Changing the date of opening day in Michigan?

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2011/02/bill_proposes_annual_shift_in.html

So the topic of moving opening day of gun season in Michigan from November 15th to weekends only has been proposed. Here is my opinion:
First off I am against it for traditional reasons and I also like the idea of potentially being able to hit the woods sooner than some other unlucky hunters who can't get off of work. But I have an idea if they do decide to change.
They have proposed moving it to a weekend based on a study that showed more money was spent by hunters the years that opening day was on a weekend. My idea? Divide the state into 3 units like it is already for many outdoor purposes. One Southern unit, one Central Unit and one UP or Northern unit. The Southern unit's opening day is the first weekend in November, the Central would be the next and the Northern would be the following. This would give people the chance to hunt with a bow longer if they wanted by hunting in the unit that hadn't opened for gun yet or hit all 3 gun openers potentially. A lot of hunters I know don't hunt just one area. Many, like myself, hunt in central Michigan and Northern Michigan. If they had 3 weekend openers more money could be raised by hunters trying to hit all three openers and would give people the chance to get at least one weekend opener in the field if they couldn't get in the field for if there is only a single date for the entire state. They also seem to think having it on a weekend will get new hunters in the field. I don't see how that makes sense. Every hunter has to take Hunters Safety so its not like someone is going to just pick up a gun, buy a tag and hit the woods since its the weekend. Plus, each gun season contains at least two weekends anyway. I am for anything that promotes hunting and gets newbies into the woods but I don't see how a weekend opener adds new sportsmen.

Antler Shed Hunting

I took a much needed week off from work next week. I'm going to try to make a stop in to see the parents and hopefully the weather allows for some shed hunting. I usually put in about a dozen hours, and as many miles, each year but somehow have never actually found a shed antler. I always think I know the best spots but never any success. Do I have to live in Iowa to find these things? Anyway, success or not its always good to get outside. Hopefully get a good idea of the deer that made it through season. Should find out about North Dakota tags in 5 days.

Getting close

Ordered a map of the public land in North Dakota we're hoping to hunt. Got it posted in my living room. I like to sit and stare at it...Should know within a couple weeks whether its on or not.

Application Season

I have already posted about my application sent out for Mule Deer Archery Season in North Dakota, but I have decided on the other hunts (or future hunts) I am going to apply for. Here is the outlook on the apps I'm going to hit this year;

Michigan: Obviously these are the hunts I have to apply for. I will always buy the over the counter deer tags.
Elk- Its $4 to apply and I get a preference point. I am applying for Bull only since that's what I want to hunt and I can hunt cow elk elsewhere if I want the experience. Hopefully get drawn sometime in my lifetime. I will keep applying every year until I do.
Bear- Its $4 to apply and again I start gaining preference points. Application period is May 1st - June 1st. Results posted later in June but I won't draw for at least 4 years it seems. I will keep applying until I draw, plus I can use the preference points in any bear area once I collect them.

Utah: I will be applying for Preference Points only looking forward to building my points for future hunts. Application period is February 1st until March 10th. Its $10 for the application fee and only $10 for each species you want to apply for.
Mule Deer- Want to start building points for a bow hunt in the mountains.
Elk- A decent state for Elk and probably the second cheapest application for me. It will take about a decade but worth applying for every year at the low price and a great DIY area for elk.
Antelope- I don't really have a huge interest in hunting 'lopes but if I don't start applying now, I won't be able to later if I end up wanting to and its only $10.
Shiras Moose- I want to hunt moose some day for sure, and again $10?! Why not.
Moutain Goat- Again, $10. I'm not really passionate about the hunt but who knows if I will be someday and if it takes 15 years to draw I don't want to be starting to apply when I'm 35 and trying to chase them at 50.
Sheep- Same deal as Rocky Mountain Goat but I do want to get my hands on some of those horns someday.
I have heard Wyoming is making many changes that will take place in 2012. I don't have details so I'm hoping I'm not wasting money.

Wyoming: Yes, Wyoming. These hunts I can't wait for. I believe I have to pay the license fee for Archery of $30 and the Application fee of $14 on top of how much each tag costs but these hunts would be well worth every cent to me.
Mule Deer-$40 each year for one point and many many years of wishing and applying but awesome an awesome hunt.
Elk- $50 each year for one point and even more years of wishing and applying but the best elk hunt to me I can think of.
Antelope- $30 for the point. I don't know about this one. Depends on how much money is in my wallet come application day.
Application period for Wyoming is pretty awesome since it doesn't align with Utah or Michigan so I don't have to choose between states. Its July 1st - September 30 if you are applying for points only.

We're still waiting with crossed fingers for our North Dakota tags. Should find out in a few weeks!

Michigan Elk?

Yes indeed, Michigan has a wild elk population. So large in fact that there is a season open to residents to hunt them. While talking hunting with some local guys, I brought up that I am going to start applying for Michigan elk. To my surprise (and theirs I guess) they did not know about Michigan elk at all. There are any elk and antler-less only licenses drawn for each year and its only $4 for residents to apply. The typical point system like so many other states use for returning applicants applies here. If you don't draw you earn an extra listing in the drawing the following year. Some people draw in the first few years but most wait 5+ years.

So, the only real crappy part of this whole Elk hunting in Michigan is that if you are drawn for an antler-less only tag you have to wait TEN YEARS before you can apply again! This seems outrageous to me for people to try for antler-less only tags. Who in their right mind would apply for the antler-less tag? I guess older people who want a chance to hunt elk in their home state but for people with hopes of taking a bull this is nuts! If you draw an any elk tag you can't even apply for the Michigan elk tag again EVER. Well, this will be my first year putting in for it and I'm trying to decide whether to put in for any elk and wait for what seems forever and possibly not being able to go in the next 5-10 years when I get drawn or if I do go hunting and am unsuccessful then I'm screwed forever.

So, do I:

1. Put in for antlerless only and get to hunt sooner but then wait 10 years to even apply again? If I do this I would hope the population would somehow explode in the next years and the regulations might be changed.
or
2. Do I put in for any elk and wait close to a decade for a one time shot?

Not sure now. I am going to let it rattle around my melon for the next few months until I apply.
Michigan DNR Elk Info.

Help fight to save our rights to use the Huron Manistee National Forest !

"THE MAN" is trying to take away hunting and snow mobile use in the Huron Manistee National Forest. Even if you don't visit the forest, anytime you can promote hunting and fight for our right to hunt its a good idea. I am posting a link to Senator John Moolenar's electronic petition and some other information about the lawsuit that could hurt hunting in the UP.
Reasons to sign:

1. Help protect to our right to hunt.

2. If this land is taken away that would be how many hundreds to thousands of snowmobilers and hunters using the recreational land you currently use because they got kicked out of theres?

3. If this forest gets taken away, the anti-hunting campaign will gain momentum and it won't be long before they're attacking your land and rights.

Here is the link to the information and the petition is linked on this page, please help:

http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/senators/moolenaar.asp?District=36

And more information (a little easier to read):
michigan sportsman forum

PSE Bowmadness -vs- Quest Smoke

Quest Smoke

Bow Madness

So I want to pick up a new bow for the North Dakota trip and I can't decide. Right now I am shooting a Buckmaster 2000. Don't get me wrong, I love my bow but I'm overdue for a new one. Anyway, I put up a poll on an archery forum which didn't help at all. Right now both bows have 8 votes each, 50/50. I guess I'm going to shoot them before I decide. If you have an opinion hit up the forum and vote for me.
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1412479

DIY North Dakota Mule Deer Hunt Preparation

I have always wanted to try spot and stalk mule deer archery hunting. I started looking into what each state had to offer. Most states like Montana, Colorado and Wyoming offer pretty sweet trophy odds but horrible draw odds for decent tags. I probably researched for a week straight, hours at a time learning it would take years to get tags in those states. Finally I struck gold, and narrowed my search down to North or South Dakota. North Dakota has better harvest odds and trophy odds but South Dakota is a sure tag. North Dakota waits to see how many people apply for tags and if more people apply compared to the quota they make then it becomes a draw. If less than the quota apply then everybody gets tags. I decided on ND because of the amount of Muleys compared to SD. I then randomly mentioned the idea of the hunt to my buddy Joe who works at a popular hunting store whom I had hunted with before and he thought the hunt sounded awesome and he had to be a part of it. This helped my chances of going since my fiancee did not like the idea of me wondering around the wilderness in an unfamiliar state alone. So Joe and I filled out our applications and saved some money. I emailed the North Dakota Fish and Game Department on how to apply as a party instead of individuals because we want either both of us to draw tags or neither of us. They said I just had to send the apps in together with a note asking them to apply us as a party. I sent out our apps about two weeks ago. The deadline is March 1st so we are both crossing our fingers until we find out if we are going or not. The tags were $215 for each of us but about 85% of that gets refunded if we don't draw. So here is hoping for a chance at adventure. I will keep you posted. I am also going to start applying for Preference Points in Wyoming and Colorado so I will have a chance at some cool hunts in the next couple of years.

Intro. Welcome to my hunting blog.

Hello, I am Paul. I am the typical guy from Michigan with a passion for the outdoors. I love reading hunting stories and following along with hunting blogs so I figured I should start my own. I don't know if anyone will ever read it but I'm going to try this out anyway.

A little background on me;
I am 27.
I grew up in the Thumb area in Michigan.
I went to Saginaw Valley State University where I met my awesome fiancee.
I now live in Fenton Michigan.
I am a manager at a large retail store in Novi Michigan.
I live to hunt, I enjoy bow hunting whitetails more than anything else.
I hunt mostly public land in Michigan but plan on hunting out of state soon.
I am going to cover all my outdoor adventures on this site.
I hope you enjoy what I have to say.
If you do let me know I would love to talk outdoors with you.