The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, sending the most significant collection of conservation measures to come before Congress in a quarter of a century to President Obama for his signature.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. is now offering discounts for Hunter Education Instructors for 2009 and has announced its committed sponsorship of both Hunter's Handbook and the Hunter and Shooting Sports Education Journal. All of these tools support the Hunter Education network and are integral in effectively communicating safety in the outdoors as well as perpetuation of the sport.

The new Sport 600 laser rangefinder from Bushnell offers performance and value for hunters and shooters. With an operational range of 5 to 800 yards, it's perfect for bow or rifle hunters. It offers versatility and ease of operation in a vertical format and provides accurate distance readings in both yards or meters.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has stepped up in a big way to help save a portion of the nation's most important waterfowl breeding grounds by contributing $285,200 to Ducks Unlimited's "Rescue the Duck Factory" campaign.

Try to imagine life in Texas without cattle, farm-to-market roads, trout and redfish.   It’s an odd combination of omissions to ponder, but there is a connection that leads to former Gov. Dolph Briscoe, this year’s Rotary Club of Corpus Christi Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationist of the year, a distinction that labels him a man for all seasons.

Out on the sun-baked landscape that passes for Rio Grande turkey habitat today, wild turkeys are doing all the things turkeys are supposed to do in the spring.

By a margin of 77-20, The U.S. Senate voted for a second time yesterday to approve the Omnibus Public Land Protection Act of 2009-a collection of bills vital to sportsmen and women from coast to coast.

Weaver Optics announces the unveiling of a new website at www.weaveroptics.com. This contemporary site design makes the user experience simpler and more informative, while integrating the rings, bases and mounting systems long trusted by hunters and shooters to hold their optics tight.

Stoney Point introduces the new Scissor Stix, a lightweight monopod staff that easily converts to a bipod and steady shooting rest. Hunters and shooters will appreciate the simple, yet innovative design of the Scissor Stix that serves as a hiking staff when closed and a shooting rest when open.

Okay, okay, before you peg me as a purist who thinks all baiters are slobs, hear me out. If you watch a spin feeder or camp near a pile of sugar beets, I’m not going to attack your character or question your allegiance to the flag. But I do think that if you gave up the bait, we’d all be better off.