UplandFeathers: Word on the Hill Archives

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.

Posted by SwampYankee at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pennsylvania: Long Rifle Hunting Heritage

I’m sure you have heard that PA designated the Pennsylvania rifle as the official firearm of the Commonwealth in May of this year. The WHEREAS’s of the bill weave the rich, gun-making tradition in PA and its important role in the development of the emerging U.S. During the settling of the northeast the rifle provided sustenance, security and survival and gunsmiths in Northampton and Lancaster counties created a new rifle well suited for a budding nation. Perhaps James Fenimore Cooper helped immortalize the rifle in his novels The Deerslayer and The Last of the Mohicans. The state of Kentucky has not yet weighed in.

Example of E.R. Shaw Mark VII rifle.

To this day, PA continues to create great rifles in small lots by craftsman who know a thing or two about rifles. The E.R. Shaw barrel company has been making rifle barrels for over 95 years. They actually make barrels for some rifle manufactures as well as make barrels for custom builds. Their barrels are renowned for their accuracy. Something new out the PA factory is custom built rifles—the Mark VII—that mates a Shaw barrel to a Winchester, Savage or Remington action with either a walnut, laminate wood or synthetic stock. The price starts at $670 which is much less than some out-of-the-box, big brand guns. I’m sure Natty Bumppo or Uncas if they were alive today would chase whitetails with a Shaw.

Posted by SwampYankee at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Congress Recommends Record Wetlands Funding

Fifty-two million dollars for wetlands restoration? You read that right. The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved President Obama’s request for $52 million to go to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. This is a record amount and finally no bipartisan voting. More than 140 members of Congress signed a letter in support of the wetlands conservation initiative. And if that isn’t enough, the subcommittee also approved $503 million in funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System, which is a conservation program that provides critical habitats for breeding, wintering and migrating waterfowl.

Posted by SwampYankee at 06:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

New Amendment: The Right to Hunt

You have a right to free speech. You have the right to bear arms. You have the right of freedom of press. Those rights probably ring a bell with you since are part of our Bill of Rights. But how does this one sound: You have the right to hunt, fish and trap? Ten states have a right to hunt written into their state constitutions. VT’s dates back to 1777, but most of the other nine states adopted hunting and fishing amendments within the past decade. The other nine states include: AL, GA, LA, MN, MT, ND, VA, WI and OK. This is obviously one of the NRA's top hunting priorities to be sure. With the decline of rural populations these pro-hunting amendments will help save hunting, fishing and trapping. You may recall a post we wrote last year about WalMart not selling shotgun shells and hunting firearms in certain areas that traditionally supported a market for hunting products. It is a sign of the times that America is becoming a more urban society. A number of other states, including IN, MI, MO, NE, NM and TX have considered similar hunting amendments but were not approved. I find it hard to believe that a state like TX did not pass the amendments. Just think how difficult it would be to pass an amendment like this in NY or NJ.

Posted by SwampYankee at 06:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hunting Excise Taxes: Tea Anyone?

There were tea parties staged around the country yesterday, not the kind hosted by the Mad Hatter or the Queen, but groups of people fed up paying taxes that go to bail outs. It, too, rubs my fur the wrong way that we, the tax payers, are bailing the poor management practices of banks and manufacturers. Why should we pay for other’s mistakes or greed? But I digress. The tax you pay when you buy a box shotshells for skeet or new shotgun for pheasant hunting or a lever-action deer rifle goes to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which was passed in 1937. The funds you pay in the form of excise tax go to states based on land area and paid hunting license holders, among other criteria. Safeguards written into the act prevent the government from redirecting these funds away from state wildlife agencies. Last year some $336 million was collected. That’s a lot green backs to fix the woes of some states. Be vigilant that your state does not try to divert funds or cut programs that are funds by the excise tax. Maybe some legilslators should be thrown in Boston harbor along with the tea.

Posted by SwampYankee at 05:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Connecticut: Anti-Gun and Pro-Hunting Bills

You never expect these things to happen in your own backyard. Once were the days you could sit on the porch with a good cigar and two-fingers of a nice sipping whiskey and talk about the birds missed and ones bagged from earlier in the day—wait we still do that. The point I’m trying to make is: Be aware of the bills being sponsored in your state and then take action because if you sit around puffing and sipping your rights will be pulled out from under you. Here in CT we recently defeated three anti-gun/anti-hunting bills, SB 353, SB 839 and HB 5798, and one pro-hunting bill, HB 5209, is heading to the House Floor. Here’s what can happen right under your nose:

Senate Bill 353 would have banned the sale of all semi-automatic pistols not equipped with so-called “micro-stamping” technology. It was defeated on Friday, April 3, in the Judiciary Committee.
Senate Bill 839 would have transferred operations of the currently independent Board of Firearm Permit Examiners to the Department of Public Safety. This action, if approved, would have taken away the autonomy of the Board, and would mean that if an applicant was denied a license, he/she would have had to appeal to the very body, the Department of Public Safety, which rejected the application in the first place. SB839 was defeated on Monday, March 30, in the Government Administration and Elections Committee.
House Bill 5798 posed a threat to hunters by prohibiting the "unreasonable confinement or tethering of dogs." It could have negatively impacted hunters by limiting their ability to kennel, transport, and house dogs bred for the purpose of hunting. HB 5798 was defeated on Friday, March 20, in the Environment Committee.
House Bill 5209 passed out of the Environment Committee on Wednesday, March 18, and is now heading to the House Floor. This critical pro-hunting bill would ensure hunters in CT that public hunting acreage will never decrease. Known as "no-net-loss,” HB5209 would require that the state maintain the current level of available public recreational lands, including public hunting lands. If enacted, additional lands would have to be opened to hunting when land currently open to hunting is closed.

Be sure to contact your lawmakers and urge them to support your rights. Be polite but be firm and hit the Politian where it will hurt them the most. Tell them you will not vote for them or support their re-election. And you will tell all your friends to do the same. And so on and so on. Remind them that word-of-mouth is best form of advertisement. I won’t name any names here, but if you want to find out who proposed the CT bills click the links above. Find your State Senators and State Representatives.

Posted by SwampYankee at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Obama Knows How To Sell Guns

Since before the election, the economy has been in the dumpster. Cars, houses, and other larger consumer goods are collecting dust on retailers’ floors while some of us collect unemployment checks. The one bright spot is gun sales, and we have President Obama to thank. Since Obama has a history of consistently voting against individual rights to firearms—I’m having a Clinton flashback—the shooting public has been snapping up firearms at unprecedented levels. We can't afford to replace that old jalopy in the driveway but we sure do need a new, $1,200.00 black rifle. Buyers are not just hunters, collectors and target shooters, but folks who never have owned a gun before. Most want to get a gun while they still can. The statistic is this: Since November there has been a 42% increase in background checks.

Posted by SwampYankee at 06:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Largest US Military Handgun Contract Since WWII

Uncle Sam really likes his Berettas. The US Army recently signed a deal with Beretta to provide US military customers with up to 450,000 Model 92FS pistols. The first delivery of 20,000 pistols is destined for the Iraqi military. Value of the contract is $220 million. It was back in 1985 when the US military decided to retire the Colt 1911. Not long after that, I was introduced to the Beretta. It felt like I was grasping a can of soda, the grip was fat to say the least. And it fired with a regular monotony. Being more familar with seven-round magazine guns (e.g. 1911) the 92’s larger capacity kept cycling and cycling. Over the years I have had the opportunity to shoot various models—I remember the more compact Elite as nice piece—and one 92 with a slick trigger job by well known gunsmith. That double action pull was butter. I still miss old slab side, though, with its thin grip and big bullet. If you want to get reacquainted with the Beretta 92FS go to www.beretta92.com.

Posted by SwampYankee at 05:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Blaze Orange States Vie With Red and Blue States

Recent polls indicates a close race between McCain and Obama in some key states. Do know what will turn the vote one way or another in those states? The “hook-and-bullet” vote—your vote. You can call OH, WI, IN and PA Blaze Orange states since many voters in these states are anglers and hunters, as well as outdoor enthusiasts of other sorts. As you may know by know, neither candidate is an avid outdoorsman. Obama has stated that when he was a kid he spearfished, but he has never gone hunting or fishing in IL. Neither McCain nor Obama own a gun. McCain’s running mate Palin is not only a gun owner and an NRA member, but an avid hunter. Here’s where it gets a little weird. Obama’s running mate, Biden favors gun control but is a gun owner himself. He has three shotguns. Things get even stranger. McCain, who is endorsed by the NRA, supports background checks for buyers at gun shows and inked a law restricting special-interest group advertising, two positions strongly opposed by the NRA. Need another perspective? The Brady Group endorsed Obama-Biden. Decisions. Descisions. And the latest poll I've seen from Gallup shows Obama with a five-point lead over McCain. Get out and vote. Vote Blaze Orange.

Posted by SwampYankee at 08:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

What’s Uncle Sam Buying These Days‏

No doubt our troops are the best equipped in the world. It takes more than just coming in with a low bid for Uncle Sam to pull out his check book. Sabre Defence Industries has been awarded a contract to produce 4,952 M16A3 and 702 M16A4 rifles to support the Navy, Marine Corps, and some foreign military customers. Uncle Sam entertained 9 bids before awarding it to Sabre Defence Industries. What makes this so significant is that Sabre is only the third company in the 45-year history of Uncle Sam buying M16s, to be awrded the contract. The other two vendors are Colt and FN. Bushnell was also recently awarded a multi-million dollar contract by the Army for a special military version of their Elite 1500 Laser Rangefinder. The civillian version of the Elite 1500 is at the end of the link. Uncle Sam figures the laser rangefinder will enhance the combat capabilities of troops in the field. And Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) received another $104.3 million order for small-caliber ammunition from the Army. ATK is the largest supplier of ammunition to the United States military. So a Sabre rifle, ATK ammo and a Bushnell rangefinder--sounds like Uncle Sam is planning some varmint hunting.

Posted by SwampYankee at 07:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Congressional Clay Shooters: Who Are the Big Shots?

Bragging rights were won at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Shoot-Out. The Shoot-Out is organized each spring by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and pits Democrats against Republicans on the trap, skeet and sporting clays. It’s a fun way to determine who are straightest shooters on Capitol Hill. Last year the Democrats won the shoot, but this year, the Republicans, lead by Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), emerged victorious along with Reps Robin Hayes (R-NC) and dual and John Kline (R-MN). Who are the top guns for the Democrats? Reps Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Don Young (R-AK), and Mike Ross (D-AR) were top shooters for the Democrats. I don't suspect that this will be the last shots fired this year, especially now that we know who is the nominee for each party.

Posted by robert at 05:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

What John McCain Has to Say About Hunting and Fishing

McCain was recently interviewed by OL and to their credit they didn't pitch any softballs—from the Farm Bill and 2nd Amendment to public land access and the collapse of the west coast salmon fishery. The interview is an interesting insight to the Republican nominee. Give it a read before you vote this November. No word on whether OL lined up Obama or Clinton.

Posted by SwampYankee at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What's This--The Fed Is Buying US-made?

Ruger (NYSE: RGR) has been awarded a 5-year contract by the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 1,750 9mm KP95 model pistols. These are double-action only and feature a stainless steel slide, a polymer composite frame with a built-in picatinny rail. Nice to hear that a US firearm company is selling product to the federal government. If you have any experience with this model you know it is strong, reliable, and less expensive compared to other competing brands. If you are wondering these pistols are manufactured in Ruger's AZ factory. I'm sure you heard what has happened with Boeing being beat out by Airbus on the in-flight fuel tankers contract. How do you feel about the Fed buying products? Do you think contracts should go to US-made only or should the contracts go to the better product?

Posted by SwampYankee at 06:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Four States Move on Youth Hunting Bill

Nebraska, Virginia, Indiana and Wisconsin are closer to enacting legislation to lower barriers that prevent new hunters from participating in the sport. And as we all know getting new blood into the pheasant fields and deer woods will keep our hunting tradition alive and well. Nebraska has passed a bill that creates an apprentice hunter education exemption certificate. This allows an experienced hunter to take a neophyte hunting before they’ve completed a hunter education course. It also lowers the age for deer hunting from 12 to 10. Virginia’s bills would create a two-year apprentice license allowing novices to take to hunt with a licensed adult hunter prior to the completion of hunter education. Indiana’s bill creates an apprentice hunting license that lets resident or nonresident newcomers, who are accompanied by a license adult hunter, to hunt for three years prior to the completion of a hunter education course. Wisconsin’s bill would establish an apprentice hunting license for those 10 years old and higher. It will also remove an old law that bans youth under 12 from target shooting.

Posted by SwampYankee at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hunting’s Impact to the Bottom Line

When we don’t have feathers on the brain or antlers on the brain there are a few other things we constantly think about. One of those other things is money. And it's not that we have a lot to think about either. But just a mention of money and you have Washington’s attention especially when there is $76 billion in play. A report released last week by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation stated $76 billion is the yearly amount some 34 million hunters and anglers spend on hunting and fishing. That is a hell of a lot of snelled hooks and #7 shotshells. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation teased out the data and reports that the spending for America’s hunters and anglers is greater than the revenues of Microsoft, Google, eBay and Yahoo! combined. Let that number sink in for a minute. We are a force to be reckoned with and our state’s policy makers can’t afford to not listen to our concerns. Our presence is too great to be ignored.

Posted by SwampYankee at 07:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

How Do You Celebrate Hunting & Fishing Day?

The 36th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day is September 22. How do you plan on celebrating? Since its inception in 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day is a reminder for Americans who have forgotten that wildlife and wild places exist only because of leadership and funding from hunters and anglers. The idea was simple. Hunters and anglers, through licenses, permits, fees and special excise taxes, pay for conservation programs that benefit the entire nation. In 2007 alone, over $615 million in these taxes were apportioned to state conservation agencies. And since the program started, it has generated more than $10 billion for fish, wildlife and habitat programs. Want a great idea on how to celebrate the day? Take your kid or grandchild fishing. Ever see a kids face the first time they catch a pumpkinseed? Or introduce your neighbors to skeet shooting so he doesn’t make you look bad when he’s mowing the grass while you’re trying to break 100.

Posted by SwampYankee at 06:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hunting Groups Support 2007 Farm Bill

The usual suspects—PF, QU, RGS—are supporting and encouraging the 2007 Farm Bill, which recently passed the US House of Representatives and making its way through the Senate. If you don’t think that this legislation is important, then think again. According to the RGS it is “the single most important piece of conservation legislation considered by the 110th Congress.” The Farm Bill in the past has been the largest single source of federal funds to enhance fish and wildlife habitats on private lands. If you’d like to help, write, phone or email your congessman and urge them to support the Farm Bill.

Posted by SwampYankee at 08:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Democrats Are Better Wing Shots Than Republicans

At the 13th Annual Congressional Shoot-Out Democrats bested Republicans on the trap, skeet and sporting clays ranges. The event was organized by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. Congressman Dan Boren (D-OK) won the event. Does mean we're going to have blue and red shot shell states? Throughout each Congressional session, members of the Caucus The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus put aside bipartisanship to focus on Endangered Species Act reform, conservation taxes, and the Farm Bill reauthorization. These straight shooters in Washington work together to promote legislation to protect and to improve our hunting, shooting and fishing heritage. Let the Cheney jokes begin.

Posted by ras400 at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Playing Nice in the Washington Sandbox for Wildlife

Ah, bipartisan support for America's wildlife. Sigh. Teddy Roosevelt is shedding a tear of happiness as 162 Representatives and 60 Senators sang Kumbaya and signed a letter urging an increase in funding for the federal State Wildlife Grants, which is the core program for preventing wildlife from becoming endangered in every state. The letter supports funding of $85 million for the State Wildlife Grants Program in Fiscal Year 2008. What to know who in your state signed the letter? Go to the Teaming For Wildlife website and find out. And remember your vote next year counts.

Posted by ras400 at 06:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UplandFeathers

October 12, 2009

Congressional Shoot Out: Democrats Defeat Republicans

July 16, 2009

Pennsylvania: Long Rifle Hunting Heritage

June 30, 2009

Congress Recommends Record Wetlands Funding

May 12, 2009

New Amendment: The Right to Hunt

April 16, 2009

Hunting Excise Taxes: Tea Anyone?

April 04, 2009

Connecticut: Anti-Gun and Pro-Hunting Bills

February 02, 2009

Obama Knows How To Sell Guns

January 29, 2009

Largest US Military Handgun Contract Since WWII

November 02, 2008

Blaze Orange States Vie With Red and Blue States

September 17, 2008

What’s Uncle Sam Buying These Days‏

June 08, 2008

Congressional Clay Shooters: Who Are the Big Shots?

May 24, 2008

What John McCain Has to Say About Hunting and Fishing

April 16, 2008

What's This--The Fed Is Buying US-made?

April 05, 2008

Four States Move on Youth Hunting Bill

October 03, 2007

Hunting’s Impact to the Bottom Line

September 20, 2007

How Do You Celebrate Hunting & Fishing Day?

August 26, 2007

Hunting Groups Support 2007 Farm Bill

May 25, 2007

Democrats Are Better Wing Shots Than Republicans

May 11, 2007

Playing Nice in the Washington Sandbox for Wildlife