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!

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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.

Related articles

• State offers help in finding deer hunting spots (themorningsun.com)
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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.

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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.

Related articles

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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.”

Related articles

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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.

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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.

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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.