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THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024

- BOATING -
Connect-Ease has been providing the quickest, easiest, and cleanest power boat rigging possible for years. Now—with the recent introduction of YAK-EASE—the company has extended their expertise into the realms of kayak angling with numerous new, problem-solving rigging and power distribution products.
- COMPETITION -
Nosler, Inc. announces that sponsored shooter Nick Gadarzi has become the first competitor to win four consecutive 2-day national matches in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS). Nick Gadarzi's impressive streak includes victories at the 2024 Snake River Standoff, the 2024 Short Action Customs Steel Challenge, the 2024 Parma Precision Rifle Rumble VI, and the 2024 MDT Barrel Burner.
Over 700 shooters competed in the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships on June 23-28, 2024, in Grand Island, NE. The nine competitive disciplines included recurve and compound archery, small bore rifle and pistol, hunting skills, muzzleloading, rifle and pistol airgun, and shotgun.
- EVENTS -
GRITR Range is excited to announce a unique opportunity for gun enthusiasts in Dallas-Fort Worth. On Saturday, July 27th, from 10 AM to 5 PM, the range will be hosting Staccato Day, featuring a free Staccato pistols range demo.
The Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters Expo will take place July 26 to 28 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, featuring three continuous seminar stages and a 120,000-square-foot show floor packed with industry vendors. The Duck Dog Stage, the Duck Hunters Stage, and the Field-to-Table Stage will showcase a collection of top experts in the waterfowl industry.

Remington Ammunition will be hosting its 3rd Annual Shoot to Cure sporting clays fundraiser on September 20, 2024. This exciting event brings together the outdoor industry, local Arkansas businesses and professional shooters from Team Remington to support the Arkansas Children's Foundation as well as children’s hospitals and disease research nationwide.
- FISHERIES -
According to Eric Brinkman, Assistant Chief of Fisheries for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, fish kills associated with low oxygen levels can be common in many small bodies of water during summer.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is advising anglers that portions of the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Clark Fork, Madison, Ruby and Sun rivers, as well as the Jefferson River and Silver Bow Creek in their entirety, will be closed to all fishing daily from 2 p.m. to midnight, effective at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10. The restrictions will stay in effect until conditions improve.
- GEAR -
Streamlight® has introduced new colors for its popular Wedge® EDC slim pocket flashlight. In addition to black and coyote, the high-performance light now is available in blue, purple and red.

- GRANTS -
Twenty-nine Michigan communities whose economic opportunities and public health were hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic are benefitting from $24.2 million in Michigan Spark Grants funding to date, which is designed to remove barriers to creating, renovating or redeveloping community-informed public recreation opportunities.
- HUNTING -
Nearly 700 permits to participate in special deer hunts at Arkansas wildlife management areas will be available for purchase beginning 9 a.m. Monday, July 15. These permits cover modern gun, alternative firearms, youth and mobility-impaired hunts that weren’t awarded through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s annual WMA deer permit drawing earlier this month.
- ICAST -
Booth 3833 will be the center of activity for Fish Monkey, with the full line of Fish Monkey products on display. Retailers will be able to see and feel the quality construction and technological advantages Fish Monkey offers your customers.
- INDUSTRY -
Reaffirming their commitment to leadership excellence, Legacy1846 Outdoor Group is proud to announce the appointment of industry veteran Andrew Sibble as the company's Chief Executive Officer.

Federal Ammunition is proud to continue supporting the Boone and Crockett Club through its Trailblazer in Conservation sponsorship as an Industry Sponsor. Trailblazers in Conservation represents a commitment from industry partners and others that support the mutual interests of science-supported wildlife management and conservation, as well as hunter ethics and advocacy.
As part of the firearm industry’s ongoing national effort to help prevent illegal “straw” purchases of firearms, NSSF® has purchased billboard, radio and streaming radio service and online digital advertisements for the “Don't Lie for the Other Guy” program in key locations throughout the Tucson area.
Winchester has donated more than 120,000 rounds of rimfire ammunition to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s First Shots program, a commitment to the mission of introducing more people to the shooting sports.
Liberty Ammunition is collaborating with Hillsdale College to host the inaugural USPSA Collegiate Championship. It will be held at the Hillsdale College John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center on September 28-29.

Guns.com and Credova continue to provide gun owners with a sound and reliable solution as inflation persists nationwide. Since 2021, more than 27,000 gun enthusiasts have financed over $27 million worth of firearms purchases with Credova on Guns.com.
- NEW PRODUCTS -
GunTag, a newly launched company dedicated to protecting firearms from theft, presents their innovative product line aimed at empowering gun owners to keep tabs on their firearms at all times. GunTag empowers gun owners the ability to know the location of their firearms at all times using popular Bluetooth devices such as Apple AirTags and Tile Stickers.
Moultrie, the leading innovator in trail camera and feeder technology, today announces the launch of Feed Hub, an industry-first cellular-enabled feeder management system.
- ORGANIZATIONS -
Turkeys For Tomorrow announces the promotion of Jason Lupardus to the position of Chief Executive Officer. He becomes the first person to hold this position in the young organization’s history.

- PRODUCT NEWS -
DeSantis offers the #220 Mean Streak kydex IWB holster for the SIG P365-XMACRO. Made with pewter colored material, it’s user adjustable for height and cant.
Henry Repeating Arms announces a new collection of tribute edition rifles to support The American Legion. The rifles are now available to American Legion members at discounted factory-direct pricing. Henry Repeating Arms donates a portion of every sale back to The American Legion.
- PUBLISHING -
“Gun is only one letter away from fun,” GUNS Editor Brent T. Wheat is known to say at times. To illustrate this concept, FMG Special Projects Editor Roy Huntington showcases an “arguably over the top” Springfield Armory Range Officer Target Model enhanced by master craftsman Ken Kelly of Mag-na-port in the August issue of GUNS.
- RADIO -
This week, Outdoors Radio features Sheboygan charter captain “Dumper Dan” Welsch, fishing guide Jim Tostrud, and Deer Fest co-owner Kasey Morgan. Jeff Kelm heads to Geneva, Ohio for a Masters Walleye Circuit tournament on Lake Erie. Dan works on invasive thistle control on the farm.

- SPONSORSHIPS -
Precision Rifle Series (PRS) once again welcomes Armageddon Gear as the Official Nylon Gear of the PRS for the 2024 season.
- STATE PARKS -
An extensive road construction project will begin July 15 at Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area and extend into the spring. Visitor access will be limited and phased during construction.
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park and SkyWindWorld Inc. will celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the park’s visitor center at the Buffalo Kite Festival on July 13 and 14. The festival is free and held from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. both days.
- STATES -
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is considering the types of allowable trail use on an Upper Peninsula equestrian trail and is inviting the public to share their ideas during a meeting next week in Marquette County.

The DNR is seeking informal comments on administrative rules for driving in meandered streams. Executive Order 10 (EO10), signed by the Governor on January 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded.
- TELEVISION -
In honor of the Outdoor Channel's 30th anniversary, two of the outdoor industry's most iconic figures, Bill Jordan and David Blanton of Realtree Outdoors, congratulate the outdoor television network.
- WILDLIFE -
Washington residents have an excellent opportunity to contribute to the management of Washington's game bird populations by helping Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife with brood surveys this July and August.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks trapped and euthanized a black bear along Hungry Horse Reservoir in Flathead County after repeated conflicts in a pair of campgrounds.
If you are planning to hike any high-elevation mountain ranges this summer, there’s a chance you may encounter a mountain goat. Here are some important safety tips to help keep you safe when recreating around mountain goats and other wildlife.
 

After spending time in Montana and Wyoming, the stifling heat and near-record humidity in the “sunny south” aren’t so attractive. Being able to start your July 4 holiday in a sweatshirt and end it in a shirt not dripping wet with sweat isn’t a bad thing.

Crisp mountain air, sparkling streams and abundant wildlife set the stage for vacations that are memorable. Seeing Yellowstone National Park and its abundant wildlife and scenery only cemented the memories.

When this is the view out your window it’s easy to relax and enjoy the evening (top). Having Yellowstone’s amazing scenery a short drive away makes the time spent even more enjoyable (below).)

That’s not to say all’s perfect in big sky country. Montana is dealing with conditions forcing hardcore trout anglers to curtail their fishing. Today’s news section has an announcement from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks implementing “hoot owl” restrictions on large sections of Big Hole, Beaverhead, Clark Fork, Madison, Ruby and Sun rivers. Those restrictions are even more severe on the Jefferson and Silver Bow Creek. They’re covered in their entirety.

“Hoot owl” restrictions means all fishing is closed from 2p.m. until midnight. Montana has a policy that institutes those restrictions when water flows drop, water quality is diminished, or maximum daily water temperatures exceed 73 degrees for three consecutive days.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks says those restrictions are to protect the fish. But several experienced anglers and guides I spoke with are concerned it’s already too-little, too-late for the bigger trout. One angler sent me a photo of a dead trout and explained he had seen “rivers full of dead and dying trout. Those included 14-24 inch fish on the Beaverhead and other fish with fungus on the Big Hole River.”

Fly fishing is a passion with many residents and tourists to the west (top) but it appears there may be problems with the overall health of the trout population, leading to reports of dead or distressed larger fish (bottom).

“I’ve made three fish kill reports in the past two weeks to FWP,” he said, “I netted a ‘confused’ trout by the bank with a fungus, it started thrashing and bleeding from its eyes. Turned it over to a fish biologist. It’s sad days and it will take a decade..or more..to replace the huge trout.”

Currently, there’s a tagged trout study underway, and Montana FWP reports small trout numbers are up, but there’s apparently an undercurrent working against the accurate reporting on tagged fish. A couple of fly shops told me they’re not filling out the surveys after FWP closed rivers to fishing from October 1 to April 1. As one guide explained, “they nearly put all of us out of business.”

Angling Trade recognizes the seriousness of the issue, and a recent editorial encouraged fly fishemen to consider….gasp…fishing for something other than trout. For many, that might be a bridge too-far. Nearly three-quarters of the fly fishing rods sold in the U.S. are 9-foot, 5-weights. Trout rods. The vast majority of SKUs are for, you guessed it, trout fishing. And Montana, Wyoming and the West considers trout fishing a primary tourism driver.

According to Angling Trade, “‘Hoot owl’ restrictions are akin to putting a Band-Aid on a compound fracture.” That’s likely not going to win any friends with the state agencies charged with protecting the wild species while balancing the tourism industry, but it points out the seriousness of the issue. When trade pubs say anglers are putting fish at peril, they’re essentially calling out their readers -and advertisers.

A cited report by Keep Fish Wet takes issue with the generally accepted guidelines for water temperatures when fish well-being is most tenuous. According to their research, the “angling threshold” -the level where warmer water temperatures increase the chances of fish mortality, needs to be used for restriction considerations.

They say the “angling threshold” where anglers should consider laying off fishing for rainbow, steelhead, cutthroat and brook trout should begin at 61degrees Fahrenheit. That’s considerably lower than the temperatures used for “hoot owl” restrictions. Keep Fish Wet tempers that by encouraging anglers to pay more attention to how the fish are responding to fishing, then apply science-based “Principles and Tips” more diligently.

Asking dedicated fly fishermen to change their habits in the summer months isn’t a simple proposition. For many, including anglers here in my neighborhood, fly fishing includes trips to Wyoming, Montana, Alaska and the west, not chasing bass or panfish in our lakes.

But there are hard-core fly anglers in the U.K. dedicated to catching carp. They tell me it’s a great experience. I enjoy fly fishing for panfish, bass and whatever else chooses to bite, but I won’t argue that hooking a trout in a cold mountain stream is a rush like no other.

Fly fishing in create amazing memories. A 2015 fishing trip to DePuy Spring Creek in Livingston, Montana was an awesome trip - I caught a single fish.

Considering restricting someone’s passion pursuit isn’t something to be taken lightly. And there’s a point at which science, emotion and economic considerations come to a loggerhead. Hopefully, anglers, regulators and businesses can come to an agreement that doesn’t turn them against each other.

We’ll keep you posted.

— Jim Shepherd

 
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