Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops Expand Support for Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

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North America’s Premier Outdoor and Conservation Company unites anglers to support communities affected throughout the Southeastern United States

Today, Bass Pro Shops and its founder Johnny Morris announced expanded support for those impacted by Hurricane Helene while inviting customers to round up at retail destinations throughout the region to aid in relief efforts. Funds raised will be routed through Convoy of Hope and used to support the important work we can do together for our friends, neighbors and fellow sportsmen and women facing the devastation brought by the tragic storm.

It has been heartbreaking to see the devastation, loss of property, injuries and deaths left in the wake of Hurricane Helene since the storm made landfall on Sept. 26. Hundreds of people are still unaccounted for and communities throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina remain isolated, without food, drinking water and power.

Once Again Partnering with Convoy of Hope and Inviting Customers to Round Up to Support Relief Efforts

Acting quickly following the storm, Convoy of Hope has already mobilized over 100 semi-trucks filled with much-needed supplies for those in need. Bass Pro Shops is proud to contribute to these efforts and is inviting customers to Round Up their purchases at locations throughout the impacted region, with all proceeds directly distributed to Convoy of Hope to advance important relief initiatives.

Bass Pro Shops is proud to be a longtime partner with Convoy of Hope, a global leader in humanitarian relief efforts based in our hometown of Springfield, Missouri. Customers are invited to follow Convoy of Hope on social media to learn more about the impact we are making together.

Additionally Donating $100K to Samaritan’s Purse

On October 1st, Bass Pro Shops donated $100,000 to Samaritan’s Purse and Water Mission which will provide much needed support to individuals impacted by the destruction Helene created across the Southeastern US.

Bass Pro Cares Fund: Outfitters Helping Outfitters Read more

General

Remington Ammunition’s New Ranch Hand 22LR Now Shipping

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Remington Ammunition is pleased to announce the availability of its highly anticipated Ranch Hand 22LR load. The new addition to Remington’s extensive rimfire ammunition lineup is now shipping to consumers and retailers nationwide.

“We are thrilled to introduce the most dependable 22LR round Remington has ever manufactured,” said Remington’s Rimfire Global Product Line Director Jason Slinkard. “This new load embodies our commitment to providing shooters with top-quality ammunition that meets their needs. With its exceptional performance and versatility, the Ranch Hand 22LR is set to become a favorite among rimfire enthusiasts.”

Designed to deliver flawless feed and function in 22LR handguns or rifles, these hollow point or round nose rounds are perfect for small game hunting, varmint hunting and even plinking. Regardless of the firearm choice, Ranch Hand works in any barrel length and is available in 100-round cartons.

Part No. / Description / MSRP Read more

Ammunition

BLM Throws Recreational Shooters Off Bears Ears National Monument

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New Rule Bans Recreational Shooting on 1.3 Million Acres of Public Land; Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation Plans to Challenge

The Bureau of Land Management issued a final rule on its proposed management plan for Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah, which includes an outright prohibition on recreational shooting of any kind for any purpose. Bears Ears, like all national monuments, are generally open to recreational shooting by the public, and for many in the western United States, public lands such as these provide the only opportunity for such activities.

“No surprise here, BLM told everyone many months ago that the agency’s preferred alternative was to ban recreational shooting altogether,” said Dr. Todd Adkins, Senior Vice President at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “The notice and comment process proved meaningless, so we must turn to the courts to keep public land truly public.” Read more

Firearms, Gun Control, Hunting

SCI Opposes Biden-Harris Administration’s Bears Ears National Monument Resource Management Plan

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Safari Club International (SCI) voiced its strong opposition to the recently announced Bears Ears National Monument Resource Management Plan. In promulgating this proposal, the Biden-Harris administration’s Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture have exceeded their regulatory authorities by closing off these public lands to responsible recreational activities, thereby threatening vital conservation funding. The plan also imposes severe restrictions on vehicle access and establishes a total ban on recreational shooting on the entirety of Bears Ears National Monument’s (BENM) 1.3 million acres, a move that will have substantial economic and conservation consequences.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fails to justify why the Biden-Harris administration has elected to close all recreational shooting access in direct contravention of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The Dingell Act explicitly mandates that public access closures for recreational activities, such as shooting, must be demonstrably in pursuit of a quantifiable objective that affects the smallest possible area for the shortest period necessary. This proposed plan would end open access for recreational shooting in favor of total closure with no explanation, in blatant violation of the Dingell Act’s clear language.

Moreover, the Pittman-Robertson Act directs excise taxes from the sale of firearms, ammunition, and related gear to fund critical wildlife conservation efforts. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

NSSF Opposes Interior Dept. Proposal to Close 1.3M Acres of Bears Ears National Monument

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NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, strongly opposes Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s proposed plan for the Department of the Interior to shutter access to recreational shooting on 1.3 million acres of the Bears Ears National Monument, in Utah. Today’s announcement will needlessly deny recreational target shooters access to the monument for no legally justifiable purpose and will violate federal law.

“Secretary Haaland’s proposed plan to close access to 1.3 million acres for recreational shooting is a violation of federal law,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and Chief Executive Officer. “Public lands must be made available for all the public to use. Federal law explicitly states that when closures of public lands are necessary, they must be limited in area and duration to achieve a specific stated objective. Secretary Haaland has articulated none of the required criteria, as required by law. The Secretary should rescind or drastically modify this misguided policy and apply the law as intended: to benefit the public.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

May 2024 – Firearm & Ammunition Exports

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NSSF tracks and reports monthly U.S. export units for several sporting arms, ammunition, and optics categories from the US International Trade Commission. Below are the results for May 2024 compared to May 2023.

  • May Handgun exports increased 52.6 percent from 26,278 to 40,111 units. Within the handgun category, Pistol export units increased 60.8 percent from 23,887 to 38,406 units while exported Revolver units dropped 28.7 percent from 2,391 to 1,705 units.
  • May Rifle exports were down 19.7 percent from 31,803 to 25,529 units.
  • May Shotgun category posted a 31.5 percent decrease in exported units from 7,725 to 5,291.
  • May Muzzleloader category increased 342.5 percent from 207 to 916 units exported.
  • May Other Cartridges (excluding Shotgun cartridges) category decreased 31.9 percent from 76.0 million in 2023 to 51.7 million units exported in 2024.
  • May Shotgun Cartridges category decreased by 13.6 percent dropping to 3.2 million as compared to last year’s 3.7 million.
  • Telescopic Sights:
    • May Telescopic Sights for Rifles (HTS code 9013.10.2000, which includes military use) rose 13.1 percent from 32,030 units to 36,215.
  • Binoculars:
    • May Prism Binoculars [not for use with infrared light] (HTS code 9005.10.0040) decreased 18.1 percent from 24,518 units to 20,072.
    • May Binoculars HTS code 9005.10.0080 [Other Binoculars, NESOI] increased 38.2 percent from 20,194 units to 27,911.
  • Sound Suppressors:
    • May Sound Suppressors, Silencers, Mufflers and Similar Devices of Shotguns or Rifles of Heading 9303 (HTS code 9305.20.9100) decreased 9.5 percent, dropping to 181 from 200 units.
    • May Parts and Accessories of Shotguns or Rifles of Heading 9303 (HTS code 9305.20.9500) were up 32.4% from 86,874 to 114,999 units.

Source: US International Trade Commission Read more

Firearms

NSSF Praises SCOTUS Decision to Review Mexico’s Baseless $10 Billion Lawsuit

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NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to grant Smith & Wesson’s petition to hear Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., et al., Mexico’s frivolous $10 billion lawsuit against American firearm manufacturers seeking to blame them for the harm caused by lawless narco-terrorist drug cartels in Mexico. Mexico’s lawsuit also seeks to dictate how firearms are made and sold throughout the United States through a federal court injunction, in effect usurping the role of Congress and 50 state legislatures. NSSF filed an amicus brief earlier this year in support of the Supreme Court granting the case, arguing that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit’s flawed decision, “blows a gaping hole in the PLCAA and rolls out the red carpet for a foreign government intent on vitiating the Second Amendment.” The U.S. Supreme Court will now set a briefing schedule and hold argument, likely early in the new year.

“Today’s announcement by the U.S. Supreme Court that they are granting Smith & Wesson’s petition to hear Mexico’s frivolous $10 billion lawsuit against lawful American firearm manufacturers is welcomed news to the entire firearm industry. Mexico’s lawsuit seeks to blame lawful American firearm businesses for violence in Mexico perpetrated by Mexican narco-terrorist drug cartels and impacting innocent Mexican lives. It is not the fault of American firearm businesses that follow strict laws and regulations to lawfully manufacture and sell legal products,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “This case represents exactly why Congress passed, and President George W. Bush enacted, the bipartisan Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). The case was rightly dismissed by a federal judge before the First Circuit Court of Appeals’ erroneous ruling earlier this year that reversed the district court order and reinstated the case. Lawful American firearm manufacturers follow American laws to make and sell lawful and Constitutionally-protected products. The Mexican government should instead focus on bringing Mexican criminals to justice in Mexican courtrooms.”

Mexico alleges U.S. firearm manufacturers are liable for the criminal violence perpetuated by narco-terrorist drug cartels by refusing to adopt gun control restrictions that exceed what the law requires for the strictly-regulated production and sale of firearms. A U.S. District court in Massachusetts dismissed the case, finding the claims were barred by the PLCAA. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, however, revived the case on Mexico’s appeal earlier this year. Read more

Firearms, Gun Control

Genesee County Pheasants Forever Youth Hunt

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Sunday, Oct. 13

Morning and afternoon sessions

Muzzy Pheasant Farm

1210 N. Durand Road, Corunna, Michigan

Youth ages 12-17 who have completed a hunter safety course are invited to join in a guided, three-bird pheasant hunt. The event includes clay target shooting before the hunt and a lesson on cleaning birds after the hunt.

Lunch will be provided for both sessions. The cost is $30, and registration is required.

Learn More and Register

Hunting

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease confirmed in white-tailed deer in 11 southwest Michigan counties

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Since early September, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Health Section has confirmed epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, in the wild deer population across 11 counties in southwest Michigan. The affected counties include Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa, St. Joseph and Van Buren.

EHD, a common viral disease that primarily affects white-tailed deer, is transmitted through the bite of an infected midge, or biting fly. Deer cannot transmit the disease directly to one another; the virus must pass through the insect. Outbreaks of EHD typically occur in late summer and early fall but cease with the first frost, which kills the midge population.

Infected deer exhibit symptoms such as loss of appetite, reduced fear of humans, weakness, excessive salivation, rapid pulse, increased respiration and fever. They may also seek out water to cool their elevated body temperatures. In severe cases, the disease leads to unconsciousness and death.

“EHD is not expected to have widespread deer population-level impacts, but it can significantly affect localized areas if mortality is severe,” said Chad Fedewa, acting deer specialist for the DNR Wildlife Division. “After an outbreak, local deer populations usually rebound after a few years. That has been the case over the last decade or so each time we have seen this virus show up.”

Report observations online

If you suspect you have found a deer that has contracted or died from EHD, please submit the observation through the DNR’s online reporting system, Eyes in the Field. In most cases, deer will be found in or near water. Read more

Wildlife
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