Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

TrueTimber is proud to announce a partnership with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) naming TrueTimber as the primary sponsor on Jack Wood’s No. 51 Silverado for Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Wood’s Chevrolet will also carry associate sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops, North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, and Zariz, a fast-growing intermodal drayage company specializing in transporting containers form the ports, for the event. 

“We are really excited to partner with KBM and Jack for this race,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “Talladega is such an iconic track, and it will be awesome to see the number 51 truck sporting TrueTimber camo. We had Jack over to the warehouse last week and it was great to meet and spend some time with him to show him all about what we do here at TrueTimber. We wish him and the entire KBM team the best of luck this weekend.”

Saturday will mark Wood’s 11th Truck Series start of his debut season with KBM. The California native has qualified inside the top 10 in half of his starts in 2023 and has produced two top-10 finishes, include a career-best ninth place result at Texas Motor Speedway in April. In addition to his part-time schedule for KBM, he has produced two top-five, and six top-10 finishes across eight ARCA Menards Series starts for Rev Racing this season, including a sixth-place finish at Talladega in April.

“It’s exciting to have TrueTimber on the truck as well as our associate sponsors Bass Pro Shops and Zariz Transport,” said Wood. “It’s great having everyone come together to help us get out to the track. This is probably one of my favorite paint schemes I’ve ever had on a race car—it turned out pretty sweet. Thankful to Rusty and all the people at TrueTimber that helped back this. I had the opportunity to go down to their plant near Spartanburg, South Carolina and had the opportunity to meet a lot of the people and check out what they do there. It will be fun to have them at the racetrack, especially at a cool place like Talladega.” 

To learn more about the entire TrueTimber product line and see all available patterns, visit TrueTimber.com. Details about future product launches can be found on TrueTimber’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Volunteer leaders guide wetlands conservation

Ducks Unlimited (DU), the leader in wetlands conservation, celebrates the election of new members of its board of directors.

“Ducks Unlimited is known for its well-defined, science-based conservation mission and exceptional leadership. Wetlands play a critical role in supporting and maintaining waterfowl and so much more,” said Ducks Unlimited President Chuck Smith. “I am proud to welcome these fellow conservationists to the ranks of leaders of the greatest conservation organization in North America.”

DU’s new members of the board include:

Mikk Anderson, Aurora, Colorado. Anderson is executive vice president of Resight Holdings LLC. In addition to serving DU as a Colorado state chair, state board member and a member of numerous committees, Anderson works with Guide Dogs for the Blind, Arapahoe County Republican Breakfast Club, Arapahoe Water and Wastewater Authority, a life member of Trout Unlimited and Pheasants Forever and a member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

Brownells is excited to announce the reintroduction of the BRN-601 Retro Upper Receiver. The BRN-601 addresses the long-standing challenges faced by retro AR-15 enthusiasts in their quest for authentic, often scarce components.

The BRN-601 is a detail-accurate replica of the upper receiver on the first AR-15 type rifle adopted in the early 1960s. It features the correct “slickside” receiver, fine-quality matte gray anodized finish, a 20″ 5.56x45mm NATO barrel with a 1-12″ twist and chrome-lined bore, chromed slickside M16 bolt-carrier group with a robust 9310 steel alloy bolt, and the distinctive original three prong “duckbill” flash hider.

Combining nostalgia for the early history of the AR-15 rifle with cutting-edge technology, the BRN-601 provides a solution to the problems of availability, affordability, and modern features that have plagued the market for retro AR-15 components.

“We are thrilled to bring back this retro offering to the market,” said Paul Levy, Director of Product Management. “Our team has worked hard to ensure the BRN-601 meets the highest standards of quality and performance. We believe it will be a big hit with retro enthusiasts and anyone looking for a high-quality, reliable upper assembly.”

The BRN-601 Retro Upper Receiver is available now from Brownells. For more information, visit Brownells.com. 

Turbo Trusser makes it easy to cook the perfect chicken or turkey every time

The Turbo Trusser is the easy, reusable solution that eliminates the need for butchers’ twine and helps amateur or professional chefs truss a chicken or turkey in just seconds. For years people have been preparing their chicken or turkey upside down, wrestling raw birds while trying to secure them with butcher’s twine, and over and over the result has been a dry, flavorless chicken or turkey that no one wants to eat. 

The Turbo Trusser is a new way to truss, and it is simple for anyone to use. Just attach the wing hooks to the Turbo Trusser, place the Turbo Trusser between the chicken or turkey legs and place one leg in each leg slot. Then, connect the wing hooks to each of the wings. The two hooks firmly hold the bird in place, ensuring that it cooks evenly, and all sides are exposed to even heat.

The durable stainless steel, made in the USA gadget helps cook chicken or turkey more evenly for juicier meat by keeping the bird in a compact, trussed shape so the juices stay locked inside the meat and don’t escape during cooking. The result is a tender, moist, and flavorful meal. Turbo Trusser can also help keep stuffing from drying out. The versatility of the Turbo Trusser makes it the perfect accessory for any kitchen, and it can be used for a wide range of cooking styles and techniques such as ovens, grills, smokers, roasters, rotisseries, deep fryers, and the chicken Turbo Trusser can even be used in the air fryer. It’s also dishwasher safe for easy post-cooking clean up. 

“We realized the need for an easier way to truss a chicken or turkey from our own experiences,” said Brian Halasinski, co-founder of Turbo Trusser. “After more than a dozen prototypes we finally figured out the best way to help people master the skill of cooking the perfect chicken or turkey, without the mess of butchers’ twine,” Kirk Hyust, co-founder of Turbo Trusser explained.

Savage Arms announces the release of its latest Serve The Land episode: Fence Removal | Beers, Bands, and Barbed Wire Strands. This complete Serve The Land story follows a community event in Gunnison, Colorado hosted by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA). The BHA event, and subsequent Savage film, celebrates environmental stewardship, conservation efforts and wildlife protection.

“We’re proud to have placed our support behind a cause that positively impacts and protects wildlife habitats,” said Beth Shimanski, Director of Marketing for Savage Arms. “The BHA group in Gunnison, Colorado was successful in tearing down five miles of old and out of use barbed wire, and this latest Serve The Land episode commemorates those efforts.”

The main event of Beers, Bands and Barbed Wire Strands brought together the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and countless volunteers and sponsors. The group worked together to remove the out of date fencing which had been pinpointed by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife as a source of mortalities and injuries to wildlife in the area.

“When you have old broken wire that’s on the ground and in a state of disrepair, it’s even less obvious than a well-maintained fence so both of these can be hard on wildlife,” said Brandon Diamond, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Area Wildlife Manager.

After the successful removal of the fencing, the group celebrated with food, music, and a raffle – where attendees had the chance to win a Savage Arms 110 High Country.

TALLADEGA, Ala. – In September, the GLOCK presented a check of $50,000 to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) at the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama during the GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) Annual Match. GLOCK has been a generous sponsor and supporter of the CMP and Talladega Marksmanship Park throughout its existence, dedicating thousands to the organization each year to be used toward programs and initiatives.

This year, GLOCK Inc.’s Vice President Josh Dorsey and National Sales Manager Bob Radecki presented the check to CMP’s acting park manager Bret Lankford and business development executive Stefanie Teaford.

“We’re always so grateful to GSSF and GLOCK, Inc. for supporting the CMP,” said Teaford. “We’ve been able to use their substantial contributions to enhance our impact in the marksmanship community through organized opportunities and through the distribution of fundamental and safety instruction to countless individuals across the country.”

About Talladega Marksmanship Park:

Since 2015, Talladega Marksmanship Park, “The Home of Marksmanship,” has been a worthy destination for firearm supporters and guests looking for practice, competition and mindful learning opportunities. Featuring CMP electronic targets and scoring monitors that can only be found at the 500-acre facility, the park regularly hosts rifle, pistol, shotgun and archery events all year long. The CMP’s Unknown Distance Range at Talladega also allows guests to practice their skills in the field of over 100 steel targets, out to 625 yards, and provides even more marksmanship fun at the Park.

Bow Spider, the quickest and easiest bow retrieval system on the market, is pleased to announce the long anticipated introduction of the Crossbow Spider. This new system is designed to accommodate most crossbows on the market today.

Crafted with meticulous precision, utilizing premium materials, the Crossbow Spider offers an innovative design with an exceptionally durable construction that is built to withstand the rigors of the outdoors, providing a reliable and long-lasting solution for various forms of transportation. It is proudly made in the USA, embodying the continued Bow Spider commitment to exceptional craftmanship of its products.

“Our customers have been so pleased with the Bow Spider, but many shoot crossbows as well or have entirely switched to them,” said David Merrill, owner. “Carrying a crossbow in the field can be very cumbersome. The new Crossbow Spider alleviates all those problems and makes it safe, comfortable and easy for anyone to use.”

There is no doubt that crossbow hunting has grown in popularity across the country. In 2016, 15 percent of the archery harvest was attributed to crossbow hunters and by 2021 it had grown to 51.5 percent. In fact, you will find loyal crossbow hunters in just about every state and in every age bracket today. This is why Bow Spider is introducing the new Crossbow Spider.

Like the original Bow Spider, the Crossbow Spider features the ingenious design that allows the user to carry the bow hands-free. It is no longer necessary to carry a case or a sling – now you can effortlessly navigate your hunting grounds or archery range with your crossbow securely and conveniently stored on your side or your pack. You can also securely store your crossbow with the Crossbow Spider in your car, your treestand, at home or hunting camp.

The National Deer Association is pleased to announce the premiere of a new educational video project, “How to Identify Antlerless Deer in the Field,” produced in partnership with The Bearded Buck. The 17-minute video uses live footage of wild whitetail deer in order to teach viewers how to separate adult does from younger does and doe fawns from buck fawns. The video includes an 18-deer quiz at the end.

Balancing a deer population with the habitat and available food requires harvesting the appropriate number of does. This may be a lot in some areas, a few in others and none in more isolated cases. Being able to separate the does by age in the field allows hunters to selectively harvest antlerless deer–whether their goal is to harvest more mature does and reduce the deer herd, or harvest younger does and allow the deer herd to grow.

In this new video, NDA Chief Conservation Officer and wildlife biologist Kip Adams shares tips on how to separate adult does from younger does in the field–and even how to identify fawns (deer under 1 year of age) as does or bucks.

The 18-deer quiz at the clip’s conclusion allows viewers to practice what they learned throughout the video. Here, viewers are provided a few seconds to identify wild deer from live footage in the field. After the pause, Kip reveals his analysis of the deer in each of the nine scenarios, with 18 deer being shown in all.

“The ability to separate live antlerless deer into two general age groups – fawns and adults – is obtainable for all hunters with a little knowledge and some practice,” said Adams. “The three key characteristics are body size and shape, head size and shape and animal behavior. This is especially pertinent when you have a group of deer in front of you during hunting season. Estimating the sex and age of live antlerless deer is a great skill for hunters.”

Today, during the business session of the 113th Annual Meeting of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, the directors unanimously endorsed and applauded members of Congress for advancing bipartisan legislation to ensure students and schools can continue to access Department of Education funding for archery, hunter education, recreational shooting, and other outdoor enrichment programming. 

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the Senate passed the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act (H.R. 5110), a bipartisan bill which now heads to the President’s desk for signature. This bill will address the unintended consequences caused by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) and its impact on federal funding for hunter education, archery in schools, wilderness courses, and many other important educational enrichment programs. The unanimous Senate passage of H.R. 5110 comes shortly after the House passed the bill Tuesday night on an impressive vote of 424 – 1.“We are grateful for congressional champions who worked together expeditiously on a bipartisan solution to safeguard Department of Education funding for these important youth outdoor programs,” said Chuck Sykes, Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “We urge President Biden to swiftly sign this bipartisan affirmation of funding for these important outdoor enrichment opportunities.”

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies—the organization that represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies—promotes sound resource management and conservation, and speaks on important fish and wildlife issues. Found on the web at www.fishwildlife.org, on Facebook /AssociationofFishandWildlifeAgencies and on Twitter @fishwildlife.

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The South Dakota NWTF State Chapter recently met to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals for 2024 funding awards. After the review and ranking process, proposals were presented to and approved by the NWTF South Dakota Board of Directors. The volunteers in the Mount Rushmore State budgeted $44,250 for conservation and outreach-education projects and events.

“The projects that will receive funding this year are great examples of how NWTF’s reach is far and wide in outreach and on-the-ground conservation work,” said Clayton Lenk, NWTF district biologist for Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. “Thanks to the support and generosity of our members and volunteers, we can provide an even greater impact to the resource and the outreach efforts going on in South Dakota.”

2024 projects include:

1) South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks wild turkey research ($7,500).

2) NWTF Black Hills cooperative forester ($7,500).

Taurus USA proudly announces the launch of the highly anticipated Taurus GX4 Carry, the latest addition to the award-winning GX4 series. Setting itself apart from its micro-compact sibling, the Taurus GX4 Carry boasts a larger, but compact frame, delivering the perfect balance of capacity and concealability for armed citizens.

Key Features of the Taurus GX4 Carry:

The Taurus GX4 Carry will be available for purchase starting September 28, 2023, at authorized Taurus dealers and online retailers. For more information about the Taurus GX4 Carry and other Taurus products, please visit www.taurususa.com.

About Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.: Taurus Holdings, Inc. (“Taurus”) and its subsidiaries continue to evolve and produce revolutionary new products. In addition, new standards for quality and efficiency help deliver reliable and affordable guns to the market. Taurus is based in Bainbridge, Georgia. Taurus is owned by Taurus Armas, S.A. which is a publicly traded company based in Brazil. Taurus Armas S.A. manufactures a wide variety of consumer and industrial products that are distributed worldwide.

For additional information, visit www.taurususa.com.

 “Hunting Matters” welcomes Amanda M. Veals Dutt, PhD, Carnivore Specialist and Research Scientist, Borderlands Research Institute, Sul Ross State University. 

Dr. Dutt is the Carnivore Specialist and post-doctoral Research Scientist at Borderlands Research Institute. Her research focuses on the spatial ecology and interspecific interactions between mammalian predators, such as black bears and mountain lions, and their prey. Her research in the Trans-Pecos aims to inform management decisions and habitat conservation.

Before coming to BRI, Amanda graduated in 2014 with a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Arizona. During her undergraduate career, Amanda assisted on several carnivore research projects and worked in Namibia on caracals (African lynx), where her passion for carnivore conservation and management began. She earned her MS degree from the University of Arizona in Wildlife Conservation and Management in 2018, studying gray fox spatial ecology. Her thesis research informed disease management through an understanding of interspecific interactions among mesocarnivores.

Amanda completed her PhD in Wildlife Sciences from Texas A&M University-Kingsville with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute in 2021. Her dissertation focused on the endangered ocelot in an effort to reduce road mortalities. Amanda focused on ocelot spatial ecology and landscape connectivity using four decades of data. Amanda’s research program at BRI seeks to link ecology with applied conservation and management strategies. She has strong interests in spatial and landscape ecology, interspecific interactions, and predator-prey dynamics.

About Hunting Matters
Tune in to “Hunting Matters” with Houston Safari Club Foundation Executive Director Joe Betar as he engages in conversations with guests, from various backgrounds, who have a passion for hunting and conservation. Great discussions, news, hunting legislation updates and more! “Hunting Matters” airs each Saturday, 6am-7am CDT on KPRC AM 950 – Real Texas, Real Talk, a Houston iHeartMedia station, and Houston’s longest running radio station. “Hunting Matters” is also available via podcast on Apple/iTunes, iHeartMedia, Google, Overcast, PodBean and Spreaker. Subscribe, listen, rate and review. Hunting Matters is the recipient of a 2022 Gold AVA Digital award, a 2022 NYX/Marcom Silver award, a 2022 MARCOM Gold award, a 2022 Gold Davey Award, and a 2023 NYX/Marcom Silver award. 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 646 scholarships totaling $2.92 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.

Duck Commander, a world renowned leader in duck call manufacturing joins Tread Lively, GND Media Group, and Fathom Events in announcing the release of THE BLIND–premiering in theaters nationwide September 28th.

Based on the life of Duck Commander’s Phil and Kay Robertson, THE BLIND dives into never before seen stories of the founding family as they find redemption through love and faith, and learn where to discover strength during times of hardship.

“A lot of people know the Robertsons. They know a little bit about our story. They have seen us on Duck Dynasty, but they don’t know the backstory of what actually got us here,” said Korie Robertson, a producer of the film. “I think this is actually the most important part of the Robertson family story.”

“Without what happens in The Blind, there would be no dynasty,” added Willie Robertson, Duck Commander CEO and an executive producer of The Blind. “This is the story you haven’t heard. We made this movie so people would know that if you’ve got troubles, there’s a way out.”

THE BLIND shows that no one is beyond the grace of God, and no one is so far gone that they cannot turn their life around.

The National Deer Association and QuietKat are thrilled to announce the launch of the Gear for Deer Sweepstakes—an exciting opportunity for outdoor lovers to contribute to wildlife conservation and win incredible prizes. The sweepstakes will directly support the National Deer Association’s mission, with all proceeds going towards securing a sustainable future for wild deer, preserving vital wildlife habitats and ensuring hunting’s legacy for generations to come.

Participants can enter the sweepstakes by visiting https://deerassociation.com/gearfordeer and selecting from any of the entry options below:

$10 for 5 entries
$50 for 35 entries
$100 for 100 entries
$1,000 for 2000 entries + a hat from each brand + handwritten letter from each brand

Gear for Deer Sweepstakes Prize List

“The lineup of prizes offered in this sweepstakes is seriously impressive,” said NDA President and CEO Nick Pinizzotto. “We want to give a big thank you to all of the partners involved for putting this together and joining us in our efforts to always put conservation first.”

 Impressum Media Inc. proudly announces the imminent release of the 14th Edition of the Firearms Guide by Chris Mijic. This new edition contains significantly updated values and information reflecting new changes in the gun industry. For the year 2023/2024, it introduces an impressive array of new firearm makes and models, alongside the inclusion of 3,000 newly added gun schematics, blueprints, manuals, and old guns & ammo catalogs. Notably, this edition features a treasure trove of original printable catalogs and brochures from esteemed manufacturers such as Colt, Smith & Wesson, Savage Arms, Browning, Beretta, Winchester, Charles Daly, Sig Sauer, CZ, FN, and more.

Impressum Media Inc. is currently offering a special promotion during its first launch week. You can enjoy a 25% discount on our products by using the promo code: 14PROMO. Please note that this fantastic deal will expire on October 02, 2023. Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer!   (this special promotion is ONLY advertised in this press release)

Published since 2009 at https://www.firearmsguide.com for both gun enthusiasts and shooting industry professionals worldwide, Firearms Guide is the world’s largest:

1. A Gunsmithing Library with 24,200 zoomable and printable hi-res gun schematics, blueprints, gun manuals, and old guns & ammo catalogs – for all types of antique and modern guns (3,000 newly added just in this Edition)

• This huge Gunsmithing Library provides gunsmiths with 24/7 access to printable high-resolution gun schematics (exploded views, drawings, or diagrams) with gun parts lists with original parts numbers, blueprints with dimensions for complete guns or gun parts, cross-sectional views, printable complete original gun manuals for antique and modern guns, old guns and ammo catalogs from 1800s to today, and Ammunition Dimensions (Case & Bullet) Guide.

AUSTIN, TX – The American Suppressor Association Foundation (ASA-F) is thrilled to announce the inaugural Silent Night Banquet. Taking place at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, Texas on Thursday, November 30th, the Silent Night Banquet will include an open bar, a delicious dinner, a silent auction, a live auction, a raffle, and a keynote address from Captain Chad Fleming from Team Never Quit. In addition, every table package sold will come with the buyer’s choice of amazing products, including the best suppressors, rifles, pistols, shotguns, and optics.  

As the 501c3 wing of the American Suppressor Association, the ASA Foundation is leading the charge through active litigation to make suppressors legal in all 50 states. ASA-F has already filed Anderson v. Raoul in partnership with Silencer Shop, challenging the constitutionality of the suppressor ban in Illinois. The Silent Night Banquet will help ASA-F raise essential funds to continue the litigation in Illinois and file lawsuits in other states like California and New Jersey. If successful, suppressors will become legal in all 50 states for the first time in over 100 years 

“Help us reach our goal of raising $250,000 for the ASA Foundation by buying a ticket or a table today,” said Knox Williams, Executive Director of ASA. “Not only will your purchase help fund our pro-suppressor lawsuits and educational initiatives, at the Banquet you’ll have access to an open bar, a delicious dinner, a silent auction, a live auction, and a raffle filled with products and experiences you simply can’t buy.”

To help support ASA-F’s fight for your constitutionally protected right to own and use a suppressor, visit www.ASABanquet.com to purchase a ticket or table for the Silent Night Banquet.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SUPPRESSOR ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Oklahoma NWTF State Chapter recently met in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals for 2024 funding awards. After the reviewing and ranking process, proposals were presented to and approved by the NWTF Oklahoma Board of Directors. The Board of Directors budgeted $69,000 for conservation projects and $41,284 for other projects including outreach-education events, state scholarships and 4H Shooting Sports support.

“A sincere thanks goes out to all the hard-working members and volunteers who make our mission in Oklahoma possible,” said Annie Farrell, NWTF district biologist for Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. “Without you, there is no National Wild Turkey Federation. Our volunteers in Oklahoma are going above and beyond, tackling conservation issues both in the state and across boundaries for the greater good.”

NWTF funding will be matched with nearly $1 million in partner funds for the approved projects in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma State Board of Directors dedicated $69,000 in funding to the following conservation projects:

In addition, $41,284 was approved to support education/outreach efforts in Oklahoma including JAKES, WITO, Wheelin’ Sportsmen, the Oklahoma state scholarship and shooting sports projects. Specific project awards include:

Military Warriors Support Foundation is thrilled to share the latest updates from the heartwarming and impactful events at the Skills4Life Ozark Retreat in Stover, Missouri. With the unwavering support and dedication of the Skills4Life team and sponsors, Military Warriors Support Foundation has provided heroes with opportunities to connect, heal and find solace in the serene surroundings of Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks.

Uniting Heroes Through Fishing and Camaraderie

In recent events, Skills4Life had the privilege of hosting two groups of veterans. As the participants cast their lines into the waters, not only did they reel in some impressive catches, but they also reeled in a sense of camaraderie and shared understanding that only fellow veterans can provide. These gatherings offer a unique space for our nation’s wounded heroes to open up, share experiences and support one another. It’s in these moments when stories are shared and bonds are formed, that true healing takes place.

This marked the first time for many of these veterans to connect with others who have walked a similar path. The power of shared experiences cannot be underestimated, and the Skills4Life team was humbled to witness its profound impact on veterans’ journey to recovery.

A Place of Renewal

The city of Kearney’s Law Enforcement Firearms Training Range, which is used to train law enforcement officers from the Kearney Police Department and the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, is opening to the public thanks to a cooperative agreement with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

In August, Game and Parks entered an agreement with the city of Kearney to open its 100-yard rifle/pistol range to the public. The range, adjacent to Game and Parks’ new Kearney Outdoor Education Complex located about 10 miles northeast of the city, will be open and supervised by Game and Parks staff during public use beginning Saturday, Sept. 30.

The range will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 16, along with other parts of the complex that opened in August.

KOEC is Game and Parks’ newest outdoor education complex. For shotgun shooters, the complex features four trap fields with two overlaying skeet fields and one 5-stand range.

The complex’s 2,900-square-foot education center has a full kitchen and is rentable to the public. It is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act and offers classroom seating for up to 100 people.

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The NWTF Southern Maine Strutters, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, and volunteers from all corners of New England celebrated the NWTF’s 2023 Conservation Week and National Public Lands Day by rolling up their sleeves at the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.

About 60 volunteers from all over New England descended on the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge for the “Rabbitat Planting Party,” an event designed to create the necessary thicket, or early successional habitat, that the New England Cottontail needs to thrive. The bachelor group of wild turkeys that welcomed folks on their way to the parking area was a reminder that the day’s work would benefit many species, especially wild turkeys. 

Located on the coast of southern Maine, the 9,125-acre Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 50 miles of coastline in multiple Maine counties. The refuge was established in 1966 in cooperation with the state of Maine to conserve the area’s unique habitats and the wildlife that inhabit them. The refuge offers hunting permits for deer, turkey (fall), ducks, geese, woodcock and ruffed grouse.

“We commend our volunteers from the Southern Maine Strutters who saw the NWTF’s Conservation Week Challenge as a collaborative opportunity to enhance habitat for wild turkeys, the New England Cottontail and overall biodiversity,” said Matt DiBona, NWTF New England district biologist. “This event demonstrated that many hands make light work and shows the impact that volunteers can have in improving our public lands.” 

After a brief introduction and a planting-how-to demonstration by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees, volunteers grabbed shovels and potted plants and began planting hundreds of trees and shrubs in two locations on the refuge, one an opening that needed to be restored to a thicket and another thicket that was enhanced by planting additional stock.