COVINGTON, GA – Dead Down Wind™, the outdoor industry leader in scent elimination and Tink’s®, America’s #1 Buck lure for almost 50 years, are excited to present thefirst-ever Rack & Laps Sweepstakes.
Fans will be in the running to experience a $3,500 whitetail dream hunt, a VIP weekend for two at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) and a great Dead Down Wind™ and Tink’s® prize pack in 2022 just by entering at www.deaddownwind.com/racks&laps and www.tinks.com/racks&laps.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for both new and experienced hunters and race fans alike,” said Amanda Popp, Marketing Director for the brands. “We know NASCAR fans love to hunt or are considering it and just haven’t had the right opportunity. Tink’s and Dead Down Wind are proud to create the hunting experience of their dreams and help get them to MIS for a VIP Experience for two never to be forgotten in the fall of 2022.” Read more
Millions of New Gun Owners Will Join in the Fun of National Shooting Sports Month® in August
Whether you’re a first-time gun owner or experienced, here are 10 ways to enjoy the target shooting sports and special events
NEWTOWN, Conn. – America’s millions of first-time firearm owners will find National Shooting Sports Month® in August a great time to enjoy using their new firearms, whether in a training course, competition or simply having fun shooting targets with friends. NSSF® estimates 8.4 million people purchased their first firearm last year, with many of them being non-traditional buyers.
Developed by NSSF, the firearm industry trade association, National Shooting Sports Month encourages newcomers as well as experienced gun owners to spend an exciting day at the range with their handgun, rifle or shotgun enjoying the target-shooting sports, which boast more than 56 million adult and youth participants.
As if you needed help to find ways to enjoy National Shooting Sports Month, here are 10 of them: Read more
Kowa would like to officially introduce our new flagship TSN-99 PROMINAR spotting scope series. The spotting scopes will be available for pre-order starting 08/02, with product distribution beginning on 9/9.
Our goal was simple – create an optic delivering one of the brightest and widest view of nature. We created TSN-99 PROMINAR series because our desire to push the boundaries of optical performance is at the forefront of everything we do. We created TSN-99 PROMINAR series because we wanted to deliver one of the most immersive and detailed views of the natural world.
Our TSN-880 PROMINAR spotting scope, despite being on the market for almost two decades was and still is to this day the envy of the sporting optics industry. It’s a testament to the generations of Japanese optical engineers that have developed Kowa’s unique optical design and engineering techniques over many years. But pioneers don’t stand still – they push forward and onwards always trying to improve, it’s what we’ve done for over 60 years, and we were not about to stop now. Read more
Beaverton, OR – Catalyst Arms, LLC, a firearms accessory company, has introduced the Apex Bag Rider for the butt stock of the Ruger Precision Rimfire. The Apex Bag Rider dramatically improves the functionality and stability of the butt stock when using a rear support bag.
To help get on target the Apex Bag Rider’s angled shape allows for generous amount of rapid elevation adjustment. Simply slide your rear support bag fore or aft to raise or lower the butt stock. This lets the stock rest on the bag rather than relying on uneven grip pressure to maintain the desired shooting position.
Designed specifically for the Ruger Precision Rimfire, this Apex perfectly matches the lines of the butt stock. It literally only takes a few seconds to install by sliding over the factory bottom Picatinny rail and is secured with a single screw without any modification or disassembly of the rifle. Read more
Brady Ellison may be the world’s best, but he’s leaving without an Olympic gold -again.
Friday was a difficult Olympic Games for Team USA Archery; surrounded by high expectations in the midst of great challenges from the global pandemic that shifted the Tokyo Games by an entire year. The Games allows no room for error when so few arrows determine your fate, and in a stadium with a very tricky wind and incredibly high pressure, the most important takeaway throughout the Games was to not second-guess yourself.
For the men’s finals day today, hype surrounded World No. 1 and World Champion Brady Ellison’s quest for the elusive Olympic champion title that has evaded him through four Games. The first round matched Ellison with teammate and friend Jacob Wukie. While that may have caused mixed emotions for some; wanting the best for a good friend but also wanting to win, Ellison and Wukie entered the venue sans coaches and seemed to joke around between ends, enjoying shooting together.
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)
Going “Up North” always carries with it a certain excitement and this time would be no different with one exception: This adventure would include my great-grandson, 11 year-old Landon. The youngster lives the city life in a suburb of Detroit and outdoor experiences are somewhat limited. My objective has always been to introduce him to various aspects of Michigan’s great outdoors, but for the most part we’ve spent our time together near my home in Shiawassee County. While it’s always fun (and, almost Up North), camping and fishing in a remote area adds to the anticipation of the great unknown.
Last year, I made a new camping checklist, as I unpacked from an excursion and put things away. That made packing rather simple, even though I packed enough gear – including a small jon boat – to stay for a month. Rustic Ess Lake State Forest Campground in Montmorency County became our chosen destination. Because these camp sites cannot be reserved, I could only hope we’d find a site within the 27 available. We did!
To my delight, we would be the only campers in area of smaller sites on our Tuesday arrival. We located the perfect site overlooking the lake, where we would carry the boat to the shore without aid of the boat launch available.
We gathered enough wood for a campfire and settled in for a quiet night, as I fiddled with my AM radio to scan distant signals through the eerie atmospheric haze caused by wildfires in Canada. A far-away coyote serenade completed the scene, although my snoozing partner missed the spooky vocals.
The next day Landon would be able to hold up his end of the boat, as we navigated the downward slope of the hill to the water with the oars, anchors, and fishing gear within. My innate cheapness meant there would be no electric or gas motor; I was the only means of propulsion and that’s the way I’ve wanted it with the tiny, lightweight boat. It also means that no boat registration is required and that makes me feel like I’m getting away with something. Ah, the silver lining.
I had already heard the unmistakable calls of loons and alerted Landon of their presence, while describing their unique water take-off involving frantic wing beats across the water’s surface before lift-off. Not only did Landon witness the unique ascent of a loon, but it had begun its flight with a fish in its mouth.
We caught a few small panfish but the youngster was having difficulty with the open-faced spinning reel I bought for him. Snarls with the fishing line prevented both of us from angling (a word Landon learned on this trip), so hooked him up with a spare rod and closed-face Zebco 33 reel. Those familiar with the Zebco brand may frown on their quality, because plastic models today are somewhat inferior. However, this American-made Zebco 33 was purchased years ago and I had taken it apart, cleaned and lubricated the gears, and finished the renovation with new line. Frustrations were behind us thanks to the more user-friendly Zebco.
Now we were actually catching some fish. Rock bass, small mouth bass and bluegills were hungry for worms. Oh, we tried different artificial lures at first, but with no takers, so it became all hooks and bobbers. And, that’s all it took for the competitive nature in both of us to make a game of catch and release; although most of the fish were under sized; it didn’t matter to us one bit.
Before departing the camp, I wanted to offer Landon an opportunity to learn what it was like to be the “motor” and to my surprise, he agreed. I shoved him off alone and coached from shore, but for some unknown reason, the oars were not cooperating anymore. He kept his cool and somehow managed to get the rowboat back to shore, where we jointly appreciated the end to a cumbersome experiment.
No doubt, a seed was planted and nurturing it will most likely become a life-long mission for the young man. And, that’s how we pass on our great outdoor heritage.
This Wood Duck was photographed in Montana by Steve Hinch when she raised up and flapped her wings after preening.
The largest raptor in the world, this dramatic photo of a Steller’s Sea Eagle landing on winter ice in northern Japan was photographed by Isabel Guerra Clark.
Considered one of the world’s most beautiful birds, a Resplendent Quetzal was bringing fruit to its nesting cavity in Costa Rica, where it was photographed by Aaron Baggenstos.
A trio of fledgling Barred Owls taken in Maryland by Bogdan Alexandrescu is especially captivating.
After seeing the winning photographs referenced last week, now you can review the best of the rest: The Best 100 Bird Photos entered by 2,416 photographers during the 2021 Audubon Photography Contest! These photos feature birdlife at its most vivid, vulnerable, formidable, and playful. There are intimate portraits that reveal exquisite details, action photos that capture powerful birds on the hunt, and arresting images that celebrate a wide array of bird behavior. Prepare to be impressed by the resourcefulness of the bird photographers.
Now you can scroll through these superb images that feature birds in all their variety, and find out the backstory behind each photo. This year more than 8,770 photos and 261 videos were entered in the 12th annual Audubon Photography Awards. Eight stunning winners were selected by the panel of judges, along with 5 honorable mention photos, as noted in last week’s issue of The Birding Wire. Now you can view the Top 100 additional bird photos so you can pick your own favorites!
Blue Jays are one of the primary species affected by the mystery pathogen, along with fledgling Common Grackles, European Starlings, and American Robins.
The US Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) are currently working together to diagnose a mysterious ailment that has affected some fledgling songbirds – mostly Blue Jays, Common Grackles, European Starlings, and American Robins – in some Mid-Atlantic portions of the United States. To date, none of the labs have been able to identify the cause of the birds’ deaths.
After rigorous nationwide testing, the NWHC and its collaborators published a report that rules out several common bird pathogens, including West Nile virus, avian influenza, Newcastle disease, herpes viruses, poxviruses, salmonella, chlamydia, and trichomonas parasites.
While it’s extremely helpful to narrow down the list of potential pathogens, investigators are still searching for leads as to the cause of the bird deaths in areas of the Mid-Atlantic states from New Jersey to Virginia, plus West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana.
With such a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi, toxins, and viruses to test for, it may be a while before researchers have a definitive answer. Nicole Nemeth with the SCWDS, said it’s even possible that the disease could be caused by multiple pathogens. “There’s really still a lot of possibilities,” she explained, “Unfortunately, it just takes time.”
Stopping the Spread
Until then, concerned citizens in affected regions can take steps to protect birds in their own yards. “The best thing we can recommend is taking down your bird feeders,” wildlife researcher Christine Casey said. Once down, it’s important to clean feeders and birdbaths with a 10 percent bleach solution to kill any pathogens, followed by a thorough rinse and drying time. Keeping feeders and birdbaths clean, of course, is standard procedure for most birders anytime, including the use of very diluted 10 percent bleach with thorough rinsing afterward. Read more
Skip the store this Thanksgiving and head into the field to harvest a fresh, free-range, all-organic wild turkey for your holiday dinner.
Increase your chances of receiving a license by purchasing a $5 application. The last day to apply for a fall turkey license is Aug. 1. Apply online or wherever DNR licenses are sold.
Enjoy the experience of nature from field to table this fall while sharing a meal with your loved ones. Learn more about how to apply, hunt quotas and hunting regulations in the Fall Turkey Digest.
Night vision has become an increasingly popular section of the market, particularly with civilian gun-owners looking to expand their toolset. As demand for affordable night vision increases, Primary Arms has added a selection of new night vision units and accessories, including monoculars, binoculars, IR illumination/aiming devices, helmets, mounts, and more.
“Night vision is a growing category for both the tactical and hunting communities. As the technology becomes more affordable, Primary Arms will bring on new and exciting night vision devices—as well as IR illuminators, lasers, and accessories,” says Matt Okun, Senior Merchandising Manager of Primary Arms. “Already, we’re stocking many of the industry’s top manufacturers, making it easy for our customers to find a setup that fits their desired application.” Read more
