Happy belated Father's Day to everyone out there who gets to be called dad!

Hunting and Father's Day go together like ice cream and apple pie! Two scoops for dear ole' dad! As hunters, being a father, having a father, and the quality of that relationship have been the foundation of thousands of years of mentorship, friendship, and memories.

I have no children, and I'll always wish I did.

I didn't get to hunt much with my dad before he passed in 2016. Hunting just wasn't his thing, but that's ok. He facilitated plenty of opportunities for me through friendships, mentors, financial support, and my first set of wheels. Sometimes dads do things for us that they hardly ever or even never get to enjoy with us. My first car was one of them, and here is my best memory of that car.

Back in my youth, I was the proud owner of a 1979 Chevy Monza. It was primer gray and green, and whatever color rust was back then. It was good on gas but horrible on oil. The AC didn't work, the trunk wouldn't open, and getting anything bigger than a backpack into the backseat of a Monza was a fool's errand. But, my dad got it for me, and as we all know, the only requirement of a hunting vehicle is that you take it hunting. I did. A lot.

One day, I connected with what was probably either a suicidal deer or a deaf and blind one with my Martin Lynx Magnum bow when I was 16 years old. I dragged that deer, a four-point buck, about a mile back to the Monza and did what anyone would have done to get him home. I propped up that little four-point buck in my passenger seat like he was my best friend, and we drove home with my arm hanging out of one window and his front leg hanging out of the passenger window. Now, archery season in North Carolina was usually hot, and that gutted (badly) deer was an awe-inspiring odor experience all the way home, windows down or not. Regardless, I got a lot of attention on the drive home. The best moment was when I pulled through a McDonald's drive-thru and the lady in the window, without flinching, asked me if I wanted any fries for my friend.

I never did get the smell of that deer out of the car, but it didn't matter because the car didn't last much longer after that hunt. The very next weekend the transmission dropped out of the car at an IHOP in Fayetteville, NC while I was on a date. My dad had the car towed to a junkyard, he dropped my date off at her house, and we drove all the way home without saying a word. A year later I graduated from high school, joined the navy, and bought my first vehicle, a 1990 Ford Ranger. It was green with a bench seat, manual transmission, and of course, no A/C. But, who cared? It sure was a lot easier to get deer in and out of than that Monza, and it never left me stranded.

As always, please feel free to contact me with comments or suggestions to improve The Hunting Wire at jay@theoutdoorwire.com

Thanks,

Bob Pinsky' son, Jay

Boonville, MO (June 14, 2022) – CMMG® has taken portability to a whole new level with the introduction of the DISSENT™ – a new line of buffer-less AR15 pistols that utilize the company’s patent-pending Compact Action. At the time of release, the DISSENT will be available in 5.56x45mm, .300BLK and 5.7x28mm, with each model sporting a 6.5-inch free-floated barrel and complemented with a 5.5-inch M-LOK Handguard, making the DISSENT the shortest, most stowable Personal Defense Weapon that CMMG has built to date.

At the heart of the DISSENT is CMMG’s patent-pending Compact Action, which makes it possible to operate the firearm without the receiver extension and buffer assembly installed. The Compact Action uses a set of dual guide rods and springs contained within the upper receiver to cycle the action and is compatible with both Direct Impingement and CMMG’s patented Radial Delayed Blowback™ operating systems.

The DISSENT features a forward non-reciprocating side charger, giving the shooter the ability to charge the weapon while staying focused down range and on target. For the left-handed shooters, a right-side configured side charger is available for purchase separately.

Outfitted with CMMG ZEROED parts and accessories and donning AR15 modularity, the CMMG DISSENT boasts superior firepower in a small familiar package and will initially be offered in three different calibers with .300BLK and 5.56x45mm utilizing a Direct Impingement operating system, while the 5.7x28mm version utilizes CMMG’s patented Radial Delayed Blowback operating system. Both .300BLK and 5.56x45mm will accept and ship with their respective 30-round Magpul PMAGS and the 5.7x28mm will accept and ship with its 32-round CMMG 5.7x28mm Gen II Conversion Magazine. All DISSENT firearms will ship with two magazines.

The rear of the DISSENT is outfitted with a 1913 Picatinny Rail, allowing users to attach a brace or a stock (all NFA rules apply). The firearm weighs in at 4.6lbs, with an overall length of 14.7” (folding stock/brace not included) giving you a compact package that can be easily maneuvered and deployed within seconds. The trigger on the DISSENT is the TriggerTech AR-D 2-Stage Trigger, which has been collaboratively designed to ensure optimal performance.

For more information about the CMMG DISSENT, please visit cmmg.com/DISSENT

Follow CMMG on social media to stay up to date on all things CMMG.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cmmginc/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CMMGinc1

About CMMG

CMMG began in central Missouri in 2002 and quickly developed into a full-time business because of its group of knowledgeable and passionate firearms enthusiasts committed to quality and service. Its reputation was built on attention to detail, cutting edge innovation and the superior craftsmanship that comes from sourcing all their own parts. By offering high quality AR rifles, parts and accessories, CMMG’s commitment to top-quality products and professional service is as deep today as it was when it began.

Contacts

CMMG
Calder Alford – PR & Brand Strategy
caldera@cmmg.com

By Karen Butler - Founder/President, SLG2, INC DBA: Shoot Like A Girl

When you think of your very best hunts, what comes to mind? For me, it’s the stories of adventure. One of the first memories that popped into my mind was when I was hunting archery elk in Montana, and a huge thunderstorm rolled in. I can still remember the feeling I had huddled up under a tree while Miranda, my guide, and I experienced this force of nature right in its heart. I didn’t get an elk that day, but I had the adventure. Of course, in all honesty, if the rain stopped and an elk appeared, followed by a good shot, well then, that would have put the adventure over the top!

This past turkey season, Shoot Like A Girl had the great honor of hosting two all-female hunts, plus going on a hunt with our leadership team. We were incredibly successful, with 20 of the 21 hunters harvesting birds. Many of our hunters were first-time turkey hunters, making our success even more special. At the end of the hunts, when the ladies were packing up, the stories they shared were about the adventure and not the harvest. That’s when we knew we had made a positive impact on them.

The first hunt we hosted was the Bass Pro Shops | Cabela’s Shoot Like A Girl Signature Rio Turkey hunt in Great Bend, KS, at Kansas Trophy Experience. All 8 of our hunters tagged out. My hunter, Cathy, touched my heart and has inspired me. Her daughter, who was six months pregnant, had wanted to attend this hunt, but it had a requirement to book in pairs. None of her friends were available, and when she was telling, her non-hunting mother, Cathy, said she would accompany her and buy it for her birthday (the last day of our hunt). Cathy was nervous when we climbed into the blind to pattern her shotgun. She was not only scared of what was ahead but she was also scared she would disappoint her daughter. As we hunted, we had a nice bird come in, and we couldn’t get a shot off; then, there was a miss. I sat with her in her pure emotions that only parents of adult children understand – that desire for your children to find new respect and admiration for you. We made a ton of noise in the blind as we talked, she cried, and I reminded her of the steps she would need to take to get a shot off. After all this commotion, I asked her whether she wanted to try again. She said yes. We pulled our facemasks up and started hunting. If you can imagine, it was like we went from being at a rock concert to being in a library. To my surprise, I called in another group of birds, and she made a beautiful shot. The next day, she stated that not only did her daughter have a new respect for her, but she also had a new respect and confidence in herself. Her story is an adventure of a lifetime and is like a good book. She experienced many emotions and was the heroine of her adventure.

In our next turkey hunt, we hosted an all-girls industry hunt for Beretta at Midwest Whitetail Adventures in Clay Center, KS. Again, we heard of our impact that went way beyond hunting, even for the one hunter who didn’t tag out. As part of this hunt, Beretta, and Shoot Like A Girl host a contest to bring one non-industry person who is new to hunting on the hunt. Due to a last-minute cancellation by one of our guests, we had two contest winners this time. Again, these ladies had incredible stories to tell at the end of the hunt. I especially loved that Beretta brought Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic Medalist, on this hunt as their brand ambassador. The best part of this hunt happened inside the lodge. Kim had brought her medals for us to see, and she let the ladies try them on. As one of our guests got her photo taken with Kim and her medals, she said, “I feel like the National Anthem should be playing.” I started softly, “Oh, say can you see”, and the entire lodge stood up and sang the National Anthem. It gives me chills just thinking about that moment of pride for our country and our Olympic athlete, Kim. Granted, we would not have won American Idol, but you would never have known it from how loud we sang. That hunt was a marvelous adventure.

Our team hunt didn’t disappoint with success either. We paired up into two teams, Melanie and Christa and Me and Dub. The first morning Mel and Christa doubled. Their story is filled with adventure in that they hadn’t expected the second bird to come in, and they clumsily rearranged to put it all together. Dub and I had an equally exciting adventure, as unbeknownst to us, we set up right underneath a roost. I have never sat so close as to hear them repositioning on the branches. Of course, they probably had spotted us setting up and flew down on the opposite side. This was followed by an opportunity to call a big Tom up to us. We saw him, and we could get down and position ourselves where we could call him up to us. We set up, I started to call, and I noticed that I had placed the Avian X decoy near a fence post. Usually, that would be no big deal until I realized it was made with a six or eight-inch metal pipe, and we were 10 feet from it. We had to move away from that scenario and try again. That afternoon, we could call in two birds, and yes, we doubled, too. However, what I remember, other than the overjoy of getting Dub her first bird, was the story of the fence. Now that was an adventure.

What do you take away from your hunts? I hope it’s the experience, and I encourage you to take someone that has never hunted out to create an adventure for them. Be sure to share your hunt stories with your network to improve understanding that hunting is more than just the harvest.

2021-2022 The Hunting Wire Voice of Leadership Panel

The Voice of Leadership Panel is an appointed group of outdoor industry leaders who have volunteered to contribute their voices on key hunting and outdoor recreation issues to inform, inspire, and educate participants within our community.

• Cyrus Baird - Senior Director of Government Affairs, Delta Waterfowl
• Karen Butler - Founder/President, SLG2, INC DBA: Shoot Like A Girl
• Eric Morris – Producer & Host - N.onT.ypical Outdoorsman TV
• Ken Perrotte - President of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoors Writers (AGLOW)
• Brenda Weatherby - Director of People and Culture, Weatherby, Inc.
• Courtney Nicolson - Associate Director of Communications, Sportsmen's Alliance

Facilitators

• James “Jay” Pinsky, Editor, The Hunting Wire
• Peter Churchbourne, Director, NRA Hunter Leadership Forum
• Jim Curcuruto, Executive Director, Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation

By Dan Larsson

Dan napping with Andy after a bowhunt

One evening, Dad and Mom cut up a deer on the kitchen table. I was only a few months old and crawling. They realized that I was out of sight and went looking for me. I had found a deer bone, drug it behind the couch, and was chewing on it. I cut my teeth on hunting. That couch is pictured here and still resides in my house.

I picked myself off the ground and looked down at the battered Remington. We knew the moss on the boulder field was slick, and I was trying to be careful. Even so, a misstep from the-boy-with-the-rifle ended up bashing the Leupold scope on a rock. The glass in the bell was fine, but the tube was royally smashed. Dad heard the commotion and turned to find me, his son, with that uh-oh look. I can only imagine what he was thinking and feeling. We had one rifle and were in a different country on a father/son caribou trip with a bunch of other guys and their young hunters. I don’t remember any frustrated comments, but I’m sure there were some. What had I done? What do we do now?

Time spent with your kids is not wasted or unproductive

Dad always knows what to do. To this day, I seek him out for life’s most important decisions. He inspected the model 7 in 7mm-08 Remington. Our favorite rifle seemed to be okay despite the scope situation. He picked another mossy rock at 30 yards and took a few shots. I love the color a Barnes copper bullet makes on a rock. He adjusted the rifle to hit rock center, and we continued to hunt.

Dan and his father covered each other as they approached their 7' bears, 15 years apart.

It was quite an experience. It rained and rained. We sat under a small tarp at the edge of the lake and watched the water rise an inch as we talked and read Louis Lamour. The hunting was relatively poor. We had missed the migration and there were very few caribou around. The next day we were hunting the rimrock above the lakeshore. A lone caribou cow walked out at 260 yards below us. He threw his pack over a rock, saw I was settled over it, and told me to hold a little windage. One perfect shot, and she was down. He put that entire caribou in his pack frame. The meat, head, and hide were sticking out as he picked it up and walked off with it. Wow, I was impressed!

A couple of years later, I was sitting up against the dead cow elk waiting for dad to return. She was warm, and I was not. The wind was swirling the snow as I’d never seen before. When he returned with my uncle and the sled, I was missing. He still talks about how the snow had drifted over the elk and me, and he couldn’t figure out where I was.

The late-season elk hunt in Gardiner MT was a cold and crazy time to be out on the flats below the mountain. The wind blew a foot of snow off the mountain and right across us. It was amazing. I was probably 16 at the time and was just learning to hunt. A small herd of cows came across the rolling hills 300 yards from us. Dad had me slide my left-handed Ruger, chambered in 270 Win, over my pack for a rest. We picked a large cow, and he had me hold the crosshairs on her rump. I believe I shot four times, and three of the bullets went through her boiler room.

Dan's late season cow elk with his left handed Ruger 270win.

I’ve always wanted to hunt like dad. When I was a kid, I remembered our camo-covered photo album. I poured over his hunting exploits constantly. I lived on the stories he told. He drew a big horn license when I was seven years old. He told me of the shot, the ram dislodging on the slope and almost rolling over him, and the rattlesnake in the trail on the pack out. He told me of the bear that charged him and took two Marlin 45-70 shots to stop and kill. The big whitetail buck he had patterned, only to have it poached the night before the bow season opened. The day he gutted the doe in 3 ½ minutes because it was 20 something degrees below zero. He was my hero. I am quoted to this day, “Danny, do what daddy do.”

Dad was with me when I shot my 1st buck. A large fork horn muley. The following year, on that same ridge, he watched me pray and spray bullets from an antique Winchester 32 Special at a coyote. I still crack up at his comment, “well, he’s headed for a new zip code.” He covered me as I approached my 1st bear at 16 years old. At 30, I covered him as he shot a 7-foot bear, in a brush patch, on a snowy day, with a 9mm Glock. These experiences over the years have formed us into the best of friends. He taught me how to hunt. He taught me about life. He taught me how to think through and approach a situation. He gave me advice about college and how to treat my future wife. We’ve been married for ten happy years and 0 unhappy years. All kids need dads. I am grateful the Lord gave me Andy Larsson as my father.

We still hunt together when we can. I’m his preferred meat packer and hunting buddy. He makes me want to do everything I can to build this same kind of relationship with my son. Thus far, my son and daughters are crazy about hunting like their dad. I try to tell them stories…many of which are or include the stories I grew up on.

Dad and I bowhunting muleys and elk together in 2014

Thank you for the love of hunting, the relationship it formed between us, and the legacy I get to share with my kids. Happy Father’s Day, Dad.

By Bret Collier - Associate Professor
Louisiana State University - School of Renewable Natural Resources

Bret Collier, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at Louisiana State University, assisted with a prescribed burn on the Sandy Hollow WMA.

After spending the week at a scientific conference, I just got back to the office, and I was thinking about how scientific data is transferred to the public on the drive back to the house. Briefly, because most of you have probably never been to a scientific meeting, scientists from Universities, state and federal agency personnel and non-governmental organization staff all get together and provide each other with data and results from various research and management projects. The beauty of scientific meetings is that you can get all the scientists and managers in the same room at the same time to see updates on the species of interest, trade ideas on what has and has not worked from a management perspective, and discuss options for how to approach or make changes in the future. I saw a lot of really informative scientific data at the meeting, and I had some very fruitful discussions with biologists across the United States that I don’t regularly see.

But, on the drive home, I realized something was missing from the meeting. Even though we spent a lot of time talking about science and driving management and conservation, what we did not have is any clear path on the dissemination of science to our constituents: the hunting community in this case. For instance, I am confident that the hunters would be interested in hearing an update on population status given by one of the pre-eminent scientists in the field or that hunters would like to hear about the process that states go through to merge scientific and management data to set harvest regulations every year. What hunter would not want to hear and even ask questions about human dimensions studies evaluating what kind of opportunity a broad swath of hunters in their state have requested? What about hunters hearing scientists challenging standard ideas and pushing the science continuum forward so that new studies and potentially new management strategies can be devised? All of these topics, discussed by the leading experts in the field, would certainly be of interest to the hunting community and would lift the proverbial veil on what scientists and managers do to make decisions.

So, how does scientific information get out to the hunting community? I want to be very clear here that I am talking about actual scientific data collected by experts; not the “plant these magic seeds and 190-inch deer will spring up from your field weekly throughout the hunting season, and you will never want again” type advertisements we all see on a variety of outdoor shows and glossy magazines. All humor aside, the most direct route for scientific information to get to the public is via state wildlife agency staff, specifically through the species-specific wildlife biologists. Agency wildlife biologists are both the tip of the spear for developing the research used to drive management actions, as well as the leaders in integrating science into management and regulatory settings at both the state and federal (for migratory species) levels. University scientists represent another significant resource for scientific information, as University-types are typically charged with conducting the field research for agencies, and the undergraduate and graduate students that work on those projects garner a lot of knowledge they use when they transition to conservation and management agency positions. I will note, however, that most full-time researchers are not required to conduct stakeholder outreach. Instead, our focus is supposed to be entirely on developing scientific results into research journals that line the shelves of nearly all University libraries. The transitioning of scientific results to the layperson (meaning non-scientists) falls predominately to a group of University extension and outreach personnel whose charge is to take the research science and distill it down to explainable manageable actions for implementation. However, University faculty are generally given a wide berth on what we can, and cannot do, and so many professors have become quite adept at the development and dissemination of research information.

In this vein, I would be remiss not to mention the increased use of social media to distribute scientific information. Many University scientists and state agencies have started to actively use social media to provide a combination of research outcomes with other exciting tidbits about specific wildlife species. Typically, information posted to social media comes from ongoing or active research projects. In contrast, other social media posts come from peer-reviewed scientific publications. Other bits are just neat observations about how an animal might move on the landscape when hunters are present or what environmental factors affect when and where a critter chooses to breed. I see the use of social media, and the interactions with our hunting community stakeholders, as a considerable benefit to University professors like myself, in that it provides the average hunter the ability to shoot an -expert- a message or question and get a response. To be honest, it is sometimes refreshing for us to get that one-on-one interaction with hunters because we are all sportsmen and sportswomen and any time discussing wildlife management is a good day!

As always, I hope that if anyone ever has any questions or topics they might be interested in hearing about, please feel free to contact me.

\bret

NSSF is working on behalf of every one of its 12,000-plus members every day to strengthen our industry. Our membership is made up of a diverse group of businesses -- retailers, ranges, manufacturers, distributors and more. NSSF is the unified voice of our entire industry.

True Knives deserves a double-take with their newest celebration knife kit. True Knives' Standard Issue Kit is a culmination of necessary tools for those entering the world or those who are well established. It features the Wharncliffe Knife, slim multi-tool wallet, and nail clippers, ensuring a user is ready no matter the stage of life.

The Outdoor Life annual Best Handguns Awards results are in, and the TS 2 Racing Green pistol from CZ-USA has been named the best Full-Sized Handgun of the year.