Category: Hunting

MI DNR announces expansion of Chronic Wasting Disease Core Area and Management Zone

 

Additional townships and counties are affected

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission expanded the Core Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Area to include 17 townships. This area, which will continue to be referred to as Deer Management Unit (DMU) 333, now will consist of Lansing, Meridian, Williamstown, Delhi, Alaiedon and Wheatfield townships in Ingham County; DeWitt, Bath, Watertown, Eagle, Westphalia, Riley, Olive and Victor townships in Clinton County; Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County, and Oneida and Delta townships in Eaton County.

The CWD Management Zone also has expanded; it now will include the remainder of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties, as well as all of Ionia County. The expanded Management Zone will be referred to as DMU 419. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Garmin Introduces New Handheld GPS Series w/Touchscreens


Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced the Oregon 700, 750 and 750t, an update to its popular series of touchscreen outdoor handhelds. Featuring high-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS support, the new Oregon 700 series has a redesigned GPS antenna for better reception and performance. All models feature a worldwide basemap with shaded relief, while the 750t adds preloaded TOPO U.S. 100K maps. The new 700 series boast the new Active Weather feature for up-to-date forecasts and animated weather radar, as well as Geocaching Live for wireless integration with Geocaching.com. All of the new Oregon 700 models include more connectivity features like smart notifications and automatic uploads, and will be compatible with the Garmin Connect IQ™ platform.”We are thrilled to introduce an update to the Oregon series of handhelds,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “The redesigned antenna paired with new features like Active Weather, Geocaching Live and Connect IQ compatibility make these new Oregon units the ultimate rugged outdoor devices that can be completely customized to each user.” Read more
General, Hunting

CWD Update – Core Zone Expanded in Southern Michigan

This from MUCC…

At one of the CWD meetings the DNR held in Ionia, Both Chad Stewart and Chad Fedewa gave presentations on the disease, and what the Division has done to understand the spread of the disease at this time. Around 30 people attended the meeting, and at least five deer cooperatives were represented.

Chad Stewart provided an overview of the disease. CWD is always fatal; once a deer gets the disease, it will die from it, unless something else kills it first. Deer can live with the disease for 18-24 months before showing any signs of having the disease, and can live up to five years with it. All deer are susceptible to getting the disease, but males are more commonly affected. CWD is not known to be transferrable to humans. This disease is similar to that of Mad Cow disease. About 200 people died after consuming meat contaminated by Mad Cow, but millions were exposed to the contaminated meat. This being said, while it is not known to transfer, that is not to say it couldn’t happen.

If you live in the CWD Counties (see map below), it is suggested you take your deer in to be tested. If you live in the core townships within those counties (see map below), it is REQUIRED that you get your deer tested. CWD can be transmitted directly and indirectly. CWD can be spread via urine, fecal matter, and saliva of a sick deer to another deer, either via direct contact, or the excretions being on a plant, bait pile, rub, another deer makes contact with. Once inside the body, the prions (what CWD is made of) begin to multiply. EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) is another disease hunters in Michigan are familiar with.

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Below is a list of differences between EHD and CWD.

Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Enjoy ‘Coffee with the Commissioners’ July 14 in Lansing

Members of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission will be available to meet with the public Thursday, July 14, in Lansing. The commissioners will be at the DNR Lansing Customer Service Center, 4166 Legacy Parkway, Lansing, 48911, from 8 to 8:45 a.m.

Part of the commission’s “Coffee with the Commissioners” program, it’s a great opportunity for area residents to sit down with commissioners over a cup of coffee and share their thoughts, suggestions and concerns about Michigan’s natural resources.

“It’s important that we give Michigan residents every chance to hear from them on the management and long-term future of Michigan’s natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities,” said NRC chairman John Matonich. Read more

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

A Monster Blind in the Woods


PLANO, IL– This beast is no myth. Standing 7′ tall and leaving a 6′ by 6′ footprint, the new-for-2016 Ameristep Sanctuary Blind is confirmed to exist. The largest five-hub ground blind on the market, this monster will change the way families and friends hunt together, and must be seen and experienced to be fully appreciated.This is no Frankenstein blind, cobbled together from spare bits and pieces. Rather, the mad scientists at Ameristep created this new behemoth from the ground up, utilizing notoriously strong offset cable hubs to support the Sanctuary’s extra-large walls – a system that allows for the largest and tallest windows possible, constructed of shoot-through mesh and easily configured for sitting or standing bow shots.

The Sanctuary’s high-tech skin is made from Ameristep’s proprietary Durashell Plus Fabric in the versatile Realtree Xtra camouflage pattern. This extremely durable, dull, woven-polyester fabric is lightweight, soft-to-the-touch, and stealthy quiet. It also boasts the industry’s highest print quality. Inside, a black Shadow Guard coating devours silhouettes. Read more

Hunting

Stealth Cam’s Ultimate Archery Week 2 Giveaway


Grand Prairie, TX- Stealth Cam, a company PROVEN through continued innovation and production of quality game cameras and accessories, is excited to announce week 2 of their ULTIMATE ARCHERY SWEEPSTAKES.Week 2 drawing starts on June 29th. This prize package includes Stealth Cam’s 4.3” color LCD card reader for viewing and managing your trail cam images in the field, and Mtn Ops will be giving away a $500 gift card for use on their website. Whether you’re getting in shape for an event, climbing mountains in the fall, or simply conquering every day activities, Mtn Op is sure to have you covered. Read more
Hunting

Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Helps Launch Digital Mentoring App

Wichita, KS — Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors announced today Cabela’s Outdoor Fund has awarded the organization a grant to fund the development of a revolutionary Digital Mentoring program delivered via the Powderhook app. The app functionality will provide hunters and anglers with ready access to Digital Mentors in their area. Digital Mentors who use the app provide advice and tips, making it easier for new people to begin, and helping people of all experience levels enjoy better days outdoors.

“Thanks to the generosity of Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors and Powderhook will be able to provide a valuable resource for new hunters and anglers through an online social support system,” stated Mike Christensen, President of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc. “We are grateful that Cabela’s Outdoor Fund shares our vision and is lending their support to our efforts. We believe we can multiply our impact by adding a technology component to our existing programs, and expanding through an app in places we don’t yet work on a daily basis.”

According to Powderhook CEO, Eric Dinger, mentoring has been a hot topic among the 50 state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as leading non-government organizations, but solutions that scale to meet the demand for mentoring have been tough to find. “A traditional mentoring relationship remains the backbone of how we’ll get more people started in the outdoors. Most people reading this can probably harken back to their mentor, whether it was their father, grandpa or neighbor. But, being a long-term mentor to a single child or new person via a traditional mentoring approach requires a lot of time. We believe many people who may not be able to commit the time to a full mentoring relationship will be willing to lend an answer here or there via an app. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

MUCC’s 2016 Annual Convention Recap

Michigan United Conservation Clubs had its most important event of the year this past weekend in Big Rapids: our Annual Convention, where delegates representing our 50,000-plus members and 250-plus affiliated local sportsmen’s clubs vote on what hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation policies we will pursue, honor dedicated conservationists, elect officers and even improve local wildlife habitat.

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New conservation policies adopted by MUCC’s membership (and their sponsors) this weekend include:

  • Support for the use of centerfire rifles at night for coyote hunting. (Chris Kettler and Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association)
  • Banning the use of large quantities of chocolate in bear bait. (Michigan Hunting Dog Federation and Michigan Bear Hunters Association)
  • Educate bear hunters about the danger of using chocolate in bear bait. (Richard P. Smith)
  • Base chumming regulations on the best available science. (Adam Trenz, Metro-West Steelheaders)
  • Creation of a statewide urban deer management plan emphasizing bowhunting and venison donation. (Tomahawk Archers)
  • Define and regulate “airbows” as pneumatic firearms, not archery equipment. (Michigan Bow Hunters)
  • Reverse MUCC’s prior opposition to the use of crossbows during the archery deer season. (Elden Montross, Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club)
  • Support for bass tournaments. (Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation)
  • Encourage the DNR to use adaptive management for bass. (Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation)
  • Increase waterfowl hunting opportunities in county parks and extend liability protection to local government units which allow hunting on their properties. (Macatawa Bay Waterfowl Association and Jack Van Rhee)
  • Create a Federal Fish and Wildlife Disease Trust Fund. (MUCC Wildlife Committee)
  • Reduce the use of chemicals in native aquatic vegetation management, which provides fish habitat. (Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation)
  • Move the start date of the early turkey season in southern Michigan up from a Monday to the prior Saturday. (Millard H. Holton)
  • Allow rough fish harvested during bowfishing tournaments to be donated to rendering facilities. (Rob Miller, Bowfishing Association of Michigan)
  • Encourage the DNR to recognize Michigan’s diverse landscape in management decisions. (Tom Heritier, Saginaw Field & Stream Conservation Association)
  • Increase penalties for hunter harassment. (Jim Pryce)
  • Allow purple paint to be used in place of “No Trespassing” signs. (Jim Pryce)
  • Support the designation of the monarch butterfly as the official state insect. (Tomahawk Archers)
  • Support the designation of a 1.8-mile stretch of county road in a Grouse Enhanced Management System in Marquette County, currently open for ORV use, as a multi-use ORV route to allow funding allocation for signage. (Tim Kobasic, Hiawathaland Trail Association)
  • Confirm an earlier emergency resolution to encourage moose culling at Isle Royale National Park. (MUCC Wildlife Committee) Read more
Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife
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