Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

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.

With a growing distribution base and expanded product line, SENTRY Tactical adds key role to lead the sales teams, and support US domestic sales

SENTRY Tactical, a leading manufacturer and distributor of products focused on protection, storage, and transportation of outdoor, military, and law enforcement equipment, has recently hired Kevin Renwick as Vice President of Sales to support the growing domestic markets.

Renwick is an industry veteran with over 15-years of expanding sales experience and responsibilities.  His career spans industry-leading manufacturers including Traditions Performance Firearms, BLACKHAWK!, GunVault, and most recently The Safariland Group, as a Director of National Accounts in the commercial marketplace.

“I am humbled and honored to get to be a part of the SENTRY team,” stated Renwick. “We have exciting initiatives on the horizon for our consumers and customers that will drive demand. Our brand-new dropship initiative allows customers access to our full line of products and have them shipped directly from the factory. Keep an eye out! We will have new and innovative additions to our long-standing industry brands of ScopeCoat, Hex Mag, and Sentry Solutions soon. Our foundation is strong and with the team being assembled, we will only continue to get stronger and more customer-focused.” Kevin can be reached at [email protected].

“Kevin is a customer-focused leader who values long-term relationships that create growth opportunities for both the customer and manufacturer. His time and reach in the industry made him an excellent choice for this position,” stated Mike Noell, CEO of SENTRY Tactical. “Over the next few months, this position will be focused on growing our customer base, implementing new exciting programs for the 2022 season, and launching several new product categories in preparation for the SHOT show.”

Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Robert Bonnie as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bonnie is being elevated from his role as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Climate at USDA.

“Robert Bonnie has a strong track record advancing incentive-based conservation practices for all landowners,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “Ducks Unlimited applauds his confirmation and we look forward to continuing our work with USDA and America’s farmers and ranchers to achieve land stewardship that feeds the world and expands the conservation practices that benefit waterfowl, other wildlife and people.”

USDA oversees implementation of Farm Bill programs passed by Congress, many of which contribute to Ducks Unlimited’s core conservation work with our partners in agriculture. In his new position, Bonnie will oversee programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Agriculture Conservation Easement Program and Regional Conservation Partnership Program. These programs have become valuable tools that allow Ducks Unlimited to work with farmers and ranchers to conserve and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. Through these programs, countless wetlands on private lands are restored and millions of ducks are added to fall flight each year.

For more information, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to Follow DU’s News Twitter feed – @DUNews1937 – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

After breaking ground in 2020, David and Crystal Merrill, the proprietors of Bow Spider, the quickest and easiest bow retrieval system on the market, are excited to announce that their new 3,050 sq. ft. office, shipping and assembly annex is up and running.

“The completion of this building comes at a very busy time of year for us,” said David Merrill. “We are thrilled to have the added space to fulfill the record number of orders we are receiving. Right now, all back orders have shipped, and we are fully stocked.”

This completed expansion has increased the Bow Spider’s building space by nearly 800 percent and is a direct result of the tremendous increase in the popularity of the company’s products in the past two years. The new building will house three offices, meeting space, the Podcast studio, assembly area and a warehouse area. The company launched its first product at the Archery trade Show in 2020 and now offers several variations to the original Bow Spider and a number of Bow Spider accessories. The company will also have new products coming in 2022.

About Recreational Archery Development LLC (RAD, LLC):
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Kinnear, WY, RAD, LLC is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative products for the outdoor industry, including the Bow Spider brand of products. Bow Spider’s intuitive design makes bow retrieval fast and easy in any situation. The product is proudly made in the USA and gives one percent of all sales to conservation. The company also offers veterans a 15 percent discount on all products. (To take advantage of this offer, orders need to be called in directly to the company at 307-438-9290.) For additional information on RAD, LLC and the Bow Spider brand of products write to: RAD, LLC, PO Box 171, Kinnear, WY 82516; call 307-438-9290; email [email protected]; visit www.bowspider.com.

EDGEFIELD, S.C.—The National Wild Turkey Federation announces a new landscape-scale initiative addressing critically urgent conservation needs in riparian ecosystems throughout its America’s Big Six of Wildlife Conservation regions.

The Waterways for Wildlife Initiative will bolster the NWTF’s efforts to address degrading riparian health, specifically in its America’s Great Open Spaces and America’s Western Wildlands Big Six regions. Through this new initiative, the NWTF recognizes the critical role that water plays in all aspects of life, specifically for wildlife habitat, and builds on the success of the NWTF’s Northern Plains Riparian Restoration Initiative, expanding from a four-state area to a 10-state area.

Commonly referred to as riparian corridors or zones, riparian areas are natural ecosystems located along the banks of rivers, streams, creeks or any other water network. While riparian areas make up less than 1.5% of the entire landscape in the Great Plains, more than 70% of all plains wildlife species depend upon these ecosystems for water, food, cover, roosting, nesting and as travel corridors.

To address critical riparian conservation issues, the NWTF is partnering with landowners, governmental agencies, conservation organizations and others to restore these vitally important ecosystems across the landscape. Over the next 10 years, the NWTF seeks to raise $10 million in private funding and leverage $40 million in matching partner funds to improve 75,000 acres of wildlife habitat along 1,500 linear miles of waterways in the Great Plains landscape.

“This initiative is an investment in America’s wildlife, wild places and opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts from all across the country who visit these landscapes to recreate,” said Jared McJunkin, NWTF director of conservation operations for the central region.

Celebrating Safari Club International’s 50th Anniversary, SCI will be auctioning off not just rare and exclusive firearms but also a chance to be part of SCI history. Auction highlights include: 

Hunt with SCI Founder C.J. McElroy’s Rifle

Celebrating 50 years, SCI will auction off a chance to hunt with the rifle belonging to none other than SCI’s late founder C.J. McElroy. When he died in 2002, his hunting rifle was enshrined in a custom display case at SCI’s headquarters in Tucson, Arizona. 

While the rifle holds significance because it belonged to the man who founded the country’s most influential hunting group, it also has historical value. The Weatherby Mark V rifle chambered in the company’s flagship cartridge .300 Weatherby Magnum was gifted by Roy Weatherby himself. 

Despite the sentiment, the rifle was built for the field. The winning bidder will be invited on a 15-day guided hunt in the Alaskan wild for Alaskan brown bear, black bear, mountain goat, and wolf. When attendees bid, they get not only the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but also a chance to become part of SCI history. 

SilencerCo is excited to release episode five of the American Gun series, “American Gun: The Immigrant.” This video features Dahl, an American immigrant who was born and raised in Dominica, a small island in the Caribbean. Dahl’s story illustrates why the American Dream is not dead, and why the second amendment offers a freedom unlike anything else. 

Dahl came to America when he was 25 years old on a path to citizenship through the U.S. Navy. Previously, he lived in other countries all around the world. The one thing that kept him from staying in any of these countries was his inability to participate in his favorite hobby: shooting guns. 

“One thing I like about the US is you can be armed. The second amendment guarantees that you have that ability which is incomparable with any [other] country you go to,” said Dahl. 

Now, as an American citizen, Dahl enjoys all of these freedoms and shares them with the people he loves. Although he and his brother are separated by a large age-gap, recreational shooting bridges that gap and creates a unique bond. Dahl also frequently invites other immigrant friends to join him in his hobby and teach them safety and tactical techniques. 

This love of shooting is just one reason why the second amendment is so important. Previous “American Gun” episodes point out other reasons such as personal protection, craftsmanship and mental health. 

Tedder Industries, an industry-leading manufacturer of firearms holsters and accessories for military, tactical and civilian use is proud to announce that Shawn Hostetter has joined the Tedder family of brands as the new Chief Executive Officer. Shawn comes to Tedder Industries from Katadyn North America where he served as the President since 2011, transforming iconic brands and businesses to drive growth and increase profits.

“Shawn has an extensive background in outdoor products innovation, sales, and manufacturing with over 25 years of executive experience in the market. Shawn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Tedder Industries and will be instrumental in guiding Tedder for many years to come,” said Thomas Tedder, Founder of Tedder Industries. “Tedder Industries was founded upon the entrepreneurial spirit, and the Board is excited to have Shawn’s experience leading the company forward with that same spirit and drive.”

“Thomas Tedder had a vision of what the Tedder Industries family of brands could become and has done an outstanding job leading the company to where it is today,” said Shawn Hostetter. “I am honored to have the opportunity to build on all of the achievements of this outstanding company and to drive increased growth and profitability to lead Tedder Industries to the next level.”

Shawn is a graduate of Brigham Young University and, having spent 2 years abroad in Taiwan, is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Shawn spent his youth growing up in Colorado and has enjoyed a lifetime of experience in outdoor activities such as backpacking, skiing, cycling, hunting, fishing and shooting. Shawn is also deeply committed and has been involved heavily in youth outdoor programs like the Boy Scouts of America and Canyon Country Discovery Center. 

About Tedder Industries

November 2021

Stylish, comfortable, and secure are just a few ways to describe the Decree Holster from Versacarry. This outside the waistband holster has a non-collapsible design thanks to the embedded copper spine. This feature not only adds function but beautiful styling. 

The Decree OWB Holster has a raised protective leather backing for all-day comfort when in use. For an easy and confident draw, the holster has a forward cant and is held in place by two large belt loops. The Decree holster is proudly made in the U.S.A. with premium water buffalo leather construction. 

To fit a wide range of firearms, the holster is available in 4 sizes and in right or left-hand configurations. 

The MSRP for the Decree OWB is $84.99

Salt Lake City, UT: The Mule Deer Foundation applauds yesterday’s confirmation of Robert Bonnie as the undersecretary of farm production and conservation for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Bonnie has a strong record of innovative, collaborative conservation on working lands and will be a key leader on implementing Farm Bill conservation programs that benefit fish and wildlife species. Following is a statement by Mule Deer Foundation President/CEO Joel Pedersen:

“The Mule Deer Foundation is looking forward to working with Robert Bonnie now that he has been confirmed as undersecretary for farm production and conservation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Robert has been a key leader on private land conservation for decades and he understands the challenges and opportunities in developing collaborative efforts to solve complex land management issues. MDF and our partners have worked with Robert on sagebrush rangeland restoration efforts that benefit sage grouse and mule deer as well as hundreds of other species. We look forward to working with him and the staff of USDA to effectively implement Farm Bill conservation programs in mule deer country.”

About MDF 
The Mule Deer Foundation is the only conservation group in North America dedicated to restoring, improving and conserving mule deer and black-tailed deer and their habitat, with a focus on science and program efficiency. MDF is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. MDF acknowledges regulated hunting as a viable management component and is committed to recruitment and retention of men, women and youth into the shooting sports and conservation. Get involved in your state or become a member at www.muledeer.org or call 801-973-3940.

Z-Man® ElaZtech® baits key small boat championship, again

Kristine Fischer had won before. But this one felt different. Bigger. Somehow, more meaningful. Like a quarterback winning a third Super Bowl; cementing their place in history and making some sort of definitive, lasting statement. 

But unlike all those other pro athletes who celebrate championships with time away from the sport—or a sojourn to Disneyland—after the event, Fischer simply jumped in her truck and steered toward her favorite muskie river. Call her a trailblazer if you want. But as far as Fischer’s concerned, she’s simply a diehard angler, someone who loves the pursuit of big fish and the opportunity to solve an underwater mystery. 

Mystery, indeed. For prior to the 2021 Hobie Bass Open Series (BOS) Tournament of Champions, Fischer had never cast a lure in Alabama’s illustrious Lake Eufaula. The culmination of a ten-tournament calendar, the three-day Championship (November 12, 13 and 14) hosted fifty of the top-qualifying anglers, all vying for a $35,000 first-place paycheck—plus shots at the Angler of the Year award and a berth in the Hobie World Championship. 

“I’d never fished Eufaula in my life,” noted the Z-Man Fishing pro, among the top kayak bassers in North America. “I watched a lot of the old Bassmaster Elite events there; tried to gain some knowledge of fall patterns. Eufaula has this reputation for its offshore ledge and deep brushpile bites—especially prominent now with the rise of live-scan sonar.