Tag: deer hunting

Muzzleloaders for the Single-Shot Mentality

By Glen Wunderlich

Old Man Winter finally arrived and just in time for some muzzleloading deer hunting. Actually, he made his appearance on the final day of regular firearms deer season in Shiawassee County, much to the chagrin of commuters but much to the delight of late-season deer hunters.

snow-laden spruce

Snow has always signified a refreshing change in an otherwise drab outdoor environment turned gray after final leaf drop. It sparkles in the moonlight like billions of diamonds sprinkled from the inner city to the outermost reaches of the country. It just seems to clean everything up. Beyond its natural beauty, however, a backdrop of white can also highlight the presence of wildlife. Read more

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Michigan’s Hunting License Revenue Continues to Drop

Steve Beyer, DNR Research and Management Section supervisor whines about not getting an increase in fees since 1996.  What he fails to mention is that fees were increased a few years ago – 50 percent to be exact – for antlerless permits.  So, how’s that working out?

The real problem is how the herd is managed:  for numbers, not quality.  People from Michigan hunt elsewhere for quality whitetails – Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, etc., because of better buck-to-doe ratios and ultimately better bucks.

Driving up the cost of licenses will eliminate more hunters from the pool, so there’s always a tradeoff.

Revenue will only have a chance of increasing if the quality of hunting gets better.

Here are three suggestions:  1)  Lower cost of antlerless permits to balance the herd and decrease car/deer accidents.  2)  Allow only one buck per season.  3)  Mandate antler restrictions state-wide to a minimum of 4 antler points per side for several years.

Maybe a bit radical but if we keep doing what we have been doing, we’ll keep getting what we have gotten.

 

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Southern Michigan Deer Opener

By Glen Wunderlich

Opening day of firearms deer season didn’t go as planned. Mother Nature saw to that by sending heavy cloud cover across southern Michigan. Hunters that had set up for long-range shooting had no choice but to wait it out. Normally, the eager throng of deer hunters provides the percussion section of the music that is opening morning. This time, the band was missing a few drummers.

Opening Day Fog, Shiawassee County, Michigan

Certainly, the fog was a contributor to the relative silence. So, too was the fact that opening day fell on a Tuesday. For me, however, Murphy’s Law joined forces with nature to force plan B into action. Read more

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Another Hunt

By Glen Wunderlich

Yesterday’s afternoon session of deer hunting in the strong winds found me in a chair blind overlooking a large destination field of brassicas.  Only one deer was spotted – a yearling six-point buck working the food plot at the far end.  The young buck lingered for approximately 20 minutes and exited into an adjoining woodlot.  Fortunately for the buck, no other hunters were on hand.

This morning’s temperature is a rather balmy 43 degrees and, once again, high winds are predicted.  Hopefully, they’ll hold off for this Saturday early session – yes, opening weekend.

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Indiana Closes Investigation into Hunter’s Death

A good lesson learned.  Don’t try to finish off a deer with a knife.  They can suddenly “come to life” and windmill-kick like a mule on steroids.

ALBION – Indiana Conservation Officers have closed the investigation of a hunter’s death at Chain O’Lakes State Park after the Noble County Coroner’s office ruled the death was due to a lacerated liver, possibly from an encounter the hunter had with a deer he shot. Read more

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