The 2013 Moose Survey (January -February) was conducted this winter, which surveyed all 29 high density plots and 14 of 28 low density plots and counted 187 moose in the Western U.P. Based on the model, this indicates that there are an estimated 451 moose (+/- 24% CI) in Western UP, up from 433 in 2010. The Eastern range is not surveyed, but it is believed that there are less than 100 moose in that area.

From 1996 to 2006, the growth rate of moose was 8-10%, however it appears that more recently this population growth has slowed to 2% growth from 2010-2013.

More significant moose declines are being seen in Minnesota likely due to the moose’s poor adaptation to warmer temperatures. Minnesota  has now closed its hunting season in both of its management areas.

After the moose was named a game species in Michigan in 2010 by the Michigan Legislature, the Moose Hunting Advisory Council (created by the legislation) recommended a hunt only when annual growth was greater than or equal to 3% and that hunt be limited to the core range.  Due to the slow population growth of 2%, a season is not recommended by the DNR at this time and the NRC is not implementing one.

This is Proposal G in action, folks.

The post No Moose Hunt for Michigan Yet appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

When we started out night fishing, my high school buddy and I loaded up a 12ft jon boat in the back of his pickup and used homemade lantern boxes lined with tin foil to direct the light towards the water. By the end of a long night of shooting, our eyes would be cross eyed from squinting to see in the low light. A few years later we fashioned a new boat out of an old Hobie sailboat. The catamaran was very stable but it had it’s shortcomings. The 4′x8′ deck was perfect to take newbies or youth out for a night shoot. Rigged with DC tractor lights, there was no need for generator power and we could shoot for many hours before we’d run out of juice. Nowadays the rig is sporting a Honda quiet generator, GPS guided, remote controlled Minn Kota Terrova, GPS system for navigating at night and Bert’s track system for sliding other amenities into like a grill. This is a far cry from the boat we used to load by hand into the truck!

Customizing a bowfishing boat is always a work in progress. This year we’ll be adding wall pack flood lights that’ll increase our lighting exponentially while reducing the amount of amperage we are drawing. We’ll also be adding new decking to replace the old worn out deck that has seen years of fish slime. It’s time the old girl had a makeover anyway. Stay tuned and as things come together I’ll post some updates on the boat we affectionately call, “Bottom Feeder”.

The post Bowfishing Michigan appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

“We thank Governor Snyder for continuing Michigan’s tradition of separating conservation from politics today,” said Erin McDonough, executive director of Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “These bills protect the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers, and ensure that wildlife management decisions are based on the recommendations of biologists, not out-of-state anti-hunters.”

SB 288 extends the Natural Resources Commission (NRC)’s authority and sound science mandate to naming animals to the game species list, while retaining the Legislature’s authority to do the same and its exclusive authority to remove game species. SB 288 also grants the NRC the exclusive authority to issued fisheries orders, which currently rests with the director of the Department of Natural Resources, and also provides free licenses to active-duty members of the military. SB 289 establishes the rights to hunt and fish in state law, and makes protection of those rights a purpose of the Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

Conservation groups herald the bills as an extension of voter-approved Proposal G of 1996, which granted the Natural Resources Commission exclusive authority over game management and required it to use sound science in its wildlife management decisions.

“This is an enhancement of Proposal G,” said Merle Shepard, Michigan state director for Safari Club International. “It puts Michigan on track to manage its wildlife species using sound science.”

Opponents of the bill included the Washington, D.C.-based anti-hunting organization Humane Society of the United States. Natural Resources Commission orders are administrative decisions not subject to ballot referendum, which the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is trying to use to prevent the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from using public hunting as a tool to prevent wolf depredations in the Upper Peninsula, as outlined in Michigan’s Wolf Management Plan.

“Our members have lost dogs and pets to wolves,” said Joe Hudson, president of the Upper Peninsula Bear Houndsmen Association. “We’re happy to see that the DNR will finally have the management tools it needs to help limit wolf conflicts up here and that decisions about how it manages wildlife will be made based on sound science, not television commercials.”

Founded in 1937, Michigan United Conservation Club (MUCC) is the largest state-specific conservation organization in the country. Its mission is to conserve, defend and enhance Michigan’s natural resources and outdoor heritage.

The post Governor Snyder Signs SB 288, 289 appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

“This is the next step in the process of ensuring we manage our wildlife using the best available science,” said Matt Pedigo, president of the Michigan Bear Hunters Association. “This is bigger than any one species. This is about implementing the principles of Proposal G.”

Jim Wale, president of the Michigan Hunting Dog Federation, agreed. “We’re glad to see our elected representatives agree we should manage wildlife using sound science rather than emotions,” he said.

In 1996, over 68% of Michigan citizens voted for Proposal G, which gave the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) exclusive authority to manage game species and required it to use sound science in its wildlife management decisions. SB 288 extends the NRC’s authority and sound science mandate to naming animals to the game species list, while retaining the Legislature’s authority to do the same. The Legislature retains the exclusive authority to remove species from the game list.

“These bills build on the excellent work that Michigan’s voters started in 1996 with Proposal G,” said John Caretti, president of the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association. “We decided back then that wildlife management decisions should be made by experts based on the best available science, instead of emotions, and today the Legislature affirmed it. This is a great day for scientifically-based wildlife management in Michigan.”

The bills will go to Governor Rick Snyder to be signed into law.

“Michigan’s conservation and outdoors community has really come together in support of this legislation,” said Erin McDonough, executive director of Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “We unite when fundamental questions of wildlife management and our rights to hunt, fish and trap are at stake. MUCC thanks every legislator who voted to pass SB 288 and 289, and every citizen who called them and asked them to.”

The post Conservationists Applaud House Passage of SB 288, 289 appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

After passing the Senate last week, the Michigan House of Representatives passed the bills today by a vote of 72-38 with bipartisan support! The bills now head to Governor Snyder’s desk, and the anti-hunters are trying to get him to veto the legislation. Please call Governor Snyder’s office right now and ask him to sign SB 288 and 289 immediately!

Call Governor Snyder now at (517) 373-3400!

SB 288 and 289 allow the Natural Resources Commission to name game species and make fisheries orders under their mandate to use sound science, which over 68% of Michiganders voted for through 1996′s Proposal G. They also provide free hunting and fishing licenses to active-duty members of our military, and establish a right to hunt and fish in state law.

These bills also mean that out-of-state anti-hunters will no longer be able to restrict hunting rights using 30-second commercials and endless ballot referendums. Wildlife decisions will finally be made based on sound science, just as you voted for with Proposal G!

We’re almost there. Don’t let this opportunity slip away! Call Governor Snyder right now at (517) 373-3400 and ask him to sign SB 288 and 289 immediately!

Vote tally for SB 288 and 289

The post You Called, They Listened: Legislature Passes SB 288 and 289 appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

Rather than waste our time and breath debating (once again) among groups diametrically opposed on the issue of public harvest, the DNR had a facilitator lead a discussion and exercise to draw out what the groups’ perspectives were on the potential consequences (both positive and negative) of the wolf season proposal currently before the NRC and scheduled to be acted on at their May 9th meeting.

The WMAC was also asked to prioritize these potential consequences that they would like to emphasize in their report to the NRC.

Among those consequences of a public wolf harvest, the most popular one cited by attendees was that a wolf season would  increase the “social carrying capacity” of wolves for the benefit of wolf conservation. Several members of the WMAC believe that hunting and trapping (which will lower the human-wolf conflicts and localized population) will actually both help with tolerance of wolves and garner more support for their conservation.

Sounds like a win-win to us!

The post Michigan Wolf Hunt Discussed by Hunters, Trappers, and Anti’s appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

“I am so proud of MUCC members for their hard work,” said Erin McDonough, Executive Director of Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, Michigan Hunting Dog Federation, Michigan Bear Hunters Association, U.P. Bearhoundsmen and Safari Club International especially deserve thanks for really rallying their members in support of these bills.”

Many of you also responded to an early morning e-mail today encouraging you to call your Senator to vote on these bills immediately. We’d heard they were delaying, and your calls prompted them to move.

They did agree to a substitute for SB 288. The substitute removes the appropriation of $1 million, which means that the Department of Natural Resources will have to conduct research out of its regular budget to present scientific data to the Natural Resources Commission. It also means that this bill could be subject to a referendum, and we all know how honest (cough) the Humane Society of the United States is with registered voters when it comes to that. But we’ll fight that fight when it comes.

The substitute also exempts any species already removed through a referendum from Natural Resources Commission (NRC) authority under the bill, which means they could not add mourning doves which were removed through referendum in 2006, the only species to which this exclusion would apply. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has been running bogus ads claiming this bill package is about doves. This package was never about doves.  It’s bigger than that and fundamental to how we manage wildlife in Michigan. These bills won’t undo the 2006 dove vote, but they’ll make sure HSUS can’t use the same kind of false advertising to take away other hunting rights.

Senator Tom Casperson (R – Escanaba) – the bills’ sponsor –  gave an impassioned speech on the Senate floor where he said that SB 288 upholds the will expressed by voters through 1996’s Proposal G to manage wildlife using sound science. He also told his fellow Senators about the town of Ironwood, in his district, which has had 91 wolf nuisance complaints since 2010, according to the DNR, including wolves wandering into town limits, attacking pets in residential areas, and even “traveling in close proximity” to children waiting at bus stops and near playgrounds.

“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t try to fix that,” said Casperson.

We’re halfway there, folks, but only halfway there. If we want this to pass the House of Representatives, we have to magnify our efforts and really light up their phone lines. You know that HSUS and the rest of the anti-hunters will be doing their best to stop these bills: We need to do even better!

Click here to find your representative and tell them to support Scientific Wildlife Management and your rights to hunt, fish and trap!

The vote tally in the Senate was along party lines, with all Republicans voting “Aye,” all Democrats voting “Nay,” and one Senator absent and not voting (Sen. Bruce Caswell – R). The House version of the legislation, however, had five Democratic co-sponsors and a number of others supportive, and we’re hopeful that House Democrats will put conservation ahead of politics to support scientific wildlife management!

The post Halfway There: Michigan Senate Passes SB 288 and 289! appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

The Wolf Management Advisory Council (previously known as the Wolf Forum) was codified under a law passed by the Legislature in December 2012 that reclassified wolves as a game species and directed the WMAC to report its recommendations on wolf management annually to the Legislature and the Natural Resources Commission (NRC). The NRC has the authority to determine whether public harvest of wolves should be allowed and to regulate season structure and method of harvest.

At the April 24 meeting, staff from the Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division will gather input from council members regarding a current proposal to use hunting and trapping to manage and resolve conflict issues. Members of the public are welcome to observe the council’s discussions and will have the opportunity to provide written comments at the meeting.

The NRC is in the process of considering the authorization of the hunting and trapping of wolves as a management tool. The NRC may take action on a proposal for the public harvest of wolves in May. The council will develop information at the April 24 meeting to help inform the NRC in preparation for its decision.

For those of you interested in actual facts about the wolf population in Michigan and the hunting and trapping proposal, the DNR Powerpoint Presentation from the April NRC meeting is a good place to start (begins on page 50 of the PDF).

As you can see, the wolf population continues its upward trajectory, although this recent winter’s minimum population count (658 wolves) saw a slight decline from two years ago (687).

(Click image to enlarge)

Another trend that is important to note is the annual population cycle. When the DNR does its count, the wolf population is at its lowest level of the year. The summer population of wolves in Michigan is still over 1,000.

 Do you think sound science like this should be used to manage wildlife, rather than emotion and half-truths? Click here to call your Michigan Legislator TODAY! 

Armed with this information and a variety of other data sources, the DNR has recommended to the NRC a limited hunting and trapping season with a target of 43 wolves: 16 wolves (down from 21) from Wolf Management Unit A (see link for detailed description and map) in Western Gogebic County, 19 for WMU B (up from 18 in portions of counties in the Western Upper Peninsula), and 8 for WMU C in portions of Luce and Mackinac Counties in the Eastern UP. The level of proposed harvest and size and location of the WMUs are commensurate with the level of nuisance complaints and depredation events.

In 2013, the season is recommended to open on November 1 and go through December 31, or whenever the desired unit harvest is met (which ever comes first). To manage this highly controlled season, a hunter will be required to report successful harvest by the end of the day via a designated phone line and also check it within 3 days to a DNR check station to allow them to collect biological information. Once the harvest is met (or expected to be met imminently) for a WMU, the entire unit will be closed for the season. Licensed hunters will be required to check daily online or by calling in to see if any units have been closed.

Two options are offered to regulate the disbursement of wolf licenses: Option 1 would be a lottery system allowing 1,200 licenses in total (application period would be Aug. 1-Sept 1) and Option 2 would allow licenses to be sold over the counter in advance of the season (Aug 1-October 31). The DNR recommends allowing any current legal hunting device for hunting a wolf, including firearms, crossbows, and bow and arrow. They have also recommended allowing the use of foothold traps, only on private land and checked daily.

As Michigan does with each and every game species and hunting/trapping regulation, the DNR intends to use adaptive management practices, which will evaluate the success of management, population levels, and the amount of effort spent to reach the desired harvest. This information will help to aide them in determining the parameters for future seasons.

MUCC supports the general framework as outlined, but will be providing input on specific aspects as this regulation change moves forward.

For more information about the WMAC meeting, contact the council’s DNR liaison, Adam Bump, at 517-373-1263. To learn more about Michigan’s wolf population and Wolf Management Plan, visit www.michigan.gov/wolves.

The post Wolf Management Advisory Council to Make Recommendations to NRC appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

The proposal will be discussed at length at the NRC monthly meeting on April 11 in Lansing (MSU Diagnostic Center), along with guest expert presentations and the results of the most recent wolf population survey.  The full agenda and location is available here:
http://michigan.gov/documents/dnr/agnApr13_416498_7.pdf

The recommended quota for the Michigan hunting season is 47 wolves: 21 wolves from Wolf Management Unit A (see link for detailed description and map) in Western Gogebic County, 18 for WMU B (portions of counties in the Western Upper Peninsula), and 8 for WMU C in portions of Luce and Mackinac Counties in the Eastern UP. The level of proposed harvest and size and location of the WMUs are commensurate with the level of nuisance complaints and depredation events.

In 2013, the season is recommended to open on November 1 and go through December 31, or whenever the desired unit harvest is met (which ever comes first). To manage this highly controlled harvest, a hunter will be required to report successful harvest by the end of the day via a designated phone line and also check it within 3 days to a DNR check station to allow them to collect biological information. Once the harvest is met (or expected to be met imminently) for a WMU, the entire unit will be closed for the season. Licensed hunters will be required to check daily online or by calling in to see if any units have been closed.

Two options are offered to regulate the disbursement of wolf licenses: Option 1 would be a lottery system allowing 1,200 licenses in total (application period would be Aug. 1-Sept 1) and Option 2 would allow licenses to be sold over the counter in advance of the season (Aug 1-October 31). The DNR recommends allowing any current legal hunting device for hunting a wolf, including firearms, crossbows, and bow and arrow. They have also recommended allowing the use of foothold traps, only on private land and checked daily.

As Michigan does with each and every game species and hunting/trapping regulation, the DNR intends to use adaptive management practices, which will evaluate the success of management, population levels, and the amount of effort spent to reach the desired harvest. This information will help to aide them in determining the parameters for future seasons.

MUCC supports the general framework as outlined, but will be providing input on specific aspects as this regulation change moves forward.

The post Wolf Management Proposal Before NRC appeared first on MichiganOutofDoors.com.

The public land plan, which seeks to clarify the “where” and “why” of public land ownership into actionable strategies, outlines three primary goals:

1. Ensure Recreational Opportunities to Enjoy and Appreciate Michigan’s Natural and Cultural Resources.
2. Foster the Growth and Stability of Michigan’s Land-Based Natural and Cultural Resources Economies.
3. Protect Natural Functions and Natural and Cultural Resources

The public land plan was required by the Land Cap Bill of 2012. When the bill was originally introduced, it placed a strict limit on the total acreage that the DNR could own due to concerns by some that the DNR owned too much land. MUCC advocated that randomly picking the amount of acreage the state should own does nothing to ensure that we own the right lands and properly manage them. In order to do that, Michigan needs a comprehensive strategy to guide how, where and when Michigan acquires or divests public land and a strategy that helps guide overall management.

As a result, the bill was amended to require the formation of this strategy, and after it is accepted by the legislature, the cap will be lifted. (MUCC opposed the bill due to its requirement that the legislature approves the strategy in order to lift the cap, but it was successful in making the strategy a part of the bill). The current land cap will be lifted automatically from the southern Lower Peninsula in 2015, but will not be removed from the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula ( above the “Mason/ Arenac County Line”) unless and until the legislature approves the public land plan.

This strategy is much more important than just as a vehicle to lift the land cap, though; its contents will guide how the DNR prioritizes, buys and sells the land upon which we hunt, fish, trap, hike, ride and camp, and which provides timber, oil, gas, and fuels natural resources economies.  It will also guide future investments in public access sites for waterways and other natural resources.  It’s important that we get it right, because it will affect outdoor recreation for generations to come.

“The process for public participation in Michigan’s land acquisition and disposal strategy and the criteria that the DNR will use to determine which parcels are prioritized for acquisition, disposal or retention, must be clearly spelled out in the final approved plan,” said Erin McDonough, executive director of MUCC, who was also on the advisory committee whose input was used to help develop the plan.

“There should be complete transparency as to how decisions regarding public lands will be made moving forward.  Wildlife, fisheries and the habitat needs of both, as well as the value they provide to Michigan’s economy, must also be clearly incorporated into the overall goals, strategies and criteria.  Valuable habitat and access lands need to be kept in public ownership.”

We encourage you, Michigan’s hunters, anglers and trappers, to review the public land plan and offer your comments, as well, so that we can make sure the final product is the best that it can be.

You can review the plan here, and send comments to dnrlandplan@michigan.gov.

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