2014 fuelwood permits still available from the DNR
With winter quickly approaching, the Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that fuelwood permits are available for the 2014 season, which runs through Dec. 31. Read more
When a Hunter Becomes the Hunted
By Glen Wunderlich
Getting out during early small game season in September provides an opportunity to take some protein-packed table fare not found on grocery store shelves. It’s a time to check deer stands and movements in preparation for Michigan’s archery opener October 1st, as well. This week, however, I’ll share a startling scene from one of my recent excursions to the deciduous forest in search of more bushytails for the kettle.
The early morning dew’s moisture covered any noise from my hunting boots, as I entered the big woods in silence. My plan was to hide and watch and was aided by a heavy fog permeating my surroundings; it’s always a welcome addition to an already spooky experience of strolling in the dark. “That” feeling was coming over me again, as I experienced the wild world waking. The realization that it’s good to be alive hit home.
At the edge of the woods, I heard something dropping through the leaves. The sound repeated. Since it was still too early for acorns to be dropping in any large measure, my hunch that a squirrel was involved had to be investigated.
I didn’t bother with my portable chair, because I needed to maneuver into position to locate the origin of the commotion. A stately oak tree provided a welcome rest for my upper body, as I peered through the obstructed view toward the sky.
Patience would be the key, as the sporadic sound continued, and I became one with the tree. My orange cap was in motion – the only giveaway that this apex predator was lurking. I was alone in the moment, or so I thought; little did I know, I would become the hunted. Read more
Zeiss Offers Tremendous Fall Savings
NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA., September 29, 2014 – Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world’s leading manufacturer in high performance sports optics, is pleased to announce their Fall “Field Days” promotion. From now through November 17, 2014, Zeiss is offering huge savings on many of its most popular optics including the new TERRA ED binoculars in Lost Camo. Simply purchase any of the following ZEISS products from an authorized ZEISS dealer during the promotional period and get a mail-in rebate.
Rebates are as follows:
– $150 rebate on any VICTORY HT Riflescopes or VICTORY HT Binoculars
– $100 rebate on any CONQUEST HD5 Riflescopes or CONQUEST HD Binoculars
– $50 rebate on any TERRA 3X Riflescopes or TERRA ED Binoculars
– $50 rebate on TERRA ED Lost Camo Binoculars (available only at official Mathews’ licensed retailers) Read more
USFWS Announces $900,000 in Wolf Livestock Demonstration Project Grants
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced $900,000 in grants under the Wolf Livestock Demonstration Project Grant Program. Grants will be distributed to the states of Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The grants assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, non-lethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss from predation by wolves, and compensate producers for livestock losses caused by wolves. The program provides funding to states and tribes, with federal cost-share not to exceed 50 percent. Read more
Federal Court Ruling Opens Door to Gun Rights Restoration for Certain Misdemeanors
BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation has quietly won a significant federal court victory in a Pennsylvania case in which the judge has ruled that a man convicted of a serious misdemeanor crime several years ago, but who has demonstrated that he “would present no more threat to the community” than an average law-abiding citizen, may not lose his Second Amendment rights under a federal gun control statute known as 922(g)(1).
The ruling, by Judge James Knoll Gardner for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, says that application of that statute to the plaintiff, Daniel Binderup, “violates the Second Amendment.”
“This case could provide a building block upon which similar cases in which people are convicted of non-violent misdemeanors might be challenged because they have lost their right to keep and bear arms as a result,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb. “Under existing federal law, many people convicted of state-level misdemeanors have lost their Second Amendment rights, essentially because they’ve been lumped together with convicted felons.
“One should not lose his or her constitutional rights for certain non-violent indiscretions that occur once in a lifetime,” he added. Read more
Under Scrutiny, Forest Service Seeks to Clarify New Wilderness Rule
Government officials are always looking for ways to tax us under the radar. In this example, some folks will need to understand the laws regulating photography in the wilderness or face stiff penalties. Details here…
Exploding Targets May Be Targeted for Regulation
It may be only a matter of time before exploding targets are restricted or otherwise outlawed by authorities. Details here…
Shaneen Allen to Avoid Prison as New Jersey AG Revises Sentencing Guidance for Gun Law Violations
In a stunning outbreak of sanity in the Garden State, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain has reversed his earlier decision to seek prison time for Shaneen Allen, a single mother from Philadelphia who was facing felony prosecution for misunderstanding concealed carry reciprocity rules. The decision came after John Hoffman, acting New Jersey Attorney General, issued statewide guidance to county prosecutors clarifying the application of New Jersey’s mandatory sentencing scheme to certain minor firearm violations. These developments mean that not only will Ms. Allen and her children be spared the ordeal of her facing a felony conviction and lengthy prison term but that other travelers who unwittingly violate New Jersey’s harsh laws gun laws may also avoid a similar nightmare. Read more
Michigan’s Ospreys
Ospreys, large fish-eating raptors, are experts at spotting fish in water from high above. They fold their wings back, thrust their large talons forward and smash into the water, snatch a fish, then take flight again. Larger than most hawks, but smaller than eagles, they have made a comeback in southern Michigan over the past 20 years.
Ospreys were initially listed as a threatened species in Michigan, but were removed from the list in 2009. One important reason osprey were delisted is because of the 10-year-long Osprey Reintroduction Project that took place from 1990 to 2000. This project involved moving 50 chicks from the northern parts of the state to areas in southern Michigan, and there are now more than 30 known nests in southern Lower Peninsula plus dozens of nests in the northern Lower and Upper peninsulas. The species is known to be very faithful to historical nesting grounds, which made the osprey’s return to the southern Lower Peninsula progress slow. Read more
Bays de Noc smallmouth bass fishery shines on the national stage
ESCANABA, Mich. – Mention Lake Michigan’s Bays de Noc to most anglers and they’ll immediately start talking about fishing for walleye.
But in the wake of September’s high-profile Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship – which brought 50 of America’s top anglers to Escanaba to ply the waters of Big and Little Bays de Noc – what was once seemingly relegated to “also-ran” status is now national news: The Bays are loaded with trophy bass, too.
“The fishery has always been kind of walleye-centric,” said Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Darren Kramer. “Bass is kind of an up-and-coming, emerging fishery. Every year we see more and more bass boats, and more out of state anglers, taking advantage of the fishery. There’s a lot of traffic out on Big Bay de Noc after the bass opener. That fishery’s really taken off in the last five or six years.
“Our creel data indicates there’s increasing angler effort and we think that’s attributable to bass,” Kramer continued. “Bass harvest has stayed the same, but use of the resource is going up along with angler success, which implies we’re recruiting more catch-and-release bass anglers to the area.”
The Bassmaster Angler-of-the-Year Championship started with a bang: On the first day, 12 competitors brought in five-fish limits with a total weight in excess of 20 pounds.
Catching bass that weigh more than four pounds each isn’t often accomplished in tournaments, even on some of America’s best big-bass lakes.
Although the tournament hit a minor snag, with high winds causing delays that shortened the event to two days rather than three, the weather couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the competing pro anglers who described the fishery as “awesome,” “incredible,” “unbelievable” and “amazing.”
Paul Elias, a Laurel, Mississippi, resident who won the BASS Classic in 1982, was effusive in his praise.
“It’s as good as, or better than, any smallmouth fishery we fish,” he said. And Elias’ comments were echoed by virtually all the competitors.
Fayetteville, Tennessee, bass pro Brandon Lester, who brought in the biggest bass of the first day’s competition – a six-pound, four-ounce smallmouth, said, “I’ve never seen so many big smallmouths in my life. They’re not everywhere, but when you find one, you’ll find a group of them. When you get around them, you can light them up real quick.”
Said Skeet Reese, a top angler from Auburn, California, at the weigh-in: “That’s the best day of smallmouth fishing I’ve ever had in my life. This is an incredible fishery.”
While many of the anglers were surprised by the quality of the fishery, Kevin Short of Mayflower, Arkansas, said the results were just what he expected.
Short first fished the waters off Escanaba in 2008 when he recognized that the area would undoubtedly host a future tournament, and has come back every year since just to fish for fun.
“If there’s any place in the whole country we would move to for nine months of the year, this would be it,” Short said. “The first couple of trips we really didn’t catch that many, but once we figured it out, holy smokes. It’s a really special place. I’d drive 18 hours just to come up here and fish a few days.”
