Florida: FWC Reveals TrophyCatch Pink Tag Hint Maps

As TrophyCatch heads into the last months of Season 10 and the 10-Tag Celebration, eight more prized fish are still swimming in Florida lakes and the FWC is offering clues about where to find them. These new tagging maps of the remaining lakes could lead lucky anglers to the pink-tagged bass.

Through Florida bass telemetry and tagging studies, FWC biologists have found that where a largemouth bass is tagged and released can frequently coincide with where an angler catches the same bass weeks, months or even years later. Based on these patterns in bass behavior, TrophyCatch is releasing “tag zone” maps for the remaining eight waterbodies, showing the areas where the prized bass were tagged and could potentially be caught.

Dale Dew, who caught the first 10-Tag bass, was within yards of where the fish was released with its pink tag in Lake Griffin. Of course, these hints come with a caveat: while bass can be predictable, there are many exceptions to their typical home range patterns and some bass are not homebodies at all. In contrast to Dew’s catch, the second reported 10-Tag bass was caught by RJ Crawford in Newnans Lake over three miles away from where it was tagged. Thus, these new hints don’t eliminate water in which a 10-Tag bass might be found but should be treated as higher-probability areas. View each of the ranges on the maps located on the 10-Tag Celebration web page. Let’s see how many can be found! Read more

Fishing

Simple Summer Landscaping Options

Backyard landscapes and flower gardens can benefit a variety birds, including hummingbirds (Anna’s Hummingbird photo by Jessica McConahay).

It’s the peak of growing season in most areas of the country, so it’s a great time to appreciate the rewards of your landscaping efforts – your trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers. There are more flowers yet to come, and your garden probably has some more growing to do, but it’s a great time to supplement your flowers, add a bit more color to your yard in a variety of ways, and make your yard even more bird friendly. But keep it simple this time, simple with big rewards.

Simple changes are easy: Few tasks are easier than digging a shallow hole to plant a new shrub, or turning a garden spade to add or transplant some new plants. It’s even easier to let decorative areas of lawn grow unmowed to break up the monotony of low mowed lawn, while at the same time an area of longer grass provides over for birds to dive into when needed, and the seeds produced will also provide a bit of food, if not now, then during fall, winter, or even spring when doves, native sparrows, towhees, thrashers, and others use the “new habitat.” Try starting with a small area, maybe an island of longer grass, a peninsula jutting out from bushes, or 2 feet of longer grass surrounding a tree.

Each year we whittle away at our mowed lawn, and we like how the longer grass adds a different shade of green, adds tranquil motion when the wind blows, and inserts a new texture and touch of nature we didn’t have before. We also let a perimeter of grass grow long around each tree in our yard to add a different, more lush look. It’s been said that there are 40 million acres of mowed lawn in the United States; as birders, many of us are thinking beyond monotonous expanses of mowed lawn.

A more time-consuming summer option, but one many birders interested in gardening are embracing is to take a look at what local native plants you find attractive, especially flowering plants that offer some bird food qualities too. You can probably transplant a few interesting native flowering plants from out of the way public roadside ditches, but you may have some better transplant ideas too. You may even have a native plant greenhouse in your area where you can do some shopping. Read more

Wildlife

Rehabilitated Seat Turtles Successfully Released

Contact: Aimee Brim,
Director of Marketing & Communications
Office 850-243-9046 x30
Mobile 850-543-8059

aimee.brim@gulfarium.com

Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Successfully Releases Four Rehabilitated Sea Turtles back into the Gulf of Mexico

Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL. – The Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center successfully released four rehabilitated sea turtles on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at Inlet Beach, Florida.

It was a beautiful morning as the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center released some of it’s recent patients. “It is always so rewarding when we release sea turtles back into the Gulf,” states Patrick Berry, Director of the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center. “All species of sea turtle are endangered so we are passionate about doing everything we can to help these animals. I am proud of our team and their commitment to give sea turtles second chances.”

All of the rehabilitated sea turtles arrived at the C.A.R.E. Center after being accidently hooked by fishermen at local fishing piers.

Silvia, a juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle weighing just 7lbs, was foul hooked in the right front flipper by a circle hook at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier on April 5th, 2022. Intake radiographs revealed no internal hooks but her stay at the C.A.R.E. Center was lengthened by an increased white blood cell count, indicating an infection. After a round of antibiotics, Silvia was cleared for release.

Next to head into the Gulf of Mexico was Bjorndal, a sub-adult loggerhead weighing 112lbs, who was foul-hooked with a J-hook in the left front flipper on June 22nd. Clear radiographs and bloodwork meant that it was a short stay at the center for this turtle. Read more

Wildlife

Federal Duck Stamps Soar into Their Debut by USFWS

Hunters, birders, and stamp collectors celebrated as the 2022-2023 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp – commonly known as the Duck Stamp – went on sale. The new Federal Duck Stamp and its younger sibling, the Junior Duck Stamp, debuted and are now available for purchase.

The Federal Duck Stamp plays a critically important role in wildlife conservation. Since 1934, sales of this stamp have raised more than $1.1 billion to protect over 6 million acres of wetlands habitat in the National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“I am thrilled to put my stamp on conservation with the purchase of my Federal Duck Stamps and encourage others to join me,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “This is one of the easiest ways to support migratory bird habitat conservation. Of every dollar spent on a duck stamp, 98 cents of the purchase goes directly to acquiring and protecting habitat for ducks, geese, swans and other wildlife.” Read more

Wildlife

Primary Arms Optics Releases New SLx HUNTER Rifle Scopes

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Primary Arms Optics has just launched their first SLx® HUNTER™ Rifle Scopes, starting with their 3-9x40mm and 3-9x50mm SFP models. The SLx HUNTER 4-12x40mm and 4-12x50mm SFP Rifle Scopes are expected soon and are currently available for pre-order.

Crafted for the true outdoorsman, the SLx HUNTER 3-9x40mm and 3-9x50mm SFP Rifle Scopes improve your visibility and precision without compromising on weight. The 3-9x magnification range, combined with high-quality lenses, offers a clean, crisp image for optimal performance.

Both the 3-9x40mm and 3-9x50mm scopes offer the same quality feature set, including a lightweight 1-inch body diameter with a bold Duplex-style reticle. The 40mm model offers superior mobility for extended hikes, weighing only 15.3 oz. The 50mm models offer slightly enhanced exit pupil and light transmission, weighing only slightly more at 18.2 oz. Read more

Optics

FPC Seeks Injunction Against New York City May-Issue Handgun Carry Restrictions

NEW YORK, NY – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of a motion for preliminary injunction in its federal Second Amendment lawsuit challenging the laws that prevent individuals from carrying a loaded handgun on their person for self-defense in New York City. The motion, along with other case documents in Greco v. City of New York, can be viewed at FPCLegal.org.

“The Supreme Court has now explicitly held that the Second Amendment ‘protect[s] an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home,’ and it has further ruled that the ‘proper cause’ requirement is unconstitutional ‘in that it prevents law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their right to keep and bear arms.’,” the motion says. “The short of it is that, but for Defendants’ use of the unconstitutional ‘proper cause’ standard, each Plaintiff would have a valid license to carry handguns in New York City right now.”

“It’s high time the people have their rights respected,” said FPC Policy Counsel Matthew Larosiere, “New Yorkers have been suffering second-class treatment at the hands of an oppressive government for too long. With the Supreme Court pointing to the Second Amendment’s ‘unqualified command,’ we hope to finally liberate the people from these absurd restrictions on their natural right to keep and bear arms.” Read more

Gun Control

SAF Seeks Injunction Against New York City Gun Permit Legislation

BELLEVUE, WA – Based on the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down New York State’s unconstitutional “good cause” requirement for concealed carry permit applicants, the Second Amendment Foundation today filed a preliminary injunction motion seeking to enjoin the City of New York from further enforcement of its long-standing permit regulations.

Joining SAF in this legal action are the Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc. and five private citizens. The motion was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Plaintiffs are represented by attorney David D. Jensen of Beacon, N.Y. In addition to the City of New York, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea is named as a defendant in his official capacity.

“In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling that New York State’s ‘good cause’ mandate is unconstitutional, we felt compelled to file this action because the city’s ‘proper cause’ requirement is just as bad if not worse,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Two of our plaintiffs previously held carry licenses in New York City for decades, but in 2020, both were denied renewal on the grounds they lacked ‘proper cause’.” Read more

Gun Control

SPYPOINT FLEX Now Available at Retailers

The most anticipated cellular trail camera of the year is now available and poised to help SPYPOINT customers have their best season ever. Anticipation has been high among retailers and customers since the FLEX was announced at the ATA show in Louisville in January. By addressing common pain points identified by cellular trail camera users from all brands, adding in premium features, and doing so while maintaining the affordability that has been a hallmark for SPYPOINT, the FLEX is ready to become the next in a long line of industry-leading cellular trail cameras.

“There are so many features our customers are excited about with the FLEX, it’s tough to say what is driving the early interest, but the unique dual-sim configuration that allows it to connect to whichever cellular network provides the best, most reliable signal is certainly a major development that our customers were happy to see,” said?Alexandre McElhaw General Manager at?SPYPOINT.?

“The optimized antenna is really what makes the FLEX go. The 33-megapixel photos and 1080p videos are great, but it’s how reliable the connectivity and transmission are, that’s what really makes it stand out,” he added. Read more

Optics, Wildlife

Supreme Court to Release Final Decision of 2021 Term Ahead of Breyer Retirement

Shortly before Associate Justice Stephen Breyer’s 28-year tenure at the Supreme Court of the United States ends (Noon Eastern time) today, the Supreme Court will release the final pair of major decisions remaining in the 2021 term. West Virginia versus the Environmental Protection Agency will determine the EPA’s authority to issue major rules, while the second will decide whether President Biden will be compelled to enforce the 2019 “Remain in Mexico” policy, formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols.

After Justice Breyer’s official retirement, incoming Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will be sworn in as the newest Justice -and first black female- to serve on the high court. Breyer, nominated to the court by President Bill Clinton in 1994 was the second-longest service justice on the court behind Clarence Thomas, who joined in 1991.

General

Arizona: 200 Captive Desert Tortoises Need Forever Homes

Contact:
John Trierweiler, Public Information Officer

623-236-7230, jtrierweiler@azgfd.gov

Prepare now to welcome home new pet

PHOENIX — For some, a dog or cat will do just fine. But for others who are considering adopting something truly unique to Arizona, say hello to your next family member:

A Sonoran desert tortoise.

“Many people don’t even consider opening up their homes to desert tortoises, but they make fantastic and personable pets,” said Tegan Wolf, desert tortoise adoption program coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).

“It’s rewarding to hear stories from those who have adopted a captive tortoise and made them part of the family, because they’re a unique alternative to traditional family pets. They offer many of the same life lessons to children, and they can provide just as much companionship and personality as a dog or cat.”

Due primarily to illegal breeding, AZGFD has 200 tortoises of various ages and sizes available for adoption. Captive tortoises grow up to about 14 inches long and can live 80-100 years. They cannot be released back into the wild because they could spread diseases that harm wild populations.

Arizona residents interested in providing an adoptive home should review the Tortoise Adoption Program page on the department’s website. Instructions on how to properly care for a desert tortoise and how to build an enclosure/burrow are included. Read more

Wildlife
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