WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) & The Center for Association Leadership, Washington, D.C., announced recently that Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) has won an Award of Excellence. SCIF will also be a finalist for the coveted Summit Award to be selected later this year.

Now in its 19th year, the prestigious Associations Advance America Awards program recognizes groups that propel America forward with innovative projects in education, skills training, standard-setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship, and community service. SCIF’s Executive Director John Eichinger and Marketing Director Mark LaBarbera are members of the ASAE, which noted that although the activities of SCIF and other associations have a powerful impact on everyday life, those contributions to society often go unnoticed by the general public.

“SCIF’s Sportsmen Against Hunger program truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Advance America campaign. It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase this activity as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society,” remarked 2008-2009 Associations Advance America Committee Chair Janet C. Gibbs.

Through SCIF’s Sportsmen Against Hunger program, SCI members and chapters in the last five years alone have donated more than 1 million pounds of much-needed high-protein, low cholesterol wild game meat to food shelves, soup kitchens and charities that serve hungry families. Especially in these tough economic times, the donation of over 400,000 pounds of wild game meat in 2008-2009 has made more of a difference than ever. Sportsmen Against Hunger is the original program from which other local and national wild game donation efforts gained their inspiration to launch. To learn more about SCI and the SCI Foundation, visit www.safariclubfoundation.org.

Don took these great photos with his game cam and I am pretty sure he is starting a small case of buck fever and I know it is only going to get worse over the summer.

Douglasville, Georgia - Rusty's Rags, Inc® announces a new gun cleaning cloth for all types of firearms. The "Rusty's Rag" (MSRP $9.25) is basically two cleaning kits in one. The hand-cut sheepskin cloth is impregnated with a special silicone formulated for firearms. It also comes with a flannel cloth used for wiping off the excess oil and polishing to a fine finish. Each product is produced by hand in the USA.

Whether in the field or at home the "Rusty's Rag" gun cleaning cloth is the most effective way to clean virtually any gun, anywhere. Two sizes have been developed for specific guns. The smaller size, approx. 2" x 5", used for pistols, is the most popular with gun ranges, daily shooters, and occasional hunters. The larger size (coming soon in July), approx. 5" x 5", is ideal for rifles, shotguns, and black powder firearms. The smaller size will work for both.

Rusty's Rags were developed by a serious gun collector with over 40 years experience in the preservation of antique weapons. Rusty had great success preventing rust with the common silicone impregnated cotton flannel cloth sold in gun shops, but the cloth just would not get into the many "Nooks & Crannies" on his guns.

During my first year of bowhunting in 2006 many exciting events took place that I will remember forever. I was only 13.  I definitely learned one lesson and that is to never give up and just be patient.  I hope you enjoy this story!

I was exciting for the upcoming season to take place.  All summer long my brother and I put out trail cameras and got some nice bucks on camera.  My first day out in the stand was after school on a thursday.  My brother came out to the stand with me and brought the video camera.  We were ready to shoot anything being that it ws the first time out for me and we wanted to get one under my belt.  It didn't take long before a doe and her fawn came right under the stand.  I pulled back and waited for the go from my brother.  He said shoot so I did and I smoked the big doe.  When I hit her she wailed "BBBllaaaaaahhhhhh!!"  She ran off and we heard her crash 60 yards off.  We were so pumped, we got down right away and tracked her.  It wasn't hard, we found her and tagged her.  We gutted her out, which was interesting with two young kids who never gutted out a deer.  Thanks to our close attention to our dad, we pulled it off quite nicely.  It was definitely a great first experience.  

Throughout the rest of the season, we had very close encounters with some nice mature bucks.   

We decided to head out on the worst day of the year.  It snowed, but it was warm out so the snow got all slushy and we got wet.  I saw a little buck, but I didn't shoot it.  That was the only thing I saw.  I got back to the house and talked to the rest of the guys who went out that same morning.  They all didn't see anything, except for like one doe.  While we were all eating, my brother asked if anyone wanted to say forget bowhunting and just go rabbit hunting.  Every one said yes, but I really didn't want to.  We got all the .22s out.  We realized that we were one short, so I would have to use a shotgun or my bow.  I just said forget it and went back out bowhunting for deer.   

The boys dropped me off and I trudged out to the woods at about 1 pm.  I went to a spot where no one usually hunts.  This means that I had to sit on the ground.  I found a spot and saw a doe right away, but didn't take her.  I got ants in my pants and moved shortly after.  I found a sweet opening and a nice fallen tree to sit on.  I took out my Primos "original can" and flipped it a couple times.  Nothing happened for 10 minutes, so I decided to move.  Right when I thought that, I heard something.  I looked over and saw a nice buck emerge from the 4-wheeler trail to my left.  It walked directly at me and stayed behind a tree so I could only see it antlers sticking out from each side.  With this great opportunity to pull back, I pulled back. 

He cut out to the right of the tree and followed a deer trail.  He walked 15 yards in front of me perfectly broadside.  I kept thinking "Should I wait a little longer?," but I finally decided to shoot.  I put my pin behind his shoulder and shot.  My arrow seemed to fly in slow motion.  It penetrated his hide and continued until it passed completely through him.  He ran off and started bleeding instantly.  I seemed to flinch back a little.  My arrow entered him about 4-5 inches back from the shoulder line.  It came out about where the guts start.  At approximately 1:30 pm I imediately took out my cell phone and called my brother.  "Josh!  I got the big one!," I cried into the phone.  "Seriously?!!?" he replied, "we will be there in a second.  Well, he wasn't joking, it took him, Tyler, and Cody about 2 minutes to get in the car, drive a block, and run 1/4 mile out to where I was. 

I can just remember the moment where they came into sight.  We looked around and saw heavy blood.  We didn't find my arrow, so we couldn't quite see how I hit him.  We waited 20 minutes and tracked him.  We tracked that soon out of pure excitement and we regret it.  We kicked him up 3 times and tracked him for a mile.  We finally gave it a rest and let the deer rest for an hour and 1/2.  We went back out when my dad arrived and we found it in about 10 minutes.  It was dead in a big pine tree woods.  You could look under them and see the deer.  I got the news and ran to the location.  It was the happiest moment ever.  We tagged him and gut him out.  We brought the truck up the trail and put the buck in.  

I got to brag to everyone at school and a lot of students and teachers were jealous.  This story just shows, that if you never give up and are patient (luck had a lot to do with it too, but what hunt doesn't have luck?), you will make your experiences that much more exciting.  The buck was the same one Tyler and Josh and I saw.  It was a eight point with a little kicker at the base.  It had a 16 inch inside spread and weighed about 210# field dressed.  I hope every one has an experience like that. And remember  NEVER GIVE UP! 

I was fortunate to be invited to Tyonek, Alaska, to participate in the OUTDOOR RECREATION HERITAGE FUND for PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA Black Bear Hunt. I cannot thank Doug Warren enough for that opportunity. Upon Arriving at the lodge in Tyonek, Alaska.  I was introduced to some great guys who had sacrificed more than their time in SERVICE to Our Country.

It was heartwarming to meet these people and hear their stories. It was emotional to see these guys, some in wheel chairs, some missing limbs, some with limited use of their extremities having a great time, talking hunting, discussing ballistics, and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere and camaraderie of being with people who have the same passions and desires we all shared.

I wish to expressly thank the outfitter who gave so much of his time and effort to ensure that each and every vet had every opportunity to harvest a bear and enjoy the Alaskan environment as much as possible. www.fullcurlalaska.com .   The accommodations were great, food was wonderful, and the camaraderie between all the people, (Veterans, wives, guides and staff) was heartwarming.   The Wives must be mentioned as they were the troopers in this, they were not only warm and congenial, but were dedicated to their men.

I could not have been around a better group of people.  Having served myself I appreciated each and every one of these guys and what they have sacrificed.  It should be mentioned that each and everyone of these people  have overcome severe handicaps and have dedicated their lives to helping other Warriors who are suffering the same setback, to overcome this major adjustment to their lives, and go forth to become contributing citizens in our country.  Thanks to the Outfitter, staff volunteers and Jim Zumbo,  I think each and everyone of them did.

I wish to especially thank JIM ZUMBO for graciously attending and sharing not only his stories and experience but a general positive outlook on the subject at hand. I saw in Jim that he was more elated at the success of each and every hunter than he would have been if it had been himself who had taken the bear.

If any of you ever get the opportunity to tag along like I did on one of these hunts, JUMP at the chance, not only was it fun it was also rewarding to see the look on these guys faces when they managed to harvest a bear after months and sometimes years in the hospital recovering from the injuries they suffered in their service to our country.

One gentleman named Tyler walked every step we took and climbed every obstacle we encountered with the aid of an artificial leg. He has a great outlook on life and I am proud to have hunted with him.

Another gentleman named Wayne managed to navigate the terrain and suffer the mosquitoes by the seat of his wheel chair to which he is permanently saddled due to the injuries he received.

Last but not least would be Kyle who has extensive nerve and muscle damage to his body primarily on his right side, however the man was up for it and I am sure he will go forth and accomplish great things. I must say I was not only proud but choked up to meet these people and am honored to be in such worthy company.

I just hope that my humble presence was a help to these HONORED GENTLEMEN who have given so much to us as Americans.  Over the week we took many great bears and all of these wonderful wounded warriors took bears thanks to the volunteers and the outfitters hard work preparing for this wonderful hunt.

Please donate to the PVA and say thank you to this wonderful organization with your hard earned dollars.  It is through volunteers like Doug Warren, Christina Holden and Jim Zumbo as well as great outfitters who work hard to make hunts like this happen for our wounded warriors.

OUTDOOR RECREATION HERITAGE FUND for PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

This story was sent to HuntingLife from Harold Hurst, CEO of

Agonic Enterprises Maker of the Stedi Stock

As the result of an HSUS and Friends of Animals assault on a rule exempting captive U.S. members of three antelope species from Endangered Species Act prohibitions, those three species are now in jeopardy. While HSUS and Friends celebrate a success in court, the ramifications of their empty victory have undermined conservation efforts for these species in the United States. Although scimitar-horned oryx, dama gazelle and addax have either disappeared, or all but disappeared in their home ranges in Northern Africa, captive herds of the species have been thriving on ranches here in the United States, in great part due to the ranchers’ ability to sell, trade, breed and allow hunting of members of these captive populations without ESA restriction. The freedom to manage these animals has encouraged private owners to raise large herds and these animals now number in the thousands in the United States. Though, in 2005, the FWS listed the three species as endangered, at the same time the agency adopted a rule that would exempt captive members of the three species in the United States from ordinary ESA restrictions.

HSUS and Friends of Animals filed suit to challenge that rule. Their goal was to prevent the hunting of individual animals, regardless of the cost to the species as a whole. They did not succeed. The court did not find that hunting of these species was illegal and rejected HSUS and Friends’ assertions that hunting in the U.S. encouraged poaching or brought any other harm to members of the species outside of the U.S. The court also dismissed the animal rights groups’ allegations that they were in any way harmed by the hunting of the species in the United States.

MORE....

Safari Club International achieved an early victory in litigation challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ban on the import of polar bears from Canada.  On June 22, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rebuffed the FWS’s attempt to have SCI’s lawsuit dismissed without full briefing on the merits.
 
When the FWS listed the polar bear as threatened in May 2008, it also determined that imports of polar bear legally hunted from approved populations in Canada would no longer be allowed, as they had been for the previous 12 years.  SCI sued to reverse this determination.  The FWS argued that it had not made a final decision, the ban did not harm SCI, and the case should be dismissed.  The Court rejected the government’s arguments in their totality.  The Court found that the import ban determination was a challengeable final action and that SCI had alleged sufficiently that the import ban injured SCI and its members.
 
Since the import ban went into effect, hunting of polar bears by U.S. hunters has plummeted and trophies of bears hunted before the ban went into effect sit in cold storage in Canada.  The conservation benefits provided by U.S. hunters and the funds they inject into the local communities have dried up.  Yet polar bear mortality remains the same under the quota to the native communities, as bears not harvested for sport hunts are harvested for subsistence.
 
The case now proceeds to full briefing on the merits of all of SCI claims.  SCI is also pursuing a separate challenge to the listing of the polar bear itself.

Having an Iphone with me at all times in the field has some ups and downs... Luckily I know how to hit the ignore button and keep it on vibrate when I am hunting.  The good news though is that there are finally some great applications coming around for hunters and the new Wind Meter APP is just one of those APP's that can make a difference for you as a hunter and at the great price of $0.99 it is priced right and works quite well.

The Wind Meter APP is easy to use and can help you determine wind direction as well as the speed of the wind.  This can really assist in understanding how best to place your stands as well as where to hold when placing that shot on a trophy animal.

1. Super Convenient 

2. Real Time Wind Reporting - no cell service needed, it works even when out of cell range.

3. Ultra Inexpensive for a Wind Meter APP- Most commercial wind meters run $75- 150.00

4. Forces you to be more aware of wind direction because you have to point the microphone into the wind to get an accurate reading.

5. Just plain good old fun...it is great fun to challenge your hunter friends to "guesstimate" the wind speed and find out who's the closest.

Log on to Apple ITUNES Application Store and download your application now.

LONDON, UK-Randy Oitker, a crowd favorite at the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show in recent years for his trick-shot archery skills, established three new Guinness Book of World Records records during a show called "Guinness Book of World Records Smashed," in London, England.

During the show, Oitker first established a world record by hitting 4 different targets with four different arrows shot at the same time with one bow. Then, he accomplished the same feat with five arrows and five targets. His third record came when he successfully hit six targets with six arrows shot at the same time with one bow.

Twenty-two-year-old Oitker is a two-time North American Bowhunters World Champion, three-time NABH Shooter Of The Year, and has won 17 national titles.

The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show is the largest consumer event of its kind in North America. Attracting outdoor sports enthusiasts from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Washington DC to view hunting and fishing products, plan outdoor sport and camping vacations, shop for fishing boats, RVs, SUVs, motorcycles and ATVs, and participate in a wide range of sport-related contests and family entertainment offerings.

For more Show information visit www.easternsportshow.com.

The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) will host its 9th Annual National Convention and Whitetail Expo at a new, larger venue—the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville—July 23-26. Last year 15,000 people attended the two-day Whitetail Expo preceded by the popular Think Tank and Research Sessions on Thursday and Friday.

The event will be a chance to learn from the nation’s top whitetail experts. In addition to notable biologists and land specialists, celebrity hunters will join the lineup of stellar guests. The four-day Convention is packed with seminars, exhibits, taxidermy displays, celebrities, entertainment, special events for the kids, live auctions, and much more.

Don’t miss the chance to meet and greet industry celebrities and take notes from the best of the best in deer management. And spend your weekend browsing the merchandise available during the Whitetail Expo—thousands of square feet of vendor exhibits!