Dozen Zoo-Born Mexican Wolf Pups Find New Homes in Wild

ALBUQUERQUE – Twelve Mexican wolf pups are now being cared for and raised by surrogate wild wolf parents after successful efforts to introduce them into existing wolf litters in Arizona and New Mexico.

The young wolves were placed in their foster dens by scientists from the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan group and Interagency Field Team (IFT). The cross-fostering is part of an effort to restore the rare gray wolf subspecies to its former range and increase genetic diversity in the wild population.

Watch a video on cross-fostering from 2017

Five Mexican wolf pups were placed into wild dens in Arizona and seven pups were placed into wild dens in New Mexico from April 18 to May 10, 2019, in accordance with the Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan. Cross-fostering is a proven way to introduce pups into the litter of an experienced wild female. Typically, survival rates using this technique are higher than other wolf release methods.

Six of the pups came from the Endangered Wolf Center in Missouri, three from the Mesker Park Zoo in Indiana, two from the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas, and one from the Wolf Conservation Center in New York. In addition, three wild-born pups were removed from the Frieborn Pack in New Mexico and placed at the Endangered Wolf Center. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: Hunting Access Program helps landowners earn money, better manage wildlife on their property

Property owners in more than a dozen counties have the opportunity to enroll their land in the DNR’s Hunting Access Program – and play a key role in helping Michigan’s deer population.

The program is enrolling private property in priority counties for deer disease in portions of the southern and northern Lower Peninsula. Landowners should have at least 40 acres of land with some wildlife habitat (forest, brush, etc.) within a chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis priority county listed below.

Enrollment is open through Sept. 1. Priority counties for HAP enrollment include Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Ionia, Iosco, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle. Landowners in Alcona, Alpena, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo or Oscoda counties may be eligible for additional incentives. Read more

Hunting

Council to Advance to Hunting and the Shooting Sports Partners to Share R3 Message with Outdoor Media Professionals

Council to Advance to Hunting and the Shooting Sports Partners to Share R3 Message with Outdoor Media Professionals

Headlines on declining and shifting participation rates in hunting, target shooting, and outdoor recreation have been well-documented, and the announcements have not fallen on deaf ears. Now, the narrative has shifted as conservation and outdoor organizations have invested significant resources in recent years to address these declines by focusing on efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) hunters and target shooters, thus ensuring a solid future for conservation in America. This is the message that the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, in partnership with the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and the Association for Conservation Information (ACI), will share with outdoor media professionals at upcoming events. The goal of these events is to expand outdoor media professionals’ engagement in state, regional, and national R3 efforts.

“Outdoor media professionals play a key role in the national R3 movement. From providing ‘how-to’ content for new or soon-to-be hunters to encouraging current hunters to help mentor a new person – outdoor media professionals can help this national movement move forward,” said Kristen Black, Manager of Communications and Human Dimensions for the Council.

On June 19, the Council will update POMA members during the Visit Mississippi breakfast at the annual POMA conference in Wichita, Kansas. Council staff will share the latest trends in outdoor recreation participation and highlight opportunities to connect with the national network of R3 professionals. Kevin Orthman, Executive Director of POMA, shared that “POMA members are interested in what R3 is and are looking to connect with the mission. This unique opportunity is just the start of many more opportunities as we continue to work together to bridge the media and R3 professions and bring better content to hunters, target shooters, and other outdoor recreationists.” Read more

Firearms, Hunting

Pelican’s AIR 1745 Bow Case

TORRANCE, Calif. – Pelican Products, Inc., known for its premium high performance gun and rifle cases, announces the Pelican™ AIR 1745 Bow Case is now available for purchase online at www.Pelican.com.

Expertly designed to be crushproof, dustproof and watertight, the rugged and durable AIR 1745 Bow Case will securely transport bows, arrows, and other equipment in the lightest-weight package available to a wide variety of archery competitions and hunting setups.

“Pelican’s all-new AIR 1745 Bow Case is 40 percent lighter than our legacy products and still provides Pelican’s legendary durability,” said Bob Shortt, President of Pelican’s Consumer Division. “With smart organization features that are all safely secured in a compact and lightweight design, the case can be personalized to accommodate a wide range of archery equipment and hunting applications.” Read more

Archery

Cato Institute, FPC Urge Appeals Court to Strike Down Trump Bump-Stock Ban

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the Cato Institute and Firearms Policy Coalition announced their filing of an important amicus brief in the appeal of Aposhian v. Barr, a case challenging the federal bump-stock ban, at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The brief may be viewed at www.firearmspolicy.org/legal and https://www.cato.org/blog/again-pointing-out-executive-power-abuses-new-bump-stock-ban.

Cato and FPC argue in the brief that President Trump’s executive order banning bump stocks was arbitrary, capricious, and unconstitutional. As the court filing explains in detail, the Trump Administration disregarded the statutory definition of ‘machinegun’, a term used in both the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) and Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), in order to comply with a presidential mandate to re-classify legal “bump-stock-type devices” as illegal automatic weapons. Further, the brief argued the ATF’s reversal on what constitutes an automatic weapon was based on political expediency and not statutory ambiguity.

What’s more, they argued, the bump-stock ban expands the ATF’s authority to bring more firearms into the NFA’s purview, placing an un-knowable number of gun owners in criminal peril.

“In effect, there is now a Damoclean sword over law-abiding Americans,” explained Cato and FPC in the brief. “What was legal yesterday can be illegal tomorrow.” In other words, this case extends far beyond just bump stocks, and has the potential to affect the future legality of just about anything protected by the Second Amendment. Read more

Gun Control

NOAA Declines Listing Alewife, Blueback Herring as Endangered

As part of NOAA’s joint responsibility with U.S Fish and Wildlife Service for implementing the Endangered Species Act, we review whether species require protections under the Act.

We have completed a comprehensive status review and found a low risk of extinction for alewife and blueback herring throughout their range as well as for four alewife distinct population segments (DPS) and three blueback DPSs along the east coast of the United States.

After careful review of the status of both these species and of the identified DPSs, we have determined that listing alewife or blueback herring, or any of the seven identified DPSs under the Endangered Species Act as either threatened or endangered is not warranted at this time. Read more

Fishing

Michigan Wetland Wonders Photo Contest

Scattered across the state, Michigan’s wetlands provide great year-round recreation opportunities like birding, boating, fishing, hiking, photography and hunting. Now through July 14, the DNR’s Wetland Wonders Challenge offers even more reasons to visit. Stop by one of the 14 Wetland Wonders locations at state game and wildlife areas around Michigan, snap a picture next to the official sign, and you could win a Cabela’s gift card valued at up to $1,000.

But Michigan’s wetlands offer more than amazing recreation and prize opportunities. They’re key to improving and maintaining the state’s environmental health.

“Michigan’s wetlands are beneficial to humans and to wildlife,” said Holly Vaughn, DNR wildlife communications coordinator. “They provide important flood control functions, especially important when communities are experiencing a great deal of rainfall, and help to filter water, making our groundwater cleaner. Wetlands also provide nesting areas and resting spots for migrating birds to stop and refuel for their long migrations.” Read more

Wildlife

Sportfishing Industry Testifies on Tariffs Before U.S. Trade Representatives

Recreational fishing equipment is already subject to a unique 10% excise tax

Alexandria, VA – The American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) President, Glenn Hughes, along with many ASA members, made the case before the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that sportfishing equipment should be excluded from the next round of proposed tariffs on Chinese imports.

“We understand the position of the president regarding current trade relations with China and we support realigning the trade agreements to correct the unfair trade practices,” said Hughes. “However, we are deeply concerned about the impacts of these proposed tariffs on all the manufacturers who are already paying a unique excise tax of up to 10% to support sportfish restoration.”

On May 13, 2019, the administration proposed a list of approximately $300 billion in Chinese imports subject to Section 301 tariffs of up to 25%. This list of imports includes fishing equipment manufactured or sold by ASA’s members including fishing rods, hooks, reels, lines and many other necessary fishing equipment.

Today’s hearing before the USTR was an opportunity for the recreational sportfishing industry to make their case before the nation’s trade representatives that fishing equipment should be exempt from this new round of tariffs.

ASA members, including representatives from O. Mustad & Son, TackleDirect, Pure Fishing, ZEBCO Brands, Catch Co. and Big Rock Sports, provided testimony on the disproportionate economic harm these proposed tariffs could have on their bottom lines when this industry is already paying a unique 10% excise tax. Read more

Fishing

U.S. Marine Corps Adopts M18 SIG SAUER Handgun

NEWINGTON, N.H. –SIG SAUER, Inc. is honored to announce that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is set to adopt the M18, the compact variant of the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS), as their official duty pistol.

“The Marine Corps announcement to put the M18 in service with the Marines is a very exciting development for SIG SAUER, and a true testament to the success of the MHS program,” began Ron Cohen, President & CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The Marine’s procurement of the M18 brings the adoption of our Modular Handgun System full circle, as this means, beginning in 2020, either the M17 or the M18 will be officially in service with every branch of the U.S. Military.”

The M18 is a 9mm, striker-fired pistol featuring a coyote-tan PVD coated stainless steel slide with black controls. The pistol is equipped with SIGLITE front night sights and removable night sight rear plate, and manual safety. Read more

Firearms

BoatUS Urges Boaters to Be Alert for E15 Fuel

BoatUS urges recreational boaters to be on watch for engine-killing E15;
send message to Congress and President to fix Renewable Fuel Standard

SPRINGFIELD, Va.– Over the objections of a wide coalition of American citizens and environmental, conservation, food producer, fuel retailer, taxpayer advocate, and outdoor recreation industry groups, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently waived Clean Air Act provisions and eliminated the three-and-a-half-month blackout period on the sale of E15 (15% ethanol) fuel during the summer months, permitting the fuel to be sold year-round.

The fuel had been banned at the pumps from June 1 to September 15 over concerns that it contributed to smog on hot days. As a result of EPA’s action, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters that they will need to be very cautious at the gas station to ensure they aren’t filling their boats with fuel that’s bad (and illegal) for boat engines. Read more

Fishing
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