Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

QDMA Provides Recommended Practices for Deer Hunters in CWD Zones

A lab technician with Michigan DNR prepares
to collect a sample from a hunter-harvested
deer taken in Michigan’s CWD outbreak zone. Photo by Anna Mittlerling, QDMA/MUCC.
ATHENS, GA (February 24, 2016) – To answer the concerns of deer hunters in areas affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD), QDMA has compiled recommend practices and answers to frequently asked questions in a free document that can be downloaded and easily distributed in affected communities.
“Michigan recently became the newest state to detect CWD in wild whitetails, and our members in and near Michigan’s CWD zone asked us for guidance on how they should adjust deer management goals now that they are faced with a CWD outbreak,” said Kip Adams, QDMA’s Director of Education & Outreach and a certified wildlife biologist. “We compiled our advice in a new document that can be used and shared by hunters in any area affected by this serious disease.”
To help refine the recommendations, QDMA first conferred with experts from multiple organizations, including the CWD Alliance and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center. QDMA’s State Advisory Council in Michigan assisted by gathering questions and concerns from affected QDMA members. The resulting document helps answer the most common questions, such as:
  • Should we discourage the use of food plots in CWD management zones?
  • Should we increase harvest pressure on young bucks where CWD is an issue?
  • Are healthy deer less susceptible to CWD?
  • How can QDM Cooperatives help?
  • Should I eat the venison from deer harvested in a CWD management zone?
“The document is also useful for hunters who are not yet affected by CWD so that they understand how they will be impacted should the disease arrive in their area,” said Adams. “It’s urgent that all hunters focus on preventing CWD from spreading into new areas.”
QDMA’s brochure “CWD: Recommended Practices for Deer Hunters” is available as a free PDF. Visit QDMA.com, click on the Resources menu, and select the Free Downloads page.
Direct link to PDF:
Important Note: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is often confused with other major deer diseases, especially hemorrhagic disease (which includes EHD and bluetongue virus). Click here to review the differences between CWD and EHD.
Hunting, Wildlife

DNR releases update on health of Michigan’s forest land

Michigan’s approximately 20 million acres of forest land play a key role in the state’s recreation, forest products and other important industries, and the health of those forests is essential to sustaining this vital resource for many generations. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has released its 2015 Forest Health Highlights report, an overview of Michigan’s forests, the insects and diseases that have threatened them over the past year, and details about what is being done to improve the state’s urban and rural forests.

2015 Forest Health Highlights report cover The report breaks down forest health threats by examining insects and diseases, forest decline and ongoing forest health research. Accompanying photos and maps illustrate the pests and show the effects they have had on Michigan’s forest system.

Among the highlights in the report are the DNR’s efforts to control oak wilt, a serious disease that threatens Michigan’s extensive red oak resource. In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, tens of thousands of feet of root graft barriers have been created on state forest land. These barriers prevent oak wilt from moving to healthy oak trees. Read more

Wildlife

RMEF Seeks Michigan Regional Director

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a non-profit wildlife habitat conservation organization, seeks a performance motivated team player with strong interpersonal skills to engage and manage volunteer activities, event fundraising and major gift fundraising in Michigan. BS/equivalent degree and five years of experience in business, marketing, and fundraising required. Volunteer management experience and a pro-hunting background are critical attributes. Extensive weekday and weekend travel required. Email cover letter and resume to jobs@rmef.org. Closes March 4th. RMEF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Read more

Wildlife

HSUS’s America: Where Wolves Eat Family Pets?

This from humanewatch.org…

A wolf in Duluth, Minnesota, brutally attacked and killed a family’s dog last week, and if the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has its way, we can only assume incidents like this are going to happen a lot more often.

Terry Irvin was walking his dog Leo, an 11-year-old retriever-corgi mix, along a wooded trail near Lake Superior – something he does two or three times a week – and decided to let the dog off its leash. Irvin told the Star Tribune he got a little bit ahead of the dog and waited around for him to come, but the dog never made it.

After about five minutes went by, Irvin turned around and went to look for Leo. “I walked into the woods, and I saw him,” Irvin told the paper. “It was a traumatic sight. I will never forget it. … It was heartbreaking.” Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

2015 Mexican wolf population survey, more work to be done but strategy remains viable

PHOENIX — The Mexican wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) has completed the annual year-end population survey, documenting a minimum of 97 Mexican wolves in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico at the end of 2015. At the end of 2014, 110 wild wolves were counted.

“These latest population numbers demonstrate we still have more work to do in stabilizing this experimental population and maximizing its anticipated contribution to Mexican wolf recovery,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Southwest Regional Director Benjamin Tuggle. “While disconcerting, the drop in numbers represents just one year and our strategy for the experimental population continues to be viable. The Service and our partners remain focused and committed to making this population genetically healthy and robust so that it can contribute to the recovery of the Mexican wolf in the future. We all understand the challenges we face as we try to increase the wild population of this endangered species.”

The population decline in 2015 is due to a combination of factors:
There were 13 Mexican wolf mortalities compared to 11 in 2014. Of these 13 mortalities, nine were females and four were males.    Eleven additional wolves are considered fate unknown compared to three in 2014.   A significantly lower proportion of pups survived to December, relative to last year: 55 percent survival in 2015 compared to high 86 percent in 2014.
“We cannot be certain if this abrupt decline is an anomaly, as our trends since 2010 had been more encouraging prior to this year, including a 30 percent growth in 2014,” said Sherry Barrett, the Service’s Mexican wolf recovery coordinator. “Although there are many dynamics that may have contributed to this year’s count results, we will carefully analyze the contributing factors to try to actively reverse this decline.” Read more

Wildlife

Reframing Trophy Hunting

Hijacked by anti-hunters, the term ‘trophy hunting’ has taken on a negative connotation in society – it’s time to take it back. Here’s a start to reframing the trophy-hunting discussion with non-hunters.

Defining a Trophy

When news anchors and the general public throw the term ‘trophy hunting’ around, they’re usually speaking in a very broad sense that assaults their emotions and is an affront to almost everything that modern, regulated hunters and hunting represents. The term is a misnomer, but they don’t even realize it.

A trophy is a very personal thing. For some just killing an animal to eat is reward enough. For others, a mature animal that is more wary is the goal. Still, for others, a very specific animal, or at least one meeting very high standards, is the ultimate goal.

This is all dependent upon the person, their skill level and experience in hunting (see infographic: “Evolution of a Hunter”), as well as understanding of the species they’re targeting.   A trophy is a crowning achievement for an individual. Period.

What it’s not

The popular myth of trophy hunting is that it’s simply hubristic killing by hunters for display upon a wall – which is only done for a head, hide or horns. The underlying belief is that the rest of the animal is left where it died and goes to waste.

This is the perception anti-hunters have created, and which they are framing hunters every chance they get. From “Cecil” the lion in Zimbabwe, Africa, to the proposed black-bear hunt under protest in Florida, anti-hunting activists and organizations cry ‘trophy hunt’ to convey what they believe is the senseless killing of animals – without regard to the associated science, management and ecosystem-wide benefits.

It’s an effective tactic that resonates with the public quickly. Those two words immediately generate an affront to the public’s sensibilities, and creates another hurdle we have to overcome to maintain scientific, and not emotional, management of our flora and fauna.

What it is

The fact is, what animal-rights’ activists portray is not just an affront to the public’s sensibilities, the waste of an animal is a disgrace to the sensibilities of a hunter, as well. When it comes to a ‘trophy hunt,’ two points often overlooked by outraged activists, the media and the public include:  A hunting season is not state-sanctioned slaughter. Every state has wanton waste laws that mandate the harvest and use of meat, hides or other body parts to ensure that the animal is not just wasted, and that the number of individuals taken is in accord with the supporting habitat and predator-prey balance of the area.

evan_regularA ‘trophy’ animal and its use as table fare are not mutually exclusive. An animal can be a specimen worthy of both taxidermy and the table.

A trophy hunter is simply someone who has placed self-imposed restrictions upon themselves that go above and beyond what’s dictated by the state. They are more selective, and will pass on younger animals, often those barely reaching the minimum standard, in a deeply personal pursuit to further challenge their skills and learn as much as possible about the prey they pursue. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

DNR monitors waterfowl populations from the sky

ducks seen in aerial waterfowl surveyDepartment of Natural Resources wildlife staff members recently took to the sky in small aircraft to observe and count ducks, geese and swans on southeast Michigan’s waterways. They observed 157,028 ducks, 33,468 geese and 5,896 swans in the 2016 survey.

In the 2015 survey, observers counted 173,386 ducks, 20,350 geese and 4,365 swans. Goose and swan observations increased in 2016, while duck observations were down about 9 percent.

“The ducks were spread out this year with the mild winter and all the open water,” said Joe Robison, field operations manager for the DNR Wildlife Division’s Southeast Region.  “We did not count as many ducks in this year’s survey, but we believe that duck abundance is similar to last year.”

Since 1991, the state of Michigan has cooperated with other states, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canadian provinces and the Canadian Wildlife Service in conducting aerial surveys of wintering ducks and geese. This survey is commonly referred to as the Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey. Read more

Wildlife

Fear Not the Plot!

So-called “candy crops” like oats, winter peas, or brassicas (beets, rapes, turnips, etc.) are highly attractive and palatable to deer, and are great choices for hunting plots. Jason Campbell photo.

Planning your first wildlife food plot? Follow a few key steps for food plot success.

By Josh Lantz

Few hunters have degrees in horticulture. So when the average deer hunter decides it’s time to up his or her game by putting in a food plot, the process can seem overwhelming.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Follow a few key steps for food plot success. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Online Video: Prescribed Fire: The Number One Tool For Better Hunting

The GrowingDeer.tv team is busy with what is probably the number one way to make most hunting properties more attractive to deer and turkey. Watch as they prepare to manage timber and native grass using prescribed fire. Plus: the team shares their new practice techniques for bow hunting turkeys. Stay tuned to the end for new details about the Spring Field Day event on April 1 – 2 at The Proving Grounds. For more information or to register go to this link: http://www.growingdeer.tv/view/jsk0 Read more

Wildlife

Clean Bird Feeders Help Keep Birds Healthy


MONTPELIER, Vt. –Vermont Fish & Wildlife says if you are feeding birds that it’s important to clean those feeders on a regular basis so your feathered visitors don’t become sick.”Feeding birds in the winter is a source of great enjoyment for bird enthusiasts, but it can also cause diseases to spread quickly among wild birds,” says John Buck, the state’s lead biologist on migratory birds. “It is critical to clean those birdfeeders at least once a month in order to prevent a buildup of harmful pathogens.”

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can cause diseases such as aspergillosis, salmonella, avian pox, trichomoniasis, andconjunctivitis. Species commonly affected by bird feeder diseases are redpolls, pine siskins, goldfinches, sparrows, and cardinals.

Buck recommends using a solution of one part bleach to nine parts hot water to kill bacteria. Hot water with unscented dish detergent also does an excellent job. Wear rubber gloves to avoid any contamination. Be sure to clean inside and outside surfaces. Bottle brushes work well in tube feeders. Read more

Wildlife
1 … 174 175 176 177 178 … 333