Hope y’all had a good 4th! πΊπΈ Deer season’s right around the corner, let’s go! π
Here you go, the BEST of the deer webz every week β thx for reading! If you’re getting the DeerBlaster for the first time it’s probably because a deer-crazed bud signed you up!
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Supposed pro-2A House bill would gut wildlife conservation funding.
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This is a really big deal.
Ever heard of the Pittman-Robertson Act, aka the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act? It’s a program which started in 1937 under which “federal excise taxes” β meaning taxes that are passed on to us in ways we don’t see β on firearms, ammo and archery equipment are earmarked for wildlife use only. Using a formula, the tax money is sent to the states for wildlife management and is one of the biggest sources of funding for state DNRs.
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In other words, it has worked, is successful and is needed.
So lots of folks are shocked that Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA, 9th) recently introduced legislation that would or could gut this program. Some details from Outdoor News:
> Clyde calls his bill, HF8167, the Repealing Excise Tax on Unalienable Rights Now (RETURN) our Constitutional Rights Act, and he’s got 53 co-sponsors, all fellow Republicans. The legislation would eliminate most federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment.
> …Clyde said the 85-year-old tax “infringes on Americans’ ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights and creates a dangerous opportunity for the government to weaponize taxation to price this unalienable right out of reach for most Americans β a threat that is materializing by the day.”
[The tax is 10-11%, which is just incorporated into the price we see.]
> Clyde’s release notes that since the current firearms tax revenue funds beneficial programs such as hunter education and environmental care, his legislation would redirect unallocated lease revenue generated by onshore and offshore energy development on federal lands, which currently flows into the general fund, to continue funding those important programs.
> Clyde owns a gun store in Georgia called the “Clyde Armory,” so he stands to benefit from the bill, according to the hunting website Meateater.
> …the bill doesn’t limit itself just to gun-related taxes. It also affects the Dingell-Johnson Act [the fishing equivalent of Pittman-Robertson] because it reduces the taxes on outboard motors and fishing tackle boxes to 3% from 10% and limits the total tax on fishing rods to $10.
Reactions from Jay, who used to be a conservation reporter in Washington, DC:
1. I have not studied the actual legislation, but I have covered P-R and D-J for decades. It is without a doubt one of the most successful programs in the history of the federal government.
2. Clyde is talking about replacing a program where funds are EARMARKED β meaning they can’t be used for anything else β with partial funding from the general fund, which can be reallocated anytime. That is crazy…and suspicious.
3. This is a “solution” looking for a problem…which does not exist. I bet you the number of Clyde’s constituents who called his office saying to get rid of Pittman-Robertson is zero.
4. In my 2c, so-called Republicans at the federal level should be doing everything they can to stop infringement of the Second Amendment and the Constitution itself. Wasting time on gutting what is literally the most successful wildlife program in the country is legit bananas.
5. I am skeptical of their motives. If Pittman-Robertson was gutted, what would the effects on DNRs, wildlife and hunting? All super bad. Why would all these so-called Republicans be in favor of it then? π€
6. Including FISHING in it, which has nothing to do with the 2A, makes it even more suspicious.
Right now it’s only in bill form so hopefully it won’t get farther.
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2 great big-buck lessons from a PA hunting guide.
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> “I think weather, especially temperature, is the biggest factor influencing buck behavior, even during the rut. Most guys seem to think Hey the rut is on, they’re going to move no matter what, but I disagree.
> “…here warm temps just crush daytime activity β a buck may have to travel miles, much of it over rugged country, to even get a whiff of an estrous doe, and if it’s warm he’s just not going to do it. He’s going to lay up and wait for that first cold front, and then watch out. Those are the days when every buck in the woods is out cruising hard.
> “If you’re not paying attention to temps and weather fronts, you’re going to drastically reduce your hunting success.
> “Also, I think most hunters don’t really appreciate the huge effect that low deer densities have on buck behavior in the big woods. Even if the buck sign is great in a given area, the buck that made it may only swing through there once every few days, and the only way to kill him is to grind it out and be there waiting for him.”
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“Many hunters are afraid to cut large lanes, thinking it will spook bucks. I’ve been very successful by being aggressive, removing all potential obstacles and creating some in places I don’t want a buck to go.”
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> One of his favorite tactics is to force a buck to walk behind his tree, and then behind brush before it steps into a shooting lane. “I draw when the buck steps behind my tree. I try to have a little cover between me and the deer so I can shift around for the shot just before he walks into my shooting lane.”
> “I never want a deer directly below me. Too often the buck or doe will smell my steps, look up at me or, at the very least, walk by without presenting a good shot. I put enough brush and limbs under my stand so the buck has to circle wide, giving me a shot. There are times this spooks deer as well, especially if I am near their bedding area and they walk the trail a lot. In most cases, I get away with it and tag a buck….
> “Many people don’t pay much attention to where they hang a stand. They choose a tree and hope a buck walks within range. When a buck does come in, it’s a gamble whether or not it will present a shot. I make sure I can shoot in as many directions as possible without leaving myself exposed. Finding the perfect killing tree can be difficult, but it’s worth spending a lot of time finding and hanging a stand in the right tree.”
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Does the “Covid bump” prove that lack of TIME is the #1 issue for hunting?
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Lots of people have said that a decline in hunters β if it is truly happening β is due to a mix of lack of free time, other “entertainment” options particularly for younger folks, single-parent families and less of a tradition around hunting, among other reasons. But the “pandemic bump” in hunters and hunting might point at free time in particular. From a post on Bowhunting.com:
> The state of MI has been out front tracking the activity among its hunters, before, during and after COVID. In 2020, there was a 5% boost in deer hunting license sales. However…deer hunting license sales were down almost 4% in 2021….
> “Because of the pandemic, we saw a lot of people have more time available to them which freed up opportunities for hunting and other outdoor recreation pastimes. When the pandemic restrictions were lifted, people found themselves back in their regular routines.”
Okay that’s just 1 state, but it shows that more free time = more hunters, and more hunters probably = more future hunters. So…how do we tackle the free time issue??
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Blackfeet Tribe of MT is training dogs to sniff out CWD.
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They’re more concerned than most because of the amount of game meat they eat, and the uncertainty around chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions possibly being passed to people somehow β from the Montana Free Press:
> Calling Last said the dogs trained by the nonprofit organization Working Dogs for Conservation will detect chronic wasting disease in deer and elk scat at such sites that serve as watering holes for herds. The idea is to help alert wildlife managers of the disease’s presence as early as possible.
> If Calling Last’s project proves dogs can effectively do this work, Working Dogs for Conservation trainer Michele Vasquez said the organization hopes to expand the effort across the country.
> Researchers from the U of PA’s veterinary school have been studying whether dogs can detect chronic wasting disease in the lab, but the project on the Blackfeet reservation is the first attempt to do so in the field….
> The dogs also will sniff out mink and otter scat so it can be tested for chemicals and contaminants in illegal dumpsites of old cars, furniture, and appliances. Detecting those toxic substances will help protect tribal members who utilize plants like mint for tea or willows burned in sweat lodges….
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Not cheap tho:
> The price of an E-Bike for hunting can range from about $1,000 to as much as $10,000 or more depending on the wattage and the accessories you want.
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CDC funding over 5 years for The New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases.
Aug 2 – Sept 9.
6. 2A stuff.
Because the legislation is vague in some areas.
Sounds kinda familiar, and we all saw how Aussie citizens got treated over the last couple years β scary stuff:
> …failures by the Weapons Licensing Branch that include extensive delays, poor performance and lack of customer service.
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> The ATA Turqua sporter is the first bolt-action rifle to be manufactured in Turkey, a country renowned for its shotguns and, to a lesser degree, handguns.
> The heart of the Turqua rifle is a massively proportioned magnum-length action β and it’s really long!
> The short .308 cartridge normally has a short bolt travel. While the 3-lug bolt renders a low 60-degree lift, it doesn’t have shorter linear travel because the bolt head extends 30mm into the long receiver ring before locking up. Because the locking lugs don’t protrude beyond the diameter of the bolt, no lug raceways along the inner walls of the receiver are needed, only a round hole. This makes for a close-tolerance fit between the two and smooth, wobble-free travel.
> The Turqua was tested with another 5 Federal loads, all of which showed more than acceptable accuracy. Average group sizes varied from 0.88″ (Edge TLR) to 1.3″ from the 150 grain Fusion, which was the only load not to average less than MOA. Overall, the rifle shot everything really well and lived up to its sub-MOA guarantee.
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Reviewed by Petersen’s Hunting:
> …the Leica Geovid Pro 32 binoculars stand out because of their optical performance, compact dimensions, and suite of ballistic features. The Geovid Pro 32 binos combine a hand-held weather station, a ballistics solver, a rangefinder, and binoculars into one highly portable package that sells at a competitive price.
> Where these binoculars show an incredible degree of simple sophistication is the built-in ballistic solver with a full suite of environmental sensors. There is also an app available to make building and loading rifle profiles into the binos a painless process.
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Obviously not for hunting but it looks so cool. π 11″ barrel, $689.00:
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Better hold that sucker tight! π
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Shot with an arrow of course:
> An animal hit solidly in the paunch with a sharp broadhead requires patience. It will always expire, but you must wait at least 6 to 8 hours before beginning the search…preferably more if daylight allows. If it is pushed or smells you, it might travel much farther than the normal 400 to 800 yards.
> After waiting, you should look for blood, body fluid, and tracks. Try to predict the most likely travel routes, and remember that gut-shot animals sometimes move uphill. Proceed slowly with eyes peeled in case you need to take a finishing shot.
> Beyond 24 hours, you should grid-search terrain, preferably with the help of friends.
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“…as everybody knows, hunting back East sucks.”
– Guy from WY talking who we’re guessing has never hunted in the eastern US. For deer hunting, the East is generally BETTER dude! Quote is from a long and interesting article about hunting public vs tribal land in WY, and about an ATF agent that the article says allegedly illegally shot an elk on tribal land. Warning: cuss words in it.
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What’s the DB and who does it?
The DeerBlaster is a weekly roundup of the best, funniest, newest and most important stuff about deer hunting β culled from around the interwebz FOR DIEHARD DEER HUNTERS and blasted into your inbox.
The DB is put together by a couple deer nerds π from around the country. We excerpt content (and credit EVERYONE!), comment on content, do some original content…because we can’t get enough deer hunting β bet you’re wired the same!
The DeerBlaster’s a work in progress, just like we are π. Any issues, suggestions, whatever, just hit Reply to this email and weβll get it. Thank you for reading!
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