Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Monarch JV makes $40K Donation to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Funds will bolster organization’s Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program

St. Paul, Minn. – April 4, 2022 – Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to announce a new $40,000 donation from the Minnesota-based nonprofit, Monarch Joint Venture, who works to conserve monarch butterflies and other pollinators. The donation will help support Pheasants Forever’s Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program.

“We’re very excited to be providing this partner grant to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to continue their work with youth and pollinator outreach,” said Katie-Lyn Bunney, Monarch Joint Venture’s education coordinator. “The Milkweed in the Classroom program is a great way to involve teachers and students in conservation action for monarchs and pollinators, and we look forward to continued collaboration and partnership with the program.”

The decline in the overwintering population of the Eastern monarch butterfly – among other pollinator species such as native honeybees – has been widely circulated in the conservation community. According to the World Wildlife Fund Mexico, the 2020-2021 overwintering population of Eastern monarch butterflies decreased 26 percent from the previous year.

In response, conservation groups have been working diligently to establish habitat projects that benefit the monarch butterfly and other pollinating insects. This habitat also has major implications for upland bird populations, whose broods thrive in pollinator habitat each spring. The new partnership with Monarch Joint Venture will help protect both pollinators and upland birds. Read more

Wildlife

Arizona Receives Conservation Funding from RMEF, Partners

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners allocated $2,098,338 in grant funding in Arizona for elk habitat stewardship, wildlife management and hunting heritage projects. RMEF directly granted $156,136 that leveraged an additional $1,942,202 in partner dollars.

“One of the major issues in this part of elk country is a lack of life-sustaining water for elk and other wildlife. Some of this grant funding is specifically earmarked to upgrade more than a dozen water sources,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “Additional projects of focus include restoring historic grasslands and a study monitoring predator impact on elk.” Read more

Wildlife

The Profound Effects of Anti-Gun Rhetoric

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Through the tough times of the pandemic, Americans have begun to reacquaint themselves with a sense of self-reliance some may never have known heretofore.  We’ve seen firsthand the empty store shelves and how common necessities have been hoarded without a clue as to their return to the marketplace.  We are learning to grow our own food, catch our own fish, and to hunt for meat.

This wave of self-sufficiency extends to home protection and self-defense, as well.  One only needs to look to the demonization of law enforcement and the resulting chaos inflicted upon law-abiding citizens, as we watched nightly scenes of our cities burning to understand the rationale for alternatives to self-preservation.  Plus, the anti-gun sentiment and the continuous desire to restrict Second Amendment rights by officials, who’ve sworn to protect those rights is more than hypocritical; they’re threats to freedom and Americans have taken notice.

Since year 2008, the firearms industry has been booming and continues to be a bright spot in our otherwise struggling economy, as evidenced by 5.4 million new gun owners in the country this past year!  Again, that’s new gun owners.  Regardless of economic conditions across the country, the industry has grown and created over 375,000 new, well-paying jobs since the middle of the Great Recession in 2008.   These are good jobs paying an average of $56,900 in wages and benefits.

In the United States, the industry and its employees pay over $7.86 billion in taxes including property, income, and sales-based levies.  A report by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) also notes the significant impact the firearm and ammunition industry has on wildlife conservation funding in America through its growing Pittman-Robertson excise tax contributions to the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund which exceeded $1.1 billion in 2021.  Along with hunting and fishing license sales, it is these funds that support sound wildlife management.

Particular to Michigan’s economic contribution of arms and ammunition for the year 2021 are the following examples.  Direct jobs:  5155; Resulting Wages:  $210,684,600; Direct Output:  $643,807,600.  Although Michigan is not one of the top 10 states in these figures, it rates as the 10th leading state in related growth and economic development and for related jobs it is 9th in the country.

According to the NSSF, not only does the manufacture and sale of firearms and hunting supplies create good jobs in the United States, but the industry also contributes to the economy as a whole. In fact, in 2021 the firearm and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $70.52 billion in total economic activity in the country.

The broader economic impact flows throughout the economy, generating business for firms seemingly unrelated to firearms.  Americans working in industries as varied as banking, retail, accounting, metal working, and even printing, all depend on the firearm and ammunition industry for their livelihood.

Our freedom, self-reliance and enjoyment of the outdoors all benefit from the industry that our misguided leaders love to hate.

Ammunition, Archery, Firearms, Fishing, Gun Control, Hunting, Self Defense, Wildlife

Michigan: help create CWD education and outreach plan for Ionia and Montcalm counties

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University Extension and the National Charrette Institute will host two CWD Community Education and Outreach Planning Days in late April. Participants will work together to create an education and outreach plan.

The CWD planning days are:

  • Saturday, April 23 – Montcalm County: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (drop-in open house) at the Montcalm County Fairgrounds, Ash Building West, 8784 Peck Road, Greenville, MI 48838.
  • Thursday, April 28 – Ionia County: 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sidney Township Hall, 3019 S. Grow Road, Sidney, MI 48885.

People are welcome to attend both sessions or drop in for just one session. No RSVP is needed. Refreshments will be provided both days. Read more

Wildlife

Meet the Arnold Palmer of Duck Habitats

As commodity prices go, few have been tracking mallard dividends as closely as Steve Farris. After a stellar career as a Grammy-nominated guitarist and one of the cofounders of the 80’s band Mr. Mister, Farris has turned his creative energies and life-long passion for duck and goose hunting into another art form—buying, transforming, and selling some of the best waterfowling properties west of the Mississippi. The fact that Mr. Mister’s two Grammy nominations came for hits, Broken Wings and Healing Waters, might have foreshadowed his calling to the world of duck hunting real estate.

For those who follow the recreational real estate market and the extensive habitat improvements that Farris has made to some of them, he could be known as the Arnold Palmer of duck hunting courses. “Every blind is a different hole,” muses Farris. Like any great artist, he sees land the way a painter sees canvas—an opportunity to manifest a vision of something perfect. In his case, it’s land and water that is irresistible to ducks and geese and, ultimately, to those who love to hunt them. That’s a unique talent and skill set that Alex Maher recognized shortly after meeting Farris a few years ago. Maher is the founder of Live Water Properties, a Jackson, Wyoming-based ranch and recreational real estate brokerage firm specializing in some of the best hunting and angling properties across the country.

To read the rest of the column, click here

Hunting, Wildlife

Warrantless Search and Surveillance Practice Overruled in Tennessee

A warrantless search and surveillance practice used by wildlife agencies to investigate hunting and fishing violations was ruled unconstitutional last week by a Tennessee circuit court; paving the way for property owners in several other states to challenge criminal charges resulting from such techniques.

The case has garnered the attention of private property rights advocates, poachers, wildlife law enforcement officials and outdoor enthusiasts who support the investigative methods for wildlife protection.

In 2018 Benton County landowners Terry Rainwaters and Hunter Hollingsworth sued the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) after they discovered a video camera with a 24/7 live feed installed on a tree on Hollingsworth’s property, which was marked with no trespassing signs. Rainwaters claims the agency also engaged in warrantless searches on his property. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: plan now for spring treatment of hemlock woolly adelgid

If hemlock trees on your property show signs of hemlock woolly adelgid infestation, now is a good time to plan for spring treatment of this invasive species. Hemlock woolly adelgid, native to Asia, is known to be present in areas of Allegan, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa counties in Michigan. These small insects suck sap from hemlock needles and ultimately can cause tree death.

Insecticides are available to control the insect, and in many cases, landowners easily can apply them by carefully following label instructions and application rate guidance. In Michigan, the label is the law. Due to certain restrictions on the use of these insecticides, you may need the services of a licensed pesticide application business. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: updated state forest road maps available online Friday

Thrilling ORV rides, outdoor exploring and forest adventures are waiting down one of Michigan’s thousands of miles of state forest roads. Every year, the DNR updates maps of these roads to improve accuracy and protect the environment, and then notifies the public of any changes. New maps go up at Michigan.gov/ForestRoads Friday, April 1, in an interactive web format and as printable PDF maps.

Map changes are based on considerations that include changing road conditions, data cleanup and input received from residents around the state. Maps show where state forest roads are open or closed to off-road vehicle use and which roads are only open to conventional vehicles. It’s important to stay on these roads when using motor vehicles to reduce erosion and damage to wildlife habitat.

The following mileages will be open to ORVs starting April 1: Read more

Wildlife

Mossy Oak Doubles-Down on Conservation Commitment with Inaugural Wild Turkey Stamp

WEST POINT, MS – Mossy Oak, The Official Camo of Conservation and the Official Camo of the NWTF, is taking its focus and efforts to a new level with a brand new Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp project that will donate 100% of all money raised (including expenses incurred) directly to wild turkey conservation efforts. Mossy Oak is honored to unveil its inaugural wild turkey stamp as part of what will be an annual limited edition offering to support the wild turkey; the species that led to the “fistful of dirt”, and the conception of the outdoor lifestyle brand.

Mossy Oak’s Limited Edition 2022 Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp will be a 1.5” x 2” stamp titled “A Mossy Oak Moment”, created by artist Dan Moreton, originally painted for Mossy Oak in 1996. The stamp is available now at store.mossyoak.com. Every last penny raised in the sales of the Mossy Oak Wild Turkey Stamp will be entirely invested into wild turkey research projects reviewed and approved by an advisory board including the likes of Dr. Mike Chamberlain and Dr. Marcus Lashley, among other devout GameKeepers.

Mossy Oak’s founder and CEO, Toxey Haas wrote the following letter that will be sent with each stamp order:

My dad taught me a lot of things growing up in the woods with him. Two of the ones he instilled from an early age that lasted a lifetime were to always leave my piece of dirt better than I found it, and to love and respect all critters we hunted, but especially wild turkeys. Later in life we started calling that being a gamekeeper.

The wild turkey hasn’t always been here. In West Point where I was born and where Mossy Oak remains, we didn’t even have wild turkeys when I was born. I had to drive down to Choctaw Bluff in south Alabama to hunt them. I can’t imagine a spring morning spent without the chance to hear one of the sweetest sounds in all of nature – a wild turkey gobble. And we dang sure want to do everything we can to ensure our kids and grandkids don’t have to wonder what that sounds like. No disrespect to so many other animals we love, but the wild turkey is the grandest of birds.

Without wild turkeys there would be no Mossy Oak. And it’s our responsibility to do everything we can with the time we have on earth to ensure the turkey hunting community leaves the wild turkey better off than we found them. Turkeys are a precious resource. And they’re more vulnerable than most of the animals we hunt.

We’ve always helped look after them, but we’re really proud to create our first wild turkey conservation stamp. Every cent we raise from this stamp will go directly toward conservation research and projects with nothing left over. If we can do what we can with the dirt we’ve been given and everyone reading this does the same, we’ll have left it better than we’ve found it. And we look forward to helping fund some of the projects being pursued right now by some great gamekeepers around the country. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife
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