National 4-H Headquarters recognized Bill Stevens, retired Conservation Manager, Federal Cartridge Corporation, for his lifelong dedication to the 4-H Shooting Sports Program during the 2008 National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in June.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said today there would be no early releases of acres from the popular Conservation Reserve Program to be put into production without repayment. He cited robust corn and soybean yields and less-than-expected crop damage as the reasons to keep the program’s regulations unchanged. “This was a very tough decision for Sec. Schafer and USDA,” said Don Young, executive vice president of Ducks Unlimited, concerning the announcement.

Austin-area firearms dealers may have the Democrats to thank for brisk sales this summer. The prospect that the next presidential administration might favor new gun-control laws has gun enthusiasts bringing dollars and concerns to local firearms stores ahead of the November election.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comments on its forest classification and motor vehicle route designation proposal for six state forests in an eight-county planning area in east-central Minnesota. The east-central forests include Land O' Lakes in Cass/Crow Wing counties; Hill River, Savanna, and Waukenabo in Aitkin County, Snake River in Kanabec County, and DAR in Pine County. The proposal also designates roads and trails on scattered DNR lands in Anoka, Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, southern Cass, and Washington counties.

With Governor Paterson signing New York's Junior Hunting bill July 23, the total number of states adopting legislation to reduce barriers to new hunters has climbed to 27 since the Families Afield program began in 2004. New data shows that across the United States, this program has opened doors to more than 131,000 youth and adults new to hunting.  New York state's Assembly Bill 11033 is expected to do the same as it lowers the age for mentored big game hunting to 14. Before this legislation was passed, New Yorkers had to be 16 years old, which was the oldest minimum age for big game hunting in the nation.

As the Olympics prepare to showcase shooters among the world's athletic elite, America's "Little League of Shooting Sports" is celebrating record participation as well as its influence on the Games in Beijing.  The U.S. Shooting Team has just eight spots for shotgun shooters. In trial competitions, 25 percent of those spots were won by alumni of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), a national youth shooting league that's become a phenomenon across the country.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reports that there were 19 hunting accidents in 2007, with one fatality. This is an increase of two accidents over the previous year but still a very small number considering that approximately 271,000 hunters spent more than 3 million days afield in 2006 (the latest year for which figures are available), agency staff report.

A special Web site offers waterfowl hunters up-to-date information about all four of North America's flyways.  The site, www.Flyways.us <http://www.flyways.us/>, a joint effort of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, was developed by biologists and waterfowl manager across the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific flyways.

The Game, Fish and Parks Commission approved proposals for the duck and goose hunting seasons at its July meeting in Rapid City. The seasons will be finalized at the commission's August meeting at Fort Sisseton. As proposed, Canada goose hunting along the Missouri River would get a little bit later start. The season in Unit 2, largely those counties along the river and portions of Custer and Fall River counties, would start on Nov. 1 and go through Feb. 13, 2009.

Jon Gafner would be more than happy to give away the $25,000 worth of merchandise his store sign promises if Brett Favre came back to the Packers.  The marquee sign on Gafner's Jackson Street business, Jon's Sport Shop, says, "Hey Brett, $25,000 shopping spree if you come back!"

Members of the Virginia Waterfowlers’ Association attended a presentation by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department is gearing up for its 14th Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop. The workshop will be held Sept. 19-21 at Outlaw Ranch, near Custer.

The VDGIF will begin selling its 2008 Virginia State Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp July 1, 2008. The stamp is mandatory for persons age 16 and older to hunt migratory waterfowl, unless license exempt. The stamp is valid July 1 through June 30, 2009.

Recently, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) sent out a survey to riparian and non-riparian blind tag owners of 2007-2008. They requested help with a very important study that the DGIF is conducting. The purpose of this study is to gain information about the owner’s experiences hunting waterfowl and licensing blinds, owner’s satisfaction with previous stationary blind license purchases, and owner’s preferences for the license process. DGIF will be holding a public input meeting on June 23, 2008, to discuss the webless and September seasons. They will also be taking comments about the survey and blind laws. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may email your comments to Robert Ellis, Director of Wildlife.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Legendary handgun maker and rising star in hunting rifles and shotguns, Smith & Wesson has become the newest sponsor of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

The annual celebration of hunters, anglers and conservation is set for Sept. 27, 2008.

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation recently signed an agreement with Daisy Outdoor Products that will help commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the NWTF's Women in the Outdoors outreach program.

Each year the Virginia DGIF bands roughly 2,000 resident Canada geese across Virginia. Geese are captured during their annual molt cycle when they are flightless in late June and early July. This annual banding program is important in the monitoring and management of this resource. Each year, the DGIF tries to incorporate volunteers and educational activities into their banding activities. It is also an excellent opportunity for volunteers to participate in wildlife research, work with wildlife, meet the DGIF staff and other volunteers, and learn a little about resident Canada goose biology and management on the way. If you would like to participate or know of any one interested in assisting on any of the dates below please email Tom Bidrowski or telephone at 804-829-6698.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) is seeking comments and suggestions for the late waterfowl seasons that will be set at the August 19th Board meeting. The DGIF is requesting waterfowl hunters to think ahead to these seasons as they also consider and provide the department with suggestions on the webless migratory bird seasons (dove, rail, woodcock) and early September waterfowl seasons that will be taken up at the July 15th board meeting. DGIF will be holding public input meetings on June 23 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM to discuss the webless and September seasons and on August 4 to discuss the late waterfowl seasons.

The VDGIF is putting together the data and background information needed to prepare their proposals for the early season migratory bird regulations (Dove, Rail, Woodcock, Snipe, Resident Canada Geese and September Teal). These regulations will be set at the VDGIF board meeting that will be held at their Richmond office at 9 am on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. The annual "Public Input Meeting" on these regulations will be held on Monday, June 23, 7-9 pm at the Richmond office. The late season public meeting, to cover the remainder of the waterfowl regulations, will be held on August 4, from 7-9 pm, and the board meeting to set the waterfowl hunting seasons will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 9 am at our Richmond office. This notice is to inform you of the meeting dates, to solicit any comments on these issues, and to invite you to attend the public meetings.

2008 VAWFA Virginia State Duck and Goose Calling Contests August 23 & 24, 2008 -Bass Pro Shops, Hampton, VA. The Virginia Waterfowlers' Association will hold the 2008 VAWFA Virginia State Duck and Goose Calling Contests at the Bass Pro Shops store in Hampton, VA on August 23 & 24, 2008. The event will be held inside the Bass Pro Shops store located at 1972 Power Plant Parkway, Hampton, VA 23666.