Points-based tournament series will crown one grand champion of offshore fishing

Momentum SE and officials from premier fishing tournaments across North America united on Monday to announce the formation of the Sport Fishing Championship (SFC), an eleven-event competition series that will award one grand champion in the sport of offshore fishing. The announcement was made at the 68th Annual San Juan International Billfish Tournament, which will serve as one of the tournaments on the competition circuit in 2022.

For the first time, the Sport Fishing Championship will connect independent, established fishing tournaments, creating a strategic alignment, and ultimately establishing a top titleholder. The series represents one collective vision from each of the partnering tournaments that together boast more than 400 years of fishing tournament history.

The SFC will award four winners based on results from the eleven-tournament regular season, which features three “championship fish” competitions and a points-based billfish championship. Teams earn points based on their placement in each qualifying tournament, plus are awarded additional points for every qualified catch throughout the season.

The SFC will award four winners based on results from the eleven-tournament regular season, which features three “championship fish” competitions and a points-based billfish championship. Teams earn points based on their placement in each qualifying tournament, plus are awarded additional points for every qualified catch throughout the season.

Unprecedented Funding And Attention Adds To Gains On The Ground 

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin monarchs looking for milkweed to lay their eggs on will now find hundreds of thousands of more acres of habitat in Wisconsin thanks to voluntary efforts by organizations and individuals statewide, including representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 

The Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative formed in 2018 to voluntarily plant milkweed and wildflowers on a massive scale. The collaborative’s efforts are essential to help reverse an 80% decline over the last 20 years in the Eastern population of monarchs that breed and migrate through Wisconsin and 15 other states.

Participants in the Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative include DNR representatives and other state and federal agencies, utilities, transportation groups, agriculture groups, university researchers, conservation groups and nature centers.

“Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative partners have made a solid initial down payment on our statewide goal,” said Brenna Jones, DNR Conservation Biologist and Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative Coordinator.

Madelynn “Maddy” Bernau was one of more than 11,000 athletes to compete in the 2020 Olympics and she made her time in Tokyo count. She and her teammate, Brian Burrows, brought a bronze medal home for Team USA in the first Olympic mixed team trap event.

Bernau also competed in the individual Ladies Trap event where she narrowly missed qualifying for the finals and placed seventh overall.

“We are extremely impressed with Maddy’s performance in Tokyo as well as the other Team USA shooting sports competitors. Maddy is a terrific ambassador for Winchester and the shooting sports. She competed against the world’s best and is coming home with a medal — it’s impressive to say the least,” said Matt Campbell, vice president of marketing and sales for Winchester Ammunition. 

Winchester has a proud Olympic history of its own. In addition to Bernau’s bronze in 2021, Winchester AA shotgun shells have been used by many of the best competitors in the world for decades and played a part in more than a dozen Olympic medal-winning performances. The legendary Winchester AA has earned a trusted reputation worldwide due to its premium high-antimony shot, high-strength hull, brass head and AA recoil-reducing wad. With more than 40 different SKUs to choose from, there is an AA shotshell for all consumer needs.

About Maddy Bernau

Born in Waterford, Wisconsin, Maddy took up shooting American trap at the age of 12. She went on to join her high school shooting team where she shot trap, skeet and sporting clays through the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP). In 2014, Maddy attended an SCTP development camp at the Olympic Training Center and was introduced to International Bunker Trap. With a goal of one day competing in the Olympics, she worked hard to master the International Bunker Trap discipline. By 2018, Maddy was representing the U.S. at the Junior Grand Prix in Italy and World Championships in Korea. This year, Maddy has won silver and bronze in individual and team respectively at the International Shooting Sports Federation’s World Cup in Lonato del Garda, Italy.

Lyons Falls, NY: DRD Tactical, innovators of quick take down rifles, has announced that they’ve added a few new products to their growing brand: the Traditional Ambidextrous Safety Selector, Tactical Ambidextrous Safety Selector, and the ARES.

The DRD Ambidextrous Safety Selectors are visual improvements over the standard. They offer improvements such as ambidextrous manipulation and are AR-15 and AR-10 compatible. The Safety Selectors come in two styles: Traditional, which offers one short and one long lever, while the Tactical has ribbed anti-slip levers. Additionally, the positive lock dovetail design ensures the product won’t loosen once installed. A pin-punch is also included for disassembly purposes.

The DRD Tactical ARES is an Adaptive Retention System for rifles. This locking retention system is simple to operate and ensures rifles stay secure while offering an ergonomic, easy release. With the ARES, you can reduce fatigue and strain with the spread of the rifle’s weight across armor carriers or tactical vests and dramatically reduce undesirable movement allowed by slings. The product installs easily on any MOLLE system carrier and is compatible with AR rifle platforms and a wide variety of firearms with QD sling attachment points. Additionally, an integrated adapter can be purchased separately and is an upgrade to the end plate.

“We’re excited to be able to offer accessories which allow our customers to customize and optimize their firearms. We offer a premium brand and now we’re also able to offer the premium furniture and accessories to match,” said CEO Larry Williams. Williams continued, “It’s rewarding to be able to dive headfirst into projects like this which allow us to leverage our capabilities while enhancing the experience for our customers.”

The Ambidextrous Safety Selectors retail for $59.99 each, the Integrated Adapter is $24.99, and the ARES has a retail value of $124.99.

Driven by Increasing Demand for Reforestation in the Face of Wildfires & Climate Change, Acquisition of Silvaseed Co. Positions DroneSeed as Vertically-Integrated Leader in Reforestation

(Seattle, Wash.) DroneSeed announced today it has acquired Silvaseed Company, a 130 year-old titan in the forestry seed collection and seedling supply business. The move expands DroneSeed’s reforestation services beyond aerial drone-based seeding to span seed collection, seedling cultivation in nurseries, and on-the-ground tree planting services. The acquisition comes at a critical time in the forestry industry, with skyrocketing demand for reforestation and many tree nurseries facing significant seed and seedling shortages. 

“With the compounding crises of climate change, wildfires and forest loss, accelerating the pace and scale of reforestation is essential,” said Grant Canary, CEO of DroneSeed. “By creating the industry’s first vertically-integrated reforestation company, we now offer a ‘one-stop-shop’ of reforestation services for landowners and foresters: starting from seed supply, to aerial enhanced seeding, to seedling cultivation, to traditional replanting, and more. We’re thrilled to build on Silvaseed’s track record and are doubling capacity at Silvaseed to meet intensifying demand.” 

Tackling the national shortage of tree seed & seedlings is critical to mitigate the exponentially increasing loss of forests due to wildfire and climate change. Forests are naturally regenerating fewer acres as fires impact larger areas, burn hotter, and natural “seed banks” in the soil and treetops get torched. There aren’t enough seeds or nursery capacity to regrow the trees being lost each year — the existing reforestation supply-chain evolved to boost regeneration in a minor percentage of fires, and now climate change fueled wildfire has increased demand many times over and supply of seed and seedlings hasn’t increased.  DroneSeed is eager to begin addressing this by building upon Silvaseed’s robust infrastructure and utilizing its aerial tech.

Tackling the national shortage of tree seed & seedlings is critical to mitigate the exponentially increasing loss of forests due to wildfire and climate change. Forests are naturally regenerating fewer acres as fires impact larger areas, burn hotter, and natural “seed banks” in the soil and treetops get torched. There aren’t enough seeds or nursery capacity to regrow the trees being lost each year — the existing reforestation supply-chain evolved to boost regeneration in a minor percentage of fires, and now climate change fueled wildfire has increased demand many times over and supply of seed and seedlings hasn’t increased.  DroneSeed is eager to begin addressing this by building upon Silvaseed’s robust infrastructure and utilizing its aerial tech.

Captain Moe Newman Details the Bountiful Venice Fishery

Shimano School returns on Tuesday, August 17, with another informative and entertaining event. JP DeRose hosts these live streaming video seminars, featuring compelling topics and special guests from across the spectrum of the fishing world. Shimano School meets every two weeks and streams live on the Shimano Facebook Page and the  Shimano North America’s YouTube Channel.

Captain Moe Newman headlines this edition of Shimano School to discuss the bountiful, diverse fishing opportunities along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Captain Moe and her husband, Captain Eric Newman, operate Journey South Outfitters near the storied port of Venice, Louisiana. Relying on vast inshore and offshore experience using both conventional and fly tackle, the Newmans guide anglers to saltwater predators of extraordinary proportions, from bull reds and triple tail inshore, to cobia, yellowfin tuna and many more offshore.

“We rely on years of experience in the marshes and bayous, on the rigs and the offshore waters of South Louisiana to exceed our guests’ expectations,” reflects Captain Moe Newman. “We meticulously plan every aspect of our guests’ journeys to ensure their complete satisfaction, both on the water and back at the lodge.”

Bringing a new twist to the fishing industry, Captain Moe is the only female offshore charter captain along the Gulf Coast. Her husband, Captain Eric, shares her passion for fishing as well as the Louisiana lifestyle, and brings the best of the Gulf from the water to the table. This is a Shimano School event that you don’t want to miss!

Jody Queen wins Hobie Bass Open Series on the Susquehanna River

It’s undeniably big water, but Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River might also be the coolest place on earth to stalk smallmouth bass via kayak. During and after the recent Hobie Bass Open Series (BOS) tournament—July 31 to August 1— a majority of the 139 kayak-fishing competitors came away in agreement: This is one special place for smalljaws.

Less certain, however, were the competitive paddlers’ notions on where to begin searching for said bronze bass. “The Susquehanna is an awesome fishery, but on a river that’s up to a mile wide, it can be hard to know where to cast first,” noted eventual tourney winner, Jody Queen. “You’ve got dozens of islands out there, and each one features entire networks of little critter hideouts created by boulders, grassbeds and fallen timber. Throw in all the countless subtle current seams and pushes, which create conveyor belts of bass food, and things can get interesting.” 

Further confounding the fish-pattern process were decisions regarding which baits to bring and which ones to leave in the truck—a key strategic maneuver given limited kayak storage space. For Z-Man pros Queen, Drew Gregory and Ryan Lambert, however, the choice distilled down to a handful of tournament tested gear: Gimme a couple Z-Man blades and few bags of ElaZtech® softbaits, and I’m good.

Queen, who’s hails from West Virginia but calls the Susquehanna his home river away from home, wielded his usual one-two punch of tournament-winning baits—a ChatterBait JackHammer and a shaky head-rigged Bang StickZ. “Spent a lot of time on day-one probing laydowns around islands. I pitched the shaky head near high-percentage woodcover spots,” explained Queen, who won the same Susquehanna BOS event in 2020. “The Bang StickZ required me to slow down and fish with finesse. It produced some good bites that first day. But I was constantly noticing bass blowing up on baitfish, which presented the perfect opportunity to get aggressive with the ChatterBait.”

In their relentless pursuit of perfection, Gamakatsu designed two new gear protection products with features that anglers requested. The Shoulder Bag Tackle Storage is perfect for the nimble run and gun angler who needs a tackle solution as flexible as the spots they fish. The Tuna Dry Bag is a waterproof backpack with ample storage for bulky gear.

The Shoulder Bag Tackle Storage conveniently secures essential gear so you can make the most of your fishing time. It’s the perfect mobile storage solution for fast, easy access to tackle and other critical fishing gear. The bag, designed for over-the-shoulder carrying, slides to your chest for quick gear access and onto your back when walking, casting, battling fish and taking selfies. So compact and comfortable, it never needs to be taken off. The bag includes two G3200 G-Boxes, which conveniently stow in the main compartment. Multiple, heavy-duty zippered pockets store everything else. The abrasion-resistant outer fabric, made from 1680 denier ballistic nylon, is built to last. A padded shoulder strap is adjustable for length. 

The Tuna Dry Bag was designed specifically for the teams competing in the Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot. These coveted drybag backpacks, with a Gamakatsu Tuna logo, are now available for every angler. The mid-sized bag measures 12 inches wide by 20 inches tall by 8 inches deep—perfectly sized to hold bulky gear. It is constructed from waterproofed ballistic nylon, which is tough and keeps clothes and equipment dry on those wet and wild offshore runs. The interior pouch opens to fit boots, rain gear, jackets or extra tackle and then rolls down tight and buckles closed to protect contents. Lead jigs, tools and water bottles too, the bag’s reinforced and sealed seams hold it all. The Tuna Dry Bag includes padded straps and waist belt for easy carry. The bag compacts neatly for storage when not in use. The Tuna Dry Bag is large enough to carry essential gear for an overnighter or a multi-day fishing trip. A multi-purpose dry bag at a great value.

Shoulder Bag Tackle Storage Features: 

Tuna Dry Bag Features: 

Remington Ammunition has announced a licensee partnership with Core Resources, Inc., maker of Gamehide,  StormHide and Deer Camp. Remington fans and hunters of all kinds will soon find apparel and accessories for many different hunting applications as well as a wide variety of outdoor lifestyle apparel including rainwear and shooting vests featuring the Remington name. 

“These trusted brands are known for their quality gear, and we are really excited to see them bear the Remington brand,” said Danny Evans, Remington’s Director of Licensed Products. “Whether chasing big or small game, upland birds, waterfowl or anything in between, our devoted fans can enjoy this top quality apparel and represent Big Green.”

The Core Resources family of brands specializes in delivering quality, high-performance hunting apparel and gear for hardcore hunters and outdoorsmen and women. Through the Gamehide, StormHide and Deer Camp brands, Core Resources has a proven solution no matter how demanding the hunt.  

We’re excited to be partnering with Remington to bring the 200+ year old brand back into the hunting and outdoor lifestyle category,” said Dave Larsen, CEO of Core Resources. “With over 30 years of hunting garment know-how in our brands, consumers will soon be able to wear Remington branded hunting apparel. The line will feature the latest in apparel technologies with styles for hunting all North America’s wild game. We are honored to be a part of the Remington brand that has stood the test of time like no other, offering quality, value and innovation.”

Remington is always seeking quality partners to represent the Remington lifestyle in new product categories. Please contact Danny Evans at [email protected] with inquiries.

EOTECH’s Holographic Weapon Sights (HWS®) are among the most elite optics in the world. Selected by USSOCOM and battle tested, EOTECH’s combination of technology and rugged build quality offer proven advantages to all who use them.

The most significant advantage the HWS offers is extremely fast target acquisition. It allows for maximum situational awareness by providing a unique rectangular heads-up display that supports target engagement with both eyes open that maximizes the user’s peripheral vision and situational awareness. Its unlimited eye relief allows the user to position the sight anywhere on the firearm and allows for off-axis usage where proper cheek weld or sight alignment isn’t possible.

The HWS offers other significant advantages over typical red dot sights. Because it is powered by a laser diode instead of an LED, the HWS offers the smallest aiming point in the industry. This, combined with the large outer ring, often known as the “donut of death”, provides unparalleled speed in engaging targets, while offering unmatched accuracy for a 1X optic. This advantage is compounded when the reticle is viewed under magnification. The aiming dot does not magnify in size like it does on LED-driven red dots. The user maintains the small 1MOA dot but now with a target that is magnified 3-5 times in size. This allows for more precise shots downrange. 

Additionally, the holographic reticle is perceived by the shooter to be projected at the target, allowing focus on both the target and the reticle, whereas a red dot forces the user to shift focus back-and-forth from near to far – reticle to target. Holography also allows EOTECH to develop all types of reticle options including multi-dot ballistic solutions, stadia and ranging reticles, and solutions specific to unique platforms like less lethal or grenade launchers.

HWS models feature more brightness settings than most red dots to better adapt to all lighting situations and some models offer brightness levels compatible with night vision. All units are powered by commonly found AA or CR123 batteries and include a battery check indicator and a user-controlled auto-shutdown of four or eight hours to ensure power won’t be wasted. 

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), the most respected and trusted sportsmen’s organization in the political arena, and the two foremost trapping and trapping policy organizations in the United States — The Fur Takers of America (FTA) and the National Trappers Association (NTA) — announced a formal partnership through a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during both organizations’ annual conventions this summer. This agreement will strengthen the relationship among CSF, FTA, and NTA, enhancing the ability of each organization to influence trapping policy across the United States.

CSF, FTA, and NTA individually possess resources designed to advance conservation and policy goals that benefit trappers. Establishing a recognized partnership between all three organizations at both the state and national level will allow each organization to leverage the others’ abilities to further promote trapping as a science-based resource management practice and protect our trapping heritage for future generations. CSF, FTA, and NTA recognize their mutual support for each other’s mission, ensuring that all organizations continue to operate on behalf of the nation’s trappers, both in the field and in the halls of government.

Through the partnership, FTA and NTA members will work closely with CSF’s policy staff to identify and track legislation that affects trapping, including issues revolving around methods of take and access. These conservation and policy experts will leverage the resources of each organization to better serve trappers and wildlife management, highlighting their role in efforts to reduce human-predator conflict and ensure heathy populations of furbearers and other wildlife using proven science-based management practices.

CSF is committed to working alongside the FTA and NTA staff and their respective members to champion policies that promote conservation, habitat restoration, and access through legislative and administrative processes at both the state and federal levels.

“Both the FTA and NTA are leaders in protecting and advancing the rights of trappers to use humane, science-based management practices,” said CSF president and CEO Jeff Crane. “CSF looks forward to strengthening our partnership with the FTA and NTA as we formally start to work together on conservation policy efforts that positively impact trappers and our wildlife resources.”

HOT SHOT Gear, engineers of authentic hunting and fishing apparel that is built to beat the elements, is pleased to introduce the 3-in-1 Hunting Parka. A versatile hunting jacket engineered to accommodate a wide variety of situations and weather conditions. 

The HOT SHOT 3-in-1 Hunting Parka excels throughout the entire fall as conditions change with the seasons. It features a combination of two camouflage jackets: an exterior waterproof shell and a comfortable interior jacket. The outer shell of the 3-in-1 Parka is 100% waterproof. It can be worn in combination with the interior jacket or on its own as a standalone rain jacket. The interior jacket is insulated in zones, providing warmth where you need it most. There are 200 grams of polyfill in the body, 150 grams in the sleeves and 80 grams of insulation in the collar.

The two jackets snap together at the sleeves while the zipper of the interior jacket connects to the exterior jacket for additional structure. Combining the two jackets or separating them is a fast, simple process that can be executing before, during or after the hunt.  

The 3-in-1 Parka is available in Realtree Edge or Veil Cervidae, two camo options that meet the needs of any pursuit. The jacket’s unique design also allows for quiet movement that was specifically designed for all day use without sacrificing comfort.

The jacket features reinforced nylon oxford patches in high wear areas for added durability and longevity. With multiple jacket options and a removable hood, the 3-in-1 Parka can adjust to match personal preferences, weather conditions or the type of hunt.

Charleston, SC (XXXX) – Huk, the nation’s leading manufacturer of performance fishing gear, is pleased to announce its newest partnership with basketball phenom Keon Johnson. Huk and Keon will look to elevate Huk’s exciting apparel line to Keon’s growing fan base through this winning combination.

“Huk is incredibly proud to work with Keon. His dedication as an elite basketball player and his passion for fishing are both indicative of his work ethic, personal conduct and drive to exceed,” said Pete Angle, Chief Marketing Officer for Marolina Outdoor. “We’re very excited about Keon and are confident that he will be a solid ambassador to millions for our sport and brand.”

Keon is known for his raw athletic abilities as well as his accomplishments on the court. Through his impressive play as a collegiate athlete and the record-shattering display he put on at the professional combine, Keon was selected 21st overall in the 2021 Draft and will be taking his talents to Los Angeles for his rookie season. 

He is also a passionate outdoorsman and loves to spend time fishing whenever his busy schedule allows. Keon started fishing at a very young age with his dad at the Joe Wheeler Dam. His most memorable fishing experience was when he caught his biggest catfish, which was 45 lbs. He has been using Huk fishing apparel for quite some time. Keon noted, “I watch a lot of bass fishermen on YouTube and would always see them in some type of Huk clothing, so I tried some out. With Huk, I feel that I’m more comfortable on the lake no matter the weather and enjoy fishing a lot more.”

Huk has tapped Keon to be a key partner to reach new anglers and younger generations. “Basketball is a lot like fishing. To become better at both, you must have patience and be willing to practice,” commented Keon. He added, “My message to the younger generation of anglers and athletes would be to fall in love with the grind, no matter how hard times get. You should focus on being the best version of yourself, whether in basketball, fishing or anything else you are passionate about.”

As you sow, so shall you reap. That applies not just to what you put in the ground but how you go about it. Proper planting procedures will ensure your trees can put down roots and enrich the land that sustains you. And while most folks think of spring as planting season, fall is a better time to establish your mast orchards.

Why

As the days grow shorter, trees go through a transition. Growth slows down; they shed their leaves and then enter a state of partial dormancy. However, they will continue to grow roots until the ground freezes. This is especially true for and important to young, newly planted trees as it gives them a chance to become acclimated to their environment before the stress of the spring growing season. It also gives them the ability to start stronger the following spring. 

Moisture availability is also important as it is a vital component for early growth. Most folks think of April showers when it comes to natural moisture, but many areas typically receive more rain in the fall. And because growth is slower, trees require less water. 

There is yet another advantage to fall planting, especially for those who travel some distance to their preferred hunting haunts. You can slip in an early morning hunt, spend the middle of the day planting, then sneak back out in the afternoon. A little early autumn effort will make the rest of this season and all of the next one more relaxed and enjoyable.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – iSportsman, the nation’s leading provider of outdoor recreational management software, has been investing into social media efforts and improving the brand’s online presence through various platforms to better connect with avid outdoors people, promote available outdoor opportunities and celebrate the outdoor lifestyle. With  more than 3.7 billion active social media users worldwide, iSportsman set a goal at the beginning of 2021 to improve its online visibility and make more outdoor enthusiasts aware of the services and opportunities offered  through iSportsman. With an employee dedicated to the brand’s social media efforts, the company is witnessing steady growth in its audience.  

iSportsman notably saw an increase in followers on Instagram,  growing the account following by 362.5 percent since the beginning of the year. iSportsman can be found on Instagram at the handle @iSportsmanUSA and is posting  quality content daily. 

“We still have a lot of catching up to do in this arena, but with a staff tasked to supporting social media and placing the same importance on it as our other business development activities, we are encouraged with the growth we’ve been able to achieve,” says Doug Howlett, iSportsman COO, who also heads marketing and business development with the company.  

Traditionally focused on government contracting and with a small team common to many small American businesses, iSportsman was  not able to dedicate significant effort on establishing a strong social media presence. However, with the company expected to roll  out a consumer version of their product in the coming weeks under the  iSportsman ARX brand, the need to reach a broader audience  forced a change in the company’s overall marketing strategy. Social media has become a key part of that effort in addition to a redesigned website with weekly news and stories. The brand also publishes a  twice-monthly e-newsletter, Checking In with iSportsman. 

Like on Instagram, the company’s Twitter and Facebook accounts are also witnessing traction in growth. Scheduled posts go up daily as well, while big announcements will be incoming on the accounts.  iSportsman can be found on Facebook at @theiSportsman and on Twitter at @iSportsmanUSA . 

Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Side-by-Side Marks Milestone in Yamaha’s U.S. Manufacturing

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC) and Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, (YMUS) have reached a historic manufacturing milestone, celebrating the production of 4 million vehicles with the assembly of a new 2021 Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Side-by-Side (SxS) at the state-of-the-art U.S. manufacturing facility in Newnan, Georgia.

Yamaha held the occasion at the Newnan factory on August 12 to recognize employees and thank them for their dedication to ensuring superior manufacturing processes and producing the highest quality of vehicles. Yamaha’s hub for 4-wheel off-highway vehicle manufacturing, YMMC is where all of the company’s Side-by-Sides, full-size ATVs, WaveRunners, and Golf Cars are produced for worldwide distribution.

“Over the past 20 years, Yamaha has invested more than $380 million into U.S. manufacturing to create a world-class facility in Newnan,” said Taka Imanishi, president of YMMC. “Whether it is our ATV or Side-by-Side vehicles, Golf Cars or Personal Watercraft, YMMC strives to maintain the highest quality of production and environmental standards, while giving back to the community through comprehensive corporate social responsibility programs.”

Since its founding in 1988, YMMC has made a significant impact within its community. The facility covers 280 acres with more than 1.3 million square feet of manufacturing facilities, giving it a massive physical footprint in Newnan. Between the YMMC facility and YMUS corporate offices in Marietta and Kennesaw, Georgia, Yamaha now employs over 2,000 people in the state of Georgia alone, encompassing more than half of the 4,000+ individuals the company directly employs in the United States.

If you’re interested in establishing a permanent hunting camp, you may want to start with a temporary set up that you can try in a couple of locations before you build a permanent structure. The ideas below can increase your safety and make your hunting camp experience an enjoyable bonding event free of hazards.

Maintenance Tools

Your hunting trip may require you to carry a gun in damp, cold conditions. Keeping things clean, oiled and as dry as possible will make it much easier to hit your target. A simple gun cleaning kit that you can carry in a pack is critical.

Carefully monitor the condition of the center of your bowstring at the end of each day and be ready to replace it while on the trail. Make sure you have a place to unstring and store your bow each night to avoid losing spring, and carry wax to keep wooden bows protected against damp.

Security Tools

If you plan to hunt in bear country, don’t plan to stay in a tent. Be prepared to sleep in something hard-sided. Invest in something hard-sided for your butchering and skinning site as well.

Your food, your garbage, the animals you hunt and their offal can all attract bears. Consider investing in a small utility trailer with a metal floor to use as a skinning and gutting shack that you can easily hose out after cleaning up. You can also hitch this up and move it far from your camper each night to keep down your exposure to scavengers that will be drawn by the blood after you secure the meat and skins.

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is proud to announce their support of the 2021-22 Campus Waterfowl’s Collegiate Waterfowl Tour this fall. Founded in 2014, Campus Waterfowl is a college-student-based, social-media-driven waterfowl hunting showcase. With a presence on all major social media platforms, Campus Waterfowl airs exciting waterfowl hunting adventures featuring college students from around the country. Last season saw an audience of just over 150,000 viewers.

DU is bringing this season to Campus Waterfowl fans with several hunts featuring student members and leaders of Ducks Unlimited University chapters. Ducks Unlimited’s University Program introduces students to waterfowl and wetlands conservation at universities and colleges around the U.S. Many program members go on to lead DU chapters in their communities after graduation.

Campus Waterfowl content creator and South Dakota State University graduate Derek Christians is ready to get started on this year’s tour and excited to have DU’s support.

“Being able to travel and meet these students and share their experiences is very rewarding,” Christians said. “And to be supported by Ducks Unlimited, the world’s leading waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization makes it even better. We share the importance of the R3 movement while growing the collegiate audience. This year’s tour begins in South Dakota for early-season Canada geese in August and continues across the country through February. I can’t wait to show these exciting hunts to our followers and supporters.”

The R3 movement was developed by the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports. It focuses on the recruitment, retention and reactivation of shooting sport and hunting participants.

Spring, TX – F-1 Firearms, LLC (www.F-1Firearms.com), the trend-setting manufacturer of AR-style rifles with skeletonizing features, is kicking off the NRA Annual Meetings with an industry media rifle giveaway and tour of their Spring, Texas facility on September 2, 2021, beginning at 2 p.m. F-1 Firearms plans to give one lucky guest attending the tour and visiting their booth at the NRA show the chance to win a limited-run F-1 Old Glory UDR-15-3G AR-platform rifle valued at $2795.00!  All media and influencer guests are automatically eligible and entered to win the F-1 Old Glory Rifle upon arrival for the tour. The winner must reside in the United States and within a state which allows the transfer of semi-automatic rifles with a detachable magazine and pistol grip. The rifle will be sent to the winner’s FFL dealer for transfer. F-1 Firearms’ headquarters is located just 30 minutes north of the George R. Brown Convention Center, host of the 2021 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits.

Members of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and Texas Outdoor Writers Association (TOWA) are cordially invited to the event and non-member industry media and influencers may attend based on availability by emailing Alex at [email protected]. “As a member of POMA and TOWA, F-1 Firearms is fiercely supportive of shooting and hunting industry media members and influencers, especially the vetted members of these organizations,” stated F-1 Firearms’ President, Jackie Podgurny. “Their voices are critically important to the preservation of our Second Amendment, our heritage and our lifestyle and building relationships with traditional media, as well as influencers, is a paramount focus. We hope they’ll come see the great things happening here in our home state of Texas before visiting us again in our NRA-AM booth #4339.”

During the tour, attendees are sure to gain access to rarely exposed areas and processes that have catapulted F-1 Firearms to the next-level firearms and accessories manufacturing as well as the opportunity to test fire a variety of F-1 Firearms rifles at their indoor shooting range.  A happy-hour event is scheduled after the tour where media members and F-1 Firearms team members are encouraged to network and strike up new industry relationships. There is no cost to attend. 

Following the F-1 Firearms tour and event, media members are invited to visit F-1 Firearms booth #4339 throughout the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits show, scheduled for September 3 – 5, 2021. To RSVP or inquire about the tour, or to learn more about F-1 Firearms, email Alex at [email protected] .

About F-1 Firearms, LLC

Dr. Jason Halfen

Epic days on the water are few and far between. Indeed, late summer can be a challenging time to pursue both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Quality fish that were easy to locate and catch in June and July are now perplexing. Sultry water temperatures contribute to our tribulations, driving fish either into heavy cover or down deep to find respite from the heat. Another challenge working against anglers – both in the shallow slop and the deep basin – is an abundance of forage: there is, quite simply, so much food available that bass have a LOT to choose from. It can be hard for an artificial bait to stick out as a vulnerable prey item amid Nature’s abundance.

How can we solve the late summer bass puzzle? Consider Midwest Finesse Fishing – or the Ned Rig – a presentation that has, quite simply, taken the bass fishing world by storm. A refinement of finesse techniques practiced and espoused by tournament anglers for many years, the Ned Rig was brought to the forefront of contemporary finesse techniques by Kansas-based angler and outdoor writer Ned Kehde. This unassuming presentation has been responsible for a staggering number of bass fishing success stories, especially when finesse becomes the order of the day. 

The Business End of the Ned Rig

The classic bait for the Ned Rig bait looks like a stickworm that has been cut in half. Looks can be deceiving, however. The highly-refined Ned Rig presentation truly shines with a bait made from a unique, 21st-century soft plastic compound called ElaZtech, available exclusively from Z-Man.