and start smelling the air. Before you know it, they have bulls eyed your stand location and the last thing you see is a whitetail heading off in the wrong direction. To help prevent hunters from being busted by the whitetail deer’s nose, Hunter’s Specialties recently unveiled their new Scent-A-Way MAX™ odor eliminating spray. Read more

Hunting

Eaglet Pair Released Along Banks of Kennebec

Marc Payne of Avian Haven (left) and Brent Bibles of Unity College release two rehabilitated juvenile bald eagles along the banks of the Kennebec River.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Two Bangor Eaglets, rescued from their treetop nest in May after one parent died and another became ill, were released today along the banks above the Kennebec Riveryesterday. The released juvenile bald eagles took right to the sky in their new home. Read more

Wildlife

Mesa Tactical Introduces Urbino Tactical Stock System for Mossberg 930

Costa Mesa, CA – Mesa Tactical, designer and manufacturer of high quality tactical gear and accessories for law enforcement, military and civilian shooters is pleased to announce the introduction of the Urbino Tactical Stock for the 12 gauge Mossberg 930. More than just a pistol grip butt stock, the new Urbino for the Mossberg 930 is a complete stock system with a shorter return spring and housing allowing the shortest length of pull available. The Urbino has become the industry standard for a tactical fixed butt stock for tactical shotguns.

Firearms

Threatened and endangered species feature: the cautious copperbelly water snake

 By Jillian Farkas, DNR Wildlife Division

ESA anniversary logoWith binoculars in tow, I scouted the seemingly calm water in front of me. Slowly, and without a ripple, a sea monster-like head began to emerge from the water. With a duckweed disguise, the snake remained still, repeatedly flicking its tongue in my direction. To confirm identification of the species, I lunged towards the snake with long tongs, but it was just out of reach. Reacting to the threat of capture, the snake swiftly swam into the surrounding vegetation and escaped.

The copperbelly water snake is an exceptionally rare species in Michigan. These snakes are found in two distinct population segments in the United States – the north and south. The northern population remains federally listed as threatened, and its range includes southern Michigan, northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana. In Michigan, this species is listed as endangered and has only been documented at 13 sites in seven counties. However, recent surveys have revealed that the number of sites the species currently occupies has dwindled down to only four.

copperbelly water snakeCopperbelly water snakes are harmless, non-poisonous, relatively large, semi-aquatic snakes that are often witnessed basking in the sun where they can effortlessly escape into water if bothered. They tend to live near shrub wetlands, wooded floodplains and slow-moving rivers. A hungry copperbelly will hunt a variety of prey, including tadpoles, frogs, salamanders, insect larvae and crayfish. Adults are dark black or brown on the top, with a vibrant orange-red underside. These snakes also have labial (lip) scales that are tinted slightly orange-red with darkened edges. In Michigan, northern water snakes, Kirtland’s snakes, queen snakes and northern red-bellied snakes look similar to, and might be mistaken for, the copperbelly water snake. Read more

Wildlife
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