Even though most of the country is still in the grip of scorching temperatures, hunters already are thinking about early season hunting opportunities. Taking a hunter safety course at hunter-ed.com or bowhunter-ed.com is a great way to prepare for bowhunting and early season dove, duck and goose hunting.

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.

"The new waterfowl migration map is the perfect combination of cutting-edge technology and word-of-mouth communication among duck hunters," said Anthony Jones, DU's Director of Internet Services.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Tom Vilsack, recently announced that USDA will offer an opportunity for general enrollment of lands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) later this year.

Another exciting season of Women on Target(r) Hunting Excursions is about to begin. Women hunters with experience ranging from first-timer s to the most seasoned of veterans are provided with the opportunity to have a unique and enjoyable hunting adventure.

Every organization looks for stability during tough times, and it's reassuring for a nonprofit organization to remain strong through tremulous economic times. While these economic conditions were felt by everyone, including Ducks Unlimited, our science-based decisions have steered the course, and our conservation mission has continued.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed continuation of liberal hunting season lengths for the upcoming 2009-2010 late waterfowl seasons.

Another exciting season of Women on Target Hunting Excursions is about to begin. Women hunters with experience ranging from first-timers to the most seasoned of veterans are provided with the opportunity to have a unique and enjoyable hunting adventure.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), proposed in an earlier document to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2009–10 hunting season.

With work on stimulus and appropriations funding bills completed, members of Congress are turning their attention to conservation initiatives as a series of new bills were introduced early this month.  These bills, impacting duck stamps, mining law and open space conservation, are the most recent packages brought forward in a Congress that appears to be prioritizing environment and conservation-related legislation.  Each bill will face the long legislative process, which means they are a long way from being enacted, reports the Wildlife Management Institute, but simply having the bills introduced in Congress is an important first step.