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.

Michigan: Bear and elk license drawing results posted; leftover licenses on sale in July

The Department of Natural Resources today announced that the results of the 2016 bear and elk hunting license drawings have been posted at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings.

Bear

A total of 6,896 bear licenses were available during the bear application period (May 1-June 1). A total of 99 leftover bear licenses are still available in the Bergland Management Unit for the third hunt period, which runs from Sept. 25-Oct. 26, and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:

• Holders of Lifetime Comprehensive Licenses who were not selected in the drawing may purchase leftover licenses beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, July 6.
  
• Unsuccessful applicants may purchase leftover licenses beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, July 13.
  
• Any hunter, including those who did not apply, may purchase a leftover license beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT)Wednesday, July 20.

Leftover bear licenses are available for residents only. Hunters, except for Lifetime Comprehensive License holders, are reminded that their preference points will reset to zero if they purchase a leftover license.

Elk

The first hunt period of the 2016 elk season begins Aug. 30-Sept. 2 and includes Sept. 16-19 and Sept. 30-Oct. 3. The second hunt will run Dec. 10-18. An additional hunt may be held Jan. 18-22, 2017, if the DNR determines the harvest insufficient to meet management goals.

A total of 60 any-elk and 140 antlerless-only elk licenses have been issued through the drawing.

Successful elk drawing applicants will receive detailed information about their hunt, including assigned hunt periods, elk management unit and type of license (any-elk or antlerless-only). Applicants are asked to be sure their mailing addresses are kept up-to-date with the Secretary of State. Elk hunters must attend a mandatory hunt orientation class prior to their hunt.

Increase the Odds

Hunters can increase the odds of getting bear and elk licenses by applying for the 2017 Pure Michigan Hunt drawing. Each application is $5, and applicants can purchase as many chances as they like. Three lucky hunters will win packages of licenses to hunt elk, bear, turkey, antlerless deer and waterfowl, plus a 2017 base license. Winning the Pure Michigan Hunt does not affect a hunter's eligibility to apply for or purchase other hunting licenses and will not affect bear preference points or weighted elk chances a hunter has earned. Apply for the Pure Michigan Hunt atwww.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt or at a license agent.

Pure Michigan Hunt Series Continues With Bear Success!

We are following the the three recent Pure Michigan Hunt winners with a video series, and bear season has wrapped up across the state. Click the play button to find out all about their bear hunts.

A Pure Michigan Hunt winner receives elk, bear, spring and fall turkey hunting licenses, and first pick opening morning at a premier managed waterfowl hunt area. And that's not all - a $4,000 ultimate hunting prize package donated by great hunting partners is also included!

When buying your license for firearm deer season, don't forget to purchase your chance to win the hunt of a lifetime. Grab as many $4 Pure Michigan Hunt applications as you wish at www.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt.

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• Michigan: Apply for elk and bear licenses now through June 1 (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
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Minnesota: Hunters reminded not to shoot radio-collared bears

Image via Wikipedia

Hunters participating in Minnesota’s bear season are reminded to avoid shooting radio-collared research bears, which are marked with large colorful ear tags or colorful streamers.

Hunters are likely to find collared bears in and near Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area; the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge; the Chippewa National Forest; Camp Ripley; the Cloquet Forestry Station; Voyageurs National Park; and northern St. Louis County between Ely and Tower near the Eagles Nest chain of lakes.

Photos of some collared research bears are available on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website.

Any hunters who do shoot collared bears should call the DNR Wildlife Research office in Grand Rapids at 218-327-4146 or 218-327-4133.

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