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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• Michigan communities issue burning bans amid dry weather
• Bear and Elk License Drawing Results Posted; Leftover Licenses on Sale in July

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.

Related articles

• New online TROUT tool helps Wisconsin anglers find places to fish
• Deer herd rebounding

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.

Related articles

• USFWS Says Moose May Warrant Future Protection
• N. Dakota DOT seeks submissions for Transportation Innovation Program
• Living like a good neighbor

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.

Related articles

• Summertime scouting for deer: Continue to Use Trail Cameras Once you Remove Feeders
• 3 Reasons You Won't be Harvesting a Deer this Fall

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

Wisconsin: Enroll in the Deer Management Assistance Program to maximize the wildlife sightings on your property!

How can you improve your property for wildlife? Sign up for DMAP to immediately receive access to an online library of deer and habitat management resources and learn more about providing food and cover for deer and other wildlife, timber harvesting guidelines, collecting biological data on harvested deer and much more. 

For a more interactive experience, all enrolled DMAP cooperators can participate in one or more deer and habitat management workshops. The 2016 summer workshops will feature the latest Wisconsin deer research updates, DMAP cooperator success stories, how to plant trees and shrubs with wildlife value and more, tying it all together with a tour of a local DMAP property. 

The summer DMAP workshop schedule is:

• July 22: Jefferson County
• July 30: Sawyer County
• August 13: Buffalo County
• August 27: Juneau County

To learn more or sign up for DMAP, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword “DMAP.”

Michigan: Antlerless deer license applications on sale through Aug. 15

Antlerless quotas for each DMU can be found at mi.gov/deer

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the application period for antlerless deer licenses is now open and runs through 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 choose to apply for either one private-land or one public-land license online at E-License or at any authorized license agent or DNR Customer Service Center.

Young hunters, ages 9-16, 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.

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. 

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.

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

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

Hunters also are reminded that chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in a free-ranging deer in Michigan. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.

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

Don’t forget you can purchase your $5 Pure Michigan Hunt applications anywhere licenses are sold. Hunters may buy as many applications as they want. Three lucky winners will get prize packages that include elk (Michigan residents only), bear, deer and turkey licenses; first pick at a managed waterfowl hunt area, plus firearms, crossbows and much more – a prize package worth over $4,000. For more information, visit mi.gov/pmh.

Deer Camp Available for First Time South Dakota Youth Deer Hunters

PRESHO, S.D. – Seven first-time deer hunters will have the opportunity of a lifetime to participate in a managed youth deer hunt and camp on Sept. 24-25 at the Snake Den Lodge near Presho.

This free event is open to first time youth deer hunters between the ages of 12 and 15. Participants must be HuntSAFE certified and accompanied by a parent or mentor. Participants will learn how to select the best ammunition and firearm for deer hunting, improve shooting and safety, sight in a firearm, field dress and how to properly care for meat. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) will provide three meals, snacks, lodging, tags, guns, ammunition, safety equipment, transportation to and from hunting, binoculars and assistance with field processing.

Each hunter will be paired with a knowledgeable and experienced guide. Participation is limited to seven hunters. Applicants will be selected based upon their responses to the application questions. Successful applicants are required to attend a hunt orientation meeting on the morning of Sept. 24. Hunting will take place on Presho area farms on Sept. 24-25.

For more information and to apply for this opportunity, contact GFP conservation officer, Brian Ridgeway at 605.730.1573 or Brian.Ridgeway@state.sd.us.

Here are some upcoming South Dakota Deer Hunting Season Applications

Applications deadlines for the 2016 South Dakota West River, East River, Black Hills, Refuge, Youth, Archery, Muzzleloader and Custer State Park Deer Hunting Seasons are quickly approaching.

Deadlines for the first drawings are as follows:

West River, Black Hills, and Custer State Park Deer:

• Paper applications July 15                                                                                           
• Online applications 8 a.m. CDT July 20

East River, Refuge and (Any Deer) Muzzleloader:                                                    

• Paper Applications Sept. 2                                                                                          
• Online applications 8 a.m. CDT Sept. 7.

There are no deadlines for Archery, Youth and Muzzleloader (antlerless) licenses.

Wisconsin Outdoor Report 7/15/2016

Torrential rains hit northwestern Wisconsin cause some closures but most properties remain open

Some areas of far northwester Wisconsin received torrential rains early this week, with 8 to 10 inches reported in some areas causing major washouts of roads and even major highways. Copper Falls State Park was closed temporarily but has reopened. A campground at Governor Knowles State Forest is closed, and as the water moves down through the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers, some facilities are closed or may be closed at Merrick and Interstate state parks. Sections of the Wild Rivers, Saunders and Gandy Dancer state trails are also closed. Other state properties in the area including Amnicon Falls and Pattison state parks and the Brule River State Forest are open, but travel to destinations may take longer due to numerous road closures. People traveling to the area should check the Wisconsin Department of Transportation www.511wi.gov website for details. The waterfalls are roaring at both Amnicon Falls and Pattison with many visitors showing up with cameras to capture the images. Paddlers are being asked to stay off the Brule River for a few days until the extremely high flows recede.

The heavy rains were quite localized to northwestern Wisconsin and other northern properties such as the Flambeau River, Northern Highland-American Legion and Peshtigo River state forests were not affected by the storm and facilities remain open as is access to all these properties.

Angling pressure remains strong, despite pressure from changing winds and heavy rain. Anglers in the Northwoods are seeing consistent success for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Warmer waters also seem to have improved the number of follows for musky, with some fish up to 45 inches. Panfish action has also been fair.

On Green Bay, the walleye bite has been good at the Menominee River in Marinette and from Pensaukee to Oconto. Anglers out of Suamico were finding good numbers of walleye along with freshwater drum and catfish. Shore anglers on the Fox River were having good success catching white bass, freshwater drum, channel catfish and some walleye. Fishing pressure was far below average this past week along Door County with pleasure boat traffic far outweighing fishing pressure on the bay side. Decent numbers of yellow perch are being caught off of Little Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor but most were on the smaller side.

Along Lake Michigan pier fishing picked up at Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Port Washington, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha, with chinook, coho and brown trout all being caught. Perch action was also on the rise at Milwaukee. Out on the lake, trolling success was down some this week but some boats were still hitting their limits in just a few hours, with mostly chinooks were being caught but also many coho and a few rainbows and lake trout.

Healthy looking fawns are plentiful now and moving about; bucks are still growing their velvet antlers with some becoming quite well developed. Plenty of grouse coveys and numerous turkey broods are being seen. Eagles and many other wildlife are fledging at this time, so don't be too surprised to see them on the ground or hear them complaining from the nest as they prepare for their first flights.

Raspberries, blackberries, juneberries and blueberries are ripening across the state. Virginia mountain mint, marsh hedge-nettle and purple prairie clover are a few of the species that are flowering for the first time this year.

Cedar waxwings and whip-poor been feeding frequently on the insects. Up to 40 butterfly species have been counted at Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area since July 1.

Wisconsin Deer Management Assistance Program continues to grow

MADISON -- In its third year of serving the people and wildlife of Wisconsin, the Deer Management Assistance Program continues to build relationships with landowners, hunters and property managers to manage deer and improve wildlife habitat.

Following the March 1, 2016 enrollment deadline, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources received 228 new DMAP applications covering over 124,000 acres in 62 counties. This brings the three-year total number of landowners involved in DMAP to nearly 1,000, with 220,980 acres enrolled in the program statewide.

"The DMAP cooperator base continues to expand, allowing for increased opportunities for private landowners, public land managers and DNR staff to properly manage forests while improving habitat for deer and other wildlife species," said Bob Nack, DNR DMAP coordinator. "The partnerships being developed to do good things for the wildlife we all enjoy are really impressive."

DMAP applicants can sign up at one of three levels of enrollment based on property size; each offers a different enrollment fee and set of benefits. Properties of any size can enroll at Level 1 at no cost to receive benefits such as consultation with a local DNR wildlife biologist, access to online deer and habitat management publications and participation in local DMAP workshops and citizen science opportunities. Properties greater than 160 acres can enroll at Level 2 or 3 for a minimal three-year fee. Along with all Level 1 benefits, Level 2 and 3 properties receive a site visit from a local DNR wildlife biologist and forester, a property-specific management plan and the potential for reduced-price antlerless harvest tags. Properties within a half mile of each other can combine acreage to sign up as a group cooperative and qualify for benefits at a higher enrollment level.

DMAP cooperators at any level may also attend one of several workshops offered around the state in the spring and summer of each year.

"DMAP workshops provide information on the habitat needs of deer and other wildlife, proper forest management techniques to benefit wildlife, cost-share programs for habitat improvement projects and much more," said Nack. "Our focus for these workshops is to get cooperators thinking about which strategies they could implement on their property to provide the best habitat for the wildlife they want to watch or hunt."

Summer workshops are open to DMAP cooperators, and combine professional presentations, discussion, hands-on activities and tours of DMAP properties to share information on the principles of wildlife habitat and deer management. Workshops also provide an opportunity to network with wildlife and forestry professionals and other DMAP cooperators.

Four summer workshops are scheduled for 2016:

• July 22: Jefferson County
• July 30: Sawyer County
• August 13: Buffalo County
• August 27: Juneau County

Overall, reception of DMAP continues to be positive. On average, 82 percent of DMAP cooperators rated the quality of service through DMAP as "good" or "very good." DMAP site visits also received high marks, with 91 percent of cooperators responding that they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the site visit.

Landowners not currently enrolled in DMAP can attend the remaining summer workshops by signing up for DMAP at any time. Level 2 or 3 applications received now will immediately receive DMAP benefits and will be eligible for a site visit in 2017. To find more information and to enroll in DMAP, visit dnr.wi.gov, keyword "DMAP."

How does CWD get Transmitted?

From Michigan DNR

Although CWD is a contagious fatal disease among deer and elk, research suggests that humans, cattle and other domestic livestock are resistant to natural transmission. While the possibility of human infection remains a concern, it is important to note there have been no verified cases of humans contracting CWD.

Transmission: Animal to Animal
Transmission of CWD is possible in species with closely related proteins, thereby being able to exchange prions and cause disease. It is not likely to jump the species barrier. There is no evidence at this time that CWD can be naturally transmitted to livestock or animals other than deer and elk. In deer and elk, the causal agent of CWD is transmissible from infected to uninfected individuals. Both circumstantial and experimental evidence implicates an animal to animal form of transmission. This occurs via horizontal or lateral (contact between adult animal and adult animal, contamination of feed or water sources with saliva, urine, and/or feces, or contact with an infected facility or area), and more rarely as vertical or maternal (adult animal (dam) to offspring via contact). Concentrating cervids in captivity and baiting or feeding animals can greatly increase the chances of disease spread.
Once natural transmission occurs, a minimum incubation period (the time from infection to observance of clinical signs) of 18 months is required between exposure to the causal agent and development of the disease. In captive cervid herds a minimal incubation period of 18 to 20 months for mule deer and 18 to 36 months for elk was observed. Some signs associated with  CWD include: a decline in body conditioning, changes in behavior, tremors, reduced feed intake, and difficulty standing.

Transmission: Animal to Human
To date, there is no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans or to animals other than deer and elk. There is no evidence that the agent that causes CWD occurs in the meat. CWD is not a food borne disease. Unlike BSE, CWD is not associated with being spread though the use of rendered meat or bone meal products. Proteins differ from one species to another therefore prions are unlikely to prosper in a new species. There is a "substantial barrier" to CWD transmission between animals and people.

Development
The clinical course of CWD varies from a few days to approximately a year, with most animals surviving from a few weeks to several months. While a protracted clinical course is typical, occasionally acute death may occur; this may be more common in the wild than in the relative security of captivity. Aspiration pneumonia is a common finding at postmortem examination of terminal CWD cases and may confuse the diagnosis if the brain is not examined. Aspiration pneumonia presumably is due to difficulty swallowing, hypersalivation, and inhalation of foreign material into the lungs. Thus the brain should be examined for evidence of CWD on every prime age cervid that dies with pneumonia. Currently there is no clinical treatment available for CWD. Once the disease develops is perceived as fatal. Therefore, within captive facilities CWD management options are limited to quarantine or depopulation. 

Michigan DNR announces expansion of Chronic Wasting Disease Core Area and Management Zone

Additional townships and counties are affected

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 Deer Management Unit (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.

“With the detection of CWD-positive deer in the southern part of Clinton County, we need to better understand the magnitude of the disease in those areas,” said Chad Stewart, Department of Natural Resources deer specialist. “Expanding our surveillance to include those areas is key at this point, and we need help from landowners and hunters within the expanded zone to help us with this effort.”

Other regulation changes include:

• Banning deer feeding and baiting on all properties within the Core CWD Area and Management Zone.
• Opening Eaton and Ionia counties to the early antlerless deer season.
• Allowing roadkill deer in the Core CWD Area to be possessed and kept with a DNR-issued salvage tag from a law enforcement officer or DNR employee, as long as the head is submitted to a DNR biologist, biologist appointee or check station.

Continuing from last year, other regulation reminders include:

• Those hunting within the Core CWD Area are required to present the head of all hunter-harvested deerwithin 72 hours of harvest to a DNR deer check station.
• Hunters leaving the Core CWD Area are required to present the entire carcass of all hunter-harvested deer originating from the Core CWD Area within 72 hours of harvest to a DNR deer check station. (A list of deer check stations is available at michigan.gov/deercheck.)
• All live free-ranging deer from within the CWD Management Zone or Core CWD Area are prohibited from being rehabilitated. Permittees located within the CWD Management Zone or Core CWD Area may no longer rehabilitate deer.

CWD affects members of the deer family, including 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. Since the May 2015 discovery of chronic wasting disease in a free-ranging, Michigan white-tailed deer, more than 5,000 deer have been tested for CWD in order to gauge the extent of the disease across the landscape. Of those tested, seven deer were confirmed positive for the disease in Clinton and Ingham counties.

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

To learn more about CWD, visit mi.gov/cwd.

In an effort to end common CWD misconceptions, the DNR in mid-July will launch a 10-week CWD myth-busting campaign. Visit mi.gov/cwd for more information at that time.

Wisconsin weekly Outdoor Report

Green Bay

Great weather brought out crowds for holiday weekend followed by storms that brought down trees, power lines across the south

Sporadic and punctuated rain and storm events across the state have tempered off into cloud cover and light rain, after what was an excellent Fourth of July weekend. Severe winds in southern Wisconsin took down trees and power to some areas earlier this week, but most trails have been cleared or will be going into this weekend.

Water levels are continuing to drop closer to average across the state. Many sandbars were submerged on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, but there are still sandbars showing. It looks like it will be an excellent weekend to take a canoe or kayak down any of Wisconsin's major rivers.

The holiday weekend's pleasant weather saw large increases in angling pressure across the Northwoods. Panfish and bass produced erratic action, with rock bass and pumpkinseed showing the most consistent success, along with some musky bite. Large and smallmouth bass have both settled into their summer residencies, deeper along weedy and woody edges. Walleye success seems to be a hit or miss proposition, with just a few reports of decent action being found.

On Green Bay, fishing pressure was relatively high this week with Fourth of July traffic. The walleye bite was inconsistent, and walleye anglers were having a tough time finding active fish. But anglers were catching decent numbers of yellow perch although the average size was about 6 inches. Smallmouth bass were a little tougher to come by but anglers were still finding a few fish.

Along Lake Michigan, fishing pressure and reported successes out of both Kewaunee and Algoma made for the busiest weekend of the year to date. Both landings were full and good numbers of chinook salmon were coming into both ports, including some weighing well into the mid to upper 20-pound range and even a 30 pounder was recorded in Kewaunee. Success was also good in southeastern harbors, with good numbers of chinook and coho salmon along with some rainbow and brown trout coming in to Sheboygan, Port Washington, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha, including many limits.

White-tailed bucks are starting to get some very noticeable antler growth. Rabbits and squirrels are beginning to give birth to their second litters. Songbirds such as wrens, chickadees, sparrows, and bluebirds have fledglings.

Along the prairie and oak savannas compass plants are flowering, as is pale Indian plantain and purple prairie clover should bloom within the next week or two. Be mindful of invasive and/or poisonous weeds along roadsides and trails. Wild parsnip is in bloom at this time and its oil will cause burning when exposed to sunlight, even on cloudy days.

Along other edge habitat, including bike paths and hiking trails, blackberries are beginning to set their fruits. Look for their ripening in a month or so and be prepared for competition; more than 100 bird species eat blackberries, including robin, cardinal and ruffed grouse.

Scarlet tanagers, cerulean warblers and yellow-throated vireos will continue their song for a short while longer as their young leave the nest and begin to feed themselves. Brightly colored butterflies, amazingly camouflaged moths, and boldly patterned dragonflies are being seen in many areas. Unfortunately they have been joined by many mosquitoes, deerflies and "ankle-biters" out in force with the recent rains and humidity to be a nuisance to outdoor recreationalists.