New to the Beretta line of shotguns, comes the A400 Action. Beretta Rep Patrick Milburn goes over some of the details.
Visit us in Ketchum or online:http://store.silver-creek.com/category-s/177.htm

Silver Creek Outfitters has a special on Beretta’s SV10 Perennia III 12 gauge shotguns.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reported earlier this year that almost 15 million people bought hunting licenses in 2009, the largest figure since 2002. This is a 3.6 percent increase, which according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is the largest annual increase in hunting license sales since 1974. NSSF also says that hunting license sales increased in 24 states in the five-year period from 2005 to 2009.

Frankly, I am surprised at the numbers, because many state wildlife agencies and sporting magazines are filled with doom and gloom about the future of hunting. Among those who are worried about the future of hunting is Shane Mahoney who is a biologist, hunter, angler and internationally known lecturer on environmental and resource conservation issues. He also writes the “Conservation Corner” column for Sports Afield, and is an authority on the North American Model of Conservation. I have heard Mahoney speak, and he is indeed electrifying!

Mahoney writes that he has “argued and pleaded for two decades for a direct engagement with the general public on the merits and relevance of hunting in modern times.” He claims that public support for hunting is fragile, “weakening and headed for collapse,” and points to social and demographic trends that support this contention.

He calls for lecture tours and public forums on hunting at our universities and colleges — something that was done at Montana State University exactly 20 years ago. (I remember hearing a panel member at that symposium — a newspaper editor from back East, who said the subject of hunting “never came up in conversation” in the newsroom. That’s what we are up against in preserving hunting.)

Mahoney also suggests “breaking into the mainstream media, delivering radio and television messages on the benefits and social relevance of hunting today.” Interestingly, during the almost 14 years I worked for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, I had a four-times-a-day, seven-days-a-week radio message that was always pro-hunting and angling. The problem is most of the old cadre that I worked with have retired or been fired, and the replacement information people are largely non-hunters! Note that I also worked more than seven years for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and for a short time for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and witnessed a propensity in these agencies to hire non-hunters. This trend certainly can’t help ensure the future of hunting.

Mahoney also correctly points out that a “significant percentage” of today’s 30 million hunters will die or otherwise quit hunting during the next 20 years. He believes that “recruitment processes currently developed have little, if any, chance of replacing them.” He contends that this will have little effect on hunters who can afford to travel and hunt, but it will have more drastic implications for the hunter who hunts locally — the vast majority of hunters.

Mahoney has spoken in the past about the detrimental effects of lack of access to hunting lands, and that continues to be a problem with the future of hunting. (If you have trouble finding a place to hunt in North Dakota, for example, imagine what it is like in New Jersey or California!)

One subject I have never seen addressed by Mahoney is the onset of hunting videos, and their spawn — the endless, tasteless procession of 30-minute hunting programs on outdoor channels. If you watch these, you will find that 90 percent of them are objectionable with fist-pumping, knuckle-bumping and other locker-room-like behavior.

The shows themselves are non-stop commercials for outdoor gear, gadgetry, “scent-free” clothing, trail cameras, camouflage-everything, and food plots. A large percentage of these shows involve little more than shooting from blinds, and certainly do not depict the hunting most of us know and treasure.

As a life-long hunter, I find this rampant commercialism to be downright obnoxious. Add the unending preoccupation with trophies and the size of antlers, and the face of modern hunting appears rather odious, in spite of that 3.6 percent increase in hunting license holders.
http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/article/id/144831/group/Outdoors/

There are spectacular things all around us that can so easily go un-noticed. It has to be very calm and quite to hear the calls of migrating snow geese that pass far overhead. Equally rare that they are ever noticed amongst the busy bustle of every day life unless they are first heard, then with any luck the wavering strands of large white birds can be noticed agains a pallet of western sky. Look once and you’ll miss them. Look twice and you still might not notice, but take time to slow down and scan this time of year and soon enough they will appear. There are so many  things to be thankful for in everyday life, and for many of us the outdoor lifestyle that we live is one of those finer things in life we are grateful for this Thanksgiving.

Living at the latitude and elevation that we have here in Idaho provides us with 4 distinct seasons. Something that helps keep the year and all the outdoor activities we love constantly progressing. Months tick by like spokes in a rolling wagon wheel. Average temperatures rise and fall, and each day presents it’s own personality of weather. Just like the folks we meet, the personality of each day can be one to embrace and remember forever, or can’t seem to pass quickly enough.

One of the great aspects of bird hunting, is the bond and relationship created with our best friends. A great deal of time, money, and energy invested in training new members of the team begin to show proceeds. In his rookie season hunting chukar on the high desert, Buddy here is getting the hang things. Watching a well trained dog work the wind, and comb the hills inspecting currents of wind for the scent of birds is a thing of beauty in itself. Like layers of an onion, there are so many different aspects to successful team of upland bird hunters.

Thanks to Adam Haarberg and his GSP Buddy for the great images in this post.

Buddy is bringing back the goods. It’s not going to size up against turkey, but with a limit of birds back home and prepared to perfection it’s tough to beat. For some of us on this Thanksgiving… Chukar. It’s whats for dinner.

Crisp, fall air in late October means hunting season. This video should give you the fever if you aren’t already stricken with it!

There seem to be great numbers of large Blue Grouse this year. Get your nerves ready and reaction time set to instant if you head out in search of some. These big birds flush with thundering wings at close range. Also stay alert for stragglers, as often only one will get up, but more are close by and laying low.

Click here to view the embedded video.

1pm – 2pm Fun Shoot (call store to sign up)
2pm – 5pm Demo Shooting

Spend your afternoon with us at the Sun Valley Gun Club. Participate in our fun shoot or practice your target shooting with any demo gun in the Beretta Mobile Showroom. Dealer representatives will be on hand to show you the full line of Beretta guns and shooting accessories.

Beretta Gun Show at Silver Creek Outfitters
Saturday, September 17th • 10:00am – 4:00pm

New and used Beretta guns for sale.
Meet Beretta’s professional sales representatives.
Sliders and beer by Apple’s Bar & Grill.