Poachers: Do you Feel Lucky?

By Glen Wunderlich

Most Michigan deer hunters are proud of the number of antler points on bucks they’ve taken.  Some call it bragging rights.  Hunters are well aware of what constitutes an antler point and always seem to stretch the tape to the one-inch mark to claim another one.  However, when that antlered buck is taken illegally, the “hunter” becomes a thief and when confronted by law enforcement, would rather not toot that horn.  And, as of February of this year, there’s good reason for being sheepish:   Penalties and fines have been increased substantially.

A 2015 research study by the Boone and Crockett Club found that 92.6 percent of sportsmen support higher fines for those convicted of poaching big-game animals, while 88 percent also support even higher fines for those convicted of poaching trophy-class, big-game animals.

Accordingly, Michigan’s lawmakers have passed legislation that has increased the penalty and fines for anyone caught poaching a buck. It was the first change to Michigan’s poaching law since 1990.

The new fines are based on the number of legal antler points and increase for larger racks. The restitution for illegally killing a deer remains $1,000, and jumps to $2,000 for antlered deer. In addition, poachers are now fined $500 per legal point for bucks that are between eight and 10 points, and $750 per legal point for bucks that have 11 points or more.

The word is getting out, as one cheater found out the hard way.

Josiah Killingbeck reported that an illegal deer case from 2015 was adjudicated in Lake County. The case involved a subject who had taken an 8-point buck during archery season of 2015 and purchased a kill tag for it the following day. CO Schaumburger assisted CO Killingbeck with interviewing the suspect in the Detroit area where a confession was obtained. The hunter was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and $435 in fines and costs. The hunter had his hunting license revoked for one year.

Here are a few more examples of clever cover-ups unraveled.

CO Brian Lasanen and CO Ethen Mapes responded to a RAP complaint of shots fired well after legal shooting hours.  As CO Lasanen and CO Mapes pulled up to the suspect’s house, they noticed four deer hanging in the barn.  CO Lasanen made contact with the suspect, and was advised his girlfriend had legally shot all four deer. CO Mapes made contact with the girlfriend and after a brief interview, it was determined she had not shot any deer this season, and her tags were at a friend’s house.  In light of the new information, CO Lasanen re-interviewed the suspect.  It was determined the suspect had shot all four deer.  The deer and the firearm used were seized.  Law enforcement action was taken.

Sgt. Joe Molnar was at a deer check station when a hunter came in to have his ten point buck checked which he had shot on opening morning. While talking with the hunter, it was determined that he shot the buck, and then purchased his hunting license. The hunter had only bought an antlerless deer license.  A citation was issued for taking a deer without a license.

One question remains for the poachers among us:  Are the rewards worth the risk?

Hunting

Monarchs in Michigan

Fall is here, and with the cooler temperatures and lessening daylight, many different species have begun to migrate. Mammals, birds and even insects make a journey away from their summer range to find a place suitable to spend the winter. One remarkable insect that makes such a journey is the monarch butterfly.

Monarchs from Michigan typically travel south to Mexico to overwinter. Four new generations of monarchs are born each year, so the generation that migrates north in the spring is not made up of the same individuals that migrate south!

Because of this tremendous journey, monarchs have need for a variety of habitats. In the early summer these butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed because that is the only plant their caterpillars will eat. Monarchs also need habitat to overwinter in, not to mention habitat where they can stop and refuel along the way. They are very active insects and require a wide variety of flowering plants to provide the food they need to survive and make their long journey.

Unfortunately, this remarkable insect has had a 90-percent decrease in its eastern population over the last 20 years. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: Target Sturgeon on the St. Clair River


For some, catching a lake sturgeon is the thrill of a lifetime. For many…that thrill will never be experienced. But what if it could be – simply by making a trip to the St. Clair River?According to Mike Thomas, a DNR fisheries research biologist at the Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station, the St. Clair River is one of the only waters within the Great Lakes (and their connecting waters) where you have a very good chance of targeting and catching a lake sturgeon.

“When someone calls and indicates they’re interested in getting involved in lake sturgeon fishing, the north channel of the St. Clair River is the first place I tell them to go.” Read more

Fishing

U.P. welcomes Marble Arms exhibit to Iron Industry Museum


‘Inventing the Outdoors’ opens in Negaunee with reception Oct. 30The exhibit celebrating Webster Marble and his Gladstone company will travel from the Michigan History Museum in Lansing to the Upper Peninsula next week. “Inventing the Outdoors” opens at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee Sunday, Oct. 30, with a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. The exhibit will run through mid-October 2017.

Although Marble is not the household name it was when Theodore Roosevelt and Admiral Robert Peary carried Marble Arms products on their expeditions, outdoor enthusiasts still revere the name. “Inventing the Outdoors” explores Marble’s genius for practical innovation, constant product improvement and marketing. Marble eventually owned more than 60 patents for outdoor products. His designs for knives, compasses, matchboxes, axes and gunsights set the standard for the 20th century. Read more

Cutlery, Firearms

Court Ruling Reopens Comment Period on North American Wolverine Proposed Listing Rule

Ø The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reopening the public comment period on a proposed rule to list the North American wolverine as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Ø The Service had proposed to list the North American wolverine, which is a Distinct Population Segment of wolverines found in the lower 48 states, but withdrew its proposal in 2014 after concluding that the factors affecting it were not as significant as were once thought.

Ø However, the District Court for the District of Montana overturned the Service’s withdrawal, effectively returning the wolverine population to the point at which it was proposed for listing as threatened. Read more

Wildlife

Sightmark Mounting Rings

(MANSFIELD, TEXAS) – No matter how nice your gun and scope are, substandard mounting rings can make or break your entire shooting experience. Sightmark’s mounting rings deliver rock solid holding performance designed to optimize optic reliability.

Constructed from durable 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, Sightmark Tactical Rings fit both Picatinny and Weaver rail. All Sightmark Tactical Mounting Rings include reduction inserts, making them compatible with 30mm and 1-in. scopes. Available in 4 different heights (low, medium, high, and extra-high), Sightmark offers mounting elevations to help you achieve proper clearance. Sightmark also offers a 30mm Fixed Cantilever Mount featuring a non-reflective matte finish and a 1-in. forward offset for proper scope mounting and eye relief on AR platforms. Read more

Optics

Grim Speaker Callers from Johnny Stewart Wildlife Calls

Johnny Stewart® Wildlife Calls has introduced the new GS1 and GS2 Grim Speaker e-callers for 2016 with a host of features that can help hunters get the drop on predators.

The GS1 Caller includes five pre-programmed 16 bit authentic Johnny Stewart sounds, including Cottontail Distress, Howls, Coy Pup Distress, Fawn Distress and Vittles al a Jackrabbit. The 30 second sounds can be played in a continuous loop for extended calling sessions.

The GS1 Caller comes with a 6-button remote that has a 50-yard range. The pivoting carrying handle also doubles as a stand for aiming the call. The caller base operates on four AA batteries and the remote on a 12v 23-27A battery (included). The Johnny Stewart Grim Speaker GS1 Caller sells for a suggested retail price of $49.99. Read more

Hunting

Endangered Whooping Cranes to Move Through OK

Each year, sportsmen, bird-watchers and other wildlife enthusiasts can join forces with the Wildlife Department to track federally-endangered whooping cranes as the birds migrate south.

“We rely on the public to help us monitor this rare bird’s path through Oklahoma,” said Matt Fullerton, endangered species biologist for the Wildlife Department. Outdoor enthusiasts can report the location of migrating whooping cranes, along with information about the sighting, at wildlifedepartment.com. Read more

Wildlife

NSSF Launches Hunting Works for Michigan

LANSING, Mich.-The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms industry, is proud to announce that the Hunting Works For America footprint has grown again and now includes a state chapter in Michigan. The newly formed Hunting Works For Michigan partnership has over 100 partner organizations and is looking to educate the public and elected officials about the impact of hunting. Along with current state chapters in Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oregon, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and another recent addition, Alabama, Hunting Works For Michigan is the 14th chapter to be added to the ranks of the award winning program. Read more

Hunting

Steelhead in Southeast Michigan

Steelhead laying on wood boards

Many people agree that steelhead are one of the country’s top sport fish. The bulk of anglers take advantage of their spring spawning runs in March, April and May, but some rivers also have a fall run of steelhead when fish come into the rivers well before their normal spawning period and then hang out all winter. This means the next fishing opportunity is just around the corner.

Most parts of the state offer great waters to target steelhead on – and southeast Michigan is no different! Primarily you’ll find fall steelhead runs in the Huron and Clinton rivers, which both have lots of public access points along the stream. Read more

Fishing
1 … 1,176 1,177 1,178 1,179 1,180 … 1,901