By Glen Wunderlich

The Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, was at the Michigan State Capitol this past week to support legislation that would permit deer and elk baiting in areas where it has been prohibited by law. The long-time rocker and former Michigan resident had plenty to say about rules to minimize the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) being imposed on Michigan hunters. From “Uncle Ted’s” perspective, hunters should be able to hunt “their deer” on their land in any manner they see fit.

“The king doesn’t own the deer,” he said. “We the people own the deer.” If that were true, Nugent would be correct in his approach to baiting, but a number of Supreme Court rulings contradict Ted’s concept of ownership. Like it or not, this public trust doctrine of wildlife has been the nucleus of today’s successful model of wildlife management. And, Ted doesn’t like it.

Nugent went on to exclaim that baiting prohibition would “chase hunting families out of the sport for absolutely no reason.” No doubt, some deer hunters will not hunt because of baiting bans, but to say it would be for no reason is more than a stretch, although what he probably meant was that there was no “good” reason. Good or not is irrelevant.

It’s no secret that hunting participation is in decline nationwide and has been for many years. However, the aging hunting fraternity is retiring naturally, as it has been forever. The challenge for wildlife managers/hunters is to bring the younger generation into the fold in numbers large enough to continue funding efforts derived from license fees. When baiting was widely permitted in Michigan, hunting numbers had already been in decline for decades. Allowing baiting, therefore, will not change any of this.

What it will do, however, would be to concentrate deer “beyond their normal movement patterns [increasing] the likelihood of disease transmission,” said Ed Golder, DNR spokesperson. In a statement Tuesday, he said research shows that baiting and feeding increases the likelihood of disease transmission, citing a list of references on the department’s website. The department also believes the authority to ban baiting and feeding should remain with the Natural Resources Commission.

When one considers all the open NRC meetings, where public comments were welcomed and encouraged over the years, none of this is news – except maybe Ted Nugent’s opinions. He may be correct in that deer will still get the dreaded CWD, but ignoring the conclusions of wildlife biologists is off target. Nobody ever said we are on the path to end the spread of CWD, but fact-based science indicates we can minimize it. And, for now that’s the best we can do.

As any seasoned pheasant or quail hunter knows, selecting the right hunting boot shouldn’t be taken lightly. Next to your firearm and your dog, there may be no decision that is more important or consequential.

According to the footwear experts at Irish Setter, the official upland hunting boot sponsor of Pheasants Forever and Quails Forever, there are six factors that upland bird hunters should consider when selecting hunting boots. And they should know – pheasant and quail hunters have walked millions of miles in Irish Setter boots since they were introduced in 1950.

“When you find the right hunting boot – the boot that fits you perfectly – you develop a special bond,” says Charley Bryant, Irish Setter footwear merchant. “You come to trust your boots like you trust your hunting dog or your favorite shotgun. That’s why it’s so important to select the right boots.”

Factors to consider when selecting pheasant hunting boots include:

• Seasonality;
• Fit and comfort;
• Stability;
• Moisture management;
• Temperature management; and
• Boot materials.

Right Boot for the Season Read more

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend is statewide, Sept. 21-22, for youth 16 and younger.

Reminders:

• Ducks, mergansers, geese, coots and moorhens may be harvested; accompanying adults are not permitted to harvest these species during the hunt unless hunting during the September portion of the Canada goose hunting season. The daily limits and species restrictions are the same as those allowed in the regular waterfowl hunting season.
• Youth 10-16 years of age must have a base license and be accompanied by a parent, guardian or someone 18 years of age or older designated by the parent or guardian.
• Youth 16 years of age also must have a waterfowl license and a federal duck stamp.
• Youth who are hunting with a base apprentice license must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older who has a nonapprentice base license and waterfowl license.
• Youth under 10 years of age also must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age, and the youth and adult must meet all provisions of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program.

5-mile advisory area refined in 2019; updated map available online

LANSING, Mich. – With archery hunting season beginning Oct. 1, the Michigan departments of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Natural Resources (DNR) are reminding hunters of the ‘Do Not Eat’ advisory for deer taken within 5 miles of Clark’s Marsh in Oscoda Township due to PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid). PFOS is the most common PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that bioaccumulates in fish and wild game.

The Do Not Eat advisory was initially issued in 2018 due to high levels of PFOS analyzed in the venison from one deer of several taken from the area near Clark’s Marsh, which borders the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Read more