Introducing the QuietKat Portable Solar Charging Station

QuietKat electric bikes rely on the battery power to maximize their potential. Extend your range with the Portable Solar Charging Station! Connects directly to the bike battery, the solar panel can charge your battery out in the field without a generator or extra power storage. Set up the panel while you sit in your deer stand, spend time on the water fishing, or while hanging out at the campsite. Charge time is roughly the same as charging from a traditional outlet, as long as the panel is in direct sunlight. Carry the panel easily in the included bag, which fits nicely into any of the QuietKat Pannier bags for easy transport.

QuietKat.com | (970) 328-2399 | info@quietkat.com

General

Deadly Details Dominate the New AVIAN-X HDR Feeder Decoy

Grand Prairie, Tx– The new HDR Feeder by Avian-X perfectly imitates a mature hen feeding with her high exposed back and lowered primary wing feathers. Place her with the new HDR Strutter following behind for the ultimate mid-day to late-morning decoy set up. When turkeys are still in larger flocks, another deadly early season tactic is to add a few hens to the decoy mix. The HDR Feeder’s natural posture is perfect for this ploy, and adding two or three decoys creates a natural-looking flock.

The HDR decoys’ blow-molded construction from hand-carved designs provides unbeatable detail and durability in this premium turkey decoy. Like all HDR decoys, the HDR Feeder features rubber-molded leg stubs for a natural appearance. Her lifelike paint scheme, feather detail and flocked rump section leave nothing to chance.

The decoy comes complete with a carry bag and lightweight composite stake that safely secures and stores in the tail. Like all Avian-X HDR decoys, the Feeder has a realistic movement without an unnatural spin. Read more

Hunting

New Report Shows Economic Importance of Wood Products Industry

Where would you live without the lumber your house is built of?

What would you do without furniture, maple syrup and toilet paper?

Wood products are important, and so are the industries that create them. A new report from the Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance summarizes estimates of economic contributions to local economies in 20 northern states.

“Forest products industries are an important part of the economy in many northern states,” said Jeff Stampfly, Michigan’s state forester and chief of the Forest Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “Sustainable forest management provides wood and paper products we use every day. It also provides habitat for wildlife, clean water and air. It is increasingly recognized as an important part of mitigating climate change. This report helps quantify one aspect of those benefits.“

Forest products directly provide 540,000 jobs in region

The forest products industry starts with businesses that manage forests and also includes loggers, sawmills, furniture and solid-wood-product manufacturers, OSB and composite board plants as well as pulp and paper mills. These businesses directly provide 540,000 jobs and support more 1.4 million jobs in the Northeast and Midwest. Read more

General

Michigan: listen for frogs and toads this spring

You can help track frog and toad population trends in Michigan by listening for their calls this spring. Data is collected throughout the state, and anyone who is interested is welcome to participate. Frog and toad survey data collection takes place April through July, so now is the perfect time to plan your survey route and brush up on frog and toad calls!

Find the frog and toad survey instructions and route description form, along with calls and other information, on our Michigan’s Frogs and Toads page.

Email DNR-FrogSurvey@Michigan.gov with your survey route or questions. New survey routes should be submitted by April for approval. Survey routes should include 10 different stops that will be surveyed three times during the survey period.

Wildlife

Michigan: mowing snow for butterflies

After a flurry of snow covered the Flat River State Game Area, DNR staff mowed over the snow to benefit the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. These pale blue, dime-sized butterflies can only be found in small pockets of savanna habitat where wild lupine grows in the open sunlight. Karner blues depend on lupine for survival, as females lay their eggs on the plant and emerging caterpillars feed on the leaves.

mowed snowFor Karner blue butterfly populations to thrive, the area must be periodically burned with fire or mowed to remove any large woody species that may cast shade on the lupine. To protect the lupine and over-wintering egg clutches, mowing can only occur when at least 4 inches of snow has accumulated. This winter habitat management activity will produce flourishing native wildflowers and fluttering insects this spring and summer.

Learn more about the Karner blue butterfly.

Wildlife

Bats in your building? Now’s the time to check

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding property owners to check your home and other man-made structures for bats. If you find any, you still have time to exclude them before bat maternity season begins.

Bat maternity season is the time when bats gather to give birth and raise their young, and it runs from April 15 through Aug. 15. During this time, it is illegal to block bats from their roosts. If bats are excluded during maternity season, flightless young can become trapped inside the structure and die. Therefore, now is the time to check your home for any entry points, ensure that no bats are present and make any necessary repairs. Read more

Wildlife

Leupold Launches New-for-2021 Mark 3HD Line of Riflescopes

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear sport optics, has announced the arrival of its new Mark 3HD line of tactical riflescopes. With MIL-based adjustments, HD lenses, an exposed elevation adjustment dial, and a low-profile power selector ring, this series delivers everything a shooter could ask for.

Featuring Leupold’s Elite Optical System, the Mark 3HD delivers excellent dawn-to-dusk light transmission for a bright image when it matters most, elite-level glare reduction in harsh light, and the resolution and clarity that diehard shooters demand. 30mm maintubes across the entire line allow for more elevation adjustment.

1.5-4×20, 3-9×40, 4-12×40, 6-18×50, and 8-24×50 models will be available in early 2021, in several illuminated and non-illuminated reticle options.

“The marketplace has been calling for more versatile, do-it-all riflescopes with features that are at home on competition guns and personal defense rifles,” said John Snodgrass, Tactical Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “The Mark 3HD line offers those features–the MIL-based adjustments, the exposed turrets, the right reticles–all alongside the class-leading optical performance Leupold is known for.”

Six reticles will be available, depending on model. Three are available with FireDot illumination, creating a visible aiming point in any light condition. Select models may also feature a precision side focus adjustment. With the exception of the 1.5-4×20 models, the entire Mark 3HD line features Leupold’s P5 dial with 0.1-MIL adjustments. Read more

Optics

Butler Creek Featherlight Bino Caddy

New Bino Harness Offers Versatile, Dependable Optics Protection

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. –– Butler Creek®, maker of smart, field-proven hunting and shooting accessories, announced today that the company’s new Featherlight Bino Caddy is now available. Made of the same patent-pending breathable closed cell foam material as the popular Butler Creek Featherlight sling, the Butler Creek Bino Caddy offers hunters a comfortable, dependable way to protect their glass in the field.

Butler Creek’s Featherlight caddy comes in three sizes to fit 10×42, 12×50 or 15×56 roof prism binoculars. A three-dimensional top flap keeps out dust and moisture, while silent suede materials and the Featherlight backing help protect hunters’ binoculars from impacts and abrasions. Breathable and cushioned, the Featherlight material is as effective at protecting optics as it is comfortable for users. The innovative slotted foam backer not only allows trapped heat to escape but it also provides additional cushion when used under heavy back packs and other accessories. Read more

Optics

Winter brings unique birds to Michigan

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Winter in Michigan is a great time to go birding. While many of our summer species have headed for warmer places to spend the winter, for a number of species, Michigan is their warm place. Northern forest and tundra species, like this northern hawk owl (pictured) and the snowy owl, make special appearances in Michigan during the winter months. Some of our summer residents stick around in the chilly weather but change their summer finery for more muted winter colors, which makes for plenty of fun challenges in winter birding. Find birding trails and winter birding opportunities.

Wildlife

Michigan: watch the February NRC meeting live online

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission’s next regular meeting is Thursday, Feb. 11. Due to COVID-19 public health and safety guidelines, the meeting again will be hosted in an online format.

You can register to watch the meeting live online using this link. After registering, you’ll receive an email with info on how to join the webinar. Those who want to provide public comment should call 517-881-9630 or email NRC@Michigan.gov.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. with the Committee of the Whole, and the agenda includes additional information related to migratory game bird hunting, Pure Michigan Hunt winners and land transactions. Read more

Wildlife
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