Category: Hunting

DNR marks progress at halfway point in 10-year Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative

A few years ago, when the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced it was putting together a coalition to rehabilitate pheasant hunting in Michigan, it assembled an impressive array of partners to address many of the problems that led to the declining fortunes of “ringnecks.”

Now, halfway through the 10-year project, those involved in the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative say the program has made significant headway.

A male and female ring-necked pheasant are shown. The male, in the background, is much more colorful.“We are seeing enhanced partnerships, excellent teamwork, habitat improvements and increased enthusiasm for pheasants and pheasant hunting,” said Al Stewart, the DNR’s upland game bird specialist.

The coalition began the pheasant initiative by establishing three pilot focus areas, concentrating efforts in areas that offer some of the best remaining pheasant habitat in the state. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Sportsmen’s Act Scheduled for Senate Committee Markup

On Wednesday, January 20, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee is scheduled to hold a markup on the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act (S. 659).

In March 2015, after a testimony before Congress with various stakeholders and supporters, including Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President Jeff Crane, the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act, S. 405, was split for two mark ups: S. 556 includes provisions that were marked up the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, and S. 659 includes the remaining provisions that will be reviewed by the EPW Committee. After the passage of S. 556, with overwhelming support from the ENR Committee in November, the second portion of the bill awaits its review in order to move forward to a full Senate floor vote.

S. 659 includes: the Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act (adding lead fishing tackle and components to the list of exempted products from EPA regulation); Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act; Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act; Farmer and Hunter Protection Act; protecting the right of individuals to bear arms at water resource development projects; and the reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Act.

In anticipation of next week’s markup, contact your Members of Congress on the Senate EPW Committee and urge them to support the interests of America’s sportsmen and women during the mark up of S. 659.

– See more at: http://www.sportsmenslink.org/the-media-room/news/sportsmens-act-scheduled-for-senate-committee-markup#sthash.e0voN157.dpuf

Fishing, Hunting

U.S. Hunters Now Killing More Mature Bucks Than Yearling Bucks

ATHENS, GA – U.S. whitetail hunters are taking more mature bucks than 1½-year-old or “yearling” bucks for the first time in modern history, according to data compiled by the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) for its 2016 Whitetail Report, now available online.

In the 2014-15 hunting season, the most recent season with complete deer harvest data available from every whitetail state, the percentage of yearling bucks in the national buck harvest dropped to a new record low of 33 percent, falling below the harvest rate for 3½-year-old and older bucks – 34 percent – for the first time since whitetail populations were restored in the mid-1900s. Read more

Hunting

Traditions Performance FIrearms Introduces Rifle Stock Pack


Old Saybrook, CT (January, 2016) – New for 2016 Traditions™ Performance Firearms introduces their Rifle Stock Pack into their accessory line.Traditions™ Rifle Stock Pack is designed to help hunters and shooters carry key accessory items securely on their rifle, whether traveling to the field or the range. The Rifle Stock Pack fits Traditions™ break action guns, Tracker™, PA Pellet™, Deerhunter™, Crackshot™, and most conventional butt stocked muzzleloader and centerfire rifles.

It has a large zippered, angled compartment for easy opening and the fully adjustable 3-strap system allows for a custom fit. The padded cheek piece ensures comfort when shouldering or shooting your rifle. Inside the Traditions Rifle Stock Pack are two loops that hold two powder or bullet tubes. This pack is great for carrying extra ammo and accessories with you conveniently and securely! MSRP of $24.95.

Hunting

New Leica Geovid-R Rangefinding Binoculars


Introducing Leica Sport Optics new premium entry-level Geovid-R rangefinding binoculars, designed for hunters who want Leica’s proven field performance at a value price. With prices starting at just $1,749, the new Geovid-R opens up an opportunity for cost-conscious hunters to experience Leica’s heritage of performance, quality and precision. The Geovid-R will be available in 8x and 10x42mm and 8x and 15x56mm versions.

The Geovid-R boasts the same DNA as the field-proven, award-winning and best-selling Leica Geovid BRF, HD, and HD-R product lines.

Common features include:

  • Simple one-button, no programing operation
  • Full binocular functionality
  • Proven rangefinding performance
  • Leica optical design and performance
    • Line of Sight (LOS) ranging 10 – 1200 yards
    • Effective Horizontal Range (EHR) functionality 10 – 600 yards
    • Fully multi-coated lenses
    • High Durability Coating (HDC®) external lens coatings

Combining an innovative ballistics function with Leica’s demonstrated reliability and outstanding properties, the Geovid-R offers hunters valuable benefits, particularly for angle shots and when shooting in difficult terrain. Read more

Hunting, Optics

New LED Angle Lights from Nightstick®


Additional standard features include low battery indicator, multiple power options, and 3.5 day Survival mode increase safety at affordable priceBayco Products, Inc has introduced three new Nightstick® branded Intrinsically Safe Class I, Division 1 Angle lights that offer more standard lifesaving features and functions than existing angle lights currently offered in the market today. New models: XPP-5570R, XPR-5572R, and XPR-5572RM now available for global sale.

Each new Nightstick angle light model is cULus and MSHA certified Intrinsically Safe Permissible, water-rated as IP-X7 waterproof and meets requirements of NFPA-1971-8.6 (2013). Made from durable glass-filled nylon polymer, these individually serialized angle lights feature a heavy-duty stainless-steel pocket clip that eliminate slippage when attached to a firefighter’s jacket or respirator pack and include a top-mounted visible low-battery indicator that illuminates in low battery situations. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

New Ameristep Crush Silencer Blind


PLANO, IL The new-for-2016, Crush Silencer Blind lives up to its name, featuring mesh screens and window covers that work on Ameristep’s innovative Silent Slide Track System, which means no more sounds of zippers and Velcro shattering the early morning stillness and sounding alarm bells to nearby game. The door does have a full-length double zipper to seal the blind off when not in use, but the Crush Silencer has a sound-killing trick up its sleeve: A fabric flap surrounding the door can be quickly fastened to the blind’s fiber poles with a clever, silent clip system to seal and secure the door when the blind is occupied. This provides the hunter with complete concealment, scent containment and protection from the elements without using the zipper. Read more
Hunting

HAWK® goes Mega with Xtendible™ Tree Arm


Frankenmuth, MI— HAWK®, industry leader in innovative, hunter driven treestand design and accessories, introduces their new MEGA Xtendable Tree Arm. ‘We’ve taken our most popular tree arm and made it stronger and more versatile,’ says HAWK President Scott Lee. The MEGA Xtendible is a compact 11.25″ when collapsed but extends up to 25″ for that longer reach and weapon placement in the tree. Still made of aircraft-grade aluminum for lightweight portability and includes a molded SillentGrip™ finished hook for superior quiet grip for your weapon. Read more
Hunting

MI DNR checks 1 million deer thanks to Michigan hunters’ cooperation


GW: I really feel like a partner in the effort to contain CWD, having taken 4 whitetail deer in for testing…The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been collecting records for individual deer since 1987 – although it has been recording deer data for more than 50 years – and near the end of 2015, the DNR added its 1 millionth deer record to this database.

Michigan hunters have the opportunity to voluntarily bring their harvested deer to DNR deer check stations throughout the deer hunting season and receive a prized deer hunter cooperator patch. The data collected through this process includes age, sex and location of the deer harvested.

“Checking 1 million deer in this time frame shows the department’s commitment to collecting data from our deer herd to support science-based management, but also shows the level of cooperation by our hunters throughout the years,” said Chad Stewart, DNR deer management specialist.

Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

MI black bear success rate increases


For the past 90 years, black bear hunting has been part of the bear management program in Michigan.Bears are managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to maintain populations, provide recreational opportunities, including hunting and viewing, and help reduce the potential for problems with bears.

The strategic goals of the DNR’s Black Bear Management Plan recognize hunting as a priority component of scientific management that balances bear biology with the desires of the public.

This past fall, bear hunters took to the woods on Drummond Island and within six bear management units in the Upper Peninsula and three units in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula.

Bear harvest

DNR biologists said preliminary results showed a 12-percent increase in the 2015 statewide bear harvest over 2014.

Hunter Phil Barry of Hancock is pictured with his gun and a black bear he shot.”Hunter success rates continue to increase in many bear management units throughout Michigan,” said Kevin Swanson, a wildlife management specialist with the DNR’s bear and wolf program. “This is one indication of good bear numbers.” Read more

Hunting
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