Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

LINCOLN, Neb. — With soaring temperatures, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission would like to issue the following safety reminders to those out enjoying water activities.

Never swim alone — Always swim with a buddy.

Pay attention — Avoid distractions and focus on swim mates and the water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children, according to the American Red Cross, and drownings can happen in seconds, as well as in shallow waters. Staying watchful — even of strong swimmers — is encouraged and the best way to respond quickly should an accident occur.

Wear a life jacket – Children especially should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, while swimming or wading in water, including swim areas at Nebraska state parks. Floats such as pool noodles, rafts, donuts and kick boards, are not intended to serve as life-saving devises; properly worn life jackets are.

In Nebraska, children under age 13 and anybody on a personal watercraft also are required by law to wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device. People being towed by a boat on skis, a tube, or other similar device, also must wear a life jacket. Every vessel, except sailboards, must carry a flotation device for each person on board.

Get Cash Back with Mail-In Rebates on Your Favorite Rinehart 3D Targets When Purchasing This Summer

Janesville, WI — Rinehart Targets®, creators of the ‘Best Archery Targets in the World’, is proud to continue its ever-popular Summer Rebate Program, offering archers a simple way to earn cash back when purchasing some of the company’s most popular targets this summer. This means it’s never been easier, nor a better time for archers to pull the trigger on purchasing a quality Rinehart Target.

Timing is everything if customers want to maximize cash-back savings during Rinehart’s Summer Rebate Program. Multiple rebate offers for a variety of targets will be available throughout the summer with limited time windows for purchasing. This means, if customers have a specific target in mind they are looking to purchase, it’s important to pay close attention to the timeframe that target rebate will be available.

Now thru August 31, 2021, customers can receive a $10 rebate on several of Rinehart’s most popular targets including the 18” Rhino Bag, the 22” Rhino Bag, the 18” Xbow Bag, the 22” Xbow Bag or the Woodland Antelope. Starting August 1, 2021 thru September 30, 2021, customers can receive a $20 rebate on Rinehart’s flagship target the Eighteen to One (18-1), the Woodland Elk, the Woodland Caribou, the Woodland Moose or the Jimmy Big Tine target. In addition, July 1st thru August 31st, archers can cash in on a $30 rebate on either the Big Jim target or the Woodland Mule Deer target.

“Rebate season has become an event our customers look forward to each year and we’re proud to offer these exciting cash-back offers once again this summer,” said James McGovern, President of Rinehart Targets. “We’re always looking for ways to get more people interested and involved in the sport of archery and our hope is that these savings make it feasible for even more archers to get those practice reps in on a quality archery target that will last,” he added.

The National Deer Association (NDA) recently welcomed two new interns for the second half of 2021. Benton Whitaker and Nicholas Belles will work closely with the NDA staff in a variety of areas to support and continue NDA’s mission. Both bring a unique skillset and diverse backgrounds that align directly with the NDA as an organization.

“We are really excited to introduce these two as our fall interns,” said NDA Chief Conservation Officer Kip Adams. “Both of these individuals are highly qualified and driven to not only do great work, but to promote the overall values associated with the NDA. We look forward to the rest of their time here and have a lot of confidence in the positive impact they will have.”

Benton Whitaker graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013 with a degree in History and then went on to graduate from Elon University School of Law in 2018. He has recent experience working with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, as a City Council Campaign Volunteer and with the Rowan County Department of Social Services in North Carolina. Benton will serve as the NDA’s Conservation Intern.

Nicholas Belles is a student at Missouri State University where he is pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. Belles founded Buckin Struttin Outdoors in May of 2019 where he and his team educate, mentor and promote conservation to all hunters through social media and podcasts. Additionally, Belles served four years in the United States Marine Corps where he achieved the rank of Sergeant. Nicholas will fill the role of NDA Hunting Heritage Intern.

Whitaker and Belles will serve as NDA interns from July 1 through December 31, 2021. Future internship opportunities with NDA will be posted on the Employment Page, and are offered in 6-month rotations.

Safari Club International (SCI) strongly opposes many of the proposals in the current animal welfare Action Plan being considered in the United Kingdom (UK), proposals which are unsupported by scientific evidence and will harm wildlife conservation efforts inside and outside of the U.K. SCI will continue to monitor the proposals as they make their way through the political process and will continue to promote the science behind hunting and conservation as winning strategies for wildlife.

“SCI is a global organization because a threat to the right to hunt in one country is a threat to hunters everywhere,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. “While the Action Plan promotes ideas which we share, like the fair chase, ethical treatment of animals, and organic food sources, SCI condemns the UK’s specific proposals to implement bans on practices that are essential to the conservation of wildlife and citizens’ reasonable right to hunt.”

Hamberlin continued, “Moreover, UK politicians must understand that import ban proposals present a danger to the sustainability of species in Africa and burden the livelihoods of vulnerable African communities.”

When he campaigned for office, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to craft a new law defining animals as “sentient beings.” In effect, the UK government would then have to take into account the feelings of these “sentient beings.” Johnson got his wish with the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill currently under consideration in the UK Parliament.

The UK is also contemplating a trophy import ban on endangered and critically endangered species and is considering using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This is a database of extinction risks for species across the world. As the list currently stands, the trophy import ban could include at least 15 species, many trophies of which have been brought into the UK since 2005.

ALLIANCE, Neb. — A Sandhills fishing destination has reopened after a 28-month closure.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has reopened the access road to Blue Lake in the Sandhills of Garden County.

The 2.7-mile two-track trail through private property has been closed since March 2019 because of flooding. Joe Rydell, a fisheries biologist for Game and Parks, said the water level has subsided enough that the trail can be navigated, with caution. This week, he mowed the trail and parking area and created an access point through the rushes along the shoreline.

Blue Lake is 22 miles north of Oshkosh near the Crescent Lake Wildlife Management Area and Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Because public access to the lake is allowed through a lease agreement with its landowner, Game and Parks officials ask that visitors be especially mindful of rules posted at the entrance. They include staying on the road and closing gates.

The lake is open to four-wheel-drive vehicles during daylight and allows no camping, hunting, ATVs, horses or littering. Small boats, canoes and kayaks are ideal for fishing the lake, but Rydell said vehicles pulling trailers run a high risk of being stuck.

Submitted article

The Indiana State Junior High Power Championship at the Fort Wayne Rifle & Revolver (FWRR) Range was held Saturday, July 10, 2021.

The Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club had worked on the event since spring 2021. Anticipation for the match was like waiting for Christmas when you were a kid – wanting it to hurry up and get here, yet feeling a nagging doubt that you might not get what you wanted. Or, in this case, things just might not turn out as well as you had hoped.

But, not to worry! This was a day to remember.

Relays for the match filled up early, with more and more juniors registering. The last juniors joined the match Friday evening at about 6 p.m. when their dad found a way to get a day off work so he could bring them. Since they were driving up from French Lick, way down in southern Indiana, it wasn’t a quick trip, either.

Watch it on the Sportsman Channel

This week, Ducks Unlimited Television (DU TV) continues its West Coast swing in the evergreen state of Washington.

DU TV co-host Doug Larsen joins DU volunteer and U.S. Forest Service firefighter Kent Contreras near the Pend Oreille River in Washington where puddle ducks are the quarry amid breathtaking mountain backdrops.

“One of my roles as a firefighter is safety officer,” Contreras said. “My job is to assess the risk firefighters encounter and those risks are plentiful. From burning trees that can fall with no sound to rocks rolling down steep slopes, there are plenty of reasons to keep your head on a swivel on the fire line.”

The hunt begins on opening day of the 2020 Washington waterfowl season. Heavy fog greeted the hunters, but they kept after it and great action followed the next day. It’s that same perseverance that helps DU volunteers like Contreras raise money to conserve wetlands.

Silencer Central, America’s largest silencer dealer, will attend the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and pre-rally events in Sturgis, South Dakota, beginning July 31. Silencer Central will have three locations across the event.

“The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has become a tradition for Silencer Central,” said Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. “The raucous energy of the rally is incredible and there’s no better place for us to interact with so many of our customers and future customers. And this year, we’ll be bringing a Polaris General XP 1000 that will be topped with a FN M249, which is sure to be popular with attendees.”

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and its pre-rally festivities are an annual tradition that peaks with 10 Days and Nights of riding, street food, and live music performances. More than 50,0000 riders, music fans, and attendees make the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a one-of-a-kind event.

Silencer Central will be at the following locations:

The Polaris General XP 1000 with its FN M249 SAW will be at Silencer Central’s One Eyed Jack’s location for the duration of the show.

Outdoor enthusiasts look for versatility and quality in their gear to ensure a comfortable experience and Campo Designs has the latest innovation for enjoyable outdoor days! The Escape M4, the world’s most versatile tent. It acts as a portable shelter and traditional camping tent with its dome-shaped and retractable canopy that is customizable to users’ preferences. It’s constructed with a durable hybrid aluminum & fiberglass exoskeleton, provides a spacious 70 square feet interior, is water & bug proof, and sets up in minutes.

The Escape M4 will be available to pre-order via Kickstarter with exclusive discounts up to 45% off for early backers.

Patented and One Of A Kind

The Escape M4 Tent provides flexibility like no other. Its dome-like structure has a retractable canopy that opens up the tent in 6 ways, ranging from wide open to completely enclosed. Craving for a more elevated camping experience? With almost 70 sf of space, it’s big enough for a queen-size blowup mattress fit for glamping. Bringing some buddies along? The Escape M4 Tent fits 4 adults comfortably!

From Festival Grounds To Campsites

The chamber passed a “minibus” package of appropriations bills outlining funding for the federal agriculture, energy, water, environment, and public land agencies, including investments in conservation that will affect hunting and fishing in America

(Washington, D.C.) — In a 219 – 208 floor vote this afternoon, the House passed a “minibus” package of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2022, including those that fund conservation at the federal agencies overseeing agriculture, energy, water, the environment, and public lands. Experts at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership have scrutinized these funding levels and identified important increases in several areas, including drought resiliency, wetlands conservation, private land conservation, big game herd health, and habitat restoration in the Everglades, Chesapeake Bay, and Upper Mississippi River watershed.

“We’re pleased to see the House supporting robust and increased investment in conservation at a time when public land visitation is up, participation in hunting and fishing is growing, and our natural resources face many challenges, including climate change, drought, development, invasive species, wildfire, and disease,” says Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the TRCP. “We have to create certainty for the federal workers who keep hunters and anglers safe on our public lands and waters and give them the resources to improve habitat and stave off risk—rather than scramble to recover after losses or watch maintenance backlogs grow. This requires investment. We look forward to working with the Senate to secure these funding levels and seize additional opportunities to commit to conservation in fiscal year 2022.”

Some highlights of the appropriations package include:

While the funding measure takes an important step in growing federal investment in several areas important to wildlife, conservation needs continue to outpace funding. Challenges ranging from chronic wasting disease to drought are affecting hunters, anglers, landowners, and fish and wildlife. The TRCP looks forward to working with lawmakers in the Senate to support these critical funding needs for FY22 and years to come.

CAMP PERRY, Ohio – Starting off the highly anticipated return of the National Matches at Camp Perry with a collection of impressive achievements, SSG Carl Clegg, 35, of the Army Marksmanship Unit, gave consistent notable performances to lead overall during the Any Sight portion of the challenging Pistol 2700 Aggregate event. Clegg tallied a total score of 2648-114X in the match.

The 2021 National Pistol Matches were fired July 12 through July 18 on the grounds of the historic Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility in Ohio. Over 3,700 entries were seen throughout the annual event, which featured competitions never before held on the pistol series schedule – including numerous aggregate opportunities. 

Conditions throughout the National Pistol Matches were what was expected by those familiar with the unstable environment often found at Camp Perry. Gusty winds and bouts of precipitation greeted competitors on the firing lines, with sunshine and heat also making appearances through the week.

“This is Perry – it’s what you train for. You have to expect it,” said Jonathan Shue, 40, of Liberty, North Carolina.

Shue landed only four points behind Clegg for second overall in the Any Sight event and is a past winner of some of the most honorable events of the National Matches. He found several successes at the 2021 event, like earning High Civilian of the Pistol 2700 Aggregate, leading the Civilian class of the Center Fire 900 Aggregate and helping to claim multiple team competitions.

Second event to highlight company’s commitment to sustainability

Segway-Ninebot, a global leader in short-distance transportation solutions and robotic service industries, continues its “Year of Sustainability” campaign with Segway Across America: West Coast Edition starting August 2nd in Seattle, Washington.

Segway-Ninebot will be collaborating with influencers Aubrey Nolan and Justin Morris for the campaign, who will take the Segway eMoped C80 on a trip from Seattle, Washington, to San Diego, California on August 2nd. The campaign will end with a brand activation event that will take place in the famed Gaslamp District in San Diego, California on August 21st, 2021.

The influencers will be documenting their 1,200 mile trip along the way, with audiences being able to follow them on the campaign landing page and by following the @SegwayInc Instagram and TikTok accounts. To support their journey, Segway will host a social media campaign, sweepstakes, exclusive promotional code, and more.

The campaign is part of Segway’s continuing commitment to sustainability, and most importantly, to bring awareness to using electric vehicles as a more earth-friendly alternative to traditional vehicles.

CAMP PERRY, Ohio – Featuring competitions never before held on the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) event schedule, the annual 2021 National Pistol Matches welcomed nearly 900 individuals on the firing lines – some for the first time.

Such newcomers included 1st Sgt. Mario Gonzales from Camp Parks in Dublin, California. Gonzales is a member of the 1-363rd Training Support Battalion and is also a Deputy Sherriff for the City and County of San Francisco. His marksmanship experience includes 20 years with the Army and competing at a local rod and gun club.

Gonzales admitted he had heard of Camp Perry in the past but was unable to make the trip until this year, arriving not only to compete but also to take the lessons he’s learned back with him to embed into his company’s training.

“I’m super addicted and I’m looking forward to bringing the rest of my company out here to enjoy it again – hopefully,” he said with a smile. “It’s a great place. Ohio has some of the most humble people I’ve ever met, and I’m looking forward to coming back again.”

Fired July 12 through July 18 on the grounds of the historic Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility in Ohio, new events on the National Pistol Matches schedule included the Pop-Up Pistol match on the pop-up range located behind the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. During the match, participants fired upon red and blue targets that electronically pushed upwards and fell backwards. Competitors aimed at each target as they rapidly appeared, earning points for each hit.

Sport shooters from across the country are en route to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois, to compete for the most prestigious titles in shooting sports. The AIM (Academics Integrity Marksmanship) Youth Championship, which is on July 30-August 3, will host more than 10,000 competitors. It will be followed by the annual Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) Grand American World Championship on August 4-14.

Winchester Ammunition is the official ammunition of the ATA and has been affiliated with the ATA and the Grand American for over 100 years, which continues to preserve and promote the shooting sports.

The AIM Grand Championship is a youth shooting competition where kids from elementary school through college compete against others in their class in Singles, Doubles and Handicap Trap events. After the AIM Grand Championship events, shooters of all ages begin the 11-day Grand American Trap Shoot, which consists of daily events like the Winchester AA® Class Singles (Monday, August 9). 

Winchester AA shotshells will be available for sale at the shell house, including AA Diamond Grade Elite Trap, which is new for 2021. This product features 8% antimony hard shot loaded to the same load specs as the ever-popular AA Super-Handicap.

Team Winchester at The Grand American
Team Winchester members will compete as well as spend time in the Winchester building throughout the event.   

Battle Arms Development (B.A.D) is no stranger to upgrades. The company has built its name on continual improvements and advancements, taking the AR platform rifle to the next level with advancements in function and ergonomics.

B.A.D.’s rifles of today take full advantage of modern design and manufacturing capabilities to produce a truly 21st-century rifle. Those traits make an alignment with DuraMag as an OEM supplier of magazines the natural choice. B.A.D.’s rifles are generations ahead of the classic AR, and DuraMag magazines are the most advanced rifle magazines available on the market today.

More than a spring-loaded bullet holder, DuraMags are engineered and built from the ground up for each caliber and each capacity. Even the classic 5.56mm AR magazine is a complete redesign. Just like B.A.D.’s rifles, what appears normal from a distance is in reality an advancement decades ahead of its original concept.

Don’t let the familiar shape fool you, DuraMags are truly a different generation of metal magazine. DuraMag greatly enhanced the lifespan of steel and aluminum magazines with the integration of LipLock technology and Post-and-Hole body construction. LipLock reinforces critical areas of the feed lips for a stronger and more durable hold beyond the simple strength of material. Post-and-hole body construction mechanically locks the magazine together before precision robotic welding finishes the job. An EverFlex spring and Advanced Geometry Follower glide smoothly thanks to DuraMag’s own T360 coating that protects the magazine inside and out.

The inclusion of DuraMag magazines with B.A.D. rifles demonstrates Battle Arms Development’s dedication to superlative performance advantages, added value, ingenuity, and attention to detail.

To help celebrate 30 years of providing customers with the world’s finest array of meat and fish seasonings, jerky, sausage, and snackin’ stick kits; dressings & dips; and much more, Hi Mountain Seasonings is offering several Limited Edition anniversary items on the company’s website, https://himtnjerky.com/. One is the custom-made 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Chef Knife – the perfect addition to any chef’s kitchen.

Made by renowned custom knife maker Matt Peterson of Fire on the Mountain Custom Crafts in Colorado, the Hi Mountain 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Chef Knife is truly a unique piece of cutlery. Featuring an 8-inch blade with a 15-degree edge, the blade is made of 66-layer Damascus steel with a high level of edge retention and overall strength. The beautiful Damascus steel layers are joined with an oak handle finished with food-safe linseed oil and beeswax. It is held in place with beautifully crafted Wyoming Bison or Elk Mosaic pins. It is perfect for everyday kitchen use, or for display in the included presentation box.

A perfect complement to the Hi Mountain 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Chef Knife is the Hi Mountain 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Cutting Board. It’s made from solid North American Black Walnut, finished with food-safe mineral oil, and is perfect for prepping food for any meal. Measuring 11×17 inches and a sturdy 1-inch thick, the cutting board has a juice grove and is engraved with Hi Mountain Seasonings’ 30th Anniversary emblem. Customers save $10 off the regular cutting board price of $49.99 when buying them together. Prices are $199.99, knife only; and $239.99, knife and cutting board combination.

Hi Mountain Seasonings currently has several summer specials on tap, including 20 percent off on all Summer Sausage Kits. For more information on the entire line of Hi Mountain Seasonings’ seasonings; jerky, sausage, and snackin’ stick kits; dressings & dips; free mouth-watering recipes, and more, visit https://himtnjerky.com/.

Hi Mountain’s entire line of products, cooking tips, instructional videos and recipes are also available at  www.himtnjerky.com. Hi Mountain products also can be found at high-end sporting-goods stores, farm-and-ranch stores and many local grocery stores.

EDGEFIELD, S.C.—Judging for the NWTF 2021 Grand National Callmaking Competition will begin this weekend, putting a spotlight on some of the nation’s top custom call makers.

The Grand National Callmaking Competition is typically held in Nashville, Tennessee, during the NWTF National Convention and Sport Show. With NWTF holding a virtual convention in 2021 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the national custom callmaking contest was postponed and is now being held at the NWTF headquarters in Edgefield, South Carolina, July 31 to Aug. 1. 

For nearly 50 years, the art of turkey call making has grown alongside the NWTF and is inextricably linked to the NWTF’s history as a conservation organization. Since the founding of the NWTF, custom call makers and callmaking companies have used their craftsmanship and resourcefulness to raise crucial funds for wild turkey restoration efforts. That dedication and creativity in support of conservation is most evident through the Grand National Callmaking Competition.

Over nearly three decades, the national custom callmaking event has grown to include an array of calls represented in four divisions, including decorative turkey, hunting turkey, decorative waterfowl and hunting waterfowl. Within each of these four divisions resides many categories by which the call makers can demonstrate their talents.

Some of the best call makers in the country have sent in their custom-made calls to be judged by a panel of turkey and duck call experts. Over 700 calls within the four categories will be judged on various criteria, such as artistic beauty, craftsmanship, ingenuity, sound and more.

Safari Club International strongly opposes the nomination of David Chipman as the Biden Administration’s nominee for the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Chipman, a longtime gun control lobbyist, has expressly stated his support for banning the most popular rifle in the U.S., owned by tens of millions of law-abiding Americans. He holds many other radical anti-Second Amendment positions, all of which would not only impact the civil rights of Americans but will also have very detrimental effects on hunting and wildlife conservation.

The nomination of Chipman will significantly harm wildlife conservation and management efforts across the country. Manufacturers pay a 10- to 11-percent tax on firearms and ammunition, which directly funds state wildlife and habitat conservation, law enforcement, hunter safety programs and other wildlife-related uses. This tax comes from all recreational firearm manufacturing, not just those firearms used for hunting.

SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin stated: “The benefits all hunters and recreational shooters bring to wildlife and habitat conservation cannot be diminished. America’s law-abiding sportsmen and women are vital to providing the revenue, participation, and management necessary to conserving wildlife and habitat across the country. David Chipman’s explicit hostility to our community is dangerous, and we strongly oppose his nomination to lead ATF.”

SCI was among the 22 organizations that sent a June 11, 2021, letter to Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Republican Leader McConnell outlining strong opposition to Chipman.