Category: Hunting

Hunting License Sales Remain Steady in 2022-2023

The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (Council) in collaboration with Southwick Associates, has released its annual report on hunting license sales, revealing a relatively steady trend for the 2022-2023 license year. According to the report, over 80% of participating states experienced a change of 5% or less in hunting license sales from the previous year.

In early 2021, the Council conducted a comprehensive survey of state wildlife agencies, which showed an overall increase in hunting license sales by 4.9% from 2019 to 2020. This rise was attributed to the surge in outdoor recreation during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the pandemic extended into its second year, 2021 saw a dip of 1.9% in overall sales, despite the continued high demand for outdoor activities, particularly among nonresident hunters.

The Council revisited the study in early 2023 to track trends in hunting license sales for the 2022-2023 license year. The findings indicated a 3.1% decline in sales compared to 2020-2021 license year. However, the latest report for 2022-2023 showed a much smaller decrease of just 0.3% across the 47 states that participated in the Council’s study, suggesting a stabilization in participation rates.

“The 2022-2023 hunting license sales indicate that participation is likely relatively stable at the national level,” said Swanny Evans, Director of Research and Partnerships for the Council. “This is a positive sign for the hunting and conservation community.”

Key findings from the 2022-2023 report include: Read more

Hunting

Nebraska Commissioners to Consider Bighorn Sheep Season

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for a 2025 bighorn sheep hunting season at its Aug. 16 meeting at Fort Robinson State Park.

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. Mountain Time at the park’s Buffalo Soldiers Barracks, 3200 U.S. 20, Crawford.

Staff will recommend authorizing one lottery and one auction permit for the bighorn season, which, if approved, would be Dec. 2-22, 2025.

The commissioners also will consider changing park regulations that would: Read more

Hunting

Hardcore Waterfowl’s New Rugged Series Full Body Mallard

Any waterfowler who has experienced a fluttering wall of mallards descend into a field set will immediately be hooked. There is something about a big flock of ducks swooping in over the decoys that stir the soul – the image is enduring and the stuff of dreams.

Mallards may be the most common duck species on Earth, but don’t expect all of them to be unsophisticated. In recent decades, hunting pressure has increased commensurate with season length and generous bag limits – not to mention better decoy options. It’s likely the old hen out in front of the flock has seen lots of shabby decoys before, and she’s more than willing to sound the alarm for another “go around” – or four – before fading over the horizon.

While field hunting ducks is often a collateral benefit of goose hunting, expecting mallards to center up and finish perfectly in the “hole” over nothing but goose decoys – which was standard operating procedure for decades – isn’t a certainty. While full-body mallard decoys have become a standard item in many goose trailers, there remained plenty of room for improvement, and that’s just what Hardcore Waterfowl has pulled-off with their new Rugged Series Full Body Mallard. Read more

Hunting

Michigan Bear Forum, Furtaker User Group meetings set for August in St. Ignace

Hunting and trapping are an undeniable part of Michigan’s outdoor traditions. New and veteran hunters and trappers and anyone interested in how the Michigan Department of Natural Resources manages wildlife populations are invited to two upcoming opportunities in St. Ignace: the Michigan Furtaker User Group meeting (Aug. 23) and the Michigan Bear Forum (Aug. 24). Keep reading for details about each event, including links to surveys to collect recommendations that will help shape the discussions.

Hunting

Montana Releases 2023 Wolf Report; Population Strong After Increased Harvest

The wolf population in Montana remains healthy, according to the 2023 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wolf Report. Increased harvest during the 2023 wolf season has not yet resulted in an estimated decline to the statewide total. However, FWP biologists expect to see a moderate decline in wolf numbers next year resulting from the increased harvest in early 2024.

“We are committed to following the law to reduce wolf numbers to a sustainable level, which means ensuring Montana has a healthy state managed population,” said Quentin Kujala, FWP Chief of Conservation Policy. “The statewide wolf population estimate for calendar year 2023 is approximately 1,100 wolves, similar to 2022. However, we are seeing declines in the estimated number of wolves and wolf packs in Regions 3 and 4, which suggests the combination of hunting, trapping, and conflict management removals can effectively reduce wolf numbers.”

An example of this moderate decline is in FWP Region 3, where wolf population estimates have gradually declined from 214 in 2020, to 178 in 2023. Statewide, wolf harvest from Jan. 1 through March 15 was 176 wolves in 2024, compared to 144 over the same period in 2023. Both trends indicate a moderate decline in wolf numbers FWP biologists expect to be illustrated in the 2024 wolf report that will come out during the summer of 2025.

The estimated statewide wolf population for 2023 was 1,096, just one less than the 2022 estimated population and slightly below the 10-year average of 1,140 wolves but well above recovery thresholds. The number of wolf packs was 181, spread over 66,000 square miles. Total wolf harvest for the 2023-2024 wolf season was 286 wolves, which was an increase from 258 taken during the 2022-23 season.

Livestock conflicts, confirmed livestock losses and wolf removals were all down considerably in 2023, according to the report. Wildlife Services confirmed the loss of 32 livestock to wolves, including 23 cattle and eight sheep; one livestock guard dog was also killed by wolves. This total was lower than numbers from 2012 to 2022. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Apply for Michigan reserved waterfowl hunts Aug. 1-28

Toss your name in the hat for an opportunity to kick off your waterfowl season with a reserved hunt!

Applications are $5, and hunters may apply only once. Apply online at eLicense, on the DNR Hunt Fish app or anywhere DNR licenses are sold. Drawing results will be available Sept. 16.

Reserved hunts will be held in the morning and afternoon on:

  • Oct. 5 and 6 at Fish Point (Tuscola County) and Nayanquing Point (Bay County) state wildlife areas.
  • Oct. 12 and 13 at the Harsens Island Unit of the St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area (St. Clair County) and Pointe Mouillee (Monroe and Wayne counties) and Shiawassee River (Saginaw County) state game areas.

To learn more about dates, locations and bag limits, see the 2024 Reserved hunt drawing information.

Questions about applying or hunting waterfowl? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.

Hunting

Be Heard on Expanding Hunting and Fishing Opportunities on Wildlife Refuges

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued the latest Hunt-Fish Rule in a decades-long process of expanding hunting and fishing opportunities on wildlife refuges and a few fish hatchery lands. The 2024 Hunt–Fish Rule proposes 53 new distinct hunting and sport fishing opportunities on approximately 211,000 acres nationwide in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The final rule will be published in the Federal Register soon and be available at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket Number: FWS-HQ-NWRS-2024-0034

“National Wildlife Refuges are central to the successful U.S. strategy of restoring and maintaining wildlife,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “What makes the strategy successful is the opportunity to harvest wildlife under scientifically determined limits and practices. By promoting this connection between people and wildlife, hunting sustains public support for conservation and pays for the necessary work of maintaining and improving habitat.”

Hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities contributed more than $394 billion in economic expenditures in communities across the United States in 2022, with hunters and anglers accounting for over $144 billion in expenditures, according to the Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The survey also found that, in 2021, an estimated 39.9 million Americans over the age of 16 fished and 14.4 million hunted. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Apply Now for Wyoming Preference Points

Dreaming of an epic Wyoming hunt? Apply now for preference points. Resident and nonresident hunters can build points for moose and bighorn sheep, and nonresidents can acquire elk, deer and antelope points. All applications must be submitted online through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website.

“Preference points can help increase odds of drawing some species and hunt areas,” saidJosh Moulton, Game and Fish license section manager. “Drawing odds for all species and hunt areas are available on the Game and Fish website.”

Hunters must purchase a preference point for a species for two consecutive years to maintain their totals and avoid losing points. Residents who were unsuccessful in their 2024 moose or bighorn sheep applications were automatically awarded a point. Only one point can be acquired per species annually.

Hunters can view their preference point balance by checking the website. Totals for the 2025 hunt season will be updated in late November.

Hunting

Summer Sweepstakes Hosted by FL Outdoors

The grand prize features a Texas whitetail dream hunt with professional hunters Levi Morgan (Bowlife TV show) and Joel Burham (Whitetail Fit).

FL Outdoors—makers of TAC Vanes, Swhacker Broadheads, and C’Mere Deer Attractants—has launched an Outdoor Summer Sweepstakes, open to all, with a grand prize package featuring a Texas whitetail dream hunt with professional hunters Levi Morgan and Joel Burham at Cactus Jack Ranch.

Grand Prize Details Read more

Contests, Hunting

Get Safety-Certified During Hunter Safety Education Week

Fall hunting is right around the corner, but you can get safety-certified now during the DNR’s Hunter Safety Education Week, Aug. 12-18. More than 60 in-person classes and/or field days are being offered in 40 counties throughout the state as additional opportunities to obtain your hunter safety education certificate.

To purchase a hunting license in Michigan, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1960, is required to successfully complete an approved hunter safety education course.

These classes are commonly offered in the spring, ahead of spring turkey season, or in the fall before the firearm deer season. Hunter Safety Education Week is being offered in addition to the already planned fall classes.

“Just like preparing for school and fall extracurriculars, hunting season needs to be considered in advance,” said Lt. Tom Wanless, DNR recreational safety, education and enforcement supervisor. Read more

Hunting
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