11 16

NOVEMBER 2016
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Woods-n-Water News
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RULE
RUT
the
Open Cold Water
Walleyes
Regenerating
State Forests
Swamps, Backwaters, Rivers, Lakes...
Wood Duck Hunts
Jeremy Cook
Opening Day
14-Point
Sea Ducks of the Great Lakes Jump-start Kids into Hunting

Broken Antler Causes, Patterns and Consequences
Whitetails Depend On Their Senses Name That Duck
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HUN07722W
2208 W. M-37 Hwy.,

Hastings, MI
2 Miles West of Hastings on M-37 & M-43
Phone 269/945-4106
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NOVEMBER 2016 - WNW NEWS
2017 BOATS ARRIVING WEEKLY
By Tom Campbell...Cover Story
2016 archery season off

to an incredible start
eremy Cook has been bowhunting whitetails

for over 23 years and the weather forecast
for the opening morning of archery season
with a 100% chance rain wasnt going to
stop him from hunting. Neither were 60-plus
hour work weeks at his regular job, plus
rehabbing his rental property.
Jeremy said, The new tenants were moving
in on the first and if it wasn't for all the help from
our awesome neighbor Andre Voss I most definitely
would not have got it done and we cut it close, we
finished work at 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 30. I got home,
packed up the truck and was able to get a few hours
sleep before making the almost three hours drive to
my hunting property.
He continued, I arrived at 5:30 a.m. and was in
the stand at 6:30 in a steady light rain. I wasn't even
in the stand 45 minutes and I heard the sound of two
bucks sparring. My heart was pounding! About 30
more minutes went by and I caught movement, it
was a bucka shooter! He was headed right for my
shooting lane.
After hearing the sparring bucks Jeremy had
grabbed his bow so it was in hand and ready as the
buck approached. The buck stopped, Jeremy's mind
was jumbled with emotions he was silently yelling to
himself, He stopped! Come on only 15 yards! Ten
steps!
The buck started rubbing a tree and Jeremy
SEASONS
Open All Year Pike and walleye season on Lower

Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair & St. Clair &
Detroit Rivers
Open All Year Catch-and-immediate-release bass
season on all Michigan waters open to fishing
Now-Dec. 31 Pure Michigan Hunt application
Now-Dec. 15 Muskie season on Lake St. Clair, St.
Clair River and Detroit River. (additional rules and
regulations apply)
Now-March 15 Pike and walleye season on Lower
Peninsula inland waters
Now-March 15 Pike and walleye season on Upper
Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters & St. Marys
River
Now-Dec. 31 Catch and keep bass season on all
Michigan waters except; Lake St. Clair, and Detroit
and St. Clair Rivers
Now-Dec. 31 Catch-and-keep season for largemouth and smallmouth bass on Lake St. Clair, St.
Clair River and Detroit River.
Now-Oct. 26 Bear hunting -- various BMUs and
hunt dates
Now-Nov. 14 Ruffed grouse season statewide
Now-Mar. 1 Squirrel - Fox and Gray (black phase
included) season statewide
Now-Nov. 14 Fall turkey season
Now-March 31 Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe
hare season statewide
Now-Nov. 7 Woodcock season statewide
Now-Nov. 14 Archery season statewide
Now-Jan. 31 Raccoon hunting statewide
Oct. 13-16 Independence Hunt: hunters with disabilities
Oct. 15-March 1 Fox hunting season statewide (red
and gray)
Now-Oct. 31 Pheasant season Zone 1
Oct. 20-Nov. 14 Pheasant season Zone 2 and 3
Nov. 15-30 Regular firearm deer season statewide
Dec. 2-11 Muzzleloading season Zones 1 and 2
Dec. 2-18 Muzzleloading season Zones 3
MJC
ARCHERY
MJC
ARCHERY
MACOMB
OAKLAND
19744 15 Mile Rd
Clinton Twp. 48035
3001 Rochester Rd
Royal Oak, MI 48073
586-791-4600
248-589-2480
couldn't believe it. He said, I was a wreck! The buck

fever was bad! All of a sudden the buck turned and
started back in the direction he came from, but with
his ears back and head moving up and down as he
walked. Then I saw why, another buck was coming
down the same trail behind him not more than 20
yards. I couldn't hear him walk in because the ground
was so wet and once I got a look at his rackWow! I
couldn't believe it, this buck was a Beast!
Jeremy continued his amazing story, My heart
was pounding and I was shaking like a leaf! The two
bucks started sparring and this beast pushed the other
shooter buck around like he was nothing. The other
buck would push and twist as they tested each other
and they were getting closer to my opening when the
bigger buck pushed the buck right through my shooting lane like he was a bulldozer!
The smaller buck surviving the shoving match
ran off and Jeremy was trying to calm his nerves and
find an opening as the beast strutted after the victory. There was a small opening in front of him, but
he stopped, turned and went the other way. Jeremys
heart sank in disappointment, but only briefly as he
was thrilled and thankful just to witness such a spectacular display.
The rain continued as Jeremy sat drained from
the excitement, but he had no thoughts of leaving
his stand. Around noon he climbed down to make a
mock scrape using his Wind Pro. The afternoon was
uneventful until 5:30 when a few does and fawns
passed through. Shortly after, a nice 8 point came
to the scrape, which Jeremy had no intentions of
shooting with the beast sighting. However, he did get
some incredible video of the buck working his mock
scrape.
Jeremy said, The 8 point did his work and
wandered off and it was 6:45, prime time and I
caught movement, it was the same buck from this
morning that got pushed around and he went right
to the mock scrape. He rubbed his antlers on the
licking branch for several minutes. I tried to focus
on the woods behind him, watching for the big buck
to return. I saw movement but couldn't tell if it was
him. I looked at the other buck and he was looking
back into the woods too. He shook his tail and ran
off. I looked up and here he comes, the beast, licking his nose with his ears back he walked right to
the scrape. He pawed the ground quartering to me,
beat up the licking branch for a bit and as I watched
him I couldn't believe the mass this buck had and
body size. As he turned to walk away I came to full
draw, he must have caught the movement because
he immediately stopped and jerked his head up. Too
late, the arrow was gone and disappeared behind the
shoulder. He ran off and stopped back in the woods,
he stood there for what seemed like several minutes.
The Muzzy did its job as he took a few steps forward
and stopped, staggered, lunged forward and down he
went.
To finish his amazing story Jeremy concluded, I
waited about 30 minutes to get down because I had
to calm down. I thought I was going to have a heart
attack! As it started getting dark I finally got down
and tried to call my wife, no service up in the north
swamps. The buck didn't go 60 yards. I walked up
to him got down on one knee and said a prayer and
thanked my amazing wife Trisha for dealing with
my Obsessive Whitetail Disorder. Of course I had
to use a sick day on Monday with a case of severe
bronchitis from the all-day sit in the rain. But it
definitely was worth it! What an unbelievable
opening day!
The beast dressed out at 212 pounds, 14 points
and a green score of 173.
Jeremy Cook was on the cover of the March 2015 issue of

Woods-N-Water News with his 'freaky non-typical.' He follows
that up with this monster 14 point and another cover shot!
Single deer in Berrien Co.

tests positive for EHD
The MDNR Wildlife Disease Lab and the

Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for
Population and Animal Health have confirmed that
a deer in Berrien Co. has died from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), a sometimes-fatal viral disease found in wild ruminants.
Infection does not always result in disease.
Signs of illness shown by infected animals are
highly variable, and range from none at all to extensive internal bleeding and edema (fluid accumulation). The disease is transmitted by a type of biting
fly called a midge.
Illness can come on suddenly and severely, but
also can linger for weeks or months in a low-grade
state. In severe forms of the disease, deer lose their
appetite and fear of humans, grow progressively
weaker, salivate excessively and finally become
unconscious. Due to a high fever and dehydration,
infected deer often seek water to lower their body
temperature and to rehydrate, and are found sick or
dead along or in bodies of water. There is no evidence that humans can contract the EHD virus.
Deer deaths from EHD in Michigan have
occurred sporadically since 2006. Prior to 2006,
EHD outbreaks in Michigan occurred in 1955 and
1974. The estimated mortality has varied from 50 to
1,000 deer per year in the affected isolated areas. In
2012 the largest die-off occurred, with an estimated
loss of over 12,000 deer. No cases of EHD were
confirmed in the state in either 2014 or 2015.
Due to the prolonged, dry, hot weather this
year, we are not surprised to see EHD emerge,
said Tom Cooley, DNR wildlife biologist and
pathologist. Mortality numbers will depend on the
strain of the virus, and how widespread the disease
isdie-offs usually occur within one watershed
area. If multiple watersheds are involved, the total
mortality is higher.
There is no known effective treatment for, or
control of, EHD in wild populations. The disease
has been seen for decades in many areas of the
United States.
For more information on EHD, visit mi.gov/
wildlifedisease.
HUNTING
OUTDOOR NEWS
Au Sable River fish

hatchery inspected
FULL RUT IS NOW

Kenny Darwin page 8
Guest Column...
The Record Bird!
European
frogbit detected
COVER STORY...
Rule the Rut
Dam removal brings

new life to Pigeon River
PERSPECTIVE
DNR's Dam
Management Grants
Operation Injured Soldiers

Bill Semion page 34
Eastern massasauga
listed as threatened
Status Report...
The GEMS Scientific
Experiment
Brian Miller page 18
Improve hunting...
Pay attention to
all the details
George Rowe page 36
page 42
DNR's 2016 Deer

hunting prospects
...page 22
Kayaking for panfish
FISHING
Dave Mull page 84
NAME THAT DUCK
Mike Gnatkowsi page 38
"The Year"
Adam Lewis page 46
Richard Smith page 56
90-year-old bags
trophy turkey
Richard Smith page 57
The best time to see

BIG BUCKS!
Jerry Lambert page 68
Sea ducks of the

Great Lakes
Mark Romanack page 70
COVER STORY...
"Cold water walleyes"
FEATURE
Wading for U.P.

Fall Salmon
Michigan Meanders
Ma Deeter's
Mark Romanack page 12
Randy Jorgensen page 15
Nuances of the
Blade Bait
Buck Mallory page 30
Next Bite...
Santa comes to
Shanty Town
Parson/Kavajecz page 32
Trolling late
season walleyes
Mark Martin page 52
Crystal and
Platte Lakes
John Bergsma page 60
Whitetails depend
on their senses
Betty Sodders page 80
Priceless memories
and emotions
Lane Walker page 96
'When in
doubt fish for trout'
Dominic Turcott page 72
Big November 'eyes

Mark Sak page 76
016
The finer points

of food plots
Ed Spinazzola page 108
COVER PHOTO
Cover Photo
Jeremy Cook
14-Point
page 77
page 78
Our most underrated Robert Dock Stupp page 14

game animal
Darryl Quidort page 50
The backward
sturgeon
Big U.P. Bear
page 48
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RULE
State Forests
Swamps, Backwaters, Rivers, Lakes...
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page 58
Trail Cam Photos

page 94-95
Sporting Collectibles
They called it
"spin fishing"
Terry McBurney page 98
Drummond Island:
The making of a deer
camp and more
Number 30...
The best Outdoor
Weekend ever
Life in the Fast Lane

Code Red-stop and read
Hunting
Wood Ducks
Kenny Darwin..page 54
Lane Walker page 90
A jump-start for
kids into hunting
Tom Lounsbury page 91
GUNS/AMMO
page 79
2016 expansion of
hunting/fishing on
National Refuges
page 90
2016 Wildlife
Habitat Grants
page 92
Traditional Black
Powder Hunting...
A bit of "history"
Dennis Neely page 74
Gun Chat...
Old Friends
Lee Arten page 86
DEPARTMENTS . . .
Trophy Page. . . . . . 88-89 Classifieds . . . . 110-111
Letters/Op-Ed . . . . . 90-93 Real Estate . . . . . 114-125
Walleyes
Wood Duck Hunts
Regenerating state
forests takes
planning, patience
Tom Carney page 40
OPINIONS
John Ozoga page 28
Jonathan Schechter page 44
'Eyes for GIs
Man attacked by bear

goes to Facebook
before medical help
Ron St. Germain page 66
Broken antler
Causes, Patterns and
Consequences
Staying safe in a sea

of fantastic fungi
page 105
Capt. Fred Davis page 62
Tom Huggler page 16
Randy Jorgensen page 102
RUT
Elk located in
mid-Michigan
page 93
Opening Day
14-Point
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NAME
FULL
RUT
NOW!
IS
t is finally here. That

time of year when
whitetail deer go
bonkers and the best
hunting of the entire
year is happening right
now. This is the period
you need to concentrate
your hunting efforts.
Forget opener with the
warm weather, party
nights, leaf cover and
few buck sightings.
November is when the bucks get
rockin as the rut goes
full blown crazy and
deer activity is at an
all-time high. Now is
the time to grab archery equipment and
head for the woods
because buck activity
is at an all-time high.
Heres why.
It all starts when
shortening days and
darker nights cause a
decrease in sunlight.
The reduced light
passes through the
retina in a deers eye and kicks the
pituitary and pineal gland into high
gear. Sex hormones are dumped into
the blood stream and all of a sudden
the woods become alive with deer
activity. Its a magical time of year to
be a Michigan buck hunter and your
success rate can soar if you know how
to hunt the rut.
The rut in Michigan begins in late
October and early November when
pre-rut bucks start chasing does. At
first most of the sightings are younger
bucks and the majority is somewhat
dazed and confused with the overflow of testosterone and female deer
that smell very attractive. After a few
days some does come into heat and it
is not unusual to see multiple bucks
courting a single doe. This is when the
big dogs finally start showing as they
shift into rut mode and move during
daylight and become more visible.
You see there is a narrow window

of opportunity in Michigan when the
bucks are rut crazed and the hunting
is simple. Peak rut occurs after the
October lull which is when mature
bucks seem to be in lockdown. Just
because October 10-20 is a lull period
and your sightings went tube city,
dont quit hunting. Keep in mind that
cold fronts, moon phase and human
encroachment can lower buck activity. But once November arrives the
deer seem to come from nowhere and
hunting is excellent. This is when you
want to spend maximum amount of time
on stand. Keep in
mind that rut crazed
bucks move all day
long and it is the only
time of year when
mid-day stands can
be very productive.
If I were to pick
the best time to be
on stand it would be
from November 1
through November
14, then firearms get
booming and wary
old bucks disappear once again. This
is also the period when big bruisers
come out of hiding and you can up
your odds at scoring on a rack for the
wall. Sure, the weather is nasty compared to the Indian summer days of
October and certainly the gun season
is only a few days away.
But far too many Michigan hunters make the common mistake of
waiting for gun season when bucks
are doin their thing big time right
now. Unfortunately most rutting activity is cut short once the orange army
takes to the woods for the November
15 gun opener. The trick to spectacular hunting when you will see more
bucks, tremendous buck activity and
have exciting hunts is to go now.
Dont hesitate, get on stand pronto.
Dont waste time. Now is perfect timing for great buck hunting, timing is
critical, right now deer are active and
By Kenny Darwin
Rutting bucks eventually begin tending chores and they stick like glue to
mates for a period of about three days. Kenny Darwin photos
dont wait. In just a few short days
rutting comes to an abrupt halt.
Rutting whitetails do crazy things.
Ive seen them standing on the expressway, dancing across open fields
during broad daylight, challenging
people walking dogs, meandering into
shopping malls, rubbing antlers on
fence posts, telephone poles and more,
much more. One local farmer reported
a boss buck tending a doe challenged
his huge green John deer corn picker
when he was harvesting corn.
One of my secret archery hunting
tricks is to scout adult bucks in velvet
during summer. Once I find a shooter
I get hunting permission, but in many
cases I leave big bucks undisturbed
until rut. When it comes to smart,
old, mature bucks I begin my archery

hunting season on November 1. Its
tough to ignore a big buck honey hole
during those gorgeous Indian summer hunting days in October but why
stumble into a wary bucks domain
when he is thinking clearly? By waiting until he is preoccupied with a hot
doe I actually increase my chances of
scoring. Remember, Im chasing an
adult buck that is at least five years
old, has lived through several hunting
seasons and has a clear understanding
how to avoid humans. When the rut
arrives and a monster buck gets a nose
full of doe-in-heat pheromones they
lower their guard and make mistakes,
Full Rut is Now page 10
Rosy Bros. Inc.

5727 Dryden Road
Dryden, MI 48428
(810) 796-3770
www.rosybrosinc.com
Full Rut is Now:
from page 8
10
sometimes fatal mistakes. This was

the case with a monster 10-point.
It was the second week in November when I made a late afternoon
trip to Home Depot in search of Goop
when a huge deer chased a tiny doe
in front of my Ford van. I almost
clipped the adult buck with my front
bumper and to my surprise the trophy
was headed to property where I could
hunt. I dashed home, grabbed bow
and was in my parking spot just minutes after seeing the trophy.
When I slipped between back
yard cedar trees I heard a distant
grunt. To my surprise a little doe was
headed directly at me with the big
buck in tow. I didnt have time to
climb into my stand, quickly pulled
up my face mask and knocked an
arrow. At lightning speed the doe
Increased buck activity includes chasing does, running off satellite bucks,
zipped past me less than 20 yards
polishing antlers on overhanging boughs.
away and the buck charged through
execute a spot and stalk hunting stratthe neighbors shrubs and blitzed past buck or two and suddenly you see
egy. Often tending bucks will remain
me running wide open. I had the sight increased buck activity and score on
a deer with impressive antlers. Keep
in a relatively small breeding area for
on his massive chest but he was simin mind that during the rut bucks are
hours. If you stalk into the zone of
ply was moving too fast and I didnt
relentless about chasing dies. Thereactivity you stand an excellent chance
feel comfortable taking a running
fore, the avoid feeding locations
of harvesting the buck of a lifetime.
shot that could cripple the beautiful
where bucks could catch them off
This tactic works great when the wind
buck.
guard. Dont expect deer to pile into
is blowing, rain is falling or condi I watched as he leaped over a
your feeding station during the rut. A
tions make stand hunting difficult.
scrub hedge row and disappeared
slick strategy is to move your stand
Another slick trick is when the rut
into a thicket surrounded by condos.
to travel corridors and thick brush
gets rockin move scouting cameras
I felt sick at the thought of missing a
where bucks roam freely. One thing is over scrapes. This is the period when
golden opportunity to harvest a buck
certain, buck activity escalates during love sick bucks roam from scrape to
of a lifetime that was less than 20
the rut and your chances of scoring
scrape and you stand a good chance
yards away. I stood motionless for at
of getting that monster on film. Some
least 30 minutes but there was no sign on a dandy increases.
hunters make mock scrapes and keep
of the big buck. I walked to my stand, There are several deer activities
that indicate the rut is rockin. This is them fresh using drippers. Scrapes are
hooked the bow on the rope when all
when bucks are rubbing frequently,
gathering sites for all deer during the
of a sudden the same itsy doe zipped
making scrapes and patrolling their
rut and you will get quality images of
past me going the opposite direction.
home turf in search of a mate. Bucks
all the bucks on your hunting grounds
I unhooked my bow, knocked an
tend to follow or chase does and
during November.
arrow just in time to hear a bucks
scent check each time they urinate by Years ago I got a full body buck
antlers crashing through brush. I
licking doe urine and Fleming to test
decoy and used it with limited suclooked toward the condo thicket just
for readiness. If a doe smells ripe a
cess. Then, on a warm, sunny Noin time to see him moving directly
buck will follow her, keep close and
vember afternoon a large four year
at me, fast. I got the bow up, made a
remain by her side throughout breedold 8-point walked across open field
smooth draw as he dashed through
ing. Bucks that are tending are a riot
intent on kicking the decoys butt. I
dry leaves and when he came into
was shocked to see the big deer in a
view I made a loud belching grunt. At to hunt because they are focusing all
their attention on ready to breed does. mule-like posture with ears curled
first he seemed to ignore my call and
One of my slickest hunting tactics back, antlers forward and hair bristled
presence. Then, he slammed on the
is to stay out of my big buck hot spots to the max to make him look bigger,
brakes and stood head high looking
more muscular. He was the dominate
directly at me less than 25 yards away until the rut. Its a tough challenge to
avoid hunting your best spots but if
buck in the area and when he crashed
in the landowners back yard. I tried
you wait until rut to make your move into the decoy and pushed it 15 yards
desperately to ignore the massive
I became a believer in deer decoys.
rack as I centered the cross hair on his you will catch that adult buck when
he is roaming freely, checking for
But the key to success hinges on
chest and released the NAP Spitfire.
when you use the decoy, timing is the
The broadhead made a solid tha wack does and he is less likely to identify
you and run out of the county.
key and best time in Michigan is dursound but I waited until sundown
One tactic used in southern Mich- ing the rut from November 1 through
before I tracked the brute and tagged
igan farm country is to drive county
November 14. The best decoy going
him. He had a super wide 24-inch
roads looking for tending bucks that
is the Dave Smith Posturing Buck
spread, 10-points with 16-inch G2s
can be chasing does or standing next
with detailed aggressive anatomy and
and he scored 168 7/8.
to a hot doe far in the middle of open
lifelike look and color. My second
My point is during the rut anyagricultural fields. Once you spot
choice is the Flambeau Boss Buck.
thing can happen in the deer woods.
the buck you stash the vehicle and
Hunting over a decoy can be a hoot.
Some days you see few deer or a
rubbing, scraping, urinating and

There is nothing wrong with
rattling antlers during the rut. This
strategy works very well and is
deadly at getting the attention of rut
crazed adult bucks intent on patrolling their home turf and chasing away
any intruders.
My number one rutting strategy
is calling deer by grunting. The idea
is to make grunt calls that sound like
a buck chasing a hot doe. Dominant
bucks in the area will come to investigate and you have an opportunity for
a shot. Grunting works like dynamite
during the rut, but once the rut ends
and weather turns bitter cold a simple
grunt will send deer running the opposite direction. I use my mouth to
call bucks and make a grunting sound
by burping. There are several quality grunt calls on the market and I
recommend the Flextone Brotherhood
and Primos Rut Roar. Make certain
to use a call that has a deep guttural
sound, not a high pitch plastic noise.
Hunting peak rut can be very
exciting and provide experiences long
remembered. But it can also be a time
when deer move from your area and
are busy chasing a doe on the neighbors. My solutions to this dilemma is
trying hunting several different stands
and keep moving until you pin point
the rutting activity that is red hot.
Few thrills in life are more
spectacular than a boss buck in rut,
chasing away subordinate bucks,
rubbing, scraping and grunting at a
receptive doe to keep her attention.
Ya gotta love those days when the
action is red hot and bucks are
dancing through the woods and
from the thick brush comes a
monster rack headed your direction.
Are you ready?n
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11
COLD WATER WALLEYES
Calm seas like this are ideal for targeting walleye late in the season. Dale Voice of Cadillac caught this nice Saginaw Bay walleye in December. On
this par ticular day the fish were snapping and hardly a boat was on the water. Mark Romanack photos
ne of the things that attract me to walleye

fishing is the year-round season we enjoy
on Great Lakes waters. Im also pleased to
report that the number of anglers chasing open water walleye into November
and December has never been higher in
Michigan.
When I first started chasing fall walleye over
30 years ago, it was rare to see fishing
boat trailers in public access sites.
This past fall on one particularly
glorious day I estimated there were
more than 100 rigs fishing the region
of Saginaw Bay between the mouth
of the Saginaw River and Linwood
Beach Marina! My how times have
changed.
Anglers might imagine that all
that fishing pressure has hurt the fall
fishery. Actually, I find the fishing
better because there are more anglers
on the water hunting for fish and ultimately sharing more information
in the process.
Great Lakes walleye fishing
is a little like trying to find a needle in a haystack. With so much water to explore,
the only practical way to stay on fish is to communicate with groups of other anglers. The process of
locating fish is a constant battle, but for open water
trollers thats also half the fun.
in the late fall an angler must adapt what I call the

cold water mindset. In cold water the walleye
lures of choice are crankbaits and this statement
should not surprise anyone who spends much time
walleye trolling.
The problem is that not all crankbaits are effective cold water fish catchers. When surface water
temperatures dip below 50 degrees, the baits and
trolling speeds these fish find appealing narrows considerably.
Cold water trolling favors two
specific types of crankbaits commonly categorized as minnow divers
and stickbaits. In the minnow diving
category there are dozens of baits to
choose from, but routinely the list of
baits that produce fish consistently
becomes an amazingly short list.
The minnow divers I find productive on cold water walleye include
the Rapala Deep Husky Jerk 12, the
Rebel Spoonbill D20, which unfortunately is discontinued, the
Reef Runner 800 and 600 series
lures, the original Storm Deep Jr.
ThunderStick and Yo-Zuris Crystal Minnow Deep
Diver. Newcomers to this category that are showing promise include the Smithwick Top 20, Bagley
Bang-O-Lure, Bay Rat Lures and Berkley Flicker
Minnows.
In the stickbait category my go to baits
include the Rapala Husky Jerk 14, Rapala No. 18
Floating Minnow, Yo-Zuri 5.5 Crystal Minnow,
By Mark Romanack
The Cold Water Mindset
12
To be consistently effective targeting walleye
Smithwick Perfect 10 and Storm ThunderStick.

Other stickbaits worth owning include the
Strike King KVD J300, Salmo Sting 11 and Reef
Runner Ripstick 700 series.
All of these lures have in common a subtle action at slower trolling speeds. In cold water conditions, trolling speeds ranging from 1.5 to about
1.0 MPH are the norm. Lots of lures simply have
little or no action at these speeds, while the above
list have what is best described as a subtle top to
bottom rolling style action. These lures rock back
and forth giving off subdued flashes of light from
the lure flanks. This same group of lures has a less
pronounced side to side tail wobble.
The minnow divers have a subtle action, but
its the stickbaits that really slow things down. The
bite is usually very good on minnow divers right up
until the water temperature dips below 40 degrees.
Late in the season when the water is brutal cold, its
the stickbait and that ultra-subtle action that tends
to produce best day in and day out.
Getting To Depth
Minnow divers have a pronounced dive curve

and most of these baits easily achieve depths ranging from 15 to about 30 feet using normal trolling
leads. The Android and iPhone apps produced by
Precision Trolling Data, LLC are considered the
landmark guide for determining the diving depths
of all popular crankbaits. This data is available for
sale at both the Google Play and iTunes app stores
respectively.
Stickbaits on the other hand have less ability
to dive naturally and must be fished with various
weighted lines and trolling weights to get these

lures to target depths. Two common trolling tactics
are used to get stickbaits to depth including lead
core line and snap weights.
Lead core line is a sinking line that is most
commonly rigged as a segment of lead core sandwiched between a monofilament backing and fluorocarbon leader. The Precision Trolling Data apps
offer invaluable lead core/crankbait diving data for
18-pound test lead core in combination with some
of the most popular walleye baits including the
Smithwick Perfect 10, Rapala Husky Jerk 14, Rapala Deep Husky Jerk 12, Berkley Flicker Minnow
11 and Reef Runner 800 series baits.
Snap Weights, a clip-on weight system produced by Off Shore Tackle Company, is another
common way anglers get extra depth from stickbaits. The most typical way anglers fish Snap
Weights is by letting out a desired crankbait 50 feet
and then placing a Snap Weight on the line and
playing out another 50 feet of lead. By varying the
sinker size attached to the Snap Weight clip, anglers can easily fish stickbaits down 15 to 40 feet.
Off Shore Tackle sells a kit of Snap Weights
called the Pro Weight System that comes with four
Late in the season boat slips at all the popular marinas will be empty. Lack of fishing traffic means anglers may have to work a little harder at finding fish, but then again finding the fish is half the fun.
clips and an assortment of guppy weights ranging lure coverage.
in size from 1/2 ounce to three ounces. The clips
Again, its Off Shore Tackle that leads the
and guppy weights are also sold separately.
charge here with their Side-Planer Board. This
board comes factory equipped with a heavy tension
OR19 release on the tow arm and an OR16 Snap
Open water walleye trolling with crankbaits is
Weight Clip on the back of the board. This cona game played using planer boards. Late in the sea- figuration allows anglers to release the line from
son when trolling speeds are typically slow, slower the tow arm when a fish strikes, tripping the board
and slowest, the in-line planer board is the clear
while at the same time keeping the board firmly
choice for spreading out lines and gaining extra
attached to the line via the OR16 Snap Weight
Clip.
Tripping the board in this manner stops the
board from planing to the side and allows a fish
hooked on an outside line to be fought and landed
without having to clear any other lines in the trolling pattern. The ability to trip the board is also
handy when its time to switch out a crankbait for a
different lure or to change lead lengths.
Simply trip the board, then let the board slide
back to the back of the boat before reeling it up.
It only takes a few seconds for a tripped board to
slip past other lines, making it easy to switch out
lures without having to clear a bunch of lines in the
process.
Boards Complete The Deal
Another less understood reason why savvy

anglers prefer to trip their in-line boards plays to
keeping hooked fish buttoned up. When a fish bites
and the board is not rigged to release, the angler
must reel in the board and fish together. The board
continues to try and plane out to the side so there
is considerable resistance being felt by both the
angler and the fish. A hooked fish can use this resistance to put significant leverage on the lure and
potentially tear loose.
When the board is rigged to release, yet stay on
the line, a hooked fish experiences far less resistance, the reel drag functions normally and its far
more difficult for that fish to shake the hook.
A standard set up for trolling crankbaits on
Saginaw Bay or Lake Erie late in the season
involves running three board lines per side of the
boat. Establishing a six rod spread only requires
two anglers in Michigan waters and three anglers
when fishing in Ohio waters.
Summing It Up
In-line boards are a critical piece of the open water late season walleye trolling scene. Pictured
here this board is rigged to release from the tow arm when a fish is hooked, but the board
remains attached to the line via this Snap Weight clip. Rigged in this manner anglers can stack
multiple lines per side of the boat without having to clear lines to fight hooked fish.
The late season crankbait bite for walleye gets

heated up by late October and lasts right up until
ice puts an end to the fun. For places like Saginaw
Bay that means anglers can typically fish right up
into early December. A little further south on Lake
Erie, late season walleye trollers are often boating
fish right up to Christmas. Now thats a pretty cool
Christmas gift.n
More Reasons To Trip Boards
13
A Novices Guide...By Rober t Dock Stupp
Wading for U.P.

FALL SALMON
14
omewhere along the trail I

got waylaid. My fishbrain
mind decided to learn something new. I had a desire to
see the U.P. of Michigans
beautiful autumn Colorama
from land for a changea different
perspective. So I set aside the chase
for big walleyes and bigger muskies
for a change and partake in a grand
new gamewading with wobbly hips
in freezing cold water! Whatam I
nuts? So I brought along a ski pole
just in case I tipped-over.
So now I found another autumn
obsessionwading for autumn
salmon and the occasional steelhead.
A buddy of mine, Ray Kaufman and
his son, Mark, forgot more about
salmon and steelhead fishing than I,
a novice, would ever learn. So I went
on a few excursions and learned a
little something about when, where,
and how to catch them. It didnt sound
easy. Check this out!
Heres my first experience. I
knew I liked to cast rather than drift
fish and I had a 7-foot, medium, St.
Croix muskie rod. I also bought some
30-pound Power Pro line which has
a diameter of #8 line. Ray Kauffman
suggested that you always should go
as small as you can get away with
for salmon fishing, so I tied a small,
but strong Spro connector on with a
10-foot leader of 25- pound Seaguer,
fluorocarbon. Ray suggested using
Rapalas or Smithwick crankbaits in
gaudy colors like florescentorange or
chartreuse or pink. I understand that
salmon can see heavy line but I also
know the heavier lines kill the action
of the bait.
Finally, along with thinner-diameter line, terminal tackle should be,
again, as small as you can get away
with. A number 2 or 3 Duo-Lock snap
is a good choice as well as a quality 8
or 10 swivel that is rated for 50 or 100
pound test. Well, thatll do er!
So I said to myself, Here goes
nuttin.
I began walking along and kind
of reading the water and casting for
over an hour. I eventually ended up
near a small waterfall on the Silver
River, a real neat and scenic spot if
I ever saw one. I was using about a
4-inch, orange, shallow diving Rapala. I threw the Rap out and thought
I was snagged, but I wasnt. The drag
started zzzzzing out and I could see
that the fish was moving toward a big
log jam across the river so I started
reeling and walking backwards. As
nimble as I used to be, this time I
tripped on a root, fell down, turned

around and broke the fall with my
right hand. Then I guess I had the
presence of mind to roll over onto my
butt and keep the line taut. I began
reeling, tightened up the drag a notch
or two, and got the salmon to turn and
swim closer to shore.
Now Im thinkinand yellingGet the net! Fish on! Anybody
here? Need some help here! But guess
what! My fishing pals apparently went
upstream. I managed to sit up, with
my butt on another root; and continued to retrieve the salmon. Then the
fish showed itself with a good leap out
of the water. I yelled again for help
butno dice.
I then maneuvered the fish close
to shore and looked around for my
netto no avail. Looking closer, I
saw a spot near shore where rocks
had formed a little barrier from the
main current. Somehow, I pulled the
salmon to the quieter water and lifted
him over the rocks with my rod tip.
The salmon was now only a few feet
away. Now I crawled on hands and
knees over more roots and rocks, got
both hands on it and threw it up on the
bank.
My first salmon from shorein a
rivernear Lake Superior. Albeit an
unorthodox method, I caught the fish,
put it on a stringer, and collapsed. I
was tired, but it was a good tired.
Michigan Salmon Fishing
I did not know that you could

catch such a variety of fish during the
fall in the U.P. and downstate Michigan. In fact, Michigan has some of
the best salmon fishing in the U.S. of
Aexcept for maybe Alaska and the
Pacific Northwest.
Salmon fishing started in Michigan in 1967. They were stocked here
to combat the excessive alewife population. Coho salmon were stocked first
and then the chinook salmon were
added.
Natural reproduction does occur
in Michigan along with DNR stocking
programs. Today, Michigan has some
of the best salmon fishing anywhere.
Of course, very few other states
have as many lakes and rivers as
Michigan. And, to facilitate the great
salmon fishing, we have many, many
rivers that drain into the Great Lakes,
where salmon spend their adult lives.
In lower Michigan, I have certainly heard about the great rivers like the
Muskegon, Big Manistee and Little
Manistee, the Pere Marquette, and the
Betsie.
Wading for U.P. steelhead a stones throw from Lake Superior, always
creates a lasting memory.
Again, I was greatly surprised
to know that there are easily over a
dozen rivers that hold salmon in the
U.P. To name a few, we have the Carp
River, the Chocolay, and the Little
Garlic Rivers in Marquette. There is
the Laughing Whitefish River in Deerton and the Whitefish River in Rapid
River.
Close enough to my home in Iron
River, we can head north to the Big
Huron River and the Silver River,
both near Skanee.
Techniques
One of the surprising things about

the rivers and streams in Michigan
is the variety of fish that are swimming in our rivers. Lets take the
Carp River, for example. The Carp in
Marquette has steelhead, king salmon,
coho salmon, brook trout, and brown
trout. And consequently, there are
plenty of techniques to fish for them.
Lets take small spinners, for example.
Mepps makes spinners, big and
small. They make a Plain Aglia Spinner in a #0 size which is their smallest. Its good not only for smaller
salmon but also its dynamite for crappies. You can also get them dressed
(with hair).
Most trout fisherman know
about the successful Panther Marten.
And last but not least, the Wordens
Rooster Tail, as good of an all species
spinner there is.
Next is a very popular, easily one
of the most popular lures of all time,
Wordens Lures Original Flatfish. It
gives the fisherman that wide wobble
on a slow retrieve that is a beauty of
a trigger. Large or small, this lure will

catch any fish in a lake or river. I like
a florescent-orange model.
The Rapala Husky Jerk crankbait
or the Shallow Rap or heck, just look
at a catalog and pick a size and color
like firetiger, chartreuse, orange, glow,
or pink. Clip it on and catch a monster
king.
Dont forget the livebait! Grab
a hook and a spawn bag or a nightcrawler and let it drift. What could
be simpler? Find the right crease or
eddy and get ready for a strike from a
steelhead, trout, or salmon.
Chuck and Duck
Well, I do recall hearing about this

technique for steelhead fishing but
forgot about it. What it isis a 3-way
swivel gismo, with a weight on a short
line, a hook with a variety of baits:
salmon eggs, yarn streamers, flies,
jigs, or plugs like Floating Rapalas, or
even nightcrawlers on about a 3-foot
leader. The last swivel on the 3-way
swivel is the main line.
The way to use it is chuck the rig,
or cast it, or lob it out into the river
and let it sit in the current. When you
get a strike, set the hook and, if you
miss the fish, or pop it off of a snag,
you better duck or youll have a 3/8
ounce, hunk of lead stuck in your
forehead or, God forbid, in your eye
where your eyeball used to be. Dangerous sport, this salmon fishing!
Last but not least, we forgot a
camera when I caught my first salmon
but I have caught a few steelhead.
Good luck, good fishing and hunting in Michigan autumn paradise!n
Chuck
Herpolsheimer
and Dan
Hellickson with
a 70-pound
Detroit River
sturgeon.
The backwards sturgeon

Walleye fishing trip turns into memorable (tail) tale
t was to be a typical spring walleye fishing trip for Chuck Herpolsheimer, 71, of Imlay City. The
day ended being anything but
typical.
Each spring, one of Michigans hot spots for walleye is the
Detroit River. Chuck and his friend
Dan Hellickson were guests of Limitless Charters for a day of outstanding
walleye fishing. The charter is owned
and operated by Sean Megie and Mike
Toman and they specialize in walleye,
musky and sturgeon fishing opportunities.
Commonly a large jig of various
colors is used to bounce off the river
bottom with 7 to 8-foot rods. Chuck
happened to be using the popular fire
line on his reel.
This day was cool, if not downright cold for the third week of April.
The fishing was good as can be expected, but what happened next made
memories for a lifetime.
Suddenly Chuck noticed a little
different strain on his rod, at first he
thought it was another of those nasty
river bottom snags.
I soon realized this snag was
moving and I wasnt gaining much
line, Chuck says smiling.
Chuck pushed the limit of the
rod and reel for 20 minutes or more.
Still he couldnt get, whatever it was
to surface. Instead, whatever it was
it swam steadily along the river
bottom.
Then without any notice the reel
snapped at the base of the rod from
the constant and unforgiving strain.
Chuck was helpless to fight what they
now knew was a sturgeon with no
leverage over it.
It was big, it was relentless, said
Chuck.
And there he was, a reel in one
hand and rod in the other, trying to do
battle with one of Michigans grand
prehistoric creatures, the sturgeon.
We decided to try to handline the
fish, Chuck continues.
Sean said he was afraid someone was going to lose a finger that
way. He asked if someone could tie a
double bow knot? Which Mike said he
could.
Like I said this was at least
twenty minutes into the fight, I was
holding the rod and busted reel as
Sean guided the boat in the strong
Detroit River current. Dan and Mike
were busy hanging on to help me
and tie bow knots at the same time,
Chuck recalls.
It was a real team effort, Chuck
says proudly.
After a few minutes Mike was
able to attach the line from Chucks
reel to a new reel and re-attach that
reel to the pole Chuck was holding
onto for dear life. All this above the
water while the powerful fish swam
on, seemingly as strong as it was
twenty minutes ago.
Chuck, using a sound pull and
crank retrieve method began making headway. He was gaining line,
the knots were holding and the new
reel was working. Chucks arms were
heavy from the battle, but finally he
was winning.
I knew he was about to surface, I
was shocked to see though that it was
tail first though. My jig had hooked
the back fin and I was bringing it in
backwards, laughs Chuck.
Are you serious? Who would
have ever thought? Truly a fishing
trip and a fish of a lifetime concludes
Chuck.
The sturgeon was exactly 60
inches long, using length and girth
the sturgeon was estimated to weigh
70 pounds and was approximately 35
years old. The fish was released and a
full mount from photos was made and
hangs in Chucks home.
That certainly is one memorable
(tail) tale.
Editors note: Video of Chucks
battle with the sturgeon can be seen
on Woods-N-Water News and TriCity Times Facebook pages.n
By Randy Jorgensen
15
Michigan Meanders...
Ma Deeters
O
ne day this fall

Ill go back to
Ma Deeters,
the only tavern
in Luzerne
Michigan, that
small, four-corners settlement on M-72 between Grayling and Mio. Ma Deeters
first opened in 1921. A year
ago today (October
2, 2015), the old
log building burned
to the ground. Now newly restored,
Ma Deeters reopened on August 30.
Of course, we have to go back.
Anyone who reads this magazine has
a favorite watering hole somewhere
in northern Michigan. Ma Deeters
was mine. If I had a dollar for every
hotspot map drawn on a cocktail napkin, I would.well, you know what I
mean.
I first stopped here with my
brother on a summer day in 1971. We
had been trout fishing on the West
Branch of Big Creek, and two or three
nice brookies lay diapered in leaves
in the canvas creel we dipped in the
cold-running stream. Blistering heat
shut down our fishing early that day,
and the dusty ride down USFS roads
made us thirsty.
MA DEETERS This is Gods
Country, the marquee said. Please
dont drive thru town like hell. We
stopped for a beer. It was ice-cold and
cost a quarter. We bought one for an
old-timer, still wearing hip boots, who
had come up from the East

Branch. He had enjoyed a
good morning of fishing, too.

That incident occurred 45 years ago. Hard
to believe, I suppose, that
for 50 years before then Ma
Deeters had watered, fed
and bedded fishermen and
deer hunters and the lumbermen who came
before them.

Not much has
changed in Luzerne since the town
was founded in 1881 by Major Myron
B. Hagaman, a Civil War veteran.
When Anna L. (Ma) Deeter, then
21, and her husband William arrived
in 1903, the village included a post
office, dilapidated blacksmith shop
and grange hall which doubled as a
funeral parlor. A school house near the
cemetery served Sunday school kids
as there was no church or minister in
town.
Majestic stands of white pine
were depleted in the 1890s, and when
the Deeters arrived from Metamora,
where they had run a hotel and meat
market, the hardwoods were going
fast. Cedar would be next. Turn-ofthe-century photos already showed
a mostly barren land. Thousands of
logs run through the Au Sable River
system depleted the forest but also
destroyed spawning beds made by the
grayling.
The Deeters worked a 120-acre
farm near Luzerne and opened a gen-
By Tom Huggler
ers arose at four oclock for a hearty

breakfast and took a huge lunch into
the woods. Ma and her daughters
served supper well after dark.
Old photos I have seen of Ma
Deeter show a slim-waisted, attractive
woman with an abundance of dark
hair. William appeared to be a thick
man with football player shoulders
and arms. No doubt he was the bars
best bouncer.
Ma Deeter died at nearly 88 on
Mothers Day in 1967. She is buried
in the local cemetery next to William
and their eldest daughter, Mary Tippler. A heart-shaped tombstone bears
the epitaph, Here my heart lies in
Gods Country.
Yes, Ill go back to Ma Deeters
one day this fall. If you see me there,
well have a beer and compare grouse
flush rates and how the dogs did today
and how much better we hope to shoot
tomorrow.
In the heart of Gods Country, Ma
Deeters is the place for us.n
eral store in town. Driving their oxen

team to Roscommon for supplies,
the trip took two days. As sportsmen
poured in from Detroit, Chicago and
the eastern U.S. to hunt and fish, they
hired horse teams working the boat
docks at Oscoda and Tawas to take
them into the wilderness. Many were
early customers of the Deeters.
To help handle increasing business, Anna and William opened a
small restaurant that specialized in
chicken dinners. People came from as
far away as Saginaw for the dinners,
which included soup, ice cream and
pie, and cost 75 cents.
The original Ma Deeters, built
in 1921, was a block north of town.
For 20 years it served sportsmen who
paid up to $1.50 per day for three
meals and a place to sleep. Anna and
William also offered rental cabins.
When William died in 1936, the place
was torn down; the new Ma Deeters
opened on November 13, 1941, just
in time for deer season. Deer hunt-
16
The newly restored, Ma Deeters reopened on August 30. Just over a year ago the old log building burned to the ground. Tom Huggler photo
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17
Rule
Rut
the
t was early November on a cool morning when

I was hanging twenty-five feet up in a tall oak
tree. The cool Northwesterly wind blew into
my face, making my cheeks begin to numb. I
felt as if I was part nature, quietly watching the
world wake up from a deep sleep. The birds
first started chirping, quickly followed by the sun
peeking into the forest. It didnt take long for the
squirrels and chipmunks to start making a ruckus all
around me.
After a couple hours of silently watching everything unfold, the unforgettable sound of leaves rustling and brush crashing happened. I quickly knew
the unmistakable sound of deer running through the
woods. At this time of the year, my heart skipped
even before finding the exact location of the sound
because this was the activity I had been waiting on.
Several whitetails came running in the woods and
quickly stopped in the changing cover in front of
me. Not far behind was a funky looking buck with
half rack. He was in hot pursuit closing the distance
fast.
For most deer hunters, there is nothing better than the November rut. Many of the whitetails
taken during archery season come during the rut
timeframe. Rightfully so, does are coming into
estrus causing bucks to become more active. Even
the largest most reclusive whitetails can be found
moving during daylight hours.
Even with these favorable odds having a successful season can be difficult. Instead of walking
away empty handed this year lets stack the odds in
your favor. Its time for you to rule the rut.
Focus on the Does

Much of my postseason scouting involves
18 understanding a bucks core area. Specifically the
During the rut even the largest most

reclusive whitetails can be found
moving during daylight hours.
on stand in 80 degree weather can damper a rut

hunters spirits. Although those conditions suppressed some of the rutting activity, nature continlocations in which he beds so I can slip in dangerously close. However, there is a time to focus on the ued to push forward. On the warmest day of the
does instead. Switching from focusing on buck core year one of my buddies, a dedicated whitetail nut,
Jason Crean, took a mature 135 inch stud. It was
areas onto doe core areas happens when the does
his attitude to stick with it throughout all conditions
begin to come into estrus. Often times this change
that attributed to his successful season.
happens after the first week of November.
Often this is the timeframe you begin to see
Get Mobile
older bucks moving in higher numbers during the
Whitetail hunters can fall into the trap of huntdaylight hours. Often hunters will have more sucing the same locations over and over again. Why
cess focusing on the does bedding and feeding loca- wouldnt we? After months of post season scouting,
tions. Greater success will be found focusing on doe we have found the ultimate spot. Additionally, early
bedding because of the security these areas provide. in the year we have trail camera pictures of Mr.
With most hunters demanding work and family
Big in the same location. If it was possible wed
schedules, if only a short evening hunt is available
spend every hour on stand until he comes walking
sneaking into the doe feeding areas has been a suc- down the path. Unfortunately, the plan isnt coming
cessful strategy.
together like we wanted.
To have the most success, try avoiding those
Its time to pay attention to what is happening
doe areas until its prime time. This will allow the
around you. Often bucks dont need to move far to
does to be comfortable without hunters molesting
avoid being killed. On small properties that could
those areas. Then when its time, there will be a
spell disaster, but pay attention and make a move
larger number of does to pull in an unsuspecting
when conditions start changing. Use your binocubuck.
lars to see if you can locate deer movement, which
indicates a new travel corridor. Look for fresh rubs
Shut Up and Hunt
and scrapes appearing in a different location than
That is right, I said it. There are so many reaexpected. Often hunting pressure, changing food
sons we come up with to not hunt. It is too windy,
rain is in the forecast, the temperature is rising, the sources, and seasonal factors cause deer to change.
neighbors are putting on too much hunting pressure, Lastly, dont get stuck in a tree when things are
the stand location wasnt prepared, and the list goes happening out of your zone. If something is hapon. The reality is, I have never had all those condi- pening out of bow range, get down and put together
a stalk. It doesnt take much cover to move into the
tions align during the entire rut. Often, we have to
right position.
deal with multiple conditions that are not perfect.
This past season I had the opportunity to spot a
Last year was an unseasonably warm year.
By Brian Miller
Right during my week-long vacation the mercury

started rising to record levels. Spending a day
Rule the Rut page 20
19
Rule the Rut:

from page 18
buck a half a mile away. He was dogging
a doe and angling away. Instead of watching the show, I interjected myself into the
hunt. I slid down the tree and began closing the distance. It didnt take long before
I came upon the final 200 yards of the
stalk. This was the most difficult situation
because it was a wide open dirt field with
only a fencepost between us. I only moved
when he was preoccupied with the does
whereabouts. Crawling forward, the distance started falling away and I couldnt
believe everything was coming together.
After getting into position, a short wait put
him broadside when I could put together a
successful shot.
The Best of the Best
When the rut gets going, its time to

get into the best possible stands you have.
That means hunting those stands that you
know have larger bucks in the area. Focus
on properties with the highest potential
and stay on stand for as long as possible.
Time on stand does not equal better
opportunities. Make sure to hunt the right
locations at the right time. Moving stands
during the day to maximize the early
morning, mid-day and afternoon hunting.
Most often the mid-day timeframes offer
20
the best hunting opportunities because

bucks get up and move through funnels
and between bedding locations. Mid-day
locations always are thicker locations or
depressions that allow bucks to comfortably move. Even though youll see deer
in the wide open, these are not always the
best possible ambush locations throughout
the entire day.
Using sightings during the season, historical records and trail cameras help me
know which locations I should focus on.
Daylight activity is a must before pushing
into a location. If you know a buck is visiting an area dont hesitate to hunt multiple
days in a row. This of course can only be
done if the stand can be entered and exited
without alerting any other deer. Most
stands will not fall into this category.
Conclusion
Chasing whitetails can be downright

difficult. They are wary, can sniff out
trouble from afar, and seem to live
underground. This is the grind that
makes chasing these majestic animals
so much fun. The rut is one of the best
times to tag a mature buck. So during
the grind a couple of these tips will
help you rule the rut.n
Sneaking in for a mid-day hunt offers some amazing hunting

oppor tunities with high amounts of buck movement.
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DNRs 2016 Michigan Deer

Hunting Prospects Report
he leading reason many individuals participate in deer hunting is simply the

opportunity to spend time outdoors with
friends and family, but harvesting a deer
is important to many deer hunters as well.
No amount of hunting guarantees a harvest;
however, preparation and hard work are keys to
producing the best opportunity to see and take deer,
or to mentor a new hunter through a safe and enjoyable season. The 2016 deer season is expected to be
a successful year for many hunters.
Persistence can pay off for deer hunters. Nationwide, successful deer hunters hunt an average
of 18 daysslightly more than the average of about
14 days that Michigan deer hunters spent afield
last year. Chances for success are greatest for those
who are prepared. Part of hunting preparations
each year includes becoming familiar with the most
recent regulations. The DNR deer website provides
highlights of regulation changes, information about
deer management and links to additional resources,
such as deer check station locations. Please refer to
the 2016 Hunting and Trapping Digest and Antlerless Digest, which are available online and at DNR
Customer Service Centers and license agents, for
a map of all Deer Management Units (DMUs) and
other regulation details.
Some successful hunting trips are just a result
of being in the right place at the right time. Overall,
deer activity tends to be highest a few weeks prior
to breeding. The peak of breeding activity for Michigan deer generally occurs just prior to the opening
of the firearm deer season. These peak breeding
dates are earliest in the southern Lower Peninsula
(L.P.), except that many does in the region that were
born just this spring will already conceive their first
fawns this year. Those breeding events for young
does often occur a month or more later than they
do for older deer, often not until mid-December.
A number of different antler point restrictions, have
22 been implemented in Michigan in recent years.
Chances for deer hunting success are greatest for those who are prepared. MDNR photo
Hunters often seek to take advantage of these times
of high deer movements, so archery hunting activity
is often highest in late October and early November, followed by the busiest deer hunting day of the
yearthe opening of the firearm season. In southern Michigan, another late period of deer activity
can occur several weeks prior to the late breeding
events among young does, which can coincide with
the end of the firearm season.
and antler growth on bucks appears to be better than

last year.
The 2016 deer season is forecasted to have
similar to slightly increased success rates in comparison to last year. Please see below for more
detailed information about the area you hunt and
what to expect. Though this may help to get you
started with what to look for, there is no substitute
for scouting. The opportunity to find out which
trees are producing, which deer trails are being
What to Expect Across the State
utilized, and which patterns deer are following is
The 2015 season, while seeing a drop in hunter priceless information for a deer hunter. So, whether
numbers, ended up with a slight increase in harvest the goal is to get meat in the freezer or simply get
from 2014. While hunting success decreased in the outdoors, Michigans deer seasons offer something
Upper Peninsula (U.P.) it increased across the entire for everyone. Best of luck, hunters! Have a wonderful and safe deer season.
L.P., with a little more than four out of every 10
hunters taking home at least one deer last season.
The decrease observed in the U.P. has been seen the Upper Peninsula
While the winter of 2015 was relatively mild,
last few years as a result of the severe, prolonged
winters of 2012, 2013 and 2014. Deer numbers are the three previous severe winters are still having
an impact on deer numbers across the U.P. Deer
expected to be depressed throughout much of the
U.P. for this year and coming years, though the mild numbers are still quite low, and at least one more
mild winter is needed in order to begin seeing deer
winter experienced last year offers hope that hunters may experience slightly better success this year numbers truly rebound. As a reminder, there are
still only three units currently open for private-land
than in previous years.
The winter of 2015 was a relatively mild winter antlerless licenses in the U.P, and no areas open for
public-land antlerless licenses. The three open units
across the entire state. With snowfall levels stayare located in the south central portion of the U.P,
ing low and temperatures staying above average,
which typically has higher deer populations than
it made for good survival conditions for deer and
anywhere else in the U.P. Antlerless permits are
leads into a great potential for this years fawns.
Spring had relatively mild weather as well, which is available in Deer Management Units 055 (Menominee), 122 (Norway) and 155 (Gladstone).
a major factor in both deer fitness and fawn survival. Due to these circumstances, field reports this Despite last years mild winter, continued efyear have indicated a high overall number of fawns forts to support the rebound of the deer herd after
three previous consecutive severe winters for the
seen, with plenty of twins and triplets across the
state. In addition to the high number of fawns being
Deer hunting prospects page 24
reported, deer condition in terms of body weight
23
Deer hunting prospects:

from page 22
U.P remain. The U.P will have its second year in a

row where archers will not be allowed to harvest
antlerless deer with either the single deer license or
a combination deer license during the archery season. Archery hunters may only harvest antlerless
deer if they have an antlerless license. This change
does not affect the Liberty or Independence hunts
and does not affect mentored youth hunters.
Apple production appears to be high this year,
while acorn and beechnut production is spotty, so
hunters will need to seek these areas out to determine which trees may be producing. Even though
conditions throughout much of the summer were
hot and dry, there was enough rain toward the end
of the summer to have a productive growing season, giving deer many other food sources to seek
out.
In general, hunters should expect to see about
the same number of deer as last year. However,
the 2.5-year-old and 3.5-year-old age-classes are
still very low since they were most affected by
the severe winters. Keep in mind that each area
is influenced by local factors and conditions that
affect deer density and sightings in that area. The
largest bucks (heaviest and largest antlers) typically
come from agricultural areas, but nice bucks are
also taken from forested areas where hunter access
is limited and the deer have an opportunity to grow
older.
Northern Lower Peninsula
The deer population for the Northern Lower

Peninsula (NLP) is expected to see an increase in
harvest this year. With the mild winter from last
year and little impact from the previous winter,
deer populations have been increasing steadily
across much of the NLP.
Deer sightings have been good throughout the
region, and many have reported seeing healthy fawns,
including many sets of twins and even some triplets.
Mast production (fruits and nuts) has been
spotty throughout the region. For the third year in
a row, high production of apples is being reported.
Acorn and beechnut production is diverse, with
some areas seeing decent production and others reporting none. Deer should be targeting the producing areas frequently. Scouting to find these areas
will be very important to early-season success.
Contacting a local wildlife office may be a good
first step; DNR staff members may be able to give
insight as to which areas are producing.
Expect to see increased deer numbers compared to last year throughout most of the NLP.
Many areas may see more 2.5-year-old and
3.5-year-old bucks this year with the continued
three-point antler point restriction (APR) in many
counties in the northwest area. This APR allows the
majority of 1.5-year-old bucks to mature to the next
age class, thereby resulting in increased numbers
of 2.5- and 3.5-year-old bucks in the years following. All NLP Deer Management Units are open for
antlerless hunting; review the 2016 Antlerless Deer
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Southern Lower Peninsula
Abundant food and cover in the form of agricultural crops and scattered swamps and woodlots
provide very good habitat across the Southern
Lower Peninsula (SLP) landscape. This high-quality habitat, combined with relatively mild winter
conditions, typically results in a more abundant
and productive deer population compared to other
regions of the state. The 2016 harvest forecast
should be similar to last year, with perhaps a slight
increase given the current conditions. Harvest in
the SLP can depend heavily on the percentage of
standing corn. If corn harvest is delayed going
into the firearms season, a reduced harvest can be
expected.
Over the last decade or more, deer population
estimates and indices (including deer/vehicle collisions, crop damage complaints, and observations
of deer by the hunting community and field staff)
in the SLP have stabilized or declined. In many
instances, reductions intended to reduce conflicts
that can occur when deer populations are high,
though the DNR still desires to keep adequate deer
for enjoyable hunting and viewing experiences. A
severe outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease
(EHD) in 2012 drastically affected the deer population in many areas for several years. These areas
have largely recovered from the outbreak. Though
individual EHD outbreak sites affect deer at the
scale of a township or smaller, these outbreaks
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from an authorized John Deere Dealer come standard with a 6 year/2000 hour (whichever comes first) Powertrain
Warranty. See the Limited Warranty for New John Deere Turf & Utility Equipment at dealer for details.
Important Changes
Chronic Wasting Disease
In Southern Michigan
In May 2015 the Michigan Departments of

Natural Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) confirmed that a free-ranging deer in Meridian Township (Ingham County)
tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD),
a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed
deer, mule deer, elk and moose. Since that time,
intensive monitoring and testing has been ongoing
within Ingham, Clinton and Shiawassee counties,
where eight additional positive cases have been
discovered.
Several regulations have been implemented in

accordance with the DNR 2012 CWD Response
Plan. These include the formation of DMU 333,
a small DMU that surrounds the area where the
positive cases have been discovered, which was
expanded this year to include 17 townships in Clinton, Ingham, Eaton and Shiawassee counties. Hunters taking deer in this DMU are required to submit
all harvested deer for mandatory testing. Other
characteristics of this DMU include the removal of
the four points on a side rule on the restricted combination license and the ability to harvest antlerless
deer during the firearm and muzzleloading seasons
with the deer or deer combo license in place of a
buck. A CWD Management Zone has also been
created, DMU 419, which includes the parts of
Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia and Shiawassee
counties not included in DMU 333. A baiting and
feeding ban applies in this DMU and also DMU
333, with increased antlerless quotas and reduced
antlerless license costs. For more information on
CWD, please visit mi.gov/cwd.
Things to Consider for this Deer Season

Where To Hunt
As any deer hunter knows, deer are not stationary animals; they are constantly moving to new
places and, just as often, are returning to familiar
spots. Michigans deer herd is no exception. It is
Deer hunting prospects page 26
densities across southern Michigan than has occurred in many years. Management efforts are now
being directed towards distinct areas at a smaller
scale rather than larger. Research is under way to
improve understanding of the duration of EHD
impacts that hunters and landowners should expect
to see where outbreaks have occurred. Just recently,
a deer was confirmed to be positive for EHD in
Berrien County. Specific information related to this
discovery will be provided soon.
Given the higher proportion of land in private ownership in this region, and the often small
property sizes, the DNR is working to find more
ways to support increased deer harvest and habitat
management decisions among networks of private
landowners and hunters.
25
Deer hunting prospects:

from page 25
spread out across the state and often locally pocketed in areas with the best habitat and resources
available. For this reason, there is no better way
to locate deer than by getting out on the landscape
and scouting. Learning where this years deer trails
are, finding which oak trees are producing acorns,
and discovering where a group is bedding down
each night are often the keys to a successful hunt.
Michigan also offers a number of online tools such
as Mi-HUNT, an interactive web application, to
help hunters hone in on good habitat and potential
hunting spots. If short on time, these tools are an
excellent way to save some time and narrow down
selection.
Consider Mentoring a Youth Hunter
Shared experience with family and friends is

one of the most cherished aspects of hunting. The
DNR encourages hunters to share their heritage
with a young person. Under the Mentored Youth
Hunting Program, it is possible to take a youth 9
years of age or younger deer hunting. For specific
program requirements, please visit mi.gov/mentoredhunting.
Sportsmen Against Hunger Program
The Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger

(MSAH) program is a wonderful way for hunters
to share a part of their harvest this fall, or donate
a whole deer. Since 1991, MSAH has been working to help connect donors, wild game processors
and charities that feed needy individuals. Together,

they have assembled a network of processors and
charities to help channel wild game donations into
the hands of those in need. If interested in donating, please contact a local field office. A list of field
offices can be found at mi.gov/dnr.
Bring Your Deer to a Check Station
Michigan has some of the best historical data

on deer in the country. The data gathered at DNR
check stations and from the hunter harvest surveys helps the DNR to make future management
decisions and monitor the health of the herd, and
provides an opportunity to time spend time with
hunters, which is invaluable to field staff. Hunters can be a part of this important aspect of deer
management by bringing their deer or deer head
to a check station, along with information about
where and when the deer was taken. Once the deer
is checked, hunters will receive a successful hunter
deer management cooperator patch. Please see the
DNR Deer Check Station List for locations and
hours.
Antler Point Restrictions
A number of different antler point restrictions,

or APRs, have been implemented in Michigan in
recent years, and other areas have received consideration for APRs. No new proposals have been
submitted, and there are not any currently being
considered for implementation in the next few
seasons. The only change made to APR regulations was the removal of the four points on a side
rule on the restricted combination license for DMU
333. This was done to help encourage hunters to
harvest deer and have them tested for CWD so that
the DNR may determine how prevalent the disease

may be within the wild deer population.
See the 2016 Hunting and Trapping Digest,
pages 32 and 33, for complete information on these
regulations. You may also visit the APR Corner
page located at mi.gov/deer for more information
and history on APRs in Michigan.
Local Cooperative Opportunities
To assist hunters in better meeting their local

hunting objectives, the DNR has partnered with
Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Quality Deer
Management Association and Pheasants Forever to
create the Michigan Wildlife Cooperative Program,
to equip and inform landowners how to manage
their habitat and wildlife using data, local knowledge and neighborly communication. This program, which is housed within MUCC, is designed
to assist neighboring landowners and hunters to
work collaboratively with each other, the DNR
and other interested parties to achieve a common
wildlife management objective. If you would like
to learn more about this program or start a wildlife
cooperative in your area, please contact Wildlife
Cooperative Coordinator Anna Mitterling at amitterling@mucc.org or visit www.mucc.org/cooperatives.
Wildlife Health Issues

Chronic Wasting Disease
CWD was discovered in Michigans wild deer

herd in 2015, and several steps have been taken to
determine the magnitude and scope of the infection
in the deer herd population. Last year, seven positive animals were identified, with four occurring
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Bovine Tuberculosis (TB)
In the northeast L.P., the prevalence of TB

showed a dramatic increase in the core area, DMU
452. Prevalence there increased from 1.0 percent in
2014 to 2.7 percent in 2015. Outside of DMU 452,
the remainder of the five-county TB Management
Zone (DMU 487) saw only a slight uptick in prevalence, from 0.2 to 0.3 percent. The rate of apparent
prevalence in DMU 452 over the last five years
showed a significant increasing trend for the first
time since information has been gathered, and if
an increasing trend continues for three consecutive
years, it will prompt a USDA review of DNR deer
management practices. Hunters are still strongly
Michigan has some of the best historical data on deer in the country. The data gathered at
DNR check stations and from the hunter har vest sur veys helps the DNR to make future management decisions and monitor the health of the herd. MDNR photo
encouraged to harvest antlerless deer to help maintain reduced deer numbers and keep TB in check.
Older antlered deer also should be harvested and
are especially important to take to a check station,
as these animals are much more likely to be TBpositive. Bringing in a deer or deer head to a check
station for testing allows us to track the prevalence
of the disease in the population and is an integral
part of controlling the disease.
In 2013, a dairy herd in Saginaw County
tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. There is no
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evidence of TB in deer near this location, but it is

important to continue to test deer in this area to accurately assess the situation.
Individuals hunting in the following counties
are highly encouraged to provide their deer head
for testing: Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Bay, Cheboygan, Crawford, Genesee, Gratiot, Huron, Iosco,
Midland, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego,
Presque Isle, Roscommon and Saginaw.
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5/26/16 11:47 AM
16-BCL-189_Speed_Killer_Clothing_Ad_8_625x11_125.indd 1
in Ingham County and three occurring in Clinton

County. Overall, prevalence appears to be low, but
more samples are needed this year to fully determine the scale of the disease. Regulations established last year in the area surrounding where the
positive animals have been found were expanded
this year. The core CWD zone, DMU 333, has
been expanded to include eight additional townships in southern Clinton County and northeastern
Eaton County. The remainder of Eaton County and
all of Ionia County have been added to the CWD
Management Zone, which has been renamed DMU
419. In addition, educational material has been
developed to answer questions the public may have
regarding this disease and what it means not only
for the deer herd but for Michigan residents as
well. For the most up-to-date information, please
see the DNR emerging diseases website.
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27
BROKEN ANTLER
Causes, Patterns, and Consequences
Generally, most fighting occurs among evenly matched mature bucks, about the time the first doe comes into estrus. Kenny Darwin photos
28
eer antlers are unique. As

noted by antler expert Richard J. Goss, When deer
grow antlers they are actually regenerating anatomically complex appendagessomething that no other mammal
can do. And, he emphasizes, The
rate at which antlers elongate makes
them the fastest growing structures in
the animal kingdom.
Despite decades of antler research, the experts still debate how
and why members of the deer family
(Cervidae) evolved antlers.
Despite many theories, its
important to recognize that
antlers are secondary sex
characters. They evolved
hand-in-hand with certain
aspects of the whitetails
breeding behavior.
It is more than coincidence that antlers harden
and mature just before
the breeding season. Because velvet is shed at the
end of the growing season, when antlers turn into solid bone, this suggests
antlers serve primarily for aggressive
rituals during the mating season.
Antlers allow bucks to participate in shoving matches and tests of
physical strength, and serious fighting
if necessary, to establish dominance.
And they serve as useful tools in tree
rubbing and scent communication.

They also serve effectively for display and allow a buck to advertise his
genetic quality and physical strength,
thereby intimidating rival males and
possibly attracting prospective mates.
Remember, antlers grow back
every year. This allows for an increase
in antler size and configuration change
with age. It also provides for replacing
damaged antlers, annually.
Sparring

Because antlers are branched

structures, theyre ideal
for defense while sparring.
A wide, multi-tined rack
protects the head and eyes. It
serves effectively as a basket
to catch and hold the antlers
of a challengera shape
more conducive for pushing
and wrestling than for killing.
There are two
recognized forms of
sparring: skill and
demonstrative. Skill sparring commences soon after shedding velvet and
generally involves all bucksbucks
matched or mismatched in age, body
size, or antler form.
Personally, I believe early-season
sparring is as essential in formation of
social bonds among males as mutual
grooming is for female whitetails. If a
By John Ozoga
buck is to achieve a social rank before

the breeding season, he must interact
with other bucks of all ages.
In skill sparring, a buck gains
knowledge of the size of his antlers
and how they relate to those of other
bucks. These bouts tend to be gentle,
almost congenial in nature. Bucks
merely click their antlers together
with minimal pushing and shoving,
seldom leading to antler damage.
Demonstrative sparring, on the
other hand, involves more serious encounters to assess and establish social
rank. These are true tests of physical
strength.
In demonstrative sparring, bucks
push and shove with all their strength.
With antlers clinched together,
contestants indulge in neck twisting
and other maneuvers to force the opponents off balance. There is always
a winner and loser, resulting in a
dominant-submissive relationship and
frequently chipped or broken antlers.
about the time the first doe comes into

estrus, which is when testosterone
levels normally peak in mature bucks.
However, fighting can occur at any
time during the breeding season.
Most buck fights are brief, but
some can go on for hours, resulting in
serious injury or death of the combatants. Broken antler tines, gouged eyes,
and torn ears are tell-tale signs carried
by those surviving such combat.
Display
One appealing theory is that

antlers might have evolved more for
display purposes than for head-tohead combat. Certainly large antlers
are showy structures and serve as
status symbols
They permit mature bucks to
display and advertise themselves to
competitors as well as prospective
mates.
Studies conducted by Auburn
University researcher Steve Ditchkoff
revealed a firm association between
genetic factors, antler size, body mass,
Frequency and intensity of violent testosterone levels, and abundance
fighting depends upon many factors.
of certain parasites in study animals.
Generally more fighting occurs when On average, large-antlered bucks
deer are abundant, when the adult sex had greater body mass and higher
ratio is closely balanced, and when a
testosterone levelstraits which are
high proportion of the bucks are 3.5
important in achieving dominance
years or older.
and gaining access to estrous females.
Generally, most fighting occurs
These superior individuals also haramong evenly matched mature bucks, bored fewer parasites and had certain
Fighting
Study of
Breakage Patterns
Gabrial Karns and Steve Ditchkoff were the first to examine in detail
patterns and rates of antler breakage
in white-tailed deeran aspect of
antler biology, they claim, that
potentially affects white-tailed deer
management/harvest regulations and
evolutionary role of mate selection
through quality advertisement.
Their study involved the collection and examination of 487 shed
antlers retrieved from a one squaremile fenced deer enclosure located in
Alabama. The samples were collected
over a 10-year period, while the herd
was supplementally-fed, herd density
increased to more than three times
normal for the region, antlerless deer
were intensively cropped, and the
number of mature males increased.
For each specimen collected, the
investigators recorded the year of
growth, beam circumference, number of typical points, total number of
points, and whether or not the antler
main beam or any tine was broken.
Only freshly dropped left side antlers
were examined for breakage to avoid
individual duplication.
Karns and Ditchkoff hypothesized the following: that antlers
with greater basal circumference (i.e.,
highly spongy bone: compact bone
ratio) would have greater resistance to
breakage. However, we surmised that
an equally plausible hypothesis was
that despite possessing some antler
traits resistant to breakage, largeantlered males would suffer greater
breakage rates because of increased
fight bouts and have more points
available to break.
Of the 487 antlers examined, 147
(30 percent) exhibited breakage. The
estimated percentage of individual
males with at least one broken antler
would be 51 percent, or much higher
than for most free-ranging populations.
They expected to find more broken antlers during dry years, because
of the negative impact on vegetative,
less than ideal nutrition, and a resultant decrease in the ratio of antler
spongy bone to hard sheath bone.
However, they found no such relationship, possibly because the herd

was provided nutritious supplemental
feed year-round.
The best predictors of antler
breakage were found to be beam circumference and total number of antler
points. The main beam and G2 antler
tine (second from the base) were the
least susceptible to breakage, while
all other antler tines were found to
break at a similar rate. In other words,
those deer possessing antlers with
greater number of points and smalldiameter antlers experienced greater
risk of breakage.
Normally, basal antler circumference is closely correlated with buck
age. Therefore, Karns and Ditchkoff
suggest the following: It may be
that younger deer with above average
number of total antler points are most
prone to breakage. Older individuals with increased spongiosa due to
larger-diameter antlers were able to
better absorb forces experienced during breeding season behaviors.
Actually, total antler points
proved to be a better predictor of
breakage than total typical points.
This means that older bucks are more
likely to grow non-typical antlers,
more likely to fight, and tend to suffer
more breakage than others with typical antlers.
Typically, the G2 tine is the
longest tine on a given antler, is the
primary weapon when the deer lowers
its head, is the least likely to suffer
breakage, is the most visually prominent tine, and is the most important
for display purposes.
In contrast, the G1 is shorter,
most protected, functionally designed
to protect the skull and eyes, most
frequently used tine in making rubs
on trees, and more susceptible to
breakage. However, the G1 is also
the most mineralized tine, possibly
explaining its vulnerability to breakage.
Obviously, main beams experience less breakage than antler points
and together with the G2 antler point
are the most visually prominent features of a given bucks rack. Which
is, according to Ditchkoff: a critical
component of how males assess the
quality of their competitors.
I also observed that overall
incidence of damaged antlers
increased from zero to 34 percent
among supplementally-fed bucks
in my Cusino enclosure studies
when buck numbers increased
from six to 46 over a 5-year period.
However, I could not explain why
broken tines and even beams were
most prevalent among 2.5-year-olds
(43 percent) as compared to younger
or older bucks (11 and 37 percent,
respectively).
The G2 tine is the longest tine on a given antler. It is the primary weapon when
the deer lowers its head, it is the least likely to suffer breakage, it is the most
visually prominent tine, and it is the most impor tant for display purposes.
Conclusions
On the surface, the importance
of such antler research may seem
to be totally academic in nature. To
the contrary, Karns and Ditchkoff
recommend the following: Whitetailed deer mangers (especially where
trophy antler quality is a primary
objective) should be aware that as
management intensity increases,
increased probability of antler
breakage may be a concurrent consequencean important detriment to

the goal of maximum trophy antler
potential.
Lastly, state agencies that place
antler point harvest restrictions on
male white-tailed deer should attempt
to understand how antler breakage
patterns can potentially reduce the
number of eligibly harvested males
in a population, thereby affecting
goals.n
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genetic traits that set them apart from

poor-quality bucks.
Therefore, genetically superior
bucks seem to have a means of advertising their good genes. According to Goss, only the mature antlers
of older bucks serve as true social
semaphores. This also hints that
antler breakage would hinder such
display, signal physical weakness,
and explain why highly dominant
bucks sometimes lose their superior
social rank following antler breakage.
29
Nuances
Blade Bait
of the
Fall Bassin...By Buck Mallory

Fishing a blade bait is simple,
but fishing a blade bait
effectively takes some
know-how and practice...
ny angler of any skill level

can snap a Silver Buddy or
Bullet Blade onto the end of
his line and, if bass (or walleye, or pike, or crappie) are
lurking nearby, he has a good
chance of catching one.
But theres a big difference between
catching one and having non-stop action on a chilly fall day, which is when
a blade bait comes into its own as a
fish-catching machine. Here are some
of the small things you can do to catch a
bunch of fish on blades
Customizing
Most blades come with hooks

that can be replaced with much better
trebles. The stock hooks usually are pliable trebles with the hook shank split to
make them easy to install in the blades
small holes. Other companies install
the hooks by cutting the eyelet, bending
it open, poking a cut end through the
intended hole on the blade and bending
the gap closed. Now, Ive fished with
these stock blades without changing
the hooks, and they catch fish, but both
kinds of those hooks make me nervous.
They probably wont fail until I have
that really big, hard-fighting smallmouth hooked.
So like a lot of hardcore blade an-
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glers, I replace the stock trebles, adding

a premium hookthe shorter-shanked
Mustard KVD Treble is my top choice.
Not only does the premium hook get
embedded in the fishs mouth better, but
the split ring gives the fish less leverage
when its fighting back. You definitely
will lose fewer fish when you take the
time to add good hooks with a spit ring.
Favorite Blades
Lots of different companies make

blade baitsthe originals were Heddon
Sonars, created in the 1950s. I think
the standard, 1/2-ounce Silver Buddy
is hard to beat, and some friends do extremely well on the smaller 1/4-ouncer.
Another really good one is the Bullet
Blade, which instead of lead, uses a zinc
alloy for the weight. I like having a few
different types, sizes and colors along,
just in case the fish get picky, but about
90 percent of the time, a plain, silver,
Silver Buddy will catch fish.
Target Areas
As fall progresses and the shallows

get colder and aquatic plants start to
die, providing fewer places for baitfish
to hide, the basss food moves deeper
and so do the bass. Thats not to say
you cant catch them on shallower flats.
Some of the best fishing of the fall
happens when wolf packs of bass move
up and hunt on expansive flats that still
have enough vegetation for bait to relate
to. A blade shines here with a long cast
and a hopping retrieve that makes the
lure vibrate, but not burn too quickly
through the fish zone. The objective is
Blade baits come in many shapes and sizes with various levels of finishes.
Clockwise from top left: Heddon Sonar, Nor thland Live Image Minnow Trap.
Bullet Blade, 1/2-oz Silver Buddy, 1/4-ounce Silver Buddy, Reef Runner Cicada.
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in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speed and be particularly careful.
to keep the blade close to the

bottom, but not dredging bottom and picking up weeds
You can also try fishing
a blade at a consistent depth
across large flat with a retrieve
just fast enough to make it vibrate and stay off the bottom.
When you feel resistance, it
will be either a fish or a weed,
and in either case a sharp jerk
of the rod will either set the
hook or rip the blade free of
the salad. Lots of strikes seem
to come right after your rip
the lure free and let it settles
towards the bottom.
A second place to look for
bass with a blade is on sharper
drop-offs where weeds are
Ben Nielsen of Grand Rapids, shows a late season
present. Fish tend to hang on bass that fell for a Bullet Blade.
the outside edge of the vegetasuper-sensitivity, the fact it also floats
tion, and positioning your boat so you
and how well the no-stretch stuff transcan work your lure parallel to the weed- mits exactly what the blade is doing.
bed edge can get your string stretched.
Many anglers add a fluorocarbon or
Normally, a crankbait would be a better mono leader to the end of the braided
choice, certainly easier to use, but when line to be more confident that the fish
the water temps dip below 50 degrees,
wont spook when they see the braid at
bass seem to prefer a blade more and
the lure.
more in direct proportion to how much
Line visibility is a consideration,
colder the water gets.
too. Some of the best blade anglers
When the water gets real cold, as
around want a high-vis line such as
in surface temps below 38 degrees, you Clear Blue Stren or even a golden-colcan sometimes find bass outside of the
ored super-high-vis line. This, they say,
weed edges, right in the basin. Thats
enables them to easily see a fish taking
where the warmest water in the lake
the lure as it sinks, and they are certain
will be. The bass arent very active,
that in cold water, the hi-vis line does
but you can have a pretty good day by
nothing to spook fish.
positioning your boat in the shallower
I personally like fluorocarbon,
water, right over remaining weeds and
and just use rods already spooled with
casting into the basin, moving the bait
it for crank bait fishing earlier in the
just fast enough to feel it vibrate a little yearthey usually have 12-pound test
bit and then letting it touch bottom.
Seaguar AbrazX. The best suggestion I
Its difficult for a lot of veteran bass
can offer is to try some different types
anglers to get their heads around this,
of line until you find the one that works
but bass sometimes inhale a blade when best for you.
its lying right on the bottom. Youll
be working that bottom area, pulling
Rod Combos
your rod back just fast and far enough
The same holds true for rod
to feel the blade thup-thup-thup, let
the blade settle and after its for sure on combos. Some anglers like rods with
the bottom youll feel that tick. Other all the flexibility of a pool cue, while
others prefer a wispy wand. I like
times the fish will just be there when
a medium-action rod that I use for
you lift the rod again.
throwing smaller crankbaits. The rod
is plenty sensitive to transmit the blade
Line
action, has enough backbone to drive
The right kind of line to use
the hooks home and is bendy enough to
depends on the angler. Every veteran
play the fish without tearing the hooks
blade chunker has a favorite and can
out.
tell you the reasons why his choice is
the best choicebut not all of them
use the same thing. So whatever
A Final Note
works for you is the one you should
Always use a snap (not a snap
use. For instance, some guys swear
swivel) on the end of your line for
by fluorocarbon for its lower stretch,
attaching the blade. The way the hole
which transmits the action of the blade
is punched through the metal on these
instantly and, since its nearly invisible, lures, tying any kind of line directly on
it isnt a factor in keeping line-shy fish
the blade will result in instantly frayed
from biting. Yet other successful blade
line and a lost lure.
fishermen prefer monofilament because If you havent tried blade bait fishit floats more than fluorocarbon does,
ing in falls cold water, give it a shot.
resulting in a slower fall for the blade
Its a great way to catch numbers of
down through the water column. The
good-sized bass (and just about every
line serves as a sort of parachute. Still
other gamefish species) right up until
other anglers prefer braided line for its ice locks up the lake.n
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31
Santa comes to Shanty Town
32
Next Bite--IceBy Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz
t looked like it was going to be a

great day for ice fishing. The sun
was shining, there was a slight
breeze, and from what we had
been hearing, the fish were biting! So we packed up the truck
and headed out to our favorite lake.
We had just parked on the spot
when we saw something strange in
the sky. At first we werent sure what
to make of it, but as it got closer we
knew exactly who was coming our
way. It was our good buddy Santa
Claus!
Turns out he had gotten word
that the bite was on too! We walked
over and exchanged pleasantries, then
started setting up for the day. While
Santa was digging through his sleigh
looking for his gear, we began drilling
holes. A few minutes later Santa found
his auger. Hey guys, if you want to
fish together, I can start drilling the
holes, he shouted.
Youre a little late big guy,
joked Keith. I just drilled the last
one. Santa looked over the frozen
lake in amazement. Sure enough, it
looked like Swiss cheese with dozens
of holes. I dont get it, he said. I
never heard you start the drill.
Thats because Im using the
new ION X, Keith replied. Santa
came over for a closer look at the
green auger. He couldnt believe that a
battery-powered auger had just drilled
that many holes, and learned it can
drill up to 1600 inches on one charge!
Plus, with no gas or fumes, Santa realized it would be great for use inside
his permanent ice house at the North
Pole. Weighing only 22lbs, it is easy
to carry and it has a reverse feature
that cleans out the holes! No more
bending and scooping!
His attention then turned to Gary,
who had set up the Clam X200 Thermal shack. The first thing he noticed
when he stepped inside was the 82
center height. Not only was this shack
spacious, but there was also plenty of
room to lift the rod to set the hook.
The gray plastic tub made it easy to
see the gear, while the full thermal
tent retained heat and reduced condensation.
He took a seat next to Gary and
began to swivel around with his
feet in the air, I need these for my
sleigh!
Oh boy, Gary thought to himself as he watched Santa acting like a
little kid.
Hey! Whats this Gary? Santa
had spotted the HydroWave Ice Mini.
It is the ice fishing version of the
HydroWave that you see all the bass
guys using. It emits sounds that communicate with the lateral line of the
fish that imitate the sound of predatory
fish engaged in feeding, which attracts
other fish.
Gary explained that many walleye fishermen are also using the new
HydroWave Walleye H2 Electronic
Fishing Simulator on open water,
especially when they are casting. It
has nine sound patterns that can be
played at varied intervals, such as
Shad Passive, Frenzy, Schooling and
Spawning; Perch Passive, Bedding,
and Frenzy; and Crawfish Passive and
Frenzy.
Thats cool! What other new
stuff are the walleye guys using?
Well Santa, Cisco Fishing Systems has come out with a new rod
holder with a slot for a spinning reel.
There is also a notch on the top end
for you to rest your line counting or
bait casting reels in. Not only do the
rods stick out less, but it keeps the
reels pointed upright.
Santa then looked out the window of the Clam X200. Hey, what is
Keith doing out there with that metal
box?
He is setting up the JT Outdoor
Products HotBox with the Snare Rod.
I think you should check it out.
So Santa skipped, well the best
that Santa can skip, over to Keith
to see what this was all about. He
learned that it is a heated aluminum
box that keeps holes open up to 20
degrees below zero. When it is paired
with a 36 JT Outdoor Products Dead
Stick Snare Rod, he can fight walleyes standing up. The Snare Rod is
made from high-grade fiberglass with
an integral Nitinol (an alloy blend of
nickel and titanium) spring bobber
that is virtually indestructible and kink
resistant.
When a fish grabs the bait, the
Keith Kavajecz
knows a day
spent on the
ice is never a
waste of time!
spring bobber and rod loads the fish.

As the fish begins to feel this tension, it reacts by trying to swim away,
which in turn puts further load on the
rod. As a result, the fish end up setting
the hook themselves!
Suddenly there was whooping and
hollering coming from Gary in the
Clam. You guys each owe me a dollar! I caught the first fish!
Of course, Keith wanted to know
right away what Gary caught it on. I
got it on the Kemos Katcher.
Santa was very curious to know
what a Kemos Katcher could be. He
didnt have to ask though, as Keith
just made a mad dash for his tackle
tray.
Turns out it is one of the new
holographic colors in the Moonshine
Lures Shiver Minnow line. Some of
the other cool holographic colors in
the tackle tray were Crazy Clown,
Bird Bones, PK Shad, and Raz Mataz.
We use Shiver Minnows in both
the winter and summer, Keith told
Santa. We just change out the ice
fishing treble hook to a Mustad UltraPoint Triple Grip for the summer. And
if you are looking for some other lures
to stuff in stockings, there are some
new Berkley Flicker Minnow Pro
Flash colors. Some of my favorites
are Ghost, Green Crush and Purple
Candy. The 5cm size is a favorite for
casting.
Wow, Ill have to check those
out! What kinds of jigs do you like?
Those make great stocking stuffers
too.
Well, the jig we choose depends
on how we are going to use it, said
Keith. The Mustad WL746 Walleye
Elite Jig has a round head with an
UltraPoint hook that remains sharp,

even after fishing rocks. It has a longer than normal size hook that allows
it to come out of the back of a Berkley
Gulp Minnow in the perfect spot.
Well, what about when you are
casting live minnows? Santa asked.
That is when we go to the Bass
Pro Shops XPS Walleye Angler Meteor Jigs. They are great for casting
fatheads. The hook-gap is perfect for
this type of fishing, with a high hooking percentage, Keith said.
Santa looked to the sky. Ugh,
it looks like a storm is coming. That
means Im going to have a bumpy ride
home with turbulence.
Keith told him he should install
some WavePro Boat Air Suspension Seat Pedestals in his sleigh. An
extremely easy to adjust air chamber
provides a bottomless feel that caters
to a wide range of rider weights.
Plus, it has a great hydraulic shock
absorber, making for a comfortable
ride. Santa thought that sounded like a
great solution to his problem.
Hey, speaking of things that can
get banged-up in rough conditions,
how do you stabilize your bow mount
trolling motor?
We use the Cisco Trolling Stabilizer Mount, answered Keith. It
eliminates vibrations and bouncing
of the trolling arm when cruising and
safely secures it in waves. This product is extremely versatile, adjusting to
any angle and height needed to fit any
rig just right.
He also recommended that Santa
check out the TH Marine Eliminator
Prop Nut for his trolling motor. Not
only does it stabilize the prop by providing a larger contact point, it also
acts as a heat sink and has built-in
cooling ports that reduce the operating temperature for longer battery and
trolling motor life.
Once again there was commotion
coming from the Clam. Ha! Got another one! So I have first fish, biggest
fish and most fish. Looks like both of
you are going to owe me three dollars, hollered Gary.
Santa turned to Keith and said,
Yeah, I left my wallet at home. I
better get out of here before he tries to
collect!
With that, he hopped in his sleigh
and headed back to the North Pole
full of new ideas for presents to leave
under trees this year, along with tips
to get his own Next Bite!n
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33
Eyes for GIs By Bill Semion
Injured vets take on Bur t Lakes walleye with pro

angler Mark Mar tin and Operation Injured Soldiers
ichael Fisher was there.

Now living in Alanson, he
served in an Army reconnaissance (or recon) unit in
Vietnam from 1969-71, and
now deals with the effects
of Agent Orange.
So was former Marine Ian Elfenbein, from Okemos. Deployed three
times to Iraq, he cant get hired because
of his service-connected herniated discs.
Former Marine David Martwick
lives in Iron River, and was wounded
in the Iraq Fallujah offensive, some of
the worst urban fighting since Tet in
Vietnam.
Army vet Mathew Brady lives in
Mason. After two deployments in Iraq,
he was wounded when his Humvee
was hit by an RPG (rocket-propelled
grenade).
Others were there, too. All with
injuries, ranging from physical to emotional. At least a dozen casualties from
Americas wars, sharing in and about
common experiences they usually wont
talk about to those whove not been in
their boots.
But with Twin Lakes Mark Martin
and fellow walleye anglers Pat Bentley, Brandon Stanton, Les Dennis and
Mike Schneider, the vets became a
bit.
When theyre out fishing, theyre
talking about their experiences and I
guess they hardly ever do that. Its a
scenario theyre comfortable with. I find
it pretty interesting to hear what these
guys have experienced and how many
times they looked death in the face and
walked away. Im happy to do this for
people whove enabled me to do what I
do. Thats the least I can do for them,
he said.
The group Operation Injured
Soldiers was the idea of a wounded vet
Left to right, Brandon Stanton, Les Dennis, Pat Bentley, Mark Mar tin and Mike
who wanted to give back to help other
Schneider, captains for the Operation Injured Soldiers event
vets, said Michelle Robins, office adband of angling brothers for some great relaxed fun.
ministrator for the group in South Lyon.
September walleye fishing this fall on
This weekend, it centered on fish As he recuperated, he wondered
Burt Lake, at Brave Hearts Estate near
ing. On other weekends, it may include how he could form a group to recognize
Pellston, spearheaded by Operation
hunting, or reunions.
wounded vets and get them back into
Injured Soldiers (OIS).
On Burt Lake, near the Pellston
some regular activities, Robins said.
This was Martins second annual
estate, Martin, along with the other
What started with a six-person motorcyevent headquartered at the 238-acre
anglers he knows, said they were glad
cle ride to raise funds for OIS 10 years
estate, which was given to the OIS
to give back a bit to these vets whove
ago has ballooned to an organization
program by a local Pellston resident.
given so much.
hosting an annual motorcycle fundraiser
After renovations to accommodate vets Weve all had a great time at these with more than 500 participants. That
of all abilities, it opened one year ago,
events especially now that Operation In- ride also helps fund Brave Hearts Estate
welcoming individuals or families for
jured Soldiers has such a great place to and the vets who are welcomed there.
free weekend visits and family-style
host the event, Martin said. The vets
For retired plumber and former
meals, with as much, or as little, talk
are surrounded by fishermen and huntpro motorcycle racer Michael Fisher,
about their individual experiences as
ers and the rest of their fellow troops
learning where to catch walleye in
they wish, but always with plenty of
and theyre able to open up and heal a
Burt Lake, near his home, was a great
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experience topped off by doing it with

the group led by Mark Martin. Hed
been to Martins seminars before and
decided it was a great opportunity to
learn first-hand.
A friend of mine belonged and
told me I should join. Ive kinda held a
lot in after I got back from Vietnam. I
didnt want to tell people about it, and
Mark Martin dragged me out of the
woodwork, Fisher said.
Elfenbein, who served more than
40 years later, said the same. I felt like
this was an awesome opportunity, a
common meeting round with my friend,
and I have to get over being a hermit,
he said. When he left the Marines, he
became an offshore rig diver but his
herniated disc injuries grew so painful
he had to quit. Im at the point where
no one will hire me because Im a ticking time bomb for workmens comp
with my disc injuries.
Martwick joined the Marines
before the dust from 9/11 had settled.
Weeks later, he was in Iraq. While on a
tour in Fallujah, he was in the gunner
position and had ducked into his Humvee for water when the roadside bomb
exploded, throwing him into the roof.
The force resulted in spinal cord fractures, brain injuries and PTSD. Now he
does carpentry and recently bought a
house.
A good friend turned me on to
this, Martwick said. Im a pretty avid
fisherman and he suggested we meet
up. Im very grateful for this. Even my

wife tells me, youre getting stressed,
you need to go fishing. Its nice to
have time to spend with like-minded
guys here.
Brady, a former pro bull rider himself, saw action in an area near Bagdad
nicknamed the triangle of death
when the RPG hit, wounding him in the
head, back and eyes. Hes now coaching bull riding, and is the agent for a
touring pro rider on the PBR BlueDEF
Velocity Tour. His goal: create a unique
handicapped-accessible dairy farm with
another Iraq vet who is a double amputee, that other injured vets can visit. He
rents part of his land from another vet,
from the Vietnam-era.
I heard about this from a friend
and looked it up online, so I registered.
I heard about the salmon trip in Manistee two years ago and it was really
neat. The guys on my boat were really
cool and one I still keep in touch with,
he said. He also talked about hosting
a fund-raising hunt for the program on
his farm, where he also traps with his
5-year-old son.
Its nice to get away here and
meet others from my generation, he
said. The last time we stayed up until
3 in the morning, finding out where we
were all from. I was blown away with
the Brave Hearts Estate in general. Its
a relaxing place, and I can be on a lake
and not catch a thing and still have a
blast.
Fortunately, with Martin and his

colleagues, that wasnt a problem on
Burt Lake this past September.
Getting to the Maple Bay public
access at O-Dark-Thirty, temp a foggy
41 degrees, the vets and pros launched,
and everyone headed to different parts
of the lake. Fall usually calls for large
lures to target the suspended, active fish
instead of those resting on the bottom,
but the lakes walleye had something
else in mind.
Using smaller Husky Jerks and other crankbaits, Bentleys crew cleaned
Former Marine Ian Elfenbein of Okemos, with
everyones clocks, fishing Burts east
a walleye he caught with Mark Martin, right.
and north sides. Martin and the others
also did well on the southwest shore
the day prior, and that morning until the
fog lifted. After lunch on shore provided by OIS, Brandon Stantons attempt
to troll with crawlers proved fruitless,
but Martwick and Brady learned from
Stanton hands-on how to rig and set
lines, read a Lowrance fish finder, and
run a walleye boat.
That evening, after that days catch
and fish donated by a local tournament
that day was divvied up, amidst plates
of grilled chicken with brownies for
dessert, all free, the vets, including this
Vietnam-era vet, relaxed, laughed and
added a bit of fun to their lives, courteBrandon Stanton shows vet David Martsy of one vet who had an idea, 10 years
wick how to set a line counter reel.
ago, that became Operation Injured
Soldiers.
diers and its programs, or just want to
To find out if you or someone you
get involved, call 248-437-3130, or go
know qualify for Operation Injured Sol- to www.injuredsoldiers.org.n
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Improve Your Deer Hunting Success...
Pay ATTENTION
to all the DETAILS
f your deer hunting

almost have to check it out
hasnt been up to par
before you hunt. It is probover the last few years,
ably not a good idea to penperhaps you need to alter
etrate the heaviest cover in
some of your strategies
that areajust walk around
or pay more attention to
the fringes in the middle of
some of the details. If you
the day and see what you can
arent seeing a lot of deer but
see. You should spot some
your buddies are, and they
rubs, at least, in mid-October.
are hunting the same
By late October, you
cover, then there must
should be seeing some
be something you can
scrapes.
do to improve your odds. Here are a
If you are hunting for a mature
few things that are likely to make your buck, forget about scoutingyou are
deer hunting more successful.
likely to run him off. Your walk in the
woods is unlikely to scare off lesser
Scout Early Or Not At All
bucks, especially if you are hunting
If you know the territory well and around farm country, where deer often
have human encounters.
have been hunting there for years,
there is little sense in scouting the
Pick A Path
area in October or November. You are
more likely to scare the deer than to
When you chose a given stand,
learn anything. If, however, you are
you had to know which way the deer
hunting some new ground, then you
are likely to approach it. Figure out
By George Rowe
If you do most things right, and have a little luck, a nice buck might be
the result. Bryan Lindfors photo
how to get to that stand (and back)
without crossing the path of the deer
and thus laying down some scent that
Rob Shalvis
will spook them. This is of particular concern when there is snow on

the ground. Even if you are wearing
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Prepare Alternative Stands
It is important to know what the

deer are feeding on at any time you
are hunting and just where that food is
currently available. That will determine the route the deer will be taking
between their bedding areas (which
generally dont change) and feeding
areas. If there are acorns available,
deer will choose that food over about
anything else. If a nearby farmer has
combined a corn field, that is likely
to attract deer. If it turns out to be a
good year for wild apples, those will
be a deer magnet. The successful deer
hunter will try to take a stand between
the current food and the bedding area.
Dress Right
Find Food
It is usually folly to use any

stand unless the wind is just right,
even though you have taken precautions regarding your scent. For that
reason, you need to have several
options for any day in the woods, so
that you can choose a stand that is
right for the wind. Some stands will
only be productive in the morning
and others will be best for an evening
hunt. It may take as many as five or
six stands to have all the conditions
covered.
Wear clothing in light, loose
layers so that you can remove a
layer when it gets warm, during the
middle of the day, or when you have
to walk (or drag a deer). Put the extra
layer in your pack and put it on after
you get to your stand. If you start
to sweat, it could cause a chill and,
of course, that perspiration is a real
scent problem. You will only be able
to hunt long and hard if you are dry
and warm. Avoid wearing a hood or
anything over your ears. A hood can
restrict your vision and your hear-
ing. If it is really cold, just cover the

tops of your ears and you will still
be able to hear well. You will probably be more successful if you wear
camo clothing but remember to wear
at least the minimum legal amount of
blaze orange.
Control Scent
Get clean before you go to the

woods and, if you are buying new
hunting apparel, consider scentcontrol pants, jacket and hat. Of all
the deers keen senses, their sense of
smell is your largest challenge. Some
hunters not only wear the scent-control clothing, they spray down with
scent control (carbon) stuff before
they take their stand. If you spray,
dont forget to treat your weapon and
your pack. Do take all reasonable precautions and then be sure to choose
a stand that has the deer approaching
from up-wind.
Hang In There
Many a nice buck is taken right

after most hunters leave the woods
and go in for lunch. Those who are
serving their stomachs also serve
those who remain in the woods, by
moving some deer. There are certainly rewards for staying on stand for
many long hours. If you are close to a
bedding area, expect to see deer moving around a bit between 11 a.m. and
1 p.m. Many a nice buck has been
taken during the middle of the day,
especially during the first few days
of the firearm season. Along toward
the end of October, the does will be
bedded down by mid-morning. The
bucks, however, may be cruising
around, looking for those does and
they will get them up and running. If
you hear the sounds of deer running
during the middle of the day, there
can generally only be one reason for
that activity and that is bucks chasing
does. If the rut is on and the area you
are hunting is not highly pressured,
expect to see bucks moving around at
all hours of the day.
Pack Some Luck

No matter how well you prepare
and no matter what precautions you
take regarding stand location, scent,
walking in and walking out and all
the rest, there is nothing like getting
lucky. Put a rabbits foot in your pack
and hope for the best.n
scent-free rubber boots, a deer will

stop and sniff at any track left in the
snow and will very likely figure out
that trouble passed that way.
Be careful to avoid contact with
brush along the way to your stand
and dont put your hands on anything
that is low. Remember that you want
to avoid spooking any deer, including
the does and fawns that may wend
their way past your stand. If you
spook the doe, you will also alert the
following buck.
37
Name that duck!
f youre a waterfowl hunter,

identifying ducks on the wing is a
win-win situation. For one thing,
bag limits allow you to take more
of more common species thereby
maximizing your potential limit.
Some birds also have restrictions on
them so knowing what youre shooting at before you pull the trigger could
help you avoid a ticket and help protect birds that have lower populations.
Some ducks are also
more desirable on the table
than others. Shooting a tasty
wood duck or mallard is better than harvesting a merganser. Identifying ducks on
the wing requires knowing
a certain ducks silhouette,
flock and flight patterns, size,
coloration and
calls. Using these
visual and audio
clues can help you positively identify
ducks even under less than perfect
conditions.
The best waterfowling often occurs when light conditions are poorestearly or late in the day or during
nasty, inclement weather. Coloration
on a bird may not be visible in poor
light. Thats why a silhouette can be
so important when identifying waterfowl on the wing. Just the number
of birds in a flock and how they are
flying can give you a good idea of
exactly what kind of ducks youre
looking at, even at a distance. Sounds
can be an additional audible clue.
The first step is to purchase a
good identification guide so you know
what youre looking for. For years the
ducks identification bible has been the
Ducks at a Distance booklet published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. The guide emphasizes ducks
in their eclipse and winter plumage as

well as relative shape, size and flight
patterns. You can download a copy on
line by going to wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/waterfowl/duck_id_guide.pdf.
Four things to look for when
identifying ducks on the wing are
flock pattern and behavior, silhouettes, color areas and sounds. Where
you hunt can give a heads up on the
species of ducks youre likely to see.
Puddle ducks tend to inhabit
shallow, marshy areas, creeks
and natural lakes where they
can tip up to feed. Most
puddle ducks feed on aquatic
vegetation and waste grains
in agricultural fields. Because a puddle ducks feet
are placed more towards the
center of their
body versus a diving duck, they are
quite at home on land and will forage
and feed on dry land.
Diving ducks meanwhile usually
can be found near large inland lakes,
Great Lakes bays and estuaries and
coastlines. They are perfectly at home
riding the waves on big water. Diving ducks are adept swimmers and
because their feet are positioned more
toward the rear of the body they are
great divers and procure the majority
of their food by diving. They feed on
aquatic vegetation and animal matter
in the form of clams, snails, mussels
and invertebrates.
Habitat can give you a clue to the
types of ducks youre likely to see,
but there are no hard fast rules. Ducks
know no boundaries. If youre hunting a beaver flooding in the northern states chances are good that the
majority of ducks you will see will
be puddle ducks. The most common
By Mike Gnatkowski
38
Being able to identify ducks on the wing can produce some varied mixbags. The bill on ducks is a failsafe method of identification regardless
of the birds plumage.
Matt Gnatkowski with a mixed bag of divers and puddle ducks.

ducks in that type of habitat will be
black ducks, wood ducks, mallards,
teal and possibly ring-necks.
Conversely, when hunting from
a floating blind or layout boat on big
water youre likely to see canvasbacks, redheads, bluebills, buffleheads
and golden-eyes. If its on the one of
the coasts, youre likely to see some
of the sea duck species.
One common difference between
diving ducks and puddle ducks is their
wing beat. A diving ducks wings are
smaller in proportion to their body
size and weight compared to a puddle
duck. Hence, divers appear to have a
much more rapid wing beat. They also
tend to travel in lines and waves on a
more direct flight than puddle ducks.
Flight patterns and flock behavior is key to identifying ducks at a
distance. Mallards, widgeon, gadwall
and wood ducks tend to fly in small,
loose formations often of less than a
dozen birds. Each has its own particular characteristics that can provide
additional clues.
Teal and shovelers are very flashy
or showy in flight and like to buzz
low over the marsh, taking hunters by
surprise.
Pintails appear very graceful in
flight checking out a decoy spread
from great heights before spiraling
down into the decoys.
Widgeon have a fast, irregular
flight that features many twists and
turns in unison, almost like a flock of

pigeons.
Diving ducks fly in lines or irregular Vs when migrating and loose
configurations when moving between
feeding and resting areas. Because
of their short wings, their wing beats
are rapid and noisy in the chilly fall
air. Often, you can hear them before
you can see them. Canvasbacks are
larger birds with a swift, direct flight.
Redheads are mallard-sized birds
that give the impression of graceful
speed. Bluebills and ring-necks movements are erratic, rapid and usually in
compact groups. Recognizing flight
behavior and flock patterns can give
you identification clues even from
afar.
As birds approach closer to your
decoy spread silhouettes of heads,
bodies, wings and tails can provide a
positive ID. The spoon-shaped bill of
a shoveler is a dead giveaway even
at moderate distances. Pintails appear to have long, slender bodies and
wings. A widgeons wings appear to
be crescent-shaped. Wood ducks have
a distinct square-shaped tail that is
easily recognizable in flight. Silhouettes are valuable key to identification
when light conditions are poor and
color areas arent visible, as well as
size.
Teal and buffleheads are small
birds. Shovelers, wood ducks, widgeon, bluebills and ring-necks are
Top-left: The green wing speculum and small size are good identification
characteristics for the green-winged teal. Bottom-left: The blue shoulder patch and white and green wing speculum are dead giveaways of
a drake shoveler. Above: The black, white and rust on this ducks wing
identify it as a drake gadwall. Mike Gnatkowski photos
who-we-who into a pintail/widgeon
whistle.
Once in hand, duck identification becomes easier, but birds in
their eclipse plumage can sometimes
be difficult to identify. I once had a
conservation officer insist that I had
shot one too many hen mallards. I
asked him, Then why does this bird
have a green beak and this one have
an orange beak? Its green bill easily
identifies the drake mallard, in its
eclipsed plumage.
mallard hen quack is the universal
language when it comes to duck talk.
Most ducks will respond to a mallard call even if its not exactly the
call that they make themselves. Some
ducks make a similar quack, but
many others whistle, chirp, growl,
peep, screech, and croak. As a general
rule, puddle ducks are more vocal
than diving ducks. You have to listen
closely to hear the sounds. They are
often mistaken for shorebirds, but
actually are very positive ID clues.
Wood ducks make a screeching sound
that is unmistakable. The pintail
drake makes a melodious whistle that
can be very effective when trying to
attract the birds. Teal peep, chirp and
whistle. The call of a drake widgeon
can be imitated by saying who-who-
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more medium-sized ducks and

mallards; pintails, canvasbacks and
redheads are considered larger ducks.
Colors can be important ID tools
when birds are close or when light
conditions are ideal. The white
forewing and underbelly of a drake
widgeon is very visible in flight.
Shovelers and blue-wing teal have
light blue wing patches that are key
identification tools. The white under
wings of a black duck are in stark
contrast to the birds dark body. The
white edge on a bluebills wing is
often visible in good light. Often the
contrast between a dark chest and a
white underbelly can be a good identification clue on many species.
Sounds can be a subtle, but
important, identification tool. The
In fact, the bill on ducks is a failsafe method of identification regardless of the birds plumage. Richard
Lemaster devised a method whereby
ducks can be identified solely by the
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His book, Waterfowl Identification:
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39
Status Repor t:
The Great Michigan GEMS

Scientific Experiment
Figure 2
PROBLEM
tackle the grouse woods.

The primary appeal of GEMS is
Michigans Department of Natural that each site contains habitat managed
Resources has created GEMS (Grouse for grouse and some sort of road or
Enhanced Management Sites) to widen trail system makes walking easy.
the appeal of and create new interest in GEMS are meant as a sure and
ruffed grouse hunting.
easy way for out-of-state or new
hunters to locate promising spots for
sampling Michigans famous grouse
hunting. They are meant as oases, if
Dyed-in-the-wool grouse huntyou will, where senior hunters can still
ers like to describe their pursuit as
enjoy a favored pastime without havone of the most difficult of all those
ing to tear through the brush.
attempted in the sporting
And they are aimed at famiworld. In this type of huntlies where a hunting adult can
ing, one beats himself up by
easily introduce another adult
scratching and crawling his
or children to the pursuit.
way through saplings, and
thorn bushes, and ferns and
boot-sucking muck, and all
for what? Perhaps the chance
By making it so easy
every few seasons for a shot
for newcomers and old timers
at a measly, chickento locate and navigate
like-but-smaller bird
through good grouse
whose entire existence is
country, and by attractbased on a two-pronged aptitude: scar- ing the birds to these areas the DNR
ing you to death with its flush and, im- will crowd real hunters out from good
mediately after, confounding the living covers and will wipe out the ruffed
heck out of you with its ability to put
grouse population in Michigan and
too many obstacles between itself and destroy grouse hunting as we know it.
the business end of your shotgun. Real
grouse hunters welcome every opportunity to warn any wannabes that it
takes a pretty tough breed of hunter to On two days at beginning of the
OBSERVATIONS
Figure 1 and Figure 2 (Inset): Results of clicking on first two links suggested by a Google search for michigan grouse GEMS.
2016 ruffed grouse season, I spent
several hours driving around three
different GEMS locations in both
the Lower and the Upper peninsulas.
Upon returning to my home base, I
shared my findings with Al Stewart,
DNR Upland Game Bird Specialist.
RESULTS
Hypothesis
By Tom Carney
METHODS
40
Preparation
Work began with my trying to

find where in the heck the GEMS are
located. A Google search for michigan grouse GEMS produced several
recommended links. After some false
leads (Figures 1 and 2) I landed upon
the DNR Interactive Maps page for
the GEMS. There, one has to click
one link to get a general map of the
area, another link for directions to it,
a third for the GPS coordinates and a
fourth for a printable map of the area.
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It seems as if there should be an easier

way to provide the necessary information on a single, downloadable map.
We continue to expand the opportunities for people and to make it
easier for people to find the GEMS
and to get out there. We have improved it (the GEMS map page)
multiple times and continue to expand
on it. Its even more interactive today
than it was before. We continue to
update the process. (Stewart).
September 15, 2015
On opening day of ruffed grouse

season I visited the Greasy Creek GEMS
kiosk location in Montmorency County.
At 8:45 a.m., a single pickup truck
was parked next to the kiosk, which
itself is located in a gas well clearing.
About 100 yards up the trail, the woods
open to a massive sand pit.
This does not look like a good
grouse hunting spot. To top it off, the
only trail shown on the GEMS map runs
between the parking area and the highway, less than a quarter-mile away to the
east. Too close to the road, trees are too
mature, there wont be any birds along
that trail.
A single shotgun blast echoed behind me and toward the east.
It remains unclear why the welcome mat for this GEMS location
leads to a sand pit. You dont have to
hunt only where the parking spot is. All
around there it was a grouse management area in the 60s and 70s.
Most GEMS are located in generally good grouse habitat to start out with.
We just continue to enhance it for grouse
and woodcock. Improving the parking
lot site is special to that. Most of the
trails in use are old logging trails, skid
trails. In some places the main logging
trail has been closed down for foot traffic only and skid trails branching off that
are seeded down or mowed a little bit.
(Stewart).
Nothing exciting about the cover
here at all. Except for the sign alerting passers-by that theyve come upon
a GEMS site (Figure 3), a real hunter
would have driven right past. No birds
here.
September 17, 2016
On opening Saturday, I visited the

Blue Bill Creek and Mosinee GEMS
in Gogebic County.
I never would have found these
had I not transcribed the GPS coordinates from the online page to the
maps I had printed. One problem
is the GEMS maps show the areas
themselves as large as possible to fit
on a standard 8 1/2x11-inch sheet of
paper (Figure 4). In doing so, they
often cut off images of the main road
one needs to take to get to the backroads. The other problem is the names
of the roads on the maps dont always
coincide with the information on the
road signs in this National Forest.
One cannot rely alone on the DNRs
GEMS maps to find his way into these
locations. I regretted not packing
along a book of Michigan maps or an
Ottawa National Forest map with me.
You can go to MI Hunt (MY
Hunt the website where one can produce maps with cover types and age
classes identified). You can use the
old style county maps. The GEMS
maps from the DNR website are a
starting point, but people need different avenues for finding the X on the
maps. Certain dog collars with GPS
Figure 3: Standard GEMS Identification sign, pointing in this case

to the parking area at the Greasy
Creek location.
capabilities allow one to download the
information into his handheld device.
(Stewart).
Management
Through my truck window, I

noticed clover growing on some trails
near the kiosks.
Most of them are seeded down
with clover or are scheduled to be
seeded. In the 60s and 70s, Michigan had some of the first grouse
walking trails in the country. This is
an expansion of that.
Why do people come from out
of state to hunt the GEMS? Because
there is a whole lot of really good
public land available. And we actively manage for ruffed grouse and
woodcock. In the world of upland
game bird hunting Michigan is the

Number One place to harvest American woodcock. Its in the top two or
three for grouse. And why is that?
Because there is habitat for them, and
we continually manage for grouse and
woodcock. (Stewart).
Data
Driving to, around and from these

two U.P. GEMS locations produced
the following data: Vehicles parked
at GEMS kiosk locations 0; Hunters encountered 0; ruffed grouse
observed 0.
For comparison purposes, I
checked my field notes from the 1989
edition of our U.P. bird camp. While
we waited for a service station attendant to fix a flat tire, an old timer
chatted us up and filled us in on his
hunting success. Oh, its bad this
year. I have to drive 40 miles between
grouse.
I had driven 100 miles. Thus, the
bird situation in Michigan is 250%
worse than it was in 1989. Statistics
do not lie.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the evidence provided
by my unassailable experimentation
process and the data gathered therefrom:
The two shotgun blasts recorded
in Montmorency County cannot be
proven to have been from shots taken
at grouse.
All the real grouse hunters have
been driven from GEMS areas.
Figure 4: Printable map to Blue Bill Creek GEMS location does not show
main roads to take to get there. Tailfeather Communications, LLC photos
There are no more grouse in
Michigan.
The hypothesis is correct.
Everyone should stay out of
the grouse woods for the foreseeable
future until the population rebounds. I
will let you know when it is
worthwhile to return.
Trust me.
SOURCES
Stewart, Al, DNR Upland Game
Bird Specialist, telephone interview,
September 22, 2016.n
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As I departed the parking area,

from the west a shotgun blast pierced
the air.
41
The Record Bird!
Guest Column By Cory Haynes
he morning of April 19, 2016

and my alarms were sounding
off. A 10-hour shift was ahead
of me and turkey hunting
would wait until the weekend.
By lunch the work load was
getting slow and looking like I could
make the last hour and half of legal
shooting time and light if everything
went perfect.
I left work at 4:30 pm and called
Jeremy, a high-school buddy and
hunting partner for over 10 years. Jeremy had just started Primed Outdoors
apparel company and was looking to
get video and pictures to help promote
the business and drive his social media accounts so he agreed to meet me
for the hunt and he was going to video
the whole thing.
I sent him a couple GPS locations
and without hesitation he lugged all
the camera equipment, pop up blind,
chairs, decoys, and his box calls out
to the spot as I fought Detroit traffic, which was not cooperating. We
planned to hunt my Uncle Craigs private 10-acre parcel. I pulled into the
property, popped the trunk, uncased
my Benelli M2 shotgun, grabbed a
couple shells and was ready!
It was 6 p.m. and I was a few
hundred yards into the woods. I reach
the blind to see Jeremy upset telling
me there were a group of guys who
were trespassing on the property and
the neighboring city park property
with their dune buggies. I convinced
Jeremy that I knew the birds would
be roosting close by and we should
wait it out. It was about 45 minutes
later the trespassers returned and
continued to ride in the city park just
on the other side of the property line.
I was aggravated and ready to leave
42
but instead Jeremy and I, who dont

see each other very often because we
both have kids, just took the next 2030 minutes to catch up and talk in the
blind. Jeremy would every so often
throw out some calls to see if anything
would respond but we were having
zero luck.
It was close to the end of legal
shooting hours and we knew it wasnt
going to happen that day. We were
careless and just speaking out loud
instead of keeping our voices down
and then it happened. I was checking
my phone and sending a few text messages when Jeremy whispered, Big
bird Cory! Get ready! I laughed it off
because I thought this was surely one
of them fake hook sets on the lake, the
fake deer call in a treestand, and we
were now joking in the turkey blind.
Jeremy said it again but this time a
little more stern so I knew he wasnt
joking.
What happened next was not only
embarrassing but made my heart hit
the dirt! I pulled up my shotgun that
I rely on in so many different seasons
and shoot lights out with and click
the safety off and draw down on a
tom with a 7-9 inch bearded turkey at
roughly 30 yards. Jeremy would let
out a few more calls to try and bring
him closer to the decoys and to help
me get a clear shot, this bird wasnt
having it though.
This gobbler never once hit a full
strut; he took two steps every hour it
seemed like, a very cautious bird and
a very smart one. We finally get him
to walk five yards completely parallel
to us not really closing any distance.
I whisper to Jeremy if he had the
camera on him and let my first shot go
when the bird fully extends upward
Cory Haynes with his new four th biggest Atypical Michigan turkey scored
by the National Wild Turkey Federation - 123.75
to look over a small log and I make
sure that all my mechanics are perfect.
But something went wrong; I watched
feathers fly along with the biggest bird
Ive ever seen flying parallel to me.
The bird landed, ran a few yards, fell
over but would pop his head up every
so often and look over his back. I hit
the bird but didnt know if it was fatal.
I loaded another shell and crawled
out under the blinds front window.
I closed the distance on the bird all
while Jeremy stayed back covering
me and my every move with calls so I
wouldnt get busted. I crawled within
10 yards of the gobbler came to a knee
and waited for him to raise his head
again and finished the hunt. Jeremy
gathered the cameras and met me at
the spot when we got the first look at
him! Hes huge we both agree and as
Im checking spurs Jeremy reaches
down and checks the beard when he
stands up and says oh my god Cory!
Four beards: 8,
7-2/16, 9-8/16,
10-12/16 for a total
of 35-6/16
Spurs: left 1-6/16
right - 1-8/16 the bird
weighed 24.25 lbs.
Scored by CBM
This thing has three beards!

We stayed in the field taking
pictures until last shot/light and then
gathered our things and went back to
our vehicle to pose for pictures with
our Primed Outdoors stickers and
logos. When we laid the turkey across
Jeremys truck cover to separate each
of the three beards and get a good
picture, I was letting Jeremy stage all
the shots he wanted so when this was
taking place he gets even more excited
and says Youre kidding me! This
thing has four beards!
I had zero idea what the four
beards meant and shared my harvest
with friends and social media and it
was getting a lot of attention. I was at
home and at work the next few days
learning how the scoring systems
work and doing rough measurements
when I realized that this gobbler
actually had great potential to break
records. I took the necessary steps and
found out a few weeks later that my
bird was crushing scores in Wayne
County and even the state with two
different scoring methods and organizations.
This was a hunt of a lifetime that
went terribly wrong from the start but
worked out in my favor in the end. I
finally picked my heart up from the
dirt and put it back in my chest, I now
can say that I hold the number four
Atypical Eastern Gobbler in Michigan and it was all made possible by
the great outdoors of Michigan and a
great friend with the same passion for
hunting as me.n
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Staying safe in a sea of fantastic fungi

An autumn adventure in
the Porcupine Mountains...
FUNGI GOES UNNOTICED
Not by me. And if you have read

this far, maybe not by you. These
weirdly beautiful, bizarre and mysterious life forms take on shapes and
forms that appear to emerge from
books of fantasy. Some are
hunted for culinary treats,
others repel with a foul smell,
and more than a few species
might transport a forager
into a world with illusions of
reality where one sees flying
reindeer; or it might accelerate a trip to the coroner.
Our perception of fungi
and mushrooms
is rapidly changing: from deadly
poison to potential cancer cures,
nutritionally negligible to superfood,
from tasteless salad topper to the most
expensive culinary products on the
planet, from blight of the forest to bioremediation, from pest to pesticide.
Those words by Eugenia Bone, author
of Mycophilia, Revelations from the
Weird World of Mushrooms, is an

engrossing take of the extraordinary
range of forms that have evolved, and
are evolving, and their importance
today.
VOLCANOES, COPPER
AND GLACIAL ICE
My mushroom hunt, laced with

a heavy dose of Situational Awareness, occurred late in
September during a
conference of the Michigan
Outdoor Writers Association.
While my fellow members
gathered near Lake Gogebic
to pursue their hook and
bullet passions I headed for
the backwoods trails of
Porcupine Mountains
Wilderness State
Park, the largest
State Park
in Michigan. This 60,000 acre park
is located on the shore of Lake
Superior in the western Upper
Peninsula. It has rugged terrain,
spectacular waterfalls, and lush
forests that include some of largest
hemlock trees found in Michigan,
along with virgin hardwoods and
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miles of rivers and streams.
But it was not always like that.
Go back in time about one and half
billion years. Massive volcanic eruptions ripped through the earths crust
and lava flowed in what we call the
western U.P. Volcanic activity also
lead to mineral deposits containing
metals such as copper. And then millions of years ago, glacial ice movements and floods that continued until
12,000 years ago perfected a great
escarpment that towers over the most
popular tourist lure of the park, the
Lake in the Clouds.
And as for mushrooms encountered, it would probably take a full
page to list the species that flourish
in the Porkies when environmental
conditions spur growth. I am not a
mycologist, and many, if not most,
were colorful strangers to me. And
guessing when it comes to mushrooms and mixing the bounty of fungi
together to sort when home can be, to
the say least, problematic.
IM A NEOPHYTE
When it comes to mushrooms of

the Midwest and I behave accordingly; with caution. Up until this adventure, my collection for consumption
was limited to two species, morels and
shaggy manes.
Not a very impressive list. And
while hiking through an 11-mile section of this magnificent wilderness I
encountered a toxic moral look alike,
a False Morel, just as I encountered
another hiker who also happened to be
on a casual mushroom prowl. I rarely
lecture a stranger, especially about
topics I do not know well, but in this
case I knew just enough not to stay
silent and shared a warning.
To the set the scene to better
understand the encounter I was
dressed in dark olive technical
hiking pants, a dark green jacket,
and a cap with an official looking
logo celebrating the 100th anniversary
of the National Park Service. I
quickly released he mistook me for
a ranger and addressed me as Sir
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with approval
in his greeting, and then posed a

question.
A DEADLY MIX
He inquired if I knew about

mushrooms and proceeded to dump
out of a small zip locked plastic bag
with an assortment of colorful fungi,
perhaps six or seven different species.
His question was direct, Which ones
can I eat?
I noticed right away one species
that was the quest of my hunt, the
deliciously delectable Chicken of the
Woods (that has chicken-like texture
and flavor if properly prepared), and
two others in his bag; the Destroying
Angel and the spectacularly beautiful Fly Agaric, more commonly
known by its scientific name, Amanita muscaria. They are toxic. The
foraging hiker carried out two of the
most dangerous practices done by
novice foragers; collecting unknown
species for later identification, and
mixing species together in one bag. A
zip lock bag is a perfect way to mix
spores and broken bits of gills, pores,
folds and other parts of mushrooms
into a toxic mess of mushroom madness. If attached gills, decurrent gills,
free gills, pores, folds and other terms
such as club-shaped, button stage,

partial veil, or volva mean nothing to
you, dont go out collecting, not yet.
We talked a bit more and he
agreed it was best to leave his collection on a carpet of moss and I headed
along in my direction with the hopes
of finding Chicken of The Woods.
Two miles further down the trail, I
knelt to admire a bear track in mud,
and then perhaps out of an abundance
of caution looked up. There on a
shady ridge, not far from the mist
of a waterfall, was the object of my
quest, Chicken of the Woods. And
unlike other edible species that seem
to blend into the mix of fallen leaves
and remain hidden in plain sight, the
bright orange colors of Chicken of the
Woods all but screams out from its
tree-trunk hugging location. I broke
off a few of the stemless-fan shaped
caps, set a short compass bearing to
reconnect with the Government Peak
Trail, and hiked on with one eye
scanning for more tree-chickens
and another one watching for bear
sign.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
A basic knowledge of our mushrooms are necessities for any forag-
False morels, TOXIC.

ing expedition, close to home, or in
the wilds of the Porkies. The best
way to learn about mushrooms is not
from questionable Facebook posts,
but from someone really in the know,
and that is not me. A great book to get
started is Mushrooms of the Upper
Midwest by Marrone and Yerich.
The first 20 pages of this colorful
book are rich with identification tips,
taxonomy clues and important safety
warnings, including the fact that
many novices try to make a mushroom they searched for and found fit
a description in a book of what they
want it to be. That can be fatal mis-
take. The authors state, We strongly

advise that novice mushroom enthusiasts consult multiple references, or
better still, a local authority who can
verify the identity of the mushroom
in question before its eaten. The
pocket-sized book was with me all
during the hike, instantly accessible
in my waist-side emergency essential
pouch carrying two other essentials,
the compass and bear spray.
Jonathan Schechter is a naturalist/writer in Oakland County and
an active member of the Wilderness
Medical Society. Email: Oaknature@
aol.comn
THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
Saturday 9am 7pm
Sunday 10am 4pm
Deer Pickup Hours:

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Venison Processing
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Hide: $15.00
Grind and Package Only: $.65/lb +
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Horn Removal $5.00
Fresh Sausage
Breakfast Sausage: $2.00/lb (10 lb min.)
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Honey BBQ Sticks: $22.00/5lb Bag
w/Pepper Jack Cheese: $26.00 Bag
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w/Cheddar Cheese: $26.00/5lb Bag
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w/Pepper Jack Cheese: $26.00/5lb Bag
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w/Pepper Jack Cheese: $26.00/5lb Bag
BBQ Habanero Sticks: $22.00/5lb Bag
Ghost Chili Pepper Sticks: $22.00/5lb Bag
Jerky
Regular Jerky: $12.00/lb (wet)
BBQ Jerky: $12.00/lb (wet)
Other Smoked Items:

Venison Hams: $12.00 ea
Bacon: $6.00/lb
Corned Venison: $6.00
Store Hours of Operation:

Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm
Sat: 9am-7pm
Sun: 10am-4pm
810-378-5455
4470 S. Sandusky Rd., Peck, Mi 48466
www.johnstonsmeat.com
Prices subject to change without notice
Deer Drop Off Hours:
45
The Year
Part II...By Adam Lewis
ast month was part one of the

story of my best year hunting
whitetail; the story of what was
to be the taking of my biggest
buck yet, or so I thought. Trail
cameras captured big Ohio
bruisers in velvet during the summer.
My two hunts early in the fall had
turned up a good, heavy-hoofed buck
on blurry nighttime trail cam pictures.
This was the ghost buck, as I called
him, and I had him figured out. My
eggs were in one basket as I took time
off work during early November, and
all the planets were aligned, just not in
a good way.
Quickly, my high hopes of my
best year ever came crashing down
right before my eyes in a series of
uncanny, bad events. That first morning I had a ringside seat to another
hunter setting up within 150 yards of
me, and shooting the biggest buck I
had ever seen in the woods. The buck
barely skirted me following a doe,
and I found out later the hunter hadnt
found him, but likely mortally wounded him. On top of that, my number
one target, the ghost buck, lie dead in

the bed of his buddys truck, arrowed
the night before just 200 yards from
my best stand. What a day, and it was
only 1 pm the first afternoon! Punch
in the gut came, after punch in the gut,
and I was left to wonder, what could I
really do?
November 7...2 p.m.
Hunt! All I could do was hunt at
this point, and let the chips fall where
they may. I decided the best spot
was still up at the big scrapes (ghost
buck picture location), so I decided
to head out for the evening, although
a bit later than I planned. The out-ofstate hunters were pulling their stands
and leaving, so I would have several
days to myself, and maybe something
would still happen. They offered me a
ride up the hill in their jacked-up 4x4
to the field where one of their stands
was, so I accepted. I found out they
had been driving up there and parking
in the field when they hunted. They
were nice guys, but maybe this was
the reason no deer were coming to the
field in daylight. I thanked them, and
The authors high hopes of his best year ever came crashing down right
before his eyes in a series of uncanny, bad events.
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headed down the two-track toward my

stand. Maybe this would be a turning point, maybe this terrible, almost
uncanny bad luck would end tonight.
2:30 p.m.
I found out this was not the case.
Soon after climbing into the tree,
which was near a property line, the
neighbors decided to drive into their
back woods and begin target practice
with their handguns only 150 yards
away. Unbelievable. I made a quick
decision that this was not the spot I
wanted to sit out the night, watching the neighbors kill tin cans, so I
climbed down and headed to my only
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option, the stand I sat in the morning. I sputtered as I walked my way

toward it, and tried to keep a good
attitude. What else could happen?
Famous last words.
3:30 p.m.
As I rounded the bend and the
stand came into view, I felt one more
shot below the belt: the neighbor was
sitting in the stand. Unbelievable.
My only option now was to return to
my truck, get my climber, and find a
random location to hunt the last hour
of light. This is exactly what I did,
and fittingly, saw nothing. And as if it
couldnt get any better, the cherry on
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November 8-11
The rest of that long weekend,
one with so much potential, died a
slow death with only sightings of a
couple smaller bucks, despite hunting
different properties and different locations on these properties. After the
last hunt, I have to admit I felt pretty
defeated as I packed up and headed
on the longer than usual five hour
drive back home. A million questions
ran through my mind. What went
wrong? How did something with so
much potential turn out so unbelievably bad? What could I have done
differently?
A few answers came to me when
I was honest enough to look at myself
in the rearview mirror. A few answers
that I think will help me next year and
maybe you too.
Lesson 1
Pressure matters. The designation of private land, or public
land means nothing, its how much
pressure that land is getting that is
the key. Deer dont know boundaries,
they just know where its safe, and
where it isnt. If you think about the
word pressure and the scientific application this makes sense. Basically
things move from high to low pressure: air masses (why we have wind),
water (why it flows in a pipe), and in
our case, deer. So private or public,
we need to find areas of low pressure,
regardless. For me, this means knocking on more doors, and scouting some
more public land for deer, and hunter
sign, and maybe trying that out next
year when my private land spots
seem more like public land.
Lesson 2
Stick it out. No normal person
would stick out a stand when people

are practicing their Wild West show
close by, but in my case it could have
put a bruiser on the ground. I think
sometimes we underestimate how
reckless a buck can be during the
rut, and how normal neighborhood
sounds, even shooting a gun, might
not freak them out enough to change
their behavior. If its a good spot with
fresh sign, maybe you should stick
it out. After all, youre already there,
and moving a few hundred yards may
not change a thing, and could cause
even more commotion.
Lesson 3
Exercise self-discipline. Unfortunately in our age of smartphones and
instant gratification, self-discipline
is becoming an endangered species.
Were getting lazy as a society, but
Mother Nature isnt! My lack of discipline with my moving abruptly may
have caught the eye of a doe with big
buck in tow. Next year Ill pay special
attention to my movements, and make
sure they are slow and deliberate no
matter what. There is a big difference
between texting BB (big buck), and
BBD (big buck down) to your buddy.
So pay attention, put that phone away,
and dont think technology will compensate for lack of self-discipline and
good old fashioned hunting skills.
Lesson 4
Plan for Murphy! I had a plan for
the rut, maybe a backup plan, but that
wasnt enough. Its the worst feeling in the world knowing you have
a short number of hunts, and youre
wasting one of them. Have a backup
plan: another property, another spot,
multiple wind locations, and multiple odd situation stand locations.
Knowing where you will go when
Murphys Law strikes will decrease
stress, frustration, and increase your
odds. My situation was extreme, but
this is a great advantage to having
multiple permanent stands on a property. Its quick and easy to slip into
any one of them when needed. Plan
for Murphy!
Lesson 5
The little things are the BIG
things. When it comes to fooling a
whitetails three main senses, any
little thing can kill us, so we must
pay close attention to everything.
Many of us are good at planning a
trip, having all the gadgets, or having stand sets for any wind, but what
little things are being overlooked?
Something innocent like playing with
your phone (or like me, the camera)
and allowing a deer to sneak behind
you could be the difference between
success and failure (which if you say
they dont, but you are staring at your
phone, how do you even know?) Not
having enough sleep, and not being
alert at that critical moment is another
potential season-changer (and let me
be clear, every moment hunting is a
critical one). The little things are big
things that can make or break your
hunting season. Are you paying attention to them?
Lesson 6
Manage the unknowns. The uncontrollables are well, uncontrollable,
however we can do things to minimize them and put the odds more in
our favor. The number of other hunters on my piece of private property

was an issue, but I could have done
more to know when and where they
were hunting, and planned around
them. Better yet, I could have just
gone elsewhere and avoided that long
series of unfortunate events. Knowledge is power. The more knowledge
you have about weather, deer behavior, your properties, other hunters, anything really, the more good
informed decisions you can make
based on that. You take back control, instead of letting outside forces
totally dictate your hunt, and hunting
success.
Reality is though, you cant
control everything, and its important
to know the difference between what
we can and cannot influence. Some
of my experiences that day were just,
well, terrible luck. But, maybe I could
have decreased them by managing the
unknowns a little better, and maybe
you can improve your chances by
managing the unknowns too!
Growing as hunters is important,
and if we can learn from our past,
good and bad, next year just might be
the year!n
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the top was checking my trail camera the next day on the big scrap, the
spot I left because the neighbors were
playing Bonnie and Clyde, and seeing
a big shooter 8 point showed up about
an hour after I left! Ouch! The perfect
ending, to a far less than perfect day.
47
Dam removal
brings NEW LIFE
to Pigeon River
or nearly a century, the Pigeon River in the northeast

Lower Peninsula has been a
beautiful, blue-ribbon trout
stream scarred with a flaw
sometimes fatal to fisha
dam situated about 15 miles
downstream from the rivers source.
Now, after a collaborative effort
and litigation involving the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources,
the damlocated near Vanderbilt in
Otsego Countyhas been removed
from the landscape, an important
accomplishment that has been a long
time coming.
The river was first dammed in
the late 1800s by a timber company
to help transport logs downstream.
Later, the earthen dam was rebuilt by
a group of sportsmen known as The
Lansing Club, with the waters behind
the dam maintained as a fishing pond.
In 1957, a heavy rain washed
out the dam, killing trout for miles
downstream and covering valuable
aquatic habitat with silt from the

impoundment. Sadly, this would not
be the only time the dam would prove
disastrous to the rivers trout.
The dam was rebuilt with concrete. Detroit-area entrepreneur J. Oliver Black purchased the property in
the 1970s and founded Golden Lotus/
Song of the Morning as a yoga retreat.
The dam generated electric power for
the property.
By 1984, an inspection showed
the dam was in need of repair and the
DNR issued a permit to allow the water in the impoundment to be drawn
down and the necessary repairs made.
Unfortunately, the dam was
drained improperly. The repair crew
drained the pool too quickly, washing
sediment downstream, killing fish and
again covering fish spawning habitat.
DNR fisheries biologists estimated 53 percent of trout in the
riverlocated within the first few
miles downstream of the damwere
killed, while about 30 percent died
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The dam over the Pigeon River recently removed through a cooperative
effor t and legal action. MDNR photos
farther downstream. In all, the DNR
estimated more than 33,000 trout were
killed over a 21-mile stretch of the
Pigeon River.
The DNR sought redress in court,
and a judge ruled that if it happened
again he could order the dam removed.
In 2008, a mechanical failure of
the flood gates again caused a massive
discharge of sediment. The resulting
fish kill was perhaps the biggest yet.
Some estimates put mortality at more
than 400,000 trout.
But even without the fish kills, the
dam was a blemish on an otherwise
pristine riverone of the best brook
trout fisheries in the state.
The dam produced quantifiable
fish kills, but that doesnt mean it
didnt kill fish routinely, said Tim
Cwalinski, the DNR fisheries biologist who oversees the Pigeon River.
They operated it as a peaking facility,
running peak flows when they were
operating the turbines. The river went
through multiple ups and downs daily.
Thats not good for a river. Theres no
stability for the invertebrates, for the
(fish) eggs, for everything.
Removal of the dam will greatly
improve the aquatic habitat, allow fish
passage upstream and produce better
water temperature conditions downstream from the old dam site.
Not having peaking operations
is going to have a positive impact on

the downstream invertebrate habitat,
Cwalinski said. That river has very
few issues. The water temperature is
good from upstream to downstream
its probably 3 to 5 degrees lower now
downstream from where that impoundment was. So it provides more
trout habitat in summer.
Removing the dam didnt come
without a fight.
A lawsuit was filed against
Golden Lotus/Song of the Morning by
the DNR and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, joined
by Trout Unlimited.
Ultimately, the parties agreed the
dam would be dismantled.
Admittedly, everyone at Song of
the Morning dearly loved the lake that
for decades served as a reminder of
the silent stillness of meditation that
is our tradition, Linda Gabby, board
chairwoman of Golden Lotus, Inc.,
said. However, when the opportunity arose to heal both the river and
our relationships with neighbors, the
promise of good will and a restored
river outweighed the loss. I havent
looked back.
Gabby said those who ultimately
became partners in the project will recall meeting one memorable evening
in spring 2012 at the Pigeon River
Forest headquarters to share stories
of their personal connections with the
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river and to explore the possibility of

forging agreements that would focus
on common purpose.
To me, this was the turning point
in our years of negotiations prior to
dam removal, Gabby said. The
ability to walk away from discord
and personal self-interest and to
restore good will has been, for me,
the great teaching of this experience,
this and the discovery that our river
has a voice. What a joy it is to hear
the sound of the Pigeon as it flows
through our retreat center.
Joe Jarecki, treasurer of Pigeon
River Country Association, a group
that has long sought the dams removal, agreed that during the litigation
phase, the parties moved from being
adversaries to being partners.
While the evolution of the Pigeon River is well under way, itll be
years and possibly decades before the
process is complete, Jarecki said.
One of the biggest hurdles to
removing the dam was the cost
involved. The DNR came through
with an Aquatic Habitat grant and the
Great Lakes Fishery Trust kicked in,
too. Additional partners also came on
board.
It took some time for people to
come together, but once we had the
communities aligned, we were able

to get the work done on the ground,
said DNR Deputy Director Bill
Moritz, who is chairman of the Great
Lakes Fishery Trust Board of Directors. Its all about collaboration.
Brad Jensen is the executive
director of Huron Pines, a nonprofit
conservation group in the northeast
Lower Peninsula that oversaw the
Pigeon River dam removal. Jensen
praised Michigans sportsmen for
their support of a license fee increase
two years ago.
Revenue from the license fee
increase made this possible, Jensen
said.
Indeed, the aquatic habitat grant
that helped fund the dam removal was
the first of many the DNR has awarded since the license fee increase,
which promised sportsmen more
bang for their buck.
This has been a great project,
Jensen said. So many partners made
this come together.
Bryan Burroughs, executive
director of Trout Unlimited in Michigan, said his group was deeply satisfied with the outcome.
Its what our board set out for,
Burroughs said. We were very
resolute that the dam be removed. Its
Visitors overlook the Pigeon River cutting its new path after a dam was
recently removed from the Song of the Morning proper ty.
been a long ride with a lot of twists,
but were here.
But were not there. Thatll take
time.
Theres still the sand trap that
needs maintenance, but it is working
and everythings progressing very
well, Burroughs said. We want to
make the Pigeon River all that it can
be.
What it can be is 46 miles of
free-flowing, blue-ribbon trout
stream with a mixture of cobble,
gravel and sand that provides ideal
trout habitat.
The river has established a new

channel through the old impoundment. Steep, clay walls, though unnatural, line the banks just upstream
of the old dam site. Those walls will
eventually break down.
The river will chew at those
walls over time, Cwalinski said.
Were only a year into this. The
rivers healing and it takes time.
The real story here was working together and communicatingus,
them, Trout Unlimited, Huron Pines,
everyone. The true story was breaking down those barriers.n
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49
Michigans most underrated game animal
lthough many Michigan

hunters cut their hunting
teeth on small game, most
advanced quickly to big
game hunting. In the rush to
make the whitetail deer the
undisputed king of Michigan hunting,
the most abundant game animal, the
squirrel, has been nearly forgotten.
I know a lot of deer hunters but I
dont know anyone who admits to being a squirrel hunter. Thats a shame
because squirrels are a joy to hunt.
When it comes to keen eyesight, acute
hearing, and a quick sense
for detecting danger, a squirrel has it all.
Michigan allows hunters a long, September 15
to March 1, squirrel season
and a generous, five per day,
limit. To me, a squirrel hunt
is a relaxing, quiet time spent
in the woods with no
pressure, and basically
no competition from
other hunters. In addition, the meat
from the game harvested is excellent
eating. I really enjoy the slower pace
of stalking through the woods, eyes on
the treetops, all senses alert, searching
for the telltale movement or sound of

a squirrel.
To make my hunt even more fun
and satisfying, I like to hunt with a
small bore, flintlock squirrel rifle.
The American Longrifle wasnt called
a squirrel rifle for nothing. Hunting
squirrels is one of the oldest small
game pursuits, going all the way back
to pioneer days. The original forests
were thick with mast producing oak,
hickory, walnut, and chestnut trees.
For straight shooting early settlers,
squirrels were a major source of meat.
I strive for head shots with
my .40 caliber rifle because
its a little hard on meat
when a shot goes awry. Carefully loading each shot in my
rifle from a powder horn and
shot pouch seems to make
a historic connection to our
early pioneer past.
There was a wonderful October feel
to the clear, chilly air
as I eased into a small woodlot near
home one day last fall. A light breeze
rustled the fallen leaves and helped
to cover any noise I made as I moved
slowly along. A lot of acorns had
By Darryl Quidort
A limit of bushytails taken with a flintlock squirrel rifle.

fallen and the squirrels were active
on the ground that afternoon. Soon I
saw one sitting on a low limb. Using
a large tree for cover, I approached
to within shooting range of my rifles
open sights. Leaning around the tree, I

took careful aim and gently squeezed
the trigger. Through the resulting
black powder smoke I thought I saw
the squirrel fall straight down and as
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delivery of any container,
new orders only.
only four shots, I was starting to feel

a little cocky. Although I dont try to
limit out there was still plenty of
time to enjoy hunting and the woodlot was full of squirrels. I admit the
thought of a five squirrel limit did
enter my mind.
Maybe just the thought put pressure on me because I missed an easy
shot on my next opportunity. The
squirrel didnt even flinch at the shot,
so I stepped behind a tree to quickly
reload my rifle. As I was pouring
black powder from the horn to my
measure, I heard the squirrel coming
toward me. I was amused to notice
my hands shaking from excitement as
I poured the measured powder down
the bore of the muzzleloader. The
squirrel hopped by me and stopped
less than ten paces away as I quickly
seated the patched round ball onto
the powder charge with the ramrod.
As I primed the pan of the flintlock
the squirrel sat up and looked at me
as if he had just seen me for the first
time. I slowly raised the rifle, set the
hair trigger, and promptly missed
him again. I had just missed the same
squirrel twice with a flintlock rifle!
Calming down, I reminded
myself not to try to force the shot.
Just relax and let the rifle do its work.
Dont grip it too tight, torque the
stock, or rush the shot. Just align the

sights, hold steady, and concentrate
on the front sight until the flintlock
cracks, then continue to hold steady
after the shot. Its simple.
Not so cocky now, I went in
search of another squirrel to try to
redeem myself. After crossing a little
creek, I spotted one feeding on the
other side of a fallen tree. Anticipating a shot, I cocked the hammer, set
the hair trigger, and waited. He was
busy in the fallen leaves and wouldnt
sit up. My arms began to tire from
holding the 8 pound rifle up.
Finally, a chance for a shot. Crack!
Squirrel number four.
I refused to think about the limit
thing and started back through the
woods with a satisfyingly heavy game
bag. Then I heard a squirrel scolding
me. Moving toward the sound of his
barking, I spotted him 35 feet up in a
big tree. Approaching slowly, I positioned the tree trunk behind him and
carefully made my shot. Through the
black powder smoke I saw squirrel
number five drop straight down into
the leaves.
Although Im satisfied with less,
there is no need to feel guilty about
taking a limit of squirrels. Im confident there were plenty left for seed,
and no one that I know of even hunts
The authors game bag, shot

pouch, and flintlock rifle are the
same as those used by early
American pioneers.
them. Squirrels are definitely Michigans most underrated game animal.
Ive been fortunate to enjoy a lot
of squirrel hunts when the sky was
blue, the air was cool, and the fall
woods smelled intoxicatingly good.
But, Ill always fondly remember
that one fine day when I went 5 for 8
shots on squirrels.n
the smoke cleared I could see it lying

motionless in the fallen leaves under
the oak tree.
Its a good practice to reload before moving because you never know
when another shot opportunity might
develop. I quickly ran through the
process of loading a flintlock; pour
powder from horn to measure, pour
it down the barrel, check on the dead
squirrel, place a patch on the muzzle
and a ball on top, start it with the
short starter, glance at the squirrel,
use the ramrod to seat the ball firmly
down on the powder charge, finally,
prime the pan, close the frizzen, and
put the hammer on half-cock. Yep,
squirrel hasnt moved. I walked over
to claim my prize.
Stalking carefully along, I was
surprised by another squirrel as it
jumped up on a fallen log at close
range. Most of my shots are taken
at from 10 to 30 yards, some of the
dumber squirrels are taken even
closer. A clean head shot collected my
second squirrel of the day from atop
the log. He must have been one of the
dumber ones.
I made a clean miss on my next
opportunity, but connected on another
squirrel which was picked cleanly
off a stump at 20 yards. With three
squirrels in my game bag, taken with
51
Trolling late
season walleyes
By Mark Mar tin
efore the walleye season

starts, the options for fishing walleyes are anything
but plentiful. The same
holds true late during the
last of open-water times, as
well. But in spring, the bite is limited
due to the season in most waters not
being open for fishing yet, with the
Great Lakes, from Michigan to Erie
and beyond, where the waters around
the river mouths are the exceptions.
This time of year, however, its more
the fish are congregating in tighterknit packs than they have been all
summer.
With the season still open, however, theres no time like the present to
hit the couple of miles of water before
the great freeze. And, interestingly
enough, the same places you will find
eyes in April are the same places
where you can find them now.
Where Fish? There Fish!
Around the rivers, reefs and adjacent depths nearby is where walleyes
congregate in April; same thing in November. In spring, its more the spawn
that has them migrating here. In fall,
its all about food.
Trolling is the ticket, not only to
put a bait in front of more predators
but to stand out from the crowd of
smelt, alewives, gizzard shad and gobies. This is where the big ones live,
often suspended over open water, or,
moving onto rock-strew areas to feed,
both day and night.
In The Daylight
In my early years, fishing with

my grandfather and father around the
Muskegon Lake river mouth, in Michigan, we caught monster walleyes
trolling near the beach and around the
pier heads. The pattern still holds true,
but since then Ive found even greater

numbers within a two-mile radius
of the river mouth. So it is from the
Muskegon to Eries Maumee, and, any
inland lake with similar attributes.
During the day, I start looking
with electronics for bait and trolling
for suspended fish that may be down
10 to 25 feet. Most of the time youll
see the bait, but unless the walleyes
are highly concentrated, youll seldom
see fish.
Still, I put my lines out so my
crankbaits are running atop the
schools of bait, since predators such
as walleyes tend to look up, not down,
when pursuing prey. When I spot a
blob of bait on my Lowrance HDS
Gen-3 unit, which also has GPS capabilities, I punch in a waypoint or an
icon for future reference.
As Im trolling, Ill often identify
four or five key schools of bait and
then troll between them. Sometimes
only one or two of the schools are
holding walleyes. You have to cover
water to find out.
Speed control and the right lures
are key to connecting. I troll with my
9.9-horsepower four-stroke kicker,
which pushes my big Lund at a slow
crawl. My favorite speed during the
daytime is about 1.5 mph.
At this pace, I get solid action out
of Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerks slim minnow baits that achieve excellent depth and have a light wobble
that triggers fish in cold water. If I
cant get the suspended fish going, or,
if I mark some big arcs near bottom,
Ill switch over to leadcore and switch
over to Rapalas new Scatter Raps,
and get the cranks within a foot or two
of bottom. But you have to watch the
locator and pay close attention to the
depth.
52
Mark Mar tin attaches Church Tackles Stern Planer to leadcore line.
The author, Mark Mar tin, and a nice walleye caught on a warm fall day while
trolling a Rapala Huskey Jerk behind planer boards. David A. Rose photos
The beauty of leadcore is that if
ful trolling motor that has quality batthe bottom rises, you simply speed up teries and will ease along at 1.0 mph.
and the line lifts above the hump or
My 107-pound thrust bow-mount
ledge. When you get past it, count to
draws little juice from my dependable
30 and then slow down. Leadcore will Optima batteries. Now I can troll all
sink back into the walleyes range.
night long with plenty of power.
When I have tried trolling with
Tools of the Trolling Trade
the gas motor, Ive caught fish the
Planer boards are incredibly
first few passes and had them turn off
important to spread lines to the side,
because of the noise. With the elecwhere fish scoot out when the boat
tric, I keep catching them. To work up
goes over them. The walleyes simply higher toward the surface, I switch to
move right into the path of the lures.
No. 13 Original Rapalas on 20-pound
Stern planers, too, are part of my
Berkley FireLine. Three No. 7 split
spread, as well.
shots a few feet above it will get you
For running small cranks, check
down to 12 or 13 feet. The split-shots
out Church Tackles TX-12, great
will also stop any weedswhich are
with deeper, harder-diving crankbaits. now dying and floating on the surIn serious wind, the TX-24, with its
facefrom sliding any further down
accompanying ballast, rides the waves my line than where they are pinched
no problem.
on at and rendering my Rapalas use Churchs Stern Planers, on the
less.
other hand, allow for line-out/depth
I very seldom use planer boards
precision while allowing the lures to
at night, but if you must, keep small
run several hundred feet behind the
boards close to the boat, just beyond
boat without tangling up.
your other rods, to prevent congestion
Sometimes, however, its best
and bottlenecks with others trolling.
to go especially slow, right around
Another reason to go without boards
1.0 mph. And while cooling waters
is the ability to pump the Rapala formight not be the best crankbait with
ward and drop it backa key trigger.
more wobble, such as the Rapala Tail Slowly ease the rod forward about
Dancer, the new Scatter Rap lures pro- 18 inches and drop it back on a tight
vide more erratic, side-to-side move- line. I do this about 20 or 30 times a
ment to set your offering apart from
minute. Keep it gentle, however. Oththe hordes of baitfish.
erwise youll pull the lure away from
too many walleyes, which miss when
When Night Falls
the bait has too much erratic action.
At night, the waters come alive
April is indeed a month of feast
with even more monsters, which feed or famine. And so, too, is November.
under the cover of darkness. The same Now is the time to make your move
trolling techniques are the way to go. before youre walking on water rather
The prime technique? To move from
than boating on it.
one baitfish pod to another. But its
Mark Martin is a touring tournaimportant to make some adjustments. ment angler, as well an instructor
The reason? The fish do, too.
with the Ice-Fishing Vacation/School,
In darkness, walleyes tend to
who lives in the southwest corner of
move higher in the water column; up
Michigans Lower Peninsula. Check
into the top 10 feet. This is the time to out his website at markmartins.net for
switch from the gas kicker to a power- more information.n
WE ARE YOUR BEST CHOICE FOR

GLOBAL WILDLIFE ARTISTRY
14510 N. Saginaw Rd. Clio, MI

810.564.3142 www.dourlain.com
Like Us On
TaxidermyByDourlain
NORTH AMERICAN/AFRICAN/EXOTICS
53
Hunting wood ducks
54
s the setting sun illuminated the

brightly colored fall leaves, a pair
of woodies zipped over the treetops, banked hard right and zoomed
directly at us. They were moving
at top speed but when they saw my
decoy spread, cupped wings quickly,
lowered altitude and burned past us
at 40 miles an hour. Cort Skoog from Ionia was on
his first wood duck hunt and he shouldered his new
shotgun and touched off two shots as the woodies
swished past. To my surprise both birds folded and
Cort was on the board with a duo of beautiful wood
ducks. Ill never forget his expression of surprise
at the double header and he was smiling from ear
to ear while holding the prize as I snapped photos.
Thats when he hit the nail on the head and described the experience as absolutely wonderful.
Michigan waterfowl hunters will discover the
same wonderful experience when they take to the
marshes and waterways this fall. Once again woodie numbers are very high and hunters can harvest
three birds per day. More importantly with mallard
numbers down and most blue winged teal have
migrated south, you can still expect exceptional
gunning for woodies in local swamps, backwaters,
rivers and lakes.
Season dates for the North zone are now Nov.
20 and Nov. 26-27. Middle zone is now Nov. 27
and Dec. 17-18. South zone is now Dec. 4 and Dec.
31-Jan. 1. The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks of
any species, no more than 4 mallards (no more than
2 of which may be hens), no more than 3 woodies
(any sex), and 1 black duck. The possession limit is
3 times the daily limit for ducks. Michigan waterfowl hunters are required to have a base license
$11, waterfowl license and HIP $12 and Federal
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp $25.
Perhaps the most wonderful trait about woodies is they simply love to buzz the marsh at daylight
and sundown. Many times they are the first ducks
COVER STORY
By Kenny Darwin
you will see just as legal shooting hours arrive.
They also love to fly low and if they pass over
your decoys they are almost always in good gunning range. Savvy hunters are set up and waiting
to ambush birds long before the sun breaks over
the eastern horizon. Then again when the evening
light fades and the day has come to an end woodies
take flight and present worthy fast-moving targets
as they buzz area waterways. One great thing about
woodies is they love to fly low, zip in and out of

pockets of flooded cover and they are usually in
range and a worthy target.
Wood ducks have a reputation as ducks that
are difficult to decoy. Thats true, however you can
bring them kissin close if you use some slick tricks.
Begin by using modern decoys with realistic body
proportions, feather detail and most importantly
lifelike, high-quality paint schemes. Put simply,
woodies prefer to land in woodie decoys. The old
adage birds of a feather flock together is certainly
applicable to wood ducks and their preference is to
land with their own. Oh sure some will land in mallard or teal decoy spreads but if you want to suck
them from the skies and have close range gunning
go with woodie decoys. When it comes to birds that
have been hunted lifelike woodie deks are a must.
Pressure cautious birds tend to circle decoys, take a
good look and will only dump into your spread if it
is realistic looking.
There are several new modern decoys available that will get this job done. My top choice is the
Avian X Topflight Wood Duck decoys because they
come in different body styles, are colored extrabright and bring woodies to you. Sure the advanced
rubberized molding is great and the nonchip paint
is a plus for those busting through ice or hunting
swamps but the slightly oversized realistically colored decoys work like magic. It is my opinion that
wild birds can see the bright colors on the drake
woodies at long distances and they come to them
like magic. Just one peek at that bright green crown
bordered in white and the orange, red, yellow and
black bordered bill and birds see them at longer distances than most. The drakes look like adult male
birds and they draw yearling woodies and small
flocks like no other. Some hunters like decoys made
Cor t Skoog happily displays a pair of woodies
by Hard Core and Higdon. Fortunately you dont
that flew directly over the authors decoy spread need large decoy spreads for woodies, a half dozen
placed in the Mar tini flooding, Pere Marquette
or dozen will do especially if you enhance your
spread and use motion decoys.
State Forest.
Most duck hunters use MOJO spinning wing

decoys to get the attention of large flocks or draw
birds close. There is little doubt the flashing white
rotating wings are a powerful draw. Dont overlook the drawing power of the MOJO Screamin
Woody that boasts a realistic wood duck body paint
scheme and size. Again, if you use woodie decoys
you will draw more birds.
Now, heres the kicker for attracting woodies. Im convinced the secret to decoying woodies
hinges on water motion decoys, period. You know
the kind that send out ripples across the surface of
the calm marsh. Back in the day my daddy taught
me how to use a pull cord with decoys attached. If
you jerk on the cord the decoys would move and
birds would see the moving water for miles. Today
my top choice water motion decoy is the Wonderduck Cyclone duck butt with paddling feet that
send out watery ripples birds see at long distances.
Dont overlook the drawing power of the MOJO
Flyway Feeder, Higdon Pulsator, Swimming Mallard and MOJO Mama Jama decoy that makes the
water move and produces V patterns in the water.
Good shooting can be enhanced by knowing
where to place decoys. Dont make the common
mistake of placing decoys in open lakes. I learned
as a kid hunting Kawkawlin Flooding and Black
Creek in the Au Sable State Forest, Midland County that woodies flock to pot holes filled with marsh
grasses, cattails, trees and thick cover. If you hunt
open water you will harvest more birds if you shift
to marshes, mud holes, back eddies, bays and seek
out cattails, bulrushes and flooded brush. Keep in
mind that woodies love acorns and one strategy
is to set up close to oak trees where they can find
acorns. Creeks that meander through oak forests
draw woodies. Find a beaver pond that recently
flooded oak trees and I guarantee woodies will be
Flooded timber is a big draw for fall woodies and this hunter is set up and waiting for flocks to
swimming around the bases in search of recently
appear. Note the abundance of duck weed which is ideal food for woodies.
fallen nuts. I also grew up sitting on the bank of
weather and shortening days cause the leaves to
of watery droplets and speed away. Jump shooting
the Tittabawassee, Pine or Chippewa River come
fall
the
birds
migrate.
The
trick
is
to
catch
them
woodies requires complete camo, wading through
sundown and ambush late evening flights. Woodfallen trees and thick cover at a very slow rate and
ies love to fly along rivers and streams at dawn and off-guard during the first few days of duck season.
One of my favorite wood duck hot spots is
in most cases wary birds will flush out of range. It
dusk.
a small secluded flooding off the Grand River
takes advanced woodsmanship skills to sneak into
Every fall I make treks to local watery duck
bordered by tall oak trees, and a marsh plant that
shotgun range on wild wood ducks.
lairs in search of woodies. Im hunting for adult
grows huge elephant ear leaves. Woodies love to
Ive got a spot on the Grand River that woodies
male birds with brightly colored feathers I use
slip under the big green leaves on a cold fall night
love to fly past. It is a sharp turn in the river with a
for tying flies. Some of my best flies for ice fishand they also like to splash down close to marsh
shallow sand bar on one side and a shallow marsh
ing gills come from woodies. I use flank feathers
willow
trees
with
branches
that
hold
leaves
close
to
on the other. It is ideal for decoying birds in early
zebra colored black, white, tan barred variety for
the water surface.
morning and late evening. Sometimes squadrons of
stream brown trout and steelies. When I harvest
Every fall I look forward to jump shootwoodies fly past the honey hole all day long when
a big bull I skin him completely and dust the skin
ing woodies when birds stop flying shortly after
low hanging rain clouds block out sunlight. Some
with 20 Mule Team Boraxo powdered hand soap
sunrise. I slip through a local swamp at a snails
of Michigans best woodie hunting takes place
and the powder preserves the feathers. However,
pace toting camo gun. My face is fully painted and along meandering waterways, creeks, streams,
there is one other reason I seek woodies come fall.
every inch of my body and waders is fully camouditches and rivers. Small beaver ponds, bitsy floodI love the flavor of fresh woodie breast cooked on
flaged. I learned at a young age the wood ducks are ings and marshy floodings found along rivers are
the grill. If you harvest birds that have been eating
more difficult to stalk that wild turkey or monster
a major draw. Year after year my favorite flooding
acorns their flesh has a special flavor resembling
bucks. The trick is to slowly sneak through flooded along the Grand River nicknamed woodie Haven
chestnuts roasted over an open flame. I roll bacon
tall brush, downed trees, thick cover, etc. and get
is packed with birds and come sunset hundreds
around breast meat, season with Montreal Steak
seasoning and cover with olive oil prior to grilling. within shotgun range. Jump shooting wood duck is return to the sanctuary of the flooded timber and
perhaps the most challenging brand of hunting ever thick marsh grass. At one time hundreds of malTry grilling them on high heat about 350 and grill
created. It seems the birds can detect your presence lards filled the sky over this marsh but today
until the bacon is cooked but the woodie breast is
by the water movement in the calm flooded timber. there are still good numbers of birds but they are
still moist and slightly pink in the center.
They generally like to swim for safety and will
smaller, faster and somewhat more challenging to
Expect fast gunning on the opener but major
take refuge in cattails, fallen trees, thick willows,
flocks of woodies leave local swamps at lightning
hunt.
speed when hunting pressure is high. More impormusk rat houses or anywhere they can hide from
What about you, are you ready to cash-in on
tantly when the leaves fall and there is no longer
you. When they detect your presence they will
Michigans great wood duck opportunities? The
cover overhead thats when woodies pack their
stop making high pitched contact calls and seek
birds are only available for a few short days during
bags and head south. Early in the season they flock cover. Sometimes they allow you to get kissin
fall and when you find them the shooting action
to overhead cover of willow leaves but when cold
close before they flush from the swamp in a halo
can be simply wonderful.n
55
By Richard P. Smith
Big U.P. Bear

J
ames Chase from Manistique
bagged a huge black bear while
hunting over bait on opening
day of the 2016 bear season
on September 10 in Schoolcraft County that had an actual
dressed weight of 506 pounds and an
estimated live weight of 598 pounds.
He was way bigger than I
thought he was, Chase said. I
thought he might weigh 400 pounds. I
have trail camera pictures of him from
the last four years. I actually shot him
three years ago. I hit him too high. I
got bear fever that time.
Last year my dad had a tag and
we were hoping he could get him,
but we couldnt get the bear to come
to the bait during daylight. He never
came to the bait until after dark. This
year, for some reason, we got tons
of pictures of him at the bait during
daylight.
To increase the chances of getting
the bear to visit the bait during hours
of daylight this year, James bought a
variety of foods that he thought might
help such as granola, honey, peanuts,

glazing for donuts, maple syrup and
pastries. Previously, he had been using
corn and molasses as bear bait.
Chase was working in Florida
this year prior to the beginning of
bear season. While he was gone, his
girlfriend, Lucy Berry, maintained
the bait the big bear was visiting and
monitored trail camera photos of the
beast. A number of other bears were
visiting the bait besides the big one.
James flew back to the U.P. before
opening day and Lucy sat in the blind
with him to help make sure he shot
the right bear. They were in position
before daylight on the 10th.
I had planned on hunting with
bow and arrow, but it was pouring
down rain that day, so I took the rifle.
I didnt want to risk shooting him and
then not be able to find him.
We had a nice one come in right
at daylight. I thought it was the big
one, but Lucy said, No. No. Its a
smaller one. She had been looking
at all of the trail camera pictures of
LIMITED OPENINGS FOR TROPHY HUNTS!
James Chase from Manistique bagged a huge black bear with an estimated live weight of 598 pounds.
the bears, so she knew it wasnt the
right one. My neighbor later shot that
bear we saw first and it had a dressed
weight of 330 pounds.
That first bear winded us, huffed
at us and took off. After that bear left,
two yearlings came in. We had a sow
with three cubs on the bait last year. I
think they were from that sow.
Those yearlings were playing
around at the bait for a while. Then,
all of a sudden, they looked back in
the woods and took off. Another bear
was coming. This time there was no
doubt it was the big one when he
came waddling down the trail. It was
about 8 a.m. and we had a bunch of
pictures of him at the bait around that
time.
The big bear wasnt at the bait
long when it started to leave. The old
male paused briefly and looked back
after starting to leave. Thats when
James shot the bruin in the head with
his .300 magnum, killing it instantly.
Unfortunately, the shot damaged
the bears skull and skull measurements are used for record book consideration. Bear skulls that measure at
least 18 qualify for state records and
those that score at least 21 are large
enough for entry in national records
maintained by the Boone and Crockett

Club. The taxidermist who skinned
the bears head is sure the skull would
have measured at least 21, if it had not
been damaged.
James was hunting the same bait
three years ago when he got his first
chance at the exceptional bruin.
He came in right before dark
that time, Chase said. There was
about 15 minutes of shooting time
left. I rushed the shot because I was
worried about the light. He was lying
down and grass was in the way. I hit
him high on the back above the spine.
I followed him for about a mile and
never found him. My neighbor eventually saw him on his deer bait while
bowhunting to confirm he was still
alive.
James said he has shot two other
bears, both of which were males over
200 pounds. The biggest weighed
220 pounds. One was three years
old and the other was four. Chase
is anxious to find out how old the
one he shot this year is. He said its
teeth were badly worn and the canine
teeth were broken. He suspects its
an old-timer. Some U.P. bears that
were more than 20 years old have
been recorded.n
Dermestid Beetles at work!
56
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90-year-old hunter
bags trophy turkey
Chris was showing Don the view
from her kitchen window when Don
spotted four toms about 75 to 100
yards away.
Would you mind if I try to shoot
one of the turkeys? Don asked and
Chris gave him the go ahead.
My gun and shells were in the
car so I had to leave the house by
way of the back entrance and hunker
down low to the ground so the birds
could not see me, Don explained. I
quickly loaded two shells
into my new 20 gauge overand-under Stevens shotgun.
Since I was well out of shotgun range, I had to almost
crawl on my hands and knees
behind some sand and dirt
piles to get close enough to
them without being seen.

When I thought I
was close enough,
I stood up to see
if they were still
there. They saw me and my first shot
missed, but I was still able to get a
good aim in on one as it was running
away. I fired and it dropped into the
long grass and I couldnt tell if I had
hit it or not. I hurried into that area
and at first I didnt see it, but after a
few more steps I saw a big black spot
in the weeds. I had knocked the turkey
down!
I soon knew that the bird was not
dead though and it tried to run and fly
away, Boulanger continued. I was
faster than the injured bird, however,
and was able to catch it and hold it
down with my foot. As I stood there
with one foot on its head, it furiously
flapped its large wings, which banged
again and again against my right shin.
When the big bird finally died and
stopped flapping, I pulled up my pant
leg and found that the turkeys wings
had hit me so hard that it raised a
bruise the size of a large egg that was
black and bloody.
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Upon hearing the commotion, Chris had run out to see

what I was doing and I showed
her my leg. She said, Oh, Don,
that looks terrible! You are going to have to get that looked
at.
She knew I was hurting
badly so she offered to carry the
big bird up to the driveway so I
could pick it up with my car as I
left, so that is what we did.
Don ended up in the emergency room at the local hospital
to get his injury cleaned and
bandaged. He ended up with
what is called a Sub-Periosteal
Hematoma in medical terms.
In laymans language, it
means that I had a build up of
blood between the fibrous membrane and the shinbone or a
bone bruise, Don explained.
Don weighed and cleaned
his turkey after he got home
from the hospital. The bird
weighed 23 pounds. It had an
11-inch beard and spurs that
were over an inch long.n
Ninety-year-old Don Boulanger from Crystal

Falls bagged a 23-pound turkey on opening
day of the fall season that sent him to the
hospital. The bird weighed 23 pounds and
had an 11-inch beard.
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inety-year-old Don Boulanger from Crystal Falls

bagged a trophy turkey
on opening day of the fall
season, but he ended up in
the hospital as a result. The
big tom he shot got back at Boulanger
before it died. This is the second time
in the same year that turkey hunting has caused medical issues for the
senior hunter.
This spring Don won a new
20 gauge shotgun that he
planned on using to hunt
turkeys, friend Jim Butler
explained via email. He
used 3-inch magnum loads
to sight the gun in. Those
shells packed such a wallop
that they knocked him down
and injured his shoulder. The
gun beat him up so bad with
those magnum loads
that he could not
hunt this spring.
Fast forward to this fall and he
thought he would try the gun again.
He switched to 2 -inch shells and it
worked fine.
Happy with the guns performance, Don made plans to hunt on
opening day of the fall season, which
was September 15. Friend Dave
Peterson invited Don to hunt with him
opening day on a farm where turkeys
had been seen regularly. Don set up in
a chair within shotgun range of where
the birds were normally seen, but that
day they failed to show up after three
hours.
Later that day, Don decided to do
some scouting for other areas where
he might connect on a turkey with his
new shotgun. One of his stops was at
a house that was under construction
and is owned by friends Pat and Chris
Sommers. Chris was working in the
garden when Don stopped there and
she invited Don inside the house to
show him the layout.
57
Prepared By The MDNR
Regenerating state
forests takes
planning, patience
oure driving on your

favorite stretch of Michigan
road. The sun is shining, the
windows are rolled down,
and youre singing along
to that catchy song drifting
out of the speakers. As you round a
familiar curve in the road, you know
youre approaching a special place,
near the campground your family used
to frequent when you were a kid.
You turn your gaze to the left to
take in the sight of that beloved stand
of trees youve admired for years.
When you see it, your eyes go wide
and your foot jerks away from the gas
pedal to the brakes.
The space where your cherished
gentle giants once stood is now bare.
Branches, logs and other debris are
strewn around an opening where
aspen once grew tall. A few individual
trees remain, looking small and sad
amid the ruin.
Your treasured forest land has
been clear-cut.
OK, maybe this is a slightly
dramatic example, but if you ask Bill
ONeillMichigans state forester
about clear-cuts, the first thing hell
tell you is this: Theyre ugly.
Theres no sugar-coating it,
clear-cuts arent pretty, said ONeill,
who also serves as chief of the Forest
Resources Division in the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources.
We understand that folks dont
like seeing harvesting, especially near
the places that served as the backdrop
for the camping trips and hunting sea-
58
sons of their memories, he said. But

its important to remember that any
activity that takes place on state-managed forest land is driven by science
and by what is, in the long term, best
for the resource. Clear-cutting is an
essential and proven forest management tool.
We know its hard to believe.
Just because a recently harvested
area is unsightly now, that it doesnt
mean it will be ugly forever. In fact,
that area grows back even faster than
youd probably believe, ONeill said.
Forest regeneration is the practice
of establishing young trees after the
previous stand has been removed. It
is part of a process that begins with
planning and coordinating timber
harvests, and is just another part of
a DNR foresters day-to-day job
theyre planning the makeup of the
new forest long before a single tree is
cut.
We can plan the type of timber
harvest so the harvest itself is the tool
to regenerate. We use artificial regeneration as a supplement, said Jason
Hartman, a DNR silviculturalist. A
silviculturalist is responsible for the
development and care of the trees in a
forest.
A majority of state forest land
regrows quickly after a thinning or
clear-cut. Some species begin to
regenerate within a year after a timber
harvest, Hartman said. It just depends on the type of tree. Clear-cuts
are the best way to regenerate species
that need a lot of sunlight, like aspen
Every year, the DNR buys bushels of seed cones from local residents. The
cones are opened, the seeds released and cleaned, and then shipped to the
DNRs Wyman Nursery in Manistique to be planted in areas that have often
been harvested.
Aspen are one type of tree that benefits from clear-cutting. This quickly growing species, which needs a lot of sunlight to thrive, will begin to regenerate
within a year after a timber harvest. Bottom: After a clear-cut on state forest
land near Grayling, signs of regrowth already are star ting to emerge. This
600-acre stand was planted to benefit Kir tlands warbler. MDNR photos
or jack pine. Aspen regrows quickly
because the young trees sprout using
the existing root system from the previous stand.
But some species dont regenerate well on their own, Hartman said.
Poor soil, dry weather and competition from other vegetation all come
into play when the forest needs a little
help building itself back up.
Scarification is one of the tools
the DNR uses to promote natural
regeneration. Usually, scarification
works best for jack pine trees growing
in sandy soil.
Scarification involves dragging
large metal anchor chains through
the material leftover after a timber
harvestalso known as slash. The
anchor churns up the slash and mixes
the seed cones with the soil. When the
ground temperature reaches approximately 100 degrees, the cones pop
open and release the seeds.
Its a very efficient way to regenerate the forest, said Don Kuhr, DNR
timber management specialist. Basically, with scarification, were just
mimicking what Mother Nature does
with fire.
If the conditions arent quite right
for scarification, the DNR will plant
new trees. Every year, between 5 million and 7 million seedlings are planted by hand on 3,000 to 4,000 acres of
state forest land. Each member in a
planting crew can plant between 4,000
and 5,000 trees in a single day.
Most often, the DNR plants jack
and red pine, usually in the northern Lower Peninsula and the eastern
Upper Peninsula. The seedlings are
grown at the DNRs Wyman Nursery
in Manistique, from seeds collected
by local residents.
Once seedlings are planted,
the DNR monitors the young trees
progress to make certain the stands
are getting what they need to mature
into a healthy forest. That monitoring
and evaluation continue through every
timber sale, whether the trees were
planted or regenerated naturally.
We do surveys one year and
three years after planting, and well
replant the stands as needed, Hartman said.
These regenerated stands then
become ideal homes for many species

of wildlife. Deer, elk, grouse, black
bears, beavers, rabbits and even songbirds love young stands because they
provide food and shelter.
Wild animals use different forest
types at different times of the year,
and timber sales allow us to provide
food for more than just the fall when
everyone is thinking about acorns,
DNR Wildlife Division field operations manager Brian Mastenbrook
said.
We need to be thinking about
other months of the year, he said.
For example, young regenerating
trees are a great winter and early
spring food source for deer, available
above the snow line when nothing
else is green.
People benefit from forest regeneration, too. Forests that are diverse
in age are less susceptible to forest
pests, diseases and wind and fire
damage. Thats important from a recreation standpoint, because healthy
forests are a big draw for Michigan

residents and visitors who like to
spend time outdoors. These green
spaces appeal to hunters and campers,
wildlife watchers, hikers and others
interested in unplugging from their
traditionally wired lives.
Gabe Schneider loves the Traverse Area Recreation and Transport
(TART) Trails for just that reason.
As a TART Trails Ambassador, avid
skier and cyclist, Schneider has come
across his fair share of forest management activitiesthings not always to
his liking. He confessed he used to
be skeptical of proposed management
activities, but his perspective recently
changed due to the DNRs increased
efforts to engage users.
Not only has the DNR provided
greater opportunity for input and education before decisions are made, but
they also have worked with the forest
products company to ensure better
on the ground maintenance of conditions, including regrading access
Wyman Nursery employees lift seedlings out of the ear th to get them ready
for planting. The seedlings will be bagged and refrigerated until theyre
shipped to the planting site.
Before planting, the DNR trenches the land, which helps keep weeds away
from the seedlings. Here, a member of a crew planting red pine in Crawford
County steps off the distance between seedlings.
roads to ensure smoother, less rutted
trail crossings, Schneider said.
Residents, park and trail users, hunters, and anyone else whos
interested are invited to attend public
open houses and compartment review
meetings to discuss plans for the forest.
I not only have a better understanding of the importance of these
operations on overall forest health,
but I also have had a better user
experience because of the DNRs active involvement of trail users in the
decision-making process, Schneider
said.
ONeill said theres also a pretty
compelling economic upside to sustainable, regenerated forests.
Every year, Michigans forest
products industry brings in roughly
$20 billion to the states economy,
and it provides jobs for some 90,000
people, he said. And when youre
talking about the Upper Peninsula,
that impact is huge. Of all the U.P.based manufacturing jobs, more
than a third of those are tied to forest
products.
That trend shows no signs of
slowing down, as Michigans sustainable forests continue to attract new
businesses.
One example is Arauco, North
Americas new particle board plant
a $325 million investmentunder

construction right now in Grayling
(Crawford County). The company
anticipates the project will add 250
jobs to the area.
Businesses like Arauco and
Weyerhaeuser came to Michigan
because they saw we were investing
in the forest through regeneration,
Hartman said. Theres a future product out there for them.
You cant have regeneration without a thoughtful, measured approach
to sustainability. The foresters who
oversee Michigans state forest land
are guided by plans and procedures
that consistently have been recognized (both by the Forest Stewardship
Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative programs) for their
commitment to sustainable management.
So while foresters day-to-day activities may include everything from
consulting with private landowners
and suppressing wildfires to evaluating insect outbreaks and supervising
timber harvests, all decisions are
made with an eye toward ensuring
that Michigans forest resources are
hereand thrivingfor future generations to use and enjoy.
For more information, visit www.
michigan.gov/forestry.n
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THE THUMPER FEATHERWEIGHT
59
CRYSTAL &
PLATTE LAKES
Benzie Countys
fall and winter gems
know what youre all thinking. Benzie County is all about

Frankfort and the great salmon,
steelhead and lake trout fishing!
And you are right, but we are
in the fall and quickly
headed towards winter and I
want everyone to know that
some of Benzie Countys
BEST fishing starts now. So,
sit back and read about two
of my favorite destinations.
Crystal Lake is an
absolutely beautiful and
scenic lake, its also about as
diverse and interesting
a fishery as I have ever
experienced. Lets
start with the king of
fish in Crystal, the
mighty smallmouth
bass. The fishing in
the fall not only produces numbers but
also size. Every year many six-pound-
plus fish are caught and released on

this prolific smallmouth lake. The
presentations for these monsters is
not hard so listen up. I almost always
have the following arsenal of baits
in my boat and rigged up
for fall bass fishing: Tubes,
drop shots, blade baits, jerk
baits and even an A-rig. The
choices for me are based
on where the fish are holding. Fish at this time of
year often mimic the spring
progression and using a
methodical approach works
well.
I start in the mornings in and around
shallow breaks, these
can be weed breaks
or transition breaks or
depth breaks. Working
these areas with a tube or Jerk bait to
locate fish is a very quick way to work
By John Bergsma
Host Great Lakes
Fishermans Digest
Benzie County
offers great
perch fishing.
Theres no
secrets here
just straight
down with
perch rigs and
minnows or
fresh shrimp.
60
The king of fish in Crystal Lake is the mighty smallmouth bass. And fall
fishing will produce many six-pound-plus fish.
through the water. The guy in the bow
can work the aggressive presentation
while the back of the boat can slow
it down. This is also a great way to

judge the mood of the fish. If you
encounter fish in the deeper edges or
at the bottom of the breaks, then the
drop shot or blade bait becomes the
deadly weapon of choice. These two
very different baits offer that same
ability for you to figure out what the
fish want.
The drop shot as you know is a
slow presentation with sometimes
nothing more than a shiver-twitch
needed for the soft dead weight
bites that are so common to this presentation. The blade bait on the other
hand is possibly one of the least used
but deadliest cold water presentations. Whether cast or jigged this bait
produces huge results and usually gets
better the colder it gets.
Crystal also offers some of the
most unusual fall fishing in the northern Michigan area. Coho, lake trout
and rainbows all call Crystal home
and this bite really gets going in the
fall. Try shore casting from the beach
in the town of Beulah for these tasty
fish.
A medium light spinning rod and
spawn bags are the bait of choice; a
pair of waders is helpful in landing
fish. Ice fishing for lake trout is a very
popular activity. The presentation is
as simple as setting up a spread of
tip-ups usually tipped with smelt. The
more in your group the better your
chances!
Perch are also available in numbers during the fall as well as through
the ice. No secrets here just straight
down with perch rigs and minnows or
fresh shrimp for me, thats right very
small fresh shrimp can be the ticket
to loads of big jumbos. I downsize
during ice fishing but almost always
have the shrimp along. If you perch
fish with minnows be prepared for the
random burbot that are ever present
in Crystal. They are ugly but the back
meat poached in salted water and
then dipped in butter can be as close
to lobster as anything else Ive ever
tried.
Platte Lake is not as well-known
as Crystal but is every bit the fish
producer. I love this lake and so will
you if just catching fish is high on
your list. The fishery is world class
when it comes to fall smallmouth and
rock bass. Thats right rock bass. The
smallmouth and largemouth are very
abundant and use the same tactics as
Crystal Lake to catch them.
One tip for a spot is the site of
the old milling operation. There is
a bunch of wood in and around this
area and the bass seem to hang there
in greater numbers. The river mouth
is also another super spot for numbers of all species. The rock bass
fishing on this lake is completely off

the hook. Listen I know what youre
thinking but just try this. A light action rod with light line and the small
4 ocho worm by Strike King. They
cant leave it alone and they will tear
up your stuff. Twelve inch rockies are
common place and they can fill your
day up with catching like you have
not experienced before.
The perch and bluegill fishing
is also very good, as is the northern
pike fishing. Spinner baits along the
weed edges and break lines is deadly
for nice northerns. I like white spinner baits with gold blades and little
chartreuse never hurts anything This
is a river system lake so there are so
many species of fish in the lake that I
could just keep going, but you get the
idea. This is a great lake to just catch
stuff
Conclusion
So next time you feel the itch
to just hook up the boat and go fish
somewhere. Benzie County and these
two gems are a sure bet for a great
time. The town of Frankfort is always
there for great food and fun and Crystal Mountain resort is just a stones
throw away.
John Bergsma is the host of Great
Lakes Fishermans Digest television
show and is honored to bring you
The author downsizes his tackle during ice fishing but almost always
has the shrimp along.
these monthly Destination Features
Check out his website:
www.fishermansdigest.com for more

destination information.n
a
m
s
g
r
e
B
n
Joh
with your host
Visit our website and find out about . . .

Destinations Fishing Reports
Our Show Cooks Corner
61
NUMBER 30...
The best Outdoor
Weekend ever
Did you miss
attending number 30?
The Woods-N-Water
Outdoor Weekend was
indeed the best ever...
lot on Sunday.
Unfortunately, right on schedule
Mother Nature delivered the rain
and wind predicted on Saturday, but
luckily vendors had enough warning
to secure their displays. The storm
passed by quickly but so did a lot of
the attendees, many of whom returned Sunday to make it the busiest
day of the event.
The traditional sport show targets
f you did miss it, you were
among only a few because an es- hunting and fishing activities and
timated 15,000a record number it has become a true family event.
Moms, Dads, kids with
of outdoor enthusiasts
their dogs in tow all come
attended. I was there
together. The youngsters are
because it is a show I
spellbound by many of the
try not to miss, and have not
demonstrations such as the
most of the past 30 years. Of
chain saw artistry during the
special note, I received valet
carving contest which drew
parking assistance from an
carvers from all over the
officer on horseback as he
state. This years Heritage
guided me to a perfect spot.
Church kids archery shoot
I later learned even the top
gave them an opguys at WNW were
portunity to shoot
working the parking
By Capt. Fred Davis
The Ultimate Air Dogs are always a bit hit with young and old at show.
some arrows and receive certified
instruction on proper techniques. The
civil war encampment brought to life
a by-gone era of our countries heritage
and kids were able to actually receive
tips on how to start their own campfire
without matches. Parents might want
to keep an eye out in the backyard
to see how well the kids learned this
skill.
Among the favorites at the show
for kids and adults alike are the many
food vendors. Hot dogs, cotton candy,
MAKE YOUR OWN WILD GAME

SUMMER SAUSAGE AND SALAMI !
fried pickles, onion rings all the foods

you crave but have no opportunity to
indulge in very often. So Mom didnt
have to make lunch or perhaps even
dinner if they lingered long enough as
families gathered at the many picnic
tables along the yummy trail. I enjoy watching the families as much as
any part of the show. The kids, right
down to tykes in strollers, are often
dressed in hunting outfits. Many are
holding their dogs leashes and showing them off, some with fancy collars
www.crookedfoothuntclub.com
We have everything you need to process your meat into

delicious sausage right in your own home.
Memberships run from October 1st to

April 18th
Club Benefits
COMPLETE KITS STARTING AT
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Butcher & Packer Supply Company

P.O. Box 71748
1780 East 14 Mile Road
Madison Heights, Michigan 48071
Call 1-800-521-3188
www.butcher-packer.com
Banquet facilities for groups of 10-75

Two towers over 300 acres with a total
of 30 blinds!
Private and corporate memberships
available
Overnight lodging in our Grand Club
House
Special youth pricing!
Ask us about fundraisers and private
events
Important Dates
Oct. 14th Private Hunt (Fully Booked)

Oct. 30th SCI Veterans Hunt
Nov. 25th Black Friday Hunt, hurry 10
spots left!
Dec. 18th & Jan. 7th MEGA SHOOT!!
Open to public, 20 spots left
Spots are filling up fast

Reserve yours today!
Crooked Foot Upland Bird & Game Hunting Club

PHONE (517) 853-7927
7303 S. Delaney Road
EMAIL crookedfoot@frontier.com
Owosso, MI 48867
WEB www.crookedfoothuntclub.com
Tony Mazzali, owner

517-862-5701 cell
Parke Petersen, owner

248-470-0149 cell
Jim Trotter, manager

517-599-4287 cell
Jim Reynolds, clubhouse manager

517-285-9077 cell
or scarfseven sweaters.
My wife Pat, who was once the
voice of WJRs Friday fishing report
years ago, usually wants to make a
beeline for the puppy tent as soon as
we arrive. Too bad we waited until
Sunday because most of the pups had
found their hunting partners and there
were only a few left. We did see a few
as they licked the kids fingers when
they poked them through the cages.
As we continued strolling through
the show, we saw several youngsters
who had been lucky enough to select
a new pup hugging it tight in their
arms.
Even though I missed the rain by
attending on Sunday, I still managed
to get wet because when Pat didnt
see many pups at the puppy tent, she
said lets head to the Air Dog show.
When we arrived, she wanted to sit
right up front so she would not miss
anything, including a good dousing. I
became entertained watching a little
girl about two years old jump up
and down clapping when each dog
jumped. Because I was not paying
close attention to the pool, when one
the best jumpers decided to show
off, he almost emptied the pool as he
landed with the biggest splash of the
day according to the commentator.
Actually, it was a really hot day so
the cooling off was welcomed.
Some people probably avoid
events where they know lots of kids
will attend but if that was ever a
consideration on your part I have to
tell you something. During the hours
I spent at the show I never heard
a childs cry, whine or the famous
statement, Can we go now? They
all just really enjoyed themselves as

much as I didand that was a lot!
Just in case you like to plan
ahead I found out the dates for next
years show,
THE 2017 WOODS-N-WATER

NEWS OUTDOOR WEEKEND
SEPTEMBER 8910
Be sure to make the above date
the first one you put in your 2017
calendar book.n
Four talented chainsaw carving ar tist created some amazing work.
INTERESTED IN SELLING
YOUR STANDING TIMBER?
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operated sawmill located in the heart of Northern Michigan. We
work hard to staff the most experienced professionals and we
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and sawmills are striving to provide the most efficient, professional and quality timber services available in Northern Michigan.
FREE EVALUATIONS OF STANDING TIMBER

FORESTER
Our forester has the education and experience needed to meet the specific needs of any landowner. We will meet with you to discover your goals and help you select the best harvest method to reach those goals. (Management plans, Wildlife plans, chipping of tops, clearing trees for
food plots, ect)
LOGGING CREWS
Our seasoned logging crews use state of the art wood processors, feller bunchers, forwarders
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Since we maintain our own fleet of self-loading log trucks to haul wood to our mill, we have the
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REFERENCES AVAILABLE
We are your complete source for buying your timber! Our operations take your standing timber
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building a lasting relationship.
We would honor the opportunity for us to meet and discuss in more detail how we may be of
service to you. We also encourage the land owners to visit all our operations to see what products we turn your standing timber into.
Bucky the Outdoor Weekend mascot

greeting many youth attendees.
Michigan Lumber & Wood Fiber, Inc.
SAWMILL
Our mill is located just north of the beautiful little town of Comins, Michigan and consists of two
modern sawmills and one scragg mill operation. A distinct advantage that we have is specific
markets for what is referred to as industrial lumber. As a sawmill, we are paying good money for
the best quality wood out there, but we also pay well for lower quality industrial timber. Another
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Comins, Mi (989) 848-2100 or (989) 848-5946 Fax: (989) 848-7252 63
64
65
64
65
Man attacked by bear goes to Facebook

first before seeking medical help
Dear Fish Diary:
tana, this horror story became all too

real. Or was attacked by a sow grizzly
o you think youre tough eh? trying to protect her two cubs while he
was hiking the remote Montana backBut how tough? How precountry. What this guy did after the
pared are you while youre
attack is pretty shocking to me, but a
puddle jumping from trout
pool to trout pool in the back- testament to the age we are living in.
country for possibly becom- After being attacked not once, but
ing a victim of an animal attack? The twice, Or hiked three miles back to his
vehicle. Instead of calling for rescue,
fear of such a happening keeps most
of the population out of the backcoun- he used his phone to shoot a short
video of himself describing
try in the first place. Those
his encounter while showing
of us who enter do so for the
his injuries. He then posted
solitude, and lets face it, its
the video to Facebook before
solitary because most people
driving himself 17-miles to
are either too lazy, or too
the hospital. REALLY???
afraid to explore beyond a

Quite honestly the
parking lot.
video isnt real easy to watch
There is always the risk
as Or speaks into the camwhile youre enjoying the
era bloodied and
solitary serene setbeaten. Yet his calm
ting that youre not
demeanor after such
alone. Somewhere,
a horrific event is
from close by, hidden
from your view, youre being closely what makes you watch it again and
again, totally mystified by his apwatched. Now if this sounds like an
entry to a spooky movie, lets face it, proach as well as his thought process.
this frightening tale is no ghost story. Quoting Or from his video testimony, he describes the event like
For Todd Or, of Bozeman, Mon-
By Ron St. Germain
Manufacturer of Fine Northern Hardwoods
Firewood
the Semi-Load
Buyers
of by
Standing
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Buyers of Standing Timber
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66
Contact
our buyers
buyerstoday
today
Contact one
one of
of our
brad@billsbylumber.com or jim@billsbylumber.com
brad@billsbylumber.com
or (989)
jim@billsbylumber.com
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or (989) 544-9342
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www.billsbylumber.com
Harrison, MI 48625
www.billsbylumber.com
FIREWOOD BY T H E
SEMI-LOAD
Although bear attacks are rare in Michigan compared to other states, it

doesnt mean you should relax while being in the back country. Should you
ever experience an attack, seek medical help before posting to Facebook.
this Just had a grizzly with two cubs her with bear spray and then I went
on my face and protected the back of
come at me from about 80-yards, I
my neck. He then goes on to start
sprayed the (explicit word) out of
video, because what was below your

hat was graphic enough.
Or said, she got my arm, all
pieces of stuff hanging out. He then
goes to show the pieces of stuff hanging out, like its no big deal. Todd,
those pieces of stuff are bone, tissue
and what used to be your arm buddy,
because you already said your arm
was broke. Im telling you it was a bit
more than broke. Todds worst injuries were most likely to his back, Im
thankful his arm was broke because
he couldnt hold the camera in position to turn around and show his back
on the video. But hey, your legs are
good, internal organs are good, eyes
are good, its just that your priorities
are a bit mixed up and your brain was
slightly scrambled to shoot the video
before driving 17-miles to a hospital
while youre dang near bleeding to
death.
I think most of us would have
passed out long before shooting the
video. However, when a body kicks
into survival mode it tends to achieve
things we never thought were achievable under normal circumstances. I
just dont think shooting a Facebook
video while youre bleeding to death
qualifies as your body achieving the
impossible while its kicked into survival mode.

One thing Or did say that I think
is important to my Dear Fish Diary
readers is bear spray doesnt always
work but its better than nothing.
I kind of understand where he is
coming from because I have found
many times in the Michigan backcountry that mosquito spray doesnt
always work either. While researching bear attacks over the years Ive
found there is no rhyme or reason
sometimes why people survive them
or dont survive them. Do you fight
back? Do you play dead? Do you do
what Or did and cover your head,
lay face down and just hope for the
best? In this situation the bear wasnt
intending to most likely kill him, she
was just protecting her cubs. She initially immobilized him, and walked
off. However, she wasnt far gone
when Or began to move again and
she came storming back and attacked
him again. There are situations
where the bear is intending to kill
its victim, most likely as a food
source. Surviving any attack most
likely comes down to the animals
initial intentions.
The best case scenario is to
always be aware of what might be

watching you from a distance. Dont
wander through the woods with tunnel vision, wander the woods as a
potential victim so you may get out
of harms way before harm sees you
first. And by all means, if you happen to be in this unfortunate situation
someday, PLEASE, get medical help
before posting to Facebook. To see
Ors video for yourself, type this link
into your browser.
www.facebook.com/todd.orr/videos/vb.1513816062/10210413734089
030/?type=2&theater
Funny Fish Stories Wanted

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.
Contact - Woods-n-Water News
columnist Ron St. Germain by calling
(517) 626-2814, e-mailing DaPhotoDude@aol.com. Visit the authors
Facebook page www.Facebook.com/
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showing his injuries. She got my

head good, I dont know whats under
my hat, my ear, my arm, all pieces
of stuff hanging out, I dont know
whats going on in there, and then my
shoulder, its ripped up and I think
my arm is broke but legs are good, internal organs are good, eyes are good,
I just walked out three miles and now
Im going to the hospital. Or ends
his short video with a warning to
backcountry enthusiasts. Be
safe out there, bear spray doesnt
always work, but its better than
nothing.
Lets back up a second. I would
love to know how many of my readers would think to make a video after
an attack like this and post it to social
media before seeking medical help.
Or says, she got my head pretty
good, I dont know whats under my
hat. Yeah Todd, she got your head
REALLY good, in fact, your face
looks like a hotdog after some little
kid emptied a ketchup bottle on it
squirting the ketchup dang near everywhere but the hotdog. And whats
under your hat? Clearly what is under
your hat wasnt thinking real clear at
the time but thank you for not showing us what was under your hat on the
67
November 15 - Opening Day

A Holiday To Me...By Jerry Lambert
The best time to see
BIG BUCKS!
ts November 15, 2015 and I am

sitting in a treestand when I see a
tall tined 8-point buck chasing a
doe in my direction. A stiff wind
is hitting me in the face and the
afternoon sun is filtering through
the trees. The two deer stop on a little
knoll covered with small saplings.
They are over one hundred yards
out, and the habitat is thick. I can see
pieces of the deer and get occasional
glimpse of the magnificent rack as the
just shot the Big 9, do you want to go

get pictures while we got good light.
I continue to observe the two deer
and talk to Joe because there is no
way they can hear me with the wind
blowing as hard as it is. I reply, We
cant, Im watching a big 8-point
chase a doe and one of us is going to
shoot this buck.
Joe quickly agrees and terminates
the call. The two deer remain on the
little knoll for the next hour and at this
Jeff Lamber ts monster 13-point shot on November 15, 2015
68
sun reflects off of the hardened white

bone. A clean shot is not possible.
The big buck keeps harassing the
doe but they stay on the little knoll.
My phone buzzes and I take the call
because it is from my brother Joe who
is hunting the same property a couple
of hundred yards behind me.
I whisper, Hello.
Joe doesnt mince words. Jeff
point I need to add, I cant get down

and move in on them without spooking them so it is simply a waiting
game. She is definitely in heat and he
is not going to leave her side until he
breeds her. If they come of the knoll,
I am in a natural travel corridor that I
am sure they will use.
They do not leave the knoll and he
breeds her in the thick cover. This is
Dont expose
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not the first time that I have witnessed

this kind of rutting behavior on the
opening day of Michigans gun season nor do I expect it to be the last.
Unfortunately for me, the buck no
longer has a reason to stay with the
doe and retreats back into the swamp.
Lucky buck.
After dark, Joe and I naturally
made our way to Jeffs house and discovered that the big nine is actually a
huge 13-point. Jeff had trail camera
photographs of the buck but the other
four junk points werent noticeable.
Hed even seen it a couple of times
during the bow season but he didnt
know that it was as big as it actually
was until after he shot the monster!
Jeff had hunted the farm during the morning but saw little action
and decided to get a quick lunch and
hunt a different stand in the afternoon. While walking to his stand,
he jumped a buck that ran from the
woods into a cut cornfield. This
action alerted a second buck that
was bedding near Jeffs stand and
this buck, the much bigger deer, ran
directly towards Jeff. He shouldered
his gun and shot the charging deer at
about fifteen paces.
This short deer hunting tale features many of the reasons why in my
opinion, November 15, is the absolute
best day of the year to be afield. Not
one but two big bucks were observed
on that afternoon hunt and as it turned
out one got tagged.
Personally, I have seen more
monster bucks on November 15, than
any other day during Michigans three
months of regulated deer hunting. I
have also witnessed as much or more
chasing on this particular day than
any other day.
The Michigan legislature established the statewide firearm season on
November 15 through November 30
in 1968. The opener quickly became
an unofficial holiday and remains
so even during these more modern

times.
I started hunting in the late 1970s
during a time period where you still
had to Display your license in the
middle of your back. You couldnt
hunt from a treestand and the doe
season only ran during the first few
days of the season. Weve come a
long way since then but the yearly
tradition lives on.
Michigan sportsmen often compare the excitement of opening day to
the feeling that children feel Christmas morning. Personally, I often
have trouble sleeping the night before
due to the excitement and aura that
the opening day tradition generates
within me.
I shot my very first buck on
opening morning at 7:20 a.m. and my
all-time biggest buck a few years later
at 8:30 a.m. from the very same stand
in the middle of a very large swamp.
Ive seen two other bucks that would
exceed my biggest on this magical
day that I was not fortunate enough to
tag but their memories still ring true
due to their regal magnificence.
I know that some bowhunters abhor the November 15, firearm opener
and what they call the Orange Army.
I think that they are making a big
mistake. In Michigan, you can legally
continue to bowhunt right through the
firearm season as long as you meet
the legal hunter orange requirement.
Not only is November 15, the peak
breeding period of the rut but that
aforementioned orange army inadvertently moves deer and has them on
their feet during the daylight periods
which as most trail camera monitors
will testify is a rare occurrence with
mature bucks.
When I looked up the definition
of holiday I found the following: a
day of festivity or recreation when no
work is done. Happy Hunting, Happy
Holiday!n
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The author took this beautiful buck on November 15, 1986.
69
rowing up in the farm country

of Michigans Thumb region,
I was about as far removed
from saltwater as a kid could
get. My first opportunity to
hunt saltwater and the ducks
that flock to it didnt take
place until I was in my late
30s. Little did I realize that
lessons learned on the tidal
flats of the Atlantic coast
would later serve me well
back home on the Great
Lakes.
Sea ducks experience far
less hunting pressure than
puddle ducks and
also diving duck
species. In part, this
is because the majority of these birds
migrate much later in the season,
often arriving after the lions share
of the 60 day duck season has run its
course.
Secondly, sea ducks are not
normally considered as good on the
table as puddle and diving duck species. Thirdly, the places sea ducks call
home are about as far removed from
traditional duck marshes as a hunter
can get. Huge expanses of open water
such as found along both the Pacific
and Atlantic sea coasts attract the
most sea ducks. Many of these birds
migrate through the Great Lakes to
reach saltwater wintering grounds on
the Atlantic coast.
Until recently the majority of the
sea ducks migrating through the Great
Lakes every fall experienced near
zero hunting pressure. Interest in sea
duck species including long-tailed
ducks (formerly known as old squaw)
and to a lesser degree white-winged
and black scoters has risen sharply as
hunters have started to realize how
many of these birds are available to

adventure seeking open water hunters.
What the average duck hunter
doesnt know about sea ducks is
these birds are not nearly as blind
and decoy shy as other duck
species. Because sea ducks
experience very little hunting pressure, these birds can
routinely be harvested with
modest decoy rigs and from
open boats.

Boat blinds and/
or layout boats typically
required when hunting
puddle and diving
duck species arent
necessary when
hunting sea ducks. Drifting in open
water with a modest string of decoys
is generally all it takes to attract sea
ducks into shotgun range.
To be honest, the first time I
targeted sea ducks by drifting in open
water without the benefit of a boat
blind, it felt very strange. With more
than four decades spent hiding behind
something in order to kill ducks, its
an unnatural feeling hunting ducks
from the comfort of a swivel seat in
an open bow boat.
Most of the guys who are targeting long-tailed ducks arent even
using boats designed for duck hunting. A more typical hunting platform
would be a multi-species deep V more
commonly used to catch walleye! As
strange as this sounds, sea ducks are
fearless and will rocket into a string
of a dozen decoys dragging behind an
open bow fishing boat!
The size or even color of the boat
used to target sea ducks doesnt seem
to matter. What does matter is that
hunters remain absolutely motionless
By Mark Romanack
70
Long-tailed ducks like these Jake is displaying are hardy sea ducks that
migrate through the Great Lakes on their way to the Atlantic sea coast.
until the birds are well within shotgun
range. Even the slightest movement
will flare off incoming birds.
this is because on average the shots

taken are longer, but just as importantly sea ducks have thick skins and
the ability to soak up considerable
punishment from a shotgun.
Weather is the limiting factor that The No. 2 steel shot pellets used
makes sea duck hunting on the Great
to harvest the majority of puddle
Lakes challenging. Days that are calm ducks are a little marginal for sea
enough to get out are at a premium in ducks. A better option for sea duck
November and December. Unfortuhunting are steel BB loads and tungnately, these birds are at home in open sten based shot commonly used for
water. The biggest concentrations of
targeting geese.
birds are routinely going to be found
Because these birds have amazing
many miles off shore.
diving abilities, its important to kill
A few noteworthy exceptions
them outright. Crippled birds on the
provide hunters a chance to mix it
water are very difficult to dispatch.
up with sea ducks without having to
Most waterfowl hunters favor an
stray far from shore. The mouth of
improved cylinder for hunting over
the Niagara River where it pours into decoys. For sea duck hunting a tighter
Lake Ontario attracts one of the larg- modified choke is a much better opest concentrations of long-tailed ducks tion. The key to killing these birds
in North America. On calm days
cleanly is putting as many pellets as
hunters normally target these birds in possible on target.
Lake Ontario on what is known as the A 3-inch 1-1/4 ounce load of BB
Niagara Bar. When the wind blows,
shot will do a nice job of dispatching
hunters simply move into the more
sea ducks out to about 40 yards.
protected waters of the lower Niagara
River.
Because sea duck hunting takes
place at the bitter end of the regular
Like in other forms of waterfowl
hunting, success with sea ducks boils waterfowl season, the majority of the
adult birds will be dressed in their full
down to location, location, location.
breeding plumage. Drake long-tailed
Being close to natural flyways isnt
ducks are especially attractive and
good enough. To consistently attract
make impressive taxidermy mounts.
sea ducks into the decoys its important to set up in areas that are naturally Black and white-winged scoters are
also impressive birds worthy of any
enjoying lots and lots of bird traffic.
Keep in mind that not every flock will trophy room.
Weather Concerns
Scouting
fall victim to the decoy spread.

The only practical way to scout
for sea ducks is to launch the boat and
head off shore. A good pair of binoculars are handy for scanning the horizon for flights of birds that normally
fly right on the deck.
Hunting sea ducks is unlike any other form of waterfowl hunting. An

open bow boat drifting with a single string of decoys is how these birds
are most commonly targeted. Mark Romanack photos
Trophy Status
Summing It Up
Sea duck hunting here in the

Great Lakes certainly isnt as popular
as the Atlantic coast states of Maine,
New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Delaware and Maryland. The
lack of interest in sea duck hunting
here in the Great Lakes isnt from a
lack of birds. Instead its a lack of
Compared to puddle ducks and
tradition for hunting these late season
popular diving duck species, sea
ducks are much tougher to kill. In part migrators.n
Sea Ducks Are Iron Plated
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Removing fencing and building brush piles for
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September 2016: Gourdneck State Game Area
Building brush piles for small game.
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Building brush piles and planting trees
Learn more at www.mucc.org
Volunteer to improve public land

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August 13: Barry State Game Area

Cutting black locust trees to open forest canopy
and build brush piles for small game.
71
When in Doubt, Fish for Trout
ovember. Arguably one of the

most anticipated
months of the year for a tremendous
number of outdoor enthusiast. As the
days are getting shorter, most of the
leaves have fallen from their host tree, and a subtle
chilled breeze is at a constant presence. All while
this is taking place throughout our fantastic state,
the common agenda changes to pick up the trusty
rifle or shotgun, and put away the faithful fishing
equipment until next year. With the focus of hunting
on the minds of a majority of outdoorsmen, rivers,
lakes, and boat ramps, become desolate, with no
human activity during this time. It is during this
phase that Michigan rivers can be the setting to
fantastic trout and steelhead fishing success. During
this hunting season, keep the phrase in mind, that
When in doubt, fish for trout just in case you are
looking for an outdoor adventure that is of a different challenge of skills. If you are down on your
luck when it comes to hunting, the odds to hook up
with potential fish of a lifetime is a certainly in the
anglers favor.
Almost immediately after the migrating salmon
have come and gone, colder charges of water push
down stream, and the scene is set for productive late
autumn steelhead and trout fishing to take place.
Larger rivers are left barren during this season and
for the remainder of the year, meaning that there is
more than enough room

to hop around different
fishing-holding locations
without getting too close to anybody else. Fishing and boat pressure is at an absolute low during
this time. Some of the most popular and favorite
locations for this activity in our state, are the Big
Manistee, the St. Joe, the Muskegon, and the Grand
rivers. These are just a few to name that are often
times home to trophy fishing opportunities, yearround, but especially plentiful during the autumn.
When fishing is going well in the rivers, anglers
who do not have access to a boat have the advantage of accessibility. Whether you are a boatless angler or not, there are certain locations where shore
fishing or a wearing a set of waders can be far more
practical. With a good pair of nylon or neoprene
waders, the angler will be able to stay warm and get
into sections or cover that boaters cannot access.
Countless river miles are off limits to powerboat access due to weirs or smaller dams. Because of very
little, or the absence of, fishing or boat pressure during this time of the year, actively feeding fish become more open to obtaining any bait presentation.
The less the fish feel spooked, the more willing they
are to go further for their next meal opportunity.
With a driving metabolism to remain healthy,
prior going into the coldest time of the year, trout
and steelhead are more open to hit a wider variety Andrew Woodman, smiling big with a beautiful rainbow trout, caught on a warm day in early November.
and larger in size. As far as artificials, spoons, in-
By Dominic Fish-On Turcott
The latest from
Tom Carney!
72
Award-winning nature and

outdoor writer Thomas
Carney returns to form
in his latest collection of
essays, Among the Aspens:
Stolen Moments in Secret
Coverts.
As with his previous
collections, Sun-Drenched
Days, Two-Blanket Nights;
and Bird Dogs and Betty
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variety of perspectives and
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lines that delineate serious
writing, humor, nostalgia,
analysis, description and
storytelling. Different this
time around: Instead of
moving from activity to
activity as the seasons progress, Tom deals with a single form of outdoor
recreation: upland bird hunting.
To purchase: $34.95 (Michigan residents, please add $2.10 sales tax) plus
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Send check or money order to: Partridge Pointe Press, Box 71,
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Purchase online at www.tomcarneywriter.com
Without a doubt, a true fish of a lifetime. Alan Sollman of South Haven knows that ginormous steelhead
can be taken every year, during the transition into late autumn. Alan Sollman photo
what makes a trout fishing day to remember for a
lifetime.
When autumn trout and steelhead fishing is in
full swing, fresh salmon eggs are a safe bet. With
the salmon having presence in the river not too
much earlier, the best quality of eggs can be easily
obtained, and that can make all of the difference in
the world. In lieu of using real spawn, artificial or
softbaits that look like eggs can work well. Beads
of all shapes, sizes, and colors, have a strong reputation for bringing in a multitude of fish.
In the scheme of terminal tackle, lines recommended are those that are as clear and tough as
possible. If the line appears to be invisible, your offering will look more natural and enticing to a tro-
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phy steelhead or brown trout of a lifetime. Hooks

are almost just as important as line. Strong, sharp,
legally sized hooks are what connects you with a
prize of the sport. Octopus hooks, baitholder, egg
hooks are all common choices. Be sure that they
are always sharp that they do not show any signs of
weakness.
This autumn, there is no need or pressure to
limit yourself by only spending time in the tree
stand. If tags have already been filled or a change
of pace is needed, the option for hot fishing in brisk
fall temperatures is available! Rainbow, brown
trout, and steelhead fishing is in a peak swing this
time of the year. Keep in mind this month, that
when in doubt, fish for trout!n
State
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DEER ATTRACTION
then mail to:
Deer Attraction
815 Sleeth Rd.
Commerce, MI 48382
Book @ $25 each
DVD @ $20 each
Name
OR CALL ED AT 586-784-8090 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Seed
Michigan Brassica Blend

(6lbs)
Michigan's Ultimate Blend

(6lbs)
Cost
# Bags
$35
Wildlife Cover and

Forage Blend (6lbs)
$50
Shipping and handling

Lower Peninsula Michigan
$11.00 first bag $7.00

each additional bag
Shipping and handling

Upper Peninsula and the
rest of the Continental US
$12.00 first bag $8.00

each additional bag
TOTAL
REMIT BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
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WEBSITE: deerattraction.com
Address
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Zip
Total
$25
Name
Address
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The Brassica Blend provides both summer feed and winter forage. The Ultimate Blend is
an excellent mix that includes both annual and perennials. The Wildlife Cover and Forage Blend
is designed to keep deer on your property by providing them a bedding area and food in close
proximity. Go to deerattraction.com for a full list of ingredients and detailed planting instructions.
City
Phone #
State
Zip
line spinnerbaits crankbaits, dough, beads, and just

about anything else can seduce hungry fish. Natural
baits such as salmon skein, egg sacs, butter worms,
and nightcrawlers are always a solid plan to ensure
many hook ups.
Whether the approach is to float fish, contacting the bottom while drift fishing, or simply
casting, every tactic can be used in a variety of
situations. If locating fish around surface structure,
such as down trees, large rocks, or the shore, is a
part of the plan, float fishing natural baits can be
the hot ticket to a successful day. With float fishing,
contact can be made with the structure and the bait
presentation can go where you could never normally cast or drift into. This method also works over
holes or stretches that might be too rocky to make
contact with. For casting or drift fishing, artificial
lures or natural baits can still be employed. Holes,
rocks piles, and slack water are all fantastic areas
to be putting your presentation. It is in these spots
that fish will be staging or awaiting the chance to
ambush their next victim of prey or meal opportunity.
Favorites belong to every angler, but there
are many that can be found in a majority of
tackle boxes. Smaller in-line spinner baits, such
as Mepps or Panther Martins, have withstood the
test of time. Little Rapala lures like the Countdown or jointed floater, in any natural color can be
productive, too. If fishing lower light conditions,
glow-in-the-dark paints or ultra violet colors can be
73
Traditional Black Powder Hunting
Sharing a bit of History
ix scraggly points adorned

the bucks crown. The firstyear sires right beam swept
forward with a finger-length
brow tine and a shorter
point that angled out. A tiny
fork tipped the left side, which grew
straight up with a dainty brow tine.
The antlers appeared to belong to two
different deer, cobbled together in a fit
of whimsy by the Creator.
The whitetails gait displayed an
inquisitive, perhaps playful lust. Random hoof-falls crackled in the frosted
leaves as the would-be suitor
approached the doe and two
fawns that pawed for acorns
at the clearings edge. The
older doe acted uneasy; she
glanced at the open scrape,
then back at the young buck.
Each time she exhaled a
vapor cloud drifted west to
east.
The six-point nuzzled the does path. His
head popped up. Hers dropped. She
turned away, slow and deliberate, then
stepped between the fawns. Muscles
tensed and ears alert, he glared as the
three entered the clearing and plodded
west, keeping to the lower trail that
skirted the nasty thicket.
Defiant, the young buck scraped
the leaves with his right hoof, then
stomped once. After a few minutes,
he shook his head, turned about with
a noticeable hesitance and crunched
to the scrape. His shiny black nose
sniffed the dangling licking branch. In
due course, his snout dropped to the
elongated earthen patch. He took two
steps back, perked his ears and jerked
his head toward the crest of the knob
in the forest clearing.
Two yearlings walked from the
rolling hills backside and stopped,
standing tall, bathed in sunlight. Vapor
clouds drifted. Ears twitched. Heads
turned. The six-point broke into a
slow lope. The pair bounded out of
sight, rustling leaves as they entered
the hardwoods to the west. The young
stag pursued, then vanished.
The sun rose higher. Melting frost
dripped from overhead twigs. Canada
geese flew to the River Raisin, deep
in the Old Northwest Territory, and in
time, returned to whence they came.
About then a single doe appeared
at the east end of the narrow isthmus.
A red squirrel popped from a large
knothole in the hollow oak to the left
of my lair. The little rascal chattered
and scolded as the doe plodded closer.
She paused a dozen paces from the
scrape, flipped her nose up and tested
the breeze.
Visible wisps of her breath drew
dire concern; the wind shifted and my

scent was drifting over the scrape.
Instead of continuing on, she angled
back and left by the path at the far
edge of the nasty thicket.
With the doe out of sight, I rolled
up on my haunches and slung the bed
roll over my shoulders. Wool-lined,
buffalo-hide moccasins whispered
around the grassy knob. The slow,
deliberate stalk came to several sparse
red cedar trees that grew in front of
the poplars and oaks on the downwind side of the knob. The blanket
roll eased into a depression
beside the last red oak.

Not a minute later
a mature doe bounded
along the isthmus trail. She
stopped at the scrape, licked
the branch and pawed three
times. She quick-stepped
to the knobs crest, uttered
a muffled snort and
glanced back. A grunt
from the isthmus announced the six-points Houdini-like
return. Nose down and tail up, he
dogged the does path. She bolted.
The young stag followed.
Uggghhh. The deep, guttural
grunt froze the six-point partway up
the knob. A mature, creamy-tined
eight-point buck stood majestic beside
the downed maple at the isthmus
east end. With his nose knee-high and
antlers out, the newest buck advanced,
scuffing the damp leaves in silence.
The six-point looked back, then
chased after the doe. With that buck
out of sight, the Northwest guns
English flint clicked to attention. The
tarnished brass butt plate crept to its
rightful place. A clean kill, or a clean
miss. Your will, O Lord, I whispered.
That eight-point and I shared a bit
of history, in both the 18th and 21st
centuries. He was the object of my
traditional deer hunts that fall and the
reason the playful six-point cheated
death. The tale of the Vine Buck has
been retold around many campfires.
I wear his hide about my shoulders
on cool mornings, partly as a remembrance of his superior sagacity, as
Joseph Doddridge put it:
It would seem that after hunting a while on the same ground, the
hunters became acquainted with
nearly all the gangs of deer within
their range, so as to know each flock
of them when they saw them. Often
some old buck, by the means of his
superior sagacity and watchfulness,
saved his little gang from the hunters
skill by giving timely notice of his
approach. The cunning of the hunter
and that of the old buck were staked
against each other, and it frequently
By Dennis Neely
74
The little brush shelter, hand-fashioned after one Meshach Browning described, provided additional 18th-century context, extending the mornings
deer hunt beyond the actual moment of truth. Wild River tree photos
ers engage in their simple pursuits
happened that at the conclusion of
with a gun made by their own hands,
the hunting season the old fellow
or they barter their God-given talents
was left free, uninjured tenant of his
for those of a competent black-powder
forest (Doddridge, Joseph, Notes
on the Settlement and Indian Wars, gunsmith as was done in that day.
McClain Printing Company, Parsons, We cast our own round balls and
buckshot, and some drip their own
WV, 1996, pg. 101).
bird shot. I trade the coinage of my
For any traditional black powder
labor for black powder.
hunter the exhilaration, the thrill, the
unbelievable personal satisfaction that Dry oak leaves or broad-bladed
accompanies the taking of a forest ten- grass wad the loads in the Northwest gun. A wire gun worm and
ant is unmatched in the realm of fair
tow damped in swamp water swabs
chase hunting.
Making the shot with a smooth- the bore after firing. A deerskin
bored flintlock muzzleloader is only a shot pouch holds the necessities for
fraction of the challenge. Dressing in maintaining the smoothbore: spare
English flints, round balls, duck shot,
the clothing of a bygone era, limita priming wire, a powder measure, a
ing ones self to the resources of the
wrought nail to tighten the jaw screw
period, and practicing the woodland
skills of long ago add to the equation. and a single turkey wing bone.
Fostering a mental attitude that allows A cow horn, suspended by its own
strap, keeps the gunpowder dry and
a humble backwoods hunter to slip
eternitys shackles and experience the available. A woven sash or cowhide
belt about the waist secures a handtexture of life as it once was helps,
forged ax and knife. Again, some or
too.
A fair number of traditional hunt- all of these accoutrements are hand-
crafted by their owner or dickered for.

A prior-years tanned hide and
a couple evenings worth of effort
provide buckskin moccasins; liners
cut from a wool trade blanket and
hand-stitched together offer cold
weather warmth. Leather or wool leggings with a single side seam protect
the lower legs. Hand-sewn linen knee
breeches or perhaps a wool breechclout cover the lower body. A squarecut linen shirt and a thicker-weave
outer shirt clothe the upper body.
Some choose a hand-made capote, or
blanket coat, while others just wear
Michigan State Muzzle Loading

Association State Shoots
Nov. 4-6--Turkey Shoot: Sauk Trail
Long Rifles: 517-879-3096
Nov. 6--Woods Walk: Clinton River
Muzzle Loaders: Detroit Sportsman
Congress: 586-731-6088
Nov. 6--Woods Walk: Washtenaw
Sportsman Club: 734-484-1243
the blanket to fend off a mornings

chill.
As the moment of truth approaches, the woodsman or lady of
the woods waits in solitude, clothed
and armed as the ancients werea
self-reliant and independent tenant of
the forest displaying superior sagacity...
Tines glistened in the sunlight.
Shiny-black hooves thumped. Muscles rippled. A mystical aura dwelled
about the eight-point. Arteries
pounded harder with each stride. At
the clearings edge, the buck veered
southwest, choosing not to pass over
the knob, but circle downwind below
the crest.
The turtle sight gripped the
bucks shoulder, but I hesitated. A
quartering straight-on shot makes the
pans flash visible, offering a fraction-of-a-second warning. With the
eight-point three strides from the tuft
of grass that I felt marked the north
boundary of my deathly scent, the
flint lunged. Sparks showered.
Kla-whoosh-BOOM!
The death sphere struck hard. The
buck faltered, but kept his footing.
He ran for the nasty thicket, then fell
dead. A few minutes later, a respectful, heart-felt prayer of thanksgiving
A minute or so after moving, a mature doe approached the scrape. The oak tree,
intended as a temporary observation point, became a prime backcountry lair, despite
the lack of natural cover.
preceded the wilderness chores of

a trading post hunter. Such was
backcountry life on an early-December morn, in the Year of our Lord,
1792.
Give traditional black powder
hunting a try, be safe and may God

bless you.
Dennis Neely maintains a web
site devoted to traditional hunting at
www.traditionalblackpowderhunting.
com.n
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75
By Mark Sak
So much to do and
so little time...
inchers anglers were catching in July.

These bigger-than-average fish Im
referring to cannot sustain themselves
in the hot summer months when smelt
and shad are absent in the bay. These
ovember is upon us and its
fish come in from much colder water
time to choose between chasfollowing the shad in to the river
ing deer and fishing for big
mouths in late fall specifically. Eightwide-shouldered walleyes.
pound walleyes are quite common on
Weather permitting; NovemSaginaw Bay by November.
ber is one of the best times
Big stick baits are the bait of
to fish for walleyes in our state. Some
choice and the trolling speed is
years it has been much more produccrucial. Trolling around 1.2 MPH is
tive than the April bite. If you plan on usually a good place to start. One of
fishing more this fall or even plan to
the most important things anglers
try to get out just once, here are a few should implement and we have done
places to fish and some techniques to this for many years, is to put a piece
think about to put a wall hanger wall- of crawler on the front hook of the
eye in your livewell.
crankbait. Fish do not necessarily see
Saginaw Bay has been seeing bet- this hanging and decide to chase the
ter fall fishing for nearly a half decade lure, but what weve noticed from
now. Now I know what you are going years of trolling big cranks slowly is
to say, youve been reading articles
on many occasions trolling speeds
and reports about Saginaw Bay wall- around 1.0 to 1.2 MPH do not provide
eyes in decline. Well these are differ- enough speed to get a good hook set
ent fish. These walleyes are not the 12 into the jaw of the walleye. The planer
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From ice-out in March
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Saginaw Bay
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76
All through spring and

summer our charters
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Catch limits there are very
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The author lives to fish big November walleyes!

board starts to fade and the angler
jumps to grab it but the fish is already
gone. When a crawler is applied we
found it often gives just enough scent
and taste to make that fish hold on
long enough to get a barb into it. At
the end of a fall day on the bay it
could mean the difference between a
great day and a poor one.
Lake Erie is my number one spot
in November for walleyes. A longer

drive is ok when you think about the
incredible amount of big fish swimming in the western basin. Many of
the state parks and boat launches now
have extended seasons for walleye
anglers in particular, starting at Sterling State Park and Bolles Harbor near
Monroe. Heading down into Ohio
waters near Port Clinton and Huron,
DNRs Dam Management Grant Program
when $2.35 million was granted; three recipients during

its second year, when $350,000 was available; four recipients during its third year, when $350,000 was available;
and two recipients during its fourth year, when $350,000
was available.
Again this year there will be an online application
process for prospective applicants. Interested parties will
have to register with MiRecGrants and then complete and
submit their application once their registration has been
approved by DNR Grants Management. MiRecGrants can
be accessed at Michigan.gov/dnr-grants.
Information on the Dam Management Grant Program
can be found at Michigan.gov/dnr-grants. Grant applications can be submitted through the MiRecGrants online
application system until 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, to be
considered for this year's funding cycle.
Ohio puts anglers right into the thick

of the big migrating school that
winters in the western basin feeding
on the big bait schools of shiners and
smelt.
There really is no need to run
miles off shore into big waves with
few boats to help if you break down.
Set the lines as soon as the boat clears
the no wake zone. We have caught
plenty of monster walleyes right next
to shore. The city of Huron, Ohio
has really stepped up when it comes
to fall walleye fishing and the city
recently built a very nice boat launch
that stays open until ice forms on
the Huron River. This is also the off
season for hotels so there are some
really good rates this time of year.
The same technique discussed with
the Saginaw bay bite is the ticket. But
unlike the Saginaw River which also
holds nice fish late in the season the
Huron River does not hold numbers
of walleye probably due to its small
size. Focus on the river mouths and
outward into Lake Erie. New schools
of big fish arrive daily from the central basin.
Little Bay de Noc in Michigans
Upper Peninsula also provides a short
but tremendous late fall bite. There
is little need to run out of the expansive bay in the fall. Pulling big stick
baits near Stonington as well as the
area locals call Black Bottom can
produce some great fish in the 8 to 10
pound range. Fish swim up into the
bay from Green Bay and anglers will
never fight with spunkier walleyes
than those in Bay de Noc.
Weather dictates everything this
time of year. On all three of these
bodies of water, figure one blow day
for every three if you are planning
to go. The absolute best way is short
notice if possible. Getting a five day
window of decent weather Ill plan to
fish the last three and take off. That
kind of weather stability in late fall is
rare and I can always hunt at home in
the rain.
The other big factor is water clarity. Cold dirty water is a death sentence to walleye anglers. But slightly
stained water means throw an extra
net in the boat as there will be some
big doubles to deal with.
Michigan is now a walleye mecca
for many throughout the Midwest
and it appears the DNR management
plans will continue to involve growing opportunities to fish Ole Marble
Eye I hope you are able to get on the
water this fall and take advantage of
this wonderful fishery. Ill see you on
the water.n
The MDNR has announced its Dam Management

Grant Program is now open for proposals. The fifth year of
this grant opportunity will provide $3.35 million in Fiscal
Year 2017 to address Michigans failing dam infrastructure
through the funding of dam removals and critical repair/
maintenance.
The Dam Management Grant Program is focused
on the growing issue of abandoned, unused or hazardous dams in Michigan. The purpose of the program is to
provide funding and technical assistance to local and state
units of government, nonprofit groups and individuals
to manage dam removals or repair/major maintenance
projects that will enhance aquatic resources and fishing
opportunities, as well as reduce infrastructure costs and
improve public safety in Michigan.
There were six recipients in the programs first year,
77
Eastern massasauga rattlesnake listed as

threatened by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the eastern massasauga rattlesnake as a threatened
species under the federal Endangered Species Act, stating that
nearly 40 percent of the snakes
historical populations are now extirpated
(no longer exist) and an additional 15
percent is of uncertain status.
The final rule listing the eastern
massasauga appears in the Sept. 30,
2016, Federal Register and has an effective date of Oct. 31, 2016.
Under the Endangered Species Act,
threatened species are considered plants
and animals that may become endangered in the foreseeable future. Across
the eastern massasauga rattlesnakes
range, nearly 40 percent of the species
population has declined. Habitat loss is
considered the primary threat driving
the snakes decline; however, as their
numbers decline, other threats such as
direct mortality or collection play a more
significant role.
Eastern massasaugas currently are
found in scattered locations in Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. In Michigan, the eastern
massasauga (the states only venomous snake) currently is state-listed as a
species of special concern, but will be
protected under Michigans Endangered
78
nate in crayfish burrows, but they also

may be found under logs and tree roots
or in small mammal burrows.
Those who live in areas with massasaugas can take steps to keep the snakes
away from their yard, such as keeping their grass cut short and removing
structures like leaf and brush piles, dead
logs and stacks of firewood that snakes
or their prey (primarily small rodents)
might use.
Kennedy emphasized that human
safety comes first, and the federal Endangered Species Act allows anyone to
take action to protect yourself or others
if you feel threatened.
The massasauga is a small snake
with a thick body, heart-shaped head
and vertical pupils. The average length
of an adult is about 2 feet. The snakes
tail has several dark brown rings and is
tipped by gray-yellow rattles. They eat
small rodents such as mice and voles,
and will sometimes eat frogs and other
Species Protection law once it is federNatural Resources endangered species
snakes. They are docile, secretive snakes
ally listed.
specialist. The DNR is currently work- that will try to escape rather than defend
Most massasaugas are located with- ing with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- themselves or fight. For more informain the southern portion of Michigan, with vice and many other partners to develop tion on this snake and many others, see
none occurring on the Upper Peninsulas a reasonable approach to conserve this
the 60-Second Snakes video series on
mainland.
rare snake in Michigan.
the DNRs YouTube channel at www.
Conservation of this rare snake is
These snakes live in wet prairies,
youtube.com/michigandnr.
critical because it plays an important role marshes and low-lying areas along rivers For more information visit www.
as a predator of small mammals, said
and lakes, and may also live in uplands
fws.gov/midwest/endangered/reptiles/
Dan Kennedy, Michigan Department of
during part of the year. They often hiber- eama.n
Elk has made mid-Michigan its home
ccasionally wildlife travel to

areas where they are not typically
found. A young bull elk recently
has been spotted in several locations in mid-Michigan that are outside
its home range.
We first started receiving reports
of a bull elk in Ogemaw County, and
then Gladwin County and most recently near Beal City and the Herrick
area in Isabella County, said Michigan Department of Natural Resources
elk specialist Chad Stewart. We
were able to confirm the locations
and also that it does appear to be a
wild elk.
Michigans wild elk population is
found in the northeast Lower Peninsula, the vast majority in the Pigeon
River Country State Forest east of
Vanderbilt. Michigan also has privately owned elk, within high-fence
facilities located across the state.
When a species like an elk is reported
so far from its typical range like this,
the first steps are to ensure it is not an
escaped private animal.
The privately owned elk and
deer facilities are strictly regulated,
and they have many requirements to
ensure wild animals dont get in and
private animals dont get out, said
A Michigan elk in its normal home range. Michigans wild elk population
is found in the nor theast Lower Peninsula. MDNR photo
Stewart. After contacting facilities
and reviewing photos, we are pretty
confident this is a wild male that simply is out exploring mid-Michigan.
Elk are herbivores that have a
diet of grasses, twigs and, this time of
year, hard and soft mast like acorns
and apples. This elk would have no

problem finding food, and is expected
to travel back north.
Typically, a stray wild animal
like this will make his way back to
where the rest of the herd is found,
and actually where the females are,
said Stewart. It may take several

weeks to months for this to happen, so
we appreciate any information on this
elk and its whereabouts.
Early archery deer season opened
Saturday, Oct. 1, and many people
will be hitting the woods and checking their trail cameras. The DNR asks
those who believe they have location
information or photos of this particular elk to report it by calling 231-7759727, ext. 6032 or emailing keenk1@
michigan.gov.
Michigans elk population is
estimated to be approximately 1,300
animals. Regulated hunting has been
used since 1984 to manage the population, locations and compositions of
the elk herd. In 2016, 200 state hunters were successful in the elk lottery
and received elk hunting licenses. The
elk season is a staggered season, with
the first elk hunt period open for a
total of 12 days starting Aug. 30 and
ending Oct. 3. The second elk hunt
will be held Dec. 10-18.
It is illegal to harvest a wild
Michigan elk outside of the elk range.
Michigans elk hunting seasons are
open only in select areas of the state.
Learn more about the history and
management of elk at mi.gov/elk.n
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79
Eyes - Ears - Nose And Perhaps A Sixth Sense...
Whitetails depend on their senses

If you are accustomed to
reading my words, you are
probably familiar with my
saying, Many a deer
harbors more sense than
most deer hunters!
hile this statement generally rings true, over

numerous past hunts,
I have crossed paths
with a number of not
too smart bucks or does.
Perhaps the dumb ones lost their doe
mom at an early age and had no family relative to teach them the ways of
the wild.
Furthermore, during the annual
rut, bucks appear careless beyond
belief, focusing on doe scents...not
good sense...not using their natural senses; vision, hearing, sense of
smell and sometimes what appears
to some hunters, a sixth sense. Lets
investigate a deers senses of seeing,
hearing, smelling what is constantly
You never know what show Mother Nature might produce at any given moment as you wild game watch and
surrounding it.
Eyes: The Eyes Have It...
A deers eyes appear oversized

in comparison to ours but there is a
natural explanation for that condition. Our eyes are facing frontward;
a deers eyes are located at the sides
of their head affording a vision field
of 270 degrees. A humans field of
vision remains at 180 degrees so there
is a large variance between the two.
A whitetail deer can see a great deal
more than a human. Actually,
we possess what is termed
binocular vision while the
deer literally has a wideangle view of its surroundings. Since deer are a prey
animal for wolf, cougar, bear
and coyote they need to have
a wide view enabling them
to watch for the slightest of
movement. It well
could be a wolf and it
could afford enough
time to put some well needed distance
between the two animals.
Actually, the only place a deer
cannot see...is directly behind it.
We all realize that a deers big
brown eyes are similar to a domestic
cows in size and coloration. On one
occasion, while managing a downstate
hunt club, this point was well driven
home. When sitting out in the hunt
shack, a doe snuck in on me early one
morning. As I turned to my left to peer
from that vantage point...there, not a
foot away from me, practically with
learn from their actions. MDNR photo

its head touching the blind was a huge
doe with a huge eye looking in on me!
Remarkably constructed, deers
eyes quickly adapt to both low light
or bright light plus their eyes are
designed to see well at night. When
you stop and think about it, whitetails
must depend on their senses to escape
a predator night or day, the eyes can
make a difference

Did you realize
that a deer often develops
cataracts that can result in
blindness? During a hunting
season spent near Glennie,
I watched two does come to
the bait; one of which held
its nose to the leader deers
flank. I assume the second
deer was blind as when the
two deer left, once
again she held her
nose to the other
deers back side.
How about the age-old question;
Can a deer see color? It is all about
a complicated assortment of rods and
cones that afford a deer to recognize
soft colors of grey, tan, green, blue
and yellow. No red or orange.
And why do a deers eyes shine
in the dark when picked up in the
lights of a vehicle? Again, it is due
to the number of rods and cones and
the existence of a membrane with a
mirror-like surface that reacts to the
headlights brightness.
By Betty Sodders
80
A humorous example of this event

occurred a few years ago when my
nephew was visiting, and one night
during legal shining dates, we advised
that we were approaching a cemetery and often times numerous deer
could be shined feeding. Suddenly he
became extremely excited, trying to
count which appeared to him as being
dozens of whitetails. We let the greenhorn get over a count of 50 before we
told him they were not deers eyes;
instead, cemetery solar lights marking
many of the graves.
You have to have a little fun in
life!
Over the years, one thing we have
noticed, is the fact that eye contact is
rarely made from deer to deer unless
they are, shall we say, part of the herd
hierarchy. Deer have a distinct pecking order and believe me, some rate
very low on that ladder.
When deer would come in to the
feedlot at one of the hunt clubs we
were working at, on a daily basis, they
would not make eye contact with me
or my husband...we felt their theory
was, if you do not look at them putting out the feed, they do not exist.
Now that sounds stupid but when you
stop and think about it, the very fact
that deer will not make eye contact
with other deer, why not humans as
well? We spent the winter feeding
them (back when it was legal) and
they knew us well and were comfort-
able with our actions.

When wintering at an Upper
Peninsula hunt club, we were privy to
watch our herds Matriarch who ruled
the herd with an iron hoof. She made
eye contact with every deer, regular
or stranger, trying to enter the feedlot.
She drove unwelcome deer out with a
no nonsense attitude.
Ears: Hear, Hear...
First of all, a deers ears are oversized compared to ours. They have
24 of ear surface; four times that of a
human ear. Whitetails hear sounds in a
range of 500 to 12,000 Hertz Range.
Their hearing ability to detect
sounds quickly and surely remains of
utmost importance for a deers survival. They have the ability to move
their ears in numerous positions including backwards. Also each ear can
be moved independently to zero while
detecting a possible threat coming at
them from either the left or the right.
High winds lower a whitetails
chance of early detection of a wolf,
bear, cougar or coyote. If you are
at your deer stand on a very windy
day, you will note deer are extremely
nervous due to the weather. If they
are feeding, every few minutes their
heads may raise up and they appear to
be intently listening. Or, if the wind
is severe, they may feed quickly and
Whitetail depend on their senses page 82
81
Whitetail depend on their senses:

from page 80
leave the feed lot; no lingering as
usual.
Wildlife researchers claim that
when several deer bed down during
daylight hours, each deer will face a
different direction. Why? As an
added precaution against predators
attacking a sleeping deer. Together
eyes and ears cover varied directions.
A deers ears can be positioned
independently from each other or
both can face the same direction. Additionally, being placed on top their
head instead of being positioned on
either side is also a definite advantage.
A deers ears are the third most
important faction of the senses; eyes,
ears, nose. A white-tailed deer can actually distinguish whether the sound
comes from in front of them or from
behind. Researchers claim that deer
can actually hear louder in one ear
than the other telling them, more or
less, that a predator is on their right or
left. And hearing predator noise early,
well before the actual attack affords
precious time for escape.
Next time you are deer hunting
if you have one or two deer at your
bait, watch their ears...they are like
radar antennas...and most important,
they may provide a clue that a buck is
approaching. For you see, their finetuned ability to hear does not always
indicate that a predator is about; it
also may point out that another deer
is nearby or it might be used to locate
a does hidden fawn.
A hunter can learn a great deal
of natural wisdom from the animal
kingdom.
The Nose Knows:

The Longer The Better...
It takes a large nose when you

have a dire need to detect the proximity of a prowling predator; albeit
wolf, cougar, bear or coyote. Predation is a natural culling process; actually, it remains one of the basic laws
of nature.
Here across the Upper Peninsula,

wolves prove to be a predator threat
more so than bear, cougar or coyote.
If wolf pups are counted in the DNR
census; wolf numbers across the U.P.
indicate we harbor about 1,500 gray
wolves.
Wolves negotiate clean kills as
they are experienced pack hunters.
Wolves kill to eat. Wildlife researchers estimate that during heavily
snowed and extremely cold winters, a
wolf takes down an adult deer every
28 days.
A deers nose or sensory organ is
used for numerous day to day messages of what is happening around
him or her. A buck uses its nose to
determine a does breeding status. In
return, she follows the same path and
lets him know when she is receptive.
Thus the deer uses its nose to trail
another whitetail, locate food, predator awareness, test a does breeding
status, identify danger and check
out numerous unusual left-behind
scents such as urine, musk scents
and even the unmistakable odor of a
nearby skunk. To sum the situation
up, white-tailed deer are extremely
dependent upon their sense of smell
for survival, nutrition, safety, communication and breeding.
Are you aware of the fact that a
deer can actually smell a hunter 150
yards distant? The nose knows...the
wind is an aid when traveling the deer
path as a whitetail constantly scent
check for signs of danger ahead...to
the side...or even to the back. A deers
fine-tuned nose can distinguish and
sort out a vast number of smells and
when coupled with its other senses,
the eyes and ears, a whitetail has
quite a complex built-in communication system.
One other trait that should be
noted is that bucks often lick the end
of their nose in order to achieve additional smelling capacity when searching for a doe in heat.
If a hunter wishes to outsmart a
deer during the annual hunt he should
Bucks often lick the end of their nose in order to achieve additional
smelling capacity when searching for a doe in heat. Kenny Darwin photo
by all means sit upwind. An ideal
situation would be to have the wind
blowing from the deer to the hunter.
Due to their sharp sense of smell,
deer tend to travel into the wind with
the wind at their noses.
Actually, studies indicate that a
deers sense of smell is some 10 times
more acute than that of a human.
What About A
Deers Sixth Sense?
During most hunters time spent

in the deer woods, a strong feeling
of a buck or doe possessing a sixth
sense must have been proved evident. We, as humans, have had moments when there is a strong feeling
that the phone is going to ring or that
a long lost friend is going to walk
through the door...a premonition of an
event.
Is it possible for a white-taileddeer to experience an extra sensory perception event? Researchers
believe that it is possible for a deer to
react to an incident that just does not
appear right.
Have you ever been sitting in
your treestand or deer blind, to have
a deer come in to the bait, then for
absolutely no reason whatsoever, look
towards your position, then slowly
walk away never to be seen at the bait
pile again?
Conclusion:
There is a lot more ground to

cover when dealing with a whitetails senses; eyes, ears, smell and
6th sense. Take an opportunity to
research the subject. Additionally, allow Mother Nature to teach you more
about deer by observing deer actions
when afield. You will see how deer
handle high winds...how a buck wets
his nose, the better to smell a doe...
and if you are in the right place at the
right time, you might see a predator on a deer trail and make note of
how far she is ahead of the wolf, bear
or coyote to undertake a successful
escape.
Several years ago, a personal
observation took place near Gulliver
in Michigans Upper Peninsula. We
stopped our vehicle to watch a coyote
chasing a deer across an abandoned
airstrip. We sat there for several
minutes talking when suddenly the
coyote burst from the forest back on
the airstrip and believe it or not, the
pursued deer was now chasing the
coyote! No explanation ever surfaced.
Was it a sense of play? Or was the
chase still on but in reverse?
I leave you on that note...you
never know what show Mother
Nature might produce at any given
moment as you wild game watch and
learn from their actions.n
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83
Kayak Trolling For Panfish Is Easy And Effective...By Dave Mull
PADDLE UP A MESS
he effectiveness of trolling for

panfish is not a secret anymore. Some anglers who do
it a lot are afraid that if many
more guys get the hang of
it, the Michigan DNR might
reduce creel limits.
It really can be that effective.
Trolling for panfish from a kayak
is easy and productive, too. Its also
a relaxing way to spend a day on the
water, pedaling or paddling your way
to a tasty fish fry.
Setting up your kayak for trolling
means adding a couple of rod holders. Although we can troll three lines
throughout Michigan, any more than
two is asking for trouble in a kayak.
Plus, once you dial in the fish, two rods
are more than enough to handle.
Paddlers must be careful about
placement of a rod holder on each side
of their kayaksyou dont want them
to get in the way of a paddle stroke.
Some guys mount rod holders behind
them, but putting the rods in front
of you where you can monitor them
constantly is about 100 times better.
Panfish hits can be tentative and if you
arent reeling within a few seconds of
84
seeing a strike, you have good chance

of losing the fish.
Lots of rod holders are out there,
and Ive used a few different brands. I
started with RAM holders, which have
that rubber ball that you clamp the rod
holder tube to, making it infinitely adjustable for placing your rod angle. For
panfish they are fine, but if you might
ever troll for bigger species, such as
pike, walleye or salmon, make sure and
tether your rod to your yaktheres no
way to clamp the holder down securely
enough to keep it from slipping and
letting the rod fly out of it if a big fish
hits.
I much prefer Scotty holders and
Folbe holders, which are available
with a wide variety of bases to mount
on your kayak. Through-bolting the
base is the best way to go, and is easy
to do with the right size drill bit and
Nyloc nuts. Make sure to use the largest washers you can to provide support
from underneath.
I like extra extensions for the
holders, which raise them above the
gunnel about a footthey make the
rods easier to watch and grab. Plus,
since I use a pedal-powered Hobie, the
Spinners such
as this Wedding Ring from
Macks Lures,
work great
when combined
with bait such
as Berkley
Gulp! Waxes or
live waxworms.
extensions keep the rod handles above
my shins.
Once you have your holders, its
time to select rods. Any limber rod
will do. I troll for bluegills and crappies a lot and have dedicated a few
spinning combos to this pursuit. All
three rods are ultralight action; one is
8-feet long and the other is 6-feet long
and the backup is 9-feet long. All three
are from Riversider Rods (challengerlures.com), a company that produces
a lot of really nice rods at reasonable
prices. I paired these rods with small,
ice-fishing-size spinning reels that I
had handy. They work OK, but tend to
twist the line, so Im planning to upgrade to mid-price Shimano Symetres,
the 2500 size, which retail for about
$100 apiece. These have a good drag
system that can handle the occasional
bass or northern pike that hits the tiny
lures trolled on 4-pound test.
Why 4-pound test? Big bluegills
are one of the most line-sensitive fish
that swims, and, in lakes that receive
any amount of fishing pressure, they
often will spurn baits and lures if they
can see the line theyre tied to. Crappies, on the other hand, arent nearly as
line shy, and you can often get them to
hit even if youre using bright yellow
line. But thin, 4-pound test lets you get
deeper, when you want to, with just a
little added weight, since the line cuts
through the water. I use Clear AN-40
Silverthread with a 4-pound leader of

fluorocarbon. The fluoro leader is very
nearly invisible and some fluorocarbon
brands, such as Seaguar AbrazX, are
abrasion resistant and dont get nicked
as easily when youre netting a fish.
Speaking of lures, many different
lures, different bait and combinations
of lures and bait work great. Like
walleyes, panfish jump on spinners
and worms in warmer water, but when
the water cools in fall, crankbaits take
front and center. Stickbaits and other
billed hardbodies that wiggle at super
slow speeds tend to work best.
Hands down favorite among
cranks is the Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow, a
1.5-inch beauty with that fine, lightreflecting finish and seductive, rolling
wiggle. Right behind it in terms of
effectiveness is the Rebel Teeny Wee
Craw, which works great all year, even
in late fall when most of the crawfish
have burrowed into hibernation holes.
Equally good when you want some
depth is the No., 4 FlickerShad from
Berkley. Other good lures include the
Spro Minnow 20 and the Rebel Hellgrammite.
Spinners, as mentioned, still work
in cold water and some days will out
fish hard plastic lures. Two types have
become go-to favorites. The first is the
Wedding Ring Spinner from Macks
Lures, a western company that, among
many other things, makes rigs for land-
locked kokanee salmon, a fish that is

fairly small and responds to smaller
offerings. The Wedding Ring Spinner,
with its small Indiana blade and colorful two-piece body with the shiny ring
in the middle, is money for panfish. A
couple of Gulp Waxies or live waxworms are all you need to add. Just
as good are the small 0 size Mepps
Aglia Ultra Lite Spinners, both with
and without the tied fly. Added Gulp!
or real waxies helps get more bites.
Install a pair of rod holders, rig a couple of ultralight rods and

youre ready to troll up a mess of panfish. Here, Ted Garneau of
Comstock, trolls Baseline Lake near Gobles last September.
Proven panfish trolling lures, clockwise from bottom left: Rebel Teeny Wee Craw, Spro Minnow 20, Berkley No. 4 FlickerShad, Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow, Mepps Aglia Ultra Lite (with fly and
Gulp! Waxie), Mepps Aglia Ultra Lite Dressed (with two Gulp! Waxies), Macks Lure Wedding
Ring Spinner (with Gulp! Waxies) and Wedding Ring Pro-Glo Series (featuring a Smile Blade).
Finding late fall panfish can be

quite a hunt, but thats why trolling is
the best way to do it. In fall, panfish
still hang around remaining green
weeds and suspend just out from
weed linessometimes they suspend
out over the basin, especially the
larger ones. Bigger panfish school up
together, so a sonar unit that can show
you schools and how deep they lurk
is invaluable. I have a Humminbird
197C color sonar unit that cost about
$100 and it works just fine in the yak.
Finally, a bit about depth control.
Trolling out of a kayak with spinning
tackle is an inexact science. Putting
lures at a specific depth is an educated
guess. I use weights up to half an
ounce and have put together a sinker
holder system with three different

kinds of Torpedo Products snap swivels that makes changing weights easy.
You dont need to put your lure
very far behind a kayak for fish to hit
itthe swirls of a paddle or pedalpowered fins seems to attract them
close. The farthest I set lures back is
about 60 feet, determined by three
sweeps of the 8-foot rod. I set the
other line on the 6-foot rod the same
way, which puts the lure even closer
behind the boat, then add weight if I
want the lures to go deeper.
This fall, put some rod holders on
your kayak and spend a day trolling
around a lake. Youll likely find it to
be the most fun youve ever had catching a nice meal of fresh fillets.n
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85
Gun Chat: Old Friends

shooting two other shooters arrived.
They were older and both had white
hair and mustaches. (My mustache
has gone white in the last several
years, but theirs were more experienced with, and committed to, the
color.) The guns they brought were
older designs. One was a
replica of a Sharps rifle.
(You might think of it as a
buffalo rifle.) It was a .4570 with double set triggers and a silver forend
cap. I think he said it was
a replica of the model of
1876.
The other man had
a Remington Rolling
Block in .43 Egyptian.
He had made his own
front sight and also modified the one
at the rear of the barrel. The base rifle
was an original.
I bought it in 1967 for $35 he
said.
I told him about a .30-40 Krag I
should have bought around the same
time.
Of course, I didnt have the
money.
By Lee Arten
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
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86
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I owned a Rolling Block reproduction pistol in .357 Magnum many

years ago. It didnt do much for me
and, eventually, I sold it. The rifle
version of the gun seemed more interesting. I dont think Ill start looking
for one, but you never know. Ive
looked at Sharps replicas before, but never had the money
available when I saw one for
sale.
When we took a break, the
two guys put up targets at
100 yards, and set up a chronograph. The Rolling Block
shooter had made cases from
458 Winchester Magnum brass,
turning off the belt, and
reforming them. Of course,
he loaded his own rounds in
them. I dont recall what speed the
chronograph showed for them but
the noise they made was a rolling
BOOM, noticeably different from the
reports of the Carbine, a bolt-action
.308, two .38 Specials, and the .22
pistols we brought.
I wished Id asked the men if
they hunted deer with the old rifles
but forgot. Id also forgotten my
Goats $325 & Up

Fallow Bucks
$900
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE!
www.woods-n-waternews.com
y daughter and her husband were in town a few

weeks ago and we went
to the range. It had been
almost a year. Too long, I
think.
This time things were different,
I shot more of their ammo than they
did mine! Im low on .38 Specials,
and they had brought some Remington and Winchester .22s. I wanted to
try in one of my guns. We did shoot
an M1 Carbine with my lead-bullet
reloads. Id found a box with about
60 in it and we fired most of them.
We might have fired more but I
spilled the box into the bottom of my
range bag. I think some are still lost
there.
Id been feeling like shooting
the Carbine for a while. The loads I
made are a bit light for the gun but it
ran most of the time, after I applied
lube to the bolt and slide. I had one
round that was crimped too heavily
and wouldnt fire. The next batch of
.30 Carbine I load will be loaded a
bit more heavily and Ill watch my
crimps.
Just as we were about to start
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camera, so wasnt even able to take

pictures of the rifles.
We were almost done when the
.43 Egyptian owner got out a more
modern arm. It was a Mauser that
looked a lot like my late dads 8mm
Mauser deer rifle would have before
it was sporterized. Dads rifle was
made in 1916. The guy at the range
had loaded his own rounds for the
8mm as well.
The other old shooter had replaced his Sharps replica with a Rolling Block in .45-70 by then. The two
Rolling Blocks looked quite similar
and, in fact, both had the same military actions. The Rolling Block in
.45-70 had a modern barrel, sights,
and stocks, however. It sounded
emphatic when it was fired on the
covered range, as well.
The two gentlemen set up unhurriedly and seemed ready to spend a
lot of the afternoon at the range. They
were accustomed to testing loads,
shooting off of rests and bags, and
using spotting scopes. They were
easy to share the range with. When
I had questions about the old rifles
they were always willing to stop
and tell me about them. (I didnt
try to ask when they were trying to
shoot the last shot of a group,
however.)
I think the two of them may have
been shooting together for years.
They didnt have to discuss much
during set up. When they did have
information to convey they did it in
the same way as they set up, unhurriedly and precisely. We werent quite
as precise but did get what we needed
to do.
I had a good trip to the range.
Shooting up some of my daughter
and son-in-laws ammo was one
thing that made it that way.
Another was watching the two
older guys having fun with their
even older rifles.n
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87
TROPHY PAGE
Ethan
Hunt, 5 of
Hale was
fishing
with his
Grandpa
Hunt in
September. Looks
like a
This 200 pound male taken on
future pro Sept. 11, 2016 in the Bergland BMU
bass fisher- by Mark Larsen of Midland.
man!
James Horvath,
9-years-old of Mussey
Twp. caught this 7.25
lb., 20 inch largemouth
out of White Lake.
Jon Crawford of New

Haven took
his first Black
Bear. He
was hunting
the Newberry BMU
the opening day of
hound season hunting with
Blue Plague
Guide Service.
Trenton Putney of Flushing,

Michigan caught this 14"
perch on Saginaw bay October 2 off the Saganing Bar.
Pat
Schindler
of East
China,
harvested
this
Michigan
cow elk
on Sept.
2, outside
of Wolverine with
guide
Alvin
Sitkiewicz
of Michigan Gone
Wild.
Xander
Traynor,
10 took
this nice
7-pt.
hunting
Newaygo
County
opening
morning
of the
youth
hunt.
88
Ed
Berch
took
this
bruin
in the
Baldwin
unit on
opening day.
Brianna Mester, 16 of Cass

City caught this big old smallmouth fishing the Cass River.
Nolan
Hofer, 14
of Clyde
took
this 7-pt.
hunting
Oct. 1
with a
crossbow
in St. Clair
County.
Holli Jaecks of Niles took

her first bear, hunting near
Bruce Crossing Sept. 10.
Ben
Minnick,
10 of
South
Lyon with
his first
deer, a
5-pt. taken
in Rives
Junction.
Hunting
with his
crossbow
during
the youth
hunt.
Hunter Parkinson
Jacob Potts, 16 of Portage took this
took this nice 6-pt.
dandy 8-pt., 198 lb. buck Oct. 1 with
during the youth
his crossbow hunting near Kalamazoo. hunt in Sterling.
Tyler Blake Lotterman, 10 took this 10-pt.

hunting with his grandpas 30/06 during
the youth hunt.
Top) Katelyn Hellebuyck, 13 and Nicole

Hellebuyck, 11 of
Boyne City. Opening
evening of the 2016
youth hunt an 8-pt.
and a 6-pt. (Left) Emily Hellebuyck, 9 of
Boyne City took her
first deer during the
youth hunt.
TROPHY PAGE
Paul Thomas of Niles took his first buck

hunting the youth hunt near Niles.
Rylee Lytle, age 10, of

Houghton Lake successfully harvested her
first deer, an 8-pt. during the youth hunt in
Roscommon Co. hunting with her dad.
Hunter Heronemus, 8 took

his first deer, this beautiful
8-pt. hunting Sanilac Co. during the youth hunt.
Kyle White of Davison took his first

buck during the youth hunt, this
dandy 9-pt.
Sabra Carmichael, 11 of Manton

took this 7-pt with her 30-30 during
the youth hunt while hunting with
her mentor Jerry Ramsay.
Tannor Eshenroder of
Monroe took this 6-pt
during the youth hunt using his Godfathers, John
Ciacelli's, new Encore.
Lincoln Newell, 7 took his first buck,
this 185 pound, 6-pt. hunting with
his dad on the family farm in Isabella Co. during the youth hunt.
Natalie Rappaport took

her first buck, this 5-pt.
hunting the youth hunt
near Hale.
The McDonell
Brothers,
Ryan, 11 (left)
and Daniel,
13 of Bay City
had a great
youth hunt in
Roscommon
Co. Ryan took
his first buck
a 6-pt. and
Daniel a giant
9-pt.
Victor, 15 and his sister

Anna Schoenherr, 14 of
Auburn took a pair of nice
8-pts. during the youth
hunt in Roscommon Co.
Ryan
Hazel
took
this
terrific
buck
hunting the
youth
hunt
on Harsens
Island.
Tanner Ching, 15 of Pierson took

this monster 10-pt., 200 pound buck
hunting Montcalm Co. during the
youth hunt
89
Hot Topics and My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...
2016 expansion of hunting and fishing

opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges
The USFWS is responsible
for managing more than
850 million acres in the
Refuge System,
including five marine
national monuments, 565
national wildlife refuges
and 38 wetland
management districts...
.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Director Dan Ashe announced in early October the
agency will expand fishing
and hunting opportunities on
13 refuges throughout the
Services National Wildlife Refuge
System (www.fws.gov/refuges).
The final rule also modifies existing
refuge-specific regulations on more
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only International Wildlife Refuge in North America. The refuge includes islands,
coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along 48 miles of Detroit River and Western Lake Erie shorelines.
than 70 other refuges and wetland
management districts. This includes
migratory bird, upland game and big
game hunting, and sport fishing.
In Michigan the Detroit River
International Wildlife Refuge expanded migratory game bird hunting,
upland game hunting and big game
hunting. The refuge is already open to
migratory game bird hunting, upland

game hunting and big game hunting.
In other states like Colorado, hunting
for elk will occur for the first time
in designated areas of Baca National
Wildlife Refuge, as well as in expanded areas of Alamosa National
Wildlife Refuge and Monte Vista
National Wildlife Refuge. To view a
life, hunting accidents happen. They

are terrible and unfortunate, but accidents can happen anywhere. Should
we ban all cars because there are so
many traffic accidents?
Hunting isnt a violent act of
recreation, its a way of life. It is part
of our family history, a God-given
right that calls to our heart every fall.
Anyone that sees it as a something
negative or violent has never really
hunted.
So please, please educate yourself on the truth about hunting!
Thank God for Teddy Roosevelt, he created national forests and
protected over 230 million acres for
wildlife and public use.
Hunters pay for hunting and
conservation, in fact there is an 11%
tax on guns, ammo and arrows that
generate over $371 million dollars
per year. Hunters pay almost $800
million a year for conservation programs.
Hunting supports close to a
complete list of all hunting and sport

fishing opportunities on refuges go
to www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/
huntFishRegs.html. The final rule will
became effective upon publication
in the Federal Register on October 4,
2016.
Sportsmen and sportswomen
were among the first to champion
wildlife protection. Their efforts are
the backbone of the North American
Wildlife Conservation Modelfish
and wildlife belong to all Americans,
and they need to be managed in a
way that will sustain their populations
forever, said Ashe. We are pleased
to offer new opportunities for the
continuance of a hunting and fishing
tradition that is in accordance with
sustainable recreational use in the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
The final rule also includes opening sport fishing of state-regulated
species for the first time at Lake
Andes National Wildlife Refuge in
South Dakota, and expanding areas
available for sport fishing at Patoka
River National Wildlife Refuge in
Indiana.
The Service is responsible for
managing more than 850 million
acres in the Refuge System, including five marine national monuments,
565 national wildlife refuges and 38
wetland management districts. The
agency manages hunting and fishing programs to ensure sustainable
wildlife populations, and other forms
of wildlife-dependent recreation on
refuges, such as wildlife watching
and photography. In addition, the Services Urban Wildlife Conservation
Program, launched in 2013, offers opportunities for residents of Americas
cities to learn about and take part in
wildlife conservation. There is a na-
Code Red page 92
Hunting and fishing expanded page 92
CODE RED: Stop and Read...
90
top whatever you are thinking about and give me five

minutes of your undivided
time. When someone hears
a CODE RED, they know
something serious is going
on. CODE RED means all hands on
deck, that everyones attention is
needed.
Notice needed, not wanted, this
message cant be ignored! We are
at that point as outdoorsmen and
women. We are at an interesting
time in society. The effects of the
social media and non-hunting groups
continue their attack on our hunting
heritage.
We have a job to do! The time is
now, please educate yourself to combat the lies and hateful anti-hunting
agenda. If we dont start working
together, we will lose our outdoor
rights.
Being educated is the best way
to combat foolishness. Knowing the
facts, will help correct misinformed
citizens about our hunting rights.
Here are some of the lies that
anti-hunters like to tell people:

Hunting is wrong because animals feel pain and suffering.
Just let nature take care of
itself, it will.
Hunting kills horses and other
pets.
Hunting is only a violent form
of recreation, just look at all the
hunting accidents.
How sad? Is that really what they
believe we do? Number one, animals
have no soul, they know nothing
of pain and suffering. They were
designed to be animals, to be hunted
and consumed. I would much rather
eat a wild animal than some steroidfilled animal that was grown from a
test tube.
Hunters manage population numbers and without hunters there would
be a huge increase in starvation and
sick animals. Imagine your ride to
work if we didnt deer hunt. The Department of Natural Resources have
specific quotas for certain animals to
maintain a healthy population. This
is done by trained, biologists. As in
By Lane Walker
My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...
A jump-start for kids into hunting

It is very impor tant to the future of hunting...
his is why I had strongly

supported lowering the age
to allow kids to go hunting,
and then finally (after much
debate) having a certain age
requirement being dropped
entirely was a definite no-brainer for
me.
I fully support the Mentor
hunting license which allows kids of
any age to be able to hunt with adult
supervision, and without the requirement of a Hunter Safety Certificate.
Being mentored by a knowledgeable
and responsible adult into hunting
has been taking place for eons and is
quite frankly the natural process of
passing on passion, knowledge and
skills to the next generation. Im also
a firm believer that it should be up
to the parents to determine
as to whether or not a child
is ready (and willing of
course) to go hunting.
This does not mean
I dont support Hunter
Education, which I consider
as being a very important
matter because it has created
a much safer atmosphere today in
hunting overall. In
fact I am a Hunter Education Instructor, and decided a while ago that if
I was going to talk the talk, Id best
walk the walk and play a role in matters (Hunter Education requires volunteers to keep it going). The Mentor
Hunting License is only for kids nine
and under (and a properly mentored
kid is being fully adult supervisedit
is how I learned to hunt long before
Hunter Education). If a kid wishes to
continue on into hunting, Hunter Education eventually becomes a requirement to purchase a hunting license.
I also fully support all the special
youth hunts (such as the recent youth
deer season) because I consider them
to be a necessary jump-start to
provide kids an ideal (and uniquely
their own) atmosphere to venture
into hunting. When the first youth
deer season came about 17 years ago,
I felt blessed to be able to take my

youngest son Joe out and truly work
with him one on one because I wasnt
allowed to hunt (my only hunting
tools are binoculars, deer calls and a
field-dressing kit). This meant I was
solely the hunting guide and mentor,
and that worked for me. I didnt have
this unique opportunity with Joes
two older brothers, Jake and Josh, and
back then kids had to be age 14 and
have a Hunter Education Certificate
in order to be able to hunt deer with a
firearm.
I truly appreciate the atmosphere
of placing my entire focus on the kid
while in the field and find it quite
rewarding. When Joe became too old
for the special youth hunts, I made
a point of adopting kids for the
special youth deer hunts, who really
wanted and needed someone to take
them hunting. It is called passing it
on, a very important part to hunting.
Needless to say I was none too
pleased when the early antlerless deer
season was combined with the special
youth deer season a couple years ago,
which means an adult supervising
the kid, can also be out there hunting too, except for antlerless deer
only. In my mind, there is something
lost and truly lacking in that concept
and I have refused to participate as a
hunter in it. When I take a
kid hunting on the special
youth deer hunt, I leave my
hunting arms at home. Although I have no problem
in putting a plump doe in
the freezer during an early
antlerless season when it is
a completely separate issue
from the youth
hunt, I havent
taken a doe during
that timeframe since everything was
combined, because there is always a
kid out there who needs someone to
take them hunting.
Ive heard pretty much all the
reasons the naysayers have about the
special youth deer seasons as well as
about kids nine and under (being too
little) and I fully disagree with them.
A main gripe they all have is that they
never had such an opportunity (aka a
jump-start) so the kids shouldnt have
one either. (Since when is it wrong to
wish something different and better
for the younger generations)?
There are also some who believe
the kids have an unfair opportunity
to bag vulnerable big bucks which,
sadly, wont be available for them
(the naysayers) when the regular
seasons come about (The youth
deer hunt accounts for less than one
By Tom Lounsbury
Twelve-year-old McKenna Lounsbury used a youth H&R .44 Magnum single-shot rifle to bag
this (DNR aged) 2 1/2 year old Thumb 10 point buck during the recent youth hunt, and her
smile says it all. She also insisted on field-dressing the deer herself. Jake Lounsbury photo
percent of the overall annual deer kill

statewide which certainly isnt an
astronomical figure at all). And there
are others who claim the parents are
out there to bag the big bucks while
having the kid along allows them to
do so.
All I have to say is there isnt a
deer running around with my private
brand on it. It belongs to whoever
legally (and ethically) kills and tags
it. I always tell a kid under my wing
that he or she can shoot any deer they
wish, big or small, because it is their
call to make. My only part is to make
sure it is an ethical (and safe) shot
according to the kids capabilities
(a couple years ago I called in two
bucks together, a 6-point and a real
dandy 8-point and I did recommend
putting a focus on the dandy, but
it was the kids call, and I was real
pleased when he put the 8-point down
on the spot at 30 yards).
As for adults using kids in order
to be able to violate, to bag big bucks,
I highly doubt it happens anywhere
near as rampant as the rumor mill
claims. Yes, there are lowlifes out
there and they have always been
around and always will be (you cant
change stupid). Personally, if I ever
encounter any I will turn them in,
instead of only wringing my hands
and complaining. It is what it is.

Bob Walker of Kingston and
I share a lot in common, which is
involving family in sharing a quality
experience in the outdoors. We both
learned to hunt from older hunters,
well before Hunter Education requirements, and we didnt have any special
youth hunts while growing up. Bob
can readily remember when his two
sons Ryan and Lane, had to wait until
they were 14 (as we did also) before
they could hunt deer with a gun, even
though they were ready to do so at a
much younger age.
With grandchildren now in the
picture, Bob is real pleased with the
Mentor hunting licenses as well as the
special youth deer season, and both
boys and girls get into the act on a
level playing field. Last weekend his
13-year-old grandson Hugh Walker
of Cass City bagged a still in velvet
3-point, with a 20 ga (Hugh has a
Hunter Safety Certificate, but was
able to start hunting at age 8 due to
the Mentor hunting licenses). Bobs
10-year-old granddaughter Gracy
Walker of Kingston bagged a 7-point
and her 8-year-old sister Molly
bagged a 10 point. Both granddaughters were using .50 caliber muzzle-
Jumpstart for kids page 93
The recruitment of young

hunters into hunting is
definitely quite impor tant
in regards to the future
of hunting, especially in
todays high-tech society
where kids can easily be
drawn to multiple interests
other than the outdoors...
91
Hot Topics and My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...

Hunting and fishing expanded: from page 90
tional wildlife refuge within an hours

drive from most major metropolitan
areas.
Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than
$144.7 billion in economic activity
across the United States according
to the Services National Survey
of Fishing, Hunting and WildlifeAssociated Recreation, published
every five years. More than 90 million Americans, or 41 percent of the
United States population age 16 and
older, pursue wildlife-related recreation. The Services report Banking

on Nature shows that refuges pump
$2.4 billion into the economy and
support more than 35,000 jobs. More
than 48 million visits are made to
refuges every year.
Hunting and fishing give families a chance to carry on traditions
that they have celebrated for generations, Ashe added. These types of
recreation also benefit local economies and generate much needed addi-
Code Red: from page 90

million jobs, often providing a lot of
money for local business like motels,
farmers and other various others.
What is more organic than wild
game? Hunting offers the purest form
of organic, healthy eating. High protein and low-fat making wild game
one of the best choices for healthy
eating.
Wild game numbers are the
healthiest they have ever been because of hunters.
Hunting provides families with
countless hours of quality time. Hunting stories live around the campfire
and in the heart of millions across
Michigan. They have been handed
down and told over generations.
These stories make us hunters and

keep all the hunters we have lost alive
forever.
I cant imagine how people have
a negative outlook at hunters. Some
of the most generous, selfless people
I know are hunters. They give their
time and money, so future generations
can learn and love the outdoors.
The lessons learned while hunting and fishing are priceless and help
shape us.
What would a world be without
hunting?
A scary place, so please educate yourself. Lets stand together
and use facts to support our hunting
heritage.n
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tional funding for wildlife conservation by bringing people into national

wildlife refuges, as well as provide an
important connection between people
and the outdoors.
Under the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act
of 1997, the Service permits hunting
and fishing along with four
other types of wildlife-dependent
recreation, including wildlife

photography, environmental
education, wildlife observation
and interpretation, when they are
compatible with an individual
refuges purpose and mission.
Hunting, within specified limits, is
now permitted on 337 wildlife refuges. Fishing is now permitted
on 276 wildlife refuges.n
2016 Wildlife Habitat

Grant recipients announced
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced the recipients of the 2016 Wildlife Habitat Grants. A total of $933,892 was awarded
to various conservation organizations, units of government, landowners
and nonprofit organizations for projects to be completed by Sept. 30, 2018.
Examples of funded projects include enhancement of large grassland
complexes, winter deer complexes, mast producing food sources, forest
openings and small game habitat.
The successful applicants, the counties in which their habitat projects
will take place and the amounts awarded are:
Grand Traverse Conservation District (Grand Traverse), $106,975
Green Timber Consulting Foresters (Marquette), $52,668
Huron Pines (Cheboygan), $118,287
Lapeer Conservation District (Lapeer), $40,008
Muskegon Conservation District (Newaygo), $34,138
National Wild Turkey Federation (Crawford/Oscoda), $174,442
National Wild Turkey Federation (Barry/Montcalm/Newaygo/
Oceana), $93,429
Pheasants Forever (Jackson/Washtenaw), $41,727
Pheasants Forever (Huron), $118,439
Ruffed Grouse Society (Cheboygan, Delta, Osceola), $98,746
Superior Watershed Partnership (Marquette), $55,033
After each grant cycle, the DNR has made improvements to the
program, which benefits both conservation partners and wildlife. One
important improvement includes increasing this grant period to two years,
which will improve project quality. The longer grant period and higher
project quality have coincided with applicants requesting larger dollar
amounts, resulting in fewer projects funded than in the past, but greater
overall wildlife and public benefit.
The Wildlife Habitat Grant Program began in October 2013 and is
funded with a portion of the revenue from hunting and fishing licenses
sold each year. The grant program is administered by the DNR through a
cooperative effort between its Wildlife Division and Grants Management
Section.
The grant programs main objective is to enhance and improve the
quality and quantity of game species habitat in support of a specific goal
from the DNR Wildlife Divisions strategic plan.
To learn more about the Wildlife Habitat Grant Program, visit www.
michigan.gov/dnr-grants.
My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...

Jump-start for kids: from page 91
loaders (which offers a mild recoil)
proving that little girls can get matters
done quite effectively.
Don Burnette of Cass City also
appreciates the Mentor hunting
licenses that allowed his son Zack to
be able to share hunting (and quality time) with him beginning at age
7. Now 10, Zack bagged a 3 point
last weekend, also using a .50 caliber
muzzleloader.
My son Jake appreciates the
Mentor hunting licenses as well that
had allowed his daughter McKenna to
begin hunting with him at age 8 (she
now has her Hunter Safety Certifi-
Ten-year-old
Zack Burnette
of Cass City
is very proud
of his 3-point
Thumb buck he
bagged with
a .50 caliber
muzzleloader
during the
recent youth
deer hunt. Don
Burnette photo
cate). They were sitting together in a

two-person ladder-stand last weekend
when 12-year-old McKenna used a
.44 Magnum single-shot H&R rifle to
put a 10 point right down on the spot.
Personally Im very proud of all
these young hunters for accomplishing a serious task, that of killing an
animal, and doing it respectfully, and
doing it right.
In my opinion (and many others),
allowing kids to have a jump-start
into hunting thanks to the special
youth hunts and the mentoring hunting licenses, is a very good thing in
regards to the future of hunting.n
Au Sable River fish hatchery inspected for invasives

the walls of the hatcherys raceways,
where trout are reared for the purposes
of stocking in other waters and harvesting for market.
Results of genetic testing are
expected by the end of this week to
confirm if those specimens are indeed
New Zealand mudsnails. Some 60 fish
were dissected to look for the presence of New Zealand mudsnails in the
fishes digestive tracts. No invasive
snails were discovered in the dissected
fish.
It is not surprising to find a limited number of presumed New Zealand
mudsnails in the hatchery raceways,
given their presence in the river
system, said Ed Eisch, the DNRs
fish production manager. The important thing is to minimize, as much
as possible, the spread of these snails
through the hatcherys actions or by
the actions of others who use the river.
Our inspection confirms actions taken
at the Grayling Hatcheryactions that
were put in place by DNR back in July
following the discovery of this invasive speciesare indeed appropriate,
effective measures.
The three state agencies will
continue to work with the Grayling
Hatcheryand with those who fish
and float on the Au Sable Riverto
guard against additional spread of
New Zealand mudsnails.
We know these snails are easily
transferred on the waders of anglers,
Eisch said. We encourage all those
who are concerned about the health of
Michigans waterways to thoroughly
clean their waders, boats and other
fishing equipment before moving to
another waterbody.
The state takes very seriously
the finding of invasive species in
any waterbody. That is why we have
invested significantly in programs to
prevent, control and eradicate invasive
species in Michigan. We appreciate the
hatchery operators cooperation in this
matter.
New Zealand mudsnails are no
more than an eighth of an inch in
New
Zealand
mudsnails
length and are present in other Great

Lakes states, the western U.S. and
Chesapeake Bay.
Prior to their discovery in the Au
Sable River, the snails had been found
in Michigan in the Pere Marquette and
the Boardman rivers. The snails have
been in the Boardman River since at
least 2012.
More information about the snails
can be found on Michigans invasive
species website at www.michigan.gov/
invasives.n
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n late September the Michigan

departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality and
Agriculture and Rural Development jointly inspected the Grayling Fish Hatchery located on the
East Branch of the Au Sable River in
Crawford County.
The inspection was conducted following the discovery in June of New
Zealand mudsnails immediately upstream and downstream of the privately-operated hatchery. New Zealand
mudsnails compete with native snails
and other macroinvertebrates that trout
may eat.
Inspection of the Grayling
Hatchery followed a letter from the
hatcherys operator, which invited the
three state agencies into the facility to
conduct an inspection, and to review
procedures the hatchery has instituted
to reduce the risk of spreading the
invasive snails.
In July, the DNR required risk
reduction procedures to the hatchery
owner in order for him to be able to
stock fish in public waters. The owner
independently also implemented additional risk reduction practices, including use of well water for fish transport.
The inspection last week confirmed a
source of well water is available to the
hatchery for use in trucks transporting
fish. Use of this specific source of well
water ensures invasive snails are not
leaving the property in river water.
With well water being used for
fish transport, the remaining required
practice to implementwhich aligns
with industry standardis to hold fish
for no more than 36 hours without
food before transporting them. The
36-hour maximum no feed period is
designed to minimize the possibility
fish will feed on snails and move them
elsewhere, even though snails are not a
preferred food source for trout.
The on-site inspection also included surveys for New Zealand mudsnails
within the facility. A small number of
specimens presumed to be New Zealand mudsnails were collected from
93
Readers Choice Trail Cam Contest
from page ??
Visit our website (www.woods-n-waternews.com) to vote for your favorite trail cam photo each
month. The photo with the most votes will receive a Woods-N-Water News mock Cover featuring
their photo. Once we have twelve monthly winners from our website, well ask you to choose the
Grand Prize winner which will get a new Stealth Cam.
Send your photos to: wnw@pageone-inc.com (please submit in jpeg format)
Eric Ellis of Perry

caught these
nice bucks in
August in
Shiawassee Co.
Gary Tysar of Fairview caught

this nice buck.
Tom
Spillane
caught
this coyote
checking out
the empty
bird feeder
at the cabin
near St
Helen.
Brad Beard of Romulus got this great

sow and cub photo from his trail cam
near Barton City.
Jon
Staffords
trail cam
caught
this U.P.
Baraga
Co. bear
relieving
an itch.
This big Wexford Co. bear
caught on a trail cam
by Ronald Arms near a
feeder, which the bear
didnt even knock down.
Russ Videans photo

caught this bear trying to
get corn out of a feeder
in swamp in Osceola Co.
Mark Busman Got this picture of two

fawns nursing in Missaukee County.
Jeff Eibling of Higgins Lake planted a food plot of Imperial Whitetail in

Isabella Co. and it draws lots of attention from coyotes, does and these bucks!
94
Kraig
Staples
trail cam
caught
another
bull elk
near
Millersburg
This coyote got caught marking its

territory by Larry Nutts trail cam.
Richard Perrys 2-year-old son

Richie picked the tree for this
trail cam and it produced this
nice close-up taken on public
land in Kent Co.
Readers Choice Trail Cam Contest
from page ??
Visit our website (www.woods-n-waternews.com) to vote for your favorite trail cam photo each
month. The photo with the most votes will receive a Woods-N-Water News mock Cover featuring
their photo. Once we have twelve monthly winners from our website, well ask you to choose the
Grand Prize winner which will get a new Stealth Cam.
Send your photos to: wnw@pageone-inc.com (please submit in jpeg format)
William and
Steve Gentners
trail cam photo
taken in
Gladwin Co.
with six bucks
shown, four of
them look like 8
points or better!
Ross
Rinkinen
is hoping
this buck
keeps
his same
travel
pattern
during the Rick Casey of Paw Paw, caught this Van
Buren Co. buck in the rising sun.
season!
Richard Rathnaw asks if its rare to see these many

mature bucks together. There are three 8-pts., a 4- pt.
and one 10-pt taken in the Manistee National Forest.
Richard added, he has 100s of deer photos from the
area from spikes to 10-points!
Scott
Honsowitz
captured a
pair of sparring buck on
his trail cam
recently in
Ionia Co.
Sandy Videan captured this doe

looking back on a run near the
swamp in Osceola Co.
Mike
Upplegers
trail cams
have captured
quite a few
bear pictures
this year with
the choke
cherry trees
being loaded
with berries
and the bear
are making a
mess of them
near Curran.
Larry Piotrowskis Oakland Co. trail

cam caught this beautiful shot of a
doe-fawn.
Sandy Videan of Tustin captured

a photo of a porcupine, looking
like the cuddliest critter in the
woods, in Osceola Co.
95
Youth Hunt 2016...By Lane Walker
Priceless memories and emotions
hen it comes to Michigans Youth Hunt, I

think I have heard every
opinion known to mankind. There have been
plenty of opponents,
saying Its not fair or It spoils these
kids and they wont ever like to hunt.
I have to admit, when I was
younger and bow hunting was almost
a full-time job, I would even complain
a little bit too. When I was a kid, I
shot my first buck at the age of 14. I
never had a chance to get out early,
when bucks are still in their summer
pattern and lace a big one.
Poor me, I thought.
I want a big buck too.
But then I worked as a teacher
and coach and I saw first-hand the
enjoyment and passion the youth hunt
provided.
Then one of the greatest events in
my life happened, I became a dad. I
can tell you without a doubt, the youth
hunt has provided more meaningThe authors daughter, Gracy Walker, 10 had an awesome opening day
ful memories than any other hunting
youth hunt dropping a seven-point buck just minutes before the rain
adventure I have ever been on.
That includes bow hunting and
star ted. This is her third deer and second buck.
seeing a 200 inch buck in Pike County, Illinois and shooting a Michigan
bull elk.
Those were all me hunts. The
youth hunt is a you hunt. Hunting
should be more about you than it
is me. I love getting others into the
sport. I love seeing them have success.
It is more important than me filling
my tag every year.
The youth hunt allows hunters
to mentor and prepare, explore and
imagine with young hunters across
the state. Are the bucks easier to kill?
Maybe, but who cares? How can anyone look at a child and see the excitement on their face and have anything
negative to say?
I love seeing a smiling kid holding a huge rack or even a spike.
We live in a time and a society
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where everything is instant gratification. For those that hunt, we know that
it teaches life lessons and provides a
unique form of entertainment. Maybe
killing that buck, even if its a buck
you have trail camera pictures of the
last three years, makes a young person
a hunter for life.
The past three years I have been
able to hunt with two of my daughters, but this year all three were going
to be hunting. The time we spend
together preparing, practicing and
hunting are seconds I will cherish
until the day that I die. There is no one
else I would rather hunt with or share
my love for the outdoors with then my
own children. I have taught them to
love and respect hunting and the game
we pursue. Seeing my eight-year-old
shaking trying to steady on a buck is
something that is almost indescribable.
This year was an extra-special
year, one that I will never forget.
Saturday morning couldnt come
soon enough, we had prepared and
practiced. But even I wasnt ready for
all the weekend excitement.
The night before we had our annual pre-hunt meal at a local restaurant with two of my best friends from
high school. We have been hunting
and hanging out since third grade so
to see my kids growing up with their
kids is gratifying. Lots of laughs were
shared, along with some old stories.
The pre-hunt is so important to the
overall hunting experience and is a
major reason why we all love the
outdoors so much.
The next morning came early
but everyone was up full of excitement. Rain was moving in but
we remained optimistic. Since three
of my daughters were hunting, I
had to enroll the help of my dad and
brother. We were going to divide
and conquer, hoping one would use
their smoke pole to provide the family
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I took one of my 10-year-old
twins out to sit on a green food plot
full of radishes and beans. The air
was heavy and we could tell rain was
coming. I knew we didnt have much
time. Right at daybreak we saw a
deer moving though the plot. It was a
buck, a nice three-point. We watched
as another deer, a five-point joined
the party.
It was 7 a.m. and we had two
bucks to choose from. My daughter
anchored her muzzleloader and put
the cross hairs on the five-point. Just
before she shot I noticed movement
in the tall grass behind the food plot.
I grabbed the binoculars and a much
bigger buck, a seven-point was walking towards the food plot. I whispered
for her to let her gun down and wait
for a shot. The buck took a couple
minutes but finally wandered into the
south end of the plot. After several
tense minutes, he turned broadside
and she pulled the trigger dropping
the buck.
Then the celebration started. We
were laughing and crying. I handed
her my phone to call her mom. Just
then I looked and the buck stood up
and looked around. He took one step,
stumbled and then sprinted out of the
food plot.
We were shocked and I worried
she had just broken the shoulder without hitting any vitals. Just as the buck
ran off, the rain started. I jumped
down and ran looking for blood.
There was none and it was raining so
hard I wouldnt have been able to see
it anyway. We went up to the house
and waited for an hour. The anxiety
was tearing us apart. We ventured out
in the rain and found the buck less
than thirty yards from where she shot
it.
The next morning, it was my
8-year-olds turn to hunt with dad.
We got out early and in the back of
(Right) Molly Walker, 8 shot a big ten-point on her first deer hunt while
hunting with her dad. To make things even more exciting, one of her best
friends, Tanner James (left) shot a gorgeous buck the same morning.
my mind I was thinking there was no
way we were going to have as much
excitement as the day before.
I was wrong.
Sunday morning was gorgeous
and the wind was blowing perfect.
We got out to the blind early and
I told my daughter to take a nap.
I covered her up with a princess
blanket and let the warm fall
wind hypnotize me. After about
40-minutes of staring at the food
plot, I caught myself nodding off.
Thats when I noticed movement
to my right. I squinted and couldnt
believe my eyes. There was a huge
10-point thirty yards away feeding in
the food plot.
I reached over rocking my
daughter trying to wake her up.
After a couple of firm shakes, her
eyes opened. I whispered telling
her about the buck and once she
saw him, she jolted awake. Looking
back it was probably better she
was sleeping, it didnt leave her

anytime to get nervous.
The buck was moving through
the food plot and she had trouble
picking it up in the scope. He finally
stopped at about 70-yards. She was

steady as I whispered in her ear.
Put it behind the front shoulder,
slowly squeeze the trigger, I said.
I got this dad, I got him, she
confidently said.
Just as I went to say something
else, the gun roared and deer flopped
over dead. I couldnt believe it, she
had killed her first deer, and she
dropped it in the food plot.
It was one of those hunting
memories that seems like a dream, for
a while everything moved slow and
felt surreal.
To add to the excitement, one of
her best friends killed a big buck two
minutes after her. So the two got to
share their experience and get some
great pictures together.
It was the greatest, most memorable hunting weekend ever!
I plan on spoiling all my kids and
have them take advantage of Michigans Youth Hunt.
The hunt gave us unbelievable
memories and allowed me to share a
blind with my daughters.
I am convinced they will be deer
hunters for life!n
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97
Spor ting Collectibles...
They called it spin fishing
his past September, Vince

Scharboneau and his daughter, Dana, carried three different fishing rods into the red
building and found me sitting
behind the table talking to
several Woods-N-Water News readers
at the recent Outdoor Weekend held
in Imlay City. Two of the rods came
packed in aluminum tubes. One was a
U.S.-made Wright and McGill Eagle
Claw pack rod in excellent condition,
and the other was a telescopic fiberglass spinning rod made in Korea.
Both were made in the 1980s and held
little collectible value. I told Vince to
fish with them.
The third rod, however, was
another matter. I recognized the light
green cotton bag as a South Bend Bait
Company bag. It was faintly marked
in red ink 569 and 7. Not recognizing the style number, I untied the
bag and pulled the two-piece rod out
of its protective cover. What I held
in my hands was a South Bend 7-ft.
bamboo spinning rod in near perfect
condition and certainly the nicest
bamboo spinning rod I had ever seen.
The rod was marked Joe Bates Jr.
Spinning Rod #569-7 Light Action.
The bamboo was a darker
color than standard South
Bend bamboo fly rods or bait
casting rods and was wrapped
with a rich olive green silk.
The long 14-inch cork handle
had two black anodized aluminum slip rings and a nicely
shaped rubber butt end. The
guides and tip-top were
made of expensive
chromium-plated
stainless steel. All
in all, it was a beautiful example of an
early spinning rod.
Todays spin fisherman take the
quality spinning reels and rods that are
available for grantedreels with incredible ball bearing smoothness and
superlative drag systems and powerful graphite rods with specie-specific
actionsand available at incredible
prices. But that was not true seventyfive years ago. American fresh water
anglers fished with either a fly rod or
with bait casting outfits, because spin
fishing did not arrive on our shores
until 1939.
The fixed spool is the basic
concept of the spinning reel design
when the angler opens the bail and
casts a lure or bait, the line is pulled
off the end of the fixed, non-rotating
spool. The spool does not revolve
or overrun like a bait casting reel,
and amazingly there is no backlash
or tangled mess of line. When the
The South Bend #569 Joe Bates Jr. 7-ft. 2-pc. Bamboo Spinning Rod from 1952-1953 along with early
spinning reels from Germany, the United States, France and Switzerland. Author photos
handle is turned and the bail is closed,
the bail automatically picks up the
line and rewinds it evenly
onto the spool. A simple but
ground-breaking invention!

The grandfather
of all spinning reels was
English, the Illingworth
Thread-Line spinning reel
first developed in 1905 and
designed to cast light lures
or baits with light braided
silk fishing line. The
first two versions of
the Illingworth reel
looked like egg
beaters, but the Illingworth Model
#2, introduced in 1910, took on the
shape of a modern spinning reel even
though the reel had exposed brass/
bronze gears. The Model No. 3 reel
came out in 1914 and was similar
to the #2 except for three important
improvements. The first was a reciprocating spool that moved up and
down as line was retrieved, which
better distributed line on the spool. An
improved dial drag system, as well as
a clicker, were added to the little reel,
so when line was pulled out against
the drag, the angler would also hear a
clicking noise. The company finally
modified the Model #3 in 1933 by
enclosing the gears with a cover.
Other manufacturers started
developing their own spinning reel
designsnot only in England but
also in France where the well-known
Luxor spinning reel was introduced
By Terry McBurney
98
in 1936. The reels were distributed by

Pezon et Michel of Ambrose, France,
even though another French company
named LLM, actually manufactured
the reels. Thats when American architect and sportsman, Bache Hamilton
Brown entered the picture. Brown
traveled, worked and fished throughout Europe in the late 1930s where he
learned to spin fish with a Luxor spinning reel. He recognized the merits
of spinninghow the reel would not
backlash and how the angler could
cast lighter lines and lures further. The
technique was also much easier to
master than bait casting.
There was not any spinning tackle
available in the United States at that

time, so Bache Brown came to an
agreement with Pezon et Michel to
import the Luxor spinning reels. Luxor reels and some 7-ft. bamboo rods
started coming into the United States
in 1939. Early ads were run promoting
the reels for $17 and the bamboo spinning rods for $22. A complete outfit
was also available, which included the
reel, the rod along with an aluminum
case plus special braided silk fishing
line, a bargain for $42 postpaid.
All trade between the United
States and France stopped when
France and Britain declared war
on Nazi Germany when it invaded
The two pages from the 1952 South Bend Tackle Company catalog promoting the Joe Bates Jr. spinning rod series.
The Illingwor th 3C
Threadline reel from
England with exposed
gears, circa 1914. Ben
Wright photo
A boxed example of a
Lionel Corporation Airex
Bache Brown Mastereel
with a half-bail. Author
photo
down bamboo dry fly rods. They

were somewhat stiffer than a fly rod
and had a similar parabolic action
bending from butt to tip. The rods
had extra long cork handles giving
forearm support to the arm, as well as
permitting the angler to rest the butt
against his abdomen while fighting
a fish. They also had bigger guides
than a bait casting rod. These larger
guides were essential because the line
whirled off the spinning reel spool
in large concentric loops and smaller
guides could not handle it.
Airex also built a high-priced
spinning rod out of an aluminum alloy they named Durod. It mimicked
the action of their bamboo spinning
rods as it also had a parabolic action
and a long cork grip with a sliding
reel seat. I owned a nice example five
years ago, and what I liked best about
the rod was what was printed on the
label glued to the tube, which read:
This rod is unbreakable and will
resist becoming set (bowed) in ordinary fishing. If it becomes bent in an
accident, such as closing a car door or
stepping on it in a boat - straighten it
out by hand or lightly tapping with a
wooden mallet on a piece of straight
wood.
Bamboo rods, steel rods and the
rare alloy versions were replaced
by fiberglass beginning in late 1946
when Shakespeare started ship-
ping three styles of Howald process

Wonderods that were introduced in
their 1947 catalog. Initially, Shakespeare unveiled one bait casting rod,
their model #1190, a one-piece 5-ft.
2-inch rod with a removable double
resin-treated fiber glass to make a

replacement tip. It worked!
Now the Shakespeare Co. of Kalamazoo, has taken up the manufacture of this rod, and is turning out a
limited supply for thorough field tests
this season. Whether this was totally
true is not important. Arthur Howald
was research director for the Plaskon
Corporation in Toledo, Ohio and had
worked extensively with fiberglass
during WWII. He also was an avid
fly fisherman and had developed the
concept of making fishing rods out
of resin impregnated glass fibers. He
developed the technology and equipment to make them and then took the
An early Luxor
spinning reel
made in France,
circa 1936. Ben
Wright photo
offset handle. It featured all Carboloy

guides and tip-top and was packed in
a royal blue cotton bag along with an
internal aluminum tube designed to
protect the fiberglass blank. It retailed
for $30.
The other two rods were model
#1290, a 7-ft. 9-inch 3-piece fly rod
and model #1390, an 8 -ft. 2-piece
fly rod. Both fly rods featured nickel
silver ferrules, an agate stripper guide
and came packed in a blue cotton bag
inside an aluminum rod tube. The fly
rods retailed for $60 each.
Shakespeares fiberglass technology came from Dr. Arthur M. Howald who had worked with fiberglass
during the war. The story that Shakespeare promoted first in press releases
and later in major outdoor magazine
ads that stated development of the
glass rod was started about two years
ago (1944) by Dr. Arthur M. Howald
of Toledo, Ohio, an ardent fisherman
and technical director of the LibbyOwens-Ford Glass Company. One
day Dr. Howald broke the tip of his
(bamboo) fly rod, and turned to the
idea to Shakespeare to see if they had

any interest. They did, and starting
in 1945 with a million dollar investment, Shakespeare built a new manufacturing plant in Columbia, South
Carolina to make what they initially
called Shakespeare Howald Glastik
Wonderods, soon to be Americas
favorite fishing rods.
Shakespeare added many new
styles and actions to their Wonderod
lineup during 1948 through 1950.
They added bait casting, fly and salt
water models, but no spinning rods.
This was because Shakespeare only
made bait casting reels, small capacity trolling reels and fly reels during
this period. The company relented
and finally added their first two-piece
spinning rod for the 1951 season,
model #1286, that not surprisingly
measured 7-ft. long, had a parabolic
action and a 13-inch cork handle with
slip rings. Shakespeare was still making bamboo rods, solid steel rods and
hollow steel rods in 1951, but soon
They call it spin fishing page 100
Poland in September 1939. Luxor

production ceased for the duration
of the conflict. Once the war was
over, the Bache Brown Company was
again advertising and selling Luxor
reels, this time manufactured in the
United States. The companys first ad
was in the July 1946 issue of Outdoor
Life. Two changes occurred in 1947.
The companys name was changed
to the Airex Equipment Company of
Long Island City, NY, the actual U.S.
manufacturer, along with the introduction of the Airex Bache Brown
Mastereel.
An ad from the October 1947
issue of Outdoor Life promoted the
Airex Bache Brown Mastereel along
with Airex spinning rods, lines, lures
and folding nets. The newly introduced Mastereel was similar to the
Luxor, but it had several improvements including a larger capacity
aluminum spool along with sturdier
internal parts.
Then in January of 1948, the
Lionel Corporation of model train
fame purchased two-thirds of the
Airex stock and started marketing the
Mastereel plus all of the other Airex
fishing items. The Airex Division of
the Lionel Corporation continued
to sell a growing line of spinning
reels and other products for the next
sixteen years but ran into stiff competition. Lionels emphasis, however,
was on model trains and not on their
struggling fishing tackle division, so
Airex was sold in 1964.
The first spinning rods sold in the
U.S. were French two-piece bamboo
rods. This changed after WWII when
several U.S. manufacturers started
producing basically the same bamboo
spinning rods here in this country.
These early rods made in 7-ft. and
7 -ft. lengths were basically cut-
99
They call it spin fishing:

from page 99
saw the handwriting on the wall.

They converted their entire lineup to
hollow glass Howald Process Wonderods along with a few promotionally priced solid glass rods by 1953.
The nearby South Bend Tackle
Company progressed along an even
slower time frame. Their 1952
catalog showed them selling bamboo rods, solid steel rods, an alloy
metal bait casting called The South
Bender, solid glass rods, and hollow
glass rods. They also introduced a
high quality series of four rods under
The Joe Bates Jr. signaturetwo
hollow fiberglass salt water spinning rods and two bamboo spinning
rodsthe light action 7-ft. rod that I
found at the Outdoor Weekend and a
medium action 7 -ft. rod for fresh
water fishing and light salt water use.
Joe Bates Jr. was one of the
best known outdoor writers of his
day, and the first American to write
extensively about spinning tackle.
His first book, published in 1947, was
100
titled Spinning for American Game

Fish. He also wrote two more books
on spinning over the next ten years.
Bates went on to author numerous
outdoor articles and a total of sixteen diverse books on fishing, many
of them to become classics in the
angling world. He died in 1988.
I would like to acknowledge
Ben Wrights book The Wright Price
Guide for the Reel Man, an excellent book covering all facets of open
face spinning reels, as well as Phil
Whites article entitled Bache Hamilton Brown, the Father of Spinning
in America from the January 2003
issue of the ORCA (Old Reel Collectors Association) newsletter, The Reel
News.
Feel free to contact the author
at antiquefishing@comcast.net with
your questions. Photographs are
important, so please send them. They
help me with identification and give
me an idea of the condition of the
item.n
An early 1947 Shakespeare ad featuring the first three Howald process

Wonderods.
(810) 223-4587 www.valhallalodgemi.com
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All The Valhalla Lodge Has To Offer!
101
Drummond Island:
The making of a hunting camp and much more
By Randy Jorgensen and Travis Rains
Editors Note: For
Travis Rains, of
Howell, hunting
camp is indeed
special. His admiration for his friend
and mentor Dave
Cain is evident.
Travis asked if he
could share a few
stories with our readers.
As you know, a hunting camp

generates more memories than the
critters we pursue. From warming yourself by a pot-belly stove, to
lacing-up boots on a cold Michigan
morning, drinking coffee made on
an open fire, to the smell of a musky
army tent. Perhaps thats why when
Travis sent us his story, a collection
of memories, we knew we wanted to
share it with our readers.
It all started with Dave Cain (of
South Lyon) in 1955 when a family

friend took him along on a camping trip to the Upper Peninsula. He
remembers riding up along Old 23
stopping at all the small towns on the
way and having to wait for the ferry
to take them across to the Upper
Peninsula. He still recalls seeing all
the construction for the building of
the new bridge, Travis writes.
A decade later Dave was joined
on his yearly trips to hunting camp
with his cousins Al and Larry.
One year on their way north
Dave bought his first bow at the Fred
Bear museum in Grayling, a Fred
Bear Grizzly. They stopped by the
museum a couple of times but only
once was Fred there, to their surprise
he came out and made small talk.
Wow I know someone who talked to
Fred Bear! Travis continues.
In 1967 Dave and his cousins
heard about the wilderness of Drum-
mond Island from Charlie, a coworker at Fords. He told Dave about

his friend Brett whose family owned
Johnsons Resort on the island. It was
at Johnsons Dave fell for the natural
beauty and lure of the island and his
bow camp began.
For many years they hunted the
island and allowed a few more friends
to join them like Bill and Perry, later
Doug and Jerry who all enjoyed hunting Drummond Island.
By the mid 70s they all chipped
in and bought a big green army
surplus tent. The tent was a staple for
many years of bow hunting memories
between Grayling and the island.
Dave invited two of his friends
teenage boys along Doug and Jerry
they were in his words not going
down a very good path at the time
Dave Cain on one of his long
and he was hoping the great outdoors walks scouting for deer sign on
would help them. About this time an- Drummond Island.
other one of Daves coworkers joined
in the fun Jerry from Atlanta and
yes thats how they referred to him,
due to the other Jerry.
As the 80s rolled around Daves
son, Dave, (known as Little Dave,
his father Big Dave) and I started
going to camp, we were 19 years old
and we started in Grayling because
Big Dave was scared we might get
lost on the island. That only lasted a
Licensed Taxidermist
couple of years then we earned the
right to go to Drummond once he
saw we had some sense of direction
and could use a compass, Travis
recalls.
After using the big green army
tent for close to 20 years Big Dave
bought a 16x22 Montana canvas tent.
It was a big upgrade from the old
green army tent.
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Photo provided
The famous big green army tent used for so many years on Drummond Island.
Drummond Island page 104
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Dave with a Drummond Island black bear from the late 60s.
all the cooking for the camp, on the
these days with the hustle and bustle
www.affordablepheasanthunting.com
old green two burner Coleman stove. of life. Daves now in his mid 70s but
Walkiewicz Farms
I can still remember scrambled eggs, still helps us pack and unpack. He
6115 Chapin Road Deford, Michigan 48729
sausage links and fried potatoes with still climbs his tree stand and most of
onions...nothing better my friend,
the time out sits the younger guys in
Travis explains.
the camp.
Back in the day we would set
up camp and the next day Big Dave
and Jerry from Atlanta would head
to Cedarville and shop for the weeks
grub and pick up the deer bait due
to lack of room in the truck for
Route 3 Box 163 Cornell, MI 49818
everything. This was a 1 hour 6-7
mile rough two track trek to paveIncredible U.P. of Michigan
ment then you hoped to time the
Hunting Opportunities
ferry right. It seemed like they were
gone all day as we sat at the tent and
Over 4,200 acres of private farmland
waited, he continues.
in south Marquette County
To scout around the island with
Big Dave is so cool at every turn,
Michigan, (2,000 acres) fully
every ridge, every swamp, he has a
guided bow and firearm hunts in
story about how he hunted that spot
hunting preserve for: Elk,
years ago or someone he was with
Large Russian Boar
did. The miles the guy has walked on
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We all still recall how you could

sleep for half the day in that thing
because it was so dark. I still remember arriving at camp and brushing
the snow away for the tent and having to dig a small hole for the center
pole, which was a tree cut down in
cold by the lights of the truck. Ahhhhhh the memories, he writes.
I will admit now that I kind of
miss the big green army tent and
all the screw in tree steps that were
screwed to the pine center pole (that
were legal at the time) that had
everything from an old radio hanging on them, to socks drying and old
army camo coats. Oh and lets not
forget about the barrel stove you had
to dig out the ground and route the
exhaust pipe out under the wall and
bury dirt on top of it so the tent wall
didnt catch fire. I can remember
Big Dave always asking us to feel
the tent wall by the pipe and make
sure it wasnt getting too hot continues Travis
By the 2000s, Big Daves grandsons joined the group Derek and
Dylon making three generations of
hunters on Drummond Island. Also
around this time Little Dave and
Travis had two friends join the group,
Matt and Chris. It was their way of
trying to keep the camp going like
Big Dave has done.
Through the years Big Dave has
lost a few of his oldest hunting buddies Jerry from Atlanta and Charlie
whos ashes are spread around a big
pine tree on the island that they still
hunt near and refer to it as Charlies
tree.
For many years Big Dave did
He is a true old school outdoorsman that can name trees, plants

and tell you about the ways of every
animal out there. We are all lucky to
call him our friend, Travis emotionally writes.
For the younger hunters the
feeling of camp begins around the
middle of September.
This is when the text messages
start flying around about how it
wont be long now and the previous year camp photos start getting
passed around and everyone is ready
to leave work that day and go. We all
joke that work doesnt get much out
103
Drummond Island:
and loop the fine string back and

forth when finished he wrapped the
outside of the string and then said
here ya go. He even helped them put
it on with no press for a crossbow it
was a chore but they got it on. Chris
used the string for the next 8 days
even harvesting a deer with it that
week. He still has that string today in
his case as a spare and loves telling
the story hopefully for many years,
Travis went to explain.
Steven from Petosky, is from
the only other bow camp we have
ever seen out there. He also referred
to Big Dave as the bearded guy with
the hat. Its always fun to talk with

him and talk about the deer or bear
we all have or have not seen or if
we have to borrow some jumper
cables.
I have never told Big Dave, but
he has been a father figure in my
life for many years and to him I owe
my love of the outdoors. I hope this
brings a smile to his face. I cant
wait to get up there this year and
Travis concludes.
Thanks for sharing Travis, well
done. Bow camps wherever they are
held is one of Michigan's grandest
traditions.n
Photo provided
of us the week before we leave for

camp and they might as well give us
that time off too, Travis explains.
About a week before we leave
we meet over at Big Daves and start
loading the trailer with everything
out of his pole barn, the tents, poles,
wood burner, tree stands, chainsaws
and lets not forget the carpet. Yes
carpet back in the mid 80s Jerry
and Doug laid carpet for a living
and started bringing leftover pieces
to line the tent floor we still do that
today its really nice to have carpet
Grocery Store (we always forget

something).
One year, Chris bought a new
fancy crossbow and while practicing with it at camp the string broke.
Chris called around and was going to have to go all the way back
to Jays Sporting Goods in Gaylord
hours away. On the way to the ferry
Chris and Dave stopped at Johnsons Sport Shop hoping Rick (the
owner) just might have one. Rick
unfortunately did not have the string
but said that Mr. Crossbow might be
able to help them out as he pointed
across the counter to an old guy. He
Photo provided
from page 103
Three generation of Cains

at one of the
Drummond
Island bow
camps.
Pictured from
left to right
are, Little
Dave, Dylon
and Big Dave.
under your feet in the tent and it

helps to stay warm and dry, he continues to write.
Then there is the trip up itself,
usually two trucks with trailers pulling quads, gear and food supplies.
On the way up when we stop for
gas, some get a snack or two, and I
always buy our Woods-N-Water to
keep in the outhouse no disrespect
intended, but we spend a lot of time
out there and its a tradition, Travis
humorously explains.
People have always been great
to us every year from the dock hands
at the ferry, to the workers at Sunes
said he didnt have a string but he

could make one. This was surprising to the guys but they said OK and
off they went back to the old guys
house.
When they arrived at the house
and went inside they were amazed
with the shoulder mounts that literally lined the guys walls top to bottom they said you couldnt see any
empty wall space.
As the guy measured the old
string and took out a board with
two nails on it he told the guys he
worked for a big bow manufacturer
for years. He then began to wind
Enjoy
Upland Bird Hunting
August 15April 30
104
Photo provided
Matt, Little Dave, Big Dave and Travis make themselves comfortable in their tent camp on Drummond Island.
Members of the bow camp with a hardy whitetail harvest.
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Invasive Species Alert...
European frogbit detected in West Michigan lakes
What is European frogbit?
A native of Europe and parts of

Africa and Asia, European frogbit
is an aquatic plant with small (halfinch to 2.5 inch), heart-shaped leaves
resembling miniature water lilies. Unlike similar aquatic plants, European
frogbit does not anchor its roots in the
lake or stream bed but remains freefloating. Three-petaled white flowers
with yellow centers appear briefly
sometime between mid-July and midAugust.
Why is it a problem?
The plant quickly forms dense

colonies or mats in shallow, slowmoving waters. These thick mats
prevent native plant growth, make
movement difficult for ducks and
large fish, and cause problems for
boaters, anglers and swimmers.
European frogbit is spread by
plant fragments or by turionssmall,
quarter-inch buds that break off the
plant and overwinter in lake or stream
beds. Plant parts easily can be transported to new water bodies on boat
motors or trailers, fishing gear and
other recreational equipment.
What can be done?
Detecting European frogbit in

West Michigan is a call to action to
all lake, stream and wetland users to
clean, drain and dry boats and gear,
said Kevin Walters, an invasive species aquatic biologist with the DEQ.
Take the simple steps of removing all
plants and debris from boats, trailers and gear and draining bilges and
live wells before leaving a site. Allow
boats and equipment to dry for at least
five days before moving to another
water body.
Walters said that even waders, fishing nets and inner tubes can
harbor invasive species and should be
thoroughly dried in the sun or cleaned
with a 2-percent bleach solution before being used at a different location.
What if I see
European frogbit?
Anyone can help by reporting

suspected European frogbit. The easiest way to report this harmful invasive
plant is through the MISIN website, at
www.misin.msu.edu or by downloading the MISIN app to a smartphone.
First, become familiar with identifying the plant. MISIN offers a short
identification tutorial which helps
distinguish between European frogbit
and similar aquatic plants.
If you encounter European frogbit on the water, take some photos.
These can be uploaded on the MISIN
website or attached to a report via
the MISIN app. Reports are directed
through MISIN to DNR and DEQ
aquatic biologists.
For more information on European frogbit and other invasive species, visit Michigans invasive species website at www.michigan.gov/
invasivespecies.n
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he MDNR has confirmed the

presence of European frogbit,
a prohibited aquatic invasive
plant, in Reeds and Fisk lakes
in the city of East Grand
Rapids. European frogbit
was first verified in Michigan in 1996
along the Great Lakes waterways in
southeastern Michigan and has since
been found in areas along Lake Huron
and the eastern Upper Peninsula. The
detections on Reeds and Fisk lakes
represent the westernmost known
locations of this invasive plant in
Michigan and the Midwest.
Staff from PLM Lake and Land
Management Corporation initially
identified the plant during a routine
lake inspection and reported the
finding through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network
(MISIN), triggering a notification to
the DNR and the Department of Environmental Qualitys Aquatic Invasive
Response Team. The team currently is
assessing the risk level of the situation and working with partners in the
community, including the city of East
Grand Rapids, Kent Conservation
District and the West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management
Area, to develop an action plan.
105
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107
The finer points of food plots

I have years of experience
in general farming and if I
planted and maintained our
food plots the same way we
crop farmed, we would see
as many more deer in our
neighbors alfalfa field as in
our food plots...
vegetation grows better, chances are

more promising. There is a reason
nothing grows in an open field, back
off here.
Now take a soil test in several
interesting locations. You
found something? Good, correct the PH to 6.5, the phosphorous to 40 PPM, (parts
per million), the potassium to
200 PPM and the magnesium
to 200 PPM. You are now set
to go, except the soil is just
too sandy. This can be a serious problem, yet there may
be an answer for you.
Check the depth of the
water table, if you are
lucky there may be a
clay layer three to six
feet deep. If there is, the water moisture is constantly rising to the surface.
The result can be fine forage growth
even with a drought.
memories that cannot be sold. O.K.

heres the plan: In mid-May spray
with Round up, at two quarts per acre
and add one quart of sprayable ammonium sulfate per acre.

Second week of June
broadcast 200 pounds of
19-19-19 fertilizer per acre
and till four inches deep.
Broadcast or drill a blend of
30 pounds of buckwheat and
six pounds of tillable radish
per acre. The buckwheat will
grow anywhere and has an
extensive root system plus
Well Begun is Half Done...
it targets magnesium.
Lets start with site prepping. If
The tillage radish is
you are looking to buy land for huntthe new kid on the
ing, think location first and the best
block with deep and
location is a mix of woods and farmlarge roots that really
land. I would choose a forty acre tract
conditions the soil with organic matter
with 30 acres of woods and 10 acres
and nutrients. Its the decomposing
of an open old hayfield that had simiroot system of both plants that builds
lar land use adjoining over 160 acres
up the soil organic matter, plus nutriof sandy soil full of jack pines for the
ents.
same price. If you have land but stuff Soil Correction
The second week of August
doesnt grow well. O.K., look for the Your property up north has been
broadcast a blend of two pounds of
tallest weeds or grass, even look at the in the family for over fifty years, there a brassica blend with 30 pounds of
woods and the lower slopes. Where
is a fine cabin and plenty of hunting
winter rye grain per acre. Repeat
the above for 5-6 years and you will
improve the organic matter at least
one percent and add major nutrients
to the soil. Not only are you building
up the soil, the vegetation seeded is
prime stuff to attract deer during hunting seasons plus feed them during the
winter and spring. If you have access
y
to cattle manure please spread up to
r
a
ilit t
M
five tons per acre per year for five
%
n
10 scou
years. You should be able after the
Di
soil correction to seed soybeans, corn,
wheat, clover and whatever else you
FULLY GUIDED ELK & ANTELOPE HUNTS CENTENNIAL WYOMING PRIVATE GROUND prefer.
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Ed Spinazzola
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108
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such as corn, sugar beets and soybeans, the best approach without
applying herbicide is to start with a
clean weed free field and a hoe, probably not a good idea. You can purchase Round up (RR) corn, soybeans
and sugar beets and apply RR at
least twice and probably three times
spaced three weeks apart. Our book,
Ultimate Deer Food Plots covers
all of the above and more. One easy
method with no tillage is to spray
RR three times, mid-May, early July
and just before seeding any legume
such as clover in early August or any
grain September first. This is a summer no-till method that works best in
the better soils. You can plant by just
broadcasting the seed. Following with
a cultipacking pass adds to the success.
For those who have no problem
with herbicides, my best advice is
the following. For legumes spray
RR in mid-May, again in mid-June,
broadcast fertilizer and till in early
July then the same day, spray RR and
drill or broadcast the clover seed in
What About Those Darn Weeds
Deer do eat some weeds. You still

dont like them! Yeah, I guess you
are right; they only eat them when
they are young. There are several
approaches to controlling weeds. The
first one is the one used for the last
1000 years. For plants seeded in mid
to late summer farmers would till the
soil every ten days starting in early
May, weather providing. The last
tillage just before seeding was not
as deep to prevent weed seeds from
turning up. The plants seeded were
hay crops such as clover, alfalfa and
timothy in early August or grain such
as rye grain, barley or winter wheat
in late September. Fertilizer was
broadcast before the last tillage. This
is an excellent method and I strongly
recommend it. The few weeds that do
show up will not have time to develop
mature seeds and you can expect
fewer weeds the following year. Note,
no herbicides are applied.
For plants seeded in late spring
505 E. Wadsworth Rd.

Bad Axe, MI 48413
See More Deer...Give Them

Something They Cant Resist
Remember if I created food plots

the same way I farmed we would see
as many or more deer in our neighbors hay field as in our food plots.
PREPARE FOR
FALL & WINTER
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70790 Van Dyke

Romeo, MI 48065
4994 Dixie Hwy.

Waterford, MI 48329
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877-936-6388
STORE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 10am to 6pm Sat. 10am to 4pm Closed Sundays
There are several approaches to controlling weeds including tilling every ten days from May until planting,
which has been used for the last thousand years. Ed Spinazzola photo
Well, we learned the hard way, by
experience. Buying the so called best
clover available is not the answer,
neither is oats. Yes there are differences in deers preference, but my
experience shows it is not a big thing.
In 1994-95 we seeded over 50 individual kill plots of 1/10 of an acre or
less, with each having an exclosure,
(a small wire round fence protecting forage). The difference in deer
preference in the same plant type but
a different variety was minor.
In the early 1990s I worked with
a farmer, (Ray Rawson) of Isabella
County who fertilized his crops by
foliar, (spraying) application. I was
still farming then, but experimented
with his ideas and advice on our food
plots. Lab testing leaves that were
sprayed with nutrients showed that
90% of the applied nutrients were
absorbed within two hours. I believe
that Ray was more scientist than
farmer. I learned that the chlorophyll
molecule working with the suns rays
was the means within the leave that
created the nutrients for new leaves,
roots and seed and that the major
ingredient within the molecule was
nitrogen.
One major nutrient created is sugar and the more nitrogen applied the
more sugar created. Plus this sugar is
in liquid form and also an anti-freeze.
I have been able to get soybeans take
a freeze down to 28 degrees. Check
our web site www.deerattraction.com
and read the sweetening thing. I apply the sweetening thing primarily to
bow sites and only where I want the
deer to stand. Note: deer have a sweet
tooth.
Nothing beats soybeans for the
bow site. Broadcast a blend of 30
pounds of RR soys with 8 pounds
of RR field corn per acre for cover
in early July, then till three inches
deep. Follow with a slow cultipacking pass. Wait 3-4 weeks spray RR
then broadcast a blend of two pounds

of a brassica blend with 6 pounds of
buckwheat per acre. If there are any
openings broadcast 15-25 pounds of a
grain blend per acre September first.
Come mid-September do the sweetening thing. Dont ask your neighbors
if they are seeing any deer.
Ill end with the suggestion, if
your property fits; do the Ultimate

Corn-Based Deer Kill Plot. Ed
Spinazzola is an associate for Tony
LaPratts Ultimate Land Management.
For more information: www.tonysulm.com or www.deerattraction.comn
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
QUALITY ENGLISH
SETTERS
From 47 Years Of Selective Breeding
CALL NOW! 517.283.1559
(Lunch Provided)
early August. The last operation is to

follow with a slow cultipacking pass.
You sprayed the last time the day you
seeded or just before. The weeds are
growing and could be 6 inches tall.
They now act as shade which is vital
in early August. They die and fall on
the young seedlings providing more
shade. It doesnt get any better. By
spraying being the last operation prior
to seeding we have a weed free plot
and no new weed seeds turned up
from tilling. You can expect a legume
plot to last at least three years before
you see any sign of weeds or grasses.
For grains spray RR mid-May, again
in early July, broadcast fertilizer and
till in early August then spray RR and
drill or broadcast the grain in early
September, then cultipack.
109
22nd Annual
Pep Rally for

Deer Hunters
Featuring
Jimmy Gretzinger
of Michigan Out Of Doors
Doors open at 5pm Program starts at 7pm
For more info call J.R. at 586.201.9093
110
Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

Capac High School
Woods-N-WaterNews Classified Section

MISC
FREE
BOATS
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
................................................
LOG BUNK BEDS. $495. Amish
lodge furniture. Call Dan 989-8321866. M-4-14-TFN
................................................
JOHN 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I

Am the way, and the truth, and the
life; no one comes to the Father but
through Me." FREE-11-2
................................................
2010 WAND 18.5 ANGLER

115 Mercury FourStroke, Minn Cota,
hummingbird. Travel cover, top and
all canvas, matching trailer as new
$22,000. 419-541-6628. B-10-2
................................................
CANADIAN
FISHING
TRIP. Want to go fishing?
Book early and save. One of
Ontario's best multiple fish
lakes, fish for Walleye, Northern, Small Mouth, Lake Trout,
Perch and other fish. Well
spaced out log & framed cabins, boats have electric start 15
hp Yamaha 4 stroke motors,
depth finders and swivel seats.
$399 U.S. funds if booked before March with a group of 4 or
more (2 people per boat) www.
northernwalleyelodge.com or
toll free 1-877-434-2440. F11-TFN
ELK HUNT: Northern Mich. We

have ten club permits. Cows or Bulls.
Crop damage area. Ranch phone
989-846-6228. DNR inspects heads.
H-9-4
CASEVILLE,
Sand Point,
Wildfowl Bay, the Thumb. Sand
Ridge Trails: Wooded home sites
from 2 to 6 acres, located 3 miles
south of Caseville, mile from
Scenic Golf and Country Club, 1 mile
from Caseville Rod and Gun Club
and 1 mile from Wildfowl Bay Boat
Launch. Priced from $19,900. Land
Contract: 10% down, 6% interest to
qualified buyers. Contact David
(989) 553-3600 or dlclabuesch@
yahoo.com RE-11-3
................................................
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-9-12/16
................................................
Subscribe Today!
(810) 724-0254
FISHING
SPEARING SUPPLIES Ice saws. Pike, Muskie & Sturgeon
spears. Pike Busters, the battery
powered decoy system. Decoys,
Mickey Mouse, Bunny boots
and more. Visit us at
www.dream-outdoors.com.
269-330-6422. F-9-4
................................................
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DECEMBER, 2016 CLASSIFIED DEADLINE OCTOBER 31, 2016
HUNTING
VACATION HOME NEWLY
OPENED FOR HUNTING on
47 Acres surrounded by private property. Home sleeps 18. Stream runs
through middle of property and field.
See home listing at VRBO.com
#721492 $1000/night 3 night minimum. Abundant wildlife. 4 Blinds, 1
tree stand. Call 269-447-9572.
H-10-2
................................................
DEVILS CREEK HUNTING LODGE, in YOOPER
country, UPPER PENINSULA
of Michigan still has availability for semi-guided whitetail
archery, muzzle loader and rifle
hunts in 2016. Hunts include
overnight
accommodations,
continental breakfast and dinner meals. Hunt on a private
free range 400-acre parcel in
beautiful and bountiful Menominee County. Call 906-241-9653
or 313-410-2204 or visit our
website www.whitetailhuntingdeerlodge.com. See our display ad. H-8-4
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(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
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(13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)
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Enclosed is $for
words to runmonths.
BOX MY CLASSIFIED - $5 Extra
HUNT BIG RAMS - $550.00,

STOKER HOGS - $395.00.
Hunt deer, buffalo, long horns and
more. 160 Acres all woods. Butcher
shop and lodge. Trophy Ranch
Ubly, Michigan. 989-658-8634 www.
trophyranch.com H-10-3
................................................
HUNTING CAMP BOW AND
RIFLE OPENINGS. Bowhunting
$500.00 per week. Rifle $850.00 per
week. Alpena County. Contact John
at 248-765-2485. H-10-2
................................................
NORTHERN
ONTARIO
BEAR HUNTS: Booking now for
Spring and Fall of 2017. 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-10-12-16
................................................
DUCK HUNTING SAGINAW
BAY - Sebewaing, MI since 1990.
Cedared pontoon blinds, decoys set
and picked, shuttle to blinds, full day
$80 per person, $240 minimum per
blind. Lodging available. Gary Zellar
989-673-5614. H-10-2
................................................
BEAR GUIDE Merv 5 day

hunt in 98 sq miles. Room and
board $1500 US mervrinta@
gmail.com See website www.
bearguidemerv.com H-8-8
ELK HUNT: Northern Mich. No
game, No pay. Have ten permits
$150 per point. Private ranch. 989846-6228. Call nights. DNR inspects
kills. H-9-4
................................................
DEER HUNT, SAGANING
CLUB. Bucks $100 point. Private
cabin, lots of game, high success
rate, no deer, no pay. Call 989-8466228. H-9-4
................................................
TROPHY ELK HUNT: Private
ranch, elk management area. Sec.
36 Bay County. Cabin. 70% success.
phone nights 989-846-6228 H-9-4
RESORTS/RENT
MODERN CABIN FOR RENT
ON BEAR CREEK, sleeps 5. Full
kitchen, AC, Satellite TV, BBQ, 10
Minutes from Manistee River and
supplies. 231-590-1136. RR-9-6
................................................
TRAILS END RESORT
on Big Manistique Lake, Curtis,
MI. Hunting, fishing, sightseeing. 2 bedroom modern housekeeping cabin. Boats, motors
and pontoon rentals. 906-5863515. RR-9-3
HUNTING LEASE
LIMITED TROPHY HUNTS
AVAILABLE ON LEASE
PROPERTY 477 ACRES.
Guided management buck and doe
hunts. thegrandviewranch.com 989732-2978 HL-11-1
PRIVATE GATED LAND
FOR LEASE IN DELTA
COUNTY in U.P. for all hunting seasons. Call 906-7861767. HL-10-3
17
ACRES
JACKSON
COUNTY non-typical bucks.
Sandstone Creek connecting to 2
spring arbor lakes. Brown trout, pike,
walleye, gills and perch. Located
between Reynolds and Moscow
Roads. 906-322-0485. HL-11-1
................................................
OVER 600 ACRES FOR
LEASE in western Lake County.
Excellent deer hunting. Will split, part
of a much larger private tract.
Includes mature timber, open areas,
stream frontage and poplar cut
overs. $15 per acre. Call (248) 5597744. HL-10-2
................................................
ALL
SPORTSMAN'S
PARADISE! 1400 sq ft year
round house with attached two
car garage near Cadillac in
Wexford County on 20 acres
surrounded by the Manistee
National Forest which holds
plenty of deer, turkey and black
bear. World class fishing,
canoeing, horseback riding,
bicycling, skiing & snowmobiling
just minutes away from your
driveway! This house has too
many updates to list in add.
$109,000. For much more info
and showing appointments, call
248-421-4950. RE-9-4
WILDFOWL BAY, 1 mile north of
Sebewaing, in the Thumb. 47 acre
Rose-Ridge Conservancy has 37
acres dedicated and deed restricted
as wetlands and hunting conservancy, with ten acres available for up to
5 home sites (property includes 5
splits). Ideal for a hunting retreat;
ducks, geese, deer and turkey.
Borders: Rose Island Road to west
and Ridge Road to the east. Priced at
$199,500. Land Contract: 10% down,
6% interest, qualified buyers.
Contact David (989) 553-3600 or
email: dlclabuesch@yahoo.com
RE-11-3
................................................
108+ ACRES, Rolling & Beautiful
Wide variety of Trees, 5 Acre 12
Deep Pond & 24 x 30 Garage.
2304x1320 irreg 60% Wooded.
Koylton Twp Tuscola County
$329,000 Just Land Sales 586-4196716 JustLandSales.com RE-11-1
................................................
80
ACRES
AND
WATERFRONT
IN
N O R T H W E S T
MICHIGAN Sportsmans
paradise! 80 acres and 1,000
feet waterfront on private lake
only 20 minutes from Traverse
City, MI. Excellent fishing and
hunting (deer, turkey, waterfowl). Direct flight path for
ducks. 2-BR, 2-BA home and
pole barn. $399,900. Contact
Andrea Galloup, Realtor,
C21 Northland, 231-642-0706
or 231-929-7900, andrea@
agalloup.com. RE-11-2
ONAWAY AREA: 160 acres
hunting property, mostly cedar $1000
per acre. Call Larry at 989-733-4152.
RE-11-1
More Classifieds
Next Page
WANTED
111
Woods-N-WaterNews Classified Section

REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
DOGS
19 ACRES of beautiful recreational property. Mostly wooded. Great

bldg. sites. Wildlife pond, frontage on
the big swamp Raisin drain. Trails
throughout. Lots of wildlife. Enjoy the
natural beauty. A very rare find in
Western Lenawee County MI. Sand
Creek Schools and priced at only
$82,500. Call Larry at Faust Real
Estate, LLC 517-270-3645. RE-111
................................................
40 ACRE farm in Western

Lenawee County near Hudson MI. 4
bdrm., 2 bath, 2300 sqft home, two
car attached garage. 25 acres tillable, 9 acres woods, pasture land,
Bear Creek frontage. A rare find and
only $229,000. Call Diana at Faust
Real Estate, LLC 517-270-3646.
RE-11-1
................................................
139 ACRES, Amazing Large
Piece. With an X-Large Pond for
Fishing 90% Wooded - Irregular
Shaped Kimball Twp. - St. Clair
County $278,000 Just Land Sales
586-419-6716 facebook.com/justlandsales RE-11-1
................................................
HUNTERS PARADISE! Mason
County. Square 38 + acres Federal
Land 2 sides. Corner of Bradshaw/
Campbell Stick built 15 year old
home. 2000 sq feet. 3 Bed 2 Bath All
rooms handicap accessible. Air, 5
inch well, Propane and wood heat,
Irrigation system. On realtor.com
7300 Bradshaw, Branch Doug Shoup
231-843-3491. RE-11-2
................................................
131.6 ACRES with prime hunting
and fishing. One mile off Van Dyke in
Imlay City. Great for waterfowl and
deer. Road frontage and surrounded
by farmland. $210,560. Call Steve at
810-499-2593. RE-11-2
................................................
AFFORDABLE & ADORABLE UP NORTH HUNTING,

ATV & snowmobile retreat! Newer
cottage with a warm knotty pine interior, electricity, and heat. Sleeps 8.
Minimal upkeep & low taxes! Located
at the southern end of Elk Country
and near Rush & Grass Lake. State
land all around. No plumbing to winterize, no lawn to mow, just come and
enjoy. $45,000. Susan Hintz, d3
dwellings & development, 231-2620070. RE-10-2
................................................
AKC
REGISTERED
BEAGLE PUPS and starter
dogs for sale. Red Pine Kennels 989-736-3486 or 989-2542777. D-11-1
CLARE COUNTY 40
wooded acres, 700 ft. on Cedar
River. 2 bedroom, attached
garage, plus hunters cabin. 3
barns, orchard, grapes.
$144,900 motivated seller.
GLADWIN COUNTY
460 ft frontage on Tittabawassee
River. 4.5 wooded acres, state
land across street. Surveyed.
$69,900 possible terms.
Diane Anderson, broker. Real
Estate One 989-240-8120.
RE-10-2
SECLUDED 80 ACRES north

of Hulbert, MI full of wildlife. Road
frontage and electric available. Land
Contract terms possible. (989) 3503643. RE-11-1
................................................
123 ACRES Wooded Deer
Camp, 4 miles of Groomed RV Trails,
& Bunk House, 95% Wooded,
1329x4043 Possible Split, Paris Twp.
Huron County, $299,000 Just Land
Sales 586-419-6716 facebook.com/
justlandsales RE-11-1
................................................
112
FOR SALE BY OWNER

IN TUSCOLA COUNTY
A BEAUTIFUL TWO
BEDROOM
COZY
COUNTRY CABIN ON 9
ACRES of beautiful land partially wooded and it is just perfect for that special individual or
couple looking for that quiet,
and peacefullness of the great
outdoors. This peaceful secluded area is on a quiet dead end
road. This country cozy cabin is
move-in ready. Cabin is all
newly finished one main floor
two bedroom one full bath it only
needs inside personalized
touches. This beautiful land has
an abundance of all different
types of wildlife. This land is
surrounded by hundreds of
acres of remote state land that
is rarely hunted. Cabin is
located a short walking distance from the Cass River
where there is great fishing any
time of the year. This property
is
within
minutes
to
Frankenmuth for great family
entertainment and amusement
fun all throughout the year.
Serious
inquires
only.
Call Joseph 989-996-1344.
RE-10-1
FOR SALE: 10 AC. Hunting land
in Gladwin County. Stocked pond,
trailer, outhouse on property. 2-3
deer was taken every year. $35,000.
Tel: 336-329-9042. RE-9-3
BUSINESS FOR SALE:

Party store on Black River in
Tower, MI. The only store in
town. Liquor, wine, lotto, DNR
licenses, live bait. Village Post
Office rents a room in the building. Located in the heart of
Pigeon River State Forest.
Excellent hunting and fishing in
area. Store has been in operation for 30 years on high traffic
M-68/33 Hwy. Over 600K gross
in 2015. Asking 250K plus
inventory. Owners are retiring.
989-733-2480. RE-11-3
80 WOODED ACRES located in
the E UP between Brimley and
Strongs, just south of M28 on Tilson
Rd. Property features: drive, 30 X 40
pole barn, cement pad, electric and
well. Will make a nice building site
and provides good hunting. Property
is surrounded by some good farm
fields as well as several wildlife
ponds. Munuscong State Forest is
one mile to the south. $82,000.00.
Call Michael Gillhooley of Smith and
Company Real Estate at 906-4407389 or email mike@smith-company.
com RE-11-2
................................................
134 ACRES Capac Area, is
Leased for Farming, the Other is
Deer country. Huge Sanctuary, Lots
of Ambush Funnels 2640 x 221940% Wooded MusseyTwp St Clair
County $390,000 Just Land Sales
586-419-6716 JustLandSales.com
RE-11-1
................................................
HUNTERS PARADISE - A
MUST SEE! 6085 MORIN, SANILAC
COUNTY, 57 ACRES, 2 PONDS, 3
BEDROOMS & 2 LOFT STYLE-1 1/2
BATH. Call 586-707-0370. RE-8-4
................................................
OWN 27 ACRES WITH A

3 BED 2 BATH HOME and
36 x 48 Pole Barn in the Heart
of the Manistee National Forest.
Text 48043 to 25678 for home
details and photos 24/7!
$132,400. Coldwell Banker
Schmidt REALTOR Annbria
Marquard 231.598.2025
RE-8-1
269 FOOT FRONTAGE ON
BEAUTIFUL
LAKE
ST.
HELEN,
ROSCOMMON
COUNTY. 725 on south side and
640 on north side. Comes with riparian rights, 24X36 pole barn, w/elewell-heat-septic-hot water. Zoned
commercial land contract available.
Located at 9400 Monroe Rd. Call
989-387-0504.
RE-10-2
................................................
DOGS
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-10-2
NORTH
D A K O TA
PHEASANTS: making our annual
2 week trip - where your dog will see
more birds in a day then a whole
season in Michigan. Only $300 for
the trip. Leave October 20th. David
Grubb 248-860-1009.
D-10-2
................................................
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-11-6
SOUTHERN BIRD DOG

TRAINING: Taking reservations
now for our 33rd year in Selma,
Alabama. Leave here Thanksgiving
and return April 1st. Over 10,000
acres to train on with lots of wild
birds. Birds shot daily and you will
have a top dog by Spring. All dogs
personally trained by me. We take all
breeds - labs too. $500 per month for
trip (everything included) Call now
David Grubb (bird dog Hall of Famer)
248-860-1009. D-10-3
................................................
WATERFOWL
DOG
TRAINING BY PAUL
RHEAUME. Are you ready
for waterfowl season this year?
Is your dog ready? How is he
with gunfire? How does he
swim? Has he ever retrieved a
bird? Is he obedient? We can
help! We offer an all-inclusive
gundog training class that covers obedience and good manners, introduction to gunfire
and birds, swimming and
retrieving. We also guide
goose/duck hunts. Rheaume's
Kennel. Find us on Facebook.
www.migundogtraining.com.
989-864-8606. D-11-1
Classifieds
work!
(810) 724-0254
MondayFriday
9am-5pm
or try our
website
woods-n-waternews.com
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!
STREAMMAPOFMICHIGAN 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 FOLDED $26.00 LAMINATED $46.00

Tax & Postage Included
NAME
ADDRESS
CITYSTATEZIP
Check/Money Order Visa/Mastercard
Card#Exp. DateSignature
Mail To: Woods-N-Water News

P.O. Box 278 Imlay City, MI 48444 (810) 724-0254
email: wnw@pageone-inc.com website: www.woods-n-waternews.com
B U I LT E X C L U S I V E LY B Y W O O D H AV E N L O G & L U M B E R
Whether you want a cabin thats a step up from roughing it or a truly private retreat to get away from it all, WoodHaven has the answer...
tiny rustic cabins built inside and out with superior-quality WoodHaven log siding, knotty pine paneling and barn wood products.
Tiny Cabins are available in sizes of 12x12 up to 12x30 and come with an open floor plan or you may choose from
five of our turn key floor plans. Cabins are fully insulated, wired to code with generator hookup, LP hookup
and finished off with WoodHavens log siding and interior paneling. FINANCING IS AVAILABLE.
For more information call or visit our website to view our brochure:
woodhavenlog.com | 888.988.PINE (7463)
IMAGINE WHAT YOU CAN DO.
Call us toll-free for a

sample kit or to schedule
a visit to our mill:
1284 Mapes Road | PO Box 964

Mio, MI 48647
1.888.988.PINE (7463)
FINANCING AVAILABLE
www.woodhavenlog.com
Phone: 989.826.8300
WoodHavens handcrafted log siding, knotty pine paneling and accessories can help
your dreams come true with your existing home, cabin or new project.
113
Your local Realtor!

Let me help you find your home, whether
your a first time buyer, or just downsizing, or
relocating! I am just a phone call away. If you
have questions about how the market is today
or another real estate related questions,
please feel free to contact me at:
586-453-7963 (Cell)
reymarbockart@yahoo.com
586-752-0600 (Office)
586-752-5517 (Fax)
Marietta Bockart
71050 Van Dyke

Romeo, MI 48065
WHERE GOLD IS SOLD
Recreational Land
44 Acres
For Sale
IG RIVER
PROPERTIES
NORTHERN PARADISE ON SAUBLE LAKE #1 7888 W 6 MILE ROAD

IRONS Pristine setting for this 3 bedroom log sided cabin on 21+/- heavily wooded acres with frontage on both Sauble Lake #1 and Quick Lake.
Cabin features a stone fireplace, knotty pine interior, some hardwood floors
and central air. Breathtaking views of the lake from the open concept kitchen/dining area. Kitchen features German stone countertops. Living room
opens to a porch room/den on the lakeside offering more stunning views.
Power at the lake, 1 car garage and the cabin is wired for a back-up generator. In addition across the road is a section of land with frontage on Quick
Lake which is a small fishing type lake. A true Northern Michigan Retreat!$259,900 (MIL)
2 40 ACRE PARCELS OFF FOREST SERVICE ROAD 8436 IRONS
Located near Freesoil Road and Elk Highway on Forest Road 8436 Sits this
Prime hunting property that is a family owned 80 acre parcel Sellers have
taken many nice deer from this location as well as turkey and grouse. Bears,
coyotes, fox, and wolf have been spotted here as well. There is a small creek
that is flowing in the spring and early summer. There are numerous driving /
ATV trails that will extend to every section of the property and several
meadows to be used as food plots. The entire property is posted and gated
and bordered by National Forest on all sides. Sale includes all Mineral Rights
Owned by them. Make this another family Hunting destination or Joint
Venture. $145,000 (JAM)
HUNTERS CHECK THIS ONE OUT - 15+/- ACRES-BORDERS FEDERAL
LAND 7776 E. SAUBLE ROAD FOUNTAIN 15+/- acre parcel of land is
heavily wooded and an ideal secluded hunting location. Gated entrance to
this clean, comfortable cabin with knotty pine interior, an open floor plan,
and a well and septic. The cabin runs off solar panels for electricity and is set
up for year around use with a woodstove and a back-up propane wall furnace. A nice cedar deck off the living room and fire pit in the yard. Prime
location 2/10 of a mile from the Big Sable River. Located on a seasonal
county maintained road! $65,500 (GAR) REDUCED!!
CABIN ON 12+/- ACRES 4075 E JOST DRIVE IRONS This 2 bedroom
1 bath cabin is situated on 12 nicely wooded acres of land. The cabin does
needs some TLC but the potential is there to make it a great spot to visit on
the weekend. There is a wood burning floor furnace and a propane wall unit
for heating. The attached 1 car garage comes in handy for storage and a place
to put all the up north toys. Great recreational area near all the ORV and
snowmobile trails. Comes furnished as is! $70,000 (COO)
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
Upper Peninsula
Hunting Camp/Acres
Set your sights!

Own a piece of Michigans great outdoors.
GreenStone offers land financing on
unlimited acreage with terms up to 30 years.
800-444-3276
Log cabin located on 40 acres

adjacent to 1000's of acres of
Public land in excellent deer and
bear area. 1 bedroom, loft, 3/4
bath, well and septic, solar panel
electric, and comes with furnishings and appliances.
$75,000 - #9617
Cabin and 80 Acres of prime
hunting ground on the Garden
Peninsula where milder winters
supports a good deer herd. Land
is almost all high ground, 1 BR,
loft, open concept kitchen and living area, and comes mostly furnished. $120,000 - #9705
To learn more, contact a lending expert

at one of our 36 offices today!
114
Prime hunting acreage in

Thompson Township. This 40
acre parcel is mostly wooded with
some high ground and Cedar
swamp mix which makes for ideal
deer, bear and small game hunting. 24' x 32' cabin, 2 deer blinds
$75,000 - $9396
Accessible yet a true UP wilderness deer hunting camp! 120

acres of densely wooded forest
provides great cover for deer,
bear and birds. Property is adjacent to lots of Sate land and a
major deer yard.
$127,500 - #8909
547 Acres of top quality hunting
land in southeastern Schoolcraft
County. The food plots of lush
chicory and clover are deer magnets. Many quality permanent
blinds located throughout. 24' x
32' one room with separate bath.
$650,000 - #9653
Check out our website for more properties!
www.greenstonefcs.com
Contact Grover Real Estate for more info!

771 East Lakeshore Drive
Manistique, MI 49854
906-341-2131
www.GroverRealEstate.com
231-652-7000
- or -
231-250-8200
WE NEED LISTINGS 40+ ACRES AND LARGER

783+/- ACRES,
IOSCO
COUNTY
1 Mile Frontage Tawas
Lake, Kunze River
Crosses Property, 5
Bedroom Log Lodge, 3 $
Miles from East Tawas
1,250,000
1,800,000
80 ACRES,
BARRY
COUNTY
7,100 sq ft 5
Bedroom, 6 Bath
Home, Horse Stable,
3,000 ft Dake Lake,
Excellent Hunting
$439,000
Branch County, 43+/- Acres, Big Bucks,

Cold Creek Crosses Property, Nice Woods
$136,500
Calhoun Co, 61 Acres

2,500 ft. St. Joseph River, Excellent Hunting
$150,000
Calhoun Co, 86+/- Acres

Calhoun County, 70+/- Acres
ft. Frontage on Prairie Lake,
House, Pole Barn, Pond, River, Elevated Blind 750
Big Buck Hunting, Outbuildings
$299,000
$349,000
Delta County, 39.6 Acres

1,000+ ft Frontage Lake Michigan
$79,000
Jackson Co, 47 Acres,

2000 ft. Grand River Frontage,
2 bedroom Home, Pole Barn
$244,900
Jackson County, 54+/- Acres, 2,000 ft

Grand River Frontage, Trail System
$179,900
Kalkaska County, 40 Acres

Good Trails, Adjacent to State Land
$49,000
Kalkaska County, 40 Acres, Cabin, Barn, Mason County, 35+/- Acres, Farm Land
on 2 Sides, Heavy Bedding Cover
Trout Pond, Excellent Hunting
$125,000
$52,500
Missaukee County, 80 Acres

Pond, Professionally Managed
Forest, Food Plots
$129,500
Newaygo County, 5+/- Acres

557 ft White River Frontage, 1/2
Open, 1/2 Wooded
$41,000
Newaygo County, 36+/- Acres

Farm Land, M-37 Frontage, 1000s of
acres Public Land 1/2 mile Away
$50,400
Newaygo County, 40 Acres

Trout Stream, Log Cabin, Garage, Rolling Hardwoods, Great Hunting, Rustic Cabin, Pond, Nice Woods,
Excellent Hunting
2 Bedroom Mobile
Good Trail System
$199,000
$150,000
$129,000

Frontage on 9 Mile Rd & Cottonwood Rd,
Adjacent to National Forest
$400,000

Adjacent to State Land, Good Trail
System Food Plots,
High Deer Population
$399,000
$499,900
NG
I
ND
E
P
Iosco County, 52.51 Acres

Food Plots, Trail System, Elevated
Blinds, Pond & Shed
$89,000
Alpena County, 316+/- Acres, Good Trails

Lodge sleeps 10, Professionally Managed Forest
LD
SO
Oceana County, 100+/- Acres

Remote Property, Nice Forest,
Good Deer Population
$150,000
Osceola Co, 54+/- Acres

650 ft. Frontage
All Sports Grass Lake
$225,000
Presque Isle County, 47+/- Acres, 2 Bedroom

House, Pole Barn, Excellent Hunting
$99,000
Newaygo Co, 99 Acres,

Planted Pines, Great Cover,
County Road Frontage
$198,000
Newaygo County, 125 Acres, Three

spring fed lakes, Excellent Deer,
Turkey and Waterfowl hunting
$375,000
Presque Isle Co, 63+/- Ac

Carp Creek, Food Plots, Hunting Blinds
$69,300
Schoolcraft County, 554+/- Acres

Raw undeveloped hunting land.
$163,430
WildLifeRealty.com
www.
Alcona County, 240 Acres,

House, Barns, Pond, Stream, Food Plots
115
Luxury Recreational Property

184 acres in Gaylord, Michigan
Hunting Lake Frontage Golf
Guest House Pole Barn Heated Blinds
Visit www.tedschweitzer.com to learn more.
Ted Schweitzer
Call or Text: (231) 645-5656
E-mail: ted@tedschweitzer.com
2 Bdrm, 1 bth Gooseneck Lk cabin. All sports.

Swim, boat, hunt, fish, ATV. Wetmore
2 Bdrm camp. 40 Acres. 24x30 Pole bldg. Built

2000. Adjoins State land. Rock.
1 Bdrm charming cabin on 12 acres. Hardwoods.

Trail access. Right off Hwy 13. Wetmore
2 Bdrm, 1 bth A-Frame. Lake front Chalet,

great fishing and boating. Manistique.
2 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. 18 Acres.

2 Car gar with deer blinds. Ensign.
1 Bdrm, 0.5 Bth cabin. Rustic log cabin on 40

acres. Shower and Sauna house. Snowmobile/ATV
trails. Hunting. Perfect get-away! Northland.
3 Bdrm, 3 bth home. 100 on Whitefish River.

Two car gar, deck, shed. Rapid River.
2 Bdrm, 1 bth cottage. 2 Cottages on Escanaba

River. Bathroom - yes indoor plumbing!! Cornell.
2/3 Bdrm, 2 bth home-camp. 120 Acres. 26

Acre lake with fish. Great home too! Daggett.
$68,000 1096718
$239,000 1095255
2 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. Clean, hunting ready. Adjoins

Federal. Lanes, field and shed. Rapid River.
2 Bdrm 1 Bth Ranch on Escanaba River. Cottage with

Garage. The River is Wide & has Rapids. Cornell.
$74,900 1095436
THOUSANDS OF
ACRES AVAILABLE
FROM $11,000 TO $575,000
$150,000 1096438
$135,000 1093061
116
2 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. 288 Acres. Well. Septic.

Owned since 1969. LaBranch.
$259,000 1095661
$99,000 1096936
$55,900 1097355
$79,000 1095884
$45,000 1097674
$82,000 1096094
$89,000 1094924
HUNTING LAND FOR SALE

$1.7
BILLION
& 490,000
ACRES
sold in the
last 5 years
BRANDON CROPSEY
Broker, Land Specialist
Michigan
(269) 816-3010
CHUCK KEEFER
Agent, Land Specialist

Central Michigan
(989) 600-4112
JAKE EHLINGER

Southeast Michigan
(517) 937-2118
SHAD WOODRUFF

West Central Michigan
(989) 330-4032
SHAWN KELLEY

Southeast Michigan
(586) 292-1812
TONY HANSEN

Central Michigan
(269) 420-9510
w hi t e ta il pr ope rt ie s . com
Whitetail Properties Real Estate, LLC | dba Whitetail Properties | In the State of Nebraska DBA Whitetail Trophy Properties Real Estate LLC. | Dan Perez, Broker - LIC in IL, IA, KS, KY,
MO, NE, OK | Jeff Evans, Broker - LIC in AR, CO, GA, IL, MN, TN, WI | John Boyken, Broker - LIC in IN | Kirk Gilbert, Broker - LIC in OH | Johnny Ball, Broker - LIC in AR | Bob Powers,
Broker - LIC in TN | Brandon Cropsey, Broker - LIC in MI | Chris Wakefield, Broker - LIC in TN | Sybil Stewart, Broker - LIC in AL, MS, LA | Joey Bellington, Broker - LIC in TX
CONTACT AN AGENT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BUYING AND

SELLING HUNTING, FARMLAND AND TIMBERLAND
117
4-Season Cabin on the Pigeon River!!
Offices Serving Lower &

Upper Michigan
Enjoy all Northern Michigan offers

including 57 acres of Upland Woods, grouse and
woodcock, wild mushroom and morels, deer and
small game. Youll own 600-feet of Pigeon River
frontage for trout-fishing. Theres nearby access to
1000s of acres within the Pigeon River State Forest.
Easy vehicular travel to M-68 and I-75 from Afton
Road! Gaylord, Indian River, Petoskey and the Mackinaw Bridge can be reached
within 60 minutes. The Sturgeon and Black Rivers frame the Pigeon,
providing additional trout opportunities.
Bringing people and places together since 1945
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TODAY!
statewiderealestate.net
Houghton
Newberry
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
MARQUETTE
856 W. Washington, 49855
email: sw@statewiderealestate.org
906-228-9312 Fax: 906-228-8069
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
MENOMINEE
3631 10th Street, 49858
email: statewideone@newbc.rr.com
906-863-9905
Fax: 906-863-7935
CLARE
308 E. 5th Street, 48617
email: statewideclare@voyager.net
989-386-3396 Fax: 989-386-3800
HOWELL/LINDEN
1285 S. Michigan Ave., Howell, MI 48843
email: statewid@earthlink.net
517-546-9060 800-531-4449
Fax: 517-546-9148
ESCANABA
2209 Ludington Street, 49829
IRON MOUNTAIN - KINGSFORD
email: escanaba@statewiderealestate.net
112 S. Carpenter Ave., Kingsford, 49802
906-786-1308 800-900-0777
906-828-9079
Fax: 906-786-1388
118
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
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
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
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
ALL OFFERS WELCOME!!!
CANADIAN WATERFRONT AND

RECREATIONAL PROPERTY.
CLOSE TO SAULT STE. MARIE,
MICHIGAN BORDER
*LAND CONTRACTS
AVAILABLE O.A.C.*
SPRING BEAR SEASON IS
BACK ON
FALL BEAR SEASON OPENS
AUG. 15 TILL OCT. 30
GOOSE SEPT. 1
DUCK SEPT. 10
SMALL GAME SEPT. 15
MOOSE & DEER SEASON
FOLLOWS
ALL PROPERTIES ARE IN

TROPHY DEER & BEAR AREA
WITH GREAT FISHING!!!
NO GUIDE OR OUTFITTER
REQUIRED IF YOU BUY
PROPERTY IN ONTARIO!
Land Management and
Maintenance Also Available
Brokers and sales agents
welcomed and protected.
LAJAMBE
ENTERPRISESINC.
715 Finns Bay Road
Echo Bay, Ontario CAN
POS 1C0
TELEPHONE:
(705) 248-9663
FAX:
(705) 248-1110
CONTACT:
Frank Lajambe
EMAIL:
flajambe@lajambe.com
WEBSITE:
www.lajambe.com
*Prices subject to change.
WATERFALLS PROPERTY: 160 acre parcel 45 min from

International Bridge. Waterfalls & Brook Trout River running
across property. Rugged, well treed, hunting, and recreational property with government land on 2 sides. Only 1 mile
off a year round maintained road. This won't be on the market
for long so act now. Dont delay, asking $74,900 as is or make
an offer. Standing timber value is $30,000 plus.
EXECUTIVE WATER FRONT HOME ON LAKE HURON
FOR SALE: This four bedroom home is situated less than 30
miles from the US/Canadian border in a private country setting, in a quiet bay. The lot is 200x750. This property has
unequaled sunsets facing southwest with deep water for
pleasure craft boating on Lake Huron in the North Channel.
$674,900.
PRINCE PROPERTY: 287 acres of hardwood and softwood
forest with a creek flowing thru. Year-round access. Existing
windmill generates approx. $5,500/yr. Deer, Bear, and small
game on property. Located 30 minutes from the International
Bridge. $69,900
MACDONALD PROPERTY: 759 acres with hunting camp, 25
miles east of Sault St. Marie Ontario, property is gated, isolated and wooded, with a four bedroom, two-story pole barn.
20-acre lake and 2 streams. Great Bear Hunting! Two Deer
plots! Five deeds, no guide required, underpriced at $264,900.
($361 per acre) Terms available, excellent buy!
400 ACRES OF ROLLING HARD-AND SOFTWOOD HILLS:
Large beaver pond and creek runs thru property, next to
above property if more acreage is required. Property is great
for bear hunting, white tail and grouse. Four miles off yearround maintained road. $124,900
EXCLUSIVE LAKE HURON WATERFRONT & WATERVIEW ESTATE LOTS LOCATED IN THESSALON, ONTARIO
50 MILES EAST OF SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO ON
HIGHWAY 17 EAST: Lighthouse Point serviced with hydro,
telephone, sewer, water, gas, cable on paved street. Airport,
marina and hospital in area. No time limit for building.
Waterfront lots 100 478 frontage, waterview lots 80 frontage. Prices from $15,900.00 and up. Reduced prices check
it out!!
REILLY PROPERTY: 80 acre parcel with beaver pond,
hardwood and softwood mixed forestland 30 minutes from
International Bridge. NORTH PROPERTY: Priced to sell at
$19,900.00 or $250 per acre.
TWO 10 ACRE SAND BEACH LOTS (these lots have it all):
60 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie each lot has 300 frontage on
Bright Lake near highway 17 East (lake area approx. 24
square miles), year round access with power to property. This
inland lake has perch, bass, walleye and northern pike.
Priced to sell at $94,900 (lot #2) and $104,900 (lot #3).
LOG CABIN WITH LOFT AND 162 ACRES: Trails and tree
stands ready for the avid hunter or nature lover. Mixed hardwood and softwood bush with some water on the property and
a magnificent mountain scenic view of a large walleye and
pike lake awaiting the angler. Only 45 minutes from the
International Bridge. Asking price $116,900.
5 ACRES - Waterfront on outflow river from Desbarats Lake.
Year-round access with power. Driveway and building site
ready. Excellent Walleye, Pike and Bass fishing. 30 miles from
International border. Excellent bear and deer hunting. $24,900
160 ACRES Timberland surrounded by government land, 40
min. east of Soo International border. Timber value $30,000
plus. Asking price $64,900.
LOOKING FOR OFFERS!!! DISCOUNTED PRICES!
CURTIS/NEWBERRY
Main Street, P.O. Box 305, 49820
email: swcurtis@sbcglobal.net
906-586-9606 Fax: 906-586-9607
HOUGHTON
500 Shelden Ave., 49931
email: dick@statewideofhoughton.com
906-482-6955 800-676-6323
Fax: 906-482-7699
FALL CLEAR OUT LAND SALES DISCOUNTED PRICES!
DONT BE SHY MAKE AN OFFER ALL PROPERTIES MUST BE SOLD
Fife Lake
Onaway
Hawks
Hillman
Alpena
Atlanta
Harrisville
Mio
LOOKING FOR OFFERS!!! DISCOUNTED PRICES!
Curtis
Manistique
Escanaba
Powers
Menominee
Marinette
DONT BE SHY MAKE AN OFFER ALL PROPERTIES MUST BE SOLD
Marquette
OTHER PROPERTIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
WEST BRANCH
M-33/M-55 OFFICE
1953 S. M-33
West Branch, MI 48661
HALE
OFFICE
ALE
S
R
O
3160 North M-65

Hale, MI48739
10 miles north of I-75 exit 202
Local: 989-345-2662
Toll Free: 800-535-6520
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
IT'S TIME TO HUNT!!!

STATE LAND ON TWO SIDES! Beautiful wooded acre
on paved road with electric at property. Great hunting
with State Land on two sides & near popular all sports
Clear Lake and trails. Potential site for your new home
or getaway. MLS 1811256 $6,900
1.37 ACRES. Beautiful country setting on paved

road. Adjacent three parcels also for sale. M761715B
$14,000 Each.
40 WOODED ACRES! Not far from golf course and

lakes. Excellent hunt camp or site for your new home or
dream hideaway. MLS H743334B $80,000
WATER VIEW OF TWIN LAKE! 18.44 acres fronting

paved country-maintained road w/ both lake & golf
course views! Potential site for building your new home
or getaway w/ 30x40 pole barn on property already for
storing your Up North toys. MLS 1808514 $46,500
11 HEAVILY WOODED ACRES! Excellent hunting

property w/ lots of wildlife in the area. Also not far from
acres of State Land for more hunting possibilities &
ORV/snowmobile trails. Lots of mature trees, level &
rolling, with electric at road. MLS M787819B $27,900
40 WOODED ACRES! Rectangular property, great

for hunting on paved road, w/ electric at road, a creek
at the rear, plus blueberry & raspberry bushes! MLS
1794245 $61,000
53 M/L ACRES! This heavily wooded property is a

perfect place to make your hunt camp w/ a variety of
mature trees & lots of wildlife in the area, including deer
& turkey. Survey on file. MLS 1804978 $111,300
GREAT HUNTING PARCEL! 10 wooded acres

with trails, some lowlands, a variety of wildlife & lots
of mature trees including hardwoods & pines. On
country maintained road for added convenience. MLS
M791955R $26,500
SECLUDED HUNTING CABIN! Located on seasonal

road, this 2 bedroom home is nestled on 18 wooded
acres w/ State Land adjacent to property for great
hunting! MLS 1805656 $69,900
72 ACRES M/L OF BEAUTIFUL WOODED ROLLING

LAND WITH STREAM. Great hunting w/ trails thru-out.
Also included are 2 lots adjoining the property in Roas
Sub and two sixths shared ownership interest in a lot
with 20ft. frontage on Elk Lake! This property really has
it all! MLS M763946R $135,000
FANTASTIC HUNT CAMP! 10 wooded acres within

walking distance to Federal Lands. Great place to call
your hunting paradise w/ older mobile w/ propane lights
for sleeping! MLS 1790848 $29,900
15 WOODED ACRES & FRONTAGE ON STYLUS

LAKE! Nice parcel of land for hunting with a great
variety of wildlife in the area! Beautiful rolling property
and heavily wooded. MLS 1810897 $32,000
10 ACRES IN NEIGHBORHOOD OF NICE HOMES!

Potential building site w/420 ft. of road frontage.
Property is cleared and 5 miles from recreational Clear
Lake area! MLS 1816099 $26,900
1790214
OVER 7
ACRES ON
PAVED ROAD
1799832
1778297
FANTASTIC
HUNTING
CAMP!
BEAUTIFUL
10 ACRES!
Beautiful rolling acerage for hunting, some low lands,

open areas for food plots & mostly wooded. There is
also a nice 24x24 garage.
This 59.17 acre parcel is mostly wooded w/ a

pond, some lowlands, area for possible food plots,
3 blinds, storage building & sleeping area.
$26,900
$95,000
1817896
This mostly wooded property also near State

Land would make an excellent hunting camp w/
electric at road, driveway, wildlife galore in the
area & camping trailer.
$27,995
1820330
1816928
10 MOSTLY WOODED ACRES. Great hunting camp

w/ a variety of wildlife in the area or potential building
site. Between Hale & West Branch and just a short
distance to Stylus Lake. MLS 181364 $30,000
13+ WOODED ACRES! Great hunting parcel or
potential site to build your new home or getaway. Only
a few minutes from town for restaurants & shopping
& near popular all sports Clear Lake. MLS 1820230
$35,500
JUST OVER 10 ACES! This partly wooded 10.7 acres
would make an excellent hunting camp or potential
building site for your new home or getaway, has
numerous farms in the vicinity & an abundance of
wildlife. MLS 1819170 $28,000
FANTASTIC HUNTING PARCEL! 94 acres w/ driveway
& electric & cleared spot at road for potential building.
You can walk to Hardwood Lake from this property.
Great place also for hunt camp, mostly wooded w/
mature trees & a variety of wildlife in the area. MLS
1819515 $159,900
37 ACRES! Excellent hunting property w/ lots of wildlife
in the area & heavily wooded w/ a variety if mature
trees. Not far from town & I-75. MLS 1820748 $75,000
110 ACRES BORDERING STATE LAND ON 3 SIDES!
The ultimate hunting property, mostly wooded w/ creek
running thru, trails, mature trees & lots of wildlife in the
area. MLS 1821383 $209,000
JUST OVER 9 ACRES. Property is mostly cleared and
previously farmed. Located in great area and potential
spot for building your new home. MLS 1822267 $27,000
1818920
1823350
FANTASTIC
HUNTING W/ VIEW
OF LOOK LAKE
45 heavily wooded acres w/ mature trees, a variety of wildlife in the area, trails thru-out, driveway
& 4 hunting blinds.
$119,900
4.44 ACRES!
Mostly wooded & also not far from acres of State

Land & trails for year round fun. 26' Coleman
trailer, 2 sheds for storage & well can be run by
generator.
$26,900
1819756
1817909
76+ ACRES!!
103+ ACRES!!
MOVE
RIGHT IN!!
54 ACRES!!
80 ACRES!!
Ultimate hunting property, mostly wooded, with

Harpers Creek running thru and spacious home
for year round or hunt camp, with trails and all
SURROUNDED BY NATL FOREST & STATE LAND!!
SECLUSION AT ITS FINEST comes with this

beautiful 3 bedroom home that sits back off the
road for privacy. Perfect property for hunting with
trails thru-out, wildlife galore, blinds and ponds!!
1200 square foot home comes mostly furnished

& would make a nice place to call your hunt camp
on 70 WOODED ACRES with pole barn & a pond
in area that boasts an abundance of wildlife!!
Mostly wooded property not far from Rifle River,

Lake Huron and acres of State Land and easy
commute from I-75. Unfinished home could be
made your year round residence or hunt cabin!!
Excellent location to make your hunt camp with a

great variety of wildlife, including deer and turkey
and property has a stocked pond, garage, pole
barn & workshop plus very nice 3 bedroom home!!
$165,000
FOR MORE LISTINGS

VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
$375,000
$249,900
$145,000
WWW.CAHANES.COM
$309,000
2.5 ACRES WITH CREEK RUNNING THOUGH.

Beautiful property for potential building site. On paved
road. Adjacent property for sale. MLS M761714B
$14,000 Each.
119
TARGET REAL ESTATE SPECIALIZES IN

WATERFRONT HOMES AND HUNTING PARCELS
WE REPRESENT BUYERS AND SELLERS
795 N 1st St
P.O. Box 499
Harrison MI 48625
Use your smart phone and a QR

Code Reader App to see all of our
listings
989-539-2261
And
229 Lake George Ave
Lake George, MI 48633
GREENBUSH
80 acre Ponchos Sand Creek Longhorn Ranch now

available. Working farm with 5 bdrm/1 bath home, barns,
outbuildings, pastures and approx. 10 acres of woods.
MLS#1819844
$279,000
45 acres of hunting land off the beaten path.

This rolling parcel is heavily wooded with
hardwoods and evergreens. Call today.
MLS#1799569
$54,900
989-588-6171
CLARE COUNTY, MICHIGAN

WHERE THE NORTH BEGINS...
Open 7 Days * Established in 1953
NHN PEASLEY TRAIL wooded
hunting, camping lot near the lakes
and recreational areas. $24,000
For Photos Text P695386 To 52187
7
NATIONAL CITY
www.harrison-realty.com
www.buyhr.co
E-mail: office@harrison-realty.com
7105 SHOREWOOD Springwood

PARCEL A&B STOCKWELL 10 10700 ASHARD Easy to reach this 10
Lake Access, Beautiful 10 acre
acre parcels covered with mature trees. Acre wooded retreat. 3 Bd,2 Ba home,
parcel, electric pole, camp site, shed
Build, hunt, or camp. Each listed for 30x40 garage, 440 elect. & wood
and driveway too. $28,900
stove. Furnished. $79,900
$27,500 or all 20 acres for $45,000
For Photos Text P704236 To 52187
For photos Text: P321496 To: 52187
For photos Text: T101324 To: 52187
1953 MUSKEGON Family sized 3

1005 MUSKEGON Hilltop
hide
bdrm cottage walk to the Muskegon 10160 RICHARDSON DR 10 acres away with renovated 1188sf, 2 BD
River and State Land. Plenty of with 1320 ft along Muskegon River. home has den for desk or bunk beds,
1996 2BD, 2BA mobile with split
room for everyone $34,900
26x32 garage on 11.53 acres $99,000
For photos Text P596815 to 52187 bedroom plan. $49,900
For photos Text: P234148 To: 52187
For Photos Text P836578 to 52187
EAST TAWAS-$21,500, Partially wooded .38 acre lot in Schirmer Estates ready for your dream home.
Paved road, natural gas, municipal water and sewer. MLS#1814552
EAST TAWAS-$29,900, Nice 10 acre parcel close to downtown East Tawas. Rolling terrain w/Oak,
Red, and White Pine. Potential for a pond in front of a possible building site! MSL#1813608
GREENBUSH - REDUCED TO $44,900, Nice square 40 acre parcel joining Federal and State land.
This area has proven to hold quality bucks over the past years, QDM is practiced here. MLS#1799955
AU GRES-$49,000, 21 acres of hunting land in agricultural area. Property is wooded with tall grasses
and good cover; lots of deer in the area. MLS#1809814
MIKADO - $79,900, 61 acres of prime hunting land. Joins State land and agricultural land. Trails thru-out
the heavily wooded parcel with hardwoods and Tag Alders, and openings for food plots. MLS#1806759
AU GRES - $149,000, 71 acres of hunting land surrounded by other camps. Areas of thick swamp
with some ridges and road frontage with power. Lots of deer and turkey in this location. MLS#1809806
WHITTEMORE-$195,000, 120 acre hunting parcel. Diverse terrain with red oak, white oak, and red
pine. Numerous areas for food plots. Deer, turkey, partridge and other game are plentiful. MLS#1778247
AU GRES-$250,000, 150 of Lake Huron frontage. This rare wooded building lot is 380 deep and priced
below SEV. Natural gas and city water available. Call today! MLS#1746047
MORE PARCELS ARE AVAILABLE . . .

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
205 WOODLAND TRAIL 11.2 10240 CATHLEEN 3 Bed cabin or 4774 W LANG Acreage on the
Acres up north on private pond. home in the heart of the north. State land Middle Branch Tobacco River, Old
Close to trails, 16x33 pole barn, and trails close by along with the river. Mobile and pole barn, come check it
well and out house. $39,900 For $74,900
out. $110,000
Photos Text P219310 To 52187
For photos Text P674049 to 52187
For Photos Text P317872 to 52187
Diane
Ives
(989) 306-0372
NORTH FORK RANCH
Executive Home Retreat with 2700-Ft Grass Airstrip on 400-Acres
* SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR
of Pristine Rolling Woodland with Food Plots, Trout Stream and
DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEO
Ponds. Built with Full 16 Logs shipped from Montana, Perfect
for Entertaining. Motel Style Guest House with 3-Units Sleeps 6.
Bunk House sleeps 9 with Bathroom and Kitchenette. Airplane
Hangar and Outbuilding next to the Airstrip. Garage across from
Main Home has Huge Commercial Kitchen that is Heated with
Central Air. Corral is Fenced for Horses.
$2,700,000 MLS #296683
Manitou Shores Resort

Experience Breathtaking Sunrises and Sunsets,
Northern Lights, Great Lakes Freighters, Beautiful
Beaches, and wildlife from one of the Modern Cedar Log
Cabins and housekeeping units that sit on Lake Hurons
shore on Manitou Beach. Year-round Outdoor Paradise
with unlimited woods and water recreation adventures:
lighthouses, boating, hiking and biking trails, mushroom
hunting, fishing charters, shipwreck diving and more.
$1,200,000 MLS #302883
120
JJ
Earl
(989) 350-1711
John
Miller
(989) 217-0745
Matthew
Farkas
(248) 884-8616
DETROIT HUNT & FISH CLUB PRISTINE 760-ACRES WITH 2-LAKES

Huge Lodge Accommodates about 20-People with Large
Kitchen and Caretakers Quarters. Lakes are Exclusive to this
Property and have never had Gas Operated Motors on them.
The first Lake is about 20-Acres and about 90-Feet Deep with
Pike, Bass, Crappie. Lots of Wildlife including Deer and Bear
on the Property. The Second Lake is Shallower and excellent
Waterfowl Hunting. Miles of Trials Throughout this Property
give easy access.
SOUTH BRANCH - 760 ACRES
$1,450,000 MLS #299227
!!! OWN YOUR OWN ISLAND !!!

DRUMMOND ISLAND - 20 ACRES
Prestigious Standerson Island...Own your Own Island! AKA Island #9 Capitalize on this rare opportunity to own a
piece of history. Located across from Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge.
$400,000 MLS #284786
CLEAR LAKE ATLANTA, MI GARLAND GOLF RESORT LEWISTON
THUNDER BAY RIVER ATLANTA, MI
CROOKED RIVER 5 ACRES
On the 4th Tee of the Fountains Course, a Championship course. With 3-BD,
3 BATH, this log home offers seasonal or year-round amenities. Located just
south of Lewiston, home to East and West Twin Lakes, both All Sports Lakes
and a marina. The association will soon be gated for extra security.
On the River, Must see! Custom 3-BD brick home. Tile flooring, stainless
appliances, marble countertops, custom knotty pine and brickwork
inside and out. Main Floor BD features a private patio. Large upstairs
loft BD has half bath and balcony. Relax outside on the split stone patio.
Beautiful 2 BD home on Crooked River. Secluded yet near town. 5 wooded

acres w/ 1-room guest cabin. Tastefully decorated with unique wooden spiral
stairs to large loft area w/ half bath. Amazing view from 4-season sunporch.
Generator hook-up, 220 amp service to big garage. Plenty of storage.
Spectacular Views, All-Sports Premier Clear Lake with 200-Ft of Frontage and
185-Ft of Stone Sea Wall. Paved Road borders Clear Lake State Campground
and 1000s of Acres of State Land. Excellent Rental History. Caribbean-Like
Water, Sand. Most of Shore Line State-owned, minimal homes on the Water.
$335,000 MLS #303129
$295,000 MLS # 304795
$269,000 MLS #299534
$164,900 MLS # 305027
12412 STATE ST., ATLANTA, MICHIGAN 49709 (866) 637-8851
www.TrophyClassRealEstate.com
THINKING OF SELLING OR BUYING?
CALL US FIRST!!
877-843-0910
THE LAND
EXPERTS
YOU CAN
TRUST
We Vote for Wildlife!
20 Acres Perfect Set

Up! Boarders Fed Land
on 2 sides, food plots,
some trails, wooded.
Great recreational play
time now or full time
living someday.
100 Acres Ready for Hunting Season! Wooded, food plots,
trails, elevated blinds throughout and bunkhouse.
MUSKEGON COUNTY
$209,000
MASON COUNTY
$44,000
80 Untouched Recreational
Acres. Rustic cabin in Big
Island Wilderness Area. Bear
Sign! Cabin has water, LP gas
lights, wood stove.
36 Acres hunts like a 1000! Terrain holds whitetails, grouse and small game.
Western edge is TC Forest Management Unit with 1000s of acres to hunt.
BENZIE COUNTY
$59,000
UP DELTA COUNTY
$169,000
80 Acres on Big Creek

& Large Home. 5
Bedrooms, gated, wooded,
remote! Fish and Hunt
on a spectacular sporting
property.
40 Acres North Branch of White River! Deer (they like the river), grouse, turkey,
mushrooms! Fish for browns, rainbows & steelhead. Nice mobile & Garage.
OCEANA COUNTY
$164,900
OSCODA COUNTY
$189,000
40 acre Hunting CampOff the grid! Cabin (holds 14), shed, generator, LP
systems, well/septic, 2 wood stoves, adjoins state land. Hunt grouse, deer and bear.
MONTCALM
COUNTY
$599,000
SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY
$89,500
GRAND HAVEN
233 WASHINGTON, SUITE 202

GRAND HAVEN, MI 49417
(877) 843-0910
TRAVERSE CITY
4249 US 31 S
TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49685
(231) 233-3575
160 Acres, Small Lake,

Ponds & Cottage. Property
is wooded with established
blinds, versatile terrain,
rolling hills, creek beds,
2-tracks and approx. 55
acres of quality AG land.
121
ONLINE REAL ESTATE AUCTION
+/- 160 Acres in Newaygo MI

& +/- 146 Acres with Sawmill in Harrietta, MI
LOG CABIN & 177 ACRES!
330 ACRES OF GORGEOUS HUNTING

PROPERTY & BORDERING STATE LAND!
Gorgeous property! Small stream meanders through

to Loon Lake on State land to the south! Dense
evergreens for the deer, soft woods for bird hunting.
Ideal up north getaway for the family! Rustic log
cabin, open floor plan, large 12 x 321 ft that sleeps
several! Huge log beams, brick fireplace, bath and
modern conveniences! Covered porch for lazy
evenings! Includes two-car garage for RV and
hunting equipment storage!
Cedar Valley Lodge is a variety of mixed woods,

hardwoods, soft, open areas and low ground! Some
open areas perfect for deer feed plots, low ground for
dense cover, nice hardwoods through and an amazing amount of blackberry bushes everywhere! Perfect
for wildlife and the outdoorsman! Trails throughout
the property, small cabin on the property with underground electric, plumbing, woodstove and bunks that
will sleep several! Also includes a 24x18 pole barn for
hunting equipment or RVs. Great location just north
of Manistee Lake! Gorgeous property with a variety
of terrain! Borders State land to the east!
Offered by LASTBIDrealestate.com
Bid on Tuesday, October 18th
160 Acres in Newaygo, MI - Selling as 3 parcels:

E 48th St, Newaygo, MI 40 Acre Parcel
7005 E 52nd St, Newaygo, MI 79.92 Acre Parcel
Cypress Ave & 52nd St, Newaygo, MI 40 Acre Parcel
146 Acres in Harrietta, MI- Selling as 3 parcels:

South 5 Rd, Haarrietta, MI 10 Acre parcel next to sawmill
3454 South 5 Rd, Harrietta, MI Sawmill and 17.77 Acres
West 32nd Rd, Harrietta, MI 119 Acre Parcel
Selling in any combination of parcels
For more info and to bid, please visit
LASTBIDrealestate.com or call Jordan (616) 460-8936
MLS: #1807148
$399,900
$399,900
MLS: #1822130
CHALET AND 86 ACRES

BETWEEN TRAVERSE CITY & KALKASKA
20 ACRES & CHALET ON

LITTLE CANNON CREEK!!
YOUR DREAM CHALET NESTLED IN 86 ACRES

OF HARDWOODS! Rolling property, trails throughou,
sharp 24x36 chalet with loft, mostly finished basement
with non-conforming bedroom, bath, office space and
more! Would make a wonderful year round home or
perfect getaway! So much potential! Simply gorgeous
setting, wildlife, raspberries, blackberries, and plenty of
room for long walks! Super location between Kalkaska
and Traverse City, just off M-72.
Fabulous up-north getaway!!
Definitely for the outdoor

enthusiast! Perfect getaway
setting! Chalet has been
a family owned property
with many memories over
the years! Ideal setting
with creek frontage PLUS
a small creek meandering
through the back yard - and
not to mention a natural
pond! This property has it all! Not only the privacy of
acreage, creek frontage, & pond but very close to the
Manistee River for trout fishing, canoeing, kayaking! Perfect
for family vacations, hunting, fishing or just relaxing on the
deck! And wildlife galore! Well maintained 3BR chalet sleeps
several, has a walkout basement with small kitchen area,
and perfect place for hunting equipment, fishing rods & more!
Large deck is the ideal place to relax and perfect for parking
your ATV underneath. Great property, great setting and so
much to offer!
MLS#1822308
$289,900
MLS: #1818415
$159,900
Sandy Gunning
ASSOCIATE BROKER
REMAX Bayshore Properties, Ltd.

303 N Cedar, Kalkaska
*Each office independently owned and operated.
(231) 620-0160
9326 S. M-37 | P.O. Box 843

Baldwin, MI 49304
www.cbnwr.com
231-745-4646
10 Acres Hunting Land,

RV & Storage Shed
MLS 16043971 $27,900
9 Acres,
2 Bed 2 Bath
MLS 16044803 $46,900
Duck Lake,
1 Bed Cabin
MLS 16041559 $36,500
100 Baldwin River,

2 Bed 1 Bath
MLS 16037231 $58,900
Little Manistee River,

1 Bed 1 Bath
MLS 16024708 $45,000
864 Pere Marquette River,

2 Bed 1 Bath
MLS 15061722 $87,900
100 Little Manistee River,

2 Bed 1 Bath
MLS 16023480 $70,000
All Sports Lake,

1 Bed 1 Bath
MLS 16010716 $114,900
10 Acres,
2 Bed Cabin
MLS 16028581 $55,000
75 Little Star Lake,

2 Bed 1 Bath
MLS 16016273 $129,900
Hunting Cabin,
1 Bed 1 Bath
MLS 16033841 $34,900
Vacation Cabin,
2 Bed 1 Bath
MLS 16041257 $47,900
Peaceful wooded setting for this two bedroom cabin with 80 feet of lakefront on Orchard Lake. Additional
day room facing the lake for extra space, 8x8 playhouse outside, and a playground nearby. An underground
tornado shelter has been built on the property too. MLS 16025817 $68,650
Beautifully wooded lot on the 54 acre All Sports Little Bass Lake! 1.41 acres makes for a great build able
lot whether its for a getaway cabin or a year round home. Federal Land is less than a 1/2 mile away, best of
both worlds! Possible land contract terms available. MLS 16036443 $36,500
122
All Sports Idlewild Lake Front Lot. Wooded and a great spot for a walkout basement cottage or home offering 50 of frontage, paved road access, electric available at the road, and in an area of thousands of acres of
public lands only a few miles away. Great camping site as well. MLS 16020582 $19,500
Beautifully wooded 41 acres with Federal Land on 2 sides. Access is through a Federal Forest Road 6262.
Great hunting and trails, secluded but not far from town. Great location. MLS 15056995 $59,900
Beautiful build able lots on 53 acre Paradise Lake! This is a great area to build a getaway cottage or a year
round home. Nice frontage and great location! Come walk this property today! MLS 16042237 $27,000
160 Acres of prime hunting land with deer, bear, partridge, and much more!!! This property borders hundreds of acres of federal land and offers nice high spots for building and nice low spots for hunting! MLS
16006839 $200,000
Here is a great 4 acres right in the heart of the snowmobiling and ORV trails. Great hunting with thousands of acres of Federal land to the north and west. Great camping area. MLS 16017638 $15,900
Baldwin Riverfront- buildable 2 acre parcel with utilities available at the road. Close to state land. Great
Location for fishing and hunting but still have electric and county maintained road. MLS 16042551
$19,900
Perfectly situated right on #35 snowmobile trail, this 40 acre parcel is priced to sell! Bordering Federal
Land on 3 sides, there is plenty of land to bring in the best deer, bear, and partridge. The parcel also offers
high land if you wanted to build or just camp. As secluded as it gets. Only access is off the DNR snowmobile trail. Youll never be bothered here! MLS 16019440 $42,000
One mile Rd splits this into 1.4 acre to the south and 2.6 acre to the north. Located in the heart of the ORV
trails within 1/8 mile, thousands of acres of State Land to the east, south, and west, and electric available.
MLS 16019550 $14,000
Square 10 acre parcel with access off a county road with Federal land on one side. All high with mixed
trees, selective cut 5 years ago. Great location for hunting, snowmobiling and year around use. Electric
is close, ORV trails are close and lots of seclusion. Low Down Land Contract Terms. MLS 16012724
$23,900
RANDY MINTO
GENESEE COUNTY
Always Working Hard for You!
AMAZING HUNTING
CAMP
ALCONA COUNTY
PINE RIVER
156.66 ACRES
REALTOR
108 ACRES
Direct:
SHIAWASSEE LAKE
SHIAWASSEE RIVER
Unlimited Outdoor Fun. Great Building site with

Great Development possibilities. Lake & Riverfront.
$775,000
810.449.1286
4-BR on Pine River. Bear, Deer, lots of Wildlife. Apple

Orchard. Fish and Canoe the River. New Roof, New Price!
$310,000
- OR Office:
810.653.4500
SPECIALIZING IN UNIQUE, LUXURY AND LARGE RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES
DEER
&
NATURE
128 ACRES
LOVERS
DREAM
PROPERTIES
LAPEER COUNTY
GENESEE COUNTY
5 ACRES
LAPEER COUNTY
78 ACRES
Newly Renovated, 41 tillable acres, 3 ponds, 65% Wooded.

Great Development & Commercial Possibilities. A Rare Gem!
Great Country Farm House, 2,600 sq ft home, Large Pole Barn.

Amazing kitchen and Jacuzzi house. $229,000
Awesome 2,238 sq ft Ranch Home with Finished

Walkout Basement. 32 x 56 Pole Barn. $584,500
LICENSED DEER RANCH
PRIME HUNTING!
192 ACRES LAPEER COUNTY
$599,900
34 ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY
80-100 DEER
20-25 TROPHY BUCKS
$1,350,000
Licensed Deer Ranch in Davison. 6-car garage, pond, 5 blinds,

3 lg feeders, Lg polebarn. 4BD, 3BA, walkout & up basement
Shamrock Farms Bed & Breakfast Resort. Home to 40 +

Thoroughbred Race Horses Amazing 192 Acres, 130 Tillable,
30 Acres of Pasture. $1,450,000
$849,000
257 ACRES
200 TILLABLE ACRES
AMAZING PRICE
ST. CLAIR COUNTY

PREVIOUSLY
PHEASANT
PRESERVE
Great farming, income producing, Pheasant Preserve

Possibilities, over 1/2 mile on Belle River, multiple
Outbuildings, 2 Ponds. $1,350,000
30 ACRES LAPEER COUNTY
ALPENA COUNTY
AMAZING
IN THE UP
840 ACRES
4 Cabins and 2 hunting camps, 2 pole barns, Duck Marsh, Trout

pond, 05 Tractor w/equip., 1 ATV, stocked toolshed, 11 heated
blinds/feeders/food plots, miles of trail systems on Wolf River and
Widner River. 5-mile private entrance. Hardwoods, pines and 150
acres of cedar swamp. Fantastic wildlife; Trophy Whitetail Deer,
Black Bear, Bobcat, Coyote, and Wild Turkeys abound.
210 ACRES
CHIPPEWA COUNTY
1/4 MILE ON
ST. MARYS RIVER
Cozy log cabin with loft. Beach frontage. Secluded,

Great Hunting, Fishing, Boating. $199,900
GENESEE
COUNTY
LAPEER COUNTY 28 ACRES
110 ACRES
Amazing Barn Home, over 2,000 sq ft. Walkout basement.
Awesome loft rec room. Nicely renovated Second home, 1,116
sq ft. is a rental, $850/mo income potential. $369,900
Great Development
Opportunity. Several
Outbuildings. 80 - 90 Tillable
Acres. $449,900
4,400 SQ. FT 6BD, 3.5BA LOG HOME, & Pool House. Great
for entertaining & Hunting. Deer Hunter & Nature Lovers
Dream Property! $389,000
20 ACRES
MECOSTA COUNTY
3900 sq. ft. Amazing

log interior with knotty
pine, custom built. Abuts
500+ acres Federal land
(land locked).
32 ACRES
SANILAC COUNTY
OSCODA COUNTY
$279,000
Rustic Log Home, Organic Farm,

11 tillable acres. $99,800
80 ACRES
Deer Hunters Dream Property,
Private, 2-streams. Large
Elevation changes. $275,000
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
LAKE OGEMAW MARINA
LAPEER COUNTY 86 ACRES
157 ACRES
Fantastic Development Opportunity. 30-2 Acre

lots approx. currently zoned agriculture.
$595,000
OGEMAW COUNTY
Own your own Marina! Located on a 600-acre Private All-Sports Lake. 2
Large Storage Buildings, 16 Boat Slips, Turn-key operation. 225 ft of Lake
Frontage. Avalon Pontoon Dealer. $650,000
COMMERCIAL
MIDLAND COUNTY
US 10
Great Development Opportunity near Sanford Lake. 10 miles
NW of Midland Twp. Great location, off of US 10 on M-30, by
McDonalds, Subway, Shell gas station. $1,150,000
Call Randy Minto Or Visit: www.RandyMinto.C21.com

Email: rminto@c21metrobrokers.com
www.MIDREAMPROPERTIES.com
*McDonalds
123
HUNTERS DREAM
CUSTOM LOG HOME
VACANT LAND
PRIVATE LAKE
LARGE POLE BARN
40 ACRES
1320 ft X 3960 ft.

Call Sharon @ 810-441-6002 or 810-798-8591
121 ACRES IN FREMONT TOWNSHIP, WEST OF

CROSWELL, EAST OF M-19 ON BURNS LINE
RD AT THE NW CORNER OF BROWN RD.
MLS# LB16033089
$3,800 an acre
FOR ALL YOUR REAL
ESTATE NEEDS CALL
Sharon LaFrance
810-441-6002
Im not #1, you are.
HUNTERS PARADISE
EXECUTIVE HUNTING LODGE
FENCED GAME RESERVE
75 ACRES
PONDS
MLS# LB16045935
MAINSTREET
844 Van Dyke ALMONT
GENTLEMANS RETREAT
78 ACRES
POND
RIVERFRONT
BARNS
DREAM HOME
NATURE LOVERS DREAM PROPERTY
THIS PROPERTY HAS IT ALL! 25.03 ACRES, LOCATED ON A CLASS "A"

ROAD. LIGHT SOILS FOR GREAT DRAINAGE & EXCELLENT SEPTIC
FIELDS. WALK-OUT SITE. PERFECT LOCATION FOR A TIMBER FRAME
OR LOG CABIN (HAS THAT RUSTIC FEEL) LIKE BEING UP NORTH. CLOSE
TO I -69 FOR EASY COMMUTE. BELLE RIVER RUNS THROUGH THE
PROPERTY & NEVER FREEZES UP--NICE PINES ON THE PROPERTY.
THIS TRULY IS A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY FOR THE NATURALIST.
SHOWN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. CALL WAYNE @ 810-560-3677
Heritage
House
RealtyPC
BROKER/OWNER
1810 N. STATE ST.
BIG RAPIDS
MI 49307
RIVERTOWN
REAL ESTATE
LORI BROCK
231-250-8882
Exclusive Marketing Agents for Northeast

Michigan Properties
Personalized Service is the Difference
124
MLS# LB16019080
Located in the Heart of the Huron National Forest, on the

Shores of Lake Huron and the banks of the AuSable River
1848 N Jewell Lake Dr,

Barton City, View of Jewel
Lake, 2 bedroom Chalet.
Amish constructed, includes
Appliances, 2 car attached
garage. Close to store and
recreation park. Includes
Home Warranty REDUCED
to sell $54,900.
900 N Barlow Rd, Lincoln,

Ranch style home on full
basement. Large lot, storage
building, extra garage or
workshop, heated attached
garage. The home offers
hardwood floors, tile bath,
gas fireplace, deck for easy
entertainment. $80,000
6980 Gary St, Hale Walk to

your next round of Golf at
Wickert Hills.
2 bedroom
Ranch in need of TLC. Great
location within minutes of
being on the water or your
next favorite hunting spot.
REDUCED with a fantastic
price of $37,000.
2920 Lake St, Curran

Walking distance to the
shores of Crooked Lake with
this 2 bedroom 1 bath Ranch
with walkout basement and
lake access.
Views of
wildlife from your heated sun
room or open deck. $79,900
991 N Verner Dr, Barton

City - View of Jewel Lake, 3
bedrooms 2 baths with over
2.5 acre site. Appliances
stay, finished garage and
this one comes with a Home
Warranty. REDUCED with
a super price of only
$100,000
Seller Financing on all

sports Vaughn Lake!. one
of a kind 3 bedroom 2 bath
with pride and craftsmanship
throughout. Unique features
from the kitchen to the
Volkswagen beetle bar to the
hot tub on the lakefront deck
$199,000
115 E Trask Lake Rd,

Lincoln New on market
2011 Cabin on just over 10
acres in need of finishing
work. Enjoy all that Northern
Michigan has to offer within
minutes of your front door.
Priced to sell at $69,000.
13368
W
Shore
Dr,
Millersburg Enjoy Rainy
Lake with this 3 bedroom 3
bath Ranch style. Insulated
Pole Barn with wood furnace
great for work or play.
Appliances included with this
new on the market home at
$159,900.
Van Ettan Lk Front Home

Best value on the lake!!! 50
feet of luxurious sand beach.
Breathtaking view from the
deck, screen porch, or
lakeside windows. 3 BR, 2.5
baths, basement. Includes a
charming Guest Cottage
NEGOTIABLE @ $149,900
800 on the AuSable River,

20+ acres, 3 bed, 1 bath
with a 2 bedroom guest
house. This is truly a unique,
beautiful, quiet serene area
with wildlife galore...so much
to offer!!! Steps lead to the
deck on the AuSable $190,000
201 Fourth St, Harrisville

Ranch style home with large
decks, pond, family room,
open
concept
kitchen,
dining, living room. Pergo
flooring, attached 2 car
garage that is finished. Walk
to
town
and
harbor.
REDUCED $117,750
217 Ac. Hunters Paradise

Andrews Road, Mikado with
1400
sqft
house/camp,
pond. Trail system, blinds,
deck and abundance of
wildlife. Pine River flows
through property so add
trout to the list. REDUCED
$375,000
Call 800-650-5566 - Glennie or 800-982-0102 - Harrisville - www.HeritageHouseRealty.com
1790 ACRES ALPENA & PRESQUE ISLE COUNTIES
CLOSE TO M-32 & M-65 WELL STOCKED FOREST EXCELLENT WILDLIFE HABITAT
UPLAND BIRDS FOUND THROUGHOUT THIS WELL MANAGED HUNTING GROUND.
MORE INFORMATION CONTACT HURON CONSULTING
T JACQUES 989-329-8079 BROKER/

FORESTER ON WEB AT HHPROPERTIES.US/
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OPENING DOORS TO THE AMERICAN DREAM!!
MLS #16022456 - $79,000 Partially wooded recreational property in Mecosta County. Would make
great building site for up north retreat.
MLS #15062294 - $137,500 - NEW PRICE This 30 acre property is an excellent deer hunting property, and also has a 12 foot deep fishing pond with hybrid bluegills and bass! Also features a new 30x48
Pole barn, high ceilings, doors on two sides, concrete floor, and electric, would make a great workshop!
Large 1996 doublewide in good condition, lots of room in it, fireplace in family room. Pellet stove in LR
heats the entire house. Backup heat is propane forced air, but no propane tank on property.
MLS #16035873 - $97,900 38 Partially Wooded Acres and would make a great building site. Small
Game or Deer Hunting with a Rifle or Bow!!!
MLS #16039165 - $165,000 Trophy Bucks Galore!!! Two very nice stocked ponds & trails throughout
property. Would make for great small game hunting. Some mature trees ideal for tree stands.
MLS #16021546 - $79,900 Well Cared for older single wide mobile with additional living space added
on making this a 1320 sq. ft. home. This home includes 20 Wooded Acres with a small creek flowing
through the back of property. There is a 24X50 Pole Barn and workshop and a 12X16 storage shed to
store your lawn equipment!
MLS #16017181 $36,900 Ideal Building Site within a short distance to Lake Isabella. Site has already
been partially cleared and is ready for your dream home. Owner is motivated so dont be afraid to offer
any reasonable offer.
MLS #15051838 - $230,000 4 Bedroom-3 Full Bath Ranch Home on 14+ Acres. Master Suite includes
a Ceramic Tile Dual-Head Shower and a Walk-In Closet with a commanding view of the rolling property.
Custom Designed Kitchen with an open floor plan to dining room and living room and hardwood floors
throughout most of the main floor. Full Finished Walk Out Basement with a Large 16X48 Rec/Family
Room and a Guest Bedroom and Full Bathroom.
Proud member of two multiple listings services. Non-Franchised-locally owned & managed. NO ADMIN/MAINTENANCE FEES!!!!!
ADDRESS
120 E. Main, Edmore MI 48829

www.eaglerealtymi.com
CITYSTATEZIP
Check/Money Order Visa/Mastercard - Card #Exp. Date
DateCk#$
00 Minnick Rd., Bad Axe

$309,000
Attention Sportsmen!! This 80 acre parcel has a great amount of potential! It has a
1 bedroom cabin with electricity sitting in the middle of it. This would make a great
parcel to hunt for those white tail. It also could be cleared and turned into farm land.
Wetland Conservation Determination has been completed and front portion is farm
able. It has a great amount of potential to the right person. Call Casey for more info as
it is being hunted and you must make arrangements to view the property.
IRA: 900291
MLS: 040-15-0059
Acres: 80.00
Approx. Square Feet: 500
Full Baths: 1
Bedrooms: 1
Architectural Style: 1 Story
Community Type: Rural
Condition of Property: Above Average
888.967.4140
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Driveway: Dirt Joint

Foundation: lab
Heat: Wood Stove
Miscellaneous: Well
Street: Gravel
Terms: Cash Conventional
Schools: Bad Axe
Additional Features: Featured Property
7521 Port Austin Rd., Caseville

Twp.$1,049,000
Here is a unique opportunity to invest in over 185 contiguous acres that has a full
Restaurant, Bar, Liquor license, and Banquet room. The grounds had a 9 hole golf course
That has been let to grow back to its natural state, and over 110 acres of mature woods.
You can create a county club, or you could create a sportsmens hunt club, it could be a
private residence made to entertain. The possibilities are limitless all it takes is a vision.
Call Casey A Bruce for your private tour to see what this One of a Kind facility offers.
IRA: 934189
MLS: 0069
Acres: 185.80
Approx. Square Feet: 7552
Year Built: 1992
Construction: Wood Frame
Driveway: Asphalt, Dirt, Private
Exterior/Siding: Wood
Foundation: Crawl Space
Heat: Forced Air, Gas
Land: 60% Wooded, Camping, Electric UNG,
Wooded-Medium
Miscellaneous: City Water Available,

Natural Gas, Septic Tank, Well
Property Type: Vacation
Street: Paved
Terms: Cash, Conventional, Land Contract
Schools: Caseville,

Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Schools
Additional Features: Central Air,

Featured Property,

Handicap Access,

Shed, Sprinkler System

Or Call (810) 724-0254
125
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
126
from
14999
Log
Futons
39999
MORE SIZES,
SOLID WOOD,
AMERICAN MADE!
Mini
Cabins
starting at
1999
99
N
A
CALL
ANYTIME
(989)-832-1866
D
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DA
Mattress
Not Included
THEMATTRESSMAN.COM 802 ASHMAN ST., MIDLAND
Fall Hunting Specials

2016 Polar Kraft Sportsman 2072 XSE
Mercury 115ELPT CT,

Side Console
*plus tax, title & freight
24,995
2016 Excel 1751 SWV4
Mud Buddy 37 EFI

Sport HD
16,995
2016 Gator Trax 14' Marsh
Backwater 23HP LS
Swomp, Fast Grass Blind
2016 Gator Tail GTB1754
Gator Tail GTR 37LS,

Trailer
11,995
2016 Alweld 1860 Mud
Used Mud Buddy

4400 Sport V, Trailer
19,995
16,990
9,495
Yamaha 90 HP,
Trailer
24,995*
2016 Bankes 25ft Titan
Yamaha 200 HP,

Trailer
2015 Gator Trax 14X38 Rogue

Used Mud Buddy,
23 HP Mini
2016 Polarkraft 2010 Tiller
59,900*
2016 War Eagle 548LDV
Suzuki
DF25AQHEL
9,495*
Chene Anchor
THE KNOWLEDGEABLE BOATERS
Holding Power
Retrievability Durability
BEST CHOICE
Slip Ring Anchors that use rope ONLY, no chain!
517-202-2949 Sales@Cheneanchor.com
SPORTS
CENTER
Manufactured by Epic Machine Inc. Fenton, Michigan
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
M-48 Heritage -The Model 48 Heritage combines classic styling with modern engineering and top of the line components, for
a rifle that is as beautiful as it is functional. The fancy-grade, oiled walnut stock has been carefully designed for a seamless
fit between the shooter and rifle. With a delicate palm-swell, slender forearm, and shadow-line cheek-piece, the Model 48
Heritage just feels right. A handsome, Heritage matte-black Cerakote all-weather finish compliments the dark wood grain,
while fully protecting the metal-work from the elements. The Model 48 Heritage is for the shooter who desires all of the
features expected in a contemporary hunting rifle, but with all of the tradition and warmth of a wood-stocked rifle.
The Model 48 Liberty possesses all the traits that have earned Nosler Rifles a reputation for fantastic performance and
robust dependability. Featuring a lightweight synthetic stock, top quality components, and protected by a hearty all-weather
finish, the Model 48 Liberty Rifle is ready for any condition Mother Nature has to offer. With available cartridge chamberings
ranging from the 22-250 Remington to the hard-hitting 35 Whelen, and our premier new cartridges, the 26 Nosler, 28 Nosler,
and 30 Nosler, there is a rifle for everyone in the Model 48 Liberty lineup. When used in conjunction with prescribed Nosler
Ammunition, shooters can expect sub M.O.A. three shot groups at 100 yards. Whether you are punching holes in paper, or
putting meat in the freezer, the Model 48 Liberty is sure to become the rifle you reach for time and time again.
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
Available at:
Layaways Welcome
Michi-GUN
www.michigunandtackle.com

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NOVEMBER 2016

Open Cold Water

Wood Duck Hunts

Sea Ducks of the Great Lakes Jump-start Kids into Hunting

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 THROUGH

HUNTER 44 REM MAG

WITH TRUGLO 3-9X40MM

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#86236. Reg. $16.99 .

May be different than shown.

ELITE DEER ANTLER

SIZE S/M OR LARGE

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FITS MOSSBERG 500

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12 GA., 2-3/4 1 OZ.

2208 W. M-37 Hwy.,

2 Miles West of Hastings on M-37 & M-43

STOP IN OR SHOP ONLINE AT BOBSGT.COM

Add your own message by selecting: Dealer M

Edit/Change your dealership information by s

CHAPMAN'S SPORTS CENTER

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

5605 Davison Rd., 4 miles east

CHAPMAN'S SPORTS CENTER Open 6 Days: Monday - Friday 9am-5pm;

CLOSE-OUTS ON ALL REMAINING

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

NOVEMBER 2016 - WNW NEWS

2017 BOATS ARRIVING WEEKLY

By Tom Campbell...Cover Story

2016 archery season off

eremy Cook has been bowhunting whitetails

NOVEMBER 2016 - WNW NEWS

Open All Year Pike and walleye season on Lower

couldn't believe it. He said, I was a wreck! The buck

Jeremy Cook was on the cover of the March 2015 issue of

Single deer in Berrien Co.

The MDNR Wildlife Disease Lab and the

NOVEMBER 2016 - WNW NEWS

Au Sable River fish

FULL RUT IS NOW

Dam removal brings

Operation Injured Soldiers

Brian Miller page 18

George Rowe page 36

DNR's 2016 Deer

Dave Mull page 84

NAME THAT DUCK

Mike Gnatkowsi page 38

Adam Lewis page 46

Richard Smith page 56

Richard Smith page 57

The best time to see

Jerry Lambert page 68

Sea ducks of the

Mark Romanack page 70

Wading for U.P.

Mark Romanack page 12