Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

C&H Precision Weapons – a leader in the industry of mounting pistol optics – has a storied history of use in the hands of many DoD and agency hands. The FBI has used C&H as their optics mounting plate for many years. These mounting plates can accommodate an entirely different optic footprint by taking the older pistol slides and upgrading them. This begs the question,” is it good enough for me, a consumer?”

Many individuals know that the military often contracts with the lowest bidder. Mil-Spec is usually a nice way of saying “cheap,” but not many corners are cut regarding internal and external law enforcement agencies. C&H Precision is used by many of the nation’s elite law enforcement agencies. One of the largest federal law enforcement agencies is the FBI. 

The Bureau’s needs are broad. There are many considerations when it comes to pistols and optics mounts. Not only do the mounts need to meet the Bureau requirements, but they also need to meet the needs of an individual user. Anyone who carries in the field must be comfortable with the optic and mounting on their pistol. Because of the diverse environments, optics and mounting plates must be incredibly rugged and durable. This goes far beyond the nomenclature of “mil-spec.” The FBI isn’t restricted to budget like the military, so quality takes precedence over cost.

Looking more closely into C&H Precision Weapons, it’s easy to see that the same standard of excellence necessary for FBI use is found in all consumer products. Because there is no differentiation between Bureau use, each mounting plate is built to the same standard. So, the question remains: if CHPW is good enough for the FBI, is it good for me? At this point, that’s a no-brainer. As C&H is the industry standard, it’s easy to rely comfortably on the proven and effective mounting options from C&H Precision Weapons.

Options on firearm platforms and optics can be reviewed at:  https://chpws.com/product-category/slide-milling/

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Oklahoma State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently met in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals for 2023 funding awards.

“I commend our volunteer leadership in the great state of Oklahoma for working so hard to raise these funds,” said Annie Farrell, NWTF district biologist for Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “These volunteers are our boots on the ground that put their hard-earned dollars back on the landscape towards critical projects. 2023 is going to be a good year for conservation in Oklahoma.”

After the reviewing and ranking process, proposals were presented to and approved by the NWTF Oklahoma Board of Directors. The Board of Directors budgeted $61,400 for conservation projects, plus $16,608.65 extended for projects from FY22, and $35,226 for other projects including outreach-education events, state scholarships and 4H Shooting Sports support.  

NWTF award funding will be matched with more than $3.3 million in partner funds for the approved projects; representing a 44:1 match rate for NWTF funding.

The Oklahoma State Board of Directors dedicated $78,008.65 in funding to the following Hunting Heritage Super Fund projects directed at Oklahoma habitat conservation objectives.  Specific project awards include:

Hunters may begin donating deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program at seven processor locations around the state.

The participating meat processors are: Amherst – Belschner Custom Meats; Norfolk – R&M Meats; North Platte – Kelley’s Custom Pack; Table Rock – Den’s Country Meats; Franklin – Franklin Locker; Ulysses – The Butchery; and Lindsay – Melcher’s Locker.

Due to staffing difficulties, many processors are not accepting deer this year, so hunters should call to check availability before hunting. This includes non-HHH processors.

Hunters pay no processing costs for deer accepted by processors for this donation-driven program. 

The HHH program is funded solely by tax-deductible contributions. Ground venison is distributed by charitable organizations to Nebraskans in need. Hunters should first talk with processors but may keep antlers, head and cape and donate the rest of the deer. Processors accept only whole deer in good condition to ensure a good yield of pure ground venison.

Washington, D.C. – This week, business leaders are in Washington D.C. to deliver a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with more than 450 businesses signed on in support of the EPA’s Clean Water Act Section 404(c) Proposed Determination for Bristol Bay’s wild salmon fishery – the largest in the world. The Businesses for Bristol Bay coalition, Conservation Alliance, and American Sustainable Business Network submitted the letter to the EPA during their recent public comment period for a new series of protections for Bristol Bay, Alaska against the proposed Pebble Mine. 

The EPA’s recent public comment period is the seventh that the EPA has held regarding protection of Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery from the Pebble Mine. During this summer’s comment period, the EPA heard from more than 500,000 Americans urging them to finalize its proposed protections. 

Business signers included members of the food service and retail industries, including Whole Foods Market and Publix, as well as the outdoor recreation and sport fishing industries, including YETI, Patagonia, MeatEater, and Grundéns.

This summer, Bristol Bay saw a record-breaking return of more than 78 million sockeye salmon, smashing last summer’s record-breaking run of 67 million sockeye. With many wild salmon stocks around the world declining due to habitat loss and climate change, Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery supplies over half of the world’s wild sockeye salmon and is Alaska’s largest and most valuable wild salmon fishery. In recent years, Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery supports more than 15,000 American jobs and generates $2.2 billion in annual economic activity. 

In the letter delivered to the EPA on September 5th, more than 450 businesses called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to “move swiftly to finalize Clean Water Act 404(c) protections that are durable and ensure the long-term sustainability of Bristol Bay’s wild salmon runs.” 

Shoot Like A Girl has partnered with Beretta USA to launch the Hunt Like A Girl Contest to give one lucky winner the opportunity to participate in a guided waterfowl hunt at Rocky Creek Retrievers in Brenham, Texas on November 7-10, 2022. This contest will provide one entrant, who is new to hunting or who has never hunted before, the chance to experience waterfowl hunting for the first time with an all-female team from Shoot Like A Girl, Beretta and other women from the outdoor industry. The winner will also receive a comprehensive waterfowl hunting gear package with transportation, meals, lodging and guide fees and tips provided. This experience is the 2nd annual waterfowl hunt in partnership with Beretta.

“Our contests are my favorite way to reach new female shooters and teach them to embrace outdoor and shooting sports,” said Karen Butler, Founder and President of Shoot Like A Girl. “Contests like these and our ongoing partnership with Beretta have been an excellent way for Shoot Like A Girl to further develop our mission of empowering women and building up their confidence. We are constantly growing and I am sure we will be able to offer even more opportunities like this in the near future.”

Contest Details

To enter for a chance to win the hunting experience of a lifetime, entrants must complete the online requirements in their entirety. To be included in the contest, all submissions must be received by Shoot Like A Girl and Beretta by 11:59 p.m. on October 6, 2022. Entries with video submissions will be considered first. 

While everyone is encouraged to enter and all entries will be considered, Shoot Like A Girl and Beretta are explicitly looking for an individual who is new to hunting or has never hunted before. The contest begins Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. EST and ends Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. EST. A winner will be selected following the conclusion of the entry window. The winner has three business days to respond to the selection email. Full terms and conditions are also available online. 

Jacksonville, Florida – Safariland®, a brand of The Safariland Group®, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets and one of Cadre Holdings, Inc.’s (NYSE: CDRE) (“Cadre”) key brands has announced exciting and much-anticipated news for the concealed carry market. Following the company’s success with retention-rated duty holsters, Safariland is expanding its everyday carry line. Schema—a new inside the waistband (IWB) holster—is the first of several new models coming in the next few months.

Schema is an optics-ready minimalist holster designed for subcompact firearms. As the namesake implies, the skeletonized outline of the holster frame has a smaller footprint than traditional IWB offerings to optimize concealability. This new model offers superior functionality with a reinforced mouth, allowing for seamless firearm holstering while the holster is worn. The firearm-specific design creates an exacting fit, which is further secured by Schema’s passive trigger guard retention.

“Safariland is thoughtfully expanding on our concealment line to offer consumers unparalleled quality and innovation they’ve come to expect from the brand,” said Eric Gasvoda, VP/GM of Duty Gear for Safariland. “Schema is the beginning of the revitalization of our EDC holster line, and I can’t wait to get it into the hands of our customers.”

Schema and the company’s new EDC line centers solely around responsible concealed carry. New models will incorporate passive retention, up-to-date fits and EDC versatility never before available in Safariland’s lineup. 

Schema is currently available for the Sig Sauer P365, P365XL, Taurus G2C and G3C, Glock 43 and Glock 43X and Springfield Armory Hellcat. For more information on Schema and the inspiration behind its design visit Safariland.com.

Blackhound Optics is pleased to announce its new website, featuring increased speed, enhanced appearance and organization, and ease of navigating through products.

“Blackhound Optics has been offering shooters a quality scope and is the only optics manufacturer that provides a complete mounting kit with each purchase since 2018.” – Beth Ingram, Marketing Director. “We are excited to offer a website where people can enjoy shopping and can easily find what they are looking for. At Blackhound Optics, we want each visitor to feel welcomed, be educated, and share their journey to their next range day or hunt with the Blackhound Optics family.”

The website will offer easier-to-read product descriptions that make sense, reticle information that educates customers, and easy-to-find subtension sheets and manuals.

Begin your journey at www.blackhoundoptics.com.

About Blackhound Optics

The legacy that Kevin Hisey left behind is a very hard one to follow. We wanted to honor him by naming the youth award program after him. He sadly passed away in 2015. He leaves behind an outstanding legacy to follow.  Glenn Hisey his father was very honored and gave us his blessing.

Kevin was a devoted father and grandfather and enjoyed every one of them. He began his career with the Pope & Young Club in 1992 working side by side with his father Glenn Hisey and later his sister Karla Hamersma. Kevin filled many hats while employed at the club and in 2000 became the Executive Secretary; which was the longest term served in club history.  Kevin was very well liked by everyone that he had the chance to visit with.  He knew all the workings of the club and was very efficient in doing so. 

By naming the youth program after him, we are hoping that the parents and youth of today and the future, learn of Kevin’s love for the outdoors and fair chase bowhunting.  Staying involved with the youth of today will keep his dreams of keeping youth involved in the outdoors and archery.  This will lead us to a great future of youth bowhunters.

The club has worked very hard at trying to keep our youth hunters involved in fair chase bowhunting.  We are hoping that this new program will do just that.  Starting off with not only large game awards but enhancing their bowhunting skills with a small game awards program by adding various award levels and give them a sense of greater involvement. 

The Kevin Hisey youth program is very simple and can all be done online.                                                                           

New Ulm, Minnesota – The 2023 ATA Trade Show in Indianapolis, Jan. 11-13, is the buying opportunity of the year and the industry’s first chance to see new products launched for 2023.

The ATA’s New Product Showcase will display newly released products submitted by exhibiting ATA-member manufacturers. In 2022, 74% of manufacturers launched a new product at the ATA Show. The Showcase, located on the Show floor, makes it easy for buyers and media to see the industry’s new, innovative products in one place.

Each product will be eligible to win a gold, silver or bronze ATA Best in Show award, voted on by a panel of industry experts and announced at Connections,  the opening night celebration, on Jan. 11. 

The ATA will also work with each winning exhibitor to produce a 90-second video detailing the winning product. The videos will be posted on the ATA’s social media channels and provided to the exhibitor for their own promotional use.

Don’t miss the most-exclusive industry event of the year and your chance to see all these exciting new products in one convenient location. The ATA Trade Show is a members-only event. Join the ATA right now to register for the 2023 ATA Show.

We’re Sending One Pope and Young Youth Member on a FREE California Black Tail Hunt

At Pope and Young, we value the youth, and see them as the future of bowhunting. In order to preserve, promote, and protect our bowhunting passion, it has to be passed onto the next generation of hunters. So, we want to send a Pope and Young youth member on a free hunt, tags and license included, a California Black Tail hunt with our good friends from Arrow Five Outfitters. 

Next Monday, September 19th, Pope and Young will be drawing one Pope and Young youth member to win this 4-day Northern California Blacktail hunt. We will be announcing the winner on our podcast, available next Tuesday morning, the 20th, wherever you get your podcasts. The youth must be 12-18 in age to go on this hunt, but all youth, ages 0-18 will be entered for our convention drawings in April of 2023.

With a $10 youth membership fee, you’re investing in their future as a bowhunter, and helping to ensure their rights as a bowhunter for generations to come, but also getting the opportunity for not only a FREE hunt, but lots of great prizes next April at our 2023 Pope and Young Convention! 

Sign up a youth hunter today to become a member of Pope and Young, or visit the link for more information, https://pope-young.org/products/26911/Annual-Youth-Membership-Under-18-Years- .

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), the leading advocate for sportsmen and women in the political arena, and the Mule Deer Foundation  (MDF), the only conservation group focused on mule deer and black-tailed deer, signed a memorandum of understanding to solidify their collaboration.  Defining and establishing a recognized partnership between CSF and MDF—primarily at the national level, but also at the state level—will allow each party to benefit by providing increased access to the unique resources of the other through collaboration.  

The purpose of this MOU is to advance the shared goals of the MDF and CSF through joint action, collaboration, communication, and interaction between MDF staff and volunteers and the CSF States Program Team and federal staff. The establishment of a coordinated working relationship provides an opportunity to combine the power of CSF’s legislative knowledge and network with MDF’s membership numbers and state chapters to effectively guide policy in a way that encourages active sportsmen participation in the legislative process and supports science-based wildlife management.

“CSF and the Mule Deer Foundation have worked together on western conservation efforts for many years, but this MOU will increase our ability to work together to ensure that MDF members and supporters can be even more engaged on the policy issues that affect them,” said CSF president and CEO Jeff Crane. “We are excited to establish a formal partnership to further conservation interests of this nation’s great outdoor traditions.” 

“The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation plays a unique role in our community through their strong relationships with members of Congress, governors, and state legislators,” said MDF President/CEO Joel Pedersen. “Conservation and sportsmen’s issues go hand in hand in the West and this partnership will increase our effectiveness in working with our elected officials to restore deer habitat and sustain our sporting heritage.” 

About Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Triumphantly hoisting up the 2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship trophy has “definitely been the most memorable moment so far” of young anglers Mark Cerja, Jr. and Gus Richardson’s fishing careers, they told Gamakatsu USA’s sales manager, Ted Thibault, in a recent interview.

The newly-titled Junior Bassmaster National Champions are members of the Lone Star Junior Bassmasters from Texas. They were among the 65 teams from around the country that competed for the Bassmaster Junior National Championship title last month at the Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake in Huntingdon, TN. Each team consisted of two junior anglers and one adult boat captain. 

The 14-year-olds have only been paired as a team since June, but they beat the competition throughout the grueling two-day tournament with a winning weight of 18 pounds, 5 ounces. Bassmaster rewarded them with a $2000.00 scholarship, which they will share.

Cerja’s father, Mark Cerja, Sr., rounded out the winning crew as captain. “I was very thankful to be able to go to Nationals and go up against the best in the country and to be able to work on my skills,” said Richardson. Richardson, “primarily self-taught,” began fishing at about age 5 in the rivers of South Texas. “Catching fish in rivers is hard,” he said, “but it was good practice to set me up for tournament fishing.” Since his move to the DFW area about a year ago, Richardson most frequently fishes from the bank in ponds near his home. 

Cerja, who has been fishing under the experienced guidance of his father since age 2, said, “I kept my confidence up, and it took a lot of grind to bring home the win. “I was always taught to fish hard, never give up, never sit down,” he said. “It’s my passion and what I want to do. I’m addicted to the sport, and the sport is just exploding. I love fishing for largemouth bass because they’re a tough fish to catch, and they take the most skill.” Cerja credits Gamakatsu’s hooks with helping him land bass in even the most challenging and thickest cover. “I love froggin’ and flippin’, and sometimes you’re pulling 20 pounds of muck and fish, and that Gamakatsu hook never bends out; it stays sharp, and it stays pinned every time. It’s the best hook on the market.”

A specific barrel batch in caliber 6.5×55 SE, which is used in the SAUER 100 model, is being recalled as a precautionary measure. The rifles in question, that we have identified based on their serial numbers, must not be used any longer and should be returned to SAUER USA in exchange for a new rifle. This batch of barrels in caliber 6.5×55 SE has shown that a progressive premature weakening of the barrel material may occur after a high volume of shots, which could lead to severe damage of the rifle and personal injury. The exchange is, of course, free of charge for the customer.

You can check which rifles are affected by the recall by plugging in the serial number of your rifle at the following link:

SAUER Recall

Please reach out to Sauer USA at [email protected] or (210) 377-2527 ext. 243 if you have any questions. For Canada residents, please contact The Gravel Agency Inc. at [email protected].

Sometimes, a soft approach is better, and the Sea Falcon® Slow Squid offers a softer alternative for slow pitch jigging. Hand-crafted with soft silicon rubber with embedded lead weight, the Slow Squid provides incredibly realistic lively action that cannot be achieved with traditional metal jigs or conventional soft baits.

The embedded lead weight balances the Slow Squid for a horizontal fall and allows fishermen to fish it like a metal jig, but its soft silicone surface provides all the wings and whistles of a soft bait. Its small shape will enable anglers to fish in deep water, where its luminous glow and undulating action will attract and entice the most finicky finfish. Choose from 8 glow-in-the-dark colors.

To ensure a fine-tuned presentation to get the best performance from the jigs, Sea Falcon has developed a specification chart for each jig indicating the correct fall speed, weight balance, pause time, current, pulling resistance and slide width. Also, the chart maps them out on an easy-to-understand chart on their website: www.seafalconusa.com. 

Every Sea Falcon lure is based on a hand-carved original created by CEO and Chief Designer Tetsuya Itou, one of Japan’s foremost lure designers. Based in Hamamatsu, Japan, they operate under the ‘Total Package’ concept, combining all processes from planning and development to manufacturing, all under one roof. Sea Falcon ensures supreme quality and continues to provide innovative products to the fishing world.

Gamakatsu® hooks are specifically designed to compliment Sea Falcon lures and plugs. Gamakatsu hooks are made with the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, raising the performance of any Sea Falcon lure.

The new Proximity line is designed as an ultra-quiet system for stationary hunting situations. This insulated hunting jacket and pant are purpose-built for close encounters on cold weather hunts. Engineered to silence your every move, Proximity is complete concealment in every sense.

DIXON, CALIFORNIA  – After requests from our customers and years of design and development, we are pleased to announce the release of the new Proximity line, an innovative technical jacket and pant designed to excel in cold environments when remaining silent is the priority.

“Whether you are hunting whitetails in the mid-west or stalking late-season mule deer in cold environments, the Proximity was engineered with a variety of features ideal for hunting in these conditions. The versatile jacket and pant combined with one of our camouflage patterns excel in an elevated stand, in prairie grasses, and on mountain hillsides.” – Kevin Wilkerson | KUIU, VP of Brand Marketing.

KUIU designed the new line with industry-leading technologies to ensure you remain undetected during close-encounter situations and warm in cold weather conditions. Using proprietary materials and manufacturing processes, the ultra-quiet Proximity Series combines a low-sheen brushed fabric with a highly wind-resistant SynthaCell® foam membrane for superior wind protection and warmth retention.    

Developed from the ground up, the Proximity jacket and pant are engineered with purpose-driven features for stationary hunting in cold conditions. The jacket offers a patent-pending removable hood, safety harness port, hand-warmer holders, and pit vents. The pant features full-length side zippers for easy on/off, removable adjustable suspenders, a structured raised back, and silent snap closures. Leveraging body-mapped 3DeFX+® insulation, Proximity strategically positions heavier insulation in key areas, with lighter insulation where extra breathability is required.

Ducks Unlimited receives historic support for RSP through Climate-Smart Commodities Grant

Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USA Rice – Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership (RSP) will receive $80M in funding through its Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities program. Through this new program, USDA finances innovative partnerships that create market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices.

“While DU is synonymous with creating better habitat for ducks, the truth is that, for 85 years, the wetlands we’ve restored have provided cleaner water for communities, protection from flooding, sequestration of carbon, countless opportunities for outdoor recreation and much more,” said Dr. Karen Waldrop, DU Chief Conservation Officer. “The support from this grant will help DU and USA Rice continue that work on a greater scale and magnify our conservation impact across a landscape that is vital to the future of rice production and waterfowl habitat.”

In 2013, USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited forged a model of collaboration between a farm group and a conservation organization – the Rice Stewardship Partnership. For nearly a decade, this partnership has offered rice producers assistance to address water quantity, water quality and wildlife habitat on working ricelands. From 2020-2021, RSP impacted 728,021 rice acres in the U.S.

“The Climate Smart Commodities Grant marks a historic moment in the Rice Stewardship Partnership,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “Ducks Unlimited learned long ago that working together with landowners is the best way to optimize resources for the benefit of both waterfowl and people. If it’s good for rice, odds are it’s also good for ducks. This funding will allow DU and our partners to take this already highly successful program to the next level, and we appreciate Secretary Vilsack and USDA for their leadership in this tremendous investment.”

Enjoy superior concealment in a variety of terrains when hunting from the Primal Wraith 270 Deluxe Blind. Available in Realtree EXCAPE camo, the blind features one-way windows that allow you to see all of your surroundings without being seen. And now, when you purchase the Primal Wraith 270 Deluxe Blind at your local Walmart or on Walmart.com, you will receive a three-month Premium OnX Hunt subscription – that’s a $50 FREE value that can last your whole hunting season!

On all three full-width, horizontal windows, the Wraith 270 Blind features Silent Slides, which allow a hunter to quietly create his or her perfect shooting point.

All of the Wraith 270 window coverings use an advanced, one-way, see-through durable mesh that allows the hunter to see out of the blind, but blocks the deer or other animal’s view inside the blind. They’ll never see you until it’s too late.

The Wraith 270 Blind is great for hunting turkey, deer, big game and other outdoor hunting activities.

At Millennium Treestands®, we understand the passion and the drive to go further, hunt harder, and remain undetected in the whitetail woods. The desire and will to be versatile in the woods and hunt smart directly relates to the adaptability and reliability of the tools at hand.

The M250 Aluminum Hang On Climbing Sticks were born with mobility and flexibility in mind. Their lightweight, rigid, single tube aluminum construction and stackable design make the M250 easy to pack, bringing unparalleled treestand tactics to the backwoods and off the beaten path.

Double loop connection straps ensure quick deployment, and the no metal-on-metal design ensures hunt stand ascents and descents that are silent. Alternating, sure traction, anti-slip angled steps save on weight while providing increased foot clearance.  

The versatile design can be used on any healthy tree, even crooked trees. When the hunt calls for the next level in portability, stealth, and reliability, the M250 Hang On Sticks by Millennium Treestands will deliver. No assembly is required, and the sticks are ready right out of the box. Available in a helpful 4-pack set, the Millennium M250 Aluminum Climbing Sticks are the perfect tool for high-achieving hunters.

M250 Aluminum Climbing Sticks Features:

Riton Optics is proud to introduce the 5 Tactix 1-6×24 Thunder Ranch! A rugged, versatile and feature-rich low power variable optic (LPVO), developed in partnership with the legendary Clint Smith from Thunder Ranch.

Designed and engineered to withstand the rigors of extreme use, while offering class-leading clarity, Riton Optics built the 5 Tactix 1-6×24 Thunder Ranch riflescope specifically for Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR) platforms. Riton Optics, Clint and the Thunder Ranch team put their minds together to build this optic, so users can shoot with confidence knowing that this optic has earned the right to wear the Thunder Ranch Shield and Lightning Bolt!

The true 1x to 6x Second Focal Plane (SFP) optical system of the 5 Tactix 1-6×24 Thunder Ranch was engineered to offer shooters distortion-free target acquisition with both eyes open at 1x, for quick and accurate engagements at close to medium range. Rotate the integrated throw lever to 6x, and shoot with confidence at extended ranges while maintaining a crystal clear field of view.

Equipped with the all-new “THR” bullet drop compensator reticle, the 5 Tactix 1-6×24 Thunder Ranch was optimized specifically for the 55gr. 5.56/.223 shot out of a 16″ barrel. Precise aiming points for 25, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards, along with 5 and 10 MPH wind holds, provide shooters the confidence needed to make precision shots out to 500 yards without ever touching the dial.

Activate the daylight bright, green illuminated reticle by turning the 6-step illumination knob on the left side of the optic to the desired brightness. Additionally, the 5 Tactix 1-6×24 Thunder Ranch also features an off setting between each brightness level so the reticle can be turned off quickly when desired.

The National Deer Association (NDA) tallied another successful and exciting year for their Deer Steward program with a powerful lineup of courses.

“This program has proven to have such a large impact across the country and it’s really exciting to see it continue growing,” said Nick Pinizzotto, NDA President & CEO. “These programs give deer hunters the knowledge they need to go make an actual difference where they hunt. That is an extremely powerful tool when implemented on this scale and we are already seeing noticeable changes.”

2022 began with a unique in-person Deer Steward Level 1 custom course for Whitetail Properties in Illinois, followed by a Habitat Enhancement Module for their Land Specialists in Kentucky. This year also marked their biggest Deer Steward course yet, featuring a custom training for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission in Little Rock. With nearly 90 biologists, technicians, foresters and WMA managers in attendance, this proved to be the largest audience in the program’s history. NDA has held custom courses for five other state wildlife agencies including Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee.

In August, NDA wrapped up another public Level 2 course in Wisconsin alongside event partner, Vortex Optics. Vortex Optics offered a private tour for all attendees to experience their impressive headquarters and world class shooting and training facility, the Vortex Edge. With nearly 40 students from 15 states, the organizations spent several days discussing all things deer biology, habitat management, population ecology, hunting strategies and more led by NDA’s Kip Adams, Matt Ross, Ben Westfall and Dr. Craig Harper from the University of Tennessee.

Across all of NDA’s Deer Steward in-person and online courses this year, the nearly 300 attendees are projected to impact more than 2.3 million acres by implementing course knowledge on the lands they hunt or manage. The friendships, knowledge, and appreciation for deer management gained through these in-person courses are an integral part of the program. It is extremely important to the NDA that they are back in full swing, educating and interacting with deer hunters, landowners, and natural resource professionals.