Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

The MPA Thanksgiving Sale kicks off on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, at 12:01 am EST and will run through 11:59 pm EST Monday, Nov. 29, 2021.

 MasterPiece Arms (MPA), manufacturer of precision Pistol, BA Rifles and Chassis Systems, is giving its customers another reason to be thankful this holiday season by announcing a special MasterPiece Arms Grenade Sale in time for the Thanksgiving weekend. The sale will feature MPA chassis, chassis and rifle accessories, as well as DS9 pistols. It all starts at 12:01 am EST on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, and will conclude at 11:59 pm EST Monday, Nov. 29, 2021.

MPA Grenades are chassis, rifles, DS9 pistols, or other products that pass MPA’s inspection in every way except cosmetically. Whether it be a small ding in the paint, a run-in with a laser that was having a slightly off day, or some other minor cosmetic blemish, these MPA products will still function with the same flawless perfection you expect from MPA, but with their own special flair.

The blemishes are all considered mild and, in most cases, are difficult to identify without very close inspection. The small grenades lasered on them mark them as the unique MasterPieces that they are and are covered by MPA’s full lifetime warranty for the original owner.

MPA makes every effort to get the product to the customer as quickly as possible. These are hand-built precision instruments and not production components. To see MPA’s latest delivery and lead times for all Bolt Action Rifles and Chassis, visit https://masterpiecearms.com/bolt-action-rifle-and-chassis-current-delivery-times/.

Final Round Thrills Worldwide TV audience in Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops US Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships on Table Rock Lake

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Logan Parks, 23, and Tucker Smith, 20, fishing buddies and Auburn University students from Shoal Creek, Ala., saw their life-changing dreams come true on Sunday on the waters of Missouri’s Table Rock Lake, claiming the $1 million first-place prize at the Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships.

Logan and Tucker bested a field of 350 teams that qualified for the three-day National Championship, hauling in five fish for a Sunday-best 16.41 pounds, setting off a wild celebration while confetti rained down at Long Creek Marina at Big Cedar Lodge – America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. In addition to the life-changing $1 million, both Logan and Tucker were awarded an all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra and a Toyota Extra Care Platinum Vehicle Services Agreement to go with it, and a 21-foot bass boat.

“We are excited to make some dreams come true!” Johnny Morris said. “The competition on Table Rock Lake this weekend was tremendous. Congratulations to our winners and every angler who fished this tournament. Their enthusiasm and love of fishing, nature and conservation has been a driving force in our company’s 50-year history.

“We’re incredibly grateful for these anglers, our Kids Fishin’ Contest winners and the winners of our Missouri Veterans Fishin’ Contest, presented in partnership with the Missouri Division of Tourism,” Morris continued. “Throughout this grand tournament, we tried our best to honor the sport of fishing throughout the country. We are incredibly grateful for everyone involved in making this tournament a success especially our presenting sponsors and partners in conservation at Toyota.”

Junior shooters (competitors under the age of eighteen) are the future, but what can we do to introduce more of them to shooting sports? Enter the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) whose youth shooting sports teams are growing throughout the nation in record numbers year after year. In fact, since 2019, the SASP’s National Championship holds the record as the largest action shooting event in the world, a title previously held by the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF). 

Action shooting matches such as USPSA, Steel Challenge, 3-Gun, GSSF, and IDPA are an individual’s sport where a competitor sees how they measure up against everyone else at the end of the day. Although each of these sports in the world of shooting recognizes top junior shooters with category awards, the SASP is where youth are truly measured and recognized as junior athletes.  

Introducing the mechanics of team sports gives shooting athletes life skills, values, and friendships that contribute to becoming productive young adults. The SASP is proud to provide a youth program in which athletes from grade school through college can compete and grow in a sport where there is no such thing as being “benched”. Nearly all shooting sports offer a level playing field where success can be achieved without respect to gender or athletic ability that often drives traditional “ball sports”. 

The action shooting matches of the SASP operate much like Steel Challenge in which competitors try to connect with five steel plates of various sizes and distances, with a designated “stop plate” that signifies their last shot fired for the total string time. Five strings are attempted per stage, with the slowest being dropped from the competitor’s score. This sounds familiar but an individual athlete is part of a squad of four, who’s times are totaled together for a total time on each stage. Behind each shooter both figuratively and literally, you will see a supportive group of coaches, teammates, and families cheering them on. Like other youth sports, adult volunteers typically serve as head coach or other supporting roles.

As both a means of introduction to shooting sports and a safety component, SASP athletes begin from the low ready position in all disciplines. Youth athletes may participate in the SASP using rimfire rifles, rimfire handguns, pistol caliber carbines (PCC), and/or centerfire handguns.

Al’s Goldfish Lure Company, designer and American-made manufacturer of the classic Goldfish lure and other innovative fishing lures and accessories, will be exhibiting at the St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show in St. Paul, Minn. The event takes place December 3-5 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

Al’s Goldfish Lure Company will be among hundreds of other top manufacturers presenting products and services dedicated to the diehard ice fishing and winter sports enthusiast. The show is open to the public, so if people like what they see, most exhibitors will be offering their products for sale on-site.

Al’s Goldfish Lure Company will be showcasing its entire line of premium fishing lures and accessories at the show. Whether you are an avid fisherman looking for new accessories, an experienced angler looking to upgrade your tackle box or someone totally new to the sport of ice fishing that is looking to learn about the sport and get started, you will find everything you need at Al’s Goldfish Lure Company’s booth, #231.

“We encourage visitors at the show to stop by daily, as we will have show specials and will be launching new products for the 2022 year,” said Jeff DeBuigne, who along with wife Mandy owns Al’s Goldfish Lure Company. “This is a great opportunity to stock up for yourself and pick up some holiday gifts at great prices.”

Be sure to stop by booth #231 at the St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show to take advantage of the exclusive show specials. For more information on the line of American-made products from Al’s Goldfish Lure Company visit www.alsgoldfish.com.

Spring Hill, Tenn. — Shotcrete foreman Neil Rico’s first hunt for Coues deer in the hills of Chihuahua, Mexico, begins in a blizzard and concludes in perfection with a few twists and turns along the way when the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USA) Brotherhood Outdoors airs this week on the Sportsman Channel.

Because of their small size, extreme wariness, and inhospitable habitat, Coues deer are often said to be the most difficult whitetail subspecies to hunt. A freak storm further increases the challenge of Rico’s once-in-a-lifetime hunt.

Howling winds and falling snow in the high country keep Rico, a 14-year member of LIUNA Local 252 from Onalaska, Washington, in camp on the first day of his hunt for this pint-sized and highly prized whitetail. The tables turn on day two when the backdrop of snow covered hillsides aids the hunter and his guide in glassing several good bucks.

“I’m just a blue-collar guy,” said Rico. “Never in a million years would I have dreamed I’d be in Mexico hunting Coues deer, but thanks to the USA and Brotherhood Outdoors, here I am.”

With several deer in sight, a standout buck emerges, but fate rotates the table once more, pushing back the hunter’s success until the final minutes of the last day.

Big Game Hunting in South America

South American features numerous big game hunting outfitters that can provide you and your crew an amazing wildlife experience. Within South America, you will many outfitters providing the opportunity to hunt several of the most popular species that attracts hunters from around the world such as red stag, axis deer, fallow deer, whitetail deer, dove, pigeon, and duck. South America is a top destination on many hunters’ bucket lists due to its warm climate when North America is cold and extended hunting season.

Selecting the Right Caliber Rifle

            Based on your hunting goals and the type of hunting you do, some caliber choices will be more fitting than others. When deciding what caliber rifle to purchase, we must consider many factors like: What will you be hunting? What range will you be shooting from? Does recoil matter to you? How much available ammunition do you prefer in the chamber at a time? Top speed and size does not necessarily mean it is always “the best”. It is important to educate yourself and thoroughly prepare for the purchase to ensure the best function and safety.

.30-30

            For close range hunting of up to about 150 yards, the .30-30 is a classic that does not disappoint. .30 refers to the .30 caliber bullet, and 30 refers to 30 grains of smokeless powder. They were a top choice a hundred years ago and continue to be very popular today. .30-30 rifles are especially a great option for whitetail deer hunting. .30-30’s are not known for being the most powerful on the market, but they are still highly effective for hunting. Shots taken at around a 75 foot distance are likely to be much more accurate and effective than a shot fired at a 200 foot distance anyway. At 200 feet, a shoot and miss or a wounding is common, therefore many hunters prefer to wait for a shorter distance between them and their target before pulling the trigger since shot accuracy is more important than velocity. The .30-30 having less velocity has its advantages because this results in a light recoil which makes for quicker realignment and better accuracy. Also, 0.30-30 rifles tend to be lighter weight, so the hunter will have easier mobility and will not have the weight of their gun slowing them down. .30-30 rifles are usually on the lower end of the rifle price range, however quality is not compromised. People love these weapons as they are classic, reliable, and reasonably priced. Listed below are some popular Henry hunting rifle models that are available in .30-30:

.45-70

            The .45-70 is known as another great option for deer hunting and big game hunting in general. .45-70’s typically have a range of about 300 yards, which will be sufficient in most hunting situations but are usually suggested for killing medium size game. A .45-70’s bullets have a relatively low velocity so it will not destroy the meat if used to kill small game. However, .45-70 rifles still carry a good amount of power for their purpose and are very accurate and dependable weapons. Due to the steep trajectory of the bullets, the ideal setting for .45-70 rifles to be used in are areas that are wooded or have heavy brush for short range hunting. For big game hunting, people often suggest Marlin or Henry rifles. Here is a list of some 45-70 rifles that many consider the best on the market:

●      Henry Lever Action 45-70 Brass Receiver

●      Marlin 1895 Lever Action Rifle. 45-70 Government

●      1873 Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 Government

●      Uberti 1885 High Wall 45-70

●      Davide Pedersoli 1874 Sharps

●      Pedersoli Kodiak

.270

.270 rifles are perfect for medium game such as deer, goat, and sheep hunting. They have a recoil that is on the lighter side and good shot placement. They have a range of 300 to 500 yards. This is suitable for what is considered to be long range hunting, so it is ideal for settings like open plains and fields. It is said that .270’s are the most popular big game hunting cartridges out there. Here are some of the best models of .270 rifles on the market:

Basic primer about cleaning and the general maintenance of your favorite sporting rifle

Whether you have built a custom one-off hunting rifle on the AR platform or you are dropping an upper receiver onto a lower and checked the headspacing, the visual and physical maintenance of the rifle is incredibly important in maintaining the safety, accuracy and reliability of your favorite semi-auto sporting rifle.  

This article will help you understand some important key points about maintenance of the super popular AR platform – and how to make it an easy, simple process that helps save headaches. Follow through this article to learn how easy it is to make sure your rifle retains reliability and accuracy while out in the field.

It’s no secret that many of the readers here are well experienced in gun maintenance and general safety guidelines surrounding cleaning and lubricating firearms. The Author is a gunsmith of 20 years and designed this article to be a primer on the AR platform, with some tidbits of information that can apply to all firearms. Some of the content may seem remedial, and some may even be contrary to what you have done in the past. The goal here is safety, longevity, and reliability for your favorite sporting gun. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on your specific needs.

Things you should have on hand for cleaning your Black Rifle

The modularity and mainstream build qualities that has become such a big part of the AR market makes it an easy-to-understand firearm for most users, and a very easy to maintain firearm, generally. The gun was engineered to be field serviceable with minimal tooling and is easy to breakdown, simplistic in its reassembly and with a bit of practice can be serviced by most if not all users, for most needs. 

You’ll be able to perform basic servicing with the following items:

It’s important to know what essentials you need for outdoor survival, especially if you plan on spending time in the wilderness. If you don’t come prepared, it can be dangerous and even deadly. Read this blog post to learn about the essentials of wilderness survival!

Trekking Poles 

You need to be able to move around very well in the wild in order to be safe and pass every obstacle without an injury. The people working at Premier Outdoor Gear will explain how trekking poles will help you with this. They can be used as an emergency tool, to pass over a stream, and also as your third leg on the way back home. You will feel less tired if you use trekking poles because they take part of the weight off your legs and balance it more easily on uneven ground

Whenever going up or down steep slopes, using trekking poles will be recommended.

You can also use them to climb and scramble over rocks or fallen trees when you need an extra bit of support. They are sturdier than a walking stick because they have three points that secure themselves into the ground in front of your feet which makes it easier for you not to fall down if there is mud hiding under dead leaves on the surface.

They can even help with making fires by holding dry kindling together but please do not bring a lighter as a safety precaution while going out camping! Trekking poles may seem like something only people who go mountaineering would carry around but everyone should invest in some quality ones because they make life so much easier all year round especially if going uphill or downhill.

MAPLand Act and Ruby Mountains Protection Act move one step closer to the finish line

(Washington, D.C.)—The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today passed important legislation that would digitize public land maps and records for outdoor recreation and safeguard an iconic Western landscape from development.

Both the Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act (S.904) and the Ruby Mountains Protection Act (S.609) received markups in the committee hearing.

The MAPLand Act passed with unanimous support. With only a few minor technical modifications, the bill will now be referred to the floor for consideration by the full chamber. The House companion bill (H.R. 3113) similarly cleared its committee markup in July. The Ruby Mountains Protection Act passed out of committee by a vote of 12-8.

“We thank the members of the committee for advancing these bills, which have become top-line priorities for hunters and anglers across the country,” said Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The MAPLand Act will allow more Americans to get outdoors and share in the public land legacy that belongs to us all, while the Ruby Mountains Protection Act secures some of the best fish and wildlife habitats for future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen. We now encourage lawmakers in both the House and Senate to commit to final passage of these bills that will strengthen our hunting and fishing opportunities.”

The Build Back Better Act invests heavily in public lands and waters, important habitat and key management programs; however, hardrock mining measures were stripped

WASHINGTON – Following months of negotiations, the U.S. House of Representatives today voted to pass a massive, $1.7 trillion spending bill using the budget reconciliation process. The Build Back Better Act makes significant investments in public lands and waters, valuable wildlife habitat and key federal management programs that Backcountry Hunters & Anglers have consistently championed.

The bill invests heavily – a total of $27 billion – in forestry and wildfire programs. This represents the most significant investment ever in national forests. More than half of this funding would go to wildfire mitigation efforts such as hazardous fuels reduction and resilience projects. Additionally, $1.25 billion would go to the Forest Legacy Program, which secures conservation easements and protects working forest lands, and $450 million would go to the Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Program, which has made major contributions to improve water quality and aquatic habitat.

Habitat improvement, ecosystem restoration and land management would see an investment of $2.5 billion for the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would receive more than $240 million for the National Wildlife Refuge System and state wildlife management areas, nearly $10 million dollars for the mapping, conservation and restoration of big-game migration corridors, and almost $40 million for the restoration of grassland habitat.

Other language in the bill repeals the oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and buys back existing leases. The refuge’s coastal plain is home to the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd and encompasses wetlands that are the summer nesting grounds of millions of migratory birds, including waterfowl.

SENTRY’s new line of Every Day Carry holsters offers a super sleek design with adjustable settings for a comfortable, all-day fit.

SENTRY Tactical expands their new line of EDC holsters to include a stylish Comfort Carry holster in microfiber suede, a “leather-look” Variable Fit holster, and an optimal solution for a pocket carry holster, the IWB/Pocket holster.

The Comfort Carry Inside the Pant/Tuckable Holster is covered with an anti-slip microfiber suede and features edge stitching for a casual look that is comfortable for all-day wear, easy to clean and good looking. Just like the Inside the Pant/Tuckable holster, this microfiber suede version with the unique angle adjust clip attachment system allows the user to tuck a shirt over the firearm for the ultimate in concealability and accessibility. This Level 1 retention holster is also adjustable for height and holster inclination and has a sight channel for a smooth draw and reholstering. Available in a grey-suede look for GLOCK Models G17, 19, 43, S&W Shield 9/40, and SIG 238 with an MSRP of $65.99.

SENTRY’s Variable Fit Inside the Pants Holster is a thin, lightweight concealed carry holster featuring a “leather-look” reinforced microfiber body with an interior lining of suede microfiber. The holster is internally reinforced with a non-deformable material with a differentiated polymer reinforcement at the top insert area of the holster, for easy drawing and reholstering. The multi-position Rubber-Tech hook-and-loop fastener, allow the Easy-Fit to be worn in a variety of cants on the belt, and inside the pants. Available in black and four sizes for a sub-compact, medium semi-auto, large auto (G19), and large auto with longer barrel (G17) with an MSRP of $62.99.

The ideal pocket holster is SENTRY’s IWB/Pocket Holster, a comfortable concealed carry holster with a non-slip exterior and a closed-cell foam interior that conforms to the shape of the firearm. The soft interior liner protects and reduces friction and wear on the firearm. Ambidextrous design available in black for GLOCK Models (G26, G27, G29), (G19, G23, G25), (G17, G20, G22), .380 semi-autos to 2.75” barrel, 2” – 3” small revolvers (except for 5-shot), 3” – 4” medium barrels (.32/.380) and 2” small revolver/5-shot and small frame .380 with Crimson Trace. MSRP is $18.99.

TrueTimber has announced the co-branded performance apparel lineup with American Honda is now available for purchase online. This unique and stylish lifestyle lineup accompanies the special edition Honda Talon® and Pioneer® models released earlier this year as well as the newly available Honda Navi graphics package that all feature TrueTimber Viper Urban camo. Customers can shop the entire line at  shophonda.truetimber.com.  

“Our partnership with Honda has grown a ton in the last year and we are really excited for Honda and TrueTimber fans to get the gear that goes along with it,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “Viper Urban looks awesome on the Talon and Pioneer UTVs, the Navi and of course this apparel. This gear is built to work hard and look great at the same time, and we can’t wait to see our customers putting it to use.”

The co-branded clothing line features aspects of both Honda and TrueTimber, to create a truly spectacular, unique product line, made to withstand any adventure. Proven and trusted TrueTimber performance materials are utilized on all garments, to create adventure ready apparel that is both stylish, and as tough as those wearing it. Select pieces feature TrueTimber Viper Urban camo accents to flow seamlessly with Honda’s special edition side-by-side models and new graphics package for the Honda Navi which feature the iconic camo pattern.

The new special edition (SE) versions of both two- and four-seat Talon sport side-by-sides, and both three- and five-seat Pioneer 1000 multipurpose side-by-sides, come pre-installed with accessories some customers typically add after the initial vehicle purchase. These flagship trim levels add value by saving money and improving comfort and convenience, and they help drivers explore further. Navi Owners will also stand out from the crowd, thanks to exclusive TrueTimber Viper Urban camo graphics now available through this special collaboration.

To learn more about the entire TrueTimber product line and see all available patterns, visit  TrueTimber.com. Details about future product launches can be found on TrueTimber’s Facebook  and Instagram.

Bond Arms builds the smallest, most powerful personal protection pistols in the firearms industry. The Texas gun maker loaded the Backup, its powerful yet ultra-compact derringer, with concealability and personal defense features that have quickly made it one of the company’s best-selling models. 

There are many reasons why the Backup is the perfect choice for a secondary weapon. The Backup weighs only 19-ounces and is a mere 4.5-inches long—ideal for all-day carrying comfort. Its 2.5-inch barrels shortens the overall length for ultra-concealability. 

Bond Arms listened to their customers’ request for a concealed carry gun that doesn’t draw attention. To accomplish this, they first bead-blasted all exposed stainless parts, including the barrels, trigger, trigger guard, and hammer, creating a discrete matte finish. Next, they added a black crinkle powder coating on the frame, further muting the pistol’s appearance. Bond installed an upgraded black rubber grip that matches the frame, improves control, and indexes the gun perfectly in the shooter’s palm. Finally, Bond Arms topped the pistol with a durable and reliable front blade and a fixed rear sight for rapid target acquisition.   

The Backup is chambered for one of two popular cartridges—9mm and .45ACP—offering ammo compatibility between a primary weapon and the Backup; both cartridges have the stopping power necessary to neutralize a threat. 

Like the other Bond Arms’ models, the Backup is compatible with dozens of Bond Arms’ optional barrels in different lengths and cartridges, so customers looking for a longer barrel or different cartridges, including the powerful .410 bore, can easily and quickly swap barrels. Adding a longer barrel transforms the Backup into a viable primary personal defense weapon.   

The Build Back Better Act would secure funding for top conservation priorities, including habitat improvements across public and private land

(Washington, D.C.) — This morning, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) in a 220-213 vote, advancing conservation provisions that would have an impact on hunting and fishing opportunities across the country. The $1.75-trillion budget reconciliation package now heads to the Senate for further debate.

“These transformational investments in public and private land, climate resilience, and habitat connectivity would provide direct benefits not only to at-risk landscapes but also to our economy—with specific impacts on outdoor recreation businesses and family farms, ranches, and forests,” says Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Americans can and should debate the merits of congressional spending, but the return on investment from conservation has been proven time and again. And this bill recognizes the critical role of private landowners in addressing climate change through practices that also benefit fish and wildlife and water quality. We look forward to working with both chambers to ensure that fish and wildlife benefit from once-in-a-generation investments in our natural resources, rural economies, and climate resilience.”

Here are the areas where sportsmen and sportswomen would benefit from this important legislation, should it be passed into law.

Public Lands

Salt Lake City, Utah – The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) provided $1 million to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to support the acquisition of 8,107-acres of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) land. The purchase of the Cinnamon Creek property will ensure important mule deer habitat will remain accessible for public use. This property, located in Cache and Weber counties, west of Ant Flat Road, will become the 193rd DWR wildlife management area in Utah. Several partners including MDF committed funds so DWR could buy the land at auction.

“The Cinnamon Creek property acquisition is a huge win for wildlife and for sportsmen and women in Utah,” said Mike Laughter MDF Director of Field Operations. “This area provides habitat for mule deer, elk, moose, greater sage-grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and turkey. The Odgen permit area has limited public access opportunities and generations of public land users have utilized this property for hunting and fishing opportunities. Securing Cinnamon Creek as a DWR wildlife management area will protect that access and is significant to all who recreate in Utah.”

The $1 million in funding MDF committed for the acquisition was raised through MDF local fundraising activities, the $5 application fee from the 200 permits program that are drawn annually at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo, and the auction of Utah Conservation Permits at MDF events. The 200 permits and Conservation Permits programs are DWR initiatives facilitated by MDF that generate funding for wildlife conservation and hunting opportunities for sportsmen and women in the state of Utah.

“MDF is proud to partner with Utah DWR on these programs that result in projects like the Cinnamon Creek acquisition. From the moment we were made aware the property was being sold, MDF has been working to support the acquisition of these valuable public lands,” said MDF President and CEO Joel Pedersen. “In addition to increased access for sportsmen and women, the permit programs benefit wildlife conservation and habitat restoration in the state of Utah, and this is something we can all celebrate.”

MDF is a strong advocate for public land access and the conservation of sustainable deer populations. The acquisition of the Cinnamon Creek property will allow continued public access for sportsmen and women to hunt and fish and will also protect important habitat for mule deer and other wildlife species. The DWR had previously leased the property from SITLA, making the property accessible for the public recreation, and the sale threatened to restrict further public usage. MDF’s commitment to the acquisition was joined by partners including Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the State of Utah, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Bill will increase and improve outdoor recreation opportunities

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Outdoor Recreation Act, a package of 14 provisions aimed at improving and increasing outdoor recreation opportunities, including recreational fishing, on federal lands.

Building on recently enacted legislation such as the Great American Outdoors Act and America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, the Outdoor Recreation Act demonstrates a continued commitment from Congressional leaders to ensure federal policies are accommodating Americans’ growing interest in outdoor recreation.

“Recreational fishing participation has grown significantly over the past year and half, benefiting the economy and Americans’ overall wellbeing,” said Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). “Federal lands play a pivotal role in providing recreational fishing opportunities. The sportfishing industry is grateful to Sens. Manchin and Barrasso for compiling this comprehensive legislative package that will modernize and enhance management of, and access to, our nation’s public lands.”

The following provisions are of specific importance to the sportfishing industry: 

Ducks Unlimited (DU) released the latest film in its online series, DU Films.

In Winous Point, DU Films travels to Ohio, exploring the waterfowl and wetlands habitat at Winous Point Marsh Conservancy and historic Winous Point Shooting Club on the shores of Lake Erie’s Sandusky Bay. This film showcases hunters as wildlife conservation champions, providing funding and support to ensure the resource’s survival.

Founded in 1856, Winous Point Shooting Club is America’s oldest continually operating duck club. Conservation-minded club members voted to end spring hunting 35 years before federal law mandated it as part of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The Winous Point Marsh Conservancy was established two decades ago. Since then, Winous Point’s contributions to waterfowl conservation and science have grown rapidly. However, the club has long been dedicated to wetlands and waterfowl research, employing staff biologists since 1945.

“Much of the research done at Winous Point has aided in conservation planning in the upper Mississippi River valley and the Great Lakes region,” said Ohio State Wildlife Biology Professor Dr. Robert Gates. “There has been great fundamental research conducted at Winous Point, not only on waterfowl, but other wildlife that uses the marshes as well. This research has truly advanced our knowledge of the complete marsh ecosystem.”

San Tan Tactical, manufacturers of the 100 percent ambidextrous AR platform, have signed Laura Burgess Marketing for public and writer relations.

San Tan Tactical, an Arizona firearm design and manufacturing facility, has signed Laura Burgess Marketing (LBM) to provide public and writer relations for the all American-made 100 percent ambidextrous AR platform, uppers, lowers, and parts.

The San Tan Tactical STT-15 AR platform was designed out of necessity. As left-hand shooters themselves, the owners of San Tan Tactical decided that compromise was no longer an option. Southpaws deserved an AR-15/M4 rifle that did not require them to conform to right-hand shooting and was 100 percent ambidextrous.

“The STT-15 rifle is a direct result of American ingenuity and dedication to craft,” Jack Biegel, president of San Tan Tactical, said. “The rifle was designed to accommodate ALL shooters and made to perform flawlessly in any environment, including home defense, competition, hunting, and for our brothers and sisters in law enforcement and the Armed Forces. We look forward to letting more people know they have a choice when it comes to quality rifles, and especially those often neglected southpaws.”

“The population of left-hand shooters is growing and is currently about 12 percent of the world population. We are excited to help San Tan Tactical let the shooting community know there are choices for southpaws,” Laura Burgess, president of LBM, added. “We look forward to connecting with our industry media to promote this top-notch, American-made AR platform.”

Getting geared up and executing a Colorado elk hunt is quite a big undertaking when considering all the factors. From deciding if you’re going to specifically identify a unit to apply for tags in, whether you’ll pursue elk during the rut for an archery hunt high in the mountains, or sighting in your rifle for a second, third or fourth late season tag. Are you planning to pack into a high mountain camp location with horses, on foot, or strike out early every morning from a local home or hotel room with nearby forest service access? Planning to hike from the trailhead early every morning, utilize ATV/UTV or even E-bikes? The multiple considerations from which area you’re hunting all the way down to what type of bullet you use can be the deciding factors on whether or not your cards line up, and you have the opportunity to put crosshairs on one of the most elusive and intelligent animals roaming the Rocky Mountains. 

In this article, I’ll primarily focus on the hunting methodology that we’ve found to be the most effective in finding animals, developing a game plan for a hunt, putting a stalk on the animals, and effectively harvesting a bull elk.

A Love of Hunting Since My Childhood

First, a bit of my background. I grew up the son of a Rocky Mountains outfitter and hunting guide in the West Elk Mountain range, spending many days as a child following my father into difficult, secluded terrain to pack out hundreds of elk, deer and bear over the years. Hunting is still part of my lifestyle as an adult, both for sustenance and as a an escape into wilderness.

My main companion on this 2021 DIY elk hunt is a great friend from college, Dylan. Since his successful harvest of a large 6×6 bull elk in 2018, I got the nudge from Dylan that we should start hunting together and spent the last three years hunting multiple units with Dylan, hiking hundreds of miles, and never getting the right opportunity to shoot an elk. We joke that we just enjoy “hiking around the woods heavily armed.” This year, everything lined up for us.

Dylan and I decided we would bank some preference points this year and purchase an over-the-counter second season bull elk tag, which allows for significant flexibility for hunting, allows access to the majority of hunting areas in the state, and three good units very close by to our two different home towns.