Fish for Free in Michigan this June

Michigan: home to outstanding fishing, more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 11,000 inland lakes, and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams.

There’s no shortage of recreational opportunities to explore – and what better time to do so than the 2019 Summer Free Fishing Weekend!

The 2019 Summer Free Fishing Weekend will be held Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9. As part of these weekends, all fishing license fees are waived for two days with residents and out-of-state visitors invited to enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes’ waters for all species of fish during their respective open seasons. Please note all other regulations still apply during that time.

To encourage involvement in Free Fishing Weekends, activities are offered in communities across the state. These activities are coordinated by non-profit groups, schools, parks (local/state), businesses and others. Will you be joining them and planning a 2019 Summer Free Fishing Weekend event? Read more

Fishing

SAF: Three Gun Rights Court Wins

BELLEVUE, WA – Three victories in three Second Amendment-related cases—two from New York and one from Wisconsin—is good news for gun rights, the Second Amendment Foundation said today.

“This should be tantamount to ‘three strikes and you’re out’,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Gun control took three hard punches and should be down for the count.”

He was alluding to the following cases:

• The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against New York City in its attempt to stay a challenge to that city’s handgun law that prevents gun owners from taking their handguns outside of their homes or the city. The Court has already granted review of the case.

• The Wisconsin State Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit against Armslist LLC that alleged the popular website was liable for the acquisition of a gun by Radcliffe Haughton in October 2012. Haughton was subject to a restraining order at the time. The state high court ruled 5-1 that Armslist LLC is protected from liability by the federal Communications Decency Act. Haughton used the gun to murder his wife and two of her co-workers.

• The New York State Supreme Court dismissed two SAFE Act charges against a man convicted of selling a firearm to an undercover officer in 2014. The SAFE (for Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement) is an extreme gun control act championed by anti-gun-rights Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Read more

Gun Control

Rossi Matched Pair Rifle/Shotgun Combo

Rossi, manufacturer of “traditionally innovative” firearms for 120 years, has redesigned its popular Matched Pair rimfire rifle/shotgun system to satisfy the needs of the modern shooter. Originally developed as a multi-function platform for youth shooters, the Matched Pair concept has also proven popular for folks looking for a fun, diverse rimfire/shotgun combo for plinking and general use around the home and farm.

The Matched Pair is based on a single-shot, break-open action and comes with two barrels—one chambered for .22 LR or .22 Magnum and the other for 3-inch .410 or 20-gauge. The tool-free design makes changing barrels quick and easy. The shotgun barrel comes with a standard bead front sight while the rifle barrel includes high-visibility fiber-optic front and rear sights. The rear sight is fully adjustable for precise zeroing. Read more

Firearms

Count Birds Anywhere For Global Big Day 2019

Ithaca, NY—More than 30,000 people will take part in a massive effort to set a new world record this Saturday, May 4. The goal: tally the greatest number of bird species ever seen in a single day. This day is Global Big Day—a free Cornell Lab of Ornithology event for anybody who likes birds and being outdoors. Anyone, anywhere can join the fun.

Participants from 171 countries joined last year’s Global Big Day. When the counting was done, bird watchers reported more than 7,000 of the world’s approximately 10,000 known bird species. That’s roughly two-thirds of all bird species, seen in a single day.

A “big day” in the birding world means attempting to identify as many species as possible during a 24-hour period. This is usually just one carload of people, but Global Big Day means everyone is on the same team.

“You don’t need to do a full day of birding—10 minutes, an hour, whatever time you can devote to bird watching on May 4 is great,” says Chris Wood at the Cornell Lab. “Every bird counts.” Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: public comment opportunities available on DNR recommended deer regulation changes

Natural Resources Commission anticipates July decisions

A white-tailed deer in Marquette County is shown.The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has recommended a series of deer regulation changes for the upcoming fall hunting seasons, which the Michigan Natural Resources Commission will be discussing over the next three months.

Several opportunities for public comment will be available before the commission makes decisions expected in July. There are changes proposed statewide and for both of Michigan’s peninsulas individually.

The recommendations range from a baiting and feeding ban proposed for the Core Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Area in the Upper Peninsula and a moderate increase in U.P. antlerless deer licenses, to redefining bait to exclude natural or synthetic food-scented materials not consumed by deer and moving the Liberty Hunt to the second weekend in September to avoid potential conflicts between hound bear hunters and youth deer hunters. Read more
Hunting

Michigan: birders, photographers, paddlers: Explore Wetland Wonders and win

May is American Wetlands Month, and what better way to mark the occasion than to get out and explore one of Michigan’s Wetland Wonders? During the DNR’s new Wetland Wonders Challenge (May 1 through July 14), visitors are invited to visit just one of the Wetland Wonders sites, snap a photo by the official challenge sign (pictured at right) and then submit it for a chance to win one of four Cabela’s gift cards ranging from $250 to $1,000.

Scattered across the state, from Portage Marsh State Wildlife Management Area in the Upper Peninsula, to Pointe Mouillee State Game Area just 25 miles from the Ohio border, these areas provide great year-round recreation opportunities like birding, boating, fishing, hiking and hunting, not to mention capturing great photos.

Michigan’s Wetland Wonders are areas managed to provide high-quality wetlands for waterfowl and waterbirds, while offering great outdoor recreation opportunities. These areas are funded by hunting license fees, but they are open for anyone to visit, use and enjoy most of the year.

The contest is sponsored by Consumers Energy with contest partners MI Birds and Michigan United Conservation Clubs. Get full contest entry details and Wetland Wonders location information at Michigan.gov/WetlandWonders.

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan: $70,000 in community tree-planting grants available; apply by June 7

Wheelbarrows, shovels and other tree-planting equipment spread out over a greenspace DTE work area siteUp to $70,000 (in matching grants up to $3,000 each) is available this year to support tree planting on public property. It’s all part of the ongoing partnership between the DTE Energy Foundation, which supplies the funding, and the DNR and ReLeaf Michigan, which together administer the program, to promote and properly plant trees on public property.

“Since our partnership began 23 years ago, more than 46,000 trees and seedlings have been planted in Michigan communities,” said Lynette Dowler, DTE Energy Foundation president. “This work helps our environment, beautifies local communities and supports the foundation’s mission to make Michigan an even better place to live, work and play.” Read more

Wildlife

NSSF Commends Congress’s Passage of ‘Range Bill’

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the firearms industry trade association, commends Congress’s passage of the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (H.R. 1222). The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by U.S. Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Companion legislation (S. 94) was previously passed by the Senate. The bill will return to the Senate for a legislative formality, but is expected to pass by unanimous consent as the bill language is identical, and be sent to President Donald Trump for enactment.

“This has been a key piece of legislation for NSSF to grow and sustain hunting and recreational target shooting that will additionally benefit wildlife conservation. We are deeply appreciative to our leaders on both sides of the aisle and on both sides of Capitol Hill for their perseverance and foresight to benefit state wildlife agencies, recreational target shooting and sustained wildlife conservation,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “This is crucial legislation that will give state fish and game agencies more flexibility to use Pittman-Robertson excise taxes dollars raised from the sale of firearms and ammunition to enhance existing public shooting ranges and to build new ones to meet the growing need for additional places for target shooters to participate in their sport. Public shooting ranges provide hunters a place to sight in rifles and shotguns before hunting seasons, for people to take firearm safety and hunter education courses and, for recreational target shooters to enjoy their sport.”

The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, also known as the “Range Bill,” would allow states to use their allocation of Pittman-Robertson funds to begin construction of new ranges, or improve existing state-run public recreational shooting ranges. Currently, states are required to put up 25 percent of the cost of range construction projects to access the matching 75 percent of funds from Pittman-Robertson allocation. This legislation would allow states to access those funds with a 10 percent match and allow states five fiscal years to acquire land for range construction or expansion projects. Read more

Firearms

When Turkey Hunting was Tough

By Glen Wunderlich

On a rabbit hunt some 40 years ago, Fast Frank and I discovered wild turkeys in Montmorency County. Neither of us knew much about the large birds other than what we had learned around the Thanksgiving dinner table. And, that was enough to cook up a plan to go after them during the spring season. Back then, permits could be issued to a pair of hunters and we were fortunate enough to be successful in the drawing for tags.

We had a plan that involved arriving at our chosen area a few days early to scout. We didn’t have much to go on, because there simply weren’t many birds anywhere in the state but we struck out to locate some form of sign: tracks, scat, or feathers – anything. We were familiar with the state land east of Lewiston, so we monitored clearings where we had found fresh tracks.

Excited to find an obvious travel path, we formulated an ambush plan. Although I had studied the calls on cassette tape, I didn’t have the confidence to try calling afield and neither did Frank. So, we would hide and watch.

Frank constructed a natural blind in the middle of the field among a couple of trees and bushes. I fashioned a hideout on the edge of the field and just a few yards from the game trail the birds had been using based on our scouting efforts.

Opening day had us in our positions at first light. The hiding-and-watching plan would take some patience, because before the age of game cameras, it was impossible to know the timing patterns. Nonetheless, we would hope for the best.

Several hours had passed, when I detected some putt-putt sounds behind me. The excitement grew, as I realized the setup had put me within several yards of the approaching group.

My limited research – and, this was before the internet – had me thinking this was one of the wariest creatures on earth. The eyesight and hearing of wild turkeys was beyond comprehension, so I didn’t move a muscle, as the sounds of their approach grew louder; heck, I wasn’t about to turn my head or even to blink. The plan was working to perfection, but I had yet to see one set of walking drumsticks. I sat motionless and waited.

I did happen to notice some movement at long last. Alas, it was Fast Frank waking from a nap and stretching his arms. My hapless partner got a good look at the birds, but not until they were scampering away from us on the well-traveled trail; I never saw them.

As it turned out, the blown opportunity put us in the 90 percentile of unsuccessful turkey hunters. We did almost everything right to take one of the 400 or so birds killed that year, but close doesn’t equal drumsticks.

Thanks to the efforts of conservationist/hunters and their funding from license fees and excise taxes on gear, the paltry population of wild turkeys has grown and stabilized in all of the Lower Peninsula and some of the farm country in the Upper Peninsula. Michigan hunters now bag over 30,000 birds annually with an impressive 30 percent harvest rate. I’ll join the throng of hopefuls next week, because these are the “good ol’ days!”

Hunting

NSSF Praises President Trump’s Rejection of U.N. Arms Trade Treaty

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the firearms industry trade association, praised President Donald Trump’s rejection of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty that was signed by the Obama Administration, but was never ratified. President Trump delivered the announcement at the NRA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Friday, April 26, noting, “We’re taking our signature back. The U.N. will soon receive notice that we are rejecting this treaty.”

“President Trump’s rejection of this ill-advised treaty is a win for the American people and a win for America’s firearms and ammunition industry” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “President Trump, today, reasserted American sovereignty of our inherent rights. This demonstrates again that this administration continues to deliver on the promise to protect Second Amendment rights and value the contributions of the firearms industry to our freedoms and economy.”

The U.N Arms Trade Treaty was signed by Secretary of State John Kerry in 2013 and sent to the U.S. Senate for ratification but was never taken up for a vote. The treaty was intended to control the international trade in firearms under the guise of protecting human rights. The National Shooting Sports Foundation strongly opposed the treaty as it would have exposed the firearms and ammunition industry to a confusing web of international regulations that would not have contributed to curbing illegal arms trafficking, protecting human rights or guaranteeing the rights of United States citizens.

International arms sales remain highly regulated by U.S. law and this action has no effect upon these stringent export controls. Read more

Firearms
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