Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
The International Society of Aboriculture Michigan marks with sadness the passing of longtime ISA Michigan member and friend Paul Swartz, who died unexpectedly May 2. Paul was a campus arborist at Michigan State University from 1989 to 2018. He was an ISA Certified Arborist, TRAQ Arborist and an instructor for the ISA Michigan Basic Arborist Prep Course.
A memorial is set for Saturday, June 1, in Haslett, Michigan.
Angler Mitch Holland couldn’t believe his luck.
Almost a week to the day since he caught a brown trout measuring roughly 29 inches, he was back in the same spot at the exact same moment — 7:31 a.m. — of the Little Red River with a nearly identical big brown trout suddenly at the end of his line. He secured the fish, took a photo and released it back to the Greers Ferry Lake tailwater, just as he had eight days earlier.
And Holland wondered, considering the fish seemed the same size as his previous catch, and he was in the same vicinity and at the same time of morning: Could this have been the same trout?
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Communications Division forwarded that query on to Christy Graham, the AGFC’s Trout Management Program coordinator, who had an answer. Read more
The Second Amendment Foundation has submitted a reply brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in its effort to obtain a preliminary injunction against the Connecticut ban on so-called “assault weapons” in a case filed in September 2022. The case is known as Grant v. Lamont.
SAF is joined by the Connecticut Citizens Defense League and three private citizens, Michael Stiefel, Jennifer Hamilton and Eddie Grant, Jr.,. for whom the case is named. They are represented by attorneys Doug Dubitsky of North Windham, Craig L. Atkinson of Harwinton and Craig Fishbein of Wallingford, all in Connecticut.
“We’re asking the Court of Appeals to reverse a district court ruling which denied our preliminary injunction request and remand the case back to the district court for action in compliance with the Supreme Court’s guidelines in the 2022 Bruen ruling,” explained SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “The state wants this case decided on raw emotion rather than the rule of law as defined by the Supreme Court, which did away with ‘interest balancing’ as a foundation for ruling on Second Amendment-related cases.” Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)
It seems like poison ivy finds its way to my sensitive skin every year and I’ve already had my first bout with its dreaded irritant: urushiol. Anyone having the allergic reaction to the plant knows the incessant nature of the itching and would do almost anything to rid one’s being from the dastardly rash.
Leaves of three, let it be.
Although the oil can be washed off with alcohol or strong soap, one has to realize the nature of the insatiable itching before it is spread all over the body. Unfortunately, this realization typically happens too late to curtail the spread of the nasty rash. Even though I know how to identify the plant and its hairy vines, it’s usually disguised among other vegetation and finds me, nonetheless. Fortunately, over the years, I’ve learned to be prepared to minimize its effects after the fact and that’s the nature of the lesson to follow.
Zanfel is a proven topical treatment that has properties that can nullify the itch within minutes. It comes in a small squeeze-tube weighing a scant one ounce and costs $20 and up! Since learning about the product’s effectiveness, I’ve kept it in stock.
A few years ago, a young lady who picks morel mushrooms on my property, had contracted the ivy’s rash and informed me that she was heading to the doctor for treatment. I informed her hold off on the trip to the doctor and gave her the tiny tube of paste. The instructions are to squeeze a line of no less than 1 ½ inches onto the palm of one’s hand and rub the hands together. Then, simply rub it directly onto the affected parts for a minute and rinse it off. Presto! The itch was gone along with the planned doctor’s visit.
On my next trip to the dermatologist – who has treated me for skin cancer numerous times – I mentioned the product’s remarkable solution to poison ivy irritation and all he said was that he wanted to see the ingredients. When I saw him on my next visit, I showed him the package and he remarked, “Soap!” He followed up his comment by questioning if I was trying to put him out of business.
Although there are numerous home remedies, I’ve learned of another product that seems to be on par with the expensive Zanfel: Fels-Naptha soap. Originally developed by the Fels & Company about 1893, the product originally contained naphtha – a volatile inflammable liquid used in dry cleaning and varnish making. In the early 20th century, the company prospered, based on sales of Fels-Naptha but since then, the naphtha has been replaced with a more skin-friendly compound. Regardless, the self-care “laundry” soap still works and is readily available at a fraction of the cost of Zanfel. Merely wash the affected skin, using lukewarm water and a washcloth to remove the oil that causes the rash. Make sure to scrub fingernails, too, and maybe you’ll be able to keep the doctor away without eating an apple.
Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the Springfield Armory Webstore 2024 Memorial Day Sale, offering its customers a 20 percent discount at the Springfield Armory Webstore from Friday, May 24th, through Monday the 27th (some exclusions apply).
Featuring a wide range of exceptional products, the 2024 Springfield Armory Webstore Memorial Day Sale provides shooters and firearms enthusiasts a unique opportunity to acquire top-quality gear and branded apparel at great prices.
The Springfield Armory Webstore has products popular with today’s shooters, featuring such items as holsters, optics, clothing, magazines and much, much more. To take advantage of this sale, simply visit the Webstore and start shopping. The discount is automatically applied to the purchase, so no promo codes are needed. It’s that easy. Read more
Reno, NV – The New CITADEL Pup Scout Semi Auto 12 ga. Bullpup series is now shipping and designed with unmatched quality and incredible value. Perfect for home defense, personal protection and recreational shooting. Weighing in at 8.5 lbs, the CITADEL Pup Scout comes with a 18.5” barrel, an OAL of 29” and a 5 round mag capacity. The New CITADEL Pup Scout also come in a variety of colors including the traditional black and Cerakote – FDE, TAC Gray as well as a CERAKOTE USA flag pattern in red, white and blue. Click here to view our CITADEL Pup Scout online – NOW SHIPPING! Read more
BELLEVUE, Wash. —— The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Smith & Wesson in its legal fight against the government of Mexico, which seeks to hold the American gun manufacturer liable for criminal acts of third parties in Mexico.
The 23-page brief was submitted by attorneys Thomas R. McCarthy and Tiffany H. Bates of Arlington, Va. It outlines the history of firearms litigation and explains why Congress adopted the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) during the George W. Bush administration.
“As our brief explains,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut, “allowing Mexico to prevail in suing firearm manufacturers for the criminal acts of third parties defies logic and would embolden a new round of lawfare against industry members. Ultimately, these lawsuits would drive many manufacturers out of business and potentially impose requirements on firearm designs that have been rejected by Americans. In the end, it is the American citizen who would suffer, as their choices for arms would be limited to the few surviving manufacturers. The Second Amendment is meaningless without the ability to acquire arms.” Read more
RIDGEDALE, Missouri – Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge announced today that on July 21 the Ozarks will rock as the ancient hills, valleys and lakes never have when the world’s greatest rock and roll band, The Rolling Stones, light up Thunder Ridge Nature Arena for last performance on final North American tour.
The concert promises to be one of the most memorable and highly anticipated concert events ever. It is a pairing of The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band and the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring outdoor amphitheater in all of North America.
The Thunder Ridge concert stop is part of the “Hackney Diamonds Tour ’24” for The Rolling Stones, which includes 20 performances in 16 cities. Tickets will go on sale Friday, May 31st and will be available at ThunderRidgeNatureArena.com. Read more
CAMP PERRY, Ohio – Join us on the firing line for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) 2024 National Smallbore and Air Gun events during the annual National Matches in Port Clinton, Ohio!
The National Matches, held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Base since 1907, is conducted through a partnership between the CMP and the Ohio National Guard – showcasing a variety of indoor and outdoor events for adults and juniors.
The National Smallbore lineup includes iron sights and any sights prone events as well as 3×20 (three-position) individual and team matches. Smallbore events are fired on the covered outdoor electronic target line of Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range.
For air rifle or air pistol competitors – check out the National Air Gun Matches, held on the electronic target range within the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. The series features training, followed by two days of 60-shot competitions. Read more
Norsk® Lithium provides the perfect power solution for every level of kayak angler
Kayak fishing has grown far past paddling a repurposed recreational kayak into a small pond with a spincast rod & reel combo. With vast improvements in boat design, the emergence of kayak fishing tournaments, clubs, and networks of anglers coast to coast, south to north, the sport has become as sophisticated as regular multi-species boat angling.
Some kayak anglers’ boats look like mini bass boats, fully outfitted with numerous graphs, forward-facing sonar, shallow-water anchors, a trolling motor, and other power-hungry accessories. Read more