ThinkingAfield.org

ATHENS, GA (August 3, 2020) – The most detailed and instructional guide to aging live whitetail bucks in the field, Observing & Evaluating Whitetails by wildlife photographer Dave Richards and wildlife biologist Al Brothers of Texas, has been expanded and republished with new color photos, more multi-year buck aging sequences, and 36 more pages. It is available now at www.qdma.com/oew.

First published in 2003 in partnership with QDMA, Observing & Evaluating Whitetails was a ground-breaking book, the crowning achievement of Richards’ 25 years pursuing whitetails with a camera. Richards has followed the lives of untold numbers of wild bucks across multiple years, documenting with his camera the changes in body, behavior and antler size as they age. The first edition of his book compiled photographic aging sequences for 17 unique bucks, and the new edition adds four more for a total of 21. Each sequence is accompanied by Richards’ commentary on the changes to look for, helping any hunter sharpen their skills at identifying age characteristics in the field. Nearly 100 additional photos highlight the body characteristics of each individual age class from fawn to post-maturity.

In addition, Richards teaches hunters techniques for estimating Boone & Crockett antler score in the field. This section of the book includes live photos of 35 unique bucks (eight more than the first edition) that were later measured, so their antler dimensions and final score are known. Measurement charts for each buck are presented alongside photographs of the live deer. Read more

Check trees in August for signs of the Asian longhorned beetle

This year, many Michiganders have found time to reacquaint themselves with the outdoors. Whether you spend time walking, hiking or exploring neighborhood parks, you can help protect Michigan’s trees by spending a little of your outdoors time checking for signs of the Asian longhorned beetle.

Asian longhorned beetle in the U.S.

The Asian longhorned beetle was first detected in the U.S. in 1996, when a Brooklyn, New York resident noticed a large, black beetle with irregular white spots and black-and-white banded antennae and reported it. Since that time, the Asian longhorned beetle has been found in 20 locations in six states, including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio and, most recently, South Carolina. Read more

PHOENIX — Earlier this month, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) received an alert from one of its solar-powered remote water sensors, located in the Chocolate Mountains near Yuma, indicating that a wildlife water catchment – critical to wildlife survival – was dry.

The sensors, developed and installed by the United States Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), deliver timely, remote notifications of significant water loss.

Concerned for the well-being of the animals, an AZGFD team hiked – in scorching heat – nearly 2 miles of steep terrain to assess the situation. Upon arrival, the team discovered the empty water catchment…and 15 bighorn sheep standing nearby. A broken pipe was responsible for the water shortage. The team mitigated the problem by turning on a back-up water system.

Without the real-time data from the electronic water measuring system, AZGFD would have not found the failure for weeks, which could have resulted in the death of bighorn sheep and other wild animals. In total, YPG has developed and installed four remote sensors on its property, where AZGFD manages several water catchments. Read more