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TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2023

- ARCHERY -
There has been some big scores and big talk in the compound division ahead of the Indoor Nationals Final in Louisville, KY on Thursday.
Easton is introducing its new line of Match Grade field points, designed for high-level archery practice.Tthe Match Grade points have an oversized profile that improves arrow flight and minimizes arrow wear.
- COMPETITION -
Wisconsin S3DA hosted their 7th annual Indoor State Championship in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin S3DA Indoor State Championship included 167 archers representing 18 different teams across the state and hundreds of spectators watching and cheering.
Baschieri & Pellagri USA congratulates B&P Pro Team shooters Karen Shedd Miles and Gebben Miles on their outstanding performances at the Jack Links Cup. The event was held at Quail Creek Sporting Ranch, February 14-19, 2023.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program’sNational Long Range series will be fired July 31 through Aug. 5, 2023, highlighted by a new event. 2023’s schedule will include a Mid-Range 3x600 Match – 20 shots slow prone at 600 yards in 22-minute block times.

Berger announced their sponsorship of the 2023 United States F-Class Team competing at the 2023 F-Class World Championships in South Africa.
- EVENTS -
Orchid LLC and Williams Mullen’s Firearms Industry Group announce an emphasis on FFL software and technology at the 2023 Firearms Industry Conference, to be held virtually April 27-28 and live in Atlanta, May 1-3, 2023.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in April.
Fiocchi congratulated Fiocchi Pro Team member Lena Miculek for taking home the award for Best Shooter at the Gundies event. This awards ceremony was held on February 25th.

Antler King announced that the company is heading to the 2023 Open Season Sportsman’s Expo in Wisconsin Dells from March 24-26. The event will feature a variety of hunting exhibitors, informative seminars from special speakers, live seminars, and exclusive demonstrations.
Nilodor is pleased to be showcasing the full line of products this year at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida. The event will be held March 22nd-24th at the Orange County Convention Center.
- FISHERIES -
The Indiana Urban Fishing Program celebrates 10 years of annually stocking channel catfish in urban lakes in order to bring quality fishing opportunities closer to Hoosiers’ backyards.
- GEAR -
The Concealed-Carry Belt Pouch fits compact 22, 25 and .380 caliber pistols such as Ruger LCP, Kel-Tec P32 & P-3AT, and similar small frame autos.

Galco's Parabellum 2.0 shoulder holster system uses hybrid construction that combines Kydex with top grain leather and premium center cut steerhide, along with a refined and updated harness.
Mark Gibson was once again out on a south Texas beach a couple hours before sunrise searching for lost treasure. He slowly walked the sand, swinging his Minelab EQUINOX 800 from side to side.
- GRANTS -
Forever Maryland announces that 31 grants totaling $92,000 have been awarded to support environmental education, community cleanup, and beautification projects through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program.
- HUNTING -
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted a list of leftover hunt permit-tags, as well as a printable paper application, on its website.

- INDUSTRY -
Liberty Ammo recently received coverage from several well-known industry influencers. Among these was Brandon Curtis from Concealed Nation.
High Speed Gear and Comp-Tac Holsters announced the addition of Blackstone and W.L. Carter as sales representatives for Comp-Tac in their respective territories. Syncing commercial sales representation with Blackstone Marketing Group and W.L. Carter across all holster brands enhances the combined companies’ ability to service their commercial customers.
Iron Valley® Supply announces the opening of our new sales office in Downingtown, PA as well as the expansion of our sales office in Chapin, SC. This will allow Iron Valley® Supply to better serve a growing dealer base while expanding our national footprint.
Amid a successful show season and rave reviews from customers, Code of Silence is expanding its offerings and forecasting incredible growth heading into the 2023 hunting season.

SilencerCo announced the promotion of Chase Glenn to Director of Business Development. In his new role, Glenn will be responsible for SilencerCo’s strategic relationships, brand representation, and development of new Licensing and OEM opportunities.
Pure Archery Group has hired industry veteran Jamie Wilson as their Southeast territory manager supporting North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Victory Archery announced a new partnership with competitive shooter Jeff Raney. He was named ASA rookie of the year in 2020 and has since lived up to that title.

Sports South now offers products from Optimax Technology LLC (PARD), a company that manufactures a wide variety of cutting edge thermal and night vision products.

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is proud to award an additional $100,000 grant to the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) to support educational programming for more than 1 million students across North America and offset equipment costs for new schools joining the program.
- MEDIA -
Great American Spring presented by TORO is upon us. Beginning in March in Game & Fish (www.gameandfishmag.com/greatamericanspring), as well as appearing on Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks (Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel), Great American Spring presented by TORO provides outdoor enthusiasts with tips, tools and educational advice on how to best prepare to enjoy the start of spring and beyond. Great American Spring will run through June 30.
- NEW PRODUCTS -
Springfield Armory announced the new 10-round Hellcat Pro 9mm pistol. This new offering provides those in locales requiring restricted capacities an opportunity to own a popular EDC pistol that combines the performance of a larger handgun with class-leading concealability.
Kahr Firearms introduces the next two guns in the popular line of Trump commemorative firearms. First is the “Trump Save America" Thompson. The second new gun in the series is the “Trump Save America” 1911.
- ORGANIZATIONS -
Pope and Young, a leading bowhunting conservation organization, shares some of the featured items that will be up for live auction at their 33rd Biennial Convention taking place in Reno, Nevada, April 12-15, 2023.
The NWTF welcomed its newest board members in 2023. Six members were elected to serve on the board with three-year terms beginning in 2023. Marc Brinkmeyer, Parks Shackelford (vice president) and Bryan Perry (national president) were reelected. In addition, Craig Harris and Joe Shults were elected to serve.
As active wildlife conservationists AKA farmers and ranchers, one of the most valuable information sources you can have is RFD-TV. Soon, QUWF representatives and landowners will join Market Day Report’s line up of guests, bringing a national audience boots on the ground updates of what’s important to our stakeholders.
The New Mexico House of Representatives passed a memorial in recognition of the National Wild Turkey Federation. The memorial is a significant tribute to and acknowledgment of the contributions made by the NWTF to the state's conservation efforts, including wildlife management, research and habitat conservation, as well as the preservation of the American hunting heritage.
Silencer Shop, a long standing gold corporate sponsor of the Second Amendment Foundation, has launched a new program to help support SAF’s ongoing litigation and education efforts by donating a percentage from each Form 1 service to the organization from now through May 31.
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is pleased to see the National Fish Habitat Partnership program assist in providing more than $39.2 million to support 95 fish habitat conservation projects in 24 states.
- PROMOTIONS -
iAiming technology is now available at OpticsPlanet. They are pleased to announce that now through April 15th, 2023 buyers can receive a 10% discount off of the entire product line. If you’ve had your eye on an iAiming scope, there’s never been a better time to buy.
- PUBLISHING -
In-Fisherman’s 2023 Bass Guide is packed with cutting-edge, how-to information to help anglers catch more and bigger bass. The special interest publication is on newsstands today.
- RETAIL -
CZ announced that the P-10 M price has recently been reduced to $299, the P-10 S, C, and F have been reduced to $399, the P-10 S, C, and F Optics-Ready guns reduced to $449, and the P-10 Optics-Ready Suppressor-Ready C and F models have been reduced to $499.
- SPONSORSHIPS -
“We’re proud to announce Huntemup has become a Whitetails Unlimited national sponsor,” said WTU President Jeff Shinkten.
- STATE PARKS -
Yamaha Rightwaters™ continues its support of Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by powering six jon boats with Yamaha F6 outboards in Stephen C. Foster State Park. The outboards give visitors the opportunity to fish, birdwatch and explore the Okefenokee Swamp, the largest blackwater swamp in the U.S.
- STATES -
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on the proposed fiscal year 2024 annual work plans for the Chesapeake/Pocomoke, Green Ridge, Potomac-Garrett, and Savage River state forests. The comment period concludes Friday, April 21, 2023.
The brine shrimp has officially joined the ranks of Utah state symbols after Gov. Spencer Cox signed H.B. 137 on Friday, March 17, formally designating the brine shrimp as the state crustacean.
The Upland Game Bird Council will meet in Helena March 27 and 28 to review habitat enhancement activities proposed for the 2023 field season. The meeting will be at FWP Montana Wild, located at 2668 Broadwater Avenue in Helena.
Plenty of improvements in Nebraska’s state parks await visitors in central Nebraska this year. Projects completed in 2022 or to be finished in 2023 will appeal to an array of park users.
Eleven state wildlife officers from the 31st Wildlife Officer Pre-Service Training Academy were sworn in during a graduation ceremony on Friday, March 17, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The Department of Natural Resources Ortonville shooting range in Lapeer County will temporarily close for shooting bench renovations Monday, March 27 through Wednesday, April 12.
- TELEVISION -
On this episode of Keith Warren’s Deer and Wildlife Stories, the show travels just southwest of Columbus, Texas to showcase Vara Whitetails.
- WILDLIFE -
Now is the time for Vermonters to take down birdfeeders, make sure garbage is secure, and protect backyard chickens and bees with an electric fence.
 

Editor’s Note: Today’s feature was submitted by the U.S .Forest Service.


March 21, 2023 – Kayla Herriman is x-raying tree seeds that recently traveled 40,000 miles beyond the far side of the moon. The seeds completed their epic journey on NASA’s Orion spacecraft as part of the NASA’s Artemis program. USDA Forest Service scientists, including Herriman, now want to know how space travel may have affected the seeds.

Kayla Herriman and her “magical X-ray machine” while examining the Forest Service’s seeds from space. (Malcom Howard photo)

“This X-ray machine is really magical,” said Herriman, a seed extractory manager with the Forest Service in Bend, Oregon. “It allows me to see what’s going on inside a seed coat and determine whether that seed has tissue that we think will become a tree.” The seeds received the same x-ray treatment before launching into space, allowing scientists to compare before-and-after images.

Moon Tree seeds encased in their raviolis with a ruler for scale. (Photo courtesy of Kayla Herriman)

“We made sure the seeds were filled with good tissue before we sent them up,” said Herriman. “So now the x-ray will help paint a picture of how the space voyage may or may not have changed them.” These seeds are part of the Artemis Moon Trees project, a collaboration between the Forest Service and NASA. The project flew approximately 1,200 seeds from five tree species — loblolly pine, American sycamore, sweetgum, Douglas fir, and giant sequoia — aboard Orion. The seeds, which left the Earth on Nov. 16, 2022, orbited the moon and traveled 270,000 miles from Earth before splashing down on Dec. 11.

The Artemis Moon Trees project harks back to 1971 when Stuart Roosa, the command module pilot for the Apollo 14 mission, orbited the moon with tree seeds tucked into his personal kit. Roosa, a former Forest Service smokejumper, or a firefighter who parachutes to the site of a forest fire, carried these seeds at the request of the Forest Service Chief Forest Service employees, then grew these seeds into seedlings and distributed them across the country. Many so-called “Moon Trees” survive today. This next generation of Moon Trees builds upon this legacy but traveled much deeper into space than their predecessors.

Scientists selected which species would travel into space based on a few factors, including which seeds flew on the Apollo mission.

Samples of all five tree seed species that flew into space. Variations in seed size and shape help each one survive in different environments. (Photo courtesy of Kayla Herriman)

“Four of the five species flown on the original Moon Trees mission were onboard again because they are common species and represent a broad geographic area of the lower 48 states,” said Kasten Dumroese, research plant physiologist and national nursery specialist with the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station. “For this mission, scientists included additional seed sources for species having large natural ranges: American sycamore and Douglas-fir. These additional seed sources will help the Moon Trees team match the genetics of the species with planting sites to help ensure the long-term health of the trees.”

As part of their preflight training, the seeds were x-rayed and packaged in special pouches to help them remain healthy. 

“We created ‘ravioli’ packets that contained samples of each seed in the event some needed to be removed because of weight or size concerns,” Herriman said. “We ended up packaging the seeds so well that NASA didn’t need to remove any and we could have even sent more! People may picture acorns or pinecones when they think of tree seeds, but the actual seeds sent on the Orion were only millimeters long. The packets also kept the seeds dry, which helps them remain healthy longer.”

Now that the seeds returned to Earth, Forest Service scientists plan to test a subsample to see if space impacted their ability to germinate or grow. Under ideal greenhouse conditions, the Moon Tree seeds will be germinated alongside seeds that remained on Earth to look for any differences in seedling growth. The remaining seeds will land in Forest Service nurseries to be grown into seedlings and eventually distributed to educational and community organizations. Hopefully, these Moon Trees spark interest in earth and space science.

“These Moon Trees are one way that someone from any community can connect to something they’re not usually exposed to,” Herriman said. “This project opens a door for curiosity.” Find out more about Moon Trees and access many free educational materials supporting the Artemis Moon Trees Project at NASA’s Moon Trees Toolkit and the Natural Inquirer Moon Trees website.

— Margaret Gregory, Research and Development, U.S. Forest Service

Forest Service Environmental Education Specialist Rachel Bayer and Natural Inquirer Director of Education Jessica Nickelsen also contributed to this story.

 
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