Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Sleepy Hollow State Park in Clinton County will offer several two-day snowshoe-building classes in December and January. Instructor Clyde Risdon will teach participants how to weave a pair of traditional wooden snowshoes similar to the ones Native Americans made for generations. Read more
The jack is too closely related to radical groups such as the Tea Party. Now I wonder who ordered the removal of this symbol that stands for resisting all enemies – foreign and domestic. More here…
By Glen Wunderlich
As youngsters growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, we played organized baseball in the city leagues. Typically, one of the team-member’s fathers would handle coaching duties, and fortunately for many of us, we had some good baseball minds teaching us how to think ahead of the play.
Outfielders had it easy, because the coaches made sure all throws came to second base. Infielders, on the other hand, were required to decide what to do with a ground ball, as the opposing batter stepped to the plate. And, the coaches would make sure each infielder had a plan by verbally testing the players, as they quizzed infielders aloud before the play would begin.
The coaches understood that once the ball was hit, it was too late to begin considering options. Things happened too fast to form a committee or to take a survey. It was each player’s responsibility to think ahead.
Similarly, sportsmen and women would do well to take a page from the sandlot coaches’ book, before they take to the outdoors in Michigan’s firearms deer hunting season opener November 15th.
There is no substitute for situational awareness. Of course, experience is a good teacher and some mistakes of the past become lessons learned – albeit the hard way.
For example, taking the largest antlerless deer from among a group seems like a good strategy for those with an antlerless deer permit. But, when that large “doe” turns out to be a button buck fawn, it’s too late to think ahead. Hindsight and a tactical error become the high-priced lesson of the day.
But, there is a better way. Read more
Michigan residents aren’t the only ones enjoying football this fall. It turns out that osprey in northern Michigan like football, too – football lights, that is.
Marion High School sits just outside of town, overlooking agricultural fields and Middle Branch River, which – with its many feeder streams – winds its way through the Osceola County countryside. A large mill pond near town holds a nice supply of fish.
“The osprey will drop fish right on the football field,” laughed Beth Robb, the Marion High School principal.
Marion High School had a historic problem with a pair of osprey nesting on its football stadium lights. Together, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Consumers Energy and Marion High School formed a plan to provide the osprey with a different location to call home. Read more
Posted on November 1, 2013
A group working to ban wolf hunting and trapping in Minnesota was labeled the “Non-profit of the Game” at the Minnesota Timberwolves season opener.
Howling for Wolves, the leading group opposing wolf management in Minnesota, paid $2,000 to the Timberwolves franchise for the non-profit designation and was allowed a booth at the game. As “Non-profit of the Game”, the group was also given a 30-second public service announcement to encourage fans to visit the booth where they could sign a petition to stop the upcoming wolf hunting season that begins November 9th.
Timberwolves spokesman Brad Ruiter says a wide variety of groups have signed up to do this over the years, and it does not constitute a team endorsement of their views, according to sctimes.com. Sportsmen and others disagree.
“By giving this animal rights group a high profile platform, the Timberwolves are in fact endorsing the group to all those in attendance,” says Nick Pinizzotto, USSAF president and CEO. “It’s disappointing for such a high profile organization to allow this type of propaganda that is contrary to scientific fact.” Read more
Published on Thursday, 31 October 2013 11:49
Overland Park, Kan. — Simmons, a leader in high-quality, high-value sports optics for more than 25 years, helps hunters buy their tag with $20 instant savings on any Simmons riflescope or laser rangefinder. The instant savings is available from November 1 to December 25, 2013 on products with an original retail price of more than $49.95. Read more
Heizer Defense has successfully completed testing of the PS1 Pocket Shotgun and will begin production immediately. All firearms and related accessories will be made in the USA and sold through the Distributor channel to Sporting Goods Retailers.
Tom Heizer, Principal of Heizer Defense, noted “The PS1 Pocket Shotgun has successfully fired over 5000 rounds of 410 self-defense rounds in just 2 ½ days. This far exceeds the capabilities of other small guns and is a testament to the Stainless Steel we use in making the PS1 Pocket Shotgun. We use Stainless Steel frames and barrels to ensure the safety and comfort of the user.”
Hedy Gahn, Principal of Heizer Defense added “We have completed installing equipment at our Pevely Missouri facility and we are proud to offer our firearms which are made in America. Our production will allow us to start shipping very soon and we will then follow up with new products early next year.” Heizer Defense is a high technology, state of the art firearm company based in Pevely, Missouri that was founded in 1962. Heizer Defense is an affiliated company of Heizer Aerospace, which manufactures fracture critical components for aerospace companies, NASA and the military. Read more
Bring your young hunter to one of Michigan’s Managed Waterfowl Hunt Areas (MWHAs) in November for a memorable hunting experience. Hunters can choose from several dates and locations. Parties with at least one youth will be given priority in the draw at all five MWHAs:
Published on Tuesday, 29 October 2013 16:34
Overland Park, Kan. – Bushnell, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics for more than 60 years, has introduced two new 1-4x 24mm riflescopes in the AR Optics line. Featuring true one-power magnification, high-quality optics and target turrets, the AR Optics product line is a high-quality, cost-effective optics solution. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has earned the number three ranking on the United States Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USSA) dirty dozen list and for good reason: PETA steadfastly encourages its members to break established hunter harassment laws and to interfere with hunts by protesting, blowing horns, and other unlawful acts. Recent headlines indicate the group is striving to become number one on the dirty dozen list by its overt action to purchase drones to stalk hunters afield.
According to USSA, the drones will be sold in PETA’s catalog for $324.99. Based on the drone description in the catalog, PETA members can receive instant to-your-phone video from the drones, which can be streamed live via the Air Angels page on PETA.org.
PETA says it aims to specifically seek out hunters “drinking while in the possession of a firearm, injuring animals and failing to pursue them so that they die slowly and painfully, and using spotlights, feed lures and other hunting tricks”.
While PETA claims to be spying on “hunters”, the actions it seeks to exploit – to further its agenda by changing man’s relationship with animals – is actually directed at anti-hunters. That’s right. Anti-hunter is the only term for those that intentionally skirt the law by cheating ethical hunters. The “by-any-means” practice reminds me of how our own government relied upon the same tactics. Read more