QDMA will have another Free Seminar at Cabela’s in May
April 4, 2008
The Connecticut River Valley Branch invites you to attend a FREE educational seminar on “Assessing & Managing Deer Habitat on Small Acreage Properties” and “More on Food Plots – What, How & When to Plant.” All hunters, landowners and anyone interested in Quality Deer Management (QDM) are invited to attend this FREE seminar. QDMA, New England/Canada Regional Director Matt Ross will discuss both topics in depth as well as answer any questions attendees may have.
Stupid deer law? You be the judge.
April 3, 2008
How Laws Get Passed (the unauthorized version):
State Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries wants to make it legal to kill albino deer during the whitetail deer season in Michigan, reversing a ban that has been in effect for 20 years or so.
Humphries argues that the law, as it now stands, is both an unreasonable burden on hunters and biologically unsound.
So why does the law exist? The answer appears to be a classic tale of a senator using the state legislature as his personal playground.
According to DNR spokeswoman Mary Detloff, the protection order on albino deer – pure white creatures with pink eyes – was the work of former state Sen. Joe Mack, a Democrat from Ironwood who fiercely represented the Upper Peninsula for 30 years in the House and Senate.
Mack, Detloff wrote in an e-mail to me, “apparently had a constituent at the time who had a pet albino (deer) they wanted protected. When the game laws were codified in the early 1990s, the law became a wildlife order that has since stood.”
I’d love to hear that from Mack, himself, but he died in 2005 at age 85.
The Natural Resources Commission will likely invite public comment on Humphries’ proposal before deciding whether to adopt it or not.
from: Lansing State Journal
Deer/ habitat seminar April 12
April 2, 2008
Gladwin County Record
GLADWIN COUNTY — The public is welcome to attend a deer/habitat management seminar, “Deer and Deer Hunting – Looking into the Future”, April 12 at the Gladwin High School, 1400 N. Spring St. Doors open at 11:15 a.m.
Topics and speakers include:
• 12 p.m. – “Hunter Perspectives of QDM”, Leon Hank, president, QDMA State Chapter.
• 1 p.m. – “Concepts of Deer Management & Future Changes”, Brent Rudolph, research biologist, Michigan DNR.
• 2 p.m. – Break – Open Discussion.
• 2:30 p.m. – “Answers to More Effective Food Plots & Site Layouts”, Ed Spinazzola, director QDMA National Office; author, Wildlife Food Plot Books and Articles.
• 3:30 p.m. – “Managing Forest for Profit & Wildlife”, Gerald Lambert, professional, specializing in Forest/Wildlife Management and Timber Sale Taxation Issues.
• 4:30 p.m. – Question and Answer Period, Hank, Rudolph, Spinazzola and Lambert.
A dinner/social will immediately follow the seminar. A buffet dinner will be served along with a cash bar. Food and beverages are available for purchase from the Gladwin Athletic Booster Club. Food plot vendors will be on site.
This event is sponsored by the Mid Michigan Branch of the QDMA representing Clare, Gladwin, Isabella and Midland counties.
The next general membership meeting is June 28, 2008 at Jay’s Sporting Goods/Outback room in Clare at noon. The 7th annual fundraiser banquet is Sept. 13, 2008 at the Doherty Hotel in Clare. There will be a great dinner, live and silent auctions, raffles, games and much more.
To RSVP or for more info, call Richard King 989-426-9181, Frank Myers 989-386-9194 or Phil Andres 248-360-8221.
Barbour gets bill allowing the hunting of deer over grain or other food
April 1, 2008
JACKSON, Miss. –
The House has sent the governor a bill that allows deer hunting over grain or other food.Critics say the practice takes the sport out of hunting. Supporters say it’s a means of controlling the state’s growing deer population.
Under the bill, food must be placed in feeders or spin feeders.
The bill passed the House 68-51 on Monday. The law takes effect July 1.
When questioned about the practice of hunting deer over food, House Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Chairman Bo Eaton, D-Taylorsville, responded: “It’s all about ethics. If you feel like it’s unethical, then don’t do it.”
