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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

- AMMUNITION -
Hornady introduced the new 6mm ARC --Advanced Rifle Cartridge. Recently tested, selected and fielded by a specialized group within the U.S. Department of Defense for its multipurpose combat rifle program, the 6mm ARC is a truly versatile cartridge that maximizes the potential of the AR-15 platform.
- BOATING -
Claysville Public Boat Ramp on Lake Guntersville in Marshall County will close for renovations beginning Monday, June 8, 2020, and is expected to be completed in October 2020.
- CANCELLATIONS AND POSTPONEMENTS -
The Buffalo River Elk Festival, originally planned for June 26-27 has been canceled, according to a social media post today from the festival planning committee. The cancellation was in accordance with Arkansas Department of Health guidelines amid the continuing battle to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
- CLOSURES/POSTPONEMENTS -
In accordance with directives issued by Gov. Henry McMaster, the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, SCDNR has canceled, postponed or closed several programs and events.

- COMPETITION -
A total of 206 boats will compete for two days to see who will be crowned National Champion in the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship on Alabama's Lake Pickwick.
- EVENTS -
The Civilian Marksmanship Program, working toward resuming its regular competition schedule, is now welcoming new or experienced rifle marksmen to sign up for the Talladega High Power CMP Cup Match, ready to fire Thursday, July 23, through Sunday, July 26, 2020.
- FIREARMS -
Savage Arms is redefining rimfire style with Minimalist — featuring a distinctly different stock design for the Mark II, 93 and 93R17 rifles.

New for 2020, Hatsan is introducing its Versatile Tactical Shotgun line of Escort shotguns. The VTS series utilizes familiar controls and features found on the ever-popular modern sporting rifle.
- FISHERIES -
Understanding how anglers respond to management changes is key to rebuilding overfished stocks like Atlantic striped bass.
- FISHING -
Made of aluminum, stainless steel and composite construction with a special coating to reflect heat, the lightweight Shadetree Umbrella keeps cooler than conventional umbrellas and provides a double layer of UV protection.
- FISHING TOURNAMENTS -
As tournament fishing prepares to restart in June, power tool manufacturer DEWALT has signed on as the title sponsor for the second event of the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season, B.A.S.S. announced today. The 2020 DEWALT Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula will be held June 10-13 in Eufaula, Ala.

The Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour is returning to action this weekend on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Florida following Stage Three presented by TrueTimber which concluded March 18.
The fifth annual Big Buzz Bass tournament presented by Bradford Marine and ATV returns to Lake Maumelle June 13, with more than $6,000 in prizes up for grabs.
- GEAR -
This one-off shape of this finesse jig keeps the lead head vertical so it can bounce in and around structures without snagging, leading to more time fishing and less time re-rigging due to lost baits.
- HUNTING -
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has announced the 2020-2021 migratory bird hunting season dates and bag limits.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has opened the application period to hunt deer on some of the more popular wildlife management areas it manages until July 1. Hunters interested in pursuing white-tailed deer during this fall’s permit-only hunts may apply through the AGFC’s licensing system at licensing.agfc.com.
- INDUSTRY -
Kelly Brand Management is rewarding downloads of its free app, Dealer Pro, through July with a special gear giveaway.
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. announced that it has partnered with Hornady Manufacturing to chamber the REC7 rifle series in the new 6mm ARC offering. The first production run of these rifles has already been delivered to the United States Department of Defense.
Davidson’s began offering a full line of products from Riton Optics earlier this year.The company is happy to be partnering with yet another quality scope, red-dot sight, rings, and accessories manufacturer.

- NATIONAL -
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms reacted to Democrat Joe Biden’s challenge that President Donald Trump should “open the U.S. Constitution” to find the First Amendment by suggesting the former vice president is the one who needs a refresher on constitutional rights.
- NEW PRODUCTS -
San Tan Tactical, Hornady Mfg and Proof Research have partnered up on the San Tan new 6ARC rifles. San Tan’s quality firearm systems in combination with Hornady’s new 6ARC round originally developed for a specialized group within the US DoD, and Proof Research premium carbon fiber barrels take the AR15 platform to a whole new level.
Most shooters—especially young shooters—struggle with the punishing effects of recoil, so FalconStrike created a junior recoil pad that utilizes hydraulic dampening technology borrowed from the aerospace industry that dramatically reduces recoil to give junior shooters greater accuracy, less flinching and more shooting endurance.
Today’s latest pre-charged pneumatic air rifles are more advanced than ever, and they need a scope designed specifically for them. The new Airmax Touch scope, with zero eye relief, is exactly what you need to be directly on target again and again.

Galco introduces six popular holsters for the Beretta APX Compact. These include the new Switchback, the KingTuk, FasTraxPAC and more.
- ONLINE -
On a new episode of Focus Outdoor TV Dennis Foster and the crew head out to Akaska, South Dakota for the annual Walleye Classic Tournament.
Mossy Oak Fishing is proud to present “Tight Line Thursdays,” a commercial-free block of the best fishing action starting this Thursday, June 4th at 7:00 PM Central, on the always-free app, Mossy Oak GO.
- ORGANIZATIONS -
The Center for Sportfishing Policy, the nation’s leading advocate for saltwater recreational anglers, elected BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water President Chris Edmonston to a three-year term on the group’s board of directors.
The National Sailing Hall of Fame and Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame announce their partnership to open an America’s Cup Hall of Fame location in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Pope and Young Club is proud to announce the 2020 P&Y/Hoyt Bow Membership Drive. All new P&Y members who sign up in 2020, will automatically be entered for a chance to win their choice of a Hoyt RX-4 Alpha compound, or a Satori recurve.
- PUBLICATIONS -
In Thrasher’s Fly Fishing Guide (June 2020, Menasha Ridge Press), professional fly fisher Susan Thrasher provides the information needed to get you on the water and fly fishing with success.
- RADIO -
This week on America Outdoors Radio it’s an introduction to the new Model 110 Ultralight Rifle from Savage Arms which promises to be a favorite for back country hunters.
This week, Outdoors Radio features charter captain “Dumper” Dan Welsch, Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock societies forest conservation director Jon Steigerwaldt, and fishing guides Jesse Quale and Ron Barefield.
- RECREATION -
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) invites you to fish Arizona waters for free Saturday, June 6. It’s an ideal time to take out the family for some fun and relaxing outdoor recreation.
This weekend, June 6-7, is Free Fishing Weekend for Indiana residents, who will not need a license to fish public Hoosier waters on those days.
- RETAIL -
If you’re stuck for a gift idea, give your dad the gift of your time. If you’re using wild game, beef, pork, poultry, game birds, fish or seafood, you can take that gift to the next level with Hi Mountain Seasoning’s seasonings, sauces and marinades, dressings and dips.
Last month Academy Stores and Outdoors began the process of adding KastKing fishing tackle items to their website, academy.com, with the first KastKing products listed KastKing Baitcasting reels, the KastKing Bassinator Elite Classic and KastKIng Bassinator Elite Ninja models.
CMMG announce the addition of Hornady’s 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) to their RESOLUTE™ and ENDEAVOR™ families of rifles.
- SPONSORSHIPS -
Keith Warren and The High Road Group announce Effective Range Targets as the official shooting targets of the long running and top-rated hunting show, The High Road with Keith Warren.
Flambeau Outdoors, maker of waterfowl decoys, calls, and a wide range of other waterfowl hunting gear, has committed its support to The Duck Hunters Organization as a ‘Champion of Delta’ Corporate Sponsor.
- STATES -
Recent warm temperatures have triggered significant runoff in rivers around the state, causing flooding at several fishing access sites.
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge will begin opening campgrounds and marinas this week with some limitations. The Blue Heron and Little Grassy Campgrounds & Marinas as well as the Crab Orchard Marina will open on June 4th.
- TELEVISION -
Outdoor Channel has secured some of the most popular movies that hit the big screen so settle in, pop some popcorn and enjoy a “night out” with Saturday Night Movies on Outdoor Channel beginning at 8 p.m. ET and again at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) and “Hunting Matters” welcomes outdoor personality Razor Dobbs. To say Razor is a passionate hunter is an understatement.
 

FEATURE

The ATF has been warning FFLs across the country to “be vigilant” in these turbulent times so as to prevent the theft of two important items: guns, and their federally-mandated records. The loss of one could have tragic circumstances for all of us. Loss of the other could cause the dealer a significant amount of trouble. It could also put them out of business.

Not good options.

With news that a Philadelphia gun shop owner shot and killed one burglar and wounded at least one other (three apparently escaped) as they attempted to rob his store, it seems the ATF’s general warning to all FFLs wasn’t uncalled for.

They are not, however, the only warnings that have quietly been sounded.

Additional warnings have been delivered - some via telephone calls- to firearm dealers located near big cities.

Most of us forget that driving an hour or less outside Chicago, Detroit, New York City, the District of Columbia or Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, and Miami if you think I’m picking on the northeast, will put you in small rural communities.

Communities where gun shops might not have the same level of security or vigilance required in more urban areas. For criminals intent on stepping up the level of violence, those present targets of opportunity.

The first report I received of these enhanced warnings came from a Class 3 FFL in Texas. On Tuesday, I received a second report from a high-end facility not far from Chicago. A facility where the owners believe their security was already being “checked out” by suspicious-looking characters.

This isn’t fear-mongering, despite the fact some of you are already working on your fiery responses to what you’ll consider pot-stirring. Several federal agencies are warning local police departments they have “credible intelligence” on plans to head to the urban areas to procure weapons that will then be turned against law enforcement.

Those aren’t threats of “non violent protest” those threats are plans for a revolution.

In response, smaller communities from Washington State to Texas and Florida are amping up their community watch efforts. Some, like Snonomish, Washington, went further, taking up arms and manning the town’s Main Street to guard local businesses from vandals.

All this uncertainty is also fueling another run on guns and ammunition. Local news outlets across the country are reporting gun shops with 2-3 hour waits for admittance due to social distancing and capacity guidelines.

And it’s not just those areas surrounding big cities. It’s happening across the country. And it’s driving yet another shortage of popular personal defense guns and ammunition.

It’s a time for increased vigilance, but it’s also a time for paying attention to what you’re doing.

Every gun owner should always be aware of the responsibility to maintain control over your firearm. Not just when you’re wearing, carrying or practicing with it.

If it’s known you have firearms, you have the responsibility to keep them under close control. Wearing them counts, but keeping them in the nightstand (unless you’re sleeping in the adjacent bed) is an invitation to have to explain to the police why your gun was either recovered at a crime scene or used to harm your own family.

Guns are tools. They’re also dangerous. We must always remember that.

Right now, we are getting a second-wave of first-time gun owners.

COVID-19 opened their eyes to the inability of government to protect them. The “peaceful protests” that have cause bonfires visible from the international space station has scared them into acting on their newfound awareness.

Any of us who own guns have a responsibility to work with these newcomers. Our goal should be helping them along in the responsibility and enjoyment process. Our help should emphasize safe operation and responsible ownership.

Owning a gun doesn’t protect you. Owning a gun and understanding the responsibilities that go with it protects everyone.

In case you’re not familiar with the basics, we’re sharing them as stated by Gunsite Academy. Image with permission.

Owning a gun, being able to operate it correctly and the ability to secure it at all times- can offer added confidence in tumultuous times.

Not knowing either could be more dangerous than relying on a baseball bat for protection.

If you’re not confident offering advice, you can point them toward several online resources, including the NSSF and other shooting groups.

Be smart. Be safe. Be sensible. Three rules we can all live with.

—Jim Shepherd

 
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