Category: Hunting

Youth waterfowl hunts at Michigan’s Wetland Wonders

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites waterfowlers to bring their young hunters to one of Michigan’s Wetland Wonders in October and November for a memorable hunting experience. Hunters can choose from several dates and locations for youth waterfowl hunts. Parties with at least one youth will be given priority in the draw at all seven Wetland Wonders:

Oct. 22 – Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area (afternoon hunt only) in Pinconning
Oct. 29 – Muskegon County Wastewater (morning and afternoon hunts) in Twin Lake
Oct. 29 – Fish Point State Wildlife Area (afternoon hunt only) in Unionville
Nov. 5 – Fennville Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area (morning hunt only) in Fennville
Nov. 5 – Shiawassee River State Game Area (afternoon hunt only) in St. Charles
Nov. 11 – Harsens Island Managed Hunt Area (afternoon hunt only) on Harsens Island
Nov. 13 – Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (morning hunt only) in Rockwood

Drawings for the youth morning hunts will occur at 5:30 a.m. and for the youth afternoon hunts at 11 a.m. (11:30 a.m. at Harsens Island). Read more

Hunting

First 2016 Michigan elk season a success


The Michigan Department of Natural Resources yesterday announced that Michigan’s first elk hunt of 2016, which ended Oct. 3, had a hunter success rate of 85 percent. One hundred state hunters had 12 days to fill their elk license, with 30 any-elk and 70 antlerless-only licenses issued.”It’s hard to believe the first hunt period is in the books,” said DNR wildlife biologist Jennifer Kleitch. “Overall, we had good weather to hunt, no notable law issues and good success. The last few days were the wettest, which slowed efforts just a bit.”

The first hunt period of the elk season is staggered and open for a total of 12 days, from Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Sept. 16-19 and Sept. 30-Oct. 3. This early hunt period is open only in areas outside the core elk range, helping to control the distribution or locations of elk. The management goal for elk hunting is to control the number of elk and their locations and also the herd composition, or the male-to-female ratios. Hunt period 1 targets elk outside the location where the DNR wants the majority of the population to be. Read more

Hunting

Michigan: Pheasant Hunting Season Kicks Off


With the opening of pheasant hunting season last week, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that there are a growing number of opportunities to take part in this treasured Michigan tradition.Pheasant hunting season is Oct. 10-31 in the Upper Peninsula in Menominee County and portions of Iron, Marquette, Dickinson and Delta counties; Oct. 20-Nov. 14 in the Lower Peninsula and Dec. 1-Jan. 1, 2017, in selected areas of Zone 3 in the southern Lower Peninsula. The bag limit is two male pheasants daily, with four in possession. A base license is required to hunt pheasants.

“A few years ago, Outdoor Life magazine rated Michigan’s Thumb in the top 10 places in the country to go pheasant hunting, which points to the fact that pheasant hunting is still alive and well in our state,” said Al Stewart, DNR upland game bird specialist. “The DNR and our partners are making progress toward creating more quality pheasant hunting opportunities with the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative, a collaborative effort to revitalize Michigan pheasants.”

Stewart, who recently returned from attending the National Wild Pheasant meeting, explained that while pheasant populations have been in decline for a number of years, pheasants can be found in southern lower Michigan and in some areas of the Upper Peninsula. The best counties for pheasant hunting are in south-central to mid-Michigan and into the Thumb. There are some localized concentrations of birds elsewhere based on habitat availability. Stewart advises hunters to look for warm-season grasses, especially idled farm fields. Late-season hunters can have success in cattail and shrub lands adjoining picked agricultural fields. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Poachers: Do you Feel Lucky?

By Glen Wunderlich

Most Michigan deer hunters are proud of the number of antler points on bucks they’ve taken.  Some call it bragging rights.  Hunters are well aware of what constitutes an antler point and always seem to stretch the tape to the one-inch mark to claim another one.  However, when that antlered buck is taken illegally, the “hunter” becomes a thief and when confronted by law enforcement, would rather not toot that horn.  And, as of February of this year, there’s good reason for being sheepish:   Penalties and fines have been increased substantially.

A 2015 research study by the Boone and Crockett Club found that 92.6 percent of sportsmen support higher fines for those convicted of poaching big-game animals, while 88 percent also support even higher fines for those convicted of poaching trophy-class, big-game animals.

Accordingly, Michigan’s lawmakers have passed legislation that has increased the penalty and fines for anyone caught poaching a buck. It was the first change to Michigan’s poaching law since 1990.

The new fines are based on the number of legal antler points and increase for larger racks. The restitution for illegally killing a deer remains $1,000, and jumps to $2,000 for antlered deer. In addition, poachers are now fined $500 per legal point for bucks that are between eight and 10 points, and $750 per legal point for bucks that have 11 points or more.

The word is getting out, as one cheater found out the hard way.

Josiah Killingbeck reported that an illegal deer case from 2015 was adjudicated in Lake County. The case involved a subject who had taken an 8-point buck during archery season of 2015 and purchased a kill tag for it the following day. CO Schaumburger assisted CO Killingbeck with interviewing the suspect in the Detroit area where a confession was obtained. The hunter was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and $435 in fines and costs. The hunter had his hunting license revoked for one year.

Here are a few more examples of clever cover-ups unraveled.

CO Brian Lasanen and CO Ethen Mapes responded to a RAP complaint of shots fired well after legal shooting hours.  As CO Lasanen and CO Mapes pulled up to the suspect’s house, they noticed four deer hanging in the barn.  CO Lasanen made contact with the suspect, and was advised his girlfriend had legally shot all four deer. CO Mapes made contact with the girlfriend and after a brief interview, it was determined she had not shot any deer this season, and her tags were at a friend’s house.  In light of the new information, CO Lasanen re-interviewed the suspect.  It was determined the suspect had shot all four deer.  The deer and the firearm used were seized.  Law enforcement action was taken.

Sgt. Joe Molnar was at a deer check station when a hunter came in to have his ten point buck checked which he had shot on opening morning. While talking with the hunter, it was determined that he shot the buck, and then purchased his hunting license. The hunter had only bought an antlerless deer license.  A citation was issued for taking a deer without a license.

One question remains for the poachers among us:  Are the rewards worth the risk?

Hunting

Grim Speaker Callers from Johnny Stewart Wildlife Calls

Johnny Stewart® Wildlife Calls has introduced the new GS1 and GS2 Grim Speaker e-callers for 2016 with a host of features that can help hunters get the drop on predators.

The GS1 Caller includes five pre-programmed 16 bit authentic Johnny Stewart sounds, including Cottontail Distress, Howls, Coy Pup Distress, Fawn Distress and Vittles al a Jackrabbit. The 30 second sounds can be played in a continuous loop for extended calling sessions.

The GS1 Caller comes with a 6-button remote that has a 50-yard range. The pivoting carrying handle also doubles as a stand for aiming the call. The caller base operates on four AA batteries and the remote on a 12v 23-27A battery (included). The Johnny Stewart Grim Speaker GS1 Caller sells for a suggested retail price of $49.99. Read more

Hunting

NSSF Launches Hunting Works for Michigan

LANSING, Mich.-The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms industry, is proud to announce that the Hunting Works For America footprint has grown again and now includes a state chapter in Michigan. The newly formed Hunting Works For Michigan partnership has over 100 partner organizations and is looking to educate the public and elected officials about the impact of hunting. Along with current state chapters in Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oregon, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and another recent addition, Alabama, Hunting Works For Michigan is the 14th chapter to be added to the ranks of the award winning program. Read more

Hunting

Featured MI Managed Waterfowl Hunt Area: Nayanquing Point

Looking for a new place to hunt waterfowl this fall? Take a trip to Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area for a quality hunting experience.

Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, just north of Linwood, Michigan, on the western shore of the Saginaw Bay, has a family feeling. The hunters there take great pride in this local resource and appreciate the natural beauty and abundant waterfowl in the area. Read more

Hunting

Bad Boy Off Road Offers Special Financing


0 Percent Interest for 48 MonthsAUGUSTA, GA —Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announces special financing for its Bad Boy® Off Road brand vehicles, the 80 HP Stampede™, Recoil®, Recoil iS, Recoil iS Crew and Ambush® iS side-by-sides, as well as the Onslaught™ 550 ATV. For a limited time only, qualifying consumers can purchase any of these vehicles and receive zero-percent interest financing for 48 months. Read more
General, Hunting

Conservation Community Calls for Congress to Pass Sportsmen’s Provisions

On October 5, thirty-four of the nation’s leading hunting, angling and conservation organizations sent a letter to Senate and House Energy bill (S. 2012) conferees in strong support of including important provisions from the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act (S. 405) and Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406) in final conferenced energy legislation. The 47 bipartisan conferees from the Senate and House include 34 members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC).

S. 405, introduced by CSC Members Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK), Martin Heinrich (NM), and Senate CSC leadership, expands access to and opportunities for hunting and angling and promotes wildlife and habitat conservation. On April 20, the Senate adopted many of the provisions within the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act with a vote of 97 – 0 under the Natural Resources Title of the Energy Policy Modernization Act (S. 2012). The House followed suit by adding its version of comprehensive sportsmen’s legislation, H.R. 2406, to S. 2012.

The SHARE Act, introduced by the bipartisan House CSC leadership, includes provisions such as the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act; the Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act; Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act; the Farmer and Hunter Protection Act; the permanent creation of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee; and the Preserving Public Access to Public Water Act, among others.

The inclusion of these provisions in the final conferenced energy legislation between the House and Senate Committees, and ultimately signing them into law, is crucial to the traditions of sportsmen and women across the country as well as fish and wildlife conservation for the future.

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

Scent-A-Way BIO-STRIKE Odor Shield Provides Long Lasting Scent Control


Scent-A-Way® BIO-STRIKE® Odor Shield can turn any piece of clothing into scent blocking apparel, providing a quick and easy solution to staying scent free.Scent-A-Way BIO-STRIKE Odor Shield contains a proprietary formula that impregnates clothing, eliminating current odors, as well as inhibits the development of odor causing sources so future odors are reduced.

Each packet of Odor Shield contains the proprietary formula of Silver Ion concentrate with Titanium technology. Simply adding one packet to the rinse cycle of your washing machine, can provide up to 30 days or more of scent elimination. Odor Shield won’t stain or fade clothing and is safe for all washing machines. It works great for hunters who will be on extended trips where laundry service is unavailable.

Odor Shield is sold in a four pack, which will treat four average sized (medium to large) wash loads. Odor Shield sells for a suggested retail price of $9.99. Read more

Hunting
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