Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
The 2023 bear hunting season is right around the corner. For hunters who plan to use bait while hunting bears, the baiting period will begin even earlier. To help hunters prepare to establish their bait sites, Michigan Department of Natural Resources bear specialist Cody Norton answers some of our most frequently asked questions: Read more
Downtown Owosso, MI
Some local artists donated their time to repaint an old mural which was discovered when an adjoining building was removed.
Saturday, Aug. 5, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center
34270 County Road 652, Mattawan
This one-day introductory course will cover everything you need to know to get started fly fishing: terminology, etiquette, how to catch and release, what makes a stream, reading the water, presentation, aquatic entomology, fly tying, knots, casting and much more.
Loaner rods and fly-tying equipment are available, but please bring your own, if possible, to start becoming comfortable with your equipment.
The cost is $50, which includes lunch, snacks, some light gear and a one-year Trout Unlimited membership. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information, contact Jon Chizmadia at jon.chizmadia@gmail.com.
Doug Hastings, of Bath, is the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2022 Hunter Education Instructor of the Year, an honor bestowed at the July meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing.
Last year, Hastings instructed 700 students.
Hunter education teaches the next generation of hunters how to enjoy safe, responsible hunting and understand the importance of wildlife management. The DNR-managed program teaches lifelong skills, such as firearm safety, basic first aid and how to use a map and compass, to an average of 15,000 Michigan students per year.
“Doug is dedicated and passionate and ensures each student receives quality instruction,” said Lt. Tom Wanless, DNR recreational safety, education and enforcement supervisor. “He goes above and beyond to coordinate last-minute classes to ensure a waiting list of eager students can hunt on opening day, and that there are no delays receiving their safety certificate.” Read more
TALO Distributors, Inc. announces a special edition Glock collaboration available from TALO member distributors to dealers nationwide. This special run starts with the Glock 17 Gen4, US manufactured version, with special slide treatments contracted by TALO.
Item number 13209 is upgraded with a quality stainless PVD slide treatment. The flats are beautifully polished with an armory grade cut engraved scroll pattern. The slide top has been left in a satin finish to maintain shoot-ability outdoors. Suggested retail is $799.99 on these limited production pistols. Read more
Weatherby will introduce the newest member of the Orion ® shotgun family, the Orion SxS (Side-by-Side). The Orion SxS is the perfect companion for your next bird hunt or clay shoot. The straight English stock, splinter forend, and double triggers bring a classic but functional look to the Orion family. A swamp rib with a brass bead ensures a clear sight picture for quick and accurate wing shooting. The Orion SxS comes equipped with 5 extended chokes (SK, IC, Mod, IM, Full) and the barrel was designed to handle modern steel shot loads. Made for conscious bird hunters, the side by side features extractors to make sure empty shells end up in your pocket and not on the landscape. Starting at just 6.7lbs, this is a shotgun you can carry all day long and is available in 12 and 20 ga. Check your local Weatherby dealer in the month August for availability.
MSRP:$1,099 Read more
Bainbridge, GA – Rossi, a renowned name in the firearms industry, is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of its latest innovation, the Rossi Brawler single shot pistol. Designed to deliver unparalleled performance and versatility, the Rossi Brawler is set to revolutionize the market with its exceptional features and affordable price point.
The Rossi Brawler boasts a unique combination of power and precision, offering shooters the choice between two popular calibers: .410 Bore and .45 Long Colt. This dual-caliber capability ensures that users can adapt to various shooting scenarios, making it an ideal choice for both self-defense and recreational purposes.
One of the standout features of the Rossi Brawler is its hammer-fired, break-action single-shot mechanism. This design not only enhances reliability but also simplifies operation, making it an excellent option for both experienced shooters and beginners alike. The break-action system allows for quick and easy reloading, ensuring minimal downtime during shooting sessions.
Equipped with a picatinny rail featuring a built-in rear sight, the Rossi Brawler offers enhanced accuracy and customization options. Shooters can easily attach their preferred optics or accessories, allowing for a personalized shooting experience tailored to their specific needs. Read more
July 2023 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,023,903 is a decrease of 17.0 percent compared to the July 2022 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,233,115.
For comparison, the unadjusted July 2023 FBI NICS figure 1,987,650 reflects a 15.7 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,358,150 in July 2022. July 2023 marks the 48th month in a row, 4 years, that has exceeded 1 million adjusted background checks in a single month.
Please note: Twenty-four states currently have at least one qualified alternative permit, which under the Brady Act allows the permit-holder, who has undergone a background check to obtain the permit, to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer without a separate additional background check for that transfer. The number of NICS checks in these states does not include these legal transfers based on qualifying permits and NSSF does not adjust for these transfers. Read more
The Second Amendment Foundation is delighted with the a 2-1 ruling by a Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel that the Biden administration’s “final rule” on pistol braces is “likely illegal” because the government violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by adopting the rule without meaningful opportunity for public comment.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—under Joe Biden’s hand-picked director Steve Dettelbach—violated the APA. Writing for the majority, Fifth Circuit Judge Jerry Smith observed, “(P)laintiffs establish a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. The ATF incorrectly maintains that the Final Rule is merely interpretive, not legislative, and thus not subject to the logical-outgrowth test. The Final Rule affects individual rights, speaks with the force of law, and significantly implicates private interests. Thus, it is legislative in character. Then, because the Final Rule bears almost no resemblance in manner or kind to the Proposed Rule, the Final Rule fails the logical-outgrowth test and violates the APA.”
“This is a significant win for gun rights,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “because the arguments in this case are essentially the same as we are making in our own challenge of the pistol brace rule.”
SAF’s case is known as SAF, et.al. v. ATF, et. al and is joined by Rainier Arms, LLC and two private citizens, Samuel Walley and William Green. They are represented by attorney Chad Flores at Flores Law in Houston, Texas. SAF has already won a preliminary injunction in that case.
“This ruling,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut, “is a serious setback for the Biden administration’s gun control agenda. As the court noted, the Final Rule was not the logical outgrowth of the original proposed rule, and therefore must be set aside. Thanks to this ruling, we can jump start our own case with very good prospects for success.”
BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation today filed its opposition brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, opposing a stay in its case challenging the government’s attempt to classify unfinished firearm frames and receivers as “firearms.”
The case is known as VanDerStok v. Garland, and last month, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to stay portions of the rule which SAF successfully challenged. SAF has intervened in the case.
“With our attorney, Chad Flores of Houston, Texas, we’re arguing that the Biden administration’s new administrative definition of a firearm illegally expands the term beyond its critical statutory boundaries,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “We consider this expanded definition to be nothing more than a power grab. Our opposition brief details our position to Associate Justice Samuel Alito succinctly.” Read more