From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - More than 170,000 pounds of donated venison goes to food pantries statewide

Madison, Wisconsin - An increasing number of hunters and meat processors from all around the state donated their deer and volunteered their time to provide venison to people in need in 2012.

More than 3,000 deer were donated through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources deer donation program, which were then processed and distributed to food pantries statewide.

Participation in the donation program was up 8 percent over 2011, likely a result of increased hunter turnout.

More on donations from Wisconsin's deer hunters in 2012 ...

Hunt winner writes about once in a lifetime trip to New Zealand from Friends of NRA

Fairfax, Virginia - Last fall the Central Coast Friends of NRA, based in Newport, Oregon, auctioned off a New Zealand hunting trip during its annual banquet. The winner, Chris Vukasovich, recently returned from from the land of the long white cloud and wrote the NRA a nice letter about his Red Stag hunt.

Dear Sir:

I would like to take this opportunity to comment on a hunting trip I purchased at a Friends of NRA banquet here in Newport, OR. It was a Red Stag hunt in New Zealand provided by Central South Island Hunting. Gary Oakes is the owner/outfitter and I can’t recommend him highly enough.

More on New Zealand hunting with Friends of NRA...

From the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - More Turkey Hunters Successful on Ohio's Opening Day

Columbus, Ohio – For the opening day of Ohio’s 2013 spring wild turkey season, hunters harvested 2,762 wild turkeys, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The 2013 opening day total is a 24 percent increase from the 2012 opening day tally when 2,227 turkeys were killed.

This year, Ashtabula County had the most checked wild turkeys of the opening day with 114 turkeys. Ashtabula County also had the largest number of turkeys harvested during the 2012 opening day.

Ohio’s spring turkey season began Monday, April 22, and closes Sunday, May 19. The spring turkey season is open statewide except for Lake La Su An Wildlife Area in Williams County. Find more information in the 2012-2013 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, available where licenses are sold, and at wildohio.com.

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From the New York Department of Environmental Conservation - 2012 Deer Harvest Results Are Up From Last Year

NY Open for Hunting and Fishing Increased Hunting Opportunities

Hunters harvested approximately 243,000 deer during the 2012-13 hunting seasons, about 6 percent more than were taken the previous year, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

"Deer hunting is a long-standing tradition in New York, providing shared recreation and a valuable source of food for many families," said Commissioner Martens. "Governor Cuomo's NY Open for Hunting and Fishing initiative expands hunting opportunities statewide for sportsmen and sportswomen for the growing population of deer. This past year's deer take reflects these efforts as well as deer population growth throughout much of the state."

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United States' increased interest in firearms leads to growth of NRA programs.

Fairfax, Virginia - Americans' interest in firearms has seen a surge in popularity over the past five years. More people are getting involved with the shooting sports, personal safety and hunting than ever before. And to help everyone from beginners to experienced firearms enthusiasts fully enjoy their Second Amendment rights are 178 NRA programs.

Places where we've seen the most growth are in our popular courses like NRA Basic Pistol and the female-focused Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, designed to introduce citizens to firearms. You can't teach these courses without being a Certified Firearms Instructor or supervising safe shooting activities unless you're a Range Safety Officer.

More on how NRA programs are growing ...

From the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department - Spring Season Looks Good for N.H. Turkey Hunters

Concord, New Hampshire - It should be a good spring season for New Hampshire’s turkey hunters, says New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Turkey Biologist Ted Walski. The spring gobbler season opens Friday, May 3, and runs through Friday, May 31, statewide. New Hampshire's Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend occurs the weekend before the season opens, this year taking place on April 27-28, 2013.

See a new 3-minute video about turkey hunting in New Hampshire at huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_turkey.htm.

Longtime Fish and Game Turkey Biologist Ted Walski predicts a good turkey harvest this spring, in the range of 4,000 gobblers. New Hampshire saw a relatively good hatch of young turkeys last summer, followed by a fairly easy winter.

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From the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources - West Virginia’s Spring Gobbler Season Opens April 22, 2013

South Charleston, West Virginia - The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources encourages all spring gobbler hunters to get their turkey calls out and tuned up in preparation for the upcoming season opener. The four-week season begins Monday, April 22, and closes on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Hunters may kill only one bearded turkey per day and are allowed two per season.

“Unlike 2012, when spring green-up came early, this year winter is still hanging on and very few trees have leaves out yet,” according to Curtis I. Taylor, chief of the Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section. “Therefore, the late appearance of spring will likely increase the distance hunters can hear a gobbler. However, the peak of gobbling occurs near the end of April or early May as hens go to incubate their clutches, so hunters shouldn’t be surprised if they hear more birds at that time. Gobblers will also be more willing to come to calls once hens have gone to incubate their clutches so hunters should continue hunting as the season progresses.

More on the start of West Virginia's turkey season ...

From the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department - Fish and Wildlife Department Makes Grant Money Available to Shooting Ranges

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is continuing a grant program that increases access to safe places to shoot.

The grant is available for shooting clubs, sportsmen’s groups and government agencies involved in the operation of shooting ranges and archery ranges. Applicants have until 4:30 p.m. on May 15, 2013 to submit applications. The funding period is Fiscal Year 2014, which runs from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

The Shooting Range Improvement Grant Program was developed to encourage shooting ranges to make improvements and enhance their safety and operation. “Increased range opportunities encourage hunters to become more proficient with firearms and promote safe and responsible gun handling,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry.

Projects eligible for funding include shooting range development, noise abatement structures, safety berms, shooting pads and stations, and road and parking lot improvement. Grant money can be also used for lead mitigation measures.

The Fish & Wildlife Department anticipates making a total of $80,000 available this year. These funds are derived from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program, which is funded from Federal excise taxes on hunting, shooting and fishing equipment. Grant recipients are required to provide 25 percent of project funding, which may come from an ‘in-kind’ funding match such as volunteer labor or donations.

A range receiving one of these grants must provide at least 20 hours of public use per week when in operation and the facility must be made available at reasonable times for hunter education courses.

For further information or to download an application packet, visit the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department website at www.vtfishandwildlife.com. Click on “Hunting and Trapping,” and then on “Shooting Ranges in Vermont.” You may also contact Chris Saunders, Hunter Education Coordinator, at 802-828-1193.

From the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife - 2013 Turkey Season Opens April 22, Youth Day is April 20

The arrival of spring is eagerly anticipated by turkey hunters anxious for the beginning of New Jersey's Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season. This year's regular season kicks off on Monday, April 22, and runs for five weeks. Turkey populations are restored statewide, and hunters can enjoy some of the finest turkey hunting on the East Coast right here in the Garden State.

Spring turkey hunting continues to grow in popularity and it's easy to see why. The tranquility of being in the pre-dawn and early morning forest coupled with the adrenaline surge caused by turkeys gobbling from the roost and on the ground provides an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience. If you have never tried spring turkey hunting, or have been away from it for a while, why not get outside this year and give it a try. Be aware though, that once you do you will more than likely get hooked on the experience!

YOUTH DAY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 20

More on New Jersey's Spring Turkey Season ...