The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced on Thursday, July 7, 2011, a proposed rule to regulate the take of three endangered exotic antelope species – the scimitar-horned oryx, dama gazelle, and addax.  The FWS was required to issue this proposed rule as a result of a 2009 order from the federal court.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a proposed rule to eliminate the 'special rule' enacted in 2005 that allowed the purchase, sale, breeding and other management activities for U.S. captive herds of the Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax and Dama Gazelle.

More Americans are planning vacations this summer, approximately 86 percent (three percent higher than 2010) according to a recent TripAdvisory survey, with the nation's waterways serving as prime destinations.

Legislation introduced this week in Congress could axe what has amounted to federal subsidies for environmental extremist and animal rights groups making big business out of suing the U.S. government.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, calls the 3.6 percent rise in paid hunting license holders for 2009 one of the most encouraging signs for hunting in recent years.

To the dismay of the Brady Campaign and other gun ban groups, President Barack Obama didn’t address gun control during his State of the Union address on January 25^th. However, Newsweek reports that “in the next two weeks, the White House will unveil a new gun-control effort,” and that the White House confirms, “Obama will address the gun issue in a separate speech, likely early next month.”

For the second year in a row, a record-low 44 percent of Americans say laws governing the sale of firearms should be made more strict, while 42 percent say gun laws should be kept as they are now, according to Gallup's annual Crime Poll, conducted Oct. 7-10 this year.

PRIMAL VANTAGE HAS EXPANDED ITS RECALL of plastic tree steps due to a fall hazard.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the Ameristep, announced on October 27, 2010, a voluntary recall of the Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Step.  Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Hunting is proving to be recession-proof.  Nationwide, spending on hunting gear is soaring, says the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which tracks hunting trends.

According to USA Today, 37 million Americans (one in eight) received emergency food aid in 2009--up 46% from 2005. In view of these dire statistics, SCIF Humanitarian Services once again sends a big “thank you!” to all the SCI chapters and individuals who helped make the 2009 season a great success for the Sportsmen Against HungerTM program. Total reported poundage as of publication deadline was 415,039 pounds, representing 1,660,156 meals.