ThinkingAfield.org

1) Sign up for the Pure Michigan Hunt—the hunting experience of a lifetime! Three lucky hunters will be selected by random drawing for the opportunity to purchase special elk, bear, doe, and turkey (spring and fall) licenses. The price is just $4 and you may apply as many times as you want. The money goes straight into the Game and Fish fund. Deadline is December 31, 2010. This is the perfect opportunity to spend more time with your favorite hunting buddy! For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt.

2) If you want to scout out a new hunting spot or plan a hunting trip, check out Mi-HUNT first! Mi-HUNT is a cutting-edge, Web-based application where you can view and navigate through public hunting and trapping lands. Mi-HUNT displays multiple interactive layers of information, such as state game and wildlife areas, huntable lands by vegetation types; the topography and foliage cover of an area and recreational facilities such as campgrounds, trails, and boat launches.

Visit www.michigan.gov/mihunt to plan your next pure Michigan hunting experience.

Many hunters mistakenly believe they can safely hang in their full body harness for an extended period of time if they experience a fall from a treestand. That misunderstanding could cost them their lives.

Dr. Norman Wood, owner of Mountaineer Sports, the authority on treestand fall protection, sends this message to hunters, “Don’t just hang there, doing so could kill you!”

As Wood explains, suspension trauma is the culprit. “If hunters are not able to return to the treestand after a fall they need to take measures to relieve suspension trauma. The life threatening tourniquet action results in Blood Pooling. The longer you hang in your harness the less and less blood there is to circulate through the heart and lungs to keep you alive. “

Hunters must use their fall protection correctly. “It is not enough to just wear your full body harness, you must also keep your suspension relief strap easily accessible in the event of a fall. A properly used strap enables you to take pressure off your legs to help prevent suspension trauma. Many full body harnesses include this type of strap with their units, but too often hunters toss the strap away or leave it in a pack where it may not be accessible,” explains Woods. “This mistake could cost you your life.”

Mountaineer Sports is Revolutionizing Fall Safety™ by offering the Rescue One CDS™ a full body harness that not only includes a suspension relief strap built right into the system, but also enables the hunter to safely lower to the ground by utilizing the patented controlled descent system.

For a video demonstration of the Rescue One CDS II™ and more information about avoiding suspension trauma and ways to stay safe in your harness visit www.rescueonecds.com or call 1-877-683-7678 or Email mountaineersports@live.com.

Contact: Dr. Norman Wood 1-877-683-7678 mountaineersports@live.com

ThermaCELL’s “Operation: Buzz Down” Gives 98% Effective Mosquito Protection To Troops As Holiday Gift

To support American troops overseas where biting insects are a health risk, ThermaCELL has launched “Operation: Buzz Down.” ThermaCELL is the most effective area repellent available for protection against biting insects and is taking action to protect the health of those who protect the freedom of U.S. citizens.

ThermaCELL will donate Appliances and Refill Value Packs for products sold between Veteran’s Day and Christmas Day 2010 and will include a personal note from the gift-giver.

For every two UPC codes received, ThermaCELL will provide a free gift pack including an appliance and providing 60 hours of protection to troops for Christmas 2010 or to troops being deployed during spring 2011 to places where biting insects are a problem, such as Afghanistan.

According to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Emily K. Baker in a recently published army document *, U.S. Troops are facing a major mosquito and fly problem in the Middle East, especially in Afghanistan. “We have tons of flies and mosquitoes … and mosquitoes are so much worse because it’s harder to see them.” “Mosquitoes and sand flies present a particular challenge because they can be carriers of vector-borne diseases such as malaria. There were 29 cases of malaria reported in 2009…”*

“Operation: Buzz Down” specifics:

* From Veteran’s Day (11/11/2010) through Christmas (12/25/2010) consumers purchase a ThermaCELL Appliance or Lantern either for themselves or as a present.

* Consumer mails in receipt, UPC code and promotion card (before 1/10/2011) and can write a note to a member of the US Military wishing them a happy holiday season and thanking them for their service to the country.

* ThermaCELL will donate an Appliance and Refill Value Pack for every two UPC codes received and will attach a note from the consumer. Product will be shipped to the military for dispersal. Consumers will not be able to designate gift packs for a specific member of the military.

According to Vice President of Marketing Allegra Lowitt, “Once we learned U.S. Troops are suffering from mosquito borne illnesses such as malaria, we created a program to provide troops with protection from infected insects. Our troops have given us so much; we would like to do something to make their deployment safer and more comfortable.”

ThermaCELL, a division of The Schawbel Corporation of Bedford, Massachusetts, utilizes patented technology to create cordless, portable appliances powered by replaceable butane cartridges. ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent, the award-winning area repellent for outdoor enthusiasts is up to 98% effective at repelling mosquitoes, black flies and no-see-ums. For more information on ThermaCELL’s complete line of products, testimonials, or store locations visit www.thermacell.com or call 1-8-NO-SKEETERS (866-753-3837).

* Published on September 9, 2010, by U.S. Army 1st Lt. Emily K. Baker, Task Force Taskmaster executive officer; Official Website of the US Army (www.army.mil/-news/2010/09/09/44889-preventive-medicine-keeps-soldiers-in-the-fight/)

Contact: Shannon Salyer: shannon@chevalier-adv.com 503.639.9190

FAIRFAX, VA – The NRA Foundation’s Friends of NRA program announced it has now raised $150 million since its creation in 1992. This major milestone follows up a record $18 million raised during the 2009 Friends of NRA banquet season.

“Across the Friends of NRA patriot nation our combined efforts have produced impressive results and all can proudly stand together in sharing a milestone some thought was impossible,” said John DaSilva, National Manager of Events and Marketing. “All of us believe in sharing a common purpose and preserving a core belief in future generations to enjoy the shooting heritage and tradition. These dollars raised to date do just that, supporting those worthy causes in the field, training others, the range and in competition.”

Friends of NRA is a grassroots fund-raising program that fosters community involvement, raises money, and gives 100 percent of the net proceeds to qualified local, state, and national programs. Working with the NRA’s field staff, thousands of volunteers nationwide participate in the program by organizing committees and planning events in their communities. Over the course of its history, over 12,000 events have been held which have reached over two million attendees. Monies raised at these events go to The NRA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

“An achievement of this level is a direct reflection of the people involved in Friends of NRA,” said Kyle Weaver, Managing Director of Field Operations. “Our volunteers and attendees understand the importance of our program and the importance of supporting thousands of grant recipients that benefit from these grant monies. We congratulate everyone that has supported, donated and volunteered their time toward reaching this accomplishment”

All net proceeds from Friends of NRA events benefit The NRA Foundation, with half allocated to fund projects within the state where the money was raised. The NRA Foundation uses the other half to fund similar projects with a national scope. Local monies are distributed by State Fund Committees comprised of Friends of NRA volunteers who make recommendations on funding based on grant applications from organizations that have a focus on youth and women’s programs, law enforcement and range development among others.

Visit the Friends of NRA website at www.friendsofnra.org. For more information contact Event Services Manager Jeremy Greene at (703) 267-1354 or jgreene@nrahq.org.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

With firearms deer season right around the corner, many hunters will be sighting in their guns. Since there’s not a lot of time to waste, and ammunition is quite expensive, I am providing some tips to get the job done as economically as possible.

As mentioned in previous writings, a six-inch kill zone will be the standard from any shooting position in the field for deer. For sighting in, however, smaller targets help with precision. Orange squares with the black outlines are my favorites for scoped guns and plain black circles are best for iron sights, red dot sights. and holographic sights. If you can’t remember when you changed batteries on any electronic sights, it’s best to just do it now.

If your gun has been in storage from last season, make sure there is no oil or grease in the barrel and make sure it’s unloaded before doing anything else. A clean and dry bore is the best way to start and when finished, don’t clean the barrel. You can do that when the season is finished – unless, of course, you are working with a muzzleloader, in which case cleaning is mandatory immediately after shooting. Make sure everything is tight – especially scope bases and rings. Good hearing protection can include foam plugs with hard shell muffs over them. Use a pad at the shoulder – especially if youngsters are involved in the session. A pad can be as simple as a folded towel placed under a shirt.

Start at 25 yards and make sure you have a good, solid rest at the forend and buttstock For guns with newly installed scopes, use a large backing around the target in case you don’t hit the target; that way, at least you’ll know where you are missing and can make adjustments accordingly. Sandbags or commercial rests are recommended. This is not the time to use your elbows for a rest; you can do that in the field, but not when testing ammo. The idea when sighting in is to minimize human error. Since most deer guns pack a wallop at both ends, it’s extremely important to pull the buttstock in tight to the shoulder and to pull down on the forend section with your other hand. Also, make sure any sling swivel studs will not hang up on the rest during recoil, because shots will not be consistent.

Before beginning the shooting session, make sure to have enough ammo on hand to sight in and to hunt. You don’t want to purchase ammo that was produced from a different production run than the ammo you sighted in. Even if it’s the same brand and load, it may not shoot the same.

If you are experiencing a strong crosswind, it’s best to postpone the session until winds subside. Shoot three shots and find the middle of the group. (If you are missing the paper completely, move in to about 10 feet. A single shot will usually be enough to let you know which direction to go.) Remember, at 25 yards to make adjustments at four times what you would at 100 yards. For most guns, you are ready to move the target to 100 yards, if you are dead on at 25 yards. Don’t change anything and shoot another 3-shot group at 100 yards, find the center of the group and adjust to your chosen elevation at 100 yards.

Understand that many scopes do not necessarily adjust according the the calibration marks indicated on the turrets. If you want to save some expensive ammo, here’s a shortcut to get you on target fast: Shoot a three-shot group. Now, press your gun tight into the rest and center the sights on the bull’s eye – or, the point you’d like the bullet to strike (your zero). With the help of an assistant, have him move the crosshairs of the scope from your zero to the center of the three-shot group, while you hold the gun steady. For example, if you were shooting high, the assistant will move the crosshairs down to the group’s center. I realize it sounds backwards, but trust me, it isn’t. Make left and right adjustments the same way.

Once you get sighted in, you can try shooting from various positions and with rests you may use in the field. As long as you can keep 9 out of 10 in the six-inch circle at a given range, you are shooting within ethical standards and will be able to make any shot with confidence.

A couple of friends came over to share my private shooting range and facilities yesterday. Both were toting 20-gauge slug guns – one in a fully-rifled Remington model 1100 and the other with a Rossi – both scoped.

Joe, with the 1100 was all over the target at 100 yards and we all concluded it wasn’t good enough to hunt with. He then sighted in his muzzleloader and easily qualified according to our rules at 100 yardsm but he really wanted to use the 20 gauge. Bummed out to say the least.

Next up was Stan with his Rossi. He brought well over $150 worth of ammo (although the term “worth” is questionable). He fired the Hornady SSTs and Federal Premium with the Barnes – again a beautiful “pattern”. (Too, bad he wasn’t testing a scattergun). He then pulled out some Lightfield stuff. One round wasn’t in a box and the shell was obviously different than the other Lightfield ammom but I hadn’t noticed why it was different; the plastic hull had lengthwise lines on it, while the boxed ammo hulls were smooth. His first shot was with the odd round and the second shot was with the other ammo. Turns out one was a 3-inch load and apparently that was the difference.

In any case, he shot one more with the 2 3/4-inch load and it was quite a bit off from the first Lightfield shot. I then asked him if he had at least 2 Lightfield rounds left, and he did. He then allowed me to fire the last 2 rounds at the 100-yard target with his gun. (I wanted to rule out some firearm-related problem, because so far nothing was performing acceptably.) My only 2 shots and Stan’s one shot were within 1 1/2 inches apart on the target and then we were out of the Lightfield ammo.

Joe took note and we promptly went to the local store for some Lightfield 20-gauge slugs. As you know, the 1100 only takes the 2 3/4-inch rounds so we came back with one box for testing. Once again, the Lightfields came through with about a 2-inch group and he”ll be back with more Lightfield ammo to dial it in next weekend. The Lightfield ammo was the only ammo that made the grade in both “problematic” guns.

Since Stan ran out of ammo but was pleased with the Lightfield results, he will be getting some more for his Rossi.

I look forward to sighting in Joe’s gun with the Lightfields next weekend.

Bottom line: Two new converts!

GW: This is good news for America. Because Obama won’t face facts, his denial of realtiy will further the cause of those who know better. You can’t fix a problem, if you don’t know it exists. Of course, about all he’s fixed so far is blame, anyway…

“I think that’s a fair argument. I think that, over the course of two years we were so busy and so focused on getting a bunch of stuff done that, we stopped paying attention to the fact that leadership isn’t just legislation. That it’s a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone,” Mr. Obama told 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft in an exclusive interview set to air Sunday. . . .

Rule The Rut With Field & Stream

New New York, NY- Field & Stream’s new Rut Reporters, FieldandStream.com/rut-report is a one of a kind site offering hunters the tools they need to outsmart deer. The newly launched site offers users the up-to-date reports, information, and insights about the stage of the rut in every region of the country updated twenty-four-hours a day.

Field & Stream deer experts throughout the country are continually reporting on what the bucks are doing RIGHT NOW–whether they’re just forming bachelor groups, actively making scrapes, or recklessly chasing does. Users can get in on the action and become eligible to win valuable hunting gear by reporting what deer are doing in their area on Field & Stream’s Facebook page. All the information is uploaded into “heat maps” that tell users at a glance how the rut is progressing across the country. The site also features photos and videos from around the nation allowing users to customize their hunting plans based on the latest information from the field.

“Rut Reports is a one-stop for deer hunters this year,” said Anthony Licata, editor of Field & Stream. ‘The site helps hunters be as prepared as possible when they’re heading into the woods this season with everything from local activity reports on the deer in their area to hunting tips and moon phases.”

Field & Stream’s Rut Reporters is also home to the Rut Handbook, an ever-evolving database of information about hunting the rut complete with tactics, pro hunting tips, skills, and essential information about whitetail biology and behavior. The site’s monthly calendar offers information on moon phases and Field & Stream’s Best Days of the Rut.

For more information on Field & Stream’s Rut Reporters, visit FieldandStream.com/rut-report.

Field & StreamÂ, The World’s Leading Outdoor Magazine, is the country’s largest enthusiast title and most recognized outdoor publication. Devoted to the complete outdoor experience and lifestyle, Field & Stream(www.FieldandStream.com) gives its readers the knowledge and inspiration to pursue the sports they love. It celebrates the outdoor experience with great stories, compelling photography and sound advice, while honoring the traditions hunters and fishermen have passed down for generations. Established in 1895, Field & Stream is published 11 times per year by the Bonnier Corporation.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 2, 2010 – Rebecca Humphries, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, has accepted the position of Director of the Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office for Ducks Unlimited. She will manage conservation delivery for the Great Lakes and Atlantic region of DU beginning January 2011.

“Becky brings 33 years of conservation experience to Ducks Unlimited,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “Her dedication to natural resources has been expressed not only through her work with the state, but also as a leader on many of the conservation teams with which Ducks Unlimited partners. We’re pleased to add her expertise and passion for wetlands to the DU family.”

Humphries will be responsible for managing conservation delivery in 18 states, on the Eastern Seaboard from New England to the Chesapeake, and throughout the Great Lakes to the Upper Mississippi region. The director is responsible for conservation planning and program delivery, and coordinates efforts between Ducks Unlimited staff and volunteers with private, state and federal agencies.

For the past 36 years, Humphries has held various positions within the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and became director of the department in 2004. In 2010, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality were combined and became the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Humphries was named to head the newly formed department and has been in that position since its inception.

“I have worked with Ducks Unlimited in many capacities during my tenure with the state of Michigan,” Humphries said. “The organization is very focused on habitat, and this opportunity is really one that doesn’t come twice in a lifetime.”

Humphries is a graduate of Michigan State University, and holds an honorary Ph.D. in Public Service from Central Michigan University. She has been honored with numerous professional awards and has served as vice president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Chair of the Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Chair of the Mississippi Flyway Council.

The Great Lakes and Atlantic region includes several high-level conservation priorities for Ducks Unlimited representing diverse varieties of wetlands and associated habitats. The Great Lakes serve as an important breeding ground for waterfowl and a significant migration area for many species of waterfowl and migratory songbirds. It is estimated that 3 million ducks migrate through the region each year. The mid-Atlantic coast is a major resource for wintering waterfowl, especially black ducks, Atlantic brant and both snow and Canada geese.

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

COLUMBUS, OH – The population of sandhill cranes in Ohio has gradually been increasing in recent years. In the past decade, the number of pairs in the state has grown from two to 25 this year, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. The division has been seeking ways to improve the accuracy of the count of the birds and is currently undertaking a study to help with this process.

Satellite transmitters have recently been attached to five adult and three juvenile sandhill cranes in Ohio. Following the movements of these marked birds will improve biologists’ understanding of migration and allow Wildlife managers to find the birds and/or their locations in order to establish a more reliable count. Ohio is joining Ontario, Canada, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Tennessee in this study.

Birds marked with transmitters for this study were located in Lucas, Geauga, Holmes and Trumbull counties.

Greater sandhill cranes are listed as a state endangered species in Ohio. Observations of breeding pairs and confirmed sightings of nests or young (colts) indicate breeding by sandhill cranes in Ohio since 1985. At least 23 crane pairs were observed in 2008 with 19 young cranes fledged. The number of nesting pairs declined to 19 in 2009, but 23 young were fledged.

Growth of the breeding population has been slow, primarily centered in the Killbuck/Funk Bottoms region, and Geauga, Trumbull and Williams counties.

Wildlife enthusiasts are encouraged to follow the birds’ movements online at wildohio.com under Wild Resources. Also, sing up for updates from the Division of Wildlife on Facebook at facebook.com/ohiodivisionofwildlife or on Twitter at twitter.com/ohiodivwildlife.

Federal funds for the sandhill crane project and other wildlife diversity efforts of the Division of Wildlife are provided through the State Wildlife Grant Program, which targets species with greatest conservation need.

The division’s sandhill crane project is funded by the sale of cardinal license plates, the division’s new Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, and contributions to the state Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species Tax Check-off Fund. Taxpayers may donate directly or designate all or part of their state income tax refunds to the effort by checking the box on the Ohio Income Tax Form. Donations can also be made online at www.wildohio.com.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.