Michigan - Deadline approaching to refund deer license purchases

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, is the deadline to return unused deer and deer combination (“deer combo”) licenses for a refund.

The DNR allowed license returns for refund after antlerless deer hunting regulation changes were implemented by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission this summer. Some hunters had purchased licenses for the upcoming fall hunting seasons prior to the rule change.

The NRC eliminated the option to harvest antlerless deer during the archery seasons for hunters using deer or deer combo licenses in the Upper Peninsula. The decision makes deer and deer combo licenses used in the archery season “buck-only” licenses.

However, hunters with private-land antlerless deer licenses may still take an antlerless deer during any hunting season within three deer management units in the U.P. which will be open to antlerless deer hunting.

Those units are private land in Unit 055, which includes portions of Menominee and Delta counties; Unit 155, which includes parts of Marquette and Delta counties and Unit 122, which includes parts of Menominee, Iron and Dickinson counties.

Hunters can return deer and deer combo licenses for a refund if they would like, and new licenses could be purchased prior to the start of the deer seasons; however, this is not required.

To return a license for refund, hunters must bring all licenses bought during the original time of purchase back to the license outlet where they were purchased. For those who purchased licenses online, use the phone number below.

Since deer seasons begin Sept. 19, licenses are considered active after Friday’s deadline. To learn more about returning licenses, contact DNR licensing staff at 517-284-6057 or MDNR-E-License@michigan.gov.

More information on the Upper Peninsula DMUs is available in the 2015 Michigan Antlerless Deer Digest online. For more information on hunting seasons and regulations, visit www.michigan.gov/hunting.

Related articles

• Michigan DNR's Hunting Access Program awarded grant to increase hunting opportunities (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• DNR to graduate 38 from inaugural Youth Conservation Academy (themorningsun.com)
• Looking good on the water: Waterfowl seasons quickly approaching (mlive.com)

First State-Record Elk Added to Cy Curtis Awards Program

Participating in a once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in

southwestern Oklahoma was definitely a bucket-list item for Shawnee residents Mark
Thompson and Lance Carter. Both hunters harvested typical elk that scored high enough to be recognized as the first two elk in Oklahoma's Cy Curtis Awards Program.
    Thompson now holds the state record for his elk, which scored 307 6/8. Carter's elk scored 282 1/8.
    Thompson and Carter both live near Dale. "We live about two miles from each other as the crow flies," Carter said. Being from the same small town with children the same age, they got to know each other. Little did they know in 2013 they would share an unforgettable hunt.
    When both hunters realized they were drawn for a bull elk hunt through the Wildlife Department's controlled hunts program, they were shocked. Thompson's hunt was "amazing to say the least." The morning of hunter orientation, the temperature was a chilly 4 degrees with snow on the ground. With no wind and the sun rising, they could see elk on every ridge. Thompson decided then that he would be picky and get just the right bull.
    On the first morning of the hunt, Dec. 2, 2013, five of the hunters in his group tagged out by 10 a.m. Thompson passed up a bull elk early that afternoon, but he "knew the fun wasn't over yet."
    "I wanted to hunt longer. I knew the other guys had all tagged out and that afternoon I would be the only one hunting." After observing some bulls in a deep valley that afternoon, he set up for his shot. About 30 minutes before dark, three bulls came in close enough for a shot. He picked out a bull at 350 yards and harvested his state-record bull elk with a .300 Winchester Magnum.
    When he retrieved his elk, Thompson quartered it and packed it out himself. It took him two trips over a mile each in 20-degree weather with the wind blowing 20 mph. "I took my time so I didn't hurt myself."
   

Thompson took an iPad in the field with him and recorded much of his hunt with video and pictures. "I knew this would be the only time I would be able to have pictures of the whole elk and this was a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. I wanted to remember this."
    The next morning, Carter was part of a different group that was still out hunting. He successfully harvested his bull that morning with a broadside shot at long range. "The terrain is unreal, nothing like you would expect in Oklahoma," Carter said.
    The Wildlife Department established the Cy Curtis Awards Program in 1972 to recognize trophy game hunters in Oklahoma. For 42 years, the program recognized only trophy white-tailed deer and mule deer. But in 2014, the Cy Curtis Awards Program was expanded to include elk, pronghorns and black bears that exceed the minimum qualifying scores. The minimum score to be recognized in the Cy Curtis Awards Program for typical elk is 270. For non-typical elk, the minimum score is 310.
    For more details on the program and how to apply for an award, go to the Cy Curtis page at wildlifedepartment.com.

Michigan deer hunters - Still time to enroll in hunter education classes before deer season

As students head back to school, signaling the quick approach to fall and deer hunting season, parents of children who have an interest in learning to hunt should consider enrolling them in a September hunter education class. Now is the best time to enroll so that new hunters are ready to hit the woods this fall.

"Although classes are held year-round, April, May, August and September class opportunities are typically the most plentiful,” said Sgt. Steve Orange with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources hunter education program. “However, waiting until the last minute to enroll sometimes makes it difficult to find an available class.”

Michigan has three types of hunter education courses: traditional classroom, home-study and online. Orange encourages students to finish the course no later than Oct. 1 to insure that instructors are available for online or home-study students to complete a mandatory field day. The field work is included with the traditional classroom instruction.

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1960, is required to successfully complete the course in order to purchase a Michigan hunting license or participate in an out-of-state hunt. Exceptions are made for youths under the age of 10 who are hunting with a Mentored Youth Hunting license or hunters older than 10 who are hunting with anapprentice hunting license. New hunters can hunt under the apprentice program for two years before being required to complete a hunter education course.

Traditional classroom instruction is at least 10 hours during a minimum of two days and includes both classroom and field work with an instructor. The fee for the class is $10 or less to cover expenses. The home-study course features a manual in which to complete classwork and answer questions. A field day also is required with the home-study course and must be scheduled with an instructor prior to starting the course. Michigan also offers three approved online courses: www.hunter-ed.com/michigan, www.huntercourse.com, and www.hunteredcourse.com/state/michigan. Students who opt for the online course complete their classwork online and then have a field/skills day with an instructor and take a written exam. The field day must be scheduled with an instructor prior to starting the online instruction. The online courses have varying fees, but all are priced under $25. There may be an additional cost of up to $10 for the field day.

For more information about hunter education or to find a class in your area, go towww.michigan.gov/huntereducation.

South Dakota Hunters, Anglers and Trappers Can Now Carry Licenses on their Smartphone Devices

PIERRE, S.D. - Hunters, anglers and trappers in South Dakota will notice now when logging into their account through the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks’ (GFP) online licensing system that their small game, fishing or trapping license has a bar code in the upper right hand corner. This bar code allows GFP conservation officers to electronically scan the license on smartphone devices (Android, iPhone, etc.) while in the field in lieu of a paper copy.

Before heading into the field this fall, hunters, anglers and trappers can log into their GFP account from their device to view their small game, fishing or trapping license and take a picture or screenshot of it with their device (Android, iPhone, etc.).

This electronic version is an acceptable method of carrying a small game, fishing or trapping license. If hunter, anglers or trappers choose to print and carry a paper copy of their small game, fishing or trapping license, that continues to be an allowed practice.

This does not apply to federal waterfowl stamps, tags and licenses mailed from the GFP licensing office.

As technology evolves, GFP is committed to actively engaging with hunters, anglers and trappers across the state to provide them with the digital services that make it easier to do business with us.

For more information, please visit http://gfp.sd.gov/licenses/general-hunt-fish/digitallicense.aspx.

Michigan DNR’s Hunting Access Program awarded grant to increase hunting opportunities

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Hunting Access Program, which provides access to quality hunting lands near urban areas, soon will expand into the northern Lower Peninsula thanks to a new federal grant.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will receive $951,400 to expand its Hunting Access Program into the northern Lower Peninsula to increase private-land hunting opportunities. This grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, also will improve wildlife habitats by enhancing grassland, forest and food plots.

The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program encourages landowners to allow outdoor enthusiasts greater access to their privately owned land for hunting, bird watching, fishing and hiking. 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. Deer hunting alone attracts more than 700,000 hunters to Michigan each year and contributes billions of dollars to the state’s economy.

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. Through HAP, private landowners receive financial incentives for allowing hunters access to their lands. One of the oldest dedicated private-lands, public-access programs in the nation, HAP provides access to quality hunting lands near urban areas.

According to DNR wildlife biologist Mike Parker, “HAP enrollment will be targeted primarily in the agricultural areas in the northeast and western northern Lower Peninsula, where public land is a bit scarce. Grant funds will also be used to restore wildlife habitat on willing HAP properties, to improve opportunities for deer hunters, turkey hunters and small game hunters alike.”

Using funds from Michigan’s recent license restructuring, this new federal grant and an existing USDA grant, the DNR plans to continue expanding the program in the southern Lower Peninsula, the northern Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula over the next three years. 

Visit www.michigan.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.

North Dakota Agencies Prohibit Hunting over Bait

Hunters are reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all state owned or managed wildlife management areas, all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands.

The governor’s proclamation relating to chronic wasting disease also includes a provision that prohibits hunting big game over bait on both public and private land in deer unit 3C west of the Missouri River, and all of units 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.

In addition, any firearms, equipment or accessories used by hunters on Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage may not be left unattended and must be removed when the hunter leaves the area. This includes, but is not limited to, guns, blinds, stands, baits, scents and decoys. This means a hunter cannot place bait on PLOTS prior to or during the season and leave it there. Any bait would have to be brought to the PLOTS tract by the hunter the same day and taken out by the hunter the same day he/she leaves.

Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of baits for attracting big game and other wildlife to a specific location for the purpose of hunting. Bait, in this case, includes grain, seed, mineral, salt, fruit, vegetable nut, hay, any naturally derived scent or lure, or any other natural or manufactured food placed by an individual. Bait does not include agricultural practices, gardens, wildlife food plots, agricultural crops, livestock feeds, fruit or vegetables in their natural location such as apples on or under an apple tree, or unharvested food or vegetables in a garden.

North Dakota Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 4

North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 4 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that deer bow licenses and accompanying tags are only available through electronic purchase.

Bowhunters can buy a license online at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov; by calling 800-406-6409; or at license vendors in counties that are linked to the Game and Fish Department’s online licensing system. Hunters who purchase bow licenses at an online vendor will receive a tag at the time of purchase; otherwise, hunters who purchase their license over the phone or personal computer should allow for several days to receive their tag in the mail.

Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on Game and Fish wildlife management areas.

In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3C west of the Missouri River, and all of units 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.

The archery season is open through Jan. 3, 2016. Hunters should refer to the 2015 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.