Michigan Deer Kill Continues Downward Spiral

Editor’s note: This feature was compiled with the help of numerous DNR wildlife biologists and other staffers.

DNR and hunters look to address harvest decline in Upper Peninsula

By JOHN PEPIN
Deputy public information officer
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

The 2023 firearm deer season is officially complete. Although there are still deer hunting opportunities happening in December, we know most of our 2023 hunter effort is officially in the books.

The license sales and harvest data are mixed throughout the state.

Harvest figures

The reported deer harvest for the entire state is down compared to last year by a total of 11% or almost 30,000 deer. This is certainly significant in the eyes of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and something that is being closely watched. There are many factors that can contribute to the reduction of harvest.

Reported deer harvest in Michigan as of Dec. 5, 2023 (all deer seasons) decreased compared to the autumn of 2022 by 26% in the Upper Peninsula, 16% in the northern Lower Peninsula and 7% in the southern Lower Peninsula.

Taking a look at where the highest harvest totals are within Michigan’s 83 counties, it is no surprise that they come in the southern portion of the state. Significantly milder winters and abundance of food from agriculture continue to support high deer density where these conditions exist. Read more
Hunting, Wildlife

Wisconsin hunter experiences ‘miraculous’ recovery

Ed Mongin, 81, of Coleman, Wisconsin, is lucky to be alive.

He was hunting with a group of 10 others on federal land Nov. 17 in Iron County, Michigan when the top of a tree fell and struck him on the head, causing severe injury.

The group of hunters, whose members were all from Wisconsin except one from Colorado, were familiar with the area and were using radios to stay in communication.

When Mongin didn’t answer an attempt to contact him, the group went to his hunting location and found the fallen section of the tree on top of him, blown down in a windstorm.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Alex VanWagner and probationary conservation officer Kyle Romzek received the report of an injured hunter from area dispatchers.

The officers met a member from the hunting party north of Smoky Lake Road, east of the Pendleton Creek, who led them about 1 mile into the woods to Mongin’s location.

Mongin was able to communicate that he thought he was paralyzed and that they not move him. Read more

Hunting

DWR, UDOT Receive Over 3K Reports of Wildlife Killed by Vehicles Through Roadkill Reporter App After First Year

A year after launching the Utah Roadkill Reporter app, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Department of Transportation have learned some important things about wildlife migration from the submitted data.

The Utah Roadkill Reporter app was released in December 2022 to allow people to easily report the location and description of any dead animals they see on or near roads, so those animals can be removed more quickly from highways and freeways. The data also provides important wildlife migration information for biologists.

“This app is helping us keep Utah roads safe by helping us more quickly remove carcasses that can cause traffic hazards,” UDOT’s Natural Resource Manager Matt Howard said. “In addition, the data collected from the app will help us determine where to potentially place wildlife fencing and crossings, protecting people and wildlife.” Read more

Wildlife

Beretta Launches New 92XI Squalo Pistol

Beretta is excited to unleash the 92XI Squalo – a pistol that embodies power, precision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. “Squalo”, which means shark in Italian, served as inspiration to the design referencing the sleek and formidable nature of the shark, this firearm is designed to make you stand out in a sea of competition. We’ve harnessed cutting edge technology to bring you an extraordinary out-of-the box pistol to give you a competitive edge.

MAIN FEATURES: Read more

Firearms

Hayman Safe Company Presents the Minuteman Magnum Quick-Access Gun Safe

Traditional gun vaults are ideal for secure, long-term storage of firearms and ammunition. They are not, though, designed to be part of a tactical response system in an emergency, such as a home invasion. That is why Hayman Safe Company developed the Minuteman quick-access gun safes.

Part of the Minuteman series, the Minuteman Magnum (#MM 5020 E) is the stand-alone big brother to the in-wall-mounted Minuteman (MM 4814 E). The Minuteman Magnum’s mission is to provide both safe firearm storage and lightning-quick access to your defensive long guns or handguns in the most convenient locations in the home.

Built from a 1/8-inch formed steel body and a 3/16-inch formed steel door and featuring a tough gray powdercoat finish, the Minuteman Magnum can be secured to any floor or wall. Its small 20×12-inch footprint and low 50-inch height makes this safe ideal for placement in a living room, hallway, bedroom, or anywhere you need fast, strategic access to your defensive weapons. Read more

Firearms

Redding Reloading Equipment Announces New Benchmark in Precision Handloading Dies

Redding Reloading Equipment announces the new benchmark in precision handloading. The revolutionary Z Series Die Family utilizes Larger, Stronger and more Robust 1” die bodies.

Redding engineering has proven that the modern high performance cartridge designs of today are severely taxing the capabilities of traditional 7/8” reloading dies. The 7/8” diameter became the industry standard in the post WWII era, but today’s new cartridge designs provide numerous reasons to question that standard. In short, it is all about the strength of material, the stresses induced and the deformation that occurs in the die itself.

With the revolutionary “Z Series” Dies, the handloader can see, feel and measure and the difference. Based on relative strength, the “Z Series” Dies are as much as 2X stronger than traditional 7/8” dies. Extensive lab testing has shown that this increased strength and rigidity provides significantly reduced sizing effort as well as more consistent and measurable sized case dimensions. Read more

Ammunition

Improve Skills, Work Toward College Opportunities at CMP’s 2024 Junior Rifle Camps

Each year, the CMP hosts a premier series of hands-on, informative Junior Rifle Camps for high school-age students and coaches during the summer months. Participants in the camps receive valuable lessons on intermediate and advanced marksmanship skills through various exercises and demonstrations, all led by current collegiate rifle athletes.

The Junior Rifle Camps are designed to train rifle fundamentals and techniques through group discussions and personal guidance from experienced mentors on the firing line. The schedule also includes instructional smallbore camps for even more opportunities to learn on the range. The camps are excellent tools in developing each athlete’s strengths within the physical and mental aspects of the sport while refining trouble areas that may need more attention.

Types of Camps: Read more

Firearms

America’s Favorite Hunting Rifle: The Next Generation is Here.

Ruger is proud to introduce the Ruger American® Rifle Generation II, an update to the American-made rifle that has been the benchmark for accuracy, durability, and performance in bolt-action rifles for over a decade.

New features include a durable, attractive Cerakote® finish on the barreled action, a threaded bolt handle, stainless steel bolt body, and intuitive three-position tang safety that locks the bolt, which prevents inadvertent bolt opening yet allows the rifle to be loaded with the safety engaged. Most models also feature a spiral fluted barrel. The new, rigid stock features a removable comb riser to improve sight alignment when using optics, as well as a length of pull (LOP) spacer, which can be removed or replaced to accommodate a variety of statures. Read more

Firearms

Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund board Recommends $27.3 Million to Boost Outdoor Recreation

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommended Wednesday to the Michigan Legislature that 53 recreation development projects and land acquisitions totaling $27,339,100 be funded in 2024.

The board this year considered a total of 123 applications seeking over $51.9 million in funding. In a competitive process, all eligible applications were evaluated based on scoring criteria approved by the Trust Fund board.

The Trust Fund board recommends funding to both state and local agencies for development projects and land acquisitions that will further access to public outdoor recreation. Read more

General

Raffle Proceeds Benefit Arizona’s Wildlife

Why don’t you stuff a little something outdoorsy in your stocking this year…a ticket for Conservation First USA’s 2024 raffle! Seven lucky individuals will win one of seven special big-game tags (bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, bison and turkey) for the 2024–25 hunting season.

Buy tickets today!

New this year: Purchase the “All 7 Package” and receive one entry per species, PLUS a free entry for the Swarovski Optics Package. Read more

Contests
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