Ohio: Mussel Survey of Olentangy River Yields Two Endangered Species

Live snuffbox mussel discovered in the Olentangy by Dr. Hoggarth in September of this year.
Original freshly dead specimens of the snuffbox mussel Epioblasma triquetra discovered by Dr. Hoggarth in the Olentangy River in June of this year.

Mussel Survey of Olentangy River Yields Two Federally Endangered Species
First survey of the scenic river in more than 30 years.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In the first survey of its kind in more than three decades, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (DNAP) Scenic Rivers Program has discovered two federally endangered mussel species in the Olentangy State Scenic River. The survey, funded by the Scenic Rivers Program, was conducted this summer.

“It’s exciting when we find wildlife in our Ohio waterways that we thought were gone, especially considering the decline of the freshwater mussels,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “These surveys and discoveries like this, help us take the necessary steps to protect these species and their habitats.”

The last survey was done in 1990. Dr. Michael Hoggarth of Otterbein University conducted that survey and the most recent one. He and his team focused on the Olentangy River from the headwaters to the confluence with the Scioto River. In July, they found two shells of recently deceased freshwater mussels at a location on the Olentangy River in Marion County above Delaware Reservoir. The shells indicated there may be living specimens of the federally endangered snuffbox Epioblasma triquetra. When the group returned in September, they found a living specimen of the snuffbox and a freshly dead specimen of the federally endangered rayed bean Villosa fabalis. The last time either was found in this section of the river was at least 60 years ago. Read more

Fishing, Wildlife

Springfield Armory Announces Storewide “Black Friday” 20% Discount

GENESEO, ILL. – Springfield Armory® is proud to announce a storewide “Black Friday” 20% discount, running from Thursday November 24th through Monday November 28th. This discount does not require a promo code and is automatically applied at checkout to make the purchasing process as simple and easy as possible.

Recently updated and expanded, the online Springfield Armory Store is designed to provide customers with an easy-to-use interface as well as a broad selection of exciting products. One of the site’s most appealing new features is the ability to search by firearms model. Simply select your firearm, and the site will give you an in-depth listing of all the accessories and parts offered for it. If you want an extra magazine, a new holster, an optic or more, you’ll find it here. Read more

Firearms

MidwayUSA Foundation Matching Donations on Giving Tuesday

Columbia, MO – Investing in the next generation of hunters, shooters, and conservationists is the best way to ensure the outdoor industry thrives for years to come. Giving Tuesday is the biggest giving day of the year and the perfect day to make a tax-deductible donation to the youth of this industry. Giving Tuesday is November 29 and MidwayUSA Foundation has set a goal to raise $200,000 for youth shooting sports. Plus, the public charity focused on funding high school and college shooting teams, will have $200,000 in matching funds to make donation dollars go further. This Matching Program is made possible by Larry and Brenda Potterfield, owners of MidwayUSA. In addition to matching donations, donors have the freedom to choose the youth shooting team or organization to receive their gift and 100% of that donation will go to that program’s earmarked endowment. There are approximately 2,800 youth shooting teams funded by MidwayUSA Foundation and nearly 80 organizations, including SCTP, USAYESS, USA Shooting, and Houston Safari Club Foundation. Allowing donors to choose the program that will benefit from their contribution is also a way to keep the dollars in their local community.

A MidwayUSA Foundation endowment provides an annual cash grant to cover the myriad of expenses that youth shooting programs incur. Covering the cost of ammunition, competition fees, targets, or travel can allow more young athletes the chance to participate in shooting sports. Often, shooting sports athletes become future hunters and conservationists too.

Every shooting team that receives a donation on Giving Tuesday will be entered to win $500 and top-earning teams will also be awarded. The top five teams of the day will earn additional endowment funds ($5,000/$4,000/$3,000/$2,000/$1,000). Donations must be made through the MidwayUSA Foundation website on November 29. Searching for a shooting team is easy and donations are safe and secure. An investment in youth shooting sports is an investment in the entire outdoor industry.

The MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to sustain and grow youth shooting sports by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. Every donation made is tax-deductible and allows the Foundation to assist in expanding and enhancing the leadership skills, confidence, and discipline of today’s youth through shooting sports activities. The Foundation supports all shooting disciplines. For more information about how the MidwayUSA Foundation is changing the future of youth shooting sports, please visit MidwayUSAFoundation.org or call 1-877-375-4570.

Firearms

Luth-AR “Wing Grip” for AR Pistols

Buffalo, MN – Luth-AR, LLC Announces the “Wing Grip™” AR Pistol Grip.

The New “Wing Grip™” AR Pistol Grip by Luth-AR LLC; Thick, Robust, Tough and Ambidextrous.

The Wing Grip™ was designed with ambidextrous ergonomics in mind. The full palm swells fill the hand, providing a consistent and rapid grip properly positioned to promote accurate and repeatable shots on target. The thumb rests and palm shelf work together to lock the hand in place shot after shot. Read more

Firearms

Holosun Solar Charging Sight for the S&W M&P-M2.0

City of Industry, CA –Holosun’s newest SCS (Solar Charging Sight), the SCS-MP2-GR was designed to fit the Smith & Wesson® M&P-M2.0™ full size and compact, 9mm and 40 S&W handguns (will not fit 1.0 or Shield™ models). It is designed to attach directly to the

slide without an adapter plate and uses our innovative solar charging system with multi-

directional light sensors to automatically adjust brightness in dynamic situations.

The SCS-MP2 features our Multi-Reticle System (MRS) that displays a 32MOA Circle or a 2MOA dot or both and is available only in a Green (540nm) color option. For best zeroing, a 30+/- MOA travel adjustment with 1 MOA click adjustment can be set by adjusting the windage and elevation on the top and side of the optic housing. No matter what reticle choice, automatic ambient lighting reticle intensity is incorporated. The SCS-MP2 is parallax-free with unlimited eye relief for the best possible target acquisition.

Having a large optic window is important and never more so than on a pistol reflex optic. Built into the 1.93×1.03×0.91 housing is a 0.77×0.58 window. This is a massive window-to-housing ratio and has helped to keep the weight down to 1.3 oz. The window has been coated with various filters and anti-reflective properties to ensure visual acuity. This helps reduce glare, limit streaking, and improve optic quality when acquiring a target.

The SCS can potentially operate indefinitely using an internal, rechargeable 20,000-hour power reserve, meaning under even moderate exposure to bright light, you will never need to change batteries again. The SCS also includes an intensity override function which locks the optic into a high brightness mode for 30 minutes and a low power indicator, which will signal if charging is needed upon system start up. From the safe to range and range to duty weapon, the SCS-MP2 can handle it all.

Holosun provides a lifetime warranty on the SCS-MP2.

For additional information: https://holosun.com/index/product/detail/id/224.html

Features: Read more

Optics

Mossy Oak Gamekeepers EP:120 | Hunting Accidents Can Happen

This week we have three uniformed Mississippi game wardens in the studio, reminding us to be safe this hunting season with stories of other hunters who weren’t. After years of repetition it’s easy to become complacent, get in a rut and take for granted the things we need to do to stay safe in tree stands and around firearms. This podcast is a shocking reminder to wear your safety belt, unload your weapon before you cross a fence, let someone know where you’re going, wear a life jacket in the duck boat, and much more. It’s one you will want to share with younger and new hunters and a great refresher for the seasoned. Listen, Learn and Stay Safe. Read more

Firearms, Hunting

SAF Files Memorandum in Motion for Injunction in CA Gun Show Ban Case

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a memorandum of points and authorities in support of their motion for a preliminary injunction in a case challenging California’s new statute banning gun shows.

Joining SAF in this action are the California Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., Asian Pacific American Gun Owners Association, the Second Amendment Law Center, Inc., B&L Productions, Inc., d/b/a Crossroads of the West and four private citizens, Gerald Clark, Eric Johnson, Chad Littrell and Jan Steven Merson. They are represented by attorneys Anna M. Barvir, Michel & Associates, P.C., and Donald Kilmer, Law Offices of Donald Kilmer. The case is known as B & L Productions, Inc. et al v. Gavin Newsom et al.

The original complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. A hearing is scheduled Jan. 6, 2023.

The 33-page memorandum asserts that the purpose of the new legislation was banning gun shows statewide. The memorandum states, “There is no evidence that California’s gun shows—already more heavily regulated than other avenues for firearm sales—pose some unique threat to public safety. And California has identified no other compelling interest that might justify its ban. Instead, the legislative history reveals the legislators’ bare desire to make a ‘value statement’ about guns and gun shows and to get California out of the business of profiting from such events. In short, California’s animus for Plaintiffs, their commerce in lawful products, and the cultural aspects of these events is the not-so-hidden motivation behind the State’s action.” Read more

Gun Control

Michigan DNR secures $5 million grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America the Beautiful Challenge

Michigan is one of six applicants to get maximum funding; the grant will support critical conservation and connectivity work on rivers and streams in 14 counties

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently announced the recipients of the inaugural America the Beautiful Challenge, a $1 billion grant program launched in May to fund diverse, landscape-level conservation projects. Michigan has been awarded $5 million, to be administered by the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

“Michigan’s natural resources are some of the best in the nation, and we will work with anyone to preserve them for future generations,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “These federal grants for our inland waterways will help us protect several at-risk species, reduce risks to public safety and improve climate resiliency. Let’s keep working together to ensure that all our waters, from the Great Lakes that define us to our thousands of inland waterways, are safe for decades to come.”

Michigan’s award will fund removal of 27 stream barriers to restore the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms. Additionally, this work will benefit several at-risk species, such as the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, pickerel frog, and freshwater mussel species including the fluted shell and elktoe.

The DNR will partner with local organizations and federally recognized tribes to reconnect nearly 200 upstream miles of rivers and streams, working toward improved climate resiliency and river connectivity and easier passage of aquatic organisms between and within waterways. Such restoration projects also help eliminate risks to public safety, especially for those sites that have road traffic moving over the waterways.

Partners include the Conservation Resource Alliance, Huron Pines, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan Trout Unlimited, the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service.

The streams that will benefit from the America the Beautiful Challenge grant are located in 14 counties across Michigan:

  • Twin Lakes Creek (Cheboygan County)
  • Au Sable River (Crawford County)
  • Carr Creek (Delta County)
  • Dana Lake (Delta County)
  • Little Bay de Noc (Delta County)
  • Wycamp Creek (Emmet County)
  • Two Mile Creek (Gogebic County)
  • Boardman/Ottaway rivers (Grand Traverse County)
  • North Branch Cole Creek (Lake County)
  • Spring Creek (Luce County)
  • McAlpine Creek (Mackinac County)
  • Silver Lead Creek (Marquette County)
  • Little Muskegon River (Mecosta County)
  • Buckhorn Creek (Mecosta County)
  • Stony Creek (Oceana County)
  • East Branch Big Creek (Oscoda County)
  • Au Sable River (Oscoda County)
  • Hayden Creek (Van Buren County)

DNR Director Dan Eichinger said the America the Beautiful Challenge support will go a long way toward improving water and fish flow, critical to healthy rivers and streams.

“Put simply, fish and other organisms in the water need to move,” Eichinger said. “Throughout their many life stages, whether they’re seeking food, reproducing, hiding from predators or seeking shelter from extreme conditions, fish have to be able to easily move within their waters, as well as between bodies of water. Removing barriers to such movement means we can better protect fish populations.”

Earlier this year, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation established the America the Beautiful Challenge with a vision to streamline and centralize a nationwide grant-funding opportunity that would leverage federal conservation and restoration investments with private and philanthropic contributions to accelerate land, water and wildlife conservation efforts across the country.

Michigan was one of six applicants awarded the maximum grant amount of $5 million.

More information about this National Fish and Wildlife Foundation program – including a full list of grants awarded to states, U.S. territories and tribal nations, and project descriptions – is available at nfwf.org/programs/america-beautiful-challenge.

To learn more about how Michigan manages fisheries for current and future generations, visit Michigan.gov/Fishing.

Contact: Patrick Ertel (DNR), 989-370-1163

Fishing

Hornady’s Heavyweight, Lock-N-Load Iron Press Delivers

Grand Island, NE – Hornady engineered the Lock-N-Load® Iron Press® to be the heaviest, most rigid press in its class. This single-stage unit, powered with a spring-assisted 1-1/8-inch solid steel ram, is perfect for anyone demanding precision and repeatability from their reloading press.

This 28-pound workhorse press is manufactured with exceptionally tight tolerances and a smooth operating system designed to deliver consistent precision year after year. The Iron Press features Hornady’s patented Lock-N-Load® Bushing System, which ensures dies and bushings are securely locked in place with a simple twist that engages six locking lugs.

Swapping out is straightforward when reloaders need to change to another cartridge size. Simply twist the die counterclockwise, remove it and insert your next preset Lock-N-Load® die and bushing. Dies locked in their Lock-N-Load® bushings remain as they are set, in perfect alignment and ready for their turn in the press.

The unit also features a patented shell holder platform that lets the operator de-prime a case, remove the case to chamfer or deburr, and then quickly replace and prime. The Iron Press’s accessory deck enables quick access to trays for bullets or cases and storage for chamfer and deburr tools, case neck brushes, primer pocket cleaners, and more.

The gravity-fed Automatic Priming System, sold separately or as part of the kit, blurs the lines between progressive and single-stage reloading by allowing more processes to happen simultaneously. The machine upgrade includes the automatic priming system, large and small primer tubes, large and small primer pick-up tubes, primer housing tubes, primer catch trays and a small parts bag.

The Lock-N-Load® Iron Press® Kit includes the following: Read more

Ammunition

Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction in NY Private Property Case

A federal judge in western New York has granted a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the “private property exclusion” tenet of the state’s new gun control law, calling it unconstitutional.

The case, known as Christian et. al. v. Nigrelli, et. al., was brought by the Second Amendment Foundation and Firearms Policy Coalition on behalf of Brett Christian, a private citizen. U.S. District Court Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. with the U.S. District Court in Buffalo handed down the 27-page ruling.

Noting that the private property exclusion “makes it a felony for a license holder to possess a firearm on all private property, unless the relevant property holders actually permit such possession with a sign or by express consent,” Judge Sinatra noted, “Regulation in this area is permissible only if the government demonstrates that the current enactment is consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of sufficiently analogous regulations…New York fails that test.”

Judge Sinatra added, “Property owners indeed have the right to exclude. But the state may not unilaterally exercise that right and, thereby, interfere with the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens who seek to carry for self-defense outside of their own homes.”

SAF Founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb was delighted with the ruling, which was issued late Tuesday afternoon.

“New York’s efforts to dance around the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision have become a painful exercise in legal acrobatics, which it seems obvious the courts can see through,” Gottlieb observed. “This case illustrates the ridiculous lengths to which lawmakers in Albany have tried to go in their efforts to get around the letter and spirit of the high court ruling.” Read more

Gun Control
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