Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

LINCOLN, Neb. – Deer hunters are reminded that in-person check stations will be used during the nine-day firearm season this year.

All deer harvested during the Nov. 13-21 season must be accompanied by the hunter and taken to a check station no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season.

Check stations change from year to year, so hunters are urged to find their locations before they hunt. A list may be found on the 2021 deer regulations sheet, which, along with maps and information, is available at outdoornebraska.gov/deer and  outdoornebraska.gov/huntingseasons. An interactive map of check stations can be found at outdoornebraska.gov/maps.

Game and Parks staff will collect lymph nodes from select harvested deer to sample for chronic wasting disease at check stations in the Wahoo, Blue Southeast and Blue Northwest units. They will take samples for CWD and meningeal brain worm in the Buffalo, Platte and Republican units.

When checking in a deer, the permit and check station seal number or check station verification number must be retained when transporting all or a portion of the carcass to a point of permanent storage or processing.

One random winner will receive $6,000 worth of Lyman® and Mark 7® products from Lyman Products. Sign up to win between Nov. 1 – 29, 2021.

Lyman Products knows the past two years have been tough on everyone, and we want our customers to know how much we appreciate their business, and their patience, while we have all dealt with huge order volumes and supply chain issues, not to mention viruses, and vaccines, and civil unrest, and lions and tigers and bears. Oh my! 

Since the gift giving season is almost upon us, we at Lyman decided to give away the ultimate gift that will include:

Altogether, a $6,000 value!

Because we love ALL OF our customers, we can’t be expected to choose our favorite, so the winner will be drawn at random, from all entries into this sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes runs from Nov. 1, 2021 through midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Nov. 29, 2021. Lyman will draw the winner on Nov. 30 live on the Mark 7 Facebook page at noon EST.

It is our honor to introduce Hunting Life Magazine.

Wait What? You can hunt Turkey with a rifle? Isn’t that a shotgun thing?

**As a public service for those that like to get to the heart of the matter early on – you can skip to the next section if you want to get to the MEAT of the topic involving using rifles on a turkey hunt. This first section is just some background about turkey’s, America, and arguments around the family dinner table.**  

Benjamin Franklin believed the noble turkey to be much more aligned with the proud, strong nation that was looking for a national bird than the lowly eagle.

He also invented a lot of things, including bifocals and said poignant things like: “He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals” and “Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!”

Mr. Franklin was a staunch believer in the Second Amendment and did enjoy Turkey as an animal and a meal. Around this time every year, as families everywhere procure their farm raised, blanched white turkeys and prepare for the roast bird to be the centerpiece of their holiday meal, the hunter contemplates – “why am I not hunting my own turkey?”

This article aims to take that question for a ride as we consider why more turkeys in the holiday spread aren’t being harvested from the woods and meadows, and why more of those turkeys that are, aren’t being procured with your trusty modern musket? Otherwise known as the AR-15.

Carry your cartridges in classic style with John Rigby & Co.’s new Kalahari cartridge bag. Designed to carry one hundred 12-bore shells, it combines high quality modern craftsmanship with traditional materials to give you dependability for years to come.

Part of Rigby’s new ‘Kalahari’ range of field kit, the cartridge bag is handmade in London using a tough cotton canvas that has been specially selected to withstand the rigours of the field. With tan leather trim and brass fixings, plus a sturdy canvas shoulder strap, it also offers quick and easy access to your loads thanks to a fold-flat hinged lid. 

Rigby’s Kalahari range also includes a coordinating rifle slip and canvas holdall. 

“Everything we do has to be fit for purpose as well as be easy on the eye, and this cartridge bag is no different,” commented Rigby MD Marc Newton. “It evokes early 20th century hunting in with its classic looks, and thanks to its durable construction, it should still be going strong well into the 21st century.”

Cartridge bag RRP: £375 from www.johnrigbyandco.com.

Tigress Outriggers & Gear, the world’s leader in trolling technology, is giving anglers even better control over their spread with the introduction of two new top mounts. The XD Bay Series Top Mount brings precision control to vessels up to 40 feet so they can dial in their spread inshore or off. The XD Crank Top Mount combines speed and precision, letting tournament anglers quickly deploy an effective spread at the first sign of life, current seam, or color break. 

Built for everything from Mahi to Marlin, the XD Bay Series Top Mount delivers full-size performance in a package designed for bay boats. The XD Bay Series Top Mount accepts all of Tigress’ world-class XD outrigger poles with 1-1/8” butt diameters in carbon or aluminum. Twenty-four adjustable positions in 15-degree increments stay precisely where you want them to, thanks to Tigress’ XD 316L stainless steel locking design, but stows quickly with HD Spring return. The upper arm will go exactly where you want it as well, with 19 locking positions at 10-degree increments. You don’t need to worry about bridges and trailering, thanks to horizontal stops that maximize clearance. 

The XD Crank Top Mount is built to deploy in an instant, giving anglers pinpoint precision that makes the most of fleeting opportunities. The user-friendly folding crank handle with integrated drive brake gets the outriggers out fast, with stainless steel and bronze-bushed head pivot that guarantees maximum strength and durability. The upper arm is also easily controlled, with a ball-bearing drive system with a balance spring assist. The two combine to offer 24 adjustable/locking positions featuring Tigress’ XD 316L stainless steel locking tooth design, including ‘Run’ and ‘Laydown’ position stops and eight optional user-indexable set-up positions.

Built with an extreme duty top plate, upper arm, and housings, the XD Crank Top Mount can handle all Tigress XD 1-1/2” butt diameter outriggers (and XD 1-1/8” butt diameter outriggers with an adapter) to 22 feet. The unique ergonomic, invertible 316 stainless steel mirror-polished handle design provides plenty of clearance on soft and hard tops over 2 inches thick, and is built for vessels up to 50 feet. It fits through all standard 3-inch diameter mounting plates and hard-top holes.

Both the XD Bay Series Top Mount and the XD Crank Top Mount is compatible with Tigress’ and other industry-standard 4-inch by 6-inch mounting plates, utilizing four 5/16-inch diameter fasteners. Each is built with fully sealed construction for generations of use utilizing extreme-duty 316L stainless steel and anodized aluminum and feature UV protection. So you can buy with confidence, Tigress backs the new mounts with a three-year limited warranty. The XD Bay Series Top Mount is sold individually; the XD Crank Top Mount comes in pairs. 

For the first time ever, the Safari Club International will auction off never-before-seen work by the SCI artist of the year during their 50th annual convention in Las Vegas. This year, the honorary title goes to John Banovich, known internationally for his large and dramatic portrayals of wildlife. 

While Banovich’s work has appeared in numerous museums and galleries, one of his best-known pieces is entitled “Once Upon A Time.” The life-size painting of elephants brought much-needed attention to the issue of ivory poaching. 

Banovich described conservation as a major influence on his art. “Now more than ever, we need to expand the message about the vital importance of the world’s natural places and utilize the forceful role that artists can leverage in the efforts to conserve them,” he said. 

The Banovich Wildscapes Foundation has raised money to support and promote habitat protection, science-based wildlife management, and sustainable tourism. “Our natural world is severely threatened, and with this increased pressure, a new paradigm must emerge — artists, conservationists, sportsmen, and environmentalists must come together in areas of overlapping interests,” he said. 

During his more than 25-year career, Banovich has traveled all across Africa pursuing his art. His journeys and vast knowledge inspired the luxury safari venture Banovich Wildscape Travel. They’re designed to immerse guests in Banovich’s world of art and travel, so they leave with profound and meaningful experiences. 

The Conception Story of a Cornerstone in Pack Design

MYSTERY RANCH, an industry-leading backpack company devoted to making mission-specific packs is launching Origins: OVERLOAD®, a cinematic look into the conception story of the brand’s OVERLOAD feature and its unique ability to haul large, heavy, and awkward loads. The film explores the innovative pack design which has become a cornerstone feature throughout the MYSTERY RANCH pack lines from its Military origins to the Hunting and Outdoor categories. WATCH NOW.

“I knew that we were on to something that no one had even thought of,” said MYSTERY RANCH Co-founder and Pack Designer Dana Gleason. “Whether it’s a 60 lb mortar baseplate, a packed-out elk quarter, or a four-season tent, the OVERLOAD feature creates solutions for bulky, heavy, and changing loads – the applications are endless.”  

By using the space between the frame and pack, the OVERLOAD feature ensures that the heaviest part of the load remains closest to the back helping users to “haul more and hurt less.” The load one could carry is not based on a product, but rather a principle: to keep the weight and bulk in a vertical alignment with your back. Limited only by the user’s need and imagination, from soldier to skier, hunter to hiker, world traveler to weekend warrior, proper load bearing makes life better. It makes the bearer stronger, faster, more nimble, more mobile—and in less pain and discomfort. Click here for the deeper story.

About MYSTERY RANCH: 

The hybrid Shenandoah provides IWB/OWB versatility.

Jacksonville, Florida – Bianchi®, a brand of The Safariland Group, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets, today announced the availability of the Shenandoah, a new hybrid in-waist-band/outside-waist-band holster. The Shenandoah is an innovative option for those who carry micro-9mms and is optics ready.  

“The Shenandoah is a bold representation of the new direction of Bianchi Leather,” said Eric Gasvoda, Vice President and General Manager for the Safariland Group duty gear division. “Bianchi is staying true to its roots with the leather build of Shenandoah, but we’re integrating new materials and customizable elements that allow for an increase in functionality for those who want flexibility from their EDC holster. This is the first Bianchi holster to have been designed with 3D printing, but we’re still building each one with the traditional craftsmanship that defines Bianchi Leather.”

The Shenandoah is built with a flat suede-backed full-grain leather face that incorporates an IWB belt clip, or two OWB belt loops. The back of the Shenandoah is made from Hytrel, a polyester that provides flexibility for comfortable carry and protection for the firearm. The cut of the Shenandoah provides ample clearance for slide-mounted optics.

Shenandoah’s belt loops and belt clip are easily swapped in a matter of seconds. The multi-fit capability of the Shenandoah comes from the The Pinch Retention Device, a trigger-guard retention system that provides added security palpable feedback when it clicks into the firearm trigger guard.

Skills4Life recipients have opportunity to meet with Aaron Lewis at local bird hunt

On September 17-19, 2021, four veterans were hosted by Randy Pawelek for a local Dove Hunt in Charco, Texas. Randy, his family and the local community spent the time to host these Heroes and provide a memorable outing. In total, 88 birds were tagged, and each Hero went home with 30 doves for the freezer. In addition to the doves, each Hero was given a shotgun and a rifle from ATA Arms and Christensen Arms respectively.

On a Saturday nearby in Austin, Aaron Lewis was playing a show and heard about Pawelek and community support for our Heroes through this event. Aaron, and his bandmates, loaded up the tour bus and made an impromptu visit spending Friday and Saturday with our Heroes.

Overall, this was a highly successful Skills4Life event, and we look forward to supporting more Heroes and Gold Star families.

If you or someone you know would like to apply, please visit our website at: https://militarywarriors.org

Available in Grey and Black, New Reliefband® Sport Watch Connectors Allow Users to Wear Reliefband Device and Smart Watch Simultaneously 

Reliefband, an innovator in wearable technology that prevents and treats nausea and vomiting symptoms, launched new  Reliefband® Sport Watch Connectorsdesigned specifically for Apple and Samsung watch owners. Available now, the new watch bands are priced at $29.99 each and offered in two color choices (grey or black). The watch bands can be configured to seamlessly attach to an Apple or Samsung watch. With this interchangeable band, an Apple or Samsung watch is situated on top of a user’s wrist with the Reliefband Sport® aligned on the underside of the wrist so it can deliver side effect-free therapy. 

Launched last quarter, Reliefband® Sport is a new waterproof wearable therapeutic device that prevents and treats nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness, morning sickness from pregnancy, anxiety, hangovers, physician-diagnosed migraines, chemotherapy, and as an adjunct to antiemetics in treating post-operative nausea.

Reliefband Sport® is a clinically proven wearable which includes a built-in rechargeable battery that, when fully charged, will last 30 hours on the medium intensity level. Six intensity levels can be quickly toggled allowing users to find the precise setting that’s optimal for their needs at any moment. With the Sport model’s smart sensing technology, the device will turn off after 60 seconds if skin contact is not detected in order to preserve battery life. 

The result of more than 20 years of clinical research, Reliefband’s FDA-cleared, patented technology uses accurately programmed pulses with a highly specific waveform, frequency, and intensity to stimulate the median nerve on the underside of the wrist. This precise activity uses the body’s natural neural pathways to block waves of nausea produced by the stomach.  

Heatrub Ultimate – Five Times Warmer Than a Standard Product

Pioneering baselayer brand Zerofit has now arrived in North America for Fall/Holiday 2021 with an extensive collection of products for everyone who loves being active in the great American outdoors, regardless of how cold it gets. With a storied heritage and a relentless commitment to offering technological apparel solutions that ensure outdoor enthusiasts experience a performance benefit from clothing closest to the skin, the award-winning Zerofit Heatrub Ultimate ($90) and Heatrub Move ($76) baselayers are ideal companions in colder, harsher conditions.

Zerofit Key Products

The Ultimate Baselayer has been independently tested and proven to be five times warmer than leading competitors. The Boken Institute in Osaka, Japan, tested the heat retention of the Zerofit Ultimate and gave it a rating of 0.78: a standard baselayer would have a rating of 0.1-0.14, while a sweater would have a rating of 0.3, and the Ultimate has been designed to work best in a temperature range of between 14° Fahrenheit thru 50° Fahrenheit (-10° Celsius thru 10° Celsius).

Technologically enhanced heat threads inside the garment are activated through movement, gently brushing against the skin to generate heat instantly. Unlike most other baselayers, the Ultimate does not work based on ‘compression for heat’ – so not only does it provide greater warmth, but users also don’t feel restricted by an inability to move freely, whether they’re hunting, hiking, fishing or sailing.

Team Federal shooters Austen Smith and Kayle Browning had remarkable finishes at the ISSF President’s Cup Shotgun match held at the Olympic Shooting Range in Larnaca, Cyprus, October 19-24, 2021. The best 48 athletes from all over the world took part in the competition. They competed for medals in 4 individual and 2 team events. In Women’s Skeet, Austen Smith won gold, while also winning the Mixed Team Skeet competition, paired with Gabriele Rossetti from Italy. In Women’s Trap, Kayle Browning won second place honors.

“We are extremely proud of the stellar performance from Smith and Browning, as well as our other Team Federal athletes who competed at this prestigious, worldwide event,” said Federal Ammunition Vice President of Marketing Jason Nash. “Their accomplishments are a reflection of Federal’s dedication to its quality products and to the shooting sports.”

Austen Smith was the youngest member of the USA Shooting Olympic Team at the Tokyo Games in 2021. She had only been shooting for 7 years prior to making it to her first Olympic games. Austen won World Championship silver in 2017, bronze in 2018, and gold in 2019. She also made headlines by becoming a gold (individual) and bronze medalist (mixed team) at the 2021 ISSF World Cup. Smith is coached by three-time Olympic Champion Vincent Hancock.

Kayle Browning began her shooting career in sporting clays at just 12 years old. As a first time Olympian in 2021, she captured the silver medal in Women’s Trap. Browning shot her way into the finals in the sixth position and then climbed into the final pairing with some clutch shooting. The Arkansas native and Federal-sponsored athlete missed extending the match by one target but realized her Olympic dream by winning silver.

Shotgunners on Team Federal use Federal Premium Gold Medal and Top Gun Shotgun Shells, all designed to shoot smooth and produce dense, uniform shot patterns that turn clay pigeons to dust. For more information on all products from Federal or to shop online, visit www.federalpremium.com.

HEVI-Shot is proud to introduce new HEVI-Hammer Dove loads. HEVI-Hammer pellets are manufactured using 15-percent high density bismuth (9.64 g/cc) and 85-percent precision steel. That small but mighty leading layer of bismuth over steel delivers nearly 50-percent more down range energy than pellets consisting of all steel at 40 yards. New for 2021, HEVI-Shot is offering 12- and 20- gauge options shot size No. 7 shot for hunters targeting smaller upland game birds such as dove.

“At HEVI-Shot, we have always been about innovation and density. Density is the secret sauce. It leads to tighter patterns, higher speeds, and more downrange devastation,” said Scott Turner, HEVI-Shot’s Product Line Manager. “Our customers spoke up and we listened. They wanted a highly effective product that was non-toxic to use in areas that restrict the use of lead.”

New HEVI-Hammer loads are superior nontoxic shotshells for areas where lead is prohibited or for the environmentally conscious hunter. The bismuth-enhanced steel loads provide hunters with an option that had more velocity and more power than just standard steel shot yet is the same size as steel respectively. Because HEVI-Hammer pellets feature a layer of 9.6 g/cc Bismuth, hunters can generally shoot one shot size smaller than steel for the same lethality, but with a much higher pellet count for increased probability of contact.

“There are many reasons to love dove hunting. Hunting seasons are typically much warmer and begin earlier than other game, there are a lot of opportunities for fast and challenging shots, and dove breasts are such excellent table fare,” said Turner. “We know HEVI-Hammer Dove will help hunters achieve more success in the field.”

HEVI-Hammer Dove is available in a 3-inch, 12-gauge option with a charge weight of 1 ounce and velocity of 1,350 feet-per-second. Plus, a 3-inch, 20-gauge option with a charge weight of 3/4 ounce and velocity of 1,325 feet-per-second. Both loads utilize shot size No. 7.

If you own a fish farm or harvest fish as a hobby, you always want to make sure you have the best resources to get the best outcome. Investing in good and advanced quality tools for harvesting fish is never a loss for a fish harvester.

To make sure you do not miss out on any of the top five fish harvesting tools, we will list them here for you. Give it a quick check. If you find tools that your farm or pond has been missing, take a look at its features and advantages, and make your decision whether to get them or not.

Here we go!

What is Fish Harvesting?

Let’s start by discussing what fish harvesting means. Harvesting fish refers to the number or weight of fish obtained by catching from a specific area over a particular period.

Register now for MidwayUSA Foundation’s “Day of Clays – Talladega.” This sporting clays tournament will be held on Friday, November 19th at the beautiful CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Talladega, AL.  In addition to a 100-target/15 station sporting clays shoot, participants can also compete in side games, like Wobble Trap and Long Bird Extreme, and purchase  sweepstakes entries for the chance to win great prizes, including an M1 Garand. This is open to both 4 person squads AND individual shooters.

Every dollar from the registration benefits the endowment of the squad’s choice, so it’s a great fundraiser for youth shooting teams!  We will also offer additional matching funds for this special event.  This tournament is open to veteran shooters and entry-level shooters.  While proceeds will benefit youth shooting teams, all ages are welcome to attend!  Squads will receive a complimentary golf cart, lunch, and a sweepstakes entry for each shooter.  Gather your squad for MidwayUSA Foundation’s first-ever sporting clays tournament! See more details below. 

SCHEDULE 
  8:00 a.m.:  Check-in/Liability Waiver
  9:00 a.m.:  Shotgun Start (all 30 teams begin)
12:30 p.m.:  Lunch/Side Games/Networking
  2:00 p.m.:  Entertainment (Dave Miller Trick Shooting Exhibition)
  2:30 p.m.:  Award Ceremony

Register Now

Enter Sweepstakes

Federal was proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the USPSA HiCap Nationals this year, which consisted of two back-to-back matches held at the CMP Marksmanship Park in Talladega, Alabama. The first match was the PCC/Carry Optics Nationals held October 16-18, followed by the Limited/Open (Race Gun) Nationals held October 22-24. Each match featured 18 stages requiring competitors to execute their stage plan thoughtfully and aggressively while placing good hits on difficult targets. Federal also sponsored the USPSA online live streams of those events.

“We have enjoyed a great relationship with USPSA for many years now. They’re working hard to grow the sport and reach out to new shooters, but they’re also keeping balance by focusing on the needs of their more experienced members,” said Federal’s Vice President of Marketing, Jason Nash. “It’s exciting to learn about new shooters participating and getting plugged in to the sport. We are proud that Federal was able to be part of that as the presenting sponsor for all of this year’s nationals events.”

Founded in 1984, the USPSA is the national governing body of competitive practical shooting in the U.S. under the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC). The USPSA provides challenging competitive opportunities that pit participants against shooters of similar skill levels in different divisions geared to various handguns, rifles, and shotguns. The association welcomes new shooters of all ages and abilities, and offers club matches all over the country―including Steel Challenge events. Federal’s Syntech ammunition is the official handgun ammunition of the USPSA.

“I’m really proud of the members on Team Federal for their dedicated and solid performances at these events, and that Federal Syntech Action Pistol was one of the main ingredients in their recipe of success,” said Federal’s Shooting Sports Promotions Manager, Jason Spradling. “Grant Kunkel finished 7th overall in the PCC Category. Chris Barrett finished as the Top A-class shooter in PCC. An honorable mention goes to Cory Klemashevich who finished 20th in PCC. Cory has put in a ton of work and his performance was up 13 spots from last year. Casey Reed earned a top-ten finish in the Limited division at 8th place. As one of the top Limited shooters in the country, Casey competed on the ‘Super Squad’ and represented Team Federal well.”

For more information on all products from Federal or to shop online, visit www.federalpremium.com.

The ultimate sports lodge signs first NCAA-sponsored athlete and launches touchdown giveback campaign benefitting Folds of Honor

Twin Peaks has always been dedicated to saluting and supporting the brave men and women who protect our country.

That’s why when the ultimate sports lodge heard about how Damian Jackson joined the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s football team, Twin Peaks knew it would be a fitting partnership. The company announced today that Twin Peaks is uniting with Jackson to use his name, image and likeness in its first-ever NCAA sponsorship. Jackson’s a former Navy Seal who finished serving time in the military before pursuing his passion for football and walking onto the Cornhusker’s team.

“I’m incredibly honored and proud to team up with Twin Peaks,” Jackson said. “This is a huge national brand that is well-known for supporting not just sports teams and fans, but also active duty and veterans. I can’t wait to begin this special partnership that’s focused on Husker football and giving back to military families!”

As the go-to spot for the ultimate gameday experience, it’s only fitting that Twin Peaks gives fans even more of a reason to cheer for the Cornhuskers this football season. To celebrate Jackson and honor our nation’s heroes, Twin Peaks is raising funds for its national charity partner, Folds of Honor – a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.

SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program) College Nationals returned to its historic fall schedule at the Cardinal Shooting Center with the International Bunker and Skeet Disciplines kicking off the event on the 6th of October. These very challenging clay target sports continue to gain the attention of American competitors and coaches, with many Olympians at Tokyo having spent previous time as athletes or supporters of the SCTP. 

Using the newly constructed international venue at the Cardinal Center,  SCTP saw one of the newest teams to the SCTP College cadre, University of the Ozarks from Arkansas would take top honors in both of the International Divisions of Bunker Trap and International Skeet.

Top achievements:

Overall Champions:

The High Overall Lady title was claimed by Katie Peterson of Fort Hays State University shooting a 583/600. Katie improved her score by 43 targets from last year’s Nationals.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in November. Here are a few opportunities:

Little Saplings early childhood series presents Fall Colors

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Little Saplings early childhood nature discovery program will have the program, Fall Colors, in its monthly series at Schramm Education Center at 9 a.m. Nov. 3.

The series, which is designed for children ages 2-5 and their adult caregiver, will bring nature themes to life through stories, sensory activities, crafts and outdoor exploration. The series is on the first Wednesday each month.

The remaining program in the series is Night Animals set for Dec. 1.