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Mustad State & World Record Contest

Million Dollar Promotion for State and World Record Fish

Auburn, NY�Mustad is hoping its new �Hook a Million� promotion will deliver $1.4 million in cash to lucky anglers who set new world and state records.

In announcing the promotion, Mustad General Manager Tom Kurtz said the company was looking for a fun way to involve anglers across the country. �With over 50 new state records set in the last year or so and several world records pending certification, we felt the time was right for a program that rewards these accomplishments. We all know that the next cast could be the new record, and this promotion makes it easy�anglers fish on their schedule and their waters.�

The �Hook a Million� promotion, which kicks off this October and runs 12 months, targets 10 of the country�s most popular fresh and saltwater fish. These include Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, White Crappie, Coho Salmon, Striped Bass, Kelp Bass (Calico Bass), Red Drum (Redfish), Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout) and Yellowfin Tuna. It�s open to US residents 18 and

older. To participate, anglers must use a Mustad hook and

register only once at least 24 hours in advance of fishing during the contest period.

Cash awards for the promotion total $1,400,000 and recognize both fresh and saltwater all-tackle state records and new IGFA certified all-tackle world records. �Our goal is to make sure anglers from coast to coast have the opportunity to participate and the chance to win,� noted Mr. Kurtz. �It doesn�t matter what state you live in, you�re still likely to have five chances for a big cash award.� Anglers who establish the first TWO new freshwater or first TWO new saltwater state records for the covered species receive $100,000 each, for a total of $400,000 in cash prizes. The first new IGFA certified all-tackle world record for any of the listed species nets the lucky angler $1,000,000*.

To make sure they qualify for big cash awards, anglers must register in advance and catch the new record on a Mustad hook. �We make thousands of premium hooks for all the species in the promotion and we�re encouraging anybody who fishes to register,� added Mr. Kurtz. �It�s free and you never know when that next record is going to bite.�

The promotion runs from October 1, 2011 thru September 30, 2012.   Click here for full details

Bushnell adds new models to Elite Spotting Scope Line

Bushnell has added two new models to the Elite Spotting Scope line. Featuring ED Prime Extra-Low Dispersion glass, fully multi-coated lenses and premium BAK-4 prisms, the new spotting scopes deliver amazing color resolution and contrast while providing exceptional edge-to-edge detail.

#784580

With a rugged armored housing and fully waterproof and fogproof construction, this scope is built to withstand the elements. Bushnell provides extra all-weather insurance with its patented RainGuard HD water-repellant coating - a permanent lens coating that causes moisture to bead up and scatter less light - providing clear, crisp views in the unclearest of conditions.

#780008

Both spotting scopes are available in a versatile 20-60x magnification range with either a 45-degree or straight eyepiece. The scope's 80mm objective lens helps capture as much light as possible for optimal performance in low light conditions. For added comfort during extended periods of glassing, Bushnell has enhanced the scope with a twist-up, adjustable eye piece.

The new Elite spotting scope includes a protective case and retractable sunshade. Bushnell also offers several accessories for the spotting scope, including an SLR camera adaptor and several tripods and window mounts. The new models complement the existing Elite 15-45x 60mm spotting scope.

#784580 Spotting Scope (45� eyepiece): about $1554.00

Spotting Scope: About $1508.00

800-423-3537

www.bushnell.com

Bushnell acquires Night Optics USA

Overland Park, Kan. �Bushnell has acquired Night Optics USA, Inc, of Huntington Beach, Calif. Founded by brothers Ilya and Israel Reyngold, who have more than 18 years of experience in the night vision industry, Night Optics USA is widely recognized as an innovative industry leader and provider of professional quality night vision and thermal technologies for commercial, law enforcement and military applications.

�Bringing Night Optics USA into the Bushnell family of

brands is a continuation of our goal to grow the company through strategic acquisitions. Bushnell and Night Optics USA share a reputation for quality, service and innovation with their industry partners and customers,� said David Basto, MidOcean Partners Managing Director.

800-306-4448

[email protected]

www.nightoptics.com/

Trijicon RMR RM06 3.25 MOA Adjustable LED

Wixom, MI - Developed to improve precision and accuracy with any style or caliber of weapon, the Trijicon RMR (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex) is designed to be as durable as the legendary ACOG. The RM06 is an LED sight powered by a standard CR2032 battery. Housed in rugged forged aluminum, the RMR is extremely tough yet lightweight. New easy-to-use adjusters with audible clicks allow for quick windage and elevation adjustments.

With eight available brightness settings, the reticle can be

manually adjusted by pressing the plus or minus buttons on either side of the unit. To switch to auto adjust mode
simply press both buttons simultaneously and release. To save battery life turn the optic off by pressing both buttons simultaneously and holding for 3 seconds.

The new Trijicon RMR is tougher than any alternative and suitable for military, law enforcement and hunting applications.

About $575.00

(248) 960-7700

www.trijicon.com

USFWS expands Hunting and Fishing Opportunitieson 10 Refuges Across the Nation 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Sept 9^th announced the opening of Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota to big game hunting of deer and upland game hunting of turkey for the first time, while expanding hunting and fishing activities at nine other refuges. Notice of the final 2011-2012 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2011.   

More than 250 comments were received during the 30-day public comment period on the proposed expansion. Only 18 comments opposed the amended regulations.   

Among the changes are:   

• Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, CO, increases big game hunting by offering elk hunting for the first time. The refuge also allows migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and fishing.  

• Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, LA, adds waterfowl and coot hunting to its list of migratory bird hunting activities. The refuge also allows fishing.

• Coldwater River National Wildlife Refuge, MS, adds duck and geese hunting to its migratory bird hunting activities; squirrel, rabbit and raccoon hunting to its upland game hunting activities; and deer and hog hunting to its big game hunting activities. The refuge also permits fishing.

• Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, NC, opens to big game hunting of deer and hogs.   

• Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, MN, increases acreage for migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

• Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, MN/IA, increases acreage for migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting, and expands the species for migratory bird and upland game hunting.

• Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, UT, allows upland game hunting of turkey and big game hunting of elk for the first time. The refuge also allows migratory bird hunting and fishing.

• Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, MN, opens new areas to migratory bird hunting. It allows big game hunting of turkey and deer for the first time. The refuge is also open to fishing.

• Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, TX, opens three new units to upland game hunting of squirrels and rabbits, and big game hunting of feral hogs and white-tailed deer. The refuge is also open for migratory bird hunting and fishing.

While definitions of hunting categories vary by refuge and state, migratory bird hunting generally includes ducks and geese. Upland game hunting may cover such animals as game birds, rabbit, squirrel, opossum and coyote. Big game hunting may include such animals as wild turkey, deer and feral hogs. 

The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 directs the Service to permit hunting and fishing along with four other types of wildlife-dependent recreation where they are compatible with refuge purpose and mission. Hunting, within specified limits, is offered on more than 300 national wildlife refuges. Fishing is offered on more than 270 national wildlife refuges. Other wildlife-dependent recreation on national wildlife refuges includes wildlife photography, environmental education, wildlife observation and interpretation.

Hunting programs offered in the National Wildlife Refuge System, :  www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/.

Final regs in the Federal Register: www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-09/pdf/2011-22752.pdf

Great Lakes Water Levels for Sept 9, 2011 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

High pressure led to very nice weather across much of the Great Lakes basin this week.  The exception was the southeastern portion of the basin, where a slow moving low pressure center brought rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday.   The remnants of tropical storm Lee also brought heavy rain to the Lake Ontario basin this week. The low will slowly push off to the east for the weekend and allow mostly sunny skies and seasonable temperatures to prevail.    To date in September, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron have seen dryer than average conditions, while Lake Erie and Lake Ontario have seen above average rainfall.

LAKE LEVEL CONDITIONS

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron are currently near their water levels of a year ago.  Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 9, 12, and 2 inches, respectively, higher than they were at this time last year. Over the next thirty days, Lake Superior is projected remain near its current level, and Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to fall 2 inches.  The water levels of Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are forecasted to decline 10, 6, and 6 inches, respectively, over the next month. 

FORECASTED MONTHLY OUTFLOWS/CHANNEL CONDITIONS

Lake Superior's outflow through the St. Mary's River is projected to be below average for the month of September. 

The outflows from Lake Huron into the St. Clair River, and

from Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River, are expected to be below average throughout the month of September.  Lake Erie's outflow through the Niagara River is predicted to be above average and the outflow of Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River is predicted to be above average.

ALERTS

Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings

Communicating Conservation

This billboard delivers an important conservation message of the national Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! campaign. In June 2011, the campaign attracted its 1,020th partner organization, which represents state and local agencies, businesses, conservation groups and Lake

Homeowner associations, all with an interest in keeping aquatic invasive species at bay. The campaign elevates equipment cleaning as a preventative and cost-effective way to deal with aquatic invasive species. The campaign�s success will be a case study in a new text book,

Social Marketing: Strategies for Changing Public Behavior, by Philip Kotler.

Lake Erie Commission to Hold Annual Meeting
Commission to announce Photo Contest Winners & Ohio Lake Erie Awards

TOLEDO, OH - The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) will hold its annual meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 15, at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, OH.

Winners of the 2011 "Life on Lake Erie" photo contest will be announced. Commission members are expected to approve the 2011 Ohio Lake Erie Award nominations and

vote on the latest round of Lake Erie Protection Fund small grant proposals. Executive Director Gail Hesse will discuss the 2011 Coastweeks program that will take place during the month of September and provide a report on the Lake Erie Balanced Growth Program.

All meetings of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission are open to the public and include a public comment period. Organizations and citizens are encouraged to attend this meeting and provide input on issues of concern.

2011 archery deer season to be longest in state history

EAU CLAIRE � The 2011 Wisconsin�s archery deer hunt that opens September 17 will be the longest bow deer hunt in state history.

For the first time, bow hunting will be allowed during the regular nine-day gun deer hunt in November. As before, there will be no deer hunting on the Friday preceding the gun deer hunt. This single day will now separate the early and late bow deer seasons.

The 2011 archery deer season runs from Saturday, Sept. 17, through Thursday, Nov. 17 and then from Saturday, Nov. 19, the start of the gun season, through Jan. 8, a Sunday.

During the gun deer season, bow hunters will be required to follow the same blaze orange clothing regulations as gun hunters.

Another piece of welcome news this year for many bow hunters is the absence of any October gun deer hunts outside the Chronic Wasting Disease management zone in south central Wisconsin. The four-day, antlerless only gun deer hunt occurs Oct. 13-16 this year in the disease management zone.

With warm temperatures and insect activity in mid September, many archers are less enthusiastic about opening day and the season begins with much less fanfare than the annual gun deer hunt. But as summer fades into fall, the number of bow hunters in the field will grow dramatically.

In 1966 about 85,000 licensed archery hunters took just under 6,000 deer. In 2010, the number of bow hunters had swelled to 260,000, and they harvested 87,000 deer, 36 percent as many deer as taken by gun hunters in the previous year. The 2010 bow buck harvest was the third highest on record. Pope and Young record book entries show Wisconsin as the leading stat for large-antlered whitetails.

Other changes of interest to bow hunters this year:

• Most hunters are not allowed to hunt antlerless deer in eight regular, buck-only deer management units, primarily in northern and northeast Wisconsin. Archery and gun antlerless deer carcass tags are not valid in units 3, 7, 29B, 34, 35, 39, 44 and 45. No bonus antlerless tags will be available in these units. There are exceptions, explained in the regulations, for members of the Armed Forces, for the holders of certain disabled hunter permits and for youths ages 10-17.

• In the CWD-MZ, the Earn-A-Buck requirements do not apply when using a Gun Buck Deer Carcass Tag or when using an Archery Buck Deer Carcass Tag. All other buck deer harvest in the CWD-MZ and tagged with any other tag must follow EAB rules.

• Beginning in 2011, all youth ages 10-17 will automatically be issued a free antlerless deer carcass tag when they purchase a gun deer license. This tag is valid for one antlerless deer in any DMU during any open deer season with the appropriate license and corresponding weapon. This tag is issued along with the youth�s gun deer license through any license agent, and may also be filled in any DMU statewide during the archery season with legal archery gear if the person also holds a valid archery license. Antlerless deer carcass tags are no longer issued to now Hunter Education Class graduates.

• Whole deer carcasses and certain parts of those carcasses may be transported outside of the CWD-MZ and its adjacent DMUs if the carcass or parts are transported to a licensed taxidermist or licensed meat processor within 72 hours of registration.

• The DNR will mail a 2011 Buck Authorization Sticker to hunters who harvest a CWD-positive buck. If you harvested a CWD-positive buck last year and did not receive a 2010-2011 Buck Authorization Sticker in the mail, please notify the DNR at 1-888-WDNR-INFO.

Regular season Canada goose hunt opens Sept.16

Early Canada goose season closes Sept. 15

MADISON � Wisconsin�s regular Canada goose hunting season in the Exterior and Horicon zones opens Friday Sept. 16. That weekend also includes the two-day youth waterfowl hunt on Sept 17 and 18. The regular Canada goose season targets migratory geese that move through Wisconsin. An early Canada goose season that targets locally breeding giant Canada geese closes on Sept. 15.

This is the final year of a 5 year trial period in which the Exterior Canada goose zone will have a stable season length of 85 days and a two bird daily bag limit. Hunters should also note that the former Collins zone has been eliminated as a result of shifts in Canada goose migration and hunting pressure and is now part of the Exterior Zone.

Exterior Zone Canada goose seasons

• The northern zone season runs from Sept. 16-23 and Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. through Dec. 9.

• The southern zone season runs Sept. 16-30 and Oct. 1 through 9 a.m. Oct. 9 and Oct. 15 through Dec. 14.

• In the Mississippi River Subzone Sept. 24 at 9am- Oct. 2 and Oct. 15- Dec. 29

The goose season is closed during the duck season split in the south zone (Oct. 10-14) and Mississippi River subzone (Oct 3- 14).

Horicon zone Canada goose seasons

The Horicon zone Canada goose season has two time periods.

• H1 runs from Sept. 16- Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at 9am- Oct. 30;

• H2 goes from Oct. 31- Dec. 16.

Hunters who applied for the Horicon zone will receive 6 harvest tags. The daily bag limit is two Canada geese.

Youth waterfowl hunt Sept 17-18

This year�s Youth Waterfowl hunt will be held Sept. 17-18. Regular season bag limits and hunting hours apply. This special hunt offers youth age 12-15 (or those 10 or over hunting under the new mentored hunting law) the opportunity to learn skills from an adult without the pressure encountered during the regular season.

Participants are reminded that they need to be HIP registered (free of charge) and that for hunting geese they

must possess a goose tag for the zone in which they wish

to hunt. In Wisconsin, 82 percent of waterfowl hunters have introduced someone new to the sport and are encouraged to continue mentoring with this great opportunity to introduce a son, daughter, relative, or neighbor to the tradition of waterfowl hunting.

Additional information on waterfowl in Wisconsin, special youth hunts and mentored hunting is available on the DNR website.

Fall wild turkey and ruffed grouse seasons open September 17

Hunter safety should be a top priority

MADISON � The 2011 fall wild turkey and ruffed grouse seasons are set to open at the start of shooting hours on Sept. 17, and state wildlife officials say that hunter prospects are good for both seasons. Overall, Wisconsin�s statewide wild turkey population remains strong and wildlife officials have maintained the number of fall turkey permits at 95,700, the same number that was offered during last year�s fall turkey season.

�After 30 years of sustained population growth and expansion across the state, turkeys are now found statewide, and local populations will likely nudge upward or downward from year to year as weather determines annual

levels of survival and reproduction,� says Scott Walter, upland game ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources.

Watson says the spring 2011 Wisconsin turkey harvest was down 16 percent, reflecting a series of relatively hard winters, wet springs, and snow, wind, and rain early in the 2011 spring season that limited hunter access to birds. �Harvest during the fall season does not play a significant role in turkey population dynamics, and hunters venturing into the fall woods should expect a hunt similar to that of 2010,� he said.

Hunters may use dogs statewide to hunt wild turkey this fall.