Michigan youth hunt carries tradition forward

 DNR, hunting groups work to preserve hunting legacy; kids have fun

For many decades, passing on the skills and knowledge of the hunting tradition from adults to youth has been a meaningful and vitally important part of our heritage in Michigan.

Today, the practice continues, often with the help and support of hunters’ groups and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

One fine example of seeing this process in action was a recent youth hunt at the Flat River State Game Area, which encompasses over 11,000 acres in Ionia and Montcalm counties.

The annual January youth hunting event started out five years ago as a rabbit hunt, but it’s morphed into a small game hunt. That proved to be a significant change this year as weather factors left rabbit hunters battling long odds, while squirrel hunters conducted business as usual. Read more

Hunting

Sale of Public Lands Plan Abandoned

Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced decision to abandon H.R. 621, which would have seized millions of acres of public lands and waters

WASHINGTON – Following pressure from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and numerous other sportsmen’s interests and businesses, Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced last night his decision to abandon H.R. 621, legislation that would have mandated the sale of more than 3 million acres of public lands in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.

BHA President and CEO Land Tawney offered the following response to the decision by the congressman from Utah:

“Representative Chaffetz should never have introduced this ill-conceived bill, but the instant and overwhelming response by sportsmen and women forced him to listen and ultimately abandon H.R. 621, which would have seized millions of acres of public lands. His fellow lawmakers should take note of the ire and rapid response by hunters and anglers. We aren’t going away. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Federal Premium Introduces Hunter Match 22 Long Rifle

ANOKA, Minnesota –– Federal Premium Ammunition is proud to announce its new Hunter Match 22 Long Rifle ammunition. The load raises the bar for high-performance rimfire hunting ammunition, providing true long-range accuracy and outstanding terminal effectiveness. Shipments are currently being delivered to dealers.

Serious small game and varmint hunters demand more than standard performance from their rimfire loads. The Hunter Match 22 LR hollow-point lead bullet has been tuned for optimum penetration and expansion out to 100 yards, and its high-velocity loading provides the flat trajectories and energy to take down any target. Its nickel-plated case ensures flawless extraction and inhibits corrosion. Read more

Ammunition

NSSF Applauds Introduction of Target and Marksmanship Training Support Act

NEWTOWN, Conn. – The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, has praised the bipartisan introduction of H.R. 788, the Target and Marksmanship Training Support Act of 2017 in the U.S. House of Representatives, sponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif).

“This legislation would provide state fish and game agencies more flexibility to use Pittman Robertson excise taxes dollars raised from the sale of firearms and ammunition to enhance existing public shooting ranges and to build new ones to meet the growing need for additional places for target shooters to participate in their sport,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “Public shooting ranges provide hunters a place to sight in rifles and shotguns before hunting seasons, for people to take firearm safety and hunter education courses and, for recreational target shooters to enjoy their sport.” Read more

Firearms

Late Canada goose hunting opportunities continue through Feb. 11 in southern Michigan

Waterfowl hunters still have time to harvest geese in Michigan this season. The Department of Natural Resources encourages hunters to pursue this delicious, locally sourced game and to pass the tradition of goose hunting on to a new generation of hunters.

The South Zone late Canada goose season continues through Feb. 11, with a couple of exceptions. The Muskegon County Wastewater System Goose Management Unit is not open for late season goose hunting. The Allegan County Goose Management Unit is open for late-season goose hunting through Feb. 12. The Fennville Farm Unit at Allegan State Game Area holds drawings for goose hunting zones on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

Visit www.michigan.gov/waterfowl for additional information.

Hunting

Join the 20th Great Backyard Bird Count

Bird watchers from around the world enjoy counting their birds and entering the GBBC photo contest. Photo by Ann Foster, Florida, 2016 GBBC.

Bohemian Waxwing by A. Blomquist, 2016 GBBC.;

Join the 20th Great Backyard Bird Count
Bird watchers around the world take part, February 17-20

New York, NY, Ithaca, NY, and Port Rowan, ON—A lot has changed since the first Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) was held in 1998. Each year brings unwavering enthusiasm from the growing number of participants in this now-global event. The 20th annual GBBC is taking place February 17-20 in backyards, parks, nature centers, on hiking trails, school grounds, balconies, and beaches—anywhere you find birds.

Bird watchers count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their checklists at birdcount.org. All the data contribute to a snapshot of bird distribution and help scientists see changes over the past 20 years. Read more

Wildlife

Caldwell Shooting Supplies Mag Charger Universal Pistol Loader

The new Caldwell Mag Charger Universal Pistol Loader works on almost any style pistol magazines, including 1911 style mags, and loads a large variety of calibers. It works with both single-stack and double-stack magazines. The adjustable side shims align magazines of any width, and the lock knob keeps virtually any size magazine secure. The shims are labeled with numbers for quick and easy adjustment making it easy to switch between different types of magazines. The Universal Pistol Loader will load 9mm, 10mm, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, .45 cal ammo, and some .380 magazines. The design is simple to use; simply drop a round in, squeeze the hand grip and repeat until the magazine is loaded. The Mag Charger Universal Pistol Loader removes the need to ever manually reload a pistol magazine again. Read more

Ammunition

Streamlight Launches Dual Fuel Tactical Lights

ProTac® HL-X, ProTac® 2L-X Feature High Lumens, Multiple Battery Options

EAGLEVILLE, PA – Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting tools, announced it has expanded its ProTac® family of tactical lights to include enhanced versions of two of its models. The new lights, the ProTac® HL-X and ProTac® 2L-X, feature 1,000 and 500 lumens, respectively, as well as offer the versatility of a rechargeable battery option.

Both lights can be powered by either two 3-volt CR123 lithium batteries or one Streamlight rechargeable 18650 cell. This multi-battery option allows for use of primary disposable batteries if the rechargeable cell is out of power. Read more

Optics

Parker’s Tornado XXTremem Combines Technology and Lightweight High Performance

STAUNTON, VA- Parker Bows, the leading manufacturer of high quality Compound Bows and Crossbows as well as RED HOT Crossbow Accessories is proud to announce the all NEW Tornado XXTreme Crossbow for 2017. Parker’s Tornado XXT Crossbow combines new Xtreme Xbow Technology (XXT), Performance and Value into a Compact, Lightweight crossbow package.

The Tornado XXT incorporates radical new crossbow technology that breaks all the historical barriers of crossbow performance and design. Parker’s new patented Xtreme Xbow Technology (XXT) combines, 1) Inverted Cams, 2) Split Limb Array, 3) Cavity-Back Riser and 4) HP Synergy Cams to set a new performance standards for speed, quiet operation, and ease of cocking, all while being packaged in a light-weight, compact, maneuverable platform. The Tornado XXT shoots a deadly 365 FPS, and comes equipped with Parker’s exclusive factory installed Anti-Vibration and Shock (AVS) System and Split Limb Dampeners to reduce noise and vibration for ultimate concealment in the woods. Like its contemporaries, the Tornado XXT is equipped with arguably the best crossbow Trigger in the industry. It features an ambidextrous auto-engaging safety for right or left handed shooters and an anti-dry fire lock – A Parker Exclusive. Read more

Archery

MI DNR to answer questions about CWD in Mecosta County at Feb. 22 town hall meeting

The Michigan departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) recently announced the finding of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a Mecosta County deer farm facility.

There are two upcoming opportunities for interested landowners, hunters and deer farmers to get the latest information and ask questions about this finding:

For deer farmers – Wednesday, Feb. 1
MDARD will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. at the Big Rapids Holiday Inn, 1005 Perry Ave., Big Rapids.

For hunters and area landowners – Wednesday, Feb. 22
The DNR will host a town hall meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Morley Stanwood High School Cafetorium, 4700 Northland Drive, Morley. Read more

Wildlife
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