Wild Turkey Research to Receive Nearly $9 Million from NWTF and Partners

Photo Credit: Chester Moore
Photo Credit: Joe Foster

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — At its National Leadership Conference in Ridgedale, Missouri, the National Wild Turkey Federation revealed its 2023 investment in wild turkey ecology research, the largest the NWTF has made in a given year toward research: $582,374 dispersed among 10 vital projects across nine states. With partner support, the NWTF’s 2023 investment into wild turkey research will be leveraged to nearly $9 million.

“Wild turkey populations are experiencing declines and have become unstable in some states, varying significantly from year to year,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “How we collectively manage them over the next decade will determine whether future generations experience this tremendous resource as we do today. Our 2023 investment supports many important projects that will address declines and push the broader understanding of the wild turkey and its life history, having applications across state lines and effectively guiding future management of this bird we love.”

(Photo Credit: Joe Foster)

Projects for 2023 funding include: Read more

Wildlife

USDA Unveils $500 Million Investment in Wildlife Conservation

New Working Lands frameworks announced with plans to leverage Conservation Reserve Program

Boulder, Colo., June 27, 2023 – Today, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Undersecretary Robert Bonnie announced the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would invest $500 million in Working Lands for Wildlife initiatives over the next five years. The historic investment will ramp up conservation assistance for farmers, ranchers, private forest owners and tribes within key geographies and species while leveraging the Conservation Reserve Program.

“What an incredible commitment to wildlife at a meaningful scale,” said Ron Leathers, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s chief conservation officer. “This investment has a chance to reverse population decline in some of our most threatened upland and grassland species, including the bobwhite quail, sage grouse, and lesser prairie chicken. Likewise, numerous other game and non-game species will benefit greatly from this announcement, in addition to improved water quality and soil health. Thank you to USDA and its leaders for their dedication to working lands, producers, wildlife, and America’s rural communities.”

The announcement puts wheels in motion to update existing Frameworks for Conservation Action in the Northern Bobwhite, Grasslands and Savannas, the Sagebrush Biome, and the Great Plains Grasslands Biome to newly integrate the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program. USDA will also work with partners to develop four new frameworks to be released in 2024-25: Read more

Wildlife

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Reintroduces the Marlin 1894 Lever-Action Rifle

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce the reintroduction of the Marlin® Model 1894™ Classic chambered in .44 Rem Mag. The Model 1894 Classic retains the traditional characteristics that made this a truly iconic rifle.

“We’re very excited to introduce our first Ruger-made Marlin Model 1894,” said Ruger President and CEO, Chris Killoy. “We have spent many months working to make this rifle the best it can be.”

Chambered in .44 Magnum, the Model 1894 Classic sports a beautifully finished American black walnut straight stock and forend. The clean and crisp checkering accentuates both the aesthetics and utility of this carefully crafted rifle.

Richly blued and featuring a square finger lever, this alloy steel rifle is equipped with a 20” cold hammer-forged barrel with standard six-groove rifling and a 1:20” twist rate. Also capable of shooting the lighter-recoiling .44 Special, the Model 1894 is equipped with a tubular magazine that will accept 10 rounds of .44 Magnum ammunition, or 11 rounds of .44 Special. Read more

Firearms

Parties Agree to Enforcement Stay of Warrantless Retailer Searches

BELLEVUE, WA – One week after the Second Amendment Foundation challenged Pennsylvania’s promulgated firearms regulation and its enforcement by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff has agreed to a court ordered stay enforcement of his policy of inspecting gun shops without a warrant.

The action is known as Schmidt, et al. v. Paris, et al. Joining SAF are Shot Tec, LLC and a private citizen, Grant Schmidt. They are represented by attorneys Joshua Prince and Dillon Harris, Civil Rights Defense Firm, of Bechtelsville, Pa. Defendants are Col. Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Montgomery County Sheriff Sean Kilkenny, in their official capacities. The action was filed in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

In a stipulation of the parties filed Friday, Montgomery County Sheriff Sean Kilkenny will stay enforcement of the search policy, but noted he “intends to respond in opposition to the Petition for Review, and this Stipulation shall not be interpreted as a waiver or limitation on the Sheriff’s ability to oppose and raise his defenses to the substance of the Petition.” Commissioner Paris has no objection. Read more

Gun Control

SIG SAUER Partners with Skeleton Crew Adventures to Raise Awareness for Veteran Mental Health

NEWINGTON, N.H. – SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to partner with Skeleton Crew Adventures, a charitable organization providing veterans and first responders living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) the opportunity to heal and learn to live with their trauma through sailing experiences. Since the organization’s founding in 2016, Skeleton Crew has led sailing missions across the globe for veterans and is now set to represent the United States in The Ocean Globe Race 2023 to raise awareness for veteran mental health and suicide awareness with the official U.S. cast-off to take place July 12, 2023 from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

“SIG SAUER is honored to support the mission of Skeleton Crew Adventures, and invites the New Hampshire community to join us for a historic cast-off event as they officially begin their journey from Portsmouth to the September starting point of the race across the Atlantic Ocean in England,” began Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The Skeleton Crew boat is crewed by U.S. military veterans who are all dealing with mental and/or physical disabilities and have found healing through sailing. The crew is participating in the race for the sole purpose of raising awareness for their mission and bringing attention to veteran mental health issues.” Read more

Fishing

Nebraska: Unlimited Quota Deer, Antelope Permits Available July 10

CONTACT: Jerry Kane
Public Information Officer | jerry.kane@nebraska.gov | 402.471.5008

Hunters may begin purchasing unlimited quota Nebraska deer and antelope permits July 10.

Residents, nonresidents and eligible landowners may purchase permits through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission starting at 1 p.m. Central time.

Unlimited quota deer permits are resident statewide archery, resident statewide muzzleloader, youth, youth whitetail, nonresident restricted youth, limited landowner and special landowner.

Unlimited quota antelope permits are resident statewide archery and youth archery.

The remaining purchase periods are: Read more

Hunting

Michigan: use caution on Black Lake during lake sturgeon survey in July

If you’re boating on Black Lake next month, you may notice some survey equipment in the water. Please take care to avoid any nets or buoys you see. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and Michigan State University will survey the juvenile lake sturgeon population of Black Lake in July. This is the first survey to track juvenile lake sturgeon in Black Lake since 2013.

From July 10 to July 27, gill nets made specifically for capturing sturgeon will be set and marked with buoys Monday through Thursday of each week. Staff will check the nets every 1-2 hours during the day. Nets will be set each day and marked with staff buoys. Nets will be removed at the end of the day and will not be left in the lake overnight. Once captured, lake sturgeon will be measured and tagged with a Passive Integrated Transponder tag if they are not already tagged. The PIT tag allows staff to uniquely identify individual fish when they are recaptured and provides data needed to calculate a population estimate. Some lake sturgeon under 40” will have a small portion of a fin removed so the age of the fish can be determined. This will allow staff to evaluate growth of both stocked and naturally produced lake sturgeon in Black Lake.

The DNR asks the public to be on the lookout for these buoys and avoid them while boating on Black Lake during this survey. Read more

Fishing

Cheyenne angler breaks Wyoming state record for tiger trout

CHEYENNE — You never know what you may be reeling in sometimes, and that was the case for angler Owen Schaad when he caught his first glimpse of the new state record tiger trout. The Cheyenne resident was spending the day visiting family and fishing on Viva Naughton Reservoir near Kemmerer as he normally does every summer. They fish there often and don’t usually catch much, so he was surprised when he caught more than 20 fish, including a few tiger trout. Then, he landed the big one.

Fishing

Learn about proposed Michigamme Highlands conservation project; reserve your spot on property tour

Comprised of vast forests, remote lakes, trout streams, Michigan’s highest elevation, moose-inhabited swamps and some of the most climate-resilient landscape in Michigan, the Michigamme Highlands in the western Upper Peninsula is truly exceptional.

That’s why the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is working with the current landowner, Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands, to potentially protect this area through a working forest conservation easement.

The 73,000-acre Michigamme Highlands project includes the summit of Mt. Arvon (Michigan’s highest point), 37 miles of rivers, 220 miles of perennial streams, 96 lakes and ponds, more than 13,600 acres of wetlands, over 4,800 acres of white-tailed deer winter habitat and habitat for federal and state-listed threatened or endangered species. The Highlands are home to moose, black bear, pine marten, fisher, grouse, eagles, coaster brook trout, brown and rainbow trout, Coho and pink salmon, bass and northern pike. The project spans portions of Baraga, Iron and Marquette counties.

The Michigamme Highlands conservation project as proposed would give the DNR conservation easement rights on behalf of Michigan’s residents while the land remains privately owned by Lyme. Those rights would ensure that the property is sustainably managed as a working forest, protect wildlife habitat, prevent development or subdivision of the property and ensure public recreational access forever. Read more
Wildlife

Minn Kota Announces New and Upgraded Line of Trolling Motors

RACINE, Wis. – Since 1934 Minn Kota has been known for developing real, fishable features that help anglers explore new water, go further, and put more fish in the boat. The best trolling motors available just got even better with a complete restage of Minn Kota’s bow-mount motor lineup and the introduction of QUEST technology. New and upgraded Ultrex™, Ulterra®, Instinct, Terrova®, Riptide Terrova®, PowerDrive™, and Riptide PowerDrive™ bow mount trolling motors are being reintroduced with a brand new look and updated technology suite full of angler-friendly enhancements.

In addition to all the GPS navigational features anglers have come to expect from Minn Kota like Spot-Lock and Follow-the-Contour, all of these new additions to the motor lineup will feature enhanced boat control tools for anglers – no matter their preferred species. Whether fresh or saltwater and regardless of skill level or pursuit, Minn Kota’s redesigned line of trolling motors has an option for any angler looking for bulletproof reliability and unmatched performance on the water.

New Features for All Bow-Mount Models:

NEW Enhanced GPS Suite Including Drift Mode to allow anglers to spend more time fishing and less time on boat control Read more

Fishing
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