DNR doubles deer habitat grant funding in UP

Leave a comment

14 projects funded at nearly $200,000

A white-tailed deer in winter in the Upper Peninsula.Conservation groups, K-12 students and landowners across the Upper Peninsula will improve hundreds of acres of white-tailed deer habitat this year after receiving state grants generated from deer hunting license revenue.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is funding 14 projects totaling nearly $200,000 in grants in 2026. That’s double the per-year amount of funding from past years through the Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative.

Now in its 18th year, the U.P. initiative has awarded nearly $1.5 million across 176 grants, with partners contributing more than $1 million in matching funds or in-kind contributions.

“The initiative has created a collaborative approach to improving deer habitat on private lands across the Upper Peninsula,” said Bill Scullon, grant program coordinator and field operations manager for the DNR. “As we know, deer know no boundaries. Creating suitable habitat across both public and private lands is crucial to helping deer survive the often-challenging U.P. winters.”

Funding for the initiative comes from the Deer Range Improvement Program, or DRIP, a state appropriation created in 1971. Through DRIP, $1.50 from every deer hunting license goes toward improving deer habitat. Read more
Wildlife

Michiganders can apply for 2026 reserved deer hunts July 15-Aug. 15

Leave a comment

Whitetail Deer Buck

 

Applications for Michigan’s 2026 reserved deer hunts and reserved deer youth hunts will be accepted July 15 through Aug. 15.

Hunters may apply for reserved hunts at Shiawassee River State Game Area, Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and Sharonville State Game Area. Many reserved public land hunts are limited to hunters with disabilities or have other eligibility requirements established by the local land manager, so be sure to review hunt requirements before applying.

Important dates Read more
Hunting

DNR issues Line 5 permit with conditions?to protect natural resources

Leave a comment

July 15, 2026
Contact: John Pepin, 906-226-1352

 GW:  Should never have been an issue.  Cutting off the Upper Peninsula would have had drastic consequences.

DNR permit requires Enbridge to mitigate impacts to plant and animal habitats

Today, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources issued a permit for the Great Lakes Tunnel project, intended to house a proposed replacement for the existing 73-year-old Line 5 dual pipelines currently located on the lakebed in the Straits of Mackinac.

The DNR issued a permit needed for the tunnel project under Part 365 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The permit requires several measures by Enbridge to reduce impacts on rare plants and animals.

The DNR evaluated the project’s effect on rare plants and animals and determined the tunnel project would adversely impact Houghton’s goldenrod and dwarf lake iris growing in the area, as well as several bat habitats. The plants impacted by this project are federally and state listed as threatened.

The DNR then engaged in two Tribal consultations and considered the Tribes’ research, expertise and concerns about the project.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service considered the project impacts, because the species are federally protected, and concluded that the tunnel project would not jeopardize the continued existence of these species. After carefully weighing all the available data, the DNR agreed and concluded that the impacts at this site are unlikely to prevent the overall recovery of either plant species.

To lessen impacts on state listed plants and animals, the DNR developed a set of permit requirements. Specifically, the applicant must follow these requirements:
Read more

General

Fledglings at Our Feeders

Leave a comment

Article and Photos by Paul Konrad

Recently fledged American Robins have dominated the feeding station during recent weeks, along with the adults that lead them to the grape jelly feeders (photos by Paul Konrad).

One of the most exciting things that can happen at a feeding station is for birds that visit your feeders during the nesting period to bring their fledglings to your feeders and surrounding tree branches. In addition to the chance to view the young birds at close quarters during this important developmental stage when they learn to fly and learn how to survive beyond the nest, it’s great to watch the interactions between fledglings and adults, and other birds. Most songbird fledglings rely on the adults to feed them and protect them, while the young birds watch and interact with adults and other birds at a feeding station, and beyond.

Best of all we can watch the fledglings quickly develop beyond the nest – not an easy thing to do beyond the “confines” of a feeding station with a window view. This is an especially bountiful year in the Northern Plains, and that may be the reason behind so many fledglings being produced in my neighborhood, and why my grape jelly feeders have been attracting a variety of fledglings. Family groups of American Robins and House Finches have now been joined by a Baltimore Oriole female feeding one or more of her recent fledglings that occasionally follow her to perch in branches in the ash tree adjacent to the feeding station. The male Baltimore was as active as the female in collecting jelly and insects attracted to the sweet food, but he suddenly disappeared after July 1st, leaving the female to care for the fledgling (or fledglings) during the final step of the post-fledging period.

Recently, a male Orchard Oriole has substantially increased the number of its visits to collect jelly and bugs, which indicates it is feeding nestlings nearby – and hopefully they will follow him to the jelly feeders when they leave the nest too. [As I write this, the male Orchard arrives on que to load up on jelly.] A few Orchard Oriole broods have spent time utilizing my feeders in the past – usually numbering 2 or 3 per brood that resemble the adult female with new yellow plumage. This season, only the male has been a regular visitor – so far. Some years I have 2 or 3 pairs of orioles nesting in the area, but this year it has been just 1 pair of each species.

Realistically, it has been the American Robins and House Finches that have provided the biggest thrills and levels of activity this summer. Read more

Wildlife

Federal’s Protect & Save Personal Defense Ammo Rebate

Leave a comment

Federal Ammunition has launched its summertime Protect & Save rebate, allowing consumers to save on select Federal Premium® Personal Defense handgun ammunition through August 31, 2026. Qualifying handgun products include HST, Hydra-Shok, Hydra-Shok Deep, Practice & Defend HST, HST Micro, and Hydra-Shok Low Recoil.

To take advantage of the rebate, customers must purchase at least two boxes of qualifying Federal Premium Personal Defense handgun ammunition between July 1 and August 31, 2026. Eligible purchases qualify for a rebate of 20 percent of the purchase price, excluding taxes, fees, shipping, and handling charges. The maximum rebate is $200 per person or household. Rebate submissions must be received by September 30, 2026.

Hydra-Shok has been trusted for self-defense since 1989. Hydra-Shok Deep builds on that time-tested platform with design improvements to meet modern performance measurements. The bullet features a more robust center post and a core design that penetrates to optimal depths through the barriers most commonly encountered in self-defense situations.

HST is the duty load of choice for law enforcement officers throughout the world. Its specially designed hollow point won’t plug while passing through a variety of barriers, and the bullet jacket and core hold together to provide nearly 100 percent weight retention through even the toughest materials.

For complete details on rebates, visit: https://www.federalpremium.com/this-is-federal/rebates-and-promotions.html. Read more

Ammunition

Millennium Marine’s New Big Daddy Boat Seat

Leave a comment

Pearl, MS – Millennium Marine is giving boaters and anglers more room to relax on the water with the introduction of the new Big Daddy Boat Seat (BD-100). Built on the same proven design as the company’s popular B-100 Boat Seat, the BD-100 delivers the comfort, durability, and performance customers have come to expect from Millennium Marine, now with a wider seating platform for those who prefer additional space.

Featuring a 24-inch-wide seating platform, the BD-100 adds four inches of width over the original B-100, providing additional room for all-day comfort while maintaining the same trusted design boaters have relied on for years. Like the B-100, the Big Daddy Boat Seat features Millennium Marine’s signature breathable ComfortMAX fabric, integrated lumbar support, rugged all-metal construction with no plastic structural components, and a fold-flat design for convenient storage and transport.

Whether you’re headed to your favorite honey hole, cruising the lake, or making memories with family and friends, the BD-100 provides maximum comfort and dependable performance that have made the B-100 a favorite among boaters. The wider design offers additional seating space without changing the features that have made the original so popular. Read more

Fishing

Moultrie Unveils the EDGE 4 Series

Leave a comment

Built for the Rut. Built for the Back 40. Built for Durability, Connection, and the Hunters Who Put in the Work Before Opening Day.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Moultrie, the leading innovator of feeders, trail cameras, and game management tools, today introduced the EDGE 4 series. The first cellular trail camera line built to recognize your target buck and fire a max-resolution cropped image to your phone, before you ever set foot in the woods. The EDGE 4 is waterproof, has enhanced night clarity, and all-season power options built for every piece of ground you hunt, from pre-season scouting through the late-season grind.

“The new Moultrie EDGE 4 picks up the best cell signal and with the solar panel on there, this thing is going to run all year long,” said Steven Rinella, MeatEater Host and Founder. “You can put it up and you don’t need to go to that place and disturb that area in order to see what’s going on. It’s just going to send you images.”

MEET BUCK SHOT. THE CAMERA THAT KNOWS YOUR HIT LIST.

Most cameras only see movement. Buck Shot sees the difference. Moultrie AI monitors every frame. The moment a buck enters the scene, Buck Shot analyzes the image, recognizes a buck, and sends a max-resolution, zoomed-in image to your phone in real time. No more pinching phone screens or waiting on downloads to see antler detail. Buck Shot does it for you.

Built For Smarter Detection. Built For Tougher Conditions.

  • Built For Durability. IP67 Waterproof (NEW). Built to weather the harshest storms and even temporary flooding. Your scouting doesn’t stop when the weather turns bad.
  • Built For After Dark. Night Clarity (NEW). Enhanced IR LEDs deliver brighter, more evenly lit nighttime images.
  • Built For Easy Setup. Built-in memory means no SD card. Live Aim positions the camera perfectly the first time, and automatic connection finds the strongest cellular signal available.
  • Built For On Demand. Pull a fresh image or video anytime, from anywhere.
  • Built For the Map. GPS Location Pinning. Each camera pins its location on the map in the Moultrie app, so you always know which intel is coming from which stand.
  • Built For Set-and-Forget — Solar Attachment (NEW). All EDGE 4 cameras are compatible with Moultrie’s new external solar attachment, which converts any EDGE 4 into a solar camera with optimized recharge efficiency and no external power cables. Solar attachment sold separately.

BUILT TO RUN ALL SEASON. EVERY SEASON.

The EDGE 4 line is the most power-efficient camera Moultrie has built, and it gives you three ways to power your scouting, so there’s no reason to pull a camera before you’re ready.

  • EDGE 4. Standard AA batteries. Set it up, scout all season.
  • EDGE 4 with Power Mag+. Pair any EDGE 4 with the Power Mag+ rechargeable battery pack and never buy AAs again.
  • EDGE 4 SOLAR. The industry’s largest integrated solar panel, an included rechargeable lithium battery pack, and no external cables. Set it once. It runs forever.

LOCATE. PATTERN. HARVEST. WITH THE MOULTRIE APP.

Every EDGE 4 image, video, and notification flows into the Moultrie App, your hub for camera management, feeder control, and GPS mapping. HuntPlan turns that intel into a plan: Game Plan predicts buck movement using trail cam data and local weather. Ideal Wind shows which stands are huntable. Property Lines delivers boundary overlays for all 50 states. Less guessing. More harvest days.

EDGE 4 cameras also integrate directly with onX Hunt. New onX customers receive a free three-month Elite subscription with any purchase.

The EDGE 4 Series is available at retailers nationwide and www.Moultrie.com. MSRP: EDGE 4 $129.99, EDGE 4 two-pack $229.99, EDGE 4 SOLAR $169.99. Read more

Hunting

Buckmasters’ 40 Days of Giveaways Presented by Mountain Dew Underway

Leave a comment

Buckmasters kicked off the celebration of its 40th Anniversary on July 8th with the launch of the 40 Days of Giveaways, presented by Mountain Dew. Beginning now and continuing through the countdown to the 2026 Buckmasters Expo, outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enter to win incredible prizes every single day from many of the industry’s most recognized brands.

The 40 Days of Giveaways is Buckmasters’ way of thanking the hunting and outdoor community that has supported the organization for four decades. Each day features a new prize package, with winners selected throughout the campaign leading up to the Buckmasters Expo, August 14–16, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Participants can enter daily by visiting www.buckmasters.com/40days, where each giveaway will be available for a limited time before the next day’s prize is revealed.

“This milestone is about celebrating the people who have made Buckmasters what it is today,” said Jackie Bushman, founder of Buckmasters. “For 40 years, we’ve been fortunate to have incredible partners and the most loyal hunting community in the country. The 40 Days of Giveaways is our way of giving back and celebrating this anniversary together.”

The campaign is made possible by presenting sponsor Mountain Dew and supported by an outstanding lineup of industry partners contributing prize packages throughout the countdown, including:

  • Silencer Central
  • BANISH Suppressors
  • MTM Case-Gard
  • Safari Club International
  • Browning Firearms
  • Streamlight
  • Cold Steel Knives
  • Rocky Boots
  • Timney Triggers
  • Academy Sports + Outdoors
  • ASIO Gear
  • Jack’s Restaurants
  • and many more.

Prize packages will include hunting gear, apparel, footwear, firearms, suppressors, gift cards, outdoor accessories, exclusive Buckmasters merchandise, and other premium products from participating partners.

The 40 Days of Giveaways will culminate during the 31st Annual Buckmasters Expo, presented by Mountain Dew, where thousands of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts will gather to celebrate Buckmasters’ 40-year legacy through exhibits, entertainment, educational seminars, family activities, and one of the largest gatherings of outdoor brands in the country.

Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to visit www.buckmasters.com/40days every day throughout the campaign for a new chance to win.

For more information about the 40 Days of Giveaways, the 2026 Buckmasters Expo, or Buckmasters, visit www.buckmasters.com. Read more

Contests

Julius Caesar Announced as Latest Installment of SK Guns’ Conquerors Series

Leave a comment

SK Guns®, the Nation’s only series-driven, limited-edition manufacturer of custom firearms, is proud to announce the third production in its popular Conquerors Series: Julius Caesar. As a limited-production release, only 200 Colt 1911 pistols chambered in .38 Super will be available to collectors and enthusiasts.

“Caesar was a Roman general, politician and writer whose conquests changed the history of the ancient world. He moved his armies quickly, built bridges, forts and siege works, and used discipline to defeat larger forces,” said Simon Khiabani, owner and founder of SK Guns. “His conquest made him legendary, but it also helped bring the Roman Republic to an end and reshaped Europe for centuries after.”

Details on the right side of the guns slide exhibit Caesar crossing the Rubicon in January 49 BC, an act of treason also known as the point of no return that sparked the Great Roman Civil War. This legendary river in northeastern Italy served as the legal northern boundary of the Roman province of Italy proper, separating it from Cisalpine Gaul. Read more

Firearms

Charter Arms Introduces the New Walker Revolver Series

Leave a comment

Ultra-Compact Rimfire Revolver

Shelton, CT. – Charter Arms®, manufacturers of affordable, 100% American-made revolvers for more than 60 years, is proud to announce the introduction of the new Walker Series of revolvers. The Walker is an ultra-compact, rimfire revolver designed for concealed carry. It is available with either a .22 LR or .22 WMR chambering; both have eight-round capacities.

“We couldn’t be happier to offer this .22 caliber revolver series,” said Nick Ecker, Owner, President and CEO of Charter Arms. “Customers have praised its concealability, accuracy, and design. This new series offers the ultimate in dependable performance.”

The new .22 Walker Series from Charter Arms delivers lightweight confidence in a sleek, modern concealed-carry platform built for everyday reliability. Designed for shooters who value simplicity, comfort, and dependable performance, the Walker combines an ultra-compact profile with eight-shot capacity in either .22 LR or .22 WMR. Featuring a snag-free concealed hammer design, smooth double-action trigger, lightweight aluminum frame, and durable steel components, the Walker is purpose-built for discreet carry and comfortable shooting. Whether carried as a personal protection revolver, trail companion, or easy-to-shoot everyday option, the Walker is built to be dependable when it matters most. Read more

Firearms
1 2 3 … 2,065