Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
Cannon Falls, MN — ScentBlocker, the constant innovator of hunting and scent control technology, brings two specially formulated insect repellents developed to provide long lasting, multi-species protection. Both have been extensively tested, from the swamps of southern Florida to Alaska’s northern reaches. These two new sportsmen’s strength products contain no added fragrances or additional scents. Read more
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today filed an appeal of a December 2014 federal district court ruling that returned wolves in Michigan and Wisconsin to the federal endangered species list and wolves in Minnesota to federal threatened species status. The appeal – filed by the Michigan Attorney General in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia – asks the court to uphold the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s December 2011 decision that removed the Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of wolves from the federal endangered species list.
“Returning wolf management to wildlife professionals in the state of Michigan is critical to retaining a recovered, healthy, and socially-accepted wolf population in our state,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh.
“Michigan residents who live with wolves deserve to have a full range of tools available to sustainably manage that population.” Wolves in Michigan are 15 years past the population recovery goals set by the federal government. The DNR will argue against the federal district court’s ruling that wolves must recover across their historic range – which includes the lower 48 states and Mexico – before Michigan’s wolf population can be removed from the federal endangered species list. In addition, the state will argue against the district court’s conclusion that the USFWS failed to demonstrate that Michigan’s laws and regulations adequately protect the wolf population within Michigan.
“Wolves in Michigan and the other western Great Lakes states are fully recovered from endangered species status, which is a great success story,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “Continuing to use the Endangered Species Act to protect a recovered species not only undermines the integrity of the Act, it leaves farmers and others with no immediate recourse when their animals are being attacked and killed by wolves.”
Michigan’s wolf population numbers approximately 636 in the state’s Upper Peninsula. With the return to federal protection in December 2014, the DNR lost the authority to use a variety of wolf management methods, including lethal control, to minimize wolf conflict with humans, livestock and dogs. The change in status also suspended state authority that allowed livestock and dog owners to protect their animals from wolf depredation when wolves are in the act of attacking those animals.
The federal district court’s December 2014 decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of the United States, in which the State of Michigan participated as a defendant-intervener arguing against returning the Great Lakes DPS of wolves to the endangered species list. Michigan joins the USFWS and a number of hunting and conservation organizations in appealing the ruling.
For more information about Michigan’s wolf population and management plan, visit www.michigan.gov/wolves.
Memphis, Tenn. – Ducks Unlimited has launched a new online film series for anyone who is passionate about waterfowl and waterfowl hunting. “DU Films” includes six short films that will premiere on the DU website this spring. Viewers can watch the first film, “Carving a Legacy,” and find more information about the series at www.ducks.org/dufilms.
“This new film series captures the essence of what it means to be a waterfowler,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “We set out to explore the lives and stories of duck hunters across the country—to find out why they became hunters, what drives their passion, how they are passing on the traditions and why they are giving back to the resource. I think viewers will really enjoy the thoughtful and artistic approach we have taken with this project. These short films help to convey some critical values that drive us to do what we do: Family, love of our country and our responsibility to take care of the natural gifts from our creator.” Read more
Wild Revelation Guide Service LLC helps photography and fishing enthusiasts of all skill levels make the most of their valuable time while visiting Kodiak Island. We provide a variety of services which can be tailored to meet the specific interests of our clients in a safe, efficient, and professional manner. We specialize in guiding small groups on both the Kodiak Island road system and to remote, fly-out locations.
Just months after a resounding defeat by Maine voters, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has announced plans to bring yet another ballot issue on bear hunting back to Maine.
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, lawyers for HSUS and the state of Maine were in court to debate the lawsuit brought by HSUS against the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. That suit sought to stop the state’s wildlife experts from explaining to voters the true dangers of HSUS’s bear hunting ban. Despite an overwhelming decision by Maine Superior Court Justice Joyce Wheeler that sided with the state’s right to provide comments, HSUS continues to pursue a legal challenge.
As part of the discussions about the pending litigation, an attorney for HSUS, Rachel Wertheimer, advised the court that they will again put the question on the 2016 ballot, and will be filing the initial paperwork soon. Read more
Peregrine Partners of Southeast Michigan and the Macomb Audubon Society will sponsor a party for peregrine falcons Saturday, March 28. This informational evening of food and fun will benefit the Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Fund and peregrine falcon rescue efforts in Southeast Michigan.
The event will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, located at 16831 E. 12 Mile Road in Roseville. Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are available until March 21 at www.partyforperegrines.myevent.com.
Planned activities include a raffle, a silent auction, a live peregrine falcon presentation by wildlife rehabilitator Dave Hogan and more. Read more
This year marks Outdoor Life’s 117th birthday. Over the decades, the magazine has accumulated hundreds of thousands of pages of adventure and outdoor knowledge.
Now, you can access the best outdoor writing and stories of the past century Outdoor Life’s digital archives. That includes access to illustrated covers, classic Jack O’Connor stories, amusing reader letters, and even the old advertisements that ran alongside them. Even without a subscription, you can browse through every cover. Read more
“Based on documented evidence, cougars observed in Michigan could be escaped or released pets. Or, they could be transient or dispersing cougars from the nearest known breeding populations in North and South Dakota,” stated the DNR on its website. “These populations are over 900 miles from Michigan.”
This 60 second clip contains footage from a trail cam that was setup by hunters from Remus who discovered a deer kill site. The footage revealed a male cougar who repeatedly returned to the site to consume the deer. The footage was verified and confirmed by DNR Wildlife Division staff. The Michigan DNR has now confirmed nearly 30 UP cougar sightings.
Website – http://www.michigan.gov/dnr
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/midnr
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/michigandnr
Studies clearly indicate a relatively sparse ungulate population in western Arizona that is inadequate for supporting wolves.
Groups critical of rule lack on-the-ground field perspective of what changes will lead to success
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted recently to intervene in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups earlier this year against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lawsuit is over the Service’s recently-revised 10(j) rule that governs the management of Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico.
“The Game and Fish commission took this action to defend the Service’s new 10(j) rule for Mexican wolves. The rule relies on sound scientific principles and helps address critical stakeholder concerns that have long challenged the Mexican wolf reintroduction effort,” said Commission Chair Robert Mansell. “It’s important that this action is not confused with the department’s recent action meant to encourage the Service’s development of a new recovery plan. The 10(j) rule and the recovery plan are designed to address very different aspects of Mexican wolf recovery.” Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
Michigan and other states, as well, understand wild game management. In fact, by virtue of how well wildlife is managed is demonstrated in one word: sustainability. Nowhere in the history of regulated hunting has game suffered at the hands of hunting to the point that any game species has been threatened with extinction. Thoughtful leaders have adhered to the strict guidelines of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and dutifully brought back countless wild animals from the brink of being wiped out. Such is the case with the Great Lakes wolves.
Yet, federal judge Beryl Howell has ruled that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) could not de-list wolves under its distinct population segment rule, in part, because Congress had never manifested an intent to approve the use of the distinct population segments for de-listing a species, though the rule could be used to list species. Read more