Michigan: water levels behind Edenville Dam dropping next week; public warned to stay off ice

Water levels behind Edenville Dam dropping next week; public warned to stay off ice

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy on Wednesday issued a news release about work to begin lowering the Edenville Dam Tobacco River spillway, bringing down water levels behind the structure. Because this area around Gladwin and Midland counties is popular for many outdoor recreation pursuits – including ice fishing – we are sharing this information with our DNR subscribers.

According to the release:

  • As the water level drops and its velocity increases, the ice will become destabilized or could break apart, creating dangerous conditions. Receding water is also expected to expose unstable bottomlands, steep channel slopes and previously unseen debris, tree stumps or other hazards.
  • The public is warned to stay off the ice and the newly exposed bottomlands until further notice.
  • The area of unsafe ice conditions is between Dale Road and the remaining portion of the dam west of M-30. Caution also should be taken on the Tittabawassee River above the breached section of the dam – where the drawdown could lead to shifting and unstable ice – and below the dam on the Tobacco River.

The full EGLE news release gets into more detail about the reasons for the work and includes a map outlining the area for caution, an interactive story map, a batch of frequently asked questions and answers, and links to a webinar that explains the emergency work.

As a general rule of outdoor winter recreation, the Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone to put safety first, get familiar with local conditions and always dress for the weather.

Fishing

SIG Custom Works Collaborates with Team SIG’s Max Michel to Develop the P320MAX

SIG Custom Works Collaborates with Team SIG’s Max Michel to Develop the P320MAX

NEWINGTON, N.H. – SIG SAUER is pleased to announce the continued expansion of the SIG Custom Works series of pistols with the introduction of the P320MAX. The SIG Custom Works P320MAX has been concepted and designed with Team SIG Captain Max Michel and is optimized for Carry Optics competition.

“The is a highly anticipated SIG Custom Works release because it incorporates the extensive Carry Optics competition experience of Team SIG Captain Max Michel into both its function and design,” began Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The P320MAX is a high-performance pistol built with the exclusive TXG grip module that infuses tungsten into the polymer material providing the weight of steel with the flex of polymer. Additionally, for the first time in a SIG Custom Works build, we have incorporated a factory-installed red dot optic using Max’s competition optic, the ROMEO3MAX, making this pistol a great choice for the competitive shooter, or anyone looking to take their game to the next level.” Read more

Firearms

Sports Afield Haven Bio Hub Safe

Sports Afield Haven Bio Hub Safe

SA Consumer Products is excited to introduce the latest In-Home Secure Storage innovation, the all-new Haven Bio Hub 36 Gun Safe. The engineers at SACP have integrate a best-in-class biometric sensor into the spindles locking hub making this safe the most intuitive and quick entry long gun fire safe on the market. This biometric sensor is not only the most reliable on the market but will accept 100 individual fingerprints. This allowing the owner to grant access to other individuals, such as a spouse, by allowing them to program their fingerprint into the sensor as well. No more codes to remember, just fast, secure and reliable entry.

The Haven 36 BIO Hub Safe is large enough to hold 36 long guns as well as 6 handguns and 1 quick access long gun on the door organizer. The safe in made of 14g steel and measures 59” x 30” x 25” while weighing in at 560 pounds. Security doesn’t stop at the biometric sensor, true 4-way locking comprising of 10 solid steel 1.5” bolts which are driven by a robust solid steel 5 spoke handle. It is also equipped with the proprietary Triple Seal Technology which protects against water smoke and fire making this safe waterproof for up to 2 feet of water for a full 7 days and boasts a 75-minute fire rating at a blistering 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. Read more

Firearms

Benelli 20-Gauge Super Black Eagle 3

COLUMBUS, Georgia — The new Benelli 20-Gauge Super Black Eagle 3 in Realtree MAX-5 Camo offers all-weather performance and reliability in a true 20-gauge platform. Chambered to accept up to 3-inch shells, this shotgun is light and effective, weighing in at just 5.8 pounds.

SBE3 Technologies and Features

Combtech & Comfort Tech 3

Comfort Tech™ splits the stock diagonally and utilizes shock-absorbing chevrons, essentially turning the entire stock into a recoil pad. Now 13 years old, this chevron system is still the most efficient design possible, and was the basis for the SBE3 stock. The chevron size and location has been optimized on Comfort Tech 3. In addition, the new Combtech greatly reduces facial impact and vibrations.

Inertia-Driven System

Benelli’s clean-burning Inertia Driven System never requires adjusting, cycles consistently in conditions that border on the unfair and easily handles everything from light field loads to 3½-inch magnums. Gas symptoms simply can’t compete from a cleanliness and speed perspective. Read more

Firearms

USCCA Applauds Montana Governor for Signing Constitutional Carry Bill

 

The U.S. Concealed Carry Association Applauds Montana Governor Gianforte for Signing Constitutional Carry Bill Into Law

Encourages All Gun Owners to Continue Ongoing Firearms Education, Training & Self-Defense Preparation

West Bend, WI – The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) today commended Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R-MT) for signing HB 102 – a “constitutional carry” bill – into law, making Montana the 17th state to allow responsibly-armed Americans to carry concealed handguns without a permit. The bill will allow law-abiding Montana gun owners to carry a firearm for self-defense throughout the state without first having to obtain a government mandated permit to do so. The bill will also remove some of Montana’s “gun-free zones” from the list of prohibited places. Read more
Self Defense

Dorsey Tackles Looming 2A Fight in Forbes

Excerpt from Chris Dorsey’s column in Forbes

President Biden’s remarks last week on the three-year anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, shooting that saw a gunman kill 17 students and wound another 17, was seen by gun rights advocates as the administration’s first salvo in what is expected to be a fierce and prolonged battle over Second Amendment rights in America. “I am calling on Congress to enact common sense gun law reforms,” said Biden, “including requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets.”

“President Biden’s demand that Congress ban the modern sporting rifle (MSR), which he knowingly mislabels as an ‘assault rifle’ and ‘weapon of war,’ denies the reality that more murders are committed with knives, fists and clubs than all rifles combined,” responded the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the gun industry’s influential advocacy arm. “Over 20 million MSR’s are in circulation today, used daily for lawful purposes. And rolling back protections on lawful manufacturers of firearms would be akin to allowing activist lawyers to sue Ford for the wrongful deaths caused by drunk drivers.”

To read the rest of this column click here.

Gun Control

SCI Members Rally Against Harmful “Cottonwood” Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a series of court decisions known as “Cottonwood,” Safari Club International (SCI) submitted over 1,000 comment letters from our nationwide membership to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in support of their new rule that would combat the effects this harmful litigation has had on active forest management.

The Cottonwood decision, if left unchallenged, poses a serious threat to the advancement of forest management initiatives such as wildfire fuel reduction missions and forest habitat development projects crucial to the survival of big game, game birds, and other forms of wildlife.

Without management, our public lands will become highly susceptible to disastrous wildfires, insects, and infectious diseases. These lawsuits have also significantly undermined federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from cooperating with wildlife and sportsmen advocacy groups like Safari Club International (SCI). Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Ruger’s Exclusive Jeff Quinn Memorial GP100 Revolver

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is pleased to introduce the Jeff Quinn Memorial GP100® revolver to honor Gunblast.com founder, Jeff Quinn, who passed away last year.

Ruger created the Jeff Quinn Memorial GP100 in collaboration with Lipsey’s and the members of Gunblast.com. This polished blued GP100 chambered in .44 Special features a Hogue® walnut grip engraved with Jeff’s signature and iconic dual-braided beard motif. With a high-polish stainless hammer and trigger, a non-fluted cylinder, 4.20” half-lug barrel and gold bead front sight, this revolver is a testament to everything Jeff enjoyed about Ruger® firearms. Only 500 of these exclusive revolvers have been produced, each featuring a unique serial number starting with Jeff’s initials (JQ-000 through JQ-500).

Ruger and Lipsey’s will each donate a portion of the proceeds from this revolver to an organization that was close to Jeff’s heart – Bikers Who Care (BWC). BWC is an organization of Motorcycle Enthusiasts dedicated to supporting The Dream Factory of Clarksville, TN by fully sponsoring Camp Rainbow, a summer camp for seriously ill children, among several other local children’s charities. Jeff was a long-time member of BWC and supported their mission with all his heart. Read more

Firearms

Virtual Owl Workshop Friday-Saturday

Northern Saw-whet Owls are among the stars of the show during this week’s Virtual Owl Workshop.

All About Owls is a two-day virtual workshop available via Zoom this Friday and Saturday, February 19 & 20. Offered by a leading owl banding and research center, the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, Minnesota, participants will explore the 19 species of owls found in the United States as masters of camouflage with amazing physical adaptations and lifestyles that make them top of the line predators from the smallest to the largest species. Learn how some owls are migrants, some are residents, and explore general identification keys, including plumage and calls. Plus the workshop will highlight some of the long-term and current research efforts studying owls that are underway at Hawk Ridge.

The Zoom workshop will take place Friday February 19th from 6:30 to 8:30pm, and Saturday February 20th from 9:30 to 11:30am and from 1:00 to 3:00pm. Sessions will be interactive and include stretch breaks, and time for discussions. To learn more about the All About Owls Virtual Workshop, see https://www.hawkridge.org/event/all-about-owls-two-day-virtual-workshop-with-optional-add-on-field-trip/?instance_id=3399

Wildlife

Nighthawk Migration & Wintering Areas

Common Nighthawks primarily migrate to Brazil during North America’s winter season (photo by Paul Konrad).
Maps showing the migration routes of Common Nighthawks during fall (left) and spring (right).
Common Nighthawks are especially had to find when they are not in flight, owing to their cryptically colored plumage (photo by Paul Konrad).

A new cooperative research project conducted by representatives of several organizations helped to attach new miniature GPS-satellite tags on 52 Common Nighthawks at 13 locations across the species’ expansive nesting range to better understand where these birds spend their time throughout the year. The study provided insights about their ecology, especially during winter and migration periods. Common Nighthawks are one of the Western Hemisphere’s most widespread migratory species, yet we know little about them after they leave their nesting sites.

The study was initiated by the Migratory Connectivity Project at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and co-led with the department of Environment and Climate Change Canada and the University of Alberta. Their new research publication has just been released this month in the scientific journal Ecography. Recent estimates indicate that Common Nighthawks have declined by more than 50 percent during the past 40 years. Nighthawks are aerial insectivores – birds that catch insects in flight – a group that is declining faster than any other group of birds in Canada. Read more

Wildlife
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