The ultimate mask for both comfort and concealment, our cotton masks feature form-fitted eye, nose, and mouth opening, as well as an elastic band to hold the mask in place without slipping. Glasses can be worn over or under the masks with no loss of peripheral vision. The specially-designed openings help prevent glasses from fogging up.
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A deer poaching case involving a distinctive vehicle, an alert citizen, and a groundswell of public interest has concluded with fines and license suspensions for a Roosevelt, Utah man.
A Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) call started it all. In early November of 2014, a concerned citizen called the CAP hotline to report what he thought to be an illegally-taken mule deer. While fueling his vehicle at the Boise Stage Stop on Interstate 84 east of Boise, he visited with two men driving a new tan Ford Raptor pickup truck. A tarp-covered mule deer buck in the back of the Raptor caught his attention, and motivated him to report his observations.
Just days later, Fish and Game investigators identified one of those men as Mark Richens (34) of Roosevelt, Utah. It was also determined that Richens had just purchased a duplicate deer tag, reporting to the issuing license vendor that his original unit 40 late-season buck tag had been lost.
Shortly afterwards, it was determined that Richens was back in Unit 40, actively hunting trophy mule deer. Officers eventually located both Richens and his hunting partner where they proved to be less than cooperative during an interview, suggesting that officers “contact our attorneys.”
On December 19 2014, some case information and photographs were released to the public via standard media as well as the Fish and Game Southwest Region and CAP Facebook pages, with an appeal for additional information that might bolster the case against Richens.
Public reaction was both rapid and overwhelming, as the post was quickly relayed from one Facebook user to another. “We had an amazing response from the Facebook world,” Fish and Game regional investigator Kurt Stieglitz noted. “I received a message the very first evening from a caller who identified Mark Richens as the driver of the Ford Raptor and provided other case details.” Additional information funneled into Stieglitz’ office in the days that followed, allowing him to seek a criminal complaint against Richens for attempting to take a second trophy mule deer.
Mark Richens was eventually charged with one count of hunting/unlawfully taking a big game animal in Owyhee County, Idaho, and one count of hunting with an invalid tag. In early October 2015, the invalid tag charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement by which Richens was ordered to pay $665 in fines and court costs. Owyhee County Magistrate Judge Dan Grober also handed down a two-year hunting license revocation which included the provision that Richens cannot be in possession of a firearm while in Idaho, nor accompany another hunter in the field in Idaho for the two-year period. A 90-day jail sentence will be imposed should Richens fail to comply with these conditions during his one-year probationary period.
Fish and Game officers did the legwork, but the real heroes in this case were ordinary citizens. “We developed a solid case thanks to citizen involvement,” Stieglitz said. “It’s gratifying to know that so many Idahoans value the state’s wildlife and will move quickly to defend it.”
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Improve Your Licking Branches with Smokey’s Preorbital
Research proves that the licking branch is the No. 1 key to success when hunting a mock scrape. Furthermore, means of distinctly identifying themselves from the “competition.” In layman’s terms, it allows deer to understand their rank in the pecking order.
What many hunters don’t realize is that bucks keep tabs on one another by using licking branches, and they do it year round. Why? Bucks pay close attention to one another by depositing scent from their pre-orbital gland to licking branches. Bucks regularly visit licking branches and become aware when a new rival shows up — the licking branch has the scent of a guy they don’t know.
Smokey’s preorbital gland lure contains matching glands from individual bucks. Smokey’s gland lures are extracted from harvested deer and processed to enhance and retain the properties of the scent. Enhance the licking branches over your mock scrapes with the real deal — Smokey’s preorbital gland lure.
The post Double-Dipping Deer Poacher Pleads Guilty appeared first on Deer & Deer Hunting | Whitetail Deer Hunting Tips.
This great looking coaster sets includes four ceramic coasters that set in a realistic resin antler holder. Great conversation piece as you enjoy your favorite drink.
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Chronic wasting disease has been discovered in Arkansas, marking the first known case in the Southeast and sending the state wildlife agency into its CWD management plan.
The disease was discovered via testing in an elk killed by a hunter in the Buffalo River herd during the 2015 autumn season. Elk were re-established in the mountainous area decades ago. Hunts are conducted each year in limited number via draw for tags.
No known incidents of CWD have been reported in deer in Arkansas. Officials with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be testing tissue samples from up to 300 elk and deer from a 5-mile radius of where the diseased elk was killed. The agency will work with landowners and the National Park Service for testing. The Buffalo National River is part of the National Park Service system; hunting is allowed within certain areas of the park.
Southeastern states have tested for CWD ever since it began spreading to other U.S. states years ago. So far, Arkansas is the only state in the region with a known case of CWD. Arkansas has had an importation restriction for years from known CWD states.
Here is the press release from the AGFC:
An elk harvested near Pruitt on the Buffalo National River during the October 2015 hunting season tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
This is the first time an animal in Arkansas has tested positive for the disease, which is fatal to elk and white-tailed deer. To discuss the development, the Commission called a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. at the AGFC’s main office, 2 Natural Resources Drive, in Little Rock.
The AGFC created a CWD response plan in 2006, as the disease was appearing in other states.
“Several years ago, Arkansas proactively took measures to put a testing procedure in place and created an emergency CWD plan,” said Brad Carner, chief of the AGFC Wildlife Management Division. “Those precautions are now proving to be beneficial. We are in a strong position to follow the pre-established steps to ensure the state’s valuable elk and white-tailed deer herds remain healthy and strong.”
To determine how prevalent the disease may be, samples from up to 300 elk and white-tailed deer combined within a 5-mile radius of where the diseased elk was harvested will be tested. There is no reliable U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved test for CWD while the animals are alive. The AGFC will work with the National Park Service and local landowners to gather samples for testing.
A multi-county CWD management zone will be established, and public meetings in the area will be scheduled as forums to discuss plans and to answer questions.
The number of positive samples collected, if any, will help AGFC biologists determine the prevalence of CWD, and will guide their strategy to contain it.
“Although CWD is a serious threat to Arkansas’s elk and white-tailed deer, we are not the first to deal with the disease,” said AGFC Director Mike Knoedl. “Our staff is prepared and, with help from the public, will respond with effective measures. We have learned from the experiences of 23 other states.”
Biologists don’t know how the disease reached northern Arkansas at this point. The local herd began with 112 elk from Colorado and Nebraska, relocated between 1981-85.
“(CWD) would have raised its ugly head a lot sooner than now,” said Don White, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Arkansas Agriculture Experiment Station in Monticello. “I think that it’s extremely unlikely that it came from those 112 elk.”
Biologists have tested 204 Arkansas elk for CWD since 1997; the 2½-year-old female was the only one with a positive result. The AGFC also has routinely sampled thousands of white-tailed deer across the state since 1998.
Samples from the diseased female elk were tested at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison, and verified by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
There are no confirmed cases of CWD transmission from cervids to humans or to livestock,
“As far as we know, it’s not transmissible to humans at all,” said Sue Weinstein, state public health veterinarian for the Arkansas Department of Health. “In other states where they have CWD and they are studying this, they have found no human disease at all. To be on the safe side, it is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and by the Department of Health that you not eat meat from an animal that you know is infected with chronic wasting disease.”
CWD was first documented among captive mule deer in Colorado in 1967, and has been detected in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. It’s been found in the wild in 20 states and among captive cervids in 15 states.
The AGFC has taken several steps to prevent the disease from entering the state. The Commission established a moratorium on the importation of live cervids in 2002, and restricted the importation of cervid carcasses in 2005. It also set moratoriums on permits for commercial hunting resorts and breeder/dealer permits for cervid facilities in 2006, and on obtaining hand-captured white-tailed deer in 2012.
According to the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, CWD affects only cervids (hoofed animals in the cervidae family such as deer, elk and moose). Biologists believe it is transmitted through feces, urine and saliva. Prions (abnormal cellular proteins) that carry CWD have an incubation period of at least 16 months, and can survive for years in organic matter such as soil and plants.
CWD affects the body’s nervous system. Once in a host’s body, prions transform normal cellular protein into an abnormal shape that accumulates until the cell ceases to function. Infected animals begin to lose weight, lose their appetite and develop an insatiable thirst. They tend to stay away from herds, walk in patterns, carry their head low, salivate and grind their teeth.
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Discover intriguing facts about and high-quality images of whitetail deer with the Whitetails 2016 Daily Calendar. Gain insight into deer traits, behavior, and more with new whitetail trivia every day. This desktop whitetail calendar is great for any hunter or enthusiast seeking out compelling information and captivating images of your number one deer, the whitetail.
Enjoy a fun fact every day – topics include:
Features:
The post BREAKING: CWD Detected in Elk, State Agency to Implement Plan appeared first on Deer & Deer Hunting | Whitetail Deer Hunting Tips.
The 7.5″ hand-made gut hook knife performs as good as it looks. A very sharp 3.5″ stainless steel blade cuts smoothly and a hand-made deer bone handle gives you a comfortable strong grip. The hand-made bone handle includes brass trim and rivets which gives it its unique look. This knife comes with a custom leather sheath to protect your blade.
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Hunting hauler cart for transporting game weighing up to 500 lbs. (includes 2 buckle straps) Heavy duty 3/4″ steel axle, 18.5″ Solid rubber tires with steel rims and spokes Saves the pain and strain of trying to drag trophy game out of the woods Quick wire-spring assembly, no tools required, folds compact for storage Steel tube construction with a dark hunter brown finish
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Technology could help vehicle drivers avoid collisions with deer and wildlife if an ongoing trial proves beneficial.
The Idaho Transportation Department is using a Doppler radar system on 25-foot poles along a section of highway in Boundary County. The radar system is connected to flashing warning lights that alert motorists to slow down if deer or big game animals are near the road within the radar’s range.
The transportation department said animal-vehicle collisions cost the state approximately $20 million in 2015. According to the Coeur d’Alene Press, that was to pay for vehicle repair costs, human injuries and fatalities, towing, investigation, and the disposal of animal carcasses.
“It’s another tool in the toolbox,” said Reed Hollinshead, ITD public information specialist. “There is no guarantee that this system will be used, but it’s another tool we are investigating. We understand that vehicle-wildlife conflicts are definitely a concern, particularly in a rural state like ours.”
Idaho also uses highway underpasses to help animals avoid going over the roads.
The video above shows how the radar system works to help drivers avoid deer.
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Improve Your Licking Branches with Smokey’s Preorbital
Research proves that the licking branch is the No. 1 key to success when hunting a mock scrape. Furthermore, means of distinctly identifying themselves from the “competition.” In layman’s terms, it allows deer to understand their rank in the pecking order.
What many hunters don’t realize is that bucks keep tabs on one another by using licking branches, and they do it year round. Why? Bucks pay close attention to one another by depositing scent from their pre-orbital gland to licking branches. Bucks regularly visit licking branches and become aware when a new rival shows up — the licking branch has the scent of a guy they don’t know.
Smokey’s preorbital gland lure contains matching glands from individual bucks. Smokey’s gland lures are extracted from harvested deer and processed to enhance and retain the properties of the scent. Enhance the licking branches over your mock scrapes with the real deal — Smokey’s preorbital gland lure.
The post Transportation Department Has Radar Love for Deer appeared first on Deer & Deer Hunting | Whitetail Deer Hunting Tips.
By Mark Kenyon In addition to shed hunting, one of the most important deer hunting tasks I’m completing at this time of year is scouting – both from home and in the field. And a big part of both those…
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Dan Schmidt with his Texas turkey that dropped after a much quieter blast from his shotgun thanks to the SilencerCo Salvo 12 suppressor.
Everyone who owns a gun owns a shotgun. Until late last year, most of them had never been suppressed. SilencerCo’s Salvo 12 is the first commercially viable shotgun suppressor and represents an incredible advance in engineering and technology. Because it’s such a new concept — and one that invariably invokes negative connotations with uneducated shooters — it really requires hands-on viewing.
By Daniel E. Schmidt
Editor-in-Chief
I must admit I was a bit skeptical when I first heard of a silencer for hunting shotguns. Why? And, really, what would be the advantage? After shooting a suppressed shotgun for the first time, I immediately learned the answers to both questions. And I was pleasantly surprised.
“The Salvo 12 is designed to operate with nearly all shotguns and ammunition on the market today, including pumps, semi-autos, and inertia driven models,” said Darren Jones, marketing manager for SilencerCo. “Due to the modularity of the Salvo 12, a hunter can remove sections to balance their sound suppression, weight, and length needs and can attach the Salvo to their favorite shotgun with choke mounts available in improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, and full. This adaptability makes it ideal for use for hunting ducks, geese, turkeys and everything in between.”
I received a hands-on demonstration of these benefits during a South Texas turkey hunt in 2015. Consecutive practice-range shots with and without a Salvo 12 showed me just how much noise a turkey gun makes when you’re actually paying attention to such things. That was only half of the story, however.
SEE ALSO: Get More Great Turkey Hunting Tips from the Experts!
The reduced recoil was pure joy. It does take some getting used to. Unlike the “can” suppressors for rifles, this one is boxy and extends the length of your turkey gun. It looked clunky to me, but to be honest, I got used to it almost immediately and never really thought about it as we were chasing gobblers across the South Texas brush country.
The true test came on the second morning of our hunt when I tucked myself into a brushy creek bottom and called in two beautiful longbeards. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, and a stiff breeze was picking up from the west when the first bird stepped within 30 yards of my gun barrel.
“Pow.”
Notice how I didn’t use an exclamation point. And not “BOOM!” either. Just a rather muffled “Pow” that didn’t cause me to flinch, per usual. He dropped dead, and the other gobbler ran a few steps, stopped, looked around and went on his merry way. The shot produced comparatively little recoil, considering I was shooting 3-inch turkey loads.
At the full length of 12 inches, sound is brought down to 136.8 dB at the muzzle — well below the 140 dB hearing-safe threshold set by OSHA. Pair this sound reduction with a noticeable decrease in felt recoil, and after just a few rounds through the Salvo 12, you’ll never go back to shooting unsuppressed again.
SEE ALSO: More Great Turkey Gear!
The suppressor is made of aluminum and stainless steel and attaches to most 12-gauge shotguns via a choke mount. The modular design allows a hunter to shorten the silencer to 6, 8 or 10 inches, depending on preference. It is rated for wadded shells up to 3 inches, including buckshot and slugs.
The Salvo 12 is not for everyone, but it certainly has its place in hunting. I can think of numerous applications (suburban hunting areas; first-time hunters; gun-shy shooters, etc.) where a suppressor makes perfect sense. But be warned: You just can’t go out and buy one. There is an application and registration process that’s required by law in the states that allow them. SilencerCo assists all of its customers with this process.
For more information, visit www.silencerco.com
— Daniel Schmidt is the editor-in-chief of Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine and content director for F+W Outdoors.
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Discover intriguing facts about and high-quality images of whitetail deer with the Whitetails 2016 Daily Calendar. Gain insight into deer traits, behavior, and more with new whitetail trivia every day. This desktop whitetail calendar is great for any hunter or enthusiast seeking out compelling information and captivating images of your number one deer, the whitetail.
Enjoy a fun fact every day – topics include:
Features:
The post Shotgun Silencer Takes the Boom and Bang Out of Turkey Guns appeared first on Deer & Deer Hunting | Whitetail Deer Hunting Tips.
The Mossbery Fixed skinning knife features surgical stainless steel blade, non-glare blade, camouflage handle, and includes ballistic cloth sheath. Measure 6-3/4″ overall with a 3-1/2″ blade.
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