Why You Should Be Planting Food Plots
By Todd Amenrud – Today’s whitetail managers know what an important role food plots play in the drive towards a healthy herd and bucks with bigger antlers. Food plots can transform deer management, even on small tracts, and make your hunting dreams come true. What’s the big difference between food plots and their native vegetation? Or, why couldn’t supplemental feeding have the same impact? Here’s why:
On average, native vegetation will produce about 200 to 300 pounds of deer food annually at approximately 6% to 12% protein. However, if they actually consumed that much you would see a browse line about 6 feet high and the habitat would be destroyed. So they can only use about 100 pounds per acre without destroying the area. Read more
Man halts robbery, kills two suspects
It may have been against the law for a man to have carried his sidearm into a bar. However, a defensive-minded patron saved the day, when armed robbers held up the place at closing time. Details here…
Firefield® Rechargeable Compact Green Laser Now Available
(MANSFIELD, TEXAS) – While intimidation is important, dependable equipment can be lifesaving when the dirt flies. One of the most recognized deterrents in the world is a laser pointed at your chest. The Firefield® Rechargeable Compact Green Laser is the perfect handgun accessory for personal defense, law enforcement and combat situations.
This lightweight device is equipped with a weaver rail, easily affixing to a wide variety of pistols. Its compact design keeps the laser unit lightweight without weighing down your firearm, or compromising the rugged durability your life may depend upon. With a daylight visibility range of 50 yards and nighttime visibility range of 600 yards, the Rechargeable Compact Green Pistol Laser offers peace of mind in both close quarters in the home and long-range engagements on the firing line. It can also serve as an important tool for intense airsoft action or tactical training scenarios. Read more
Michigan DNR conservation officers report first case involving enhanced deer violation penalties
GW: An egregious offense with a penalty to cover typical poaching. Fine. But, involving two youngsters? Jacob Powers can be thankful I am not in charge of punishment.
A Kent County man has pled guilty in a deer-poaching case that occurred in September in Montcalm County and is the first case of a violation meeting the new enhanced sentencing guidelines for poaching that became law in Michigan earlier this year.
On Sept. 21, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers responded to a complaint phoned in to the Report All Poaching (RAP) Line involving an adult suspect who allegedly killed two trophy white-tailed deer in Montcalm County during the 2014 Youth Hunt while acting as a mentor to an 8-year-old hunter. Jacob Powers, 25, of Lowell, Michigan, was arraigned Oct. 3 on the charge of taking two white-tailed deer during the closed season before a magistrate of the 64B District Court at Stanton in Montcalm County.
At arraignment, Powers entered a plea of guilty to the charge and was sentenced. He was assessed $335 in fines and costs, $12,000 in restitution for payment to the state’s Fish and Game Protection Fund, and five days mandatory minimum jail time to be served as community service. In addition, Powers now faces up to five years of hunting license revocations in Michigan and 41 other states that participate in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. Powers has yet to appear on charges in Ionia County for littering. Read more
DRD Tactical Releases Briefcase Pistols
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Dallas, GA -DRD Tactical, specialists in design and manufacturing of patented Brief Case Rifles in 7.62 Nato, 5.56 Nato and 300AAC calibers, announces the release of CDR15 Pistols.
These pistols use the same patented quick take down barrel design with 7″ Rails in 5.56 Nato and/or 300AAC calibers, which allows you to quickly change the barrel and allows for compact brief case carry capability. Lower and Upper receivers are machined from billet 7075-T6511 Aluminum. CDR15’s come with 10.5″ or 11.5″ barrels. Read more
HPR Ammo Introduces Black Ops Ammunition
Payson, AZ – HPR Ammunition, manufactured in Payson, Arizona, is positioned in the market as a high quality and innovative brand and is announcing their BLACK OPS® line of defensive ammunition.
HPR recognized the significant need for a high quality round that offers superior accuracy, and unparalleled takedown force in a variety of scenarios. HPR created the Black Ops® line for maximum knockdown power as the Open Tipped Frangible® (OTF) projectile transfers 100% of its energy into the target. The OTF® projectile tracks straight through a variety of soft barriers like sheet rock, plywood, car doors, and auto glass. When the projectile enters soft tissue, the jacket and core separate with furious force of impact, resulting in mass force trauma. Read more
Ruger Introduces the AR-556
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. (NYSE: RGR) announces the AR-556™ semi-automatic, M4-style, direct impingement Modern Sporting Rifle. With all major components machined at Ruger’s Mayodan, NC facility, the AR-556 offers consumers an affordable, American-made Modern Sporting Rifle with the rugged reliability they have come to expect from Ruger.
Clarification on firearm use during archery season
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission recently adopted several changes to the Deer Management Assistance Permit (DMAP) program, in order to provide additional assistance to landowners on an individual basis.
A DMAP is a permit that allows for the take of an antlerless deer and may only be utilized during an open season for deer. In order for a landowner to receive DMAPs, one of the following four criteria needs to be met:
- Significant agricultural or horticultural damage.
- Documented serious disease outbreak that threatens humans, livestock or deer health.
- Significant safety hazard caused by deer.
- Current antlerless deer regulations insufficient to achieve landowner deer-management objectives.
In the past, individuals possessing a DMAP were able to utilize only the legal equipment for that particular hunting season (e.g., only archery equipment could be utilized during archery season). However, in some cases archery equipment has proven to be ineffective, and damage incurred by deer has continued through the season as a result.
The new change to the DMAP program will allow a DMAP holder, on a case-by-case basis, to seek additional signed permission to harvest deer using a firearm during select time periods of the archery season. DMAP holders will be required to have hunted their property during the archery season for the last two years and be in good standing with the DMAP program, meaning they have reported all DMAPs requested, issued and utilized on an annual basis. Read more
Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Receives Federal Protection under the Endangered Species Act
Sacramento – The western population of the yellow-billed cuckoo will be protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced yesterday. The Service determined that listing a distinct population segment (DPS) of the bird in portions of 12 western states, Canada and Mexico is warranted. In the U.S., the DPS will cover parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Read more