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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024

- CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE -
Under Alabama’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone Regulation (220-2-.167), all deer harvested in the High-Risk Zone and the Buffer Zone of the state’s CWD Management Zone (CMZ) must be submitted for CWD testing during specific weekends of the 2024-2025 white-tailed deer season. The first mandatory CWD testing date for Lauderdale and Colbert counties is this weekend, November 23-24, 2024.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will again be partnering with Iowa deer hunters to collect tissue samples to monitor for chronic wasting disease during the upcoming gun seasons.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled a virtual public meeting to update the public on statewide chronic wasting disease surveillance and management efforts.
- ENFORCEMENT -
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking information on several deer and one elk shot and left to waste in the West Fork of the Bitterroot during the first two weeks of November.
- EVENTS -
The 2024 Talladega Premier Expo, the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s own annual trade show, was held Saturday, Nov. 2, with over 200 individuals attending throughout the day. The CMP provided an enhanced experience from last year’s inaugural event by delivering even more world-class vendors and products all in one location.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in December. Don’t forget to purchase a vehicle park entry permit to enter the state parks, except one is not required to park in the Schramm Education Center parking lot.
- FISHING -
Cornell Park Fishing Access Site (Montana) will be closed next week while crews reconstruct the parking lot and improve the picnic area. The closure is scheduled to last Sunday, Nov. 24, through Saturday, Nov. 30, though construction may last longer.
- HUNTING -
Before heading to the timber, it’s important that hunters go through their gear, sight in their gun and take time to review their hunting safety plan.
Dead Down Wind congratulates Karmin Kilpin, who recently harvested an incredible 200 and 2/8-inch, 19-point whitetail buck in Southern Wisconsin. The hunt, which took place on November 9th, is a testament to both Karmin’s skill and preparation, as well as the importance of scent control in the field.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing a few updates to waterfowl hunting in Utah, as well as the harvest rules for bears, cougars and furbearer species, and a few other recommendations. The DWR is seeking the public’s feedback on the proposals.
New this year, adult residents and nonresidents can hunt and harvest all deer allowed within the Oklahoma deer gun season bag limit with just a single deer gun license and an annual hunting license.
Montana’s general big game hunting season is in its final two weeks. After the first four weeks of the season, mule deer harvests have been below average for south-central Montana, while white-tailed deer and elk harvests have been similar to or above average.
Iowa’s first gun season is Dec. 7-11. Second gun season is Dec. 14-22.

- INDUSTRY -
Luth-AR announces its support of the renowned Whittington Center, home to one of the premier shooting facilities in the United States. This collaboration underscores Luth-AR’s unwavering dedication to promoting and preserving the freedoms enshrined in the 2nd Amendment.
Streamlight Inc. announced its continued commitment to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation with a $20,000 donation to support breast cancer research and prevention. Each year, Streamlight contributes proceeds from sales of specially marked pink lights to BCRF, reflecting the company’s commitment to improve outcomes and save lives for those impacted by breast cancer.
Sonoran Desert Institute, an online school that helps students learn the skills and techniques they’ll need to be successful in the firearms and uncrewed technology industries, announced its inclusion in the Military Times 2024 Best for Vets: Colleges rankings. Recognized for its outstanding commitment to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families, SDI is proud to be among the top colleges providing exceptional educational support to the military community.
Idea Ranch adds Billy Kulkin to their management team as Chief Growth Officer. Kulkin has built and scaled multiple successful enterprises, including launching an interactive department at a multimedia giant in the early 2000s, founding a creative agency and leading through its acquisition by a publicly traded company in 2019.

- NEW PRODUCTS -
The Town and Country Collection, now available at TribeKelley.com, combines the rugged elegance of Mossy Oak’s legendary camo patterns with Tribe Kelley’s modern, comfortable, and ethically made apparel.
Rost Martin announce the launch of three new accessories designed and built to complement its introductory compact 9mm pistol, the RM1C. Threaded barrels, suppressor height sights, and aluminum triggers are now available on the Rost Martin website.
RISE Triggers has entered the bolt-action market with its first trigger for the Remington 700 platform: the Reliant Hunter and Reliant Pro triggers. These premium triggers, released earlier this year, are now making waves among hunters and precision shooters alike.
Some stories are too bold to be forgotten, just like the B5 Systems Rhodesian Camo Collection. This limited edition collection is a tribute to an iconic camouflage pattern steeped in history and born from necessity. Rhodesian Brushstroke is available exclusively on B5 Systems stocks, grips, and other products.

FightLite Industries, a division of ARES Defense Systems Inc. releases its new Raptor Belt-Fed Upper that fits all Mil-Spec AR15 & M16 lowers with an introductory price of $3,999.99. This exclusive price is only available through December 31, 2024.
- ONLINE -
The sigsauer.com webstore now rewards SIG CONNECT annual plan subscribers with a 20% webstore discount; SIG CONNECT is the industry leading app from SIG SAUER offering a complete interactive shooting experience all accessible from your mobile device.
- ORGANIZATIONS -
Wildlife Forever’s newly acquired program, “Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative”, formerly the Future Angler Foundation, has a new home and will continue its mission to “Create New Anglers and Boaters”.
After an extensive search, Dallas Safari Club (DSC), a worldwide leader in hunter-funded Conservation, is excited to announce the hiring of Rob McCanna as its Chief Executive Officer. With 35 years experience in the shooting sports and outdoor industry, including nearly 20 years in executive level roles, Rob will bring an immediate impact to DSC and its important conservation mission deployment.

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) announced new economic data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) revealing that outdoor recreation continues to be a major driver of the U.S. economy, jobs, and local communities. According to the latest data from the BEA Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, outdoor recreation generated $1.2 trillion in economic output (2.3% of GDP), comprises 3.1% of U.S. employees and accounted for 5 million jobs in 2023.
- PRODUCT NEWS -
The Meprolight® Mepro FABS — Folding Adjustable Backup Sights —are the perfect holiday gift for the shooter in your life. The all-metal Mepro FABS are tritium-enhanced, self-illuminated front and rear sights that flip into place in case the primary optic goes down.
Effective November 4, 2024, Beretta USA has paused production of the Beretta 1301 Tactical shotgun with 7+1 capacity due to recent developments with the BATFE. An unexpected decision by ATF is affecting the importation of certain components essential to the assembly of the 1301 Tactical 7+1 in the U.S.
- PROMOTIONS -
Federal Ammunition has two great promotions for waterfowl hunters currently underway until the end of this year: The Black Cloud Bucks Rebate and the Federal’s Bismuth Is Better Rebate.

- PUBLISHING -
The recently released King Trio, a close clone of the Colt SAA from Pietta with three cylinders capable of firing four different cartridges, adds to the Italian manufacturer’s prominence. Jeff “Tank” Hoover provides a closer look at the versatile “Western Triple” in the Jan/Feb issue of American Handgunner.
- RETAIL -
Radians Outdoors is here to elevate the gift-giving season for the hunter, shooter, and outdoor enthusiast in your life. From precision shooting at the range to quiet moments in the woods, Radians Outdoors provides high-quality ear and eye protection to enhance outdoor experiences.
- SHIPPING -
Winchester Ammunition releases vintage edition XPERT high velocity steel shotshell loads for the waterfowler that wants to go back in time. Available in Duck and Goose Loads, these vintage edition shotshells contain high velocity steel shot that yields more energy per pellet resulting in exceptional terminal performance.
- SHOT SHOW -
LWRC International announced its role as the Coffee Sponsor for Industry Day at the Range 2025, the premier event that kicks off the much-anticipated SHOT Show. Industry Day at the Range is set to take place on January 20, 2025, at the Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club in Boulder City, Nev.
- SPONSORSHIPS -
GAMO USA has renewed their Whitetails Unlimited national sponsorship, WTU President Jeff Schinkten has announced.
- STATE AGENCIES -
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board has forwarded the names of four candidates to the Office of Gov. Katie Hobbs for consideration in filling the upcoming 2025 vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.
The Iowa DNR, the Food Bank of Iowa and 31 meat lockers are participating in the Help Us Stop Hunger program for 2024.
- STATE PARKS -
Spend some time in Nebraska’s state parks this fall and winter by attending a variety of events throughout December.
Arkansas State Parks is launching a new initiative to enhance accessibility across its properties with the unveiling of state-of-the-art accessibility equipment. Through a partnership with Accessibility Across Arkansas, Logoly State Park will introduce an all-terrain wheelchair designed to help individuals with mobility challenges experience the natural beauty of Arkansas’ State Parks.
Rickwood Caverns State Park’s signature cave system transforms into an immersive winter wonderland known as “Wonderland Under Warrior” during the holiday season, and it’s back for an eighth year.

 

Observing birds is both a balm and a benison.

Some years back I put up nest boxes in my woodlot for the cavity-nesting birds. White-breasted nuthatches readily took to the boxes for raising broods, and for roosting.

White-breasted nuthatch feading. Photo: Courtney Celley USFWS

As our planet makes its autumnal tilt, a whole host of songbirds and raptors head south for warmer climes. But the woods are not vacant. The nuthatches live here year-round sharing the pinyons with mountain chickadee and juniper titmouse.

You can hear a fuzzy chicka-dee-dee or the chirpy and serried whickity-whickty-whickity that arcs through the air like sparks off hot steel. A lot of sound comes out of a little titmouse. The nasally yank-yank of a white-breasted nuthatch lacks musical quality, and even when it sings close by it sounds as though it is far away.

Winter birds are a benison—a reward unto themselves. All birds offer a connection to nature that comes to us both active and passive, on birding safaris, waterfowl hunting, trailing a bird dog after prairie grouse, or glances at a bird feeder out the living room window.

“Birds are accessible—nearly always with us no matter where we are—town or country,” said Matt Hogan, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Mountain-Prairie Regional Director. “A connection to nature is demonstrably good for body, mind and soul and birding is one way there.”

A robust number of birders exist in the United States. An addendum to the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (Survey) reveals that a great number of people take part in birding, be it at home or beyond their residence. They spend in the aggregate, quite a large sum of money.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service economist, Erin Carver, waded deeply into demographic and economic data collected for the Survey. She ferreted out telling details about birders and their expenditures. The data will be of interest to those in industry, tourism, wildlife managers, researchers, and planners.

Here’s a snapshot of what you will find in Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis:

-Nearly 96 million people aged 16 and older are birders in the United States.

-The average age of birders is 49 years, with the majority age 65 and older.

-Ninety-one million people watch birds around their home.

-Participation in birding between men and women is nearly equal.

-Twenty-four percent of birders fish; a separate 8 percent of birders hunt; and 6 percent of birders both fish and hunt.

-Male birders are more likely to also fish and hunt.

-African American birders tend to fish and hunt more than other races.

-Birders spent $107.6 billion on trips and equipment, with cameras, nest boxes, bird food and more accounting for $12.6 billion of that total.

“No doubt about it, birding is important to the American people,” said Hogan, himself an avid birder and bird hunter. “Watching birds lightens your heart—it lifts your soul like friendly smiles and pleasantries exchanged between strangers. The positive influence of birding on the American economy and jobs is hefty, encouraging—and appreciated. Birding and wildlife-related pursuits also have immeasurable aesthetic and intrinsic value.”

Just what is the value of watching a nuthatch walking head-first down a tree trunk defying gravity, looking more like a horsefly than a bird. The slate-blue and white bird will take pause, give you a sideways quizzical glance over its spikey beak and be off. But it’s not going far.

To read Birding in the United States: An Economic and Demographic Analysis, click here. For more information on the Survey and other addenda, click here.

The Survey and its addenda are funded by a Multistate Conservation Grant, dollars first derived from Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts, and federal excise taxes paid by manufacturers of fishing tackle, archery gear, firearms, ammunition, and motorboat fuels.

— Craig Springer, USFWS, Office of Conservation Investment

 
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