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D&R Sports Report
If you’re looking after the kids Saturday and need something to keep them occupied, carry them to D&R Sports Center in Kalamazoo to see Santa Claus and some of his reindeer.
Santa will be at the store between 9 a.m. and noon. Kids can get their pictures taken with Santa at no charge. Coca will be available and there will be a coloring contest for the kids.
In addition, it would be a good chance for mom and dad to check out the store’s pre-season ice fishing gear sale. Bargains will be offered on electronics, augers, lures, line and other ice fishing gadgets.
For more information, call the store, 269-372-2277.
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Clear H2o Report
Regardless of whether you’re an ice angler looking to upgrade your tackle or an open water angler who bargain hunts, Clear H20 Tackle near Edwardsburg, Mich. is the place to be Thursday through Saturday.
Those are the dates for the store’s winter open house during which owner Darrin Schaap promises bargains on just about everything in the store. He said that, in addition to ice tackle, the store has been stocking new items for spring and summer bass, walleye, salmon/trout and pan fishing.
“We also have devoted one corner of the store to a ‘clearance’ section for bargain hunters, where we have tackle for just about every type of angler,” said Schaap. “And, during our open house, we’ll knock another 10 percent off those close-out prices.”
The store also will feature special pricing on Jiffy augers, clothing and other ice fishing needs.
There also will be drawings for open water and ice fishing prizes.
Store hours for the open house are 7-5 Thursda`y, 7-7 Friday and 6-4 Saturday. The store is closed Sunday.
The store is located at 69037 Christiana Lake Road, Edwardsburg, Mich. For more info, call 269-414-4131.
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MDNR Report
Poached Deer
A Johannesburg, Michigan, man with a history of hunting-related violations recently faced new charges for illegally taking deer.
Cecil Edward Day, 59, was arraigned Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the Otsego County 87-A District Court on the following four charges:
- Possession of a firearm by a felon.
- Possession of ammunition by a felon.
- Possession of a firearm with a blood alcohol content over .08%.
- No hunter’s orange.
Day was arrested at his residence Nov. 18 after Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers received an anonymous tip with proof of Day exiting a vehicle with a rifle and shooting at a deer on private property.
By conducting further interviews, COs located two additional deer that were shot and left in the same area, including a large, nine-point trophy buck.
The DNR is seeking additional deer poaching charges.
Day has previous DNR convictions from between 2018 and 2020, including:
- Possession of a firearm by a felon.
- Taking deer from a motor vehicle.
- Trespassing.
- No hunter’s orange.
- Possession of an untagged deer.
Day is currently lodged at the Otsego County Jail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Michigan’s firearm deer season is underway and closes Nov. 30. The DNR encourages all hunters to follow season regulations, be respectful of other hunters and natural resources, and put safety first at all times.
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MDNR Report
The 2024 bear management cooperator patch is a great way to commemorate the recent bear season. Adult hunters, patch collectors and others can buy a patch for $7. Young hunters, 10-17 years old, who have a valid bear hunting license can get a free patch.
The Michigan Bear Hunters Association, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, coordinates Michigan’s bear cooperator patch program. Proceeds from patch sales will be used for black bear education and outreach.
You can order patches online or by sending your name, complete address, and a check or money order payable to the Michigan Bear Hunters Association. If the patch is for a youth bear hunter, please send a legible copy of a youth’s valid bear hunting license. Mailed patch orders should be sent to:
MBHA - Bear Patch Program
10510 Fairgrieve Road
Johannesburg, MI 49751
Young artists can enter 2025 patch design contest
The Michigan Bear Hunters Associations holds a design contest annually to create the bear patch. K-12 students attending public, private or home school in Michigan are eligible to enter. To learn more about the patch design contest, visit the bear management cooperator patch webpage. The contest entry deadline is Dec. 31.
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MDNR Report
Whitetail Doe
Deer populations across Michigan present a diverse range of challenges and opportunities for wildlife management. From the overabundance in the Lower Peninsula to the varying dynamics in the Upper Peninsula, managing deer numbers effectively is crucial for ecosystem health, agricultural interests and the balance of natural predators. Recent regulatory changes highlight the state’s efforts to address these issues through strategic antlerless deer harvest policies.
Overabundance in the Lower Peninsula
Many locations in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, including many urban and suburban areas, are experiencing high deer population densities. This overabundance can lead to various problems, including increased vehicle collisions, damage to crops and gardens, and the spread of diseases such as chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis where they exist. To mitigate these issues, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have implemented several regulatory changes, hoping to increase antlerless deer harvest.