http://virtual.mucc.com/index.php en thansen@mucc.org Copyright 2010 2010-09-08T19:08:09+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/lead_ban_denied_for_hunting_--_fishing_still_at_risk/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/lead_ban_denied_for_hunting_--_fishing_still_at_risk/#When:19:08:09Z On Aug. 27, the EPA denied a petition asking that lead be banned in the use of hunting ammunition. The petition, which was filed by a group called the "Center for Biological Diversity" (more on them in a bit) was denied by the EPA because it does not have jurisdiction over what goes into hunting ammunition. However, the EPA has moved forward with consideration over the use of lead in fishing tackle. Currently, the EPA is accepting public comments on the issue. You can make your comments hereby clicking here. When the page opens, you can review the request and submit your comments by clicking on "Comments Due." The deadline to make a comment is Sept. 15. So why was the ban on lead in hunting ammunition overturned? Because the EPA clearly does not have the authority to control what's used in hunting ammunition -- and the science required to show that it's contributing to lead poisoning in animals (other than when a well-placed bullet is fired) does not exist. So why doesn't that apply to the fishing industry as well? That's a good question. The theory -- and it's a good one -- is that the fishing industry simply does not have the well-oiled lobby that the gun industry does. FIshing is not nearly as attacked as guns and hunting issues. Thus there are fewer organizations and funding to defend the sport of fishing. The anti-hunting, anti-fishing groups know this and are trying to take advantage. So what of this "Center for Biological Diversity?" Well, it's an anti-hunting organization that uses lawsuits to keep hunters and anglers out of the woods and off the water. Whether it's lobbying to close off human traffic (thus eliminating hunting) to protect a rare breed of wild flower or pushing for further protection of wolves, the CBD uses lawyers and legislators to tie up issues for years and effectively shut off the outdoors to anyone who dares think differently than they do. And that's exactly the ploy they're using with these lead ban petitions. Citing studies done on California Condors, the BCD claims that hunters and anglers are poisoning untold numbers of fish and wildlife with stray bullets, spent shot and lost sinkers. While the hunting ammunition ban was soundly defeated, there is great concern among the angling community that the EPA may be waffling on the ban over lead in fishing tackle. Now is the time to make your voice heard and make your comments. MUCC will be posting comments and helping to organize the angling community in Michigan. We'll have more on this in the coming days so stay tuned. Head Hunter 2010-09-08T19:08:09+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/rigged_up/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/rigged_up/#When:17:46:30Z This morning I took a break from packing for saturday's elk trip to Idaho and ran down to Bert's Custom Tackle in Walled Lake. Good friends Chris Temple and Pat Clark were like a couple kids in a candy shop last week when I dropped off my jet ski to be rigged for fishing. For a few years now, saltwater fishermen have been rigging personal water craft (PWC's) to fish out on the big water. After picking up a couple PWC's for the family earlier this summer, thoughts of fishing off it immediately started popping in my mind. Especially after seeing how maneuverable they are and how shallow they can run. Plus, at the end of the year, they are much easier to store and take up far less room than a boat. All being said, I started daydreaming about catching walleye, salmon and maybe even some river fish off of it. Rigging up a small craft like a jet ski can be quite tough with conventional rod holders and other mounts. The Bert's track system was the perfect setup for me. With the tracks installed, it's only a matter of sliding in rod holders, downriggers or whatever else you need to fish with. After I'm finished, I can slide them out and slide in some step pads and there's virtually nothing to get in the way of having fun on the water. That brings me to today. The first look at the machine and I was in love. Six rod holders graced the smooth fiberglass lines and two downriggers sat nimbly on the side rails, ready to go at a moment's notice. Electronics were set on a rock solid perch atop a custom made aluminum riser, along with a tool holder and the all important cup holder.    On the water, it was perfect. Don't get me wrong, it'll take some getting used to. Running lines and trying to drive the jet ski while maintaining the proper speed is gonna be interesting but I think it'll work well. I'll be leaving this Saturday for an elk trip in Idaho but when I return, I can't wait to take this baby out and put her through her paces. I'm going to be up in Glen Arbor doing some taping for another shoot and I think I'll bring along the jet ski and see what she'll do. Can't wait to hear the sound of a reel screaming off the back of a PWC! Tales of the Tape 2010-08-25T17:46:30+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/michigan_senate_rejects_reappointment_of_yoopers_madigan_and_richardson_to_/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/michigan_senate_rejects_reappointment_of_yoopers_madigan_and_richardson_to_/#When:14:41:32Z (Photo credit: YooperSteez.com) And then there were none. Or maybe 1/2. The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate Wednesday stayed true to Majority Leader Mike Bishop's (R-Rochester) promise to reject any late-term political appointments by Governor Jennifer Granholm when it formally rejected Granholm's reappointment of J.R. Richardson and John Madigan to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC). Earlier this year, Bishop informed Granholm that any political appointments made after September 30 (just two months before her term is up), or any terms of appointments that would begin after that date would be rejected by the Senate. Presumably this is to ensure Granholm was not "stocking the deck" of administrative appointments with friends and political allies before a new governor takes over. Madigan, originally appointed by Governor Engler to the NRC in 2002 and Richardson, appointed by Granholm in 2007, hail from Munising and Ontonagon, respectively. The Senate's rejection of their reappointment may raise some serious concerns among Yoopers who will now be "unrepresented" on the DNR's citizen committee charged with overseeing science-based game management in the state. Or are we unrepresented? If you ask newly appointed Commissioner John Matonich, the U.P. has a friend in him. Matonich lives in the Flint area where he also heads a civil engineering/surveying/consulting company, but he hails from Bessemer in the West U.P. He also freuqents a cottage that he owns there to hunt and fish and seems to have the pulse of the Yooper outdoor community after only a one-meeting stint in his fresh NRC career (which already includes voting to expand crossbow use statewide). Even with Matonich, fair warning or not, I suspect that same Yooper outdoor community is not exactly pleased with the Senate snuffuing out two of their representatives on the NRC. For now, Richardson and Madigan's terms will expire on December 31, but they may likely continue to serve on the NRC until those vacancies are filled by Michigan's next governor (This informaiton comes from an NRC Commissioner). Either way, something tells me that the recent rejection of term extensions will be a short hiatus for these two Yoopers... Camo At The Capitol, Dave Nyberg 2010-08-20T14:41:32+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/pork_politics_and_crossbows/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/pork_politics_and_crossbows/#When:18:29:30Z Crossbows may now be used statewide during archery season in Michigan The long-awaited day has come for crossbow hunters in Michigan. Last week at the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting in Escanaba, Chairman Tim Nichols broke a 3-3 tie to legalize the use of crossbows during archery season statewide for any hunter over age 10. The vote put an amended version of the "Option 3" of the Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment 17 of 2010 (changes to crossbow regulations) over the edge. Commissioner Hurley Coleman moved for the Commission to adopt Option 3, but newly-minted Commissioner John Matonich offered a "friendly amendment" on the motion that would not allow for crossbow use in the Upper Peninsula during late archery season (Past November 30). That amended order received a split vote with support from Coleman, Matonich and Commissioner Mary Brown. Opposition came from Commissioner Frank Wheatlake and Yooper Commissioners J.R. Richardson and John Madigan. Nichols cast the tie-breaker, making 2010 the first archery season where crossbows may be used by any hunter over the age of 10. The new regulations goes into immediate effect for the 2010 hunting season. While the issue of crossbows has always been a contentious debate among hunters, now that this issue is behind us MUCC looks forward to uniting hunters to focus on issues like getting more young people in the outdoors and battling the propoganda of anti-hunting organizations. Pork and Politics Pork and Politics. Two words that most people have learned to expect in Michigan politics (or any politics for that matter). And no, I'm not talking about the type of pork former State Representative Leon Drolet famously demonized with "Mr. Perks" - a giant mobile pig designed to illustrate the need to cut government expenses.  I'm talking about the inevitable temptation for politicians to "bring home the bacon" to their home districts in lieu of what's best for Michigan. In this case I'm talking about government pork both figuratively and quite literally. Feral swine or "wild boar" that wildlife experts are calling "four legged Asian carp" are quickly invading Michigan's landscapes. But unlike Asian carp, some politicians don't want to list wild boar as an invasive species because around 40 hunting ranches in Michigan sell hunts for these animals. Some of these ranches definitely contain their animals better than others, but the bottom line is that they are the source of the growing feral swine problem in Michigan and something must be done - and fast. In fact something MUST be done under state law. At last week's joint meeting between the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and the Commission of Agriculture in Escanaba, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment's (DNRE) Wildlife Division presented a proposal to list wild boar/feral swine (Sus scrofa) as a prohibited invasive species in Michigan, as required by law.  State law requires the DNRE to list non-native species as prohibited if (1) the organism not native to the state, (2) the organism has the potential to harm human health or to severly harm agricultural, natural, or silvicultural resources, and (3) effective management controls are not available. Michigan wildlife specialists and scientists accross the globe have verified that feral swine overwhelmingly satisfy that criteria, which would require DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries to sign the order under state law. At last week's meeting, however, unfortunately, emotion and politics appear to be playing a major role in what could limit Michigan's only opportunity to eradicate and stop this dangerous and destructive invasive species before it's too late. History of feral swine/wild boar in Michigan Domesticated pigs have been in North America since settlers brought them over as livestock in the 16th Century. In Michigan today, around 2,100 pork producers create approximately 5,300 pork-related jobs in what is estimated to be a $500 million per year industry for the state. The pigs that the pork industry deals with (Sus domestica) are exactly what you would expect on a farm - a pink pig that has been domesticated and penned.  Sus scrofa (aka "razorbacks," "wild boar," "Eurasian boar," "transitional swine," "old world swine," etc.) on the other hand are the domesitcated swine's more aggresive cousin. In Michigan they originate from 40 known Michigan hunting ranches that house them for shooting purposes. These "wild boar," as they are commonly called, have much different physical and active traits. They have longer snouts, are typically larger and have likely grown hair and/or tusks. And as the photos below would suggest, they are a much more aggresive animal than domestic pigs. For those who would like a more graphic video description of the damage wild boar can do, a glimpse into the Discovery Channel's "Pig Bomb" documentary is a good primer. Unlike states like Wisconsin that have outlawed wild boar, Michigan has a quickly growing population of about 3,000-5,000 wild boar that have escaped to tear up crops and native landscapes, feed upon ground nesting birds, fawns and other small animals, and spread diseases like Pseudorabies (PRV). What's worse is that wild boar breed quickly and often, often having up to 3 litters of 6-12 piglets in as little as 14 months. That means Michigan's feral swine population could get beyond the control tipping point very quickly, which would have disastrous consequences for native wildlife, hunters, and farmers - even casual outdoor recreators. The agriculture and conservation community team up to eradicate wild boar off Michigan's landscapes Some farmers are particularly worried about the economic devastation that feral swine pose due to disease issues and the amount of crop damage that they may cause. The Michigan pork industry is particularly concerned about the threat feral swine pose to its $500 million/year industry. In fact, in 2008, Michigan taxpayers picked up a $415,000 indemnification bill when 19 "sport swine" on a privately owned hunting facility in Saginaw County were infected with PRV and posed a serious threat to local pork production facilities. In 2007 the NRC and then "Agriculture Commission" adopted a joint resolution to "prevent the establishment of feral swine in Michigan," citing the hog's aggressive/destructive behavior, danger to humans, wildlife predation and habitat destruction, ecosystem disruption, crop damage, and economic threat to Michigan's pork industry as critical consequences to taking no action. MUCC members in 2008 then adopted organizational policy to eradicate feral swine from Michigan's landscape. Ever since, MUCC has worked to comabt the animal's devastation of Michigan's wildlife and outdoor heritage. This year, MUCC worked to enact a law that enlists the help of hunters to help control the spread of feral swine. The law legalized the killing of wild boar by hunters who possess a valid hunting license, CPL holders and private landowners. What's next? Despite receiving overwhelming testimony from over 27 national, state, and local sportsmen organizations (including MUCC, Ducks Unlimited, Quality Deer Management Association, Pheasants Forever, Ruffed Grouse Society, Michigan Gun Owners, National Wildlife Federation, Michigan Wild Turkey Hunters Association, etc.), the Michigan Pork Production Association, The Michigan Agribusiness Association, the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, and more, there are rumors afloat that wild boar may not be designated as a prohibited invasive species after all. Even though state law requires the listing, some Michigan legislators are proposing to enact a regulatory framework for hog hunting ranches that would be funded by a $1,000/year fee. While MUCC is supportive of (and has worked in the past) enacting uniform regulations that would guarantee that the feral swine "faucet" would be turned off in Michgian, DNRE officials have estimated that an adequate regulatory program would cost around $2.5 million per year. There's a big difference between $40,000/year in fees (assuming all facilities apply for a permit) and administering a multi million regulatory program. And to MUCC, anything short of 100% certainty in stopping this destructive, dangerous invasive species is not acceptible. In fact, wildlife officials have made this option comparable to allowing the farming of Asian carp in Lake Michigan, so long as there's a regulatory program in place for it. The bottom line Michigan must address the source of wild boar on its landscapes by "turning off the faucet," which requires the Department to list wild boar as a prohibited invasive species. Certain actions, such as prohibiting any new wild boar hunting/breeding facilities, can and must happen immediately. Other actions that involve existing operations can be phased in over time, using criteria based on relative risk of the facility. The MDA and DNRE must work together with stakeholders in developing an eradication plan in order to produce a scientifically sound and fiscally responsible framework to rid Michgian of wild hogs now and forever. Camo At The Capitol, Dave Nyberg 2010-08-17T18:29:30+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/busy_day_at_nrc/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/busy_day_at_nrc/#When:13:40:26Z Well a very busy day has begun. As I type, I'm getting ready to head over to Brooklyn for a charity bass tournament hosted by Michigan International Speedway's MIS CARES foundation. Good friends Kevin VanDam and Mark Zona will be emceeing the weigh-in with our friends from the National Bass Anglers Association running the show there. It should be a good time. While I'm doing that, MUCC Executive Director Erin McDonough along with Amy Spray and Dave Nyberg -- MUCC's advocacy gurus -- are at the NRC meeting in the Upper Peninsula. It's a full docket that will cover everything from crossbow regulations to the possibility of listing feral swine as an invasive species. This is perhaps one of the most important NRC meetings of the year and fortunately, thanks to technology and some foresight on the part of MUCC, you'll be able to follow the events through our LIVE stream here on Michigan OutofDoors.com. The coverage will begin about 11 a.m. We will cover as much of the meeting as possible. So tune in and see what happens. And, of course, we'll follow up with more details and information. Head Hunter 2010-08-12T13:40:26+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/elk_preperations/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/elk_preperations/#When:20:23:59Z About the time I round mile two, I look like I've ran through a rainshower. I'm soaked and I've still got another mile to go. But, as much as I despise running, I can see the goal in mind. Especially when I plop down on the exercise bike. My last bow killed elk hangs front and center in our living room, right above me as I labor on the bike. It's t-minus 25 days till my departure and my installation into an elk camp somewhere high up in the Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho. The memories of elk hunts past keeps me going when the heat and humidity make exercise downright miserable. It's a lot of effort but the rewards are well worth it.  If you've never heard a bull screaming at you and raking a treee at about 30yds, you'll never understand the rush. It's lying in a tent, listening to bulls bugling in the hills surrounding you and trying to shake off the exitement so you can get some much needed sleep. Or, feeling your heart pounding out of your chest from lack of oxygen and watching the sight pins bobbing up and down with each heartbeat praying that they'll settle before the bull steps into the shooting lane. Just being in the mountains is reward enough. So few people take the time to experience something like the elk rut in the mountains. It's a shame. This year I'm fortunate to be able to go on two elk hunts. Both of which offer their own unique set of challenges. In late August I fly to Missoula, Montana and venture across into Idaho for the bow season there. I'll be hunting with two guys who won a hunt with Big Timber Outfitters through a drawing with MUCC. This is an early season hunt and should offer some great calling to bulls as they are starting to herd up there harems for the rut. Then my whitetail hunting will be interupted in October for a hunt with my good friend Veao Peterson who happens to own High Desert Outfitters. We'll be hunting near the Jicarilla indian reservation in New Mexico. This is a rifle hunt and one that could result in a trophy bull. These guys have taken some 350" bulls and bigger in this unit and it definitely has the potential to give up those kind of bulls still. I hunted this unit in 2006 and I can't wait to go back! But, until then, I've got some work to do. I gotta continue to train this flatlander body so that I don't die up there in the mountains somewhere. Come to think about it, that wouldn't be a bad way to go actually... Tales of the Tape 2010-08-03T20:23:59+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/well_see_you_at_the_expo/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/well_see_you_at_the_expo/#When:15:12:22Z If you're looking for a way to spend this weekend, might we suggest a visit to the Outdoor Sportsmen Expo in Prairieville. This is a brand-new show that focuses on hunting, fishing and shooting and will be held outdoors at the Prairieville Show Grounds near Delton. I'll be there all weekend and am doing a couple of seminars on deer hunting. So stop by and say hello. We'd love to talk about the outdoors. Head Hunter 2010-08-02T15:12:22+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/all_night_long/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/all_night_long/#When:13:35:21Z This weekend marked the 63rd Au Sable River Canoe Marathon and the biggest field ever to start the race. Over 100 teams registered for the race and after drops, 94 teams made the run down the concrete and put in their boat at the Old Au Sable fly shop in downtown Grayling. There are certain traditions every michigander should witness firsthand in a lifetime. November 15th in a deer blind is one, walking the Mackinac bridge is another. Screaming and cheering at the start of the ARCM is definitely near the top of my recommendations to experience. And, if you are up for the challenge, follow it on down during the night and get to know some of the teams competing and their bank running crews. Throughout the night, you drive along winding northern Michigan roads to bridges and areas where you can catch a glimpse of the racers, pulling on their paddles for the finish line. Paddlers will cover 120 miles in their journey down stream and there are numerous places to stop and see them pass. This year the favorites before the race were back-to-back defending champs, Andrew Triebold and Steve Lajoie. These two had teamed up to win three previous marathons together and Triebold added another win with local, Matt Rimer in 2007. There were a couple of prospects to upset them. Steve Corlew was teamed up with veteran of 25 marathons, Bill Torongo. Both guys had knocked on the door a couple times but had never crossed the finish line first. The Halsteads were the last team that had arrived in Oscoda ahead of Triebold in the marathon, finishing 2nd in 2006. But, as the gun sounded at 9pm, Andy and Steve had a half boat length on the field as they rounded the street corner and by the time they left Grayling city limits, they were already a bend ahead. Until Mio dam, Corlew and Torongo kept the gap somewhat close but after the long run in front of the fans, they dropped back and settled into good tempo and finished about 13 minutes behind canoe #1. The race for mixed team title was the best one to watch this year. At the start, the husband/wife teams of Tom and Connie Cannon, Al Limberg and Barb Bradley and the Forge Racing team of Holly Reynolds and Jeff Rankinen were neck and neck. But, in the end, the Cannons pulled ahead and never looked back. Like always, the last full weekend in July was an exciting one. The racers are now headed for the final leg of the Triple Crown in Canada. Triebold and Lajoie have swepted the last few and are poised to do it again. So until next year, the teams have their work cut out for them. It's a grueling sport but, to hear the fans cheer your name in the wee hours of the night is worth it. Tales of the Tape 2010-07-28T13:35:21+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/white_house_to_name_carp_czar_u.s._senate_panel_investigates_the_latest/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/white_house_to_name_carp_czar_u.s._senate_panel_investigates_the_latest/#When:10:58:32Z The Water and Power Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week received testimony from the White House and other top environmental agencies in charge of the Asian carp crisis.  The hearing, chaired by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) purged the federal government's latest assessment of the issue as Great Lakes lawmakers push legislation sponsored by Stabenow and U.S. Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) that would force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to speed up its analysis on the feasibility of hydrologically separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds. That legislation was introduced promptly after the first live Asian carp was found beyond electric barriers in Lake Calumet last month. While that legislation may face a steep political climb with an Administration that has been anything but expedient in addressing the Carp issue, it appears to be more politically feasible than the common sense initiative pushed earlier this year, also by Stabenow and Camp. That legislation (the "CARP ACT") would instead force the Corps to immediately close navigational locks in Chicago in order to buy time for more comprehensive long-term studies on how to permanently separate the watersheds. Besides the major effective disparity between the proposals, the major factor which may push the latest one out of purgatory is the support of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). Durbin, a harsh critic of lock closure who responded to Michigan's Supreme Court lawsuit to close the locks by suggesting that the Asian carp solution be solved "in the halls of Congress" appears to have gotten got his wish. While Michigan and other Great Lakes states battled the Chicago political machine - including Durbin - earlier this year on this issue, Durbin appears now to be joining the "Stop Asian Carp" bandwagon in a convenient, less controversial manner by supporting "speeding up a feasibility study" instead of immediately closing the locks.  "Asian Carp Czar" Last week Durbin and other Great Lakes lawmakers also succeeded in convincing the White House to appoint an Asian carp "Czar" to oversee the federal government's action on preventing the fish from entering the Great Lakes. The appointment is expected to be named within a month. While this news keeps the Asian carp issue atop headlines in the Great Lakes region and nationwide, all it really confirms is politics as usual. The reality:  Collective federal agencies really do have a magnificent engineering feet ahead of them if they are going to succeed in permanently separating the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes. And that's going to take awhile. Meanwhile, however, there is absolutely zero interest by the Administration (and Sen. Durbin for that matter) to go against the grain of the Windy City politicians and shipping industry to do the right thing by closing the locks now while the studies are conducted.  In fact, top White House environmental aide Nancy Sutely's answer in last week's hearing to the question of the Administration's inaction on lock closure was astounding. Sutely suggested that because no more Asian carp have been caught beyond the electric barriers, there really is not an urgency to take such drastic measures. That was the same familiar argument we heard before a live Asian carp was found beyond the barriers when the White House downplayed the significance of Asian carp eDNA being detected as opposed to live fish. Give credit where credit is due. All of this exhausting rhetoric comes in spite of the tremendous amount of support that Michigan's Congressional delegation has led with the assistance of other Great Lakes lawmakers. In a bi-partisan, bi-cameral fashion, they have worked tirelessly to keep this issue at the forefront (See Stabenow's latest op-ed following last week's hearing in The Hill). MUCC is looking forward to joining other Great Lakes advocates in a September Washington rally (Date TBD), for the second time this year in order to help bolster the Michigan Congressional delegation's leadership with grassroots advocacy directed at the Administration. Threat spreads beyond Chicago Meanwhile at the hearing, officials answered questions regarding recent reports that juvenile Asian carp have been discovered in Indiana's Wabash River, a short distance and within the floodplain of the Maumee River, which connects to Lake Erie. Worried about the potential for flooding to connect the two rivers, which could result in Asian carp invading Lake Erie, the U.S. Geological Survey conceded that studies are currently being conducted to construct permanent berms that would block the fish from spreading in the event of a flood. An official from the USGS testified that a solution would "be fairly simple ... compared to that in Chicago." Government officials also confirmed, however, that if Asian carp were to inhabit the Lake-Erie connecting Maumee River, there's little doubt that the invasive species would flourish in that habitat currently dominated by a popular walleye sportfishery. Last week, Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials also announced a plan to construct a mesh barrier along a 700 acre marsh separating the Wabash and Maumee Rivers to prevent potential fish spillover in the event of a flood. The barrier is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.  The creation of a "Asian Carp Czar" and necessity of legislation ordering the expedition of an already urgent study is pretty ridiculous. Perhaps it is one step in the right direction out of political gridlock between Great Lakes states and Chicago politicians. Let's hope it's not just another worthless compromise that's already too late - for the sake of our fishing heritage and the economic sustenence provided by our Great Lakes. Camo At The Capitol, Dave Nyberg 2010-07-19T10:58:32+00:00 http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/nrc_meeting_update/ http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/index.php/news-blogs/comments/nrc_meeting_update/#When:00:44:21Z Unfortunately we were unable to stream today's NRC meeting but I did want to give an update from info provided by Amy Spray, one of our policy staffers. There were two issues of keen interest to Michigan hunters on the docket: antler restrictions in the TB area and the possible expansion of crossbow use in Michigan. The antler point issue was up for action. The original proposal was to establish minimum antler point restrictions on all bucks in DMU 487 in an effort to put more focus on doe harvest in the area. The NRC did not feel that there was enough scientific evidence that such regulations would increase the doe kill in that area and instead Commissioner JR Richardson offered an amnendment that would implement the same regulations in place in the U.P. -- you can shoot one buck of your choice or two bucks, one of which must have three points on a side, the other four points on a side. On the crossbow issue, the measure was up for discussion with action coming next month. There are three options on the table: Option 1 would expand crossbow use in northern Michigan., Option 2 would maintain existing regulations and Option 3 would be full inclusion of crossbows throughout the state during all archery seasons. At this point, it's really anyone's guess as to where that one will end up. So the August NRC meeting should be interesting -- and we will try to have the live stream going for that one but the location could hinder that. Head Hunter 2010-07-09T00:44:21+00:00