ThinkingAfield.org

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

No matter how good any hunting show is, getting outdoors and making memories afield beats them all – even if the harvest is down or non-existent. This year’s annual crow hunt held plenty of promise, as Matt, Shawn, and I piled into the front seat of the pickup to play tricks on the wariest critters alive. With our new custom-grade, magnum 9-shot loads, we were ready for action. And, the black beasts never disappoint in that regard.

Beyond the 3-inch magnum shotshells, I had experimented with a new Undertaker choke tube in my Browning BPS and found some improvement in pattern density over my Mossberg turkey gun. The Mossberg is completely camouflaged and sports an extra-full choke and had done a fair job of dropping the crafty crows from the clouds. But, its 2-shot magazine was nearly impossible to reload in the heat of action. The Browning would give me a little more firepower capacity, but I wasn’t going to tote it afield without first checking the new choke’s pattern.

At 40 yards it peppered 743 pellets in a 30-inch circle or about 67 percent of the total payload. The catalog description for the Undertaker choke said it would produce “up to” 90-percent patterns but in my short-barreled rig, it fell substantially short. Still it was an improvement over the 676 pellets from the same load in my Mossberg. I then field-tested the firearm on some local black marauders, and although I dropped a couple, I missed many more. That got me thinking.

I read online that a common mistake is that some crow hunters are over-choked. So, before the annual hunt with the boys, I inserted a modified choke tube. Who knows? Certainly not I.

Off the three of us went to a picked cornfield, where the crows were already buzzing atop mature conifers in the distance. We set out a battery-powered Crowbusters flapping-wing decoy just above the snow and snuck into the fence row. The FoxPro caller screamed its fight song and I quickly switched the remote transmitter to the crow distress call. The shotguns sprayed lead east and west and our first victim plummeted unceremoniously to earth. Then another and another. Matt and Shawn were warming up their barrels, as I remained maybe a bit too concealed, while never firing a shot. I followed another potential target along the ventilated rib of the Browning, when it took a hit from Shawn. The crow quickly regained momentum and turned my way. The maneuver became its last mistake.

Shawn had gone 3 for 3 with his venerable Browning Auto 5, while I added one for good measure. Matt struggled to get on the board but he was not to be denied a bit later. We were all hiding amid some relatively short white pines between two stands of hardwoods when Matt punched one out of the cold, gray sky.

I’d rather not say how many shots we took during the hunt; heck, nobody really wanted to know anyway.

Suffice it to say that the furious action cured our collective case of cabin fever – even if there’s enormous room for improvement.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

I have learned that several hundreds of thousands of non-essential Washington government employees were ordered to stay home, as a result of recent record snowfalls. In addition, congress was shut down.

Since no government is better than the current administration, where can we order more snow?

From MUCC:

Legislation that would require the Natural Resources Commission to issue an order establishing a one-year moose hunting season passed committee with little fanfare this week. Senate Bill 1013 (Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City) would also create a seven-member “Moose Hunting Advisory Council” within the Department of Natural Resources and Environment that would be required to prepare recommendations as to whether the moose hunting season should be expanded beyond one year, taking into account the season’s effect on the moose population and potential economic benefits to the state.

MUCC supported the bill, testifying that studying the viability of a sustainable Michigan moose hunting season will re-open a chapter in the history of Michigan’s outdoor heritage through a process appropriately guided by sound scientific management principles.

Contacts: Jennifer Kleitch 989-785-4251, ext. 5430 or Mary Dettloff
517-335-3014

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment today announced it
will conduct a survey in the northern Lower Peninsula Feb. 16 through
March 12 to detect the presence of gray wolves in this area of the
state.

Survey teams will be searching areas where the public reports observing
a wolf or wolf tracks during the survey period. Priority will be placed
on the most recent reports and reports with potential wolf evidence.

“The purpose of the survey is to both verify the presence of wolves
where we have previously confirmed animals and to detect new occurrences
in other areas,” said DNRE Wildlife Biologist Jennifer Kleitch.
“Given the low probability of observing a wolf or tracks in the
Lower Peninsula it’s helpful to have as many eyes looking as possible.
That’s why public reports are important.”

The DNRE is asking the public to report wolf sightings that occur
during the survey period to the Gaylord Operations Service Center at
989-732-3541, ext. 5901. Observation reports can also be submitted
online year-round at www.michigan.gov/wolves. The Web site also contains
identification information for wolves.

“It’s imperative that observations are reported in a timely manner
so we can work with fresh evidence. If the public finds what appear to
be wolf tracks, they should preserve the physical evidence and disturb
it as little as possible or take a photo of the tracks with a ruler,”
Kleitch said. “If someone has a photo or video of a wolf in the Lower
Peninsula, we’re interested in that as well.”

Wolves began naturally returning to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula via
Canada and Wisconsin in the early 1990s. Since that time populations
have increased and continue to expand their range. Evidence of range
expansion into the Lower Peninsula came when a gray wolf was
accidentally killed in Presque Isle County in 2004. More recently, the
DNRE verified two wolf observations in 2009 in the northern Lower
Peninsula as a result of a video and trail camera photo taken by
Michigan citizens.

The DNRE is partnering in this survey effort with USDA Wildlife
Services, the Little Traverse and Grand Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
Indians, and Central Michigan University.

Contacts: Steve Schmitt 517-336-5040 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment found no traces of
chronic wasting disease in deer tested in 2009.

“That’s good news,” said DNRE Veterinarian Steve Schmitt. “We
haven’t found anything since 2008 when we found that positive deer in
a captive facility. But you can never really give up the testing. You
always have to be on guard.”

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), an always fatal neurological disorder of
the deer family, was found in a white-tailed deer in privately owned
facility in 2008 in Kent County. The DNRE began wide-scale testing for
the disease with mandatory testing of all deer taken from the
nine-township area immediately surrounding the infected facility.

The department tested a total of 1,134 deer in 2009, including 937 from
Kent County – 790 of them from the nine-township area. All tested
negative.

“Since 1998, the DNRE has tested more than 32,000 deer, 1,000 elk and
50 moose and we haven’t found anything,” Schmitt said.

Despite the finding, Schmitt said it is important that the DNRE
continue the mandatory testing in the nine-township area.

“CWD is a like a terrorist attack,” Schmitt said. “It’s one of
those things you always have to guard against.

From the NRA-ILA

On February 22, a new law on guns in national parks takes effect. The new law repeals a National Park Service rule that has long prohibited Americans from possessing firearms in national parks for self-defense.

The Coburn amendment, passed last spring by an overwhelming bipartisan vote in the U.S. Senate, will allow people to possess, carry and transport firearms in national parks, in accordance with state law.

However, many details remain to be worked out. Reports indicate that National Park Service officials are debating issues such as the definition of “federal facilities,” where firearms will remain prohibited under a different federal law.

NPS officials are expected to issue further information as February 22 approaches, and some parks have already published information on their new policies. Because state laws vary greatly, before you visit a national park, you should check the park’s website or call the park headquarters for more information. NRA will also provide updates as they become available.

The U.S. Supreme Court granted the National Rifle Association’s motion to participate in McDonald v. City of Chicago on March 2. The NRA’s lawyer, former U.S Solicitor General Paul Clement, will argue on their behalf and divide time with Alan Gura, counsel representing McDonald. The NRA’s brief stresses more conventional constitutional grounds for applying the Second Amendment to the states (called the “Selective Incorporation Doctrine”) than the McDonald brief, which asks the court to overrule a Supreme Court case dating back to the 1800s. The case will test whether the Second Amendment restricts the power of state and local governments to pass gun-control laws.-courtesy National Shooting Sports Foundation

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Hunters are always looking for an edge and good ones are always finding new ways to exploit a given animal’s vulnerabilities, while playing within the rules. It doesn’t seem to matter what position on the food chain an animal assumes, in its environment it demonstrates how much keener its senses are than ours. Some may not have the best sense of smell, such as the wild turkey, but its eyesight compares favorably to the finest optics from Germany. The whitetail’s eyes can be fooled by an experienced, motionless hunter, but if that hunter is upwind, the deer is gone in a flash, if he catches the scent in the breeze. Mother Nature has endowed all critters with a certain innate level of protection often mistaken by hunters as smartness; however, the hunter has the ability to top them all, if he exercises his brain.

With the advent of the hunting shows on television, a novice hunter can gain valuable lessons from the comfort of his living room. While I have nothing against books or magazines, trying to understand vocalizations made by animals from printed material proved impossible for me. For example, name the bird that sings this song: Madge, Madge, Madge, put-on-your-tea-kettle-ettle-ettle. Of course, anyone will recognize that description as one belonging to the common song sparrow. Or, not.

That’s all changed forever with shows on Versus, The Sportsmen’s Channel, Outdoor Channel, and others. Watching an expert turkey hunter work a slate call and how he sets up his blind and decoys, just about anyone can catch on with ease. But, a few weeks ago on Outdoor Channel, I was thoroughly astounded by a simple decoying tactic used on a show called “On Your Own Adventures” (www.OnYourOwnAdventures.com). As indicated on its website, the show is dedicated exclusively to non-guided hunting.

Hunt after hunt, I watched in awe as a couple of hunters were successful on government land for bear (without bait), elk, and finally antelope. And, it was the New Mexico antelope hunt that opened my eyes to a tactic I never dreamed of.
Most people consider antelope hunting a long-range proposition, because of the keen eyesight of pronghorns.

But, these guys had a trick to try that even they were unsure of: A cow decoy. That’s right. A black and white cow silhouette with a light framework and a hole in the center used for spotting and shooting. They were laughing and so was I, as the two men closed the distance on on their quarry. Session after session, they approached within a stone’s throw of the wary animals, that were completely oblivious to their potential demise. If I remember correctly, they strolled within 80 yards and harvested a monster pronghorn with assistance from the Moo Cow decoy from Montana Decoy Company. (Check it out online.)

I had seen an archery hunter years ago successfully use a large antelope cutout decoy in the same manner. But, I couldn’t help but think some wild-eyed wacko might take a shot from long range into the decoy mistaking it for a trophy. But, hopefully, nobody is going to mistake a cow for a game animal.

Now I’m wondering how to make one myself to test on the neighborhood deer population.
Stay tuned.

Washington, DC – Today in a joint press conference held on Roosevelt Island, on the Potomac River just outside of the nation’s capital, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the formation of the Wildlife & Hunting Heritage Conservation Council which will serve as the advisory committee to the administration to advise on policy affecting every hunter in America. Safari Club International was present for the announcement and will seek to play a significant role on the newly formed Federal Advisory Council.

The Wildlife & Hunting Heritage Conservation Council is a joint advisory committee that will report directly to the Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Sam Hamilton. The Council will be comprised of 18 members and 6 ex officio members from the hunting and wildlife conservation community. Those positions are defined to include representatives of the big game hunting community, upland hunting community, waterfowl hunting community, along with representatives from hunting guides & outfitters, the firearm industry, and the archery industry. The other eight positions will be filled by representatives of various land management agencies such as US Forest Service, Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency and Bureau of Land Management.

“The announcement that Secretaries Salazar and Vilsack made today takes a huge step forward in addressing the interests of the hunting community,” said SCI President Larry Rudolph. “SCI has worked for decades in Washington to ensure all hunters have access to public lands for hunting and has ensured the science behind wildlife management is based on continued sustainable use. By forming the Wildlife & Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, this administration will be receiving direct advice from the hunting community- the same community that has been advocating for sustainable use conservation since the days of Teddy Roosevelt.”

“SCI would like to thank both Secretary Salazar and Secretary Vilsack for their assistance in formalizing the Wildlife & Hunting Heritage Conservation Council. We look forward to working with this administration to carry forward the banner of our hunting heritage and sustainable use wildlife conservation,” concluded Rudolph.

The announcement of the Wildlife & Hunting Heritage Conservation Council will be placed on the Federal Register on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010.

The Australian maker of Yellow Tail Wine has pledged $100,000 to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s largest anti-hunting organization. This partnership offers further proof of HSUS’ work to spin its animal rights message in a way as to seem mainstream.

As HSUS states on its website:

“… the HSUS has paired with [yellow tail] for the “tails for tails” program. Through the end of March, you’ll see special [yellow tail] displays bearing The HSUS name and logo in stores across the country.

Through “tails for tails,” [yellow tail] is donating $100,000 to support us and our programs to help animals, including our Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest.”

Alerted to this relationship, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) immediately contacted the American distributor of the wine, W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd., and urged them to ask Yellow Tail to sever its relationship with HSUS.

A copy of the letter the USSA sent to management can be found by clicking here. Thus far, the USSA has not heard from W.J. Deutsch regarding our request.

“This wine maker has fallen into the same trap as other companies who donate money to HSUS,” said Bud Pidgeon, president of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. “They believe they are helping animals in shelters when in fact they are funding an agenda from an animal rights group that is largely divergent from the vast majority of Americans.”

Take Action! Sportsmen should contact W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd. and inform them that they disapprove of Yellow Tail Wine’s relationship with the HSUS. It is important that W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd understand that each dollar given to HSUS is another dollar that can be used to attack hunting, fishing and trapping rights. Further, tell them that sportsmen will be forced to select alternative brands if the relationship with HSUS is not severed.

W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd. can be contacted at:

108 Corporate Park Drive
White Plains, NY 10604
Tel: 914-251-9463
Email: info@wjdeutsch.com

Ask to speak to Bill Deutsch, W.J. Deutsch’s chairman or Peter Deutsch, the company’s chief executive officer.

For more information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alert Network, call 614-888-4868, or email Greg R. Lawson, director of communications at glawson@ussportsmen.org or Sharon Hayden, assistant director of communications at shayden@ussportsmen.org.

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway
Columbus, Ohio 4322929
614-888-4868
www.ussportsmen.org
info@ussportsmen.org