Category: Hunting

Michigan’s Deer by the Numbers

By Glen Wunderlich

Each year at this time, the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) publishes the latest data available relative to the status of the country’s whitetail deer herd.  The 2017 Whitetail Report, QDMA compared harvest data from the three most recent seasons available: 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16.  What follows is a snapshot of Michigan’s results and other relevant trends and comparisons to other states.

Before getting into the numbers, however, it has just been announced that two female deer from a Mecosta County captive cervid operation have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).  As with the response to CWD in free-ranging deer around Meridian Township, the discovery will mean mandatory deer checks and other means of monitoring the always-fatal disease including quarantining and depopulating the affected farm.  Hunters will, once again, be the primary source of containing the disease and are being asked to cooperate with the effort.

Apart from the Whitetail Report, six of the 37 states in the Midwest region to which Michigan belongs, have already compiled results from the just-completed deer seasons and only New York shows an increase in deer take.  Wisconsin’s season was about the same, while Illinois, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Iowa reported decreases ranging to 10 percent.

Although Michigan’s overall kill numbers continue to trend downward, as well, the percentage of buck’s taken by age class remains promising in an effort to allow our deer to mature.  While Michigan hunters took some 8 percent more bucks aged 1.5 years or older in 2015, its numbers have declined 7 percent over a 5-year average.  Interestingly, Michigan places second only to Texas in the number of bucks taken.

More precisely, in the category of bucks taken by age class, Michigan has made great strides in recent history.  A few short years ago, Michigan led the Midwest region for the dubious distinction of taking yearling bucks (1.5 years old).  Current statistics show only 44 percent of bucks taken were yearlings, while 29 percent were 2.5 years old, and a steady increase in the mature category of 3.5 years-old or older to 27 percent.

Michigan’s antlerless numbers taken continue to show a significant decrease – last year showing some 26 percent less over the 5-year average.  What this means is that Michigan is doing relatively little to balance the buck-to-doe ratio.

As predicted, antler point restrictions are having a positive impact, as can be seen by the increased number of mature bucks taken in recent years.  With this in mind, another related aspect of whitetail management could be considered to further the cause of Quality Deer Management.  QDMA recommends a change in what is considered an antlered buck, because we have access to better optics than ever before, and should therefore, be able to determine if a deer is a buck, if it has any visible antlers above the hairline.  This makes sense, because a buck is still a buck.

To learn more and to get involved, The Shiawassee Conservation District is partnering with the Shiawassee River Branch QDMA to host a Wildlife Habitat Workshop, Saturday February 11, 2017, 9 am to noon, at the Shiawassee Conservation Association, 4247 N. M-52, Owosso.  There is no charge and a free lunch will be provided.  Present will be DNR wildlife biologist, Chad Fedewa, QDMA guru, Ed Spinazzola, and Jeff Tuller, consulting forester. Reservations are required by contacting the Shiawassee Conservation District by February 3 at 989-723-8263 ext., 3, or online at www.shiawasseeccd.org. 

Hunting, Wildlife

The Pope And Young Club Announces A Potential New World’s Record Non-Typical Coues Deer

Chatfield, MN – In December of 2015, Terry Edwards of San Carlos, Arizona took an incredible Coues deer that may be the new Pope and Young Club Non-Typical World’s Record.

“My heart was racing and I could hear it beating loud in my ears. My hunting partner Trevor Chapman shared many words of excitement as we followed the blood trail. I knew I had shot one of the biggest deer I had ever laid eyes on, but little did I know he would be a potential P&Y World’s Record. I was just happy to fill my tag. The terrain was treacherous and thick with dense oak trees and waist-high brush. Any Coues deer hunter knows that such habitat is prime big buck country. After tracking the buck and finally being able to put my hands on this ghost-like creature, I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride. This moment put all my hunting efforts into perspective. This was why my father took me hunting since I was a kid; this was why he taught me all I know about hunting. It was through my father’s knowledge and character that I grew up loving the outdoors. I thank God and my father for blessing me with such an amazing animal… an animal of a lifetime.” Read more

Hunting

Alaska Sues U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Over Refuge Predator Program

 By Etta Pettijohn
The state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of a federal agency’s restrictions on predator harvests on wildlife refuges and national parks there.

State attorneys filed the lawsuit Jan. 13 in the U.S. District Court of Alaska, claiming new rules adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) violate a 1980s law authorizing the state to manage wildlife, impairs indigenous peoples’ ability to harvest food for sustenance, and sets a precedence to restrict future fish and game harvests, intended to be under state control. Read more

Hunting

U.S. Hunters Take More Mature Bucks Than Yearlings for Second Year in a Row

ATHENS, GA – U.S. whitetail hunters took more mature bucks than 1½-year-old or “yearling” bucks for the second consecutive year – and the second year ever in modern history – according to data compiled by the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) for its 2017 Whitetail Report, now available online.

In the 2015-16 hunting season, the most recent season with complete deer harvest data available from every whitetail state, the percentage of 3½-year-old and older bucks climbed to 35 percent of the nation’s buck harvest, the highest harvest rate in modern history. That exceeds the rate of harvest for yearling bucks (34 percent) and the harvest of 2½-year-old bucks as well, which was 31 percent.

“No state wildlife agency employs regulations or encourages hunters to pass anything more than yearling bucks, yet the percentage of bucks 3½ years and older now surpasses 1½- and 2½-year-olds,” said Kip Adams, QDMA’s Director of Education & Outreach. “That means many hunters are willingly passing 2½-year-old bucks that are legal to harvest, which shows a desire by many hunters to hunt bucks that are at least 3½ years old.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Taking Out a Michigan Fawn Killer

By Glen Wunderlich

Hunting coyotes is always a challenge and adverse weather conditions can make it even more so.  High winds, rain, snow or extremely cold temperatures can make hunting more than uncomfortable.  However, by employing some basic deer hunting tactics, the predator hunter can not only bear the elements but he may have reason to grin, as well.

Planning a hunt in advance can mean that hunters may be subjected to unfavorable conditions on the day(s) of the hunt.  Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to attempt to define the difference between brave and stupid.  But, on this brisk and frosty January morning, we had a plan.

Nothing would please me more than to remove a local fawn killer from the gene pool within the boundaries of our deer hunting grounds.  With light wind from the west, my hunting partner, Joe, and I agreed that one of our deer hunting shacks would be the perfect site for an ambush.  There, we could take advantage of the prevailing wind and the warmth from a propane heater in the blind.  Typically, a heater is not necessary, because setting up for a coyote encounter doesn’t usually involve extended stays – usually, 20 minutes or so – but, not this time.

Overnight temperatures had dipped to 16 degrees Fahrenheit and had transformed the ground into a crunchy carpet of ice balls.  The sound of two flat-footed hunters making their way across the landscape was like crushing styrofoam in the still air; it was impossible to make a quiet approach.

While Joe carried the firearms to the blind

Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08, Leupold scope

, I set up a full-body coyote decoy about 100 yards into the wind and the FoxPro electronic caller was placed nearby.  Deer urine collected and melted from yellow snow was applied to our boot soles and around the decoy – not on it.

Here is where the heated blind comes into play:  We fired up the heater and let our disturbing approach succumb to patience, as we waited for dawn.  We positioned ourselves to cover any potential activity in the field using sandbag rests for our rifles – a distinct advantage.  Plus, in the event of electronic caller failure, I carried a couple of hand calls for backup.

A half hour or so had passed before I selected some vole squeaks with the remote transmitter.  (It’s always best to start a calling sequence at low volume in case a varmint is lurking nearby.  Since the hearing of coyotes is almost incomprehensively superior to that of humans, there is no need to blast out sounds.)  The stillness of the air was then interrupted by 30 seconds of pitiful squealing sounds, before hitting the pause control.  Several minutes of quiet produced nothing, so I repeated the procedure.  We watched.

With no response, I switched to the predator hunters’ favorite sound:  a rabbit in distress at low volume.  After another quiet period, nothing appeared, so I increase the volume a bit more, switched the caller off, and we continued to scan for movement.  Minutes had passed and then Joe noticed a lone coyote curiously searching for some fast food along a brush line about 150 yards out.

The 33-pound female paused long enough for Joe to launch a 139-grain Hornady SST projectile from his Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08

Handloads for 7mm-08

, while I plugged my ears and watched intently.  The killer was dead.

Saving fawns can be a challenging experience, although success is never guaranteed.  But, this time, we beat the odds.

Joe Reynolds with his 33lb. 2oz. female coyote taken at 137 yards

Hunting

DSC Objects to USFWS Order 219

DALLAS – For his last hurrah before departing office, outgoing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Director Daniel Ashe released USFWS Director’s Order 219, expanding the use of nontoxic ammunition and fishing tackle. Dallas Safari Club (DSC) objects to the Order, and condemns the decision as it targets our hunting and fishing heritage.

“This action flies squarely in the face of long and constructive tradition of states working in partnership with the Service to effectively manage fish and wildlife resources,” stated Nick Wiley, president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “The Association views this Order as a breach of trust and deeply disappointing.” Read more

Ammunition, Hunting

SCI Sues to Protect Hunting Opportunities in Alaska

WASHINGTON, DC – On January 19, 2017, Safari Club International (SCI) filed a lawsuit against three sets of Obama Administration regulations that prohibit and restrict certain methods and means of hunting on National Wildlife Refuges and National Preserves in Alaska.  SCI filed suit in federal district court in the District of Alaska.

SCI’s lawsuit challenges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) and National Park Service’s (NPS) illegal acts in ignoring and overriding the State of Alaska’s authority to manage wildlife and regulate hunting in Alaska.  The Complaint documents how the FWS’s regulations pertaining to Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and the NPS’s regulations pertaining to National Preserves conflict with the State of Alaska’s constitutional and statutory obligations to manage the State’s wildlife for sustained yield by Alaska’s hunters.  SCI’s lawsuit explains that the FWS’s and NPS’s regulations violate the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Read more

Hunting

Key Senator Calls for New Commission on Americans Outdoors at Interior Confirmation Hearing

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) called for a new Commission on Americans Outdoors during Interior Secretary-designate Ryan Zinke’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee January 17. “Will you use this opportunity to look ahead another generation and ask the question ‘What outdoor recreation opportunities will our children and grandchildren have?'” asked Sen. Alexander. “I think you’re in a wonderful position to do a follow-up to the Commission on Americans Outdoors. This is the 30th anniversary of that report; a generation has passed and it’s time for the next look.”

Secretary-designate Zinke expressed interest and stressed the importance of attracting millennials to their great outdoors, saying, “We have to look at new ways of incentivizing younger millennials to experience the parks, to experience the outdoors, to teach them the value of our public lands…In many cases, I would argue it’s better than being in front of a TV, watching video games.” Read more

Fishing, Hunting

2016 Michigan elk hunting season recap


Michigan’s latest elk hunting season – considered the late or December hunt – is complete, and preliminary hunting results are in. A total of 100 state licenses were available, 30 any-elk and 70 antlerless-only licenses.”Fortunately, because of the nature of our elk season, we are really able to work closely with hunters,” said Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Shelby Hiestand. “The December hunt had a 92-percent success rate for our state hunters, which is great.”

During the nine-day hunt period, running Dec. 10-18, 54 cows, 29 bulls and nine calves were harvested. Weather was favorable, with some snowfall just before the season making it easier to track and see animals within the elk hunt unit. The December season allows hunters to take an elk within any elk management hunting unit, maximizing the 10-county hunting unit at the “tip of the mitt” of northern Michigan.

The earlier elk hunt period, which ran from late August to early October for 12 days, also had great hunter success, with 85 percent of state hunters able to harvest elk. Read more

Hunting
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