Category: Hunting

Sound Suppressor: Taming Big Bore Blast

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Exactly 10 years ago, then Michigan Attorney General, Bill Schuette, concluded that State law allowed the use of noise suppressors for firearms by private citizens, when authorized by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Said Schuette, “Michigan citizens who comply with federal firearm regulations can use suppressors to protect their hearing and minimize noise disruptions in the surrounding areas.”   Following the issuance of his opinion, suppressors became legal for hunting, as well.

A few years ago, as I sat on stand deer hunting with my extra-noisy, ported Ruger American rifle chambered in .450 Bushmaster, I spotted a good buck and squeezed the trigger.  As a result, my ears have continued to ring 24 hours a day ever since.

It wasn’t as though I didn’t know better; in fact, I had my hearing protection in place for hours.  However, being a wearer of eye glasses, the clamping effect of my ear protection over the frame of the glasses, became a source of irritation.  Subsequently I relieved the pressure by removing them thinking I’d snap them in place, if needed.  Duh!

The sight of the buck made me forget all about my plan to protect my hearing and I’ve paid the price ever since and probably will for the remainder of my life.  My solution was to someday purchase a sound suppressor for that behemoth of a game-getter.  Finally, that day has come – at least the purchasing part.

I checked a familiar online retail outlet, Silencerco, for suppressor models that would fit the bill, but couldn’t formulate an opinion as to the best choice for my needs.  Off I went to Williams Gun Sight Company in Davison – a distributor of Silencerco suppressors – for personal assistance.

After waiting in line for a half hour (yes, it was that busy), an experienced employee showed me a Hybrid 46 suppressor that he bought, because it could be used in conjunction with myriad calibers.   I didn’t even know that using the same suppressor on different firearms was legal; all it takes is switching the end cap to match the caliber.  I was in!

To purchase a silencer the following qualifications apply:

  • Reside in one of the 42 states that currently allow civilian ownership
  • Be a resident of the United States
  • Be legally eligible to purchase a firearm
  • Pass a BATFE background check
  • Be at least 21 years of age to purchase from a dealer
  • Be at least 18 years of age to purchase from another citizen

 

Stepping to the Silencerco kiosk in the store, the process began with answering questions that coincide with the same questions when purchasing a firearm.  Fingerprints were taken on the screen of the kiosk and within the hour, the process was complete.

The next step was to pay for the suppressor and the particular end cap needed for the Ruger rifle.  Following that, the suppressor was put back into the box, where it would be stored by Williams Gun Sight for the next six to nine months, as the U.S. government does whatever it does with my application.  Oh, yes, the cost?  Let’s just say it was three times the cost of the firearm, including the $200 federal tax extracted from me. 

It may be a heavy price to pay but so is hearing loss.

Firearms, General, Hunting

Alabama: Hog Wild License Package Available Today

The “Hog Wild” license package will be available for sale on Monday, August 30. ADCNR

By DAVID RAINER

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Beginning on Monday, August 30, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division will offer a one-click solution for those who want to hunt feral swine at night.

The new law that allows nighttime hunting of feral swine and coyotes went into effect on July 1, 2021. When the 2021-2022 licenses become available Monday, hunters can choose from a variety of all-access packages, including the “Hog Wild” package that gives hunters all the license privileges needed to take advantage of the new nighttime hunting opportunities.

“When the nighttime feral swine and coyote hunting license was passed, it seemed like a good idea to create a new license package,” said WFF Assistant Director Fred Harders. “In that package, residents and non-residents will be able to click one button and purchase a small-game license, a bait privilege license, which would allow folks to use bait while hunting feral swine at night, and the nighttime license. We felt that those three licenses would be what most people would like to purchase. Read more

Hunting

Late-August Michigan Crows

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

It’s been a while since I’ve done any crow hunting, until this morning.  My pal, Joe, came over and we took a fixed stand on the edge of burgeoning food plots.  I waited about 30 minutes before calling, all the while hearing them discussing what they might get into this day.

I changed the discussion with a low-volume, crow-in-distress call and it got their attention immediately.  Joe was toting a side-by-side 20 gauge, and since he was on my right, he would concentrate on anything to the right side of our small, upward shooting lanes.

A group of the black marauders came in low and looking for trouble.  I managed to drop one with my old Remington 1100 in 20 gauge with modified choke and another in a second aerial rush.

Late-August Michigan Crows

The ammo was some factory old stock 8-shot with a K-Mart price of $2.99!  Joe came up empty and we called it quits after two volleys.  Good to get rid of the old ammo, while it was still good.  And, good to get rid of a few varmints on a sunny Saturday morning in Mid-Michigan.

Hunting

Michigan: two days left for reserved waterfowl hunting applications

Don’t forget to grab your reserved waterfowl hunt application, available through Aug. 28. Applications are $5, and hunters may apply only once. Drawing results?will be posted Sept. 20.

Reserved hunts will be held both mornings and afternoons of the Middle Zone Oct. 2-3 waterfowl season opening weekend and the following weekend, Oct. 9-10, at Fish Point State Wildlife Area and Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area.

In the South Zone, reserved hunts will be held both mornings and afternoons of the Oct. 9-10 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 both mornings and afternoons Oct. 16-17 at Harsens Island and Shiawassee River. Read more

Hunting

Safari Club International Supports Sustainable Predator Management in North America

Tucson, AZ – Safari Club International (SCI) and Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) are proud to announce their official support of sustainable predator management in North America, management which plays an essential role in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

SCI and SCIF adopted this position following extensive support for research on the dynamics between large carnivores and their prey, and SCI’s involvement in numerous lawsuits and legislation on predator issues. These issues revolved around state and federal species recovery efforts, delisting decisions for predators, states’ authority to manage wildlife, and the American freedom to hunt.

SCI and SCIF have adopted a position on this issue given the significant public interest and attention predators and their management garners. Unfortunately, much of that attention is the source of widespread misinformation about a subject of real importance to hunters and conservationists. As government bodies worldwide take an increasingly active approach to restricting hunting, it is more important than ever that SCI and SCIF convey the truth about hunting both prey and predator species. Read more

Hunting

Delta Waterfowl Innovates Cutting-edge Duck Production Conditions Map

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — A new habitat modelling technique will allow The Duck Hunters Organization to produce maps of breeding waterfowl habitat conditions like never before. As first published in Delta’s “Fall Flight Forecast” media release earlier this month, The Duck Hunters Organization believes the innovative strategy marks a vast improvement in accuracy and precision over conditions maps of its kind.

“We’ve produced conditions maps in the past, but nothing ever on this level,” said Mike Buxton, Delta’s waterfowl programs manager and engineer of the new mapping technique. “Most duck production conditions maps are pretty rudimentary — they chart out these large ‘blobs’ of general areas based on direct observations and sometimes even educated guesses. It simply isn’t feasible to have enough staff spread across the entire breeding range to accurately gauge conditions firsthand throughout the year.”

Buxton’s mapping technique, on the other hand, relies on a series of complex computer models. While he won’t reveal all of his tricks — the innovative software strategy required considerable effort and a number of map iterations to perfect — precipitation as well as groundwater estimates are central to his computer modelling. Read more

Hunting

Tread Off-Road Navigator Now Tracks Sporting Dogs When Used with Select Garmin GPS Dog Systems

Feature update allows in-vehicle dog tracking

OLATHE, Kan./August 19, 2021 – Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced a free software update for its Tread powersport navigator that offers hunters and dog handlers embedded technology to help track sporting dogs after pairing Tread with select Garmin GPS dog systems (sold separately). Users will now be able to see markers on Tread’s navigation display for each of their dogs within tracking range. What’s more, Tread’s directional cues will help owners easily locate their dogs to help follow their every move.

With this update, users can pair Tread with the following Garmin dog tracking devices:

    • Alpha 100/200i
    • Astro 320/430/900
    • PRO 550 Plus

Read more

Hunting

The Elite Hunting Bibs from HOT SHOT Gear

McKees Rocks, PA.- HOT SHOT Gear, engineers of authentic hunting and fishing apparel that is built to beat the elements, would like to introduce the Elite Hunting Bib. When the temperature drops and late season hunting comes calling, the Elite Bibs will provide warmth in the toughest conditions.

The design of the HOT SHOT Elite Hunting Bibs provides a completely windproof and waterproof product that you can trust to perform when you need them most. Featuring 120 grams of insulation, the bibs are built to keep you comfortable in the outdoors while hunting or fishing. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

RMEF, Partners Dole Out $1.3 Million for Colorado Elk Habitat, Research

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners allocated $1,311,336 of grant funding in Colorado to benefit wildlife habitat and scientific research. RMEF contributed $167,562 and leveraged an additional $1,143,774 in partner dollars.

Ten projects will benefit Clear Creek, Costilla, Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Jackson, Las Animas, Mesa, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Routt, San Miguel and Saguache Counties.

“We appreciate our state, federal and other partners who join us in seeing the importance of aspen restoration, invasive weed treatment, the installation of new wildlife water resources and other habitat enhancement work,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “There are also various important studies that will assist wildlife managers to learn more and better manage elk herds.”

“It’s important to highlight that our volunteers spend a lot of time and are devoted to raising these funds by hosting banquets, membership drives and other activities. We are grateful for all they do,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO.

There are more than 16,000 members and 30 chapters in Colorado.

Dating back to 1987, RMEF and its partners completed 807 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Colorado with a combined value of more than $183 million. These projects protected or enhanced 471,699 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 122,107 acres.

Below is a sampling of Colorado’s 2021 project, listed by county. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Utah: How Drought Impacts Deer and Elk: Tips for 2021 Hunts

SALT LAKE CITY — Several years of ongoing drought conditions and the extreme drought this summer have decreased mule deer populations across the state. Here are a few things people hunting deer and elk this fall should know.

Drought impacts deer by decreasing their body fat (because there are fewer plants and available food sources on the landscape). If the does have poor body fat and nutrition, it leads to smaller fawns, and those fawns have a decreased chance of surviving. If an adult deer has too little body fat at the beginning of the winter — especially a severe winter — it will often not survive the winter months.

The current deer population in Utah is roughly 320,000 deer, which is the lowest total number of deer in the state in several years (although not as low as 2010 or the early 2000s). While hunting bucks doesn’t impact the total population growth rate, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has decreased the total hunting permit numbers for the last several years in order to better manage to the buck-to-doe ratios outlined in the management plans. Read more

Hunting
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