South Dakota hunters reminded about baiting regs

South Dakota big game hunters are reminded that it is illegal for anyone to place any salt or salt lick or construct, occupy, or use any screen, blind, scaffold, or other device at or near any salt or salt lick for the purposes of enticing or baiting big game animals to the same for the purpose of hunting, watching for, or killing big game.

Additionally, South Dakota hunters may not establish, utilize, or maintain a bait station from August 15 to February 1, inclusive, and from March 15 to May 31, inclusive, to attract any big game animal, including wild turkey.

A bait station is a location where grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, hay, minerals, or any other natural food materials, commercial products containing natural food materials, or by-products of such materials are placed or maintained as an attractant to big game animals for the purpose of hunting. The use of scents alone does not constitute a bait station. This section does not apply to foods that have not been placed or gathered by a person and result from normal environmental conditions or accepted farming, forest management, wildlife food plantings, orchard management, or similar land management activities.

Hunters should also be aware that it is illegal to establish, utilize, or maintain a bait station on lands owned by the department and on properties managed and classified by the department as Game Production Areas, State Parks, State Recreation Areas, State Lakeside Use Areas, State Nature Areas, and State Water Access Areas.

For more information, please check out the online version of the 2016 Hunting Handbook.

2016 Michigan Deer Season Biologist Updates

Michigan: Suspect deer for chronic wasting disease identified in Ingham County

CWD (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hunters in DMU 333 reminded of the requirement to have harvested deer from the area checked

Since May 2015, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been actively conducting surveillance for chronic wasting disease (CWD). To date, more than 6,000 deer have been tested since the first positive was found, with seven cases of CWD confirmed.

However, a 3.5-year-old buck taken recently in Meridian Township is likely to be the eighth positive and the first discovered since March of this year. The sample is currently being tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, to finalize confirmation.

The suspect deer was taken as part of the DNR’s CWD management program through targeted sharpshooting, which actively removes deer that are more likely to be affected with the disease in and around areas where previously identified CWD-positive animals had been detected.

“This latest suspect positive reinforces the notion that the disease is still occurring in Meridian Township and perhaps elsewhere,” said Chad Stewart, DNR deer specialist. “We are counting on hunters to bring their deer in for testing so we have a better understanding about the scope of the disease.”

Due to positive deer also detected in DeWitt and Watertown townships, the Core CWD Area has been expanded to now include 17 townships. This area, which is referred to as Deer Management Unit (DMU) 333, consists of Lansing, Meridian, Williamstown, Delhi, Alaiedon and Wheatfield townships in Ingham County; DeWitt, Bath, Watertown, Eagle, Westphalia, Riley, Olive and Victor townships in Clinton County; Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County; and Oneida and Delta townships in Eaton County.  Hunters harvesting deer in these townships are required to submit the deer head for testing during business hours or check-station hours within 72 hours of harvest.

The CWD Management Zone also has expanded; it now includes Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia and Shiawassee counties.  The expanded Management Zone has been renamed DMU 419. The price for an antlerless license in this zone has been decreased 40 percent to encourage hunters to harvest more deer and voluntarily have them checked.

There will be five check stations accepting deer for CWD testing within DMU 333.  These check stations will be operating seven days a week (excluding major holidays).  A complete map of check stations, including locations and hours of operation, is available at mi.gov/cwd. 

Deer feeding and baiting is prohibited throughout the Core CWD Area and CWD Management Zone. 

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. It is caused by the transmission of infectious, self-multiplying proteins (prions) contained in saliva and other body fluids of infected animals. Susceptible animals can acquire CWD by direct exposure to these fluids, from environments contaminated with these fluids or the carcass of a diseased animal. 

Some chronically CWD-infected animals will display abnormal behaviors, progressive weight loss and physical debilitation; however, deer can be infected for many years without showing internal or external symptoms. There is no cure; once a deer is infected with CWD, it will die. 

To date, there is no evidence that CWD presents any risk to non-cervids, including humans, either through contact with an infected animal or from handling venison. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals. 

Anyone interested in learning more about how Michigan is managing CWD can view the new 2015-2016 Michigan Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Surveillance Report.  Additionally, the DNR is holding a Facebook Live event Sept. 20 at 12 p.m. EDT to answer questions about CWD, CWD management and the impacts the disease could have on the future of Michigan’s deer.  Follow the Michigan DNR’s Facebook page for more details.

The DNR provides bi-weekly CWD updates online at mi.gov/cwd. Announcements of additional CWD-positive deer will be posted online as well.

Related articles

• Michigan Deer Hunters - REMINDER: Antlerless deer license applications on sale until Monday (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Deer disease prompts mandatory testing in parts of Missouri (fox2now.com)
• MDC Reminds Hunters of Deer and Turkey Regulation Changes for Fall (kjfmeagle102.net)

North Dakota Deer Hunters: First-Come, First-Served Deer Gun Licenses Available Sept. 28

A total of 50 antlerless whitetail deer gun licenses are still available in two units after the North Dakota Game and Fish Department recently completed its second lottery drawing. Individual results are available online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

Whitetail doe licenses remaining in units 3F1 (36 licenses) and 3F2 (14 licenses) will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. Central Time on Sept. 28. These licenses are only available online, and to individuals who have not already received a lottery or landowner license

These licenses are valid only during the regular deer gun season, Nov. 4-20. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply.

Related articles

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• Hunting Season Arrives with Excitement, Abundant Whitetail Population (flatheadbeacon.com)

Two southeast Iowa men charged after deer were shot and abandoned

DES MOINES – Multiple charges were filed against two southeast Iowa men following an Iowa Department of Natural Resources investigation into several deer that had been shot and left to rot.

Ryan Matthew Greiner, 30, of Morning Sun and Treyton Hartman, 19, of Yarmouth, were charged after search warrants on their residences in Morning Sun and Yarmouth were conducted on Jan. 22nd. The deer, which had been shot with rifles, were reported to the DNR by the public.

Greiner was charged with the following:



18 charges of unlawful take/possession/transportation of a white tail deer.
18 charges of not having a valid deer tag
7 charges of abandonment of dead or injured wildlife
2 charges of hunting deer with a motor vehicle
1 charge of unlawful possession of a non-game species (raptor foot)
1 charge of failure to report harvest
1 charge of hunting by artificial light
1  charge of no state migratory fee


In addition to the game charges, Greiner was also charged with one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of marijuana and two counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs.

The charges against Greiner have a total possible fine of $7,503 as well as liquidated damages of $67,000 for 18 deer.

Hartman was charged and found guilty of the following charges:



One charge of not having a fur harvesting license
One charge of abandonment of dead or injured wildlife
One charge of hunting with artificial light
One charge of not having a deer tag
One charge of unlawful take of a whitetail deer - $4,000 damages assessed
One additional charge of unlawful take of a whitetail deer - $1500 damages assessed
The DNR received assistance on the investigation from the wildlife forensic laboratory of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in analyzing DNA evidence relative to the case.

The DNR Law Enforcement Bureau also expresses gratitude to members of the public who reported the dead deer which led to the investigation and charges.

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Wisconsin: Sneak peeks from the 2016 Deer Show

MADISON - Three early segments from Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2016 with Dan Small will help hunters prepare for another fall deer hunt - these short videos are now available and will allow viewers to get ready for deer season on-the-go.

These early segments give hunters a sneak peek before the full Deer Show airs later this fall. Early segments include Farmland Zone tags, Bonus Antlerless tags, and Snapshot Wisconsin. Additional early segments will be shared in September, and hunters should stay tuned for the full program, which will air later this fall.

Farmland zone tags
Video Credit: DNR

Bonus antlerless tags
Video Credit: DNR

Snapshot Wisconsin
Video Credit: DNR

Related articles

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Two State-Record Elk Recognized on a Single Day

 Tuesday, June 14, 2016, proved to be a record-setting day at the Wildlife Department's Northeast Region Office near Porter. That's the day two hunters from Muskogee had their elk antlers scored, and they each ended the day as state record-holders.

    Oklahoma's Cy Curtis Awards Program has recognized the racks as the new state-record typical elk and the first state-record nontypical elk.

    Bob Hamlin is the owner of the new typical elk record, which scored 338 4/8 when measured by official scorer Russell Perry, a wildlife biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Hamlin's elk scored about six points more than the previous record of 332 1/8 held by Wayne Munn of Rush Springs.

 

Bob Hamlin 

  The first nontypical elk submitted for a Cy Curtis Award belongs to Jerry Jaynes. It scored 325 7/8 when measured by Perry.

    To be eligible for a Cy Curtis listing, an elk harvested in Oklahoma must score at least 270 in the typical category and 310 in the nontypical category.

------------

 

Bob Hamlin with his typical elk mount, recognized as the state record June 14, 2016, with a score of 338 4/8. (Photo Provided)

    Hamlin has heard the same thing many times over the past 22 years. "Everybody kept telling me it was the biggest one they'd ever seen." Even Hamlin admits that he was "fascinated by how big he was" after he brought down the 7-by-6 bull elk that would eventually capture the state record. The hunt was 22 years ago. And that's how long Hamlin has had the state-record elk hanging on his wall -- without even realizing it.

    In all fairness to him, Oklahoma only began recognizing a state-record elk in 2014. So Hamlin only missed out on the notoriety for a couple of years.

    Hamlin, now 81, recalls how it happened back in 1994. For at least a decade, he had entered the drawing for a Wildlife Department controlled hunt for elk. But he read in the newspaper that the hunter drawn for a Cimarron County elk hunt must secure a landowner's permission to hunt on private land. Since he had no permission, Hamlin had nearly convinced himself there was no need to put his name into the drawing. But on the last day for entering, Hamlin talked himself into it. And, of course, his name was drawn.

    Hamlin enlisted the help of the local game warden and was able to find a place and get permission to hunt. On Dec. 17, 1994, Hamlin walked to an area that had waist-high brush and no trees. Soon, a herd of about 50 elk showed up, and it looked to be all cows. "Then this bull came out; he was bringing up the rear end." Hamlin downed the 7-by-6 elk with a 250-yard rifle shot to the chest.

    He debated whether to have the animal mounted, because "I wasn't into the mounting thing." But at the urging of others, he did. "That was the best thing I ever did."

------------

 

Jerry Jaynes

Jerry Jaynes of McAlester with his nontypical elk mount, recognized as the state record June 14, 2016, with a score of 325 7/8. (Photo Provided)

    Jaynes took his 9-by-8 nontypical elk Dec. 15, 2005, in Comanche County. It was the final day of his Controlled Hunt, and he decided to hunt in a different area than where he was the previous day.

    "I had seen a lot of cows," he recalled. "But then I walked up on three bulls grazing." One of the bulls was slightly bigger, and it had a drop tine on one side of its rack. "That's why I decided to harvest that one." The elk was only about 40 yards away, but he had to wait for the animal to move into a clearing to get a good shot.

    "I thought he was a pretty decent elk. I didn't know it would ever be a state record."

    Jaynes, 54, said he had been entering the Controlled Hunts elk drawing for about 25 years before his name was selected in 2005. He's been on several Controlled Hunts for deer over the years. He's also hunted elk in Colorado several times, but has yet to take one there.

------------

    Oklahoma's Cy Curtis Awards Program began in 1972 and originally recognized white-tailed deer and mule deer only. Starting in 2014, the Wildlife Department's official hunter recognition program expanded its listings to include elk, bears and pronghorns that exceed minimum qualifying scores. For details on the Cy Curtis program and to learn how to apply for an award, go to the Cy Curtis page at wildlifedepartment.com.

    The Wildlife Department's Controlled Hunts Program gives hunters a chance to put their name into a drawing for some of the state's most-sought-after hunting opportunities. Controlled hunts for deer, elk, antelope and turkey are conducted in locations where unrestricted public hunting would pose safety concern or where overharvesting might occur.

    In the 2015-16 Controlled Hunts Program, about one in every 22 applicants had his or her name randomly selected for one of 5,760 permits available. The hunt locations are normally posted on the Department's website at wildlifedepartment.com by March 15, and the application deadline is May 15.

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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

The beach at Newport State Park near Ellison Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Warm weather and warm water slow some fishing, but action remained good in some areas; Perseid meteor shower this weekend

Apart from the beginning of the week and end of last weekend, when storms moved quickly across much of the state, these past few days have afforded a welcome calm on the weather front. Rain and storm events are predicted for much of central and south central region on Thursday and Friday, but the weekend looks much clearer.

Anglers across the state took advantage of the lull in restless weather and came out in droves this past weekend. Fishing on the Flambeau and Chippewa rivers remained good for smallmouth bass. Musky fishing has slowed in the Northwoods due to the warm waters, but some fish were still being caught. Some largemouth bass and northern pike were being caught on shallow weed lakes and some bluegills were being caught on the bottom near deep weed edges with crappies suspended along wood structure.

The warm weather and warm water also seemed to slow the bite at southeastern Lake Michigan harbors. Anglers from Sheboygan to Racine reported catching rainbow and lake trout, chinook salmon and sheepshead, but success was sporadic overall. The walleye bite slowed off Oconto near the Pensaukee landing, but remained good to the south off Geano Beach. Walleye fishing was also good off Brown County with anglers out of Bayshore Park reporting catches of 10 fish per boat and limits also reported near the Suamico River. Fishing pressure continued to be high off Door County with Little Sturgeon Bay seeing an equal mix of walleye and perch fishermen, along with pleasure boaters.

Spots are starting to fade on the white-tail fawns, as they are looking like small copies of their mothers. Many birds are beginning to gather in large flocks as many will begin their journey south in the near future. Bur oaks in the area appear to be having a stellar acorn drop in the south. Squirrels and chipmunks are busy harvesting black walnuts, acorns, and hickory nuts.

The frequent rain throughout the summer has kept woods and the prairie lush for people heading out to bike, hike or otherwise ride the trails this weekend. Flies and mosquitos seem to be winding down.

Berries are ripening across the state and wildlife are gearing up to race you to the first bite. Many areas are reporting a bumper crop of blackberries. Everything from small birds, to chipmunks, to turkey broods feed on blackberries, which make stands of brambles a great place to view wildlife and grab a snack. Out in the fields the "golden trend" continues as black-eyed susans, goldenrod, sunflowers and others continue to bloom.

This weekend is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and several parks are hosting the UW-Madison Astronomy Department's Universe in the Park programs including Newport State Park on Friday, Blue Mound, Governor Dodge and Potawatomi state parks, the southern and Pike Lake units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and Richard Bong State Recreation Area on Saturday, and Peninsula State Park on Sunday.

There will also be three Shakespeare in the Park performances this weeken on Friday at Lakeshore, on Saturday at Rib Mountain and on Sunday at Mirror Lake state parks.

Michigan Deer Hunters - REMINDER: Antlerless deer license applications on sale until Monday

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the application period for antlerless deer licenses ends Monday, Aug. 15.

Hunters may apply for one license in any open deer management unit (DMU) statewide; a nonrefundable $5 fee is charged at the time of application. Hunters may apply online at E-License, or at any authorized license agent or DNR Customer Service Center.

Drawing results and leftover license availability may be viewed beginning Sept. 1 at mi.gov/deer.

Any leftover antlerless deer licenses not issued in the drawing will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis beginningSept. 8 at 10 a.m. EDT until license quotas are met.

The 2016 antlerless deer license quotas for each DMU can be found at mi.gov/deer. Please note, DMU 333 has unlimited antlerless licenses that may be purchased without application beginning Sept. 8 at 10 a.m.

Young hunters, ages 9-16, also can purchase one junior antlerless deer license over the counter July 15-Aug. 15. No application is required. A 9-year-old must be 10 by Sept. 26 to purchase this license.

For additional information, the 2016 Michigan Antlerless Deer Digest is available online at mi.gov/dnrdigests.

Hunters also are reminded that the Michigan Natural Resources Commission expanded the Core Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Area to include 17 townships. This area, which will continue to be referred to as DMU 333, now will consist of Lansing, Meridian, Williamstown, Delhi, Alaiedon and Wheatfield townships in Ingham County; DeWitt, Bath, Watertown, Eagle, Westphalia, Riley, Olive and Victor townships in Clinton County; Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County, and Oneida and Delta townships in Eaton County.

The CWD Management Zone also has expanded; it now will include the remainder of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties, as well as all of Ionia County. The expanded management zone will be referred to as DMU 419.

Additional deer-check stations, to be announced at a later date, will be available to hunters in the Core CWD Area.

To learn more about chronic wasting disease, please visit mi.gov/cwd.

Don’t forget to purchase $5 Pure Michigan Hunt applications. You can apply as many times as you wish. Three winners each will receive a prize package valued at over $4,000, including a rifle and crossbow, plus licenses for elk, bear and antlerless deer hunting. Visit mi.gov/pmh for more information. To purchase Pure Michigan Hunt applications, visit E-License.

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Wisconsin bonus antlerless deer tags available for purchase starting Aug. 15

MADISON - Bonus antlerless deer tags are available for purchase starting Monday, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m.

For a list of units with bonus tags available for purchase, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "bonus availability." These and all other deer hunting licenses and tags are available online through the Go Wild website,gowild.wi.gov, (exit DNR)  or at any of more than 1,000 Go Wild license sales locations.Bonus tags will be sold at a rate of one per person per day until sold out or until the 2016 deer hunting season ends. Bonus tags cost $12 each for Wisconsin residents, $20 each for non-residents and $5 each for youth ages 10 and 11.

Hunters will need to know the deer management zone, unit, and determine whether they will hunt on public or private land in order to purchase unit-specific bonus tags.

The first three days of bonus tag sales are management zone-specific and will be available as follows:

• Aug. 15, 10 a.m. - Northern and Central Forest (Zone 1);
• Aug. 16, 10 a.m.- Central Farmland (Zone 2);
• Aug. 17, 10 a.m.- Southern Farmland (Zone 2); and
• Aug. 18, 10 a.m. - remaining bonus tags (all zones).

As a reminder, Farmland (Zone 2) antlerless tags are now available for distribution. Depending on the deer management unit, one or more Farmland (Zone 2) antlerless deer tags are included with the purchase of each gun and archery deer hunting license.

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More than 25,000 acres of private land open to hunting this fall in Iowa

Iowa hunters this fall will have access to hunt on more than 25,000 acres of private land on 132 sites around the state as part of a program that helps landowners improve habitat on portions of their land in exchange for allowing hunter access.

The Iowa Habitat and Access Program (IHAP) provide expertise and funding to landowners who are interested in improving wildlife habitat on their property. Landowner participation varies from three to 10 years depending upon the contracts.

“Hunters told us they felt access to private land was an important step to improving their hunting experience and to attracting new hunters to the outdoors. We were fortunate to have this opportunity to provide them with access to these areas through the IHAP,” said Kelly Smith, private lands program coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources who manages the IHAP.

Areas are posted with signs, are regularly patrolled by Iowa DNR conservation officers and will be treated like public hunting ground, with the noted exception that it is private property.

“Hunters should respect private property, stay on the land enrolled in the program and pick up after themselves,” Smith said. “This program is only available because landowners were willing to participate in it.”

Site maps are available at www.iowadnr.gov/ihap showing boundaries, which species would be most likely attracted to the habitat and the location of a checkout box where hunters are asked to leave their comments on the program. The checkout cards are used to evaluate the program to see if hunters are getting what they expected from the program.

Walk-in public hunting through IHAP is available between September 1 and May 31. The IHAP is supported with money from Federal Farm Bill and Habitat Stamp.

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South Dakota:

PIERRE, S.D. – Earlier this year, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission established a pool of stand-by contingency antlerless elk licenses that could be issued if range conditions in the Black Hills dictated a need for them. Next week, at the August Commission meeting, the Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) will recommend the Commission not authorize issuance of any contingency licenses.

“One component of our agency’s elk management plan was the development of elk contingency licenses,” noted Tony Leif, director of the GFP Division of Wildlife. “These licenses provide us with the ability to issue more licenses to assist in lowering elk numbers when reduced habitat conditions such as a drought dictate a reduction.”

“After a discussion with the U.S. Forest Service earlier this week, we do not believe there is a sufficient enough need that exists to issue elk contingency licenses this year. Following the elk management plan, the Commission already increased the antlerless license allocation by a total of 839 to slow the growth of the Black Hills elk population,” concluded Leif.

For complete details on the 2016 elk hunting seasons, visithttp://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/elk/default.aspx. To learn more about South Dakota’s elk management plan, visit http://gfp.sd.gov/wildlife/management/plans/docs/ElkPlanApril2015Final.pdf.

Hunting Access Program seeks landowners in northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources encourages landowners interested in making the most of their property and supporting local hunting traditions to consider enrolling their lands in the DNR's Hunting Access Program, which provides private-land hunting opportunities for hunters in southern Michigan, parts of the northern Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula. 

The DNR is looking to expand hunting opportunities on private lands in the northern Lower Peninsula in the following counties: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Wexford. 

“You can help promote wildlife population management, support the local economy, reduce wildlife conflicts, improve your land, and get paid to do it,” said DNR Hunting Access Program coordinator Monique Ferris. 

Landowners with at least 40 acres are eligible to enroll. 

“Providing access to hunting lands that are close to home is critical for supporting Michigan’s strong hunting heritage,” said Ferris. “Our commitment to providing access has more than tripled the number of farms enrolled in HAP the past three years. We now have over 170 farms and nearly 20,000 acres available for public hunting.” 

In the northeastern Lower Peninsula, Ferris said the DNR is hoping for increased Hunting Access Program property enrollments as landowners see the benefit HAP provides, particularly in areas where deer population management is needed, such as those areas affected by bovine tuberculosis.

The DNR received a $951,400 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program last year to expand HAP into the northern Lower Peninsula to increase private-land hunting opportunities.

The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program encourages property owners to voluntarily allow outdoor enthusiasts greater access to their privately owned land for hunting.

According to a 2013 study by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, outdoor recreation supports 6.1 million direct jobs across the country and $646 billion in spending each year.

“The Hunting Access Program is good for the economy,” said Ferris. “Hunters taking trips to HAP lands contribute $1.7 million annually to Michigan’s economy. The majority of the HAP hunter trips are within 25 miles of the hunter’s home, making HAP lands extremely accessible.” 

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. Landowners enrolled in HAP receive an annual payment, up to $25 an acre, for allowing hunters to access their lands. One of the oldest dedicated private-lands, public-access programs in the nation, HAP provides access to quality hunting lands close to urban properties and in agricultural areas. Using funds from the new hunting license package and the new federal grant, the DNR plans to continue expanding the program over the next three years and now offers habitat improvement funds for landowners. 

Landowners have the ability to choose which types of hunting are allowed on their lands. Hunting options include:

• All hunting.
• Youth and apprentice hunting only.
• Small game only.
• Deer only.
• Turkey only.
• Elk only.

Landowners may choose more than one option, such as deer and turkey hunting only. Maximum payments will be given for the all hunting or youth and apprentice hunting options.

In order to control the number of hunters using HAP lands at any one time, hunters are required to register to hunt each time they visit the property. The landowner can select either a mandatory registration at their home or a hunter self-registration box, which the DNR will provide and install. The maximum number of hunters allowed on the property is determined by the total acreage, as well as the habitat type. Leases are on a two- to three-year period, with annual payments made each spring.

To ensure landowner and hunter satisfaction, HAP offers landowner liability protection. Public Act 451 of 1994 addresses the concerns some landowners have over sharing access to their land. In addition, HAP lands are patrolled by conservation officers, with an increased focus on patrolling during the busy fall hunting season.

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

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Wisconsin: Report deer sightings to Operation Deer Watch

Wisconsin's residents can help with deer herd management by participating in this year's Operation Deer Watch, an annual citizen-science survey that collects information on deer. Data from this survey provides insight to the reproductive status of Wisconsin's deer herd for 2016 and helps shape deer management for the state.

"This is a fun and useful opportunity for all individuals and families to enjoy Wisconsin's plentiful wildlife," says Brian Dhuey, DNR surveys coordinator. "The Department of Natural Resources encourages anyone interested in deer, from hunters and trappers, to outdoor enthusiasts to take part."

To get involved, record all bucks, does and fawns seen during the day from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30. Daily observations can be tracked using an online tally sheet available at dnr.wi.gov, keyword "deer watch."

Data from the survey is additionally used by County Deer Advisory Councils (CDAC) when developing deer season framework, harvest quotas and permit level recommendations.

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North Dakota Deer Lottery Held, Antlerless Licenses Remain

North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held and individual results are available online at the State Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

More than 1,600 antlerless deer gun licenses remain. Only resident applicants who were unsuccessful in the first lottery can apply for remaining licenses.

The first lottery application process – deer gun, muzzleloader, youth and landowner – had more than 102,000 applicants, and over 51,000 were unsuccessful.

An option for unsuccessful applicants to apply online for remaining licenses will be available Aug. 3. Paper applications for remaining licenses will be mailed to individuals the week of Aug. 1. The deadline for applying is Aug. 24.

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What are you doing to prepare for deer season?

We hope you will chime in with any thoughts you have in the comments section below. You might have some guidance that would be good for others.

Typically, we are sharing deer hunting news and some other news from the outdoor world that pertains at least loosely to deer hunting.  The news has been a little slow lately after kind of a flurry of announcements by various state wildlife agencies about deer seasons. So, I got to thinking about what folks are doing to get ready for upcoming seasons - if anything.

Normally, right now I'd be out shooting my bow quite a bit by now, but dinged up my shoulder a little and am giving it one more week to heal up. I hope to be solid then.  It's the side in which I hold the bow (left shoulder) so I am pretty sure it won't be a big deal.  I live out in the woods and can shoot down a slope off a pretty high deck on the house, so that is pretty nice.

I am also doing some activities to improve fitness and watching my diet to shed some weight that should have come off long ago this summer.  We usually hunt out of climber tree stands after hiking in to public areas...one mile in is about as close to the truck as we are ever setting up.  Fitness is important.

I need to get my bow into the shop just to get looked over and in case anything needs to be done, get that going before a big rush hits them.  Every year, I say I am going to get the rifles zeroed in early...a month maybe before deer season. The closest range where I can shoot is always kind of crazy, but the week before opening weekend here in Missouri is absolutely nuts.  So, maybe this week while waiting on the shoulder I will get out a couple of evenings after it cools down a bit and shoot 2 or 3 groups from each of the 3 rifles we use (30-06, 30-30, 7mm-mag).

Finally, I always try to start doing some scouting for a new area about now.  With public land hunting like we do, you have little or no control over what happens in an area.  Regs change, a place starts getting too much pressure, etc.  So, I am always trying to seek out some other options.

Anyway, again share your thoughts if you have them.

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Wisconsin Outdoor Report 7/22/2016

Smallmouth Bass 

Extremely warm weather is blanketing much of the state

As we move toward the weekend, extremely warm weather is blanketing much of the state. Thursday evening, areas of Bayfield and Ashland counties were hit by a second, high-wind storm, following last weekend's, which left massive flooding in its wake. Due to saturated soils from the previous storm, numerous trees were down in the region.

Water levels across the state are variable at this time, with some areas dropping to just above average and others, fed by the past storm and rain events, sitting much higher. This has led to large fluctuations in both angling pressure and angling success over the past week and weekend.

Those on the northeastern sections, between Manitowoc and Marinette, were seeing more consistent walleye success. Anglers in those counties were also landing catfish, smallmouth and sheepshead, with intermittent mentions of perch success. The smallmouth bass bite picked up this past week and anglers were catching bass of all sizes throughout Door County. Decent numbers of yellow perch are being caught off of Little Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor. Anglers fishing on the southeastern sections of Lake Michigan, from Kenosha all the way up to Sheboygan, were consistently landing chinook, coho and rainbow trout, with a smattering of browns and freshwater drum. Early in the week a large number of anglers caught their limit of trout and salmon on McKinley Pier in Milwaukee, but by Thursday the water temperature dropped down to 45 degrees and the fish moved out.

Anglers in the Northwoods were combatting washouts and road closures this week, but that didn't stop them from working up consistent musky action. Topwater baits near weed edges or beds have been successful. Largemouth bass have also settled into their summer patterns and decent catches are resulting. Smallmouth seem to have moved back to deeper water and walleye are proving similarly challenging. There has been some success for crappie, perch and rock bass, but sizable bluegill still remain tough to find.

Off the water and on the prairie, the bouquet of blooming flowers continues to change as spiked blazing star, rattlesnake master, American germander and more make their first appearance this year. Accompanying the growth are sounds and sights from cicadas, grasshoppers, butterflies and more.

With the second hay harvest of the year, turkey broods will be taking to the cut fields looking for the previously mentioned insects. Fawns are also beginning to move more independently from their mothers and feed on the plants around them. The elk bachelor bulls from the Clam Lake herd are still spread throughout the south part of the forest and their antlers are almost fully developed.



Blackberries and blueberries abound in the woods and edges of waterways and trails, get to them before the birds and have a fantastic, warm, weekend in Wisconsin's outdoors!

Related articles

• Wisconsin Weekly Outdoor Report 6/10/2016
• South Dakota State Smallmouth Bass Record Broken
• Lake Michigan Salmon scarce. Steelhead and Lake Trout round out catches