In this post about a month ago, I informed everyone about some important changes that were going to effect Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources.  With Executive Order 2009-45, Govern Granholm merged the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality into one new entity – the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

While I believe the move overall was a good one, I was deeply concerned with this particular part of the Executive Order:

The Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment shall be the head of the Department.  Consistent with Section 3 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the Director of the Department shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to disapproval under Section 6 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

Since that time the Senate has already passed a resolution that would send the EO back to the Governor, but we still need the Michigan House of Representatives to do the same.  The MUCC sent me a very informative letter regarding House Concurrent Resolution 32, and not only did I do my part and contact my local representatives and encouraged them to vote for and pass this resolution; I’m also encouraging all of my fellow Michigan sportsmen and women to do the same.

Please call or email these three House leaders: (1) Speaker Andy Dillon, (2) Majority Floor Leader Kathy Angerer and (3) Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes.  We need to tell them that science, not politics, should play the leading role when it comes to our state’s natural resources.  Our Natural Resources Commission should be appointing the Director of the DNRE, not a politically motivated governor.

Popularity: 2% [?]

This is my contribution to the Fight like Susan Challenge that Kristine issued over at the OBS blog.  I firmly believe that this is the best challenge that Kristine has issued.  All of the OBS challenges have been meaningful, and did a lot of good, but this one is the best one so far.

—————————————————————————–

Cancer is an ugly disease.  There isn’t a person on this planet that hasn’t been affected by cancer in some form or another.  Odds are, even if cancer hasn’t affected you directly, that you have come in contact with it in some way or another – through a friend, an acquaintance, or a friend of a friend.

All of us dread the “C” word; it can instill fear in the hearts of many, and has affected some of us very personally.  My aunt died of cancer a few years ago, and my grandma passed on- after fighting the disease for a number of years – a few years before that.  Then, just a few years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a particular form of cancer as well.  Thankfully he is in completely remission, and still enjoying life.  Also, a friend of ours was recently diagnosed with breast cancer as well.   As you can tell, cancer has definitely affected me personally in a number of ways.

All of us dread the “C” word; it can instill fear in the hearts of many, and has affected some of us very personally.

Though cancer research and cancer treatment have come a long way, the fight still continues.  And even now people need to come together in order to raise funds for cancer research.  While we’ve came a long way in the fight, there is still plenty of fight left in this horrible disease; and that is why it is so important to support the local and national organizations that help to fight, raise awareness ,and provide the necessary funds in order to keep fighting this disease.

The only outdoor-related company I know of that sells a product that directly helps to raise funds for cancer research is Victory Archery.  They have broadheads, as well as arrows, that are pink and the proceeds of those products help to fund breast cancer research.  I’m a man’s man, but after seeing these arrows, and with the recent knowledge of our friend who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you just might see me at the local archery range, or in a photo of a successful hunt, with a set of pink arrows.  I need some new ones, and those just might top my list and end up in my quiver come fall.

Regardless whether it’s an outdoor-related event or not, getting involved with a cancer research organization or fund-raising event is definitely a great thing.  A Susan G. Komen or local Relay for Life event are both very beneficial to cancer research, and honestly are a lot of fun.  Plus, most of the Relay for Life events are held outside, which plays right into our blog themes and the mission statement of the OBS.

Cancer is an ugly disease, but with companies like Victory Archery doing their part, organizations like the OBS doing their part, and individuals like you and I doing are part, we can defeat this terrible disease once and for all.

Popularity: 2% [?]

About a year ago I became friends with a guy on another outdoor forum that I frequent a lot. After talking to him on-line for quite awhile we finally realized that we were going to be neighbors. I also found out that he also was married with kids and they all love the outdoors just like us. After many days of talking about getting together and shooting it all came together this last week-end.This guys name is Steve Richardson. Steve and his dad own Richardsons Guide Service out of Eaton County. They also are a part of a local Hunting Show called “The Rush”. Here is a little “about me” straight from there site.

The RUSH is an exciting new show hosted by Jason Allen, President of CEDAR SPUR OUTDOORS, Inc. The RUSH isn’t your average hunting show, it’s a unique blend of hunting strategies and high energy outdoor entertainment. Come join Team RUSH as they pursue whitetails and other big game in a reality based show that is action-packed and entertaining.

The one thing I like about this show is the that it is a local show. With all the shows out there right now there is only a few that I really like. The one thing that Steve and use here at SimplyOutdoors have in common is that we make sure we get our kids involved! One cool thing Steve has done is start a kids turkey hunting contest on that forum. What he is going to do is have a drawing for two kids that have never been turkey hunting before. Then One boy will win a turkey hunt with Steve. One girl will also win a hunt with Dan from  www.teambackwoods.com

The coolest part about this whole deal is..I GET TO BE THE 2ND CAMERA MAN! Steve asked me if I would help them get some different camera angles and told him I would be more tha happy too. I can’t wait for this hunt and get a chance to see the looks on these kids faces. There is nothing better than seeing a kid get his first animal. I just hope we can connect!

If you get a chance make sure you check out “The Rush”. They are currently on The pursuit channel on Thurs-7:30pm Wed-11:30am Fri-1pm They are also on My 18 whtv Jackson/Lansing Sun-11-30am

If you would like to check out there website it’s www.hunttherush.com and www.richardsonsguideservice.com

You can slso check out Dan and his crew over at www.teambackwoods.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

Jeff and I have really been struggling lately with certain people.  One forum, that Jeff frequents, had many different threads about the fact that CWD(Chronic Wasting Disease) is now present in Michigan (if you missed this info you can read this post).  We have also talked with friends, relatives, and acquaintances about CWD, and the resulting Lower Peninsula baiting ban, and we couldn’t believe all the misconceptions out there about the disease.

Jeff then sent me an email yesterday morning.  In this email, was featured an article by Eric Sharp–an outdoor writer for the Detroit Free Press.  In this wondeful article Mr. Sharp covers some of the misconceptions about the baiting ban, and then features hunter asked questions about the ban and the DNR answers.

I hope every Michigan hunter out there reads this information and takes it to heart.  It puts to bed a lot of the rampant misconceptions that were out there.  It also proves the point, that we all need to try and educate ourselves about issues that effect us, before we spout off anonymously on a forum.

If everyone would just take 10 minutes and try to educate themselves a little bit, it will go along way to help understand why our outdoor officials in this state made the decisions they made.  I, for one, am in total agreement with there decisions.

So, without further ado, here is Mr. Sharps article.  Please give it a read.

ERIC SHARP
Department of Natural Resources expounds on bait ban
September 4, 2008

When the baiting ban was announced following last week’s discovery of chronic wasting disease in a deer in Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources and newspapers got many calls and e-mails from angry hunters.

Most thought the DNR had overacted and predicted a reduction in hunter numbers, and some said they would hunt in other states. One man fumed that he would hunt in Illinois, failing to recognize that baiting is illegal in that state and 23 others.

Explaining why the ban covered the entire Lower Peninsula rather than just Kent County, where the sick deer was found, DNR big game specialist Rod Clute said the agency was simply following a CWD action plan approved six years ago by the DNR, the Agriculture Department and the Legislature.

“We’d rather say no to baiting in the Lower Peninsula now than find out later that we should have said no. This deer is the first, and we’re hoping we’ve found an ice cube rather than an iceberg,” he said.

Here are the DNR’s answers to some questions hunters have asked.

Will things like salt blocks, mineral licks and attractants like C’Mere Deer be legal?

No. Anything that’s designed to draw a deer to eat or lick it is banned. Attractant scents like doe urine and doe-in-estrus are legal.

Some people like to feed deer just to view them, not to hunt. Is that still legal?

No. And food put out for other wildlife, like turkeys, is legal only if it is made inaccessible to deer.

Why isn’t baiting banned in the Upper Peninsula?

The CWD plan says that baiting will be banned if an infected deer is found within 50 miles of either of Michigan’s peninsulas. The Kent County deer was 250 miles from the UP.

Food plots are still legal. Aren’t they just as likely to spread disease as bait?

Many studies have shown that concentrating bait in piles is far more likely to spread deer disease than food plots. The science is sound on this. In addition, the DNR has no control over agricultural practices and can’t legally stop people from growing crops
Bait is still being sold by a lot of stations and mom-and-pop stores. Why doesn’t the DNR just ban the sale of bait?

Once again, the DNR has the authority to regulate the method and manner by which we hunt deer. It doesn’t have the authority to regulate commerce and tell stores what they can sell. It’s up to the hunters to end those sales by refusing to buy bait.?

I see deer licking each other all the time. Won’t that spread disease?

Deer are social animals and tend to move in groups of three to eight that usually are related, and they do lick each other. What bait piles do is draw in a lot more unrelated deer and increase the amount of contact between them. Bait piles also increase the amount of urine and feces dropped in a small area. Just as a hospital full of sick people is a good place for humans to pick up an infection, a bait pile that draws sick deer is a way to increase the chance of disease spreading among animals.

If I unknowingly eat venison from a deer with CWD, can I catch the disease?

CWD infects deer species that include whitetails, mule deer, elk and moose. Other mammals, including humans, apparently are immune. However, erring on the side of caution, scientists recommend that people avoid eating meat from a deer known to be infected with CWD or that they think may have the disease.

They’ve found a couple of dozen dead deer along the Clinton River in southeast Michigan in the past couple of weeks. Could they have died from CWD?

The DNR is investigating those deer deaths, but tests so far have ruled out CWD, bovine tuberculosis or any other known disease. Biologists are awaiting the results of toxicology tests to see if the deer were poisoned by something in their environment or in the water.

Contact ERIC SHARP at 313-222-2511 or esharp@freepress.com.

Popularity: 6% [?]

I am pleased to announce SimplyOutdoors.net‘s first sponsored (sort of) event.  One of my brother’s buddies was nice enough to allow our name to be associated with his 3-D shoot, and we were happy to comply.

Please read the information below, and we would love to see a bunch of you out there trying your luck.

SEPTEMBER 13TH

$10.00 ENTRY FEE
25 SHOT VARIOUS GAME 3-D COURSE
ENTRY FEE INCLUDES BAR-B-QUE LUNCH AND BEV.
CASH PRIZES AN TROPHIES FOR FIRST THROUGH THIRD PLACE IN SHOOT
THERE WILL BE A LONG SHOT CONTEST WITH WINNER TAKING THE POTTHIS COURSE WILL BE AS REALISTIC AS IT GETS. DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING BUT THE UNEXPECTED. IT WILL CHALLENGE EVERY ARCHER WHO THINKS THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES. MANY WILL LEAVE WITH A FEW LESS ARROWS, SOME WILL LEAVE WITH THEIR HEAD HUNG LOW, BUT ALL WILL LEAVE AS A BETTER HUNTER. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE JARV’S EXTREME BOWHUNTER CHALLENGE? LET THE COURSE DECIDE.RAIN OR SHINE, START TIME 11AM
REGISTRATION 11AM-1PM   YOU MUST REGISTER TO SHOOT THE COURSE AND OR LONG SHOT CONTEST, NO EXCEPTIONS!  NO BROADHEADS!

THE TOURNAMENT IS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF THE TOWN OF ARGINTINE. 2 MILES EAST OF ARGINTINE RD ON HOGAN RD. YOU WONT MISS THE SIGNS

FOR MORE INFO GO TO WWW.SIMPLYOUTDOORS.NET

I can’t wait.  First the Cinder Block Smash put on by Compass Outdoors this Sunday, and then next Sunday we will be shooting Jarv’s Extreme Outdoor Challenge.

It is going to be a blast.  I better buy some more arrows.

Popularity: 4% [?]