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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020

- EDITOR’S NOTE -
The Outdoor Wire Digital Network will not publish any of our services on Wednesday, November 11, as we observe Veteran's Day with the nation.

Press releases and industry news received after Monday, November 9 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time will not run until Thursday, November 12 as we resume our normal publication schedule.

- COMPETITION -
USA Shooting is proud to host the Winter Airgun Championships in close partnership with the Civilian Marksmanship Program in two locations at once. Athletes may choose from either Anniston, Alabama, or Camp Perry, Ohio, capacity permitting.
The final stop on the NSCA Championship Tour, Powered by Winchester, took place at the national championship in San Antonio, Texas, and Team Winchester members Zach Kienbaum, Anthony Matarese Jr. and Desirae Edmunds finished the year earning high marks.
- EVENTS -
Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) kicks off the 18th annual African Wildlife Consultative Forum (AWCF) this week. Virtual coverage of the event is already underway with live sessions running November 10 - 12. 
- FISHERIES -
The Incentivized Harvest will reward anglers $25 for each brown trout over 6 inches that is caught and removed from the river in an effort to cut predation on other species.

- GEAR -
The Rhino 600 portable ground blind is now available in Mossy Oak patterns, Break-Up Country or Mossy Oak Obsession.
The Realtree EDGE® camo Quickdraw 2.0 is an ideal choice for the bow or gun hunter. 
- HUNTING -
Pennsylvania’s furbearer hunters now have the option of using handheld and sporting-arm mounted night-vision and infrared (thermal) optics.
- INDUSTRY -
ZEISS supports a new and cooperative membership outreach with the team at Peacemaker National Training Center. The effort is designed to introduce new members, as well as existing members, to the science and mechanics of optics and long-range shooting.

Clearview Capital Fund IV, L.P. and its affiliates announced the recapitalization, in partnership with management, of Revo Brand Group, LLC d/b/a Real Avid. Real Avid will operate in partnership with Vertikal Brands, a holding company established by Clearview Capital.
Kelly Brand Management (KBM) has been keeping up with their eCommerce client’s businesses during an unpredicted year. Companies such as Swhacker, C’mere Deer, and TAC Vanes have been doing really well despite COVID-19.
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute announced that it has added a new membership category, Affiliated Members, to the organization’s body of professional suppliers.
- JOBS -
Smith & Wesson seeks candidates for Law Enforcement District Sales Manager for the Pacific Northwest region. The incumbent must reside in the territory or be willing to relocate without assistance.

The successful candidate must reside in the territory or be willing to relocate to assigned territory without relocation assistance.
The FCDs will work closely with a range of partners (agency staff, consulting foresters, other NGOs, etc.) to facilitate forest management for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and all forest wildlife. That means promoting active forestry on federal, state and county land, as well as private land. That also means working with deer hunters, bird watchers and many others who can join in our efforts.
- LITIGATION -
The Second Amendment Foundation filed a federal lawsuit challenging federal law that prevents young adults from purchasing and owning handguns. SAF is joined by the Firearms Policy Coalition and Louisiana Shooting Association and two private citizens, Caleb Reese and Joseph Granich, both in the affected age group.
- ORGANIZATIONS -
Ducks Unlimited has signed on as a Bronze-Level Sponsor of the Scholastic Clay Target Program.

Hunters, anglers and others have more room to roam after the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation collaborated with a conservation-minded family to permanently protect 612 acres of habitat in western Montana.
- PUBLISHING -
The Wilson Combat P320 is featured in the Jan/Feb issue of American Handgunner. Also,  in “Impossible Engineering,” Massad Ayoob reveals how Langdon devised a way to get an optical sight on the Beretta 92.
The January issue of GUNS features the stunning “re-imagineering” performed by Guncrafter on a CZ 75 SP-01 and CZ 75 Compact. Also, Jameson Parker looks at the Walther CCP M2 380 as an option for those who have difficulty manipulating the slide on larger semi-autos or dealing with the recoil.
- RADIO -
This week on Northwestern Outdoors Radio Elk Hunting and Fishing dominate the conversation

- RETAIL -
A great holiday season requires a little preparation and Hi Mountain Seasonings has everything you need for parties, small gatherings and last-minute guests.
- STATES -
Boat ramp improvements at Swan Lake are complete, providing better angler access to this Holt County lake.
Beneath cornflower blue skies and surprisingly balmy weather on Friday afternoon, a group of scientists released about 100 baby "dinosaurs" into the chilly waters of the Tennessee River near downtown Chattanooga.
Fisheries issues including the Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program are on the agenda of this meeting, beginning at 8 a.m. November 13.

Staff from AZGFD’s Native Trout and Chub program, along with other staff from AZGFD, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and volunteers from organizations such as Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Arizona Wildlife Federation, successfully stocked Gila trout in both Marijilda and Frye Creeks in mid October.
Jake Davis, a western South Dakota fisheries supervisor for Game, Fish and Parks (GFP), was recently selected as the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) Fisheries Biologist of the Year.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) discovered the presence of giant salvinia on Lone Star Lake during a recent fish population survey.
Salmon River Hatchery staff completed egg collections for Chinook and Coho Salmon on October 21, 2020, resulting in over 1.6 million Chinook Salmon eggs and 860,000 coho salmon eggs.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is offering a unique, incentive-based fishing experience with its 2020 Get Out and Fish! Derby during Thanksgiving week.
MDC intends to harness the natural flooding cycles to eventually accumulate enough silt to utilize in making the flood-prone access more resistant to overtopping.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will offer two online wolf trapping certification classes in November.
A new historical marker is now in Emmet for the Ephesus Cemetery, the latest implementation of the Division of Arkansas Heritage’s program to assist communities in the placement of historical markers.
A new package of deer regulations will be introduced to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission at its November 12 meeting.
- TELEVISION -
This week on “Cooking with Bradley Smoker,” we have five new videos featuring easy and delicious recipes.  Bradley Smoker makes it simple for the expert or novice chef to create gourmet quality smoked food and will get you perfect results every time. 
This week on The High Road with Keith Warren, Keith and his cameraman Johnny are headed out to Gobble N Grunt Outfitters in Nebraska on a whitetail hunt. Its late season Muzzle Loader, so the guys are going to be hunting food sources and hoping to catch the secondary rut.
Join musician, hunter, conservationist and dad, Nick Hoffman, on his hit series, Nick’s Wild Ride, airing on Outdoor Channel, Mondays at 10:30 p.m. ET
- WASHINGTON -
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will release updated economic data on outdoor recreation’s powerful and positive economic impact on the U.S. economy at a tele-briefing on Tuesday, November 10.
- YOUTH -
The High School Bass Class, a bass fishing seminar program for high school and middle school anglers, announces its new title sponsors, Berkley® and Abu Garcia®, and the 2020 seminar date, December 12-13.

Twelve outstanding high school anglers lived a dream today by competing in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster High School All-American Bass Tournament, held during the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

 

 

Editor’s Note: Today’s feature position is information worth sharing from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Hunters across the country risk one or more of these violations if they’re not familiar with the rules.


As Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers gear up for the 2020 firearm deer season, they are expecting that this year’s higher hunting license sales will mean more new and experienced hunters in the woods. Here’s a list of the 10 most common hunting violations that conservation officers encounter every firearm season – most of which easily can be avoided with a little research and planning.

#1 – Using the wrong tag or improperly filling out a tag

Conservation officers often see the wrong kill tag on game – such as fish or turkey licenses on a deer. Often, this is a simple mistake made in the dark and can easily be corrected by re-tagging the deer as soon as you notice the error. 

Solution: Before field-dressing or moving the deer, kill tags should be filled out (including the month and date the deer was taken and the deer’s gender and number of antler points) and properly placed on the deer.

#2 – Not wearing orange

Some hunters remove their orange clothing once they get into deer stands or blinds. In the excitement of getting a deer, hunters may forget to put their orange clothing back on.

Solution: Commit to wearing hunter orange to keep yourself and others safe. Hunters are required by law to wear hunter orange as the outermost layer of clothing at all times. The DNR recommends wearing as much hunter orange as possible to increase visibility to other hunters. Orange and other bright colors do not affect a deer’s behavior. Hunter orange garments, including camouflage, must be at least 50 percent hunter orange and be visible from all directions. Clothing options include a cap, hat, vest, jacket or raincoat.

#3 – Being unfamiliar with a firearm and how it functions  

Semi-automatic, lever, bolt and pump-action firearms are common choices among hunters, but each firearm functions very differently.

Solution: Take the time to familiarize yourself with your firearm and make sure it is properly sighted and functioning before you go hunting. Being able to safely handle your firearm is an important part of being a responsible hunter.

#4 – Committing safety zone violations

Each year conservation officers investigate property damage caused by firearms.

Solution: Rifle rounds travel long distances – hunters are responsible for where their bullets end up. Know the area you’ll be hunting, including nearby buildings and properties. No one may hunt with a firearm within 450 feet of an occupied structure (including buildings, dwellings, homes, residences, cabins, barns or structures used for farm operations) unless they have permission from the landowner.

#5 – Trespassing

If a deer runs onto private property, the hunter cannot retrieve it without the landowner’s permission. Conservation officers are usually contacted when trespass disagreements escalate and a resolution cannot be reached. 

Solution: Respect landowner rights and posted trespassing signs. If you’ll be hunting near someone else’s property, contact the landowner ahead of time; don't wait until you're tracking game. Most of the time, a friendly call or visit to your neighbor will remedy the situation.

#6 – Staking claims to public land hunting blinds

Confrontations over hunting spots, or the illegal posting (trespassing or hunting signs) of state-managed public land, happen every year. Conservation officers are asked to help resolve such disputes, and say the main reason for these situations is usually last-minute hunters who randomly pick a spot.

Solution: Hunters should research and scout the land they plan to hunt – before hunting day. Brush, constructed blinds and tree stands on public land are just that – public. Regardless of who constructed, purchased or tends to these blinds, when they’re on state-managed public land, they are available on a first come, first served basis. Public land cannot be posted or reserved.

Tree stands used on public land must be portable and have the hunter’s name, address and Michigan driver’s license number or DNR sportcard number affixed in legible English that can easily be read from the ground. Hunting platforms cannot be affixed or attached to any tree by nails, screws or bolts.

#7 – Littering

Leaving propane bottles, hand warmer wrappers, food wrappers, bottles and other trash causes problems for animals and people. 

Solution: Practice the “leave no trace” ethic. Whatever is brought into the woods should be taken back out. It is the responsibility of all hunters to be environmental stewards and clean up after themselves.

#8 – Baiting/attracting deer

Conservation officers stay busy responding to calls about illegal baiting in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and portions of the Upper Peninsula.

Solution: Know the law. Baiting and feeding are banned in the entire Lower Peninsula and portions of the Upper Peninsula – except for hunters with disabilities who meet specific requirements.

In approved Upper Peninsula baiting areas, 2 gallons of bait can be spread in an area that measures 10 feet by 10 feet. On commercial forest land, bait must be brought in each night, unless the landowner has given permission. Use bait sparingly to help curb the spread of deer diseases like bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.    

#9 – Hunting out of hours or off-season

One of the most common complaints to the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline is about shots fired after dark. Often, these complaints are reported days later.

Solution: A hunter may legally shoot game 30 minutes before sunrise or until 30 minutes after sunset. Anyone who witnesses or suspects hunting outside of legal hours should immediately call or text the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Fast reporting makes it more likely that a conservation officer will identify the suspect.

#10 – Harassing hunters

Conservation officers investigate acts of hunter harassment – which is when a person or organization intentionally sabotages another hunter’s quality opportunity to take game. Examples include spraying repellent around a hunter’s blind, creating loud noises and/or barriers that prevent or deter a hunter or game from accessing an area, or destroying other hunters’ equipment such as trail cameras and blinds.

Solution: Respect the law. Michigan law prohibits anyone obstructing or interfering with the lawful taking of animals. Hunter harassment is a misdemeanor offense.

 
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