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Every treestand hunter should own the patented Rescue One CDS™ by Mountaineer Sports, Revolutionizing Fall Protection.™ This unique full body harness contains a controlled descent system that enables the hunter to lower safely and easily to the ground in the event of a fall.

A secondary safety feature built into the Rescue One CDS™ is the suspension relief strap. Some full body harnesses do not include a suspension relief strap, or the hunter may discard the strap. This strap plays a vital role in keeping the hunter from succumbing to blood pooling and potential death from suspension trauma while hanging suspended in a harness. The Rescue One CDS has this strap built in, keeping it accessible in the event of a fall.

Keep your loved one safe in the treestand with the gift of a Rescue One CDS this Christmas.

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. Mountaineer Sports, Revolutionizing Fall Safety™

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

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Muzzleloading season is underway and more and more Michigan deer hunters are enjoying its rewards. In the Southern Lower Peninsula (Zone III), the season runs from December 3 – 19 – a week longer than in years past. The Northern Lower Peninsula’s season (Zone II) is December 10 – 19, while the Upper Peninsula’s (Zone I) season covers December 10 – 19. Reasons for the increased favor of smokepoles are many but most of all, it boils down to effectiveness.

At the top of the list has to be the technological advances in modern muzzleloaders, propellants, and bullet choices. While traditionalists may look down their noses at the growing contingent of modern, in-line muzzleloaders, they are here to stay. The modern front-loading rifles pack more punch than their black-powder counterparts at longer ranges and do it with accuracy and simplicity – both elements of their popularity.

I don’t refer to the season as black powder season any more than I do to the rifles as black powder rifles. It’s muzzleloading season and it’s muzzleloaders! The black powder of yesteryear stinks, is filthy, fouls bores quickly and destroys them routinely with its sulfur content, if not thoroughly cleaned immediately after use. Is it any wonder that today’s muzzleloading enthusiasts opt for black powder substitutes that eliminate the inherent caustic properties of real black powder, or even Pyrodex? Move over Daniel Boone!

My personal smokepoles has been a Knight Revolution (no longer in production), which uses Remington shotgun-style 209 primers but are actually formulated specifically for muzzleloaders. It’s good to experiment with primers, because heat ranges differ, as do results. Same with powder. My current load is 140 grains of Hodgdon fff Triple 7, which pushes a 250-grain tipped Barnes bullet at a sizzling 2175 feet per second. This speed translates into trajectory of 3 inches high at 100 yards and is still in the 6-inch kill zone at 200 yards. That’s serious stuff with retained energy of 1240 foot pounds at 200 yards, too! And, accuracy rivals a decent centerfire rifle.

No accuracy buff uses pellets, which have become almost synonymous with today’s in-line muzzleloaders. Certainly, they are more convenient but consistency can be less than granular style powder. In addition, granular powder can be measured to any fractional level desired. With pellets, the shooter is stuck with increments of 30 to 50 grains. However, loading for hunting is only done once, so what’s the big attraction with pellets anyway?

Measuring granular powder, while bench testing is a bit slower, but speed loaders can assist reloading quickly afield. It’s important to watch the deer as long as you can after firing, then reload. Why should anyone reload? Simple. It should be a rule of thumb after firing afield, even if your deer appears to be down for the count. Many are lost because hunters didn’t reload, while the prize regains its senses and scurries off. Don’t be that guy!

Even though muzzleloader success last year was at 19 percent and only 6 percent of bucks were taken during the season, it’s still a great time to balance the doe to buck ratio by removing some of the does from the herd. Caution must be taken, however, to look for bucks that have already shed their antlers by paying careful attention to the top of deers’ heads. Antler nubs can still be seen with good optics and appear to square-off their heads, while does have rounded heads. Also, remember that button bucks (male fawns) often travel alone and have the telltale squared-off heads.

One of the best features of late-season hunting is that deer are not as jumpy and often present better opportunities. With the single-shot front loaders, hunters are urged to take their time and identify their target, because once that trigger is pulled, the bullet cannot be called back.

For box blind hunters that want an accuracy advantage, check out my blog post of November 25th, “A Tip for Box Blind Hunters” at http://thinkingafield.blogspot.com/2010/11/tip-for-box-blind-hunters.html. You can thank me later.

DNRE check staions indicate about a 15 percent increase in deer kills in the Upper Peninsula during the regular firearms deer season; however, based on the past 10 years, these figures are still below average.

LANSING (AP) — Gov.-elect Rick Snyder plans to re-split the departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, returning them to separate agencies with their own directors.

Snyder will formally announce the change during this afternoon’s news conference. He also plans to introduce the new directors.

Former agriculture director Don Wyant will become DEQ director, while DNR Science and Policy Office Chief Rodney Stokes will become DNR director. The current director of both departments, Rebecca Humphries, is leaving to work for Ducks Unlimited.

The new agriculture director will be Keith Creagh, a former deputy director who just retired.

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm put state regulation of natural resources and the environment into one department under a 2009 executive order. Republican Gov. John Engler separated the duties into two agencies in 1995.

GW: EOTech’s innovative sighting systems have been around for a long time and at one time were sold under the Bushnell brand: HoloSight. However, Bushnell and EOTech have parted ways. I have used one of EOTech’s HoloSight optics on a custom SSK Industries .45-70 Contender for many years and love the system. The brutal force of the hard-kicking .45-70 custom loads I feed the Contender never upset the zero – and, when I say hard-kicking, I mean over double the force of the “wimpy” .44 Magnum. J.D. Jones, founder of SSK Industries, was correct when he said of his handcannon: “You’ve got a tiger by the tail.”

What makes the sight better than the dimestore red dots is that it works in low light situations – those critical to big game hunters. Cheap red dots, on the other hand, reflect the red light back into the user’s eyes when it starts to get dark, rendering the optics completely useless. In addition, cheap red dots subtend a larger portion, if not all, of long-range targets. Not so with EOTech’s adjustable dot.

Congratulations to a fine Michigan-based company for the military contract!

ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN – L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that the EOTech division has been awarded a $25 million firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ), non-competitive follow-on contract to provide its miniature day/night optical sighting systems in support of the U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Weapons Accessories Program. Production of the units will be performed at the EOTech facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“L-3 EOTech offers the only state-of-the-art holographic weapon sights available and fielded for the military market. We are proud to supply the military with innovative technology that provides our warfighters with both increased accuracy and situational awareness,” said Paul Mangano, president of EOTech.

EOTech’s unique holographic weapon sighting system is based on the same target acquisition technology used on aircraft. When viewed through a holographic sight, the soldier will perceive the reticle on the same plane as the target, eliminating critical sighting time and allowing the operator to instantly engage a target. This complex holographic sighting technology is currently only available in EOTech products.

In support of the Weapons Accessories Program, the L-3 EOTech line of sighting systems offers operators faster and more precise target acquisition capabilities when used with the small arms weapons platforms, as well as other individual and crew-served weapons. EOTech sights significantly improve the effectiveness of launchers by providing faster and more accurate targeting abilities through advanced holographic technology.

L-3 EOTech is the exclusive manufacturer and world leader of holographic sighting systems for small arms and is dedicated to continually producing high-quality, battle-tested products for U.S. servicemen and women. The sights are manufactured and distributed worldwide from the headquarters located in Ann Arbor, Mich. These advanced technology sights are used extensively by elite military groups, federal law enforcement, as well as state and local law enforcement organizations. To learn more about L-3 EOTech, please visit the company’s website at www.L-3com.com/eotech.

Bogart, Ga. – Trail-cameras are now one of the hottest-selling items in the hunting industry, but few hunters have unleashed their scouting camera’s full potential for advanced deer management and hunting. The non-profit Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) has published a book that links science with scouting, allowing trail-cameras users to expose new dimensions of whitetail behavior and population dynamics.

“Deer Cameras: The Science of Scouting” is a 242-page, full-color book with 12 chapters written by several of the nation’s top experts in deer management and illustrated with more than 300 trail-camera photos submitted by QDMA members.

A Dream Team of Authors
QDMA selected more than a dozen different contributors who specialize in using trail-cameras for management, research and hunting. They include wildlife biologists, wildlife consultants and a professional wildlife photographer.

Tracking Mature Bucks
QDMA’s “Deer Cameras” contains two dedicated chapters that teach you how to photograph elusive mature bucks. You’ll learn to predict their seasonal movements using the latest scientific knowledge about home ranges and core areas. Then, use the book’s recommended setup techniques to photograph and track mature bucks to enhance hunting success.

The Most Comprehensive Guidance on Trail-Camera Surveys
Trail-camera surveys are simply the most powerful deer management tool you can use that doesn’t require professional assistance. Surveys can reveal deer density, sex ratios, age structure of bucks, and even the impact of predators on fawn recruitment. QDMA’s “Deer Cameras” covers this method like no other source, with four dedicated chapters that take you all the way through interpreting results and applying them to your deer management decisions and hunting strategies.

Get the Most From Your Trail-Cameras
Learn how to choose the right trail-camera for your goals, how to capture the highest-quality photographs, and how to monitor other wildlife beyond whitetails. Additionally, learn stealthy setups for monitoring human intruders without cameras being discovered. Special sections even show you how to build your own “homebrew” trail-camera, and a four-page photo gallery helps you diagnose deer oddities you might see.

Like “Quality Food Plots,” QDMA’s first book, “Deer Cameras: The Science of Scouting” is heavy on photos, diagrams and charts to help illustrate key concepts.

“Deer Cameras: The Science of Scouting” is available for $24.95 plus S/H. To order, visit www.QDMA.com or call (800) 209-3337.

Deer Cameras: The Science of Scouting
• $24.95
• Soft cover
• 242 pages
• Full color
• Produced by QDMA, printed in U.S.A.
• 12 chapters
• 12 different contributing authors
• More than 300 trail-camera photos taken by QDMA members, plus nearly 100 additional support photos.

About QDMA
Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with 50,000 members in all 50 states and Canada, and several foreign countries. Membership in QDMA is open to anyone interested in better deer and better deer hunting, and committed to ethical hunting, sound deer management and the preservation of the deer-hunting heritage. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call 800-209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com.

Contact: Lindsay Thomas Jr.
800-209-3337 or lthomas@qdma.com

PRATT, KANSAS – Deer hunters always enjoy the chase, but the ultimate satisfaction of taking a deer can be when the meat is served to family and friends. No hunter wants to waste weeks of practice, scouting, preparation, and bagged game, so once the deer is down and tagged and photos snapped, the work of caring for the meat begins.

No matter the weather, cooling a deer soon after the kill is critical. When weather is mild, hunters must take special care to ensure their hard-earned deer is pleasing table fare, and when cared for correctly, venison provides lean, healthy, gourmet-quality meat.

A quick, clean kill through the lungs or heart is important, and knowing one’s range and equipment combined with careful shot selection are the keys to a good shot. As soon as the deer is recovered, it’s also important to field dress the animal so that the carcass can cool quickly. Be careful to keep dirt, hair, and debris away from exposed meat while dressing and when moving the deer to the vehicle. Those who plan to process their own deer should hang the deer in a clean, cool building. It’s often best to remove the hide so that meat can continue to cool, particularly if the weather is warmer than usual. Hunters who plan to have the deer processed by commercial butchers should contact them as soon as possible to arrange for delivery.

A cool, clean place is essential for butchering. Many hunters like to age their deer, but a cooler is often needed for this. Aging is not necessary, but for those who prefer this method, venison should be aged at 35-39 degrees. Cooler than this, and the meat may freeze; warmer, and the meat may spoil.

With a little extra effort and time, successful deer hunters will enjoy months of rewarding venison meals. Remember: make a clean shot, field dress the deer quickly, cool the meat, and keep it clean.

GW: Be smart: Remvoe the tenderloins from inside the animal immediately after field dressing. They are strips that run against the backbone on the inside of the animal along the ribcabe. If you leave them, they dry out and the best part, albeit a small part, of the deer is wasted.

GW: For this time I am with the HSUS. Anti-hunters going after anti-hunters? I love it!

BOISE, Idaho — The Humane Society is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for anyone who can lead Idaho authorities to a rougue and taunting poacher.

The case involves the self-described anonymous poacher, who claimed in a letter to Idaho wildlife officials earlier this month to have killed a whitetail deer illegally, an antelope, and a turkey and that he will continue his anti-hunting ways.

The November 12 correspondence to Idaho Fish and Game officials also contained photographs of the dead deer and antelope and the promise to take more wildlife illegally.

Investigators indicate the letter was postmarked from Everett, Wash.

The reward is offered by the Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Trust Fund.

GW: Makes sense to me. I’m sure the state will still receive lots of tax revenue from the the myriad anciliary items.

COLUMBIA — Gun buyers can save a few bucks this weekend during the South Carolina’s third annual Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday.

Shoppers looking for some handguns, rifles and shotguns won’t have to pay sales tax Friday through midnight Sunday during “Second Amendment Weekend.”

Accessories like ammunition, black powder, holsters and archery supplies are taxed. There also is no exemption for antique and collectible handguns, as well as handguns that do not fire a fixed cartridge.

South Carolina holds a tax break weekend for back-to-school items in August.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

One of the difficulties encountered afield is repeating accuracy potential developed at the sight-in bench. Obviously, pin-point accuracy is not as important at closer ranges, but when stretching the limits of a firearm across a field or through the woods, every bit of precision is required to minimize the risk of bad shots.

Here’s a tip for those that shoot from any type of box blind, where typically, only some form of front rest is used. First, place a sandbag-type rest on the window sill opening. Second, get a quality bipod that will adjust from 24 inches and up. (I prefer one that will extend to 60 inches or more so that it can be used for different purposes later.) Place the bipod under the shoulder stock of your firearm directly in front of the swivel stud and anlge the legs forward slightly.

Once you get the firearm at the proper height, you’ll be able to fine tune elevation quickly by moving the firearm back and forth across the front rest. With the proper set up, the firearm can be held in place, hands free and be ready for action. And,if you need to move the set up to a different location, it can be done rather quickly.

You will be surprised how stable the hold will be!