Michigan Coyote Management and the Usual Suspects

This from Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC)

On Thursday, the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association gave a presentation on trapping to legislators and policy-makers at the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus breakfast at the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing. This presentation dispelled common myths about modern trapping practices perpetuated by anti-hunting groups like the Humane Society of the United States. Later that day, the Natural Resources Commission met in Holland and considered a proposed wildlife conservation order to expand coyote hunting opportunities year-round and allowing the use of #3 and #4 buckshot at night for coyotes, both MUCC resolutions. HSUS predictably testified against the expansion, while Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association testified in favor. The NRC will decide next month under their Proposal G authority to determine method and manner of take.

Michigan confirms additional CWD-positive free-ranging, white-tailed deer, bringing the total to seven

Landowner assistance critical to continued management of deadly disease

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed two additional free-ranging deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.

One of the newly confirmed CWD-positive deer is a 9-month-old male from Meridian Township (Ingham County), and the other is a 2 ¾-year-old female from Watertown Township (Clinton County).

Since May 2015, nearly 4,900 deer have been tested for CWD. Seven of these have tested positive for the disease.

At this time, samples are being collected through road-kill pickup and professional sharpshooters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services. Since the initial case was confirmed, four of the last six positives were collected through efforts of USDA Wildlife Services staff.

In total, sharpshooters have collected just over 630 deer from the Core CWD Area, which includes nine townships. Of those, 467 deer were taken from Meridian Township, 108 from Williamstown Township, 41 from Bath Township, 12 from Lansing Township, six from DeWitt Township, and none from the remaining townships. Another 33 have been taken outside the core from Watertown Township.

“The partnership with area landowners and USDA Wildlife Services is a critical component of our surveillance efforts to determine the distribution of this fatal disease,” said Chad Stewart, DNR deer specialist. “Now, with these additional CWD-positive deer, that support is needed more than ever.”

Stewart continued, “The intensive removal of deer in these areas has a two-part benefit. One, it helps us understand prevalence rates and spread so we can make informed decisions on disease management moving forward; and two, by removing individual deer around areas with known disease occurrence, it reduces the potential for spread and accumulation in our deer herd, which has benefits not only locally, but on the periphery of the management zone as well.”

Landowners who would like to directly help with surveillance can apply for disease control permits, which allow a landowner to harvest deer on his or her own property and turn in the head to the DNR for testing. To apply for a disease control permit, contact the DNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory at 517-336-5030.

Another option for landowners to help address this disease is allowing USDA Wildlife Services sharpshooters access to their property to collect samples. Sharpshooters work closely with landowners on the number and type of deer that can be taken, and they will conduct surveillance only on property where they have permission. To inquire about working with USDA sharpshooters, contact the DNR Rose Lake field office at 517-641-4092.

To date, there is no evidence that chronic wasting disease presents any risk to non-cervids, including humans, either through contact with an infected animal or from handling contaminated venison. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

The DNR asks the public to continue to report deer that are unusually thin and exhibiting unusual behavior (for example, acting tame around humans and allowing someone to approach).

To report a suspicious-looking deer, call the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. After hours, call the DNR Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Do not attempt to disturb, kill or remove the animal.

DNR staff will continue with road-kill collection in the Core CWD Area. To report road-kills found in the Core CWD Area, call the Wildlife Disease hotline at 517-614-9602. Leave a voicemail with location information and staff will attempt to pick up carcasses on the next open business day.

The DNR provides CWD biweekly updates online at www.michigan.gov/cwd.

Quick Facts on the 39th Annual MARVAC Flint Camper & RV Show

When: March 17-20, 2016

Hours: Weekdays 2-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center, 3501 Lapeer Road, Flint, MI 48503. Located south of I-69 at the Center Road exit.

Display: All types of new recreation vehicles—more than 50 units—will be displayed; folding campers, toy haulers, travel trailers and fifth wheel travel trailers, ranging in price from $6,995 to more than $75,000. Learn about the latest RV features and innovations, and take advantage of low show pricing. Read more

The New Portable Ground Blind From H.S. Strut Offers Quick And Easy Concealment

The new Portable Ground Blind from H.S. Strut® allows hunters to quickly set up in areas with little cover and be well concealed while calling.

The Portable Ground Blind is compact and lightweight with three adjustable poles to adapt to varying terrain. The blind is eight feet long and 27 inches high, providing plenty of cover for more than one hunter. The blind is constructed of durable spun bond polypropylene with leaf shaped die cuts. The Portable Ground Blind is UV, water and mildew resistant and comes in Realtree Xtra® or Realtree Xtra® Green.

The HS Strut 8’ Portable Ground Blind sells for a suggested retail price of $24.99. Read more

Michigan spring turkey licenses available over the counter now

Starting March 15 at 10 a.m., any remaining spring turkey hunting licenses are available anywhere DNR licenses are sold or online at E-License.

Don’t forget, anyone can hunt turkeys in Michigan. No is application needed, and you can buy the Hunt 234 license throughout the Hunt 234 turkey season, which gives you 30 days of chasing turkeys in May!

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/turkey or watch our 2016 spring turkey hunting regulations video. Call 517-284-WILD (9453) if you need further assistance.

State-By-State Turkey Forecasts from Game & Fish/Sportsman


Discover hotspots, harvests and predictions for the 2016 seasonKennesaw, Ga. — If you’re a turkey hunter, you probably have questions.

Where are the best places to hunt in my state? How are local turkey populations faring this year? Have there been any changes in hunting seasons or regulations?

Readers will find those answers, plus much more, in the special state Turkey Forecasts appearing in spring issues of G&F/Sportsman titles. In most of the magazine’s state editions across the country, readers can discover everything they need to know about finding gobblers in their area. Read more

Relaxing Michigan’s Coyote Regulations

By Glen Wunderlich

When a Shelby Township, MI woman let her Pomeranian mix dog outside before retiring for the night, it would be the last time she would see her family pet alive. In another incident in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a miniature Schnauser spent his last minutes on a leash in front of his home. And, in the sanctuary of a fenced-in backyard in Hacienda Heights, California, a Papillion mix family pet met its fate. The common denominator? Coyote attacks.

As coyote numbers have increased, so have deadly encounters in urban settings. Because of the secretive nature of coyotes, many folks are oblivious to their existence until we hear of such horrific acts of terror.

In an ongoing study of predators in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by Mississippi State University, 142 fawns were radio-collared and coyotes were found to be responsible for 26 of 53 deaths – as many as bobcats, wolves, bears, and bald eagles combined.

Coyotes are found throughout Michigan in both rural and urban areas.  With an increase in complaints from the public regarding coyotes, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) believes that an expansion of the opportunities to take coyotes may help reduce these concerns.

The DNR has recommended several coyote hunting regulation changes to the Natural Resources Commission, including year-round hunting opportunities and implementation of a Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association resolution to allow the use of #3 and #4 buckshot at night for coyotes.

The DNR held discussions with internal staff and many external stakeholders to develop recommendations to amend our state’s Wildlife Conservation Order.  The amendment would include expanding the coyote season statewide, year round, along with clarifying nighttime hunting of furbearers, and to expand the time frame in which nighttime hunting with artificial lights may occur.  The Department is also giving a recommendation to expand allowable ammunition for taking all furbearers which may be hunted at night to include both 3 and number 4 buckshot.

Michigan’s current coyote regulations include daytime coyote hunting from July 15th to April 15th which is a liberal season with a few minor restrictions on the methods of take, devices, and ammunition. The current season for nighttime coyote hunting is from October 15th to March 31st.  However, the nighttime coyote hunting season is a restricted season with limited methods of take, devices and ammunition.  Individuals must possess a fur-harvester or resident base license.  Throughout the entire year, individuals may take a coyote on private property if the coyote is causing or about to cause damage.

Several other proposed resolutions by MUCC that would not become MUCC policy unless adopted at its Annual Convention are as follows:

Coyote Bounty (Straits Area Sportsmens Club) | Reverse MUCC’s opposition to bounties and institute a coyote bounty.

Nighttime Predator Hunting with Centerfire Firearms (Chris Kettler, Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association) | Remove restriction on using centerfire firearms for nighttime predator hunting.

Any type of coyote control is difficult but removing some of the encumbrances to willing sportsmen may be the best option available to wildlife managers.  It’s past time that we quit protecting the varmints that are helping to reduce our declining deer herd.

The Link to Conservation through Sportsmen

MISSOULA, Mont. – With the bipartisan passage of HR 2406, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, in the House of Representatives today, the Boone and Crockett Club reflects on the importance of conservation legislation.  Notable conservation legislation includes:

  • Yellowstone Protection Act of 1894
  • Organic Act of 1897, establishing national forests
  • Lacey Act of 1900, end of commercial market hunting
  • National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1903
  • Migratory Bird Act of 1913
  • Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1933, the first Farm Bill
  • Duck Stamp Act of 1934, wetland and waterfowl conservation funding
  • Pittman-Robertson Act of 1934, conservation funding
  • Wilderness Act of 1964
  • Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968
  • Endangered Species Act of 1973
  • Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003
  • Sportsman Heritage Act of 2011
  • Making Public Lands Public of 2013

 

The Club and many other conservation groups support the SHARE Act for its pro-sportsmen’s titles that will help ensure outdoor hunting traditions are preserved, protected and promoted. Read more

Michigan NRC Commends SCI Foundation on White-tailed Deer Research


Washington, DC – Joseph Hosmer, President, Safari Club International Foundation (SCI Foundation), announced that The Michigan Natural Resource Commission adopted a resolution on February 11, 2016, commending years of research supported by SCI Foundation showing that white-tailed deer survival in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) region is dependent on suitable wintering habitat. As a result of these findings, the state is now moving to improve the UP’s winter deer habitat to increase deer survival.
In 2014, Michigan created the Upper Peninsula Habitat Work Group (UPHWG), a collection of wildlife experts, natural resource professionals, private landowners and sportsmen to apply SCI Foundation’s research findings to habitat management. Drawing upon nearly a decade of research, the UPHWG is now tasked with updating forest management plans to ensure high quality winter habitat conditions are available to deer. Read more
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