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By RYAN SOULARD
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Rabbit Hunting is Fun for a Number of ReasonsRabbit Hunting is Fun for a Number of ReasonsAs the snow starts to fly and the days get shorter, itís "Rabbit Time!"

Rabbit hunting provides an excellent opportunity to get outside this winter, get some exercise, and hopefully bag a rabbit or two if you're lucky.

My Grandpa Moon used to tell me tales of rabbit hunting with his beagle and his Belgian-made Browning A5 shotgun. Unfortunately, by the time I came along, my grandpa had gotten out of hunting, but the stories sure lived on.

Spending a big portion of his life in Alabama, he was a storyteller without even trying hard at it. I can remember being in awe listening to him tell stories of bringing rabbits home for my mom and grandma to clean, which as a kid was something I just couldn't comprehend.

"Rynee," as he liked to call me in that deep Southern accent, "those rabbits made some fine vittles."

It wasn't until my late 20s that a group of guys I met from the Grand Rapids area introduced me to rabbit hunting the old-fashioned way, without the use of dogs.


p>IDNR Report

Sign-ups for put-and-take pheasant hunts begin on Sept. 7 at 6 a.m.

Hunters can begin purchasing a reservation for put and take pheasant hunts at on.IN.gov/INhuntfish. They do not need to log in or create an online account to purchase a reservation, but must have an online account to look up completed reservations at a later date.


IDNR Report

Access Program Providing Land Enhancements (APPLE) offers quail, pheasant, and woodcock hunting opportunities on private property.

These hunts are allocated through the online reserved hunt system and applications are accepted between now and Sept. 23.

The online application is the only way to apply. Hunters may apply for one hunting period. Although the hunting period is two days, selected hunters may only hunt one day of the two-day period. Successfully drawn applicants will be allowed two hunting partners.


MDNR Report

New Pheasant Program to Offer Releases on State Game AreasNew Pheasant Program to Offer Releases on State Game AreasPheasant hunters soon may be finding and harvesting more pheasants afield thanks to the Michigan Pheasant Hunting Initiative, through which select state game areas in the southern Lower Peninsula will receive released rooster pheasants over the next two seasons.

The Michigan Legislature passed Public Act 618 of 2018, which appropriated $260,000 from the general fund to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for a pheasant release program during fall 2019 and 2020.

"This legislation was made possible through the partnership of the Michigan Pheasant Hunters Initiative and Michigan United Conservation Clubs," said Amy Trotter, executive director of MUCC. "Releasing pheasants on state game areas was widely supported among our membership through our grassroots resolution process and was one of the recommendations made by the blue-ribbon advisory group charged with the responsibility to examine the uses of southern Michigan state game areas. The group recommended elevating small game hunting as a management output for state game areas."


MDNR Report

Majority of Michigan Elk Hunters Were SuccessfulMajority of Michigan Elk Hunters Were Successful

The 2018 elk hunting season stats are in, and the 2019 winter elk survey just wrapped up, providing a clear picture of where Michigan's elk population currently stands.

Hunt period 1, which targets elk outside of their traditional range, was 12 days long. From Aug. 28-31, Sept. 14-17 and Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 99 state hunters harvested 68 elk (28 bulls and 40 antlerless elk.) In addition, all three Pure Michigan Hunt winners were successful during the first hunt period.

During hunt period 2, Dec. 15-23, another 100 state hunters harvested 78 elk (30 bulls and 48 antlerless elk). All locations in the northern tip of the state are open to hunting for this later hunt.

In order for regulated hunting to assist in managing elk, Michigan's elk population first must be evaluated.