Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

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This week Ducks Unlimited Television (DU TV) returns to northwestern Ohio and The Great Black Swamp, part of the Lake Erie watershed system near Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

In this episode, co-host Fred Zink hunts with Ducks Unlimited (DU) regional biologist Russ Terry and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 3 Biologist Jeff Finn.

The sun was shining in the wake of a major front and thousands of mallards and black ducks were in the area. The Great Black Swamp once held 310,000 acres of prime wetland habitat but much of the area was drained and utilized for agricultural purposes.

DU and partners like the USFWS work hard to conserve and restore the swamp back to its natural state wherever possible. A huge benefit of wetlands restoration around Lake Erie is improved water quality. 

While Vudu is relatively new compared to its parent company, EOTECH, it has built a rock-solid reputation in the optics world. It has very quickly become the go-to-optic among precision shooters, hunters and operators- and with good reason! 

There’s a kind of magic at work in a Vudu rifle scope. A long list of drool-inducing features and tough-as-nails construction somehow come together to create a precision amalgamation that is surprisingly affordable for a top-notch rifle optic. The recipe behind EOTECH’s line of Vudu rifle scopes creates a heady brew of durability, precision and versatility. Every scope is engineered and built to withstand the most rugged use and toughest conditions while also meeting the precision and performance demands of today’s serious precision shooters.

The body of every Vudu scope is cut from a solid piece of aircraft-grade aluminum and has a hard-anodized, durable finish. This combination provides clear advantages in the field, protecting the internal glass from water, fog dust and grime. All Vudu scopes are shock-resistant and can take a serious beating.

Vudu riflescopes offer both first-focal-plane and second-focal-plane models to suit all shooting applications. From low power variable optics (LPVO’s) designed for quick and accurate target acquisition to medium and high powered rifle scopes that include bullet drop and wind hold solutions, the Vudu scope line has it covered.  

Vudu lenses set the standard in scope design with superior optical clarity and shooter-friendly features. All scopes feature the highest-quality multi-coated, super-clear XC High-Density glass that provides incredible light transmission and color reproduction. This allows for exceptional edge-to-edge clarity and resolution.

Dogs are incredible creatures. They are intelligent, loyal, courageous and affectionate. As long-time dog lovers, the team who formed Redbone Nutrition appreciates these traits. But having spent considerable hours working side-by-side with canine athletes and working dogs, we also respect the intensity, agility and endurance that this special group of dogs exhibits. And who wouldn’t? Watching dogs at work is awe-inspiring, whether they are in a military context, working with law enforcement, hunting or training for agility competitions. 

CBD for Dogs Made With High Quality Ingredients

It’s from this place of deep respect for our animals that Redbone Nutrition was born. Our first product is a CBD supplement that’s carefully formulated utilizing all-natural ingredients. Unlike some companies, we don’t use artificial flavorings or ingredients sourced from China, and we have everything we produce tested by a third-party, independent lab to ensure its integrity. We use our products on our own dogs and wouldn’t want them—or any dog—using an inferior product. And when it comes to our CBD dog treats, we offer a variety of flavors that your dog is sure to find delicious.

Dogs Deserve Relief from Joint Pain

Just like human athletes, dogs who work their bodies this hard can suffer from joint pain. And considering how much we love our respective dogs, the Redbone team was bound and determined to find a way to help them overcome this inevitable side-effect of aging.

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages waterfowl hunters and wild rice harvesters to take a few simple steps toward ensuring a safe and fun harvest ahead of this year’s season opener.

Waterfowl hunters and wild rice harvesters both use Wisconsin’s native wild rice beds from late August through September. Taking precautions and keeping an eye out for other people in and near rice beds can keep everyone safe as they enjoy their time outdoors.

Wild rice harvesters’ activity ranges from 10 a.m. to sunset late August through September. Waterfowl hunting season opens on Sept. 1 with early teal, and shooting hours begin at sunrise from Sept. 1 to Sept. 28 and then move up to 30 minutes before sunrise. All shooting hours close at sunset.

While on the water, everyone can do their part to protect Wisconsin’s wild rice beds, especially in the summer and early fall months when wild rice is most vulnerable. Rice harvesters can put an elevated flag on their canoe or push pole and wear bright colors to make themselves more visible. Waterfowl hunters can raise a flag on their boats as they move to and from their blind sites and pay close attention to others recreating nearby in wild rice beds.

In June and July, boaters should operate at slow-no-wake speeds near floating wild rice beds. A boat’s wake refers to the waves created by the watercraft’s underway as it moves through the water. Even the minor rise and fall in water levels from a boat’s wake can damage rice beds.

With fears ramping up once again and schools set to reopen this fall, one way to help keep your child safe is supplying them with the very best hand sanitizer on the market today — ElimiShield Home & Outdoor Hand Sanitizer.

ElimiShield Home & Outdoor Hand Sanitizer is an FDA-compliant direct-to-skin hand sanitizer in a foam form. The active ingredient in ElimiShield Home & Outdoor Hand Sanitizer is benzalkonium chloride 0.13 percent. It also includes several soothing, inactive ingredients, including skin-friendly aloe barbadensis leaf juice extract, which keeps hands soft and moisturized. This formula has been proven to kill 99.99 percent of germs on contact. Being that it is alcohol free, ElimiShield Home & Outdoor Hand Sanitizer helps prevent over-drying of hands that can leave them susceptible to infection. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that only benzalkonium chloride, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol can be used in commercial hand sanitizers. Unlike sanitizers that use alcohol, ElimiShield Home & Outdoor Hand Sanitizer will not dry and crack the skin. It is safe to use when applied directly to the skin, and does triple duty as a moisturizer, deodorant, and antiseptic sanitizer. And unlike other hand sanitizers on the market, the ElimiShield product does not soak into the blood system.

Ideal for back-to-school and other everyday germ-control, ElimiShield Home & Outdoor Hand Sanitizer foam works long term; it doesn’t need to be reapplied constantly throughout the day like regular hand sanitizers because it bonds to the outer layer of the skin and is both sweat resistant and wash resistant.

“ElimiShield is a trusted name in the scent and germ control,” said Tommy Lancaster, COO. “We offer the very best products on the market that helps stop the spread of germs, and our Home & Outdoor Hand Sanitizer is ideal for everyday use by virtually everybody – including school-aged children.”

ElimiShield Home & Outdoor Sanitizer is available at retailers nationwide and conveniently online at  https://huntersafetysystem.com/products/elimishield-home-outdoor, as well as on Amazon. The suggested retail price is $12.99 for the standard 200 ml size, or $5.99 for the convenient 50 ml travel size.

Make sure you and your family are using the very best protection against those nasty germs out there – get yourself some ElimiShield Home & Outdoor Sanitizer today!

SnapSafe Modular Safes combine the robust security of a conventional welded safe with the benefit of being able to place them anywhere in a home or business without hiring professional movers. Depending on the model, SnapSafe Modular gun safes accommodate 12 to 56+ long guns and include adjustable shelves for flexible storage configurations. SnapSafe Modular safes protect firearms and other valuables from fire and theft. 

The firearms industry has a long-standing problem. Installing a heavy modern gun safe is impossible without the help of professionals, and in many cases, once installed, moving it is not an option! SnapSafe® has solved that problem. SnapSafe engineers have created an innovative, modular safe – one that’s delivered in pieces and fitted in place. Its robust design offers security equal to traditional welded safes. Some models have the extra-large capacity required to store extensive gun collections yet still boast the flexibility to move it anywhere. That’s the SnapSafe modular safe advantage! 

The ability to assemble and move SnapSafe modular safes anywhere sets them apart from the competition. After delivery, each piece is unpacked and fastened at its final location. The SnapSafe modular assembly system locks the walls together from the inside, making them solid and impenetrable like conventional, welded safes. 

SnapSafe Modular Safes feature a UL listed digital lock with EMP proof mechanical key backup. All safes feature a sledgehammer and pry-bar resistant 3/16” solid steel door(s) and thick, 9-gauge steel exterior walls. Single door models include eight 1-inch chrome steel live locking bolts, and double-door models use fourteen. The safes include heat-activated door fire seals and are Fire Shield protection rated at 2300°F for one hour. 

Buy with confidence, knowing SnapSafe takes care of its customers. Modular safes are warranted against material defects and workmanship for the life of the product. If it breaks, they’ll repair it or replace it.  

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved the authorization of one lottery and one auction permit for the 2022 bighorn sheep season when it met Aug. 27 in Gering. The 2022 bighorn sheep season will be Nov. 29-Dec. 22.

Commissioners also drew the winner of the 2021 bighorn sheep lottery permit. The winner is Tait Knutson of Niobrara.

The Commission also amended aquatic invasive species regulations to:

Additionally, the commissioners heard a report on water issues, including instream flow appropriations. They heard updates on the progress of the depredation program, the agency’s media and social media efforts, and a report on fishing permit sales in 2021 compared to 2020.

Donald (Tad) King made a special donation in memory of his late wife, Linda, to the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation in support of the bighorn sheep program. The Nebraska Big Game Society also was recognized for its donation to the Commission for big game conservation.

Salt Lake City, UT- The new Easton 4mm Axis Long Range blurs the lines between hunting and target arrows, delivering ultra-micro diameter and high speed to help beat the wind with laser-like trajectories, and the development of these arrows points right back to Easton’s long standing target archery dominance.

Easton Arrows were the choice of every single medalist at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympic Games, winning all 30 available medals. Easton was the choice of 126 of the 128 archers competing at the Olympics. The Easton X10 has been in the quiver for every single medal awarded at the Olympics since 1996 – an unparalleled winning streak. 

Three-time Olympic Medalist Brady Ellison of Team USA is truly a bowhunter who moonlights as the World’s #1 ranked target archer. The multi-time World Champion is just as likely to be seen at the USA Olympic Training Center with his hunting compound in his hands as he is his Olympic Recurve.  Fortunately for Brady, the World Cup season with Team USA winds down just as hunting season is heating up.

The Easton X10 arrows that Brady uses to for the Olympics are made in the USA in Easton’s Salt Lake City, Utah factory. The Easton 4mm Axis Long Range that Brady uses to hunt giant Coues deer in his home state of Arizona is made in the same factory in the next room over.

Hunting arrows and target arrows share similar importance in their respective arenas. The arrow is the terminal projectile for the hunter and the scoring projectile for the target archer. Despite having different intentions, they are both the single most important piece of equipment an archer carries.  Easton hunting arrows carry the precision craftsmanship taken from decades of Olympic and target archery dominance and put it in a package with the strength needed to deliver in the field. 

RCBS®, the leading manufacturer of ammunition reloading equipment for rifles and pistols, has announced the introduction of the new ChargeMaster Link powder dispenser. The Link is built off the rock-solid load cell and electronics found in the popular RCBS ChargeMaster Lite, but now offers best-in-class Bluetooth®  technology to make reloading easier than ever.

The RCBS ChargeMaster Link’s Bluetooth capabilities give the discerning hand-loader the ability to run the entire unit from their smartphone using the free, newly redesigned RCBS app. This not only allows a user to save custom loads on the app, but to run the machine more quickly and efficiently. Hands-free operation with the app also means a reloader never has to touch the dispenser during the weighing process, ensuring more accurate readings.

“The Link is the perfect dispenser for the budget conscious handloader that is looking for a dispenser that is going to deliver consistent powder charges each and every time but does not need all of the additional features that our other models provide,” said Will Hemeyer, Sr. Product Manager for RCBS. “We take great pride in producing the highest quality dispensers on the market and know the ChargeMaster Link will deliver more consistency than the competition.”

The ChargeMaster Link boasts 0.1-grain accuracy and a 2000-grain load cell capacity. The unit can run on an external battery, meaning reloaders can operate it at home or in the field without being tied to power cords. The unit also features a universal four country CE approved power supply and LCD display with intuitive push-button controls.

ChargeMaster Link has an MSRP of $349.95. For more information or to view other RCBS reloading products, visit  RCBS.com.

Counterfeiting impacts everyone! EOTECH®, the world-leading holographic weapons sight manufacturer, is fighting back against counterfeiting rings at all levels. They have launched an aggressive campaign targeting those who create and sell illegal copies of EOTECH’s iconic military-grade holographic weapons sight systems.

EOTECH takes counterfeit prevention extremely seriously. Why? Because not only do these forgeries impact their business—and the business of their authorized dealers—but more importantly operators’ safety. 

“Stopping fakes at the source is a critical step in curbing counterfeiting. EOTECH produces an extremely rugged, technically unique holographic sight that can’t be duplicated by counterfeiters. The EOTECH brand stands for reliability, durability and the safety of our operators whether it be soldiers, officers or general users,” said Lisa Kemp, Director of Marketing. “EOTECH partners and end-users can rest assured that we will actively pursue counterfeit operations to quickly shut them down.” 

Authentic EOTECH holographic sighting technology is nearly impossible to replicate. Unfortunately, numerous imitation EOTECH products have been discovered, including LED-based products attempting to pass as high-tech holographic sights. One such counterfeit reseller is JC Airsoft, which sold fake EOTECH HWS products for deep discounts. With cooperation from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), EOTECH fought to shut down this activity. Through these efforts, EOTECH reached a 6-figure settlement with JC Airsoft for various HWS counterfeit violations. 

An explosion of online sales links with reproduction HWS products adds to consumer confusion. Shoppers are lured to these online stores by their shockingly low prices. EOTECH closely monitors online sales and blocks unauthorized items, from websites such as Alibaba, Aliexpress, Amazon, Facebook, eBay, and other online outlets. 

Safari Club International (SCI) and Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) are proud to announce their official support of sustainable predator management in North America, management which plays an essential role in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. 

SCI and SCIF adopted this position following extensive support for research on the dynamics between large carnivores and their prey, and SCI’s involvement in numerous lawsuits and legislation on predator issues. These issues revolved around state and federal species recovery efforts, delisting decisions for predators, states’ authority to manage wildlife, and the American freedom to hunt. 

SCI and SCIF have adopted a position on this issue given the significant public interest and attention predators and their management garners. Unfortunately, much of that attention is the source of widespread misinformation about a subject of real importance to hunters and conservationists. As government bodies worldwide take an increasingly active approach to restricting hunting, it is more important than ever that SCI and SCIF convey the truth about hunting both prey and predator species. 

“SCI, SCIF and those invested in the management of North America’s wildlife believe the successful recovery of predator species should be celebrated but also that these species should be managed responsibly, by states and tribes, to attain overall wildlife management and habitat protection objectives,” said SCI and SCIF CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. 

SCI and SCIF fully support state management decisions that include legal, regulated hunting of predators, including the hunting of large carnivore species such as wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions and coyotes.

Innovative business and technology executive Shree Khare has been hired to the Pelican Products, Inc. senior leadership team as Chief Information Officer. Shree comes to Pelican with more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology, leading teams through complex global projects and digital transformation. 

Khare’s role includes the establishment of short and long-term strategies related to Pelican’s information management, cyber-security and processing systems. He is charged with identifying, evaluating and implementing technological changes that will positively impact Pelican’s objectives, operations and growth.

“I look forward to having Shree as a long term part of the Senior Management Team as he leads our IT initiatives and advances our competencies in this critical role,” stated Phil Gyori, Chief Executive Officer at Pelican.

Khare has an extensive background in enterprise resource planning, application development, website re-platforming, cloud migration, M&A integration, customer relationship management and cybersecurity initiatives. He has held senior roles at Oakwood Worldwide, Classic Party Rentals, Mattel, Capital Group Companies, ConAgra and Accenture.  

Shree possesses bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.  

LINCOLN, Neb. – You love it: being in the blind, setting up the spread, turning a flock, watching them cup, taking the shot and seeing a great retrieve. Duck hunting is time well spent.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Ducks Unlimited are proud to bring back the popular Nebraska Duck Slam, a challenge for duck hunters to take advantage of Nebraska’s great duck hunting opportunities.

The Duck Slam challenges hunters to harvest a teal (blue-winged or green-winged) of either sex, as well as drakes of three other species: an American wigeon, a mallard and a northern pintail. All ducks must be harvested in Nebraska, and hunters must upload a photo of each harvest at OutdoorNebraska.org/DuckSlam.

Those who successfully complete the slam will receive an official certificate, a Duck Slam pin and Central Flyway bragging rights. Additionally, all hunters who complete the Slam during the 2021-2022 season will be registered to win one of several great prizes generously donated by Ducks Unlimited. A drawing for the grand prize, a Special Edition Ducks Unlimited Franchi Elite 20-gauge shotgun, will take place next February.

The Duck Slam officially opens on Sept. 4, the first day of early teal season, and runs through Jan. 26, 2022, when duck and coot season ends in zones 2 and 3. Season dates vary by species and zones.

Haley Robinson, 21, of Mill Spring, North Carolina, set not one, not two, but three new national records during the 2021 National Rifle Matches. The annual event was conducted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and held in August on the grounds of the historic Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility, where it has been set for over a century.

Robinson’s record performances began with the President’s Rifle event, where she fired a score of 395-15X to earn new High Junior and High Woman records – finishing seventh overall. She was also the only junior to appear in the 20-person shootoff that accompanies the President’s Match.

“The first day, I did pretty decent, and it just stuck,” she said of her President’s showing.

Back in 2018 (only her second trip to the National Matches) she gave herself an objective to reach the Top 20 shootoff. She inched close in 2019, reaching the President’s Hundred (as one of the Top 100 competitors) in 46th place overall and earning a coveted President’s Tab. She had hoped to climb her way into the shootoff the following year, but, with the cancellation of the 2020 National Matches, she wasn’t given the chance.

“This year (2021), I made it my goal, and I practiced hard before we left,” Robinson said. “I was nervous – very nervous – but once I got up there, after the first shot, I was calm.”

Collaborative Awareness Campaign Hits on the Need for Stewardship Among Public Land Visitors, Providing Support for Projects via the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, today announces the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) and the Recreate Responsibly Coalition (RRC) established a strategic partnership to spread awareness of the need for land stewardship among all types of visitors to public lands. By promoting responsible recreation practices and the safe and sustainable use of trails, the partnership works to further the aligned missions of both organizations. A priority for the collaboration is to increase awareness of the availability of funding and support for public land access projects through the Yamaha OAI. As the Powersports industry’s leading land-access program, the Yamaha OAI remains an essential resource to  grassroots efforts of riding clubs, land stewardship organizations, and public land managers across the country.

The pandemic made getting outdoors a priority for more people than ever before, putting pressure on the maintenance of public land to ensure everyone’s safety. Without action, public lands can become unsustainable, and access limited. The Yamaha OAI and Recreate Responsibly believe everyone has a responsibility to sustain the outdoor spaces we enjoy and can contribute by understanding their potential impacts in natural spaces and surrounding  communities.

“Public lands are America’s gateway to fun and adventure in the great outdoors. Visitors play an important role in their protection and preservation. Recreate Responsibly and the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative are working  together to educate and raise awareness of responsible use of trails and open spaces for motorized and outdoor recreation,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s Motorsports marketing manager. “The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative was created specifically to help those who see the need to protect or expand access to public land and need some support to get it done. By working with Recreate Responsibly, we hope more people take advantage of our resources by applying for a grant.”

Part of the collaborative effort will raise funds for the Recreate Responsibly Coalition to bolster its focus on safe, accessible, inclusive, and responsible outdoor recreation. People posting pictures to social media platforms featuring their visits to public lands can simply tag @Recreate.Responsibly and @YamahaOutdoors on Instagram or @RecreateInfo and @YamahaOutdoors on Twitter, and the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative will donate $5, up to $50,000, to RRC and help maintain  access to the beauty and wonder of nature for everyone. 

Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) and “Hunting Matters” welcomes Jim Liberatore! Jim is the most recent past President and CEO of Outdoor Sportsman Group, the worldwide leader in outdoor lifestyle television, magazine and web-based programming.

Jim is also a writer, producer and the founder of Harvest Home Films of Denver, Colorado. Harvest Home Films is producing the film, The Harvest, which is in development. The Harvest is a Pro-God, Pro-Family, Pro-Outdoor Christian film set for release at the end or 2021 or 2022. Jim is passionate about Christ and our role as believers in this lost world.

About Hunting Matters
“Hunting Matters” airs each Saturday from 6am-7am CST on KPRC AM 950 – Real Texas, Real Talk, a Houston iHeartMedia station, and Houston’s longest running radio station. Listen live online here. You may also listen to each episode as a podcast, following live airing, on most major podcast platforms including iTunes, the Apple Podcasts, the IHeartMedia, Google, Overcast, and Spreaker. Subscribe. Rate Us. Leave A Comment. Tell your friends!

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 600 scholarships totaling $2.7 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give. 

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters again are challenged to go afield with family and friends this fall to complete the Nebraska Upland Slam by harvesting all four of Nebraska’s primary upland game bird species.

The challenge of the Upland Slam, a partnership among the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Pheasants Forever, Inc., and Quail Forever, is to harvest a ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie-chicken and northern bobwhite quail in Nebraska this season.

Successful hunters upload a photo of each harvested bird through an online platform and provide details about their hunt. Those who complete the Slam will receive an official certificate and pin and be entered into a drawing to win one of several grand prizes, including a Dickinson Arms Hunter Light 28-gauge over/under shotgun.

Nebraska is renowned as a mixed-bag hunting destination and is a great place to pursue a variety of bird species across diverse habitats. “Participation in Nebraska’s Upland Slam has increased in recent years and this has been a great way to promote what our state has to offer in terms of upland hunting opportunities,” said John Laux, Game and Parks’ upland habitat and access program manager.

All participants who submit at least one harvest to the Nebraska Upland Slam will be automatically entered into monthly drawings for prizes sponsored by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. Prizes include Scheels Gift Cards, hunting vests, Yeti Cups, wall art, memberships to the two conservation groups and more.

Adams Arms, industry leading pioneers of piston-driven AR platform firearms, announced the AA19, a performance-driven compact 9mm Luger handgun. The AA19 combines Adams Arms years of experience with handgun barrel and slide innovations with its mission of elevating firearm reliability and performance.   

“Adams Arms is known for its slides and barrels for custom handguns, and now we’ve brought all of our expertise into one complete pistol,” Steve Green, Adams Arms Vice President of Sales and Marketing said. “Our customers have been asking for an Adams Arms handgun for years, and now it is ready. The new AA19 incorporates design elements that refine its ergonomics and performance. Every detail on the new AA19 adds upgrades that maximize its potential for both EDC and competition.”

Specifications

The AA19 comes with two Magpul G19 magazines, a hardcase, and cable lock. The slide is cut for optics, and plates are plates available in all popular footprints, including the Trijicon RMR, Leupold Deltapoint, Shield RMS, Burris Fastfire 3, Vortex Venom/Viper, Vortex Razon, C-More STS. The gun is made in the USA and is backed by Adams Arms’ lifetime warranty.

The AA19 will be available through Adams Arms’ network of dealers. For dealer locations, please visit  https://adamsarms.net/dealers/. MSRP is $999. For more information on the new AA19, visit  https://www.adamsarms.net/

Reversing CRP trend and filling acreage cap remain priorities of The Habitat Organization

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the acceptance of 2.8 million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) so far in 2021. The positive news will help stem the tide of the 3 million acres also set to expire from contract on September 30th. The Habitat Organization remains focused on advocating for additional CRP signup opportunities and increased incentives to assist the nation’s private landowners and agricultural communities in meeting a 27-million-acre program cap by the end of fiscal year 2023. CRP remains the country’s single most effective conservation tool creating wildlife habitat, improving water quality, protecting soil health, ensuring climate resiliency, and safeguarding robust rural economies.

“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are thankful to USDA for implementing much-needed administrative changes to CRP earlier this year which made it a viable option again for our nation’s farmers, ranchers and landowners,” said Jim Inglis, Director of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “But make no mistake about it, a lot more CRP acres are needed to help landowners address resource concerns throughout the country – especially those affecting grassland birds. We look forward to working with USDA officials and Congressional leadership to help be a catalyst for the nation’s leading conservation program.”

Like other USDA conservation programs, CRP is a voluntary program that has a variety of options that can be tailored to the specific conservation issues of a state or region and desires of the landowner. The options run the gamut from working lands such as CRP Grasslands to partnerships with states and private entities to target a specific joint concern such as water quality or quantity, or specific wildlife species such as pheasants or quail.

“Despite Congress raising the enrollment target in the 2018 Farm Bill, there have been decreases in enrollment for the past two years. The changes we made this spring have put us on the path to reverse this trend,” FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux said. “Even with the improved direction, USDA will still be about four million acres below the enrollment target. The CRP benefits for producers, sportsmen, wildlife, conservation and climate are numerous and well documented. We cannot afford to let them to be left on the table.”