Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that the application period is now open for the Deer Private Land Assistance Network (Deer PLAN) grant program.
A total of $50,000 is available, through a competitive grant process, to support private-land deer habitat improvement projects in the northern Lower Peninsula. The focus area for 2017 will include Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties.
“The focus area concentrates habitat projects in a region to provide greater benefits to deer hunters in areas where habitat issues have been identified,” said DNR Deer Program biologist Ashley Autenrieth. Read more
Built on the rugged Trophy Cam HD Aggressor chassis, the new Essential E2 employs and easy-to-use latch and lets hunters keep a watchful eye on their favorite outdoor hotspots around the clock.
The camera is amazingly efficient, too. The power-saving Trophy Cam HD Essential E2 runs up to 12 months on one set of eight AA batteries. Read more
Also featured during week three is Vortex’s new Ranger 1500. This new lightweight rangefinder has a highly intuitive menu that quickly and accurately ranges targets from 9 to 1500 yards. This handheld device also features three brightness settings as well as angle-compensation for uneven terrain. Read more
Additional townships and counties are affected
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission expanded the Core Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Area to include 17 townships. This area, which will continue to be referred to as Deer Management Unit (DMU) 333, now will consist of Lansing, Meridian, Williamstown, Delhi, Alaiedon and Wheatfield townships in Ingham County; DeWitt, Bath, Watertown, Eagle, Westphalia, Riley, Olive and Victor townships in Clinton County; Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County, and Oneida and Delta townships in Eaton County.
The CWD Management Zone also has expanded; it now will include the remainder of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties, as well as all of Ionia County. The expanded Management Zone will be referred to as DMU 419. Read more
This from MUCC…
At one of the CWD meetings the DNR held in Ionia, Both Chad Stewart and Chad Fedewa gave presentations on the disease, and what the Division has done to understand the spread of the disease at this time. Around 30 people attended the meeting, and at least five deer cooperatives were represented.
Chad Stewart provided an overview of the disease. CWD is always fatal; once a deer gets the disease, it will die from it, unless something else kills it first. Deer can live with the disease for 18-24 months before showing any signs of having the disease, and can live up to five years with it. All deer are susceptible to getting the disease, but males are more commonly affected. CWD is not known to be transferrable to humans. This disease is similar to that of Mad Cow disease. About 200 people died after consuming meat contaminated by Mad Cow, but millions were exposed to the contaminated meat. This being said, while it is not known to transfer, that is not to say it couldn’t happen.
If you live in the CWD Counties (see map below), it is suggested you take your deer in to be tested. If you live in the core townships within those counties (see map below), it is REQUIRED that you get your deer tested. CWD can be transmitted directly and indirectly. CWD can be spread via urine, fecal matter, and saliva of a sick deer to another deer, either via direct contact, or the excretions being on a plant, bait pile, rub, another deer makes contact with. Once inside the body, the prions (what CWD is made of) begin to multiply. EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) is another disease hunters in Michigan are familiar with.
Below is a list of differences between EHD and CWD.