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U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Senate Bill 1083, sponsored by Senator Bob Smith (D- Piscataway), would allow youth ages 10 and older and adults to hunt under an apprentice hunting license.

The apprentice license allows new hunters to try hunting under the mentor-ship of an experienced adult before completing a hunter education course.

A hearing for the bill has been scheduled for Thursday, February 9th at 10:00 a.m. in Committee Room 10 on the 3rd Floor of the State House Annex in Trenton. The bill is in the Senate Committee on Environment and Energy. New Jersey sportsmen and women should contact the members of the Committee today and ask them to support Senate Bill 1083. Tell them that apprentice hunting is vital to the future of our outdoor heritage.

“Families Afield has a nationwide track record of safely recruiting new hunters through apprentice hunting licenses,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance in-house counsel and associate director of state services. “This try-before-you-buy concept helps to boost hunter recruitment and retention, while keeping our hunting heritage alive for the next generation.”

Apprentice hunting licenses have been a hallmark of the Families Afield initiative across the country. The Families Afield initiative was established by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation to bring a new generation of sportsmen to the field. Along with the National Rifle Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the coalition has worked to pass measures in 32 states with more than 600,000 apprentice or mentored hunting licenses sold since the program’s inception.
Companion legislation, House Bill 1544, is pending before the Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Take Action! New Jersey sportsmen should contact members of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee today and ask them to support Senate Bill 1083. Tell them apprentice hunting licenses have been shown across the country to be a safe and successful way to recruit new hunters.

Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

• Chairman Bob Smith (D- Piscataway) – Bill Sponsor
  Phone: (732) 752-0770 Email: senbsmith@njleg.org
• Vice Chair Senator Linda R. Greenstein (D- Plainsboro)
  Phone: (609) 395-9911 Email: sengreenstein@njleg.org
• Senator Christopher Bateman (R- Somerville)
  Phone: (908) 526-3600 Email: senbateman@njleg.org
• Senator Jennifer Beck (R- Red Bank)
  Phone: (732) 933-1591 Email: senbeck@njleg.org
• Senator Jim Whelan (D- Atlantic City)
  Phone: (609) 383-1388 Email: senwhelan@njleg.org

About:
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

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The registration for the April 20-22, 2012 BOW is now open. Click here for the registration packet BOW April 20-22, 2012 Registration Packet.

Arizona Becoming an Outdoors Woman Event - April 20-22 2012

Arizona Wildlife Federation

Arizona --(Ammoland.com)- Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) is a non-profit, educational program offering hands-on workshops to adult women.

We encourage a supportive environment conducive to learning, making friends, and having fun.

No experience is necessary and BOW is for women of all ages and fitness levels. Dr. Christine Thomas at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point held the first workshop in 1991. Today, there are over 80 workshops held in more than 40 states, several Canadian provinces and New Zealand.

In 2012 the Arizona BOW program will celebrate its 17th year. The venue is Friendly Pines Camp near Prescott. Dates are April 20-22nd and September 7-9th. We will begin Friday noon and end Sunday noon. Participants choose four classes from a field of 32. Subjects range from rappelling to fishing to geocaching. Lodging is in rustic cabins but they have full bathrooms and electricity. Meals are provided and cooked by the camp staff. The focus for the weekend is learning in a comfortable atmosphere.

In addition to learning new activities, BOW participants are also treated to a variety of evening entertainment. We will have a game and wine taste, featuring wild game dishes and samples of our now famous prickly pear margaritas. Night fishing and fly tying will be available as well as featured speakers with live critters as special guests. Saturday night is lots of fun with a fund raising raffle, silent auction and ‘talent’ from the participants.

Many of the classes offered are basic outdoor knowledge. Arizona has life zones from desert to alpine, you can learn about them in Arizona Wildlife and Habitat. There is a basic land navigation class, a birding class and a tracking/animal identification class. A perennial favorite is “I’m Lost, Now What?”

Shooting is also offered. Before going to the range to shoot, the student must take a firearms safety class. Then, she may take, handgun basics, shotgun or rifle marksmanship. All of these classes are taught one on one with AZGFD hunter education volunteers. But for many, BOW is more that just learning a new skill.

There are many reasons why women come to BOW. For some, it is just some ‘ME’ time. A different take on a girlfriends weekend away. BOW is a great way to enjoy camaraderie with other women and maybe learn a new skill. Perhaps fly-fishing seems appealing but the cost prohibitive especially for recreation untested. At BOW, you can try it before you buy it. We provide equipment and expert instruction for fly-fishing, archery, canoeing, shooting and more.

Many BOW participants are looking for a little adventure, a baby step outside their comfort zone. They might choose to learn the hunting class or warm water fishing. Have a fear of heights? Want to conquer it? Take a rappelling class or the high ropes and jump from a 60’ Ponderosa pine. The safe, supportive atmosphere of a BOW workshop is the ideal place to grow.

Still others are looking for like-minded women to network with. There is a growing group of BOW graduates that go turkey hunting together every spring. Single moms might want the skills to safely take their families camping or fishing or geocaching. At BOW she can learn those skills and find a friend to go with.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation sponsors the Arizona BOW program with lots of help from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Our instructors are volunteers and all are experts or professionals in their field. Cost is $245 and includes lodging, meals and most classroom materials. The registration is available online at www.azwildlife.org or you can call 480-644-0077.

Filed under: Competitive Shooting News, Hunting News by Ammoland No Comments »