Hodgdon Powder Company Unveils New Website

Hodgdon Powder Company, the Gunpowder People, announces the launch of its newly redesigned website, www.HodgdonPowderCo.com. This redesign not only includes a new version of the overarching Hodgdon Powder Company website but also introduces a streamlined structure for all the associated brand’s websites, including IMR, Winchester, Accurate, Blackhorn 209, Ramshot, and the Hodgdon brand. The website also includes easy navigation to the Reloading Data Center, the most comprehensive and trusted online resource for load development. Read more

Ammunition

Silencer Central to Release BUCK 30 by BANISH in Partnership with Buck Commander

Silencer Central in partnership with Buck Commander announces the BUCK 30™ by BANISH®, the latest addition to their award-winning line of silencers. The BUCK 30, designed for hunting deer and other big game, is a 30-caliber suppressor that is laser welded for precision and durability and is priced at only $699.

“The BUCK 30 embodies hunting innovation, combining the thrill of the hunt with the sound of silence,” said Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. “We are proud to have worked with the Buck Commander team to create this exceptional product. Hunting suppressed improves accuracy and reduces recoil, making the new BUCK 30 the perfect silencer for deer hunters everywhere.”

The BUCK 30 comes with an industry standard hub and works with rifle calibers up to .300 Win Mag. The 6.9-inch stainless steel design of the BUCK 30 delivers impressive sound reduction suppressing a 6.5 CM with a 20-inch barrel to 132 decibels. The tubeless construction allows for a lighter weight at only 13.8 ounces and a diameter of 1.54 inches. The BUCK 30 by BANISH is a high-performance hunting suppressor in an economical package selling at an MSRP of $699. Read more

Firearms

Introducing Next-Gen Girsan High Power MCP35 PI Light-Weight

EAA Corp and Girsan Firearms are excited to unveil the latest innovation in the world of firearms – the EAA/Girsan High Power™ MCP35 PI LW. This cutting-edge pistol redefines the standards of concealed carry firearms with its exceptional lightweight design and versatility, all while retaining a traditional lightweight metal frame and single-action trigger.

But that’s not all – with the help of our partners, you can experience the MCP35 PI LW for yourself through our exclusive dealer range event. This groundbreaking pistol features an alloy metal frame, making it up to 1/2lb lighter than the traditional steel frame Girsan High Power™. This enhancement not only ensures superior comfort but also facilitates effortless carrying for extended periods, a feature showcased during test firing sessions at participating ranges. Don’t miss out on the chance to test fire and truly appreciate the MCP35 PI LW’s performance at a range near you. To find a list of participating ranges, please visit our website at https://eaacorp.com/dealer-range-list/.

Key Features of the EAA/Girsan High Power™ MCP35 PI LW include: Read more

Firearms

Sportsmen’s Alliance Granted Intervention in Refuge Lawsuit

The Sportsmen’s Alliance, together with Safari Club International and National Rifle Association, was granted intervenor status in a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to phase out lead ammunition in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in West Virginia.

Suit was brought against FWS by anti-hunting organizations for removing Canaan Valley Refuge from a list of refuges where a phase-in of a lead ban had been scheduled in a previous rulemaking by the Service. FWS removed Canaan Valley from the list after the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources opposed including the refuge in the proposal, citing lack of scientific evidence and the expense of nonlead alternatives for hunters.

“This is a great day for the hunting community because we now have a place at the table as this baseless lawsuit moves forward,” said Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “We can help show our support for the decision to remove this refuge from the list as we continue to fight for maintaining full access to our public lands for every hunter and angler in America.” Read more

Ammunition, Hunting

Michigan Hunters: Report Your Deer Harvest Online

Just like last year, all harvested deer are required to be reported. The easiest way to report a harvest is by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

Once the app is downloaded and you’ve signed in or created an account, you can enter the harvest report information.

You can also report a harvest online. Visit Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport on a computer or mobile device to go directly to the reporting page. Enter your kill tag license number and date of birth to begin the report.

If you don’t have your hunting license/kill tag number, you can log in to eLicense (using your driver’s license and birthdate, or user ID and password), then click on the Harvest Report tab to see the tags available to report. If you don’t already have an account, you will have the chance to create one to enter your report.

Find more information on harvest reporting on the harvest reporting webpage. If you need assistance, you can call your local DNR customer service center or the main Wildlife Division line at 517-284-WILD (9453) during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Hunting

Federal Judge Grants Partial Injunction In Maryland Case

A U.S. District Court judge in Maryland has granted in part a motion for a preliminary injunction in two cases—including one involving the Second Amendment Foundation—challenging Maryland’s “sensitive places” law, which is supposed to take effect Sunday.

The case, known as Novotny v. Moore, was filed earlier this year against the law, which places broad restrictions on where a legally-licensed private citizen may carry a firearm for personal protection. The decision by Judge George L. Russell, III consolidates the Novotny case with another action known as Kipke v. Moore. Read more

Gun Control

SAF Files Brief Supporting Motion for P.I. in CA Gun Law Challenge

Attorneys representing the Second Amendment Foundation and its partners in a lawsuit challenging newly-signed California Senate Bill 2—a gun control measure designed to make it impossible to legally carry firearms in most places—have filed a brief supporting their motion for a preliminary injunction.

SAF is joined in the case by Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, California Rifle & Pistol Association, Gun Owners of California, the Liberal Gun Club and nine individuals. The case is known as May v. Bonta. The “Memorandum of Points and Authorities” was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division. They are represented by attorneys Chuck Michel, Michel & Associates, and Don Kilmer, Law Offices of Don Kilmer.

In their brief, the plaintiffs argue, “California is defying the U.S. Supreme Court’s findings and order that the Second Amendment includes a right to carry arms in public for self-defense. Read more

Gun Control

CWD and TB Testing at Michigan Deer Check Stations

For 2023, testing will be focused in the northwestern Lower Peninsula


Chronic wasting disease is a contagious and fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk and other cervids. In Michigan, the history of CWD in free-ranging deer dates back to May 2015, when the first case of the disease was confirmed in a free-ranging white-tailed deer in Ingham County. This marked the beginning of efforts to manage and control the spread of CWD within the state’s deer herd.

Since 2015, CWD has been detected in additional deer from various counties across Michigan. The state’s ongoing efforts have aimed at managing and containing the disease’s spread while maintaining a healthy deer population for both ecological balance and recreational purposes. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other agencies have implemented various measures to address CWD in the state, including:

  • Intensive CWD testing efforts.
  • Carcass movement restrictions.
  • Ban on baiting and feeding practices.
  • Targeted removal of deer.
  • Public outreach and education.
  • Research and collaboration.
  • Regulation changes. Read more
Wildlife

Never Shoot the Wrong Antlerless Deer Again

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Now that deer Chad Stewart of Michigan’s DNR has implored hunters to take more antlerless deer in the Southern Lower Peninsula, it’s imperative to identify the most suitable animals in the herd to maximize results.  Although taking fawns is typically not on the agenda, some hunters make the mistake of thinking they are larger than they actually are and sheepishly wish they’d have held off.  Fortunately, the National Deer Association (NDA) has compiled an educational video to help identify specific traits of does afield so that ethical hunters can get the best bang for their buck.

Glen Drags Out a Good Doe

Although the NDA states there’s nothing wrong with taking a fawn, I disagree – especially, if it’s a buck fawn.  If one’s goal is to reduce the herd or to balance the ratio of bucks to does, taking a buck, whether immature or a whopping 10-pointer, it amounts to one animal from the herd.

On the other hand, by taking a doe, it has a compound effect on the population over the lifetime of a female breeder.  Obviously, even removing a doe fawn from the herd fits the bill, but there’s not a heck of a lot of meat as reward for the effort.  When one considers the cost of the tag plus processing, the cost per pound of venison is remarkably higher; there is no discount for tiny deer!

Before getting into specifics, a good binocular is highly recommended to define subtle differences; it’s far better and safer than relying on one’s scope.  Make sure to add a good binocular harness that’ll keep the glass clean, dry, and ready.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what would be the value of an instructional video?  To find out, the NDA in conjunction with Chief Conservation Officer and wildlife biologist Kip Adams and The Bearded Buck (an Outdoor Entertainment Company), has produced a video to teach viewers how to separate adult does from younger does and doe fawns from buck fawns.  To view the new video, visit NDA’s YouTube channel here where you can also find the 2022 video on Aging Live Bucks in the Field.

The 18-deer quiz at the clip’s conclusion allows viewers to practice what they’ve learned throughout the video. Here, viewers are provided a few seconds to identify wild deer afield.

“The ability to separate antlerless deer into two general age groups – fawns and adults – is obtainable for all hunters with a little knowledge and some practice,” said Adams. “The three key characteristics are body size and shape, head size and shape and animal behavior. This is especially pertinent when you have a group of deer in front of you during hunting season. Estimating the sex and age of live antlerless deer is a great skill for hunters.”

Having two or more deer together can help to distinguish size, because hunters are able to compare them, while the difference is more noticeable in early season.  I can tell you that I’ve made the mistake of thinking a lone button buck was a good doe and I never want to make that mistake again.

Already, I’ve begun to use my newfound education to size up any and all deer I’ve been observing and it’s been an exciting change in viewing. We owe it to the betterment of the herd, and ourselves to put this valuable wisdom to work in our repertoire of hunting tactics.

Hunting, Wildlife

The St. Marys River fisheries and challenges of managing across jurisdictions

By DAVE FIELDER
Fisheries research biologist
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

 

“…it appears that most of the key fish species remain abundant and in good health

The St. Marys River is the connection between Great Lakes Superior and Huron. Virtually the whole of Lake Superior drains through this “connecting channel” feeding Lake Huron and the lakes below.

This important waterway also defines the boundary between the easternmost end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the province of Ontario.

The river flows for 75 miles and includes an enormous variety of habitat types. There are rapids, fast-moving reaches and large islands, but also lake-like river reaches.

Despite being mostly Lake Superior outflow, the water is relatively warmer and includes cold-, cool- and warm-water fish species.

The challenge

To manage fisheries, biologists need up-to-date information on the status of fish populations, their trends in abundance, how much reproduction is occurring, age structure, etc. This is usually obtained by way of periodic netting surveys.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources routinely conducts these assessments across the state and Great Lakes. However, when it comes to the St. Marys River, there are special challenges.

The gear of choice is variable-mesh gillnets that catch a cross-section of fish species reflecting the whole fish community. By using different sizes of mesh, most all ages and sizes of fish can be sampled.

Such a netting survey might include from six to 20 net sets in most Great Lakes situations, but in the St. Marys River, because of the diversity of habitat types, it requires 44 net sets.

For assessment purposes, the river is divided into eight different reaches, each getting five or more net sets to adequately survey the area.

Partners

This enormous effort is too much for any one government agency to conduct on its own, but another feature of the St. Marys River is the large number of agencies that share the jurisdiction.

Besides the state of Michigan, there is the province of Ontario with its Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. There are also federal agencies on both sides of the river, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The Biological Resources Division of the U. S. Geological Survey is another federal agency involved, as well as the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

There are also two Native American tribes: the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Bay Mills Indian Community, both of which maintain their own fisheries departments. There are additional groups involved, including local universities and other entities that similarly represent resources to help with fisheries assessments.
While each agency has a slightly different mission or perspective, they all hold some interest and responsibility for the stewardship of the St. Marys River fishery.

This rich yet complex suite of interjurisdictional representation offers an opportunity to share the large netting survey with many partners. This coordinated approach to assessment has now been used to jointly conduct the last seven surveys.

To facilitate the coordination of this work, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission organized the St. Marys River Fisheries Task Group in 1997.

The group is an international organization intended to help coordinate fishery management across the Great Lakes and to help bring partners together, so it was natural for the group to be formed under the commission.

The membership reflects all the same agencies and partners that have been joining to conduct the survey about every five years.

The group coordinates other work too, including a periodic creel survey that interviews anglers at the end of their fishing trip to find out what they caught and to generate estimates of harvest and catch rates. The netting survey and creel survey were last conducted in 2022.

Target species

The netting survey provides information on all species encountered, but the focal species are walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike, cisco, lake sturgeon, and any salmon and trout caught.

A total of 37 different species were sampled in 2022. The survey also doubles as one means to determine if any new invasive species might be present.
Creel survey workers conducted over 1,000 angler interviews last year and included four flights a week by airplane to count boats, which is necessary for estimating the amount of fishing effort and harvest taking place in such a large river.

Results

Analysis of the survey findings from 2022 are still ongoing, but it appears that most of the key fish species remain abundant and in good health. Mortality rates, growth rates, abundance of mature females to reflect reproductive potential and other details are gauged. Results are compared to previous surveys.

The fishery measured by the creel survey is similarly robust, reflecting the diverse habitat types and fish community. Yellow perch and walleye are among the most-harvested fish, with numbers sometimes as great as 60,000 walleye and 100,000 yellow perch taken during the open-water fishing season.

The St. Marys River is one of the few places in Michigan that cisco can be predictably caught, and while patchy, total harvest in some years can be as great as 150,000 fish.

The amount of fishing effort on the St. Marys River (across all jurisdictions) amounted to 64% of all the fishing effort in the Michigan waters of Lake Huron that same year. The St. Marys River has quickly grown a reputation for outstanding and diverse fishing and is now routinely part of professional walleye and bass tournament circuits.

An exciting trend on the St. Marys River is an increasing number of young lake sturgeon caught in the netting survey. This native species was once greatly abundant in Lake Huron but suffered from overharvest and habitat degradation during the 20th century, reducing the population to a small fraction of original numbers.

Much effort is going into lake sturgeon recovery in Michigan, and the St. Marys River is one of the bright spots, with increased numbers captured in the river over the last five years. When captured in the netting survey, the fish are internally tagged with a passive integrated transponder, or “PIT tag,” that will allow that individual fish to be recognized in the future if encountered again and then released back into the river.

Costs

In 2022, the netting survey cost $140,000 and the creel survey $250,000 to conduct. Fortunately, these costs are spread across the participating agencies of the task group, which reduces the burden for any one partner.
This survey series is only conducted periodically, to maximize the information while minimizing the cost. The real value is in the critical information obtained, which fishery managers then use to make decisions. These data have been used to evaluate harvest regulations, fishing seasons, stocking decisions and more.

Invasive species

A great deal more fisheries work takes place in the St. Marys River in addition to the netting and creel surveys.

One example is the intensive surveillance for invasive species led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, conducted most every year in partnership with others to cover all waters of the river.

Multiple methods, including trawling, electrofishing and netting, are used to search for invasive species to determine trends and whether any new invasive species have become established.

The invasive Eurasian ruffe, a perch-like fish, has become established in parts of Lake Superior and, in recent years, the St. Marys River. There is considerable concern over effects it may have within the river and if it ever reaches downstream waters, such as Saginaw Bay.

The St. Marys River is a conduit for international shipping, with freighters passing through the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie between Lakes Huron and Superior. This means the river is especially vulnerable to colonization by new invasive species, since many have been transported into and around the Great Lakes in freighter ballast water.

Quite possibly the most significant invasive species in the St. Marys River is the sea lamprey. This parasitic, eel-like fish feeds on lake trout and other fish in the open waters of Lake Huron.

Sea lamprey, however, spawn in rivers, and their juveniles will live there for about the first three years of life. The USFWS and Fisheries and Oceans Canada expend an enormous effort, both logistically complex and costly, annually to control sea lamprey in the Great Lakes.

Agency staffers use a selective lampricide to kill the juveniles in the streams and rivers before they can mature and become parasitic. It was discovered in the late 1990s that the St. Marys River was one of the major contributors of sea lamprey to Lake Huron. However, the river is too large to treat with lampricide using traditional methods.
A great deal of research and mapping took place to pinpoint the hot spots in the river where the juveniles resided in the sediment, and using a granular form of the lampricide, which sinks to the bottom, the specific problem areas in the river are targeted and treated.

, sea lamprey numbers have been brought down in Lake Huron to, or near, target levels.

Thriving resource

The St. Marys River is a tremendous resource, but that fact can get lost on many people because of the abundance of water Michigan enjoys. The rapids in the Canadian Soo are a spawning destination for migrating steelhead, Chinook salmon, lake whitefish, lake sturgeon and many more species.

The river has attracted anglers from all over the world and was one of author Ernest Hemmingway’s favorite places to fish.

The St. Marys River still faces many challenges.

Beyond the potential for invasive species, the area around Sault Ste. Marie remains one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Areas of Concern for pollution. The river itself has also been greatly modified by heavy channelization to accommodate the large iron ore freighters that navigate it every day and hydroelectric facilities that provide power to both Michigan and Ontario. This alteration also changed the natural fish habitats in many parts of the river.

With the aid of the survey work coordinated by the St. Marys River Fisheries Task Group and with the cooperative multijurisdictional projects occurring in the river, fishery managers are well positioned to meet the challenges of a new century for protecting the important and extensive fishery in the great St. Marys River.

Find out more about fisheries in Michigan.

Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNREmail.
Fishing
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