Cougar Hunting in Utah

In May 2023, new legislation went into effect that allows year-round hunting of cougars with just a hunting or combination license. The new legislation also allows trapping of cougars. Cougars are still designated as protected wildlife and must be checked in at a DWR office. Over the past year, biologists have monitored harvest rates to better determine the effects of the new hunting strategy.

“Most cougar harvest occurs during the winter months, and from the data we’ve received of cougar harvest, 511 cougars were harvested from May 2023 to May 2024,” DWR Game Mammals Coordinator Darren DeBloois said. “From May 2022 to May 2023 — prior to when the legislation went into effect — 512 cougars were harvested. This last year there has also been a decrease in the number of livestock preyed upon by cougars, as well as cougar incidents with people.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Wild Sheep Foundation: $1 Million for Stone’s Sheep

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Coming off another record-breaking Sheep Show®, and in celebration of our 16th chapter & affiliate summit held this year in Calgary, Alberta, the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) announced a commitment of $1 Million in Grant in Aid for Stone’s sheep conservation in northern British Columbia.

“Since our founding in 1977, a lot of emphasis has been placed on recovering and sustaining bighorn and desert bighorn sheep populations,” said WSF President and CEO Gray N. Thornton. “With dedicated efforts by our chapters and affiliates, alongside our agency and tribal partners, great successes have been achieved for bighorns. It is time for WSF to dedicate similar efforts to Stone’s Sheep. Our Board of Directors has put an exclamation mark on this need with this $1 million funding pledge.” Read more

Wildlife

Delta Waterfowl Awarded Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s $100,000 Grant

Grant will enhance efforts by The Duck Hunters Organization to conserve at-risk, vital duck-producing wetlands in the prairie pothole region

A generous grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund will advance efforts by Delta Waterfowl to conserve critical breeding duck habitat in the prairie pothole region. In bolstering Delta’s Habitat Conservation programs, the $100,000 grant will support the breeding efforts of multitudes of ducks by helping to maintain the PPR’s robust wetland base.

“We are grateful to stand alongside our customers to support the vital work being done by Delta Waterfowl to help protect and support the prairie pothole region,” said Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder. “There’s no way to overstate the importance of these waterfowl breeding grounds, and the impact that these initiatives contribute will make a positive difference for future generations.” Read more

Wildlife

YHM ‘Bad Larry’ Rifle Suppressor Earns NTOA Gold Designation

The National Tactical Officer’s Association (NTOA) membership has tested and rated the ‘Bad Larry’ rifle suppressor from the Yankee Hill Machine Company (YHM) with Gold.

“We’re thrilled to receive this recognition so soon after introducing our new big-bore rifle suppressor at SHOT ’24 in January,” said Chris Graham, president of Yankee Hill Machine Company. “Based on marketplace feedback in recent years, we sensed a real need for a fairly priced, high-quality suppressor that met the needs of the larger-caliber and long-distance shooter. Bad Larry was our answer, and it’s extremely rewarding to learn of this designation from NTOA.”

The Bad Larry was evaluated by the NTOA members for factors including design, quality, durability, versatility and accuracy, and was rated an average 4.85 out of a possible 5.

Tester comments included, “It felt bomb-proof”; “Once dialed in, we were shooting cloverleafs”; and “You can’t go wrong with this addition to your weapon system.” Read more

Firearms

Register for the Michigan Tree Climbing Championship

Registration opens June 15 for the 30th anniversary of the International Society of Arborists Michigan Tree Climbing Championship held Sept. 20-22 in Holland, Michigan.

This event is an opportunity to provide a competitive learning environment for professional tree climbing arborists and the public. Competitors and volunteers should register before the event. Competitors will be scored individually in each event, with the combined total scores from all six events used to move the highest scorer to the Masters’ Challenge Championship.

Wildlife

SAF Hails SCOTUS Ruling on Bump Stocks: ‘ATF Can’t Rewrite Law’

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is hailing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling that a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock is not a machinegun, and that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) exceeded its authority by issuing a rule that classified the device as a machinegun. The case is known as Garland v. Cargill.

“This is a significant victory for gun owners because it reminds the ATF it simply cannot rewrite federal law,” said SAF Founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “The agency has just been reminded that it can only enforce the law, not usurp the authority of Congress.”

Writing for the majority, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas observed, “We hold that a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock is not a ‘machinegun’ because it cannot fire more than one shot ‘by a single function of the trigger.’ And, even if it could, it would not do so ‘automatically.’ ATF therefore exceeded its statutory authority by issuing a Rule that classifies bump stocks as machineguns.” Read more

Gun Control

GOA, GOF Victory: SCOTUS Overturns 2018 Ban on Bump Stocks

Friday, in a case fully supported by Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the ATF’s 2018 ban on bump stocks. GOA had filed an amicus brief with the high court in this case, and previously filed their own separate challenge to the ban after meetings with the Trump Administration and lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill failed.

This onerous attempt by the ATF to re-classify bump stocks as machineguns was a clear misreading of the underlying federal law, as emphasized by the Justices in today’s opinion.

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

“Today the Justices made crystal clear that the ATF went well beyond their statutory authority in promulgating this rule. While it’s a shame it took six years to right this wrong, GOA is nevertheless proud to have fought back since Day 1. And we will continue to do so anywhere there is illegal and unconstitutional gun control.” Read more

Gun Control

Register Today for CMP’s National Pistol Matches & Clinics

Reserve your spot today at the 2024 National Pistol Matches, ready to take the firing line July 14-21 at the historic Camp Perry National Guard Training Site in Port Clinton, Ohio, and facilitated by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP).

The National Pistol events, open to adults and juniors of all experience levels, include several traditional matches like the President’s Pistol (President’s 100), National Trophy Individual and National Trophy Team events alongside a series of 900 Aggregate matches for .22, .45 and Center Fire Pistol. CMP’s own Games competitions, like the Military & Police and 1911 As-Issued Matches, will also make appearances on the National Matches schedule.

Likewise, the fan-favorite GSSF GLOCK National Challenge will be returning to the schedule in 2024, while the Service Revolver EIC Match has been renamed the Philip Hemphill Memorial Service Revolver EIC Match in honor of Philip Hemphill – a celebrated national champion lost in late 2023.

New to the National Matches in 2024 is the Pistol Steel Challenge, fired on the Laser Shot simulators assembled within Camp Perry’s Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. The Steel Challenge is a virtual match where competitors use a modified pistol (equipped with CO2 gas) to fire upon simulated targets. Read more

Firearms

Ball and Buck Announces Abel Reel and Scott Centric Fly Rod Collaboration

Leader in premium hunting and sportsman clothing and gear, Ball and Buck proudly announces the limited edition Abel Fly Reel and Scott Centric fly rod collaborations.

The Abel X Ball and Buck Special Edition Rove Deep Green and Rove Slate Grey Fly Reel, is crafted for the extreme angler. The Rove reel is precision-engineered by Abel, and boasts a caged frame, and large quick-change arbor spool, with aerospace-grade durability to withstand the toughest battles. The Ball and Buck collaboration design offers the option of Deep Green or Slate Grey stealth camo engraving with blaze-orange accents, reflecting an adventurous spirit. Featuring double pawn engagement for universal fit and the reliable rove system with a cork drag, this proven design enhances the fishing experience in a package that will last a lifetime.

FEATURES Read more

Fishing

SK Customs Introduces Gods of Olympus-Athena to the 1911 Series Lineup

SK Customs®, the Nation’s only series-driven, limited edition manufacturer of custom firearms, proudly presents “Athena,” the fourth creation in the Gods of Olympus engraver series. This production of 200 custom model Smith & Wesson Full Size 1911 pistols chambered in 45 ACP embodies SK Customs’ talent in producing one-of-a-kind engraved firearms.

“Athena was a member of the twelve Olympians, and was a Greek goddess of wisdom, war and reason,” said Simon Khiabani, owner and founder of SK Customs. “We have had a lot of interest in the other three firearms we offered in the Gods of Olympus series (Ares, Poseidon and Zeus), so it’s only fitting that we continue to provide 1911 collectors and enthusiasts with Athena as part of the set.”

Key Features of Gods of Olympus-Athena Read more

Firearms
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