Michigan’s Deer Forecast

The Michigan DNR’s deer forecast in an abbreviated form.

Upper Peninsula

Within the UP, deer populations continue to slowly increase following a second mild winter in a row. Fawn production should be good, though predation may have produced some losses. Antlered buck numbers will likely be on the rise, as the increased production of fawns in 2010 should lead to greater antlered buck numbers this year. More deer will be found in the Southern UP near Lake Michigan, with fewer in the Northern UP near Lake Superior. Antlerless licenses are available in DMUs 022, 055, 122, 152, 155, 252, and 255 for 2011. Special buck harvest restrictions noted above are in place throughout the UP.

Northern Lower Michigan

Mild winter conditions for the second year in a row in the NLP should lead to increasing deer numbers. Deer numbers on many state land areas appear to be on the rise, though they are still below goal in some areas. In some NLP units, indications are that there is an overabundance of deer on private land but lower than desired populations on public land. Special antlerless seasons and private land license quotas are used in these units to target deer on private land even if abundant sign and sightings do not occur on public land. The number of antlerless deer licenses is the same as last year in eastern NLP multi-unit area DMU 487, while no antlerless permits were made available in four counties (Cheboygan, Otsego, Roscommon, and Kalkaska). Special buck harvest restrictions noted above are in place in DMU 487. Within DMU 487 ONLY, hunters may harvest an antlerless deer with a firearm or combination license within the Nov. 15-30 firearms season.

Southern Michigan

The deer population in southern Michigan is expected to be similar to the last few years. Abundant food and cover in the form of agricultural crops and scattered swamps and woodlots provide very good habitat across the southern Michigan landscape. This high quality habitat, combined with relatively mild winter conditions, results in an abundant and productive deer population. Deer populations generally exceed DNR goals and fawns generally come in sets of twins and triplets. High numbers of antlerless permits are available again this year, particularly in the multi-county DMU 486 (most of southern Michigan except St. Clair, Macomb, Wayne, and Monroe Counties). rm season or the Dec. 9-18 muzzleloader season.

 

 

Hunting , ,

Federal Judge Sides with BLM on Management of Arizona Strip Lands

PHOENIX – A federal judge struck down claims by environmental whacko groups Monday that questioned the federal government’s plan to protect plants and animals within two national monuments in the Arizona Strip.

The ruling affirmed the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s environmental plan, saying the agency is adequately protecting the natural landscape, endangered species and archaeological artifacts within the Grand Canyon-Parashant and Vermillion Cliffs national monuments.  In addition, a proposal by the Center for Biological Diversity (another whacko group) to ban traditional lead ammunition was shot down.

http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2011/10/federal-judge-sides-with-blm-on-management-of-arizona-strip-lands/

Wildlife

USFWS Proposes Gray Wolf Delisting

Following approval of a revised wolf management plan by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to remove the gray wolf population in Wyoming from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Due to recovery efforts and the provisions of the revised state plan, the Wyoming wolf
population is healthy and stable, current and future threats to wolves have been addressed, and a post-delisting monitoring and management framework has been developed.Today’s formal proposal follows an agreement with the state of
Wyoming that serves as the blueprint for returning wolf management to state control Read more
General

RMEF Attorneys to Argue Challenge to Wolf Delisting

MISSOULA, Mont.-Attorneys  representing the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other conservation groups on Nov. 8 will go before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., to argue against “many weak points” in a lawsuit seeking to end state management of gray wolves and return the species to full federal protection. Read more
General

USSOCOM Family of Muzzle Brake Suppressors Contract Awarded to SureFire

Fountain Valley, CA-SureFire, LLC, manufacturer
of high-end illumination tools and tactical products, has been awarded its
largest suppressor contract to date. The $23.3 million contract, for an
indefinite quantity of sound suppressors, suppressor adapters, blank firing
adapters and training adapters, was awarded by officials of the Naval Surface
Warfare Center, Crane Division-the pri- mary solicitation center for U.S.
Special Operations Command-as part of the Family of Muzzle Brake Suppressors
(FMBS) contract. Read more

General

Brooke’s First Deer

By Glen Wunderlich

The Perry Youth Hunt Extravaganza held last weekend at the Perry VFW became the gathering place for youngsters ages 10 and up to share their hunting tales of the two-day youth deer hunting season.  For the first time, 10 and 11-year old Michigan youngsters could hunt deer with firearms.  But, not everyone knew of the recent change,
because it came after the hunting rules were published.

When 11-year-old Brooke discovered the news with her father, Earl Parish, on opening day, she agreed to tote a .20-gauge slug gun in  southern Shiawassee County for the afternoon session.  The crossbow she carried afield in the morning was left behind.  It would be a decision that would place the gritty youngster in an elite club as a charter member:  Girls under the age of 12 taking a legal buck on the first day under the new law. Read more

General
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