DNR’s Academy of Natural Resources gives teachers valuable “been there, done that” experience

Given a choice, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources would enroll every student in the state into a class on natural resources. Since that’s not exactly practical, DNR educators have come up with a more feasible alternative: educate the educators.

 

The DNR’s Academy of Natural Resources, now in its seventh year, enrolls teachers into a week-long crash course on natural resources. The idea is to provide the teachers with a broad overview of natural resources that they can use in their classrooms.

 

“We have 50 to 60 teachers enrolled in the academy each summer, and that translates into potentially reaching thousands of students,” said Kevin Frailey, who leads the DNR’s education efforts. “We do a lot of short-term education programs with teachers on a regular basis, but research shows that the more times we make contact with these teachers, the more information they’ll retain.Academy participant poses with lake trout netted on Higgins Lake.

 

“The academy is a unique chance to totally immerse teachers in natural resources for a week and really maximize our efforts and their learning opportunities.”

 

Teachers say it’s a strategy that works. Cindy Fitzwilliams-Heck, a professor at Ferris State University who first attended the academy as a student, returned to the academy this summer to obtain focus group feedback from the teachers attending the program. Read more

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

Hornady Calls for Campaign Against HSUS Petition On Public Lands

Call Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and tell her to reject the HSUS petition that threatens hunting on public lands! Call 202-208-3181 and email our pre-written letter to voice your objection.

The future of hunting is under attack! Hornady® Manufacturing urges firearms owners, hunters and sportsmen to call Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and demand she reject a petition filed by the HSUS that seeks to ban hunting with traditional ammunition on public lands.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), anti-hunting groups, and five individual sportsmen have teamed up to file a petition with the Interior Department demanding rules that ban hunting with traditional ammunition on public lands – more than 160 million acres of federal lands managed by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That’s one-fifth of the total land area in the United States. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Hodgdon® Reloading Data Center launches How-to Videos

Shawnee Kansas- Hodgdon®, has launched three new professionally produced how-to videos on its popular Reloading Data Center. Rifle, pistol and shotshell reloading basics are shown in an easy to understand step-by-step format. For shooters on the go these informative videos can also be viewed on a smart phone or tablet in less than three and a half minutes each.

The Reloading Data Center (RDC) is not only the most innovative free web source of Hodgdon®, IMR® and Winchester® reloading data to ever be offered by the shooting industry, it’s now the education resource. In addition to the new videos there is a complete section of reloading for beginner’s information, safety procedures, frequently asked questions, tips and tricks and much more for every handloader.

To see the reloading videos go to the Reloading Data Center at hodgdon.com

Ammunition, Firearms

Chestnut Hill Outdoors – Soft Masts for Bowhunters

Deer love mast, and need this important nutrition as part of their diet. Chestnut Hill Outdoors has the best selection of soft and hard mast trees to choose from. Deer foods that grow on trees and shrubs are usually referred to as mast. There are two types of mast, hard (chestnuts, acorns, etc.) and soft (persimmons, pears, apples, grapes, berries, etc.). We all know that deer crave chestnuts, but deer are extremely attracted to soft mast. Some of these soft mast trees bear fruit early in the fall, so are exceptional food plot additions for bowhunters. Other varieties hold fruit until late fall.

Not only are soft mast trees great for bowhunting, but they can condition deer to stay on your land before and after hunting season. By planting a variety of trees you can extend the fruiting season from spring through late fall, thus keeping the deer on your land throughout the year.

The following are the soft mast varieties that bear fruit during the spring, summer and fall:

May- Peaches, Blueberries (early)
June- Peaches, Blueberries,
July- Apples, Pears, Blueberries, Blackberries
August- Apples, Pears, Blackberries, Grapes, Persimmons
September- Apples, Pears, Grapes, Persimmons
October- Apples, Pears, Persimmons
November- Apples (late), Pears (late), Persimmons (late) Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Dove Hunter Survey Results Provide Insights to Help State, Federal Natural Resources Managers Sustain Dove Hunting

Washington, D.C. – Results from a first-of-its-kind survey of the nation’s mourning dove hunters were released yesterday by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), National Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The survey, in which more than 12,000 dove hunters from around the country participated, will provide wildlife and natural resources managers with information to help them effectively manage and conserve this migratory bird species into the future. Read more

Hunting

Barnett Ghost 410: Faster, Smoother & More Accurate

From industry trendsetter Barnett Crossbows® comes the revolutionary Ghost 410™. The Ghost 410™ builds upon its predecessor’s specs by taking the Ghost™ series to new hunting heights.

The 410 retains the most impressive features of the 400 while breaking industry barriers set by its predecessor. Weighing just 7.2lbs, the 410 is a full pound lighter than the 400 thanks to its CarbonLite™ frame. Read more

Hunting

An Interview with Kendall Jones

firstforhunterskendalljones1If you’ve turned on the TV, radio, looked at a newspaper, or used the internet in these past few weeks, you have heard of Kendall Jones.

Kendall Jones is a 19 year old cheerleader studying at Texas Tech who has stirred up some recent controversy. She is a seasoned hunter that has been lucky enough to travel to Africa to hunt the big five; work alongside organizations to provide meat to local communities and help treat wounded animals. Recently, she has been targeted on social media sites and attacked by news agencies for having pictures of her hunts published on Facebook. There has been much misinformation spreading around about what she has hunted and the specific role hunting plays in conservation. Bill McGrath, SCI’s Legislative Counsel was fortunate enough to sit down with Kendall to discuss the media backlash and correctly set the narrative. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Oklahoma Attorney General Subpoenas HSUS

This from www.humanewatch.org

In March, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt announced that his office was opening an inquiry into the fundraising of the Humane Society of the United States, issuing a “consumer alert” to the public about national animal charities. Things have been fairly quiet in the news since then—until yesterday.

Speaking to the radio show “All Around Oklahoma Ag,” Pruitt offered an update of his office’s investigation of HSUS. Pruitt stated that his office has recently issued subpoenas to HSUS in light of the $25 million settlement that major HSUS contractor and direct-mail firm Quadriga Art agreed to with the New York Attorney General earlier this month.

Pruitt also revealed that his office has met with HSUS leadership, and it didn’t seem to go well. Pruitt says that HSUS’s reaction has been “in some respects, not good…there’s been denial.”

HSUS can deny that its fundraising is deceptive all it wants to, but we have its CEO Wayne Pacelle admitting last year, on audio, that “I think there is some confusion among the general public and I think there’s occasional confusion with, with donors.” You can’t play the denying game when you’ve already admitted that there’s a problem with your donors. Even for an organization with dozens of staff lawyers, it’s hard to talk your way around that one. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Terminal Attraction – Hunting Plot Basics

If you manage your property for whitetails you probably plant some of your food plot acreage right now, during the late summer or fall. Much of what will be planted during this time are crops that are meant for attraction. Some of the plants also have great nutritional value as well, but most hunters really don’t think about that, they want a plot that will give them harvest opportunities. For this type of “hunting plot,” plant selection, plot design and timing are very important determinants for success. Read more

Hunting
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