SUBSCRIBE    ARCHIVES   
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

- BOATING -
The autumn boating season has arrived, and with it comes cooler water temperatures. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has provided a quick four-step prep for your inflatable life jacket.
- CONSERVATION -
Lafourche Parish, Louisiana residents will have more protective coastal marsh between them and the rapidly encroaching Gulf of Mexico thanks to a partnership between Ducks Unlimited and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
- ENFORCEMENT -
The Coast Guard and partner agencies increased patrols to deter illegal charter operations in South Carolina and Georgia during Operation PAX Defender, a week-long Coast Guard initiative to prevent illegal charter operations during the holiday weekend.

- ENVIRONMENT -
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized an administrative order with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) over federal Clean Water Act violations. Under the terms of the order, LADWP will purchase $5.3 million in mitigation credits for damaging wetlands on its Granada Hills property. LADWP will also pay a $94,000 penalty.
- EVENTS -
The inaugural BBQ and Blues Fest will be held at Fort Harrison State Park, Sept. 15.
Learn about urban coyotes and their effects at Indiana's Potato Creek State Park, Sept. 18.
September 15 through 22 is Arkansas Hunting and Fishing Week, and there’s no better way to kick off the week-long celebration of the outdoors than one of the largest fishing events of the year at MacArthur Park in Little Rock.

- FISHERIES -
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wednesday announced its intention to recommend the Manokin River in Somerset County as the fifth and final tributary for large-scale oyster restoration as per Maryland’s commitment to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
Biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Fisheries Division confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in the portion of the White River just downstream of Bull Shoals Dam last week.
The 2018 recreational bay scallop season for Dixie County and a portion of Taylor County closes Sept. 11with the last day open to harvest being Sept. 10. This includes Steinhatchee and all state waters from the Suwannee River to the Fenholloway River.
- GRANTS -
In continuing its long-term relationship in Michigan, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation awarded more than $30,000 in grant funding to benefit elk, elk habitat and hunting programs in the Wolverine State.

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved $23.8 million in grants for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners to conserve or restore almost 135,000 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other birds in 17 states throughout the United States.
- HUNTING -
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in four counties in September.
Arkansas staff will capture water on about 20 percent of moist-soil units in the coming weeks to provide habitat for early migrants, but, similar to last season, intentional flooding of greentree reservoirs on AGFC wildlife management areas will not begin until Nov. 15.
- INDUSTRY -
A Band of Anglers, the umbrella corporation overseeing several fishing tackle brands has named Brian Anderson its Chief Executive Officer.

Lew’s Holdings Corporation, a leading supplier of branded fishing and hunting gear and accessories, announced today that Ken Eubanks has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer. Gary Remensnyder will remain involved in the business as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.
Krieghoff International, Inc. the sole importer of Krieghoff firearms in North America is proud to announce the addition of Kenneth Pfau to the role of General Manger.
Nearly 60 Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) Members, including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, joined leaders from the sportsmen's community in Washington, DC, for the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation's (CSF) 29th Annual Banquet and Auction. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue addressed the event's reception as the keynote speaker, and discussed the importance of the upcoming Farm Bill Conservation Title.
New economic reports by Southwick Associates reveal that more than 53 million Americans consider themselves sportsmen, spending over $93.5 billion in 2016 on gear, licenses, travel, clothing, gas and more.

- INVASIVE SPECIES -
As lake and river communities continue to fight the spread of invasive species, Wildlife Forever unveils an arsenal of tools to help educate the public and provide on-the-ground, access based tools to help boaters Clean Drain and Dry (CD2) boats and equipment.
- MEDIA -
Episodes one, two, and three of “USA Shooting Presented by 4Outdoors” are now streaming on GetZone.com.
- NEW PRODUCTS -
Building on their industry-leading and feature-rich hard-side cooler line, Cordova Cooler introduces a soft-side cooler that meets the portability needs of on-the-go outdoor enthusiasts and of those looking for a lightweight food and beverage storage solution when working long hours in the outdoors.
Ameristep's all-new Distorter™ ground blind utilizes never-before-seen, kick-out technology to offer hunters a high performance hub blind with next-level benefits both inside and out.

Available as an option on Topflight Canvasbacks, Blue Bills, Redheads, Open Water Sleeper Packs, Fusion Mallard Packs and new-for-2018 Oversized Mallards and Oversized Black Ducks, Avian-X's new foam-filled technology creates decoys that will ride out the storm - whether it's raining water or raining steel.
For 2018, the new XR Series is a re-imagined evolution of Halo's popular XRT models, featuring upgraded aesthetics and a new ergonomic design. Two models are available for any hunter's needs or budget.
Mossy Oak announces The Pocket Shot and Pocket Hammer are now available in Mossy Oak Original Bottomland. The Pocket Shot is the next evolution of the slingshot and is designed for hunting small game, bowfishing, and recreational use.
The HEX Bluetooth Speaker/Charger is a lightweight, portable unit that functions as a lantern, flashlight, FM radio, and a Micro SD card reader.

- ORGANIZATIONS -
As a longtime supporter of Jack Creek Preserve, Pope & Young is pleased to continue its mutually beneficial partnership. Participants range from summer youth camp attendees to university students and researchers who utilize the 4,500-acre preserve for a variety of studies.
The United States Concealed Carry Association has issued a "Call For Speakers" for the 2019 Concealed Carry Expo. The invitation is to any interested parties involved in the Second Amendment community to present related topics of interest to concealed carry and firearms training.
Whitetails Unlimited President Jeff Schinkten announces that Havalon Knives has renewed their WTU national sponsorship.
Ducks Unlimited and YETI announce a 5-year strategic partnership that launched Sept. 1. YETI is DU’s latest Proud Partner and their support will contribute greatly to waterfowl and wetlands conservation across North America.

- PROMOTIONS -
Crimson Trace announced that customers who purchase any new Crimson Trace laser sight between September 1, 2018 and October 31, 2018 will be eligible to receive a free Crimson Tactical Light — the Rail Master CMR-208 tactical light.
- PUBLISHING -
MidwayUSA is excited to announce the release of "Fishing Auxvasse Creek," a short story by Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA.
- SPONSORSHIPS -
The International Defensive Pistol Association announced that Warren Tactical Sights is a silver level sponsor for the 2018 IDPA US National Championship. The event is set for September 13th – 15th at CMP Marksmanship Park in Talladega, Alabama.
The International Defensive Pistol Association announced that TruGlo has signed as a silver level sponsor for the 2018 IDPA US National Championship. More than 300 of the sport's best shooters are expected to compete for titles in the six divisions within IDPA.
The Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) continues its longtime support for National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day) by returning as a sponsor for 2018.
- STATE PARKS -
Admission to Indiana’s State Park properties and State Forest recreation areas where entrance fees are otherwise charged will be free on Sept. 22 in recognition of National Public Lands Day (except at Spring Mill State Park which will instead have free entry on Sept. 23).
- STATES -
The Iowa Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 13, at the Mills County Conservation Board Nature Center in Pacific Junction.
- TELEVISION -
TightSpot Quivers of Belgrade, Montana has joined forces with “The Experience, with Weston and Jodi Clark” on Discovery Channel in rewarding some America’s unsuspecting heroes, announced the show’s CEO Weston Clark.
GAS Bowstrings, of Stanton, Kentucky has come alongside in support of “The Experience, with Weston and Jodi Clark” on Discovery Channel in rewarding some of America’s unsuspecting heroes, announced the show’s CEO Weston Clark.
 

2018 is one of the years where I’m going hunting, rather than watching as others get outside to fill their freezers with the most organic type of protein possible: wild game.

In preparation, I’m going through all the poorly-packed, horribly-disorganized hunting gear I thought I’d packed away in a neat-and-orderly fashion. I was badly mistaken. Granted, the gear was washed, lubed, cleaned and such, but it’s a mashup of mixed camo patterns, rather than being organized by region and climate.

Fortunately, the first trip is wing shooting. Not camo-intensive. Since the summer heat’s shown no sign of abatement, I’m more concerned with avoiding snakes and mosquitoes than fall’s normal briers and brambles.

But an upcoming elk hunt has me concerned. Not just that my joints can’t bear the strain, but that I lack the essential gear (and knowledge) to be effective. There will likely be some delivery trucks visiting before I head west.

Camouflage is on my mind because Tuesday morning, I got an eye-opening lesson on effective camouflage. All wildlife watchers know the importance of blending in with your surroundings. It’s a very robust industry segment that focuses exclusively on the idea of making us invisible to our prey.

But you just can’t top nature. That’s the lesson I re-learned Tuesday morning. And one I think bears sharing.

Here’s a series of photos I took of the top of some papyrus plants after I’d thoroughly watered them.

The first shot doesn’t look like anything out of the ordinary, does it?

I didn’t notice anything unusual until after I’d already watered the planter and moved it to give it some more sunlight.

Check out the second photo, it’s a slightly different angle and zoomed in a bit.

Some of you have seen it by now. But look at the third photo (a closeup) and you’ll realize one of nature’s most effective predators is there- and committed to its work -to the point it ignores other distractions - including me.

Yep, a praying mantis (Mantis religiosa- part of the Mantodea order of insects) was sitting in the very top of the papyrus, waiting for an unsuspecting insect to come by.

Despite having been hosed down, and moved around, it never moved -until I brought a finger close enough to either pose a threat or present an opportunity.

And we think we know camouflage? We can all learn from the masters-sometimes without leaving our own yards.

—Jim Shepherd

OUTDOOR WIRE
Event Calendar

SEPTEMBER 14-16
NRA Carry Guard Expo

SEPTEMBER 18-19
NSSF'S CMO Summit

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl, https://www.nssf.org/event/cmo-summit/

OCTOBER 16-19
NASGW Expo & Annual Meeting

David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA  Info: https://nasgwexpo.org

 
Outfitter Wire - 2271 N Upton St., Arlington, VA 22207
Copyright © 2018, All Rights Reserved.