Nappanee, Indiana Man Injured in Turkey Hunting Accident (Fulton County)

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a hunting accident that occurred Saturday morning in Fulton County.

At 6:18 a.m., Fulton County Dispatch received a call reporting an individual being shot while turkey hunting near County Road 375 N and County Road 100 W in Rochester.

Brian Lehman, 41, of Nappanee, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and neck from shot fired from a 12-gauge shotgun. Lehman was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.

Initial investigation reveals that Lehman and a juvenile hunter were walking a farm lane to gain access to a property when a hunter on the adjacent property mistook Lehman’s movement for a turkey and fired in his direction, striking Lehman. The juvenile was not injured. Read more

Hunting

During National Police Week, DNR Honors Fallen Officers’ Service

GW:  Don’t forget to honor law enforcement by lowering flags at half-staff for May 15th.  This day is often ignored by many establishments and private citizens for the long-standing flag protocol.

Just about every conservation officer describes their work as incredibly rewarding – some would even call it a “dream career” – but the reality of harm is always present.

During National Police Week, May 11-17, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources joins communities across the United States to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who were killed or died as a result of incidents that occurred during the line of duty.

“We will never forget our fallen,” said Lt. Jeremy Payne, DNR law supervisor in Bay City, who helps coordinate the annual fallen officer events. “Our 17 brothers who paved the path before us went to work one day with the intent to return to their loved ones at the end of their shift. They were sons, husbands, fathers, brothers, grandfathers and friends, and they made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that, today, we all have the opportunity to enjoy Michigan’s vast natural resources.” Read more

Wildlife

Excalibur Unleashes the Hybrid X

Excalibur Crossbow is rewriting the rules of the compound crossbow market with the Hybrid X—a breakthrough in durability, reliability, and raw performance. The Hybrid X merges Excalibur’s legendary recurve durability with an all-new, state-of-the-art InnerDrive compound cam system.

Designed for the die-hard hunters who demand performance and are sick of compromising reliability to get it with other compound crossbows on the market, the Hybrid X dominates with real speeds up to 435 FPS and an ultra-narrow, maneuverable profile, measuring just a 5.3” axle to axle. This compound crossbow is the first in the industry to allow hunters to change strings and cables, or adjust cam timing in the field, without a press. Simply put, the Hybrid X is far beyond just another crossbow with cams— it’s the first compound crossbow built to get the job done, no matter what. Read more

Archery

Midwest Walleye Challenge: Fish, win prizes and help the walleye fishery

Contacts: Seth Herbst, 517-388-7759 or Emily Martin, 231-495-1310

An angler on a boat shows a walleye he caught. The fish has a colorful lure hooked to its mouth.Ever wish you could get paid to fish? Well, don’t quit your day job, but do get out on the water this summer for the Midwest Walleye Challenge — you’ll have the chance to win cash prizes and provide useful information to fisheries biologists.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is partnering with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas on a statewide walleye fishing challenge that includes all inland waters in the state. The challenge runs from May 15 through June 29. Read more

Fishing

Cornwall Dam Renovation Slated for Spring/Fall 2025

aerial view of Cornwall Creek Flooding, a large, irregularly shaped impoundment surrounded by mature trees and dense forest

May 13, 2025
Contacts: Josh Leisen, senior project manager, Huron Pines, 989-448-2293, ext. 16, or Tim Cwalinski, Gaylord unit supervisor, DNR Fisheries Division, 231-340-0276

Cornwall Dam will be renovated this year to address safety concerns

Renovations to Cornwall Dam will begin in May and extend through fall to satisfy state dam safety requirements. Vehicle access to the Cornwall Creek Flooding’s day-use area will be closed during this period, and a detour of the Shore-to-Shore equestrian trail will be in place.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, which owns the dam, committed to restoring the Cheboygan County dam in 2019. The flooding’s water levels were partially lowered in 2024, following a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Dam Safety Program recommendation to address concerns with aging infrastructure and embankment seepage issues. Read more

Wildlife

Now Open: Fall Registration for Free Fourth Grade Field Trips to State Parks

Our Nature Awaits program is returning this fall, and teachers can reserve their spots today! Almost a thousand fourth grade teachers from throughout Michigan registered for a free field trip during the 2024-2025 school year, with 100% of participating teachers reporting they would recommend the program to another teacher.?

With host locations at state parks including Belle Isle in Detroit, Hoffmaster in Muskegon and the newest state park in Flint, interested fourth grade teachers can find a location near their school. Transportation grants for up to $1,000 are available for public schools, and every participating student receives a free voucher to return with their family to a state park of their choice for more outdoor learning and fun.?

“We have worked hard to make all of our students feel safe, supported and psyched for their visits,” said Nature Awaits program coordinator Katie McGlashen. “Fourth graders are at the halfway point of becoming adults with responsibilities. We hope they visit Michigan state parks often throughout their lifetime in any way they choose, whether to fish, camp, bike, bird watch, snowmobile or simply soak up the sunshine.”

To learn more and reserve a field trip, visit Michigan.gov/NatureAwaits. Questions? Email?DNR-NatureAwaits@Michigan.gov.

Wildlife

Christensen Arms’ Evoke Rifle Claims Coveted “Great Buy” Award from Outdoor Life

American-Made Precision and Unrivaled Value Redefine Excellence in Firearms

GUNNISON, Utah — Christensen Arms, a proud American-owned innovator in precision firearms, is thrilled to announce that its groundbreaking Evoke rifle has secured the illustrious “Great Buy” Award in Outdoor Life’s 2025 Best Rifles roundup. This distinguished honor, detailed in Outdoor Life’s feature at https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-rifles/, celebrates the Evoke’s pinpoint accuracy, exceptional craftsmanship, and unmatched value—further solidifying Christensen Arms’ legacy as a trailblazer in the firearms industry.

The Evoke rifle endured Outdoor Life’s rigorous evaluation process, emerging as the epitome of performance and affordability. Its razor-sharp accuracy—achieved through Christensen Arms’ signature barrel technology—delivers tack-driving precision that rivals rifles costing thousands more. This American-made masterpiece combines aerospace-grade materials with meticulous craftsmanship, offering shooters extraordinary value without compromising quality.

“The Evoke stood out during our test for its combination of accuracy and good ergonomics at a very attractive price. No other rifle delivered the same bang for the buck,”
— John B. Snow, Shooting Editor at Outdoor Life Read more

Firearms

Bear Creek Arsenal .410 Shotgun AR

Many hunters get nostalgic thinking about the .410 Shotgun. For most, this is the first shotgun they ever used. Memories of going out with the men in their lives, being taught early on the techniques, and patience of waiting for the best moment to pull the trigger. This past Monday another memory of the .410 came to pass as a young twelve-year-old went out turkey hunting with his dad and the Bear Creek Arsenal AR15 .410 Shotgun. In North Carolina, the youth under seventeen turkey season started April 1st, 2023. On the third day of anticipation, this 5” long-bearded jake was brought down from a sixty-plus yard shot in an open, rainy, windy field using the BCA .410 Shotgun. Read more

Firearms

Federal Ammunition Awarded Rifle and Handgun Ammunition Contracts for Canadian Government

ANOKA, Minnesota – May 12, 2025 – Federal Ammunition was recently awarded contracts to supply several Canadian law enforcement organizations with handgun and rifle ammunition for training and duty purposes.

These agreements will supply the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Parks Canada (PC), Correctional Services Canada (CSC), and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) agencies with up to 10 million rounds of 9mm training, 9mm duty handgun ammunition, and .308 Win. rifle ammunition over a 5-year timeframe.

“We, at Federal, provide the top-quality law enforcement and tactical products officers need to have full confidence in any situation, and that’s why we offer several different training and duty loads,” said Peter Gillette, Director, Government and International Sales. “This contract validates the high trust that international law enforcement agencies have in our highly reliable and innovative product, regarding dependability and terminal ballistics.”

Federal Ammunition products are available at dealers nationwide and online. For more information on all Federal products, visitwww.federalpremium.com.

Ammunition

Florida man, 89, and his dog mauled to death by black bear

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Friday confirmed a man and his dog were mauled to death by a black bear in Jerome — marking the first fatal black bear attack in state history.

Family members reported 89-year-old Robert Markel missing from his home and “signs of recent disturbances” that could have been caused by a bear or bears around the property.  The rest of the story here…

Wildlife
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