Category: Hunting

2020 Buck Harvest Highest in 21 Years According to NDA’s Deer Report

Deer hunters in the United States harvested an estimated 6.3 million white-tailed deer in the 2020-21 hunting season, the most since 2011, according to the National Deer Association’s latest Deer Report released this week. Harvests of both antlered bucks and antlerless deer were up over the 2019 season, but the estimated buck harvest of 3,041,544 was the most in 21 years.

“2020 saw the highest buck harvest in the new century, and amazingly we estimate that we set another new record for the percentage of those bucks that were 3½ years old or older,” said Kip Adams, NDA’s Chief Conservation Officer. “U.S. hunters are taking fewer yearling bucks and killing more of them as mature deer, but this doesn’t mean fewer bucks harvested overall. We’re killing older bucks and more bucks than ever in America.”

The steadily climbing percentage of 3½-and-older bucks in the harvest is the result of declining pressure nationwide on yearling bucks (1½ years old). Only 26% of the 2020 antlered buck harvest was yearlings, another new record low in modern history. The total buck harvest of 3,041,544 was up 5.3% from the previous season. It is estimated 41% of them were 3½ or older, or 1.2 million. While hunters killed slightly more bucks in total in the record 1999 season, the national harvest at that time was more than 50% yearlings, therefore the 2020 season likely saw the greatest number of mature bucks killed by American hunters in modern history. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Houston Safari Club Foundation Becomes POMA Corporate Partner

(Houston, TX- January 25, 2022) The Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is pleased to announce its status as a new Corporate Partner of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA).

Since 2005, POMA has been a leader in outdoor sports communication excellence. Writers, filmmakers, organizations and businesses all unite under the POMA umbrella to bring the best in outdoor news and information to consumers.

“Together, we all work to spread the good news about the outdoors, shooting sports, hunting, and the conservation of habitat and wildlife around the world. Now, more than ever, it is critical for professionals in the outdoor space to unite and fight against censorship of our passions by social media,” states Joe Betar, Houston Safari Club Foundation Executive Director. Read more

Hunting

Ethics course required before gathering shed antlers in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Collecting antlers that fall off the heads of deer, elk and moose each winter is a popular pastime in Utah. Before you head outdoors to collect shed antlers, though, you are required to complete the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ Antler Gathering Ethics course.

After dropping their antlers, male deer, elk and moose will grow a new set starting this spring. Looking for the shed antlers is a fun activity that your whole family can enjoy. However, late winter and early spring is a tough time of year for deer, elk and moose, which is why the educational ethics course is required if you want to go “shed hunting” between Feb. 1 and April 15.

“During winter, big game animals, especially deer, often have a difficult time finding food,” DWR Law Enforcement Capt. Chad Bettridge said. “If you spook an animal and cause it to run, the animal has to use up fat reserves and energy that it needs to make it through the winter.” Read more

Hunting

Records Fall During Sheep Week

Bozeman, Montana. January 25, 2022. The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) recently concluded its 45th convention, Sheep Week®, with record amounts raised again for wild sheep conservation.

At this premier event for raising dedicated funding for state, provincial, territorial, and tribal wildlife agencies through the auctioning of their special conservation permits, eleven permits were sold for record amounts, with one tying and existing record. From these twelve permits alone, $2,274,500 million was raised.

WSF is entrusted by these wildlife agencies to auction their special conservation permits, primarily for wild sheep but also for other coveted big game species.

“This was another big year for state, provincial, territorial, and tribal wildlife conservation efforts,” said Gray N. Thornton, president and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “The fact that a handful of individuals stepped at these levels to benefit entire populations in exchange for the opportunity to hunt one special animal is the definition of paying it forward. That’s the definition of conservation.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Montana Elk Habitat Protected, Open to Public Access

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and U.S. Forest Service worked with a willing landowner to conserve two private inholdings of wildlife habitat and conveyed them to the Lolo National Forest. The 1,040-acre transaction took place just west of Lolo, a small western Montana town about 10 miles south of Missoula.

“We greatly appreciate YT Timber for asking us to conserve this land and help transfer it into the public’s hands,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “This acreage serves as both important winter range and a movement corridor for elk, moose, deer and other wildlife species.”

The transaction opens public access to the 1,040 acres and secures new access points to several thousand acres of surrounding public lands. In doing so, it alleviates challenges for hunters and others because of the area’s checkboard ownership pattern.

“This project secures the last remaining and intact wildlife movement zone across the north end of the Bitterroot Valley between the Bitterroot Mountain Range and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness to the south and west, the Sapphire Mountain Range to the east and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem to the north,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “Maintaining contiguous public ownership in this area ensures the protection of these larger movement corridors.”

In addition to providing prime wildlife habitat in the form of forested conifers, aspen and other vegetation, the two parcels feature key riparian habitat since more than one mile of Bear Creek, Camp Creek and Sleeman Creek, all headwater streams and tributaries of Lolo Creek below, cross the property. The transaction protects these spawning and rearing areas for native westslope cutthroat trout and other fish species. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

NWTF CEO Cited for Conservation Excellence

EDGEFIELD, S.C.— NWTF CEO Becky Humphries was recently honored as the 2021 recipient of the Bass Pro Shops Conservation Partner of the Year Award for her commitment to conservation and America’s sportsmen and women.

“I am extremely honored to be recognized by John L. Morris and the entire Bass Pro team,” Humphries said. “John is a legendary conservation leader who advances conservation across the nation, and he is an exceptional partner to the National Wild Turkey Federation. Joining the Bass Pro staff to celebrate Christmas was a special experience for me, and also my family, and I am humbled to join the ranks of previous awardees.”

Bass Pro Shops founder and noted conservationist Johnny Morris presented the prestigious award to Humphries at Bass Pro Shops’ Basecamp in Springfield, Missouri.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a greater champion of wildlife, wild places and our sporting heritage than Becky Humphries,” Morris said. “Under her leadership, the National Wild Turkey Federation has continued to thrive as one of our nation’s most significant conservation organizations and valued partners. It’s an honor to salute Becky’s outstanding work, leadership and passion for conservation through the 2021 Bass Pro Shops Conservation Partner of the Year Award.” Read more

Hunting

POMA Adds Operations Support Specialist

 

GW:  Ah, yes.  The young lady who was always helping with the administration of our media events.  She’s paid those dues and couldn’t have chosen a better major in college.  Best of luck, Cassidy!

JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, January 24, 2022 — The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) is pleased to announce the addition of Cassidy Bailey as its new Operations Support Specialist.

Bailey will provide support to POMA’s management in the daily operations of the organization, with a focus on customer service and helping to plan and implement events.

“In the true spirit of POMA being a family, Cassidy’s involvement began in 2009 when she volunteered to help at POMA’s annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri,” said Shelly Moore, POMA Membership Director, and Cassidy’s mom. “Since then, she has been a staple at the annual event, enthusiastically helping POMA staff and members with anything needed and taking on more responsibility each year. Many POMA members have watched her grow up and their influence has helped shape her, both professionally and personally, into who she is today.”

Thomas MacAulay, POMA Executive Director, said, “Cassidy has been a tremendous team player, and we appreciate all that she has done. We are excited to see her grow in this new position that we feel is vital to our organization’s growth as we continue our efforts to provide more value for our members and the outdoor media community.”

Bailey added, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to further my career with POMA. This organization has greatly impacted my life. I am excited to be part of the POMA team and look forward to being involved in growing the organization.” Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Rhino 180 See Through Blind in Realtree EDGE Camo

The new Rhino 180 See Through Blind in Realtree EDGE camo offers a unique two-way mesh system to prevent wild game from seeing in while allowing you, the hunter, to see out without any obstruction.

The Rhino 180 blends in seamlessly with almost any environment and can easily have other natural habitat added with the included brush-in straps around the top and bottom of the blind. Like all hub-style Rhino blinds, the R180 features an oversized zipperless door. Easily adjust your shooting window with Rhino’s “silent-slide” window technology.

This blind can comfortably conceal up to three people and makes setup/take down a breeze. Read more

Hunting

Montana: Wolf Harvest on Par with Past Seasons

With almost two months remaining, wolf harvest on par with past seasons

HELENA – With almost two months remaining, this season’s wolf harvest is on par with past seasons in the state of Montana. As of today, 166 wolves have been harvested during the current hunting and trapping seasons, a number similar to that of previous years. The general hunting and trapping seasons are open until March 15.

“I know we’ve had many people watching Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping season this year,” said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Hank Worsech. “However, harvest numbers in the state are very similar to years past. We’ll continue to monitor these numbers closely as the hunting and trapping season continues.”

Chart

The graph above shows cumulative wolf harvest for the years 2009 through Jan. 19, 2021. Read more

Hunting
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