Raber Bay Outfitters

09/18/2026

Michigan estimates UP wolf population from remote camera images

Major points of interest:
-New camera survey results align closely with traditional winter track surveys.
-Camera population estimates (773 & 794) were similar to the snow track survey (768 wolves).
-Pilot camera program started in 2022, expanded to all of the U.P. in 2023.
-The U.P.-Wide survey deployed 1,311 cameras.
-”Space-to-event” model is used, not directly identifying individual animals.
-As expected populations decline during the year-April to April.
-Pilot survey detected 40,323 deer, 7,534 bear, 4,221 wolf, 2,936 coyote, 2823 sandhill cranes, 2,315 red fox and 764 bobcat.
-A camera grid of 202 cells, each 130.5 sq/mi with 8 cameras per cell.
-gray fox are also being studied for another research project.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/423d9d5

09/11/2026

Great pic of a bears vitals. Shoot straight tomorrow everyone

09/09/2026

09/09/2026

Wow

Most hunters will go their entire lives without ever seeing a black bear like this. This incredibly rare piebald black bear was caught on camera in southwest Washington near the Shoalwater Bay Reservation, with a black-and-white coat that looks almost unreal.

The coloration comes from piebaldism, a genetic condition that causes certain areas of the animal’s coat to lack pigment. It isn’t albinism, and it’s also different from the famous white Kermode “spirit bears” found farther north. True piebald black bears are so rare that there are only a handful of well-documented examples.

Black bears already come in everything from jet black to cinnamon, chocolate brown and even blonde, but this is on another level. Washington has a large black bear population, yet a bear with markings like this is still an absolute freak of nature. Imagine checking your trail camera and seeing this thing standing there.

— Stephen Ziegler
Outdoor writer | Member, Hunter Nation

09/05/2026

The federal government just ordered the Department of Interior to start the process of removing federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves.

The executive order directs federal officials to determine if gray wolves meet the criteria for delisting or downlisting, and to begin that process if they do.

Federal delisting opens the door to state-level management of the wolf population. That's why I introduced House Bill 6008. The bill would require the DNR to establish a science-based hunting and trapping season framework within 90 days of federal delistment.

We have needed the proper scientific management of wolves for a long time. I will continue to watch this process and will keep everyone updated as it continues.

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

GPS data from 188 bucks shows there is a five-day window during the rut when hunters should probably be spending every possible hour in the woods. Researchers tracked 188 GPS-collared bucks around the clock through four different rutting seasons, recording each deer’s location every hour from October 15 through December 1. Despite changing weather, hunting pressure, and conditions from year to year, the same period kept standing out: November 4 through November 8. Buck movement more than doubled from mid-October to its peak, and deer were much more likely to be on their feet during daylight hours.

What makes this especially interesting is that the highest movement doesn’t perfectly line up with peak breeding. Researchers found peak breeding generally occurs around November 9–14. Once more does become receptive, bucks can actually spend more time staying with individual does instead of covering huge amounts of ground searching for them. During November 4–8, however, bucks are actively searching, checking doe groups, cruising between bedding areas, working scrapes and covering some of their largest daily ranges of the entire fall.

And this wasn’t something researchers only saw with mature bucks. The November 4–8 movement spike showed up across every buck age class they tracked. Obviously weather, hunting pressure and local conditions can change what happens on any individual property, but four years of GPS data showed the same basic pattern repeatedly. Peak breeding and peak buck movement are not necessarily the same thing. If you’re trying to pick the handful of days when bucks are most likely to be covering ground and moving during shooting light, November 4–8 is a window worth circling on the calendar.

— Stephen Ziegler
Outdoor writer | Rack Junkies Podcast

08/29/2026

The Stevenson Family has graciously donated 3 guns in honor of Connie Stevenson to be raffled off on October 24th, with ALL proceeds going to the Raber Township Volunteer Fire Department (RTVFD)! ❤️🚒

🎟️ Tickets:
• 1 for $5
• 6 for $20
• 30 for $50

Tickets are selling now! See any Raber firefighter or message our page to get yours.

A huge THANK YOU to the Stevenson Family for this wonderful donation in Connie’s memory. ❤️

And thank you to Clyde & Connie Pritchard for donating the tickets! We truly appreciate your support of our local firefighters. 🚒❤️