Hunting News Daily

SOTV: Episode 13

Arthur — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:51:18 +0000

In this episode, the SimplyOutdoors crew chase after some Michigan Whitetails. And, in case you didn’t know, Michigan Whitetails are some of the hardest hunted deer in the country. It could be interesting.

SOTV: Episode 12

Arthur — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:42:12 +0000

Watch along, as Barry, with many of his family members in tow, chases Whitetails in the foothills of Tennessee. It ends up being a very memorable trip for all involved.

SOTV: Episode 11

Arthur — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:35:00 +0000

Join the SimplyOutdoors crew, as they head to woods during Michigan’s archery season opener.

2011 Ties for Safest Year in New York Hunting History

NYBowhunter.com — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:29:00 +0000

The 2011 hunting season tied 2009 for New York State’s safest year of hunting on record based on the number of hunting-related shooting incidents.

“Hunting is a tradition in New York state that continues to be safely enjoyed by many” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “New York has an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters thanks largely to more than 60 years of dedicated efforts of 3,000 volunteer Sportsman Education Instructors. All first-time hunters are required to attend a comprehensive hunter safety course of a minimum of 10 hours taught by DEC’s highly-trained instructors. Their hard work is paying off.”

In the 2011 hunting seasons, 26 personal injury hunting-related shooting incidents were reported and unfortunately included four fatalities. All of the fatalities occurred during the regular deer season, one of which was self-inflicted.

The hunter safety courses stress safe practices and ethics, along with information on New York’s game species and their management. All courses are offered free of charge, but students must successfully complete the course and pass the final exam before being eligible to purchase a hunting license.

The number of hunters in New York State is declining, but the hunting incident rate (incidents per 100,000 hunters) is falling at a much faster rate. Since the 1960s, the number of hunters has declined about 20 percent, while the incident rate has declined more than 70 percent. The past five-year average is 5.3 incidents per 100,000 hunters, compared to 19 per 100,000 in the 1960s.

While hunting is safer than ever, accidents do happen and it is important to remember that every hunting-related shooting incident is preventable. Many, if not all of these incidents could have been prevented, if only the shooter or victim had followed the primary rules of hunter safety:

Treat every firearm as if it were loaded
Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction
Identify your target and what lies beyond
Keep finger off the trigger until ready to fire
Wear hunter orange

For more information, visit the Sportsman Education program section of the DEC website at: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7860.html.

Open Thread – February 4, 2012

Skinny Moose: Black Bear Blog — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:38:19 +0000

Please use this open thread to post your ideas, comments and information concerning issues not directly related to the content of articles published on the Black Bear Blog. Thank you.

Officials Say No to Wandering Elk to Keep Pennsylvania CWD Free

Alex Robinson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:14:08 +0000

Wildlife officials in Pennsylvania are refusing to let a wandering elk back into the state in fear of possible chronic waste disease contamination.

The 3-year-old male elk is one of three elks that escaped from a farm in Aleppo, Pa. last year when a gate was accidentally left open. The two females were returned shortly but the male was nowhere to be found.

Officials Say No to Wandering Elk to Keep Pennsylvania CWD Free

Alex Robinson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:14:08 +0000

Wildlife officials in Pennsylvania are refusing to let a wandering elk back into the state in fear of possible chronic waste disease contamination.

The Cure For Buck Fever? Take A Practice Shot With The Safety On

Sarah Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:36:43 +0000

by Scott Bestul

I’m the first to admit that I’m no rifleman. I've always lived in shotgun-only country. While I've taken my share of deer with a gun, all have been at close range. What's more, for many years now my primary weapon has been a bow--either recurve or compound. All of this adds up to one simple fact: Deer beyond 70 or 80 yards seem a long way out there to me.

So when I was invited on a rifle hunt in Alabama last week, I did what I always do on a rifle hunt--pray the deer stay close. Oh I know what a centerfire rifle is capable of, but I'm just not enough of a rifleman to let the weapon realize its potential. On the last morning of the hunt I proved it, whiffing on a buck that was an easy target.

Scientist Suggests Using Elephants and Top Predators for Australia’s Invasive Species

Alex Robinson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:12:49 +0000

Australia’s environment is being ravaged by invasive species, and some tactics currently being used to combat them have produced minimal results. An Australian scientist recently suggested that introducing top predators and large herbivores like elephants and rhinos might remedy this situation.

Turkey Hunting: How Danger Helps Keep You Safe

Sarah Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:13:09 +0000

by Phil Bourjaily

My post about the Haint gobble call made me think about turkey hunting safety. When I started turkey hunting back in the 80s it had the reputation for being very dangerous since it is an activity where you hide in the woods and make sounds like a turkey while others are doing the same. While you would think the use of gobble calls and strutter decoys might increase the danger, I’m not sure they do. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, turkey hunting keeps getting safer. Accidents occurred at a rate of 8.1 per 100,000 participants in 1992 and had fallen to 2.95 per 100,000 by 2005.

I think turkey hunting is safe precisely because we know it’s dangerous and act accordingly. Hunters tend to be on their guard and most follow the rules of turkey hunting safety that have been drilled into our heads: don’t wear red, white and blue, be sure of your target, sit against a tree wider than your shoulders, and so on.