Sportsman Channel

Sportsman Channel

New Berlin, WI –-(AmmoLand.com)- Following the tabulation of more than 10,000 votes—a record participation level—Sportsman Channel announced today the finalists for each category of the 2009 Sportsman Choice Awards.

By casting your votes over the last month, Sportsman Channel viewers have narrowed the field to just five finalists in the following categories: Best Hunt Show, Best Shoot Show, Best Fish Show, Best Combination (hunting and fishing) Show and Best Show Host(s).

Today marks the beginning of a fresh new round of voting. You are encouraged to log on to www.votesportsman.com to cast your ballot, regardless of whether you voted in the first round or not. Winners in all categories will be based exclusively on the opinions and the votes of VIEWERS! Voting ends December 14 with finalists announced thereafter.

The finalists for the 2009 Sportsman Choice Awards are as follows.

• Best Hunt Show: Arrow Affliction, Heartland Bowhunter, Predator Quest, Shoot Straight with Chad Schearer, Wired Outdoors
• Best Shoot Show: American Rifleman TV Classics, Guns & Ammo TV, Personal Defense TV, Tactical Arms, Tactical Impact
• Best Fish Show: Addictive Fishing, Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming, Ice Men, In-Fisherman TV
• Best Combo Show: Alan Warren Outdoors, Backstage & Backroads with Daniel Lee Martin, G3 Sportsman, HuntFishCook, Midwest Outdoors
• Best Show Host(s): Alan Warren with Alan Warren Outdoors, Chris Brackett with Arrow Affliction, Fred Eichler with Predator Nation, Keith Warren with Best of Keith Warren’s Hunting Adventures, Les Johnson with Predator Quest

In addition to these five categories, Sportsman Channel has added four new award categories designed to celebrate the exciting video imagery shown on the channel every day:

• Best Hunt Clip
• Best Shoot Clip
• Best Fish Clip
• Best New Series

The nominated clips were required to be one continuous sequence from a single episode that aired in 2009.

The nominees for Best Clips are:

• Best Hunt Clip: Family Traditions with Haley Heath, Hunting with the Pros, Own The Zone TV, RNT-TV, Whitetail Properties
• Best Shoot Clip: Africa with Craig Boddington & Ivan Carter, Handguns, Personal Defense, Tactical Arms, Tactical Impact
• Best Fish Clip: Breaking the Surface, Fishing 411 with Mark Romanack, Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming, Hardcore Pursuits, In-Fisherman Ice Fishing Guide

The Best New Series category eligibility will be based upon shows that have never aired on Sportsman Channel prior to 2009.

The winners in all Sportsman Choice Award categories will be crowned in January during the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.

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Finalists Announced for Sportsman Choice Awards

PRATT, KS — -(AmmoLand.com)- The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) wants nominees for its Conservation Achievement Program (CAP) awards, given annually to individuals or groups who are actively involved in programs to conserve the environment and promote environmental education and outreach. Any conservation-minded citizen may nominate someone who has done such work.

Dedicated groups and individuals often go unnoticed, so the CAP awards honor Kansans who have devoted themselves to conserving the state’s natural resources. Whether through education, communication, or on-ground habitat work, such dedicated people are eligible for CAP awards.

KWF honors those who have made special efforts in the areas of land and soil conservation, youth conservation, conservation communication, conservation education, wildlife conservation, water conservation, conservation legislator, conservation farmer/rancher, forestry conservation, stream team conservation, outdoor skills, and conservation organization. A Conservationist Of the Year award is presented as the top prize.

Nominations are due by Dec. 1. For more information, phone Ken Brunson at 620-672-0792 Visit: www.kswildlife.org

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Kansas Wildlife Federation Wants Conservation Award Nominees

InSight Technology

Palm Springs, FL – Ken Solinsky, president of Insight Technology Incorporated, was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 national winner in the Distribution and Manufacturing category. Now in its 23rd year, the awards recognize leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success and personal commitment as they create and build world-class businesses.

Solinsky was honored for growing the company into the largest developer and supplier of night vision and electro-optical systems to the US military. Solinsky was honored at the Entrepreneur Of The Year® gala in Palm Springs – the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. Awards were given in nine additional categories. All Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® winners were selected by an independent panel of judges from approximately 400 regional award recipients.

Founded in 1988, privately held Insight Technology employs 1,200 people at three facilities in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Insight Technology has experienced steady growth through increased product offerings and expansion of its customer base.

An offer from Uncle Sam
When Ken Solinsky graduated from Clarkson College in 1971, the economy was ailing and job prospects were poor. Solinsky accepted a civilian position with the US Army in a program where he would be able to earn a masters’ degree in industrial engineering and then commit to work for the Army for three years. It was the start of a civil service career that lasted 15 years.

Assigned to Fort Belvoir in Virginia, he eventually worked for the Army’s Night Vision Lab. After a year as a Sloan Fellow at Stanford University, he was named program manager for night vision devices, one of the few civilians to hold such a position.

Grabbing the gold ring
After 15 years with the Army, Solinsky had reached a crossroads: spend the rest of his career comfortably working in civil service or take a risk and try something new. He and his wife, Grace, bet their life savings on his dream business. Together, they grew Insight Technology into a world leader in military technology.

To meet Insight Technology’s exacting product standards and to ensure the availability of supply sources, Solinsky took the initiative of acquiring and forming several companies to consistently supply needed optical glass and precision plastic Optics.

Insight Technology’s products are used by all branches of the U.S. military, exported to friendly nations around the world and used by federal, state and local law enforcement officers.

Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 national finalists in Distribution and Manufacturing category

In addition to Solinsky, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® national finalists in the Distribution and Manufacturing category are:

• David A. Smith, chairman and CEO of PSS World Medical (NASDAQ: PSSI) of Jacksonville, Florida, a national distributor of medical products to physicians and elder care providers.
• David J. Meyer, CEO of Titan Machinery (NASDAQ: TITN) in Fargo, North Dakota, which owns and operates one of the largest networks of full service agricultural and construction equipment stores in North America.
• Richard C. Ill, president and CEO of Pennsylvania-based Triumph Group Inc. (NYSE:TGI), a company that designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs and overhauls aircraft components and accessories.

Overall Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 National Winner

• Tom Adams, president and CEO of Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST), was named the Overall Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 national winner.

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

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Insight Technology Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –-(AmmoLand.com)- USA Shooting is pleased to announce that pistol shooter Keith Sanderson (San Antonio, Texas) and shotgun shooter Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) have been selected as the 2009 USAS Athletes of the Year.

These athletes were chosen based on the USAS Athlete of the Year Nomination and Selection Procedure, which is a points system that rewards performance in major competitions.

Sanderson, a 2008 Olympian, earned the Male Athlete of the Year honor after an outstanding World Cup season in 2009, winning an unprecedented three medals on the ISSF World Cup circuit. Sanderson captured the gold at the Beijing World Cup, silver in Changwon, Korea and bronze at the World Cup Munich in the Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event. Sanderson also grabbed fifth place at the Milan World Cup. In addition, Sanderson finished in third place at the 2009 Rifle/Pistol Fall Selection Match at Fort Benning, Ga.

For the third consecutive year, four-time Olympian Rhode was selected as the USA Shooting Female Athlete of the Year. A four-time Olympic medalist, Rhode shot her way to two World Cup medals this year, claiming the silver in San Marino and the bronze in Munich in the Women’s Skeet event. Rhode was also the 2009 National Champion and finished in first place at the 2009 Shotgun Fall Selection Match, earning a spot on the 2010 World Shooting Championship team. Rhode also finished seventh at the 2009 Shotgun World Championships.

Sanderson and Rhode were selected as the overall USAS Athletes of the Year, but USAS also recognizes the Discipline Athletes of the Year, who earned the highest number of points in each discipline.

U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) member Michael McPhail (Darlington, Wis.) was the top male athlete for rifle, while Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) won the honor for women’s rifle for the fourth year in a row, and USAMU member Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) had the highest number of points for men’s shotgun. Sanderson is also the Male Athlete of the Year for pistol and Rhode is the Female the Athlete of the Year for the shotgun discipline. A female pistol shooter was not chosen this year as there were no female pistol shooters who met the minimum point requirement.

McPhail had an excellent year in the Men’s 50m Prone Rifle event, capturing two bronze medals on the World Cup circuit, as well as the silver medal at the World Cup Final. McPhail also finished in fifth place at the World Cup Changwon and was the 2009 National Champion in Men’s Prone.

Beyerle, a 2008 Olympian, won the 2009 World Cup Final bronze medal in Women’s 50m 3 Position Rifle. She finished fourth at the World Cup in Milan and was the 2009 National Champion. She also claimed second place at the Rifle/Pistol Fall Selection Match.

Richmond captured the gold medal in the Men’s Double Trap event at the 2009 World Cup in Munich, Germany. He took home the bronze at the San Marino World Cup and finished fifth at the World Cup in Minsk. Richmond was also the 2009 National Champion and finished fourth at the Shotgun World Championships. Most recently, Richmond won the 2009 Shotgun Fall Selection Match, claiming a spot on the 2010 World Shooting Championship team.

The overall athletes of the year will be submitted to the U.S. Olympic Committee for consideration for the 2009 USOC SportsMan and SportsWoman of the Year awards, which have been presented annually since 1974 to the top overall male and female athletes within the U.S. Olympic Family.

For more information on these athletes, please visit www.usashooting.org.

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USA Shooting Announces Keith Sanderson and Kim Rhode as 2009 Athletes of the Year

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(AmmoLand.com)- At its annual expo, the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) announced its 2009 Industry Achievement Awards.

Winchester Ammunition was named Ammunition Manufacturer of the Year, Sturm, Ruger & Co. was named Firearms Manufacturer of the Year, Birchwood Casey received Accessory Manufacturer of the Year and NSSF received the Chairman’s Award for Industry Leadership.

The annual awards program allows the industry’s leading distributors to select and honor the association’s top manufacturers in several key categories, including distribution policy, marketing, promotions and sales, logistics and operations and NASGW and industry support.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

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NSSF Receives the NAGSW Chairman’s Award for Industry Leadership

Winchester Ammunition

East Alton, IL – -(AmmoLand.com)- For the second consecutive year, Winchester® Ammunition has been awarded the Ammunition Manufacturer of the Year award by the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW).

Each year, the NASGW honors industry excellence with award winners selected by the wholesaler members of the association. The members nominate and vote for outstanding manufacturers that truly embrace partnership with wholesalers and support the two-step distribution system.

Winchester Ammunition received the honor during the NASGW’s 36th annual meeting & expo in Reno, NV.

“We are honored to be named Ammunition Manufacturer of the Year,” said Dick Hammett, Winchester Ammunition president. “Both our Marketing and Sales staffs are committed to promoting and selling our products through our Wholesale Distributors and Independent Dealers. In addition, our New Product Development Department sets new standards in ammunition technology year after year.”

The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers was organized in 1953 and incorporated in 1954. The NASGW is the organizer and sponsor of the industry’s former Hunting Show, now known as the NASGW Annual Meeting/Expo Event. This newly formatted annual event provides educational, marketing and communications opportunity for the hunting and shooting sports wholesaler, manufacturer and sales professional.

For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products visit www.winchester.com.

About:
Winchester Ammunition prides itself on being a leader in conservation
NILO Farms®, established by John M. Olin in 1952, is Winchester’s prestigious hunting preserve providing guests with quality hunting on more than 640 acres of natural habitat. As one of the finest hunting and shooting facilities in the country, NILO Farms represents the best in game management and safety. Many of the land management practices developed at NILO Farms have proven to be an example for other waterfowl and upland game bird preserves to follow. For more information about NILO Farms visit www.nilofarms.com.

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Winchester Receives Ammunition Manufacturer Of The Year Award

RAP4 T68 Spitfire Training Rifle

Real Action Paintball

San Jose, CA --(AmmoLand.com)-The paintball industry is buzzing about the concept of dual-source paintball feeding, which is a reality in the T68 SplitFire family of markers! This RAP4 innovation allows players to carry two different types of paintballs onboard simultaneously, and effortlessly switch back and forth between them to satisfy mission and role playing requirements.

The T68 SplitFire accepts paint from a detachable, spring-fed magazine…and any size hopper. That gives you the ability to carry mission-specific paint and general event paint, so you can play two different roles on the field or…get yourself into position when backup is too far away.

Each T68 SplitFire represents years of research and innovation, and epitomizes the very best materials, manufacture, and design available. The T68 SplitFire does not rely on batteries; rather, its purely mechanical function enables it to operate in all weather and in a temperature range wider than you care to challenge. The CO2 or compressed air source is hidden onboard, inside the multi-position collapsible stock. You can easily attach a full size tank or remote line setup if you choose. The standard m1913 tactical rails accept a host of RAP4 and military-style accessories.

Then there’s that dual-feed system, unique to the T68 SplitFire family of markers. It’s such a revolution for law enforcement training and tactical use that the T68 SplitFire earned this year’s “Law Enforcement Technology Innovation Award.” Police appreciate being able to switch between two different rounds for cost effective training, and personal protection in less-lethal use-of-force scenarios…

Just like you can switch from event paint to mission paint in your tactical scenarios this weekend.

The T68 SplitFire, and all the accessories you could ever need, are available from Real Action Paintball—As Real as it Gets!

About:
RAP4 is recognized as a leader in compressed air-powered marking technology, with patented innovations for military and law enforcement tools and industry-leading paintball sport equipment. Headquartered in San Jose, California, RAP4 has distributors across America and around the world. Trained staff members are available by phone or in person for consultations, and to troubleshoot or train your personnel on use of their equipment. visit www.rap4lesslethal.com

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T68 SplitFire Rifle Earns the Law Enforcement Technology Innovation Award

Winchester Model 70 Super Grade Rifle

Winchester Repeating Arms

Morgan, Utah --(AmmoLand.com)- After extensive review, the Winchester Model 70 Super Grade has been given the 2009-2010 Guns and Shooting Online Rifle Award.

Chuck Hawks, the owner and managing editor of Guns and Shooting Online, announced the award on November 11.

“Kudos to Browning/Winchester for finding a way to keep the new Model 70 rifle production in the USA,” said Hawks. “We regard it as the finest Model 70 production rifle ever made.”

The new Winchester Model 70 bolt-action rifles are made in Columbia, South Carolina, at the same manufacturing plant where rifles and machine guns used by America’s Armed Forces around the world are built.

They are made to the exact ISO 9001 standard of quality that Uncle Sam insists upon for military firearms.

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Winchester Model 70 Rifle Wins Top Award

Terry Galanis Jr, Denise Miller: Otis VP Sales & Marketing, Doreen Garrett; Otis President/CEO, Terry Galanis Sr., Nick Williams; Otis VP Engineering, Larry Williams; Otis VP Manufacturing.

Otis Technology Gun Care

ROCHESTER, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- The Family owners of Otis Technology accepted the Galanis Award for Family Excellence on Wednesday, October 7th at the Country Club of Rochester in Rochester, NY. Doreen Garrett, President and Founder of Otis gave remarks of appreciation while siblings and co-owners, Denise Miller, VP Sales & Marketing, Larry Williams, VP Manufacturing and Nick Williams, VP Engineering were also presented the award.

Since 2000, the Galanis family, in conjunction with Alfred University has been honoring some of the most successful family businesses in Western New York with this prestigious award. This award is presented to family owned and operated businesses that meet standards and criteria which include financial stability, innovation, quality of life for employees, record of growth, and contributions to the community. These qualifications have guided two generations of the Galanis family throughout 43 years of owning and operating their family business, Sealing Devices.

Like the Galanis family, the owners of Otis Technology put strong emphasis on employee morale and community involvement. The driving force of Otis, regardless of its exponential growth has been and always will be giving back to employees and the local area.

“Creating a positive work atmosphere for our employees and being involved with the community comes back full circle,” says Otis’ CEO Doreen Garrett. “The Galanis Family and Alfred University share the values we have as a company, and it is an honor to be recipients of this award that hits so close to our hearts.”

In the words of Terry Galanis Jr., “At a family business, if you talk to the employees, they share in the company philosophy. Equally important to sustaining growth, seeking innovation and providing for employees, is a business’s willingness to support the local community, whether it by providing jobs for local residents or lending a hand or voice to charitable endeavors.”

About:
Otis Technology manufactures the World’s leading gun cleaning systems. Located in Lyons Falls, NY, Otis is embarking on its 25th year of business and is the choice supplier of firearms cleaning systems to the Military, as well as Law Enforcement Professionals and Marksmen worldwide. Earlier this year, Otis received the Ambrose Award which recognizes an Industrial Firm that has made outstanding contributions to the field of small arms systems by showing exemplary commitment and contribution to the Armed Forces.

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Otis Technology Receives Galanis Award

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, VA --(AmmoLand.com)– The National Rifle Association and MetaMedia Training International have won a CINE Golden Eagle Award for the Personal Protection Outside The Home DVD in the Business- Safety, Training, and Employee Development category.

The training-oriented DVD is based on NRA’s Basic Personal Protection Outside The Home Course, developed by NRA’s Education & Training Division and taught to the public by NRA Certified Instructors.

“We focus on educating the public about responsible handling and ownership of firearms. Our nationally-recognized firearms training programs, coupled with MetaMedia’s skill and experience in producing high-quality training videos, make the Personal Protection Outside the Home DVD one of the best instructional firearms films available to the public,” said Bill Poole, Director of NRA’s Education & Training Division.

NRA’s Personal Protection Outside The Home DVD

Produced for the NRA by MetaMedia, Personal Protection Outside The Home focuses on methods of concealed carry, and covers the basics of firearm safety, as well as topics including range instruction, self-defense, and multiple-threat response. The film tells the stories of two characters that choose to carry a concealed firearm, detailing their decision to carry, training, and situations in which they must use their firearm to protect themselves.

The CINE Golden Eagle Film and Video Competition is held each spring and fall. The selection of winners involves hundreds of media and content specialists who judge entries in several moving-image genres. Over the years, the judging procedure has evolved into an efficient multi-stage jury process to determine which productions are deserving of the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Award. Each year, hundreds of jurors judge nearly 1,000 entries in 32 categories. The award acknowledges high quality production in a variety of content categories for professional, independent, and student filmmakers.

“This statue represents the fourth CINE award given to MetaMedia in the last five years,” said MetaMedia Vice President Chris Held, who also served as Project Manager for the DVD. “It’s certainly a long-running point of pride for both our staff and clients like the NRA.”

MetaMedia is known for the high quality of instructional design and technical capabilities used in their training films. NRA has paired with the company to develop instructional DVDs for other firearms training programs including reloading, muzzle loading, and pistol shooting.

To learn more about NRA’s Basic Personal Protection Outside The Home Course and other NRA firearms training programs, visit http://www.nrainstructors.org/CourseCatalog.aspx or call (703) 267-1428.

To order your copy of the Personal Protection Outside The Home DVD, visit http://materials.nrahq.org/go/product.aspx?productid=ES30017 or call (800) 336-7402.

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NRA’s Personal Protection Outside The Home DVD Wins CINE Golden Eagle Award

Ruger

SOUTHPORT, CONNECTICUT --(AmmoLand.com)- Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) has been presented with the Firearms Manufacturer of the Year award by the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers for the third consecutive year.

The award was presented during the Association’s 36th Annual Meeting in Reno, Nevada. In order to choose the best of the best, NASGW wholesaler members evaluated the performance of top manufacturers on four key criteria – distribution policy; marketing, sales and promotion; logistics and operations; and NASGW and industry support.

“Winning the Manufacturer of the Year award for the third year in a row is a great honor for Ruger,” said Ruger CEO Mike Fifer. “Our organization is dedicated to meeting the needs of our independent distribution network. Through a strong commitment to our Voice of the Customer program, we are generating a product mix that is meeting the demands of the current marketplace, helping both Ruger and the wholesalers remain successful in this competitive business environment. We want to thank NASGW members for this award and their continued support.”

“Strong wholesaler support and cooperation are vital to our success as a manufacturer, and we continue to develop new products, marketing promotions and communication tools that will benefit distributors of Ruger firearms,” said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chris Killoy. “We appreciate this recognition of our efforts to help distributors, retailers and ultimately the consumer, receive high-quality products and support from Ruger.”

The award was presented during a breakfast gathering at the Grand Sierra Resort, where the theme of this years meeting, “Opportunity in Action,” was emphasized by Michael Brown, Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers.

“The interactive nature of this Expo allows manufacturers and wholesalers to exchange ideas, obtain instant feedback and plan for the next 12 months,” said Brown. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the next three days to create the opportunities that will move our business forward in the coming year.”

About:
Sturm, Ruger: Sturm, Ruger was founded in 1949 and is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of high-quality firearms for the commercial sporting market. Sturm, Ruger is headquartered in Southport, CT, with plants located in Newport, NH and Prescott, AZ.

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Arms Makers for Responsible Citizens

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Ruger Captures ‘Manufacturer Of The Year’ Award

Benchmade Knives

OREGON CITY, Ore.- -(AmmoLand.com)-The Portland Business Journal presented its 2009 Manufacturer of the Year for a Medium Sized Company to Benchmade Knife Company. The Oregon Manufacturing Awards Luncheon took place on Thursday, October 29th at the Portland Art Museum in downtown Portland, Oregon.

“It is an honor to be presented with such a prestigious award within the Oregon community” says Les de Asis, Founder and Owner of Benchmade Knife Company. “We are thrilled to be recognized as a leading manufacturer because of our dedication to providing U.S.-based jobs and commitment to customer satisfaction.”

Other award categories recognized at the event include Manufacturing Company of the Year Awards (Small, Medium & Large), Excellence in Training Award, and Product Innovation of the Year Award.

The award for Manufacturer of the Year is based on company performance, overall business strategy, and innovative approaches to internal operations, manufacturing processes, and sustainable practices involving customers, partners and suppliers. Other finalists nominated for the Medium-sized Company Award include Korvis Automation, Inc., and Williams Controls, Inc.

For a recap of the Portland Business Journal Awards, please visit: http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/10/26/daily53.html

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Benchmade Knives Wins 2009 Manufacturer of the Year

Wisconsin DNR

EAU CLAIRE, WI --(AmmoLand.com)- With Wisconsin’s new mentored hunting law, youngsters 10 and 11 years old will be joining the upcoming gun deer hunt, carrying firearms under the close supervision of their mentors.

Each of these mentors has a big responsibility, and in a critical way so does every other gun hunter in the field this year, said warden supervisor Steve Dewald with the state Department of Natural Resources.

“We obviously want these youth to have a positive experience in their meetings with other hunters,” Dewald said. “These kids are at an impressionable age and what they see this year they will long remember. Our fondest hope is that these young people will be made to feel welcome in the community of hunters.”

And so everyone who hunts becomes a mentor. It has always been this way. And while a few violators will attract attention, thousands of hunter conservationists will quietly pursue their passion for wildlife this fall, following not only the rules but strict, personal codes of safety and responsibility.

To celebrate and honor these hunter conservationists, the state Department of Natural Resources and the La Crosse Tribune proudly announce the opening of nominations for the 13th annual Ethical Hunter Award.

“We are asking hunters to acknowledge ethical behavior in other hunters when they see it,” Dewald said.

Dewald, outdoor writer Jerry Davis and La Crosse Tribune outdoor editor Bob Lamb created the award in 1997 in an effort to bring attention to the positive contributions made by Wisconsin’s safe and ethical hunters.

“This is a statewide award, and every year we get nominations from all across Wisconsin,” Dewald said. “That’s a good sign.”

The award signifies the qualities of “hunters helping others rather than pursuing personal gain” and “hunters engaged in behavior that positively reflects on the tradition of hunting.”

Dewald encourages people who have nominated hunters in the past to consider whether the person they nominated would still qualify and to consider nominating that person again. There have been persons nominated in the past who would have won the award if nominated in a different year.

These stories that come in the mail illustrate what wildlife and law enforcement professionals already know – that positive and often admirable behavior is common among the majority of hunters, Dewald said.

The following are requirements to be eligible to receive the Ethical Hunter Award:

• The nominee must be a licensed Wisconsin hunter.
• The ethical hunting act must have taken place in Wisconsin during the 2009 calendar year.
• Written nominations should contain the name, address and telephone number of the witness or witnesses to the behavior that led to the nomination.

Written nominations should be sent to Warden Supervisor Steve Dewald at the Department of Natural Resources, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, WI 54601 by Jan. 15, 2010.

An 18-year-old Rhinelander hunter received the award last year for helping a young woman hunter whom he met out in the field to trail, field dress and retrieve a 17-point buck that she had shot but was unable to find.

Other award recipients in previous years have been recognized for:

• assisting a conservation warden who was dealing with a dangerous subject
• restoring wildlife habitat
• making private lands available to new hunters
• providing opportunities for disabled hunters
• rendering aid to a citizen at a serious car accident

Special youth awards are also given to youngsters who hunt ethically.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Dewald, warden supervisor – (608) 785-9970 or Ed Culhane, a DNR communications specialist, at (715) 839-3715

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Nominees Sought for 13th Annual Ethical Hunter Award

Natural Resources Conservation Service

SALEM, Oregon --(AmmoLand.com)- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that Bruce Taylor, the Oregon Biodiversity Program Director of Defenders of Wildlife and the Director of the Oregon Habitat Joint Venture, is this year’s winner of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Excellence in Conservation Award.

“Excellence in natural resources conservation is achieved when people put their commitment to conservation into action,” Vilsack said. “Bruce’s outstanding leadership in bringing together private landowners, conservation organizations and state and federal agencies proudly displays that commitment.”

Vilsack’s announcement was read at an award ceremony held at the Oregon State Capital. A tireless advocate for biodiversity, Taylor is known nationwide for partnership efforts that have protected and restored thousands of acres of wetlands and other native habitats in Oregon.

NRCS Oregon State Conservationist Ron Alvarado and leaders of state agriculture and natural resource agencies joined Secretary Vilsack in recognizing Taylor’s leadership and accomplishments.

“Bruce has an amazing gift for bring people together,” Alvarado said. “The benefits that have come from the partnerships that he has put together are absolutely invaluable.”

“USDA, NRCS and the entire state of Oregon owe Bruce Taylor their gratitude,” said NRCS Chief Dave White. “Because of his efforts, conservation in Oregon and the entire region is thriving.”

The NRCS Excellence in Conservation Award honors those outside the Federal government for their work in conservation.

For information on NRCS programs and projects, and its nationwide conservation partnership, stop by your local USDA service center or visit NRCS online at www.nrcs.usda.gov.

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Bruce Taylor Wins NRCS Excellence in Conservation Award

Vortex Optics

Middleton, Wis. --(AmmoLand.com)- Vortex Optics’ StrikeFire Red dot sight received Outdoor Life magazine’s prestigious Great Buy Award. The article featured in the November 2009 issue highlights the StrikeFire’s features, quality construction and very reasonable price.

“Outdoor life is one of the most respected and popular magazines in the industry,” said Joe Hamilton, Vortex Optics national sales manager. “Vortex is thrilled the StrikeFire was awarded the Great Buy Award.”

The StrikeFire’s popularity has grown exponentially over the last year and it has earned a solid reputation for itself. Feature rich, versatile, reliable and priced at $150, it is a great choice for shooters and outdoorsmen who want a quality Red dot sight, but don’t want to break the bank.

Key features of the StrikeFire include a red/green dot option, night vision mode, fully-multicoated Optics, 30mm aluminum alloy chassis, extra-high recoil rating (tested on a .375 H&H for 1,000 rounds) and waterproof, fogproof, (nitrogen-purged) shockproof construction. Comes complete with mounting ring, (choose the extra-high mounting ring for flat-top AR’s or standard low mounting ring) attached flip-up lens caps and optical 2x doubler.

Mounted on an AR-15, shotgun, muzzleloader or pistol, the StrikeFire delivers quick, repeatable accuracy shot after shot.

American owned, Middleton, Wis. based Vortex Optics designs, engineers, produces and distributes a complete line of premium binoculars, riflescopes, spotting scopes, tripods and related accessories. Dedicated to exceptional quality, value and unrivaled customer service, Vortex backs its products with its unconditional, transferable, lifetime VIP-warranty. Built on more than 20 years of experience in the Optics industry, Vortex is emerging as a leader in the Optics market.

Vortex – The Force of Optics

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Vortex Optics StrikeFire Red Dot Sight Honored with Outdoor Life Great Buy Award

Insight Technology XTI Procyon LED Tactical Illuminator

InSight Technology

LONDONDERRY, NH --(AmmoLand.com)- Insight Technology, the world’s leading provider of tactical lasers, illuminators and thermal imaging equipment, announced that the XTI Procyon® LED Tactical Illuminator has been nominated by OpticsPlanet for a 2009 Brilliance Award in the Gun Mounted Flashlight of the Year category.

The XTI Procyon® delivers 125 lumens of stunning white light. Its patented Slide-Lock® design and adjustable rail interface allows for easy mounting to most railed pistols while its compact, machined aluminum housing fits existing M3 holsters. The XTI’s ambidextrous rocker switch offers the choice of Monetary On, Constant On or Strobing modes necessary to handle any low-light tactical scenario.

The OpticsPlanet Brilliance Awards recognize the brands and products that have exceeded expectations as well as received outstanding customer reviews. These brands lead the pack in the sport Optics, shooting, military and law enforcement industries while putting forward great products year after year.

Sixteen categories have been identified by OpticsPlanet’s in-house experts and more than 100 products have been nominated. For the very first time, the 2009 OpticsPlanet Brilliance Awards will present its loyal customers with the opportunity to vote on the best product or brand in each category. Voting has started and will close November 1st. Winning products and brands will be announced at the awards ceremony in mid-November.

“We are very pleased to have been selected as a 2009 OpticsPlanet Brilliance Award nominee,” said Devin Standard, of Insight Technology. “The XTI Procyon has been one of our most popular tactical illuminators and based on this nomination it’s clear that OpticsPlanet customers agree.”

In addition to voting for Brilliance Award nominees, OpticsPlanet customers can submit their email and be entered in the OpticsPlanet Brilliance Awards Sweepstakes for a chance to win one $200 gift card or one of five $50 gift cards to OpticsPlanet.com. For more information, or to vote for the XTI Procyon from Insight Technology, visit www.Opticsplanet.com/awards/2009/.

For more information on the XTI Procyon and the full line of Insight Technology tactical illuminators, laser aiming devices and thermal imaging equipment visit www.InsightTechGear.com.

About:
Insight Technology: Insight Technology Incorporated is the leading developer and manufacturer of tactical laser aiming and illumination products, integrated sighting systems, and thermal imaging systems for use by consumers, law enforcement officers and military personnel. Founded in 1988, the company operates its state-of-the-art facility providing highly effective and innovative tactical devices for extreme environments, advancing the effectiveness of the warfighter and first responder. Internationally recognized as exceeding the quality standards of ISO 9001, Insight Technology is located in Londonderry, New Hampshire.

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Insight Technology’s XTI Named Brilliance Award Nominee By OpticsPlanet

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, VA –-(AmmoLand.com)- The National Rifle Association recently recognized the STX-01 Committee from Corpus Christi, Texas, as winner of the 2008 Most Outstanding Friends of NRA Committee award at its September Board of Directors meeting.

Friends of NRA is a grassroots fund-raising program that fosters community involvement, raises money and gives 100% of the net proceeds to qualified local, state, and national programs. Since the inception of the program in 1993, Friends of NRA has awarded over 140 million dollars to promote shooting sports throughout the United States.

The Most Outstanding Friends of NRA Committee Award is presented each year to the Committee that raises the most funds at a single Friends of NRA event. STX-1 Friends of NRA Committee from Corpus Christi, Texas, led the nation in 2008 by raising over $188,000 in net income. Through 2008, they have raised an astounding $ 1,415,671 for The NRA Foundation and had almost 12,000 attendees.

“It’s because of the leadership and dedication of people like Laura Berry, Chairwoman of the STX-01 Committee, that we can effectively promote the shooting sports and all NRA programs to gun owners everywhere,” said NRA Executive Director Kayne Robinson.

The NRA’s National Awards Program was established in the 1980s to recognize the exemplary service of those persons who support the NRA in areas such as legislative affairs, club operations, women’s and youth programs, and fund-raising activities.

For more information on Friends of NRA and the Most Outstanding Friends of NRA Committee award, go to www.friendsofnra.org or call the NRA at 703/267-1595.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

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NRA Honors Corpus Christi Friends of NRA Committee

Brownells.com

Montezuma, Iowa --(AmmoLand.com)-Brownells, the Montezuma, Iowa-based gunsmith supply business proudly announces that 21 of its products have been selected by the American Pistolsmiths Guild to receive their coveted Seal of Approval.

The products, ranging from Brownells 1911 Auto Slide Fitting Set (#080-745-000) to the complete Smith & Wesson Armorer’s Service Kit (#080-722-010) were all submitted to the Guild for approval and met the rigorous standards set by the organization for quality. You can see all the products at brownells.com/americanpistolsmithsguild.

Company CEO Frank Brownell told us, “The Seal fits exactly with the Guild’s mission of increasing professionalism in the industry. We’re just so honored that a number of our products earned the Seal. I’m sure Jim Clark Sr. would be pleased to see the organization he founded taking such a positive step forward.”

Brownells Awarded Pistolsmith Guild Seal

The American Pistolsmiths Guild established rigid standards for quality and lasting value, which all its members must meet and maintain, over 30 years ago. At a recent annual meeting, members realized no standards as strict as those of Guild members existed in the firearms and related industries.

As a result, members voted to establish a team to evaluate and test products against quality and functional standards as stringent as the Guild sets for membership. All products submitted for consideration must be of domestic manufacture.

Those passing the team evaluation will gain an official American Pistolsmiths Guild Seal of Approval. The Seal is not awarded in perpetuity. At pre-established intervals, the product must be resubmitted for a reevaluation. A decrease in quality will be cause to revoke any use of the Seal in association with the product. For further information on the Pistolsmiths Guild and the Guild Seal of Approval, e-mail tenring@texas.net

About:
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, gunsmithing tools, reloading equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company supplies armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. All of their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction, unconditional, lifetime guarantee. For more information, or to place an order, call 800-741-0015 or visit Brownells.com

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Brownells Awarded Pistolsmith Guild Seal for 21 Products

John Frank Receives 2009 Mossy Oak Passion Award

Mossy Oak

WEST POINT, MS – -(AmmoLand.com)- John Frank was awarded the Mossy Oak Passion Award at the Drury Outdoors annual production meeting in St. Louis, Missouri on September 18 and 19.

Each year, Drury TV Producers from all over the country gather for meetings and an annual awards banquet. Last year, Mossy Oak was honored to participate in the banquet and present the Mossy Oak Passion Award to Steve “Coon Dog” Coon. Continuing the tradition this year, Mossy Oak recognized John Frank.

“The Passion Award is given to an individual that exhibits passion for the outdoors, who always works to their fullest capacity and with great excitement, and strives unselfishly to be the best at what they do,” said Ben Maki, Vice President of Marketing for Mossy Oak. “It’s not about taking trophy animals and having a successful hunt every time they step in the field or get behind the camera. It’s about passion for the outdoors, respect for Mother Nature and unwavering energy in everything they do.”

Frank is from Richland, Iowa where he owns his own flooring company. He has two children. Frank’s hobbies include photography, videography and Harley Davidsons. He enjoys hunting caribou, turkey and whitetail.

According to Frank, “Hunting with my grandfather from age 12 provided the beginning of my hunting interests. My love for the sport has branched from well-trained hunting dogs flushing ringnecks to the gobble of a mature tom on a cool spring morning. In the last decade, my hunting sights have evolved further to include the elusive P&Y class whitetail deer. Photographing buck in velvet combined with shed antler hunting helps me to pattern mature bucks. In the future, I’d like to harvest an elk with a bow.

“Recently, my son started hunting and I love to film him learning to hunt and discovering all the outdoors has to offer,” he added.

For more information on Drury Outdoors, visit www.druryoutdoors.com.

About:
Haas Outdoors Inc. is headquartered in West Point, Miss., was established in 1986 and is home of Mossy Oak (www.mossyoak.com). Mossy Oak specializes in developing and marketing modern camouflage designs for hunters and outdoorsmen. Mossy Oak patterns can be found on a multitude of products worldwide. Haas Outdoors Inc. is the outdoor industry leader in modern camouflage design, international licensing and marketing. Haas Outdoors Inc. markets its services and products under widely recognized brands including: Mossy Oak, BioLogic, Mossy Oak Productions, Nativ Nurseries and Mossy Oak Properties.

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John Frank Receives 2009 Mossy Oak Passion Award

Carbon Express

FLUSHING, Mich. --(AmmoLand.com)- Carbon Express®, a leading innovator of high performance hunting and target arrows is proud to announce that their new line of F-15 TM broadheads have been awarded the prestigious Inside Archery’s annual Best Buy Award. The award represents the finest archery products offered to retailers nationwide.

The Carbon Express F-15TM received the “Best Buy” award in the front pivot expandable broadhead category – while the F-15 Fixed Blade received an honorable mention in the fixed blade broadhead category.

“We are honored to see the F-15 achieve this level of acceptance from the retail community in it’s first year,” stated Stephen Graham, the company’s Director of Marketing. “This award is a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit that our Carbon Express team possesses,” remarked Graham.

The F-15TM is the only broadhead with dual side-by-side cutting blades. The two razor sharp blades provide six cutting edges that create a 250% greater wound opening than conventional single blade broadheads. The result – significantly greater blood loss, a better blood trail, and ultimately a faster kill.

Manufactured using a patented process that utilizes 440 stainless steel and a pressure injected mold (PIM), the F-15TM is a solid one piece broadhead that is extremely durable, offers precision, straightness and razor sharp performance – times two.

The F-15TM is available in two models: The F-15TM Dual Blade – a fixed blade broadhead, and the F-15TM expandable. The 100 grain fixed dual blade broadhead features a 1 1/8” cutting diameter, with .030” blades. The 100 grain expandable features 4 parallel expandable .030” blades with a cutting diameter of 1 3/8”. Both broadheads feature an aggressive, yet streamlined cut on contact design that provides superior penetration and whisper quiet flight.

The broadheads are so advanced with patented dual blade technology, it’s like shooting the animal twice!

About Carbon Express
Carbon Express®, an Eastman Outdoors Inc. brand, is the leading manufacturer of high performance carbon hunting and target arrows and arrow components for hunters and target shooters worldwide. For more information or technical specs, visit www.carbonexpressarrows.com or contact customer service at 800.241.4833

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Archery Pro Shops Vote the F-15 Expandable Broadhead ‘Best Buy’ in Inside Archery’s Awards

New York State Outdoor Writers Association

Lake Placid, NY—-(AmmoLand.com)- Chris Kenyon of Wolcott, NY was presented with the Pass It On Award at the New York State Outdoor Writers’ Association annual conference in Lake Placid on October 3, 2009.

This award is jointly presented by NYSOWA and Bass Pro Shops in honor of the writer selected annually as doing the most to pass on a love and understanding of our outdoor heritage. The writer is chosen from among NYSOWA’s membership and honored at the fall conference. Bass Pro Shops makes a significant contribution to the NYSOWA Scholarship Fund in that individual’s name.

As a regular columnist with the “Finger Lakes Times,” and “Lake Ontario Outdoors”, and freelance writer with other publications, as well as Recreational Promotional Coordinator for Wayne County Tourism, Chris Kenyon has plenty of opportunity to impact countless readers with his knowledge and enthusiasm for the outdoors. But it is his work with youth that sets him apart from most of his colleagues.

Two of the biggest ways that he impacts youngsters are as coordinator of the Grandslam Youth Derby and the Camp Smile fishing event. Wayne County Grandslam Challenge Youth Derby gives kids an opportunity to win neat prizes for a variety of fish species throughout the summer. About 100 youngsters annually are involved with this event. He also organizes a special Camp Smile fishing outing each summer on Lake Ontario involving 20 charter boats and blind or visually impaired children ages 5 – 18. For many of the kids it is their first time ever in a boat.

Chris Kenyon also takes time to work with the Montezuma Audobon Center on programs involving kids, including their Youth Pheasant Hunt. He is a constant presence at sportsmen’s events, shows, and anything involving the outdoors. Kenyon is a tireless advocate for enjoying the outdoors, preserving the environment, and sharing knowledge and skills, according to NYSOWA spokesman, William Hilts, Jr.

About:
The New York State Outdoor Writers Association is a professional organization of communicators dedicated to increasing the public awareness, understanding and appreciation of our outdoor heritage in the use and enjoyment of natural resources. Its primary purpose is to improve knowledge and skill among its members in the art of communication.

For more information on NYSOWA, visit http://www.nysowa.org.

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Chris Kenyon Honored by NYSOWA Award

New York State Outdoor Writers Association

Lake Placid, NY—-(AmmoLand.com)- William R. Hilts of Sanborn was named recipient of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association M. Paul Keesler New York Outdoor Citizen Award at the communicator association’s awards banquet on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Lake Placid, N.Y., during its annual conference.

The award was created in the name of one of NYSOWA’s most beloved and active members, M. Paul Keesler, the deceased co-founder of “New York Sportsman” magazine. Keesler, through his writing and publishing efforts, spent nearly five decades promoting and conserving the outdoor wonders and recreational opportunities within New York State.

The award recognizes an individual or organization that effectively has raised the public’s awareness of outdoor recreational opportunities and conservation issues in the state.

Nominations could be made by the public, as well as by NYSOWA members. Hilts, better known as Bill Sr., to distinguish him from his son, Bill Jr., who is also active in outdoor communications and conservation affairs, has been a member of the writing fraternity for nearly 50 years. His career has encompassed radio, television, newspaper, magazine, electronic communications and lectures.

In addition, he has served on numerous boards and councils in the communications and outdoor fields. Hilts helped organize the NYSOWA and has served as president of that group, as well as that of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA). OWAA recognized his extraordinary contributions earlier this year with the presentation of its prestigious Ham Brown Award.

That is one of dozens of honors he has received for his service to the state, the nation, outdoors enthusiasts and our natural resources.

“William R. Hilts is most deserving of this honor based on a lifetime dedicated to raising the level of awareness for outdoor recreational opportunities and conservation issues in New York,” wrote Glenn Sapir, a NYSOWA member, in his nomination of Hilts for this award.

About:
The New York State Outdoor Writers Association is a professional organization of communicators dedicated to increasing the public awareness, understanding and appreciation of our outdoor heritage in the use and enjoyment of natural resources. Its primary purpose is to improve knowledge and skill among its members in the art of communication.

For more information on NYSOWA, visit http://www.nysowa.org.

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Bill Hilts Receives NYSOWA Outdoor Citizen Award

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona --(AmmoLand.com)- The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s award-winning television series, Arizona Wildlife Views, has been nominated for outstanding achievement in environmental programming for a show that featured the impacts on fish populations and beach erosion from the artificial flooding of the Grand Canyon.

In 2008 the Bureau of Reclamation opened the flood gates of Glen Canyon Dam for three days hoping to recreate the natural flooding of the canyon that existed before the dam was built.

Arizona Wildlife Views is a 13-week series that airs on local PBS stations as well as city cable channels throughout the state and has won 11 Emmys in previous years.

The Rocky Mountain Southwest Emmy region of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences includes Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and parts of California. The winners will be announced on October 24th.

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Arizona Wildlife Views Tv Nominated For Emmy Award

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA – -(AmmoLand.com)-Dirk Remensnyder, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer for Union County, recently was selected as the recipient of the Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association’s Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Award.

Remensnyder began his career with the Game Commission, in 1995, when he was selected as a cadet for the 23rd Class of the agency’s Ross Leffler School of Conservation (RLSC). Upon graduation in 1996, he was assigned to serve as the Wildlife Conservation Officer in the southern Monroe County district. In 2003, he transferred to his present district in Union County.

A respected officer among his fellow Game Commission employees and various sportsmen’s clubs, Remensnyder serves as the Northcentral Region First Aid/CPR Instructor. This past fall, Remensnyder coordinated the efforts of eight local and state agencies from five counties in a nighttime tactical patrol, dubbed “Operation Nighthawk,” to deter unethical and unlawful activities, including poaching and illegal use of motorized vehicles, as well as driving under the influence.

The operation involved the tactical deployment of one State Police helicopter and 24 mobile ground units consisting of 45 officers from three State Police barracks, two State Forest Districts, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Union County Sheriff’s Department and eight Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer districts. Extensive preplanning identified stationary locations that resulted in efficient utilization of the aviation unit when suspected violations were spotted. Pilots and officers on the ground were continually able to identify locations and assist one another in a swift, efficient manner.

Prior to joining the agency, Remensnyder served as a Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Remensnyder attended Lock Haven University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology. He is a captain in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and has served a tour of duty in Iraq.

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Pa Game Conservation Officer Remensnyder Honored With Annual Award

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division recently selected Sergeant Mike Burgamy of the Gainesville Law Enforcement office as the 2009 Supervisor of the Year.

Burgamy oversees DNR Law Enforcement operations in Banks, Barrow, Hall and Jackson Counties, including Lake Lanier. He is a 15-year veteran of the department and began serving as sergeant in 2005.

“Sgt. Burgamy is dedicated to serving Georgia’s citizens while protecting our natural resources,” says Lt. Col. Homer Bryson of the Wildlife Resources Division. “He is charged with protecting citizens utilizing one of the state’s most heavily-populated resources, Lake Lanier, and is persistent in working above and beyond job duties and expectations.”

An experienced conservation ranger, Burgamy also serves as an instructor for the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and is certified in emergency vessel operation tactics, verbal judo, standardized field sobriety tests and defensive tactics.

He has served for ten years as a board member for the Hall County Safe Kids program, which provides free personal floatation devices to boaters on northeast Georgia lakes. In addition, Burgamy also serves as one of only two drug recognition experts in the department.

He also recently completed the Professional Management Program at Columbus State University.

To help with language barriers often encountered while on the job, Burgamy took initiative to learn Spanish, allowing him to easily communicate with Spanish-speaking customers.

Burgamy’s rangers commend their supervisor for covering the two empty ranger positions in Hall County over the past year. Burgamy answered 60 complaints totaling almost 100 hours and was involved in ten search and rescue incidents.

Burgamy previously received recognition as Boating Safety Officer of the Year in 2004 and Ranger of the Year for the Gainesville Law Enforcement office in 1997 and 1998.

For more information on the 2009 Supervisor of the Year Award, call the Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Headquarters office at (770) 918-6408.

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Georgia Lake Lanier’s Sgt. Burgamy Named DNR Law Enforcement Supervisor Of Year

Hornady Ammunition

Grand Island, NE --(AmmoLand.com)- Two Hornady Manufacturing video productions earned three significant honors during the 30th Annual Telly Awards.

The “Hornady 2009 New Products” video earned Telly Awards in the Direct Marketing and Infomercial categories.

The 20-minute video combines graphics, testimonials, and hunting footage to highlight each of Hornady’s 2009 products.

A 30 second TV spot introducing the 300 and 338 Ruger Compact Magnum (RCM) earned a third Telly Award in the Sports/Sporting Goods/Games commercial category. The winning commercial features exciting and scenic range and hunting footage, with the tagline “Magnum performance is redefined!”

The Telly Awards honor outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest film and video productions, and groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected agencies and production studios in the advertising, television, cable, and corporate video industries in the world.

About:
Founded in 1949, Hornady Manufacturing Company, a family-owned business headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska, has become a world leader in innovative bullet, ammunition, reloading tools and accessories.

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Hornady Ammunition Receives Three Telly Awards

Pheasants Forever

Austin, Texas –-(AmmoLand.com)- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has presented Pheasants Forever’s Dave Nomsen with a National Great Blue Heron Award in recognition of his wetland and waterfowl conservation work. Nomsen, who is Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Vice President of Government Affairs, received the award yesterday at the Waterfowl Working Group meeting of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies gathering in Austin, Texas.

The National Great Blue Heron Award recognizes participants whose activities with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Committee results in substantial benefits to waterfowl and other wetland-associated migratory bird populations of North America over a long period of time. Nomsen has been a conservation leader on a national scale for nearly two decades, with his work extending beyond pheasants, quail and other upland birds to a wide array of wildlife.

Nomsen’s influence helped shape the last three federal Farm Bills – 1996, 2002, & 2008 – and he became one of the nation’s loudest voices in support of the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) wildlife legacy. CRP land in the Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana and North and South Dakota is some of the most productive waterfowl habitat in the world, contributing more than 2 million ducks annually. Most recently, Nomsen helped the creation of a new CRP practice called Conservation Practice 38, better known as the State Acres For wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practice, which has allowed many states to create new wildlife and wetland conservation initiatives. And through his leadership, local Pheasants Forever chapters have restored 60,000 acres of wetlands across America.

Nomsen has also served on North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Council since 1999. His first appointment by the Secretary of the Interior under President Clinton and then subsequent re-appointments by President Bush’s administration showcased Nomsen’s ability to bridge parties in the name of conservation.

“Wetlands and waterfowl conservation have always been as near and dear to my heart as upland conservation – both are equally important, and equally connected,” said Nomsen, who points to his early work with the with South Dakota’s Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit as the source of his most important knowledge about wetlands. “While this award is quite an honor, it is ultimately reflective of the passion of the 125,000 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever members across the country. It’s an honor to represent a group of such dedicated conservationists.”

Past recipients of the National Great Blue Heron recognition have included former Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Chairmen Jim Range, U.S. Senator Patrick J. Leahy, the Delta Waterfowl Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.

Nomsen is a Clear Lake, Iowa native, where his father, Richard Nomsen, was the chief pheasant biologist for the Iowa Conservation Commission (now the Iowa Department of Natural Resources). Nomsen received a master’s in wildlife management from South Dakota State University. He has been with Pheasants Forever since 1992, where he began as Pheasants Forever’s wildlife biologist for Minnesota. He makes his home in Garfield, Minnesota, with his wife, Melanie, and his Labrador retriever, Nellie, and Springer Spaniel, Little TR.

About:
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 125,000 members in 750 local chapters across the continent.

For additional information please visit www.PheasantsForever.org and www.QuailForever.org

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Pheasant Guy’s Waterfowl Work Earns Him a Heron

National Rifle Association

Fairfax, VA --(AmmoLand.com)- Award nominations for the 2010 awards are being accepted until November 1, 2009.

Many women have made significant contributions in the areas listed below and you probably know a few of them.

Please take a moment to nominate them for an award appropriate to their contributions.

This is the perfect way to recognize their hard work and dedication.

In recognition of the significant contributions made by women in the areas of Second Amendment advocacy, education, volunteerism, hunting and shooting sports activities the National Rifle Association bestows the:

• Sybil Ludington Women’s Freedom Award upon women whose contributions have been made at the national level.
• Marion P. Hammer Woman of Distinction Award upon women whose contributions have been made at the local, state and/or regional levels.

For more information about NRA’s Women’s Awards Program, please call Patty Zollman at 800-861-1166 or visit www.nrahq.org/women/index.asp to download nomination forms.

Please note: Women may not be nominated for both the Sybil Ludington Women’s Freedom Award and the Marion P. Hammer Woman of Distinction Award in the same year.

Deadline For Nominations:
November 1, 2009

About:
The National Rifle Association is the premier firearms education association in the world. With nearly four million members nationwide and over 120,000 members in Virginia, the association is widely recognized as a major political force and America’s foremost defender of Second Amendment rights.

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National Rifle Association Women’s Awards Program

California Waterfowl

California - -(AmmoLand.com)- California Waterfowl presented Holly Heyser with the 2009 Artemis Award at the Sacramento Wild Game Feed on September 3rd.

This award is given annually to a woman within the waterfowling community for inspiring and supporting positive outdoor experiences for women and helping to preserve our outdoor heritage for future generations. Heyser works tirelessly to involve others in the way of life she loves through her blog, articles for various publications, and the food served in her home.

Heyser has proven herself to be a powerful voice for promoting the positive aspects of hunting, such as the health benefits of pursuing and eating wild game, and the contributions hunters make to habitat conservation. She is a tireless advocate for California Waterfowl’s award-winning education and outreach programs through the Women’s Outdoor Connections Committee, which is creating a network for women interested in volunteerism, hunting and conservation. On her blog, NorCal Cazadora, she provides a wealth of information on all things hunting in a thought-provoking and inviting way that draws people out and into the marsh.

“Through all she does, Holly encourages everyone to participate fully in outdoor experiences and think deeply about where we fit in both society and nature”, explained Dr. Robert McLandress, President of California Waterfowl. “She brings a fresh perspective to the world of hunting and helps both hunters and non-hunters see it more clearly.”

Holly Heyser describes herself as a recovering newspaper reporter and editor. She now teaches journalism at her alma mater, Sacramento State University. She went on her first hunt at age 41 and immediately fell in love with the honesty, grace and humility of acquiring food the hard way. In addition to teaching and blogging, Heyser also freelances, writing and taking photographs for publications including California Waterfowl Magazine, the Sacramento Bee, Edible Sacramento, Meatpaper, the Art of Eating, Delta Waterfowl and Turkey Country.

About:
California Waterfowl is an award winning nonprofit, hunter-supported conservation organization with a mission to conserve the state’s waterfowl, wetlands, and hunting heritage. In the last 20 years we’ve restored, protected or enhanced more than 360,000 acres, providing habitat for millions of birds and animals, and introduced more than 250,000 children to the wonders of the great outdoors. Visit us online at www.calwaterfowl.org.

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Holly Heyser Wins California Waterfowl’s Artemis Award

Trijicon Scopes

Raton, NM --(AmmoLand.com)- Trijicon®, world leader in Brilliant Aiming Solutions™, has introduced the new ‘Trijicon Aiming For Excellence’ Hunt Skills Award and increased its annual support to become a new Silver Sponsor of the NRA Whittington Center’s Adventure Camp.

At this unique camp set on more than 33,000 acres in the rugged New Mexico wilderness, top volunteer industry instructors share their expertise on the fundamentals of pistol, rifle, muzzleloading, and shotgun skills with teenagers from all over the U.S. It includes courses on everything from wilderness map reading, preparing a hunting camp, and animal tracking to game calls, care of downed game and wildlife management techniques. The non-profit camp features two 13-day summer sessions of approximately 40 campers each, for kids ages 13 to 17.

Trijicon personnel held an instructional seminar at the camp this summer, introducing the new annual award — ‘Trijicon’s Aiming for Excellence.’ The winner from each session was the camper with the highest score in the comprehensive Hunt Skills testing segment of the camp, and each won a specially engraved Trijicon AccuPoint® riflescope. The challenging course includes hunter safety instruction, tracking, and completing a back country walk-though “hunt,” where the participants were faced with shooting targets of a wide range of animals, making sure that they were in season and were the ones for which they were given a faux license.

Darren Curry, of Los Cruces New Mexico, won the ‘Trijicon Aiming for Excellence’ award during the second session of the camp.

“The Hunt Skills class was my favorite part of the camp — it was so cool to learn all about hunting and safety and then go on the hunt itself and apply everything we’d learned,” says the 14-year-old, who had never been hunting before. “I can’t wait to use the Trijicon AccuPoint I won on an elk hunt my dad is going to take me on. I’ve been practicing at the range with it and love the illuminated reticle!”

The winner from the first session was Jacob Sanchez from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, (see photo.)

Trijicon has been donating both funds and a wide range of its industry-leading products, including Trijicon AccuPoint® riflescopes, ACOGs® and Bright & Tough™ night sights for pistols, to this exceptional program for the past three years. As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to engaging with young shooting sports enthusiasts, and ensuring the future legacy of the industry, Trijicon has increased its donations for 2009, which resulted in joining the ranks of other leading manufacturers in the Silver Sponsor sector.

“The sponsors that contribute to the NRA Whittington Center Adventure Camp program are not only developing the next generation of shooters and outdoor enthusiasts, but are actively engaged in a character-building experience that will stay with these participants for the rest of their lives,” says Bill Perkins, Camp Director. “Family members frequently comment about the maturity and personal growth that they see after only 13 days. By the end of camp, the campers have learned valuable firearm safety skills but they have also developed self-confidence that occurs from successfully meeting a challenge.”

Trijicon values the opportunity to engage with youth to ensure the viability and future of the industry.

“Teaching these amazing young people the proper use and care of firearms and fundamentals of hunting and shooting sports only makes our future stronger. We hope that the campers will be able to take what they learn here and pass it on to friends, family and eventually their own children,” says Trijicon’s Senior Marketing Coordinator Susan Belanger. “We’re very proud to introduce the Trijicon Aiming for Excellence Award to the NRA Whittington Center’s Adventure Camp this year. We wanted to reward the camper at each session that best exemplifies the essence of Trijicon’s beliefs — aiming for excellence in all we do is a standard for Trijicon — we take pride in our products and how they help military, law enforcement officers and hunters all across the world. The winners of this award have shown that they also take pride in themselves and are willing to help others.”

About:
To learn more about Trijicon’s partnership with the NRA Whittington Center Adventure Camp, or any of Trijicon’s other charitable events, contributions or products, contact: Trijicon, Inc. 49385 Shafer Ave., Wixom, MI 48393 • (800) 338-0563 • Or visit www.trijicon.com.

For more information, including a free DVD, about the Whittington Center’s Adventure Camp, please contact the NRA Whittington Center at P.O. Box 700, Raton, NM 87740 • (800) 494-4853 • Or visit www.nrawc.org.

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Trijicon, Inc. Launches First Annual Trijicon Aiming For Excellence Hunt Skills Award

Weaver Optics

ONALASKA, Wis. –-(AmmoLand.com)- Weaver® Optics is pleased to announce their new 40/44™ series of riflescopes has captured Field & Stream’s coveted 2009 “Best of the Best Award” in the Optics category. This honor marks the one-year anniversary of Weaver Optics’ return to the ATK family of brands and demonstrates ATK’s commitment to the Optics market.

40/44 series resonates with users
Introduced in early 2009, the 40/44 series was designed to satisfy the value shopper looking to get the most scope for their money. According to Tom Knudtson, Weaver product line manager, “In tough economic times, when even the most avid shooters become a little value-conscious it’s important to have quality products geared for all budgets. We feel the 40/44 series is one such product.” Evidently the folks at Field & Stream seem to agree, when they claimed “saying you can’t go wrong for the price here is an understatement.”

Field & Stream 2009 Best of the Best Award

Best of the Best criteria
To be awarded “Best of the Best” status from Field & Stream, products must pass an intensive array of testing for performance and reliability. Among other tests, Weaver’s 40/44 3-9×40mm riflescope successfully passed the stringent requirements of being:
• subjected to the shock of firing 325-grain .45/70 loads
• frozen and then submerged into warm water for five minutes with the turret caps removed to test for fogging or leaking
• repeatedly adjusted to test the ¼ MOA for consistency and accuracy

With 500 products submitted for testing and 27 experienced field testers pushing them to the max, only a surviving few remained to be crowned “Best of the Best.”

Packed with features
Weaver’s 40/44 series are comprised of scopes that possess either 40mm or 44mm objectives and contain features shooters have come to expect in quality glass. Things like fully multi-coated lenses, waterproof/shockproof/fogproof performance and one-piece tube construction. Other elements that make the 40/44 series a Field & Stream “Best of the Best” winner are:

• • broad range of magnification ranges
• • aspherical lens system (on some models)
• • Ballistic-X reticle
• • rugged construction
• • bright, clear glass that performs in low light conditions

Discover how Weaver® brings more than 80 years of innovation and expertise to the shooting experience. Visit Weaver Optics.

About Weaver® Optics
Weaver Optics and Mounting Systems bring more than 77 years of innovation and expertise to the shooting experience. Engineered to be the most reliable Optics systems, Weaver offers a full line of scopes and mounting systems. Weaver rings set a standard for which many mounting systems are still measured and continue to provide precision shooters with the most important part of their setup. For more information and product images, visit www.weaver-mounts.com.

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Weaver Optics 40/44 Riflescope Wins Field & Stream Best of Best Award

Insight Tech-Gear

LONDONDERRY, NH --(AmmoLand.com)- Insight Tech-Gear, the world’s leading provider of tactical lasers, illuminators and thermal imaging equipment, announced that the new MRDS Mini Red dot Sight has been selected as an Editors’ Choice Award by the editors of On Target magazine.

The MRDS, a lightweight, ruggedized reflex sight that mounts to many existing Optics as well as MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny and Weaver-style rails, was selected based on the improved durability and features compared to similar products in the market.

“The MRDS was born from the U.S. Military’s requirement for a reflex sight that was significantly more durable than earlier versions. The specification calls for a sight that can survive environmental extremes, handles punishing recoil across a range of military arms and can survive the rigors of combat conditions. Insight’s MRDS does that and more,” said Ben Battles, editor of On Target.

Insight Tech-Gear Announces MRDS Mini Red dot Sight

“On top of the amazing durability of the MRDS, Insight added features that appeal to any level of operator. The lightweight design, the 1 MOA positive click windage and elevation adjustments, the hard off, the auto and manual dot intensity adjustment – and particularly the top load batter feature – clearly make the MRDS an Editors’ Choice.”

“We are extremely pleased that the Insight Tech-Gear MRDS has been selected as an Editors’ Choice by the editors of On Target magazine. Hundreds of thousands for consumers, as well as dealers, rely on On Target magazine for the latest information on new gear to help them make the right purchasing decisions which is why On Target has become one of the most trusted resources for the gun buying public,” said Devin Standard, executive director for Insight Tech-Gear.

First published in 2002 and distributed free at thousands of firearm retail locations around the country, On Target is printed six times a year and includes product reviews, category buyer’s guides and the Editors’ Choice Awards. Each year, the editors of On Target magazine select approximately 25 of the industry’s outstanding new products and present them with the magazine’s Editors’ Choice Award. Innovation and technical merit are the primary considerations in choosing products, while styling and perceived utility for the consumer are also given consideration.

The MRDS is available now and can be ordered through local firearms and shooting accessory dealers. For more information on the MRDS and other Insight Tech-Gear products, or to find a dealer in your area, visit InsightTechGear.com.

About:
Insight Tech-Gear: Insight Tech-Gear, as the commercial arm of Insight Technology Incorporated, enjoys the long and highly respected heritage of the foremost developer and manufacturer of tactical lasers, illuminators and thermal imaging equipment for the U.S. Armed Forces. An ISO 9001 company headquartered in Londonderry, New Hampshire, Insight Tech-Gear is dedicated to providing market-driven, technology-enabled, awareness enhancing solutions to first responders, industry professionals, and responsible citizens.

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Insight Tech-Gear MRDS Gets On Target Editors Choice Award

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, VA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Three of the National Rifle Association’s top Junior Members have been selected to receive the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, recognizing their accomplishments in the community, the classroom, and the shooting sports.

A total of $10,000 in scholarship money is awarded to the winners thanks to the generosity of Brownell’s, one of the world’s leading suppliers of firearms accessories and gunsmithing tools.

Eighteen-year-old Collin Wietfeltd of Hemlock, Michigan, won first place and a $5,000 scholarship. Weitfeltd’s impressive shotgun skills earned him spots on the 2009 U.S. World Championship Shotgun Team, the U.S. National Development Team, and on the 2009 ATA All-American Junior Trapshooting Team.

Wietfeltd recently returned from the Shotgun World Championships, held August 7-16 in Maribor, Slovenia, where he earned a silver medal as a member of the Men’s Junior Trap Team and finished in 7th place as an individual. Earlier this month, Wietfeltd took first place in the Trap Championships at the 2009 Shotgun Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In addition to his shooting skills, Wietfeltd is also very active in his school and community. At Hemlock High School, Wietfeltd is a member of the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), the CPR Team, and is a regular name on the Honor Roll. Wietfeltd’s community involvement includes being an active member, volunteer, and coach with the Saginaw Field and Stream Club, serving as a coach for the Scholastic Clay Target Program, and as a frequent blood donor, being presented with the Donor For Life Award in 2008. In addition, Wietfeltd has participated in the Michigan State Youth Hunter Education Challenge and NRA Advanced Shotgun Camps.

Wietfeltd will attend Lindenwood University this fall on a partial academic/trapshooting scholarship. He will compete as a member of the Trapshooting Team and will major in Chemistry while completing a pre-dental study.

“Reviewing the applications for the 2009 Outstanding Youth Achievement Award made me very proud of all of the candidates, and speaks to the tremendous effect that the shootings sports and NRA programs has on young people. The shooting sports community gives so freely of their time, money, and most importantly their mentorship; not just to these three winners, but to all youth involved in their programs,” said Larry Quandahl, Manager of NRA’s Youth Programs Department.

Second place and a $3,000 scholarship were awarded to eighteen-year-old Tanner Brooks of Walkerton, Indiana. Brooks is a member of the Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association and had place first in several competitions, including the Indiana State Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Championships and the National SCTP Skeet Championships. In 2008, Brooks was selected to attend the NRA’s Youth Education Summit (YES) in Washington, D.C., and also traveled to the NRA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. In his community, Brooks helped teach children about firearms safety by presenting the Eddie Eagle GunSafe(r) Program to numerous elementary schools.

Samuel Fowler, a seventeen-year old from Orchard Park, New York, took third place and earned a $2,000 scholarship. Fowler is an NRA Life Member, as well as a member of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association. As a Smallbore Rifle shooter, Fowler has competed in the National Matches at Camp Perry for the past three years and numerous other local, state, and national competitions. In addition to his achievements as a competitive shooter, Fowler is also an exemplary student and has volunteered at a local Friends of NRA dinner.

All NRA Junior Members (or NRA Regular or Life Members under the age of eighteen) who are also current members of a NRA-affiliated club or state association, and have completed one NRA Basic Firearm Training Course are eligible for the award. Applicants must have additionally earned at least one rating through the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program, submit three letters of recommendation, provide a copy of their school transcript, and write a 1,000 word essay entitled, “What the Shooting Sports have Taught Me.”

In addition to these core requirements, applicants must also participate in at least five NRA-sponsored programs. These elective requirements may include, but are not limited to, presenting the Eddie Eagle GunSafe(r) Program, attending the Youth Education Summit, competing in the Youth Hunter Education Challenge, participating in the National Matches at Camp Perry, or attending an NRA Shooting Sports Camp.

Applications for next year’s Outstanding Achievement Youth Award are due to NRA Headquarters no later than May 1, 2010. For more information on the Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, please contact NRA’s Youth Programs Department by calling (703) 267-1505 or by visiting http://www.nrahq.org/youth/achievement.asp.

About:
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, gunsmithing tools, equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company supplies armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. All of their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction, unconditional, lifetime guarantee. For more information, or to place an order, call 800-741-0015 or visit Brownells.com .

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

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NRA Announces 2009 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award Winners

Benelli Vinci Shotgun in Action

Benelli USA World Class Shotguns

ACCOKEEK, MD —-(AmmoLand.com)- Benelli’s revolutionary new Vinci semi-auto shotgun has been selected for a Field & Stream “Best of the Best Award” in the shotgun category for 2009.

The Vinci faced stiff competition in its category, but the judges ultimately decided that it was the most innovative and best-designed product in the shotgun class. The Vinci will be featured in Field & Stream’s September 2009 issue.

Field & Stream 2009 Best of the Best Award

Field & Stream annually tests and compares hunting gear, to find the best new products on the market. The editors of Field & Stream employ critical judging criteria such as the significance of the innovation, the quality of the design, and the value it provides the hunter. The winners in all categories shared one quality: excellence in the field.

The Vinci has no equal when it comes to the real timeline of performance speed, which involves much more than just the rapid cycling of an action. The practical “speed” shooters seek becomes a matter of how fast you can shoulder the gun, acquire the target, shoot, and recover from recoil to prepare for the next shot. And don’t forget reliability—Benelli continues to be the most reliable auto-loading shotgun in the world. Once again, Benelli leaves the competition in the dust.

“To be honored with Field & Stream’s Best of the Best Award, confirms what other outdoor writers and hunters have already discovered” said Stephen McKelvain, Benelli USA’s VP of Marketing & Communications, “that the new Vinci meets or beats our marketing claims and is truly revolutionary.”

About:
Whether you’re looking for a 12 gauge shotgun, a 20 gauge shotgun, a pump shotgun, or a specialty model, Benelli shotguns are simply perfect. Benelli offers the world’s largest selection, with more than 120 different models to choose from.

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Benelli Honored with Field & Stream 2009 Best of the Best Award

Winchester Repeating Arms

Nashville, Tenn --(AmmoLand.com)- Former Winchester® exhibition shooter, Herb Parsons, was recently inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors National Hall of Fame, August 22, in Nashville, Tenn.

Parsons, a leader in the shooting sports industry, began working for Winchester as a salesman in 1929. He excelled on the trap range, won the Grand American in 1954, was a member of Sports Afield’s trap and skeet All-American team, served as a gunnery instructor for the U.S. Army during World War II, and demonstrated shooting exhibitions for millions of people.

Because of his excellent marksmanship, Parsons has been recognized as the greatest exhibition shooter of all time in publications such as Guns & Ammo, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield and many others.

“This Hall of Fame induction of Mr. Parsons, is well deserved. I just wish he was here to receive it himself,” said Dick Hammett, president of Winchester Ammunition. “He was a leader for his family, for Winchester and for our entire industry. We are thrilled to see that his work and talents are being recognized. We also congratulate all of the 2009 inductees for their efforts, their leadership and their wisdom for our industry.”

During a medical procedure in 1959, Parsons died at a young age of 51. His sons, Drs. Lynn and Jerry Parsons, attended the ceremony on his behalf.

“Mr. Herb Parsons was a hero to every young boy and girl who ever had the chance to see him perform,” said Garry Mason, president and founder of Legends of the Outdoors National Hall of Fame. “To get to induct one of my lifelong heroes is a dream come true for both me and my staff. To become an outdoorsman was a dream come true for thousands of kids while growing up in the fifties and sixties. Mr. Herb Parsons made that dream come closer to reality for us all. Winchester could not have had a better ambassador to the great outdoors than that of Mr. Herb Parsons. His legendary performances for Winchester should be shown on television each and every day.”

During the ceremony, Brenda Valentine, the “First Lady of Hunting” and prostaffer for Winchester Ammunition, was the guest speaker. She was also the first woman to be inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors National Hall of Fame.

Other 2009 Inductees include:

• – Jim Crumley
• – Toxey Haas
• – Rob Keck
• – Terry Redlin
• – Eddie Salter
• – Emily Shaffer

For more information, visit www.legendsoftheoutdoors.com or contact Garry Mason at 731.539.0171.

To learn more about Winchester Ammunition products, visit www.winchester.com.

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Winchester’s Herb Parsons Inducted Into Outdoor Hall Of Fame

Ohio River Islands Named Refuge of The Year

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Ohio --(AmmoLand.com)- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has selected Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge for the 2009 Refuge of the Year Environmental Leadership Award. The award annually recognizes Service facilities and individuals for their outstanding leadership and commitment to the environment.

The Ohio River Islands refuge was recognized for construction and operation of its administrative building and visitor center in Williamstown, W.V. Built in 2008 on a former farm, the structure is an ENERGY STAR building incorporating local, recycled and renewable materials.

“One of our goals with the visitor center was to showcase environmental sustainability,” said Dean Rhine, refuge manager. “We believe that using fewer natural resources to build and operate this structure supports our wildlife conservation mission.”

Plans and construction endeavored to minimize disturbance to the refuge’s natural habitats. Many of the materials used in construction were made of recycled content, minimizing the demand for virgin materials and reducing the burden on landfills. When possible, local and regional materials were used both to support the local economy and to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used to transport goods.

“I am proud of the work being done at Ohio River Islands refuge,” said Marvin Moriarty, the Service?s northeast regional director. “At many of our facilities throughout the northeast we are working to reduce our carbon footprint and to be part of the solution to climate change.”

The building’s ENERGY STAR rating is an important feature of the refuge’s comprehensive greening program. The building uses natural daylight and energy-efficient lighting throughout, as well as occupancy sensors to turn lights off when not in use. The building’s energy performance for 2009 was 28 percent better than an average building. In addition, the building incorporates a high efficiency furnace and a geothermal system to enhance energy performance.

The refuge also has an active recycling program, and has recently purchased a hybrid vehicle. Established in 1990, the Ohio River Islands refuge conserves habitat in one of our nation’s busiest inland waterways. The refuge extends along 362 miles of the upper Ohio River and protects 22 scattered islands and three mainland properties. Migratory birds and endangered freshwater mussels are among the important wildlife conserved by the refuge. Visitors to the visitor center and administration building can learn about fish and wildlife of the Ohio River in exhibits and view a 1,200-gallon aquarium featuring live Ohio River fish. The refuge also offers hunting, fishing, bird watching, hiking and other recreational opportunities.

Information about the refuge can be found at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ohioriverislands/. Representatives from the National Fish Hatchery System, the National Wildlife Refuge System and the Service’s Division of Engineering made the award selection.

About:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and a trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.

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Ohio River Islands Named 2009 Environmental Leadership Refuge of The Year

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Annapolis, MD – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forestry Service today announced the 2008 Maryland Forest Service Annual Awards. Forest Service employees submitted nominations, which were reviewed by members of the Forest Service Leadership Team.

“I want to congratulate all of this year’s award recipients,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Each one has shown an incredible dedication to the Forestry Service, to the Department of Natural Resources and to our state, to help work towards a smarter, more sustainable future.”

This year’s recipients are:

2008 Forester of the Year – Robert S. Prenger, Jr.

During 2008, Prenger coordinated the development and preparation of 25 Forest Stewardship Plans, the establishment of 2.7 miles of riparian forest buffers, and the inspection of 62 FCMA /Tree Farm/WAP properties. He also worked with Greening Committees from 7 communities and planted 125 street trees in the fall of 2008. Additionally, he worked with the Baltimore County Forestry Board to plan and implement 43 separate tree planting projects at local school campuses and County Parks involving over 1,670 school students in planting 1,225 trees and shrubs in stream buffer areas.

Prenger was also highly involved in the development and implementation of the Baltimore County’s new Forest Sustainability Initiative. Baltimore County was selected as one of only three Counties in the nation to participate in a new progressive, comprehensive Forest Sustainability strategy for evaluating and promoting sustainable forests from an environmental and economic perspective. The goal is the protection of critical forest ecosystem functions for maintaining biodiversity, water quality and carbon management, while meeting the socio-economic needs of the citizens today and in the future. Prenger serves on the Steering Committee, attends quarterly meetings to provide technical support and serves on both the Forest Economics and Forest Education Sub-Committees. Prenger also worked with the Forestry Board to develop the Baltimore County “Forest Resource Network”, a woodland owners association who promote forest sustainability and forest conservation throughout Baltimore County.

2008 Ranger of the Year – Kevin Moore

Moore performs the majority of the technical field activities in Frederick and Washington Counties, which in 2008 included completion of data collection on 3,600 acres at the Stronghold Inc property, implementation of 9 controlled burns on state and federal property (Antietam National Battlefield), provision of training workshops to over 150 individuals from various government agencies and local fire companies, and maintenance of a 10-acre field trial researching growth success under different planting regimes and deer fence enclosures.

In addition, Moore was involved in numerous forest management activities at Monocacy NRMA. He put a new Gator and slip on unit into service, rebuilt an ATV trailer, secured an FEPP brush truck for Clear Spring VFC, assisted in the reconnaissance of approximately 20,000 acres of Gypsy Moth threatened forest and the mapping of the final Gypsy Moth spray blocks and no-fly zones, coordinated the project’s walnut seed collection and delivery to the Nursery, and worked as a single resource specialist on a forest fires in VA and CA on two interagency fire assignments.

2008 Employee of the Year – Stephen “Bo” Sliger

As Maintenance Chief at Potomac-Garrett State Forest, Sliger strives to serve the public by keeping State Forest facilities, roads and infrastructure in the best condition possible. Sliger’s responsibilities include oversight and meeting match requirements for grant-funded trail maintenance projects, operating and transporting heavy equipment to implement maintenance projects, building and recruiting an effective team of short-term contractual maintenance staff, assigning the daily work scheduling and supervision of the contractual maintenance staff, and directing the “summer youth work program” which encompasses the direct supervision of 4-6 young people ages 14-21 for the summer months. As testament to Sliger’s ability to get these young folks to work with him, Potomac-Garrett State Forest was recognized by the county program administrator as consistently providing the most successful ‘job site’ in the county for youth placement. Under his direction, these youth obtain valuable work experience while accomplishing a considerable amount of maintenance on the State Forest. This can be credited solely to Mr. Sliger’s leadership and his ability to get the most out of these young people. In addition, Sliger provides extended customer service to Forest visitors 24/7 during “off hours” through his residence at an operational house at the Forest headquarters location.

“Robert, Kevin and Bo truly deserve the recognition as employees of the year,” said Forestry Service Director Steve Koehn. “We believe that our peer-nomination and peer-review selection process ensures that these Awards are truly an endorsement of the outstanding contributions of these individuals to advancing the mission of the Forest Service.”

A formal recognition ceremony announcement is forthcoming.

August 24, 2009

Contact: Josh Davidsburg
410-260-8002 office I 410-507-7526 cell
jdavidsburg@dnr.state.md.us

About:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland’s forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland’s effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state’s number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov

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Annual Forest Service Awards Announced

Outdoorchannel TV

TEMECULA, Calif. –-(AmmoLand.com)- Outdoor Channel, America’s leader in outdoor TV, today announced that Senior Vice President of Marketing and Research, Denise Conroy-Galley, has been named to Class XX of the Women in Cable Telecommunications’ (WICT) 2009-2010 Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (BMLI), the industry’s flagship executive development program.

“I am honored to be among this spectacular group of female leaders,” said Conroy-Galley. “WICT has been empowering women for more than three decades, helping them develop into enduring leaders across our industry. I would like to thank WICT for their recognition and their continued support of women leaders in the cable and telecommunications industry.”

With this fellowship program, WICT recognizes the distinguished women of BMLI’s most recent classes, XX and XXI, as having displayed exemplary leadership skills; the potential to excel in executive level positions, as well as the ability to mentor others. The distinguished members are recognized for their business acumen and capacity for strategic risk.

In announcing the fellows, Laurie Root, WICT Vice President, Education and Program Development said, “Capitalizing on skills that these successful women already possess, the rigorous BMLI experience will position them to take on additional leadership responsibilities and develop solutions that address their organization’s strategic requirements and business objectives.”

Sponsored by WE tv, BMLI provides intensive, yearlong management training that creates organizational value and measurable return by effectively aligning each fellow’s operational competencies with the strategic drivers of their employers. BMLI alumnae return to their companies with enhanced leadership skills and a renewed vision of their strengths and goals, and they join other alumnae to serve as a new generation of leaders for the telecommunications industry.

About Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc.

Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. owns and operates Outdoor Channel, America’s leader in outdoor TV, and Winnercomm Inc., an Emmy Award winning production and interactive company. Outdoor Channel offers programming that captures the excitement of hunting, fishing, shooting, off-road motorsports, adventure and the Western lifestyle and can be viewed on multiple platforms including high definition, video-on-demand, as well as on a dynamic broadband website. Winnercomm Inc. is one of America’s largest and highest quality producers of live sporting events and sports series for cable and broadcast television. Winnercomm also owns and operates the patented Skycam and CableCam aerial camera systems which provide dramatic overhead camera angles for major sports events, including college and NFL football. For more information please visit www.outdoorchannel.com.

The Institute’s Founding
Established by WICT in 1993 with a generous grant from TCI’s Bob Magness and J.C. Sparkman, the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute is named in honor of one of the industry’s most charismatic leaders, a cable pioneer who combined business acumen with compassion. Betsy Magness was instrumental in transforming TCI, later AT&T Broadband and Internet Services, and now Comcast, into one of the nation’s most prominent and influential cable and telecommunication companies.

About WICT
For thirty years, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) has partnered with cable and telecommunications leaders to provide leadership programs and services, and create professional advancement opportunities for women. With over 7,800 members, WICT is the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable and telecommunications industry. Comcast, Rainbow, Time Warner Cable and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. are WICT’s 2009 Strategic Partners. The 2009 Betsy Magness Leadership Institute is presented by WE tv.

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Outdoor Channel’s Denise Conroy-Galley Honored

Ohio Division of Wildlife

COLUMBUS, OH --(AmmoLand.com)- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife was recently honored with the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) Agency of the Year Award.

Each year, QDMA recognizes a state Department of Natural Resources for its dedication to the quality deer management philosophy and the positive results it has yielded. The ODNR Division of Wildlife has realized extraordinary results from new programs it has established, as well as through continued efforts to maintain excellence in seasoned programs.

Some examples of white-tailed deer management improvements enacted last fall by the Division of Wildlife include making a reduced-cost permit available during archery season that resulted in the harvest of more antlerless deer earlier in the season, as well as the harvest of fewer bucks than in previous years. Other programs that positively affect Ohio’s deer herd include numerous controlled deer hunts, including hunts designated for people with mobility disabilities, youth and women. The goal of the hunts is to present those who do not have access to hunting an opportunity to harvest game.

“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of the ODNR Division of Wildlife, especially when you consider the caliber of programs that Ohio is competing with for this distinction,” said Mike Tonkovich, wildlife research biologist and deer project leader for the Division of Wildlife.

Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with more than 50,000 members in all 50 states and Canada, and several foreign countries. To learn more about QDMA, call 800-209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com.

About:
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

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ODNR Division of Wildlife Honored with Agency of the Year Award

BATFE

WASHINGTON, DC – -(AmmoLand.com)- Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden and Acting Director Kenneth E. Melson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recognized the accomplishment of ATF employees, along with federal, state and local law enforcement partners at the 13th Annual ATF Awards Ceremony held today.

“As a critical partner in the law enforcement community, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has earned a well-deserved reputation for getting the job done. Every detective, street cop and prosecutor knows that when ATF is called upon for help, it’s a call that will be answered,” said Ogden. “Today, we honor the individuals who embody the proud legacy of ATF, who were there when they were needed most in the face of great danger and stress. We are incredibly proud of each of these award recipients and grateful for their contributions.”

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a unique organization that has one of the most important missions of any federal agency,” said Melson. “We are the only federal agency whose number one priority is to fight violent crime. ATF employees work tirelessly at keeping America safe by removing violent criminals from neighborhoods and eliminating their source of supply of crime guns and explosives. We applaud our law enforcement partners who risk their lives and join us in the challenging work of keeping America safe.”

This year 132 awards were presented to approximately 125 recipients who were recognized for their achievements in 13 categories: Gold Star Medal; Medal of Valor; Hostile Action Award; Distinguished Service Medal; James E. Little “Concern for People” Award; Johnny A. Masengale Memorial Award; Director’s Award; Director’s Internal Award; Honor Award; ATF Lifetime Achievement Award; Lifesaving Award; Foreign Service Medal; and Employee of the Year Award.

Those honors included:

• * An agent who received the Medal of Valor for putting his life in jeopardy and saving the lives of fellow agents while working undercover on a firearms trafficking conspiracy;
• * Two employees who received the “Concern for People” Award for their donation of life-saving organs to transplant patients; and
• * Ten agents who received the Hostile Action Award for coming under direct fire by means of gunfire or explosives while performing their duties.

More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.

About:
ATF – Is a unique law enforcement agency in the United States Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.

We partner with communities, industries, law enforcement and public safety agencies to safeguard the public we serve through information sharing, training, research, and use of technology.

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ATF Recognizes Employees & Law Enforcement Partners During 13th Annual Awards Ceremony