Think the MN chapters of PF have been sitting on their tail feathers this past year? Think again. The 74 chapters in MN completed some 841 habitat projects in 2007. Those projects benefited some 6,720 acres.

Posted by robert at 08:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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This year’s PF's National Pheasant Fest is going to the dogs—bird dogs. If you are in Saint Paul, MN, on Jan. 18 a bird dog parade will kick off the event with over 25 different sporting dog breeds and their owners taking part. The parade doesn’t cost a thing and it’s a great way to check out different breeds of gun dogs side-by-side. Some of the breeds scheduled to participate include Boykin Spaniels, Brittanys, Deutsch Langhaars, English Pointers, Springer Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, Field Spaniels, German Shorthairs, Munsterlanders, Small Munsterlanders, Labrador Retrievers, Llewellin Setters, Pointing Labs, Pudel Pointers, Spinone Italianos, and Viszlas.

Posted by robert at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Big Green is spending big green to the sum of $41.7 million for the Marlin Firearms Company. Remington, as you may recall from another posting, was acquired by the private investment firm Cerberus Capital Management in April 2007. The three-headed dog also recently acquired Bushmaster and DPMS, giving Big Green a good foot hold in the AR-15 market. With Marlin on board, add rimfire and lever action rifles to the company’s portfolio. They will also automatically become the largest US manufacturer of single shot shotguns, too. You see Marlin has H&R and NEF in its stable. What Marlin did to H&R and NEF, Remington is doing to Marlin. Big fish eat little fish. Back in the 19th century there was plenty of opportunity for gun companies to thrive and many did. Of course you don’t hear much about Merwin Hulbert revolvers or Whitney lever rifles these days. This consolidation will give Remington an even bigger share of the gun market. Let’s hope they can keep the brand identities into the 21st century. I have great faith in Big Green and Marlin, too, they have been around since 1816 and 1870 respectively and that in it self says a lot. The Merrill and Huberts and Whitneys have gone the way of Ataris and Commodore computers, but the Remingtons and Marlins?

Posted by robert at 08:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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This coming February 1st through the 15th an experimental Canada goose hunting season will be offered in selected areas. The test is an attempt at controlling the population of geese in and around urban areas around the state. But don’t think you’ll be setting up a blind in a local park. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) chose February because that’s when geese are more likely to leave urban areas for agricultural spots outside of towns and cities to feed. Urban park ponds are usually frozen solid and snow cover hides green grasses. According to the DNR populations of breeding Canada geese have leveled off to some 125,000 birds. The target population in urban areas is 80,000. The bag limit for this experimental season is five Canada geese per day, with a season limit of 10. The same regulations and restrictions that apply during the September season apply during this February season. Here’s a list of the counties slated for the February season:

• Steuben
• LaGrange
• Elkhart
• St. Joseph
• La Porte
• Starke
• Marshall
• Kosciusko
• Noble
• De Kalb
• Allen
• Whitley
• Huntington
• Wells
• Adams
• Boone
• Hamilton
• Madison
• Hendricks
• Marion
• Hancock
• Morgan
• Johnson
• Shelby
• Vermillion
• Parke
• Vigo
• Clay
• Sullivan
• Greene

Posted by robert at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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