OutdoorHub
Fatal Bear Attack in New Jersey Spurs Debate Between Hunters, Animal Rights Activists
The tragic death of a 22-year-old hiker near West Milford, New Jersey on Sunday represents the state's first fatal bear attack in 150 years. The incident incited a heated debate between animal rights advocates and hunters on how the state is currently managing the bear population, and the conversation is not limited to New Jersey alone. Rising bear populations across the East Coast have many wildlife officials concerned, and in states like Maine where regulations surrounding bear hunting are on the November ballot, the fatal mauling has given the issue a sense of urgency.
According to Read more »
Idaho Officials Investigate Unusual Deer Mortality after Does Drop Dead in Lawns
An ongoing investigation in Dalton Gardens, Idaho may resemble more of a murder mystery story than a study of wildlife mortality. According to The Coeur d' Alene Press, biologists from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game are puzzled as to why young does are dropping dead all around town.
"We don't know what's going on right now, but when we have a concentration of deaths like this, we certainly want to try to find out what's going on," Wayne Wakkinen, the Panhandle Regional...
Video: Leopard’s Flying Ambush on Antelope from Tree
Leopards may not get the same amount of media coverage as lions or cheetahs, but there is a reason that safari hunters consider it the most wily of Africa's Big Five game animals. Less than half the size of an adult lion, leopards are built lean and primed for the hunt. In this video taken in Zambia National Park, a leopard waits patiently on a tree limb while a group of antelope huddle below.
"That [leopard] can fly from where he's there," said a voice on the video, pointing out the leopard in the tree.
Even though you know the predator is present, the cover of the leaves in combination...
Are Lead Fishing Weights Up Next on California’s Chopping Block?
California sportsmen are bracing themselves for the upcoming implementation of the state's lead ammo ban, but anglers may have to dump their tackle boxes as well. Lead fishing weights garnered a spot on a list compiled by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). A place on the DTSC's Safer Consumer Products three-year work plan means that lead weights will be coming under review by the agency and may even be restricted or banned. Like the lead ammunition...
Judge Orders Wyoming Wolves Returned to Federal Protection, Hunting Suspended
On Tuesday, a federal district court judge in Washington, DC ruled that Wyoming's wolves be returned to federal protection, prompting wildlife officials to suspend the state's forthcoming wolf season.
"Today, we want all wolf hunters and landowners to know that the take of wolves in Wyoming---hunting and lethal take provisions in Wyoming statute---are suspended because of the federal court ruling,” said WGFD director Scott Talbott in a statement.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service delisted the species from the Endangered...
The 5 Most Expensive Antique Lures in Existence
Odds are that at some point you've picked up one of your father's or grandfather's lures and wondered whether was worth more than your car (or maybe hoped it was). Thanks to the internet, it is no longer impossible to trace ancient lures back to their manufacturers and designers, and perhaps even to some chap on eBay who is selling the same exact one for the price of a morning coffee. In the world of fishing antiques, nabbing a valuable lure is just one step below beating George Perry's 1932 largemouth bass record---all but impossible. However, if you scroll down this page and...
Video: What Happens When a World Howling Champion Calls Coyotes
Two-time World Howling Champion Jason Groseclose is known for his aggressive vocals and impressive range, and it seems that coyotes think the same as well. While hunting and filming with MFK GameCalls, Jason is able to show off his abilities to a receptive pack nearby.
Watch what happens below:
http://youtu.be/mER3MoMa_qM
A farm boy who grew up calling coyotes to protect his family's cattle, Jason managed to refine his technique to an eerily-close imitation of the real thing.
“I saw my first coyote in 1992,” he told Read more »
New SilencerCo Infographic Explains How Firearm Silencers Work
SilencerCo is well-known for their creative methods of marketing and educating the public about the firearm suppressors they sell. Their latest effort is a sleek animated infographic explaining the science and technology behind the devices and their benefits, along with some facts about guns and silencers in the United States. Check it out below.
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Head to Michigan’s Blue Waters for a Fall Fishing Frenzy
Every fall, Michigan’s outdoor enthusiasts face a dilemma of monumental proportions: do you go hunting or fishing? Nights of sleep have been lost, marriages have crumbled, and vast quantities of Vernors have been imbibed trying to find the right balance. It is an age old problem that thankfully will not go away anytime soon. Let’s face it; Michigan has amazing hunting and out-of-this-earth fishing. I’m struggling trying to decide what to do as soon as I finish this article!
When the leaves start to turn and the days grow shorter, the fishing action really heats up. During the summer...
Video: TrackingPoint Changes History at the Alamo in New Commercial
Ever wonder what would have happened if the Texan defenders of the Alamo managed to withstand the siege in 1836? Perhaps with the aid of some modern rifles, they could have better handled Santa Anna's encroaching troops. Bringing back modern technology during a pivotal moment in history is a much-beloved trope among alternate history and science fiction novelists, but Austin-based TrackingPoint decided to throw their hat into the ring as well. A short commercial the "smart gun" manufacturer just released depicts a version of the Alamo siege in which the defenders have access to TrackingPoint...
Grizzly Encounter Almost Turns Deadly for Wyoming Hunter
Thanks to the quick thinking of one Wyoming elk hunter, what could have been a lethal encounter with a grizzly sow instead became merely a painful nip. KBZK reported that two bowhunters encountered a female grizzly with cubs north of Dubois on Sunday, which resulted in an attack. One of the hunters was walking near Horse Creek Drainage when the grizzly approached the men. Officials say that it was likely that neither the hunters nor the bear noticed each other until they got too close, at which point the...
The Annual Fall Waterfowl Migration is Underway
Over half of all the 914 species of wild birds in the United States will migrate south this fall making it a prime time to be able to enjoy the nation’s waterfowl, whether you’re hunting them or watching them. And you will not be alone---according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 70 million U.S. residents 16 years old and older participated in some form of wildlife-related recreation in 2011.
For anyone who enjoys watching waterfowl for any reason, there’s good news. Except for severe drought this fall in California and a small area of North Texas, all across the rest of...
Bloomberg Gun Control Group Embarks on “Road Show” Campaign
Everytown for Gun Safety, the gun control group founded earlier this year by businessman and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, announced on Tuesday that it will be embarking on a new midterm campaign including an eight-state roadshow and a media blitz. The group also announced a list of endorsements for candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, including Democratic and Republican candidates in both the US House and Senate.
“These are candidates who have shown leadership in the fight to keep our communities safe from gun violence both on the state and federal level,” John...
AR-15 Hacks: Destroying 4 AR Maintenance Myths
If you think people hyperventilate over hypothetical scenarios in politics, spend some time visiting online gun forums. While fun, and a great way to chit chat with others of like passion, you might leave convinced that your AR rifle has the operational complexity and maintenance requirements of the Trident II D5 ballistic missile.
Yes, your AR-15 requires care and maintenance like any other mechanical device, but don’t fret too much over it. In the past 40 years or so, the design has been improved to the point where it will function properly in some pretty nasty environments and under...
Moose Population Across New England Drops, Hunting Permits Reduced
Hunters in the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine will be seeing fewer moose this year, which in turn means fewer hunting permits as well. In Maine alone, permits were reduced by nearly a quarter from the 4,000 issued last year. Although wildlife officials state that moose hunting remains as popular as ever, 2014 appears to be a peak year for winter ticks---which is bad news for the moose. According to Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW), the number of anterless-only...
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Remove Race, Ethnicity Disclosure on ATF Forms
Last week US Representatives Diane Black (R-TN) and Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced legislation to prohibit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from requiring the disclosure of race and ethnicity on forms related to the purchase of firearms. The bill, Freedom From Intrusive Regulatory Enforcement of Arbitrary Registration Mandates (FIREARM), will prevent what Congresswoman Diane Black called a "highly intrusive and unnecessary" requirement that served no purpose other than to cause stress to gun owners.
"Failing to adhere to this requirement by not checking...
Video: Angler Nets, Rescues Bald Eagle
The most common interaction most anglers have with a bald eagle is a fleeting glimpse as the bird soars overhead. Sometimes, unfortunately for the angler, the eagle swoops down and decides that the fish on your line is better off in its tummy. Occasionally, however, anglers can even find themselves in a position to save one of the predators. According to the video below, this angler was fishing off Nanoose Bay in British Columbia when he came across a floating and obviously...
Florida Anglers Call for Goliath Grouper Harvest
After a quarter decade of state and federal protection, Florida anglers are now calling for officials to open up the goliath grouper population to fishing. True to their name, goliath groupers can weigh well over 700 pounds and have a ferocious appetite to match.Sunshine State anglers and spearfishermen are growing increasingly worried that the grouper will have a detrimental effect on the local food chain.
"The fact is that they're overpopulated," Fort Myers spearfisherman Zachary Francis told the Read more »
The Nonresident’s Guide to Michigan Deer Hunting
For decades, Michigan has played host to an army of out-of-state, orange-clad, deer hunting warriors every November. October brings in a plethora of camouflaged archers as well. With a large deer herd, and readily available over-the-counter tags with a reasonable price point, the Great Lake State is a destination for nonresident deer hunters from across the country.
As with any hunting trip, there are some definite things to plan on and some significant rule changes for this year. Look no farther than this article for (almost) everything a nonresident hunter will need to know in Michigan...
French Guiana Man Catches Monster 17-foot Anaconda with Bare Hands
Anacondas are not something that pet owners in the United States worry about much, but the snakes are occasionally seen in the jungles of coastal French Guiana. Capable of scarfing down a whole deer, these large, slithering predators sometimes find themselves seeking a dog-sized snack in rural neighborhoods. When Sebastien Bascoules recently heard that his neighbor's dog had been snatched by a wandering anaconda, he took it upon himself to make the area safe again. According to Read more »