Leupold Announces 2023 ‘Project Hunt’ Winners, Launches Project Hunt: New Mexico Elk Film

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear sport optics, is pleased to announce the winners of its 2023 ‘Project Hunt’ contest: Cody Austin, Justin Downes, and Ryan Haight.

Leupold’s ‘Project Hunt,’ presented by GOHUNT, offered contest entrants the chance to be the star of a Leupold digital series. They plan the hunt; they call the shots–Leupold’s videographer sticks with them the whole way to capture the story.

Cody will be navigating the rugged Wyoming wilderness on horseback in search of bull elk, Justin will be headed on a once-in-a-lifetime brown bear hunt in Alaska, and Ryan will be looking to kill his first-ever elk after drawing a premium muzzleloader tag in Colorado. Videographers will join each hunt, documenting the individual stories. A short film or digital series will be produced for each hunt and released digitally across the Leupold and GOHUNT networks in 2024.

“For the third year running, we were blown away by the number of quality submissions that came in for the ‘Project Hunt’ campaign,” said Bruce Pettet, President and Chief Executive Officer for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “Selecting a winner was an incredibly difficult process, and in the end, we decided we absolutely had to expand the pool to three–and there were countless deserving entries even beyond that. We can’t wait to help bring each of our winners’ epic moments to life on our digital channels.”

Selected entrants will also receive a prize package of Leupold optics and an annual GOHUNT Insider membership. A complete list of contest rules can be found at Leupold.com/ProjectHunt-Official-Rules. Read more

Hunting, Optics

Annual Gould’s Survey Enhances the Management of Arizona’s Unique Natural Resource

In a dedicated effort to support wildlife conservation and monitor the population dynamics of Gould’s wild turkeys, the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation once again collaborated with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to conduct an essential turkey survey in southeastern Arizona. This joint initiative marks another year of successful partnership aimed at understanding and conserving the region’s unique turkey population.

Gould’s wild turkeys were introduced to southeastern Arizona in two batches, in 1983 and 1987, with nine and 12 turkeys released, respectively, at Fort Huachuca from Yecora, Mexico. The early 1990s witnessed a period of abundant rainfall that contributed to the turkeys’ thriving population. In response to this growth, John Millican, the NWTF Huachuca Gould’s Chapter president, and Fort Huachuca biologist Sheridan Stone initiated the Gould’s surveys.

In 2000, a comprehensive DNA study on various turkey subspecies in the U.S. confirmed the purity of Gould’s turkeys in the Huachuca Mountains without interbreeding with Merriam’s turkeys. This discovery sparked significant interest from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation, as this was the first viable Gould’s turkey population in the U.S. Read more

Wildlife

Nuts About Crow Hunting

Doug Schaberg poses with some crows we tricked

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

We set up in the early morning darkness and hid in a blown-down boxelder tree and waited for the world to wake up.  Ammo was 12-gauge factory 1 1/8 ounce of #8s with modified chokes.  Ran the fighting crow sounds and dying crow with an old FoxPro caller.  Decoys included a coyote, lots of feathers, a dozen crow decoys, a Mojo Crow and a Tyvek crow tied to a bamboo rod with monofilament.  The elaborate spread goes well with the fighting crow sounds – especially, anything with movement to catch their sharp eyes.

Tip:  Don’t use shot larger than 7 1/2 for best results.

Michigan’s season runs through September.

Hunting

RMEF’s $100,000 Commitment Advances CWD Research

Furthering efforts to promote the scientific understanding and management of chronic wasting disease, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation committed $100,000 to two research endeavors.

One study, in conjunction with the University of Tennessee CWD Working Group, aims to develop a CWD test for live animals. The other seeks to measure the CWD prevalence among elk in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

“There are many more questions than answers related to this mysterious and deadly wildlife disease,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “This research has great potential to shape how biologists can better manage CWD’s impact on wildlife.”

Development of a live CWD test (University of Tennessee)
· Research to develop a rapid and sensitive platform for detection of CWD prions in live animal samples. Results could help state wildlife agencies evaluate prevalence and improve management including test-and-cull actions. Read more

Wildlife

Vortex Introduces The Razor HD 13-39×56 Spotting Scope

Built to seamlessly fit the packs of today’s weight-wary, backcountry hunters.

When every ounce counts, this tag-filling machine gives advanced hunters every tool they need in the compact package they demand. Sacrifice nothing with the Razor® HD 13-39×56.

Every ounce matters on long backcountry hunts, where the terrain and the elements can make each step a slog. But hunters are not willing to sacrifice exceptional performance to save on weight. For them, the Razor® HD 13-39×56 spotting scope is the ideal solution, blending premium optics and a compact form factor.

Glassing on the move doesn’t get any better. At just 10.4″ long and 28.6 oz. for the angled model (11.1″ and 29.5 oz. for the straight), the Razor® HD 13-39×56 fits your pack and the way you hunt. Rapid deployment is a snap thanks to a compact, snag-free design highlighted by a helical focus wheel, giving you total control over this spotter’s wide field of view. Read more

Optics

Hummingbird Mania

While viewing the video, watch for a male Lucifer Hummingbird, among the rarest species found along the borderlands of the United States. It is distinguished by the largest iridescent “bib” among the variety of hummingbirds visiting the West Texas feeder, and it is most obvious during the first minute of the video (photo by Marky Mutchler).

We imagine that you get excited when you see a Rufous Hummingbird, or a Calliope Hummingbird – we do! Just a quick look at one of these species will make our day, maybe our year. But imagine a scene with the above species along with Broad-tailed and Black-throated Hummingbirds in a continuous feeding frenzy, and then a rare Lucifer Hummingbird flies into view. A link to a remarkable video is included here for you to be astonished – that’s right, get ready to be astonished by the action in this video at https://youtu.be/zOet2wbCwR8

After taking an initial look, you may think, “they should provide more than 1 feeder – no wonder so many hummingbirds are gathered around this one.” But there are 20 other feeders at this site in far west Texas, and the live cam host shared that the action at all 21 feeders was just as busy as the one with the live cam directed at it. Read more

Wildlife

Wild Boar Fever: Spain Debuts on Outdoor Channel

DENVER – Get ready for heart-pounding action and unparalleled marksmanship as the highly anticipated twelfth series of Wild Boar Fever, Wild Boar Fever: Spain presented by Aimpoint is set to make its debut on Outdoor Channel on Sunday, September 3 at 10am ET, with one episode of the six-part series being released weekly. The series will then be released globally on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) with the first three episodes premiering on Tuesday, September 5, followed by the final three episodes on Tuesday, September 19.

Wild Boar Fever, a show that has captivated outdoor enthusiasts worldwide for a quarter of a century, showcases the adrenaline-filled pursuit of hunting European driven boar in the picturesque mountains of Spain’s Castile-La Mancha region, where world-class riflemen from across the globe join forces to pursue running boar in challenging conditions.

Follow the show’s charismatic star and skilled marksman, Franz-Albrecht Oettingen-Spielberg, as he provides a masterclass in the art of shooting running boar. Joining him are renowned industry experts, Neil Davies from US-ammunition giant, Hornady, and Carl Gustav from the leading Swedish optics manufacturer, Aimpoint. Together, they present a synergy of skill and technology that will leave audiences in awe.

Although still relatively new to U.S. audiences, European driven boar hunting is an exhilarating experience that involves more than a bolt-action rifle and steady nerves. Read more

Hunting, Optics

Swarovski Announces EL Range 32 Binocular

EL Range 32 – GROUND-BREAKINGLY LIGHT

SWAROVSKI OPTIK is extending its EL Range series with a new compact and lightweight version.

Cranston, Rhode Island – Swarovski Optik North America, a subsidiary of the Austrian based company, announces the new compact, lightweight EL Range 32.

Two years after the launch of the latest generation EL Range 42, Swarovski Optik is introducing a smaller, lighter 32mm version in a choice of 8X or 10X magnification. At only 24 oz. and 5.6 inches long, the EL Range 32 offers the choice of choosing the left or right-side button for the measurement button, a handy feature whether right or left handed. The opposite button will become the mode button. With ranging capability from 10 to 1500 yards, the EL Range 32 is an ideal lightweight companion for the firearm or bow hunter.

The 32 mm model with its new single bridge design combines all the familiar EL Range features such as HD optics for high contrast images, magnesium housing, ballistic readout of rifle scope click corrections in MOA or MRAD, scan mode and Tracking Assistant. The EL Range can be configured according to individual preferences using the EL Range Configurator App and customized with the hunter’s own data for precise ranging. The FRR Forehead Rest has been further enhanced for maximum stability and is available as an accessory. Read more

Optics

The M&P15T SBR: Smith & Wesson’s Exclusive LE Platform

SPRINGFIELD, MA. – For over a century, Smith & Wesson© firearms have been carried by law enforcement and military agencies around the world. M&P handguns and long guns are precision-built for accuracy, reliability, and are designed to stand up to the conditions that military and LE professionals face day-in and day-out.

One of the newer rifle offerings available exclusively through Smith & Wesson’s law enforcement catalog is the M&P15T SBR. This short barrel rifle, chambered in 5.56mm NATO, is designed to be lightweight, rugged, and the best combination of function and form. Its 11.5-inch steel barrel has an Armornite® finish, 1:7-inch 6-groove twist, and is shielded within a 10.5-inch aluminum M-LOK® forend, creating an overall compact length of 31.5-inches. Upgraded features of this SBR platform include a B5 Systems SOPMOD stock and Type 23 pistol grip, ambidextrous Radian® Raptor-LTTM charging handle and safety selector, M-LOK sling attachment points, and Williams® Gun Sight Company metal folding sights.

With regard to performance, the M&P15T SBR utilizes a flat-face trigger, chromed firing pin, low-profile gas block, A2 flash hider, and a Magpul® 30+1 round capacity magazine to drive its elite operation capabilities. Engineered for a wide variety of professional applications, M&P15 rifles are duty proven, proudly made in the U.S.A., and are backed by Smith & Wesson’s limited lifetime service policy. Read more

Firearms

Hornady Security TrekLite Lock Box XXL

Hornady Security offers users a rugged, tough, and versatile way to keep their valuables and handguns safe in the rock-solid TrekLite Lock Box XXL. With the rugged construction and security features offered by the TrekLite Lock Box XXL, users can store their handguns and valuables without worry wherever they find themselves.

The Hornady Security TrekLite Lock Box XXL provides users with a large, secure lock box that can travel alongside them wherever their life leads. It has a dual four-digit TSA-approved lock allowing them to program up to 10,000 different codes.

The TrekLite Lock Box XXL features advanced impact-resistant polycarbonate construction that will withstand the toughest elements. The polycarbonate material is further protected by a layer of non-slip rubber that encases the box. This allows impacts to be absorbed outside of the box before the energy is transmitted to the valuables on the inside. From negligent airport baggage handlers to accidental drops, the advanced, impact-resistant polycarbonate construction will protect its contents from harm. Read more

Firearms
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