Wolf hunting?
I wonder if there would be a hunting season for White-tailed Deer if the population was only 500 animals.
hunting
I totally agree. Just watch the video posted on your home page of this lovely young girl, duck hunting with her father on Harsens Island. It's speaks volumes of what bonding and spending time with your kids means to a parent. Teaching them the importantence of conservation of a sustainable resource such as ducks and geese. The DNR is doing a wonderful job maintaining these wetlands. Lets not let the budget cuts take this away. Where will these kids be without something like hunting and the lessons learned.
One vote for Quality
Dave (and Jennifer Chambers), Thanks to both of you for your informative and unbiased articles regarding Quality Deer Management (QDM). I hunt in the northeast Thumb and similar to Randy Rutkowski of Ubly, my neighbors and I have created a QDM co-op approaching 1000 acres in size. We￢ﾀﾙre in our 4th year and harvest opportunities for 2ￂﾽ to 3ￂﾽ-year-old-bucks continues to increase annually. Sure, we had a couple of lean years when we started passing up the young (dumb) bucks, but now the pipeline is filled and we couldn￢ﾀﾙt be happier. Many of us may not get buck this year or next, as an older (wiser) buck is extremely challenging to hunt. But these older bucks provide an excitement in the woods like none other during the hunting season. It wasn￢ﾀﾙt until these older bucks became present that sparring, scraping, and fighting became more common. Responding to calls and decoys actually works now, because the mature bucks have fewer does available and the competition to breed gets intense. There￢ﾀﾙs no turning back for us and I￢ﾀﾙm sure that others would appreciate the results themselves, if they would just give it a try. I￢ﾀﾙm fortunate to be in a well supported QDM area, but others not sure where to turn can call the QDMA at 800-209-3337, where they￢ﾀﾙll be directed to QDM contacts in their hunting area. To them I say, try it! You￢ﾀﾙll wish you started years ago! Paul P. / Huron County
QDM
Dear Dave & Readers:
As I suspect everything worthwhile takes time and patience. And implementing a QDM program is no different from any other cultural change to traditions or thinking. As a former Regional Director for Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) my perpective is one of appriciation, as well as one with frustration generated from our Michigan DNR. Within my capacity as a Regional Director I served on the Wildllife Recreation Conservation Commiitee in Lansing with DNR Staff & State Representatives concerning QDM proposals. Certainly during my tenure I was exposed to attitudes and certain protocols that prevented wildlife education and land stewardship programs. The DNRs positions regarding wildlife Education is one of "we are not in the business of educating hunters" In other words, its up to the general public. With that said, many hunters believe our state agency has worked hard to protect buck age classes - decisions affecting hunting licensing for implementing a restrictied second buck license was not intended to protect bucks with any certainty of increasing buck age classes. To my surprize, the intended second restricted buck license was merely implemented to provide opportunities for those hunters who had not harvested a yearling buck yet. In fact, the DNRs harvest reports indicating a very high yearling buck harvest percentage drove their decision making by highthening their image by expanding a deer herd that met the desires of the masses or the hunting public. From their prepective lowering the negative feedback recieved from deer hunters season after season means renewed licensing sales. As a result, we have a Michigan deer herd that pretty much meets the demands of the hunting public, but - WAY TO MANY DEER THAN THE HABITAT CAN SUSTAIN.
In 2001 Dr James Kroll; better known as Dr Deer from Autin Texas came to Michigan to put on a seminar at the Ubly Fox Hunters Club in Ubly Michigan relating to expanding deer herds, hunter education, nutrition, genetics, and the importance of buck age structure. Many of the DNR's top staff attended the seminar - but I really dont think they listened very well. Dr. Kroll insisted Michigan Deer Management was at a deer management crossroads. In fact, Dr. Kroll had predicted what would happen to Michigans habitat and potential diseases if left alone many years before it came to furition. Traditional Deer Management (TDM) was prudent for restoration years regarding reestablishing deer herds across their range. However, the long term management stategys have far to many negative impacts than the positive. In my oppinion, its antiquated thinking for todays expanded deer herds. Well, lets just say Michigans own deer researcher John Ozoga has not been able to shift the bureaucracy and thinking of managing our states bogeying deer herd. So whats the answer, seek the knowledge from those who are willing to share it. That's the beauty of becoming a Member of the QDMA. Bill Moritz from the Michigan DNR told me during the heigth of recieveing numberous QDM proposals across the state of Michigan that "QDMA would end up being just another wildlife organization with a flashy magazine collecting dues from its members"
I beg to differ on that, State Agencies complain that deer hunters are spoiled - but who spoiled them. They sit back and criticize TV programing and the shift in hunters attitudes,but remain unwilling to implement stategys that have the best interest of the habitat and the whitetail deer. Having such an organization come down the pike at this time of our lives will reshape deer management as we know it. Those state agencys that are still waiting for QDMA and QDM to fail will lose even more confidence of the hunting public. Is it their pride. Can pride be a weakness - I think so. In any case, dont wait for your state agency to provide you with a quality program - JOIN the QDMA and start enjoying the deeper attributes of real conservation and land stewardhip. Leave a footprint in your hunter area that you will be pround of long after your gone.
May the Magic of the Whtietail Forever Enrich Your life.
Perry Silvio Russo
One vote for Quality
QDM Works.
Hello Dave I agree with your comments in "one vote for quality". I have been practicing quality deer management for nearly 10 years. I am pleased with the results, more mature bucks and betting hunting (rattling and grunting works great). I don't harvest as many bucks (more does though) but I do see many during the year as our group passes on these immature males. My children enjoy hunting as well and embrace the idea. My son shot a 6 pt last year for his first deer and is looking forward to taking a doe and a more mature buck this fall. QDM works...pass it on.
Wal-Mart Sports
Yesterday I went to the new Wal-Marts in Livonia for the first time. I was just buring some time and looking to see what they have towards hunting articles. To my surprise, not much. A few bullets (locked up) and some knifes and other little items. NO camo clothing, nothing pertaining to hunting in a large fashion. I know that I would not find 'guns' because they pulled them from all their stores. I guess what I am saying is that if your a hunter, don't waste your time at Wal-Marts.
Michigan fires
Fires not only destroy the woodlands and homes but it destroys the homes for all of the animal that live in the wild. Does anyone care if their homes are burned and they are homeless.? Some one must. -If I was younger I would volunteer to help.
Fly Fishing
It was all my pleasure and I do it again, same way, any time.
Keep your fly Dry.
Jason
Fred Trost
No!!! - I was stunned, frozen with disbelief. Fred Trost was dead? What? How? Why? Oh man!!! How come I didn't hear about this sooner? How could someone as caring, big, and important as Fred have a life threatening illness and not make the headlines? I feel ashamed I didn't know sooner. Probably couldn't have done anything, but I would've done something. One of my outdoors heros is gone. There aren't many like him, or like Ted anymore. Just a bunch of people who want to make money killing the next big one. Fred carried on a tradition started by Mort Neff, seeded by the great Fred Bear. Through Fred I feel connected to these men. Which reminds me. I always felt Fred, Trost that is, was named Fred for a reason, and he lived up to it. My Thursday's haven't been the same since he left, and now the outdoors will never feel the same either. Just like Nascar without Earnhardt is not the same. I missed you when you were off the air, and I will miss you more than ever now Fred. Thank you for all you did for Michigan, the outdoors, and Joe Lunchbucket. I'm glad I had the honor of meeting you at an Outdoors Fair. My Thursday's will always be Fred's day. Goodbye.
Wild boar
Drita, Michigan has not typically been a place to hunt wild hogs like they do in the southern U.S. and California. But last year the DNR let everybody know that we have a number of free-ranging hog populations now, notably in the south central Lower Peninsula (south of Jackson), the middle of the Lower Peninsula (between Saginaw and Grand Rapids and up into the Houghton Lake area) and up around Marquette in the U.P.
Because of their potential to damage crops and ecosystems, and spread disease, the DNR's position on feral swine is pretty simple: KILL THEM. You must have a valid hunting license, of course. Any kind will do. And you must follow game laws (i.e. no blasting away from the rooftop of your suburban home).
I personally haven't encountered any wild hogs here and don't know anyone who has. But they're out there. There's more info on Michigan's wild hogs, including a color-coded map, on the DNR's Web site:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363-155439--,00.html
Thanks for writing.
WILD BOAR
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS WILD BOAR IN THE WILD NOT ON FARMS OR HUNT CLUBS ANYWHERE IN MICHIGAN. IFYOU COULD LET ME KNOW I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
DRITA
Pheasant/deer forecasts
Mike, regarding your question about the deer forecast: Rodney Clute, Michigan's big game specialist, says the science guys have no reason to think last winter had any negative impact on the deer herd. The 2006 fawns survived the winter in good shape, he said, and 2007 appears to be a normal fawning year.
Beautiful? Sure. Good? Not so much
Scott, you might be surprised to learn that the DNR actually considers Michigan's goose population to be under the target number. Scores of farmers, golfers and lake dwellers will find that hard to believe -- after they're done cleaning off their shoes.
Bravo to you, by the way, for opening up your farm to hunters. It sounds like the knucklehead factor won out and ruined what should have been a good thing for them. I hope the outfitter solution works out for you.
Thanks for writing.
Pheasant/deer forecasts
Thanks for writing, Mike. Al Stewart, the DNR's upland bird expert, says 2007 pheasant numbers should be similar to last year's based on winter and spring weather. Those estimates are preliminary; they'll know more after the mail-carrier brood survey, which starts in early August. The key, as always, is finding the prime habitat. And the Thumb is loaded with it. I'll pass on the deer info as soon as I see it.
National Wildlife Federation's Hunter and Angler Climate Change Campaign
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has launched a state-wide campaign on Global Climate Change based on the results of a National poll.
NWF conducted an unprecedented comprehensive nationwide survey of licensed hunters and anglers about their attitudes on global climate change that revealed that a majority of sportsmen are witnessing the effects of global climate change and believe immediate action is necessary to address it. Complete poll results are available at www.targetglobalwarming.org
The campaign is very grassroots based. I am building a coalition of 50 hunters and anglers across Michigan to become presenters and/or activists (level of involvement is their choice) to help us spread the word and show support on behalf of the sportsmen/women community. This is a very target-specific outreach program in which we are asking the sportsmen and women to stand up for wildlife and their habitat against global climate change with one unified voice. As most of us know, it's the outdoorsmen and women who are the true conservationists among us and I'm looking for those people in the hunter/angler community who want to preserve the conservation work put forth over the years. Some examples of activist roles might be to include an article about climate change impacts on wildlife in their club￢ﾀﾙs newsletter, contact their elected officials urging support for dedicated wildlife funding in climate legislation; begin habitat restoration projects that benefit wildlife and landscapes likely to be affected by climate change; request a meeting with the editorial board of the local newspaper to explain the threats of global climate change to wildlife; volunteer for training in order to be a qualified presenter of the hunter/angler power point; give the established sportsman PowerPoint presentation to sportsmen/women groups (these could be their own associations they belong to), attend elected official town hall meetings and ask questions on behalf of the sportsman/woman community or even tell their story of observed changes on the landscape in a media interview. The overarching goal of course is to urge Congress to push legislation that reduces emissions by 2% annually...a very achievable goal. Again, level of involvement is their choice.
With that said, I'm writing to ask if you or anyone you know would be interested in getting involved with the campaign. The only big commitment is to attend a free ￢ﾀﾜtrain the presenter￢ﾀﾝ day on July 12 at the MUCC (Michigan United Conservation Clubs) headquarters in Lansing. It is from 9am ￢ﾀﾓ 4pm and the attendees will receive all of the climate change science they could ever want; they will be professionally trained to give the powerpoint presentation (which many of us have paid good money to receive as part of advancing our career); they will see the Global Climate Change Hunter and Angler PowerPoint presentation, and participants will be fed breakfast, lunch and snacks! Not to mention the networking opportunities with other Michigan sportsmen and women.
If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Kelli Alfano @ 734-353-0029 or changedclimate@yahoo.com. I want to make sure that anyone interested isn￢ﾀﾙt overlooked when sending the final invitations!
Kelli Alfano ￢ﾀﾓ Outreach Consultant National Wildlife Federation changedclimate@yahoo.com 734-353-0029
