Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
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
GW: This is the first I’ve heard about this proposal. Sounds good!
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today advised the public that a local organization will hold an informational meeting regarding a proposed deer antler point restriction (APR) on June 4 at the East Lansing High School.
A group known as the Lower Peninsula Deer Management Initiative (LPDMI) has proposed a four-point APR for all of Zone 3 in southern Michigan. Read more
The Department of Natural Resources today announced that, with support provided by the Arbor Day Foundation, it planted more than 7 million seedlings this spring on state forest land. In all, the DNR reforested about 7,500 acres in April and May. The Arbor Day Foundation supported the planting of 400,000 tree seedlings in both the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. Read more
The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the application period to purchase a bear or elk hunting application ends June 1. Read more
GW: …the Court found that the groups merely disagreed with the legislature’s policy of allowing wolf harvests…And, that’s what happens when you come to conclusions based on feelings.
Washington, D.C. – Based on arguments presented by Safari Club International (SCI) the Minnesota Court of Appeals has dismissed a legal challenge to Minnesota’s wolf harvest. The Court ruled that the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and Howling for Wolves failed to show their members were harmed by the process used by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to establish the state’s wolf season. Read more