Michigan: most hunters will not need antlerless deer license this year

Will you need to apply for an antlerless deer license this year? Probably not

Preparing for antlerless deer hunting will be a little different this year, as most deer hunters will not need to apply for antlerless licenses. Hunters in specific areas may need to apply for an access permit.

For most deer hunters, a universal antlerless license is all that will be needed to hunt antlerless deer. This license is valid on public and private lands in all deer seasons. It can be used across deer management units open to antlerless deer hunting.

Select hunters will need to apply for an access permit to hunt deer in certain areas of the Upper Peninsula and in reserved deer hunts at the Sharonville State Game Area, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Shiawassee River National Wildlife Refuge and Shiawassee River State Game Area.

In the Upper Peninsula, new deer management units 351 and 352 will require an access permit and a universal antlerless license to hunt antlerless deer. Both are required for each deer harvested.

DMU 351 is made up of DMUs 021, 349, 249, 149, 017 and 117. DMU 352 is made up of DMUs 027, 036, 152 and 252. (See page 60 in the 2021 Hunting Digest for a map of the DMUs). One thousand access permits will be available in each of these two DMUs.

Also in the U.P., DMUs 022, 122, 055, 155, 255 and 121 are open to antlerless hunting without an access permit, while DMUs 127, 066, 031, 131, 042, 007 and 048 are closed to antlerless deer hunting.

Applications for limited-hunt access permits may be purchased for $5 from license agents or online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses during the July 15 – Aug. 15 application period.

Learn more about universal antlerless licenses and the access permit drawing in the 2021 Hunting Digest or at Michigan.gov/Deer.

Hunting

Remember the 3 R’s when boating on a river

LITTLE ROCK – The heat of summer often leads anglers to large rivers and the promise of large catfish and an extended period of fish activity thanks to current keeping surface water moving and slightly cooler than in backwaters and reservoirs. But traveling on a river like the Arkansas can be a daunting task for people who don’t know what all those buoys and channel markers mean. How do you know which side of the buoys to stay on when traveling up or down a river?

Remember the 3 R’s of boating: “Red right returning.” It applies in Arkansas and all over the nation.

Whether you are paddling a canoe, chugging along in a john boat, zipping by in a bass boat or cruising on a houseboat, this simple rule will keep you in the right place – in the channel where it’s safe.

Returning means coming upstream from the ocean or the mouth of the stream. Keep the red buoys on your right as you travel upstream. That means the green buoys will be on your left.

If you are going downstream, just reverse this. The red buoys will be on your left, green buoys on your right.

Buoys are found in many sizes and shapes. Just the red and green ones mark channels. Others are white and are for information. This may be directions to a facility, for controlled areas like no-wake zones, and to identify underwater dangers like rocks or dams. A buoy with black and white vertical stripes marks an obstruction; don’t travel between it and the shore or bank.

Fishing

California: AHD Strikes Northern California Deer Herds

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has confirmed outbreaks of adenovirus hemorrhagic disease in deer in several northern California counties and is asking California residents to help curb the spread by not feeding wild animals, and report potential cases to the department.

“Providing attractants for deer – food, salt licks or even water – is against the law for good reason,” said Dr. Brandon Munk, senior wildlife veterinarian with CDFW’s Wildlife Investigations Laboratory. “Because these artificial attractants can congregate animals and promote the spread of disease, it’s particularly imperative to leave wildlife alone during an outbreak. There is no cure or vaccine for this disease, so our best management strategies right now are to track it carefully, and to take preventative measures to limit the spread.” Read more

Wildlife

Blaser Introduces R8 Rifle in 6.5 PRC

San Antonio, Texas – Blaser is pleased to now offer its iconic R8 modular rifle in a 6.5 PRC chambering. Known for its accuracy and long-range performance, the 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge is essentially a magnum version of the 6.5 Creedmoor with a flatter trajectory and higher impact velocity making it a favorite of long-range hunters.

The straight-pull R8 bolt-action rifle, renowned for its reliability, repeatability, speed, and precision, offers hunters a vast number of configurations to meet their needs in the field. Options include a wide array of stock options, a recoil reduction system, adjustable comb, adjustable length of pull, and numerous barrels and bolt heads to facilitate quick conversions to different calibers, depending on the type of game one is hunting.

“If you combine all the different standard options on an R8, you can build over 47 million unique rifles and that does not even include custom shop options,” said Jason Evans, CEO, Blaser Group. “The interchangeability makes it incredibly easy to convert your rifle from one caliber to another by simply switching out the barrel and bolt head. This can be done in less than a minute. The engineering and craftsmanship is so extraordinary, after any barrel change, the rifle will shoot to within 1/2 MOA every time.“

The compact overall length and modularity of the Blaser R8 offer distinct advantages to hunters who travel frequently, allowing them to carry one rifle with several different barrels instead of transporting multiple guns around the world. The Blaser Saddle Mount system allows for easy and precise mounting of a riflescope by allowing the one-piece base of the mount to fit into notches machined into the top of the free-floating barrel. The barrel and saddle mount become one accurate unit, ensuring absolute repeatability once the scope has been zeroed, regardless of how many times the scope is removed from the barrel. The R8‘s concentric locking lugs with 14 locking surfaces provide 360-degree enagagement, further enhancing accuracy. This rifle also features one of the safest actions in the world thanks to its highly-acclaimed manual cocking mechanism.

The R8 is available in numerous calibers from 204 Ruger to 500 Jeffrey. For more information visit www.blaser-usa.com. Read more

Firearms

SIG SAUER M400 SWITCHBLADE Rifle Caliber Pistol

NEWINGTON, N.H. – SIG SAUER is pleased to announce the expansion of the M400 series with the introduction of the SIG SAUER M400 SWITCHBLADE, which brings the performance features of the popular M400 SDI platforms – that were purpose-built for competition shooters – to this rifle caliber pistol.

“The M400 SWITCHBLADE brings an entirely new level of performance to the M400 product family with unmatched flexibility and capability,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The pistol features fully ambidextrous controls to include the charging handle, selector, and unique to the SWITCHBLADE, the bolt catch and release for seamless transitions from hand to hand and rapid deployment of the catch. Additionally, the new MAGPUL™ BSL brace offers improved stability, and the rigid handguard is designed to withstand the weight of maximum accessory installation, truly making the M400 SWITCHBALDE the ultimate performance pistol.”

The SIG SAUER M400 SWITCHBLADE is an aluminum frame rifle caliber pistol featuring a Cerakote Titanium Elite finish, with a telescoping MAGPUL™ BSL Brace, an 11.5” cold hammer-forged carbon steel tapered barrel for easy suppressor installation with a three-prong flash hider, and a rigid free-floating handguard with M-LOK™ accessory rail that installs with a clamp system and designed to eliminate deflection from the added weight of accessory installation. The pistol offers fully ambidextrous controls including the bolt catch, charging handle, and selector switch, has a 2-stage Matchlite Duo Trigger, and comes optics-ready. The pistol is chambered in 5.56 NATO and ships with a thirty-round magazine. Read more

Firearms

Primary Arms Government ‘Duty Rifle Sweepstakes’

 

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Primary Arms Government has just announced a new AR15 giveaway, open only to Law Enforcement, Military, and First Responders. The Primary Arms Government ‘Duty Rifle Sweepstakes’ offers qualified individuals a chance to win a new rifle package, featuring a Springfield SAINT Victor 5.56 AR-15 and the new Primary Arms Optics SLx® MD-25 ACSS® Red Dot Sight.

For rules and entry, please visit the Primary Arms giveaway landing page. The winner will be required to show relevant credentials to claim the prize.

The Springfield SAINT Victor is a true duty-grade rifle, chambered in 5.56 NATO with a 1:8 twist rate that offers reliable performance and the flexibility to shoot any projectile you prefer, from ultra-light to heavy-duty. The upper and lower receivers fit together with Springfield’s proprietary Accu-Tite tension system, which means rattle-free functionality and better accuracy. The SAINT sports upgraded furniture from Bravo Company, like a 6-position collapsible buttstock and a low-profile handguard equipped with M-LOK technology. Read more

Firearms

Fourth Circuit Court Rules Age Prohibition on Handgun Purchases Unconstitutional

A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled (2-1) that a 21-year minimum age restriction on handgun purchases is unconstitutional. In his majority opinion Judge Julius N Richardson wrote “Looking through the historical lens to the text and structure of the Constitution reveals that 18-to-20-year olds have Second Amendment rights.

Virtually every other Constitutional right applies whatever the age, and the Second Amendment is no different. The militia laws in force at the time of ratification uniformly required those 18 and older to join the militia and bring their own arms. While some historical restrictions existed, none supported finding that 18-year-olds lack rights under the Second Amendment.” Gun control advocates are expected to appeal the decision. 

Gun Control

Johnny Morris is Helping Heroes with Homes

Editor’s Note: Not every billionaire is rushing to take their ego ride into not-so-outer-space. Some, like Bass Pro Shops’ founder Johnny Morris, are investing their money far closer to home.

SPRINGFIELD, MO – Noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris joined with Helping a Hero to award a home to a deserving amputee, Marine Sergeant Joe Bartel of Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as to pay the mortgage for Army Staff Sergeant Daniel Barnes of Waynesville, Missouri. Originally Morris pledged 10 new specially adapted homes in May through the Helping a Hero organization. Johnny Morris made a surprise announcement that Bass Pro Shops will cover 25 percent of funding for the next 100 donated homes to encourage Americans to get involved in Helping a Hero’s Wounded Hero Home Program.

Veterans and their families gathered last Thursday at Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters Store in Springfield, Missouri for the surprise announcement. This week, the families had the opportunity to visit the “Grandaddy” Headquarters Store along with Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium and Big Cedar Lodge.

Morris officially presented the key to the first adapted home funded through the Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops donations to Bartel and his family of six in front of a national TV audience. The announcement led to tears and emotional reactions.

“Helping a Hero is an awesome organization,” said Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris. “When I hear the words to Helping a Hero’s national ambassador Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA,’ every word of that song hits home and reminds us how lucky we are to be able to call America our home. We’re coming up on our 50th anniversary at Bass Pro Shops, and it wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for those who have defended our freedoms and those who support conservation. My Dad was in World War II in the Battle of the Bulge, and my friend Emil Martinka served in World War II as well and has been with our company for many years now.”

“It’s humbling, and a great honor to host the veterans we have here with us today,” Morris continued. “We can never do enough to thank these families and all of our veterans who defend our freedoms. They mean everything to us and we’re very grateful. That’s not just from me; it’s everyone in our company and the outdoor community we serve. We’re all very proud to salute our veterans. We’re proud – everybody from Helping a Hero and from Bass Pro – to present Sergeant Bartel and his family with a new home and to support Staff Sergeant Daniel Barnes, from right here in our home state of Missouri, by paying off the mortgage on his new home. We would also like to pledge to chip in 25 percent for the next 100 homes and challenge people and encourage others to get involved with the Helping a Hero home program.”

Making an Appeal to Americans to Join the Cause
Morris and Bass Pro Shops have launched a nationwide challenge to inspire and encourage Americans to support and make a difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes. Individuals and businesses can get involved by visiting HelpingaHero.org.

General

Preview the Summer Issue of NDA’s Quality Whitetails Magazine

The Summer 2021 issue of Quality Whitetails magazine is on the way to National Deer Association (NDA) members, featuring a cover photo by wildlife photographer Steve Gulledge. If you’re not a current member, you can join by July 20, 2021 and still receive this issue in a second mailing, plus a full year’s worth of great deer hunting and habitat management content. Here’s a preview of what NDA members are reading right now.

Free Decal: This issue included a free National Deer Association decal for members. If you become a supporting member by July 20, you’ll also get the free decal and a copy of this issue.

Bowhunting the ’Burbs. Bruce Ingram of Virginia has hunted his state’s urban bowhunting season for 15 years and has had extreme success gathering venison in small suburban woodlands. This is a great opportunity for new and veteran bowhunters, and Bruce has tips on gaining permission, patterning deer, and even using the suburbs as a place to mentor new hunters. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

American Handgunner Celebrates 45 Years With Exquisite Cimarron Prize

It’s been 45 years since the first magazine dedicated exclusively to handguns hit newsstands. Celebrating the milestone in the true spirit of its purpose, American Handgunner and FMG Publications teamed with industry experts and artists to create a one-of-a-kind revolver: A Cimarron Firearms Frontier .45 Colt. Not only is the stunning sixgun the centerpiece of the magazine’s Sept/Oct issue, it’s also the top prize in the Handgun of the Month giveaway.

“Apparently, the traditional 45th anniversary gift is sapphire, but we’ve found it doesn’t shoot worth a darn,” jests Editor Tom McHale. “Instead, we elected to commemorate the occasion with a .45 Colt sixgun. Working with our friends at Cimarron Firearms, DeSantis Leather and Baron Engraving, we spiffed up a custom revolver sure to be the envy of any handgunner. What better way to celebrate the longevity of the first magazine to focus exclusively on handguns?”

The five-round celebratory revolver features a 4 3/4″ barrel with decorative hand engraving — including the “American Handgunner” logo — in 24K gold plating. Custom polishing, finishing, bluing and finely figured Maple grips culminate in a visual celebration of handgun history and expert craftsmanship. Accompanying the unique revolver is a leather-tooled holster from the artisans at DeSantis Gunhide with full suede lining, border detailing and an “American Handgunner” logo stamp. Read more

Firearms
1 … 613 614 615 616 617 … 1,911