Michigan records safest hunting season with no fatal incidents in 2014

For the first time, Michigan recorded no fatalities during all hunting seasons in 2014,

according to reports compiled by the Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division. Ten incidents involving injuries were recorded in the state – nine in the Lower Peninsula and one in the Upper Peninsula.

“We had 10 incidents reported for 2014, which ties with last year for the fewest number of reportable hunting incidents since Michigan started tracking them in the 1940s," said Sgt. Tom Wanless of the DNR's Recreational Safety, Education and Enforcement Section.

"What makes 2014 the safest on record is that for the first time we had no fatalities," Wanless added. "Michigan’s hunter education program, and the dedicated volunteer instructors who are the backbone of it, is a big reason we have been experiencing a low number of hunting incidents.”

With more than 729,000 base licenses sold in 2014, Michigan’s hunting injury/fatality rate per license is .001 percent. The base license is required to purchase any hunting license.
Of the 10 incidents reported in 2014, four involved small game hunters, two involved waterfowl hunters and four involved deer hunters. One of the deer hunting incidents occurred during the early antlerless season in September and one was in December’s late antlerless season. Two incidents were reported during the firearm deer hunting season from Nov. 15-30. One incident took place Nov. 20 in Osceola County, while the other happened Nov. 25 in Oakland County at Bald Mountain Recreation Area.

Information on the hunting incidents recorded in 2014 and so far in 2015 can be found online at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers under Law Enforcement Reports.  

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Share the Harvest deer meat helps feed hungry Missourians

3,961 Missouri deer hunters donated 212,343 pounds of venison from the 2014 deer hunting season to feed Missourians in need.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), nearly 4,000 deer hunters donated more than 212,300 pounds of venison from the 2014 Missouri deer harvest to the state’s Share the Harvest program.

Share the Harvest is administered by the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) and MDC to help feed hungry Missourians. The program orchestrates the efforts of thousands of hunters, numerous local supporting organizations, and more than 100 participating meat processors to get ground venison to people in need through food banks and food pantries around the state.

Hunters donate their extra venison to participating meat processors who then prepare the donated venison by grinding it into one-pound packages that are given to food banks and food pantries for distribution to those in need.

Processing fees are covered entirely or in part by numerous local program sponsors, along with statewide sponsors that include MDC, CFM, Shelter Insurance, Bass Pro Shops, Missouri Chapter Safari Club International, Missouri Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, Midway USA Inc., Missouri Food Banks Association, United Bowhunters of Missouri, Missouri Trappers Association, and the Missouri Hunter Education Instructors Association.

Since the program started in 1992, Share the Harvest has provided more than 3.3 million pounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed Missourians in need.

For more information on Share the Harvest, visit http://mdc.mo.gov/node/2544.

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IOWA DEER HARVEST TOPS 101,000

Iowa deer hunters reported harvesting about 101,500 deer in 2014, which is an increase from 99,414 harvested in 2013. Although this is a slight increase it is still 33 percent lower than the peak harvest of 150,552 reported in 2006.

Hunters reported harvesting 6 percent fewer does (47,079), 15 percent more bucks (44,495), and fewer button bucks and shed antlered deer, than last year.  The reduction in doe harvest is part of the management plan to allow the herd to stabilize.

The harvest data will be added to population surveys and hunter and landowner input when officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources discuss seasons and regulations this spring.

The harvest increase is likely due to good weather during the first shotgun deer season and increased hunter success during the late muzzleloader season.  Iowa’s deer seasons closed January 10.

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• West Virginia Hunters Harvest 104,223 Deer in 2014 (ammoland.com)
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Passionate about deer and other wildlife? The Deer Management Assistance Program is now accepting applications for 2015

Are you a landowner who wants to increase your knowledge and awareness about what it

takes to manage your property for wildlife?  Through the Deer Management Assistance Program, you will receive educational resources, interact with professional resource managers, and network with other landowners to help you improve your property for deer and other wildlife.

DMAP is a partnership between hunters, landowners and the DNR, and places a focus on achieving healthy deer and healthy habitat on public and private lands.

The application deadline for properties larger than 160 acres is March 1, 2015, while applications for properties less than 160 acres will be accepted on a continuous basis. For more information, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword “DMAP.”

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