August is month to celebrate shooting

In an effort to promote target shooting, August has been declared National Shooting Sports Month by the firearms industry trade association.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation developed the celebration to focus on the shooting sports community — shooting ranges, firearms retailers, manufacturers and recreational shooters, according to a statement from the Newtown, Conn.based organization.

“With so much going on in people’s lives today, the shooting sports offer an opportunity to tune out distractions, learn a new skill, socialize and share their experiences,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “It’s important to remember to pass on our traditions and to reflect on our unique freedoms that make participating in them possible.”

An estimated 50 million Americans participate in trapshooting, skeet, sporting clays and other target shooting sports, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

The events include First Shots, programs designed to provide safe, supportive learning experiences for first-time target shooters.

The NSSF also is encouraging experienced shooters to introduce family members and friends to target shooting at a local range.

A list of ranges is provided on the foundation's website.

National Shooting Sports Month also will serve as an opportunity to stress safety.

Following safe firearms handling procedures and securely storing firearms when not in use should be priorities for all target shooters, according to the NSSF.

For more about firearm safety, and other information on the August celebration, visit www.shootingsportsmonth.org.

Annual deer survey begins

Aug. 1: This year's edition of Operation Deer Watch, an annual citizen-science survey in Wisconsin, will run from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.

Data from the survey provide insights to the reproductive status of Wisconsin's deer herd for 2017 and help shape deer management for the state, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

County Deer Advisory Councils also use the data to develop recommendations for deer season frameworks, harvest quotas and permit levels.

The DNR encourages anyone interested in deer, including hunters and wildlife watchers, to take part.

Participants are asked to record all bucks, does and fawns seen during the day from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.

Daily observations can be tracked using an online tally sheet found at dnr.wi.gov.