Protection of fishing, hunting, and shooting on national forest and public lands has taken a step forward with the Senate introduction of the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act.

The Cabela's Outdoor Fund, with a mission to promote conservation and hunting, fishing, camping, boating and other outdoor sporting and recreational activities, has awarded a $225,000 grant to the Trailblazer Adventure Program

At its next meeting on Wednesday, January 25, the Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will present proposed amendments to the 2012-2013 Statewide Hunting Proclamation. It will seek permission for them to be published in the Texas Register for public comment.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, has filed a notice of appeal in response to a federal court's denial of its lawsuit challenging ATF's demand for firearm retailers to report multiple sales of certain semiautomatic rifles.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) joins the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and other partners at the 2012 SHOT Show to announce the start of a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), one of the most significant and successful partnership approaches to fish and wildlife conservation in U.S. history.

When it comes to record keeping and maintaining internal controls, firearms retailers need to "sweat the details," but the National Shooting Sports Foundation® reminds them that they don't have to go it alone.

For those of you who have pined for the Orvis shop that occupied a somewhat obscure location near MoPac and 183 a few years ago before closing its doors and taking all of its fine fly rods and sports clothing off the shelves, pine no mas. Orvis is back and in a much better and seemingly larger location.

Through its Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative (CSSI), the National Shooting Sports Foundation has awarded $299,200 in grants to 41 colleges and universities to assist in the development and expansion of shooting sports programs. Of those schools receiving assistance, 11 are in the process of developing new shooting clubs.

Here are some of the top stories we brought you in the NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert in 2011.  With what will be a critically important 2012, we must increase our efforts to ensure we're prepared to meet the great opportunities and challenges we will face next year.  We will continue to provide you with information in future Alerts to ensure our mutual success.