May 15th, 2008
By Arthur

I wrote a post awhile back, about some proposed changes that the Michigan DNR was thinking of doing, in order to keep the deer population in check here in Southern Lower Michigan. Those changes just officially became a reality and honestly I am pretty pleased with the results.

As I said in the previous post, the DNR originally proposed a late October firearm season for antlerless deer. After hearing some feedback about that, they came up with an option B, that involved a late September anterless firearm season. Both of these options were put up for discussion at the latest NRC (Natural Resources Commission) meeting, and the NRC members approved the Option B choice.

So, what that means for us Southern Lower Michigan hunters, as well as our hunters in a few northern counties that have a TB problem, is that there will be an early anterless firearm season starting the last Thursday in September and running for 5 days.

I honestly have no problems with this hunt. The deer numbers are out of control in the southern part of the state, and something definitely needs to be done in order to control the deer population around here. I think having this early season hunt in September provides hunters a chance to thin the doe herd quite a bit, which will hopefully make the rut much better this season. With fewer does, there will be more competition between bucks, and it could make things quite interesting come late October, early November.

The NRC also approved an increase in the number of anterless permits allowed. They will increase from 3 per hunter last year to 5 per hunter this year.

Hopefully the implementation of both of these things will help the deer numbers in southern lower Michigan and help to control the TB problem in some of the northern counties in the state.

I’m planning to do my part. That is for sure.

Authors note: If any of you would like to read the official press release from the DNR you can go here.

Popularity: 61% [?]

May 14th, 2008
By Arthur

Our DNR here in Michigan posts monthly reports about the incidents they encounter in the state, and quite often it can provide for some real humorous reading. I was reading through the reports that covered the first part of this month and I stumbled across this little nugget from district 7 here in our state.

CO Mike Mshar responded to a RAP complaint of subjects taking an overlimit of pan fish. CO Mshar contacted the occupants of the boat as it was approaching the access site. Upon observing the CO, one subject attempted to throw the large bag of fish overboard. Instead, the weight of the bundle pulled the subject head first into the water. CO Mshar assisted the subject to shore and secured the bag of fish. The subjects were found to be 130 bluegills and crappie over their limits. CO Mshar ticketed each for the possession of the overlimit.

Now right there is a bad day. Not only are you knowingly breaking the law like a dufus, but as you are trying to get rid of the evidence you fall in and have to be saved by guess who? The law officer who is going to bust you. I just love this story. It just goes to show that criminals are just not that bright. Man, it just cracks me up.

Popularity: 13% [?]

May 07th, 2008
By Arthur

Yesterday, after reading my post, Jeff called and alerted me to something that I had forgotten about. The DNR made a change to bass regulations that allow for a Catch and Release season before the actual bass season starts. I think this law was in effect last year as well, but I cannot remember for sure. I know that I was pretty pleased when he told me, even if it did exist last year!

It used to be that we had to be very careful when we were out fishing in spring for pike, because you always ran the risk of catching a bass. Now, while I don’t think the DNR would have given us any trouble, it was something that you always had to be conscious of. Now that problem is fixed.

Now in Michigan, on all the Lower Peninsula waters including the Great Lakes, there is a Catch and Immediate Release season for bass that runs from the last Saturday in April through the Friday before Memorial Day. Perfect. Now we can actually target bass and not have to worry about it while stumbling across a few pike at the same time.

This whole post may seem silly to a few of you reading it, but to me I think it is a great move by the DNR. It helps all of us Michigan anglers who are having some serious fishing withdrawals catch a few Largemouth without having to worry about any repercussions. It also helps us find some good fishing spots before the season actually opens the Saturday before Memorial Day.

What a great move by the DNR, and I can’t wait for this weekend and my shot at catching the first one of the season—-and then releasing it of course! (In case I had any doubters).

If any of you would like to see the regulation concerning this particular season you can find it here.

Popularity: 32% [?]

April 29th, 2008
By Arthur

I stumbled upon an article today by Shane Mahoney. Mr. Mahoney is the Head of Research for the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador. In this particular article Mr. Mahoney presents a view of hunting, and the way hunters and anti-hunters think, that I thought was simply amazing and brilliant. He outlines the main arguments that both sides use, in order to promote their cause, but eludes to where he thinks us hunters are going wrong with our arguments. The point of his entire article is that hunters always point to the benefits of their hunting activities, but seldom ever explain why they engage in those particular activities. His point is this:

“The task at hand is to articulate the relevance of hunting; not its correctness, nor its practical service to human kind. Rationalizing the mythology is both a tactical error and a diminishment of pride. Lies and excuses usually are.”

I think that he is definitely on the right track when he talks about the failure of us hunters to explain hunting in a way that we intend all anti or non-hunting people to view our chosen activity. We always talk about the benefits of hunting, but we never talk about why we hunt. We never attach that human part of the argument, and that could be exactly what is lacking in order for a non-hunter to understand our points of view and reasoning for participating in the hunting lifestyle. So in that spirit I am going to outline a few reasons that explain exactly why I hunt. Then I can use them next time to help promote my side of the hunting argument.

1. I hunt for the sheer thrill of hunting. The excitement and pure adrenaline rush that happens from being that close to God’s creatures. Where else could I get such a pure form of sure excitement? It proves I’m alive!
2. I hunt for the deep connection with nature it provides. How else can one get this close to wild creatures and truly appreciate them for what they are.
3. I hunt for the stimulation of the senses. Where else on Earth can a human experience such connection with one’s senses? I know of no other activity that provides for such awareness of one’s surroundings and abilities.
4. I hunt for the humbling. Hunting, and its connection with nature, is thee best way to show any living human being just how small we are as compared to Mother Nature. It provides for a deep respect for natural resources and allows for us to want to protect those resources.
5. I hunt for the life lessons. What better place to learn patience, understanding, and discipline, then waiting at full draw for that buck of a lifetime to step out the other side? For that wary tom to present itself for a clean kill shot? Life lessons in full force right there.
6. I hunt to appreciate life and all that has been given to me. Hunting has taught me exactly how life and death work, and by doing so, allowed for me to understand exactly how precious life is. It makes me look at the other aspects of my life in a more meaningful way, and allows me to have a deep spiritual connection with life and my Creator.
7. I hunt BECAUSE ITS FUN!

Those are my reasons for hunting. Obviously these are only the main reasons why I hunt. Many are not as prominent, and many could never be put into words, but I think this list is a good representation of the most prominent reasons.  I would think that many of you who read this blog can relate to most, if not all, of them.

My challenge to all of you now is to write a post about why you hunt. What motivates you to wake up at 4 in the morning, roll out of bed in the 15 degree weather, and head into the woods? It will be entertaining to read, and who knows, it just might provide a good fact base for your next hunting argument.

I hate to single out people, and I would love if all you outdoor bloggers did this post, but I would like to see this post from Jeff, Rick, my new linked huntress Norcal Cazadora, Phillip, and Kris especially. I even wouldn’t mind seeing a post from Kristine explaining why she has contemplated taking up hunting. That would great!

If you would like to read all of Mr. Mahoney’s article you can go here! (You will need to scroll down the page a little!)

Popularity: 77% [?]

April 25th, 2008
By Arthur

I’m sure by now that quite a few of you have seen this great picture of President George H. W. Bush and his monstrous tarpon that he was able to land in the Florida Keys recently. It is a gorgeous fish, and the former president even decided to let it go, opting to have a replica made to be displayed instead, and let the fish fight another day. I thought that was very commendable.

In the spirit of true sportsmanship, soon after these pictures were made public, a fishing blog had a post up inquiring as to the legality of the catch. In Florida a tarpon must be tagged before it can be “boated” and at least one blog I came across was screaming foul about the President’s catch and claiming that he and his fishing guide had not tagged the fish properly. Florida state law prohibits possession of a tarpon without having first affixed a $50 tarpon “kill” tag through its jaw, and readers were accusing the former president and his guide of not displaying the proper kill tag. Guess what? Turns out they were wrong. From news-press.com:

Happily, as it turns out, we are not facing the prospect of jailing the Former Leader of the Free World (as memorialized by his Web site, FLFW.com). Hard to see in photos published on the Web, but clearly identifiable in high-resolution images obtained by The News-Press, is a tarpon tag looped through the silver king’s jaw. President Bush appears to have had every right to kill the tarpon in his lap, which reportedly was released alive, in favor of a fiberglass replica to be hung in the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.

I just don’t understand why a fellow sportsman would automatically jump to conclusions about another sportman’s actions without having clear evidence that something is in fact not being done legally. I am all for pointing out sportsman who break the law, but to jump to a conclusion because of one picture you saw doesn’t make sense to me.

I have seen this particular type of reaction multiple times. People accusing other people of not wearing orange, because in the picture they posted in the forum they didn’t have orange on. How does one jump to the assumption, that just because in the photo they didn’t have orange on, that they weren’t wearing orange at all? Did they ever think that, just maybe, that person didn’t want their gaudy orange jacket in the photo? How dare they jump to a conclusion without any facts or proof of this person breaking the law? How about a nice “Great deer” comment, instead of automatically making an assumption. Lets all use some common sense people.

I don’t want anyone to think that I am condoning breaking any game laws. That is so far from the truth. What I am saying is that we sportsmen have enough things we need to defend without automatically making an assumption about other sportsman’s ethics, or law-abiding ways, just because of one simple photo.

One picture does not tell the whole story. Next time you want to make an accusation, after only seeing one picture as evidence, take the time it would take to accuse this person of wrongdoing, and write a positive letter to the local newspaper about hunting, and what sportsman contribute to wildlife preservation. In other words–find something constructive to do!

Popularity: 19% [?]