Gun Control Bill vs. Record Hunting & Outdoor Boom

Sweeping gun-control legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives
House Resolution 127 (H.R. 127), also known as the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act, is now introduced in congress. If it passes, this bill will end gun rights as we know them. Read the text of the bill HERE.

Gun sales hit record high in 2020
According to data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), 21 million background checks related to the sale of a firearm were conducted in 2020—a 60 percent increase over the previous year. See the stats and demographics HERE.

U.S. boat sales hit 13-year high in 2020
More than 310,000 new powerboats were sold in 2020, levels the recreational boating industry has not seen since before the Great Recession in 2008. See the numbers HERE.

NDA Deer Report: Nationwide mature buck kill hits record high
The National Deer Association is reporting that deer hunters in the United States took more adult and mature bucks in the 2019-20 hunting season than ever reported. Get the details HERE.

Wisconsin fall turkey harvest up 21%
More turkeys were harvested in 2020 than the previous year, according to new data released by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Find out more HERE.

Bighorn sheep herds show promise on North Dakota reservation
Two herds of bighorn sheep released a year ago on tribal lands in western North Dakota have fared better than expected. See the details HERE.

Access Yes signups underway in Wyoming
Through the program, a participating landowner and Department personnel negotiate the terms of an agreement to allow hunting or fishing access on their property including: agreement length (one to five years), the species that can be harvested, the geographic location, dates access will be allowed, and any other specific rules or stipulations. Learn more HERE.

USDA extends General Signup period for CRP
The USDA has extended the General Signup period for the Conservation Reserve Program. Find our more HERE.

Free fishing weekend in Michigan February 13-14
Residents and non-residents alike can fish without a license for two days only. Regular limits still apply. Get more information HERE.

Nebraska Game and Parks hosting webinars on invasive species
The series, hosted by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Invasive Species Program through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be Feb. 22-26. Learn more HERE.

Why and when do whitetail bucks shed their antlers?
Antler growth and development is dependent on the photoperiod (hours of daylight per day) and testosterone levels, not temperature. So is antler drop. Learn more HERE.

Keep pets and backyard animals from becoming prey to coyotes
Though this article deals with pet protection in Florida, the suggestions it offers apply wherever there’s a coyote population. Read it HERE.

Looking ahead in business
This piece by Jim Shepherd, editor of The Outdoor Wire, discusses the impact events of the last year have had on the outdoor industry and business in general. Read it HERE.