Bill Parker, Author at Outdoornews

Hex hatch on Au Sable still likely a week or so away

June 7, 2019

The significance of their hatch is the sheer numbers of insects hatching at the same time. The mayfly hatch usually occurs at night, and when it does, it triggers fish, especially trout, into a feeding frenzy.

Modern technology saves the day on recent ice-fishing trip

March 11, 2019

Bill Parker

It can have a positive impact on your ice fishing outing, and sometimes it has nothing to do with catching fish.

Hope springs eternal as deer season fades away

January 7, 2019

Bill Parker

Patience and persistence paid off during Michigan’s late antlerless deer season.

Action is heating up in the whitetail woods

October 31, 2018

Bill Parker

Now is best the time for bowhunters to get into the woods and have a close encounter with the buck of their dreams.

Simple tips can help you avoid the consequences of an encounter with poison ivy

September 21, 2018

Bill Parker

The rash from poison ivy usually appears within 24 to 72 hours of exposure.Seated in the waiting room at the local urgent care center isn’t where I’d planned to be, yet there I was, waiting patiently and scratching wildly at my throat, upper chest, and a couple spots on my arm. I’m part of the 85 percent of Americans who…

Short Lake Michigan outing produces a healthy mixed bag of salmon and trout

August 2, 2018

Bill Parker

A recent charter fishing trip on Lake Michigan starts with a bang and ends with tasty coho, chinook salmon, lake trout and steelhead.

Simple tactics produce good results for St. Clair River walleyes

June 12, 2018

Bill Parker

The walleye bite has been very good this year in the St. Clair River.

Don’t overlook a little girl talk during turkey hunt

April 27, 2018

Bill Parker

Thanks to some adaptive calling, Michigan’s turkey hunting season off to a good start.

Spreading the wealth is an enjoyable part of the hunt

March 27, 2018

Bill Parker

One of the highlights of deer hunting is sharing bounty with family and friends.

Tree stand safety begins now

January 26, 2018

Bill Parker

Don’t wait for the deer-hunting season to arrive before taking steps to ensure your safety when you step into a tree stand.

Wringing out my socks after a successful opening day of firearms deer season

November 17, 2017

Bill Parker

Wind and rain put a damper on opener.

Activity is increasing in the whitetail woods

October 24, 2017

Bill Parker

Bowhunters in Michigan are finding more and more rubs and scrapes, indicating that white-tailed bucks are on the move and the pre-rut activity surge has begun.

Thousands show up for Cabela’s grand opening in Chesterfield Township

August 3, 2017

Bill Parker

The 90,000-square-foot store is Cabela’s fourth in Michigan – joining the Dundee, Grandville and Saginaw locations – and the 87th in North America.

Lake Michigan produces a mixed bag of trout, salmon

July 18, 2017

Bill Parker

A nice catch of steelhead, chinook salmon and lake trout made for a great day of charter fishing on Lake Michigan.

Spring trout fishing trip provides unusual catch

May 25, 2017

Bill Parker

Just because you don’t catch the fish species you’re targeting doesn’t mean your fishing trip has failed.

Politicians give a grim response to question about conservation programs in next year’s Farm Bill (video)

May 8, 2017

Bill Parker

Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), of the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, respond.

Michigan’s turkey population a fine example of conservation at work

April 7, 2017

Bill Parker

With more than 200,000 wild turkeys and an annual harvest of 30,000 birds, Michigan is one of the top states in the country for spring turkey hunting.

Chronic wasting disease found in mid-Michigan deer ranch

March 16, 2017

Bill Parker

Lansing, Mich. — A pair of 3.5-year-old white-tailed does from a high-fence deer hunting ranch in mid-Michigan’s Mecosta County recently tested positive for chronic wasting disease. CWD is an always fatal neurological disease that affects cervids including deer, elk, and moose. This is the second time the disease has been found in a farmed deer facility in Michigan. In 2008,…

Opportunities abound for outdoors fun in this wacky Michigan winter

March 1, 2017

Bill Parker

From shooting clays or hunting for sheds to open-water fishing there are still a lot of outdoor activities despite Michigan’s unusual winter.

January thaw perfect opportunity to remove deer stands

January 26, 2017

Bill Parker

The recent warm-up provides a great chance to remove your treestands and give them a safety check before next deer-hunting season.

Michigan plan to plant pheasants sprouts wings

January 19, 2017

Bill Parker

A crowd of over 100 gathered to hear a proposal

Clinton Township hunter shoots 190-class trophy buck [Photo]

January 9, 2017

Bill Parker

Steve Campbell and his wife, Cari, pose with the 16-point bruiser he arrowed on Dec. 11. Contributed photo Clinton Township, Mich. — Not many deer hunters would pass up a shot at a 10-point buck, but that’s exactly what Clinton Township’s Steve Campbell did on Dec. 11. Hunting with a crossbow, Campbell passed on a beautiful 10-point, then moments later…

Big fines for illegal elk kills during deer season

December 15, 2016

Bill Parker

Two Michigan deer hunters face thousands of dollars in fines and restitution for illegally killing elk during the firearms deer season in Montmorency County.

No major changes for spring turkey hunt

December 1, 2016

Bill Parker

Lansing — The state Natural Resources Commission approved license quotas and made no regulation changes for the spring turkey season at its November meeting in Lansing. Turkey regulations are set on a three-year cycle and regulations adopted this year will remain in effect through the 2019 season “There will be no major changes and the current regulations will be in…