Winchester’s Deadly Long Beard XR Turkey Loads

By Glen Wunderlich

At the end of a day’s session at the firing range, a friend plopped down a 12 x 18-inch turkey target thoroughly covered with shot from Winchester’s new Long Beard XR 12-gauge load.  “60 yards!” he exclaimed.

12-Gauge Winchester Long Beard XR, No. 5 Shot, 60 Yards

12-Gauge Winchester Long Beard XR, No. 5 Shot, 60 Yards

 

I knew right then that further review was necessary.

Winchester obliged by supplying some of its Long Beard XR copper plated, 3-inch loads of 4s and 6s and some test targets.  It was time for the testing to begin.

With a “scant” 1 ¾-ounce load of shot, it’s almost incomprehensible how science could make it more effective than much heavier loads.  A proprietary Shot-Lok compound insures the plated pellets’ roundness under impact in the barrel.  The result:  more pellets on target.

Since it doesn’t need as much costly shot to get the job done, the price of $23 for a box of 10 rounds is significantly less than other high-end shotshells.  Plus, the felt recoil seemed to be a bit less punishing – even with the added weight of an additional ¼ ounce of shot buffer material.  Winchester claims the load offers 10 percent greater penetration over standard loads beyond 50 yards and twice the number of pellets in a 10-inch circle out to 60 yards.

Here’s what I learned.  At 40 yards, a charge of #4 shot put 39 pellets on target in the head and neck. No. 4 Shot, 50 Yards I backed up to 50 yards and 16 pellets resulted in the kill zone.

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Michigan DNR: Wolf survey results indicate no significant change in state’s wolf population

GW:  So science has it right again.  We didn’t kill ’em all.  But, we are sure to hear the cries of wolf from the Humane Society of the United States. 

The results of Michigan’s 2014 wolf population survey indicate no significant change in the estimated number of wolves in the Upper Peninsula compared to the results of last year’s survey, Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division officials said today. 

DNR wildlife biologists estimate there was a minimum of 636 wolves in Michigan this winter, with a confidence interval of plus-or-minus 42 animals. In comparison, the 2013 population estimate was 658 wolves, with a confidence interval of plus-or-minus 56 animals. Read more

Hunters Can Save Tax Dollars and Reduce Vehicle Insurance Claims

By Glen Wunderlich

When residents of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York were losing their gardens and ornamental landscape specimens to a burgeoning deer herd, it was time to act.  As many as 120 deer inhabit the two-square miles of preferred habitat, and subsequently, over-population has posed a real threat to drivers, as well.

Few options exist to control over-population of deer in such small communities across the nation.  Deer could be netted and euthanized, captured and surgically sterilized, shot with a sterilizing dart, or hunted.

The village has opted for an experimental birth control program by partnering with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).   In 2014 and 2015, highly trained staff from HSUS will capture, ear-tag and administer a long-acting form of the porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccine to approximately 60 female deer living in the village. Treated deer will be monitored for fawns to determine vaccine effectiveness and longevity for two to three years after initial treatment.

Mayor Peter Swiderski of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson said, “Hastings is proud to be part of this effort, and more than 120 residents have volunteered to help in various aspects of this study, underscoring the broad support it enjoys in our community. We believe that, should this approach work in Hastings, we will be creating the only viable alternative to lethal methods currently examined and rejected by literally hundreds of communities nationwide that face a similar problem.”

At least, that was the plan.  Since then, HSUS agents Rick Naugle and Kayla Grams have pursued deer throughout the neighborhoods with little success.  They had tagged and treated just one animal within the first week. Their mission has proved problematic, because they can fire at deer no more than 20 yards away with their air-powered darts, and they are still learning where the animals are.

“It’s a slow process.   But next year, by the time we come back here, we’ll have everything figured out,” Naugle said.  In the meantime, more deer/vehicle collisions will occur.  Oh, and the cost of the experiment is reported to be approximately $30,000 funded by taxpayers and HSUS.

On another front, a similar challenge was being addressed by the town of Indian Hill, Ohio.  Police Chief Chuck Schlie of the Indian Hill Rangers Police Department reported a mere 8 deer/vehicle collisions in year 2013 – down from 44 in 1997.

Schlie said the village’s deer-hunting program, which is more than a decade old, is one reason for the decline.  “It has helped control the herd and has lowered accidents,” he said. Read more

Keep Your Plot Clean

One of the most common problems in food plots, especially perennials, is weed competition. Weeds rob your plot of essential nutrients, water, and root space. Given time and opportunity, weeds will quickly mature, produce seed, and overtake a well intended food plot. The use of herbicides is one of the greatest tools a GameKeeper can utilize to keep weeds under control and get the most out of your plantings. Here are a few tips to get the most from your efforts. Read more

MI DNR, DTE Energy Foundation award more than $75,000 in tree-planting grants

More than two dozen Michigan communities will get assistance with tree-planting projects this year.The Department of Natural Resources and DTE Energy Foundation recently announced the award of grants totaling $75,313 to 28 communities in Michigan for local tree-planting projects. Grants awarded under this program will be used to help purchase nearly 1,100 trees of various species and sizes to be planted this spring and fall.
This year marks the 17th year of the tree-planting partnership between the DTE Energy Foundation and the DNR. Together, the DNR, DTE Energy and its foundation have planted more than 20 million trees on state-managed land and in communities throughout Michigan.
“Healthy trees provide many important benefits to our communities and the environment,” said Kevin Sayers, DNR Urban Forestry Program coordinator. “These grants will help communities enhance local tree canopy cover while also promoting awareness about planting the right tree for the right location, especially as it relates to utilities.” Read more

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