Midwest Deer Hunting: 2014

Monday, November 24, 2014

Improving Deer Habitat

Upper Peninsula - Western Mackinac County

Over 1,300 oak saplings were planted in western Mackinac County this spring to increase hard mast for deer. The plantings were focused on areas that have been hit hard by beech bark disease (BBD), and also in deer wintering complexes. BBD areas will see a large loss of beech nuts, and the oak acorns that are produced in the future will help to mitigate some of the loss from BBD. “We were able to get saplings planted to help avoid problems with deer browse, and as a bonus they’ll also throw acorns sooner,” said DNR wildlife biologist Dave Jentoft. “We had great cooperation with our sister division, the Forest Resources Division, in making these plantings happen.”

Northern Lower Peninsula - Kalkaska County

The Fletcher area in southern Kalkaska County is a great destination this fall for deer hunters. Over 1,600 acres of public land is available to set up camp during firearm, late archery or even muzzleloader season. This spring over 470 acres were prescribed-burned in an effort to kill woody plants that are closing in on this large grassland complex. Over 120 acres were mowed, and numerous acres were planted to winter wheat, rape and turnips. Visit Mi-HUNT to explore this area from home, and make plans to visit in person to hunt the fall and early winter seasons.

Southwest Lower Peninsula - Cass County

Over the past year, staff members at the Crane Pond State Game Area have installed over 200 acres of food plots and other plantings for the benefit of wildlife on the game area. Food plots are placed in strategic locations to enhance recreational opportunities. The picture to the left shows a field border adjacent to a corn food plot. Such practices allow species such as deer, turkey and pheasants to have transitional and security cover adjacent to important high-calorie winter food sources. Field borders also provide valuable nesting and bedding cover and can greatly enhance the number of bird species using an area. This is just one example of the many habitat management practices implemented at the game area over this past year.

Southeast Lower Peninsula - St. Clair County

Funds from the license restructuring are helping the DNR Wildlife Division make habitat improvements for deer and other wildlife around the state. Port Huron State Game Area is no exception. With an increased budget for habitat work, more seasonal wildlife assistants were hired this year, allowing 9 additional acres at Port Huron SGA to be converted to food plots of corn and small grains. This brings the total acreage planted with food plots to 20. These employees also worked on improving parking lots and posting additional signage around the area to improve hunter accessibility. Check out Port Huron State Game Area for an enhanced hunting experience this fall.

Explore the public lands near you, and have a safe and memorable hunt!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Hunting Access Program and Mi-HUNT application are invaluable tools for hunters

As hunters prepare for their upcoming deer-hunting trips, the Department of Natural

Resources reminds them to consider two helpful tools for finding hunting land in Michigan – the Hunting Access Program, which provides private-land hunting opportunities in southern Michigan; and the Mi-HUNT Web application, which creates custom maps for Michigan’s public hunting lands.

Michigan's Hunting Access Program was created in 1977 to increase public hunting opportunities in southern Michigan, where 97 percent of the land base is privately owned. In this program, private landowners receive financial incentives for allowing hunters access to their lands. HAP is one of the oldest dedicated private-lands public access programs in the nation, providing access to quality hunting lands close to urban properties.

According to DNR wildlife biologist Mike Parker, “Providing access to hunting lands that are close to home is critical for supporting Michigan’s strong hunting heritage. Our commitment to providing access has more than tripled the number of farms enrolled in HAP the past three years. We now have over 140 farms and nearly 16,000 acres available for public hunting.”

Using funds from the recent license restructuring and a new federal grant, the DNR plans to continue expanding the program over the next three years.

Visit www.michigan.gov/hap to learn more and to see a current list of private lands available for hunting in Michigan. The HAP webpage includes details about enrolled properties, including types of hunting allowed and aerial photos of the properties.

To find public hunting land in Michigan, the DNR also encourages hunters to try Mi-HUNT, a cutting-edge, Web-based application that helps hunters to plan their next hunting trip. Mi-HUNT allows users to navigate through a variety of map layers to create their own custom maps or download premade maps to meet their specific hunt-planning needs.

The interactive layers of Mi-HUNT allow hunters to view select private land open to the public for hunting; all state game and wildlife areas; 7 million acres of vegetation cover types; aerial imagery in a variety of formats covering the entire state; recreational facilities such as forest campgrounds, trails and boat ramps; and street maps and directions to hunting areas.

To experience Mi-HUNT, visit www.michigan.gov/mihunt.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Game and Fish to Recommend One Deer License in 2015

A new plan under consideration by the State Game and Fish Department would allow North Dakota

deer hunters only one license per year, starting with the 2015 season.
The preferred license distribution plan is the result of a declining deer population and continuing high license demand. “This year we had about 30,000 people who applied for a deer gun license and didn’t get one in the lottery,” said Game and Fish wildlife division chief Jeb Williams. “This new system will give more people an opportunity to hunt deer each year, compared to our current system.”
To gather input on possible changes, Game and Fish held a series of public deer management meetings across the state last winter. Hundreds of people attended these meetings, and many more interested hunters and landowners also provided written or verbal comments on how Game and Fish might manage deer license distribution, given the low population of both whitetail and mule deer in much of the state.
Following the deer management meetings, potential changes were also discussed at the spring round of public Game and Fish advisory board meetings held around the state.
“After evaluating all the input we received last winter,” Williams said, “the general feedback we heard is that hunters understand there is no longer enough licenses so that everyone can get one for the gun season, but at the same time, they don’t feel the current system is equitably distributing licenses, since some hunters can get two or even three licenses when thousands of hunters get none.”
To begin to address that inequity, Game and Fish’s preferred option for 2015 is to limit each hunter to one deer license per year. Williams said that still doesn’t guarantee that every gun hunter who applies in the lottery will get a deer license, but it will eliminate the possibility of someone getting multiple licenses.
If deer populations rebound substantially, Williams said the way licenses are allocated could return to the current system. “However, we are dealing with two dynamics that will make it difficult to do so anytime soon,” Williams added. “We have a deer herd that has been trending downward for several years, and we also have a growing population of people who possibly are interested in North Dakota’s hunting and fishing opportunities.”
In the preferred option, a hunter who is successful in the deer gun lottery would not be able to purchase a bow license or receive a muzzleloader license. However, as a way to provide additional bowhunting recreation, a hunter with a lottery gun license could also hunt with a bow any time during the open archery season, but only for the deer and unit specified on the license.
Resident hunters who apply in the deer gun lottery and do not receive a license, will still be able to purchase a bow license that is valid statewide for any deer.
“This is one of those things that we heard from people who like to hunt with both gun and bow,” Williams said. “They wanted to be able to apply for a gun license, and if they didn’t get one, they could still get a bow license. At the same time, if they did draw a gun license, they wanted a chance to hunt that deer with a bow during the archery season as well.
“We know it’s not the same as having both a gun and a bow license,” Williams added, “but we feel it’s a fair compromise while we work toward rebuilding our deer herd.”
Another part of the preferred option is that hunters would be able to apply simultaneously for the deer gun and muzzleloader lotteries. The application would allow choice of a preference, so if the hunter’s name is drawn and both muzzleloader and deer gun licenses are available at that time, the computer would issue the hunter’s preferred license.
In such cases, the computer would then remove the hunter’s name from the other lottery. Also in that case, Williams said a hunter would maintain the accumulated bonus points for the application that was removed from the lottery.
In addition, Williams said hunters will not lose any bonus points if they choose not to apply for a particular license.
Youth hunters under age 16 would be exempt under the preferred option, and could get a bow license as well as a deer gun or youth season license.
Gratis license holders could hunt in any open season on their own land, but may only get one license per year.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

White-tail deer rutting activity nearing peak in some areas; Northwoods receives 2 to 6 inches of snow

The Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin. Taken by User:Wonder al. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Temperatures have dropped and that has continued to trigger rutting activity, which is now reaching peak in some areas. White-tail bucks are running pretty hard with their noses to the ground. More bucks have been seen chasing does as the rut gets into full swing, and archers have reported some very good success in the last week.

In the Northwoods it went from autumn gold to winter white in just two weeks' time, with anywhere from 2-6-plus inches of snow falling Oct. 31. The fresh snow had many hunters excited for the upcoming deer season as it was much easier to see deer standing out against the white background.

The cooler weather also brought large flocks of ducks to south central Wisconsin, with one duck hunter noting thousands of scaup, or bluebills, coming into a Columbia County marsh he was hunting, flocks the size of which he hadn't seen in 40 years. Canada geese also continue to be abundant, offering waterfowl hunters some ample opportunities to harvest a bird. Goose numbers have now reached 30,000 at Horicon Marsh.

Very large numbers of pheasant hunters have been out on state wildlife areas throughout southern Wisconsin in recent weeks. Grouse hunters are reporting good success with observed bird numbers similar to last year in the Northwoods. While there are still some woodcock being seen in central Wisconsin, the season is now closed.

Trappers are reporting success catching coyote, fox, beaver and muskrats, though fur does not quite appear to be prime. Raccoon hunters have reported successful harvests over the last several weeks.

Overall, fishing has slowed down across the state. Inland some walleye and musky anglers continue to report some success. Along Lake Michigan, the chinook salmon are done with their run and the coho salmon are almost done as well. Numbers of brown trout were increasing as the salmon taper off. Pier and shore anglers were reporting some success for brown and rainbow trout.

People may be noticing smoke rising from some state wildlife areas as wildlife crews are taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather to conduct prescribed burning on select properties throughout the state.

Common loons are staging on the Great Lakes and large inland water bodies, with smaller numbers of red-throated loons reported. Tens of thousands of canvasbacks, gadwall, wigeon, ring-necked ducks, mallards, and coots can be seen from various vantages along the Mississippi River. Numbers of tundra swans are building but have not yet reached peak. More than 21,000 sandhill cranes were counted near Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Burnett County this past week. The first snowy owls of the season were reported from northeast Wisconsin near Green Bay this week but it's too early to tell if that means another influx of the arctic visitors this winter.

There is still plenty of time to enjoy a fall hike on any of the state trails, with prairies still showing late fall colors of some asters, woodland sunflowers and fall grasses such as big bluestem. Hikers, bikers, skiers and even canoeists and kayakers are being encouraged to provide feedback on Wisconsin's nonmotorized and water trails to the Wisconsin Nonmotorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council through a new online survey available through the DNR website.

Productive season expected despite lower deer numbers - Indiana

Indiana deer hunters should expect another productive season in 2014, although they may

see fewer deer than in previous years when the firearms season begins Nov. 15.

“There are several factors contributing to reduced deer numbers in certain areas of the state,” DNR deer management biologist Chad Stewart said. “Some are by design and some are by external forces.”

The DNR is in the third year of a management effort to reduce deer numbers in targeted areas. Another reason for fewer deer was a serious 2012 outbreak of hemorrhagic disease – an often lethal virus transmitted by small flies known as biting midges.

“These numbers are more in line with what should be seen on the landscape,” Stewart said. “We recognize these declines and have been responsive in our management by reducing our antlerless quotas in many areas and dropping some counties from the special late antlerless season. In many cases, these are the levels at which we are trying to manage our herd.”

In addition to basic bag limits, hunters can purchase bonus licenses to take additional antlerless deer based on a county’s assigned quota. Bonus licenses can be used in any season, except the Urban Deer Zone Season, using the equipment that is legal for that season.

The bonus antlerless quota was reduced this year for 19 counties. As a result of those reductions, six fewer counties are eligible for the special late antlerless season (Dec. 26 through Jan. 4, 2015) than a year ago.

With no hemorrhagic disease reported in 2014 and few reports of deer being affected by last year’s hard winter, Stewart anticipates a deer harvest similar to 2013 (126,635 deer) but short of the record set in 2012 of 136,248 deer.

The firearms season runs Nov. 15-30. Hunters with a firearms license make take one antlered deer. Bonus licenses are required to take additional deer with firearms.

“Hunters in the north are likely to see deer numbers at lower levels than they are accustomed to seeing,” he said. “Historically, deer herds tend to rebound quickly from outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease, but that hasn’t been the case in northern Indiana.”

Stewart sees a different picture in southern Indiana.

“Hunters there should continue to see good numbers of deer,” he said. “The balance of deer cover and the absence of lingering effects from any disease outbreak have produced ample opportunities for hunters to be successful.”

Monday, November 10, 2014

Fall Mule Deer Survey Completed

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s fall mule deer survey indicated production

courtesy muledeer.org

in 2014 bodes well for the future.

Biologists counted 1,969 (1,761 in 2013) mule deer in the aerial survey in October. The buck-to-doe ratio of 0.50 (0.46 in 2013) was slightly above the long-term average of 0.43 bucks per doe, while the fawn-to-doe ratio of 0.95 (0.74 in 2013) was the highest since 1999, and above the long-term average of 0.90 fawns per doe.

“Overall, this year’s fawn production is very encouraging, and with average-to-good survival should result in another increase in the spring,” said Bruce Stillings, big game management supervisor, Dickinson.

While it is encouraging to see mule deer numbers increase for the short-term, Stillings said challenges remain for continued population growth, including changes in habitat quality due to fragmentation and disturbance, predators and weather.

The fall aerial survey, conducted specifically to study demographics, covers 24 study areas and 306.3 square miles in western North Dakota. Biologists survey the same study areas in the spring of each year to determine population abundance.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Did you buy a single deer license but wanted the chance to harvest two deer? MICHIGAN

Michigan's new license structure requires hunters to choose at the time of purchase if they want the opportunity to harvest one or two antlered deer, and purchase either a single deer license (one kill tag) or a deer combo license (two kill tags).

Because this is the first year of the new structure, some hunters may have bought a single deer license without realizing they couldn't buy another antlered deer license later.

Those who bought a single deer license and haven't used it, and would like the deer combo license instead, may bring the unused license back to the store where they bought it – during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) – and ask the agent to call the DNR. The DNR will void the single deer license, the agent will keep the voided license and send it back to the DNR, and the hunter may then buy a deer combo license. Those who bought the single deer license online should call DNR Licensing at 517-284-6057 during business hours.

Please note that state offices are closed on Nov. 4 and Nov. 11, so DNR staff members will not be available to void licenses on those days.

Learn more about Michigan's new license structure.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Deer Hunters Evading E-Check Law Risk Stiff Penalty

Using the online E-Check system is easy.

Go to wildlifedepartment.com, and click on

the E-Check link that is indicated by the red arrow in this screenshot.

Hunters who take a deer this season in Oklahoma are required by law to check in their harvest using the online E-Check system at wildlifedepartment.com. Those who choose to break the law are risking hefty fines and the loss of their hunting or fishing privileges not only in Oklahoma, but also in most every other state in the nation.

"The Wildlife Department's law enforcement division is putting special emphasis on enforcing the requirement for hunters to check in their harvest," said Bill Hale, assistant chief of law enforcement. "This is a top priority for the Department.

"If you get caught not checking your harvest, the fine just for illegally possessing wildlife and the restitution could be in the thousands of dollars," Hale said. "And you would also be in violation of the E-Check requirements, which would add more in fines.

"Also, you could easily have your hunting licenses suspended if you are convicted of failing to use E-Check," Hale said. Oklahoma is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which means that anyone convicted here of a game law violation could lose hunting and fishing privileges in all 44 Compact member states.

State wildlife law requires anyone who takes a deer, elk, turkey or paddlefish to check in their harvest within 24 hours of leaving the hunting or fishing area, and in all cases prior to processing the carcass. Hunters and anglers, or anyone acting on their behalf, must go online to wildlifedepartment.com and check in their harvest using the E-Check system. Anyone with a computer, smartphone or mobile device with access to the Internet may use the E-Check system. To view a video on how to use the E-Check system, go to youtube.com/OutdoorOklahoma and search for "online checking."

The Wildlife Department converted to the E-Check system in 2013 because of the many benefits it has for the Department and for the state's hunters and anglers. Those benefits include:

Harvest information that hunters report via E-Check is important in helping Wildlife Department biologists make the best management decisions to safeguard the state's natural resources for current and future generations.
E-Check provides 24-hour convenience to sportsmen, saving them money by not having to find an open check station.
The Department saves money because it no longer must send biologists or technicians to physical check stations to collect data.
The online database allows for "real time" analysis of harvest numbers.
Instant searchable information aids efficiency in law enforcement activities.
Hunters get a confirmation number immediately, which is then used in field-tagging the animal.

But not only is E-Check beneficial to the sportsman and the Department, it's also the law, said Robert Fleenor, chief of law enforcement for the Wildlife Department.

"Evading E-Check might appear to be easy, but it's actually harder than ever to get away with it. The E-Check system provides immediate information, and it's searchable by our game wardens.

"Just don't take that risk of getting caught, having your license suspended, and having to pay what could be several thousand dollars in fines," Fleenor said.

"Anyone who does not check in their harvest is actually harming the resources that belong to you and me. This person could be jeopardizing the future for all hunters and outdoorsmen," Fleenor said. "If you know of someone who is not abiding by the law, please report it to us."

Report game law violations by calling Operation Game Thief toll-free at (800) 522-8039. Callers can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward if the violator is convicted. Reports can also be made to the Wildlife Department's law enforcement division at (405) 521-3719 or your local game warden.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2014 television program helps set the stage for another exciting nine-day gun deer season in Wisconsin - tune in!

Wisconsin Public Television (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

MADISON - With another nine-day gun deer hunting season just around the corner, hunters can be sure they are prepared for another exciting fall hunting experience by tuning in to Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2014.

Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2014 is the 23rd annual hour-long special designed to help hunters prepare for the upcoming firearms deer season. Host Dan Small will interview Wisconsin deer management experts to discuss changes to this year's hunt and offer helpful tips and tricks as you gear up and head out into the woods.

Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2014 will air on the following stations:

Milwaukee Public Television - Thursday, Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m.;
Wisconsin Public Television (digital channel) - Thursday, Nov. 6 at 9 p.m.;
Fox Sports Wisconsin - Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10 p.m. (following Milwaukee Bucks coverage), Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m.; and
Fox Sports North - Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. (following Minnesota Wild coverage), Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 2 a.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. and Monday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m.

Stay tuned for additional viewing opportunities. For more information, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "deer show." For more general information regarding this year's deer hunt, search keyword "deer."

Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2014 is a production of Dan Small Outdoors, LLC, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Donate Deer to Sportsmen Against Hunger

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is reminding deer hunters to keep in

mind the Sportsmen Against Hunger program this fall.

While this year’s deer proclamation allows only one deer gun license per hunter, families with more than one license might want to consider donating a deer to this worthy cause. In addition, hunters with an archery and muzzleloader license can help as well.

The list of participating processors is available on the Game and Fish Department website atgf.nd.gov, and at the North Dakota Community Action Partnership website, www.capnd.org.

Sportsmen Against Hunger is a charitable program that raises money for processing of donated goose and deer meat, and coordinates distribution of donated meat to food pantries in North Dakota. It is administered by NDCAP, a nonprofit agency that serves low-income families across the state.

For more information, visit the NDCAP website, or contact program coordinator Sarah Hasbargen at 701-232-2452.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

CWD Surveillance Continues

North Dakota (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The state Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance programduring the 2014 hunting season, by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis from 10 units in North Dakota. In addition, all moose and elk harvested in the state are eligible for testing.

Samples from hunter-harvested deer taken in the central portion of the state will be tested from units 2H, 2I, 2J1, 2J2, 2K1, 2K2, 3A4, 3B3 and 3C. In addition, deer will be tested from unit 3F2 in the southwest.

Every head sampled must have either the deer tag attached, or a new tag can be filled out with the license number, deer hunting unit and date harvested.

Hunters are encouraged to drop off deer heads at the following locations:

· Ashley – Ashley Super Valu Store
· Bismarck – Game and Fish Department headquarters, Call of the Wild Taxidermy, M&M Sausage and Meats, West Dakota Meats
· Bottineau – Mattern Family Meats
· Carrington – Barton Meats
· Devils Lake – Devils Lake Game and Fish district office, Goldade Processing
· Ellendale – Oxenrider Motel
· Granville – S&E Meats
· Harvey – Lonetree Game and Fish district office
· Heaton – Miller Game Processing
· Jamestown – Jamestown Game and Fish district office
· LaMoure – LaMoure Lockers
· Linton – Bosch’s Meat Market, Schmaltz Meats
· Mandan – Butcher Block Meats
· McClusky – Bentz Supply Store
· Minot – Johnson Taxidermy
· Moffit – Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge office
· Parshall – Myers Custom Meats
· Riverdale – Riverdale Game and Fish district office
· Rolette – Meat Shack
· Rugby – Cenex C Store
· Sheyenne – Brenno Meats, Wild Things Taxidermy
· Streeter – Reister Meats
· Towner – B&L Electric
· Turtle Lake – Main Street Market
· Upham - J. Clark Salyer NWR office
· Washburn – Enerbase
· Wilton – Cenex
· Wing – Terry’s Sales and Service
· Woodworth - Chase Lake NWR office

Drop off locations for deer taken from unit 3F2:

· Elgin – Gunny’s Bait and Tackle, Melvin’s Taxidermy
· Glen Ullin – Kuntz’s Butcher Shop
· Hettinger – Dakota Packing
· New Leipzig – Hertz Hardware

Moose and elk heads should be taken to a Game and Fish office.

CWD affects the nervous system of members of the deer family and is always fatal. Scientists have found no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans or livestock.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Four White-tailed Deer Shot in Emmons County, Warden Seeks Information

North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden Erik Schmidt is searching

for answers in the illegal shooting of four white-tailed deer in Emmons County during opening weekend of pheasant hunting season.

Schmidt said two mature bucks, one a 4x4 and the other a 5x5, were found in a bean field 1.5 miles east of Strasburg. A doe and fawn were found in a stubble field 5 miles southwest of Linton. It is believed all four were shot late evening Oct. 11, or early morning Oct. 12.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Report All Poachers telephone number at 800-472-2121, or contact Schmidt at 701-220-7160. RAP is offering a $1,000 reward.

The RAP line offers rewards for information that leads to conviction of fish and wildlife law violators. Reporting parties can remain anonymous.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

MDC: Risk of encountering stinging caterpillars in Missouri is minimal

Five portions of the firearms deer season remain.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo.–Hunters checked 594 deer during the urban portion of Missouri’s firearms deer season. Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation attribute the lower-than-average harvest in part to warm, rainy, windy weather.

County harvest totals during the urban portion were: Greene, 122; St. Charles, 88; Boone, 84; Franklin, 55; Jefferson, 54; St. Louis, 47; Cole, 40; Clay, 36; Cass, 33; Jackson, 24; Platte, 11.

Hunters are only allowed to shoot antlerless deer during the urban portion. This focus on harvesting female deer is designed to control deer numbers in urban and suburban areas, where hunting pressure is lighter and the potential for deer-vehicle accidents and property damage is greater.

This year’s harvest was below average for the urban portion, which became part of the firearms deer season in 2003. Over the past 11 years, the urban portion harvest averaged 961 deer. However, the harvest has been between 500 and 700 deer in four of the past six years.

Warm temperatures have been associated with lower urban portion harvests in the past. Temperature does not appear to have been a factor this year, since daytime highs ranged from the mid-50s to high 60s. Conservation Department Resource Scientist Jason Sumners says gusty wind and rain during the four-day hunt likely played a role in holding down this year’s urban harvest.

“No one likes to hunt in the rain, and windy weather makes it harder to detect deer movement,” says Sumners. “Considering the widespread rains we had during the urban hunt, this harvest is pretty good.”

Sumners said expanded archery hunting opportunities in many of Missouri’s urban communities, plus the hemorrhagic disease outbreak in 2012, have helped reduce deer numbers in some urban areas, and likely played a role in keeping the urban-portion harvest down.

Missouri’s firearms deer season consists of six portions, totaling 42 days. The remaining portions of Missouri’s firearms deer season are: early youth (Nov. 1-2), November (Nov. 15-25), antlerless (Nov. 26-Dec. 7), alternative methods (Dec. 20-30), and late youth (Jan. 3-4).

For more information about Missouri’s 2014-15 deer harvest, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/2613.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Muzzleloader Seasons Open Oct. 25 for Deer, Elk, Bear

This season's first chance for adult hunters to harvest deer with a firearm will arrive Oct. 25. That

Saturday will be opening day of the nine-day deer muzzleloader hunting season in Oklahoma.
Oct. 25 will also be opening day for muzzleloader elk season (on private lands in open zones only), and opening day for muzzleloader bear season (in open areas only until 20-bear quota is met).
Hunting with a muzzleloader has gained in popularity in recent years. Many hunters embrace this traditional form of hunting as it hearkens to the early pioneer days in Oklahoma.
Erik Bartholomew, big-game biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said muzzleloader hunters should find good opportunities to harvest a deer this year.
"As the weather cools down this time of year, deer will remain moving longer in the mornings and will start moving earlier in the evenings. And there are always fewer hunters in the field for muzzleloader season, compared to regular gun season."
Last year, about 85,000 hunters participated in Oklahoma's muzzleloader deer season. Muzzleloader hunters checked in 14,981 deer harvested during the nine-day season in 2013.
This year's muzzleloader season for deer will close Nov. 2. Muzzleloader season for elk will remain open until Nov. 2 only in those elk hunting zones where the seasonal harvest quotas have not yet been reached. Elk hunters must go online to wildlifedepartment.com to check the quota status of the zone they intend to hunt before they go afield.
Muzzleloader season for bear will run through Nov. 2, or until the 20-bear season quota is reached, in Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties. Bear hunters must buy their license before the season starts, and they must call (888) 901-3256 before going afield to check the status of the bear harvest quota.
Bartholomew urged deer hunters to scout areas with good natural food sources. "Look for oak trees that are dropping acorns, or persimmon trees. Those are good places for deer hunters to set up."
Muzzleloader hunters must wear hunter orange garments, including a head covering, covering the upper body. Each muzzleloader hunter may harvest one antlered and two antlerless deer during the season, provided that one of the antlerless deer is taken from zones 2, 7 or 8.
To hunt deer with a muzzleloader in Oklahoma, resident hunters must possess either an annual or lifetime hunting or combination license; a senior citizen hunting or combination license; or proof of exemption. Hunters must also possess a deer primitive (antlered or antlerless) license for each deer harvested, or proof of exemption. Nonresidents must possess a nonresident deer primitive (antlered or antlerless) license. An annual nonresident hunting license is not required to purchase the permits. To order licenses online, go to wildlifedepartment.com/license.htm.
For more information regarding deer and elk hunting zones, licenses, bag limits, clothing requirements or legal firearms, consult the 2014-15 "Oklahoma Hunting" regulations guide online at wildlifedepartment.com or in print anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Deer License Types - Michigan

http://www.michigan.gov/deer - Hunters must choose at the time of purchase if they want the opportunity to harvest one or two antlered deer. Hunters wishing to harvest only one antlered deer can purchase a single deer license (one kill tag). Hunters wishing to harvest two antlered deer must purchase a deer combo license (two kill tags).

Monday, October 13, 2014

Youth Deer Gun Season Kicks Off Friday

Oct. 17 is the day many young hunters are awaiting. That Friday will be opening day for this year's

three-day youth deer gun season for hunters 17 and younger.
"This year's youth deer gun season has the potential to be a great one," said Erik Bartholomew, big-game biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The fact that this season happens earlier in the year than other seasons is often a benefit for youth hunters.
"The youth deer gun season is set up so that kids can have a good time in the field. Deer are still in their summer feeding routines and are easy to pattern. And temperatures in October tend to be mild, and that makes for a more comfortable hunt," he said.
"Since the deer aren't moving as much as they would be during the rut, the kids should have a good chance to set up on a known area and get an opportunity to harvest a deer."
The youth season is open to hunters 17 and younger who are accompanied in the field by an adult who is 18 or older. The adult is permitted to archery hunt while accompanying the youth hunter, but the adult may not hunt with a firearm.
Youths have generally had good success during this early season, which is a testament to the mentors who are taking the youths hunting, allowing them be successful.
Bartholomew urged mentors to take the youth hunters to scout out hunting areas before heading out on opening day.

"This is a fun way to get your kids outside and to learn about deer hunting. Take them scouting, and make it an experience.
"Point out the tracks, drop-pings, scrapes and rubs. Let them help you set up a blind, cut brush and conceal it. Make it a chance for them to learn about your passion for deer hunting!"
As the parent of a young deer hunter, Bartholomew offered some tips from experience. "Make sure that you bring plenty of snacks and drinks to keep kids happy. I know snacks are important!
"Also consider that the kids can move around a lot. Ground blinds are great for kids because they can mask a lot of movement that might otherwise spook the deer.
"Make sure that you practice scenarios with a young hunter, such as shot placement and shooting from a blind. This will help those young hunters have success. And for them, success means they will want to do it again!
"Remember, it is about passing on the traditions that we as adults enjoy so that they can do so in the future."
Youth hunters may harvest two deer during youth deer gun season, and one of those may be antlered. A deer license is required for each deer hunted, which means youth hunters wanting to harvest two deer can buy three deer licenses (one antlered and two antlerless) to maximize their opportunity. Additionally, resident youth hunters who do not harvest a deer during the youth deer gun season may use their unfilled youth deer gun license during the regular deer gun season. Hunters who do harvest a deer during the youth deer gun season may buy another youth deer gun license and harvest a deer during the regular gun season.
In specified counties, youth hunters may also harvest a turkey during youth deer gun season, provided they have the appropriate fall turkey license. See the "Oklahoma Hunting" regulations guide for details.
Deer taken by hunters participating in youth deer gun season are included in the hunter's combined season limit (six deer, of which no more than two may be antlered). If a youth harvests a buck during the youth deer gun season, that youth can harvest another buck during either the regular gun season, archery season or muzzleloader season, for an overall total of two.
Oklahoma youths 15 and younger are exempt from the purchase of a hunting license but must possess a youth deer gun license or apprentice-designated youth deer gun license or proof of exemption.
Residents who are 16 or 17 years old must possess a hunting license or proof of exemption, plus a youth deer gun license for each deer hunted. A $5 youth hunting license or a $9 youth combination hunting and fishing license is available to 16 and 17-year-old residents, and resident youth deer gun licenses are $10.
Youths can hunt with an apprentice-designated hunting license as long as they are accompanied by a licensed hunter who is 18 or older and hunter education certified or exempt from certification. For complete details on the apprentice-designated hunting license, consult page 11 of the current "Oklahoma Hunting" regulations guide.
For complete information on youth deer gun season regulations, consult the current "Oklahoma Hunting" regulations guide online at wildlifedepartment.com, or in print at any hunting or fishing license vendor statewide.

Monday, November 24, 2014

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