NWTF: Studying the Ecology of an Unhunted Turkey Population

(Photo Credit: Jim Quinn)

The NWTF is helping fund a new research project in South Carolina that seeks to inform hunting season frameworks and overall understanding of wild turkey ecology in the Palmetto State. Conducted by the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, the USDA Forest Service and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, this novel research will examine movements, gobbling activity, nesting activity and habitat use in a wild turkey population devoid of turkey hunting.

“This project is unique in that we’re studying flocks of birds that are not subjected to hunting activity, hunting pressure or the harvest of males,” said Mike Chamberlain, Ph.D., Terrell Distinguished professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Georgia. “Not only are we studying male behavior, but we’re extensively studying reproduction to see how nest success and brood survival on the site compares to the many hunted populations we’ve studied.”

The project will occur on the nearly 200,000-acre Savannah River Site, a Department of Energy-owned site in Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties. The rich medley of upland and bottomland hardwoods, mixed-pine hardwoods and planted stands of longleaf pine and loblolly pine, coupled with active forest management, provide the unhunted birds with exceptional habitat.

During the 1970s, while restoration efforts were in full effect, wildlife managers stocked this site to establish a large source population to assist trap-and-transfer efforts elsewhere. From the late 1970s to the early 2000s, almost 1,000 turkeys were trapped and relocated from SRS, a reference point for how strong the population was and continues to be to this day. Read more

Wildlife

Primary Arms July Giveaway

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Primary Arms has announced a new monthly giveaway for July, which includes a custom Aero Precision .308 rifle package valued at over $3,400.

To enter this giveaway, click here.

Suitable for competition, hunting, and more, this custom .308 AR package blends precision, agility, and reliability for exceptional performance at any distance. The rifle is a purpose-made Aero Precision M5 .308 AR with an OD Green Topographical Cerakote. The 18” precision-machined barrel, Geissele Match Trigger, and Magpul PRS stock provide enhanced performance at a distance, while the lightweight M-LOK handguard helps balance the weight for optimized mobility.

To complete the package, Primary Arms is also including several top-quality aftermarket accessories, including…

·Primary Arms Optics GLx® 2.5-10x24mm FFP Rifle Scope w/ ACSS® Raptor M2 5.56 Reticle

·Primary Arms Optics PLx® 30mm Cantilever Scope Mount

·Magpul M-LOK Adjustable Bipod

·SureFire M640U 1000-Lumen Scout Light Pro w/ SR-07 Remote Switch and Tailcap

·Blue Force Gear Vickers 221 OD Green Sling

·(5x) Magpul 20 LR/SR Gen M3 7.62 20-round 7.62 Magazines

·US PeaceKeeper OD Green 52” Drag Bag Case

… and more!

For the full list of parts and accessories, Primary Arms prepared a full blog detailing the build. As with all of Primary Arms’ rifle giveaways, entry is completely free with no purchase necessary. Read more

Firearms

SAF: Associated Press Makes “Smart” Gun Change to Style Book

GW:  Ah, but it sounded so much more lethal…
BELLEVUE, WA – After years of incorporating the terms “assault rifle” and “assault weapons” into news reports involving firearms, especially when used in crimes, journalists are now advised by the Associated Press to avoid the “highly politicized terms,” and the Second Amendment Foundation says it’s a “smart gun change.”

“It’s about time the media realized the terms ‘assault rifle’ and ‘assault weapon’ are inflammatory and meaningless,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Those terms have become part of the gun prohibition lobby’s lexicon, and unfortunately, journalists across the country have been all-too-willing to adopt their vocabulary and repeatedly use it in their reports.

“I’m glad to see the AP Stylebook now recognizes that these firearms only fire one round each time a trigger is pulled,” he continued, “and really function no differently than any other semi-auto rifle, pistol or shotgun, all of which have been in common use in this country for more than a century.”

According to an AP Style Tip, “The preferred term for a rifle that fires one bullet each time the trigger is pulled, and automatically reloads for a subsequent shot, is a semi-automatic rifle. An automatic rifle continuously fires rounds if the trigger is depressed and until its ammunition is exhausted.

“Avoid assault rifle and assault weapon,” the AP adds, “which are highly politicized terms that generally refer to AR- or AK-style rifles designed for the civilian market, but convey little meaning about the actual functions of the weapon.” Read more

Firearms

Springfield Armory Announces Exclusive OD Green XD-M Elite 4.5″ OSP 10mm

GENESEO, ILL. – Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the release of the XD-M® Elite 4.5” OSP™ 10mm in Magpul® OD Green, an exclusive variant developed specifically for sale by Sportsman’s Warehouse. This highly capable 10mm, offered with an H-232 Magpul® OD Green Cerakote finish on the slide, redefines what you should expect from a modern, striker-fired firearm.

Built on a solid foundation, the XD-M Elite 4.5″ OSP 10mm combines impressive capacity with powerful performance. The 4.5″ match grade Melonite® finished barrel maximizes ballistic performance, and the highly ergonomic frame houses a double-column stainless steel magazine that provides a 16-round capacity. Two magazines are included with the pistol.

As an Optical Sight Pistol (OSP), the new XD-M Elite 4.5″ 10mm features a removable seamless cover plate that reveals a mounting interface for the optic of your choice. This is accomplished through the use of available mounting plates. Topping off its forged steel slide is Springfield Armory’s excellent Tactical Rack U-Dot™ rear sight, featuring a u-shaped white outline that works with the high-visibility fiber optic front sight.

To facilitate quick reloads, the XD-M Elite 4.5″ OSP 10mm features a removable extended and flared “short” magwell. At the heart of the pistol is the Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly (META™) system, a superbly refined trigger featuring a flat face and integral overtravel stop. Additionally, an ambidextrous slide stop works in concert with the pistol’s ambi magazine release to ensure the pistol can be run easily by either hand.

“This newest XD-M Elite gives both shooters and outdoor enthusiasts a powerful pistol that will definitely stand out from the crowd,” says Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. “With its Magpul OD Green slide, combined with all the appealing features of the XD-M Elite line, this new Sportsman’s Warehouse exclusive 10mm would make a great addition to any shooter’s collection.” Read more

Firearms

SIG SAUER Announces Grand Opening of SIG Experience Center in New Hampshire

NEWINGTON, N.H. – SIG SAUER, Inc., is pleased to announce the official Grand Opening of the SIG Experience Center (SEC) on the campus of SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, New Hampshire.

The SIG SAUER Experience Center is a state-of-the-art facility bringing the SIG brand to life in an exciting, hands-on, immersive way. The SIG Experience Center is home to the SIG SAUER Flagship Store, the SIG SAUER Academy Shooting Facility, the SIG SAUER Museum, the exclusive members-only Club 1751, along with a complete conference and events facility. The SIG Experience Center serves as a true extension of the SIG SAUER brand and serves as the corporate showcase to the world.

Ron Cohen, President of SIG SAUER, Inc. was joined by The Honorable Asa Hutchinson, Governor of the State of Arkansas – home to the SIG SAUER Ammunition manufacturing operations — dignitaries from the State of the New Hampshire, and the leadership, employees, and distinguished guests of SIG SAUER to officially cut the ribbon and open the SEC. Read more

Firearms

Michigan’s 2023 budget provides $34 million for fish hatchery upgrades, new Great Lakes research vessel

Fish hatchery infrastructure and maintenance and fisheries survey vessel modernization efforts will benefit from the state budget recently approved for fiscal year 2023. The budget includes $30 million for fish hatchery infrastructure improvements and $4 million to replace an outdated Great Lakes survey vessel – all of which are critical to better supporting and understanding Michigan’s world-class fisheries.

“Michigan’s fish and aquatic habitats are among our state’s greatest natural, recreational and economic assets, and we must continue working together to protect them for future generations,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Together with the historic, $450 million investments in our parks and public lands under the Building Michigan Together Plan I signed earlier this year, our bipartisan budget represents a once-in-a-generation investment that will help us continue safeguarding our most precious natural resources.”

For more than 120 years, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has operated fish hatcheries to produce fish for stocking lakes and streams across Michigan. Today, there are six hatchery facilities – in Alanson, Beulah, Harrietta, Manistique, Marquette and Mattawan – vital to managing and maintaining the state’s fisheries. At 20 years old, Oden State Fish Hatchery is the newest facility, with the others ranging from 40 to over 50 years old. Though staff have done their best to keep operations running and fish thriving, the aging facilities have developed a large backlog of critical infrastructure maintenance needs.

With the $30 million investment in hatcheries, the DNR will upgrade production water supplies, replace roofs, upgrade outdated electrical distribution systems, repair and replace deteriorating asphalt, upgrade water aeration systems, replace outdated backup power generators and provide biosecurity enhancements that better protect fish health.

“Upgrading electrical distribution systems, replacing outdated backup power supplies and improving water supplies would all reduce the likelihood of catastrophic fish loss and increase our ability to manage disease issues,” said DNR Director Dan Eichinger. “Overall, this investment will improve rearing conditions, which will translate into more consistent fish production levels and high-quality fish.” Read more

Fishing

Michigan: apply by Aug. 1 for deer habitat improvement grants

Landowners with property in Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties who want to create deer habitat are invited to apply by Aug. 1 for Michigan Department of Natural Resources funding.

The DNR’s Deer Private Land Assistance Network grant program supports habitat improvement projects on private land in the northern Lower Peninsula. Desired projects should focus on increasing deer harvest near cattle farms or agricultural land. Read more

Wildlife

CMP Celebrates Opening of the 2022 National Matches with Double First Shot Ceremony

CAMP PERRY, Ohio – On the beautiful, sun-filled morning of July 12, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) hosted the opening event of the 2022 National Rifle and Pistol Matches – the First Shot Ceremony.

The First Shot serves as a welcoming for guests, participants, volunteers and staff eager to start the annual National Matches – held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility. The Matches have assembled marksmen and women at Camp Perry since 1907 and has grown to feature several highpower, smallbore and long range rifle, as well as pistol and air gun events, to thousands each year. Read more

Firearms

Fit N Fetch Outdoors Summer Giveaway

(Tallahassee, Florida) Fit N Fetch Outdoors, an up and coming brand of premier pet products that is rapidly becoming the leader in its category is excited to announce their Summer Giveaway! Helping your dog sport feel its best and achieve optimal performance, these chews will give you and your dog have the best hunting season yet and be able to HUNT ONE MORE.

Fit N Fetch Outdoors has teamed up with Cardomax, a company committed to producing the highest quality, liquid-based single serving supplements featuring clean ingredients. They will be giving one lucky winner $100 worth of Cardomax products, two bottles of Fit N Fetch Outdoors Soft Chews, and some Fit N Fetch Outdoors branded swag. The prize package will have the sportsman and sport dog feeling and performing their best to get the most out of their next hunt. To be entered, simply LIKE @fitnfetchoutdoors and @cardo_max on Instagram. A winner will be chosen on Thursday, July 21st, 2022. Read more

General

FPC Statement on Steven Dettelbach’s Confirmation to Head ATF

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Firearms Policy Coalition issued the following statement in response to the United States Senate’s confirmation of Steven Dettelbach as permanent director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF):

The Senate failed the People today. The purpose of agency directors is to serve ministerial duties, not to subvert law and cheerlead the abrogation of our rights. By confirming an anti-rights zealot to helm one of the nation’s most infamous agencies, the Senate has all but promised that the ATF will continue, or even worsen, its violations of the trust of the People.

Steven Dettelbach–who aggressively promoted “universal background checks” and “assault weapon” bans–will serve as the first permanent ATF director since Byron Todd Jones, who stepped down in 2015. ATF has a storied history of civil rights violations, arming cartels, and not to mention the commission of atrocities such as those at Waco, Texas. It cannot be understated how concerning it is that an anti-rights zealot will now be taking the helm of that agency.

With several members of the Senate absent due to varying health issues, Republicans had the power to avert Dettelbach’s confirmation. For reasons beyond our comprehension, two GOP Senators seemed to salivate at the opportunity to advance a hand-picked anti-rights activist, thus allowing him to narrowly gain confirmation in a 48-46 vote. By confirming Dettelbach, the Senate has once again failed the People in spectacular fashion.

The Senate Republicans who made Dettelbach’s confirmation possible are:

Sen. Susan Collins (ME) and Sen. Rob Portman (OH)

FPC remains vigilant against the weaponization of federal law enforcement against peaceable people. As this new chapter of the ATF begins under Dettelbach’s leadership, FPC will use all tools available to meet any infringement of individual rights with the appropriate corresponding response. Read more

Gun Control
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