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New bill looks to alleviate Texas’ feral hog problem, but will anything…
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureThe Texas Legislature is back in session for the first time since 2017. Compared to the furor surrounding the use of poison to control the feral hog population in Texas during the last session of the legislature, things are relatively quiet regarding legislation directly related to outdoor activities this time around. However, two identical bills in the House and Senate might look interesting for residents concerned about the feral hog problem in Texas: House Bill 3550 and Senate Bill 317. Introduced by Rep. John Cyrier and Sen. Bryan Hughes, HB 3550 and SB 317 would remove the existing requirement to possess a hunting license to kill feral hogs on private land in Texas.
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A journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Steve and Diane Owens Recreation & LeisureThe Blue Ridge Parkway is a captivating roadway that continues for 469 miles into North Carolina and beyond. It is a byway into the heart of the Appalachian Mountains and a narrow, meandering ridge road of stunning scenic sights, impressive historic points of interest and exploration adventures. Soaring to the crest of the Appalachians, the drive provides vista after vista of misty mountains once explored by Daniel Boone. It is not a road to travel quickly; it is a highway of relaxation, leisure and a getaway from the stress and anxiety of our world today.
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Dog-friendly resorts, vacations are on the rise
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementOnce in a while, pet owners may yearn for a vacation that is more inclusive than simply housing them at a dog-friendly hotel. This is where tailor-made holidays for pets and pet owners come in. Some tour operators are offering a variety of custom vacations in this burgeoning niche with special tours and vacation ideas. One U.S.-based tour company, Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours, is making headlines in this regard. Like others in the niche, the company hopes to give pet lovers some different and unusual vacation options.
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Supreme Court rules on controversial Alaska waters case
Michelle R. Matisons Recreation & LeisureAfter 12 years of legal battling, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in a controversial Alaska public lands case. Sturgeon v. Frost is resolved for now, but this does not mean that the issues of federal vs. state regulations concerning Alaska's public lands, including navigable waterways, are settled. In 2007, the National Park Service confronted moose hunter John Sturgeon for hover-crafting on Alaska’s Nation River. This activity is not allowed by the NPS because of its impact on waterways, and Sturgeon reacted that he had the right to hovercraft there since the waterway is regulated by the state, not the NPS.
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7 tips to reducing recoil for the shotgun sports
Irwin Greenstein Recreation & LeisureWhen it comes to wing and clays shooting, recoil gets a bad rap — especially when it comes to new shooters. The experience goes something like this: someone hands them a shotgun with little to no instructions, gets them ready to shoot a clay target, and when "pull" is called and the trigger is pulled, some poor soul gets smacked mightily in the jaw and shoulder. There’s no getting around the causes of recoil. It comes down to immutable physics. So while recoil can't be eliminated, it can certainly be managed for a much more enjoyable and comfortable shooting experience. Here are some tips that help ensure a low-recoil experience.
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Machines, not workers wanted for Alibaba’s futuristic hotel
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAlibaba, one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world, recently debuted a new hotel prototype in Hangzhou, China, where machines provide the services. This hotel of the future is called FlyZoo. The 290-room property maximizes guest-machine interactions but minimizes guest-staff interactions. Travelers, for example, can book and check-in into a hotel room with the FlyZoo App, as many other hotels have already offered with their apps. What makes the FlyZoo App stand out is that travelers can choose the room they want to stay in, including the floor the room is on and the direction the room is facing.
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7 sensational sites for wildflower watching
Dave G. Houser Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementSpring has sprung across much of the country, and with the change in season comes an eruption of color as wildflowers burst into bloom from coast to coast. From desert valleys to grassland prairies and alpine meadows to big city parks, you’ll find them in profusion — daisies, buttercups, sunflowers, verbena, poppies and paintbrush in all their glory. Here are seven places that have been recognized by experts and ordinary wildflower watchers alike as the best flower fields in the nation.
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5 tips to improve your clays shooting
Irwin Greenstein Recreation & LeisureSporting clays is often called golf with a shotgun. In sporting clays, you ride a golf cart from station to station along a course that, in one way or another, simulates upland game-bird hunting. And like golf, sporting clays (and other clays sports such as skeet, trap and 5-stand) demands the same mental rigor, practice and discipline to improve your performance. There’s certainly no shortage of opinions and theories on the best way to become a better shotgun shooter. Still, here are five basic tips that should help with your clays games.
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3 interesting hunting ammo lines from 2019 SHOT Show
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureThe major outdoor brands traditionally unveil all sorts of new products at the SHOT Show each year. 2019 was no exception, and I’ve highlighted Winchester’s .350 Legend cartridge along with a couple of new firearms built specifically for hunters in previous articles. Today I'm covering three particularly interesting ammunition lines that were also introduced at the SHOT Show this year.
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Virginia’s picturesque Skyline Drive is for lovers
Steve and Diane Owens Recreation & LeisureIs it true when people say, "Virginia is for Lovers"? Perhaps! I believe Virginia is for anyone who admires natural beauty with rolling hills, sandy seashores and majestic mountains. It is a land that possesses hospitable colonial charm in an age that has "gone with the wind." It is a land where people appreciate the memoirs of great men who formed our republic. Old Virginia is rich in the annals of America’s most turbulent years.
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