46-year-old man suffers minor injuries in suspected black bear attack in Clare County

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today that a 46-year-old man was injured Thursday evening in a suspected attack by a black bear in Greenwood Township, Clare County. The man was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., the man was alone in a ground blind, hunting for porcupine. The man said a black bear came from behind, knocked him over and attacked him. Using his hunting knife, the man stabbed the bear, which scared it off. The bear is thought to be injured. Read more

Wildlife

Betsie River spawning closure lifted, effective immediately

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission on Thursday, Sept. 10, lifted a spawning closure on the Betsie River in Benzie County. The lift went into effect immediately.

In 2012, the closure was put in place when the Betsie River experienced historically low water levels that left migrating Chinook salmon and steelhead vulnerable to illegal harvest. Recent weather patterns have resulted in water levels returning to normal conditions, so the spawning closure placed on the Betsie River mouth is no longer necessary. Read more

Fishing

DNR announces surplus salmon available to public again this fall

Up-close of Chinook salmon being held by DNR employeeThe public again this year is invited to purchase surplus salmon that has been harvested at Michigan Department of Natural Resources weirs around the state.

Seasonal salmon runs include large numbers of fish returning to their native streams to spawn and die. The DNR maintains multiple sites (weirs) where fisheries biologists and technicians collect eggs and milt (sperm) from Chinook and coho salmon for use in state fish hatcheries. Once egg-take needs are met, fish in prime physical condition are made available to the public by American-Canadian Fisheries, a private vendor that assists the DNR with the salmon harvest. Read more

Fishing

DNR and partners to dedicate new ‘Gold Mine’ Grouse Enhanced Management Site in Iron County

Join the DNR and many partners to celebrate this new hunting location

Gov. Snyder and DNR Director Creagh planting treeThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce that the first Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS) developed on private land is available for hunters this fall — the “Gold Mine” GEMS in Iron County.

Since 2014, the DNR and various partners have now worked together to develop and maintain 10 GEMS in the Upper Peninsula and four in the Lower Peninsula. These intensively-managed, accessible, walk-in areas provide hunters outstanding places to grouse and American woodcock.

The “Gold Mine” GEMS is located on Plum Creek property in near Iron River, off Gold Mine Road. This new GEMS is over 550 acres with roughly 3 miles of hunter walking trails. Read more

Hunting

Konus Announces the Konus Bonus Rebate

Konus announces its largest rebate program ever. Starting September 15, 2015, get up to a $100 mail-in rebate on all KonusPro T30, M30, and F30 Riflescopes. Purchases must be made September 15 through November 30, 2015; rebate must be submitted by December 31, 2015.

Breakdown on the rebates
KonusPro T30 Series: $25.00 cash back
KonusPro M30 Series: $40.00 cash back
KonusPro F30 Series: $100.00 cash back Read more

Optics

Online Gear Checklist Now Available for Hunters

GW: Lists are a good idea. Just add any specific personal gear not already on the lists found at the links below:

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation unveiled an interactive, online gear checklist designed to assist hunters be fully prepared as they head afield.

“This is the quintessential checklist for the elk hunter,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of Marketing. “It can be customized for the rifle hunter or bowhunter and be adjusted according to the length of a hunt.”

The Gear 101 checklist is located on the RMEF website. It allows a user to create an individualized checklist by clicking on one of three options: daytripper, multi-day or outfitted. From there, categories include clothes, food & water, meat care, overnight gear and hunting gear. Read more

Hunting

Gray wolf confirmed through genetic testing to be present in the northern Lower Peninsula

gray wolf emerging from surrounding cover The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced confirmation of gray wolf occurrence in Emmet County, marking the second confirmation of wolf presence in the Lower Peninsula since 1910.

Late last week, the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians received confirmation from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, that scat submitted for DNA analysis by the tribe in 2014 was from a male gray wolf.

Genetic testing also confirmed that the wolf was not likely to be an escaped captive, since it closely matched genetic information taken from northeast Ontario wolves.

In March 2014, tribal biologists discovered tracks and collected scat from Emmet County. DNR Wildlife Division staff then visited the site with biologists from the tribe and agreed the tracks appeared to be from two separate wolves. Read more

Wildlife
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