Michigan: Thinking Spring? Apply for Spring Turkey Hunting Now

2017 Spring Turkey Digest coverThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the spring turkey hunting application period opened Sunday, Jan. 1.

“If you are looking to hunt one of the limited-license turkey hunts, make sure to apply,” said DNR upland game bird specialist Al Stewart. “If you’re looking for broader statewide options in your hunt, you may want to wait and purchase Hunt 234.”

The 2017 spring turkey season runs April 17 through May 31, with several different hunt periods to choose from. The Spring Turkey Digest explains regulations, season dates and hunt units. Read more

Michigan: Late Antlerless Deer Season Begins Today

Contact: DNR Wildlife Division, DNR-Wildlife@michigan.gov, 517-284-9453

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the 2016 late antlerless firearm deer hunting season begins Monday, Dec. 19. Below is the list of the deer management units (DMUs) that are open and closed for this private-land-only hunt.

A valid private-land antlerless deer license is required for this season, which runs Dec. 19 through Jan. 1, 2017.

The 2016 Michigan Antlerless Deer Digest has further rules and regulations for antlerless deer hunting. More information also is available by visiting mi.gov/deer or calling the nearest DNR Customer Service Center. Read more

Football with Wolves

By Glen Wunderlich

To the dismay of animal-rights extremists, Michigan’s House of Representatives voted 69-39 last week to define wolves as a game species and to authorize the state to designate game species.  If this seems like deja vous, there’s a simple explanation:  It is.  This is the fourth time legislators have addressed wolf-hunting laws.

What has prompted this round of political football relates to a recent ruling by the state appeals court declaring the current law unconstitutional, because an attached-provision providing free hunting licenses to military members was deemed not to be related to scientifically managing wildlife. 

Just how we arrived at such a precarious juncture is worth recalling.  Michigan completed a Wolf Recovery and Management Plan in December 1997, which was revised in 2008. The Michigan plan recommends managing for a minimum of 200 wolves on the Upper Peninsula. The DNR’s goal is to ensure the wolf population remains viable and above a level that would require either federal or state reclassification as a threatened or endangered species.  This sensible plan, however, was rejected by an asinine federal court ruling that placed western Great Lakes states gray wolves back on the endangered species list in 2014, even though agreed-upon recovery goals have been far exceeded.  This decision is being appealed.

While the issue of hunting wolves remains in limbo in our region, Michigan’s legislature has paved the way to manage its wolf population according to sound science with the same sustainability that has been built in with every other game animal hunted. 

The elephant in the room is the struggle between disaffected voters and those citizens living with the devastating effects of wolf conflicts with livestock and companion/hunting dogs.  Never will the residents of the sparsely populated Upper Peninsula garner enough votes to overcome the fallacies of city-slicker voters; if wolves roamed the streets of Detroit, sentiment would certainly be different.

The plight of our Upper Peninsula residents would not be unlike that of our nation, had our forefathers not had the insight to adopt the Electoral College.  James Madison worried about what he called “factions,” which he defined as groups of citizens who have a common interest in some proposal that would either violate the rights of other citizens or would harm the nation as a whole.  Madison’s fear – which Alexis de Tocqueville later  dubbed “the tyranny of the majority” – was that a faction could grow to encompass more than 50 percent of the population, at which point it could “sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens.”

Little does all of this matter to groups like the Humane Society of the United States, which supports no hunting whatsoever, because it views the lives of animals as being equal to that of humans.

Senator, Tom Casperson, an Escanaba Republican who sponsored two earlier wolf hunting laws overturned by voters in 2014 following petition drives largely backed by the Humane Society of the United States had this to say:  “We didn’t have the money to counter, but we still have the problem up there,” Capserson said last week, referencing fears of human safety and livestock attacks in the Upper Peninsula, home to all of the state’s estimated 618 wolves. “It’s severe. Something’s going to happen one way or another.”

“Anti-hunting extremists will never accept a hunt for wolves, no matter how much damage the species does to other wildlife, livestock or pets,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president and CEO of the Sportsmen’s Alliance.

Hats off to the brave politicians who understand the misdirected enemies of common sense.

Hunters should prepare for possibility of being lost

LITTLE ROCK – Nearly a year ago, two northwest Arkansas hunters died tragically in Oklahoma on a duck hunt in the middle of a winter storm on a large public lake. The story was national news as the new year began. Rescue parties were unable to reach the men before both had perished.

It’s a reminder as this year ends that colder weather will be on the way, but hunters are determined to take out for waterfowl or other game, and inevitably, out in the wild and without proper equipment, it’s easy for a hunter to get lost and need rescuing. However, there are precautions to take that can help a lost hunter be easily found in time by rescue teams, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officer Norman Cornish says.

Cornish, based in Monticello, was part of a rescue operation recently when a squirrel hunter, in his 40s, became lost in a portion of the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in southern Bradley County near the confluence of the Ouachita and Saline rivers. A combined effort in an overnight search by Cornish, AGFC wildlife officers from Hamburg, the Bradley County Search and Rescue, and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office found the hunter by 11 a.m. the next day. The hunter was found standing in a creek, disoriented and suffering from hypothermia, and was briefly hospitalized in Warren. Read more

ThermaCELL ProFlex Heated Insoles with Bluetooth Control

Featuring Bluetooth Operation and Tested to One Million Footsteps

Burlington, Mass. – With the introduction of ThermaCELL Heated Insoles ProFLEX Heavy Duty, ThermaCELL has gone one step further with their innovative personal warming products. When ThermaCELL released its original remote-controlled Heated Insoles, it was revolutionary for outdoor lovers. Then the company took the product to the next level with its ProFLEX Heated Insoles, which featured increased flexibility and interchangeable cushioned batteries. Now, these new insoles feature Bluetooth® Technology so you can control the temperature of your insoles via a smartphone, and a 30% longer life battery.

“By using Bluetooth technology, the insoles can be paired with smartphones, completely eliminating the need to keep track of a remote,” said Josh Silvia, marketing manager for ThermaCELL Heated Products. “By using ThermaCELL’s free app that is available for both iPhone® and Android®, users can set the temperature for individual insoles, view battery life, and pair as many insoles as they’d like to their device.” Read more

Online Video Shows A Perfect Strategy for Tagging a Big Buck

Hunting strategies for the rut! Click here to watch the newest video on GrowingDeer.tv where Lindsey tags a mature buck on the family farm. It’s a top hit list buck that’s a real stud for that part of Arkansas! Then Adam and Matt are back in Kansas where they let the arrows fly. Plus, they’ve got the details of the hunt for a mind blowing 260″ buck! The episode wraps up with some solid tips and “how to” on trapping nest predators. Visit www.GrowingDeer.tv today! Read more

Prime Time for Muzzleloaders

By Glen Wunderlich

With a week remaining in muzzleloading deer season in Michigan’s southern zone (Zone III), the harsh wintry weather upon us can provide some of the hottest hunting of the season.  Food sources become magnets of opportunities for hunters prepared to brave the elements, as deer travel farther to feed.  Not only are more deer concentrated in feeding areas, but they tend to move more freely during available hunting light.  Accordingly, hunters able to withstand harsh conditions actually have some advantages that only late-season muzzleloading can provide.

The first advantage realized in late season hunting is the lack of other hunters.  During the regular season, smart hunters rely on the fact that other hunters will be moving about and pushing deer from cover.  During December, however, deer are not being pressured as much and will move to feed on their own accord, and they’ll do it before darkness descends in afternoon sessions. 

Another advantage is gained with snow on the ground.  Although a deer’s keen eyesight will spot a hunter’s movement more readily, a wise hunter can turn the tables by stand hunting.  Sitting still can be a challenge in trying conditions, but modern portable blinds or fixed shacks with heaters can translate into success with your being in position before deer arrive.

While on the subject of stand hunting, fidgety youngsters can join the excitement – either as company or participants – as long as they can stay warm and comfortable.  And, with the versatility offered by downloading muzzleloader powder charges and using lighter bullets, kids can hunt, too, without fear of excessive recoil, yet with enough energy to get the job done.  To custom load for youngsters or those of slight build, it is necessary to power a given load with loose powder, rather than using convenient pellets.  It’s really no big deal insofar as the loading is performed before heading afield.  Just make sure to pack some extra loads beforehand, which brings us to the next point for consideration.

If a hunter is fortunate enough to get a shot, it’s important to do two things immediately afterward:  1)  Watch the deer as long as possible to gain an understanding of its path, and 2)  Reload immediately thereafter.  Even if the deer is down, an experienced hunter will be ready for the unexpected by dutifully preparing a follow-up shot.  Many deer have been lost, because muzzleloader hunters assumed the hunt was over.

There is one final word of caution for the successful hunter:  Keep your deer from freezing.  A month ago, hunters were faced with warm weather and the task of cooling off the meat.  Now, however, cold weather presents a challenge to keep the deer from freezing.  With temperatures well below freezing, deer cannot be hung outdoors for extended periods of time without the meat being negatively affected.  Because the deer must be thawed to butcher it and then frozen again for storage, it won’t taste good; therefore, have a plan.

With a bit of luck, proper planning, and some “bad” weather, the coming week can be the best opportunity for deer-hunting success and bagging a good buck all season.

Michigan Predator Hunting Updates

Senate Bill 1187 (Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba) was advanced to the full House of Representatives for a possible vote next week. The Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act was overturned by the Michigan Court of Appeals last month on a technicality, as the court ruled that the provision to allow free licenses for active military members was not closely-enough related to the rest of the initiative. SB 1187 simply reinstates the remaining provisions of the SFWCA – namely the authority of the Natural Resources Commission to name game species and issue fisheries orders, the $1 million appropriation for Asian carp response, and the addition of wolves to the game species list. It has passed the Senate 27-10.

At the Natural Resources Commission, a MUCC 2016 resolution to allow centerfire rifles at night for certain predators, like coyotes, was approved by the Natural Resources Commission, but with restrictions. The order allows centerfire calibers up to .269, except not in state park and recreation areas statewide and limited to private land only in the southern limited firearm deer hunting zone. This measure was spearheaded by the grassroots group Predator Hunters for Centerfire at Night and supported by the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, which sponsored our supporting resolution this summer at the MUCC Annual Convention. Also at the NRC, former MUCC Executive Director Dennis Muchmore was awarded the Thomas L. Washington Lifetime Conservation Award, named after our other longtime former Executive Director!

Wednesday, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommended $47.6 million in grants for public outdoor recreation land and development, including the 680-acre Crystal Waters State Game Area project in Monroe County, which was endorsed by MUCC and championed by MUCC Board Member Kris Matthew of Ann Arbor, Sen. Dale Zorn (R-Monroe) and Rep. Bill LaVoy (D-Monroe). Trust Fund grants are funded by the development of state-owned oil, gas and minerals through the landmark compromise between conservationists and the energy industry in 1976.

Additionally, the following legislation was addressed this week:

  • SB 800: Includes a supplemental appropriation for $1M General Fund for the DNR Wildlife Division to backfill some of what they spent on CWD (Passed by both chambers, heading to the Governor for signing). (MUCC supported)
  • HB 5215: Penalizes the unauthorized removal of a dog collar (such as from a hunting dog). Passed both chambers and headed to the Governor for signing. (Began as an MUCC resolution)
  • HB 5868: A bill that would exempt recreational gold panners from having to get a DEQ permit, even if they were using motorized dredges in trout streams. This did not get a vote out of committee either and is dead for this year. (MUCC opposed)
  • HB 5702: Clarify some language on deer damage and disease control permits. Passed Senate, and should head to Governor.  (MUCC supported).

Unfortunately, SB 570 was not advanced past the House Committee on Tax Policy. After a committee hearing last week, there was not enough support on the committee to vote it to the full house in its current form. The bill would have exempted charitable sportsmen’s clubs from local property taxes, if they met specific community service requirements.

It was quite a week! Please support our work to conserve natural resources and protect your rights to hunt, fish and trap by making a tax-deductible donation at www.mucc.org/donate!

How’s HSUS Faring Post-Election?

With the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to run the EPA must have the execs at the Humane Society of the United States fuming. Pruitt was no fan of HSUS, putting out a public consumer alert against HSUS and opening a well-deserved inquiry into HSUS’s deceptive fundraising. Pruitt’s inquiry was also the subject of some tough questions HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle received from US Senator James Inhofe at a hearing last year. While the EPA and HSUS won’t cross paths too much, Pruitt’s going to have a nice, direct line to a President and other cabinet members.

Overall, election night was a big “L” for HSUS. HSUS’s political arm went in heavily against Donald Trump, calling him essentially the worst threat that could possibly happen to HSUS’s agenda. And he won.

The HSUS world generally supported Democrats. According to FEC filings, HSUS employees spent about $14,000 personally, 100% of which went to Democrats. HSUS’s political action committee made $370,000 in contributions, of which 67% went to Democrats. And HSUS’s legislative fund made about $1.1 million in independent expenditures, with 77% going to Democrats. Democrats are out of power. And of the few Republicans that the HSUS PAC did support, a number lost their bids, such as US Sens. Kelly Ayotte (NH) and Mark Kirk (IL). Read more

Feral Hogs Are Spreading, But You Can Help Stop Them

 

Feral hog distribution 2015 qdma

There’s a wildlife disaster walking your way. Or, instead of walking, it may have wheels under it. I’m talking about feral hogs, and if you don’t have them where you hunt, give it time. Hogs are gradually expanding their range, as you can see in the map above released this summer by the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS).

The map shows counties with established feral hog populations reported in 1982 (blue) and more recently 2015 (red). Notice how hogs have completely filled in almost all Deep South states in that time, and they’ve made much progress in their steady march northward. Notice also the outlier populations like those in Michigan, Virginia, Pennsylvania and other states. Populations like these were not established through natural hog movements but through transportation and release of feral hogs, most likely deliberate.

“Urge your state wildlife agency and your state legislators to ban transport and release of live feral hogs in your state – if it’s not already illegal.”

Why should you care? If you love to hunt and manage whitetails, you cannot also love feral hogs. They directly compete with deer for food like acorns and soft mast. Research even shows that deer avoid hogs, so it’s not even a competition: Hogs control the best food sources, and deer get the table scraps later. Hogs uproot food plots, sometimes raiding them for the seeds you just planted. They dig craters that are large enough to damage farm equipment. Hogs ruin forest roads, steal bait intended to attract deer to your trail-cameras, raid turkey nests, and generally destroy the deer habitat you’ve worked to build. They even foul the water in small ponds and wetlands, creating the kind of low-quality mudhole that is ideal breeding habitat for the flying gnats that spread the EHD virus among deer. Read more

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