Try Trulock Chokes for Predator Hunting

A growing segment of hunters are targeting predators with a different weapon of choice – shotguns. Why? Three reasons. Predators – and their prey, not coincidentally – often move in brushy habitats where lack of visibility prohibits long-range shooting. Secondly, as predators like coyotes have extended their range, they have moved into areas with higher human or livestock populations – areas where for safety reasons hunters may want to avoid long-range rounds.

Third, if your shotgun is properly set up, no weapon within its range is more effective on predators. A big part of that set-up for serious hunters focuses on Trulock Predator Choke Tubes. Trulock has long been an industry leader in designing, building and testing chokes to achieve maximum performance under challenging conditions, and that’s exactly what their Precision Hunter line of Predator Choke tubes do. Read more

Firearms

Ameristep Gives Brickhouse Blind the Silent Treatment

Plano, IL  – Hub-style ground blinds provide today’s hunters with effective and portable concealment. They set up and tear down fast, delivering the ability to hunt with confidence from nearly any location. It’s why just about every serious deer or turkey hunter has at least one of these magic makers in their arsenal – and chances are good, it bears the Ameristep name.

Known and admired for its rugged Spider Hub® frame, hardworking features and hunter-friendly price, the durable and dutiful Ameristep Brickhouse Blind has been a favorite among hunters since it was first introduced in 2010. And now, the gurus of ground blinds at Ameristep have taken everything great about the original Brickhouse and made it even better… by giving it the silent treatment.

Like the original, the new Silent Brickhouse™ provides ample room for up to three hunters, but improved features now cloak those hunters in silence. A patent-pending, hinged silent door system replaces the old zippered design, simplifying entry and exit with absolutely zero noise. Additionally, new silent mesh windows facilitate viewing and shooting adjustments without the alarming sounds of zippers or Velcro. Read more

Hunting

Charges Filed in Illinois Shooting of White Pelicans

NEWTON, IL – Thanks to information provided by the public, charges have been filed against two Newton, Illinois teenagers in connection with the illegal shooting of white pelicans at Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, discovered on April 3.

Charges were filed with the Jasper County States Attorney on April 14 following an investigation conducted by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Police and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Because juveniles are involved in the case, the names of the subjects are not being released at this time.

The two male subjects are charged with Unlawful Take of Migratory Waterfowl with a Rifle; Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm from a Public Roadway; Unlawful Firing of a Rifle over/into Waters of the State; and Unlawfully Disturbing/Harassing Wild Birds by the Use or Aid of a Motor Vehicle.

Five pelicans were found dead at Newton Lake on April 3 by IDNR site staff.  Another pelican found shot and wounded was taken to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment.

Poachers

NMMA Opposes Year-Round Sale of E-15 Gasoline

Last week, President Trump announced he would be making E15 available year-round. NMMA is urging EPA and the Trump Administration not to harm boaters and the recreational boating industry by allowing the sale of E15 year-round. NMMA has been working hard to ensure E15 stays out of the market, given its damaging effects on marine engines. Recently, NMMA issued a Boating United alert and is encouraging the industry to take action on this now more than ever given last week’s announcement. (CLICK HERE to access the alert).

Thom Dammrich, president of NMMA, issued the following statement after President Trump’s announcement:

“President Trump’s promise to expand E15 sales into the summer months will needlessly put 141 million American boaters in danger. Unfortunately, far too few boating enthusiasts are aware that boat engines cannot process higher blends of ethanol safely. In fact, 63 percent of consumers assume any gas sold at a retail gas station must be safe for their product.

This shift in policy is simply a political decision meant to appease American farmers who, like American marine manufactures, will be severely harmed by the Administration’s recent trade actions. Rather than negotiating smart policy that benefits all stakeholders, the Administration is trying to fix bad policy with more bad policy. Read more

Fishing

Volunteers Contribute More than $21 Million in Value to RMEF Conservation Mission

MISSOULA, Mont.— The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s volunteer force of 11,000-strong donated more than $21 million in labor during 2017.

“We have a profound gratitude for our volunteers who give so much of their time, talents and energy on behalf of RMEF,” said Nancy Holland, RMEF president and CEO. “They constantly go above and beyond in helping to further our shared conservation mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.”

The Independent Sector used data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate the 2017 value of one volunteer hour as $24.14. RMEF volunteers average approximately 80 hours of service annually. If you do the math, that equates into $21,243,200 of total value for elk and elk country.

RMEF volunteers host fundraising banquets, membership drives and other events across more than 500 chapters from coast-to-coast. Those generated dollars are put back on the ground in their respective states and around the country to benefit elk, elk habitat, public access projects, hunting outreach events and scientific research. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan Supreme Court Hears School Preemption Cases

This past Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court heard oral arguments in MGO v. Ann Arbor and MOC v. Clio. At issue in the cases is whether schools, as local units of government, are subject preemption by the State of Michigan preventing them from creating and enforcing their own firearms restrictions. While MCL 28.425o prevents concealed carry in schools,  MCL 750.237a provides an exemption for concealed pistol license holders, allowing a CPL holder to openly carry. MCL 123.1102 prevents local units of government in Michigan from enacting their own firearms regulations, a law that has been supported by Michigan courts in past cases, most notably MCRGO v. Ferndale in 2003.

Chief Justice Stephen Markman dominated questioning and appears to be supportive of preemption. He repeatedly referenced the sentence in state law that says school gun prohibitions don’t apply to people who are licensed to carry a concealed weapon. “I don’t mean to be flippant about this, but I don’t understand why that isn’t perhaps the beginning, the middle and even perhaps conceivably the end of the argument,” Markman argued. Justice Richard Bernstein and Justice Bridget McCormack, who has a son at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, suggested there’s a need for schools to set restrictions, indicating the court may be divided on it opinion.

 

The Michigan Supreme Court will now meet privately to discuss the case and to agree on how the case is to be decided. A Justice will be selected to author an opinion of law, explaining the Court’s decision. Another Justice may write a dissenting opinion or an opinion expressing a separate point A decision on the case is expected to be decided by July 31 but could come much sooner.

Read more

Gun Control

Aztec Mode Software Available at Creedmoor Sports

Anniston, Ala.   – Creedmoor® Sports, the leader in precision rifle equipment and gear, is pleased to announce that Aztec Mode Software from Annealing Made Perfect is now available for purchase. This patent-pending, brand new software was debuted by Annealing Made Perfect at the 2018 SHOT Show and is considered a major upgrade in the way the annealer operates, allowing customers to calibrate their own annealing settings without sending samples to New Zealand. Read more

Ammunition

R. Lee Ermey Passes

According to a report from the Associated Press, retired U.S. Marine and film actor R. Lee Ermey, age 74, died Sunday morning from complications related to pneumonia. The report was seen on Ermey’s Facebook page and Twitter feed. He represented Glock, Inc. and other companies in the outdoors industry.
General

Is Your Boat in Hurricane Country?

Even though this sailboat had been fully prepared for the storm, Hurricane Irma swept it ashore into the end zone of a football field. The BoatUS policy’s salvage coverage paid to safely remove and refloat the vessel – will your policy do the same?

Top 6 things to know about insuring a boat in a hurricane zone

ALEXANDRIA, Va.– Will you have a recreational boat located in hurricane country as of June 1? According to recently released predictions by experts at Colorado State University, the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season could be a doozy. If your boat may be in the crosshairs of one of the 14 tropical storms or seven hurricanes predicted, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) recommends that boat owners check their boat insurance policy now for these six most important things to know. Read more

Fishing
1 … 994 995 996 997 998 … 1,898