Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
With the growing popularity of small-frame revolvers for personal defense, Taurus—a leader in revolver innovation—proudly reintroduces the Taurus 650, a true shrouded hammer, 5-shot revolver chambered in the venerable .357 Magnum. This expertly engineered revolver joins Taurus’s industry-leading lineup of reliable and versatile small-frame firearms, answering the call for a compact, snag-free defensive option.
Designed for Concealment and Reliability Read more
Washington, D.C. – Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), together with the Tennessee Firearms Association, today filed a lawsuit in Shelby County, Tennessee against the City of Memphis’ newly adopted gun control ordinances, which were passed by voters in direct opposition to the state’s robust preemption law. The ordinances in question, which were adopted via ballot measure on election day, will:
Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, issued the following statement: Read more
NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, celebrated the announcement that a lawsuit has been filed against Maine’s Attorney General Aaron Frey, seeking declarative and injunctive relief from state authorities enforcing Public Law 2023, Chapter 678, Maine’s new 72-hour waiting period law that denies law-abiding Mainers the ability to take possession of a newly-purchased firearm after they pass an FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) verification. The Plaintiffs have moved for a preliminary injunction to halt enforcement of the law while the challenge is ongoing.
The 72-hour waiting period law was included in a larger gun control package that was enacted by Gov. Janet Mills in August. Several plaintiffs are challenging Maine’s 72-hour delay period by demonstrating that it violates their Second Amendment rights and are asking the court to strike down the law as unconstitutional.
The lawsuit against Attorney General Aaron Frey was filed by several individuals, federally licensed firearm dealers (FFLs), and an organization that provides firearm training. One of the plaintiffs is a domestic-abuse survivor and certified firearm instructor who offers self-defense classes to victims and survivors. The law now prevents the women she assists from adequately defending themselves against abusive partners who pose a credible and imminent threat to their physical safety, as it forces them to wait three days to secure a firearm even when they clear the NICS background check. Likewise, another plaintiff—a federally licensed firearm dealer—has been forced to delay sales to qualified individuals with time-sensitive needs, including a single woman who was being stalked and a married couple whose home was burgled. These stories are emblematic of the countless number of individuals whose rights have been denied and whose safety has been put in jeopardy due to Maine’s 72-hour waiting period. Read more
NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is urging President-elect Donald Trump to take decisive action to disband the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and put an end to government-funded efforts to infringe upon the Constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. This office, installed under President Joe Biden, never addressed criminal misuse of firearms. Instead, it squandered taxpayer dollars and employed former gun control lobbyists to minimize the American rights to keep and bear arms and propose policies to harass and damage the American firearm and ammunition industry.
President-elect Trump might consider replacing this office with one dedicated to the advancement and preservation of the Second Amendment.
“President-elect Trump has the ability to stand strong with law-abiding Second Amendment supporters and wipe away this unprecedented abuse of government authority that has been used as a blunt instrument against rights that are protected by the U.S. Constitution,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel “Nowhere else, within the U.S. Government, are taxpayers forced to fund efforts to denigrate their rights protected by the law. This office was established to appease the special-interest gun control lobby and donors The Biden-Harris administration has used this office to attempt to justify their unconstitutional and whole-of-government attacks on Second Amendment rights and the industry that makes those rights possible to exercise. This office must no longer exist after January 20, 2025.”
The Biden-Harris administration established The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention in September 2023 under the direct supervision of Vice President Kamala Harris as the “gun control czar.” From this office, the Biden-Harris administration promulgated policy positions that are egregiously counter to the rights of law-abiding citizens. Staffed by Stefanie Feldman as Director, she once boasted on X that President Biden would defeat firearm manufacturers that he once labelled “the enemy” by overturning the Protection of Lawful Commerce In Arms Act (PLCAA). She posted, “As president, he’ll defeat them again. And, he’ll repeal the non-sensical liability protection for gun manufacturers.” Read more
Michigan welcomed some rare owls to the Upper Peninsula this fall, a trend that is likely to continue as northern owls migrate south into Michigan for the winter. At the end of September, a burrowing owl (like those pictured here) was seen at Whitefish Point, on the northern tip of Chippewa County, for the first time since 1986! This sighting is one of only four known records in Michigan.
Vagrants that are seen in unusual places often return to their home range, and many folks suspect this particular bird was from Florida and visited Michigan as a result of Hurricane Helene. Just a few weeks later, a northern hawk owl also was spotted at Whitefish Point. Northern owls such as the northern hawk owl can show up in the Great Lakes region each winter, leaving their colder habitats like the boreal forests of Canada and the Arctic tundra behind – but this visitor arrived a season early!
Both owls drew crowds of interested birders and photographers, and each season hundreds of species draw us outdoors as they flit in the treetops, hop through shrubs or run along shorelines. Whether in the backyard or deep forest, birding best practices can help protect our Great Lakes birds and visitors. Here are a few to start:
Get more top tips and explore helpful resources to guide your next birding trip.
Questions? Contact Erin Rowan Ford at 313-820-0809.
Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear sport optics, is pleased to announce the release of its latest Project Hunt film, “Straight and Narrow,” on YouTube.
When life hits hard, you hit back harder. “Straight and Narrow” shares the story of 2023 Project Hunt winner Cody Austin as he embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime backcountry elk hunt with his dad after coming to terms with a life-changing medical diagnosis. Facing an uncertain future, Cody chose to seize the moment and cash in his elk points for an unforgettable adventure in the wilds of Wyoming. Witness his relentless spirit in this latest addition to the Project Hunt series.
“Stories like Cody’s are exactly why we launched the Project Hunt campaign,” said Bruce Pettet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “His resilience, his refusal to give up, and his incredible passion for the outdoors embody what it means to be relentless. We’re proud to have the opportunity to share his story.” Read more
As owner of Worldwide Trophy Adventures, the world’s largest hunting and fishing consulting agency, Mark Peterson travels the country hunting and documenting adventures at many hunting destinations to show other hunters what to expect. One of these destinations being Salt River Outfitters in the bluegrass state of Kentucky. Friend and Manager of Salt River Outfitters, Joey Cheek asked Mark, “Are you sitting down?” Then Joey sent Mark a picture of the buck later to be called, “Freak Show”! The giant buck showed up on a 175 acre lease that Joey is managing personally for Mark. Mark was presented with a decision. Travel to hunt Caribou in Alaska or hunt a once in a lifetime buck in Kentucky? When a buck like this one shows up on trail cameras there isn’t much of a choice, you figure out how to hunt it, and that’s what Mark did. Read more
Anyone who has watched a soccer or Little League game from the bleachers knows they need more comfort and support. A Millennium Sportsline Stadium Seat would be a game-changer for these fans. In the holiday giving season, Stadium Seats make great gifts for relatives and friends who love to come to the games but would enjoy them much more if they could sit comfortably.
Millennium Sportsline Stadium Seats fit almost everyone and change the spectator experience with a fabric seat that’s held above the bleacher and an adjustable seat back. A buckled strap securely holds the seat so fans can lean back and take in the action.
Grandparents and older siblings will appreciate the gift of comfort. Of course, the Stadium Seat isn’t just for kids’ games. It provides a more enjoyable experience at concerts and plays, auto races, and rodeos. The lightweight Stadium Seat folds up for easy portability and doesn’t take up much room in a vehicle or in storage at home. Read more
Join in the time-honored tradition of deer hunting in Michigan. Get ready for a terrific time in Michigan’s beautiful forests and fields. Firearm deer season is open Nov. 15-30.
Prepare for your season by reading about how things are shaping up in your neck of the woods in the 2024 deer season forecast. Read more
2024 breeding season breaks multiple records
Arizona’s breeding bald eagle population grew to its largest size ever documented, with a record 90 adult pairs occupying breeding areas across the state and hatching a record 96 young during the 2024 breeding season, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s annual survey.
This year’s breeding bald eagles laid at least 119 eggs and produced 96 hatchlings, of which 77 reached the important milestone of their first flight, known as fledging. Statewide, there were 104 documented breeding areas, including seven new sites in 2024.
“Arizona’s bald eagle population continues to be strong,” said Kenneth “Tuk” Jacobson, AZGFD bald eagle management coordinator. “The fact that we continue to see an increase in breeding areas and hatchlings speaks to the resiliency of these magnificent animals and the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to help conserve and protect Arizona’s bald eagles.”
From busy city golf courses to remote forests, the diversity of the active eagle breeding sites across Arizona requires a specialized approach.
“We evaluate each breeding area, its location, the breeding adults and their tolerance to human activities,” said Jacobson. “Then we form the management plan for that area and for the needs of that pair.” Read more