whitetail - ThinkingAfield.org

Meeting on Proposed Southern Michigan Deer Antler Point Restrictions

May 31, 2013 Glen Wunderlich

GW: This is the first I’ve heard about this proposal. Sounds good!

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today advised the public that a local organization will hold an informational meeting regarding a proposed deer antler point restriction (APR) on June 4 at the East Lansing High School.

A group known as the Lower Peninsula Deer Management Initiative (LPDMI) has proposed a four-point APR for all of Zone 3 in southern Michigan. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife antler point restriction, deer, deer hunting, michigan deer hunting, southern zone, whitetail, Zone III

Whitetail Fawn Killers Studied in Michigan

April 3, 2012

In an ongoing study by Mississippi State University in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, much has been learned about whitetail fawn mortality. Yes, weather is a factor, and so are wolves, but the number one killer of fawns is here…

Hunting, Wildlife bobcats, coyotes, fawn, fawns, mississippi state university, upper peninsula, whitetail, wolves

Michigan Record Buck with Crossbow

April 2, 2012

Thirty years of hunting have been rewarded with a record-book buck for Brad Burton, who used a Horton crossbow to take a bruiser. More here with photo.

Hunting brad burton, buck, horton crossbow, Hunting, record, whitetail

Michigan Deer Management Needs to be Changed

February 19, 2012

By Glen Wunderlich

An interesting analysis of this past deer hunting season has been released by the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). Contained in it are comparisons from 36 states in our eastern half of the country. It’s time to assess how Michigan’s deer management stacks up with our neighbors.

QDMA’s 2012 Whitetail Report shows that the majority of hunters had a better season than last year relative to antlered buck harvest (bucks 1 ½ years or older.) In fact, 54 percent of the states saw more bucks taken. When it comes to sheer numbers, Michigan ranks Read more

Hunting antlerless deer, qdma, quality deer management, quality deer management association, whitetail, yearling bucks, yearlings

Minnesota DNR Saves Two Whitetail Bucks from Death

January 7, 2012

Minnesota wildlife officials saved two whitetail bucks recently but it’s how they did it that’s interesting. There was no way to hog tie them and saw the antlers off, so they shot them – at least their antlers. Their actions are explained here…

Wildlife deer, dnr, Minnesota, whitetail

Poachers Cheat Sportsmen

December 18, 2011

By Glen Wunderlich

Jeff Kerr of Lapeer County is famous – for all the wrong reasons. When he chose to hunt deer without a hunting license, he chose to become a poacher. And, when he killed a trophy whitetail buck, he began to live a lie that will follow him wherever he goes.

Kerr shot a trophy 13-point buck after his hunting buddy missed, claiming “…I couldn’t let it go…” Actually, he could have let it go, but he chose to complicate his life when he pulled the trigger. If he ever wanted notoriety, he sure got it; the story of this cheat is all over America.

He ended the lie when he fessed up to conservation officer, Ken Kovach, but it doesn’t change the image captured of a cheater posing for photos in the back of his pickup truck.

For a fee of $15 he rolled the dice. He must have thought the odds of getting caught were slim to none. And, they probably were. He weighed risk versus reward, when he made the decision to cheat the system. Oh, but what a tangled web we weave…

The point of all this Read more

Hunting, Poachers cheaters, deer, poachers, trophy buck, whitetail

Powerless on Last Day of Deer Season

November 30, 2011

By Glen Wunderlich

This is already shaping up as a special day. Our first snow of the year and it’s a substantial one. I had planned to hunt on this our final firearms season day for whitetail (although late seasons are coming), so I had prepared to get up early. Not this early, though.

Seems the heavy dose of snow brought down some power lines and we have no power in this part of Shiawassee County. Off to the garage at 3:45 am for the generator. It must have taken me 15 minutes to get it through the snow to the hookup area. Gotta have that juice with the outdoor furnace and underground water lines.

For now, it’s off to the shower and off to the woods. Snowplowing will have to wait.

Hunting deer season, whitetail

Opening Day Success

November 15, 2011

Opening day began with fog heavy enough to severly limit sight lines for the first hour or so.

Mid-Michigan Opening Day Fog

But Joe Reynolds was able to hear an approaching deer but the fog was cover enough for the whitetail to vanish. Within a short time, however, the healty 8-pointer gave Joe a quartering-to-him angle, and the 325-grain tipped Barnes put the whammy on the opening-morning buck, penetrating well over 14 inches, breaking ribs in and out, and exiting. The mortally wounded deer lived for about 5 seconds after the pull of the trigger.

Joe Reynold's Opening-Day 8-Point Buck

So, now it’s on to day two.

Hunting barnes, deer hunting, joe reynolds, Opening Day, whitetail

Hunting Memories from Afield

November 13, 2011

By Glen Wunderlich

Firearms deer season opens Tuesday and hundreds of thousands of hopeful hunters will depart to all corners of Michigan in search of the elusive whitetail. Some will travel hundreds of miles, and some will remain close to home. But, all will be making memories that last long after the season ends. Looking back over four decades of deer hunting, here are some recollections of hunts past. Read more

Hunting commercial forest land, deer season, iron county, upper peninsula, whitetail