Top Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Ticks These Days By Thomas Mather Back in the day, we had ticks. Big, yucky American dog ticks. They usually crawled to the top of your head, you felt a lump, pulled the tick out, flushed them (or found some other form of revenge), and that was that. Usually no one got sick. Ticks were mostly just an annoyance, and that’s what people knew about ticks. American dog ticks are still around but these days, there’s another tick, a tiny blacklegged tick, smaller than a freckle. It's also known as the deer tick, and it crawls up under clothes, latches on without much fanfare, and these ticks are LOADED with disease-causing pathogens. Once attached to people or pets, deer ticks are just hard to find! Their numbers are on the rise and they occur in more & more places – even your backyard! Read our “Top 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Ticks These Days” and stay disease-free.   10. Ticks crawl up Ticks don't jump, fly, or drop from trees onto your head and back. If you find one attached there, it most likely latched onto your foot or leg and crawled up over your entire body. Ticks are "programmed" to try and attach around your head or ears. On their normal hosts, ticks also usually crawl up; they want to blood feed around the head, neck, and ears of their host, where the skin is thinner and hosts have more trouble grooming.   9. All ticks (including deer ticks) come in small, medium and large sizes Ticks hatch from eggs and develop through three active (and blood-feeding) stages: larvae (small-the size of sand grains); nymphs (medium-the size of poppy seeds); adults (large-the size of apple seeds). If you see them bigger, they're probably partially-full or full of blood.   8. Ticks can be active even in the winter That's right! Adult stage deer ticks become active every year after the first frost. They're not killed by freezing temperatures, and while other ticks enter a feeding diapause as day-lengths get shorter, deer ticks will be active any winter day that the ground is not snow-covered or frozen. This surprises people, especially during a January thaw or early spring day. Remember this fact and hopefully you'll never be caught off-guard.   7. Ticks carry disease-causing microbes Tick-transmitted infections are more common these days than in past decades. With explosive increases in deer populations, extending even into semi-urban areas in the eastern and western U.S., the trend is for increasing abundance and geographic spread of deer ticks and Lone Star ticks; and scientists are finding an ever-increasing list of disease-causing microbes transmitted by these ticks: Lyme disease bacteria, Babesia protozoa, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and other rickettsia, even encephalitis-causing viruses, and possibly Bartonella bacteria. Back in the day, tick bites were more of an annoyance but now a bite is much more likely to make you sick.   6. Only deer ticks transmit Lyme disease bacteria The only way to get Lyme disease is by being bitten by a deer tick or one of its "cousins" found around the world. Deer ticks also are known as blacklegged ticks in the U.S., sheep ticks in Europe, or Taiga ticks in Asia. Dog ticks, Lone star ticks and other types of ticks just don't seem to be able to transmit Lyme disease. While that's good news, it makes saving any tick that you find biting more important so you can identify it. Doing so may save a lot of unnecessary doctor visits and treatments.   5. For most tick-borne diseases, you have at least 24 hours to find and remove a feeding tick before it transmits an infection Even a quick daily tick check at bath or shower time can be helpful in finding and removing attached ticks before they can transmit an infection. You'll probably want to check even more carefully if you know you've likely been exposed. Many of the disease-causing microbes transmitted by ticks need a "re-activation" period in the tick once it begins to feed. The germs eventually make their way into the tick's salivary glands and the tick spits them into you while feeding. Some infections, especially viruses, move into the tick salivary glands faster than others. Lyme disease bacteria take at least 24 hours to invade the tick's saliva.   4. Deer tick nymphs look like a poppy seed on your skin And with about 1 out of 4 nymphal deer ticks carrying the Lyme disease spirochete and other nasty germs in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and upper mid-western U.S., it's important to know what you're really looking for. They're easy to miss, their bites are generally painless, and they have a habit of climbing up (under clothing) and biting in hard-to-see places.   3. The easiest and safest way to remove a tick is with a pointy tweezer Think of a tick as a little germ-filled balloon. Squeeze it too hard on its back end, and all the germs get pushed to the front end, which by the way, is attached to you by the tick's straw-like mouthpart. Using really pointy tweezers, it's possible to grab even the poppy-seed sized nymphs right down next to the skin. The next step is to simply pull the tick out like a splinter. Don't worry if the mouthpart stays in your skin as long as you've got the rest of the tick by its head. Other tick removal methods, like a hot match, Vaseline, dish soap and cotton, or various little key-like devices don't work as consistently as pointy tweezers on all types of ticks. Remember to save the tick and try to identify it (see # 6).   2. Clothing with built-in tick repellent is best for preventing tick bites An easy way to avoid tick bites and disease is to wear clothing (shoes, socks, shorts or pants, and shirt) with permethrin tick repellent built-in. This strategy can be especially effective for protecting children. Dressing kids in tick repellent clothes everyday is a safe and easy way to keep ticks from biting and transmitting disease. Commercially-treated tick repellent clothes last through at least 70 washes, while using kits or sprays to treat your current outdoor wardrobe can last through 6 washes. Tick repellent on clothing, not skin is something everyone needs to know about to stay safe outdoors.   1. Tick bites and tick-borne diseases are completely preventable There's really only one way you get a tick-transmitted disease and that's from a tick bite. Reducing tick abundance in your yard where you spend a lot of time, wearing tick repellent clothing everyday, treating pets every month with tick repellent spot-on products, getting into a habit of doing a quick body scan for attached poppy-seed sized or larger ticks, and pulling ticks off quickly and safely are all great actions for preventing tick bites. These days, ticks are more than just an annoyance. One bite can make you sick, even change your life! Remember these 10 things and you'll stay safer.

                                          2013 Year in Review   2013 was an eventful year for myself, SeeMeHunt.com and the World Wild Adventure Team. SeeMeHunt.com has hit some new Milestones with our membership enrollment as well as activity to our ever growing social network for hunters. In July, the World Wild Adventure team took our act on the road. We attended the iCast fishing show in Las Vegas. We were able to partner up with Garmin and Native Outfitters for product sponsorship. While we were in Vegas, we paid a visit to our friends at Flightlinez to Zipline our way through Bootleg Canyon. It was an amazing way to combine a work trip with another adrenaline surging adventure. It was a fun bonding experience for the whole Adventure team   This past October, I took my first Bear ever. It was even sweeter that I was able to take it with my Bow. I do have to say that it was a beautiful shot on a moving animal. In November I attended the Hunt for Hope. The Hunt for Hope grants terminally ill children the opportunity to go on an amazing hunting weekend at the Lone Star Ranch. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to participate. We were able to teach these incredible children how to shoot and hunt. It was a successful weekend for everyone. All of the children filled their tags and all of us had the time of our lives. We did get to hunt some wild hogs while we were there. I took a wild hog with my bow, then everyone had the opportunity to hunt them with the dogs. Once the dogs had the hogs at bey, we had to finish them off with a very large knife. Hunting with a knife was another first for me. The hunt was fast, furious and  a truly exhilarating experience.  Another first was filled with heart pumping excitement, I was able to go up in a helicopter and hunt the wild hogs from the air. Words can not describe the thrill watching a pack of wild hogs on the move while you try to zero in on them from above.    I did not fill my deer tag this season. It was not for lack of opportunity. I just did not see what I wanted. Over all, I would have to say that this was one of my favorite hunting seasons. I hunted quite a bit this season and there was a lot of first time experiences that filled my bucket list. I can only hope that 2014 exceeds my expectations like this year has. 

Understanding Buck Rubs Hunters have long used the size, location and number of buck rubs to select hunting locations and to help understand how bucks move throughout their property. by Brian Murphy The Study The study was spearheaded by wildlife consultant Bryan Kinkel on a 488-acre property in west-central Tennessee. The property is best described as a Ridge and Valley system featuring long, narrow, hardwood ridges separated by steep, narrow valleys containing food plots and old fields. The study took place over a 10-year period from the winter of 1995 to the winter of 2004. The first step of the project involved classifying the habitat into one of several categories. The defining lines between categories were classified as habitat edges. To produce rub sampling areas, long transit lines were randomly placed across the landscape. Rub data were collected by walking each transit line and recording the number of rubs within 10 meters of the transit line. Each rub was classified by the habitat type in which it was located and the distance of the rub to the nearest habitat edge was recorded. All sampling was conducted in late winter after the majority of rubbing had concluded. It's All About Edge The results of the study revealed strong relationships between habitat edges and rub densities. Kinkel's research revealed that the highest rub densities (27.9 rubs per acre) occurred within a narrow strip within 5 meters of habitat edges. Rub densities declined with distance from habitat edges, with the strips 5 to 10 meters from habitat edges averaging 17.0 rubs per acre and the strips 10 to 20 meters from habitat edges averaging 7.7 rubs per acre. The "edge effect" appeared to end approximately 20 meters from habitat edges, as rub densities averaged 1.8 rubs per acre beyond this distance. In addition to habitat edges, other linear features such as roads and creeks were analyzed (see Figure 1). Both roads and creeks displayed some "edge effect," but not nearly as strong as habitat edges, with the exception of old, abandoned log-skidder trails. Rub densities averaged 12.4 rubs per acre within 5 meters of these trails and 5.5 rubs per acre within 5 to 10 meters of these trails. The data also suggested that the less a road is used and maintained by people, the more often it is incorporated into a buck's travel patterns. However, no matter the habitat type, rub densities were much higher within 20 meters of the outer edge of each habitat type or near linear features such as skidder trails. In fact, some habitat types displayed nearly 15-fold increases in rub densities in the 20-meter zone bordering the outer edge of the habitat or paralleling other linear features (see Figure 2). This suggests bucks are using these habitat edges as travel corridors or concentrated activity areas. Topography and Deer Rubs   The influence of topography on buck rubbing also was examined. Kinkel and his research team classified the study area into one of five categories: Hillsides, Ridges, Valleys, Primary Points and Secondary Points. The tops of ridgelines and level upland plateau regions were classified as Ridges. Narrow valleys or level bottomland areas were classified as Valleys. The slopes off ridgelines or plateaus to where valleys or bottomlands began were classified as Hillsides. However, two types of slopes received unique classifications. Topographic points that were terminal ends of ridgelines were classified as Primary Points, and small topographic points that descended from the side of a ridgelines or upland plateau areas were classified as Secondary Points (refer to the map on this page). When the researchers analyzed the relationship between rub densities and topography they found that two terrain features—Valleys and Secondary Points—displayed significantly higher rub densities. Both had rub densities 250 to 300 percent higher than the other three topographic features. While unsure exactly why these features were used so heavily, they discovered a strong correlation between good cover and rub densities associated with valleys. Where valleys contained good cover, rub densities were high. However where valley cover was lacking, such as in open hardwood forests, rub densities were low. In fact, cover habitat located in valleys and bottomlands displayed considerably higher rub densities than the same habitat located on other topographic features. They speculated that the reason Secondary Points were used more for buck rubbing activity likely was due to bucks using these slowly descending points as "ramps" for easy access between valleys and uplands. When the effects of 20-meter "edge zones" were analyzed for topography, all topographic features displayed large increases in rub densities. The already higher rub densities for Secondary Points and Valleys were increased dramatically when edge zones were present (refer to Figure 3). Hunting Implications As bowhunters, you realize that hunting the edges of large food sources such as food plots or stands of oak trees can be frustrating because deer can enter or exit these areas at numerous points out of bow range. However, using the results of this study to fine-tune your hunting setups can greatly increase your odds of hanging a tag on a mature buck this fall. According to Kinkel, "One of the best hunting locations is a valley or bottomland food source with habitat edges running from adjacent uplands down descending secondary points and intersecting with the food source. Hunting habitat edges that run from thick cover in valleys/bottomlands up the spine of secondary points to a ridge-top/upland food plot also can be very productive. And, don't overlook those seldom-used, unmaintained roads." In addition to helping locate the best hunting locations on a property, the results of this study also can be used to better distribute hunting pressure. A common mistake by hunters is over-hunting a handful of areas while avoiding others altogether. Savvy hunters realize that mature bucks are extremely sensitive to hunting pressure and will quickly learn to avoid those locations during daylight hours. Identifying numerous hot spots scattered throughout the property can greatly increase hunting success. Thankfully, armed with the latest "Whitetail Science," researchers and hunters alike continue to learn more about North America's most-hunted and most-important game animal—the white-tailed deer.

                                                  MIDLAND GOES WORLD WILD.....   Hunt Texas – June 13, 2013 – Judge Julie Mogenis, Host of World Wild Adventures TV and Midland Radios have “partnered up” and anticipate some incredible results from this innovative collaboration. WWAO is one of the fastest growing adventure shows on the Pursuit channel ( www.WorldWildAdventurestv.com  ) . Their new emphasis on in your face reality presentation will be complimented by any or all the products of  Midland Radio  (www.Midlandradio.com ), manufacturer of  Wearable Action Cameras, GMRS Two-Way Radios, CB Radios, Marine Radios, Bluetooth systems, and All Hazards/Weather Alert Radios have announced a partnership for the 2013 season.   World Wild Adventures TV will chronicle their adventuresfrom around the world with the XTC350VP4 HD Wearable Video Camera. This weather resistant compact camera is fully equipped with a 127 degree wide angle lens to assure that you will never miss any part of our adventures. It comes with a submersible case so we can get up close and personal with the monster Marlin that we will reel in off the coast of Costa Rica. Through the use of other included accessories, WWA will show you “a direct line of site”….”down the barrel “ view when we secure the XTC350VP4 to a Ruger 375 while taking down buffalo in Australia.  Some of the Field Producers and crew have started to video log ranch chores and other hut blind activities using the versatile mini cams as a tool to monitor and predict game traffic.     About Midland: Midland Radio Corporation is an international industry leader in wireless communications with affiliates in Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as representation in Latin America.  Midland develops high quality consumer products such as Wearable Action Cameras, GMRS Two-Way Radios, Citizen Band (CB) Radios, Marine Radios, Bluetooth intercom systems, and All Hazards/Weather Alert Radios. Known in the 70’s primarily for CB radios and household electronics, Midland has grown with the times by producing innovative new communications products and by actively promoting public emergency preparedness.   Midland has manufactured quality Two-Way Radios for over 50 years and is a market leader in several additional product categories. Midland is also a leading manufacturer of Land Mobile Radios and supplies professional grade analog and digital (P25 Technology) Portables, Mobiles and Base Stations/Repeaters for government entities such as forestry and public safety, as well as other commercial users.   About World Wild Adventures TV:   Although the “Head Shed” is in Magnolia Tx, the Judge & most of the crew claim the Hill Country of Texas as their HQ for the show and related adventure booking business. The WWA TV show is a product of some aggressive rebranding and was formerly broadcast internationally as Huntin with the Judge which successfully aired over a 6 year period, and boasted over 180 unique episodes. The pace was fast and the trophies big. WWA has carried on this show tradition and the appeal of the HWTJ series but adds even bigger and better trophies, the reality flavor of the locale, close ups of the indigenous peoples, as well as “behind the scenes” action and conservation features  relevant to that area.  Judge Julie Mogenis and the core of her staff have guided and filmed outdoor adventures for over 25 years. From Monster whitetail bucks in the arid South Texas range to some real nail biting Big 5 hunts in the Kalahari. To fishing the Pacific beaches and waters of Costa Rica --landing marlin, mahi and sails….each have been featured in show episodes. PLUS The WWA team has recently been bolstered by the addition several Hollywood types to the crew. All have a passion for the outdoors and an interest in sustainable utilization. Actor R Lee Ermey, best known as the Gunny has hunted with his buddy, the Judge for several years traveling the globe with both shows to the Southern Alps of NZ for stag and chamois to tracking down lions and Cape on his Africa quest.   So Follow Judge Julie and her adventure team armed with their Midland gear as they travel around the globe as they seek out their next World Wild Adventure. 

Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy A force as big as all outdoors  A dollar here. A hundred dollars there. It adds up to more than you might think. America’s 34 million hunters and anglers are an economic powerhouse, driving the economy. They’re passionate about their pastimes. And they spend passionately too. Multiply individual spending by those many millions of people, and you’re talking a major force in our economy, through booms as well as recessions. They directly support 1.6 million jobs. They spend more than a billion dollars just on licenses, stamps, tags and permits. And they generate $25 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes. By any measure, hunters and anglers are among the most prominent and influential of all demographic groups.  Without hunters and anglers, our economy would be a lot smaller. $76 billion smaller, in fact. That’s how much they spend each year on their passion for the outdoors. If a single corporation grossed as much as hunters and anglers spend, it would be among America’s 20 largest, ahead of Target, Costco and AT&T. But hunters' and anglers’ influence goes even further. They create an economic “ripple effect” of $192 billion a year. They keep people working: not just in typical hunting and fishing jobs, but also in gas stations, retail, restaurants and hotels throughout every state and congressional district of the USA. There are other numbers, too. For instance, Americans spend more time hunting and fishing each year than days spent running the Federal government (737 million days vs. 486 million). Together, hunters and anglers are a significant voting bloc. In fact, their voting potential was 31% of all votes cast in the 2004 presidential election. Eighty percent of sportsmen are “likely voters,” far more than the national average. They can change the tide of elections. And, as you might guess, they tend to favor pro-sporting candidates.  Add up the populations of America’s two largest cities, New York and Los Angeles. Roughly, that’s 12 million people—a pretty enormous number. But it’s still less than the number of people who hunt. More people hunt than play tennis. More people hunt than ski. And they spend more time doing it, too. The average hunter spends 18 blissful days engaged in his passion each year. With 12.5 million individuals, that’s 220 million days spent in the woods, fields and wetlands each year. Of course, the bigger story isn’t the time they spend. It’s the money. At $1,992 per hunter per year, that’s $24.9 billion pumped into our economy. And where do those billions go? Well, $2.1 billion goes just into food and drinks consumed on hunting trips. That’s enough to feed 360,000 soldiers for a year. Another $56 million goes towards boat fuel alone, plus $30 million for boat trailers, motors and accessories. Bow hunters alone spend $674 million just on their bows and arrows. All this spending adds up to support close to 600,000 jobs—more than the number of people employed by McDonald’s corporation. Quick: Guess what American anglers spend $1.1 billion a year on. No, it’s not their equipment. (That costs $5.3 billion.) Not food ($4.3 billion). Not even lodging ($2 billion). Nope. That $1.1 billion is what anglers spend just on bait. That’s twice what ski enthusiasts spend on all of their pricey gear (a mere $615 million). Obviously, sportfishing is one of America’s favorite outdoor pastimes—outranking football, basketball, baseball and tennis. One in every six Americans 16 and older goes fishing. One quarter of all men do. And, perhaps surprisingly, some eight percent of all women. Besides spending lots of money, anglers spend an average of 17 days a year on the water. That’s in stark contrast to the 13 days the average American spends on vacation. And during those 17 days, they’re supporting not just bait stands and boat makers, but gas stations, local motels, grocery and convenience stores, and of course, sporting goods retailers.  Hunters and anglers have historically been — and continue to be — the largest contributors to government wildlife conservation programs. Through excise taxes and license revenues, they have contributed more than $10 billion dollars to conservation, and annually provide more than 80% of the funding for most state fish and wildlife agencies. American sportsmen know that their passion for the outdoors must be matched with active participation in the political process. Lawmakers and regulators make decisions every day that affect sportsmen. Hunters and anglers pay attention, and take those decisions into account when they vote. And there are even more hunters and anglers than the licensed sportsmen cited in this report. Including those who don’t require licenses, there are an estimated 18.6 million hunters (1.6 million under 16). And an estimated 44.4 million people (8.4 million under 16) who fish. It is estimated that there are 40 million sportsmen of voting age in the United States – nearly a third of the entire vote. Nearly 8 in 10 hunters always vote in presidential elections, while 6 in 10 always vote in non-presidential elections. A huge majority of all sportsmen consider themselves “likely voters.” Approximately 20% of the entire population of major swing states – Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida – hold either a hunting or fishing license, or both. 8 in 10 sportsmen state that a candidate’s position on sportsmen’s issues is important in determining whom they will vote for. Polls show that the American public has an overwhelmingly positive attitude toward hunting and fishing. Americans understand that hunting and fishing serve multiple needs – sustenance, recreation and conservation. The fact is, hunting and fishing have been part of the American culture since before our nation began. So it’s no wonder that these timeless pursuits are perceived more favorably. You've seen the national economic impact of hunting and fishing. Now, here's  how the states stack up. Every single state makes a contribution through revenue, taxes and jobs, but these are the states where hunting and fishing truly drive the economy.   This report was produced by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. CSF is the most respected and trusted hunting and fishing organization in the political arena. With support from every major hunting and fishing organization, CSF is the leader in promoting sportsmen’s issues with elected officials. CSF works directly with the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in the U.S. Congress, as well as affiliated state sportsmen’s caucuses in state legislatures around the country. www.sportsmenslink.org                                                               ~In Partnership with~ The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industry, whose purpose is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and to deliver programs and services to meet the identified needs of their members. NSSF concentrates efforts on measurably advancing participation in and understanding of hunting and the shooting sports; reaffirming and strengthening their members' commitment to the safe and responsible use of their products, and promoting a political climate supportive of America's traditional firearms rights. www.nssf.org For over 30 years, SCI’s mission has been to protect and expand the freedom to hunt, instituting sustainable use conservation worldwide while protecting hunting heritage. To that end, SCI is involved at all levels of government – from state and local to national and international. SCI chapters in the U.S., with the assistance of the Government Affairs Department, get involved with state legislative and regulatory issues, with federal plans that affect management, conservation and hunting access on public lands, as well as national legislative issues. www.scifirstforhunters.org National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA's nearly 1,700 member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in North America. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications, and provides leadership necessary to unite the industry in pursuit of its primary goal: To make boating the #1 choice in recreation. Visit NMMA.org for more information.   The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers represents the common interests of its members and provides a forum to enable them to advance public policies that meet consumer and societal needs for clean, safe, efficient, and affordable personal transportation. www.autoalliance.org  CSF also gratefully acknowledges the following for their contributions: American Sportfishing Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, InterMedia Outdoors, Fountain and Associates, Patrick O’Malley, Southwick and Associates        

ZEISS Extends Offer for Free Custom Ballistic Turret With Purchase of Select CONQUEST HD5 Riflescopes     NORTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. (October 1, 2013) – Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world's leading manufacturer of high performance sports optics is extending its ZEISS/Kenton Industries Custom Turret Promotion: Purchase a new CONQUEST HD5 Riflescope, “The Worlds Most Advanced SuperZoom” and receive your choice of either a LR Hunter or Speed Dial Custom Kenton Turret, calibrated for your specific load.     Eligible models for this offer include the CONQUEST HD5 3-15x42 #20 reticle with Lockable Target Turret, and the CONQUEST HD5 5-25x50 #20 reticle with Lockable Target Turret. The retail value of this free custom elevation turret is $125.00.    "As shooting equipment technology becomes more advanced, ZEISS is offering superior solutions to increase accuracy at longer ranges," said Mike Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss Sports OpticsUSA. “With our custom turret system, you just need to set the dial to the number 4 for 400 yards and you’re done. No complicated math, and no color codes to compensate for the bullet drop.”   The numbered markings on the custom turret by Kenton Industries are easy to read and intuitive. According to Jensen, this system is simply the best solution for all mid- to long-range shooters.  The new CONQUEST HD5 Riflescopes with 5x SuperZoom provide maximum brightness, image quality and field of view at an incredible value compared to other premium riflescopes.  Now ZEISS adds the convenience of a standard “no-hold-over“ PLEX reticle with the Kenton custom target turret for an extremely accurate and robust long-range shooting setup.   To receive a free ZEISS/Kenton Custom Ballistic Turret, the qualifying CONQUEST HD5 Riflescopes must be purchased from an authorized ZEISS dealer before December 31, 2013. Complete offer details and order forms can be found at www.kentonindustries.com or at www.zeiss.com/sports.   To be eligible for the promotional offer, customers must return the completed order form with proof of purchase.  Once approved, the custom turret will be shipped within 2-3 weeks. The order form requires typical ballistic information such as cartridge, ammunition type (factory made or handloaded), bullet weight, zero-in-range, etc. This offer is valid forU.S.customers only.   For more information on ZEISS products visit www.zeiss.com/sports or join the company’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/CarlZeissHuntingUS.   About Kenton Industries   Since 2002, Kenton Industries has been dedicated to providing the very best bullet drop compensators, riflescopes and accessories to marksmen and hunters all around the world.  All of Kenton’s patented knobs are made by dedicated craftsman in Moorpark, California, U.S.A. Kenton Industries has partnered with ZEISS and other riflescope manufacturers to ensure that all custom manufactured knobs meet their exacting specifications of quality and performance for a complete “drop-in” solution.  Kenton Industries custom knobs are field proven worldwide, under all conditions, from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains, and from the African Savannah to the deserts of theMiddle East.   About Carl Zeiss Sports Optics   Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is a leading, international provider of premium sports optics and part of the Consumer Optics Group of Carl Zeiss. Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, LLC is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of its state-of-the-art binoculars, spotting scopes, riflescopes and laser rangefinders throughout theUnited States andCanada. Carl Zeiss Sports Optics’ North American headquarters is located inNorth Chesterfield,Va.   About Carl Zeiss Group   The Carl Zeiss Group is an international leader in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In fiscal year 2011-2012 the company's approximately 24,000 employees generated revenue of nearly 4.2 billion euros. In the markets for Industrial Solutions, Research Solutions, Medical Technology and Consumer Optics, Carl Zeiss has contributed to technological progress for more than 160 years and enhances the quality of life of many people around the globe.   The Carl Zeiss Group develops and produces planetariums, eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses and binoculars as well as solutions for biomedical research, medical technology and the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries. Carl Zeiss is present in more than 40 countries around the globe with about 40 production facilities, over 50 sales and service locations and service locations and approximately 20 research and development sites. Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany.   Contact for media and press relations:   Joel Harris Carl Zeiss Sports Optics Phone: (804) 425-8466 Email: joel.harris@zeiss.com www.zeiss.com/press www.zeiss.com/sports www.facebook.com/CarlZeissHuntingUS                                                                          

by AWR HAWKINS19 Feb 29, 2015  With the NRA, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and even Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) supporting Senator John Cornyn’s (R-TX) push for national reciprocity of concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits, gun control groups are taking the only avenue they have left: lobbying Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA) and John McCain (R-AZ) to break from the Republican Party and vote against national reciprocity.   Toomey and McCain are viewed as votes that could be flipped because both voted for more gun control via the expanded background check push in 2013.   According to The Hill, Cornyn’s national reciprocity bill fell only three votes short in 2013, when Democrats controlled the Senate. Now, with Republicans in control and seven Democrats who previously voted for the bill still holding office, the opportunity to pass the measure with “a 60-vote majority” is realistic.   The only Republican whose support for the measure is currently in question is Senator Mark Kirk (R-Illinois). Kirk abandoned gun owners and gun rights by crossing the aisle to confirm anti-gun Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in December.   Besides lobbying pliable senators like Toomey and McCain, gun control groups are also castigating national reciprocity in the harshest terms. Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence President Dan Gross calls it “evil and dangerous,” and Brian Malte, the group’s policy director, suggests its passage will wreak havoc on states with stronger gun controls.   National reciprocity passed in the House of Representatives when Republicans had a smaller majority than they do now, so its passage there appears secure. It remains to be seen if Toomey and McCain will stand their ground for the Second Amendment.   Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.

A Southern California woman walking her leashed dog has been knocked to the ground by a coyote that snatched her pooch and ran away. California City Authorizes Firm To Shoot Coyotes LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California woman walking her leashed dog has been knocked to the ground by a coyote that snatched her pooch and ran away. Karen Sherif was on her usual Tuesday morning walk in Laguna Woods when she suddenly felt a tug on the leash and was knocked down. Her 12-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Pooh was in the mouth of a coyote. The coyote took off, dragging the 64-year-old woman into the road by Pooh's leash. Sherif let go of the leash and neighbors rushed out of their homes to help. The woman's injuries aren't serious. Pooh's body was found about 100 feet away, her neck broken. Laguna Beach police Lt. Jason Kravetz tells the Los Angeles Times that authorities are looking for the coyote involved in Tuesday's attack. California City Authorizes Firm To Shoot Coyotes On the shady paths of this sprawling Southern California retirement community, neighbors have been told to carry sticks. TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) — On the shady paths of this sprawling Southern California retirement community, neighbors have been told to carry sticks. The menace is a group of emboldened coyotes who have attacked leashed pets, killing two dogs in the last week and dragging down pet owners who rushed to their rescue. On Thursday, the city of Laguna Woods voted to take matters into its own hands by authorizing professional exterminators or animal control experts who obtain permits to shoot the wild animals. Officials promptly issued a permit to one such firm, which is required to notify law enforcement within 10 minutes if any shots are fired, said Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Steve Doan. The city — a network of gated retirement communities shrouded in trees — already has tried other tactics to round up the pack of roughly seven animals who, unlike most coyotes, don't scatter at the sight of humans. Officials used pepper spray to disrupt trails and dens. Tranquilizer guns and traps were also utilized. But most of the coyotes have eluded capture. "We just have not been able to catch the other four and the incidents just seem to be escalating,'' City Manager Leslie Keane said. Coyotes are often a problem in the vast suburbs in Southern California where homes are built right up to creeks and foothills where the animals roam. But coyotes are perfectly content to live in urban environments where the food supply outstrips that of the wild _ garbage, tree fruit, pet food and pets offer ample grub, said Kevin Brennan, a wildlife biologist with California's Department of Fish and Game. Laguna Woods is unique because the city made up of retirees has a median age of 77 — which has local officials concerned that such a tussle could take a bigger toll. But confrontations between coyotes and suburbanites aren't new. Jurisdictions including Riverside and the county of San Bernardino also have hired private firms to trap or shoot the animals when preventative measures to keep them out have failed, Brennan said. "What happens is familiarity breeds contempt,'' he said, "The longer coyotes hang around people, they lose their fear and they start becoming more bold.'' "Basically you should never allow a coyote to feel comfortable around your home. You should always scare it off.'' In Laguna Woods, two women were injured in the last week when they were knocked over after coyotes pulled on leashes to maul their small pet dogs. City officials said they don't want to wait until someone gets attacked by a coyote to take action and state authorities only get involved when there an imminent threat to public safety. One of the challenges is many retirees have smaller pets who keep them company. In the absence of their now-grown children, the dogs and cats often become family and are attractive to coyotes. Lorraine Barr, 92, said she took her 7-pound Yorkshire Terrier named Pumpkin on a late-night walk last week and was watching out for coyotes, but was still stunned when one of them went for her dog and ran off with it. "My wrist was yanked so hard that I fell forward on my stomach, and I'm a heavy woman,'' Barr said. One of her neighbors later found the collar, bloody. The dog was not found. Barr called the loss of Pumpkin "exceptionally difficult emotionally.'' "We understood each other. She followed me around my small apartment, and after her naps the first thing she would do was get up and make sure how I was,'' Barr said. "It's the hardest thing I've ever experienced since the first person I loved ended the relationship 65 years ago.'' Another woman, Karen Sharif, suffered a black eye, a swollen cheek and a cut lip when a coyote snatched her dog Pooh in the middle of a midmorning walk. Sharif refused to let go of the leash, and she fell on her face before eventually having to let go. The coyote soon dropped the dead dog, and she got it back. "Dog owners know that when they buy a dog, they're going to face their pet dying in 10 years, 15 years, but they don't expect to see the vision of it in the mouth of a wild animal,'' Sharif said. "That's what's causing me sleepless nights.'' But some in the community don't want to see the animals shot. Organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and some Laguna Woods residents have said the city could review other options before reaching for a gun. That includes Barr, who despite losing her dog to coyotes said she doesn't want them dead. "Everyone I know is aghast, and I'm aghast, at the thought of killing the coyotes,'' she said. "They serve a purpose too. I would hope that they could be captured and re-released.'' Sharif agreed, saying "I am not blaming this coyote. It did a natural thing.'' But Sharif said she learned from city officials that the coyotes can be trapped but there is nowhere to take them. "In the short run you've got to kill them, I'm afraid,'' she said. Officials say the problem likely starts in communities where residents didn't take measures to keep coyotes away before they got aggressive. Local officials have found leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes left outside, leading them to believe residents were feeding the wild animals, Keane said. That would lure coyotes to retirees' homes instead of shooing them away. Mayor Bert Hack said most coyotes run off when they see people. He said he recently spotted one take off down the street with a cat in its mouth. "We have dealt with this — it waxes and it wanes,'' Hack said. "But when people get hurt, you tend to want to do something about it.''

Half the battle of executing the perfect shot is mental. Use imagery to connect on your next shot. by Jack Young Imagine that you’re making the perfect shot—that’s when it will happen. Once you’ve mastered the physical aspects of shooting a bow it’s your mind that dictates shooting efficiency. Shooting well, especially under pressure, is largely about controlling anxiety. Bowhunting is a theater of unpredictability, buck-fever, even target panic feeding on this inherent uncertainty. The more important a “trophy,” the higher the degree of stress. Begin With Breathing Exercises Soothing performance anxiety begins with simple breathing exercises. Start by inhaling slowly, deeply, and evenly through your nose. Hold that breath momentarily before gently exhaling through your mouth. Each time you exhale, silently mouth the word “relax.” After even a few breaths you should feel your nerves calming. Use Imagery For Positive Performance Studies of elite athletes also prove mental imagery affects success. An all-sensory experience promotes positive physical performance. Imagery creates a mental map for performance by fostering confidence and reducing performance anxiety. Imagery, unlike simple visualization, includes feelings of movement, sound, smells, and emotions. It requires practice to summon on demand. In imagery, the deer hunter does not simply see his arrow zipping through vitals, he hears crunching leaves as the deer approaches and acorns rattling through oak branches. He smells the dank forest. In his imagination, he sees that the correct pin is placed just so and the arrow releases smoothly. He follows through with a sense of determination. The subsequent sounds of the shot and feel of riser jumping are also part of the experience. The ultimate goal is to develop vividness and clarity. Even the nervous energy involved helps stimulate the senses. Control Thoughts, And Beware Imagery Pitfalls Imagery is helpful, but also understand that it can turn destructive. Seeing yourself crumble or missing an easy shot is hardly helpful. Controlled imagery provides the opportunity to correct past errors and create positive results. Should negative thoughts arise, imagine a literal STOP sign. At the STOP, redirect thoughts by recalling a past success and replicating it on your mind’s eye, with yourself in the role of successful performer. With time you can apply mental imagery in conjunction with physical action to create more productive shooting practice. Don’t simply plunk one mechanical arrow after another into a block target. Set up 3-D targets in realistic settings and approach them as if they were the real thing. Talk Yourself Through The Shot It’s important on occasion to talk to yourself sternly (if silently) through an impending shot. Sometimes you simply have to remind yourself of each important step in the shooting sequence; especially shooting form. Most often, you have to tell yourself to slow down. The pressured mind often loses its ability to accurately account for passing time. Everything seems to occur in a blur when nothing has actually changed. Forgive Yourself, Move On Just as importantly, don’t let a single failure defeat you mentally. Develop the ability to forgive yourself, leave the past behind. Learn from mistakes and turn them into positive experiences. Tell yourself, “Glad that’s out of the way. Now I’m ready.” This is more productive than allowing self-doubt to fester and grow. It takes willpower. Use positive mental imagery to create that will. Success breeds confidence. While experienced bowhunters certainly become selective as years pass, this does not mean they cannot use the occasional confidence booster. Off-season wild boars, does during regular seasons, and small game all help support that confidence.

Press Release ZEISS Expands the TERRA 3X line with 50mm Riflescopes NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA. (February 19, 2014) - Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world's leading manufacturer of high performance sports optics, is expanding its award-winning TERRA 3X riflescope line with four 50mm lowlight models: the 3-9x50 Z-PLEX, the 3-9x50 RZ6, the 4-12x50 Z-PLEX and the 4-12x50 RZ8. ZEISS TERRA 3X riflescopes outperform many other well-known brands by featuring best-in-class image quality, comfortable ergonomics and durable construction. With a retail price starting at just $349, these riflescopes pack a powerful, uncompromising punch into a lightweight, yet extremely rugged, compact one-inch design. All TERRA 3X feature proprietary ZEISS MC anti-reflective coatings and 1/4-MOA adjustments. Based on its high performance and value, TERRA 3X riflescopes received Petersen's Hunting magazine’s 2014 Editor’s Choice Award. Building on this success, the new TERRA 3X models add even more versatility to this line of riflescopes: Featuring a larger 50mm objective, these four new riflescopes are perfect for low light conditions and offering hunters an opportunity to extend their day of shootable light. “With the tremendous success that the TERRA line has experienced,” said Mike Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, “it made perfect sense to expand this line with more high-performance models at incredibly competitive price points. We are excited to now offer 50mm low light performance riflescopes within reach of almost every sportsmen.” The new riflescopes come standard with Z-PLEX or the TERRA-exclusive RZ6 and RZ8 ballistic reticles and are backed by ZEISS’ U.S. Limited Lifetime Warranty. For more information visit www.zeiss.com/sports. About Carl Zeiss Sports Optics Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is a leading, international provider of premium sports optics and is part of the Consumer Optics Group of Carl Zeiss. Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, LLC is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of its state-of-the-art binoculars and spotting scopes, throughout the United States and Canada. Carl Zeiss Sports Optics’ North American headquarters is located in North Chesterfield, Va. About Carl Zeiss Group The Carl Zeiss Group is an international leader in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In fiscal year 2011- 2012, the company's 24,000 employees generated revenue of nearly 4.2 billion euros. In the markets for Industrial Solutions, Research Solutions, Medical Technology and Consumer Optics, Carl Zeiss has contributed to technological progress for more than 160 years and continues to enhance the quality of life of many people around the globe. The Carl Zeiss Group develops and produces planetariums, eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses and binoculars as well as solutions for biomedical research, medical technology and the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries. Carl Zeiss is located in more than 40 countries around the globe with about 40 production facilities, over 50 sales and service locations and service locations and approximately 20 research and development sites. Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation). Page