Category: Hunting

Defeat the Cold with Fish Monkey

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Ice fishing is one of the world’s truly extreme sports. It’s great fun and there is plenty of action, not to mention the good times and camaraderie shared by those who participate in this winter activity. In order to be safe and successful you need the right gear, and it starts with a good pair of gloves.

Most anglers just grab a pair of heavy insulated work gloves, but fishing requires more. You need a glove that’s not only waterproof but also one that has the dexterity to allow you to manipulate small rods and reels easily. One that can go from driving a snow machine or side by side to drilling an auger to baiting tiny hooks. Meet the cold-weather glove lineup from Fish Monkey.

First up is the Stealth Sherpa Dry-Tec Heavyweight Gloves and Mittens. These are 100 percent wind- and waterproof, but even more important, they are constructed with a durable water repellent finish. Read more

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation to Present Oral Arguments in CDC Puppy Ban Case

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This Thursday, Dec. 19, the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (SAF) will present oral arguments in support of its request to preliminarily enjoin recent dog-import restrictions imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

SAF sued CDC in August 2024 to rescind a rule restricting the importation of dogs into the United States. Shortly after suing CDC, SAF filed a motion for preliminary injunction. The CDC opposed that motion, and SAF answered with additional arguments and a reaffirmed commitment to holding CDC accountable for its overreach.

The CDC rule illegally restricts the import of puppies from countries that have been determined to be free of dog rabies or those that are at low risk of introducing dog rabies. Specifically, the rule requires a puppy to be at least six months of age and microchipped to enter (or reenter) the United States.

If granted, the preliminary injunction would pause implementation of the rule’s restrictions on puppy imports and reentries from rabies-free or low-risk countries until the court makes a final decision on the lawfulness of the rulemaking. A preliminary injunction is just the first, but necessary, step in protecting the interests of our members. Hunters and sporting dog owners are harmed by the rule’s restrictions – our members are having hunts, trials and plans for welcoming new puppies into their families interrupted or stopped altogether because of the CDC’s overreach. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

Michigan Deer Hunting Opportunities This Week, Dec. 16-22

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Late antlerless firearm deer season

  • Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, on public and private lands ONLY in the Lower Peninsula.
  • See page 9 of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for a map of open deer management units.
  • During this season, a hunter may harvest an antlerless deer with an unused single deer license (including the license issued through the Mentored Hunting Program), deer combo license (regular and/or restricted tags), universal antlerless license or deer management assistance permit if issued for the area/land where hunting.

Archery deer season (late segment)

  • Now through Jan. 1, 2025, statewide on public and private land.
  • Changes to antlerless harvest have occurred in the Upper Peninsula. Antlerless hunting with archery equipment on the single deer license and deer combo license is prohibited after Dec. 10 for units 027, 036, 152, 252, 021, 349, 249, 017, 117 and 149. Antlered hunting with archery equipment can continue through Jan. 1 in these units. See page 14 of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for the Upper Peninsula antler point restrictions chart.

Harvest reporting

    • Deer hunters are required to report a successful harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer (to another person, a processer or taxidermist).
    • Reporting your harvest takes about three minutes and provides critical information for managing Michigan’s deer herd.

Read more

Hunting

Michigan Lame-Duck Democrats to Make Hunters Pay More

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LANSING, MI – For the first time in at least a decade, fees associated with hunting, fishing and boating will most likely jump in Michigan.

Democrats are looking to shore up the state Department of Natural Resources’ budget in the weeks before the close of the hectic lame duck session when they lose their governing trifecta. They’re proposing increasing the cost of boat registration fees and hunting and fishing licenses — in some cases more than 50%.  More here…

In a nutshell, here are the proposed increases, which have already passed committee:

(3) The fee for a base license is as follows:

(a) Subject to subdivision (b), for a resident, $10.00 to$15.00.

(b) For a resident minor child or nonresident minor child, $5.00 to $8.00.

 (c) for a nonresident, $150.00 to $163.00.

Can’t wait for the Democrats ouster in the next session of the legislature…GW

Hunting

Boone and Crockett Club Announces Decision to Create New Big Game Records Category for Javelina

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The Boone and Crockett Club announced today that it will be creating a new category in its big game records for javelina (collared peccary, Pecari tajacu), the first new category created since 2001. The proposal to include a new big game category for javelina was brought forward to B&C’s Big Game Records committee by a working group made up of wildlife managers from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico as well as other hunting conservation groups. Last week, the Committee voted unanimously on the proposal during the Club’s annual meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. That vote is the first step in the process, which will now require creating specific measuring protocols and establishment of minimum scores.

“The decision to add javelina as a trophy species was years in the making and reflects not only the growing appreciation for the species among hunters and wildlife managers, but can bring conservation benefits to javelina and the places it lives,” says Mike Opitz, chair of the Club’s Big Game Records Committee.

The Boone and Crockett Club has been measuring North American big game since 1895 with the original vision for the records program to create a record of what was thought to be the vanishing big game in the country. The big game record book, Records of North American Big Game, was first published in 1932 and serves as a vital record of biological, harvest, and location data on hunter-taken and found trophies based on the principle that the existence of mature, male specimens is an indicator of overall population and habitat health. While often misunderstood, this vision of a “trophy” is not to celebrate the success of a hunter but rather the success of conservation efforts and selective hunting that leads to the presence of larger, older animals on the landscape.

In the proposal’s introduction, the agencies wrote: “Collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), also known locally as javelina, are an important big game animal in the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are managed alongside other big game species, including requirements that hunters follow all regulations in pursuit of the animal across all jurisdictions. This is the first step in taking an animal under the “fair chase” ethic; a concept that originated with the Boone and Crockett Club. Read more

Hunting

Lottery open for chance to hunt bison on Blackfeet Reservation, Montana

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HELENA – Hunters have until Dec. 22 to purchase lottery chances for a guided bison hunt on the Blackfeet Reservation. The drawing will be held on Dec. 23. The lottery is a way FWP partners with the Blackfeet Tribe to demonstrate a shared commitment to managing fish and wildlife across the state and to facilitate hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities.

The lottery is open to all hunters – tribal members, nonmembers, Montana residents and nonresidents. Chances are $10 each, and hunters can purchase up to 20 chances. At least 400 bison chances need to be sold or the winner pays $500. Successful hunters can keep the bison’s head, hide and meat.

To enter the drawing, go to fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply. Lottery opportunities can also be purchased at a license provider or an FWP office. For more information, contact the Blackfeet Fish and Game office at 406-338-7207.

Hunting

Ohio’s 2024 Weeklong Deer Gun Hunting Season Results

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Ohio hunters checked 87,192 white-tailed deer during the weeklong gun season that concluded on Sunday, Dec. 8, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This is the highest total since 2011 (90,282). In 2023, hunters reported 70,103 deer during the seven-day gun season, and the three-year average is 70,806.

During the deer gun week, hunters checked 28,606 antlered deer (33% of the total reported) and 58,586 antlerless deer (67%). Antlerless deer includes does and button bucks.

The top 10 counties for deer taken during the gun season were: Read more

Hunting

Last Call: Enter to Win a Trophy Mule Deer Hunt in Alberta

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Last chance to enter for your chance to win a 6-day guided trophy mule deer hunt in Alberta. Hunt features a fully guided six-day experience with Trust the Land Outfitters during the rut, taking place from November 3-8, 2025.

The hunt will take place on private land in the foothills of Southern Alberta. The package also includes a cabin equipped with all amenities and delicious home-cooked meals. With an entry of just $20, you could secure an exciting hunt trip while also supporting SCI Foundation’s vital wildlife conservation work. Enter today at https://bit.ly/muledeersweeps.

The last day to enter is December 9th at Midnight MST time.

Contests, Hunting

POMA Updates Membership Categories

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The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) is excited to announce that it has updated its membership categories to better reflect current outdoor media.

Membership in POMA affords a wide range of benefits. From exclusive networking opportunities, to membership directories, to high-level business education, POMA services are primarily focused on helping members build and grow their businesses and keep pace with new media and technology.

“POMA has simplified our membership categories to better serve our media members,” said POMA President Kevin Reese. “As outdoor media has evolved, including social media and gig work, it’s important that we reevaluate our criteria and categories to stay current and inclusive across a broader spectrum of communication platforms.”

Updated Media Membership categories include: Read more

Fishing, Hunting

End of General Hunting Season Brings Low Mule Deer Harvest, Hunter Success in South-Central Montana

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Montana’s general big game hunting season ended on Sunday, Dec. 1. In south-central Montana, biological game check stations operated on both Saturday and Sunday in Big Timber, Columbus, Lavina and Billings. Hunters in the region experienced mild, sunny weather with some wind.

Success rates for hunters over the last weekend were below average for all check stations and were some of the lowest on record for three of the four check stations. At three of the four check stations in the region, cumulative mule deer harvest for the season was the lowest on record.

Throughout the season, a total of 4,400 hunters visited the 4 check stations in the region with 451 total harvested mule deer, 398 total white-tailed deer, 271 total elk and 54 total antelope. The general antelope season closed Nov. 10. Read more

Hunting
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