EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation's chapters nationwide are gearing up for their annual Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF and JAKES outreach events, many of which are being held in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day, Saturday, Sept. 27.

The NWTF's Women in the Outdoors program is celebrating its 10th anniversary of sharing the outdoor tradition through expert instruction and hands-on education by hosting more than 300 ladies at the NWTF's national headquarters Sept. 25 through Sept. 28.

The three-day event at the Wild Turkey Center in Edgefield, S.C, provides women the opportunity to experience exciting outdoor activities such as fly fishing, kayaking, archery and much more in a welcoming and relaxed environment. During its inaugural year, Women in the Outdoors hosted 18 events and today the program organizes more than 400 events across the nation each year.

West Palm Beach, Florida - Researchers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) captured and radio-marked forty-seven Florida mottled duck females earlier this month. This marks the beginning of a three-year project funded in part by Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

"Ducks Unlimited is proud to support this research project," Craig LeSchack, Director of Conservation Programs for DU, said. "This research will identify certain habitat needs of mottled ducks and, therefore, allow us to better shape our conservation programs for this important species."

The Florida mottled duck is a unique subspecies of the mottled duck found only in peninsular Florida. The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) south of Lake Okeechobee supports a large number of mottled ducks and is considered an important habitat area for this species. Researchers with the Waterfowl Management Program of the FWC are collecting information on the habitat use, movements and survival of female mottled ducks within the EAA as part of the ongoing comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Florida mottled duck.

WICHITA, Kansas - The Wounded Warrior Project and National Park Service announce they will work together to help severely injured military members, through a new partnership receiving support from The Coleman Company, Inc.

In a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial, National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar and Wounded Warrior Project Executive Director and Founder John Melia signed an agreement to develop opportunities in national parks for the military members to mend physically, mentally and spiritually.

"The words of Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address carved on the wall inside of the memorial remind all of us 'to care for him who shall have borne the battle,'" Bomar said. "National parks are places of refuge and inspiration. I am thrilled that this partnership will allow more veterans to be rejuvenated by the serenity, beauty and recreational opportunities found in parks."

KERSEY, Elk County - On Saturday, September 20, visitors to the Pennsylvania Outdoor Elk Expo witnessed the Pennsylvania Game Commission's public drawing to award elk licenses to 45 hunters for the upcoming season, which will be held November 3-8. There were 17,432 individuals eligible for the drawing. All 45 hunters selected to receive a license will be mailed a confirmation letter within a week.

"While there is great interest in the names of the hunters who will receive these 45 elk hunting licenses, by law, the Game Commission is not permitted to release information about our license buyers to the public," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "Beyond announcing the names and hometowns of those selected at the public drawing, we are not permitted to provide a complete list for public dissemination."

For the November hunt, 16 antlered elk licenses were awarded to Pennsylvanians, and one was awarded to a hunter from Florida. Pennsylvania hunters selected represent the following counties: Allegheny (2); Armstrong; Beaver; Berks; Blair; Bucks; Butler; Centre (2); Dauphin; Erie; Elk; Lackawanna; Northampton; and Potter.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- One of the great annual traditions in the outdoors, National Hunting and Fishing Day, is set for this Saturday, Sept. 27.

For the past 37 years, the day has served as a public reminder that hunters and anglers are America's premier conservation supporters. Through licenses and excise taxes, they now generate $100,000 every 30 minutes for fish, wildlife and habitat programs -- benefiting all citizens who appreciate wild things and wild places.

Top 5 ways to observe National Hunting and Fishing Day 2008:

The Arkansas DAV and the NWTF have strengthened their partnership to help disabled veterans enjoy the outdoors.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The National Wild Turkey Federation's Wheelin' Sportsmen program and the Arkansas State Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further help disabled veterans.

Through the partnership, the Arkansas DAV and Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF have agreed to help enrich the lives of America's disabled men and women by informing veterans about local outreach events and providing free copies of the NWTF's Wheelin' Sportsmen magazine to local DAV chapters and Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Founded in 1920, DAV is an organization focused on building better lives for disabled veterans and their families. Its Arkansas State Chapter consists of 32 local chapters with more than 18,000 members total. Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF is an outreach program that provides outdoor recreation opportunities to those with disabilities.

You will all be hearing a bunch more about Ryan as he is one of our newest PRO STAFF members to join our team.  We are working on biography of Ryan and some pictures to come soon, hopefully in the next week with a bow kill of a nice doe from his week of hunting.  He is in the woods already and coming up with some great stories that will be shared here on a regular basis.  For now here is some great tips from Ryan.....

Warm weather tips for avoiding game spoilage

When daytime temperatures are soaring and the nights remain above 40 degrees remember these tips to avoid spoilage:

1)  Dirt, heat and moisture are your greatest enemies. Keep meat cool, dry and clean at all times.

2)  Prepare a solution of 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to 1 gallon of water and apply to carcass to lower the overall pH balance of the meat   discouraging harmful micro-organisms from thriving.

3)  Apply black pepper to meat to stave off black flies and yellow jackets.

4)  Hang game in the shade to encourage air circulation and cooling and will keep out unwanted dirt and debris.

5)  Remove the skin from carcass as soon as possible as it acts as an insulator encouraging spoilage.

6)  Avoid transporting meat in plastic.  Use cloth game bags whenever possible which allows meat to breath and cool.

It is essential that early season hunters have a plan of action for after the shot.  From a well-thought out field kit, to considering distance from downed game to the vehicle, to the hours, phone numbers and locations of deer check stations and meat processors (if applicable).  It is a good idea that the early season hunter act as his own game processor.  Not only will it come in handy for late day kills in warm weather it is also a rewarding way to explore the entire realm of the hunting experience.

The great team at Nomad sent us one of their little Portable Power Cleaners and this little tool is something that I can see some real uses for in the outdoor world.  Chris and I took the Nomad out to his hunting camp and we used it to make quick work of cleaning up the ATV and the Boat on Saturday.  The 18 volt battery holds enough charge to go through two full tanks of water and cleaning about 10 minutes of cleaning each.

We really liked this product.  It is pretty self contained with a Neoprene case to hold the hose and sprayer and it has more then enough power to  blow off the dirt clods and push debris and mud off of the deck of the boat.  You can also use it to in your camp to clean dishes.

The Nomad 18 volt Cordless Portable Power Cleaner is a handy little tool that should be in the pick up bed of your truck on regular basis.  In camp it is easy to refill by dunking the water tank into the stream or lake and then dropping it onto the power box and it is ready to go.  As well this unit can plug into your car power adapter(cigarette Lighter) and it is ready to go as well providing a portable power cleaner on the go.

Need to hose out that deer after the gutting is done just turn the handle to mist and wash it down to keep your meat clean and ready for hanging.  The unit is tough and easy to carry with its own strap.  Our only suggestion is that they create a shower head nozzle for the sprayer so you can use it to take a shower in camp and while this could be done with the current set up, it would be easier with a seperate attachment.  These are available today through Cabelas and Bob Wards.