Michigan’s reserved waterfowl hunts may be a few months away, but hunters can apply now through Aug. 28 to get in the hunt. Applications are $5, and hunters may apply only once. Apply online or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.

Drawing results will be available Sept. 11.

Reserved hunts will be held mornings and afternoons of the Middle Zone waterfowl season’s Oct. 7-8 opening weekend and the following weekend (Oct. 14-15) 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 mornings and afternoons of the Oct. 14-15 opening weekend at the Harsens Island Unit of the St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area, Pointe Mouillee State Game Area and Shiawassee River State Game Area. Reserved hunts also will be held mornings and afternoons of the following weekend (Oct. 21-22) at Harsens Island and Shiawassee River. Read more

Hunting and trapping are an undeniable part of our state’s outdoor traditions. New and veteran hunters and trappers and anyone interested in how the Michigan Department of Natural Resources manages wildlife populations are invited to two upcoming opportunities in St. Ignace: the Michigan Bear Forum (Aug. 19) and the Michigan Furtaker User Group meeting (Sept. 1). Read more

As America faces a storm of geopolitical threats, endures a flood of fentanyl streaming across a largely open southern border—now killing some 100,000 Americans annually, wrestles with soaring inflation, and experiences unmitigated crime in many of our largest cities, the Biden Administration’s recent move to defund schools that offer hunter safety and archery programs has many questioning President Biden’s priorities. The administration seems to be misfiring on many cylinders and, not surprisingly, Joe Biden’s approval rating continues to plummet. “It’s right up there with jock itch,” recently quipped Senator John Kennedy.

The administration is twisting the intent of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) passed last year—with the help of 15 Republican Senators voting in favor—and the Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, has moved to block funding from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to schools that offer hunter education and archery programs. BSCA prohibits ESEA funds from being used to provide training in the use of a, “dangerous weapon.”

To read the rest of this column click here. Read more

WATCH NOW: https://www.highroadhunting.com/the-high-road/50bmg-vs-wildebeest-african-safari/

We kick off today’s episode bringing down a GIANT with a GIANT. Johnny grabs the 50BMG and sets his sights on a wildebeest. Then Keith sets out on a spot n stalk searching for a blesbok.

WATCH ALL EPISODES FREE: https://www.highroadhunting.com/full-episodes Read more

The United States Senate unanimously passed the Duck Stamp Modernization Act – legislation to make the Federal Duck Stamp more accessible for waterfowl hunters by authorizing the electronic stamp for use throughout the entire waterfowl hunting season.

The bipartisan bill will allow hunters to satisfy the Duck Stamp requirement in the field by accessing their electronic stamp using a smartphone. Physical stamps will remain available for purchase from the post office and other retailers. Read more

Thursday evening, the U.S. Senate passed a top priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) known as the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 (S. 788). This bipartisan bill is led by the entire Senate Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Leadership, Co-Chairs Sens. John Boozman and Joe Manchin and Vice-Chairs Sens. Angus King and Roger Marshall.

Prior to the vote, CSF worked with the bill sponsors and key offices to help navigate this bill through the political process and ultimately a successful floor vote. The Senate passage of this bill builds upon the House Natural Resources Committee passage of the House companion bill led by CSC Vice-Chair Rep. Garret Graves and CSC Member Rep. Mike Thompson.

The Duck Stamp Modernization Act will simplify the Federal Duck Stamp process by allowing hunters to have an electronic duck stamp on their smartphone for the entirety of the hunting season. Under current law, when a hunter purchases an electronic Federal Duck Stamp (e-stamp), the e-stamp is only valid for a period of 45 days to allow for the actual stamp to be mailed. Once the actual stamp is received by the e-stamp purchaser, the actual stamp must be signed by the respective hunter across the face of the stamp and be in the hunter’s possession while afield. However, this legislation will remove the 45-day validation period and make the electronic stamp valid for the entirety of the hunting season. To ensure the continuance and integrity of the Federal Duck Stamp art contest, a longstanding tradition for waterfowlers and other bird enthusiasts alike, S. 788 will ensure that purchasers of e-stamps still receive the actual stamp in the mail. Specifically, the legislation will provide that actual stamps will be mailed to purchasers from March 10 to June 30. Read more

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) once again will be offering additional hunting opportunities that will provide all hunters with a chance to draw an additional elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and Gould’s turkey permit-tag, while generating revenue to support wildlife conservation efforts across the state.

The draw will open at 8 a.m. (Arizona time) Wednesday, Aug. 2, and close at 5 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, Aug. 8. Applicants who are drawn for a limited-entry permit-tag will be contacted by the department (during the week of Aug. 14), at which time payment will be required before the permit-tag can be mailed. It is the responsibility of each applicant to provide accurate contact information to avoid missing an opportunity to receive the permit-tag for which they were drawn.

These opportunities should not be confused with the annual draws that are conducted by the department in February, June and October. A limited-entry permit-tag application does not preclude a hunter from applying for any other hunts throughout the year or impact bonus points. Animals harvested during limited-entry permit-tag seasons are excluded from annual bag limits. Read more

New for 2023, Barnett® presents a full line of King Rat Slingshots sure to bring adventure to hunters of all ages. The King Rat series is rooted in David Barnett’s childhood and draw from over 60 years of hunting and adventure.

Barnett was founded in the early 1960’s by David Barnett’s Father in the industrial market town of Willenhall, West Midland, England. As a boy, David Barnett visited his father’s workplace, often after school, waiting to be taken home. For his seventh birthday in 1972, his father brought back from America a tubular band slingshot. The new contraption was so different from all the things he had seen from classmates and neighbors. Read more

July 25th, 2023 – Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization, is excited to announce that Chuck Adams has set two new world records, both Sitka Blacktail in velvet categories. Pope and Young announced thirteen new world records at their 33rd Biennial Convention in April of this year.

Chuck Adams broke the record with his Typical Sitka Blacktail in the Velvet category with his giant 5×5 buck he shot in 2021 scoring an incredible 109 7/8”. The buck was shot on Kodiak Island, Alaska on August 12, 2021, and with the score being verified by a special panel of measurers, it is now recognized as the new world record.

“Amazingly, the very first deer I saw on my 2021 Alaskan bow hunt was a giant 5×5,” stated Chuck Adams. “I had been hiking for an hour and spotted big antlers above a ridge. I told myself it might be the largest Sitka rack I had ever seen. After a long crawl, I shot the buck from 36 yards. This is the best scoring typical blacktail I have ever taken during 18 trips to Kodiak, and a Pope and Young World Record!”

Chuck also topped the charts with the giant Non-Typical Sitka Blacktail that he shot in velvet on August 22nd, 2022, also on Kodiak Island. Adams shot this buck, scoring an incredible 117 7/8” after 26 long days on Kodiak Island. Adams’ non-typical Sitka Blacktail was confirmed at the February 2023 Pope and Young Panel Verification in Reno, Nevada. Read more