Ask many hunters across the country what their bucket list hunt is, and it would probably be a western big game hunt for elk, mule deer, or pronghorn. The vast landscapes these animals call home, with high-elevation forests and seemingly endless sagebrush sea, present the challenge and excitement for a dream hunt. These landscapes also define the lives of big game animals that must migrate across vast distances through the seasons to fulfill their habitat needs.

Hunters and westerners in general have long recognized that the deer they see in the sagebrush flats in mid-winter will be gone once spring unveils the newly sprouting forage in higher elevations. As the “green wave” moves up the hillside each spring, so too do the big game species as they follow the food that sustains them. They head to high elevations to fawn or calve, staying in the high country through the summer months before making the same trek back down. The advent of GPS wildlife collars has unveiled an even more detailed story about the life cycle of big game species, and the vulnerable habitats along their migration routes.

For decades, state fish and wildlife agencies have been at the forefront of managing big game populations, utilizing funds through the sale of hunting licenses as well as excise taxes paid by manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and archery gear through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Fund. But the West is booming, and new housing construction, energy development, and increased traffic on roads coupled with wildland fires and the wide swing of drought to heavy snowpack, are all affecting big game populations.

Five years ago, the Department of the Interior’s Secretarial Order 3362 was signed to support state efforts to identify and improve big game migration corridors and seasonal ranges. According to the Department, direct funding to implement the Order over the last five years included $6.4 million for research and $2.5 million for mapping support to state fish and wildlife agencies. In addition, $20 million was directed toward habitat conservation and enhancement through a grant program coordinated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The new funding and focused attention have been invaluable to rapidly ramp up conservation efforts, however, states emphasize how important Pittman-Robertson funding has been to help them work with partners to implement big game habitat connectivity projects. Read more

A pair of grants from Wildlife Habitat Canada will add Hen Houses and expand hunter recruitment across Canada

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA — Grants from Wildlife Habitat Canada have been awarded to Delta Waterfowl to bolster the organization’s Hen House program, as well as HunteR3 recruitment and advocacy efforts.

A $60,000 WHC grant will support the growth and management of Delta’s Hen House program in Canada, adding new Hen Houses to the duck production effort. The grant will be used to build and install 200 new Hen Houses in Canada, as well as to support the maintenance of 750 existing nest structures. The new Hen Houses will be installed in the Canadian prairie pothole region, likely in mallard-producing regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

By providing a safe, productive nest site to mallard hens, these over-water nest structures make a successful hatch up to 12 times more likely. For hens nesting in grass cover, nest success is often less than 10 percent—a dismal rate that falls below the necessary level to maintain duck populations. In Hen Houses, nest success typically ranges from 60 to 90 percent. Read more

Contact: Chad Stewart 517-284-4745

DNR moose survey results show population in western UP statistically unchanged since 2019

Some survey indicators mark dynamics to watch going forward

In survey results reported to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Roscommon today, the moose population estimate for the western Upper Peninsula was not statistically different from the last moose survey conducted in 2019.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been surveying the western U.P.’s core moose population since 1997, typically every other winter. The 2023 survey marks the first survey completed since 2019 due to scheduling conflicts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The 2023 moose survey estimate was 426* individuals, which is not statistically different from the 2019 estimate of 509 individuals,” said Tyler Petroelje, northern Michigan wildlife research specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in Marquette. “This continues the trend of plateauing abundance where population growth over the last 12 years is now less than 1%.”

Aerial moose surveys are conducted over core moose habitat areas during winter to identify and tally bulls, cows and calves. This past winter’s survey was conducted by the DNR during portions of January and February.

The western U.P. moose core range covers about 1,400 square miles in parts of Marquette, Baraga, and Iron counties. Moose were translocated there from Canada in two separate efforts in 1985 and 1987. Read more

Fire crews continued putting out hot spots within the Wilderness Trail Fire burn area Tuesday as local roads reopened. The fire, estimated at 2,418 acres in size, is now 100% contained.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking people to stay away from the area in Crawford County’s Grayling Township to give fire crews space to finish their work.

“We know it is interesting to see and that people are curious, but we want to make sure we have the room to get our work done safely,” said Mike Janisse, commander of the DNR Incident Management Team that has been assisting with the fire. “Driving on the dry roads creates a great deal of dust, which makes for poor visibility.” Roads also are narrow and there is little room for passing. Read more

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and Environment for the Americas (EFTA) join forces today to announce the launch of the Bird City Network, a bird conservation program that connects cities across the Americas in a unified effort to expand the conservation of birds.

The Bird City Network serves as a collaborative platform designed to promote sustainable urban planning, create bird-friendly communities, and raise awareness about the vital role people play in supporting bird populations. By fostering cooperation within and among communities, the program seeks to ensure the long-term well-being of birds by enhancing their habitats, safeguarding their migratory routes, reducing threats to their survival, and providing education to youth and adults. These steps help create healthy communities that also benefit people. Read more

Dorsey Pictures CEO Chris Dorsey joined Fox News Tonight host Joey Jones to discuss the many differences between green environmental groups and conservation organizations…and who does more for the environment. Hunters and anglers have been the backbone of the conservation movement going back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt. When asked what viewers could do to help the environment, Dorsey responded, “Buy hunting and fishing licenses…and duck stamps…and support the many conservation organizations that are making a difference on-ground each day.”

Chris Dorsey on FOX News