Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
“It is difficult to choose a better place [to set wildfires] other than in the valleys of Montana where the population increases rapidly,” Inspire’s “AQ Chief” columnist writes. But, equal-opportunity law enforcement shoots back here…
A disaster is unfolding in Michigan orchards as erratic spring weather causes some of the biggest losses in decades of cherries, apples and other fruits, growers said Thursday. More here…
With my turkey hunting season opener less than one week away, it was time for some scouting. I perched myself above a wildlife food plot in a deer hunting shack so that I could remain comfortable with a clear view. 
Within 15 minutes, a lone hen appeared and seemed to be on a mission, never slowing much and disappearing to the north. The action continued throghout the 3.5 hours of observation with wildlife in view the entire time.
A few deer here and there
and at about 8:05 the first distant gobbles sounded. From the broken-off calls, I assumed they were jakes, and my suspicion was confirmed 30 minutes later.
All in all, a good day of viewing, but still looking for the boss gobbler.
Distant Jakes
During the four-year period between 2008 and 2012, a total of 110 sheep were killed by collisions, he said. A total of 107 sheep were killed on Montana Highway 200, while just three sheep were killed by trains. Since 1985, Sterling said 403 sheep have been killed by motor vehicles on the highway and 58 sheep have been killed by trains.
Flashing yellow caution signs and electronic reader boards haven’t worked yet. Salt blocks in the area have had little impact luring the sheep away from the highways.
A simple simple solution exists: quit driving cars and trucks. But, alas, not even the most radical animal rights whackos will not give up their lifestyles in exchange for a few measley sheep. Anyway, more here…
The Michigan House Judiciary Committee will have a hearing on Thursday, May 17, to review an important and long-overdue bill that would eliminate the state handgun “permit-to-purchase” and registration requirements. This committee will hear House Bill 5225 and consider this proposed amendment language that will be used as a substitute for HB 5225 when this hearing takes place. Read more
by Bill Horn
As regular U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance readers know, on April 17th, the House of Representatives passed the most important fishing and hunting bill in 15 years – HR 4089, The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act – by a lopsided 274 to 146 vote. A bipartisan majority of 235 Republicans and 39 Democrats voted yes. The bill has two fundamental features: (1) establishing that 700 million acres of federal public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service are open to fishing, hunting, and recreational, as a matter of law, until or unless closed for good specific reasons and (2) confirming recent EPA decisions that the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act does not allow the agency to regulate lead in fishing gear or ammunition. The overwhelming support from America’s real conservationists, the angling and hunting community, demonstrates this is good public policy and ought to be non-controversial.
But nothing in Washington, D.C. ever is. So it’s little surprise that the usual suspects are screaming about the bill and peddling disinformation about what it does. Read more
– Government Not Accounting for Costs
MISSOULA, Mont. (May 2, 2012) Studies released independently by Notre Dame Law School and the Government Accountability Office show that environmental groups pad their claims for reimbursed legal fees using a social program entitled the Equal Access to Justice Act, and the U.S. is not keeping track of expenditures.
A Notre Dame law review article shows that a 1980 law intended for seniors, veterans, and small businesses is utilized by environmental groups to get pay-backs for their lawsuits as well. A GAO study shows that no one really knows how much money has been spent, but the amounts are at least several million dollars a year.
See the Notre Dame Law School study at the link below:
http://www.boone-crockett.org/images/editor/ND_EAJA.pdf
See the GAO study at the link below:
The nation’s best shotgun competitors will put years of hard work and training on the line May 17-20 in hopes of earning the right to represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shotgun are coming to the Tucson Trap & Skeet Club (TTSC) outside Tucson, Ariz., and securing one of the four Olympic spots available will be as intense as the desert heat. Read more
CVA has licensed exclusive rights to the PalmSaver Ramrod design from Perry Hunsaker, world-famous elk guide and inventor of several innovative hunting products. The ramrod was first introduced on the new CVA ACCURA MR (Mountain Rifle), but has now been expanded as a standard feature on all of CVA’s 2012 break-action muzzleloaders. Read more
Des Plaines, IL- UTAS-USA, American manufacturer of the revolutionary UTS-15 tactical shotgun announced Tuesday that production has started on the civilian model of the UTS-15 in their new facility in Des Plaines, IL. Read more