Minnesota deer hunters harvested nearly 222,000 deer in 2008. This is a decline of 38,000, or about 19 percent, from 2007, but the ninth consecutive year the harvest has exceeded 200,000.

“Bad weather opening weekend, lower deer populations in many permit areas and more lottery areas all had a role in the lower harvest,” said Dennis Simon, wildlife section chief for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Still, hunters found success and we were able to lower deer populations in some areas.”

Overall, the statewide firearm harvest was down 15 percent from last year. The archery harvest was down 7 percent and the muzzleloader harvest down 25 percent. Firearms hunters harvested 190,100 deer, archery hunters 22,550 and muzzleloader hunters 9,300. Hunters who participated in the early antlerless season, which was expanded to 30 areas in 2008, tagged 5,250 deer.

Despite the decrease from 2007’s harvest total of 260,604 and the lowest total harvest level in five years, 2008 ranked as the eighth-highest Minnesota deer harvest ever recorded.

“The majority of our deer harvest comes during the first weekend of firearms season,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator. “When the weather is bad like it was, we never fully make up the difference the next weekend.”

Deer populations in many permit areas also were lower than previous years, which is a direct result of aggressive antlerless deer management.

“In many deer areas, we’ve allowed hunters to take up to five deer each, which by design has likely lowered populations toward our established goals,” Cornicelli said.

Final population estimates will be completed after the winter ends and the DNR will re-evaluate populations relative to established goals. Additional significant winter weather in some parts of Minnesota this year could reduce deer populations in some areas.

“Many hunters will see lower bag limits and, in some cases, placement of their hunting area into lottery designation,” Cornicelli said. “It’s important that hunters pay close attention to the hunting synopsis when it comes out in late July.”

Looking ahead to the 2009 season, the deadline for the either-sex permit application is Thursday, Sept. 3. Archery deer hunting will begin Sept. 19 and the early antlerless deer season will be the weekend of Oct. 10.  The statewide firearms deer hunting season will open on Nov. 7 and the muzzleloader season will open Nov. 28.

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An Ohio hunter who reported he had killed a nontypical buck green scoring 220 inches in the wild and with a bow has been cited by the Ohio Division of Wildlife for providing false information to a check station.
The Ohio DOW originally reported to media outlets that the huge buck, taken by Rob McCarley of Circleville, Ohio, on December 8 had been killed in Franklin County with a bow on open lands as reported to them by McCarley. It was said that McCarley has killed seven deer that would qualify for the state’s Buckeye Big Buck Club, two of which exceeded 185 inches, not counting the reported buck. To read the rest of the story goto http://www.bowhuntingworld.com/ArticleContent/1/2009/468/Ohio-Buck-Not-Free-Range,-Hunter-Cited

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Courtesy: of Ohio.com

Sharp Shooters have been hired to thin deer heard in Ohio parks and recreation areas visit www.ohio.com for full artical

Other Cool Stuff On Domka Outdoors

• Video Of The Day – I think we have a blood trail..
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• Make your mount look like new
• Funny Hunting Prank
• WINNERS OF THE OUTDOOR CHANNEL’S 9TH ANNUAL GOLDEN MOOSE AWARDS
• Two Michigan State Police Troopers Admit To Deer Poaching
• Update on Chronic Wasting Disease in MI

The Department of Natural Resources today announced the preliminary estimate of the white-tailed deer harvest during the 2008 firearm season.

Statewide, an estimated 272,000 deer were taken during the firearm season, and about 157,000 were antlered bucks and about 115,000 were antlerless deer. That compares with a 2007 estimated harvest of 273,000. However, there were significant shifts in where deer were taken.

In the Upper Peninsula, the early estimate is that hunters took about 32,000 deer, down 22 percent from last year’s harvest of 41,000.

“Most reports indicated that hunting pressure was down noticeably in the UP this year,” said Rodney Clute, DNR big- game specialist. “We anticipated a lower harvest in the UP due to the tougher winter there last year and that was a major factor, but lower hunter numbers and the change in rules for use of buck licenses probably contributed too.”

In the northern Lower Peninsula (NLP), preliminary estimates indicate that about 91,000 deer were taken, up from about 85,000 last year. About 59,000 antlered bucks and 32,000 antlerless deer were estimated taken in the NLP.

Southern Lower Michigan (SLP) continued to dominate the deer harvest. In the SLP an estimated 149,000 deer were taken, about 75,000 of which were antlered bucks along with 74,000 antlerless deer.

The preliminary harvest estimate is based upon early check station results, license sales, employee reports of hunter effort and processor observations. Final harvest figures, which are based on a mail survey of more than 50,000 deer hunters, along with surveys submitted by hunters who report on the DNR’s Web site, will not be available until July, 2009. Hunters wishing to report their harvest online can access it through the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

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We’re christening the Admiral, a smart new addition to the BowTech fleet of Center Pivot bows. The Admiral is the thinking man’s bow, a product born of thoughtful hunting strategy and advanced field tactics. It’s a ton of technology efficiently packed into a tight 31” frame and it’s the perfect leader for tight treestand or popular ground blind shooting situations.

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• WANTED : WOMEN HUNTERS !!!
• Fly fisherman’s Chippewa River catch confirmed as world record
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• Funny Hunting Prank
• WINNERS OF THE OUTDOOR CHANNEL’S 9TH ANNUAL GOLDEN MOOSE AWARDS
• Two Michigan State Police Troopers Admit To Deer Poaching
• Update on Chronic Wasting Disease in MI

Courtesy of Huron Daily Tribune

SANILAC COUNTY — A 35-year-old Bridgehampton man may face poaching charges following an investigation by the Sanilac County Drug Task Force.

Task Force Director William Gray said in a press release to the Tribune that task force investigators executed a search warrant on “a large scale deer poaching operation at 2643 Forester Road in Bridgehampton Township.”

No drug activity was taking place at the location, however Gray reports information about the poaching activity had been uncovered during an unrelated drug investigation at a separate location.

A search warrant for the Bridgehampton property was issued Friday and executed at 11:15 a.m. The search of the property resulted in the discovery of more than 14 deer carcasses in and around the residence.

Gray reports at least 11 of the carcasses found were bucks, three were does, and all were in various stages of being processed or decomposing on site.

“Gut piles and additional discarded deer and deer parts were strewn about the immediate area surrounding the residence,” said Gray in the press release. “Upon the preliminary search of the suspect’s pickup truck at the scene, investigators located a doe that had been shot several days previously that was rotting due to not being processed.”

 The suspect reportedly forgot about the doe, said Gray. Also found in the truck was a large amount of various gauge and caliber ammunition for firearms, night vision apparatus, spotting scopes and a variety of hunting-poaching paraphernalia.

“Evidence also was discovered that a four-wheel drive ATV at the location had been used throughout the suspect’s poaching activity,” said Gray.

Investigators seized more than a dozen shotguns, rifles, muzzle loaders, a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a 1997 Chevrolet pickup truck, 2008 Polaris ATV, numerous deer and deer parts, night vision spotting scopes, portable lighting equipment, tree stands, pop-up deer blinds, camouflage tarping and other hunting paraphernalia.

The Bridgehampton man was questioned about the matter at the scene and later released.

“Once the additional follow up investigation is complete, investigators will be submitting a request for an arrest warrant, charging the man with multiple Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation law violations,” Gray said.

Possible charges may carry minimum penalties of $1,000 fines per deer and a possible five days in jail per deer. http://www.michigansthumb.com

Check out this great video of a bow hunter video taping his own hunt smoke this beautiful Kansas buck, then to have another nice buck come into fight it

Shot a big buck and you’d like to enter it in MUCC ’s  2009 show? Well, here’s all the info you need.

This year’s annual Big Buck Nights will be held at Outdoorama on Feb. 26, 2009 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi and on March 19, 2009 at The Ultimate Sports Show at Grand Rapids’ Devos Place.

As always, the shows will feature some of the biggest bucks taken in the state of Michigan during the 2008 hunting seasons.

There is no formal registration for show, it is by invitation only. But, we gather our invitation list from bucks entered through Commemorative Bucks of Michigan. If you shot a buck and would like to be considered, call C.B.M. at 1.800.298.BUCK and they’ll get you in touch with a scorer in your area.

If you are planning on having your buck scored or have already, please email us with the details on the hunt (weapon, county, etc), contact info for the hunter and a couple pictures if you have some. We’ll put these in our file and make sure they are considered during our selection process. Email info to tvradio@mucc.org.

Good luck this season and shoot straight!

Quest Bowhunting™ is a new bow company brought to you by the great people at G5 Outdoors.

Right now, Quest has two offerings — the QS 31 and QS 33 — both of which are sure to be a hit with bowhunters.

 The QS 31 is 31 inches long and weighs 3.9 pounds; the QS 33 is 33 inches axle to axle with a weight of 4.1 pounds.

Both feature machined-aluminum construction, two-piece wood grip, parallel limbs, offset riser, single-cam, and Metrao™ Precision strings.

Letoff is 80 percent. Draw length is 26-30 inches and draw weight is 40-80 pounds.

Contact: Quest Bowhunting,1-866-456-8836

Two Michigan State Troopers from the Cheboygan Michigan State Police Post are still on the job but with limited duties pending resolution of a case where the pair admitted to shooting a deer out of season while on duty.

Jeff Hadley and Don Bolen pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor offenses involving poaching in a plea arrangement with prosecutors. In return, felony charges will not be sought against the pair.
A specification in the plea arrangement that would have required the men to request a transfer from the Cheboygan Post was withdrawn, court records show. In most cases of misdemeanor infractions by police, the transfer usually occurs anyway.

Bolen and Hadley admitted to Judge Scott Pavlich in Cheboygan County 89th District Court that they shot the buck Nov. 12 while on patrol off Mograin Road in Benton Township.

In testimony, the troopers said they pulled off the road, used an artificial light to shine the deer and shot it.

The weapons used in the incident were forfeited, court records show, and fines were also levied to compensate DNR officials for costs involved in the investigation.

Sentencing for Hadley and Bolen is set for 9 a.m. on Feb. 13

Other Cool Stuff On Domka Outdoors

• Video Of The Day – I think we have a blood trail..
• National Pheasant Fest
• Remington® Introduces Model R-15 VTR™ – Byron South Edition The Ultimate Predator Hunting Rifle
• Video Of The Day: Crazy Bucks Fighting In A River
• WANTED : WOMEN HUNTERS !!!
• Fly fisherman’s Chippewa River catch confirmed as world record
• Make your mount look like new
• Funny Hunting Prank
• WINNERS OF THE OUTDOOR CHANNEL’S 9TH ANNUAL GOLDEN MOOSE AWARDS
• Two Michigan State Police Troopers Admit To Deer Poaching
• Update on Chronic Wasting Disease in MI