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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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will modify the boundaries of the Ashby State Goose Refuge in Grant County later this month, according to game refuge order 461. The refuge will be made smaller, as requested by local citizens, after the proposal was heard at a public hearing last September.

Grant County residents had submitted a petition containing about 60 signatures asking that the DNR abandon a portion of the Ashby goose refuge. It cited landowner desire to hunt geese within the existing refuge.

The Ashby refuge, as originally created by the DNR in 1971, was intended to help re-establish Canada geese and encompassed 3,170 acres. The new boundaries will reduce the size of the refuge to 1,450 acres, but will still include the wetlands most important to geese.

The vacated portions of the refuge, which include both Sumstad and Pelican Creek waterfowl productions areas, will be open to goose hunting in 2009 during established seasons. The remainder of the vacated refuge is privately owned. The Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Trespass Law requires that hunters obtain landowner permission before hunting on any private property.

For more information about Canada geese, state goose or waterfowl refuges or wildlife management, visit www.mndnr.gov. Questions regarding the Ashby State Goose Refuge may be directed to Kevin Kotts, DNR Glenwood area wildlife supervisor, at 320-634-0342

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West Virginia Hunters Harvest Record 2,064 Black Bears in 2008

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News Release : January 21, 2009

 Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 558-2003 ext. 365 hoy.r.murphy@wv.govContact: Chris Ryan, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov  

            West Virginia hunters harvested a record 2,064 black bears during the combined 2008 archery and firearms seasons, according to Chris Ryan, Black Bear Project Leader for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The preliminary harvest data for the combined seasons in 2008 was 14 percent higher than the previous record of 1,804 established in 2007.

            “Numerous factors contributed to this record bear harvest,” said Ryan. “West Virginia has a tremendous bear population that allows for a variety of different hunting opportunities. The expansion and increase in the bear population has led to the extension of hunting seasons designed to keep counties in line with their management objectives. With the cooperation of hunters, wildlife managers can maintain and/or adjust bear populations to desired management levels by implementing appropriate hunting regulations.”

            Hunters took 477 bears during the 2008 archery season. The top five counties were Randolph (56), Nicholas (37), Preston (36), Webster (32), and McDowell (24).

            Firearms hunters took a record harvest of 1,587 bears during 2008. Hunters took 670 bears during the September season. Top five counties were Pendleton (72), Randolph (66), Hardy (62), Pocahontas (60) and Greenbrier (52). Hunters took 109 bears during the concurrent buck gun season. Top five counties were Kanawha (32), Raleigh (27), Boone (25), Fayette (24) and Monongalia (1).  Hunters took 808 during the traditional December season. The top five counties were Pocahontas (128), Greenbrier (105), Pendleton (102), Randolph (76), and Webster (68).

To see a chart listing all counties go to:  http://www.wvdnr.gov/2009news/09news009.shtm

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January 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Frankfort, Ky. – This weekend, January 24 and 25, “Kentucky Afield” television looks at how timber harvesting practices improve conditions for plants and animals.

The Daniel Boone National Forest is not only habitat for Kentucky’s largest wildlife – elk and black bear – but for large numbers of small animals as well. Host Tim Farmer goes in search of ruffed grouse with sportsmen Mike White and Fielding Turner in Fleming and Rowan counties. There, Wildlife Biologist Scott Freidhof shows examples of how modern forest management benefits landowners and wildlife.

Meanwhile, life has challenges for us all. For Daniel Banet, a faithful viewer in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, the challenge is Down syndrome, not hunting. Daryl Banet describes how his son’s belief in himself not only put him in the field with a crossbow, but saw him bring home an 11-point buck.

“Kentucky Afield” is a production of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. It is the longest continuously running outdoor television show in the nation. The program airs Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern /7:30 p.m. Central and is repeated Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern/3 p.m. Central on KET 1 and on the web 24/7 at fw.ky.gov. To see the latest news about “Kentucky Afield” television and view your favorite show segments from the past, sign up today for the electronic newsletter. Visit fw.ky.gov on the Internet and click the Kentucky Afield Newsletter icon.

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The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.5 billion annually. For more information on the department, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.

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press release: Michigan DNR

Hunt                                   Application periode                    Results posted online

Spring wild turkey                Jan – 1 , Feb – 1                                   March- 2

Bear                                            May – 1,  June – 1                               June -29          

Elk                                               May - 1,   June – 1                              June- 22

Fall wild turkey                    July – 1,     Aug – 1                               Aug -17

Anterless deer                      July – 15,  Aug  – 15                              Sept- 1

Reserved Waterfowl           Aug – 1,    Aug – 28                                Sept- 23

Frankfort, Ky. – Kelvin Jackson of Clay County holds Kentucky’s new state record for a non-typical bull elk. Jackson’s 8×8 bull, shot Oct. 4 in Harlan County, officially scored 367 7/8 in the Boone & Crockett Club’s scoring system. The bull beat the previous non-typical record of 349 3/8 held by Andy Kidd of McCreary County.

“When I got drawn for a bull permit, you can ask my wife, I was like a kid,” Jackson said. “That’s the first time I’ve felt that way since I was seven years old.”

Jackson decided not to hunt in his home county, opting instead to try a county with a larger population of elk. He began scouting Harlan County in July.

“I wasn’t after a state record or anything,” said Jackson, who had previously hunted elk in Colorado. “I’m kind of a meat hunter – everything I harvest, I enjoy it.”

Local residents helped Jackson locate elk, and he received permission to scout and hunt on private land.

“I went to people in a little place they call Greasy,” remembered Jackson. “They told me where they’ve been seeing elk. When I found the herd, there were 22 cows and seven bulls. I stayed behind a big mound of dirt to watch them, up into August. I’d go there once a week to watch them.”

Jackson’s work paid off. As he studied the herd’s behavior, he prepared to take a long-range shot.

“They were in a field, and if you approached them, they would leave,” Jackson said. “I practiced shooting long-range because I figured I’d have to do that.”

Jackson took the bull at 465 yards with one shot from his 300 Remington Ultra Magnum. The bull’s antlers had to dry for 60 days before official scoring could take place.
Jackson’s elk is the largest non-typical bull officially scored and reported to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for the 2008 season.

“This bull is an outstanding example of what conservation can accomplish,” said Tina Brunjes, big game program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “A little more than a decade ago, Kentucky had no wild elk. Today, we have a large, healthy herd that consistently produces quality animals that any hunter would be proud to take home.”

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife intends to issue 1,000 quota elk hunting permits for the 2009-10 season. The state’s herd is now estimated at 9,000 animals.

“Our restoration program has reached a management stage,” Brunjes said. “It will take the help of hunters, along with sound, science-based management decisions, to maintain the kind of elk herd that produces such an exceptional bull.”

So far this season, no hunter has reported a typical bull larger than the 371 0/8 elk taken last year by Greg Neff of Kenton County. Archery season for elk, however, continues through Jan. 19, 2009.

Elk lottery applications for the 2009-10 hunting season are on sale now through April 30 for $10 online at fw.ky.gov. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will conduct a random drawing in May to award the quota hunt permits. The department plans to issue 250 bull and 750 cow elk hunting permits.

-30-

Contact: Hayley Lynch
800-858-1549, ext. 4493

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.5 billion annually. For more information on the department, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.

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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

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www.michaelwaddell.com

by: Michael Waddell

Hey its Eric I came across this and on www.michaelwaddell.com    Michael and the Bone Collector crew take you deep into the southern heritage of turkey hunting and why its so important down south!! besides Christmas, Turkey Hunting is the next biggest holiday.

Turkey hunting in the south is just as important as cheese grits, and every year I look forward to the spring season as much as anything I do in the woods.
This past spring was a great one!
It started in AL where the Bone Collectors cameras started off at the Loose Tin Plantaion, with Joey Massengale, and then went over to the Southern Sportsman Lodge to hunt with Paul Butski and Jim Mason.
Our cameras wanted to try to document what turkey hunting in the south was really about. The up coming January Bone Collector TV show will take viewers through the body and spirit of the culture that make up the southern gobbler hunter. The kills are up close and personal, 10 yards and closer and the characters sometimes need a translator to understand the comments coming from the people in the show that have been born and raised way below the Mason Dixie line, with the exception of New Yorker Paul Butski who for over 20 years has come south to guide hunters at the Southern Sportsman lodge.
The cameras captured everything we were hoping to find that will help you understand why this southern tradition is more than just killing turkeys.

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