Project FeederWatch State Reports

Are other birders in your state hosting a Pileated Woodpecker at their feeding station? (photo by Steve Luke)

How many Carolina Chickadees are being counted at feeders in Georgia? (photo by Brad Imhoff)

Among the most interesting and insightful information sources birders can reference are Project FeederWatch’s 2-week state reports that show the variety of species being reported and their abundance at feeders in your state – and every state and province. It’s exciting to monitor the advancing season in 2-week increments as new species appear and others move on, and see abundance levels change through the season, which began in November and ends in April. It’s easy and interesting to see what other birders in your state are seeing out their windows, and to compare the feeder birds that visit your feeding station with statewide lists. Read more

Wildlife

Rimfire Revolution is a Complete Guide to Modern .22 Rifles

APPLETON, Wis. – Rimfire Revolution: A Complete Guide to Modern .22 Rifles, covers the firearms, ammo, hardware and other factors that influence rimfire accuracy in a comprehensive guide that will benefit weekend hobbyists, hunters and competition shooters alike.

Author Michael Shea has brought the topic of rimfire shooting into current times with a detailed look at how the diminutive .22 caliber is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, thanks to a fascinating array of product advancements that wring out the potential of today’s rifles. Every major gun manufacturer has brought at least one new rimfire rifle to the market in the last two years, and these models are covered in detail. Read more

Firearms

SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ROMEO2 Red Dot Sight Now Shipping

NEWINGTON, N.H. – SIG SAUER Electro-Optics is pleased to announce the ROMEO2 Red Dot sight is now shipping – a mil-spec reflex sight, built for maximum durability and tested to withstand the extreme environments of every mission.

The ROMEO2 is a Red Dot Reflex Sight that features a molded glass aspheric lens with high-performance coatings for superior light transmittance and zero distortion, a selectable circle dot reticle available in 3 MOA, 6MOA, or 10MOA, and offers D.A.R.C. (Dark Adaptive Reticles and Coatings) technology to provide ideal reticle brightness and target clarity while using a Gen3+ night vision device, MOTAC™ (motion-activated illumination system) and MAGNETAC™ (magnetic activation) that automatically turns the optic off when holstered and on when drawn. The sight has a 7075-aluminum housing and comes with two (2) steel shrouds for three (3) different optic configurations, to include fully enclosed and sealed. The ROMEO2 will fit all SIG pistol slides with the PRO slide cut and many other slides cut to accept the DPP. A spring-loaded side battery tray with push-button release allows a battery change without the need to remove the optic from the firearm. The ROMOE2 was designed, developed, tested, and assembled in the U.S.A. Read more

Optics

Track Your Pack Longer with New Garmin TT 15X and T 5x Dog Devices

Garmin’s advanced dog tracking devices now provide double the battery life and customizable power settings to maximize time on the hunt

OLATHE, Kan./Feb 17, 2022 – Garmin® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN), today announced its newest dog tracking collars, the TT™ 15X and T 5X. Compatible with Garmin Alpha®, Astro® 430 and PRO 550 Plus dog tracking units, the TT 15X and T 5X provide up to 80 hours of use from a single charge and have the ability to remotely be put to “sleep” by the dog tracking unit, further extending battery life so users can focus on the hunt and not on their dog’s equipment.

“Your dog is an essential part of the hunt, and with TT 15X and T 5X’s significantly increased battery life you won’t waste precious time recharging devices,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “If hunters find their dog device battery is running low, they can remotely put the dog device on standby from their handheld dog tracking unit with new sleep mode functionality. This feature is especially helpful in a lost dog situation when conserving battery life is critical for recovery.” Read more

Optics

Cosaint Arms Expands Double Stack Offering

Cosaint Arms has added Full Dust Cover Commander and Government pistols in 9mm, 45 ACP, 10mm and 40 S&W to their carry line of Double Stack Pistols

Flat Rock, NC – February 17, 2022 – Usually built by custom gunmakers, the new COS21 Commander and Government double stack models introduced by Cosaint Arms offer a Tactical or Standard steel frame with full dust cover. Other notable features include, flat trigger, stippled grip, magwell, optic ready option, and 2 each MBX 20+1 mags. These additions to the existing COS21 double stack models significantly add to the offering of Officer and Commander hard coat anodized aluminum carry guns. See the entire product line at www.cosaintarms.com

The COS21 double stacks were an expansion of the COS11 single stack product line the company introduced in 2019. The modular design of the COS11, built with a polymer grip attached to either a steel or hard coat anodized aluminum frame, offers the same flat, smooth shooting that the traditional double stack offers but in a more traditional single stack package for the carry market. Read more

Firearms

SB Tactical Releases Second Generation of SBT Series of Braces

Bradenton, Fla. – SB Tactical® is now shipping its new SBT® line of Pistol Stabilizing Braces with models available for a number of the latest large-frame pistols on the market.

The SBT series features a lightweight, integral right side-folding strut with a rubber arm cuff based on the popular SB-Mini™. These complete and ready-to-install braces come with an adjustable nylon strap for a custom fit to almost any size forearm.

Veteran designed and made in the United States, the SBT line offers models to fit the CZ Bren 2 (BREN2), the CZ Scorpion Evo (SBTEVO-G2), and a single SKU (SBT-G2) for the B&T APC, the HK UMP and the LWRCi SMG45. Read more

Firearms

FPC: YouTube Should Protect Speech, Not Placate Politicians

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) issued the following statement in response to the February 14, 2022 letter from Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Edward Markey (D-MA) to YouTube’s CEO, Susan Wojcicki, demanding that it remove lawful content from its platform:

Government officials using their position and authority to demand that private businesses do what they constitutionally cannot is neither American nor moral. Unfortunately, this is increasingly the reality in today’s United States of America. The self-manufacturing of arms and related speech is not only permissible under federal law, it is steeped in American tradition and protected by the Constitution. But as we’ve seen time and time again, when the law isn’t on their side, tyrants will strongarm the private sector into doing their authoritarian bidding for them. Read more

General

Michigan: ice shanty removal dates begin this weekend for portions of Lower Peninsula

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that ice shanty removal dates are quickly approaching – starting with Lake St. Clair this Sunday – and to always use extreme caution when on the ice.

Regardless of the set removal dates, changing ice conditions could require the removal of fishing shanties before those dates. This is a possibility every year, because all shanties must be removed once ice can no longer safely support them.

Shanty owners whose structures fall through the ice are subject to penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines up to $500, or both. If a shanty is removed by a government agency, the court can require the owner to reimburse that agency for up to three times the cost of removal.

Lower Peninsula

Ice shanties on Lake St. Clair, located northeast of Detroit, must be removed before sunset Sunday, Feb. 20. Read more

Fishing

Women on the Wing: Learn to Pheasant Hunt

Saturday, March 26

Morning hunt: 8 a.m. to noon
Afternoon hunt: 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Join us at Muzzy Pheasant Farm, located at 1210 N. Durand Road in Corunna, for this event presented by the Michigan Pheasants Forever State Council.

Participants will learn to hunt pheasants with dogs. We will start out the day with a short presentation about Pheasants Forever and the Women on the Wing initiative, which aims to inspire and provide opportunities for women to become engaged, dynamic conservationists. Then we’ll shoot some clay targets, go hunting and enjoy lunch after the hunt. Afternoon hunters will enjoy lunch before the hunt.

Cost is $60, which includes a Pheasants Forever membership, lunch and the hunt.

Hunting vests and 12- and 20-gauge ammunition will be provided. Please bring eye and ear protection, and please let us know if you will need a shotgun.

Limited to 20 hunters total. Participants must be at least 18 years old to register for the hunt.

For questions, contact Bill Fischer at 989-395-5945 or FischerW@Charter.net.

Register for hunt ?

Hunting

Michigan: Van Buren County Man Gets Jail Time, Fines and Lifetime Loss of Hunting Privileges for Poaching

Contact: Lt. Gerald Thayer, 269-204-7045

A Decatur, Michigan, man’s unethical hunting activity has resulted in prison time, financial restitution and lifetime loss of hunting privileges in the state. Justin Ernst, 33, pleaded guilty Monday in Van Buren County’s 36th Circuit Court after illegally taking nine trophy bucks last year.

“We’re satisfied that this criminal will be imprisoned for robbing ethical hunters, damaging crops and endangering others by recklessly driving through fields and shooting deer at night,” said David Shaw, assistant chief, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division. “We hope this serious sentence serves its intended purpose and are grateful for the strong message rendered by the 36th Circuit Court.”

On Oct. 17, Michigan State Police troopers were investigating Ernst’s involvement in a domestic violence complaint. State police contacted DNR conservation officers when they noticed several deer in a nearby barn where Ernst reportedly spent a significant amount of time.

Conservation officers investigated and seized eight illegal bucks in the barn – five 10-pointers and three with eight points each.

Two days later, an anonymous tip to the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline stated that Ernst had taken another deer. Conservation officers confirmed that Ernst had taken another trophy buck – increasing his total to nine illegally taken deer.

Ernst pleaded guilty to:

    • Felon in possession of a firearm (one count).
    • Obtaining a hunting license when ineligible (one count).
    • Illegal taking/possessing whitetail deer (three counts).

Read more

Poachers
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