04 15

APRIL 2015
$4.00
Woods-N-Water News
Michigans Premier Outdoor Publication
EARLY
Catch &
Release
U.P.
BROWNS
MORELS
BASS
TOM TIME
Michigan DNR Appeals Federal Courts Wolf Decision Detroit River Giants 2015 Bows
Stupid Fishing Theories Crank It Up For April Walleye A Tribute To A Wild Steelhead
The Rush Of Stalking Spring Gobblers Turkey World Slams Drumstick, A Stickbow
www.woods-n-waternews.com Like us on facebook
Follow us on
BOBS
FREE DOOR
PRIZE
DR AWING
S
Fr
iday &
March 27 & 2 Saturday,
8 at 11am &
3pm
Must be
present to win.
FREE G
For the first IFT

25 people
Friday & Satu
r
March 27 & 2day,
8
FR E
REFRESHEM
ENTS
Starts March 27
Sale prices good through April 5, 2015
to our
From the Hayes family
.
s..
loyal customer
EXTRA SPECIAL GRAND RE-OPENING GUN DEALS!
tience during our

Thank you for your pa
d generation.
on
sec
the
to
n
transitio
ate the next
ebr
cel
we
Please join us as
siness.
bu
chapter in our family
siness
Thank you for your bu
ure.
fut
d
an
t,
sen
pre
past,
Cindy,
Sincerely, Bob, Larry,
Deb, Steve
KSR9 & KSR9C

9MM SEMI AUTO
SR22 22LR SEMI

AUTO
100
OFF!
100
OFF!
389
Sale
BODYGUARD 380
99
274
Sale
STU3301, STU3313
Reg. $374.99
SAVE
Sale
100
OFF!
28999
Sale
SMI109381
599
499
Reg. $599.99
99
Sale
Reg. $959.99
99
OFM65020, OFM 65022
HUGE END OF SEASON
BOOT SALE!
MANY MODELS
DISCOUNTED TO
MAKE ROOM FOR
INCOMING
MERCHANDISE!
5.56 MM 55 GR.
FMJ-BT
Box of 20
Reg. $10.99
Sale
99
Sale
TAU2-441031 MAG, TAU2-441039T
M&P 15-22 22 LR
SEMI AUTO
SAVE
OVER
FREE SPAREE
MAGAZIN
w/purchase
35999
Sale
100
$
Reg. $479.99
SMI811030
CCI BLAZER BRASS

(Box of 50)
9MM 115 gr. FMJ
1299
$
99
Sale 12
40 S&W 165 gr. FMJ
$
99
Sale 16
40 S&W 180 gr. FMJ
$
99
Sale 16
45 ACP 230 gr. FMJ
$
99
Sale 20
BLO5200. Reg. $16.99 . . . . . . .
9MM 124 gr. FMJ
Sale
BLO5201. Reg. $16.99 . . . . . . .

BLO5210. Reg. $21.99 . . . . . . .
BLO5220. Reg. $21.99 . . . . . . .
$ 99
FANTASTIC CANOE SPECIALS!!!
439
Reg. $589.99
SAVE
360
Reg. $364.99
99
MMR HUNTER
5.56MM
OMNI 5.56MM POLY

M4 SEMI AUTO
NON LASER 380 ACP
Reg. $489.99
3 BLUE; 3
MAG CHAMBER OR
3 MATTE STAINLESS;
2-1/2 CHAMBER
SAVE
SAVE
JUDGE 45/410
BLO5230. Reg. $25.99. . . . . . .
- MEYERS L-13 DOUBLE END 2-ONLY

ALUMINUM
$
99
Reg. $884.99 . . . . . . . . .
Sale
799
- MEYERS L-15 DOUBLE END

ALUMINUM
$
99
Reg. $909.99 . . . . . . . . .
Sale
749
- SUN DOLPHIN MACKINAW

15.6
$
Reg. $479.99 . . . . . . . . .
Sale
Sale
Box of 50
3-ONLY
Reg. $36.99
379
- SUN DOLPHIN 14 SCOUT

SQUARE STERN
$
Reg. $509.99 . . . . . . . . .
.223 REM 55 GR. SP

1-ONLY
99
Sale
26
2-ONLY
39999
HOR80255
99
12 GA. & 20 GA.

TARGET AMMO
Reg. $7.99/Box
Sale
49
99
Case of 10 Boxes
Hours
Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Buy any new Bow at $399.99

or more, plus $50.00 in
Archery Accessories and get
$
50.00 OFF
1-Dozen Arrows or
$
50.00 OFF
1-Archery Target
Buy any new Crossbow at

$399.99 or more, plus $50.00
in Archery Accessories and get
$
50.00 OFF
1-Dozen Arrows or
$
50.00 OFF
1-Archery Target
2208 W. M-43
Highway,
Hastings, MI 49058
2 Miles West of Hastings
on M-37 & M-43
Phone 269/945-4106
STOP IN OR SHOP ONLINE AT BOBSGT.COM

Limited quantity available on all items. Not responsible for printing errors.
All items subject to prior sale. *Discounts off regular everyday selling prices.
Be Sure To Check Out Chapman's
BOAT SHOW DEALS & INCENTIVES

Before You Buy At A Boat Show!
2014 Lund
2014 Lund
2014 Lund
Windshield, third seat, gauge package,

snap down travel cover, horn, drivers seat
slider, fall marsh color option, galvanized
trailer, spare tire and trailer load guides.
The boat is powered by a 90 h.p.
Mercury four stroke motor.
Minn Kota 55lbs. thrust

trolling motor and Lowrance
fishfinder as standard equipment.
60 h.p. Mercury four stroke motor,
with power trim and tilt.
Cockpit cover, spare tire,

trailer load guides, anti-feedback
tilt steering, windshield and horn.
The boat is powered by a 115 H.P.
Mercury four stroke.
Mercury 9.9 Pro Kicker

with controls at the drivers seat, Air
Ride pedestals, extra Pro Ride seat, travel
cover, snap in carpet and transom saver.
The boat is powered by a 200 H.P.
Mercury Verado four stroke motor.
2015 Lund
2015 Lund
2015 Lund
2015 Lund
Pro ride seats, Air ride pedestals, addition seat, drivers seat slider, snap down
travel cover, Sport top, Infinity stereo with
USB port, 9.9 Pro Kicker with controls at
the drivers seat, plastic easy load trailer
bunks, spare tire, trailer load guides
Sun top, snap down travel

cover, air ride pedestals, ski pole,
bow cushions, additional seat, spare tire,
hydraulic steering, trailer and load guides.
The boat is powered by a 150 h.p.
Mercury four stroke.
Stand up sun top, cockpit cover,

under console drawer storage
Infinity stereo with USB and Ipod
port, kicker fuel line, spare tire and trailer
load guides. The boat is powered by
a 115 h.p. Mercury four stroke.
Mercury 9.9 Pro Kicker with controls at

the drivers seat, helm seat slider, hydraulic
steering, bow cargo nets, under console
storage drawers, 3 step boarding ladder,
snap down travel cover, Sport top, custom
bunk trailer and to make this new Pro V
one of a kind, special walleye graphics.
2015 Lund
2014 Bennington
2274 GL
2014 Bennington
24 SSRXDT
2014 Bennington
2375 GCW
Custom trailer with spare tire,

Mercury 9.9 Pro Kicker with controls
at the helm, cockpit cover, sun top,
walkway curtain, port and starboard
pilot chairs and stainless steel prop.
Chrome logos, R series captains chair,

Garmin depth/ fish finder, Sony stereo M6
upgrade with USB port and curved bimini
top. We can install the Yamaha motor of
your choice, up to 150 horsepower.
Tilt steering, deluxe console with

reclining helm seat, Garmin depth/
fishfinder, Sony m6 with USB port
and Java upgrade docking lights. We can
equip this pontoon with the horsepower
Yamaha motor that will fit your needs.
Seagrass aft flooring, Seastar hydraulic steering, R series

reclining chairs, stern lounge upgrade, 4 step aluminum boarding
ladder, Bluetooth Sony M6 stereo w/USB port, curved bimini top,
stainless steel docking lights housings, heavy duty rub rail and
Sharkhide tube protectant . This boat has 25" dia. tubes.
We can add the Yamaha motor of your choice to this boat.
1800 SPORT ANGLER 1875 CROSSOVER XS 1775 IMPACT SPORT
2075 TYEE MAGNUM
186 GL PRO V
1875 PROV IFS
SALES: 810-653-0490
5605 Davison Rd., 4 miles east
of Downtown Davison
Open 6 Days: Monday - Friday 9am-5pm;

Saturday 9am-2pm
www.chapmanssports.com
APRIL 2015 - WNW NEWS
1800 ALASKAN SS 1650 REBEL XL SS 2000 ALASKAN SS
2014 Lund
By Tom Campbell
Angling Notes...
ots of fishy business this monththe

number one reminder for anglers is that
your fishing licenses expire March 31,
2015. Maybe its easier just to saybeginning April 1, 2015 anglers, 17 years
old and older will need a 2015 fishing license,
which is good until March 31, 2016. The DNR
also released the new and improved 2015 Michigan Fishing Guide. Its smaller in size, with bigger
print and printed on tougher paper so you can have
it with you at all times. And for the first time the
cover photo was selected from photos submitted to
the DNR fisheries from the general public. Amber
LeClear submitted a photo of the Muskegon River.
The DNR will collect potential cover photos
for the 2016 guide as well; interested individuals
should send theirs to DNR-Fisheries@michigan.
gov.
NEW BASS REGULATIONS
Major fishing changes for 2015 are incomplete

in the Fishing Guide and noted with stars. One of
the stars is included on all the bass fishing seasons (in our Seasons section below, we added an
asterisk after each bass season), because the DNR
Fisheries has presented new bass fishing regulations for the entire state to the NRC for information only at its March 2015 meeting. The new bass
rules will allow Catch and Immediate Release
(CIR) fishing all year, statewide unless a particular body of water is otherwise closed to fishing. It
will also allow a new Catch and Delayed Release
(CDR) bass fishing season before the possession
season for bass fishing tournaments registered with
the DNR, where bass may be kept in a livewell
until the tournament weigh in.
The CDR season will run from the last Saturday in April (April 25, 2015) through the Friday
before Memorial Day (May 22, 2015) on all waters
SEASONS
Now-Mar. 31-Rabbit hunting statewide.

Now-Mar. 31-Crow hunting statewide.
Now-April 15-Preserve hunting open.
Now-April 15-Coyote hunting statewide.
April 25-March 15, 2016-L.P. inland waters muskie,
pike, walleye season.
May 15-March 15, 2016-U.P. inland waters, Great
Lakes and St. Marys River muskie, pike, walleye season.
April 25-March 15, 2016-L.P. inland waters muskie,
pike, walleye season.
April 25 -May 22-Catch-and-immediate-release on
Lower Peninsula waters, including Great Lakes* bass
April 25 June 19-Catch-and-immediate-release on
Lake St. Clair & St. Clair & Detroit Rivers*bass
May 15-22-Catch-and-immediate-release on Upper
Peninsula waters, including Great Lakes*bass
May 23 Dec. 31-Catch-and-keep on all waters,
including Great Lakes*bass
June 20 Dec. 31-Catch-and-keep on Lake St. Clair
& St. Clair & Detroit Rivers*bass
MJC
ARCHERY
MACOMB
19744 15 Mile Rd
Clinton Twp. 48035
586-791-4600
MJC
ARCHERY
OAKLAND
3001 Rochester Rd
Royal Oak, MI 48073
248-589-2480
in the Lower Peninsula, including waters of the

Great Lakes in the Lower Peninsula. And from
May 15 through the Friday before Memorial Day
(May 22, 2015) on all waters in the Upper Peninsula, including waters of the Great Lakes in the
Upper Peninsula.
If the NRC approves the bass regulations at its
April meeting they could go into effect immediately. Another update next month.
Two state record

fish taken in
2014: Above Dale
Blakley, 52 pound
flathead catfish.
Right Aaron Slagh
with his state record white perch,
1.93 pounds, caught
on Muskegon Lake.
INLAND TROUT ANGLERS
The DNR is seeking input from anglers who

fish for inland trout in Michigan. The DNR plans
to use the information to assist in the development
of a statewide plan for inland trout fisheries.
According to the DNR, The Michigan Inland
Trout Angler survey will gather information about
these anglers, how they fish, what their thoughts
and opinions are on inland trout management, and
other items. Inland trout populations are defined as
populations that spend their entire lives in inland
lakes and streams, and generally do not migrate
into the Great Lakes.
The Michigan Inland Trout Angler survey is available on line at https://www.
surveymonkey.com/s/InlandTroutAnglerSurveys_Public?source=govdelivery&utm_
medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery; until
Tuesday, March 31. It should take anglers approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete.
MASTER ANGLER PROGRAM
According to the MDNR the Master Angler

program, this past year had 987 anglers represent-
ing 19 states and Canada submitting catches that

were recognized as Master Angler fish. That is a
decrease from the 1,208 fish recognized in 2013.
Of the entries accepted, 327 were categorized
as catch and keep and 660 were categorized as
catch and release.
The most popular 2014 Master Angler entries by species include: 84 smallmouth bass, 76
bluegill, 60 crappie, 57 channel catfish, 56 rainbow
trout, 54 rock bass, 37 walleye.
Master Angler entries for 2014 included five
state records, including flathead catfish (52.0
pounds, caught on Barron Lake by Dale Blakley of
Niles); white perch (1.93 pounds, caught on Muskegon Lake by Aaron Slagh of Holland); brown
bullhead (3.77 pounds, caught on Alcona Pond by
Jared Gusler of Fairview); black buffalo (41.25
pounds, caught on Bear Lake by Joshua Teunis
of Grand Haven); and quillback carpsucker (8.25
pounds, caught on Hardy Dam Pond by Benjamin
Frey of Grand Rapids).n
Michigan records safest hunting season!
No fatal incidents in 2014
2014 HUNTING INCIDENTS

With more than
For the first
729,000 base licenses
time, Michigan resold in 2014, Michicorded no fatalities
gans hunting injury/
during all hunting
fatality rate per liseasons in 2014,
cense is .001 percent.
according to reports
The base license is
compiled by the Derequired to purchase
partment of Natural
any hunting license.
Resources Law
Of the 10 inciEnforcement Dividents reported in
sion. Ten incidents
2014, four involved
involving injuries
small game hunters,
were recorded in
two involved wathe state nine in
terfowl hunters and
the Lower Peninsula
four involved deer
and one in the Uphunters. One of the
per Peninsula.
deer hunting inciWe had 10
dents occurred during the early antlerless season
incidents reported for 2014, which ties with last
year for the fewest number of reportable hunting in September and one was in Decembers late
antlerless season. Two incidents were reported
incidents since Michigan started tracking them
in the 1940s, said Sgt. Tom Wanless of the DNR's during the firearm deer hunting season from
Nov. 15-30. One incident took place Nov. 20 in
Recreational Safety, Education and Enforcement
Osceola County, while the other happened Nov.
Section.
What makes 2014 the safest on record is that 25 in Oakland County at Bald Mountain Recreation Area.
for the first time we had no fatalities, Wanless
Information on the hunting incidents recordadded. Michigans hunter education program,
ed in 2014 and so far in 2015 can be found online
and the dedicated volunteer instructors who are
at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers under
the backbone of it, is a big reason we have been
experiencing a low number of hunting incidents. Law Enforcement Reports.
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
No.
County
MECOSTA
OTTAWA
ST. CLAIR
Date
Animal
Hunted
Casualty
SelfShooter
Type
Inflicted Equipment Age(s)
Victim
Age(s)
Shooter Victim
Violation Violation
01/04/2014 Rabbit Non-fatal

Yes
Pistol
62
Subject went to holster firearm when it discharged striking himself in the lower leg.
No
Major Factor
* Investigation still pending
Careless handling of firearm
01/18/2014 Rabbit Non-fatal

No
Shotgun
27
24
Yes
Victim not in sight-beyond trees
Subject shot at a rabbit striking the rabbit and the victim. Pellets struck the victim in the face, shoulder, and upper left arm. Subject had lost
sight of the victim who had dropped back behind him.
04/06/2014 Pheasant Non-fatal
No
Shotgun
Unknown
36
Yes
No
Subject shot at a pheasant (at game ranch) and did not see the victim down range. Victim was hit in the lower leg/foot by multiple pellets.
MACOMB
CHIPPEWA
Faulty Equipment
09/08/2014 Waterfowl Non-fatal
Yes
Shotgun
15
No
Subject disassembled his shotgun while in the field and reassembled it. He then shot the firearm and it malfunctioned. A brass fragment
from the shell lodged in the subject's neck.
09/20/2014 Waterfowl Non-fatal
Yes
Shotgun
29
No
Subject grabbed her firearm to shot at approaching geese and the firearm discharged striking the Subject in the foot.
SANILAC
09/20/2014
Deer
Non-fatal
No
Shotgun
43
42
No
No
Victim not in sight
No
No
Victim not in sight
Subject shot at a deer with buckshot and a pellet ricochet off a tree and hit the victim.
MISSAUKEE
10/12/2014
Grouse
Non-fatal
No
Shotgun
32
58
Subject shot at a flushing bird. The victim, who was in thick brush was stuck by pellets to the face, arm and leg.
OSCEOLA
OAKLAND
10
OSCODA
11/20/2014
Deer
Non-fatal
Yes
Rifle
43
Yes
Subject was disconnecting 2 firearms from a haul line. One, a rifle, was not unloaded and with the line in the trigger guard, went off stiking the
subject in the knee.
Reckless discharge/not identifying
11/25/2014
Deer
Non-fatal
No
Shotgun
64
34
Yes
No
the target
Subject lost sight of a deer, saw movement and thought it was the deer then shot. One of the pellets of buck shot hit the victim who was
walking on a trail in the hip.
12/29/2014
Deer
Non-fatal
Yes
Rifle
14
Yes
Subject disengaged the safety and was raising the firearm up to shoot at a deer when the firearm discharged and was hit in the leg by the
bullet.
HUNTING
FISHING
PERSPECTIVE
BOW ZONE...
18 remarkable bows for
'15
Brian Miller page 14
Spider trolling
for ice out crappie
Jack Payne page 10
Waiting for spring

Tom Huggler page 36
A stickbow called
"Drumstick"
Darryl Quidort page 24
President and First Lady
of Michigan's NWTF
Jerry Lambert page 38
Crank it up for
April walleye
Mark Romanack page 18
Timing and tactics for
Michigan's spring walleyes
Robert Dock Stupp page 22
The RUSH of stalking

spring gobblers
Lane Walker page 48
COVER STORY
Inland U.P. Brown Trout
Bill Ziegler page 26
COVER STORY
Full Strutting Gobblers
Kenny Darwin page 50
Catch and Release

KICKS 'BASS'
Mark Romanack page 32
Ramblings of
a turkey hunter
Joe Bednar page 64
Ice Fishing...
Prepare for next year now
Mark Martin page 34
THE
NEXT
BITE...
Paddle
your way
to boat
control
Gary
Parson/
Keith
Kavajecz
page 42
Poached deer
will cost $15,500
plus court costs!
Michigan's
Super
Ports for
Browns
Mike
Gnatkowski
page 60
Jeff Pendergraff...page 69
The 12-Minute Gobbler
Jim Vihtelic page 74
The Burning Candle of
Desire--at both ends!
Guest Column Gary Morgan
page 82
Calling coyotes
George Rowe page 83
Favorite SFTs about

salmon fishing
Dave Mull page 66
Tribute to a
wild steelhead
Jim Bedford page 81
APRIL 2015
$4.00
N Water News
Brown Trout B Z eg er
Turkeys Kenny Darw n
Bass Mark Romanack
More s Joe Lunkas
Attend a banquet to
help support wildlife
Len Jenkins page 59
GUN CHAT...
Chris Kyle's
"American Gun"
Lee Arten page 62
FEATURES
359 and counting
Randy Jorgensen page 20
Crafting fine bamboo
rods is his passion
Bill Semion page 30
Outdoor Safety & First Aid...
Common sense
in the wilderness
Jonathon Schechter page 40
DNR's spring frog survey
page 45
I wish I had
written those books
Betty Sodders page 52
BOAT SMART...
Check your first aid kit
Capt. Fred Davis page 63
COVER STORY...Beyond
mushrooming basics
Joe Lunkas page 76
Sporting Collectibles...
Hunting for early tackle
Terry McBurney page 78
TRAIL CAM PHOTOS
pages 84-85
OUTDOOR NEWS
U.P. Bowhunters buck only
& Deer Camp Surveys
Richard P. Smith page 8
Free ORV safety classes
page 16
Manitoba Bruins
Jeff Pendergraff page 86
COVER PHOTO
The pains of progress

Tom Lounsbury page 44
Fishing with Mr. Fails
Ron St. Germain page 46
DETROIT
GIANTS
Kenny Darwin ...page 12
Michigan DNR appeals

court's wolf decision
page 17
OPINIONS
Elk-poaching cases
page 39
Proposed bass fishing

regulations could
adversely effect fishery
Patrick W.C. Bevier page 68
Secretary Johnson honored

for support of state parks
page 55
Positive example for

outdoor Facebook
Richard P. Smith page 68
What are MDNR's fishery

plans for Saginaw Bay?
Mark Sak page 58
The Walking Dread!

Tom Carney page 69
Poached deer will cost

$15,500 plus court costs!
Jeff Pendergraff page 69
BLACK POWDER
Black Powder Shooting...
An afternoon
African safari
Dennis Neely page 56
Readers' Letters
page 72
Where did all the
deer come from?
Ed Spinazzola page 73
"You wish you could
shoot like a girl"
Really? Hunting should
be gender neutral
Tricia Croney page 75
DEPARTMENTS
Trophy Page. . . . . . . . .80 Classifieds . . . . . . . 88-89
Letters-Op-Ed . . . . 68-72 Real Estate . . . . . . 90-97
EARLY
BROWNS
MORELS
BASS
TOM T ME
The Rush Of Stalking Spring Gobblers Turkey World Slams Drumstick, A Stickbow
fbk/
IN THE UPPER PENINSULA...By Richard P. Smith
Bowhunters BUCK ONLY in 15

and Deer Camp Surveys
ntlerless deer will no longer be legal for

Upper Peninsula (U.P.) bowhunters on deer
licenses starting this year, if recommendations being made by the DNR wildlife
division are approved. That would make
regular deer licenses with either one or two tags only
valid for antlered bucks for all hunters, not just those
using firearms. All hunters would then be required to be
in possession of an antlerless permit, which is a separate
license, in order to shoot an antlerless deer.
DNR UP regional wildlife biologist Terry Minzey
announced his recommendation at a regional Michigan
United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) meeting held at the
American Legion Hall in Munising in February.
If approved, this recommendation would practically
eliminate the harvest of antlerless deer by bowhunters
in the U.P. Antlerless permits were only issued for three
small deer management units in the southern U.P. during
2014 and most of those were for private land. It has been
many years since any antlerless permits have been issued
for the northern half of the U.P.
All deer hunters have become more efficient at
harvesting deer, DNR regional wildlife biologist Terry
Minzey said. Now that crossbows are legal for bowhunting in Michigan, weve seen an increase in the number of bowhunters and the success rate. In some areas of
the U.P., we think deer numbers are down to five or six
deer per square mile.
At the same time, Minzey admitted that the DNR
wildlife division no longer makes an effort to estimate
regional deer numbers. They primarily look at population trends, whether the deer population is going up or
down. No one questions the fact that deer numbers in the
U.P. have declined dramatically over the last two years in
response to back-to-back severe winters, but there is also
no solid information about how much the population has
declined and how many deer are currently present.
Although severe winters have been responsible for
the largest decline of deer numbers in the U.P. during
recent years that is not the only factor impacting the
deer herd, according to Minzey. Theres a tremendous
predator load out there right now, he said, and they are
all taking deer, too. Youve got wolves, coyotes, bears
and bobcats. As you know, we cant do anything about
wolves right now.
But the DNR does have control over the number of
bears present by either raising or lowering the number of
bear licenses issued. A fawn survival study that has been
conducted in Menominee and Iron Counties has confirmed that black bears routinely prey on fawns. Between
2012 and 2014, bear license quotas in the U.P. were
reduced by 32 percent due to concerns the bear population was declining.
A new, more advanced method of estimating bear
numbers was used by the DNR during 2014 to show U.P.
bear numbers have been stable to increasing for the last
20 years. Due to reduced harvests the last three years,
U.P. bears have been increasing. In spite of that, the DNR
is recommending reducing U.P. bear licenses by an additional 1,100 for the next two years, adding to the load
of deer predators already present.
Since severe winters and predation are responsible
for the decline in deer numbers, how is taking away the
opportunity for bowhunters to shoot does going to help?
It wont. What it will do is make it more difficult for
bowhunters to fill tags and leave more deer for predators
and to die during the winter.
DNR Deer Harvest Reports from 2013 and 2012,
which are the most recent available, estimate that bowhunters in the U.P. harvested 5,688 antlerless deer during
2013 and 5,704 in 2012. The majority of those antlerless

deer have been taken from southern U.P. deer management units (DMUs) where winter deer losses have not
been as much of a problem as the Lake Superior Watershed. Four southern U.P. DMUs (055, 022, 255 and 155),
which primarily cover Menominee, Delta, Dickinson and
Iron Counties, is where most of the antlerless deer were
taken by bowhunters each of those years.
In northern U.P. DMUs like 007, which include
northern portions of Marquette, Alger and Baraga Counties, bowhunters only bagged an estimated 381 antlerless
deer during 2013 and 463 in 2012. The antlerless harvest
by bowhunters in DMU 048 across northern portions of
Chippewa, Luce, Schoolcraft and Alger Counties, was an
estimated 399 in 2013 and 207 during 2012.
The recommendation for U.P. bowhunters caught
Michigan Bowhunters Association president Dean Hall
from Eastpointe by surprise. That recommendation
came way out of left field, he said. Ive been attending
all of the Natural Resources Commission Meetings to
try to keep up on what the DNR is planning and nothing
has been said about that at any of those meetings. There
is no way we are going to support that recommendation.
It has been shown over and over again that bowhunting
provides plenty of recreational opportunity that doesnt
have a detrimental effect on our deer population.n
2014 U.P. Deer Camp Survey
One of the biggest surprises that came out of the DNRs

annual U.P. Deer Camp Survey from the 2014 firearms
deer season is that the number of deer seen by participating hunters went up from 2013. Due to the fact the winter
of 2013-2014 was the second severe one in a row, lower
deer sightings were expected.
In the western U.P., deer sightings increased from
2.3 deer per day in 2013 to 2.8 deer per day in 2014, a
summary of the survey reports. In the eastern U.P., deer
sightings increased from 2.1 deer per day in 2013 to 2.5
in 2014.
The 2.8 deer per day observed in the western U.P.
during the 2014 gun hunt is close to the historical average. The 2.5 deer per day seen in the eastern U.P. is close
to the highest for that portion of the U.P., which were 2.6
in 2012.
The average number of deer observed per hunter
for the entire 2014 gun hunt also went up in the western
U.P., but was similar to 2013 in the east U.P. An average
of 17 whitetails (2 bucks and 15 antlerless) were seen per
hunter in the west U.P. during the 2014 gun season. The
average number of deer seen per hunter in 2013 was 15
(2 bucks and 13 antlerless). Unidentified deer were considered antlerless in the analysis of deer sighting data.
The average number of deer observed per hunter in
the east U.P. during the entire 2014 firearm season was
13 deer (1 buck and 12 antlerless), which is similar to the
2013 season.
Since there was no change in the average number of
antlered bucks seen per season across the region, does
and fawns were responsible for the increased deer sightings by U.P. hunters between 2013 and 2014. In spite of
the fact that the winter of 2013-2014 was severe and poor
fawn recruitment was expected, the number of fawns observed per 100 does actually went up in the east U.P. and
was close to the same in the west. In the east, 47 fawns
were observed per 100 does during 2014 compared to 39
for 2013. In the west, 40 fawns were seen per 100 does
during 2014 compared to 41 in 2013.
The fact that the number of fawns per doe observed
by hunters in the west U.P. was the lowest since 1996
U.P. Wildlife biologists recommend U.P. bowhunters

should not be allowed to harvest a doe unless they
have a separate antlerless license.
does reflect how much impact the previous winter had on
fawn recruitment. The average number of fawns per 100
does in that portion of the U.P. is 52. The average number of fawns for every 100 does in the east U.P. is 51.
Even though the average number of antlered bucks
seen per hunter across the U.P. during 2013 and 2014
firearm seasons remained the same, buck hunting success declined. Only 19% of participating hunters bagged
bucks in the west U.P. during 2014 (the lowest reported)
compared 26% in 2013. Only 17% of hunters from the
east U.P. reported success on bucks during 2014 compared 21% for 2013.
Only 9 out of 1,490 hunters from the west U.P. who
participated in the survey reported bagging two bucks. In
the east U.P., only 4 out of 556 hunters tagged a pair of
bucks. In both cases, less than 1% of hunters managed to
fill two buck tags.
Even though more deer were seen, most hunters
rated the 2014 as poor to fair due to the reduced buck
harvest and deep snow across northern counties for
opening day of gun season. In the west, 87% of camps
participating in the survey rated the season poor to fair
and 80% of the camps in the east felt the same way.
According to the National Weather Service, record
November snowfall occurred in numerous locations
across the U.P., the survey summary states. Snow totals
from a November 10-12 storm reached as much as 45
inches over higher terrains in the western U.P.. Lake
effect snows continued to affect the U.P. after this storm.
These conditions prevented some hunters from hunting,
caused others that did reach camp to leave early and
prompted deer to migrate in many locations.
This earlier-than-normal deer migration would
have resulted in few deer remaining in areas with high
snowfall, but more deer in locations that whitetails were
migrating through or to.
Wildlife other than deer that hunters reported seeing
included 1 feral pig, 3 cougars, 22 black bear, 25 moose
and 244 wolves. The tally of the number of wolves seen
per 100 hunter days reached the second highest ever for
the survey at 2.1. The highest wolf sighting rate was 2.6
in 2009.
Camps reported shooting 32 coyotes during the 2014
deer season compared to 39 in 2013 and 47 for 2012.
A total of 492 deer camps occupied by 2,046 hunters participated in the 2014 U.P. Deer Camp Survey,
the summary stated. An additional 41 camps responded
that they did not hunt due to the snow conditions last fall.
Additional camps experienced access limitations and/or
ended their hunt early due to snow.
DMU 122 in southern Dickinson County could use
more deer camp participation. If you would like your
U.P. deer camp included in the survey, contact DNR
wildlife biologist David Jentoft at the office in Sault Ste.
Marie (906-635-5281, ext. 56171). Daves email address
is Jentoftd@michigan.gov.n
MICHIGAN
Al and Bobs
Grand Rapids
Clear H2O Tackle

Edwardsburg
D&R Sports
Kalamazoo
KD Outdoors
Waterford
Michigan Tackle Specialties

Battle Creek
Sportsmans Direct
Harrison Twp
Northwoods Wholesale
Pinconning 989-879-1110
Jays Sporting Goods

Clare 989-386-3475
Gaylord 989-705-1339
Franks Great Outdoors

Linwood 989-697-5341
Lakeside
St. Clair Shores 586-777-7003

INDIANA
A20 Boating Supplies

Jeffersonville
American Legacy Fishing Evansville

Angler Bait & Tackle
Hudson
Anglers World
Greenfield
Honey Creek
Greenwood
Mik Lurch
Hammond
Pro Tackle Outfitters

Fort Wayne
OHIO
All American Outdoors

Buy any new G.Loomis
Strasburg
Buckeye Outdoors
rod from February 15 to
Hebron
May 1, at an authorized
Calcutta Outdoors
Calcutta
dealer, and receive yourBuy any new Great
G.Loomis
Lakes Tackle
from February
15 to
Bainbridge
2015 Michigan state rod
May 1, at an authorized
Great Lakes Tackle
and receive your
fishing license.* dealer,
Madison
2015 Michigan state
Buy any new

rod from Feb
May 1, at an
dealer, and r
2015 Mich
fishing l
* Tackle
*Resident fishing license only (the
Great Lakes
fishing license.
also be applied toward a Michigan S
Middleford
be issued for the state of Michigan o

Not transferable. Offer valid fro
Kames Sport Center
*Resident fishing license only (the value of the resident license may
also be applied toward a Michigan Sportsmans License). License will
North Canton
be issued for the state of Michigan only (you must present a valid ID).
*Resident fishing license only (the value of the resident
license
may Offer valid from February 15 to May 1, 2015.
Not
transferable.
Kidron Sports Center II
also be applied toward a Michigan Sportsmans License). License will
be issued for the state of Michigan only (you must present a valid ID).
Charm
Not transferable. Offer valid from February 15 to May 1, 2015.
Ohio Outdoor Sports
www.gloomis.com
www.gloomis.com
Canton
Rodmaker Shoppe
Al & Bobs _____________________________Grand

Strongsville Rapids
Theres an
Andersons Pro Bait ___________________Port Huron
Andys Tackle _________________________Melvindale
The Tackle Box (South Point)
anH2O Tackle ______________________Edwardsburg
authorizedTheres Clear
South Point
D&R Sports____________________________Kalamazoo
Michigan authorized
Clear H2O Tackle ______________________Edwardsburg
Fishing Tackle Grab Bag _______________Davison
Fin, Feather & Fur
www.gloomis.com
Michigan
Franks Great Outdoors ________________Linwood

D&R Sports____________________________Kalamazoo
Jays Sporting Goods __________________Clare & Gaylord
dealer near you!
Johnsons Great
Ashland, Canton, Middleburg & Boardman
Fishing Tackle Grab Bag _______________Davison

Outdoors _____________Montague
Theres an authorized
dealer near you!
Al &Michigan
Bobs _____________________________Grand Rapids
dealer near you!
Theres an
Lakeside Fishing Shop_________________St.

Clair Stores
Franks Great
Outdoors ________________Linwood
Michigan Tackle Specialties ___________Battle Creek
Jays Sporting Goods __________________Clare & Gaylord
Sportsmans Direct ____________________Harrison Township
Johnsons Great Outdoors _____________Montague
Lakeside Fishing Shop_________________St. Clair Stores

Michigan Tackle Specialties ___________Battle Creek
Al & Bobs _____________________________Grand Rapids
Spider trolling ice out crappie
old wind was swirling

around the backs of our
heads and on occasion a
few light rain drops were
felt. My goodness, one
must be crazy to be out there but we
were fishing and we were landing
some nice crappie. The fish were holding in the warmest water that the lake
had to offer. They were slow to move
and the bite was ever so soft. Lucky
for us we had experience dealing with
such an encounter. Ice out crappie is
really a case of sleeping in and getting
out there around mid-morning or even
after lunch.
A warming sun is a plus but more
important is a few days of stable
weather. Second, locating the fish,
which is really easier than one might
think. Think warm water, shallow
bays, canals and areas where a creek
or drainage ditch might be
located. Current flowing in
brings nutrients. Think muck,
logs, debris and muskrats.
If a muskrat leaves there the
crappie most likely will be
there. Look for dirty water
or water with some color to
it. My Lowrance graph does
a nice job showing hard and
soft bottom changes.
The warmest water
is often on the north
side of the lake and the minnows will
be there. These locations should not
be confused with the actual spawning
areas because rarely are the two one in
the same.
Warm water is also a surface
thing. You can bet that most of the fish
will be found in the top 5-7 feet of the
water column. They might be near the
bottom in 5-7 feet of water but unlikely on the bottom in 15-30 feet of
water but suspended over this depth.
The surface warms the quickest, the
plankton and baitfish will be there and
the wind will push the warmer surface
water into protected areas.
Taking a page or two from some
of my southern friends we have
adapted our technique to coincide to
what these guide and anglers do down
south. We travel to Mississippi each
March and these anglers catch crappies and understand how cold water
fish move. Anglers that want cold
water fish need to fish very slow and
with a good lively minnow.
We tried trolling with the rods
on the side and that failed. We tried
drifting and that also failed. Both are
acceptable during the warmer seasons
but at ice out you need the rods perfectly flat so that the lightest of bites
can be detected.
Spider trolling is what they call it
in the south and I love it. At ice out

we troll six rods off of the front of
our boats. I use the rod holders from
Driftmaster. They are completely
adjustable and a snap to use. We use
the same rod holders when drifting for
walleye, catfish or pulling crankbaits
for panfish, but that is another story.
We run B&M Rods between 10-14
feet. Very inexpensive and they create
a nice fan approach.
When you slow troll at ice out you
need the wind at your back. If you
troll into the wind your rod tips will
bounce up and down. Trolling with
the wind at your back often means
running two drift socks. Under a fairly
stiff breeze we can still maintain a .3
mph speed which is about perfect at
this time of the year.
The rod tips must remain perfectly
still and each rod must align with the
other. With a quick glance
you can easily watch six rods
when fishing with a friend.
If one rod so much as moves
downward or upward, it is
easily detected. Quickly
grab the rod and apply some
pressure. You do not need to
pound the hook home.
This spring we will try
the HI Vis line from Vicious Line. Many of our
southern friends use the
HI Vis line with a fluorocarbon leader.
If your line moves to the side, set
the hook! Hopefully the Hi-Vis pays
off, just spooled six reels with it. The
guides swear by it!
Razor sharp Aberdeen hooks will
stick a crappie nicely. Now you have
a fish on and 3-6 rods fanned out in
front of you. On the smaller fish you
can lift straight up with the long rods
and drop the fish into the boat. On
the larger fish or in case you fall into
a double, a long handled net is best.
I use the extending handle nets from
EGO. Quickly you can extend out,
lift up and slide the fish into the boat.
Another plus, you can change the size
of the net. One for panfish, one for
walleye.
Day in and day out you will find
that minnows work best. On a good
bite you can run a jig and minnow and
on the rare early spring day, just a jig.
Down south the anglers are looking
for crappies in the 12-18 inch range.
Here in Michigan I am hoping for
9-13 inch fish. Thus, our rigs can be
down sized a bit. You should use a
size 2 or 4 Aberdeen hook. You want
a hook that can go thru the lips of a
minnow and still stick the crappie.
When using a jig and minnow make
sure and get a jig with a large hook
and a long shank. Once you add a
By Jack Payne
10
A cold day on the water spider trolling for crappies. Author photo
minnow most small casting style jigs
have nothing left for you to grab the
fish with.
My favorite jig heads come from
Charlie Brewer. Use the red jig heads
designed for crappie slider fishing. We
use the 1/16 ounce head year around
for all applications. Down south the
boys use tube jigs. Tube jigs will flutter and oscillate at very slow speeds
with their many little tentacles in the
water.
Some of the tube jigs that we use
are scented or salted. On a slow bite
day the scented or salted tubes put
more fish in the cooler. Down south
most of the anglers use two inch
tubes. We use 1.5 inch tubes the most
because our crappie tends to run 2-4
inches smaller. A minnow is a must
even when using a tube during the pre
-spawn ice out specks.
The typical rig that we use can be
purchased from B&M Tackle or made
at home. It comes with two hooks
spaced two feet apart. An egg sinker
is placed about 6-8 inches above the
bottom hook. These out of the bag
rigs are great when using minnows.
When using tube jigs we tie our own
rigs. I tie a loop knot and on each
loop I have a Speed Snap from Arnold
Tackle. This little speed snap allows
us to change from a jig to a hook or
to a different style of jig head without
retying our rigs. We then use a rubber core sinker so that we can change
weights as needed. The beauty of
these rigs is that you can use them
all summer for bluegills, crappie and
perch with minimal changes.
Troll as slow as possible and keep
your baits vertical. Often this is .3
mph. Follow the shoreline, swing
over to the drop-off, duck in tight to

a dock or brush in the water. No luck
glide out over the deeper water while
maintain your baits at the same depth.
Two-eight feet down is about the perfect depth range. In real shallow water
your top bait might be down only a
few inches. This system works great
in any depth of water that the crappie
are using.
Protected warm water areas are
preferred at ice out. Starting in late
April the crappie will shift towards
their potential spawning grounds.
Cabbage weeds, reed beds sticking
out of the water or brush piles are
prime cover. Slow troll these areas
and the adjoining deeper water for the
pre-spawn fish.
Here in Michigan I find myself using a Pinky Jig or a Little Nipper from
Lindy Tackle with a minnow. These
super lightweight marabou jigs just
dance and flutter in the water. Add a
lively minnow and its hard for a crappie to pass on it. In Michigan we have
many great crappie waters. Some of
the better waters would include Four
Mile Impoundment, Thornapple Lake,
Randall Chain of Lakes, Holloway
Reservoir, the Grand River System
near Grand Haven, Cadillac and Lake
Mitchell, Houghton Lake and Baw
Beese Lake. Truthfully, there are
many other fine lakes, some which I
would avoid having in print due to the
smaller size of the lakes.
Slow trolling is the easiest and
most productive means to a mess
of crappie that Ive ever used. Try
it and you will be hooked on it.
Easily adapted to other species and
to other parts of the fishing
season.n
CARBON ICON NEW

PRODIGY
N EW
PowerShift Technology delivers

versatility unmatched by any
compound bow on the market.
A simple shift of the PowerDisc,
any archer can customize their
shooting experience from the
Performance setting, to the Classic
setting, or the Comfort setting.
Archers can have speed, power a
smooth draw or an effortless draw
all in one revolutionary compound
bow. With the Prodigy, get all the
bows you want with zero compromise.
Its time to shift

your thinking.
The aptly named Prodigy marks
the beginning of a new era with the
introduction of PowerShift Technology.
DRAW LENGTH 25- 30.5
WEIGHT 4.2 LBS
AXLE TO AXLE 32
BRACE HEIGHT 7
LET OFF 80%
IBO SPEED 343
DRAW WT. 50, 60, 70
PowerShift FlipDisc2 technology

and field proven Binary cams
loaded onto a lightweight
durable carbon riser,
delivering
performance
99
$
and power
with every shot.
BOW PKG.
Without a doubt the smoothest, vibration free

two track bow youll ever shoot. PerFX System
allows the bow to have a rock solid wall and
eliminating cam lean. There has never been
a 6 brace bow as forgiving.
DRAW LENGTH 26.5- 30.5

WEIGHT 3.2 LBS
AXLE TO AXLE 31
BRACE HEIGHT 7
LET OFF 80%
IBO SPEED 335
DRAW WT. 50, 60, 70
DRAW LENGTH 26.5- 30

GET LEFT
WEIGHT 4.1 LBS
BEHIND...
AXLE TO AXLE 32.25
BRACE HEIGHT 6
NEW
LET OFF 80%
IBO SPEED 356
DRAW WT. 40,50, 60,65, 70,80
699
SHOOT ONE TODAY!
NEW
STEALTH
FX4
In redefining the compact crossbow landscape,
the Stealth FX4 is driven by a supercharged bow
assembly that fires an arrow up to 370 fps. Its
stock assembly featuring the FSB stock and fluted
aluminum barrel serves as the foundation of this
rock-solid crossbow that's built like a tank, but
maneuvers like a luxury automobile.
FUSIO N 6
CHANGE OR
COMING SOON!
NEW
SYNERGY
The Synergy is defined by "Shootability."
Delivering an unparalleled shooting
experience, it is a true hunter's bow that
leaves nothing to sacrifice with an incredibly
stable geometry thats perfect for
both hunting and 3-D.
STORM
RDX
SPEED 370
DRAW WT. 185
WEIGHT LBS. 6.8
356 FPS
THE
COMPOUNDS
CROSSBOWS
TRADITIONAL
Introducing the Storm RDX.

An adrenaline-fueled machine
built for the hunter. Powered by radical
new RDX Technology, measuring an incredible
10" axle-to-axle when cocked, and delivers its
400-grain carbon arrow at a blazing 370 FPS
with 122 foot pounds of kinetic energy.
DS MOST
DRAW LENGTH 27- 31 WORL ABLE BOW

SHOOT
WEIGHT 4.4 LBS
AXLE TO AXLE 33.5
BRACE HEIGHT 7.375
NE W
LET OFF 80%
IBO SPEED 325
DRAW WT. 50, 60,65, 70,80
STOP IN AND SHOO T
Crossbow Friendly!
50 YARD
INDOOR RANGE
47979 Van Dyke Shelby Twp., MI 48317

(Between 21 & 22 Mile Road on west side of Van Dyke)
(586) 566-7991
WWW.MORARCHERY.COM
MICHIGAN
ING
HUNTING & FISH T!
EN
AG
LICENSE
Store Hours: Monday - Friday 10am- 6pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 4pm
FR EE
2 HOURS RANGE TIME WITH

ALL NEW BOW PURCH ASES
CLOSE QUARTERS TACTICAL LOCATION INSIDE MOR ARCHERY

FOR YOUR HUNTING &
SHOOTING NEEDS!
Handguns, Rifles,Tasers,
Knives, Accessories,
Clothing, and MORE!
WE BUY & SELL
USED GUNS
Visit our website for
information on all our
Training Classes!
www.CQTUSA.com
10% OFF ALL MUZZLELOADER SUPPLIES
WITH PURCHASE OF ANY MUZZLELOADER
New 2nd
Location
22 Mile / Van Dyke
(Located inside MOR Archery)
47979 Van Dyke Shelby Twp., MI 48317
(586) 799-4116
Gun Range at
23 Mile /Hayes
23 Mile / Hayes
(Behind General Dynamics)
50485 Utica Dr., Shelby Twp., MI 48315
(586) 726-4730
FREE RANGE TIME
BUY ONE 1/2 HOUR GET 1/2 HOUR FREE FOR ONE PERSON
VALID ONLY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE.
NO REFUNDS OR RAIN CHECKS, IN-STOCK ITEMS ONLY.
EXCLUDES AMMO. OFFER EXPIRES 4/30/15.
FREE 1/2 HOUR MUST BE USED THE SAME DAY, ONLY FOR ONE PERSON PER LANE.
COUPON DOES NOT INCLUDE THE USE OF A FIREARM RENTAL. Actual ad coupon
must be presented at
LIMIT ONE COUPON PER PERSON. EXPIRES 4/30/15.
time of redemption.
NOW
Now Open
7 Days
a Week!
11
DETROIT
C
atching a walleye over 10
pounds can attract a multitude of Michigan fishermen.
Several over 11 pounds
brings legions. Monster
supertanker walleyes by the
hundreds draw fisherman
from far and wide to the Wolverine
States largest flowing river. Giant
walleyes draw giant crowds and the
Detroit River system is where Michigan fisherman can expect to catch a
whopper over 11 pounds, and boatloads of 5-8 pound walleyes. This was
certainly the case last spring on my
first Detroit River outing.
It was April 12, following warm rain and
bright sun filled days,
walleyes from Lake Erie
stormed into the Detroit
River system. It helps to
have a little intel on where
to fish and the status of the
run. A quick call to Bottomline Bait and Tackle at
(734)379-9762 confirmed
large schools had arrived
and large pre-spawn hens
were biting.
I joined two Michigan walleye pros in a
Ranger 621 boat the
following morning. We drifted along
the current break near one of the many
factories that border the Detroit River
in the Wyandotte area. We boated several nice fish, a couple in the 8 pound
range by dancing 5/8 oz. jigs tipped
with live minnows or plastics on the
17-20 foot shelf that borders the 40
foot main channel.
Walleye pro Erik Furseth was
captain and an expert at running the
powerful cable drive Minn Kota
Maxxum 36 volt 101 pound thrust
bow mounted electric motor to keep
lines vertical and presentations at a
slight upstream angle to entice strikes.
POW! Erik would sound Fish on!
Id drop camera gear and grab the net,
boat the fish and put a live minnow on
his TJs Tackle (www.tjstackle.com)
custom walleye jig. Then, his partner,
Joe Rossell from Washington, would
announce he hooked fish and I would
repeat the process. Soon the live well
was bulging with beautiful, large
walleyes when Joe set the hook on a
monster.
The big fish stripped line off his
spinning reel and Rossell smiled as
he coaxed the brute to the boat and
I slipped the net under the monster.
Other fishermen in the area yelled to
congratulate Rossell as I lifted the
huge walleye from the emerald green

water and grabbed camera gear. I
snapped photos of the large female
with sides bulging with roe as Jossell
removed the hook tipped with plastic minnow, held the prize for a few
seconds then released the trophy fish
unharmed.
Thats when Furseth decided to
make a move and we ran far away
from the congested boats to a wooded
location where the water was calm.
Soon I caught a 4 pound male and
Joe landed a similar size fish. But the
icing on the cake was when Furseth
stood up to get a solid hook set on a
walleye that was charging the boat. I rushed to
the bow of the boat and
cleared lines as he did
battle with the large walleye. The sun was high and
I could see deep into the
greenish clear water with
my Polaroid sunglasses.
There in the depths of
the mighty Detroit was the
faint outline of a large fish.
I could make out its enormous length and when the
fish frantically shook
its head to spit the
stinging hook I could
see its huge head and gaping maw
large enough to put a mans fist between the jaws. The behemoth flipped
on its side and sprinted toward bottom
but Furseth kept pressure on the line
and soon the huge walleye came up.
The closer it came the larger it looked
and the more excited I became and
when the giant fish was inches from
the river surface I extended my arm
and scooped the trophy into the net.
Furseths fish was absolutely
freakishly huge, over 32 inches long
with a super extended belly full of
roe. Its large gaping maw was lined
with super sharp teeth and the jig
was lodged deep in its throat. Furseth
carefully removed the lure with long
needle nosed pliers, held the trophy
for photos and released the ludicrously huge walleye unharmed.
I sat back in the gently rocking boat, reviewed photos and felt
overjoyed at the chance to record on
film not one but two trophy walleyes
landed in a matter of minutes. Far in
the distance I could hear men cheering and caught a glimpse of a big fish
wiggling in a net. They too had hit
walleye pay dirt, finned gold in the
form of a 30 inch plus record size
walleye.
This unique trophy fishery is
By Kenny Darwin
12
Joe Rossell, Washington, says some Michigan walleye fisheries have faltered,
but the age of Detroit River monsters is still upon us.
GIANTS
Over the years Ive seen unbelievable

fishing and tough days too, but on an
average if you hit the main walleye
run in early April you will get hooks
into a wall hanger. The Detroit is
the only body of water in Michigan
where I have landed five fish over 10
pounds in a single morning. If you
catch the mother lode of pre-spawn
monster hens when they are snapping
you will experience monster walleye
fishing like no other. This is the home
of giant walleyes but timing is critical
and you must hit the water when the
main run of huge walleyes arrives. If
you are late and water temperatures
rise above 40 degrees the big hens
move to the gravel and begin spawning chores. Ive seen the supertankers go from bite mode to spawning
activity overnight. Once a big female
begins laying her zillions of eggs she
will get lock jaw, her appetite and
feeding become secondary and she
will not take the best presentation.
The trick is to intercept the main run
while pre-spawn hens are still in massive schools, holding in deep resting
spots, waiting for water temperatures
to rise to 40 degrees and mating
begins.
Last year the hot fishing was in
early April, say the 4 - 10. If we have
a cold spring expect the same this
spring but if we suddenly have warm
weather and rain the fish might show
up earlier. Over the years I have seen
prime fishing from April 3-12. Last
spring the warm water discharge at
the Candy Sticks or Trenton generating station was shut down for repair
and early runs of walleyes did not
stop to feed in the current. Most
slipped up river and the hottest fishing was found from the Wyandotte
boat launch (734 284-6774) upriver to the Ren Cen or Ambassador
Bridge.
Some ask why Detroit River fish
are so large. They are simply old fish
that have survived in the ideal habitat
of Lake Erie. But Lake Erie is fast
growing sour with a deadly algae
caused from too much human pollution in the Detroit and the Maumee
Rivers. The explosion of nitrates
and phosphates coming from human
waste and farming catapulted the
growth of algae on a monumental
scale to the point where it is toxic and
beaches on Lake Erie were closed
to swimmers last summer. The same
blue-green algae bloom that plagued
Erie in the 60s is back. The massive
nurti-sewage dumped into Erie has
ruined summer walleye fisheries and
Eric Furseth says breaking the mythical 12-pound walleye mark can be a reality this coming spring on the Detroit system. Kenny Darwin photos
caused trash fish numbers to balloon.
The catapulted ecosystem fertility has
helped walleyes to grow huge and 14
pound fish are not uncommon. Several walleyes over 14 pounds were
harvested this past winter by ice fishermen in the central/western basin.
Some biologists predict that 17 pound
walleyes could soon be harvested
from Erie or the Detroit River.
Lake Erie is the best place I
know to catch a record walleye, reports Erik Furseth, Michigan Walleye
Pro. Ive had excellent luck the past
two winters because the ice is solid
around the Bass Islands and West Sister. There are a lot of 14 pound walleyes in Erie right now, more than I
have ever seen. Guys caught plenty of
them this winter. Some were throwing

back 12 pounders and catching fish
that pushed the scales at 14 pounds.
The ice fishing was off the hook
fantastic. It took 30 minutes to catch
your limit. Some fishermen brought
in limits with no fish less than 10
pounds. This spring the Detroit River
will have a run of giant walleyes.
Motown is one of the few locations in Michigan where you can boat
a 10 pound plus fish. One remaining
fishery where a Michigan angler can
reasonably expect to catch a trophy
walleye, maybe 14 pounds. Lake Erie
run fish are absolutely huge this year
and perhaps this spring will be the
year a Michigan angler lands a giant
over 17 pounds.n
fueled by the abundant walleye

population found in Lake Erie. Each
spring when water temperatures rise
thousands of monster fish ascend
the Maumee in Ohio and the Detroit
River system to complete spawning
chores. Good news is with an abundant 2003 year class, Michigan fishermen can expect plenty of 10 pound
plus monsters this spring.
Several years ago when Michigans salmon and steelhead fishery
began a downward spiral I made the
switch to walleye fishing. Like many
fishermen I made every effort to locate and catch large trophy sized fish.
At one time planted walleyes were
plentiful and huge on the Betsie River
near Frankfort but the DNR stopped
planting fish. Ive chased walleyes
throughout this great state and landed
some beautiful fish at Muskegon,
Manistee, Saginaw Bay, Bays de Noc,
Lake St. Clair and more. But the one
monster fish river that keeps pumping
out record catches is the Detroit.
Kind of interesting how huge
walleyes persist on running the
Detroit and this splendid fishery has
gone untouched by Michigans DNR
who seems to screw up fisheries state
wide. No walleyes are planted in the
Detroit system and even with the
Canadian gill netters slaughtering
the resource splendid numbers return
each spring to spawn.
I once had a Michigan DNR
Fisheries Biologist tell me that most
fishermen are not interested in landing trophy fish. I dont think so! Fact
is, Michigan fishermen travel from
around the state to Detroit just to get
close to big fish. Michigan walleye
anglers flock to the Detroit for one
important reason--to do battle with
a giant. Monster walleyes have a
way of enticing savvy fishermen and
anglers from around this great state
to the flowing Detroit each spring in
search of giant walleyes.
The Detroit system is the finest
big walleye destination in the state. It
is well known for huge walleyes and
abundant fisheries for pike, perch,
world class white bass fishing and
tons of hard fighting smallmouth
bass. The Detroit is my top pick for
trophy walleyes. If you are looking
for a monster walleye destinations
dont overlook this fantastic fishery.
Ive fished the Detroit for decades with some well-known anglers
like Captain Al Lesh, David Richey,
Babe Winkelman, Mike Zielinski and
several walleye tournament pros like
Keith Kavajeck and Gary Parsons.
13
18
I
remarkable
bows for 2015
t is amazing that each year

bow manufacturers continue to
make numerous enhancements
in archery technology. This year there
are several trends that will
begin to impress every
outdoorsman. There over a
dozen bows that are smooth
drawing, 340 FPS bows.
There is a tremendous focus
on zero vibration and many
feel dead in the hand.
Finally everyone is
on-target with creating
smooth drawing designs.
Each archer prefers something
slightly different. However, this lineup
will provide a mixture of speed,
smoothness, and accuracy. Bows are
becoming more torque free making
them easier to shoot even with the
shortest axle-to-axle length. Here is a
line-up of the best bows that will be
on the shelves of your local archery
shops.
row draw weight Oneida continues to

have two models; 35-55 lbs. or 50-70
lbs. The Kestral only weighs 4.5 lbs.
and shoots 322 FPS. If you
want the smoothest drawing bow on the market, than
try out an Oneida Eagle.
cponeidaeagle.com
Hoyt: Nitrum
After shooting the Spyder, I did not think I would

find a better bow. Hoyt
did it again by making some incremental
changes to the cam
design to make this a
dream come true. The
Nitrum has a redesigned cam that
front loads the weight of the draw
cycle. This is where the hunter has the
most momentum then it slowly slides
into the valley. The Nitrum comes in
three models to accommodate different hunters. The 30 inch axle-to-axle
Nitrum 30 flies 332 FPS and 6.75 inch
brace height. Nitrum 34 has a 34 inch
axle-to-axle for those who prefer the
most stability; it flies 330 FPS and
has a 6.75 brace height. Nitrum Turbo
is 33 inch axle-to-axle, 350 FPS and
6 inch brace height. The long draw
hunter has the Nitrum LD which
carries lots of energy at 340 FPS, 7.5
inch brace height, 34.5 inch axle-toaxle. This suite of bows will send a
shock wave into the woods this fall.
hoyt.com
BOW ZONE
By Brian Miller
Darton Archery: DS-3900
Darton Archery has a legacy of

producing exceptional bows with
craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Starting out the riser is crafted with
a high-end machine making it exceptionally smooth. While looking over
the bow everything feels perfect and
it sits nice in the hand. This is well
balanced and there is not much vibration after shooting. It simply rocks
slightly forward then falls right back
into the hand perfectly. This is a fast
bow at 355 FPS making it feel very
crisp in the hand. The bow comes with
vibration dampening already in the
limbs, an added bonus. At full draw
the valley is very flat against the back
wall. At full draw this bow does not
want to creep forward however it feels
very fast upon releasing. The axle-toaxle is just under 34 inches axle-toaxle and only weighs 4 lbs. This has a
short 5.5 inches with an 80% let-off.
dartonarchery.com
Oneida Eagle: Kestrel
14
If you are into a smooth drawing

bow there is nothing like an Oneida
Eagle. This bow has a different design
that you will not forget. This bow has
an amazing draw cycle. The Kestrel
has a tip to tip length of 42 inches and
a 7 inch brace height. The riser design
provides true center shot arrow and
string alignment. The bow accommodates a majority of draw lengths 26 to
31.5 inches. Instead of selecting a nar-
with a 33.5 inch axle-to-axle. This

is short enough to maneuver around
most tight spots while offering much
needed stability. This bow can reach
speeds up to 325 FPS. The Riser Cage
offers supreme riser stability making
this exceptional for hunters wanting ultimate riser stability. The bow
comes with high-end Winner Choice
strings and LimbSaver technology for
vibration reduction. High-end strings
ensure the initial cables and strings
will last while preventing string
stretch and rotation. Today some of
the top professional 3D shooters are
using Elite. If you havent picked
up an Elite lately its time to see for
yourself. elitearchery.com
Darton
Oneida
Hoyt
Bear
Elite
APA
APA: Mamba M7
APA is a Canadian based company

with international acclaims. They are
so confident in their bows they allow
you to test drive an APA bow. That is
a claim that only the best can make.
This bow was designed as a whole
package to overcome everything a
backwoods hunter would encounter.
The Mamba M7 is so smooth with virtually zero hand shock. What makes
them stand apart? This is all packed
into the riser: broadhead wrench, carbine sharpener, nock wrench, camera
mount, carrying handle, and a riser
fang. APA also has a Cam Lock built
into the bow which allows a cable
or string adjustment and/or replacement in the field. New this year is the
Soft Touch Armour that makes it feel
Bear: Arena
warm and reduces noise. This is a dual
If you want to walk among the
cam that will shoot 346 FPS with a 7
legends then pick up the Bear Arena.
The Arena comes in the 30.5 and 34.5 inch brace height. When shooting this
bow it just feels right! The draw cycle
inch axle-to-axle model. You can
made this bow feel like you were
tell this bow was designed by huntpulling 10 lbs. less. This is the perers because the draw cycle is silky
smooth. The brace height is 6.5 inches fect length for maneuverability at 32
inches axle-to-axle. Give this bow a
and shoots 340 to 345 FPS. This is
test ride and you will not put it down!
the perfect balance of forgiveness
apaarchery.com
and speed to give hunters the best of
both worlds. At 4 lbs. this bow weighs
enough to be perfectly balanced. The Martin: Thrasher
Martin is a 64 year old revitalized
sound and vibrations are nonexistent.
brand.
When I was growing up Martin
The bow feels great while at full draw
was
an
amazing bow but has since
and can easily be let down. When
fallen
behind
in technology. That all
coming to full draw you hit some
changed
in
the
last sixteen months
large cushion limb stops that make
with
many
changes
within the comthis bow feel amazing while holding
pany.
The
iconic
brand
is back is full
at full draw. beararchery.com
force. Simply put, Martin has some of
Elite: Synergy
the biggest improvements for 2015. I
Unparalleled shootablity is what
am excited these bows are now comElite strive to reach. Hunters serious
peting with some of the best bows in
about perfect arrow flight and forgive- the industry. If you are looking for a
ness in the field need to experience the compact, quiet, forgiving hunting bow
Synergy. For the ultimate forgiveness then try the Thrasher. This bow shoots
this bow has a 7.375 inch brace height 340 FPS with an 80% let-off. The
brace height is 7.125 inches and 32

inch axle-to-axle for the ultimate mix
in forgiveness. The draw cycle is very
even and smooth; designed for the
Martin
Parker: Ultra Lite 30+
Parker bows provide legendary

performance and quality at unbelievable prices. This bow is only 30.25
inch axle-to-axle making it perfect for
ground blind hunting. The Ultra Lite
30+ only weighs 3.7 lbs. making it
lighter than most bows available. The
brace height is 7.25 inches making is
forgiving even with the short axleto-axle. This bow felt great to shoot
because it had a decent draw cycle. It
is designed with a single cam design
which makes it shoot 320 FPS. Parker
offers just the bow or in an outfitter package making it ready to hunt.
If youre stalking prey, hidden in a
ground blind, or strapped into a tree
this bow is ready to provide the ultimate performance. parkerbows.com
BowTech: Prodigy
BowTech has been an archery

leader in innovation. The Prodigy
is using the PowerShift Technology
that allows an archer to customize
their shooting experience. New this
year, the draw cycle is better anything BowTech has designed before.
The Prodigy offers both speed and
smooth drawing experience. When at
full draw this bow feels powerful and
is ready to launch. The customization allows the shooter to change the
valley from short too long. This bow
has a 32 inch axle-to-axle and 7 inch
brace height. The IBO is 343 FPS and
the weight is 4.3 lbs. The 80% let-off
will allow hunters to stay at full draw
for an extended amount of time. This
utilizes the OverDrive Binary cams
exceptional tuning and consistent
center shot. There are several finishes
in Mossyoak, Realtree and Kriptek.
bowtecharchery.com
Obsession Bows: Delta Six
There was quite the buzz this

year around the Obsession Bows.
The bows Obsession builds are being
designed with a Kevin Strother cam
which makes them very powerful.
That power comes at a slight cost to
a smoother draw cycle. If you want
power, the Delta Six should be in
your hand. This bow has a short valley and feels powerful. The bows
power cranks out at 344 FPS. This
little bow is designed for maneuverability; 27.5 inches axle-to-axle and
a 6 inch brace height. At full draw
this bow has an 80% let-off and only
weighs 4 lbs. While shooting this
bow is a little stiffer which some
archers like better. This is an emerg-
BowTech
Obsession
Mathews
Prime
Quests
PSE
ing company that should be looked at

closely. obsessionbows.com
Mathews: NO CAM
Mathews took a new approach

this year with a NO CAM design.
Radical new system with two circular and concentric string tracks for
perfect knock travel. No bow before
has redesigned the cam system like
this system. The circle wheels make
the bow a super smooth drawing
system for the archer. This comes in
four new designs; HTR, TRG 7, TRG
8, and TRG 9. These bows vary in
brace height from 6.625 to 9 inches.
The NO CAM HTR shoots up to 330
FPS with a 32 inch axle-to-axle. It
weighs just over 4 lbs. and comes
in 65%, 75%, and 85% let-off. This
bow comes with a very popular Focus
Grip that allows for reduced torque.
mathewsinc.com
Prime: ION
The new Prime Ion is designed

with the Parallel Cam system to hold
stability. Prime has had some good
bows in the past couple years but
this year the Ion is a shooter. When
shooting this bow I was impressed
that it had zero hand shock. This
bow is built with forged 7000 series
aluminum riser. This bow falls into a
shorter axle-to-axle measuring in at
only 31 inches. This is a great bow
for trekking through the backwoods
since it only weighs 3.9 lbs. The grip
was designed with a soft and warm
Ultra Fit Grip that can be customized
for hunters who want a thinner grip.
Even for longer distance shooting this
bow shoots 330 FPS. g5prime.com
Quest: AMP
The Quest AMP is a pumped up

bow at an economical price. There
is nothing like getting something
this great at such a deal. The bow
is designed to reach speeds of 340
FPS, similar to many others at double
the cost. Axle-to-axle is 32 inches
which makes this a great all around
bow. This length is easy to use in a
tight ground blind and long enough
to offer stability for longer distances.
The cam design allows the hunter to
modify the draw length and tune the
bow. A 7 inch brace height makes this
a forgiving bow to shoot.
questbowhunting.com
lengths. The 3.7 lb. mass weight is

light enough to carry all day. There
is a generous valley and no vibration
upon shooting. At just over 31 inches
axle to axle this bow makes a great
all around hunting machine. This Pro
Series bow had dual limbs that are
beyond parallel.
pse-archery.com
Winchester Archery: Varmint
The Winchester Archery Varmint

is complete short axle, lightweight
design. This is a short 31 inch axleto-axle but doesnt feel too small. The
bow has a forgiving brace height of
7.25 inches. This featherweight bow
only weighs 3.85 lbs. making it easy
for stalking after game. The bow is
designed with an ATS cam which delivers a smooth draw cycle. This bow
feels good and has enough power to
knockdown big game. It fires arrows as 325 FPS making it a great
all around bow. The two piece grip
is ideal for reduced torque. This bow
is available in the new Moonshine
Camouflage.
winchesterarchery.com
Athens Archery: Solance
Athens is a company that started

in rural Indiana and the majority of
the parts are built in house. This is
the first split limb bow Athens has
developed. This bow has a lower back
stabilizer for side stabilizer adapters.
The bow comes with the Limbsaver
Remarkable bows for 2015 page 16

Winchester
Athens
Mission
Xpedition
PSE: Dream Season Decree
PSE has been the leader in speed

for many years, the Full Throttle
last year is blazing fast. The Dream
Season Decree is still fast at 355
FPS but has a better draw cycle for
the hunter. This speed allows the
hunter to push farther shot distances
with less pin gap. The hybrid cam
makes this a nice shooting bow with
some power behind it. A 6 inch brace
height makes this good for most draw
hunter. When shooting the bow feels

fast. When releasing the arrow there
was no vibration left in the hunters
hand. Every bow has been completely redesigned so if you havent
picked up a Martin this year then do
so. martinarchery.com
Parker
15
april 17, 18 & 19

27th Annual 27th
Spring
Annual Spring april 17, 18 & 19
Fishing
&
Boat
Fishing
&& Boat
FishingSale!
Boat Remarkable bows for 2015:
27th Annual Spring april 17, 18 & 19
ri. 9-8, Sat. 9-8,

Sun. 10-4
the year!
imited time only
nd
Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-8,

Sun. 10-4
Stop
in today
get
theSe
great
dealS!
Stop
in today
to get
theSe great
dealS!
loWeSt intereSt
rateS oF the year! to
Stop in today to get theSe great dealS!
loWeSt intereSt rateS oF the year!

Free 2-year extended warranty on Mercury motors Limited time only
Whitetail Pro LRF 600 rangefinder
BUY YOUR BOAT

FROM THE PROS
BUY YOUR BOAT

74 or 710 Mediumtreat you like a pro!
FROM
Heavy Cranking
rods or THE PROS
AT
S
Where
2014
Tour
KVD we rig your boat and
kevin
Vandam
Jon
Vandam
onal Liquid Paint:
Shines While Paint

Fades
Finish is 3x harder
and 4x thicker
Shine lasts 70% longer
50% smaller carbon
footprint
Finish-to-metal adhesion is 5x stronger
Color lasts 20x longer
10x more resistant to oxidation
2014 Tour KVD
74 or 710 MediumEnergy
Jon
Cranking rods or
Vandam
BaitcastHeavy
74 med spinning
79
6.3 to 1
9BB
Jon
79
Reg. $129.99
SALE
$ 99
79
with Butler Creek flip up caps
E100SPT
6.3 to 1
9BB
Energy
Baitcast
9999
SALE $
E100SPT
Reg.
$189.99
6.3 to 1
9BB
P238 .380
99
$189.99
Reg. $129.99
SALE
$ Reg.99
Two-tone w/Hogue Grips
99
SALE $ 99
SPECIAL PACKAGE
NEW!
Fades
W/60 ELPT 4-Stroke
139/month
EXLPT
to oxidation
10x more resistantW/90
15,995*
SAVE 50
11999
SALE $
27,995*
W/60 ELPT 4-stroke
15,995
139/month
11999
2015 Tracker ProGuide V-175 combo

W/90 EXLPT
22,495*
197/month
15,995Hybrid
Gas/Electric
139/month
2014 w/FREE camo, roof,

2015 Nitro Z-7
flipseat,
2015 Tracker Prowindshield
Team 190 TX
w/90ELPT
174/month
w/150 Pro XS Optimax
19,995SALE $
15,858
$
Reg. $
PLUS FREE
extended
motor
warranty
SALE $ Hybrid
Gas/Electric
19,995
Reg.
$21,620

flipseat, windshield
PLUS FREE
55,995
WE HAVE
.22 SHELL
S!
$59,060
BuckMark .22 Pistols
extended
motor
warranty
9.9 kicker, electronicsMany

& extras
assorted models
New 2013 210 Escape
Fish n Ski 21 w/Mercury 200 Pro XS & lots of

options included
Reg.
$44,995
PLUS we pay the sales tax

PLUS mail in for FREE 555 pk. .22 shells
$110 VALUE
36,995
SALE $
442 Revolver
12,495
Reg. $459.99
39999
SALE $
27th
Annual Spring april 17, 18 & 19
27,595
12,495
$
WE HAVE
.22 SH
PLUS FREE
extended
motor Noffsinger
Chris
warrantyTournament Pro, World
B.A.S.S.
Gerry GostenikELLS!
399
Fishing & Boat
Sale!
241/month
Sun. 10-4
W/60 ELPT 4-stroke
27,11,795
995
579
Reg. SALE $
SALE
2015$ Nitro 99
ZV-18 Loaded with 200 Verado,
SALE $
15,858
Reg. $
Kevin VanDam
15,
995
14,995
Jonathon VanDam
4-Time Bassmaster Classic Champion, 7 Time Angler of the Year, 23

Consecutive Classic Appearances
Elite Series Pro,

8 top 10 Finishes,
Winner of Green Bay Elite
Tournament
FREE
PLUSPLUSFREE
2014 Pro Team 190

Fri.175
9-8,
2015 Tracker Pro Team
TXW Sat. 9-8,
2015 Tracker Targa V-18 WT

w/150 4-stroke
Reg. $699.99
399
9.9 kicker,
electronics & extras
Reg.
$459.99
SALE
$579
99 Reg. SALEUp $to55,995
BAD BOY
BUGGY
AMBUSH
40 off
$59,060
442 Revolver
BAD BOY BUGGY AMBUSH
2015 Tracker ProGuide V-16sc
2015 Nitro ZV-18 Loaded with 200 Verado,

SALE $
99
BONUS FREE laser sight and holster
12,495
SALE $
2014 Pro Team 190

Reg. $699.99
with Mercury 115 Pro XS
2015 Tracker Pro Team 175 TXW
224/month
Reg. $
SPECIAL PACKAGE
SALE $
W/60 ELPT 4-Stroke
SPECIAL PACKAGE
BONUS FREE
sight and holster
Reg.laser
$169.99
Reg. $169.99
w/150 4-stroke

P238 .380
Two-tone
* w/Hogue Grips
22,495
50
SAVE15,858
197/month
55,995
442 Revolver
Gas/Electric Hybrid
NEW!
SALE $
9.9 kicker, electronics & extras
footprint
99
SALE $

Reg.
$59,060
Diamond
Finish-to-metal
with
Butler Coat
Creek flip up
caps adhesion is 5x stronger
9999
SALE $ 99
Reg. $129.99
9999
SALE $
Reg. $129.99
NEW!
Coat Finish vs. Conventional Liquid

Paint:$189.99
SAVE 50
THE ULTIMATE Diamond
Reg. $129.99
Reg. $129.99 Reg.
Finish is 3x harder
Trophy 3-9x40 SALE $
11999 Reg. $699.99 SALE $57999
4x
thicker
and
Reg.
$169.99
FINISHING Shine lasts 70 longer
riflescope
TrophyTOUCH
3-9x40 50 smaller carbon
P238 .380
riflescope
22,495*
SALE
99
Trophy 3-9x40
riflescope
Vandam
Whitetail
LRF 600 rangefinder
Whitetail Pro LRF
600Prorangefinder
Energy
Baitcast
74 or 710 MediumHeavy Cranking rods or

74 med spinning
E100SPT
Diamond Coat Finish vs. Conventional Liquid
Paint:
Where we rig your boat and

SALE
treat you like$ a pro!99
THE
74ULTIMATE
med spinning
FINISHING
kevin TOUCH
Vandam
Diamond Coat
2014 Tour KVD
Shines
While
Paint V-16sc
2015
Tracker
ProGuide
de V-175 combo
Sale!
Sale!
9-8, Sat. 9-8,

noW 3Fri.Sun.dayS!
10-4
noW
noW 3
3 dayS!
dayS!

SALE
99
Many assorted $
models
Class Northern Smallmouth Guide
Reg. $459.99
New 2013 210 Escape
WE HAV
E
$
.22 SHELLS
!
options included BuckMark .22 Pistols
noW 3 dayS!
extended
extended
motor
motor
warranty
warranty
B.A.S.S. Tournament Pro, Premier

Lake St. Clair Smallmouth Guide
Detroit river Walleye
Up to 40 off
Many assorted modelsPLUS mail in for FREE 555 pk. .22 shells
Reg.
SALEin$19,995
$ intereSt
* rateS oF$the year! * Reg.
Stop
toSALE
get$36,995
theSe great110 dealS!
today
$44,995
224/monthloWeSt
VALUE
* $21,620
$
* 139/month $
2015 Sun Tracker Bass Buggy DLX 16 2015 Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX
W/20 ELPT 4-stroke
W/40 ELPT Command Thrust
115/month
131/month
Tim Horton
Whitetail Pro LRF 600

rangefinder
Larry Dahlberg
Mystery
Fishing legend & host
Guest TBA
of TVs Hunt for Big Fish
John Crews
BASS Elite pro - Classic qualifier,

former
angler
2014
Tour
KVDof the year
74 med spinning
BASS elite Pro9 time

classic qualifier,
ownerEnergy
Missle Baits
PLUS FREE
New 2013 210 Escape
BUY
YOUR
BOAT
extended
BeSt
Warranty
2014 Pro
Team 190
motor
Fish n Ski 21 w/Mercury 200 Pro XS & lots ofBaitcast
am 175 TXW
15,995
FROM
with Mercury
115 Pro XS
THE PROS
warranty
19,995
Up to $40 off
Free SeminarS
Free parking
Free
admiSSion!
options included
SALE
PLUSwe
pay the sales tax
36,995
thousands of items on sale! our largest sale of the year! meet Factory reps by:
THE
ULTIMATE
Fishing
Barge 20DLX
Finish is 3x harder
W/40FINISHING
ELPT 4-stroke
4x thicker
$ and
in the BuSineSS
Shine lasts 70* longer
157/month
TOUCH 50 smaller carbon
*plus freight, prep and taxes
footprint
Diamond Coat Finish-to-metal adhesion is 5x stronger
2015
2015
Tracker
Pro
Team
190
TX
Shines While Paint Color lasts 20x longer Nitro Z-7
17,995
Trophy
3-9x40
G. Loomis
riflescope
Shakespeare
Berkley
StrenP238 .380
MinnKota
Humminbird
NEW
Vicious
Lucky Craft
P-Line
River2Sea
Jackal
Mega Bass
D&R$ SPORTS
CENTER
INC. Jonathon VanDam
WWW.DANDRSPORTS.COM
Chris Noffsinger
Gerry Gostenik
* Kevin VanDam
* 241/month $27,51-800-992-1520
8178
W.
MAIN
STREET
95
119
19,
9
95
174/month
55,995
579
FAX: 269-372-9072
KALAMAZOO, MI 49009
w/90ELPT
Fades
SPECIAL PACKAGE
SAVE $50
$
4-Time BassmasterSALE
Classic ChamReg. $169.99
pion,
7 Time Angler of the Year, 23
99

OPENSALE
7 DAYS:
MON.
TUES.
9-6;
$ Tournament
99 &
EliteReg.
Series$699.99
Pro,
B.A.S.S.
Pro,Reg.
World SALE
B.A.S.S.$Tournament Pro, Premier
$59,060
8 top 10 Finishes,
Class Northern
GuideSAT.Lake
St. ClairSUN.
Smallmouth
Guide
WED., THURS.
& Smallmouth
FRI. 9-8;
9-5;
10-4
Tournament
SUBJECT TO STOCK ON HAND, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MISPRINTS. SOME PICTURES
MAY SHOW OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT OR COLORS.

W/60 ELPT 4-Stroke
27,595
139/month
15,995*
* 131/month $14,995*
11,
7
95
15,995
27,995
224/month
14,995*
rranty
W/60 ELPT 4-stroke
139/month
BeSt Warranty
3/13/6 - MI

15,858
Reg. $
12,495
SALE $
PLUS FREE
B.A.S.S. Tournament Pro, Worldextended

motor
warranty
PLUS FREE
2014 Pro Team 190
extended
motor
warranty
Reg.
Reg. $459.99
Chris Noffsinger
4-Time Bassmaster Classic ChamElite Series Pro,

pion, 7 Time Angler of the Year, 23
8 top 10 Finishes,
Party Barge
DLX Bay Elite
2015 Sun TrackerClassic
Bass Buggy
DLX 16 2015 Sun TrackerWinner
Consecutive
Appearances
of 18
Green
W/40 ELPT Command Thrust Tournament
W/20 ELPT 4-stroke
w/150 4-stroke
442 Revolver
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Jonathon VanDam
ust
22,495*
197/month
Kevin VanDam
115/month
rty Barge 18 DLX
W/90 EXLPT
New 2013 210 Escape

options included
39999
SALE $
Gerry GostenikWE HAVE
SHELLS!
B.A.S.S. Tournament Pro,.22
Premier
BuckMark
Pistols
Lake St.
Clair .22
Smallmouth
Guide
Many assorted models
Up to $40 off
Reg.Crews SALE $
pk. .22 shells
TimSALE
Horton$19,995 John
Larry DahlbergPLUS mail in for FREE 555
Mystery
36,995
110 VALUE
BASS$44,995
elite Pro9 time
Guest TBA
classic qualifier,
$21,620
BASS
Elite pro - Classic qualifier,
former angler of the year
owner Missle Baits
Freshwater Hall of Fame
Free SeminarS Free parking Free admiSSion!

Daiwa
Quantum
Kevin VanDam
$
*
$
*
27,595 Shimano
174/month
2015
Sun Tracker 19,995 241/month
Fishing Barge 20DLX
W/40 ELPT 4-stroke
Tim Horton
John Crews G. Loomis
* in the BuSineSS
BASS Elite pro $- Classic qualifier,
MinnKota
157/month
qualifier,
*plus freight,classic
prep and taxes
Humminbird
owner Missle Baits
2015 Nitro Z-7
2015 Tracker Pro Team 190 TX
w/90ELPT

17,995
Motorguide
Okuma
Strike King
Jonathon
Abu Garcia
Rapala
Advantage
Baits
VanDam
Chris Noffsinger
Gerry Gostenik
Fenwick
Storm
Terminator
Shakespeare
Vicious
Larry
Dahlberg River2Sea
Mystery
Fishing
legend & host Jackal
Berkley
Lucky
Craft
Guest
TBA
Stren Hall of Fame Mega Bass
P-Line
Freshwater
Elite Series Pro,
8 top 10 Finishes,
Tournament
B.A.S.S. Tournament Pro, World


Free
Free parking
admiSSion!
D&R SeminarS
SPORTS
CENTER
INC. Free
WWW.DANDRSPORTS.COM
14,995
11,795
& TUES.King
9-6;
8178
W. MAIN STREET
Daiwa
Motorguide
Okuma OPEN 7 DAYS: MON.
Strike
1-800-992-1520
BeSt Warranty
W/20 ELPT 4-stroke
115/month
$
* our largest sale of the year! meet Factory reps by:
* 131/month of items
thousands
on sale!
Tim Horton
John Crews
Larry Dahlberg

uSineSS
ght, prep and taxes

classic qualifier,
owner Missle Baits

Mystery
Guest TBA
THURS. &FRI.
9-8; admiSSion!
SAT. 9-5;Baits
SUN. 10-4
Quantum MI 49009 Abu Garcia
Rapala
Advantage
SeminarS
FreeWED.,
parking
Free
FAX:Free
269-372-9072
KALAMAZOO,
Shimano
Fenwick
Storm
Terminator
Motorguide
Okuma EQUIPMENT
Strike
King
SUBJECT TO STOCK ON HAND, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR Daiwa
MISPRINTS. SOME PICTURES
MAY SHOWOPTIONAL
OR COLORS.
Quantum
Abu Garcia
Rapala Vicious
Advantage Baits
G.
Loomis
Shakespeare
River2Sea
2015 Sun Tracker
Shimano
Fenwick
Storm
Terminator
Fishing Barge 20DLX
MinnKota
Berkley G. Loomis Jackal
Lucky
Shakespeare
River2Sea
- Vicious
3/13/6Craft
MI Craft
$
MinnKota
Berkley
Jackal
17,995* in the BuSineSS
157/month
Humminbird
Stren
P-Line Lucky
Humminbird Mega
StrenBass
Mega Bass
P-Line
W/40 ELPT 4-stroke
D&R SPORTS CENTER INC.

CENTER
INC. WWW.DANDRSPORTS.COM
8178 W. MAIN STREET
KALAMAZOO, MI 49009
1-800-992-1520
16
1-800-992-1520
FAX: 269-372-9072
WWW.DANDRSPORTS.COM
OPEN 7 DAYS: MON. & TUES. 9-6;
WED., THURS. & FRI. 9-8; SAT. 9-5; SUN. 10-4

3/13/6 - MI
SUBJECT TO STOCK ON HAND, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MISPRINTS. SOME PICTURES MAY SHOW OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT OR COLORS.
FAX: 269-372-9072
QAD dampening system. While

shooting, it was a crisp draw with a
slight hump. This allows hunters to
hold steady. While shooting this bow
I felt a slight vibration in the hand
however the bow didnt rock. The
bow has solid wall stops that are customizable. At 335 FPS and 33 inches
axle-to-axle this is a nice shooting bow. There is a 6.75 inch brace
height and weighs 4.1 lbs. The bow
comes in black or Next Vista Black
Camouflage. athensarchery.com
Mission: Blaze
Mission is built by Mathews

with the same high quality craftsmanship but at a modest price point.
The perimeter-weighted cam system
produces some powerful speed and
an incredibly smooth draw. This
bow allows for an 80% let-off so
the hunter can remain at full draw
for extended periods of time. I am
impressed with the high quality
machined riser and parts. This bow is
very dead in the hand which is nice.
You will be pleasantly surprised with
the bows performance. This bow
was very smooth with a slight hump
before dropping into the valley.
There is little vibration and sounds
very quiet. The arrows were blazing

out of this bow at 340 FPS. The bow
is 33 inches long with a 6.125 brace
height. missionarchery.com
Xpedition: Xcentric
The 2015 Xpedition is a hot new

bow company building some quality products. The Xcentric is a speed
bow, shooting lightning speeds of
354 FPS. Fit and finish is perfect, no
flaws with the camouflage finish that
is baked, making it very resistant.
This bow has a hump at the back,
however the dual draw stops holds
steady in the valley. Adjustable
draw stops allow for modifying
the valley of the bow. For the
shooter that wants the horsepower
this is the bow. This bow has a 6
inch brace height, for those
wanting more forgiveness it also
comes in a 7 inch brace height.
While shooting this bow it felt
more like a speed bow with a tad
bit of vibration after the shot. This
company is owned by a hunter who
strives to develop great hunting
bows. In addition they have top archery engineers designing the product. Take a look at this newcomer.
Xpeditionarchery.comn
E100SPT
6.3 to 1
9BB
Jon
99
Reg.
Reg.
PLUS
mail
pk.SALE
.22King
shells
Daiwa
Motorguide
Okuma
Strike
SALE
$99in99for FREE 555
SALE
$ like a pro! Vandam
SALE $ Reg.$79
treat you
$ 99
Quantum
Abu Garcia
Rapala
Advantage 99
Baits
Reg. $189.99
$129.99
$ Reg. $129.99
$44,995
$21,620
2015 Sun Tracker
Shimano
Fenwick
Storm 110 VALUE
Terminator
Diamond Coat Finish vs. Conventional Liquid Paint:
kevin
Vandam
from page 15
ESPONSIBLE FOR MISPRINTS. SOME PICTURES MAY SHOW OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT OR COLORS.
Free, monthly ORV safety classes

offered at Silver Lake State Park
The MDNR announced that Silver Lake
State Park will offer free, monthly off-road
vehicle safety classes one Saturday per month
through October. All classes will begin at 9
a.m. at Silver Lake State Park Headquarters
(9679 W. State Park Road in Mears) on the
following Saturdays:
April 18 May 16 June 20 July 18
Aug. 1 (Note; held at All Seasons Outdoor
Show, Oceana Co. Fairgrounds) Sept. 19
Oct. 17
As one of the premier ORV destinations in Michigan, Silver Lake State Park
is offering the ORV classes to keep riders safe and introduce new riders to the
sport. Our staff believes education is one of the best ways to keep everyone
safe, said Silver Lake State Park Supervisor Gregory Sherburn. We are very
excited to offer this opportunity and we look forward to building the parks
reputation as an ORV education destination.
In Michigan, all riders under 16 years of age are required to complete an
approved ORV safety course and carry the Michigan ORV safety certificate with
them at all times while riding on public lands. Staff from Silver Lake State Park
and Silver Lake Buggy Rental, as well as several ORV community members, will
serve as instructors for these classes.
There is no charge to participate in the ORV safety classes, but a Recreation
Passport is required for vehicle entry to Silver Lake State Park. For more information about the ORV safety classes, please contact Silver Lake State Park at
231-873-3083. To register for an ORV safety class, please visit
www.dnr.state.mi.us/recnsearch/.
A Recreation Passport grants vehicle access to any Michigan state park, boat
launch, state forest campground or nonmotorized state trailhead parking. Residents can purchase the Passport for just $11 ($5 for motorcycles) at the time
of Michigan license plate renewal through Secretary of State. Forgot to check
YES during renewal? Residents and nonresidents can purchase a Recreation
Passport window sticker during regular business hours at state parks. Learn
more about how the Recreation Passport supports state parks and local outdoor
recreation opportunities at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
Fish
Fish
27th An
STOP IN TODAY
Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-8,

Sun. 10-4
Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-8,
Sun. 10-4
Sto
loWeSt
intereSt
rateS oF the year!
To Get
These
Great Deals!
he Michigan Department of
Natural Resources filed an
appeal of a December 2014
federal district court ruling
that returned wolves in Michigan and
Wisconsin to the federal endangered
species list and wolves in Minnesota to
federal threatened species status.
The appeal filed by the Michigan
Attorney General in the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia
asks the court to uphold the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Services December 2011
decision that removed the Great Lakes
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of
wolves from the federal endangered
species list.
Returning wolf management to
wildlife professionals in the state of
Michigan is critical to retaining a recovered, healthy, and socially-accepted
wolf population in our state, said DNR
Director Keith Creagh. Michigan
residents who live with wolves deserve
to have a full range of tools available to
sustainably manage that population.
Wolves in Michigan are 15 years
past the population recovery goals set
by the federal government. The DNR
will argue against the federal district
courts ruling that wolves must recover
across their historic range which
includes the lower 48 states and Mexico
before Michigans wolf population
can be removed from the federal endangered species list.
In addition, the state will argue
against the district courts conclusion
that the USFWS failed to demonstrate
that Michigans laws and regulations
adequately protect the wolf population
within Michigan.
Wolves in Michigan and the other
western Great Lakes states are fully
recovered from endangered species
status, which is a great success story,
said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ
Mason. Continuing to use the Endangered Species Act to protect a recovered species not only undermines the
integrity of the Act, it leaves farmers
and others with no immediate recourse
when their animals are being attacked
and killed by wolves.
Michigans wolf population numbers approximately 636 in the states
Upper Peninsula. With the return to
federal protection in December 2014,
the DNR lost the authority to use a
variety of wolf management methods,
including lethal control, to minimize
wolf conflict with humans, livestock
and dogs. The change in status also
suspended state authority that allowed
livestock and dog owners to protect
their animals from wolf depredation
when wolves are in the act of attacking
those animals.
The federal district courts Decem-
ber 2014 decision came in response to a

lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of
the United States, in which the State of
Michigan participated as a defendantintervener arguing against returning
the Great Lakes DPS of wolves to the
endangered species list.
Michigan joins the USFWS and a
number of hunting and conservation
organizations in appealing the ruling.
For more information about Michigans wolf population and management
plan, visit www.michigan.gov/wolves.
Public comment sought on draft

update of Wolf Management Plan
The MDNR has completed a draft

update of the 2008 Michigan Wolf
Management Plan and is seeking public
comment during a 30-day period beginning today, March 4. The 2008 Wolf
Management Plan was created using extensive public input to identify important issues and assess public attitudes
toward wolves and their management,
as well as a review of the biological
and social science on wolves. The four
principal goals within the plan are to:
Maintain a viable wolf population.
Facilitate wolf-related benefits.
Minimize wolf-related conflicts.
Conduct science-based and socially
acceptable management of wolves.
The plan and, more specifically,
the four principal goals within the plan
have guided wolf management in Michigan for the last six and a half years.
Beginning in November 2014, the
DNR sought comments on the implementation of the 2008 plan. During
the comment period, the DNR
received more than 3,000 responses
to its online and hard-copy survey.
Based on those responses and corresponding comments, and an internal
review of the document, a draft updated
plan recently was completed and is
available for public review and comment.
The four principal goals in the 2008
plan remain the same in the updated
plan. The 2015 draft also includes
updated scientific literature and new
information and facts regarding wolves
in Michigan. A companion document,
which summarizes DNR management
accomplishments in addressing the
action items from the 2008 plan, also is
available for public review.
The draft updated plan and the 2008
Summary of Management Accomplishments document are available for
download at Michigan.gov/wolves.
Send comments on the draft updated plan to DNR-Wildlife@michigan.
gov or via U.S. mail to DNR Wildlife
Division, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing MI
48909. Comments must be received no
later than April 3.n

BUY YOUR BOAT

BUY YOUR
BOAT
FROM
THE PROS
2014 Tour
74 or 710 M
Heavy
2014Crankin
Tour
74 med
spinM
or 710
FROM
THE
Where we rig
yourPROS
boat and
you
Jon
Where we rig your boat and Vandam
like a pro!
treat
Jon
Vandam
Vandam
treat you like a pro!
Coat Finish vs. Conventional Liquid Paint:
Finish is 3x Coat
harder Finish vs. Conventional Liquid Paint:
4x
thicker
and
3x
FINISHING
longer
FINISHING Shine4xlasts 70
TOUCH
smaller70
carbon
TOUCH 50
50
kevin
Vandam
kevin
Finish is
harder
thicker%
and
% longer
Shine
% lasts
% smaller carbon
footprint
footprint
Color
20x longer
longer
Colorlasts
lasts20x
10x
10xmore
moreresistant
resistant to
to oxidation
oxidation
Diamond
Diamond Coat
Coat
Shines
ShinesWhile
While Paint
Paint
Fades
Fades
Heavy Crankin
74 med spin
Trophy 3-9
Trophy 3-9
riflescope
riflescope
with
Butler Cre
with Butler Cre
E $5
SAVE
SAV
Reg. $169.
$169.
Reg.
BAD B
BAD
B
W/60 ELPT
4-Stroke
2015
Tracker
ProGuide
W/60 ELPT 4-Stroke
139/month
139/month
V-16sc
W/90 EXLPT
w/150 4-stroke
noW
3Tracker
dayS!Pro Team 175 TXW
2015
Stop in today to get theSe great dealS!

W/60 ELPT 4-stroke
27,995*
2015 Tracker Targa$V-18 WT

224/month
w/150 4-stroke
BUY YOUR BOAT

FROM THE PROS
$
224/month
kevin
treat you like a pro!
2014 Tour KVD
79
Reg. $129.99
Reg. $189.99
SALE $
w/90ELPT
139/month
15,995*
174/month
15
Reg. $
15
Reg. $
2014 Pro T
with Mercury 1
Reg.
2014 Pro TS
$21,620
with Mercury 1
Reg.
$21,620
SALE $
Reg. $129.99
P238 .380
SPECIAL PACKAGE
Reg. $169.99
2015 Nitro Z-7

SALE w/150
$
99Pro XS Optimax
SALE $
119
579
$
Reg. $699.99
* BUGGY
BAD BOY
AMBUSH
241/month
flipseat, windshieldw/150
19,995*
*
$ 22,495
$
SAVE $50
19,995
197/month
2014
w/FR
flipseat,
w
flipseat, w
W/90 EXLPT
9999
Gas/Ele
2014 w/FR
NEW!
174/month
Hybrid
2015 Nitro Z-7
2015
Tracker
Pro
Team
TX Gas/Electric
2015 Tracker
ProGuide 190
V-175 combo
2015
Tracker ProGuide
V-16sc
W/60 ELPT 4-Stroke
99
Trophy 3-9x40
riflescope
2015 Tracker Pro Team 190 TX

w/90ELPT
E100SPT
6.3 to 1
9BB
SALE
139/month
$ 99
Jon
Vandam
Finish is 3x harder
and 4x thicker
Shine lasts 70% longer
50% smaller carbon
footprint
*
15,995
99
Energy
Baitcast

74 med spinning
Diamond Coat Finish vs. Conventional Liquid Paint:
15,995
$ 175
*
2015 Tracker Pro Team
Whitetail TXW
Pro LRF 600 rangefinder
139/month
W/60 ELPT 4-stroke
27,995*
Diamond Coat
Shines While Paint
Fades
*
$ 22,495*
$
197/month
Fishing & Boat

Sale!
Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-8,
Sun. 10-4
THE ULTIMATE
FINISHING
TOUCH
ProGuide V-175 combo
22,495
15,995 197/month april
17, 18 & 19
27th Annual Spring
Vandam
W/90 EXLPT
2015
Tracker
$ 15,995*
$
Gas/Ele
15,858
Reg. $
Pro XS Optimax
12,495
SALE $
241/month
99
Reg.
$59,060
55,995
*
SALE $
27,595
442 Revolver
27,595399*
PLUS FREE
extended
motor
warranty
Reg. $459.99
SALE $
99
WE HAVE
.22 SHELL
S!
Kevin
4-Time Bassma
pion, 7 Time An
Consecutive Cl
Kevin
4-Time Bassma
pion, 7 Time An
Consecutive Cl
Many assorted models

w/150 4-stroke
W/60 ELPT 4-stroke
PLUS FREE
2014 Pro Team 190
extended
motor
warranty
New 2013 210 Escape
Up to $40 off
options included
PLUS we pay
the sales tax
Tracker
Party Barge
18
DLX
2015 $Sun Tracker
Bass
16
Reg.
Reg.
PLUS mail in for FREE 555 pk. .22 shells
SALE $ 2015 Sun
SALE $
$ Buggy* DLX
* 139/month
W/40 ELPT
Command Thrust
$44,995
$21,620
W/20 ELPT 4-stroke
224/month
110 VALUE
27,995
15,995
11,795
115/month
19,995
w/90ELPT
19,995*
115/month
174/month
11,795*
$ $27,595*
241/month
W/40 ELPT 4-stroke
BeSt Warranty
157/month
$
11,795*
115/month
Kevin VanDam
*
17,995
14,995
131/month
Jonathon VanDam
131/month

2015 Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX
2015 Sun Tracker

Fishing Barge 20DLX
W/20 ELPT 4-stroke
14,995*
131/month
2015 Sun Tracker Bass Buggy DLX 16
W/20
ELPT
4-stroke
2015 Nitro Z-7
2015
Tracker Pro
Team 190
TX
36,995
$
Elite Series Pro,

8 top 10 Finishes,
Tournament
14,995*
Chris Noffsinger
B.A.S.S. Tournament Pro, World

Gerry Gostenik

BeSt Warranty
in the BuSineSS
Tim Horton
John Crews

Larry Dahlberg
Mystery
Guest TBA
Tim
BASS Elite pro

former ang
Free
Tim
Daiwa
BASS
Elite pro
ang
former
Quant
Shima
G. Loo
MinnK
Humm
Free
Daiwa
Quant
Free SeminarS Free parking Free admiSSion!
2015 Sun Tracker
Shima
Fishing Barge 20DLX
Daiwa
Motorguide
Okuma
Strike King
G. Loo
Quantum
Abu Garcia
Rapala
Advantage Baits
W/40 ELPT 4-stroke
8178 W. MAIN
STREET
Shimano
Fenwick
Storm
Terminator
$
*
in
the
BuSineSS
MinnK
G. Loomis
Shakespeare
River2Sea
Vicious
157/month
$
MinnKota
Berkley
Jackal
Lucky taxes
CraftFAX: 269*plus
freight, prepand
17,995* in the BuSineSSMI
Humm
157/month
KALAMAZOO,
49009
Humminbird
Stren
Mega Bass
P-Line
D&R SPORTS CENTER

BeSt Warranty


classic qualifier,
owner Missle Baits

17,995
2015 Sun Tracker

Fishing Barge 20DLX
W/40 ELPT 4-stroke
Michigan DNR appeals

courts wolf decision
Sto
1-800-99
D&R SPORTS CENTER
SUBJECT TO STOCK ON HAND, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MISPR
D&R SPORTS CENTER INC.
8178 W. MAIN STREET

KALAMAZOO, MI 49009
1-800-992-1520
FAX: 269-372-9072
8178 W. MAIN STREET

KALAMAZOO, MI 49009
WWW.DANDRSPORTS.COM
17
1-800-99
SUBJECT TO STOCK ON HAND, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MISPRINTS. SOME PICTURES MAY SHOW OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT OR COLORS.
3/13/6 - MI
FAX: 269-
SUBJECT TO STOCK ON HAND, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MISPR
Crank it up for April walleye

By Mark Romanack
Auto-pilot style motors like the MotorGuide Xi5 mounted on the authors boats
make a huge difference in being able to
troll at controlled speeds and also to
duplicate effective plot trails over and
over again. The results are monster walleye like this one caught by Captain Jake
Romanack recently. Author photos
or those anglers who love to

wait 10 deep in line at a boat
launch, fish among a flotilla of
other fishing boats and spend
much of their time snagged
on the bottom, I recommend a
walleye fishing trip to the lower Detroit River in April. For those anglers
who are more motivated by fishing
open waters and catching big walleye,
might I recommend a little open water
crankbait trolling on Lake Erie?
In all seriousness, the Detroit
River is an awesome spring fishery
and a place I fish often. When the
weather is good and the fish are biting, this fishery attracts the lion share
of Michigans walleye fishing enthusiasts. Meanwhile at the same time the
Detroit River is happening, an open
water trolling bite on Lake Erie is also
in high gear.
Both the open water trolling bite
and the river bite have the potential
to provide anglers limit catches. The
biggest difference is the size of the average fish taken. On the Detroit River
the majority of the catch are smaller
male fish with a few larger females
sprinkled in. On Lake Erie in April
those who troll for suspended fish are
targeting almost exclusively adult fish.
Where It Happens
The open water trolling fishery

in Lake Erie is primarily targeting
post-spawn walleye. Once these fish
complete their annual spawning rituals, the adults soon after suspend in
the water column to seek out warmer
surface waters and also to gorge on
emerald shiners. Michigan based anglers will find they can catch walleye
in the Western Basin at Breast Bay,
the mouth of the Raisin River, Luna
Pier and the shoreline from Luna Pier
to the mouth of the Maumee River.
In April most of the fish are going
to be found near shore in water 10 feet
deep or less. As the month progresses
and surface waters warm, the walleye
simply move off shore to deeper water, but remain suspended in the upper
water column.
Stickbaits & Minnow Divers
18
The crankbaits of choice in April

represent a rather small list of must
have lures including the Rapala Husky Jerk 12 and 14, Deep Husky Jerk
12, Reef Runner RipStick and Deep
Little Ripper, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, Storm Thunderstick and Deep
Jr. Thunderstick, Berkleys Flicker
Minnow series the Smithwick Rattlin Rogue and last but not least the
Perfect 10. All of these baits feature
a minnow profile and a subtle top-tobottom rolling action that produces
best on walleye in cold water.

This subtle action is something
you cant get in all crankbaits. In fact,
the majority of crankbaits have a little
too much side-to-side action to be productive at this time of year. The most
successful anglers are zeroing in on
baits that have just the right amount
of roll and they troll these lures at
slower speeds that create an utterly irresistible minnow action in the water.
that produced fish on a previous pass!

Speed control with an auto-pilot
style motor is controlled by a dial that
can be adjusted in very precise increments. Often simply changing the
trolling speed by as little as 1/10th of
a MPH can make a huge difference in
how walleye react to trailing baits.
Unfortunately, the factory linkage
controls on the typical gasoline kicker
motor simply dont allow for this
kind of precision in dialing in trolling
speeds. This is why a growing number
of anglers who fish gasoline kickers,
The second step in successfully
are stepping up and purchasing aftertargeting post-spawn walleye on
market throttle controls that allow
crankbaits is fishing these lures slow
these engines to better dial in trolling
enough to tempt lethargic walleye.
speeds.
When the water temperature is in
The Evinrude E-Tec 15HO kicker
the low to upper 40s walleye can be
actually has a digital throttle control
taken on crankbaits, but only if they
are fished at speeds of from 1.0 MPH right on the tiller handle. By simply
pushing the plus or minus button an
to about 1.5 MPH.
angler can dial up or dial down the
One of the best ways to troll at
engine RPMs to achieve the desired
these super slow speeds is with an
Auto-Pilot style electric motor such as speed.
the new MotorGuide Xi5. Not only do
these electric motors have infinitely
adjustable speed controls, the autoBecause post-spawn walleye are
pilot feature keeps the boat moving on often found in shallow water and/
the determined course heading. Even or near the surface planer boards are
better, the Xi5 can be programmed
critical to success. In-line boards like
to duplicate an effective plot trail ex- the famous Side-Planer produced
actly, literally fishing the exact water
by Off Shore Tackle dominate this
Slow As You Go
Praise For Planer Boards
market for a host of reasons. First off,

in-line boards are inexpensive and
last for decades making them a great
value for anyone interested in walleye
trolling.
Secondly and perhaps even more
importantly, an in-line board fishes
in such a way that when a fish bites
it feels resistance instantly and the
hook up ratios are outstanding. The
resistance of the board itself plowing
through the water helps insure that
when a fish hits the trailing crankbaits,
the hooks are instantly set.
Furthermore, the way in-line
boards are fished, any walleye that
makes the mistake of biting is going
to feel steady pressure until the angler
scoops up the fish in the landing net.
The steady pressure fishing in-line
boards provide just about guarantees
that the vast majority of fish that bite
are eventually landed.
Slow Speed Aids
Because post-spawn walleye bite

best at slow speeds, its vital to use
crankbaits with razor sharp hooks.
Anglers can either sharpen their hooks
using a flat file or replace them with
after-market chemically sharpened
hooks like the Mustad Triple Grip,
Matzuo Sickle or Eagle Claws Lazer
Trokar.
A second accessory item also
makes it easier to determine light
strikes when fishing in-line boards.
The Tattle Flag Kits which were
introduced a few years ago make it
vastly easier to read in-line boards
to determine when a fish is hooked.
These spring loaded flag systems
cause the flag to fold down the instant
a fish bites and is hooked.
The Tattle Flag Kits are sold as
after-market items. The kit comes
with a replacement flag, linkage arm,
spring, hardware and two OR16 Snap
Weight clips. It takes about two or
three minutes and a simple screw
driver to convert an ordinary SidePlaner into one equipped with a Tattle
Flag.
New this year anglers can also
purchase the Economy Tattle Flag kit
which provides anglers the linkage
arm, spring and necessary hardware.
The angler simply provides his own
releases. The Economy Tattle Flag
Kits represent a significant savings
and are flying off the shelves at popular retailers.
Water Conditions
In the spring of the year Lake

Erie can range from gin clear to the
color of chocolate milk! Wind and

muddy run off from tributary streams
can muck up the waters of Erie very
quickly. Dirty water makes for tough
trolling conditions and satellite images are the best way to monitor water
conditions. Sites like the http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov provide anglers
satellite images of Lake Erie that are
invaluable in determining where the
water is dirty, where it is clear and
just as importantly where the water is
slightly stained.
For crankbait trolling the best
action often takes place not in clear
water and not in dirty water, but
rather in the mixing of waters generally known as stained. This holds true
because in very clear water walleye
have the luxury of scrutinizing crankbaits before they commit to striking
at them. In stained water, walleye can
see the lures, but not with enough
detail to scrutinize them and detect
them as fakes.
Summing It Up
The spring post-spawn walleye

bite on Lake Erie gets going in April
and often lasts well into May. The
best bite typically occurs in water
from 45 to about 55 degrees, but fish
can be caught in water much cooler
The author spends lots of time chasing walleye in open water with the help of
crankbaits and planer boards. The average size walleye caught is much larger
than those taken in river systems at the same time of year.
than this when anglers slow down and
fish the right baits.
The Western Basin region of Lake
Erie is well protected from prevailing
west and south winds, making fishing conditions excellent much of the
time. If the winds turn north or east
and pick up, the Western Basin will
quickly turn into a mud bath. It usually takes two or three days of stable
weather for the water conditions to
improve.
Not every day on Lake Erie is
ideal for post-spawn crankbait trolling, but when the conditions are right,
its hard to imagine a better fishery.n
Championship Winning Sound Technology

Introducing the Exclusive
MultiTouch Technology
SOUND
Sound is what makes
Livingston Lures come to Life!
Electronic Baitfish Sounds
C H O OSE
M
F
LIMITED TIME OFFER

FREE LIVINGSTON HAT
with proof of purchase. Send POP to
SummerPromo@LivingstonLures.com.
The Difference Is Clear!

LL Woods N Water Mar 2015.indd 1
3/4/15 2:34 PM
TO
RO
NEW
Multi
Touch
S
E
BL
Smart Chip
GRAMMA
RO
DE
Primetyme SQ 2.0
True Bream
4 MO
Traditional lures are built to look &

act like real baitfish. Many include
beads & rattles. Only Livingston
Lures mimic the natural sounds
baitfish make that bass, walleye,
pike, redfish, striper, perch, and all
predatory fish feed on.
EBS Technology
19
359 and Counting!
Woods-N-Water News to roll 360th issue off the presses next month
Vintage 1987
By Randy Jorgensen
photo of
n May of 1985 the very first issue

of the Woods-N-Water News
rolled off the presses and hit the
streets. Nearly 30 years ago, three
decades, 359 issues, thousands of
stories and pictures of fish, whitetails, bears, pheasants, grouse, coyotes, and anything else you can think
of outdoors.
Little did I know, where the very
first press run was going to lead us
all those years ago. And looking back at our
very first issue, Im confident I didnt.
Giving the outdoor publication idea a name
and direction was the effort of many. I held
many meetings with staff close to me, we
planned marketing and discussed potential
advertising leads. We had big dreams, hoping
to entertain and inform the outdoor community
and our new readers. We hoped to grow and
prosper, of course, all of us young and confident. We strived to become the outdoor read-
Publisher
Randy
Jorgensen,
(right) and
brother-inlaw and
Editor of
Woods-NWater News,
Tom
Campbell.
My how
times have
changed.
Well be
sharing other
photos and
encourage
readers to
do the same
from the
mid-80s and
beyond.
ers choice month after month.

One can expect a lot of changes
in 30 years time, some you plan for
and much more you dont. Some you
see coming, some you dont. (And
even though technology rocked our
newspaper world as we knew it...we
survived.)
All-in-all over the years I would
like to think we have put a proud
smile on a face or two of our readers
who have seen their own pictures on our trophy pages, it could have been their first buck
or first big walleye. I would like to think we
helped provide accurate information concerning hunting and fishing issues. I would hope
we have captured a little history of Michigans
grand outdoor heritage.
What started out as a part-time adventure
for me, turned into a full time 30 year adventure. Never did I think the Woods-N-Water
News would evolve into the publication it is
Unlocking Value in the U.P.

Graymont Supports WINTER RECREATION
Creating a place to
Maintaining continuity of trails throughout the project area
WORK, LIVE, & PLAY
Graymont is
proud to sponsor
the Poker Run event
at Millecoquin Lake
Winter Carnival
Continued public
access for
outdoor recreation
in non-active areas
February 26-28, 2015
20
Grand Prize:
Portable
Ice Shelter
PHOTO BY
STEPEN KING
Relocation of
trails passing
through active
project areas
Providing
ECONOMIC STIMULUS
to the Region
Wild Card
Prizes
DONT FORGET TO COME WARM UP AND JOIN

US FOR A SLOPPY JOE DINNER AT THE GARFIELD
TOWN HALL ON FEB 28 FROM 6-8 PM,
FOR THE RAFFLE EVENT
LEARN
MORE
rextonproject.com
today. As I mentioned, I didnt do it

some of your most memorable
events over the past 30 years, the
alone, an understanding family, a
dedicated staff and loyal advertisers
biggest issues facing
who bought our sales pitch and hung
hunters and
fishermen,
in there with us year in and year out.
your most
Along the way we met many
memorable
interesting people who have a love
hunt, the
for the outdoors and a willingness
humorous,
to share it with others. We
the sad, the
wouldnt be able to pass those
most embarstories on without a fine staff of
embar
rassing
writers to tell them. And the
moments or a
truth is we are fortunate enough
unique photo
to have some of Michigans
you may have
very best outdoor journalists
taken while in
and freelancers grace our
the outdoors. You
pages over the years.
can send them to
To mark our 30th year
myself at rjorof publication I'll use this
rjor
gensen@pageonecolumn to look back at 30
inc.com or directly
years of Woods-N-Water
to Tom Campbell,
News publishing, our
editor, at wnw@
good times and some
pageone-inc.com.
wed like to forget.
I hope you enjoy
We will further
our journey into the
highlight some of those
past and maybe we can
who have made a huge
give you a glimpse into
impact on the Woodsthe future of the WoodsN-Water News, the
N-Water News.
writers, those behind
News
So from all of us
the pages, the manuhere at the magazine we
facturers and the
thank you for the opporturetailers who have
opportu
nity to serve you over the
helped us put a
First is
sue o
past 30 years and we hope
magazine in your
f the
you will continue to allow us
mailbox or on the
Wood
s-N-W
in your homes, hunting or
newsstand.
ater N
fishing camps for a long time
In the meantime we would like
ews.
May
to come. n
you to think of sharing with us
1985
Looking back at 1985...

In 1985 the cost for a Resident
Deer License was $9.75,
a Hunting License was $7.25 and a
Fishing License was $7.25.
Here are a few more to put
30 years in perspective.
James Blanchard was
our Governor
Bear baiting rules
were introduced
In the early to mid 80s the
Deer Range Improvement
Program, mild winters and
artificial feeding of deer by
public propelled the deer
herd to 2 million by 1989
Interest Rates Year End
Federal Reserve 10.75%
Chapmans Sport Center
advertised a 19 Starcraft Islander with a 120 hp Mercury
for sale at $10, 499
Average Cost of a
new house $89,330
Median Price Of an
Existing Home $75,500
Average Income per
year $22,100.00
Average Monthly
Rent $375.00
Average Price for
a new truck $9,005.00
Gallon of gas $1.09
Movie Ticket $2.75
US Postage Stamp 22 cents
Bacon per pound $1.65
Rib Eye Steak Lb $3.89
An estimated 1.2 million individuals bought at least one
hunting license in 1985
*Source: National Survey of Fishing,
Hunting and Wildlife Association.
ALL UNDER ONE ROOF

69 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL & FRIENDLY SERVICE!
OVER 500 BOWS OVER 500 CROSSBOWS
STRYKER
141 W. Pearl Street,

Jackson, Michigan
517-782-8418
HOURS: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.: 9-8;

Wed. 9-6; Sat. 9-5
3 Indoor Archery Ranges

Over 700 Bows In Stock
Over 2000 Guns In Stock
STOP IN
& SHOOT A
2015 BOW
TODAY!
21
Timing and tactics for

Michigans spring walleyes
s winter wanes I
listen to my lake
language in the
evenings. One chilly night I heard it
roaring, distinctly; later that week,
it was more subtle, more like a moaning animal,
followed by a sigh. Its icy skin was melting then
cracking, until one, sunny, windy day the fragile,
crystal necklace along the shoreline crinkled and
finally disappeared. It is these predictable cycles that
sustain us.
With my blood beginning to boil, I think of the
walleyes, the lean, mean males easing up on the bigger, pregnant females ready for the ritual. Grabbing
a flashlight, I run down the hill to the lake.
There they are, I mutter to nobody, the
reflecting eyes of pre-spawn walleyes, ready for the
ritual, the mixing of eggs and milt.
The timing and the locations of these reproductive cycles of pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn
walleyes on your home or favorite lake is information worth knowing. If not, check with the locals
or ask your DNR biologist if natural reproduction
occurs on a lake you wish to fish.
When does all this action start? Lets call March
a transition month. The walleye season closes on
March 15 for most of Michigans waters, except, of
course, the Great Lakes waters and their connecting
waterways. In the U.P., (where I am presently staring
out my den window -29 degrees) and writing, the
walleye opener doesnt open until May 15. This date
is an obvious limiting factor for

catching much of the pre-spawn
and spawning cycles.
However, as friend Mark Mylchreest, MDNR
Supervisor of the Fisheries Division - Crystal Falls
Office, told me today that, even if the walleyes may
still be in pre-spawn or spawning around May 15 in
the U.P., stay positive in knowing that walleyes will
be in close proximity. Mark then reminded me that a
couple of years ago we caught numbers of walleyes
just off a shallower spawning area.
Dock, we were vertical jigging with 3/8-ounce
jigs tipped with both minnows and/or plastics and
picking off walleyes as they were holding in 15to 20-feet on the hard bottom and rocks below. If
we had motored into the shallows we would have
missed a great bite, said Mark.
A Unique Spring Walleye Trip Tip
Here is an example of looking for the next best
spring bite!
On a warm spring day around April Fools Day
last year, a young, notable Yooper fisherman by the
name of Jake Lanaville, from Escanaba took off on
a trip with two buddies to the mouth of the Menominee River, in Menominee. A pretty good rumor was
developing that the river mouth was finally ice free.
Not only that but it is important to note that slightly
stained water is a good thing because it makes spring
walleyes less wary and more apt to bite. If however,
heavy rains bring chocolate malt-type coloration to
the water, the walleye bite will suffer.
By Robert Dock Stupp
The author found this pre-spawn walleye by

searching hard bottom areas just off the break
from shallow spawning spots. Author photo
But Jake said, Last year the big female walleyes
were packed in there like sardines in a can and biting ferociously.
These dudes knew the regulation: The Michigan waters of Green Bay, from the mouth of the
Menominee River northward to the lateral line
Game Fish Stocking
Your Michigan supplier of pond

& lake supplies celebrating 45 years!
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday June 13th, 2015 8am 3pm

Featuring Over $4500 in Door Prizes & Educational Seminars
Aquatic weed & algae control supplies Aeration systems & fountains
Water gardening products Filtration systems, pumps, fish food & more
Call or visit our website to request a free catalog
22
248-640-7950
800-448-3873 4385 E 110th, Grant MI 49327 www.stoneycreekequip.com
(45-degrees/15minutes) located approximately three

miles south of Rochereau Point: from March 2 Fri
before first Saturday in May the daily possession
limit is one walleye and from the first Sat in May
March 1 the daily possession five.
By casting or slow-trolling Rapalas in white,
chartreuse, firetiger, or clown, the Three Amigos
had a great time. Jake also brought along a few
Moonshine Shiver Minnow lures (in purple and firetiger) which proved to be as successful at catching
eyes here, as on Little Bay de Noc, a body of water
Jake knows well.
But, as many optimistic Yooper anglers will tell
you, spawning and early post-spawning walleyes
do not bite as aggressively, but soon, after the rigors
of spawning wear off, males and then big, trophy
females will put on the feed bag.
Another optimistic thought is the fact that walleye spawning does not take place at the same time
or the same place on a given lake, river or reservoir.
Here is where timing or being there at the right time
and the right place is so important.
So, what are some of the benchmarks? Male
walleyes congregate near the spawning areas first,
usually when the water temperature reaches above
freezing. Anglers are keeping close watch for open
water areas around boat ramps. Pre-spawn walleyes
congregate in a limited window around the mid30-degree mark.
Next, when the temperatures warm up to
38-40-degrees, the males are joined by the larger
pre-spawn females. Soon well need to watch as
the water temperature reaches the magic spawning
number of 42-degrees, and then upwards to approximately 50-degrees.
Last year, I went to a spawning area on my old

U. P. lake and caught all males. So I had a clue; I
may have arrived too early. As the weather warmed,
here came the bigger females and we enjoyed a fine
fry.
O.K., thats the Upper Peninsula story, except
to say that the U.P. Great Lakes walleye season is
also not open until May 15. The Lower Peninsula
inland waters are open for walleye fishing on the last
Saturday in April.
The Lower Peninsula Great Lakes are open all
year to walleye fishing and so are the large rivers
that connect them. They never close. I read an article
by Steve Ryan and he noted smart and knowledgeable anglers like Captain Mike Veine of Trophy
Specialists take advantage of the fact that, in early
March, the far western basin of Lake Erie welcomes
tens of thousands of staging walleyes to the surrounding spawning grounds. With prevailing west
winds and warmer water discharged from the Detroit
and Maumee rivers, this area clears of ice earlier
than other near-shore areas. The trophy of a lifetime
is waiting for the anglers who take advantage of this
bonanza, which can start as early as ice-out.
And when exactly is ice-out and when exactly is
a particular area of the Great Lakes fishable? Well,
useful websites such as NOAAs Great lakes Coast
Watch give anglers the ability to chart the dispersion
of major ice packs and all kinds of useful information. Consequently, anglers can quickly arrive on
time for peak, trophy walleye hotspots. Yep! Timing
again!
Tactics include trolling in the warming water
for suspending walleyes near rocky substrate and
spawning reefs in 15-20 feet of water and around the
river mouths with shallow-running minnow baits.

Saginaw Bay
The Saginaw Bay area is a phenomenal walleye
system. I am ashamed to admit that I as I drive on
M-75 south to the Detroit area from da U.P., I keep
wondering about Saginaw Bay as my wife and I
drive by. However, here is what I learned.
The incredible populations of Saginaw walleyes
are the result of natural reproduction. Therefore,
many of the walleyes have been super successful
spawning in the Saginaw River and its tributaries
like the Tittabawassee River. But, like I have said
earlier, not all walleyes spawn in the same place and
at the same time in a body of water or water system.
The Saginaw Bay system holds walleyes that also
spawn in the rocky areas and reefs in the bay and
do not enter the rivers. However, it is important to
know that there is a constant population of walleyes
that enter and leave the Saginaw River from the
months of March to and through May. Again, timing
is the key to success.
In the March, Mike Gnatkowski wrote an
article, Michigan Walleyes Now, where he
says that savvy anglers target those fish as they
concentrate near the river mouth and in the
shallows prior to spawning and fan out in the Bay
during the post-spawn.
Three-way rigging with a pencil-weight and a
crankbait is another way to catch spring eyes and so
is applying the rip or snap jigging method. I like to
remember that these are very aggressive fish during
most of this spring spawning cycle. Just because it
is cold outside and we feel sluggish at times doesnt
mean the walleyes are. Just keep timing the next
best bite!n
Superior Products. Amazing Results!
Kubota
More Power to You!

Sales Event
0 Down, 0.99% Financing for 60 Months
A.P.R.
Offer ends 3/31/15.
NEW
&
USED
Rosy Bros. Inc.

5727 Dryden Road
Dryden, MI 48428
(810) 796-3770
BUY
SELL
TRADE
www.rosybrosinc.com
kubota.com
*$0 down, 0.99% A.P.R. nancing for up to 60 months on purchases of new Kubota ZP, BX, B, L, M, DM, DMC, RB, RA, TE, K008, KX, U, TLB, SVL and R Series
equipment available to qualied purchasers from participating dealers in-stock inventory through 3/31/2015. Example: A 60-month monthly installment repayment
term at 0.99% A.P.R. requires 60 payments of $17.09 per $1,000 nanced. 0.99% A.P.R. interest is available to customers if no dealer documentation preparation
fee is charged. Dealer charge for document preparation fee shall be in accordance with state laws. Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended
A.P.R. Not available for Rental, National Accounts or Governmental customers. 0.99% A.P.R. and low-rate nancing may not be available with customer instant rebate
offers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., 3401 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply.
Offer expires 3/31/2015. See us for details on these and other low-rate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information. Optional equipment may be shown.
Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2015
Premium Quality,
Whitetail Mineral Supplement
demanded by Five Industry Pro Staffs.
Now available to the public!

Consult all game laws in your area before starting a mineral supplement program.
Power your projects with Kubotas MX Series utility tractors.
23
A stickbow called
Drumstick
Traditional Archery...By Darryl Quidort
24
met my good friend, Ken Beck,

shortly after he bought the Black
Widow Custom Bow Company
in about 1983. We have shared
several hunts and worked several bow shows together since that
time. I guess Ive owned and hunted
with just about every model of custom
bow Black Widow has made. Ive
always been more of a recurve bow
shooter than a longbow guy. But once,
when discussing a new bow, Ken said,
Why dont you try a longbow this
year?
Why would I do that? I wondered.
Because I have a new string
keeper for you to try out, Ken replied. Ken was always trying out a
new idea or product. Sometimes he
tried them out on me.
The bow arrived in a small
package. After slipping the two-piece
takedown bow together, I admired
the smooth curve of the reflex-deflex
limbs and the honey-yellow color of
new Osage wood under clear glass.
At 56 pounds, the 62 inch longbow
would be perfect for the upcoming
spring turkey season.
Then I saw it; a neat hole drilled
right through the upper bow limb
about two inches down from the narrow tip. I immediately called Ken.
Hey, is this thing safe to shoot? I
joked. Ken assured me that the bow
was sound. His prototype string
keeper was a black string, that fit
through the small hole, with a little
rubber ball on the end to catch the
bowstring when the bow was unstrung. It really did work nicely, keeping the bowstring from falling off the
unstrung bow. However, I doubted if
many bows would be sold with a hole
purposely drilled through the limb.
Anyway, the bow shot beautifully
and it was spring, time to hunt wild
turkeys. A buddy, Scott, and I took
a road trip to Kansas to get a turkey
hunt in before our Michigan season
opened. A Kansas license allows a
hunter to take two bearded turkeys
during the spring season.
Our Kansas friend, Rob, killed his
second gobbler, with his compound
bow, the first day we hunted. Filling
his second tag with a long spurred
gobbler, with an 11 inch beard, made
him camp cook and spectator. He
didnt care much for the spectator
idea. Knowing that I hadnt called in
a turkey that morning, he suggested,

Ill call one in for you tomorrow. You
dont have a clue what youre doing
anyway, he needled me.
The sun was barely a pink glow in
the eastern sky as we walked across
a disked milo field to the fencerow. I
quietly popped up the blind while Rob
puttered around arranging his flock
of decoys. Once inside the blind, we
each poured a cup of steaming coffee from the thermos and sat back to
listen to the world wake up. Youve
never heard song birds sing until
youve heard them from a turkey blind
on a clear, still morning in spring. We
had natures symphony playing in
surround-sound.
After a while a group of hens
came out across the field. Rob called.
The hens turned and fed toward us.
Rob called. The hens came right in
and were soon walking among the
decoys. Some were within a few feet
of our blind. The old boss hen had a
face-off with an upright decoy. After
pecking it several times she must
have decided that she was still boss
because she lost interest in the decoy.
One hen sort of bedded down right in
the decoys. They all seemed relaxed
and were in no hurry to leave. Hen
caller, I chided Rob in a whisper.
Another turkey was scratching
around out in the field. I thought I saw
a small beard on it. Is that a little
jake, I whispered.
No, thats a hen for sure, Rob
said as he picked up his binoculars.
Then, Hey, thats a bearded hen! As
we studied her with binoculars, Rob
said, Here in Kansas any turkey with
a visible beard is legal. Thats a legal
bird.
Ill take her if I can, I replied.
Rob laughed at me.
Hen caller Rob went to work. He
clucked a couple of times to get her
attention. Then he gave her a cackle.
The bearded lady was fooled. She
waltzed right in. I had my new longbow in shooting position. When she
began to veer off in front of the blind,
I drew and shot.
As tough as a big tom turkey is, I
was surprised to see the dainty lady
go down without even a wing flop.
She just politely folded. I promptly
hurried out to admire her. She wore
no spurs and was about half the size
of a mature tom. Unlike a gobbler, her
head was covered with small brown
The author with his Michigan gobbler. Drumstick rests against the tree
behind him. Three wild turkeys in a month with the same longbow.
feathers. She had a pencil-thin beard
about 6 inches long. I was delighted
with her. Rob just shook his head and
laughed.
It rained cats and dogs the next
day and our turkey hunting was a
wash out. But the following morning,
our last day to hunt in Kansas, dawned
clear and beautiful. Rob and I shared
my blind again while Scott set his up
a short distance away. By calling back
and forth we hoped to sound like a
flock of hens.
We heard no answers to our calls
for quite some time. As the morning
sun warmed our blind, our calling
faded away, along with our hopes.
Then Scott ripped off a very loud series of cackles and a gobbler immediately sounded off. Rob and I looked at
each other with wide eyes. That loud
gobble came from directly behind our
blind. I grabbed my longbow, turned
around, and nocked an arrow. Rob
silently mouthed the word, Ready?,
before he opened a shooting window
for me. A big tom turkey was just
outside the window, walking to the
left. I turned and pointed my arrow at
the next window. Taking my cue, Rob
opened it quickly. Thump! The big
Simmons four blade broadhead busted

right through him.
Better get after him! Rob yelled
as he zipped the door of the blind
open. When I rounded the corner the
tom was running like a racehorse
through the trees. I was in hot pursuit,
wanting to keep him in sight until he
folded. A hundred yards later he ran
out of gas and I claimed a 22 pound
trophy gobbler sporting a 10 inch
beard.
Our Kansas hunt was a great success as Scott also brought home a big
Kansas gobbler. However, back in
Michigan things didnt go so well for
me.
I missed the first gobbler I called
in. Instinctive archery shooting is
always a mind game. Things started
to unravel right from the start. When
the big bird held up at 20 yards, I
thought, Oh no. I need him closer.
Then, when he turned to leave, I
thought, Better shoot now to try to
salvage this. A good instinctive shot
is a positive mental process. Negative thoughts and trying to salvage
situations dont work. I didnt focus,
I just rushed a shot at the whole bird.
The result was a close miss, which is
as good as a mile.
Trying to stay positive, I reminded myself of the countless arrows I
had successfully shot into the center
of my 3-D turkey target preparing
myself for that one good shot. I tried
to forget the missed shot and move
on.
The next morning, I saw a jake
walking across a clearing about 50
yards away. I called softly to him
with my mouth call. He ignored me.
When I called again, louder this time,
he stopped, stretched his neck, and
looked toward me. Unimpressed, he
walked on and never looked back.
The arrogant way he walked away
made me want to kill him.
The days of my season were
slipping away. I had hunted several
mornings in a row and I was so tired
that I slept in the next morning. It was
mid-morning when I set up my blind
just 10 yards from a sandy dusting
area that the turkeys used during
the day. The birds arrived about an
hour later. Of course they went to a
different sandy spot about 50 yards
away. Three hens spent the next half
hour taking turns throwing sand from
a dusting bowl while a mature tom
strutted constantly around them. What

a show! The sun reflected beautifully
off his iridescent feathers as he tried
his best to impress the hens.
Each time I clucked softly on
my mouth call the tom would look
my way, gobble loudly, and puff up
even larger. But, he wouldnt come
any closer. Even though the hens
completely ignored him, the gobbler
wouldnt leave them. After dusting, the hens began to slowly move
toward me. The tom followed them.
When the hens turned and went into
the woods, I again clucked softly.
This time the gobbler came, strutting
all the way. At 10 yards, he let down
his strut and looked for the invisible
hen. I silently drew my longbow.
It should have been all over, but at
the last second I lost my concentration and completely missed the easy
shot. Of course, Ill always maintain
that I fired a warning shot just to let
him know I was there. Anyway, the
turkey jumped a few feet and stopped
again, right in front of the next shooting window in my blind. This time
I didnt miss. That big gobbler had
inch long spurs and a thick, nine inch
beard.
My Michigan turkey finished a

great spring of turkey hunting with
a longbow. I received that Black
Widow bow in mid-April and before
the end of May I had taken three wild
turkeys with it. I didnt set out to
take three turkeys in a month, it was
a goal I had reached unintentionally,
but sometimes things just work out

well when a hunter doesnt give up.
I knew then that the longbow with a
hole in the limb was a keeper.
I usually dont name my
bows, like some hunters do, but
I should name that stickbow the
Drumstick.n
female that weighed in at 87

pounds and was taken at 12:50 p.m.
The fifth and final fish was harvested
at 1:27 p.m. and was a 50-inch female that weighed 31 pounds.
Four of the five fish taken had
been captured several times before
by Michigan State University and
DNR sturgeon researchers during
spring spawning runs.
The sturgeon fishing hotline was
updated at 1:27 p.m., which officially closed the season. In addition,
signal cannons and sirens were used
within minutes of the final fish being
harvested to indicate the seasons
end. DNR law enforcement officials
and other department personnel were
embedded in the on-ice fishing communities and were able to quickly
report harvested fish this year, as
well as to quickly contact all lake
sturgeon anglers on the ice and close
the season.
The unlimited entry fishery
paired with a significant on-ice
presence of DNR personnel
allows for greater participation
by anglers while protecting the
population of lake sturgeon in
Black Lake from overharvest,
said Cwalinski. It was deemed a

very successful season for angler
participation, fish harvest, quick
response times, and from a safety
perspective.
Rehabilitation of lake sturgeon
in the Cheboygan River watershed
is a cooperative effort involving the
Department of Natural Resources,
the Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon
For Tomorrow, Michigan State University and Tower-Kleber Limited
Partnership.
The 2015 sturgeon fishing
season on Black Lake was a suc-
cess, from the angler participation,

the Sturgeon Shivaree event, to the
harvest, said Brenda Archambo,
president of the Black Lake Chapter
of Sturgeon For Tomorrow. This
entire weekend shows the link lake
sturgeon have to this area, not only
biologically, but socially and culturally. We look forward to upcoming years working collaboratively
in planning and facilitating future
events.
For more information on sturgeon in Michigan, visit Michigan.
gov/sturgeon.
This Kansas
longbeard fell
to the stickbow called
Drumstick.
epartment of Natural
Resources officials
announced the 2015
Black Lake sturgeon
harvest season ended
after less than five and a half hours
Saturday, Feb. 7, with five fish being
harvested. The fishing season, which
included spearing or hook-and-line
fishing, was scheduled to run Feb.
7-11 or until the harvest quota of five
fish had been reached.
There were 303 registered anglers on the ice Saturday, up from
228 the year before. Most anglers
registered at the preregistration held
Friday, Feb. 6, which allowed for
a much more streamlined process.
Anglers of all ages and genders participated, including a good number
of supervised youth.
According to DNR fisheries biologist Tim Cwalinski, the first sturgeon was harvested around 9 a.m. It
was a 67-inch female that weighed
75 pounds. Fish number two was
taken at 9:33 a.m. and was a 58-inch
male weighing 45 pounds. Fish three
was a 69-inch female that weighed
80 pounds, taken at 12:35 p.m. Fish
four was the days largest, a 71-inch
2015 Black Lake sturgeon season harvest results
25
COVER STORY...
Inland U.P. Brown Trout

B
U.P. streams are not widely established in contrast to L.P. streams
rown trout were widely introduced to trout streams both the

Upper and Lower Peninsula of
Michigan from the late 1800s
through the early 1900s.
They became widely
established in the Lower
Peninsula and typically dominate many
of the non-anadromous trout rivers there.
In the U.P. the situation is quite different. Native brook trout dominate most
inland U.P. trout streams and brown trout
only became established in a very limited
number of the streams where they were
introduced.
Michigan trout research biologists have pondered why brown trout
have not more widely established
themselves when adequately stocked in U.P. Rivers,
although they have not come up with any definitive answers. Apparently, some critical habitat
requirement is inadequate for their maintenance in
most U P streams once the stocking of brown trout
is discontinued. Additionally, in recent years, the
Michigan DNR has had performance problems with
the brown trout strains available from their hatcheries. Approximately 20 streams were dropped during the last couple of decades due to lack of return
to the creel from U.P. brown trout plants.
Michigan DNR fisheries has made attempts to
convert hatchery brown trout to more Michigan
wild strains like Gilchrist Creek and Sturgeon River
with hopes of improved stocking performance and
return to anglers creel. DNR fisheries research biologist Todd Wills reported that the Gilchrist Creek
brown trout strain grew well and survived bet-
wadeable or can be floated with a canoe. Much of

the shoreline is National Forest land although private in holdings are present along the river course.
A number of deeper holes along with three
sections of US Forest Service trout habitat structures (sky booms), deadfalls, and natural undercut
banks are all good holding cover for larger brown
trout. Although the size structure is good the South
Branch did support more large brown trout in the
past. Type 2 Fisheries Division Trout Regulations
were not successful in rebuilding the trophy brown
trout fishery that once existed here. Gear restrictions (artificials only) were considered by the DNR
to reduce hooking mortality on brown trout and to
allow carryover to increase trophy sized browns;
although they were not adopted.
Cooks Run in Iron County was found to have
one of the highest trout densities in Michigan by
DNR trout assessment surveys. Stocking has never
been necessary on Cooks Run to maintain brown
Self-Sustaining Brown Trout Streams:
trout or brook trout populations. The most notable
The South Branch of the Paint River in Iron
brown trout section is from US 2 downstream to
County is excellent brown trout water. Stocking
the confluence with the South Branch of the Paint
has never been necessary to maintain either brown
River. This is also rated as Blue Ribbon by the
trout or brook trout in the South Branch. The South DNR.
Branch is rated as Blue Ribbon by Michigan DNR
Just like the South Branch Paint the upper areas
fisheries, which in part means ample fly fishing op- of Cooks Run are dominated by brook trout. Cooks
portunities exist on this stream. The most notable
Run is fairly accessible by a series of US Forest
brown trout section is from the confluence with
Service trail roads and the Basswood county road.
Cooks Run downstream to the Forks which is the Cooks Run predominantly runs through US Forest
confluence with the North Branch of the Paint.
Service land and is readily wadeable. Brown trout
As is often the case in brown trout streams the
holding water can be found in a series of holes and
upper reaches of the South Branch are dominated
one section of USFS sky booms. The Meadows
by brook trout. Angler access is relatively easy on
(written about in several trout fishing books) is the
significant sections of the brown trout water due to
a recreation trail grade (former railroad) that runs
along quite a bit of the river. The river is readily
U.P. Brown Trout page 28
ter than the Wild Rose and Seeforellen strains in
his evaluation study. His initial evaluations of the
Sturgeon River brown trout strain were encouraging
for their performance in two Lower Peninsula tail
water fisheries.
The Michigan Fish Atlas produced
in 2003 by the University of Michigans
Reeve Bailey and DNR research biologist Carl Latta only indicates brown trout
found in 11 locations in the U.P. Interviews with DNR fisheries biologists across
the U P indicates brown trout are only selfsustaining and maintaining a good brown
trout fishery in less than ten U.P. streams.
The following is a brief description
of the U.P.s brown trout streams.
Self-sustaining streams are described
first because they typically maintain
a higher trout density than stocked streams.
By Bill Ziegler
26
27
U.P. Brown Trout:

from page 26
most famous section of Cooks Run and is located
downstream from USFS Highway 16. Unfortunately, DNR beaver control ceased in 2010 and the
intensive DNR trout habitat improvement work in
the meadows has degraded due to excessive beaver
impoundments.
The Brule River is border water with Wisconsin in Iron County. The Brule is a fair brown trout
stream although major portions of the Brule, especially the Lower Brule River have been degraded
by warm summer water temperatures. Brown trout
have been occasionally stocked by Wisconsin DNR
although browns maintain a modest population in
sections of the Upper Brule through natural reproduction. The best section for brown trout fishing
throughout trout season is between Highway M-73
downstream to M 189. Although most of the Brule
River is readily wadeable, and all is floatable, the
best road access in the section of the Brule above
M 189 is from trail roads on the Wisconsin side of
the river. Much of this section on the Wisconsin
side runs through the Nicolet National Forest.
George Madison, Michigan DNR fisheries
biologist from Baraga, reports a good brown
trout fishery in the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon, especially in the fall. There has been
brown trout stocking through the years including
recently. The best section for brown trout fishing
is from Agate Falls at M-28 down to Military Hill
at M-45. Much of this river section is difficult to
access due to lack of interior roads. This section flows through a mix of USFS and private land.
Most anglers access at M-28 and walk down below
Agate Falls to fish. The Middle Branch of the Ontonagon above Bond Falls is brook trout water.
Brian Shoenung, current Indiana DNR Fisheries

Chief, fly fishing for brown trout on the South
Branch of the Paint River.
Cory Kovacs, Michigan DNR fisheries biologist from Newberry said the Chocolay River in
Marquette County is a fair to good brown trout
stream. The better resident brown trout water is
above US 141. Access is limited to road crossing
and a few parcels of State Land with water frontage.
Maintenance Stocked Brown Trout Streams:
Black River Gogebic County. This river has

been consistently maintenance stocked with brown
trout for many years and that program is ongoing.
George Madison reports fair brown trout fishing
north of Bessemer with occasional angler catches
of nice sized trout.
Montreal River Gogebic County. The Montreal was consistently maintenance stocked with
brown trout until 1995. George Madison reports
that an experimental brown trout stocking program
will commence with stocking the new strain of
brown trout upstream of Ironwood. This program
will be evaluated to determine if stocked brown
trout survive adequately with a return to anglers
creels.
Escanaba River Delta and Marquette Counties. The Escanaba River has been heavily maintenance stocked by Michigan DNR with brown
trout for many years. This program is ongoing and
private plants of larger browns below Bony Falls
Dave Graser of Marquette

with a nice brown trout he
caught and released in a U.P.
trout stream.
28
have occurred since 1987. Darren Kramer, fisheries biologist from Escanaba reports the brown trout
fishery below Bony Falls Dam is good. Kramer
rates the brown trout fishery from Gwinn down to
the confluence of the West Branch of the Escanaba
as fair.
Sturgeon River Delta County. The Sturgeon
has been maintenance stocked with brown trout
consistently since 1981, the stocking program is
ongoing. Kramer reports a fair brown trout fishery
in the lower half of the river accessing the river off
US Forest Highway 13.
Yellow Dog River Marquette County. George
Madison rates the Yellow Dog brown trout fishery
as fair with the best catches earlier in the season.
The river gets a lot of fishing pressure near CR510, so the sites upstream offer better catches. Access is good from the roads south off the Triple-A
Road.
Au Train River Alger County. Cory Kovacs
reports some brown trout natural reproduction in
the Au Train River although this river has been
consistently maintenance stocked with brown trout
in an ongoing program for many years. Kovacs
said that the best section to fish is from Au Train
Falls down to USFS Road 2276. The access is
difficult although the brown trout fishery is good.
Indian River Schoolcraft County. The Indian
River above Indian Lake has been consistently
planted for many years in an ongoing maintenance
stocking program. Darren Kramer reports that
brown trout are not abundant although anglers do
catch some larger brown trout there.
Tahquamenon River Luce County. Brown
trout are consistently stocked between the Upper
and Lower Tahquamenon Falls in an ongoing program. Biologist Kovacs said if you want to try a
picturesque and unique fishery with very light fishing pressure access the river at the falls and wade
fish the river. He rates the brown trout fishery as
fair.
Carp River Mackinac County. Brown trout
are being maintenance stocked relatively aggressively in the Carp River. Neal Godby, fisheries
biologist from Gaylord reports that the Carp has
some brown natural reproduction although it is
heavily dependent on stocking. Biologists Godby
and Kovacs rate the brown trout fishery as fair
to good. The best brown trout fishery is above
M-123.
There has been a long held belief by many
trout anglers that brown trout will always displace
native brook trout fisheries. Although they may
be the case in some Lower Peninsula trout steams
that has not been the case in the U.P. Streams. In
the U.P. brown trout fisheries are relatively unusual
although many of them do provide a quality fishery
with the potential for producing trophy sized fish.n
YOUTH
HUNTS
ELK S
T
N
U
H
WORLD CLASS
WHITETAILS
Trophy Whitetail Deer
Hunting Lodge & Preserve
S
T
N
U
H
Y
H
TROP D UP
200" AN
A 5,000 square foot lodge located in the heart of Michigans

Northern Lower Peninsula. We are proud to offer some of the
best whitetail deer in the country. Our herd consists of several
bucks that gross over the 200 mark, with a few that net over
200 typical! For hunters we offer hunt-of-a-lifetime opportunities. Our hunts are in a heavily forested area, located along
Lake Huron with Canada just across the lake to the north east.
800-756-5459
www.worldclasswhitetails.com
Take M-27 N
to US-23 in
Cheboygan
Take US-23
East 19 Miles
To Property
On Right
Take I-75 N
to Exit 313
(M-27 North)
29
Mark McKellip - The Rod Makers Art - By Bill Semion
Crafting fine bamboo rods is his passion

S
ome artists sculpt in stone

or metal. Bay Citys Mark
McKellip works in a medium
where two-thousanths of an
inch might be the difference
between a clunker of a fishing rod,
and a fine casting instrument.
And fortunately for his customers,
which number around the world now,
the carefully crafted products coming
out of his basement workshop are the
latter.
Out of that shop have come some
of the most beautiful representations
of the rod makers art youll ever
cast to a rising trout. Each rod that
leaves his workshop with the McKellip Brothers Rod Company proudly
displayed on the butt section represents about 60 hours of work and a lot
of love.
And so far, thats about 150 being
used around the world. While theyre
not cheap at about $1,400 apiece, be
assured that what youre getting is
both a usable work of art, and a topof-the-line fishing tool.
Formerly head of the fly shop at
Linwoods Franks Great Outdoors,
McKellip began working on making rods in the 1960s. I gradually
became skilled enough to feel I could
begin some restoration work in the
early 1970s, and over time if you do it
enough, your skills increase and you
learn a lot, as happens with anything
youre doing new, he said.
I got good enough so guys were
sending me quite a few rods to be
restored, he says, which he continues
to do, in fact, recently getting in a
classic Everett Garrison rod for restoration from a Michigan dealer.
Restoring is more time-consuming
than making a rod from scratch, he
said. Its very tedious work because
youre trying to get it to the original
makers specs and colors, which is
challenging to say the least. Makers
used color preservative and varnish
that are no longer available to rod
makers today, he said.
Eventually, he said, his restoration
work was going so well that he was
asked why he wasnt making his own.
Then opportunity came knocking:
In about 2004 a rod maker acquain-
30
tance was selling some of his equipment, a hand-mill used to plane the
pieces of Chinese bamboo that eventually become a rod. It was a Morgan
handmill, originally developed by
another famous rod maker, Winston.
That purchase, he said, simplified
the process of planning both sides of
each piece, including taking off the
nodes, those little bumps you see
on a typical traditional bamboo cane
fishing polenot rod, there is a big
differencemany of us began fishing
with.
Once word spread I started getting phone calls to make rods, he
said, also occasionally pairing his
work with that of Ohio leather rod
case and fly box maker James Acord
to create even more artistic presentations. His rods usually come in aluminum tubes shown on
McKellips website,
www.mckellipbamboorods.com.
Between me and my son, we
bought much of the equipment, so we
could get within 50-thousandths of an
inch of the finished product, and then
go the rest of the way on a hand mill
called a Dickerson.
From there it was the process
of gluing up the six to eight finely
planed strips, preparing and attaching a grip and reel seat. I have a reel
seat thats proprietary, different than
most, McKellip explains, that creates a smooth transition between the
handle and reel seat. Purchasers have
a choice of handle and seat designs,
from stacked leather to traditional
cork and wood.
Impregnated vs. Varnished
Many big-name makers advertise
their rods as being impregnated. But
that process, McKellip feels, takes the
life out of the bamboo. Instead, he
uses a traditional varnish finish.
All his rods are hand-dipped,
drawn out of the varnish at exactly
two inches per minute. He stops at every guide to prevent runs. The process
usually takes two to three coats.
There are problems inherent
with using varnish compared with
impregnated rods, but essentially after
it is impregnated, your bamboo rod
is now plastic, and it adds quite a bit
Bay Citys Mark McKellip with one of his signature bamboo rods. Below left:
A crafted custom bamboo fly rod in time for opening day, including a stacked
leather grip if you want. Bill Semion photos
of weight and deadens the bamboo,
McKellip says. You can leave it in
water and its not affected, yes. But
if the rod taper isnt quite right, it is a
poor casting rod.
They do last, but if a traditional
varnished rod is built correctly, the tapers and finish are right and the joints
are tight, it will last just as long if not
longer than an impregnated version,
he says.
McKellip also has begun building less expensive fiberglass rods,
which are coming back into vogue.
Fiberglass originally made its mark in
fly rods when the traditional Chinese
cane used to make bamboo rods grew
scarce after it was embargoed in 1949.
That embargo was lifted by President
Richard Nixon.
Ive always liked fiberglass.
There were some really good glass
rods being made by a few companies in the 1970s, then graphite came
along, and glass didnt come back
until about 10 years ago. Now theres
been a big resurgence, he said. And,
theyre better now than at any time.
While each rod he makes

shows his pride of workmanship,
McKellip wants to make sure his
art is enjoyed the way its meant to
be, with a fish at one end, and the
angler at the other. He does not
want his rods hanging over a
fireplace, for display only.
If you dont take pride in your
work it shows up. Ive seen a lot of
other rod makers work that wouldnt
meet my standards. Im not saying
they wouldnt cast okay, but as far
as fit and finish goes, to get it right it
takes a lot of attention to detail that
shows up in the finished product, he
said.
I think any rod maker will tell
you that when you go through the
trouble to get the tapers exact so its
a really nice casting rod, why would
you just want to look at it? These
are made to be used, not abused, of
course. If you take care of one of my
rods it should last you a lifetime, and
beyond.
If youre interested, call McKellip
at 989-893-5938.n
31
Catch and Release
KICKS
BASS
By Mark Romanack
In Michigan the outdoor calendar has

some pretty significant dates etched in
stone. Archery deer season opens on the
first day of October, firearm deer
season on November 15, trout season
opens on the last Saturday in April and
bass season opens on the Saturday
preceding Memorial Day...
hat a lot of Michigan anglers

havent discovered is the last
Saturday in April also marks the
opening day of Michigans Catch
and Release Bass Season. For a few
years the DNR conducted catch and
release research on a handful of Michigan lakes to
determine if opening up an early season statewide
would be detrimental to bass populations. Research
proved without any doubt that catches and immediate release fishing poses no significant impact on
bass populations.
Based on this research a special catch and
release season in the Lower Peninsula opens on the
last Saturday in April and a similar season in the
Upper Peninsula opens on May 15. Collectively
these new fishing opportunities provide Michigan
anglers a bonanza of bass fishing options including
almost unlimited waters that hold both smallmouth
and largemouth bass.
THINK SKINNY
32
The beauty of the Catch and Release Bass

Season is most of the fish are going to be found in
shallow water early in the spring. Prior to the spawn
both smallmouth and largemouth cruise the shallows looking for an easy meal. That meal could be a
host of minnow species, young of the year panfish,
crayfish and even fresh out of hibernation frogs.
Bass arent picky when it comes to food types
in the early spring. These fish are seeking out two
simple things, water a little warmer than the main
lake and something to fill their belly before spawning season kicks in. Often the best fishing takes
place in water barely deep enough to cover their
backs! All it takes to lure bass in this close to shore
is a little cover. Emerging weed beds, dead and
standing bulrush and/or cattail, submerged wood
and rocks are all great contact points.
One of the authors favorite pre-spawn bass baits is the jerk bait. Fished with lots of pauses and near
cover, this bait consistently produces both large and smallmouth bass. Mark Romanack photos
RUN AND GUN
deeper water, I reel it up quickly in preparation for

the next cast. About 99% of the bites come tight to
In most lakes anglers are going to find a tremenshore or in direct proximity to cover.
dous amount of shallow water ideal for bass fishWhen the season opens on the last Saturday in
ing. Covering as much of this habitat as possible in
April,
I find that the north, west and east shorelines
search of active fish is the key to success. I typically
have
warmed
a little faster than the rest of the lake.
set my bow mounted electric motor on continuous
This
is
because
the angle of the sun in the spring
and slip quietly down the shoreline. As targets of
time
focuses
more
sonar energy on these parts of
interest come into range, I cast to them. Once my
lure passes the desired target and slips into a little
the lake.
THE NEW CLASSIC

Gradually as the lake water warms, other regions of the lake including the south shorelines will
also begin to attract fish. Its also important to note
that the best fishing gets going in the southern part
of the state and progresses slowly north through the
Lower Peninsula and into the Upper Peninsula. The
beauty of this situation is that anglers can continue
to target pre-spawn fish by simply targeting more
northerly and cooler parts of the state.
Great fishing starts right when the season opens
the last Saturday in April and continues all through
May, giving anglers a solid two months of fishing
time to target pre-spawn bass.
TOP PRESENTATIONS
Pre-spawn bass will bite a variety of presentations, but generally speaking jerkbaits, swim-
Other soft plastic options that work well on

pre-spawn bass are jerk shads, tubes, flukes and
do nothing worms. All of these plastics work best
when fished weightless so they sink very slowly.
Again, every major manufacturer of soft plastics
produces baits suitable for pre-spawn bass fishing
applications.
Named after the iconic

watershed that holds
the world record for
Speckled Trout.
RODS/REELS/LINES
Jerkbaits and swimming jigs can be fished

nicely on medium action baitcasting gear loaded
with eight to 10 pound test fluorocarbon line. In
the case of weightless plastics, a medium light or
light action spinning set up loaded with six to eight
pound test fluorocarbon line is ideal.
The same rods many anglers favor for fishing
drop shot rigs later in the season make great rods
2-1/2, 1/3 oz
8 colors
Genuine silver &
24 carat gold finishes,
UV reactive 3D eye and a
red hook. A casting
& trolling slimmer
profile spoon.
Proudly North American Made
This jerk shad rigged weightless and Texas style is one of the authors Go To set ups for targeting early
spring bass. So long as fish are caught and immediately released, no damage is done to bass populations.
for pitching soft plastics to pre-spawn bass. These
rods tend to be a little longer and also they have a
very light action tip. This is virtually the perfect set
up for casting and working unweighted plastics.
SUMMING IT UP
Michigans Catch and Release Bass Season is

growing in popularity, but the majority of anglers
still have not discovered how active bass can be in
cold water. Prior to the spawn its a safe bet that
bass will be in shallow water and hunting actively.
Some of the best fishing takes place on sunny days
and during the middle of the day after the sun has
warmed the surface water a few degrees.
To tap into this bonanza of fishing action all an
angler needs to do is think shallow, fish slow and
target visible cover. Those who stick to these basics
will no doubt be rewarded with lots and lots of
leaping bass action.n
NOTHING MATCHES THE VISIBILITY
The flash of genuine silver and 24K gold finishes
/williamslures
@williamsfishing
www.williams.ca
ming jigs and un-weighted soft plastics are the top

choices. Jerkbaits including the Bomber Long A,
Rapala Husky Jerk, Smithwick Rattlin Rogue and
others are classic cold water bass lures. To trigger
strikes in cold water anglers must often pause the
bait for several seconds before twitching the bait a
few more times.
Swimming jigs are another popular spring bass
option. The best swimming jigs are weedless version with a living rubber body and a pointed nose
that slips through cover easily. Any swimming jig
fishes best when tipped with a soft plastic trailer
like a crawfish body to add action and also to slow
down the sinking rate.
A slow and steady retrieve is often the most
productive way to fish a swimming jig. Sizes 1/4
and 3/8 ounce are the most popular and every major manufacturer of bass jigs offers a swimming jig
suitable for the task.
33
Prepare for next year now
The best way to organize for next years ice-fishing season is to put
equipment away today as if you were going to use it tomorrow...
By Mark Martin
hen it comes to being the

poster boy of organization,
I must admit, Im about as
far away from perfect as
anyone can be. With that
said, now let me state that one of the
most overlooked aspects of being a
successful angler, no matter the season, is being organized and prepared
well before any trip.
For me, early April is my window
of opportunity to sort out more than
just my thoughts after a busy season
of ice fishing and seminar engagements. Its this time of year, winter is
melding into spring; when the ice has
deteriorated so much that safe travel is
no longer an option. However, its too
soon to launch my Lund as shelf ice
still hampers the boat ramps. Thus its
when I put away my ice-fishing equipment properly so that I can easily
manage it the minute I need it when
first ice appears next winter.
34
the season, I make sure the blanks

are perfectly strait during storage.
Whether fiberglass or graphite, the
blanks can get a memory to them, and
if stored bent theyll stay that way
forever after.
The best way I have found to store
my ice rods is in an Otter Rod/Sportsmans Case. And I make sure it, too, is
totally dry beforehand before locking
its clasps. The case is foam lined and
protects my ice rods from damage
whether on the ice or stored in my
garage.
Powerful Thoughts
Theres no doubting a batterys

will be extended if it always kept at
full charge. Power augers, too, will
last for years without needing a major
tune-up when they are put away
properly. Before I store my Lowrance
Elite-5 IceMachine, I make sure
its 12-volt battery is fully charged.
(Actually, I do this after every use.)
Once charged, I unplug the units
wires from the battery and check for
corrosion. I also remove the NavionNever Really Put It Away
ics mapping SD card from the units
By far, I have found the best way
reader so that I can use it in one of my
to organize for next years ice-fishing
two Lowrance units in my Lund. Once
season is to put my equipment away
ready, I store the unit in a place where
today as if I were going to use it
I can easily get to it, so as to connect
tomorrow. That is, in a manner that it
the charger during the mid-summer
will ready to go at a moments notice.
months to give the battery a boost.
Professional angler Mark Martin on first ice; his gear is ready because he
The first thing I do is take everyWhen it comes to my MarCum unthing out of my Otter portable shanty stores it correctly right now. David A. Rose photo
derwater viewing system, I also makes
and erect the unit out of the elements. remedy this.
to cork or foam and ruin it.
sure its battery is at full charge, howOnce upright, I go over every square
If my ABU Garcia reels were
If I open my Plano tote and find
ever, dont tuck it away because Ill
inch of the shanty to make sure noth- my hooks have already have a light
filled with Trilene monofilament or
be using it throughout the open-water
ing was broken. If any part of the
layer of corrosion on them, Ill simply Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon line, Ill season, as well.
cover, frame or sled is damaged, this
strip it from their spools. First off, you
wipe them off with a clean towel.
As for my StrikeMaster gas-power
is the time of year to get repairs made. However, if the rust has been on the
need fresh line on them next season,
auger, I empty out the majority of
If all is in working order, Ill rinse hooks long enough to start pitting
anyway. Second, mono and fluoro will the gas, however, leave a little with a
any dirt off with water, and if need be, themwhich in tune weakens the
expand when they get hot, which can dash of fresh fuel stabilizer. I then run
include a mild detergent for stubborn steelIll replace them with razoreasily damage a spool. If the spool is the unit, allowing the additive-mixed
stains. If soap is used, however, I
sharp Daiichi hooks.
filled with Berkley FireLine, however, gas to run through the system so as to
make sure to rinse it off completely as
If there is rust residue within my
keep the internal gaskets from drying
Ill strip off a few feet and check for
dust will cling to the residue and soak Plano tackle totes, they can be wiped nicks or frays and remove it if any are out.
into and stain the shell, even when the clean with a damp cloth. However,
detected.
Preparations Are Always In Order
if rust stains have infiltrated into the
units in storage.
This is also a good time to oil and
To be ready for first ice next
microscopic pores of the plastic, Ill
Once doused, I then keep shanty
grease my reels, and then wipe off the winter, put my ice-fishing gear away
erected for several hours to make sure replace them rather than clean them
past seasons fish slime and minnow
today as if I were going to use it
its totally dry. Once arid, before fold- with a rust-removing solvent. This
scales. I also make sure to loosen the
tomorrow. Shanty: dried out and luis because the scent from the chemiing it up, I spray a silicone lubricant
drag knob to the point it nearly falls
bricated. Tackle: aired out and hooks
on all moving parts of the frame, tow cal will eventually penetrate into the
off to ward off damage to the washers replaced. Reels: Stripped of line and
lures, and the smell will repel fish the of the drag mechanism.
bar and zippers to keep them from
lubed. Rods: tape off, wiped off and
next time I use them.
seizing during inactivity.
I also clean to my ice rods, as
stored strait. Batteries: Charged.
All the while my Otter is airing,
well; paying special attention to their Power auger: gas stabilized and/or
The Stripper
cork handles. A mere sprits of mild
I will have had my Plano tackle totes
The next thing I do is prep my
unit tuned-up.
cleaner/de-greaser, such as Simple
open and doing the same. However,
rods and reels for storage. And not
Its as simple as that.
Green, will help remove the body oils
I allow them to stay arid longer, at
done correctly, it may render them
Mark Martin is a touring wallthat transferred from my hands, as
least overnight. Unbeknownst to most useless next season.
eye tournament professional and an
well any fish slime. I also make sure
anglers, condensation due to extreme
First, I take the reels off the rods,
instructor with the Ice-Fishing Vato remove all cleaner residue off the
temperature transitions will collect
especially if Ive used any kind of
cation/Schools who lives in Michiin unopened tackle totes this time of
tape to hold them in place. Summers rod handles, too, so as not to attract
gans SW Lower Peninsula. Check
grim while they are in storage.
heat will react with the sticky subyear and hooks will rust. Overall, all
out his website at markmartins.net
And when putting rods to bed for
stance of the tape and it will imbed in
it takes is a thorough airing out to
for more information.n
Make Camping A Power Trip.

Take a lightweight, portable Honda Generator on
your next outdoor sporting trip and youll have power
for just about anything. Like a coffee maker, electric
lights, TV or even a stove for all the fish youll reel in.
The EU Series features generators that are easy to

start, produce fewer emissions and are remarkably
quiet. Plus, theyre covered by our 3-Year Warranty.
Theyre the catch of the day. And thats no fish story.
gen.honda.com
EU2000
EU1000
799
999
$MSRP and MAP
$MSRP and MAP
EU3000
1999
$MSRP and MAP
Handi
2299
$MSRP and MAP
Your Authorized Honda Power Equipment Dealer
BayPOWER
City EQUIPMENT
PROFESSIONAL
BaySOUTH
CycleMAY
7405
3800
S. Huron
(M-13)
OKLAHOMA
CITY, OK
73159
989-684-0754
(405) 634-7313
Brighton
C & C Sports
8090 W. Grand River Ave.
if paid in full within
810-227-7068
NO INTEREST
MONTHS
Brownwith
City
regular payments!
Interest will be charged to your account from
the purchase date if the purchase balance is
Bens Supercenter
not paid in full within the promotional period
or if you make a late payment.*
4436 W. Main
Street
810-346-2835
HONDA OF TULSA
SMITH FARM & GARDEN
METRO TURF OUTDOOR POWER INC
Burton
Mecosta
4926 EAST Atherton
21ST STREET
5500
HUETTNER DRIVE
Road Sales 8804 EAST 41ST STREET
Lakeside Motor
Sports
TULSA,6468
OK 74114
E. Atherton Road TULSA, OK 74145
10964 90th NORMAN,
Ave. OK 73069
(918) 744-5551
(918) 665-3364
(405) 360-5045
810-743-7776
231-972-4146
Midland
SMITH FARM & GARDEN
SAWGRASS EQUIPMENT
SHAWNEE HONDA MOTORSPORTS
Ft. Gratiot
3733 Jones
N.W. 10TH
STREET
99 Center
INTERSTATE PARKWAY
Rental
Sales & Service 8712 WEST 6TH Stevens Sport
1911
E.
Airport
Road OK 74804
OKLAHOMA CITY,4600
OK 73107
STILLWATER,
OK
74074
SHAWNEE,
24th Ave.
989-631-6450
(405) 946-9828
(405) 533-1992
(405) 273-1400
810-385-6000
BRANDT FLEET
DISTRIBUTORS INC
Portland
1617
SOUTH
STREET
Bader
and4TH
Sons
OK 73018
6018CHICKASHA,
E. Grand River
Ave.
(405) 222-8042
517-647-4164
Rochester
Hills
CENTRAL
POWER EQUIPMENT,
INC
Rochester
LawnMAC
Equipment
4121 NORTH
ARTHUR
94 West CITY,
Auburn
OKLAHOMA
OK 73122
248-852-4961
(405) 495-3732
Mt. Pleasant
Royal Oak
269-685-9557
989-799-0942
Kalamazoo
See Honda.com for full
warranty details. *The Honda Power Equipment Visa
credit card
is issued
by Wells Fargo Financial NationalBillings
Bank. Special
termsEquipment
apply to purchases
Central
Motor
Sports
Lawn
Steensma
Lawn
Equipment
charged with
approved credit
at participating
merchants. Regular minimum905
monthly
payments are
required during the promotional period.
will beStreet
charged to your
Corporate
Drive
221Interest
N. Main
7561
Stadium
account from the
purchase
date at theDrive
regular APR if the purchase balance is not
paid in full within the promotional period or if you make a248-541-4812
late payment. For newly opened
989-773-6025
accounts, the regular APR is 27.99%. The APR may vary. The APR is given as of 06/01/2011. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will
Plainwell
Saginaw
be $1.00. If you use theLinwood
card for cash advances, the cash advance fee is 5% of the amount
of the cash advance, but not less than $10.00. Offer expires
12/31/2011. **Minimum
Lawnbefore
Equipment
Wohlfeil
Hardware
Bader & Sons
Advertised Price. ***Manufacturer
s Suggested Retail Price. Please readSteensma
the owners manual
operating your Honda Power Equipment
and never use
in a closed or partly
361Honda
12thMotor
Street
5818 State Street
N. Garfield
Roadto carbon monoxide. 2011 American
enclosed area 500
where you
could be exposed
Co., Inc.
800-306-1100
Please read the owners manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in a closed or partly enclosed area where you could be exposed to carbon monoxide. 2015 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
OCONNORS
LAWN & GARDEN
Almont
2244
NORTHWEST
140
Novaks
Supply
& Equipment
OKLAHOMA
OK 73134
3620 VanCITY,
Dyke
Rd.
(405) 751-3222
810-798-8533
35
t started with the tease

of a January thaw when
ice beards melted from
the roof and crotches
of the front-yard sugar
maple grew wet with
sap. It slammed shut a couple
weeks ago on Ground Hog
Day when the temperature
nose-dived to below
zero. Saint Valentine
brought no reprieve.
As I write this
at sixteen below,
March is near but I have little faith
that even Saint Patrick will save us
from the crusted snow and biting cold.
Whatever happened to global
warming? This winter is almost as
bad as the last one. The deer know
it, too. I watch them fearlessly circle
the house this morning, our yews and
other tasty shrubbery on their menu.
Its hard to keep spirits up when
its too cold to rabbit hunt and your
neighbor lost his beagle to the county
snowplow anyway. Christmas was
too expensive, according to the latest
credit card statement. The next tax
deadline circles like a famished hawk.
Sorry for the pessimism but waiting for spring is like waiting for the
high school cheerleader to call. When
the phone did ring, it was too late to
make a difference. My yellow Lab
and setter cant wait for spring either.
Two evenings ago they broke

out of their chain-link prison
next to the barn and went
on the lam. A neighbor who
lives three miles away called
at 2:00 a.m. to tell me he had
the fugitives collared on his
front porch. Bail was fifty
dollars for the four hens they
killed after breaking into the mans
chicken coop. Both
dogs had tangled
with a skunk earlier.
Oh no!
You would want spring to hurry
up, too.
Why must spring be so elusive?
Why is it as spooky as a buck steelhead on a clear-stream spawning bed?
Like Hamlets ghost, it is here, there
and here again. It is as fickle as my
Farmall Super Anow it runs, now
it wont. Even the pussy willows
along the creek bottom seem tenuous.
Today, they feel silk-soft between fingers; tomorrow, they may lie shattered
under an inch of ice.
I long for the movement of water,
a sure sign of spring. A melting sun
of the approaching vernal equinox, in
collusion with late-March thunderheads, brings a steady drip, drip, drip
into eavestroughs, which sends thin
rivulets under rotting snow to form
puddles that form pools that begin to
Spring is as spooky as a steelhead on a clear-stream spawning bed.

flow.
A slight shift in the terrain brings
water seeping in and the shift fills
and the water, already tired of this
plateau, spills over and leaks into the
next ground shift. Soon, the impatient
water races, pell-mell, over the small
depressions and is searching, always
searching, for deeper spotscrevices,
gullies, ravines, valleys. And the
running water cuts into the face of the
land and what were moving grains
of soil become clods and the sluicing
flow sucks compaction from the dark
earth and carries away the fissioned
soil.
Miles from the nearest power line? Cold soda?

Its possible!
Propane Refrigerators- No electricity required
36
Call 866-825-4013
Miller Refrigeration
Sears, MI 49679
Sunset on Deer Lake, Au Train MI
And the cuts go deeper than the skin

of the land. The racing water cannot be checked and it scours into the
lighter-colored muscle of the land and
it races around the lands bleaching
bones. Slick running and swollen,
rivers in spring can be depressing unless you are a steelhead angler. Then
they are beautiful with silver bullets
migrating against the flow.
Patience, all! In time, Plains-sent
winds will conspire with April sun
to crest rivers at flood stage and the
sandbaggers will pause to give thanks
and the waters will recede. The old
river bank will define itself once more
and the greening of the land will follow.
Spring is a time of extremes
searching for the center. It is walking
through wet woods in a high March
wind. Lean sunshine is warm against
the face but the wind roars through
leafless trees and groaning limbs
crack together. Owl pellets beneath a
giant beech: Shards of bone and tufts
of hair are clues that a pair of greathorned owls are taking turns on that
nest swinging high above.
And spring is a rime of ice shellacking the fishing dock. It is a
temperature inversion that blankets
woodsmoke low over farm homes. It
is wintering crows still bunched up in
ragged flocks. It is the plink, plink,
plink of nectar in 10-quart pails and
the acrid smell of a hardwood fire in
the sugarhouse. It is stalking a farm
drain with lantern and spear while
panicked suckers bump into rubber
legs. It is the quick swirl of the seasons first trout, charging a pink worm
danced through its lair beneath the
rooted bank.
The fisherman watches a storm
build above his stream. Aspen leaves
flip belly-up with a rising wind and
a bruised sky looks menacing. He

slides his spawn sack through a
gravel run until the first wet blasts
deface the river and then takes shelter
under a rusting iron bridge. Lightning
ruptures the sky and the woods are
filled with thunder and ozone pervades the air.
The turkey hunter watches a tom
with rope-like beard display at 70

yards and the hunters throat aches
with anticipation. The turkey struts
closer through the greening oak forest
and his head bobs like a city pigeon.
Salmon run on the Ludington pier.
Spincasters are outfishing the spawnbag tossers. Crowd gathering likes
sharks to baitfish. A 15-pound king
Once spring arrives the

piers will fill with anglers!
thrashes topwater while a young man

tries to secure it with a long-handled
net. Sides gleam like car bumper
chrome, a silver Devle Dog stuck to
the fishs jaw. Third trophy on the
clothesline rope stringer. Hey kid,
give you ten bucks for another lure
like that one!
The farmer is surprised to note
how quickly the land reclaims itself.
His field, unplowed last year, has exploded with burdock, pigweed, velvet
leaf and God-knows-what-else. Baldface hornets buzz a paper nest and
bumble bees hover over the daisies.
Turning earth with the five-bottom
plow. Cowbirds dive for worms
in the furrow; the tractor, smoking
in third gear, threatens to overheat.
Watching progress over the shoulder.
Far behind, the barn needs painting,
but this is more satisfying work.
The dreams of spring are free. Finally, what began as a tiptoe effort is
now a full-blown race. The onslaught
of spring. Paired mallards on cropfield ponds, the drakes with burnished
heads of green. Cock pheasants hiccup nearby and spring peepers create
their long-awaited din from the bog.
Bats dive-bombing insects under
the mercury light at dusk. A rubythroated hummingbird levitates at
the screen door (Did you enjoy Costa
Rica?). Barn sales, rummage sales,
garage sales, yard sales, basement
sales, sidewalk sales. Playground
game of hopscotch, wax job on the
family car, hand-pumping bicycle

tires, halter tops and short shorts,
sandlot softball, sheets snapping in
the wind.
Spring in Michigan. Here at last!n
A wren sings atop of a nesting box.
FISH FOR STOCKING
Trout, Bass, Pike, Walleyes, Catfish, Pan Fish,

Minnows for Fast Fish Growth, Hybrid Bluegills.
FARM PONDS FISHING CLUBS LAKE OWNERS
Imlay City Fish Farms, Inc.

Fish Consultants
RTA SERIES
6 Series: 42" - 76" Models
Heavy-duty box frame

Adjustable hitch clevises
Cast iron gearbox housing
Enclosed drive chain in oil bath
Heavy-duty 3-point
Center or offset mounting on
most models
1442 N. Summers Rd., Imlay City, Michigan 48444
Phone: (810) 724-2185
CONSISTENTLY LEADING THE WAY...
C O M P A C T
D R I L L S
OVER 250 LAND PRIDE PRODUCTS

THAT MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER.
DIRTWORKING
ZERO-TURN
MOWERS
YOUR TOTAL COMFORT HUNTING BLIND

Aluminum Exterior
Fully Insulated
Carpeted Floors
Rodent Proof
Peaked Roof
Screened Vents
Interior Shelves
Silent Shadow Windows
SEEDERS
GROOMING
MOWERS
Octagon series
includes eight
shooting zones.
6x6 OCTAGON SERIES

ROTARY
CUTTERS
ROTARY
TILLERS
SMALL DRILLS,
LARGE
FEATURES
Rosy Bros. Inc.
Whether its pasture, wildlife conservation, roadside

seeding or reclamation management, Land Prides
W provide a host of innovative features and
Compact
NEDrills
quality construction
that we believe is second to none. Rugged
&
D seed cups provide accurate and consistent
openers S
and
Efluted
U
seed placement. Available for Min-Till and No-Till applications
with seed, native grass, and fertilizer capabilities.
5727 Dryden Road

Dryden, MI 48428
6x6 CROSS BOW

Your Easy Way Up
6x 6 ARCH ERY
4x 6 G UN
1.888-446.4868 www.shadowhunterblinds.com
Whether its pasture,

wildlife conservation,
roadside seeding or
reclamation management, Land Prides
Compact Drills provide
a host of innovative
features and quality
construction that we
believe is second to
none. Available for
Min-Till and No-Till
applications with seed,
native grass, and fertilizer capabilities.
(810) 796-3770
www.rosybrosinc.com
BUY
SELL
TRADE
(Fish available during the months of April, May, October and November)
Fish may be picked up in small quantities or we deliver by truck.
37
President and First Lady of Michigans NWTF

Tony and Sandy Snyder, Successful World Slam Turkey Hunters
or some people, turkey hunting is something they do in the

spring, while they dream about
the upcoming deer season.
For others, turkey hunting is
their drug of choice. These folks eat,
breath and dream about hunting long
bearded gobblers. Tony Snyder falls
into the latter category. Tonys wife
Sandy says, If we are out and I hear
the word turkey, I know that I might
as well find something to do for the
next hour because Tony will speak to
whoever it is for at least that
long.
Tony says that an avid
turkey hunting friend introduced him to the sport in the
early 1980s. It tripped my
trigger. I love the vocal interaction with the birds. Spring
is the perfect time of the year
to be in the outdoors. The
woods come alive
and there is usually
great weather.
Tony shared his passion with
three of his boys, Dave, Jake, Luke
and several of his grandchildren. In
2005, Sandy went to the range and

for the first time in her life she shot a
gun. Tony says, She not only shot a
shotgun but shot it very well. She then
said to me. Turkeys are beautiful but
they have such an ugly head, I think I
could shoot one of them.
On Sandys inaugural hunt, Tony
called in three big longbeards and
whispered directions through the
whole ordeal. Finally, she heard,
shoot, shoot, shoot. Sandy pulled
the trigger and became a successful
hunter. Much to her dismay,
Tony recalls the hunt and
says that Sandy was shaking like a dog passing razor
blades. She was hooked.
One week later Sandy
said to Tony, You know, I
think that Id like to shoot a
World Slam.
Those words were music to my ears, says
Tony.
The hunting
couple set a goal to accomplish the
feat within a ten year period. The
World Slam is the ultimate achieve-
By Jerry Lambert
Created and Used by an Executive Chef at a Private Hunt Club
Love MI Seasons Tames even the Wildest Game
is
38
Look
for
in the spice aisle in all Meijers
stores, Krogers and other outlets
Made in Michigan
from pure, fresh herbs
and spices
NO GLUTEN
NO MSG
NO FILLERS
NO PRESERVATIVES
Visit our Website for Tasty Wild Game Recipes and a full list of Locations Or to Order Online
www.LoveMiSeasons.com (248) 202-3979
Sandy and Tony Snyder after another successful hunt.

ment in the turkey hunting world. The
first recognized accomplishment is the
Grand Slam which consists of shooting the four North America subspecies: Eastern, Rio Grande, Merriams
and Osceola (Only found in Florida).
The second accomplishment is the
Royal Slam which includes the four
North American birds and a Goulds
which the Snyders accomplished
in 2010, on a hunt in Mexico. The
coveted World Slam consist of the five
turkeys needed for a Royal Slam plus
a Ocellated turkey in which Tony and
Sandy tagged in Campeche Mexico
in 2012. At that time, Sandy was the
18 women to ever complete the World
Slam and the third from Michigan to
do so. Her remaining goal is to shoot a
unique smoky grey.
Completing the World Slam
obviously offered many highlights,
Tony says, It was quite the blessing
to complete the World Slam with my
wife, Sandy. My favorite hunt took
place in Florida. It was pretty spectacular. Sandy and I were sitting side by
side when two Toms came in together.
We shot them at the same time and
secured our Grand Slam. We also had
a little added adventure earlier in the
morning while walking to our stand in
the dark. We were cautioned to keep
an eye out for alligators. While walking a two-lane trail, about five miles
from camp, a large splash occurred
right next to Sandy. It was a big gator
entering a waterhole. Thats not something you experience in Michigan.
Tony completed the entire Royal
Slam by calling with a wingbone
turkey call that he hand-made. Sandy
used a slate call when she wasnt sitting next to her husband. Sandys favorite hunt was in Mexico. She liked
the adventure of traveling far away
from home and experiencing new
cultures. While there they viewed the
Mayan Ruins. She also experienced
some unusual events while hunting.
Enjoy
Upland Bird Hunting
August 15April 30
No Hunting
License
Required!
Michigan Association of
Gamebird Breeders & Hunting Preserves
For information & listing of our preserves near you go to:
www.michiganhuntingpreserves.com
Charges in Otsego County elk-poaching case

Reward offer for information on other elk-poaching incidents...
On my second day in Mexico, my

guide would create a spot for us to sit,
by hacking at the undergrowth of the
jungle with a machete. On this particular morning the guide created our
spot and then we sat in the pitch black
darkness awaiting daylight. While
I sat on the ground I kept hearing a
scratching sound. When daylight arrived, I found the source of the sound.
Huge red ants were everywhere
including crawling all over me. As
you can imagine, I insisted on finding
another spot!
Tony is currently 52 years old and
has shot 80-90 turkeys in his lifetime.
Out of that number he has only shot
one with a double-beard. That was
a South Dakota Merriam. Ironically,
Sandy hasnt shot nearly as many
as Tony, but she has shot three with
double beards from three different
subspecies; Eastern, Rio Grande and
an Oscellated.
Tony is currently the Michigan
State Chapter President of the National Wild Turkey Federation. He
has held this position for five years

and has one more year to go on his
current term. He has successfully
taken a turkey in at least five different Michigan counties and had a blast
hunting fall birds on Beaver Island in
2014.
The NWTFs new national initiative is Save the habitat, Save the
hunt. Tony says, Over a 10 year
period, we want to enhance or create
4 million acres in habitat, recruit
1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 new additional acres
to hunting. In Michigan, we have
several partnerships which include
the MDNR, Pheasants Forever,
Ruffed Grouse Society, Conservation Coalition, Sportsman Caucus,
MUCC and Ducks Unlimited. One of
our most popular events is the Fort
Custer Youth Hunt that is listed in the
MDNRs turkey brochure.
To learn more about the NWTF
visit their website at www.nwtf.org.
Volunteer to help them in their efforts
to Conserve, Hunt and Share.n
LARGE VARIETY OF SPECIALTY MEATS

ORDER
ONLINE
TODAY!
FRESH
CUT
MEATS
DAILY
WWW.JOHNSTONSMEAT.COM
Beef/Venison Snack Sticks and Jerky
Pork and Turkey Jerky Summer Sausage
Smoked Salmon, White Fish AND MORE!
VENISON BEEF HOGS WILD GAME PROCESSING
STATE, USDA AND HACCP-CERTIFIED
MICHIGAN-MADE PRODUCTS,
BEER AND LIQUOR 6,000 PRODUCTS!
WE SPONSOR:
Wheelin 457 Team Whitetail Unlimited

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation QDM Hunters for Hunger
New Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-7pm Sat: 9am-7pm Sun: 10am-6pm
CHECK
OUT OUR
MEAT
BUNDLES
The World Slam is the ultimate achievement for turkey hunters!
A Jackson County man has confessed to the illegal killing of a small

bull elk during the firearm deer season in Otsego County, according to
Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers who
investigated the incident.
A passerby discovered elk parts dumped along a rural road Nov. 29,
2014. A DNR conservation officer investigating the scene located a grocery store receipt among the entrails of an elk. A six-week investigation
ensued, with a suspect being identified and interviewed. A confession
was obtained, and charges are now being reviewed by the Otsego County
prosecutor.
According to Lt. Jim Gorno, DNR law enforcement supervisor in
Gaylord, conservation officers from the DNRs Gaylord Customer Service Center were assisted in the investigation by officers from southern
Michigan, a diligent Report All Poaching (RAP) Hotline dispatcher, and
a detective from the departments Special Investigations Unit.
This case started with very limited clues and evidence, but through
solid investigative follow-up, in conjunction with excellent teamwork being displayed by several of our officers around the state, it was brought to
a successful conclusion, said Gorno. It shows diligence and tenacity in
investigating cases involving our high-value fish and game species.
Elk poaching carries fines of up to $2,500, restitution to the state of
up to $1,500, loss of the firearm used in the incident and loss of hunting
privileges for up to three years.
Conservation officers continue to investigate a number of poachingrelated incidents involving elk in northern Michigan. Anyone with information regarding any incidents is asked to call the DNR Law Enforcement Division at the Gaylord Customer Service Center at 989-732-3541
or the 24-hour RAP Line at 800-292-7800.
Any fish, game or natural resources violation can be reported to the
DNR's RAP Line or with the online reporting form available at the DNR
website www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.
Information leading to an arrest and conviction is eligible for a cash
reward funded by the Game and Fish Protection Fund. Information also
may be left anonymously.
39
Common sense in the wilderness

Outdoor Safety And First Aid: By Jonathon Schechter
Getting extremely close to a

bubbling cauldron of lava would
be conducive to an unintended
life-ending combustible event.
And likewise, you are courting
disaster when you get brash and
take the outcome for granted in
any outdoor adventure...
continues without fear of frostbite, we

suffer. I had a concern that a member
of our team may acquire, The localized freezing of tissue caused by the
combination of below freezing air
temperature and constriction of blood
vessels which shunt blood away from
cold areas of the body. FYI: Nobody suffered frostbite.
NON-FREEZING COLD INJURIES: The

list includes Raynauds Syndrome, a
hypersensitive reaction to cold exposure; Chilblains, a cold injury that
damages capillary beds, and Trench
foot, a nonfreezing cold injury of
feet caused by prolonged exposure to
moist and cold conditions. FYI: No
problems here either.
ve been writing about outdoor

safety and situational awareness
for six years and am an active
member of the Wilderness Medical Society and partake in their field
training. You need to know that to
appreciate the incident I am about to
share. But sometimes, no matter how
well you plan and how well prepared
or experienced you are to deal with an
unexpected situation things just dont
go as planned. And thats when its
time to fall back on common sense.
Today I share the tale of an
adventure at Sleeping Bear Dunes
National Lakeshore that happened late
THE ADVENTURE: During the first

hour as the group gathered at our
cozy base camp of the Empire Lakeour completion point first I share the
in February on a weekend when the
shore Inn and then relocated to Joes
mercury dipped below zero and winds basics and the cast of characters. And Friendly Tavern, I tried to size them
I will change the names to protect my up. I silently noted two people of
produced blizzard-like conditions.
cast of characters. I had volunteered
What could possibly go wrong? To
concern. I will call one Tom. Tom
set the stage for this adventure and the to lead a group of 12 outdoor advenseemed to have the dangerous and
tures from SE Michigan. They were
unexpected medical emergency that
possibly contagious I am invincible
all members of a Meet Up Group
occurred a few hundred yards from
attitude and was not concerned
and they wanted a backcountry trek
about real-life hazards of extreme
through the woods and over the snow cold, potential for avalanches or even
covered sand dunes of Sleeping Bear. getting lost in the woods in a whiteAgain I say, what could possibly go
out. Worse yet Tom had friends to
wrong?
help him, friends he would drink. That
Two days before departure I did
Route 3 Box 163 Cornell, MI 49818
had me more concerned. And then
what any self-respecting paramedic
there was Cindy. She asked, How do
with wilderness medical experience
you strap on snowshoes? I grimaced,
Incredible U.P. of Michigan
would do: Take a bit of responsibility for she obviously ignored or did not
Hunting Opportunities
and think over what may go wrong
care about a prerequisite for the trip:
and plan in my mind what would I do experience. I had no worries about
Over 4,200 acres of private farmland
IF. My What IF list was not real
Judy. She was properly equipped and
in south Marquette County
long but I made sure my day pack
more than willing to go with the game
had essentials to prevent cold-weather plan. But Judy also played a role in
Michigan, (2,000 acres) fully
related maladies and intervene if nec- this adventure and added much to our
guided bow and firearm hunts in
essary. Sometimes bad things happen trek in the way of wildwoods wisdom
hunting preserve for: Elk,
and we freeze our butts off. Primary and winter mycology.
Large Russian Boar
concerns were hypothermia, frostbite
Whitetail Deer, Buffalo, Wild
For two days we hiked and snowHunts Available!
and non-freezing cold injuries. And
shoed
and cross-country skied and
Boar, Red Stag & Fallow Deer.
in the back of my mind I kept in mind chowed down at restaurants in Empire
where the closest hospital was located. and Glen Arbor. We trekked up Empire Bluff. We snowshoed after dark
HYPOTHERMIA: I was going to
on the Windy Moraine Trail in single
be ready to keep an eye on my teamdigit temperatures. We cross-country
mates for signs of hypothermia, the
skied along the new Sleeping Bear
lowering of the bodys core temperHeritage Trail and of course scramate. Its a sneaky and serious malady
bled up the Dune Climb for a look at
that can even occur on rainy spring
a frozen world. We even opened the
days and can rather quickly impair
risk window a bit and explored an ice
Lodging available for
both muscle and brain function. An
cave. On the final morning, six of us
impaired
brain
is
a
very
bad
thing.
groups of up to 12 people.
set out to snowshoe the Dunes Trail
A cascade of problems follow with a
Still Booking Hunts!
near Sleeping Bear Point. Drifting
death a not unlikely outcome. FYI:
snow made it necessary to park at the
We all survived.
old Coast Guard station and hike to
Call
or
FROSTBITE: There are varying de- the trailhead. Winds were howling and
grees of frostbite but the human body, heart rates were accelerating. What
unlike wolves and snowshoe hares, is could possible go wrong?
designed to run around the woods
We trudged slowly for about an
for more information and reservations. not
in the dead of winter. And so while
hour along the spectacular trail that
www.superiorgameranch.com
the endless cycle of predator and prey was nearly obscured by blowing snow
Just as this image was captured a sudden unplanned for medical emergency
unfolded. Jonathon Schechter photos
Superior Game Ranch
Trophy Elk,
Trophy Red Stag &
Trophy Fallow Deer
40
(906) 238-4482
(906) 630-1617
and then entered the ghost forest, an

arctic-like region where sand dunes
on the move have buried a forest. Just
as we neared the end of our trek four
members posed for a photo. To add a
bit of drama to the photo Judy raised
her arm sharply to tug on a branch to
loosen a cascade of snow. Bad idea.
She screamed.
Steep inclines and deep snow created a challenge for deer and our team.
and she relaxed, the shoulder would
spontaneously reduce. There was no
way she would be able to relax. After
a very brief discussion. I need to
get to a hospital. Yes you do we
opted out of this field procedure.
COMMON SENSE: Overruled the

ability for us to continue with field
reduction techniques. With the temperature in the single digits, winds
gusting over 20 mph and her pain
Manistee, Michigan
Trophy Salmon, Steelhead & Trout Fishing
Charter
Directory
FIRE PLUG
CHARTERS
level high and the eventual NEED for

a post reduction exam in a hospital
there was no reason for us to prove
our medical field skills at the expense
of the welfare of Judy. Wilderness
medics can get pretty creative in
treatment in the field, but the Munson
Medical Center in Traverse City was
just 25 miles away and could give
complete immediate care. Situational
awareness kicked in and so we slowly
Jonathan Schechter is a
Naturalist/Paramedic in Brandon
Township and the Nature Education Writer for Oakland County
Parks; oaknature@aol.comn
TROPHY SPECIALISTS
FISHING CHARTERS
Charters Starting At Only $300 - Gift Certificates Available
Captain Mike Veine targets the hottest action at the best
places, during peak trophy producing periods.
CALL NOW! Special 8 Hour

Trip For Browns In April!
Captain Dan Golden
fishon@fireplugcharters.com
231-398-9073 517-260-5297
www.fireplugcharters.com
DETROIT RIVER WALLEYE FISHING

Experience some of the best
walleye fishing in the country.
This years walleye run is going
to be one of the best in years.
DON'T MISS OUT.

Reserve your date today.
Morning & afternoon trips
(5 hours) available.
Up to three people.
313-319-0100 or Greatlakesbassfishing.com
Eries Trophy Walleyes
Early spring on Lake Erie serves up

the best trophy walleye fishery in
the world. From ice-out in March
through April, Lake Erie offers
outstanding trophy walleye action.
Saginaw Bay Walleye
Our spring and summer charters

produce consistant limits. Both
eaters and lunkers are typically
caught on most charters for the
perfect mix.
Lake Michigan Salmon
During August we target the

abundant king salmon off Manistee.
This is the peak period at one of the
best ports for world class, trophy
salmon.
734-475-9146
www.trophyspecialists.com
SHOULDER DISLOCATED: Dislocation

of the humerus the bone that goes
into the shoulder joint - is one of the
more common backcountry dislocations. Judy was in pain. And her arm
was in the wrong place. I know how
to reduce dislocations in the field,
and so did another team member in
our group. We tried. Once. Nothing
happened except for more pain. What
I wanted to do next was try a method
called the Modified Milch Method.
With her humerus extending over
her head, her position of least pain,
she was a perfect candidate. But
to make it work as I intended with
gravity helping she would have to lie
down on her back and relax and then
place both hands behind her head.
In theory, as a bit of time slipped by
walked her to the parking lot, about

five minutes away. One hour later
she was warm and happily medicated
and about to have a reduction under
sedation with skilled medical care.
The event was a good reminder to
use common sense when an injured
party is stable enough to be evacuated
easily to advanced medical care. And
when something is certainly wrong,
but youre not sure what to do next or
what else is wrong, seek help. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
may be a designated wilderness area,
but that would not have made it right
for us to use wilderness techniques
designed for care in an austere environment when advanced care is many
hours or even days away. In this case
the simple solution was the best, an
easy non-dramatic transport to the
closest most appropriate medical
facility.
41
Paddle your way to better boat control

A
The Next BiteBy Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz
sk a group of walleye
anglers what the most
important aspect of
catching walleyes is and
you will no doubt get a
variety of answers. But one of those
answers that youll get from many
of them will be boat control. So
many walleye presentations rely on
the angler being able to put the boat
over the right spot at the right speed
in order to get bites. To accomplish
ideal boat control walleye anglers
have many tools at their disposal,
but one boat control device we have
come to rely on a great deal the past
couple seasons is a paddle bet that
gets your attention!
Now we are not talking about
your typical row-row-row your
boat kind of paddle. Were talking
a Power-Pole Drift Paddle! If you
have seen our boats the past couple
seasons, you have noticed they sport
these tall apparatuses on the transom
opposite the kicker motor. That is a
Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor.
While these have been very common on bass boats the past few years,
you are just beginning to see them

mounted on walleye boats. How they
work is with the push of a button,
the device scissors out and down,
and drives a fiberglass rod into the
bottom. For those few presentations
like pitching jigs to shallow shoreline
breaks, or tossing crankbaits along
weed edges, where anchoring in shallow water is called for, these work
perfectly.
But only a small percentage of
walleye fishing is done in shallow
water. Most of the time we are drifting deeper flats or trolling structure
or open water. So how can a PowerPole be of use in those situations?
Honestly, as a shallow water anchor
in those situations they are of very
little use, but attach a Power-Pole
Drift Paddle to the units spike and
now you have a boat control tool that
can be used in a number of ways to
keep you on fish.
Lets take on a couple key scenarios where the drift Paddle would
be used and we think youll see how
this unique accessory can become an
integral part of your walleye fishing.
To accomplish ideal boat control walleye anglers have many tools at their
disposal, but one boat control device we have come to rely on a great deal the
past couple seasons is a paddle bet that gets your attention!
THUNDER HILLS
World Famous Hogans Hogs Are Back!
42
CALL FOR INFORMATION
248-249-4710
Or Visit
Our Website
www.thunderhillsranch.com
Scenario #1: You are trolling

open water in early summer using
spinners. The wind is up to about 15
to 20 mph, and as you troll with the
wind, it becomes difficult to maintain
a good slow speed for the spinners
because the wind is pushing you so
much. With the Drift paddle attached
to the Power-Pole, you simply deploy
it into the water creating drag that
helps slow down your trolling speed.
You can even control the amount

of drag it creates by how far down
into the water you lower the paddle.
Deploy it only half way and it slows
you down a little; deploy it all the
way down into the water and we have
actually been able to slow the boat
down as much as a mile to a mile and
quarter when trolling with our big
engines.
Another advantage of using the
HIDDEN HORNS GAME RANCH

NORTHWEST MICHIGAN
Northern Whitetail Deer
For a fun and challenging hunting experience
Exotic Rams & Goats
Fallow Deer,
DISCOUNTS
AVAILABLE FOR
Sika Deer & Elk
YOUR HUNTS
Arctic Hogs
Bison
NOW BOOKING
NO LICENSE
YOUTH HUNT
African &
FOR 2015!
SPECIALS!
REQUIRED
Asian Specials
FOR
MORE
I N F O R M AT I O N
CALL
BRENT
616-799-0689
FISK
AT
or email at hiddenhornsgameranch@hotmail.com
www.hiddenhornsgameranch.com
DNR seeks volunteer ORV safety education

instructors for free training sessions
drift Paddle in this scenario is that

with the paddle down, it dramatically decreases the surge effect the
waves have on the boat as you troll.
Thats a big deal, especially when
trolling spinners, as the surges can
affect how the spinners are running, and in dingy water can make
it difficult for the fish to track down
your bait. By eliminating or at least
lessening the surging, the spinners
run truer and therefore are more effective. Not to mention it just makes
for a more comfortable ride for the
angler.
In scenario #2, you have found
a school of walleyes scattered
along the break off a large shallow
main-lake flat and determined that
a controlled drift approach would
be the best bet for approaching and
boating a few of these fish. One of
the great features of the Drift Paddle
is that it can be set has seven quick
The Power-Pole
and Drift Paddle
adds so much
versatility and
boat control to
walleye anglers.
change positions that cover a full

180 degrees, allowing you to set the
paddle at the angle you need to help
the boat drift on the path you want it
to. Controlling the boats path from
the bowmount trolling motor, when
you need to move the in or out on the
break, the Drift Paddle easily cuts
through the water making positioning so much easier than having to
drag a drift sock as we used in the
past. Drifting with the paddle off the
back and our bowmount trolling motor up front, this is Controlled Drifting with the most ultimate control
weve ever had!
Another advantage to the Drift
Paddle over the drift sock, in both
scenarios, when a fish is hooked and
being brought to the boat, the paddle
can be easily lifted out of the way
with the touch of a button especially using the key-fob remote control
that we just wear around our neck
when fishing.
And the Paddle is tough. Its
made of a space age UV stable
polymer that flexes with the spike for
increased stability, features stainless
steel and bronze hardware for durability and silicon rubber bumpers for
quiet operation.
Could you do the same thing
with a drift sock? Sure you could,
but with a lot more work and much
less versatility. Not to mention, any
of you that have used drift socks
know the mess they can make when
you bring them in the boat, getting
everything wet. The Power-Pole and
Drift Paddle adds so much versatility and control to walleye anglers
we believe that adding one to your
boat is one of the best things you can
do to ensure your success at getting
your Next Bite.
If you have questions or comments on this or other articles
from Gary Parsons and Keith
Kavajecz, visit their website
www.thenextbite.com.n
The DNR is recruiting instructors for its off-road vehicle safety education program. This volunteer opportunity allows ORV enthusiasts to pass along their love
and knowledge of the sport to new riders, while teaching them safe and responsible ORV operation that will provide an enjoyable riding experience.
All ORV instructor volunteers are required to attend a three-day instructor
academy to learn instructor policy and procedure, classroom management and
teaching concepts. Instructors will have the chance to experience various aspects
of ORV operation, including basic hands-on operational skills on off-highway
motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, utility-type vehicles and winching recovery
equipment.
Current instructors also are encouraged to attend an academy to brush up on
knowledge and skills and to experience changes in equipment.
There will be two ORV instructor academies in 2015: May 29-31 and June
5-7. Each class is limited to 24 students. While attendance at the academies is
mandatory, there is no charge to the instructor candidates to attend, and meals
and lodging are included. Enrollment is first come, first served. The academies
both will be held at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon
County.
Anyone seeking to become a certified ORV instructor must meet the following criteria: Be at least 18 years of age; be a high school graduate or possess
a graduate equivalency diploma (GED); have no felony convictions; have no
misdemeanor convictions within the past three years; have no convictions that
resulted in the revocation of ORV operation privileges within the last five years.
(Other convictions of natural resource law violations are subject to review and
may result in the rejection of any application); maintain a high moral, ethical and
mental character.
To receive an application to apply to be a certified volunteer ORV safety education instructor, contact the DNR Law Enforcement Divisions Recreational Safety
Education and Enforcement Section at 517-284-6055. After a completed application is submitted, a background check will be conducted. Successful applicants
then will be contacted to schedule their attendance at a mandatory ORV instructor academy.
For more information about the ORV safety education program, contact Cpl.
John Morey at 989-619-3784. Learn more about recreational safety education opportunities on the DNR website www.michigan.gov/recreationalsafety.
Manufacturer of Fine Northern Hardwoods

Firewood by the Semi-Load
Alternative Outdoor
Energy LLC
St. Clair, MI 586-709-7165
Contact one of our buyers today

brad@billsbylumber.com or jim@billsbylumber.com
(616) 634-1522 or (989) 544-9342
2725 Larch Rd.
Harrison, MI 48625
www.billsbylumber.com
WE BUY ASH!
Buyers of Standing Timber

SFI Trained Loggers and Forest Consultants
Wildlife and Timberland Improvements
Select cutting; Clear cutting
Mechanized logging and handcutting
43
The pains of progress
Ive Witnessed This Before...By Tom Lounsbury
espite all the benefits,

progress and globalization can be a bit painful
at times. The scene I see
locally in the Thumb
today with countless dead ash trees
practically everywhere due to the
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) reminds
me of what I witnessed relating to
the Dutch Elm Disease (DED) when
I was a kid. A small country church I
grew up attending had a pair of very
stately American elms framing the
front of it. It was during the late 1950s
or early 60s, the trees lost their leaves
and both died due to DED. The church
never looked the same to me after
those trees were cut down.
During that same timeframe I
began my canoeing adventures down
the Cass River and I was amazed at
the quantity of dead elms fringing
the shoreline. It is believed that DED
(actually from Asia) reached America
on imported timber and was first discovered on the Atlantic Coast in 1928,
after first hitting Europe in 1910.
Although American elms keep coming
back up around here, they normally
dont have a lengthy life expectancy
due to the continued presence of DED

that is spread by elm bark beetles.
Prior to this was the chestnut
blight that was first discovered in
New York in 1904, and brought to this
country by imported Asiatic chestnut
trees that have a built in resistance.
The American chestnut was a very
important forest tree, not only for its
timber, but also for its delicious nuts.
The ever present blight killed three
billion trees in this country and efforts
are continually at work to develop
a blight resistant American chestnut
tree.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
was first discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in 2002,
and was most likely vectored in by
wooden shipping pallets and crates.
EAB has since spread all over the
Lower Peninsula and is now even in
the eastern Upper Peninsula, as well
as it has spread into many other states.
Recent research has found that EAB
probably was here at least 10 years
before it became apparent enough to
be discovered and a main vector for
spreading it is by firewood travelling
to other areas. The insects themselves
can only fly about a half mile, but Im

sure that can vary a bit according to
tailwinds, and the adults actually only
eat leaves. Its their larvae that bore
into the cambium layer of trees and
disrupt the vascular system supplying
water and nutrients.
When I first became aware of
EAB in the Thumb, I began a chemical treatment that I poured around
the base of some of the ash trees in
my yard. The chemicals were costly
enough, that I was only able to treat a
few favorite trees such as the one that
provides beautiful shade for my deck.
I began to believe I might have succeeded when my ash trees survived,
while trees elsewhere in the Thumb
were dying.
Last summer however I noticed
my beloved ash tree by our deck
didnt have as full a top as normal,
and while mowing my lawn I had several emerald colored beetles land on
me and I was sure EAB had arrived
to my property. To confirm matters I
recently contacted the Saginaw Bay
District Forester Tyler Pederson (989673-8174, ext 3) who not only covers the Thumb, but Bay and Arenac
Counties as well. It didnt take Tyler

long to confirm my beloved ash tree
by the deck, along with several others
were going to bite the bullet. For me it
was an enlightening, but painful experience when I realized I was going to
cut down the trees I had long watched
grow.
Tyler also enlightened me about
the Asian long-horned beetle (named
for its extra long antennae) that
was first discovered in the U.S. in
1996, and believed to have also been
brought here by the wooden shipping
crates and pallets. Although there
have been no discoveries of the Asian
long-horned beetle in Michigan, it
has reached southern Ohio and keeps
on coming. The problem with this
insect is that it isnt so selective and
can have a major effect on all maples
(including sugar maple and even box
elder), sycamores, poplars, cottonwoods and willows.
As with EAB, the culprit here is
the larvae (the adults only eat leaves
and twigs) that not only bores through
the cambium layer to disrupt the trees
vascular system, but it also keeps
boring all the way into the heartwood.
MICHIGANS LARGEST FIREARMS DEALER

BUY
WE BUY
SELL
TRADE
USED
Guns, Ammunition,
Reloading Supplies
GUNS!
Over 5,000 New and
Used Guns In Stock
Trade Ins Welcome
44
Guns Galore
1414 N. Leroy Street
Fenton, MI 48430
We Buy
Guns!
810.629.5325
& More!
GunsGalore@outlook.com
Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm; Sat. 10am-4pm
DNRs annual spring frog survey
Saginaw Bay District Forester Tyler

Pederson examines an ash tree
affected by the emerald ash borer
(EAB) on the authors farm in the
Thumb.
The fact of the matter is that woodboring pests in general cause $3.5
billion dollars in damage in the U.S.
annually (with EAB being the most
destructive in history).
Then there is oak wilt, a fungal
disease carried by indigenous sap
beetles that invade a tree wherever
there is a broken branch or other
wound to the tree that oozes sap.
Although this disease favors red oaks,
it will also affect white oaks and the
main vector here again is firewood,
with oak being a preferred wood for
burning. Oak trees not only provide
timber, but their acorns are a very important food source for a wide variety
of wildlife.
Last but not least on my enlightenment list is beech bark disease.
This seems to target large, mature and
overgrown beech trees that provide a
lot of nutritional nuts for wildlife. It
hasnt reached the Thumb as yet but
it is prevalent in the eastern Upper
Peninsula, upper Lower Peninsula
and has been recently discovered as
far south as Arenac County, which
isnt that far away.
Progress certainly is a wonderful
thing and it will continue on. However some matters associated with it
can be emotionally painful and rather
costly.n
The DNR today announced

that its 20th annual statewide
Frog and Toad Survey will begin
this spring. Michigans survey
is second only to Wisconsins in
longevity.
The DNR Wildlife Division
coordinates and analyzes data
for the survey, while volunteers
throughout the state conduct the
field work for the survey. These
MDNR photo
annual survey efforts help biologists monitor frog and toad abundance and distribution in the state.
We have collected a large, valuable data set to help us evaluate Michigans
frog and toad populations, said Lori Sargent, the DNRs survey coordinator.
Were now able to start watching trends and thinking about how to slow down
some of the species declines.
For example, Sargent pointed out that over the past 19 years Michigan has
seen a decline in Fowlers toads and mink frogs, two species that have a limited
range in the state, unlike most of the other species that occur statewide.
Declining populations of frogs, toads and other amphibians have been
documented worldwide since the 1980s. Studies suggest amphibians are disappearing due to habitat loss, pollution, disease and collection.
Volunteer observers conduct the surveys along a statewide system of permanent survey routes, each consisting of 10 wetland sites. Observers visit these
sites three times during spring, when frogs and toads are actively breeding,
listening for calling frogs and toads at each site, identifying the species present
and making an estimate of abundance.
We could still use some new volunteers in all parts of the state," Sargent
said. "Please consider joining us for a fun, educational time every spring and
adopt a route. The continued success of the program is dependent on strong
volunteer support.
Those interested in volunteering should contact Lori Sargent at SargentL@
michigan.gov or 517-284-6216 and provide their name and address.
More information on the Frog and Toad Survey and other projects supported by the Nongame Wildlife Fund is available at www.michigan.gov/wildlife.
45
Fishing with Mr. Fails

Dear Fish Diary: Life might be totally different if hed changed his name!
didnt know Mr. Fails growing up but I can guess he had it

pretty rough. I know he played
sports in high school but wasnt
a standout athlete. It wasnt for
a lack of trying. He twice missed free
throws that could have won basketball
games. He struck out in the bottom of
the seventh with the bases loaded in
a big rivalry game. He missed a field
goal that could have sealed a conference championship. But as I told him,
Hey, at least you were in the game.
Fails was a standout student. He
could have chosen any career; however, with a name like Fails, it was
more a matter of a career choosing
him. His first dream was to become an
attorney and join his older brothers in
their law firm Fails and Fails. But
the law firm already was not doing so
well and he felt like the name Fails,
Fails and Fails, wouldnt help matters much. The tag line Trust your
important legal matters to Fails, Fails
and Fails, no matter how good they
were in a courtroom, didnt quite give
perspective clients a lot of confidence.

He decided against his second love
which was becoming a surgeon for
pretty much the same reasons. Could you imagine
being put under and the
last thing you hear is; Doctor Fails will be doing your
surgery today? he asked
me. I tried not to laugh but
couldnt help it.
His love of sports
lead him into a very brief
coaching career. Very
brief, in fact so brief,
he never actually got a
coaching job. Fails
wins National
Championship as a
headline just wasnt going to happen,
he explained. Not only didnt anyone not want to hire a coach named
Fails, players probably wouldnt have
wanted to play for me either, he said.
Yeah, sports people are pretty
superstitious, I replied, as Im sheepishly thinking about my pair of lucky
By Ron St. Germain
FIND US ON YOUR
FAVORITE
SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS!
like and follow us to stay up-to-date

with shows, events, news, contests,
photos, new products, etc.
46
underwear Ive had since the last time

the Lions won a playoff game.
There were a lot of careers that
Fails considered and
quickly decided against.
I probably wouldnt have
made it as an investor,
he admits. I mean, are
you going to trust your
retirement investment to
a business called Fails
Investment Group? He
quickly went down the
list. Detective Fails, Fails
Reality, Fails Diner, Fails
Builders, Fails Electricians, Fails Marriage
Counseling, Fails
Marketing Group
and Fails Remodeling were all worthless to pursue, he sadly said.
Did you ever consider politics? I
asked him.
No, he answered, but you might
be on to something.
Fails life might be totally different today had he just changed his
name. You know, for a lot less than

a law or doctors degree you could
have changed your name to Winn,
I told him. Im thinking the Law
Firm, Fails, Fails and Winn, might
increase business by at least 33%.
Coach Winn might have landed you a
big time job.
True, he answered, but that
would of killed my dream of being
an airline pilot. I always dreamed
of greeting the passengers as they
boarded the plane and introducing
myself as Captain Fails just to see the
look on their faces.
I met Mr. Fails on a remote
river on a cold spring morning while
steelhead fishing. I hadnt caught a
thing, he seemed to be catching one
on every other cast. Finally, after an
hour of watching him hook one fish
after another, I approached him and
asked what his secret was. He gently
reached into his pouch and pulled out
a homemade lure. Try this, he offered. I had never seen anything like
it but surely was not about to question
Woods-N-Water
News
Hunting and Fishing
3.2K Likes
Like
Check In
Call
him based on the success he was having. On my third cast I was into my
first fish of the day. Before long I was
so focused on reeling in fat fish I had
lost sight of the guy who offered me
the lure.
The next morning I slid into the
same stretch of river and right off the
bat the magic lure began to produce
once again. By mid-afternoon I
caught a glimpse of a silhouette slowly wading up-stream from me. As I
made my way toward the fisherman,
he was fighting a trophy class steelhead. My jaw dropped in amazement
of the fish he landed and quickly let
go. I soon realized it was the same
guy who gave me the lure. I would
have gladly taken your picture with
that gorgeous fish, I said.
Ah, there will be others, he
answered.
Others? I thought to myself, that
was the fish of a lifetime. Who is this
guy? I clipped off the borrowed lure
and began to give it back while thanking him. No, you keep it, Im glad
it worked for you, he said. In fact,
here are a few more, as he reached
deep into this pouch and handed me
four more. I stood in the cold running
water dumbfounded.
Id like to pay you for these, I
said.
No, its okay, its a gift, he
answered.
Well what do you call these? I
asked.
Fails Spinners. He answered.
And its not like they are flying off
the shelves.
Is that why you call them Fails
Spinners? I asked.
No, its because thats my name,
he gruffly replied. Im Fails, Edward
Fails, and he reached his wet, fishy
smelling hand out to greet me. Thats
when it occurred to me that he was
probably the owner of the run down
cabin I passed on the way in. The
cabin sported a sign out front that
read Fails Guide Service. I actually took a picture of it and was going
to post it on my Facebook page as a
joke.
Are you married? I asked.
Oh heck no, no woman in her
right mind wanted to be Mrs. Fails,
he laughed. Besides, I have a lot
more time to go fishing than most
married guys.
If I were you I would change the
FIND US ON YOUR
FAVORITE
SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS!
name of these spinners to No Fails

Magic Spinners, I said.
He slowly cocked his head sideways, closing his left eye and muttered, Thats brilliant, boy.
Maybe you could change your
guide service name to No Fails
Guide Service, while youre at it,
I mentioned. Now squinting at me
with both eyes barely open, obviously
deep in thought, he replied, that
advice was worth more than a few
lures, I need to call my brothers right
away.
Why do you need to call your
brothers? I asked.
Because maybe its not too late
for them to reopen the law firm and
change the name to No Fails Legal
Services. He uttered.
So what did you end up doing
with your life? I asked. Thinking he
was probably depressed and spent
most of his life hiding in that run
down remote cabin.
I just recently retired from 27
years of service with the bomb
squad, he smiled as he disappeared
into the dense woods.
After that spring trip I never saw
Mr. Fails again. Nor did I ever see
No Fails Magic Spinners on the

National market. But I did learn
one thing from him. Its not the
name who makes the man, its the
man who makes the name. I will
always remember the day I was
given those magic lures as April
Fails Day.
Worst Fishing Day Ever?

Best Fishing Day Ever?
I Need Your Fishing Stories
Send a short description of your
best or worst fishing day, or worst
fishing-related adventure to me. You
dont have to write the entire story,
just a brief outline of what happened.
If it has some humor to it Ill be getting in touch with you and well work
on the completed story together. Fishing isnt always fun you know.
Have a fun or interesting fishing
related story? Woods-n-Water News
columnist Ron St. Germain can be
reached by calling (517) 626-2814,
e-mailing DaPhotoDude@aol.com.
Visit the authors online photo gallery
at DaPhotoDude.comn
Woods-N-Water
News
Hunting and Fishing
3.2K Likes
Like
Check In
Call
like and follow us to stay

up-to-date with shows,
events, news, contests,
photos, new products, etc.
47
The RUSH of stalking spring gobblers

I was 12 years old the first time I heard a wild turkey gobble...
48
By Lane Walker
ver since that day, I have had a passion for

pursuing lovelorn spring gobblers. I remember in the early 1990s traveling up north to
turkey hunt. Back then, that was the only
place hunters could find birds. Thankfully
times have changed, Michiganders are blessed with
a thriving turkey population in counties throughout
the state.
I have been fortunate to put my tag on several
Michigan gobblers.
Most of my success has come the traditional
way, by sitting on the ground or in a tent or blind.
The set-up consists of a couple of decoys and a
variety of turkey calls. It also includes hours and
hours of sitting still and waiting.
In the past, I have tried to spot and stalk spring
turkeys with no success. The hunt always had the
same ending, I ended up ruining my hunt and scarring away all the turkeys.
Trying to sneak and stalk a spring turkey is a
tough, but I learned its not impossible.
I just had to learn the right way to do it.
Last spring I wrote a story about a Michigan
teen who killed a national record turkey in Stroh,
Indiana. Ellie Allen of Stockbridge shot the record
book turkey during the Indiana Youth Hunt. The
bird is currently number one Best Overall Eastern
by a female hunter in Indiana, number one overall
by a youth hunter and number six overall nationally
for any female hunter.
The bird had four beards totaling almost 36
inches, with the longest measuring 11 inches. The
25 pound bird also sported 1.25 spurs. She killed
the turkey with Alan Terry, Owner of Turkey Creek
Outfitters in Stroh, Indiana. Stroh is just a short
drive across the Michigan border and is located
near Shipshewana.
During the winter, I made plans to be in turkey
camp with Alan Terry and Turkey Creek Outfitters.
Before heading down the first week of May, I spent
two weeks chasing Michigan turkeys without any
luck. On the way down to Stroh, I picked up Jason
Allen, Host of The Rush T.V. and hunting guide.
Allen knows his way around the turkey woods, so I
knew we would be in for a good hunt. On the way
down, Jason was telling me how they had been
having a great season using a Cedar Spur QuarterDaddy decoy.
The decoy is a chest mounted, hand-held decoy
that is used to stalk within range of gobblers. I was
interested in the concept, but told Jason I had my
doubts. He assured me that if we were in the right
situation, he would prove its effectiveness.
The first morning we tried the traditional blind
set-up. We sat on a hidden cut corn field with the
blind positioned near the edge of a swamp. We
knew there was a flock of turkeys roosting in the
area and hoped they would come to the field to
feed. As the sun rose, we heard some lone gobbles
in the distant but nothing close. Around 9:30 a.m.
we had some jakes come in within 10 yards of our
set-up. We waited out the morning and returned to
the field that night but didnt have any luck.
On Saturday, Jason convinced me to try his spot
and stalk hunting with a decoy. He reminded me
that in order for it to work, we needed the right ter-
The author and Alan Terry of Turkey Creek Outfitters.

rain. We need to be able to use the different elevations to our advantage to hide our stalk.
We drove around with Alan checking fields
most of the morning, but didnt spot any gobblers.
Around lunchtime, Alan suggested we check a field
that was about twenty minutes away. He had seen
long beards the week before feeding in the local
agriculture field and was confident there would be
more.
We drove towards the farm and as soon as
reached the field, we saw four huge black dots
about a quarter mile away in the corner. We glassed
the field with some binoculars and could see at least
four big gobblers and a couple hens.
The corner of the field was part of a cut corn
field and a green field. The birds were feeding
and the strutting a low-spot that separated the two
fields. Jason and Alan surveyed the field and found
the perfect spot for us to make our stalk. There
were two big, rolling hills separating us from the
turkeys. We had a long walk, but the nearby fence
line provided perfect cover as we walked towards
the turkeys. Once we reached the top of the first
hill, Jason peeked over and saw the birds still there.
From there we crawled down the hill and up to the
top of the second hill. We laid face down letting everything quiet down. The wind was in our face and
the birds were about 100 yards away in the valley
of the second hill. Alan positioned me in a sitting
position and told me to get ready. I looked around,
there were three of us sitting in the open field with
only his decoy in front of us.
Jason did a call sequence on his mouth call and
lifted his Quarter Daddy decoy above us, giving the
turkeys the appearance of a strutting tom on top of
the hill. Instantly several gobbles echoed through
the field and he whispered to get ready. A minute

later, Allen lifted his decoy again above us and
more gobbles thundered. This time they were much
closer. I took a deep breath and slowly clicked my
safety off. Within seconds, three huge red heads
topped the hill running towards us. Allen took the
decoy and positioned it in front of us as I squatted
behind the decoy. The turkeys breached the hill at
60 yards and I was nervous they would scatter as
soon as they could see us. They didnt, the gobblers
were angry and focused on the decoy. They kept
coming and I picked the biggest of the three, they
thunder gobbled at 40
yards and I touched off the trigger. My heart was
pounding as the bird flipped over in the field. It was
my first successful spot and stalk turkey hunt and it
was amazing. It took me a couple minutes to calm
down from all the excitement. We celebrated and
I walked over to see my bird. He was a brute, his
beard was over 11 inches and weighed almost 25
pounds.
I turned to see Jason smiling, he didnt need to
say it. It happened, just like he had told me it would
on the way down. It was one of the most exciting
turkey hunts I had ever been on. It also made me
see that there is more than one way to kill a turkey. It took this traditional turkey hunter out of his
comfort zone and now I have a new trick to use on
Michigan gobblers. While I still plan on using a
blind and decoys, I am also going to look at ways to
use a decoy to spot and stalk.
It was an amazing hunt, one that I will always
cherish. I felt the spring rush and it reminded me
of the excitement behind turkey hunting, the same
thrill I felt over 20 years ago the first time I shot my
first gobbler.n
MICHIGAN'S
NUMBER 1
OUTDOOR
RADIO SHOW !!!
Be sure to listen to Mike

Averys Outdoor Magazine
on one of the following
radio stations each week!
Station
WHKB
WBCK
WPNW
WKBZ
WABJ
WBRN
WIAN
WPNW
WDMJ
WUPS
WPHM
WKNW
WMIQ
WSGW
WATZ
WILS
WIOS
WSJM
WNBY
WSGW FM
WKYO
WLDN
W TCM
WWCK
WAAM
WJRW
WAAM
WJRW
City
HOUGHTON
BATTLE CREEK
HOLLAND
MUSKEGON
ADRIAN
BIG RAPIDS
ISHPEMING
HOLLAND
MARQUETTE
KE
HOUGHTON LA
N
RO
HU
PORT
IE
SAULT ST. MAR
IN
TA
UN
O
M
ON
IR
SAGINAW
ALPENA
LANSING
TAWAS
ST. JOE
BERRY
EW
N
SAGINAW
CARO
LUDINGTON
TRAVERSE CITY
FLINT
N
AN ARBOR
S
GRAND RAPID
Ann Arbor
Grand Rapids
Air Time
Frequency
102.3 FM
95.3 FM
1260 AM
1090 AM
1490 AM
1460 AM
1240 AM
96.5 FM
1320 AM
98.5 FM
1380 AM
1400 AM
1450 AM
790 AM
1450 AM
1320 AM
1480 AM
94.9 FM
1450 AM
100.5 FM
1360 AM
98.7 FM
580 AM
1570 AM
1600 AM
1340 AM
1600AM
1340AM
SA (9 AM)
SA (5 AM)
SA (5 AM)
SA (7 AM)
SA (7:30 AM)
SA (7 AM)
SA (6 AM)
SA (5 AM)
SA (6 AM)
SU (6 AM)
SA (7 AM)
SA (7 AM)
SA (6 AM)
SU (9 AM)
SU (7 AM)
SU (5 AM)
SA (7 AM)
SA (7 AM)
SU (9 AM)
SA (9 AM)
M-W-F (12 PM)
SA (7 AM)
SU (9 AM)
SU (1 PM)
SA (5AM)
SU (7PM)
SA (5AM)
SU (7PM)
ors.com
r yOutdo
e
v
A
e
k
i
www.M
Mike Averys
Outdoor
Magazine
has a
tradition
of keeping
his listeners
and viewers
informed
and
entertained.
Dont miss
any
of his
programs.
Outdoor
Magazine
is brought
to you by
these fine
companies.
Check us out on Facebook:

facebook.com/OutdoorMagazine
Woods-N-Water News
Michigans Premier Outdoor Publication
www.woods-n-waternews.com
SCAN FOR RADIO APP
49
could hear the big gobbler spit,

drum and drag his wing feathers
across the ground as I focused
the telephoto lens and snapped
photos. He was less than 20 yards
away following a pretty little hen
and the monster tom was trying
desperately to get her attention.
He could care less about the large glass
circular lens following his every move on a
warm spring day. The hen stopped and the
big boy made a sneaky shuffle to get kissin
close then puffed up to extra magnum size,
fully extending his wide semi-circular fan
and stood motionless. Then he tucked his
head into breast feathers that were fully extended and his waddle, neck and face turned
bright red as he made a slow circle. When he
was broadside the lens captured his image
with long beard protruding from his chest
and deep black back feathers
fully extended to make his profile absolutely huge, somewhat
hump backed.
Once again he chirped,
drummed, spit and made several
sounds to attract his mate. When
she walked away he followed
dragging his huge wing tips
along the ground. His feathers
reflected metallic colors of gold,
copper, purple, crimson, and
black mixed with bright browns
and tan. When the hen walked
further he would nervously
shake his extended bright red
waddle, then follow her every
move in an attempt to stay
close or perhaps circle in front of her.
A fast flying crow zipped past, noticed
the dancing duo and announced their presence with loud calls. Thats when the huge
gobbler dropped his fully fanned tail feathers,
stood on his tip toes and let out a loud gobble
that made the nearby trees shake. Another
call from the crow was quickly answered by
the irritated gobbler that seemed to be yelling
at the intruder to leave. Soon the pair moved
into the secluded woods and they walked
slowly across the grassy clearing. My heart
was pounding from the close encounter with
the mating Eastern wild turkeys. Few spectacles in nature are more entertaining and the
antics gobblers go through to attract a mate
are very interesting to witness up close.
Wild turkeys in your face will get your
pulse pounding, hands shaking and provide
memories long remembered. The experience
of witnessing an adult gobbler in full strut is
downright impressive and provides the type
of adrenalin rush that Michigan sportsmen
seek every spring. Struttin gobblers is a rite
of spring, an interesting ritual that will arouse
your kinship with nature and tantalize your
senses.
Gobblers begin their quest for a mate
soon as snow melts and bright sun gets them

fired up. But hens are somewhat nonresponsive until mid-April and throughout May
when warm weather and breeding season
comes into full swing. During this period I
pack telephoto lens and make frequent outings in search of huge mature gobblers fully
fanned, struttin their stuff in Michigans
great outdoors.
One of my secret tricks to guarantee fast
paced action is to set up a pop up Double
Bull blind. many times you can get up close
and personal with struttin gobblers by setting up decoys and calling. One outdoor
secret Ive learned about gobblers is a full
fan decoy gets rival birds fired up and puts
them in a fighting mode like no other. I often
use a pull cord to move a full body gobbler
decoy with fan completely extended. A fully
extended turkey fan is easy for gobblers to
spot at long distances. If gobblers see them move they will
run long distances just to check
out the action. Most are looking for a hot hen and charge the
set up with intentions of stealing the hot hen and kicking the
tail feathers of suitors. Calling
gobblers, getting a response and
having a long beard blitz into
your spread is the essence of turkey hunting. When gobblers go
bonkers, break into full strut, fan
and gobble at extreme close
range the experience will keep
you coming back for more.
Other times I wear complete
camouflage from head to toe
and I stalk wild turkeys. If Im outdoors
and hear a turkey gobble I stealthfully move
in the direction of the sound. This requires
advanced woodsmanship skills and a keen
sense of what wild turkeys will do in any
given situation. The idea is to intercept
gobblers in pursuit of a mate and capture
their image on film. For this type of outdoor
adventure Im camouflaged completely and
even my camera is painted to match the outdoor environment.
Stalking wild turkeys during March and
early April is a difficult task. The woods and
outdoor environment is open and the trick is
to block your approach using terrain, trees,
ditches, hills, brush or anything to block
birds from seeing your approach. Come late
April and May grasses are tall and leaves are
out and the green environment works to your
advantage to stalk wild birds. The same skills
used in photography can be used hunting.
Actually wildlife photography is an extension of hunting and savvy photographers use
hunting tactics and strategies to get close to
subjects.
For this kind of wild turkey photography/
hunting you need to take a page from the
military snipers handbook. The idea is to ap-
Cover Story
By Kenny Darwin
50
proach into excellent shooting range without being detected. Keep in mind that wild
turkeys have incredible eyesight and they
can detect movement 10 times better than
humans. The closer you get to your target the
more you slow your stalk and often the closer
you get to the ground. Successful stalks are
often highlighted by slowly crawling to get
kissin close and extended periods of not
moving and hiding behind obstacles that
break up your human form.
Close encounters with strutting gobblers is
a science of its own. The idea is to get kissin
close, have gobblers in your face and learn
about them, observe their inspiring behavior. At first, you will be impressed with the
beautiful dance wild turkeys preform to attract hens. It is exciting to witness how they
fan and move in tight circles with feathers
fully extended to show hens their sensational
beauty, show receptiveness and stimulate females into partnership. Their goal is to excite
hens, stir the embers of love, dazzle them
with brilliant color, overwhelm them with
staggering beauty and capture their attention.
Sometimes gobblers will travel in groups or
pairs to attract hens. Frequently one adult
boss gobbler will be fully fanned while his
partner has head up and neck extended on
the lookout for hot hens or predators. It is not
uncommon for gobblers to circle ahead of a
hen, cut her off from the direction she was
heading and try to get her to mate.
Any other time of year wild turkeys are
very difficult to see but in spring they are
constantly seeking companionship. This is
the season when gobblers move into open
areas and display, strut, fan and gobble to
attract hens. Spring is a time when male
turkeys are somewhat love sick, sort of hell
bent on finding a mate and they become visible, are constantly on the move and often let
down their guard regarding security. Some
seem downright dizzy about the whole spring
courting ritual and they do crazy things.
Locating strutting gobblers is the goal. Im
talking mature birds with long beards and a
full fan two feet wide. Often it is the huge
black fan that gives them away, makes them
easy to spot in grassy openings or fields.
Some gobblers get so caught up in gobbling,
fanning, strutting they allow you to sneak
into easy shotgun or archery range. When a
gobbler is henned up and busy fanning he is
concentrating all his attention on the hen and
not looking for predators or hunters. Some
have their heads tucked deep in puffed up
breast feathers and are fully fanned and they
are blocking their 360 degree vision down
to 180 degrees. This means you can walk
directly at a tom that is fully fanned and he
cannot see you from behind because his tail
blocks his view.
Sometimes you can walk up on a struttin
gobbler and catch him completely off guard.
Each bird is different and most gobblers are
extremely difficult to approach.

The sounds an adult gobbler makes during
mating are interesting to hear. Of course they
gobble to the loud raspy call of crows, other
gobblers, airplanes, trains, sirens, beeping
trucks backing up, school bus, and any sharp,
loud noise. When close to hens they make
a chirp that sounds like a song sparrow in
the woods. This call is constantly used as a
contact call to communicate with hens and
is seldom heard by hunters unless they are
very close to a mating pair. Gobblers drum or
rattle their feathers like a feathered tambourine. When a tom is fully fanned his wing
tips are extended and dragged across the
ground which can make loud noises on dry
leaves or hard ground.
Once I followed a big gobbler to a two
lane paved highway. I was in a deep cattail
ditch less than 15 yards away and I expected
the bird to blitz across the road. Instead he
stopped on the centerline, fanned, did two
complete circles and the entire time he was
dragging his wings and the sound reminded
me of a kid dragging a stick on a road. Gobblers love to drag their wing tips and make
sounds to attract hens. Often wild gobblers
will wear down a couple inches of their
primary wing tips by dragging them during
the mating season. When scouting you can
often see wing drag marks on soft dirt, sand
and mud.
The mating ritual of wild turkeys begins
with gobblers attracting hens by gobbling
and when hens approach toms fan their
feathers. Often toms will follow a hen long
distances until she is ready to breed. At
which point they break into a dance where
they circle each other, cover less territory and
eventually begin making very tight circles.
Thats when the hen walks in front of the
gobbler, gives him her back and lies down.
Thats the signal for the tom to ease close,
slowly climb on her back and the breeding
takes less than a minute. He steps off as she
shakes off dust and loose feathers and eventually circles the tom again and lies down.
The breeding ritual takes place in a relatively
small area, less than the size of your house
and the couple copulates several times.
Few spectacles in nature match the unique
manner in which adult gobblers break into
full strut, fan, gobble and expand body size
by puffing feathers like a blow up balloon.
Wild turkeys are beautiful birds and when
they are struttin their stuff the spectacle is
impressive. A distant gobble will quicken the
pulse of outdoorsmen but when birds come
close, fan, spit, drum and display feathers
that are a multitude of awe inspiring colors
the experience is long remembered. Gobblers in full strut are downright inspiring to
see and I hope you have an opportunity this
spring to experience the electrifying sight of
a large tom flaring his feathers, quivering,
gobbling and announcing spring.n
FULL STRUTTING GOBBLERS
51
could hear the big gobbler spit,

drum and drag his wing feathers
across the ground as I focused
the telephoto lens and snapped
photos. He was less than 20 yards
away following a pretty little hen
and the monster tom was trying
desperately to get her attention.
He could care less about the large glass
circular lens following his every move on a
warm spring day. The hen stopped and the
big boy made a sneaky shuffle to get kissin
close then puffed up to extra magnum size,
fully extending his wide semi-circular fan
and stood motionless. Then he tucked his
head into breast feathers that were fully extended and his waddle, neck and face turned
bright red as he made a slow circle. When he
was broadside the lens captured his image
with long beard protruding from his chest
and deep black back feathers
fully extended to make his profile absolutely huge, somewhat
hump backed.
Once again he chirped,
drummed, spit and made several
sounds to attract his mate. When
she walked away he followed
dragging his huge wing tips
along the ground. His feathers
reflected metallic colors of gold,
copper, purple, crimson, and
black mixed with bright browns
and tan. When the hen walked
further he would nervously
shake his extended bright red
waddle, then follow her every
move in an attempt to stay
close or perhaps circle in front of her.
A fast flying crow zipped past, noticed
the dancing duo and announced their presence with loud calls. Thats when the huge
gobbler dropped his fully fanned tail feathers,
stood on his tip toes and let out a loud gobble
that made the nearby trees shake. Another
call from the crow was quickly answered by
the irritated gobbler that seemed to be yelling
at the intruder to leave. Soon the pair moved
into the secluded woods and they walked
slowly across the grassy clearing. My heart
was pounding from the close encounter with
the mating Eastern wild turkeys. Few spectacles in nature are more entertaining and the
antics gobblers go through to attract a mate
are very interesting to witness up close.
Wild turkeys in your face will get your
pulse pounding, hands shaking and provide
memories long remembered. The experience
of witnessing an adult gobbler in full strut is
downright impressive and provides the type
of adrenalin rush that Michigan sportsmen
seek every spring. Struttin gobblers is a rite
of spring, an interesting ritual that will arouse
your kinship with nature and tantalize your
senses.
Gobblers begin their quest for a mate
soon as snow melts and bright sun gets them

fired up. But hens are somewhat nonresponsive until mid-April and throughout May
when warm weather and breeding season
comes into full swing. During this period I
pack telephoto lens and make frequent outings in search of huge mature gobblers fully
fanned, struttin their stuff in Michigans
great outdoors.
One of my secret tricks to guarantee fast
paced action is to set up a pop up Double
Bull blind. many times you can get up close
and personal with struttin gobblers by setting up decoys and calling. One outdoor
secret Ive learned about gobblers is a full
fan decoy gets rival birds fired up and puts
them in a fighting mode like no other. I often
use a pull cord to move a full body gobbler
decoy with fan completely extended. A fully
extended turkey fan is easy for gobblers to
spot at long distances. If gobblers see them move they will
run long distances just to check
out the action. Most are looking for a hot hen and charge the
set up with intentions of stealing the hot hen and kicking the
tail feathers of suitors. Calling
gobblers, getting a response and
having a long beard blitz into
your spread is the essence of turkey hunting. When gobblers go
bonkers, break into full strut, fan
and gobble at extreme close
range the experience will keep
you coming back for more.
Other times I wear complete
camouflage from head to toe
and I stalk wild turkeys. If Im outdoors
and hear a turkey gobble I stealthfully move
in the direction of the sound. This requires
advanced woodsmanship skills and a keen
sense of what wild turkeys will do in any
given situation. The idea is to intercept
gobblers in pursuit of a mate and capture
their image on film. For this type of outdoor
adventure Im camouflaged completely and
even my camera is painted to match the outdoor environment.
Stalking wild turkeys during March and
early April is a difficult task. The woods and
outdoor environment is open and the trick is
to block your approach using terrain, trees,
ditches, hills, brush or anything to block
birds from seeing your approach. Come late
April and May grasses are tall and leaves are
out and the green environment works to your
advantage to stalk wild birds. The same skills
used in photography can be used hunting.
Actually wildlife photography is an extension of hunting and savvy photographers use
hunting tactics and strategies to get close to
subjects.
For this kind of wild turkey photography/
hunting you need to take a page from the
military snipers handbook. The idea is to ap-
Cover Story
By Kenny Darwin
50
proach into excellent shooting range without being detected. Keep in mind that wild
turkeys have incredible eyesight and they
can detect movement 10 times better than
humans. The closer you get to your target the
more you slow your stalk and often the closer
you get to the ground. Successful stalks are
often highlighted by slowly crawling to get
kissin close and extended periods of not
moving and hiding behind obstacles that
break up your human form.
Close encounters with strutting gobblers is
a science of its own. The idea is to get kissin
close, have gobblers in your face and learn
about them, observe their inspiring behavior. At first, you will be impressed with the
beautiful dance wild turkeys preform to attract hens. It is exciting to witness how they
fan and move in tight circles with feathers
fully extended to show hens their sensational
beauty, show receptiveness and stimulate females into partnership. Their goal is to excite
hens, stir the embers of love, dazzle them
with brilliant color, overwhelm them with
staggering beauty and capture their attention.
Sometimes gobblers will travel in groups or
pairs to attract hens. Frequently one adult
boss gobbler will be fully fanned while his
partner has head up and neck extended on
the lookout for hot hens or predators. It is not
uncommon for gobblers to circle ahead of a
hen, cut her off from the direction she was
heading and try to get her to mate.
Any other time of year wild turkeys are
very difficult to see but in spring they are
constantly seeking companionship. This is
the season when gobblers move into open
areas and display, strut, fan and gobble to
attract hens. Spring is a time when male
turkeys are somewhat love sick, sort of hell
bent on finding a mate and they become visible, are constantly on the move and often let
down their guard regarding security. Some
seem downright dizzy about the whole spring
courting ritual and they do crazy things.
Locating strutting gobblers is the goal. Im
talking mature birds with long beards and a
full fan two feet wide. Often it is the huge
black fan that gives them away, makes them
easy to spot in grassy openings or fields.
Some gobblers get so caught up in gobbling,
fanning, strutting they allow you to sneak
into easy shotgun or archery range. When a
gobbler is henned up and busy fanning he is
concentrating all his attention on the hen and
not looking for predators or hunters. Some
have their heads tucked deep in puffed up
breast feathers and are fully fanned and they
are blocking their 360 degree vision down
to 180 degrees. This means you can walk
directly at a tom that is fully fanned and he
cannot see you from behind because his tail
blocks his view.
Sometimes you can walk up on a struttin
gobbler and catch him completely off guard.
Each bird is different and most gobblers are
extremely difficult to approach.

The sounds an adult gobbler makes during
mating are interesting to hear. Of course they
gobble to the loud raspy call of crows, other
gobblers, airplanes, trains, sirens, beeping
trucks backing up, school bus, and any sharp,
loud noise. When close to hens they make
a chirp that sounds like a song sparrow in
the woods. This call is constantly used as a
contact call to communicate with hens and
is seldom heard by hunters unless they are
very close to a mating pair. Gobblers drum or
rattle their feathers like a feathered tambourine. When a tom is fully fanned his wing
tips are extended and dragged across the
ground which can make loud noises on dry
leaves or hard ground.
Once I followed a big gobbler to a two
lane paved highway. I was in a deep cattail
ditch less than 15 yards away and I expected
the bird to blitz across the road. Instead he
stopped on the centerline, fanned, did two
complete circles and the entire time he was
dragging his wings and the sound reminded
me of a kid dragging a stick on a road. Gobblers love to drag their wing tips and make
sounds to attract hens. Often wild gobblers
will wear down a couple inches of their
primary wing tips by dragging them during
the mating season. When scouting you can
often see wing drag marks on soft dirt, sand
and mud.
The mating ritual of wild turkeys begins
with gobblers attracting hens by gobbling
and when hens approach toms fan their
feathers. Often toms will follow a hen long
distances until she is ready to breed. At
which point they break into a dance where
they circle each other, cover less territory and
eventually begin making very tight circles.
Thats when the hen walks in front of the
gobbler, gives him her back and lies down.
Thats the signal for the tom to ease close,
slowly climb on her back and the breeding
takes less than a minute. He steps off as she
shakes off dust and loose feathers and eventually circles the tom again and lies down.
The breeding ritual takes place in a relatively
small area, less than the size of your house
and the couple copulates several times.
Few spectacles in nature match the unique
manner in which adult gobblers break into
full strut, fan, gobble and expand body size
by puffing feathers like a blow up balloon.
Wild turkeys are beautiful birds and when
they are struttin their stuff the spectacle is
impressive. A distant gobble will quicken the
pulse of outdoorsmen but when birds come
close, fan, spit, drum and display feathers
that are a multitude of awe inspiring colors
the experience is long remembered. Gobblers in full strut are downright inspiring to
see and I hope you have an opportunity this
spring to experience the electrifying sight of
a large tom flaring his feathers, quivering,
gobbling and announcing spring.n
FULL STRUTTING GOBBLERS
51
I wish I had
written those books
By Betty Sodders
ry school principal, Lane Walker. He

has taken kids out-of-doors through
the release of five hunting adventure
books of interest to youngsters. Even
the titles are exciting; Legend of the
Ghost Buck, The Hunt for Scarface
(wild turkey), Terror on Deadwood
Lake (bear hunting), The Boss on
Redemption Road (elk hunting adventure), The Day it Rained Ducks.
I wanted to know more about this
author, his dedication to the youngsters who will be our next generation
of hunters. Thus, I prepared a list of
come up to him asking him to auecently I met two boys
questions in hopes that his answers
tograph their copy of one of Lanes
from different traditional
hunting families living be- hunting adventure books when attend- would inspire us to take a youngster
low the Mackinac Bridge. ing outdoor shows. And that is why I hunting, fishing or trapping. We need
personally feel as though I missed out to inspire our young people to love
Both Caleb and Zachary
and respect nature and the ways of
on a marvelous opportunity to write
advised, We read all your articles.
and publish hunting/fishing novels for wild creatures. I believe Lane Walker
Now that is indeed an honorwhen
is trying to do just that.
the next generation. I grew up with
youngsters ages 9-12 will pick up
Nancy Drew mysteries; my brother
a magazine to read one particular
Q) Lets start this discussion with
authors stuff!Think about it; that had The Hardy Boys series. We could you Lane, where were you born and
hardly wait for each new issue to be
is special!
raised? Right from the start were you
This must be how outdoor writer, released.
an outdoors kid? Did either or both
A short time back, I met elementa- of your parents hunt, fish, and foster a
Lane Walker feels when youngsters
love for Michigans great outdoors?
Working with kids for a long time inspired the book

series. Listening to kids, what they want to read was also
important. I wanted my books to be exciting and hard to
put down. I researched and havent found anything like
them on the market today, so I knew I had something
unique. My goal is to reunite families into the outdoors
and promote hunting to the next generation.
Lane Walker, Outdoor Writer
TOTAL FOver
IR2,000EAGunsRinMStock
S
INDOOR GUN RANGE
Hand Guns, Long Guns, Muzzleloading,

Reloading Supplies, Ammo, Archery & Accessories
CASH FOR USED GUNS INDOOR GUN RANGE

GUNS, NEW & USED CCW COURSE GUN SAFES (In Stock)
Full Line of Gunsmithing NRA Certified Instructors
Full Line Archery & Fishing Tackle

Live Bait & Tackle Available
Open 7 Days Monday-Sunday, Call For Store Hours

1380 N. Cedar (517) 699-0597
( Mile South of Holt, 127 to Cedar St. exit, North 2 Miles)
2015 GUN & KNIFE SHOWS

For information call (517) 676-4160
Mar. 28-29 . . . . . . . .530 Tables . . . . . . . . Grand Rapids May 2-3 . . . . . . . . . .700 Tables . . . . . . . . . . . Birch Run
Apr. 3-4 Special Show Fri. & Sat. Only .......900 Tables......Novi May 16-17 . . . . . . . .300 Tables . . . . . . . . . . Cheboygan
Apr. 10-11-12 . . . . . .440 Tables . . . . . . . Lansing/Mason May 23-24 . . . . . . . .275 Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . Harrison
Apr. 18-19. . . . . . . . .275 Tables . . . . . . . . . . Kalamazoo June 6-7 . . . . . . . . . .600 Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Novi
Apr. 25-26. . . . . . . . .530 Tables . . . . . . . . Grand Rapids June 27-28 . . . . . . . .530 Tables . . . . . . . . Grand Rapids
Sport Shows Promotions, INC.
52
www.migunshows.com sportshows@gmail.com
P.O. Box 404 Mason, MI 48854
Ph: (517) 676-4160 Fax: (517) 676-6824
Manistee Little
Lansing/Mason Ingham Houghton Lake Event Ctr.
Birch Run: Expo Ctr
River Casino
3451 W. Houghton Lk. Dr.
County Fairgrounds
I-75 @ Exit 136
Intersection US.31 & M-22
700 E. Ash
Novi
Grand Rapids
Cheboygan Ice Arena
Sturgis Doyle
Suburban Collection Showplace
28th
St.
Showplace
Flint: Perani Arena
480 Cleveland
Comm Ctr.
46100 Grand River
I-69 @ Center Rd. 1256 28th St. S.W. 310 N. Franks
Monroe County
Wyoming
Harrison
Fairgrounds
Kalamazoo: County Fairgrounds Cadillac: Wexford Arena Clare County Fairgrounds
418 Fairlane
131 & 13th St.
MBT Expo Center
2900 Lake St.
A) I was born and raised in the

Thumb of Michigan, in the rural
town of Kingston. I am currently the
elementary principal at Kingston. I
have been hunting and fishing since I
was old enough to hold a rod or a gun.
My dad is a hunting fanatic and my
brother and I grew up in the woods
and on the water. Growing up, our
family would travel with my dad as
he hunted elk in Colorado or Moose
in Canada. Its part of our life; the
outdoors is ingrained in our souls.
Growing up I always liked writing but often struggled to find books
that interested me. I could read a
hunting magazine from cover to cover
but struggled to find chapter books
that would hold my interest, little did I
know that is when I started to develop

the ideas for my Hometown Hunters
books. Sports were huge growing up
and I was blessed to be part of some
very successful teams. I plan on writing a series of sports-based chapter
books somewhere down the road.
Q) How old were you when you
started to hunt and/or fish? What age
did you take down your first buck?
Did you, as in the story Legend of the
Ghost Buck prefer a bow?
A) I have hunted and fished my
entire life. I was 14-years old when
I shot my first buck. Back then you
had to be 14 to gun hunt and I shot
a spike. I was thrilled! I have shot a
lot of deer and nice bucks since then,
but that spike will always be a special
trophy. I prefer bowhunting, its more
peaceful, I feel deer are more relaxed.
Anyone that can kill a deer with the
bow should be commended; its not an
easy task. There is something magical
about sitting in a tree the first week
of November. (Season opens October 1st but Lane prefers November
bowhunting).
Q) Tell us a few of your own adventures from that time periodearly
hunts as a young manhigh school to
college. Do you feel as though some
of your early boyhood hunts have
perhaps fostered the creation of your
Hometown Hunters book series?
A) I have been fortunate to hunt
across the Midwest. I have bowhunted
Pike County, Illinois and that was
amazing. For me, the hunt is more
about the journey and the people who
you share the hunt with. My most
memorable hunt is easy. I was blessed
to receive a Michigan Bull Elk tag in
2009. It was the most amazing hunt
ever! My dad was with me and Jason
SUCCESSFUL TURKEY HUNTERS

GET YOUR
TURKEY OFFICIALLY
SCORED
Go To:
www.buckfax.com
Commemorative Bucks of Michigan P.O. Box 307 Owosso, Michigan 48867 Phone (517) 679-6226
Commemorative Bucks of Michigan is a non-profit organization that measures and maintains records on trophy class Whitetail Deer,
Black Bear, Elk and Turkeys, taken by fair chase in the state of Michigan. We use the Boone and Crockett method to score all three
big game species. Visit our web site to learn more and get connected to the latest in Michigan hunting. www.Buckfax.com
ic gaming devices?
Allen of Rush TV videotaped the

entire hunt. Later it played on the
Pursuits Channel. The night before
the hunt we got 12 inches of snow
and it painted the most gorgeous
landscape. The next day we ended up
getting on a big 6x6 bull about a mile
out of Atlanta and I was able to kill it.
That hunt will always be one of my
favorites and I know how special it is
to draw bull tag in Michigan.
A) Thats my hope; book #4

Boss on Redemption Road deals
specifically with kids addictions to
video games and electronics. I think
if kids really want to spend time
learning and playing, it would suit
them better to do it in the woods or
on the water. I always want kids to
learn a moral or life lesson in my
books, there is something bigger than
hunting in each book.
Q) Where did you attend college?

What was your chosen profession?
Q) I know you are married and

have three girls. How old are the
girls? Does your family hunt and/or
share a love for the out-of-doors? I
heard that your latest book titled, The
Day It Rained Ducks, is the first of
your series to have a girl as its leading characterby chance would she
be patterned after one of your girls?
What do all three of your children
think of their Dad writing books?
A) My twins girls are 8-years
old and my baby girl is turning 7
in February. We recently found out
that we will be having a baby boy in
April. My children and family, mean
the world to me, they are my greatest
joy. The Day it Rained Ducks was
my most emotional book to write.
It takes readers on a special journey
as a father and daughter go out on
the bay for a dangerous duck hunt.
I definitely wanted to have a book
that had a girl as the main character;
girls can and should hunt. Both of
my twins shot deer this year and I
have amazing memories afield with
them already. They think its cool;
I include something from them in
every book. I let them name places or
characters; they are a big part of why
I write the books.
Q) Obviously your job puts you
in close contact with young boys and
girls; do you think they have influenced your writing? I bet you can
pick out students in most classrooms
that may become aspiring young
hunterscorrect?
A) I often tell people that God
was preparing me well before I knew
it. I have dedicated my life to working with kids and use to teach fourth
and fifth grade. I tell people its the
perfect storm, I have been writing a
long time and working with the age
group of kids the books are directed
at for a long time. I dont know if you
ever become an expert, but I feel that
is my niche.
Q) Your first book takes place
in Michigan, as does your last one;
The author Lane Walker taking time out for a bowhunt.

mythical towns are provided; however the duck-hunting story is set in the
Thumb. Was the series originally intended to be a Michigan series? I can
understand broadening nationwide
as it makes for a larger readership.
Have you high hopes for continued
growthpopular, similar to how the
Harry Potter books took off for a
similar age group?
through books. I also was amazed

at how many books about wizards
and other fictional characters were
so popular, I said to myself if those
books worked why not a hunting
book? I always intended to have
the books take place throughout the
United States. The Michigan books
will always be close to my heart and
the ones that really feel like home.
A) I did a ton of research on

best-selling kids books. I really feel
in my heart there is a huge market for
hunting books for kids, that it was
important to pass that legacy down
Q) Your books are good stuff

grabbing a youngsters attention and
interest from start to finish. Do you
think they are strong enough to make
that youngster put down his electron-
A) The feedback from parents

and kids has been overwhelming. In
fact, on those late nights when I am
frustrated with writing the book, I
reread emails about the books. There
has been so much positive feedback;
I cant thank people enough that have
Lane Walker books page 54
S
A
A
L
G
E
E
M
Y
E
K
R
TU
SCHUPBACH'S
1ST ANNUAL
ROOSTER RANCH
EUROPEAN
HUNT FUNDRAISER
Will you join us in this

exciting fundraiser opportunity
to enhance patient safety
and quality of care?
March 28, 2015
AND WORKSHOP!
All Turkey Hunting Calls, Decoys,

Ammo, And Guns On Sale.
CALLS BY:
Flextone
8:00 am to 3:00 pm
DECOYS BY:
CHOKES BY:
Patternmaster
For information contact

Stephanie Nagey at
(810) 376-7015 or
MANY
BRANDS
OF TURKEY
AMMO IN
STOCK!
Flextone
MA
TUR NY
SHO KEY
IN S TGUNS
TOC
K!
ONE DAY T
N
E
V
E
Y
L
N
O
April 11th, 2015

9am til 5pm
REPS & PRO STAFFERS ON HAND TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS!
nageys@deckervillehosp.org
www.deckervillehosp.org
141 W. Pearl Street,

Jackson, Michigan
517-782-8418
Rooster Ranch LLC.

www.huntrr.com
HOURS:
Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.: 9-8;
Wed. 9-6; Sat. 9-5
3 Indoor Archery Ranges

Over 700 Bows In Stock
Over 2000 Guns In Stock
64 years of professional & friendly service!
A) Saginaw Valley State University Bachelors and Masters Degree.

I taught for seven years and have
been a principal for five. I feel called
to work with kids and have a passion
for their success.
Q) I read your first volume,

Legend of the Ghost Buck and was
intrigued by the title; the cover also
sparked my interestI enjoyed the
bookit kept me wondering how the
story would actually end. Putting
myself in a 12 year-olds mindset; I
knew it would be an exciting read for
that age group. Have you had many
parents mention that they too have
read one or several of your books
along with their youngster?
53
Lane Walker books:

been such a powerful tool in writing
the book series. I have a large number
of adults that buy the books to read
for themselves because they enjoy the
stories so much. I have gotten a lot
of emails from parents, grandparents
and kids about how the books have
had a positive impact in their lives.
Sometimes I have to fight back the
tears when I hear their stories, but I
remind myself that is why I started
writing the books to begin with.
Q) You have been an outdoor
writer for some time prior to writing
these childrens books. What magazines have you written for? What
topics?
A) I have been an outdoor writer
for over 12 years. I am fortunate
enough to write for Michigan Outdoor News, Woods-N-Water News
and several local papers. I write about
30-articles per year. I have also written for Christian Sportsman Fellowship. I recently have teamed up with
Bow Hunter Planet and write for
Dakota/Midwest Hunting Fishing,
and I write about a variety of outdoor
topics but specifically deer, turkey
and youth involvement in the out-
from page 53
doors. Ive also been a part of Michigan Outdoor Writers Association for
four years.
Q) Are you per chance portraying
yourself at an early age through your
books or are your characters truly
fictitious?
A) There are pieces of my growing up in the books. Sometimes I
write things and laugh because it was
something I did as a kid. I think there
is always a part of the author in every
book.
Q) Three books are set in Alaska,
Colorado and Nebraska; does this
provide a more national audience perhaps? Will the series continue with
stories set in other states as well?
A) Yes, my next book takes
place in Wisconsin. I have plans for a
book about an African Safari as well.
I hope to include these states and get
them on board with the Hometown
Hunters book series.
Q) I understand the first three
books were self-published; the last
two were issued through a publisher.
Tell us a bit about the experience.
A) I started out self-publishing

because I wanted to see what the
response would be. When Legend of
the Ghost Buck was released I had
bought 200 copies. Within in a day,
I had to order 1,000 more. I eventually found an agent who worked with
publishers before recommending one.
They took the original books, re-edited them and redesigned the covers.
The original three books had different
covers; the stories stayed the same
so my fans would know it was the
same book series. The publisher sent
requests out and found an illustrator
they liked.
Q) Your books was introduced at
the Woods-N-Water News Outdoor
Weekend September event in Imlay
City I understand you did book sales
and signings. How did that go
did it encourage you to continue the
series?
A) The response was awesome
and the Outdoor Weekend continues
to be the biggest we do all year. I
travel and attend 4-5 shows per year,
but WNW is the best by far. I travel
to schools, churches and book shows
to help market the books. Kids love
autographed books and I love meeting new fans.
Q) What are your publishers
plans for marketing the series

about additional books?
A) I signed a 10-book promotional deal and have plans for at least
10-books in the series.
Q) You are young yourselfwhat
are your personal life goals?
A) My goals are to do what God
has called me to do and be the best
dad I can possibly be. I feel fortunate
to work with kids every day and love
to inspire hope to this generation. I
feel every kid is important, unique
and should feel loved. My goals are
high and I am always working on
something, some project for down
the road. I feel that books could really catch on and go national, but if
they dont, I know I am doing what I
have been called to do. I would like
to inspire kids and families across the
world to get outdoors together.
I think children need to hear and
read good morals, something bigger than a hunting tale. I wanted to
include positive messages and lessons
learned in my books. My relationship
with God is paramount in my life,
so that part of me is in the books. I
would say the message is there and
its something I feel is more important now than ever, its something that
is very important to me. I wrote them
n
e
J
k
i
n
n
e
s
L
HUNT CLUB
Custom Gun Dog Training English Setters
4989 Abbot Road Reading, MI 49274

Hunts Conducted On
HARD-FLYING PHEASANTS
In Good Cover
(Including Blues)
We Dont Fool Around,
GUN DOG TRAINING

EVERY SUNDAY
Your Dog & You Will Be Great
54
QUALITY ENGLISH
SETTERS
From 47 Years Of Selective Breeding
CALL NOW! 517.283.1559
(Lunch Provided)
in a way that kept the message subtle,

I travel the state presenting and talking about the series to schools.
Q) Do you care to reveal how
many books you have sold?
A) I knew there was a plan for
my books from the beginning. In my
heart, I thought they would be a success. I have had so many great people
involved with by books, so many
people that have helped make
it a success. I would say as of
today, we have sold around 13,000
books.
Q) Can you be booked for speaking engagements? How can people
reach you to either buy books or
contact you personally?
A) I actually have been keynote speaking for the past 12 years
at churches and schools. I travel and
speak to about 12-15 schools a year
along with outdoor clubs, etc. Our
website is www.hometown-hunters.
com and I have contact information,
along with video and other useful
resources on the website.
Q) What are your plans for the
future?
A) I love speaking and meeting
people! I would really like to take my
series nationally and impact as many
kids as possible. I would like to get

involved with some outdoor companies and help promote the outdoors,
use my gifts to make a difference in
the world. I use my books to make
impact; I would like to see where this
could go. We are in negotiations right
now to get the books in some of the
big, outdoor retail stores. I think the
more people read the book, see what
the heart of the series is, the more
people that will want to get on board
and help.
All of Lanes books are geared to
instill a desire to be one with nature
through activities concentrating on
hunting. His books are selling like
hotcakes and his aim is to capture
young peoples imagination, perhaps not as much as the now famous
Harry Potter series, but Lane would
be pleased if nationwide they draw
youngsters desires to get outside
interests akin with nature where they
can learn a love of the hunt along
with Fair Chase methods and awareness of rules and regulations held
by these sports. They are our next
generation of hunters
Lanes books are sold online and
around the state: Amazon, Barnes
and Noble, Legendary Whitetails,
Jays Sporting Goods, Franks Great
Outdoors and on my website at www.
hometown-hunters.com.n
Secretary Johnson recognized for

support of state parks, outdoor recreation
The Michigan Recreation and Park Association

recognized Secretary of State Ruth Johnson who
once crossed the Straits to of Mackinac in her kayak
to promote the Recreation Passport and other initiatives as its State Elected Official of the Year for her
work supporting Michigans parks, historic sites,
forests and other recreational attractions.
The association praised Johnson for her efforts
promoting the states Recreation Passport, which
allows entry into state parks, recreation areas, state
forest campgrounds and non-motorized trail head
and boat launch parking.
As an outdoor enthusiast and a strong believer in
the Recreation Passport, I am honored to receive this
award, Johnson said. The passport is a great bargain that gives residents access to
our states wonderful resources our state parks. These parks are truly jewels that
we need to protect and preserve. They benefit every residents quality of life and will
continue to make a difference for years to come.
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has demonstrated her commitment to parks
and recreation through her activities to raise awareness for the Recreation Passport
program and the joy that can be found in Michigans outdoors, said Ann Conklin,
the associations chief operating officer.
The Recreation Passport is featured on the departments website, in mailings
to customers and through the Motor Vehicle Network, a digital video system that
displays helpful and entertaining messaging in select offices.
In fiscal year 2014, Michigan motorists bought more than 2.2 million Recreation Passports, generating more than $24 million for state parks and recreational
areas. The passport costs $11 a year for cars and trucks and $5 for motorcycles.
Passports can be purchased when renewing a vehicle registration. People who buy a
Recreation Passport will have two small letter Ps printed on their license plate tab.
Founded in 1935, the Michigan Recreation and Park Association provides
advocacy, resources and professional development opportunities to a devoted and
diverse membership of park and recreation agencies, professionals, vendors and
advocates. For more information, visit its website at www.mrpaonline.org.
Information about the Recreation Passport and vehicle registration is available
on the Secretary of State website at www.michigan.gov/sos.
Fishing Benzie County is
Fish on some of Michigans finest waters,

in Benzie County, Michigan!
Enjoy Lake Michigan from our port city of Frankfort or try your
luck on one of our over 57 inland lakes, two rivers and several
streams. Our waters are rich with Coho Salmon, Steelhead,
Brown Trout, Bass, Pike, Walleye, Bluegill and Perch. Every
fishing enthusiast will find just what their fishing for. Crystal
Lake, Big & Little Platte Lakes, the Betsie and Platte Rivers and of
course, Lake Michigan are the most well-known, but you will also
discover hidden gems like Turtle Lake, Long Lake or Herring Lake
that may just be the experience youre looking for.
2015 Fishing
Benzie CounTournaments in
ty, Michigan!
Big Brown Tro
ut
Contest - Ma
rch 15- June 15
Battle at the
Betsie - June
26-28
Uncle Sams
Shoot Out July 4
Benzie Fishin
g Frenzy - Au
gust 21-23
Lodging choice abound and area sporting shops sell all your fishing
needs and provide tips on the hot spots. Great local shopping
and dining options make for a well-rounded trip to Benzie County.
For more information, call our office or visit our website at
800-882-5801 or www.visitbenzie.com
Benzie County
Visitors Bureau
NEW
&
USED
Rosy Bros. Inc.

5727 Dryden Road
Dryden, MI 48428
(810) 796-3770
www.rosybrosinc.com
BUY
SELL
TRADE
Photos courtesy of
Gold Coast Charter Service
www.fishgoldcoast.com and
Benzie County Visitors Bureau
www.visitbenzie.com
800-882-5801
55
An afternoon African safari
Black Powder Shooting SportsBy Dennis Neely
ather round everybody,

Alan Hoeweler halfyelled from beneath a faded-green popup canopy
erected on the sun-side
of a tree-lined dry creek. Khaki-clad
shooters in Victorian or Edwardian
clothes, some wearing pith helmets,
straw hats or Indiana-Jones-style Fedoras, set their prized muzzleloaders
on tailgates and walked to the north
end of the makeshift parking area.
Welcome to todays double rifle
shoot, Hoeweler continued. He wore
the range officers customary blazeorange baseball cap and squinted
through yellow-lensed safety glasses.
We want everybody safe. Cap or
prime only between the posts, and
hearing and eye protection are highly
recommended.
Weve got the big five game
targets from Africa waiting for you,
a charging water buffalo and some
knock-down targets, too. You shoot
two times at each station with 50
points per hit. Bonus shots are interspersed throughout the course; shooters choice up to two shots each with
a hit worth 25 points, but if you miss,
we subtract 25 points. Then we go to
the knock-down targets. A hits worth
25 points, and a complete knock down
gets 50 points. You get two shots at
the charging water buffalo with 50
points per hit.
As most of you know, Hoewel-
Bill Irons missed the charging water buffalo (a gallon water jug, lower right,
just entering the smoke) with his first shot. In addition to traveling almost
straight at the shooter, the slack nylon rope allowed the water jug to swing
side-to-side and dance up-and-down.
er continued, this is not an official
match yet. We have to hold three
shoots with descent attendance to
become a regular match, which will
happen next June.
A little after noon on a bright and

warm Sunday in mid-September, cars
and trucks rumbled up Caesar Creek
on the home grounds of the National
Muzzle Loading Rifle Association
in Friendship, Indiana. Past Shaws

Quail Walk and the Herman Marker
Skeet range, the limestone two-track
narrowed. At a break in the sycamores
and maples, vehicles pulled up a
steep drive and into an open clearing
divided lengthwise with yellow and
black caution tape strung between
hastily-driven wooden stakes.
Like most black powder shooting
events, old friends greeted old friends,
and strangers and interested bystanders soon became new-found friends.
The growing crowd milled about, all
hashing over the intricacies of a specific class of black powder guns that
achieved legendary status on 19thcentury safaris in far off Africa.
They made these guns for hunting in Africa and India, Harold Wade
said holding out a walnut-stocked,
double-barreled percussion rifle to
a spectator. When the double rifles
went to black powder cartridge,
Purdey (James Purdey & Sons, Ltd.,
London) called them Express Rifles.
This is a John Rigby (John
Rigby & Company, Ltd., London),
.451-caliber double gun from about
1860. Ive owned it about five years.
I traded a Rigby target rifle with Rick
(Weber) cause he needed a target rifle
and I wanted a double rifle.
Every time I see the double
Rigby I want to swap back, Rick Weber added with a whimsical twinkle
in his eye. Weber cradled an original
Alexander Henry .451-caliber express
rifle made in Scotland in 1866. The
gun came with the case it was originally shipped in.
Some of these guns shot a
winged bullet, which was a conical
bullet with two little knobs cast off
the sides, Don Kettelkamp explained.
They did that because the British rifling was too fast. They put the wings
on so the bullet wouldnt strip out of
the rifling as it traveled down the bore.
Licensed Shooting Preserve

619 E. Brown Rd. Mayville, MI 48744
(989) 843-6576
56
Dogs with Guides Available

Open 7 Days A Week
Fields With Excellent Cover &
Safety Fields In Between
Birds Released After You Arrive
No Gun Or Membership Fees
Clubhouse
Bird Cleaning
Morning And Afternoon
Hunts
Extra Birds Shot are Free
Gift Certificates Available
Located 17 Miles North of Lapeer
www.jankspheasantfarm.com
Rick Webers two

hits on the sable
antelope added 50
bonus points to
his score. Weber
prefers a hollow
point, paper patched
lead bullet (inset)
in his 1866 Alexander Henry Express
rifle. Wild Rivertree
photos
yards an elephant faced straight on,

eliciting a noticeable hush among the
hunting party.
Four resettable, knock-down steel
targets, each about six inches square
and standing knee-high on a pair of
hinged, angle-iron legs, offered the
next challenge. Theres a fine line
between knocking them down and
just hitting them, Bob Conrad said
as he capped his left barrel. Conrads
first shot hit with a metallic thud.
The black square tipped away with
noticeable hesitation as if it might flip
back up, then it fell over. See what I
mean?
Down the line, the hunting party

encountered a black Cape buffalo
veiled by the dark shadows of three
sycamore trees. The final encounter
was with a crouched leopard up on
the hillside.
At the initial group meeting,
Hoeweler had explained that the leopard was shot from the sitting position,
as if the hunter was seated on a river
steamboat. For safety, the boats seat,
a steel folding chair, sat on a sheet
of plywood. Seeing the leopard, let
alone finding the vital spot, proved
difficult as each hunter fidgeted and
turned back and forth in an attempt to
Michigan State Muzzle Loading Association State Shoots
April 4-April Fool Shoot: Benzie Sportsman Club: 231-378-2145

April 11-12-Steak & Dollar Shoot (Rifle & Trap)
Grand Valley Cap n BallersTM: 269-792-4384 or 616-836-5760
April 11-Spring Blanket Shoot: White River Muzzle Loaders: Rothbury: 616-218-7037
April 18-Sporting Clays (Modern Shotgun)
Grand Valley Cap n BallersTM: 616-836-5760
April 18-Blanket Prize Woodswalk: Powder Horn County ML Gun Club: 800-960-8111
April 19-Bridgeport Fun Shoot: Bridgeport: 989-746-0723
April 14 Aug 25-Summer Aggregate:Benzie Sportsman Club: 231-378-2145
get a clear sight picture.

At the end of the afternoon, both
competitors and spectators came
away with an inkling of the flavor and
texture of a bygone African big game
safari. The original, muzzleloading
rifles used in this match added to
that aura, for each came with its own
history, its own pedigree. The fullsize targets, hand-painted to resemble
living animals, placed in true-to-life
settings added to the ambiance, too.
And the match sponsors emphasis on
wearing the Victorian or Edwardian
clothing of long ago contributed to
the overall impression that we were
there.
Being safe comes first, of
course, Harold Wade said as Alan
Hoeweler tabulated the scores, but
shooting these old rifles, sharing in
the fellowship and camaraderie, taking part in the kidding and having fun
are whats important. And if you win,
its a bonus.
Give the black powder shooting
sports a try, be safe and may God
bless you.n
AVID HUNTER AND

OUTDOORSMAN!!!
7120 DEXTER ANN ARBOR ROAD DEXTER, MI 48130
CALL TONY TODAY FOR A NEW

CHEVROLET OR PRE-OWNED VEHICLE!
*DEER
HUNTING TAGS
OR
FISHING TAGS
FOR LIFE OF
VEHICLE!!
Call
Tony for
Exclusive
Details!
Michigan Born And Raised!
TONY
DUNCAN
Delivery Available
PLEASE ASK
US ABOUT OUR
A Name You Can Trust!
WOODS-N-WATER tduncan@lafontaine.com
PREFERRED PRICING &
734-726-7356
REFERRAL PROGRAM!
*One Michigan Deer Tag or Michigan standard Fishing license/year for life of
your lease or Up to 5 years on a purchase (call for details-resident license only).
www.Lafontainechevy.com
Harold (Wade) has a double

Whitworth rifle with a hexagonal
boring and a 1-in-20 twist (the bullet
makes one complete revolution in 20
inches), Kettelkamp added. Wade
said the Rigby has a 1-in-22 twist,
and Webers Henry rifle is 1-in-24.
I shoot a solid-point lead bullet
that weighs 310 grains, Wade said.
The bullet measures .441 (of an
inch diameter) with a paper patch
made from nine-pound, 100-percent
cotton paper, lubed with a special
black powder lube. I weigh out each
powder charge of 2Fg Olde Eynsford
black powder by Goex (for accuracy).
After each marksman signed up
and paid the entry fee, Hoeweler divided the competitors up into groups
of four shooters each. To save time,
each group started at a different station.
Harold Wade, Rick Weber, Bob
Conrad and Bill Irons walked to the
far north end, then turned right into
a lush thicket where an empty plastic
water jug hung suspended from a
continuous nylon rope. A pulley and
crank system, operated from behind
the shooting station, propelled the jug
almost straight at the competitor from
about 25 yards out.
Ya gonna live through this
one? Bob Conrad asked with a grin.
Who knows? Im just going to
rear back, take aim and have fun,
Weber replied as he cocked both
hammers on the Henry express rifle.
Pull it!
The water jug bounced up and
down from slack in the line. At 20
yards the Scottish doubles right barrel roared with a long fiery tongue.
White smoke obscured the charging
water buffalo. The left barrel thundered. The beast broke through the
smoke, bobbing from side to side,
striking Weber in the left shoulder
when it passed.
I got gored, Weber said with a
broad smile.
A life-size sable, standing broadside partway up a wooded hill,
offered bonus points. But to see the
vitals, a steel clangor suspended
behind a six-inch hole in the plywood
silhouette, each shooter had to duck
under a walnut saplings low branches. Interspersed with a hefty amount
of good-natured kidding, Webers two
hits earned some redemption and
50 points.
On that days safari to darkest Africa, a rhino appeared in the shadows
at 60 yards. Splotches of sunlight hid
the point of aim from Harold Wade.
Theres leaves in front of it, to the
upper right, Alan Hoeweler said
after joining the group to check on
their progress.
A lion lurked at 40 yards, a zebra
stood in full view at 30 yards, then a
long-horned oryx seemed unaware as
the entourage loaded from their safari
pouches. Wade and Irons both scored
two hits on the large antelope. At 65
57
We Have To Save This Fishery...By Mark Sak
What are MDNRs fishery

plans for Saginaw Bay?
fter hearing surprising changes regarding the Michigan Department of

Natural Resources Great Lakes Fisheries plan for 2015 and beyond, many
questions still remained. I put in a
call to Jim Baker, MDNR Biologist responsible for
Saginaw Bay region. I wanted to drill down a little
bit on plans for walleye on one of the most prolific
walleye waters in North America. Jim is always
very gracious in giving his time to discuss these
issues with writers. Here are a few things that may
come into play in 2016.
We all know the crash of the alewife population has changed the lakes again. The absence of
this food source has shifted the entire food chain
and not only affects walleye but most fish in the
Great Lakes system benefitted from this easy source
of protein. The biggest change will obviously be
salmon numbers.
As discussed in my last article, Randy Claramunt from the Charlavoix Fisheries station communicated a big change in how the MDNR fisheries
would handle major issues like the alewife crash
going forward. The initial plan is not going to be
increased planting. It will be more of an interaction
rather than a reaction implicating we cant fight
Mother Nature. Jim Baker backed this up emphasized to me on the phone in only a way Jim can.
As the walleye spawn and recruitment has been

reaching all time highs on Saginaw Bay, bait fish
populations that remain are taking a huge hit. This
includes the yellow perch. During those months
when most anglers like to be on the water fishing
walleyes, the average size and weight of these resident fish is declining rapidly, indicating the huge
numbers of walleyes just dont have enough to eat.
The bay is unbalanced.
One of the complaints folks are hearing around
the Saginaw Bay is the nice perch harvested six-toseven years ago are now much harder to find. More
flexibility is needed in regulations year to year to
help keep year classes healthy and in the bay. We
know those big girls head for big water when they
are done spawning and the temperatures heat up
as they can not sustain themselves on the forage
that is available in the inner bay. Now it seems the
younger walleyes are struggling to maintain body
weight as well.
So the MDNR is getting ready to roll out some
new ideas on management which includes size limit
and creel limit. At this point biologists are hashing it out behind closed doors and as Jim explains,
Fishing regulations and sausage are both good and
most people like them, you just dont want to see
how theyre made. There should be a comment
period for the general public starting in May of
BOOKS/DVDS BY RICHARD P. SMITH
un
O u t d o o r Fo f
f o r k id s
all ages
O n ly
$ 9.9 9
each
2015, and approved changes will be implemented

April 1 of 2016. There are currently no fishing regulation changes coming out in April of this year.
We have got to believe a lot of thought and effort will be put into improving and sustaining our
walleye fishery in this state with salmon on the
decline. When the eggs are all put into one basket
it becomes extremely important to take care of that
basket.
Hopefully Ill see you on the bay this summer.n
BLACK BEAR HUNTING
6 NEW Chapters Plus New Material Added To Most Chapters

Best black bear hunting book out there! ~ C. Ramirez
DETAILED COVERAGE OF:
All Hunting Methods

Where to Aim
Field Judging Black Bears Recovering Bear You Shoot
Scoring on Nocturnal Bears Reading Bear Sign
Field Judging
BLACK BEARS
Quantity
____*NEW* Black Bear Hunting - 2nd Edition
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 6 ($16.50)
____ Walking with Whitetails DVD ($24.00)
____ Deer Hunting - 4th Edition ($35.00)
Cost
($40) _______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

_______
____ Deer Tales Set - 2 for $28; 3 for $40; 4 for $50; 5 for $60; 6 for $72 _______
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
____ Field Judging Black Bears($20.00 postpaid) _______
58
Lane Walker
Author
Outdoor Writer
Professional Speaker
Book Lane for your next wildgame dinner or event
www.hometown-hunters.com
Hometown-Hunters
SEND FOR YOUR

AUTOGRAPHED COPIES TODAY.
Name
Address
City
Phone #
Please specify which books sent to the same address.
____ Tracking Wounded Deer ($20.00)

____ Stand Hunting for Whitetails ($19.00)
____ Understanding Michigan Black Bear - 2nd Edition ($20.00) _______

____ Animal Tracks & Signs of N.A. ($23)
_______
TOTAL
_______
____
State
Zip
Please remit by MasterCard, Visa, Check or Money Order.
Circle card type:

MC/Visa #
Expiration Date
_______
_______
Signature
Make checks payable to: SMITH PUBLICATIONS

814 Clark St. Marquette, MI 49855
www.RichardPSmith.com
Sportsmen Make Positive Contributions...By Len Jenkins
Attend a banquet to
help support wildlife
such as NWTF, PF, DU, and RGS.

If hunters would not have been in the forefront
of these efforts, we would probably never have had
the re-introduction of elk to Michigan from animals
trapped in Wyoming or wild turkeys introduced
from Pennsylvania and other states as well. We
now have a sustained elk herd to hunt in northern
Michigan and a population of wild turkeys to hunt
throughout Michigan and the entire country in general after it seemed evident that the wild turkey was
doomed to extinction.
Sportsmen can do a lot on their own by planting food plots and natural cover for wildlife on
their own property or through concerted efforts
with groups such as RGS which advocated for clear
cutting of aspen to promote regeneration of a food
source, PF which does habitat work in planting
switch grass and food plots and cover, DU which
through selfless efforts and political efforts led to
the creation of Point Moulle State Game Area (and
many other refuges as well), the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, marshland habitat restoration and erosion control. The NWTF was successful in bringing back from the brink of extinction the
eastern wild turkey a monumental success.
All sportsmen could do something even if they
dont have private land on which to plant food
plots, create brush piles, or plant apple and oak
BOOKSby:JerryLambert,WoodsNWaterNewscontributor
"JerryLambert'snewbookTheHuntingSpirit
capturesthehunterinallofus.Hissecondbook
isagreatfollowuptoTrophyWhiteTalesand
willbeahitamonghunters.Hisinspirational
storieshitrighttoahunterssoul!Thisbookisa
musthaveforalloutdoorsmenandwomen.You
won'tbeabletoputitdown.Welldone,Jerry!"
LaneWalker,AuthoroftheHometownHunter
seriesofbooks.
"TheHuntingSpiritisthesecondbookfromwell
knownMichiganstorytellerJerryLambert.
Readingtheseamazingstoriesimmersesthe
readerintheessenceofthehunt.Itisnolonger
thekillbutthemomentsthataremostimportanttoeachhunterthatLambert
captures.Thisisamustreadforanyhunterwhodreamsaboutbigbucks,long
beardsorfarawayhuntingadventures."BrianMiller,WoodsNWaterNews
Contributor.
U LT I M AT E L A N D M A N A G E M E N T
ULTIMATE DEER FOOD PLOTS -- BOOK & DVD
$25
JerryLambertjoinsthecircleofeffective
storytellerswhokeepthepagesturninginthehands
ofthereader.Heisagoodhunterandagoodwriter.I
highlyrecommendthisbook.JimmySites,Spiritual
OutdoorAdventuresTV
Thisisavolumethatnotonlybelongsonyour
outdoorsbookshelftoreadandrereadinandoutof
deerseason,butasecondcopyalsoshouldbekeptat
deercamp.Itwillcertainlybeindemand.Betty
Sodders,WoodsNWaterNewscontributor.
OrderyourcopyatAmazon.comor
jerrylambertoutdoors.com
trees. They can attend one of the many banquets

sponsored by wildlife groups and enjoy an evening
out and perhaps share it with a spouse, significant
other, a youth or a friend, thereby spreading the
word about the constructive things these groups do.
One of my favorite such groups is the NWTF and if
you want an enjoyable evening out in which youll
learn a lot, consider attending one of the many
banquets.
Heres my suggestion attend the Hillsdale
County NWTF banquet in Hillsdale on April 11th.
For reservations and information, you can contact
Jon Jenkins at (517) 254-4455 or visit him at his
business on the Ohio/Michigan line. He owns a
great sporting goods store, Archery Spot, and once
you visit you wont want to leave. This establishment is the real deal! Attend the banquet on April
11th and youre sure to win some great prizes and
have a great time as well.
There are many other Sportsmens banquets
throughout the state. PF sponsor banquets in almost
every county of the state. DU and RGS also sponsors many events. However, if youve never experienced a banquet, youre sure to enjoy them for
great camaraderie and you own personal contribution to making restoration efforts a huge success.n
$35
Or call Ed at 586-784-8090
for more information.
t may seem a paradox, but hunters who

hunt wildlife for sport are great promoters of conservation. These hunters through
various organizations such as National Wild
Turkey Federation (NWTF), Ruffed Grouse
Society (RGS),Pheasants Forever(PF)and Ducks
Unlimited(DU)and as individuals who maintain
habitat are credited with doing more for the preservation and protection of wildlife than all those purists who decry hunting as a blood sport in which
animals are killed.
The ethical hunters who cherish the hunting
tradition are responsible for many positive contributions to wildlife management such as:
Providing habitat through planting food plots
and cover.
Providing funds for the purchase of game
areas and critically important habitats such as
marshes.
Introducing youth to hunting and instilling in
them a respect for the quarry and the tradition of
wildlife protection.
Providing funds for habitat work and law
enforcement through purchase of licenses.
Providing for wildlife conservation, transplants, trapping, research, reintroduction to former
ranges, and monitoring the transplants in cooperation with state game departments and organizations
59
Michigans Super
Ports For Browns?
B
60
rown trout are kind of the

workin mans trout when it
comes to the Great Lakes.
Brown trout are homebodies, but at the same time
mysterious and elusive.
They normally show up
right on cue in the shallows come
springtime and provide a welcomed
fishery for pier anglers and fishermen
in small boats. In places like Wisconsin and New York, brown trout remain
part of the catch right through the
summer months, but in Michigan they
disappear.
The brown trout fishery never
reached the magnitude that the kings
did in Michigan, but it produced a
reliable, much anticipated fishery that
served a niche until recent years. The
brown trout fishing took a nosedive
during the past two decades and the
reasons were not clear. Biologists
concurred that some changes were
needed in the Michigan Department
of Natural Resources Great Lakes
brown trout strategies. The thought
was that planting a different strain
of brown trout to add some genetic
diversity to the population and making
some super plants at strategic ports
might jumpstart the distressed fishery.
The experiment has been met with

mixed results.
One thought was that the strains
of brown trout that we were planting
may have run its course from a genetic
standpoint and we need to infuse some
genetic diversity, theorized Central
Lake Michigan Management
Unit fisheries biologist Mark
Tonello. Michigan had been
planting Seeforellen-strain
brown trout that it obtained
from New York years ago.
The Seeforellen-strain was
a lake-run species of brown
trout, well suited to life in
Lake Michigan
and initial plants
produced fairly
good returns and
great fishing.
The other strain of brown trout
that was being planted was called
the Wild Rose strain for the hatchery
where they came from in Wisconsin.
Both strains produced the quintessential dumb hatchery trout though.
They grew fast, were fairly easy
to catch, but were not too adept at
evading predators. The MDNR also
experimented planting a wild strain of
brown trout obtained from Gilchrist
Creek in the northern Lower Peninsula.

Over the past several years,
weve seen a decline in the survival
and return to creel of the Seeforellens, said Ed Eisch, hatchery manager for the northern Lower Peninsula,
so after much discussion,
we decided it was time for a
change and went looking for
a new strain to develop for
hatchery rearing.
The MDNR turned to the
Sturgeon River in Cheboygan County as a source of
brood stock to being cultivating a new strain of
brown trout. The
brown trout in the
Sturgeon River
were unique in that some of the fish
stayed in the river year round while
others would migrate to Burt Lake
and spend a portion of the year in the
lake before running back upstream
to spawn in the fall. It was thought
that the tendency of the Sturgeon
River-strain trout to migrate to the
lake might increase their chances for
survival once they were planted in
Lake Michigan.
After beginning to collect brood
By Mike Gnatkowski
stock in 2007, it took only three short

years before the MDNR had reared
enough trout to begin an experiment
to determine if the Sturgeon River
strain could be the savior of the
Michigan Great Lakes brown trout
fishery.
Restricted by hatchery space limitations, Michigan doesnt plant nearly
the number of brown trout in the
Lake Michigan that Wisconsin does.
The MDNR typically plants between
10,000-15,000 yearling brown trout at
the major ports up and down the lake.
The token plants produced a fairly
robust spring brown trout fishery up
until a few years ago when the trout
all but disappeared. In total, Michigan
planted 434,244 brown trout last year.
120,000 of those have been going
into Traverse Bay and have produced
dismal returns. In contrast, according
to WIDNR fisheries biologist Tami
Paoli, Wisconsin plants upwards of
700,000 brown trout with brown
trout Meccas like Green Bay getting
120,000 browns and Milwaukee Harbor receiving 100,000. Unless youve
been living under a rock, you know
about the outstanding brown trout
fishing that those places produce. But
its still a numbers game.
far, claimed Mark Tonello. Fishing

has been fair. Were just not seeing many of the finned-clipped fish.
Dont know if theyre spreading up
and down the coast or what. Theres a
possibility that the fins are regenerating and were not seeing them in our
creel surveys.
MDNR fisheries research biologist Todd Wills, who is heading up
a study on the brown trout plants,
said that initial returns on the trout
have been less than poor. Over the
last four years we have only had four
clipped fish returned, he said. But
those numbers are likely misleading. Avid brown anglers who fish
the ports on a regular basis report
been better, offer Craig Coleman

whose family owns Captain Chucks
(capt-chuck.com; 231-843-4458) in
Ludington. 2013 was not as good
as 2012, but that was because of the
weather. An extremely mild and early
spring in 2012 produced incredible
fishing. We were out fishing in early
March and we had killer brown fishing that year, said Coleman. The
last two years have been as good as
Ive seen in a long, long time. We
have not had brown trout fishing like
this since I was a kid. Coleman said
he caught 117 browns in the spring
of 2012 fishing the Ludington harbor
and along the beach. Most were 3to 5-pound footballs from the 2010
remain below 60 degrees and baitfish

are around. Most anglers dont even
consider fishing for them after April.
Mark Chmura, who runs his
charter boats out of Manistee (pierpressurecharter.com; 231-864-4051),
is a self-proclaimed brown trout nut.
With few exceptions, hes the first
one on the lake in the spring. The
brown trout fishing is not what it
was years ago, said Chmura, but
you can go out and catch browns and
fishing has been better the last couple
of years. No doubt a result of the
plants made at Ludington and Frankfort. If theres not a lot of boats,
you can catch a limit pretty easily.
The key is boat traffic. Years ago it
The brown trout fishery never reached the magnitude that the kings did in Michigan, but it produced a reliable, much
anticipated fishery that served a niche until recent years. The brown trout fishing took a nosedive during the past
two decades and the reasons were not clear. Mike Gnatkowski photos
outstanding spring brown trout fishing that has coincided with the super
plants. Anglers in the know show
up at the boat ramps at daylight,
catch their limit in an hour or two
and are long gone before the creel
clerks show up at noon. The anglers
the creel clerks do get to interview
are often transient anglers who are
not wise to the ways of Great Lakes
brown trout and end up reporting
poor success. The 10% that are catching the 90% need to make sure that
they are reporting fin-clipped brown
trout. Granted, no one wants to crow
too loud about the fantastic fishing
theyre enjoying with no competition,
but its the squeaky wheel that get the
grease, or the brown trout.
The brown trout fishing has
plant. Last year, his spring catch

dropped to 74 trout, but that was
mainly due to an unusually cold, late
spring. Thats still very respectable
fishing.
Coleman said that cold weather
that makes fishing tough keeps
brown trout close to shore longer
into the season, much longer than
most anglers realize. Last year the
harbor was just loaded with alewives
in June and I had a feeling that the
browns would be in there, he said.
I took the little boat out and caught
a limit in about an hour. I ended up
catching over 50 browns that week
while we watched boat after boat go
by us headed out to look for salmon.
Browns will stay in the shallows
until summer if water temperatures
didnt matter because there were so

many fish, but now you need to find a
stretch of shoreline that you can have
to yourself. I think well have a good
year on the brown trout his year. Im
seeing several strong year classes of
alewives and browns are very adaptable and will feed on gobies if the
alewives are not around.
Who knows? Moving the
120,000 brown trout planted in Traverse Bay to Ludington and Frankfort, so the numbers mirror those
planted at Milwaukee and Green Bay,
could be all thats needed to jumpstart
the brown trout fishery. If so, anglers may be talking about the hottest
brown trout fishing in the country
being in Michigan in a few short
years.n
Wisconsin stocks way more

brown trout than we do, admitted Tonello, but its still a numbers
game. Wisconsin gets a very poor
return on brown trout too, but if you
plant more, more are going to show
up in the catch. Tonello admitted
that he and his colleagues are considering moving the plants made
in Traverse Bay because they have
produced such poor returns. Planting
those fish at Frankfort and Ludington
would bring the planting numbers
there up to par with the best Wisconsin ports and might create fisheries
that rival them.
The decision was made to make
super plants of brown trout, including the new Sturgeon River strain,
to determine if large plants might
improve brown trout fishing and
catch rates and find out how the new
strain would adapt and perform in the
big lake.
We picked Ludington and Frankfort because they are at the southern
and northern edge of the best brown
trout habitat in the lake and represented the prime brown trout fisheries,
said Tonello. We planted approximately 31,000 brown trout at Frankfort, which is twice the number we
normally stock there. Ludington got
about 56,000. Each plant was split
evenly between the Wild Rose strain
and the Sturgeon River strain starting in 2010 and we plan to continue
to make the increased plants at those
ports through 2014. The 87,000-plus
browns planted at Ludington and
Frankfort was almost three times the
number of browns normally planted.
The Wild Rose strain had a right ventral fin clip and the Sturgeon River
strain trout had a left ventral fin clip.
Fishery clerks have been checking
anglers creels in the spring to determine the success of the program.
Tonello has been disappointed
that Michigan has not been able
to develop a self-sustaining run of
lake-run brown trout. We have just
not been able to develop a consistent
migratory brown trout run in spite
of having great habitat, lamented
Tonello. Streams and rivers like the
Pere Marquette, Little Manistee and
Big Manistee offer excellent brown
trout spawning habitat, but part of the
problem might be that lake-run brown
trout tend to stop at the first spawning gravel they come to. Many times
thats located in the lower reaches of
the stream where water temperatures
might not be so conducive to good
natural reproduction. Orchard Creek
in New York gets a very good run of
brown trout so it perplexing, admitted Tonello.
After four years, the jury is still
out on the success of the super plants
depending on whom you talk to.
Weve seen very limited returns so
61
GUN CHAT: Chris Kyles American Gun
he late Navy Seal Chris

Kyle was not only one of
the most effective snipers fielded by the United
States, but a good writer as
well. I recently read his second book
American Gun: A History Of The
U.S. In Ten Firearms.
The book was nearly
completed when Kyle was
murdered. Kyles wife Tara
brought in writer William
Doyle to finish the book.
Kyles style made for a very
easy reading book. My guess
is he talked about guns almost
the same way he wrote about
them.
American Gun
begins with the American
Long Rifle and continues
to the M16. In the introduction Kyle
states, If youre a gun-history buff,
youll agree with some of my choices
and disagree with others. I would
have liked a bit more consideration of
the M14, but didnt find much else to
quibble about.
Ive been reading about guns,
hunting with them, shooting in competition, and writing about guns for
years. I still found new information
in the American Gun. One thing I
learned was that one of the troops in
Morgans Riflemen, a Revolutionary
War unit armed with flintlock rifles
(possibly called Kentucky or Pennsylvania rifles), was Major Samuel
Houston Sr. Houston Sr. was the
father of Samuel Houston Jr., who
was instrumental in taking Texas from
Mexico and making it an Independent

Republic. (It joined the U.S. later.)
Major Houston was also involved
in the Battle Of Cowpens in South
Carolina. Cowpens involved a deception on the part of the Americans, including a pretended retreat by American militia. The Redcoats followed as
the militia units retreated,
were caught in a trap, sprung
by the Continental Army, and
lost badly. Cowpens set the
stage for the British defeat
and loss of the American
colonies.
Kyle says very similar
tactics were used when Sam
Houston Jr. retreated and
retreated from Mexicos
forces under General de
Santa Anna, extenuating
Santa Annas supply lines, then turned
and sprung a brutal trap on Santa
Annas army.
Kyle writes that Samuel Houston
Sr. ...was also my seventh greatgrandfather on my moms side. Kyle
wrote that, although Houston Sr. died
when his son was 14, ...I think its
entirely possible that father and son
might have talked about what happened at Cowpens, and maybe---just
maybe---that served as inspiration for
what became Sam Houstons biggest
moment on the battlefield in the spring
of 1836.
I knew that President Lincoln
had tested repeating rifles, including
the seven-shot Spencer Repeating
Rifle at a makeshift range near the
White House. I did not recall that an
By Lee Arten
U.S. Army Captain had approached

during one of the sessions, cursed
Lincoln, and attempted to confiscate
the weapon Lincoln was holding. The
cursing and the confiscation lasted
only until the Captain realized who
was actually shooting. ...No word of
command is uttered, but they right
about face in a second of time. Now
it is double-quick, quicker, quicker, as
they race back to the avenue, leaving
behind them only a confused, suppressed breath about having cussed
Old Abe himself.
Kyle goes on with chapters on
the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, the Winchester 1873 Rifle (the
gun that won the West), the M1903
Springfield, the M1911 pistol, the
Thompson Submachinegun, the M1
Garand, the .38 Special Police Revolver, and the M16 Rifle.
Kyle does not just discuss the
chapters title gun. The 1903 Springfield chapter gives a thumbnail sketch
of Theodore Roosevelts Rough Riders andtheir action in Cuba. It also
discusses the fact that the Springfield
is a variant of the Mausers used by
Spanish troops in Cuba. Its so close,
in fact, that the U.S. had to pay royalties to Germany for borrowing from
Mausers design.
Kyle also provides a review of
the 1903 in action in World War I, in
South America, in the early stages of
World War II, and as a sniper weapon
in Korea and Vietnam. He follows the
same plan in discussing the Thompson, the 1911, the M1, and the .38revolver.
AUTOMATIC HOME STANDBY GENERATORS

ITS ONE OF THE BEST
INVESTMENTS IVE EVER
MADE IN THIS HOUSE.
- David Panzarella
4 Birds $85 per gun

6 Bird Special $120 per gun ONLY Thru December
REAL GENERAC OWNERS AGREE
62
At Generac, were happy to talk about how we invented the home standby generator category, how we make them right here in Wisconsin,
and how were available by phone 24/7/365 if you need assistance. But dont take our word for it. Listen to what our satised customers
have to say. After all, theyre the ones who made Generac the #1 selling brand of home standby generators in America. Theyll tell you that
Generac home standby generators give them peace of mind and the power to live. And that just about says it all.
Call today for a free in-home consultation.
Ive
fired several Thompsons,
competed with 1911s and the M1, and
shoot a lot of .38s through revolvers.
Kyle covers all those guns well. In
the Thompson chapter he also discussed the Gatling Gun, the Maxim
machinegun, and a few other early full
auto firearms. He included the famous
photograph of Winston Churchill with
hat, pin-stripe suit, bow tie, cigar and
Thompson with drum magazine. (That
picture has been one of my favorites
for years.)
Kyle begins the chapter on the
M16 with the battle in the Ia Drang
Valley in South Vietnam on November
14, 1965. The M16 was newly issued.
There were problems due to minimal
cleaning, and changes in the powder
used in the ammunition. When the
rifle worked it did a lot of damage to
the enemy. It was also easy to carry
and the ammunition was lighter than
the 7.62 X 51 (.308) ammo for the
M14 that the M16 replaced.
The M16 today generally has a
shorter barrel, has an adjustable stock,
and often carries some type of optical
sight. Although it still has detractors,
its been working well as a military
rifle. Semiauto versions have also
done fine work in target competition,
including the National Matches at
Camp Perry Ohio. Kyle covers the
origin of the M16, and the changes
that lead to the current M4 version. He
writes of using one he borrowed from
a Marine in combat in Iraq and of his
brother using an issued M16 in house
to house fighting there.
This book was an enjoyable and
informative read. Its too bad there
wont be many more by Chris Kyle.
American Gun: A History Of
The U.S. In Ten Firearms was published in 2013 by Harper Lux, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.n
Porter & Heckman

Inc.
Sales
1-XXX-XXX-XXXX
1-XXX-XXX-XXXX
3056 Name
Davison
Road Service
Lapeer,
MI 48446
Dealer
Here
Website www.youraddress
800-445-4328 810-664-8576
www.porterandheckman.com
List your address, city, state, place it along the bottom as shown
Affordable pheasant hunting on 317 acres of

switch grass, dwarf-milo sorgrum, and corn.
Traditional Ringneck Pheasants Extra birds shot are free.
Morning or afternoon hunts. Bird Cleaning is available.
Excellent dogs and guides - $60 per 1/2 day - $100 per full day
Steel shot loads only.
www.affordablepheasanthunting.com
Walkiewicz Farms
6115 Chapin Road Deford, Michigan 48729
1-989-683-2749
Boat Smart: Check, restock and

add new items to your first-aid kit
first aid kit is not a Coast

Guard requirement but it
is highly recommended
and appears on Coast
Guard Auxiliary check
list. If it is well kept, your
first-aid kit can be a life saver
and a great comforter in
times of necessity.
Too often first-aid kits,
those made up by mariners or
sold in chandleries, will not
be checked or looked at until
needed. At that time, it may
be too late. Why
you may ask? The
answer will be right
in front of your face
when you open your kit.
Most kits contain latex gloves that
break down and become sticky and
can actually melt. If the kit is stored
in a very hot environment such as
under a deck exposed to sunlight or in
a compartment near the heat from the
engine many items are affected. Tape
and Band-Aids may be unusable, they
get mushy and wont stick. Salves,
lotions and ointments may burst and
leak out of their containers and contaminate other items. Glass containers can break and all items could carry
expiration dates.
Take your first-aid kit out and
check it before you need it for an
urgent event. It would be a good
project for a day at dockside when
weather keeps you in port. Make a
list of items you have after checking
them and consider how they may be
used. Any that need replacing, put on
another list and add to that list items
you think you may want to include.
As you re-stock consider your
scissors, often they are the wrong
type. If you have a need for them
during rough seas that create lively
conditions, regular sharp-tipped scissors could be dangerous. Find the
type with rounded tips that will cut
tape and gauze. Fibers from old poly

ski towlines or worn mooring lines
can become imbedded in skin areas
and need to be removed. Tweezers
will work well for this task and are a
handy item to have but may
not be in standard kits. Be
sure you have antiseptics
of various types to clean a
wound such as the one described.
Many kits dont allow
room for clean water or rubbing alcohol but they need to
be onboard. Any cut
from fish scales, fins
or teeth should be
flushed with clean
water immediately than washed with
rubbing alcohol. Water will be useful
for wetting parched lips when they get
too much sun.
A must have item is the spray or
brush on Skin Shield Liquid Bandage
which will seal a wound and provide
an antiseptic. Put the containers with
liquids in zip-locked containers so if
they break their contents wont foul
all the items in your kit.
There are many sea-sickness
remedies on the market in the form
of pills. If in your kit, refrain from
offering them to anyone who may take
medications that would react to them.
Offer instead a pair of Queaz-Away
Travelers Wrist Bands by Davis
which work better than drugs and offer no side-effects. They work for all
By Capt. Fred Davis
size people and can be re-used many

times.
For major emergencies be certain
to have a couple of large, gauze pads
to apply pressure and a roll of cling
for wrapping the wound. If you expect
to have young children onboard, a
special box of kids Band-Aids will
be well received. Let them find the
one they like themselves, this activity
will help them get over the boo-boo
quickly. Because of the chance of having kids onboard, select a safe place
to store the kit, out of their reach. If
you want to make up your own, a case
with a tight gasket seal is best. Look
for an ammo box or the hard plastic

type used to store flares. Be sure the
size of your kit fits the size of your
boat, you dont want it to be in the
way but it must be accessible.
As you make your list to replenish
your kit and add items, make a note.
During the off season, take a first aid
refresher class. Classes are available
through the Red Cross and many other
agencies. Take other family members
with you because you never know
who may need first aid, it could be
you. The knowledge gained will give
the whole family peace of mind on
your water outings.n
Andys Tackle Box

17485 Dix-Toledo Rd (at Oakwood)
Melvindale, MI 48122
(313) 388-FISH (3474)
Open Year Round

Full Line of Tackle
Assortment of Materials For The
Do-It-Your-Selfer
Live Bait
Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Fly-Tying Supplies
Helping Michigans Fisherman Since 1959
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm.
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Closed Sunday
63
Ramblings of a turkey rookie

H
Hopefully fellow newcomers to turkey hunting

may find this useful, and
veteran turkey hunters at
least may find it entertaining, or something they can
relate to from their own
start in this intriguing and addicting
sport. I recently became obsessed
with these fascinating creatures, and
would like to share the story of my
first ever gobbler season.
As the old saying goes - it all started innocently enough. After decades
of looking and procrastinating, my
wife and I finally acquired an affordable country property to build a small
empty nest home on eventually, and
meanwhile enjoy for nature walks
and wildlife viewing, camping, target
shooting and possibly some hunting.
It wasnt long before the wild turkeys there started to impress and even
amaze me. Their interesting behavior,
mostly wary but occasionally appearing really dumb too, their communications with each other, their alone times
versus their gang activity, roosting
habits I never understood before - for
By Joe Bednar
these reasons and

others I became very
intrigued.
The studying then began in earnest
too, reading up on them, checking out
captivating videos including calling techniques, scouting them in the
woods and fields more and more,
it was already too late. I had to try
hunting them, also because I learned
of their very short lifespan and even
got to see how one met the inevitable
otherwise, when my wife stumbled on
what seemed to be how a coyote put
one to good use. I like coyotes too
and their feeding habits are only natural, but I bet that turkey wouldnt have
minded our hunting methods instead.
It was time to gear up as well. I
already had a suitable 12-gauge, then
added camo tape wrap given the great
eyesight of turkeys. Camo clothing
was also improved upon too, I had a
decent start there already but needed
a sniper-like hood and better gloves
(I didnt even want the palms to be
solid black). Then it was a good call,
I went with a box version based on
quite a few recommendations I had
May 1ST 3 pm - 7 pm
May 2ND 9 am - 7 pm
May 3RD 10 am - 3 pm
Located at Otsego County Sportsplex
64
989-858-3400
www.northernmichiganoutdoorexpo.com
read for beginners. I

also needed a good
low lying camo chair,
but no blind was purchased since
owning the property allowed me to
make up my own small blinds of natural materials, though I also wanted
to move around and just use suitable
trees in different spots too.
Then there were the decoys among
the new things. Like everything else,
an incredible selection and one could
easily invest more in them than the
rest of the gear. I went with affordable hen decoys to start, after finding
some good reviews, and later added a
Jake decoy. Now I had so much cool
turkey stuff I needed a good pack of
some kind, though for a while I stubbornly stumbled around the place with
my arms full of all this (nice to hunt
private land with no one around, Id
be laughed out of anywhere else by
not just the turkeys, my fellow hunters
too).
I had acquired some shells especially for turkey as well, with extra
power and reportedly choking the
pattern some more. I patterned my
new shells from different positions in
my new turkey chair, shooting at my
new cardboard turkey head drawings
that I made from leftover boxes from
buying all my new things.
When the season was drawing
near, I was beyond anxious so I went
for the early license period. Before
learning it was not a good idea to
further educate these already wary
creatures, I did a little practice calling while out there in the preseason.
A Tom came in for a look, silent as a
cat, curious and cautious, keeping its
distance. My heart was racing, could
I actually ever do the rest of this right?
A hen also checked me out that day,
the same silent and careful behavior. I
didnt do more preseason calling after
that, when I read it wasnt a smart
way to pursue a smart bird. But my
overall excitement about this grew
even more.
Opening day finally came, of
course I barely slept. I arrived in the
dark and set up, soon hearing distant
gobbling in two directions but not
apparently in response to my initial
calling. Eventually a hen arrived
in stealth mode, checking out this
beginners humble efforts. Equally
as interesting, having never sat in full
camo nearly motionless on the ground
behind brush, the other wild critters
seemed to forget I was around and
practically used me as part of their
natural surroundings, including very
close calls from their turds dropping
on my new sniper hood. I overreacted
to every sound around me, thinking
any of them could be an advancing
gobbler, but tried to barely move.

The other experiences are too
much to cover in detail, and they
included hens stopping by and some
visits with no sign of turkey at all, as
I visited for at least a few hours most
days. One time a gobbler responded
over and over and seemed to move
closer in the woods, but hung up as
they say, maybe when my best guess
on the timing had me stop calling and
readying the shotgun sooner than I
should have. I also likely called too
loudly and frequently in my more
desperate times, maybe telling the
gobblers some crazy lady was around,
likely to be a needy pain if they gave
into her screaming demands for attention.
Then near the end of the season,
my first real chance unfolded. I had
already brought in a hen, then not long
after that, what looked like someone
in a red hoodie was doing some type
of up-down periscope move in the
woods far off to my left. I knew what
it was, I had seen this behavior in the
off-season. Soon two stately Toms
materialized from the woods, advanc-
ing slowly and silently in full stealth

mode. The rolling terrain and my
lower spot had me lose sight of them
intermittently, and I used those moments to carefully and quietly move
my shotgun into position. I mostly
kept my nerves calm, but this was
getting beyond intense!
"WINTER
SAVINGS"
CLOSEOUT ON ALL
2014 FIREPLACES!
Since 1979
Largest Selection
Wood/Gas/Pellet/Corn Stoves
Fireplaces/Gas Logs/BBQs
Hearth Accessories, Patio and More
www.emmettsenergy.com
Let us install a beautiful

high efficiency gas, wood
or pellet insert or fireplace!
ROMEO
WATERFORD
70790 Van Dyke

Romeo, MI 48065
4994 Dixie Hwy.

Waterford, MI 48329
TOLL FREE
TOLL FREE
877-836-6388
877-936-6388
STORE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 10am to 6pm Sat. 10am to 4pm Closed Sundays
I didnt have that great a read on my

self-imposed 35 yard limit based on
practice, and because I had marked
in the areas around my blinds but not
in this new spot. I still thought the
first guy was there when his head and
neck emerged over a rise, though he
seemed to be moving parallel to my
decoys, even away at this point, probably leaving! I took careful aim despite an awkward position by then
felt it was that timeand boom!
His head dropped out of sight,
I had my first ever wild turkey! I
leapt from my spot and looked over
the riseand he and his pal were
sprinting away like track stars! I
was stunned, had been on target in
the practice sessions, but at least he
looked untouched, thankfully no sign
of any injury. Then to rub it in, upon
reaching the truck soon afterwards to
call it a night, there they were! They
moved off from thick dead grass near
where I had parked, then bolted and
flew away, I swear they were grinning
and taunting me.
Ill spare you the whole analysis
of my failure, but what was probably a bit too long of a shot for me,
uphill, in an awkward position, trying
for just the head when probably the
neck would have allowed more room
for error, or so I read later. Another
technical mistake occurred as well
I forgot that my camo tape had me
using the top half of the sight bead in
practice. Using the full bead had me
basically tilting the receiver down a
bit because of the thick camo tape.
Afterwards I took it off the receiver
area to avoid that in the future.
Now I was down to my last
couple tries, the bottom of the ninth
inning, the last weekend of my short
early season. In my second to last at
bat, there was no sign of a turkey but
I did watch a coyote rush out of the
woods at a crane in the field in front
line of sight. This big boy came from

my right, straight at me against the
tree. I even tried to maintain a squint
since I feared hed see how giant my
blinking eyes were in my near-panicked state.
Around 40 yards or so he
wouldnt move closer, studying my
decoys and the camo blob with huge
white strobe-light eyes behind them.
I had revised my goal to 30 yards after the big mistake a few visits before,
and contemplated what to do next.
But the decision was made for me as
my neighbor roared out in his quad
not far away, and Mr. Gobbler turned
around and marched back into the
woods, not in a panic but definitely
with a purpose. Nothing to lose, I
called to him some and he replied
just once, maybe telling me where to
stick my box call using some form of
turkey profanity.
Well thats about it. No gobbler
after all for this turkey hunting
rookie in his first season. But an
amazing experience I thoroughly
enjoyed and learned a lot from.
Im definitely hookedor pecked
and will continue my quest for
Michigans incredible wild turkeys
in future seasons.n
Mid Thumb Game Ranch

545 West Burnsline Melvin, Michigan 48454
M-90 between M-53 & M-19 -- Approx. 50 Miles North of Detroit
Contact at 810-378-5632
DAILY 7 AM - 10 PM
80 ACRES, MOSTLY
WOODED-HEAVY COVER
NO LICENSE
REQUIRED
$50 Deposit (personal check)
WWW.MIDTHUMBGAMERANCH.NET
Rams $325 & Up
Hog Hunts
Call For Availability
Goats $325 & Up

Fallow Bucks
$900
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE!
After reading and researching everything turkey hunting, the figured it was
time to gear up; camo, camo and more camo! Joe Bednar photo
of me, and the crane barely got in the

air in time. I tried to bring the coyote
toward me with my turkey call. He
advanced just a little and seemed to
know from well over 100 yards that
my decoys were bogus, so he trotted
back into the woods.
On my very last try, drama unfolded again, could my first season
really conclude in gobbler glory?
Distant gobbling far off in the heavy
wind may not have been in response
to me, but I continued to answer.
Eventually there he was, far off to
my right and across the field, maybe
200 yards, carrying on this conversation only one of us understood (and it
wasnt me). He kept coming, slowly
and with intermittent strutting and
gobbling, I was finally seeing what I
had read about and watched in videos. As he got well within 100 yards
he looked more like an oncoming
buffalo when he fanned out, a huge
long-beard! I got to see his head
changing back and forth from blue to
red too, wow!
I took deep breaths, trying to
control my excitement. Other turkey
contact there had been from my left
so I had the decoys to my right some,
hoping to be out of a turkeys direct
65
Favorite SFTs about salmon fishing
n the Great Lakes Angler

Super Salmon Schools my
partner Capt. Dan Keating
and I teach, we frequently
refer to a couple of threeletter expressions related
to our salmon fishing: The
first is SWR and the second
is SFT.
As many salmon anglers on the Great Lakes
know, SWR stands for Secret Weapon
Rig, which is a downrigger rod with
two or three colors of leadcore on it,
developed by my old friends Craig
MacPhee and Skip Berry back around
the turn of this century.
SFT is altogether different. It stands for Stupid Fish
Theory, and the term encompasses all the ideas we have
about why salmon and trout
do anything, or why certain
types of rigs work. Most of
them are probably both provable even with the scientific
method.
For example, the
SFT about SWRs is
that the leadcore takes
the lure down below
the downrigger ball into undisturbed
water. Furthering this Stupid Fish
Theory, the Secret Weapon Rig works
because the leadcore moves around,
side to side, in the underwater currents, producing a hypnotic action.
Who really knows other than the fish?
Thats why its a Stupid Fish Theory.
An extended Stupid Fish Theory
about why lead core is so effective
with spoons and planer boards is because water resistance against the lead
core lines Dacron sheath lifts the line
as the planer board speeds up, making the lure head for the surface, then
the leadcore sinks when the boat (or
planer board) slows down, causing the
spoon to flutter down, like an injured
baitfish. In other words, lead core
makes a spoon act more like a baitfish,
darting and changing its depth level.
Heres a recent SFT Ive come
up with where trolling with bait is
concerned. One reason Uncle Bud
Roche (the New Buffalo octogenarian
who still kicks butt in five-fish salmon
tournaments) catches so many big fish
is because he has nothing but flashers and bait in the water. Some are
standard plastic heads holding strips
of herring fillets and fished behind
flashers; other flashers are in front
of Sushi Flies, which are basically
standard tinsel flies with a strip of bait
wrapped underneath the tinsel body.
Bud doses each strip up with a squirt
of pure herring oil before deployment.
When he has all six or nine rods in
the water, hes got a whole bunch of

lures dispersing herring scent. Now,
big salmon are all ready to use their
sniffers to find the streams where they
were born or stocked. These highly
refined olfactory systems can guide
big fish to rivers hundreds, sometimes
thousands, of miles away. So I theorize that big fish already tuned in to
how well they can detect odors, pick
up all that herring scent being dispersed behind Buds boat, and home
in on the trolling path. They pull into
the all-bait spread and pick one that
suits their fancy.
OK, now one of my very first
SFTs, is about why leadcore
and copper lines behind
on-line planer boards work
so well. This also relates
primarily to spoons. The
set-up works because of
the gamefishs lateral lines.
Heres how this SFT goes:
You know that red meat on a
salmon fillet that most people
cut off before cooking
because it lends a fishier taste to the fillet?
Thats all nerve tissue,
which makes the
salmons side a sort of big radar dish,
capable of discerning vibrations from
prey, giving them a big predator advantage in low light. As you turn your
boat with lazy S turns, the boards on
one side of the boat speed up and the
boards on the other side of the boat
slow down. Not only does this change
of speed pull the spoons on the fast
side up and let the spoons on the slow
side sink and maybe flutter. No, it
also brings those spoons through their
whole range of vibrations. The SFT is
that at some point that spoon produces
vibrations similar to the vibrations
of the actual prey upon which fish
has been recently chasing and eating.
When the spoons vibrations matches
the vibrations of real prey, Wham!
the fish commits and strikes.
Want to know why orange-colored
spoons work so well for steelhead
and salmon? The SFT for this one
says that since all of our Great Lakes
fish are descendants of Pacific Ocean
stock, they are genetically programmed to eat orange stuff because
thats the color of krill, small, shrimp
creatures that Pacific Ocean fish eat
with gusto. Even through no krill
exists in the Great Lakes, the color orangewhich is not something the fish
see every day in real preystill elicits
a strike response from our fish when
they see it.
Why do flasher/fly combos work?
Well, the SFT is that the flasher imitates a feeding fish and the fly is a fish
Great Lakes
By Dave Mull
66
So, why does the orange lure catch fish? The author has his theory! Dave Mull photo
that evaded capture but that now looks
like an easy meal to fish joining the
feeding frenzy.
One April around 2001 fishing out
of New Buffalo in the Great Lakes
Angler Magazines first project boat, a
17-foot Scout center console, muddy,
really muddy, dark water stretched
from the beach to about four miles
out. The close in, dark, cold water
was just packed with all kinds of
fish, but no matter what you did, you
could not get them to bite. At least we
couldnt, nor could numbers of other
anglers who tried. Once you got out
four miles to clearer water, the fishing
was fantastic. Stupid Fish Theory:

Those fish in that muddy water
were lost and had no idea in what
direction the clear water lay.
While they could feel the vibration
of the lure with their lateral line,
the extreme cold of the water had
them lethargic and not willing to
strike.
When you come right down to it,
leadcore, copper, bait flasher/flies and
orange spoons all catch fish simply
because they do. But its still fun to
speculate on why they work and give
birth to new and better Stupid Fish
Theories!n
Woods-N-Water News
MICHIGANS
PREMIER
OUTDOOR
PUBLICATION
FEBRUARY 2015
Woods-N-Water News
$4.00
Michigans Prem
ier Outdoor Pub
lication
WOLVES
Returned To Endangered
List
TARGET JIGGING:
WALLEYES
DEER CULLING
Double Your Ice Catch!
Improve Antler Quality?
A Neverending Debate
Insane Coyotes Snow Ste

elies Return Of The Snowy
Owls Follow The Smoke
Wireless Age Of Ice Fishing
Are Antler Point Restriction
s Working? Mighty Muskeg
Catching Bluegills Prepar
on
e For Next Years Deer Season
--Now Tiger Muskies
www.woods-n-waternew
s.com
Like us on facebook
Follow us on
One year $29
Two years $55
Three years $80
Check/Money Order
NAME
Card #
ADDRESS
Visa/Mastercard
Exp. Date
Send to: Woods-N-Water News

P.O. Box 278 Imlay City, MI 48444
Or Call (810) 724-0254
CITY
STATE
Renewal
(Please attach mailing label)
ZIP
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Date
Ck#
New Subscription
67
My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...
Proposed bass fishing regulations could

adversely effect Michigans World Class fishery
By Patrick W. C. Bevier
recently proposed, very

dramatic MDNR regulation change was obscurely
unveiled in a fisheries
order dated Feb. 17. As
a former fisheries biologist and avid
angler, the modifications in bass fishing regulations made clichs surface to
my mind like a largemouth slamming
a Pop-R top water plug. Those clichs
include, you dont know what youve
got until its gone and the grass is
always greener.
Most Michigan anglers are
unaware the regulations are about to
change greatly, and will potentially
damage important parts of the fishery.
What Is Happening?
The order adds extensive time for

a catch and immediate release season
for all, and a special provision to allow tournament anglers extended privileges to remove and keep spawning
bass in live wells. Tournaments would
start the last week in April, affording
competition anglers an additional
four weeks on all lakes-except Lake
St. Clair, where the season would be
extended by a dangerous seven weeks,
resulting in a serious disruption in
bass spawning.
Who Is Doing It?
68
The 500 member Michigan BASS

Nation (MBN) has promoted an agenda which will give one-tenth of one
percent of Michigans anglers special
rights to take bass from their spawning
grounds, over and over again, while
the rest of the public cannot.
The group supporting this is
comprised of tournament anglers, but
many professional anglers dont agree
with their approach. Kevin VanDam,
the best bass tournament angler in the
world, does everything in his power to
promote Michigan tournaments. Yet,
he stands against the idea of opening up fragile northern fisheries or
Lake St. Clair to more exploitation,
because he isnt willing to risk losing
the goose (or smallmouth) that lays
the golden eggs.
Kim Stricker, a 27 year veteran of
the professional bass tournament trail,
(20 years with B.A.S.S. and seven
with FLW) is directly responsible for
bringing the first national bass tournament to Michigan and Lake St. Clair
(the Bassmaster Michigan Top-100
1994). He continued to push the
benefits of organized tournaments and
brought the FLW Tour to Michigan
waters as well.
I thoroughly understand the
business of tournament fishing and
the economic impact that national
tournaments can generateand Im
confident that without this monetary-
driving factor, this proposal wouldnt

even be up for consideration. With that
said, and at the risk of losing some
popularity with a few select viewers,
I would be remiss if I didnt stand
up and state my case in an effort to
prevent the over-exploitation of this
world-class fishery, said Stricker.
I support Catch-and-Immediate
Release (CIR) but am convinced that
much more research is needed before
considering additional Catch and Delayed Release (CDR) of bass.
CIR has the support of some
fisheries biologists as well as most
anglers in general, because there is
a chance that the nesting males can
return to their beds before predators
destroy their offspring. In contrast,
CDR makes it challenging for them
to return and the fry are often lost.
An Ohio study revealed that gobies
devastate nests within minutes of the
males absence.
Stricker also hosts Hook n Look
on the Outdoor Channel. He and his
son have spent countless hours underwater investigating the habitat and
habits of Lake St. Clairs smallmouth
bass. From the St. Clair River to the
Channelsfrom the flats and bays
to the centeras well as down every
Mile road weve meticulously studied
this smallmouth fisherynot from a
book, not by statistics on a computer
Captain Chris
Noffsinger of
Interlochen with a
beautiful Michigan
smallmouth.
screenbut face to face in the fishs

worldcapturing and documenting the ecosystem first hand, said
Stricker.
In-Fisherman magazine just
ranked Michigan the second best
bass fishing state in the country,
sandwiched between the two prolific
fisheries of Florida and Georgia. Once
again, this begs the question, Why

risk wrecking a world-class fishery?
If you want a real life example
of what this sort of regulation might
spawn look no further than Ohios
Lake Erie fishery. Their biologists are
now prohibiting bass possession from
Bass fishing regulations page 70
Positive example for outdoor Facebook

By Richard P. Smith
ike Avery has set an

excellent example of
how it is possible to keep
Facebook Pages positive
and upbeat. Hes decided to simply
get rid of the negative.
For those of you who may not
know who Mike Avery is, hes a veteran Michigan outdoor communicator
from Midland. He hosted an outdoor
television show for many years at
the same time he produced a 3-hour
weekly outdoor radio program called
Mike Averys Outdoor Magazine.
Several years ago, Mike got out of
the television business to concentrate
on the radio program and his radio
program can now be heard on radio
stations across the state every weekend.
An ad for Mikes radio show, with
the stations that carry it, and when
the program is broadcast each week,
is printed in each issue of WoodsN-Water News. Listeners who are
unable to hear Averys program when
it is broadcast can listen to a podcast

on his Facebook Page (https://www.
facebook.com/OutdoorMagazine) or
itunes.
Through his radio program, Avery
encourages hunting, shooting, fishing,
trapping and everything legal outdoors. As he says it, its a celebration of the outdoor lifestyle that is so
strong in Michigan.
Averys Facebook Page has become an important part of his business because of the podcast and it
allows interaction with his listeners.
Mikes listeners routinely post photos
of their hunting and fishing success
on his page and ask questions. And,
of course, Mike also posts what hes
up to in the outdoors on the page.
Thats all well and good. Thats
what Facebook Pages are supposed
to be for. The problem is that some
Facebook followers feel compelled
to make negative comments about
the fish and game taken by others.
This isnt something that is unique
to Averys Facebook Page. It is all
too common on almost all Facebook
Pages hosted about the outdoors from
publications to television shows. The

trend is upsetting.
The negativity on Averys Facebook Page, Got so bad last week,
I had to take a few days off, Mike
said during his program at the end of
February. I had to calm down and
let my frustration level subside. I was
frustrated by the continued attacks
on legal hunting and angling by fellow hunters and anglers. Thats what
makes me mad. Thats what bothers
me.
I expect attacks from antis,
Avery continued. I welcome those. I
cherish those. I have fun with those.
And I dont mind personal attacks
on me. That comes with the territory. Its gone too far when legal kills
and catches are being criticized and
chastised.
How Mike has decided to deal
with the negativity is with a new zero
tolerance policy. He sets a perfect example for others to follow who have
experienced similar problems on their
Facebook Pages.
Avery sets example page 70
My Thoughts, My Views, My OpinionsAnd Letters
The Walking Dread!
uring one of our monthly,

marathon phone calls
between Michigan and Las
Vegas recently, my sister
Mary Ann and I compared
notes on favorite television programs.
I might have told her that just for fun I
watch The Walking Dead.
I dont get that, she said. Whats
with the zombies? Why does
everybody like them so much?
People dress like zombies for
Halloween. Theres a Zombie Walk in town, now. Ive
seen zombie slot machines in
the casinos. Plus a bunch of
zombie apps for my new smart
phone. What makes them so
popular?
Since I had given
the matter considerable
thought while hiding
beneath my blanket after WD had aired
the night before, I was prepared to hold
forth.
Zombies are scary because they
are us, I told her.
What? she replied with the usual
skepticism she exhibits when preparing to receive insights from her baby
brother.
So I explained.
Unlike other monsters that are
usually otherworldly personifications
of evil, zombies are our neighbors,
our friends, our family members. One
minute they are with us and then
they turn.
The thing that makes zombies
horrifying, though, the thing that sets
them apart from traditional monsters, is
that they keep on multiplying. You can
stop the individual, but you cant stop
the horde.
But I dont get what zombies
are supposed to represent, Mary Ann
asked.
Whatever you want them to. Some
kind of a threat: Communism, mans
disrespect for nature, overpopulation,
Republicans, Democrats. Critics have
said that in the movie Night of the
Living Dead, they represent
everything from Cold War
politics to racism to Vietnam.
The terrorist group ISIS.
And because I usually keep
thinking about things, I soon
realized that I can get horrified
by zombies if I think of them
in terms of the most frightening, chilling, terrifying
thing that walks among
us these days, the unwavering horde pressing upon us: the message and practices
of the Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS).
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO
of the HSUS, has said, We are going
to use the ballot box and the democratic
process to stop all hunting in the United
States. ... We will take it species by
species until all hunting is stopped in
California. Then we will take it state by
state.
And this has come to pass.
The fact that he made that statement
25 years ago is more telling than it is
outdated. In Michigan, one only has to
look back a few months to the days following the November 2014 elections.
No problem, so many self-ordained
in-the-know sportsmen proclaimed
once the two wolf hunting proposals
went down in flames. Doesnt matter
By Thomas Carney
The sense of independence and individualism that draws people to hunting and fishing is, sadly,
quite often, corrupted as a way to divide and conquer by anti-hunting groups such as the
Humane Society of the United States. Tailfeather Communications, LLC. photo
anyway. The law was already passed.
The Humane Society of the United
States just wasted a lot of time and
peoples money on getting those two
measures defeated. Weve already got
the law on the book for a hunt. Looks
like we outsmarted them. Haw! Haw!
Haw!
In any zombie tale, the most dangerous moments are those just after the
humans have avoided disaster and are
just sitting back, catching their breaths,
feeling good about their apparent victory. Then a rotted arm juts into view
on the screen, a human is taken, and
another monster is created. In Michigan, people chirping with the satisfaction that there already was a law on the
books for a wolf hunts soon learned
their contentment was mere delusion
as the HSUS had already planned to
take its fight to the courts to get wolves

relisted as an endangered species. And
as of press time the courts have spoken.
There will be no hunt in Michigan.
Like any fanatical group, the HSUS
has the patience to achieve its vision,
no matter how long it takes. Moreover,
it understands that he who has the most
money to deliver his message will be
successful at the ballot box. And like
any private group, the HSUS is under
no obligation to tell the truth in its efforts to sway public opinion. It is free
to cherry-pick its facts and to substantiate its claims with half-truths, twisted
truths and non-truths.
Eventually, the efforts of the HSUS
will move beyond the issue of hunting. Pacelle has also said, We have no
The Walking Dread page 71
By Jeff Pendergraff
t appears that not everyone has heard about the

enhanced restitution on deer poaching or they just
figure they will not get caught. In 2014 Governor
Snyder signed a bill into law that increases the
restitution for whitetail bucks killed illegally. If
the illegal buck has less than 8 points the restitution was
increased from $1000 to $2000. In addition, if it has between 8 and 10 antler points, then its additional $500 per
point. If the buck has 11 points or more than the restitution
is $750 a point, plus the $2000.
On November 19, 2014 Donald Neering of Essexville
shot an 8 point buck at his camp in Crawford County.
The only problem is that he shot it over a lighted bait pile
located behind his camp at 10 pm.
Someone heard the shot and called the Report All
Poaching Hotline. Conservation Officers John Huspen and
Chuck McPherson responded to the complaint. The deer
camp owned by Donald Neering is in an isolated area in
MDNR C.O. Ken Kovach

with an 18-pt. buck
poached in St Clair Co.
Crawford County located off the Blue Bear snowmobile/

ORV trail system.
When the Officers arrived at Donald Neerings camp
they found an illegal bait site (very large) behind the camp
with a light over it. The Officers also noticed fresh blood
in the snow near the garage door.
After making contact with Neering they were invited
into the house. They observed a rifle lying on the couch in
the living room, the rifle was loaded. They informed Donald Neering that they needed to speak with him about the
deer shot on his property. He stated no deer had been shot.
The Officers noticed a spent bullet casing on the table and
again he said no deer had been shot.
After looking at the fresh blood on the bait pile CO
Huspen asked Neering what kind of deer he shot and he
said an 8 point. CO Huspen asked if it was in the garage
and he was told no. Neering was asked what time he shot
the buck and he said 6:30 pm.
Poached deer costs $15,500 page 71
Poached deer will cost $15,500 plus court costs!
69
My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...

Bass fishing regulations
May 1 to June 26 because having an

open season during spawning caused
that bass fishery to collapse. It has
taken 10 years for it to recover.
Out of state tournament angler
Michael Spears of Kentucky also
commented, You have a hidden gem
and this is going to have a detrimental
effect on the smallmouth population.
It also will have a detrimental effect
on tourism when the population decreases. I travel seven hours each way
three to four times a year to fish St.
Clair because of the smallmouth. I am
a tournament fisherman but I realize
the stress you are going to cause these
bass. The current season is perfect as it
protects the fish on beds. Please dont
get cute and screw this up.
The perennial driving force behind
this initiative is MBN conservation director Dan Kimmel. The former tournament angler and website designer
has been at this since 1984.
While his expenditure of time and
effort are commendable, his views
are selective and express contempt
for studies and individuals that dont
support his viewpoint. Kimmell also
confuses support for CIR as evidence
that large scale CDR would also be
safe for our waters.
One study Kimmel has claimed
from page 68
proves fishing bass off their beds

is safe involves six impoundments,
which are nothing like most of the
fisheries that would be affected in
Michigan. Despite the fact that the
study is described as flawed by the
DNR, he has used it as one argument
for expanding the season.
Another common justification
from Kimmel is that Michigan is one
of only several states with closed
bass seasons. But among the northern
states, the only ones with tournament
quality fisheries have a closed season.
The fishery with the most protections,
Lake St. Clair, was named the number
one bass fishery in the world. Dexter
and Kimmels current proposal effectively tosses out that formula.
So how did we get to a point
where 500 anglers out of a million are
dictating our fishing season?
Fisheries Chief Jim Dexters
recent position is a curious about-face
from previous statements, and smells
fishy. A Michigan Warm Resources
Steering Committee member shared
the following quote from Dexter in
September, 2014.
Collectively, the biological science on this issue points to 1) increased risk to individual bass when
angling over spawning fish, 2) a
PLANT YOUR HABITAT

IT'S TIME TO ORDER YOUR TREES AND SHRUBS
THROUGH YOUR LOCAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT!
Place Your Order Now For Spring Planting Projects. We Offer

Evergreens, Hardwoods, Fruiting & Flowering Tree and Shrub Seedlings and
Transplants. Great Pricing Too! Purchase your plant stock from Michigan
Conservation Districts and support Local Conservation Programs!
CREATE
WILDLIFE
HABITAT
ALCONA CD
320 S. Satate St.

Harrisville 48740
989-724-5272
www.michigantrees.org
3001 Coolidge Rd, Suite 250 East Lansing, MI 48823

Phone: 517-324-5274 I Fax: 517-324-4435
DELTA CD
6822 US 2-41 & M35

Gladstone 49837
906-553-7700
www.alconaconservation.org www.deltacd.org
ALPENA CD
1900 M-32 West

Alpena 49707
989-356-3596 x3
www.alpenacd.org
BRANCH CD
DICKINSON CD
420 North Hooper St.

Kingsford 49802
906-774-1550
www.dickinsoncd.org
EATON CD
387 N. Willowbrook Rd., Ste

551 Courthouse Dr., Ste 3
F Coldwater 49036
Charlotte 48813
517-278-2725 x 5
517-543-5848 x 5
www.branchcd.org
www.eatoncd.org
70
CHARLEVOIX CD
303 North St.

Boyne City 49712
231-582-6193
www.charlevoixcd.org
CHIPPEWA LUCE
MACKINAC CD
2847 Ashmun St.

Sault Ste Marie 49783
906-635-1278
www.clmcd.org
GENESEE CD
1525 North Elms Rd.

Flint 48532
810-230-8766 x 3
www.gettrees.org
HILLSDALE CD
588 Olds St., Bldg #2

Jonesville 49250
517-849-9890
www.hillsdalecd.org
HURON CD
1460 South Van Dyke

Bad Axe 48413
989-269-9549 x 3
www.huroncd.org
IONIA CD
431 Swartz Court, #300

Ionia 48846
616-527-2620 x101
www.ioniacd.org
JACKSON CD
211 W. Ganson St.,

Ste 200
Jackson 49201
517-784-2800 x5
www.jacksoncd.org
LENAWEE CD
MARQUETTE
COUNTY CD
780 Commerce Dr.,

Ste C
Marquette 49855
906-226-2461 x102
www.marquettecd.org
MISSAUKEE CD
6180 W. Sanborn Rd.,

Ste 3
Lake City 49651
231-839-7193
www.missaukeecd.org
MONROE CD
NEWAYGO CD
940 W. Rex St.

Fremont 49412
231-924-2060 x101
www.newaygocd.org
OAKLAND CD
7150 Dixie Highway,

Ste 2
Clarkston 48346
248-922-7822
www.oaklandconservationdistrict.org
SHIAWASSEE CD
1900 South Morrice Rd.

Owosso 48867
989-723-8263 x3
www.shiawasseeccd.org
1137 South Telegraph Rd. TUSCOLA CD

Monroe 48161
1075 Cleaver Rd.
734-241-7755 x5
Caro 48723
www.monroecd.org
989-673-8174 x3
www.lenaweeconservationdistrict.org
www.tuscolacd.com
1100 Sutton Rd.
Adrian 49221
517-263-7400 x3
MANISTEE CD
8840 Chippewa Hwy.

Bear Lake 49614
231-889-9666 x 5
www.manisteecd2.org
MUSKEGON CD
4735 Holton Rd.

Twin Lake 49457
231-828-5097
www.muskegoncd.org
VAN BUREN CD
1035 East Michigan Ave.

Paw Paw 49079
269-657-4030
www.vanburencd.org
simpler to manage. With three climate

zones, and so much of our economy
related to angling, his willingness to
take a risk to make things simpler,
while disregarding stakeholder opinions is not good conservation.
Simplifying things for easier
enforcement often conflicts with good
science. Managing Michigans diverse
bass fishery based on climatic regions
and spawning seasons makes much
more sense than increasing angling
opportunities to the great potential
detriment of a precious resource. This
bad choice may lead future generations to be inundated with the modified clich of, You should have seen
the fishery that got away.
If you want to see why baby
bass need dad around go to: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWt_
uffYZ4M&t=60
To sign a petition opposing these
new regulations go to: https://www.
change.org/p/protect-the-fish-on-lakest-clair-from-special-interest-groupswho-want-special-privileges-to-harass-them-on-their-nests-while-theyare-most-vulnerable
The last chance to offer input to
the Natural Resources Commission on
the subject is March 19 at the DNRs
RAM center in Roscommon. E-mail
NRC@michigan.gov or call
517-284-6237.n
higher risk of nest abandonment and/

or loss when removing bass, even
temporarily, from their nest, 3) no
observed population-level effects of
early season CIR, and 4) while there
is no consensus for year round CIR
seasons there was general support for
this regulation option.
Now Dexter is endorsing a proposal which ignores what he said six
months ago, even go beyond what was
discussed with biologists and committee members.
The current fisheries division
proposal has not been properly vetted
nor is the reason the recommendation was changed very transparent.
Neither position had been supported
by any consensus. Other options have
received a higher level of public support in the public survey. The process
appears to be corrupted in this particular case, said one committee member
who preferred to remain anonymous.
Speculations aside, the entire state
is about to be subject to new regulations that have not been vetted by the
Warm Water Steering Committee,
biologists, or the public. Dexter and
Kimmel both seem confident that the
Natural Resources Committee will
vote lock step with what they want.
According to a Detroit Free Press
article, Dexter has offered one explanation. He wants to make the state
Avery sets example

If you make a negative comment toward someone who was legally hunting or fishing, your comment will be
deleted and you will be banned from
the site, Avery said. If you make
a comment like, That buck is too
small, you should have let it grow,
your comment will be deleted and
you will be banned from the site. If
you make a comment like, Nice fish.
You should have released it, your
comment will be deleted and you will
be banned from the site.
That is not your decision. That
is the hunters or anglers decision.
Dont come to my Facebook Page
from page 68
and try to do that stuff anymore.

Avery also has zero tolerance for
swear words used in posts. Those
who post such words will have their
comment deleted and they will be
banned from the site.
Avery now has almost 40,000
people visiting his Facebook Page
and he hopes to reach 50,000 in the
future. When that happens, he
wants the visits to be positive
experiences for them. Thats why
Mike adopted the new policy and
the hosts of other popular Facebook
Pages would be wise to follow his
example.n
Northern
Ontario
FALL BLACK BEAR
Package 1 - Primitive World Class

hunt in a remote wilderness.
Package 2 - All inclusive hunt
with highly experienced guide
(over 30 yrs.) licensed - fishing included.
Write or Call:
CALL OF THE NORTH
P.O. Box 697, Hwy. 11, Geraldton, Ontario

Canada P0T IM0
website: www.callofthenorth.com
TOLL FREE 1-800-801-4080
For Great Pheasant Hunting

VISIT . . .
No Charge for Extra Birds Shot
Dog Training Available
No Membership Fees
We are not the biggest, we are
not the lowest priced, but we strive
to provide the best service.
Call Paul at
734-735-7271
or check out our website
www.dundeepheasantfarm.com
My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...And Letters
The Walking Dread:
problems with the extinction of domestic animals. In other words, eventually

the HSUS will go after your bacon and
egg breakfasts, roast beef dinners and
pets because its leaders want to impose
their values on all of us.
The worst part about this: Every day
the HSUS overruns more and more of
the population with its way of thinking
and pockets more and more money with
from page 69
which it can extend the reach of the
pandemic.
Heres a partial rundown on the
HSUS from the watchdog group Center
for Organizational Research and Education (www.activistcash.com):
The Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS) is a radical
animal rights group that inaccurately
portrays itself as a mainstream animal
Poached deer costs $15,500:

Donald Neering allowed the Officers to
look inside of his garage and the officers
discovered fresh blood on the floor and
a wheel barrel full of what appeared to
be the organs and blood of a deer. Neering told the officers he gave the deer to
his friend Andy Peek. Andy had already
departed for his home with the deer.
Collin Andy Peek was contacted by
phone by Neering and was told that the
officers were requesting that he return with
the deer.
Further conversations between the officers and Donald Neering revealed that he
shot the buck at about 10 pm the previous
night. They shot the deer just for meat,
and when asked why they didnt shoot a
doe? Neering said they dont shoot does or
little bucks, he only shoots bucks, 6-points
or bigger! He stated a bigger buck had
come in to the bait pile but he couldnt get
a shot at it.
Donald Neering had several good
bucks hanging on the wall in his camp
and was charged in 1983 in Roscommon
County for hunting with an article light.
Brendan Curran, the assistant prosecutor with the Crawford County Prosecutors
Office charged Donald Neering with the
following charges.
Count 1: Take a deer after the legal
shooting hours.
Count 2: Exceeding the 2-gallon bait
limit.
Count 3: Make use of an artificial light
to hunt.
Count 4: Taking a deer without obtaining a hunting license.
Collin Peak had placed his deer tag on
the buck; he was issued a ticket for placing
his tag on the deer. Officers seized Donald
Neerings Model 94 Winchester Lever Action 30-30 rifle.
from page 69
Donald Neering pled guilty in January, 2015. The enhanced restitution for
an 8 point buck would be $6000 he was
also fined $945. He served five days in the
Crawford County Jail and lost his hunting
privileges for five years.
Collin Peak pled guilty to the tagging
violation and was fined $263.
There are more and more of these types
of cases that our Conservation Officers are
making since the law changed last year.
These types of cases are becoming more
public and hopefully at some time these
folks are going to learn it just isnt worth
it. Certainly it isnt worth the cost!
Conservation Officers working the
same area used a deer decoy in an area that
they have had issues and had pretty good
results. The first vehicle that drove past
the decoy turned around and came back
and the driver shot the decoy twice while
still sitting behind the wheel. The second
vehicle drove by and while still moving
shot at the decoy from the passenger seat.
The third vehicle had a loaded firearm
inside, came to a stop, got out and shot the
decoy once.
All subjects were issued citations for
various violations.
One final note, Conservation Officer
Ken Kovach received a complaint that
Scott Malinowski of St Clair County had
already shot two bucks in October and then
killed an 18 point buck. After an investigation Scott Malinowski was charged with
taking an illegal deer (his third buck). He
pled guilty and his restitution alone for the
buck will be $15,500 not including court
costs. You could have gone to Saskatchewan three times and hunted trophy bucks
for what he is going to pay for violating!
Author Jeff Pendergraff is a retired Captain from the LED of the MDNR.n
care organization. The truth: HSUS

has become the wealthiest animal rights
organization on earth. HSUS raises
enough money to finance animal shelters in every single state, with money to
spare, yet it doesnt operate a single one
anywhere.
The HSUS has exposed and capitalizes on one traditional characteristic of
the American sportsman. We hunters
and anglers like to think of ourselves as
solitary figures going about our chosen pursuits as individuals. Indeed, for
some of us a day can be ruined if we
just run into someone else in the woods
or on a favorite stream. But if we realize an attack on our rights in one state
is part of a plan to attack all of us in
all our states, it might be time we join
forces.
But under whose banner will we
fight?
For the longest time, I thought that
with 38 conservation groups allied
under its aegis, the Theodore Roosevelt
Conservation Partnership (TRCP) was
the group to organize us and lead us
into the fray. Turns out, I hadnt paid
close enough attention to its choice of
battles in which to engage.
In Teddy Roosevelts era, says
TRCP President and CEO Whit Fosburgh, sportsmen drove conservation. Now there are too many issues
for smaller groups to address. The
TRCP brings all the groups together
as a powerhouse working to steady

the long-term decline in conservation
funding.
He stresses the importance on working together on all conservation issues,
even those that dont affect us, for if we
dont, Theyll pick us off one group or
issue at a time.
Sounds like the struggle against the
HSUS is right up the TRCPs alley, except I had overlooked the word funding.
Wed probably not be the voice
for hunters rights, Fosburgh told me.
We try to focus more on issues of
habitat, access, conservation. National
issues rather than state.
Recently, a couple of groups have
proclaimed their past involvement in
the fight. But only after it was lost.
Seems to me that if a group doesnt
make as big of an impact on the psyche
of the general public as the HSUS has,
then its efforts have come up short. And
is a group that alerts us to its involvement only after the fight has been lost
really leading the charge?
So the questions remain: Who is going to unite sportsmen, lead them, and,
more importantly, who is going to raise
the cash needed to fight the fight where
the HSUS has taken it: to our local ballot boxes?
While we take our time figuring
out an answer, one thing is certain: The
horde continues its inexorable march.
In your direction.n
BROWER FARMS
BACKWOODS
HUNT
CLUB
MICHIGAN
Roaster Pig Hunts ........... 199

Meat Hogs ........................$250
Turkeys............................... $70
Rams and Goats ...... $350+up
$
QUALITY
ANIMALS AT
AFFORDABLE
PRICES WITH
FRIENDLY SERVICE TO BACK
IT UP!
Shop Phone: (810) 688-4540
www.browersfarm.com
brower_farms@live.com
Located One Mile North And One Mile
West of M-53 and M-90 Intersection
M-204 at County Rd. 643

reservations call: 231-994-2108
www.lakeleelanaunarrowsresort.com
BROWN CITY
71
Letters...Readers Thoughts, Views, Opinions
A step beyond the Michigan RAP program
Dear Woods-N-Water News:
My long-time hunting and fishing

companion Jeff Foland and I had a telephone conversation recently concerning
the increase in license fees and the long
overdue increases in monetary penalties for poaching our wild game animal
resources. We both detest game law vio-
lators who are essentially stealing from

us all! Although we as outdoors-persons
dont all agree on the current policies enacted by our politically pressured DNR,
we all agree that sound science-based
wildlife and environment management
should be our ultimate goal. Currently
our DNR falls short of this objective. We
Do you know how much the DNR made

off the 2014 Base hunting license?
The MDNR base license established with the 2014 hunting season
replaced the traditional small game
license that hunters have been familiar with over the years. I was unable
to draw up the average number of
small game licenses sold in 2013; the
last year they were made available for
hunters.
However, the total number of
hunting licenses sold during 2014
was recently issued in a press release
from the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources. I found it interesting. Please bear in mind that this

base license is in actuality the replacement of the small game license
of the past. The DNR sold 729,000
hunting licenses throughout the 2014
seasons. Base licenses sold for $11
each, which equates to $8,019,000 in
revenue from just the base licenses
alone.
Do you feel as though your
pocket has been picked?
Betty Sodders
Goetzville/Raber
Pick up your trash
In response to Randy Jorgensens

article in the March WNW about littering, I agree totally! There is a lot of
litter left by hunters/fishermen. I do
not do much ice fishing, but plenty of
times in the summer fishing the inland
waters and Saginaw Bay, I see bottles
and plastic bags floating in the water. I
always carry a simple grocery bag with
me that I can put in my pocket so I can
pick up others trash.
Its very bad on the Rifle River with
lots of empty bait containers. It really
makes me mad that people do this,
what are adults teaching their children
or are children picking up these bad

habits from adults? I really hope people
realize they are hurting the future of
this great planet, along with the wildlife. It makes me sick to see ducks with
plastic or fishing line wrapping around
there necks.
Sportsmen really need to start picking up their trash and recycling their
plastic bait containers. I am glad the
author wrote the article, hopefully other
people will see and realize they need to
do their part and pick up their trash.
Thanks always for the good articles.
Sincerely,
Dave Kueber
Wolf foolishness
72
Thanks Tom Campbell for featuring

Tim Storks photo and story about the
thirteen wolves he has photographed
on his bear baits in the Pickford area
(eastern Upper Peninsula) during 2014.
My hunting camp is ten miles from
Pickford, and I too am concerned about
the damage that wolves cause to deer
and other wildlife. I am really disappointed that our court system has again
refused to allow Michigan wildlife
managers to use reasonable methods to
control the size of the wolf herd and the
damage wolves cause to other wildlife
populations.
If you dont think thirteen wolves
can decimate a local deer herd, be sure
have a viable suggestion for our DNR

and our legislators that could be a step in
the right direction!
First look at the irrefutable facts.
Due to budget constraints, our DNR is
severely understaffed to police our vast
state and outdoor user ranks. The law
breakers know this and capitalize on
it! We as outdoors persons frequently
grumble, see and hear of this activity, normally look the other way, and
move to another area. Secondly, it is
counterproductive to expect the law
abiding outdoors users to shoulder the
brunt of the costs associated with wildlife and environmental management that
is constantly being abused by unscrupulous and destructive members of our
ranks. We all already pay too many taxes
too! There is a way to level the playing
field concerning our individual financial
contribution to achieving our objectives.
Those individuals who blatantly
and knowingly violate and steal from
the rest of us should assume a much
larger responsibility for funding what
they choose to destroy! How can this
be accomplished? We propose that we
be allowed to and be compensated for
helping to police our own ranks as the
current RAP program only starts to do!
Our legislature is real good at interfering with our DNRs sound science-based
wildlife professionals proposed action
plans by coming up with half-baked
purely financial-based directives and
regulations. Prime examples are unrealistic antlerless deer harvest quotas
influenced by insurance companies and
others, wildlife insensitive deer and
turkey harvest quotas for monetary gain
despite massive mortality events like the
historic and destructive midge infestations followed by the harsh winter of
2013, and the over the top license
increases for resident and non-resident
hunters and fishermen that should have
been imposed incrementally if at all!
The results of these actions were
predictable by those of us who consider
the big picture before we act. The facts
are clear. We continue to have low new

hunter recruitment, in 2013-14 had lower
hunter participation and satisfaction,
reduced license sales, lower game harvests, and more violations for unlicensed
hunting and fishing and poaching! This
trend needs to be turned around NOW!
Here is our proposal: Have our legislators initiate yet another financiallybased regulation. This time around let it
do more than just generate money. This
will also relieve the financial burdens of
law abiding outdoor users at the expense
of violators. Along with continuing to
raise the fines for game law and environmental violations, put a bounty
on the heads of violators! Expand the
RAP program to include a reward of 25
percent of the fines imposed on successfully prosecuted violators to be paid to
the tipster(s) that initiated the violation
investigation. Current RAP anonymity
can be maintained. This action will, in
effect, create a virtual army of deputies of DNR law enforcement. Financial
gains always motivate action. The best
way to curb violations and protect our
wild resources is to hit violators where
it really hurtstheir wallets! This action will prove to be very effective at
deterring violations and will, initially
generate a huge amount of money to
help us all more economically enjoy our
great outdoors and reap the benefits of
truly sound, science-based wildlife and
environmental management!
Hunter participation, policing of our
own ranks and satisfaction will increase,
license sales will rise, legal game harvests will improve, and game, fish, and
environmental violations will dramatically decrease. An added incentive for
adoption of this new policy will be more
enjoyable wild outdoor experiences for
all that will encourage ethical and legal
activities, sportsmanship, and set good
examples for potential new recruits as
well as the non-hunting public! This
could be a win-win proposition for everyoneexcept violators!
Joe Lunkas & Jeff Foland
We must have scientific management
In the Bible it does say in Genesis

1:26; Then God said, Let us make
mankind in our image, in our likeand read about what damage wolves
cause to big game herds in our westness, so that they may rule over the
ern states and throughout Canada and
fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,
Alaska. Im one hunter who wont sit
over the livestock and all the wild
idly and let wolves kill off our deer
animals, and over all the creatures
herd. Right now, we have almost 700
that move along the ground.
U.P. wolves killing one deer for every
So, you see hunting and fishing
two deer all U.P. human hunters kill.
has always been a part of us and its
In just a few more years, wolves will
kill more deer in the U.P. than all U.P.
meant to be. And its true we need to
hunters combined. It may be we need a have management of our wildlife and
major rewrite of the Endangered Spefish and it needs to be done in a way
cies Act so the Animal Rights Crowd
thats best for the species...a scientific
cant keep manipulating the system and
approach. Not by opinions or feelso we stop this nonsense once and for
ings of any group of people rather by
all. Lets do something while we still
facts.
have a deer herd we can save.
Leon E. Hank, Holt
We sportsmen are a big part of
this, we manage wildlife and fish. We

support it with our actions, time and
monies. Management cannot take
place without us...we need them they
need us.
Anti-hunting groups are entitled
to their opinions and beliefs but the
management of plants and animals
most be based on facts and what is
best for them, not for sportsmen or
groups.
Unfortunately in our world today,
the almighty dollars influence is
becoming stronger than facts and scientific management. Money seems to
be taking away our common sense. A
little common sense goes a long way.
Sincerely
TJ Jones
Heres My Thoughts...By Ed Spinazzola
Where did all the deer come from?
ur last article for WNW

News, What happened to
all of our deer? published
in the March issue showed
21 deer in a picture taken
February 2, 2015. That article noted
that on March 25, 2014 there were more
than 200 deer in that same location. So
what happened to all of our deer?
I suggested a few reasons for the
lower number of deer seen by hunters during the 2014 deer seasons, with
mucho acorns, warm weather and lack
of hunter movement being foremost.
This photo was taken March 3, 2015
with 60 very healthy deer visible in the
same location. One would think that
we should see obvious winter stress for
the second half of January and all of
February was brutal. But, we did not see
a single fuzzy faced fawn or any ribs
or sunken flanks on any adult deer. The
deer are munching on standing corn,
soybeans, sugar beets, brassica, and a
variety of grain.
Sugar beets are the single best forage for deer winter carry-over, high
nutrition and over 90 percent digestible
(for more information on sugar beetscontact me). This mostly open 170 acre
farm land in Gladwin Co. has two other
similar corn based kill plots. From my
perch we could see at least forty deer in
a plot mile to our side and the last kill
plot not being visible. We are creating a
new DVD, Ultimate Corn Based Deer
Kill Plots and expect to return in late
March for a picture and video to top off
the DVD. We just may see close to 200
deer.
For you deer hunters that thought
there were too few deer seen last year
and the MDNR screwed up, think again.
The deer did not get scooped up by
aliens nor were devoured by efficient
predators. They have been around for
millions of years and know how to
adapt to your presence.
Time For Serious Deer

And Land Management
We did not need to lose 30 percent

of our deer in the U.P. during the severe
winter of 1995-1996 and an additional
This photo was taken March 3, 2015 with 60 very healthy deer visible in the same location, last months photo only had 21 deer?
20 percent the following miserable year, the poor deer movement, not so much
The secret to good deer and land
loses like that can take several years
our beloved MDNR.
management is really simple. Underto recover. Following those winters all
Be forewarned, when we are told to stand we need to take an adequate numdeer were seriously stressed. Fawns
take does with the suggested proper kill ber of does yearly. We need to protect a
were lucky to be born alive, and does
sex ratio being two does to one buck
minimum of 50% of all yearling bucks,
also stressed just couldnt nurse two
or even one doe to one buck. There is a with the target being 90% protection
fawns and many abandoned the weakproper kill sex ratio but it isnt any the
rate of 1-1/2 year old bucks and then the
est fawn. Even if some does and fawns
above two. First, what is the preferred
social order of the deer herd takes care
made it through the first year, they were adult deer sex ratio? In the better habitat of itself. We need to have a smart and
not in the best shape to survive the sec- in the lower you can safely have a buck continuous chipping clear cut program
ond challenge, especially the younger
to doe sex ratio of 1:2. Common sense
that leaves no more than eight oaks per
does and their fawns. Fawns suffer the
tells us we should harvest one doe to
acre of at least 20% our state, federal
most from severe winters. If they are
two bucks and in time, (five years) pres- and private forests of 20 million acres
lucky they may make it through their
to there it is, for every two does seen,
of forest land for continuous ground
first winter but are so stressed the doe
a buck is lurking about. Not true bucks
forage and cover. Having a variety and
fawns are not likely to breed as 1-1/2
have a higher natural mortality rate then a sufficient amount of seeded food plots
year olds, with the male fawns growdoes and research tells us we need to
yearly just adds to the picture. The reing at best immature spikes as 1-1/2
take one doe to 1.3 bucks for a resultant sult will be wild life running amok.
year olds, nutrients go first to bone and one buck to two does adult deer sex
Think about it, Michigan, includmuscle growth. Well begun is half
ratio. Less favorable habitat in the
ing the UP having four million acres
done, is a true lore.
lower can be one doe to 2-1/2 bucks,
of forest land in a controlled timber
Most if not all severely stressed
(1:2-1/2) and up to 1:3 being just about management program that leaves more
fawns never reach their genetic potenright for the U.P. For a goal of a 1:3
than enough ground cover and forage to
tial. Having back to back challenging
adult deer buck to doe sex ratio, the
guarantee a healthy and productive deer
winters in the U.P. can create up to
kill sex ratio should be one doe to 2.0
herd along with their winter survival
four years of poor hunting. In most of
bucks. So why are we told to take at
forever.
the lower its a different story. A poor
least two does or more per buck taken.
Ed Spinazzola is an associate with
hunting experience can be the result of
Because our esteemed leaders dont
Tony LaPratts Ultimate Land and Deer
bad deer management. This last season think we listen. Sometimes we do and
Management. For more info call Ed,
many hunters complained, but I believe we have all seen the result, over kill of
586-784-8090 or www.tonysulm.com or
Mother Nature played a major role in
does.
www.deerattraction.com.n
2015 Spring Boat Show

Friday April 17th 48
Saturday April 18th 106
Mark Romanack Saturday
Hot Shot Outfitters

Ray Hoody
Goose Hunts
Youth Deer Hunts
Turkey Hunts Coyote Hunts
Whitetail Hunts
6900 Huron City
Port Hope, MI 48468
Mon - Fri: 989-428-5071

Weekends: 989-670-4336
www.hotshotoutfitters.com
1255 South M-75 Boyne City MI 49712 (231) 582-5230 www.eaglemarinemi.com
73
The Twelve Minute Gobbler
or this years installment

of the annual turkey pursuit, I traveled to Western
Michigan with dampened
expectations, but not due
to rain in the forecast.
The prior two Springs produced some
bad luck and bad hunter judgment,
probably with an emphasis on the
latter. Yet, I followed the usual ritual
in preparation for the three hour ride
for the weekend hunt. Returning to
my roots back home always comes
with high anticipation, anyway, so I
brought the whole annual kit, not to
mention the beater Model 37 Ithaca,
which happens to be from the original run in 1937. With a full choke,
close range, and a steady knee to rest
her on, the curious, vociferous gobblers wont easily avoid the dinner
table. For good measure, a stop at a
well-known sandwich chain, half way
home, should complete the karma:
sliced turkey on whole wheat.
On a beautiful Friday afternoon, I
carefully ascended the road up to the
open field. The two-track is suitable
for heavy farm equipment, but a low
clearance, mid-size sedan, not so
much. I pulled the early unit tag this
year, so any turkey inhabitants should
be careless enough, upon hearing my
By Jim Vihtelic
well-rehearsed invitation.
Arriving at my buddys farm, the
north forty at two in the afternoon,
the plan was to reconnoiter for dawn
the next day, and wait until dusk to
see if any turkeys would be roosting
nearby. I was more than ready to do
just that. With a beautiful day and
low expectations for the afternoon,
the foremost on my mind was the
sandwich, some Snickers bars, and a
nearly full thermos of coffee. Plus,
the cell phone was turned off, so as
not to remind me of the nine-to-five
alternative. The three hour car ride
helps with that, too.
After donning some camo screening over my jeans and long sleeve
camo shirt, I casually slung my backpack over the shoulder, and departed
with the shotgun in one hand and a
few decoys in the other. I slowly crept
into the woods just inside the tree line
surrounding the open field, trying to
avoid stepping on any twigs. This
isnt too hard to do, but I sure dont
have the wood sense I did when
I was kid. Regardless, the stand of
pines I was going through provided a
nearly complete bed of needles, making the task much easier.
"COME HERE"
YOU SEXY LITTLE PHEASANT
Upon arriving near a decent setup, I dropped the decoys and was
just slipping the back pack off my
shoulder, when a few fairly vigorous
gobbles were heard in the distance.
That sandwich was going to have
to wait. I looked around as fast as I
could and laid the shotgun down near
where I could sit behind a few small
trees. The shells, turkey calls, mask
and gloves were still buried in the
back pack, so the fumbling around
began in haste. I pulled out one of the
box calls, and gave three long deliberate yelps. This was immediately
responded with some gobbles. That
gave me another few minutes before
I would even want to reply, and more
gobbles were heard before I had the
chance to retrieve the necessities, and
stake in a hen and jake decoy, no more
than twelve yards away. This time the
gobbles were louder.
Forsaking the platform and cushion, I sat up against a pine tree and
couldnt help but doubt whether I had
good cover from whatever direction
the turkey chose to approach. The
sunshine produced vivid shadows everywhere, and to me it seemed to fill
in the gaps of cover, at least enough to
not distract a gobbler from the decoys.
I ran the box call one more time, with
The authors 12 minute gobbler!

a lone gobble in response, but closer
than before. Turkey fever and skewed
judgment concluded a slate call yelp
was the perfect choice, otherwise the
encounter would surely be another bitter hunting memory.
Unsteady hands and darting eyes
(in combination with those stark shadows) are not optimal when retrieving
something from an overloaded backpack, but I soon had pot and striker in
hand. I scratched a few yelps, looked
up and saw three large gobbles, not
fifteen yards away, keying in on the
decoys. Waiting until one moved
slightly ahead, the turkey load found
its mark, just twelve minutes after
entering the woods.n
Church Tackle Co.

WE DIDNT INVENT THE PLANER BOARD, WE JUST PERFECTED IT!
EZ Store
The TX-007 Stern Planer
For Your Planer Board

RIGHT
Specia
-2h T2
l
ckle Co. Sodus, M
rc a
I
TX
Chu
hurchtackle.com
www.c
An all new type of planer!
Nestled in the quiet farmland of

Southeast Michigan, we are waiting to
give you an unprecedented pheasant hunting
experience. Tower hunts, grassland hunts, and
dog training are all available on 957 acres of
prime hunting preserve land permitted
by the Michigan DNR. Come join in
the experience that so many
others are talking about.
74
LEFT
Preserve and Dog Training
2 Special
-2
ckle Co. Sodus, M
rch Ta
I
TX
Chu
hurchtackle.com
www.c
Sexy Pheasant Farm
rch Tackle Co.

Chu
Allows for easy planer storage!

Change tow-arm & clips in a snap!
10 1/4 long, weighs about 3 oz
Great for trolling in congested areas and for more effective contour
trolling along drop offs, contour lines, reef edges and weed lines in
rivers, lakes or the ocean. Effective for all species.
The optional E-Z Store devise easily attaches

to the Walleye Board, TX-44 or TX-22 side
planers. Just slide the tow-arm & clip off for
storage or change to another tow-arm & clip
slide back on when youre ready to fish again.
Part# 40519 sold 2 per package 1 left & 1 right
Run more lines out the back of the boat by staggering the TX-007.
Run any distance from the boat yet maintain desired depth.
Easy to attach and remove. Suitable for salt water or fresh water
TX-44
SUPER
PLANER
TX-22 and TX-44 are reversible and both have

a fluorescent red flag included, making the
board easy to see, folds down for easy storage!
TX-22 Special
Planer Board
The most perfectly balanced boards on the

market; set upright in the water at 0 speed.
Size: 14 x 4 1/4 x 7/8
The TX-44 is the first and the

only in-line planer to pull the
magnum divers, Lead Core, Wire
or Copper Lines and Heavy Weights.
Part# 30580 All Church Tackle planer boards come ready to run right out of the package, no extras to buy.
9 3/8 X 3 1/2
5 different planer board models to choose from!
The Revelator Flasher!
The Shock Wave
No More Toothpicks!
The Flasher for Champions! No fish can resist the Revelator.
Cut-bait Head Flips up to easily to insert herring strip,
The unique body design make each
rotation different, 4 attachment
holes will give your flies,
spoons or lure extra action to
catch the big one.
8 & 5 3/4 lengths with many tape and body colors to choose from
Same great design, now also available
in
.
dynamic metallic colors for even more flash.
snaps shut and spike holds cut bait in place
White, green, red or glow

or chrome; plain or with
flashy WTP tape.
Adjustment holes along side let you

easily adjust line to any length.
NEW for 2015 2 in 1 BOARD CLIP
CALL 734.216.2278 DUNDEE, MI

www.pheasantpreserve.com
2 clips in 1 use as a Standard Adj. Flex Clip or in

seconds move the rivet & hardware to the second
hole, turn the top piece around for a Vise Clip
Pads are replaceable when worn
Rivet placement
Standard
Clip
Vise Clip
Standard Clip
Vise Clip
When using as a Standard Clip, it can be adjusted to release, the Vise Clip will not release
Please check with your local tackle shop first, if they dont carry our products visit us at www.churchtackle.com
to view all of our great American made fishing gear, or call us at 269-934-8528 to request a catalog.
You wish you could shoot like a girl!

Really? Hunting should be gender neutral!
this to be far from true, as
women have been hunting
for many generations. For
example: Queen Elizabeth I
was known to be an expert
tracker; Annie Oakley
(1860-1926) could reportedly shoot the head off a
quail when she was only
12 years old; and British
author Agnes Herbert
hunted big game with
her cousin Cecily on
three continents in the
early 1900s. And the
list goes on
I would venture to say that women
back then had the same motives as men
when it came to hunting; they did it to
provide meat on the table and/or for
the challenge of the sport. I will take
my assumptions a bit farther and throw
out there that a woman that hunted in
the early 1900s would not have sported
a shirt stating Yeah. I Shoot Like a
Girl, would you like a lesson?
So there is the, I have something
to prove, and I am a better shot
than a man, attitude floating around
out there and then you can follow it
up with other slogans that reference
My Thoughts...
By Tricia Croney
THE FRIENDS OF NRA PROGRAM HAS BEEN OPERATING

NATIONWIDE SINCE 1992. DURING THE PAST 22 YEARS, OVER
$2,913,741 HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN! AS
THE PROGRAM GROWS SO DOES WHAT WE GIVE BACK!
2015 BANQUET DATES

DATE
EVENT CITY
3/14/2015
ALTO
3/21/2015
IDA
3/28/2015
LAWRENCE
4/10/2015
GRAND RAPIDS
4/14/2015 STERLING HEIGHTS
4/17/2015
ITHACA
4/18/2015
TRAVERSE CITY
4/25/2015
UNIONVILLE
5/1/2015
WESTLAND
5/2/2015
MUSKEGON
5/8/2015
CHEBOYGAN
DATE
5/15/2015
5/15/2015
5/21/2015
5/29/2015
5/30/2015
9/10/2015
9/12/2015
9/12/2015
9/19/2015
9/24/2015
9/26/2015
EVENT CITY
KIMBALL
HILLSDALE
FREELAND
SALINE
ALPENA
COMMERCE TWP
JACKSON
GAYLORD
BRIGHTON
BRIMLEY
LANSING
Please consider attending an event in your area, or joining a local

FNRA committee to help support this great fundraising program!
Visit
certain female body parts

as if they are a set of antlers from an animal! As I
find myself seeking more
adventure in the great
outdoors and on the waters
I feel grounded with my
reasons to be out there
and how I will portray the
image of a woman of the
outdoors, and a mother
raising children to
desire that adventure
as well.
So how do we as
mothers explain to our
young boys that they should shoot like
a girl? Furthermore, the adolescent
girls, how few of them that are out in
the woods, that it is all about proving
something, that us girls are better than
the boys?
While I shot archery every week
with my daughter and son, none of my
thoughts or conversations with them
has anything to do with the above, nor
should it. If it did, what do the future
hunters and outdoor enthusiasts look
like?
Moms and women of the outdoors
hopefully this article will help us
www.friendsofnra.org/mi For more information.
To find a committee near you; to help start a committee; or to request a grant application
and put this money to good work contact your Michigan NRA Field Representative.
become and raise some well-rounded

kids for the future of hunting that will
take a little bit of humility and a whole
lot of confidence into the world with
them. We only have to prove to ourselves that we can hit a target or successfully kill an animal, no one else.
The point here is that hunting is
and always has been a gender-neutral
sport. Dr. Stange reported in her book
that women hunt for the same reasons
men generally do and that they derive
the same sorts of satisfaction from
hunting. The appeal of the hunt, the
drive to get back to nature, the experience of oneself as a predator, these
desires are ageless as well as genderless. The notion of taking responsibility for what you eat, rather than
purchasing it from the store, putting
food on the table that isnt pumped full
of steroids and hormones, the sense of
accomplishment one gets from a hard
days work in the woods; these are all
additional reasons that women hunt as
well as men.
I welcome your thoughts, concerns and opinions. Also, if you have
an interesting story to share, email is
tricia@prettyhunter.com
Stay Humble & Hunt On!n
Hello, this is Charlie Morse.

At 63 years old I don't have a lifetime
to wait! Air pruned containerized
plants, equals RESULTS SOONER!
ecent numbers state that

women in 2013 made up
11 percent of hunters,
still a small number but
one that has increased
significantly. As more
and more women step into a gun range
or in a treestand, obviously some
brands, companies and mottoes have
been created from the growing percentage of female hunters. Some of these
slogans can be a bit edgy, even offensive to men.
As my journey as a woman and a
mom into hunting continues, I struggle
with something I see over and over
again as I meet more females joining
the ranks in the great outdoors. As
you walk through some of the big box
stores or a hunting expo, you will see
some shirts that say things like, You
wish you could shoot like a girl!,
or Damn right I shoot like a girl! I
struggle with this on a few different
levels; as a woman and as a mom.
Lets take a look at how long
women have really been hunting and
why they did it. Some would like
you to believe that women hunters
are a relatively new phenomenon.
Researching this topic, I have found
75
Beyond mushrooming basics

Natural and artificial propagation of morel mushrooms and wild leeks...
Springtime searching for and

gathering morel mushrooms and
wild leeks is a popular pastime for
outdoors-persons of all ages in
this great state of Michigan.
Finding and gathering tips abound,
but one fact is certain. Morel
mushrooms, and to a lesser
extent, wild leeks
dont follow the rules!
orels at times appear

virtually anywhere
but are most prevalent near and around
dying host trees. Most
common hosts are elm, ash, apple, and
poplar trees. Their dying underground
root systems provide the essential nutrients to trigger morel spore germination. Forest fires, subsided beaver dam
floodings, and any widespread disruptions of the forest floor like selective
and clear-cut logging operations also
often encourage prolific morel mushroom growth.
Tip One: Focus your attentions
on these type of areas. Wild leeks are
more sun intolerant and are usually
found on the top and sides of woodland ridges. Wild leeks are usually
found in patches that can easily be
spotted from a distance in late spring
when their leaves begin to turn yellow. This is when they reach mature
size for gathering. Coincidentally,
morels are often present amongst
the leeks, so be sure to inspect leek
patches as well!
Nature and the haphazard wind in

dispersing those precious morel spores
in just the right spots for natural germination!
Once you have finished harvesting
in the immediate area, gently shake
now endangered species of plant.
your mesh collection bag in likely
spots in the area. Remember
There are effective ways
to shake around any trees
to help Mother Nature more
that appear to be dying.
effectively propagate morel
Barren branches and peeling
mushrooms and wild leeks!
bark are indicators of potenMuch the same as Johnny
tial seeding candidates. As
Appleseed of colonial
you travel to and fro during
American lore was reputed
your mushrooming travels,
to plant European varietdo the same with other likely
ies of apples hither and yon
host trees.
The natural wind is the primary
throughout the
Remember my
dispersion mechanism for most spore- woodland meadows,
first tip of never
producing plants, including morel
you as a conscienharvesting every
mushrooms. In order to have morels
tious gatherer can
morel or wild leek!
there must be spores present! Each
do the same.
Experienced gathermorel produces millions of spores if
With morels
ers are noted for being tight-lipped
left to complete its life cycle. Mother this process begins the moment you
when it comes to divulging their seNature is real good at providing this.
harvest your first one. Never simply
cret spots. They know that at best they
Wild leeks on the other hand propapluck a morel out of the ground!
can expect only three to five seasons
gate below ground via root interacYou dont want to disturb the root
of morel production in each specific
tion. The key is that there must be
portion of the morel. This will stop
locationonly if some morels are left
some leek plants left unharvested in
the growth process of other potential
for seed. If the spot is too publicly
each patch to facilitate subsequent
morels in the cluster. I always use a
known, every morel will likely be
growth! This is where the human
small folding jackknife to gently cut
impact often hinders the natural cycle. the morel off near its base. Then place harvested. In this manner, even vast
expanses of morel habitat can be renTip One: Never harvest every
your culinary treasure in a nylon
morel or wild leek! This distinctly
mesh collection bag or common onion dered unproductive for years to come!
We purchased our property in
human characteristic is what turns
sack. This practice allows for natural
northern Michigans Wexford County
once-prolific morel and leek areas into air flow during transport and fresh
in 2001 near the quaint little town of
marginal ones. This fact is evident
mushrooms when you reach home.
Mesick. For over 50 years Mesick has
in many once-productive areas of
There is another reason for this
northern Michigan. Fortunately, wild
hosted a popular annual Mushroom
step that leads in to the next phase of
leeks have not suffered the same fate, your artificial morel propagation efFestival. Each season hundreds of
due in a large part to less popularity
forts. You are about to assist Mother mushroomers converge on the area to
with gatherers. Some Provinces of
Canada are not so fortunate. Commercial harvesting of wild leeks was so
pronounced that governmental restrictions had to be imposed to save this
Artificial propagation
Natural propagation
Aging Outdoorsman
By Joe Lunkas
76
gather, sell, or purchase these forest

delicacies. Abundant state and federally owned properties are virtually
picked clean. The saving grace is that
these areas are often large and remote
and enough private lands are left virtually untouched to allow for limited
morel propagation.
Tip: Put your hiking boots on,
always carry a compass or GPS, and
get off the beaten track to discover
morel concentrations. When you do,
keep your mouth shut and harvest
responsibly!
As an Aging Michigan Outdoorsman I can remember in the late
1960s when morels were virtually
everywhere in the Mesick area. When
we purchased our property there were
no morels presentonly tales told
by neighbors of morel harvests of the
distant past. The natural environment
was however much the same as it always was. I even had an old apple orchard and over 50 isolated apple trees
on my property! When we eventually
built and moved to the property in
2007, I hatched my long-range plan.
I correctly reasoned that the lack
of morels was due to severe over
harvesting there were no spores
to germinate and produce morels. I
began by doing like everyone else
and traveled off the beaten track to
harvest my morels and wild leeks. I
began to religiously shake my meshed
mushroom bags in likely locations
on my property. I even resorted to
taking plugs of morel-laden ground
and transplanting them in especially
Tip: With both the morel and leek

plugs, I made sure that the soil composition, location, sun exposure, and
ground temperature (taken 4 inches
below the surface with a common
garden probe thermometer) exactly
matched to original plug location. Realizing that it often takes three to five
years for morel spores to germinate, I
continued shaking and waiting for
results.
promising locations. I used this same

strategy when transplanting wild leek
clusters.
A good gathering friend of mine
from the Detroit area harvested some
leek plugs from the Jordan River
valley and transplanted them in his
backyard in Livonia in 2001. As far
as I know he, an excellent home chef,
still harvests wild leeks from his
garden!
I found my first clusters of morels

in 2011, in of all places, near the
back of my outdoor wood burner
near the rear cleanout door! Others
started sprouting in my front yard on
and near my engineered septic tank
system drain field mound. I never harvested a single morel! Over the next
few seasons morels began appearing
in other more traditional places on
the property. Ironically, even though I
liberally seeded these areas, I have
yet to find a single morel in my old
apple orchard or around any of my
apple trees! This experience confirms
that the mysterious morel grows

where and when it wants to and often
doesnt follow any rules!
For more information about the
many lessons I have learned during
50 plus enjoyable years as an
outdoorsman visit
http://sbpra.com/joelunkas/Author
my Trilogy of Books on Fifty Years
of Lessons Learned of a Michigan
Outdoorsman. These books are
specially designed and formatted to
be read and enjoyed while actually in
the outdoors and are available in both
print and EBook format.n
Love
The
Outdoors?
Like Us On
Follow Us On
#Unplugged
Wild leeks are more sun intolerant and are usually found on the top and sides
of woodland ridges and usually found in patches. Author photos
BFFHUNTCLUB
Piarre LaFountain
King Of The County
(Osceola 2013)
2015 G3 ANGLER V164 C 2015 G3 ANGLER V172 F 2015 G3 ANGLER V192 SF 2015 G3 1860 CCJ BREAK UP
18,995
23,995
2015 STRATOS 386 XF
2105 RANGER 1850 LS
35,095
CALL FOR PRICE
YAMAHA 150HP 4-STROKE
34,995
19,995
2014 SUNCATCHER V16 FC 2015 SOUTH BAY S20C2
MERCURY 50HP 4-STROKE COMMAND THRUST
13,995
*All Prices Are Plus Freight, Prep, Sales Tax, Title, And Registration Fees.
5796 E. Grand River Ave. Howell, MI 48843
1-800-226-3050 1-517-548-5122
(toll free)
YAMAHA 90HP 4-STROKE JET
(Direct)
www.wonderlandmarinewest.com
16,995
77
Hunting for early tackle
78
Sporting Collectibles By Terry McBurney
first met Bob Harter from LaSalle at the Novi Outdoorama

when he brought in an unusual
minnow bucket for me to see.
He brought in The Submarine
Minnow Bucket, The Best Bucket on
Earth, made by the Ferris and Will
Company of McArthur, Ohio during the 1920s. Bob was always on
the lookout for old minnow buckets
and bait containers for his son, Mark,
who is an avid collector. At this years
Outdoorama, Bob brought in an even
rarer find and something that I had
never seen before. It was clearly a
manufactured piece and appeared
to be a very large wading minnow
bucket. The galvanized metal bucket
measured 9 -inches high by 10-inches wide by 4 -inches deep, and it
weighed an incredible 3 -lbs. empty!
I estimated that it would weigh over
12 lbs. when an angler filled it full
of water and minnows. A lot to carry
when wading down a stream!
The olive drab minnow bucket
was shaped to fit against an anglers
hip when carried over the shoulder
with the attached creel harness. It had
two internal air chambers with screw
off caps on the top left and right sides
and a hinged cover between them.
The hinged cover opened exposing
the main compartment that would
hold the fishermans minnows. There
were two smaller caps at the bottom
on either side that were designed to
screw off allowing the water to empty.
Overall, it was an interesting and
well-designed minnow bucket manufactured to fill the needs of a wading
angler.
I emailed the photos to fellow
minnow bucket collector and historian, Randy Spagnoli, to see if he had
ever seen one like this. Not surprisingly, he sent me back photos of one that
he has in his collection. His bucket
was identical except that his example
had an imprinted front panel with all
the information needed to research the
bucket. The front panel read: Master
Deluxe 4-in-1 Floating Bait and Tackle Container, patented, H.F. Thompson
B. & P. Works, Decorah, Iowa.
Henry F. Thompson, born in 1871,
was a tinsmith by trade and owned
his own metal works shop in Decorah, Iowa, a small community in the
northeast part of that state. He held
two patents - one for a nursing glass
bottle protector granted in 1905 and
the second for his bait and tackle container. He applied for this second patent on December 31, 1924, and patent
#1576688 was granted to him on
March 16, 1926. The patent drawing
and description emphasize that the
container may be termed a four-in-
one can operating as a floating live

bait can, a tackle case, bait box and
trout creel for the angler so that he
will have everything that he needs in
the one container. The main compartment could be used to carry minnows
or frogs, as well as serving as a creel
to carry trout when necessary. The
patent went on to explain that the
airtight chambers could be used as
combination air chambers and tackle
containers to carry angle worms,
grass hoppers, etc. or for fishhooks,
artificial bait, cigars, matches. The
Master 4-in-1 bait and tackle container could be carried over the shoulder
or by hand, and the air chambers were
designed to keep it in an upright position when tied to the side of a boat
and floating in the water.
With a suggested retail of $4.50
and a printed capacity of 6-quarts of
water, the Thompson Master Deluxe
4-in-1 Floating Bait and Tackle Container was advertised in the 1928 catalog of the Edward K. Tryon Company,
a major Philadelphia sporting goods
wholesaler. Thompson products filled
an entire page of the catalog showing
three other Thompson products: the
Thompson Master Live Bait Can, the
Thompson Special Minnow Bucket
and the Thompson Master Live Bait
Box and Fish Tank, all of which I will
cover in a future article. No ads or
other catalog listings have been found
at this point promoting Henry Thompsons invention.
Three more interesting lures, all
Made in Michigan, were brought
into several recent shows for me to
examine and photograph. The first
was a 4-inch wood lure that I had
never seen before. I bought it and
carried it around with me showing
the bait to other collectors to see if
it could be identified. Finally, both
Don Stone from Allegan, Michigan
and Maynard Dyer from Williamston,
Michigan identified the bait as a
Wilson Superior and referred me to an
article in the September 1997 issue of
the NFLCC Gazette (National Fishing
Lure Collectors Club), which gave a
little background about the bait.
A postcard was found some twenty
years ago showing a nice catch of
five largemouth bass and a white
wood lure similar to the lure that I had
found. The writing in old pencil on the
back of the postcard stated, Caught
in Wall Lake on Wilsons Superior wt. 6#13 ozs. The postcard dated
from the early 1900s to the early
1920s, and that would be my guess for
the age of my lure. The postcard reads
Wall Lake but the angler who wrote
the note likely meant Walled Lake,
a small community and lake five miles
(Top) The Thompson Master Deluxe 4 in 1 Floating Bait and Tackle Container
was manufactured in the mid to late 1920s. Courtesy of Bob Harter. (Lower
left) The front panel from a second example of the Thompson 4 in 1 Bait and
Tackle Container. Randy Spagnoli collection. A catalog cut of the Thompson
bucket from the 1928 Edward K. Tryon catalog. Courtesy of Randy Spagnoli.
north of Novi, Michigan.
The photograph of the Wilson Superior lures in this article shows four
similar wood baits but each with differences. The smallest bait measures
3 -inches. The middle two lures
measure a little more than 3 -inches,
while the bottom red and silver lure
measures 4-inches in length. All four
lures are rigged with simple screw
eyes, while three of baits have three
treble hooks and one has only two
hooks. The rear bodies are rounded
while the tapered diving heads are
each shaped with slight differences.
Regardless, they appear to be made by
the same lure manufacturer.
Lure historian, Carl White, identified the maker as the Moonlight Bait
Company of Paw Paw, Michigan,
in his seminal book Old Lures and
Tackle. He has a white and red lure
pictured that is almost a twin to mine
and photographed next to a Moonlight
Ladybug Wiggler. Father and son lure
historians, Art and Scott Kimball,
identified the maker as a Wilson bait
made by the Hastings Sporting Goods
Works from Hastings, Michigan, or by
Shakespeare from Kalamazoo, Michigan or possibly made by the McCormic Bait Company, also from Kalamazoo. At this point, all we have to go on
is what was written on the back of the
neighborhood. All of the boxes that

I have seen are addressed 1945 24th
St., Detroit, Michigan, which is a
residential neighborhood on one
side of the street with light industrial
businesses on the other. The two
locations are about four miles apart.
The flyer states that the lures were
patented and that they were nationally advertised. I have been unable
to locate the name of the inventor, a
patent nor any national ads for the
We-D-Fyers. My best guess as to
when the company was in business
is 1948-1950. The flyer also stated:
This product has been approved by
the Michigan Conservation Department. I am reading between the lines
here and guessing that the Michigan
Conservation Department recognized
that the We-D-Fyer was not an illegal
spring device because the hook
dropped down because of gravity and
not because of a spring.
The surface We-D-Fyer has a
slanted scooped face, while the underwater model has a face that slants
Two Great Lakes Bait Companys We-D-Fyer lures - a surface model in frog and
the underwater style in red and white. Tony Przybylo collection
residential neighborhood and another
lure made in the inventors basement
or garage.
Several national ads have been
found that emphasized: It dives - It
Swims - It Splashes and that the
Front and Tail pieces [were] made
of transparent plastic leaving only
the lure visible in the water. The
ads also proclaimed that all Colors
Available! So far, I have seen yellow
with red & black spots, black and
white, red and white, green frog, gold
scale with a gold back, and black
with orange spots. The paper insert
was more informative talking about
the thrill of using a surface plug and
seeing the actual strike and emphasizing, for night and morning fishing it
has no peer. It instructs the novice
how to fish the Splash King - let
the bait come to rest after the cast
and then with a sharp movement of

6-inches make the plug splash and
dive. Wind in the lure returning it to
the surface, and then continue reeling
for five or six feet. Let the lure rest
momentarily and then repeat. Sounds
like walking the dog to me.
Special thanks to the following
tackle collectors who allowed me to
photograph these interesting items:
Bob Harter and his Thompson Master
Deluxe 4-in-1 Floating Bait and
Tackle Container, Maynard Dyer and
Don Stone and their Wilson Superior
lures, Tony Przybylo for his Great
Lakes We-D-Fyers and Dan McCoy
for his Kala Splash King lure.
I would like to acknowledge
Tom Pennistons article Mystery
Bait Indentified from the
September 1997 issue of the
NFLCC Gazette.n
postcard, so until more information is

uncovered or a box with a lure turns
up, I will continue to call my lure a
Wilson Superior.
The next lure is the Great Lakes
Bait Company We-D-Fyer, 100%
weedless plastic lures made in
two versions, a surface lure and an
underwater model, both 3-inches in
length. The two styles featured the
same serrated plastic trigger built into
the backs of each lure. This serrated
trigger held a single concealed belly
hook that would pivot down when a
fish struck the lure. The strike would
trip the trigger releasing the hook,
which would drop below the lure
and hook the unsuspecting bass or
northern pike.
A flyer has been found with
an address of 4 Pittsburg Avenue,
Detroit, 16 Michigan, a residential
backwards with small wings on either

side of the face. The flyer lists five
colors: frog, red and white, black and
white, black with an orange body
with red spots, and green and yellow
scale. It is a hard lure to find, whether
surface or underwater. However, I
would like to find one of each model
in order to find out if it is really 100%
weedless, how each lure swims in the
water, and how well the baits would
hook fish after the hook dropped. I
will let you know.
The last lure is also a hard-to-find
Michigan bait from the same period,
the late 1940s. With a well-painted
3-inch wood body and a clear plastic
face and tail plate, the Kala Splash
King is another vintage surface bait
I would love to try out on the water. Kala Lures was located at 4844
Concord, Detroit 7, Michigan, a
(Top) The Kala Lures Splash King was a surface plug designed to create an explosive splash and then swim as the angler worked the bait. Dan McCoy collection.
(Bottom) A close-up showing the clear plastic face and tail plate.
(Top) Four Wilson Superior lures were thought to have been made by the
Hastings Sporting Goods Works in Hastings. Author photo. The postcard showing five nice bass along with a Wilson Superior wood lure.
79
TROPHY PAGES
Klayton Wright, 13 took this beautiful 9 point with an 18 3/4 in. inside
spread in Ingham Co. on last day of
gun season with a muzzleloader.
Gale Mills of Brown City says he

was blessed to harvest this 5x6
elk in Montmorency Co. Dec. 12
hunting with Elk Creek Cabins
and Bob Whitney.
Rich Gusa of Harbor Beach

took this red fox spot stalking in Huron Co.
On Dec. 29 the Alborn

boys got their deer. These
two bucks were running
together. Dalton, 17 shot
this great looking 10 pt. and
scared the other deer to his
brother Austin, 15.
Kyle Miller, 15 of Waterford

outfishes his uncle with this hog
walleye. He also showed everyone up during the deer season
with this wall hanger 10-pt.
Husband & Wife Tim & Jean Coughlin had a great year: Tim; 9-pt. bow season and a unique 10 pt. muzzleloading
in Dec. Jean; 8-pt. bow season, and a 10-pt. in gun season. Nephew Keegan Pifer took a 6-pt. during bow season!
80
The stealthy Angus Leo Butler, 10 of the

U.P. took his first deer during the 2014
youth hunt with his overjoyed dad. The
7-pt. fell to a perfect shot from Gus' .223
on the family's Copper Country property.
Isaac
Smith, 10
hunting
with his
dad,
Gordon
and dog
Lacy took
his first
snowshoe
rabbit.
(top-lt) George Pifer took this 9-pt. in

the gun season, his son Ty, 9 took his
first deer, a doe; Nephew, Brady Pifer,
11 took a 8-pt. during bow season and
Niece Kylie Pifer took her first deer, a
doe during gun season.
Three Generations Of Success: Dick Onstott took an 8 & 7 pt. during gun season; son Steve took his 9-pt.
during bow and a wide 4-pt. during gun and Steve's son Cooper took a 5-pt. during the youth hunt.
Tribute to a
wild steelhead
he following steelhead encounter happened a number of years ago when the

DNR was marking all hatchery steelhead.
Every time I fish this spot the memory of
this special battle with one of our premier sport fish floods back.
My weighted spinner landed in the riffle at the
top of the run and I had to retrieve fast to keep the
blade turning as I pulled it down through the run.
The surface remained choppy even as the water
deepened and I was hoping this hotspot would produce again as it had earlier in the season. My wish
was answered as I received an arm wrenching strike
followed by a towering leap. Then I felt nothing
but saw the line cutting through the water as the
steelhead charged me and swept on past. Quickly I
scrambled after her trying to stay close.
Finally the silver fish slowed down and I let go
of the reel handle to lift an overhanging tree branch
out of the way. The steelhead must have sensed my
vulnerability and took off on another sprint. I felt
sharp pain in my hand as the reel spun wildly. The
bail had nailed the knuckle of my little finger and I
started thinking that maybe this back reeling wasnt
such a good idea as blood dripped on my Cardinal
4 spinning reel. Luckily there was no overrun and
I was back into at least partial control. After a 300
yard trek down the creek I finally had the tired fish
penned up in my submerged net.
The steelhead was perfect. No fins were
missing indicating she was a wild fish and she
had delivered her goods to the gravel without any
injury. Even her tail was still in good shape. And
it was amazing how much energy she had already
regained following the spawning ritual.
As I carefully unhooked the steelie and lowered
the net rim to free her I thought about the tremendous odds she had beaten to be here. I was fishing
in Prairie Creek, which is a tributary to Michigans
Grand River. The distance to Lake Michigan was
almost 100 miles, a fairly long distance for a Great
Lakes steelhead but certainly much a shorter swim
than a Snake or Sustut River steelhead has to make
out west. Prairie Creek is considered a marginal
trout stream and receives annual supplemental
stockings of yearling brown trout and steelhead.
There is some natural reproduction of brown trout
but the steelhead seem to do much better. I think
that the reason is that they spawn in different seasons. Winter is a real tough time for Prairie Creek
residents with anchor ice frequently forming. The
eggs and sac fry of fall spawning brown trout are
restricted to the gravel when the anchor ice forms.
The ice can decrease or cut off the flow of oxygen
saturated water to the immobile young trout. On
the other hand the young of the year steelhead will
have had a summer to develop into very mobile 2-3
inch fish that can seek shelter in deep holes when
the ice comes.
During the two years that young rainbows spend
in the creek growing to smolt size they must compete with other trout and a very large population
of creek chubs for food and space. The increase
in minimum size to ten inches for rainbow trout
Quickly after catching this wild steelhead the author released it back into the wild. Author photo
helped decrease angler induced mortality but the
steelhead parr must still avoid herons, kingfishers,
and other natural predators.
It doesnt get any easier when the rainbows
become smolts and start out for Lake Michigan in
mid-May. The Grand has very healthy populations
of fish eating predators like smallmouth bass, walleye, channel and flathead catfish, and northern pike.
They are not home free after they have negotiated
90 miles of the Grand either. When they hit the
pier heads brown trout and salmon that have been
chasing schools of spawning alewives and smelt
will greet them. Hopefully food will be plentiful
and the young steelhead will soon grow up to be the
hunters instead of the hunted.
Most of the steelhead will spend two or three
years in the lake before returning to spawn. During
this time two legged predators trolling shiny lures
from large boats will reduce their numbers. Their
aggressive nature and affinity for vertical temperature breaks make them easy to find and catch by the
large Lake Michigan trolling fleet.
Anglers continue to be the predator of concern
on their spawning migration. When the steelhead
reach Sixth Street Dam in Grand Rapids they are
greeted by an army of spring anglers. With only
one ladder on the west side of the 400 foot wide
river, the fish spend a lot of time trying to find their
way upstream. This is especially true for those that
move to the east as they try to get around the barrier
by trial and error. Anglers have been quick to figure
this out and heavily fish the east side of the river
at the dam for fish that move there and linger until
they give up and move back to the west. Luckily
some steelhead are able clear dam directly. This
huge leap is facilitated by high water and sometimes trees hanging on the dam create slower water
making direct passage easier.
Once over the Sixth Street Dam the trip of the
Grand to Prairie is a relative easy one with light
angling pressure in the spring. However, once they
enter their natal stream they really hit the ultimate

gauntlet. There was dam under the first bridge
(Main Street) on Prairie Creek and it was equipped
with a steep pass or chute ladder. The entry into
this ladder is only about a foot square and the local
outlaws regularly plugged the ladder with screens
and other materials. This is done so the fish will
be trapped in the small pool below the dam where,
at peak run times, there will be 20-40 anglers with
their lines in the water. Even though a very high
percentage of the Prairie Creek steelhead run is
made up of wild fish, there seems to be no realization among these folks that it is important to have
good fish passage here. They only seem to care
about fish on the stringer now with no concern for
future runs. Luckily Mother Nature took out the
dam a few years ago with very high water and last
year, with a federal grant and assistance from Trout
Unlimited, the habitat and fish passage are now
much improved at this location.
Further upstream an abandoned power dam also
presents a challenge to migrating steelhead. Even
though it seems like this dam would be difficult to
jump and swim over the steelhead find a way to do
it. Gravel riffles are fairly plentiful in this 30 to 40
foot wide stream so the returning adult steelhead
have plenty of room do their thing once they reach
the upper creek.
The sequence just described occurs in
thousands of streams throughout the steelheads
range. Obviously the difficulties that must be
overcome by wild steelhead will vary from
river to river. But, whatever the location, a
returning wild steelhead is a very special fish
for which I have great respect. Awe and awesome
are overused words these days but awe sure fits
the feeling I have for these beautiful fish, especially
when they make it back to a tough to reach location
like upper Prairie Creek. All wild steelhead deserve
to be landed as quickly as possible and carefully
released.n
By Jim Bedford
81
The Burning Candle Of

Desire at both ends!
Guest Column By Gary Morgan
f I thought substituting she loves

me, she loves me not with go
hunting, go hunting not would
give me another opportunity to go
hunting I wouldve use that method
back in the day. My wife and I were
at the front end of raising a family,
working as much as we could and juggling a schedule to squeeze more time
out of the day and into our relationship.
Challenges were among us as they
are today but in a much different context. One thing for certain, my love
of the outdoors had not changed and
the call of the wild was ever present.
My wife appreciated the outdoors, as
well. She was raised in a family that
enjoyed hunting and fishing a lot. We
spent a good many of our family vacations camping, hiking, biking, etc.
Most of our favorite vacation destinations were north of here. I was
definitely bit by a Michigan Upper
Peninsula bug a long time ago.
Shift work was the norm at my
job. Thus vacations and other time
away from work had to be planned
way in advance. Usually in January
of each year we would submit our
vacation selections to be guaranteed
those days off for the remainder of the
year. First came turkey season, then a
family summer vacation and then the
coveted deer season. All else would be
dependent upon trading days off, etc.
I remember someone at worked
asked why I ask off for turkey season
every year. He quipped: it must be a
lot of fun. I down played it big time
hoping he wouldnt take up the sport
and give me competition for those
same days off. The next day he came
in to work and handed me a big bag.
One turkey call after another, decoys,
etc. He looked at me and said, I knew
you were lying. I hope you can use the
stuff.
He reminded me that he burns all
of his hunting time during deer season
and wanted to make sure the stuff
wouldnt just sit on my shelf, too. This
was just in time as turkey season was

only weeks away. Woo-hoo! Or
should I say, Who cooks for you?
My brother in law, Craig, and I
had formed a turkey hunting club. He
and I were the only members and our
by-laws allowed no further membership. It required us to submit our
applications on a partnership basis,
reserving the same three days off
each season, giving us two and one
half days of hunting. Turkey camp
called our names most every year. But
because his mail arrived earlier in the
day than did mine he always enjoyed
calling me when the successful turkey
permits arrived in the mail.
Membership also had its privileges. You see, we would share camp
with the senior membership of fish
camp, Roy and Bill. Roy is Craigs
dad, thus, my father in law. Uncle Bill
is Roys youngest brother. We would
arrive in camp to find both of them
had already arrived, their duffle bags
claiming their beds. We knew they
were fishing a trout stream somewhere. They always brought home
fish and a story. Sometimes the stories
were from their childhood days of
fishing these same hotspots. Onward,
Craig and I wasted no time. We
claimed our bunks for the duration,
changed into camouflage, grabbed our
hunt gear and hit the road.
By the time the sun was settling a
little low we had spotted a few turkeys
but no gobblers. So with time being
of the essence we shifted to plan B.
It was Craigs turn to drive that year
so he dropped me off near a perennial roosting area and continued on. I
knew where he was heading. He preferred to hunt this one spot even if he
didnt catch a clue. I once asked him
if that spot had a name, kind of like
his first girlfriend. Regardless, one of
us needed to hear a gobbler or at least
some tree talk. Nothing!
The consolation was meeting up
with Roy and Bill, knowing theyd
caught supper and had them filleted.
NettieBay Cottages
82
$19 pSpecial
er p
>per nighetrson

!
CALL
TOD A
Y!
9011 W 638 Hwy., Hawks, MI 49743 / 989-734-4688

or call Mark on his cell: 989-330-0807
info@nettiebay.com / www.nettiebaylodge.com
Hunting the
last day of his
season after
guiding seven
turkey hunts,
the author
took this
dandy tom!
The rest of the evening was spent
catching up with Uncle Bill, making
sure he and Roy had a highball setting on the coffee table between their
recliners.
The next morning always came
early and with the sights and sounds
of breakfastas prepared by Roy
and Bill. Coffee was especially good.
With Roy being a retired dairy farmer
and Bill a barber, those two patented
the early shift. That day proved to be
a bust for turkey hunting. Day two
was a repeat performance. Craig and I
were starting to self-inflict pressure as
we always claimed to never leave for
home without a turkey for at least one
of us.
For the record, as of that day in
time, we never stopped and purchased
one, either. That evening my wife
called and let me know she had to go
into work a little earlier the next day,
asking if we could come home before
noon. With her brother, dad and uncle
all in camp, I was the odd fella, meaning there was no room to oppose the
wife.
I convinced Craig to let me drive
his pickup back and he could catch
a ride with his dad. I also convinced
him I would not change his country
music presets for classic rock. For the
record I changed them all!
When I left, Craig was still in bed.
I kept my mouth shut because fish
camp was already doing a great job
praising his turkey hunting skills. My
gear was packed in the pickup and
ready to go. A handshake at fish camp
and I was on the road. It felt good to
be a little ahead of the clock on my
return trip. It meant I was able to stop
at an Amish bakery on the way home.
Having a loaf of cinnamon bread at
home for maybe a couple of days kept
turkey camp alive in my mind and my
wife enjoyed it, too. (The bread, that
is.)
I had been driving about 15
minutes when I realized I had left my
shotgun in camp. I drove another two
minutes to realize it was in my best
interest to return and retrieve it. As I

drove back into the driveway I could
see Roy, Bill and Craig all hovered
around the tailgate of Roys pickup.
Of course the story had to be retold.
Craig tried to tell it but realized it was
best told by our newest member of
turkey camp, Uncle Bill.
Uncle Bill, like Roy, had a
contagious smile. Their eyes
sparkled, the smile lines were big
as ever and you couldnt help but
join them. Smiling, Uncle Bill
began to explain the morning hunt
as follows: He and Roy were outside
raking leaves around the cabin. He
had heard Craig and I talk about the
owl call to locate gobblers. Each year
he asked us to repeat our who cooks
for you, who cooks for yall chatter. Sometimes it caused a gobbler to
respond. It always got a chuckle out
of Uncle Bill.
Apparently Uncle Bill went into
the cabin and found the owl hooter on
the counter. He went outside to do his
best imitation. They say a barber can
carry a conversation with anyone
even a turkey! Uncle Bill went and
rousted Craig and told him to bring
his shotgun. Craig sported his blue
jeans, turkey jacket and shotgun with
a couple shells in the other hand. As
he got to the edge of the driveway the
gobbler again exploded. Craig disappeared into the timber. A few minutes
laterboom.
Craig then reappeared to the edge
of the driveway. Uncle Bill said I
think he was still half awakehis
boots were on the wrong feet. We all
fell apart in laughter of the embellishment. Damn if I looked down and saw
Craig sporting his hunting boots on
the wrong feet.
Roy then reminded me that if I
planned on coming back turkey hunting next year I better hit the road
again. That two hour drive was joyouslistening to some classic 70s
rock and rehashing another successful
turkey hunt. Yes, I remembered the
cinnamon bread!n
CALLING COYOTES
Great Late Winter Hunting...By George Rowe

bullet would normally be preferred, to get the best
ballistics at long range. And, of course, the range
could be quite long. If the rifle is scoped for the
job, varmints can be shot at ranges as long as three
or four hundred yards. Most shots, however, at
called coyotes, will be inside of 200 yards. If there
are to be two hunters in the blind, one might be
armed with a shotgun with an extra-full choke, for
those close running shots with the other ready with
a rifle for the longer shots.
Setting up to hunt should only be done after
careful scouting. Riding around the country roads
after a fresh snow should reveal a fair number of
tracks before settling on an area to hunt. One could
also rely on information supplied by the land owner,
who might have seen numerous tracks or even the
animals themselves or the remnants of their kills.
Anyone who has hunted the area during deer season
will probably have seen some coyotes and will
know where to set up to call them. Once prime ter-
4 SIZES, 26 COLORS
1-7/8 MIDGET through
3-7/8LARGE.
Classic nishes.
Glow
Orange #82
Favourite for
trout and salmon.
Time tested
and proven.
Genuine silver and

24k gold nishes.
Proudly North American
Made.
PROVOCATIVE
1 SIZE 8 COLORS
3 1/6 oz
Bait sh prole.
Ultra thin spoon.
Predators yield some prime pelts Morgan Rowe of the

Rudyard area shows off coyote and red fox furs taken
by her dad, John. George Rowe photo
ritory has been located the hunters will head for
it early in the morning or late in the afternoon
when the varmints are most likely to be up
and around. A skilled caller, however,
might be expected to rouse a coyote from a nap
at mid-day. The hunters will work into cover upwind and try not to skyline themselves as they
get ready to call. When completely concealed
they will call loud and long keeping it up for
20 to 30 minutes before concluding that there
are no predators in the area and moving on to
another pre-scouted spot. If a coyote comes in
and is shot, the hunters might remain in that spot,
without showing themselves, hoping for another.
Coyotes often run and hunt in pairs or family
groups so it is not unusual to attract more than one
in a given spot.
The trophy, for this hunting, can be a beautiful
pelt to hang in the den or even a garment fashioned
from the skins of the predators.
The hunting season for coyotes is open through
the 15th of April. Unfortunately fox and bobcat
seasons have closed for this year. For coyotes, hunters need only a valid small-game license (now, the
base license) but a fur-bearers license is required for
bobcat or fox.n
Candied
Ice #47
Stamped in
spring brass to
maintain its
shape
NOTHING MATCHES
THE VISIBILITY
The ash of genuine silver

and 24k gold nishes
/williamslures
@williamsfishing
www.mooselook.ca
any of the folks who hunt coyotes

and other predators use dogs and
this may be the very best way to
pursue these fur-bearers. Unfortunately, however, it is hard to control
the dogs on farmland and it is thus difficult to get
permission from a sufficient number of land owners to hunt effectively with dogs. The coyote and
the dogs may run over hundreds of acres and cross
many fences and boundaries before the chase is
over.
Predator callers, on the other hand, can hunt
farmland very well, since they control the hunt and
nothing crosses fence lines but the coyote. Many
farm owners will readily give permission to hunt
since they dont relish the thought of harboring coyotes on their land. While coyotes and bobcats and
foxes threaten wild game species primarily, they
will also prey on pets, including cats and dogs, and
farm animals, including chickens, turkeys, ducks,
geese and even the young of some livestock. Unlike
the big tracts of public land, which get hunted fairly
frequently by the hound men, there are many big
areas of farmland that dont get hunted at all, for
predators, and some of those farms shelter lots of
coyotes, foxes and even a few bobcats.
Calling predators means acquiring some rather
special gear. The call is the most important, of
course, but the call may be a simple mouth call or
a really sophisticated recorded call with a speaker
and a remote control. Some can provide you with
coyote songs as well as the prey noises. One of
the advantages of the electronic call is the fact that
the speaker, the apparent source of the dying rabbit squeals, can be located at least a little distance
apart from the hunters, focusing the attention of the
predator at that spot instead of the location of the
hunters.
Other gear would include very complete camouflage clothing, including a face mask or paint, and
gloves and camo for the guns. Even with camouflage clothing, it will be necessary to get right back
in the brush and strive for rather complete concealment.
Another bit of essential equipment would be
some sort of decoy. This could be anything from a
manufactured (but realistic) mechanical decoy that
has movement to a road-killed rabbit that might
look pretty shabby but it will still fool a predator.
The decoy can do a lot for the hunters; first of all,
it will focus the attention of the in-coming predator on something other than the spot at which the
hunters are hidden. Second, it can serve as a rangefinder, if the hunter is armed with a limited-range
shotgun. Finally, is provides some sort of closure
for the predator, since the animal actually sees the
apparent source of the rabbit squeals, and it will
keep that coyote coming.
Hunting weapons could be rifles or shotguns.
Callers usually rely on rifles since they can shoot
their quarry from afar. The smaller center-fire cartridges are often preferred bores like the .243 and
various hot center-fire .22s, but any large caliber
could be used, even up to the .270 or 308. If you
intend to use the pelt, however, the large calibers
should be avoided it will simply do too much
damage on these varmints. In those rifles, a lighter
THE ORIGINAL
83
Reader Trail Cam Photos

Send your Reader Trail-Cam Photos to:
wnw@pageone-inc.com
Norm Boldt of
Rapid River sent
us a couple of
photos from the
north country.
Here (right) is a
wolf and (below)
is a snow covered small buck.
Thanks for the
photos.
Jeff Krueger took his cams down recently near

Paw Paw and set them up overlooking a wetlands behind his house. He captured this coyote
on several occasions who is always watching his
house some 200 feet away. Creepy!
84
Joe Lunkas of Mesick sent us another interesting trail cam photo

from his personal wildlife sanctuary. This matriarch doe seems to
be instructing others which foods to eat or not to eat.
Keith Rowinski of Detroit captured this urban

Coopers Hawk on urban trail cam (aka cellphone) from his front window. With all the demolition of abandoned homes in Detroit and vast
open spaces, wildlife is flourishing. This fellow is on
pigeon patrol.
This picture is spooky, no really it was

captured near Halloween last year from
Mark Eby in an archery stand. Mark lives
in St. Ignace and the trail cam photo was
taken in Mackinac County.
Lauren Trainor of Bellevue captured a pair of does who seem to be letting their tempers flare. Got to be careful around dinner time.
Ann Lavery of
Stanton sent us
this photo of a
bobcat drinking water. Ann
saw the tracks
and set her
trail cam up on
a river bank.
And here is the
photo she got,
thanks Ann.
Mike Blasky got this trail cam photo of sparring deer on his
property in Roscommon County. Interesting photo Mike,
thanks for sharing it with our readers.
Ronald Roberson caught these critters feeding on

road kill in the city limits of White Cloud. The trail
cam photo above is a bobcat and below a pair of
fox.
85
MANITOBA BRUINS
T
slow. The secBy Jeff Pendergraff very
ond day was warm
hompson
Manitoba is beginning to be
one of my favorite hunting spots for black bears.
This was my third trip to hunt black
bears with Trapper Mikes Outfitting Service. On my first trip I didnt
harvest a bear, lots of rain, wind and
very warm. My second trip I took a 6
foot 3 inch, 325 pound boar with my
bow. This trip I was hoping to harvest
a color phase bear, something I have
on my bucket list. Trapper Mikes is
well known for taking big bears, often
over 7 feet!
Along on this trip was Lenny
Lamm, Paul Lamm and Joe Pierce.
Our hunt started August 25, the first
week of the season. This was going to
be the second trip to Trapper Mikes
for Lenny and Paul.
There are pros and cons to hunting the first week. Of course the
bears havent been pressured, but the
weather could be warm and if there
is a good berry crop the bears tend to
spend more time eating the berries
than coming to bait. We were lucky
that it wasnt too warm and that there
was a poor berry crop this past fall in
our hunt area.
The trail camera on my stand
showed a 300 pound chocolate phase
bear coming in and a very big black
bear and another black bear that was
smaller than the other two. My plan
was to harvest my bear with my bow,
hopefully the chocolate.
The first day of our hunt it was
raining all day and the hunting was
Joe Pierce with his wolf taken in
86 Manitoba during his bear hunt.
and windy, not a lot

of activity, except for Lenny Lamm.
Lenny was able to harvest a bear
that evening. After he took his bear
and while waiting for Blain (owner)
and main guide to arrive, Lenny had
another bear come into the bait that
wouldnt leave. Lenny began yelling
at the bear just to see what it would
do. The bear wouldnt leave and just
kept feeding, staying until after Blain
arrived.
The third evening the chocolate
bear finally showed up. The problem I
had was that the bear never gave me a
good shot with my bow. It was like he
knew that I was hunting with a bow.
Always with his back facing me. After
a while he just wandered back into the
bush.
Day number four was going to be
a big day for the three of us who had
not taken a bear. Great weather, not
much wind and mild. I decided that
with only two days remaining in our
hunt I was going to switch over to my
rifle. If that chocolate bear came back
in again and didnt offer me a shot
with my bow, I would still be able to
check him off my bucket list with my
rifle.
At Trapper Mikes they like to
hunt in the mornings and evenings,
Joe Pierce and Paul Lamm hunted
every morning while Lanny Lamm
and I hunted every other morning and
evenings. On morning number four
while Joe and Blaine were headed to
Joes morning stand they decided to
walk in instead of taking the ATV in.
While walking in, a wolf appeared
about 40 yards in front of Joe and Joe
dropped the wolf in his tracks.
This was Joes first hunting trip
out of the country and he shoots a
wolf! A wolf is also on my bucket list.
I have been hunting all over Canada
and have never shot a wolf. Joe is no
longer invited to go hunting with me!
There are a number of wolves in the
area and you can harvest a wolf on
your bear license in Manitoba. Since
Joe had taken a wolf, Paul and my
wolf hunting interest peaked!
After an hour in my blind a black
bear came into the bait. I wasnt planning on taking the bear, I was going to
hold out for the chocolate or go home
without anything. A raven landed in
a nearby tree. After a few minutes it
decided to fly off. It made so much
noise flying off the bear turned around
to look. When the bear followed the
raven with its eyes he looked right
at me in my ladder stand. The bear
stared at me for a minute and then
starting walking to my stand popping
its jaws. When a bear starts popping
The author with his black bear taken in Manitoba.

its jaws its a sign of aggression. The
bear walked around my blind and then
started walking toward the tree I was
in. He continued popping his jaws and
when it got about four feet from my
tree I figured that was close enough
and shot the bear in the neck. I really
didnt want to harvest the bear, but I
also knew it could be up that tree in
seconds and I wasnt going to take any
chances. It was a good bear, well over
two hundred pounds. I believe the
bear thought I was another bear in the
tree, not a human. Most of these bears
have never seen humans. Thompson is
located in northern Manitoba, lots of
bears, not a lot of people.
About the same time I was harvesting my bear Paul Lamm was
shooting a bear with his Strothers
bow. Paul had a Go Pro camera attached to his bow and was able to film
the harvest of his bear. After shooting
the bear, Paul called Blaine to inform
him and also told Blaine about an
even bigger bear that came into the
bait and wouldnt leave.
When Blaine arrived at Pauls
stand he also brought Lenny, Pauls
father, to assist with the bear and use
him as back up with the other aggressive bear that wouldnt leave. The
bear still wouldnt leave while the
guys were trying to take care of Pauls
bear and in fact it kept walking closer
towards them. Blain finally sprayed
the bear with bear pepper spray and
the bear left the area.
Later that evening, just before
legal shooting time was over, Joe shot
his bear. The guides had a full evening
skinning bears. Great for us, three
bears and a wolf in one day. A day

none of us will forget.
The next afternoon some of the
guys went with the guides to pull
cameras. The morning bait that Joe
was hunting and would have been
hunting that morning if he hadnt
taken his bear the evening before
showed a monster black bear on the
trail camera. The bear was the size of
a Volkswagen. Not only was this bear
coming into the bait that morning but
another wolf did as well! Blaine estimated the bear weighed over 500.
Ann Snihor and Blaine Snihor
own and operate Trapper Mikes
Outfitting Service. Blaine handles the
guiding and Ann manages the operations and most important the cooking.
You will never find a better cook than
Ann. All meals are homemade and
you will gain a pound or two on this
trip. They have been in business for
over 20 years and have taken many
bears over 7 feet. My guide, assisting
Blaine, was Xavier Pilon. When Xavier isnt guiding he is a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman, an excellent
guide and a lot of fun to hunt with. All
of us were very satisfied with our hunt
and the experience it afforded us.
At Trapper Mikes, they normally
only hunt the first two weeks of the
season. Both weeks are normally
booked. I will be returning next
fall and hopefully will be harvesting
that same chocolate bear that didnt
give me a good shot with my bow
last fall.
Author is Jeff Pendergraff, retired Captain with the DNR LED and
owner of jptrophyhunts.comn
WOODS-N-WATER NEWS PRESENTS...
29th Annual
OUTDOOR
WEEKEND
September 11-13
Friday 5-9 pm
Saturday 9 am-7 pm
Sunday 9 am-5 pm
$8 Admission
kids 12 and under free
and free parking
O
g
n
i
t
a
r
b
C el e
!
e
g
a
t
i
r
e
H
r
o
o
d
t
u
ur O
Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds - Imlay City
OutdoorWeekend.net
Over 200 Outdoor Vendors Hunting Seminars

Puppies Gun Auction Wild Animals Much More
87
Woods-N-Water News Classified Section

MISC.
MISC.
FREE
FISHING
HUNTING
REAL ESTATE
A TEMPUR-PEDIC MEMORY
FOAM MATTRESS SET.
Clean. Never used. As seen on TV.
Cost $1700. Sell for $695. 989-8322401. M-4-14-TFN
................................................
AN
AMISH
LOG
HEADBOARD AND QUEEN
pillowtop mattress set. New. Sell all
for $275. 989-923-1278.
M-4-14-TFN
................................................
AMISH LOG BEDS, ANY
SIZE $199. 5 drawer log chest
$199. Good quality. Lowest prices in
Michigan. 989-839-4846. M-4-14TFN
................................................
EXPERIENCE A TOTAL WILDERNESS ADVENTURE at

Isle Royale National Park. Guided
backpacking, hiking, canoeing. All
inclusive complete outfitter 5 9 day
trips $650.00 - $1175.00 per person.
Even a trip for seniors. For details
call 231-564-1631 or 231-258-0985.
M-2-3
................................................
LOG BUNK BEDS. $495. Amish
lodge furniture. Call Dan 989-8321866. M-4-14-TFN
................................................
If you need HELP right now,

say aloud JESUS Please Help Me.
FREE-4-2
................................................
FLYING, FISHING & FUN!

Welcome to Garsons Fly-In Outposts, your fly-in adventure awaits...
We offer remote fly-in fishing and
hunting packages in Northern
Ontario. Visit us at
www.flyinfishingoutposts.com F-4-2
................................................
POND SUPPLIES: Live gamefish for stocking. Large selection of
lake, pond and watergarden supplies. Free catalog! Stoney Creek,
Inc., Grant, MI 800-448-3873. www.
stoneycreekequip.com F-4-7
................................................
LAKE ERIE WALLEYE AND
PERCH CHARTERS Captain
Bruce 517 740 5295 or
www.payableguideservice.com
Call now for Spring and
Summer booking. F-3-4
................................................
WESTERN
KENTUCKY:
Would you like to hunt one of my
thousands of acres of private farms
in some of the best Trophy Buck
counties in Kentucky. These farms
get very limited hunting. Trail camera
photos of Trophy Bucks from your
farm. Heavy duty tree stands on
farms. Hunts as low as $700. FREE
BROCHURE. 270-498-3374.
H-4-3
................................................
U.P. BEAR HUNT: Amasa Unit
D&D Bear Guide, 18 years experience. 7 day hunt over active bait
stand, trail cam used. Great success
rate. Lots of references. Call Ed 906875-6548, 906-367-0331. H-4-2
................................................
HUNT NORTHERN ONTARIO
CANADA Guided bear hunts 2.5
hours North of Sault border. Large
bear management area, High success rate, Multiple bears on baits.
Harvest av. 2-300lbs, References
available. Gauranteed active baits,
started well ahead of time. $1,000
US plus tax and licences.Hunting
starts Aug. 15 www.murraylake.net
416-548-6124 H-2-4
................................................
NORTHERN
ONTARIO
BEAR HUNTS: Booking now for
fall of 2015. Includes comfortable
cabin, boat and motor, baited stands.
Very experienced guides. High success rate. 3 hours from the Soo.
References on request. $960 U.S.
705-869-3272 www.texasandsons.
com H-10-12-14
................................................
BIG RAPIDS AREA - Recently

remodeled cabin with 61
wooded acres NE of Big
Rapids adjoins 1000s acres of
state land. Prime Deer &
Turkey area. Food plots, fruit
trees, tree stands & blinds.
Call Randy LaPreze, Big
Rapids Realty ph. 231-3491395. RE-4-1
................................................
WANTED
TIMBER: Buying all types of timber, 5 acres or more, top price paid.
Cash in advance. Improve wildlife
habitat. Patco Forest Products, 989539-7588 after 6 p.m. W-4-12-14
................................................
Classifieds Work!
810.724.0254
To reach an immense outdoor market use the . . .
Woods-N-Water News Classified

Classified ad rates: $30 for the first 20 words
Every word over 20 is .25 per word -- Box your classified, $5 additional charge
This effective advertising is simple to do, place your ad by . . .
Calling 800-387-7824 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
Email your ad to wnw@pageone-inc.com
Faxing your ad 810-724-8552
Complete your Classified online at www.woods-n-waternews.com
Mailing your ad to Woods-N-Water News, P.O. Box 278, Imlay City, MI 48444
Classifieds MUST be paid in advance of publishing; MasterCard, Visa accepted. Make
check/money orders payable to Woods-N-Water News. Classified ads can not be
billed and once a classified is processed no refunds can be made. Limit of 75 words.
All classifieds posted to our website FREE!

Use one of these useful classified categories...
A = Archery
ATV = ATVs
B = Boats
D = Dogs
F = Fishing
F = Free
FP = Food Plots
FW = Firewood
G = Guns
H = Hunting
HL = Hunting Leases
HW = Help Wanted
M = Miscellanous
RE = Real Estate
RR = Resorts/Rent
RVC = RVs/Campers
SM = Snowmobiles
T = Taxidermy
TK = Trucks
TR = Trailers
W = Wanted
MAY 2015 CLASSIFIED DEADLINE APRIL 6, 2015

CLIP AND MAIL
Woods-N-Water News Classified Advertising

(Please print clearly. We are not responsible for unreadable orders.)
Make sure phone number is included in your ad!
NAME
GUNS
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE
TRIGGERSHIMS
BRAND
GUN SHIMS for S&W, Colt 1911,
AR-15, Ruger 10/22, 77/22, GP100,
SP101, Redhawk, and Blackhawk.
Hammer, Cylinder and Trigger Shims
at www.TriggerShims.com. G-4-1
................................................
ZIP
DAYTIME PHONE NO.

VISA/MASTERCARD#
EXP:
CLASSIFICATION OF AD
88
MONTHS TO RUN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
$30.00
$30.25
$30.50
$30.75
$31.00
$31.25
$31.50
$31.75
$32.00
$32.25
$32.50
$32.75
$33.00
$33.25
$33.50
$33.75
$34.00
$34.25
$34.50
$34.75
$35.00
$35.25
$35.50
$35.75
$36.00
$36.25
$36.50
$36.75
Enclosed is $
words to run
FISHING CLASS OFFERS CLOSURE: Just

looking at that maze of tackle
you "sense" spontaneously,
virtually unerringly, how each
individual component affects
the fish audibly as well as visually, and defensively as well
as offensively. Capable now of
readily adapting to any situation, not only do you feel justified in having accumulated all
those tackle boxes full of stuff,
but even about adding more
stuff to them. No longer needing to travel miles on end to
experience top notch success
while targeting any specie we
choose, ultimately we wind up
fishing more, enjoying it more.
If you've sensed that this is how
angling could and should be,
should our instinctive approach
be followed to the letter, this is
how it can be. All species, all
baits, all presentations, all in
one session, all for as little as
$45 per person. For further details 810-395-4334 Mon.-Sat. 9
am 7 pm. Instructor Larry R.
Walter, Sr. F-TFN
for
months.
BOX MY CLASSIFIED - $5 Extra
HUNTING
ROOSTER RANCH, LLC
- Since 1986. Ringneck pheasants, mallard ducks, chukar
partridge. Field and European
Hunts - lodging and meals
available. Your dogs or ours,
pointers or flushers. Wobble
Trap. Single family or corporate outings. Fundraiser hunts.
Check us out online:
roosterranchllc.com Call Nick
at 989-658-2332 to book your
hunt. H-4-6
RESORTS/RENT
ALL SEASONAL, full
hookup, riverside RV resort.
Make Coho Bend, on the Big
Manistee River, your own hideaway! Large wooded sites-Boat
docks available.
www.cohobend.com
(231)-723-7321. R/R-4-8
PICKEREL
LAKESIDE
CAMPGROUND
and
COTTAGES - Baldwin Area 1425' all sport lake, frontage, 45
semi-rustic sites, 4 clean modern
cottages. www.lakecamp-cottages.
com 231-745-7268. R/R-4-7
................................................
HUNTING LEASE
HUNTING LAND FOR RENT.
Hundred acre woods limit of 3 hunters. Modern cabin available. $1600
per season. 231-590-1136. HL-3-3
................................................
FOR RENT
MODERN CABIN FOR RENT
on Bear Creek. Sleeps 5. A/C, Sat
TV, full kitchen. 10 minutes from
Manistee River. 1.3 miles from state
snowmobile trails. Now booking for
steelhead. 231-590-1136. FR-3-5
................................................
TRAILS END RESORT on

Big Manistique Lake. 2 bedroom modern housekeeping
cabins. Boats - motors and pontoon rentals. Good fishing, hunting, birding. Central UP - Curtis,
MI. Call 906-586-3515. RE-33
20 ACRES, with 1 Great Ground
Blind, Tons of Deer, Turkey, &
Coyotes. Great Mixed Timber 100%
Wooded - 660 x 1320 North Branch
Twp. Lapeer County $59,900 Just
Land
Sales
586-419-6716
JustLandSales.com. RE-4-1
................................................
BUYING OR SELLING?
Farms, vacant land or recreational
parcels throughout Michigan. Call
Doug Beasley at Faust Real Estate,
LLC 517-260-2939. RE-4-1
................................................
123 ACRES Wooded Deer
Camp, 4 miles of Groomed RV Trails,
& Bunk House, 95% Wooded,
1329x4043 Possible Split, Paris Twp.
Huron County, $330,000 Just Land
Sales 586-419-6716 facebook.com/
justlandsales RE-4-1
................................................
MOSTLY WOODED 39.5 +/acres in Northern Hillsdale County,
Approx. 676' of frontage on
Kalamazoo River, natural creek and
pond. Year round 2 bedroom, furnished bungalow. The camp is all set
up and waiting! Hunting is plentiful for
deer, pheasant, quail, rabbits, duck &
turkey. A rare find! Call Diana at
Faust Real Estate, LLC 517-2703646. RE-4-1
................................................
80 ACRES WOODED
RECREATIONAL borders
1/2 mile STATE land, U.P.,
cabin, garage. Hunt deer, bear,
turkey, grouse, rabbit, beaver
pond. Trails: snowmobile/fourwheeler, $79,000. Bob 517-8968976. RE-3-2
115 ACRES, Three lakes, and
Gated Entry. 30% Wooded. Trophy
Deer Live in the area. Irregular
Shaped Lot. Elba Twp. - Lapeer
County, Reduced - $290,000 Just
Land
Sales
586-419-6716
JustLandSales.com RE-4-1
................................................
ROSCOMMON, MI 1050
SQ. FT., 3 bedroom, cabin on
1 3/4 acres near trails. AuSable
River, new windows, siding
roof, appliances and shed. Furnished $39,900. 810-4341017. RE-4-1
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
DOGS
NORTHERN MI. 36 acres mostly

wooded. 2 bdrm home. Wildlife,
quiet. 2 mi to Torch Lk. 9012 Manley
Rd Alden. www.aldenproperty.shutterfly.com $149,900 (269) 720-5264
RE-4-2
................................................
53 ACRES, Variety, Farmland,
Hard Woods, Meadow Grasses, &
River/Creek, 624 x 2615 irregular. N.
Branch Twp., Lapeer County,
$145,000 Just Land Sales 586-4196716 facebook.com/justlandsales
RE-4-1
................................................
40 ACRES Great Hunting property
Near Cass City. 100% wooded some
low land. Deer, Turkey. Must see!
$125,000. Call Tom 734-812-4904.
RE-4-1
................................................
COLORADO ELK HUNTING

PROPERTY. 40.1 acres in Costilla
County CO. Elk, Mule deer, Lion,
Bear, Grouse, Turkey, Bobcat on the
property and Big Horn sheep in the
nearby San Isabel National Forest.
Beautiful Ponderosa Pines and rock
outcroppings. Mt. Blanca is the fourth
highest peak in the continental U.S.
gives great views. This 40 acre parcel is part of an 18,000 acre ranch
that allows owners to hunt on the
majority of the ranch. $60k land contract possible. Call Cell 313-9290623. RE-3-2
................................................
ACRES GOULD CITY Mi, back
40 with bought-in easement. Fully
wooded with parking / camping area,
gated entrance with new driveway.
Land is not swampy, adjoining state
land two miles from town. Great hunting, bear, deer and birds. Trimmed
trails with blinds and feeders.
Snowmobile trail head minutes away.
Asking $45,000.00 any more questions call or e-mail Debbie Severn.
1-989-624-4670 or ddsesuntan@aol.
com RE-11-12-14
................................................
290
ACRE
WOODED
LAKEFRONT SPORTSMEN'S
PARADISE! 2000 feet on 90 acre
clear lake. 6000 feet on great county
roads. One mile from US 23 and
Lake Huron. Three bedroom, two
baths, pole barn. Wildlife haven.
9628 Balch Road, Ocqueoc, Presque
Isle County. See it at
w w w. l a n d s o f a m e r i c a . c o m /
listing/1514845 $350,000.00 Call
Dan Davenport, Re/Max Platinum,
810-599-2141.
RE-11-14-TFN
................................................
DOGWOOD
KENNEL:
Complete training obedience and
field work. Working with dog and
owners to create a complete hunting
dog. If you want to hunt with your
dog, not for your dog, we can help
you. Training for AKC and F.D.S.B.
tests and trials. All hunting breeds
welcome. Brittany and Pointer pups
and started dogs available. 989-7610234 Merritt, MI.
www.dogwood-kennel.com
D-4-6
................................................
SAGINAW BAY AND

CANAL FRONTAGE
main home, guest house and
pole barn. Fishing and hunting
paradise. $229,000 call 810845-0098. RE-4-2
44.44 ACRES Unique
Riverfront, Scenic Trails, with, Mill
Creeks edge as, S/W Property
Lines.530 x irregular Brockway Twp,
St. Clair County, $169,000 Just Land
Sales 586-419-6716 JustLandSales.
com RE-4-1
................................................
40
SQUARE
WOODED
ACRES, Excellent Hunting, a
Creek. 2 Rd. Frontages, 1320 x 1320
90% Wooded, Burnside Twp,
Lapeer County $119,000 Just Land
Sales 586-419-6716 facebook.com/
justlandsales RE-4-1
................................................
18 ACRES, Great Little Piece of
Farmland, 573 x 928 (60 Easement)
10% Wooded (tree-lined) Berlin
Twp., St. Clair County, $54,000 Just
Land Sales 586-419-6716 facebook.
com/justlandsales RE-4-1
................................................
AMAZING 44 ACRES near
Rose City, Ogemaw County.
Hunt where Fred Bear and Ted
Nugent hunted. High and dry,
very private, 1,000 ft. frontage
on Houghton Creek, 30 ft. travel
trailer w/electric. Property surveyed $88,000 firm. Call 248249-6794 for details. RE-3-4
ESTATE SALE Beautiful Lake
Front Home On Private Lake With 40
Acres And With 112 Additional Acres
Available. 5 Bedrooms 3 And 1.2
Baths, Extra Large 3 Stall Garage
With Bonus Room Above. Modern
Kitchen With Granite Countertops.
Land Is Wooded And Partly Tillable.
Three Fireplaces. North Of Lakeview
Area. 616-262-4040 $549,000.
RE-3-2
................................................
BEAVER
ISLAND
120
ACRES, Under QDM management
for 15 years, food plots, heated
blinds, 30x40 pole barn, diverse
habitat adjacent to low pressure state
land, loaded with mature bucks, turnkey. Asking $325,000. Call Denny at
810-441-2053. RE-2-3
DOGS
GUNDOG TRAINING AT ITS
BEST! by Paul Rheaume. Over 30
years experience with pointing and
flushing breeds. All inclusive 4 week
class that is customized to meet your
dog's needs. Excellent for young
dogs starting out, for experienced
dogs tuning up, or for dogs with
issues. $600. Find us on Facebook
or online http://gundogtraining.webs.
com. Rheaume's Kennel. (989) 8648606. D-4-3
................................................
BRITTANY STUD DOG,
Kansas Renegade Kid bloodline. I
would like to get a pup from a breeding to your female. Please call 810434-7143.
D-4-1
................................................
GERMAN SHORTHAIR
POINTER PUPS: Males
and females available. Excellent hunting dogs and superb
family pets. Close working dogs
with strong point and retrieve
instincts. Reasonably priced for
the sporting family. Money back
guarantee. Eulenhof Kennels,
Gladwin, MI.
http://www.eulenhof.com
989-426-4884 D-3-2
Heres your guide to success!
It is estimated that 10% of all the fishermen catch 90% of the fish. Regardless of which group you fall into . . . theres a sure
way to up your odds . . . simply try new fishing waters. Fish where few fishermen ever fish.
Michigan is loaded with great fishing waters . . . many of them over-looked. From the AuSable River to all of the Great Lakes
tributaries to the Pere Marquette River . . . thousands of miles of streams, lakes and rivers are now easy-to-locate on one map.
Professor Higbees Stream Map of Michigan is the first and only highly detailed map of its kind. This new 4 foot by 4 foot
color map shows virtually all for the 35,000 miles of Michigan streams & lakes on both peninsulas. Thats almost two times the
earths circumference!
STREAM MAP OF MICHIGAN is available either rolled or folded. And, in heavy gauge clear lamination, write-on-wipe-off
surface with brass eyelettes for easy hanging, rolled only.
ROLLED $26.00
T a x
(810) 724-0254
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
or try our website
woods-n-waternews.com
email: wnw@pageone-inc.com website: www.woods-n-waternews.com
P o s t a g e
LAMINATED $46.00
I n c l u d e d
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE
Check/Money Order
Card#
Exp. Date
ZIP
Visa/Mastercard
Signature
Mail To: Woods-N-Water News

P.O. Box 278 Imlay City, MI 48444 (810) 724-0254
GERMAN
SHORTHAIRED
POINTERS.
STARTED AKC MALES.
6+ months old. Black/White
and Liver/White.
Excellent
Background. $1000. Find us
on Facebook or online http://
gundogtraining.webs.com.
Rheaume's Kennel 989-8648606 or 810-542-0164 D-4-1
Classifieds work!
FOLDED $26.00
NAME
ENGLISH
SETTERS
RYMAN TYPE 2 litters due

January 2015. $500.00 either sex.
$50 deposit required. Kalamazoo
Area 269-279-7599 or boondocks1935@hotmail.com
Andy
Johnson D-4-1
................................................
2 LITTERS OF PUPPIES.
#1 Tri-color Brittany pups.
#2 Deadgrass color Chesapeake Bay
Retriever Pups. Hunted exhaustively.
Can be seen at Cabelas-Dundee
March 20, 27; Jays-Clare March 21,
22, 28, 29; Jays-Gaylord March 25.
Call before you travel: 810-280-8597;
260-750-0488;
904-742-3423.
D-4-1
................................................
SEVEN BRITTANY PUPPIES

AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO
GOOD HOMES. AKC Registered.
The sire (Max) and dam (Sasha) are
excellent in the field and with children. Great hunters and family dogs.
Whelped on Feb 3. Nice color on all
dogs -orange and white. Asking $700
per puppy. Available in Mid-April. Call
248-685-9820. D-4-2
................................................
&
89-97
Cottage on Harper Lake

With 100 Frontage
Turn Key Sale
Garage Sauna
Pontoon
Terms Possible.
Near Irons
With Great Fishing
Hunting & Trails
$
165,000
Call Jack Payne 616-566-7713

or jackpaynejr@gmail.com
Woods-N-Water News Classified Section
89
93 ACRES AND 2 PRIVATE LAKES IN JACKSON COUNTY!
z
t
i
r
B Realty
HUNTING AND
INVESTMENT PROPERTY
FOR SALE!
inc.
13380 POPE CHURCH Road Springport, Michigan 49284
93 Acres of Prime Hunting and Fishing

2 Private Lakes with Great Fishing
Spacious Home under construction
Land Contract Terms Available

$950,000
Call for more info and showings
Listed By William Coats (Assoiciate Broker)
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY REAL ESTATE

Office 269-441-4245 Cell 517-617-1979
landcontract@gmail.com www.homewc.com
758 West US-10 Evart, Michigan 49631

Phone. 231-734-5554 Fax. 231-734-2055
Toll Free. 1-888-820-3647
email. britzrealty@sbcglobal.net
denniscbryant@sbcglobal.net
WINTER SPECIAL:
EVART AREA - 114 acres of prime hunting land including cabin deer turkey and
small game - this property also has food
plots hunting blinds and 40 acres of tillable
land - price reduce to 219,000
Columbus Twp., MI 48062 Vacant

Land 18.97 Acres. Great Hunting!
Your Trophies await! Possible
Land Contract. Creek along the
back of property! Call Cheryl
Almstadt 586-909-1142
TROPHY DEER, BEAR

AND GREAT FISHING
Large Acreages Available!
$200 Per Acre & UP
in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Area
(within one hour of bridge)
Call for details and check our website!
15% DISCOUNT NOW

THRU APRIL 30, 2015
LAJAMBE
ENTERPRISES INC.
120 Huron Street (across Street from Canadian Customs)

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 1P8
Telephone: (705) 248-9663 FAX: (705) 248-1110
Email: flajambe@lajambe.com Website: www.lajambe.com
St.Clair County, MI. 12790 Bryce Road, Emmett, MI 48022 MLS #

214082471 35.28 Beautiful Acres Nature Abounds! Great Hunting! For
Your Toys: 30X68 Pole Barn, Steel Roof, Electric, Water & 220 Second
Barn: 32X48 Finished, Insulated, Heated, Electric, Water & Bathroom.
Kennel: 32X22 Heated, Electric, Water,100ft Fenced Area & Large
Covered Area. 65% + Wooded, Close to Expressway Well Maintained
2 Bedroom Home! Call Cheryl Almstadt 586-909-1142
Your Total Real Estate Company.

PROFESSIONALS
1122 South Lapeer Road

Suite D Lapeer, Michigan
888-664-8524
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

ROUND STONE ACRES REAL ESTATE AUCTION
Thursday, April 16th 1pm

975 ACRES IN 12 PARCELS
LIVE PUBLIC AUCTION
Osentoski Auction Service has been commissioned to sell at
a combined acreage of 975 +/- acres of farmland and building in Alpena County
and Presque Isle County on Thursday, April 16, 2015 commencing at 1 p.m. Location:
Maple Ridge Township Hall, 6010 W Lacomb Rd, Alpena. Auction to include
property with large dairy farm operation, and a total of 12 parcels
(5 with homes) - each to be offered for individual purchase.
For more info, visit: http://osentoskiauction.com/Round/index.htm
90
6501 MAIN STREET CASS CITY, MICHIGAN
Your auctioneers & bid spotters: Martin, David, Ken & Travis Osentoski.
Cass City (989) 872-4377
Auctioneers
& clerks acting as agents only & assume no guarantees, no liabilities
Caro (989) 673-7777
231-652-7000
- or -
231-250-8200
WE NEED LISTINGS 40+ ACRES AND LARGER

LD
LD
Allegan County, 71+/- Acres. Good Trail

System, Excellent Deer & Turkey Hunting
$114,900
Arenac County, 70 Acres 3,500+/- ft. Lake

Huron Frontage, Duck & Deer Hunters Dream
$280,000
Arenac County, 146 Acres Rifle River &

Saginaw Bay Access, Tri-Level House
$399,999
Arenac County, 349 Acres

2 Ponds, Blinds, Trails
SOLD -$523,500 - SOLD
Calhoun County, 61 Acres. 3,000+/- ft. St.

Joseph River Frontage, Big Buck Country
SOLD -$129,900 - SOLD
Calhoun County, 88 Acres

45 Tillable, Balance Wooded
$299,900
Calhoun County, 336 Acres Caretaker House,

Lodge, Pole Barn, River & Lake Front
$1,150,000
Chippewa County, 1684 Acres 8,500 sq. ft. Log Lodge,

Guest House, Dock on St. Marys River, Private Lake
$2,490,000
Clare County, 155 Acres

Rolling Hardwoods, Pond, Trails
$224,900
Clare County, 136.76 Acres, Private Lake

5,000 ft. Muskegon River Frontage, Adjacent to National Forest
$350,000
Crawford County, 20+/- Acres. Nice Woods,

Cabin, Adjacent to State & Federal Land
$84,900
Delta County, 75+/- Acres

3,000 ft Lake Michigan Frontage, Cabin
$294,000
LD
Gratiot County, 40 Acres

Surrounded by Ag Land, Excellent Hunting
SOLD - $87,000 - SOLD
Jackson County, 43 Acres

I-94 & M-99 Exit, Tillable
$299,000
Jackson County, 51 Acres Rolling Terrain,

Big Buck Country, Mixed Hardwoods
SOLD - $122,400 - SOLD
LD

15 Acres Tillable, Big Buck Area, QDM
SOLD - $109,900 - SOLD
LD

Big Buck Country, Small Creek
SOLD - $187,500 - SOLD
Jackson County, 69 Acres, 2,800 ft Grand

River Frontage, House & Pole Barn
$349,000
LD
Newaygo County, 140 Acres, Pond

Trout Stream, 40 Ac. Tillable, Food Plots
SOLD - $325,000 - SOLD
Jackson County, 60 Acres Custom Log

Home, Pole Barn, Too Much To List
SOLD - $379,000 - SOLD
LD
Jackson County, 162 Acres CRP Program, 6 Elevated

Blinds, 115 Ac. Tillable, Pond, Big Buck Country
$599,000
Kalkaska County, 300 Acres Cabin, Rolling

Terrain, Professionally Managed Forest
$599,000
Kalkaska County, 480 Acres

Great Trail, Nice Hardwoods
$995,000
Missaukee County, 75 Acres Pond, Creek,

Guest Cabin & 2 Bedroom House
$199,000
LD
Mecosta County, 80 Acres, Significant

Timber Value, Adjacent to State Land
$139,000
LD
Missaukee County, 200 Acres

Cabin, Pond, 8 Enclosed Blinds
$329,000
Lake County, 320 Acres, 4,700 sq ft Lodge,

Outbuildings, Sm. Creek, Pond, Elevated Blinds
SOLD - $599,000 - SOLD
LD
Montcalm County, 30 Acres 2,500 sq ft

Log Home, 120x70 Outbuilding
$349,000
Montcalm County, 40 Acres Church Creek

Frontage, Rustic Cabin, Excellent Hunting
SOLD - $129,900 - SOLD
Newaygo County, 40 Acres Surrounded by

National Forest, Trails, Elevated Blinds
SOLD - $85,000 - SOLD
Otsego County, 160 Acres

Private 15 Ac Lake, 6,000 sq. ft. House
$1,749,000
Otsego County, 200 Acres

Rolling Terrain, Food Plots, Cabin
$399,000
Schoolcraft County, 2282 Acres

Fox River Frontage
$499,000
LD
Ogemaw County, 40 Acres House, Pond,

Abundant Wildlife, Great Hunting
$139,000
Osceola County, 112 Acres

Small Creek, Trail System
SOLD - $145,600 - SOLD
WildLifeRealty.com
www.
Delta County, 40+/- Acres

1,200 ft. Lake Michigan Frontage
$109,000
LD
91
The Real Estate

Market is finally
bouncing back in
Michigan.
We are attracting
buyers from across
the United States
because of our
partnership with
Sports Afield Trophy
Properties. Learn how
our connection with Sports Afield,
Americas oldest outdoor
magazine, benefits you when
listing your property with
Trophy Class Real Estate.
Call or visit us online today.
92
Carole Porretta
MOTHER NATURE SAYS . . . THINK GREEN!

MOVE IN READY
ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
Just Listed!
ARENAS AND BARNS
$239,900 10 Acres, Dryden, Very well maintained, $427,000 2.2 Acres, Marathon Twp, Enjoy 262
$785,000 22 Acres, Oxford Schools, Spacious
Refinished hardwood floors throughout,
feet of shoreline with sandy beach, boat launch, dock master suite has his & her walk in closets, separate
4 car garage & 30x38 Morton barn
tub/shower. 2 car attached & six car detached garage
& sea wall on this five mile long, beautiful lake
Just Listed!
$485,000 - 80 Acres, 2 Pole Barns, North Branch,

Immaculate Cape Cod with master suite on main
level, screened back porch, full basement, natural
stone fireplace in living room
$113,900 3700 Minden Rd. - 2 Acres, 13 Miles

S of Harbor Beach, 5 beds, 2 1/2 bath. Country
home for active family, 4 car garage, barn
$575,000 15+ Acres, Metamora Hunt

farmhouse has original woodwork & beautiful
views, Master suite has in floor heating, huge
closet, marble bath, pool & private entry with deck
OPEN THE GATE TO HILLS, HORSES & HOSPITALITY - METAMORA!
877-843-0910
www.TrophyClassRealEstate.com
M-119 - 8 Acres
on Lake Michigan
$495,000
Minutes from Petosky, Harbor

Springs or Traverse City!
Tremendous opportunity for
a single family homestead
compound or development
Sutton Rd
90 Acres, Wooded
$599,000
Metamora Hunt Country!

Long, winding driveway traveling over a babbling river, complete with stone culvert, leads
you to a lush mature wooded
build site of your choice!
WEST BRANCH
M-33/M-55 OFFICE
1953 S. M-33
West Branch, MI 48661
HALE
OFFICE
ALE
S
R
O
Local: 989-345-2662
Toll Free: 800-535-6520
3160 North M-65

Hale, MI 48739
10 miles north of I-75 exit 202
WEST BRANCH
LOOP OFFICE
ALE
S
R
O
2575 S. I-75 Business Loop,

West Branch, MI 48661
Gateway to Huron National Forest
www.CAHANES.com
Local: 989-728-2540
Toll Free: 800-495-2540
1 mile north of I-75 Exit 212
www.CAHANES.com
Local: 989-345-0315
Toll Free: 866-345-0315
GREAT VACATION HOMES/GETAWAYS

M748585L
NEAT
AND
CLEAN!!
2 bdrm home in excellent recreational area. Not

far from Bush Lake and State lands, adorable &
mostly furnished!
$19,900
L793473A
WELLMAINTAINED
2 bdrm mobile home w/family room addition,

garage & storage bldg. Near Huron Natl Forest, River & golf course.
$21,900
L786801A
M795370B
AFFORDABLE
&
UPDATED!!
2 bdrm, over a half acre, lots of newer amenities - septic, flooring and carpeting & roof. Deck
and pavilion for relaxing!
$28,900
ACROSS FROM
HURON NATL
FOREST
FOR PRIVACY!
3-bdrm, deep lot, shade trees, needs

some finish work on almost an acre and
near lakes.
$49,900
M784601
WALK TO
POPULAR
ALL SPORTS
CLEAR LAKE!
Newly remodeled 2-bdrm, steel roof,

family room, FP, two garages. Located in
heart of great fishing & trails!
$49,900
HOMES ON ACREAGE
M787467L
BORDERS
GOLF
COURSE!
1.7 ACRES, 2 bdrm needs some TLC, blacktop

drive, large shed, beautiful fenced backyard.
Priced to sell!
$35,900
M794485L
THE VERY
BEST DEER
HUNTING!!
70 ACRES, 20 blinds, food plots, ranch-style 3

bdrm, large garage, full bsmt, deck & gorgeous
views!
$249,900
M792450B
VERY
DESIRABLE
LOCATION!
5.4 ACRES, 3 bdrm needs finish work, large

36x40 pole bldg, newer well, covered porch.
Convenient to town.
$39,900
M749835A
NICE
COUNTRY
SETTING!
Spacious 3 bdrm on over 2 ACRES, FP, AC,

3-car garage & barn-style shed with extra
storage in loft.
$55,000
M794693C
M791873R
BREATHTAKING
COUNTRY
SETTING!
5 ACRES, older 5 bdrm home w/lots of

history, spacious rooms, porch deck,
stunning views!
$85,900
TROUT
STREAM!!
Lovely 5 bdrm, 3 ba home on 21 ACRES

and frontage on Prior Creek! Tons of excellent amenities, move-in ready, trails &
deck.
$170,000
3 bdrm not far from town in country setting,

some updates, spacious rooms and 2.5 BEAUTIFUL ACRES!
$42,000
STUNNING
PARK-LIKE
SETTING!
Over 62 ACRES, pristine 4 bdrm home,

full bsmt, over 3100 sq feet, garage &
BORDERS HURON NATL FOREST!
$249,900
M794795B
M747242C
NEAR STATE
LANDS & GOLF
COURSE!
M787816R
BACKS
TO STATE
LAND!!
5 ACRES, well-maintained 3 bdrm,

garage, wood stove, sliding doors to
deck, beautiful views, walk to fishing!
M794795B $82,500
$82,500
M782163R
BEST OF
BOTH
WORLDS!
WATERFRONT ACREAGE, 3 bdrm, on

private lake w/3.5 ACRES, lots of windows, great views, FP, deck, pole bldg &
much more!!
$115,000
WATER ACCESS/WATERFRONT HOMES

M791882R
FOREST
LAKE
ACCESS!
Priv access to all sports lake, cozy 2 bdrm, garage, move-in ready, great deck. Also near beautiful Rifle River & trails.
$49,900
M780107R
UP NORTH
LAKEFRONT
GETAWAY!!
Cozy 2 bdrm on Little Long Lake, detached &

attached garages, FP, enclosed porch, excellent views!
$119,900
M785455C
M749221L
SANDY
BEACH
FRONTAGE!
2 bdrm home w/waterfront on Hardwood Lake,

country kitchen, deck, patio, fenced yard, garage & shed!
$69,900
NEAR
LAKES!
1.08 ACRES, 3 bdrm home, garage,

fenced yard for pets, needs your finishing
touches for great year round home!
$53,900
M794196B
PRIVATE
LAKE
ACCESS!
Access to all sports Forest Lake, cute

2 bdrm, 2 large lots, deck, porch, wood
stove, in subd w/great amenities!
$57,500
WATERFRONT LOTS
M790612R
ALL
SPORTS
LAKE
OGEMAW!
Over a half acre, partly wooded, paved road,

potential site for your dream home/getaway, 550
acre lake!
$96,900
H798489B
SOUTH
DEASE
LAKE!!
Nice wooded lot, potential building site, 63

of frontage on canal to lake, all sports lake to
fish, boat & swim!
$45,000
M789247A
M789290B
WATERFRONT
& ACREAGE!!
1.37 ACRES, on 172 acre, all sports Hardwood

Lake, 50 of water frontage, possible site for
your dream cottage!
$39,900
DESIRABLE
SAGE LAKE!
Sloping waterfront on canal to popular, all

sports lake, level spot at front, nice views,
mostly wooded, 785 acre lake.
$20,000
M782685C
BOAT DOCK
& SANDY
BEACH!
Beautiful waterfront lot on all sports Lake

Ogemaw, with oversized 32x64 HEATED
AND INSULATED POLE BARN.
$209,000
HUNTING ACREAGE
WALK TO
FEDERAL
LAND!
10 ACRES, ideal place for your hunt camp, wooded, older mobile w/propane lights, stove & some
furnishings.
$36,900
FOR MORE LISTINGS

VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
M788865G
OVER 40
WOODED
ACRES!!
Johnson Creek meanders thru property, 400

sq ft one room rustic cabin for sleeping, shed,
lots of wildlife.
$98,500
M763946R
72
WOODED
ACRES!!
Beautiful, wooded and rolling acreage w/

stream, some lowlands, oaks, lots of wildlife,
includes share of waterfront lot!
$145,000
M779538B
STATE
LAND ON
3 SIDES!!
101 ACRES! Excellent hunting, hand

pump well, electric at road, wooded, older
bldg for sleeping of no value.
$198,000
M744282L
35.8
COMMERICAL
ACRES!
Perfect property in excellent location for

large retailer or multiple housing unit w/
addl acreage also available.
WWW.CAHANES.COM
$249,900
M790848B
93
North West
Realty
Offices Serving Lower &

Upper Michigan
www.cbnwr.com
Bringing people and places together since 1945
What a beautiful home! 2 large bedrooms, 1 bath, with

whirlpool tub, large living room, very large 16x32 rec
room, or Florida Room off the back, with a large deck
overlooking the beautiful rolling yard and gardens! Half
finished basement with walkout patio, 2 stall detached
garage, 2 storage sheds, and in immaculate condition!
Located in the Famous Chain-O-Lakes area just walking distance to the associations beach on Lake Cecilia, or
a short drive to drop your boat at the infamous all
sports Big Star Lake! Seller's are motivated!
MLS 14034416 $99,900
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TODAY!
statewiderealestate.net
Houghton
Curtis
Manistique
Escanaba
Powers
Menominee
Marinette
Newberry
Fife Lake
Onaway
Hawks
Hillman
Alpena
Atlanta
Harrisville
Mio
Oscoda
Skidway Lake
Clare
Almont
Linden
Howell
Contact Your Nearest State Wide Real

Estate Office To Buy or Sell In Michigan
ALPENA
1100 W. Chisholm, 49707
email: alpswre@speednetllc.com
989-356-2142 Fax: 989-356-2144
HAWKS
8383 Hwy. 451, 49743
email: rita8383@yahoo.com
989-734-4846
ALMONT
844 Van Dyke Road
lafrancesharon@yahoo.com
810-798-8591 Fax: 810-798-8079
HILLMAN
14938 State Street, P.O. Box 98, 49746
email: statewidehillman@yahoo.com
989-742-4523 800-228-7856
Fax: 989-742-3931
CLARE
308 E. 5th Street, 48617
email: statewideclare@voyager.net
989-386-3396 Fax: 989-386-3800
HOUGHTON
500 Shelden Ave., 49931
email: dick@statewideofhoughton.com
906-482-6955 800-676-6323
Fax: 906-482-7699
CURTIS/NEWBERRY
Main Street, P.O. Box 305, 49820
email: swcurtis@sbcglobal.net
906-586-9606 Fax: 906-586-9607
ESCANABA
2209 Ludington Street, 49829
email: escanaba@statewiderealestate.net
906-786-1308 800-900-0777
Fax: 906-786-1388
94
FIFE LAKE
127 State Street, P.O. Box 190, 49633
email: swfife@charterinternet.com
231-879-4471 Fax: 231-879-4362
HARRISVILLE
430 S. US-23, 48740
email: sold@anjstatewide.com
989-724-5711 800-655-5735
Fax: 989-724-6833
HOWELL/LINDEN
1285 S. Michigan Ave., Howell, MI 48843
email: statewid@earthlink.net
517-546-9060 800-531-4449
Fax: 517-546-9148
IRON MOUNTAIN - KINGSFORD
112 S. Carpenter Ave., Kingsford, 49802
906-828-9079
MANISTIQUE
10 N. State Highway M-149
Cooks, MI 49817
906-644-2304
email: dekeysermary@yahoo.com
MARINETTE, WISCONSIN
1460 Marinette Ave., 54143
email: statewidemarinette@yahoo.com
715-735-9964 Fax: 715-732-1107
MARQUETTE
856 W. Washington, 49855
email: sw@statewiderealestate.org
906-228-9312 Fax: 906-228-8069
MENOMINEE
3631 10th Street, 49858
email: statewideone@newbc.rr.com
906-863-9905
Fax: 906-863-7935
MIO
102 West 8th St., P.O. Box 395, 48647
email: info@statewidemio.com
989-826-3292
Fax: 989-826-2108
ONAWAY
M-33 & M-68,
P.O. Box 478, 49765
email: bigdan@frontier.com
989-733-6522
Fax: 989-733-2427
OSCODA
335 South State St., 48750
email: lakehuronsw@chartermi.net
989-739-2050
Fax: 989-739-2280
POWERS
W3776 US2 & 41, 49874
906-497-4190
Fax: 906-497-5328
holly@statewiderealestate.net
SKIDWAY LAKE
2228 Greenwood Rd.,
Prescott, 48756
email: atlas@m33access.com
989-873-3601
Fax: 989-873-6914
Here is a cute little 2 bedroom 1/2 log sided and 1/2 vinyl
cabin in the middle of great snowmobiling and hunting
area close to the Big South Branch Pere Marquette river
Ruby Creek area needs just a little finishing touches and
you've got a great week end get-a-way vacation home
could be all year round and you get your own little
private pond as well on a paved county maintained
road. Priced right to sell come see it soon.
MLS 14048467 $45,900
400 Clam River Frontage
One of Michigans top brook trout

streams. 3 Bd, 2 Ba country home, new
furnace. Large barn. With heated shop
area supplied with 3 phase elec. Other
outbuildings. 4.6 total acres. McBain, MI
Endless possibilities! Bank appraisal done.
$99,900.
MLS 21114347
Offered by:
Located in the heart of the Manistee National

Forest this 58 M/L Acres is perfectly situated
between 2 county maintained roads. Property
has small creek running through it. Nicely
wooded, with Michigans best mixture of Hardwoods, Walking distance to State Land. Priced
for sale, seller may look at reasonable land
contract offers! MLS 15009007 $69,900
Jody Spaulding, Realtor

Ph. 231-878-3317
jody.spaulding@cbgreatlakes.com
Very cute 2 bed 1 bath home in the Chain O Lakes area.

Well cared for and would make a great summer or year
round home. The fireplace in the living room is great for
those cold days. Several lakes close by to enjoy on the
hot summer days. Home is priced to sell and won't last
long! Call for a showing today. MLS 14057998 $32,000
2721 Sunnyside Dr, Cadillac, MI 49601
LOCATION! Walking distance to Big Star Lake! This

home in nicely situated on a county maintained paved
road that leads to the infamous 900 acres all sports Big
Star Lake! Large 2 bedroom, 1 bath home, with large
dining room, and living room. This home comes completely furnished with appliances and all the fixings! 2
stall attached garage, and 1 stall attached garage in the
back! Great for all your projects or to store your quads,
or boats! Great location for all your UP NORTH ventures! AND priced to sell! MLS 14024215 $35,000
Marquette
IG RIVER
PROPERTIES
GET READY FOR THE LITTLE

MANISTEE RIVER OPENING APRIL 1ST!
LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER 9568 E. RIVERSIDE DRIVE IRONS Log

sided home, 370 frontage, 2.5 acres, over 2000 sq foot of living space plus
the basement, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open floor plan with kitchen with hickory
cabinets, dining area, and large living room with a stone fireplace with an insert
that you can use gas or wood in it. $325,000 (VANS)
LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER HOME 10555 S INDIAN TRAIL DRIVE
Riverfront home/cottage with 180 of private frontage. Beautiful views from the
main living area, walkout basement and deck right on the Little Manistee. The
home features 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, and laundry on the main floor, a loft and a
daylight basement with a wood stove. The open concept living and kitchen
area has two sliders to the deck. 2 car attached garage. $159,900 (BIL)
16.88+/- ACRES ON LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER 11 MILE ROAD IRONS
Beautiful Little Manistee River acreage! 16.88 +/- acres with 224+/- feet of
frontage on the banks of Little Manistee River. Property is located close to the
mouth of Cool Creek and has road frontage on three sides. Property features
a nice mixture of wooded and open field areas. Great recreational location
close to snowmobile trails and across the road from Federal Land. $98,500
(ZDE)
LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER ACREAGE 9240 N RIVER ROAD IRONS
2.4 acres, 200 frontage, low bank down to the waters edge, clearing back off
the main road and its all ready for you to build or camp on. Older electrical
pole and pitcher pump which the seller has never used. $98,900 (SCH)
LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER PARCEL PETERSON DRIVE IRONS Great
building parcel on this nice stretch of the Little Manistee River. Parcel is
mostly level and wooded with a little roll near the river, great for a walkout.
There is 1.29 surveyed acres offering 277' of private frontage on the river.
Semi private location on a private road near Dewitt Bridge and the Harper
Lake public boat launch. $58,900 (NOW)
LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER LOT 8030 N MANISTEE CT IRONS 1+
acres, 300 level frontage on the flys only section of the Little Manistee River,
kayak, tube or fish from your own property. 2 well, a dual chamber septic/
drain system and power and a 1996, 29 travel trailer and 8x8 shed that will
stay with the right offer. $54,900 (MAR)
WALK TO THE LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER 8950 KOBE LANE IRONS
Cabin, 2 bedrooms, bath, needs finishing. Knotty pine interior in the living
room with an open floor plan into the kitchen, enclosed porch room, bonus
addition room off the kitchen. Great recreational location. $34,900 (FLO)
LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER ACCESS POMEROY SPRINGS IRONS
Come see this 12 acre parcel of prime hunting and fishing property in the very
desirable Pomeroy Springs area. Deeded access to the Little Manistee River.
The property consists of mixed woods, is level and would make a great building site. $30,000 (MIL)
Hunters Call for our Acreage Parcels

5963 W. 10-1/2 Mile Rd. Irons, Michigan
231-266-8288 877-88-NORTH
www.BigRiverVentures.com Info@BigRiverVentures.com
Government Lake Front Parcel. This very nicely

wooded 2.1 acres offers a great view of this 23 acre good
fishing lake. Property is all wooded, has the driveway in
and borders Federal Land along the north boundary.
This is a great year around location with utilities available along the road. Low down Land Contract terms
available! MLS 11004744 $29,900
What an OPPORTUNITY to get a 3 bedroom 2 bath
1991 doublewide with a garage and 2 sheds on Government lake no wake for way under assessed value this is
an estate sale where the family doesn't want it anymore
very motivated to sell It has been very well maintained
and taken care of so don't wait this won't last long.
MLS 14045255 $49,900
Cute cottage on Big Twin Lake aka Lake Lilley.

Quiet and peaceful area with 70 feet of lake
frontage. This cottage has been well maintained
and is move in ready. Bring family and friends
to relax and enjoy this up north getaway. Great
fishing too! MLS 14031767 $79,900
The best of both worlds! Greening Lake front home
with 100' frontage and adjoins hundreds of acres of
Federal Land! Lake front with seclusion? Un-heard of.
The very nicely maintained 2 bedroom mobile home
offers 2 nicely done additions, one to the family room
with a wood stove, and one is the comfy 3 season room.
This isn't just any mobile home though, it has been
completely remodeled and updated along with all new
stainless steel appliances. Great quiet location, lakefront
fun, all kinds of trails for quads, golf carts, walking, and
hunting in the Federal land right out your back door.
Something for everybody! And won't last long!
MLS 14027771 $69,900
Here is your opportunity to own acreage and waterfront
in the great up north!!! 8.6 acres on secluded Roby
Lake! This property is completely wooded and could be
used for camping or the ideal place to build your dream
cabin with electric at the street. Across the street is
hundreds of acres of Federal land for great hunting too!
MLS 15003085 $32,000
Nice 3 bedroom 2 bath manufactured home in the Chain
O Lakes area. Well taken care of with a new roof in
2008 and a new energy efficient furnace installed in
2009. Close to Big Star Lake, golfing and ORV trails.
Perfect for your up north get away.
MLS 13022080 $39,900
Lake County Michigan

231-745-4646
Baldwin, MI 49304
getalot@cbnwr.com
MINTO
APRIL SPECIAL RANDY
Always Working Hard for You!
MONTCALM
COUNTY
MOTIVATED SELLER
3,000 sq ft home, 4-car

Garage, 2 lg Pole Barns.
Over 1,000 ft on White River.
Hidden Horns Licensed Game

Ranch in Howard City. Awesome
Opportunity! Turn Your Dream
Property and Passion into Your
Dream Job. Dont Miss Your
Chance of a Lifetime!
REALTOR
Direct:
810.449.1286
- OR Office:
$
499,950
299,900 810.653.4500
SPECIALIZING IN UNIQUE, LUXURY AND LARGE RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES
NEWAYGO COUNTY
120 ACRES
OCEANA COUNTY
DEER
&
NATURE
LAKE MICHIGAN
80 ACRES
1 1/2 Mile from one of the Best Public Beaches on Lake Michigan. Deer Hunter & Nature Lovers
Dream Property. 90 % Wooded. Hunt Hike Fish or just Chill at the Beach. $349,000
149-ACRE
GAME RANCH
LOVERS
DREAM
OAKLAND COUNTY
PROPERTIES
78 ACRES
3,000 sq ft home, 5 pole barns w/ heat, electric, water, 2 ponds.

Hunters or Mechanics, this is your Dream Home. $499,500
128 ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY
Newly Renovated, 41 tillable acres, 65% Wooded. Great Development
$599,900
& Commercial Possibilities. A Rare Gem!
LICENSED DEER RANCH
ALCONA COUNTY
ENJOY OVER
11,000 ACRES
Be a member of Lost Lake Woods. Awesome Hunting, Hiking & Fishing! Golf course, rifle range and archery range.
Enjoy 5 lakes and water activities!
$195,000
80 ACRES
SANILACCOUNTY
COUNTY
SANILAC
Awesome Deer Hunting. 90 % Wooded. Over 1 Mile of Trail system

5 Nice Deer Blinds. Well, Septic and Electricity. $299,900
34 ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY
80-100 DEER
20-25 TROPHY BUCKS
Licensed Deer Ranch in Davison. 6-car garage, pond, 5 blinds, 3 lg feeders,

Lg polebarn. 4BD, 3BA, walkout & up basement $849,000
121 ACRES
MUSKEGON RIVER
CLARE COUNTY
Great Hunting Hiking Fishing. Over 1 mile on the river. 90%

wooded, 3 mobile homes, 2 cabins, 2 sheds, 3 trailers. 6 parcels.
$339,800
120 ACRES
CLARE COUNTY
Prime Hunting & Nature Lovers Dream Property. 90% wooded, hardwoods, pines & cedars. Nice hunting cabin built 2001. 2BD & 1BA. 5 Deer Blinds. $299,900
GENESEE COUNTY 110 ACRES

GREAT DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES
Davison,approx. 90 tillable acres, Wooded, ponds,
Historical home and 3 barns. $449,900
LAKE
HURON
Great Hunting. BONUS LOT. Access to Sandy

Beach on Lake Huron. Surrounded by State Land.
$159,000
GENESEE
COUNTY
4+ ACRES
Great Farmhouse w/Barn. Lots of
space to roam. Davison Schools
$144,900
ALPENA
COUNTY
57.5 ACRES
Great Hunting, 2 ponds,
Stream, nicely Wooded
$63,250
NEWAYGO
COUNTY
46 ACRES
Nicely wooded, Great Hunting,

Great Property
$114,500
OGEMAW COUNTY 9 ACRES

1,300 sq ft Custom-Built Home w/ 26 x 32 Heated Garage
TUSCOLA
COUNTY
41 ACRES
2 parcels Surrounded by 1000s of acres
of State land. Great Hunting, Location
$149,900
$165,000
OGEMAW COUNTY
162 ACRES
Abundant wildlife, 80% wooded.
1/2 mile from Augres river.
$278,900
50.5 ACRES
GENESEE
COUNTY
40 ACRES
GENESEE
COUNTY
Great Hunting 50% Wooded,

active Oil Well
Great Hunting, 17 Tillable

acres, the rest Nicely Wooded.
$162,500
10+ ACRES
OAKLAND
COUNTY
Great building site,
Brandon Schools
$99,800
CEDAR LAKE
10+ ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY
(2) 5+ acre parcels, Goodrich Schools, Great Location.
$45,900/each or $91,800
15+ ACRES
GENESEE
COUNTY
COMMERCIAL
Davison, (3) 5-acre parcels. Close to I-69.
$379,900
ALCONA
COUNTY
COMMERCIAL
$120,000
GENESEE COUNTY
CLIO
3BD 2BA beautiful brick
ranch, open floor plan
$185,000
1400 FT ON
LAKE LINDA
MARINE
Cedar Lake Marine, multiple outbuildings, and Waterfront

Home $585,000
GENESEE COUNTY
3 ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY
8 ACRES
Davison. Zoned Commercial. Close to I-69,

Great Building Site. $299,900
Davison, Great Development Opportunity.

Previously 25-Condo lot. $189,000
GARROW & ASSOCIATES Call Randy Minto Or Visit: www.MIDreamProperties.com
120 ACRES
ALPENA
COUNTY
95
TARGET REAL ESTATE SPECIALIZES IN

WATERFRONT HOMES AND HUNTING PARCELS
WE REPRESENT BUYERS AND SELLERS
0 KNOLLWOOD,
OSCODA
$21,900
MLS # 1744104
340
Contact Maurer Real Estate

at (269) 673-3800
www.maurerrealestate.com
2761 S. US23,
GREENBUSH
$244,500
MLS # 1790750
Own your own peninsula! This vacant

lot at Cedar Lake is very unique. Sandy
frontage with all the amenities of Lakewood Shores. Call for more info on this
offering.
Nice three bedroom, 1.75 bath ranch

home on 100 of Lake Hurons sugar
sand beaches. Additional two bedroom
cottage at the waters edge. Great location minutes from Oscoda or Harrisville.
968 N. US23,
EAST TAWAS
$249,900
3466 BAY STREET,

NATIONAL CITY
$279,000
Aarons Wooded Acres, Well known resort just north of East Tawas on Lake
Huron. Lots of repeat customers over
the years! Call today for a listing package on this new offering.
Large updated five bedroom home

located on 400 of Floyd Lake frontage. Sandy beach, decks, and
close proximity to ORV and snowmobile trails.
MLS # 1795592
MLS # 1785728
CALL TODAY FOR MORE DETAILS

866-496-4400
TARGET REAL
ESTATE COMPANY
701 W. Bay Street, East Tawas, MI 48730
Office (989)362-4400 Cell (989)370-2152

info@TargetRealEstate.com
www.TargetRealEstate.com
THOUSANDS OF ACRES AVAILABLE FROM

$5,500 to $526,000. See all of
our listings at swreescanaba.com
ESCANABA OFFICE:
2209 Ludington Street Escanaba, Michigan 49829
(906) 786-1308 FAX: (906) 786-1388
email:
escanaba@statewiderealestate.net
3 Bdrm, 2.5 bth home/cottage. Unique Aframe

on private Lk, peaceful. Must see! Manistique.
3 Bdrm, 2 bth home.

150 Ft Gooseneck Lk frontage.
30x40 Pole barn. Wetmore.
$154,900 1083871
$185,000 1083527
3 Bdrm, 2 bth Riverfront Lodge

40 Acres, secluded hunting and fishing.
Corp land surrounds. Watson.
2 Bdrm, 2 bth home.

470' Ft on Indian Lake. 57 Site
campground. Manistique
3 Bdrm, 2 bth home. 40 Acres. Older home.

Lrg rooms. Gar. Pond. Shed. Rock
3 Bdrm, 1 bth home. 80 Acres. 1/2 open, 1/2

wooded. Pond. Completely redone. All new. Carney
3 Bdrm, 2 bth home. 40 Acres.

All new in 2003. 2 Garages. Rock.
$329,000 1080794
$156,500 1084571
1 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. 20 Acres, well,

septic, electric new in 2012. Rock.
1 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. 40 Acres. Great hunting.

Adjoins State land. Elec. Cornell.
2 bdrm 1 bath camp on 280 acres,

food plots, pole bldg, & more. Perkins
$164,900 1084088
$549,000 1067085
3 Bdrm, 2 bth home.

10 Acres. 140 ft frtg on Jug Lk.
Pole barn. Wetmore.
$159,995 1080446
$124,900 1083581
POWERS OFFICE:
W3776 US 2 & 41 Powers, MI 49874
(906) 497-4190 FAX: (906) 497-5328
swreescanaba.com
dandylandhomes.com
96
(800) 900-0777
$68,900 1083817
VISIT OUR WEB SITE FOR ALL OUR PROPERTIES:
swreescanaba.com
or dandylandhomes.com
VISIT US ON FACEBOOK AT:
www.facebook.com/statewideescanaba
$52,000 1082936
$425,000 1075830
2 Bdrm, 1 bth home or camp.

48 Acres, everything included.
Borders state land. Nicely wooded. Rock.
$65,000 1070425
"Serving the NorthCentral Upper Peninsula"
Phone: (906) 387-5100

www.landandlakesrealestate.com
Land And Lakes Real Estate Is Proud To Announce Our Exclusive Partnership With LANDLEADER
E4476 M-28. AuTrain MI WH-211/1081255
This lovely three story home has 3168 sq ft of living space located on 266' of frontage & 5.44 acres
on Lake Superior. It has 3 BDs & 2 BAs & features 2 fireplaces, a family room, an office/workout
room, a lg utility room and a 10X44 enclosed porch/3 season room overlooking the Lake.
The garage has 3 bays and a WONDERFUL, 689 sq ft guest quarters or studio above. The 800+
feet of paved driveway provide privacy to this special home on the Great Lake. Price reduced TO
Priced at $454,900
TBD FS 2020 W,, Wetmore, MI 49895. WH-207/1080048
This secluded camp is located on 160 acres with the Sturgeon River running through it. Most of
the acreage is covered in spruce, pine & cedar, with various hardwoods spread throughout. A large
pond, visible from "camp" brings in waterfowl & critters. Use google earth & zoom into N46* 08.400'
W86* 40.425' for the camp & surrounding area. Great secluded hunting land surrounded by
Corporate & National Forests! Priced at $165,000
14571 33rd Rd (Co Rd 442), Wetmore, MI 49895. WH-210 / 1085325
PRIVATE LAKE Property. This 3-BD, 2-BA home was well-built in 2001 with comfort & ease of maintenance in mind. The tall crawl space has shut-offs & is easy to winterize for those who would like to go
south for the winter. It is located on 200 of frontage on picture-perfect Billy Good Lake with a dock & swim
raft. Centrally located in the Hiawatha National Forest, fishing is excellent here with pan fish, pike, walleye
& bass. The large two car garage has a heated workshop attached. Life is truly GOOD here! Priced at
$194,900
551W Cold Creek Dr, Seney, MI 49883. RC-160/1081485
This compound on 120 acres contains several buildings that form an effective, efficient living complex capable of supporting year round living. Located on a hillside overlooking an old bog, the site
is beautiful with white birch, poplar, maples & pines. There are living quarters, a generator shed, a
well house, a woodshed, a storage garage, an outhouse & a snowmobile garage. The hunting for all
types of game is great here with logging to encourage wildlife to stay. All 3 40s are high & nicely
timbered - with possible timber value, especially on the north 40. Snowmobile Trail 431 is close, with
unending trails & logging roads that you could ride on forever. This is the untamed Upper Peninsula at its best - with State of MI lands surrounding. Priced at $145,900
14677 LL (Stevens Lake) Rd., Wetmore, MI 49895. WH-214/1081501
This well-maintained property has 150 of park-like frontage on Big Stevens Lake & 19 acres of forest
that is adjacent to Federal land. The 3-BD main house has been fully remodeled with a warm blend
of drywall and T & G woods. There are 2 guest cabins (a 2-BD & a 1-BD), a 2-car garage, a wonderful fire pit area & room to park your RVs. Big Stevens Lake is known for its huge Bluegills with Northern
Pike & Large Mouth Bass also caught. This ideal location in the center of the National Forest provides
access to unlimited recreational opportunities throughout all the seasons. Priced nicely at $159,900
MARINA FOR SALE
3009 RIFLE RIVER TRAIL WEST BRANCH, MI 48661
COMMERCIAL
OPPORTUNITY
THRIVING TURNKEY BUSINESS
LAKE OGEMAW MARINA

Includes AVALON
PONTOON DEALERSHIP
and MARINA STORE
225 Lake Ogemaw Frontage

Boat Launch 8 (4 x 30) aluminum
roll-in docks 16 Boat Slips
Store, Repair Shop
Garage with 3,210 sq ft
Two Pole Barns, 7,200 sq ft and 6,240 sq ft
3 Ford F150s and 4 Crank-up trailers
4.6 Acres on three parcels
Excellent location, fantastic Bass
Fishing, walk across street for scenic
Rifle River and Trout Fishing
All Sports Lake, Extensive Shoreline
Year-round activities
889,000
PLUS INVENTORY
Owner Ready To Retire!
CALL FOR DETAILS
989-709-0761
Land and Lakes Real Estate Co.
97
DAN DAN
LOG CABIN
FURNITURE
THEMATTRESSMAN.COM
WHOLESALE TO THE PUBLIC
Queen Log Bed $19999
Queen Size Log Headboard
CHECK
US OUT
ON THE
WEB!
7500
5 Drawer Chest Only

$
199
4 Drawer Chest
$
189
2 Drawer Night Stand

$
149
Finished Cedar Log Bed
ONLY
29999
BUNK BEDS Solid Wood Complete with Mattresses $29999

Rocker Recliners
From
19999
Rustic End Tables

from
98
14999
Log
Futons
39999
MORE SIZES,
SOLID WOOD,
AMERICAN MADE!
Mini
Cabins
starting at
1999
99
N
A
CALL
ANYTIME
(989)-832-1866
D
N
DA
Mattress
Not Included
THEMATTRESSMAN.COM 802 ASHMAN ST., MIDLAND
Let Freeway get

you to where
the fish bite!!!
Polar Kraft 2010 CC

Yamaha 115hp
4-Stroke With
Trailmaster Trailer
Payments Starting at . . .
215
PER
MONTH
10% DOWN WITH APPROVED CREDIT
STARTING AT:
24,999
*PLUS TAX, TITLE & FREIGHT
260
PER
MONTH
2015 Kodiak 190WT
150 hp
Yamaha
With
Trailmaster
Trailer
199
PER
MONTH
STARTING AT:
29,900
*plus tax, title & freight
165
PER
MONTH
2015 Polar Kraft 179 WT 2015 Polar Kraft 166 WT

90 hp
Yamaha
With
Trailmaster
Trailer
STARTING AT:
22,995
70 hp
Yamaha
With
Trailmaster
Trailer
STARTING AT:
18,995
A L L PA C K A G E S P O W E R E D B Y YA M A H A
The Chene Anchor
Holding Power
Retrievability Durability
201 Industrial Way, Fenton, MI 517-202-2949
or available at...
THE KNOWLEDGEABLE BOATERS
BEST CHOICE
SPORTS
CENTER
A BETTER
MOUSE TRAP
Visit us at www.freeway-sports.com for a complete listing of boats!
FULL SERVICE PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Service Department Indoor & Outdoor Storage
(810) 629-2291
Exit 84 on US-23
FREEWAY
SPORTS CENTER
FLINT
EXIT 84
59
FENTON
23
3241 Thompson Rd.

Fenton, MI 48430
Hours:
Mon.-Fri. 9am - 6pm
Sat. 9am - 5pm
Closed Sunday's
PONTIAC
96
ANN ARBOR
DETROIT
SPORTS
CENTER
w w w. f r e e w a y - s p o r t s . c o m
sales@freeway-sports.com
Kimber Micro CDP

Weighing less than 14 ounces and with a barrel length of just 2.75 inches, Kimber Micro .380 ACP pistols are easy to carry and conceal.Slides
on the Stainless and CDP models as well as all Micro barrels are machined from stainless steel for superior resistance to moisture. All Micro
frames are shaped from the finest aluminum for integrity and strength. In many respects a miniature 1911, among the most important Micro
design advantages is a single action trigger with the kind of short, smooth pull that ensures accuracy and builds confidence. The thumb safety,
slide release and magazine release are pure 1911 as well. Standard features include a lowered and flared ejection port for flawless ejection and a
beveled magazine well for fast, positive loading. Sights are steel not plastic and mounted in machined dovetails for additional integrity. Each
Micro includes a flush-fitting 6-round magazine and an extended 7-round magazine is available as an accessory.
31516 Harper Avenue

St. Clair Shores, MI 48082
Phone (586) 296-2360

Fax (586) 264-8307
STORE HOURS:
Mon. - Fri: 10am-7pm;
Sat: 10am-4pm; Closed Sunday
Michi-GUN
Available at:
Layaways Welcome
www.michigunandtackle.com

04 15

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

04 15

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

APRIL 2015

www.woods-n-waternews.com Like us on facebook

For the first IFT

Sale prices good through April 5, 2015

EXTRA SPECIAL GRAND RE-OPENING GUN DEALS!

tience during our

KSR9 & KSR9C

SR22 22LR SEMI

OFM65020, OFM 65022

HUGE END OF SEASON

CCI BLAZER BRASS

9MM 115 gr. FMJ

9MM 124 gr. FMJ

BLO5201. Reg. $16.99 . . . . . . .

FANTASTIC CANOE SPECIALS!!!

OMNI 5.56MM POLY

NON LASER 380 ACP

BLO5230. Reg. $25.99. . . . . . .

- MEYERS L-13 DOUBLE END 2-ONLY

- MEYERS L-15 DOUBLE END

- SUN DOLPHIN MACKINAW

- SUN DOLPHIN 14 SCOUT

.223 REM 55 GR. SP

12 GA. & 20 GA.

Buy any new Bow at $399.99

Buy any new Crossbow at

STOP IN OR SHOP ONLINE AT BOBSGT.COM

Be Sure To Check Out Chapman's

BOAT SHOW DEALS & INCENTIVES

Windshield, third seat, gauge package,

Minn Kota 55lbs. thrust

Cockpit cover, spare tire,

Mercury 9.9 Pro Kicker

Sun top, snap down travel

Stand up sun top, cockpit cover,

Mercury 9.9 Pro Kicker with controls at

Custom trailer with spare tire,

Chrome logos, R series captains chair,

Tilt steering, deluxe console with

Seagrass aft flooring, Seastar hydraulic steering, R series

1800 SPORT ANGLER 1875 CROSSOVER XS 1775 IMPACT SPORT

2075 TYEE MAGNUM

1875 PROV IFS

Open 6 Days: Monday - Friday 9am-5pm;

APRIL 2015 - WNW NEWS

1800 ALASKAN SS 1650 REBEL XL SS 2000 ALASKAN SS

ots of fishy business this monththe

NEW BASS REGULATIONS

Major fishing changes for 2015 are incomplete

APRIL 2015 - WNW NEWS

Now-Mar. 31-Rabbit hunting statewide.

in the Lower Peninsula, including waters of the

Two state record

INLAND TROUT ANGLERS

The DNR is seeking input from anglers who

MASTER ANGLER PROGRAM

According to the MDNR the Master Angler

ing 19 states and Canada submitting catches that

Michigan records safest hunting season!

No fatal incidents in 2014

2014 HUNTING INCIDENTS

01/04/2014 Rabbit Non-fatal

Careless handling of firearm