FWC, American Sportfishing Association, Coastal Conservation Association Florida remind anglers to carry barotrauma mitigation tools

Give released reef fish a better chance: FWC, American Sportfishing Association, Coastal Conservation Association Florida remind anglers to carry barotrauma mitigation tools to help conserve reef fish

Starting April 1, anglers fishing from a vessel targeting reef fish will be required to have on board a descending device or venting tool that is rigged and ready for use to help conserve reef fish in state waters. This also requires the use of a descending device or venting tool if a fish is exhibiting signs of barotrauma prior to release.

The FWC approved this rule to increase the survival of released reef fish, a top priority management issue in both the Gulf and south Atlantic. As reef fish are reeled up from depth, they can suffer pressure-related injuries known as barotrauma. These injuries include the stomach protruding out of the mouth, bulging eyes, bloated belly, distended intestines and inability to swim down independently. If not treated correctly, barotrauma can be lethal to fish. However, tools such as descending devices or venting tools can help released fish recover from the effects of barotrauma. Read more

Fishing

Michigan state forest road updates to be posted April 1

If you’re a fan of heading off the beaten path, you’re probably familiar with Michigan’s thousands of miles of state forest roads. The DNR annually updates state forest road maps on April 1. Maps are available in an interactive web format and as printable PDFs.

Forest road maps are updated each year based on considerations including changing road conditions, data cleanup and input received from residents. Maps show which state forest roads are open or closed to off-road and conventional vehicle use. It’s important to stay on these roads to prevent erosion and damage to wildlife habitat.

After the annual road inventory and review, the following will be open to ORVs:

    • In the Upper Peninsula, more than 5,503 miles – about 98% of the total mileage.
    • In the northern Lower Peninsula, about 6,109 miles – about 84% of the total mileage.
    • In the southern Lower Peninsula, just over 10 miles – about 3% of the total mileage.

Read more

Wildlife

CZ Scorpion 3+ Pistol

Kansas City, KS (March 28, 2023) – The newly redesigned Scorpion 3+ pistols build on the success of the original’s proven features with enhancements throughout the gun and are now $899 MSRP. The popular CZ-USA Scorpion 3+ Micro crushes the competition. Ballistic Magazine recently announced, “CZ-USA has officially won our 2022 Ballistic’s Best Editors’ Select “Best Large Format Pistol.”

The new CZ Scorpion 3+ builds on those proven features, adding customer-requested upgrades. The fully redesigned pistol not only improves the Scorpion’s ergonomics and

user-friendly operation, but it incorporates advanced materials that are tougher and lighter than before.

Ballistic Magazine’s writers and editors evaluate dozens of firearms annually, 100-plus in 2022 alone! The winners are chosen in an unbiased method, with category rankings determined by testing teams based on a nine-point criteria system that includes

esthetics, ergonomics, sights, trigger control, recoil control, reloading ease, accuracy, reliability, and value/price. The magazine only uses the final tallies on the score sheets to crown the winners in each category. Objectivity is paramount for Ballistic, and its parent company, Athlon Outdoors. Read more

Firearms

CCRKBA: It’s A Mental Health Crisis, Not A Firearms Crisis

BELLEVUE, WA – As more alarming details emerge about the transgender woman responsible for Monday’s horrific school shooting in Nashville, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms says the facts support only one conclusion: America has a mental health crisis, not a firearms crisis.

“Firearms don’t have a brain to hate with, or a finger to pull their own trigger,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb.

“What happened Monday in Nashville should serve as a reminder that while the gun prohibition lobby and its allies in Congress want to restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens,” Gottlieb said, “they are perfectly happy to let people such as the perpetrator of this rampage fall through the cracks. Now it’s being reported she was under a doctor’s care for some sort of emotional disorder.

“Our background check system is a mess,” he continued, “bad data in, bad results out, and Joe Biden wants to keep it that way. There are thousands of people in the system who don’t belong there, while someone like Audrey Hale probably should have been. Even her parents reportedly believe she couldn’t be trusted with a firearm.” Read more

Gun Control

New HOWA HERA H7 Rifles

Legacy Sports International introduces the New HOWA HERA H7 series – Now Shipping!

Reno, NV – You do not want to miss Legacy Sports International’s newest addition to the 2023 HOWA offerings , the HOWA HERA H7 Series!

The HERA H7 series is a Hybrid mix between a Hunting and Precision rifle, available in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 with three different color offerings – Tan, OD Green & Black. The chassis is a modern and easy-to-use system for the Howa (short action) system. Made of fiberglass-reinforced polymer, aluminum V-block and aluminum forestock, this stock system comes with three LOP spacers, a polymer cheek piece support and is AICS-compatible, 2-5 round detachable magazines. The H7 stock system has M-Lok mount points for various accessories. In addition to the excellent color options and features, the HOWA HERA H7 comes in THREE barrel options: 22” Std, 24” Hvy , 24” Carbon Fiber – all with threaded barrels and Suppressor ready. What’s not to love? Japanese Precision and German Engineering come together to provide an excellent shooting platform!

Features:

    • Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor and .308
    • Barrel: 22? STD, 24? HVY Steel, 24? Carbon Fiber
    • Threaded Barrels – Suppressor Ready
    • Colors Available: Black, Tan, OD Green
    • H7 Chassis – M-Lok Mount Points
    • 3 LOP Adjustment Inserts
    • 2 Stage Match Trigger
    • 3 Position Safety
    • Removable Butt Panel
    • Fiberglass-Reinforced Polymer
    • Aluminum V-Lock Bedding
    • Aluminum Forestock
    • Polymer Cheek Piece Support
    • AICS- Compatible/ 2- 5 Round Mags
    • Sub MOA
    • Lifetime Warranty
    • Std Barrel MSRP $839
    • Heavy Barrel MSRP $899
    • Carbon Fiber Barrel MSRP $1299

Read more

Firearms

Whitewater Fishing Torque™ Insulated Heated Vest

Whitewater Fishing’s new Torque™ Insulated Heated Vest negates “unfishable weather”

MUSKEGON, MI – A cold core often translates into numbness and tingling in your extremities. That doesn’t bode well for feeling the sensation of a subtle fish strike or threading on a fresh plastic. It can also mean frozen feet on a cold boat deck. Conversely, a warm core – aka torso – promotes circulation to your legs, feet, arms, and fingers. And, keeps you on the water longer.

Whitewater Fishing brilliantly stokes the body’s furnace with the new Torque™ Insulated Heated Vest. At its epicenter is an adjustable heating system with two internal pads on the chest and one in the back. Warmth is delivered via a one-touch button that takes you through three heating levels: (?100° F) to mid (?113° F) to high (?131°F.). Such thermostatic control takes aim at an array of temperatures and weather conditions, letting you find that sweet spot.

Heating power is delivered by a built-in USB power cable in the front pocket. Choose to power your new Torque Insulated Heated Vest with Whitewater’s 5V/2A power bank, which is sold separately.

The functional fit of the Torque Insulated Heated Vest follows the intelligent design that goes into all Whitewater Fishing gear. First, the vest is founded on 80 grams of Primaloft® Silver insulation. Its ultra fine fibers are designed to trap warmth and regulate temperature. Moreover, Primaloft Silver fibers are moisture repellent and durable for repeated use and laundering. Read more

Fishing

NSSF Applauds Utah Governor Signing Anti-ESG Discrimination Laws

WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, applauds Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s signature on a package of laws that will end “woke” corporate discrimination against firearm-related businesses. The laws were recently signed and target corporations that discriminate against the firearm industry by making them ineligible for state and municipal contracts, among other provisions. These laws ensure that Utah will choose to do business with those companies that do not discriminate based on a Constitutionally-protected industry they may not like or with which they disagree.

“These laws ensure that lawful businesses, including the firearm industry, are free from the pressures of special interests that attempt to sway public policy through discriminatory policies that put ‘wokeism’ ahead of Constitutional rights,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Corporations, especially Wall Street banks, have abused taxpayer-funded state contracts to force public policy outside of legislative authorities. The firearm industry is grateful to the Utah Legislature and Governor Cox for their principled stand that public policy must remain accountable to the people who elect their representatives, not unaccountable corporate elites in Wall Street ivory towers.”

Gov. Cox signed a package of legislation that includes:

SB 97: a law that prohibits a Utah public entity from entering into a contract with a company that engages in certain boycott actions, including businesses that engage in, facilitate, or support the manufacture, distribution, sale, or use of firearms. Read more

Gun Control

APEX Turkey Ninja TSS Named Best .410 Turkey Load

Columbus, Miss. – APEX Ammunition’s Turkey Ninja TSS has been named Best .410 Turkey load by Outdoor Life. In their recent test, Outdoor Life focused on Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) loads in .410 because of the density of tungsten pellets, and APEX’s Turkey Ninja TSS shotshells by far delivered the best performance.

The test was conducted at 40 yards using three of the most popular .410 turkey guns. The number of pellet strikes within the 10-inch diameter target circle was then measured. For each load, two patterns were shot with each gun, and then all six patterns were averaged.

“APEX is largely responsible for the popularity of TSS in turkey hunting, which also bolstered the popularity of turkey hunting with .410 shotguns. So it’s fitting that APEX’s Ninja would win our Editor’s Choice pick,” said Alex Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Outdoor Life. “The load produced far denser patterns than others in the test……With the Mossberg 500, the load patterned phenomenally averaging 154 hits inside a 10-inch circle. For reference, in our review of the best 12 gauge turkey loads, there were a couple TSS loads and lead loads that didn’t print as good of patterns. Remember, we’re talking 12 gauge rounds with significantly higher payloads.”

The 3-inch Ninja loads contain 403 No. 9.5 TSS pellets with a payload of 7/8 ounces and velocity of 1060 fps. Read more

Ammunition, Hunting

Bobcat Announces Park Improvement Grants, Partnership with NRPA

Ashburn, VA (March 28, 2023) – In celebration of Bobcat Company’s 65th anniversary and with a focus on positively impacting communities, Bobcat and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) are partnering to create vibrant and sustainable community park and recreation areas.

Through their partnership with NRPA, Bobcat will extend five grants, each worth $50,000, to support five park improvement projects in designated communities throughout the U.S. Bobcat will also support the grant recipients through the use of its compact equipment lineup as applicable on project sites.

Projects may support various restoration, beautification or enhancement activities focused on climate readiness, native habitat restoration, trails maintenance or development, native plantings and pollinator habitats, green stormwater infrastructure, sports fields and more. Read more

Wildlife

Armasight Announces Watchman Illuminator

Northbrook IL – Trailblazer and Category Leader in Thermal and Night Vision, Armasight announces the Watchman IR Illuminator. This handheld or weapon mounted IR illuminator is now available online and in-store through authorized Armasight dealers.

The Armasight Watchman IR Illuminator is a must-have for anyone using night vision devices in the field. The Watchman IR Illuminator is powered by 850nm, 600 mW Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology with three brightness settings to aid low light visibility. The Watchman can focus its beam to as low as 3 degrees and as wide as a 14-degree field of view to enhance target identification and track prey to beyond 500 yards.

The Watchman is constructed with aircraft-grade aluminum and is built to be shockproof with an IP67 waterproof rating. The push button tail cap can be swapped out with provided tape switch for weapon mounted applications. Since IR illuminations are invisible to the naked eye, a small red indicator light on the tail cap will light up when the unit is powered on. The Watchman comes with a single rechargable 18650 battery and will also work with 2x CR123, which provide 15 hrs or runtime on low output 175 mW and 5hrs on high 600 mW settings. Read more

Optics
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