January 16, 2009 - TOP STORIES
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Report: Gun sales continue to increase
Minnesotans take top spot in first North American Ice Fishing Circuit qualifier
Minn. sheriff: Don’t leave valuables in ice houses
Volunteers add $9.6 million in value to DNR
Calling all young Minnesota artists
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Report: Gun sales continue to increase
24 percent jump in December amid gun-owner concerns
NSSF Reports
Despite a weak economy, gun sales are continuing to increase amid concerns that incoming lawmakers will institute a new gun ban on law-abiding Americans. Data derived from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) show a 24 percent increase in firearm purchaser background checks for the month of December 2008 (1,523,426 checks) over December 2007 (1,230,525 checks). This increase follows a 42 percent rise in NICS checks for the preceding month, the highest number of checks in NICS history. FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing firearms from federally licensed retailers. These checks serve as a strong indicator of actual sales.
A recent poll of hunters and target shooters by Southwick Associates Inc., in which 80 percent of respondents said they expect it will become more difficult to purchase firearms under the incoming administration and congress, explains the increase in sales.
“Sales of firearms, in particular handguns and semi-automatic hunting and target rifles, are fast outpacing inventory,” said NSSF President and CEO Stephen L. Sanetti. “It’s clear that many people are concerned about possible gun bans under the incoming Congress and are reacting accordingly.”
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the large increase in demand for firearms has led to a shortage of Form 4473s -- the Firearms Transaction Record which must be filled out any time a person buys a firearm from a licensed retailer. As a temporary measure, ATF is allowing FFLs to photocopy the form 4473 in its entirety until they receive their orders from the ATF Distribution Center. NSSF has reminded retailers of the newly launched Electronic Form 4473 which is free and downloadable from the ATF Web site.
Final year-end NICS data reveals a total of 12,709,023 background checks reported in 2008, up 14 percent from 2007.
For more information on gun sale statistics, legislative issues and general firearm related questions, visit the NSSF Web site at www.nssf.org -- the media’s resource for all things about the firearms and ammunition industry.
Minnesotans take top spot in first North American Ice Fishing Circuit qualifier
Osakis lives up to its reputation
On Sunday, January 4th, the North American Ice Fishing Circuit (NAIFC) held its first Qualifying Tournament for 2009 on Lake Osakis, MN. Forty-one, 2-person teams launched from the Head of the Lakes Resort on Lake Osakis. The predicted high winds did not materialize and the just below zero temperatures could not shut the fishery or the fisherman down. 14 teams brought in a full bag of 16 fish (8 crappies & 8 bluegills) with the winning weight of 10.21 pounds.
The top tree teams were: 1st Duff Peddycoart and Mitch Thies, MN. 10.21 pounds. 2nd Don Cox and Dave Fehlhafer NE. 8.6 pounds. 3rd Joe Pikulski and Myron Gilbert, MI. 8.48 pounds. Duff Peddycoart also claimed big fish with a crappie weighing in at 1.62 pounds. The Big Fish prizes include a free mount by Wild Things Taxidermy/Jeff Specht and a Humminbird 55-Ice sonar. All of the teams that finished in the top 10 spots automatically qualify for the 2009 NAIFC Championship to be held in Rhinelander WI in December 2009. For their efforts, Peddycoart and Thies claimed the $2,000.00 1st place prize money.
NAIFC Qualifying Tournament are open to the first 150 two- person teams that enter. NAIFC tournaments are run like Bassmasters or FLW tournaments, meaning that teams must find the fish and drill their own holes. Walking, ATVs and snowmobiles are the mode of transportation and portable fish shelters are allowed. NAIFC tournament fishing hours are from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and focus on Bluegills and Crappies.
New to the NAIFC this year is the ICE MEN Reality TV program aired on the Sportsman Channel. Camera crews will be at all NAIFC events prior to and during the tournaments. Progress of teams during the tournament will be followed and shown on the ICE MEN program. For the teams competing and communities that sponsor NAIFC Qualifying Tournaments the ICE MEN brings national exposure as the Sportsman Channel is shown in 49 states. The Osakis Tournament episode will be shown on the Sportsman Channel, January 20th.
Along with the competitive aspect the NAIFC focuses on education and provides teaching/learning opportunities for kids and adults at every tournament location. Saturday, January 2nd Ice Camp for Kids was held in a classroom setting at the VFW-Long Prairie and the General Store-Osakis. After the dry-land portion of Ice Camp for Kids, parents, kids and instructors gathered at the Head of the Lakes Resort to out on the ice to use the equipment and training first hand. Each child was given a rod donated by HT Enterprises and everyone snacked on Salted Nut Rolls from Pearson’s Candy.
Friday night Dave Genz provided a great seminar, after which those attending split into groups lead by NAIFC Touring Pro-Staff to discuss fishing techniques in detail. Saturday morning those same groups met on the Lake Osakis where NAIFC Pro-Staff showed hands-on the techniques discussed Friday night. There is no faster way to learn the successful details of ice fishing than to attend the seminars provided at every NAIFC Qualifying tournament.
To enter a NAIFC tournament call Kathy at 320.252.0428. To learn more about the NAIFC go to www.naifc.com
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Minn. sheriff: Don’t leave valuables in ice houses
ELK RIVER, Minn. (AP) – Authorities in Sherburne County are investigating a string of fish house burglaries.
The sheriff says five houses were burglarized on one lake in one day.
Thieves stole hundreds of dollars of gear from the Clear Lake area.
Items were also taken from four fish houses in Palmer Township in late December – costing anglers thousands of dollars.
The sheriff says ice anglers shouldn’t just lock up their fish houses, but also take their valuables with them.
Thieves also have struck fish houses in the western Twin Cities.
The Hennepin County sheriff’s office says thieves broke into about 11 fish houses on Lake Minnetonka early Wednesday (Jan. 7) and got away with a flat-screen television, a stereo, electronics and fishing equipment. Those thefts and property damage are estimated at about $7,000.
Volunteers add $9.6 million in value to DNR
Nearly 35,000 citizens donated services valued at $9.6 million during 2008 to assist the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with a variety of projects and programs. That’s the equivalent of an extra 238 full-time staff.
DNR managers, professionals and technicians work alongside volunteers to help manage the state’s diverse natural resources.
“We’re fortunate to have so many dedicated Minnesotans who are willing to donate their time and talents for conservation projects,” said Renee Vail, DNR volunteer programs administrator. “We’re extremely grateful for their efforts. Many of our projects would not be possible without their help.”
Volunteer positions can range from specialist jobs requiring extensive skill and experience to work requiring little or no previous experience.
For example, members of the Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society (MSTGS) annually donate hundreds of hours of their time each spring by hosting a brush-cutting field day. This year, 36 members hand-cut brush and trees to open up the landscape for wildlife, especially for sharp-tailed grouse, in the Aitkin area. The group also fosters future resource managers by inviting participation by students taking natural resource classes as surrounding colleges and universities.
Volunteer opportunities are available at state parks, state forest campgrounds, WMAs, fisheries and hatcheries, as well as at DNR area, regional and headquarters offices.
Special event sites offer great volunteer experiences too. More than 800 volunteers assisted the DNR at the Minnesota State Fair last August. They acted as Smokey Bear, helped at the laser shot booth, dispensed lake data reports and provided entertainment and environmental education presentations on the DNR volunteer outdoor stage.
Elsewhere around the state, volunteers helped with firearms safety instruction, state park campground hosting, loon monitoring, snowmobile safety instruction, trail clearing, precipitation observing, river cleanups, issuing burning permits and doing wildlife research.
Volunteers work individually and in groups, and DNR staff provides all training. The DNR volunteer programs office also works with the DNR Alumni Volunteer Association, a program that allows retired DNR employees to participate in special projects statewide.
For more information about DNR volunteering opportunities, visit the DNR Web site at http://mndnr.gov and click on the word “volunteering.” Or contact the DNR Information Center toll free at 888-MINNDNR (646-6367) or 651-296-6157 in the metropolitan area.
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Calling all young Minnesota artists
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2009 Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest, which will be held at Burnsville Civic Center on March 24, 2009. Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2009.
“An increasing body of evidence shows, that a relationship with the natural world helps children become healthier in body and mind – the Junior Duck Stamp program is wonderful gateway to that relationship,” said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has held a Jr. Duck Stamp Contest in Minnesota since 1994. Last year, Nick Buchal, age 14, from Mahtomedi won the Minnesota contest with a painting of a Wood Duck. “We hope to have an even broader level of participation this year from schools and students across the state,” said Mara Koenig, Jr. Duck Stamp state coordinator.
Students may submit artwork featuring one of the following species: whistling ducks, swans, geese, brant, dabbling ducks, diving ducks, sea ducks, mergansers, stiff tails, or Hawaiian ducks. A full list of permitted species is available online at http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck. Judging will be open to the general public, and will be begin at 9:00 a.m. on March 24, 2009 at Burnsville Civic Center. Artwork entries will be judged on the basis of original design, anatomical accuracy, artistic composition and suitability for reproduction on a 1” by 1.5” stamp.
The first place art from the national, contest is used to create a National Junior Duck Stamp each year. The Junior Duck Stamp is available for $5 from the U.S. Postal Service and from many National Wildlife Refuges. Proceeds from the sale of the stamps support conservation education and provide awards and scholarships for participating students, teachers and schools.
For more information on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit http://www.fws/gov.
A downloadable entry form and information on contest rules and regulations for teachers and supervising adults can be found online at http://www.fws.gov/jrduck.
For additional information or if you have questions regarding your student’s or school’s participation in the Jr. Duck Stamp contest, please contact your Jr. Duck Stamp State Coordinator, Mara Koenig, 952-858-0710, mara_koenig@fws.gov.
Entries and reference forms should be postmarked by March 15, 2009 and mailed to: c/o Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 3815 American Blvd East, Bloomington, MN 55425.
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