A Plan for Michigan’s Wildlife takes Shape

By Glen Wunderlich

Wildlife management strategies in Michigan have produced some rather dubious results over the years and recent results depict an ongoing trend.  For example, deer/vehicle collisions are up 6 percent over the past 10 years making Michigan second in the nation at 97,856 in 2011/2012.  At an average cost of $3,000 per incident, all Michigan drivers share in the expense through insurance premiums.  At the same time, hunters have killed one-percent less antlerless deer over the past three years.  We are also in second place in the country for the most antlered bucks taken by hunters, but the figures reflect a whopping 59 percent being adolescents.  That percentage places Michigan at the very top (or, bottom, if you will) when it comes to quality hunting opportunities.  We continue to kill more juvenile deer than any other state.

Is it any wonder why Michiganders travel to neighboring states to spend their hunting dollars?  If ever we are going to turn it around, we must change strategies.  The antler point restrictions being proposed in northern Michigan will prove to be a wise decision, but more needs to be done.  And, the DNR’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget displays a bold move toward that end. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife , , ,

Attempt at more Gun Control for Michigan

State Rep. John Townsend (D -Royal Oak) is poised to introduce more gun-control legislation while Republican counterparts Republican counterparts in Lansing have already proposed laws that essentially would exclude Michiganders from similar calls for more gun control from the Obama administration.  I just wish Mr. Townsend and others of his ilk, can explain their interpretation of “…shall not be infringed.”  Details of the misguided plan are here…

Ammunition, Firearms, Gun Control, Hunting, Self Defense

Nikon Engineers New Riflescope For .300 AAC Blackout Cartridge

The .300 AAC Blackout has taken the industry by storm and is considered one of the hottest new cartridges for hunting feral hogs with AR/MSR platform rifles.  This versatile cartridge provides the ability to shoot subsonic ammunition for low-noise applications and supersonic ammunition for longer-range shots. Nikon has developed the all-new P-300 BLK riflescope to embrace both applications and to harness the effectiveness of this exciting new caliber. Read more

Ammunition, Firearms, Hunting, Self Defense , ,

Global Great Backyard Bird Count Shatters Records

Common Redpoll by Missy Mandel, Ontario, 2013 GBBC

From Antarctica to Afghanistan, bird watchers from 103 countries made history in the first global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 15-18, 2013. In the largest worldwide bird count ever, bird watchers set new records, counting more than 25.5 million birds on 120,000+ checklists in four days-and recording 3,144 species, nearly one-third of the world’s total bird species. The data will continue to flow in until March 1. Read more

Wildlife

Firearms Owners, Industry Not the “Bad Guys” Sanetti Tells PBS

NEWTOWN, Conn. — In an extended interview with the PBS Frontline program, Steve Sanetti, president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, emphatically says that the nation’s firearms owners and firearms industry are not responsible for the criminal misuse of firearms and, consequently, should not be subjected to the severe restrictions being considered by Congress and many state legislatures. “[Firearms owners] are not the bad guys. The industry isn’t the bad guys,” said Sanetti in the interview. “Insofar as we can help the situation we want to be able to help. But that doesn’t mean piling meaningless restrictions and onerous conditions upon people who want to exercise their rights and just enjoy what they do peacefully.” Read more

Ammunition, Firearms, Gun Control, Hunting, Self Defense

Streamlight Introduces TLR-2 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® G, a lightweight, gun-mounted tactical light featuring a green aiming laser for high visibility, long-range targeting. The new light is designed to add increased versatility to a variety of tactical, hunting and home defense applications. Read more

Firearms, Self Defense
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