Category: Hunting

DNR reminds deer hunters of changes to license structure

With Michigan’s archery deer season set to begin Oct. 1, the Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters of recent changes to the state’s hunting license structure. 

The new license structure – authorized by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2013 – took effect March 1, 2014.  

Among the most significant changes affecting deer hunters, a base license is now required for all hunters. The base license provides critical funding for habitat and conservation work on both public and private land and supports the work of conservation officers and field staff to ensure safe, legal hunting practices are followed. The purchase of a base license includes small game hunting. Whether they choose to hunt small game or not, hunters’ base license dollars will be used to enhance and expand hunting opportunities, which benefits hunters of all species. Read more

Ammunition, Firearms, Hunting

Fall Hunting Preview: Opportunity and Regulations Roundtable

Video player thumbnail imageAre you up to speed on the deer hunting regulations for this season? Curious about the additional hunting opportunities available to you this fall? Ever wonder about the most common hunting violations that conservation officers see? These issues and more are covered in our latest video, Fall Hunting Preview: Opportunity and Regulations Roundtable. So sit back with a warm beverage on a cool fall afternoon to watch the video from beginning to end, or click the times listed in the video description to view individual topics that catch your interest. Read more

Hunting

RMEF: Silver Linings in Wyoming Wolf Management Ruling

GW:  More wasted taxpayers’ money because of the Equal Access to Justice Act.  Why?  Because Senator Reid will not let reform to come to a vote, despite the efforts of the House.  Why?  Because animal rights whackos are part of his base.

MISSOULA, Mont.-The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation maintains a ruling that restores federal protections to wolves in Wyoming is basically a technicality that can easily be fixed on Wyoming’s end. The State of Wyoming is in the process of adopting an emergency rule to do so.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled out of her Washington D.C. courtroom that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) was wrong to rely on Wyoming’s non-binding promises to maintain a buffer above the FWS minimum of 10 breeding pair and at least 100 wolves outside of Yellowstone Park and the Wind River Indian Reservation. Montana and Idaho initially had the 10 breeding pair and 100 wolf minimum, but a 50 percent “buffer” of 15 breeding pairs and 150 wolves was implemented for those two states.

The plaintiffs argued the following four points about the Wyoming wolf population, and they were denied a favorable ruling by Judge Jackson relative to the first three:

Wolves have not recovered.
Wolves are at risk because of a lack of genetic connectivity.
Wyoming allowing wolves to be treated as a predator in some areas does not meet the Endangered Species Act requirements of protections over a significant part of the species’ range.
Wyoming’s current regulatory mechanism to insure a population of more than 10 breeding pair and 100 wolves is inadequate and represents a non-binding promise.

“There are some silver linings within this ruling handed down from Judge Jackson as she ruled against three claims made by the plaintiffs including confirmation of the fact that Wyoming’s wolf population has recovered and is not endangered,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We anticipate Wyoming will be able to fix the issue with how its wolf management plan is written to satisfy the court.” Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan: NRA-PVF Candidate Ratings and Endorsements are Now Posted for the 2014 General Election

Tuesday, November 4 is Election Day in Michigan.  Your NRA Political Victory Fund has rated, and in some cases, endorsed, candidates in the upcoming federal and state election.  These candidate ratings can now be found at the NRA-PVF website.  Before casting your vote on November 4, please visit this site to learn who will best protect your Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage in Lansing.

Be sure to encourage your family, friends, fellow gun owners and sportsmen in Michigan to support and vote for candidates who support your Second Amendment rights on Tuesday, November 4.
Are you interested in doing more to ensure that NRA-PVF endorsed candidates are elected this election cycle?  Get involved on the grassroots level by becoming an NRA volunteer in your area!  The NRA needs dedicated, educated volunteers to assist with phone banks, literature drops, precinct walks, voter registration, Election Day activities and other volunteer campaign activities.  Go to www.NRAILAFrontlines.com TODAY and sign up to find out about all of the great volunteer opportunities and events in your area!

Ammunition, Firearms, Gun Control, Hunting, Self Defense, Wildlife

When a Hunter Becomes the Hunted

By Glen Wunderlich

Getting out during early small game season in September provides an opportunity to take some protein-packed table fare not found on grocery store shelves.  It’s a time to check deer stands and movements in preparation for Michigan’s archery opener October 1st, as well.  This week, however, I’ll share a startling scene from one of my recent excursions to the deciduous forest in search of more bushytails for the kettle.

The early morning dew’s moisture covered any noise from my hunting boots, as I entered the big woods in silence.  My plan was to hide and watch and was aided by a heavy fog permeating my surroundings; it’s always a welcome addition to an already spooky experience of strolling in the dark.  “That” feeling was coming over me again, as I experienced the wild world waking.  The realization that it’s good to be alive hit home.

At the edge of the woods, I heard something dropping through the leaves.  The sound repeated.  Since it was still too early for acorns to be dropping in any large measure, my hunch that a squirrel was involved had to be investigated.

I didn’t bother with my portable chair, because I needed to maneuver into position to locate the origin of the commotion.  A stately oak tree provided a welcome rest for my upper body, as I peered through the obstructed view toward the sky.

Patience would be the key, as the sporadic sound continued, and I became one with the tree.  My orange cap was in motion – the only giveaway that this apex predator was lurking.  I was alone in the moment, or so I thought; little did I know, I would become the hunted. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Zeiss Offers Tremendous Fall Savings

NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA., September 29, 2014 – Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world’s leading manufacturer in high performance sports optics, is pleased to announce their Fall “Field Days” promotion. From now through November 17, 2014, Zeiss is offering huge savings on many of its most popular optics including the new TERRA ED binoculars in Lost Camo. Simply purchase any of the following ZEISS products from an authorized ZEISS dealer during the promotional period and get a mail-in rebate.

Rebates are as follows:
– $150 rebate on any VICTORY HT Riflescopes or VICTORY HT Binoculars
– $100 rebate on any CONQUEST HD5 Riflescopes or CONQUEST HD Binoculars
– $50 rebate on any TERRA 3X Riflescopes or TERRA ED Binoculars
– $50 rebate on TERRA ED Lost Camo Binoculars (available only at official Mathews’ licensed retailers) Read more

Firearms, Hunting

Bank of America Drops HSUS Card?

DiscovertheScamOn Monday we launched BoycottHSUS.com to ask Discover to reconsider its financial support of the deceptive Humane Society of the United States. It’s worth noting that a previous financial institution that supported HSUS apparently no longer does: Bank of America.

As recently as 2012, Bank of America had an affinity VISA card with HSUS. Today? No longer, as far as we can tell. BofA’s debit card page has VISA cards for sports teams and animal nonprofits such as Defenders of Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation—but not HSUS. It appears BofA ended its relationship with HSUS last year—which is probably why HSUS is now working with Discover. There are a number of good reasons for any company not to work with HSUS—here are 15,750,000 reasons, for starters. If you haven’t already, sign the petition at BoycottHSUS.com and make your voice heard to Discover executives. We’ve received one reply so far from Discover, and we’ll keep you posted on any future ones.
Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Wetland Wonders Challenge

Seven lucky hunters will win over $1,500 in prizes just by hunting at Michigan’s seven Managed Waterfowl Hunt Areas this fall and winter. A new Wetland Wonders Challenge, sponsored by Consumers Energy, will begin Oct. 11 and continue through Jan. 31, 2015.

2013-2014 Wetland Wonders Challenge winners with prizesSeven winners will be chosen to win ultimate waterfowl hunting prize packages valued at $1,500, including a “golden ticket” for one first-choice pick at a Managed Waterfowl Hunt Area (MWHA) for the 2015-16 season (non-reserved). Other prizes include a Mossberg 835 camo waterfowl and turkey combo 12-gauge shotgun, Zink custom duck and goose calls, Avian X mallard and goose decoys, and waterfowl hunting gear. Contest partner Michigan United Conservation Clubs will select winners Feb. 9, 2015. Read more

Hunting

EHD and Bluetongue Virus Having Minimal Impact on Deer in 2014

The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is pleased to report that hemorrhagic disease (HD), including EHD and bluetongue virus, seems to have taken a summer vacation in 2014, and the danger of a serious outbreak this year has now passed. Transmitted by biting gnats, the disease usually hits deer hardest in late summer and early fall, especially in unusually hot, dry years.

“A small number of reports are trickling in from scattered states, but we’re not seeing any nationwide trends or large outbreaks this year,” said Dr. David Stallknecht with the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) at the University of Georgia. “This year is definitely below average so far.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife
1 … 253 254 255 256 257 … 415