Weekly News

Rod & Reel Raffle

We are raffling off 5 rod n� reel sets to raise funds for a local VFW Post that does a whole lot of good for returning veterans.

Your participation and purchase of a ticket � or tickets - will help us raise the necessary funds to meet our goal and help these guys; thanks.

Rod & Reel Raffle

Tickets $20.00 each Only 500 tickets to be sold

Proceeds to aid Veterans

5 winners (100 to 1 odds)

Brands to be raffled include:

Abu Garcia Okuma Pflueger

Pinnacle Quantum All Star

High-end pro edition units in sets or combination

Spinning and Baitcast sets IM 8 rods in 6', 7 and 8' lengths

For detailed rod & reel info: click here

Anthrax faces silent war with giant, deadly virus

The University of California reports that although the anthrax bacterium strikes fear in the hearts of many, it has its own mortal enemy�a huge, deadly virus, researchers have found.

Scientists are hoping the virus could help lead to an effective treatment against anthrax and some related pathogens that cause food poisoning. Investigators have also been looking for such new treatments because antibiotics don�t work as well as they used to�bacteria are evolving counter�measures, or resistance.

Investigators uncovered the anti-anthrax virus, called a bacteriophage, in zebras that had died from anthrax in Etosha National Park, Namibia. The research is published Jan. 27 in the journal PLoS One.

The anthrax bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, forms spores that survive in soil for a long time. Zebras are infected when they pick up the spores while grazing; the bacteria multiply and when the animal dies, they form spores that return to the soil.

While the bacterium invades and kills the animal, bacteriophages, literally �bacteria eaters,� are viruses that invade and kill bacteria, the scientists explained.

The first thing the team noticed was that the virus was a voracious predator of the anthrax bacterium, said Holly Ganz, a research scientist at the University of California, Davis Genome Center and co-author of the paper. They also noticed the virus, named Bacillus phage Tsamsa, is one of the largest known bacteriophages, with a giant head, a long tail and a large genome.

Tsamsa in�fects not only B. anthracis but also some closely related bacteria, including strains of Bacillus cereus, which can cause food poisoning, the investigators added. Decoding the genome let researchers identify the gene for lysin, a compound the virus uses to kill bacterial cells, they said. That itself has potential use as an antibiotic or disinfecting agent.

Bacteriophages are often highly specific to one strain of bacteria, and when they were first discovered in the early 20th century there was strong interest in them as antimicrobial agents. But the discovery of penicillin and other antibiotics eclipsed phage treatments in the West. �With growing concerns about antibiotic resistance and super�bugs, people are coming back to look at phages,� said Ganz.

Smoking Linked with Increased Risk of Most Common Type of Breast Cancer

Young women who smoke and have been smoking a pack a day for a decade or more have a significantly increased risk of developing the most common type of breast cancer. That is the finding of an analysis published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study indicates that an increased risk of breast cancer may be another health risk incurred by young women who smoke.

The majority of recent studies evaluating the relationship between smoking and breast cancer risk among young women have found that smoking is linked with an increased risk; however, few studies have evaluated risks according to different subtypes of breast cancer.

To investigate, Christopher Li, MD, PhD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and his colleagues conducted a population-based study consisting of 778 patients with estrogen receptor positive

breast cancer and 182 patients with triple-negative breast cancer.

Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer is the most common subtype of breast cancer, while triple-negative breast cancer is less common but

tends to be more aggressive. Patients in the study were 20 to 44 years old and were diagnosed from 2004-2010 in the Seattle-Puget Sound metropolitan area. The study also included 938 cancer-free controls.

The researchers found that young women who were current or recent smokers and had been smoking a pack a day for at least 10 years had a 60 percent increased risk of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. In contrast, smoking was not related to a woman�s risk of triple-negative breast cancer.

�The health hazards associated with smoking are numerous and well known. This study adds to our knowledge in suggesting that with respect to breast cancer, smoking may increase the risk of the most common molecular subtype of breast cancer but not influence risk of one of the rarer, more aggressive subtypes,� said Dr. Li.

Winchester recalls .22 Ammo

Winchester has released the following notice on their website about some of their .22LR ammo. The ammo affected is 2 lots of their M*22* 40gr ammo. The issue is that some of the rounds could be double charged. A double charge is one of the worst ammo defects you can experience as it could possibly cause damage to a firearm and/or harm to the shooter or bystanders.

Here is the full press release

Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is recalling two (2) lots of M*22� 22 Long Rifle 40 Grain Black Copper Plated Round Nose rimfire ammunition.

Symbol Number: S22LRT
Lot Numbers: GD42L and GD52L

Winchester has determined the above lots of 22 Long Rifle rimfire ammunition may contain double powder charges. Ammunition with double powder charges may subject the shooter or bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury and/or death, or cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable.

DO NOT USE WINCHESTER M*22� 22 Long Rifle RIMFIRE

AMMUNITION WITH LOT NUMBERS GD42L or GD52L. The ammunition Lot Number is imprinted (stamped without ink) on the left tuck flap of the 500-round carton as indicated here. The 1000-round intermediate carton does not have a Lot Number.

To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the Symbol Number and Lot Number. If it is Symbol Number S22LRT with a Lot Number containing GD42L or GD52L immediately discontinue use and contact Winchester toll-free at 866-423-5224 or visit http://www.winchester.com/Product-Service/Pages/Contact-Us.aspx for free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition.

This notice applies only to Symbol Number S22LRT with Lot Numbers GD42L and GD52L. Other Symbol Numbers or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.

If you have any questions concerning this 22 Long Rifle rimfire ammunition recall please call toll-free 866-423-5224, write to Winchester (600 Powder Mill Road, East Alton, IL 62024 Attn: S22LRT Recall), or contact Winchester Customer Support online.

Monumental Sportsmen's Legislation pending
House to Vote on Historic Sportsmen�s Package

In the next few days, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Sportsmen�s Act of 2014, which includes 8 bills that will benefit the sportfishing community, as well as recreational shooters and hunters. This historic legislation provides for increased access and the protection of traditional tackle.

Your participation is greatly needed. Send a message to your Representative today urging them to vote for this historic legislation.

Of greatest importance to recreational anglers in this package are:

The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act -- Directs U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management managers to facilitate recreational fishing and hunting on public lands and waters and to evaluate how these traditional outdoor activities will be impacted by the implementation of new regulations, management plans or land use initiatives.

The Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act - This section will prevent attempts to federally ban lead in recreational fishing equipment and ammunition components by clarifying the Toxic Substances Control Act. Recent petitions and court actions by anti-fishing and anti-hunting groups have attempted to impose a federal ban on lead in both fishing and hunting equipment.

The most effective thing you can do is send a message and call your Representative�s office, and simply tell them to vote YES on H.R. 3590

Winchester recalls .22 Ammo

Here is the full press release

Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is recalling two (2) lots of M*22� 22 Long Rifle 40 Grain Black Copper Plated Round Nose rimfire ammunition.

Symbol Number: S22LRT
Lot Numbers: GD42L and GD52L

DO NOT USE WINCHESTER M*22� 22 Long Rifle RIMFIRE

This notice applies only to Symbol Number S22LRT with Lot Numbers GD42L and GD52L. Other Symbol Numbers or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.

2014 Farm Bill now law, ending long struggle

Bill is a win for conservation

WASHINGTON � Feb. 7, 2014 � On Friday, February 7, President Obama signed the 2014 Farm Bill, ending years of legislative uncertainty for farmers and conservationists alike.

After nearly four years of fighting between Democrats and Republicans, the massive package was unveiled last week and approved by Congress in just a matter of days. It was the first time Congress has approved a new Farm Bill since 2008.

The deal also saves billions by consolidating government conservation programs. Government estimates say it is supposed to cut $16 billion in government spending in the next decade. The bill has changes to programs involving environmental regulations on farms, aid to dairy and sheep farmers and the kind of food the U.S. Agriculture Department may buy for the Nation�s food banks.

This bill includes proactive and common sense conservation programs

that will help deter wetland and other habitat loss, incentivize habitat conservation and keep working farmers and ranchers on their land. The

2014 Farm Bill includes the conservation and sporting community�s top priorities of re-coupling conservation compliance to crop insurance and a Sodsaver program affecting the top duck producing states of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Conservation provisions included in the 2014 Farm Bill are designed to encourage the conservation of our nation�s remaining wetlands and grasslands, which help keep our waters clean, prevent soil erosion and provide vital habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

The $956.4 billion package includes a sweeping overhaul of Federal farm and nutrition policies on what farmers grow, how food is packaged and sold and how the government helps the poor pay for their food. The 959-page bill ends billions of dollars in direct subsidy payments to farmers. In their place, farmers may take advantage of a new crop insurance program, the newspaper said.

Ice and water clarity conditions for sturgeon spearing season

OSHKOSH - With the 2014 Winnebago lake sturgeon spearing season open (Feb 8), fisheries officials report that water clarity and ice conditions, the best in a decade and the keys to spearing success, continue to improve.

"The current water clarity conditions of 14-16 feet of visibility are the best we've seen since the 2008-2010 spearing seasons, which were all very successful spearing seasons lasting four to eight days," says Ryan Koenigs, Winnebago sturgeon biologist with the DNR.

Koenigs forecasts an exciting 2014 season due to favorable water clarity and ice conditions making it easier for spearers to get around on the ice

and also for them to see sturgeon underwater. "Given the clear water, we are anticipating a relatively short season that will likely be highlighted by the harvest of many trophy sized fish," he says.

The prospects of really big fish are also raising expectations for the season. A record 9.5 percent of the sturgeon harvested from Lake Winnebago during the 2013 season weighed more than 100 pounds and DNR staff have routinely observed fish larger than 200 pounds in recent spring surveys.

Learn more about lake sturgeon and the unique winter spearing season in DNR's "Sturgeon Week" series of web features, including today's feature on record fish.

(Click on title or URL to read full article)

Trout Unlimited under the microscope

The Center for Consumer Freedom � the same organization that exposed the shenanigans of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and The Humane Society of the United States � recently launched a campaign against sportsmen�s advocacy groups, exposing them for what they say are �radical environmentalists with a hidden far-left agenda.� Dubbed �Green Decoys,� the published report reveals how radical environmentalists are using sportsmen�s groups as camouflage to push left-wing objectives.

Camp Perry wind turbine project halted following threat to sue

One of several wind turbine projects planned for the shores of Lake Erie, has been halted following submission of a letter of intent to sue from American Bird Conservancy and Black Swamp Bird Observatory. The two groups had vigorously opposed the project due to its exceptionally high risk to federally protected wildlife.

Senate panel signs off on guns on Post Office grounds � but not in buildings

A Senate committee unanimously passed a measure Thursday to allow people to carry guns on postal service property, but killed a broader push to let gun owners carry their firearms into actual post office buildings.

Polar vortex winter: Lake Superior freezes over a month early
Professor Jay Austin from University of Minnesota sends along the news this morning that Lake Superior has completely frozen over, a month ahead of schedule for years when the big lake reaches complete ice cover.

Ice cover, snowfall expected to help Great Lakes levels make small gains by boating season
Subzero temperatures plus record snowfall in parts of Michigan and above-average amounts in Great Lakes states are expected to solidify last year�s gains in lake levels and, in some cases, help them rise closer to normal levels.

Great Lakes water levels are in unusual decline
The Great Lakes and Wisconsin's small lakes and aquifers water levels all rise and fall on a 13-year cycle, according to a new study. But that cycle is now mysteriously out of whack, researchers have found

2014 Farm Bill now law, ending long struggle

Bill is a win for conservation

Ice and water clarity conditions for sturgeon spearing season

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