Michigan Update on Confirmed Cougar Reports

No matter what you call them – pumas, panthers, mountain lions or cougars – these mysterious mammals, and suspected sightings of them, get people talking. The DNR wants residents to know the department is listening and keeping a careful eye on where cougars reportedly are turning up.

This year, the DNR has six confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula: one each in Chippewa, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft counties and three in Delta County. In February, DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting the U.P. winter wolf track survey. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars.

a cougar picture from a trail camera in Michigan

The confirmed reports are rare. Since 2008 there have been 55 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan and all but one have been in the Upper Peninsula. It’s also important to note that the reports could be multiple sightings of the same animal.

Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the state’s landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s. Despite the occasional reported sightings, wildlife experts say there’s no evidence of a breeding population in the state.

“DNA analysis of two cougars poached in the U.P., for example, showed the animals likely dispersed from their established populations in South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska,” said Cody Norton, large carnivore specialist with the DNR. Read more

Wildlife

POMA and Mossy Oak Announce Pinnacle Award Winners

Johnstown, PA – The Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) 2020 Pinnacle Award honorees were announced by Jake Meyer, Public Relations Manager at Mossy Oak, during POMA’s Virtual Conference on Tuesday, August 11. Mossy Oak has been the presenting partner of the Pinnacle Awards since the program’s inception in 2008, and this year they were joined by Duluth Pack.

The Pinnacle Awards honor content creators for remarkable achievement in traditional outdoor sports-focused communications, including writing, photography/illustration/art, and broadcasting as well as content focused on wildlife conservation.

“The outdoor media has always been a key part of what we do,” stated Toxey Haas, founder and CEO of Mossy Oak. “We started our company with their help and we’ve grown it with the same. They’re our business partners as well as our friends.”

“We’re proud to sponsor the Pinnacle Awards to recognize the best of the best every year,” Ben Maki, Mossy Oak’s Chief Marketing Officer, added. “It’s an important way to reward excellence in outdoor journalism and encourage more in the future.”

 

2020 POMA PINNACLE AWARD WINNERS

Art/Photography:

Winner – Keith Crowley “Danger in Yellowstone”, Hawke Optics – Hawke Life

Outstanding Achievement – Keith Crowley, “Falls Bear”, Hawke Optics – Hawke Life

 

Book:

Winner – Richard Bernier, “Gleanings from 50 years on the Whitetail Track for Reviewers”, Big Whitetail Consultants

Outstanding Achievement – Kristine Houtman, “Why Women Hunt”, Wild River Press of Oregon

 

Broadcast:

Winner – Nick Hoffman, “Nick’s Wild Ride – Full Curls and Float Planes”, Outdoor Channel

Outstanding Achievement – Ryan Gresham, “The 24-Hour Antelope”, YouTube

 

Conservation:

Winner – Michael Fernald, “The Land Between the Lakes”, NWTF TV

Outstanding Achievement – Paul Wait, “Hunter Recruitment”, Delta Waterfowl Magazine

 

Magazine:

Winner – Shane Townsend, “Fly for a Try: A Day on Scotland’s Famed River Tay”, Hatch Magazine

Outstanding Achievement – Tom Keer, “A Bunny Pulpit”, Outdoor Life Magazine

 

Newspaper/Web:

Winner – Ken Perrotte, “Mentor Young Hunters”, Fredericksburg Freelance Star

Outstanding Achievement – Phil Phillips, “Antis Cry to Close Hunting as Grizzlies Expand Range”, NRA’s Hunters’ Leadership Forum website Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Krieghoff Introduces the K-80 Parcours Competition Shotgun

The new Krieghoff K-80 34” Parcours O/U competition shotgun takes aim at the longer target presentations thrown in Sporting Clays and FITASC. Built on the proven K-80 frame, the 34” Parcours features an extended sighting plane for a distinct and accurate sight picture.

Well-balanced and light-weight, the K-80 34” Parcours facilitates a smoother and more deliberate swing, keeping the shooter online after recoil. Add in Krieghoff’s trademark reliability and the 34” Parcours becomes the top choice for crushing targets.

“As target presentations in Sporting Clays evolve with greater technical difficulty at greater distances, we at Krieghoff saw the need to put the 34” Parcours in our shooters’ hands”, explains Alex Diehl, COO of Krieghoff International. “The level of expertise and the evolution of shooting techniques among competitors shooting the course today is impressive. Our goal with the 34” Parcours is to help certain shooters that benefit from a longer sighting plane to elevate their game even more” Read more

Firearms

Brown Booby Makes Rare Appearance in Missouri Ozarks

The seabird made history after popping up along the Current River in Ripley County.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri welcomes numerous flying visitors throughout the year, but the state recently made history after a seabird was spotted in the Ozarks. Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) staff have confirmed a Brown Booby has shown up along the Current River in Ripley County.

The bird was first spotted by Debbie Prance-Orosz this past Saturday while she and her family were out enjoying the river. Not knowing what the bird was, she snapped a photo and posted it to her Facebook page.

“We first got word of it after it was posted to Facebook this past weekend wondering what it was,” said MDC Forester and avid birder Steve Paes. “We didn’t know where it was, other than somewhere on the Current River. After asking around, I got a tip on its location. On Monday, I set out on the river with Cindy Bridges with the Missouri Birding Society and we eventually found it perched on a dead tree.”

Brown Boobies are large, long-winged seabirds that are often seen from southern Florida south on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Central America to northern South America.

According to MDC State Ornithologist Sarah Kendrick, this is the first recorded sighting of a Brown Booby in Missouri. Read more

Wildlife

Hogue Announces Wrapler Adhesive Firearm Grip Line

Henderson, NV – Hogue Inc.® is excited to announce their new Wrapter Adhesive Firearm Grip line. Utilizing the same precision fit standards as their OverMolded® rubber grips, Hogue has engineered a remarkably thin grip solution for polymer frame pistols. In order to increase grip and performance, shooters have previously resorted to custom stippling which dramatically compromised their firearm’s factory frame. Hogue now offers an effective alternative through their Wrapter adhesive system that will provide superior grip and hold while preserving the original condition of the firearm.

Wrapter Adhesive Grips are available in a soft rubber material that emulates the renowned Hogue rubber feel. Each Wrapter grip has been methodically designed to conform to the exact contours and unique features of popular polymer frame models. With minimal bulk and a multi-piece outline, every grip provides optimal coverage. A balance of sweat-resistant and non-irritational properties provides a natural and comfortable grip experience. The adhesive is designed to create a long-lasting bond when activated by heat, but can also be removed without leaving a sticky residue behind. Read more

Firearms

SureFire SF RYDER 9-Ti2

Fountain Valley, CA — SureFire, LLC, manufacturer of the world’s finest—and most innovative—illumination tools and tactical products, is proud to announce the release of the new SF RYDER 9-Ti2 suppressor, the next generation in 9mm suppressors.

The successor to SureFire’s popular SF RYDER 9-Ti, the SF RYDER 9-Ti2 features a new, thicker fluted titanium outer tube that substantially increases the SF RYDER 9-Ti2’s rigidity and improves overall performance by ensuring suppressor-to-barrel concentricity, further minimizing POI shift. Inside, SureFire’s heat-treated, U.S. mill-certified stainless-steel baffles feature a new interface, and the SF RYDER 9-Ti2’s proprietary booster assembly is revised for even more precise alignment. These changes result in increased accuracy and rock-solid reliability. The booster’s anti-friction coating also reduces carbon buildup for consistent high performance, round after round.

Weighing a mere 10.7 ounces, the SF RYDER 9-Ti2 is one of the lightest suppressors in its class, and it advances SureFire’s proven formula for an ultra-quiet, low-profile 9mm suppressor. Its patented design reduces sound by 28 dB at the shooter’s ear when compared to an unsuppressed weapon, helping to preserve hearing and reduce environmental noise at the range or in the field. It’s also an ideal tool for introducing beginners to pistol shooting. Reduced noise allows for easier communication between shooter and instructor, and it allows the shooter to focus on technique with less intimidation. The SF RYDER 9-Ti2 offers improved accuracy and faster follow-up shots. Regardless of your experience level, the SF RYDER 9-Ti2 will make your shooting experience more enjoyable by significantly reducing sound while delivering minimal and consistent point-of-aim, point-of-impact shift. Read more

Optics

R4K Scouting Camera from Black Gate Hunting Products

Higher standards and lower prices. That’s the name of the game for Black Gate Hunting Products. When that mantra is applied to the trail camera industry it results in the R4K, an innovative new trail camera that is packed full of impressive features and won’t break the bank.

The R4K features an extreme high definition 32 MP camera and a 5 MP CMOS sensor. With a multitude of optional photo quality settings, including 5 MP, 8 MP, 12 MP, 16 MP, 20 MP, and 24 MP, you’re sure to find a setting that captures the right level of detail and maximizes your storage capacity. Capable of three shooting modes – Photo, Video, or Photo+Video – the cameras can shoot 4k quality video and also include multiple shooting options to tailor the set up for each specific user application.

Forget about having images of the back half of your quickly moving game. An ultra-wide detection zone means you’ll pick up every nearby motion and the near instant trigger speeds of 0.2-0.6 seconds ensures they’ll stay in frame of your photo. The fully automatic IR filter is coupled with 940NM No Glow technology and 45 IR LEDs to make this camera capable of capturing crystal-clear low light images. It also boasts an impressive sensing range and night-time lighting distance of 65 feet. All of this is driven by dual PIR sensors covering a full 120’ of angle. Read more

Hunting

SAF Joins Amicus Brief Challenging California Ammo Check

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation has joined four other gun rights organizations in an amicus brief supporting Olympic gold medalist Kim Rhode in her challenge of California’s onerous background check requirement to purchase ammunition.

SAF is joined by the Firearms Policy Coalition, Firearms Policy Foundation, California Gun Rights Foundation and the Madison Society Foundation. They are represented by attorney Joseph G.S. Greenlee. The case is known as Rhode v. Becerra.

Rhode, a world-renowned competitive shooter, is a California resident. She quickly challenged the California ammunition requirement, the first such background check mandate in the country, when it was adopted. According to the amicus brief, this scheme is “complex, deficient, and ineffective.” It places a burden on every law-abiding gun owner in the state and often requires people to make two trips to the store just to purchase ammunition, and it still refuses about 16 percent of lawful purchases. Read more

Ammunition

HOWA M1100 Rimfire Series Now Shipping

Legacy Sports Int’l is excited to announce that their NEW HOWA M1100 rimfire series is now shipping. Complete with the same Japanese precision and craftsmanship that all HOWA owners have come to know and love. The long awaited arrival of the HOWA rimfire series will be a hit with all rimfire enthusiasts.

The HOWA M1100 rimfire bolt action comes with …..

? Oversized tactical bolt handle

? 18” thread capped barrel

? 2 – 10 rd. detachable mags

? Available in 3 calibers – .22 LR & .22 WMR and 17 HMR. Read more

Firearms

Michigan: Drummond Island ORV Riders Advised to Use Extra Caution

Michigan Department of Natural Resources trail officials are asking off-road vehicle riders traveling the East Marble Head Trail Route on Drummond Island to use extra caution.

Over the next couple of months, timber harvesting and road building, with heavy equipment use, will be taking place.

“We are not closing the routes at this time, but if conditions change, closure may be necessary,” said Paul Gaberdiel, eastern Upper Peninsula trails specialist with the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division. “We are asking riders to please be patient and courteous. Give heavy equipment operators extra space and consideration, as there is no room for them to get off the roads.” Read more

Wildlife
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