NWTF Supports FWS Proposal to Increase Public Access to Public Lands

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced a proposal for new or expanded access to 1.4 million acres across 74 national wildlife refuges and 15 national fish hatcheries managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a plan supported by the National Wild Turkey Federation.

“The NWTF is thrilled that the FWS continues to look at expanding hunting and fishing opportunities for the American public,” said Joel Pedersen, NWTF director of government affairs. “In addition to all the other opportunity provided, this proposal will specifically affect 18 refuges across 10 states, opening more than 139,000 acres to turkey hunting for the first time and expanding youth turkey hunting opportunity on an additional 62,000 acres. We thank Secretary Bernhardt and the Service for their continued commitment to provide access and opportunity to sportsmen and women.”

The proposal directly addresses one of the more common reasons given for the decline in hunting participation – hunters do not have places to enjoy their outdoor pursuits. This is something the NWTF also is addressing head on through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative goal to open new access to 500,000 acres for outdoor recreation. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Bass Pro Shops Sells 11 Cabela’s Stores for $324.3 Million

San Francisco — A joint venture led by Sansome Pacific, a real estate investment firm based in San Francisco, has acquired 11 locations of outdoor sports retailer Cabela’s for $324.3 million. The transaction was structured as a sale-leaseback with the seller, Bass Pro Shops, which owns the Cabela’s brand.

Much like Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s is known for its sprawling retail campuses. The 11-property portfolio spans 1.6 million square feet on 227 acres of land. Bass Pro Shops is based in Springfield, Missouri, while Cabela’s is based in Sidney, Nebraska. The specific locations of the 11 stores were not disclosed. Read more

Ammunition, Archery, Cutlery, Fishing, Optics

Pietta Firearms Increases Product Offerings With Challenge Series Shotguns

(Gussago, Italy) Pietta Firearms, manufacturers of the finest historical and modern firearms, known for its craftsmanship, quality and dependability is proud to announce their all-new series of shotguns. These beautifully crafted new shotguns were built in response to the overwhelming demand of adding more firearms to their modern collection.

The Challenge Series Shotguns come in an array of collections including the “Superior Line” with hand or laser engraved finishes, high-grade walnut stock, and available in 12 and 20 gauge with various barrel lengths. The “Hunting Line” features either a high-grade walnut or synthetic stock, plated with a selection of bright nickel, black nickel, bright and matte nickel bright blue and soon to be Mossy Oak Original Bottomland and available in 12 or 20 gauge in various barrel lengths. Lastly, the “Tactical Line” is available in an array of models including the Fixed Stock, Slug Barrel 4 +1, the Fixed Stock 4 +1, the 7 +1 Fixed Stock, the 7+1 Pistol Grip and the 7+1 Adjustable stock. Read more

Firearms

Bushnell Offers Father’s Day Promotions

Not Sure What to Get Dad: Use Bushnell’s Online Buyer’s Guide

OVERLAND PARK, KS – Bushnell, an industry leader in high-performance optics, announces several Father’s Day offers and tools to make his day the perfect one.

Customers can celebrate Dad with instant savings on select Prime and Nitro products. Receive $50 of instant savings off Bushnell Prime 10×42 binoculars, as well $30 or $50 off select laser rangefinders. Prime 10X42mm binoculars provide a lightweight, durable, and waterproof construction that will weather any storm. The BAK4 phase-coated prisms, and fully multi-coated optics ensure excellent low light performance and clarity when it matters most. Exclusive EXO Barrier protection repels water, oil, dust, debris and prevents scratches. IPX7 Waterproof construction ensures the optics stay dry inside, even when immersed in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Read more

Optics

Spring Into Savings: $25 Rebates On All Styrka S3 Series Optics

Eagan, MN – Save money now on a new Styrka Optic and be ready for successful hunting this fall!

From May 1 through June 30, 2019, Styrka is offering a $25 mail-in rebate on any S3 Series Rifle Scope*, S3 Series Binocular, or S3 Series Red Dot, including the new Styrka S3 Red Dot Reflex Sight. The rebates are in the form a pre-paid $25 Visa card.

Once you purchase your new Styrka S3 Series optic or optics, simply fill out the rebate card at the store or go online at Styrkapromo.com to download the rebate form and directions. Rebate forms must be postmarked by July 15, 2019.

And, the rebate is good for each Styrka S3 Series optic you purchase. Buy a S3 Red Dot and a pair of S3 Binoculars and receive $50 in Styrka rebates. Buy three? Get $75 back! The S3 Series Optics are Styrka’s entry-level glass, yet they’re built with the craftsmanship and the features you’d expect with optics twice the price. Read more

Optics

Watch Live As a Wild California Condor Chick Grows Up

Ithaca, NY & Fillmore, CA— People across the world can get up-close-and-personal with an endangered California Condor chick in real time through live streaming video of a cliff-side nest in Pole Canyon on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County, California. California Condor chick California Condor chick #980 (left) hatched on April 10. Its parents are 9-year-old female condor #563 and 19-year-old male condor #262. This is the pair’s first nesting attempt together and their first year on the live streaming Condor Cam as a pair. This is female condor #563’s second attempt at raising a chick, and the chick’s father, condor #262, fledged one other chick in the past with a previous mate.

Followers of the California Condor Cam watched a chick hatch live in the wild for the first time in history from another cliff-side nest on Hopper Mountain NWR in 2015. Since then, live streaming video of California Condor chicks attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers from all over the world.

“Today’s technology allows researchers like us to observe nests in remote locations without having to trek into the backcountry and wait for days, sometimes weeks, at observation blinds for a glimpse of the condors,” says Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s director of conservation and science. “With this live stream, the public can share in the thrill of seeing these rare and highly endangered birds care for their chick, and follow its development before it takes its first flight. What was once only seen by a few scientists is now available to anyone with an Internet connection.” Read more

Wildlife

High Speed Gear’s Tourniquet TACO Pouch

Swansboro, N.C. – High Speed Gear®, manufacturer of Battle-Proven Tactical Gear™, is proud to release a new nylon medical pouch, the Tourniquet TACO®.

Built from Cordura® nylon, this pouch is designed to retain most windlass-style tourniquets, such as SAM® XT, C-A-T®, SOF® TT, and SOF® TT Wide tourniquets, in one pouch. This new TACO® includes HSGI’s® unique shock cord design with an adjustable, removable Velcro® flap, which enables open-top use. The pouch also features a “hand-up” flap design that lifts the tourniquet up when opening to make it easier to grab. The four rows of laser-cut MOLLE provide flexibility to mount the pouch 1” up or 1” down with the included (1) HSGI® Clip.

“Carrying a tourniquet has become commonplace in everyday life. High Speed Gear’s new Tourniquet TACO makes that easier to do with its soft design and easily-accessible Velcro® flap,” explained Bill Babboni, High Speed Gear Vice President of Sales and Operations. “We always want to make it easier to carry the gear you need day in and day out.” Read more

General

Secretary Bernhardt Promises Increasing Public Access to Hunting and Fishing on 1.4 Million Acres Nationwide.

Secretary Bernhardt Proposes Increasing Public Access to Hunting and Fishing on 1.4 Million Acres Nationwide

Proposal Includes New Opportunities at 74 National Wildlife Refuges and 15 National Fish Hatcheries

Oak Harbor, Ohio – Furthering the Trump Administration’s efforts to increase access to public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced from Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge a proposal for new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 74 national wildlife refuges and 15 national fish hatcheries managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) across more than 1.4 million acres.

“President Trump is committed to expanding public access on public lands, and this proposal is executing on that directive by opening and increasing more access to hunting and fishing by the Fish and Wildlife Service at more stations and across more acres than ever before,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “Hunting and fishing are more than just traditional pastimes as they are also vital to the conservation of our lands and waters, our outdoor recreation economy, and our American way of life. These refuges and hatcheries provide incredible opportunities for sportsmen and women and their families across the country to pass on a fishing and hunting heritage to future generations and connect with wildlife.” Read more

Hunting

Protect Grassland Birds by Mowing Later

Photo caption: Landowners with 10-plus acres of field can help protect grassland birds such as bobolinks by delaying mowing til mid-August. (Courtesy VFWD/Hall).

MONTPELIER, Vt. — From bobolinks flushing up from a grassy field to the beautiful song of an eastern meadowlark, grassland birds greatly enrich summer in Vermont. But many of these species are in decline due to the loss of appropriate grassland habitat.

Landowners can make a difference by altering the times of year they mow fields that are 10 acres or larger. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Audubon Vermont are encouraging landowners to help promote these beloved species by waiting a little longer to mow and give these birds a chance to complete their nesting season. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: enjoy free fishing, off-roading, state park entry June 8-9

Our popular “Three Free” weekend – two full days when Michigan residents and visitors can grab a fishing pole, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks, all free of charge – is back, June 8 and 9.

You can enjoy fishing without a license (all other fishing regulations apply) and a variety of no-cost events planned around the state during Free Fishing Weekend; ride without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit as part of Free ORV Weekend and visit state parks without the regular Recreation Passport entry fee.

Learn more about the DNR’s “Three Free” weekend.

Fishing
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