The summer months pose a serious problem for avid hunters, and that is simply the lack of activity. Sure we all get out there and shoot 3D on the weekends, throw in a food plot here or there, clean our guns a few hundred times, but there really isn’t much for us hunters to do. Now if your like me at all, right about now is the time when you start craving to do something associated with hunting, in my case something different than shooting target after target with my bow. This past weekend I set out to satisfy this pestering desire, I went out and checked all my stands, trimmed some shooting lanes, re-adjusted my stands if they needed it, and then I got to thinking that what I was doing was actually very constructive. While I usually clear shooting lanes and such a week or two before season, I was getting all the grunt work out of the way while I was motivated, key word motivated. Aside from actually enjoying the work, doing it early also allows time to come back and give everything a double take, to ensure that everything is absolutely perfect come season. My theory is that over the course of the summer, whenever I get these “cravings” I will go check my stands and make sure they are in tip top shape, instead of rushing during the last week, stinking up my hunting areas and more importantly looking over little details.

If you find yourself in such a predicament, and simply can’t stand being away from the woods, I urge you get out there. It is not healthy for the mind to stress over such a scenario, especially when there is such an easy fix! Get out there and check your stands, make sure they are in good working order, cut shooting lanes, and with time you can create that master stand every hunter dreams of. However please do not let your guard down, just because it is the off-season, doesn’t mean the same for the deer. Take all the precautionary steps that you would during hunting season. Just like during season, make it a point to be scent free; even though you may only work on the stands once or twice over the summer, doesn’t mean you can slack off. I hope that this helps all those hunters out there deal with their pre season dilemmas, I know getting out in the woods was good for me, and it will be good for you as well.

Hunt the Peace River Region of North Western Alberta in the grain fields and boreal forest a hunters Mecca of 10,000 square miles of some of the best big game and bird habitat in North America. Stand hunting, rattling, calling, and spot and stalk.

Fully guided hunts include meals and lodging.

Dates Available

* Moose Option 1: 2 spots - November Bull Moose Hunt (6 full day hunt special) $4,000---Call for dates

* Moose / Whitetail Option 2: 2 spots - Moose & Whitetail deer combo hunt (8 full day hunt special) $ 8,500.00 November 23-30 2010

• * Whitetail Deer-The Best Time is the last 3 weeks of November in the Rut
• * 4 spots - Whitetail Deer hunt (8 full day hunt special) $6,500---November 8-15 2010
• * 4 spots - Whitetail Deer hunt (8 full hunt day special) $6,500---November 23-30 2010
• * Coyote/Wolf---included

What you need to know:

• o All prices quoted are in U.S. funds
• o 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not included in the hunt prices
• o License and Allocation fees are not included. See below
• o The hunts are 2 hunters to one guide.
• o For guaranteed 1 on 1 guiding add $2000 to any hunt
• o Non hunters are welcome at $150 a day.
• o License and Allocation fees:
• o Whitetail Deer $450
• o Moose $500
• o Bow hunting Permit $30
• o Coyote/Wolf $100

Contact us at:

Website: www.blueskyoutfitting.com

http://www.huntinglife.com/outfitters/detail/blue-sky-outfitters

Email: kept@serbernet.com

Phone: 780-324-2080

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - In a statement released today, Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall emphasized that the organization has reached out to both federal and state agencies and offered its assistance and technical expertise in the damage assessment and habitat restoration phases of the 36-day-old Gulf disaster.

"DU understands the frustration of watching this happen," Hall said. "We are frustrated as well, but right now it is important for the federal agencies and BP to handle the emergency response and containment phase. We have offered our assistance in any way we can."

Oil has been spilling into the Gulf since April 20, 2010 and is currently moving into wetlands that support waterfowl, shorebirds and other wildlife. These wetlands are also vital to the livelihoods of many citizens in the region. The Gulf Coast is a top conservation priority for DU and the organization is committed to reestablishing healthy wetlands in the Gulf.

SCI Victorious In Nevada Wild Horse Roundup Case
Washington, D.C. - Safari Club International (SCI) has successfully defended the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) efforts to manage excessive mustangs in northwest Nevada. The excess horses were damaging the ecosystem and harming resident wildlife, including game mammals and birds.  Plaintiffs, including an animal rights group, filed a lawsuit attacking the BLM's wild horse management practices. On May 24, 2010, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the lawsuit, based in part on arguments provided by SCI, finding that none of the plaintiffs had "standing" to sue.  The plaintiffs have vowed to continue to challenge wild horse gathers.   (SCI Press Release)
 
American Wilderness Leadership School Life-Changing Experience For Educators
Jackson Hole, WY - The American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) is nearing its 30th year of programs for educators. Each summer hundreds of educators, sponsored by SCI Chapters, members, and other organizations, attend AWLS. For many, this is their first opportunity to learn about and shoot any kind of firearm. Attendees are offered a life changing experience where they gain an understanding of hunting, shooting, and conservation.

Reining In Poaching In Tanzania
On April 30, 2010, Friedkin Conservation Fund anti-poaching personnel, operating in the Muhesi and Kizigo Game Reserves, joined forces with the regional Tanzanian Wildlife Division Anti-poaching Units, Rungwa Game Reserve Anti-poaching personnel, District Forestry personnel and Manyoni local police on an extended patrol in and around the Game Reserves. (Friedkin Conservation Fund)
 
2010 SCIF Educator 0f The Year Awarded
Dr. Diane Humphrey Lueck, a lecturer in Natural Resources and Biology at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, was honored as the 2010 SCIF Educator of the Year at the SCI May Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C.  Dr Lueck served as Director of the Becoming An Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program for many years and used her BOW experience in working with women with disabilities to complete her doctorate degree.  As an active hunter education instructor, she collaborated with the 2008 SCI Educator of the Year winner – Dr Gary San Julian - to develop Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow to teach hunting culture to wildlife management students who have no hunting background.   She is a 2004 graduate of the SCIF American Wilderness Leadership School, taught the college course at AWLS in 2009 and will be teaching two educators workshop sessions in 2010.  She was nominated by the SCI Central Wisconsin Chapter.
 
Watchdog Group Calls Out Humane Society Of The United States With Times Square Billboard
“A new Times Square billboard appearing at Seventh Avenue and 48th Street in New York City highlights the Humane Society of the United States’ (HSUS) deceptive fundraising practices that “scam” the American public into believing that HSUS is the national umbrella group for local humane societies despite lacking any affiliation with these local hands-on shelters. The billboard is sponsored by the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) and encourages New Yorkers to visit HumaneWatch.org, CCF’s website devoted to analyzing HSUS’s activities.” A full-page ad <http://humanewatch.org/index.php/ads/detail/usa_today_ad_shouldnt_we_expect_better_from_the_humane_society/> for HumaneWatch also appears in Wednesday’s edition of USA TODAY. (Center for Consumer Freedom Press Release)
 
Corrected Website Link: A Win For International Conservation
Safari Club International <http://www.scifirstforhunters.org/index.cfm> (SCI) sent representatives to CITES <http://cites.org/> (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) last March, prepared for a debate on the definition of what constitutes a hunting trophy. SCI knew getting this regulation right was critical because it will have a big effect on traveling hunters and international wildlife conservation.  John Monson, SCI’s lead delegate at CITES, said, “For the past 35 years, CITES has not defined the term ‘hunting trophy’ because regionally there are various interpretations of what a trophy actually is. But these differences have resulted in confusion that has led to the seizure and the destruction of trophies. So we needed to get this thing done right.” (NRA American Hunter Online).
 
Hunters Across The United States Offered The Highest Quality Radar Data Available
Fredericksburg, Virginia, May 25th, 2010 – HuntingLife.com has launched an innovative iPhone application, optimized for the nation’s hunting communities, that displays up-to-date radar images on an interactive Google map.  The HuntingLife application, developed by weather leader Weather Decision Technologies, Inc., detects your location and uses an advanced algorithm technology for data processing to display the best quality radar data available in the United States, as well as current conditions, humidity, wind direction and dew-point data, and even severe weather information.  The HuntingLife application is available on the iTunes store for $1.99 at: http://bit.ly/a0bbc6

WASHINGTON – The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership today praised a decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to require secretarial-level review for road-building and timber-cutting projects in national forest roadless areas. Announced this morning by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the action renews a directive, issued in 2009, that was set to expire tomorrow.
 
“American sportsmen appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s actions, and we encourage the Department of Agriculture to adhere to the Roadless Area Conservation Rule when considering projects in roadless areas,” said Joel Webster, associate director of campaigns for the TRCP Center for Western Lands. “The future of public-lands hunting and fishing depends on roadless policy that safeguards fish and wildlife habitat. The 2001 roadless rule is the strongest option for conserving our backcountry legacy and outdoor traditions.”  
 
The administration has established a record of support for national roadless conservation. Today’s decision should help provide consistency as uncertainty surrounding the future of the 2001 rule is determined. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to render a decision on the rule as early as this summer.

Barnett Outdoors, a leader in the design and production of high performance crossbows announced it had joined forces with the Buck Commander TV Team to create the new BUCK COMMANDER™ Crossbow. The BUCK COMMANDER is the culmination of Barnett’s optimum features in a crossbow that combine a sleek progressive design in a more compact ergonomic frame.

The BUCK COMMANDER is built on a strong but lightweight high tech composite stock that allows for the integration of a crank cocking device and Barnsdale/Gordon Glass laminated limbs. Each limb is fitted with over-molding with AVI™ technology that quiets noise up to 30% while also reducing unwanted vibrations. The new aluminum flight rail provides increased durability as well as increased accuracy. The BUCK COMMANDER features a patented, shoot-through foot stirrup for increased power and speed by extending the power stoke to 15” allowing for an ultra smooth 365 FPS producing a powerful 129 foot pounds of energy.  All this in a compact, perfectly balanced unit. 

The BUCK COMMANDER comes standard with Barnett’s new 3.5 pound MIM, Anti Dry Fire trigger system and integrated crank cocking device.  Also standard is the new illuminated 3x32 magnified scope that provides the illumination of a red dot sight with the efficiency and accuracy of a multi-reticule scope.

Newton, Iowa -- Pheasants Forever and SS Green Light Racing have buckled up to give you the opportunity to win four (4) VIP garage passes with the GunBroker.com racing team on Sunday, July 11th for the Lucas Oil 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event at the Iowa Speedway.

Conservationists, gun enthusiasts and racing fans have until June 23rd to enter to win. The sweepstakes winner will notch four (4) VIP garage passes to be on the team at the Lucas Oil 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event and spend the day with GunBroker.com driver Jason White. During the race, which will air live on SPEED TV, keep your eyes peeled for the Pheasants Forever logo on the GunBroker.com truck.

"It's safe to say there's strong crossover interest from the hunting and conservation community to NASCAR," said Brad Heidel, Pheasants Forever's Director of Special Event Sales, "This partnership is a unique way for Pheasants Forever to put our name in front of an audience that may not be that familiar with our habitat efforts."

Conservationist, youth leader, business leader and Remington Outdoor Foundation Chairman Grant Gregory will speak at the International Hunter Education Association's (IHEA) annual conference in Estes Park, Colo., June 3-5.

"Throughout his career, Grant Gregory has served in leadership positions - board chairman, CEO, merchant banker as well as for youth, education and conservation causes. We're grateful for his professional expertise at building the partnership between IHEA and Remington Outdoor Foundation," said Tim Lawhern, president of IHEA. "His leadership is key in helping IHEA become even more effective at delivering hunter safety training."

Gregory, whose professional expertise includes corporate governance and ethical business practices, mergers and acquisitions, and tax policy, has served in numerous leadership roles throughout his career including chairman emeritus of the National Forest Foundation and director emeritus of The National Board of Directors of Junior Achievement. In addition to chairing Remington Outdoor Foundation, he serves as vice chairman of Cerberus Capital Management and director of The Freedom Group, Inc.

MISSOULA, Mont.—Texas is a mighty big place, but its borders aren’t nearly big enough to contain its residents’ passion for wildlife, hunting and conservation. Over the past year, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supporters across the state have raised enough money to grant substantial funding for elk habitat initiatives nationwide, plus keep some dollars at home for important conservation education efforts in 12 Texas counties.

In Texas, RMEF grants totaling $31,625 will affect Austin, Burleson, Fayette, Harris, Kaufman, Kerr, Lee, Madison, Potter, Victoria, Washington and Williamson counties.

Three additional projects have statewide interest.

For 2010, Texas also is funding RMEF habitat conservation and enhancement projects, primarily in the Mountain West, with grants totaling $126,012.

“All of this funding is possible because of the successful banquets and fundraisers staged over the past year by our Texas volunteers—most of whom are elk hunters as well as devoted conservationists,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Since 1984, RMEF grants in Texas have helped complete 84 different projects with a combined value of more than $1.3 million—and the state’s continuing influence on elk and habitat conservation nationwide also is significant and impressive.”

It was the Saturday before the all day turkey season came in and we were getting ready to go hunting. Caleb, 12 years old and first time hunter, was going turkey hunting with us. Caleb decided to spend the night with us because we were getting up early in the morning. I went to sleep as soon as I got home because I knew it would be a long day Saturday. I was sleeping peacefully and was suddenly awaked by daddy barging through my door and yelling “Get up! Were running late!!” He scared me so bad that I jumped right out of my bed, still asleep.

As soon as I got over my scare- heart attack, I started getting dressed in my camo. We grabbed some breakfast and then drove to the property that we were going to hunt. When we arrived, it was starting to get light enough to see around the fields. We quickly grabbed our guns and walked across the fields. Dad stopped and was debating with me on where we should sit. I told him to go sit by those hey bails that were at the peak of the hill and we could see both sides of the field.