Category: Hunting

Pope and Young Introduces Kevin Hisey Youth Program

New Program Honors Former Executive Director Kevin Hisey

August 9th, 2022 – Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization is excited to announce the development of the Kevin Hisey Youth Program. These programs are designed to increase opportunities for youth within Pope and Young and their conservation efforts focused on preserving, promoting, and protecting the sport of bowhunting.

Pope & Young is dedicated to promoting the sport of bowhunting with today’s youth through outreach programs, the Junior Outdoors Program, and the Youth Bowhunting Awards. The goal of all these initiatives is to expose young hunters to the joys of fair chase bowhunting, with the hope of creating bowhunters for life.

The Kevin Hisey Youth Program is named in honor of Kevin Hisey a highly respected employee of Pope & Young since 1992, and former Executive Director for 15 years, the longest tenure in that role in Pope & Young’s history. Kevin who had an unapparelled passion for bowhunting and youth participation passed away in 2015.

“Kevin was a passionate bowhunter and conservationist, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of bowhunting, and promoting the ethics of fair chase,” stated Kurt Ebers, President of Pope & Young. “He was an Official Measurer, Senior Member of the Pope & Young Club, and was always involved in the organization’s youth activities, and we couldn’t be prouder to name the Youth Program in his honor.”

The newly developed Junior Outdoors Program is possible through partnerships with private donors, and awards big game hunts, and other prize packages to Pope & Young Youth members on an annual basis.

Like their adult counterparts, Pope & Young Youth members are eligible for their own awards program via the Youth Bowhunting Awards. Three bowhunting awards were created specifically for Youth members, First Harvest, Youth Big 3 and Small Game Slam.

“There are tons of reasons why a youth hunter should join the Pope & Young, and be active,” said Ricky Krueger, Pope & Young Youth Director. “They’ll be in great company to advance their bowhunting skills and interact with other youth bowhunters from all over North America.”

For more information about the Pope & Young Youth Programs, please visit the below pages: Membership information or sign up, Junior Outdoors Program, or Youth Bowhunting Awards. Read more

Archery, Hunting

Michigan: Bear Baiting Season Opening Soon

The 2022 bear hunting season is right around the corner. For hunters who plan to use bait while hunting bears, the baiting period will begin soon. To help you prepare to establish bait sites, we’ve asked the Michigan Department of Natural Resources large carnivore specialist, Cody Norton, to answer the most frequently asked questions about bear baiting.

Read more

Hunting

Alabama: Registration for 2022 Youth Dove Hunts Opens August 15

Contact: Wildlife Section, (334) 242-3469

Registration for 2022 Youth Dove Hunts Opens August 15

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) provides several youth dove hunt opportunities throughout the state each fall. A simple hunting setup combined with a fun, family-friendly atmosphere makes WFF’s youth dove hunts an ideal way to introduce young people to the outdoors.

Registration for this year’s hunts will open at 8 a.m. on August 15, 2022. Although the hunts are free, online registration is required. The first youth dove hunts of the season begin on September 3. For more information including a complete hunt schedule, visit https://www.outdooralabama.com/youth-hunting/youth-dove-hunts.

Jennifer McKemie’s father, Bill Mason, recently retired as manager of the M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area (FWFTA) that is used for the WFF youth dove hunts in Hale County. Her family has participated in the annual event since 2014. Read more

Hunting

NWTF, Forest Service Sign New Agreement in Arizona National Forest

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

For more information, contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698 or pmuller@nwtf.net

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation is working alongside the USDA Forest Service on the newly formed General Springs Stewardship Agreement, a collaborative endeavor set to restore wildlife habitat, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and improve water quality and quantity for millions of Arizonans.

The project is set in the Mogollon Rim Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, near Happy Jack, Arizona. One of the most diverse forests in the country, the Coconino National Forest has landscapes ranging from the famous red rocks of Sedona, to Ponderosa pine forests, deserts and alpine tundra.

In response to the increasing threat of uncharacteristic wildfire, the Forest Service and the NWTF have identified priority areas for management to provide wildfire protection and increase forest health. One of these areas, the General Springs Project, is part of the larger Cragin Watershed Protection Project, a concerted effort with interested partners and stakeholders to protect an area of over 63,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat that is also a municipal watershed for the Town of Payson. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Annual Glenn St. Charles Award Awarded at Boone and Crockett Big Game Awards

175 Inch Non-Typical Columbia Blacktail wins prestigious award.

August 3, 2022 – Pope and Young, North America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization is pleased to announce the recipient of the coveted Glenn St. Charles award. The award is reserved for exceptional bowhunting entries within the Boone and Crockett record books. This year’s award went to Tavis Rogers for his impressive 175 0/8-inch Non-Typical Columbia Blacktail. The presentation was made at the annual Boone and Crockett big game awards banquet held this past weekend in Springfield, Missouri.

“It’s just humbling to even see an animal in this class, of any species,” stated Tavis Rogers. “It’s a deer of many lifetimes and it was a real blessing to get the chance to spend time hunting him, much less get an arrow in him. My sincere thanks go to Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young for all of the work they do in conserving the big game animals of North America and protecting our privilege to hunt them. I’ve hunted in other countries and none of them have what North America has to offer. I attribute that to the tireless efforts of these amazing organizations.”

Tavis Rogers entered this truly amazing, 175 0/8-inch Columbia Blacktail in the 31st annual Boone and Crockett Big Game Awards Program. Shot with his bow in Oregon, this deer is one of those once in a lifetime trophy that is deserving of any and all recognition that can be given. Read more

Hunting

Michigan: 2022 reserved waterfowl hunt applications are available now

Applications are $5, and hunters may only apply once. Apply online or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.

Drawing results?will be posted Sept. 19.

Reserved hunts will be held both mornings and afternoons of the Middle Zone waterfowl season opening weekend, Oct. 8-9, and the following weekend, Oct. 15-16, at Fish Point State Wildlife Area in Tuscola County and Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area in Bay County.

In the South Zone, reserved hunts will be held both mornings and afternoons of the opening weekend, Oct. 15-16, at the Harsens Island Unit of the St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area in St. Clair County, Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Monroe and Wayne counties, and Shiawassee River State Game Area in Saginaw County. Reserved hunts also will be held both mornings and afternoons Oct. 22-23 at Harsens Island and Shiawassee River. Read more

Hunting

Gaining Information is Key to Wildlife Management

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

In any successful management cycle, the first step is planning.  With that in mind, any good management plan must begin with obtaining a wide range of facts; to proceed otherwise is to do so blindly.  Therefore, it is commendable that our Natural Resources Commission is seeking relevant statistics from its cooperating partners – Michigan’s hunting community.  Beginning this year, Michigan deer hunters are required to report successful harvests online at www.Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer (to another person, a processer or taxidermist).

The once-optional reporting is now mandatory.  Hunters must continue to attach a paper kill tag to a harvested deer. The kill tag should remain with the head, if the head and body of the deer are separated. Anyone in possession of a deer after the harvest reporting timeframe expires should be able to present the confirmation number.

Hunters can easily submit the required harvest data through eLicense, Michigan’s online license system. This can be done via computer or mobile device. Simply enter your deer kill tag/hunting license number and hunter’s date of birth to begin the report. If you don’t have your license/kill tag number, you can log in to DNR eLicense, and click on the Harvest Report tab to see the tags available to report. On eLicense, you can use your driver’s license and birthdate, use an existing ID and password or create an account to enter your report.

You will be asked questions about your hunt and the deer you harvested. There is also space to leave a comment. Once your harvest report is completed, you will be given a confirmation number and the option to receive a copy by email.

Hunters are allowed to have their deer reported online by a family member or friend. The family member or friend will need the successful hunter’s deer kill tag number and birthday, and information about the hunter’s harvest and hunting location.

Although the voluntary method of reporting has been in existence for years, there simply is not enough compliance to gain the most comprehensive information to determine sensible rules.  Many surrounding states already require similar deer hunting reporting and have done so for decades – even before the prevalence of cell phones.

However, that hasn’t prevented some outspoken resistance, which seems largely based on the fact that mandated reporting requirements are more of an inconvenience than any type of reasonable hardship.  Where there’s a will, there’s a won’t.

No doubt there are regions of our state where cell phone service is not available.  Heck, some folks don’t have cell phones, either.  However, allowing successful hunters three days to get with the program, is quite lenient compared to other states where the time limit is a scant 24 hours.

We can do this, if we choose – even in our most remote areas with a bit of planning.  Cumbersome?  Maybe so, but if there is a better way to take charge of our deer herd management, it’s yet to be invented.

Change is as inevitable as resistance to it.  By understanding that we hunters are the best fact finders in this never-ending search for better deer management, a little cooperation will help us all.

Hunting

Michigan Deer Hunters Must Report Kills

NEW – Mandatory harvest reporting

Beginning this year, Michigan deer hunters are required to report a successful harvest online at Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer (to another person, a processer or taxidermist). Hunters must continue to attach a paper kill tag to a harvested deer. The kill tag should remain with the head if the head and body of the deer are separated. Anyone in possession of a deer after the harvest reporting timeframe expires should be able to present the confirmation number.

Hunters can easily submit the required harvest data through eLicense, our online license system. This can be done via computer or mobile device. Simply enter your deer kill tag/hunting license number and date of birth to begin the report. If you don’t have your license/kill tag number, you can log in to DNR eLicense, and click on the Harvest Report tab to see the tags available to report. On eLicense, you can use your driver’s license and birthdate, use an existing ID and password or create an account to enter your report.

You will be asked questions about your hunt and the deer you harvested. There is also space to leave a comment. Once your harvest report is completed, you will be given a confirmation number and the option to receive a copy by email.

Hunters are allowed to have their deer reported online by a family member or friend. The family member or friend will need the successful hunter’s deer kill tag number and birthday, and information about the hunter’s harvest and hunting location.

Click here for online reporting details.

Hunting

Michigan: $45.6 Million in Development and Acquisition Grants Approved

Michigan’s governor signed legislation creating more opportunities for quality outdoor recreation by authorizing $45.6 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants.

“Outdoor recreation in Pure Michigan is essential to the high quality of life Michiganders and visitors enjoy in our beautiful state,” said Gov. Whitmer. “These Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants support so many of the world-class outdoor opportunities we have in Michigan, including fishing, hiking, kayaking or simply enjoying an accessible playground. In communities across the state, the grant program makes much of this possible with critical investments so people of all abilities can get outdoors. Let’s keep working together to invest in our parks, recreation and public lands so future generations can enjoy everything that Pure Michigan has to offer.”

Senate Bill 1028 approves funding for 117 recreation development projects and land purchases recommended by the board. It is now Public Act 151 of 2022. Read more

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou in Velvet Topping the Charts as an Official World Record

Official World Record Topping the Charts

Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou in Velvet Topping the Charts as an Official World Record

July 20th, 2022 – Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization, officially announces a newly recognized world record in the Velvet Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou category. Taken in 2005 by Rodney Cockeram at Humpy Lake in the Northwest Territories, this is a trophy like no other.

Originally measured in 2006, this trophy was invited to the 2007 Panel and Convention where the score was confirmed by a Pope and Young Panel Team. At that time no other velvet animals had ever been verified at Panel Sessions. In 2021, Pope and Young began recognizing velvet category World Records. As a result of this decision, this is one of many newly recognized official World Records. Read more

Hunting
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