SHOOTING — Just in case you'd planned to take your kid out target shooting with a small-caliber rifle this weekend, you'd better have your own hoarded supply of ammunition.

Dan Hansen had that in mind when he went shopping the other day.

The photo above indicates the lack of ammo he found on the .22 caliber shelf at Cabela's.

SHOOTING — The annual Muzzleloading Arms and Pioneer Craft Show – sponsors say it's the largest show devoted to black-powder arms — will be held March 9-10 at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe.

Presented by the Cascade Mountain Men, the show will be a showcase for traditional (pre-1840) muzzle loading firearms.

Gun builders will be there giving tips on their crafts among 300 traders and exhibitors.

Even non-shooters might be interested in the leather and fur goods, Native American crafts, period clothing and camping gear, beads, art and more.

Trader info: (425) 890-7208.

SHOOTING — It's interesting if not disturbing that the discussion over guns has prompted some people among their group of circled wagons to excuse poor gun handling.

See the comments to my post regarding the photo (above) snapped at Friday's gun rights rally in Olympia.

In my experience at the Spokane Gun Club or Spokane Rifle Club, somebody would quickly step forward to correct a person for poor muzzle control. What's wrong with doing same in the media?

This woman does not know where that gun is pointing because it's behind her and out of her control. Bolt is closed. End of point.

This obervation caused some commentors to cast aspersions from their narrowly defined and propagandized vision of the media, whatever “the media” are.

But back to the point: 

Being a gun rights advocate doesn't mean you should slack off on offering reminders and enforcing points of safe gun handling with others around you, whether it's at home, in a hunting situation or at a 2nd Amendment rally. 

SHOOTING — The Spokesman-Review photo above from Friday's gun rights rally in Olympia shows an appalling lack of muzzle control, with a firearm being carried in an unsafe manner.

That lady would be booted out of my elk camp, or forced to eat my cooking as punishment.

It's a reminder that under our current system, the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms is not backed up by a requirement for responsibility or safety.

I see signs here of a poorly regulated militia.

SHOOTING — Hunters and wildlife conservation groups are finding it difficult to stay out of the nation's gun control controversies.

Even the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation felt pressure from the gun lobby to pull out of a huge sportsmen's show in the East when the show organizers prohibited exhibits by makers of AR-15 assault-style rifles.

The site of the Reed Exhibitions show in Pennsylvania is 250 miles from the site of the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Connecticut.

Click here for a localized story on RMEF and the National Wild Turkey Federation by Eric Barker of the Lewiston Tribune.

Click “continue reading” to see an Outdoor Wire industry perspective posted Jan. 25, with insight into the troubles for small outdoor businesses caused by the sportsman show boycott.

GUNS — The Valley White Elephant Store sold out its inventory of semi-automatic rifles and clips today, according to a clerk who called in the news this afternoon.

Personally, I have enough firearms. I'd rather spend more money on fishing tackle, and give teachers a raise.

SHOOTING – Another in a series of rifle marksmanship clinics is being offered at the Fernan Gun Club on July 14-15.

The clinics are sponsored by the Revolutionary War Veteran's Association’s Project Appleseed, which involves shooting instruction along with history about the impact of marksmanship in the American Revolution.

The clinic teachdes three rifleman shooting positions, use of the sling, six steps to firing the shot, natural point of aim, how to zero your rifle using inches/minutes/clicks, and more.

The project also is designed to promotes civic involvement.

Cost for the two-day clinic: Men $70, women $10,  and $5 for  youths under 21.  The clinic is free for active military, law enforcement officers, and elected officials.

Pre-register: (208) 819-0866 or email ID@appleseedinfo.org.

SHOOTING —  Girls will rule Saturday, June 9, at a Take Your Daughter to the Range Day sponsored by the Bonner County Sportsmen’s Association.

The event is set of 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Sandpoint Outdoor Range off of Baldy Mountain Road with a heavy punch of female talent to work with participants:

Kathy Konek, a Sandpoint junior rifle team coach.

Hattie (Ponti) Johnson, a former Spokanite, member of the Army Marksmanship Unit and a participant in Air rifle in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Organizers say all family members are welcome, but emphasis will be on girls age 6-18.

Association members say they give the girls an opportunity to learn to shoot .22-caliber rifles and pistols in a fun and safe environment with certified instructors and range officers on hand to help.

Guns and equipment will be provided.

Sign up in advance go guarantee a spot: (208) 266-0141, email jcmalison@gmail.com.

SHOOTING — Someone has gone to the effort of compiling video clips of shooting mishaps, including a lot of people getting thumped by high-powered guns.

Some incidents are humorous, some sad, some downright scary for the lack of thought and muzzle control.

It includes the the well publicized indicent of a firearms instructor discharging a handgun in class and several richochet near misses.

The clips also indicate that a lot of women are the butt of firearms shooting jokes, and they have the bruises and black eyes to prove it.

How archery shops are thwarting their own sport.

BOWHUNTING — From my recent interview with Ted Nugent, here's an audio clip of his rant on the archery industry and its tendency to promote high-poundage bows.

HUNTING — A landowner just emailed me photos of three toms strutting Wednesday morning.

The were about 10 feet where I plan to be sitting with my 12 gauge over my knees when Washington's wild turkey hunting season opens Friday at 5:31 a.m.

And now I'm starting to wonder if I have everything together.  License? Yep. Ammo, camo and calls? Yep. Bottle of wine for the landowner? Yep.

My shotgun is camouflaged, but if yours isn't, check out the photo above of a gun covered with Mossy Oak Graphics®  new  vinyl camouflage graphics.  Installation is easier than ever with the industry's first pre-cut shotgun camouflage kit.

Mossy Oak says the 3M™ premium cast vinyl eliminates shrinking, bubbling and peeling associated with conventional brands. You can even buy a kit to cover your pickup.

The company says the material has an industry leading seven-year durability rating.

These are the things I'm thinking about today. To heck with work.

SHOOTING — When driving down U.S. Highway 93 through Hamilton, there's no need to do a double-take when you see the sign hanging above the Radio Shack Super Store, reports the Ravalli Republic.

You read it right. Customers who buy Dish Network will be rewarded with a firearm.

“I think it really, really fits the Bitterroot Valley,” said Steve Strand, who has owned Hamilton's Radio Shack for about seven years.

Strand, along with store manager Fabian Levy, told the paper he wanted to generate more foot traffic at their location. So far, the gun giveaway has worked like a charm.

“It's been really successful,” Levy said.

OUTDOOR POLITICS — Two Associated Press news stories this week out of the Montana Legislature give sportsmen reason to pause and wonder if these are the healthiest approaches to the issues.

1. Republicans enthused by Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s recent tough talk on wolves are getting closer to using an ancient “nullification” doctrine to disregard the federal law protecting endangered and threatened species — a plan that even the governor quickly dismissed as “off base.”
2. The Montana House voted 55-45 to approve a gun rights bill that would allow people to carry concealed weapons in urban areas without a permit. House Bill 271 would allow anyone eligible for a concealed weapon permit to carry without actually applying for a permit. Law enforcement officials are very concerned. Concealed carry is already allowed in rural areas without a permit.

OUTDOOR ETHICS — During a public meeting Tuesday in Spokane attended mostly by hunters and anglers, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department Director Phil Anderson was asked why the state isn't more aggressive about killing wolves.

Anderson explained the recent federal court ruling that returned the gray wolf to the endangered species list. He said gray wolves were under federal jurisdiction at this time, leaving states few lethal control options to manage wolves.

To that, a man in the audience blurted out, “Why don’t we shoot some legislators?”

Several people gasped. Anderson stood speechless at the front of the room.

A few men quietly commented “That’s not funny,” and “You can’t say that.”

Bravo to those who didn't let it slide. 

But It seemed that one hunter should have stood up, commanded everyone’s attention, and said, “Excuse me. Before we continue, it’s important to point out that comment was deeply disrespectful to all elected officials and just as deeply offensive to anyone who calls himself a sportsman.”

More of my thoughts on this incident are in coming Saturday on the newspaper's op-ed page.

Meantime:  Your thoughts?

GUNS — A Columbia Falls High School student who inadvertently brought an unloaded rifle to school in the trunk of her car will not be expelled, the Associated Press reports.

The school board made its unanimous decision Monday night, and the 16-year-old honor student and varsity cheerleader was allowed back in class today.

The junior was suspended Dec. 1 after contraband-sniffing dogs were brought to school and she told administrators she had forgotten the rifle she put in her trunk after a weekend hunting trip.

Monday’s disciplinary hearing had to be moved to a school gymnasium to accommodate the nearly 150 people who attended, some of whom waved signs criticizing school officials’ handling of the case and decrying federal gun laws.

Dean Chisholm, the board’s vice chairman, said the incident appears to be “an unintentional act by a young lady who regrets it, who understands the policy.”