Tag Archives: Deer hunting

New initiative aims to bring in new hunters and address crop damage in Michigan

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Michigan white-tailed deer. (Courtesy, Davin Harsila)


By Greg Chrapek
greer@wktv.org


Michigan farmers produce an abundance of crops that feed not only fellow Michiganders, but people across America. Those farmers, however, also have a culprit that takes a toll on their production. That culprit is the large deer population across the state.

Every year, deer cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in crop damage across the state of Michigan.

Initiatives have taken place to combat this problem and one of the organizations that is addressing the problem is the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), an organization dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of America’s hunting heritage.

Across the country, NWTF staff and volunteers seek out innovative ways to welcome new and diverse audiences into America’s hunting traditions, and momentum-building efforts in Michigan are no different. Jen Davis, NWTF hunting and shooting Region 3 coordinator for Michigan, recently promoted the launch of the new Farm Tour retention initiative. Davis presented this new program during the Michigan Soybean Committee’s 2024 Soybean On-Farm Research Summary Tour.


Michigan white-tailed deer. (Courtesy, Davin Harsila)


Hunt Michigan Collaborative partnered with National Deer Association

This program, developed by Hunt Michigan Collaborative in partnership with the National Deer Association, aims to address crop damage on Michigan farms while also creating new opportunities for hunters to hone their skills and contribute to conservation. As a key partner in the initiative, the NWTF plays a vital role in connecting hunters with the Farm Tour program.

The Hunt Michigan Collaborative aims to assimilate and streamline efforts to grow hunter numbers in Michigan, while simultaneously providing landowners, urban areas and farmers with much needed wildlife management. 



Every year, deer cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in crop damage across the state of Michigan, including corn, soybeans, buckwheat, alfalfa and apple crops. (Courtesy, pxhere.com)


The Farm Tour initiative connects farmers experiencing crop damage with conservation organizations seeking land access for new and continuing hunters. This mutually beneficial partnership helps farmers address significant crop losses, estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, while providing hunters with valuable opportunities to fill their freezers and develop their skills. Excess deer harvested during these hunts are donated to local communities through the Hunters Feeding Michigan program.

 “Here in Michigan, as with the broader Midwest region, we are dominated by private land, much of it in agriculture,” Davis said. “We also have abundant wildlife populations filling the remaining adjacent woodlands and wetlands. This can lead to tensions for farmers, for new hunters and for wildlife. The Farm Tour aims to broker relationships that offer solutions for all parties involved.” 

Participating hunters must possess a Michigan hunting license, a valid deer hunting license and must follow all Michigan deer hunting regulations and Farm Tour-specific rules during the hunt.

Farmers interested in joining the program are encouraged to complete the form on the Hunt Michigan Collaborative website https://huntmicollaborative.com and hunters are encouraged to contact Jen Davis at jdavis@nwtf.net or by phone at 734-680-6049.

National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide healthy habitats and healthy harvests for future generations.

Metro Health offers free screenings for hunters before they head into the woods

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generic-metro-healthAs West Michigan hunters head back to the woods, Metro Health Hospital will host a free Hunters Screening on Saturday, Oct. 22.

 

Metro Heart and Vascular and trauma services team members will be on hand for the session, which runs 7:30-11:30 a.m. in the main lobby of the hospital at 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW.  Various screens will be done to determine risk for heart attacks and other cardiac issues.

 

“Hunting is more than just sitting in a tree stand. It’s important to check up on your health before heading after that buck,” Dr. Matthew Sevensma of Metro Heart and Vascular said.  “Walking miles to your tree stand, climbing, tracking if necessary and then hauling back that perfect deer can really stress your body if you are unaccustomed to the exertion.

 

“While you don’t need to be in peak physical condition, you will want to be sure your body can handle the level of activity necessary to keep you safe while you are out in the field.”

 

In a study conducted by Michigan’s Beaumont Hospital which was published in 2007 in the American Journal of Cardiology, 25 middle-aged hunters, 17 of whom had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, were fitted with heart monitors.

 

white tail buckDuring deer season, all but three exceeded the maximum rate they had achieved on a treadmill test. Dragging downed game raised heart rates to the most dangerous levels, but several men experienced jumps into the red zone simply from spotting or shooting at a deer.

 

According to study co-author Dr. Barry Franklin, the strain hunting puts on the heart is attributed to three factors: hunting’s strenuous nature, the epinephrine (or “excitement”) response upon seeing game and environmental stresses, including cold weather and altitude.

 

Franklin also notes that many hunters in the study exhibited life-threatening heart-rhythm irregularities (aka cardiac arrhythmia) that had not been apparent on EKG readouts during laboratory treadmill tests. This was a disturbing finding. Heart arrhythmia is the trigger for cardiac arrest.

 

Sevensma advised:

  • Avoid hunting alone
  • Let a friend or relative know where you are hunting and when you expect to be back
  • Bring a cell phone in case of emergencies
  • Practice tree stand safety
  • Know the symptoms of a heart attack: shortness of breath, cold sweats and chest pressure or pain and/or pain that radiates to your shoulders, arm, jaw or back

 

Space is limited and registration is required. The screen will include a number of tests, including:

  • An EKG to determine cardiac risk
  • Cholesterol test
  • Body mass index
  • Blood pressure screen
  • Glucose test, which requires an eight-hour fast in advance

 

For more information or to register, call 616.252.5963 or visit https://metrohealth.net/event/hunter-screen/. Additional information on hunter safety is available at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

The Buck Stops Here: Opening Day Just Around the Corner in Michigan

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With the time-honored tradition of opening day just around the corner, sportsmen and women are gearing up for the hunt across Michigan. More than 540,000 hunters are expected to participate in the upcoming firearms season beginning Sunday, November 15.

While the sport is steeped in tradition and aspirations, it is also a driver of Michigan’s economy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates hunting in Michigan generates more than $2.3 billion in economic impact in the state, including expenses related to food and lodging and $1.3 billion spent on equipment.

“Hunting is one more way that Michigan’s rich natural resources are helping to drive the state’s economy and contributing to our overall quality of life,” said Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Steve Arwood. “With the opening of firearms season for deer we will see more than 20,000 licensed hunters from outside of the state come to Michigan and more than half a million residents traveling to get to deer camp or their perfect spot, providing a boost to local communities along the way.”

Whitetail DeerWhile the deer harvest was down in 2014 – following trends seen across the Midwest – the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects 2015 to provide an increased success rate – especially in the Northern and Southern Lower Peninsula. To combat decreased deer herds across the Upper Peninsula, the result of several consecutive years of harsh winters, the DNR has brought together a U.P. Habitat Workgroup to develop detailed deer winter range habitat strategies including management plans for individual deer wintering complexes throughout the U.P.

The workgroup – comprised of natural resource professionals, private landowners and sportsmen’s groups – is led by Natural Resources Commission member J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon and Jim Hammill of Crystal Falls, a wildlife management consultant who is also a retired DNR biologist. With an estimated 80 percent of the winter deer habitat in the U.P. managed by entities other than the DNR, the U.P. Habitat Workgroup will work cooperatively with these other stakeholders to improve deer winter range strategies across all land ownerships in the region.

Helping to manage healthy herds and habitats to ensure a successful hunt has important implications for Michigan’s economy. In 2014, an estimated $85 million was spent specifically on leisure travel related to hunting activities in the state according to data from D.K, Shifflet. Hunting and fishing leisure travel spending combined for $342 million in Michigan last year.

“Deer hunting is an iconic and defining Michigan tradition,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh. “Whether harvesting a big buck in the woods or just spending time at camp, the deer season offers one more great way for people to experience Michigan’s world-class natural resources while connecting with family and friends. We hope hunters throughout the state have a safe and successful season.”

Currently, Michigan ranks No. 3 in the nation for the number of licensed hunters statewide and 650,000 hunters are expected to purchase a deer hunting license in 2015. The DNR estimates more than 90 percent of Michigan hunters will pursue deer this year, with hunters spending an average of 14 days afield during the season. In Michigan, 60 percent of hunters only hunt deer making the upcoming firearm season an especially important driver of the state’s hunting economy.

To promote the hunt in Michigan – both for deer and other species, including grouse – Pure Michigan and the DNR collaborated again this year on a targeted marketing campaign to reach hunters both in-state and in neighboring states, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

“This year we were especially interested in targeting active hunters and active anglers that have the potential to crossover and participate in both sports,” said Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan. “Ultimately this benefits the entire state by increasing hunting and fishing revenue – funding that goes back into efforts to create world-class recreational opportunities to be enjoyed by all residents and visitors.”