Trout Creek Angler Lands State Record Largescale Sucker

Montana has a new state record largescale sucker.

Wade Merschat, 12, of Trout Creek, used a nightcrawler to land a 6.72-pound largescale sucker from Noxon Reservoir in Sanders County on June 19. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists verified the state record and issued Merschat his state record certificate on July 1. The fish measured 25.25 inches long.

The previous record was 6.16 pounds set in June 2008 from Woodland Park Pond in Kalispell. It measured 23.1 inches long. Read more

Fishing

Help Trout Keep Their Cool

“Once water warms too much (78 to 86 degrees, depending upon species) trout can perish from the hostile environment.”


Trout anglers looking to beat the heat may want to add a little more precaution than usual to their catch-and-release regimen during summer, particularly on The Little Red River, which has seen temperatures exceeding the comfort level for rainbow and brown trout.

Christy Graham, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Trout Management Program supervisor based in Mountain Home, has worked with the state’s trophy-class trout fisheries for nearly 15 years. During that time, temperature monitoring throughout Arkansas’s famous tailwater fisheries always takes top priority in summer.

“We conduct daily checks of water quality conditions and work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Southwestern Power Administration to address any concerns we have about the amount of water being released,” Graham said.

According to the American Fisheries Society’s “Trout and Char of the World,” most trout species grow best at temperatures between about 53 and 66 degrees. Once water warms too much (78 to 86 degrees, depending upon species) trout can perish from the hostile environment. But it’s not a hard-and-fast rule, as many variables come into play that can drop that critical temperature a bit lower.

Graham says it’s not just the heat but, more importantly, the amount of oxygen in the water that plays a critical role in fish health during summer. Read more

Fishing

Fish Kill Occurs at Nebraska’s Big Indian Lake

A substantial fish kill, affecting all species in the lake, has occurred at Big Indian Recreation Area south of Wymore in Gage County.

Angler reports prompted Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologists on July 1 to visit the lake, where they observed numerous dead fish of all species. Dissolved oxygen was tested, confirming extremely low levels in the lake caused the fish kill.

“Unfortunately, many water bodies are susceptible to summertime fish kills given the right sequence of weather events,” said Tony Barada, a Game and Parks fisheries assistant administrator.

Extreme heat and sunshine earlier that week at Big Indian likely contributed to a large algal bloom that subsequently died back during the cooler temperatures and cloud cover that followed. When algae die, the bacteria that consumes it also consumes oxygen. When the algal die-off is excessive, it can cause fish kills. Read more

Fishing

NSSF Reacts to SCOTUS Denial of Illinois MSR Ban Challenge

NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is disappointed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of a writ of certiorari in Barnett v. Raoul, one of several challenges to Illinois’ bans on Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) and standard-capacity magazines. The decision not to review the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit’s decision at this early stage of the litigation, while disappointing, does not mean the Supreme Court will not review the matter later after final judgment.

The Supreme Court denied review now because the U.S. Court of Appeals has not yet issued a final judgment. Justice Samuel Alito, however, would have granted the petition now. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote, “This Court is rightly wary of taking cases in an interlocutory posture. But, I hope we will consider the important issue presented by these petitions after the cases reach final judgment.”

Justice Thomas concluded Illinois’ bans are “highly suspect,” finding it “difficult to see how the Seventh Circuit could have concluded that the most widely owned semiautomatic rifles are not ‘Arms’ protected by the Second Amendment.” Read more

Gun Control

SCOTUS Vacates Second Circuit Ruling in GOA Challenge to NY Carry Law

The United States Supreme Court vacated the Second Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in a challenge to New York’s mistakenly named “Concealed Carry Improvement Act,” which was brought by Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF).

GOA and GOF filed a petition for certiorari in February of this year, after the Second Circuit Court failed to properly apply Supreme Court precedent established in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and provide relief from the statute’s many unconstitutional provisions, including New York’s “good moral character” requirement to receive a concealed carry permit.

GOA quickly challenged the hastily passed statute, which was insubordinately passed by Governor Kathy Hochul and the General Assembly in Albany immediately following the Bruen decision in 2022.

Frustratingly, the new statute is more onerous and restrictive than the one held unconstitutional in the Bruen decision. GOA had previously secured a preliminary injunction in federal district court blocking several portions of the law, but it was largely undone by the Second Circuit.

The law’s provisions that were still in effect required applicants for a concealed carry license to:

  • Prove one’s “good moral character”
  • Have in-person interviews with law enforcement
  • Provide four “character references”
  • Undergo 18 hours of combined training – a tremendous increase from the existing 4-hour requirement

Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, issued the following statement:

“New York’s anti-gun politicians were quick to double down after the Bruen decision, but today they’ve been smacked down again. With the High Court making clear the Second Circuit got it wrong and by remanding the case back to the lower court, the High Court is forcing New York’s politicians to eat a huge plate of humble pie. We look forward to continuing the fight for New Yorkers’ right to carry – without government pre-requisites.” Read more

Gun Control ,

International Wildlife Museum Taxidermy for Sale

The International Wildlife Museum of the Safari Club International Foundation permanently closed on December 31, 2023. The museum housed nearly 2,000 taxidermy mounts and skulls. In the wake of this closure, The SCIF Board has approved the sale of specimens not protected under the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or Marine Mammal Protection Act. The proceeds from these sales will support SCIF’s Conservation and Education efforts.

Lolli Livestock Inc. will facilitate the sale of these items through their auctions and website. The first auction will take place on July 11, 2024, starting at 9:00 a.m. Read more

Wildlife

Winchester XPERT High Velocity Steel Shotshell for Teal

EAST ALTON, IL — Winchester Ammunition introduces a high velocity steel shotshell for waterfowl hunters that live to hear the buzz of early-season teal.

Available in 12 gauge 2 ¾ inch and 3 inch, XPERT® Teal features high-velocity payloads that provide increased range and allow for shorter leads on fast-flying teal. XPERT high velocity steel shotshells have long been considered one of the most dependable and consistent performing shotshells among waterfowl hunters. Read more

Ammunition

Streamlight Introduces ProTac HL 6

Ultra-Bright Rechargeable Li-Ion Flashlight Delivers 5,300 Lumens and 80,000 Candela

Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, introduced the ProTac HL® 6, the newest and brightest addition to the ProTac® series of tactical lights. Delivering up to 5,300 lumens and an extraordinary beam reach, the rechargeable system comes with a charge cord and two Streamlight SL-B48® Li-Ion rechargeable battery packs with an integrated USB-C charge port. The new light also features a convenient head-mounted, push-button switch, an anti-roll face cap and a sure-grip rubber sleeve.

“The ProTac HL 6 is like a handheld flood light, allowing users to see all around them while also providing a powerful beam reach to put more light on a target at a distance,” said Streamlight Chief Revenue Officer, Michael F. Dineen. “It’s the ideal light for first responders, outdoor enthusiasts, industrial technicians and other users, whether performing room clearing, lighting an outdoor path or troubleshooting repairs under low-light conditions. It also is powered by convenient and cost-saving rechargeable batteries.” Read more

Optics

Michigan Signs Agreement to Protect Great Lakes from Invasive Species

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois to cosponsor the construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. This milestone agreement with the Biden Administration unlocks $274 million in federal and $114 million in state funding for the first of three phases of the $1.15 billion project that will prevent invasive carp and aquatic nuisance species from entering the Great Lakes.

“Today’s agreement will help us get shovels in the ground as soon as possible on the critical Brandon Road project,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “The Great Lakes are the beating heart of Michigan’s economy, and Brandon Road will help us protect local communities and key industries, including fishing and boating, that support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. I am grateful to Governor Pritzker in Illinois, the Army Corps of Engineers, and our champions in Congress for their long-term partnership on this monumental task. Together, we will get the job done so we can protect our lakes and power economic growth for generations to come.” Read more

Fishing

Eighteen Draw Arkansas Elk Hunt Permits

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission drew the names of 18 Arkansans on the stage of the Buffalo River Elk Festival Saturday to participate in this fall’s annual public land elk hunts.

More than 6,600 applicants applied for elk permits online during the May application window, and 15 of the permits allotted for public land were drawn from those entries. An additional 620 people applied on-site at the festival for three additional permits reserved for attendees of the event. Permits were drawn from a squirrel cage in front of an anxious crowd throughout the day. Winners of the three on-site permits had to be present to win during the final drawing of the festival.

Hunters are allowed to choose their weapons from archery (including crossbows), muzzleloaders, modern rifles, modern shotguns and handguns.

All public land hunts occur on the Buffalo National River, Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area and Bearcat Hollow Wildlife Management Area. Hunters are assigned specific zones within these public lands. Public land permit holders are encouraged to attend an orientation before the hunt and will be notified of the time and location.

Arkansas also holds private land elk hunts, managed through a quota system, for hunters who have landowner permission in Arkansas’s Core Elk Management Zone. Visit www.agfc.com/elk for more information. Read more

Hunting
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