May 15, 2009 (WASHINGTON D.C.) - Congressman Dan Boren, Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, recently introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would streamline regulations regarding the filming of outdoor programming on federal lands. Outdoor programming, enjoyed by millions of sportsmen and sportswomen across the nation, has become an essential part of demonstrating both the beauty of America's public lands and also why they are set aside for public use.

"Outdoor programs play a critical role in furthering the message of conservation and providing access to public lands for citizens who may otherwise never have the chance to experience these national treasures," Boren said. "The lands themselves are widely considered beautiful and worthy of protections in part because of the role these productions play in showcasing them to a broad audience."

Much of the filming on public lands is done by small independent producers with crews of only a few people that have no more impact on the landscape or the public's use of the resource than any other visiting park user. Despite this, these small crews, often only one cameraman and one operator, are subject to the same fees as a major Hollywood-style production and current regulations do not take into account their lower impact.

(Join me in Welcoming Trevor Buchanan, our newest Junior Pro Staffer, with this story of his first buck ever)

As I tried and tried to pay attention in my fourth period class, I couldn’t quite be still due to the exciting plans I had at the end of school.  My dad was taking me hunting and, after much target practice and healing time from a broken shoulder, this would be my first chance at taking a deer on my own.  I was ten years old and I had been hunting with him for about four years.  My grandfather had gotten me a Remington .243 rifle for Christmas the year before, but my dad said I couldn’t use it until I turned ten.  Would this be my chance to harvest my first big game animal?

The minutes passed by slowly and I tossed and turned in my desk, full of anticipation.  Finally the bell rung and I sprinted outside to where my dad was waiting at the front of the line.  The next thing I knew we were patiently waiting in the stand watching the squirrels and birds scampering around.  Finally, the magical time arrived; that “perfect time” to see deer, right at dusk.  I continued to wait, but my hopes began to slowly diminish as the sun fell behind the night sky.  Suddenly, a new sound was in the air.  I heard leaves rustling, just down in front of me on the far side of the field.  It became louder and louder with every heavy breath I took.  Out of nowhere she appeared; a doe and her fawn timidly entered the field picking at the fresh winter rye.  I remembered my dad saying that I could take a doe if I wanted, but that didn’t satisfy me.   I wanted a buck.  I continued to wait with anticipation and then, to my surprise, from the right side of the field came a good set of antlers attached to a big body.  My dad was beside me, catching a few winks. I whispered, “A buck”, but he gave no response.    Again I whispered, a little louder and directly in his ear, “Dad, a buck”, but again nothing from him. 

My insides were tied in knots and not really knowing what I needed to do I softly spoke, “Dad, there’s a buck”.  I received the clearest instruction of the hunt as he said, “Shoot it.  Why else do you think you have that gun?”  Not wanting to disobey him I took aim.  Pulling that trigger created a memory that I will cherish forever.  My dad startled, waking completely as the sound of my shot hung in the air. We jumped up and walked down to see my first deer.  Looking at me, my dad said, “What did you do to your head, son?  That looks awful!”   I rubbed my forehead and right between the eyes I felt a rather large knot.  I had placed the butt of the gun under my recently healed shoulder to reduce the recoil.  The scope left a knot on my head that would mark the start my hunting career.

One Month Remaining to get Your Chances on the Alaska Hunt Package Moose or Grizzly Bear.  Your Choice!!!!

There's just one month to go on the Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska's Bristol Bay Hunt Promotion , which HuntingLife.com has been supporting since it was launched. This is one of the best drawings we've ever seen!  In addition to a 10-day hunt with Alaska Wilderness Trips, Inc., the winner will also receive a new Kimber rifle, Leupold scope, and set of gear from Sitka.  It's a package worth nearly $12,000! The goal was to receive 500 donations of $50 to help raise money to fight for southwest Alaska's famed Bristol Bay region.  It's probably a sign of the economy, but there are still a lot of chances available, so get yours now!  Your chances will likely be much better than 1 in 500.  Also, the Whitney family at Alaska Wilderness Trips, Inc. has offered to make this hunt a choice for the winner - you can either hunt moose or grizzly bear!  So it's an even better deal, odds-wise and in the content of the package, than was initially offered.  This is a terrific promotion for a very good cause.   If you're interested in reading the press release from the launch of the promotion which has all the details, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page. The winner is tentatively scheduled to be drawn on June 15 at the Outdoor Writers Association of America annual conference in Grand Rapids, MI.

Howdy & welcome to my new column on Hunting Life.   I'm a professional archer that makes a living shooting a bow and arrow on stage at various events and shows across the United States.  They call my show, "The Aspirin Buster", for abvious reasons.  Although my show features a variety of shots, the grand finale is a baby aspirin shot from mid air from behind my back!  Sometimes we even try and hit three pills at once but we'll save that story for another day.

I have been shooting a bow and arrow since 1971 at the age of four.  I took three deer before age 12 and my first bear with a bow when I was 18.  My parents own and operate Addington's Bowhunter Shop, a retail pro archery shop in Winfield, WV.  Pop helps me maintain my stage bows and is the best bow tech around.  I rely on him to keep my equipment in top shape and when you visit up to 30 states a year that's alot of banging equipment around!  It's a challenge but he's a great pit crew.  Mom has taken 18 bear with a bow and she lives to bowhunt and now that my wife and I have a son she also lives to help watch him at every opportunity.

May 14, 2009 (Washington, DC) - Members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus spent a day away from the halls of Congress Tuesday gathering with fellow shooting sports and outdoor enthusiasts for a competition shooting trap, skeet and sporting clays.

The annual Congressional Shoot Out, hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation pits the Democrats against the Republicans in a friendly competition to determine the top shooters in Congress. The Congressional Shoot-Out has become one of the few opportunities for members of Congress to share their mutual enjoyment of the outdoors and the shooting sports.

"The Congressional Shoot Out is an excellent opportunity to spend the afternoon with members of Congress, administration officials, and the many organizations who support CSF and care about the American traditions of hunting, fishing and the shooting sports," said Jeff Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation.

NWTF Provides Nearly $400,000 for Nationwide Conservation and Outreach EDGEFIELD, South Carolina - The National Wild Turkey Federation distributed nearly $400,000 in April to benefit wildlife conservation and protect hunting traditions. The monies are distributed to states and programs through the NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund.

The Hunting Heritage Super Fund supports the NWTF's multitude of conservation and education programs with money raised from NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquets, donated by corporate sponsors and given to benefit wildlife conservation. The NWTF's goal is to increase Hunting Heritage Super Fund spending by 10 percent in the 2009 fiscal year.

The NWTF is a national nonprofit conservation organization that was founded in 1973 and has worked with wildlife agencies to restore wild turkey populations from 1.3 million wild turkeys in 1973 to nearly seven million today. Now, NWTF volunteers raise funds and work daily to improve critical wildlife habitat, increase access to public hunting land and introduce new people to the outdoors and hunting.

MISSOULA, Mont.-Nineteen counties in Oregon are slated for wildlife habitat conservation and public education projects using $207,030 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Baker, Benton, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Malheur, Morrow, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Yamhill counties.

"Our volunteers across Oregon helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it's part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors," said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

It was finally here!

I was looking forward to May 7th for a long time. Not only was it my last day of finals for my spring semester, but more importantly, my time to get out in the woods and try to call in an old gobbler. As soon as I got done with my final in the morning, I hurried to gather my gear and headed for Buffalo County, Wisconsin. I had talked to my good friend, Ben Kluge, a couple weeks before the season and he was going to let me hunt some land he owns. We just planned on getting a couple birds roosted on the night I arrived so we could have them pinpointed the next morning, so we did.

We had spotted a couple toms with a few hens in the field that was butted up to the woods Ben owned, so we snuck through the woods and got into position to get the birds where we wanted them. Unfortunately, the longbeards didn't gobble even once the whole night, but we at least heard them fly up into the tall pine trees. That was good enough for us, so we just slowly walked back to the truck and headed to the lodge to get a good night's rest.

CYPRESS, California - Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., the leading maker of ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles, continues its support of outdoor sports and conservation by sponsoring the 2009 National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day.

As part of the partnership, Yamaha has donated an all-new 2009 Grizzly 550 FI ATV with Electric Power Steering (EPS) that one lucky outdoorsman will win. The sweepstakes is being promoted at NHF Day events nationwide, and anyone can register online to win at www.yamahaoutdoors.com/nhfday from May 11 through the end of October.

"Our involvement with National Hunting and Fishing Day last year proved to be an excellent opportunity for Yamaha to promote and support one of its core values -- outdoor conservation and ethical hunting and fishing," said Steve Nessl, marketing manager for Yamaha's ATV/SxS group. "Yamaha is more involved in the hunting and fishing communities than any other ATV manufacturer and we look forward to another great NHF Day celebration."

MISSOULA, Mont.-Boy Scouts across the U.S. have a new destination for trekking, mountain climbing, shooting, wildlife watching and other adventures-the Boone and Crockett Club's Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch near Choteau, Mont.

The Club is partnering with the Montana Council of Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to create a "Montana High Adventure Base" at the Club's 6,040-acre ranch. The property adjoins the rugged Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. The camp will meet national certification requirements of the BSA for high adventure camps and Scout-trained leaders will direct the program. More than 140 Scouts could visit this summer. Participation could expand in coming years.

In one-week programs, Scouts will learn about backcountry safety and preparation, orientation, conservation and wildlife. They'll also have opportunities to experience supervised backpacking, fishing and more. Wilderness treks lasting 4-5 days are possible.