Women and Guns – the New Normal

The number of women applying for concealed carry permits has continued to steadily increase as more and more of them have decided to take responsibility for their own safety, as well as the protection of their families. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Beth Alcazar, a freelance writer and editor, with degrees in language arts, communication and education. Beth currently teaches college-level English, speech and critical thinking classes. She is a wife and mother of three and writes for the USCCA Concealed Carry Magazine as well as having her own blog, “Pacifiers and Peacemakers” on the USCCA web site. She just took another step in her journey to become more proficient in self-defense by attending the fourth USCCA Instructor Certification training course. Read more

Firearms, Self Defense

Threatened and endangered species feature: peregrine falcon

ESA 40th anniversary logoJune 18, 2014

Through generous support from DTE Energy, the DNR is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Michigan’s Endangered Species Act from now through September. Each week, an important species will be featured.

Peregrine falcons are the fastest-flying birds in the world, reaching speeds of 200 miles per hour in a dive. Powerful and fierce, the peregrine falcon hunts small and medium-sized birds, dropping down on them from high above. Distinguishable by their dark brown backs and white faces with a black tear on their cheeks, these regal raptors can be seen on cliffs in the Upper Peninsula and in cities across the state.

peregrine falconPeregrine falcons are currently endangered in Michigan. They were included on the first list of endangered species created under Michigan’s Endangered Species Act. Pesticides took their toll on this bird of prey, and they were virtually eradicated from eastern North America by the middle of the 20th century.

After World War II, the use of a new insecticide known as DDT increased. Small birds and mammals accumulated the pesticide in their bodies. Raptors feeding on the contaminated birds and rodents were, in turn, poisoned by a progressive build-up of the pesticide. DDT was especially harmful to birds because it caused eggshell thinning, which resulted in weak eggs that broke under pressure.

After significant recovery efforts, peregrine falcons have made an incredible rebound and are now regularly seen in many large cities and coastal areas. In 2012, there were 12 confirmed nesting pairs in Michigan!

Read more

Wildlife

Charity Navigator Issues “Donor Advisory” Against HSUS


GW:  This from www.Humanewatch.org

In response to criticism of his organization, Humane Society of the United States CEO Wayne “I don’t love animals” Pacelle has often pointed to his organization’s rating from Charity Navigator, a charity evaluator. HSUS had a four (out of four) star rating until earlier this year, when it dropped to three stars. Now, it’s a former rating.

As of last week Charity Navigator removed its rating of HSUS and replaced it with a “donor advisory.” The advisory notifies website visitors of the $15.75 million settlement of a racketeering and bribery lawsuit that HSUS was a part of last month. You can read more about that settlement here, but the lawsuit involved HSUS money allegedly paying a witness who lied to a federal court. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

HAWK Opens New Headquarters in Michigan

Growing Company Now Calls Frankenmuth, MI Home

GW:  I’ve checked out Hawk’s treestands and ladders and they are built strong and are made to be quiet with proprietary fasteners, etc. 

Frankenmuth, MI — HAWK®, introduced in early 2014, is an exciting new brand of hunting gear and equipment. Distributed by Innopower, Inc, HAWK started moving into the new headquarters building in Frankenmuth, Michigan earlier this year and recently completed the transition. Read more

Hunting

Facebook Shuts Down Skull Bound TV Page for 24-Hours for Ethical Harvest Photo

(Columbus, OH) – Skull Bound TV, a popular hunting and fishing show on The Sportsman Channel, has been shut out of their Facebook page for 24-hours with no access to add new content after a standard post was said to not follow “Facebook Community Standards.”

The post in question showed a 7-foot black bear harvested on a do-it-yourself hunt by Jim Kinsey, director of the show, after “one of the most incredible hunts of our lives” according to Jana Waller, host of Skull Bound TV.

The post made by Waller showed Kinsey sitting proudly behind his legal harvest. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

ALPS OutdoorZ Introduces the Quickdraw Pack

Quickdraw-smNew Haven, MO – ALPS OutdoorZ adds another hunter friendly pack design to their lineup of great products. The Quickdraw pack is new for the 2014 lineup, and is a single sling design that offers “swing-around” access to the main compartments.

The quiver holder, gear pocket, and main compartment can be accessed without having to remove the pack allowing hunters quick and easy access to their gear. It also has the ability to securely carry your bow with the drop-down pocket and lashing strap.

With 1,225 cubic inches of storage capacity, the Quickdraw has plenty of room for gear and comes with a 2-Liter hydration bladder. Other features include side webbing lashing straps, a D-ring clip to allow you to hang it while in your deer stand, and an internal organizational pocket. The Quickdraw pack is available in Realtree® Xtra® camouflage.

MSRP for the Quickdraw Pack: $79.99 Read more

Hunting

Supreme Court to Hear Case Regarding Facebook Threats

 Posted Tue, 06/17/2014 – 10:38am by LLDovey

Many POMA members, outdoor industry professionals, and outdoorsmen have been the subject of threats on social media. Some so violent and graphic they make your skin crawl. The industry is so concerned that an impromptu meeting of industry representatives was held at the 2014 SHOT Show to discuss the situation and possible action. Now, the Supreme Court of the United States is involved. On June 16, 2014 the Supreme Court announced it would hear a case involving threats made over Facebook. Is this the case the outdoor industry has been waiting for to support? Read more

General, Self Defense

Beat those Mosquitoes

By Glen Wunderlich

If you have that outdoor bug – a hankering for fresh air and sunshine – there’s one ready to have you, too:  the mosquito.  Here are a few options to keep them from biting and  bugging you.

Years ago, the rage was bug zappers.  They did a fine job killing flying insects at night, but the trouble was that only about 2 percent of them were mosquitoes.  Turns out that mosquitoes are not attracted to light.

Then came the Mosquito Magnet® powered by a 20-pound propane cylinder that produces carbon dioxide and a secondary attractant and sucks the buggers into a trap.  It’s effective and expensive costing from $400 to over $1,000 and is as portable as a boat anchor.  Anyway, rumor has it that they’ll be outlawed soon by the government as a contributor to global warming, climate change or for causing mosquitoes to be doomed to endangered species status.

Popular choices are lotions and sprays containing DEET.  Just how safe this stuff is on our skin remains questionable at best, however.  Do you really trust a concoction of chemicals that will literally melt plastics and painted surfaces?  Yuk!

A safer alternative for the skin is Natrapel, which contains no DEET, but frankly it doesn’t last as long as DEET and is not recommended for clothing.

Spending time on the patio or in the garage, where the wind can’t blow the bugs off course, I’ve relied on a totally effective, inexpensive appliance called ThermaCELL.  It’s used as a mosquito repeller in your backyard or away from home and creates a 15 x 15-foot zone of protection.

  • Repels mosquitoes, black flies, no-see-ums and other flying insects
  • Registered with the EPA
  • No open flames or hot wax; safe to use
  • Comfortable: No smelly lotions, sprays, or oils
  • Convenient: Compact, portable, and easy to carry

Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Meprolight Introduces Erbium Glass Technology-Based Laser Range Finder

Meprolight – a leading manufacturer of Laser Range Finder systems, electro-optical systems, thermal and night vision equipment for military, law enforcement and civil applications – introduces for the first time at Eurosatory 2014, the new MEPRO LRF 20-70 – a compact, very fast, Erbium Glass Technology-based Laser Range Finder with a range of 20,000 meters and a repetition rate of 1 pps and 3 pps in burst mode. Read more

Hunting
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