ThinkingAfield.org

GW: It’s hard to take the DNRE seriously when it states “we emphasized the need for hunters to take does…” when it raised antlerless license fees by 50 percent. In fact, it emphasized income over results thereby creating the impetus for failure on both accounts. When it comes to management, it matters not how hard one tries, or in this case, what is “empahsized.” Judgment is determined by results, plain and simple. Now on to the results reporting…

Initial estimates suggest Michigan firearm deer hunters killed about the same number of deer statewide this year as in 2009, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). Reports regarding deer harvest ranged widely, from significant increases in some locations to declines in others, potentially a result of concentration of deer around the excellent mast crops available this fall.

DNRE biologists estimate the harvest compared to 2009 was unchanged to up perhaps as much as 10 percent in both the Upper Peninsula and the Southern Lower Peninsula and down 5 to 15 percent in the Northern Lower Peninsula. Deer from throughout the state were reported to be in good condition, as indicated by improvements in antler development in all regions compared to last year.

As expected, with the mild conditions experienced in the winter of 2009-2010, deer numbers in both northern regions look to be recovering from the effects of prior winters. But hunter numbers appeared down – particularly on public land statewide – likely due to the opening day of the firearm season falling on a Monday this year.

“Most deer hunters support maintaining the traditional season dates of Nov. 15 through 30, but we consistently see a drop in hunter numbers in those years that the season opens on a Monday,” said DNRE Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “This may need to be a topic for discussion as we move to form Regional Deer Advisory Teams and engage our conservation partners to discuss long-range management goals.”

“Antlerless quotas were set the same or lower in the Upper Peninsula and western portion of the Northern Lower Peninsula, but we emphasized the need for hunters to take does in the eastern portion of the Northern Lower Peninsula and much of the Southern Lower Peninsula,” said DNRE Deer Program Leader Brent Rudolph. “Efforts to control bovine tuberculosis in deer continue in the Northeastern Lower Peninsula. Although deer numbers appear stable over the last few years in much of the Southern Lower Peninsula, they’re still higher than we’d like to see in many places.”

Rudolph emphasized that the preliminary estimates will be replaced by final figures of harvest and participation generated by the annual mail survey completed once all deer seasons are concluded. Preliminary estimates last year suggested a decline of 10 to 20 percent from the prior season harvest, and the final mail survey results reflected a drop of 19.8 percent in the firearm kill.

A scientifically sound and legally defensible plan is being developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota by the end of 2011. According to biologists, who are the known experts in the matter, the wolf population is now capable of surviving without federal protection.

Based on past practices, court battles will ensue courtesy of the anti-hunting anything crowd, so it’s important to engineer a plan with this in mind.

The population numbers appear to tell the story. For example, in Minnesota alone, the wolf population is approximately 4,000 – well over double the 1600 minimum level set by the Endangered Species Act requirements.

The anti hunters will never be happy unless all animals are perpetually protected and will never agree to any timetable of a successful campaign of completed protection.

An attorney for the national Center for Biological Diversity (left-wing loonies), indicated that wolves occupy only 5 percent of their original range in the lower 48 states, and the total population is not close to the 2 million wolves believed to have inhabited the continent. Assuming she’s correct, her statement cements the argument for control. Humans have pushed wildlife into smaller areas throughout the world and it’s this very fact that we, as good stewards of the environment, need to manage animal populations.

When it comes to deer, for example, the penalty for lack of management usually means more and more car/deer collisions, which for the most part, is a dollars game. However, if the wolf population continues on its present course, human lives will be at stake with inevitable encounters and loss of human life – and it doesn’t take a wildlife biologist to see the handwriting on the wall. In addition to that,it’s a habitat issue that cannot be ignored. It’s just plain reality.

This from the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance…

Leave it to PETA to go for a headline by going after a celebrity that happens to hunt. In this case it aimed at former Alaska Governor and Republican vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. Meanwhile, PETA also offered to “help” cash strapped Kansas. Needless to say, there were strings attached to the offer.

First, PETA issued a scathing press statement after the airing of a recent episode of Sarah Palin’s new reality show entitled Sarah Palin’s Alaska. The episode followed Palin as she hunted caribou in her home state.

The statement from PETA Vice President Dan Mathews, said:

“Sarah seems to think that resorting to violence and blood and guts may lure people into watching her boring show, but the ratings remain as dead as the poor animals she shoots.”

Governor Palin responded to the criticism preemptively. She issued a comment on her Facebook page saying,

“Tonight’s hunting episode of Sarah Palin’s Alaska ‘controversial’? Really? Unless you’ve never worn leather shoes, sat upon a leather couch or eaten a piece of meat, save your condemnation of tonight’s episode. I remain proudly intolerant of anti-hunting hypocrisy.”

“It’s great to see someone put PETA in their place,” said Doug Jeanneret, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance vice president of marketing. “Kudos to Sarah Palin for not caving in to pressure from these extreme animal rightists.”

Switching gears, PETA also again offered “help” to a government facing tough economic times. This time the target was Kansas.

PETA has indicated it would pay rent to the state if Kansas builds a huge anti-fishing sign at the Miami State Fishing Lake in Fontana. The sign would depict a dog with a fish hook in its lip and say, “If You Wouldn’t Do This to a Dog, Why Do It to a Fish?”

PETA got the clever idea when it learned that Kansas was looking to sell some of its assets in order to plug a $500 million budget shortfall. According to PETA Executive Vice President, Tracy Reiman, “Our proposal would help Kansas stave off the sale of valuable assets and help the fish in Miami State Fishing Lake live in peace.”

Current Governor Mark Parkinson declined the offer. Spokeswoman Amy Jordan Wooden was quoted in the media as saying, “Governor Parkinson appreciates the long-standing history and tradition of fishing in Kansas.”

Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) today urged Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) Director Rebecca Humphries to add wild boar to Michigan’s prohibited invasive species list unless a strong regulatory framework recommended by a stakeholder workgroup is enacted by the Michigan Legislature by July of 2011.

Today Humphries re-visits an invasive species order originally presented back in August that would list wild boar as an invasive prohibited species in Michigan. After pleas from swine shooting and breeding facilities to regulate the industry cited for Michigan’s wild boar problem as an alternative, MUCC joined with representatives of those facilities along with representatives of the agriculture and conservation communities to draft regulations that would allow wild boar shooting and breeding facilities to stay in business so long as existing facilities were required to comply with certain containment, biosecurity, and inventory tracking regulations and a moratorium was placed on new facilities. Additionally, most groups including the boar shooting and breeding facilities suggested that a fee structure should be developed to support the full regulatory costs associated with the shooting/breeding swine industry. MUCC especially supported this recommendation to ensure that sportsmen and limited General Fund dollars are not diverted to regulate the industry.

MUCC Executive Director Erin McDonough said that the proposed invasive species order would not go into effect until July 8, 2011 in order to allow the legislature to enact strong regulatory protections based on the workgroup’s recommendations as an alternative. To ensure Michigan has the tools available to “turn off the faucet” of invasive wild boar, McDonough cautioned signing the order without a clearer understanding that wild boar will become a prohibited invasive species on July 8, 2011 unless the workgroup’s recommended regulations are put into place and fully funded without the use of hunter/angler license fees or limited DNR General Fund dollars.

“Wild boar are like four legged Asian carp that are already established in Michigan, said McDonough.” “MUCC has already stated that these invasive, destructive animals must be either prohibited or regulated comprehensively to protect our wildlife and biosecurity. We’ve sat at the table with our friends in the agriculture industry as well as the boar shooting and breeding facilities to figure out a regulatory solution that will work and all agree that the industry should support these regulations, not sportsmen or other protected funds. While MUCC is supportive of the order, it should be clear that wild boar will be listed as a prohibited invasive species absent all regulatory measures recommended by the workgroup.

“MUCC is looking forward to working with our new and returning lawmakers to enact the regulatory program put forth by members of the swine shooting and breeding facilities and other agriculture and conservation stakeholders. While prohibiting wild boar in Michigan altogether through the proposed order is a more aggressive way to protect Michigan’s wildlife and agriculture, MUCC will continue to work towards a regulatory solution so long as it provides adequate protections and funding. If the legislature is unable to enact a 100 percent industry funded regulatory program consistent with the Swine Biosecurity Workgroup’s recommendations by July 8, we will welcome the necessary alternative in prohibiting wild boar as an invasive species in Michigan.”

Contact: Erin McDonough (517) 775-9500
Dave Nyberg – (517) 230-1738

DURANGO, Colo. – ASYM PRECISION National Match Target ammunition is a match winning, extremely accurate load that tells the shooter just how well their tuned 45 can perform.

Featuring the Nosler 185 grain JHP – a bullet prized among serious bullseye shooters for its gilt-edged accuracy – the National Match Target is a mild shooting target round. Utilizing ASYM match brass, which is custom drawn brass made to ASYM’s specifications, and propelled by premium VihtaVouri powder, the round is loaded to 775 fps, a velocity proven to be a sweet spot in accuracy and function.

“As a custom 1911 maker whose customers expect uncommon accuracy, I looked to the Camp Perry National Matches for the inspiration behind our National Match Target ammunition. We built this round from the ground up using only premium components, assembled on state-of-the-art equipment customized to my own standards and hand-inspected and individually chamber checked as part of a quality control process that insures outstanding performance,” explained Stan Chen, president of Stan Chen Customs and ASYM Ammunition.

The National Match Target is available in a box of 50 or a case of 500 and will run in most 1911s using a stock 16 lbs. spring. For more brisk ejection, springs from 10 to 14 lbs. can be used.

The load is a premium target load and although it uses a JHP projectile, the bullet is not designed to expand at the given velocity. Those looking for a premium defensive load should consider the ASYM SOLID DEFENSE XTM (SDX) load featuring the Barnes solid copper TAC-XP bullet.

“Besides being the definitive accuracy load for competition, the National Match Target is an extremely pleasant load to shoot, especially in extended training sessions,” observed Chen. “So much so that we warn our customers to beware, because this round will make them fall in love with their 45 all over again.”

For more information on the National Match Target 45 ACP ammunition, the full line of ASYM PRECISION ammunition or to place an order, visit www.ASYM-Ammo.com.

GW: These tips from the National Shooting Sports Foundation…

The holidays are just around the corner. As hunters, shooters, collectors or just plain plinkers, it’s a natural instinct to want to share our enjoyment of firearms with others. What better way to do that than to make a gift of a firearm to a family member, close friend or relative?

The first thing to remember if you’re thinking about giving someone a gun is that . . . it’s a gun! You already know that ownership of a firearm brings with it some serious legal and ethical obligations that other consumer products don’t. So let’s look at some questions you may have about giving a firearm as a gift.

The first question you have to ask is whether the intended recipient can legally own the firearm where he or she lives. With more than 20,000 different gun laws on the books, even the kinds of firearms that law-abiding citizens can own vary from place to place; for example, juveniles (under age 18) generally speaking are precluded by law from possessing a handgun. Check out the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) website for an overview of local laws and, whatever you do, don’t forget that you can never under any circumstances transfer a firearm to someone you know or have reasonable cause to believe legally can’t own one. That’s a federal felony, so be careful.

Though there’s no federal law that prohibits a gift of a firearm to a relative or friend that lives in your home state, some states-California for example-require you to transfer the gun through a local firearms dealer so an instant background check will be performed to make sure the recipient is not legally prohibited from owning the gun.

The ATF recommends that if you want to give someone a new firearm, rather than going to a gun store, buying it on your own and giving it to, say, your father, consider instead purchasing a gift certificate from that retailer and giving that to Dad as his present. That way he’ll get exactly the gun he wants, and there’s no question about who is “the actual buyer of the firearm,” which is a question any purchaser must certify on the Federal Form 4473 at the time of purchase.

You can only ship a handgun by common carrier (but not U.S. Mail) and a long gun by U.S. Mail or common carrier to a federally licensed dealer but not to a non-licensed individual. With all carriers, federal law requires you to declare that your package contains an unloaded firearm. To be safe, always consult your carrier in advance about its regulations for shipping firearms.

What if you want to give “Old Betsy,” your favorite old deer rifle, to your son or daughter as a college graduation gift? Again, in most states, there’s no law that says you can’t, but some states require even interfamily transfers to go through a licensed dealer. Remember, you can never transfer a firearm directly to another person who is a resident of a different state. In that case, you must transfer the firearm through a licensed dealer in the state where the person receiving the gift resides. Using a gift certificate from a firearms retailer near where the recipient lives might be a good solution. Pre-1898 antique firearms are generally exempt from the dealer requirement. Be safe and check with your dealer or local law enforcement before you hand over your prized possession.

It’s often an emotional moment when a treasured family heirloom is passed down to the next generation. These moments are part of what our cherished enjoyment of firearms is all about and represent that unique bond that sportsmen have with their fellow enthusiasts.

So enjoy the holidays and do it right!

GW: Check my earlier post on this matter for details of the incident which is the subject of Alan Gottlieb’s visit and talk…

BELLEVUE, WA – Alan Gottlieb, founder and executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation will travel to New Jersey Dec. 12 to join speakers at a rally in Toms River in support of Brian Aitken.

The New Jersey man has been imprisoned for essentially having two legally-owned handguns in his car, parked at his parents’ home, along with other belongings he was moving to a new residence in another city.

Gottlieb will join Scott Bach, president of the Association of New Jersey Association Rifle & Pistol Clubs (ANJRPC) at the microphone, along with radio personality Dennis Malloy, attorney and author Evan Nappen, and members of the New Jersey Legislature, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll and Assemblywoman Allison Little McHose. Also scheduled to speak are firearms training expert Anthony Colandro and Gene Hoyas of ConservativeNewJersey.com.

“Brian Aitken’s case is a clear demonstration of how easily New Jersey’s restrictive gun laws can be abused,” Gottlieb stated. “SAF and ANJRPC recently filed a federal lawsuit aimed at how the state’s Draconian gun law is administered. How could I not be there on Dec. 12 to support a man whose case amounts to a civil rights outrage?”

The rally is sponsored by the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, which is raising public awareness about Aitken’s plight. Their goal is to petition Gov. Chris Christie to grant clemency and release Aitken from prison before Christmas.

The rally begins at 2 p.m. at the American Legion Post 129 at 2025 Church Road in Tom’s River.

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and an amicus brief and fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

FINDLAY, OH – The case against eight Williams County, Ohio residents came to a close on November 10, 2010. A total of 31 deer related charges were filed, including one felony, in Williams and Fulton Counties. The total fines and costs were $5,241.00.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, on December 6, 2009, Williams County Wildlife Officer Tom Kochert responded to a spotlighting complaint and contacted Derek E. Meyers, age 23, and four Michigan residents. This spotlighting stop snowballed into a search warrant served in Fulton County at a hog composting pit where the remains of 12 untagged deer were discovered. This led to numerous interviews by Division of Wildlife Officers. 122 packages of deer meat, misc. deer parts, a .270 rifle, and a 12ga. shotgun were seized and forfeited to the Division of Wildlife.

As a result, eight individuals, six Ohio residents and two Michigan residents, were charged with a variety of third and fourth degree misdemeanors all related to deer hunting.

Derek E. Meyers, 23, of West Unity, was found guilty on each of 15 charges and fined $100.00 per charge plus court costs in Bryan Municipal Court, for a total of $2,048. His hunting rights were suspended for five years. The charges included deer tagging violations, deer checking violations, deer zone violations, deer over limit violations, hunting deer with a rifle, spotlighting, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, shooting from the road, crop damage permit violations, and purchasing a license without attending hunter course. Two of the charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Meyers was also found guilty and fined $100.00 plus $78.00 court costs in Fulton County Western District Court for possession of untagged deer parts. He was charged as well with one felony for possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle in Williams County Common Pleas Court. Meyers was placed into the diversion probation program. As part of his probation he is required to complete a hunter safety class and is required to speak at the class about his violations. No hunting is allowed during his probation and he is not to be around any hunting activity. Other conditions of his probation include, $360.00 court costs, 100 hours of community service, and he is not to possess or have under his control any firearms, bows, crossbows or muzzleloaders. All evidence seized was forfeited.

Philip E. Dunson, 29, of Jasper, MI, was found guilty on four charges in Bryan Municipal Court. His charges included falsified temporary deer permit, fail to check in a deer, and two counts of attempting to take more than one deer in Deer Zone A. He paid a total of $1,058.00 in fines and costs. He also lost his hunting privileges for 2 years. All evidence seized was forfeited.

Joey L. Pretzer, 30, of Chesterfield, MI was found guilty on two charges in Bryan Municipal Court. His charges were fail to tag and fail to check a deer. He paid a total of $529.00 in fines and court costs. He lost his hunting privileges for 1 year. All evidence seized was forfeited.

Steve R. Knecht, 22, of Montpelier, was found guilty in Bryan Municipal Court of fail to tag and fail to check a deer. He paid a total of $568.00 in fines and costs. All evidence seized was forfeited.

Kyle W. Knecht, 25, of Helena, was found guilty in Bryan Municipal Court of possession of untagged deer meat. He paid a total of $125.00 in fines and costs. All evidence seized was forfeited.

Kyle R. Miller, 19, of Montpelier, was all found guilty in Bryan Municipal Court of purchasing a hunting license without attending a hunter education course. He paid a total of $125.00 in fines and costs.

Dave B. Barnum II, 35 of West Unity, was all found guilty in Bryan Municipal Court of purchasing a hunting license without attending a hunter education course. He paid a total of $125.00 in fines and costs.

Jackie N. Meyers, 19, of West Unity, was all found guilty in Bryan Municipal Court of purchasing a hunting license without attending a hunter education course. He paid a total of $125.00 in fines and costs.

The Division of Wildlife was made aware of the activity through a tip. Anyone with knowledge of a wildlife violation is encouraged to call the TIP hotline at 1-800-POACHER. The caller can remain anonymous and all calls are confidential.

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Keep your loved one safe in the treestand with the gift of a Rescue One CDS this Christmas.

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Contact: Dr. Norman Wood 1-877-683-7678 mountaineersports@live.com

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Muzzleloading season is underway and more and more Michigan deer hunters are enjoying its rewards. In the Southern Lower Peninsula (Zone III), the season runs from December 3 – 19 – a week longer than in years past. The Northern Lower Peninsula’s season (Zone II) is December 10 – 19, while the Upper Peninsula’s (Zone I) season covers December 10 – 19. Reasons for the increased favor of smokepoles are many but most of all, it boils down to effectiveness.

At the top of the list has to be the technological advances in modern muzzleloaders, propellants, and bullet choices. While traditionalists may look down their noses at the growing contingent of modern, in-line muzzleloaders, they are here to stay. The modern front-loading rifles pack more punch than their black-powder counterparts at longer ranges and do it with accuracy and simplicity – both elements of their popularity.

I don’t refer to the season as black powder season any more than I do to the rifles as black powder rifles. It’s muzzleloading season and it’s muzzleloaders! The black powder of yesteryear stinks, is filthy, fouls bores quickly and destroys them routinely with its sulfur content, if not thoroughly cleaned immediately after use. Is it any wonder that today’s muzzleloading enthusiasts opt for black powder substitutes that eliminate the inherent caustic properties of real black powder, or even Pyrodex? Move over Daniel Boone!

My personal smokepoles has been a Knight Revolution (no longer in production), which uses Remington shotgun-style 209 primers but are actually formulated specifically for muzzleloaders. It’s good to experiment with primers, because heat ranges differ, as do results. Same with powder. My current load is 140 grains of Hodgdon fff Triple 7, which pushes a 250-grain tipped Barnes bullet at a sizzling 2175 feet per second. This speed translates into trajectory of 3 inches high at 100 yards and is still in the 6-inch kill zone at 200 yards. That’s serious stuff with retained energy of 1240 foot pounds at 200 yards, too! And, accuracy rivals a decent centerfire rifle.

No accuracy buff uses pellets, which have become almost synonymous with today’s in-line muzzleloaders. Certainly, they are more convenient but consistency can be less than granular style powder. In addition, granular powder can be measured to any fractional level desired. With pellets, the shooter is stuck with increments of 30 to 50 grains. However, loading for hunting is only done once, so what’s the big attraction with pellets anyway?

Measuring granular powder, while bench testing is a bit slower, but speed loaders can assist reloading quickly afield. It’s important to watch the deer as long as you can after firing, then reload. Why should anyone reload? Simple. It should be a rule of thumb after firing afield, even if your deer appears to be down for the count. Many are lost because hunters didn’t reload, while the prize regains its senses and scurries off. Don’t be that guy!

Even though muzzleloader success last year was at 19 percent and only 6 percent of bucks were taken during the season, it’s still a great time to balance the doe to buck ratio by removing some of the does from the herd. Caution must be taken, however, to look for bucks that have already shed their antlers by paying careful attention to the top of deers’ heads. Antler nubs can still be seen with good optics and appear to square-off their heads, while does have rounded heads. Also, remember that button bucks (male fawns) often travel alone and have the telltale squared-off heads.

One of the best features of late-season hunting is that deer are not as jumpy and often present better opportunities. With the single-shot front loaders, hunters are urged to take their time and identify their target, because once that trigger is pulled, the bullet cannot be called back.

For box blind hunters that want an accuracy advantage, check out my blog post of November 25th, “A Tip for Box Blind Hunters” at http://thinkingafield.blogspot.com/2010/11/tip-for-box-blind-hunters.html. You can thank me later.