A 7% drop in population estimates underscores need for continued conservation
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Aug. 18, 2023 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)released its report on 2023 Waterfowl Population Status based on surveys conducted in May and early June by FWS, Canadian Wildlife Service and other partners.
Total populations were estimated at 32.3 million breeding ducks in the traditional survey area, a 7% drop from 2022’s estimate of 34.7 million and 9% below the long-term average (since 1955).
DU Chief Scientist Dr. Steve Adair said the overall numbers reflect a complex relationship between waterfowl, weather and habitat availability.
“These results are somewhat disappointing, as we had hoped for better production from the eastern prairies following improved moisture conditions in spring of 2022,” Adair said. “Last year’s nesting season was delayed with April snowstorms and May rains which likely impacted overall production. In the past, we have seen population growth lag moisture conditions as small, shallow wetlands recover from the lingering impacts of severe drought.”
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Back in the ‘70s, I became familiar with an expert in the art of handgun hunting, Bob Milek. His skills intrigued me to the point that I purchased the ultimate handgun designed for hunting or target shooting: the Thompson/Center Contender single-shot pistol. Its interchangeable barrel configuration allows the firearm to be converted from the most diminutive rimfire cartridges to dangerous game calibers typically found only in big-game rifles. Although the pistol is no longer produced, they are still widely available.
Below: I shoot the Custom Contender with 500-grain Hornady round nose.
Although the Contender was designed for the hunter, Michigan initially excluded single-shot pistols from use afield in Zone III – the Southern zone. Imagine the thinking, or lack thereof, behind the ban. I couldn’t understand our lawmakers’ logic, but a year later they came to their senses and made them legal with straight-wall cartridges similar to today’s laws for long guns in Zone III. Over the years, I’ve used pistols to take everything from small game to whitetail deer with various calibers from .22 long rifle to sledgehammer-like .45/70 caliber custom loads.
T/C Contender in .45/70 Custom JDJ Barrel and EOTech Optic
Here is the law relative to hunting with pistols in Michigan: A conventional (smokeless powder) handgun must be .35-caliber or larger and loaded with straight-walled cartridges and may be single- or multiple-shot but cannot exceed a maximum capacity of nine rounds in the barrel and magazine combined. Note that this rule differs from that of rifles in Zone III in that there are no cartridge case length restrictions.
If you decide to test your skills afield with a pistol, here are some tips to get the job done.
* Eye and ear protection is highly recommended. Electronic ear muffs are a good option.
* Hunting from a tree stand or raised platform is legal with pistols. To steady shots, treestand safety rails make for good shooting rests. Make sure there is padding on the rail; any hard surface rest is to be avoided.
* If hunting from an enclosed shooting blind, use of sandbags or a bipod is recommended.
* If still hunting, look for trees as rests when pausing, using your off hand for support. Another option is to employ commercial shooting sticks, but some folks fashion their own to save money.
* Unless one hunts in confined areas where shots are within 50 yards or less, having a scoped handgun will increase accuracy. Typically, long-eye relief scopes are used, but limit the magnification to a maximum of 6 power or less. Anything greater can cause a hunter to fumble with locating targets in the heat of the moment.
* Consider red dot optics without any magnifying lens for quick target acquisition. Aimpoint and EOTech optics are some of the finest on the market and are worth a look, although pricey.
T/C Contender with EOTech Optic
* Holsters are a must to keep both hands free to climb or otherwise traverse the landscape.
In summary, handgun hunting can be rewarding for those seeking a challenge. However, the 9 out of 10 rule always applies: You must be able to keep shots within a conservative bull’s eye of 6 inches in diameter 9 out of 10 shots. If you can’t, get closer to the target until you meet the critical, self-imposed ethical standards.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. –– Bushnell®, an industry leader in performance optics, is now shipping new laser rangefinder models right in time for deer season: the Bone Collector 1000 and Bone Collector 1800.
Designed in conjunction with Bone Collector’s Michael Waddell, Nick Mundt and Travis “T-Bone” Turner to meet their specifications and rigorous hunting demands, the newly available rangefinders feature everything hardcore hunters would expect and more. The new Bone Collector 1000 and 1800 rangefinders feature a sharp and bold new look while building off Bushnell’s 25 years of rangefinder legacy.
“Bushnell knocked it out of the park on these,” said Waddell. “We worked closely with the Bushnell team to make sure these latest and greatest Bone Collector rangefinders kept all the best features the crew loves from previous models, but also longer ranges and new tools like Applied Ballistics.”
The Bone Collector 1000 features a fully multi-coated, all-glass optical system that’s 2x brighter than other laser rangefinders for dim conditions at dawn and dusk. The rangefinder allows for quick measurements with the fast-focus eyepiece and Scan Mode, plus ARC technology and long distance ranging to 1,000 yards with +/- 1-yard accuracy. The 1000 series model is also standard with a one-button design for easy operation along with a new, ergonomic housing for added stability and comfort.
The Bone Collector 1800 builds on the features of the 1000 by not only extending its ranging capability (1,800 yards with +/- 1-yard accuracy) but also including a built-in Applied Ballistics Ultralight engine. The onboard ballistic software offers shooting solutions out to 800 yards and is easy to setup through the Bushnell Ballistic App powered by Bluetooth capabilities. The Bone Collector 1800 also features Brush and Bullseye modes for the most accurate readings possible. Read more
PHOENIX — When it comes to dove hunting in Arizona, one thing is pretty much indisputable: There’s never a bad season opener.
All signs indicate that there will be birds aplenty when the 2023 season gets underway next Friday, Sept. 1. This is especially true for hunters who are willing to scout in the mornings and evenings between now and the opener to locate some good hunting spots. Read more
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Aug. 14, 2023) — Moultrie Mobile, a leading pioneer in cellular trail cameras that also offers an all-in-one remote monitoring app for hunters and property owners, today announced its Edge Pro Cellular Trail Camera with all-new False Trigger Elimination capabilities powered by artificial intelligence (AI) is available in stores and online.
Utilizing AI, the Edge Pro is the first camera to integrate False Trigger Elimination capabilities in the form of Smart Capture and Smart Zone technology.
Smart Capture Technology gives users control over what species the Edge Pro captures on photo or video, significantly extending battery life and reducing time sorting through unwanted images of non-targeted species. Smart Zones allows users to designate custom detection zones and ignore areas with objects that could cause false triggers. Together, these innovative technologies reduce up to 99 percent of false triggers and redefine what is possible with cellular trail cameras. Read more
By Courtney Nicolson – Associate Director Marketing & Communications, Sportsmen’s Alliance
You’ve got a big game animal on the ground, congratulations! Now what? You’ve got some work on your hands, or perhaps instead, to hand off to a local wild game processor. Here’s some tips for deciding when and where to DIY and when to utilize a butcher.
“It was the heat of the moment…”, I don’t remember the next line of that not so famous classic rock song but that was the relevant message here. While eastern and northern hunters might not begin their big game hunting season until well into fall or winter, out west and down south, hunters start their season closer and closer to summer. Get a big bull elk down with your bow on and you will be battling not only the sweltering temperatures, but insects as well. You need to get that animal gutted and cooled down as soon as possible. Rushing to a wild game butcher’s hanging cooler might be the best course of action. In the winter, a deer can be hung in a home garage and slowly processed quarter by quarter over a few days while staying cool. It can be a challenge to keep meat at a proper temperature with ice for long periods of time. Read more
It’s almost turkey time! Check your fall turkey drawing results online at eLicense or in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, or call 517-284-9453 (WILD) to see if you were successful and to buy your license.
Leftover turkey licenses will go on sale to those who applied but were unsuccessful in the drawing on, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. All remaining leftover licenses will go on sale Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. There is no guarantee that leftover licenses will be available for any hunt unit. Licenses are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
TrueTimber, the world’s best-selling camo brand, has announced a partnership with Walmart to launch an all-new apparel line, Tekari, featuring two new camo patterns. Walmart customers nationwide can now purchase Tekari apparel and gear both in store and online. The new lineup of apparel offers base layers, shirts, pants, hoodies and jackets, guaranteeing high-performance gear for every hunt.
“This is such an exciting partnership and opportunity not only for our brand, but the entire hunting community,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “Walmart is the world’s largest retailer and this partnership will make our high-performance hunting apparel and camo patterns available to an entirely new set of hunters across the nation. We encourage everyone to stop by their local Walmart and check out the entire collection.”
The Tekari line features two all-new TrueTimber camo patterns, Atera and XRC. The introduction of these versatile patterns ensures hunters in every region can find the perfect pattern to help them blend seamlessly into whatever environment a hunt might take them. Read more
Few hunting stories last a generation. Even fewer last 120 years. Rest assured, when those stories involve cowboys, Colorado’s backcountry, and a World’s Record elk, the legend sticks around. So it is with John Plute’s giant elk.
The few pictures of John Plute that still exist show a steely-eyed man, tan from the eyebrows down, with a thick cowboy mustache that all other mustaches aspire to be. Those who knew Plute described him as a strong man, a quiet loner who wanted to hunt in the mountains rather than dig in the mines. He was born in Austria around 1867 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1889.
At the turn of the 20th century in Crested Butte, Colorado, the gold fields had been played out. Coal was king, and the miners needed to eat. Plute lived in a boarding house above a bar. The owner traded boarding for meat, and Plute lived to hunt even though the game was scarce in the hills. One day, Plute saddled his horse, slid his .30-40 Krag into its scabbard and rode into Dark Canyon northwest of town.
Plute, left, hunted meat, which he traded for his boarding in Crested Butte, Colorado.
Block Management Area (BMA) Program information for 2023 will be available to hunters beginning Aug. 10. Hunters can request their BMA Access Guide online and can print individual BMA property maps and rules at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/access/blockmanagement. Read more
