Category: Hunting

Ameristep Gives Brickhouse Blind the Silent Treatment

Plano, IL  – Hub-style ground blinds provide today’s hunters with effective and portable concealment. They set up and tear down fast, delivering the ability to hunt with confidence from nearly any location. It’s why just about every serious deer or turkey hunter has at least one of these magic makers in their arsenal – and chances are good, it bears the Ameristep name.

Known and admired for its rugged Spider Hub® frame, hardworking features and hunter-friendly price, the durable and dutiful Ameristep Brickhouse Blind has been a favorite among hunters since it was first introduced in 2010. And now, the gurus of ground blinds at Ameristep have taken everything great about the original Brickhouse and made it even better… by giving it the silent treatment.

Like the original, the new Silent Brickhouse™ provides ample room for up to three hunters, but improved features now cloak those hunters in silence. A patent-pending, hinged silent door system replaces the old zippered design, simplifying entry and exit with absolutely zero noise. Additionally, new silent mesh windows facilitate viewing and shooting adjustments without the alarming sounds of zippers or Velcro. Read more

Hunting

ScoutLook Hunting App Updates with Nationwide Property Lines and Landowner Info

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – ScoutLook continues its momentum in the hunting community as the leading mobile app provider. The ScoutLook Hunting app delivers global pinpoint weather forecasts, advanced game logging, distance and area measurement tools, and a growing suite of features to give hunters a digital edge in the field.
Now, with the launch of Property Lines, ScoutLook is the last hunting app you’ll ever need. 

The new Property Lines feature is simpler, faster and smarter than other options on the market. With two taps on the interactive map, users can see property lines, property sizes, landowner information, and other helpful property details for 97% of the U.S. with coverage in all 50 states. Locations can be cached for offline viewing with no cellular service. ScoutLook Property Lines are available for a free 7-day trial. Unlimited access costs just $5.99/month for full nationwide coverage. See a video and learn more here: http://bit.ly/ScoutLook-Property-Lines-App-Update Read more

Hunting

Michigan Needs to Kill More Whitetail Does

By Glen Wunderlich

Hunters can learn plenty about deer-hunting trends by looking at the numbers compiled by various wildlife agencies across the states.  Many Michiganders, however, seem bent on focusing on a particular segment of the whitetail population:  bucks.

Back in the days of market hunting in the early to mid-1900s, deer herds were decimated by unregulated hunting.  Therefore, it made sense to protect female deer to regenerate herds.  Although those days are behind us, some of the thinking that prevailed then seems to be dominating too many of our hunters today.  Trends were showing promising reversals in years subsequent to 1999, but we hunters have exhibited shortsightedness, once again.

In the current issue of Quality Whitetails published by the Quality Deer Management Association, its director of communication, Kip Adams portrays disturbing projections based on our DNR’s compilation of numbers in his piece, “The Dwindling Doe Harvest.”   Specifically, year 2014 signaled the start of a significant slide in antlerless harvests reaching a low point in year 2016.  That was the first year since 1999 that more antlered deer were taken than antlerless deer.  If you think that’s a good thing, read on.

The American wildlife management model, that has been successful in restoring not only whitetail deer herds but that of elk, antelope, and wild turkeys to name a few, depends largely upon hunter participation.  Hunters fork over hard-earned dollars to participate in hunting activities, play by the states’ management-plan rules, and reap the rewards for not only themselves but for non-hunters alike.  Their license fees and excise taxes on equipment is the primary source of revenue for management agencies across the nation.

As Kip Adams points out, hunting is an essential tool for sound deer management and part of our sporting heritage. However, in most states hunter numbers have declined, and existing hunter recruitment programs are proving only marginally effective.  Decreasing revenues follow.

From 2006 to 2011 hunter numbers increased by over one million, but during the past five years we lost 2.2 million hunters nationally.  In 2016 (the last year of available data), 11.5 million people 16 years of age and older went hunting (5 percent of total U.S. population), averaging 16 days afield each. Eighty percent of those 11.5 million hunters pursued big game like deer and elk.

Although Michigan has one of the top-5 states with the highest number of deer hunters, we have fewer deer and fewer hunters than in the past.  Disturbingly, Michigan hunters shot about 3 bucks for every 2 antlerless deer.  A closer look reveals we are shooting too many immature bucks – a whopping 47 percent of bucks taken are adolescents of 1 ½ years of age.  At the same time, compared to the 5-year average, our antlerless harvest is down 15 percent.

If ever we want to avoid the needless expense of sharpshooters (hired guns) in common use today – or, worse yet to continue an even more expensive and insane sterilization approach – we need to wise up.  If you’ve ever wondered why you see far more does than bucks, you have your answer.

Taking more antlerless deer will help to balance the ratio of male and female deer, thus improving the health of the herd and strengthening the habit that holds them.

Hunting, Wildlife

New Tactacam 4.0

Caledonia, MN- Tactacam is unlike any other camera on the market. It is designed by hunters for hunters with one goal, sharing the excitement and enjoyment of your hunt. From the launch of our very first Tactacam 2.0 we have listened to the feedback and went back to the drawing board with high expectations and we feel we have exceeded them.  The all new Tactacam 4.0 is packed full of features like Wi-Fi compatible viewing and control via your smartphone, battery indicator and the ability to film in 3 different resolution settings. The ultra-sharp lens and low light recording brings your target 5X closer than other POV cameras on the market making the Tactacam 4.0 the ultimate weapon mounted camera.   MSRP $329.99

Product Features Read more

Hunting, Optics

Zinke Announces More than $1.1 Billion for Sportsmen and Conservation

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

This year marks $20 billion in hunter and angler conservation funding

HORICON, WI – Yesterday U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke traveled to Horicon, Wisconsin, where he announced more than $1.1 billion in annual national funding for state wildlife agencies from revenues generated by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration (PRDJ) acts. The Secretary presented a ceremonial check to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for $34,966,603 while visiting the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area. State-by-state listings of the final Fiscal Year 2018 apportionments of Wildlife Restoration Program fund can be found here and the Sport Fish Restoration Program fund here. Allocations of the funds are authorized by Congress. To date, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has distributed more than $20.2 billion in apportionments for state conservation and recreation projects.

“American sportsmen and women are some of our best conservationists and they contribute billions of dollars toward wildlife conservation and sportsmen access every year through the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts,” said Secretary Zinke. “For nearly eighty years, states have been able to fund important conservation initiatives thanks to the more than $20 billion that has generated nationwide. Every time a firearm, fishing pole, hook, bullet, motor boat or boat fuel is sold, part of that cost goes to fund conservation. The best way to increase funding for conservation and sportsmen access is to increase the number of hunters and anglers in our woods and waters. The American conservation model has been replicated all over the world because it works.” Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Doing Damage Defined in Michigan

By Glen Wunderlich

As a wordsmith and professional communicator, I can’t help but notice when the English language is used incorrectly.  For example, if you’ve ever watched and/or listened to political debates, invariably you’ll notice an indefensible misuse of the word “podium.”  Some smartly dressed talking head displays his or her ignorance with a comment such as this:  “Senator Sam is now getting behind the podium, so let’s listen.”  Students of our language cringe, knowing that Sam is actually getting behind the lectern.  The podium – if it’s even present – is the platform on which the lectern is placed.  It baffles me as to why the higher-ups never seem to catch on but at least that’s off my chest now. 

For some time, language in Michigan’s Hunting Digest has seemed ambiguous to me relative to certain rules governing coyote hunting and trapping.  The rules indicate, there is no limit, coyotes can be hunted statewide, year-round.  However, reference to note #1 indicates coyotes may be taken on private property by a property owner or designee all year, if they are doing or about to do damage on private property.  A license or written permit is not needed. 

Not wanting to get on the wrong side of the law, I contacted Rebecca Benedict of the Public Outreach and Engagement Unit, DNR Wildlife Division.  I asked if damage to other wildlife, such as deer, would qualify under the definition.  Furthermore, how’s a person to know if a coyote is about to do damage? 

Here is her response:  “Coyotes that pursue natural prey such as deer and small game are not considered to be doing or about to do damage. The coyote must be doing or about to do damage to your personal property (pets, livestock, privately owned cervids, private buildings, etc.) to be able to be lawfully taken outside of the trapping season.  

Raccoons, skunks, and coyotes may be taken year-round, using otherwise lawful hunting or trapping methods, on private property and with landowner permission when doing or about to do damage. A snare would be lawful year-round to take coyotes doing or about to do damage on your private property as long as the rules outlined in the Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest are followed; see page 50 for more information. 

If questioned by a law enforcement officer, you would need to provide an explanation of how the coyote was doing or about to do damage. Contact the Law Enforcement Division at 517-284-6000 for more information. ” 

Still confused, I asked how a coyote could be shot on sight without all this proof.  The simple answer follows:   

“A Michigan resident may hunt coyote year-round if they have a Base License.   Coyotes are in the category of small game, so you can use your base license to hunt them.  You must follow the rules for hunting coyotes, same as you have rules for any other game species you hunt, like deer.  You can find more information on hunting coyotes in the Hunting and Trapping Digest on pg. 48 & 49.  Coyotes do not have to be doing or about to damage to be hunted.   

The rule you are referring to allows a property owner (or someone designated by the property owner) to take coyote on private property if they are doing or about to do damage without a license or written permit.  This would not be hunting.  For example: if  on your property you see a coyote going toward your chicken coop you would be able to shoot it if you did not have a base license.  (Please check and make sure you are in an area where you can legally discharge a firearm).   

I hope this clears up the confusion.” 

It certainly did and I hope we can all sleep better now.

Hunting

RMEF Supports Inaugural Wisconsin Elk Hunt

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation congratulates the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on its decision to institute Wisconsin’s first-ever managed elk hunt later this year.

“This is the culmination of more than two decades of elk-related conservation work,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “RMEF has been involved with reintroduction efforts in Wisconsin dating back to 1995 and continues to put funds on the ground to benefit the state’s elk herds and elk habitat.”

The DNR will provide ten bull-only tags for the fall of 2018 within the Clam Lake elk range in north-central Wisconsin. The state’s southern elk range in Jackson County will not be a part of the hunt.

One of the tags will go to a resident via a RMEF raffle designed to generate revenue for elk habitat management, research and monitoring. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Turkey Tips

By Glen Wunderlich

The sights and sounds of spring are upon us, no matter what Punxsutawney Phil has indicated.  Back are the sandhill cranes, redwing blackbirds and others such as the robins – all of which must wonder the efficacy of the early-bird adage of getting the proverbial worm.  No doubt Old Man Winter’s not done with us yet.

Regardless, some of our most resilient, non-migratory game birds – the wild turkeys – are just as anxious to bid farewell to the persistent snow, as they get in gear for their annual mating rituals in the coming weeks.  It’s easy for us humans to forget, as we man the snow shovels week after week, but the early spring hunting season begins in about a month – ready or not.

Here are a few suggestions to pass the time for those with visions of drumsticks dancing in their heads.

·        There are about as many turkey calls as turkey hunters themselves and now’s the time to see how they’ve held up.  Box calls may need a bit of light sanding on the friction surfaces, along with some chalking to finish the job.  Pot calls such as slate or glass may need similar attention such as light sanding of the surfaces including that of the striker.  Diaphragm calls can get funky, too, and rather than mess with old ones, they’re inexpensive enough to simply replace; just don’t forget to sing a few practice tunes with them before heading afield.

·        Check the function of shotguns – especially if they’ve seen use from last season during upland game or wildfowl seasons.

·        Patterning the smoothbores should also be on the checklist.  Most turkey loads pack a wallop at both ends – downrange and squarely on the shoulder.  Consider using light target shells, if you are concerned about your point of aim; they are inexpensive and are less likely to produce the dreaded flinch.  Once you get on target, it’s time for the serious stuff.

·        If you’ve yet to select any particular brand of shotshells, I’ve yet to find a better one for the money than Winchester’s Long Beard XR shells.  They come in 12 and 20-gauge configurations and pattern better than shells costing much more.  Although XR stands for extended range, make sure to limit shots to a distance whereby the pattern is tight enough to produce about 10 pellets in the head and neck region of the turkey.  If you don’t have store-bought turkey targets, make your own.

·        Camo gloves, facemasks and insect repellant should be packed.  Forgetting any one of these essentials can spoil a hunt.

·        Decoys are big business but they don’t have to be expensive.  I’ve had the same old rubber hen for years and that’s all I’ve ever used.  Although many decoying theories prevail, I’ve never found any need for elaborate setups.  But, if you are a run-and-gun hunter, a turkey fan-tail decoy can provide cover and deception.

·        Finally, if you are taking a youngster along, strongly consider a portable blind.  It can keep hunters dry, while concealing inevitable movement from within.  And, unlike whitetail deer, turkeys pay no attention to them – even if you’ve set them up immediately before turkeys are present.

Hunting
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