William G. Tapply, a prolific mystery novelist, outdoor writer, sportsman and fly-angler, died Tuesday of leukemia at his Hancock, N.H., home. Following the tradition of his late father, H.G. "Tap" Tapply, he was a regular contributor to Field and Stream magazine for many years. Bill Tapply was 69. Obituary appearing in The Boston Globe.
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July 2009
July 31, 2009
Biggest yet: 17-foot, 207-pound python in S. Florida
An Okeechobee Veterinary Hospital employee used a .22 rifle to kill a 17-foot, 2-inch, 207-pound Burmese python in a ditch on the facility's property yesterday—the largest free-roaming python ever found in S. Florida. "It was a complete shock,'' said Patty Harvey, a technician at the hospital. "We see huge gators all the time being in Okeechobee, but you would never expect to see a snake this size.'' The Miami Herald.
The Outdoor Pressroom celebrating 10 years online!
It was 10 years ago today—July 31, 1999—when The Outdoor Pressroom debuted as "The Web's best resource for the outdoor writer and communicator." Hard to believe, huh? Ten years is an eternity in this fledgling medium, but we were covering and commenting on hunting, angling and the shooting sports subjects online (and anything else that caught our attention) "before blogs were called blogs." God willing, we'll still be doing it on July 31, 2019. Thanks to all for ten years of support, credit and links! Cheers!
Ruger: 2nd quarter sales up $33 million
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. reports net sales for the second quarter of 2009 of $72.4 million and earnings of 46¢ per share, compared with sales of $38.7 million and earnings of 5¢ per share in the second quarter of 2008. Additionally, for the six months ending July 4, 2009, net sales were $135.9 million, compared to net sales of $81.2 million for the same period in 2008.
NYC flintlock owner snubs Bloomberg
Michael Littlejohn, a Brooklyn, NY resident and lover of American history, stood his ground when New York City authorities insisted he must register his replica flintlock long rifle. "This is the last legal gun that you can have without registration in New York," Littlejohn told the New York Daily News. "And yet Mayor Bloomberg is driven crazy by my flintlock gun—the one that won the American Revolution." More at my Slugs & Plugs blog.
July 30, 2009
SC sales pitch: buy a boat, get a free AK
Admitting he got the idea from the Missouri auto dealer who received widespread media coverage in recent weeks, the owner of Carolina Tractor and Marine is offering a voucher for an AK-47 with any boat or tractor purchase. “We thought, ‘You know what? Every man ought to have a fishing boat, a pickup truck and a tractor and they certainly need a good gun to protect themselves and their family,” said Henry Jordan. Fox Carolina reports.
Cabela's announces 2nd quarter profit up 25%
Outdoor gear retailer Cabela's, Inc. has announced a second quarter profit increase of 25 percent, with a net income of $9.12 million, up from $7.28 million a year earlier. Same-store sales showed an increase of 6.1 percent. Reuters.
July 29, 2009
More bears bugging S. Missouri beekeepers
With a growing black bear population in parts of rural southern Missouri, the Department of Conservation is alerting beekeepers to be vigilant and to protect their investment after a Taney County farm recently lost five hives to a hungry bruin. The department currently receives about 200 bear reports a year. The Springfield News-Leader.
N. Carolina family loses 30 chickens to bears
In the past month, western N. Carolina resident Cindy Woody has lost 30 chickens to a coop-raiding, 400-pound black bear sow and its three cubs. So much for teaching her children about farming and chicken-raising--instead, they're learning lessons about bear safety. “It's a Chick-fil-A down there,” Woody said. The Asheville Citizen-Times.
RIP: Ohio's rare pink katydid taken out by wasp
The brief but dazzling celebrity enjoyed by Ohio's rare, bubblegum-pink katydid has sadly ended. Ohio Division of Wildlife's Jim McCormac, who was keeping "Pinky" in a terrarium, said the insect succumbed to a parasitic wasp that injected its eggs into the rare bug prior to its discovery at the Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area on July 12. Too bad, because now "Pinky" won't make it to the Ohio State Fair, which opens today. The Columbus Dispatch.
Female angler lands new N. Dakota record channel cat
West Fargo, ND resident Tina Willis eclipsed the state's standing channel catfish record by nearly nine pounds with her 42-pound, 1-ounce fish caught in Moon Lake last weekend. The previous N. Dakota record, which has stood since 1991, was 33-pounds, 4-ounces. Via AP.
Wisconsin wolves kill 3 more hunting dogs
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports three hunting hounds were fatally attacked by gray wolves in the past week, bringing July's total number of dogs killed by the predators to seven. Historically, bear hunters are allowed to train bear trailing dogs during summer months in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Ag Connection.
