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TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021

- TOP STORY -
As a candidate for governor, then Attorney General Mike DeWine promised Ohio's 4 million gun owners that he would sign legislation to repeal the state's unjust duty to retreat law. Yesterday (Monday, January 4, 2021) Governor DeWine fulfilled that commitment by signing Senate Bill 175.
- EVENTS -
The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) is inviting you to join an Insight Session on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 1 - 2 PM Eastern. Chuck Rossi is back to help you navigate social media in the outdoor industry.
The Museum of 20th Century Warfare at Fort Harrison State Park will host a World War II Battle of the Bulge re-enactment on Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- HUNTING -
The hunting of female mountain lions in north eastern Montana Region 6 except HD's 690, which includes portions of Hill, Garfield, Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Sheridan, Roosevelt, McCone, Dawson and Richland counties closed at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 321, 332 & 334 which include portions of Beaverhead, Silver Bow, and Deer Lodge counties, closed at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, January 4, 2021.
- INDUSTRY -
1791 Gunleather announced the addition of Sebastian Contreras as a new Inside Sales Associate for the Central Region of the U.S. In this new role, he will focus sales efforts for 1791 Gunleather in the Midwest and South-Central territories.
Springfield Armory co-founder and CEO Dennis Reese has been awarded NRA Publications’ Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award for excellence and enduring innovation in the shooting sports industry.
Bangers is pleased to announce the expansion of its ammunition category assortment with the recent addition of the Liberty Ammunition.

Wildlife Research Center® is honored to receive the Gold award for the scent elimination category of Predator Xtreme Reader’s Choice. Scent Killer Gold was selected by the readership as their top choice for scent elimination.
After a terrific new product launch in September and an exceptional fourth quarter to end the year, Bear Archery brands are coming out swinging in 2021 with an impressive list of industry partners for the upcoming season.
Hunters Specialties is proud to receive Predator Xtreme Reader’s Choice Gold Award for the misting lure category. The Predator Bomb Coyote Urine was selected by hard-core predator hunters as their first choice misting scent lure.
Seeing no evidence of a let-up in demand, Meprolight has increased production again in addition to expanding warehouse capacity in the U.S.

Hornady recently donated $44,955 to the GRACE Cancer Foundation in Grand Island, NE with a matching amount going to the American Cancer Society for a total donation of, $89,910 split evenly between the two organizations.
MidwayUSA has become the official retail sponsor of professional angler Mark Rose.
- JOBS -
A PointsNorth client, a leading optics company, is seeking a Law Enforcement Sales Manager.
- MONTANA -
The hunting of female mountain lions in Montana hunting districts 301 & 331, which includes portions of Gallatin, Park, Beaverhead, Silver Bow and Madison counties, closed one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

- NEW PRODUCTS -
The CZ-USA Tactical Sport 2 is a brand-new firearm that represents the next generation in tactical sport pistols. The steel frame and improved ergonomics reduce muzzle flip.
Delivering supercharged speeds up to 440 FPS and the revolutionary ACUslide™ cocking and de-cocking system, the Havoc RS440 XERO is equipped with the new Garmin Xero® X1i Rangefinding Scope to provide exact aiming at any distance for unmatched long-range accuracy.
Delivering 410 FPS with same-hole accuracy from a platform measuring only 26.5” long and 7.5” narrow, the Siege RS410 redefines compact crossbow performance and comfort at its price-point, while providing safe de-cocking with the revolutionary ACUslide™ cocking and de-cocking system.
Savage Arms introduces IMPULSE, a unique straight-pull action rifle that refines the basic function of the conventional bolt into one fast, intuitive movement.

Easton announces the lightweight 6.5 Carbon Matrix will now be available in a 250 spine size, offering a stiffer arrow to match today’s powerful bows.
- NOW STREAMING -
Frabill announces it will be adding four more episodes to its popular internet series - College of Ice with Brian "Bro" Brosdahl.
- ORGANIZATIONS -
Shoot Like A Girl has released its annual report for the 2020 calendar year, announcing a full tour schedule, impressive attendance numbers and impressive results in spite of current events. The 2020 Coast to Coast Tour saw more than 2,701 women (and some men) introduced to the shooting sports.
Whitetails Unlimited announces that iconic American company Daisy is continuing as a WU national sponsor.

The U.S. Concealed Carry Association commended U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-8) for introducing H.R. 38, The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2021, on the first day of the 117th Congress.
- PUBLISHING -
The Korth Mongoose Carry Special and Heritage models are featured in the Mar/Apr issue of American Handgunner. Also, the new retro P80 GLOCK from Lipsey’s which replicates the very first GLOCK pistol is reviewed.
Outdoor Indiana magazine’s January/February issue features a cover article on McCormick’s Creek, which became Indiana’s first state park in 1916.
The January edition of Shooting Industry focuses on the need for dealers to prepare for “A New Playing Field” while keeping their footing during the continual change of 2020.

- RETAIL -
Primary Arms Online now carries a selection of carry-minded women’s apparel from Alexo Athletica. Available products include tees, jackets, and a range of leggings, which allow for effective concealed carry of a pistol without compromising on form or style.
TrueTimber neck gaiters are now available for purchase from the TrueTimber online store in multiple TrueTimber camo patterns as well as solid colors.
- STATE PARKS -
The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to start daydreaming about future getaways. The newly published “2021 Guide to Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites” is a helpful resource for planning spring break, romantic retreats and summer vacations.
- STATES -
Long time Knife Rights friend South Carolina Representative Brian White has introduced Knife Rights' signature knife law preemption legislation. H.3551 adds "knives" to South Carolina's existing firearms preemption law.
- TELEVISION -
On this episode, “Keith Warren’s Deer and Wildlife Stories” visit MVP Whitetails just outside of Dallas, TX and get an up-close look at the giant two-year-old buck Major League.
This week on MOJO TV, Terry heads to Africa with Crocodiles on the mind. Equipped with Mojo’s Triple Threat Calling System, he hopes to add a croc to his list of animals he’s called to gun range
 

As the summaries of 2020 continue to be revealed, it’s for certain we can look back and say it was “one for the record books.”

That reminds me of a former colleague used to answer questions about his well-being with one simple word: “outstanding!” He never qualified it as “outstandingly good” or “outstandingly bad” because as he explained it, “it doesn’t encourage further inquiry.”

Outstanding, right?

2020 was an outstanding year for gun sales. Yesterday, the NSSF released their “Adjusted” NICS background checks for December and 2020. One word popped into my mind: wow.

December 2020’s adjusted numbers rose 22.7 percent over 2019’s figures. That’s 1,906,916 NICS checks in December alone. But that’s considerably less eye-popping that the Q4 numbers, for October, November and December 2020 NICS numbers were up 40.6 percent- from 4,001,455 for Q4/2019 to Q4/2020’s 5,625,610.

The year-end total? 21,083,643..an increase of 59.7 percent over the 2019 total.

That, according to the NSSF’s Mark Oliva, shows “just how much value the American public puts on their God-given Second Amendment rights.” He also makes another very valid point when he points out the figures could have been higher, but were limited by inventory shortages.

According to Oliva, a Biden administration that signals it will seek to curtail gun rights will push 2021’s numbers “closer to what was seen in 2020 than in previous years.”

He’s probably right. Because the numbers tell the story better than any proffered narrative.

When governors, mayors, Congress or other elected officials try to limit citizens’ rights or institute new restrictions on law enforcement, citizens respond by taking steps to preserve their individual rights, beginning with the right to the means to protect themselves.

The estimated 8.4 million new gun owners across the country have clearly demonstrated their lack of confidence in either the legislators or their social reforms offering adequate protection. In lieu of confidence in public safety measures, they’re turning to more personal means of protection.

Yesterday marked a change in the federal protection status of the gray wolf. After 45 years of federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, the gray has been delisted, meaning states can manage them as defined by state law. In South Dakota, for example, the gray wolf can now be managed under the state’s predator law.

That means trappers, sportsmen and women, landowners and livestock producers will have the ability to harvest gray wolves across the state under the same legal requirements as coyotes. Those include a predator/varmint license , furbearer license of any resident or nonresident hunting license. Landowners on their own land and youths under 16 are exempt from those requirements.

South Dakota, FYI, has had several wolves killed on “both sides of the Missouri River” but Game, Fish and Parks officials suspect they’re “transients” from populations east and west of the state. They do not, however, support gray wolf expansion into South Dakota, so they’re asking anyone harvesting a gray wolf to notify a wildlife conservation officer within 24 hours so they can inspect the animal and collect a DNA sample within 48 hours of harvest.

Wildlife management is a complex undertaking, without all the political factors. If there’s one positive note to the increases in purchases of guns and ammunition, it’s the fact that it’s very likely that 2020 will exceed the nearly $1 billion channeled to Pittman-Robertson funding in 2019. And as the continued coronavirus lockdowns continue, more people will be returning to the outdoors for their recreational and vacation needs.

We’ll keep you posted.

— Jim Shepherd

 
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