Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Red swamp crayfish
The Department of Natural Resources has recently discovered that anglers are purchasing red swamp crayfish from food markets and using them as live bait. It is illegal to import any live species of crayfish into Michigan for commercial bait purposes. Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) are native to the southeastern United States and are considered an invasive species in Michigan. Read more
Police said an officer received some unexpected backup from an armed citizen, who helped capture a man accused of driving away from the scene of a crash and throwing drugs into the woods. Details here…
PRATT- Duck populations are strong, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 2013 Report on Trends in Duck Breeding Populations. The preliminary estimate of total duck populations from the traditional survey area (northcentral United States, southcentral and northern Canada, and Alaska) is 45.6 million birds- a six percent decrease from last year’s estimate of 48.6 million birds, but a 33 percent increase from the long-term average. In addition to estimating duck populations, the survey also examines habitat conditions. Read more
Day 6 Outdoors, an industry leader in time-lapse cameras, is challenging you to stop guessing where to hunt and use its PlotWatcher Pro instead. With time-lapse technology, HD capability and an unmatched battery life, the PlotWatcher Pro is the only tool you need to take the guesswork out of choosing a location for your treestand or ground blind. Read more
Iowa’s pheasant harvest increased 45 percent in 2012, which was the first increase in harvest since 2005. Hunters harvested an estimated 158,000 roosters, lead by northwest Iowa, and followed by central and north central regions. Read more
There’s no wait for nonresidents wishing to purchase licenses to hunt deer and elk in Montana this fall.
A number of first-come, first-served surplus licenses, good for antlered deer and elk in most hunting districts, can be purchased online or over-the-counter at any Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office. Read more
NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA., July 24, 2013 – Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world’s leading manufacturer in high performance sports optics, is pleased to announce the launch of the new CONQUEST RIMFIRE 3-9×40 Riflescope. This new addition to the CONQUEST line is the perfect choice for various types of target plinking, small game or turkey hunting.
The product is based on the tried and tested, compact 1-inch CONQUEST line delivering bright images and generous eye-relief. CONQUEST RIMFIRE has ¼ MOA, is parallax adjusted for 50 yards, and features the Z-PLEX (#20) reticle in the second image plane for fast, precise shot placement on small targets. Read more
TYLER – After losing part of her thumb when she attempted to shoot a crossbow, a Henderson County woman has filed a lawsuit against the crossbow’s manufacturer claiming that the company was negligent for failing to provide a finger guard. Kathy Smith filed suit against Barnett Outdoors on July 15 in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division. Read more
Pheasants Forever has grave concerns regarding continued massive habitat losses through weakening CRP
Washington, D.C. – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept 1.7 million acres offered under the 45th Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up, lowering Conservation Reserve Program total acreage to 26.9 million acres. Now at a 26-year program low, Pheasants Forever calls this depletion a modern low point for conservation, one which will have serious ramifications not only for wildlife, but for the nation’s soil and water quality as well. Read more
Mogadore, OH –New for 2013, TenPoint Crossbow Technologies’ Stealth SS™ crossbow pairs the company’s popular, streamlined XLT™ bow assembly with their new FSB, bullpup-style stock and tactical barrel assembly to create a shorter, lighter, and more powerful version of their award winning Stealth XLT™ model. Read more