Monitoring Bird Migration during mid-April

With some species, you can see daytime migrations firsthand, including Canada and Cackling Geese.
Many birds migrate at night, high above ground, making it hard to observe their migration flights, including many songbird species including Orange-crowned Warblers and Hermit Thrushes (all photos by Paul Konrad).

Bird Migration is really heating up, and there’s much more to come. Which species can you expect next? There is a remarkable tool you can use to prepare for new species that will soon arrive in your region, and when to expect the peak of migration for a given species in your region of the country – and more! Plus you can check continental radar screens that show weather-related migrations happening in real time or as recorded during the past several hours; you can even review last week’s migration radar info if you wish – on BirdCast. Read more

Wildlife

The Trick to Attracting Woodpeckers to Nest Boxes

Northern Flickers are the most likely woodpeckers to use an adapted nest box, but Downy Woodpeckers may be enticed to use a wood chip filled nest box just as readily.
The BestNest Classic Three Woodpecker House

Ready to try something new? You can attract woodpeckers to your property specifically to enjoy the activities of Downy or Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, Hairy or Red-headed Woodpeckers, or maybe a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Actually, Northern Flickers may be the most likely woodpeckers you can attract to a nest box. But woodpeckers usually excavate their own nesting cavities, and provide a high percentage of nesting cavities used by a variety of cavity nesting birds. So what’s the trick to attracting woodpeckers to use a nest box?

Because pairs of woodpeckers prefer to excavate their own nesting cavity, birders have learned that it’s best to stuff a nest box intended for woodpeckers and flickers with wood chips. If all goes according to plan, woodpeckers will “excavate” the wood chips from the nest box, not unlike they excavate pulpy dead wood from the inside of a dead branch or snag to create their nesting cavity.

NestWatch and other people in the know suggest packing a nest box intended for woodpeckers completely full of wood chips, and tamping the wood chips into the nest box to give the material a “soft-solid” composition, so a woodpecker can excavate the interior. Read more

Wildlife

ZEISS Spring 2020 Promotion

From April 15 – July 15, ZEISS will be offering fantastic incentives for the spring season through participating ZEISS authorized retailers.

Promotions include:

– Receive a FREE ZEISS Terra ED binocular with purchase of a ZEISS Victory SF binocular – representing up to a $500 retail value. Redemption of the Terra ED 8×42 or 10×42 will be at time of purchase.

– Receive a FREE ZEISS Victory Pocket binocular with purchase of a complete Victory Harpia 85/95 mm spotting scope – representing up to a $880 retail value. Redemption of the Victory Pocket 8×25 or 10×25 binocular will be at time of purchase.

The ZEISS Victory SF binoculars bring unbelievable clarity and viewing comfort to year-round glassing and wildlife observation. These binoculars provide an exceptionally wide field of view, fast and precise focusing, and deliver the highest image resolution. They feature the ZEISS exclusive ErgoBalance™ concept that allows for hours of fatigue-free nature observations.

The ZEISS Victory Harpia spotting scope pairs with a slim eyepiece that offers comfortable viewing and features a bayonet mount for safe and secure lock-up upon installation. The DualSpeed™ focus enables automatic switching between rapid and fine adjustment for fast and precise focusing. The LotuTec® coating ensures a clear view in all weather conditions.

Now is the perfect time to consider a new super premium spotting scope for the spring and enjoy the true benefits of a ZEISS Victory Pocket binocular with a family member or friend. Plus, you can share the ZEISS Terra ED binocular with a friend while you are enjoying your new ZEISS Victory SF binocular! The spring 2020 promotion runs through July 15, and supplies are limited.

Optics

SCI Shines Light on COVID-19 Impact to Wildlife Conservation

Washington — Safari Club International CEO W. Laird Hamberlin recently brought attention to the looming threat to wildlife conservation as a result of COVID-19 in an op-ed that appeared in The Daily Caller.

Americans are rightly focused on the threat that COVID-19 poses to humans. We are all thankful for the first responders and health care workers who are on the front lines of this crisis, and we mourn the senseless loss of human life. We are all cheering on the scientists and researchers who are working feverishly to develop and test possible treatments and a vaccine, while the rest of us remain at home and practice social distancing to limit the spread of the pandemic.

But the coronavirus poses another threat – to our nation’s wildlife. The threat does not rest in direct transmission of the virus to animals, but in an economic chain reaction that could deny the states billions of dollars in vital funding for the conservation of wildlife and habitat. Read more

Wildlife

Volquartsen Habu 22 LR Pistol

Carroll, IA

Following the success of the Black Mamba, which was introduced in 2019, Volquartsen Firearms has released their new pistol, the Habu (h??bu) 22 LR. The Habu, its name derived from a Japanese pit viper, is built to strike with accuracy and precision.

The Habu combines the features of the Volquartsen Scorpion 22 LR pistol with the push-button takedown functionality of the Ruger® MK IV™ standard aluminum frame complete with Volquartsen’s signature Volthane Grip.

The Habu features the Volquartsen LLV Competition Upper designed with a stainless steel barrel, laser hardened stainless steel breech, and housed in an aluminum shroud. This design provides match grade accuracy in a lightweight package. Available in a 4.5″ or 6″ barrel length. The integral Picatinny rail on top and bottom is standard.

The Volquartsen Competition Bolt with DLC coating ensures smooth operation and functioning whether it’s a day of plinking at the range or competing at the highest level.

The Habu build utilizes a Ruger® MK IV™ standard aluminum frame that has been retrofitted with the Volquartsen Accurizing Kit providing a crisp, clean 2.25 lb. trigger pull. The frame is outfitted with Volquartsen’s Volthane grip, designed to give the shooter more control. This unique grip design features an aggressive no-slip diamond checkering. Made from a proprietary material, the Volthane Grip will withstand the elements as well as hold up to moisture, gun oils, and cleaners.

MSRP is starting at $1,528.00

Firearms

Meprolight High Visibility Pistol Sights

GET ON TARGET FASTER

Typically, you go to the range to practice in broad daylight. Great, but what happens when you need to defend yourself or those around you in less than ideal conditions? Tiger McKee, Director of Shootrite Firearms Academy wrote the following in The Tactical Wire, “Based on data from previous attacks we know that it’s likely to occur during hours of the day associated with adverse light, and — if you’re forced to fire — you’ll likely fire about three to four shots.” (The TacticalWire.com 3.25.20) Meprolight recommends you upgrade the sights on your handgun with tritium enhanced day/night sights. The best way is to see for yourself. Go to your local gun dealer and following all of the gun safety rules, look down the sights of a handgun with standard sights in low-light conditions. Then do the same with a handgun that has upgraded day/night sights. See how much more visible and faster you can put the tritium illuminated sights on the target. Introduced at the 2020 SHOT Show, Meprolight’s High Visibility Pistol Sights (MEPRO HVS) are 30% brighter than any other pistol sight on the market and come with an extremely bright contrasting color ring on the front sight that are available in three colors (Orange, Green or Yellow). The color combinations help the shooter focus on the front sight quicker which is critical for self defense or competitive shooting. Available for Glock, Sig, and Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. Read more

Firearms

Federal Premium Terminal Ascent Selected as Editors’ Choice

ANOKA, Minnesota –– Shooting Sports Retailer magazine recognized Federal Premium Terminal Ascent with an Editors’ Choice honor in a recent article published in its April 2020 issue. Federal considers its all-new Terminal Ascent as the best hunting bullet ever built within the 98-year history of the company due to several unique elements that make up its superior overall design.

The article reads: Federal Terminal Ascent’s match-grade bonded bullet construction delivers deep penetration on close targets, while its patented Slipstream polymer tip helps flatten trajectory and initiates expansion at velocities 200 fps lower than comparable designs. The bullet’s long, sleek profile offers and extremely high ballistic coefficient and its AccuChannel groove technology improves accuracy and minimized drag and wind drift. its copper shank and bonded lead core retain weight for deep penetration at any range. Terminal Ascent is available in a full selection of long-range hunting cartridges ranging from 6.5 Creedmoor to .300 WSM. Read more

Ammunition

Galco Underwraps 2.0

Galco is excited to announce an improved version of the time-tested belly band: the Underwraps 2.0!

The Underwraps™ 2.0 is an update of Galco’s belly band holster that allows concealed carry of multiple weapons and accessories around your torso, in a nearly infinite variety of configurations. Dual holster pockets provide both butt-forward and barrel-forward cants. This allows you to carry in right and left hand draw, strongside, crossdraw or in the appendix position.

The pair of leather holster pockets facilitate stable positioning of one or two firearms simultaneously, while two accessory pockets accommodate spare ammo, flashlight, knife, badge, handcuffs, or many other EDC items. Our latest improvements to the holster pockets allow them to fit an even greater variety of popular carry guns, including those with larger tactical rails on the frame. Read more

Firearms

CVA SCOUT™ .410 Blued/Realtree Timber Camo Shotgun

COLUMBUS, Georgia — The CVA SCOUT™ .410 Blued/Realtree Timber Camo Shotgun is just right for the turkey hunter who wants a high-quality single-shot shotgun. For 2020, the new SCOUT Blued/Realtree Timber Shotgun features a JEBS X-Full Turkey Choke.

Its sleek, lightweight and easy-to-operate design sets a new standard for affordable single-shot shotguns. The stock is lightweight, includes an adjustable length of pull spacer and features CVA’s CrushZone® Recoil pad. This model is perfectly balanced in a 100% ambidextrous, composite stock making the gun incredibly quick to aim and shoot. Read more

Firearms

Face Masks Available from Fishing and Hunting Gear Manufacturers

Minneapolis, MN – The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Friday new guidance to Americans regarding the use of cloth face coverings to reduce the spread of coronavirus. An excerpt of the CDC’s specific guidance appears below:

We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

Fish Monkey Performance Face Guard (Note: turn vented mouth feature to the side in this application)
Many anglers and hunters may already have a variety of suitable, cloth face coverings on hand in the form of scent-control facemasks, neck gaiters and multi-functional headwear designed for hunting and fishing. Some of these products offer the added benefits of being antimicrobial, odor adsorbing or moisture wicking.

Many of the companies that make these products are reminding their customers that their face covers provide an effective and economical way to comply with the recent CDC guidelines, while reserving N-95 masks for medical workers and first responders on the frontlines battling this insidious virus.
ScentLok makes a variety facemasks. The Savanna Lightweight Multi-Paneled Gaiter offers Spandex binding and insets for a comfortable, next-to-skin fit; three panels with an articulated nose tab, wicking treatment and Carbon AlloyTM technology for maximum odor adsorption.
Many of the companies Traditions Media represents offer such products, including ScentLok, Gill, Fish Monkey, St. Croix Rod, and Hobie. Of course, there are others. Read more
Fishing, General
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