September is Tree Stand Safety Awareness Month

ROANOKE, VA— September is tree Stand Safety Awareness Month and is the month that most hunters head back to the woods to hang stands in preparation for the upcoming hunting season. Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation’s (TSSA) mission is to significantly reduce tree stand accidents through promotion, education and best practices and our goal is to reduce the estimated number of tree stand incidents 50% by 2023. TSSA strives to ensure that every hunter comes home safe to their family and friends.

TSSA is excited to share that we are seeing positive changes in the estimated numbers of falls that are occurring on a national level. Based on the latest data available (2017), there has been a 28% decrease in the number of estimated falls requiring an emergency department visit, while over the same period of time, there has been 7.1% increase in the number of licensed hunters nationwide. This significant drop in the estimated number of falls reflects the industry wide efforts of TMA, NBEF, WTU, IHEA, state DNR’s, TSSA, our other supporting partners (Realtree, Hunter Safety System, Summit Tree Stands, Hunter-ed.com, American Hunting Lease Association, Sole Scraper) and others focusing on tree stand safety.

However, we still have room for continued improvement to ensure that everyone that uses a tree stand does it in a safe manner and comes home safe to their family and friends. To accomplish this, let’s get the season started by putting safety first.

TSSA has designed an educational campaign called the “ABC’s of Tree Stand Safety” to serve as the building blocks to the awareness campaign:

*Always remove and inspect your equipment

*Buckle on your full-body harness

*Connect to the tree before your feet leave the ground

By performing these 3 simple steps, tree stand users can virtually eliminate their risk of falling to the ground as the majority of falls occur outside the stand. TSSA encourages all hunters to take tree stand safety seriously, every time you hunt from, hang, or remove a tree stand. Read more

Hunting

USA Shooting World Championship Rifle Preview

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado   – Look for young guns and seasoned stalwarts to lead the USA Shooting Team in the Rifle events at the 52nd International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship August 31 – September 15 in Changwon, South Korea. Twenty Olympic quotas will be up for grabs in the Rifle events and the U.S. should be poised to pocket a few, along with some hardware in South Korea.
Three-time Olympic medalist Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, New Jersey, pictured) will make his sixth World Championship appearance in Changwon where he will shoot Men’s Three-Position Rifle and Prone Rifle. Though his highest international finish this year was fourth at the World Cup in Changwon, he’s been posting world-class Qualification scores throughout 2018, including most recently shooting a score of 1182 on his second day of Qualification at the USA Shooting National Championships. Emmons will also shoot the Men’s Prone Rifle event in which he won gold in 2002, bronze in 2010 and bronze as a Junior in 1998.
With the elimination of Men’s Prone Rifle from the Olympic program, Emmons’ two-time Olympic teammate Michael McPhail(Darlington, Wisconsin/U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit) has beefed up his Three-Position Rifle game, most recently finishing just out of the Finals in 10th place at the World Cup on his home range in Fort Benning, Georgia. In the past two World Cups, he’s posted Qualification scores of 1170. At the 2014 World Championship, McPhail won bronze in Men’s 300m Prone Rifle, which he will once again compete in Changwon. In addition to these two events, McPhail will also shoot Men’s 50m Prone Rifle.
Sarah Beard (Danville, Indiana) will make her third trip to a World Championship when she heads to Changwon. Though she’s taken much of the year off from international competition due to joining the Army, she showed she’s ready for the international stage, finishing seventh at the World Cup in Fort Benning in Women’s Three-Position Rifle, as well as posting world-class scores (623.8 and 628.3) on both days of Qualification in Women’s Air Rifle at the National Championships. She’ll have lots of chances at medals as she’ll be shooting not only these events, but the Air Rifle Mixed Team event, Prone, 300m Three-Position and 300m Prone Rifle. Beard won silver in 2010 in Junior Women’s Prone Rifle in Munich, Germany. Read more

Ammunition, Firearms

A No-Nonsense Look at Climate Change, Part 2

This is the second in a series of three features on Climate Change or Global Warming as it affects anglers, boaters and outdoors families as well as the industries that support them. Today, we look at the evidence that seems to indicate the process is underway, and that we humans may have a lot to do with it–admittedly a point of contention among many Americans today.

Learning about Global Warming is like hearing you need heart surgery, very unwelcome news. We naturally want a second opinion, a mulligan, a do-over.

I’ve been a bit of a foot dragger to the climate change party, but better to be a foot dragger than a knuckle-dragger, I suppose–I learn slowly, but I am capable of learning.

It’s true that some GW believers are as annoying as chigger bites in church, and a few of the most opinionated, sky-is-falling faithful have very little idea of what they are talking about. But the same can be said of some of the “deniers”, those of us who just don’t want to hear it.

From this end of the boat, it seems like we don’t need sides or parties in the discussion, we simply need to look at the facts and then try to make some sense of them, mutually. Maybe take a page from the “No Yelling School of Fishing Instruction”, a ladies’ fishing workshop in Florida, listen to each other and learn together.

Hunters and anglers are well aware of the success of scientific game and fish management–provide good habitat and reasonable harvest laws and fish and wildlife thrive. Climate science is an extension of this concept, to all species including ourselves. Seems like something all of us need to take time away from relining the reels and sharpening the broadheads to register, doesn’t it?

Could the Big GW Be a Hoax?

It’s certainly possible for a few scientists to let their political leanings or financial influences affect their reports, in either direction, or to be just plain wrong. Remember, even Einstein was found to be wrong about quantum physics and black holes. Read more

Wildlife

New Jersey Gov. Ends Public Land Bear Hunting

Fulfilling a campaign promise to the best of his ability, newly elected Gov. Philip Murphy has ended black bear hunting by executive order on all state-controlled public lands in New Jersey.

The order stops short of an outright ban on bear hunting in the Garden State only because, as stated in the order, the governor doesn’t possess the power to do so. That power resides with the New Jersey Fish and Game Council, which has authorized black bear hunting for the last eight years and through 2021.

“This is pure political pandering at its finest. Gov. Murphy knows that the wildlife experts in his own agencies use the best available science and practices when evaluating wildlife populations and setting hunting regulations,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president and CEO of the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “This backdoor attempt to undermine scientific wildlife management is a slap in the face to those biologists, presents a clear and present danger to New Jersey’s citizens and, ultimately, hurts the entire population of bears.”

Dense is the best way to describe New Jersey. It is the most densely populated state in the country with approximately 9 million citizens, and is estimated to have the densest population of black bears with surveys topping 3,500 bears in just the northern portion of the state.

With a robust population of black bears and such a large population of people, sightings, conflicts and attacks have taken place regularly in New Jersey – including the death of a student in 2014.

In his executive order, Gov. Murphy admits that neither his office nor the Commissioner of Environmental Protection have the power to unilaterally alter or cancel a hunt, something that has been upheld several times in court.

Instead, Gov. Murphy invokes safety on public lands as the motivation to end the hunt, even though all research affirms that hunting remains one of the safest activities millions of people engage in every year. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

Century Arms WASR Underfolder AK Rifle

Delray Beach, Fla. –   – Century Arms, North America’s premier AK manufacturer, has announced the release of the underfolding variant of the highly popular WASR AK rifle. The new underfolder version provides a more compact option while still maintaining all of the  features that lead to the original model  being nicknamed “The Mighty WASR.”

“The WASR has always been a popular model for Century. We are constantly receiving requests for additional configurations and the underfolder allows us to provide a fun, compact option for AK and WASR enthusiasts,” said Jason Karvois, Century’s Director of Sales. Made in Romania like its predecessor, the WASR Underfolder (or WASR UF for short) is exclusively imported by Century Arms with the first batch being offered by Atlantic Firearms. Read more

Firearms

Auto-Ordnance Custom Case Hardened 1911

Auto-Ordnance Offers Custom Case Hardened 1911

(Greeley, PA) – Auto-Ordnance, maker of the famous “Tommy Gun” and other classic firearms throughout history, is proud to offer the Custom Case Hardened 1911 pistol.

Taking a classic 1911 to the next level without diminishing its history is no easy feat, but adding an even more classic finish formally raises the bar. Auto-Ordnance has done just that with the new GI Series 1911 with “case hardened” finish. This time honored tradition of working steel produces distinct and unique patterns of color long sought after by firearms aficionados. The Auto-Ordnance Case Hardened 1911s are each a work of art, covered in a beautiful, swirling finish. Beneath the colorful surface is an all-steel, 5 inch, “GI” pattern 1911 pistol, chambered in powerful .45 ACP. The grips are checkered wood with the “US” military logo.

While every Auto-Ordnance GI 1911 is made to replicate the look of the original guns, they are also equipped with a precisely machined barrel. This guarantees that they may look like a GI pistol, but they will shoot with a level of accuracy the originals could not match. The Auto-Ordnance Case Hardened 1911 gives today’s shooter a chance to own a beautifully finished piece of American military history, and experience legendary shooting performance with every trip to the range!

The Case Hardened 1911, model 1911GCH, is chambered in .45 ACP and features checkered wood grips with the U.S. logo. It comes shipped with a 7-round magazine and has an MSRP of $1,327. Contact your local firearms dealer to purchase. Read more

Firearms

Federal Premium Adds to Hi-Bird Upland Shotshells

ANOKA, Minnesota –– Federal Premium has added new shot sizes to its popular Hi-Bird line of upland shotshells. The loads combine speed, hard-hitting pellets and a specialized wad to fold the highest doves, crows and pigeons, as well as pheasants and the most challenging upland birds. This includes various new 12-gauge loadings of shot sizes No. 4, 5 and 8. Shipments of this ammunition are being delivered to dealers now.

The powerful Hi-Bird loads’ two-piece wad features SoftCell technology to decrease perceived recoil and produce more consistent long-range patterns. Plus, its lead shot is engineered for the optimum blend of hardness and density. The result is dense long-range patterns with more downrange energy.

Features & Benefits

  • New shot sizes available
  • High-power 12-gauge loads maximize long-range lethality on pigeons, doves and upland game
  • Two-piece wad features SoftCell technology to decrease perceived recoil and produce better, more consistent long-range patterns
  • Lead shot is engineered for the optimum blend of hardness and density for even patterns and more downrange energy
  • Perfect for the field or competition

Part No. / Description / MSRP
HVF12H 4 / 12 gauge, 2 3/4-inch, 1 1/4-ounce, 4 shot, 1,330 fps / $12.95
HVF12H 5 / 12 gauge, 2 3/4-inch, 1 1/4-ounce, 5 shot, 1,330 fps / $12.95
HVF12H 8 / 12 gauge, 2 3/4-inch, 1 1/4-ounce, 8 shot, 1,330 fps / $12.95 Read more

Ammunition

A No-Nonsense Look at Climate Change

Editor’s Note: Today’s feature is part one of a three part series authored by Fishing Wire editor, Frank Sargeant.

By Frank Sargeant, Fishing Wire Editor

(This is the first of a three-part series on climate change, a controversial issue that puts anglers, hunters  and other outdoors advocates on the front lines in what has become a political hot-button not only across America but around the world. It’s also rapidly becoming a business issue for those of us in the fishing, hunting and boating industries. Today, we look at what it is, if it is, and why it has become a political issue rather than a practical problem that requires solving.)

Earth has no thermostat.

Good thing, too, or my wife would constantly be turning it up.

Ta-da-Boom

But global warming, AKA climate change, is no joke. In fact, the terms have become such memes they get initial capital letters and exclamation points:

Global Warming!

Climate Change!

When it comes to truths that have to be held self-evident, there’s no question there are getting to be more hot times in the old towns most nights. In the new ones, too. Amazingly, 17 of the 18 warmest years since modern record-keeping began have occurred since 2001. Read more

Wildlife

Boone and Crockett Club Approves Second Year of Funding for CWD Research

MISSOULA, Mont.– The Boone and Crockett Club Board of Directors recently approved a second year of research funding targeted at finding answers to combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

The Club and other organizations have been concerned about CWD for quite some time. Together with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Mule Deer Foundation, the Club founded the CWD Alliance more than 15 years ago.

“When our current Club president took office in January of 2017, he made CWD one of the primary focuses of his administration,” explained Dr. Josh Millspaugh, Boone and Crockett Professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Montana and subcommittee chair of the grants program. “With the help of our professionals on the ground, we expanded the Club’s role in addressing CWD by providing support, leadership, organization, and bringing experts together to set a path, which will have a meaningful impact on policy, research and education, and help coordinate stakeholders’ activities.”

“Denying we have a problem and just kicking at the dirt isn’t going to cut it,” added Ben B. Hollingsworth Jr., president of the Boone and Crockett Club. “I’ve committed my time as Club president to getting answers we can use. More research will pay huge dividends in our ability to manage this disease.”

The Club’s focus on CWD was reinforced by a recent unanimous decision by its Board to provide additional funding for research. This focus includes working with U.S. Congress on the Research Title of the pending Farm Bill to make CWD a high-priority research focus for our nation’s land-grant universities. Read more

Wildlife
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