ThinkingAfield.org

A coalition of the nation’s largest hunting and conservation groups has thanked Members of Congress for taking several steps in the right direction for wolf conservation. The coalition reminded Congress that all wolves in the Rockies and Great Lakes area are recovered and should now be managed by state biologists. The coalition supports all four pending bills in the House and Senate to move recovered wolf populations to state management. The groups include Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Boone and Crockett Club, National Rifle Association, and Safari Club International.

“The reintroduction of wolves has become a serious problem in several states across the country. Therefore, efforts to manage wolf populations through regulated hunting is long-overdue,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action. “Left unmanaged, wolf packs have been decimating the game animals on which hunters depend, as well as threatening livestock and local communities. The NRA supports all legislative measures that will preserve America’s hunting and conservation heritage and will continue to fight for a solution to this critical issue.”

“The wolf is recovered biologically but population management is hung up in legal questions that judges call ‘ambiguous'” said Bob Model, Chairman of Government Affairs for the Boone and Crockett Club. “Lawyers and judges disagree on the law. But no one disagrees with the numbers. The strength of the large and growing wolf population is obvious, and the numbers meet and far surpass the established threshold for recovery.”

Wolf populations in the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes are at least 5 times larger than the federal recovery goals according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Representative Mike Simpson, and Senators Baucus and Tester have illustrated that there are many options available to move toward a solution, and we greatly appreciate that,” said Jeff Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “These members are building on the attention that Senator Hatch and Representative Rehberg called to this issue with their companion bills earlier this Congress. We thank all of these Members for their contribution to the debate, and we support all of their pending legislation on this issue.”

The groups noted that recent proposals do not include Wyoming directly. They said that in order to return all recovered wolf populations to state managers, comprehensive legislation must include at least Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin in the Great Lakes. A transfer to state management is also called for in areas of Utah, Oregon, and Washington in the Rocky Mountains. But the coalition also supports interim steps to move toward these goals, in recognition of political realities that may delay or forestall a comprehensive remedy at this point in time.

“Wolves are remarkable in many ways,” said Dr. Larry Rudolph, President of Safari Club International, “most notably, they are efficient predators. They must be managed by the same state experts that manage the elk and deer that wolves eat. State biologists need the authority to manage the entire ecosystem and all the species that interact in it. Wolves are also opportunists, feeding on prey they may encounter when not actively hunting in packs. By the same token, we must be opportunist in seizing every opportunity for progress on this issue.”

NEWTOWN, Conn.-The National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, calls the 3.6 percent rise in paid hunting license holders for 2009 one of the most encouraging signs for hunting in recent years.

“This is great news for our industry and everyone associated with hunting,” said Steve Sanetti, president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “Many efforts are at work to build hunting participation, and they are paying off. More people are enjoying the outdoors and sharing the tradition of hunting with family and friends. Also, more hunting license sales translate into more funds for wildlife conservation.”

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week reported a total of 14,974,534 paid license holders for 2009, the largest figure since 2002 – an increase of 526,494 over 2008. The 3.6 percent rise in paid license holders represents the largest year-over-year increase since 1974. (A “paid license holder” is one individual regardless of the number of licenses purchased.)

NSSF cites several reasons for the increase, ranging from programs launched by many state wildlife agencies over the last decade to increase hunting participation to a difficult economy that motivated hunters to fill their freezers with game rather than store-bought meat. Also, hunters who were among the unemployed or had their work hours reduced used some of their free time to go hunting.

Coordinated efforts of state wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and the firearms industry appear to have halted a decades-long decline in hunting license sales, which since 2005 have held at the 14.5-million level until the jump in 2009. NSSF has played a key role promoting hunting participation with its programs and websites. Through its Hunting Heritage Partnership program, NSSF has provided state agencies with $3.8 million to fund initiatives designed to encourage hunting among all age groups. Also, through Families Afield, a partnership effort of NSSF, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and National Wild Turkey Federation started in 2004, thirty states have made it easier for youth to begin hunting at a younger age with licensed adults. NSSF websites such as www.WingshootingUSA.org make it easy for hunters to locate gamebird preserves, where youth can easily get started in hunting and where inactive adult hunters can revive their interest.

Another positive sign for hunting is that contrary to claims of a wholesale decline in hunting participation, paid license holders have increased in 24 states in the five-year period from 2005 to 2009.

“Due to continued urbanization and changes in our culture, hunting will face significant challenges for the foreseeable future, but at the same time hunting remains an extremely important activity in the lives of millions of Americans, as the latest hunting licenses sales figures confirm,” said Sanetti.

NSSF points out that the actual number of hunters who go afield in any given year is greater than the total of paid hunting license holders in that year. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service figures do not account for certain state exemptions for purchasing a hunting license. Many states allow landowners and active military to hunt without purchasing a license; also, lifetime license holders and youth hunters who do not fall within the required license purchasing age are not included in the figures.

According to an NSSF-funded study carried out by Southwick Associates, the pool of hunters in America is much larger than previously thought. The study, released last fall, estimated that 21.8 million people purchased a hunting license at least once in the last five years.

Hunters are the backbone of conservation funding in America, contributing more than $1 billion each year through the purchase of licenses, tags, permits and stamps and through excise taxes paid on firearms and ammunition. For example, proceeds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps, a required purchase for migratory waterfowl hunting, have purchased more than 5 million acres of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

NSSF, using its new 12-state hunting license sales index, anticipated the national increase in paid hunting license holders by reporting a 3.5 percent increase in license sales last spring. “It’s gratifying to see how accurate our state index was, which gives us confidence in future index-based hunting license sales figures,” said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF’s director of industry research and analysis.

NSSF will announce its state index hunting license sales report for 2010 this spring.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

NSSF celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011.

By: Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

A recent survey of rifle owners by HunterSurvey.com concluded that scopes are essential gear. The survey revealed that over 92 percent of rifle owners own at least one scoped rifle and most of them own multiple scoped rifles. The survey also indicated that scopes are also a prominent purchase for many shotgun and handgun owners, as well. While both types of firearms are generally used with open sights, 28.7 percent of shotgunners and 24.5 percent of handgunners say they own at least one scoped model. Count me in.

Open sights may be acceptable for youth, because they are simple and are usually part of a firearm, so there’s no added cost. However, they still have limitations: 1) no magnification, 2) no added light-gathering ability, and 3) limited target acquisition.

The lack of magnification without scopes can be counteracted by using good binoculars, and as a matter of fact, doing so is the safest way to identify and size up game. Viewing through a scope can be dangerous, because looking at objects through a scope also means pointing the barrel in the same direction, which violates rule #1 of gun safety: Don’t point your firearm at anything you don’t intend to shoot. People do it all the time, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Having a shoulder harness for binoculars keeps them at the ready, and at the same time, out of the way. I never go hunting without them.

Additional light gathering is not important if a hunter does his hunting in good light. Examples include varmint hunting for woodchucks or small game hunting. Deer hunters on the other hand, often do their best work in low light and the better the glass, the longer the hunter can remain afield increasing his chances at success. Good glass pays dividends of “prime time” over the life of the hunter. Good scopes have better warranties – many good ones for life – and are transferable to any subsequent owners with absolutely no paperwork. Compare that feature to any other consumer purchase and you will understand the difference between total customer satisfaction and mere weasel words and fine print.

Target acquisition means being able to define the target. Without the advantages of a scope, defining a clear target is only as good as the shooter’s eyesight. But, when longer shots are required, a problematic condition exists with iron sights. Many people make the mistake of sighting in by covering the target with the front sight. Question: If you can’t see the target, how can you hit it? Let’s say, however, that you’ve properly adjusted the iron sights so that your target sits on top of the front sight at 100 yards, which is a fair poke with a non-scoped firearm. Good. That’s how it should be set up for a 100-yard shot.

But, if your target is 150 yards or so, the front sight must be elevated with the bore to be on target which totally blocks a view of the target. Back to that not-being-able-to-see-the-target thing.

All of the above issues point to the problematic nature of iron sights. Sure, many African dangerous-game hunters use iron sights because much of the action is close up and sometimes death-defying. Quick shots don’t allow for adjustments associated with scoped firearms, but there are some phenomenal, high-tech options available that may surprise you. Next week I’ll review some of these and more.

2/17/11

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) just got rapped on the knuckles by a U.S. Senator that is upset the agency caved in to PETA demands.

The letter was prompted after the TSA decided to cancel plans for recruiting new workers during the 2011 Iditarod dog race in Alaska due to criticism from PETA. Thousands of Iditarod fans flock to Alaska for the race. The animal rights group, as usual, claimed that the agency was supporting a “cruel” event.

However, the TSA decision did not sit well with Alaska Senator Mark Begich (D). Sen. Begich immediately fired off a letter to TSA Administrator John Pistole where he expressed shock and disappointment.

He wrote, “It is outrageous the TSA would act on one complaint from a group with virtually no understanding of the ‘Last Great Race on Earth.’” He concluded by commenting that, “your decision may have PETA ‘howling with delight,’ but Alaskans know you have headed down the wrong trail.”

The letter was also copied to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual race that covers over 1,100 miles of Alaska territory. Typically, sled dog teams of twelve to sixteen dogs cover the trail over the course of between anywhere from a bit over a week to two weeks. Every year the race starts on the first Saturday each March.

The first full Iditarod was run in 1973.

2/17/11

A bill in New York would require all gun owners to register their firearms and pay yearly gun ownership fees.

Senate Bill 2994, introduced by Senator Eric Adams (D- Brooklyn), requires gun owners to register each firearm currently owned with their local county clerk’s office or local precinct station. The bill also requires that any firearms acquired in the future also be registered with the state, including such information as to where and how the gun was acquired.

Take Action! New York sportsmen should contact their state senator and urge them to oppose Senate Bill 2994. To find your state senator’s contact information, please visit www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.

Under the measure, gun owners would be required to provide the serial number of each firearm owned, in addition to their name, address, phone number, and the location where the firearm will be located when not in use.

The bill also calls for a fee of $15 for each initial gun registration. In addition, gun owners would face a $10 per year renewal fee for each gun owned.

“Not only is this bill an attack on gun ownership rights, it’s a blatant tax on gun ownership,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “It’s outrageous that the state would try to make citizens register their guns and then make money off of this process.”

To accommodate smaller framed shooters and hunters, Browning® has introduced a full line of firearms called the Micro Midas. Included in the new line is an X-Bolt™ rifle. The X-Bolt Micro Midas has all the innovative features of the X-Bolt line, just in a more compact and lighter weight package.

The new rifle has a steel receiver with a low-luster blued finish. The 20-inch barrel has the same blued finish. The stock is a checkered walnut with a satin finish. Like other X-Bolt models, the Micro Midas has a 60â—¦ bolt lift, adjustable Feather Trigger™, detachable rotary magazine, top tang safety and bolt unlock button. Each rifle also has sling swivel studs installed and an Inflex Technology recoil pad.

The X-Bolt Micro Midas has a length of pull of 12 ½ inches. The overall length is 38 1/8 inches and it weighs just 6 lbs. 1 oz. For 2011 the rifle is available in four popular calibers, 22.250 Rem., 243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., and 308 Win.

Suggested retail of all models is $799.99.

Contact: Scott Grange – scottg@browning.com
Paul Thompson – pault@browning.com
801-876-2711
ext. 3306 or 3229

Originally introduced with the GLOCK 22 (.40 caliber), and the GLOCK 17 (9×19) models, GLOCK’s newest generation pistol, the Gen4, brings revolutionary design changes to the world’s most popular pistol, centered around ergonomics and the recoil spring assembly. New to the Gen4 family for 2011, GLOCK has unveiled GLOCK models 26 (9×19), G27 (.40 caliber) Gen4 models.

With any Gen4 model, the most noticeable difference you will see is that the basic grip size is smaller compared to the previous generation designs, due to the fact that the new generation offers a multiple backstrap system that allows the user to change the circumference of the grip to fit their individual hand size. The grip which has a new Rough Textured Frame (RTF) surface designed to enhance grip traction, offers three options: a short frame version, medium frame or large frame that are easily changed and secured with a single pin. The trigger mechanism housing has also been dimensionally adapted to fit in the smaller sized grip space.

The magazine release catches are also significantly enlarged and reversible for the left handed shooter. To utilize the swappable magazine release feature, the Gen4 magazines have two notches cut on both sides of the magazine body, allowing users to switch access of the catch to the left or right side of the pistol with no additional parts.

Internally, the original recoil spring has been replaced with a dual recoil spring assembly, which noticeably reduces the recoil while simultaneously increasing the life cycle of the part. The slide and barrel shelf have been resized due to the larger diameter of the spring assembly. The front portion of the polymer frame under the slide has also been widened and enlarged internally in order to accommodate the dual assembly.

“GLOCK, Inc.’s dedication to perfection has made GLOCK the chosen firearm for many Law Enforcement agencies around the world.” said Gary Fletcher, Vice President at GLOCK, Inc. “The new Gen4 models are just another step in GLOCK, Inc.’s commitment to producing the best firearm for U.S. Law Enforcement, Military and the law-abiding citizen.”

The Gen4, just like any GLOCK pistol, has the same tested “Safe Action” system, durable exterior finish, cold hammer forged barrel, durability, reliability and lightweight that have made GLOCK firearms famous. All GLOCK pistols are backed by the GLOCK Limited Lifetime Warranty and world-class customer service and support that is second to none in the firearms industry.

About GLOCK, Inc.

GLOCK, Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of pistols and accessories. GLOCK’s superior engineering has produced a pistol with only 34 parts and a rugged polymer-frame, providing industry-leading reliability shot after shot. GLOCK is renowned for its pistols which are safe, featuring three safeties; simple, offering a low number of components to provide reliability; and fast, with no encumbering parts to slow the speed to fire. This combination makes GLOCK pistols the first choice among consumers and law enforcement, with 65% of agencies nationwide choosing to carry GLOCK. Austrian-engineered, the company has manufacturing facilities in the United States and Austria. Based in Smyrna, Ga., GLOCK, Inc. is an advocate for our nation’s law enforcement and military personnel, as well as all citizens’ Second Amendment right to bear arms. For more information, please visit www.teamglock.com.

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Nearly 3 out of every 4 recreational shooters and hunters in America owns at least one handgun according to a recent survey conducted by HunterSurvey.com. Of particular significance, however, is the finding that the handgun owners who don’t already possess a concealed-carry permit, about 40 percent said they intend to apply for one within the next 12 months. This strong interest in obtaining concealed-carry weapon (CCW) permits could mean a real demand for training and CCW-related accessories and firearms in the coming year.

“I see a real growth opportunity for qualified firearms instructors and shooting facilities in providing the training that many states require in order to secure a CCW permit,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. “Interest in CCW could also generate quite a market opportunity for companies that not only make handguns suitable for concealed carry, but also for manufacturers of accessories that serve that same market, such as holster and ammunition makers.”

February 14, 2011

A new report calls “The 90 Percent Myth,” which refers to the number of illegal guns in Mexico coming from the United States, “more political rhetoric than empirical fact.”

We couldn’t agree more. NSSF has been trying to stamp out “The 90 Percent Myth” ever since ATF misstated the number in testimony at a congressional hearing in 2009. A prompt clarification issued by ATF couldn’t put the proverbial genie back in the bottle. Unfortunately, “The 90 Percent Myth” has been widely promoted by Mexican officials and wrongly cited in U.S. news stories, although a Fox News study of the “90% statistic” noted “that number’s just plain wrong.”

In a report issued last week, the independent research group STRATFOR has corroborated what NSSF has been saying for some time about firearms recovered from drug cartels in Mexico: that it is erroneous and grossly misleading to say that 90 percent (a rounded up number) of the firearms recovered in Mexico came from the United States.

The truth is that less than 12 percent of the guns Mexico seized in 2008 have been verified as coming from the United States. The proof can be found in the U.S. government statistics.

According to a June 2009 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “some 30,000 firearms were seized from criminals by Mexican authorities in 2008. Of these 30,000 firearms, information pertaining to 7,200 of them (24 percent) was submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for tracing. Of these 7,200 guns, only about 4,000 could be traced by the ATF, and of these 4,000, some 3,480 (87 percent) were shown to have come from the United States.

“This means that the 87 percent figure relates to the number of weapons submitted by the Mexican government to the ATF that could be successfully traced and not from the total number of weapons seized by Mexican authorities or even from the total number of weapons submitted to the ATF for tracing. In fact, the 3,480 guns positively traced to the United States equals less than 12 percent of the total arms seized in Mexico in 2008 . . . .”

Yes, nearly 90 percent of firearms that were recovered and able to be successfully traced by ATF were found to have originated in the United States (that’s 3,480 out of 4,000), but why should that surprise anyone? The United States has a very good system for tracking firearms through serial numbers and purchase records (some countries don’t track them at all). Mexico submitted for tracing only those firearms that it believed, due to their serial numbers, would likely trace positive. The vast majority of guns recovered in Mexico are not sent to the U.S. for tracing at all because their markings, or lack of them, show they do not come from here.

A number of handguns—the top three are 9mm, .38 and .22 caliber—and other sporting firearms have been smuggled across the border, but the STRATFOR report notes that the drug cartels increasingly prefer military weapons instead of sporting arms. Military-grade equipment such as hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, automatic rifles and light machine guns are certainly not readily available in this country from firearms retailers. These types of firearms and military ordinance are coming from someplace other than the United States.

The STRATFOR report points out where the guns are flowing from:

•“Most of the military ordnance used by the Mexican cartels comes from other sources, such as the international arms market (increasingly from China via the same networks that furnish precursor chemicals for narcotics manufacturing), or from corrupt elements in the Mexican military or even deserters who take their weapons with them. . .

•Some of these seizures have included M60 machine guns and hundreds of 40 mm grenades obtained from the military arsenals of countries like Guatemala. . .

•Latin America is awash in weapons that were shipped there over the past several decades to supply the various insurgencies and counterinsurgencies in the region. When these military-grade weapons are combined with the rampant corruption in the region, they quickly find their way into the black arms market.”

While Mexican president Calderon is to be applauded for cracking down on the drug cartels and the rampant and systemic corruption in his country, blaming the United States and its Second Amendment freedoms for Mexico’s violent crime will not help solve Mexico’s problem. STRATFOR’s report argues that Mexico’s political leaders have attempted to deflect responsibility for dealing with the cartels: “According to the Mexican government, the cartel wars are not a result of corruption in Mexico or of economic and societal dynamics that leave many Mexicans marginalized and desperate to find a way to make a living. Instead, the cartel wars are due to the insatiable American appetite for narcotics and the endless stream of guns that flows from the United States into Mexico and that results in Mexican violence.”

This argument, of course, implies that U.S. guns laws and the firearms industry, specifically firearm retailers along the border, are to blame, yet it’s those same retailers who cooperate regularly with ATF investigators by providing information that can help bust the illegal firearms traffickers. Also, the idea that there’s a steady flow of newly purchased firearms bound for Mexico doesn’t square with the fact that in 2008 the firearms successfully traced to the United States were, according to ATF, originally sold at retail, after a background check, on average 14 years earlier.

We urge you to read the full STRATFOR report, which ends by dismissing “The 90 Percent Myth”: “It is important to recognize that, while the United States is a significant source of certain classes of weapons and ammunition, it is by no means the source of 90 percent of the weapons used by the Mexican cartels, as is commonly asserted.”

Monday, February 14, 2011

PHOENIX – What better way to spend a Sunday than on the back of a motorcycle enjoying Arizona’s landscape, all while benefiting sick and injured wildlife? Riders are invited to participate in the family-friendly “Bikers Soar for Wildlife Poker Run” on Feb. 20. The fundraiser helps with the care and rehabilitation of animals at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, and is hosted by the Wildlife Center’s Auxiliary.

“This ride is a wonderful way to enjoy a day with your family in Arizona’s great outdoors and help raise money for wildlife rehabilitation,” says Sandy Cate, coordinator of the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. “The whole family is sure to have fun with a variety of activities, including the poker run, plus wildlife exhibits, a live band and a raffle for prizes.”

Riders will enjoy 100 miles of scenic Arizona, beginning at Arrowhead Harley Davidson at 16130 Fountain Center Drive in Peoria and ending at Pioneer Living History Village at 3901 W. Pioneer Rd. in Phoenix. Pioneer Living History Village is a reproduction of an old Western town from the 1800s. Throughout the route, riders will stop at designated locations to collect a playing card, with the best hand of five cards winning a prize at the end of the ride. Even the non-riders in the family can partake by joining riders after 1 p.m. to enjoy the activities at the final destination.

The tax-deductible cost to participate is $30 per rider or $35 per rider and passenger, with lunch provided to all registered riders. The first 300 registrants will receive a free event T-shirt and ride pin. Registration begins at 8 a.m. For more information and to register, visit the Wildlife Center’s volunteer auxiliary website at azwildlifecenter.org/events or call (623) 587-0139.

Founded in May 1983, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center treats more than 1,000 sick and injured animals annually, and provides wildlife education to local schools and outreach to community groups. The center’s mission is carried out with a small budget from the state’s Heritage Fund, making fundraising an important contributor to the care of the animals.

Note to media: Wildlife photos are available by contacting Public Information Officer Lynda Lambert at (623) 236-7203. Live shot opportunities with wildlife and Wildlife Center volunteers also are available upon request.