Game
Deer, waterfowl and the wild game that feeds a homestead. Season news, harvest reports, habitat and food plots, and the federal and state decisions that shape access.
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It’s that time of year: Black bears soon will leave their dens and become active. Though they’ll primarily forage on green vegetation, bears will eat from bird feeders, outdoor pet foods and garbage cans, if available. Taking simple steps now can keep bears safely at a distance and prevent conflicts this spring and summer: Remove…
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been notified by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory of confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) strain: H5 2.3.4.4 in a lesser scaup, black vultures and other avian species. There is a low risk of HPAI transmission to humans and, to date, there have been…
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The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Making Tracks with the USDA Forest Service awards recognize people and projects that best incorporate conservation education, partnerships and wild turkey management. The NWTF presented the awards during its 46th annual Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak, to projects and programs that bolstered NWTF’s Save the Habitat. Save…
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The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) offers several programs for landowners to enroll environmentally sensitive farmland into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The continuous and general CRP signups provide annual rental payments to producers and landowners for establishing long-term, resource-conserving plant species on cropland, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat…
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The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation committed more than $1 million to landscape-scale efforts to help restore thousands of acres of public and private forestland, meadows and other landscapes charred by recent wildfires. “This commitment only solidifies RMEF’s ongoing strategic efforts dating back decades to enhance habitat for elk and a myriad of other wildlife species…
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Two mule deer bucks taken in the Slate Creek drainage near Lucile in October tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), according to Idaho Fish and Game. Under Fish and Game’s CWD strategic plan, both hunters have been notified that their bucks tested positive. Although CWD has been known to exist in the Western United States for over 40…
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I know, I know, your feed plot should already be well underway. But if you’re like me, summer chores got the best of you, and you’re a little late putting it in the ground. The good news is, you’re not too late, particularly if you’re south of the Mason-Dixon like myself. Brassicas and tender cereal grains…
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The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) yesterday announced 41 grant awards totaling nearly $11.5 million to clean up and restore polluted waters, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and increase access to nature throughout the Delaware River watershed. Grantee organizations have committed more than $13.5 million in match, for a total conservation impact of about…
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published final regulations governing the annual Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Contest–also known as the Federal Duck Stamp Contest–beginning with the 2022 contest. These revisions provide artists more flexibility when designing their art and broaden the appeal of the Duck Stamp to a more diverse audience….
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Your eyes, unfortunately, do not deceive you. According to researchers, COVID-19 has hit even our secluded woodlands. A survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has detected antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 in deer populations across four states. While this is, of course, eye-catching news, there may not be reason to fret too much. Though…
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Howdy folks! Its been a little longer than anticipated since my first installment in the Euro-mount series. My apologies on that, been some busy times around the homestead this month. That said, the mercury is flirting with triple digits outside, and I think that is just the excuse I needed to move us along to…
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Unless you’ve found a deadhead that–miraculously–has some of the meat still attached, this probably seems odd timing for an article on the procedures for Euro-mounting a deer skull. There’s a reason for that. About halfway through the project this fall, I came down hard with the world’s favorite Coronavirus, and was forced to shelve it…