Gray wolf confirmed in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — Genetic testing results recently confirmed a large canine killed Jan. 28, 2021, near Ueling, was a gray wolf.

The female wolf had been legally shot by coyote hunters, who contacted the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Genetic testing showed the animal originated from a population of wolves found in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

“This is the third confirmed instance of wolf presence in Nebraska since the early 1900’s,” said Sam Wilson, Game and Parks Furbearer and Carnivore program manager. “Wolves can disperse great distances from their nearest populations in the northern Rocky Mountains or Upper Great Lakes. While we don’t have any evidence of resident wolves or reproduction in Nebraska, we can expect young wolves in search of new territory to cover long distances and make it to Nebraska from time to time.”

The first modern confirmation of a wolf occurred near Spaulding in 2002. The second occurred south of Bassett in 2020. All three confirmed wolves in modern times were genetically linked to the population in the upper Great Lakes.

For more information about wolves, their history and range, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/graywolf.

Wildlife

BIG 8 PRODUCTS Releases Turkey Beard Hanger

Atlanta, GA – April 15, 2021 – BIG 8 PRODUCTS®, your go-to for tough, DIY taxidermy products, has recently released a new product––Turkey Beard Hanger.

The Turkey Beard Hanger is BIG 8’s new solution to displaying turkey beards. It takes seconds to install the beard into the bottom of the Turkey Beard Hanger. The beard grip uses friction fit tabs to hold the beard in place. No tools or glue are required, which means no mess, and no hassle. Another key feature of the Hanger is the ease of switching out the beards whenever you’d like.

T.J. Eads, CEO of BIG 8 PRODUCTS® said, “Every turkey hunter we have met saves their beards – big or small. There are very few taxidermy options out there for displaying turkey beards. Therefore, we have spent the last year refining the best Beard Hanger for all turkey hunters. Our ‘Flex Fit Grip’ design allows you to mount your beard in seconds at an affordable price that looks great; after all, those memories matter.” Read more

Hunting

U.S. Coast Guard Changes Certificate of Documentation to 5 Years

New rule will spare some boaters a yearly task

SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Of the nation’s nearly 12 million registered recreational boats, those owners who federally document their vessels, or about 165,000 boats, will be spared the hassle of renewing their U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation every year as a result of recent rule change that now makes documentation valid for five years. The move was the result of Coast Guard cost-saving efforts and requirements set forth in the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018.

“The change to a five-year documentation period will be a time-saver,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. Kennedy notes the new rule also eliminates some options that were formerly available. Read more

Fishing

Huskemaw Adds 10×42 HD Binoculars to Optics Lineup

CODY, WY — Long known for delivering the most accurate and fastest long-range firing solution in optics with its riflescopes, Huskemaw Optics has added Huskemaw 10×42 HD binoculars to its lineup. The new binoculars were born from three years of rigorous field testing from sea level to 12,000 feet in elevation. The result is a compact and lightweight package that’s big on performance.

The new 10×42 HD Binoculars leverage the same high-density Blue Diamond lens coatings found on Huskemaw’s Blue Diamond Series long-range riflescopes. The multi-coated lenses are made from the highest quality German glass and deliver extreme clarity and light transmission. Read more

Optics

Federal Ammunition Introduces New 22 LR Punch Personal Defense

ANOKA, Minnesota – Different shooters have different needs, different limitations, and different firearms. Yet for all those variables, 22 Long Rifle has never really been an option for personal defense—until now. Federal Premium introduces Punch 22 LR, a new load using a first-of-its-kind 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet, pushed at maximum velocities for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns. Shipments of this product have begun to arrive at dealers.

“Self-defense isn’t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,” said Federal’s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, “Punch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.”

The Punch 22 LR bullet is a departure from standard 22 LR design. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing 22 projectiles, but its design also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. That is a lot to ask from a .22 bullet, which is why other manufacturers have shied away from the challenge. But Federal’s engineering team pulled it off, giving America’s favorite cartridge a chance to prove itself for protection.

“We’ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,” said Compton. “After much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.” Read more
Ammunition

Daiwa: High Quality, Small Price

Anglers will discover an extraordinary performance-to-price ratio in new Daiwa spinning reels

Cypress, CA – For anglers searching out their next reel that offers a high level of performance to value, now available, Daiwa’s Laguna LT was built for you. Abbreviated “LT” for “light” and “tough”, the Laguna LT offers everyone from panfish and trout anglers to bass, walleye, and inshore a solution that won’t leave your wallet empty.

In terms of application, the Laguna is available in six sizes – all the way from a pocket-sized 1000 model for panfish and smaller freshwater fish to the LAGUNA LT5000-C, which fits the bill for inshore applications and larger freshwater fish pursuits.

The reels feature a carbon frame, ABS aluminum spool, as well as DIGIGEAR® technology. DIGIGEAR means machined, digitally cut gears that are polished to increase smoothness and gear meshing. Daiwa’s Laguna LT is also considerably more resistant to wear than similarly priced models. Read more

Fishing

Plano AW2 Pistol Case

Grand Prairie, TX -When it comes to having multiple pistols that need the same levels of protection Plano has everyone covered. The interior has more than enough room for large frame revolvers, full size pistols, cameras, video equipment, or any sort of gear you can fit. From a single pistol to multiple cameras and lenses, there is an AW2 size to suit all needs.

As with all Plano products the AW2™ is made in the USA. It features a Dri-Loc® seal to keep dirt, dust, debris, and moisture out while the interior features pluckable foam. An over molded handle allows for easy transport and even airline approved. Plano has thought of nearly everything by ensuring additional safety with the ability to be pad lockable. Changing altitudes won’t affect any sensitive contents either, due to the incorporated pressure release valve.

FEATURES: Four-Pistol Case Read more

Firearms

New McLaughlin Poll Shows Majority Support for 2A, Focus on Current Laws

A new survey by McLaughlin & Associates, a nationally-recognized polling firm based in Blauvelt, New York, shows overwhelming public support for the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, and a clear majority belief that more gun control laws would not have prevented recent mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado. According to the survey results, 52.2 percent of the public thinks better enforcement of existing gun laws is the right approach to reducing violent crime, and 55.5 percent want politicians to focus on current laws rather than enact more laws (36.1%). Importantly, 58.1 percent of Americans believe any proposed firearm policies should be debated and enacted through a democratic process, while only 31 percent think the president should enact policy by executive order.
Gun Control

WBU Barred Owls Hatch

The female Barred Owl shading the nestlings inside the WBU nest box in a photo taken yesterday (Tuesday).

If you’re monitoring the Barred Owls nesting in the Wild Birds Unlimited nest box, provided via 2 live nest cam feeds, you probably already know the 2 new nestlings hatched last Friday and Sunday! Now the action has picked up inside the nest box with the female feeding the small downy owls and the male continuing to bring a variety of prey to feed, mostly mice these days. You can check in on the Barred Owl nestlings and monitor their rapid growth anytime, day or night, and follow the activities of the owls through the nesting season, which will continue through most of May at https://www.wbu.com/owl-cam/

In case the female is simply brooding the newly hatched nestlings, you can also check out some of the best video feeds that were recorded previously that are provided with some insightful captions.

Wildlife

Hummingbirds & Orioles are Northbound

A variety of hummingbirds are headed north; watch for returning Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as well as western species (photo by Andy Streufert).
A pair of Orchard Orioles is attracted to a half-orange filled with grape jelly (photo by Pam Carcia).

They are on the way! Some of the favorite birds that visit our feeding stations are beginning their annual spring migration northward – are you ready for them? It’s go time to clean your favorite nectar and fruit feeders, and stock up on the foods that will bring hummingbirds and orioles to our window views. It’s easy to attract these beautiful and remarkable birds, and we provide a great benefit to the birds that have traveled from tropical wintering areas. By offering a couple simple foods, it’s very easy to reap the rewards of having hummingbirds and orioles in your yard, out your window, and in your landscaping.

Some will be making a pit stop before continuing their race northward, while others may be at the end of their journey and will begin preparing for the rigors of the nesting season. You may even be able to entice some birds into spending the spring and summer in your neighborhood by providing all the right stuff, in the form of foods and fresh water. Read more

Wildlife
1 … 789 790 791 792 793 … 2,056