Category: Hunting

Michigan: follow safety guidelines for highly pathogenetic avian influenza

Remember to be observant and careful when harvesting and handling wild birds this fall, due to the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Dabbling ducks are the most commonly infected waterfowl, but geese, swans, shorebirds and other species also can be infected.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza primarily affects birds, but is also a zoonotic disease, or one that has the potential to pass from domestic or wild animals to humans. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with HPAI remains low, but people are advised to avoid handling any sick or dead wild birds.

Learn more about HPAI, what to watch for and safety guidelines for hunters.

Get the latest information and updates on the current outbreak of avian influenza.

Hunting, Wildlife

Summit® Treestands Viper® Level PRO SD

WEST POINT, MS – Summit Treestands is known for its quality, comfortable tree stands, which offer versatility and security while hunting elevated. Now, Summit has made stand adjustments easier in the new Viper Level PRO SD featuring Mossy Oak Elements Terra Gila.

The latest innovation from Summit is the addition of its revolutionary EasyLevel® dials. After climbing and getting settled on the tree, sometimes the tree-stand angle is not where it should be for the most comfortable hunting position. The EasyLevel dials make it possible to adjust the tree-stand angle while still attached to the tree. It’s as simple turning the dial.

In addition to the EasyLevel dials, the Viper Level PRO SD comes equipped with the Quick Draw® PRO Cable Retention System for faster attachment to the tree. The FasTrack® system makes it easy to add accessories to the stand. The Dead Metal® SD (sound-deadening) Technology makes for a quiet climb, and other safety features make the Viper Level PRO SD safe, sturdy, and solid. Read more

Hunting

Improve Accuracy, Reduce Game Recovery Time with NBEF’s Whitetail Shot Placement Aids

RAPID CITY, SD (October 10, 2022) – The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) offers educational items to increase success and safety for bowhunters. Whitetail hunters can refer to these tools to improve shot accuracy for a quick harvest and game recovery.

The Advanced Whitetail Deer Anatomy and Shot Placement Guide is an informative shot placement training aid with full color 8.5″ x 11″ transparent overlays. Separate acrylic overlays feature the muscular system, skeletal system, circulatory system, and vital organs specific to a white-tailed deer. Accompanying text includes shot placement information and illustrations for both firearm hunters and bowhunters. Useful for hunting guides, hunter education instructors or today’s informed hunter. Responsible hunting includes knowledge of accurate shot placement for a quick kill and game recovery. This is part of the International Bowhunter Education Program Hunter Responsibility Series which includes anatomy and shot placement guides for bear, turkey and elk. Suggested retail $12.50.

The 3-D Whitetail Deer Anatomy Sectional is an excellent tool for hunter education classes and hunter certification courses. It’s molded to near life size and pre-drilled to show arrow shot placement on white-tailed deer. A removable magnetic scapula and display stand are included. Allow for possible long lead times when ordering this product. Suggested retail $250.

“NBEF encourages bowhunters to use available reference information and tools that can lead to safer and more successful hunts,” explained NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz. “As stewards of our sport it makes sense to educate ourselves and others on best practices.” Read more

Hunting

Ohio Man Convicted of Fraud in Hunting Lease Scheme

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Ohio man was convicted of wire fraud and sentenced to prison for his role in an illegal scheme to solicit payments and sell hunting leases on properties where he had no authority, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The U.S. District Court in Southern Ohio found Nathan L. Knox, 30, of Mechanicsburg, guilty on September 8 and sentenced him to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $18,037.

According to court documents, the defendant operated a scheme in 2019 where he placed advertisements on social media pages for supposed hunting leases in Ohio, but he had no right to sell the leases in question. The defendant charged prospective clients between $400 and $5,000 and offered pictures of mature buck deer as false evidence of the parcels. In total, he solicited payments from at least 68 different individuals, all residing outside Ohio, and received payments totaling $34,000 from at least 59 of those individuals. Read more

Hunting

Inaugural Virginia Elk Hunt Generates $600K+in Conservation Funding

MISSOULA, Mont. — Hunters supporting Virginia’s first-ever managed elk hunt scheduled to take place October 8-14 generated more than $606,000 to bolster wildlife and management projects within the state’s elk management zone.

“This funding is an indicator of the significant contributions of hunters who support Virginia’s elk and elk country,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “We also salute our partners at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) for their diligence in successfully managing the state’s growing elk herd. Those efforts open the door for this first, historic hunt.”

DWR awarded its first elk conservation license to RMEF which conducted a raffle that generated more than $93,000 for conservation. That came on the heels of DWR’s initial lottery of five antlered elk tags that raised more than $513,000.

“That’s approximately half a million dollars that will go right back into wildlife conservation because of the contributions of these hunters,” said Ryan Brown, DWR executive director. “Though a small hunt, it’s significant in marking the early success of the restoration of this magnificent animal to Virginia, and also a tremendous opportunity to show the greater public the conservation benefits of hunting.” Read more

Hunting

S3DA & Safari Club International Foundation Youth Elk Hunt

Williamsburg, KY – Through a partnership with the Safari Club International Foundation, S3DA was able to reward one deserving youth archer with a New Mexico elk tag. Archers submitted an application to S3DA with some of their pertinent demographic information along with some essay questions regarding their hunting experience and why they should be chosen. The applications are then reviewed by a committee which ultimately decides the recipient, which this year was Blayne Hunt.

Blayne, his dad Nathan, and his stepmom Catie spent a week in New Mexico chasing elk for the very first time. This story is in Nathan’s words: “Soaking wet gear, boots that may never recover, tired legs and eyes. From the very first afternoon we were on elk. After two close calls on decent bulls, the hail and rain hit for two straight days. Finally, we caught a break in the weather and Blayne and I were able to call/sneak in on an absolute hammer of a bull who made it to exactly 43 yards, slightly quartering away.

He blew our hats off with his last growling bugle – staring right through Blayne and me as our ears rang. It was magnificent! Everything went as planned except for the shot. A deflection in the thick timber sent one just over him (luckily a clean miss and not an injury). And that was that. We both stood there in disbelief… dreams crushed… defeated.

Down, but not out. On the 1,000 ft climb back to camp, the heavens opened up yet again and we spent the remainder of the day and night in wet sleeping bags and a tent. Friday was our last chance.

We woke up to 20 mph winds, thick fog, bitter cold, and hoping just to hear one. Luckily, we did. The three of us climbed another mile or so trying to get in front of him, only to have him go silent. We started to slip out the general direction he was headed last, and he crested the hill quartering toward us. 50… 45… the wind switched just faintly, and he stopped in his tracks, turned, and eased just enough behind cover that Blayne couldn’t take an ethical shot before he vanished in the broken fir trees. It was over as fast as it started.

As they always do, the days blended and eventually came to quickly to an end. We’ll share these memories forever – 10-12 miles at 11k elevation – listening to bulls bugle all night under the stars – witnessing these majestic creatures do what they do, and as it was intended. I want to thank S3DA and Safari Club International Foundation for a once in a lifetime opportunity. Blayne never would have gotten the opportunity otherwise.”

Read more

Hunting

Whitetails Unlimited Offers Free Sight-In Targets

Rifle, shotgun, and muzzleloader deer seasons are fast approaching, but whatever firearm is used it is very important for the hunter to be confident with their abilities to hit a target accurately – every time. To help ensure that you and your firearm are shooting accurately, Whitetails Unlimited will ship ten 100-yard sight-in targets at no cost. The targets measure approximately 14 x 16 inches and have 1-inch grids with a 6-inch center highlight ring.

Whitetails Unlimited celebrates the American tradition of hunting deer, the most popular big-game animal in North America. WTU expects hunters to go afield on ethical, fair-chase hunts; part of that hunting ethic is to only take shots when the hunter is sure of the target, knows what is beyond the target, and is following all applicable hunting laws and regulations. For more information about hunting safely and legally, contact your state’s department of natural resources.

To receive your targets, contact the Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters at 1-800-274-5471 or via email at nh@whitetailsunlimimted.com. Read more

Hunting

RMEF Completes First Land Conservation & Access Project in Kentucky

MISSOULA, Mont. — Strengthening a relationship with a state that dates back nearly three decades, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation successfully collaborated with Kentucky River Properties to conserve and open access to a rugged slice of Kentucky elk country.

RMEF acquired five parcels, all earlier private inholdings covering nine acres, in a rugged area known as Steel Trap and donated them to the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF).

“This seemingly small transaction has big hunting and access ramifications,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “Much of Kentucky’s elk zone covers private land where access can be challenging. This project helps alleviate that and may serve as a springboard to future, larger land conservation and public access possibilities.”

Steel Trap’s features include a closed canopy forest with flat to moderately steep terrain about 19 miles northeast of Pineville. It borders Phillips Fork, which feeds the Red Bird River. Two of the parcels are bisected by an unimproved road that secures permanent access to interior portions of the DBNF, heavily used by elk. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

AGFC decoy program draws new hunters

GW: Some innovative recycling here! Great idea.

LITTLE ROCK — An innovative waterfowl hunter recruitment program from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is doing more than saving some plastic, it may be saving the future of the sport. The AGFC’s Decoy Adoption Program finds old waterfowl hunting equipment and places it with new owners to continue harvesting game and memories in the field.

Eric Maynard, assistant chief of education for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, runs the AGFC’s decoy adoption program. The program has been formally in place for three years, but was conducted behind the scenes for many years before that.

“Decoy-painting workshops have always been a hit, and decoy-painting itself has a sort of cult following, even among nonhunters,” Maynard said. “So it’s a great way to draw people into the nature centers to learn more about hunting and fishing and why it’s important to continue these traditions.”

The classes have become so popular that Maynard and other educators are always looking for new donations of old decoys to use.

“All duck hunters have those old decoys that sat in the field a little too long that they don’t want to repair or repaint,” Maynard said. “Instead of them being thrown out or tossed in an old decoy bag in the corner of the shop, they can spark the interest of a new waterfowl enthusiast. You just have to give us a call or drop them off.”

Anyone can donate decoys of any kind, and members of the AGFC’s Education Division use them to help youth and other budding outdoors enthusiasts learn more about waterfowl and waterfowl hunting.

“It doesn’t matter if the decoy has holes in it and paint flaking off,” Maynard said. “We’ll fix them up and prime them before the class, so students can start from scratch. The educators will bring paints and pocket guides like the Arkansas Waterfowl Pocket Guide that students can use to make their decoys lifelike. At the end of the class, the student is welcome to take the decoy home with them.”

Maynard said decoys that are still in good condition also may be used in one of the many mentored hunt opportunities the AGFC hosts.

“We also get contacted from time to time from younger hunters who want to get started but don’t have the resources to put into a spread of decoys,” Maynard said. “These aren’t going to be the best decoys, but we usually end up with a couple dozen that still have a few seasons of hunting left in them. If we can pass them on, maybe we’re passing on a little bit of that passion that brought us to the woods and water years ago.”

Anyone interested in donating their old decoys to the AGFC for educational purposes is encouraged to contact Maynard at eric.maynard@agfc.ar.gov, and he can make arrangements to have them picked up. Decoys also may be dropped off at any of the AGFC’s nine nature centers, but donors are asked to call ahead so the center can make room for the donation.

Hunting
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