Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act:
WASHINGTON
- President Bush put his signature on the Protection of Lawful Commerce in
Arms Act on Oct. 26, and sealed the fate of future frivolous lawsuits brought
upon the sporting arms industry. The House of Representatives passed the Senate-approved
version of the bill last week by a 283-144 vote. "Our laws should punish criminals
who use guns to commit crimes, not law-abiding manufacturers of lawful products,"
President Bush said in statement after the bill was passed. "This legislation
will further our efforts to stem frivolous lawsuits, which cause a logjam
in America's courts, harm America's small businesses, and benefit a handful
of lawyers at the expense of victims and consumers. I look forward to signing
this legislation into law." This legislation puts an end to "junk" lawsuits
filed against the sporting arms industry seeking to hold retailers, distributors
and manufacturers responsible for the illegal acts of criminals. "The signing
of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act by President Bush is a huge
step in the right direction for the sporting arms industry, and preserving
the family tradition of hunting," said Rob Keck, CEO of the NWTF. "The effects
of this law, however, stretch much further than the sporting arms industry.
Without sporting arms, there would be no hunting, without hunting, there would
be no conservation, and without conservation, there would be no wildlife."
Attending the signing were representatives of major conservation and firearms
groups including Rob Keck, of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and representatives
from the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
"This is an historic day for freedom," said Wayne LaPierre, NRA's executive
vice president. "I would like to thank President Bush for signing the most
significant piece of pro-gun legislation in 20 years into law. History will
show that this law helped save the American firearms industry from collapse
under the burden of these ruinous and politically motivated lawsuits." Recently,
the NWTF finalized a four-year $1 million commitment to the NSSF's Hunting
and Shooting Sports Heritage Fund, which has played a key role in fending
off frivolous lawsuits against the firearm industry. In August, the NWTF donated
another $100,000 to further the effort. "Our industry offers its sincere thanks
to the president and Congress for recognizing the importance of this much-needed
legislation," said Doug Painter, president of the NSSF. "This law will not
only help protect law-abiding businesses and the jobs of thousands nationwide,
but it will also help ensure a positive future for our nation's hunting and
shooting traditions and our firearms freedoms." Even with the signing of the
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, the work of organizations such
as the NWTF, NSSF and NRA isn't done. "This isn't the end of legal challenges
put against our industry," Keck said. "Our job is never done. We must remain
vigilant and work together as a team, as a band of brothers." For more information
about the NWTF, call (800) THE-NWTF. For more information about the NSSF,
call (203) 426-1320 or visit www.nssf.org. For more information about the
NRA, visit www.nra.org.
Hunters enjoy thrill of the read
By Bob Frye TRIBUNE-REVIEW OUTDOORS EDITOR Friday, December 2, 2005
The close of Pennsylvania's rifle deer season -- which is just about a week
away -- doesn't have to signal the end of the hunting year. Late small game
seasons, the post-Chrtistmas flintlock hunt and opportunities to chase coyotes
in winter are all perfect excuses to get outside.
It's true, too, though, that the coldest months of the year are a great time
to recharge your batteries by reading a good outdoors book. A couple of just-published
offerings are especially worth looking at. "Whitetail Wisdom: A Proven 12-Step
Guide to Scouting Less and Hunting More" (715-445-2214 or www.fwpublications.com)
was written by Daniel Schmidt, editor of Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine. He's
a veteran of more than 20 hunting seasons and has killed more than 100 deer.
The title seems a little misleading. One of the 12 steps, for example, focuses
on shot placement for archers and rifle hunters -- useful information, but
not really related to scouting or hunting. Still, this book offers some practical
advice on what to expect from various habitat types, how to use terrain and
wind to your advantage, how to hunt when there's competition from other hunters,
and more. Interestingly, while Schmidt never mentions Pennsylvania by name,
he does offer some commentary, too, on the whole debate surrounding deer management,
forest regeneration and doe harvests. Even the most casual big game hunter
has probably heard of the Boone and Crockett Club, the official keeper of
big game records taken with a firearm. Well, the Club has just produced the
12th edition of its "Records of North American Big Game" (www.booneandcrockettclub.com
or 888-840-4868). More than 900 pages long, the book includes page after page
of scores, ranking the biggest whitetails, elk, mule deer, black bears, cougars
and the like across more than three dozen categories. Even hunters who don't
care much for scoring skulls and racks, though, can enjoy the book. Stories
and photos -- some of them never before published -- of the biggest specimens
ever taken anywhere give you plenty to dream about. Some of the country's
top outdoor writers have contributed tales of their own, too. In chapter seven's
"collection of hunting memories," Diana Rupp, the Potter County native who
is now editor in chief of Sports Afield, writes about how an elk hunt taught
her that all hunts are special. This year, too, the book includes a bonus
CD containing screensavers, pictures, and scoring materials. Some birding
books are meant to be carried in a shirt pocket while you're outdoors. National
Geographic's "Complete Birds of North America" (www.nationalgeographic.com
or 800-437-5521) is not one of them. What this book is is a wonderful, 962-page
reference on all of the species that either live in North America or migrate
through at different times. Of course, the book offers the spectacular photography,
artwork and even maps that you'd expect of National Geographic. There's even
some advice on how best to identify birds, offered by some of the country's
leading ornithologists. A good companion book is "Birds of Pennsylvania" (www.lonepinepublishing.com
or 800-518-3541). Not exactly shirt pocket-sized either, it is meant to be
carried afield in a backpack or fanny pack. What makes it so handy is that
it gives tips on where in the state to find birds. Some of the "best sites"
tips are necessarily vague: the most specific advice the books offers on where
to find the common downy woodpecker, for example, is that they are "widespread."
If you want to know where to see a yellow-bellied sapsucker, though, the book
points you toward Sizerville and R.B. Winter state parks during winter and
the migration season and to Worlds End State Park during the breeding season.
The book also identifies some of the state's best overall birding sites, with
a description of each, birding hotlines, and birding organizations.
We are offering acres of prime hunting land in Kansas. Kansas whitetail land. Acres of land have been developed as a natural habitat for whitetail and other game animals.
GENERAL INFORMATION The whitetail deer is one of the best known and easily recognized large mammals and can be found throughout North America. Other members of the deer family found in North America include the elk, moose, caribou, mule deer and blacktail deer.
DESCRIPTION The whitetail deer is a large animal which varies quite a bit in size, depending on the particular subspecies (there are 30 recognized) and the region where it is found. The adult whitetail deer's weight averages from about 100 to 350 pounds. Mature males are generally larger than the females. The whitetail is an ungulate, or hoofed animal, with each foot ending in a cloven or two piece hoof. The under parts of the deer's body are white with a white patch on the throat and another smaller band of white around the nose. The underside of the tail is also white. The upper body parts are colored reddish brown during the warmer months but in the fall, whitetail deer molt into their winter coats of dark, grayish brown. For several months of the year, male whitetail deer, known as bucks, are easily recognized by the presence of antlers on their head, which the females, known as does, lack. Once in a great while female deer (doe) will also have antlers. Deer Antler growth usually begins during the month of March or April, by August or early September, antlers are fully-grown. Deer antlers are among the fastest growing tissues known to man. Growing at an average of 1 to 2 inches per week during development. Growing antlers are covered with a living tissue called velvet. During development, the deer’s antlers are very delicate. This is the time when most antler damage or breakage occurs. Velvet is shed or rubbed off by the buck as he rubs saplings with his antlers. After the breeding season, bucks will shed their antlers. Antlers are usually shed in January or February. Antler shedding usually occurs earlier in northern states than southern states. A new pair of antlers will start growing in the spring.
Quail kansas,goose hunting and phesant as well as wild turkey hunting.
GENERAL INFORMATION The mule deer is a member of the cervid (deer) family. Its coat is reddish in summer and some kind of blue-gray in winter which blends much better with the snow-covered landscape than the reddish color. The mule deer of the Rocky Mountains region have a whitish rump patch. Their creamy-white ears are a quarter again larger than those of the whitetail deer and their tails have a black tip. They grow to a height of up to 3 - 3.5 feet Males weigh between 125 - 400 pounds, females between 100 - 150 pounds When alarmed, both bucks (males) and does (females) snort. The males utter a guttural sound during rutting season and, seldom heard, does and fawns (the young) utter a bleat. Mule deer young (the average is 2, but it can be just 1 or even 3), born between June and July just after the does have reached the summer range, are spotted and able to walk a few minutes after birth. It takes about a month until they are able to run with their mothers. HABITS AND
HABITATS The mule deer is considerably larger than the whitetail, its body is heavier and its legs are stocky and less trim than those of its whitetail counterpart. When something alarms the animal it seems to be changing into a completely different animal: it becomes graceful and alive when, with its head held up high, it starts to run off, making impressing leaps as high as 8 feet. It can reach a speed of up to 35 miles per hour that it can keep up for a few minutes. Although they look less aggressive than elk they are well able to stand their ground when facing predators like coyotes. With their hooves they may badly hurt or even kill such an aggressor. The rutting season begins around October and lasts until about December. The bucks, whose necks swell during the rut, are polygamous and can gather a small harem around them. The males grow symmetrical, branched antlers that are shed between January and February. But rather than using their antlers in actual fights they do more bluffing than for example the whitetail deer. Mule deer are most active during dawn and dusk or in moonlight nights. During the heat of the day they rest and oftentimes you can see beds of matted grass indicating that this is mule deer habitat. They can be spotted alone or in small groups and are more gregarious in winter. While bucks lead a rather solitary life except during mating season, the does form small groups and, in winter, get together in larger groups to spend the time on a winter range, which is the same year after year. The mule deer is a browser and feeds on shrubs and twigs but also on grass and herbs. They prefer coniferous forests, desert shrubs, chaparral, grassland with shrubs as their habitat. In mountainous regions they migrate to higher elevations in spring and come back down in fall. They tend to follow definite trails, especially in winter.
Whitetail
land for sale in Kansas see links above to the left.
All hunters must also purchase the basic license for $73.50 in addition to
the Kansas deer hunting tag. These licenses are for the calendar year rather
than the season meaning the same tag purchased for spring turkey season may
be used for fall whitetail season. Whitetail Units
Nonresident tags are by a draw with preference to those not having drawn the
previous year. Contact the Wildlife and Parks Department (620-672-5911) before
the end of May and have an application mailed or one may be printed from their
website. The application and check ($321.50) must be returned before the end
of May. By late June, early July tags are issued. Residents may purchase tags
over the counter except for the Mulie units that are a draw. All hunters with
or without a draw tag, may purchase up to four antlerless tags (unit dependent)
over the counter. Recent draw success rates have greatly varied over the last
couple of years due to increasing number of non-resident applicants and increasing
number of tags made available by the state. Buddy tags are available for up
to four hunters that, if drawn, will be able to hunt the same unit. Land for
sale in Kansas. To purchase, see links above to the left.