Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
The last arrow has been launched for the 2024-25 Arkansas deer hunting season, and the tally of checked deer stands at 199,863. Although the raw data still needs to be analyzed, the preliminary results indicate an increase of nearly 4 percent over last year’s final harvest of 192,392. Read more
Harvest statistics released by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department show overall hunter success during the 2024 season was 100% for bighorn sheep, 92% for moose and 64% for elk.
The department issued six bighorn sheep licenses and auctioned one. All seven hunters harvested bighorn rams.
The department issued 238 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 229 hunters harvested 210 animals – 125 bulls and 85 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit follows: Read more
Check your drawing results for the spring turkey hunting season online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app or by calling 517-284-9453.
If successfully drawn, you can purchase licenses online, in the app or over the counter at a license agent.
If you applied for a license but were not drawn – mark your calendars! Hunters who were unsuccessful in the drawing can purchase a leftover license Monday, March 10, at 10 a.m.
Remaining leftover turkey licenses will go on sale to everyone Monday, March 17, at 10 a.m. Licenses are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no guarantee that leftover licenses will be available for any hunt unit.
Please note: Licenses purchased online through eLicense will be mailed to you in seven to 10 business days.
Hunt 0234
Licenses for Hunt 0234 will also go on sale March 17 at 10 a.m. This is a statewide, guaranteed spring turkey license that does not require an application in the drawing. The season dates are May 3-31. With the Hunt 0234 license, you can hunt on:
When Nathan Miller entered the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Super Tag raffle, he didn’t expect to win. Not only did Miller win, he won the ultimate prize.
The 38-year-old from Thermopolis won the Super Tag Trifecta, which means Miller will have the opportunity to purchase three separate licenses for species that include: bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mountain goat, mule deer or white-tailed deer, wild bison, pronghorn, mountain lion, gray wolf and black bear. Lifetime limits and waiting periods do not apply, and hunters keep their preference points.
Miller and the other Super Tag winners were notified in mid-February.
“I’m still in disbelief. That stuff never happens to anybody, but especially to a person like me,” Miller said. “It’s surreal. It doesn’t really seem real. Nobody buys into the trifecta expecting to win it. I assumed I just donated my money.” Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)
It’s been a few years since I was inclined to play hide and seek with the wild turkeys; it’s not that we don’t have ‘em. In fact, the very number of them has been my personal issue: It just wouldn’t seem much like hunting because they’ve become so prevalent.
Heck, back in the ‘70s I camped out in Montmorency County all alone and on my toes by 4am. Never got a bird. I did take a shot at a tom with a Spanish made side-by-side double barrel shotgun but didn’t connect. Sure was a thrill, though.
Years had passed when near the home front in Shiawassee County, I spotted an irregular figure far off on a piece of agricultural land and did a double-take. I couldn’t make it out but I already had it in my mind that it was a turkey. A quick trip home to get my binocular to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. Dang turkey, sure enough!
Since then, the birds have been doing what birds (and bees) always do. So, now we have our good ol’ days, thanks to the efforts of sportsmen and women. Although the experiences from 50 years ago are gone, I have new reason to get back in the blind: a great grandson, who has obtained his Hunter Safety certificate and expressed an interest in turkey hunting. Let’s do this.
While back in the day we used stout loads of 5 or 6-shot from large, shoulder-bruising 12-gauge shotguns, it’s no longer a necessary form of punishment on both ends of a smoothbore. Enter the .410 bore shotgun – a new favorite of hunters of all ages and sizes. How is this possible? It’s the TSS ammo.
I’ve got two 10-round boxes on the way and both are among the Apex line in 9 ½ shot size. Yes, the cost is an astronomical $8 per pop, but with a bit of resourcefulness and judicious use, smart practice can minimize the expense. Simply sight in with some less expensive ammo first and get the adjustments refined before switching to the TSS fodder.
Like it or not, I don’t have a modern .410 bore shotgun that’s worth a hoot. After purchasing a cheap Landor model .410, I wish I hadn’t bit that bullet. The trigger is the worst ever! In fact, it’s so stiff, my great grandson had to strain to get it to fire and that doesn’t make for good shooting. Enter an old favorite of mine: a 70 year-old J.C. Higgins model 101.25 (made by Stevens) bolt action smoothbore with a fixed-full choke. I was concerned about bore damage, but after conferring with the folks at Apex Ammunition, the word was to “shoot it.” So, here we go.
I’ll make sure to post results on this site (www.thinkingafield) and on my YouTube channel at Glen Wunderlich as soon as we get some fair weather here in Mid-Michigan.
Bear ID course is available online and must be completed before bear hunting.
Effective Jan. 1, anyone hunting black bears in Idaho must show proof that they have passed a bear identification test to help them differentiate between grizzly bears and black bears. Both grizzly bears and black bears reside in portions of Idaho, so it is important to know their physical differences. Grizzlies are federally protected in Idaho, so there is no hunting season for them.
Brush up on your bear ID before taking the test
There are several physical features that can help you tell the difference between grizzly bears and black bears. No one feature alone should be used to determine which species of bear it is. Rather, a combination of features is most useful. Color and size are not reliable indicators. Read more
As we transition from winter, keep in mind that spring is right around the corner and with it comes one of our most highly anticipated times of the entire year: spring turkey season. Here are a few key tips for success with that big tom gobbler this year.
Camouflaging your hands is critical for success with sharp-eyed spring birds, but it’s even more important to maintain a solid grip on your equipment while easily and safely operating the trigger or arrow release. Having the right gear is a key part of any successful hunt.
Start the season with the Sneaky Pete, for those mild conditions where concealment and dexterity are key factors. This half-finger glove has a second skin fit for precise control, with a synthetic leather palm for hand protection. This available in one of the best camouflage patterns in the world—Mossy Oak Bottomland—as well as Marsh Camo.
And when you need a functional base layer for versatility to beat the cold in changing conditions or the day calls for a lightweight concealment option, Monkey Hands is your glove. This one has second skin fit and brushed interior finish for added warmth to work well as a base glove and non-slip silicone palms for superior grip when worn on its own. There are slit openings in the index finger and thumb for added dexterity when you need it the most. And it’s also available in Mossy Oak Bottomland as well as Marsh Camo and standard black. Read more
High fences, canned shoots, and Frankendeer have no place in Fair Chase hunting.
There has always been more to hunting than killing. Hunting is skill, tradition, conservation, and ethics. It’s pulling on frozen boots at dawn above the treeline. It’s feeling the wind shift on the nape of your neck and watching the herd disappear into the next county. It’s enjoying a pack of Gummi Bears with a grandchild around a warming fire. And, on occasion, hunting does mean killing.
As different hunting practices and modern technology intersect with tradition, the very definition of hunting is challenged, forcing hunters to confront difficult questions about Fair Chase, wildlife management, and the public perception of our beloved pastime.
Registration for the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) Annual Meeting is now open. POMA’s 2025 Annual Meeting will be held at Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center, hosted by Destination Toledo. The annual gathering of the nation’s top outdoor journalists and supporting outdoor companies will kick off early Monday morning, June 23, and conclude Wednesday evening, June 25.
POMA’s Annual Meeting is open to all media, brands and businesses, regardless of membership status in the organization. Registration is $250 per attendee. A spouse/partner can be added for $185. All meals and transportation during the event are included.
Event highlights include:
Lodging is available on-site at the Maumee Bay Lodge. Use group code 10B9TI to book at our discounted rate. The nearest airport is the Toledo Express Airport (TOL); however, it offers limited service. We recommend flying in and out of the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW).
Media members can register here. POMA corporate partners can register here.
Questions about POMA’s Annual Meeting can be directed to Admin@ProfessionalOutdoorMedia.org.
About Professional Outdoor Media Association
The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) is a member-based organization that fosters excellence in communications at all levels. Its goal is to help members build their businesses, connect media and industry, promote fair and honest communication of traditional outdoor sports and conservation stories and mentor the next generation of traditional outdoor sports communicators.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Spika Hickey, POMA Communications Specialist
For the second straight year, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Umarex Big Squirrel Challenge broke attendance records with 186 teams weighing squirrels at one of 12 weigh-in stations across the state.
“We had four locations with more than 20 teams participating this year,” Eric Maynard, AGFC assistant chief of education, said. “Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center in Yellville had 37 teams show up for the event.”
Maynard said he’s excited about the continued growth of the event and sees possibilities to expand it even more with the addition of a “gray squirrel only” category in the future.
“We split the categories into youth teams and adult teams weighing either all fox squirrels or mixed bags that must include at least one gray squirrel,” Maynard said. “This year we just didn’t have that many bags of all fox squirrels weighed in. In fact, four of the 12 weigh-in stations didn’t have a three-squirrel limit of fox squirrels turned in.” Read more