Outdoor industry leaders and well-known camouflage brands, Mossy Oak and Realtree, have collaborated to create a public service announcement to promote treestand safety. Featuring Mossy Oak’s Cuz Strickland and David Blanton from Realtree, the PSA aims to highlight the importance of wearing a safety harness when hunting from a treestand.

Paul Meeks from the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA) said:

“We at the TMA are elated that Mossy Oak and Realtree have teamed up to create what will probably be the most effective message ever for encouraging hunters to wear full-body safety harnesses. Both Cuz Strickland and David Blanton are veteran hunters and understand the serious nature of this issue. And, they relate so well with the hunter, the impact of their advice will no doubt be responsible for saving many lives.”

The Pursuit Channel has also stepped up to help promote safe treestand practices by airing the PSA at no cost to TMA.

“Rusty Faulk and the Pursuit Channel also deserve a huge thank you for leading out in running this PSA at no charge,” said Meeks. “It is refreshing to see them put the safety of hunters and the welfare of the hunting industry as a top priority.”

The commercial will begin airing on the Pursuit Channel at the end of this month. For more information on TMA, log on to www.tmastands.com or call 601-584-7983.

The TMA operates as a Non-profit 501(c)(6) which specifically devotes its resources to promote treestand safety. It endeavors to improve treestand safety by education in the proper use of treestands, the development of treestand manufacturing standards, product testing, manufacturing quality control and the promotion of mandatory use of Fall Arrest Systems/Full Body Harness devices. Further, the TMA pursues its members to actively seek certification of conformance to association standards on all treestand products.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
John Louk, Executive Director
Treestand Manufacturers Assn.
601-584-7983
info@tmastands.com

Company has Donated $100,000 each of the Past Five Years to Support Families of Special Forces

GLOCK, Inc. made a $100,000 donation to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) during the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) on June 15. During the past five years, GLOCK has donated $500,000 to SOWF, a non-profit organization providing college educations to the surviving children of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel killed in combat or training.

Accepting the donation from GLOCK, Inc. Vice President Josh Dorsey was Col. John T. Carney Jr., the founding father of Air Force Special Tactics and current President of SOWF, and Taniya Wright. Taniya’s father, James Wright, died in a training accident in 1987 while serving as a member of the U.S. Army’s Special Forces. Through donations such as GLOCK’s, SOWF was able to cover Taniya’s expenses at the University of South Florida (USF) allowing her to concentrate on her studies. She graduated from USF in 2006 with a degree in Mass Communications and now works as an associate producer at the NBC affiliate in Tampa.

GLOCK, Inc. donates more than $500,000 each year to causes that benefit those who put themselves in harm’s way to defend the freedom that Americans enjoy.

GLOCK, Inc. contact:
Shelley Decker
GLOCK, Inc.
Office: 770.432.1202 x 6208
shelley.decker@glock.us

On June 11-13, 2010, TenPoint Pro Staffer Fred Flati won the 2nd leg of the 2010 I.B.O. Triple Crown in Fairview, PA. Shooting with a TenPoint Phantom CLS, Flati finished the round with a total score of 415, including an event-high 21 X’s. His winning score placed him13 points above second place in the field of 16 participants. Flati, a police officer from East Liverpool, OH, said he plans to shoot the 3rd leg next month in Nelsonville, OH, as well as the World Championship and Archery Festival in August held in Ellicottville, NY.

For more information contact:
Dave Robb
Director of Marketing
1 (800) 548-6837

Starting July 1, deer hunters who want to help landowners or farmers remove excess antlerless deer from private property during the regular deer hunting seasons can sign up on at www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild.

Using an online form, each hunter will be able to select up to two counties that he or she would be willing to hunt. Landowners or farmers who think they need additional antlerless deer removed from their property can then contact their district wildlife biologist for the list of prospective hunters for their area. The landowner would then be responsible for reviewing the information on each application and contacting the hunter(s) of his or her choosing.

The registration form must be completed online from July 1 at 12:01 a.m. to midnight on Aug. 31. There will be no exceptions or extensions to the deadline. Mailed or faxed copies will not be accepted. Hunters who do not have Internet are encouraged to visit a local library offering Internet access. Multiple applications submitted by the same hunter are prohibited and will be purged from the database.

The program is designed to connect landowners and potential hunters; there are no special hunting benefits associated with this program. The program does not increase a hunter’s bag limit, county antlerless deer quotas, or give the hunter any special considerations or license fee reductions. Hunters selected by landowners to hunt on their property must abide by all Indiana hunting regulations, bag limits, bonus antlerless quotas, and purchase the appropriate valid license(s) needed to take one or more antlerless deer off the property.

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Media Contact:
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Private Lands Program
(812) 334-1137

Although it boasts many of the same great features as Advantage Hunting’s popular Deluxe Blind, the Whitetail Blind is the more economical choice for the budget-conscious hunter. But, just because it’s low on cost doesn’t mean it’s short on quality — quite the contrary. The heavy-duty Polyethylene black shell and interior and the through-bolt design with interlocking corners make Advantage’s Whitetail Blind durable and strong enough to last through years of use and abuse.

Lightweight and virtually maintenance-free, this blind is convenient to use thanks to the large hinged Polycarbonate windows that flip up and out of your way. The tinted corner viewing windows provides you with a 360 degree view. The outside hinged door with keyed locking door handle or optional trap-door-through-the-floor makes accessing this blind a breeze. Hunt from the ground or elevated. Either way, you’ll be shielded from view as well as from the weather and bugs in the Advantage Whitetail Blind.

Features:
2-Person Version

* Size: 25 Square Feet 5′-0″ Wide x 5′-0″ Deep x 6′-1″ Tall
* Weight: 165 Pounds
* Capacity: 500 Pounds
* Door Size: Full-Size Door – 35″, Wide x 55″ Tall Trap Door – 25″ Wide x 22″ Long
* Windows: Four (4) Hinged Polycarbonate Windows 10″ x 30″
* Can Be Elevated w/ SCENTite’s 10′ Galvanized Steel Quadpod or Quadpod Kit

4-Person Version:

* Size: 45 Square Feet 5′-0″ Wide x 9′-0″ Deep x 6′-1″ Tall
* Weight: 275 Pounds
* Capacity: 1000 Pounds
* Door Size: Full-Size Door – 35″ Wide x 55″ Tall Trap Door – 25″ Wide x 22″ Long
* Windows: Six (6) Hinged Polycarbonate Windows 10″ x 30″
* Can Be Elevated w/ SCENTite’s Quadpod Kit

For more info: www.advantagehunting.com.

Fish for free in all public waters – including coastal waters – on July 4 from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. While everyone, residents and non-residents, can fish in public waters on this date without a license, all other fishing regulations, such as length and daily possession limits, as well as bait and tackle restrictions, apply.

Authorized by the N.C. General Assembly and started in 1994, North Carolina’s annual free fishing day, which always falls on July 4, was created to promote the sport of fishing.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission manages recreational fisheries, stocks fish, and provides free access to fishing sites across the state. And, while many sport fisheries in North Carolina are self-sustaining, the Commission annually stocks a variety of fish in public, inland waters – from trout in the mountains to striped bass in Piedmont reservoirs and channel catfish in Community Fishing Program (CFP) waters.

“We stock waters so anglers of all ages and skill levels have an excellent chance of catching fish,” said Kyle Briggs, a program manager with the Division of Inland Fisheries. “The purpose of a free fishing day is to get people hooked on fishing. The more positive a fishing experience is, the more likely a person will continue fishing.”

To make finding a spot to fish easier, the Commission has a list of free fishing-access areas on its website. Public Fishing Areas offer free access from the banks of many streams, rivers, lakes and ponds across the state while CFP sites provide fishing opportunities in urban areas. These sites typically feature solar-powered fish feeders, universally-accessible piers and periodic stockings of harvestable-sized channel catfish from April through September.

Some CFP sites have loaner rods and reels that anglers can borrow for the day on a first-come, first-serve basis. Through the Commission’s Tackle Loaner Program, anglers can check out a fishing rod and reel in much the same way they check out a library book. They receive a Tackle Loaner card, which is good at all tackle-loaner sites across the state, although the rods and reels must be returned to the location where they were borrowed. Anglers age 15 and younger who register for the Tackle Loaner Program for the first time receive a mini tackle box filled with hooks, fishing line, a bobber, a stringer – all the necessary components of a successful fishing trip.

North Carolina residents age 16 and older who are interested in fishing the remaining 364 days of the year can purchase a one-year comprehensive inland fishing license, which includes public trout waters, for $20. A one-year license to fish in coastal waters is $15; to fish in inland waters, including public trout waters, and coastal waters, a unified license is $35 and is valid for one year from purchase date. To purchase a license:

• Call the Wildlife Resources Commission at 1 (888) 248-6834. Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week;

• Go to the Wildlife Resources Commission’s website, www.ncwildlife.org and click on the yellow “Purchase License” button at the top left side of the home page.

• Visit a local Wildlife Service Agent. Most are located in bait-and-tackle shops, hunting and sporting good stores and larger chain stores.

For a list of all public fishing areas, Community Fishing Program sites and Tackle Loaner Program sites, visit the Fishing page, or call the Division of Inland Fisheries, (919) 707-0220.

About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

Get N.C. Wildlife Update – news including season dates, bag limits, legislative updates and more – delivered to your Inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Go to www.ncwildlife.org/enews.

Contact:
Jodie B. Owen
919-707-0187
jodie.owen@ncwildlife.org

SAY GOODBYE TO HEAT-SAPPING WIND AND WEATHER

Sitka Gear Inc., has released the versatile Stratus Jacket and Bib for hunters that don’t shy away from nasty November weather. The lightly brushed Stratus garments feature midweight WINDSTOPPER® fabric to stop body-temperature draining wind in its tracks While the Stratus Jacket and Bib work to keep hunters warm and comfortable, they also provide breathability that is certain to be appreciated on long walks to and from treestands.

Sitka Gear’s top-quality products feature the most scientifically advanced visual concealment pattern ever to hit the market – GORE® OPTIFADE Concealment , the first-ever concealment based on the science of animal vision. The new Big Game/Forest pattern takes into account the distance and extreme angles found while treestand hunting and works to obscure elevated hunters. GORE® OPTIFADE Concealment Big Game/Forest incorporates a micro and a macro pattern. The unique micro-pattern considers the way a deer or other ungulate perceives color, the ratio of positive to negative space and other visual elements to create an effect that allows the hunter to blend with the animal’s perception of the environment. The macro-pattern breaks up the symmetry of the human body so that if a hunter is detected, the animal will not be able to identify the hunter as a predator.

Stratus Jacket
* Fully-featured hood with separate stand-up color
* Key hand and chest pockets
* Sealon taping
* WINDSTOPPER® fabric
* GORE® OPTIFADE™ Concealment Big Game/Forest pattern
* Available in sizes ranging from S – 3XL
* Retail Price $249

Stratus Bib
* Fully-articulated knee and seat system
* Low leg zips
* Chest, hand, and thigh pockets
* WINDSTOPPER® fabric
* GORE® OPTIFADE™ Concealment Big Game/Forest pattern
* Available in sizes ranging from S – 3XL
* Retail Price $229

About Sitka Gear, Inc.
Sitka Gear is the leading manufacturer of high-performance hunting apparel that utilizes cutting-edge technology to keep hunters warm, dry and comfortable in any condition. For more information about Sitka visit www.sitkagear.com or call 877.SITKA-MG.

About W.L. Gore & Associates (www.gore-tex.com)
Perhaps best known for its consumer products like GORE-TEX® fabric and ELIXIR® guitar strings, Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, industrial, fabrics and medical markets. The company is headquartered in Newark, Delaware, posts sales of approximately $2.6 billion, and employs 9000 associates at 30 locations throughout the world.

GORE, GORE-TEX, WINDSTOPPER, OPTIFADE and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.© 2010 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., 295 Blue Ball Rd., Elkton, Maryland, 800-431-GORE, gore-tex.com.

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Contact:
Jeff Bergmann
763.232.5452
Jeff@providencemarketinggroup.net

Thousands of families across the nation will be taking the Ranger Rick Night Owl Challenge as part of their Great American Backyard Campout on June 26, sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). They will take the Challenge while gathering in backyards, neighborhoods, communities, and parks for the one-night event created to get kids and families outdoors surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature.

“Participating in the Great American Backyard Campout and taking the Ranger Rick Night Owl Challenge is the perfect way for families to make lasting memories and will give them a better understanding of why it’s called the great outdoors,” says Karoline Hurd, Senior Manager of Events for National Wildlife Federation.

The Ranger Rick Night Owl Challenge is a game that entices kids and adults alike to experience all aspects of being outdoors. It gives them an opportunity to taste, touch, see, smell and hear things that make camping special. By checking off the items on the list provided, they get closer to winning the challenge. “Did I just see a bat?” “Boy this S’more tastes good.” Oh Oh, I smell a skunk.” “I love going to sleep to the sound of crickets!” “Ouch, was that a pinecone I just stepped on.”

This year, American Girl is joining NWF as the national sponsor of the Great American Backyard Campout to help encourage families to connect with nature. Campout is an initiative that shares the same outdoor spirit as Lanie,American Girl’s 2010 Girl of the Year. As part of its sponsorship, American Girl is also inspiring girls and their families and friends to get outside through Lanie-inspired activities and campout events hosted byAmerican Girl Place stores in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The Hershey Company is partnering with NWF to help make camping sweeter. Registered Campout participants will receive a coupon good for $1 off the purchase of any Hershey®’s Milk Chocolate bar six-pack, perfect for creating Hershey®’s S’mores and making their campout a night to remember. Visit www.puresmores.com for S’mores making tips and additional information.

The Great American Backyard Campout serves as a national fundraising event for NWF by inviting people to secure sponsor donations for their campsite. The money raised will support the National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There movement, which encourages parents to provide more unstructured outdoor play time for their children. Families who register also will have access to free Campout games, including the Ranger Rick Challenge, nature activities, camping tips and campfire songs. For more information and to register visit www.greatamericanbackyardcampout.org.

National Wildlife Federation is the nation’s conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. The organization focuses their efforts on finding solutions to global warming, protecting wildlife habitat, and connecting people to nature.

American Girl Brands, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT, www.mattel.com), the world’s leading toy company. Since American Girl’s inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational dolls and accessories, and unforgettable experiences. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-005 or visit www.americangirl.com.

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and more than 12,000 employees. Please visit us at www.hersheys.com.

MediaContacts:
Mary Burnette
National Wildlife Federation,
burnette@nwf.org
703.438.6097

Stephanie Spanos
American Girl
stephanie.spanos@americangirl.com
608.830.4496

Anna Lingeris
The Hershey Company
alingeris@hersheys.com
717.534.4874

What does it take to capture a great photo of Arizona wildlife? Equipment, skill, good timing … and a little luck.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is looking for photographers who have what it takes to make wow-worthy wildlife images. The department’s annual wildlife calendar photo contest is accepting entries through July 9. A top prize of $400 will be awarded to the photographer whose work is selected as “best in show.” Twelve more first-place winners (one for each month of the year) will win $250. Winning entries will be published in a 2011 calendar showing off the diversity of Arizona’s wildlife. Prize money is funded through calendar sales.

As always, the contest is free to enter. And this year, for the first time, only digital photos are being accepted. Slide transparencies will not be accepted, and prints are no longer required.

Wildlife photography is a good test of skill, and Arizona abounds with opportunities to practice. Swift pronghorns running across the grasslands, brilliant cardinals flitting through the palo verdes, and bold lizards scuttling between rocks will test the reaction time of any photographer. Being ready to capture opportunity when it comes is the key. By staying alert for that special wildlife encounter, anybody can capture an image that may be worth $400 in prize money.

Knowing where to find wildlife also is important. Along with their gear, many of the state’s top wildlife photographers keep a copy of the “Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide” in their camera bags. The viewing guide gives detailed directions to 128 of the state’s best wildlife-viewing areas and information about the wildlife found at each one. The book is sold at all Game and Fish Department offices for $14.95.

Those who have captured one of Arizona’s amazing wild animals in a photograph are invited to try their luck at turning that image into cash. The deadline for entering the 2011 Arizona wildlife calendar photo contest is July 9 at 5 p.m. MST. Entries must be received by the department by that time; postmarks don’t count.

Contest rules and an entry form are posted at www.azgfd.gov/photocontest.

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

Contact:
Lynda Lambert
(623) 236-7203

The 2010 DNR Fishing Guide online publication is available for viewing at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2347.htm, by selecting “large format.”

The large-format version of the 2010 guide is an expanded version of what was available in a printed magazine in past years. In addition to regulations, the new online guide includes feature articles on bank fishing, creel surveys, the Brookville Lake bass survey and fishing for walleye, as well as a list of where to fish in Indiana, and many color photos.

The change to an online publication was made to save on printing costs. In lieu of that guide, a six-page regulations brochure was printed and distributed across the state. An online version of that document can be viewed at the link listed above by clicking on “compact version.”

Contact:
Marty Benson
DNR assistant director of communications
(317) 233-3853.