Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
License applications for the 2023 spring turkey hunting season are available now through Feb. 1. Applications are $5 and can be purchased at any license agent, online at eLicense or through the new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.
Find the season dates and regulations in the 2023 Spring Turkey Digest. For questions about applying for a spring turkey license, call 517-284-WILD (9453).
One of the most selective law enforcement academies in the state, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Academy hosted graduation Friday at the Michigan State Police Training Academy in Lansing, welcoming 11 men and one woman into the ranks of some of the most highly trained law enforcement professionals in Michigan.
Fifteen candidates initially were selected from nearly 400 applicants to be a part of Recruit School #11 – the DNR’s 23-week training academy that stared July 10. Read more
WEST POINT, MS – The patented Nukem Hunting Blind, the first ground blind designed for the mobile hunter, has partnered with Mossy Oak to offer blinds in Bottomland and Obsession patterns. The “Run and Gun” portable hunting blind allows hunters to move quickly and silently through the woods. The Nukem blind weighs less than 4 pounds, is stake-free, and easily folds to eliminate the headache associated with conventional ground blinds. Hunters can set up wherever and whenever with ease and quickness.
“Nukem Hunting Blinds were developed to create a blind like no other on the market for hunters who like to go where the action is. We are ecstatic to have a brand such as Mossy Oak on our blinds so we can offer the best blind in the best patterns for hunters,” said Pat Newcomb, President of Nukem Hunting.
The Nukem portable hunting blinds come in two sizes: one for hunting from the ground and the other to accomodate a chair. The window height adjusts based on the width of the blind, so no matter the age or size, hunters are concealed yet able to see their surroundings. This blind is one-of-a-kind. Read more
(Arlington, TX) iAiming, a global leader in smart thermal rifle scopes and creator of First Shot – Auto Zero™ technology, is proud to offer to the US market for the first time the highly anticipated iA-317.
iAiming proudly introduces an all star of its three core products. The iA-317 is a thermal rifle scope in a class of its own with unprecedented technology and a user experience that is unmatched. The iA-317 was designed and developed by Australian based Uniwin Smart PTY LTD and features a globally patented First Shot – Auto Zero™ feature. With just a single shot, this feature is designed to provide an effective, automated sight-in process. iAiming’s artificial intelligence utilizes a single scroll-knob to access the on-board menu system. First Shot – Auto Zero™ technology significantly saves time and ammunition, and is beneficial to both novice shooters and the most skilled marksmen. This innovative technology has greatly improved the products usability and is a revolutionary step in rifle scope development.
Hog hunting has been on the rise in North America for several years now. Hog numbers continue to climb and the feral pig has been named one of North America’s apex predators. They wreak havoc on crops as well as the deer and turkey populations, so it’s no wonder that hog hunting generates more interest in shooting, hunting and gear than any other game animal. For this pursuit as well as many other applications, iAiming now offers the perfect piece of equipment. The aircraft grade aluminum housing used in the iA-317 combines strength, sophistication, and rigidity in a compact, lightweight design. The hard-anodized coating provides an attractive, scratch free, chemical-resistant surface that is easy to maintain. With a resolution of 384×288 and 17?m, the quality and clarity are best in class. All components in the scope, including the battery, are designed in accordance with IP67 standards. High reliability and structural strength ensures flawless function under extreme environmental conditions ranging from -40? to +50?. The fully waterproof design handles all working conditions, even if the thermal weapon sight is exposed to moisture for an extended period. Read more
Rogers, AR – HatsanUSA, the exclusive U.S. distributor of ESCORT Shotguns, is proud to feature the FieldHunter Turkey. Just in time for the 2022 turkey season you can find ESCORT’s well-regarded line of turkey-specific pump-action shotguns ready for the job. Available in three calibers: 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and .410 caliber, the FieldHunter Turkey is tailored with the turkey shooter in mind. These pump-action shotguns are chambered in 3” magnum and will handle both 2 ¾” and 3” loads with ease. The stock and forend are made from a tough, durable synthetic polymer, built to withstand the elements. The extended forend is easy to hold and cycle without the need to extend one’s reach. An aircraft alloy receiver and an oxidation resistant, chrome-plated steel barrel will ensure long service life.
The FieldHunter Turkey is available in two camo patterns: RealTree® Timber and Mossy Oak® BottomLand. Each gun ships with 3 interchangeable chokes suitable for a variety of turkey hunting situations. A 5-inch long cantilever optics rail features 4 cross-slots to accommodate a variety of Weaver mounts. The shotgun is also equipped with bright fiber optic front and rear sights for low-light hunting. The red front fiber is windage adjustable while the rear green fiber sight is both windage and elevation adjustable. Both fibers can be removed entirely to make way for mounted optics. All Hatsan’s barrels are hard chrome-lined for maximum durability and corrosion resistance. Safety is a significant concern for any firearm, so a manual cross-button safety is built in. Mounted sling studs make for easy carry and firing support. Read more
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — For the NWTF’s 50-year celebration in Nashville, and henceforth, the prestigious Grand National Custom Callmaking Contest will have a new Wildlife Art Division, as well as a new JAKES category, Pinfeathers, in the Turkey Hunting Division.
“We are beyond excited to broaden our Grand National Custom Callmaking Contest,” said NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter. “Year after year, we are stunned by the level of talent and artistic expertise our call makers bring to the table, not to mention their generous contribution to our mission through their artistic prowess. We can’t wait to see what our collective of artists has been up to over the last year.”
The new Wildlife Art Division will consist of three categories, Carved or Carved and Painted, Two-Dimensional Art and Art/General, intentionally vague to include all artistic mediums. The Best of Show Award will provide the winner from one of the three categories with a $1,000 prize. Read more
Pulaski, WI — Maverick Blinds debuted its biggest, most versatile blind yet with the Maverick XL. With a 7-foot diameter, over 6-foot inside height, and generous door opening, the Maverick XL offers plenty of room for gear and even an extra hunting buddy.
This blind has nine side-opening windows on friction hinges allow for 360-degree viewing and shooting with a gun, bow, or crossbow. Maverick’s patented two-piece design makes it easy to set up, and a 2-inch rain guard at the seam guarantees water stays out. A 2-inch bottom flange helps secure the blind to the ground or an elevated platform, while a slide-lock door seal and window seals come standard, the new design also has an overhang above the windows to provide an added layer of protection from the elements.
The rotomolded polyethylene construction is extremely durable, UV-stabilized, and paintable. The Maverick XL is available in black, brown, and green with clear or tinted plexiglass windows.
To learn more about the Maverick XL and browse the full lineup of hard-sided blinds, visit maverickblinds.com. Read more
Nebraska’s bighorn sheep hunting season ended Dec. 6 when a hunter from the eastern end of the state punched his tag, one of the two permits issued for the season.
Todd Nordeen, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission big game and disease research manager who supervises the hunting program, said each of the two rams harvested this year was a mature adult with full-curl horns. Both were harvested in the Wildcat Hills of the Panhandle.
Jerry Fischer of Denton bagged his ram on a 6-mile trek Dec. 6, his second day of hunting. He won his permit from a drawing 3,904 applicants.
The other hunter, Kevin Small, harvested his ram on his fourth day of pursuit, Dec. 2. He won his permit by auction in February during the annual banquet for the Iowa Chapter of the Foundation of North American Wild Sheep. Read more
EDGEFIELD, S.C.—The NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative is starting another round of funding for critical riparian conservation projects in 2023.
Jumpstarted by the NWTF in 2022, the bourgeoning Waterways for Wildlife Initiative made significant headway in improving wildlife habitat along water corridors in its first year through 14 shovel-ready projects, currently underway and on target to enhance approximately 7,677 acres of wildlife habitat and impact nearly 80 stream miles.
For 2023, the Waterways for Wildlife initiative is looking to expand its impact on critical riparian habitat. The landscape-scale initiative is again accepting applications for financial assistance in support of projects that improve wildlife habitat in riparian systems and those with a direct benefit to water conservation.
Eligible parties include federal, state and local agencies and entities, conservation organizations, colleges/universities and private landowners currently working through an existing recognized federal, state or locally sponsored conservation assistance program.
“Through the collaboration with our partners, we will end up delivering nearly $3 million in critical conservation work in just one year,” said Jared McJunkin, NWTF director of conservation operations for the central region. “We are looking forward to continuing the collaborative efforts established in just one year to ensure riparian areas are conserved into perpetuity.” Read more
onX, a pioneer in outdoor digital navigation and owner of the industry-leading GPS app, onX Hunt, has acquired Toprut, the premier draw odds and application tool. By bringing Toprut into its fold, onX Hunt becomes a year-round tool, from pre-season scouting and field use, to finding the data needed to navigate tag applications across the west.
Toprut is a core service that helps hunters make insightful, fact-driven tag application decisions each season. Tags in the west have become increasingly difficult to draw in recent years, so in 2021, onX Hunt partnered with Toprut to offer draw application data to its onX Elite members. Through this partnership, onX Hunt analyzed western elk data from 2018-2022 and discovered that the demand for tags in the west was outpacing supply more dramatically than anticipated: