Weekly News Archives

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       New Product  Archives

Bushnell Reintroduces its Popular H20 Design

Bushnell Outdoor Products, has redesigned its popular H20 binocular line. After 10 successful years on the market, Bushnell has refreshed key features, making the H2O one of the best waterproof binoculars for the money.

The H2O series binoculars are O-ringed sealed and nitrogen purged, offering outdoor enthusiasts 100 percent waterproof and fog-proof performance. The durable, rubber-coated chassis has been enhanced with a new soft-texture grip that provides added reassurance in inclement weather.

In addition, BaK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics deliver

maximum light transmission and bright, optimal clarity at

any distance. Featuring a large center-focus knob for quick focus and twist-up eyecups that provide expanded eye relief, the Bushnell H2O is a well-rounded binocular.

Adventure tested, the H2O product line includes 24 models with designs that range from compact to full size. The H2O binocular is available in porro and roof prism models, with an MSRP that ranges from $69.95 to $173.95.

For more information about the Bushnell H2O binocular line, visit the product section online.

800-423-3537    www.bushnell.com

Nikon Riflescope For AR Rimfire Platform � The P-22
 Nikon�s new P-22 riflescopes are the rimfire-optimized variant of Nikon�s growing line of precision optics for AR rifles. Designed for extreme sighting speed and superior accuracy from rimfire AR platform rifles and .22 long rifle cartridges, the P-22 is offered in 2-7x32 with BDC 150 reticle or 2-7x32 with Nikoplex reticle and Nikon�s Rapid Action Turret system. 

Nikon P-22 riflescopes feature tactical-style turrets with a Zero-Reset feature and are parallax set at 50 yards. Positive, �-inch MOA at 50 yards and tactical hand turn reticle adjustments provide positive click feedback to get shooters on target with speed and confidence. Featuring fully multicoated optics for extreme brightness, the P-22 provides incredibly high light transmission for most light conditions.
 
Developed specifically for the trajectory of the .22 long rifle rimfire round, the new BDC 150 reticle offers shooters circles, dots and hash marks from 50 to 150 yards.  It includes tactical-style turrets with Zero-Reset feature to get zeroed-in quicker and maintain settings � even with repeated recoil. 
 
The P-22 2-7x32 with Nikoplex reticle with Rapid Action Turret technology includes two different sets of tactical style elevation turrets for Standard Velocities (1200-1300 fps) and Hyper Velocities (1500-1600 fps).  Now it�s possible to aim directly at the targets, eliminating the need to holdover by changing distances with a quick turn of the  

turret. 
 

Available in Winter 2012, the P-22 will retail for $179.95.
 
Nikon P-22 Specifications:
FOV @ 100 yards:  33.4 - 9.5
Exit Pupil:  16 - 4.6
Eye Relief:  3.8 inches
Length:  11.5 inches
Weight:  13.9 ounces
Max internal adjustment:  80 MOA
Parallax setting:  50 yards

Like all Nikon riflescopes, the P-22 is optimized for use with Nikon Spot On� Ballistic Match Technology.  The Spot On program provides users with exact aiming points on the BDC reticle for any load or ammunition at a specified range.  Spot On can be purchased for iPhone and Android or tried out for free at nikonhunting.com/spoton.

Nikon Inc. is the distributor of Nikon sports and recreational optics, world-renowned Nikon 35mm cameras, digital cameras, speedlights and accessories, Nikkor lenses and electronic imaging products.
 
For more information on Nikon�s full line of riflescopes, binoculars, Fieldscopes and laser rangefinders, please contact: Nikon Sport Optics, 1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747-3064, or call 1-800-645-6687. www.nikonhunting.com.

Proposed $1.3 Billion Budget for USFWS for 2013

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will likely receive a net total of $1.3 billion in the 2013 fiscal year. The money will help to support the Fish and Wildlife Service�s two main initiatives � cooperative species recovery and the America�s Great Outdoors program which aims to approach conservation from the perspective of local communities.

According to a FWS representative, the organization�s

second biggest priority is cooperative species recovery,

which is �an innovative new program to recover endangered species that have habitat on national wildlife refuges and their surrounding ecosystems. It will be a proposal-driven, targeted effort using all our authorities and resources from the Endangered Species, Migratory Birds, Fisheries and Science programs, together with Refuges.�

This year�s funding sees an uptick of $70 million more than fiscal year 2012, but only $42 million more than fiscal year 2011.

Sportfishing Industry Lauds EPA Dismissal of Second Lead Ban Petition
Attempt to implement costly ban on lead tackle defeated but legislation needed to stop future efforts

Alexandria, VA � February 15, 2011 -The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) commends the February 14, 2012, decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to reject a second sweeping petition to ban lead in all fishing tackle. The petition, which was submitted on November 16, 2011, by the Center for Biological Diversity and two other groups, requested that the EPA study and ultimately ban lead in fishing tackle on all U.S. waters under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

This most recent attempt to federally ban lead fishing tackle came on the heels of the EPA�s November 2010 decision to dismiss a similar petition submitted by the same groups. That decision is currently being challenged in court by the petitioners. Sweeping regulation of lead fishing tackle would have a significant, negative impact on recreational anglers and the sportfishing industry with minimal benefit to the environment.

In dismissing this most recent petition, the EPA stated that the petitioners did not �provide a basis for finding that the risk presented is an unreasonable risk for which federal action under section 6(a) of TSCA is necessary.� The EPA also cited state-specific actions and the increasing education and outreach activities being undertaken. The EPA�s decision falls in line with sound fish and wildlife management practices and several scientific studies which demonstrate that waterfowl populations are not negatively impacted by the use of lead fishing tackle.

�The sportfishing industry applauds the EPA�s dismissal of this most recent petition,� said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. �Such an extensive ban is not only unwarranted, but is wildly unpopular. Sweeping regulations on lead fishing tackle would have a tremendous impact on the sportfishing industry and change the face, and cost, of recreational fishing for the angling public. Thousands of anglers submitted comments in opposition to this petition and I am glad to see that their voices were heard. Unjustified bans will only serve to harm the economy and reduce participation in traditional outdoor sports.�

�The EPA�s decision reaffirms that lead fishing tackle is not harming waterfowl populations,� Robertson further noted. �America�s anglers are the original conservationists, committed to taking reasonable steps to protect the environment. Through fishing license fees and the federal excise tax on fishing equipment, anglers and the sportfishing industry provide the bulk of the funding to help ensure that there are healthy and abundant fisheries to enjoy. The EPA recognized this fact with its dismissal of this second petition.�

�Unfortunately, this does not mean the end for these unwarranted attempts to ban lead fishing tackle,� concluded Robertson. �With anti-fishing organizations trying to stop recreational fishing using whatever means they can, legislation is necessary to protect our sport from overregulation. Legislation currently pending before Congress, the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act, will put a stop to these onerous petitions and protect these cherished pastimes.�

The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act (S. 838/H.R. 1558) seeks to prevent a federal ban on lead in recreational fishing tackle and ammunition and helps to ensure that any future regulations on fishing tackle are established based on scientific fact instead of unjustified petitions. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by the co-chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen�s Caucus.

The sportfishing community�s objection to the petitioned ban was based on:

• The data does not support a federal ban on lead in fishing equipment. In general, bird populations, including loons and other waterfowl species, are subject to many more substantial threats such as habitat loss through shoreline development, waste and other pollutants. Any lead restrictions on fishing tackle need to be based on sound science that supports the appropriate action for a particular water body or species.

• A federal ban on the use of lead in fishing tackle will have a significant negative impact on recreational anglers and fisheries resources, but a negligible impact on waterfowl populations - the most cited reason for the ban.

• Depending on the alternative metal and current prevailing raw material costs, non-lead fishing tackle products can cost from nine to twenty times more than lead products. Non-lead products may not be as available and most do not perform as well. Mandatory transitioning to non-lead fishing tackle would require significant and costly changes from both the industry and anglers.

• A federal ban of lead fishing tackle oversteps the EPA�s authority. Any impact of lead on waterbird populations is a localized issue which, when scientifically documented and determined to be a population threat, should be addressed by state fish and wildlife agencies through local fishing regulations.

• America�s 60 million anglers generate more than $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation�s economy, creating employment for more than one million people.

DEC Announces �State Of Lake Ontario� Meetings

Biologists to Update Status of Lake's Fisheries

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced three upcoming public meetings to discuss Lake Ontario fisheries.  The annual �State of Lake Ontario� public meetings will be held in Niagara, Monroe and Oswego counties during February and March.

�DEC is committed to science-based management of Lake Ontario fisheries to maintain high-quality angling opportunities and associated economic benefits,� DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said.  �The State of Lake Ontario meetings provide an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in the lake to interact with the scientists who study its fisheries.�

Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish.  New York�s Lake Ontario waters comprise more than 2.7 million acres.  A 2007 statewide angler survey estimated more than 2.6 million angler days were spent on Lake Ontario and major tributaries.  The estimated value of these fisheries exceeded $112 million to the local New York economy. 

The meeting dates are as follows:

Wednesday, February 22, 2012: 7 � 9:30 p.m. at the

Oswego County BOCES, 179 County Route 64, Mexico (Oswego County).  The meeting is co-hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012: 7 � 9:30 p.m. at the Ingel Auditorium, in Building 4 (Student Union) on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus, Rochester (Monroe County).  The meeting is co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board.

Thursday, March 1, 2012: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension   

Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport (Niagara County) The meeting is co-hosted by Niagara County Cooperative Extension and the Niagara County Sportfishery Development Board.

DEC, United States Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources biologists will make a number of presentations, including updates on the status of trout and salmon fisheries, forage fish, stocking programs, and fisheries management plans.  Ample time will be provided at the end of the scheduled program for the audience to interact with the presenters.  Information summaries for a host of Lake Ontario fisheries assessment programs will be posted at:  www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27068.html prior to the public meetings.  Previous annual reports can also be found at this site.

Lake Erie Harmful Algal Blooms Workshops

March 16 in Toledo, March 30 in Columbus

Best practices and legal tools to combat harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie will be the focus of two workshops, on March 16 in Toledo and March 30 in Columbus, sponsored by the University of Toledo College of Law and Ohio Sea Grant.  The half-day workshops are free and open to the public.

Harmful algal blooms, toxin-producing algae that form during the summer, are an increasingly severe problem in Lake Erie.  Triggered primarily by excess phosphorus, they adversely impact aquatic life and human health as

well as recreation, tourism, fishing and property values.  These workshops will feature experts from law, science and government addressing ways to reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Erie and its tributaries from key Ohio sources.

The workshops will be held March 16 at the University of Toledo College of Law and March 30 at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Assembly Center.  More information about the workshops is available at http://law.utoledo.edu/ligl/habs_workshops.htm.  Contact [email protected] or 419-530-2851 to register.

Researchers work on projects to restore lake Michigan

MUSKEGON, Mich. � Two Grand Valley State University researchers are working together on a pair of projects that are designed to help restore habitat in the area of Muskegon Lake, and assist in getting Muskegon Lake de-listed as an Area of Concern in the Great Lakes.

Al Steinman, Ph.D., and Rick Rediske, Ph.D., are co-principal investigators on a pair of projects in Muskegon Lake and adjacent Bear Lake. Steinman is also the director of Grand Valley�s Annis Water Resources Institute.

The planned improvements include a new design and engineering project to restore habitat in Muskegon Lake, which is connected to Lake Michigan, and a wetland restoration project just upstream from Bear Lake. Even though restoration efforts in the area have been underway for several years, some challenges remain.

Fish and wildlife habitats are still recovering, and fish and wildlife that live in the area are considered degraded. In the Bear Lake area, unwanted nutrient enrichment and undesirable algae are cause for concern.

The first project will involve removing debris at the

Muskegon Lake Mill Debris site, a shallow 40-acre area
along the southern portion of the lake that�s choked with old sawmill slab wood and sawdust from past operations. Debris removal there will contribute to broader restoration goals in the area, including restoration of an area of open-water wetlands.

The second project will involve reconnecting a 43-acre wetland site that used to be a celery farm to the Bear Creek and Bear Lake system. The goal is to help improve habitat for fish and wildlife. Another part of the project will be to monitor the phosphorus concentrations that could flow into the creek and lake from the wetland area after being reconnected. This phosphorus helps stimulate algal blooms, so it is critical to design the restoration to improve habitat without degrading water quality.

The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission is the lead organization on the projects. Grand Valley�s Annis Water Resources Institute will also get assistance from NOAA�s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the Great Lakes Commission, and the National Wildlife Federation.

For more information, contact Alan Steinman, (616) 331-3749 or go to www.gvsu.edu/wri/

Ohio Licenses available March 1

COLUMBUS, OH � Ohio�s 2012-13 fishing, hunting and trapping licenses and permits will be on sale starting March 1, according to the Ohio DNR.

Licenses purchased online or at retail outlets will be printed on paper that can be folded down to credit card size, but will not be waterproof and must be protected. Licenses and permits will be printed along with additional information relevant to the license or permit purchased.

Each license buyer must have a Social Security Number (SSN) recorded in the system. People who purchased licenses last year can now use their customer ID number and will not have to supply their SSN again.

regardless of age, for the purpose of child support collection enforcement under Federal Statute 42. As a recreational license provider, the Division of Wildlife is obligated to comply with this law and cannot issue a license or permit without the SSN of the purchaser. The division will see that a proper security system is in place to protect SSNs and any databases that contain them.

The license will be valid March 1 through Feb. 28, 2013. The 2011-12 licenses will expire on Feb. 29. Licenses and permits can be purchased online at wildohio.com and at hundreds of agent outlets throughout the state. A complete list of participating license sales agents can be found at www.wildohio.com

Open houses will be held March 3 in Columbus, OH

The Ohio DNR is holding open house meetings in all five districts to discuss season dates and bag limits of game species, which will include Ohio�s most popular game animal, the white-tailed deer. The meetings will be Saturday, March 3, from 12 � 3 p.m. and are open to the public.

�Anyone interested in providing input and participating in Ohio's professional wildlife management process is welcome to attend,� said Scott Zody, chief of the Division of Wildlife. �Each open house location will have a fish and wildlife biologist as well as law enforcement officers available to answer questions.�

Public input gathered at these open houses will be forwarded to the division's central office and considered during the formulation of regulations.  For more information or directions to the open houses, visit the Division of Wildlife�s website at www.wildohio.com  or call 800-

WILDLIFE(945-3543).

Open House Location Information for March 3:

� Central Ohio - Wildlife District One Office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, 614- 644-3925

� Northwest Ohio - Wildlife District Two Office, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, 419-424-5000

� Northeast Ohio - Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, 330-644-2293

� Southeast Ohio - Wildlife District Four Office, 360 E. State Street, Athens, 740-589-9930

� Southwest Ohio - Greene County Fish and Game Club, 1538 Union Road, Xenia, 937-372-9261

A statewide hearing on all proposed rules will be held on Thursday, March 8, at 9 a.m. at the Division of Wildlife�s District One office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. This hearing is open to the public and input is permitted.

After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules during the April 4 meeting.

Wisconsin Leads Nation in Trophy Whitetail Bucks

The number of trophy bucks taken in Wisconsin has risen by 857 percent in 30 years, with a record-breaking 383 entries during the five years ending in 2010, according to historical records kept by the venerable Boone and Crockett Club.

That makes Wisconsin the number one state or Canadian province in North America for trophy whitetail production, muscling up from its earlier position of third.

The records show the number of trophy white-tailed deer in North America shot up by 400 percent during the past 30 years. During the period from 1980 to 1985, North American hunters entered 617 trophy whitetails, every one of those antlers scored by a certified Boone and Crocket �measurer,� a designation that can take years to earn.

For the period 2005-2010, that number jumped to 3,090 trophy deer, dramatic evidence that North America�s whitetail deer herd has grown by leaps and bounds.