airedale

UK BAN ON LEAD AMMUNITION RULED OUT Liz Truss has rejected the recommendations of the LAG process. It has been confirmed that a ban on lead ammunition has been ruled out by the government and there will be no further restrictions on the use of lead ammunition. In a letter to LAG chairman, John Swift, Liz Truss said: “the report did not show that the impacts of lead ammunition were significant enough to justify changing current policy; we therefore do not accept your recommendation to ban the use of lead ammunition”. Her letter confirmed that the Food Standards Agency will not be changing its advice on the consumption of game shot with lead ammunition. Liz Truss also noted that “the report does not provide evidence of causation linking possible impacts of lead ammunition with sizes of bird populations”. It has been confirmed that the LAG process has now ended. Leading countryside groups have welcomed the news. BASC chairman Peter Glenser said: “The government has engaged in a lengthy, evidence-based analysis of the use of lead ammunition and has found there is no reason to change the law. “Risks are there to be managed and it is quite clear from current evidence that by following FSA advice and trimming meat of shot-affected areas, the risk can be eliminated. “The UK has also acted to protect vulnerable species by legislating on the use of lead shot for wildfowl and over wetlands. “Unfortunately, the lead ammunition debate has been hijacked by campaigners who are looking to damage shooting as a whole. This puts them back in their box.” Countryside Alliance Chief Executive, Tim Bonner, said: “The LAG process has been mind-numbingly slow and increasingly controversial. So controversial in fact that half of the group resigned, unable to work with its Chairman John Swift, before LAG finally submitted its final report to Defra last year. Those resignations included that of our then Executive Chairman Barney White-Spunner who said at the time that he left because of abuses of process and evidence that render the group’s work so flawed it can never reach any scientific conclusions. “We are profoundly grateful that the Alliance’s position has been entirely vindicated by the Secretary of State and that she has rejected any further restrictions on the use of lead ammunition, let alone the total ban on lead ammunition that John Swift proposed in his report. “A ban on the use of lead ammunition would have a significant impact on the huge contribution shooting makes to conservation, to local communities and to the rural economy. From the start of this process the Countryside Alliance was, therefore, very clear that any further restrictions could only ever be justified on the basis of real, relevant scientific evidence. The painstaking work of successive Alliance representatives on LAG has revealed that evidence just does not exist.” Jonathan Young, Editor of The Field, said: “This is the best news for shooting in decades. “For years we have been living under the threat of a ban on lead shot, which would have had dire consequences for British gameshooting and the wildlife it supports. Now we have a government that has had the resolve to reject the claims made by the rump of the Lead Ammunition Group and its chairman John Swift, and we can all move forward.”

"Airedale. I too use the same Johhny Stewart as you. Have schlepped it out many times." ========================================== I peddled off the old heavy Johnny Stewart many years ago and purchased a much lighter digital FoxPro electronic caller with a remote control. I have Crow calls programed on it but have yet to actually use it for Crows. These days along with mouth calls I hunt mostly varmints. Al

A Crow hunt can provide some great wing shooting and about as much fun as a shotgunner can ask for. Like the fellers stated above a good electronic caller and a setup similar to what waterfowlers use, decoys, a blind and good camo clothing will almost certainly provide some great action. I started out mouth calls used in conjunction with an early Stewart game caller, it worked well as far as sound quality but it was a real heavy contraption that used about a dozen D cell batteries, a steel megaphone speaker, long cord and played cassette tapes. Obsolete compared to today's digital modern light weight wireless remote controlled callers. None the less I killed quite a few crows with it. There is also rifle hunting which for me is great fun and challenging, I have probably taken just as many Crows with varmint rifles at some pretty serious distances when chuck hunting. The longest kill shot I have ever made was a Crow with my 220 Swift. I saw on that Bizarre Foods TV show Crow breast wrapped in bacon being cooked up, eaten and savored, they are not too appetizing to me though and I will pass. Al

Old school wool for me, my choice for socks is a brand of good quality manufactured with a high percentage of cushy non itch Merino wool used in their makeup. I have them in different weights from light to heavy and match them up with boots according to the the weather and conditions of the day's hunt. Al

Not to mention what Outdoor sportsmen spend in the state. DiNapoli: With 2 Million People Fishing and Hunting in the State, New York Ranks Third Nationwide Residents and Visitors Spent $5 Billion on Sporting Activities Fishing and hunting bring a stream of cash to New York’s economy, generating the second-highest expenditures in any state at approximately $5 billion, supporting local businesses and jobs across the state, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

42 million from licence sales plus another 26 million from Pittman-Robertson funds and Sport Fish Restoration, I would not call 68 million chump change. New York state is receiving $17.7 million in Pittman-Robertson federal funds in fiscal 2016, a total that’s down from last year’s record $20.8 million. The Pittman-Robertson funds, also known as Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration monies, are generated from an 11 percent excise tax on firearms (10 percent on handguns), ammunition, archery equipment and arrow components. The state received an additional $8.1 million in Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration (also known as Dingell-Johnson or Wallop-Breaux) funds. Those monies come from excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, import duties, and interest.

The majority of the DEC budget is basically financed by hunting and fishing revenue plus Pittman Robertson funds so personally I would prefer to have a person with a horse in the race when it comes to the DEC commissioner. Al

NICE!!! Two Beauties Al

I have many times had friends ask me why I get so fired up about squirrel hunting and think I am a bit nuts spending so much money on higher end 22 rifles. Actually there was a time I pretty much thought the same way. I became enlightened many years ago after a successful Deer hunt. That summer I purchased a beautiful Ruger Number 1A in 243 Winchester, like a pretty girl I just loved looking at that gun. Mounted a nice 2X7 Redfield Widefield scope and spent summer working up the perfect Deer busting handload and getting that rifle dialed in, man I was psyched for opening day. The second day of season on my stand out walks a nice Buck at 50 yards, Bang and down he went. The excitement lasted for a few minutes then the realization came that I was "all done" and it would be a year before me and that Number 1 be in the woods again, I almost wished I had missed the Buck, Bummer! Well I thought there was Squirrel hunting so I could still hit the woods with my trusty Savage single shot 22 or a shotgun. Didn't sound that appealing until I thought why the heck not buy a really fine 22 rifle and get after the squirrels with it. That is just what I did, I purchased a Remington 541S and never looked back. Six month season, up to six Squirrels per day action, action, action, and I get to actually pull the trigger on a fine rifle or shotgun more than once. I have since accumulated several nice rimfire rifles through the years and I get to use them all if I want, What is not to love about Squirrel hunting? I will be in the woods this week for sure. Al

A real good film that I like a lot that should have received much more acclaim than it did but not surprising when one looks at the direction this country has taken in recent years. Gibson who is not a favorite of the Hollywood elite caught a lot of flack for having scenes with young boys involved in the fighting shooting guns and killing the enemy. Al

White kerosene or Coleman fuel is much milder than any commercial gun solvent. The best test for any harm to a finish, I probably gave my old model 41 S&W target gun 30 or 40 good soak-cleaning jobs and the blueing was not harmed in any way. If you use kerosene make sure it is the white clear stuff, some places are putting a red dye in it, that I would not use. Al

Hey Eagle Rider, Congratulations on your find, those BARs are surely top of the line autoloaders and the price is right. If the old Bushnell scope is an old Scope Chief model I owned one myself many years ago and can tell you they were a fine scope in their day, it had nice clear optics and adjustments. You might want to put it in a drawer and save it for a beater you may come across down the road instead of tossing it As for cleaning the insides of a very dirty firearm you do not want to completely disassemble I use an old tip I got from a gunsmith many years ago. He would soak the complete gun in a plastic tub that fit the gun with enough white kerosene or Coleman fuel to cover it minus the wooden stock of course. Slosh the gun around every now and then and take a soft bristle brush of some kind to remove any gummed up oil or sludge in every place you can get at. Just about all the gunk that is in and on a gun that has been fired a lot will come loose and that kerosene will end up being filthy. When you get all the crap off you can see just stand the firearm up in a position so that all the fluid drain away and wipe clean and dry with a soft cloth. For lubrication go with a lite fine gun oil, the Kerosene itself also actually has a lubricating quality to it so it helps protect places you can not get at. I have used that method many many times over the years mostly for my handguns with very good results. As for the used dirty fuel just run it through a paper filter back into it's container and you can use it over again. Al

We need people of influence in high places like Judge Scalia with the same passion for the outdoor sports and shooting that the folks here on this board have, there is a big difference between lip service and living the life. When I see a pheasant hunting photo op like the one Kerry tried pulling off or Clinton claiming she was a waterfowl hunter or our own resident phoney "Uptown Redneck" "Hey hunters and shooters we hunt too and are in your corner", (as long as there is common sense). Don't It want to make you "PUKE", any moron knows what they are trying to pull. This Trump kid has the passion and that means a lot because he has his father's ear. I really don't care how much money he has or the fabulous hunts and fishing trips he can go on, Hell I would be doing the same if I had that kind of dough. What counts is whenever the anti's try to pull their bullshit he will be fighting for us from a position to get things done for those like us with that same passion as he does. Al

Those are both good quality scopes, personally I prefer the Leupold scopes because I have had a long history and a lot of experience using that brand and have had 100% reliability with them mounted on all sorts of firearms. I believe the Leupold Vari 1 models have a $50 rebate on them making them an even better deal. The Leupold 2X7 would also be an excellent choice for your rifle, it has enough power, is compact and a lot lighter than the 3X9. Al

I am so glad this Uptown Redneck is here on this board posting, I just hope most of the members here are reading those posts. They are the most persuasive words I have ever seen written to make sure all of us get out and vote Trump and Republican!! Keep it coming and keep up the good work Uptown. Al

If you are adventurous a Duracoat do it yourself kit can be purchased on Amazon, there is also a You Tube video that shows how it is applied. I would not be applying it to anything fancy but if I had an old beater around that I wanted to refinish I would give it a shot. I had Gander Mountain's gunsmith do the barrels of an older Savage 24 and they came out pretty nice and the finish has held up great. Al https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N35HKMK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=6DC0EHBXRTXH&coliid=IH5HIWFRCWSIL&psc=1

My slug gun has a non rifled cylinder bore barrel and I have found the Federal Tru Ball slugs the best of the current crop of Foster style slugs for accuracy, I have not killed a Deer with them because I use a rifle these days but I see no reason why they should not be outstanding. Al

I love hunting Squirrels and I love eating them just as much. Being a big rimfire shooter I have an arsenal of Squirrel meal makers. Like Dan I start out with a scatter gun for early season because of the leaves, when the leaves are down I switch to a 22 rifle, my favorite is my Remington 541S. This my old side button Savage 24 22/410 I picked up used a few years ago right after I got it back from Gander Mountain's gunsmith shop, I had the barrels refinished with the Duracoat which is basically a baked on epoxy that can be done in about any color. Much more wear resistant than blue and also pretty impervious to the elements. Because of the way this gun will be used, a finish that is about perfect I think. I have taken quite a few squirrels with it plus quite a bit of other various small game. The old Savage 24 was one of the most useful hunting guns ever produced in my opinion and is great for Squirrels if the leaves are on or off. Al

Deer have seven glands that are used primarily for scent communication. The nose of a whitetail deer has up to 297 million olfactory receptors, dogs have 220 million with humans limiting out with just five million… [in other words] the whitetail deer’s sense of smell is nearly 1/3 greater than that of a canine [and unfathomably greater than ours]. whitetail deer have two giant olfactory bulbs attached to the brain which decode every smell they encounter. The bulbs weigh around 60 grams, four times as much as human olfactory bulbs. In tests dogs have been able to pick up chemical solutions that form one or two parts in a trillion. That is the equivalent of smelling one bad apple in two billion barrels. This is relative to a whitetail deer’s sense of smell as[this part is important] some hunters believe they can cover their human scent with cover up scents. Wrong! Dogs can detect odors that are up to 40 feet underground, thus deer can detect them even deeper than that depth. Estimates state that a whitetail deer can detect human scent for up to 10 days after it’s left. As far as dogs and whitetail deer are concerned, all humans have a unique smell. They can pick people out according to body and other odors …Therefore, the deer your hunting may quite possibly know the difference between how the farmer smells that works in the field that is NOT a threat to them, and you the hunter– [another key point regarding cover scents] If you are the hunter that wears cover scents then know the whitetail deer are probably associating your cover scents with those of a predator. Cover scents will hurt you more than help you. …dogs can track human smells over long distances. Scientists think they can pick up on the difference in odors from different footprints to work out which direction their prey is headed. They can do this twenty minutes after a person has passed by, even though the footprints are made a single second apart. If this is accurate, then again with the whitetail deer having a keener sense of smell – it is very possible whitetail deer can smell which way you are headed and avoid you by going the other direction. Based on 42 trials it has been concluded that scent absorbing suits with carbon lining had little to no affect on a dog’s ability to track human beings. However environmental factors such as the wind did effect the dog’s ability to locate. This information suggests carbon lined clothing as odor absorbing suits may not keep a whitetail deer from detecting the hunter. It is a scientific fact that it takes 600 degree [heat] for carbon to reactivate, however the modern day clothing dryer averages 175 degrees maximum temperature. Thus you aren’t reactivating your carbon lined clothing whether or not you think you are. Conclusion There is no [scientifically proven] way to reduce human scent 100%. [This fact is especially true when dealing with whitetail deer.] Like mentioned above it is all about playing the wind the best you can. Al

They are no more biased than you and the bunch you represent! Al

From Jim Mathews, Outdoor News on the California DFA Just the condor program is a prime example. The state is supposed to be the coordinator of a broad-based coalition of scientists and researchers from private, state and federal agencies working with this critically endangered bird. After 35 years of supposedly intensive study, we still really have no idea of where or what condors eat in the wild. With all of the birds wearing markers and most with radio telemetry gear so we can track their movements and location, we still only have anecdotal information on where and how they feed in the wild. There has never been a food study done on condors. This is a critical omission when you have been telling everyone for two decades that lead poisoning from the condor’s food is their biggest threat to recovery. And that lead poisoning — they have and continue to say — is caused by lead ammunition remnants left in game gut piles and carcasses discarded by hunters. But then we banned lead ammunition for hunting in condor country, there was a real shocker. It didn’t help. The after-ban data shows the condors are still getting lead in the same amounts. Now, the so-called experts are scrambling trying to make the data fit the disproven theory. They are grasping at straws: ‘Hunters must not be complying.’ ‘Poachers are still using lead.’ But all the excuses beg the simple question, why isn’t it working for condors? Well, it appears the simple answer is that the assumption about condor lead coming from ammunition was at least partially wrong, mostly wrong. Has the DFW said, ‘Whoa, we need to finally, once-and-for-all, do a condor food study and see where this lead is coming from’? No, they are mismanaging endangered species like they have the resources — the hunted and fished species — that could make them a mint in license sales if those populations of game and fish were optimized. A total ban on hunting with lead ammo goes into effect on July 1, 2019 The NSSF surveyed California hunters after AB 711 passed and found that nearly 40 percent said they will either have to stop or severely reduce their hunting due to the much higher costs of non-lead ammunition. This goes for 22 rimfire ammo also, probably the most widely used ammo of all. So far the best they come up with for 22 rimfire is a powdered copper X poly pressed bullet that shoots like crap and costs 10.99 for fifty. And “widely available?” Forget that. The Fish and Wildlife Service has an approved list of non-lead ammunition that has less than 40 manufacturers on it. Further, due to local restrictions in densely and highly populated Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento and San Francisco, ordering ammo by mail is nearly impossible—if not all together forbidden.The NSSF report says the ban could lead to a loss of $20 million in revenue for the state.

I have been around for awhile and have seen plenty of different ways of harvesting fish and game and there are some methods that I personally don't care for myself. That being said as long as it is legal I will support those who use those methods, I just do not participate in those ways myself and that is that. As for Under Armor they caved to anti's for something that was done legal and that is the bottom line. They can take their over rated, over priced "Rodeo Drive" crap clothing and shove it where the sun don't shine! Al

She looks good, sounds like you have a winner! Al

DO GUN LAWS MAKE US SAFE? In some cases they work but for the most part NO!! Criminals do not obey the law!