Hunting News Daily » Phillip Loughlin

Depredation Journal – Hog Traps

Phillip Loughlin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:08:55 +0000

Along with this depredation project, I started to do a little more research on hog traps. The last guy that was working on these pigs left behind a standard box trap, which is really the only one I was particularly familiar with. Unfortunately, with the plentiful food sources following this wet, late spring, the hogs haven’t been responding to bait very well. I expect that to change as things dry out.

We also discussed using a corral trap. The idea is definitely sound, and perfect for the location. Pre-bait the hogs and get them used to feeding in the pen. When they are visiting regularly, set the “rooter door”. Once the door is tripped, hogs can still come into the trap. Because this trap is fairly large (as large as we want to make it), it should be able to trap several hogs at a time, and hold them for a short while until I can get there to kill them. Theoretically, this would be perfect for the large family group of hogs that appears to be frequenting the property. The thing is, I’ve spoken to a handful of people in at least three different states about the effectiveness of these traps, and the reviews are mixed. The best thing we’ve got going for us here is that these hogs probably haven’t had a lot of experience with traps, so if they’re uneducated, they may be more susceptible… particularly if I can kill the big matriarchs.

In the meantime, I’ve found some pretty cool sites about trapping. One of the best, and most informative, in my opinion (and no surprise), is from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD). In addition to trapping info, there’s a ton of good stuff about feral hogs and their habits.

And of course, as hog eradication and control has become more mainstream, new technology and gadgets are coming to the fore… like this one from a company called Wireless Traps, that signals your cell phone and email when hogs are in the trap, and can then be triggered remotely by simply calling the number. I have to admit, it’s pretty clever. Check out the video:

Depredation Part II – A Day At The Range

Phillip Loughlin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:02:54 +0000

The story continues (after some delay…sorry about that)…

When I first met with the land owner (in the interest of privacy, I’ll start calling her “L”), she told me that she was interested in being part of the solution. With that in mind, her husband (we’ll call him “T”) had gone down to a gun shop and asked for something he could use to kill hogs. They promptly set him up with a 12 gauge, semi-auto, slug gun, topped with a nice, Nikon scope. It’s a really nice rig, but it isn’t what I’d have recommended for a new hunter/shooter. A 12ga. slug gun is a bit much for any novice shooter. It would be an awful handful for a petite woman like L.

Neither T nor L had any appreciable experience with firearms or shooting, and they had no experience at all with hunting. T, in fact, had little interest in either, even now. L, on the other hand, was eager to put an end to the pigs and to learn a little more about hunting and shooting. At any rate, they were nearing the end of the 10-day waiting period, and wondered if I would be willing to come out and provide some “shooting lessons” after they’d picked up the gun.

Near the end of the following week, L emailed to let me know they’d received the gun and were ready to get to the range. I had to guide down at Native Hunt that weekend, and, since it was on my way home, offered to meet up with them at the local range on Sunday afternoon. I also told her I’d throw a few other guns in the truck so L would have the opportunity to try something besides the slug gun. I was pretty sure she wasn’t going to enjoy shooting that cannon. I decided to put in my .243 BLR and Kat’s .270 A-bolt Medallion. The A-bolt seems to be built a little smaller, and would fit L’s frame better than some other models. Also, with the BOSS brake on it, the recoil shouldn’t be too significant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, I threw the .17 in as well. I figured it would be good for them to start out shooting the little rimfire. This way, they could learn to use the scope and manage the trigger without getting pounded by recoil and noise.

At the range we reserved two shooting lanes. I set up targets at the 50 yard markers, and proceeded to give some basic instruction on the function of the bolt-action .17, how to breathe and settle the crosshairs, and how to stay on the target through the trigger pull. Then the shooting began. I could see that L was really enjoying herself with the little rifle. T was shooting well also, and after a couple of shooting sessions (the range does 15 minute shooting sessions, followed by a target-change period), I let them “play” and sat down at the adjacent lane to zero the slug gun.

For some reason I can’t keep in my head whether the gun is a Beretta or a Benelli, but it is a really sweet setup… albeit a little heavy. The weight, of course, was a blessing. Even with the 2 3/4″ Federal Vital-Shok slugs, this gun delivers a serious wallop on both ends. Fortunately, the shop had taken the time to boresight the scope, and it didn’t take a lot of adjustment to start delivering shots on the bull. After about six rounds, I was getting a reasonable group and my shoulder was starting to throb. I found myself sort of wishing I’d picked up that Caldwell Lead Sled on my last visit to BassPro.

L watched as I fired the last couple of shots, and after seeing me roll with the punches immediately decided that she had no interest in shooting this cannon. I couldn’t blame her, and was a little relieved. A 12ga slug gun, even a semi-auto, is a surefire way to develop a wicked flinch… or worse… in a new shooter.

T sat down at the bench and took his licks, though. At first he looked like he was almost ready to write off the shotgun. I could see him wince as he pulled the trigger, and then look up with a shell-shocked expression while the report was still ringing. However, he toughed it out and after a box of rounds, he was putting every shot within a 4″ circle at 50 yards. In my book, that’s perfectly fine for the kind of shooting we’d have on the pigs at their place. For the most part, 100 yards would be a stretch, and I’m not personally in favor of shooting slugs much further than that anyway. I declared him a pig killer, but to my pleasant surprise he decided to shoot some more and get more familiar with his gun.

While T was blasting away with the big gun, I decided to introduce L to the .243 and .270. I figured that these would be more her speed as far as weight and recoil. I decided to start with Kat’s .270. With the brake on this rifle, it’s truly a pleasure to shoot. Kat isn’t really a recoil wimp, but there’s no question she prefers shooting this to my 30-06, and I’ve watched her sit at the bench and go through boxes of ammo without complaint.

However, after the first shot, L said she didn’t think it was any better than the 12ga. I have to admit I was a little bit shocked. My shoulder was still pounding after 10 rounds through that slug gun, and I could shoot the .270 all day long. I asked her to shoot again, and I tried to watch to see if she was letting it off of her shoulder or anything. At the shot, she sat back and rubbed her jaw. It was kicking her in the face. I coached her on form a little, and watched more carefully on the next shot. And there it was… she wasn’t getting a cheek weld at all, and was taking the brunt of the recoil against her cheek and jaw. She’d probably been doing the same thing with the .17, but since there was no recoil I didn’t even notice. I had her get a better position for one more shot, and focus on getting down on the stock. This time was better, but the previous shots were definitely causing her to anticipate and flinch. I switched her back to the .17 for a while, and let T take a few shots with the .270.

I set the .243 up after a little while. The Browning Lever Action is a fairly compact rifle, with a whip-thin barrel and really narrow profile. It’s popular with a lot of younger hunters as well as women because it’s easy to handle. The thing is, though, that the lightweight gun doesn’t offer a lot of mass to absorb recoil, and even though the .243 is a pretty light-kicking round, this rifle design delivers most of that recoil right back to the shooter. With good form, it’s completely bearable for most people but it will surprise you if you let it slip out of position. I offered that warning as L and T each sat down to fire a couple of rounds from this rifle. I know they heeded it, but nevertheless, I think both of them were a little fatigued (especially T after 15 or 20 rounds through the 12ga.), and their reactions were pretty noncomittal. I did notice that the stock was a little long for L, but she snuggled down on it pretty well.

I do want to add at this point that both of them were shooting very well. Even with the .270 kicking her in the face, most of L’s shots were clipping the 10-ring. I also noticed that the scope on the .243 needed a little adjustment, but both of my charges put their shots almost touching one another, demonstrating really good consistency.

We wrapped up the shooting session talking about some options for L, since it was obvious that she didn’t want to use the 12ga. This required me to temper my usual position on selection of a hog gun with the realities that a full-bodied .30 caliber or higher was probably not going to fly for her. We needed light recoil and heavy accuracy in a gun that fit her. We bounced around a few ideas about actions (she really liked the look and feel of the A-bolt) and calibers with some emphasis on relatively light-kicking rounds like the 25-06, .260, and .243. I even considered (and am still considering) the .223, although that is way out on the fringes. A key question in this decision was whether or not she intended to get more involved in hunting, or if this rifle would just be used to kill the feral pigs around her property. I was tickled when she said she wasn’t sure, but she was at least considering getting into hunting.

We also talked about the benefits of getting a good rifle and having it fitted. Since most centerfire rifles appear to be designed for a medium-built man, a gunsmith could make some alterations that would ease the felt recoil and probably make her even more accurate than she already is. Even something as simple as building up the comb to improve her cheek weld would go a long ways. This is actually something that would probably benefit many hunters, male and female alike.

L and T generously took me to lunch afterward, and I had the opportunity to get to know them a little better and talk about things besides hog hunting. I was planning to head over to their place and spend the evening trying to kill a couple of pigs, but they told me that the pigs hadn’t been around for the past week and it would be a waste of time. After a long weekend of guiding and not much sleep, I was sort of glad to hear it. I cruised home to await the call that the pigs had come back.

It would be a relatively long wait.

Happy Fourth of July!

Phillip Loughlin — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 22:39:10 +0000

Celebrate with abandon. Enjoy freedom. And sometime along the way, lift a glass to those who fought and died (and are still fighting and dying) to bring it to us.

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NC To Remove Wild Boar From Big Game Listing

Phillip Loughlin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:30:04 +0000

With CA archery season on tap for next weekend (July 11), I’m amping up for the deer season. I’ve been watching the NC Wildlife Resources Commission website for official announcement of the 2011 seasons back home, so I can start planning that trip.

I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I did get an email update announcing the upcoming WRC meetings. I was scanning through and got this bit of news about House Bill 432.

Beginning in October, wild boar will no longer be listed as a big game animal in the NC regulations. Instead, all free ranging swine will now be considered feral pigs, and subject only to the regulations addressing them. It also removes the requirement to have a wild boar tag, along with the prohibition on non-resident hunting in the western part of the state.

I’ve got mixed feelings about this one, as NC was one of the only states that actually had a huntable,wild population of true, Eurasian wild boar. I’m assuming that this new bill means that the feral pigs are spreading too fast, and it’s impossible to distinguish the ferals from the Eurasians on the hoof. I have to wonder how many of the pure euros are still out there anyway.

The other thing this bill addresses is trapping and transport of feral hogs. In a move similar to the one Texas made last year, any swine being transported must now have official identification, issued by a state veterinarian. Hopefully this will make some folks think twice before relocating feral hogs to create a huntable population on their little patch of paradise.

The new law will also mke it illegal to remove live feral swine from traps (e.g. for relocation and release). They must be killed on the spot. It may be a little bit late, but NC is definitely looking to control the man-made spread of feral hogs.

Interesting stuff from the Old North State.

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Porcine Press (From the “Well,duh!” files) – City Life Makes You Crazy

Phillip Loughlin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:00:12 +0000

Thanks to the Outdoor Pressroom for, as always, providing content when I’m having a hard time coming up with new stuff…

I’ve been known to rail, often for whole days, about how living in this city environment is making me nuts. Some have argued that it has less to do with the urban environment and more to do with my pre-existing condition, but now I have scientific support for my argument!

According to this article from Wired.com, city dwellers experience higher incidence of psychological problems, such as schitzophrenia and mood disorders.

Compared to their rural counterparts, city dwellers have higher levels of anxiety and mood disorders. The schizophrenia risk of people raised in cities is almost double. Literature on the effect is so thorough that researchers say it’s not just correlation, as might be expected if anxious people preferred to live in cities. Neither is it a result of heredity. It’s a cause-and-effect relationship between environment and mind.

We’ve all read about or seen the experiments with crowding rats into a limited environment, and several scientists have extrapolated from that the idea that humans would exhibit similar issues. The research reported in the article appears to offer an even more concrete link.

For my part, it may be too late… but I’m getting the hell out of this city as fast as I can go.

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Depredation – Part I

Phillip Loughlin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:52:06 +0000

“The pigs are back.”

It was the email I’d been waiting to see for over a month. Time to step out of the sport hunter role and into the role of exterminator… and time to put some theory to the test.

It all started…

Damn, isn’t that a cliché way to start the tale? Ah well… screw it.

It all started with an email back in April. A homeowner down near Carmel sent me a note to tell me that she was having hog problems on her 40 acre horse property. Her neighbors were also getting fed up with the swine invasion. She’d taken out a depredation permit, but the hunter she’d brought in moved to Alaska after only a couple of months. She had one trap, but it wasn’t catching anything. Could I help?

Now I don’t (intentionally) represent myself as a hog eradication expert, or anything of the kind. I don’t even feel comfortable being called an expert on hogs, because there’s a whole body of knowledge around these animals and I’m only on the periphery. I know some, and think I know some more… but “expert” seems a bit of a stretch. That’s the realm of folks like John Mayer of South Carolina, or Billy Higginbotham of Texas, and my money says they’d both admit there’s even more for them to learn.

But of course I was interested. The expansion of wild hogs and the associated conflicts with landowners has been a recurrent theme on the blog. I’ve done a lot of reading and research on both the impacts of feral hogs and on methods to mitigate those impacts. I’ve talked to professionals and amateurs about their techniques and methods for eradicating hogs, and I’ve learned a lot about ideas that work and some that didn’t. I’ve taken part in a few eradication “hunts”, for hogs and for whitetail deer. But I’ve never had an opportunity to put any of this to work on my own.

My first step was to return the email, which shortly led to a phone call. This was the opportunity to learn more, not only about the hogs, but about the lady who called. I wanted to make sure, along with everything else, that this wasn’t the case of someone complaining about the nocturnal visit of one old boar, or an occasional pass-through by scattered animals. That would have been a waste of my time (and fuel).

But that wasn’t the case. It turns out that she and her neighbors were seeing dozens of hogs in groups across about 400 acres of contiguous property. They were doing damage to landscaping, as well as rooting up the wooded lots around their homes. They also travelled the horse trails that cut around the property, spooking the horses and making it unsafe to ride. In short, these pigs had become a true nuisance.

My second step was to travel down to the property and have a look around. If I was going to be walking around with guns, I thought it best to meet face-to-face with the landowners, as well as to get an idea of how safe it would be to use a gun on the place. Would it be shoulder-to-shoulder homes, or would it be mini-estates? How much damage would I find, and would it be something I could help to mitigate? Is this a place where I can use the rifle, or will I need the shotgun for close work? In fact, the list of questions was longer than the drive down to the property… about two and a half hours south of my SF Bay Area home.

As I left the main highway and made my way up the winding, mountain road, I marvelled at the habitat I was seeing. This was pig paradise! Long, rolling ridges covered with oaks were interspersed by deep and steep canyons, so densely wooded that no person would ever get through. The whole thing dropped into a beautiful, fertile valley. Springs dotted hillsides, and big meadows and oak groves created a picture right out of a pig hunting how-to manual that would sport the caption, ”this is where you will find pigs.”

When I entered the gates to drive into the landowner’s community, I was even more blown away. There was rooting under the oaks, and visible trails indicated consistent use. The foliage was still green, and the place was full of other wildlife. Deer were browsing in a meadow, coveys of quail darted along the road as I drove through, and turkeys bobbed their heads suspiciously while I passed. I didn’t see pigs on the long, slow drive up to the house, but there was no question they spent a lot of time here.

The hog hunter in me was getting excited, and I had to remind myself. “This isn’t going to be sport hunting. I’m not out for an afternoon adventure. There’s work to be done here, and I need to take it seriously.”

I arrived at the home, and was greeted by my landowner and her husband. We chatted a bit about the hogs, how often they were seeing them, and what time of day they showed up most often. It turns out that the heaviest damage had actually occurred earlier in the year when the majority of the rooting had taken place (which is typical). The pigs were still showing up almost daily, however, and at all times of the day. I asked where they’d been seeing them, and she suggested we go out to walk the property and have a look for myself.

We’d barely left the house when I saw the first, fresh tracks. As we neared the back of the property and a fenceline, she told me that the last depredation hunter had access to the property across the fence and had actually taken several pigs back there. She’d try to contact that property owner to see if I could go there too. One good look told me that the thick brush and high ridges on the other side of the fence were most likely the holding area where these pigs were bedding up… or at least it was their main travel corridor. I immediately thought that pushing that area with dogs would yield some good results. But first I needed to get access.

In the meantime, I’d see some more of her property and see if we could concoct a plan. We talked about trapping, and I thought that maybe a corral trap might be a good call if there were as many pigs as she’d said. I’ve heard mixed reports on the effectiveness of corral traps, but hadn’t tried one myself. This seemed to be the right place to use one, though.

As we strolled back down one of the horse riding trails, I spotted movement about 100 yards away. A huge group of pigs was milling around. I looked at my watch. 3:00pm! Broad daylight, and these animals were in full feeding mode. The landowner turned to me. “Too bad we don’t have a gun,” she said.

“As a matter of fact,” I replied, “I do have the pistol in the truck. I didn’t want to be too presumptuous and carry it around at our first meeting.”

“Well, go get it,” she told me. “Maybe you can get a couple the first day.”

I double-timed back to the truck and got the .44 out of the locker. I loaded it up and started back up the trail. As I was about to go down into the area where we’d seen the pigs, I heard rustling above me. I turned just in time to see a whole line of pigs trotting up the hill on the far side of the fenceline. I don’t know if they sensed danger, or if they just decided they’d eaten enough, but they didn’t wait around to explain it to me. I tried to get a bead on a straggler as it hit the fence, but there was no way.

After walking around a bit more, looking for strays and hoping maybe the sounder would pop back out for seconds, I went back up to the house. We made plans for me to come back out and spend a weekend hunting the pigs, and I packed up and headed north for home.

It turns out that I wouldn’t be coming back down for a while. The pigs decided to move off to another area for a while (they heard I was coming), and neither the landowners nor their neighbors saw them at all.

Thus began The Wait.

To be continued in Part II…

Porcine Press – Michigan Madness

Phillip Loughlin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 04:36:27 +0000

Unless someone steps up and does something by next week, possession of wild boar will become illegal in the state of Michigan. That means the state’s game preserves will have to divest themselves of remaining stock (although they’ll still be able to keep their bison, deer, elk, and various sheep and goats). I’m not sure exactly what the State expects them to do with the animals, although I’m assuming there will be a mass slaughter. I’m also not sure exactly how, or even if, the State will reimburse the ranchers for the cost of the animals.

I don’t hold out much hope for the ranchers or their customers, but they’ve mounted some legal challenges.

Meanwhile, the hyperbole around the “invasion” of wild hogs has not abated. In the article that came through my feeds this afternoon, I was treated to the following words of wisdom regarding wild and feral hogs:

From Russ Mason, Chief of the MI Department of Natural Resources wildlife division:

“They are Asian Carp with four feet,” Mason said. “They’re good to eat and fun to chase and kill, but beyond that, they’ve got no redeeming qualities at all.”

In Florida, according to Mason, “Most of the species on the endangered species list are there because of pigs.”

Though pigs are difficult to hunt — Mason said a single gunshot can cause pigs to run and not stop until they’re several counties away — Mason is convinced that if the state acts now, the pig problem can be stopped in its tracks.“I’ve been doing this kind of stuff for 30 years and in no case but this have I ever thought there was the slightest chance of eradicating an invasive species,” Mason said. “The potential exists that, if we can shut off the spigots and get people to shoot them when they see them, we can solve this.”

From state Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake:

“They multiply like crazy,” said Kowall. “They have the ability to have between 36 and 50 piglets a year, and once they get a certain size, they have no natural predators.

Kowall said there’s been some discussion in the Senate about possibly putting a bounty on wild pigs. “The amount hasn’t been determined,” Kowall said. “But maybe with a bounty, it would add some interest to go out and clean them out of the area.”

Where do I start?

To begin with, I’ll let the Asian carp comment fall. It’s a semi-accurate analogy, as far as anyone knows. The jury may be out on redeeming qualities, but I expect the preserve owners thought the added income of the boar hunters was a pretty nice benefit.

But really… anyone with any sort of background in wildlife management ought to know better than the comment about the endangered species in Florida. That was just about the most ridiculously ignorant thing I’ve heard in ages, and I follow Facebook.

And as far as eradication… yeah. OK. That’s worked so well in every other state with a “pig problem”.

Then there’s Senator Kowall… well, I don’t expect much better from a politician. But 36 to 50 piglets a year? What the hell are they feeding the pigs in Michigan? Even under the most ideal conditions, it’s hardly likely to see half that many from a single female. Sure, they’re fecund as all get out, but let’s not get carried away Mr. Kowall.

And the bounty idea should really piss off some folks. See, some of the more reasonable voices in this discussion have called for more stringent regulation on the game preserves as an alternative to shutting them down. The ban proponents, however, have claimed that the State can’t afford to implement and enforce new regulations (at an estimated cost of around $450K). The State has also been doing research and studies to evaluate hog damage for over 10 years (research, which, by the way, indicates that the actual number of hogs in the state is nowhere near the official estimates of 3000-5000 animals… and I have yet to see reports or figures detailing any actual damage to property, livestock, or public resources).

Is there money for this problem or isn’t there? What’s the best use of that money?

But really, if the logic I’ve read in these statements (and others from similar sources) is the root of the wild boar ban in Michigan, it doesn’t bode well for those who’d like a reasonable or logical outcome. It may seem a strange idea, but what about basing laws and regulation on fact and science, rather than speculation and ignorance?

Good luck to you folks in Michigan.

Technical Difficulties… Please Stand By

Phillip Loughlin — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:49:50 +0000

It looks like the gremlins got drunk over the weekend and decided to crash the comments functionality here on the site. Damned gremlins.

I’m hoping we haven’t lost any of your many and wonderful comments, and have crossed my fingers that we’ll soon be able to see new ones again. These things usually don’t take that long to fix, but this one seems to be persistent.

Please bear with me.

Thanks.

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Gearing Up!

Phillip Loughlin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:14:06 +0000

Apologies for the inconsistent posts of late. I wish I made enough off of this writing thing to spend more time working through stories and ideas, but as it is, it’s all I can do to get out for a hunt lately, much less testing gear. I’ve a couple of projects in the wings, though, and while it’s taking forever to finish them, I think I’ve got ‘er if she just don’t jump. In the meantime…

With the draw behind us and the first CA deer season rolling around in less than three weeks, it’s time to double-check the gear. If your off-season has been like mine this year, that presents a bit of a challenge. The first challenge is just finding everything.

I walked out into the garage this afternoon to try to sort out some of my archery tackle. I’ve been shooting the Mathews a couple of times a week, but I didn’t realize that I’m down to my last five intact arrows. I guess that’s technically enough to hunt with, but I sure don’t like the odds.

One dozen new Victory arrows, with fletchings, nocks, and inserts… $120

I’ve got three broadheads already set up on arrows. Somewhere out there, I’m sure I have two more packs of Slick-Trick broadheads, but after tossing camo, ammo, calls, slings, and odds and ends all over the garage, I can’t seem to locate them. I need to have at least three spares.

Better pick up some one more pack. $30.

I need to pick up a few more judo points too, so I don’t lose my arrows practicing in the field. I usually only carry one at a time in my quiver, but it wouldn’t hurt to get a couple of spares.

Three judo points – $30.

I dug out my hunting boots a couple of weeks ago, only to find out the soles are worn to nothing, and the uppers have separated from the sole. I replaced them then, but for the sake of accounting, we’ll toss that into the mix.

A new pair of Danner Pronghorns – $183.

Happily, I still have my optics. The Leica Geovids are in the truck, along with my “spares”, the Nikon Monarchs and my Nikon Rifle Hunter rangefinder. I’ll probably bring along the Nikon Field Scope as well, in case I get a chance to do some long-range glassing across the canyons.

Somewhere under the pile of stuff I just moved, I’m sure I saw my Thermacell. I’ll be wanting that for this early season hunting, especially with all the rain we had this year. The mosquitos promise to be hellacious. I’ve also got that new holster for it, to make it easier to carry between setups. Now where did I leave that thing? Are the refills still in that box? If not, I’ll need to pick up some more.

Two packages of butane refills and two packages of wicks – $32.

What about the truck and camper? Oh brother, that’s a mess! Every little short trip I’ve made since last fall has left its mark. Empty bottles, gear, dirty clothes… better get that all cleaned up. How’s the propane? Damn, I really need to remember to shut the valve when it’s not in use for a long time.

Propane refill – $25

Speaking of fuel, what about the truck?

30 gallons of diesel – $125

I haven’t even bought groceries for the first trip of the season, and I’m out $545 already!

Man, maybe I should just take up golf.

How’s your pre-season prep going?

Nominate A Hunting Mentor

Phillip Loughlin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:47:39 +0000

I got this press release last week, and have been meaning to do something with it here on the blog. Unfortunately, I just haven’t had the time or the gumption to do more than read it over a time or two. So while I don’t usually like to just throw up a press release with little or no commentary, I’m gonna do it anyway.

Read. Enjoy. And nominate.

WINCHESTER ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP OF HUNTING MENTOR AWARD

EAST ALTON, Ill.– Each year, all over North America, millions of fond memories are shared between families and friends in the great outdoors. Perhaps no memories are more special than those shared between a new hunter and his or her hunting mentor.

Whether it’s a father teaching a son, a mother teaching a daughter or a friend teaching a friend, the bond formed between a new hunter and his or her first teacher is extraordinary. Because mentoring new hunters is vital to preserving North America’s hunting heritage, the North American Hunting Club (NAHC) created its Mentor of the Year Award in 2010 to honor North America’s most selfless and dedicated hunting mentors.

After a successful first year, the Mentor of the Year Award is back in 2011, and this year, Winchester® Ammunition is pleased to be the official ammunition sponsor of the award.

“As hunters, it’s our duty to mentor others in the outdoor lifestyle and pass on our hunting traditions,” said Brett Flaugher, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing and sales. “At Winchester, we want to be first in line to support the preservation of North America’s hunting heritage and we’re proud to sponsor the NAHC’s Mentor of the Year Award.”

As the official ammunition of the Mentor of the Year Award, Winchester Ammunition will contribute prize packages of Winchester gear to the five Mentor of the Year Award finalists and the person who nominates the overall winner.

The nomination period for the award is open until September 30. To nominate someone for the 2011 NAHC Mentor of the Year Award, visit www.nahcmentor.com.

Winchester Ammunition, known for years as The American Legend™, prides itself on being a leader in support of conservation work and the preservation of hunting traditions around the world.

For decades, Winchester Ammunition has supported youth programs and non-profit organizations that are dedicated to growing participation in hunting and shooting sports. These groups include the National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, The Kids and Clays Foundation, the International Hunter Education Association and many more. To learn more about Winchester Ammunition, visit www.winchester.com.

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Hunting News Daily » Phillip Loughlin

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