(Columbus) – Today, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) and other national and state based groups filed a formal petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to remove the Western Great Lakes wolves from the Endangered Species List.

The petition incorporates information regarding the wolves’ population status from similar petitions filed by the Departments of Natural Resources in Minnesota and Wisconsin in March and April, 2010. This information includes population numbers of 3,000 wolves now present in Minnesota, 460-500 in Wisconsin and 430 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This is a significant increase in wolf population from the 1970s, when they were placed under Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection.

Once removed from ESA list, the wolves would still be protected under the management plans of each state.

“The numbers of wolves throughout the region have clearly recovered and it is time for the states to regain their rightful management authority,” said Rob Sexton, USSA vice president for government affairs. “Though it’s already been a long road, the USSA and our partners remain committed to ensuring that this delisting happens.”

Joining the USSA in filing the petition are the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, Dairyland Committee of Safari Club International Chapters of Wisconsin, National Wild Turkey Federation of Wisconsin, Whitetails of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Firearms Owners, Ranges, Clubs and Educators Inc.

Two previous efforts by FWS to delist the Western Great Lakes gray wolves were reversed as a result of lawsuits filed by anti-hunting groups and some procedural mistakes made by the FWS in the waning days of the Bush Administration.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

For some time now, I have been looking for a pistol load that will take deer cleanly at extended ranges. There are many choices in bottle-neck cartridges in single-shot pistols that’ll do the trick, but since my deer hunting has been limited to southern Michigan, all of them must be ruled out by law; only straight-walled cases are legal in zone III. The .357 magnum? Too wimpy. The .44 magnum? Not enough horsepower. The .45-70? Let’s get going!

First, let me define extended range: Beyond 150 yards to a maximum of 175 yards. No doubt, that’s quite a poke for most folks with any type of firearm, let alone a pistol. But, the Thompson Center Contender may be up to the task, but you’d better hang on.

Run-of-the-mill factory-produced ammo in .45-70 caliber doesn’t produce the velocity and/or lacks the aerodynamics to get the job done without lobbing the bullets into the target at such distance. Understand that any caliber can be sighted in for any range – say 175 yards – but mid-range trajectory will put a slow-moving bullet over the kill zone, which then calls for yardage estimates and varying degrees of altering the point of aim to compensate for the shot. Baloney! Plus, there’s the matter of down-range energy. If the bullet doesn’t pack enough punch when it arrives at the target (many consider 1000 foot pounds minimum), it might not expand properly and could result in less than terminal results.

That’s why I have chosen the new Barnes Tipped Triple-Shock bullets in the lightest offering of 300 grains. This new Barnes beauty is a tipped boattail design made of pure copper and the football design has three grooves cut into its circumference to minimize copper fouling by reducing the bearing surface in the barrel. I have used Barnes bullets for many years in handguns, rifles, and shotguns and have always been impressed with their 100-percent weight retention. I won’t use any bullets for deer that disintegrate upon impact like some other similarly appearing bullets do at higher velocities.

I went to the loading information from J.D. Jones of SSK Industries, the maker of my custom barrel for the light (for .45-70) bullets and set the powder scale at 54.5 grains of IMR 3031 powder. I have tested other bullets at near maximum loads in this rig and knew the gun could handle the pressure of the near-maximum load. Normally, I stay away from the real hot loads, for reasons related to safety and accuracy, but if I was going to push the load to 175 yards, it had to start off hot.

The chronograph pegged the projectile at 1670 feet-per-second (fps) and produced a whopping 1858 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Sighted in for a 150-yard zero, the bullet was at its highest point of 3.84 inches high at 75 yards and fell to 3.70 inches low at 175 yards – based on computerized ballistics. Not bad, but my preferred limits are 3-inches high or low to conform to my personal point blank parameters. However, there was still plenty of “whack-em” at 175 yards, which came in at a hefty 1029 ft-lbs of energy.

If I wanted to compromise my point-blank standards, this load has the muscle to get the job done; however, my next step will be to see if I can increase the velocity enough to flatten out the trajectory just a bit without signs of too much pressure. Options include changing powder or more powder, although there isn’t much room left for that – or changing primers. Of course, accuracy testing will be part of the experiment, too, because none of this horsepower stuff matters without real “gun control.”

Oh, yes. There’s one other annoying aspect of lighting off this hand cannon, but if I can find a chin strap for my hat, I’ll get over it.

The Natural Resources Commission has made it easier for hunters to take more antlerless deer in much of the Lower Peninsula by expanding the early and late antlerless-only hunts and easing some license restrictions.

Antrim and Oceana counties; the portion of Charlevoix County in Deer Management Unit 015; those portions of Muskegon, Mecosta, Isabella, Midland and Bay counties in Zone 2; and the portion of Arenac County east of M-65 have been added to the early antlerless-only season, Sept. 16-20.

Antrim, St. Clair, Macomb, Wayne and Monroe counties; the portion of Charlevoix County in DMU 015; and the portion of Arenac County east of M-65 have been added to the late antlerless season, Dec. 20 – Jan. 1.

The limit of antlerless licenses that hunters may purchase on one day has been raised from two to five for all DMUs in Zone 3, DMU 487 and DMU 452. In addition, the season limit of five private-land licenses in DMUs 486 and 041 has been eliminated.

Meanwhile, hunters in DMU 487 may now use a tag from a firearms license or a combination license to take an antlerless deer during firearms season.
“These changes will give hunters greater flexibility to take antlerless deer in areas where we want to increase the antlerless-deer harvest,” said Brent Rudolph the Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s deer and elk program leader. “All affected units either have deer populations in excess of our goals or include areas with disease issues or negative impacts on private property.”

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

From less than 100 yards, two deer stood and stared at us in disbelief, as Joe and I made our way to the portable blind for the May 3rd late-season turkey opener. We set our hen decoy about 22 yards away and sat with great anticipation, not knowing how the day was to unfold.

Five hours later at 10:30 am, two hens emerged from a wet, low area known to us as the safety zone. The lead hen was in no particular hurry and seemed content to forage her way in the direction of our plastic accomplice. I whispered to Joe to keep and eye out for a gobbler that I expected would follow the two to our ambush. Ol’ Tom never showed but it sure was exciting to have those hens within arm’s reach of our blind. Although we had several other hens in the vicinity that day, no gobbler showed.

For the rest of May, however, I must divide my time afield between more turkey hunting and food plot preparation. It’s a bit of a quandary, because operating a tractor and tearing up the ground takes place alongside some of our perennial legume plots, which are flourishing at the moment. Doing so, can’t be good for turkey hunting in the short term, but it’s a necessary evil for rewards later on.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of food plots this season, you’d better get going. Although farmers have caught a break with early season dryness and have planted much of their crops already, the first-time food plotter should set his sights on planting the first week of August or even next year. And, only good preparation now will make it happen.

The initial spraying of grass and weed fields should commence now. If you have a backpack sprayer, mix 2 cups of glyphosate (Roundup or generic equivalent) with 4 gallons of water; larger sprayers should be mixed in the same proportion. Then several weeks later, a second spray at half strength should kill most everything.

If you haven’t gotten a soil sample yet, it makes good sense to do so to ensure the proper nutrients are applied before seeding. (I took my soil samples to Meal and More in Morrice and they sent the samples to Michigan State for a nominal fee.) I found that my phosphorus levels were off the map, so adding more in a typical blend of fertilizer made no sense.

In most cases adding pelletized lime will help – especially if your ph level is below 6.5. The beauty of the bagged lime is that it is relatively inexpensive at less than $5.00 per 50 pounds. It is best to get it in the soil sometime before planting but it can actually be done the same day. Same goes for fertilizer.

After a light disking in July, a final spray of glyphosate is applied once the weeds begin to emerge about two weeks later. We use broadcast spreaders for lime, fertilizer, and seeding. But, if you want the best results, some type of rolling or cultipacking will improve germination rates. The rest is up to Mother Nature.

We prefer legume plots for creating a haven for turkeys in the spring, when the remnants of the previous season’s annual plots are but a memory. It’s a beautiful sight to see the lush green clover and alfalfa as soon as the snow melts. But, beware: Legume plots require maintenance, too. There’s plenty of mowing and two doses of 6-24-24 fertilizer each season. Fortunately, the cost of fertilizer has come down the past two years, but at approximately $18 per 50 pounds and 150 pounds per acre applied twice a year, legume maintenance is not as inexpensive as most do-it-yourselfers would think.

Brassica plots which include turnips, biologic, and rape don’t take as much maintenance, but they are only good for one fall and winter season. However, they pay big dividends, when the snow gets deep and other food sources get scarce.

Whatever food source you may choose, you had better get to it. And, for a tremendous reference guide, get Ed Spinazzola’s book, Ultimate Deer Food Plots. For the beginner or expert, there’s plenty of information on the subject at www.deerattraction.com.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment reminds hunters that applications for Michigan elk and bear hunting licenses are now available through June 1.

There will be 230 elk licenses and 11,742 bear hunting licenses available for the 2010 hunting seasons.

Only Michigan residents are eligible to apply for an elk license. Bear licenses are available for both residents and nonresidents; however, no more than two percent of licenses in any bear management unit will be issued to nonresidents.

Hunters can apply online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings, at any authorized license agent or at a DNRE Operations Service Center. A nonrefundable $4 fee is charged at the time of application. Hunters may purchase just one application for each species.

Applicants may call (517) 373-1263 prior to June 1 for assistance with their application and may check their drawing results online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings beginning June 21 for elk and June 28 for bear. Also see the 2010 Michigan Elk Hunting Guide and 2010 Michigan Bear Hunting Guide for more details about the application processes.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

For many, the turkey season is winding down; for others like me, the late season for private land hunters begins Monday, May 3rd – and, since last August, I have anticipated another session of hide and seek for the wily Tom. That’s when I got my hands on one of the newest and highly touted calls on the market – The Ring Zone from HS Strut.

The Ring Zone call looks like most slate calls but its surface is ceramic and boasts a scientifically proven technology to reproduce the sounds of a hen turkey – all verified by an oscilloscope. Even though I believe it more prudent to spend more time scouting than calling, this new call is sure to get at least a mild workout opening day.

Last weekend, I was afforded an opportunity to sneak to my observation post with the aid of Mother Nature’s silencing rain. Before dusk, I set up a spotting scope for detail work but relied upon the naked eye and binoculars for the task at hand. My goal was to pinpoint an area that turkeys were using to enter the destination field of perennial legumes so that I would know where to place my blind.

Movement caught my eye within minutes at 170 yards. Upon further review, however, my compact Leupold binoculars confirmed a lone sandhill crane out for breakfast. It poked and prodded its way through the spring clover and alfalfa taking full advantage of the night crawlers’ and worms’ propensity to avoid death by drowning. Had they only known it would be death by digestion, maybe they’d have stayed underground.

A distant gobble made sense of my efforts, while a menacing crow dive-bombed the feeding crane, which ducked the airborne attack. When the swooping crow landed atop a white pine, it commenced to coordinate a meeting of its brethren with a “look-here” call. Sure enough, more black demons arrived shortly thereafter and joined the slimy feeding frenzy.

While the cranes, crows, and robins gorged themselves, it made for interesting entertainment and passed the time. But I didn’t get outdoors at 5:30 am for just any bird watching; it was the elusive turkey I came to see. And, then it happened. From the southern edge of the property, a lone hen marched into view. In a double-time walk, she proceeded to cross the entire field in front of me with two other females behind her in single file. They were on a mission, never stopping for a bite and disappeared beyond view.

I had no intention of calling for practice and that’s why the myriad calling devices remained home. It doesn’t make sense to educate the quarry. I’ll do it for real when it matters.

I watched as the crane slowly lifted off and wondered how difficult it must have been with a belly full of worms. In front of God and me, two robins made robins, while those same turkey hens returned to get in on the worms’ misfortune.

With the unsuspecting crows less than 50 yards from me, I knew my motionless surveillance was good. The three turkeys – one of which was a bearded hen – were in no hurry this time. By 9:20 am, they were content to preen themselves – probably for the big guy that had yet to show.

But, that’s just fine for now, because the hunt is just beginning.

April 20, 2010

Contacts: Mary Emmons 517-241-9477 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

DNRE Announces New ‘Explore Bowhunting’ Program

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment today announced the launch of the new Explore Bowhunting program. Explore Bowhunting is an outdoor conservation education program that focuses on the interactions of people with wildlife.

The program, developed by the Archery Trade Association (ATA), teaches students how to interact with the natural world by developing the basic skills used to bowhunt, which focus on getting close to animals. Not only does Explore Bowhunting teach students how to interact with nature using ageless hunting skills, it also teaches students an appreciation of what is around them and enhances their encounters with the outdoors.

The program is designed for students ages 11-17; however this does not limit the use of the program. Adults and younger students would also enjoy this innovative curriculum.

“The Explore Bowhunting curriculum is more than a tool to teach bowhunting. It is designed to teach students how to feel comfortable in the outdoors whether the goal is to bowhunt, photograph wildlife, or interact with nature for any purpose,” said Mary Emmons, DNRE Archery
Education coordinator.

The activities within the curriculum can be used from start to finish, individually or in units to teach the basics of bowhunting or to teach students necessary skills to get close to wildlife. “However, Explore Bowhunting is not a replacement for Hunter Education or the International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP),” Emmons said.

The DNRE is currently seeking teachers, after school and recreational program leaders and others who are interested in implementing the Explore Bowhunting curriculum. Educators will be required to attend a free one-day instructor workshop prior to program implementation.

For more information on Explore Bowhunting or to register for a workshop, contact Mary Emmons at (517) 241-9477 or e-mail her at emmomsm@michigan.gov. You may also visit the DNRE website at www.michigan.gov/explorebowhunting.

GW: It would be difficult to come up with an industry that has prospered more in recent years. And, to think Obama didn’t have to give ’em any money from “his stash”. And, look at the taxes paid! An illustration of how wildlife management happens and the role sportsmen and women play.

Also, sorry about the alignment with the figures and years in the charts below, but you will be able to follow with a close look. Just couldn’t get these machines to cooperate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a Capitol Hill breakfast briefing today, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, released a newly commissioned report detailing the significant economic impact the firearms and ammunition industry has on the nation’s and each state’s economy.

Key Points: Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact
2008 2009
Jobs 166,200 183,424
Wages $6,361,205,400 $8,210,881,000
Econ Impact $19,199,634,700 $27,846,304,300

“During difficult economic times and high unemployment rates nationally, our industry actually grew and created 16,800 new, well-paying jobs,” said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. “Our industry is proud to be one of the bright spots in this economy.”

Key Points: Taxes

2008 2009
Federal Taxes $1,503,740,471 $2,035,154,440
State Taxes $1,299,088,678 $1,909,417,793
Excise Taxes $327,070,867 $450,177,780

The economic growth America’s firearms and ammunition industry experienced last year was driven by an unprecedented number of Americans choosing to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms and purchase a firearm and ammunition. This coincided with the continued decline in accidental firearm-related deaths (more than a 60 percent decrease in the last 20 years) and a continued drop in crime rates nationally.

Also cited in the economic impact report were the significant taxes paid by industry member companies to federal and state governments and the Pittman-Robertson excise tax the industry pays on the products it sells – this tax is the major source of wildlife conservation funding in America.

“In 2009 our industry increased its contribution to wildlife conservation by over 37.6 percent, which translates into sportsmen contributing more than $7.5 million dollars daily to conservation efforts,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.

“Ours is an industry with a storied past, steeped in tradition and a rich heritage,” continued Keane. “We were there at the beginning of America’s economic expansion and remain a vital and important American industry. We look forward to speaking with members of Congress today about important legislative and regulatory issues that will allow our industry members to continue to grow their businesses and create new jobs in their communities.”

At the request of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment,the Attorney General’s Office has filed an appeal of the ruling in thecase of an Otsego County man ticketed for illegally feeding deer.

A DNRE conservation officer investigated Ken Borton of Gaylord after receiving complaints from the public about Borton’s webcam showing deer frequenting his bird feeders. Borton was cited by the DNRE, and then refused to take measures to exclude the deer from the immediate vicinity.

Otsego County District Court Judge Patricia Morse dismissed the ticket on the grounds that the deer-feeding ban was “unconstitutionally vague.” The Attorney General, at the DNRE’s request, is appealing Judge Morse’s decision.

“We believe the statute is appropriate and this individual did not take reasonable measures to exclude deer from congregating at his bird feeders,” DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries said. “Research has shown that activities that cause deer to congregate exacerbate disease transmission among the deer.

“There are a variety of methods of feeding birds that discourage deer from those sites and Mr. Borton declined to pursue them,” Humphries continued. “Otsego County has had deer that have tested positive for bovine tuberculosis and we feel the health of the deer herd is paramount.”

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Last summer, I wrote about one Robert J. Stevens of Virginia whose case was headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. He had been convicted of criminal charges for producing and selling films about dogs. To be true, most Americans would find the videos repulsive in that dogs were shown fighting and being trained to help catch prey such as wild boars. He certainly did not engage in any dog fighting or any acts of animal cruelty but simply edited historic films from the 60s and 70s – some from Japan – where the activities are legal. In an 8-1 vote this past week, the United States Supreme Court upheld a Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision that voided his conviction saying it violated the First Amendment.

At the forefront against Stevens was the Humane Society of The United States (HSUS) and on the other side were people like me that sometimes take photos related to legal hunting and fishing. Of course, the HSUS is opposed to any form of hunting and fishing and did its best to portray the case as an issue of animal cruelty, but it never was. It was about the First Amendment, plain and simple.

But, here is where the issue became clouded as the law was written: 18 USC, section 48 criminalizes the interstate sale of depictions, such as video, in which “a living animal is intentionally maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded, or killed, if such conduct is illegal under Federal law or the law of the State in which the creation, sale, or possession takes place.” That’s some crazy stuff! If I were to have taken a photo of the killing of an animal during a legal hunt in Shiawassee County and it found its way to San Fransisco, where such hunting was illegal, I could have been found guilty of a federal felony crime.

Along with fellow member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), I signed on to an Amicus Curiae brief in opposition to the stance of HSUS’ and our overzealous government. On my side was the National Rifle Association, The Cato Institute, The ACLU, National Coalition of Censorship, American Society of Media Photographers, First Amendment Lawyer’s Association and a host of others.

“POMA is grateful to the Court for this important decision,” said Laurie Lee Dovey, POMA’s executive director. “The First Amendment rights of traditional outdoor sports journalists, those who cover legal hunting and fishing and promote the enjoyment of these American heritage sports, are protected. The impact of this decision on POMA members, all journalists, and the outdoor industry can not be overstated.”

“Mr. Stevens is pleased and extremely grateful for the Supreme Court’s thoughtful consideration of his case and the decision vindicating his right, and that of all other Americans, to speak freely and to educate the public,” said Robert Steven’s attorney Patricia Millett. “Acts of animal cruelty are abhorrent and rightly condemned. Laws banning such conduct remain fully protected, as they should be. But we cannot forget how critical the free flow of information is to educating the public about the problems of animal cruelty and the need for legislative and prosecutorial action to combat it.

“The Court’s decision today is a victory not just for Mr. Stevens but also for all others who write about , photograph, and film the lives of animals in order to educate the public about lawful activities like hunting and fishing, animal conservation issues, and the lives of wild, endangered, and little known species,” Millett added. “Today the Supreme Court reinforced the protections for all who document the lives of animals and the many people who, like him, are fighting to end the mistreatment of animals and want to be able to tell the animals’ stories without fear of imprisonment or censorship. Mr. Stevens is particularly grateful to the leadership POMA showed in filing an influential amicus brief with the Supreme Court, which the Supreme Court relied upon in its decision.”

So get out there, hunt, fish and take videos and photos and share them with anyone you choose. It’s as American as free speech and the Supreme Court says so.