Category: ALL HUNTING

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National Wildlife Refuges Expand Hunting Opportunities

Waterfowl hunters at the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Waterfowl hunters at the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Waterfowl hunters at the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

3 National Wildlife Refuges Propose Expanded Hunting Opportunities

On the heels of a similar proposal last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to pair increased hunting and fishing opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges with a reduction in the use of lead tackle and ammo.
Sport Hawk | 6.22.2023

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) looks to to increase recreational access to public lands with the announcement of 48 new hunting opportunities spanning approximately 3,000 acres across the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Three national wildlife refuges managed by USFW are proposing expanded hunting opportunities. These public lands include Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama, Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, and Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota.

Additionally, the effort includes a rule to phase out lead ammunition and tackle at eight national wildlife refuges. The USFW says that the decision is based on scientific evidence demonstrating the negative impacts of lead on both human health and wildlife. The newly proposed hunting and fishing opportunities also ban the use of lead ammunition or tackle.

The Service welcomes public comments on the proposed rule for 60 days, starting from the publication in the Federal Register on June 23, 2023. Those interested can find more information and submit comments here, using Docket Number: FWS-HQ-NWRS-2023-0038.

Hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, contributing more than $156 billion in 2016, according to the Service’s most recent National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. More than 101 million Americans participate in wildlife-related recreation, including hunting and fishing.

Read more about the proposal:

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Press Release
“U.S. Fish and Wildlife Promotes Public Access to Hunting and Fishing”

Related proposal from 2022:

Outdoor Life
“USFWS Wants to Open 19 More Wildlife Refuges to Hunting and Fishing. Lead Ammo and Tackle Would Be Banned There”

Photo | Ryan Hagerty/USFWS

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ALL HUNTING BIG GAME NEWS TRIP TIPS UPLAND BIRDS WAYPOINTS

Wyoming Corner Crossing Case Favors Public-Land Hunters

Corner Crossing map of Wyoming lands
Corner Crossing map of Wyoming lands
Corner Crossing map of Wyoming lands

Wyoming Corner Crossing Case Favors Public-Land Hunters

A recent civil case in Wyoming provides a crucial benchmark for ongoing conflicts surrounding access to corner-locked public lands.
Sport Hawk | 6.29.2023

A federal judge last month ruled in favor of four Missouri hunters charged with trespassing for using a step ladder to cross over a corner boundary between public and private lands in Wyoming. The private lands are part of sprawling Elk Mountain Ranch, which is owned by pharmaceuticals executive Fred Eshelman of North Carolina. His ranch encompasses 27 parcels of state and federal lands totaling more than 11,000 landlocked acres.

Wyoming statute prohibited hunters from crossing private-land corners without the consent of adjacent landowners. In the recent civil trespassing case, the ranch owner sought a jaw-dropping $7 million in damages.

According to the non-profit news service WyoFile, attorneys for the out-of-state hunters argued that preventing access across common corners violates the 1885 Unlawful Inclosures Act, which prohibits private landowners from blocking access to public lands.

This ruling has implications for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts in other states where a checkerboard pattern of land ownership exists. Colorado, Montana, and numerous other states have interlocked public and private lands that call similar rights into question.

In many cases, the “airspace” at the intersection of these checkerboard corners has been the focal point of conflict. While some argue that this airspace is part of the public domain and should be accessible to hunters, others contend that it falls within the realm of private property rights.

The Wyoming decision in favor of corner-crossing hunters could be a significant step toward resolving these conflicts. However, the issue of airspace remains ambiguous. Further clarification will be required to strike a fair balance between public land users and private landowners.

For further reading:

WyoFile
“Judge Rules in Favor of Corner-Crossing Hunters”

Outdoor Life
“Public Land Hunters Win Corner Crossing Case in Wyoming”

The Colorado Sun
“Colorado Corner-Crossing Property Legislation Poised for Comeback Following Wyoming Ruling”

The New York Times
“It’s Public Land. But the Public Can’t Reach It.”

Field & Stream
“Wyoming Judge Rules in Favor of Corner Crossing Hunters”

Photo | A screen shot from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s Hunt Planner map shows the awkward checkerboard pattern of private and public land.

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ALL HUNTING WAYPOINTS

The South’s Wild Turkey Triangle

hunter calling wild turkey

The South’s Wild Turkey Triangle

Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee have long been winning destinations for southbound turkey hunters. Are they still up to par?
Sport Hawk | 2.14.2023

There was a time, not long ago, when the tri-state region of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee constituted one of the best areas in the country to bag an eastern wild turkey. There is still great gobbler hunting in each of these three southern destinations. However, with declines in overall turkey populations across the southeast, and an increase in the number of hunters pursuing turkeys, DIY turkey hunting requires a bit more research and perseverance than in the past. Here are a number of resources that will help you plan a trip to this storied region.

Read more:

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
“Spring 2023 Hunt Guide”

ONX HUNT
“Turkey Hunting: The Best States to Find Each Subspecies”

MEATEATER
“5 Best States for DIY Turkey Hunting”


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ALL HUNTING CONSERVATION NEWS UPLAND BIRDS

JAILBIRDS: Montana Pheasants Released from State Prison

Montana pheasant stocking
Montana pheasant stocking
Montana pheasant stocking

Jailbirds: Montana Pheasants Released from State Prison

With the implementation of Montana’s new pheasant-stocking program, Big Sky bird hunting just got a little less wild.
Sport Hawk | 9.1.2022

In August, Montana approved a controversial program to farm pheasants at a state prison and then release the pen-raised birds on state game lands.

As much as $1 million of state and federal funds are now available to rear pheasants at the state prison in Deer Lodge. The hatchery birds will then be released at select wildlife management areas specifically to support opportunities for young hunters.

Montana’s legislature passed the bill containing the new pheasant-stocking program in spring of 2021. After a contentious public-input process, the state approved the program in August of 2022 with plans to implement it this fall. As many as 50,000 of the jailbirds may be released on select state game lands each year.

Montana pheasant-stocking controversy

Proponents of pheasant stocking, primarily Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, point to flagging participation in upland bird hunting. Releasing farmed pheasants on public land, they argue, is a good way to encourage young hunters to enter the field. It’s part of the nationwide R3 philosophy.

R3 stands for Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation, and it aims to promote hunting and fishing to the next generation while keeping current sportsmen active—and, of course, buying the licenses that fund all state game agencies.

Opponents argue that the money could have been better used to acquire or improve existing habitat for wild pheasant stocks. They further contend that teaching fledgling hunters to shoot pen-raised birds warps the sense of ethics and the satisfaction that is earned by fair chase of wild game. The kill becomes more important than the hunt, critics say. It’s target practice.

Opponents also worry that the release of pen-raise pheasants could introduce diseases, such as avian influenza, into Montana’s wild population.

Over the past year, public comments were weighted heavily against the new program. Conservation organizations, including Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Montana Wildlife Federation, and Pheasants Forever, all spoke out against the initiative.

On that note, Sport Hawk could provide a list of the state lands slated for stocking, but we would rather point you in the direction of some great opportunities for hunting wild birds in The Last, Best Place.

For further reading on Montana pheasant stocking:

OUTDOOR LIFE
“Montana’s Controversial Pheasant Stocking Program Moves Forward”

FIELD & STREAM
“Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Votes to Approve Controversial Pheasant Stocking Program”

PROJECT UPLAND
“Montana to Spend $1 Million Per Year on Pheasant Farming Instead of Habitat”

Staff photo

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ALL HUNTING UPLAND BIRDS WATERFOWL

How to Travel Safely with Hunting Dogs

A bird dog in his crate awaits the hunt.

How to Travel Safely with Sporting Dogs

Your favorite hunting partner deserves the best treatment at home and on the road.
Sport Hawk | 3.8.19

Owners of bird dogs want their hunting breeds to spend as much time in the field with them as possible. But when the best grouse, quail, or duck hunting is halfway across the country, traveling with your sporting dog requires more attention to detail than simply dropping the tailgate and hollering, “Load up!”

Here are some guidelines from four industry authorities that have called on their brand ambassadors and contributors to outline best practices for traveling with hunting dogs on the road and in the air.

SPORTDOG
“Six Travel Considerations for Hunting Season”

REALTREE
“Five Tips to Help Travel with Hunting Dogs”

PHEASANTS FOREVER
“On the Road with Bird Dogs”

DUCKS UNLIMITED
“Air Travel with Your Retriever”

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ALL HUNTING BIG GAME CONSERVATION NEWS

Chronic Wasting Disease in NC

Chronic Wasting Disease threatens deer populations.

Chronic Wasting Disease Continues to Spread in Southeast

North Carolina becomes the latest state to detect CWD in its deer population.
Sport Hawk | 4.4.2022

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission announced in March the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease in its white-tailed deer population. North Carolina is now the 29th state to report at least one infection of CWD and immediately took steps to implement its CWD Response Plan, which wildlife officials say has been decades in the making. To date, there are no confirmed cases of CWD transmission from cervids (deer, elk, moose) to humans. However, several studies on primates raise concerns that it might be possible, though seemingly unlikely. Hunters in all states with CWD are encouraged to have their deer tested prior to consumption, which not only ensures food safety but also helps biologist identify and manage the scope of the outbreak.

Staff photo

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ALL HUNTING BIG GAME UPLAND BIRDS WATERFOWL

Overlanding the Ultimate Mixed-Bag Road Trip

A pop-up vehicle roof tent set up for off-road camping.
A rooftop tent on an all-terrain vehicle in the desert sunset.
A rooftop tent on an all-terrain vehicle in the desert sunset.

Overlanding the Ultimate Mixed-Bag Road Trip

Go off-road for ducks, deer, and domestic comfort.
Sport Hawk | 11.12.21

The off-roader offspring known as “overlanders” are the experts on modifying all-terrain vehicles. Their stock 4-wheel rigs tricked out for mastering the backroads and buttes are perfectly adaptable to self-reliant sporting travel.

With pop-up roof tents, solar powered refrigerators, onboard propane heaters, and a gearhead’s delight of mobile comforts, overlanders have blazed a new path for sportsmen who wish to explore beyond their local woods and waters in style. Check out this piece by Field & Stream contributor Mathew Every on a dream trip at the helm of his Toyota Tacoma specifically customized for long-range cross-country hunting.

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ALL HUNTING WATERFOWL WAYPOINTS

Best State for DIY Waterfowl 2021

A brace of mallard drakes taken during a duck hunt.

What is the Best State for a DIY Duck Hunt?

The crew at OnX Hunt has some suggestions for waterfowlers looking to hit the highway this season.
Sport Hawk | 10.28.21

There is some form of waterfowling in just about every state. However, certain regions offer superior duck hunting simply because they lie in one of the four North American migratory flyways.

Although you might jump shoot plenty of ducks by canoeing a winding creek in northwest Georgia, you are not going to encounter the same opportunities as someone standing waist-deep in Arkansas flooded timber.

If you are considering a road trip to one of the Lower 48’s waterfowling hot spots (and you know you are), this destination primer from the digital scouts at OnX Hunt will point you in the right direction.

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UPLAND BIRDS WAYPOINTS

3 Great States for a Non-Resident Turkey Hunt

A hunter waits at the edge of a field during a turkey hunt.

3 Great States for a Non-Resident Turkey Hunt

Stack the odds in your favor by hunting the states that produce results year after year.
Sport Hawk | 3.7.21

Browse any online analysis of the top states for a DIY turkey hunt, and most likely either Missouri, Nebraska, or Kansas will be on everybody’s short list. If populations in your state are down this year, or if you are just looking to walk some new country, you’ll find reliable gobbler hunting in one of these perennial favorites.

MISSOURI

Missouri should be on any turkey hunter’s bucket list. There are public lands throughout the state, which is well known for its abundant Eastern wild turkey population. One caveat: Spring hunting hours end daily at 1 pm, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from loading up their rig for The Show-Me State.

Wildlife Agency: Missouri Department of Conservation

Public Land Option: Mark Twain National Forest

NEBRASKA

Cornhusker country boasts big toms, rope beards, and one of the longest turkey seasons anywhere. Merriam’s dominate the west, with a mix of Rio, Eastern, and hybrids (Merriam’s/Eastern/Rio) farther east. Archery-only season starts in late March, and the regular season runs through May. Hunters are allowed three permits per person in the spring, with one tom or bearded hen per permit.

Wildlife Agency: Nebraska Game and Parks

Public Lands Option: Fort Robinson Wildlife Management Area and State Park

KENTUCKY

Kentucky’s has one of the largest estimated turkey populations in the country. The state’s general season begins April 13 and runs through May 5 with a bag limit of two bearded birds, one per day. Pay attention to spring weather patterns, and if the early weeks bring harsh weather and delayed gobbling, consider a late-season turkey hunt in the Blue Grass State if you are still looking to bag that eleventh-hour bird.

Wildlife Agency: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Public Land Option: Land Between the Lakes

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

NWTF 2022 Spring Hunt Guide

NWTF 2021 Spring Hunt Guide

Outdoor Life Spring 2022 Turkey Hunting Forecast

Bowhunting.Com 12 Best Turkey Hunting States (2018)

Wide Open Spaces 5 Best Turkey Hunting States (2016)

American Hunter Top 10 Turkey States (2011)

Staff photo

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ALL HUNTING BIG GAME

Traditional Bowhunting for Florida’s Wild Hogs

Traditional Bowhunting and Florida Hogs.

Traditional Bowhunter Clay Hayes hooks up with a fly-fishing legend to hunt Sunshine State pigs.
Sport Hawk | 2.28.19

Most traditional bowhunters have by now watched some of the excellent self-bow videos from Rocky Mountain transplant and Florida native Clay Hayes of Twisted Stave Media. His YouTube instructional videos on everything from self-bow tillering to making trade points are indispensable for anyone wanting to scratch out a hunting-weight self bow. Recently, Hayes took a walk in the Florida swamps with another avid traditional archer, the legendary fly angler Flip Pallot of Walkers Cay Chronicles fame. The stalk-and-talk interview includes excellent footage of a wild side of Florida that still exists, but that few get to experience.