DNR Incident Management Team completes first 5 days of storm cleanup

April 7, 2025

Hundreds of miles of roads cleared, communications protected

Clearing tree debris to reopen roads and gain access to communication towers has been mission number one for the Michigan Department Natural Resources Incident Management Team following the recent massive ice storm in northern Michigan.

In its first five days on the ground, the team, working with the Michigan National Guard and many other cooperators, put public safety first as hundreds of miles of roads were cleared in the 12-county area hit hardest by the storm.

“Our crews have been working from early in the morning until sunset to clear trees, branches and brush to make sure emergency vehicles can access roads in case people need help,” said Mike Janisse, Incident Commander.

“We currently have 15 crews in the field who are continuing to work in some of the hardest hit counties. They’ve pushed through wind, rain, slush, snow, and even more ice to help make life a little easier for people who have been hit hard by this storm.”

Working with multiple agencies, the team has cleared nearly 500 miles of roadway since the storm response began April 2. Read more

Wildlife

Rare H&K, Colt, Dan Wesson Items Part of Collector’s Elite Auctions April Collection

Bidding is now open on the Collector’s Elite Auctions April collection, an exquisite assembly of rare and distinguished firearms. This collection highlights the pinnacle of design, craftsmanship, and historical significance, offering enthusiasts and collectors an unparalleled opportunity to acquire unique pieces.

Here are just a few highlights of the exceptional April collection: Read more

Firearms

DOJ and ATF Repeal Zero Tolerance Policy

In a significant win for the Second Amendment, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced today the repeal of the controversial Federal Firearms Administrative Action Policy, also known as the Zero Tolerance Policy. First introduced under the Biden administration, the policy aggressively targeted gun dealers for minor paperwork errors—creating fear and uncertainty across the firearms community.

The decision to roll back this anti-gun policy comes under the direction of the Trump administration and marks a key step toward restoring Americans’ access to firearms. The DOJ and ATF, now led by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Acting ATF and FBI Director Kash Patel, will also begin formal reviews of the tyrannical stabilizing brace rule and the unlawful “engaged in the business” rule used to target private gun sellers.

The stabilizing brace rule, which attempted to reclassify braced pistols as short-barreled rifles under the National Firearms Act, and the “engaged in the business” rule, which was a backdoor attempt to create Universal Background Checks, were both the subject of national backlash and multiple court challenges.

Gun Owners of America has long sounded the alarm on the weaponization of the ATF under the Biden administration, where bureaucratic overreach was used to harass law-abiding gun dealers and crush small businesses. Read more

Firearms

Delay Pruning Until Mid-July to Help Keep Oak Trees Safe from Deadly Fungus

To stop the spread of oak wilt, a fungal disease that can kill red oak trees within weeks, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging homeowners not to prune any oak trees from April 15-July 15, the period of highest risk.

During that time period, sap-feeding nitidulidae beetles can transfer spores of the fungus from infected trees to healthy ones that have wounds. Risk is highest from mid-April to mid-July, and recent research at Michigan State University indicates that in Michigan, oak infection risk peaks in May and June.

Oak wilt also can spread when people move firewood cut from infected trees, and from tree to tree through connected root systems.

“It is important to prevent infection because this disease can kill trees very quickly,” said Simeon Wright, forest health pathologist in the DNR’s Forest Resources Division. “Oaks in the red oak family can die within weeks.” Read more

Wildlife

Get Free SEVR Field Points with Your Purchase*

SEVR announces a limited-time offer: receive a free three-pack of Match Grade SEVR Field Points with a purchase of $90 or more. *To receive free field points, simply add any three-pack to your cart, ensure your cart value is at least $90, and discount will automatically apply at checkout.

SEVR Match Grade™ points feature an elongated tangent ogive shape, inspired by high ballistic coefficient bullets, providing superior long-range accuracy and easier extraction from practice targets. Match Grade field points are precision machines from SEVR’s hardened Robusto™ stainless steel, with a slick, dark nickel coating for a mirror-like surface finish.

This offer is available for a limited time only. Visit www.sevrbroadheads.com to take advantage of this promotion, while supplies last.

Archery, Promotions

Inland sport fishing guide license required for guided fishing on inland Michigan

April 7, 2025

With nearly 11,000 inland lakes and 76,000 miles of rivers and streams, Michigan has a wealth of inland fishing opportunities, and inland fishing guides help anglers enjoy those abundant resources. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers and guides that since March 1, 2024, inland fishing guides operating in the state are required to have an inland sport fishing guide license to take clients on guided trips on inland lakes, rivers or streams.

Great Lakes connecting waters refer to specific bodies of water in Michigan that connect the Great Lakes to each other: the St. Marys River, the St. Clair River (beginning at the Fort Gratiot Light), Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River (beginning at the imaginary line extending due south of the Windmill Point Light, Wayne County, and ending at the imaginary east/west line drawn through the most southernly point of Celeron Island).

Those interested should complete the following steps to apply for an inland sport fishing guide license:

  1. Review the requirements and complete the questionnaire. The DNR will review responses to verify license requirements are met. Applicants will be notified via email within five business days with further instructions.
  2. Upon receiving notification of DNR approval, buy the license online or on the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app. Read more
Fishing

Volunteers needed to protect Michigan’s spawning sturgeon along Black River

April 7, 2025

Lake sturgeon in the Black River in Cheboygan County.Sturgeon For Tomorrow is seeking volunteers in Cheboygan County mid-April through early June to stand guard as mature lake sturgeon head upstream to their spawning sites along the Black River. The Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon For Tomorrow is working in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and various tribes to protect the fish from illegal harvest during the six-week spawning season.

Sgt. Mike Mshar, who leads DNR Law Enforcement Division’s efforts on the river, said, “This program, which protects this iconic species when they are most vulnerable, is a model of how agencies and the public can cooperate to get needed work accomplished.”

Volunteers are assigned shifts along the river to stand watch and report suspicious activity to the DNR conservation officers patrolling the area. The program also uses aerial surveillance for additional monitoring.

“For over 20 years, the annual Sturgeon Guarding Program has proven that people serving as sturgeon guards watching over the river have virtually eliminated poaching, while helping to ensure the protection and reproductive success of the species,” said Mary Paulson, the program’s volunteer coordinator. “It’s a unique and rewarding experience to witness these majestic fish swimming up the Black River, and to be a key player in safeguarding one of Michigan’s most valuable natural resources.”

While volunteers will be assigned sites to stand guard, there will be on-site coordinators at the river to assist and answer questions. Additionally, volunteers are asked to assist in recording the number of fish active in the area. Read more

Fishing, Poachers

Leupold Announces Second Generation of BX-4 Range HD Rangefinding Binocular

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., the leader in rugged, lightweight, and exceptionally clear sport optics, has announced the launch of its new BX-4 Range HD TBR/W Gen 2 rangefinding binocular.

An evolution of the award-winning original, the BX-4 Range HD Gen 2 delivers improved ranging performance and industry-leading light transmission, color purity, and edge-to-edge clarity. Available in 10×42 and 12×50 configurations, it’s a best-in-class rangefinding binocular.

“The original BX-4 Range HD combined the industry’s fastest ranging solution with class-leading optical performance,” said Eric Overstreet, Technology Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “With the Gen 2, we’ve upgraded nearly every single facet of the product. You’re getting improved optics, greater ranging distance, and the addition of some of our game-changing features.”

The BX-4 Range HD Gen 2 is built around Leupold’s Elite Optical System, which delivers superior dawn-to-dusk light transmission, elite level glare reduction, and the resolution diehard hunters and shooters demand. In side-by-side comparisons, the Gen 2 separates itself from the competition, especially in low light, where other rangefinding binoculars fall short. Read more

Optics

Unorthodox Designs SLAP Loader for Sig Sauer P320 Magazines

Dallas, TX – Unorthodox Designs is pleased to announce the latest release of the SLAP Loader for Sig Sauer P320 9mm magazines. The SLAP (Single Load and Press) Loader was created specifically to address issues with common popular loaders by, quite literally, turning the problem upside down.

Rather than sliding over the top of the magazine and relying on the user’s grip strength, the SLAP Loader provides a stable platform to insert a magazine, allowing rounds to be fed into the loading ramp with minimal effort. A simple press down on the magazine effectively loads a single round into the magazine. Releasing the magazine completes the process and readies the loader for the next round, resulting in a fast and efficient loading process that can be done with a single hand. Read more

Firearms
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