Category: Hunting

Michigan conservation officers helping curb the risk of wildlife disease

People might not think immediately of Michigan’s conservation officers as being on the front lines in the fight against wildlife diseases.

However, the roughly 200 men and women sworn to protect the state’s natural resources are vitally important in helping to control disease threats, including bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.

This disease, always fatal to those white-tailed deer contracting it, has been detected in several Michigan counties, prompting the Michigan Natural Resources Commission and Department of Natural Resources to implement deer baiting and feeding bans in effect for this fall’s hunting seasons.

“These bans are in place to try to help minimize the amount of contact between deer congregated where baiting and feeding occur,” said John Pepin, Michigan DNR deputy public information officer. “Chronic wasting disease can be transmitted through direct deer-to-deer contact, or by contact with saliva, feces, urine, blood and contaminated feed, water, plants, soil or carcass parts.”

In the Lower Peninsula, a ban went into effect Jan. 31 for all 68 counties south of the Mackinac Bridge. Regulations also restrict carcass movement in the Lower Peninsula and prohibit importation of certain carcass parts statewide.

In the Upper Peninsula, baiting and feeding deer is banned in a core CWD surveillance area situated in portions of Dickinson, Menominee and Delta counties. Throughout the rest of the U.P., baiting and feeding is allowed, but must be done in line with state regulations.

Tomorrow is Michigan’s opening day of firearm deer hunting season. For those who have been getting ready by baiting deer in violation of the law, odds are good conservation officers are aware.

Whether in the air or on the ground, patrols have been ongoing for weeks and are conducted by a range of means.

A conservation officer patrol vehicle is parked near a woods road.
Conservation officers are responsible for locating illegal bait, educating hunters and enforcing current regulations to help reduce the risk of CWD. Officers manage deer and elk carcass movement by conducting increased patrols, enforcement and surveillance at primary access points between counties and states.

Illegal baiting can result in court costs and fines, a revoked hunting license, confiscated game and jail time. Read more
Hunting, Poachers, Wildlife

Mossy Oak GO Now Streaming “The Obsessed: Cuz at Wexford”

A lifetime in the woods and a deep-seated love for getting close to deer point Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland’s mind toward the woods at every opportunity through the fall and winter. Follow him to Texas and feel the fire of an excitement that has never cooled as he shares the backstory on his obsession with bow hunting.

Click here to stream “The Obsessed: Cuz at Wexford” now on Mossy Oak GO.

In late 2018, Mossy Oak launched Mossy Oak GO, its 100% FREE television and mobile digital streaming platform, offering on-demand access, anywhere, anytime, anyplace, with any device to Mossy Oak’s latest video offerings as well as archived content since the launch of Mossy Oak Productions in 1995.

With Mossy Oak GO, viewers don’t have to deal with expensive subscription rates or being interrupted by redundant commercials. Mossy Oak made it simple. Viewers download the app through a preferred streaming platform and start watching free, uninterrupted outdoors entertainment. Download Mossy Oak GO and watch “The Obsessed: Cuz at Wexford” now: Read more

Hunting

Michigan firearm deer season starts Friday statewide

For a lot of residents, Nov. 15 ranks up there with major holidays. Gathering with family and friends for the firearm deer season opener is a time-honored tradition in many Michigan families, built around the excitement and fun of enjoying time in the state’s great outdoors.

Some hunters share their love of deer hunting by introducing someone new to the sport. Mentored youth hunting licenses are available to kids 9 and younger, while apprentice hunting licenses are available to those 10 and older who haven’t yet completed a hunter safety education course. Learn more about these options at Michigan.gov/MentoredHunting.

This tradition is economically important, too. More than 500,000 hunters pursued deer in Michigan during the 2018 hunting seasons, providing critical license revenue that supports wildlife conservation efforts. All of Michigan’s hunting seasons – from deer and elk to waterfowl and rabbit – contribute nearly $9 billion a year to the state’s economy.

play button thumbnail image from DNR video explaining baiting restrictionsAll hunters are encouraged to review the 2019 deer hunting regulations, found in the Hunting Digest or at Michigan.gov/Deer. Key changes this season include:

Hunters can take deer to a DNR deer check station to earn a successful hunter patch. Visit Michigan.gov/DeerCheck for locations of check stations and drop boxes. (Click an individual location to see if it offers deer check, drop box or both.)

Questions? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.
Hunting

Drop A Marker. Win Free Gear

Bothell, WA– BaseMap has released its newest feature: GearDrop. This patent-pending feature allows app users to drop a marker within the weekly GearDrop area for a chance to win prizes from ZEISS, Hoyt, SPOT, Traeger and many other outdoor, hunting and fishing brands.

“I wanted to find a way to not only provide the best hunting app on the market but also give back to our users in a way that can further help them be more successful in their outdoor adventures.” Said Jeffrey Balch, Founder, BaseMap, Inc. “We value the overwhelming support of our users and the creation of GearDrop was built to add an extra layer of enjoyment to those that appreciate the outdoors.”

After extensive app development and beta testing, GearDrop has launched and allows any app user to win free gear by simply adding a marker in the drop area. The contest will run weekly, Wednesday to Monday, with new gear being awarded each week. To win, all you have to do is play!

Each week, BaseMap will pinpoint a new GearDrop area which users can access via the GearDrop icon in the app; click the icon to be automatically positioned over the drop zone. To win prizes, click the plus sign and simply drop a GearDrop Marker in the highlighted area. You can zoom in and pan around the dedicated GearDrop area to select where you want to drop your marker; once placed, it can be moved any time prior to that week’s drop. At the end of the contest week, the user with the marker closest to the BaseMap drop location is the winner of the grand prize. Users with the second and third closest marker will receive a BaseMap gear package that includes a shirt, hat and sticker. To view the grand prize for each week, simply click anywhere within the GearDrop area. Read more

Hunting

Michigan Politcians Know It All

By Glen Wunderlich

Hunters have dutifully relied upon the advice of wildlife biologists, when it came to the effects of their studies and knowledge on all matters flora and fauna. We listened to them when it came to managing our wolf population and we listened to them when it came to hunting mourning doves; we put emotion aside and stood by science. However, a group of short-sighted politicians – largely Republicans – have announced, by virtue of their vote for baiting deer that they know better.

Michigan House bill 4687 would scrap years of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) studies and would allow up to five gallons of feed at each bait site. Additionally, any antler-point restrictions (APRs) on bucks would be lifted – even in areas where hunters have approved APRs. Fortunately, deer season is upon us, and since the Michigan Senate has yet to act on the measure, there’s no time to rush this through in time to affect the ban on baiting currently in place.

It’s no secret that the number of hunters continues on a downward slide that began years ago and that some of those on the sidelines would return if baiting were allowed. Just what type of impact would be felt relative to hunting dollars is unknown but oddly enough in September a representative of Lucky Buck Mineral and the M-65 Bait Shop testified in support of lifting the ban. Hmmm.

On the side of science, was Amy Trotter, executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Club, who stated the science is clear — that banning the feeding and baiting of deer will help stem the spread of chronic wasting disease, an ailment that has decimated Michigan’s deer herd and is always fatal.

Ironically, Proposal G, which was passed into legislation 23 years ago by the citizens of Michigan, gave the NRC the authority to regulate the manner and method of take for game — this includes authority over the baiting and feeding of deer and elk.

The fiscal impact of House Bill 4687 on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is uncertain at present. Current penalties for violating a ban on baiting may include jail time, $50 to $1,000 in fines, or hunting license revocation. It is unclear whether the explicit allowance of deer or elk baiting would affect departmental revenues, as the number of forgone baiting violations is yet to be determined.

It is equally unclear whether this allowance would have an impact on enforcement costs for department personnel. The sale of hunting and fishing licenses generated a combined $60.5 million in revenue in FY 2017-18. This revenue is deposited to the Game and Fish Protection Fund, which primarily supports wildlife and fisheries programs as well as DNR law enforcement. The bill is unlikely to affect local government costs or revenues.

State Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain, said the commission is unelected and shouldn’t be making these types of decisions.

“At what point did this Natural Resources Commission become lawmakers? I never got to vote for them,” he said. “They banned baiting without a single hearing in the Upper Peninsula. This show should be over and we should end this baiting ban once and for all.” My question to Mr. Beau LaFave is this: When did you get your credentials to become a wildlife biologist?

Nobody ever said that a baiting ban would end CWD fatalities in our deer herd. However, there is no plausible rationale to suddenly go against science and exacerbate the plight of our wildlife. All we have to do is follow the money and resist the temptation to take the bait.

Hunting, Wildlife

QDMA Launches Deer Hunting 101 YouTube Series for New Hunters

ATHENS, GA – Whether you’re repairing home appliances or skinning a deer, YouTube has become the search engine of choice for beginners and do-it-yourselfers, and QDMA is there for new and aspiring deer hunters. A new YouTube series, QDMA’s Deer Hunting 101, went live in October with how-to videos that provide all the reliable information a new hunter needs for success.

“The adult hunters we are recruiting through our Field to Fork program tell us they use YouTube as a how-to resource.” said Hank Forester, QDMA’s Assistant Director of Hunting Heritage Programs. “I wanted QDMA to respond to those searches with reliable, accurate information about whitetails, hunting techniques, and preparing venison for the table. Now you can just hit play on your phone and quarter your deer as you watch.” Read more

Hunting

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s partners with the National Wildlife Federation and YMCA to launch youth Outdoor Adventurers in 13 cities

HOUSTON – Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s today announced Outdoor Adventurers, a nature-based education initiative aimed at introducing the wonders of the outdoors to kindergarten through fifth grade students from urban areas across the United States. The program, in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and YMCA, will launch Outdoor Adventurers in Atlanta, Chicago and Houston this year with plans to expand to 13 American cities over the next three years.

The three year-long Outdoor Adventurers program will engage more than 7,800 children and their families, providing educational outdoor experiences designed to help kids develop a lifelong appreciation for nature. Planned activities are designed to ensure all children have access to outdoor recreation opportunities they might not have the chance to experience such as fishing, hiking, wildlife observation, kayaking, archery, exploration and more. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

onX Offroad Launches iOS App

All-new app makes it easier than ever for iOS users to discover dirt roads and trails on public lands

MISSOULA, Mont. – onXmaps, Inc., the industry leader in outdoor mapping technology, announced today the availability of an iOS version of the onX Offroad App, which became available on the Google Play Store earlier this year. The app can now be downloaded on the Apple App Store. onX launched the new iOS app at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.

onX Offroad comes from onX, the leader in mobile mapping technology for outdoor adventures and the provider of the popular onX HUNT App. The new app was designed for off–roaders and includes mapping of more than 985 million acres of public lands and over 240,000 miles of roads and trails, with trail-specific open and close dates and track width restrictions. The app also features mapping for over 54,000 campsites and campgrounds, weather forecasting and a robust set of GPS features, making onX Offroad a must-have app for any motorized enthusiast. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Michigan Natural Resources Commission to meet Thursday in Lansing area

Hunting opportunities at Yankee Springs State Recreation Area, a discussion on visitor and use trends at state parks, an order to regulate target shooting at Lapeer State Game Area and presentation of the department’s hunter safety education 40-year teaching awards are just some of the agenda items for the next meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission Thursday, Nov. 7, at the west campus of Lansing Community College, 5708 Cornerstone Drive, in Delta Township. All sessions will take place in conference rooms M119-121. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Michigan: veterans invited to take part in preference waterfowl hunt draws

Fall is one of the best times of the year to enjoy Michigan’s natural areas, and the state’s many hunting seasons offer even more reasons to get outside. Veterans or active-duty military personnel looking for some amazing hunting experiences at DNR-managed waterfowl areas are invited to take part in this month’s veterans preference hunt drawings.

The drawings will take place Nov. 10, 11 and 12 for properly licensed resident, active-duty U.S. military personnel and veterans. For entry requirements, check out the rules in the 2019 waterfowl digest.

To be eligible for the drawings, individual hunters must be active-duty military personnel or veterans; group hunters must have at least one member in their party who is active-duty military or a veteran. All hunters also must possess a waterfowl license and a federal duck stamp. Read more

Hunting
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