Wildlife officials are proposing a special hunting weekend for teenagers, an earlier start to the bow hunting season and a ban on killing young bucks in some regions under a new plan that will guide deer management in the state. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Wildlife officials are proposing a special hunting weekend for teenagers, an earlier start to the bow hunting season and a ban on killing young bucks in some regions under a new plan that will guide deer management in the state for the next five years. The head of the Department of Environmental Conservation's Bureau of Wildlife, Gordon Batcheller, says the draft Deer Management Plan was written after his agency held 20 public meetings around the state and surveyed hunters for their opinions on proposals. "We've had a deer management program for decades,'' Batcheller said. "But this is the first time we've had a document explaining the deer management plan in a single document in a comprehensive way.'' There's a stable population of about a million white-tailed deer in New York state, Batcheller said. Last year, about 230,000 were killed by hunters and 60,000 to 80,000 were killed on highways, he said. "Deer have a large impact on the landscape and society,'' Batcheller said Thursday. "In areas where they're overabundant they have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. They can completely eliminate the reproduction of trees by eating all the young saplings in a forest plot.'' Hunting is the most effective way to manage the deer population, Batcheller said. But the number of hunters has been declining, and the average age of hunters has been rising. As one way to recruit more young people into deer hunting, the plan proposes setting aside a weekend in early October for 14- to 16-year-old hunters mentored by experienced adults. That plan has some detractors. Chuck Parker, a retiree from northern New York who hunts in the Tug Hill region, said the big game youth hunting license is a great idea but a special youth weekend is unnecessary and would cut into field time for small game and waterfowl hunters because landowners commonly deny them access during the deer season. Parker, who is first vice president of the New York State Conservation Council, also opposes the DEC's proposal to open the bow hunting season in the southern zone on Oct. 1 rather than the current opening in mid-October. "Generally, bow hunters already enjoy a high-quality hunting time to be in the woods,'' said Parker, who's from Mexico, in Oswego County. "Giving them additional time will only lessen the opportunity of success for those that hunt during the regular gun season.'' Most controversial is the proposed mandatory ban on shooting young, spike-antlered bucks in a region in southeastern New York. Batcheller said there's "a growing interest'' in antler restrictions among many deer hunters. "It's a new way of managing the deer herd to create a more balanced sex ratio by leaving more bucks on the landscape,'' he said. "Advocates believe that the natural behaviors of deer are more pronounced when the age and sex ratios are more balanced. It also makes for larger deer and better hunting.'' New York has imposed antler restrictions in one area on an experimental basis, and the plan calls for expanding that area to get a better picture of the impact. Parker opposes mandatory restrictions, saying they'll reduce the chance for success for hunters who have limited time to hunt. Five resolutions supporting antler restrictions were soundly defeated at the Conservation Council's annual convention, he said. "There is no solid biological data that proves that antler restrictions improve deer quality,'' Parker said. "I don't shoot spike horns, but that's my choice. Someone else who pays the same amount for a license, you're asking him to pass up a deer, when it's not proven that it will improve the quality of the herd.'' Steve Wowelko, president of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, says he supports the idea of antler restriction, but he agrees with Parker that it should be voluntary. "As a sportsman, I'm always looking for ways to be more inclusive rather than exclusive,'' said Wowelko, of East Syracuse. "We need to bring more hunters in instead of limiting hunters' access to wildlife.'' Ray Gawlas, of Scotia, likes the idea of young people having an opportunity to hunt with a mentor before the regular gun season. "This was long overdue,'' he said. "New York state has been very negligent in providing opportunities to recruit younger hunters, particularly when there is an overabundance of deer in portions of the state.'' Public comments will be taken by the DEC through July 28. Batcheller said he hopes many people with a variety of interests look at the plan and comment. "It's certainly of interest to deer hunters, but it also talks about a lot of other things such as assessing deer impact on forests,'' he said. "We want to make sure deer are not permanently harming the forest ecosystem.''

In the wilderness, deer hunting becomes a special experience that is unforgettable. by Keith Sutton   In wilderness areas, undisturbed by humans and development, white-tailed deer often grow old and reach large sizes. Today, more and more deer hunters are looking for ways to escape the trappings of civilization. The bustle of our technological society has created a compulsion to log as much time in the backcountry as possible. Deer season offers that chance. Unfortunately, large tracts of backcountry are harder and harder to find. What outdoorsman has not experienced the disappointment of returning to a favored hunting spot only to find it forever altered? Perhaps a “No Trespassing” sign has gone up, or land development is occurring. As human populations grow, such experiences increase. Fortunately, the Wilderness Act of 1964 set aside undeveloped lands where hunters still can enjoy a get-away-from-it-all experience. Congress, in the Act, defined wilderness as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain ...” Our country is blessed with hundreds of statutory wilderness areas encompassing millions of acres of prime deer habitat. These lands are remote enough to offer total solitude. On a wilderness trek, you say goodbye to the world’s troubles and welcome the backcountry. Hunting wilderness area deer isn’t care-free, though. These pristine tracts are open only to those willing to overcome the distance and rugged terrain with their nomad home on their back. Austerity is a prerequisite, for everything the hunter needs to survive and pursue his quarry must be packed in on foot or horseback. Wilderness deer hunting doesn’t begin at dawn, break at noon and end at dusk. It is a total sporting existence lasting every minute of every day and night spent in the wild. The U.S. Forest Service offers this reminder to wilderness explorers: “As a wilderness area visitor, be aware you are entering a primitive environment where you will be faced with the challenge of being entirely self-sufficient for whatever time you plan to remain there. There are no shelters, campgrounds, tables, fire grates, water spigots or detailed trail signs. You will be either afoot or on horseback, because no motorized vehicles are permitted in these areas. You will meet and live with nature on its own terms, and become familiar with the sometimes scary feeling of being completely on your own far from the nearest trace of civilization.” For most, however, the rewards of a wilderness hunting experience far exceed the investments. My friend Bill Jones has been hunting deer in wilderness areas for decades, backpacking in and camping up to nine days. The allure of these natural sanctuaries keeps drawing him back.   Glynn Harris of Ruston, La. approaches a buck killed on a wilderness hunting trip. The chance to get away from crowds and into unfettered backcountry draws a few hardy hunters to wilderness areas.  “When I’m walking into a wilderness area, I can feel the stress draining away,” Jones says. “You might spend a whole day and not see another individual. The only noise you hear, other than woodland sounds, might be the low drone of an airplane. It’s quiet, allowing you contemplate the reason for your existence. It’s almost a religious experience.” Preparedness, says Jones, is important to enjoying wilderness experiences. Hunters should be in top physical condition and well versed in first aid, orienteering and outdoor cookery. “You might be miles from the nearest road,” he says. “There are no vehicles, nobody to take care of you. So you must know all your camping skills and be able to take care of health and safety on your own. Getting lost is most likely to happen, so be sure you’re an accomplished map reader. Leave a map with family or friends so someone knows where you are and when you’re expected to return.” Some hunters are drawn to wilderness areas because chances of bagging a trophy buck are excellent. Reduced hunting pressure means bucks live longer and grow bigger. For some people, though, bagging a deer is secondary to the aesthetics of a wilderness hunt. “Our group has hunted one wilderness area for eight seasons, and we’ve only killed two deer,” Jones says. “But we keep going back because of the way it makes you feel. I realize once I’m out there how important my family is to me. In fact, I realize how important everything around me is. I think, what in the world would I do without GORE-TEX? How do you suppose an Indian would have lived through that rainstorm in a buffalo robe? It puts things in perspective. “As you get to the last night,” he continues, “you sit around the campfire, and you know tomorrow you must go back to the real world. It gets emotional sometimes because you know you won’t have this exact same experience again. Before you’ve even left, you’re already thinking about the next trip.” The thrills of deer hunting are one reason for a wilderness visit. But if you go to all the trouble of journeying into these remote places for just one purpose — hunting — you’re wasting your energy and missing the point. The common denominator of wilderness areas is their difference from the tame lands you leave behind. Learn to comprehend the difference, then you will truly enjoy the soul-wrenching pleasure a wilderness deer hunt can offer.

January 23, 2015 Media Contact:Bill Brassard203-426-1320bbrassard@nssf.org    2015 SHOT Show Posts Second Highest Attendance Total Ever    LAS VEGAS -- The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) rang up its second highest attendance ever at the Sands Expo Center Jan. 20-23, giving the industry a very good indicator that a strong sales year lies ahead.Long a bellwether for the industry's prospects, the SHOT Show brings together buyers and sellers from the United States and more than 100 countries. Total attendance for the 2015 SHOT Show was nearly 64,000, second only to last year's record-setting event, where nearly 67,000 came through the turnstiles. Lower attendance reflected strengthened pre-screening of attendees to enhance the overall experience of both exhibitors and buyers."We know from long experience that attendance at the SHOT Show is a reflection of the state of our industry," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "This second highest attendance is in keeping with what we saw in the past year -- that our industry is in good health and that manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers have a positive outlook for this year."NSSF®, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, owns and sponsors the SHOT Show.From the opening bell, the show floor hummed with traffic. Cindy Daniel, Executive Vice President of Daniel Defense, a major sponsor of the SHOT Show, said, "It's been a very busy show. We're optimistic that with the good vibe we're seeing on the floor sales will pick up again and we'll have a solid year."Said Kort Nielson with Silencer Co., "We've been pretty busy, and there hasn't been much down time. Increasing our booth size and design and its new position in this hall has been good for traffic, but we're also focusing on education." Silencer Co. put on two seminars this week for retailers on how to educate customers about suppressors, a fast growing sales area.The $8 billion industry has seen rapid growth in the last several years, powered by newcomers to the shooting sports. More than 20 percent of firearms owners are in this category, in that they have purchased their first firearm within the last five years. Women continue to be an undeniable market force. During the show at a packed press conference, NSSF released a new report on "Women Gun Owners: Purchasing, Perceptions and Participation." Women, whose participation in target shooting and hunting as well as interest in owning a firearm for personal and home protection continues to grow rapidly, now purchase about 25 percent of industry products. "This report will help NSSF members better understand the products and features women want and to continue to serve women of all skill levels," said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF Director of Industry Research and Analysis. More than 1,600 exhibiting companies filled the convention center and rooms in the adjoining Venetian Hotel. Total show exhibition space was more than 640,000 net square feet, or 13 acres of product display, with more than 150 new companies exhibiting. Manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, optics, cutlery, apparel, accessories and law enforcement equipment introduced new products and services that retailers will offer consumers during the course of the year. On the first evening of the show, more than 2,400 people attended NSSF's State of the Industry Dinner, where Steve Sanetti, NSSF President and CEO, delivered a well-received speech on the industry's determination to counter its detractors with facts on firearm safety and deter efforts to burden law-abiding gun owners with unnecessary legislation. "Much of the public and the media are woefully misinformed about who we are and all that we do about genuine gun safety," said Sanetti, who pointed out to such notable NSSF programs as Project ChildSafe, Fix NICS and Don't Like for the Other Guy programs. "Some pundits state that the shooting sports are 'in retreat,'" said Sanetti. "Well, look at the facts. Last year's SHOT Show, one of the fastest growing trade shows in the nation, had its highest attendance and satisfaction levels ever; the number of federally licensed firearms dealers is growing; firearm sales experienced the second highest year ever and ammunition sales continue at near record levels; firearms permit and safety classes report long waiting lists; and the number of apprentice hunting licenses increased to well over 1 million. If this is a 'retreat,' as those who see no appeal in what we do have alleged, I truly wonder what an advance would look like." At the dinner, Richard Lipsey, owner of Lipsey's, one of the nation's largest sporting goods distributors, received the prestigious NSSF Ken Sedlecky Award for longterm commitment to the success of the industry and supporting NSSF's mission to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Mark Keefe, editor-in-chief of American Rifleman magazine, was awarded the POMA-NSSF Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award. Media was out in force again at the show, totaling 2,500, including international press. Some of the country's most well-known radio personalities, including Mike Gallagher, Lars Larson and Dana Loesch, broadcasted live from the show's popular "Radio Row." Prior to the show, NSSF hosted a fundraising golf tournament to benefit Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA), an industry developed and supported effort to help the healing and reintegration of disabled combat veterans back into normal American life though participation in outdoor events. The SHOT Show is not just about selling and buying products. The show provides educational opportunities for firearms retailers at SHOT Show University, which was sold out, and at other seminars, and for law enforcement professionals at the Law Enforcement Education Program. The SHOT Show is managed by Las Vegas-based ConvExx. Major sponsors of the 2015 SHOT Show in addition to Daniel Defense were Outdoor Channel, GunBroker.com, Brownell's, Gamo Outdoor USA, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Mossy Oak, Trijicon, Smith & Wesson and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, among others. Ram Truck Brand was the official truck of the SHOT Show. Nissan was sponsor of the show's press room. The SHOT Show, the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas, pumps nearly $90 million in non-gaming revenue into the Las Vegas economy. Next year's SHOT Show is scheduled for Jan. 19-22 at the Sands Expo.   -30-     About NSSFThe National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 10,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsman's organizations and publications. For more information, visit nssf.org

To: ALL MEDIA For immediate release   February 5, 2015   U.S. Sens. Murkowski, Heinrich Introduce New Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015 NEWTOWN, Conn. - The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, today is pleased to note that U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have introduced the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015.   The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015 is a package of pro-sportsmen's legislation designed to safeguard and promote America's hunting and fishing traditions and to enhance the role of hunters, anglers and shooters as America's preeminent supporters of wildlife conservation. In keeping with a longstanding tradition of bipartisanship on sportsmen's issues, the legislation enjoys strong support from both sides of the political aisle with Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) Co-Chairs U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and CSC Vice-Chairs U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) serving as original co-sponsors.   "Being from Alaska, I'm lucky. Our hunting and fishing is top-notch. We learn to love the 'great outdoors' very early on in the Last Frontier. We know how to enjoy it today, and we're committed to making sure that future generations have the same great opportunities," said Sen. Murkowski. "The bipartisan legislation we introduced today will help ensure that our grandchildren have the same opportunities to hunt and fish as we did growing up."   Sen. Heinrich added, "The number one issue for sportsmen and women across the country is access. This widely supported, bipartisan bill will open more areas to hunting and fishing and grow America's thriving outdoor recreation economy. Hunters and anglers alone spend more than $465 million per year in New Mexico, and outdoor recreation as a whole is directly responsible for 68,000 jobs in our state. As an avid hunter myself, I remain deeply committed to preserving our outdoor heritage and treasured public lands for future generations to enjoy."   "The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015 is made up of several bills that will help ensure our outdoor traditions are preserved, protected and promoted, said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. This legislation addresses some of the top concerns of American hunters and recreational shooters. Its passage would be a significant accomplishment for the sportsmen's community and for America. We are grateful to Senators Murkowski and Heinrich for their bipartisan leadership on this important legislation and are looking forward to passage early in the 114th Congress."   Priorities addressed in the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act include: protecting the traditional use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle by American hunters and anglers, the removal of impediments to the use of Pittman-Robertson funds for shooting ranges and a significant number of provisions to enhance and expand hunting, shooting and fishing access on lands administered by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture.   About NSSF The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 11,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, visit nssf.org.

A friend sent me this story on email it's been around for a while but I still laugh every time I read it. I've been told it's an Urban Legend. If you know the author please share his name, I'd like to give him credit for this fantastic story. And remember don't try this at home, I don't think it's legal anyway. I had this idea that I could rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it. The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I figured that, since they congregate at my cattle feeder and do not seem to have much fear of me when we are there (a bold one will sometimes come right up and sniff at the bags of feed while I am in the back of the truck not 4 feet away), it should not be difficult to rope one, get up to it and toss a bag over its head (to calm it down) then hog tie it and transport it home. I filled the cattle feeder then hid down at the end with my rope. The cattle, having seen the roping thing before, stayed well back. They were not having any of it. After about 20 minutes, my deer showed up-- 3 of them. I picked out a likely looking one, stepped out from the end of the feeder, and threw my rope. The deer just stood there and stared at me. I wrapped the rope around my waist and twisted the end so I would have a good hold.The deer still just stood and stared at me, but you could tell it was mildly concerned about the whole rope situation. I took a step towards it. It took a step away. I put a little tension on the rope - and then received an education. The first thing that I learned is that, while a deer may just stand there looking at you funny while you rope it, they are spurred to action when you start pulling on that rope. That deer EXPLODED. The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is a LOT stronger than a cow or a colt. A cow or a colt in that weight range I could fight down with a rope and with some dignity. A deer - No Chance! That thing ran and bucked and twisted and pulled. There was no controlling it and certainly no getting close to it. As it jerked me off my feet and started dragging me across the ground, it occurred to me that having a deer on a rope was not nearly as good an idea as I had originally imagined. The only upside is that they do not have as much stamina as many other animals.A brief 10 minutes later, it was tired and not nearly as quick to jerk me off my feet and drag me when I managed to get up. It took me a few minutes to realize this since the blood flowing out of the big gash in my head had mostly blinded me. At that point, I had lost my taste for corn-fed venison. I just wanted to get that devil creature off the end of that rope. I figured if I just let it go with the rope hanging around its neck, it would likely die slow and painfully somewhere. At the time, there was no love at all between that deer and me. At that moment, I hated the thing, and I would venture a guess that the feeling was mutual. Despite the gash in my head and the several large knots where I had cleverly arrested the deer's momentum by bracing my head against various large rocks as it dragged me across the ground, I could still think clearly enough to recognize that there was a small chance that I shared some tiny amount of responsibility for the situation we were in. I didn't want the deer to have to suffer a slow death, so I managed to get it lined back up in between my truck and the feeder a little trap I had set before hand...kind of like a squeeze chute. I got it to back in there and I started moving up so I could get my rope back. Did you know that deer bite? They do! I never in a million years would have thought that a deer would bite somebody, so I was very surprised when I reached up there to grab that rope and the deer grabbed hold of my wrist. Now, when a deer bites you, it is not like being bit by a horse where they just bite you and slide off to then let go.A deer bites you and shakes its head--almost like a pit bull. They bite HARD and it hurts.The proper thing to do when a deer bites you is probably to freeze and draw back slowly. I tried screaming and shaking instead. My method was ineffective. It seems like the deer was biting and shaking for several minutes, but it was likely only several seconds. I, being smarter than a deer (though you may be questioning that claim by now), tricked it. While I kept it busy tearing the tendons out of my right arm, I reached up with my left hand and pulled that rope loose. That was when I got my final lesson in deer behavior for the day. Deer will strike at you with their front feet. They rear right up on their back feet and strike right about head and shoulder level, and their hooves are surprisingly sharp... I learned a long time ago that, when an animal -like a horse --strikes at you with their hooves and you can't get away easily, the best thing to do is try to make a loud noise and make an aggressive move towards the animal. This will usually cause them to back down a bit so you can escape. This was not a horse. This was a deer. So obviously, such trickery would not work. In the course of a millisecond, I devised a different strategy. I screamed like a woman and tried to turn and run. The reason I had always been told NOT to try to turn and run from a horse that paws at you is that there is a good chance that it will hit you in the back of the head. Deer may not be so different from horses after all, besides being twice as strong and 3 times as evil, because the second I turned to run, it hit me right in the back of the head and knocked me down.Now, when a deer paws at you and knocks you down, it does not immediately leave I suspect it does not recognize that the danger has passed. What they do instead is paw your back and jump up and down on you while you are lying there crying like a little girl and covering your head. I finally managed to crawl under the truck and the deer went away. So now I know why when people go deer hunting they bring a rifle with a scope. Sort of even the odds!! All these events are true so help me God.... An Anonymous Educated Farmer

A must have for the lady hunter – PRÓIS® Ultra Short Sleeve by Mia Anstine Turkey hunting starts in just three days here in Colorado! That means we will have our chilly mornings to contend with and warm mid-day and afternoon. Last week it was up below 30 in the morning and high 70's in the afternoon. That means layers are required. One of the tools that is a favorite [...] Read more of this post

ZEISS Wins Field & Stream’s “Best of the Best” Award with the new TERRA XB75 Crossbow Scope         NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA., (September 21, 2015) - Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world's leading manufacturer of high performance sports optics, is pleased to announce they have been awarded Field & Stream’s “Best Of The Best” Award for the new TERRA XB75 Crossbow Scope.   “This is truly incredible,” stated Mike Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics USA.  “Earning an optics award in the first year of the launch in the crossbow category is a major accomplishment.  Winning them consistently is further proof that ZEISS is the undisputed world leader in sports optics.  The Field & Stream optics test is one of the most respected in the industry and we are very honored and humbled by this tremendous achievement.” The winning products of the Field & Stream test are ultimately selected based on significance of the innovation, the quality of the design, and the value they bring to outdoorsmen.  Selection criteria vary, depending upon the category, but all of the winning products share one characteristic:  excellence in their field. Field & Stream’s optics tests were conducted by writer and optics guru, Tom McIntyre, author of “The Snow Leopard’s Tale” and 40 years of safari stories, "Augusts in Africa," to be published next year by Skyhorse Publishing.  “The TERRA XB75 combines the innovation and the reliability in the field that has come to be expected from Zeiss,” said McIntyre.” “Our staff spent the better part of the past year finding and testing the gear that will make readers’ time in the woods more productive and more fun,” says Slaton White, Deputy Editor of Field & Stream.  “The winning products not only withstood our tough testing, but they stood head and shoulders above the rest displaying absolute excellence in their field.  The “Best Of The Best” is the highest honor Field & Steam bestows on gear, and the winning products are the best of the year; worth your time, worth your money.” About the TERRA XB75 Crossbow Scope: The new XB75 2-7x32 offers crossbow enthusiasts the ability to determine aiming points from 20 - 75 yards in 2 ½ yard increments based on the chronographed speed of the bow.  The XB75 features all the benefits of German engineering and performance that you've come to expect from ZEISS, including uncompromising optical performance, all in a lightweight, extremely rugged, compact 1" design.  Lens features includes MC anti-reflective coatings to produce bright, high contrast images eliminating the need for an illuminated reticle.  Now you can hunt harder and longer by being able to stay on stand when the last bit of light is being squeezed out of the day. TERRA XB75 is built to handle the most rugged terrain and challenging conditions, and is backed by the Carl Zeiss U.S. Limited Lifetime Transferable Warranty.

What A Trooper by Mia Anstine One of my favorite things is how excited a hunting client gets when he puts meat in the freezer. Here is a story from a few years ago that is one of my favorites! We took my friend's 83 year old grandfather hunting for his private land cow elk. Each year we think that it may be [...] Read more of this post

News Release   October 5, 2015 Contact: aseidman@safariclub.org For Immediate Release   Hunters Win in Florida -- Judge Denies Motion to Stop Black Bear Hunt   Safari Club International was pleased to be the only hunting group to assist the State of Florida in protecting the state’s black bear season against a challenge from anti-hunters. On Thursday, October 1, 2015, after a five hour hearing, a Florida state court denied a request filed by Florida group, Speak Up Wekiva, to shut down Florida's first black bear hunt in decades. As a result of the ruling, the hunt is set to commence as planned on October 24th. Deserving most of the credit for the victory are Florida's state attorneys and biologists, who aggressively defended the hunt in court.   SCI assisted in defending the hunt by submitting a powerful amicus brief that explained to the court how stopping the hunt would harm SCI members and the general Florida hunting community. SCI’s brief also provided concrete data from SCI’s past involvement with black bear litigation in New Jersey. The data refuted the Plaintiffs' claims that the hunt would harm Florida's black bear population. An SCI attorney appeared at the hearing to offer assistance as needed. SCI’s local counsel in Florida, attorney Ethan Way – a member of SCI's Tallahassee Chapter – assisted SCI’s in-house litigation attorneys in filing our brief and appearing in court.   SCI is proud to be a part of this latest victory. SCI has a long history of conserving Florida black bears through sustainable use. Almost ten years ago, SCI helped the federal government defend a lawsuit seeking to force a listing of the Florida black bear under the Endangered Species Act, which would have prevented Florida’s current hunt. If anti-hunting groups decide to continue to try to stop the hunt, SCI will continue to help Florida defend against any challenge.                                                                                               * * * *   Safari Club International - First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI's approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI's proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.SafariClub.org, or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

Badlands www.badlandspacks.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS WITH THE BADLANDS CAMERA DAY PACK   West Jordan, UT – After introducing the world to the first ever truly functional hunt-specific camera pack in 2013, Badlands has designed and released a second pack in the Camera Series. Designed for today’s hunter that is focused on capturing those “once-in-a-lifetime” moments, the all-new Badlands Camera Day Pack is multi-functional and fills the need for a smaller camera pack.   Adding actual useable features was paramount during the design and test phases of the Camera Day Pack. Features include: · Two customizable/movable division inserts included for interior of pack · Removable camera shelf · Quick access magnetic bucket lid opening · Built-in rain fly for ultimate weather protection · Included rifle/tripod/tree-arm boot · Unique front opening for quick access to camera gear · Multiple exterior compression straps for hauling camera equipment and/or bow or rifle “This pack endured more testing than we can remember in recent history” said Badlands Lead Designer Chris Lambert. “We know that so many people are filming nowadays and they want a functional pack that will first and foremost protect their investment and second give them quick access when they need it most. We were able to design a 1250 cubic inch, 3 pound pack that is highly functional both for filming and hunting. Hunters and videographers asked for a “daypack” size camera pack and we were more than happy to oblige.” The Badlands Camera Day Pack is available in Realtree Xtra® pattern and retails for $199.95 Now in its 20th year, Badlands continues to focus on exceptional quality, continuing innovation, unmatched performance and as always the only unconditional lifetime warranty in the industry.