Record Grizzly Ignites Questions About Trophy Categories

MISSOULA, Mont.–News traveled fast when conservationists learned the largest grizzly bear ever taken by a hunter had been entered into Boone and Crockett records. Nearly as quickly, however, came questions about why grizzlies are distinguished from Alaska brown bears. After all, aren’t these technically the same species?
The Boone and Crockett Club announced the new record grizzly on May 5.
Soon after, an Anchorage, Alaska, newspaper headline chided, “Giant Grizzly is One for Some Record Books, But Not Alaska’s.” The article pointed out that Ursus arctos does in fact grow to 10 feet tall along the coast, much larger than the newly heralded 9-footer killed far inland near Fairbanks. Why all the fuss about this “alleged record-setting” specimen from upstate? Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Mealspec Introduces Heater Bag

Jacksonville, FL- MEALSPEC™ who will soon to be the leading manufacture of flameless meal heaters, unveils their new MEALSPEC™ Heater Bag. MealSpec’s extensive passion for military and emergency food heating supplies have lead them to create the most reliable flameless meal heater available. MRE heaters & flameless meal heaters are not all created equally. MEALSPEC™ manufacturers a state-of-the-art meal heater, that reaches 220° Fahrenheit in 12 seconds! This flameless meal heater out performs every other flameless heater on the market with a run time of 12 minutes and the capability of boiling water. The MEALSPEC™ can hard-boil an egg and even cook fish fillets. This MRE heater is perfect for disaster preparedness, camping, hunting, and more. Using the MEALSPEC™ MRE heater is simple, first tear the top of the heater bag and remove the packaging. Next, insert the heating device, add your food or beverage, and remember, never cook food or drinks in MEALSPEC™ bag alone, they should always be in their own respective bag. Then, add water to the fill line to activate the heater. Quickly secure the top of the bag and wait five to ten minutes for a hot meal or beverage. When you are finished using the MEALSPEC™, discard and never drink the water that is used to heat. The MEALSPEC™ can also be used as a trash bag when finished cooking and eating. Read more

General

Wildlife watchers love the view at Maple River State Game Area

common yellowthroatMay is American Wetlands Month, a month to appreciate and enjoy the wonders of wetlands. The Department of Natural Resources encourages residents to experience this amazing native ecosystem by visiting one of Michigan’s finest wetlands – the Maple River State Game Area.  

 

Nestled along both sides of U.S. 127 in southern Gratiot County, Maple River State Game Area includes farm fields, woodlands, grasslands and cattail marshes. It is a popular birding and wildlife viewing destination in the spring and summer.

 

The diversity of habitats at Maple River offers wildlife enthusiasts a wide variety of viewing opportunities. Visitors can go to flooded cornfields for dabbling ducks like Northern shovelers, Northern pintails and green-winged teal or check out the larger ponds and marshes for diving ducks like ring-necked ducks, hooded mergansers and ruddy ducks. Herons and egrets are common marsh visitors, as well as bald eagles, ospreys, grebes, coots, muskrats and moorhens. Prothonotary warblers may be found nesting in wooded swamps. Read more

Wildlife

Bipartisan Vote Supports Sportsmen’s Call for Transparency in Environmental Litigation

GW:  I’ll be pleasantly surprised if the “most open” federal administration via Harry Reid, allows a vote on this bill in the Senate.

MISSOULA, Mont.–The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan bill to publish details on lawsuits lost or settled by federal agencies that must pay the private legal fees of the other side.

 
The Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act, H.R. 2919 – which passed the House on May 6 by voice vote with support of both Democrats and Republicans – would create an online public database of court cases against the U.S. government. Agencies do not keep usable data on cases brought against them according to investigations by the Government Accounting Office. H.R. 2919 would provide a common base of information available to all citizens.

Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

DNR and Ruffed Grouse Society partner to plant food for

 The Department of Natural Resources and the Ruffed Grouse Society recently spent a day afield improving wildlife habitat by planting apple trees.

 

volunteers planting apple trees“I love work days like this,” said DNR wildlife biologist Bruce Barlow. “Great relationships start and continue when you are working outdoors in the dirt side by side with your partners.”

 

Barlow, stationed at the Gladwin DNR office and manager of the Lame Duck Foot Access Area, has worked hard to keep the area primed for the user. This area in Gladwin County features thousands of acres of public land that many hunters, trappers and wildlife viewers use every year. Read more

Wildlife

Bushnell G-Force DX Receives Outdoor Life Gear Test Great Buy Award

Overland Park, Kan. – Bushnell, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics for more than 65 years, was awarded the Great Buy Award for the G-Force DX laser rangefinder in the 2014 Outdoor LifeRangefinder Gear Test.

For the gear test, Outdoor Life evaluated six laser rangefinders and scored the performance of each device based on the following criteria: accuracy, clarity, edge clarity, speed, display, low light performance and ease of use. The G-Force DX received a four-star rating and was noted for its ranging speed and overall value for the price. Read more

Firearms, Hunting

Federal Premium Vital-Shok 10mm Auto Trophy Bonded

Federal Premium® Vital-Shok™ Trophy Bonded® 10mm Auto is a full-power load that restores the capabilities of the cartridge. With a muzzle velocity of 1,275 fps, the new 180-grain jacketed soft point (JSP) shoots flat and packs a powerful punch in semi-automatic pistols. With ballistics that fall between those of the 357 Magnum and 41 Magnum, the load gives hunters the power to take down deer, bears or hogs. Read more

Ammunition, Hunting, Self Defense
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