Ruffed grouse count dips, but hunting prospects still strong

The Trump administration is suing the state of California to block animal welfare laws that it says unconstitutionally helped send egg prices soaring. But a group that spearheaded the requirements pushed back, blaming bird flu for the hit to consumers’ pocketbooks.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California on Wednesday, challenges voter initiatives that passed in 2018 and 2008. They require that all eggs sold in California come from cage-free hens.

The Trump administration says the law imposes burdensome red tape on the production of eggs and egg products across the country because of the state’s outsize role in the national economy.

“It is one thing if California passes laws that affects its own State, it is another when those laws affect other States in violation of the U.S. Constitution,” U.S. Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a statement Thursday. “Thankfully, President Trump is standing up against this overreach.”

Egg prices soared last year and earlier this year due in large part to bird flu, which has forced producers to destroy nearly 175 million birds since early 2022. But prices have come down sharply recently. While the Trump administration claims credit for that, seasonal factors are also important. Avian influenza, which is spread by wild birds, tends to spike during the spring and fall migrations and drop in summer.

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“Pointing fingers won’t change the fact that it is the President’s economic policies that have been destructive,” the California Department of Justice said in a statement Friday. “We’ll see him in court.”

The average national price for a dozen Grade A eggs declined to $5.12 in April and $4.55 in May after reaching a record $6.23 in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the May price was still 68.5% higher than a year earlier.

“Trump’s back to his favorite hobby: blaming California for literally everything,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said in a social media post.

The federal complaint alleges that California contributed to the rise in egg prices with regulations that forced farmers across the country to adopt more expensive production practices. The lawsuit also asserts that it is the federal government’s legal prerogative to regulate egg production. So it seeks to permanently block enforcement of the California regulations that flowed from the two ballot measures.

“Americans across the country have suffered the consequences of liberal policies causing massive inflation for everyday items like eggs,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will use the full extent of federal law to ensure that American families are free from oppressive regulatory burdens and restore American prosperity.”

While 2018’s Proposition 12 also banned the sale of pork and veal in California from animals raised in cages that don’t meet minimum size requirements, the lawsuit only focuses on the state’s egg rules.

Humane World for Animals, which was named the Humane Society of the United States when it spearheaded the passage of Proposition 12, says avian influenza and other factors drove up egg prices, not animal welfare laws. And it says much of the U.S. egg industry went cage-free anyway because of demand from consumers who don’t want eggs from hens confined to tiny spaces.

“California has prohibited the sale of cruelly produced eggs for more than a decade — law that has been upheld by courts at every level, including the Supreme Court. Blaming 2025 egg prices on these established animal welfare standards shows that this case is about pure politics, not constitutional law,” Sara Amundson, president of the Humane World Action Fund, said in a statement.

The American Egg Board, which represents the industry, said Friday that it will monitor the progress of the lawsuit while continuing to comply with California’s laws, and that it appreciates Rollins’ efforts to support farmers in their fight against bird flu and to stabilize the egg supply.

“Egg farmers have been both responsive and responsible in meeting changing demand for cage-free eggs, while supporting all types of egg production, and continuing to provide options in the egg case for consumers,” the board said in a statement.

Trapper convention draws crowd to fairgrounds

Posted on July 12, 2025 by Exposing the Big Game

Local News

Jul 12, 2025

Noah Johnson

https://www.dailypress.net/news/local-news/2025/07/trapper-convention-draws-crowd-to-fairgrounds/

Noah Johnson Daily Press The 2025 Annual Trapper’s Convention/Outdoor Expo kicked off Friday and is still going on today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are 180 vendor tables, live demonstrations, kids’ activities, raffle drawings, games, food and more.

ESCANABA – The Annual Trapper’s Convention/Outdoor Expo kicked off Friday and continues today at the U.P. State Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for both days, and kids under 12 are admitted free.

The event features various vendors, live demonstrations, kids’ activities, food, games, and more.

“I’ve got over 180 tables full of vendor items,” said U.P. Trapper Convention Coordinator Mary Theoret.

Theoret took over this year as coordinator for long-time coordinator Roy Dahlgren, who did a superb job, according to the U.P. Trappers Association.

Friday featured five demonstrations, including muskrat trapping, fox and coyote trapping, bobcat trapping, and more.

At the end of the day on Friday, ticket-holders headed to the Miracle of Life Building for the sold-out fish fry.

Saturday features four more demonstrations, including skinning and toeing a fox, long lining for minks, and a coyote calling demonstration by TV star Les Johnson, who starred in the coyote calling show Predator Quest.

“He will send chills down your spine by doing his coyote calls, he’s amazing,” said Theoret.

The day also features master fur trapper and Mountain Man Paul Antczack of Montana, one of the stars of the reality TV program Mountain Men on the History Channel.

“He’s another great one,” Theoret said.

The event is great for families, offering several activities for kids to enjoy, including building your own mink box and the famous hay scramble.

The hay scramble is a crowd favorite as kids get a chance to dive into the hay to look for prizes.

There are numerous booths to visit between the Ruth Butler Building and the Grandstand, including returning vendors and first-timers.

Linda Duchene-Beaudre and her husband, Dennis Beaudre, have been coming to the convention for as long as they can remember, selling handmade rugs, mats, purses, runners, and other items.

Their business, Mays Rugs, is named after Duchene-Beaudre’s late mother, who taught her how to sew by hand.

“We go to a lot of craft sales, and this is one of our favorite ones,” Duchene-Beaudre said.

Guests at the booth can also look at pictures of Duchene-Beaudre and her mother as they were working on hand-sewn items years ago.

Mays Rugs is located in the Grandstand.

Doris and Jerry Wodrich have been coming to the convention for years, but decided this year they would set up a booth.

Their booth features handmade bird houses, antler shelves, wooden baskets, fire pokers, and more.

“All the bird houses are made out of reclaimed lumber,” Doris said.

The Wodrich’s booth is located in the Grandstand.

Another new vendor brought items for future trappers to learn how specific traps work.

John Petrak, owner of Freepop3D, set up a booth selling 3D-printed kid-friendly and kid-safe traps.

“They’re only a couple pounds of pressure, so the kids don’t get hurt, and they mimic all the standard traps that everybody would use,” Petrak said.

Petrak designs each trap and hand-winds the springs.

His booth is located in the Ruth Butler Building.

Great Lakes Sport & Rec Club attended the convention, with a table full of pelts for attendees to feel.

The club was also selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a new firearm from brands such as Ruger, Browning, Savage, Taurus, and more.

Proceeds from the raffle go to fund the free youth programs put on by the Great Lakes Sport & Rec Club.

Free programs include a seven-week summer program, National Hunting and Fishing Day, and winter archery.

Great Lakes Sport & Rec Club Board Member Bill Bourdeau said it had been a great start to the event on Friday.

The club’s booth is located in the Ruth Butler Building,

The convention continues today as gates open at 8 a.m.

Theoret expressed her gratitude to everyone who made the convention possible again this year, including staff, volunteers, vendors and more.

“We have something for everyone, so get out here and enjoy the event with your whole family,” she said.

To learn more about the convention and the U.P. Trappers Association, visit uptrappers.com.

Noah Johnson Daily Press
Jeff Hagerty gives a presentation on tips, tricks and using Hagz Systems for trapping muskrats during the 2024 Annual Trapper’s Convention/Outdoor Expo.

Noah Johnson Daily Press
A attendee at the 2025 Annual Trapper’s Convention/Outdoor Expo inspects a rifle at one of the many booths in the Ruth Butler Building.