Hunt Safely This Turkey Season

GW:  Some things you may not have considered for turkey season hunts…

Camouflage or drab colored clothing is almost mandatory to outwit a keen-sighted gobbler. Unfortunately, camouflage often makes it just as hard for hunters to spot one another as it does for turkeys.

“Almost all of the incidents during turkey season have been caused by hunters who didn’t positively identify the target before they pulled the trigger,” said Chris Saunders, hunter education manager. “And the person they mistake for a turkey is often a friend trying to stalk a turkey call.”

With the opening of spring turkey hunting season near, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department urges hunters to consider these safety tips: Read more

New Mexico’s Controversial Mountain Lion Legislation

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GW:  Thanks for the heads-up from J.R. Absher, it has been noted that the bill in question died in committee a month ago and the 60-day session ended March 21.

On March 13, 2015, the New Mexico House Agriculture, Water, and Wildlife Committee advanced a bill that would effectively treat the state’s mountain lions as nuisance animals. This legislation would overturn a regulation that currently protects females with cubs from being hunted, as well as removing the requirement of a hunting license in order to harvest a mountain lion.

This would mean that there is open season on mountain lions; they could be hunted or trapped at any time without harvest limits. If the bill passes, the state’s Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) will no longer hold the authority to regulate mountain lions as a game animal or manage their population. It would also take away their ability to respond to complaints about mountain lions and remove problem animals.

Wildlife officials estimate there are between 3,000 to 4,500 mountain lions in New Mexico. Every year, 2,000 hunting licenses are issued and a maximum of 700 cats can be harvested, although hunters usually only take about 200 animals. Read more

Turkey Hunting During the Good ‘Ol Days

By Glen Wunderlich

When I first discovered the presence of wild turkeys in the northern reaches of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula back in 1980, my first-ever turkey permit arrived in the mail.  I knew very little about the wary birds back then but began my education by listening to cassette tapes by Rob Keck, who led the National Wild Turkey Federation for 27 years as its CEO and was instrumental in the successful reintroduction of the turkeys from Mexico to Canada.  I just about wore those tapes out before heading north alone with my small backpacking tent.

On state land in the Atlanta/Lewiston area, I ventured to the tallest point in the vast network of two-track roads in the setting sun in an effort to learn where the birds were roosting.  It worked.

In the pre-dawn darkness, an impromptu blind was fashioned from fallen branches along the edge of a field where the big birds were spotted the day before.  I settled in with my double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun and 3-inch shells of copper-plated 4 shot.  That old box call rang out a few hen sounds and much to my amazement, two gobblers responded – one on each side of me!

Within minutes one of the puffed up males strutted from the timber directly to my left into the field.  Lacking confidence to coerce the bird closer, I anxiously watched as the bird wandered farther and farther away.  It was now or never and when I regained my composure after the shot, my first wild turkey wasn’t mine at all, as it scampered back into the woods.

Back then, as I recall, the success rate was about 3 percent for turkey hunters.  The turkeys were still being trapped and relocated to areas across the state and the total kill in Michigan was less than 1,000 birds.  Since the year 2000, however, the number of birds taken in Michigan’s spring season has surpassed 30,000 annually with the take peaking in year 2008 at over 42,000 birds in the spring season alone.

According to Michigan Department of Natural Resources Upland Game Bird Specialist Al Stewart, “Eastern turkey numbers have stabilized across much of their range after decades of expansion and reintroduction into new habitats and suitable range.  There’s no state where turkey hunting is as good as it was 10 years ago.”  Stewart also notes that in the Upper Peninsula turkeys are expanding west and are presenting new opportunities for hunters.

Some areas of the northern Lower Peninsula were met with severe winter weather the past two years and turkey populations there may be half or less of what they were a few years ago.

Although turkey numbers have declined in most of the central and southern portions of the Lower Peninsula, the outlook for spring turkey hunting is still good.

Resident tags are only $15 ($6 for seniors).  So, shake off the winter blahs and enjoy some of the most exciting and accessible turkey hunting found anywhere, because these are the good ‘ol days.

Dismissed: HSUS Lawsuit to Silence Maine’s Wildlife Professionals

On Friday, April 3, 2015 Maine Superior Court Justice Joyce Wheeler issued a final judgment in the question of the state’s ability to comment on wildlife issues. In her ruling, Wheeler sided with the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and fully dismissed a lawsuit aimed at silencing Maine’s wildlife professionals.

The case started in the closing weeks of the Maine bear campaign over Question 1 on last November’s ballot. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), through their front group Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, sued the state of Maine alleging an improper level of engagement in the. The “state,” in this case, was the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, whose vocal and public opposition to Question 1 didn’t mesh with HSUS’ wish to stop bear hunting in the state.

The original lawsuit sought an injunction that would remove the TV advertisements being aired by the Maine Wildlife Conservation Council that featured department personnel talking about the dangers of Question 1.

“Political campaigns are won and lost on TV, especially in the case of ballot issue campaigns,” said Evan Heusinkveld, USSA Foundation’s vice president of government affairs. “There is no doubt that our opponents saw the wildlife management professionals at the department as a distinct threat to their campaign. In response, they attempted to silence the only true experts—the professional staff at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.”

On Oct. 22, 2014, Maine Superior Court Justice Joyce Wheeler denied the request for a temporary restraining order by Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, which sought to remove television commercials opposed to Question 1. In her ruling, Justice Wheeler sided with the right of the state to provide comment. This ruling ensured the TV commercials remained on the air, and just a few days later sportsmen were victorious at the ballot box, defeating Question 1 by a 53-46 margin. Despite the victory on the temporary restraining order and at the ballot box on Nov. 4, the lawsuit remained active.

In light of judge’s decision and with the election over, on Feb. 24 the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife moved to have the case dismissed because of mootness—a move wholeheartedly supported by Maine Wildlife Conservation Council. However, HSUS lawyer Rachel Wertheime countered that the lawsuit was still valid because the organization would be filing paperwork to once again put a bear-hunting ban initiative on the state’s 2016 ballot.

In her ruling today, Justice Wheeler responded to that motion by fully and finally dismissing the case at the Superior Court level, leaving HSUS, and their front group Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, with few options outside of appeal to the state’s Law (Superior) Court.

“The Superior court already ruled that the state was well within its right to speak out on this issue, and now they have now decided that since the election is over, the case is moot,” said Heusinkveld.  “This ruling just reaffirms our position and is a clear victory for sportsmen and women. There should be no doubt left, the people of Maine deserve to hear from the experts when it comes to these issues.” Read more

Food Plots and Habitat Plantings for Game Birds

One aspect of wildlife management that is growing rapidly is the restoration of native habitat and growing crops with game birds like quail and turkey in mind. I am of the opinion that loss of habitat may be the number one factor in a list of many reasons for the steady decline in quail numbers over the last several decades. Turkey on the other hand, have had remarkable success and have a population that is abundant across most of the U.S.

Whether you are trying to attract turkeys and keep them on your property or attempting to provide food and cover for a couple coveys of quail, there are several easy to plant annual crops that can be very beneficial. Millets, sorghum, and sunflowers are all easy to plant warm season annuals that can be planted as stand-alone crops or as a blend like BioLogic’s WhistleBack. A lot of people want to plant something that is providing food within a couple weeks like they do for deer, but it really doesn’t work that way for birds. For game birds we are really trying to create food, cover, and brood habitat that they seek out. Giving the birds all they need through the changing seasons will keep them at home and discourage them from wandering to neighboring properties. Read more

DISH Offers Free Preview of Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network

NEW BERLIN, WI – Sportsman Channel and sister network World Fishing Network will be available to DISH customers as a free preview beginning April 2 through May 5. The preview will be available on DISH in high definition and standard definition on Channel 395 (Sportsman Channel) and standard definition Channel 394 (World Fishing Network). Customers can visit www.dish.com/preview for more information. Read more

QDMA Partners with Powderhook to Provide Hunters More Access

To help provide deer hunters with more access to go afield, the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) has partnered with Powderhook, the resource for connecting hunters and fishermen with places to enjoy their passion.

“We are excited to partner with QDMA and help deer hunters everywhere in our quest to help create access for all, now and into the future,” said Chris Dietrich, Powderhook’s Sales and Pro Staff manager. “The partnership will greatly benefit the hunting community by combining Powderhook’s software with QDMA’s proven approach to Quality Deer Management. Users will be able to learn more about QDMA events, purchase tickets for them, and connect with others in the outdoors – all through the Powderhook experience.”

Hunter access was identified as one of the greatest issues impacting the future of hunting at QDMA’s 2014 North American Whitetail Summit. East of the Rocky Mountains, most hunting occurs on private land, and this is especially true in states like Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas where 97 to 98 percent of the land is in private ownership. Add in development, anti-hunting sentiment among some landowners, and competition from other hunters, and it can be downright difficult finding a place to hunt.

“It is encouraging to see cutting-edge technology being used to help solve the access problem,” said QDMA CEO Brian Murphy. “Powderhook is leading the way in this area, and we are proud to be a part of this effort to connect hunters with places to hunt.”

“Powderhook’s mission is ‘Access for All,'” said Dietrich. “That means access for new hunters, anglers
and shooters; for parents and their children; for neighbors who haven’t been out in the field for years; and for you. Powderhook works with the nation’s leading conservation organizations, retailers and manufacturers and uses its innovative Web platform to solve some of the industry’s most important problems.”

Finding an event, planning a trip, building a map, or locating a nearby group has never been easier. Powderhook’s website features over 500 million acres of hunting and fishing spots in all 50 states with more being added every day. It allows users to easily find and share access to hunting clubs, leases, outfitters, and private and public lands – all searchable with interactive mapping tools. Additionally, Powderhook users can create and manage outdoor organizations, events, and groups.

Join Powderhook and start interacting with thousands of sportsmen and women today. As an incentive for signing up, QDMA and Powderhook have put together a sweepstakes package valued at $3,650 that includes QDMA merchandise and a 5-day, 6-night fishing trip to McKay Lake in Ontario, Canada. View the complete package and contest rules, join Powderhook, and enter to win at www.powderhook.com/giveaway. Read more

New Garmin® Delta™ XC Series

OLATHE, Kan. — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), announces the Delta XC series – proven electronic dog training devices with new, premium features in one compact and easy-to-use system.

“The Delta series has been popular since its introduction nearly two years ago,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Since that time, our customers have given us great feedback, and we listened. The new XC line has new features like changeable contact points and an improvement in stimulation levels. These new units give amateur trainers and professionals alike more control with the same simplicity as before.” Read more

New 360 Cam from Wildgame Innovations

Any hunter who has run trail cameras has marveled at the images they collect, yet no doubt have wondered what might have passed unseen behind or to either side of the camera setup. The newly designed 360 Cam from Wildgame Innovations revolutionizes game scouting with 360-degree image capturing capability. Housed in the cylindrical body are six sensors all tied to a high-quality, 12 mega pixel camera that covers a 360-degree range out to 70 feet. Once movement is detected, the unit internally repositions the camera and flash to the activated sensor. It’s like having six cameras in one! Read more

Advantage Tower Options Give Hunting Success A Lift

Whether you build a tower stand yourself out of wood or invest in a superbly engineered, ready-to-go tower of metal, elevated blinds give hunters an obvious edge at seeing more distant game over hunters who are ground-bound.

A tower stand offers a better view of the hunting area, it disperses human scent up and out of range of a deer’s nose, and an elevated position often allows a hunter to move undetected to set up for a shot. The advantages are obvious, and so are the best tower stand options for hunters. Advantage Blinds makes state-of-the-art, lightweight, rigid-side blinds for all types of value-conscious hunters. Advantage Hunting offers several quality models for hunting up in the air in both two-man and four-man blinds. Read more

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