Ruling Could Threaten Wetlands That Aid Fisheries

By Frank Sargeant

We used to think of “wetlands” as just plain swamp, useless for producing much but mosquitoes, snakes and frogs. That’s not the case now for conservation-minded anglers and hunters, who realize that these areas are at the heart of producing everything from waterfowl to the clean water that lets fisheries thrive—and they’re also the source of much of the nation’s drinking water.

We note this because the U.S. Supreme Court last month issued a ruling sharply curtailing Clean Water Act protections for wetlands that could be problematic in these days when so many wild lands are being turned into suburbs and shopping malls.

Ruling in Sackett v. EPA, the court limited Clean Water Act protection for wetlands to those with a “continuous surface connection” to other “Waters of the United States,” which will remove federal protections for vast areas of the nation’s wetlands.

The beginning trickle of waters that become a trout stream depend on adjacent wetlands to feed them and cleanse runoff. (Trout Unlimited)

Earlier rulings had protected any wetlands with a “significant nexus” to Waters of the U.S., and for decades the Clean Water Act has covered wetlands that are “adjacent” to those waters. In the case in question, the court found that a landowner did not need a federal Clean Water Act permit to fill in a wetland lacking a “continuous surface connection” to a water body flowing into Idaho’s popular Priest Lake, which provides important cutthroat trout habitat. Read more

Fishing

NSSF Hails House Passage of H.J. Res. 44 to Restore Congressional Authority to Make Law, Rein in Administrative Overreach

WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, hails the bipartisan passage of H.J. Res. 44 in the House of Representatives as a clear statement to the Biden administration that it is the role of Congress to make law, not unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats. H.J. Res. 44 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 219-210 and nullifies the Final Rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) titled “Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces,’” published on January 31, 2023. The Final Rule established new criteria for determining whether a pistol equipped with an attached stabilizing arm brace is a short-barreled rifle (SBR) and thus subject to regulation (and registration) under the National Firearms Act. The Congressional Research Service estimates there could be upwards of 40 million braces in circulation today.

“NSSF praises the bipartisan passage in the House of Representative of House Joint Resolution 44 to place a much-needed check on the Biden administration’s abuse of the rule making process to turn millions of lawful firearm owners and members of the firearm industry into criminals with the mere stroke of a pen,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “For nearly a decade the ATF has determined stabilizing brace equipped pistols, initially designed to assist wounded warrior veterans to shoot safely and accurately, did not alter the classification of a pistol and that those pistols would not be subject to National Firearms Act regulation. The antigun whims of this administration changed all that by executive fiat. Federal courts have already issued numerous preliminary injunctions against enforcing this rule and stated the Executive Branch was overstepping its constitutional authority and infringing on the role of the Legislative Branch to make law. NSSF is grateful to U.S. Reps. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) and Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) for drafting the resolution and to Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) for ushering through this resolution to passage. The firearm industry strongly encourages the U.S. Senate to make the correct and similar stand for Congress to reassert its role and authority in drafting law.” Read more

General

Federal Legislation Introduced to Mitigate Shark Depredation

New task force would focus on the complex issue of sharks increasingly consuming hooked fish before they can be landed

Alexandria, VA – June 13, 2023 – On Monday, June 12, 2023, U.S. Representatives Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Garret Graves (R-La.) and Marc Veasey (D-Tex.) introduced the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research, Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation will start to address the increasing challenge of shark depredation, which occurs when a shark eats or damages a hooked fish before an angler can reel in their catch.

In general, the possibility of depredation occurring is accepted as a natural part of fishing. However, in recent years the frequency of shark depredation has increased rapidly in many parts of the country, especially along the Atlantic coast, the southeastern United States and the western Pacific. The causes are generally recognized to be increasing fishing activity, increasing shark abundance and depredation becoming a more frequently learned behavior. Read more

Fishing, Wildlife

Bond Arms’ First Heavy Hitter: Cyclops .45-70

Granbury, TX (June 13, 2023) – Bond Arms® is well known for producing some of the best quality derringers in the North American market. Not only do their handguns come in a wide range of calibers, but they make a statement, and the manufacturing of these derringers is second to none. Built rugged, tough, and dependable, each of the offerings from Bond Arms® often surpasses consumer expectations.

And yet, Bond Arms® is exceeding expectations again. While derringers are often considered small rimfire calibers and expand into standard pistol calibers, including some magnum cartridges, they don’t usually come chambered in a traditional rifle caliber. That is, until now.

Announced at SHOT Show 2023, Bond Arms began production of a .45-70 derringer named the Cyclops. Coming in at 28 oz, the Cyclops is built stronger and more durable than ever. This 4.25 in. barrel is fitted into a single action frame and is only the first release in a new series of big bore derringers slated to be released in 50 AE, 454 casull, and 44 magnum.

This model does vary from other pistol options from Bond Arms. Unlike the traditional over/under staple, the Cyclops is a single shot only. The lack of a secondary chambering adds additional weight to the pistol and mitigates some felt recoil in a cartridge as large as the .45-70. It comes with an extended and proprietary B6 resin grip. Changes have been made to the grip to make it more ergonomic and easier to shoot. These sights are no different than most Bond Arms’ options and fixed to the frame and barrel. Read more

Firearms

Leica Sport Optics: Buy Amplus 6 BDC, Receive Free Custom Turret

Buy any new Leica Amplus 6 BDC riflescope and receive a free custom turret

Leading German optics brand Leica Sport Optics is launching a special promotion that will run between June to the end of September. Every purchase of a Leica Amplus 6 BDC from a Leica stocking dealer can receive a free custom laser engraved turret from either Kenton Industries or Ballistix, value up to $169.

Every Amplus 6 BDC riflescope comes as standard with an MOA or MIL dial, right out of the box. Leica’s partners will provide a custom engraved turret based on user environmental data and ballistics to any customer that buys an Amplus 6 BDC, during the promotion. A premium custom turret can help eliminate the need for holdover reticles, in-the-field ballistic data charts, or MOA / MILRAD calculations. With a custom turret, all you have to do is dial your turret to the correct yardage, aim, and shoot. Read more

Optics

Delta Waterfowl HunteR3 and Duck Production Programs Receive Funding Boost

A pair of grants from Wildlife Habitat Canada will add Hen Houses and expand hunter recruitment across Canada

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA — Grants from Wildlife Habitat Canada have been awarded to Delta Waterfowl to bolster the organization’s Hen House program, as well as HunteR3 recruitment and advocacy efforts.

A $60,000 WHC grant will support the growth and management of Delta’s Hen House program in Canada, adding new Hen Houses to the duck production effort. The grant will be used to build and install 200 new Hen Houses in Canada, as well as to support the maintenance of 750 existing nest structures. The new Hen Houses will be installed in the Canadian prairie pothole region, likely in mallard-producing regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

By providing a safe, productive nest site to mallard hens, these over-water nest structures make a successful hatch up to 12 times more likely. For hens nesting in grass cover, nest success is often less than 10 percent—a dismal rate that falls below the necessary level to maintain duck populations. In Hen Houses, nest success typically ranges from 60 to 90 percent. Read more

Wildlife

Nightstick Launches 650-Lumen Narrow Rail Compact Handgun Lights

Nightstick Launches 650-Lumen Narrow Rail Compact Handgun Lights
Adds TCM-365 and TCM-5B models to WML lineup

Wylie, Texas – Nightstick, a global manufacturer of professional portable LED lighting products announces the launch of its TCM-365 for the Sig Sauer® P365 family and TCM-5B model for more than two dozen narrow rail EDC handguns including the Glock® G43X & G48X MOS, Springfield Armory® Hellcat and Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro.

Both new models feature ultra-performance LEDs and an optimized TIR lens, delivering a brighter and more penetrating 650-lumen beam for up to 2 hours, illuminating objects up to 136 meters away. The TCM-365’s unique rail clamp is engineered specifically to lock into the proprietary slots on each side of the P365, X, XL, SAS, 380 and Specter Comp frames. Read more

Optics

SAF Supports Summary Judgement Motion in Cook County Gun Ban

BELLEVUE, WA – Attorneys representing the Second Amendment Foundation and its partners in a challenge of a ban on so-called “assault weapons” by Cook County, Ill., today filed a 16-page brief supporting their earlier motion for summary judgment in the case, which is known as Viramontes v. Cook County.

The case is being adjudicated in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. It was originally filed in August 2021. Joining SAF in this case are the Firearms Policy Coalition and three private citizens, all Cook County residents. They are Rubi Joyal, Christopher Khaya and Cutberto Viramontes, for whom the case is named. They are represented by attorneys David Sigale of Wheaton, Ill., and David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson and William V. Bergstrom, all with Cooper & Kirk in Washington, D.C.

According to today’s reply brief, “In seeking to justify its ban on common semiautomatic rifles, the County proposes a faulty analysis for this case, conflating the textual and historical inquiries required by Bruen and then proposing to justify its ban by comparison to historical fire safety regulations governing gunpowder storage.”

“Cook County seems determined to obfuscate this case by making arguments which do not pass the constitutional smell test,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “The county contends the AR-15 and similar firearms are not appropriate for self-defense, which is simply nonsense. It’s not up to the county to determine what types of firearms are appropriate for personal protection. That’s for the citizens to decide.” Read more

Gun Control

CCRKBA Supports Senator Ernst’s Measure to Disarm IRS Agents

BELLEVUE, WA – The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today promptly applauded Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s introduction of legislation to prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from arming its agents

Ernst is calling her measure the “Why Does the IRS Have Guns Act.”

“That’s really a very good question,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “Why has the IRS spent millions of dollars on weapons and ammunition since the start of the coronavirus pandemic three years ago? According to a published report, the agency spent $2.3 million on ammunition, another $1.2 million on ballistic shields, $243,000 on body armor, nearly $475,000 on Smith & Wesson rifles and $463,000 on Beretta tactical shotguns.

“One has to wonder whether IRS agents are working for the taxpayers, or preparing to go to war against them,” he mused. “The worst thing people should ever face from the IRS is an audit, not a firing squad.” Read more

Gun Control

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Seeks a Social Scientist

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is currently accepting applications the fill a social scientist position.

The Social Scientist will develop proposed fishery management actions and be responsible for the social aspects of fishery management plan (FMP) and amendment development such as social impact assessments, environmental impact statements, environmental justice analyses, and other documents. Primary responsibilities of this position include conducting, contributing to, and reviewing analyses of fishery data in support of fishery management in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The complete announcement can be found at: https://gulfcouncil.org/about/employment/

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted through Friday, July 14, 2023 or until filled. Read more

Fishing
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