Safe Boating Rules

Next weekend is considered by many to be the unofficial kickoff of summer. With a three-day Memorial Day weekend ahead, many of us are preparing to get out and enjoy the outdoors-weather permitting.

If you’re planning to hit the water this weekend, make certain your gear is in summertime shape before heading out.

For many, the idea of summer is synonymous with water sports. So National Safe Boating Week has come at an opportune time. As many of you are getting ready to take your watercraft -whatever the size- out for the first time, we hope you’re running a safety checklist to make certain plans aren’t sunk by equipment issues or accidents.

We have a list of safety checks from the Sea Tow Foundation, along with some other reminders that we hope a majority of boat owners will simply look at and go “check” as it’s old-hat to you. But it’s worth reviewing if only one new boater looks the list over and sees something they might not otherwise have remembered to do.

There’s also a new idea in this year’s checklist: The Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Challenge. And it’s definitely more useful than the “safety briefing” you get every time you board a commercial airplane. It’s a simple challenge: practice an emergency and encourage boaters of all ages to try and get into a life jacket in less than 30 seconds.

“The Life Jacket Challenge is not only a fun and interactive way to promote boating safety, but it’s also a powerful tool to demonstrate just how quickly a situation on the water can turn dangerous,” says Gail R. Kulp, Executive Director of the Sea Tow Foundation. “By encouraging boaters to practice putting on their life jackets quickly and efficiently, we hope to instill a sense of preparedness and responsibility that will help keep them safe in case of an emergency.” Read more

Fishing

Taurus GX4 Pistols Safety Notice

Some GX4 pistols assembled and sold only in the United States may, under certain circumstances, discharge when dropped.

Safely unload and stop using your GX4 IMMEDIATELY. Failure to observe this warning may result in injury or death to you or others.

Go to GX4SafetyNotice.com and enter your pistol’s serial number.

The website will promptly let you know whether your GX4 is subject to this Notice. The serial number is located on the rear of the pistol. Follow the Website’s instructions. Read more

Firearms

Sea Tow Foundation Makes Waves with Life Jacket Challenge

Southold, NY– The Sea Tow Foundation recently launched the Life Jacket Challenge to raise awareness about the critical need to wear a life jacket at all times while on the water. By simulating the rapid onset of on-water emergencies, the challenge encourages boaters of all ages to try and put on a life jacket in under 30 seconds.

“The Life Jacket Challenge is not only a fun and interactive way to promote boating safety, but it’s also a powerful tool to demonstrate just how quickly a situation on the water can turn dangerous,” said Gail R. Kulp, Executive Director of the Sea Tow Foundation. “By encouraging boaters to practice putting on their life jackets quickly and efficiently, we hope to instill a sense of preparedness and responsibility that will help keep them safe in case of an emergency.” Read more

Fishing

Burris Optics Presents Cowboy Insurance Monday, May 29

Greeley, CO – “The whole purpose of family-owned ranching is just having the ability to stay in business.” – Jim Butcher, Cowboy Insurance

The business of veteran and multi-generation ranchers goes far beyond the P&L sheet. It is an all-consuming job and lifestyle—a 24/7 responsibility that doesn’t stop for rain or snow or dark of night. And at no time is that truer than during calving season.

Cowboy Insurance is a Burris Optics original film that draws viewers into the Gateway Simmental Ranch, a fourth-generation cattle concern in Lewistown, Montana. Run by Jim Butcher and sons Logan and Brock, the film is an in-the-mud portrait of the ranching lifestyle and the never-ending challenges of livestock management. Spring, in particular, requires these ranchers to dig deep as they work the critical and often chaotic two-month calving season, combating unpredictable weather and predators to ensure their calves make it to the summer pastures. Read more

Hunting, Optics

Springfield Armory SAINT Victor 5.56mm with Law Tactical Folder

GENESEO, ILL. – Designed to deliver purpose-built performance, the 5.56mm SAINT® Victor line of AR-style rifles features intelligently thought-out upgrades and enhancements. Adding further capability to the line is this newest addition to the family — the SAINT Victor with Law Tactical Folder.

The Law Tactical folder, a premier folding stock adapter system designed for the AR family of firearms, allows for compact transportation and storage of this 16”-barreled 5.56mm carbine. The rugged and durable Law Tactical folder mechanism allows the buttstock assembly to fold alongside the left side of the rifle’s Type III hardcoat-anodized 7075-T6 forged aluminum receivers. The result is a 5.56mm carbine that is much easier to store and transport.

As with all Victors, this model features Springfield’s free float M-Lok® handguard and performance upgrades for professional grade reliability. Enhancements include a premium nickel boron trigger, Melonite®-coated barrel, enhanced Melonite-coated carrier group and a pinned low-profile gas block. A B5 Systems Type 23 P-Grip pistol grip enhances control and performance. Read more

Firearms

Ruger LC Charger in 5.7x28mm

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is excited to introduce the Ruger® LC Charger™ chambered in 5.7x28mm. This large-format pistol features a 10.3” threaded barrel, ambidextrous manual safety, and a reversible magazine release. Based on the Ruger LC Carbine™ and utilizing the same magazines and controls as the innovative Ruger-5.7™ pistol, the LC Charger combines the best of both platforms.

The LC Charger is chambered in 5.7x28mm, a low-recoiling cartridge available in an exciting array of options for target shooting, small game and personal defense. The pistol features an M-LOK® aluminum free-float handguard with adjustable hand stop, multiple QD attachment points for slings, and a full-length Picatinny rail for optics.

Like the Ruger-5.7 pistol, the LC Charger utilizes Ruger’s safe, reliable and proven Secure Action™ fire-control mechanism that combines a protected internal hammer with a bladed-safety trigger that has a short, smooth pull, clean break and positive reset. The nitride-coated alloy steel barrel is threaded ½”-28 for the attachment of standard muzzle accessories. Read more

Firearms

SIGHTRON S-TAC 1-4.5×24 SR1 Service Riflescope

Youngsville, NC- – SIGHTRON, one of the world’s most innovative optical observation and aiming device companies, is proud to announce the launch of the new S-TAC 1-4.5×24 SR1 riflescope. The S-TAC 1-4.5×24 SR1 Service Riflescope is the ultimate tool for competitive shooters that demand the very best optical technology.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to offer this high-performance riflescope to the competitive sport shooter,” said, Mack Matsumoto, President of SIGHTRON. “We are laser-focused on developing the best-in-class performing riflescope on the market today, and the new S-TAC SR1 is a reflection of that.”

The new S-TAC 1-4.5×24 SR1 was designed and engineered for Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Service Rifle and NRA High Power Rifle competition use, the S-TAC 1-4.5×24 SR1 utilizes SIGHTRON’s custom optical glass with exclusive MC-333 lens multi-coatings. This combination provides exceptional light transmission while reducing flare, so the shooter can easily acquire their target. Read more

Optics

June 6: Deadline to apply for 2023 Arizona fall hunts

PHOENIX — There’s not a better time than right now to apply for 2023 hunt permit-tags issued through the fall draw process for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, and sandhill crane.

To apply, visit www.azgfd.gov and click on “Apply for Big Game Draw.” For an overview of the application service, including license requirements, applying for bonus points and payment information, see Page 26 of the “2023-2024 Arizona Hunting Regulations” booklet. The booklet can be viewed at www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/.

The deadline for the department to receive all applications is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Read more

Hunting

Dan Wesson DWX Compact Pistol Now Shipping

Norwich, NY – The DWX Compact pistol inherits the best traits of two flagship pistols, the CZ 75 and the Dan Wesson 1911—handguns synonymous with quality, durability, and performance. The DWX Compact incorporates the same premium features as the full-sized DWX but in a smaller, more concealable package. Its lightweight aluminum frame and shorter barrel make it ideal for everyday carry, while its design delivers improved ergonomics.

The DWX starts with the crisp single-action fire control group from a Dan Wesson 1911 and combines it with the ergonomics and capacity of a CZ pistol. A flat, K-style trigger with a textured face offers positive contact—a familiar feel to 1911 shooters, while its grip angle and contour draw their lineage directly to the proven CZ 75 known for its comfort and control.

The DWX Compact utilizes the Ned Christiansen style frag pattern on the front, backstrap, and Henning aluminum grips for a comfortable shooting experience that provides traction. The grip’s low-profile design naturally positions the shooter’s hand high in the beavertail for optimum recoil control. CZ 75 Compact grip compatibility with the DWX allows customization with aftermarket options. Read more

Firearms

Froggin’ for Bass

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

When my great grandson had latched onto something below the lake’s surface, the ensuing tussle was captured on his face.

Landon’s First Bass

I knew it was no bluegill and quickly grabbed the landing net, as the struggle continued. It became the first largemouth bass with which he had ever become acquainted and made for a memorable hero-shot photo. It was not only legal, but qualified as a fish any seasoned ol’ salt could be proud to land. The moment was a thrill for both of us.

Even though the season for possessing these fish begins May 27th and runs through December 31st , catch and immediate release is open just about everywhere with a few exceptions. Since it’s the spirited battle most people are after, keeping them is typically unwanted, because in all honesty, there are better tasting and healthier fish to consume.

Largemouth bass spawn in late spring or early summer and are normally found in shallow water with lots of weeds, lily pads, grass, trees, and docks. But, this seasoned angler used to avoid these hazards, because expensive lures would become snagged and sometimes lost. Now, we hunt them in the thickest cover with modern-day weedless frogs.

My first frog lure was a gift, but unlike so many lures that were designed to catch anglers, this tempting imitation provided a means to get the bait – and thus lunkers – anywhere a talented cast could be presented. However, for me there was much to learn about this method of “frogging” – not to be confused with forms of hunting for frogs and their tasty legs.

Forget about ultra-light rigs with light monofilament line. What’s needed is a heavy action rod and reel spooled with braided line from 50 to 85-pound test! In fact, this method calls for a dedicated rig for several reasons: increased hooking rate and no more avoidance of anything that’ll snag typical freshwater rigs.

Fortunately, bass are not line sensitive, so the line doesn’t need to disappear to be effective, as in the delicate nature of trout fishing. The new brand of braided line is widely available, although more costly than cheap monofilament.

However, in conjunction with a fast-retrieve ratio on one’s reel, it allows the wise angler to “horse” fish along the top of the water at blinding speed, thus never offering these monsters a fighting chance to escape via slack line.

For some reason unknown to me, I was getting plenty of ferocious strikes, but never – and, I mean never – actually hooking a single fish! A search on YouTube revealed that others had had the same issue with weedless frogs, but an answer to the dilemma was revealed: modify the double-hooks.

Sure enough, I found the tips of the hooks were actually touching the body of the lure, thus causing the 100-percent fail rate. With pliers or Vice-grips, the hook can be bent to create a space of approximately 1/8 of an inch from the lure’s exterior. It can cause the lure to become somewhat more susceptible to snags, but with the combination of braided line, can improve substantially one’s chance for that memorable photo.

There’s nothing cute about the newfangled approach to hauling in the big ones but losing fish after fish is nothing but frustrating. Accordingly, this ol’ dog has nothing against learning new tricks.

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