Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Since December 2017, Michigan’s wildlife habitat license plate has featured an elk to mark the 2018 celebration of 100 years of elk in our state.
Beginning in January, the next species to adorn the plate is the Kirtland’s warbler – to celebrate the recovery of this unique bird. Read more
(Bainbridge, GA) – Taurus®, manufacturer of premium handguns for defense, hunting, and sport shooting, is participating in a holiday season giveaway and one lucky winner could win an all-new, optics-ready Taurus GX4™ T.O.R.O along with a variety of amazing accessories, ammo and more.
The Taurus GX4™ TORO Prepare + Protect for the Holidays Giveaway is loaded with great products from some of the most popular brands in the shooting industry. Starting today through January 6, 2022, U.S. citizens can enter to the giveaway at Shoot-On.com. The winner of this giveaway will receive one newly released Taurus GX4 T.O.R.O, one Holosun HS507K X2 red dot optic, one CrossBreed® Holster Rogue System, five boxes of Hornady® 9mm Luger 115gr. FTX® Critical Defense® ammunition, and one Breakthrough® Clean LOC-U ROD Cleaning Kit.
The Taurus GX4™ TORO Prepare + Protect for the Holidays Giveaway Prizes:
• Taurus GX4 T.O.R.O 9mm Pistol
• Holosun HS507K X2 Red Dot Open Reflex Optical Sight
• Crossbreed® Holster Rogue System
• 5 boxes of Hornady® 9mm Luger 115 gr. FTX® Critical Defense® ammo
• Breakthrough® Clean LOC-U ROD Cleaning Kit.
Don’t miss your chance to win the Taurus GX4™ TORO Prepare + Protect for the Holidays Giveaway.
Enter now!
Contest ends January 6, 2022 Read more
Bozeman, Montana- The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) today applauded the efforts of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Utah Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation, and the D. Gary and Mary Young Family for helping pave the way for the first nursery herd for desert bighorn sheep in Utah.
“This is the next major piece in the puzzle for desert bighorn conservation,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “It’s forward, out-of-the-box thinking that will help clear a major hurdle in the continued efforts to restore and expand populations of this iconic species.”
The nursery herd approach has been used successfully for bighorn sheep on Utah’s Antelope Island and Montana’s Wild Horse Island, and Texas and New Mexico for desert bighorns in the USA. Nursery herds have also been a key component of desert sheep restoration in Mexico, exemplified by WSF’s Mexico Initiative. The goal is to establish a protected, disease-free herd that will grow to the point of being able to supply animals for future restoration efforts in new suitable free-range habitats. Read more
Tactical Solutions (TacSol) adds Winter 2021/2022 Edition of X-Ring rifles with GRS Hunter Light Stocks
Boise, ID Tactical Solutions (TacSol), the market leader in quality rimfire firearms, upgrades, and accessories, collaborated with GRS Stocks of Norway to offer a Winter 2021/2022 edition of X-Ring VR rifles with GRS Light Hunter Stocks. “GRS is a great addition to our already outstanding rifle line up.” said Cody Bennion, TacSol Director of Sales. “With GRS’ strict standards of quality, it only made sense to pair them with our rifles”.
GRS Stocks are manufactured to the highest level of craftsmanship and are adjustable to meet the demands and needs of every shooter.
TacSol has been a leader in innovative rimfire offerings for nearly two decades. For more information or inquiries please contact Cody Bennion (National Sales Manager) at cody@tacticalsol.com or call 866-333-9901. For media inquiries, please contact Keith Feeley (Director of Brand) at keith@tacticalsol.com.
Whigham, GA – At Trulock Choke Tubes, we know our customers have many questions on patterning with differing shot sizes, shot column length and load size, do buffered loads help and more, which is why an article by the Shotgun Report Technoid, Bruce Buck titled, “Bunch of Questions,” hit the proverbial nail on customer questions. We reached out to Bruce and received permission to reprint the article to share. It was originally posted on the Shotgun Report on September 14, 2021.
Dear Technoid,
Perhaps this frisky little question is worthy of the Volcano of Knowledge? Actually, a couple of questions:
1) Will smaller size shot, say #8 or 7-1/2, deform more or less than #4 shot, in example, affecting patterning adversely?
2) Will a 1 oz. lead charge deform more in a smaller gauge, 16 or 20, due to the longer “stack height” of the pellets?
3) Is height of the pellet stack a minus re: 3? and 3-1/2? magnum loads?
4) Has the Technoid found any evidence that buffered loads do any good?
5) The Omnipotent Technoid has stated that copper-plated shot seems to slide its way through game, proving less effective than lead. Does the copper do much re: reduction in pellet deformation?
6) And finally (are you glad!), can the Technoid speculate as to the rise and fall of the popularity of the 16 gauge? Just picked up an A-5 Sweet Sixteen, and really enjoy popping clays with it.
7) Oops, one more – can the Technoid recall approximate shot cloud sizes at forty yards for 1 oz. launched through 12, 16, and 20 ga., assuming “modified” choke performance?
Thanks Bruce, for all your help!
Randy
Dear Randy,
Wow! I could make a living off of your questions Read more
EAST ALTON, IL — Winchester, the largest manufacturer of small caliber ammunition for the U.S. military, announced that the U.S. Army has awarded the company a $13 million contract for the development of manufacturing processes for the 7.62mm cartridge.
Work will be performed at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) in Independence, Missouri, the United States’ only government-owned, contractor-operated small caliber ammunition production facility. This project was awarded under Winchester’s $8 billion contract to operate LCAAP.
“Winchester is extremely proud to have been awarded this military ammunition manufacturing development project,” said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester Ammunition. “Our entire Lake City team is honored and wholly committed to supporting the U.S. Warfighter.” Read more
NEWINGTON, N.H., (December 7, 2021) – In partnership with the Best Defense Foundation, SIG SAUER is honored to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor with three one-of-a-kind, custom designed 1911 pistols: the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Pistol, the USS Arizona Commemorative Pistol, and the USS Oklahoma Commemorative Pistol.
“It was truly an honor to create these custom pistols and we are humbled to have the opportunity to partner with the Best Defense Foundation to salute these men and women of the greatest generation,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The foundation is providing any World War II veteran that wants a measure of closure the opportunity to return to their battlefield and we hope these pistols will bring recognition to their efforts. From the shores of Normandy to Pearl Harbor, the foundation has made it their mission to honor these veterans sacrifice and we are forever thankful for their dedication to that mission.”
The unique distinguishing features of the commemorative 1911 pistols crafted by SIG SAUER Custom Works are as follows: Read more
The Michigan departments of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and Natural Resources confirmed a report of didymo, a nuisance freshwater alga, in a stretch of the Upper Manistee River in Kalkaska County. Also known as rock snot despite its coarse, woolly texture, didymo can grow into thick mats that cover the river bottom.
The Manistee River finding marks the first detection of didymo blooms in the Lower Peninsula. In 2015, extensive mats of didymo were found on the Michigan side of the St. Marys River near Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula.
“Didymo can attach to fishing equipment, wading gear and other hard surfaces and be moved to new waterways,” said Bill Keiper, an aquatic biologist with EGLE’s Water Resources Division. “With each new detection, it becomes more important for people who fish, wade or boat to clean boats and equipment, including waders, after each use.”
Anglers who have encountered didymo-infested streams in the western or eastern U.S. know that rock snot is more than just a nuisance.
“Didymo has potential to be a nasty nuisance species in Michigan’s cold-water fisheries,” said Samuel Day, a water quality biologist with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. “Unlike the harmful algal blooms that plague areas of the Great Lakes due to warm temperatures and excess nutrients, didymo blooms form in cold, low-nutrient streams that most folks would generally consider pristine and great habitat for trout. Didymo can become a problem when it blooms, covering streambeds and reducing habitat for macroinvertebrates, which are important food for fish.” Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)
After having taken a good buck in early October’s archery season, I had volunteered to fill the role as support person for my hunting pal, Joe. That meant I would also “dog sit” his spirited Blue Tick hound mix, Junior, in an attempt to keep his mind from focusing on his owner, who would inexplicably march away without him. We had put the hound on three different deer-tracking chores in the past year as training exercises, and he was about to face his most difficult test to date.
The call came over the two-way radio at dusk that Joe had shot a large 8-point whitetail and I waited for him to return so that we could develop a plan to recover the animal. Joe didn’t provide many clues other than to convey that the shot was somewhat low – or, at least that’s what he thought.
Darkness was descending and that very fact may have caused us to make our second mistake. (I’ll get to the first mistake later.) Instead of waiting, Joe insisted on getting on the trail without delay. Although we found no blood or the arrow, Junior was impossible to hold back. The danger of pushing a wounded deer into the next county became a concern, as Junior pulled us deeper into the unknown, dark surroundings.
We called off the hound and made plans to resume the ordeal in the morning. The overnight temperature would be marginally cool enough to salvage the deer, if we were fortunate enough to locate it without further delay.
The landscape looked a lot more inviting at dawn, when Junior returned for some more controlled chaos. Farther and farther we went, all the while watching the dog’s reaction to scent we could not detect. Junior was all over the invisible airborne scent and was now guided by a slight breeze into his olfactory meter; he could not be held back and dragged Joe to the downed prize.
As I approached the duo, Joe was shaking his head in disbelief, as he stood motionless over an animal he didn’t want to believe was his. The massive 9-point buck had been torn apart by coyotes relegating us to nothing more than a meal of antler soup.
Now, let’s get back to the first mistake: the shot. We discovered that the arrow had struck the magnificent animal too far forward – some 8 inches off the mark and that’s where the troubles began. Although the 40-yard shot was simple to make in practice, real-world excitement had been in play.
We had not the luxury of knowing whether the animal was dead, and consequently made a judgment call to wait. Typically, hunters would do best to hedge their decision to pursue a deer with a measure of patience, but given the end result, there simply may have been no good recovery procedure.
No doubt, we should have held off our initial search for at least 30 minutes, which could have given the animal an opportunity to lie down and expire. While we’ll never know exactly what transpired after the shot, we do know the disheartening results could have been prevented with a better shot.
Joe’s buck destroyed by coyotes
Citizens can legally purchase and own grenade launchers, 40mm “chalk rounds,” and specialty ammo.
Gainesville, FL – Big Daddy Unlimited is proud to announce it now sells grenade launchers, barrels, and 40mm rounds to private citizens through Big Daddy Ordnance (BDO).
The M781 “chalk round” is a 40x46mm round designed to mimic the flight path of the M433 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose round.
“Bringing the M781s to market through Big Daddy Ordnance represents a decisive change in how 40mm ammunition is distributed for the civilian market,” said Sean Lindley, Government & International Sales Director. “Previously, ammunition only arrived on the civilian market from military overruns.”
Despite supply-chain-related issues for .38 S&W blanks, Big Daddy Unlimited has been able to leverage its position to have new production rounds manufactured. The goal is for Big Daddy Unlimited to always have M781s and other specialty munitions including 37mm and 40mm in stock and ready to ship to customers. In addition to specialty rounds, Big Daddy Unlimited sells destructive devices including grenade launchers and barrels as well as “less-lethal” ammunition to civilians and law enforcement. Read more