Lifetime suspension from hunting is first of its kind in Indiana

An Indiana Conservation Officer investigation has resulted in multiple charges, fines, and the first lifetime hunting suspension of its kind in state history for a West Lafayette man.

Hanson Pusey, 25, was sentenced Thursday in Warren County Court to a lifetime hunting suspension along with home detention, probation, and payment of replacement fees stemming from an investigation by DNR Law Enforcement involving the illegal hunting of wild turkeys in Indiana and six other states.

In spring 2020, conservation officers in District 3 received information that Pusey, whose hunting privileges had been suspended since March 2019, was still hunting and taking multiple turkeys illegally in Indiana and other states.

Using advanced surveillance techniques, investigators monitored Pusey, gathering evidence of poaching in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, as well as in Indiana, where they documented him taking four spring turkeys in Indiana in 2020, two after the season closed. Officers also documented Pusey helping family and friends poach turkeys. Search warrants were served on the man’s residence, and in cooperation with the other states’ fish and wildlife law enforcement agencies, filed charges in all them. Read more

Poachers

ZeroTech Optics Q4 Cashback Promotion

ZeroTech International is pioneering new grounds by developing cutting edge optical solutions tailored to the needs of the most demanding users. This new direction is forging our path as one of the world’s leading optical manufacturers dedicated to providing hunters, shooters, and outdoors enthusiasts with elite optical performance in all-weather scenarios. ZeroTech Optics prides itself on delivering our promise of unmatched user experience, unbeatable value for money and our dedicated customer centered focus supplying optics that meet and exceed our users’ expectations.

Part of this ambition is to give new and existing shooters an affordable option to get into a new optic for this season hunting, so we are pleased to announce our Q4 cashback promotion for the entire ZeroTech Optics range of products!

To be eligible to claim, individuals must purchase one (1) ZeroTech Riflescope, Red-Dot or Binoculars from any authorized dealer in the USA between 01:00 EST 10/01/2022 and 23:59 EST on 12/31/2022.

To claim, individuals must go online to https://www.zerotechoptics.com/rebate enter their details as prompted, attach a copy of their receipt, enter the serial number, enter the shop scope was purchased from and submit the form. Read more

Optics

Primary Arms November Giveaway

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Primary Arms has announced its November rifle giveaway, which includes a Hellion Bullpup 5.56 Rifle from Springfield Armory. Complete with parts and accessories from top manufacturers, the giveaway package is free to enter and valued at over $2,780!

Primary Arms does a new firearm giveaway every month, and this is the first time they’ll feature a bullpup rifle setup. As always, entry into the giveaway is free, with no purchase necessary! Click here to enter this month’s giveaway.

Revealed at the start of 2022, the Springfield Armory Hellion was a landmark update to the bullpup market. With many features similar to the Croatian Military’s VHS-2, the Hellion boasts many compelling features for a bullpup rifle. That includes an adjustable length of pull, an ambidextrous folding charging handle, an integrated carry handle, and a reversible ejection port. With a full 16” barrel and an overall length of just over 28”, this bullpup brings full-length ballistic performance with a compact, maneuverable size, made even better with enhanced ergonomics and adjustment. Read more

Firearms

WiseEye Tech Helping Turkeys for Tomorrow Aid Field Research

WiseEye Tech’s donation of 40 cameras to Turkeys For Tomorrow will help researchers working to solve the mystery of declining turkey populations. Science being conducted in Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky is expected to help hunting conservationists improve turkey populations nationwide. WiseEye Tech cameras deliver their photos using cellular data, and the company’s photo management software pre-sorts the photos by subject. These services will save researchers hundreds of hours of work in the lab and the field.

“Hunting falls into seasons, but conservation is not seasonal,” said Darryl Monk, COO and co- owner of WiseEye Tech. “We’re excited to see our technology play an even bigger part in supporting and encouraging the heritage of the outdoors.”

Turkeys For Tomorrow is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping field researchers study turkeys in their native habitats. Scientists from Mississippi State and Auburn Universities, the University of Georgia and Tennessee Tech are tracking the life cycles of flocks on both private and public ground, work made possible in part by grants from Turkeys For Tomorrow.

Through these efforts, biologists expect to correctly weight the impacts of weather, predation, nutrition and disease on turkey numbers year to year. Studies now underway involve the significant use of trail cameras. By joining forces with Turkeys For Tomorrow, WiseEye Tech is delivering extraordinary aid to the mission.

WiseEye Tech’s cameras deliver strikingly-crisp images using cellular data, and the company’s photo management software sorts photos by subject before the cameras’ operators even get involved. By first sending images electronically, then sorting the photos that result, WiseEye Tech reduces human interference with flocks in the field and speeds the usefulness of the information that returns. Read more

Wildlife

Henry Repeating Arms Honors Veterans With $325,000 Donations

The gunmaker’s charitable “Guns for Great Causes” branch delivers donations to Disabled American Veterans, Building Homes for Heroes, National Veterans Foundation, and more.

RICE LAKE, Wis. – Since March 1997, Henry Repeating Arms has been building America’s favorite lever-action rifles, honoring the country’s military heroes, and proudly supporting the organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of those who have fought and served. For this Veterans Day, as an extension of Henry Repeating Arms’ twenty-five-year support and as part of their $1,000,000 anniversary pledge, the company recently presented cash donations to Disabled American Veterans, Building Homes for Heroes, and the National Veterans Foundation, for a total of more than $325,000 donated to military veterans’ organizations this year.

“I have a deep respect for those who answer the call of duty and serve our country, which was instilled in me by my father, who was a veteran of the Korean War,” said Anthony Imperato, CEO and Founder of Henry Repeating Arms. “I’ve been blessed to shake hands and present rifles to the nation’s finest, from Congressional Medal of Honor recipients to World War II heroes like Louis Zamperini. We will always continue to give back as much as possible to those who allow us to continue to do business in the land of the free. It’s such a deeply ingrained part of our company DNA.” Read more

Firearms

Beretta Holding S.A. Commits to Invest $60m in US Manufacturing Facility – Norma

Dott. Pietro Gussalli Beretta (center) signing the memorandum of understanding with Bryan County and Georgia State representatives.

LUXEMBOURG –– Dott. Pietro Gussalli Beretta, President and CEO of Beretta Holding S.A., today announced the plans of Beretta Holding Group to further increase its strong presence in the US, through its recent acquisition of Norma Precision, investing $60 million in a state-of-the art manufacturing and distribution facility for ammunition to be located in Savannah, Georgia.

Beretta Holding Group already employs close to 1,000 employees in the US through Beretta USA, Benelli USA, Burris, Steiner eOptics and Norma Precision. The Group also operates famous flagship stores in Dallas and New-York. This new facility offers a significant opportunity to the Group to further increase its already extensive footprint in US adding ammunition to its US operations. Read more

Ammunition

Sandhill Cranes Winging Their Way to Arizona’s Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area

Live-streaming camera offers unique viewing experience

WILLCOX, Ariz. — Sandhill cranes by the thousands are once again returning to their wintering grounds at the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in southeastern Arizona.

For the next few months, viewers can observe almost 20,000 of these fascinating birds on a live-streaming camera installed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The live stream can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/sandhillcranes.

“The sandhill cranes have once again sprung Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area back to life,” said Jeff Meyers, wildlife viewing program manager. “It’s truly a pleasure to offer this unfiltered view of our state’s wildlife directly to the public, giving them a chance to see the migration of this incredible species in action.” Read more

Wildlife

The Advantage of Glass

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

In a lifelong hunting career, one important lesson I’ve learned came the afternoon of November 17, 1986.  My hunting partner, Fast Frank, and I had had enough of the hunting competition of the Lower Peninsula and made the arduous venture to Iron County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for a more isolated experience to hunt deer.

However, at the start of the third day, we made plans to leave this new area we had been hunting, because the first two days presented no opportunities; we were to meet at our vehicle at noon, if things hadn’t improved.  Separately, we marched off in the morning darkness and hours had passed when some shots rang out.  I met my partner back at the vehicle.  Sure enough, Frank connected on a young buck.  Excitedly, we arrived on-scene to haul his prize out.

Frank explained that a group of deer were hiding in a blowdown near the trail he was walking, when they scattered.  His first shot was aimed at a good buck, but the moving shot caused Frank to strike a tree; he took a young spike buck on a follow up opportunity.  But, Frank was determined to show me the exact location, where the secretive animals were hunkered down.

This was my “Ah ha” moment!  For a couple of days, I had been walking and looking along these trails thinking the area was a bit desolate.  In fact, we both were thinking the same thing, when we made plans to go somewhere – anywhere – else.  We had been looking but not seeing.  Simple as that.

We took care of the downed whitetail and I headed back out to familiar territory – the same trails on which I had wandered for three days.  This time, however, I was convinced to be smarter, so I began viewing distant objects and searching for details with a binocular far ahead.

With six inches of snow and more falling by the minute, I was in search of fresh tracks.  My plan was to get on any track and look ahead with the binocular I had heretofore neglected.  The new strategy paid off when a record-book bruiser was taken with a 130-yard heart-shot from my Winchester .30-30, as it followed a doe, oblivious to my intent.

Today, I never head afield without my handy Lockdown Deployment System chest harness – a necessary tool.  The covered harness protects the glass from the elements and is ready instantly, while a firearm can be kept over one’s shoulder.  Without a similar harness, folks tend to leave binoculars home because they become cumbersome.  It doesn’t have to be that way.

Oh, you conveniently use your firearm’s scope?  Let’s talk about that.

If a person uses the firearm’s scope to identify objects or movement, it stands to reason there is some question relative to what the naked eye has revealed.  What if that movement turns out to be another human being?  That firearm was just pointed directly at another person!  What if you were that person?  Think Golden Rule here.  Unexpectedly, the bad habit can turn into a violation of a most important rule of gun safety:  Never point a firearm at something you didn’t intend to shoot.

Binoculars are the smartest answer to seeing the unseen and can change one’s perspective for the better.

Optics

Michigan’s firearm deer hunting begins Nov. 15

Join in the time-honored tradition of deer hunting in Michigan. Get ready for a terrific time in Michigan’s beautiful forests and fields. Firearm deer season is open Nov. 15-30.

New this year: Mandatory harvest reporting

Starting with the fall 2022 deer seasons, online harvest reporting is required for all hunters who successfully take a deer.

You will have up to 72 hours after taking a deer to report your harvest, and there are two ways to do it electronically:

Answers to frequently asked questions about deer harvest reporting are available. The process is outlined in this video on how to properly tag and report your deer.

Assistance for those who need help with reporting or experience technical difficulties is available at a variety of locations around the state. Reporting assistance is also available by calling 517-284-9453 during normal business hours and on Nov. 19 and 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reminders:

  • Each deer kill tag has a different license number. You will need to use the number on the kill tag that is attached to your harvested deer to report that deer.
  • Keep the confirmation number you receive after you have reported your deer.

Make sure you have your license

You can buy deer licenses anywhere DNR licenses are sold. Find a local license agent.

Kill tags purchased online at eLicense take seven to 14 business days to arrive in the mail. You must have kill tags in your possession before hunting. To ensure you can hunt in a timely manner, purchase your license at a local license agent.

View additional hunting and license information at Michigan.gov/Hunting.

Review regulations in 2022 Hunting Digest

Before you head into the field, be sure to check the latest hunting regulations in your area by looking at the 2022 Hunting Digest.

Download digests

For on-demand digest access that travels where you do, without the need for internet access, download DNR hunting and fishing digests right to your phone through the DNR Hunt Fish mobile app!

Important reminders

The sections below refer to specific pages of the 2022 Hunting Digest for more information on these topics.

Baiting and feeding

Baiting and feeding is banned in the entire Lower Peninsula and the Core Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Area in the Upper Peninsula.

  • See pages 56 and 61-62 for additional information about the baiting and feeding bans.

Universal antlerless license

  • Universal antlerless deer licenses may be used on public or private land in any deer management unit open to antlerless hunting. See pages 47-48.
  • Some hunters in the Upper Peninsula (DMU 351 and 352) will need to have an access permit along with a universal antlerless deer license to hunt antlerless deer. See pages 60-61.

Antler point restrictions (APR)

  • Mainland Lower Peninsula hunters may harvest an antlered or antlerless deer with deer or deer combo licenses during archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons.
  • Be sure to check the APR chart before heading out this year:
    • Lower Peninsula APR chart, see pages 53-55.
    • Upper Peninsula APR chart, see pages 58-59.

Disease monitoring and testing

Deer stations: Disease sample submission sites

Our new harvest reporting system should make it easier for you to understand if you are in a location where the DNR is looking for volunteers to submit their deer for testing. If you are in one of the disease monitoring zones, you will see a message on the harvest report confirmation page asking you to submit your deer head for testing, along with locations where you can submit your deer head or sample for testing. The submission is not required for a reported harvest but is strongly encouraged to help meet our disease monitoring goals. You can also find a list of disease sample submission sites.

Check stations will be focused in places where we need to gather physical samples for bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD). This allows us to maximize our use of staff resources for disease monitoring purposes. Harvested animals must be reported using the online harvest reporting system.

CWD monitoring and testing

Support from hunters and landowners in this year’s CWD monitoring counties is requested to inform the state’s CWD monitoring plan. Early detection of the disease is an important part of the state’s management philosophy.

Hunters who harvest a deer in Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm counties, where CWD has previously been detected, can submit deer heads for testing via a drop box or submit lymph nodes with a free lymph node shipping kit. More information on this program is available on the CWD info for hunters webpage.

Testing in Isabella and Hillsdale counties, the state’s other two counties where CWD has been detected, is available to hunters at an area disease sample submission site.

Testing for a fee

In the remainder of the state, if you want your deer heads tested for CWD, you may submit them to a participating U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved lab at any time for testing. You will be charged a fee to have your deer heads tested. See more information about testing for a fee.

2022 deer hunting preview

Find out what to expect for this year’s deer hunting seasons, including harvest reporting, disease monitoring and regional forecasts, in the 2022 deer hunting preview.

Questions? Contact us

Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.

Deer hunting ?

Hunting

Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Returns Two Sea Turtles to the Gulf of Mexico

Arugula swimming off into the Gulf of Mexico.
Bindi being carried towards the water by two C.A.R.E. Center volunteers.
Arugula independently entering back into the ocean for the first time in 10 months since her rescue.

Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL. – The Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center successfully released two rehabilitated sea turtles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at Topsail Hill State Park, Florida.

Bindi, a sub-adult Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, was hooked in the mouth at the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier on 8/4/2022. The hook was removed upon intake at the CARE Center and Bindi remained under observation until she reached a healthy weight and presented with normal blood work. Read more

Wildlife
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