WEST POINT, MS – Recent advances in hunting gear and apparel technology have created a new solution to the timeless problem hunters experience: extremely cold temperatures.

Heated clothing is quickly becoming a popular tool for hunters to use because, having on-demand control to instant heat increases hunter comfort, enabling the hunter to endure cold temperatures longer and spend more time in the woods. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Long-time friend, Joe, and I were discussing various hunting strategies before an archery deer hunt this past week.  We recalled a long shot Joe had attempted at a distant antlerless deer years ago.  In fact, the shot was too long.

I was in a blind about a quarter mile from Joe, who was armed with a most-potent .300 Winchester Magnum – a real heavy hitter in .30 caliber.  Joe was also in a blind with his sights set on the deer that was well beyond 200 yards and within my field of view, as well.  I had no idea Joe was about to launch a round at the animal until I heard the report of the rifle.  Unscathed, the whitetail doe scampered off to a wood line never to be seen again.

When we met shortly thereafter, I asked Joe what he was doing and the excuse went something like this:  “Yeah, it was a long shot and I was wobbling around a bit.”  All I could say was, “Then you shouldn’t have taken that shot.”  After some more tongue lashing, he got the point and learned from the mistake by taking a disciplined shot that resulted in venison for the freezer the next day.  The teachable moment had taken effect.

Already this season, I have been made aware of another instance – this time in Kentucky – in which a seasoned archery deer hunter recounted a failed attempt at taking a trophy whitetail buck.  After the shot, the recovery search lasted three hours before being called off.  The hunter indicated that the massive buck would have been easily the biggest deer he would ever have taken but one aspect of the questionable shot gave a clue as to the failure.  He stated that he could only “guess” that he rushed the shot and did not take a careful look at the [shot] placement.

The teachable moment and of the self-critique is that he cannot recall where his aiming point was when the arrow was released.  Think about that for a moment, because it is crucial to any successful shot no matter what equipment is being used.  The most important thing to remember is to concentrate on a small aiming point all the way through the shot.  The concept is to recall exactly where that aiming point was when the firearm or bow was being held when the gun went boom or the arrow was released.  It’s easy to say but harder to do when the mind is racing but the term is “calling your shot.”

“Aim small, miss small” is another common term used to describe the technique.  But, when the animal of one’s dreams is within range, we tend to become overwhelmed with thoughts that distract from the task at hand.  Those thoughts can produce real effects such as trembling, shaking or involuntary shivering, even when a hunter is not cold.  Some call it “buck fever.”

We all practice our shooting techniques to some degree and hopefully to a point where the results on paper will produce ethical conditions afield; to do this when we hunt is the goal.

Concentration is the key.  We don’t want to let our minds rule our emotions.  We must take ourselves back to the basics of doing what we practiced and to take only disciplined shots.

Sometimes the shot not taken is the best one.

Introducing the Riot from Lucky Duck Premium Decoys, a brand new electronic predator call. The Riot is the most recent release in Lucky Duck’s ground-breaking game call lineup. This remote controlled, economy priced e-caller features extreme volume, one-of-a-kind sound library, and motorized decoy.

Featured on the Riot are 50 live animal sounds, recorded by The Verminator, Rick Paillet. You also have the ability to add sounds as the Riot can hold 2,000 sounds. Extra sound packages are available on Lucky Duck’s website. This call includes a motorized decoy that is controlled from the remote, and both the remote and decoy store conveniently inside the unit making it extremely portable. Remote is long range, does not require line-of-sight, and will reach distances past 100 yards. It also controls volume and sound selection.

The Riot runs on 10 AA batteries and the remote runs on 3 AA batteries (not included). Optional rechargeable battery pack and wall charger sold separately.

Included with the Riot:

• Remote with 50 live animal sounds
• Motorized decoy

MSRP for the Riot is $199.99 and it is available on luckyduck.com, or through a partnered retailer: http://www.luckyduck.com/dealers/. Read more

As winter approaches and hunting seasons start winding down, savvy hunters know that cold weather can trigger hot deer activity. With the rut over both bucks and does now focus their attention and efforts on food as they fatten up before the impending winter. Hunters should do so as well, specifically targeting concentrated food sources.

For many hunters, that means food plots. The best ones will be those planted with cool-season annuals specifically designed to last into late-season. Examples include winter wheat, which may persist throughout the winter in southern climes; soybeans, which deer seem to shift their focus to later in the season and brassica species that produce large root bulbs that the deer will continue to feed on after the greens are long gone. The best options for those without food plots are un-harvested or poorly harvested agricultural fields or natural food sources like mast orchards. Where legal, bait sites will also become increasingly more productive as the season progresses and deer need to consume more calories. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

It never really sunk in until I was at the counter of the Morrice Hardware and intended to purchase an antlerless deer license.  When I was asked my opinion of the new regulations aimed at suppressing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, I stated that I didn’t see any better options.  Pressed about a specific change from last season, whereas discounted antlerless licenses were available at the reduced cost of $12 for all of the combined seasons in the  CWD Management Zone but would now expire November 4, 2018, it hit me.  What sense does that make?

No doubt, it was a change, but what will be the result of effectively raising the cost of antlerless tags in an area where the intent is to reduce the herd?  Personally, it made no sense to me, because my policy is to take antlerless deer with a firearm later in the season.  To me, a firearm is a better tool for the job and the weather is more conducive to hanging deer, as the season progresses.  With all the warm weather and rain we’ve experienced in the early archery season, my beliefs have been solidified.

As any experienced archer understands, a deer shot with an arrow will typically run off.  Depending on the placement of the shot, the distance it may travel could be well over a hundred yards.  That may not seem consequential, unless the habitat it heads for is thick cover, which is usually the case.  The wise archer also knows that it’s good policy to wait and hour or so to begin tracking chores and this is where things can get complicated.

I’d venture to take an educated guess that most deer are taken in late afternoon, as twilight sets in; that means, it will be dark, when recovery begins.  Add to that a little rain and the hunter’s challenge becomes more difficult, if not virtually impossible.  Should the hunter get on the trail immediately and run the risk of pushing a deer that has yet to expire?  Or, should the hunter wait an extended period of time, as most knowledgeable hunters do, and risk the potential of rain washing away any sign of the trail?

The dilemma is compounded by the fact that October weather is naturally warmer than that of the late seasons.  That same scenario played out in during a chilly December hunt may allow an ethical hunter to wait until morning light to recover the prize; however, that same hunter now faces a quandary of risks that fly in the face of ethical conduct.

With all of this in mind, it didn’t take me long to pass on the “new” reduced rate for antlerless licenses, which wasn’t new at all; only the counter-intuitive expiration date was new.

Personally, I wasn’t about to change my philosophy to save $8 and to go against long-held beliefs.  I handed over $20 to get all the benefits of taking an antlerless deer when the snow is on the ground.  It made no sense to do otherwise and I would venture to guess a fair amount of hunters will have made the same decision.  However, if the reduced rate is meant to prompt more license sales, only time will tell of the wisdom, or lack thereof, of the new policy to reduce the herd. 

California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. vetoed a bill that would have prevented hunters from possessing and in some cases importing the named African species in the bill, including parts and products, lawfully harvested in Africa.

“Safari Club International recognizes California Governor Jerry Brown for vetoing Senate Bill 1487, legislation that would prohibit the people of California from importing and possessing a several species legally hunted in countries in Africa,” said SCI President Paul Babaz. “SCI also applauds the sportsmen and women who voiced their opposition to Governor Brown. Without your phone calls and support, this misguided piece of legislation might have been signed into law. SCI also thanks the California Coalition for spearheading the months-long effort to stop this anti-hunting bill.”

The bill targeted elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and an additional six species – some of which are neither listed on the Endangered Species Act’s endangered/threatened lists or CITES Appendices I or II.

The authors of the bill relied on emotion rather than science to craft anti-hunting restrictions, which were neither necessary nor remotely beneficial for the species identified in SB 1487.

The bill would have discouraged Californians from legally hunting outside the U.S. and participating in the community-based conservation efforts that are succeeding in Africa. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Some recent questions from a reader have prompted a bit of clarification relative to Michigan’s trespass laws.  Not much can get landowners’ blood to boil more than having uninvited strangers violate their boundaries after having invested sizeable sums of money to not only purchase or lease land, but to improve it with sweat equity and to nurture all forms of flora and fauna.   What follows is not intended to be all-inclusive legal advice; for that, you may want to contact an attorney.

Michigan law defines trespassing when a person enters the property of another’s, when either forbidden to do so or remaining on the property after the landowner, occupant or the agent of the owner or occupant has told the person to leave.  People are no longer required to possess written permission to be on another’s land, but it may prove useful to prevent unnecessary confrontations.

Under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act 451 of 1994, 322 Sec. 73102, the following apply.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person shall not enter or remain upon the property of another person, other than farm property or a wooded area connected to farm property, to engage in any recreational activity or trapping on that property without the consent of the owner or his or her lessee or agent, if either of the following circumstances exists:

(a) The property is fenced or enclosed and is maintained in such a manner as to exclude intruders.

(b) The property is posted in a conspicuous manner against entry. The minimum letter height on the posting signs shall be 1 inch. Each posting sign shall be not less than 50 square inches, and the signs shall be spaced to enable a person to observe not less than 1 sign at any point of entry upon the property. 

 (2) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person shall not enter or remain upon farm property or a wooded area connected to farm property for any recreational activity or trapping without the consent of the owner or his or her lessee or agent, whether or not the farm property or wooded area connected to farm property is fenced, enclosed, or posted.

The law does not require any specific language for posted signs that prohibit entry, but displaying a conspicuous warning is the basis of a criminal trespassing charge, because a person who unwittingly wanders onto the land of another is not doing anything wrong. 

The factual basis for a criminal trespassing charge under this specific provision does not require a request to leave the premises nor does it not apply to a person who is in the process of attempting, by the most direct route, to contact the owner or his or her lessee or agent to request consent.

A person other than a person possessing a firearm may, unless previously prohibited in writing or orally by the property owner, enter on foot upon the property of another person for the sole purpose of retrieving a hunting dog. The person shall not remain on the property beyond the reasonable time necessary to retrieve the dog.

Michigan DNR conservation officers are peace officers, and except as otherwise provided by law, are vested with all the powers, privileges, prerogatives, and immunities conferred upon peace officers by the general laws of this state and can be telephoned anytime at 800-292-7800 for such matters related to enforcement on any of the above issues.

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Waterfowl hunters who will have retrieving dogs with them during Vermont’s waterfowl hunting seasons should check waterbodies for cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) blooms before allowing their dogs in the water according to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

Cyanobacteria can produce toxins that are hazardous to dogs. Each year, there are several reports of dog deaths around the country caused by cyanobacteria.

“While cooler weather may knock down existing blooms on some lakes, the same weather may stimulate blooms on other lakes,” said Angela Shambaugh, an environmental scientist with the Agency of Natural Resources. “As waterfowl season gets underway, waterfowl hunters should know to keep their dogs away from cyanobacteria blooms. Because many of them are out on the water well before daylight, they should consider checking conditions the day before.” Read more

For many years, the DNR has provided a forecast of the upcoming deer seasons. In the 2018 Michigan Deer Hunting Prospects report, the DNR anticipates a successful year for many deer hunters, with indicators showing deer numbers to be up over last year. Biologists are expecting the number of deer taken to increase slightly from last year’s numbers, which were up more than 10 percent from the previous year across the state. Specific regional information is included within the forecast.

The DNR encourages hunters to familiarize themselves with current regulations before hitting the field. Deer regulations can be found at michigan.gov/deer. Other important resources include this year’s Hunting Digest and Antlerless Deer Digest – both available to download at michigan.gov/dnrdigests. Read more