Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Steven
Rinella
Exclusive interview with The MeatEater and
Michigan native about venison diplomacy,
public lands, trapping, catch and release
fishing and much more!
Turkey Hunting
STEELHEAD Fishing
Deer Sterilization
Marksmanship
$5.99 US | SPRING 2017
Photo by Rick Smith
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SPRING 2017
Mandatory Antler point restrictions: Pro & CON 2017 SPRING EDITION
Steven
Rinella
Exclusive interview with The MeatEater and
Michigan native about venison diplomacy,
public lands, trapping, catch and release
fishing and much more!
MUCC
TM
FEATURES
Kyle Rorah (at left) of Ducks Unlimited sent us this picture of a pair of nice bucks harvested near Ann Arbor.
MUCC Vice President George Lindquist shot this nice bull elk on federal public land in Colorado.
bAsecamp
by Drew YoungeDyke, Editor
It's been a hectic winter, but I hope this spring finds you
rejuvenated and ready to get outdoors. And I hope this
issue of Michigan Out-of-Doors inspires you, informs you
and entertains you on your excursions. We cover a lot of
ground in this one.
EDITOR
DREW YOUNGEDYKE
editor@michiganoutofdoors.com 2101 Wood Street | PO Box 30235 | Lansing, MI 48909 | 517.371.1041 P | 517.371.1505 F | www.mucc.org
Uniting Citizens to Conserve, Protect and Enhance Michigans Natural Resources and Outdoor Heritage
ART DESIGN & TEMPLATE
SOLO 71 / DAVE BEHM Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) is a 501(c)
(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1937 by sportsmen's
ADVERTISING
clubs from around Michigan to protect conservation from
DREW YOUNGEDYKE
politics. Representing over 50,000 members and supporters
sales@mucc.org
and approximately 250 affiliated conservation clubs, MUCC
PRESIDENT is the largest state-based conservation organization in the
THOMAS HERITIER nation. MUCC members determine its conservation policies
through a robust grassroots process, which MUCC staff works
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT to implement by working with elected officials, state and federal
RON BURRIS agencies, its members and the public. MUCC has published
Michigan Out-of-Doors since 1947 and operates the Michigan
VICE PRESIDENT Out-of-Doors Youth Camp in Chelsea, MI. Learn more about the
GEORGE LINDQUIST full range of programs MUCC uses to advance conservation in
Michigan and become a member at www.mucc.org.
TREASURER
JIM DECLERCK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RICHARD P. SMITH
MUCC Staff
DAN EICHINGER AMY TROTTER
BILL MALLOCH Executive Director Deputy Director
JANE FINNERTY deichinger@mucc.org atrotter@mucc.org
CAROL ROSE
JACK VAN RHEE DREW YOUNGEDYKE LOGAN SCHULTZ
CHUCK HOOVER Chief Information Officer Digital Media Coordinator
DAVID VAN LOPIK dyoungedyke@mucc.org lschultz@mucc.org
BRUCE LEVEY
GREG PETER STEPHANIE RUSTEM SHAUN MCKEON
BILL KREPPS Project Manager Education Director
srustem@mucc.org smckeon@mucc.org
KRIS MATTHEW
DOUG KRIZANIC ANNA MITTERLING AMBER ALBERT
Wildlife Co-op Coordinator Membership Coordinator
Michigan Out-of-Doors (ISSN 0026-2382) is the official publication of amitterling@mucc.org aalbert@mucc.org
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), 2101 Wood St., Lansing
MI 48912, and is published quarterly. Telephone: 517.371.1041.
Receipt of this publication is through membership in MUCC. For SARAH TOPP SUE PRIDE
membership information, call 1.800.777.6720. Single copies available Wildlife Volunteer Coordinator Membership Relations &
to the public for $5.99 each. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, stopp@mucc.org Tracks Coordinator
Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address
changes to Michigan Out-of-Doors, PO Box 30235, Lansing MI 48909. spride@mucc.org
All advertising communications should be sent to PO Box 30235. TAYLOR RENTON
Views expressed by freelance writers are their own and do not nec- Gourmet Gone Wild Manager ASHLEY BUR
essarily express those of Michigan Out-of-Doors or Michigan United gourmetgonewild@mucc.org Policy Assistant
Conservation Clubs. Copyright 2017 by Michigan United Conservation
Clubs (MUCC). The Copyright Act of 1976 prohibits the reproduction of abur@mucc.org
Michigan Out-of-Doors without written permission from Michigan United TYLER BUTLER
Conservation Clubs. MUCC members may reproduce one copy for Youth Camp Director
personal use without permission. For permission to reprint a specific tbutler@mucc.org
article, and for inquiries, contact the editor at editor@michiganoutof-
doors.com.
Director's Desk
permits available for nuisance bears.
This is dangerous territory for these an-
imals. Our conservation laws and hab-
itat conservation priorities are oriented
around these dynamic animals and if
we allow them to be categorized as
nuisance animals, inconvenient and
incidental to the space they occupy,
bad things will follow.
perspective on Wildlife
in the food web. As the non-hunting
publics attitude has changed some in
regard to these animals, we too must
think of ways that we can inspire new
T
he paradigm has been shifting over anglers and trappers have a more honest generations to support wildlife, game
the last few years and the deci- and deeply personal connection to wild- and hunting as the proper manage-
sion by the Michigan Department life than any non-hunter/angler/trapper ment tools for them. We will have to
of Natural Resources to authorize I know. Collectively, our efforts speak for adapt some of our messaging about
the surgical sterilization of free-ranging themselves: abundant deer populations, the value of recovered wildlife on the
white-tailed deer has brought that shift record numbers of waterfowl, plentiful landscape and how there is more than
storming to the front. The shift Im referring populations of wild turkeys, elk and a just inherent value in having healthy
to is the change in how the public - and host of other fish and game have all been and abundant wildlife and game
even some of us hunters and anglers - successfully restored because of our animals.
view the fish and wildlife we have toiled advocacy.
for decades to restore. The wildlife man- The paradigm shift away from a recov-
agement profession has arched toward ery perspective for our iconic game
But the revered place many of these icon-
recovery actions. It has been slower to animals to the more fickle dynamic of
ic species hold in our hearts and minds
move toward meeting the challenge of managing game and wildlife popula-
is not shared by all. How often have you
managing a recovered population. tions to ensure maximum support and
heard deer referred to as a nuisance
esteem from the public is a real chal-
animal? Wild turkeys, which represent
This organization and our partners were lenge confronting game and wildlife
perhaps one of the most triumphant of
all founded upon the notion that fish, populations.
all modern conservation victories, are
wildlife and their habitats required careful now common in many corners of the
stewardship and conservation. Hunters, -Dan Eichinger, Executive Director
state. Heck, there are even crop damage
In memory of
Billy Yates
from David and Mary Price
In memory of
Dick Wisniewski
from Jeff and Emily Woianin
In memory of
James A. Mulka
from Danny and Ellen Latal, Kurt and Ruth Kapala, Chad, Ray, Olivia Kapala,
Aaron, Shannon, Bentley, Bryce Kapala, Simone Kapala and Levi Hincka
In memory of
David E. Skrobot
from Douglas and Betty Jane Cook, Marlene Lewis,
James and Laura White and Philip Racy
In memory of
Bill Wiltse and Doyle Eckhardt
from Drew YoungeDyke
In memory of
Dana Gretzinger
from the entire Michigan United Conservation Clubs family
If you have recently lost someone you would like to honor here,
please contact Sue Pride at spride@mucc.org.
TM
MUCC
LIFE MEMBER
Thank you to the following conservationists who have made a lifetime
commitment to conserving, protecting and enhancing Michigan's
natural resources and outdoor heritage by becoming a Life Member
of Michigan United Conservation Clubs:
If you are willing and able to make a lifetime commitment to conservation, you can become a Life Member of
Michigan United Conservation Clubs with a $500 contribution to the organization.
Life members receive a lifetime subscription to Michigan Out-of-Doors, a Life Member MUCC ballcap,
a Life Member patch, and a certificate commemorating your commitment to conservation.
Contact Sue Pride at spride@mucc.org or visit www.mucc.org/join_mucc and select "Life Membership."
MOMENTS OF MEMORY FORM
At each Annual Convention, members of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs who have recently passed away are recog-
nized in the Convention Book and in a short ceremony.
If you are interested in having your MUCC members recognized, please fill out the following information on MUCC member(s)
from your club who have passed away since the 2016 Annual Convention. Please return the form to MUCC Headquarters no
later than April 1, 2017 in order for their name(s) to be included in the Convention Book. Names returned after this date will NOT
be included in the Convention Book, however, they may be read during the ceremony time set aside on the agenda.
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
7. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
8. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
On Patrol relays reports filed by Conservation Officers from AN ENTERTAINING RIDE-ALONG...
the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforce-
ment Division, though some are edited for length. This is not CO Steve Speigl worked a decoy patrol in Antrim County.
how you want to get into Michigan Out-of-Doors, unless, of CO Speigl had 105th District State of Michigan Representa-
course, you're a Conservation Officer! In 2015, poaching tive Triston Cole along for the patrol Shortly into the decoy de-
fines for elk and other species were increased as a result of ployment, a truck stopped and the driver got out with a rifle in
a Michigan United Conservation Clubs resolution. MUCC hand. The hunter was not wearing hunter orange, shot the de-
is working with Rep. John Kivela (D-Marquette) to increase coy and waited for a reaction, shot twice more and reloaded
fines for illegally bringing back deer and elk carcasses from his rifle. This happened, shooting and reloading multiple times.
CWD-positive states. Thank you to the brave men and women The hunter then put his rifle in his truck and tried to stalk the
of the "thin green line" who protect our natural resources by deer with an extremely large bowie knife. CO Speigl made
enforcing our fish and game laws! contact with the shooter before he could reach the decoy and
asked if he had any more ammunition left, which the hunter
THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR... produced one live round. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Andrea Albert, CO Steve Speigl and CO Scott Mac- A HAT TRICK PLUS ONE...
Neill were running the deer decoy in a remote area of Antrim
County. A subject drove by and quickly turned around and CO Josiah Killingbeck was on patrol when he observed an
came back to the decoy. The subject shot two times from his ORV parked in an area where ORV use is prohibited. CO
vehicle at the decoy. The subject was cited for the violations Killingbeck followed the tracks to a deer blind on public land
and his rifle was seized. The COs noted that six years ago that had no name or address. The hunter was not wearing
the subjects adult son had also shot at the decoy in the same orange and had more than two gallons of bait on the ground
location. to attract deer. Enforcement action was taken.
ON PATROL
A ONE-BUCK RULE WOULDN'T STOP THIS GUY... sin. CO Russell and CO Justin Ulberg then made contact with
the subject in Kent County. Enforcement action was taken for
CO Brian Lebel concluded a lengthy investigation involving a bringing an unprocessed deer into Michigan from a CWD
subject who shot four large bucks this deer season in Mecosta. state.
Follow-up at a deer processor revealed all of the bucks had
been taken there to be processed under two different names. CO Andy Bauer conducted a deer processor inspection and
A follow-up interview led to the suspect confessing to shooting located a deer that had been shot in Illinois and illegally
three large 8-points. The suspect stated that he had used two brought into Michigan in violation of the CWD regulations by
tags belonging to another person which matched what CO bringing the whole deer intact into the state. CO Bauer was
Lebel had found at the processor. When CO Lebel asked the able to arrange to meet the Illinois resident in Michigan and
subject to show him his unused portion of the combination the subject was cited for the illegal importation in violation of
license, the subjects chin went to his chest and stated he had the CWD regulations.
used it on another 8-point he had shot with a crossbow. With
the help of CO Ken Lowell, all four bucks were located and MUCC RESOLUTION IN ACTION...
seized from a taxidermist in Montcalm County. The subject
was charged with taking an over-limit of antlered deer COs Kelly Ross and Brad Bellville, Montmorency County,
report a 44-year old Marlette man pled guilty to taking an
CAN WE INCREASE THE FINE ON THIS ALREADY? elk during the deer season. He fled the area after shooting
the cow elk, and did not report the incident. He paid nearly
CO Josh Russell received a complaint from a local processor $6,000 in fines and costs and his hunting privileges were
that a subject had dropped off a whole deer that was taken revoked for 15 years. He is the first to be sentenced under the
in Wisconsin. CO Russell had the deer seized immediately new increased elk poaching penalties enacted last year.
and taken to the local biologist headquarters. CO Russell then
made contact with CO Jason Wicklund, who helped verify
with Wisconsin DNR that the deer was indeed from Wiscon-
BILL RUSTEM INDUCTED INTO Presenting speakers includ- deer from a Mecosta County deer
THE CONSERVATION HALL OF ed MUCC Executive Director Dan farm. CWD is a fatal neurological dis-
FAME BY MUCC Eichinger, Department of Natural Re- ease that affects white-tailed deer, mule
sources Director Keith Creagh, former deer, elk and moose. This is the second
On the 40th Anniversary of State Senator Kerry Kammer, who flew time the disease has been found in a
Michigans Bottle Bill, Michigan Unit- from Arizona to attend, Bill Milliken, farmed deer facility in Michigan. In
ed Conservation Clubs inducted its Jr., and former Michigan Out-of-Doors 2008, a white-tailed deer from a Kent
champion into the Michigan Conser- TV host Bob Garner, who had worked County deer farm tested positive.
vation Hall of Fame. Bill Rustem, who with Rustem on the land trust fund as Chronic wasting disease is a
led the campaign to pass the citizens a staffer for Senator Kammer in 1976 serious disease affecting both farmed
initiative into state law which created and was inducted into the Michigan and free-ranging deer, said MDARD
the ten-cent deposit and return for Conservation Hall of Fame in 2013. State Veterinarian James Averill, DVM.
carbonated beverage containers, was Bill Rustem completely un- We are following the states CWD
praised for his role in numerous con- derstands that in Michigan, our soul response plan and taking the necessary
servation, environmental and outdoor is not to be found in strip malls, but steps to protect the health and well-be-
recreation successes in Michigan. in the gentle whisper of the headwater ing of all of Michigans deer popula-
It was such a wonderful stream, said Garner, in a pre-recorded tions.
experience to have Republicans and video. Samples from the two deer
Democrats working together to do Following his service with were submitted for testing as a part
good things for the people of Michigan Governor Milliken, Rustem became of MDARDs mandatory CWD sur-
back then, said Rustem. the first Executive Director for the veillance program. All farmed deer
Also in 1976, Rustem, who Center for the Great Lakes in Chicago, facilities licensed with the Michigan
worked for Republican Governor Bill the Director of Grants and Programs Department Natural Resources must
Milliken, collaborated with Sen. Kerry at MUCC, and enjoyed a long and participate in this program.
Kammer (D-Pontiac) and former productive career with Public Sector Any discovery of chronic
MUCC Executive Director Tom Wash- Consultants, from which he retired as wasting disease in free-ranging or
ington to pass what became the Mich- President and CEO in 2011. He was farmed deer is disappointing, said
igan Natural Resources Trust Fund, appointed as Governor Rick Snyders Chad Stewart, DNR deer and elk spe-
which has since exceeded $1 billion Director of Strategy in 2011, help- cialist. It will take significant time and
in public recreation land investments ing to win passage of regional transit effort through immediate, targeted
through the development of state- legislation and Detroit bankruptcy surveillance and mandatory checks
owned oil, gas and mineral royalties. reform before retiring in 2014. Even in during the upcoming deer seasons to
MUCC and conservationists retirement, he serves the state as the understand the current situation. The
have always been at the forefront of all most recent appointee to the board of Michigan DNR remains committed
the great environmental issues, said the Michigan Natural Resources Trust in our efforts to contain this disease
Rustem to a room packed with poli- Fund he helped create 40 years ago. and safeguard our valuable wildlife
cy-makers and representatives from resource.
conservation organizations. Today MDARD and DNR are
we face another threat, globally and DNR/MDARD: CWD FOUND IN implementing the Michigan Surveil-
that is the question of climate change, TWO CAPTIVE MECOSTA COUN- lance and Response Plan for Chronic
and Im encouraging everyone here TY DEER Wasting Disease of Free-Ranging and
who cares about conservation to begin Privately Owned Cervids, and are
to understand the issue of climate Chronic wasting disease was taking the following steps:
change. confirmed this January in two female -Quarantine the affected farm.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDER- portunities for public input and more this is far from the last battle we'll see
ATION: SPORTSMAN GROUPS comprehensive planning to address for our public lands, the withdrawal
CHEER END OF SELL-OFF BILL, conflicts upfront and consider the im- from HR 621 is a crucial victory for all
VOW CONTINUED VIGILANCE pacts of development on water, air, fish Americans.
ON PUBLIC LANDS and wildlife.
Sportsmen joined members of
DENVER Sportsmen and women conservation and community organi- NWF: GROUPS CALL ON U.S.
and other conservationists and out- zations and other outdoor enthusiasts EPA TO STAND UP FOR A CLEAN
door advocates voiced appreciation from across the political spectrum LAKE ERIE
Thursday after a plan to sell more than to pack the statehouses in Montana
3 million acres of national public lands and New Mexico this week for rallies Columbus, OH In Decem-
was halted, but pledged to stay vigilant in support of keeping public lands in ber, a coalition of fishing boat captains,
as other bills to dispose of or under- public hands and conserving hunting, Lake Erie businesses, environmen-
mine the management of public lands fishing and recreation opportunities. tal and conservation advocates, and
advance at the state and federal levels. "The grassroots spoke on HR sportsmen groups threatened to sue
The decision by Utah Rep. 621, and Rep. Chaffetz listened. It the U.S. Environmental Protection
Jason Chaffetz to not pursue HR 621, is heartening in a time of such deep Agency because of the agencys failure
which would have sold a total of 3.3 political strife to have our leaders in to abide by its obligations under the
million acres of public lands in 10 Washington respond to the voice of the Clean Water Act. The legal action is
Western states, came as welcome news people," said Dave Chadwick, execu- part of an effort by groups to protect
to the sportsmen and women for tive director of the Montana Wildlife Lake Erie from harmful algal blooms,
whom public lands are the backbone Federation. "There are lots of ideas fly- like the 2014 bloom which poisoned
of our sporting traditions, said Aaron ing around in Washington about how drinking water for more than 400,000
Kindle, the National Wildlife Federa- to change public land management. I people.
tions Western sportsmens campaign hope that our elected officials continue Were prepared to do what it
manager. to recognize that people in Montana takes to protect Lake Erie from toxic
We hope this decision signals and across the West love our public algae, said Heather Taylor-Miesle
that Rep. Chaffetz and his congressio- lands and want to see them protected Executive Director at the Ohio Envi-
nal colleagues are starting to under- so that future generations can hunt, ronmental Council. We need those
stand how important these lands are to fish, and enjoy the outdoors." in power to do all they can to actually
Americans and that theyll cease their At a time when more and solve this problem. Lake Erie, and ev-
efforts to seize them from the public more elected officials are calling to sell eryone who depends on it for drinking
trust, Kindle added. off our public lands, the decision by water, jobs, and a place to fish and
However, Kindle and other Congressman Chaffetz to pull HR 621 swim, need the U.S. EPA to step in and
sportsmen noted that a new House after a huge backlash from Westerners do its job.
rule makes it easier to sell or transfer is a strong reminder that our voices The notification to file a civil
public lands by claiming their dispos- matter, said Garrett Vene Klasen, lawsuit under the Clean Water Act is
al wouldnt negatively affect federal executive director of the New Mexico in response to U.S. EPAs failure to per-
revenue. Plans are also underway in Wildlife Federation. Thousands of form its duty to accept or deny Ohios
Congress to rescind improvements outdoor enthusiasts in Montana and and Michigans decisions on whether
that have been made to public-lands New Mexico and across the West orga- Lake Erie is impaired, which means
management. That includes the Bureau nized and sent a clear message that our that the water quality does not meet
of Land Managements Planning 2.0 public lands are not for sale, and that legal standards for fishing, swimming,
initiative, which provides more op- message was heard this week. While and drinking. Michigan has sought
Marksmanship is a motor skill. A motor skill is a function before you shoot. For example, look for targets that
which involves the precise movement of muscles with depict a silhouette or the classic hostage/criminal
the intent to perform a specific act. A motor skill is also target. I enjoy shooting paper targets I buy online from
perishable. Similar to fitness, it takes consistent training RE Factor Tactical (The Essential target and IQ target
to improve or maintain. The old adage, If you dont use are my favorites) or download a target pack from
it, you lose it, applies to marksmanship. If you carry for HaleyStrategic.com. Another option may be to purchase
self-defense, the level of your skill a steel target. Steel targets come in
could mean life or death for you
or a loved one. Long gone are
the days where regular trips to the
Slow is smooth, all shapes and sizes and prices.
Although they have a higher price
they will last longer with proper
range and shooting off a bench
will give you the skills needed in a smooth is fast, maintenance. Steel targets also
add a new dimension: an audible
self-defense scenario. Alas, there
are many fun and creative ways to
keep your skills sharp as a razor.
and fast is sexy. responsive. It gives a shooter quick
feedback on a successful shot. A
downside of shooting steel is that
after a few shots, the paint wears
A simple and cheap way to increase your marksmanship off and it is near impossible to see exactly where the shot
skill and get the most out of your training is to change impacted. Keep this in mind: shooting steel targets may
up the targets. Instead of using the classic bullseye be more entertaining than paper but paper targets keep
target, look into targets that challenge you to think you honest.
In 2015, I won a hunting trip to South Africa through the Safari was a continent largely unknown to me as being accessi-
Club International (SCI) Houston chapter. The hunt was for ble? Actually, I didnt wonder at all. If there is one thing I
four people and included two animals each a gemsbuck have learned since I was injured in 1994, it was the fact that
and a springbuck. Call it my Bucket List Item No. 12, but an while there is a lot of upfront research you can do to prepare
African plains game hunt was very high on my list, and now, yourself when traveling with a disability, youre never really
thanks to SCI and a lucky raffle ticket, a dream was about to going to be fully prepared and thus it is always a learning
come true. experience, not inasmuch as it is about the trip as it is about
yourself. The overarching lesson I seem to learn is this: It is
The above is true in that I had literally been dreaming about possible.
going to Africa at some point in my life. I believe that if you
dream enough about something, those things have a tendency Along with my Dad, outdoor writer and photographer, Chuck
to eventually manifest themselves in our lives, whether its to Lichon, outdoor photographer and German Shorthaired
be cured of an illness or for the Lions to win the Super Bowl. pointer breeder, Tim Lintz, and former Sanitarian and current
Ok, lets not get too ahead of ourselves here. I had, howev- recreational pilot, John Texter, we headed to South Africa in
er, been considering which African plains game I wanted to June 2016, at which time it was winter in the southern hemi-
pursue as early as when I was still in high school and a mere sphere. Their winter was closer to Florida weather than Michi-
one to two years following my life-changing spinal cord injury gan, much to our satisfaction.
that left me paralyzed from the chest down.
The flights we booked were long, however I had to prepare
At what point after winning the hunt did I wonder just how, myself as best as I could and to understand how my body
exactly, I was going to make this momentous journey to what might react to being largely immobile for as long as a twelve-
LESSON I SEEM TO
during your flight so they can animals I wanted to pursue
help you prepare as best as during the trip, those being
possible. I found that the best kudu, blue wildebeest, impala
LEARN IS THIS:
scenario for me was to chain- and African porcupine (dont
watch movies, and when I laugh they are Africas biggest
wasnt doing that, I was catch- rodent and the quills make an
ing up on some of the sleep
I missed out on when I was
younger and more active.
IT IS POSSIBLE." impressive lampshade). These
animals were in addition to the
already-included gemsbuck and
springbuck. The response from
An outfitter can probably make or break a hunting or fishing Ken I would say was above and beyond the call of duty for
experience for you, particularly if they dont make an effort to accommodating my needs as he asked me early on some of
accommodate your disability. I say probably, because Ive the measurements of my manual wheelchair as well as what
never had a particularly negative experience because of the the height was from the ground to my rifle once I raised it to
critical two-way communication that has taken place between my shoulder. These figures would be critical to transforming
me and the outfitter to ensure that they understand my limita- the back of one of his pickups - known in South Africa as a
tions and how best to accommodate them. It is as much your bakkie - into a shooting platform for me. Before we would
responsibility to set up an outfitter for success in accommo- venture out in pursuit of the animals on my list, we tested the
dating you as it is their responsibility to make every concerted platform that Ken and his team had built for me on a shooting
effort to make you comfortable during your trip once they range, also ensuring my comfort with the rifle I rented from
commit that they are able to accommodate you and whatever them during the hunt.
your needs might be.
As you can imagine based on what has been covered thus
I was in contact with Ken Whiley of Gamka Safaris (www. far, the part of this adventure that is supposed to be the most
gamkasafaris.co.za) almost immediately following my winning important - the hunt itself, the friendships that developed over
the trip to start the proverbial ball rolling, especially since an evening braai (African barbecue) and the memories that
not a single one of our hunting party had ever been to Africa will last a lifetime - went as smoothly as one could ask for. Its
before, which seemed like the perfect setup for a comedy safe to say that familial bonds were formed between guides
movie with a title starting with National Lampoon. I spoke and guests, and in the end I did wind up getting all six species
with people who have been to Africa before, particularly
South Africa, since that was the destination we were head-
ing to, and I also spoke to doctors to see what vaccinations
I would need as well as how best to travel internationally
with any medications and medical supplies that I would need
to take along. Last but not least, I, as well as others in our
hunting party, purchased, for a modest amount,a two-week
membership to one of the available health protection and
travel transport companies in our case, it was MedJet Assist
(https://medjetassist.com). While in many countries the medi-
cal advancements may be fine, in the event you have a health
issue that requires you to be taken back to the U.S., or if you
are in an area where receiving medical attention is not in your
best interest, this insurance is priceless in that it will cover an
The Conservation Policy Board Meeting is where members and affiliate clubs
can introduce and discuss policy resolutions while hearing presentations on
pressing conservation issues for hunters, anglers and trappers in Michigan.
www.mucc.org
5 ways
to scout
Wild
by Darin Potter Turkeys
1 | WAKE UP CALL possible and take note of the locations where you have found
gobblers. Later on, use a plat book so that you can determine
Does life ever slow down? A forty-plus hour work week, after land ownership and secure permission to hunt these areas
school activities with your kids, family functions, daily chores before the season begins.
and unexpected events can oftentimes put your spring turkey
scouting on the back burner. However, there is a solution: Two of the most important items that should never leave your
Set your alarm clocks a little earlier and do some scouting on vehicle in the months leading up to spring turkey season are
your drive to work. Dedicating ten to twenty minutes in the a good pair of binoculars and a locator call. You never know
early morning at daybreak can mean the difference between when a gobbler might make an appearance.
filling your spring tag and walking out of the turkey woods
empty-handed.
2 | BOOTS ON THE GROUND
Take a route through turkey country while driving to work,
stopping at higher vantage points along the way. This Nothing beats good old-fashioned legwork when scouting for
will allow you to listen for gobbles from several different spring turkeys. Glassing turkeys from afar in the early morning
directions. Secondly, scan the tops of tree limbs with hours and later in the evenings is only half the battle. Now it is
binoculars or a spotting scope for any roosted turkeys that are time to put some boots on the ground and burn some calories
sky-lined against the morning sky. Once you exit the vehicle, in the turkey woods. Although birds are still in flocks, any
spend a couple of minutes listening for any gobbles. If toms information that you can gather now will put you that much
remain silent, use a locator call such as a coyote call or an closer to tipping over a gobbler. Your ultimate goal should be
owl hooter to reveal any toms if they are present. to find as many places to hunt as possible so that you have a
variety of options once the season gets underway. Relying on
Driving into work isnt the only time to take advantage of only a couple of places to hunt can result in disappointment
scouting. If your shift ends in the late afternoon or early and an unfilled tag. Stubborn toms, pressure from other
evening, glass open fields on your way home. When hunters on public land and birds that travel to neighboring
commuting back and forth to work, take multiple routes if properties are just a few of the problems that can put a
A GPS unit is also an invaluable scouting tool that will allow As the temperatures begin to warm, turkeys will begin feeding
you to mark areas showing turkey sign so that you can return on green grasses, insects and seeds that are available. Fields
to these locations once the season begins. planted with clover, winter wheat or picked corn fields with
leftover kernels on the ground can be magnets for spring
One of the most important pieces of information that you can turkeys searching for food. If you find turkey sign in these
find in the turkey woods is where the turkeys are spending areas, set up a tent blind and return on opening day. Turkeys
the night. Locate a turkey roosting site and you stand a good generally feed in the early morning and afternoon hours.
chance of filling your tag opening morning. They can be
easily identified by searching out the tallest trees in an area
with horizontal branches. I have noticed that large stands 3 | TRAIL CAMERAS
of white pines and mature oaks and maples are a popular
choice among turkeys in the areas I hunt. While walking About three years ago, I decided to place a couple of trail
beneath roost sites, scan the ground for clumps of droppings cameras along the edge of a fifteen-acre field that I had
beneath branches, tracks, and primary wing feathers. permission to hunt. Up to this point, I had used them only
for deer hunting. Judging by the tracks and droppings that I
Other important places to pay attention to while continuing found, I knew that birds were spending time in the area, but
on with your search for prime turkey hunting real estate are I was uncertain which sides of the field they preferred and
areas where birds spend time feeding and strutting. Toms the time of day they traveled through. Therefore, I wanted
prefer areas with higher visibility when strutting such as to pinpoint the best location to place a popup blind. After
Whether you are hunting turkeys this spring for the first time
or returning to the turkey woods where you once closed the
deal on a gobbler or called in a bird for someone else, there
will continue to be many firsts. Each one will capture the
essence of the hunt and continue to fuel the passion for turkey
hunting that lies deep within. For Jeff Hand, this passion keeps
growing with each spring sunrise and every call that he makes
and places in the hands of a turkey hunter.
The comeback of the wild turkey is one of the greatest picking up steam in the public consciousness and in the
conservation stories in Michigan history. government. Hunting and fishing regulations were carefully
established to ensure that wildlife populations didnt grow too
Once prolific, these iconic birds had been wiped from the small or too large.
landscape by the turn of the 20th century as European settlers
cleared forests and grasslands to build towns and cities.Then in 1937, a national coalition of conservationists
virtually all of them hunters persuaded Congress to direct
By 1900, you couldnt even find a the receipts from an excise tax on
wild turkey in Michigan, said Jeff hunting arms and ammunition into a
Poet, vice chair of the Michigan "... It's actually hunting and special fund to be distributed to the
Wildlife Council. Today there are fishing license sales that states for wildlife restoration.
more than 200,000 of the birds generate the primary
found in every corner of the state. funding for conservation ..." Had it not been for this key legislation
Thats an amazing story. called the Federal Aid in Wildlife
-Matt Pedigo, chair of the
Restoration Act (also known as the
Michigan wildlife council
But the birds didnt do it alone. Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937), wild
turkeys and a variety of other wildlife
would have been reduced to nothing more than local lore.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, RESTORATION KEY
FACTORS These dollars have made all the difference in the world
when it comes to conservation, said Matt Pedigo, chair
The return of the wild turkey is a great example of the power of the Michigan Wildlife Council. Wildlife management
of public and private wildlife management, officials say. is not funded through state taxes. Its actually hunting and
fishing license sales that generate the primary funding for
In the early 20th century, the conservation movement began conservation work here in Michigan and across the country.
Thats when the real work began. The council is a governor-appointed, nine-mem-
ber public body established by Michigan Public
Managing wild turkeys in Michigan involves the complex relationship Act No. 246 of 2013. The legislation updated
between turkey populations, their habitat and people, said Poet. the hunting and fishing license fee structure and
Michigan has done a great job striking that balance to create a vibrant requires the state Department of Natural Re-
and abundant environment. sources to use $1 from the sale of every license
to fund the Michigan Wildlife Council public
Thanks to public and private organizations, hundreds of thousands of education campaign. The $1 share of each li-
acres of wildlife habitat have been conserved or enhanced for turkey and cense sale generates approximately $1.6 million
a myriad of other species. Since the 1980s, the DNR and many partners annually in revenue.
have completed numerous releases of wild-trapped birds from Iowa and
Missouri to Michigan, to further restoration efforts in the state. Learn more at www.hereformioutdoors.org
Woodcock banding is the province of hard-core bird hunters, As Riley slowly approached, the bird got up and flew a few
guys with pointing dogs who think their best friends have much short yards away. Thats what he hoped to see: a bird trying to
more to offer than just being afield from September 15 to lead away from the area. Within a few minutes, Riley spotted
January 1. Its a way to continue playing with your dog (and a woodcock chick and then another. He picked them up, put
really, is there any more fun than playing with your dog?) them in the mesh bag and resumed perusing the young forest
outside the boundaries of traditional bird hunting seasons. floor. He found a third chick. And then a fourth, which meant
hed found the whole brood.
Riley is one of about 100 volunteers who venture out into the
Michigan woodlots in spring, hoping to find broods of Working quickly, Riley recorded the pertinent information
recently hatched woodcock chicks. It is a Michigan thing to - time and date and the length of the birds beaks - and then,
do; Michigan is woodcock country. It produces more wood- one by one, he put a small band on one of the birds legs.
cock than any state in the union, Michigan hunters kill more Then he let the chicks go.
woodcock than hunters anywhere else in the country and
Michigan volunteers band more than anyone else in North For Riley, woodcock banding is a pleasurable pastime that
America. not only provides recreation, but also yields information that
TM
MUCC
Help Prevent The Spread
Of Invasive Plants And Animals.
REMOVE plants, animals & mud from boots, gear, pets &
vehicle.
CLEAN your gear before entering & leaving the recreation
site. STOP INVASIVE SPECIES
STAY on designated roads & trails. IN YOUR TRACKS.
USE CERTIFIED or local firewood & hay.
The
Throwback
PORCUPINE MOUNTAINs
CRUSADE (1978) by Ben East
Ben East, a member of the Michigan Conservation Hall of Fame and
he knew exactly what to do when he felt a steel barb
bed itself in his bony jaw!
legendary outdoor writer for Outdoor Life, wrote this account of the
He did it. He took line away from Bud so
extraordinary effort to preserve what is now the Porcupine Mountains
fast the reel whined. He charged across the pool and
Wilderness State Park. It is an excellent example of the writing that
at the far side he came out of the water again, flailing
earned Ben East the acclaim he enjoyed, as well as the determination
and corkscrewing. When that maneuver failed to
required in any era to achieve conservation success on the ground.
free the hook, ,he raced for the drop at the tail of the
The Porkies are still much as East described them almost 40 years ago;
pool, cleared its lip in a clean, curving jump, crashed
the photos included in this article were taken just this past fall. DY
down into the welter and kept going for the next pool
It happened on about the third or fourth cast. Bud below.
Dick was standing on a shelf of rock that sloped down and Lucky for Bud, the shelf of rock where he stood
vanished in the dark water of the pool. Above him the river provided something close to a footpath. It was narrow, and
came frothing and raging in through a short steep chute. slippery in places, but better than no path at all. Bud felt
Fifty yards below it spilled out again in a three-foot drop. his way along, surrendering more line, avoiding brush,
The pool itself was foam-laced, currentless save for the fighting the fish with a high rod and after two or three
slow eddying of the trapped water, an ideal spot for big heart-stopping minutes that seemed 1- times that long, he
rainbows to lie and rest and feed, husbanding their strength wheedled the rainbow into deep water once more.
for the next lap up the untamed, mill-race river. They fought it out there, a slugging match to make
Bud was using a small spinner with a single the breath stick in your throat, and the trout lost. He swung
hook that trailed a fat pinkish dew worm as big as a small in close to shore, trounced and rolling on the leader. Buds
snake. He laid the rig out in the deep water in the center dad reached out from an overhanging log with the net, and
of the pool, let it settle close to bottom, started to drag it the show was over.
back across the current. I could see his line tremble as the We moved upstream a couple of pools after that
spinner began to revolve. and I put across a deal of my own with a carp River
There was no warning. The fish took worm, spinner rainbow. Mine went only 16 inches, but he knew how to
and all, the way a mountain lion puts his claws into a mule use what he had and he had a lot for a fish that size!
deers neck. Buds rod bent like a reed in a gale, and he After that it was time to go back to our camp at the
retaliated instinctively to the sudden savage tug of the mouth of the river and cook supper. We didnt want any
strike. The next thing I saw was a heavy-bodied, silvery more trout that evening, anyway.
trout exploding out of the pool like a lightning bolt in Weve hit it on the nose, Buds father, Ray Dick,
reverse, etched for a split second against a dark water-cone said jubilantly as we picked our way down through the big
of his own making and then there was hell to pay all over timer beside the roaring staircase of the Carp. Tomorrow
the place. well show you what this river is like when the run is at its
That trout had come in, likely only two or three peak.
days before, out of the cold green depths of Lake Superior. It turned out he was right, too. The spawning
He was a spring-run rainbow with a full head of steam, and migration of the big Lake Superior rainbows was in full
and untouched. Weve got to save it. Carp and the Presque Isle. Now and other businessmen in the community,
Can you imagine what this place will then Ed Johnson or Walt Speaker put he had written countless letters, he had
look like 20 years from tonight, when in a word. pestered state and local officials and
theyve finished cutting and pulled Once its cut over, the whole political leaders. For the most part,
out, if we dont? area will go back to the state for they agreed with him, but there their
I didnt need much delinquent taxes, Johnson predicted. interest seemed to fade out.
imagination to answer that one. We It will be a hundred years then before A local congressman, Frank
had 10 million acres of cutover and it will be worth anything again, and Hook, had gone so far as to introduce
burned-over land in Michigan that it will never come back to what it is a bill in Congress proposing to set
supplied the answer ready made. now. aside $10 million to purchase the
Wisconsin and Minnesota had as many We know what we need Porcupine wilderness and add it to the
more, and I had seen the bulk of them. to do, Ray said, picking up the Ottawa National Forest which already
I sat for a minute, listening to the conversation again. Our job is to took in a big share of three cutover
noises of the river, thinking of all persuade the United States or the State counties in the Upper Peninsula. But
its lonely miles without even a deer of Michigan to come in and buy the the bill had bogged down, and nobody
hunting camp on its banks, watching whole 50,000 acres before its too late, believed it had much chance of
the moon riding clear and high above and keep it the way it is! A few of us passing.
conclusion, including one that the groups and individuals that could win the support of conservationists
culminated in the establishment of the be counted on to help. When we went everywhere.
Isle Royale National Park in upper to our bags, long after midnight, Ray Members joined from a dozen
Lake Superior. Dick was ready to move into an arena states, as far away as Georgia and
What you need is outside much bigger than the local community Kansas, California and New York. The
help, I suggested. There are a lot of for the next round of his scrap. membership list read like a Whos
folks around the country who love this A fight of that kind is in Who of American Conservationists.
kind of place as much as you and I do. many ways a shadow match. You It included such prominent names as
Some of em have influence. If you cant climb into the ring and slug it those of Vice President Henry Wallace;
could get them into your fight, you out with a flesh-and-blood opponent. Chase S. Osborn, former Governor
might win. You are pitted against indifference, of Michigan; Aldo Leopold of the
We realize that, Ray agreed, lack of public interest, official apathy. University of Wisconsin; Newton
but how do we go about it? The only fighter who has a chance of B. Drury, director of the National
There was another long, winning is the sort who can tolerate Park Service; William Allen White,
thoughtful pause. Then somebody delays and setbacks, keep punching renowned Kansas editor; Willard Van
came up with a suggestion. Why and refuse to accept defeat. Ray Dick Name of the American Museum of
not organize a Save-the-Porcupines was exactly that sort. Natural History; Jay Price, regional
You can walk the trails this summer, or some great-great-grandson of yours, as yet unborn, can walk em
in a hundred years from now, and find the age-old solitude of the wilderness unbroken. The ancient pines
will still be standing guard on the ridges that overlook the rivers, the wind will be singing its song in the
tops of the big beeches and hemlocks. The forest of the Porcupines is going to continue to be forest and
not sawlogs. The people of Michigan own it, and thats the way they intend to keep it.
ownership and protection, and the holdings along the border. But it then
development of the area get under proceeded to whoop the proposal You can walk the trails this
way in accordance with the plans he through, by a thumping majority of summer, or some great-great-grandson
himself had helped to draft. 76 to 10 in the lower house and an of yours, as yet unborn, can walk em
even more spectacular vote of 26 to in a hundred years from now, and find
The State Planning 1 in the Senate. The tireless, patient the age-old solitude of the wilderness
Commission endorsed his groundwork that Ray Dick and his unbroken. The ancient pines will still
recommendation, and Gov. Kelly was associates had laid over a period of be standing guard on the ridges that
ready to act. By that time he, too, many years paid big dividends in overlook the rivers, the wind will be
had seen the Porcupines for himself. those closing hours of the fight in the singing its song in the tops of the big
Invited by Ray Dick to visit them, the committee rooms and on the floor of beeches and hemlocks. The forest of
Governor, a handicapped veteran of the Legislature. the Porcupines is going to continue to
World War I, had gone only as far as Even then, the Wisconsin be forest and not sawlogs. The people
the mouth of the Presque Isle, where company held out, refusing to sell at of Michigan own it, and thats the way
the river gorge and its virgin timber a price the state was willing and able they intend to keep it.
had been converted into a park by to pay, bringing political influence
Gogebic County. to bear as far away as Washington in It makes a very pleasant
Ive seen enough, Kelly told a last-ditch effort to block the deal ending to the story of Ray Dick and
Dick. Im for it. and go on cutting. But Hoffmaster the one-man crusade he started and all
He convinced a special and his commission wouldnt be the people who came in later and gave
session of the Legislature and asked stymied. They went into court, halted him a hand in winning his long fight!
the members to approve the purchase the companys logging operations
I first heard of Steven Rinella after catching his 2011 Travel Channel show The Wild Within. It changed how I viewed
hunting and I became an immediate fan, watching him go on adventurous hunts and bringing the meat back home to
his family. After that season, he moved over to The Sportsman Channel and created MeatEater with the Zero Point Zero
production team, where since 2012 it has become the top hunting and outdoor show on the network. His focus on wild
game, public land, conservation and wildlife has revolutionized the outdoor television format and inspired an entire
generation. You can watch MeatEater on the Sportsman Channel Mondays at 8pm, or better yet, on Netflix. Listen to the
MeatEater Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and at www.themeateater.com, where you can also find his books like the two-
volume Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering and Cooking Wild Game, one of my favorites. -DY
MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS: How did you get How did your outdoor experiences growing up in
introduced to the outdoors? Michigan shape how you view hunting, fishing and
trapping?
STEVEN RINELLA: My father was a hunter and fisherman.
Most outdoorsman are like me, in that they get introduced I grew up in Twin Lake, in Muskegon County, and was
to hunting and fishing by their father. But my dad was an surrounded by hunting, fishing, and trapping opportunities.
exception. He was raised on the south side of Chicago by We fished Lake Michigan, Muskegon and White Lakes, plus
his grandparents. They spoke Italian in the home and knew tons of other ponds and creeks and lakes in our area. My
nothing of the outdoors. They were removed from it both brothers and I could walk from our house to hunt squirrels,
spatially and financially. After serving in World War II (my and we trapped muskrats on our own lake. We even caught a
dad had me when he was fifty years old) he got interested mink about 200 yards from our house. We were generalists,
in hunting and fishing along with an entire generation of obviously, up for any kind of outdoor activity. That's still my
other returning soldiers. Today, a lot of folks don't realize this, philosophy today. I'll chase everything from bullfrogs to
but the modern blue-collar sportsman was in many ways a muskox as long as the eating is good.
creation of the guys who fought in WWII. Someone at the
time put it this way, more or less: You can't teach an entire
generation to shoot and camp and then not expect them to
become hunters.
Yes, you have to be more careful. A wild turkey's flesh is much "It feels like we're
trying to turn our
less forgiving. You really cannot get away with overcooking it.
Nowadays, I brine all of my turkeys in a simple brine before I
grill, smoke, or roast them. See my guidebooks if you want to
know what I'm talking about. wild places into
Is focusing on wild game the best way for us
artificial worlds
to connect with non-hunters? What has your
experience been with converting new hunters, or
that resemble
even just helping non-hunters understand what we
do? golf courses. "
It is the best way, by a long shot. There are other things that
help, some of them tremendously, but nothing comes close
to what I call "venison diplomacy." I have served literally
dozens upon dozens of people their first taste of wild game.
Every single person was moved in a positive direction by the
experience.
You recently talked with Starbucks employees about Yes, I'm a bit annoyed by designated catch-and-release
hunting. Did you learn anything about what we waters. A guy who feels sanctimonious because he caught and
as hunters can do better to communicate with non- released twenty fish is actually killing way more fish than a guy
hunters? who catches one, kills it, and goes home. Depending on the
conditions, there can be huge mortality from catch-and-release.
No, it only reconfirmed what I already know to be true. It's especially weird to me when we create catch-and-release
People want straight, honest answers from hunters - and fisheries around non-native species such as rainbows and
sometimes the questions are difficult. We need to take the brown trout. It feels like we're trying to turn our wild places into
time to engage with others and to explain where we're artificial worlds that resemble golf courses. As you can see, I'm
coming from. To do this effectively, hunters need to study the a big fan of the idea that we should try to restore our native
conservation history of this country as well as the guiding fisheries as much as possible and stop worrying so much about
scientific principles of wildlife management. I've met folks who perpetuating non-natives.
You used to trap quite a bit. What do most people world. And there's a bit of truth to that, for sure. But it's going
hunters and non-hunters - not understand about to take more than antagonism to beat the animal rights
trapping? movement. It's gonna take a willingness to understand their
message and to understand how that message is received
I find that most people don't understand anything about by the general public. The die-hard animal rights folks are
trapping. They are blinded by the controversy. In fact, I very few in number. The battle lies in the minds of the "silent
know a lot of seasoned outdoorsmen who've never been majority" of Americans who make impulsive decisions at the
on a trapline despite spending a lifetime in the outdoors. voting booth.
Misperceptions abound, and there is very little fact-based
thinking going on.
What does public land mean to you?
Whats the future for trapping in America? To me, our public lands system is one of the most vivid
personifications of the American ideal. It's one of our great
It's uncertain. Trappers have a lot of work to do if they're inventions as a country. Our system is a symbolic slap in the
going to survive the next couple of decades - especially those face to the aristocracies of Europe, where hunting and fishing
trappers who live in heavily populated states like Michigan. rights are attached to wealth and social standing. When
I have ideas for them, but I don't know if they're ready to get someone questions the legitimacy of public land, they might
really serious about saving themselves. When I was trapping, as well be questioning the legitimacy of liberty.
I was blinded by my dislike for animal rights activists. I wrote
them off as whackos with no real connection to the natural
What would you say to politicians trying to sell it? What projects are you working on for MeatEater that
we should look forward to?
I'd say "watch your ass. Hunters and fishermen and
conservationists are going to turn on you, and you're going to We are working on a new wild game cookbook that covers
lose your job. And you will not be remembered fondly" both fish and game. And for two years we've been working
on cranking out a documentary project about hunting in
America. It's going to be an impactful film. And then there's the
Why should Midwestern hunters, who might MeatEater Podcast, which has been blowing up in popularity.
regularly hunt private land, care about whats going
on with public lands?
Finally, what conservation organizations do you
On the most basic level, they should know that private land support, and why?
permissions come and go, but public land permissions do not.
And they should know that the political and conservation clout I'm a member of several, including a lifetime member of Rocky
of hunters and fishermen relies on us having strong public Mountain Elk Foundation and a supporter of National Wild
participation. If you don't protect the public land hunter, Turkey Foundation. But if you want to stay on top of all serious
you will find yourself increasingly isolated in the political conservation issues that will impact your hunting, fishing, and
and cultural sphere. And that won't be a good thing for your outdoor lifestyle, you should get involved with the TRCP, or
hunting and fishing rights. Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. From public
lands issues to clean water, they are fighting the fight at the
highest levels.
Fast-forward a couple hundred years and the hunter has And wild game, or grass-fed meat, is a staple in the paleo
changed. Hunters look at their time in the field as part of diet.
their heritage, a way to spend time outdoors with family and
friends, and the wild meat is often considered a bonus. A MATTER OF SURVIVAL
But, that is starting to change again. Not long ago, hunters were in a fight for their existence, not
against anti-hunters, but declining hunter numbers. As the
One of the major trends as society becomes more conscious baby boomers aged a startling decline in hunter numbers
of what goes into, and onto, its food is the 100-mile or local didnt bode well for the future. Trends are beginning to
diet. change, though.
The new concept spawned the term locavore in 2005. A variety of factors are at play. Who would have thought 10
Locavores are those concerned their food hasnt moved great years ago the number one reality show on television would
distances from where it is grown to where they purchased it. involve duck hunting? Camo is now cool and many hunters
The 100-mile diet is often a part of locavores criteria, but and non-hunters wear it every day. Hunting groups seeing
so too is the method of food production and whether it was the decline in hunter numbers and introducing new mentoring
grown in an environmentally sustainable manner. programs made huge strides to bring a new generation into
the fold.
Established hunters have long known both the culinary and
nutritional value of wild game. How much more local can you But one underlying reason for the resurgence of hunting is
get than the deer, moose or other game in the back 40? And the quality of wild meat as people become more and more
MARCH 16-19
Dont miss Big Buck Night Thursday!
Features Finest Fishing & Hunting
include: Seminar Line Up:
State Championship
Mark Zona
Turkey Calling Contest
Mark Romanack
(Saturday)
Mark Martin
Hawg Trough
Lake Ultimate Marianne Huskey
Woodland Carvers Lance Valentine
Virtual Fishing Simulator Dan Armitage
Kids Trout Pond Fred Abbas
Fly Casting Instruction Denny Geurink
Antique Lure Display Tom Richardson
Rock Climb Seth McCollough
& More! Jason Herbert
www.UltimateSportShow.com
FRIDAY 11 am 9 pm
SATURDAY 10 am 8 pm
SUNDAY 10 am 5 pm
Gourmet
HICKORY CIDER GLAZED WILD TURKEY
Yield: 8-10 servings
Hickory cider syrup is best made using a
clean percolator. The use of a percolator is important
because it runs the cider through the bark at a hot, but Interview by Drew YoungeDyke
not boiling, temperature. If you boil hickory bark, the
tannins will release from the wood fibers and turn the In Steven Rinella's interview in the preceding pages, he discussed
juice bitter. "venison diplomacy," that is, using wild game as a bridge to connect
INGREDIENTS: non-hunters with the reasons we hunt. Inspired by an article he wrote
1 gallon apple cider
back in 2010 in Oprah Magazine, of all places, MUCC's former execu-
2 quarts hickory bark, broken into small pieces
2 quarts sugar tive director Erin McDonough and Jordan Burroughs, of Michigan State
Salt and blended pepper University Extension, came up with an idea for a program that uses veni-
1 wild turkey breast son diplomacy to connect Michigan's young urban- and surburbanites to
our outdoor heritage. They called it "Gourmet Gone Wild."
DIRECTIONS:
Add cold cider to the percolator and the bark pieces Today, Gourmet Gone Wild is a partnership between Michigan United
to the filter. Turn on the percolator and run a complete Conservation Clubs, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
cycle. Remove the liquids and remove the filter Michigan State University and the Boone & Crockett Club, and, as of this
chamber of bark. Keep the liquids and bark separate past fall, it is now fully funded by a grant from Cabela's. It's manager,
and cool in refrigerator.
Taylor Renton, actually had her first taste of wild game meat through the
Once cooled, set the percolator back up.
Add the hickory bark back to the filter and run the Gourmet Gone Wild program when she was MUCC's AmeriCorps mem-
liquids through it again. Repeat this process 5 to 10 ber serving with our On the Ground wildlife habitat projects in 2014.
times. After the last run of the percolator, strain the
liquidsthe finer the strain, the clearer the resulting She graciously took some time out of her schedule planning gourmet
syrup. wild game events for young professional organizations to answer some
Once strained, mix the sugar into the hickory questions for us, too.
cider and bring it to a near boil. Cool the hickory cider
simple syrup and store in the refrigerator. If stored in an
airtight container, the syrup can last for several months. MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS: WHAT IS GOURMET GONE WILD?
The syrup can crystalize, but a quick heat through in the
microwave will dissolve any crystals.
Season the raw, trimmed turkey breast with Taylor Renton: Gourmet Gone Wild is a nonprofit outreach program that
salt and pepper. Place turkey and hickory cider syrup introduces young professionals and new audiences to hunting, fishing
in a Ziploc bag making sure to remove all air. Set in the and conservation through the local foods movement.
refrigerator to marinate for 12 to 48 hours, turning at
least four times to thoroughly coat.
Remove turkey breast from marinade and cut AND WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN GOURMET GONE WILD?
with the meat grain into 2-inch wide strips. Preheat grill
to 500F, making sure to create a cool zone for slower Right now we are fully funded by the Cabelas Outdoor Fund, but we are
grilling. a partnership between the DNR, MUCC, MSUs Fisheries and Wildlife
Grill strips for 3 to 4 minutes on all four sides.
Department and the Boone and Crockett Club.
If the turkey hasnt thoroughly cooked, remove to a
cooler section of the grill until the internal temperature
has reached 145F. Once the turkey is thoroughly
cooked, remove it from direct heat to rest. Once rested, WHAT DOES A GOURMET GONE WILD EVENT LOOK LIKE?
slice thinly against the grain. Serve with your favorite
sides. Usually we partner with a young professional group. Our audience is
usually 24 to 40 year olds. And then we plan an event - sometimes at
TIPS OF THE TRADE: a restaurant, sometimes at a gun club, sometimes it will just be at a park
The bark of a shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) where we bring in a professional chef to cook wild game dishes, to
is very distinctive and recognizable. They prefer to give them appetizers varying from squirrel fritters to venison rib roulettes
live in the floodplains of the Midwest. The bark can
to Great Lakes fish cakes, so we provide them with that first sample of
be easily collected, and it can often be found on the
ground (under the canopy), or by wiggling loose food. Our chef does a demo on how to cook wild game to make it seem
pieces until you find ones that are ready to fall off. less foreign, and then usually we have a hands-on component where we
Before use, wash bark well, making sure to remove any bring in local mentors from the community to teach an outdoor skill, such
moss or dirt. as archery, shooting or fly-casting.
MARINADE INGREDIENTS:
ABOUT HOW MANY GOURMET GONE WILD EVENTS DO YOU 2 tablespoons olive oil
HOST PER YEAR? 1 small yellow onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
We usually do 10 to 12 events a year, usually about 500 to 600 2 stalks celery, diced
2 tablespoons fresh garlic, chopped
participants a year. Theyre mostly in the summer.
2 tablespoons peppercorns
cup bourbon
1/8 cup soy sauce
DO YOU USE ONE MAIN CHEF? cup pineapple juice
1/8 cup lime juice
We mostly work with Chef Dan Nelson, but depending on the area cup brown sugar
were at, we might bring in a chef from another location. Or, if theres 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
a restaurant were working with, well use their chef.
BOURBON SAUCE INGREDIENTS:
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons water
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE PROGRAM? WHAT WAS
6 tablespoons bourbon
YOUR CONNECTION TO WILD GAME? 1 cup venison demi-glace
Molasses (optional)
Ive been with the program for two years. I grew up in suburban Lime juice (optional)
Detroit, so I did not do any hunting. I fished up at my familys cottage Lineapple juice (optional)
growing up, but I had no interaction with hunters. I think I had one rel-
ative, who maybe hunted, but I never tried wild game. And then I went MARINADE DIRECTIONS:
to school at Washington State to study wildlife ecology and that was In a medium saucepan, warm olive oil over
where I first really started thinking about hunting as a tool for manage- medium heat. Add diced vegetables, garlic and pep-
ment purposes, which made me go from neutral to more pro-hunt- percorns and saut for 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat and
add remaining marinade ingredients. Stir until sugar has
ing. Thats where I first shot guns and really got involved in volun-
dissolved. Transfer marinade to a large bowl and set in
teering. I came back from school with a new idea on wildlife. I started refrigerator to cool.
as the AmeriCorps member for MUCCs On the Ground program. I Once marinade has cooled, add steaks to mar-
think the first time I ever had a full meal of wild game was the On the inade and cover with plastic wrap. Marinate in refrigera-
Ground project with Consumers Energy at Rose Lake State Wildlife tor for 12-36 hours.
Area. That was maybe the first time Ive had venison and bear.
BOURBON SAUCE DIRECTIONS:
In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and
AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, BEFORE AMERICORPS, YOU WERE water. Place on medium heat and cook until syrup
ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO VOLUNTEER TO COLLECT SIGNA- caramelizes to a medium brown color. Keep pan moving
while sugar water caramelizes to prevent burning. Re-
TURES FOR THE SCIENTIFIC FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
move caramel from heat. Add bourbon to caramel and
ACT. DO YOU DO OTHER VOLUNTEER WORK? stir to combine. Add demi-glace to mixture and return to
medium heat. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until mixture
I do a lot of volunteering with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, reduces by half. You can add molasses, more lime juice
Ducks Unlimited, the Mule Deer Foundation when I was in North or some pineapple juice to sweeten the sauce. Store
Dakota, all those groups. sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container until
ready to use. Reheat sauce when ready to serve.
COOKING DIRECTIONS:
Email Taylor at gourmetgonewild@mucc.org if you're part of a group Remove steaks from marinade and let rest for
30-45 minutes. Grill steaks over direct heat at 400
that would like to host a Gourmet Gone Wild event.
for 1 minute on each side. Remove steaks from grill. Let
steaks rest 5-10 minutes. Pour warmed bourbon sauce
over steaks when ready to serve.
always have
bushes and branches. two or three bows yet only own
one release. If you are a finger
MOIST WIPES | These handy wipes
have many uses from cleaning blood whatever shooter, this is not a problem. But, if
you shoot with a trigger or release,
off your hands after field dressing is
completed to wiping your knife clean. is needed finding out you have forgotten yours
or having it malfunction can spell a
They also work great for removing
stubborn camo make up after the
in your pack." ruined or cut short hunt.
hunt. If you are pulling an all-day hunt and are about The above are some of the most important articles that I
to eat your snack or lunch, these handy cloths can be carry when bow hunting but they are not all. Other must
utilized to clean up your hands should you not have any have items are:
hand sanitizer.
Flashlight and extra batteries
ROPE | I always carry a length of cord with me. I have Extra release
used it for a bow rope, deer drag, clothesline and more. Camo Makeup
When elk hunting, this cord works excellent for tying off Knife
a back leg to make the field dressing chore a bit easier. Deer scent and lures along with scent killer spray.
Just recently, I used the rope to tie up a wandering dog Hand Pruners or a small saw
that was disrupting my hunt and lead him back to my Rangefinder
truck where I called his owner. You just never know when Compass
it will be needed next. Chemical handwarmer
ZIPLOC BAGS | I use these to carry out deer hearts, Even after over 40 years of bow hunting, I am still find-
when I am lucky, and store candy bars and other good- ing items that I include in my pack. For instance, only re-
ies. I also use these watertight bags to store bottles of cently I have added zip ties and I am amazed how often
deer scent once they have been open. If you have ever I use these them. Garbage bag, this plastic bag has been
had a cap come loose on a bottle of doe pee in your used as a rain poncho, meat container and more and the
pack, you know why I use these bags. list continues to grow. What amazes me the most, is the
fact that 40 years ago, if it didnt fit in my camo pant or
EXTRA GLOVES | I have been carrying extra gloves in jacket pockets, it was left at home. I like to think that now
my pack for years. More times than I want to remember, I hunt smarter not harder.
In January, I attended the ATA (Archery Trade Association) Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. The ATA Show is where
archery gear manufacturers and retailers make the deals that decide what products will line the shelves and bow
racks at your local archery shop and outdoor megastore. For reviews of the best new bows and crossbows, I'll be
the first to refer you to the national outdoor magazines; they have all the gadgets to test IBO speed, etc. What I
looked for was the interesting gear that was unique, functional or just looked like something I wanted in the field
with me on my hunts. Hopefully you'll see the gear featured here at your favorite outdoor store soon!
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WHAT THE DNR Let
ANN ARBOR DO TO
HEALTHY DEER
by Darren Warner | Photos by the author
A
veterinarians remove the ovaries of an additional 80 female
nother healthy whitetail doe darted and sedated, and deer. The plan was approved by the Michigan Department
another ovariectomy about to begin. of Natural Resources (DNR), which agreed to let a non-profit
company, White Buffalo Inc., come to Michigan and perform
An hour ago, I arrived at the maintenance building of the work.
the Huron Hills Golf Course in Ann Arbor. A volunteer
immediately asked me who I was and what I wanted. After I If youre interested in how this controversy is playing out,
gave him my credentials, Bob McGee (Ann Arbor) softened, keep reading. Were going to dig into the issues surrounding
explaining that Ann Arbor Police are conducting drive-bys to Ann Arbors contentious deer management plan, and why
make sure protestors arent holding up the process. the DNR would grant the city permission to do something to
whitetails thats never been done before in the Great Lakes
What would be so controversial, you may ask, that would State.
HOW MANY DEER? her on performing the ovariectomies, and shes anxious to get
started.
First, a key fact that shouldnt be overlooked: Ann Arbor
doesnt know how many urban deer it has. That alone has I think its pretty amazing what they [veterinarians] can do,
some crying foul. and Im in favor of anything as long as its not hunting, Dyer
said. They [whitetails] were here first, and we [humans] need
Weve yet to see any data showing that these expensive to figure out ways to live with them.
population reduction methods are needed, said Wendy
Welch, communications director for the Huron Valley Humane Ah, hunting. Why not use hunting? According to Steve
Society (not affiliated with the Humane Society of the United Crawford, Ann Arbors chief financial officer and chairman of
States). The only data [evidence] weve seen is the city telling its deer management project, no bowhunting organizations
us that deer are eating some plants in some parks, and a ever approached the city about helping lower its whitetail
survey that showed some residents have concerns about their population.
landscaping and deer-vehicle collisions.
I dont think it would work, because we have too many
To be fair, the DNR doesnt require urban communities to residents who are against hunting, Crawford said.
demonstrate they have too many deer (i.e., theyve exceeded
their deer carrying capacity) before allowing them to reduce Our own Drew YoungeDyke, MUCCs public information
the number they have. officer, remembers differently
We grant communities
permission to reduce their
"I'm in favor of anything as how the city council dealt with
the hunting proposition.
deer sterilization
nuisance, explained DNR have in Meridian Township,
deer and elk program specialist explained YoungeDyke, whos
Chad Stewart. also an Ann Arbor resident.
One lady asked afterwards
Deer-vehicle collisions in Ann Arbor are on the rise. Look what she could tell her child if a deer dies from a bowhunters
around on any given day and youll see several deer arrow in their backyard. I told her to tell them that that's where
carcasses on roadsides. While most city-dwellers agree the food comes from.
home to the University of Michigan has more than its fair share
of deer, what to do to about them is really what has residents YoungeDyke added that the city council approved its 2017
incensed. Deer Management Plan on Nov. 14, 2016 the night before
opening day of Michigans firearm deer season. Its safe to
CONTROVERSIAL DEER STERILIZATIONS say few, if any, deer hunters were present at the meeting to
voice their concerns.
The first two does are brought into the quiet maintenance
shed. Theyre dead to the world from the cocktail of drugs DEER EXPERIMENTS?
they received at capture to make them go to sleep. Each deer
is set on a non-sterile, white Formica table, and a technician The unconscious doe is laid in the supine position on the table,
immediately begins to shave an area on the deers hind flank a blue underpad is placed over its lower abdomen, and Dr.
to make sure the dart that was used to sedate the animal is Dyer begins the ovariectomy. I must admit that Im a little
completely dislodged. Another technician installs a catheter in surprised by the lack of sterile conditions in which the surgery
an upper leg, in case something goes wrong and the whitetail is performed. Dyer wears no surgical cap, and volunteers
needs additional drugs to keep it alive. Dr. Steve Timm, a come and go to observe the work. The doctor makes a
veterinarian with White Buffalo, Inc., explains that it takes 10 3-inch incision in the lower abdomen and begins extracting
to 15 minutes for a surgeon to remove both ovaries. Tonight, the ovaries. Toward the end of the procedure, she instructs a
another vet, Dr. Katie Dyer, will also be sterilizing deer. Dyer volunteer with no medical training to do the final cutting that
owns two practices, Family Pet Practice in Waterford and removes the second ovary.
Wixom Family Pet Practice in Wixom. Timm recently trained Ann Arbor isnt the first city White Buffalo has worked in.
We really dont know how well this method will help urban
communities control their deer populations, explained
Stewart. We view this as research, and if we [the DNR]
are to be considered credible and an authority on deer
management, we have to maintain objectivity when these
techniques are considered.
A deer has its ovaries removed in a golf course maintence shed Still, the DNR believes Ann Arbors deer management plan
warranted approval.
Nine other urban centers have hired the company to perform
ovariectomies on 746 deer, including Cincinnati, Ohio; We approved the plan because it includes the use of
East Hampton, New York; Fairfax, Virginia; and San Jose, sharpshooters to reduce the deer population, Stewart added.
California. To the best of his knowledge, White Buffalo This form of sterilization and deer culling have never been
founder and president Dr. Tony DeNicola reports that two used together by an urban community to manage deer.
deer have died from the procedure.
AN INCOMPLETE DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN
The greatest risk of mortality isnt from the surgery, but from
the capture, said DeNicola. A deer may tumble down a hill The ovary that was just removed from the doe is a little larger
or fall into a pond after being darted and sedated. Some deer than the size of a quarter. I have field-dressed countless
may have a pre-existing medical condition we dont know deer and Ive handled the excrement of my own three small
about. children, yet I feel a little squeamish after observing the
second ovary slide off the surgical pad and onto the corner of
Although the whitetails are sedated, handling any wild animal the table. No one seems to notice. The ovary is an invaluable
is risky business. All animals, including deer, react to stress organ infused into deer by nature to ensure the success of
with a flight or fight response. This response produces the whitetail population, and a moment later, its tossed in
adrenaline, and persistent stress keeps adrenaline levels the trash. Dyer closes the incision with surgical staples, a tech
dangerously high, which can lead to a potentially fatal sprays down the surgical area with disinfectant, then wipes it
condition known as capture myopathy. Researchers have off with an ordinary paper towel. On to the next patient.
found that some animals are more susceptible to capture
myopathy, including deer, rabbits and sandhill cranes. Every Ann Arbors deer management plan may include culling and
time humans handle a wild deer, they run the risk of inflicting sterilizing, but its weak in other key areas.
capture myopathy.
One of the problems I see is that the city doesnt realize that
The DNRs taken a lot of criticism for allowing White Buffalo it is inadvertently inviting deer into certain area by how it
to sterilize Ann Arbor deer, particularly when its own Deer manages those areas, McGee said. For example, theres
Management Plan calls for working with urban communities an area not far from here [Huron Hills Golf Course] where the
to consider using hunting as the primary tool for dealing city stopped mowing the grass. Now theres tall grass, and
with urban deer issues (Goal 2.1, Action 4, page 20 of the deer are using it to bed in and to eat.
Set your
(Grand Rapids). Its like letting a
fox guard your henhouse.
sights!
appears that options off the table.
There is literally no issue that can divide Michigan deer hunters like mandatory antler point restrictions, often referred to as
"MAPRs." Bring it up at deer camp, and someone's likely to get tossed in the snowbank. Bring it up on social media, and you'll
find yourself in a protracted debate with someone just as unwilling to listen to the other side. It's an issue which cannot be
ignored, though. After all, the Natural Resources Commission will be updating deer hunting regulations this Spring, as it does
every three years, and MAPRs are likely to be considered.
You may already have made up your mind which side you agree with, but some of you may be like me, and simply haven't
been fully convinced by either side yet. So we asked two prominent outdoor writers - both of whom we respect - with differing
views on MAPRs to each take their best shot at convincing you that their side is right.
For the "PRO" side, we asked Dr. Jim Brauker, author of "Extreme Deer Habitat," to write why he believes MAPRs would be a
good thing for Michigan. And for the "CON" side, we asked Richard P. Smith, author of "Deer Hunting" and "Great Michigan
Deer Tales," to write why he believes MAPRs would be bad for Michigan. And we didn't tell either writer who the other would
be. Each ot the following columns represent solely the opinion of the writer, and not Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
For the record, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) is neutral; for MUCC to take a position, one of our members
or member clubs would have to write a resolution asking that we either "support" or "oppose" MAPRs, introduce it at one of
our quarterly conservation policy meetings, convince our conservation policy board to pass it on to our Annual Convention in
June, and then convince two-thirds of all the voting delegates representing sportsmen's clubs, conservation organizations and
individual members around the state that they're right. No one from either side has yet met that bar, so we encourage you to
read both sides fairly, consider their arguments, and decide for yourself, if you haven't already.
Throughout the remainder of this feature, Dr. Jim Brauker's "PRO-MAPR" column will appear in the green box and Richard P.
Smith's "CON-MAPR" column will appear in the white box. Thank you to both Dr. Brauker and Mr. Smith for expressing their
opinions on this often divisive topic. Whatever your view, please be respect the views of those on the other side; after all, we're
all hunters.
Freedom: Thats the principal the United States of America was Before 2006, I never heard of passing a shot at a buck.
founded upon. Most Americans enjoy and cherish their free- Like most hunters in Michigan, my goal every year was to
dom to choose all aspects of their lives. If you are a Michigan get a buck and be the first one out of the woods to show it
deer hunter, you may no longer have the freedom to choose off. Finally, in my fourth decade of hunting, while tracking
which buck you decide to shoot, depending upon where you a wounded buck on opening day of firearm season in
live and decide to hunt. Mandatory antler point restrictions 2006, I wound up talking to a neighbor, Erick, who told
(MAPRs) are slowly, but surely, eroding the freedom and tradi- me about his plan to grow bigger bucks by passing smaller
tion that hunters used to enjoy statewide and took for granted. ones. I was dumfounded. Every hunter I had ever known
was, like me, so focused on antlers that they did not pass
Loss of the freedom to choose which antlered buck to shoot is a shot at a buck. I thought he was foolish and informed
one of the negatives of mandatory antler point restrictions, but him that his goal was impossible; How do you think you
there are many more. Most importantly, MAPRs can not only are going to be successful with neighbors like us? I said,
reduce your chances of filling tags, the practice has negative Were going to shoot the first buck we see.
consequences for deer management and there are no biologi-
cal benefits of MAPRs over traditional deer management. Erick was disappointed, but over the next two years, he
gained an ally. I started to study whitetails and learned
Since 1921, a legal buck in Michigan has been defined as that not only was it possible to grow older bucks in a
a whitetail with at least one antler that is a minimum of three neighborhood, but it was already happening and had
inches long. Thats as much a part of Michigan deer hunting been the reason I had gotten my biggest buck ever in
tradition as November 15 is the opening day of firearms sea- 2005, as he trotted from Ericks property to ours. It would
son. Most often, spike-antlered bucks are 1.5 years old and be another two years before I passed my first buck. But I
are usually referred to as yearling bucks, which are sexually never looked back, and began to shoot the biggest bucks
mature. Whitetails are polygamous, meaning bucks breed mul- of my life year after year, with the help of neighbors in a
tiple does. That makes adult bucks that are at least 1.5 years deer cooperative.
old the most expendable segment of the population because
its not necessary to have an equal number of bucks and does What about hunters who dont have like-minded neigh-
to insure does will be bred. bors, or on public land? By 2009 I heard about efforts
towards mandatory antler point restrictions (MAPRs). I was
The spike rule became popular and widely accepted as the initially opposed, thinking it would limit hunter opportunity.
definition of a legal buck in Michigan for many years. When I was wrong. In 2009, while attending an outdoor show
deer numbers were low, most hunters were happy to shoot in Leelanau County, I found out that MAPRs had been in
any legal buck. Even when whitetails became more abundant, place there for six years and that 72% of hunters support-
hunters with limited time to hunt remained content with any le- ed them in a DNR survey. I compared Leelanau data to
gal buck. Over much of Michigans history, one of the primary the surrounding 12 counties (NW 12). Yearling harvest
reasons people hunted deer was to get meat for the table and dropped from around 65% to 30%, while there was little
thats still one of the primary motivations for pursuing whitetails change in surrounding counties. Mature buck harvest (3.5
among plenty of hunters today. years and older) went up, from around 15% percent to
40%. And one of the biggest fears - that it would decrease
Due to the value of venison as food historically, little emphasis hunter participation - was proven wrong. While hunter
was put on the size of whitetail antlers. Valuing the size of deer numbers fell in the surrounding counties by 19%, Leelanau
antlers over the meat they provide has been a recent phe- alone had not suffered a decline.
nomenon, although the non-hunting public does not support
this trend. Research has shown that there is strong support for Public land hunters were most enthusiastic. Clay McNitt,
hunting among the public as long as it is done to secure food, who hunted for 30 years, mostly on the 300 plus acre
but not for trophies. family properties in Wexford County, shot the 10 biggest
bucks of his life in Leelanau County under MAPRs. All but
The greatest boom in Michigans recent deer hunting history Those same regulations make it more difficult for hunters to
occurred when the spike rule was in effect statewide. fill their tags. Under the spike rule, all a hunter has to do is
Between the 1980s and 1990s, the number of whitetails in the determine if a buck has a visible antler that is at least three
state increased from less than a million to at least two million. inches long before deciding if its a buck legal to shoot. Any
Many of those deer were bucks of all age classes. More deer time you have to take the time to count antler points before
meant more deer hunting opportunity. The annual buck bag deciding whether or not its legal to shoot a deer, theres a
limit was increased from one to as many as four at one point chance you either wont be able to determine how many
and then was wisely dropped back to the current level of two. points a buck has before its gone or, if you do see it has
enough points, its too late to shoot after youve made that
What happened during the 80s and 90s proves that MAPRs determination.
are not necessary to produce more and bigger bucks in
Michigan. The number of whitetails, including adult bucks, Ive interviewed many hunters who have shot Boone and
that were harvested by hunters in the state during those Crockett caliber bucks for my series of books titled Great
decades was phenomenal. The factors that contributed to Michigan Deer Tales, and some of them have told me they
that boom were mild winters, an active logging industry and would not have been able to shoot those bucks with huge
DNR policies that supported the survival of northern deer antlers if they would have been forced to count points
during the winter. Many logging operations were planned because they could only see a small part of the rack when
during the winter to benefit whitetails and emergency cuttings they shot the whitetails. Thick cover and brush can frequently
were undertaken in winter deeryards during the worst winters obscure most of a set of antlers from view during a variety of
to make sure deer had enough food. The public was also hunting scenarios. Counting antler points on bucks that are
allowed to feed deer during the winter on both public and seen is more difficult using certain hunting methods, too, such
private property. as still-hunting, snow tracking and drives. Scoring while using
these tactics is challenging to begin with. MAPRs makes it
The states second MAPR was established in 1997, 76 years even more difficult.
after the first one, to keep pace with the changing times.
For hunters who were successful in bagging two bucks, at So even though MAPRs are designed to protect young bucks,
least one of those bucks had to have at least four points they often protect older bucks with legal antlers that hunters
on an antler. Like the spike rule, this restriction was widely dont get a good enough look at, too. In the UP, where
understood, accepted and applied uniformly statewide. severe winters and poor nutrition can negatively impact antler
development of bucks, as many as 10% of whitetails as old
During the late 1990s, the DNR changed its policy regarding as 5.5 years old have less than three points on one antler and
MAPRs under pressure from organizations that wanted to close to 20% of 2.5-year-olds dont meet that criteria.
see more stringent MAPRs applied in their management unit
or region. Prior to that time, the DNR took a strong stand in MAPRs also result in the harvest of yearling bucks with the
support of voluntary APRs, meaning anyone who wanted to best antler development, leaving bucks with poorer genetics
MAPRs result in killing the bucks with the best genetics. You cannot control The wasted deer that are left to rot when
genetics in a wild herd. Bucks do not fully express their genetic potential until hunters realize theyve shot a buck with
they are 4.5 or older. Month of birth, age and health of the mother, nutrition antlers that are too small to meet MAPR cri-
in their core zone, and health of or injury to the buck are the main factors teria are a drop in the bucket compared to
that influence first and second year antler development. In areas where we the deer that have been wasted by MAPR
have had MAPRs, the DNR has done careful studies and seen no impact on regulations in the UP. Since 2008, UP deer
antler dimensions within each age class studied. hunters who buy combination deer licenses
with two buck tags have been limited to
Most of the bucks that are passed will succumb to non-hunting mortality, like shooting bucks with a minimum of three
winter mortality. This is patently false. Most winter mortality occurs among points on one antler. Many people think
fawns. Most yearling and older deer have the wherewithal to survive. The UP that most deer hunters in the UP buy single
has the oldest buck age structure in the state, and they have the greatest win- deer licenses on which MAPRs dont ap-
ter mortality. Biologists know that severe winters increase the relative harvest ply, but recent figures indicate otherwise.
of older bucks. Harvest of older bucks has gone up, way up in the NW 12 Approximately 63% of UP deer hunters
even after two severe winters at the beginning of the test period, while hunter bought combo deer licenses during 2014
success has remained very near the pre-APR levels. and more than 50% bought them in 2015.
Hunter recruitment and retention is reduced. From 2003 until 2013, hunter Many thousands of bucks that hunters were
participation in Leelanau County, under APRs, was the best in the 13-county forced to pass up by those regulations
region. The other 12 counties had hunter losses of 19% while numbers re- since 2008 died during the severe winters
mained stable in Leelanau. There has been no increase in the loss of hunters of 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-
in the NW 12 when compared to the rest of the northern counties. 2015. The purpose of MAPRs is to allow
young bucks to survive at least one more
Voluntary APRs work as well as mandatory. This myth arises from the obser- year. That works when winters are mild, but
vation that there are numerous successful deer cooperatives, like the one I it backfires when they are severe. Severe
hunt in. But that is relatively rare, and involves like-minded neighbors band- winters claims bucks before they are able
ing together. It does not work on vast amounts of private and public land. to grow another set of antlers and results
in damage to the winter habitat from trying
SUMMARY to carry too many deer. Those excess deer
eat as much as they can before they die.
MAPRs work. Buck hunters maintain high success, while harvesting older,
bigger bucks with more meat. Wherever they have been tried in Michigan The year before MAPRs went into effect for
the majority of hunters who experienced them wanted to continue when sur- UP combo license holders (2007), hunters
veyed by the DNR. The main opposition to MAPRs comes from those who are harvested an estimated 57,988 bucks in
over 60. The main support comes from Millennials and Generation X, who the UP. The buck kill dropped to 51,769
represent the future of hunting, and whose opinion should be weighted much during 2008 and nosedived to 24,195
more than the opinions of those who will be leaving the sport in the next 20 by 2009. There was a slight improvement
years. Finally, most of the arguments made against MAPRs are based on in the number of antlered bucks bagged
campfire myths from the older generation, and not based on science and by UP hunters between 2010 and 2012
data. Fear of the unknown is a valid concern, but is quickly resolved with when winters were mild, but continued the
facts and experience. downward trend from 2013 to the present
in response to severe winters. The UP buck
There is a lot of buzz about antler point restrictions (APRs) current- The best explanation for the increased satisfaction has a lot to do
ly. With the increased age class of harvested bucks in the North- with the relationships that are formed within cooperatives. Even
west 12 counties with their trial run of mandatory antler point in the Northwest 12, where they have been experiencing the
restrictions (MAPRs) over the past several years, many hunters are increase in harvesting larger deer, they want more. I am working
trying to rally up the support to see MAPRs statewide. Regard- with groups currently who want to develop cooperatives in the
less of how the hunters voice accumulates and what the Natural MAPR zone because they simply want more enjoyment with their
Resources Commission decides, there is hope for Michigan deer hunting. They want the relationships and they also want to set the
hunting either way. harvest bar even higher.
Hunting regulations are put in place as the minimum standard ex- While MAPRs can surely accelerate the process of harvesting
pected to be maintained by legal hunters. From there, especially more mature, larger antlered bucks, and they help fill the gaps
on private lands, it is up the hunter to be more restrictive voluntari- in of hunters who may choose not to participate in a coopera-
ly. For example, sometimes hunting regulations are more liberal tive, cooperatives can reach the goals attained by a mandatory
to allow for increased antlerless harvest in areas where there are regulation. In fact, most cooperatives have a higher standard than
high deer densities. If a hunter is in a pocket of that management the proposed MAPRs. More importantly, with or without MAPRs,
unit where deer numbers are down, it is the responsibility of hunt- cooperatives fill a very special niche of increasing the interactions
ers to know their area and act accordingly. Meanwhile, hunters between hunters within a local area. My hope is that whether you
ten miles over who observe a drastic browse line along the crop- are pro or con regarding MAPRs, we can see the value in rela-
land edges are able to harvest additional antlerless deer to aid in tionships and value our privilege to hunt the great whitetail here in
reducing the detrimental deer impact on the local habitat. the beautiful state of Michigan.
BDR
voluntary restrictions do not require hunters to practice the harvest
behaviors that protect most young deer, cooperatives can form
and create areas that do impact the harvest of the local deer.
Cooperatives are simply groups of landowners and hunters who
seek to improve their hunting and habitat. By working together to Farm Services
Johannesburg, Michigan
decrease the harvest of young deer, in conjunction with improving
Contact: Kellen YoungeDyke
habitat conditions and available forage for deer to consume, co- 989.370.8721 | kyoungedyke@gmail.com
operatives have been found to be successful in changing harvest Food Plots|Excavating
behaviors over time. In addition to increasing harvest standards,
Custom Deer Blinds
deer cooperatives are also found to have marked increases in
satisfaction relative to the typical Michigan hunter. Clearing|Shooting Lanes
With fond memories of hunting season and the holidays Great Lakes fishery. For this event, I visited the Coldwater
behind us, emerging from another beautiful Michigan winter Middle School Outdoor Adventure Club. After the talk about
I thought I would take some time to update you on things that rules and regulations we had the opportunity to get the kids
are happening in the education wing of MUCC. out fishing. We took about 30 6th-8th graders to a local
inland lake where they were able to catch some bluegills. For
As many of you know I have retired from my role as Director several of the kids it was their first time fishing and many were
of the Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp. We have hired hoping to come back again with the club and try ice fishing.
Tyler Butler as our new Camp Director and he has spent the
last few months getting settled in and working on new ideas A third area the education department is expanding into and
to make the 2017 season a great one. You can flip over to the a really exciting project to be working on is the expansion of
Campfire Column to learn more about who he is and what he our On the Ground Project. Sarah Topp has been doing 20
has planned. volunteer habitat improvement projects around the state for the
last two years. Going forward in 2017 and 2018 we will be
Now that I am done with camp, I am settling into my new role expanding this program to include opportunities for students.
as Education Director for MUCC. With the addition of Tyler Using a field trip format, we will bus students to a state game
to the team we are starting to grow the education department area near their homes and have them perform a work day
and have some pretty cool projects underway and bigger to improve wildlife habitat. Students will spend the morning
things to come. improving habitat for wildlife and the afternoon participating
in an outdoor recreation activity. The students will have a
The first major change we have already implemented is the chance to go fishing, shoot archery, or watch wildlife in the
expansion and redesign of TRACKS magazine. We have area they spent time working in. 2017 will be the pilot year
changed the columns inside TRACKS to more closely align for the expansion of this program. I am really looking forward
with the new science standards in Michigan. With a goal to launching this and giving students the chance to connect
of making the magazine more useful to teachers, we have with the public lands near their homes. Plus, spending a day
also added a curriculum piece for teachers to use in their helping to improve habitat for wildlife is always better than
classroom to go along with the at home activity. So TRACKS sitting at my desk.
has gone from 16 pages to 20 pages of content. It has also
undergone a design and layout change. This change includes Please contact me If you are a non-formal educator or
a new color scheme, redesigned logo, and more pictures of teacher who is interested in having myself or Tyler come out
the animals. to give a talk about conservation at an event or in one of your
classrooms. Or if you think you have a class that would be
The next area we are growing in is conservation education interested in participating in an OTG event. I can be reached
outreach to schools. This fall I visited schools in the Lansing at smckeon@mucc.org.
area as well as the southwest portion of the state as part
of a grant funded project. The aim of this grant is to create Big things are happening at MUCC as we continue to grow
more opportunities to bring conservation into the classroom and expand. With education being at the core of our mission
and engage kids in the management of our states natural we will continue to educate youth and adults about the
resources. Tyler and I presented the conservation success importance of Michigans woods and waters.
story of the wild turkey in Michigan to two second grade Remember to get the youth in your life outside! Nobody
classrooms. After teaching the kids about the importance of frames pictures of their kids playing video games!
the turkey in our state we also spent time going over the life
cycle and how to hunt for turkey. The highlight for the kids
was learning how to use several different turkey calls. They
even made their own turkey call craft to take home with them.
Learn more about the
Michgian Out-of-Doors Youth Camp at
Another classroom opportunity late last fall was to talk about www.mucccamp.org.
fishing regulations and why management is important to our
!
exciting to be able to facilitate and encourage these con-
nections between Michigans upcoming generations and our
a r t e n
natural recourses.
Develop as an individual. Our staff is chosen by personality I am most excited to dive into our programming projects over
and experience. We pride ourselves in making sure our Out- the winter. This year we will be offering a brand new 9 to
of-Doors Youth Camp is represented by intelligent, responsible 11-year-old camp, Fantastic Forests, as well as an invasive
and caring individuals. No child is to come to the Cedar Lake species awareness program to be available to our campers
Outdoors Center without receiving positive feedback and that have already accomplished both our hunters safety
reinforcement. In the week our campers spend with us I guar- courses and Leave No Trace.
antee there will be an accomplishment, large or small, made
every day. Fantastic Forests Camp will run from July 9th to the 14th. Our
focus with this program will be the importance of Michigans
Discover new interests. Our Out-of-Doors Youth Camp primar- diverse woodlands and related ecosystems. This program will
ily focuses on reconnecting children with nature and wildlife. help kids learn how to core trees, identify different species,
Whether that connection is built by scene, science or sport it measure crown sizes, read topographic maps, and learn more
is important that we get our campers outside and keep them about plant ecology in Michigan.
active during camp and beyond. I want to see to it that every
camper that enters the Cedar Lake Outdoor Center leaves With an increasing number of our campers returning year af-
with a further understanding of the world around them. ter year there is a need for an alternative curriculum for them
to complete. The creation of an invasive species curriculum
As we prepare for our 2017 camp season I would like to would fill the need for our returning campers. It would also
share that I am an avid outdoorsman and whole heartedly align well with school standards that are integrating invasive
support our hunting, fishing and trapping communities. These species information into lessons.
activities sprout strong relationships, grounded personalities,
humbleness and a love for the outdoors. Our community is on Finally, I would like to recognize our Camp Facilities Com-
the forefront in the efforts for Michigan conservation. There- mittee. They have worked tirelessly to provide camp with the
fore, it is important that our youth camp continue to provide most up to date building design and structures. For the spring
the education and instruction necessary to certify young of 2017, our largest project will be to finish the renovations to
hunters and trappers. B latrine and continue to make sure that Cedar Lake Outdoors
Along with wildlife management I have a strong passion for Center in accessible to all campers.
conservation sciences. As the Out-of-Doors Youth Camp
Director I plan to expand our programing to offer more di- The strongest asset to The Out-of-Doors Youth Camp is our
verse lessons and hands on activities in biology, ecology and dedicated volunteers. We truly appreciate all of the work
natural sciences. Cedar Lake Outdoors Center allows us the being and offer our greatest thanks.
by John Wlodyga
My wife, Mary Jo and I have a 12 year old grandson He had one heck of time just sitting still in the blind so he
who we think the world of. I enjoy hunting a lot and spend- played a video game while waiting that caused him to miss
ing quality time outdoors. Some of my relatives might say a good chance at shooting a small buck that walked by. Pat-
it's my passion. I'll admit it's a huge part of my life. So it's rick said after the last deer hunt, Grandpa hunting was just
important to me that my grandson at least give hunting a too disappointing and way too much work. At this point
good try. I know hunting isn't for everybody so I try to his interest in hunting was beginning to wane. The bright
keep an open mind on the subject. As we all know playing spot was fishing, he liked it and was often quite successful.
video games is a hindrance to spending quality time with If Patrick was going to hunt seriously it was time
kids these days. This problem makes getting kids interest- to take the Michigan Hunter Safety class. His dad, Andy
ed in the outdoors a big uphill climb. I was determined to works so much and Patrick plays sports a lot of after school
somehow get my grandson, Patrick to see the light concern- so there wasn't much time to make the safety certificate
ing the great outdoors in all it's beauty and wonder. Patrick thing happen. We had sent Patrick's dad, Andy, to Mich-
started shooting a BB gun at plastic bottles hanging from igan United Conservation Clubs camp when he was 12
tree limbs with my supervision at six years old. At eight years old for his Hunter Safety Certificate many moons ago
years old he started hunting rabbits with me and my field and knew what a good job the camp and counselors do
Bassets occasionally during the winter with his .410 shot- with every facet of camp activity. ( Andy is 41 years young
gun. At nine years old he started hunting ducks on open- now.) Going to camp would be the easiest most uncompli-
ing day on a small pond behind our house. Spring turkey cated way for Patrick to get his Hunter Safety Certificate
hunting was next at ten years old. Patrick missed a huge as well. We knew Patrick would have a good time at camp
tom turkey I called in for him that set his confidence back with other kids his age for five days while learning about
at least a full year. Near home deer hunting was tried twice the outdoors. We sent the registration fee in by the end of
with Patrick from a camouflaged umbrella ground blind. March and were surprised at how many camper slots had
Each year, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) honors individuals and groups that further its mission of uniting citizens
to conserve, protect, and enhance Michigans natural resources and outdoor heritage. Please take some time to help us thank
those who have advanced the cause of conservation by nominating leaders in our conservation community. If you are interested
in nominating someone for an award, please complete the following form. All nominations must be postmarked no later than
April 15, 2017 in order to qualify for an award. Awardees will be recognized at MUCCs Annual Convention at the 2017 Con-
servation Awards Dinner on June 17, 2017.
NOMINEE INFORMATION
Three References: Additional people who can tell us more about the nominees conservation work.
Please describe the work your nominee has done to advance conservation including where their work has taken place and a
thorough description of this work.
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Michigan United Conservation Clubs is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Take cisco (aka: lake herring or tubilee), for example, and a CISCO SCIENCE 101
subculture of these fish that are expanding their range in Lake
Michigan. The northern Lake Michigan strain of cisco that Ciscos are native to the Great Lakes as well inland lakes that
is prosperingmost prolific in the waters of East and West are classified as oligotrophic - that is deep, clear, cold and
Grand Traverse Bays near Traverse City, but now found from with very little nutrients. Pelagic in nature (that is preferring to
Traverse Bay near Harbor Springs south to Muskegongrow roam and feast within the upper reaches of the water column)
fast, and, are much larger than others in the family that call Coregonus artedi, like most of their other Salmonidae kin, can
the inland lakes and surrounding Great Lakes home. These fish be caught throughout the entire water column over water as
are averaging three to four pounds, with five-plus-pounders in deep as 200-plus feet.
the mix.
As this article is being typed, genetic testing is being done on
Meetings are held the third Wednesday of Not every species of salmonid is in a state of doom and gloom.
each month, except for November, and are Next time youre trolling in Lake Michigan and start marking
open to everyone. They start at 7:30 pm at the masses of decent-sized fish high in the water column on your
American Legion Post, 401 North Groesbeck in sonar, downsize your lures and then get em in the strike zone.
Mount Clemens. Dont be surprised if the fish you catch is a huge cisco.
Learn more at www.lswca.net or by calling Better yet, dont be surprised if you end up landing several. Just
remember to bring a few of your favorite walleye trolling rods and
(586) 778-0480.
youll have a blast catching these hard-fighting fish.
Would you like your MUCC-affiliated David A. Rose is a writer, photographer and fishing guide who
sportsman's, fishing or conservation club lives in the Traverse City, MI, area. Check out his website at
highlighted in Michigan Out-of-Doors? wildfishing.com for more information.
Email editor@michiganoutofdoors.com with the
subject line, "Club News."
by brian
"Koz" Kozminski
Midwinters frigid grip has us snug a windchill into the negative teens tend add Life-like movement, and irresist-
tightly in between two Polar Vorteces. to keep me close to fireside activities ible UV color, usually sucker me into
Seems common place these days. When with my family. This is also a prime time buying at least a few packets of syn-
I was a child, it was just another winter for me to take inventory and stock up thetic glitter and dubbing from various
storm. If school was cancelled, it was on flies that were either donated to the producers. But why? Why do we tie?
a real blizzard with snow measured cedar gremlins of the Jordan Valley or And furthermore, why do I keep adding
in feet and drifts that covered the '69 so effective that voracious trout decided to my exponentially growing room of
Dragon Wagon Pontiac grocery-getter. to steal a few to place on their mantle in moth ball-laden Sterilite containers with
Lake Charlevoix had open water last some deep, dark domicile. Either way, I more beads, rubber legs, hooks and a
week and some local intel on smaller find it always exciting to attend various plethora of fur and feathers?
lakes report hit or miss panfish catch- fly shows in the short days of winter
es, but I will wait for a solid six inches solstice and pick up a few tricks, along First, let's establish that I am not a
before I meander out on the big lake with scads of ever-newly developed good fly tier. It's not that I am bad, or
for a walleye or burbot dinner. None- materials that seem to be erupting from lack necessary skills at the vise; its just
theless, temperatures in the single digits some remote craft corner of the world that I can't sit down and rip out eight to
and a howling wind that can plummet we never knew existed. Claims like will 10 dozen articulated Red Rockets or
HERE IN
fishing dates back to ancient Macedo- just under the surface as a wet fly, cold
nia. Between Beroea and Thessalonica water brook trout and the larger fish that
runs the River Astraeus, where man hunt them find this hopperish-looking fly
MICHIGAN,
caught fish with speckled skins on a irresistible. So, with all this rich history
hook fashioned with a feather. But we and all these successful flies, why do we
have come a long way since those early feel the need to tie new and improved
days more than 2,000 years ago.
DIVES DEEP
tyers and they have been top pro- better, stronger and more effective
ducers for the better part of a century. materials. We also have anglers in the
Lesser-known names like the Strawman game, both men and women, who are
Nymph and Whinnie Fore & Aft are exercising their fly tying muscle. The
complemented with more popular mon- streamer game has exploded like no
ikers like Roberts Yellow Drake, Michi- of materials readily found in Michigan: other. First to open up Pandoras Box
gan Hopper, Madsens Skunk, Griffiths deer hair and mottled turkey wing. Its and really expose fly anglers to a trouts
Gnat and the Adams Fly. The Adams has buoyancy and seemingly more irresist- underwater world was Kelly Galloup
an annual celebration in Kingsley and it ible appearance as it becomes more and Bob Linsenman. They had caught
is found in nearly every anglers fly box tattered makes it a great grasshopper and named many fish on the rivers they
in various forms. Originally tied with red imitation. This fly was later developed fished, but they were on the hunt for the
Rhode and made famous by Joe Brooks; some elusive monster fish of the rivers. Catch-
Lake Leelanau Island may know it as Joe's Hopper. Griffiths ing a dozen twenty-inch fish every year
Narrows Resort Rooster Gnat, imitating a smorgasbord of midg- is admirable, but they had larger fish
by the bridge between
North and South lakes
and grey es, comes to us from the late George in mind. Kelly's research went deeper
wool for Griffith, who was one of the founders of than previous attempts. He actually
GREAT FISHING! the body Trout Unlimited. Conflicting reports say donned a wetsuit and dive mask to
walleye, pike, bass, perch, lake trout
At the end of the day, after swinging THE FISH When I have all the parts of the equa-
tion figured out, the weather is perfect,
IN FRONT
some of these seven-inch articulated the hatch is right, the fish are feeding
creations on 7 weight TFO Clouser and I don't have my mind on texts,
rods with SA Titan taper lines to get emails, faxes, schedules or due dates. It
down and dirty, and we don't get any
takes? That is the name of the game. OF ME: is me and the fish in front of me: all that
matters. I don't care how many likes
You are going for the apex predators
of the river, not the average eight- to ALL THAT I get from some previous post on my
blog. This fish has all the dopamine my
MATTERS.
12-inch trout. If you were looking to adrenaline junky addictive mind needs,
put numbers in your creel counter, the and often, I am thinking of these mo-
Europeans have been perfecting the ments all winter to get me through to the
Polish and Czech style nymphing for next season.
decades. After reading George Daniels "Its ON!! That's what I am talking
book Dynamic Nymphing, I was totally about!!" he exclaimed. I jokingly mut- Tight Lines,
sold on the technique. Unreal effective. tered that he had on a carp as we both
Use 30-foot leaders with sighters and watched a hefty brown roll at the sur- Koz
double or triple heavy bead-head flies face 15 yards downstream. This is what
that have depth charger added to it is about. We quickly netted, measured Serving you for 35 years
names like Pink Squirrel or Sexy Walt's and released the 26-inch female brown WATERS EDGE
Worm. Seriously want a fun day on the before the adrenaline and reality set in. RESORT
water? Dredge a couple of these flies "That was a remarkable fish. You don't Munuscong Lake/St. Marys River
on a 4x or 5x through some productive know how many people have chased ~ Raber, Michigan ~
Fish for Walleye, Northerns, Muskies, Herring, Bass
riffle zones and be amazed at how that trout," I responded. & Perch. Clean 2-bedroom cottages; modern camp-
grounds, boats, motors, baits. Call or write:
many feeding fish are right in front of
Bob & Bonnie Waters
you. This is the preferred method of the Then we got to thinking: Would she have 13065 E. Nicole Lane
US Olympic Fly Fishing Team, and yes, taken a woolly bugger or deceiver? Goetzville, MI 49736
one actually does exist. They compete Was it the right fly? The right color? Or 888/999-5396
against France, Italy, Spain, etc. After perhaps the right angler, the right cast, watersedgeraber@gmail.com
www.watersedgeup.com
all, fish eat 90% of their diet subsurface: the right depth/retrieve and time of
When it comes to spring, many people think of blossoming River, which is one of the most famous cold water rivers in
flowers, fresh leaves on the trees, and warmer temperatures the Midwest. I became good friends with many of the local
to bring us out of the cold winter. To me, it is the start of one guides that worked on the PM. I looked up to many of these
of the busiest times of the year. The steelhead are in the rivers guides as they taught me almost everything they knew about
and they are ready to spawn. fly fishing. Seeing the joy and satisfaction they gave others,
by just teaching them to fish and possibly landing a fish, is
I think that it would be most appropriate to begin with a little what caught my attention. Watching and learning from them,
background about myself. My name is Max Werkman and I I realized that I wanted to become a fishing guide. With the
am 19 years old. I am a current student at Ferris State Uni- help of so many people along the way I purchased my own
versity in northern Michigan and I am a fishing guide in West drift boat, took care of all the legal work, and I started to run
Michigan. My guiding business focuses on river fishing in the guided fishing trips in West Michigan. This led me to guiding
areas where I live and go to school. Although I guide clients during summers in Alaska, too.
on all game fish such as salmon and smallmouth, my favorite
fish to guide for and fish, personally, are steelhead and trout. Steelhead and trout are, in my opinion, some of the most
difficult fish to target in a river situation. Temperature, water
I started guiding when my dad became a part owner in a fly flow and clarity, colors, barometric pressure and many other
fishing lodge in northern Michigan. I already had an under- variables affect steelhead on a daily basis. The spring is when
standing of fly fishing but this is where my passion took off. steelhead are most abundant in the rivers as they come up to
As I became more involved in fly fishing, I started to work spawn and lay eggs. Whether you are floating down the river
weekends in the fly shop at the lodge. This is where I started or walking in, you will notice hen (or female) steelhead on
to get the idea of guiding and possibly making a career out of their redds (spawning nests) laying their eggs. It is important
it. The fly shop is located on the banks of the Pere Marquette not to step on these redds or harass the hens while they are
During the spawn there will be many different colored steel- With the spawn in full swing, these fish are dropping eggs,
head. I say this because some fish have been in the river all so one of the best ways to fish for them is to use an indica-
fall and winter. You can tell the difference because the males tor float (or bobber), some split shot, and eggs. When I say
(or bucks) get very dark in color with red stripes going along eggs I mean the actual eggs from fish, egg flies, or beads.
the sides of their bodies. The hens will get red and pink cheeks The purpose of float fishing like this is to get the eggs flowing
but they will not get as dark as the males. Fresher fish that downstream the same speed as the current. You want to po-
have just entered the systems will be bright chrome with little sition your float so that the rig is about a foot off the bottom,
colors on them. but you shouldnt be afraid to keep adjusting your depth to
find where the fish are. Fishing with these eggs can be the
Regarding rods, reels, and line, there are many different op- most effective way to target both steelhead and trout due to
tions to use. When fly fishing I would hand my clients either a plentiful amounts of eggs in the river system. There are many
10 foot 7wt or an 11 foot 6wt with a size 4 or 5 reel spooled other techniques that I use in the spring like casting plugs and
up with full floating line. Spinning rods are very common and spinners, chuck and duck or bottom bouncing, and swinging
clients of mine like to use them because they are the easiest to and stripping flies, but float fishing eggs, flies, and beads is
cast and most people are very comfortable using them. Nine my most effective way to catch fish.
to 11 foot spinning rods work the best with either size 25 or 30
spinning reels. Normally these are spooled up with 10 pound Good luck to everyone this spring on the rivers. Get out there
main line. Personally, I use a center pin the most. These are and catch some fish.
reels that have no drag and free spool. This gets you a perfect
We all need it: An opportunity to clear our minds and reener- bait shop and gather the same supplies each year. They may
gize our souls. About 10 years ago, I found mine in the form or may not remember me but they are friendly and always
of chasing the elusive and somewhat mystical steelhead. willing to give me the latest on the river and fishing condi-
tions. I have a bit of southern accent that is easily detectable
Born and raised in Southern Indiana, trout fishing was some- (according to native Michiganders) and as a matter of fact my
thing you only read about in outdoor publications and never fishing partner has left messages for me at the bait shop about
really put much thought to. We fished for the usual bluegills, specific colors of yarn and meeting locations. His instructions
bass, and catfish which was quite enjoyable but it turns out to the clerk were, when a guy comes in here with a south-
I was really missing some excellent opportunities. Several ern accent tell him to pick up chartreuse yarn and Ill be at
years later I found myself transplanted into the state of Michi- the spot after I pick up some lunch. Without hesitation the
gan. Eventually I ran into a co-worker, who I now call a dear message was delivered and later that afternoon we were im-
friend, who introduced me to the art of steelhead fishing. This mersed in the river. Small acts like this are part of the aura that
is not a how-to article as there are many more highly skilled some may never experience or appreciate but draw me back
fishermen out there, but just because youre not a professional year after year. I find it comforting that small town America is
doesnt mean you cant enjoy the challenges, delights, and still alive and doing what they do best.
benefits these amazing fish offer.
The first year was very tense for me on the river. I wanted
A little apprehensive at first, I asked my friend what I would nothing more than to catch a limit of these gorgeous toothed
need to join him on the Muskegon River that first April. I was fish. I was determined and fished from daylight to dusk as
bewildered and a little relieved when he said all I needed was hard as one could fish. After two days I had yet to land one.
a pair of waders, a goofy fishing hat, and a spinning rod and Finally, late into day three, success struck and I was reward-
reel. We would pick up everything else we needed at a local ed with a majestic silver trophy. Ill never forget hoping and
bait shop for about $20. Now equipped with some leader praying I would not lose the fish and pleading to my partner
line, splitshots, hooks, swivels, some colored yarn, and spawn to hurry up and get it in the net before it gets away.
bags, I was ready to hit it! Still to this day I go to that same
the elements youre subject to whatever they dish out. Since we Owners: Clint & Debi Anderson
STREAM
SUCCESS
IN A CROWD
As I write this in mid-De- that dont strike very well. Examples put you into a reach where there
cember, the weather has tran- of likely crowded spots are areas might be fewer but more active fish
sitioned from a relatively mild below barriers such as dams or because they are under less angling
autumn to brutal winter cold and falls, streams that receive very large pressure.
snow. There will be mild periods plants of hatchery steelhead smolts When fishing for scattered
during the winter when you can and the spawning riffles on small steelhead, it is important to cover a
find open streams and some good clear streams where the steelhead fair amount of water. Fishing with
fishing. But most steelhead anglers are very visible. lures such as weighted spinners,
are thinking about the arrival of sil- Finding a less crowded spoons and crank baits is a good
ver bullets from the Great Lakes in stream or stream reach is fairly way to find steelhead. Bright, high-
March and April. These migratory easily done. Many of our Michigan ly visible lures will draw steelhead
rainbows are the first open water tributaries to the Great Lakes are from a considerable distance so you
quarry for many anglers in the not stocked and are dependent on can cover the holding water fairly
spring and you can count on lots a modest run of wild fish. These quickly and move on if no hits are
of competition on the stream from streams are often near heavily received. If you do find a pod of fish
other anglers anxious to be outside stocked rivers and some hatch- with the hardware, you can then
and on the water. ery fish will stray into them. You also drift fish the area with spawn
Over many years of hard can also fish the lower reaches of or other bait. Or switch to flies or
core steelheading, I have come to the rivers receiving large runs of beads.
the conclusion that fishing loca- steelhead and intercept them before Your goal with lures is
tions with high concentrations of they reach a barrier or other pop- to invade the territory of these
fish is often not the best plan in the ular angling location. Just being non-feeding fish and aggravate
spring. Lots of fish attract lots of willing to float, hike or wade a them into striking your flashy
anglers and the result is spooky fish ways from the access site can often offering. Getting the fishs attention
during the day and we managed to ous that our catch FISH HEAD CHARTERS
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a p p i e s
C r
By Bob Gwizdz
Spring is crappie time, when the mostly black-and- temperature was in the low 50s: still well below where
white panfish head into the shallows and become the books say the crappies will spawn, which is from
readily available to most anglers. Spring is about the the upper 50s to 60s.
only time of year crappies are the prime quarry of most
anglers, but when they head into the shallows to spawn I think its these cold nights, Leazier said. Every time
has little to do with the calendar. it starts to warm up, it gets cold again.
Case in point: Last year, I was unable to get the crap- Indeed, the temperature was barely above freezing
pies going at any time in April, which is when I gener- when we started that day. And though it would warm
ally enjoy my best crappie fishing of the year. It wasnt into a beautiful spring day by noon, two days later it
until the middle of May that I finally had a decent day. snowed.
When that day finally arrived, I was fishing on Cold- Leazier is a serious angler. Hes probably more
water Lake - which is as about far south as you can go bass-oriented than anything else, but Ive fished with
in Michigan - with my buddy Buck Leazier, a Hoosier him for a variety of finsters and he is adept at catching
who has the good sense to do a good deal of his fishing all of them. But this was the first time we were target-
to the north of the Indiana border. Lazier told me that ing crappies on open water, so I was anxious to see his
hed had a similar experience in 2016; he couldnt get approach.
on them, either.
I found that Lazier used a technique that is quite pop-
What was most confusing was the environmental ular in the South and, actually, was also pretty popular
indicators that I depend on to tell its crappie time up this way many years ago when cane poles were still
and the most consistent Ive ever found is when the the go-to gear for crappie fishing. He used a 10-foot
forsythias are in full bloom had already past. The pole (fiberglass, a concession to modernity) with about
forsythias were completely green (even in Mid-Mich- 10 feet of light monofilament line and a tiny jig.
igan, many miles to the north) and the lilacs were in
full blush. But when I got on the lake, I found the water You dont see many people fishing with these long
RECORD
BREAKING
Smallies
Some records seem destined to last forever: Joe DiMaggios
Photo: Greg Gasiciel
Finally, the abundance of gobies make MAKING THE CASE FOR A NEW clude that somewhere in Michigan there
them ideal prey for bass of all age class- WORLD RECORD must be a 26 or 27-inch smallmouth
es. Gobies spawn several times per year that has blown past 12 pounds thanks
which means that at any given time there Individually, the invasion of gobies, ze- to lifetime of dining on easily caught,
are various sizes available. bra and quagga mussels and a longer plentiful gobies in water that remains
growing season have likely all contrib- warmer, longer.
Although not directly related to the uted to bigger bass. But the interaction
introduction of gobies, another potential of these three factors compounds the Not so fast, says Crane. Accelerated
contributor to the production of bigger potential for growth - the kind of growth growth is often countered by increased
smallmouth bass is water temperature; that produces record class fish. mortality - sometimes referred to as the
specifically, the theory that earlier spring grow fast, die young phenomenon.
weather and longer-lasting summers So, whats the ceiling on this growth? Is The result of this increased mortality is
provide an extended period of growth it possible the next world record small- fewer older individuals in the popula-
for bass. VanDam estimates that over the mouth bass is swimming somewhere in tion. Indeed, Cranes research showed
last 20 years, this prolonged period of Michigan waters? A couple of years a decline in the number of older (age
warmer water has added a month to the ago, I would have said probably not, 10+) bass in recent years.
growing season of Michigans small- but now Id have to say its a distinct
mouth bass. possibility, says VanDam. Nevertheless, both VanDam and Crane
remain cautiously optimistic about the
Crane acknowledges that since small- Indeed, ones imagination runs wild chances for more record class - if not
mouth bass are a warm-water species, when examining the weight-at-length world record class fish in the coming
they would benefit from any increase in statistics of the two recent record break- years. We have more than 10,000
water temperature. However, his studies ing fish. Given that the current state lakes, theres bound to be a handful that
measured only the average water record fish was barely over 23 inches have the right combination of environ-
temperature which showed little or no long and weighed a shade under 10 mental factors for really big fish, says
change not the length of the growing pounds and the current world record VanDam.
season. smallmouth was 11 pounds, 15 ounces
and 27 inches long, its tempting to con- Finding those handful of lakes is the
800-328-9350
produce the next world record remains to be seen, but theres
a high probability that future record-class fish will be bass that
have spent a lifetime feasting on round goby. KillLakeWeeds.com
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