Category: Hunting

Ameristep’s new Distorter™ Blind

Plano, IL – Today’s ground blind has a five-hub design that makes it efficient to build, transport, set-up and hunt from. Such efficiencies have their consequences – mainly a boxy

profile that often causes alarm when viewed by the inherently suspicious eyes of deer, turkeys and other game animals.

Ameristep’s all-new Distorter™ ground blind utilizes never-before-seen, kick-out technology to offer hunters a high performance hub blind with next-level benefits both inside and out. On the outside, it creates a unique silhouette that conceals better than typical square blinds by blending into the environment more effectively. Inside, Distorter™ opens up a whole new world of useful space for up to three hunters and their gear.

Inside the silent-hinge door, Distorter’s three unique floor kick-outs provide additional storage space for bulky equipment like packs and camera tripods. All three floor kick-outs have an attached floor and sewn-in shelves to keep critical gear dry and at the ready. Storing such items inside the kick-outs puts an end to tripping over gear while providing improved access to Distorter’s versatile, hunter-friendly windows. Up top, dual roof kick-outs add height where it’s needed most, creating a welcomed increase in headroom for standing and enhanced visibility. Even the blind’s wrap-style carrying sling delivers value-added utility, serving double duty as a handy, hanging storage system. Read more

Hunting

Michigan’s Elk, Hunting Heritage Receive Boost from RMEF Grants

MISSOULA, Mont.—In continuing its long-term relationship in Michigan, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation awarded more than $30,000 in grant funding to benefit elk, elk habitat and hunting programs in the Wolverine State.

“We are excited to make this funding as Michigan is celebrating 100 years of elk on the ground,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “The grants will benefit elk and other wildlife by improving habitat across the elk range.”

Michigan is home to more than 6,000 RMEF members and 19 chapters. RMEF volunteers raised the funds by hosting banquets, membership drives and other events.

“We can’t say enough about our volunteers,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “They provide their time, talents and abilities to further our conservation mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. We simply cannot do it without them.”

Here are RMEF’s 2018 projects in Michigan, listed by county: Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan: new bear population estimates available; first season starts Sept. 10

Michigan’s bear hunting seasons are almost here, with the first opening Sept. 10 in the Upper Peninsula, the Lower Peninsula’s first season starting Sept. 14 in select areas, and Sept. 16 for remaining locations below the bridge. Bear seasons have staggered openers with various locations and hunt periods. For each of the 2017 and 2018 hunting seasons, 7,140 bear licenses were available.

“Over half of the state is open to regulated bear hunting,” said Kevin Swanson, wildlife management specialist with the DNR’s bear and wolf program. “Hunters are an important part of managing the number of bear and where they are located, and they have been part of bear management in Michigan since 1925.”

Regulations governing how and when bear can be harvested are in place to sustainably manage the bear populations. “Regulations are how we control the take of bear, ensuring Michigan has a heathy population within suitable habitat. They are adjusted, if needed, every two years.

“We have the ability to influence the growth of bear populations in remote areas of Michigan. Habitat is not a limiting factor, but social tolerance has been reached in portions of the Lower Peninsula,” Swanson said. “We are discussing another increase in harvest in the northern Lower Peninsula.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Yellowstone Grizzly Hunt Halted – Ruling Still Imminent

A federal judge in Missoula, Mont., has taken a cautious approach to ruling in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear delisting. While perhaps overly cautious, the first order in the contentious case is temporary.

U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen issued a 14-day temporary restraining order halting grizzly bear hunting that was scheduled to begin on Sept. 1 in Idaho and Wyoming.

While the order halts any hunting of recently delisted grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) in the two states, it is not a ruling on the merits of the case. The case itself is centered on whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2017 removal of grizzly bears in the GYE from the Endangered Species Act’s list of “threatened” species is lawful. In effect, the judge is taking more time to decide that question, and not allowing hunting to proceed while he makes that decision. At any point over the next two weeks, the judge could take several steps: make a ruling on the case, extend the temporary restraining order prohibiting hunting or terminate the order and reinstate the scheduled hunting seasons.

In issuing the temporary restraining order, Judge Christensen cites Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent under which the irreparable harm necessary for issuance of temporary restraining order can be the death of a single member of the species, as opposed to harm at the population level.

“This is more red tape than it is scientific wildlife management. Every threshold for delisting has been met and surpassed, the distinct population clause of the Endangered Species Act has been upheld in court and the delisting and management of grizzly bears in Idaho and Wyoming won’t have any impact on separate and still-protected populations of grizzlies in northern Montana or Washington,” said Heusinkveld. “The bottom line is that Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzlies have recovered and are no longer in need of federal protections.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Sportsmen and Women Contribute Over $93 Billion to Fuel the Nation’s Economy

September 4, 2018 (Washington, DC) – With countless places to roam and enjoy the great outdoors, Americans are taking advantage of these opportunities, and as they go, spending significant dollars. New economic reports by Southwick Associates reveals more than 53 million Americans consider themselves sportsmen and women, spending more than $93.5 billion in 2016 on gear, licenses, travel, clothing, gas and more.

In a series of reports released today by the American Sportfishing Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), expenditures made for hunting, target shooting and sportfishing gear and services in 2016 supported 1.6 million jobs and provided $72 billion in salaries and wages. These monies also generated nearly $20 billion in local, state and federal taxes, much of which benefits vital conservation and educational programs that improve our outdoor areas for all who enjoy them and make hunting and shooting safer activities.

Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Beware: Poison Pot

Sep 4, 2018

Hunting seasons are kicking in all across the country, sending some 11 million men and women into the wildlands. Additionally, 29 million Americans gather wild nuts, berries and fruits.

Everyone who ventures into wildlands should be able to identify plants like poison ivy, poison oak, and thistles. They also should know where snakes might hide, where to step and not get wet or muddy, and how to carefully climb a tree-stand.

Unfortunately, another wildlands hazard has developed over the last 30 years or so – illegal cartel marijuana grows. California has the most, but trespass marijuana grows have been found in 23 states and on 72 national forests. Other states with significant cartel gardens on national forests, national and state parks, BLM lands and USFWS wildlife refuges include: Colorado, Oregon, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kentucky —especially in the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Almost four million plants are removed from illegal grows on public lands nation-wide every year, less than 20% of what’s actually out there. Read more

Hunting

Wyoming: grizzly bear hunting season suspended at this time

Cheyenne – In response to a federal judge’s ruling, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has suspended the grizzly bear hunting season pending further direction.

“This is unfortunate. Game and Fish has a robust grizzly bear management program with strong regulations, protections and population monitoring for grizzly bears. We believe in state-led management of wildlife and involving the public in decisions like the creation and implementation of a conservative hunting opportunity for those who want that experience,” said Scott Talbott, director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “We will now await further information about whether the bears will remain under state management or if they go back to federal management.”

At this time, Game and Fish will continue to lead grizzly bear management, research, monitoring, conflict mitigation and education, but this judge’s ruling shuts down the planned 2018 grizzly bear hunting season scheduled to begin September 1. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

RMEF, SAF Maintain Support to Delist Yellowstone Grizzlies

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation today spoke in favor of keeping grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park under state management while addressing a Montana federal court. Plaintiffs want to place the population back under federal protection.

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife agencies in maintaining that the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Area met all delisting criteria as determined by scientists and should remain subject to state management,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “State agencies manage elk, mountain lions, deer and other wildlife as per the North American Conservation Wildlife Model, and the same should hold for grizzly bears.” Read more

Hunting

SCI, NRA Defend Grizzly Delisting in Montana Court

Attorneys from Safari Club International and National Rifle Association of America today participated in a hearing held in Montana federal court to decide the fate of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s delisting of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) grizzly bear population.

During the hearing the judge informed all parties that he would not rule from the bench but would make his decision on the delisting as expeditiously as possible.

All Defendants, represented by attorneys for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana and several non-governmental organizations including SCI and NRA, made strong arguments in defense of the delisting and the use of hunting as a grizzly bear management tool.

As of the date of the publication of this article, the grizzly bear hunts set to begin in Wyoming and Idaho on Sept. 1, 2018, are still scheduled to go forward. Read more

Hunting

Wildgame Innovations New Trail Cam

Grand Prairie, TX – Most digital scouting cameras utilize mechanical filters that allow them to “see” the infrared illumination produced by their infrared flash systems and record nighttime images of deer and other game. The clever system works, but has its drawbacks. First, the mechanical filter deploys – turning either on or off – anytime when light levels reach a predetermined value. Consequently, images taken

during these “transition periods” can often appear too light or too dark. Secondly, mechanical filters typically make noise when deployed, which can alert or even startle nearby game. Read more

Hunting
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