NEWTOWN, Conn. -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation has launched a national media campaign designed to correct widespread misperceptions among gun owners and non-gun owners about AR-15-style rifles, also known as modern sporting rifles.

"The best-selling rifles in America today are those based on the AR-15 platform -- they are today's modern sporting rifles -- yet they remain America's most misunderstood firearm because of confusion caused by their cosmetic features," said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms industry.

Sanetti said the confusion is understandable because a modern sporting rifle looks like a military firearm, like an M-16, for example. “We want people to understand that these civilian sporting rifles function just like many other sporting rifles, as semi-automatics, firing only one round with each pull of the trigger, and are widely used by hunters and target shooters and for home protection. They are not ‘evil’ or ‘bad’ firearms, as some would have you think," Sanetti emphasized.

The media campaign illustrates how for more than 100 years rifles used by the military that possess battlefield requirements of accuracy, ruggedness and reliability became, understandably, popular civilian sporting rifles. This military-to-civilian evolution can be seen in some of the most famous rifle models of all time, including the 1903 Springfield bolt-action rifle of World War I, the Garand semi-automatic rifle of World War II and the M-16 rifle of the Vietnam era. In the case of the M-16, its civilian version, the AR-15, was modified so that it functioned only as a semi-automatic.

I dated a hunter that used all the hunting tactics any good man uses to get a "good one". He put up an automatic feeder (Saturday night dinner dates complete with flowers or cards) to entice me to hang around.  He would rattle deer horns and use his best deer calls (phoning me at work, to let me know he was "thinking of me." Calls at night when you talk for hours about nothing).  It was great.  I was a complete deer in the headlights.  I could not look away.  So I did what any girl would do. I married him.

I married a man who told me he liked to go hunting.  I said that was nice.  That was the end of our conversation.  

Since I did not come from a family of hunters, I didn't know what I was marrying into.  I had no idea that statement was to clarify many seasons, nights, weekends and days alone.

In our first week of marriage we moved from a big city to a small town.  He unloaded all our belongings into our first apartment, carried me over the threshold and kissed me - it was so romantic.  I couldn't wait to open to our beautiful wedding gifts and decorate our new love nest.  Our cabinets were filled with our sparkling new china and the linens were neatly folded and put away.  I laid the fresh doormat out for our first guest to wipe their feet.  It was so exciting.  While I was unpacking to start our new lives, my husband was packing as well.  Little did I know at sunrise it was the all important, the official, "Opening Day of Hunting Season."  There I was surrounded by boxes and wrinkled newspapers as he announced with the excitement of Christmas morning that he would be leaving for his first big hunt of the season on what was my sixth day of marital bliss.   What entered my mind was the rewarding career, friends and life that I had traded to be abandoned.   I changed my name, my life and my plan and found myself second place to a family tradition that was in his blood.  I was in Shock.  

I screamed.  I yelled.  I cried.  I did what any young, new, bride would do. went a little crazy.  I pleaded with my husband, "help me understand!"  He looked down at me as I begged him not to go. Through my tears and devastation I heard justification that still haunts my very soul, "all the old men at the deer lease say that I shouldn't worry if you're upset now because someday you'll be glad when I go hunting, they said someday you'll even pack my stuff for me and won't even miss me."  With that he shut the door as my tears fell to the floor.  I had become a hunting widow, instantly.

Ten years later as our wedding anniversary fell on opening day of deer season I was still in second place, but with flowers and a sweet card. What I wanted was a nice romantic weekend away from kids and daily life. Maybe I didn't yell my request loud enough because now he and his father are enjoying each others company on a nice four day weekend away from kids, daily life, and relaxing by the campfire telling hunting bedtime stories.   

Yes, this is year #10 and in those years I have learned many things about my husband and his mistress that is the great outdoors.

I have seen my husband actually set up an automatic feeder, and camera to photograph animals in their natural setting. This same being will rarely hold a camera in his own living room to photograph his wife and children in their natural setting.  He can also sit quietly in a deer stand waiting, watching and looking at nothing - hoping for a glimpse of something, yet will not sit quietly to enjoy or have me enjoy an on stage performance, such as a movie or play.  

Most of all I've learned that he was right, I don't miss him.  I do enjoy the peace and quiet those wise old hunters spoke of. I relish not cooking a big dinner, getting the kids to bed early, and watching TV that   does not include gunfire and death to deer.  Ironically my husband has learned that he misses his family more and for some reason it gets harder for him to leave every time.  For our anniversary next year he asked if we could spend time alone - I said sure - Go Hunting and you can be alone...I have a babysitter, suitcase, swimsuit and  girls weekend planned. You'll get a postcard.  

If you are a hunting widow and have a story to tell, please send it to imahuntingwidow@gmail.com  

May God bless you with a peaceful hunting season.

Kelli McCarty

www.imahuntingwidow.com

Madison, NC - Remington Arms Company, Inc. is acknowledging a milestone of an American classic, the Model 870 pump-action, in the September 24, 2009, edition of USA Today® with a full-page ad thanking America and the millions of Model 870 owners for making it possible to reach the 10,000,000th production mark. In honor of this historic achievement, Remington is also sponsoring the "10 Millionth Model 870 Shotgun" Sweepstakes.

With its beginnings 193 years ago, Remington is America's oldest gunmaker and has proudly manufactured the Model 870 since its introduction in 1950 and every year since then. Although Remington introduced many variations of the Model 870 throughout the years to suit the specific needs of a wide variety of users including hunters, trap shooters, left-handers and youth as well as platforms designed for use by law enforcement agencies and military worldwide; the Model 870 has remained true to its original design. Gun owners everywhere appreciate the value and quality of the Model 870, making it the shotgun of choice in gun cabinets across the country.

To enter the "10 Millionth Model 870 Shotgun" Sweepstakes and view entry guidelines, log on at www.remington.com/10milu . Entries will be accepted online from 9/24/09 - 12/31/09 with ten eligible adult winners selected to receive a commemorative Model 870 pump-action shotgun, recognizing this milestone.

MISSOULA, Mont.—With construction well underway and a grand opening scheduled for summer 2010, a planned state-of-the-art conservation education facility is now wholly owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) following a transfer from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 7,000 square-foot Elk Country Visitor Center will sit on a 245-acre site in Benezette Township, Elk County. When completed, it will be the largest elk watching and conservation education facility in the eastern U.S.

The project began as a public-private partnership between the Commonwealth and RMEF. The Elk Foundation conveyed its share of the facility to DCNR on Sept. 15.

“The Elk Foundation has been a great partner in open-space protection and restoring the elk herd in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and we thank them for their help getting the Elk Center project off the ground. This project would not have been possible without their early partnership with DCNR,” said John Quigley, acting secretary of DCNR.

NEW ULM, Minn. -Nevada's $60 million Clark County Shooting Park in northwest Las Vegas was recently dedicated at an event the Archery Trade Association (ATA) helped sponsor.

The park is expected to become a center for archery and bowhunting growth in southern Nevada due, in part, to the ATA's commitment to fund an archery coordinator position at the park's education center. The ATA contributed $40,000 this year and has committed to another $40,000 in 2010 to cost-share the position with the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Chris Cheff, the newly hired archery coordinator, will begin introducing the National Archery in the School Program (NASP) and After School Archery Programs (ASAP) in nearby communities. Together, these introductory programs - combined with a shooting facility like the park in Las Vegas - provide a base for the general public to gain exposure to archery.

After that, there's the opportunity to participate in additional archery programs to improve skills and knowledge of archery and bowhunting, allowing those in the community to become true participants in the sports. Long term, growing archery and bowhunting participation will increase equipment sales, which include an 11 percent excise tax payment that ultimately funds state wildlife conservation efforts.

When you've been glassing mountainsides for elk and there are none to be heard, your concentration falters and your mind wanders to places it shouldn't go. I hurt from the feeling or lack there of, especially in my knees. Also the burn in my shoulders and throb in my feet - so goes the old saying NO PAIN, NO GAIN.

It was sunday afternoon when I pulled into elk camp to kick off another hunting season. With six hunters and three other guides we would have dinner, talk about the next mornings hunt and pack our gear.

Our first morning in the middle of the Rocky Mountains was taken on by foot as my hunter Steve and I left the truck at the old "Pondella" place on a clear cool September morning. Some 4 miles in, up hill both ways we came upon a fresh wallow - A very good sign! As Monday and Tuesday came to an end we were left walking in the dark trying to think of a new game plan for the last few days of the hunt.

Wednesday morning I decided to head to a place where I had been successful in the past and had hopes of crossing paths with another majestic bull elk. No more did we get out of the truck did we hear the unforgettable bugle of three different bulls. Checking our wind we decided on a location to start calling. It wasn't long and a spike found interest in the cow decoy I had set up! Coming into 30 yards he put on a show, only to be run off by the guy we were after that morning; An awesome 6x6 bull that made his way out of the dark timber right down into our laps! Holding up at just under a 100 yards this guy stayed out of archery range.

Wednesday night we decided to head back into that same area to see if we couldn't find him again. An hour before dark he gave up his location and we slipped in. In a bugling match the bull showed himself again. First at 200 yards then all the way up to 50 yards! My heart pounded as much as my hunter Steve's did Im sure, as we thought we had him this time. The bull again out matched us as he pushed all 13 of his cows out past us and held up not willing to come 10 yards farther for a shot.

It was now friday morning and the last day of our 5 day hunt together. After an unproductive thursday Steve and I decided to head back into the area we had been getting on some bulls, this time Steve would have rifle in hand! (Elkhorn is part of Colorado's Ranching for Wildlife program). Slipping in the morning remained extremely quiet. I was about ready to head back to the truck when I set up in one last draw and began to hammer the cow call. Moments later was a crash followed by another cow call. I answered as she popped out of the timber to our left and was being pushed by a beautiful 5x5 who stepped out well into Steve's range at under a 100 yards! The rifle rang out and with a perfect shot the bull fell! With some short of unbelievment I wasn't sure who was more excited... Steve who had just full-filled a life long dream in front of my watch or my self as we connected on a great bull in the bottom of the ninth!? Its those exact emotions and long days of heartache that keep me coming back year after year to spend 100's of days in the field! - Life's short, hunt hard!

Logan Hinners(HuntingLife Pro Staff) Guides for Team Elkhorn. He is living the DREAM!!!

It's late September and we all know that Deer Bow Season is only a few weeks away. The days are getting colder and deer activity increases as October is coming. The leaves are starting to change and fall, making it easier to locate newly deer rubs from great distances.

I have decided it's time to start doing my homework and study the deer habits. Checking the trail camera and scouting will improve my knowledge of where I need to be when the season comes in. My friend and I ride the four-wheeler to cover more land in limited time. We drive to the "Hot" spots where we had been studying the deer activity through the previous months. Hoping to find trails or any rub that will direct us the way they are traveling. We were grateful to find a nice deer trail with some doe and fawn tracks that was later joined by a big buck a few yards up. While following the deer trail we soon found a hazard in our deer hunting area. We had a big bear trail within several yards of the deer trail. It sent chills down our spines when we realized that he hadn't been to long gone when we found some bear scat on the trail. We confirmed that we should leave when it came to our sense's that neither of us had a gun. Arriving back at the four-wheeler's we drove to the food plot to see what the trail camera had caught.

While driving over the hill in the field we were shocked to find a small buck startled by our sudden showing. The buck got scared and ran back in the woods and we debated whether to go down there or to leave. We decided to just check the cards and leave. We were glad to see the great pictures the trail camera captured. Some had a flock of young jakes and hens in the food plot feeding. Also the big doe and fawn we were trailing earlier..

Analyzing everything we had seen and discovered that day we confirmed where we were going to hunt on the property. We look forward to the upcoming deer season and pray very hard that god will let my friend shoot her first deer. We have seen numerous management bucks we hope to "Whackem and Stackem" in our freezers this Deer Season.

Safari Club International is proud to announce that tomorrow SCI Foundation Director of Science-Based Conservation Programs and Research, Dr. William Moritz will testify before the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife in support of H.R. 1054.

Introduced by Congressman Don Young (R-AK), this legislation would restore the lawful importation of legally harvested polar bears -- but only for those bears that had already been hunted prior to the immediate listing of polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act in May of 2008.

This listing had the effect of depriving numerous individuals of their rightful property and this bill will simply provide those citizens relief from this regulatory "taking." Dr. Moritz's testimony is based in the conservation benefits that would result from rectifying this unfortunate situation.

H.R. 1054 will not change the importation status of any bears hunted subsequent to the listing, but SCI is pursuing that science-based conservation goal through other means including legislation and litigation.

To watch a live webcast of the hearing at 10am EDT, tomorrow, September 22nd, please go to http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php   and click on “View Live Webcasts”.

Austin, Texas - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has presented Pheasants Forever's Dave Nomsen with a National Great Blue Heron Award in recognition of his wetland and waterfowl conservation work. Nomsen, who is Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's Vice President of Government Affairs, received the award yesterday at the Waterfowl Working Group meeting of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies gathering in Austin, Texas.

The National Great Blue Heron Award recognizes participants whose activities with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Committee results in substantial benefits to waterfowl and other wetland-associated migratory bird populations of North America over a long period of time. Nomsen has been a conservation leader on a national scale for nearly two decades, with his work extending beyond pheasants, quail and other upland birds to a wide array of wildlife.

Nomsen's influence helped shape the last three federal Farm Bills - 1996, 2002, & 2008 - and he became one of the nation's loudest voices in support of the Conservation Reserve Program's (CRP) wildlife legacy. CRP land in the Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana and North and South Dakota is some of the most productive waterfowl habitat in the world, contributing more than 2 million ducks annually. Most recently, Nomsen helped the creation of a new CRP practice called Conservation Practice 38, better known as the State Acres For wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practice, which has allowed many states to create new wildlife and wetland conservation initiatives. And through his leadership, local Pheasants Forever chapters have restored 60,000 acres of wetlands across America.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- National Hunting and Fishing Day is set for Sept. 26, 2009. Congress formalized the annual celebration 37 years ago but organizers say hunters and anglers deserve America's respect now more than ever.

"Recent-year surveys show nearly 8 in 10 Americans approve of hunting and more than 9 in 10 approve of fishing. That's strong support. But, when viewed in the context of a recession and other modern headlines, our sporting traditions look even better today," said Denise Wagner of Wonders of Wildlife museum in Springfield, Mo., the official home of NHF Day.

She added, "On NHF Day, I hope people will pause to reflect on hunter and angler contributions to society. And for those of us who've long understood and enjoyed these passions, share the pride by introducing someone new to hunting, fishing or shooting."