Michigan Turkey Hunting Info

Video thumbnail, click to playTurkey hunting season will soon be underway and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters to check their spring turkey drawing results and leftover licenses, available online now at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings.

Leftover spring turkey licenses go on sale to unsuccessful license applicants at 10 a.m. Monday, March 9. Licenses go on sale to all other hunters, including those who did not participate in the application process, at 10 a.m. Monday, March 16. Leftover licenses will be sold until quotas are met.

“Hunters looking for the greatest flexibility may wish to purchase a Hunt 234 license, which will be available March 16 at 10 a.m.,” said DNR upland game bird specialist Al Stewart. “The Hunt 234 license is valid from May 4-31 and includes all open areas of the state except the public lands of southern Michigan. New this year, hunters may purchase Hunt 234 through May 31.”

Hunting licenses can be purchased online at www.mdnr-elicense.com. Hunters may purchase only one spring turkey license in a season. Read more

Hunting

DNR recommends charges in Otsego County elk-poaching case,

Michgian DNR conservation officer door shieldA Jackson County man has confessed to the illegal killing of a small bull elk during the firearm deer season in Otsego County, according to Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers who investigated the incident.

A passerby discovered elk parts dumped along a rural road Nov. 29, 2014.  A DNR conservation officer investigating the scene located a grocery store receipt among the entrails of an elk. A six-week investigation ensued, with a suspect being identified and interviewed. A confession was obtained, and charges are now being reviewed by the Otsego County prosecutor.

According to Lt. Jim Gorno, DNR law enforcement supervisor in Gaylord, conservation officers from the DNR’s Gaylord Customer Service Center were assisted in the investigation by officers from southern Michigan, a diligent Report All Poaching (RAP) Hotline dispatcher, and a detective from the department’s Special Investigations Unit.

“This case started with very limited clues and evidence, but through solid investigative follow-up, in conjunction with excellent teamwork being displayed by several of our officers around the state, it was brought to a successful conclusion,” said Gorno. “It shows diligence and tenacity in investigating cases involving our high-value fish and game species.” Read more

Poachers

Marval A. Hornady, 102, of Grand Island died Friday, February 20,

Mrs. Hornady was born Jan. 11, 1913, at Lorenz, Iowa, the daughter of LaRoy and Aleen (Tolbert) Steen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joyce, who died on Jan. 15, 1981, and their son, Robert Hornady, who died Aug. 21, 2008.

Survivors include a daughter, Margaret (Hornady) David, and son-in-law, Donald David, of Grand Island; a son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Jill Hornady of Grand Island, and a daughter-in-law, Barbara Hornady of Pacific Grove Calif.; grandchildren and their spouses, Christopher and Vimala Steadman, Geoffrey Steadman and Danielle Maddon, Jason and Ellen Hornady, Meighan Hornady, Elizabeth and Will Ingham; and great-grandchildren, Sarah Steadman, Abigail and Alex Hornady and Eleanor and Julia Ingham. Also left to cherish her memory is Jocelina Calhoun, caregiver and dear friend.

Marval was raised in Lincoln, where she graduated from high school. She was united in marriage to Joyce Wright Hornady on April 21, 1934. They moved to Grand Island in 1942. She and her husband founded Hornady Manufacturing in 1949.

Marval raised three children and was content as an active volunteer for many organizations, as well as doing bookwork at home for their small but growing bullet manufacturing company. In 1972, she was persuaded by her husband to come back to work and assume a more formal role at the company, which by then was also manufacturing ammunition and reloading tools.

When Joyce was killed in a plane crash on Jan. 15, 1981, Marval took over as chairman of the board and secretary of the corporation. Along with her son, Steve, and daughter, Margaret, Hornady Manufacturing did not falter and has become the success story it is due to family values, American work ethic, and ingenuity. Read more

Ammunition

UTG’s New Keymod Compatible Sling Swivel Adaptors: The Best of Both Worlds

Leapers UTG has released two brand new sling swivel adapters to go hand in hand with their critically acclaimed high quality rail systems. The TL-SWPK01 is a unit designed for multi rail applications, and can easily be converted to fit Mil- STD -1913 rails as well as the increasingly popular Keymod system. In its base configuration, the adapter securely attaches to standard Picatinny rails via its robust low profile mounting deck that uses a Torx drive locking screw for ultimate stability. The adapter can then receive standard 0.37″ sling swivels and hold them securely in place. The top section of the adapter, which is also available separately (TL-SWKM01), can be removed and mounted directly to a Keymod rail which is what makes this design truly stand out. Changing rails from Picatinny to Keymod or mounting your sling on a different rifle will no longer require buying new accessories for each application. Read more

Firearms

Howa Introduces Mini Action, Short Action Rifles

Gene Lumsden, CEO of Legacy Sports International, Inc., is excited to announce the newest innovation from Howa Rifles, the new Howa Mini Action! Currently available in .204 and .223 calibers, other short action chamberings will be offered at a later time. The chamber and bolt of the new Mini Action are significantly shorter (approx. 12%) than regular short actions. This feature produces a shorter bolt throw for faster reloads and less weight for the overall gun. In fact, this rifle without scope weighs just over 5.5 lbs. It also comes with 20″ drawn barrel, three position safety and HACT two-stage trigger. A drawn barrel produces better accuracy than a forged barrel, because they are not extruded and stretched, and do not begin with billet stock. Rather, they begin as extrusion tubes that are swaged, drawn and then roll leveled before cutting. Drawn barrels are also heat treated. This method produces less stress on the metallurgy and leads to a straighter barrel, producing better accuracy.

The Howa Mini Action Rifles are factory equipped with ten round, synthetic, detachable magazines and utilize a lightweight composition stock, which also reduces weight. Scope packages are also available with the Howa Mini Action rifles, using the new, Nikko Stirling Panamax rifle scope. The Nikko Stirling Panamax scopes offer 20% greater field-of-view than average 1 inch scopes, and come with a half Mil Dot reticle with dual color red/green illuminated reticle and a lifetime warranty, among other great features.

Howa Mini Action rifles are available high tech stocks in OD Green, Black or camo dipped in Kryptek Highlander with lightweight, standard and heavy barrel options. Lightweight and heavy barrels measure 20 inches, and standard barrels are 22 inches in length. Lightweight barrels are a #1 contour, Heavy barrels are a #6 contour and Standard barrels are a #2 hunting contour. MSRP ranges from $608 to $782 depending on barrel and scope package option. Read more

Firearms

Streamlight Introduces TLR-2HL G with Green Laser

EAGLEVILLE, PA –Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting equipment and weapon light/laser sighting devices, introduced the TLR-2 HL® G, a high lumen (HL) gun-mounted tactical light with green aiming laser. The new light is designed to provide maximum illumination with long-range targeting capability, making it an extremely versatile tool for tactical, outdoor and home defense users.

Using the latest in C4® LED technology, the new TLR-2 HL G gives users full situational awareness by flooding an area with 720 lumens of brightness in a wide beam pattern. It also features an integrated green laser, which appears brighter to the human eye than other colored lasers, particularly in daylight, to improve focusing on targets. The new model also is equipped with a strobe function. Read more

Optics

Florida Arrests Man for Vessel Homicide

Following the completion of an accident investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an arrest warrant for a Sunny Isles man on a vessel homicide charge. Felipe Escobar (DOB 03/03/69) turned himself in when notified.

If convicted of the charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

“The reckless or careless operation of a vessel will not be tolerated,” said Maj. Alfredo Escanio, FWC regional commander. “And when it results in a death, it is our top priority to hold the responsible party accountable and to keep Florida’s waterways as safe as possible.”

On May 26, 2014, Escobar was operating a 23-foot boat when he struck an anchored boat near Elliot Key in Miami-Dade County. As a result of the crash, a passenger on board Escobar’s vessel, Giovanna Santos (02/05/77), died. Escobar and another passenger, Jason Carvalho, sustained serious injuries. The occupants on board the other vessel were uninjured. An investigation into the incident revealed that Escobar was operating his vessel in a reckless manner which resulted in a homicide.

“Deaths caused by boating accidents that involve reckless vessel operation, alcohol or drugs are preventable,” Escanio said, “Boating safety is a top priority for the FWC and we will continue working to avoid similar incidents in the future.”

Fishing

New Concealed Pistol Legislation Heads to Gov. Snyder

GW:  I’d be really surprised if Governor, Rick Snyder, doesn’t sign the new gun bill to streamline and revamp the current model.  He doesn’t stand for the “piling on” tactic employed by politicians proposing new laws, by seemingly always adding carrots and concessions as a form of quid pro quo.

Part of the issue over the years, is that certain gun board members have remain opposed to the idea of law abiding citizens’ carrying concealed pistols.  Before “shall issue” it was even worse and typically made an applicant prove why he needed a permit.  Some of these self-anointed judges are still with us and do everything in their power to circumvent the Constitution.  Just look at Washington, D.C., if you need a glaring example.

Sponsored by Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, the bill would eliminate county gun boards December 1. Applicants will then be able to apply for permits through county clerks, submitting fingerprints and proof of certified handgun-use training and would receive permits, if they cleared state police and national law enforcement criminal background checks.

Let’s get on with it!

 

Gun Control, Self Defense

Michigan DNR appeals federal court’s wolf decision

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today filed an appeal of a December 2014 federal district court ruling that returned wolves in Michigan and Wisconsin to the federal endangered species list and wolves in Minnesota to federal threatened species status. The appeal – filed by the Michigan Attorney General in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia – asks the court to uphold the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s December 2011 decision that removed the Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of wolves from the federal endangered species list.

 

“Returning wolf management to wildlife professionals in the state of Michigan is critical to retaining a recovered, healthy, and socially-accepted wolf population in our state,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh.

 

“Michigan residents who live with wolves deserve to have a full range of tools available to sustainably manage that population.” Wolves in Michigan are 15 years past the population recovery goals set by the federal government. The DNR will argue against the federal district court’s ruling that wolves must recover across their historic range – which includes the lower 48 states and Mexico – before Michigan’s wolf population can be removed from the federal endangered species list. In addition, the state will argue against the district court’s conclusion that the USFWS failed to demonstrate that Michigan’s laws and regulations adequately protect the wolf population within Michigan.

 

“Wolves in Michigan and the other western Great Lakes states are fully recovered from endangered species status, which is a great success story,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “Continuing to use the Endangered Species Act to protect a recovered species not only undermines the integrity of the Act, it leaves farmers and others with no immediate recourse when their animals are being attacked and killed by wolves.”

 

Michigan’s wolf population numbers approximately 636 in the state’s Upper Peninsula. With the return to federal protection in December 2014, the DNR lost the authority to use a variety of wolf management methods, including lethal control, to minimize wolf conflict with humans, livestock and dogs. The change in status also suspended state authority that allowed livestock and dog owners to protect their animals from wolf depredation when wolves are in the act of attacking those animals.

 

The federal district court’s December 2014 decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of the United States, in which the State of Michigan participated as a defendant-intervener arguing against returning the Great Lakes DPS of wolves to the endangered species list. Michigan joins the USFWS and a number of hunting and conservation organizations in appealing the ruling.

 

For more information about Michigan’s wolf population and management plan, visit www.michigan.gov/wolves.

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan State Parks Offer Alternatives to Tent Camping

Furnace Hill Lodge at Fayette State Park boasts a modern kitchen.

Yurts, like this one at Waterloo Recreation Area, offer a unique alternative to other winter camping facilities.

Most people consider camping at Michigan state parks and recreation areas a three-season activity. Who really wants to pitch a tent when there’s a foot of snow on the ground and the thermometer reads well below freezing?

But folks who want to get away from it all in the winter have a plethora of options at numerous state parks and recreation areas that don’t involve sleeping out in the elements.

State parks and recreation areas across Michigan (managed by the Department of Natural Resources) offer lodges, cabins, mini-cabins or yurts that’ll give you a warm place to spend the night when there aren’t a lot of other campers around. There also is a wide variety of recreational opportunities available all winter long. Read more

General
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