View Exciting Owl Nests via Live Cams

Young owls are great fun to observe as they mature at their nest sites, such as this large downy Great Horned Owl.

Now, birders can monitor three different species of owls at their nests – Great Gray Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Barred Owls – thanks to live-feed cameras and internet streaming. In fact, you can observe the Great Gray and Great Horned nests simultaneously at their Montana locations. The Great Gray Owls are incubating eggs at their picturesque snag-top nest site, while the Great Horned Owls already have three large feathered nestlings. The Barred Owl pair is caring for three downy nestlings in their infamous nest box in Indiana.

The nest sites of the Great Gray and Great Horned Owls can be viewed live at https://www.owlresearchinstitute.org/ provided by the Owl Research Institute (ORI) and Explore. ORI also promises a new nest cam to monitor a Long-eared Owl nest soon, plus they will provide their annual view from the Arctic live cam at a Snowy Owl nest site when local conditions permit. In the meantime, you can review some remarkable video highlights from last year’s Snowy Owl nesting season as a bonus to the on-going live owl camera feeds. Read more

Wildlife

Hummingbird Magnets – Potted Flowering Plants

Hummingbirds feed at a variety of flowering plants, such as this Allen’s Hummingbird about to feed at a flowering tree tobacco plant.
When blooming, bottlebrush is an especially attractive flowering bush to a variety of birds including hummingbirds, orioles, and warblers, such as this Townsend’s Warbler.

Urban birders living in smaller spaces often have a hard time creating a birdscape, but as hummingbirds arrive, everyone can be helpful to migrating and arriving hummers by having sugar-water feeders in position – and there’s one more step people short on space can add. Potted flowering plants provide flower-nectar that is a great second offering for hummingbirds – try sharing a mix of flowering plants, vines, and even small shrubs that will add a lot to the beauty of your balcony, windowsill, or patio.

If you have more space in a yard or larger property, you can add potted flowering plants to add a new focal point, including the pots themselves, which can be used to accent a design plan. Potted plants are versatile in that they are mobile – you can move them anywhere in your yard, any time you’re ready for a change – and you can add other flowering potted plants through the summer. You may even wish add some hummingbird-friendly potted plants to add color and design element to your feeding station. Read more

Wildlife

Federal Kubota Sweepstakes

ANOKA, Minnesota – – Whether it be deer or ducks, bulls or bears, scouting or sighting in: Federal Season is always in full swing. That is why Federal teamed with Kubota to give away a SideKick UTV that gets you, your gear and Federal Premium ammunition to the range, the field, and everywhere in between.

“We are very excited about this Sweepstakes, as it is one of the biggest prize packages Federal has ever done,” said Federal’s Sr. Brand Manager Brian Anderson. “Kubota is a great company with high quality products, and we are proud our brands have engaged together for this valuable giveaway.”

The SideKick UTV grand prize package also includes a big Federal-branded merchandise package including a shirt, hat, gun case, campfire ring and much more. Those entering can also opt-in to receive periodic emails about new products and special offers from Federal and Kubota.

The 2020 Federal Kubota Sweepstakes is open and offered only to current legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and District of Columbia, who are at least 18 years of age or older (or 19 for residents of Alabama and Nebraska) at the time of entry. The Sweepstakes started April 14, 2020 and ends on July 31, 2020. The Random Drawing will take place on or about August 5, 2020. No purchase necessary. Limit one entry per entrant.

For details on how to enter, complete eligibility requirements, prizes, odds of winning, and full official rules, visit www.FederalKubotaSweeps.com. Read more
Ammunition, General

Umarex 850 M2 Rifle

The NEW Umarex 850 M2 Offers Accuracy, Performance, and Convenience

FORT SMITH, AR – Umarex USA has once again pushed the limits by offering an all new CO2-powered pellet rifle that resembles a traditional repeating rifle; the Umarex 850 M2. CO2 powered pellet rifles are known for precision accuracy and the Umarex 850 M2 delivers on that reputation with tack-driving performance.

The Umarex 850 M2 presents a wide range of features including: Picatinny rails, a removeable cheek piece, a fiber-reinforced synthetic stock in a modern design, fiber optic sights, 2-stage adjustable trigger, 11mm scope mounting rail, and a high-quality aluminum 8-round magazine. It can shoot as many as 200 shots with one 88 gram CO2 cartridge and sends pellets up to 700 feet per second with pellet-on-pellet accuracy. If you don’t want to use an 88 gram CO2 tank, then get this Umarex 2×12 gram CO2 Adapter (sold separately). Read more

Firearms

SCOTUS Asks San Jose for Response to SAF’s Rodriguez Gun Rights Case

BELLEVUE, WA – The U.S. Supreme Court has instructed the City of San Jose, California to respond to a writ of certiorari from the Second Amendment Foundation in the case of Lori Rodriguez, et al. v. City of San Jose , which involves the city’s confiscation of legally-owned firearms and the city’s refusal to return them.

“We’re encouraged by this development in the case,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “If the city thought they could just ignore this case and make it go away, they’re wrong.”

SAF is joined by the California Gun Rights Foundation on behalf of plaintiff Mrs. Rodriguez, who is legally qualified to own firearms in the state. Her firearms were seized seven years ago after her husband was taken to a hospital on a mental health issue. At the time, a San Jose police officer advised Rodriguez he had authority to seize all firearms in the residence, including those belonging solely to her, which were all locked in a California-approved safe. The guns were taken without a warrant, and over Rodriguez’s objection. Read more

Gun Control

Plano Adds Rust Prevention To Their All-Weather Rifle Cases

Grand Prairie, TX – Now hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts can rely on Plano to protect their cherished firearms from rust. Plano has added their Rustrictor technology, perfected in their tackle boxes, to their All-Weather 2 Rifle case.

Built to withstand the rigors of travel and still maintain your zero, the All-Weather 2 Rifle case features a tough outer shell built to shrug off abuse from the most careless baggage handler. The impenetrable exterior features dual-stage lockable latches and a Dri-Loc seal that creates a watertight, dust-proof shield. Lockable tabs allow you to use your choice of padlock to prevent unauthorized access. Read more

Firearms

LSI Adds Two CITADEL BOSS 25 Offerings

TWO NEW CERAKOTE Models have been added to the CITADEL BOSS 25 Semi Auto 12 ga. Shotgun lineup (based on the popular AR platform). FDE – (Flat Dark Earth) and TACTICAL GREY models now compliment the already popular Semi Auto that is full of some great features that is truly a versatile shotgun that is capable of home defense, recreational and 3 gun competition use. The CITADEL BOSS 25 is built from the ground up to be a user-friendly, workhorse shotgun that will perform under the harshest of conditions sporting great looks and features – Here are some of the specs:

·CERAKOTED – FDE and TACTICAL GREY Models Added

·12 ga.

·Semi- Auto

·3” Chamber

·18.75” Chrome lined Barrel

·Muzzle Break

·37.75” Overall Length

·LOP 14”

·8 lbs

·Textured Grip Forend

·5 Chokes

·2 – 5 rd Detachable Mag

·Fully Adjustable Folding Sights

·Picatinny Rail

·MSRP $639 Read more

Firearms

Turkey on the Menu

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

One pull of the shotgun’s trigger reminded me just how potent turkey loads are.  Even though the Winchester Long Beard 12-gauge ammo contains less shot than typical, shoulder-pounding shells designed specifically for turkeys, it packs one heck of a punch.  Nonetheless, with opening day of turkey season around the corner, it was time to take my medicine.

Fortunately, the EOTech optic sitting atop my scattergun, made short work of the sighting-in session, thus minimizing shoulder abuse.  It just isn’t fun!

With that out of the way, I packed  my portable blind and headed afield to set it up.  Even though it will stand out like a beacon in the night to the whitetails, turkeys on the other hand just don’t see the conspicuous traps for what they are.

This season is shaping up as a unique one, as I’ve observed a group of 11 birds growing up together.  One adult hen and her offspring were once a tightly knit assembly of drumsticks but have since become scattered about.  The six males in the family unit always seemed to have promoted instability, as they chased each other in games of hierarchy.

But, now they have been pushed aside and chased away by bullies with beards.  Full-fledged gobblers now run with their chosen circle of hens, and that took some doing.  Just last week, two adult males were in mixed-martial-arts mania jumping into the air kicking and flapping.  When the aerobatics were complete, one gobbler finished the foray by running the loser out of sight.  Like everything else in life, there are winners and losers.

In the midst of the Corvid-19 pandemic chaos, I will head afield before dawn to watch and listen to the wild world waking up.  A little coffee, some welcome warmth from the propane heater, a cushioned seat and all the paraphernalia any turkey hunter could desire will be at my disposal.

There I will listen with my old ears and will remain hidden from the reality of the world’s troubles.  Within the confines of the blind, I will be one with my thoughts  – wherever they may lead.  What more could a person want?  Oh, sure a turkey dinner would be a nice reward but I may just prolong the adventure this time around.

A Gobbler Ventures into the Danger Zone

Hunting

Most National Parks, Wildlife Refuges Remain Open

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt

America’s public lands belong to the American people. In normal times, many of us regularly visit national parks, wildlife refuges, and other recreational sites spread out across more than 500 million acres of land managed by the Department of the Interior.

The nation’s public lands range from urban parks with roller-skating pavilions to iconic and popular venues for hiking, sightseeing, biking, hunting, fishing and other recreational activities.

But these are certainly not normal times.

President Trump has led and coordinated an “All-of-America” strategy to combat the coronavirus pandemic and slow the spread of the virus. Read more

General
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