The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is considering a proposal to allow bear hunting on Bois Blanc Island in Mackinac County by removing the existing prohibition.

The hunting ban was established in May 1985 by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. The prohibition was presented as a commissioner amendment and available NRC records do not provide a rationale behind its adoption.

Bois Blanc Island is located within the Newberry Bear Management Unit (BMU). Outside of state-run parks, recreation areas and safety zones near developed areas, Bois Blanc Island is the only location within a BMU where state law prohibits bear hunting. Other species can be hunted on the island, including deer, small game and waterfowl. The DNR manages 10,300 acres of the 23,700-acre island.

The proposal would allow bear hunting on state-owned land. Bear hunting on private land would require the landowner’s permission.

The DNR is seeking public input on the proposal. Send comments to Cody Norton, DNR bear and furbearer specialist, at nortonc3@michigan.gov.

Any hunting proposal would require NRC approval.

Learn more about bear hunting in the DNR’s 2026 bear hunting regulations summary.

Sabudawn Safaris will continue as a Whitetails Unlimited national sponsor, announced WTU President Jeff Schinkten. “Sabudawn Safaris is dedicated to quality, and their knowledgeable, experienced team excels at planning exceptional African safari experiences,” said Schinkten. “They handle travel and lodging logistics, allowing customers to focus on enjoying the hunt of a lifetime. We’re excited to continue our relationship with Sabudawn Safaris.”

Sabudawn Safaris is a full service “Safaris and Tours” operations. They specialize in coordinating travel arrangements for individuals and groups that will take care of all logistics like accommodations, transfers, air charters, touring, and all safaris for you. They are independent and can book and plan the itinerary to suit their customers’ needs. The team at Sabudawn, from the office staff, lodge staff, hunting professionals, skinners, and trackers, are all dedicated to making your hunting experience in Southern Africa a memorable one. To see all the activities there are to experience or a list of the animals you can hunt, go to sabudawnsafaris.co.za.

About Whitetails Unlimited: Since our beginning in 1982, Whitetails Unlimited has remained true to its mission and has made great strides in the field of conservation. Thanks to more than 475 chapters, 120,000-plus members, chapter volunteers, and corporate sponsors, Whitetails Unlimited has earned the reputation of being the nation’s premier organization dedicating its resources to the betterment of the white-tailed deer and its environment. Our mission is to raise funds in support of educational programs, wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition, and preservation of the shooting sports and hunting tradition for future generations. To date, Whitetails Unlimited has expended more than $159.3 million on program services and activities that continue to enhance, and ultimately foster, our mission. Stay connected with us: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, WTU Website

July 30, 2026

Increased costs, reduced staffing result in changes for fall 2026 season

Decreasing revenues, increasing costs from inflation and years of deferred maintenance on critical infrastructure have prompted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to adjust hours at four managed waterfowl areas this fall.

The change will mean fewer daily draw opportunities for hunters. Reserved hunts will continue as planned, and all changes will take effect after the 2026 duck season opening weekends.

“We have shielded our managed waterfowl areas from the impact of budget constraints over the last several years because of the value of these places, but we can’t afford to do that anymore,” DNR Director Scott Bowen said. “Highly engaged hunting communities often help steward these areas, and their contributions have driven our commitment to maintain services at a time of revenue declines. However, the truth is that we can no longer sustain the same amount of service with reduced staffing levels statewide.” Read more

AGFC Wildlife Biologist Tristan Bulice has been working and monitoring this field at Shirey Bay Rainey Brake all summer for the dove opener. AGFC photo.

Although summer heat is in full swing across The Natural State, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission staff are already paving the way for the kickoff to fall. Applications for AGFC permit-based dove fields open Saturday, Aug. 1, and will close Saturday, Aug. 15.

Most WMA-based dove fields are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A few managed spots, however, draw enough interest that the AGFC manages them through an online draw to reduce conflicts and increase the quality of the hunt for those hunters who win a permit.

Draw locations for opening weekend feature a combination of traditional sunflowers and top-sown wheat:

• Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA: 38 acres of sunflowers
• Dave Donaldson Black River WMA: 15 acres of sunflowers
• Lake Conway WMA (formerly known as Camp Robinson Special Use Area): 35 acres of top-sown wheat across multiple smaller fields
• Frog Bayou WMA: 20 acres of top-sown wheat

Hunters can apply online through the AGFC licensing portal under the “Controlled Hunt Permits” tab. A nonrefundable $5 application fee covers third-party administration costs.

Dove hunting is the unofficial kickoff to fall hunting seasons. AGFC photo.

To maximize access, applicants must select either Saturday or Sunday for their hunt. Permit holders can bring one guest, provided the guest remains with the permit holder. Both hunters are permitted their own full daily bag limit.

Brett Leach, AGFC Waterfowl Program coordinator, says applicants may want to consider the day they apply for as well as the field.

“The second day usually won’t have as much action, but your odds of drawing are usually better for the Sunday hunt,” Leach said. “Also, the sunflower fields are always more popular for good reason; they work really well to attract doves and they last a much longer time,” Leach said. “Top-sown wheat can be great, but if you get a rain right before the hunt, it can germinate and lose its appeal to doves.”

Bulice shows the size of the sunflower heads that will be producing excellent seed sources for mourning dove as they migrate through Arkansas in a month. AGFC photo.

Leach explains that top-sown wheat fields essentially serve two purposes: as a long-term source of browse for deer and other wildlife as green vegetation in winter, and as a short-term boost of energy for migrating doves when the seeds are on top of the ground.

All permitted fields will open to hunting on a first-come, first-served basis the Monday after opening weekend and be available throughout dove season.

“You may be able to find a few doves on these areas, especially the sunflower fields, after opening weekend, but after opening weekend, we don’t see many hunters using the areas,” Leach said.

Leach said there are many other fields being prepared on WMAs for people who don’t want to apply or do not draw one of these controlled hunt fields. Most of these fields will be prepared with top-sown wheat. A list of those fields will become available in the weeks leading to the dove opener at www.agfc.com/dove.

The 2026-27 Arkansas dove season is Sept. 5-Oct. 25, 2026, and Dec. 8, 2026-Jan. 15, 2027. The daily bag limit for mourning dove and white-winged dove is 15, with a possession limit of 45. There is no daily bag limit or possession limit for Eurasian collared dove, but all Eurasian collared doves must remain fully feathered for identification purposes while in the field and during transport from the field. Dove hunters 16 and older must have a valid Arkansas hunting license and must register with the Harvest Information Program. Visit www.agfc.com/license to apply for a dove hunt today.

Safari Club International (SCI) welcomes companion interim final rules from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security and the Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, which modernize export regulations and reduce unnecessary burdens on law-abiding hunters, sportsmen, and firearm owners traveling internationally.

The rules, which do not go into effect until November 20, 2026, transfer jurisdiction over certain suppressors from the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to Commerce’s Export Administration Regulations and expand eligibility for export license exceptions applicable to temporary travel and lawful sporting activities. Under the rules, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may temporarily take eligible suppressors abroad for legitimate hunting, sporting, scientific, and personal protection purposes without navigating the more burdensome licensing requirements previously associated with ITAR-controlled exports. Commerce will regulate suppressors as “parts” of the firearms they accompany, and U.S. hunters will travel with suppressors under the same exception as those firearms.

“SCI strongly supports policies that remove unnecessary regulatory barriers for law-abiding hunters while maintaining appropriate national security safeguards,” said Jeff Meyerl, President of SCI. “The rules recognize that suppressors are valuable hearing-protection devices and that responsible hunters traveling internationally for lawful hunting activities should not face excessive export-control burdens when trying to use them. SCI is pleased to have successfully engaged with State and Commerce on this issue on behalf of international hunters, and thanks the Trump Administration for crossing the finish line in this important area.”

“I am especially proud of the SCI team, whose persistence, expertise, and engagement on behalf of our members helped elevate this issue and demonstrate why reform was needed,” said W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of SCI. “Their work reflects SCI’s unwavering commitment to protecting hunters’ rights and improving the regulatory environment for sportsmen and women worldwide.” Read more

 

Apply for 2026 reserved deer hunts July 15-Aug. 15 Upper Peninsula antlerless access permit update Applications for Michigan’s 2026 reserved deer hunts and reserved deer youth hunts will be accepted July 15 through Aug. 15. Hunters may apply for reserved hunts at Shiawassee River State Game Area, Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and Sharonville State Game Area. Many reserved public land hunts are limited to hunters with disabilities or have other eligibility requirements established by the local land manager, so be sure to review hunt requirements before applying. Important dates Read more

Built for the Rut. Built for the Back 40. Built for Durability, Connection, and the Hunters Who Put in the Work Before Opening Day.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Moultrie, the leading innovator of feeders, trail cameras, and game management tools, today introduced the EDGE 4 series. The first cellular trail camera line built to recognize your target buck and fire a max-resolution cropped image to your phone, before you ever set foot in the woods. The EDGE 4 is waterproof, has enhanced night clarity, and all-season power options built for every piece of ground you hunt, from pre-season scouting through the late-season grind.

“The new Moultrie EDGE 4 picks up the best cell signal and with the solar panel on there, this thing is going to run all year long,” said Steven Rinella, MeatEater Host and Founder. “You can put it up and you don’t need to go to that place and disturb that area in order to see what’s going on. It’s just going to send you images.”

MEET BUCK SHOT. THE CAMERA THAT KNOWS YOUR HIT LIST.

Most cameras only see movement. Buck Shot sees the difference. Moultrie AI monitors every frame. The moment a buck enters the scene, Buck Shot analyzes the image, recognizes a buck, and sends a max-resolution, zoomed-in image to your phone in real time. No more pinching phone screens or waiting on downloads to see antler detail. Buck Shot does it for you.

Built For Smarter Detection. Built For Tougher Conditions.

• Built For Durability. IP67 Waterproof (NEW). Built to weather the harshest storms and even temporary flooding. Your scouting doesn’t stop when the weather turns bad.
• Built For After Dark. Night Clarity (NEW). Enhanced IR LEDs deliver brighter, more evenly lit nighttime images.
• Built For Easy Setup. Built-in memory means no SD card. Live Aim positions the camera perfectly the first time, and automatic connection finds the strongest cellular signal available.
• Built For On Demand. Pull a fresh image or video anytime, from anywhere.
• Built For the Map. GPS Location Pinning. Each camera pins its location on the map in the Moultrie app, so you always know which intel is coming from which stand.
• Built For Set-and-Forget — Solar Attachment (NEW). All EDGE 4 cameras are compatible with Moultrie’s new external solar attachment, which converts any EDGE 4 into a solar camera with optimized recharge efficiency and no external power cables. Solar attachment sold separately.

BUILT TO RUN ALL SEASON. EVERY SEASON.

The EDGE 4 line is the most power-efficient camera Moultrie has built, and it gives you three ways to power your scouting, so there’s no reason to pull a camera before you’re ready.

• EDGE 4. Standard AA batteries. Set it up, scout all season.
• EDGE 4 with Power Mag+. Pair any EDGE 4 with the Power Mag+ rechargeable battery pack and never buy AAs again.
• EDGE 4 SOLAR. The industry’s largest integrated solar panel, an included rechargeable lithium battery pack, and no external cables. Set it once. It runs forever.

LOCATE. PATTERN. HARVEST. WITH THE MOULTRIE APP.

Every EDGE 4 image, video, and notification flows into the Moultrie App, your hub for camera management, feeder control, and GPS mapping. HuntPlan turns that intel into a plan: Game Plan predicts buck movement using trail cam data and local weather. Ideal Wind shows which stands are huntable. Property Lines delivers boundary overlays for all 50 states. Less guessing. More harvest days.

EDGE 4 cameras also integrate directly with onX Hunt. New onX customers receive a free three-month Elite subscription with any purchase.

The EDGE 4 Series is available at retailers nationwide and www.Moultrie.com. MSRP: EDGE 4 $129.99, EDGE 4 two-pack $229.99, EDGE 4 SOLAR $169.99. Read more