BIRMINGHAM, AL — Moultrie Mobile announces the arrival of the most powerful cellular trail camera ever built — the Delta. It is loaded with advanced features for premium performance in the field and workhorse reliability all season long.
Industry-first High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging combined with best-in-class 32MP resolution make the Delta the clear leader in picture quality. HDR imaging allows the Delta to capture enhanced detail in highlights and shadows — even in the most difficult lighting conditions. The camera’s 32MP ILLUMI-NIGHT 3 Sensor delivers images and video with vivid colors by day and crisp, bright clarity at night with invisible infrared flash.
The Delta further separates itself with a battery life of up to 12 months on a single set of lithium batteries. With battery life up to 4x longer than other cellular cameras, the Delta will keep you connected longer without a trip to the field. Read more
Spring turkey hunting license applications for the 2021 season are available now through Feb. 1.
To find the hunt you want this spring, check out the new Q&A format of the Spring Turkey Digest. Applications can be purchased for $5 anywhere DNR licenses are sold. Read more
Founded in 1871 by Civil War veterans, the National Rifle Association has led the way ever since to protect our Second Amendment freedom, teach marksmanship and gun safety and pass self-defense laws across the country. In 2021, the NRA celebrates a momentous 150 years of service as America’s oldest civil-rights organization.
“The NRA has diligently protected our right to keep and bear arms longer than any other organization,” NRA President Carolyn Meadows said. “We are humbled to serve our more than 5 million members and all law-abiding gun owners. We invite you to join our organization as we celebrate this historic milestone.”
Throughout its century and a half of existence, NRA has served firearm owners across the nation through training, legislative action and other initiatives aimed at promoting avenues for shooting, hunting and personal protection. Today, the organization encompasses a wide range of programs all aimed at bettering the experience of the American firearm owner, whether it’s through competitive programs, hunter education, political action and more. Read more
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)
The long, familiar walk to position myself for an opportunity at a whitetail deer was different this time. Typically, I’d wiggle my pack onto my shoulders followed with my loaded firearm over it. Also, a usually necessary part of the gear was a pair of hearing protectors that were wisely employed during the solitary march in the event my Ruger American rifle were to be employed on the way. The low-power variable scope would be dialed to 1.5 power to maximize its field of view. But, this time I needed no hearing protection, because the gun was unloaded for the short journey.
I had passed on numerous bucks during the archery, regular firearms, and most recently the muzzleloader seasons. All of the excitement and visions of taking an extraordinarily antlered deer were behind me now. It was our late antlerless season and there would be no quick, off-hand maneuvers to take one; I saw to it by carrying an unloaded gun to my hideout. I thought that I’d get one under more controlled circumstances and simply enjoyed the December trek.
No doubt that the combined seasons were special. In fact, I had seen more bucks – even a few good 8-point examples – than any previous hunting season. And, there with my pal, Joe, in a portable blind just weeks before, was a sizeable 8-point buck a mere 57 yards from the muzzle of my bolt gun. I’d guess probably 95 percent of Michigan deer hunters would have taken it, but I had seen this brute before and thought ahead to next year and its potential; I passed once again.
With no regrets I was now after some organic meat. In a matter-of-fact mindset, I waited for the inevitable. Several does entered the danger zone well before sunset. However, when a shot rang out nearby, I knew I was not alone and voices later confirmed why the deer scampered out of sight. When other deer appeared following a quiet spell, they never presented me with the perfect shot I wanted.
The west wind the following day found me in another blind set into a hill where I had a perfect rest for my firearm and the short, mounted bipod. A group of six bald whitetails materialized and I lined one up for a fatal blast. Off the group ran but the telltale rear-leg kick of my targeted animal told me I had done my job.
With about an hour of light remaining, I checked where the small group vanished and found fresh blood on the bare ground.
That’s all I needed to see and abruptly ended the search, because Joe’s blue tick hound, Junior, was ready and waiting with him. On the scene, the dog was leashed according to the regulations for tracking dogs and Joe led him to the trail. The roles became reversed, as the young hound roared by me and directly to the prize, tugging hard all the way.
It was a fitting end to what had become not only a most memorable year but what the prospects held for the future.
Joe Reynold’s hangs onto his hunting dog, Junior, as he tracks the blood of a Michigan Whitetail deer I had shot less than an hour before. A good fresh track made it an easy chore.
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its associated necessary limits on social gatherings, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has canceled the annual winter Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop.
The annual weekend event is held in February at the Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay in Marquette County. A similar summer BOW workshop takes place the first weekend in June at Bay Cliff. Read more
Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast on your holiday shopping list, or maybe for yourself? The DNR Outdoor Skills Academy can help.
Offering in-depth, expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning for a range of activities – from fishing and hunting to finding wild mushrooms – 2021 Outdoor Skills Academy classes are now available for purchase online.
“Wondering what to get the hunter, angler or nature lover who has everything? Send them to an Outdoor Skills Academy class!” said Ed Shaw, interpreter at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center and originator of the OSA program. “Our classes offer more than just a brief taste of outdoor activities – we spend a full day or more teaching the needed skills to get out and confidently try them.”
Classes in the new year include:
Bear Hunting Clinic
Fly Fishing Clinic for Beginners
Hard Water School (ice fishing class) and Advanced Hard Water School
Steelhead Clinic
Trapping Clinic
Walleye Clinic
Whitetail Food Plot Clinic
Wild Turkey Hunting Clinic
Wild Mushroom Clinic
Cost for most of the classes is $25-40. All of them will take place at the Carl T. Johnson Center, located inside Mitchell State Park in Cadillac. Classes at other locations around the state may be added to the calendar throughout the year.
UINTAH COUNTY — After being confirmed in southern Utah in June, rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV-2) has now been confirmed in wild rabbit populations in northeastern Utah too.
Prior to the most recent discovery between Fort Duchesne and Lapoint in Uintah County, rabbit hemorrhagic disease in Utah had been found only in San Juan, Wayne, Sanpete and Iron counties. RHDV-2 only infects rabbits. It’s not known to affect humans, livestock or other pets. However, precautions should be taken when handling rabbit carcasses to avoid spreading RHDV-2 or other known infectious diseases, like tularemia, that can be dangerous if transmitted to humans.
The virus can survive for months in the environment and spread from dead rabbit carcasses or through food, water and any other contaminated materials, like the urine or feces of sick rabbits or through contact with feces from predators that have eaten infected rabbits. People can spread the virus indirectly by carrying it on their clothing and shoes if walking in and around areas where deceased rabbits are found.
Signs of RHDV-2 to look for in rabbits are bleeding from the mouth or nose. Read more
USFS cited input from sportsmen and women as reason for change in course
MISSOULA, Mont. – In a win for public access and public lands hunters and anglers, the U.S. Forest Service has removed sections of prime public lands elk habitat from a land swap in the Crazy Mountains in response to input provided by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers members and others.
The concerns raised by hunters and anglers were specifically acknowledged by Custer Gallatin National Forest supervisor Mary Erickson as the reasoning for the removal of those sections in the USFS draft decision released yesterday.
“What the public stood to lose here is the epitome of quality public land elk hunting habitat,” said John Sullivan, board chair for the Montana chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “We commend the Forest Service for listening to the overwhelming number of comments submitted by public land owners and for deciding to drop these sections from the prosed swap.” Read more
During these trying times, families’ needs for assistance is as great as ever. Food pantries across the nation are running desperately low on sustenance to aid those less fortunate. Whitetails Unlimited is a strong supporter of hunter donations to food pantries, and has been instrumental in both financing and expanding programs in many states. Some programs include Hunt for the Hungry, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry, and Access Illinois Food Project.
“Many food pantries have a chronic shortage of food, and donations of venison can really help them out,” said WTU Program Services Director Russ Austad. “In many areas whitetail populations are very high, and additional deer tags are available. It makes sense both for wildlife conservation, as well as helping the community, for a hunter to harvest an extra deer for a local food pantry.” Read more
