From the Editor

Sportsmen are America's greatest conservationists. We've all heard the declaration before. Yet in these days of decreasing wildlife habitat and increasing attacks on our hunting heritage, the words have never rung truer. The pervasive attitude of (sub)divide and conquer has sportsmen scrambling to preserve what we have. Thankfully, we were blessed with fore- fathers like Teddy Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell, Gifford Pinchot and Aldo Leopold, who recognized the value of sensible wildlife management and conserving critical habitat. They forged a conservation ethic that stands firm still, and it's our job to move things forward.

Today sportsmen do their part in a number of ways-some individually, others as members of larger groups. Our most recent survey showed that 87 percent of SSM readers are members of conservation/sportsmen's organizations. Considering such dedication, it made perfect sense to launch our new Website renewal program-"A Bonus for the Birds"-an effort that allows both you and the magazine to contribute to ongoing conservation efforts.

The premise is simple: Mailing subscription renewal notices is not only expensive (postage) but also a waste of resources (paper). By having you renew your subscription online, we'll be saving money-and we can pass on this savings to organizations that are working to preserve and manage wildlife habitat. So for a limited time, from February 1 to April 15, for each subscription renewed on our Website, we'll donate $3 to the Ruffed Grouse Society, Quail Unlimited, Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever. (Total donations will be divided equally between the four.) Simply visit www.shootingsportsman.com, click on "Subscriptions" and you're on your way to helping conserve our valuable resources-and to enjoying a great wingshooting magazine for another year.


Looking for a place to exercise your double gun this spring? There are a number of excellent shoots on the docket.

Things kick off at the end of March with the Third Annual National Side by Side Festival, at Rio Brazos Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays, near Houston. (Note: The venue recently changed from the Greater Houston Gun Club.) The shoot and exhibition will take place from March 24 to 26 and is being hosted by the Vintagers (413-339-5347; www.vintagers.org). The main event will consist of 111 sporting clays targets, and there will be gauge-specific competitions, a Helice championship, paired- and two-gun events, and a 5-Stand setup. A complete writeup appears on page 14.

A month later, from April 28 to 30, you'll want to head to North Carolina for the Seventh Annual Southern Side by side Championship & Exhibition, at Deep River Sporting Clays (919-774-7080; www.deepriver.net), near Raleigh/Durham. "The Southern" (see writeup on p. 12) has become quite popular, with its free admission to the exhibition, pig pickin' and wide variety of shooting events. (Deep River owner Bill Kempffer says he'll be updating the Championship course this year.) In particular, we've enjoyed watching the growth of the Challenge Cup-a friendly rivalry between the Parker Gun Collectors Assoc. and the L.C. Smith Collectors Assoc. -and this year we'll be sponsoring it. So break out your Elsie or Parker or whatever other side-by-side you own and head south for a good time.

Then there's the 4th Annual N.E. Pennsylvania American Side X Side Classic & Exhibition, from May 19 to 21. This mouthful of an event takes place at Hausmann's Hidden Hollow Sporting Clays (570-934-2336; www.hhhsc.net), in Middletown, Susquehanna County. The main event is open to, you guessed it, shooters of American-made side-by-sides, with the competition consisting of 60 targets on the "Hunter Clays Course." If at least five scores are registered from guns of the same make, the top five shooters using that make will have their names engraved on a plaque. There also will be a Hunter Clays Competition for various-gauge side-by-sides of any origin (American, English, Continental . . .) as well as a 5-Stand setup, flurries, wobble traps and more.

And finally, the Upper Peninsula Side-by-Side Classic will be held June 17 and 18 at the Sagola Township Sportsmen's Club, in Channing, Michigan. Shooting will include 226 targets: 120 sporting clays, 76 "flushed quail" and 30 targets in a "pigeon ring." This year there will be a ZZ-bird side event. Although "The Yooper" is a competition, the grand prize is awarded in a raffle, with a ticket given to each participant. Lewis Class prizes are given based on combined scores for all events. For more information, contact Steve Atkinson (906-360-2190; www.stsportsmen.com).

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