Up North Journal
September 23, 2008
This weeks featured member is Up North Journal. This site was created by Michael Adams of Michigan and basically consists of a blog and podcast that seeks to educate people about the great outdoors and the importance of introducing our youth to the tradition of hunting and fishing. His son Mike actually co-hosts the podcast and believe me it is very informative and entertaining to listen to. The format of the show is some discussions about their most recent exerperiences together in the woods or on the water and then some updates about recent news in Michigan and throughout the United States that could affect your outdoor experience. A few good product reviews are also discussed. So if you are looking for an entertaining outdoor show check out the other Mike and Mike at http://www.upnorthjournal.com. Check out their member profile here!
CWD debate rages | battlecreekenquirer.com | The Enquirer
September 22, 2008
Darren Warner
From farmers to hunters to even politicians, people all over the state are upset over the recent ban on deer baiting.
In response to the discovery of the state’s first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a white-tailed deer from a privately owned cervid (POC) facility in Kent County in August, the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture implemented an immediate ban on all baiting and feeding of deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula.
People who depend on baiting for various reasons connected to hunting and apart from hunting, oppose the ban.
“I was surprised at the position of the DNR, based on the fact that a ban on baiting has had no effect on CWD in other states such as Wisconsin and Colorado,” said State Representative Joel Sheltrown (D-West Branch).
Sheltrown, chairman of the Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee, recommends another strategy.
“I have called for a more balanced approach that would lift the ban until Jan. 1, 2009. By then, we will have collected more testing data on other deer and it would allow farmers to recoup their economic losses,” Sheltrown said.
Hunter and rock star Ted Nugent agrees. “I am opposed to the ban because there’s no scientific evidence to support it. There is no link between feeding deer and CWD – unless the feed contains animal parts from an infected animal. Bureaucrats are spitting in the face of the very ideals they swore to uphold: that they would make decisions based on sound scientific evidence. Full Story
CWD debate rages | battlecreekenquirer.com | The Enquirer.
Access, weather only obstacles for elk hunters this year | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune
September 22, 2008
By Tribune Staff and Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Montana’s got elk and hunters by the thousands are planning for what could be a great season.
The state’s general elk hunting season opens Oct. 26.
“Hunters are going to see very healthy populations of elk and liberal hunting opportunities. If the weather works in hunters’ favor, and they do some advance work to gain access where it’s needed, plenty of elk are potentially available for harvest,” said Quentin Kujala, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife division management bureau chief.
Weather plays a huge role. For several years, Montana has seen mild winters and late snows. Kujala said that has contributed to lower elk harvests in some areas of the state, despite additional elk-hunting permits and more liberal seasons.
“This has been a pretty good weather year in Montana,” Kujala said. “We’re all hoping it leans in the hunters’ favor this fall.”
Hunters may obtain a free Hunting Access guide from the FWP region where they plan to hunt; another aide is the hunter tool kit on the FWP web site at www.fwp.mt.gov on the hunter access page.
Here is an overview of 2008 elk hunting opportunities in the state For Full Story click link below.
IT’S THE HUNT, NOT THE SHOT / Preparation is first step in the cure for buck fever
September 22, 2008
(09-17) 21:21 PDT — Each year in late summer, we search the mountain forests for one thing. Early this week, my son, Kris, found it.
On the forest floor, it looked like someone had scooped out a small crater in the dirt with a spoon, and 11 inches away we saw several small points, as if someone had jabbed the dirt with a pencil tip.
This sign means a buck with 22-inch antler spread was in the area. With the opening of mountain deer season Saturday, we have the start of a working plan. Now we have to track the game trails and try to find where this buck feeds, waters and beds down, and maybe find the does that he’s following.
Because of hot, dry conditions across California, the outlook for this year’s season is poor. Only about 10 percent of deer hunters are projected by Fish and Game to get their buck; and success is borderline impossible for those who hunt by driving on forest roads or do not scout. There are pockets of exceptions, such as a few specialized muzzleloader hunts and X zones in the remote northeastern region of the state, where buck numbers are high and permits are limited to just a handful and selected by lottery.
Some areas, such as the vast B zone in northwestern California, are projected to produce a 15 to 20 percent success rate. The slopes of the Sierra Nevada, where deer populations have crashed because of subdivisions built on historic migration routes and predation by mountain lions and coyotes, could produce results even worse than last year, where buck rates for hunters were as low as 3.7 percent in some areas.
Those who drive around forest roads looking for bucks, “deer trolling” as many call it, popular in Sequoia National Monument, Shasta-Trinity National Forest and a few other areas, have little chance Full Story
IT’S THE HUNT, NOT THE SHOT / Preparation is first step in the cure for buck fever.
For richer or for poorer? Hunting demographics spurs debate | PoughkeepsieJournal.com | Poughkeepsie Journal
September 22, 2008
By Bill Conners • Outdoors columnist
Hunting is a Rich Man’s Sport? Joe Proves It Isn’t, So there!
Here’s a quote from a published report of a few days ago: “Hunting is not a cheap alternative for a big vacation; hunting is not a poor man’s sport.”
Those words were offered up by Mark Duda, executive director of Responsive Management. The company does research centered on outdoor recreation and is based in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The Shenandoah River is a fly fishing mecca; I can’t testify as to the quality of the hunting in that area.
The article I was reading was prompted by a reported uptick in hunting and fishing license sales in New York State. The 2008-2009 licenses went on sale Aug. 18. As compared to this same time last year (a month into the season), there have been an additional 75,000 licenses sold over last year.
Duda says historic data show that housing slumps can influence the numbers. The building and related industries slow down, folks have more time on their hands, so they pick up their guns and fishing rods and head off to the woods and streams Full Story
Kentucky Excelling in Elk – Outdoors – Chattanoogan.com
September 22, 2008
Tennessee to hunt first elk in 2009
by Richard Simms
posted September 20, 2008
Kentucky's elk herd now numbers more than 10,000 animals
GATLINBURG, Tenn. – It’s easy to see that David Ledford is passionate about elk. Speaking to a crowd of outdoor writers at this week’s Southeastern Outdoor Press Association Conference in Gatlinburg, he seemed to almost tremble with excitement. He admits that he has found his niche with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Ledford is the director of the RMEF Appalachian Initiative … an effort to restore this most majestic species to its former range. It is an effort that has met with immense success, especially in Kentucky.
Tennessee came into the elk restoration effort a few years late and progress has been slow. Ledford says there are about 250 elk living in the northern portion of the Cumberland Plateau, mostly in and around the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area.
In Kentucky however, Ledford says the elk herd has reached more than 10,000 animals. The elk has become the defacto official symbol of Eastern Kentucky, an area once laid barren by strip mining.
Ledford says however they have learned that elk thrive is the open pastures and spotty forest that is classic of reclaimed strip mines.
“The scope and scale of coal mining in Kentucky is huge,” said Ledford. “You just can’t imagine.”
When those mines are properly reclaimed according to government standards, the elk love it. Ledford shared a map of reclaimed strip mines overlayed with the readings from elk that are outfitted with satellite transmitters. In basically 90 percent of the cases, the elk were living in and around reclaimed strip mines.
Kentucky began stocking elk in 1997 and relocated a total of 1,557 elk from then until 2002. Ledford said the massive effort was driven by a couple of wildlife commissioners who insisted that, “if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right.”
They apparently have as cities and towns all across Eastern Kentucky are seeing a huge increase in elk interest, along with a huge influx of money from tourists and hunters.
Knott County, Kentucky now has a billboard proclaiming itself as “The Elk Capital of the East.”
A Budweiser billboard in the area boasts a beautiful picture of an elk at a stream and the text reads, “Not all of our watering holes have pool tables.”
“These elk are having an impact on the culture of Southeast Kentucky,” said Ledford. “The place where Loretta Lynn sang about being a coal miner’s daughter. Now the elk has become the symbol of this region of Kentucky.”
Ledford regularly hosts tours in his efforts to promote the effort. Ledford has also made a concerted effort to work in concert with the coal mining business community… a community best known for its ability to destroy wildlife habitat. Ledford however says that more and more, the major coal companies are anxious to restore the environment, and they welcome guidance and assistance for outside groups other than government regulators.
“I’m convinced that only an NGO (non-governing organization) can accomplish a true beneficial partnership situation,” said Ledford.
He says RMEF has worked in cooperation with numerous reclamation efforts, providing special seed mixtures and technical guidance more beneficial to the elk. He says it is paying huge dividends for the elk, and for the coal companies.
“If a good reclamation plan makes more money for the coal company, fine… I don’t care,” he said. “If our help keeps the enforcement agencies from having to do as much work or accomplish goals, fine… I don’t care. We just want to get the job done and get more habitat on the ground.”
Hunting is an integral element in Kentucky’s elk restoration.
In 2008 400 hunters were selected in the special drawing for elk hunting permits. Ledford said about 10 percent were non-residents. 25 permits were reserved for landowners who provide at least 5,000 acres of public access land…. mostly the coal companies.
Among regular hunters, he said a total of 34,000 people applied for the elk hunting permits, paying $10 each for the chance to be drawn. That’s $340,000 that goes directly into Kentucky’s elk management program.
The first year KY wildlife officials and RMEF advertised a special elk checking station in a Walmart parking lot in Hazard, Ky. Hundreds of people, and media, including a National Geographic photographer, gathered for what became a huge public event.
Ledford’s voice quavered a little as he also told the story of disabled coal miner who killed the once-state record elk on an area near his home where he had strip mined for 25 years.
Ledford says besides humans, black bears have proven to a primary predator on elk, especially calves. He says however, that’s not a bad thing.
“We’re the only country in the world that has been able to return the top carnivore and the top herbivore to its natural habitat,” he said with excitement.
It is doubtful Tennessee will ever rival Kentucky’s success where there are about 4 million acres of potential elk habitat. Ledford says there are hopes the Kentucky herd might reach 20,000 animals.
In Tennessee the RMEF has been instrumental… contributing money to land acquisition & habitat improvement but it is too early to know where the Volunteer State elk restoration effort will lead. TWRA hit a massive roadblock when fear and controversy erupted over chronic wasting disease.
However the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency expects to hold a special drawing to issue five bull elk permits to hunters in 2009.
With tens of thousands of applicants expected, it will be a hunter’s equivalent of hitting the lottery.
But it is a start.. and Ledford hopes there is no where to go but up
9/20/2008 – Kentucky Excelling in Elk – Outdoors – Chattanoogan.com.
ReviewJournal.com – Sports – IN THE OUTDOORS: Access, availability of public lands key to hunting’s future
September 19, 2008
For the past two decades, participation in hunting has steadily declined. For most of us, this is no secret. The subject has been discussed in a variety of outdoor publications, and I have touched upon it in a past column or two. The question is: Why are we losing hunters?
Answers to that question vary, but the top two answers from a recent study are centered on public access and crowding issues. The study was conducted by Responsive Management, a public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. According to that study, 46 percent of hunters believe there is not enough public access to places where they can hunt, and 44 percent said there are not enough places to hunt. Where there is a place for hunters to pursue their quarry, 35 percent of survey respondents thought overcrowding was an issue.
As a general rule, these issues aren’t as much of a problem in Nevada as they are in other states, although there are some exceptions. In the Ruby Mountains of Elko County, for example, there is plenty of public land, but gaining access to most of it is difficult at best, because the range is nearly surrounded with private land at its base, and public access points are few. As the state continues to grow, however, this situation undoubtedly will be replicated in other areas.
In August 2007, President Bush signed an executive order that many hoped would help to alleviate access and overcrowding issues for America’s hunters, especially on public lands. Executive Order No. 13443: Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation directs federal agencies and departments “to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat. Full Story
DNR officials clarify rules for Mississippi River duck hunt | Pierce County Herald | Ellsworth, Wisconsin
September 19, 2008
Published Thursday, September 18, 2008
Faced in recent years with an increasing number of complaints about open water duck hunting on the Mississippi River, state and federal wildlife officials are issuing a pre-season rule clarification – and a fair warning.
“Duck hunting on the Mississippi River is becoming more popular, attracting hunters from throughout Wisconsin,” said Steve Dewald, conservation warden supervisor with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in La Crosse.
“As a result, competition for hunting spots is increasing. Unfortunately, last fall we got a lot of complaints that some hunters were not following the rules regarding open water hunting,” he added.
Under Wisconsin law, open water hunting is prohibited with the exception of specified water bodies such as Lake Winnebago in northeast Wisconsin and Lake Pepin on the Mississippi.
The purpose of the rule is to direct hunters to the edges of water bodies and allow large numbers of ducks to rest and feed in open water during their fall migration, said Kent Van Horn, DNR migratory game bird ecologist Full story
Wildlife problems start with us – Wyoming Tribune-Eagle Online
September 19, 2008
By Harry Harju
hjharju@bresnan.net
CHEYENNE – I’m constantly amazed at how excited some people get about a hunter killing a deer or elk, but how little they care about the killing they do.
Every human on the planet is responsible for wildlife dying and disappearing. That includes the animal rights folks, the animal lovers, the vegetarians, the hunters and people who hate and fear animals.
Our polarized, politically correct society seems to be made up of people in favor of wildlife because they just love their cute little fuzzy faces, but breed and pave them out of existence every day.
There are those who don’t like killing, but who would kill me because I hunt. There are crazies who bomb laboratories that use animals in research, but then they take advantage of the results of that research.
There are men who only hunt to get horns or antlers to display, and those who hunt for meat, and also those who could care less. The latter outnumber all of the other groups, but the former are much more vocal.
I spend lots of money on wildlife every year, and if I didn’t hunt, I’d still spend some, but considerably less. I plead guilty to the accusation that I like to have wildlife around because I hunt. But, like all hunters, I spend more time watching wildlife of all kinds than other groups, too, and probably appreciate, value, and understand wildlife a lot better than those who don’t hunt.
Hunters are the folks who banded together at the turn of the century to get wildlife management started, to stop market hunting, to close hunting seasons during much of the year, to get bag limits implemented and to preserve the big game animals they wanted to hunt.
All of this also was a benefit to animals that weren’t hunted.
Meanwhile, the rest of society was busy eliminating wildlife through market and illegal hunting and converting wildlife habitat into cities, farms, roads, mines, polluted streams, pastures, clear-cuts and prairies where forests once existed.
Except for market hunting, what the rest of society once did pretty much continues today, while hunters have created organizations like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever to try and preserve habitat for one species or another in the face of the rapidly increasing human population Full Story
Michigan Legislators Issue Recommendation on CWD Baiting Ban- Ludington Daily News
September 19, 2008
Committee chairs call for lifting the peninsula wide ban
Brian Mulherin – Daily News Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
LANSING ? Three Michigan legislators who chair key committees have sponsored similar resolutions in the Michigan House and Senate urging the director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to lift the ban on baiting ordered in response to Chronic Wasting Disease. The resolutions also recommend the Natural Resources Commission hold public hearing on the general issue of baiting for future hunting seasons.
Chair of the Senate Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation Committee, State Senator James Barcia (D-Bay City) indicated that all legislators he has spoken with about the baiting ban believe the ban goes too far, too soon. “It does not make sense to ban baiting in the entire Lower Peninsula this year due to the finding of CWD in one deer at one enclosed facility,” Barcia said. “We must remain vigilant without over-reacting in a manner that will do more harm than good.”
Following the discovery of a three-year old white tail deer found at a ranch in Kent County, all the other deer at the same ranch have tested negative for CWD. In addition, an epidemiological study performed by state veterinarians has not turned up CWD in any other captive or free-ranging Michigan deer. State officials do not know how the deer at the Kent County facility became infected with CWD Full Story
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