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In This Issue:
USA Best Shot Photo Contest
 Sometimes our best shots are taken not with a shotgun or rifle but with a camera. That’s why the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is excited to announce the USA Best Shot monthly photo contest. Submit your favorite hunting, fishing or outdoor photo to the USA, and you could win an American made #110 Buck knife engraved with the USA logo on
the blade, valued at $70.
You may submit one or more photo per month, which will be judged on quality, creativity, content and composition. Submitted photos will be used to build a USA member photo gallery in the coming months and may be featured in the USA e-newsletter, newspaper and other promotional materials.
WAYS TO ENTER:
By E-Mail
1. Attach your digital photo(s) in an email as a jpeg file
2. Include "Photo Contest" in the subject line
3. Include your Name/Address/Phone Number in your email
4. Submit your photo(s) to: USAmembers@trcp.org
By Mail
1. Mail your printed photo(s) to:
USA - Best Shot Photo Contest
3340 Perimeter Hill Drive
Nashville, TN 37211
2. Include your Name/Address/Phone Number
Photos will not be returned. By submitting a photo, you acknowledge that you have read and agreed to the following contest rules.
USA BEST SHOT PHOTO CONTEST RULES
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All New Season of TRCP’s Life in the Open
 If you have dreamed of heading far north to hunt migrating caribou on the wide-open arctic tundra or cast for brook trout upon waters that may never have seen a fly, do not miss the season premiere of TRCP’s Life in the Open on Saturday, October 4 at 12 p.m. Eastern on VERSUS Country.
Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, TRCP’s Life in the Open explores today’s pressing fish and wildlife issues, while taking you to some of the best hunting and fishing destinations that are also accessible and affordable to hardworking American hunters and anglers.
Join host Ken Barrett each week as he transports you from your living room into the wild to pursue fast-flying birds, stealthy big game and aggressive fish in inspiring destinations across the United States and beyond. Discover how you could hunt wild, free-ranging bison on public lands in Montana or match muscle with world-class Alaskan fish on the cheap.
Other adventures this season will feature ducks in Uruguay, whitetails in Illinois, elk in Colorado, mule deer in Wyoming, an old fashion squirrel hunt in south Georgia, and lots more. There is something for every hunter and angler this season on TRCP’s Life in the Open.
Click here for the season schedule. Find VERSUS Country on your TV dial.
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Hunt USA Website to Win $100 at Bass Pro Shops
 With big game season just around the corner, set your sights on a pre-season trophy—a $100 Bass Pro Shops gift card for that hunting, fishing or outdoor gear you’ve been needing. The USA website is a great place to stay up-to-date on the latest hunting, fishing and conservation news; new USA deals and discounts; and special promotions and opportunities. Plus, the USA forums offer you a place to connect with fellow union hunters and anglers across North American to share stories and photos, ask questions, get feedback on gear and much more.
To encourage you take advantage of the USA website and member forums, we’re sending you on an exclusive USA hunt. For this hunt, you won’t need camouflage, a hunting vest or even patience. All you need is a computer, a keen eye and a bit of luck. Send us the correct answers to all the questions below, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card to Bass Pro Shops.
Deadline to Enter: October 15, 2008
The winner will be chosen on October 17, 2008
To Participate:
Number your answers in the body of an email or in an attached Word document and submit to USAmembers@trcp.org.
Answers to the following questions can be found on the USA website (www.UnionSportsmen.org). Answers to questions 4 and 5 can be found on the member forums, which can be accessed from the MEMBER button on the homepage.
- Name the union that assembles Corwin Knives’ Original Rifle Stock Hunting Knife at a discount of $50 to USA members.
- Visit the USA e-newsletter archives from the right side of the USA homepage and name the program the USA launched in the July e-Newsletter.
- MyTopo offers a speical deal to USA members. How much does a 1-year subscription to MyTopo Map Pass digital mapping service cost USA members?
- Name one of the Member Businesses posted on the USA forums.
- From the Hunting Discussion section of the forums, click on the Big Game Discussion. How much does it cost to apply online for a Kentucky elk quota hunt?
Good Luck and Happy Hunting with the USA!
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SMWIA Gun Winner Promotes Gun Safety
 Jim Bowman, a hardworking member of SMWIA Local 10 in Maplewood, MN, is an avid fisherman and pheasant hunter. So he joined the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance at a recent SMWIA conference in Knoxville, TN to connect with other union sportsmen who share his outdoor interests. Bowman got a lot more than he expected from his new membership when he was drawn as the lucky winner of a U.S. made Beretta American Citizen shotgun as part of the USA’s gun raffle at the event. But Bowman hasn’t always been so lucky.
“Two years ago, during a pheasant hunt with friends and family, I was picking up a pheasant at the end of a corn field,” explained Bowman. “My gun was extended with the safety on, but my jacket was unbuttoned, so I was struggling to get the bird inside my jacket. I knew the rest of the party was waiting for me, so I quickly stuffed the bird into my jacket, bringing the gun barrel directly under my bicep. Suddenly, my rambunctious Labrador jumped up from underneath, pushed in the safety and hit the trigger.”
Bowman let his guard down for a matter of seconds, but that’s all it took. “I’m probably one of the safest hunters I know, but I made an unsafe decision,” said Bowman. “I lost two inches of bone and almost all the muscle, and my arm remains paralyzed until the nerves grow back. I am just getting strength and feeling back after almost two years.”
“One of the greatest benefits of the USA is being able to talk to other members about fishing and hunting trips, and I just want to remind all my fellow union sportsmen and women to slow down and take the time to be safe both on the job and in the field,” said Bowman.
With strength returning to his arm, Bowman recently booked a pheasant hunting trip for the day after Thanksgiving and looks forward to the opportunity to use his brand new Beretta gun.
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Why Are Wetlands Important Anyway?
 “Ask the people of New Orleans how important they are. The loss of coastal wetlands, which would absorb some of the surge, are a big part of the reason storm surges from hurricanes create so much damage inland. Factor in the critters that need that habitat to survive, and I think wetlands are pretty special,” said Brett Graham, a member of IAMAW Local 839.
If you’re a hunter or angler, you’re aware of the vital impact our nation’s wetlands have on fish and wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities. Wetlands are among the most diverse ecosystems supporting countless plant, animal and aquatic species. Alarmingly, we lose roughly 80,000 acres of these natural wetlands every year to development, urban sprawl, agricultural production and other land uses.
 “Wetlands are an important system to wildlife, a refuge away from the ever intruding humans. Around Atlanta, the wetlands are being filled in for homes and businesses. The deer and other wildlife now have to seek living arrangements elsewhere. They move into the residential areas and are hit by cars or trapped on fences,” said Michael Strickland, a member of SMWIA Local 85.
While everyone depends on wetlands for clean drinking water, avid waterfowlers have a recreational interest in the health of the areas that support waterfowl populations. One such area, known as the “Duck Factory” of North America, is found in the prairie pothole region of the upper Midwest. Between five and seven million waterfowl use this area for resting and feeding each year, and it’s estimated that 50%-70% of our continent’s duck population depends on the prairie pothole region.
“Some of my best and most cherished memories are directly related to wetlands and the bounty that springs forth from them each year as the waterfowl begin their migration to warmer climates. I have learned how closely related wetland habitat and waterfowl production are and realize the importance of preservig these areas,” said Brad Cummings, a member of IAFF Local 3234.
But the importance of wetlands goes far beyond the value they have for duck hunting. Anglers too know that these areas provide the critical shelter, food supply, spawning areas and nurseries for a wide variety of marine and freshwater fish species. In fact, nine of every 10 fish caught by American recreational anglers are tied to wetlands for some part of their life cycle.
As sportsmen, we should all care about how these vital areas are protected. Wetlands are now more vulnerable than ever due to Supreme Court decisions in recent years that have redefined wetlands and stripped away many of the federal protections that once existed under the Clean Water Act. As a result, it is now easier for our wetlands to be polluted, drained, filled or paved. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates than roughly 20 million acres of wetlands that were once protected under the Clean Water Act are now vulnerable.
TRCP and sportsmen everywhere are leading the charge to restore the protections for wetlands. Their “We Are Wetlands” campaign seeks to educate all citizens on the important need to protect our wetlands and will send a petition to elected officials in Washington next year urging them to act. The goal: 80,000 signatures – one for every acre of wetlands we will lose this year.
Learn more about the TRCP’s efforts to preserve our hunting and fishing opportunities through wetlands protection at www.WeAreWetlands.org.
 “As the landscape of North America continues to change at the hand of man, those species that are dependent on wetlands change also,” said Cummings. “That’s why it is so important for organizations like the TRCP to be a voice in government to promote and support efforts to protect our wetlands and open space. As one who enjoys the bounty of our wetlands, I hope others will realize the widespread importance of wetlands and support the TRCP as it supports sportsmen and the many undisturbed lands and waters we rely on.”
Email your thoughts about wetlands to: USAmembers@trcp.org
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Join the USA ProStaff Team
 The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is seeking a few good sportsmen and sportswomen for its ProStaff team. If you’re dedicated to the union fellowship and enjoy talking about hunting and fishing with others, you may be just the person for the job. Equipped with organizing tools and the latest hunting and fishing gear, ProStaff members spread the word about the USA and recruit new members by making presentations at union local meetings and events.
As they help to grow North America’s premier hunting and fishing club for union members, ProStaff also earn USA Bucks, which can be redeemed for prizes. ProStaffers earn one USA buck per USA membership they bring in. Fifty USA Bucks equal a $50 gift certificate to Cabela’s, Gander Mountain or Bass Pro Shops, while 250 USA Bucks can be redeemed for a Beretta, Benelli or Remington firearm.
If you want to play a key role in shaping the future of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, please contact Amy Napoli at anapoli@trcp.org.
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 The USA is a union-dedicated hunting and fishing program of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), a coalition of conservation organizations, labor unions and individuals working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.
This year, on the 150th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of the hunter, Rough Rider and president who paved the way for conservation in America.
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