With grouse and woodcock hunting season openers just around the corner, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that now is the time to make plans to spend some days in the woods.

“This is your year for a fall adventure,” said Al Stewart, DNR upland game bird specialist. “The 18 GEMS across the Upper and northern Lower Peninsula are waiting for you and your shotgun to flush a few birds.”

GEMS (Grouse Enhanced Management Sites) are large blocks of land, open to hunting, that have hunter walking trails winding throughout. The sites are managed to have young timber, which makes them ideal places to hunt and see wildlife due to the thick cover and great food sources provided.

“Michigan is nationally known for great ruffed grouse and woodcock hunting, but with millions of acres of public land to explore, hunters might not know how to get started,” Stewart said. “GEMS are great places to begin.” Read more

SCI is pleased to update members about the addition of language to S. 1514 that will allow the importation of certain sport-hunted polar bears from Canada.  The polar bear provision has become part of a sportsmen’s legislative package introduced in late June by Senator John Barrasso.

S. 1514 is the Hunting Heritage & Environmental Legacy Preservation Act or “HELP for Wildlife Act.”  Yesterday, the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee approved the measure on a 14-7 vote.  As we previously reported, the HELP for Wildlife Act reauthorizes several important conservation programs, directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the wolf populations in the Western Great Lakes and Wyoming, and facilitates the construction of shooting ranges on Bureau of Land Management & Forest Service lands.

Before final approval yesterday by the committee, Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska moved to add the polar bear provision, which was approved by voice vote.  The provision is similar to a bill introduced in the House by Rep. Don Young of Alaska to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies harvested in sport hunts in Canada.  Sullivan’s amendment enables the Secretary of the Interior to authorize import permits for polar bears that had been legally harvested from approved populations in Canada before the polar bear was listed as threatened in 2008.

The polar bear today, as it did in 2008, enjoys high population numbers across its entire range.  Canada’s polar bear management program is top notch and is one the most scrutinized conservation programs in the world.  The 41 polar bears taken by U.S. hunters in 2008 were all harvested under sustainable quotas in accordance with sound conservation practices.  Before the listing, U.S. hunters who imported their polar bears into the U.S., each paid $1,000 to a fund used exclusively for polar bear research and conservation.  Over the three decades that the program was in place, U.S. hunters contributed almost $1 million dollars to benefit the polar bear. Enactment of Senator Sullivan’s amendment would generate an additional over $40,000 for polar bear research and conservation, coming from U.S. importation fees. Read more

The all new Bog-Pod Rapid Shooting Rest (RSR) is compact, collapsible, and portable, making it the perfect shooting rest for outdoor enthusiasts. The Rapid Shooting Rest features Bog-Pod’s Switcheroo® Ultimate Shooting Rest, giving the shooter a full 360 degrees of target acquisition. Easy to store in a backpack, and quick to set up, this rest will give you the accuracy and range you need to make that big game shot on the fly.

Features Include:
Constructed of heavy duty cast aluminum and polymers
Easy to deploy Tripod legs with non-marring rubber traction feet
Twist lock main elevation adjustment
Minimum height of 7 inches with maximum height of 11 inches
Collapses to 12.8″ in length and weighs only 21.6 ounces
110113-render-demo-w-callouts Read more

The ICOtec GC320 Predator Call/Decoy Combo utilizes our outstanding remote technology that connects to call unit from up to 300 yards with no line of sight required to activate the speaker and the decoy. The unit comes with 24 deadly call sounds, and you can play two calls simultaneously. Additionally you have the ability to activate the electronic decoy with the same remote control. ICOtec has developed this decoy with a speed control, LED light for night hunts, 2 quick change toppers and it has its own power source so it will not drain your call batteries. The AD400 Decoy is included with the GC320 caller.

Light weight, compact, easy to operate, superior quality audio calls, extreme long range remote, low power consumption, feature filled electronic decoy and one of the lowest prices available for a great call. The ICOtec GC320 is how predator calling was intended to be. ICOtec offers quality, performance and value. Dead Serious! Retail price around $150

LAUREL, MARYLAND – Hunters fortunate enough to harvest a banded duck, goose or dove next hunting season will see a change in the way they report those bands to the United States Geological Survey. The call-in center that has been in place to record information has been replaced by an online tool at www.reportband.gov.

According to the USGS Patuxent Bird Banding Laboratory, which administers the bird-banding program in the United States, the toll-free number engraved on bands will still function, but will redirect callers to the website. Read more

Antlerless deer license applications on sale July 15-Aug. 15Antlerless quotas for each DMU can be found at mi.gov/deer

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the application period for antlerless deer licenses opens Saturday, July 15, and runs through Aug. 15. Read more

New Deception Series decoys are collapsible, much like every mallard they’ll fool.Baldwin, WI- Lucky Duck Premium Decoys prides itself in creating innovative and quality hunting products that generate more success in the field. 2017 is no different with the introduction of their new Deception Series, which are the most durable, lightweight, and portable decoys to hit the market.

Each set comes with 4 drakes and 2 hens, in four different body styles. They are made with ultra realistic EVA plastic and can withstand the punishment of today’s waterfowler. This decoy series is ideal for any walk-in hunter because they easily collapse and fit into a backpack, saving on space. You will be able to fit more decoys in each slotted bag. In addition, all 6 decoys have a weighted keel, anchor hook, and special slots to allow them to face in different directions when hunting a strong current.

The Deception Series is available for $59.99, and currently shipping to dealers. Some suppliers that are carrying this product include: Scheels, Cabela’s, Rogers Sporting Goods, and Mack’s Prairie Wings. If you visit www.luckyduck.com/dealer-locator, you can find a dealer nearest you.

Click on this link to watch a video on the Deception Series.