Category: Hunting

Redesigned Booner 5-Panel Blind Is Built to Last

Pulaski, WI — Now boasting an even better design, the Booner 5-Panel Blind provides hunters with 360-degree views.

Measuring 75″ x 72″ and 75″ tall, the Booner 5-Panel provides plenty of room for hunting gear and a friend. It’s available in three different window configurations — all horizontal, all vertical, or a combination of both — with clear or tinted plexiglass windows to accommodate gun, crossbow, and vertical bowhunting.

Pre-drilled holes allow for quick assembly, and the weatherproof blind is built to stay outside year-round thanks to rain-tight seams plus a patented overhanging roof. Featuring enhanced ribbing and an improved door support, the vacuum-formed high-density polyethylene construction is extremely durable, UV-stabilized, and paintable.

To learn more about the Booner 5-Panel Blind and browse the full lineup of hard-sided blinds, visit maverickblinds.com.

Hunting

Michigan Deer Opener: Hiding and Watching

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

The first week of firearms deer season is well under way and the never-ending preparation has been supplanted by the deadline:  opening day.  My longtime hunting partner and friend, Joe Reynolds, couldn’t be with me on this day we’ve focused on for the entire year because of some physical issues, so I’d go it alone for now.

A small 7×8-foot hunting shack we’ve dubbed “The Housetrailer”, built atop a tandem-axle trailer, would be my home for the anticipated excitement.  In recent past the tiny building has been more of a get-away to relax and to watch nature close-up.   Situated on a ridge overlooking a swamp to the east and my neighbor’s clover field to the west, I hiked the half mile in the early morning darkness and settled in with my Thermos full of coffee and a full dose of optimism.

If it sounds comfortable, it is; in fact, it has been purposely outfitted so that, when hunting, a person could hunt the entire day without leaving.  With a northeast wind, my focus would be into the wind toward the treacherous swamp’s edge.  The swivel chair allowed me to check the field, as well.

From Heaven came a deer hunter’s greatest advantage:  the season’s first snowfall.  As the white stuff blanketed the ground, my neighbor sent me a text asking if I saw the buck in the field.  I hadn’t but soon spotted the long-tined 8-point buck at a distance of 263 yards.  No doubt, it was a good buck but one I had seen on trailcam photos and had decided to let to grow, if I came across it afield.  It was beyond my range limitations anyway, so I disregarded it and concentrated on the swamp side of the Housetrailer.

A bit later, looking toward the field, I was startled by two quickly approaching does heading directly toward me at a scant 40 yards.  Hot on their tails was that buck I had ignored previously.  If action like that doesn’t test the capability of one’s heart, nothing will.   I remained vigilant for another look at the buck but it vanished like smoke in the wind.

A group of 4 antlerless deer began to head down a nearby trail, when I noticed a trailing adult doe come to a halt at 50 yards.  It certainly couldn’t detect my scent, because it was upwind; however, I was mistaken.  The seasoned animal had picked up the scent from my rubber-bottomed boots along the path I walked to the shack hours before.  It finally joined the remainder of the group but did so in alert mode.  I made a mental note to use cover scent on my boots next time.

I had a few more whitetail encounters before the day was finished but none as enlightening as one provided by a rather chunky fox squirrel.  As mentioned, the Housetrailer has been used as more of a daytime respite from the daily grind of politics, inflation and other woes of the world.  For well over a year, I have fed the wild birds at the site and seemed to have found a durable galvanized metal feeder to stand abuse.

When I found it on the ground, I realized that some animal was out-foxing me and I set out to stymie its penchant for bird seed.  I had assumed it was jumping from a picnic table onto the feeder, so the table was moved.

The feeder was hung from a small branch of an oak tree with a drop-down wire of some three feet.  I figured that no squirrel would climb onto the precarious branch, let alone find a way to the feeder below tethered to the wire.  Wrong!  Before my eyes, a huge fox squirrel climbed the tree then onto the small branch with the feeder’s support wire between the squirrel and a nourishing meal.  The fat rodent then slid head-first down the wire like some circus performer directly onto and into the feeder, where it got breakfast.

That $20 deer-license was worth the price of admission to one of life’s greatest shows, and this was only the first day!

Hunting, Wildlife

X-Vision Optics All-New Hands-Free Night Vision Binocular

There’s no need to slow down at sundown with X-Vision Optics new XANB55 Hands-Free Deluxe Digital Night Vision Binoculars. With 1-3x magnification, the hands-free binoculars offer full color daytime observation up to 400 yards and up to 200 yards in total darkness. The 2-megapixel wide angle display provides crystal-clear imaging and clarity on the move. The device enables you to capture photos and videos which can be played back on the unit or easily shared with any compatible device so you can show off any adventure to your friends and family.

The performance, dependability, and versatility of the hands-free night vision binocular is second to none. The device comes with a protective travel case, micro-USB recharging cable, and head mount. The night-vision binocular is equipped with 3 levels of screen brightness and 4 levels of IR brightness. Its ability to automatically transition from daytime full color to IR night vision means no slowing down at sundown. The device is dust and water resistant to a rating of IP52. The X-Vision Optics Deluxe Digital Night Vision Binoculars are perfect for any harsh environment with its durable exterior that is built to last. Read more

Hunting, Optics

Montana: court order changes wolf hunting season, effective immediately

HELENA – On Tuesday, a District Court in Lewis and Clark County issued a temporary restraining order impacting some of Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping regulations. The changes go into effect immediately.

The changes outlined in the temporary restraining order are as follows:

  • Reinstitutes wolf management units (WMU) 110, 313, and 316 as they existed in the 2020 wolf regulations. WMU 110 borders Glacier National Park and WMUs 313 and 316 are north of Yellowstone National Park
  • Reinstitutes the quotas for WMU 110, 313, 316 as they existed in the 2020 wolf regulations, which are two wolves in WMU 110 and one wolf each in WMU 313 and 316. Currently, one wolf has been harvested in WMU 313 and no wolves have been harvested in WMU 316 and 110. Wolf hunting and trapping in WMU 313 is now closed.
  • Restricts all hunters and trappers to harvesting five wolves total per person, per season.
  • Prohibits the use of snares as a legal method of take for trapping wolves.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will make legal arguments in this case at a hearing scheduled for Nov. 28. The court has set the temporary restraining order to expire on Nov. 29. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Buck Knives Offers Deer Hunting Tips

POST FALLS, ID— Hunting for deer is one of the most popular pastimes in America. Deer hunters take many routes to fill their tags ranging from prowling the Back-40, to sharing deer camps with friends and family, to solo hunts on public lands. According to one US Fish and Wildlife Survey, more than nine million hunters spent on average of two weeks or more hunting deer. If you hunt deer and fill your tag, are you prepared?

Buck Knives offers these tips if you will be hunting deer in the days and weeks ahead and if you are thinking about purchasing a new knife for your deer hunting adventure.

*Select the best possible rifle, riflescope and binoculars, ammunition and other gear you can afford—and handle well. Be certain you can tame or manage the firearm’s recoil and shoot accurately. Adjust your binoculars to your vision, and focus on other key details to get the most from your hunting gear. If you sighted in your rifle or slug gun during warm weather, check to be certain you can see through your riflescope with the correct eye relief when you add more layers of winter clothing.

*Stay aware of wind directions. Deer can see and hear well, but when they detect human odor in the faintest wind, they are on high alert. Move and hunt with the wind in your favor and remember that winds can swirl in mountainous terrain. Read more

Cutlery, Hunting

Michigan’s firearm deer hunting begins Nov. 15

Join in the time-honored tradition of deer hunting in Michigan. Get ready for a terrific time in Michigan’s beautiful forests and fields. Firearm deer season is open Nov. 15-30.

New this year: Mandatory harvest reporting

Starting with the fall 2022 deer seasons, online harvest reporting is required for all hunters who successfully take a deer.

You will have up to 72 hours after taking a deer to report your harvest, and there are two ways to do it electronically:

Answers to frequently asked questions about deer harvest reporting are available. The process is outlined in this video on how to properly tag and report your deer.

Assistance for those who need help with reporting or experience technical difficulties is available at a variety of locations around the state. Reporting assistance is also available by calling 517-284-9453 during normal business hours and on Nov. 19 and 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reminders:

  • Each deer kill tag has a different license number. You will need to use the number on the kill tag that is attached to your harvested deer to report that deer.
  • Keep the confirmation number you receive after you have reported your deer.

Make sure you have your license

You can buy deer licenses anywhere DNR licenses are sold. Find a local license agent.

Kill tags purchased online at eLicense take seven to 14 business days to arrive in the mail. You must have kill tags in your possession before hunting. To ensure you can hunt in a timely manner, purchase your license at a local license agent.

View additional hunting and license information at Michigan.gov/Hunting.

Review regulations in 2022 Hunting Digest

Before you head into the field, be sure to check the latest hunting regulations in your area by looking at the 2022 Hunting Digest.

Download digests

For on-demand digest access that travels where you do, without the need for internet access, download DNR hunting and fishing digests right to your phone through the DNR Hunt Fish mobile app!

Important reminders

The sections below refer to specific pages of the 2022 Hunting Digest for more information on these topics.

Baiting and feeding

Baiting and feeding is banned in the entire Lower Peninsula and the Core Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Area in the Upper Peninsula.

  • See pages 56 and 61-62 for additional information about the baiting and feeding bans.

Universal antlerless license

  • Universal antlerless deer licenses may be used on public or private land in any deer management unit open to antlerless hunting. See pages 47-48.
  • Some hunters in the Upper Peninsula (DMU 351 and 352) will need to have an access permit along with a universal antlerless deer license to hunt antlerless deer. See pages 60-61.

Antler point restrictions (APR)

  • Mainland Lower Peninsula hunters may harvest an antlered or antlerless deer with deer or deer combo licenses during archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons.
  • Be sure to check the APR chart before heading out this year:
    • Lower Peninsula APR chart, see pages 53-55.
    • Upper Peninsula APR chart, see pages 58-59.

Disease monitoring and testing

Deer stations: Disease sample submission sites

Our new harvest reporting system should make it easier for you to understand if you are in a location where the DNR is looking for volunteers to submit their deer for testing. If you are in one of the disease monitoring zones, you will see a message on the harvest report confirmation page asking you to submit your deer head for testing, along with locations where you can submit your deer head or sample for testing. The submission is not required for a reported harvest but is strongly encouraged to help meet our disease monitoring goals. You can also find a list of disease sample submission sites.

Check stations will be focused in places where we need to gather physical samples for bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD). This allows us to maximize our use of staff resources for disease monitoring purposes. Harvested animals must be reported using the online harvest reporting system.

CWD monitoring and testing

Support from hunters and landowners in this year’s CWD monitoring counties is requested to inform the state’s CWD monitoring plan. Early detection of the disease is an important part of the state’s management philosophy.

Hunters who harvest a deer in Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm counties, where CWD has previously been detected, can submit deer heads for testing via a drop box or submit lymph nodes with a free lymph node shipping kit. More information on this program is available on the CWD info for hunters webpage.

Testing in Isabella and Hillsdale counties, the state’s other two counties where CWD has been detected, is available to hunters at an area disease sample submission site.

Testing for a fee

In the remainder of the state, if you want your deer heads tested for CWD, you may submit them to a participating U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved lab at any time for testing. You will be charged a fee to have your deer heads tested. See more information about testing for a fee.

2022 deer hunting preview

Find out what to expect for this year’s deer hunting seasons, including harvest reporting, disease monitoring and regional forecasts, in the 2022 deer hunting preview.

Questions? Contact us

Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.

Deer hunting ?

Hunting

Full Range Skull System Now Available

High Point, NC – Full Range Hanging Systems is now offering its high-quality mounting systems in a model engineered specifically for European mounts.

Constructed of strong, durable steel, the Skull System features four points of contact to the skull for the most secure attachment when displaying your trophy. It offers a wide range of motion to achieve the perfect angle for showcasing your Euro in any space. Read more

Hunting

Michigan S3DA Archer Has Success on Kansas Youth Hunt

Williamsburg, KY – Michigan S3DA archer, Alessia McGivern, is a member of Jackson County Outdoor Club and was drawn this Fall by the Kansas Department of Wildlife to participate in a whitetail deer archery hunt. Alessia and her dad, Travis, went to Eldorado, Kansas for a week of hunting at the property of Barrett Pirtle. Alessia and her dad did lots of scouting with Barrett in between hunting. On the third night of hunting, after passing up some smaller size does and bucks, Alessia finally closed the deal on a large size doe. The doe came in with another smaller doe, and she took the shot at 25 yards with her Bowtech compound bow.

Two days later, Alessia was hunting early morning when she saw a beautiful buck at around 80 yards. The buck was hesitant about coming in closer, so Alessia decided to take the long range shot and was able to harvest this buck with her Scorpyd crossbow. This is the biggest buck that Alessia has been able to harvest to date! Alessia had a great shot on both animals thanks to lots of practice and making sure her equipment was sighted in perfectly.

Alessia said, “This hunt meant a lot to me because I was able to hunt whitetail deer in a new state and I shot my biggest buck to date! I was able to spend the whole week with my dad, who is my biggest supporter and always challenges me to train hard and always do my best. I encourage other youth hunters to take advantage of any opportunities they get and enjoy all the experiences in hunting.”

Alessia and her family are very proud of her accomplishments. The McGivern family would like to send a special thanks to Barrett Pirtle and his family for making this hunt possible.

About Scholastic 3-D Archery

Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) is a unique, family-oriented youth archery program which has grown exponentially across the United States as a next-step initiative to follow introductory archery programs. The mission of the Scholastic

3-D Archery program is to foster, educate and guide youth in the areas of 3D, indoor target, and outdoor target archery as well as safe, ethical bowhunting practices. The goal of the S3DA program is to provide archery and bowhunting opportunities to youth in after-school settings, as well as with archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in the community. S3DA youth participate in 3-D and target archery using compound and traditional archery equipment. Youth members can participate at regional, state and national archery events and earn college scholarships from colleges and universities across the United States. S3DA addresses the need for a program to bridge beginning target archery experience and more advanced activities such as 3-D shooting and bowhunting. The program currently operates across the United States with hundreds of certified coaches serving thousands of youth archers.

Contact the Scholastic 3-D Archery National Office at:

www.s3da.org or 410 Sycamore Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769, Ph: 606.524.3685

Archery, Hunting

WildEar’s SafEarz Protects Hearing While Filtering Out Unwanted Sounds

WALKER, Minn. – SafEarz™ is a simple, affordable way to protect your hearing against unwanted sounds. SafEarz ready-fit earplugs are available with three distinct filter options, Shooter, Everyday, and Toggle. The Shooter filter reduces high-intensity sounds such as gunfire, while still allowing you to have face-to-face conversations and hear sounds around you. The Everyday filter turns down the volume (noise) without sacrificing listening quality (the sounds you want to hear – music, warning signals, speech, etc.). The Everyday filter is ideal for lawn work, indoor or outdoor music concerts, and other activities with moderate noise. Our special Toggle option engages the Everyday filter when the toggle is in the open position and offers full protection when the toggle is closed. This product is best when you are in and out of the noise and would like the option to close the toggle for full protection (great for power tools and loud sporting events).

SafEarz incorporates a three-flange earplug design for a tight but comfortable fit in the ear canal, with four sizes (small, medium, large, and extra-large) to ensure you get the right fit for your ears. Unlike disposable products, SafEarz are simple to clean and will provide months of reliable use. Each package includes one set of the selected filter, a lanyard, and a convenient storage case. The suggested retail price is $44.50-$49.50. More information on SafEarz ready-fit hearing protection and the entire line of WildEar products is available at https://www.wildear.com/, by calling 855-494-WILD(9453), or simply Click Here.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Walker, Minnesota, CavCom is the leader in innovative industrial hearing protection and communication systems. CavCom’s WildEar designs provide advanced electronic and passive hearing protection for avid outdoor enthusiasts, weekend warriors, music lovers, cell phone users, and those desiring comfortable, undisturbed sleep. For more information on the full line of state-of-the-art products visit https://www.wildear.com/, call 855-494-WILD(9453), or Click Here.

Firearms, Hunting

Michigan early-season elk hunters find success

Hunt period 1 proved to be successful for 80% of early-season elk hunters. There were 98 state hunters who took to the field over the 12-day season. Hunters harvested 24 bull elk and 52 antlerless elk, including six calves. Additionally, two Pure Michigan Hunt winners harvested bulls.

Of the 100 hunters issued elk licenses for this hunt period (70 antlerless and 30 any-elk), 76% of antlerless hunters and 87% of any-elk hunters were successful in their pursuits. This season’s success rate is comparable with previous seasons.

The season began in late August and spanned 12 days throughout September and into early October. Hunters had mild weather during the whole season, with a few warm days with cooler nights.

The early season is designed to remove elk living outside of the designated elk management area, which is primarily the Pigeon River Country State Forest. The second hunt period will begin Dec. 10 for 160 hunters.

Learn more about Michigan’s elk:

Michigan.gov/Elk ?

Hunting
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