Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Bushnell Outdoor Products, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics and outdoor accessories for more than 60 years, has announced a rebate offer on its Elite, Legend Ultra HD and Trophy XLT full size binoculars. Read more
GW: Good to see this common-sense legislation moving forward. There are sure to be more adequately suited firearms available to youngsters and old timers alike, thus aiding in deer hunting participation.
House Bill 5249 – Passed by House Sep 27th: The bill would allow the use of certain specific rifles during the regular firearm deer season in the area that is currently restricted to only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain types of pistols. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
The 9thannual Perry Youth Hunt Extravaganza is history, and from the results of the turnout, the kids are getting away from their smart phones and computers and getting into the woods. And, since that’s the whole idea, it’s time to give credit to those insightful lawmakers that have eased the restrictions to hunt.
Peyton Smith of Morrice, Michigan with his trophy 11-point whitetail buck taken in the youth hunt
Founded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Families Afield is an education and outreach program designed to help states create hunting opportunities for youths, so that more families may enjoy America’s greatest outdoor tradition together. Michigan is one of those states. Read more
(Columbus, OH) – Before a sold-out audience of hunters, anglers, trappers and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance members, 2012 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Congressman Paul Ryan let the gathered know—he’s one of them. He also had praise for the benefits of hunting and fishing.
“Hunters and anglers are the best conservationists. It is very critical that we pass it on to the next generation,” said Congressman Ryan. “Youth learn such great life lessons when you take them hunting.” Read more
Have you ever heard of a timberdoodle? A goatsucker? Both are nicknames for birds found in Michigan’s young aspen forests.
The woodcock, nicknamed the timberdoodle for its long beak – which it uses to probe in moist soil looking for earthworms – is a prized upland bird game species. The whip-poor-will, or goatsucker, has the familiar “whip-poor-will” song that many people recognize. Both of these birds, along with many other wildlife species, depend on young aspen forests to survive.
Young aspen forests must be intensively managed or, as time passes, they will grow into older forests. Historically in Michigan, young forests occurred in areas where there were significant weather events or large wildfires. The wind would blow over a large area of trees or a large fire would burn acres of trees, allowing a new, young forest to appear. In addition to natural events like wind and fire, humans also created young forest as land was cleared in the late 1800s for farming and wood products and pockets of young forests were planted and scattered across the landscape. Read more
On Tuesday September 18th, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Minnesota-based group, Howling for Wolves, filed a lawsuit in the Minnesota Court of Appeals against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). That lawsuit attempts to block the state’s upcoming wolf hunting and trapping season. The anti’s are asking the Court to issue a preliminary injunction, seeking to stop the wolf season while the rest of the case is decided. Read more
MISSOULA, Mont. (Sept. 22, 2012)?A whitetail deer taken by a hunter in Wisconsin has fallen short of the score needed to become a new World?s Record, according to the Boone and Crockett Club.
The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) extends its gratitude to Bass Pro Shops for its support of QDMA and for making September “QDMA Month” at all Bass Pro Shops stores and online at www.basspro.com. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Safety first. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Better safe than sorry. We’ve all heard these words of wisdom, but unless we’ve had a good scare, or an accident, these words to the wise tend to fall on deaf ears. And, falling on deaf ears may result in falling on the ground, if deer hunters fail to follow safety guidelines when hunting from trees. Read more
WASHINGTON – Big game hunting outfitter Dennis Eugene Rodebaugh, 72, of Meeker, Colorado, has been convicted by a federal jury in Denver of six charges of violating the Lacey Act, announced the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Read more