Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
A National Park Service employee who was inspecting wildlife guzzlers found four desert bighorn dead on Old Dad Mountain, 15 miles southeast of Baker, California, during the week of May 20. The employee also observed other sick animals that appeared to be weak and unsteady with labored breathing. Laboratory analysis of blood and tissue samples taken from one animal indicated that it had pneumonia. Read more
GW: Whodathunk?
JACKSON – Over the past several hunting seasons, Mississippi deer hunters have harvested some of the largest white-tailed deer on record. Mississippi is beginning to be acknowledged as one of the top white-tailed deer states in the nation. This was recently highlighted in the June/July issue of Outdoor Life magazine. Outdoor Life ranked Mississippi seventh in the nation for producing large bucks.
This ranking was based on four criteria for each state: number of bucks qualifying for the Boone and Crockett records program, hunter density, cost of guided hunts, and hunter friendliness in terms of laws and regulations. The top ten states were ranked as follows: Read more
Hunters, anglers and trappers are the original conservationists. We fund Michigan’s conservation efforts through license fees and excise taxes on sporting equipment. Governor Snyder’s proposed license package would simplify the license system and raise over $18 million per year for the habitat and enforcement work that supports our outdoor activities.
As part of the Governor’s license package, the DNR released a list of outcomes from increasing hunting and fishing license revenue, with the bulk going toward additional fish and wildlife habitat work, fish stocking, and more conservation officers. They’re asking for a strategic investment in our state’s fish and wildlife by hunters,anglers and trappers and they’re being open and transparent with how they’ll invest it.
We have an opportunity to maintain, improve and provide more great opportunities to hunt, fish and trap. The bill containing the license structure changes passed the House of Representatives yesterday by an overwhelming bipartisan 77-32 vote. The bill now goes to the Senate. Read more
By Chris Hoving, adaptation specialist, DNR Wildlife Division
Michigan is perhaps the best state in the country to see flying squirrels, with more forest open to public recreation than any other state east of the Mississippi River. In fact, Michigan has the largest system of state forests in the country. Forests are the place to find flying squirrels, and the forest needs to be mature enough to have at least a few snags, or dead standing trees. Many different animals benefit from snags, including flying squirrels. Flying squirrels are not particular about what kind of forest they live in, although they prefer trees with nuts, such as beech, oak and hickory. Read more
Orion Entertainment, the world leader in outdoor adventure programming, is currently casting for a new television series. Are you, or do you know, a swamp rat, mountain man, cowboy, or country kid who can hunt like Daniel Boone and shoot like Annie Oakley? Then we’re looking to make them a star in a new series. Read more
NEWTOWN, Conn. — A coalition of 24 organizations representing millions of sportsmen and sportswomen nationally and thousands in California this week sent a letter to State Sen. Fran Pavley, chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, expressing its united opposition to Assembly Bill 711: An Act to Amend Section 3004.5 of the Fish and Game Code, Relating to Hunting. Read more
“Altering the nitrogen availability in a hemlock stand may affect its ability to continue functioning as a deeryard by changing the types of plants that grow there,” said Bryan Murray, a PhD candidate at Michigan Tech. Could this be the next dilemma for wild game managers? Check out the details here…
GW: This bill died last year and has been brought back to life by Representative Matt Lori, whom I worked with last year on this bill. The arguments against the bill are lame.
1) “… could create the perception of a public safety risk…” So, educate the uninformed.
2) “Allowing certain rifles that shoot straight-walled cartridges could result in conservation officers having to enter privately-owned land to check cartridges…” Since the DNR doesn’t enter privately-owned land to check – for the sake of checking – anything else, what’s the big deal about checking calibers. Same with pistols in the Zone III during deeer season. How do they know a pistol meets the requirements – minimum caliber, no centerfire cartridges, etc? They don’t! And, what has been the issue with this over the last decade? None.
Get on with it!
ALLOW THE USE OF RIFLES IN “SHOTGUN” ZONE
House Bill 4283 (reported from committee without amendment)
BRIEF SUMMARY: The bill would allow the use of certain specific rifles during the regular firearm deer season in the area that is currently restricted to only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain types of pistols. Read more
A new peregrine falcon, an endangered species in Michigan, has arrived in its family’s new home atop the Campbell Ewald Building on VanDyke in Warren. The strong chick is thriving under the care of its attentive parents.
While sightings of peregrine falcons have been reported on and off near the Campbell Ewald Building since 2004, the falcons just took up residence this year.
“It’s like Christmas,” said Campbell Ewald Building Manager Paul Lenney. Lenney installed a nest box and a nest camera atop the building in 2006, hoping to entice a pair of falcons. His patience and hospitality paid off. Just seven years later, the falcons have arrived. Read more
Overland Park, Kan – Bushnell Outdoor Products, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics for 65 years, has introduced a new 8x 30mm digital camera binocular. The new ImageView 8x 30mm combines eight power magnification optics with a camera that delivers both high resolution photos and high definition (HD) video, allowing users to capture incredible images with clarity and ease.
Bushnell ImageView Binocular