Wild Sheep Foundation: EXPLORE Act Becomes Law

EXPLORE Act Passes Senate, Landmark Legislation to Enhance Public Lands Access for Sportsmen and Women

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) celebrates the United States Senate’s passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, sending the most comprehensive public lands package since 2019 to the President’s desk. This bipartisan legislation marks a pivotal moment for outdoor recreation and public lands access, advancing several critical priorities of the sporting community.

“The passage of the EXPLORE Act underscores the power of collaboration in advancing access to America’s public lands,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “From streamlining permitting for small film crews to enhancing recreational shooting opportunities, this bill delivers practical solutions to the challenges faced by federal land managers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It reflects a shared commitment to conserving and promoting our outdoor heritage.”

Key provisions of the EXPLORE Act include: Read more

Wildlife

More than $106,000 awarded across 28 Michigan communities

Jan. 2, 2025

Contact Kerry Gray (Michigan DNR), 734-691-1806 or Joelle Kruczek (DTE),

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, DTE Energy Foundation and ReLeaf Michigan today announced the 28 communities and organizations across the state that will receive a portion of $106,680 in grant funding to expand tree coverage.

This initiative is part of the trio’s 28-year collaboration. Through these grants, the organizations aim to have 1,377 trees planted along streets, in parks and in various public spaces in 2025.

“Trees provide essential benefits to our communities, from cooling neighborhoods to improving air quality and supporting biodiversity. This program helps to expand tree canopy while ensuring new trees are properly located to avoid utility conflicts and support long term-growth and sustainability,” said Kerry Gray, DNR Urban and Community Forestry grants specialist.

The statewide program is funded by the DTE Foundation and administered jointly by the DNR and ReLeaf Michigan to provide grant awards and tree-planting project assistance.

“Expanding and safeguarding Michigan’s tree population is a priority for the DTE Foundation, and this work cannot be done without partners like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and ReLeaf Michigan,” said Rodney Cole, foundation president. “By collaborating with these dedicated organizations, we can ensure that our efforts to enhance and protect Michigan’s natural beauty will have a lasting impact on our communities and the environment for years to come.”

Open full grantees list ?

The program seeks to support and engage communities, schools, nonprofits and other organizations in environmental stewardship, neighborhood beautification and the proper planting of trees away from utility infrastructure.

Project proposals are solicited annually from eligible partners around the state. The next opportunity to apply is summer 2025. Read more

Wildlife

2025 Black Lake sturgeon season begins Feb. 1

Contact: Neal Godby, 231-340-2621 or Tim Cwalinski, 231-340-0276

The 2025 lake sturgeon fishing season on Black Lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan, will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1. All anglers must register online in advance to participate in the fishing season, and those age 17 or older must have a valid Michigan fishing license.

The harvest limit for the 2025 season on Black Lake is six lake sturgeon. Officials will close the season when one of two scenarios occurs:

The sixth fish is harvested.
Five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day.
Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the season. The season will end either at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, or when one of the above scenarios is met, at which point anglers will be notified via text message and on the ice by DNR personnel that they must immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon.

Anyone who wants to participate this year must register online by Jan. 31. Get more registration and season information at Michigan.gov/Sturgeon. Read more

Fishing

USFWS Withdraws Proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity, And Environmental Health Rule

In a major win for sportsmen, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has officially withdrawn its proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Rule (“BIDEH Rule”) that would have had sweeping impacts on National Wildlife Refuge management.

The Biden administration introduced the proposed BIDEH Rule in February 2024. To say the BIDEH Rule would have harmed sportsmen is an understatement. The rule plainly “prohibit[ed] predator control unless it is determined necessary to meet statutory requirements, fulfill refuge purposes, and ensure biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health.”

With this language, the service would only be able to authorize the taking of a predator if “all other feasible methods have been fully evaluated and such control is considered the only practical means of addressing a specific, significant conservation concern and ensuring biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health.”

Today, the Sportsmen’s Alliance is proud to announce the withdrawal of the rule and can rejoice that the service thought better of its major overstep and withdrew the rule.

“We are glad that the service agreed with our comments and withdrew the proposed BIDEH Rule,” said Michael Jean, Litigation Counsel for Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “Sportsmen’s dollars have always been the primary source of funding for the refuge system, and the system was designed to increase recreational opportunities for families, including hunting and fishing. Any action that severely limits those opportunities like the BIDEH Rule did is inconsistent with the refuge system’s purposes and congressional mandates.”

Hunting, Wildlife

Christmas trees for fish habitat not as smart as many believe

Dec. 23, 2024

Learn more about what to do with your Christmas tree after the holidays

Each year, Michiganders purchase millions of live Christmas trees. When the holidays are over though, many people wonder if there are beneficial uses for their trees rather than sending them to a landfill. The answer is yes — there are many ways that your old Christmas trees can keep on giving as habitat, but it’s important to think carefully about the best way to do so.

Christmas trees for fish?

People often ask the Michigan Department of Natural Resources whether their Christmas trees would make good habitat for fish. This is a great question, as many of Michigan’s lakes once had woody habitat, such as a fallen tree, every 5 to 50 feet! This woody habitat is important for fish, turtles, frogs, herons and other animals, because it provides refuge from predators and opportunities to bask in the sun, reduces wave energy that erodes shorelines and encourages growth of aquatic plants. Harder-wood trees with an open branch structure provide high-quality habitat.

However, Christmas trees are classified as softwoods, and are typically species such as balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine. These softwoods break down relatively quickly in aquatic environments. The dense branches on Christmas trees that are perfect for holding ornaments are often too dense for many fish to use as habitat.

Additionally, pesticides applied to Christmas trees, leftover decorations and anchors used to sink trees may introduce unwanted materials into our waters. So, if you’re thinking about sinking that tree in your favorite lake for fish habitat, we urge you to consider an alternative. Read more

Fishing, Wildlife

Michigan Deer hunting opportunities this week, Dec. 22-28

Save the date: Deer donation drive at Knutson’s

  • Take part in our upcoming deer donation drive in Jackson County, Jan. 4 and 5 at Knutson’s Sporting Goods in Brooklyn.
  • We’ll be taking deer donations for the Hunters Feeding Michigan program. All donated venison will be distributed to Michigan food pantries.
  • The deer donation drive takes place during the new extended late antlerless firearm deer hunting season, Jan. 2-12 in the southern part of the Lower Peninsula. A discounted antlerless license for this extended hunting season is available for $5 per license, or you can use any unused deer tags you already have.

Late antlerless firearm deer season

  • Now through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, on public and private lands ONLY in the Lower Peninsula.
  • See page 9 of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for a map of open deer management units.
  • During this season, a hunter may harvest an antlerless deer with an unused single deer license (including the license issued through the Mentored Hunting Program), deer combo license (regular and/or restricted tags), universal antlerless license or deer management assistance permit if issued for the area/land where hunting.

Archery deer season (late segment)

  • Now through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, statewide on public and private land.
  • Changes to antlerless harvest have occurred in the Upper Peninsula. Antlerless hunting with archery equipment on the single deer license and deer combo license is prohibited after Dec. 10 for units 027, 036, 152, 252, 021, 349, 249, 017, 117 and 149 (mid-snowfall zone). Antlered hunting with archery equipment can continue through Jan. 1 in these units.
  • See page 14 of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for the Upper Peninsula antler point restrictions chart.

Harvest reporting

  • Deer hunters are required to report a successful harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer (to another person, a processer or taxidermist).
  • Reporting your harvest takes about three minutes and provides critical information for managing Michigan’s deer herd.

Report your harvest or see the reported harvest totals in real time at Michigan.gov/HarvestReporting.

Hunting

EAA Corp Now Shipping the Next Generation Disruptor X

European American Armory Corp has begun shipping its latest striker-fired pistol to all authorized distributors: the new Girsan MC9 Disruptor X. EAA’s next-generation handguns are set to disrupt the market with their high manufacturing quality, low pricing, and consistent availability.

Premium Features without the Premium Price

The Girsan MC9 Disruptor X is a polymer, striker-fired pistol chambered in 9mm, featuring a machined steel slide and barrel for enhanced durability. With an impressive capacity of 17+1 rounds, it is designed for both performance and comfort, offering: Read more

Firearms

SK Customs, Springfield Armory Release ‘Andrea del Sarto’

SK Guns®, the Nation’s only series-driven, limited-edition manufacturer of custom firearms, is proud to announce the fourth and final installment of the Early Italian Renaissance series. SK Customs partnered with Springfield Armory on these engraver model 1911s as a tribute to Andrea del Sarto in a limited run of only 250 units.

“This firearm is the perfect end to our Early Italian Renaissance Series,” said Simon Khiabani, owner and founder of SK Guns. “Andrea del Sarto was one of the most prolific artists of his time. His works were so immaculate that he became known as ‘the faultless painter.’ We hope this firearm is able to capture the same detail and beauty that defined his works.”

The Early Italian Renaissance Series symbolizes the turn of the 15th century marking a cultural rebirth, focusing on classical knowledge, art and humanism that sparked the innovations in painting, sculpture and architecture. This firearm features engravings of del Sarto’s most famous paintings: “Battesimo Della Gente,” “Triumph of Ceaser” and “The Disputation on the Trinity.” Read more

Firearms

Ruger Announces the Latest Edition of the Ruger Precision Rifle

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is pleased to introduce the latest edition of the Ruger Precision® Rifle. The Ruger Precision Rifle, often referred to as the “RPR,” has been a mainstay of the precision rifle shooting community since its introduction in 2015. This new and improved design is the result of years of feedback from competitive shooters and yet another example of Ruger’s commitment to product innovation.

In this new configuration, the RPR will be offered in three popular competition calibers – 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Winchester; as well as three magnum calibers – .300 Win Mag, .300 PRC and .338 Lapua Mag.

Doug Koenig, Team Ruger Captain and winner of the Production Division of the 2024 Hornady Precision Rifle Challenge, worked closely with Ruger engineers to make meaningful, competition-ready upgrades to the Ruger Precision Rifle.

“We focused on combining the RPR’s reliability and precision with more adjustability to fit every shooter,” said Koenig. “Knowing I can fine-tune my rifle to fit my exact needs means I head into every match with confidence. This rifle is designed to support competitive shooters at the highest level.” Read more

Firearms

Ruger Releases Ultra Lightweight 10/22 with Carbon Fiber Barrel Sleeve

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce the release of a new lightweight 10/22® rifle. Chambered in .22 LR and manufactured in Ruger’s Newport, New Hampshire facility, this rifle is feature rich with a custom look and feel.

This new rifle has earned the distinction of being the lightest 10/22 in the Ruger line. Weighing in at a mere 3.5 lbs., this rifle sports a 16.1″ cold hammer-forged tensioned barrel with a carbon fiber sleeve. In addition to the reduction in weight, the stainless steel tensioned barrel is more rigid, reducing vibration, and is threaded 1/2″-28 for the addition of muzzle devices.

The tough but lightweight Magpul MOE X-22 stock is painted black and features a textured splatter paint for an improved grip in even the worst weather conditions, while complimenting the aesthetics of the rifle. The stock features M-LOK attachment slots at the 6 o’clock position and integral sling loops for use with locking sling swivels. The length of pull is 13.5″.

Adding to the custom feel of this new model, this 10/22 sports a genuine Ruger BX-Trigger® that has an approximate pull weight of 2.75 lbs. and a crisp, clean break. Read more

Firearms
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