Around the Outdoors - April 3, 2008

Shortly after wolves were taken from the federal endangered species list, at least three were taken this weekend by Wyoming residents. According to Wyoming officials, all three of the confirmed kills came in the newly designated predator zone for wolves. Inside that zone, the animals can be shot on sight without limits, as long as the time, location and sex of the kill is reported to the Game and Fish Department within ten days.

On Friday, after the wolves were removed from the endangered species list, they fell under the control of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Under their guidelines, wolves in the state’s extreme northwest corner fall in the state’s trophy game zone and are afforded some protection. Outside that area, however, wolves are considered predators similar to coyotes.

A number of wildlife groups, including Defenders of Wildlife, have notified the federal government of their intent to sue over the wolf delisting, once a requisite sixty-day waiting period is up at the end of April. The groups have not ruled out seeking an emergency injunction under the Endangered Species Act to have the declaration voided.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing hunting of deer over grain or other baits. Critics say it takes the sport out of hunting; others say it simply provides an additional way to help control the state’s growing deer population. While critics say it’s unethical, Mississippi House Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Chairman Bo Taylor offered this solution: “It’s all about ethics. If you feel it’s unethical, then don’t do it.”

Whitetail Deer Hunting Greats Set to Invade New York At Adirondack Sportsman’s Show

The biggest names in deer hunting will be assembling for the first time ever at the debut of the highly anticipated Whitetail Summit 2009 and the Ultimate Sportsmen’s Experience this September at the 98,000 square foot Adirondack Sports Complex (Dome) in Queensbury, NY.

Among those scheduled to appear and host seminars are the Benoits (Larry, Lanny, Shane, & Lane), R.G. Bernier, Hal Blood, Joe Dinitto, Craig Dougherty, Neil Dougherty, Jim Masset, Alan Probst, Dan Schmidt, and Dick Scorzafava.

“It really is one of the greatest line-ups ever assembled of people who understand all aspects of the white-tailed deer and how to hunt them,” said show promoter Jeff Fraser. “What is even more impressive is that this list isn’t complete. We are still waiting to sign contracts with some other huge names in the whitetail world.”

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Hunting Sites - Part 1

Be in the right place,  at the right time

The most important thing to know when you are deer hunting is where and when to setup. When you’re hunting you need to know where the deer are likely to be during legal shooting hours. In order to know that you have to have a good knowledge of when and where deer normally move during the day. Studies by Kammermeyer and Marchinton show that, throughout the year, deer move more during the day than they do at night. However, this changes as summer turns to fall, and as the rut progresses. As the vegetation begins to die off in the fall the food sources in wooded areas are depleted, and the leaves begin to fall from the trees. This causes the deer to seek food in more open areas, where they feel insecure during the day; consequently, they become more active during the night. The studies showed that, in the fall, deer activity peaked from 4:00-10:00 PM and again from 4:00-8:00 AM, with some activity between 8:00 and 10:00 AM. The farthest distances traveled per hour usually occur in the morning, probably because the deer were trying to get back to the security of their core areas before it go too light.