During the past decade we have watched as our Wild Turkey numbers have declined over the northern lower peninsula. Each and every year finds fewer and fewer turkeys. Many large areas that used to contain large flocks now have none, even though habitat conditions have not changed. In the resent past we actually counted turkeys during the winter months in partnership with the DNR. The DNR no longer conducts population surveys.
Ted Nugent was a rock star now known for his outspoken whack ‘em and stack ‘em approach to killing game birds and animals. Nugent moved from Michigan to Texas in 2003, although he still owns property in Michigan. He has a television program that airs on the Outdoor Channel entitled Spirit Of The Wild. He is described by the news media as “Celebrity Hunter”. But is he a champion of hunting…or a foe?
The Pere Marquette Chapter and the Kenowa Beards and Spurs Chapter represented MWTHA at our booth at the Hunting Time Expo in Grand Rapids on 1/28/11 through 1/30/11 Another successful show for MWTHA.
2/11/11 met with State Senator Darwin Booher to discuss possible legislation that would finally allocate the use of the restricted Turkey Find. (read the September 2010 article entitled Where The Money Isn’t Going).
In the September 2010 issue an article was written, entitled Of Wasted Days. It explained the downward spiral of our Wild Turkey flocks throughout the northern lower peninsula. It explained our opposition to opening the fall season three weeks early and our opposition to continuing the fall season in Mecosta, Newaygo and Oceana counties (Area HA).
Our concerns fell on deaf ears within the DNR.
The good news was there had been no turkey hunters in my area. The bad news was there had been no turkeys either! That is for the previous ten days.
My expectations were low when I crawled into my tent blind at 5:30 A.M. on May 2nd. I had a folding chair set up with a boat cushion on it.
In the dark, I couldn’t see that the cushion was soaking wet! My old hunting partner, long deceased, used to say, ” A man’s not worth a damn with a wet ass!” I stuck it out until 9:00, without hearing a single gobble.
Did you ever wonder about the DNR & NRCs scientific management of our Wildlife, etc? When the Deer & Turkey Licenses were established, there were earmarked funds to be put into Game Restoration and Habitat to preserve the Game, i.e., Deer Range improvement Program commonly referred to as D.R.I.P Funds and also Restricted Turkey Funds. They have had the money for Habitat improvements, but where are they?
