Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
The Department of Natural Resources has announced a new Dam Management Grant Program to address Michigan’s failing dam infrastructure. The grant opportunity will provide $2.35 million in Fiscal Year 2013 to fund dam removal and critical maintenance, implementing a key tool highlighted in Governor Rick Snyder’s 2011 address on infrastructure needs. Read more
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds waterfowl hunters about the new Wetland Wonders Challenge. The contest focuses on promoting Michigan’s seven premier Managed Waterfowl Hunt Areas (MWHA). These areas include:
Today, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation along with Safari Club International, the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, and the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin filed a motion to intervene in a Wisconsin lawsuit seeking to stop the use of dogs in the state’s wolf hunt.
The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of Wisconsin humane societies and several individuals against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), claims that the use of dogs to hunt wolves violates the state’s animal cruelty law despite the fact that the animal cruelty law clearly states it does not apply to hunting. The lawsuit also claims that the WDNR should have enacted strict rules on using dogs to pursue wolves. These unnecessary restrictions would make it nearly impossible to effectively hunt wolves with dogs. Read more
GW: This state-of-the-art rangefinder is small enough to fit inside a small shirt pocket, so there’s no reason not to take it along. And, since I’m not technologically advanced, I most appreciate the clear instructions provided in book form. With four brightness levels of the LED display, it can be set easily for sun or low light. No reason to complain about it.
Bushnell, the undisputed leader in laser rangefinder technology, introduces a rugged new compact lightweight unit for 2012.
Bushnell’s G-Force Arc 1300
The new G-Force 1300 ARC laser rangefinder has a host of features that will appeal to a wide range of hunters and shooters. The unit features ranging capabilities out to 1300 yards reflective, 900 yards to objec ts like trees and 500 yards to deer.
It has a 6x magnification eyepiece with adjustable diopter setting. The unit is fully waterproof and has the patented Bushnell RainGuard HD permanent lens coating for a clear bright view in inclement weather. Read more
Bushnell Outdoor Products, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics and outdoor accessories for more than 60 years, has announced a rebate offer on its Elite, Legend Ultra HD and Trophy XLT full size binoculars. Read more
(Columbus, OH) – Before a sold-out audience of hunters, anglers, trappers and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance members, 2012 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Congressman Paul Ryan let the gathered know—he’s one of them. He also had praise for the benefits of hunting and fishing.
“Hunters and anglers are the best conservationists. It is very critical that we pass it on to the next generation,” said Congressman Ryan. “Youth learn such great life lessons when you take them hunting.” Read more
Have you ever heard of a timberdoodle? A goatsucker? Both are nicknames for birds found in Michigan’s young aspen forests.
The woodcock, nicknamed the timberdoodle for its long beak – which it uses to probe in moist soil looking for earthworms – is a prized upland bird game species. The whip-poor-will, or goatsucker, has the familiar “whip-poor-will” song that many people recognize. Both of these birds, along with many other wildlife species, depend on young aspen forests to survive.
Young aspen forests must be intensively managed or, as time passes, they will grow into older forests. Historically in Michigan, young forests occurred in areas where there were significant weather events or large wildfires. The wind would blow over a large area of trees or a large fire would burn acres of trees, allowing a new, young forest to appear. In addition to natural events like wind and fire, humans also created young forest as land was cleared in the late 1800s for farming and wood products and pockets of young forests were planted and scattered across the landscape. Read more
On Tuesday September 18th, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Minnesota-based group, Howling for Wolves, filed a lawsuit in the Minnesota Court of Appeals against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). That lawsuit attempts to block the state’s upcoming wolf hunting and trapping season. The anti’s are asking the Court to issue a preliminary injunction, seeking to stop the wolf season while the rest of the case is decided. Read more
MISSOULA, Mont. (Sept. 22, 2012)?A whitetail deer taken by a hunter in Wisconsin has fallen short of the score needed to become a new World?s Record, according to the Boone and Crockett Club.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today that, following more than a year of deliberations with constituents, scientists and fishery managers, it agrees with an inter-jurisdictional recommendation by the Lake Michigan Committee to reduce Chinook salmon stocking by 50 percent lake-wide. Read more