Weatherby® Offers Mark V® Accumark, TRR Rifles in .338 Lapua Magnum

Weatherby^® has chambered its Mark V^® Accumark, TRR Custom Magnum and TRR RC rifles for the increasingly popular .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge.

Originally designed as an ultra-long-range sniper cartridge for military use, the .338 Lapua Magnum is ideal for shooting out to 1,000 yards.  It is a popular round used by NATO forces, and has become a more common choice for big game hunters as well.

“The .338 Lapua Magnum chambering is a natural for our Mark V Accumark and TRR rifles because we design them for shooting that requires pinpoint accuracy at extended ranges,” said Mike Schwiebert, Weatherby’s marketing manager.

Fishing and Hunting Protection Bill Introduced in the U.S. Senate

(Columbus, OH) – Protection of fishing, hunting, and shooting on national forest and public lands has taken a step forward with the Senate introduction of the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act.  Introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), the measure is backed by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, American Sportfishing Association, National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and others in the angling, hunting and wildlife conservation community.

            The bill will protect fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational shooting and wildlife management practices on more than 400 million acres of public land across America managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.  The measure mandates that these public lands are open until closed for angling, hunting and shooting while enabling the agencies to make specific closures or restrictions determined to be necessary and supported by sound facts and evidence.  The bill is patterned after the 1997 National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act which made fishing and hunting “priority public uses” on federal wildlife refuge system lands and has helped protect fishing and hunting there from anti-fishing/anti-hunting zealots.

Mule Deer Foundation gets Buck Nekkid in Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Macy L. Brooks, co-founder of Buck Nekkid BBQ in Fayetteville, Ark., signed a Chapter Charter with the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) last week. A fundraising banquet will be held in April at the restaurant, which can seat upwards of 400 people.

At 21 years of age, Brooks is the youngest-ever Chapter Chair for the organization. This is also the first-ever MDF chapter in the Razorback state.

Why Arkansas? Why MDF? Why now? A number of factors figured into Brooks' decision to come on board with MDF. First of all, she shares an acquaintance and mutual respect with MDF Regional Director Charlie Stockstill, who joined MDF last year and is charged with expanding the organization in the south. Brooks' family also owns some mule deer habitat in New Mexico, and she knows numerous Arkansas hunters who travel to both Texas and New Mexico in pursuit of muleys.

QDMA To Participate In Delaware Wildlife Management Workshop & Expo

HARRINGTON, Del. -- The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is sending two members of its national education staff to the 2012 Delaware Wildlife Management Workshop and Expo at the Delaware State Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall on Saturday.

The Delaware Wildlife Management Workshop will feature a group of experts who will present strategies for successful hunting and explain the benefits of Quality Deer Management (QDM). The event is sponsored by the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), the Fish and Wildlife Division of the Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Delaware State Chapter of QDMA.

MidwayUSA Attends 2012 “Elk Camp” as Official Sponsor

COLUMBIA, MO – February 3, 2012 –

Las Vegas is full of thousands of conservation supporters this week with both the Safari Club International (SCI) Convention and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) “Elk Camp” occurring.  The 2012 “Elk Camp” at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Riviera Hotel marks the 28^th anniversary of this special event and expo. Full of hundreds of exhibitors, lunches, contests, auctions and even country music entertainers “Elk Camp” will prove itself again as a must attend expo for the outdoor enthusiast. 

Larry Potterfield will be at the show Friday morning, February 3, to attend the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) and Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), two events that funded by personal donations from the Potterfield family.  At the YWCE, local Nevada students were invited by the RMEF to come and participate in a variety of activities that encourage kids to expand their knowledge of wildlife conservation.

World Wetlands Day memorandum of cooperation kicks off DU's 75th anniversary celebration in NYC

NEW YORK – Feb. 2, 2012 – Every Feb. 2, people all over the globe celebrate World Wetlands Day, commemorating the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, an intergovernmental treaty signed by 161 countries that recognizes the value and splendor of our wetland resources. This year's celebration was made all the more momentous earlier today as Ducks Unlimited and Ramsar signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) in New York City.

The MOC signing event was attended by approximately 100 people and took place in the Basildon Room of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel beginning at 4:00 p.m., prior to the start of DU's 75th anniversary kickoff event. Dale Hall, CEO of Ducks Unlimited, and Anada Tiéga, secretary general for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, presented and signed the MOC. John Newman, president of DU; John Tomke, president of DU de Mexico; Tom Worden, president of DU Canada; and John Childs, president of Wetlands America Trust also offered their remarks.

Pheasants Forever Recognizes Seven Ohio Chapters at Annual State Convention

Lima, Ohio - February 2, 2012 - Ohio Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recognized chapters and individuals from across the state for their wildlife habitat conservation efforts at its recent state convention. Those efforts helped improve more than 23,000 acres for wildlife last year. During the event, Fred Circle, President and CEO of FDC Enterprises, located in Springfield, Ohio was announced as the state's first Patron Pheasants Forever member, donating $10,000 to the organization's habitat mission.

"Ohio Pheasants Forever made great strides in 2011, creating well over 20,000 acres for pheasant, quail, and other wildlife," said Charlie Payne, Pheasants Forever's regional wildlife biologist, "The message of conservation is growing at the grassroots level, and it is in direct correlation with the efforts of our Pheasants Forever chapters and members. Volunteer conservationists are recognizing Pheasants Forever's model, which allows local chapters to dictate how their fundraised dollars are spent, and carrying the torch for future generations of outdoorsmen and women."

Advantage Hunting Announces Whitetail Hunting Blind

Every hunter wants to have the advantage when they take to the woods. Advantage Hunting blinds give you the advantage by providing you with concealment, scent control and protection from the elements. A user-friendly design and guaranteed durability are a testimony to the advantage the hunter experiences.

Advantage Hunting's Whitetail Blind features a heavy-duty Polyethylene black shell and interior. The through-bolt design with interlocking corners make the Whitetail Blind durable and strong enough to stand up to the wear and tear of the hunt, unlike cheap hard-sided plastic blinds that crack and fade over time or soft-sided blinds that wear out after a season of use.

Hunters in HOG Heaven Over Leupold’s® New Riflescope

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Boar hunters take note: Leupold's new VX^®-HOG riflescope features an exclusive Pig Plex reticle for fast target acquisition and precise shot placement.

The VX-HOG is a 1.25-4x20mm riflescope, well suited for the terrain and conditions typical of wild boar country.  Its Pig Plex reticle is calibrated to frame up a mature hog and provide just the right amount of lead on running boars.

"We are a sponsor of Brian ‘Pig Man' Quaca, who inspired us to design riflescopes for passionate hog hunters," commented Pat Mundy, communications manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc.  "With the VX-HOG, hog hunters everywhere are rigged for pig and ready for close-range, fast-paced action."

Leupold® Introduces Scope for Crossbow Hunting

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Designed specifically for crossbow hunting, Leupold's new Crossbones scope features an exclusive reticle integrated with a special power selector to maximize shooting accuracy.

The power selector is calibrated in velocity rather than magnification, allowing the hunters to easily match the ballistic profile of their arrows to the exclusive Crossbones Ballistic Reticle (CBR).  

"Our CBR reticle is ideally suited to the function and power of today's modern crossbow," said Pat Mundy, communications manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc.  "The power selector ring allows shooters to effortlessly adjust to their arrow velocity and calibrate the CBR for the arrow at the same time."