Michigan: In response to EHD concerns, DNR director decreases antlerless deer license purchase limits

With evidence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) now affecting white-tailed deer in more than 30 Michigan counties, Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh has signed an emergency order that decreases antlerless license purchase limits for deer management units (DMUs) where the most EHD-related die-offs have occurred. Director Creagh signed the order during yesterday’s regular monthly meeting of the Natural Resources Commission.

Effective immediately, the purchase limit for DMU 486 (a multicounty unit in the southern Lower Peninsula) is five private land antlerless deer hunting licenses per hunter. Also effective immediately, the public antlerless license purchase limit per hunter is two for each of the following DMUs: 012 (Branch), 034 (Ionia), 039 (Kalamazoo), 041 (Kent), 044 (Lapeer), 076 (Sanilac), 078 (Shiawassee), 079 (Tuscola) and 080 (Van Buren).

Individuals who purchased antlerless licenses prior to this emergency order are not required to return licenses. This order only applies to antlerless licenses purchased on or after Nov. 8, 2012.

“With this order, I hope to remind individuals to assess their local situation, and in areas where EHD has hit the hardest, either take a minimal number of antlerless deer or not take any at all,” said Director Creagh. “We strongly believe most hunters will make the right call in exercising restraint, but by working with the Natural Resources Commission to enact this emergency order, we created a regulatory mechanism to reinforce a more conservative approach.”

The DNR apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause hunters, landowners or license agents. However, this action was taken prior to the time that license sales traditionally increase sharply just prior to the opening of firearm season. The DNR feels the change was warranted in order to acknowledge the heavy deer losses that have occurred in some areas.

To better address the public’s concerns and questions about EHD, deer hunting, or deer in general, DNR’s wildlife veterinarian Steve Schmitt, deer and elk program leader Brent Rudolph and Law Enforcement Division Assistant Chief Dean Molnar will field questions in a cyber discussion on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. To join the live-streaming event, residents are asked to visit www.facebook.com/midnr.

In addition, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., DNR staff, including Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason and Assistant Chief Doug Reeves, will be available for questions at some of the busiest retail stores in southern Michigan. For a complete list of locations and participating staff, visit www.michigan.gov/deer.

“This is the perfect opportunity to connect with the hunting community on the busiest license-buying day of the year,” said Mason. “We will be stationed at more than 10 locations, and we hope hunters will stop by so we can answer any questions they may have about EHD or other deer-related concerns.”

EHD is caused by a virus that is transmitted by a type of biting fly called a midge. Deer can suffer extensive internal bleeding, leading to death just a few weeks after infection with the virus. Due to a high fever, infected deer often are found sick or dead along or in bodies of water.

Cold weather reduces midge activity and frost kills the adults that bite and transmit the virus, so most outbreaks have slowed if not stopped completely.

EHD does not affect humans, so edibility of the venison is not affected by this disease. There is no evidence that humans can contract the EHD virus either from the midge or from handling and eating venison.

The DNR will take reports of dead deer that are likely EHD-related until Jan. 1. To report the presence of dead deer, the DNR encourages residents to contact their nearest DNR wildlife field office by consulting the list available at www.michigan.gov/wildlife.

Wisconsin’s 2012 gun deer season opens Nov. 17

This year’s nine-day hunt to have ‘more of a traditional feel’

MADISON -- Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites and visiting non-residents eagerly await the arrival of the 2012 9-day gun deer season, which kicks off Nov. 17.
Approximately 10 percent of Wisconsin residents will take to the field for the annual hunt, and thousands more will participate by providing food, hotels, and other services that make deer hunting such an important part of the Wisconsin culture and economy.
Kevin Wallenfang, big game ecologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, says the 2012 gun season is one that he hopes will be exciting and satisfying for all involved. “It’s a tradition that many hunters and businesses look forward to all year long. It will also have more of a traditional feel to it this year due to the elimination of most early season gun hunts.”
Wallenfang says that getting back to a more normal season framework seems to have many people very enthusiastic this year. “Add to that the fact that deer populations across the north have increased in many units thanks to a very mild winter and reduced antlerless permits, and hunters could be in for a very satisfying year,” Wallenfang says. He adds, however, that some northern units are still below goal, so hunters should not expect to see a lot of deer in some areas.
Deer populations throughout most of the farmland region of the state are strong, says Wallenfang, especially on private lands. Still, despite comparatively high deer numbers, farmland units can be difficult to hunt, especially for those spending their season on public lands where hunting pressure is often much higher than surrounding private properties. The good news is that Wisconsin has more than 1 million acres of private lands open for public hunting, including Voluntary Public Access program and Managed Forest Law program lands.
Even with increasing deer populations in many units, hunter success during the gun season can vary based on a wide range of factors. Hunter effort, weather events, rut activity, hunting pressure, and stand site locations in addition to deer numbers can all play influential roles in whether or not individual hunters see and harvest deer.
For more information on deer in different areas of the state, see the 2012 Wisconsin Fall Hunting Forecast [PDF].
“Deer are not distributed evenly across the landscape and their movements vary greatly from one day to the next,” says Wallenfang. “Some hunters simply have access to better hunting and more deer.”
Another step hunters can take to increase their opportunities and enjoy their season is to take advantage of more days in the field. “There has been an increasing trend of hunters spending fewer days in the woods than in years past, often hunting just the opening weekend,” Wallenfang says. “Although deer sightings can be fewer after opening weekend, there are still deer to be hunted and the later part of the season can be more relaxing than the high pressure of opening weekend.”
Hopefully we’ll have some comfortable hunting conditions that will allow people to stay in the woods and enjoy the hunt longer,” Wallenfang says. “Best of luck for a very safe and enjoyable hunt.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Wallenfang, DNR Big Game Ecologist, 608-261-7589

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S.D. part of nationwide trend in hunting/fishing participation

PIERRE, S.D. – If fishing license sales are any indication, South Dakota is in line with a recent study showing an increase in the number of hunters and anglers in the United States.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported preliminary results from their once-every-five-years study of hunting and fishing participation around the country. The study showed an 11 percent increase in the number of anglers over 2006.

Meanwhile, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department reports one of its best years in fishing license sales in some time. Nearly 67,000 resident annual fishing licenses have been sold so far in 2012, compared to 56,000 at the same time in 2011. In 2006, there were 56,000 licenses sold for the entire year.

Hunting has seen a less dramatic increase, but the Fish and Wildlife Service survey numbers showed an increase in hunter numbers for the first time in two decades. Numbers in South Dakota have been fairly consistent over the past several years. With hunting seasons just beginning to open many license sales have not taken place, so it will be late in the year before 2012 can be compared to past years.

Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates – a leading research and data analysis firm focused on the sportfishing and hunting industries – says there are several factors that may be part of the increase.

“The slow economy has certainly had an impact,” Southwick said. “When the economy took a hit, a lot of people went back to enjoying more traditional activities that were also less costly than other options. Fishing license sales and tackle sales data all back that up.”

Another factor may be efforts by states, organizations and businesses to recruit and retain more anglers and hunters.

South Dakota, like many other states, has been active in promoting outdoor activities and in particular participation in hunting and fishing. GFP has worked with national organizations such as the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and National Shooting Sports Foundation, as well as other businesses and organizations with an interest in promoting these sports.

“It is a very rewarding experience when our staff introduces men and women, both young and old, to hunting and fishing,” said Tony Leif, director of the GFP Division of Wildlife. “We feel as though we are not only perpetuating a great South Dakota tradition, but also a way for our citizens to enjoy the many outdoor opportunities our state has to offer.”

Leif pointed to the work at GFP’s Outdoor Campuses in both Sioux Falls and Rapid City, as well as numerous one-day events GFP hosted throughout the summer in locations around the state that all offered hands-on experience in shooting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits.

“The activities we host at our Outdoor Campuses and across the state in various communities are an open invitation for South Dakotans to become acquainted with the outdoor adventures our state has to offer. My hope is that after a sample of the fun, these folks will become life-long anglers and hunters,” Leif said.

For more information about hands-on learning opportunities through GFP, visit their website at http://gfp.sd.gov/outdoor-learning/ .

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Indiana- Public hearing Oct. 4 on proposed rule changes for deer and wild turkey hunting

The Natural Resources Commission will conduct a public hearing Oct. 4 in Plainfield on whether to permanently approve a rule package that includes allowing hunters to check-in deer and wild turkeys electronically. 

The electronic harvest reporting system, also called CheckIN Game, allows hunters to check in a deer or wild turkey using a computer or other Internet-capable device, or by telephone, and receive a unique confirmation number.

Hunters still have the option of checking in a deer or turkey at a check station.

CheckIN Game has been in effect by temporary rule since the spring 2012 wild turkey season, after the NRC gave the rule preliminary adoption.

With this proposed change, commercial deer processors will need to record the electronic harvest confirmation number on the record instead of the official metal tag number that is given by a check station, and register with the DNR prior to March 1 of each year.

Additional changes in the rule package:
– Removing the handgun license requirement to comply with state law in IC 35-47 because state law no longer requires an individual to have a handgun license while hunting lawfully.
– A provision to allow a person who buys a deer license bundle to also have the option of using it to take three antlerless deer.
– Clarifying the ending date for the fall wild turkey firearm season.
– Allowing an individual to call wild turkeys for another individual as long as the person calling for turkeys is properly licensed.

The proposed rule language can be viewed at: IN.gov/legislative/iac/20120822-IR-312120115PRA.xml.pdf

The public hearing will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Plainfield Public Library, 1120 Stafford Road in Plainfield. 
Comments can also be submitted online to the NRC at: nrc.IN.gov/2377.htm. Click on "Comment on Proposed Rule" next to the “Deer & Turkey Electronic Harvest Reporting.”  The deadline for submitting comments is Oct. 4.

Comments can also be mailed to:
 Natural Resources Commission
 Indiana Government Center North
 100 North Senate Ave., Room N501
 Indianapolis, IN 46204
All comments sent to the NRC regarding this rule package will be provided to commission members and DNR staff and will be publicly disclosed and searchable on the Internet and in a paper docket as part of the final report.

The NRC is expected to vote on final adoption of the rule package at its Nov. 20 meeting.

For more information: Linnea Petercheff, Division of Fish & Wildlife, (317) 233-6527.

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Big Game Hunting Over Bait Prohibited in South Dakota

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is reminding hunters that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all lands.

A person may not establish, utilize, or maintain a bait station when hunting from August 15 to February 1 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. In addition, this restriction does not apply to foods that have not been placed or gathered by an individual and result from normal environmental conditions or accepted farming, forest management, wildlife food plantings, orchard management, or similar land management activities.

For more information, contact a local conservation officer or GFP Division of Wildlife Office.

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Deer Season for Young Hunters in North Dakota Opens Sept. 14

Friday, Sept. 14 at noon signals the start of a nine-and-a-half day deer hunting season for youth ages 12-15.

Licensed youth ages 12 and 13 are allowed to hunt statewide, but only for antlerless white-tailed deer. Deer hunters age 14 or 15 with a “youth season” license can hunt statewide for any deer, except antlerless mule deer in units 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. In addition, a special license is required to hunt antlered mule deer in those same units.

After opening day, hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Solid daylight fluorescent orange vests or coats, and hats are required for all young hunters and their adult mentors.

Each youth deer hunter must be under direct supervision of an adult while in the field.

In addition to the deer license, hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and hunting certificate.

The youth deer season closes Sunday, Sept. 23.

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South Dakota Landowners And Hunters Asked To Report Dead Deer

Arenavirus

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is asking landowners and hunters to be on the lookout for dead deer.

This is the time of the year when deer tend to succumb to hemorrhagic disease, also known as epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), or blue tongue.

The disease is common in white-tailed deer and is typically detected in late summer or early fall.
The virus is spread by a biting midge and causes extensive internal hemorrhaging. Many deer exhibit no clinical signs and appear perfectly healthy; other deer may have symptoms such as respiratory distress, fever, and swelling of the tongue.

With highly virulent strains of the virus, deer can die in three days or less. Affected deer are often found in low-lying areas or near rivers or ponds, where they go to combat the high fever.

People who see sick deer or find several dead deer in one locale are asked to contact their local conservation officers or call the Pierre GFP office at 605-773-5913.

EHD outbreaks can be locally severe but rarely affect more than 25 percent of a local deer population. In rare cases, the disease will affect more than 50 percent.

Deer may continue dying from hemorrhagic disease until a hard freeze reduces the midge populations that carry the disease.

EHD is not infectious to humans. For more information on the EHD virus visit http://www.vet.uga.edu/scwds/pdfs/HD.pdf

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