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THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019

- TOP STORY -
Furthering the administration’s efforts to increase access to public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has announced a proposal for new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 74 national wildlife refuges and 15 national fish hatcheries managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) across more than 1.4 million acres.
- ACQUISITIONS -
Lew’s Holdings Corporation (“Lew’s”), a leader in the U.S. fishing equipment market,has partnered with BDT Capital Partners (“BDT”), a merchant bank that provides family- and founder-led businesses with long-term, differentiated capital.
- BOATING -
Boaters on Lake Manawa, in Pottawattamie County, will be restricted to operating their boat at no wake speed, which equates to roughly 5 mph, while the lake level is above flood stage.

- COMPETITION -
Wilson Combat team shooter B.J. Norris topped all others in the field at the 2019 World Speed Shooting Championship held May 15th-19th 2019 at the CMP Marksmanship Park shooting complex in Anniston, AL.
- CONTESTS -
Don't miss the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 13th annual Arizona wildlife photo contest. The winner will see their photo on the cover of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.
- EVENTS -
Cordova Outdoors, the officially licensed cooler of the National Rifle Association, encourages hunters, shooters, and outdoor fans to attend The Great Northwest Outdoor Expo June 7-9 in Nampa, Idaho.
Bear & Son Cutlery will have over 45 new 2019 pocket knives in booth 4 at Blade Show, June 7-9, 2019 in Atlanta, GA. A must see are the new made in the USA Swing Guard Lockbacks available with a Rosewood, White Smooth Bone or Genuine India Stag Bone handle.

GATCO Sharpeners invites Blade Show guests to Booth #4 June 7-9, 2019 in Atlanta, GA to discover the multiple types of sharpening tools that keep your world sharp.They offer several different types of sharpeners to accommodate pocket knives, bowies, folders, and even household kitchenware.
Work Sharp Outdoor will showcase their new products and offer three opportunities for showgoers to explore the importance of legacy, preparedness, and success during the 38th annual BLADE Show, June 7-9, in Atlanta.
Bear Edge Knives invites all guests attending the 2019 Blade Show to visit booth #4 while in Atlanta, GA. A new knife that’ll be on display will be the Bear Edge 61128, a stainless steel framelock pocket knife that features a 2 ½” stainless steel blade.
Bear OPS, the tactical brand of Bear & Son Cutlery specializing in military and law enforcement knives, will bring their impressive new lineup of automatic knives to this year’s Blade Show —Booth 4 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, Georgia.

The TrueTimber trailer is at the Michigan International Speedway this weekend. Race-goers at the speedway can stop by the TrueTimber trailer in the hauler area from Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9.
Indiana's Monroe Lake is offering a Play Passport Challenge on Sunday, June 9, as part of a statewide Nature Play Day initiative that encourages children to play outside.
- FISHERIES -
Miami-Dade County, in coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), recently deployed approximately 150 tons of donated cleaned concrete and 150 tons of limerock boulders to create a new artificial reef off Key Biscayne in south Florida.
On Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9, Keep Florida Fishing® invites Florida residents and visitors to take part in a weekend of license-free fishing in state freshwater fisheries.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order on June 5, suspending the harvest and possession of shoal bass from the Chipola River and its tributaries effective immediately until the order is repealed
- GEAR -
High Speed Gear released a new nylon medical pouch, the Tourniquet TACO. Built from Cordura nylon, this pouch is designed to retain most windlass-style tourniquets, such as SAM XT, C-A-T, SOF TT, and SOF TT Wide tourniquets, in one pouch.
- GRANTS -
Whitetails Unlimited recently provided a $5,000 grant to the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program. This brings the total WTU has granted to 4-H to more than $750,000.
- HUNTING -
Maryland hunters reported harvesting 4,002 wild turkeys during the 2019 regular spring and junior hunt turkey seasons, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety courses in five counties in June. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in conjunction with Cabela’s will hold the annual moose lottery at the Cabela’s Scarboroughstore this Saturday, June 8. Starting at 2:00 pm, the names of the winners will be read.
- INDUSTRY -
Applied Ballistics, LLC is proud to announce that its founder and owner Bryan Litz, will be receiving the National Defense Industrial Association 2019 Hathcock Award.
American Buffalo Knife & Tool Co. (ABKT) will showcase an line-up of new knives at this year's annual Blade Show, June 7-9 in Atlanta, Georgia.

B&T USA will be partnering with Beck & Associates Outdoors to bring B&T’s line of firearms to retailers in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
- INSTRUCTION -
Are you a junior marksman looking to move your shooting career into college? Add sophisticated knowledge and hands-on training to your journey by signing up for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) 2019 National Matches Junior Camp.
- JOBS -
Accura Outdoors, the leader in the manufacturing and distributing of the highest quality plated projectiles in the firearms industry is seeking a positive, energetic, conscientious and detail-oriented individual who enjoys making a difference, being part of a team and takes pride in their career to work in our fast-paced office.
- LEGAL -
The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and Firearms Policy Foundation (FPF) announced the filing of an important brief before the Colorado Supreme Court in Sternberg v. Colorado, a case challenging the State’s ban on so-called “large-capacity” firearm magazines.

- ONLINE -
People across the world can get up-close-and-personal with an endangered California Condor chick in real time through live streaming video of a cliff-side nest in Pole Canyon on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County, California.
- PARTNERSHIPS -
The innovative minds at Tigress Outriggers & Gear are proud to announce their partnership with one of Florida's fastest growing tournaments, the CCA Statewide Tournament and Angler Rodeo, popularly known as CCA STAR.
- RADIO -
This week, Outdoors Radio features author KJ Houtman, charter captain Dan Welsch and fishing guides Jesse Quale and Ron Barefield. Jeff Reports on last weekend’s NTC Championship at Sault Ste. Marie.
- RECOGNITION -
Since 2003, Delta Waterfowl First Hunt events have introduced more than 68,000 people to the joys of waterfowling — a massive effort made possible by hundreds of volunteer mentors and a rapidly growing number of local Delta chapters.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council presented the 2018 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award to Lieutenant Jason Marlow with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- RECREATION -
Spots are still available for Monroe Lake’s kayaking trips on June 11 and 19. The trips launch from Pine Grove State Recreation Area.
- RETAIL -
Galco Gunleather introduces new fits for the Paragon IWB holster, including multiple variations of the SIG-Sauer P220, P226 and P229. Adjustable for angle from strongside to crossdraw, the Paragon is optimized for the popular appendix mode of carry.
From May 1 through June 30, 2019, Styrka is offering a $25 mail-in rebate on any S3 Series Rifle Scope*, S3 Series Binocular, or S3 Series Red Dot, including the new Styrka S3 Red Dot Reflex Sight. The rebates are in the form a pre-paid $25 Visa card.

Bushnell announces several Father’s Day offers and tools to make his day the perfect one. Customers can celebrate Dad with instant savings on select Prime and Nitro products.
Pietta Firearms, manufacturers of the finest historical and modern firearms, known for its craftsmanship, quality and dependability is proud to announce their all-new series of shotguns.
- SPONSORSHIPS -
McMillan Fiberglass Stocks will support the upcoming Dog Valley Precision Challenge in Nephi, Utah, June 7-9. The match is presented by Vudoo Gun Works.
"Spending a week in northern Minnesota fishing at Driftwood Lodge Resort is an experience that will generate a lifetime of memories, and we’re proud that they are a Whitetails Unlimited national sponsor,” said WTU President Jeff Schinkten.
- STATES -
The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 8:30 a.m., June 13, at Honey Creek Resort, Mercy Medical Center Conference Room, 12633 Resort Drive, Moravia.
Elevating the trail, now possible through a combination of state and federal funds, will allow for an additional 75 to 80 billion gallons of water a day to flow south into the Everglades and Florida Bay.
- TELEVISION -
Terry meets up with professional shooter Ryan Muller In Kansas with hopes of burning some fur. An unexpected thief tries to dampen the fellas’ Kansas pursuit of predators but Terry always comes prepared and the hunt continues.
Major League Fishing’s All Angles presented by Gene Larew Lures analyzes each competition day now airing Saturdays on Outdoor Channel at 4 p.m. ET.
- WILDLIFE -
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds anyone who has seen either a marine mammal or sea turtle in Maryland waters to report it to the state Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding program at 1-800-628-9944.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation fully supports removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife as proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
 

Seventy-five years ago today, the combined Allied forces kicked off Operation Overlord. It involved the largest naval force ever assembled, with more than 24,000 soldiers coming ashore on five key beaches across Normandy.

More than 10,000 Allied solders were wounded, 4,414 of them killed. German casualties were estimated at somewhere between 4,000 and 9,000 men. If you’ve never seen or heard anything about the hellish situation both sides endured, do yourself a favor and rent Saving Private Ryan. Survivors of D-Day say the first 20 minutes or so of that movie are the closest anyone has ever come to capturing the ferocity, fear and fortitude of the soldiers at times literally clawing their way off the beach.

This is the view more than 24,000 Allied soldiers had as they stepped off their landing ships into the Norman surf. More than 4,4000 hundred of them died on those beaches. Archival photo with permission.

Today, there are few survivors of D-Day, and they gathered together this week in Europe to celebrate “their” special anniversary. Both President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May took part in those ceremonies this week. It was encouraging to see today’s leaders recognizing those brave men who were the tip of the spear that eventually ended the aspirations of the Nazis.

I consider myself fortunate enough to have been mentored in the early years of my life by men who survived World War Two- and the Korean Conflict. They were more than capable of teaching almost any skill from putting a razor’s edge on a pocket knife to building shelters from almost anything. They could move through the woods without making a sound, and were crack shots- although they were always careful to caution me about gun safety. It was years before I understood what they meant when they said anyone could shoot anything with their gun, but learning to live with the memory of that shot would be harder.

To them, all life was precious, your word was your bond, and you never, ever turned your back on a friend, your family, or forgot a promise. They used things until they couldn’t be repaired- then used the parts for something else. They are the people who made lawn furniture from old tractor seats and saw them as practical, not primitive. My most cherished knives are my Dad/Grandfather’s K-Bar and the “butcher knife” my grandfather made for me from a leaf spring. Both are razor sharp, and purpose-build.

There’s a reason for the reminiscing - and it’s not just to commemorate D-Day. It’s special, and we should celebrate the day- and every surviving World War II veteran.

But there’s more here as well. Everyone my age or older who remembers these quite heroes should purpose ourselves to take one more lesson from them and pass the collective knowledge we have to the next generation.

If you’re a grandparent, you know the joy of teaching grandkids and their friends about hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. If you’re not, you probably know someone in your circle who has kids, but have no parents -either by choice or by circumstance- to model the lifestyle for their kids.

As them - and their kids- to join you for an outing. Start with something small- and age-appropriate for the kids. Don’t take them camping, invite them to walk around in the woods looking for something. And don’t be discouraged -- not everyone’s going to take to the outdoors after a single experience. Remember, you’re in it for the long haul.

The goal is to become a window into a world that looks simpler, but is infinitely more complex than the virtual worlds many of them have grown up with. They can Google “butterfly life cycle” and watch the entire process- in thirty seconds. But watching a butterfly battle to free itself from its cocoon and fly - for real- is miraculous.

You could be the window that allows a new generation to connect with the world generations before it have fought - and died- to protect.

--Jim Shepherd

OUTDOOR WIRE
Event Calendar

JUNE 7-9
D.C. Project Foundation’s 3-Gun Fundraiser

Reveille Peak Ranch, Burnet, Texas. Contact: Dianna Muller di@pro3gunner.com Info: pro3gunner.com/team-match

JULY 30 - AUGUST 1
Import/Export Conference

Washington, DC (Website)

AUGUST 1-3
Boone and Crockett Club's 30th Big Game Awards

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, Springfield, Missouri, https://www.biggameawards.com/

 
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