Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

A family-friendly event in Clear Lake, Minn. teaches youth about the outdoors and gun safety in an action-packed day outside.

Clear Lake, Minn.—A record-setting crowd of young outdoor enthusiasts attended the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) 11th Annual Twin Cities Get Youth Outdoors Day at Wild Marsh Sporting Clays in Clear Lake, Minnesota on Sunday, Sept. 11. Nearly 100 youths from around Minnesota lined up to learn about conservation, the union trades, firearm safety—and of course, to bust some clays.

“The energy was very high. It was great to see the excitement,” says TJ Delaney, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 and volunteer team leader for the event.

Two dozen volunteers from the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers; Roofers Local 96; International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers; Iron Workers Local 512 and Cigna helped to make sure that the event was safe and fun for all kids aged nine to 17. They volunteered at every station, ranging from .22 rifles to archery to building and painting birdhouses. In addition, union members volunteered alongside shooting coaches from the community and local high schools to help the rookies and the veteran shooters.

“I didn’t realize how much of an effect the youth event had on these kids until I brought my grandson last year,” says Roofers Local 96 Business Manager Mark Conroy. “The first thing he did when he got home was hang up the target from the .22 rifle in his room. This year my granddaughter also participated. The smiles and excitement were a testament to the event’s impact, especially when the kids were asked if they broke any clays. And they did!”

Waterfowl hunters, get ready to take your game to a new level with Millennium Marine’s B-100 seats, now available in two Mossy Oak® patterns! The B-100 BTL features the original Mossy Oak “Bottomland” pattern, revered by flooded timber duck hunters since its release, and the official camouflage of Ducks Unlimited. The B-100 SGH seat in Mossy Oak’s waterfowl-specific “Shadow Grass” camouflage provides the perfect balance of light and dark shadows to blend in with surrounding marsh grass and your blind. Combined with the legendary comfort and durability of the B-series seats’ aluminum frame and ComfortMAX® fabric, hunters will appreciate the additional functional concealment these patterns provide to their boat while helping to retain its value and appearance. 

Hours spent sitting still in the blind don’t have to be miserable on a soggy, wet, or cold, hard seat. Millennium Marine designed every seat in the B-series line for maximum comfort, durability, and performance, and the B-100 BTL and B-100 SGH are no exceptions. Unlike uncomfortable plastic seats, which weaken over time due to temperature extremes, or upholstered chairs susceptible to smelly mold and mildew, Millennium Marine manufactures its seats from their exclusive, patented ComfortMAX fabric. This fabric undergoes special treatment to repel mold and mildew while offering protection against harmful UV rays. The Comfort MAX fabric does not fade, fray, or weaken due to repeated exposure to environmental conditions and temperature extremes. The contoured, tight sling provides comfortable lumbar support for hunters and anglers up to 400 lbs and is designed to withstand all temperatures and weather conditions. The B-Series line is constructed of a lightweight and breathable woven mesh, water drains away quickly, and cleanup is a breeze. 

The B-100 BTL and B-100 SGH are slightly smaller than the other seats in the B series, measuring 19” x 20.75” x 19”. This compact footprint works well with waterfowl hunters’ flat boats, providing greater concealability and room for maneuvering and shouldering a weapon. The seats are low-profile and lightweight, so there is no need to worry about anything weighing down your boat other than your decoys, your retriever, and your harvest! 

The B-series seats mount to any boat seat pedestal, including interchangeable armrest straps and seat cables. As with all Millennium Marine products, they’re backed with a one-year limited product warranty and maintain the same quality, craftsmanship, and comfort that you can rely upon from Millennium Marine.

Millennium B-100-SGH and B-100-BTL Boat Seat Features:

Modern compound bows are intricate pieces of equipment, with rotating cams, cables, and strings that can be damaged if carelessly transported both in your vehicle and in the field. When transported you want your bow protected at all times. In the field, you want your bow to be protected, yet easily accessible. The new co-branded Bow Spider-Alpine Bow Slicker is the answer.

The Bow Spider-Alpine Bow Slicker is ultralight yet incredibly durable and designed to fit most compound bows on the market with parallel limbs ranging from a 24-36-inch axle-to-axle length. Mesh loops easily wrap around the limbs of the bow and a pocket of durable fabric slips over your cams. The sleeve is made with elastic in the hem to allow for a more secure grip around the bow while also making it easy and quick to remove. It can be used both individually or in conjunction with the Bow Spider Bow Packing System, which is sold separately.

The new Bow Spider/Alpine Bow Slicker has a suggested retail price of $79.95 and can be conveniently purchased online at https://bowspider.com/products/bow-spider-alpine-bow-slicker or by Clicking Here. Be sure to order your Bow Spider-Alpine Bow Slicker now, so this hunting season your bow is quiet and secure, yet accessible when you need it for that perfect shot.

Bow Spider — the quickest, easiest hands-free bow retrieval system on the market that revolutionized the way bowhunters, backyard target shooters, and 3D competitors pack their bows anywhere – offers a full array of practical products designed to make both target archers and bowhunters days on the range and in the field more productive and enjoyable. For a look at the company’s entire product line, visit https://bowspider.com/.

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 307-850-8052.) For additional information on RAD, LLC and the Bow Spider brand of products write to: RAD, LLC, PO Box 171, Kinnear, WY 82516; call 307-850-8052; email [email protected]; visit www.bowspider.com.

SLG2, Inc. (commonly known as Shoot Like A Girl®), the industry’s leading event marketing company that empowers women to participate in shooting sports and includes brands Shoot Like A Girl and Hunt Like A Girl, continues to hit the road for its Safe LivinG tour, empowering men, women, families and communities with confidence to live securely through interactive informational experiences and web resources. The new Safe LivinG trailer is headed to Ridgedale, MO for the PBR Teams: Thunder Season where media coverage is both welcomed and encouraged and SLG2, Inc. will accommodate live segments.

Event Details

Friday, September 15 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, September 16 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
1901 MO-86
Ridgedale, MO 65739

What to Expect

Safe LivinG covers a wide range of topics including personal safety, family safety, community safety and much more. From situational awareness to first-aid tips and tricks, this expansion provides communities with authentic and factual knowledge to keep themselves and those around them safe. Safe LivinG consists of multiple safety council members, providing audiences with a variety of articles, videos, daily tips and more covering important topics that people may face.

Fall turkey season is approaching quickly and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has some reminders for hunters, as there are several changes in 2023.

The changes concerning this fall season are:

Permits, which are valid statewide, may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.gov and at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permitting offices.

To improve their chances at success this fall season, turkey hunters should be scouting as much as possible.

There are more than a million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska. The 2023-2024 Public Access Atlas identifies and consolidates these lands for hunters. Also, 374,000 acres of private lands enrolled in Game and Parks’ Open Fields and Waters Program are included in the atlas. The atlas is available online at OutdoorNebraska.gov in several formats: interactive atlas map, offline atlas (mobile-friendly), digital flipbook and Google Earth KMZ files.

XS® Sights now offers its new, second-generation R3D 2.0 and Minimalist tritium night sights in standard and suppressor-height for select SIG SAUER, Springfield Armory, and FN pistols.

R3D 2.0 Tritium Night Sights

These new and improved second-generation tritium self-defense sights are brighter, stronger, and even easier to install than the original R3D models. Designed for improved speed and accuracy in any light, the R3D 2.0 features a notch and post design with two rear tritium dots and a high-contrast, Orange or Green dual-illuminated Glow Dot front sight that is wider than many on the market at 0.145”. The Glow Dot’s self-luminous tritium vile glows in low or no light for 12 years and is surrounded by XS’ proprietary photoluminescent dot material that absorbs ambient light to glow in low light. This makes the front sight brighter than the two rear tritium dots and, combined with the wide notch, provides more visible indexing for increased precision and accuracy.

R3D 2.0 improvements over the Gen-1 models include:

Retail Price: $131.99 Standard Height,  $142.99 Suppressor Height

TrueTimber has announced the Embrace the Pursuit Sweepstakes with top industry partners American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Jack Link’s®. One grand prize winner will be announced at the end of the promotion to win a Honda Pioneer 1000-5 multipurpose side-by-side featuring the all-new TrueTimber Atera camo pattern along with other prizes. Additionally, 100 winners will be randomly selected throughout the sweepstakes to win daily prizes. The giveaway entry period ends December 17, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. CT. To enter, fans should visit the Embrace the Pursuit entry page located here.

“This is such an exciting opportunity to work with our friends at Honda and Jack Link’s to kick off a sweepstakes that will really give our fans a chance to win big,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “These partnerships continue to grow and it’s exciting to see the connection all our customers share, given their extreme passion for adventure and the outdoors.”

Embrace the Pursuit Sweepstakes Prize Details:

Grand Prize (one winner to be randomly selected at end of promotion period):

Daily Prizes (one winner randomly chosen each day of the 100-day promotion period):

Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops are the first retailers to make the GOSAFE Mobile Safe and GOSAFE Mobile Mag available to gun owners, delivering the option to secure a firearm while maintaining immediate access to it. The shooting industry’s first “safe inside your gun,” GOSAFE devices offer an innovative solution for all gun owners, law enforcement and other security professionals by preventing unauthorized or unintentional use, providing speed of access while also mitigating risk.

“Bringing GOSAFE products to retail required a team of experts and engineers working tirelessly to bring about an option gun owners have never had before. At the same time, we had to address the needs of all gun owners, as the needs of law enforcement differ from those of concealed carry or casual shooters,” said GOSAFE co-founder, former Marine and best-selling author Mark “Oz” Geist. “After all of that hard work, we are proud to announce that the same retailers relied on by gun owners nationwide now offer all of the GOSAFE security solutions.”

Both the Mobile Safe ($79.99 MSRP) and Mobile Mag ($99.99 MSRP) fit safely and securely inside the firearm, in the same manner as OEM magazines, accessible only via a unique-to-user key. With the firearm locked in GOSAFE mode, there is no possibility of an unauthorized user intentionally or accidentally gaining access. The patented technology allows gun owners and professionals to go from loaded and ready to locked whenever and wherever they are.

GOSAFE firearm security devices are available in two options: the GOSAFE Mobile Safe and the GOSAFE Mobile Mag. Both products feature a unique, high-security key (multiple key storage solutions also available) and are compatible with all holster varieties and generations of Glock (Glock 17 fits 19X, G34 and G45 and the Glock 19 fits G19). GOSAFE will be available for additional brands and models in the future.

In addition to in-store retail availability through Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops, GOSAFE products are also currently available on the GOSAFE website. Following the initial launch at Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops, additional retail availability will be announced.

FN America, LLC is pleased to announce the release of a limited production of the FN SCAR® 17S Designated Marksman Rifle, or DMR, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. The mid-range designated marksman configuration brings the 6.5CM caliber to the SCAR 17S platform for the first time and delivers an impressive, multi-purpose rifle enhanced to take advantage of the inherent accuracy and multi-role capability of the SCAR platform. The SCAR 17S in the DMR configuration features premium upgrades, including the precision buttstock assembly and Geissele 2-stage trigger that SCAR 20S owners rely on for surgical accuracy.

“The SCAR is the most tested rifle platform that FN has ever developed. It was designed to be lightweight, rugged, accurate and modular to give the user a rifle platform that could be configured to their needs,” said Chris Cole, Vice President of Sales for FN America, LLC. “This new and limited-time build demonstrates the modularity of the SCAR design by combining features of the SCAR 17S heavy carbine and the SCAR 20S precision rifle to create a one-of-a-kind, mid-range designated marksman rifle.”

The FN SCAR 17S DMR 6.5CM is upgraded from the standard carbine configuration with the addition of the SSR Rear Stock and Geissele SuperSCAR two-stage trigger. These upgrades, combined with match-grade ammunition and optics, enable greater precision for long range target engagements. The 16.25-inch 6.5 Creedmoor barrel is cold hammer-forged and chrome-lined for extreme durability and enduring accuracy, and features a 1:8-in twist, standard carbine profile and muzzle device. With a lighter weight barrel, the DMR handles swiftly and transitions to targets quickly, just like the SCAR 17S heavy carbine chambered in 7.62×51 NATO.

The monolithic aluminum receiver features MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails to mount optics and accessories, as well as the SCAR-signature flip-up front and rear adjustable iron sights. The receiver is equipped with dual, non-reciprocating charging handles located on both sides of the rifle that are user-configurable for position and remain locked forward during fire. 

Specifications:

SCHEELS has signed on as presenting sponsor of MeatEater Season 12, premiering October 12, and has added First Lite hunting apparel and FHF Gear to all 31 SCHEELS locations

FARGO, N.D.,   All Sports retailer SCHEELS is excited to announce its expanded partnership with outdoor lifestyle company MeatEater, Inc. (“MeatEater”), founded by renowned writer, hunter, and TV and podcast personality Steven Rinella. Employee-owned SCHEELS is the presenting sponsor of Season 12 of Rinella’s signature MeatEater TV show, which will premiere on October 12, 2023 on MeatEater’s website, YouTube Channel, and to-be-announced major ad-supported video on demand platforms. As part of the partnership, SCHEELS is introducing to all its 31 store locations First Lite technical hunting apparel and FHF Gear’s hunting accessories, alongside other MeatEater-owned brands Phelps Game Calls and Dave Smith Decoys (DSD).

First Lite’s inclusion in SCHEELS retail locations marks an important new era for the Hailey, ID-based conservation-minded brand, which has focused exclusively on its own ecommerce channel for the last several years. Through placement in SCHEELS stores nationwide, outdoor enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience First Lite’s technically-enabled, lightweight, and durable gear in person to appreciate why it’s a brand of choice for those seeking comfort and performance, especially in western big game, whitetail, and waterfowl pursuits. Customers will also be able to shop FHF Gear’s technically advanced and proudly American-made outdoor gear for hunters, anglers, and servicemen/women.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Steve Rinella, First Lite, and the entire MeatEater team both in stores and out.  At SCHEELS, our vision, core values, and commitment to conservation are closely aligned with the MeatEater brand ethos and we are honored to represent that mission as the presenting sponsor of Season 12 of the flagship MeatEater series, ” said SCHEELS Chief Marketing Officer Marcus Thornton. “Today, with the addition of First Lite and FHF Gear to our current brand offerings in the hunting category, we are now able to offer SCHEELS customers the full breadth of the very best in hunting apparel and gear on the market.”

The MeatEater x SCHEELS expanded partnership builds on Steven Rinella’s successful 8-city tour at SCHEELS stores where he was able to connect with more than 10,000 SCHEELS customers as part of his Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars: Fun Projects, Skills, and Adventures for Outdoor Kids book launch this past spring.

Bushnell®, an industry leader in performance optics, is extending its relationship with I2D Licensed Brands to unveil a new line of portable lighting built to enhance any outdoor experience.  With a focus on quality, durability, and innovation, the new product range includes a variety of essential lighting products designed to bring added confidence and convenience on your next pursuit.

“We are excited to introduce our new range of lighting products, designed to provide convenient, powerful light to outdoor enthusiasts,” said Eric Fassnacht, Bushnell Brand Manager for I2D Licensed Brands. “These new, high-quality lights are designed with features that will impress anyone that relies on their light to get the job done right every time.”

Power+ Hat Light and Headlamp: Illuminate Your Path with Versatility

Bushnell’s Power+ 300 Lumen Hat Light and 500 Lumen Headlamp offer unparalleled versatility for outdoor enthusiasts. Equipped with the ability to use either a Bushnell Power+ rechargeable battery or 3AAA batteries, these lighting solutions provide exceptional brightness and long-lasting performance with the ability to swap power sources on the fly.

Tactical Flashlights: Tough, Precise Light When It Matters Most

SOG®, the leading innovator and manufacturer in the specialty knife and tool industry, has launched the Provider FX—a purpose-built, high-performance fixed-blade knife designed to meet the demands of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.

The Provider FX begins with a 3.75-inch, 154CM steel blade—a material hailed in premium knife circles for its exceptional toughness, hardness and corrosion resistance—with a drop-point and durable stonewashed finish. Its tang is full-sized, providing an ergonomic handle with convenient finger groove behind the bolster and pommel extension for optimal retention and control. Plus, jimping across the blade spine and the pommel ensures a no-slip grip through any outdoor cutting task.

What more could an outdoorsman ask for? How about a tang with eye-catching, easy-to-remove green G10 scales contoured to perfectly match the tang profile and offer a sure hold, even in wet conditions? A feature welcomed by outdoorsmen who prefer a thin grip or like the look of a sleek, one-piece fixed blade, this allows the handle to quickly adapt to suit the needs of any situation.

“The Provider FX delivers all the favored attributes of a fixed blade in a design that is lightweight, easy to carry and highly adaptable,” said Jamin Horst, Brand Manager. “It’s the best of all worlds, quickly and easily allowing users to configure it for the ultimate comfort, convenience, customization and style.”

And, when users are on the go, the knife can be stored in a rugged Kydex Universal Mounting System (UMS) sheath ideal for slim fixed-blade knives that accommodate being carried in multiple positions: from horizontal to vertical, and on a belt to secured to a pack or tactical vest.

A weekend of family fun is waiting at the Missouri River Outdoor Expo, Sept. 16-17 at Ponca State Park.

This 18th annual event is the largest outdoor expo in the Midwest. Participate in any of more than 100 outdoor activities, including wildlife encounters, fishing, kayaking, archery, camping skills, cooking demonstrations, contests, rock climbing, shooting sports, food and goods vendors, dog shows, craftsmanship demonstrations, local entertainment and much more.

New activities for 2023 include a high school/college trap team contest, Wayne American Fly-in Team, world-record setting log roll across the Missouri River, field dressing a bison tutorial and more.

Attendees will be eligible to enter a youth into the Youth Half Price Lifetime Permit Drawing program, which gives Nebraska youth ages 15 and younger the opportunity to purchase a lifetime hunt, fish and other permits for half price. The online entry form will be available during the event.

Also, the Action Trackchair, an all-terrain wheelchair, will be on display. The chair, which enables users with the mobility, freedom and independence to explore the outdoors, will be demonstrated on the riverfront, where guests may try them. At 10 a.m. Sept. 16, Heartland Dallas Safari Club will present a chair to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to add to Ponca SP’s fleet of three chairs.

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) has a storied history of producing the world’s greatest shooting-champion athletes. What is sometimes overlooked is their tremendous ability to train coaches and mentor youth shooting programs. The expertise and experience of the USAMU’s members was showcased at Mariner High School in Cape Coral, Fla., for the first ever Florida air rifle coaching clinic, where 26 coaches and over 20 high performing JROTC cadet athletes participated.

When Mariner High School coach Marybeth Williams approached the USAMU’s Sgt. 1st Class George Norton at the USAMU-hosted Youth Air Rifle 3-P Championship at Fort Benning, Ga., her initial goal was to connect a couple of her top athletes as perspective USAMU soldiers. However, after picking Norton’s brain for coaching advice, she had an epiphany!

“My husband and I have been working hard in our first four years of coaching to build a network of mentors. It occurred to me what an enormous opportunity it would be to have the talent of the (US)AMU help us with a ‘train the trainer’ type event,” Coach Williams explained.

She and her husband Maj. Bryan Williams (Mariner High School Army JROTC Senior Army instructor and marksmanship coach) quickly established a relationship with Norton and collaborated on a coaching clinic concept.

Their idea grew legs and was fully supported by the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s 6th Brigade JROTC Director, Robert Hyver, and the USAMU Commander, Lt. Col. Casey Mills.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA— The Fallen Outdoors (TFO) Virginia chapter is hosting their annual fund-raising banquet on Sept. 9th at the Ashland, VA Bass Pro Shop to set the stage for the 2023/2024 hunting and fishing season. TFO is a nationwide 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with dedicated chapters across the country that organize and provide outdoor recreational opportunities for current service personnel and veterans across all branches of the U.S. military. As the DoD’s leading outdoor recreational software service provider, iSportsman is honored to have the opportunity to support such events. 

With 2023 marking the second consecutive year iSportsman has sponsored and attended the Virginia TFO banquet, the iSportsman team is fortunate to be familiar with TFO’s impactful work.

“TFO helps change the lives of those who have served by reconnecting them with outdoor communities.” Says Aneil Kumar, iSportsman president, “As a leader in the outdoor service community, iSportsman knows how important that is and is proud to support the cause.”

Over the course of the company’s history, iSportsman has proudly supported multiple non-profit organizations such as TFO to help get veterans, active-duty service members, and all those who need it most outdoors. Through iSportsman support, and software services, over 500k outdoor enthusiasts have enjoyed trails, fields, and streams across the country. To learn more about iSportsman for your outdoor recreational needs, please visit iSportsman.com. To join TFO, or donate, please visit TheFallenOutdoors.org. 

 About: iSportsman is the premier recreational management SaaS tool in the nation. We are proudly servicing over 11 million acres of land and waterways in support of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and National Guard. For over a decade, iSportsman has provided the most secure outdoor solution that meets all FedRAMP accreditations. Visit iSportsman.com to learn how iSportsman can fulfill your land management needs.

CAMP PERRY, Ohio – The 2023 National Air Gun events, part of the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) National Matches at Camp Perry, saw over 400 entries throughout its month-long run – with several winners emerging from the pack. Whether to beat the heat, to gain competition practice or to take a chance at a national-level event, individuals flocked to the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center to join in on the air gun matches.

“We had a fun and exciting National Air Gun events season this year!” said Catherine Green, CMP’s North Range Coordinator. “It was wonderful to see so many individuals of all ages taking interest in the air gun portion of our competitions and enjoying the variety of matches we had on the schedule.”

The National Air Gun Matches provide additional competitive opportunities for pistol and rifle competitors visiting Camp Perry during the National Matches while offering a glimpse into the growing world of air gun. All matches are held within the 80-point electronic indoor range at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center, located on the Camp Perry grounds.

Open to the public, the air gun events are meant to draw in new participants (including those who have never fired before) through a diverse set of air rifle and air pistol matches, with rental equipment and pellets available for purchase at the range for those without their own gear. The events also serve to encourage those already proficient in marksmanship to try air rifle or air pistol for more unique challenges on the range.

Air Pistol Event Results:

Ducks Unlimited has launched its new Waterfowl 360 web page that gives the hunter and outdoor enthusiast all their needs in one place. Waterfowl 360 is easy to navigate and offers helpful information to not only the new waterfowler but to the experienced one as well. 

Look no further for the ultimate resource for waterfowl hunters. This is the one-stop shop for all your hunting and conservation needs, featuring:

The DU Waterfowl Migration Map is an interactive application that allows visitors across the North America to report on waterfowl concentrations and hunting reports in their area. Additional reports are submitted by DU biologists, wildlife agencies and other waterfowl experts. Ducks Unlimited is also offering a free mobile app called Mobile Migration that allows waterfowlers to take advantage of other tools on the free DU mobile app.

Waterfowl 360 is sponsored by Chene, Mossy Oak and Winchester Repeating Arms.

For more information go to www.ducks.org

EAGLE, Colo. — QuietKat, the trailblazer in outdoor adventure and eBike technology, is thrilled to announce they have united their strengths with First Lite and the National Deer Association (NDA). Together they’re announcing a new tool to both raise money for conservation and to silently hunt this year: The QuietKat E-Bike First Lite Specter.

The QuietKat E-Bike First Lite Specter combines QuietKat’s engineering prowess and manufacturing with First Lite’s Specter Camo design. This electric bike packs a punch with its 1000-watt hub-drive motor, boasting an impressive 48-mile range and unmatched off-road performance. Perfect for year-round scouting, land management, and reaching those remote hunting spots, it can carry up to 325 pounds. With adjustable front suspension, 7-speed gearing, and powerful brakes, it’s ready for any terrain and powerful enough to make your pack-out incredibly easy.

But this collaboration is about more than just tech. Eight percent of every QuietKat E-bike First Lite Specter sale (4% QuietKat and 4% First Lite) will go to the NDA. This contribution will directly provide to initiatives securing a sustainable future for wild deer, preserving wildlife habitats, and safeguarding hunting for generations to follow. As a gesture of appreciation, we are also including the “Camo for Conservation” hat with every bike purchase, allowing you to proudly show your support of the National Deer Association.

From QuietKat, First Lite and the National Deer Association, we wish you good luck in the field this year.

For further details about the QuietKat E-Bike First Lite Specter and this innovative partnership, please visit the website here.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension is surveying the public to redesign its ‘Venison 101’ course to best meet the needs of hunters and those interested in hunting and preserving their harvest. This survey is intended to gather input from a range of hunters, including women hunters, youth hunters and hunting families.

Among other topics, survey respondents can indicate their level of interest in:

This confidential survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Survey respondents can enter for a chance to win a cooler of Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream, including two flavors of their choice, delivered to their door.

The deadline to complete this survey is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12. The survey is available at https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1yV9rwNFtwDlme2. 

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — As part of its 2023 investment in wild turkey research, the NWTF is helping fund state-of-the-art research that integrates multiple data sources – a first-of-its-kind approach in wild turkey management – to provide wild turkey managers with a more accurate picture of population abundance across the country.

In 2019, a report in Science made headlines worldwide, stating that North America’s bird population had decreased by 3 billion birds since the 1970s. Researchers deciphered this staggering number using advanced statistical methods integrating wide-ranging data sources, including multiple annual bird censuses, historical data and even weather radar data that can quantify migratory birds. Now, researchers at the University of Florida want to take a similar approach with wild turkeys, painting a clearer picture of wild turkey abundance across the country. 

“Currently, there are few methods to reliably estimate wild turkey abundance, meaning that managers and practitioners often rely on indices, such as poults per hen and hunter harvest, to track trends in populations,” said Corey Callaghan, Ph.D., assistant professor of global ecology at the University of Florida. “Our approach will utilize these indices as well as multiple large-scale datasets to develop a method to estimate wild turkey abundance at multiple spatial scales, which will benefit state agencies in decision-making processes.”

Callaghan, along with colleagues Carolina Baruzzi, Ph.D., and Marcus Lashley, Ph.D. will develop models to estimate wild turkey populations at local-to-national scales, incorporating multistate data from various sources, such as citizen reporting programs like iNaturalist and eBird, as well as camera traps, hunter effort, telemetry studies and survival data, among others. 

“Data integration of abundance is a cutting-edge statistical technique that is just beginning to be employed broadly,” Callaghan said. “These models will be used to estimate the trajectory of turkeys over the previous decade and predict future population changes.”