Congressional Shoot Out: Democrats Defeat Republicans
A few months back members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus spent a day shooting trap, skeet and sporting clays. It’s their annual shoot that pits Democrats against Republicans in a friendly competition to determine the top shooters in Congress. The Democrats’ team defeated the Republican team. If that isn’t irony for you. The top individual shooters were overall Top Gun Rep. Collin Peterson from MN, Republican Top Gun Rep. Adam Putnam from FL, and Democrat Top Gun Rep. Mike Thompson from CA. Rep. Boren was the top Congressional skeet shooter. Rep. Ryan was top Congressional sporting clays shooter, and Rep. Chris Carney the top Congressional trap shooter.
The 5-day fall shotgun turkey hunting season starts Monday through Friday, October 12-16, in 8 select Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in the Connecticut River Valley and southwest portions of the state. Fall turkey is a different game compared to spring turkey hunting. Turkeys are flocked up and do not respond to lonesome chucks of a hen. Hunters also need to be cautious when placing a shot to guard against hitting more than one bird with a single shot. Last fall, shotgun hunters killed 297 turkeys from the 8 WMUs. New Hampshire estimated there are 40,000 wild turkeys statewide.
With all the wet weather we had this spring and early summer the PA Game Commission expects ruffed grouse hunting to be somewhat below average. The weather conditions impacted nesting and brooding success, according to the state. As you know grouse populations vary from area to area, so I am sure there will be spots with good numbers of birds. Last year, grouse flushing rates increased in five of the state’s six geographic regions, with the only decline recorded in the South central Region. The statewide long-term average is 1.42 grouse flushed per hour.
