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Woods-n-Water News
Michigans Premier Outdoor Publication

Take Me To The
ROCK

BIG SUMMER
GILLS

Women's State Record

BUCK
Nontypical Crossbow
STATE
RECORD
Bigmouth Buffalo
Bucks in Velvet Scent-Marking Basic Pond Management
'Crank' it up for Walleyes Keeping Summer Bass Alive
Cormorants Michigan's Oysters Shivering Summer Walleyes
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 By Tom Campbell

Field Notes...
A
Trail Cam Photo Contest
nd the grand prize win-
ner of a Stealth trail
camera isDave Cody
with his trail cam photo
of a U.P. buck. The
yearlong contest closed
with viewers casting over 2,000
votes. Our other finalists; Russ Vide-
an-bear, Gary Borse-sparring bucks,
Mike Dyer-coyote, Kraig Staples-
bull elk, Frank Delkov-owl, Dave
McClung-reflecting buck, Mark
Busman-nursing doe, Amy Dewitt-
nursing doe, Jake Hessler-close-up
buck, Teresa Phillips-buck in velvet
and Ron Winkelman-sharing bear.
The Trail cam technology
has provided the Woods-N-Water
News readers with amazing photos
of nearly every type of animal in
Michigans great outdoors. A few
trail cams have captured photos of
a variety of different animals from
the same spot. Finalist Kraig Staples
has photos of; bears, elk, deer,
bobcats, coyotes, fox, raccoons,
badger, hawks, owls, and ravens
from a single trail cam, thats never
been moved. Clearly trail cams
have created a new hunt hobby for
many outdoor enthusiasts providing
unique, entertaining and informative
photos. Trails cams have become an
intricate part of our hunting prepara-
tion.
Technology today has created
better and more advance trail camer-
as at lower prices and we encourage
everyone to continue to share their
trail camera photos with our readers.
You can email your trail cam photos
to www.wnw@pageone-inc.com.
Spring Turkey Survey
According to the MDNR, Now
that youve finished your spring
turkey hunting for this year, please
report your hunting activity on-
line by completing a spring turkey
harvest survey. The information
you provide will help us to evaluate
hunter success and total harvest. Its
important for all turkey hunters to
participate, even if you do not hunt
or harvest a turkey. Survey results
will be posted on the DNR website
as soon as they are available. Visit
michigan.gov/hunting to find other
hunting-related news and informa-
tion, including results of surveys
from previous years.
Bill Yoder Will be Missed
As plans for the 2017 Woods-N-
Water News Outdoor Weekend in
Sept. continue there will be a notice-
able deficiency after the passing of
friend Bill Yoder at the age of 66.
Dave Cody winning trail cam photo of a dandy U.P. buck.
Bill has been a popular component
of this event for nearly 25 years,
back then he would wow show go-
ers with Yoders Live Deer Show.
A chance to show off his pen raised
bucks and their impressive antlers.
It all began when his wife Kelly
bought him his first fawn that he
named Fawnie. And Bill was so
proud of his buck, Rickie that was
featured in the movie, Red Dawn.
When deer raising regulations
changed Bill ventured into exotic
animals and treated attendees to
various animal babies and pups.
Bill had become famous for
cheating death over his lifetime, sur-
viving car crashes, being gored by
Bill Yoder will be missed!
one of his bucks, being shot while
hunting and numerous illnessness missed by the Woods-N-Water News
and broken bones. He was known staff! Our deepest sympathy to his
by everyone for his love and care family and all his friends -- may our
for his animals and will be dearly fond memories be comforting.n

SEASONS State record for bigmouth

Open All Year Pike and walleye season on
Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair & St.
Clair & Detroit Rivers
Open All Year Salmon and trout season on Great
Lakes, St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair & St. Clair
& Detroit Rivers
Open All Year Catch-and-immediate-release
bass season on all Michigan waters open to fishing
Now-Dec. 31 Pure Michigan Hunt Application
Now-March 15 pike, walleye, muskie seasons
on Lower Peninsula inland waters
Now-Sept. 30 Trout and salmon on inland Type
1 and 2 streams and Type A & D lakes
Now-March 15 pike, walleye, muskie seasons
on Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters and
St Marys River
Now-Dec. 31 Bass; catch and keep season on all
waters except; Lake St. Clair, St. Clair and Detroit
Rivers
Now-Dec. 15 Muskie season on Lake St. Clair,
St. Clair and Detroit Rivers
June 17-Dec. 31 Bass; catch and keep season on
Lake St. Clair, St. Clair and Detroit Rivers
MJC MJC
ARCHERY ARCHERY
MACOMB OAKLAND
19744 15 Mile Rd 3001 Rochester Rd
Clinton Twp. 48035 Royal Oak, MI 48073
586-791-4600 248-589-2480
4 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
buffalo broken by same angler
The Michigan Department of Natural
Resources recently confirmed a new state-record
fish for bigmouth buffalo. This marks the first
state-record fish caught in 2017 and it was
caught by an angler who held the previous state
record for bigmouth buffalo from 2008.
The new record fish was caught by Roy
Beasley of Madison Heights, Michigan, in the
River Raisin (Monroe County) Saturday, May 13,
at 11 a.m. Beasley was bowfishing. The fish
weighed 27 pounds and measured 35.25 inches.
The record was verified by Todd Wills, a DNR
fisheries research manager on Lake St. Clair.
Beasley held the previous state-record big-
mouth buffalo this one caught on the Detroit
River from August 2008. That fish weighed
24.74 pounds and measured 34.50 inches.
More and more people are enjoying the sport
of bowfishing and recognizing the thrill it can
offer those who pursue it, said Sara Thomas, the
DNRs Lake Erie Management Unit manager.
The river system in Southeast Michigan offers
Roy Beasley of Madison Heights has the
distinction of holding two state records for
ample opportunity to catch rather large fish a the same species of fish, first in 2008 and
huge congrats to Mr. Beasley for having broken again in 2017. Here he is with his recent
this record twice.
record-setting bigmouth buffalo catch from
The DNR reminds anglers who bowfish to the River Raisin in Monroe County.
properly dispose of all specimens they harvest.
State records are recognized by weight only. must be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.
To qualify for a state record, fish must exceed the To view a current list of Michigan state fish
current listed state record weight and identification records, visit michigan.gov/staterecordfish.
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 5

HUNTING
State Record Crossbow buck
Richard P. Smith page 27
Big bore accuracy
in the deer woods
Joe Delaney page 40
Deer Recovery Retribution
John Eberhart page 44
THE MONSTER
BUCKS OF JULY Scent-marking by
Kenny Darwin page 50 bucks in velvet
Guest Column...Two Firsts!
page 78
Plan now for your Michigan
bird hunt in the fall
page 79
Turkey Hunter...
Simply Spurred!
Jerry Lambert page 80
Shivering Summer Walleyes
Options for Ultimate Corn Gary Parsons/Keith Kavajecz
Based Bow Kills Plots
Ed Spinazzola page 84
Fly rods
and
bluegills
George Rowe...page 42
FISHING
Management Area and Refuge
Catch and Release...
Keeping summer bass alive
Mike Gnatkowski page 8
Crank It Up
for summer walleye
Mark Romanack page 12
COVER PHOTOS
Stannard Rock
Mark Romanack...page 28
Big Summer Gills
Kenny Darwin...page 18
Crossbow Record
Richard P. Smith...page 27
Record Bigmouth...page 4
6 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
The Michigan Outdoor Hall Following a hiking trail
of Fame inductees for 2017 is not for the fainthearted
Mark Sak page 32 Sharon M. Kennedy page 72
First Fawns Photos
Michigan DNR...
Larry Piotrowski page 35 History of Fish and Wildlife
STING OPERATIONS
Lured by the Lady, Beckoned by Betty Sodders page 82
the Boys: A Montreville Letter
Tom Carney page 56
Sporting Knives: OPINIONS
Choose em and use em
Tom Huggler page 70 Cormorants a once
Sporting Collectibles...
and future problem
Stephen King page 66
GO-ITE Manufacturing
Terry McBurney page 74 Whitetail deer management...
John Ozoga...page 16 the movement for change
Dick Zook page 67
Painted Turtles...
Basic of fishing A key to nature discovery
Heres my deer regulations
pond management Jonathan Schechter page 77
Bill Ziegler page 14 recommendation
Richard P. Smith page 67
Summer...time to prepare
Finesse summer GILLS for fall and winter trapline
Kenny Darwin page 18
John Chagnon page 86
Next Bite...
page 20 OUTDOOR NEWS
Take me to the
ROCK Boat Smart...
Mark Romanack page 28 Man Overboard
Capt. Fred Davis page 43
Teaching kids to fish
Mark Martin page 36 2017 MDNR Wildlife
Habitat Grants available Michigan
BASS FISHING
page 38
page 63
Oysters
Early summer go-to lakes Joe Lunkas...page 22
John Bergsma page 48
PERSPECTIVE
Michigan DNRs
GUNS/AMMO
Skills Academy
Roger Beukema page 62
Summertime in Michigan
Darryl Quidort page 34
Traditional Black
Powder Hunting...
Dear Fish Diary:
Embarrassing catch in Precious 18th Century seconds
FEATURE the dark leads to fireworks Dennis Neely page 58
Ron St. Germain page 60
The AuTrain Wildlife Gun Chat...
The Great Spring Fallout... Back to my reloading roots
MDNR page 24 Tom Lounsbury page 64 Lee Arten page 81
JULY 2017
Woods-n-Water News
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Take Me To The
ROCK Letters/Op-Ed . . 66-69 Real Estate . . . . 90-97
BIG SUMMER
GILLS
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Women's State Record
www.woods-n-waternews.com
BUCK
P.O. Box 278, Imlay City, MI 48444
STATE
Nontypical Crossbow RECORD
Bigmouth Buffalo
Bucks in Velvet Scent-Marking Basic Pond Management
'Crank' it up for Walleyes Keeping Summer Bass Alive
www.facebook.com/woodsnwaternews
Cormorants Michigan's Oysters Shivering Summer Walleyes
www.woods-n-waternews.com Like us on facebook Follow us on
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 7

Keeping summer bass alive
The vast majority of bass fishermen practice catches and release.
There are times though when you might want to put a bass in the
live well to take images when the light is better or you have a bet-
ter background. Maybe its the fish of a lifetime and you want to
keep fishing while the bite is hot and take some shots later. Others
may be participating in a tournament and you need to retain fish
for a weigh in. Keeping bass alive then can be the difference be-

H
tween a big payday and a disappointing finish...
ot summer weather and
temperatures coincide
with one of the best
times to catch bass.
Bass metabolism is in
high gear during the
summer months, and actively feed-
ing bass are the easiest to catch. But
summer temperatures make it more
difficult to keep bass alive. You need
to immediately release bass you catch
or take extra precautions to insure
retained fish survive.
Anytime you can land fish by
hand by either lipping them
or cradling them is the best,
advised pro angler Scott
Dobson. Dobson is acutely
aware of the importance of
keeping bass alive, especially
during tournaments. Dobson
bought in sacks of bass that
were alive and kickin to
win two major tournaments
last year at the
FLW Thousand By Mike Gnatkowski
Islands compe-
tition and again at a BFL tournament
in June on Lake St. Clair. Dobson is
a stickler for keeping the water in his
live well oxygenated and cool and has
a strict regiment that he typically fol-
lows to keep bass alive. But a recent
event shows how not paying attention
to details can cost you.
I lost two bass during a recent
BLF tournament, lamented Dobson.
The fish werent hooked deep. Im
usually very cautious about keeping
fish alive. I caught the fish early in
the day and I figured Id be culling
those fish out kept them in a separate
live well. I kind of forgot about them
and they died. I havent lost a fish in
probably four or five years. I didnt
do very well in the tournament so the
dead bass didnt cost me any money,
but the 4-ounce penalty per fish cost
me points and the 8 ounce total was
enough to drop me 10 spots. It was a
costly reminder.
Dobson said that recreational
anglers that are use to netting bass
should use a specialized net that
can reduce stress and harm to bass.
Frabills (www.frabill.com/nets-
accessories/conservation-series-nets.
html) line of Conservation Series
Nets are designed with safe catch and
release in mind. All nets feature 100%
knotless mesh netting, eliminating
injuries commonly caused by sharp
knots. Flat, linear bottoms reduce
fish rolling and support the weight of
the entire fish. A tangle-free coating
prevents hooks entangling in the net.
Conservation Series Nets are offered
8 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
in a series of species-specific designs
that make proper net selection easy
for any angler. The nets recommended
for bass come in two sizes- 20 x 23
and 23 x 26.
The 100% knotless mesh is impor-
tant to minimize scraping the slime
layer off the bass. The slime layer is
a natural barrier against parasites and
disease. Knotted nets tend to scrape
this layer off as the fish thrash and
roll in the net. The flat bottom also
minimizes contact with the net and
supports the fish. The knotless mesh
makes it easier to get hooks
out quickly and facilitates
getting the bass back in the
water or in the live well
ASAP.
Dobson is a stickler
about keeping bass alive
and has a routine that is
normally failsafe. Ice and
a thermometer are critical,
stated Dobson.
Dobson said he
hits the water
on hot summer days with five to
seven bags of ice to keep bass alive.
The locker on his Ranger Z521C
will hold up to four 7-pound bags of Summer time coincides with some of the hottest bass fishing of the year
ice. Dobson hedges his bet by bring- literally and figuratively. Be sure to take extra steps to insure that the
ing along a Yeti Hooper cooler that bass you catch live to fight another day. Mike Gnatkowski photo
holds another three bags of ice. On Oxygenator automatically activated because you typically catch them in
a hot day Ill dump a half a bag of when the live well fills with water. cooler water to begin with. Large-
ice in the live well every half hour, Experts contend that you need one mouths are caught in warmer water
advised Dobson. Ill pump out the gallon of water per fish in the live and dont get as stressed as smallies.
live wells half way through the day well, but its best to err on the side of You know when they start to change
and add fresh water. The aerators are caution during warm summer condi- color and their eyes get glassed over
on all day long. Bass in the live well tions. that theyre in trouble.
regurgitate, poop and expel toxins that There are also additives that can A new product by Frabill called
deplete oxygen levels. increase oxygen levels in live wells the Mesh Weigh Bag with Aerator
Obviously you need good, strong and improve bass survival. Dobson (www.frabill.com/new-products/
batteries in order to run your elec- uses a product called G-juice Pro For- new-aeration-and-bait-care/mesh-and-
tronics and aerators all day. Usually, mula Live Well Treatment, but cau- weigh-bag-with-aerator.html) can take
boats have a bank of batteries to run tioned that G-Juice is only compatible a lot of the stress off of weigh-in and
electrics, aerators and starting and a with the Oxygenator system and can keep bass alive and kickin. The prod-
jumper system for insurance. be toxic if not used properly. Other uct features a padded carry handle and
Dobson also uses an add-on de- products, like Sure-Life Please Re- a woven mesh bag that easily slips
vice called an Oxygenator (thmarine. lease Me (http://www.basspro.com/ in and out of the weigh bag, mak-
com/th-marine-products/o2-marine- Sure-Life-Please-Release-Me) elimi- ing it ideal for tournament anglers.
technologies/the-oxygenator) to keep nate weight loss, calm, replace slime The reinforced weigh bag structure
bass alive. The OXYGENATOR Pro coat, and remove chlorine and Reju- allows the water-filled bag to rest on
Live Well Flush Mount is a live well venade (www.basstackledepot.com/ the ground without support. Other
oxygenator that will retrofit most boat rejuvenade.aspx) is a patent pending features include a built-in pocket for
live wells from 10 to 20 gallons and formulation of essential components an auxiliary aerator. The included
operates off the existing boat battery. that provides essential elements that 14203 aerator runs for 30+ hours on 2
The Oxygenator manufactures 100% revitalize, replenish and energize bass, D batteries, helping make sure fish are
pure oxygen by splitting the hydrogen preparing them for release. as healthy as possible leading up to
molecule from the oxygen molecule One of the most critical times weigh-in. The Mesh Weigh Bag with
in the water. This creates a super satu- for bass and tournament anglers is at Aerator will be available in time for
rated oxygen environment, even in the weigh in. Youve got about four or the 2017 tournament season.
warmest water. five minutes until bass start to expire, Summer time coincides with some
Independent testing has shown claimed Dobson. I take ice with me of the hottest bass fishing of the year
increasing oxygen in the live well and put it in with the fish every couple literally and figuratively. Be sure to
improves fish survival by over 35%. of minutes. Smallmouths are actually take extra steps to ensure that the bass
Theres no switch required. The harder to keep alive than largemouths you catch live to fight another day.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 11

 CRANK
IT UP
For
Summer
Walleye...
Crankbaits are among the most productive
walleye lures, yet at the same time these lures are
also among the most misunderstood. The sheer number
of crankbaits on the market is enough to confuse
even the most ardent fisherman...
S
orting through all the crankbait op-
tions can be an ominous chore, espe-
cially for the angler who doesnt have Wobblers. Stickbaits represent the group of
a clue where to start.
Start Out
Establishing Categories
To better understand crankbaits, I recommend
dissecting them into categories based on their
shape or profile and also the action they deliver.
This simple step helps tremendously in the pro-
cess of determining which baits will perform best
in different fishing situations.
Among the crankbaits commonly used for
12 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
By Mark Romanack
walleye fishing, the categories include Stickbaits,
Minnow Divers, Shad Baits and High Action
Summer in the Great Lakes
crankbaits that are characterized by being long
and slender in shape, shallow diving and subtle in
action. Classic lures in this category include the
Rapala F13 Minnow, Rapala Husky Jerk 12 and
14, Reef Runner RipStick, Smithwick Perfect 10,
Bomber LongA and Storm ThunderStick series.
Because of their subtle action, these lures are
most commonly used in cold water conditions to
milk strikes out of lethargic fish. Also, because
these lures are all shallow diving baits, anglers
typically incorporate in-line trolling weights like
Off Shore Tackle Snap Weights to reach target
depths.
Minnow Divers are perhaps the most impor-
tant category of walleye cranks. Characterized
by being long and slender in shape, but with a
pronounced diving lip, Minnow Divers do the
heavy lifting when it comes to walleye trolling in
the spring, fall and also during some key summer
bites. Because most of these baits dive from 15
to 30 feet in depth, they do a great job of target-
ing the water depths walleye are most commonly
found using.
In this category there are surprisingly few
lures that routinely catch walleye. The 800 Series
Reef Runner is hands down the leader in this
group, followed closely by the Rapala Deep
Down Husky Jerk 12, Bandit 5/8 Minnow, Origi-
nal Deep Jr. ThunderStick and the Yo-Zuri Deep
Crystal Minnow.
Shad Baits are classic walleye lures especially
among anglers who fish walleye in rivers, im-
poundments and also natural lakes. These baits
are designed to imitate gizzard and threadfin
shad, two of the most common and abundant
forage fish in North America. Shad baits also do
a pretty good job of imitating other important for-
age fish like young-of-the-year sheepshead and
bluegills. In certain bodies of water, Shad Baits
are king because they do such a wonderful job of
imitating locally abundant forage species.
Shad baits are produced by more manufactur-
ers than you can shake a trolling stick at because
they are also popular among bass fishermen. The
Rapala Shad Rap series made from balsa wood
is among the most popular baits in this category.
Other popular lures include the Berkley Flicker
Shad series, the Reef Runner 200 and 400 series
and the Strike King Lucky Shad.
The last category of crankbaits walleye
anglers must understand are the High Action
Wobblers. This category of lures is the most
misunderstood because they work like a charm
at certain times of year and not worth a darn
at others. High Action Wobblers perform best
when trolled at higher speeds that bring out their
naturally aggressive side-to-side wobble. In
this category stand out baits include the Storm
Hot-N-Tot and Wiggle Wart, the Yakima Bait 3.5
Mag Lip, the Coots Rattlin Wasp and the Salmo
Hornet series.
The reason High Action Wobblers are spo-
radic in their performance is these are lures that
work best in warm water and when trolled at
higher rates of speed. These lures tend to produce
especially well when walleye are active and they
often fail miserably when the bite is off for one
reason or another.
High action baits also seem to produce better
in flowing water than other crankbait styles. An-
glers who routinely fish for walleye in rivers will
note that this category of crankbait represents
their go to baits day in and day out.
During late June and all of July a rather
unique crankbait bite takes place in many Great
Lakes fisheries, most noteworthy Lake Erie and
Saginaw Bay. During this time period water tem-
peratures climb into the 70 degree range and the
stage is set for a brief but colossal crankbait bite.
On Lake Erie, most of the charter captains
quietly switch over their gear to pulling just one
model of crankbait, the original Storm 3/8 ounce
Wiggle Wart. This High Action Wobbler has
proven itself as a bait that will run true at higher
 High action wobblers like this Mag
Lip 3.5 are good choices for an-
glers seeking summer walleye on
Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay.
trolling speeds.
Ramping up the trolling speed is critical, be-
cause on Erie non-target species like white bass,
white perch and sheepshead are so abundant they
can literally make it impossible to avoid them.
At speeds of 2.5 and above, most of the problems
associated with catching non-target species disap-
pear, yet walleye are more than willing to devour
these baits without hesitation.
Most of these captains will tell you the best
baits are the original Wiggle Warts produced
by Storm Lure Company before they sold out
to Rapala. Rapala has re-tooled these baits and
modernized them, but apparently something was
lost in the translation.
Finding original Wiggle Warts is a little chal-
lenging, but they are out there for sale on-line for
between $10.00 and $20.00 each! A dozen or two
of these lures is a good investment for anyone
who fishes the Western Basin of Lake Erie in the
summer months.
Up at Saginaw Bay, the summer crankbait bite
has changed dramatically over the years. Histori-
cally, this fishery featured huge concentrations
of gizzard shad, and High Action Wobblers ruled
the fishing scene throughout the summer months.
Over time Saginaw Bay has cleaned up due to
filtration from Zebra and Quagga Mussels and
the forage base has changed from gizzard shad to
emerald shiners.
High Action Wobblers still produce lots of fish
on Saginaw Bay, but the window in which these
lures consistently produce is shorter. The Storm
1/4 ounce Hot-N-Tot and 3/8 ounce Rattle Tot,
along with the Salmo No. 6 Hornet and Yakima
Bait 3.5 Mag Lip are the lures that consistently
produce Saginaw Bay walleye in the summer
months.
Tuning Crankbaits
All crankbaits suffer from one common fail-
ing. When these lures are tuned properly, they
dive straight down into the water and deliver
their maximum fish catching depth and action.
When the line tie or pull point on these lures gets
tweaked, most crankbaits will not run straight in
the water or tolerate higher trolling speeds.
Tuning crankbaits is a skill every walleye
angler must master if they aspire to catch walleye
consistently on these lures. The process of tuning
a crankbait is simple, but time consuming.
The best way to see if a crankbait is tuned
properly is to let it out and reel it in at a rapid rate
of speed. Speed personifies any imperfection in
how a crankbait is tuned and makes it obvious
to see if the lure is running left or right of center
instead of diving straight down.
Baits that are running left of center can be
corrected by bending the eye tie wire slightly
to the right. Lures that are running right require
adjusting this wire pull point to the left. The op-
erative word here is slightly because moving this
wire only a 1,000th of an inch will dramatically
change how the lure runs.
This process is a trial and error event that
requires making an adjustment, testing the lure
again and continuing to make adjustments until
the lure runs true and dives straight down. Frank-
ly, lots of anglers dont have the patience it takes
to properly tune crankbaits and these anglers
struggle to catch fish as a result. Tuned crankbaits
catch more fish and the only way to tune a crank-
bait is one at a time using a pair of pliers to make
small adjustments.
Some lures are easier to tune than others. The
wider the diving lip of a crankbait the less critical
it becomes for the eye tie wire to be perfectly
dead center in the diving lip. Lures that feature
long and slender diving lips are routinely the
most difficult to tune because the eye tie wire
needs to be virtually dead center in the lip to
perform correctly.
Not all Crankbaits
Are Created Equal
Anglers might find it interesting to note that
some crankbaits are routinely tuned to perform
best right out of manufacturer package and others
are more likely to be out of tune than in tune. A
few insights about how crankbaits are made help
to explain this phenomenon.
Plastic crankbaits are by and large produced
by taking two halves and sonic welding them
together. If you look closely a line right down the
center of the bait can be noticed on these lures.
Sonic welding is a mechanical process and not
every bait is glued together perfectly. This
throws off the eye tie ever so slightly from dead
center and produces a bait that must be hand
tuned to run properly.
Wooden crankbaits and those made from high
density foam are not as susceptible to these vari-
ables of manufacturing and on average tend to be
tuned and true running right out of the package.
Hook hangers are the figure eight shaped piece
of wire that are used as attachment points for
treble hooks and also as pull points at the nose of
popular crankbaits. Hook hangers are produced
by a lot of different companies and the sizing,
wire diameters and tensile strength of these criti-
cal pieces of manufacturing are not necessarily
consistent, says lure designer Buzz Ramsey of
Yakima Bait.
Ramsey has been designing crankbaits for
over 40 years and feels little details like the hook
hangers make a huge difference in how a crank-
bait performs. When Yakima orders hook hang-
ers we demand they hit a very specific tolerance,
explains Ramsey. Even the minutest variance
from our factory specs is unacceptable because
the pull point of a crankbait is the most critical
part of making that lure function properly.
Yakima routinely checks the dimensions of
hook hangers and rejects all that dont match
their factory specifications precisely. This kind
of attention to detail is one of keys to producing
crankbaits that not only run correctly right out of
the package, these lures also enjoy better actions.
Jarod Higginbotham of Yakima Bait works
side by side with lure designer Buzz Ramsey
and is being groomed as the lure designer of the
future for Yakima. Jarod describes crankbaits
that routinely produce as fishy and its easy to
see what Jarod is talking about. Baits that catch
fish are quickly roughed up and showing obvious
battle scars that are proof positive they work and
work well.
Hook Maintenance
Lots of premium crankbaits these days are
equipped with high quality hooks. The process
of hooking, landing and unhooking countless fish
takes a heavy toll on crankbait hooks. Sooner or
later these hooks are going to need some main-
tenance in the form of sharpening and maybe
replacement.
A handy tool for sharpening treble hooks is a
file. The problem with a file is they remove lots
of material quickly and if an angler gets heavy
handed the hook can be quickly ruined.
One of the best hook sharpening tools on the
market is produced by Rapala. The Rapala file
features a double rat-tail file on one side and a flat
diamond impregnated stone with a hook grove on
the other. This provides anglers the best of both
worlds.
If a hook is dull or the tip rolled over, the rat-
tail file will quickly put an edge on the hook. For
fine tuning the sharpness of that hook its hard to
beat a few strokes with the flat diamond file that
sharpens without removing too much material.
When treble hooks get bent and broken they
need to be replaced, and this is a golden oppor-
tunity to upgrade the hooks on prized crankbaits.
Hands down the sharpest hooks in the world are
the Eagle Claw Trokar surgically sharp hooks.
Eagle claw produces a round bend model TK300
and a wide bend model TK310 that are ideal for
re-hooking walleye crankbaits.
When replacing treble hooks on crankbaits,
its a wise idea to replace them with the same
size the manufacturer provided. Changing out the
size of the treble hook on crankbaits is a slippery
slope because many of these lures are so delicate-
ly balanced that using larger hooks can impact
negatively on their action.
Summing It Up
Mid-summer is prime time for targeting wall-
eye with crankbaits, but not all crankbaits per-
form well in warm water conditions. An in-depth
understanding of crankbait types and how to get
the most from them is the fast track to walleye
fishing success.
Mark Romanack is a frequent contributor
to Woods-N-Waters News and also the owner/
founder of Precision Trolling Data. Widely con-
sidered an authority on crankbaits and crankbait
trolling, for more than 25 years Romanack has
put in countless hours testing crankbaits to de-
termine their Dive Curve so this data could be
published enabling anglers nationwide to accu-
rately present their favorite crankbaits at precise
depths. This critical trolling data is available in
both an Android and i-Phone app.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 13
 Basics of fishing
pond management
T
here are a
large num-
ber of small
private fish
ponds that
have been
constructed in Michigan.
These small private ponds
are very numerous in areas
of the state where
natural lakes are By Bill Ziegler
not as abundant,
although they are found throughout
the entire state. Ponds may be cre-
ated by excavation or by damming
a stream or watercourse. Some of
these ponds were constructed with
matching Federal funds with cost
share programs from the old U.S.
Soil Conservation Service. The
former Federal matching funding
has all but disappeared, although the
U.S. Natural Resource Conserva-
tion Service (old SCS) can provide
you extremely valuable technical
assistance that will help you avoid
A nice 9-inch bluegill caught and released from a local pond.
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14 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
problems designing your
pond.
I have seen people
attempt to manage fish in
ponds about the size of
above ground backyard
swimming pools up to
several acres. A typical
excavated pond is about 0.5
to 2 acres. They can
produce outstanding
fisheries, provided
they are properly managed. As have
most DNR fisheries biologists, I re-
ceived a number of calls asking for
advice on stocking and management
of these ponds.
One of the most common mis-
takes I saw was too many different
people trying to stock fish into the
same small pond. That is almost al-
ways counterproductive. I have been
approached a number of times by
pond owners who went to consider-
able expense and effort to produce a
quality trout pond. In several cases
Grandma Joyce Ziegler and granddaughter Hali Ziegler enjoying a beauti-
ful spring morning fishing for panfish in private pond in Michigan.
their efforts were negated by well
meaning relatives who would stock
yellow perch or other panfish on
top of the formerly well producing
trout pond. The result was typically
depressed growth and production of
trout and a bunch of stunted pan-
fish that could not be eliminated by
normal means.
Another common mistake is
not making a realistic choice of fish
species to manage your small pond
for. I have talked to a number of
people who wanted their small pond
to compete with some of Michigans
best walleye, muskie, or perch lakes.
The reality is, in a small pond in
Michigan you are essentially limited
to either trout or largemouth bass/
sunfish (possibly mixed with or
catfish).
Trout do best if they are the only
fish in the pond (other than a pos-
sible forage minnow of pure fathead
minnows). Bass and catfish can be
combined in a large enough pond
and can be managed with a panfish
like bluegill or hybrid sunfish etc.
These species options are the only
ones that can maintain a sustainable
fishery in a small pond. Trout are
the best potential producer in terms
of number of fish per acre, but of
course they are limited to very high
water quality ponds.
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Some people have wanted to
manage walleye in their small pond
but that is a poor choice. Walleye re-
quire larger lakes with a good forage
base of minnows, perch and aquatic
insects and would likely not sustain
any significant harvest. Most pond
owners or their families could not
resist harvesting any walleye they
catch and in very small waters. The
opposite problem can arise where
walleye can easily overwhelm a
small ponds forage base.
The problem is most top preda-
tor fish only have the potential to
produce relatively low density popu-
lations that do not suit them to small
ponds. In other words, a realistic
walleye or northern pike population
would be about 3 to 10 per acre.
Most ponds are only about one or
two surface acres at the most. It
doesnt take an advanced mathema-
tician to see how quickly you would
harvest your entire adult predator
fish population from your small
pond, if you used those species.
Even using bass, the best results are
releasing them and just keeping the
more prolific sunfish that can main-
tain a larger standing crop of fish.
Many people overrate the
water source of their pond. Typi-
cally, ponds or lakes do not have
significant spring water input
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unless they have a continuous flow-
ing outlet. Of course, all species of
trout need high water quality. They
require cold, well oxygenated water
that remains that way throughout hot
summer days (and nights). Rainbow
and brook trout yield the best results
when managing a small pond. Trout
do not have the habitat conditions
to become self-sustaining in a small
pond requiring routine stocking to
maintain a viable trout fishery.
One advantage to managing
your pond for a mixture of large-
mouth bass and bluegill/sunfish is
that they can naturally reproduce
successfully in most pond environ-
ments. Another advantage to these
species is Michigan Law allows en-
tirely private pond owners without
a pond inlet or outlet to stock their
own ponds without permit. If the
pond is not entirely private, it has an
inlet/outlet or multiple riparian own-
erships fish can be stocked from a
certified private hatchery with a free
permit after contacting your local
DNR fisheries biologist and gaining
approval.
Another law allows ponds
meeting the entirely private
criteria above to catch and move
legally caught fish meeting size
limit and bag limits to their ponds
alive. In Michigan, this is not a
realistic option for species other
than largemouth bass and sunfish
species. With numbers that are
realistically caught by anglers one
can obtain numbers of adult fish to
generate a fishery in a small pond.
This means once you establish a
good predator prey ratio to your
fishery it can be mostly self-sustain-
ing.
In a small pond you are limited
by how many predators it will sup-
port. To avoid stunting of panfish it
is very important not to remove the
small population of viable predators
Eagle One Bait Company
ChrisFieger@EagleOneBait.com
www.EagleOneBait.com
(bass) that would allow the panfish
to overpopulate and subsequently
stunt. Of course, predators should be
maintained through catch and care-
ful release.
Somewhat higher population
levels of either trout or catfish can
be produced by artificial feeding fish
food. People who choose this option
should realize they can take on a
new set of pond problems as this
creates considerable waste which
can degrade water quality and de-
plete critical dissolved oxygen fish
need to survive.
This is not intended to be a
complete guide to managing fisher-
ies in small ponds. It is a summary
of potential options and realistic ex-
pectations. For specific advice, you
should seek professional fisheries
biologist help or within the limits of
their agency mission nearby County, Kristin Lawson with a nice largemouth bass she caught in a local pond.
State or Federal Agencies (NRCS, The kayak is an excellent way to spend a relaxing evening and fishing a
County Soil Conservation District, pond. Author photos
or DNR). You should be aware most
government agencies are limited follow a plan to maintain the quality fishing for a family and your friends,
to verbal advice versus site visits of the fishery and water. A properly provided you keep harvest limited
and written plans for private pond managed pond can yield years of and recreation as your primary
management. great enjoyment and outstanding goal.n
From decades of experience
with public and private fish manage-
ment, I can point out if you stock
incompatible species, or undesirable
aquatic species are somehow intro-
duced, you will likely have to resort
to chemical reclamation (kill out the
pond). Chemical fish toxicants are
expensive and are state and federally
regulated chemicals making this a
more difficult outcome to eliminate
a problem and start over. To use this
option you will have to hire a Certi-
fied Aquatic Pesticide Applicator.
A private pond does require ac-
tive management effort to maintain
a sustained quality fishery just as
do larger lakes and reservoirs in
Michigan. It does require the owner
to have realistic goals and to set and
Americas Best
Chris Fieger
Raini Lucas
3597 Miller Rd
Bay City, MI 48706
(989) 316-8544
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 15
 Scent-marking by bucks in velvet

White-tailed deer are a prey species that

survive because of their extraordinary senses
of hearing, sight, and smell. These senses
are so keen, says nationally recognized
scientist, Dietland Muller-Schwarz, that
humans can scarcely measure their extent.

T
he whitetails keen
sense of smell serves
in finding food, de-
tecting predators,
social communication,
reproductive behavior,
and probably a good many
other things we humans
dont fully understand.
Deer employ their super
sense of smell year-round
in conjunction with glan-
dular secretions and body
odors -- referred to as
chemical signals -- as their
primary mode of
communication.
Communicative
By John Ozoga
odors produced by whitetail bucks
probably include secretions from
skin glands, urine, and saliva. Feces
also serve as a means of odor com-
munication in some animals and
might in whitetails, too, but this has
not been documented.
Whitetails have seven types of
skin glands that likely play some
role in scent communication. These
include the forehead, preorbital, and
nasal glands, located on the head;
the tarsal, metatarsal, and interdigi-
tal glands, found on the legs, and the
preputial gland on the bucks penis
sheath.
Unlike visual signs and vocal-
izations, which serve only immedi-
ate, short-range purposes, chemical
signals can be deposited on objects
in the environment. They can also
identify the maker, permit scent-
matching of scent marks with indi-
viduals, and produce long-lasting
messages that continue to work in
the makers absence.
During the breeding season,
bucks produce highly visible sign-
posts, in the form of antler rubs and
ground scrapes. These are violent
aggressive action: Bucks use their
antlers to rub the bark from trees, to
thrash brush, and to break overhead
limbs while depositing scent, and
they paw the ground like irate bulls.
Bucks also judiciously scent-
mark overhead branches when car-
16 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
rying velvet covered antlers. How-
ever, most such marking is so subtle
that its easily overlooked.
More than 30 years ago, I
learned that bucks could easily be
induced to scent-mark overhead
branches and scrape where
I wanted. All that was
necessary was to provide
an overhead branch in
the right place. Placing
cameras at such sites, year
round, proved to be quite
revealing.
In 1988, I hung 100
limbs at likely
scrape sites
throughout Upper
Michigans square-mile Cusino deer
enclosure and used them to study
deer marking behavior. Interestingly,
60 percent of the limbs were scent-
marked by deer before scraping
started in early October.
When marking branches, most
of which are about head-high, a
buck mouths the branch tips, rubs
them with his forehead, preorbital
area, nose, antlers, and chin, while
pausing periodically to sniff and lick
the branches. Its as if the entire pro-
cess involved some highly sophisti-
cated signal code -- like a baseball
coach signaling his batter.
Close inspection will reveal
frequently rubbed twigs acquire an
oily or greased appearance, and deer
hairs can often be found adhered to
the tips of frayed branches.
In Northern Michigan, where
many whitetails vacate their sum-
mering grounds and migrate long
distances to wintering areas, bucks
intensively scent-mark overhead
branches on their traditional sum-
mer range as soon as they return
in spring. Sometimes they even
complete the full scrape sequence
by pawing the ground and urinating
at the site.
In my Cusino enclosure stud-
ies, I used automatic cameras set
at limbs I purposely positioned for
study. I found that bucks scent-
marked small home ranges -- gen-
Springtime scent-marking at scrapes is a good indication that some
of the local bucks sur vived the previous hunting season and winter
period. Kenny Darwin photo
erally less than 200 acres in size
-- during May and June, the period
of maximum antler growth. In late
July, however, when antler growth
was nearly completed and the antler
cores began to mineralize, some
of the bucks wandered into adja-
cent doe-occupied ranges where
they also scent-marked overhead
branches.
Ninety-four of my 100 test limbs
were scent-marked by bucks; 60
percent were marked before active
scraping started. But I detected no
serious limb-tip mutilation until
October, at which time bucks began
to paw the ground beneath scent-
marked limb tips. In all, 83 percent
of the branches bucks scent-marked
during summer developed into
scrapes in autumn.
So, the intensity, manner, and
distribution of scent-marking by
bucks changed as the summer
progressed. Even the secretions,
messages, and audience might have
changed one month to the next.
I believe that scent-marking in
spring helps bucks reclaim their
familiar summering grounds, much
of which has been devoid of deer
during the winter months. It also
probably intimidates pregnant does,
causing them to seek other areas for
fawn-rearing.
Whitetail bucks seem to have
the capacity to emit a wide array of
chemical signals, which presumably
convey equally diverse messages,
in order to satisfy their social needs.
When combined with different
methods of presenting the odors,
the chemical languages of whitetails
must be immense.
Despite what you might read in
the popular literature and contrary
to claims, scientists still dont know
precisely what chemicals bucks use
in their scent-marking.
Until we more fully understand
their social behavior, we will have
difficulty determining how white-
tails talk to each other via chemi-
cal language, which substances are
used, and precisely what messages
are conveyed.
Whatever its cause and function,
springtime scent-marking at scrapes
is a good indication that some of the
local bucks survived the previous
hunting season and winter period.
Use of automatic cameras at these
sites will help to identify the mark-
ers and readers -- and Ill wager you
capture far more images of bucks
than does.n
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WWW.FRANKSGREATOUTDOORS.COM
989.697.5341
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 17
FINESSE
SUMMER
GILLS
By Kenny Darwin

W
hen Michigan
waterways warm
and gills leave
shallow spawn-
ing locations,
most anglers
hang up their rods and assume big
gills have disappeared for the year. Big hump back buck gill taken on glow jig with black dots tipped with hot orange Little Atom super soft scented
The truth is those big hump-backed plastic tail. When using this bait, you eliminate the dreaded bluegill kiss, barely mouthing the bait because the
bulls are still out there, and you can wiggling plastic initiates or triggers strikes. Kenny Darwin photos
fill your live well with big gills and warming water drive the males to In summer, the key is to look for ing tactics during summer, micro
get shark attack savage strikes by deeper water and soon only dinky large adult gills near the bottom or baits for macro panfish. I use elec-
following some simple fishing rules. bluegills are available for fisher- by structure in deep water. Often tronics to locate fish and rather than
Summer gills pull a nasty trick on men. The french-fry-size gills spend you find them stacked along weed using a bulky bobber, I rig straight
fishermen. The big adult bluegills most of the summer in the shallows, edges on inside turns, points and to a Fiskas jig made from tungsten.
leave the shallows. Big spawned-out although the occasional decent size other irregular locations. Many My favorite jig is 5mm or 6mm size
females are the first to go and some fish might appear during cold weath- congregate on deep humps, sunken colored Glow with Black Spots.
males remain near nesting locations er. The slabs vacate the shallows and islands and on the deep side of weed Ive had excellent luck on sum-
to protect the young. Bright sun and move back to deep water lairs. edges. They spend the summer mer gills with jigs colored Yellow
far from most fishermen. Oh sure Spot, Glow Zebra, Clown, White
you can have a riot catching dinky Perch and more. These lures are
fish along shore or off docks, but designed to hang in the water at a
the big fish are not there. The trick 45 degree angle, which gives them
to summer gill success hinges on a horizontal profile and great action
your ability to locate them in deep while jigging. They have super
water hide outs. Of course electron- sticky hooks for best hook set. More
ics can be the key to success, and importantly, tungsten jigs sink fast
once you find them most Michigan and get you deep and back down
anglers use live bait presentations into fish at lightning speed. I get
like crickets, garden worms, leeches my jigs online at www.YurBob-
and more. Slip-bobber rigs are very bersDown.com. Choose from three
popular and they make it easy to gill catching finishes: hand-painted,
cast and fish with slip bobbers over epoxy or metallic.
gill hot spots. Just because a jig weighs 1/64
Summer gills often feed on ounce doesnt mean it will catch
plankton, freshwater shrimp and gills. Round jigs tend to lay verti-
freshly hatched out fish fry. Again, cal in the water and each jig falls in
good electronics will help you to a different manner. Plus, jigs made
locate gills that are suspended and from lead dont weigh as much as
feeding on micro-organisms. Often tungsten and they fall too slowly to
schools congregate in deep water reach deep water gills. Fiskas silver
just out from weed beds, other times and gold mirrors are flat discs with
they are over open deep water. The through head line ties and highly
trick is to adjust slip bobbers so the reflective surfaces that will hammer
offering is in the strike zone. Some gills when combined with Little
anglers prefer to use two hooks set Atom Micro Nuggie. The slow
12-18-inches apart to help locate the fluttering design is ideal when gills
exact depth where fish congregate. go negative and bites are difficult
With this technique it is not uncom- to achieve with the Fiskas wolfram
mon to hook two gills at a time. jigs. The secret to the success of this
I hit on a hot fishing strategy a technique hinges on tiny ice jigs
few years ago and the results have with authentic, Latvian produced
Deb Gilmore, East Lansing, loves to use Fiskas Wolfram ice jigs for sum- been outstanding. Im using a light heads of the most dense, high grade
mer bluegill limit catches. She prides herself on taking large trophy 10 action or ultra-light rod/reel combo Russian tungsten.
gills, more than the author. Last year she caught three 10-inch plus gills spooled with 4 or 6-pound test clear If the weather is beautiful and
in a row using her favorite Fiskas 4mm jig tipped with a waxworm. mono. Basically, Im using ice fish- winds calm Ill get out my ice fish-
18 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS

ing rods and hammer deep water
gills. Sure, fishing with a short rod
requires patience, but the results
can be impressive. If the wind is
blowing and waves are rockin, I
use my 6 walleye jigging rod
with 10-pound Berkley Pro Braid
that is 2-pound diameter, and lures
sink fast. I attach the braid to a tiny
Blackbird barrel swivel and a 2-foot
long leader of Seaguar InvizX fluo-
rocarbon fishing line 4-pound test.
The line helps me to feel strikes, and
when I get gills to the surface I can
swing them aboard.
Super soft scented tails are the
secret to success in this game. My
choice is Little Atom Micro Nug-
gies from www.YourBobbersDown
colored glow, bubble gum, hot
chartreuse and more. These tails are
customized for ice fishing and the
pointed tails offer quick action that
draws fish from afar. They are im-
pregnated with scent and also come
in two tone colors like red/glow,
tadpole/glow and more.
Dont overlook their sparkle
tail colors and the forked tails catch
crappie like crazy. Maki Plastics
produce some of the most inventive
plastics with fish attracting shapes.
Maki Plastics Jamei has multiple
legs and forked soft tail that resem-
bles a fine-tailed invertebrate and
can be trimmed to fit any hook.
Dont overlook Akara Mega Soft
Tailed bloodworm or the J&S Cus-
tom jigs ice Mite Jr. Keep in mind
that the reason micro soft baits on
tiny jigs are so effective is because
the action resembles zooplankton
and other underwater critters that
gills prefer to eat. Manufacturers
in recent years have developed soft
plastics in micro proportions. Even
the most reluctant panfish inhale
these baby baits.
The most important element of
this deadly tactic is lure action. The
tiny dancing jig and fast wiggling
tail imitates a variety of freshwater
food like shrimp. The soft plastic
tail dancing in the water drives big
gills bonkers and they hammer the
hook like a Great White shark at-
tacking prey.
Heres how you slam em. Use a
bow mounted electric trolling motor
to cover water. Have your electron-
ics mounted to the electric motor so
you can see bottom, locate drop-offs
and deep water, and most important-
ly, locate gills. Now you take a page
from the spring river walleye riggers
hand book and you vertically jig
for gills. The electric motor is used
to keep your jig dancing directly
below your boat. The trick is to keep
the line straight up and down and
dance the jig slightly above gills
you mark on electronics. Oh, what
if the marks are crappie? Well, you
Micro jigs and
soft, scented
plastics are the
key to catches of
will find out pronto because you big gills, crappie,
will catch crappie. But thats another perch, sunfish
story; your goal is to hammer gills. and other panfish
Some days the lake is simply during summer
too rough with waves and the wind when other baits
makes it a chore to stay on fish. go flat. Use glow
Thats when I simply put a couple jigs and plastics
size #7 sinkers above the jig and on overcast days,
lower the offering into the strike early morning,
zone and drift with the waves. When late evening and
drifting, you can set your rods on at night. Finesse
the side of the boat and watch the soft plastics
rod tip for strikes. If fishing with a mimic inver te-
friend, use the electric motor to keep brates and the
the boat sideways and a wide spread action of fresh-
between lines. water shrimp or
Now here comes the most zooplankton and
important part. While you can catch cause big bites
year around.
plenty of summer gills on soft plas-
tics, I prefer to tip the hook with a
single wax worm. This adds smell,
and the dancing white bug grabs the shark attacking feel free to thread movement and enhances the attrac-
attention of gills and brings them the waxie, but if the bite slows or tive wiggle of the soft plastics. The
close for a better look. Many times fish become neutral or negative loop gives lures more side-to-side
you catch smash gills by constantly leave the tail dangling action and undulating pivots of the
swimming soft plastics, but once in There are several plastics that jig, worthy movement that results in
a while they prefer a pause, which work like dynamite with this tech- more strikes.
gives them an opportunity to get kis- nique. Some look like crawlers with With modern changes in fishing
sin close and once they get a whiff a pointed tail or a wiggler complete line, electronics, jigs, soft plastics
of the live bait they pounce on the with legs and extended triple tails. and more the days of gills disap-
hook. Ive had great success on forked pearing the entire summer no longer
While some anglers prefer to tailed plastics during summer. The exist. Michigan fishermen have
thread the wax worm on the hook trick is to use finesse size plastics learned micro-baits catch gills like
I like to barely pin the head and that mimic the size and profile of crazy year round and they have
leave the entire body dangling. This freshwater living creatures. taken gill fishing to atomic propor-
gives the entire presentation more Consider replacing your tradi- tions. Today, Michigan has a grow-
action and big bulls tend to slam the tional knot with a loop knot, like ing army of successful fishermen
wiggling live bait. Sure some gills Surgeons knot or non-slip loop. that are quickly adapting ice fishing
attack the presentation and rip off For vertical presentations, the loop strategies to the dog days of summer
the live bait. On days when they are knot allows more free and random and the results are impressive.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 19
 Shivering Summer Walleyes?
Next Bite...By Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz
W
ith the water
on most
lakes now
warming up
to over 60
degrees, it is
a great time to start to think about
shivering. No, we arent talking
about taking a dip into a cold lake
and then spending the rest of the day
trying to get rid of the chill in your
body. Were talking about fishing
with a glide bait known as the
Moonshine Shiver Minnow. This is
the bait that gave us first and second
place finishes a couple years ago at
a tournament on Bays de Noc. Since
that time, this bait has continued to
produce big walleyes in a variety of
situations.
There are two factors that make
conditions perfect for shivering.
The first is being in an area where
fish are relating to structure, such as
shorelines, reefs, and humps. The
second factor is fairly clear water.
This is important because shivering
is a visual trigger for fish.
There are a few different ways
to work a Shiver Minnow. The first
is vertical jigging on deep structure.
While you can work the structure
blindly, if you see a fish below the
boat on your electronics, you defi-
nitely want to stop and fish it!
Drop your lure down and give
a quick two-foot snap followed im-
mediately by slack line. The snap
makes the Shiver Minnow jump
to the side, and the slack line turns
it around and makes it head back
towards the starting position.
Most of the time we just let the
lure crash into the bottom on each
stroke. The fish will either hit it on
the glide back or they will pin it
to the bottom. The next stroke will
act as the hook set. If we catch a fish
on a particular piece of structure,
we put our MotorGuide Xi5 trolling
motor into Anchor Mode. This al-
lows us to hold precisely on a spot,
such as the top of a hump or right on
the transition line of a reef. The Xi5
20 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
also has a jog feature that allows
us to move in 5-foot increments in
any direction without having to re-
anchor to move slowly around the
structure.
Trolling at a 45-degree angle
while slowly moving around struc-
ture with the bow mount trolling
motor is another way to catch fish
on Shiver Minnows. We use an
action similar vertical jigging, but
sweep the lure about three feet. This
is where the remote used to control
the Xi5 comes in handy, as we can
control the motor from anywhere in
the boat. For this version of Shiver-
ing, it is nice to stand in the back of
the boat so your line doesnt have to
run under the motor and transducers.
The Xi5 also has heading lock,
which means that the motor will
stay on course in any direction we
point it, even in windy conditions!
Casting is where the Shiver Min-
now is king! What makes a Shiver
Minnow unique compared to other
glide baits is that after you pop it,
it will jump to the side and then turn
right around and head back to the
starting location. There is no other
glide bait on the market that takes a
gliding path back.
This allows you to get a cadence
down that can make the Shiver
Minnow dart back and forth, similar
to Walking the Dog with surface
baits. This back and forth action of-
ten fires up fish and triggers them to
bite when they normally wouldnt.
Remember, the key to the success of
this cadence is slack line!
To properly work a Shiver Min-
now on a cast, first let it drop to the
bottom. Then pop your rod tip 2-3
feet, and immediately give it slack.
Picture a whipping action, like grab- Although Shivering sounds cold, it is one of the hottest techniques in
bing the end of a rope and trying to walleye fishing! If you are fishing in water up to 15 feet deep or targeting
make it undulate. It is a fluid motion walleyes under four pounds, use a #2 Shiver Minnow (below).
of raising your hand and then im- pop and lower your rod from one to spliced to NanoFil with an Albright
mediately dropping your hand. four times in a row without letting knot. You can learn how to make
The same is true when shiver- the lure hit the bottom. this knot by visiting www.thenext-
ing. Lift the rod tip up, then without If you make more than one bite.com to see an animation. If you
pausing at the top, return the rod tip stroke, the first strokes are to trig- are fishing for large walleyes or in
to the starting position. You might ger fish, so you have to play with a an area with a lot of snags, you will
number of trigger strokes to see want to move up to 15 lb. test. Be
what they want. On the final stroke, sure to tie the leader directly to the
always let the Shiver Minnow glide Shiver Minnow.
all the way down and make contact If you are fishing in water up to
with the bottom. Its on the final 15 feet deep or targeting walleyes
glide and bottom contact that you under four pounds, use a #2 Shiver
will get the bite. Minnow. For deeper water or bigger
For equipment, we like to use walleye, move up to a #3 Shiver
a 6 to 66 ML Walleye Angler Minnow.
jigging rod spooled with Hi-Vis Although Shivering sounds
Berkley NanoFil in 10 lb. test line. cold, it is one of the hottest tech-
It makes it easy to see when the lure niques in walleye fishing! So, no
hits bottom or when a fish hits on matter which way you decide to
the glide. present the Shiver Minnow to the
Tie this to a 10lb. test Berkley fish, were sure it will lead to your
100% Fluorocarbon 2-foot leader Next Bite!n
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6/30/2017

WNW NEWS JULY 2017 21

 ichigan is
blessed by many
wild harvestable
resources. but
the oysters
you are think-
ing of are not one of them! These
oysters are every bit as tasty and
desirable as the oysters dredged
up from the sea bottoms; but much
easier to obtain and virtually free of
charge....
Introducing the Michi-
gan wild oyster mushroom!
While the highly coveted
morel mushroom sprouts
only during a brief period
in early to mid-spring; the
oyster mushroom, second
only to the morel in taste,
sprouts throughout the
By Joe Lunkas
spring, early sum-
mer, and fall months.
This is especially
true in northern Michigan, which
is a definite advantage to Michigan
gatherers.
I have been a dedicated mush-
roomer and gatherer of all of Mother
Natures bounties for well over 50
years. Oyster mushrooms are usual-
ly found by accident while spending
time in the woods hiking, scouting,
seeking morel mushrooms, fishing,
or hunting. The act of pleasurably
discovering and harvesting wild
oyster mushrooms holds special
memories for me.
Once, while deer bow hunting
with my now departed buddy Bob
Husak in the mid-1970s, we had
such an unexpected oyster mush-
room experience. We were hunting
a distant partially flooded small
woodlot near what is called the
north fields in the 9,000 acre Shia-
wassee River State Game Area near
Saginaw, Michigan. This particular
foot and boat traffic only site was
nearly two miles from the Turner
Road parking lot and was far out of
range of most other hunters.
Bob and I had both labori-
ously taken some real nice bucks
during both the early October and
late December archery seasons
and the traditional two week mid-
November gun seasons. This hunt
was during the early season just
prior to the duck season opener on
October 10, 1974. The DNR had
just started flooding this area for the
duck hunters. This annual process
caused many of the trees to eventu-
ally die and begin to decay. We had
scouted this area many times prior
to our hunt that season. Due to the
22 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
extreme distance from our truck, we
had agreed to shoot only bucks with
eight or more points.
We parked our truck at 4 a.m.
and entered the woodlot in the pre-
dawn darkness at 6 a.m. We erected
and ascended into our respective
portable tree stands to begin our vig-
ils. As it began to get light, I noticed
highly visible clumps of white on
numerous trees near my stand. I im-
mediately knew that they were fresh
oyster mushrooms!
About that same time,
I heard the unmistakable
sound of a deer approach-
ing through the six-inch
deep water. As the buck got
closer, I could only count
seven points. It traveled
by me within 20 yards and
made its way toward
Bobs position.
He shot that buck
and it dropped within 50 yards.
It indeed did have eight points! I
failed to spot the short brow tine
on the right side of the bucks wide
rack. For some reason, large unbal-
anced racks were common in this
area. Bob was sitting less than 80
yards from me and chided me as we
both descended from our stands.
He had watched me pass on
the buck and stated: You need to
clean your glasses!
I replied: Maybe so; but they
were clean enough for me to see all
those freshly sprouted oyster mush-
rooms on many of the trees around
me!
While Bob field dressed his
buck; I took my climbing sticks
to each tree and began my own
harvest. It took both of our back
packs to hold them! It took the
better part of the rest of the day to
drag Bobs buck and tote my oyster
mushrooms back to our truck. In
the parking lot, more hunters were
excited about my huge oyster mush-
room find than Bobs somewhat
average buck! We had fresh venison
back straps cooked with tasty oyster
mushrooms and onions fried in but-
ter for a special dinner that night. A
most memorable oyster mushroom
experience!
Basic Oyster
Mushroomers Field Gear
In addition to the basic mush-
roomers field gear which includes
a good mushroom field guide (for
safety sake know your mushrooms),
loose-fitting temperature-appropri-
ate clothing, waterproof footwear,
a brimmed hat, walking stick, a
Typical stump/log oyster mushrooms. Author photo
small folding knife, a compass, GPS
unit (optional), fanny pack, and a
cell phone; there are specific things
that need to be included. First is
a reasonably large back pack and
extra nylon mesh bags to hold your
harvested oysters. On a good day
there may be lots of them! And
second, you need a way to harvest
high-growing oyster mushrooms. It
is illegal to use screw-in tree steps
on state or federal lands! There are
three viable solutions. At least four
strap-on tree steps or at least two
stackable, light-weight climbing
sticks.
Both options are a bit cumber-
some to tote along. I often choose a
better third option if I am not bow
hunting and have climbing capabili-
ties anyway. I prefer to use a camou-
flage-painted light-weight aluminum
telescopic tree pruning saw that I
can use as a walking stick as well!
When high oysters are encountered,
I extend the pruning saw and, with
a quick jerk of the saw blade at the
base of the oyster mushroom, I lop
it off. then either my companion
or I play a game called catch the
oyster in the hat. I often have this
useful tool on hand while scouting
for potential hunting stand sites.
Initial pruning of shot-interfering
small branches can be easily done
from the ground before the hunt or
from my treestand during my hunt.
Hunter-gatherers often find many
such sites while mushrooming!
Facts About the
Oyster Mushroom
Oyster mushrooms, Genus
Pleurotus, grow in single to densely
clustered and often overlapping
clumps on stumps, rotting wood,
on downed logs of trees of many
species and on standing dying
timber as well. especially pop-
lar and cottonwood in Michigan.
This widespread edible mushroom
is named for its shape rather than
its taste. It is sometimes found in
great quantity and may be dried and
stored like morels for years with ex-
cellent results! Oyster mushrooms,
unlike morels, are easily cultivated
and grown commercially. wild,
fresh, and free is always better and
tastes better too! The flesh of this
mushroom is firm, thick, and nearly
white. The odor and taste is heav-
enly mild! Specimens collected for
the table should be inspected for
shiny, black, beetles, which lay their
eggs on the deeply furrowed gills,
and beetle larvae, which tunnel into
the mushroom flesh. All can be eas-
ily removed by soaking your oyster
mushrooms in cold salt water for a
few minutes; then rinsing them off
with clean cool water and set on a
towel to dry off before cooking or
drying for future use. Store in sealed
glass or ceramic containers in your
pantry or out of direct sun in your
kitchen. a visually aesthetic and
sure sign that a great cook lives
here!
Personally, bugs dont bother
me. All mushrooms have great taste
but little or no nutritional value.
but bugs do! They are 100% pro-
tein! While on missions in Laos
during the Vietnam War; then SGT.
Lunkas often encountered indig-
enous local tribesmen who turned
me on to eating various bugs and
beetles for energy and survival.
Often far from U.S Army support,
this was a necessity. My favorite
was a very large beetle that could be
eaten raw or cooked in the shell
over the coals of a small fire. and
absolutely delicious!
Edible mushrooms were there,
too, to flavor the less tasty bugs
and beetles. I ate well and even
gained weight in the jungle! I look
at it this way: Compare eating bugs
with eating a wormy apple in the
dark. It tastes good and you dont
even know the worms are there
pure protein too!
Reference the authors Fifty
Years of Lessons Learned of a
Michigan Outdoorsman Book Tril-
ogy. Google Joe Lunkas for book
descriptions, author information,
book availability, and purchasing
options. Also; browse through the
five plus pages of entries during
your initial Google search for ad-
ditional information about me and
my writings.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 23
 Examining a Michigan Grasslands AreaPrepare By MDNR
The AuTrain Wildlife Management Area and Refuge
I
n the late 1960s, the Michi-
gan Department of Natural
Resources began planning
several major waterfowl
management areas in the
Upper Peninsula. These
waterfowl sites were designed to
be stop-over places for migrating
Canada geese.
In the central U.P., DNR wild-
life managers selected the AuTrain
Basin in Alger County as the most
suitable site. In the spring of 1972,
the project officially began. The ba-
sin is located southwest of Chatham
and due south of AuTrain.
Goals, Management
and Development
The main goals, at the time,
were to provide a secure a rest-
ing and feeding area for waterfowl
(ducks and geese) by cooperatively
managing 18,405 acres of public
land and adjacent private lands,
which also included 2,000 acres of
water. The first step in accomplish-
ing this was creating a refuge.
To do this, a portion of AuTrain
Wildlife Management Area and Ref-
uge was closed to the public from
Sept. 1 to Nov. 10 each year, includ-
ing the south portion of the AuTrain
Basin. This closure would work to
help protect migrating waterfowl.
Throughout the next several de-
cades, management included clear-
ing land and local DNR wildlife
personnel and sharecroppers plant-
ing a variety of crops. By the end of
the 1980s, an estimated 550 acres of
crops (including 220 acres of small
24 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
grain) were planted annually.
However, changes in manage-
ment had to occur at the refuge be-
cause of the increased costs of fund-
ing the original project scope, the
changing roles of DNR Wildlife Di-
vision employees, and the increased
population of geese throughout the
Midwest. We also saw a reduction
of the use of the refuge by geese,
possibly due to migration pattern
shifts or the amount of small grains
being grown in the area.
By the mid-1990s, there were
indications that the original manage-
ment plan was too broad and may
never be fully implemented, and it
was ultimately abandoned.
Management activities pre-
scribed at the site through 2012 have
included keeping at least 231 acres
of hay fields in production to pro-
vide a grazing and resting location
for migrating geese.
In the last three years, a
renewed interest in sharecropping
opportunities by the local farming
community, our desire to reclaim
once-abandoned croplands, and
funding restraints have created the
management system we use today,
said Brian Roell, a DNR wildlife
biologist in Marquette. Currently,
the DNR provides lease-free land to
local farmers. In return, the share-
cropper agrees to actively manage
crops and rotate them on a recom-
mended schedule.
Wildlife Species
Roell said the refuge portion of
the AuTrain Wildlife Management
Grasslands planted along agricultural fields can keep runoff out of
waterways. Ryan Diener, Pheasants Forever photo.
and Refuge Area provides one of
the best opportunities within the
western U.P. State Forest system to
manage for large grasslands and as-
sociated wildlife species.
Large opening management,
along with sharecropped agricultural
practices, will continue to be a high
priority on this landscape, Roell
said.
Much of the forested lands
provide habitat for wildlife, includ-
ing game and non-game species,
as well as rare species, such as
red-shouldered hawks and northern
goshawks. Other woodland raptors,
including Coopers, sharp shinned
and red-tailed hawks and several
owl species, have also been docu-
mented at the refuge.
The upland forest is comprised
of a complex of hardwood and
aspen stands that provide hunting
opportunities for deer, bear, upland
birds like grouse and woodcock, and
hare, as well as trapping opportuni-
ties for furbearers, including fox,
coyote and bobcat.
The crop and shrub land areas
are home to a host of open land spe-
cies such as dickcissels, grasshopper
sparrows, sharp-tailed grouse and
northern harriers all of which
are on Michigans list of species of
special concern.
The waters of the AuTrain Basin
are home to trumpeter swans, com-
mon loons, osprey, bald eagles and
nesting waterfowl.
Surveys done by local Audubon
members have found that this area
is the most intensely used stopover
site in the central U.P. for wading
shorebirds.
During spring migration, shore-
birds such as buff-breasted sandpip-
ers, short-billed dowitchers, greater
yellowlegs, black bellied plovers
and many more use this important
stopover location.
True to the intended purpose
of the refuge when it was started in
1972, we will continue to manage
for goose hunting opportunities,
Roell said. However, the primary
focus of wildlife habitat manage-
ment will be to collectively address
the habitat requirements identified in
the Regional State Forest Manage-
ment Plan.
The following have been identi-
fied as featured species for the Au-
Train Management Area: bobolink,
Canada goose, northern goshawk,
upland sandpiper and sharp-tailed
grouse.
Featured Species
Management
The Canada goose is a highly-
valued wildlife species for many
hunters in Michigan. Generally,
throughout their life cycle, habitat
is not a limiting factor for geese and
in some urban areas resident geese
have become a nuisance.
However, grazing areas and
waste grain have been shown to be
important during goose migration
and for winter survival. The AuTrain
refuge provides ample grazing areas,
and with the increasing interest by
local farmers, it may provide grains
AuTrain Wildlife page 26
SALE GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 25
AuTrain Wildlife:
from page 24
in the future.
Northern goshawks are found
primarily in large stands of decidu-
ous and mixed coniferous forests.
This raptor strongly favors mature
forests where there is a variety of
understory trees and shrubs.
Patch size, remoteness (away
from human disturbance) and
proximity to a water body seem to
be the most important microhabitat
features for these birds in selecting
nest sites. The forest canopy clo-
sure should be roughly 60 percent,
with nests typically found below
the crown of large-fork, crowned
deciduous trees.
Many grassland birds, such as
the bobolink, are area-sensitive, and
the opportunity to observe and man-
age for them is very limited in the
west U.P.
The sharecropping within the
refuge, which focuses on the pro-
duction of hay for livestock, has led
to the creation of habitat for grass-
land birds. Although many grass-
land species are attracted to these
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areas, the value of the habitat can
change depending upon the way
in which it is managed. By delay-
ing hay harvest and discouraging
second cuts, nesting success can be
increased. Fortunately for species
in this particular area, the combi-
nation of drier soil conditions and
short growing season typically do
not produce a second crop of hay.
The sharp-tailed grouse habitat
requirements include a complex of
large open grasslands and low shrub
lands. Suitable habitat can include
open grass/hay fields and shrub
lands, such as natural meadows,
open bogs, and abandoned farm
fields. Sharp-tails prefer nesting
areas with very few trees, and they
avoid areas with trees over 25 feet
tall or with evergreen species.
Sharp-tailed grouse are prized A male sharp-tailed grouse does its mating dance. Minnesota De-
upland game birds in Michigan, par tment of Natural Resources photo
and the DNR works diligently with
many partners to maintain grass- cover and low woody cover, provide Management Area and Refuge has
lands for this unique species, said excellent nesting places. Adding remained an important place for a
Al Stewart, DNR upland game bird wooden fence posts or other display wide range of primarily bird
specialist. perches is considered an impor- species, while providing hunting
In general, upland sandpipers tant component of suitable habitat. opportunities for the public and
prefer to nest and rear broods within Future management opportunities at sharecropping availability for local
taller vegetation, and they for- the refuge may include the installa- growers, in a cooperative relation-
age within short vegetation. Areas tion of artificial perching sites. ship that works out favorably for
adjacent to the sharecropping fields, Since its initial development the DNR and Michigans natural
with low to moderate forb and grass 45 years ago, the AuTrain Wildlife resources.n
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 Cover Story...

State Record
Crossbow Buck
M
en werent the only All I could see was antlers,
hunters who bagged Jolly explained. Then I heard a
bucks with cross- blatt and it sounded like he was
bows that had state getting closer. He was in the woods
record qualifying where I couldnt see him at that
racks in Michigan point. We have three shooting lanes
during 2016. Two bucks that had mowed through the ferns. All of a
nontypical antlers of state record sudden, the buck appeared at the
proportions and one with a end of one of those shoot-
typical rack of that caliber ing lanes.
were tagged by men in the He cleaned out a
state last year. Jennie Jolly scrape underneath a pine
from North Branch also shot branch. Then he put his
a nontypical whitetail with a antlers up in the branches
crossbow that set a new high and rubbed them around.
mark among women. He turned and came
The 23-pointer she directly at me. When he

By Richard P. Smith
arrowed in La-
peer County on
October 28 had
an official score of 178 7/8. The pre-
vious top ranking buck among non-
typical crossbow kills for women
was 171 2/8. That was a 13-pointer
that Brandi Zoll from Niles shot in
Berrien County on November 14,
2015. It was her first buck.
Jollys buck was her first kill
with a crossbow. The previous deer
she had taken were collected with
firearms. She shot the buck with her
husbands Excalibur Exocet Cross-
bow.
My husband Bud shot an
8-point two weeks before and he
was done hunting, so I used his
crossbow when I decided to hunt on
October 28, Jennie said. We went
to the same ground blind where Bud
shot his buck. It was kind of a foggy
day, but the fog was starting to lift.
It was 10:30 a.m. before we got out
to the blind.
They were only in the blind for
about a half hour when Jennie saw a
buck coming from her right.
stopped, we
were eye-to-
eye. I already
had the crossbow up and ready. I
had the crosshairs on his chest and
neck as he faced me.
When the buck started toward
us, my husband told me, This blind
isnt as big as your blind. You have
to lean way back. If you get a shot
and your limbs from the crossbow
hit the blind, they will explode ev-
erywhere. My hearts already in my
throat, thank you very much.
So I leaned way back so my
shoulders were touching the back
wall. The buck was 22 yards away.
He put his head up and was sniffing.
I thought I had better take him. He
was starting to turn when I shot him.
My arrow went in the right side of
his neck and came out by his shoul-
der. He did a 180 and took off.
He was the biggest deer Ive
ever seen in my life. Im thinking
he had an 8 or 10-point rack when I
shot him. I asked my husband, How
many points did he have? after the
buck was gone. He had been looking
Jennie Jolly from Nor th Branch took this nontypical whitetail with a cross-
bow that set a new state record among women. The 23-pointer she
arrowed in Lapeer County on October 28 had an official score of 178 7/8.
at the buck with a monocular and he image of the deer in the background
said, A lot! when another buck had been photo-
Although well hit and leaving graphed at night on October 12. The
a good blood trail, the buck went nontypical was barely visible.
much farther than they thought it The buck had a dressed weight
would. Consequently, persistence of 180 pounds and was estimated to
was required to recover the white- be 4 years old. The antlers have
tail. Jennie said she almost gave up a typical 11-point frame and 12
on the blood trail, but her husband nontypical points, totaling 37 inches
kept following the blood trail. Jen- in length. The longest nontypical
nie eventually found the buck on point comes off the base of the
the far side of a river that it crossed. left antler and is 13 4/8 inches in
Bud estimated that they blood- length.
trailed the buck about a mile. The right beam was 25 1/8
The Jollys hadnt seen the buck inches long and the left was two
before the day Jennie shot the deer inches shorter. The inside spread
nor did they recall seeing it on any was 16 7/8 inches. The base of the
of their many trail camera photos. right antler measured 5 2/8 inches
When looking back through those in circumference and the left was 5
photos, however, they did find one inches.n

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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 27

 Take me
to the...
Jake Romanack of Fishing 411 was just 16 years old when he made his first trip to Stannard Rock, but that trip will remain one of his fondest fishing
memories for decades to come. Catching trout like this on light tackle amounts to one of the greatest thrills in spor t fishing. Author photos
O
ne of the things I like
most about fishing on
the Great Lakes is the
wide open spaces. For
the angler who loves
to be the only boat on
the horizon, Stannard Rock in the
middle of Lake Superior is one of
those bucket list fishing
destinations.
Stannard Rock is a
reef complex that is ap-
proximately two miles
wide and five miles long
located about 50 miles
northwest of Marquette,
Michigan. Legendary for
producing trophy
size lake trout,
Stannard Rock By Mark Romanack
is also unique
in that weather conditions on Lake
Superior make just getting there the
biggest challenge!
Travis White is a charter captain
based out of the Upper Peninsulas
Keweenaw Peninsula who fishes
Stannard Rock as often as possible
with his clients. On the average
year we might have weather condi-
tions suitable for fishing Stannard
Rock only about 30 times a year!
explains White.
White runs his charters out of
Lac La Belle, which cuts the run-
28 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
ROCK
ning distance to Stannard Rock
down to size. At just over 30 miles,
this run is reasonable when weather
conditions permit a visit to the
rock.
The best times to plan a trip to
Stannard Rock are late June, July,
August and early September, says
White. Outside of this
narrow window, prevail-
ing winds and weather
conditions rarely make it
practical or possible to fish
Stannard Rock.
Fishing Tactics
What attracts most
anglers to this
remote region of
Lake Superior is
the opportunity
to target wild and native lake trout
using light tackle. Some anglers troll
at Stannard Rock, but the majority
are targeting trout by casting and
vertical jigging.
Lake Superior is not only the
deepest of the Great Lakes, the
water temperature remains icy cold
much of the year. When the surface
water is less than 45 degrees, most
of the trout are going to be found in
the deeper portions of the reef. Once
the surface water creeps to that
magical 50 degree threshold, trout
slide up onto the reef top and can be
caught in surprisingly shallow water
by casting spoons, jigs and even us-
ing fly fishing tactics.
White is an avid fly fisherman
and takes great pride in being able
to catch lake trout on the fly at Stan-
nard Rock. Clearly, fly fishing is
not the most efficient way to catch sive feeders that thrive on the fatty
a rock laker, but when conditions
are right it can be one of the most
exciting and unique ways to fish.
When lake trout move shal-
low it is to feed, and these fish can
be amazingly aggressive. Casting
jigs dressed with swimbait bodies,
spinners and spoons ranks among
the best way to catch these fish that
travel in pods. Its common to be
fighting one fish and have a dozen
others trying to get the lure away
from the hooked fish! explains
White.
As the trout of Stannard Rock
move into deeper water, casting tac-
tics become useless and anglers are
forced to vertical jig in deeper water.
Lead head jigs ranging in size from
one, two and even three ounces in
size are standard equipment among
avid jig fishermen.
Some anglers swear by bucktail
jigs as the best approach. Others
favor a jig dressed with a soft plastic
paddle tail. A third option is larger
jigging spoons like the popular
Swedish Pimple produced by Bay
de Noc Lure Company based out of
Gladstone, Michigan.
All three of these jigging lure
choices are vastly improved when
tipped with a chunk of sucker or
smelt meat. Lake trout are aggres-
and protein rich flesh of lake herring
or ciscoes. Using a chunk of meat
on the jig just about doubles the
chances of getting bit regularly!
Other jigging lure options to
consider are swimming jigs like
the Jigging Rapala and the Shiver
Minnow by Moonshine Lures. The
largest sizes of these baits are about
one ounce in size, making them use-
ful for jigging in depths up to about
100 feet.
Braid is Best
When casting in shallow water,
rods and reels equipped with mono-
filament line work well at Stannard
Rock. However, when the fish move
into deeper water super braid lines
are the only practical way to jig ef-
fectively.
Because were jigging in open
water and the fish have little cover
to tangle in, I set up my jigging rods
with 10 pound test super braid,
advises White. Using 10 pound test
braid to target fish that might weigh
in at 30 pounds may seem a little
light, but the strength of these super
braids is exceptional, and there is no
need to use heavier lines.
Because the water in Lake Su-
perior is gin clear, its a good idea
to tie in a 24 to 36 inch length of 15
pound test fluorocarbon leader on
jigging set ups. A small ball bear-
ing swivel can be used to attach the
braid to the fluorocarbon. Another
option is to use the double uni knot
when connecting fluorocarbon to
braided lines.
Spinning or
Baitcast Gear?
Both spinning and baitcasting
gear can be used effectively to jig
for lake trout. Most anglers are more
comfortable with spinning tackle.
A medium to medium/heavy action
rod about seven to seven-foot, six-
inches in length is ideal for jigging
up lakers.
With both spinning and baitcast-
ing gear, its a good idea to first
spool on monofilament line as a
backing material and then top dress
the reel with about 100 yards of
premium super braid line. Because
super braids are soft, filling the
entire reel with this line creates a
situation that allows the line on the
spool to crush down and cut into
itself making it difficult for the reel
drag to function properly.
Stannard Rock is one of those places an angler doesnt get to fish often,
but the trips we do enjoy are among our favorite fishing memories.
Top dressing braid over a backing of
monofilament solves this problem
and allows the drag system on reels
to function as designed. This rigging
method also makes it possible to
cast effectively with super braids
when targeting fish in shallow water.
Fish Scents
Lakers are much easier to fool
into biting artificial baits when these
lures are doused in natural fish oils
and gel based scents. Even when
using live bait or cut-bait it helps to
refreshen the scent trail by adding a
popular fishing scent like Pro Cure
Super Gel.
Pro Cures herring, smelt and ale-
wife Super Gel formulas are made
using the exact forage fish Lake
Superior trout routinely feed upon.
Another good choice for creating a
scent trail is the pure fish oil prod-
ucts that can be injected into live
baits and cut-baits.
When the Wind
Blows
Because getting to Stannard
Rock requires near perfect weather
conditions, anglers are going to find
themselves facing the dilemma of
what to do when the wind blows
and a trip to the rock is out of the
question. The near shore lake trout
and salmon fishing opportunities of
Lake Superior provide anglers with
Captain Travis White is one of the few char ter captains who specializes in
targeting native lake trout at the famed Stannard Rock in Lake Superior.
a viable fall back plan should the message. Prime dates book up
weather make it impossible to fish quickly so its best to lock down a
Stannard Rock. trip at your earliest convenience.
Also, this region of the Upper For those adventure seeking
Peninsula features lots of inland anglers who want to make the run
lakes that provide good pike, wall- to Stannard Rock in their own
eye and panfish action. boat, the best approach is to team
up with two or three boats so if
If You Go... one breaks down there will be
For those who have never been help nearby. Each boat will need
to Stannard Rock, its a good idea to be equipped with a VHF marine
to make the first adventure with a radio because there is no dependable
seasoned guide and charter cap- cell phone coverage at
tain like Travis White. Not only
is it safer to make this trek with a
Stannard Rock.
Stannard Rock is arguably the
licensed captain, the fishing tactics last frontier when it comes to tar-
shared will prove invaluable for geting native lake trout in the Great
future trips. Lakes. Anyone who has made the
To contact Travis White visit his trek to Stannard Rock will testify
web page at https://www.keween- the fishing is out of this world and
awcharters.com/ or check out his the adventure is worth the price of
Facebook page and send a private admission.n
Protect your property from deer or trespassers.
Enough said. Call us today!
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 29
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down-wind side and a lot of good
cover to ambush this dandy buck.
Just a Click Away!
Ahhh, perfect location, perfect tree,
easy to get to. Success would be
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So, like a bull in a china shop,
I set the treestand, chopping away at
a pesky vine that grew up the side
of the tree, pulling and yanking at it
to get it out of my way, not thinking
or caring what it was. In fact, the
hearty vine had no conscious spot in
my mind, well, not until a few days
later!
The Perfect Tree... told me.
Yep, the perfect tree in the per-
fect location, and one dandy buck.
Subscriptions And one more thing, the vine I
yanked and pulled on was indeed,
Email the Editor poison ivy.
Classifieds - Buy, Sell, Trade
Of course, not thinking about it
until I was itching like a hound with
Send Photos or Story Tips fleas, it spread. I had a rash break
out on the side of my face, my fore-
Advertising Information arms, behind my ears, and along my
belt line and other parts of my body
on to say with a little smile growing
on his face.
We have seen several cases of
poison ivy so far this season. The
conditions have been ideal for the
plant this year. Its found in most all
states except Alaska and Hawaii,
he went on to say.
The oil (urushiol) found in the
plant is a very effective deterrent.
Once the oil is on your skin, you
can bet you are going to be uncom-
fortable and will most likely avoid
that area at any cost, Dr. Wurster
Although if you can identify
you have come in contact with poi-
son ivy, you stand a good chance of
avoiding the blistery rash if you
shower within 15 to 30 minutes in
warm, soapy water. Also, wash all
your clothing immediately and any-
thing you had with you. The oil can
remain active for up to a year after-
wards. Just simply wash every-
thing!

www.woods-n-waternews.com too embarrassing to talk about. For

better than two weeks I struggled
with a horrible nagging itch.
Dr. Wurster prescribed oral ste-
roids for me. Although they didnt
completely take care of my bout
Also, check us out on I tried with the poison ivy, a steroid shot in
the rear, however, did.
every folk reme-
Facebook and Twitter! dy anyone sug- Pretty Nasty Stories...
gested or heard, Ive heard some pretty nasty
Its Easy . . . nothing seemed
to work or offer
stories about poison ivy. One I dealt
with was a fellow who was doing

VISIT TODAY! By Randy Jorgensen

30 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
some clean up around the house, he not insure immunity tomorrow, and you cannot pass it on to someone ing, scratching menace.
cleaned up some brush and burned vice versa. else by normal contact. Only the oil Absolutely the best precaution
it. He liked the smell of smoke and Rash symptoms can appear of the plant spreads the rash, Dr. and defense is recognizing it and
didnt mind standing in it as he within a few hours but can take two Wurster told me, dispelling a com- avoiding it. Many times though, the
burned. Poison ivy was in the brush to five days to appear. The rash mon myth. recognition occurs just about the
and he inhaled the oils of the ivy, starts as a red annoying itchy area As blisters start to form over time that youre in it.
getting it in his lungs. He became a that starts to swell. The area then the infected area you should never And now I have this great place
very sick man. It is very dangerous gets inflamed and will get covered break the blisters. Breaking the blis- to ambush a dandy buck, but there
in that form, he cautioned. in clusters of tiny pimples, the pim- ters can lead to blood poisoning, is no way he is worth risking anoth-
ples eventually merge and turn into he cautioned. er bout with poison ivy.
Sub Species... blisters. The fluid in the blisters Sore Subject... As the old saying goes, Leaves
There are three sub species of turns yellow, dries up, and becomes Poison ivy has become a sore of three, let them be...
the plant, poison ivy, oak and crusty. Left completely untreated, subject for those of us who enjoy Editors Note: Some of the infor-
sumac. All three species of plants this cycle of discomfort can last as the outdoors. Like almost every mation for this article was taken
are very hardy and adaptable. If short as five days, and in severe other peril in the outdoors, a little from a very informative web site,
there is at least eight to ten inches cases, as long as five to six weeks. education and understanding goes a www.outdoorplaces.com or www.
of rain a year, and it is below 4,000 The rash is not communicable, long way to dealing with this itch- poisonivy.aesir.com.n
feet, you can find it most anywhere.
Poison ivy is found in the eastern
portion of the United States and
poison oak is found more generally T HERES NOT HING DIF F ICULT A BOU T I T.
on the western side. T HERES NOT HING DIF F ICULT A BOU T I T.
All three of these plants emit a
poisonous oil irritant called urushi-
ol. This oil is the toxin in these
plants that makes you itch. In its
pure form, the amount you could fit
on the head of a pin could make
500 people very miserable.
Because urushiol is an oil and
not a water based fluid, it has some
troublesome qualities. It does not A N E W W O R L D D E M A N D S N E W H O L L A N D.
A Boomer compact tractor is the definition of ease. Controls are intuitive, your visibility is unmatched, and
evaporate, and as Dr. Wurster men- A Nthe
both
tool
EW ROPSWplatform
O R L Dand
for homeowners,
DE cabMareA Nlarge
rural lifestylers,
D Sand N clutter-free.
E W H O LBoomer
landscapers,
L A N D. tractors continue to be the ultimate power
A Boomer compact tractor is the definition of ease.farmers,
Controls municipalities, andvisibility
are intuitive, your anyoneiswho needs reliable
unmatched, and
tioned, it can linger for a year. It performance
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and cab arecomfortable package. Boomer tractors continue to be the ultimate power
large and clutter-free.
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even pet hair. As an oil it will Learn more about these 35- to 55-HP tractors at www.newholland.com/na
Simple routine maintenance and easy-to-switch implements and attachments
Learn more about these 35- to 55-HP tractors at www.newholland.com/na
vaporize if burned, the vapor is then
carried in the smoke and covers
everything it comes in contact with,
again contaminating all in its path www.burnips.com Burnips Equipment Companmail@burnips.com y
55232 FRBAN KLIN DRIVE, THREE RIVERS, MI 49093
for a year. Urushiol is present on the urnips Equipment Company
55232 FRANKLhItN tpD
:/R/wIVwEw, .TbHuRrnEip
EsR.cIVoE
mRS, MI 49093
http://2w6w9w-2.7b3 u-rn
3i2p5s3.com
leaves, stems and roots of the plant, Dorr, MI Big Rapids, MI Coopersville, MI 269Hudson,-273-325MI 3 Three Rivers, MI
3073 142nd Ave. 18612 Northland Dr. 7353 State Rd. 15838 Carleton Rd. 55232 Franklin Dr.

INDUSTRYS
and is still active even on dead (616) 896-9190 (231) 592-1200 (616) 997-9190 (517) 448-2071 (269) 273-3253
plants that have dried up. www.burnips.com mail@burnips.com
*Including 2 years of bumper-to-bumper coverage plus an extra 4 years of powertrain protection. 2017 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many
other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afliates. Equipped For A New World is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its

BEST WARRANTY.
And as Dr. Wurster commented, s*uInbcsliuddiairniges2oyreaafrslioaftebsu. mper-to-bumper coverage plus an extra 4 years of powertrain protection. 2017 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many
other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afliates. Equipped For A New World is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its
subsidiaries or af liates.

INDUSTRYS
It is really nasty stuff! Dorr, MI Big Rapids, MI Coopersville, MI Hudson, MI Three Rivers, MI
3073 142nd Ave. 18612 Northland Dr. 7353 State Rd. 15838 Carleton Rd. 55232 Franklin Dr.
Poison ivy, oak and sumac all (616) 896-9190 (231) 592-1200 (616) 997-9190 (517) 448-2071 (269) 273-3253
SRT-Pro PERIOD.
serve a useful purpose in nature.
Sure, most people will put them on Smart Ride Technology
INDUSTRYS
BEST WARRANTY.
BEST
INDUSTRYS WARRANTY.
NOT 5 YEARS. NOT 6 YEARS. A FULL 7 YEARS . *
Model Available Deck Sizes

SRT-
the same list of outdoor annoyances
Pro 54 61
PERIOD.

& 27hp Briggs and Stratton Commercial
as mosquitoes and flies, but Smartthe
BEST WARRANTY.
3 year residential / commercial engine warranty
Ride Technology Xtreme Turf Flow Deck

PERIOD.
54 Cut, Cash Price $6,599
Engine Options
plants are important to the ecosys- 61 Cut, Cash Price $6,799
NOT 5 YEARS. NOT 6 YEARS. A FULL 7 YEARS . *

PERIOD.
Confidant
tem. The small, white or blueish 25hp Kohler Confidant
Shown: 1526

berries found on the ivies feed a

SRT-Pro Model Engine Options: 25hp Confidant or 27hp Briggs Commercial
3 year residential / commercial engine warranty NOT 5 YEARS. NOT 6 YEARS. A FULL 7 YEARS . *

54 Cut, Cash Price $6,899

SRT- Smart Ride Technology consists of torsional front forks with Patented 61 Cut, Cash Price $7,099 NOT 5 YEARS. NOT 6 YEARS. A FULL 7 YEARS . *

number of birds and animals. The TCB-3 Elastomer both under the seat and on the back for a smooth ride
GT-Trac Precision handling, traction and balance
tangles they form also serve as shel-
Parker HTJ Hydrostatic Transaxles 1000 hour fluid change, 3 year warranty Cash Price starting as low as Shown: 1526

24 Intimidator Radial tires for a soft ride (Standard with 61 deck)

ter, and most animals are not affect-
$6,599
Shown: 1526

SRT-Pro
Control Panel with LCD display Keyless/enter personal code to start, hour Shown: 1526

ed by the irritants found in the oil.

meter (engine and deck), tachometer, low battery, time between oil change
Warranty: Lifetime Deck, 2 year limited, 3 year engine and hydraulic

The Good News... $0 down $134 mo. *

Smart Ride Technology

SRT-Pro 54 & SRT-

starting as low as

61 Pro
Model
The good news though is, poi- Program expires 6/30/17
Available Deck Sizes

*
.
27hp Briggs and Stratton Commercial
son ivy is easy to treat. Again, Dr. Destination charges not included. Ask your sales representative for details.
Destination charges not included. Ask your sales representative for details.
3 year residential / commercial engine warranty
*Tax, finance, destination, accessories and additional charges may apply. Spartan SRT-Pro 54 with Briggs and Stratton Commercial $7,259 Smart Ride Technology Xtreme Turf Flow Deck
Wurster recommends that if youwith 3.99% for 60 months financing shown. All Payments will be determined by the financial institution funding the loan based on the
applicants credit score and/or other information obtained from credit reporting agencies. 54 Cut, Cash Price $6,599

know you have come in contact

Engine Options
Tag revised 2/5/2017
WORLDS #1 SELLING
Smart Ride Technology
TRACTOR.
61 Cut, Cash Price $6,799
Model Available Deck Sizes
with the plants, you can take a
warm shower with soap and rid
SRT-Pro 54 & 61
Smart Ride Technology Xtreme Turf Flow Deck
Confidant

WORLDS $ #1 SELLING * TRACTOR.

27hp Briggs and Stratton Commercial
Save on MODEL XX
3 year residential / commercial engine warranty
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25hp Kohler Confidant
SRT-Pro Model Engine Options: 25hp Confidant or 27hp Briggs 54
Commercial
Cut, Cash Price $6,599 54 Cut, Cash Price $6,899 000 PER MONTH
yourself of some very uncomfort- Engine Options
SRT- Smart Ride Technology consists of torsional front forks with Cut,Power
61Patented WORLDS
WORLDS
Package includes
Cash Price $6,799 #1
#1 SELLING
SELLING TRACTOR.
TRACTOR.
61 Cut, Cash Price $7,099
TCB-3 Elastomer both under the seat and onSave the back foron a smoothMODEL
ride XX
able days ahead. And it can be treat- Confidant implement X & implement Z.
GT-Trac Precision handling, traction and balance
$
000 PER MONTH*
25hp Kohler Confidant
Parker HTJ Hydrostatic Transaxles 1000 Save Save
Power
hour fluid on on
change, MODEL MODEL
3Package
year warranty XX XX
includes Cash Price starting as low as
ed by your local doctor in a matter implement
$
000
3 year
with 61PER
residential / commercial
deck) X MONTH
engine warranty*
& implement SMITH TRACTOR
Z.

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SRT-Pro Model Engine Options: 25hpConfidant
24 Intimidator RadialCommercial
tires for a soft ride (Standard
or 27hp Briggs $www.burnips.com 54 Cut, Cash Price $6,899 * 000 PER MONTH

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mail@burnips.com

Pro
of a few days with oral steroids, or SRT- Smart Ride Technology consists of torsional
Control Panel withwith
front forks LCDPatented
display Keyless/enterPower
personal codePackage 0000
to start, hour Street
includes Name .Town Name
PowerSMITH Package 61 Cut,
time betweenTRACTOR
Cash includes .dealersite.com
Price
000.000.0000
$7,099
in some cases, a shot of cortizone. TCB-3 Elastomer both under the seat andmeter
on the(engine
back forand deck),ride
a smooth implement
tachometer, low battery,
0000 Street
X &
oil change implement Z.
Name .TownZ.Name
GT-Trac Precision handling, tractionand balance Lifetime Deck, 2 year limited,implement
Warranty: 3 yearDorr,
engine X & implement
MIand hydraulic Big Rapids, . MI Coopersville, MI Hudson, MI Three Rivers, MI
000.000.0000 dealersite.com
There are some of us who seem Parker HTJ Hydrostatic Transaxles 1000 hour fluid change, 3 year warranty 3073 Cash
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Northland Dr. as7353 State Rd. 15838 Carleton Rd. 55232 Franklin Dr.
www.burnips.com mail@burnips.com
$0 down SMITH
$134 mo.
TRACTOR
to be immune to the urushiol oil in 24 Intimidator Radial tires for a soft ride (Standard with 61 deck) (616) 896-9190 (231) 592-1200
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Smart Ride Technology 0000 Street *With Name Name
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starting as low0000 as *000.000.0000 Street Name .Town
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With approved credit. Program restrictions
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may apply. See dealer for details.
the plant. I thought I might have Model meter (engine and deck),Available DecktimeSizes
tachometer, low battery, between oil change .dealersite.com

SRT-Pro 54 & 61
Dorr, MI Big Rapids, MI Coopersville, MI LifetimeHudson,
Deck, 2 yearMIlimited, 3 yearThree Rivers, MI 000.000.0000
been one of those lucky few. I can 3073 142nd Ave. 18612 Northland Dr. 7353 State Rd. 15838 CarletonRd. 55232
Warranty: engine and hydraulic
Franklin
Destination
included. Ask your sales representative for*details. 27hp Briggs and Stratton Commercial
Dr.
charges not
Program expires 6/30/17
.

(616) 896-9190 (231) 592-1200 (616) 997-9190 (517) 448-2071 (269) 273-3253
$0 down $134 mo.
now tell you Im not. Immunity Smart Ride Technology Xtreme Turf Flow Deck
*With approved credit. Program restrictions may apply. charges
Destination See dealer
not for details.
included.
3 year residential / commercial engine warranty
Ask your sales representative for details.
*Tax, finance, destination, accessories and additional charges may apply. Spartan SRT-Pro 54 with Briggs and Stratton Commercial $7,259
with 3.99% for 60 months financing shown. All Payments will be determined by the financial institution funding the loan based on the
*With approved credit. Program restrictions may apply. See dealer for details.
today to contact of the plant does starting as low as * 54 Cut, Cash Price $6,599
applicants credit score and/or other information obtained from credit reporting agencies.

Engine Options Tag revised 2/5/2017

Program expires 6/30/17

.
61 Cut, Cash Price $6,799
Confidant Destination charges not included. Ask your sales representative for details. * Destination charges not included. Ask your sales representative for details.
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 31
*Tax, finance, destination, accessories and additional charges may apply. Spartan SRT-Pro 54 with Briggs and Stratton Commercial $7,259
with 3.99% for 60 months financing shown. All Payments will be determined by the financial institution funding the loan based on the
25hp Kohler Confidant
applicants credit score and/or other information obtained from credit reporting agencies.
3 year residential / commercial engine warranty
Tag revised 2/5/2017
SRT-Pro Model Engine Options: 25hp Confidant or 27hp Briggs Commercial 54 Cut, Cash Price $6,899
SRT- Smart Ride Technology consists of torsional front forks with Patented
 The Michigan Outdoor Hall
of Fame inductees for 2017
A
s promised in
last months
edition of
Woods-N-
Water News,
the Michigan
Outdoor Hall of Fame
committee had already
nominated potential induct-
By Mark Sak
ees. The voting is
complete. There were
both surprises and
expected nominees, and as we make
the announcement I just cant help
from being extremely excited about
the future of this Hall of Fame. We
know many true icons in Michigans
outdoor history will be inducted. The
most interesting and truly fulfilling
aspect though will be those folks that
no one knows much about. These
are the folks that most deserve an
acknowledgement for their dedication
and hard work. Here are the 2017
inductees of the Michigan Outdoor
Hall of Fame.
Fred Bear, founder
of Bear Archery
The founding father of bow hunt-
ing, he touched every aspect of the
sport.
Design and production led Bear
Archery to be one of the largest
outdoor manufacturers on the planet.
Fred Bear was an innovator but was
also so much more. He still holds two
Pope and Young records and at one
time was the only hunter ever to hold
5 Pope and Young records at once.
His brown bear and Stone sheep
still are looked at as an unbelievable
record for a man in his 60s and were
harvested with a long bow. Fred Bear
was also instrumental in starting the
first bow season in Michigan in 1937.
Mort Neff, host, Michigan
Outdoor Television
Neff was born in Pontiac in
1903. He was one of the first ever to
bring the outdoors to television in
1951. His show ran for 24 years, was
informative as well as entertaining
and served to inspire many Michigan
hunters and anglers. It was reported
that his outdoor reports caused cer-
tain areas of the state to be flooded by
hunters or anglers when there was a
good bite or good hunting conditions.
His show inspired a long run of other
Michigan Outdoor television shows
as well following in the same tradi-
tion of reporting on Michigans great
outdoors.
Larry Kelly, founder of
Magnaport International
Larry was a pioneer in the sport
of handgun hunting and revolution-
32 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
ized porting handguns and
shotguns in an effort to
reduce recoil and muzzle
jump. Since 1974, his
company has ported tens of
thousands of firearms from
Michigan to New Zealand.
Larry was a life member of
Safari Club International
and inducted in the
Safari Club Hall
of Fame in 1989.
He was the founder of the Hand-
gun Hunter Hall of Fame. He was
awarded the Outstanding American
Handgunner award in 1986. Larry
Kelly was the first hunter to harvest
the African Big 5 with a handgun. He
has over 100 world class trophies,
with 59 of those in the top 10 of Sa-
fari Club Internationals record book. Fred Bear Mor t Neff
He was a tremendous contributor of
many conservation efforts nationally
and in the state of Michigan.
Tom Huggler, Prolific
Writer And Promoter
Tom was born in 1945 in Detroit,
Michigan and grew up in the Flint
area. His first national magazine ar-
ticle was published when he was only
12 years old. He became the Camp-
ing Editor of Outdoor Life magazine.
Tom is also a prolific freelance writer
and has penned thousands of articles
in more than 100 publications. He
has written more than 20 books and
appeared on numerous outdoor tele-
vision shows. He is also a respected
promoter and has helped promote
dozens of outdoor shows throughout
the region. In 1978, Tom was named
Outdoor Communicator of the Year Larry Kelly Tom Huggler
by Michigan United Conservation
Clubs. He was also President of
the Outdoor Writers Association of
America in 1992.
Donald Buz Lockman;
teacher, ranger
Buz instructed kids in the laurels
of the outdoors for twenty nine of the
thirty-eight years he was a teacher,
as part of either an Outdoors Class
or a Natural Resources Class affili- Eppinger Manufacturing
ated with the science department at
Boyne City High School. Hundreds steward of the land. He had several
of students have learned a multitude students go on to careers as conserva-
of information from the hands-on ap- tion officers and credit Buz for excit-
proach this man took to the wonders ing them about conservation. Donald Buz Lockman
of Mother Nature and the sanctity of
how humans need to work with her. Michigan Hall of Fame and sold millions of fishing lures
From constructing turkey barrels to Business Category; across the world. Known widely for
hiking through swamps in winter, the Daredevil and Red Eye spoons,
to identifying those species of trees Eppinger Manufacturing there is a good chance if you looked
that inhabit the Northwest section of Company, Dearborn in your grandpas tackle box, your
Michigan, Buz led his charges with Founded in 1906 by Lou Ep- fathers tackle box or in your own
excitement, sensitivity, and dedica- pinger. Four generations of family tackle box, there is an Eppinger Lure
tion in his role as an educator and have operated this Michigan business just waiting to catch another fish.n
 EVENTS Schedule:
Fridays & Saturdays 9am-8pm, sundays 9am-6pm

May 12-14
June 9-11
Customer july 7-9
Appreciation august 18-20
Weekends!!! september 15-17
6565 Dixie Highway Clarkston, MI 48346
www.accuratefirearmsllc.com october 6-8

Ruger Customer Appreciation

Weekend: July 14-16
DAILY GIVEAWAYS!
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 33
 Summertime in Michigan
L
ast summer my friend,
Mark, invited me to join
him and his sons, Dan-
iel and Lance, where
they camp in Northern
Michigan. By follow-
ing his directions through a maze
of two-tracks, I found them at a
nice campsite deep in the woods on
public land near a chain of small
lakes. After pitching my tent near
theirs, I portaged my canoe down
the hill to the lake. I really liked the
looks of the area. The campsite was
clean, there were no cabins lining
the lakeshore, the clear air smelled
of spruce trees, and the place was
remote enough to require a tent and
canoe. This was genuine camping,
as opposed to a big fifth-wheel rig
set up in a State Park.
The boys were excited about
the fishing they had been enjoying.
Were lucky, one of them said.
Were the only people in the whole
universe that fished in these lakes
today. I had to agree with that.
The lakes seemed to hold all species
of panfish plus bass and pike. A fish
fry seemed like a good idea, so we
planned on keeping a few
fish that afternoon.
Once out on the water,
I found that the clear, deep
lakes were separated by
shallow channels filled with
rushes and lily pads. Each
lake was ringed by green
spruce trees. I enjoyed ex-
ploring through
the chain of
lakes while cast- By Darryl Quidort
ing a lure. I even caught a couple of
keepers myself to add to the fish
fry that we enjoyed that evening.
The weather was beautiful as we
sat around a campfire telling stories
that night. Yes, we had smores, and
I made a dessert in a Dutch oven by
the fire. It didnt come out too good,
but I didnt hear any complaints and
it all seemed to disappear. The boys
were amazed at the amount of stars
in the night sky. They dont get to
enjoy them in the city where they
live. Then a whippoorwill sounded
off nearby. I hadnt heard one in
years and the sound took me back
to my childhood. My dad and I
used to fish on a little lake similar to
these, I told them. Wed
fish until after dark, wait-
ing for the whippoorwills
to sing. Then wed quit
fishing and slowly row
back across the lake in the
darkness as the night birds
called. Ill never forget
that.
Mark told
us, As a kid,
I camped right
here with my dad. The place really
hasnt changed all that much and
Im glad to be able to bring my kids
here. Ill bet they never forget it
either.
The wilderness-like calls of
loons woke me up in the morning.
For breakfast, I baked biscuits in the
Dutch oven over the coals of last
nights campfire. Guess I need more
practice though, because they came
out burned black on the bottom. We What fish lived here?
just cut off the black part and ate
em anyway. Camping is like that.
Besides, we wanted to go fishing.
Marks dad had told him that the
outlet of these lakes led to a larger
lake. The boys were anxious to
try another lake, so we got out the
maps. Hmmman old map did
show a big lake that wasnt on the
new map. We loaded up the canoes
for a day trip and set out to find the
Lost Lake.
Canoes are just made for adven-
tures like that. They can go where
motor boats cant go. At the end
of the chain of lakes we located the
overgrown outlet and pushed our
canoes into the thick rushes and lily
pads. It was tough going. In places
the flow was choked by cattails and
thick, high grass, but after a half
mile of effort, paddling and pushing
the canoes, we were rewarded by
discovering a big, beautiful lake that
is not even shown on modern maps.
Paddling out onto the crystal clear
water of Lost Lake we could clearly
see the bottom and drop-offs leading
down to deep, blue colored depths.
While paddling along a drop-off
in my little canoe, I caught three
largemouth bass on a bucktail spin-
ner. The biggest of them covered
the 18 inch mark of the ruler on my
canoe thwart. Across the lake, I

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34 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS

A beautiful, remote lake on public land in Nor thern Michigan.
heard an excited commotion from
where Mark was paddling their
canoe as the boys fished. Im told
they had caught a couple nice large-
mouth bass before they hooked into
a monster smallmouth bass.
I didnt think it would even fit
into the net, Daniel remarked excit-
edly. But it did!
Unfortunately, the commotion I
had heard wasnt when they caught
the big fish, it was when they lost
it. Somehow, the master angler
sized smallmouth escaped from the
stringer as they lowered it over the
side of the canoe. Could there ever
be a better reason to want to return
FIRST FAWNS...
Larry Piotrowski has
provided plenty of
amazing photos of
Oakland Co. deer. He
sent this photo of the
fawn...(right) Larry
said, must have just
been born because
he-she is still wet and
it hasnt rained in
12 hours. Its mother
walked five yards
away and still looks
pregnant. I backed out but expected a twin to soon be born. I
returned an hour later and the twin was just born.
to that lake?
Dont bother asking me where
this adventure took place. Ill never
give away Marks favorite camp-
ing site, but if he should ask me to
return this year, you can bet Ill go.
In fact, I cant wait to go back for
another great camping experience.
We are fortunate, here in Michigan,
to have places where we can camp,
fish, explore, and enjoy public land
in relative solitude. Northern Mich-
igan must hold hundreds of such
places, reserved for those who are
adventurous enough to seek them.
Summer is here. Life is good.
Get out and live it.n

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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 35

 In Their Hands...By Mark Martin
Teaching kids to fish while using the right
gear makes all the difference in the world

T
heres something
about watching a child
reeling in a fish thats
pleasing to ones soul.
I mean, have you ever
seen someone so excit-
ed? And I love the look on their face
when I make a scoop and the fish is
safe within my Frabill net; their eyes
open wide, a grin ear-to-ear along
with the giggles of delight.
With that said, summers end
can already be seen on the calendar.
If your goal was to take a kid fishing
this past spring, but time flew by
and the deed was never done, well,
its not too late.
Late summer and early fall are
great times to get a youngsters on
the water. Air temperatures are com-
fortable, the fish are biting and the
bugs are not.
Gear Em Up
My granddaughter, Delaney,
grew up fast. But although now a
young lady, she still loves to fish,
and catch fish. Even to this day, it
doesnt matter the size, species or
battle endured, each fish is still a
trophy to her. And shes very good
when it comes to catching, as well.
But Delaney has not become the
accomplished anger she is today just
by chance. I had her using quality
equipment from the very first cast.
There was no toy equipment for
her. Instead, it was quality fishing
equipment, and I know it made a
difference.
Take Advantage
The lack of sensitivity and the
inability to cast well with a cheap,
short, heavy, fiberglass rod coupled
with plastic reel spooled with sub-
standard line would frustrate even
the best angler. So why would you
want any kid to have to suffer while
using this type equipment? That
question befuddles me, too.
Fishing with inferior equipment
is just as maddening for kids as it
would be for you; perhaps even
more so. No, Im not saying you
have to spend $400 on a new rod
and reel combo for them. I am say-
ing, however, you should let them
use similar equipment as you would;
conceivably the very same equip-
ment you use.
If you have been looking to up-
grade your own rods and reels, then
heres your excuse to hand down
what youve been using and go out
and buy yourself something new.
Or, better yet, purchase something
new for them; gear they can truly
call their own. But whatever you do,
dont buy them an inferior rod and
reel combo; you know, one that will
just do for now.
Fishing equipment for beginners
should be light in weight yet du-
rable. A graphite Berkley Lighting
Rod IM6 spinning rod, for example,
can be purchased for under $40, and
is all of the above mentioned and
more. A two-piece 6- or 6-1/2-foot-
er, medium-light in action is a good,
multi-species piece.
A reel that balances well with
a rod is an essential component, as
well. A 6-ball-bearing ABU Garcia
Silver Max spinning reel, retailing
under $40, is a great match for the
Lighting Rod. The combo balances
at the rods handle, just ahead of the
reel, which allows the combo to be
more sensitive and have less hand
and wrist fatigue.
Fill It
Line, by far, is the most impor-
tant piece of equipment, no matter
how old an angler is. Its not only
the one thing holding a hooked fish
to a rod and reel, but cheap line
often kinks, making it tough to cast
even the heaviest of lures.
Monofilament (aka: mono) is
what I suggest for beginners. But
make sure you spool on mono thats
soft and subtle for easier casting, yet
abrasion resistant; the latter is essen-
tial for young anglers who are more
apt to get snagged up more often.
Berkleys Trilene XL (extra
limp) of 8-pound test will flow off a
reel smoothly, thus helps kids make
longer casts, yet it resist getting
scraped up by rocks and wood.
As for terminal tackle, any kid I
take fishing will be using the same
high-quality products I do, such
as Berkley Ball-Bearing Swivels,

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36 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
Cross-Lok Snaps-Swivels and
Snaps.
Hooks, too, should be the best
money can buy. Because nothings
more frustrating to a kid than losing
a fish due to failure or weak steel or
a dull hook. You can be guaranteed
Ill be teaching kids the knots an-
glers use while tying on Super-sharp
Daiichi and Tru-Turn hooks.
Patience
Makes Perfect
Taking kids fishing takes pa-
tience. Lots of it.
Even when the bite is good and
the catching is steady, kids, espe-
cially the youngest of them, will
lose interest after a while. And thats
okay. Messing around onshore or in
the boat is part of experience.
Go ahead, let the kids play
around with the live bait. Reaching
into a Frabill Crawler Can and grab-
bing the night crawlers or leeches
while watching them slither through
their fingers is all part of the learn-
ing curve. And then theres trying to
catch lively minnows from a Frabill
Insulated Fish Bait Bucket thats
always a kid-pleaser. I mean, could
there be anything be better for a
Mark Mar tins granddaughter (center) not only learned a lot from her grandfather about catching fish, but en-
joyed every moment of it because of using high-quality equipment. David A. Rose photo
youngin on a late summers day? I
think not.
As my granddaughter grew
older, Id even let her rummage
through my Plano tackle totes and
check out all the Rapala crankbaits
and Northland jigs and spinners. It
was a learning experience that hooks
are razor sharp and are to be handled
with care.
And like all kids, my grand-
daughter became more and more
inquisitive, thus questions about my
Lowrance sonar and GPS were com-
mon place when we were fishing
from my Lund Pro-V.
Soon she knew more about bot-
tom composites, structure, and the
environment that fish live in than
many seasoned anglers four times
her age. And when it came to the
GPS and the Navionics mapping
program playing in the background
of the screen, she can now look at
the hydrographic map and determine
where the fish are likely to be hold-
ing on any waterway.
Another great tool that allowed
Delaney (as well Grandpa) to learn
about life under the waters sur-
face way my MarCum underwater
viewing system. From the large,
color display, any kid I take out gets
a firsthand fish-eyes view of the
underwater world. And theyll be
intrigued for hours.
Good Now,
Better Later
Its taken me a long time and a
lot of hard work to get where I am
in the world of professional fishing.
But I guarantee you it was my fish-
ing experiences with my own father
and grandfather, and being able to
use proper gear, that really got me
started on the right path.
My granddaughter has become
an experienced angler because I al-
lowed her to use quality equipment
from her very first day with a rod in
her hand. And, trust me, it makes all
the difference in the world.
Theres still plenty of time to
get a kid fishing before the weather
turns for the worse. Not only take
the time, but get them fishing
with the right gear early on and
the adventure will be better for all
involved.
Mark Martin is a professional
walleye tournament angler and
instructor for the fishing/Vacation
schools, who resides in SW Lower
Michigan. Visit his website at mark-
martins.net for more information.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 37
 BASS FISHING
T
he Saturday before
Memorial Day is
especially significant
to two groups of bass
anglers those who
fish tournaments and
those who like to eat bass. Thats
because anglers can now fish for
both species of bass largemouth
and smallmouth year-round in
Michigan, as long as they release
them immediately, until the pos-
session season arrives later this
summer.
This wasnt always so.
Michigans bass season was
set by the Legislature in 1970, to
begin the Saturday before Memo-
rial Day and run through Dec. 31.
That remains the open season today
except on Lake St. Clair, and the
Detroit and St. Clair rivers.
It has always been illegal to
take, or attempt to take, bass during
the closed season, but there were a
number of catch-and-release excep-
tions to the season over the years.
This changed when the Michi-
gan Natural Resources Commission
allowed year-round catch-and-re-
lease bass fishing at its April 9, 2015
meeting, a rule that became effec-
tive immediately.
Michigans first bass season
was set around 1900, to run May
20-March 31. It remained that way
until 1909, when it was changed to
June 15-Jan. 31. In 1929, the opener
was pushed back to June 25, and the Bass, like these smallmouth, are growing in popularity with spor t anglers in Michigan.
season closed Dec. 31.
In 1951, the season opener was fishing groups, on six large southern and depending on the year, it minimum size limits and daily creel
changed to the third Saturday of Michigan lakes, opening April 1. doesnt protect them through the limits.
June. Eleven years later (1962), the This season remained in effect entire spawn, but it protects a lot of The first minimum size limit
season opened June 1, except on until 2006, when catch-and-release them through the peak of the spawn on bass was enacted in 1932, at 10
Lake St, Clair and the bass fishing was allowed enough that theyll survive and inches. It remained at 10 inches un-
adjoining rivers, where it statewide to correspond reproduce. til 1976, when it was changed to 12
opened the fourth Sat- to the opener of walleye Bass are members of the sun- inches. In 1993, it was lengthened to
urday of June. This was and pike season, which fish family and like all sunfish are 14 inches, where it remains today.
the first time that the St. opened the last Saturday very prolific. The average female The change in size limit has pro-
Clair system had a more of April in the Lower bass produces about 30,000 eggs duced better fishing; anglers report
restrictive season. Peninsula and May 15 in per pound of body weight. It doesnt catching more, and larger, average-
In 1968, the statewide the Upper Peninsula. take many successful females to sized bass than in the past.
opener was changed to The catch-and-release ensure theyll produce the next Because bass are efficient preda-
May 30, while the St. bass season was ex- generation. tors, there are indications that the
Clair system remained panded to remain open Although considered quality larger size limit on bass has helped
the fourth Saturday in Todd Grischke, year-round statewide in table fare especially smallmouths improve panfish dynamics. This is
June. One year later, the assistant chief of the 2015. bass are more prized these days especially true in bluegills, which
statewide opener was Michigan Depar tment Seasons were for their sporting qualities than as can be prone to stunting (with
changed to Memorial of Natural Resources, historically written into foodstuffs. The vast majority of individuals remaining small) when
Day, though the St. Clair Fisheries Division statute to protect spawn- self-described bass anglers say they their populations get overly large in
system season remained ing populations and always release their catch. a body of water.
the fourth Saturday of June. In 1976, have changed several times over There has also been a total The daily creel limit was set at
the opener on the St. Clair system the last 100 years, explained Todd change in angler behavior, from a five in 1932, too, where it remains
became the third Saturday in June. Grischke, assistant chief of the harvest mentality to a catch-and- today, though from 1940-41, anglers
In 1988, an experimental catch- Michigan Department of Natural release mentality, Grischke said. on the Great Lakes were allowed to
and-release season was established, Resources, Fisheries Division. It Besides seasonal restrictions keep five largemouth bass and 10
at the behest of organized bass doesnt protect them completely, on harvesting bass, there are also smallmouths.
38 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS

Anglers typically enjoy good
bass fishing around the opener,
when the fish are post-spawn and
feeding eagerly to recover from the
rigors of reproduction. They are
generally in shallow water, which
makes them easier to locate.
Bass are the top freshwater
gamefish species pursued nation-
ally and are always among the top
targets mentioned by anglers when
surveyed in Michigan.
Bass are very important in
Michigan, from a recreational stand-
point and an economic standpoint,
but not as much from a harvest
standpoint as they once were,
Grischke said. They are pursued by
a large number of our anglers and
generate a tremendous amount of
economic activity.
Found statewide in most lakes
and streams, bass are at the top of
Bass are the top freshwater game-
fish species pursued nationally and
are always among the top targets
mentioned by anglers when sur-
veyed in Michigan. MDNR photos
the food chain in many of these wa-
ter bodies, feeding on many species
of minnows or smaller fish, as well
as crawfish, frogs, leeches, and well,
just about anything. It isnt unusual
to find odd items even small birds
and turtles in their stomachs.
Most bass anglers prefer to fish
with artificial lures these days, and
all manner of them from bottom-
bouncing jigs to top-water poppers
to everything in between will
produce, though there are still those
who prefer to fish with live bait,
which is perfectly legal on most
waters.
Get more information on sport
fishing in Michigan at www.michi-
gan.gov/fishing.n
Prepared By the MDNR
Bass tournaments: Big
splash in Michigan waters
In just about every human endeavor, there are those people think of when they see televised tournaments
who aspire to be the best of the best. Its true for fish-
ing, too, and one way anglers measure their status is by
holding tournaments.
There are tournaments for many fisheries from
Great Lakes salmon/trout derbies to ice-fishing bluegill DNR is collecting useful data and anticipates that will
and crappie contests. But no fish is more highly pur-
sued by tournament anglers than bass.
The bass tournament phenomenon started in the
South decades back, but contests are now held nation-
wide, and Michigan is in the thick of it.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
has begun a program to monitor bass fishing
tournaments and quantify just how significant
they really are.
As of 2016, bass fishing tournaments were re-
quired to register with the state of Michigan, as well as Americas top bass tournament anglers and he says the
report basic results after the tournament took
place, said Tom Goniea, the DNR fisheries
biologist who runs the program. We had
a really strong first-year response; 2,096
tournaments were registered throughout the
state. They were held on 271 water bodies
across the state.
The DNR Fisheries Division staff was
surprised.
We had expected somewhere around
1,000 tournaments to be registered. Get-
ting that many registered was unexpected, Tom Goniea, the DNR
but it does go to show you the popularity of fisheries biologist
this activity in the state, Goniea said. The
season opens the Saturday before Memorial
Day and it drops off significantly after September and
October, so youre looking at about 400 tournaments a
month throughout the summer.
Tournaments range from large, professional events
with six-figure top prizes to small, three-hour week-
night events where anglers throw a handful of dollars
into a pot and fish for it.
The average tournament isnt what most people
would think of, Goniea said. The average size
tournament that was registered was less than 14 boats
and was really comprised of a regular Thursday night
get-together by a group of like-minded anglers. Ninety-
nine percent of those events do not resemble what
Pro bass angler
Kevin VanDam of
Kalamazoo fights
a bass toward his
waiting boat.
Garrick Dixon photo
like the Bassmasters.
Goniea said fisheries managers were pleased by the
cooperation of the tournament fishermen, who will-
ingly registered events and largely reported results. The
continue.
This year is off to a strong start; even though
tournament season hadnt started, we had more than
1,650 tournaments registered by mid-April, Goniea
said. That puts us on pace to register at least as many
tournaments as 2016 and potentially more.
Tournament anglers range from guys who join in an
event on their local lake occasionally to fishermen who
make their living chasing bass around the country.
Kevin VanDam, from Kalamazoo, is one of
tournament landscape is healthy.
Theres a lot of growth right now, said
VanDam, who has been tournament fishing
since he was a young teen and has been at
it for more than 30 years. High school and
collegiate fishing is exploding across the
country. Both my kids are on the college
fishing team.
Bass tournament fishing in Michigan is
growing.
VanDam said national circuits have been
visiting the state for decades now, though
the bulk of national activity remains in the
South, where huge reservoirs can accommo-
date a big field of anglers.
In Michigan, the big events have largely been rel-
egated to the Great Lakes and connecting waters: Lake
St. Clair, Saginaw Bay and the Bays de Noc in the Up-
per Peninsula.
These days geographic region is not a hindrance
to fishermen, VanDam said. There used to be just a
few of us from here who were competing nationally,
but now there are lots of guys fishing all over the coun-
try. Even the state, with its Pure Michigan campaign,
has realized how important fishing is, especially bass
fishing.
With salmon fishing the way it is because of the
forage base and all that, bass is king in Michigan.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 39
Big bore accuracy
in the deer woods
T
hree years ago, are now legal state wide.
new centerfire This is good news for all
rifle regula- southern zone deer hunt-
tions were ers. However, many deer
approved for hunters still do not know
Michigan, this. Most shotguns kick
zone three, deer hunting. like a mule unless Mag-
Straight walled cartridges Na-Ported, and many tend
(brass 1.16 inch min.- 1.8 to be heavy and awkward
inch long max.), in the confines of a
35 cal. or larger,
By Joe Delaney deer blind. Because
of the plastic wad/
sabot, muzzle brakes dont work on
shotguns or muzzleloaders (www.
Mag-Na-Port.com). Smooth bore
shotguns are short range deer guns,
usually with only 1200-1400 fps
velocity.
3415 South Portage As of April 2017, the new
Jackson, MI 49201 Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle in .450
(517) 740-6833 Bushmaster is the first production,
WWW.JACKSONGAMEBIRDS.COM custom grade rifle, available through
all dealers everywhere. This is very
good news for every Michigan deer
hunter! According to the current
Hornady Handbook, 9th edition; the
.450 bm is ballistically superior to
all of the other new legal to use cali-
bers. Its powerful and flat shooting
out to 200 yards, plus. This 2200 fps
rifle is equal to the formidable old
.358 Winchester with 250 gr. ammo
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40 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
At the bench with new Ruger Scout 450 and cleaning tools.
(Pet Loads by Ken Waters).
This is important information
in states such as Indiana and Ohio
and others with new straight walled
regulations. At the beginning,
only expensive custom grade .450s
had been available. No major gun
maker wanted to offer a good, low
cost production rifle. Now thats
changed. Prior to 2016, the only on
the market production .450 was the
Ruger American, and it was for sale
exclusively through Randys Hunt-
ing Center in Bad Axe. Thank good-
ness for Randys efforts working
with Ruger, he started the low cost
production 450 availability program.
As advertised in this publication
he has sold over 6,000 Ruger .450
rifles to date. www.randyshunting-
center.com
Bushmaster
The new Ruger Gunsite Scout
Rifle in .450 Bushmaster has excel-
lent fit and feel. Before scoping, it
weighs only 6.6 lbs. with a good
muzzle brake and it has all the bells
and whistles. Among other features,
its adjustable length of pull sys-
tem perfects gun fit even for youths.
This production, custom grade rifle,
is about one-half to one-third the
cost of the initially available high
grade .450s. On May 1, I received a
new Scout .450 from Ruger for field
testing. The following includes the
preparation and the results of that
test.
Sight Systems
Proper scope installation on
the Ruger Scout is easy and exact
because the scope bases are one
complete unit, milled into the re-
ceiver. Ruger matching scope rings
are also standard features. A better
scope mounting system and a stron-
ger rifle; consider also that the cost
of scope rings and bases are elimi-
nated. I like that! The Michigan
deer woods are usually shaded with
heavy, overhead canopies and dense
undergrowth. In these reduced-light
hunting conditions, well scoped
rifles are an asset to accuracy poten-
tial. In fact, they really help an old
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deer hunter like me to shoot better.
The Leupold VX 3i 10X40mm
scope was my choice for a match
up on the new Scout. It has good
eye relief and its bright and clear.
While hunting, I keep my variable
scopes on the lowest setting because
of mostly close encounters. How-
ever, long range precise shooting is
always an immediate option. A good
range finder is a real compliment for
these situations and its fun to use.
(leupold.com/freecds).
New Rifle Break In
All new rifles, after proof (test)
firing at the factory, are shipped with
fouled bores and require bore clean-
ing before break-in shooting/zeroing
in. Some manufacturers recommend
partial rifle disassembly, cleaning
and lubrication. But thats another
story.
I use a good liquid/foam bore
cleaner Wipe-Out Patch-Out, the
same product many industry techni-
cians use. After cleaning it requires
no oiling, for first shot accuracy.
Incidentally, cleaning a muzzle
brake with foam cleaner is a snap,
after applying foam. I just use a few
Q-tips and/or bits of twisted paper
towels for easy swabbing.
Following the industry standard,
at the range I swipe out the bore
with liquid Wipe-Out cleaner, 2-3
wet patches, then dry patch. I do
this between every first five shots,
then after every three shots. I have
been taught this cold barrel break-in
shooting and cleaning is in effect
lapping the bore. It pre-empts
maximum accuracy potential. Some
gun makers recommend 40 rounds
of shooting for this procedure. I
find this a good guideline, but it
may not always be necessary to use
this much ammo. Just before range
shooting, I had no problem laser
bore sighting with the muzzle brake
in place. Open bore sighting was an
easy confirmation and little scope
adjustment was necessary.
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An Experienced
Shooting Team Helps
Fortunately, I am a member of
Perch Point Conservation Club, lo-
cated in Casco, and have some good
shooting peers. Several of them
helped in this venture. To a man,
they noted the good carry balance
and feel of the Scout .450. The bul-
lets heavy impact in the back stop,
dirt berm, was apparent, and this is
an ideal brush gun was the decla-
ration. As expected, out of the box
accuracy, less than m.o.a., occurred
under controlled shooting.
The rifle shot well, the first
shooter shot well and the second
shooter, shot well, sometimes. Three Paul Paulus mid-range target at 50 yards three shots-one hole!
targets were as follows: Mid-range
trajectory: at 50 yards, three shots,
one hole by Paul Paulus, qualified
target. Pauls second target at 100
yards, three shots measuring .950
inch, qualified target, his third target
at 100 yards three shots measuring
.323 inches, two shots qualified and
my one shot-plus, not qualified. Let
it be known that at this last target
that there were non-consecutive
firings during final scope adjust-
ments. In other words, this rifle, the
new Ruger Scout .450, shoots better
than the author of this story. Thank
goodness for good rifles and good
shooting partners.
In conclusion, I wish you better
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 41
Fly rods and bluegills
I
f there is any freshwater fish
that fights harder than a big
bluegill, we would sure like
to meet that finny creature.
And, of course, the way to
magnify that fight, making
the most of it, is to hook that big
bluegill on a light fly rod. June and
July are certainly the months for
the best top-water bluegill action.
The fish will be bedding,
but more importantly, they
will be in the shallows and
much easier to catch than
when the water warms and
they retreat to the depths.
Bluegills are preda-
tory and they will attack
smaller fish and about
anything they
can get in their
mouths. They
By George Rowe
prove this every so often by whack-
ing a bass plug that is three or four
inches long. They are especially
vulnerable when they are feeding
on the surface. Surface feeding can
be induced by a hatch of mayflies,
dragonflies or dobsonflies. When
you see them rising on a nice calm
morning, it should get your heart
JOE THOMAS PRO SERIES ROOSTER TAIL
DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY
FOR BASS
This new Rooster Tail was designed with
input from professional angler Joe Thomas
and built specifically for bass and schooling
stripers. Special components make it extra
strong to handle the toughest fish, and it features all the
attributes that make Rooster Tail so productive. Available in two sizes,
and ounce for long casts and fast retrieves, the Joe Thomas Series
Rooster Tail comes in 12 finishes hand-selected by Joe Thomas.
42 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
pumping. A bluegill that is feeding
at the surface will surely take your
offering.
The best fly rod lures would
include rubber spiders. One that
is about the size of a quarter, with
the rubber legs outstretched, would
be about right. Small cork-bodied
poppers will also work well. Choose
among those tied on number eight
or ten hooks. You can even
use trout flies, choosing
dries that match the cur-
rent mayfly hatch or wets
or even nymphs. On many
inland lakes, there will be a
current of brown drakes and
these can easily be matched
with a dark brown fly tied
on a rather large
hook, no smaller
than a number 10.
Before June is over, some of
the local lakes will have a hatch
of Hexagenia mayflies, the giant
of them all, often called the cad-
dis hatch, even though it is not
a caddis fly. The big Hex flies are
a real mouthful for bluegills and
they will get the bass going as well.
Watch for the rise forms to show up
Classic Rooster Tail w/HD
Split Ring & Pre-Sharpened
Black Nickel Hook
Pulsating Hackle/Tinsel
Dressed Hook Attracts Fish
Genuine Silver,
Brass and/or
Painted Blades
their bass relatives, in that respect.
Bluegills larger than your hand provide a terrific fight on a fly rod.
in the evening, when the lake gets
flat. The absolute favorite fly for
bluegills (and bass) is a dragonfly.
They hatch on lily pads, lakeside
brush and reeds and often flutter
down to the water when they leave
their larval cases. When they hit the
water, there is often a big splash as a
bluegill has a light meal.
A good rod choice for this
bluegill fishing would be a five or
six weight rod, with a torpedo or
bass taper floating line to match,
on the reel. A rod in that weight
will be light enough to fish with
for hours and light enough to get a
real bend in it, from even a six-inch
bluegill. A nine-inch fish will bend
it way down as the fish bores for
the depths and circles the boat. You
wont need a fancy tapered leader.
You can make up a fine bluegill
fishing leader by first tying on a
short length, say two or three feet,
of 20-pound test mono and, using a
surgeons knot, adding four or five
feet of eight or ten-pound test mono.
The finished leader should be no
longer than the rod or it wont turn
over well when you cast your line.
The light end of the leader could be
smaller down to six-pound test
but it pays to remember that you are
apt to catch some bass while fishing
for bluegills and you dont want to
break off that six-pound bass.
When bluegills are in the shal-
lows, they love to hang around some
sort of cover and they are much like
Accordingly, while you may find
them on a flat that has only two feet
of water on it, they will be ganged
up near any sort of cover. This
might consist of emerging lily pads,
reeds (new or old), sticks, logs or
even big rocks. Docks, swim rafts
or any other structures will also at-
tract and hold bluegills, in June and
July.
If the water is quite shallow
less than two feet deep you can of-
ten see the gills coming when your
offering hits the water. They often
swim at the surface, so you will see
a wake as the fish approaches. If
you see more than one wake, you
are almost sure to get a hard strike,
as the fish compete for the prize.
Larger bluegills may approach the
lure more slowly, sort of stalking
it until they are quite close. Then,
they will often dart in and grab the
lure.
If you dont like to use a fly rod,
you can also get some good bluegill
action in June and July with a light
spinning rod. For lures, choose one
of the spinner/grub/jig combina-
tions, like a Beetle-Spin or a Road-
Runner. A Mepps spinner with a
fly attached is also good for this
fishing. These lures will also take
bass, crappie and rock bass out of
the same water. Generally, the best
technique with these lures is to cast
them out near cover, let it sink a bit
and retrieve it close to the bottom.
These lures are generally very light
in weight so you will want to select
a light rod and use line no heavier
than six-pound test. A longish rod
will add to the fun and if you use a
seven-foot rod, those small fish will
seem larger.
While one should release the
bluegills if they are still spawning,
to insure a good population for the
future, you can certainly keep some
of the medium-sized fish for the
table. Some folks think bluegills are
the best eating among the panfish,
but they would get some argument
from those who prefer crappie and
certainly more argument from the
perch fanciers.n
M
an overboard inci-
dents are difficult
to handle for both
the people aboard
the boat and rescue
personal. According
to the USCG, attempting to
relieve oneself over the side
of the boat is the leading
cause of man overboard
cases.
Each man overboard
case differs, but all dictate
the necessity for quick ac-
tion because instant panic
can occur.
Assuming Boat Smart...
By Capt. Fred Davis
that a person
will not panic
is foolhardy.
Response to an actual incident is
never without great risks.
The foremost problem is skip-
pers do not practice man overboard
drills. The drills would help execute
a planned procedure if a real need
arose. The plan and its implementa-
tion should dictate steps to be taken.
The first step is; get close
enough to the person in the water to
throw a flotation device, ring buoy
or cushion. If you have someone
else aboard, direct them to keep
visual contact by pointing with an
outstretched arm toward the victim.
This will assist you in maneuvering
to a pick up point.
While maneuvering the boat to
the position of the person in the wa-
ter, place a MAYDAY call on your
VHF radio stating; man overboard,
your present position, and your ves-
Design By Chris Prescott
sel name.
You have now alerted the nearest
rescue assistance as well as other
boats in the area.
If you are unsuccessful in plac-
ing the flotation device near the
person in the water, throw
anything that will float in
their direction. Life jack- Below: Photo of Sea Dye Marker and (Above) a SOS Dan Buoy
ets, coolers, fish boxes -
they all have buoyancy and
Man-Overboard Marker. They both would be great to have on
may help keep the person board for emergencies.
afloat. If you throw a poly- experience can be very difficult and it as fast as possible.
line, fasten one end to your stressful. The success of the rescue If you have a regular fishing or boat-
vessel but remember to use will depend on your ability to func- ing partner, be sure they know what
extreme cau- tion quickly in a level headed man- you may expect of them in this or
tion to avoid
fouling the
ner. A practice drill can help you to
know how to react. When practic-
any other type of emergency while
underway.
rope in your ing, do not put a person in the water. Excellent, detailed instructions
drive sys- Simply throw a life jacket, float or are found online by searching man
tem. If your vessel is disabled, you fender overboard and try to retrieve overboard drill.n
will be unable to assist the person
overboard
Approach downwind of the per-
son to avoid running over them. As
soon as you have a line to them or
they have a hold on the boat, put the
engine in neutral to avoid them hav-
ing any contact with the propellers.
Keep in mind; they may still be in a
panic state or perhaps exhausted. If
you are in a small boat, be careful
not to capsize the boat while bring-
ing the person aboard.
DO NOT place additional per-
sons overboard unless there is no
other means of retrieving the person
from the water. If you do put addi-
tional people in the water, be certain
they have life jackets on and have
properly fastened them up before
they enter the water. In addition,
have them take a life
line if possible.
If you cannot
retrieve the person,
keep them in sight and
repeat your original
MAYDAY call, giving
your boats position
and include a descrip-
tion of the person in
the water. Should you
successfully retrieve
the person from the
water, go back to
the radio and notify
all stations to cancel
MAYDAY, person is
retrieved.
A man overboard
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 43
 Recovery Retribution
Deer Hunt 2016: Its Not The Size Of A Parcel Of Property That Counts...By John Eberhart

A
fter totally botching
the recovery of the
10-point I arrowed on
Halloween evening
last fall (January 2017
Woods-N-Water News
issue), on November 12 I somewhat
redeemed myself by making the
somewhat difficult recovery of an
11-point I shot that morning.
Due to the immense amount of
hunting pressure that the majority
of Michigan deer hunters face, to
me the taking of one good buck in
Michigan with a bow equates to a
pretty good season. Statistically,
Michigan is always near the top of
the list in most difficult states to
hang a tag on a trophy buck.
Ive always stated that its not
the size of a parcel of property that
counts, but rather the quality of it,
and in 2016 I again proved that to
myself. In 2014, I asked and re-
ceived permission on a two-acre
parcel of land and on that tiny parcel
is the beginning tip of a larger cattail
marsh that is typically dry during
deer season. It was interesting that
property owner had never been
asked for permission, likely due to
the propertys small size.
The cattail marsh butts up to a
large stand of timber with sufficient
understudy for deer to bed in prior
to pre-season scouting pressure, and
even more so once the foliage on the
understudy falls and the tall weeds
die off in the fall. Therefore, the
cattail marsh doesnt reach its peak
bedding area potential until late Oc-
tober or early November, depending The author hurried his shot and the hit was a bit behind where he was aiming. Hes taken enough deer
on the weather and the severity of
the surrounding pre-season scouting
to know that it meant to quietly leave the area and come back in a few hours for his trophy 11-point.
and hunting pressure. of placing motion cameras at hunt- My wife had been bugging me does and fawns within 20 yards of
All the properties in the area ing locations in pressured areas to rake the yard and I also needed the tree.
receive bow hunting pressure so (Michigan primarily), I had set up to catch up on some much needed In my younger days, I would
once scouting and the actual season a camera at this location because I rest, so on November 11 I slept in oftentimes spook deer with my typi-
gets going and the understudy in the could check it during rainy or windy and spent the day doing yard work. cal hunter timeframe entries of just
timber loses its security cover ap- days without concern of spooking Hunting time is so limited for those prior to daylight, and have learned
peal for bedding in, the mature deer deer bedded within the marsh or of us that have jobs, which I have through costly trial and error that
in the area adjust and move into the leaving any human odor as my scent two, so why do leaves have to fall a high percentage of the deer that
secure cattail marsh to bed for the regiment is very effective and its and be raked up during hunting transition into bedding areas prior to
day. a tiny transition point where deer season? I love the fall colors, but daybreak were the very bucks I was
Whats interesting is that due to dont bed. once the leaves fall, they are a major attempting to kill.
the layout of the surrounding terrain From the time the camera was nuisance and annoyance to the other To rectify that touchy situation,
features, the small tip of the marsh set-up in mid-October, I had re- person I reside with. in the past 25 years or so, whenever
in which I hunt is one of the primary placed the card twice, and each time With the leaves taken care of, Im morning hunting in a transition
entry routes into the larger cattail I went there was more visual sign in on November 12 I got up and went zone leading to or hunting within
marsh, and for that reason I chose the form of rubs on the nearby brush bowhunting at the tiny parcel. My a bedding area, Im always set-up
not to hunt this piece until Novem- and small saplings that led into the two previous hunts at this location in my sling at least an hour and a
ber when it reaches its peak poten- marsh. There were, however, no (a morning and an evening hunt) half prior to first light so as not to
tial timeframe. photos of a buck that I would con- were both eventful as each time I
While Im not a huge advocate sider taking. had subordinate bucks and a few Recovery page 46
44 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 45
Recovery
Retribution:
from page 44
spook any early buck arrivals with
my entry, and that morning was no
different.
About a half hour before day-
break a single deer passed by and
continued into the cattails, and I was
quite sure by the steady cadence that
it was a buck.
From daybreak until about 8
a.m., other than watching a few
squirrels, the morning was unevent-
ful. I had a Red Tail hawk swipe at
my exposed eyes and veered away
when he was about six-feet away
because he saw my head and body
swing to the side. Ive had owls do
that and come much closer on three
different occasions, because they
make absolutely no noise when
flying, but this was the first time
Ive ever had a hawk go after my
exposed eyes.
Around 9:30, two does, three
fawns and a small eight and a fork
antlered buck passed by and went
into the marsh.
At 9:45 all hell broke loose as a
couple mature does busted out of the
marsh and ran passed me at about
14 yards distance and continued to-
wards the timber. Of course I knew
what would come next and my intu-
ition didnt let me down. Although I
hadnt had a picture of a good buck,
I lifted my Mathews bow off its
hanger and was in the ready position
just in case the pursuing buck was a
keeper.
To my shocking and pleasant
surprise, he was not only a keeper,
for the northern Michigan area he
was huge.
He was moving at a rapid pace
and as he passed, while at full draw
I made a vocal blatt to stop him, and
he either never heard it or didnt
care. A second and much louder
vocal blatt did, however, grab his
attention and he stopped.
That was a big mistake on his
part because had he continued
another step or two, he would have
been safely behind cover and been
able to survive for a future hunter
encounter.
He was perfectly broadside and
because his muscles were tight and
ready to react, I hurried my shot and
my Maxima Red arrow tipped with
a G-5 Striker hit him a bit behind
46 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
The author, John Eberhar t specializes in bowhunting heavily pressured areas, with 30 bucks listed in
CBMs record book from 19 different proper ties in 10 different counties. He has also taken 19 P&Y
class bucks on 21 out-of-state bowhunts. A few of Johns trophies on display at Jays Spor ting Goods.
where I was aiming.
He wheeled around and went
right back into the marsh at full
speed. There is a small opening
about 90 yards into the marsh that I
can see from my tree, and strangely,
he stopped in the opening and just
stood there for several minutes
before hunching his back a bit and
slowly walking farther into the
marsh and out of sight.
Ive taken enough deer to know
what that meant, and while its a
definite death sign, its not what I
like to see. Looking down at the
shot sight I could see the arrow
sticking in the dirt and easily no-
ticed that the entire shaft and fletch-
ing was covered in blood.
There was no doubt by his post
shot actions that I had hit him a bit
back and likely in the liver. Liver
and or gut shot deer almost always
go a short distance before stopping,
getting sick, standing for a while,
and then typically going a short
distance and bedding down within
some form of security cover to die
if the hunter leaves him alone for a
long enough period of time.
If there is water nearby, its also
common (have chapters in each of
my three books on recovering white-
tails that have this exact scenario in
them) for these types of hit deer to
go and lay in the water, and I can
only assume that its to cool down
and sooth the burning wound.
Once out of sight, I very quietly
packed my gear, descended the tree,
picked the arrow up and left the
area.
When inspecting the G-5 Striker
head I noticed two of the blades
were chipped, which is a telltale
sign that they had hit bone. On a
broadside shot, if the arrow en-
tered a bit back into the body and
you know a rib was hit by having
chipped blades, you can be assured
that the liver was hit and the deer
will expire.
Recovering a liver hit deer, how-
ever, is not a sure thing as where the
liver was hit has everything to do
with the expiration time and how
much of a blood trail you may have
to follow, if any. A hit near the out-
side edge of the liver where blood
veins are very small will require a
long time for expiration (up to 18
hours) whereas a hit closer to the
center of the liver where the arteries
are much larger, will expire within
hours.
If a liver hit deer recovery is
attempted too soon after the shot,
theres an excellent chance that the
deer will be pushed and may travel
a long distance and into secure and
difficult to access areas where re-
coveries become much less likely.
I was confident that the hit
was through the center of the liver
because the shot was lower on the
body, and at 2:30 p.m. I went back
and began searching right where
he was last standing in the opening
within the marsh. The blood trail
was faint and led through the cattails
for at least another 150 yards before
exiting it and heading towards a
small, shallow pond.
The trail ended at the ponds
edge, and in the middle of the pond
I could see a small hump of brown
and what looked to be a branch
sticking above the waters surface. I
pulled up my binoculars and yes, the
hump was the bucks body and the
stick was in fact the left side of the
bucks antlers.
It was dark by the time my
son Jon showed up with waders
and helped me retrieve the buck.
The pond was shallow and it was
relatively easy to float his body from
the water. Dragging him through the
marsh and to my mini-van, however,
was not fun.
While dressing the 11-point, I
inspected the liver, and as expected,
my arrow had passed through the
center of his liver. He should gross
over 140 inches and he ended one of
my better Michigan buck seasons.
Eberharts Whitetail Workshop:
In July Im beginning a Workshop
which will be a two-day in-field/in-
class educational program for white-
tail hunters that want to step up their
game in every aspect to become
successful at taking mature bucks.
Whether you hunt public land, have
free permission, own, lease property,
or travel and hunt multiple proper-
ties, this class will have something
for you. The in-field portion will be
on a property Ive had permission to
hunt since 2007.
Scouting other hunters proper-
ties will also be open for discussion.
My scouting agenda would be to
suggest hunting locations, explain
how each should be set-up concern-
ing the tree, shooting lanes and low
impact entry and exit routes, deci-
pher the seasonal and daily timing
for each location, suggest property
improvements, describe hunting
strategies and techniques for each
location and the property in its
entirety, detail a proper and to-
tal scent control regiment, and if
daylight permits, will show how to
properly prepare a hunting loca-
tion at whatever location the client
chooses.
For further information on Eber-
harts Whitetail Workshop or scout-
ing, please call John 989-644-6067
or e-mail ; deerjohn51@gmail.com
and check out my website at: www.
deer-john.net.
John Eberhart specializes in
bowhunting heavily pressured areas
with 30 bucks listed in CBMs re-
cord book from 19 different proper-
ties in 10 different counties. John
has also taken 19 P&Y class bucks
on 21 out-of-state bowhunts. John
has 100 percent exclusively hunted
public ground and knock-on-doors
for free permission properties with-
out the use of bait and co-authored
the books; Bowhunting Pressured
Whitetails, Precision Bowhunt-
ing and Bowhunting Whitetails
the Eberhart Way (available at:
www.deer-john.net).
John Eberhart will also be a key-
note speaker and share his wealth of
deer hunting knowledge with show
goers at the Woods-N-Water News
Outdoor Weekend, Sept. 8-10 at the
Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds
in Imlay City. For more information
www.outdoorweekend.net.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 47
 Early summer
go-to lakes
Fishermans Digest By John Bergsma
I
t seems that every year I get
introduced to new fishing
options. Last season I spent
many days traveling around
the great Lakes and com-
piling footage from great
fishing destinations. In this article,
Ill briefly touch on some of the best
mid-June to mid-July options, and
let you choose which one you want
to visit. Each lake has a good local
bait shop that can help you with
information. These are lakes I have
fished on and done well, give one or
more a try!
Escanaba
Smallmouth Bass
This U.P. fishing has been out of
sight for the last several years. This
fishery is very reliable and is also
red hot in early summer. The fishing
occurs on all the major points and
reefs in both Big and Little Bay De
Noc. The presentations are as simple
as basic bass fishing. My go-to baits
with your host
n B e r g sm a
Joh
Visit our website and find out about . . .
Destinations Fishing Reports
Our Show Cooks Corner
48 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
on the bay are the tube and the drop-
shot rig. The tube is a very effective
search bait when fishing the tum-
bling sand points that are scattered
around the bay. Simply cast them
out and work them back slowly. I
always start by going shallow first in
search of the active feeders and then
work the breaks and deeper edges
until I find where the big smallies
are holding. The drop shot is an
effective deeper water presentation.
Many larger fish will hold at the
bottom of the breaks in 15-30 foot. The author knows Escanabas smallmouth fishery is very reliable
These fish are easily marked on your and red hot in early summer.
graph and can be fished individually
with good success. eye fishing to these waters. The bite foot range. The best baits seem to be
begins in earnest around the first of
Drummond
smaller shad imitators.
June and continues all season and Berkley Frenzy shads and
Island Walleye into the fall. Rapala shad raps are good in the 4
The Islands fishing has been Early summer finds the fish in and 5 sizes, purple and clown are
coming on of late. The waters the shallows in the bays that are good colors and a white Strike King
around Drummond have been surrounding this scenic paradise. Lucky Shad is also very good.
known for years as a great perch and Maxton and Scotts bays are always Short line these baits in the shal-
pike fishery. The best kept secret has productive for walleye. I would fish lows, either skimming over top of
been the return of very good wall- them with crank baits in the 5-10 weeds or staying just outside the
weeds. Obviously, fish have tails
and will move, but the combination
of walleye, pike and large perch will
make this excursion a mixed bag,
fish catching bonanza.
Lakes Cadillac,
Mitchell and Missaukee
These lakes are just about the
closest thing to a home run as you
can get! The fishing for crappie,
bluegill, walleye and bass has been
very solid in the last few years. This
fishery is a constant and catching
fish is always assured if you follow
a few basic principles.
First is to visit the local bait
shops and get the areas where they
are catching them. Steve and Chris
at Pilgrims Village will give you
all the right information on where
and how for Cadillac and Mitchell.
Casey and Korinda at Millers Cor-
ner store will get you up to speed on
Lake Missaukee. These three lakes
are simply fish factories and the
presentations are very traditional.
Shallow bays and weed beds
are the ticket, and bobbers and live
bait have been the best for panfish,
and soft plastics worked around the
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many docks and deeper weed edges
is a reliable bass catching method.
The walleye on all the lakes are very
catchable using spinner harnesses
and night crawlers. Many of the
better catches are coming by troll-
ing these rigs behind inline planer
boards. I like the Off Shore OR-12s,
but the smaller OR-34s are catch-
ing on as well. One thing is for sure
when fishing any of these lakes: if
you get the current information and
get out early, catching fish should
not be an issue. These are very busy
lakes for recreation, so mid-week is
always a good choice.
Lake Otsego in Gaylord Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell are excellent crappie lakes.
Heres an excellent early sum-
mer option. This lake is a best kept the ticket. Same for the largemouth about halfway down and caught
secret. The mixed bag fishing on bass, soft plastics around docks and five very respectable fish in a long
Otsego is very good. Bass, pike, wacky rigging drop shot rigs on the morning of fishing. I will be back
walleye and nice gills all are part of deeper weeds will catch some very for further exploration on this very
Otsegos mixed bag. For years this nice fish. Northerns are a lock using beautiful lake.
has been, and remains, a fantastic larger shiners under bobbers on the Bottom line, no matter which of
winter fishery. But the last couple weed edges. these lakes you choose: just enjoy
summer trips there have made me The walleye is a bit tricky. I being out on the water! Its not al-
believe in the summer fishery as have not completely figured them ways about the catching, sometimes
well. out, but the best day I have had was its about not being at work!
The panfish are caught tradition- trolling crawler harnesses behind #1 For great fishing reports follow
ally on shoreline weed edges, and Off Shore Tadpoles just outside the John at: www.fishermansdigest.
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 49
 The MONSTER BUCKS of July!
Scouting for bucks during July can provide sightings hotter than a 4th of July firecracker. This is
the only time of year when males gather in bachelor groups and feed non-stop to nourish fast
growing crowns of velvet. If your goal is to locate a Michigan mature buck, now is the time to
initiate scouting and the results can be impressive. Heres why...
J
uly is the key month for bucks
to go on a feeding spree, more
so than any other time of year.
Antler growth is a slow pro-
cess, but when July arrives a
whitetails metabolism acceler-
ates. Buck antlers are the fastest grow-
ing material known to man. When the
day length reaches a certain point, blood
begins flowing to the pedicle
and antlers begin an accelerated
rate of growth. From June 20 to
By Kenny Darwin
July 20, daylight is the greatest and antler growth
literally explodes. During this period, antlers can
grow one-inch per day. Powerful endorphins surge
through their veins and bucks go bonkers to feed.
The supercharged phase only lasts a few short
weeks as antlers quickly develop. During this pe-
riod, bucks act like they are on steroids and venture
from thick cover and forests into clearings, grassy
knolls and agricultural fields to fuel their cravings
for succulent food sources. This makes them some-
what easy to spot and scouting efforts can produce
impressive results.
July begins with buck antlers that are fuzzy
and bulbous. By late July mature bucks will have
Summer bucks are very social, often gather in groups and commonly groom each other by
licking around eyes, ears, nose or antler bases. During the height of deer fly season bucks
often lick sores caused by biting insects. Kenny Darwin photos
50 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
impressive racks. Antler size is determined
by age and genetics, although year round
nutrition can produce larger racks than deer
that suffer during severe winter weather.
One factor that can diminish antler growth
is drought. During drought the nutritional
benefit of food decreases, which can cause
a drop in antler growth. Rainfall is neces-
sary for optimum antler growth. When July
turns to August antlers are pretty
much fully developed and begin a
30 day hardening process and the
huge velvet crown begins to shrink as blood flows
slower. Some bucks will have a 50% decrease in
size during the hardening phase, but the majority
will shrink by 30%.
Sweet grasses are the main draw for hungry
deer. During the accelerated antler growth sea-
son, food sources high in protein are required for
maximum antler growth. If I had to pick the best
food source to locate July mega-bucks, it would be
alfalfa. First year freshly planted alfalfa will draw
bucks like no other. However, timing can be criti-
cal, and the trick is to locate hay fields with stand-
ing plants. Once it has been cut, it will take a few
weeks for the succulent plants to regenerate juicy
leaves. At times deer will flock to bean fields, and
they love to browse on the fresh blooming flow-
ers and tender shoots. Once beans are ripe they
harden and are less of a whitetail magnet. Most
grass fields offer rich fiber and tender shoots that
attract deer and keep them coming back for more.
Corn will attract deer too, and bucks like to dine on
tassels soon as they bloom from the stalk. Extreme
warm weather with little rain will cause greenery
to drop protein levels and fiber to rise, making
food sources less nutritious. Once again, a sum-
mer drought can lead to a drop in nutrient levels in
plants, causing antlers to be smaller.
Michigan had a mild winter last year and
grasses grew early, which should help bucks to
grow large racks in 2017. A longer feeding period
will help antler growth, but the key time for ant-
lers to develop is the important period from June
through July, when lengthier days cause hormones
to rise and bucks put on the feed bag. While growth
is slow in April and May, some will have bonier
racks by the end of July. Antler size is also directly
related to deer age. Older bucks increase in antler
size each year and they grow larger and thicker.
If we have ideal weather this summer, some
Michigan deer should be sporting wall-hanger
racks come late July.
Wild deer in Michigan simply cannot grow
massive racks like those in high fence ranches.
Whitetail breeders understand the importance of
year round nutrition and they provide high protein
chow along with foods enriched with vitamins,
minerals and other products that cause accelerated
antler growth. Obviously, deer that have good nu-
trition year round are healthy and grow large racks.
Breeders understand the secret to huge antlers is
dependent upon food, which also keeps animals dis-
ease free. Just keep in mind our DNR does not al-
low year round feeding of deer, even during stress-
ful periods like winter, and several counties are
closed to baiting in an effort to reduce the growth
of disease. It is my opinion that the DNR is using
an outdated method to contain diseases. Instead
of restricting feeding, sportsmen should provide
year round food through increased food plots and
feeders. It is also sad how Michigans DNR has
reduced the availability of corn and soy beans and
winter wheat on public property by drastically cut-
ting back on planting crops for wildlife. It seems to
me good nutrition leads to good health.
If your goal is to locate a dandy buck, the trick
is to scout open areas, grass fields, hay fields and
all agricultural sources during July. During the
dog days of summer, deer frequently are concealed
in brush and forests until the sun sets and daylight
descends into darkness. That final hour before
darkness arrives when light is low is the best time
to catch a big boy in the open searching for dinner.
Oh sure, biting insects can drive deer from
undercover and push them into open areas. When
deer flies are abundant you can count on plenty of
bucks seeking sanctuary from the biting insects by
gathering in open fields where cool summer breezes
tend to blow bugs away. Summer weather high-
lighted by bright sun, sweltering heat and hatching
insects can bring heavy antlered bucks into the open
when the sun touches the horizon and temperatures
drop.
It goes without saying that deer need water
during the sweltering heat of summer, and they
like to congregate along rivers, lakes, ponds,
ditches, swamps and watery low lands. At times
big bucks will seek water during mid-day, and it is Finding huge antlered trophy bucks is best accomplished during July when buck activity peaks.
not uncommon to see a bruiser taking a dip to cool
his body, rid pesky bugs and sooth insect bites. At arch. It is his duty to keep order in the herd, lead drinks and swimming. To top off a perfect sum-
times, a big buck will stay concealed in thick cover the group on feeding forays and introduce younger mer party when the sun touches the horizon I cruise
until the evening light has faded, at which time bucks to his home turf. The relationship between country roads in search of bucks in velvet. Binocu-
he gets up and charges to a water source for an bucks during summer is non-confrontational, and lars help me to identify the exact size of megabucks
evening drink. Others will sneak into the flooded it is common to see large males grooming each roaming open fields. In the average evening I try
low lands and bed down or lie in pockets of water other, licking body parts and sores created by biting to thoroughly cover a 25 mile area, and I reserve
to stay comfortable on a hot summer day. Cedar insects. This is the only time of year when rival hotspots until the final 15 minutes of daylight.
swamps containing brook trout creeks or flooded bucks join together and they invite other males to Once I hit on a hotspot where big bucks have been
with cool ground water act like Mother Natures air join in the summer eat-a-thon. previously located, I stealthfully recheck hot loca-
conditioner for North Country whitetails who seek I love summer because my appetite is acceler- tions. My goal is to glass big bucks, gauge
shelter from the sun in the shade. ated just like trophy bucks. I cant get enough of
Bachelor groups are often led by an old patri- grilled salmon, goose brats in the midday sun, cold Julys monster bucks page 52
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 51
 The MONSTER BUCKS of July!
Scouting for bucks during July can provide sightings hotter than a 4th of July firecracker. This is
the only time of year when males gather in bachelor groups and feed non-stop to nourish fast
growing crowns of velvet. If your goal is to locate a Michigan mature buck, now is the time to
initiate scouting and the results can be impressive. Heres why...
J
uly is the key month for bucks
to go on a feeding spree, more
so than any other time of year.
Antler growth is a slow pro-
cess, but when July arrives a
whitetails metabolism acceler-
ates. Buck antlers are the fastest grow-
ing material known to man. When the
day length reaches a certain point, blood
begins flowing to the pedicle
and antlers begin an accelerated
rate of growth. From June 20 to
By Kenny Darwin
July 20, daylight is the greatest and antler growth
literally explodes. During this period, antlers can
grow one-inch per day. Powerful endorphins surge
through their veins and bucks go bonkers to feed.
The supercharged phase only lasts a few short
weeks as antlers quickly develop. During this pe-
riod, bucks act like they are on steroids and venture
from thick cover and forests into clearings, grassy
knolls and agricultural fields to fuel their cravings
for succulent food sources. This makes them some-
what easy to spot and scouting efforts can produce
impressive results.
July begins with buck antlers that are fuzzy
and bulbous. By late July mature bucks will have
Summer bucks are very social, often gather in groups and commonly groom each other by
licking around eyes, ears, nose or antler bases. During the height of deer fly season bucks
often lick sores caused by biting insects. Kenny Darwin photos
50 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
impressive racks. Antler size is determined
by age and genetics, although year round
nutrition can produce larger racks than deer
that suffer during severe winter weather.
One factor that can diminish antler growth
is drought. During drought the nutritional
benefit of food decreases, which can cause
a drop in antler growth. Rainfall is neces-
sary for optimum antler growth. When July
turns to August antlers are pretty
much fully developed and begin a
30 day hardening process and the
huge velvet crown begins to shrink as blood flows
slower. Some bucks will have a 50% decrease in
size during the hardening phase, but the majority
will shrink by 30%.
Sweet grasses are the main draw for hungry
deer. During the accelerated antler growth sea-
son, food sources high in protein are required for
maximum antler growth. If I had to pick the best
food source to locate July mega-bucks, it would be
alfalfa. First year freshly planted alfalfa will draw
bucks like no other. However, timing can be criti-
cal, and the trick is to locate hay fields with stand-
ing plants. Once it has been cut, it will take a few
weeks for the succulent plants to regenerate juicy
leaves. At times deer will flock to bean fields, and
they love to browse on the fresh blooming flow-
ers and tender shoots. Once beans are ripe they
harden and are less of a whitetail magnet. Most
grass fields offer rich fiber and tender shoots that
attract deer and keep them coming back for more.
Corn will attract deer too, and bucks like to dine on
tassels soon as they bloom from the stalk. Extreme
warm weather with little rain will cause greenery
to drop protein levels and fiber to rise, making
food sources less nutritious. Once again, a sum-
mer drought can lead to a drop in nutrient levels in
plants, causing antlers to be smaller.
Michigan had a mild winter last year and
grasses grew early, which should help bucks to
grow large racks in 2017. A longer feeding period
will help antler growth, but the key time for ant-
lers to develop is the important period from June
through July, when lengthier days cause hormones
to rise and bucks put on the feed bag. While growth
is slow in April and May, some will have bonier
racks by the end of July. Antler size is also directly
related to deer age. Older bucks increase in antler
size each year and they grow larger and thicker.
If we have ideal weather this summer, some
Michigan deer should be sporting wall-hanger
racks come late July.
Wild deer in Michigan simply cannot grow
massive racks like those in high fence ranches.
Whitetail breeders understand the importance of
year round nutrition and they provide high protein
chow along with foods enriched with vitamins,
minerals and other products that cause accelerated
antler growth. Obviously, deer that have good nu-
trition year round are healthy and grow large racks.
Breeders understand the secret to huge antlers is
dependent upon food, which also keeps animals dis-
ease free. Just keep in mind our DNR does not al-
low year round feeding of deer, even during stress-
ful periods like winter, and several counties are
closed to baiting in an effort to reduce the growth
of disease. It is my opinion that the DNR is using
an outdated method to contain diseases. Instead
of restricting feeding, sportsmen should provide
year round food through increased food plots and
feeders. It is also sad how Michigans DNR has
reduced the availability of corn and soy beans and
winter wheat on public property by drastically cut-
ting back on planting crops for wildlife. It seems to
me good nutrition leads to good health.
If your goal is to locate a dandy buck, the trick
is to scout open areas, grass fields, hay fields and
all agricultural sources during July. During the
dog days of summer, deer frequently are concealed
in brush and forests until the sun sets and daylight
descends into darkness. That final hour before
darkness arrives when light is low is the best time
to catch a big boy in the open searching for dinner.
Oh sure, biting insects can drive deer from
undercover and push them into open areas. When
deer flies are abundant you can count on plenty of
bucks seeking sanctuary from the biting insects by
gathering in open fields where cool summer breezes
tend to blow bugs away. Summer weather high-
lighted by bright sun, sweltering heat and hatching
insects can bring heavy antlered bucks into the open
when the sun touches the horizon and temperatures
drop.
It goes without saying that deer need water
during the sweltering heat of summer, and they
like to congregate along rivers, lakes, ponds,
ditches, swamps and watery low lands. At times
big bucks will seek water during mid-day, and it is Finding huge antlered trophy bucks is best accomplished during July when buck activity peaks.
not uncommon to see a bruiser taking a dip to cool
his body, rid pesky bugs and sooth insect bites. At arch. It is his duty to keep order in the herd, lead drinks and swimming. To top off a perfect sum-
times, a big buck will stay concealed in thick cover the group on feeding forays and introduce younger mer party when the sun touches the horizon I cruise
until the evening light has faded, at which time bucks to his home turf. The relationship between country roads in search of bucks in velvet. Binocu-
he gets up and charges to a water source for an bucks during summer is non-confrontational, and lars help me to identify the exact size of megabucks
evening drink. Others will sneak into the flooded it is common to see large males grooming each roaming open fields. In the average evening I try
low lands and bed down or lie in pockets of water other, licking body parts and sores created by biting to thoroughly cover a 25 mile area, and I reserve
to stay comfortable on a hot summer day. Cedar insects. This is the only time of year when rival hotspots until the final 15 minutes of daylight.
swamps containing brook trout creeks or flooded bucks join together and they invite other males to Once I hit on a hotspot where big bucks have been
with cool ground water act like Mother Natures air join in the summer eat-a-thon. previously located, I stealthfully recheck hot loca-
conditioner for North Country whitetails who seek I love summer because my appetite is acceler- tions. My goal is to glass big bucks, gauge
shelter from the sun in the shade. ated just like trophy bucks. I cant get enough of
Bachelor groups are often led by an old patri- grilled salmon, goose brats in the midday sun, cold Julys monster bucks page 52
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 51
Julys monster bucks:
from page 51
antler size and identify home turf of
bruisers. The following anecdote
best describes this point. It was a
steamy July day with little wind,
bright sun and blue skies when I
picked up my partner Dave Sum-
mitt from Okemos, and we headed
for deer country in search of heavy
antlered bucks.
The first bachelor group was
easy to spot as they crossed the
road in front of us and gathered in
the knee high alfalfa field. There
were 12 bucks total, the two larg-
est were 140 class 10 points with
thick mass and beautiful velvety
crowns. We stopped and looked at
the group as they gobbled the tender
alfalfa. None of the animals seemed
disturbed as we watched from less
than 150 yards. Our next buck was
a small yearling 6 point and we saw
several other bucks with yearling
size racks. Not far from a railroad
track, we noticed a group of nine
deer gathered in a bean field. One
was a huge 8 point with outstanding
antler height. Another was a small
10 point with light colored velvet.
Thats when we both noticed the
extra-large deer in the background
with an impressive rack. The
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52 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
animal was easy to spot because his
coat was bright red, darker than the
other bucks, and his body was twice
the size of all the deer. On his head
he proudly displayed a super-wide
10 point rack that would eventually
score in the 160s. His brow tines
were almost 10 inches tall and one
was much longer than the other.
We looked in awe at a distance of
200 yards. Thats when the bruiser
raised his head, looked directly at
us, then turned away, lowered his
massive rack and tiptoed into the
underbrush.
Dave yelled, Look at that
monster! My heart was pounding
at the sight of the beautiful buck
and we high-fived to celebrate the
sighting. Come dark we saw a
total of 32 bucks, but nothing could
compare to the size and mass of the
staggered brow monster buck. This
was the sixth time to see his impres-
sive velvet crown in less than two
weeks. My buddy Scott Goldammer
got to see him in late July, but come
August the deer disappeared, never
to be seen again.
My point is this. We have spent
countless hours scouting for bucks,
and there is no better time than July
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During July, bucks seek water sources like rivers, creeks, ponds,
lakes and flooded marsh lands or swamps. Sometimes they go
swimming to get rid of pesky insects, other times they simply need
a drink of fresh water.
to see maximum numbers of bucks My first move is to get permis-
and big boys, too. When July slips sion to photograph a big buck.
into August fewer bucks became Often Ill set up a ground blind,
visible, and by October we would brush it in to conceal the outline
cover the same scouting turf and and slip inside. The trick is to go
only see two bucks. If you want undetected and Im nuts about using
to locate more and bigger bucks, Scent Shield clothing, scent elimina-
believe me, now is the time to be tion sprays and other scent reducing
scouting. All you have to do is products. My goal is to sneak into
make an effort. the hide, get telephoto still photos,
OK, so you see a dandy buck, and slip back out without being
maybe one for the wall or CBM detected. If Mr. Big gets a whiff of
books; what should you do next? my scent he will vacate the area and
Now is also the time to approach take up residency in a new location.
landowners to get hunting permis- I take every precaution to go un-
sion for the upcoming deer season. detected and wear full camouflage,
Farmers are more willing to grant wear rubber boots, hide my truck
hunting permission during the dog from view, stalk the blind and more,
days of summer, than fall when much more. The idea is to get kis-
buck hungry hunters get a peek at sin close to a big mature buck and
Mr. Big. Some folks offer cash capture his image on film. Often,
or lease hunting land, others trade once a landowner gets to know me
hunting rights for fresh apples, wall- Im granted hunting permission.
eye fillets, smoked salmon, home Bingo!
baked pie or cold beer. Plenty of What about you, do you have a
land owners will grant free hunting strategy to locate a monster buck?
permission if you are polite, If not, now is the time to begin
sincere, show caring and they trust scouting. I guarantee you will be
you. impressed with the results.n
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800-756-5459
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 53


TROPHY PAGE

Double Trophy Toms: It was on

the count of three that Dean Mar-
tin of Imlay City and Walt Papke
Nick Bondarek of St. Clair took this mon- of Drummond Island took a pair
Jacob Flachsmann took ster 26 lb. tom with an 11.5 inch beard of monster toms after watching
his biggest turkey ever. Bethany Bennett took this tur- and 1.25 inch spurs hunting Jackson Co. them in the rain for 3 hours hunt-
in the worse turkey hunting weather. ing Lapeer Co. April 20.
This Lapeer Co. tom had key with an 11 1/4 inch beard Nick figured he called over 2,000 times
a 10 1/2 inch beard! on May 8 in Genesee Co. and walked over 20 miles.
Dylan Clayton
and his dad
went out Jason Fisher,
early Mothers 8-years old,
Day morning
and took this of Yale,
triple bearded scored his
monster in first turkey!
Washtenaw
Co. Dylan It had an 11
made an excel- 3/4 beard
lent shot and
delivered the and 1 3/8
turkey to his spurs.
proud mother
and they ate
fresh turkey for
Darick Sitar of Waterford with one of four Mothers Day
dinner. The
monster carp caught over Memorial Weekend beards were Kanon
on Maceday Lake. Special assist to his son Ma- 10, 7, and 6
son for teaching dad how to tie an improved and the spurs
Gracey,
clinch knot. were 1. 14, with
a nice St.
George Clair Co.
James Epperson of McHugh turkey
Armada took this big of Lapeer with a 9
tom on opening day took this 3/4 inch
on state land. It had tom with beard.
a 9 beard. a 10 1/2
beard and
1 spurs
hunting
Lapeer Co.
Kaitlyn Holzheuer, 8, took this 21 inch small-
mouth bass she caught on Long Lake over
Memorial Day weekend.

Travis Naidus, 16,

Hayden Wilson caught this
24.25 inch steelhead while
fishing with his uncle Del-
bert Miehlke in Benzie Co.
over Memorial weekend.
54 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
Libby Tank, 9, took his first bird
Nicholas Nagle, 13, made her dad Nicole Denz, 13, of Karen Yorks of Evart on opening day of
Macomb Twp., took her
took his second big real proud as she took her biggest gob- the early season
tom hunting near harvested her first second career turkey bler ever, this 27.4 after three hours of
Fenton. This tom was hunting near East Lan- call. 22 lbs., 7.5 inch
25 lbs., with a 10 3/4 turkey, this Sanilac sing with her Dad and
pounder taken April
beard, hunting near
beard and 1.25 spurs. Co. jake! Uncle Tom. 29 near Sears. Hubbard Lake.
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 55

Lured by the Lady, Beckoned by
the Boys: A Montreville Letter
R
emember I told you I
had to go to West Vir-
ginia for a book sign-
ing?
Well, fortunately
Maureen went with
me, or I would have despaired. You
would have found me beside the
road sending out messages tied to
helium balloons asking if anyone
knew where I was. I sure didnt.
After two days of driv-
ing 15 hours on the road
we found ourselves in
the middle of nowhere. Al-
most there. A down-moun-
tain run of four more miles
took us to the farthest we
had ever been from any-
where. And the grade was
so steep I down shifted the
Suburban to keep
from burning out
the brakes. By Tom Carney
The road lev-
eled off at a dirt parking lot of
sorts. There were no painted stripes
or concrete bumpers to indicate
parking spots. The parking areas
fluid layout changed every couple
of hours once certain cars left and
others dropped in with a better de-
sign concept in mind. Bob DeMott
slipped his Toyota 4Runner into the
first available spot. I pulled around
and squeezed into the only other
space available. It wasnt really a
full-sized spot. Not for a Subur-
ban, anyway.
Dozens of huge rainbow trout in No Fishing water tempt visitors
on their way into the Elk Springs Fly Shop.
56 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
It was, however, big enough for
most people around the town of
Montreville as well as most of
the visitors to Elk Springs Resort.
Youll notice the Subaru is the state
car of West Virginia, Bobs com-
panion Kate Fox said as we walked
toward lodge over the little walkway
above the raceway filled with giant
trout. Almost as an afterthought she
added, Alaska, too.
Sure enough. About 50
vehicles, mostly various
models of foreign cross-
overs, SUVs and pickups,
had wriggled into the
available spaces according
to the parking areas cur-
rent configuration. I think
a factory reps full-size
pickup and my Suburban
were the only big
American vehicles
parked there. On
this clear, warm
day, several dozen people roamed
the grounds. The end of the earth,
apparently, is a very popular place
indeed.
The next day, the resort would
be holding its spring Demo Days,
a chance for clients from far and
near to test out rods, reels, waders The view from the deck of the Elk Springs Resor t lodge: There are always
and boots from top brand compa- anglers to watch as they work the waters of the Mill Pool, the first fish-
nies. Bob had been invited to be able water after the Elk River emerges from a 5-mile run through a cavern
part of the festivities and to hold a 115 feet underground. Tailfeather Communications, LLC photos
signing in support of his latest book, journals. Bob was gracious enough open air deck of the resorts lodge
Angling Days, essays derived to ask the resorts marketing man- seemed to attest to that sentiment.
from 40 years worth of his fishing ager, Tracy McClain, to include me And theyve learned they
so I could come down to sign copies mustnt go clodhopping about like a
of my current book. bunch of yahoos to enjoy the charms
I guess you can consider the Elk of the Elk. The locals refer to the
River as Bobs home waters, despite river as The Lady, and Bob writes,
the fact that its 215 miles away From what I have seen we all have
from his actual home in Athens, to be on our best behavior in court-
Ohio. I surmised that from reading ing her.
about his first visit to Elk Springs on After forming from three
May 15, 2000: Color me surprised. streams, the Elk flows for 3.3 miles
Color me more than surprised. Color before descending into a 115-foot-
me astonished. I feel as though deep limestone cavern. It runs
I have had a mind-blowing experi- through the cavern for 5.5 miles
ence not too much different than before erupting into four springs
seeing Bob Dylan go electric at less than a quarter mile upstream
Newport in 1965. of the Elk Springs lodge. Sizzling,
He had recently read that the simmering, bubbling, beautiful blue
upper Elk River was a unique trout water swirls from the springs and
stream. He was pleased to report, immediately forms the Mill Pool,
The story was accurate. about 70 feet across and running for
The water is warm enough that about 200 feet until the rivers edges
the stream remains open for fly fish- tighten.
ing with hatches 365 days a year. McClain keeps his cameras
Fly fishing the Elk has been called, handy and famously records the
as good as fly fishing for trout magnificent hatches that occur on
gets. Bobs first reaction to the Elk the Elk. He showed us one video
as well as the crowd of anglers who where the brown sulphurs were so
populated the Mill Pool beneath the thick they just about obliterated any
 LOG CABINS OF OLD
Fishing... Hunting... Or Just Simply
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of the nights darkness lurking in the had already starting casting when I A Getaway between Cabin To Enjoy
FishiNature!!
ng
Just
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Hunting away Cabin
background. All of this should have thought I heard it.
given me dreams of sugar plum Peent! Solid
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sulphurs and rod bending rainbows. Bob! Did you hear a wood- ly
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njoy N
Tracy had put us up at a guest Cant say that I did, Tom. Fully Insulated
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property about a 25-minute drive Peent! There it was again, I Front PorchtoorSurrounding
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back uphill on what looks to be an My stated purpose headed me to Stained
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east-facing slope of Point Mountain
and then, after a few miles, a down-
the water. But my heart was drawn
instead towards the woods by what
Delivered
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hill drive on what seemed to be a I thought I heard. The light level Single and 2 Story Styles
west facing slope. As it turns out,
once we hauled our luggage into the
dropped more and more, and before
long, the peents of the male wood-
Delievered & Priced Fully Assembled
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cottage, Tracy wanted to show us cocks doing their mating dances
on a tour of the small lodge there. increased to the point of no doubt
Before too long, Tracy, Bob and I at all. It was tougher and tougher
moseyed over to that lodges porch to see where I was casting, and the
and rocked away a couple of hours, peents were calling me more and
yapping about hunting dogs. Tracy more. Then, I realized my true call-
plans to run bird hunting trips out of ing.

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Authors Bob DeMott (left) and Tom Carney greeted visitors to their
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this west facing camp starting in
the fall of 2017. He said the area is
loaded with grouse.
Time flies when youre talking
about dogs, and soon it was time for
Bob and me to return to our little
cabin and dine with the ladies. After,
Bob, always ready to wet a line,
suggested we hit a little, waterfalls-
fed pond we had seen on our drive
in to our cabin. As we pulled up to
the pond, I remarked the clearing
looked like a good woodcock danc-
ing spot.
Any woodcock here? I asked.
I dont know, said Bob. I
think we might be at too high of an
altitude.
Because I hadnt fished my
#2-weight rod in such a long time, it
took me extra time to get things in
order. I remained at the truck while
Bob walked to waters edge. He
As I was listening to a woodcock at
the apex of his flight, my mind and Standard Features
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Virginia. No matter. The woodcock
were dancing. Before long, Bob
joined me. We were delighted, not 1205 N. SR 5, Shipshewana
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of the woodcock.n 1205 N. SR 5, Shipshewana 260-768-7511
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 57
Traditional Black Powder Hunting...
Precious
18 -Century
th
Seconds
By Dennis Neely
M
osquitoes
hovered and
buzzed. An
ordinary sunrise
filtered through
the mornings
thick fog. Dew
drops grayed
shin-deep prairie grass. Silver orbs
clung to almost invisible spider
webs. The air smelled thick and
stifling. With each calculated step,
the abundant grasses splashed and
spattered, damping hunt-stained
buckskin leggins. And in time,
that moisture soaked through the
homespun knee breeches the leg-
gins were supposed to protect.
Earlier, at the first glimmer
of the new day, an intoxicating
exuberance drove the frenzied
preparations. Eighteenth-century
seconds are precious; the tempta-
tion to visit the Old Northwest Ter-
ritory, east of the headwaters of the
River Raisin, proved overwhelm-
ing and unavoidable. Trevor Jones
musical score, the Elk Hunt from
The Last of the Mohicans, added
a sense of immediate urgency.
The foggy morning still-hunt
included kneeling after two
steps, checking the back trail,
then looking about to determine
if any danger existed while ex-
posed in the open prairie.
58 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
The osnaburg trade shirt felt
light and airy against bare skin.
Once buttoned, the waistband of
the fall-front breeches slipped
some. Cotton knee socks seemed
too thin. The right shoulder of
the hand-sewn linen hunting shirt
pulled a bit; the sides of the open-
fronted shirt overlapped more than
normal. Absent were the bulky
winter layers of linen and wool.
Eternitys years wiggled a tad
when the back door slammed; a
few decades jarred free on the rut-
ted wagon trail, the rest fell away a
dozen hasty paces from the pick-
up. The hired hunter for the North
West Company trading post never
looked back after crossing times
threshold. Avoiding the sights of
all things modern helps maintain
the integrity of the historical mo-
ment and eases the transition to
yesteryear. Late July, in the Year of
our Lord, 1795, beckoned.
Kee-honk, kee-honk, yonk,
yonk. Canada geese winged
overhead, heard but not seen in the
dense, damp broth and lingering
darkness. Greased elk moccasins
ventured around the bend, then
turned east on a doe trail that led to
the prairies edge, west of the thick
cedar grove. Exercising care and
caution, my alter ego dropped to
one knee and observed the clear-
ing from behind the old apple tree
that grew near the spring in the big
swamp.
Arkkarkk, arkk, arkk,
arkk A wild turkey hen hol-
lered from somewhere beyond the
cedar grove, but not quite to the
grassy meadow. The Northwest
guns smooth, oiled bore harbored
nary a single death bee. The sharp
English flint rested. The priming
pan remained empty.
Whit, whit, tsu, tsu, tsu, tsu,
tsu A crimson cardinal called
from the far side of the clearing.
It sung again, then flitted from
one autumn olive bush to another,
perching high in both. As I got
to my feet, a blue jay spoke in a
The tall cottonwood ser ved as a landmark for that mornings scout.
The main doe trail entered the cedar grove ten paces to the right
of the tree. Wild River tree photo
contented but shrill tone, Swip-
it! swip-it! Rather than induce
the wrath of this forest sentinel, I
tarried.
That mornings still-hunt
progressed as normal: two or
three steps, kneel, study the back
trail and look about, then a few
more steps through a glorious,
18th-century Eden. After General
Waynes victory at Fallen Timbers
in August the year prior, the Brit-
ish patrols from Fort Detroit had
avoided the Raisins headwaters,
but a solitary woodsman can never
be too careful.
At the tall cottonwood, the
doe trail split and forked as it
joined other earthen paths within
the confines of the tight-packed
red cedar trees. My trail-worn,
center-seamed moccasins turned
to the northeast. Near the fox dens,
purple raspberry switches tugged
and clawed at the soggy leggins.
Turkey tracks and three dusting
bowls marked the sandy wash at
the mouth of the big gully. Hidden
by the deep crevice, the impromp-
tu stalk reached the oak snag that
guards the old washs irregular
mouth. Hunched over, I dropped to
my knees behind the mushroom-
encrusted trunk. In a few moments
I peered around the tree.
The gravel-mouthed hen stood
erect in the short grass of the
meadows central knoll. The heads
of six, half-grown poults popped
up and down. Beyond the turkeys
a lean doe with one spotted fawn
browsed. Concealed behind the
barkless oak, my alter ego savored
Gods blessings, aware of every
breath, every heartbeat in that
wilderness Paradise.
Yet, even in the midst of an
18th-century time traveling ad-
venture, each hour contains but
60 minutes, all of which ticked by
with unfathomable speed. In a few
fleeting, delectable seconds the
turkeys pecked their way into the
deep grass. Then the doe and fawn
wandered into the hardwoods of
Freds woods.
A feeling of trepidation, of
profound loneliness, washed over
my being. I pushed away from the
dead-oak lair, then back-tracked
down the gully. Much to my
chagrin I crossed times threshold
before the dusting bowls, but in
the wrong direction. Shrouded in
disappointment, I walked at a fast
pace back to the wagon trail, giv-
ing no mind to the threat of British
rangers, no mind to disrupting the
bliss of the forest tenants
By late July, Canada geese
start flying over the homestead,
just after dawn and again at dusk.
The parent geese start exercising
the young, strengthening immature
wings for the fall migration. The
fledglings are smaller, and some-
times one lags behind. The kee-
honking between geese provides
a symphonic prelude to the opus
of fall and the anticipated hunting
seasons.
Now and again the strings and
wedges wing against a lavender
sunrise or an orange-streaked
sunset. Coupled with a noticeable
shortening of daylight hours, this
age-old combination is too much
for this traditional woodsman to
shoulder.
One of the first narratives I
purchased for my journey back to
the 1790s was Joseph Doddridges
Notes on the Settlement and In-
house was too warm. The feather
bed too soft, and even the good
wife was not thought for the time
being a proper companion. The
mind of the hunter was wholly oc-
cupied with the camp and chase. I
have often seen them get up early
in the morning at this season, walk
hastily out and look anxiously to
the woods and snuff the autumnal
winds with the highest rapture,
then return into the house and cast
a quick and attentive look at the
rifle, which was always suspended
to a joist by a couple of bucks
horns, or little forks (Doddridge,
Joseph, Notes on the Settlement
and Indian Wars, McClain Print-
ing Company, Parsons, WV, pgs.
98-99).
Traditional black powder
hunters can visit their favorite
bygone era any time they choose.
Historical simulations might last
for a few minutes, the better part
of a day or on rare occasions, days
on end. The pastime is enjoyable,
educational and offers a unique
sense of personal satisfaction for
most who dare dabble.
One of the goals of this hunt-
Each journal contains a myriad
of daily life experiences, some
notable and some mundane. But
just as Joseph Doddridge did,
these woodsmen wrote down what
they deemed important happenings
of their wilderness liveswithout
regard to the day, month or season.
They told their story as they saw
it, as they lived it.
On that late-July morn in 1795,
my alter ego, the hired trading post
hunter, plunged headlong into the
day as it dawned. Dressed in linen
and leather, this backwoodsman
inspected spider webs, listened to
a cardinals song, waited on the
blue jay and spent a handful of
minutes marveling at six turkey
poults and a spotted fawn. After
all, 18th-century seconds are pre-
cious Regardless of the scouts histor-
Give traditional black powder ical scenario, each summer foray
hunting a try, be safe and may God into the wilderness requires
bless you. the same care and caution as
Dennis Neely maintains a an actual deer or turkey hunt.
web site devoted to traditional Stumbling into a British patrol
hunting at www.traditional- from For t Detroit might hinder
blackpowderhunting.com.n sur vival.

Elysian Fields
dian Wars Doddridges treatise, ing methodology is to re-create
published in 1824, chronicles life the daily activities of one or more 10% Discounts
in western Pennsylvania and Vir- backcountry woodsmen who are
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 59
 The Strangest Thing You Ever Caught While Fishing -- Continued...

Embarrassing catch in
the dark leads to fireworks
harbored a lifetime of regrets for sleeping. Still fishless, and now huge sturgeon Jim explained.
Dear Fish Diary:

I
n February, I launched my
search for readers to write
to me about the strangest
thing theyve ever caught
while fishing. As the sto-
ries come in, Im sifting
through them and getting some
pretty good laughs. I got this idea
after I read about a fisherman in
Miami, Florida, catching a kilo of
cocaine off the coast of Miami. If
youve had an odd catch, I cer-
tainly want to hear about it.
So far youve met Nancy Has-
call, of Ostego, and got the hilari-
ous story of her adventure catching
and releasing a bat while fly fish-
ing. Youve met Mark Leegstra, of
Grayling, who mysteriously caught
a fawn, the extraordinary story
of Paul Kazmierski, the Grand
Rapids man who caught a pair
of expensive prescription glasses
and actually found the owner and
returned them. Last month was the
confession of Tom Matych, who as
a child caught a gas can that had a
bullhead stuck in it and threw the
gas can back into the lake and has
doing so.
This month Im exposing one
of lifes most embarrassing mo-
ments. Its unfortunate for Jim
Samuelson, the Dearborn man who
wrote me his story, that events like
this take place, yet they
do, and probably more
often than we think.
Lake St. Clair is a
world class fishery. Any-
time you get a chance to
fish its waters, you cant
help but to be filled with
anxiety and anticipation
of what you
might catch.
Its the kind By Ron St. Germain
of fishing excursion that can keep
you up all night prior to hitting the
water and just hoping youre not
rocked to sleep with the mid-day
waves because you arent catching
anything. I very much dislike those
outings. The ones where I wake
up in an uncomfortable position,
rod still in hand, hearing the gentle
slapping of ripples alongside the
boat, regaining consciousness only
to find I have no idea where Ive
drifted to or how long Ive been
badly sunburnt.
Jim didnt have the sunburnt
issue because he was on an all-
night excursion fishing the St.
Clair River with his brother and
father. The three were loaded.
By loaded, I mean they
were using heavy artillery
that night, anticipating it
appeared, an all-out fight
with Shamoo, the great
whale of the St. Clair. An
ocean rod with 50# test,
heavy sinkers like bricks
bouncing the bottom and
a reel beefy
enough to
handle it. Im
told this heavy gear is necessary
while fishing the strong current of
the river.
The conditions on that moon-
less night led to caution. Even with
lights, according to Jim, the vis-
ibility was less than 10-feet from
the boat. Suddenly, Jim hooked
into something big, really big,
mammoth big, maybe even Sham-
oo big. Soon, the fight was on. I
originally thought it was a snag,
but then started thinking it was a
Imagine the anticipation
aboard the boat from his brother
and father, both fighting over the
net and who was going to help
Jim land his trophy. The sudden
thoughts of, do we mount it, eat it
or let it go. The searching for the
camera to get that trophy shot of
Jim with his amazing catch which
would surely be a highlight of the
family photo album. Jim, as he
clenched and pulled and pulled
and clenched as the boat slowly
motored up stream. I did say up
stream? Yes, they were slowly
trolling against the current, and
Jim was fighting this catch of a
lifetime against the current, but as
I said, he was loaded with the right
tools for the job. Into the night
he kept on, nobly and vigilantly
fighting into the darkness with an
unknown whopper at the end of
his line.
Now, Jim said it only took
about five minutes to land this
mysterious monster of the deep,
but Im not buying it. Im going
on the assumption that it was at
minimum 15 to 20-minutes before
he had this prize catch up to the
side of the boat. He was young,

No Electricity? Keep Your Food Cold!

and in these types of hysterical
events, one minute can seem like
ten seconds.
Regardless of the short time
span this left a life-long impres-
sion on Jim. There was no net
needed, no photo opportunities for
the family scrapbook, no reason to
consider mounting this catch, and
for sure they werent going to eat
the fisherman he had just spent his
efforts reeling upstream. Thats
right, in the darkness of St. Clair
River, Jim snagged the anchor line
of another fisherman and reeled
the anchor and the fishermans
With A Propane Fridge You Can boat right up alongside him.
Of course the fisherman wasnt
Keep it Cold. Anywhere. happy as he fired off some choice
words trying to untangle and
unhook Jims rig from his anchor
And Relax. line. And Im sure this fisherman
was anchored on his favorite spot
No Electricity Required! which he was now mysteriously
dragged off from. When the fisher-
man was done undoing Jims snag,
For more information call 866.825.4013 he threw the rig at him with more
flavorful words, hit the automatic
Diamond Refrigerators, 7295 50th Ave., Sears MI 49679 garage door opener, and sped into
www.diamondrefrigerators.com his boat slip. So Jim didnt even
have to consider letting his catch
60 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
go, it let itself go.
Okay, Im sorry, this is just
plain poor sportsmanship. The
least this guy could have done was
laugh it off, maybe even posed for
a photo with Jim and made light
of the situation. It was an acci-
dent for crying out loud. I swear,
some people have no sense of
humor. Im just saying, Jim, had
you caught me that night I would
have high-fived you, fist pumped
you and congratulated you on your
above and beyond efforts. I dont
know anyone who has caught a
boat, fisherman and anchor and
successfully reeled it in against the
current of a river. This is not cause
for a disturbing episode filled with
verbal fireworks and graphic lan-
guage, this is cause for a celebra-
tion. To my readers, if Jim ever
catches you on some dark, moon-
less night, I hope you treat it as
such and give the kid his just due
because hes certainly earned it.
Does anyone even know what
the test line record is for reeling in
a boat, fisherman and anchor? You
might just own that record Jim
Funny fish stories
wanted...Strangest thing
youve ever caught!
Send a short description of
your best or worst fishing day, or
worst fishing-related adventure to
me. You dont have to write
the entire story, just a brief
outline of what happened. If it
has some humor to it Ill be
getting in touch with you and
well work on the completed
story together.
Contact - Woods-N-Water
News columnist Ron St. Germain
by calling (517) 626-2814, e-mail-
ing DaPhotoDude@aol.com. Visit
the authors Facebook page www.
Facebook.com/BearwaveBooksn

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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 61
 Michigan DNRs Skills Academy
Anglers take to the classroom and water to learn from the pros...By Roger Beukema

A
bout mid-May, the
walleye action that
had gotten hot on the
Detroit River, found
Saginaw Bay. Warm
days, water tempera-
tures on the rise and flat seas met
boaters trying their luck on the
Saginaw River, eventually venturing
out into the bay proper.
Some of the hopeful anglers on
the water included a group attend-
ing the first Michigan Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) Walleye
School with Brandon Stanton and
Mark Martin heading up the teach-
ing. Other instructors included Kyle
Buck of Great Lakes Guide Service;
Ken Rice, Legend Killers charters;
Pat Bentley; Todd Spink; and Mick
Broughton of Dead Eye Sportfish-
ing.
The school is part of the Michi-
gan DNRs skills academy. This
year, 28 students on seven boats
made up the school, with a waiting
list of 30. The agenda for this two-
day event was spent in a classroom
setting the first day followed by on
the water schooling the following
day. Classroom instruction took
place at Bay City State Recreation
Area.
Following classroom instruc-
tion, those in the group needing
equipment headed north to Franks
Great Outdoors to pick up items
they would need the following day.
Then it was back to the classroom to
get line wound on and baits tied up,
along with more walleye talk.
Experienced guides stressed
how important attention to small
details and the caring of equipment
is. Guide Kyle Buck of Great Lakes
Guide Service explained why hook
keepers on rods should be used.
Always use the eye keeper on
your rod rather than slide a hook
on a rod guide. It wont take long
to chip an eye which eventually
could cause fraying in your line as it
moves in and out of the guide.
If your rod isnt equipped with
a hook or eye keeper, head to your
favorite tackle shop and pick up a
package of rubber hook keepers.
Most have a large molded-in rubber
ring to hold your hook. Slide one on
your rod handle and youre all set.
If you fish plastic worms, take a
moment to open the hook gap just a
little. Youll get better hook ups if
you open that gap just a little, Buck
said, demonstrating with a pair of
needle nose pliers.
If you hook a fish, dont stop
winding to admire the bend in your
rod. Keep reeling until you have the
fish in the net.
And there is an up and down to
plastics. Any dark color on the bait
should face the top or up on the bait.
Once you decide what method
you plan on fishing; bottom bounc-
ing, jig fishing, rigging or others, be
sure the knots you use are depend-
able and wont come apart.
When youre jigging, move
the jig about eight inches then let
it down. If you see a slight bow in
your line or anything at all feels
different, set the hook. Hook sets
are free so use as many as you like,
Buck said.
When you make contact with
the bottom, tap it a couple of times.
If you hang up let the pressure off
the line. Often the jig will come
off, he said.
This seminar drew a surprising
number of people that regularly fish
for walleye as well as those very
new to this kind of fishing.
Everything I know about fish-
ing Ive been taught, Bailey Brown
said. The Grand Rapids resident
feels paying attention to the little
things often accounts for success.
Pay attention to your troll-
ing speed and the spread of boards.
If you are going to spend a lot of
money, put it on a good rod. Here I
learned more about different tech-
niques and how to use them.
Detroiter Carl Smith agreed with
Brown. I learned a lot about rods,
lures and line, he said.
Ryan Schenk from Bad Axe says
his family got him a gift certificate
for the school. I go to every semi-
nar I can, he said.
Some students came to class
with their own ideas on how to
catch fish and what to use. Once
fishing methods were explained by
those that make a living fishing,
some of those ideas changed. Nov-
ice and experienced anglers shared
one thought: Both groups wanted to

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learn how to fish better.
Fishing tips were numerous and
ranged from simple to complex
when fishing a live night crawler,
before hooking it to your harness,
stretch it out so it doesnt bunch up.
When you are on a trolling bite of
some kind, be more productive by
knowing how far back your lines are
set. In order to be most accurate you
must calibrate line-counting reels
consistently. If you caught a fish
on a rod 80 feet back, send the line
back out to 80 feet.
Follow the DNRs Skills Acad-
emy post at Michigan.gov/dnr for
upcoming seminars. Plans are in
the works for the walleye clinic to
return next year, possibly with two
sessions. If you travel to Bay City
be sure and visit the Bay City State
Recreation Area.
Valerie Blaschka, the DNRs
park interpreter for Bay City State
Recreation Area says, The park is
about 3,000 acres and home to one
of largest and last remaining fresh
water, coastal ecosystems on Lake
Huron. The largest area of threat-
ened and endangered species of
special concern in Michigan made
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To purchase: $34.95 (Michigan residents, please add $2.10 sales tax) plus
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Detroiter Carl Smith holds a fresh
caught walleye during the DNRs
walleye clinic. Author photo
up of both plants and animals make
this area special.
There are 194 campsites in the
park, many with modern facilities.
To make your trip complete, visit
Krzysiaks House, home of authen-
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Michigan Ave., Bay City, (989) 894-
5531 or Krzysiaks.com.
Email the author at dutch-
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Award-winning nature and outdoor
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Moments in Secret Coverts.
As with his previous collections,
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Different this time around: Instead
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The Wildlife Habitat Grant Program, which began in 2013,
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licenses sold each year. The DNR administers the program through
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This is an exciting opportunity to partner with others in the
state to increase the habitat available for game species in Michi-
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trappers and wildlife viewers, said DNR Wildlife Division Chief
Russ Mason.
Funding is available for local, state, federal and tribal govern-
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open, competitive process. Minimum grant amounts will be set at
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The main objective of the Wildlife Habitat Grant Program is
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wildlife-based recreation.
The grant application period begins June 1. Applications must
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 63
 The Great Spring Fallout...
When the birds come to Tawas Point

B
ird watching is a pas-
sionate outdoor pastime
for a whole lot of folks,
but I never truly had a
full grasp of this until I
attended the recent an-
nual Tawas Point Birding Festival,
held in East Tawas (www.
tawasbay.com). Ive been
an avid bird watcher for
quite awhile now, but it
is a pastime which occurs
generally while Im doing
other outdoor pursuits and
I encounter various birds,
and I strive to identify them
by both sight and the sound
ered that this can be a very chal-
lenging pastime which can become
a bit addictive, so to speak.
What makes East Tawas unique
for avid birders is the geographic
feature known as Tawas Point,
which juts out easterly into Lake
Huron and curves around
to the south to help form
Tawas Bay. Michigan hap-
pens to be located smack
dab in the middle between
the Mississippi Flyway and
the Atlantic Flyway, and
migrating songbirds tend to
follow Michigans lengthy
shoreline each spring, with

By Tom Lounsbury
of their unique some often
songs. It is clear- unusual species
ly a continual appearing that
learning experience I much enjoy. have been blown off course by high
However, Ive never actually set winds (which there has been plenty
out to participate in what is known of this spring).
as birding. Folks who do this are Tawas Point throws northerly
often referred to as being birders bound, spring migrating songbirds
because they are intentionally seek- a literal right hook, as they follow Outdoor writer Ryan Walker and his wife Becky obser ving birds dur-
ing out and identifying (and often the shoreline and find themselves ing the Fallout at Tawas Point.
photographing) various and unique suddenly heading south again. This and hungry drop in large flocks to mid-May, give or take a day or two,
bird species. Ive recently discov- is when the birds which are tired rest, refuel (feed) and regroup, often and the Tawas Point Birding Festi-
for several days. When this hap- val is timed to hopefully coincide
pens, it is known as the Fallout with the birds arrival. This year the
Superior Game Ranch of birds, and it is a common, an-
nual occurrence in this area that has
become world renown as a birding
festival took place May 18 20,
and my wife Ginny and I would
Route 3 Box 163 Cornell, MI 49818
be joined by fellow outdoor writer
paradise (birders from other states Ryan Walker of Cass City and his
and countries converge on this area wife Becky, for a new adventure
Incredible U.P. of Michigan annually to witness the Fallout). in serious bird watching during
Hunting Opportunities The most massive bird migrations this timeframe. As it turns out, the
occur in the spring, with over 350 Fallout was in full progress while
Private farmland in south Marquette species migrating to North America we were there, and we fit right in
County Michigan, fully guided from the tropics. I must admit that I walking around and wearing binocu-
hadnt seen so many colorful birds lars, which are a very essential tool
bow and firearm hunts in since I was in the Panama Jungle, for this pastime (along with a bird
hunting preserve for: Elk, and no doubt some of the birds I identification book).
Whitetail Deer, Buffalo, Wild saw there would eventually end up To start, we all checked in at the
Large Russian Boar in Michigan when their hormones East Tawas Junction Bed and Break-
Boar, Red Stag & Fallow Deer. Hunts Available! let them know it was time to head fast Inn (email: info@east-tawas.
north to reproduce. com or call 989-362-8006) which is
Typically, the Fallout occurs in owned and operated by Leigh Mott,
Trophy Elk,
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Trophy Fallow Deer
Lodging available for
groups of up to 12 people.
Still Booking Hunts!
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64 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
a very kind and gracious lady we
had all met earlier during the Michi-
gan Outdoor Writers Association
Winter Rendezvous which was held
in East Tawas last February, and we
had vowed that when we returned,
we would stay at Leighs Inn.
I have a soft spot for Bed and
Breakfast places as it is, as they of-
fer a very warm and homey atmo-
sphere. Leigh Mott was once a pro-
fessional in interior design and even
studied in Italy, and this is readily
apparent in the amazing and unique
dcor of her inn. My favorite place
was her spacious and airy parlor
(with a view of Tawas Bay out the
window) which includes a library
of books, many written by famous
authors who have stayed at the East
Tawas Junction Bed and Breakfast
Inn (some notables are my favorite
mystery writer, Steve Hamilton,
as well as the authors of my favor-
ite bird book, Donald and Lillian
Stokes). Needless to say, it was easy
to see why these folks came here
to stay. The breakfasts by the way,
were spectacular (picture waffles
with homemade rhubarb/strawberry
sauce and yes folks, I had seconds).
Our first stop of the day was at
the Tawas Bay Beach Resort which
featured special booths, informa-
tion and presentations. I met Arlene
Westhoven of the Michigan Loon
Preservation Association (Michi-
ganloons.org) and learned a whole
bunch about loons. The Common
Loon is a threatened species in
Michigan, with fewer than 500
breeding pairs, and a pair only
hatches two eggs a year. Michigan
has 28 inland lakes named Loon
Lake, but only four actually
still have loons today. It has been
discovered that half the loon fatali-
ties in our state can be attributed to
lead poisoning due to fishing tackle
entailing lead sinkers. The loons
require pebbles to help in digesting
food, and if lead is ingested, it takes
only a week to kill the loon. The
Michigans Best Outdoor Newspaper
NAME
ADDRESS
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STATE
Check/Money Order
Card#
Send to:
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P.O. Box 278
and Enjoy
Imlay City, MI 48444
clear message here is to use sinkers
that are not made of lead (I picked
up a bag of limestone sinkers to give
a try for fishing). Folks who vol-
unteer to assist in keeping track of
loons are known as Loon Rangers.
A presentation entailing live
birds we really enjoyed was Wings
of Wonder (wingsofwonder.org
or call 231-326-4663). Rebecca
Lessard who manages a non-profit
raptor rehabilitation and education
sanctuary in northern Michigan did
a fantastic job of explaining raptors
and their role in nature. The live
raptors she held individually on her
(gloved) hand had been injured in
the wild and rehabilitated, but due
to permanent physical damage, were
unable to return to the wild.
They were all beautiful, but the
most beautiful to my eye, believe it
or not, was the turkey vulture. A real
close up view put the turkey vulture
in an entirely different light, at least
in my eyes and they are actually
quite clean. They are also one of
the few bird species which have
an acute sense of smell, and they
rarely if ever kill their own food,
because their feet/talons are not as
strong as the other raptors. As a
defense mechanism, turkey vultures
can accurately spit out a very nasty
smelling and acidic (it can actually
burn skin) fluid at predators such
as coyotes, that will never forget
the experience. I never knew that
before, and if I ever encounter a
vulture on the ground for whatever
reason, Ill keep my distance.
Then we were off to the Tawas
Point State Park for some serious
bird watching with a check list in
hand featuring 230 bird species. Our
starting place was near the historic
lighthouse, and down hiking trails
which lead around to the very tip of
the point. There were a whole lot
of folks enjoying this setting, and if
you had a question about a certain
bird, someone close by usually had
an answer. For a fact, I saw a whole
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bunch of songbird species I had
never seen before. I had mentioned
to Ryan Walker that I have only seen
a half dozen male scarlet tanagers
in my life (in the Thumb) and he
pointed to a tree which was holding
six of the colorful birds.
There were also the summer and
western tanagers, yellow warblers,
orioles, king birds and multiple
colorful birds Im still trying to look
up in the book.
A real trophy for birders when
sighted is the painted bunting, of
which the male is brightly rainbow
colored, and they are usually found
only in southern states along the
Atlantic Coast, but do visit Tawas
Point on occasion. However we
didnt see any painted buntings,
but we did observe a pair of loons
diving for their dinner in a small,
sheltered cove and was a rather
peaceful setting.
Also in evidence were the amaz-
ing optics being used by birders who
are quite serious about their pastime.
I saw a multitude of cameras featur-
ing a large and long telephoto lens (I
saw some camera/lens combinations
which probably cost more than my
Jeep). I do know for a fact, photo-
graphing songbirds is extremely
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challenging because they are always
animated and flitting around. Ive
discovered photographing wily
whitetail deer is far easier than try-
ing to focus in on a songbird. It is
almost as if the birds can instinctive-
ly sense your attention being placed
upon them, and since most are prey
animals and usually suspicious
about any undue attention, they
can be very uncooperative subjects
(hence using a telephoto lens is a
very effective technique).
Everyone present had or was
sharing binoculars, because bird
watching without binoculars is very
similar to trying to climb a ladder
without rungs. The hike down the
trail almost had a surreal nature to it
due to the countless and very color-
ful songbirds flitting around and at
times even resting in branches over-
head or the in bushes off to the side,
or hopping around on the ground.
Our being able to experience the
Fallout of migrating birds on Ta-
was Point certainly worked for us!
This was the 12th Annual Tawas
Point Birding Festival, and it is
clearly a popular Michigan outdoor
event. There is no doubt it is clearly
going to be an annual event for us as
well.n
and Dates Call
989-785-4034
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 65
 Letters, My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...
Cormorants a once and future problem
I
nstead
of By Stephen King
writing
this just as a straight news
story, Im going to write it
First Person. That is, from
my point of view. The reason is that
as an avid fisherman, I have seen
the damage cormorants can do to
the resource. As a journalist, I have
been in contact with a lot of people,
such as biologists and politicians.
So, for this one, I kind of want to
get both perspectives. My own, and
the official ones.
First, about 20 years ago, one
of the biggest threats to the sport
fishing industry here in Michigan
flew in on a few thousand wings. At
that time, the population of double
creased cormorants bloomed. Within
a few short years, they went from a
few hundred nesting pairs to tens of
thousands. They went from a few
fish eating birds that most people
knew nothing of and ignored to a
threat that just about totally wiped
out the pan fish, and a lot of other
fish species, in this area.
In the Les Cheneaux Islands,
Cedarville and Hessell, an area
some are calling The Poster Child
of the cormorant issue, they just
about wiped out the perch. And,
a lot of other species. In my own
home of Naubinway, we used to
Isle Royal moose doomed
Dear Woods-N-Water News:
I just read Richard Smiths Isle
Royale Moose Doomed article in the
June issue. Smith covered the his-
tory, current dilemma and suggested
solutions as well. We have been to
Isle Royale and have been watching
the moose/wolf situation with much
interest.
With only two wolves left and
possibly 2000 moose, its obvious
the hands off policy is not work-
ing. If Park Superintendent Phyllis
Green really wants to spend our
money wisely she will enact one
of Smiths suggestions: to transfer
moose or to cull them. If she does
not, the cost could be much greater.
My preference would be to
transfer some of the moose to the
mainland, either the U.P. or the
northern L.P. While Id like to hunt
Michigan moose, I think it highly
impractical based on past experienc-
es of hunting moose in Alaska and
British Columbia. Killing a moose is
the easy part. If you do it right, you
66 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
have a fish
called the
menominee.
They were ridiculously plentiful.
Fished commercially, you could go
and get hundreds, or even thousands
of pounds pretty much at will. There
were lots of them.
Then, the cormorants came in.
And, the menominee were just about
the perfect fish. Abundant. Easy to
catch. And, just about the right size.
Long and skinny. Slid right down
those long necks. Now, 20 years
later, we still dont have very many
out there. They are virtually extinct.
In this issue, one of the biggest
problems with cormorants is the fact
that they are a migratory bird and
are controlled by Federal regula-
tions. Because of this, the Michigan
DNR was and is extremely limited
on the measures they could take to
control the species.
Then, almost 20 years ago, the
Federal Government stepped in and
the US Fish and Wildlife Service is-
sued a Public Resource Depredation
Order. What this effectively did was
to allow the control of cormorants
through both lethal and non-lethal
methods.
In the Les Cheneaux Islands, in
2003, there were about 5,500 nest-
ing pairs. Now, double that number,
because each nesting pair is two
take every bit of edible meat and
then you have to transport it home.
It took us most of a day just to
remove the meat. Transporting the
entire animal is out of the question.
Well be watching to see what
Superintendent Phyllis Green and
her staff decide on how to spend our
money and what becomes of Isle
Royale.
Sincerely
Norm Spring
Grand Haven
birds. That gives you about 11,000
birds. Then, add in the younger
birds. The ones that arent nesting
yet. And, there are no exact num-
bers. But, the point is, there were a
lot of cormorants.
Now, the Official standpoint is
that cormorants eat about a pound of
fish a day. Me? Not so sure on that.
A pound of fish is not that much.
And, these are relatively large birds
with an equally large appetite. But,
for the sake of argument, lets go
with the pound of fish a day. Just in
the LCI, this would mean that they
were eating over 11,000 pounds
of fish a day. That is an incredible
amount of fish.
And, its not only the fish the
cormorants damage. They totally
destroy the islands where they nest.
A few years ago, I was asked a
question by a DNR biologist friend.
He asked, You actually remember
when Hat Island was forested?
This is a small island in Lake
Michigan. It used to be a very pretty
island. Covered in trees. Now, it is a
barren pile of rocks.
But, with the PRDO, there was
relief. In the LCI, they brought the
population down to about 500 nest-
ing pairs. And, were even looking
at dropping that to about 250. This
was due to the fact that these birds
reproduce like crazy. Either way,
the problem was pretty much under
control.
Then, about a year ago, since
that time, cormorant control in
Michigan, and in 24 other states,
has for all practical purposes ended.
At a recent EUP Citizens Advisory
Council meeting, DNR Fisheries
Biologist Cory Kovacs noted that
at this time, the DNR is projecting
that in the first few years; there will
be little noticeable effect. However,
as the bird population grows, their
population will continue to increase,
again unchecked. The projections
are grim. At the population increas-
es, they will again become a serious
threat to the fish population. How-
ever, what those who are intending
to protect the cormorants do not
realize, is the projection is that once
the population of the birds increases,
they will dwindle the population
of fish to the point that there arent
enough fish to feed them. And, the
cormorants will starve.
About this, Kovacs noted that
there is very little the DNR can do
about this, as the cormorant is a
federally protected bird. He noted,
This is a Federal issue. And, the
USFWS really dropped the ball on
this one. Not only did they allow
the DRPO to be repealed, they have
not taken any further action on this.
They have even stated that this is
not a priority for them.
Also commenting is Mark
Engles, a resort operator from Ce-
darville that stated, I can remember
what they did back in 2000. They
totally decimated the fishery here.
Then, we were able to control them,
and the fish were starting to make
a comeback. Now, with that court
order, we are looking at the same
thing again. Within a few years, the
cormorants will come back. And,
we wont have any fish. We have to
make people understand
Comorants page 68
 Hot Topics In The Outdoors...My Thoughts, My Views
Whitetail deer managementthe movement for change
Who wouldnt prefer to hunt where there are more and bigger bucks?
T
his could be the year of
significant change to whitetail
deer harvest regulations in
Michigan and would be the
result of a movement that has been
growing for a long time. During the
past roughly twenty years there has
been a transition in progress within
the deer hunting community and it
continues to grow. During this period
there has been a significant growth
in professional articles and research
covering all aspects of deer manage-
ment, deer dynamics, habitat and
other issues. The amount of informa-
tion available for both professionals
and hunters to read and become more
aware of deer management techniques
and how they affect the deer herd has
expanded rapidly.
The hunting community today is
much more versed in understanding
deer management needs and has been
increasingly interested in making
effective and helpful change for both
the deer herd and the hunter. This
would include many in the hunting
community that have taken steps to
improve habitat and have taken action
above what is required by MDNR
for harvest regulations. These actions
have decidedly improved both the
Heres my deer regulations recommendation
M
ichigan deer hunters should
be alarmed about the lat-
est deer hunting regula-
tion changes, and the lack
thereof, being recommended by the
DNR for the next three years. Thats
right, any changes in regulations that
are approved by the Natural Resourc-
es Commission (NRC) during June
or July, will be in effect from 2017
through 2019 instead of one year, so
its important that any changes be in
the best interest of deer and deer hunt-
ers. Unfortunately, the current recom-
mendations would do neither.
Unless the NRC makes changes in
those recommendations, mismanage-
ment of deer in the U.P. will continue,
the prevalence rate of TB in deer
management unit (DMU) 487 will go
up and many Michigan deer hunt-
ers will continue to be saddled with
unnecessary mandatory antler point
restrictions (MAPR).
U.P. Mismanagement
The proposals do not include any
significant changes in deer hunt-
ing regulations for most of the U.P.,
which means regulations that have
been in effect since 2008, resulting
in devastation of the U.P. deer herd,
will remain in place. What the DNR
should be recommending is going
Guest Column By Dick Zook
deer herd and the hunting experience
where practiced.
Through all of this it is apparent
that most of the hunting community
understands that the severely com-
pressed age structure of the bucks in
the deer herd is due only to human
intervention with a harvest regulation
of one three inch spike. Additionally,
understanding the need to harvest
does to balance the adult buck-to-doe
ratio and control the population within
the carrying capacity of the land con-
tinues to grow within the Michigan
deer hunting community. To better
understand what is driving the move-
ment for change in harvest regulations
there are four aspects to consider.
The historical trend line of the
harvest of 1 year-old bucks.
There has been a movement
within the whitetail deer hunting com-
munity across the nation to minimize
the harvest of 1 year-old bucks.
QDMAs most recent annual White-
tail Report indicates that the percent
of yearling bucks in the harvest in
the U.S. has dropped steadily from
62% in 1989 to 34% at the end of the
2015 season. This also shows that the
back to one unrestricted buck tag on
U.P. combo licenses. For 9 years,
both buck tags on combination deer
licenses have been restricted to bucks
with 3 or 4 points on one antler. The
intent of that regulation was
to increase the number of
older age class bucks in the
population.
The opposite has hap-
pened. Instead of more older
age bucks in the U.P. herd,
there are far fewer, and the
number of U.P. deer hunt-
ers has also plummeted. The
DNR estimated
that there were By Richard P. Smith
57,988 antlered
bucks bagged by hunters in the U.P.
during 2007, when one tag on combo
licenses was unrestricted. The U.P.
buck harvest has dropped to record
low levels during recent years, with
only an estimated 17,057 taken during
2015. Even if all of the 17,000 bucks
bagged by hunters in the U.P. dur-
ing 2015 were at least 2 years old,
thats many less than the number of
bucks in those age classes that were
tagged during 2007.
In terms of hunter numbers, as
many as 136,090 deer hunters hunted
in the U.P. during 2000, according to
harvest of 3 -plus year-old bucks
in the harvest has steadily increased
since 2001 and now for the second
year is slightly larger than the harvest
of yearling bucks.
This is a very significant move-
ment and is being reflected to a lesser
extent in Michigan. It is apparent
from the MDNRs check station har-
vest data since 2001 that the percent
of yearling bucks in the harvest in
Michigan has been trending down
primarily since 2007. There are three
lines on the chart, one statewide that
stands at 40.8% for 2016, another
for the NLP counties which stands at
31.8% and the third for the SLP coun-
ties which stands at 49.6% in 2016.
These results are enhanced by orga-
nized efforts within the hunting com-
munity, individual volunteer efforts,
and fragmented regulations. This
says a load about how much value
the whitetail deer hunting community
places on effective deer management
for expanding the age structure of the
bucks in the herd.
Many in the hunting community
already practice voluntary buck har-
vest rules to expand the age structure
the DNR. That was down to an esti-
mated 107,412 in 2008. The number
of deer hunters trying their luck in the
U.P. exceeded 100,000 for many years
when a legal buck was a whitetail that
had at least 3-inch spikes
for all hunters. Only 84,099
deer hunters tried their luck
in the U.P. during 2014, ac-
cording to the DNR, the total
dropped further to 83,174
during 2015 and may have
been lower still by 2016.
And there has never been
66% support for mandatory
antler point
restrictions
(MAPR) that
have been in effect on combo deer
licenses in the U.P. A question about
the level of support for U.P .MAPR,
and the regulations are labeled as
MAPR by the DNR, has been asked
for a number of years on the DNRs
annual Deer Hunter Survey. The
highest level of support among U.P.
hunters was 63.5% during 2015, but
statewide support was only 62%.
When the regulations were first ad-
opted, there was barely 50% support.
The biological problem with
MAPR in the U.P. is that they attempt
to stockpile bucks, which simply
of the bucks in the deer herd. There
are a number of methods to accom-
plish that but it appears that the most
acceptable method for most hunters
is a simple antler point restriction of
three or four points on one side. This
provides protection for the major-
ity of the 1 year-old bucks. Use
of these methods reflect the hunting
communitys desire to expand the age
structure of the bucks in the deer herd
by protecting 1 year-old bucks from
over-harvest. This provides the hunter
with more observations of mature
bucks and harvest opportunities.
The Growth of Volunteers
and Organizations
The number of organizations that
support effective deer management
for both the deer herd and the hunter
has grown and their membership or
subscriptions continue to grow.
The volunteers who practice some
protection of 1 year-old bucks are
emphasized by the growing number
of wildlife (deer management) co-ops.
Additionally, the growth of volunteers
practicing some protection of 1
year-old bucks includes some hunt-
ers on public land, a growing number
Deer management page 68
wont work in regions with periodic
severe winters. Some of the bucks that
hunters are forced to pass up by those
regulations die during severe winters.
Those excess deer damage winter
range before they perish and contrib-
ute to higher winter losses among
antlerless deer, too. It is far better
from a deer management perspective
that hunters harvest more bucks dur-
ing the fall so there are fewer to die
during winter, and one unrestricted
tag on combo deer licenses will make
that possible. Besides reducing the
winter loss of bucks, allowing hunters
to harvest more bucks in the U.P. will
also increase the chances of survival
of remaining does for fawn produc-
tion.
Here are some of the most impor-
tant numbers to keep in mind about
the U.P. buck harvest when comparing
regulations that have been in place
since 2008 with the same time period
when one tag on combo licenses was
unrestricted. During the nine years
between 2008 and 2015, an estimated
237,945 bucks were bagged by hunt-
ers in the U.P. compared to 376,459
tagged during the years 1999 through
2007, which is a difference of 138,514
My deer regulations page 69
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 67
 Letters, My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...
Deer management: from page 67
of individual private land owners,
and many hunt clubs. This growth is
supported by a Wildlife Cooperative
Coordinator for the Michigan United
Conservation Clubs and funded by
QDMA, Pheasants Forever, MUCC,
and the MDNR.
Currently MUCC has recorded
about 100 co-ops in operation cover-
ing about 3,500 members and about
300,000 acres. The number of hunters
on the co-ops would be in multiples of
the 3500 members with family mem-
bers and other guests. The growth
of QDMA chapters and membership
throughout the state supports this
movement. Currently, there are about
23 active QDMA Chapters and about
6,000 members in Michigan. QDMA
supports efforts to organize the co-ops
and apply effective deer management
techniques. The Let em Go Let em
Grow group that advocates the use
of APRs in Michigan shows 21,000
members statewide.
The amount of electronic commu-
nications from these organizations and
between hunters to share information
and support effective deer manage-
ment has grown exponentially. Thanks
to all of these organizations and vol-
unteers for their efforts in supporting
hunting and effective deer manage-
ment. The magnitude of the number
of individual private land owners
practicing some protection of 1
year-old bucks is unknown, but the
combination of private land owners
and hunters are probably the majority
of the support for this movement.
All of this indicates there is a
significant positive difference in
the deer herd.
Scientific Analysis
There is a contention that scientific
evidence is not available to support a
harvest regulation requiring an antler
point restriction. However, profes-
sional articles have been written that
the social structure of the deer herd
benefits from an expanded age struc-
ture of the bucks in the herd. Balanc-
ing the adult buck-to-doe ratio to a
more natural level cannot be achieved
without expanding the age structure of
the bucks in the herd. Also the imbal-
ance in the age structure of the bucks
in the whitetail deer herd is a direct
result of human intervention through
the over-harvest of the 1 year-old
bucks. The most important question to
ask is which harvest regulation option
would a scientific analysis support,
one three-inch spike or an antler point
restriction of three or four points on
one side?
Are there any professional biolo-
gists out there that support a three-
inch spike harvest regulation and
provide good wildlife conservation
logic for it?
The choice is obvious, as any ben-
efits to the deer herd from a harvest
regulation of one three-inch spike
have not been identified.
68 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
Antler Point Proposals
(APR or MAPR)
APRs were implemented in
Leelanau County after the initial APR
survey in 2003 showed landowner
support of 66% and hunter support of
64%. The follow up survey showed
72% support. The majority, if not all,
of objective reports show this action
to be a significant benefit to the deer
herd and the deer hunter. The north-
west twelve counties passed initial
hunter survey with 68.5% and results
of the follow-up hunter survey is
expected soon.
The APR proposals initiated by
the Lower Peninsula Deer Manage-
ment Initiative (LPDMI) four years
ago for the Northern Lower Peninsula
showed 62% support and the South-
ern Lower Peninsula showed 56%
support, but neither reached the super
majority needed for implementation.
From my close observation during the
proposal process there was little or
no contention to the compressed age
structure of the bucks in the deer herd.
Many of those with objections were
supportive of those hunters volunteer-
ing their commitment. This is a strong
indication that the hunting commu-
nity supports protecting 1 year-old
bucks from harvest and that the move-
ment for change continues to grow.
Summary
This movement within the deer
hunting community to expand the age
structure of the bucks in the deer herd
has grown significantly over 15 to 20
years. This movement is supported
by a significant block of informed
hunters actively working for more
effective deer management. This is a
large, strong and active group and it is
continuing to grow. It appears the ma-
jority of the hunting community sup-
ports and is looking for the MDNR to
establish harvest regulations to protect
1 year-old bucks from harvest. At
stake is the continued loss of hunt-
ers, not effectively managing the deer
herd, and the diminishing economics
of deer hunting.
Nature would provide for an
expanded age structure of the bucks
in the deer herd without the excessive
human induced harvest of 1 year-
old bucks, and that would certainly
help to balance the adult buck-to-doe
ratio. If you share the same concerns
for the deer herd, the hunting experi-
ence, and the retention of hunters,
then doing nothing is not an option.
As responsible hunters, we need to
consider what is best for the deer
herd and the deer hunters, and begin
protecting more 1 year-old bucks
from harvest.
Who wouldnt prefer to hunt
where there are more and bigger
bucks, and where after one or two
years the harvest rebounds to histori-
cal levels?
Future Focus
The hunting communitys aware-
ness and understanding of deer
management issues will continue to
expand; it is a product of our time.
The knowledge and learning potential
is facilitated by the advancement of
digital electronics, communications,
and access to desired information
that wasnt there 20 years ago. The
hunting communitys participation in
deer management issues and regula-
tion changes will continue. When
the compressed age structure of the
bucks in the deer herd is favorably
Comorants: from page 66
The Official standpoint is that cormorants eat about a pound of fish a
day. The author doesnt buy that. This cormorant was full of perch!
what a huge impact this is to this
area. Without the fish, we dont get
fishermen. And, they are a huge part
of our economy. Im just frustrated.
Something needs to be done. Its the
job of the USFWS to manage our
natural resources. And, they have
totally dropped the ball on this.
One obvious partner in this
affair is the MUCC. And, on this
they stated, The MUCC supports
cormorant control and hopes to see
it restored.
On this, nobody ever advocated
the extermination of cormorants; the
plan was to get the birds to a num-
ber at which they were no longer a
threat to the fisheries. This program
worked well. And, the population
was brought under control. There
was a safe population of cormorants.
Enough to insure their continued
existence as a species and not so
many that they would deplete the
fish population. Now, at this time,
although many species have yet to
recover, most were on the upswing.
In the Les Cheneaux Islands, which
was one of the hardest hit places
by the cormorant bloom, the perch
have started to make a comeback.
However, in information provided
by Kovac and area businessmen and
sportsmans groups, the fishermen
have yet to return in the numbers
they were at prior to the infestation.
Obviously, something needs to
be done at the Federal level. On this,
last fall, I had the pleasure of hav-
ing lunch with then-candidate Jack
Bergman, who is now Congressman
Jack Bergman, representing the
resolved there will be other issues to
pursue. This could include assuring
we are harvesting at least as many
does as bucks just to maintain a stable
herd near the carrying capacity of the
environment.
Thanks to the effort from all the
stake holders that have been working
diligently to effect more balanced and
effective change for our deer herd.
May we all continue to share our
hunting treasure and heritage for now
and future generations.n
entire U.P. and about the northern
third of the lower peninsula. At
that time, Jack was not up to speed
about the issue. Over lunch, I filled
him in. And, he seemed genuinely
interested.
A short time ago, I contacted his
office and got the following state-
ment, We have been hearing about
cormorant issues quite often and our
office is taking steps to address the
problem. Im not quite sure what the
final product will look like. But, I do
know that we are looking at options
for effective control of this popu-
lation so that they stop wreaking
havoc on our Great Lakes fisheries.
Just before writing this, I was
told Jack had a meeting set up with
Secretary Zinke, head of the Depart-
ment of the Interior. In this meeting,
they were to talk about the cormo-
rant issue.
My thought on this, is that even
without some Federal case or law
being implemented, a word from
the top can have a lot of influence.
Like, when the boss tells you that
something is a priority, it becomes
a priority. So, if the people who
are in the US Fish and Wildlife
Service, get the word from above,
perhaps this issue can be resolved
quickly.
On the other hand, we sports-
men need to keep up the pressure.
Call your local officials. Call your
US Congressmen. Tell them your
concerns. And, just remind them, if
this issue is not a priority to them,
perhaps it will be to the next person
sitting in their seat.n
 Hot Topics In The Outdoors... My Thoughts, My Views
My Deer Regulations: from page 67
bucks. Just as many bucks could have
been harvested by hunters since 2008
as the 9 years prior, but because of
more restrictive regulations, those
100,000 plus bucks died during the
winter either of starvation or being
pulled down by wolves, coyotes and
bobcats in weakened condition. Al-
lowing a minimum of 138,514 bucks
to die during winter or be pulled down
by predators when hunters could have
taken them qualifies as terrible deer
management.
Drummond Island
MAPR wont work any better on
Drummond Island than the rest of the
U.P., yet the DNR is recommending
expanding them to single deer licens-
es on the island and to further restrict
deer hunters there to a one buck bag
limit. Legislation requires the DNR to
offer a 2-deer bag limit and, besides,
few hunters shoot 2 bucks anywhere
in the U.P. Going to a one buck bag
limit on the island would only po-
tentially save one buck for every five
square miles per year, according to
the DNR, and would result in a major
decline of recreational opportunity
among deer hunters there.
MAPR and TB
Since 2010, both buck tags on
combination deer licenses in DMU
487 (the TB Zone), which encompass-
es DMU 452, have been restricted to
bucks with 3 or 4 points on one antler
in an attempt to get hunters to shoot
more does. That effort has been a total
failure, resulting in an increase of
TB prevalence in 452 to 2.7% during
2015 and 2% for 2016. In a continu-
ing effort to get hunters in those
DMUs to shoot more does, they are
proposing expanding MAPR to single
deer licenses!
The only things that will do are
increase the prevalence of TB even
more and heres why. MAPR for any
buck tags in DMU 487 are a major
mistake because those regulations
protect more than 20% of 2 -year
old bucks, according to a graph from
the DNR that shows the number of
antler points by age in the northern
L.P, and some bucks as old as 5
years old. Based on that graph, as
many as 8% of 2 -year-old bucks
have spikes and 15% have 3 or 4
points and a small number of bucks
up to 5 years old also have less than
3 points on one antler. Protecting even
one buck that is at least 2 years
old with small antlers that has TB is
counter productive and MAPR would
certainly protect multiple older-age
bucks that have TB, allowing them to
spread the disease! That is part of the
reason why the prevalence rate of TB
has gone up in DMU 452 during 2015
and 2016!
Any plan that forces hunters to
pass up whitetails in an area where the
goal is to reduce the deer population
along with the prevalence of disease
is destined to failure. The best way to
maximize the harvest of deer of both
sexes is to maximize the opportunity
for hunters to shoot deer that they
see and have the opportunity to kill.
Regulations that force hunters to pass
up any deer where disease control and
herd reduction is an objective is a lost
opportunity to reach those objectives.
All APR have been removed in DMU
333 in an effort to control CWD in the
southern part of the state. The same
strategy makes sense in DMU 487 to
help reduce the prevalence of TB in
deer!
Better Way to
Increase Doe Harvest
A much better way to increase the
harvest of antlerless deer in disease
zones (DMUs 333 and 487) is to au-
thorize the issuance of free antlerless
permits to hunters for those DMUs. I
know that free disease control per-
mits can be given to landowners who
request them in DMUs 487 and 333,
so the same thing should be possible
for hunters. Such a change would not
only show the public that the DNR
and NRC are serious about trying to
control disease in the deer herd, it
would increase the incentive for hunt-
ers who dont normally hunt those
areas to do so!
Another change could be made to
deer regulations in DMU 487 to in-
crease the deer harvest and better con-
trol TB, provided single deer licenses
remain unrestricted there. That is to
allow hunters who buy a single deer
license and fill it with a buck or doe
(all deer licenses in 487 are valid for
does) to buy a second one. Most hunt-
ers who buy single licenses do so due
to limited time to hunt or to increase
their chances of filling a tag. Those
who fill that tag quickly and still
have time to hunt might be willing to
continue hunting, if it were legal for
them to buy another single tag. Such a
change would maximize hunting op-
portunity among that segment of hunt-
ers, thereby increasing the potential
for the harvest of more deer!
Having a late season hunt dur-
ing the month of January when deer
season is closed elsewhere in the state
is one more way to increase the deer
kill by hunters in disease zones!
Northwest 12 Counties
The DNR is recommending ex-
tending MAPR for the 12 counties in
the northwest L.P., where they went
into effect during 2013, and removing
the sunset for those regulations, which
I think is a major mistake on top of a
series of much bigger mistakes. In my
opinion, MAPR should be eliminated
from those 12 counties as well as
Leelanau County, and heres why. The
biggest mistake the DNR and NRC
have made regarding MAPR is to
adopt a procedure for putting them in
place that involves an opinion survey
as the deciding factor. Theres no bio-
logical science involved, just social
science.
(continued)
Thats the only way such a regula-
tion could be adopted, of course, be-
cause there are no biological benefits
fencing their crops, eliminating deer
and deer hunting from those proper-
ties!
of MAPR versus voluntary APR, but MAPR Are Unnecessary
there are negatives, as weve seen in MAPR are not necessary to pro-
the U.P. No other hunting regulations tect at least 50% of the yearling bucks
or wildlife management decisions are in most Michigan DMUs, which is the
made for any other species in Michi- stated purpose of MAPR. Based on
gan than deer, and that should not be data provided by the DNR for the last
possible for whitetails either. Its time four years, the harvest of yearlings
to undo the damage that has been bucks is either below 50% or close
done by MAPR! to 50% in all Region 2 DMUs and
There is so much bias involved most DMUs in Region 3 that dont
in opinion surveys its ridiculous. have MAPR. That goal would also be
One of the biggest biases has been in achieved in the Region 2 DMUs that
differentiating between support for currently have MAPR if they were
voluntary and mandatory APR. The
removed thanks to the willingness
DNR has asked hunters on numerous
of most hunters to practice voluntary
surveys about support for APR with-
APR!
out asking if they support voluntary or The highest average harvest of
mandatory. In every case, the results yearling bucks for the years 2013
have been interpreted as support for through 2016 for Region 2 DMUs
mandatory when no distinction was without MAPR was 49.5% for Clare
made! County. The lowest yearling buck
Counter To Deer harvest under voluntary APR at
Management Plan 36% were Cheboygan and Roscom-
MAPR should be eliminated from mon Counties, Crawford at 38% and
DMUs in Michigan where they cur- Otsego at 40%. Average yearling buck
rently exist, such as the U.P., DMU harvest under voluntary APR in most
487 and the northwest counties, Region 3 DMUs ranged between 40
because MAPR are not consistent and 55%.
with the mission of the updated state MAPR Satisfaction
Deer Management Plan that the NRC Impossible To Achieve
recently approved. As stated in the When discussing MAPR at the
plan, the mission is: NRC meeting in Ludington on May
To maintain a healthy white- 11, DNR deer specialist Chad Stew-
tailed deer population, using sound art showed a comparison of the level
scientific management, maximiz- of satisfaction of deer hunters on a
ing recreational opportunities while statewide basis where MAPR arent in
minimizing negative impacts on effect with DMUs that have MAPR.
ecosystems and other wildlife species The level of satisfaction with their ex-
and without creating undue hardship perience was the same between both
to private interests. groups of hunters and heres why.
MAPR do not maximize recre- MAPR are an attempt to satisfy
ational opportunities. They reduce a hunter desire that is impossible to
them. Verification of that can be found achieve for the majority of hunters.
in the DNRs recommendation to Yes. The majority of deer hunters are
Remove the 2-point APR for South dissatisfied with the number of bucks
Fox Island. Under Social Impacts is they see. I could have told you that
written, Department staff has indi- without conducting a survey. What the
cated removing the APR will provide surveys dont tell you is most hunters
additional opportunities for hunters. will never be satisfied with the num-
Where MAPR have been in effect, ber of bucks they see while hunting
there have been increased crop dam- due to the limited amount of time they
age and car/deer collisions. A number have to hunt, their limited hunting
of farmers from the northwest L.P. ability and the elusive nature of adult
commented about increased deer dam- whitetail bucks. It is impossible to
age from MAPR at the NRC meeting provide every hunter in Michigan
in Ludington on May 11. Deer dam- with a buck, much less an old buck.
age has become so severe on some MAPR creates the false impression
farms, farmers have resorted to high that goal is possible!n
My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions
Share your thoughts, views, opinions or short stories with
Woods-N-Water News readers by emailing
wnw@pageone-inc.com or mail to
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 69
Sporting Knives:
Choose em and use em
G
rowing up in the out-
doors without owning
a personal knife is like
trying to play base-
ball without a bat. As
a schoolboy trapper,
I prized a Case sheath knife that I
bought from the local hardware store
with the sweat from sacking
groceries for fifty cents an
hour. That knife skinned a lot
of muskrats in my parents
basement and removed the
hide from a spikehorn buck
I shot.
About the time I went
to college, I gave the knife
to my younger brother, who
grew up to become
a skilled tradesman
in an auto factory.
Michigan Meanders
Now retired, he
makes beautiful
By Tom Huggler
longbows and belt knives. For Christ-
mas one year he presented me with a
handsome, rugged knife with a 4-inch
blade of stainless steel, a handle of
antler bone and a leather case with a
belt loop.
This knife has such a fine edge
and fits my hand so perfectly that
Ive used it to gut, skin, break down
and bone out several deer. I know a
little something about knives, having
graduated to the meat department at
the supermarket after proving I could
put canned goods in the bottom of
brown paper bags and not on top of
the bread. The first thing I learned is
that no blade is designed for all pur-
poses. Second, the serious sportsman
needs several knives, or, at the very
least, a combination tool with more
than one blade.
I dont collect knives as an
investment, but many people do, as
evidenced by the large number of gun
and knife shows. However, I do own a
few good ones.
Big Game Hunting
I dont carry the knife my brother
gave me for fear of losing it. Instead,
when I go big game hunting, I tote a
brand-name belt knife. A long-time fa-
vorite is the Buck Model 110, a 7-oz.
folding model I picked up more than
40 years ago. Buck knives are among
the best in the world. The model
110s stainless steel blade is 4 inches
long; when folded, the knife is only 5
inches. It stays sharp a long time and
wont rust. Thats also because the
handle is solid brass with wood inlay.
If you like a single-blade belt
knife but dont care for folding mod-
els, consider a belt knife with a blade
in the 4-inch range. In my opinion,
hunting knives with blades longer
than 4-1/2 or 5 inches are unneces-
sary. Having a bowie-style blade slap-
ping along your thigh makes an im-
70 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
pression, to be sure, but only among
the uninformed. The Bowie was a
fighting knife (a small sword actu-
ally with a blade of 12 to 18 inches),
a reserve weapon when there was no
time to reload the muzzleloader. It
has no practical value to the sports-
man. Someone will no doubt say they
like a Bowie or Rambo-style
sticker for slashing through
thick undergrowth, and my
answer is: A machete works
better.
Marble Arms in Glad-
stone is a legendary Michi-
gan company with roots to
1892. You can get a Marble-s
Hunter skinning knife for
$15a good
valuefrom
Smoky Mountain
Knife Works but
the product is now
made in China. For a Michigan-made
belt knife, check out Rapid River
Knifeworks along U.S. Highway 2,
a few miles east of Gladstone. Youll
pay 10 times more ($150), but will
get an excellent blade with personal
engraving and a leather case. Send it
back anytime and get it sharpened for
free.
Blade Design,
Construction and Fit
Blade design determines knife
use. Skinning knives, for example,
have a fine edge and tend to be 1 to
1-1/2 inches wide. Boning knives, on
the other hand, sport slimmer blades
that are more flexible. Fillet knives
are equally flexible and slimmer yet
but must be razor-sharp and able to
separate meat from backbone and
slice skin without tearing up the fillet.
How a knife is built usually
determines its quality. The blades
of better-made models extend well
into the handle. Some manufacturers
wrap the handle of wood, antler or
synthetic materials around the blades
full-length extension. Rivets or other
fasteners should be solid brass.
High-quality stainless steel can
be tough to sharpen but will hold an
edge and not rust. Carbon-steel blades
are easier to sharpen but require more
care. For example, dont store such
knives in their sheaths where they can
pick up moisture. Instead, wipe the
edge with a light oil, stick a piece of
Styrofoam on the tip, and store the
knife in a Zip-loc bag in a place safe
from children (a safety reminder for
all knives, regardless of construction).
Any knife must feel right and
should be safe to use. I once owned
a knife with a smooth plastic handle
and no hilt or finger guard. It didnt
fit my hand and I was unable to grip
it securely. The first time I used the
knifeto sharpen a tent stake in
campit slipped and cut me badly.
As a general rule, the handle of any
knife should extend to each side of
the index and little finger, but no more
than a half inch either way.
Pocketknives
Even a pocketknife should have
enough bulk to fit the hand. We called
them jackknives when we were kids,
and everyone carried one. If I had a
dollar for every jackknife Ive lost,
including a couple of official Boy
Scout models, Id have enough money
to buy a collectors blade with scrim-
shaw detail on a handle of genuine
mastodon bone (okay, not really but
you get the point). Whatever you call
themjackknife, pocket lockblade or
folding knifethe one- or two-blade
personal knife is a favorite among
sportsmen.
My favorite is the Schrade Model
12 Old Timer, a slim 1-oz tool with a
2-1/4 inch blade that folds into a tidy
handle of less than 3 inches. Ive lost
three or four over the years but keep
buying them (on the secondary mar-
ket; the original century-old Schrade
Company went out of business more
than a decade ago) because they are
so useful for outdoor purposes: cut-
ting fishing line, peeling campfire
potatoes, gutting birds, even skinning
a deer in a pinch.
Pocketknives with lock-style
blades offer added security. You can
get a top-quality Copperlock model
from a Case Knife dealer for $50, or
you can pay much less for any num-
ber of knockoffs. If you buy a model
with more than one blade, the others
will be progressively smaller and
useful for work of finer detail. Besides
The authors favorite knives
are (clockwise from top, right):
Sheath knife from Rapid River
Knifeworks, Normark fillet knife,
Gerber Multi-Plier, Buck Model
110 folding knife, and Victorinox
Swiss Army Knife mini-version
(middle). Left: the knife the
authors brother made him for a
Christmas present.
less weight, the clear advantage of the
smaller knives is their ability to do
small cutting jobs.
Ever since my Scouting days, Ive
been attracted to multiple-use gadgets
such as Swiss Army-style knives and
their battery of toolsscrew driver,
awl, corkscrew, fork, spoon and vari-
ous cutting edges.
Thirty years ago, I bought a genu-
ine Swiss Army knife with leather
sheath from my grandfathers natal
village in the Swiss Alps but lost it
on a bird hunt somewhere. Today I
carry a Victorinox mini-version with
scissors, tweezers and a single blade.
Hardly a day goes by that I dont use
one or the other.
Multi-Function Tools
If necessity is the mother of in-
vention, then imitation is the daughter.
The plethora of multi-purpose tools
from the likes of Gerber, Leatherman,
Buck and others is almost mind-
boggling. Two that I have owned
for years are the Leatherman Pocket
Survival Tool and the Gerber Multi-
Plier. With its Cordura belt sheath, the
Multi-Plier weighs a tad under 9 oz.
Besides its pair of sharp 2-1/2 inch
blades, one of which is serrated, the
tool includes pliers, wirecutter, rule,
two screwdrivers, a bottle opener and
punch.
The Leatherman, which has a
leather belt case, is lighter at only
6-1/2 oz. but lacks a serrated blade.
It comes with a sturdy metal file and
needle-nosed pliers. As a survival tool
or for all-around outdoor use, both are
good choices.
I find it amazing that I have not
yet lost them, along with my favorite
fillet knife, a Normark model I have
owned for more than 40 years. Give
me timejust a little more time.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 71
 Following a hiking trail is
not for the fainthearted
By Sharon M. Kennedy
S
ometimes its a simple
bird guide book that
creates enough interest
in outdoor life to last a
lifetime. Just ask Beth
Hronek. She was in the
fourth grade when one of her Christ-
mas presents was a book about birds.
She doesnt remember when she got
her first bicycle, but the memory of a
painted bunting on the cover of that
little book stuck with her. Shes all
grown up now and is happiest when
discovering new hiking trails where
flora, fauna, and feathered friends
abound.
I met Beth when she lived in
Sault Ste. Marie. Her stories of hik-
ing intrigued me, partly because her
experiences were exciting and partly
because she usually hiked alone.
When I asked why she went by her-
self she replied, Because if you wait
for someone else, youll never go.
By going solitary shes covered 40
percent of the Appalachian Trail (AT),
an astonishing 865 miles, but some of
her favorite hiking trails are right here
in Michigan.
Five times I hiked the entire
Lakeshore Trail at Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore and many more
times I went on weekend jaunts. I
loved that place. Each of the back-
country camp areas had special traits.
Some were solitary, others I enjoyed
because I knew Id meet new people.
Sometimes I just wanted to watch the
lake, but mostly I wanted to be out-
side and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Ive hiked on Grand Island in Munis-
ing Bay and Ontarios Lake Superior
Provincial Park.
Along with hiking, Beth enjoys
canoeing and kayaking. When I
lived in Michigan, I canoed the Two
Hearted River and kayaked on the St.
Marys River and Lakes Superior and
Huron. Many Saturday mornings the
fog would be lifting and Id paddle
away from the dock, bob on the water,
and drink my coffee. One time a bea-
ver swam up to me before he realized
I wasnt a rock but a person. I saw
the whites of his eyes as he twisted
17 ways, slapped his tail, and swam
away.
Ive hiked the Appalachian Trai
from Springer Mountain, Georgia
up to Pearisburg, Virginia and some
in and around Shenandoah National
Park. Ive walked some of the AT
in West Virginia, all of it in Mary-
land, and a couple hundred yards in
Pennsylvania. Along the way, I met a
fellow who said he was shooting for
10 miles in each state. I dont intend
to do that, but I like the idea of pick-
ing and choosing. Ive hiked all of
the AT in New Jersey, a dozen miles
72 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
in New York, 20 miles in Vermont,
and 50 miles in Maine. And I guess
I shouldnt forget those three feet in
New Hampshire.
On a solo hike in the Smoky
Mountains, four men came along. I
was a bit worried because I was alone
in a shelter. After a few minutes, one
guy asked if I had a water filter. He
was asking to filter water for me if I
didnt. Its been my experience that
hikers are friendly, helpful people.
Were there for various reasons. Some
folks hike to enjoy the beauty of their
surroundings, others for the adven-
tures, and some to test their physical
and mental stamina. Theres really
no single common thread that unites
us unless its the desire to explore the
unknown.
On one stretch of the AT in Ten-
nessee, it was necessary for me to bail
out. Hitchhikers are common around
the AT, and roads cross it fairly often
so I hiked back to a highway figuring
I could hitch a ride to town. When you
have a backpack, locals know youre
a hiker so you dont have to thumb
a ride. People just stop and ask if you
want one, so I started walking. There
were 20 miles of pavement ahead of
me.
Id gone about half a mile with
no luck. Cars zoomed past as if the
rain had made me invisible. Then a
truck going in the opposite direction
spied me, crossed four lanes of traffic,
and the driver offered a ride. There
was no room in the cab, but he said
I was welcome to climb in the back
and find a place among the garbage
bags. I didnt hesitate. Riding with
the garbage was a whole lot easier
than walking along the side of a busy
highway in a downpour.
As we zoomed past cars that
had zoomed past me, I noticed one
driver getting a speeding ticket. It
wasnt until I looked through the back
window of the cab that I realized why
we were going so fast and not getting
stopped. I noticed the passengers were
wearing bright orange jumpsuits with
PRISONER written across the back. A
trustee of the Unicoi County Sheriffs
Department had stopped for me. I
had noticed writing on the door and
assumed the truck belonged to a busi-
ness. I just hadnt noticed what kind.
When he dropped me off, I knew this
was one adventure I wouldnt forget.
Along with the AT, Ive hiked
parts of Wyomings Teton Crest Trail,
Rocky Mountain National Park, Yel-
lowstone, Mammoth Cave in Ken-
tucky, and Hoosier National Forest.
Ive canoed in the Everglades, the
White Cliffs section of the Missouri
River, dipped my paddle in Minneso-
tas Boundary Waters and in the Arctic
Beth Hronek hiking alone in the Tetons. Why hike alone? Beth believes, If
you wait for someone else to go with you, youll never go.
of the Yukon and Alaska. Ive rafted
in West Virginia, Tennessee, Alaska,
Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Idaho.
Not too bad for a gal who admits to
a having a giant phobia of snakes,
was raised in an Iowa city, and cant
claim any rural heritage!
A few years ago, Beth made a
career move and is now a community
college librarian in Wyoming. She
continues to hike, keeping a sharp eye
out for prairie rattlesnakes, her great-
est concern. There are grizzly bears
and mountain lions in this part of the
country, she said, but they dont
worry me as much as the snakes.
Even hiking through Appalachian
states where there are timber rattlers
and copperheads wasnt as worrisome
as hiking out west. You never know
when youll run into a rattler.
And if it isnt rattlers, its buffalo.
On one Yellowstone backpack hike, I
was three miles in when I turned off
the main trail to a campsite trail in the
woods just off a large meadow. Two
buffalo were about 25 yards from me.
As I searched where to put my tent,
one buffalo moved closer to my site.
I forgot about camping and headed
back to my car. Eyeing up a shaggy
bull as hes eyeing you isnt quite the
same as looking at pictures of herds
quietly grazing on grasslands. The
real thing is a bit more intimidating.
I asked Beth what she carries with
her. I have a lightweight tentonly
a pound and a halfand I use my
hiking poles to hold it up. I carry a 20
degree down filled sleeping bag thats
a little over two pounds and a pound
weight sleeping pad. The pad is more
for warmth than comfort as it gives
some protection from the cold ground.
I have a stove that boils water in two
minutes, and I bring food that can be
cooked by simply adding hot water.
Sometimes my meal is dehydrated
backpacking food, but often its just
something like Lipton Noodles with
instant milk.
When I hiked weekends at
Pictured Rocks, I would stop at
Muldoons and grab a pastie. Oh, so
good! On these short weekend trips,
breakfast is usually a hard boiled egg
and a package of Gogurt. I also take
stuff like cheese and crackers, sausage
sticks, and GORP with lots of M&Ms.
GORP is hiker talk for good old
raisins and peanuts. And, of course, a
comfortable pair of hiking boots is a
necessity.
Beth has come a long way from
the little girl who delighted in the
pages of her bird book. She admits the
book wasnt a particularly good one
as far as ornithology was concerned,
but it was the beginning of her inter-
est in the outdoors. As she puts it, I
never got particularly good at birding,
but from that little book I learned the
importance of looking at my environ-
ment in a new way. In hindsight, I
wish I had known about other nature
guides as I would have used them
throughout my teenage years.
I dont think Beth has to be con-
cerned about hindsight when theres a
future of hiking trails just waiting for
her to discover. The most important
idea I took away from the interview
was the simplest. If you wait for
someone else to go with you, youll
never go. Id say thats pretty good
advice.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 73
GO-ITE Manufacturing Company
Sporting Collectibles -- Part I...By Terry McBurney
I
t was the summer of 1948. Six-year old
Bob Hite and his grandfather, Rex Hite,
were getting ready to go fishing on Sage
Lake, which was twenty miles northeast
of West Branch, Michigan. They started
by digging night crawlers from behind
a neighbors shaded garage and then harvesting
some perch minnows his grandfather had trapped
in a glass minnow trap.
With some sandwiches and soft drinks packed
and with Bob in the middle seat, the grandfather
pushed the rowboat out, started the motor and off
they went on another adventure. The youngster
knew that his goal was to catch a mess of panfish
for dinner. He loved catching bluegills and perch
and especially one of the big black crappies that
were so hard to catch. Bob was armed with a one-
piece 12-ft. cane pole and his grandfather fished
with one of the big round reels that he had invent-
ed, which was mounted on his favorite bamboo
casting rod.
His grandfather called it a Go-Ite reel and
had been manufacturing it for over twenty-five
years. Rex explained that it was an Indiana-style
reel and was almost foolproof to use. The reel
was 5 -inches in diameter and held 100-yards of
18-lb. braided casting line. It was a single-action
reel without any internal gears. A single turn of the
handle retrieved about 15-inches of line per revo-
lution. The fishing line would also dry on the reel,
which was crucial for silk, linen, and cotton lines
produced before WWII.
His grandfather sometimes thumbed the one-
piece aluminum reel when casting or fighting bass.
Most of the time, he adjusted the tension screw ac-
cording to the weight of the lure he was throwing
and let the drag do the work. There were very few
A Go-Ite Gasometer ad from the April 1921 is-
sue of The Automobile Trade Directory .
74 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
backlashes with his Go-Ite reel, and he could re-
ally crank in line when he turned the handle, much
faster than his friends who used conventional bait
casting reels.
His grandfather was a good fisherman and was
going to fish for largemouth bass during breaks in
the panfish action. The one problem that day was
when a large bass hit his red and white wood lure,
the impact of the strike jarred the reel and rod in
his hand and spun the spool backwards. Rex put
the fingers of his left hand into the reels teardrop
holes when this happened, stopping the spool.
Bob and his grandfather repeated their enjoy-
able fishing adventures many times before Bob
and his family moved to Florida. Today, he is a
retired fisheries biologist living in Carterville, Il-
linois. The Go-Ite Manufacturing story, however,
started many years before that Michigan fishing
trip. It all began with two Hoosiers. The first was
Rexford Earl Hite who was born at home on Janu-
ary 13, 1892. His parents, Clement and Josephine
Hite, had a family farm in Ervin Township, How-
ard County, just west of Kokomo, Indiana. The
Hite family moved to Kokomo sometime before
the 1910 census where Clement was listed first
as a stone mason and then later as a brick layer.
The second Hoosier, George Raymond Goin, was
born on July 18, 1892, in White River Township,
Hamilton County, Indiana another family farm
located about 32 miles southeast of Kokomo.
The city of Kokomo, Indiana was the key,
drawing many people to move there looking for
work during this period. Natural gas was discov-
ered in 1886, and the resulting gas boom first
lured glass companies to Kokomo because of the
cheap supply of natural gas. Soon, the fledgling
automotive industry began in Kokomo, first with
automobile production starting in 1898 and then
automobile parts suppliers that soon followed
many businesses that were a perfect fit for our two
technically-minded Hoosiers, Rex Hite and George
Goin.
The 1910 U.S. Census listed Rex Hites occu-
pation as apprentice machine shop in Kokomo.
The year 1910 was important in another way.
Eighteen year old Rexford Hite married Golda
Prcesang on June 30. Later, a 1912 Kokomo city
directory listed his occupation as crater Globe
Stove and Range and the 1914 city directory had
The first Go-Ite tackle ad featured the Go-Ite An-
ti-Back Lash Reel and Water-Plane Baits. March
1922 issue of Outers Recreation magazine
Rex Hite with a nice stringer of bass caught on
Sage Lake, near West Branch. Rex was fishing
with one of his Go-Ite reels and using a Go-Ite
Fish Fooler wood lure. Bob Hite photo
him working as a pattern fitter.
The 1910 Census showed George Goin work-
ing as a pattern maker in Kokomo, which is
where the two like-minded young men may have
first met. Their 1917 WWI draft registration cards
had Rex living in Dearborn, Michigan where he
was a pattern maker at the Ford Tractor Plant in
Highland Park, Michigan with George residing in
nearby Toledo where he too was a pattern maker
but for the Standard Electric Stove Company.
Note: A pattern maker takes the designs for the
different parts that make up a car, for example, and
develops a pattern for each piece. After the pat-
terns are created, a tool and die maker creates the
machinery that is used to manufacture the part.
On March 24, 1919, Rexford Hite and George
Goin filed for a patent for an improved automobile
gas filler and gauge. Patent #1453668 was ap-
proved on May 1, 1923 with George Goin assign-
ing his rights to Rex Hite. Both men were listed
as living in Highland Park, Michigan. An ad was
run in the May 1920 issue of The Accessory and
Garage Journal, promoting what the two inventors
called the Go-Ite Gasometer. The patented device
was a combined gasoline filler and gauge that was
added as an accessory to early Ford and Chevrolet
Go-Ites 1923 ads were smaller in size but
added fishing line to the copy. May 1923 Forest
& Stream magazine
fuel tanks that were housed under the front seat
cushion. Their invention eliminated having the
driver get out of the car, lift up the seat cushion,
measure the amount of gasoline needed and then
fill the tank. The Gasometer was easily fitted to
the tank in ten minutes with only the filler cap and
gauge sticking out from underneath the cushion.
The Gasometers gauge told the driver how
much gasoline was in the tank and allowed him to
quickly and easily fill the tank. The ad went on to
state that the Gasometer was made by the Go-Ite
Manufacturing Company, Kokomo, Indiana the
first reference to the Go-Ite Manufacturing Com-
pany and the first use of the Go-Ite trademark. The
Gasometer was produced or assembled at 219 S.
Main, which was the second floor of the Kokomo
city garage.
The last ad that I have found for the Gasometer
was in the January 1922 issue of The Automobile
Trade Journal, where it was advertised as the Go-
Ite Fillometer combined gas filler and gauge for
all Ford models. The time span between the first
and last ads was less than two years, though the
trademark application stated that the Go-Ite name
had been in use since in the neighborhood of Apr.
1, 1918. (The companys name was derived from
a combination of their two last names, Goin and
Hite transforming into Go-Ite.)
The first Go-Ite fishing ad appeared in the
March 1922 issue of Outers Recreation magazine,
promoting The Go-Ite Anti-Back Lash Reels and
Baits and listed Kokomo as the companys ad-
dress. The ad introduced the 5 -inch teardrop reel
that weighed 6-ounces and Go-Ites Water-Plane
metal baits in plain or feathered models.
Other ads quickly appeared in April, May, June
and August 1922 editions of Outers Recreation
and in Field and Stream. These were similar to the
March ad except retail prices were added a $6.00
retail for the reel and retails of 90 for Water-Plane
baits with plain treble hooks and $1.00 for the
feathered models.
1923 ads were smaller in size and simpler in
design, but they also promoted a third category be-
sides reels and metal baits. Go-Ite was now selling
fishing lines. It is interesting to note that no Go-Ite
spool of line had ever been discovered until a
battered wood spool was sold along with a Go-Ite
teardrop reel in a March 2015 eBay auction. Ron
Kotch, fishing tackle collector and NFLCC (Na-
tional Fishing Lure Collectors Club) member from
Akron, Ohio, had found the reel along with the
spool of line in the bottom of an old tackle box.
The reel, which was in nice shape, was clearly
marked Made in Kokomo, Ind. The wooden
spool of line was in terrible shape. The front label
was only 75% complete, the reverse label was
missing, and there was no indication where it was
The Coleman Indiana-style reel, also from Ko-
komo, was never put into production. A number
of Coleman and Go-Ite par ts were interchange-
able. Langs Auctions, Inc. photo
manufactured. The other big problem was the line
that was wound on the spool was fly line and not
the original black silk casting line. Normally, a
spool of line in this bad of shape with all its
issues would have been thrown away! Ron rec-
ognized that the reel and the spool of line prob-
ably dated about the same time, so he sold them
together - a great decision as the two items sold
for $460.
Kokomo was also the home of two other In-
diana-style reels during this period the first reel
patented by Lawrence Benson and a second design
by Joseph Coleman. Not much is known about
Lawrence Bensons background, however. Benson Both sizes of the Go-Ite reels made in Kokomo,
was living in Kokomo when he applied for his reel Indiana the smaller 4 -inch model on the
patent on October 21, 1919. Patent #1351549 for left and the 5 -inch reel on the right. Tim Bahr
his Indiana-style reel was issued to him on August collection
31, 1920. Three ads from 1921 and 1922 promot-
ing his Benson-Vaile Company reel have been
found, showing a nicely designed Indiana-style
reel, but totally unlike the Go-Ite reels.
The Coleman reel, however, was another story.
Joseph Coleman was listed as a molder at the
Kokomo Brass Works and later as a molder at
Kingston Products Company after Kokomo Brass
Works, Kokomo Electric and Byrne Kingston
companies merged in 1927. Coleman worked for
the two manufacturers his entire career from 1901
until his retirement in 1940. He applied for his reel
patent on April 22, 1922 and patent #1513893 was
granted on November 4, 1924. It is remarkably
similar to the Go-Ite teardrop reel in construc-
tion except that it features a spoked design rather
than a teardrop design. Only a few Coleman reels
have ever been found and apparently the reel was
never put into production. However, a number of
the Coleman and Go-Ite parts were identical and
interchangeable. Go-Ite Water-Plane Baits came in plain and
It is most likely that Rex Hite and Joseph feathered styles. Tim Bahr collection
Coleman knew each other and collaborated on
their reels during the early 1920s. One was a pat-
tern maker and the other a molder with both men
working in similar industries. Joseph Coleman had
a patent on his reels design while Rex Hite did not
patent his reels even though the brass name plate
on the Go-Ite reel foot stated Patent Pendg.
whether made in Kokomo, Flint or Birmingham.
There is also the possibility that Joseph Coleman
sold his patent to the Go-Ite Manufacturing Com-
pany, though we will never know for sure.
Feel free to contact the author at antiquefish-
ing@comcast.net with your questions. Photo-
graphs are important, so please send them. They
help me with identification and give me an idea of
the condition of the item.
Next Month More about Kokomo and then
Go-Ite moves to Michigan - first Detroit, then Flint
and finally to Birmingham.n
The only known wood spool of Go-Ite silk line The Benson-Vaile Anti Back-lash Reel was also
was discovered in 2015 at the bottom of an old made in Kokomo during the same time period as
tackle box. Ron Kotch photo Go-Ite. June 1922 Outers Recreation
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 75
 TRAIL CAM/OUTDOOR PHOTOS
Join us in sharing interesting and sometimes rare trail cam and
or outdoor photos with our readers.
Send your photos to: wnw@pageone-inc.com (please submit in jpeg format)
VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVORITE PHOTO go to www.woods-n-waternews.com

Jessica Miller of Portage, cap-

tured this wild turkey on
trail cam, seemingly saying,
Cheese!

Richie Perry, three-years-old from Low- Richard Mund got this photo of a a group of white-
ell caught this curious raccoon with his well tails who just cant get along outside his apartment in
placed trail camera and dads help! Otsego.

Lauren Trainor got this photo

of a fox outside their cabin near
Oscoda. Healthy and wise!

Rex Corbett got this trail cam photo of a big

black bear sitting down for a bite to eat in his
food plot near Wolverine.
Kraig Staples, a regular contributor to these pages, sent
us this elk in the shadows of his trail cam near Millers-
burg.
Tanya Giaimo submitted this
photo of a fox and nine kits
playing outside their den.

Sandy Videan got this Osceola

Jim Anderson captured this bobcat strolling Ken and Dawn Ball sent us this trail cam photo of a County turkey going right to
into trail cam range in Alpena County. pack of Newaygo county coyotes. the source.

76 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS

Painted Turtles..
A key to nature discovery
I
was probably about five-
years-old running wild,
free and barefoot behind
Grandmas shack when I
discovered a marvelous
wild creature at the edge
of the forbidden swamp. I caught
that creature. It peed all over me.
But that first Eastern Painted Turtle
encounter stirred my spirit of adven-
ture and hunt for natures wildness.
That spirit thrives today. I still
hold a vague recollection of my dad
giving me my first Turtles 101
lesson. After he explained cool stuff
about turtles we took it back to the
edge of the swamp from which I
kidnapped her during her egg laying
mission. I also discovered another
life lesson: One does not have to
travel far to find wild things.
Today, more than five decades
later, Im happy I turned
into a turtle-loving tree-
hugger. I am a dreamer,
an outcast of sorts. Some
might even say I am a wan-
dering dirt bag rebel that
winks at wild things. Ill
take that as a compliment.
I also help turtles cross
roads.
But this
ramble is
not really
By Jonathan Schechter
about me, its about painted turtles,
and with the heat of the summer just
around the next bend in the trail,
painted turtles are the perfect first
chapter to entice your children or
grandchildren into a world of nature
discovery. And turtles and other
wild things offer more valuable life
lessons than learning to swipe fin-
gers across an iPad, or staring down
at other self-imposed electronic
tethers that impede carefree nature
exploration.
Painted turtle breeding season
has been under way since late May,
but some females are still crawling
up on shore for egg laying. If you
want to instill nature excitement in
kids, or perhaps other adults, try to
share exciting information on this
easy to find species, and you just
might see some new enthusiasm for
all wild things and natures way in
their eyes. And that excitement may
lead to a life that embraces science,
and natural history; a life you can be
proud of. A life we all need.
Basic Facts
Ill toss some facts your way to
get it started. Well start with the
name, painted turtle. It does not take
much to decipher the reason behind
the name. Brilliant colors mark parts
of the neck, head and shell. The
neck and head have bold yellow
stripes and so do the legs, a body
part of turtles that often seem to go
unnoticed when it comes to identi-
fication time. The plastron
is usually a yellow hue, but
just like in humans there
can be variations in skin
tones. Most of us know
the plastron as the bottom
shell. The top shell is the
carapace. Older kids may
giggle to discover that the
plastron of
the male
is slightly
concave
making it easier to mount the female
without slipping off. And the male
also has long front claws.
Reproduction
Painted turtles get into the
reproduction mood soon after
emerging from hibernation. Males,
being considerably smaller than
the females, cannot just overpower
them as in the case in some other
turtle species. Courtship does the
trick. The male slowly and methodi-
cally purses the turtle of his dreams,
and when he catches up with her
after a slow speed underwater chase,
he swims in front of her to face
The painted tur tles neck and head have bold yellow stripes and so
do the legs. The tur tle pictured below is laying her eggs. Jonathan
Schechter photos
her. He cant sweet talk her with great blue herons and northern water
promises of happiness, or bring
chocolate and flowers, but he has a
plan. Remember those long claws
mentioned earlier? They come in
handy now. Romeo reaches out and
strokes and tickles her neck and face
to see if she is receptive. She thinks
it over. Five seconds. Ten seconds.
And thinks a bit more. No one really
knows for how long. But if she feels
stirred into romance, she returns the
favor and strokes his forelegs. Then
its time for mutual stroking. After
a few more minutes of turtle fore-
play, if she decides he is the one, she
sinks to the bottom of the pond and
the male follows.
Nest and Death
After mating, the female crawls
ashore and digs a nest. The lucky
females find a good spot just a few
yards from the water, others travel
further inland and must cross roads.
That often ends poorly. After the
eggs are deposited, she covers it
with soil and never returns. Incuba-
tion averages about 75 days, but
many nests have the astounding
failure rate of 100%. Raccoons rel-
ish the eggs, and skunks and coyotes
will also take advantage of the all
you can eat slightly sandy egg buf-
fet.
The sex of the young is deter-
mined by the soil temperature of the
underground nest; cooler tempera-
tures favor males, warmer tempera-
tures favor females. Natures way is
variable, but in Michigan the hatch-
ing period is usually late August to
early September. Most of the hatch-
lings emerge during the night and
use a tiny egg tooth to break out
of their shell. Some turtles from late
clutches may overwinter in the nest,
emerging in spring. Many of those
late turtles become meals for meat
eaters without ever seeing the light
of day. Regardless of emerging time
from the nest, hatchlings instinc-
tively seek out the relative security
of water, but some of those turtles
scurrying to the water fall prey to
snakes or encounter snapping turtles
as soon as they enter. Others never
even make it across the road.
Habitat & Sunbathing
The painted turtle is most at
home along slow-moving streams,
wet meadows, ponds, lakeshores
and other waters that offer a muddy
bottom rich with vegetation. They
are omnivorous and feed under
water on aquatic plants, aquatic
insects, crayfish, small fish, carrion
and tadpoles. Unfortunately, they
sometimes respond to a worm on
a hook and that event usually ends
poorly for the turtle. Turtles are
cold-blooded, meaning they need
to regulate their body temperature
from an external source. In the case
of the painted turtle, that source is
usually direct sunlight or resting on
a warm rock. Basking sites are criti-
cal for survival, and they often bask
in rows lined up on logs, the river
bank, the edge of a pond, or par-
tially submerged boulders to capture
maximum sunlight. As the suns
position changes, they move to keep
up with the sun. If the day heats up,
its time to slip back into the water
with a slight Ker-plunk and barely a
ripple.
Road Crossing
If you decide to help a turtle
cross a road, move them to the side
of the road they were heading to, not
to where they came from. Unlike
moving a snapping turtle that may
repay an act of concern and kind-
ness with a powerful finger crunch-
ing bite, the painted turtle is likely
to withdraw into the shell, hiss,
and say thanks by peeing on your
hand.
Jonathan Schechter is a natu-
ralist/nature education writer in
Oakland County. He is spending the
month of June on South Manitou
Island as the National Park Service
lighthouse keeper for Sleeping Bear
Dunes National Lakeshore. E-mail:
Oaknature@aol.comn
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 77
 Two
Firsts
Guest Column:
By Greg Meschke

J
oe never killed a turkey.
He had never even been in
the turkey woods chas-
ing those wily, gobbling,
thunder busting creatures
that leave seasoned hunters
shaking their heads in bewilder-
ment, confused and enameled by a
bird whose brain is only as large as
a marble.
Most veteran hunters say things
like, You cannot sneak up on a
wise ole Tom.
You will hunt a lifetime with-
out doubling up on those roosting
rascals. Joe Por ter (left) with his first turkey and the author, Greg Meschke with his first double!
But today wouldnt only be a
first, it would be two firsts! an opportunity to harvest, and after time the opening day of the second gobble. Joe was smiling as the big
My friend is a great outdoors- listening to many of my tales of past season arrived. tom answered with a robust, low
man. Hes killed a number of great successful hunts and not so success- The first three days of the 2017 pitch raspy response.
bucks in his lifetime. But those ful hunts, he couldnt wait to try season were accompanied with Its only a matter of time, I
turkeys are something he never had it himself. Joe was excited by the heavy rains and strong May winds. whispered. Well have one hang-
On my 35 acre parcel, standing ing.
water certainly was influencing how Joe never stopped smiling.
the turkeys were using the property. Would it really be this easy? Most
Their usual travel routes, roosting reading this already know the
woods and bugging fields were satu- answer. Its never easy. Good thing
rated, having standing water in areas we had coffee and blueberry muf-
I had never seen holding water. The fins because thats all the action we
wood ducks and geese were loving would see aside from a handful of
it. But we were trying to pattern whitetails crossing the small food
turkeys and not having much luck. plot next to us. Where did that smart
But as all hunters must admit, some- old bird head to? Obviously he
times the best scouting takes place wasnt working in our direction. So
during the hunts. after waiting close to an hour, we
We finally got a break in the decided to scoot over to the edge
weather. Anticipation was high. of the property and call to see if
At least we could get out and sit we could locate mister fooled you
in the camo fold up blind without again.
the chance of being blown into the No luck. Most say they have the
adjacent county! We arrived just in uncanny ability to just disappear.
time to set up and pour the first cup Most often true! So Joe and I picked
NO TIME of coffee before hearing the first up and moved to the opposite end
FOR A WEEK
AWAY?
CALL FOR GREAT
1/2 WEEK
SPECIALS!

1-800-700-2628
78 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS

of the property to see if we could
entice another love struck bachelor
out looking for a girlfriend.
We walked to the edge of the
south property line and gave a call.
Nothing! Where are they Joe? I
asked.
We continued on another 250
yards and gave another call. We
were next to my neighbors horse
track, so it would be easy for any-
thing in the fifteen acre plot to hear
the call. Two birds responded, one
on the north side and one on the
south.
We quickly hustled to the south
side and snuck into the wooded
cover. After a few not so patient
minutes I called again.
One mistake I think many nov-
ice hunters do is over-call. The idea
is to just let him know youre there.
I also use several different styles and
types of calls to add an additional
factor of interest to avoid the Toms
proverbial hang up as he attempts
to locate the hen making all the fuss.
He bellowed out a returning
gobble and my reactive thought was
that the game was on. But after 20
minutes nothing appeared. What
happened? Was he courting other
So we once again high step it
back to try to get in a position to
at least see the culprit successfully
driving us mad. We were now on the
edge of the track making our way,
when all of a sudden I see a full fan
of a strutting turkey displayed ahead
of us as we scoot back to the south.
Lucky for us there was a rise in the
contour of the hay field, and as we
crested the top we could see him,
but he luckily didnt see us. He was
facing away and the accompanying
ladies and other bachelors were over
the crest and out of our sight. Good
thing. So after a somewhat settle,
Freeze, I told Joe to get low and
back up. We retreated back to the
edge of the track and made our way
down the bank so the turkeys were
completely out of sight.
We just walked up on a strut-
ting whopper, I said. Lets stay Woodcock, a migratory bird, have an abbreviated season, Sept. 23 to Nov. 6. To
low and make our way back to the
tree you were sitting by. Keep the
cover between you and the birds and
hopefully youll give him a haircut.
Joe was creeping, slowly at-
tempting to narrow the distance
between him and the big ole tom.
I was about 15 yards behind him
watching the show. As he rose up
Plan now for your
Michigan bird hunt in the fall
It may feel like fall is a long way off, but for those who intend to try some
upland bird hunting this fall or who are looking for a new hunting location, the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources suggests that now is the time to
start planning a fall adventure.
Preseason planning is a great way to maximize your days in the field, said
Al Stewart, DNR upland game bird specialist. Michigan is nationally known
for great ruffed grouse and woodcock hunting, but with millions of acres of
public land to explore, how do you get started? Michigans 17 GEMS are great
places to start!
Grouse Enhanced Management Sites (GEMS), found across the Upper and
northern Lower peninsulas, are large blocks of land open to hunting that are
managed for young forests. Young forests offer excellent spots to hunt and see
wildlife because of the thick cover and great food sources provided.
GEMS are ideal places to get started for nonresidents unfamiliar with the
area, new bird hunters or folks who just thought theyd try a new spot, Stewart
said.
Stewart suggested the following steps: Visit mi.gov/gems for an interactive
map, information about individual GEMS and custom maps. Pick out a GEMS
location or two you want to visit, and use the GPS points or general directions
and a county atlas to get a feel for the area. Print off the detailed GEMS maps
or save them to your phone. Drive to the informational parking area and get
your bearings. At the kiosk, read about grouse and woodcock, timber activ-
ity and the acres of land nearby that you could also hunt. Note that there are
businesses (listed on the kiosk) that offer a great discount because they support
GEMS. Get out and explore. Repeat over and over, and take others with you.
Michigans grouse season runs Sept. 15 to Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 to Jan. 1.
hunt grouse and woodcock in Michigan, hunters need a base license. To target
woodcock, they also need the free woodcock stamp. Everything can be pur-
chased online at E-License or at one of the many license agents across the state.
Millions of acres are open to public hunting in Michigan, and there are
many more locations to hunt beyond GEMS. Use mi.gov/mihunt, an interac-
tive map application, to plan adventures anywhere around the state.
If you have questions, call a DNR Customer Service Center or contact the
DNR Wildlife Division at DNR-Wildlife@michigan.gov.

KNOW A KID WHO WANTS A

ladies? After a short pause a hen from behind that tree, his old Rem-
appeared, standing on the actual dirt ington 870 broke the silence and

GOOD START IN HUNTING?

racetrack area which was actually a dropped big bird right in his tracks.
hay field. Where is the Tom? Joe then yells out, Theres
After waiting another few another one!
minutes it was time to move, so we I responded by moving up quick-
again backed off and retreated to the ly to the tracks edge to see another
north in hopes of getting the second tom about to make a quick getaway
bird to continue answering the call. across the field. One shot from my
So around the backside of the track 870 and we both had turkeys on the
we go retracing the path we had ground, making a quick finish to
followed. Nothing answered. So I the season. The end result was Joes
called again. Wouldnt you know first turkey and my first double up.
it! The bird on the south side of the We retrieved our birds and gave
track where we just left thundered each other a high-five. I dont know
back. whose smile was bigger. One thing
This is maddening Joe. I cant I do know is when looking back on
believe hes right in front of the tree this experience I will remember this
area we just left! as the season of several firsts.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 79
 Simply
Spurred!
T
o many Michiganders, else out. Not only will he call for
April and May means hunters, but he also films every
just one thing, Spring hunt.
turkey hunting. Hard- Jeff has traded in the nine-
core turkey hunters to-five-life for that of an outdoor
will set aside television professional. In
all other hobbies to pur- addition to hosting Simply
sue these wildly beauti- Outdoors TV, Summer also
ful creatures. If or when serves as a cameraman, edi-
success comes their way, tor and marketer. Like most First time turkey hunter Ricky Foster grabbed a still-flopping turkey
hunters are quick to mea- outdoor television profes- and got spurred in his right hand. When he tried to drop the bird it
sure the birds beard and sionals, he wears many didnt fall because it was securely lodged into his hand!
spurs. Toms usually have hats to make his program a
one inch spurs or bigger marketable product. immediately responded and were film a quick public service piece for
and anything ap- On May 9, already getting closer. Jeff yelped his television shows social media

By Jerry Lambert
proaching an inch 2017, Jeff took some more and once again the birds pages. The short piece shows the
and a quarter or Ricky Foster to gobbled an immediate response. end of the hunt, a quick talk about
an inch and a half a lease property Shortly thereafter, the two the hunt and then Jeff informs his
belongs to birds at least three to four in Ingham County. It was mid-day mossy oak clad men saw four big audience about what can happen if
years old. when Jeff heard turkeys responding birds making a beeline to their you grab a twenty pound butterball
Jeff Summer from Charlotte is to his calling. Jeff and Ricky quickly Cherokee Sports decoy. Ricky whis- while he is still flopping on the for-
one of the fore-mentioned hardcore set up in some swampy habitat. pered that he was going to shoot the est floor. He finishes by zooming in
turkey hunters, and if he isnt out Once they were in position, lead bird but the birds kept switch- on the deep gash on Fosters hand.
hunting for his own bird then he is Summer called, letting loose with ing leaders, so Jeff zoomed out so Before the successful hunter
more than likely taking someone a couple of yelps. The gobblers that he could film all four gobblers. could celebrate with any winner,
When the birds got to within thirty winner, turkey dinner he went in for

IR2,000EAGunsRinMStockS
TOTAL FOver
yards, Ricky pulled the trigger of
his 12-gauge shotgun. When the gun
roared, the lead bird hit the turf. If
you watch the footage, you will then
hear Jeff yell out, Go get him, go
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A couple of days later, Jeff put
the footage on his social media
pages and the footage quickly went
viral. Jeff has recently hooked-up
(pardon the pun) with Mossy Oak.
They asked for permission to post
the footage to their facebook page,
and the video received 572,0000
views. As of this writing, the foot-
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To view the hunt for yourself, visit
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 Gun Chat: Back to my roots
I
started reloading .38 Spe-
cials with a Lee Loader. Ba-
sic kits, Lee Loaders take up
little space. Almost all the
stuff needed to reload .38s is
contained in one box. I just
needed powder, primers, bullets, a
board to set the Lee Loader die on,
and something to hammer the fired
.38 shells into the resizing die. I
used a short piece of maple flooring.
Lee Loaders are also made in
rifle calibers and shotgun
gauges. I used to know a
hunter who made ammo for
his .300 Savage deer rifle
with a Lee Loader each
fall. I started loading .38
Specials using 125 grain
truncated cone lead bul-
lets, (designed for the 9mm
Luger cartridge), CCI
small pistol primers,
and Bullseye powder. By Lee Arten
(A buddy said those
reloads were, The strangest thing I
ever saw.)
When I couldnt get any more
of 125 grain bullets I switched to
158 grain semiwadcutters. Both
bullet weights shot very well from
the Blackhawk. I still load 158 grain
semiwadcutters in .38 Specials and
medium power .357 loads. I current-
ly use primers made by Winchester.
In the past, I also used Remingtons.
The Lee Loader wasnt a fast
way to load ammo. It isnt the
strongest in the resizing department
either. I had occasional problems
with rounds not chambering fully in
my Ruger Blackhawks cylinder. I
sorted cartridges into serious and
practice boxes using the cylinder
taken out of the Blackhawk as a
gauge.
Not long after starting reload-
ing, I found out that NRA Hunters
Pistol Silhouette Matches were
being held at the range at the old
K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base outside
Marquette. I shot the matches with
the Blackhawk and my .38 reloads.
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Id start getting ready a week ahead
of time because it took two or three
days of intermittent labor to load
enough ammo for a match.
Other matches were held at K.I,
and at the Negaunee Rod & Gun
Club outside Negaunee. By the time
I started competing in them, Id
upgraded my reloading equipment
to include a Lee turret press, a scale,
powder measure, and some other
equipment.
Recently, I decided to
go back to my roots and
make a few .38s with the
Lee Loader. For a while I
couldnt find it and thought
Id given it to my oldest
son. It turned up--while I
was looking for something
else. While I still load .38s
with Bullseye pow-
der, Ive also used
Unique for a long
time. Unique lives
up to its name since it can be used
in handgun loads, some shotgun
loads, and even reduced-power rifle
rounds. For my back-to-the-roots
.38 Special loads I went and got a
can of Bullseye.
I had primed brass available, so
I didnt have to deprime and prime
using the Lee Loader. Instead, I just
belled the case mouths, filled the
Lee Loader dipper with Bullseye,
scraped it off flat with a card, and
emptied it into a case. Then I seated
the bullet. In the old days I did the
hammering necessary for belling the
cases and seating bullets without ear
protection. The other day, I put on a
set of earmuffs to cut down on the
racket. (The older I get, the more I
want to keep my hearing.) Instead
of a piece of maple, I used a rubber
mallet to bell the cases and seat the
bullets in my five retro loads.
In my collection of .38 brass
theres at least one left from the first
batch I ever loaded. It came from a
box of military surplus, full metal
jacket rounds. (They may have been
Located in
Pike County, Ohio
We hunt the foothills of the
Appalachian mountains and offer one
of a kind free-range whitetail hunts.
made for the Air Force.) I saved the
brass and the Lee Loader scratched
them in resizing. Since I didnt
resize the primed .38 brass, I didnt
put scratches on the new rounds I
made.
Back in the day Id make 60, 80,
or 100 rounds before a match. I may
have been a better man back then, or
at least one with more enthusiasm
and endurance. This time, I was
loading in the basement and had to
go up and down stairs several times This small box contains most of the
to assemble the things I needed tools needed to reload .38 Specials.
to load. At the end of the running
around, I was tired, and more appre- of my other reloads, made using the
ciative of my Lee Single Stage and presses and Unique powder went
Turret presses. into one and three quarter inches.
After lunch the next day, I took So after a long winter, I still remem-
the Lee Loader rounds and my old bered something about how to shoot
Ruger Blackhawk out to a sandpit. the Blackhawk.
Leaning an old homemade target The .38 Special got me started in
against the sandpit bank, I fired four
rounds of the five Id made with the
reloading, with the .45 ACP, it is the
cartridge Ive made and fired most
Lee Loader into it. Like some of the reloads in. I took a snowshoe hare
original rounds I made years ago, with a reloaded .38 Special, the first
one wouldnt chamber. Id messed game animal I killed with a reload.
up the crimp, and thought Id fixed In looking for things I needed to
it but hadnt. More my problem than make this trip back to my roots, I
one from the Lee Loader. found hundreds of fired .38 Special
Fired from 20 yards, the four cases. Soon, Ill use them to make
rounds went into a group four and enough .38 reloads to shoot for
a half inches center to center. Four months, maybe years.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 81
 Michigan DNR...History of Fish and Wildlife
STING OPERATIONS
A
t times, when numer-
ous and multiple game
or fish violations occur
in a single or specific
area, and a number of
people are involved, a
sting operation may be required by
the MDNRs law Enforcement and
Wildlife Divisions. Wildlife may be
placed in harms way through over-
harvesting, illegal sales or traffick-
ing in body parts.
Furthermore, an inves-
tigation may be conducted
over a period of years be-
fore enough solid evidence
is adequately gathered. And
of course its end purpose is
to protect a wildlife spe-
cies from irreparable harm
whether it be mammal,
reptile, fish or wildfowl.
At this writ-
By Betty Sodders
ing, I have chosen
four sting opera-
tions conducted by DNR conserva-
tion officers dating back from 1958
to 2007. They involved the sale of
wild game, protected reptiles and
two cases centered on the taking and
selling of fish. They range from oc-
curring in southern Michigan to the
Upper Peninsula at the Mackinac
Bridge
September 8, 1958
Headlines read...
18 Duck-Leggers Seized...They
Sold Wild Game, U. S. Claims
One Detroit Free Press news-
paper accounting stated, Why State
Cant Stop Poachers - Too Few War-
dens, Officials Explain: Michigan
does not have enough game wardens
to stamp out the illegal slaughter
and sale of wild ducks and geese,
the State Conservation Department
said Monday.
Uniformed conservation offi-
cers are limited in what they can do
against an organized ring of hunting/
law violators. One such ring was
broken up by Federal agents last
Friday with the arrest of 100 men in
Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Members of the ring formed a
warning network, according to Asst.
United States Attorney John M.
Chase, Jr.
E. E. Tucker, Asst. Chief of the
Conservation Departments field ad-
ministration office in Lansing, said
undercover work by secret agents
posing as hunters is effective...but
expensive.
The United State Fish and
Wildlife Service spent $40,000 and
nearly two years in an undercover
operation before it staged last Fri-
82 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
days raids.
Michigan has 168 uniformed
officers who most cover nearly
100,000 square miles of land and
water, Tucker said. One warden is
responsible for the entire southern
half of St. Clair County, where 23
hunters were arrested in the raid.
Tucker said the state officers
must also enforce regulations on all
kinds of game...not just migratory
birds.
Wild ducks and geese
are the responsibility of the
Federal Government, under
treaties with Canada and
Mexico. The Federal regu-
lations are incorporated
in State hunting laws and
State officers enforce them.
The Detroit Free Press
ran an article on the arrest
of the hunters
involved...
Eighteen duck
hunters from the Harsens Island
area were hauled out of their beds
by Federal agents and charged with
the wanton killing and sale of wild
ducks.
The United States Attorneys of-
fice said the men are part of a racket
that netted a possible $200,000 a
year in sale of wild game.
More than 8,000 ducks bought
from the men by a Federal un-
dercover agent are in storage in a
Government freezer in Illinois. The
surprised hunters were taken Friday
to the Federal building in Detroit
and herded into a cell.
Federal Agents of the Interior
Departments Fish and Wildlife Ser-
vice led simultaneous raids on the
mens homes at 6 a.m. Similar raids
were conducted at the same hour in
Illinois and Wisconsin after a two-
year investigation.
Agent William McClure led
the raids. His department got the
evidence through another agent, An-
thony Stefano, who posed for nearly
two years as a native in the Harsens
Island area and bought ducks.
Stefano used the name Mark
DeMarco. He lived among the
hunters and gained their confidence.
McClure said the ducks were sold
for $1.25 to $1.50. He estimated that
the 5,000 ducks in storage represent
only about 5 per cent of those killed
by the hunters. The rest were sold
either to individuals or to restau-
rants, night clubs, grocery stores and
meat markets.
Many of the market hunters
admitted that they hunted ducks out
of season, trapped with baits and
shot at night into nesting areas with
MDNR C.O. checking anglers along the St. Joseph River. MDNR photo
automatic shotguns.
Conclusion: The investigation
did not uncover the names of the
buyers, although the purchase of
wild ducks also violates the law.
Most of them (suspects), hunt ev-
ery day, said McClure. Sometimes
they shot as many as they could
get. Then they would store them in
freezers and sell them later on.
The arrested men and their
pleas were before Federal Judge,
Ralph M. Freeman. Four of the men
pleaded guilty; 13 pleaded innocent
or stood mute. More arrest warrants
were to be issued. All of those ar-
raigned were released on $500 bond
by Judge Freeman.
The raids in the three-state area
netted 95 persons including 65 in
Illinois and 10 in Wisconsin.
Headlines of the day screamed...
17 Hunters in Federal Court
After St. Clair Flats Raids...
Agent Risks His Life to End
Duck Slaughter...Secret
Agent Exposes Outlaw Duck-
Killing Ring ...6 Change Pleas
in U. S. Court...5 Change
Pleas in Hunt Probe...The
Cases All Will Be Ducky for
the Hunter Judge
Undoubtedly, the cases worked
their way through the court system.
* * * * *
November 6, 1992
Fish Sale Sting - Hooks 40!
DNR Investigators Crack
Down On Poachers
In Blue Water Area
(Port Huron Times Herald)
Department of Natural Re-
sources officers dropped their nets
Thursday and hauled in the catch of
the season.
More than 40 arrests were made
on 77 counts of illegally purchasing
or selling game fish in St. Clair and
Macomb counties, said Lt. Lee Sta-
nard. An exact count was unavail-
able because arrests were still being
made this morning.
DNR investigators said they
also found illegal venison and duck
purchases.
The sting involved 35 officers
who investigated more than 30 busi-
nesses, and 10 homes. A list of those
involved is not yet available.
In St. Clair County, 18 business-
es...mostly restaurants...were inves-
tigated Sgt. Jeff Pendergraff said. Of
those, 15 were inspected and arrests
were made at 13, he said.
Weve been investigating
complaints from the public for some
time about the selling and purchas-
ing of fish in the area that were not
being caught by licensed, commer-
cial anglers, said DNR director
Roland Harmes.
Our investigation was surprised
to discover just how prevalent these
sales are and how easy the fish
can be purchased and sold in these
areas with no questions asked, Mr.
Harmes said.
Lt. Stanard said officers had
seized fish...mostly walleye...game
animals and waterfowl, as well as
one boat and one automobile. The
waterfowl included 150 ducks found
in one St. Clair County restaurant.
Lt. Stanard said, declining to give
the establishments name.
Those arrested have 10 days to
appear in court.
 Ken Cannode, asst. chief of
Clay-Algonac police, said he wasnt
warned of the sting operation. I
am glad to hear they have been so
successful, he said, as this is
something that has been going on in
this area for many years. What they
have so far may just be the tip of the
iceberg.
Sgt. Pendergraff agreed, say-
ing that poaching not only hurts the
resource itself, but also the commer-
cial fisherman and honest retailers.
But mostly it hurts the consumer
because no one knows where the
fish is coming from. Michigan enforcement teams
* * * * *
June, 2001
Operation Slither...Illegal
Reptile Dealers...Operation
Slither Strikes!
More than a dozen tickets were
issued and nine search warrants
were executed by state and federal
law enforcement teams throughout
Michigan in late June. Michigan
was among eight states nationwide
coordinating simultaneous enforce-
ment of illegal reptile dealers. It
was the largest enforcement action
of this kind in history concluding a
two-year undercover operation. Authors Note: In December of
Operation Slither, as it was
known in Michigan, focused on
reptile dealers suspected of dealing
animals illegally captured from the
wilds of Michigan, exotic species
that are otherwise illegal for posses-
sion and sale.
Officers had long suspected
that certain Michigan reptile deal-
ers were trafficking in wild-caught,
protected Michigan species, but the
dealer network was known to be a
tightly-knit community. After more
than a decade of unsuccessful under-
cover attempts, a Natural Resources
undercover officer infiltrated the
dealer network in June 2001.
Since Michigan law requires
officers to prove that animals re-
covered are wild-caught, the officer
posed as a snake and turtle trapper.
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Approaching the dealers from the
supply side allowed DNR to docu-
ment evidence carefully.
Federal undercover investigators
also were working the dealer net-
work nationwide, posing as dealers.
Michigan cooperated with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife officers, sharing
evidence that resulted in several of
the cases exposed in the state.
Collectors value reptiles based
on specimen quality and rarity.
Michigan is home to more than a
dozen protected reptile and amphib-
ian species.
uncovered nearly 200 individual
reptiles Saturday. They are now
under the care of a licensed veteri-
narian, pending court hearings for
those cited. Officials will return as
many as possible to the wild.
The Attorney Generals office
will continue working side-by-side
with the DNR on this case and will
aggressively pursue prosecution
in order to bring these dealers to
justice, said Mike Cox. Anyone
looking to illegally profit from
the black-market trade of animals
should be forewarned: You will face
prosecution in Michigan.
2004, the DNR Law Enforcement
Division concluded an investigation
into the illegal trade of protected
Michigan reptiles...The 14th and
final person arrested in the sting
pleaded no contest in the 23rd
District Court in Taylor, Michigan
to 18 counts of purchasing protected
reptiles, and was fined $8,750 and
placed on probation for two years.
This subject joined 13 others who
either pleaded guilty or no contest to
their charges, and who were collec-
tively fined over $56,000.
* * * * *
November 2006
Salmon Poachers Find
Themselves In Hot Water!
Michigan DNR conservation
officers conducted a sting opera-
Jelly Frostings
Sticky Granola Caramel
Many More Items!
Newspapers headlines and stories of MDNR stings.
tion that netted three subjects in a moving the illegally harvested fish
salmon poaching scheme. Centered across state lines.
in Mackinac County, a team of DNR Area conservation officers were
conservation officers from Dis- contacted to arrange a well-orga-
trict Four (Upper Peninsula) were nized take-down at the north end of
included along with special unit the Mackinac Bridge as the poachers
personnel. would attempt to head south with
The sting operation involved the illegally harvested salmon. Of-
the illegal taking of salmon, an ficers were ready and waiting to pull
incident that may have been ongoing over the subjects truck.
over several years time. The indi- The vehicle was stopped
viduals involved appeared to have without incident. Suspects were
their illegal activity honed down to arrested. More than 325 pounds of
a science. salmon fillets were in their posses-
A RAP Line tip gave credence sion, stored within a chest freezer
to illegal activity taking place along placed in the back of their pickup
an Upper Peninsula stream with truck. Additionally, officers seized
suspects harvesting and transporting a firearm, spear, net, gaff and the
salmon across the Mackinac Bridge freezer.
towards their home state of North Conclusion...During the first
Carolina. (Two of the suspects were week in January 2007, the suspect
from North Carolina, the third from from St. Ignace appeared in Macki-
St. Ignace, Michigan). nac County Court. He pleaded guilty
According to the tipster, large to possessing an over limit of fish,
amounts of salmon were being taken buying or selling such fish and
by unlawful means from a closed fishing with illegal devices He was
stream. The stream was later identi- assessed a fine of $1,000; a sum of
fied as being Hoban Creek, a small $1,000 in restitution, one year pro-
feeder stream located north of St. bation, 90 days in jail, and loss of
Ignace. fishing license for a period of three
At this point in the case, the years.
DNRs Special Investigation Unit How to report a fish or game in-
was contacted. Detectives, working fraction or unlawful activity related
undercover, established themselves to Michigans natural resources...
into the confidence of the suspects. contact: DNR - rap hotline: 1-800-
They learned how the salmon 292-7800. Information can be
poaching was run plus plans on provided anonymously.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 83
 Options for Ultimate Corn
Based Bow Kill Plots
I
n the May 2017 publication
of WNW News we have an
article titled, Creating the
maximum combination Bow
and Firearm Kill Plots. The
pictures alone tell us much,
with the words helping. Unfortu-
nately this is a complicated project
and there was not enough space to
cover it in detail or mention other
options.
Hopefully the pioneers who
ventured a chance plot had some
success. We received many phone
calls and emails. The bow kill plot
shown and described as well as the
firearm kill plot in the article is the
Cadillac creation. How many of you
have a six row corn planter, let alone
a two row corn planter or a grain
drill? We advise you print out that
May article found in WNW News
Facebook for reference. Hopefully
by Christmas we will have detailed
information for you in our website
www.deerattraction.com for future
reference. For now we will cover
options covering the Ultimate corn
based bow kill plots that will be
seeded starting July 1 until early
August.
Option 1
Bow Site Seeded July First
The first key to success is
good soil. If you can grow corn
and soybeans, you can grow sugar
beets. Get the pH to 6.5 pH, get that
phosphorous to 40 parts per million
(PPM), potash and magnesium at
200 PPM. You have some time prior
to seeding and need soil prepping.
Around mid-May you should till
four inches deep and spray RR and
AMS the first week of June. On July
1, follow the soil test recommenda-
tions or broadcast 350 pounds of
19-19-19 fertilizer per acre. Till that
broadcasted lime and fertilizer four
inches deep.
If you have access to Round Up
Ready (RR) sugar beet seed, mix
a half acre amount, (25,000 seeds,
approximately 2 1/2 lbs.) with 50
pounds of RR soybeans and 12
pounds of RR field corn and expect
to seed a total of 1 1/2 acres. Some
may ask why seed sugar beets in
July, let alone field corn?
Sugar beets take a long time to
mature and wont be much bigger
than a big apple in October and that
field corn will probably not reach
maturity. You are not farming, you
are food plotting and theres a big
difference. Sugar beets growing
in the ground are about average in
attraction to deer in early October.
Their sugar content will continue to
increase as late as mid-November.
84 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
Their leaves are alive until a severe
frost happens. The cool nights and
cool days with sunshine of mid-
September and all of October are
ideal for maximum sugar production
for the root system. Sugar beets are
biannual which means the roots do
not die but stay alive for the next
year as the source to grow flower
stalks and seeds, known
as bolting.
Sugar beets in the
ground increase their
sugar content right
through mid-fall and
that is why we still seed
sugar beets in early July.
That July sugar beet
seeded bow plot can be-
come a kick butt kill site
Mr. Food Plots
come thanksgiv-
ing or the muzzle-
By Ed Spinazzola
loader season. In
fact if you still
have sugar beets
in December and
you have a serious three day snow
storm, expect the deer to run to your
kill site!
The benefits and value of sugar
beets are not only are they sweet,
our research shows there is much
more about what some state agents
call, garbage in the woods. They
are 95 percent digestible, and no
other forage meets that standard.
Wintertime can be tough on wildlife.
When the acorn crop fails, things
can get serious for many forms of
wildlife. Deer start eating the thicker
and not so digestible woody stems.
This and other poor forage can stay
in the digestive system for days
before being expelled. Having sugar
beets available for deer in a tough
winter changes the picture big time.
With sugar beets high digestibil-
ity and nutrient content, deer have
instant nutrient relief. The forage
waste can be expelled in a day, not
days. That means deer may ingest
sugar beets again within hours.
Sugar beets have an ideal percentage
of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium,
potassium, and sulfur for winter
carry over. The TB bacteria can
survive in a potato for nine months.
The TB bacteria will die within two
weeks when injected into a sugar
beet. The TB bacteria cannot survive
in a sugar environment.
By mixing the beets, soys and
corn you have made it easier to
broadcast. So try to broadcast the
blend at 43 pounds per acre and till
no more than 2 1/2 inches deep.
Using a rototiller and going slow, (a
slow walk) is an ideal method, and
one pass should do. Disks and field
cultivators can work but may need
several passes. The faster you go the
better the tiller breaks up clods. Fol-
low with an equally very important
slow cultipacking pass.. The hardest
and most important tasks are done.
Wait four weeks then spray
Roundup at one quart per acre plus
add one quart of pelletized sprayable
ammonium sulfate,
(AMS), per acre. Fill
your sprayer full with
water. First add the AMS
to the water then agitate,
then add the RR, follow
with filling the sprayer.
Almost all water is al-
kaline, which lowers the
strength of RR, (glypho-
sate). Adding an acid fer-
tilizer like liquid
nitrogen or AMS
first to the water
will improve the
action of RR. Plus
the acid fertilizer
breaks down the paraffin coating of
all leaves, which adds to the effect
of RR.
In early August, broadcast two-
pounds of a brassica blend per acre.
When you are broadcasting brassica
on your bow site, also broadcast the
brassica on your hopefully nearby
Ultimate Corn Based firearm
Kill Plot, which was seeded in
mid-May. Same day broadcast 6-8
pounds of buckwheat per acre on the
bow site only.
In September, first broadcast a
blend of oats, rye grain and winter
wheat at 20 and no more than 30
pounds per acre. Two weeks prior
to your bow season opener you will
broadcast 100 pounds of Urea, 46-
0-0 per acre on your now quite im-
pressive, Ultimate Corn Based Bow
Kill Plot and only the bow site. The
more nitrogen applied to your bow
kill plot the sweeter the forage. Tim-
ing here is important. We strongly
advise that you follow through with
the addition of nitrogen as shown
on our web site wwwdeerattraction.
com article called the sweetening
thing. All vegetation can be sweet-
ened and deer have a sweet tooth.
If you were farming you would be
laughed at if you added nitrogen to
soybeans in September. Soybeans
make their own nitrogen through
nodules in their root system and no
farmer seeds soys in July but we
are not farming! We are pulling all
of your deer onto our property just
before the bow season.
Option 2
Bow Site Seeded August First
You are very busy and know
option one is good stuff but things
happen, so lets give it a try. Since
we have more time prior to the first
seeding and have no time to spray
RR herbicide after the first seeding
we need to early prep the site more
to lower weed problems. Around
mid-May you should till four inches
deep, around mid June spray RR and
AMS, three weeks later, (early July)
spray RR and AMS. Early August
broadcast the lime and fertilizer as
above and till it in four inches deep.
Blend the seeds as option one and
that includes the RR sugar beets if
available, then broadcast and till 2
1/2 inches deep. Stop right there.
No cultipacking yet. Same day
broadcast the brassica blend and
the buckwheat, then follow with the
slow cultipacking. Now you can
follow the same procedure as above
for broadcasting the grain blend
September first and the sweetening
thing.
Follow Up
We blended beets, soys and
corn to do 1 1/2 acres. You should
have this bow site right next to the
firearm site, which starts preferably
40 to 60 yards from the blind. This
distance is controlled by the safe
distance of your bow shot. Cross-
bow may be further than a long bow.
The bow site can be any size, it can
reach 50 to 100 yards to either side
of your blind, with the sweetening
thing distance 50 yards to each side.
Normally, for long lasting action the
Ultimate corn based firearm site
should be 1 1/2 acres or more. The
earlier seeded firearm site forage
will save the later seeded bow site
forage big time. You will certainly
seed field corn in a normal seed rate
around the firearm site , which will
save the firearm site for long use.
Think of your deer density to gauge
this corn field size. Three acres is
not a large firearm protection corn
field. If you do not have access
to a corn planter do what we did
above and seed in mid-May. Now
we broadcast 20 pounds of RR field
corn per acre along with the 350
pounds of 19-19-19 fertilizer. Till
both four inches deep, follow with a
slow cultipacking.
This plan is not easy and needs
serious study by you to understand
and accept the complex process.
Dont despair, this stuff works and
can be dynamite.
Ed Spinazzola, is an associate
with Tony LaPratts Land Manage-
ment, for more information check
our web sites www.tonysulm.com
or www.deerattraction.com or call
586-784-8090.n
 Ever Wanted To Be On The Cover Of The . . .

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WNW NEWS JULY 2017 85
SummerTime to prepare
for fall and winter trapline
S
o, you have found the ar-
eas you going to trap and
it is either public land,
or private land and you
have gained permission
to trap there. After you
have scouted and determined which
furbearing animal you are going to
trap, you need to decide
which traps and other
supplies that you are
going to need. For ex-
isting trappers it is easy;
however, new trappers
can be overwhelmed
by all the choices of
traps and gear available
to us today. Hopefully
furbearing animals will still smell
your bait, and it is much more natural
when it is covered at a set location.
It is a requirement to have trap tags
with certain information on each
trap; see your regulations.
Michigan has several Trappers
Associations. All can provide infor-
mation on helping you
properly abide by trap-
ping regulations, and
the members can be
wealth of knowledge
on methods of trap-
ping in our great state.
For more information:
Michigan Trappers and
Predator Callers As-

By John Chagnon
this article helps
you in choosing
the right trapping
gear.
We must keep in mind, while
selecting traps and gear, the legal
requirements, quality of products
needed, budget and cost consider-
ation while making our choices.
First, one must thoroughly read the
Michigan Hunting and Trapping
Digest to understand all the rules
of trapping in Michigan. This is a
good time to invest in your trapping
license. Pay careful attention to rules
that restrict the size of trap and use
of bait to name a few. For example,
in Michigan we need to use a Num-
ber 2 or smaller foothold trap while
trapping muskrat, and when using
bait, it must not be exposed. The no
exposed bait rule is a very good rule
as it helps prevent new trappers from
placing bait in plain view of birds
which we do not want to catch. The
86 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
sociation www.
mtpca.com, U.P.
Trappers Associa-
tion www.uptrap-
pers.com and Northern Great Lakes
Fur Harvesters, (Search for Facebook
page. They have a great convention
every September in Kinross, U.P.).
These Trappers Association web-
sites will provide useful information
and contact information. All of the
associations have an annual conven-
tion where trapping suppliers from
Michigan and out-of-state display
and sell trapping gear and equipment.
Demonstrations are done on how
to trap by knowledgeable trapping
professionals, and there is a chance
to talk to 100s of other trappers.
Contact phone numbers or emails of
members are provided on the web-
sites.
Trap selection and quality of
traps is better than ever. Major trap
manufacturers include Minnesota
Brand Traps, Sleepy Creek Traps,
Duke Traps, Bridger Traps, and Wolf
Creek Traps. All make good traps
and you have to decide which you
are going to use.
The types of traps we have to
choose from today include foothold
traps, body grip traps and dog proof
raccoon traps. In the following table
I have listed appropriate trap sizes
and styles for the different Michigan
furbearing animals. See Trap Type
Chart to the left.
One needs to read the current
regulations for size and other restric-
tions before setting traps. Special
rules apply to body grip type traps as
to size, where they can be set (public
vs. private land), and how far off the
ground certain size body grip traps
must be.
In my opinion, to assure I mini-
mize the possibility of catching a dog
in a body grip trap, I set all body
grip traps larger than a 160 either
several feet in a tree or under water.
In fact, I find 330 Body Grip traps
set under the water for beaver and
otter far more effective than if part of
the trap is exposed. DR Stabilizers,
out of Michigan, makes a great deep
water stabilizer that makes setting
the large 330 traps a breeze in deep
water channels. I also try to trap as
far away from houses as possible,
preferring most of my line to be in
National and State Forests.
There are several specific traps
available that do very well at catch-
ing the intended animal, while almost
eliminating other possible incidental
catches of other animals and birds.
For example, the Dog Proof Raccoon
Traps with a one way trigger, when
baited properly with a sweet smell-
ing bait, catch almost exclusively
raccoons. If one puts fish or meat
based baits and lures in these traps,
they can, and will, catch opossum,
cats, and skunks. Occasionally, you
catch a bonus mouse or shrew for
extra bait.
Muskrat colony traps catch most-
ly muskrat and occasional mink and
are set under water. There is also a
season for using Cable Restraints for
fox and coyote in Michigan, (please
refer to Michigan Regulations). Re-
stricted use of beaver snares is also
covered in the rule book.
The MB-550 Coilspring Trap, in
off-set or regular jaw versions, is one
of my favorite traps for Fox and Coy-
ote trapping. The trap sets flat right
out of the box and requires no adjust-
ment to be ready for the trapline,
thanks to the quality night latch sys-
tem. For raccoon, I use a lot of PCS
Feather Light Dog Proof Aluminum
Traps. These traps hold the larg-
est, meanest raccoon, are extremely
simple to use and the materials used
in the construction of trap last for
years without rusting away. You can
search and view an excellent You-
Tube video on just how effective and
simple it is to use the PCS Feather
Light Dog Proof Raccoon Trap.
When water trapping for mink,
muskrat and raccoon I use a lot of
1.5 longspring and coilspring traps.
The number 1 size will work, but
I prefer and find the slightly larger
trap does much better at quickly
drowning the furbearer. The Bridger
Number 5 Coilspring Trap is my go-
to foothold trap for otter and beaver,
while the 330 body grip set under-
water in channels is my preferred
body grip trap. There is no one right
choice in trap selection, you have to
decide the quality and price you
want to pay. Other considerations
that should be made are the dual
purpose of traps. For example, in
Michigan, we can set size 2 and
smaller size traps for muskrat, so
if you are running a fall trapline
for fox and coyote with 1.75 and 2
sized traps, you can also use them in
the water for muskrat, later in fall or
winter.
Close in importance to size and
trap type you are going to purchase,
is whether you are going to use
stakes or drags (grapples) to secure
your trap and hold the furbear-
ing animal. When using stakes, the
important thing is to make sure you
cannot pull it out of the ground prior
to setting your trap. Coyotes are ev-
erywhere in Michigan, so if you can
pull the stake out of the ground, the
coyote, in his attempt for freedom,
will certainly pull the stake from the
ground and disappear forever with
your trap. When using traditional re-
bar stakes, it is a good practice to use
two stakes and a double stake swivel.
The AuSable Brand Earth Anchor
trap stakes and Fox Hollow trap
stakes are very popular and used a lot
on my line. Make sure to buy the ap-
propriate driver for whichever cable
or chain stake you pick. I like to use
drags when trapping old two-tracks
or in areas so sandy that I do not feel
confident that any stake will hold a
fighting coyote or bobcat. They will
usually tangle up pretty quick; just
make sure you have a good 5 or 6
foot of chain attached, the longer the
better.
For water sets I use a drowner
system. I drive a T-bar stake several
feet above the waterline and run 14
or 11 gauge wire or 3/32 aircraft
cable out to a long hardwood wooden
stake that I drive in the deeper water.
By having the shore stake high on
the bank, it allows us to keep sets
properly working as the water rises.
Most traps today have a universal
swivel that can act as a drowner
lock and the furbearing animal
can only go one way for quick
dispatch. The 11 gauge wire is
used on all sets that have a possi-
bility of catching a beaver or otter.
Otherwise, 14 gauge wire is used
for raccoon, mink and muskrat sets.
We have far too many big raccoon
in Michigan to have faith in thinner
16 gauge wire.
I recommend that all traps and
stakes be cleaned of factory oil, left
out to form a light rust coating and
then traditionally dyed and waxed.
So, you will need dye and wax,
which most suppliers will inform
you on approximately how much to
order. In next months issue I will
explain several forms of natural
trap dye material that one can usu-
ally obtain for free in most parts of
Michigan. Note: you will need to
find a narrow container, as large as
the largest trap you want to dip, and
order enough wax to totally cover
your largest trap. In subsequent
years you only need to refill what
was used in prior years. There are a
number of trap dips, paints and other
treatment products on the market and
they all will work. I will explain the
traditional method of waxing and
dying traps next month in detail. Not
treating your traps properly will limit
their useful life, cause them to rust,
not spring quick, and leave odors that
smart canines will steer clear of.
If you are a gardener and
intend to trap muskrat this winter,
you can plant some parsnips for
one of the best under the ice
muskrat baits.
Finally, some set construction
equipment and other gear is neces-
sary. Im going to focus on what
almost every trapper uses. There are
simply a lot of gadgets and acces-
sories that may or may not apply
to your trapline and the choice is
yours. Most land and water trappers
will need a trowel, pack basket or 5
gallon plastic bucket, dirt sifter, pan
covers, wax dirt, trappers hammer,
hip boots, wire cutters, lures and
baits, fur stretchers and fur handling
equipment.
There are many good, reputable
lures and baits on the market today.
Hopefully you will get a chance to
try some of mine available at www.
lenonlures.com or use the dealer lo-
cator to find a place near you. I work
at PcsOutdoors.com and I always
welcome calls from fellow trap-
pers (989) 569-3480. A lot of good,
useful information is on both of the
preceding websites for the Michigan
Trapper.n

5th ANNUAL NORTHERN TRAILS ANTLER

& SPORTING GOODS AUCTION
** SATURDAY, AUGUST 19TH @ 9:00 AM **
BUY IT NOW STARTS AT 8:00 AM
NEW LOCATION: MID MI. AUCTION CENTER (Corner of M-66 & M-46)
7948 N. Sheridan Rd. Edmore, MI 48829
CONSIGNMENTS WANTED Guns, bows, mounts, moose, deer,
elk & Caribou antlers, hunting & fishing related items, cabin & camp-
ing items, rustic dcor, snowshoes, canoes, kayaks, boats, four-
wheelers, food plot equipment, anything for the great outdoors!
EARLY CONSIGNMENTS Assorted recurves, deer, mule, turkey
& African mounts, deer, moose elk antlers, outdoor items, Leupold
rangefinder, New 10x42 Bushnell binoculars, pop-up blinds, bait
casters & reels, loaded tackle boxes, 4 doz. New 110 Conibear traps,
hunting boots, backpacks & waders and more. Cabin & camping,
chairs, dehydrators, red cedar 21x42 antler coffee table, 48 & 36
red cedar antler shelfs & more.
List your consignments early with us for free advertisement.
Please contact Larry or Stanley @ 989-291-5556. We will be
accepting consignments at auction site Aug. 18th, 8:00 a.m.
8:00 p.m. Feel free to contact us with any questions & commis-
sion rates. Thank you and we look forward to another success-
ful Northern Trails Auction.
For Pictures, see AuctionZip.com I.D. #2701
Auctioneers, Willis Yoder & Bill Martin
NOTE: At this auction center we will have a lot more room, so we hope to promote some
bigger items such as; hunting shacks, food plot equipment and boats, etc.
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 87
 Woods-N-WaterNews Classified Section
MISC.
A TEMPUR-PEDIC
M E M O RY FOAM
MATTRESS SET. Clean. Never
used. As seen on TV. Cost $1700.
Sell for $695. 989-832-2401. M-4-
14-TFN
..............................................
AN AMISH LOG
HEADBOARD AND QUEEN
pillowtop mattress set. New. Sell all
for $275. 989-923-1278.
M-4-14-TFN
..............................................
AMISH LOG BEDS, ANY
SIZE $199. 5 drawer log chest
$199. Good quality. Lowest prices
in Michigan. 989-839-4846. M-4-
14-TFN
..............................................
To reach an immense outdoor market use the . . .
MISC.
LOG BUNK BEDS. $495.
Amish lodge furniture. Call Dan
989-832-1866. M-4-14-TFN
..............................................
WANTED
TIMBER: Buying all types of tim-
ber, 5 acres or more, top price paid.
Cash in advance. Improve wildlife
habitat. Patco Forest Products,
989-539-7588 after 6 p.m. W-9-
12/16
..............................................
Subscribe Today!
(810) 724-0254
FOR SALE
POND SUPPLIES: Live game-
fish for stocking. Large selection of
lake, pond and watergarden sup-
plies. Free catalog! Stoney Creek,
Inc., Grant, Mi. 800-448-3873,
www.stoneycreekequip.com FS-5-
6 FISHING: Walleye,
..............................................
FOR SALE BLACK
POWDER SCHUETZEN
AND SWISS. The Jag
Shop at Grand Valley Cap "n"
Ballers, Hopkins MI. Call (269)
792-4384 or (616) 836-5760 for
pricing. gvcnb.org. FS-6-2
TAXIDERMY
FOR SALE: Extra-large Utah
mountain lion rug 8ft. by 5ft. $3,300
call 517-543-6260. T-6-3
..............................................
BOATS
1987 20 FT. STARCRAFT
BOAT. Inboard. Boat in excellent
shape, needs a little floor work.
Complete and ready to go fishing.
Totally equipped - too much to men-
tion. $6,500. Call 810-417-1829.
B-4-4
..............................................
FISHING
ALL INCLUSIVE house-
keeping packages and cabin
rentals on remote Algoma
HUNTING
ALCONA COUNTY/
HUBBARD LAKE, MI
HUNTING: Bow, Rifle,
Muzzleloader, Bear, Youth,
Late Doe, Grouse, Turkey,
Duck, Goose WITH CAMP!
Perch, Bass, Trout, Pike
WITH CAMP! FREE: Hub-
bard Lake House Summer
Vacation with 6 day hunting
minimum. Build your own hunt-
ing/summer vacation combo.
Scout/Hike/Bike camp property
during your FREE SUMMER
VACATION. Only 6 Hunting/
Summer vacation slots avail-
able. Couples/Families wel-
come. Summer Lake House
available without hunting.
Details 586-260-0719. H-5-7
HUNTING
BLUE PLAGUE GUIDE
SERVICE booking guided
hound hunts for bear in 2017.
Hunting Newberry and Gwinn
areas. Reasonable rates with
top results. Contact Chris at
(989) 560-6936 or email at
christophergsellers@yahoo.
com H-5-3
KENTUCKY TENNESSEE
BUCKS. Hunt trophy bucks fair
chase on one of my many thou-
sands of acres of private farms.
Gun only no bow hunters. Hunters
are welcome to visit me and my
farms. Call or text for free brochure.
270-348-4281. H-4-4
..............................................
BEAR HUNTS: Mead

Woods-N-Water News Classified Lake. Train-in or Boat-in only -

Canadian Funds -519-636-3697
ALBERTS BEAR GUIDE
SERVICE. Bergland and Baraga
Creek guide service. We hunt
over bait in Newberry Unit only.
First season is a five day hunt,
Classified ad rates: $30 for the first 20 words www.foxsdenlodge.ca F-4/17- units. Federal license, 25 years second season is a seven day
Every word over 20 is .25 per word -- Box your classified, $5 additional charge TFN experience. Cell 906-231-9136, hunt. This includes room and
This effective advertising is simple to do, place your ad by . . . Home 906-827-3731. H-5-5 board. We hunt from ladder
Calling 810-724-0254 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm .............................................. stands and box blinds. Most
CANADIAN FISHING
Email your ad to wnw@pageone-inc.com blinds are on private property.
TRIP. Want to go fishing? Book
Faxing your ad 810-724-8552 2017 MICHIGAN BLACK Everybody had a shot oppor-
early and save. One of Ontarios
Complete your Classified online at www.woods-n-waternews.com BEAR HUNTS. Newberry/ tunity last year. Give us a shot,
best multiple fish lakes, fish
Mailing your ad to Woods-N-Water News, P.O. Box 278, Imlay City, MI48444 Gwinn B.M.U. 1st, 2nd, 3rd well give you one!
for Walleye, Northern, Small
seasons. Seven day hunt/lodg- Call John 906-586-3047 or
Classifieds MUST be paid in advance of publishing; MasterCard, Visa accepted. Make Mouth, Lake Trout, Perch and
ing/stands/skinning/tag/sealing look us up on facebook at
check/money orders payable to Woods-N-Water News. Classified ads can not be other fish. Well spaced out log
bear. Year around lodge. Great yooperoutdoors#906. H-6-2
billed and once a classified is processed no refunds can be made. Limit of 75 words. & framed cabins, all boats have
electric start motors, fish finders area for fishing, grouse hunt-
All classifieds posted to our website FREE! and swivel seats. Upgrade ing and 4-wheeling. 40th An-
niversary, Convenience store, GONZO BEAR CAMP - Bear
boats and motors available. 6
Use one of these useful classified categories... days/nights $445.00 U.S. funds State and Federally licensed. Specialist - We had 80% success.
A = Archery FW = Firewood RR = Resorts/Rent Contact Tom Losiewski, North Baraga, Gwen and Amasa Units -
per person with a group of 4 or Modular hunts start at $995. 7 days
ATV = ATVs G = Guns RVC = RVs/Campers
more (2 people per boat) www. Country Hunting Adventures.
B = Boats H = Hunting SM = Snowmobiles 1-269-330-0480. Like us on lodging included. Write for more
D = Dogs HL = Hunting Leases T = Taxidermy northernwalleyelodge.com information on how to apply for bear
or toll free 1-877-434-2440. Facebook. H-5-3
F = Fishing HW = Help Wanted TK = Trucks permits on May 1st - 2730 S. Dort
F = Free M = Miscellanous TR = Trailers F-1/17TFN Hwy., Flint, MI 48507 or call Dale at
FP = Food Plots RE = Real Estate W = Wanted
(810) 814-8936 days 9-4 or eve-
WEST MICHIGAN DEER
nings John at (989) 257-2725 for
AUGUST 2017 CLASSIFIED DEADLINE JULY 3, 2017 HUNTING AT ITS FINEST.
more information www.gonzo-
Archery hunts available for Fall
CLIP AND MAIL BAIT 2017 at reasonable prices. Call
bearcamp.com.
Facebook. H-4-4
Like us on

Woods-N-Water News Classified Advertising today at 231-690-2830. Foleys

(Please print clearly. We are not responsible for unreadable orders.)
Make sure phone number is included in your ad! BLACK BEAR HUNT/
GUIDE SERVICE. Red Oak
NAME area. Dogs or bait. Call 989-
448-1938. BT-7-3
ADDRESS
CITYSTATEZIP
DAYTIME PHONE NO. HUNTING
VISA/MASTERCARD#EXP: 2017 BEAR HUNTS. Baraga
unit Copper Harbor area. 1st and
CLASSIFICATION OF ADMONTHS TO RUN
2nd hunts available. Contact Chris
at (734) 765-9325.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
keweenawbearhunts.com. H-7-2
..............................................
(7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12)
(13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) 2017 MICHIGAN BEAR
HUNTS: Newberry/Gwinn.
(19) (20) $30.00 $30.25 $30.50 $30.75 Just outside of Seney Wildlife
Refuge. High success rate.
$31.00 $31.25 $31.50 $31.75 $32.00 $32.25 33 years. State and Federal li-
censed and experienced. Guar-
$32.50 $32.75 $33.00 $33.25 $33.50 $33.75 anteed active baits. 6 nights, 5
day hunt includes lodging and
$34.00 $34.25 $34.50 $34.75 $35.00 $35.25 meals. Start at $750. Bow and
rifle deer hunts. $125 per day.
$35.50 $35.75 $36.00 $36.25 $36.50 $36.75
906-439-5242.
www.buckspportinglodge.com.
Enclosed is $for 477-6983 or 616-566-0183.
H-5-6
words to runmonths. BOX MY CLASSIFIED - $5 Extra
West Michigan Outfitters. H-5-3
..............................................
..............................................
LAKE GOGEBIC BEAR
HUNT NORTHERN
HUNT BERGLAND
HUNT ZONE. Bait only, 20
LOWER MICHIGAN (Al-
cona County) over food plots,
plus years experience, federal
guide license. For more info
$125 per day/per person. 5
call Shawn Montie at 906-364-
Day minimum. Quality mature
1678 or email snoxer910@
bucks. Call Louis 586-242-
1461. H-6-2
yahoo.com. H-6-2
BERGLAND UNIT. Guided RAYS U.P. HUNTING Over
bear hunts over bait. State and 25 years experience guiding for
federal licensed bear guide. Call deer and bear. Baited stands in
Rich 715-663-0459 or www.upbear- Amasa, Baraga, and Bergland
hunt.com H-5-4 Units. Lodging Available. Call Ray
.............................................. at 906-265-9420 or cell (906) 284-
2216. Licensed and Insured. H-1-
12/17
ATTENTION U.P. BEAR
..............................................
HUNTERS: Top of the Line
NORTHERN ONTARIO
Guide Service offers excellent
BEAR HUNTS: Booking now for
hunting opportunity for black
Spring and Fall of 2017. Includes
bear hunters in Newberry man-
comfortable cabin, boat and motor,
agement area. Fully licensed
baited stands. Very experienced
guide offers unlimited day hunt-
guides. High success rate. 3 hours
ing. Lodging available. High
from the Soo. References on
success rate. For information
request. $960 U.S. 705-869-3272
or references call Bruce at 906-
www.texasandsons.com H-10-
12-16
H-7-3
..............................................

email: wnw@pageone-inc.com website: www.woods-n-waternews.com

88 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
 Woods-N-WaterNews Classified Section
HUNTING
CAMERON'S LITTLE
TWO HEART BEAR
GUIDE SERVICE We pro-
vide both bait and hound hunts
in the Newberry area only and
we guarantee you an active bait
site. We have provided guide
services in excess of 45 years
and have hunted the same area
that entire time. References
given upon request. Call Kip
at 906-293-5650 leave a mes-
sage and we will return your
call in the order it was received.
H-6-3
RESORTS/RENT
HUNTING LEASE
GOOD HUNTING/FISH-
ING! 200+ gated acres avail-
able for yearly lease. Boat
docks with power and offsite
boat ramp. mile canal with 2
dredged channels to the
Saginaw Bay, casino within 4
miles. Perfect for hunt clubs!
References needed. Email
DJRMVP@gmail.com by
appointment only. Please see
our ad on page 97 of this issue
of the Woods-N-Water News.
HL-5-3
WANT TO LEASE
HUNTING PROPERTY: 160
ACRES Rolling hills 80% wooded
REAL ESTATE
180 ACRES CHIPPEWA
COUNTY: Hunt, fish, hike or
snowmobile. 180 acres with
trails, blinds, and food plots.
Adjoins thousands of acres of
public land, 13 miles south of
Sault Ste. Marie, less than 2
miles to boat launch and the St.
Mary's River. E.U.P. hunting
and fishing camp, the 1100 sq.
ft. home and 32x42 garage will
satisfy most as a year round
residence. A great buy at
$250,000. Call 989-390-0362.
Details Craigslist and Zillow.
RE-5-3
REAL ESTATE
10 WOODED ACRES 6 miles
east of Alden and Torch Lake.
Ideal camping - recreation spot.
Driveway, cleared site, no power.
$27,900, $1,000 down, $350/mo
11% land contract, www.northern-
landco.com, Northern Land Co.
231-258-5100.
RE-7-2
..............................................
UP PROPERTY,
MACKINAW CO. 126
acres, 3200 ft. on Lake
Milakowkia at the end of private
road. Your private paradise. If
interested call 989-324-8668.
RE-7-2
REAL ESTATE
FOR SALE - Approximately 95
wooded acres with half mile front-
age on premiere trout, salmon
and steelhead stream in Manistee
County. $4,000 per acre. Call 231-
590-1136. RE-4-6
DOGS
GERMAN SHORTHAIR
POINTER PUPS: Males
and females available. Excel-
lent hunting dogs and superb
family pets. Close working
dogs with strong point and
retrieve instincts. Reasonably
priced for the sporting family.
Money back guarantee. Eulen-
hof Kennels, Gladwin, MI.
DOGS
LLEWELLIN SETTERS
PUPS FOR SALE. FDSB reg-
ister, www.gouldgundogs.com, call
989-550-8595 located in the Thumb
of Michigan. D-7-1
..............................................
BIRD DOG TRAINING BY
THE ONLY TRAINER in Michi-
gan, in the National bird dog hall
offame. The only trainer to win na-
tional gun dog championship on five
gamebirds (and did it twice) with his
expertise. Let us train your dog to
be the best. Only $450 per month
(includes everything) We train all
breeds. English Pointer and English
Setter Stud Service. David Grubb,
248-860-1009. D-5-3
..............................................

MUNISING AREA: Lake
Stella - Lakefront cottage w/a
boat. Furnished. Sleeps 8.
FAT H E R / C H I L D R E N http://www.eulenhof.com
with markeable hardwoods, pine, CABIN FOR SALE - Wer-Hee-
GROUP LOOKING FOR
birch and cedar. Excellent hunting; Gen Club on the Pine River, Osceo- 989-426-4884 D-6-2
LEASE. Will consider any size
artesian streams with brook trout, a la County Michigan (#16842) En-
lease, location, with or without

Great fishing - walleye, bass,
bluegill, perch, pike and crap-
pies. 989-382-5491 or 989-382-
3.5 acre lake for fish and waterfowl,
cabin/barn. Terms/price negotiable.
established blinds and food plots.
Experienced hunters, responsible,
Access by paved road with electric.
ethical and will make improvements
A wide choice of building sites.
Heres your
trance Lakola Rd and 4 mile.
Hunting and trout fishing. Cabin
1,028 sq. ft. furnished. 2 bedrooms,
living room, kitchen, bath with tub

guide to
7722 or 989-285-2888. Ask for if desired. Jay 248.396.8322.
Rose City area, Rose Township, and shower, 3 season room, sleeps
Lonnie. R/R-5-3 WL-7-3
SEC 21. Owner 989-820-5858. 6-8. Electric and wood heat and 3
..............................................
RE-7-3 out buildings. $97,500 Call Jac at

PICKEREL LAKESIDE
CAMPGROUND
COTTAGES Baldwin area
1,425 all sport lake frontage, 45
semi-rustic sites, four clean modern
cottages. www.lakecamp-cottages.
com 231-745-7268. RR-4-6
..............................................
BUCKWALLOW LODGE
in beautiful U.P. Great hunting,
fishing, snowmobile, 4 wheeler
headquarters, snowmobile from
front door all the way to Yellow
Stone or Alaska on mostley
groomed trails. Electricity-LP,
woodburning stove. Sleep 9,
inside - outside facilities. Fur-
nished, ready to go. $29,500.
For details 260-665-6829. RR-
6-2
S E A S O N A L - O N LY
CAMPING Private, gated
paradise on Big Manistee River
offers large, wooded sites, full
hook-ups, easy access to Lake
Michigan beaches. Long sea-
son. Quiet and peaceful.
COHO BEND - 231-723-
7321 www.cohobend.com.
R/R-3-8
HUNTING LEASE
JACKSON 104 ACRES sur-
rounded by 3500 acres unhunted
state prison land. Big bucks taken.
Corn and beans surround. Call 248-
978-7673. HL-4-6
BUSINESS FOR SALE
AND
HUNTING LAND LEASE
BUSINESS. Match land owners
with hunters. Started in 2010 - this
years leases ready for renewal.
Revenue generating, profitable and
recurring income stream.
Serious inquiries only. Email
wayne@Trophylandlease.com. 6-2
..............................................
REAL ESTATE
COTTAGE WITH LAKE
FRONTAGE. 2.10 acres with
120 feet lake frontage off Big Long
Lake in Evart. Good fishing, hunt-
ing, and quading trails. 3 bedroom,
2 bathroom. 1600 sq feet. E-mail
Sheila.smith@arterrarealty.com.
RE-7-1
..............................................
MARCELLUS, MI 50 Acres
Home/Pole Barn habitat manage-
ment for whitetail, hardwoods/9
acres food plot big buck potential.
$399,000. 269-929-5998. RE-7-1
..............................................
167 ACRE HUNTING/FISH-
ING RESORT OR RESI-
DENCE. Two bd 2 bath home with
fireplace and A/C. Large barn style
garage with guest quarters up. Trout
stream with 2 drive across bridges,
several food plots, blinds, great trail
system. Curran/Hubbard Lake area
$299,000. Joe Arbaugh, Century 21
Eagle 989-370-6317. RE-7-2
..............................................
60 ACRE FARM, 1800 sq ft
home, 3 bdrms., 3.5 baths, 1.5 sto-
ry. In-laws quarters, 2 car attached
..............................................
ONTONAGON COUNTY
120 ACRES NEAR
MASS CITY. Big, old barn,
40 acre hay field, mostly wood-
ed, some small clearings and
trails and watering holes.
Hunting of all kinds, deer, bear
and upland, deer blinds, tree
stands, ideal cabin or camper
site, electricity available. Dead
end county road, mile front-
age, great snowmobiling just off
main trail. Great for pig or cow
farm. $90,000/obo. Call Matt at
586-909-6318. RE-7-1
160 WOODED ACRES North-
west Clare County. Excellent deer
and turkey hunting with deer blinds
and food plots. Call 989-362-6603.
RE-7-1
..............................................
27714 PARK CT.,
MADISON HGHTS. I-696
- I-75, 950 sq. ft. house. 3 bed-
room, 1 bath, walk-out base-
ment. Lot size 45x150.
Driveway 10' x 14.5' 200 amp
service, 1/4 mile of woods
behind house. Deer in back-
yard. $80,000. 3 lots behind
house, 3 - 50x150 lots, 30x40
barn, steel roof, 200 amp ser-
vice RV parking, 1-50 amp
plug, sewer-n-water, garden
fenced and gated on dead end
road. Deer in backyard.
$40,000. Extra lot on corner
$20,000. 248-240-0985.
RE-7-1
success!
231-250-4951.
RE-7-1
..............................................
LAKE COUNTY 80 ACRES.
Sportsmans paradise. Headwaters
Pere Marquette River. Partially
wooded, 25 tillable acres, some
marsh, blacktop road. $159,000.
Call 231-832-4552 weekends. RE-
7-3
..............................................
35 ACRES EASTERN
U.P. GET-A-WAY, very
remote bordering state land on
three sides, 32x48 3 bedroom
cabin, one bath, big open kitch-
en and living area, interior in
knotty pine, fully furnished. Two
miles on a two-track of M-134, It is estimated that 10% of all the fishermen
12x16 generator and storage catch 90% of the fish. Regardless of which group
barn, off the grid, gas lights,
you fall into . . . theres a sure way to up your odds
priced at only $98,000. Call . . . simply try new fishing waters. Fish where few
Leonard 989-261-4343 or 989-
fishermen ever fish.
261-3100 for an appointment.
RE-7-1 Michigan is loaded with great fishing waters . . .
many of them over-looked. From the AuSable River
to all of the Great Lakes tributaries to the Pere
Marquette River . . . thousands of miles of streams,
35 ACRES: Osceola Co. Good
lakes and rivers are now easy-to-locate on one
hunting - wooded thick cover - small
creek, paved road, electric avail- map.
able. Deer birds $59,500. Call 231- Professor Higbees Stream Map of Michigan is the
920-3652. RE-6-2 first and only highly detailed map of its kind. This
.............................................. new 4 foot by 4 foot color map shows virtually all
80 ACRES - LAKE COUNTY
for the 35,000 miles of Michigan streams & lakes on
3 buildings, food plots, forest plan 6
both peninsulas. Thats almost two times the earths
mill ag property. Deer, bear, turkey,
circumference!
small pond, 5 miles west of 131, exit
162, Luter $120,000. Call 231-937- STREAMMAPOFMICHIGAN is available either
rolled or folded. And, in heavy gauge clear lamina-
4609. RE-6-2
tion, write-on-wipe-off surface with brass eyelettes
..............................................
280 AC WESTERN ONTO- for easy hanging, rolled only.
NAGON CO, all wooded, not
ROLLED $26.00 FOLDED $26.00 LAMINATED $46.00
clear cut, food plots, great hunting.
Land contract option, $185,000. Bill T a x & P o s t a g e I n c l u d e d

.............................................. garage, separate detached garage, 616-799-0530 RE-5-3 NAME

awesome 1,066 sqft bldg. with

Classifieds
3 ACRES 3 BEDROOM ..............................................
ADDRESS
many possibilities. Mostly wooded. MODERN CABIN FOR
HOUSE 24 x 52, furnished with 24
In Northeastern Lenwee County RENT ON BEAR CREEK - a CITYSTATEZIP
x 28 garage. Hundreds of acres of

Work!
MI. $486,000. E-Z commute to Ann trout, salmon and steelhead stream.
state forest; beech and maple. Lake Check/Money Order Visa/Mastercard
Arbor and Metro Detroit. Call Diana Sleeps 5, private access available.
City, MI $142,000. Call 313-350- Card#Exp. DateSignature
at Faust Real Estate, LLC 517-270- Call 231-590-1136.
2706. RE-7-1 Mail To: Woods-N-Water News
3646. RE-7-1
(810) 724-0254
RE-4-6 P.O. Box 278 Imlay City, MI 48444 (810) 724-0254
.............................................. ..............................................
..............................................

email: wnw@pageone-inc.com website: www.woods-n-waternews.com

WNW NEWS JULY 2017 89
 PAGES 90 - 97
FOR SALE MID-MICHIGANS LARGEST
Whitetail Realty, NATURAL, SPRING FED LAKE & PROPERTY!
Lake City, MI
425+ acres of prime land in the Heart of Central Michigan
231-839-8142 or LUMBER, ALL RIGHTS INCLUDED GAS, MINERAL, TIMBER...
office@lakecityrealestate.com
lakecitymirealestate.com
N. Missaukee MLS# 21118706 $19,900
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WELCOME,
Local Buyers Preferred! Serious Inquries only: (810) 629-9376
10 Acre Heavily Wooded Parcel
Located close to State land & Trails
Good Hunting Area

Lake City Area MLS# 21122417 $23,900

12.5 open & wooded acres
Close to Lake City
Private drive off blacktop road

N. Missaukee MLS# 21119410 $24,900

Rolling & open 20 Acre Parcel
Trail Road access in good hunting area
Adjoins Hundreds of acres of State Land

Lake City Area MLS# 21118625 $129,900

Small Hunting Cabin w/well & Electric
25 x 40 Pole Barn for lots of storage
62 Acres of woods and wet lands
Tractor w/equipment & a Quad included

Hougthon Lake MLS# 21121068 $29,900

100 x 180 level buildable lot
Deeded access to Houghton Lake
Shared Dock, Natural gas
Sewer available, pave street

3 Bdrm, 1 bth home. 240 Acres. Built 2005. 1 Bdrm, 1 bth Bungalow. Sweet bachelor pad. 2/3 Bdrm, 2 bth home-camp. 120 Acres. 26
1200 Sq. Ft., fireplace, gar, sauna, trails. Rock. Cozy cottage, mega large garage. Stonington. Acre lake with fish. Great home too! Daggett.
$399,000 1090655 $99,000 1099358 $229,000 1095255

THOUSANDS OF 2 Bdrm camp. 80 Acres. 32x64 Bldg. Garage,

well, septic, and electric. Wilson.
2 Bdrm camp. 40 Acres. 24x30 Pole bldg.
Built 2000. Adjoins State land. Rock.
2 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. 18 Acres.
2 Car gar with deer blinds. Ensign.
ACRES AVAILABLE $179,000 1096747 $99,000 1096936 $55,900 1097355
FROM $5200 TO $526,200.
Escanaba
2209 Ludington Street
(906) 786-1308
1 Bdrm camp. 40 Acres. Nice high ground. 2 Bdrm, 0.25 bth Camp. 80 Acres, Wilson 2 Bdrm, 1 bth A-Frame. Lake front Chalet,
Great hunting. Well built. Perkins. Creek, well, power, trails, pristine. Powers. great fishing and boating. Manistique.
Powers $84,900 1101098 $139,900 1100747 $150,000 1101361
W3776 US 2 & 41
(906) 497-4190

Gladstone
1401 Delta Ave.
(906) 825-9000
2 Bdrm, 1 bth log home/camp. Hunters
2 Bdrm, 1 bth, 22 acres. Cabin built in 2010. Hard- dream! 38 Acres. Small field. Loft. Power. Cozy 1 bdrm camp on 4.2 acres. Electricity.
wood Impoundment frtg. Great fishing. Hardwood. Bathroom. Secluded. Cornell. Outbldgs. Furnishings included. Stonington
$89,000 1094330 $99,900 1099356 $41,000 1099277

90 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS

 231-652-7000
- or -
231-250-8200

WE NEED LISTINGS 40+ ACRES AND LARGER

460+/- 359+/- ACRES,
ACRES, TUSCOLA &
SAGINAW GENESEE
COUNTY COUNTIES
8 bedroom Log Lodge, 40x114 30 Acre Private Lake, 3,400
sq ft Custom Lodge,
$
1,950,000
Pole Barn, Care Taker Residence
with Barn, High Fence 70x70 Pole Barn, 60x120
Deer Ranch, 275 Quality Deer Pole Barn, 2 Rental
$
3,200,000 Houses, 26 Ladder Stands,
5 Elevated Box Blinds

Antrim County, 52+/- Acres Calhoun County, 67+/- Acres Calhoun County, 70+/- Acres
Alcona County, 240 Acres, Alcona County, 240 Acres, Alpena County, 316+/- Acres, Good Trails Rolling Hardwoods, Pole Barn Branch County, 43+/- Acres, Big Bucks, Calhoun Co, 61 Acres 300 ft. All Sports Prairie Lake, House, Pole Barn, Pond, River,
House, Barns, Pond, Stream, Food Plots House, Barns, Pond, Stream, Food Plots Lodge sleeps 10, Professionally Managed Forest with Living Quarters, Excellent Hunting Cold Creek Crosses Property, Nice Woods 2,500 ft. St. Joseph River, Excellent Hunting 1/2 Tillable, 1/2 Wooded Elevated Blind
$499,000 $499,000 $439,000 $129,000 $136,500 $129,000 $275,000 $289,000

L D I NG I NG
SO END END
P P

Missaukee County, 80 Acres Newaygo County,

Calhoun Co, 86+/- Acres Iosco County, 783+/- Acres, Jackson County, 51+/- Acres Kalkaska County, 40 Acres, Mecosta County, 40 Acres Excellent Midland County, 80 Acres Pond, Professionally Managed
750 ft. Frontage on Prairie Lake, 1 Mile Frontage Tawas Lake, Kunze River Crosses Property, Big Bucks, Wildlife Pond, 1/2 5+/- Acres Frontage
Big Buck Hunting, Outbuildings
Cabin, Barn, Trout Pond, Deer, Turkey & Small Game 12 Miles to Mount Pleasant, Forest, Food Plots
5 Bedroom Log Lodge, 3 Miles from East Tawas on White River
Tillable Leased, Warming Shed Excellent Hunting Hunting, Good Trail System Excellent Hunting $129,500
$349,000 $1,250,000 $41,000
$169,000 $115,000 $88,000 $176,000

LD
O
S

Newaygo County, 30 Acres, 2 Bedroom, Newaygo County, 36+/- Acres Newaygo County, 40+/- Acres Newaygo County, 40 Acres Newaygo County, 40 Acres Newaygo County, 60 Acres Newaygo Co, 80 Acres Newaygo County, 80 Acres
1 1/2 Bath Mobile Home, 24x28 Pole Farm Land, M-37 Frontage, 1000s of Adjacent to Federal Land, Remote 32x48 Pole Barn with Water & Heavily Wooded, Excellent QDM, Trophy Bucks Rolling Hardwoods, Great
Electric, 20 Ac Old Apple Orchard, Close to Federal Land, Pole Barn,
Barn, Adjacent to National Forest acres Public Land 1/2 mile Away Location, Small Lake 20 Ac Hardwoods, Great Hunting Hunting, Building Sites Harvested, Great Parcel Great Hunting Hunting, 2 Bedroom Mobile
$99,000 $50,400 $80,000 $199,000 $60,000 $90,000 $140,000 $150,000

NG LD
LD DI O
S
O
P EN S

Newaygo County, 80 Acres Newaygo County, 80 Acres Newaygo County, 125 Acres, Three Oceana County, 100+/- Acres Osceola Co, 54+/- Acres Osceola County, 167 Acres Presque Isle County, 47+/- Presque Isle County, 80 Ac
Rustic Cabin, Pond, Nice 4,600 ft. White River Frontage, spring fed lakes, Excellent Deer, Remote Property, Nice Forest, 650 ft. Frontage Nice Cabin, Good Trail Acres, 2 Bedroom House, Pole Creek Frontage, 24x24 Garage,
Woods, Good Trail System Great Hunting and Fishing Turkey and Waterfowl hunting Good Deer Population All Sports Grass Lake System, Excellent Hunting Barn, Excellent Hunting Excellent Hunting
$129,000 $189,000 $375,000 $150,000 $225,000 $389,000 $99,000 $90,000

www. WildLifeRealty.com
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 91
 WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES!
BUYING OR SELLING?
ALL OFFERS WELCOME!!! EXECUTIVE WATER FRONT HOME ON LAKE HURON
You cant make a better choice than us!
WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES! WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES!

WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES! WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES!
FOR SALE: This four bedroom home is situated less than
CANADIAN WATERFRONT AND 30 miles from the US/Canadian border in a private country
www.stoneycreekoutdoors.com
RECREATIONAL PROPERTY. setting, in a quiet bay. The lot is 200x750. Home totally
CLOSE TO SAULT STE. MARIE, remodeled. This property has unequaled sunsets facing Eaton County Eaton County-100 Acres
MICHIGAN BORDER southwest with deep water for pleasure craft boating on 465+/- Acres with custom built log home
Lake Huron in the North Channel. $999,900.00 US. This is one of those properties that There are irregular shaped
*LAND CONTRACTS doesnt come along very often. fields for food plots. All this

AVAILABLE O.A.C.*
MACDONALD PROPERTY: 759 acres with hunting camp, How would you like to own 465
acres of deer hunting paradise!! $2,500,000 make for a pretty nice set up
for all types of hunting. $575,000
25 miles east of Sault St. Marie Ontario, property is gated,
APR ZONE!! Missaukee County Clinton County Waterfront
BEAR GOOSE isolated and wooded, with a four bedroom, two-story pole
barn. 20-acre lake and 2 streams. Great Bear Hunting! 123 Acres with Log Home Vacant Land-67.76 Acres
DUCK MOOSE Two Deer plots! Five deeds, no guide required, under-
Are you looking to start a northern
Michigan deer camp in the Antler
This is a great recreational piece of ground that you dont see come
around very often. I have personally fished and waterfowl hunted on
WOLF WHITETAIL priced at $259,900 US. Terms available, excellent buy! Point Restriction zone? This area is
the new big buck zone of Michigan. $374,900 this piece and both are pretty good.
$249,900
OTHER PROPERTIES AVAILABLE! 160 ACRES: Tower road property. Well Treed, hunting and MORE AVAILABLE PROPERTIES ON OUR WEBSITE!
TROPHY DEER & BEAR AREA recreation property. Two miles off year-round maintained Stoney Creek Brokered By:

WITH GREAT FISHING!!! road. 25 mins East of Sault, Ontario. $74,900 US. Outdoor Properties, LLC WEICHERT, REALTORS
Property Mart Southgate Plaza
St. Johns, MI 48879
NO GUIDE OR
800 S. BR 127
EXCLUSIVE LAKE HURON WATERFRONT & WATER- Cell: (517) 819-6344 St. Johns, Michigan 48879-1649
VIEW ESTATE LOTS LOCATED IN THESSALON,
OUTFITTER REQUIRED! ONTARIO 50 MILES EAST OF SAULT STE. MARIE,
Don't Be Shy, Make An Offer. ONTARIO ON HIGHWAY 17 EAST: Lighthouse Point
LOOKING FOR OFFERS!!! serviced with hydro, telephone, sewer, water, gas, cable on
400 ACRES OF ROLLING HARD-AND SOFTWOOD paved street. Airport, marina and hospital in area. No
HILLS: Large beaver pond and creek runs thru property, time limit for building. Waterfront lots 100 478 frontage, water-
next to above property if more acreage is required. view lots 80 frontage. Prices from $15,900.00 US and up.
Property is great for bear hunting, white tail and grouse. TWO 10 ACRE SAND BEACH LOTS (these lots have it
Four miles off year-round maintained road. $124,900 US
all): 60 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie each lot has 300
DESBARATS LAKE AND RIVER PROPERTY: This 5.5 frontage on Bright Lake near highway 17 East (lake area
acres is on a year-round road with power. Only minutes approx. 24 square miles), year round access with power to
from the Village of Desbarats which is 35 miles east of property. This inland lake has perch, bass, walleye and
Sault, Ontario. Great Walleye and Northern Pike fishing northern pike. Priced to sell at $99,900.00 US (lot #2) and Lake Property
and good Whitetail hunting. Asking price is $29,900 US. $109,900.00 US (lot #3).

LAJAMBE OFFICE: (705) 248-9663 CELL: (705) 941-8355 269 ft. frontage on beautiful Lake St. Helen, Roscommon County, Michi-
FAX: (705) 248-1110
gan. 725 ft. South side, 640 ft. North side, has Riparian Rights, 24x36 pole

ENTERPRISESINC. Frank Lajambe

flajambe@lajambe.com
barn, heat, well, electric hot water, septic, zoned commercial, D.E.Q. ap-
proved for 135 slips, located at 9400 Monroe Rd. Asking $425,000. Land
715 Finns Bay Road contract possible.
www.lajambe.com
Echo Bay, Ontario CAN POS 1C0 *Prices subject to change. Call Denis at 989-387-0504 St. Helen, Michigan
WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES!

ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY!

C - 2000 SAUBLE RIVER FRONT - 80 Acres of prime riverfront property. Seclusion, beauty F - 160 ACRES BORDERING FEDERAL LAND - Secluded, beautifully wooded with a mixture
and endless possibilities all in one! Has Federal land bordering three sides, nicely wooded of terrain. Excellent place to hunt or camp, or build that up-North dream house.
and stocked with wildlife. MLS 17002654 $99,500 MLS 17003922 $224,000
D - 160 ACRES OF UNPARALLELED HUNTING LAND - Numerous sightings of deer, bear, G - 80 ACRES - Set back and tucked away, offering the perfect get-away destination for all
partridge and a multitude of other wood land creatures! Property has a mix of high and low those nature lovers out there. Access by easement, off grid, and bordering Federal land to
land, on acounty paved road. MLS 17002701 $200,000 the West & South. MLS 17002780 $99,500
E - 80 ACRES WITH MIXED WOODS AND CEDAR SWAMP - Access by easement, completely H - 80 ACRES - Ideal for a weekend hunting retreat. Has high ground and a large cedar
off the grid with Federal land bordering to the south. MLS 17002719 $109,500 swamp. ORV & Snowmobile trails close by. MLS 17002794 $99,500
Commercial building on 21 m/l acres, with over 33,000 sqft. of This cottage is just looking for someone to make it their home
space available for manufacturing or warehousing. The opportu- or vacation spot! Nicely settled on 11+ acres, the property has
nities provided here for your business, including possible expan- frontage on the Baldwin River. The log deck, is both lovely and
sion and property utilization are nearly limitless. sturdy, lending an excellent rustic charm. Inside are 2 beds, 1 bath,
MLS 17007735 $79,900 lovely dcor, and an unfinished basement.
MLS 15059321 $149,000
Little South Branch property with 1050 of river frontage. Two On the middle branch of the Pere Marquette River, this property
bedrooms, one bathroom, on 8 beautifully wooded acres with a has one of the nicest settings around. 8.73 M/L Acres, home is in
large four season room overlooking the river. There is a storage very good condition with 2 bedrooms, all utilities, and is sitting just
shed and an over sized garage (with a bathroom!) 25 from the waters edge. No flooding just lots of wildlife and great
MLS 16057863 $165,000 fishing. MLS 15061722 $85,900

Looking for Affordable Vacation Property? LAND CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE

Call us today & get started on the path to owning your own little piece of Northern Michigan!

92 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS

 WEST BRANCH HALE WEST BRANCH
R S ALE R S ALE
M-33/M-55 OFFICE F O OFFICE F O LOOP OFFICE
1953 S. M-33 3160 North M-65 2575 S. I-75 Business Loop,
West Branch, MI 48661 Hale, MI48739 West Branch, MI 48661
10 miles north of I-75 exit 202 Gateway to Huron National Forest 1 mile north of I-75 Exit 212

Local: 989-345-2662 Local: 989-728-2540 Local: 989-345-0315

Toll Free: 800-535-6520 www.CAHANES.com Toll Free: 800-495-2540 www.CAHANES.com Toll Free: 866-345-0315

WATERFRONT HOMES

FANTASTIC VIEWS!!
Cute 2-bdrm home w/detached garage and 60 of frontage on 52
acre BUSH LAKE!! Newer metal roof, newer windows & newer water
heater. Additional nice amenities include a gas log fireplace and lake-
side sunroom with lots of windows for beautiful views & natural light!!
$95,900 1830299
BEAUTIFUL CAPE COD RIVERFRONT!!
3-bdrm, 2.5 bath home on 8.8 ACRES with 1170 feet of frontage on
the gorgeous Au Gres River!! Home has hardwood floors, fireplace,
central air & so much more! There is also a heated garage w/upstairs
& two sheds, a fenced area & extensive decking with fantastic views!!
$285,000 1798150
PRIVATE LAKE!!
Nice waterfront home on FOUR LOTS with frontage on FEEDING GROUNDS
LAKE!! Newer furnace, open floor plan, fireplace, heated sunroom and beauti-
ful views!! Home sits on 2 partly wooded lakefront lots and there is a garage on
2 additional lots. Great year round residence or spacious getaway!!
$97,900 1830216
ALL SPORTS LAKE!!
Beautiful 4-bdrm lakefront home with frontage on HENDERSON LAKE!!
Full walkout basement, lots of windows for natural light and fantastic views,
large deck for enjoying the outdoors and views, a garage with electric for
storing your Up North toys, a shed at the waters edge & a boat dock!!
$179,900 1829140
SOUTH DEASE LAKE!!
Cute 2-bdrm home with frontage on all sports 269 acres lake!! 56 feet of
water frontage, large back deck with beautiful views, fenced yard, arte-
sian well, fire pit, 8x14 storage shed and a dock for your boat. This home
would make an excellent year round residence or super nice getaway!!
$119,000 1829341

RIFLE LAKE WATERFRONT HOME!!
3-bdrm home with tons of charm on 1.53 PARTLY WOODED ACRES!!
100 feet on all sports 183 acre lake, 3 season porch, fireplace, knotty
pine interior for that Up North feel & mostly furnished! There is also a
garage, 2 decks, incl one at waters edge & a boat dock and boat lift!!
$169,900 1832417
80 FEET ON BEAUTIFUL RIFLE RIVER!!
Over an acre of property with 2-bdrm home with fireplace to keep you
extra warm, lots of windows with absolutely fantastic views, formal
dining area, screened porch for those rainy days and a large deck.
Move in ready with some furnishings and attached garage for storage!!
$139,900 1831481
POPULAR LAKE OGEMAW!!
You will relay enjoy relaxing on your own sandy beach on this all sports lake
and 90 feet of water frontage!! Move in ready with some appliances and
furnishings. There is also 2 garages for lots of storage, a deck and a porch
for enjoying the outdoors, a blacktop drive, boat dock and much more!!
$169,900 1825235
ELBOW LAKE WATERFRONT!!
Nice 3-bdrm ranch style home on channel to all sports ELBOW LAKE!!
Lots of great amenities including large kitchen with convenient island,
pantry and breakfast nook, garden tub, walk-in closet, detached garage,
wrap-around deck, beautiful views, an ACRE of property & a pond!!
$157,000 1810533
SUPER NICE SUBDIVISION!!
2-bdrm home with 178 feet of frontage on all sports, private FOREST
LAKE!! Full walkout basement, open floor plan, a bath on each floor, central
air, skylights, appliances and garage. Subd has so many great qualities in-
cluding security, beautiful common areas, sandy beaches and boat docks!!
$160,000 1811285

HOMES ON LOTS AND ACREAGE

70+ ACRES!!
Fantastic hunting property with lots of wildlife in the area, a pond and 30x40
barn style outbuilding for storage. Home has 3 bedrooms, some appliances
and furnishings and 1200 square feet of living space. This is the perfect
place for the nature enthusiast or excellent spot for your hunt camp!!
$249,900 1816928
NEAR RIFLE RIVER AND LAKES!!
2-bdrm mobile in need of work but would make a great getaway in nice
recreational area! Appliances included and there is a deck for enjoying
the outdoors. Estate sale with motivated Seller who will look at all
offers. Also located near thousands of acres of state land for hunting!!
$11,500 1831254
HORSE FARM!!
This property is the perfect place to raise your horses!! Gorgeous rolling
acreage, 80x120 outbuilding with riding arena, 9 matted stalls, a tack room
and alley way, 30x40 insulated and heated building with workshop & lean
to, fenced pastures, great barn, 2-bdrm home & ADJOINS STATE LAND!!
$225,000 1827987
NEAR THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF STATE LAND!!
This cozy 2-bdrm home would make an excellent weekend getaway or
vacation cottage on 2 WOODED ACRES for lots of room to expand!!
Needs a good cleaning and new flooring but is located in fantastic rec-
reational area also not far from many lakes. Motivated Sellers!!
$24,900 1829902
GORGEOUS COUNTRYSIDE LIVING!!
Spacious 5-bdrm home, full finished basement, open floor plan, modern
kitchen with eating area and pantry, built-in bookcases, convenient mud
room, cathedral ceilings, family room, large closets in all bedrooms,
bonus 18x12 storage room, deck, oversized garage & 32x52 barn!!
$199,900 1832736

ALMOST AN ACRE OF PROPERTY!!
Cozy one bedroom mobile home in great recreational area and not too
far from the beautiful Rifle River for excellent fishing and swimming and
3 season kayaking!! There is also a garage for some additional storage
and property is not too far from town for shopping and restaurants!!
$25,000 1831259
SECLUDED FOR PRIVACY!!
Large 4-bdrm, 2.5 bath home on 3.3 PARTLY WOODED ACRES!! Open
floor plan, tongue and groove ceilings, full walkout basement, family room,
work area, ceramic tile floors, kitchen with some appliances & island, formal
dining, carport plus detached garage for your vehicles and blacktop drive!!
$189,000 1832169
NEAR MANY LAKES AND BEAUTIFUL RIFLE RIVER!!
Cozy possible 2-bdrm home on 2 nicely treed lots. Open floor plan,
some furnishings, a full bath and 12x12 shed with convenient elec-
tric. This property would make a nice vacation or weekend getaway,
is also not far from State land and has newer windows & shingles!!
$34,900 1830854
PICTURE PERFECT SETTING!!
Lovely updated 2300 square foot, 3 bedroom home on partial basement.
Over $48,000 in updates added to this home including newer applianc-
es, metal roof, fenced back yard, central air, newer boiler and extensive
decking. Plus this entire home is wired with stand-by generator system!!
$180,000 1830321
WELL-MAINTAINED!!
This 3-bdrm ranch style, manuf home has over 1250 square feet of living
space, appliances, large walk-in closet, spacious living area with open
kitchen/dining areas and most furnishings are included in selling price!!
Outside there is a large yard plus both front & rear decking for relaxing!!
$34,900 1824677

LAKEFRONT LOT INCLUDED!!
You will enjoy private access to no motor FAWN LAKE with this super
nice 3-bdrm home with oversized garage. Move-in ready on 2 lots with
great amenities including laminate and tile floors, central air and beautiful
custom oak cabinetry. You can walk to lakefront lot just down the road!!
$175,000 1832940
FOUR LOTS FOR ROOM TO EXPAND!!
Cozy 2-bdrm home in nice setting and on just OVER A HALF ACRE OF
PROPERTY!! Some appliances are included in selling price and there is
a great covered porch for enjoying the outdoors and those rainy days &
a storage shed. Updates include a newer furnace and newer plumbing!!
$35,000 1830904
30 GORGEOUS ACRES!!
Well-maintained ranch style manuf home nestled in the woods with size-
able detached garage. This spacious year round residence has 4 bed-
rooms, full walkout basement, 9x11 bonus room for den or great office,
family room, lots of cupboards, private master suite, deck, porch & a pond!!
$174,900 1826749
SECLUDED HUNTING CABIN!!
2-bdrm cottage that is the perfect spot to have your hunt camp nestled among
18 WOODED ACRES and ADJACENT TO STATE LAND!! Some appliances,
wood heat, propane lights, gravity tank, excellent hunting and a great variety
of wildlife in the area. Awesome rustic spot for your hunt camp!!
$64,900 1805656
OVER AN ACRE OF PROPERTY!!
Large 4-bdrm home, full partly finished basement with newer wood floor-
ing and newer roof in 2016. 2 car garage plus a shed for additional stor-
age, nicely landscaped, and a nice deck for enjoying the outdoors and
views. Nice rural setting yet not far from town for shopping & restaurants!!
$154,900 1830864

GREAT SPOT FOR HORSES!!
This 3-bdrm, 2 full bath home has some appliances, central air, full walk-
out basement that has already been carpeted, kitchen pantry and much
more! There is also a spacious detached garage for your Up North toys
and both front & rear decks, all nestled on 10.10 BEAUTIFUL ACRES!!
$89,900 1832322
1+ ACRES!!
Very nice 3-bdrm home in great recreational area and not far from lakes and
thousands of acres of State land! Fireplace, cathedral ceilings, mud room,
2 full bath, formal dining & nice kitchen with breakfast nook and some appli-
ances. There is also an attached plus a detached garage and two sheds!!
$149,900 1831838
LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS!!
This 3-bdrm home on AN ACRES has had many updates over the years,
including water heater and softener in 2009, pump and pressure tank,
appliances and furnace in 2008, a newer breaker box in 2013 plus there
are new metal roofs on the home, detached garage & heated outbuilding!!
$102,950 1832684
OVER 30 ACRES!!
Updated possible 3-bdrm home on full walkout basement that you could
finish to your own liking!! Beautiful hardwood floors, central air, appliances
and much more and updates like newer furnace, water heater and well.
Outside there are 2 garages for storage and nice patio area for relaxing!!
$139,000 1828567
21+ GORGEOUS ACRES!!
2-bdrm, 2 bath home nestled on partly wooded acreage with beautiful views
and a 3 acre pond!! Open floor plan, door walls to nice back deck, a wood
stove to help keep you warm, circular drive, detached garage and a heated
and insulated workshop!! Home sits back off of road for some privacy!!
$117,900 1808352

FOR MORE LISTINGS

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.CAHANES.COM
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 93
 Martiny Lake Waterfront
Offices Serving Lower & Great fishing, Bird Watching
Excellent Hunting area with Near
Upper Michigan State Land N & S within mile
Mature Landscape, Fruit, Flowers
Marlette
Bringing people and places together since 1945 in Sanilac
County
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TODAY!
statewiderealestate.net
$
Houghton
3,200 per acre
Marquette
Newberry
Curtis 2 Bed, 2 Bath, Open Living Area
Iron Mountain Manistique
Attached 2+ Car Finished Garage
Gladstone
Escanaba Onaway New Siding & Roof 2014
Powers Hawks
Menominee Hillman
Alpena
Marinette
Atlanta
Mio Harrisville

Skidway Lake

Almont

Linden 48X32 Pole Barn W Workshop

Howell
New Metal Roof
Priced to Sell!

$123,000
Contact Christine
Contact Your Nearest State Wide Real 231.348.7333
Estate Office To Buy or Sell In Michigan Christine.Parker@halo.com
ALPENA HILLMAN MARQUETTE
1100 W. Chisholm, 49707 14938 State Street, P.O. Box 98, 49746 856 W. Washington, 49855
email: alpswre@speednetllc.com email: statewidehillman@yahoo.com email: sw@statewiderealestate.org
989-356-2142 Fax: 989-356-2144 989-742-4523 800-228-7856 906-228-9312 Fax: 906-228-8069
Fax: 989-742-3931
MENOMINEE
ALMONT 3631 10th Street, 49858
844 Van Dyke Road HOUGHTON
lafrancesharon@yahoo.com email: statewideone@newbc.rr.com
500 Shelden Ave., 49931 906-863-9905
810-798-8591 Fax: 810-798-8079 email: dick@statewideofhoughton.com
906-482-6955 800-676-6323 Fax: 906-863-7935
Fax: 906-482-7699
CURTIS/NEWBERRY MIO
Main Street, P.O. Box 305, 49820 102 West 8th St., P.O. Box 395, 48647
email: swcurtis@sbcglobal.net email: info@statewidemio.com
906-586-9606 Fax: 906-586-9607 HOWELL/LINDEN 989-826-3292
1285 S. Michigan Ave., Howell, MI 48843
email: statewid@earthlink.net Fax: 989-826-2108
ESCANABA 517-546-9060 800-531-4449
2209 Ludington Street, 49829 Fax: 517-546-9148 ONAWAY
email: escanaba@statewiderealestate.net M-33 & M-68,
906-786-1308 800-900-0777 P.O. Box 478, 49765
Fax: 906-786-1388 IRON MOUNTAIN
231 East A. St. email: bigdan@frontier.com
Iron Mountain, MI 49807 989-733-6522
GLADSTONE 906-828-2525 Fax: 989-733-2427
1401 Delta Ave., Fax: 906-828-2727
Gladstone, MI 49837 email: steve@multistatewide.com
906-825-9000 POWERS
email: judy@statewiderealestate.net W3776 US2 & 41, 49874
MANISTIQUE 906-497-4190
10 N. State Highway M-149 Fax: 906-497-5328
HARRISVILLE
430 S. US-23, 48740 Cooks, MI 49817 holly@statewiderealestate.net
email: sold@anjstatewide.com 906-644-2304
989-724-5711 800-655-5735 email: dekeysermary@yahoo.com
Fax: 989-724-6833 SKIDWAY LAKE
2228 Greenwood Rd.,
HAWKS MARINETTE, WISCONSIN Prescott, 48756
8383 Hwy. 451, 49743 1460 Marinette Ave., 54143 email: atlas@m33access.com
email: rita8383@yahoo.com email: statewidemarinette@yahoo.com 989-873-3601
989-734-4846 715-735-9964 Fax: 715-732-1107 Fax: 989-873-6914

94 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS

 108 ACRES GENESEE COUNTY RANDY MINTO 79 ACRES
Always Working Hard for You!

REALTOR
SHIAWASSEE RIVER SHIAWASSEE LAKE Direct: LAPEER COUNTY
Unlimited Outdoor Fun. Great Building site with
Great Development possibilities.
810.449.1286 Amazing Home Over 5,200 sq ft of Living Space
& Outdoor Entertainment. Gorgeous property,
- OR -
Lake & Riverfront. Office:
8 ponds. Very Private and Secluded.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzDqDMo9cHc www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn16uM6g7aE
*DV 810.653.4500
$775,000 $1,265,000 *DV
SPECIALIZING IN UNIQUE, LUXURY AND LARGE RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES
DEER & NATURE LOVERS DREAM PROPERTIES
* G * AMAZING PRICE ALCONA COUNTY
D
NDIN D
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
257 ACRES P E
V
SA L E V
PREVIOUSLY
PHEASANT
200 TILLABLE ACRES PRESERVE LAPEER COUNTY
Great farming, income producing, Pheasant Preserve
Amazing 2 Story Country Home, 2,688 sq ft. Lots of living space, 4BD. 156 ACRES
Possibilities, over 1/2 mile on Belle River, multiple Great for Family Entertaining. Attached 2 Car Garage. Stocked 4-BR on Pine River. Bear, Deer, lots of Wildlife. Apple
Outbuildings, 2 Ponds. Pond. Deer Hunters and Nature Lovers Dream Property. Just off I-69. Orchard. Fish and Canoe the River. New Roof, New Price!
$1,250,000 $319,900 $299,000
* LICENSED DEER RANCH *
D
V
D
V
AMAZING APPLEGATE HUNTING ENDIN
G
PRESERVE! $1,250,000 L E P
SA
34 ACRES 80-100 DEER
GENESEE COUNTY 20-25 TROPHY BUCKS
GENESEE COUNTY 18+ ACRES
Licensed Deer Ranch in Davison. 6-car garage, pond, 5 blinds, Beautifully Designed BRAND NEW Custom-Built Ranch Home. Abundance
3 lg feeders, Lg polebarn. 4BD, 3BA, walkout & up basement. of Wildlife. Truly a Deer Hunter and Nature Lovers Dream Property!
$849,900 APPROX. 200 DEER APPROX. 100 ELK $279,000
*
D 128 ACRES GENESEE COUNTY SANILAC COUNTY 80 ACRES
V

PEN DING 186 ACRES

S A L E SANILAC COUNTY
Gorgeous Lodge AND a 2,000 sq ft Ranch home set on acres
Newly Renovated, 41 tillable acres, 3 ponds, 65% Wooded. of Evergreens full of Trophy Elk and Deer! Updated, Andersen Deer Hunters Dream Property, Private, 2-streams.
Great Development & Commercial Possibilities. A Rare Gem! windows, formal dining room. Great for entertaining groups. Large Elevation changes.
Waterfall pond, pavilion and several out buildings.
$599,900 $275,000
MIDLAND COUNTY

SOLD
GENESEE COUNTY GENESEE COUNTY GENESEE
25 ACRES 26 ACRES COUNTY

160 ACRES 7.5 ACRES

Rustic 2-story Hunting Cabin w/fireplace, well, septic, on
15 Acres zoned Commercial.
Great building site, walkout.
Great Building Site, 4 splits
available. Zoned Ag. Paved
$259,000
Hunters and Nature Lovers Dream property. Wooded. Road, Corner Lot. Beautiful updated Ranch Home, Finished Basement, Pole Barn
$289,900 $239,000 $119,900 & Creek Views of Sugar Bush Golf Course. Davison Schools

*
SOLD
210 ACRES IN
THE UP
D OSCODA
V COUNTY
3900 sq. ft. Amazing
120 ACRES CLARE COUNTY
CHIPPEWA COUNTY
10 ACRES
OAKLAND
log interior with knotty
pine, custom built. Abuts
COUNTY
Prime Hunting & Nature Lovers Dream Property. 90% Cozy Log Cabin on mile of
St. Marys River. Beach front.
500+ acres Federal land
(land locked).
wooded, hardwoods, pines & cedars. Nice hunting cabin Secluded.
Great Building Site. Nicely
wooded. 1/2 Mile from Brandon 20 ACRES
built 2001. 2BD & 1BA. 5 Deer Blinds. $299,900 $219,900 Schools. $115,000 $279,000
* LAPEER COUNTY * *
SOLD
D 86 ACRES D LAKE OGEMAW MARINA D 72 ACRES
V V V

LAPEER COUNTY
OGEMAW COUNTY
Gorgeous Updated Home, Ponds, Waterfalls.
Fantastic Development Opportunity. 30-2 Acre lots Own your own Marina! Located on a 600-acre Private All-Sports Barn with 6/stalls. Truly a Deer Hunters, Nature
approx. currently zoned agriculture. Lake. 16 Boat Slips, Turn-key operation. 225 ft of Lake Frontage.
Avalon Pontoon Dealer.
& HORSE LOVERS Dream Property.
$550,000 $650,000 $895,000

DRONE
*DV VIDEO GO TO: MIDREAMPROPERTIES.com
OR CALL 810-449-1286
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 95
 PINE LAKE PROPERTY - PRICE REDUCED!! Luxury Recreational
Recreational Property
Property
Luxury
$70,000.00 DON'T MISS THIS ONE! 184 acres in Gaylord, Michigan
184
184 acres in Gaylord, Michigan
184 acres
acres in
in Gaylord,
Gaylord, Michigan
Michigan
Hunting
FishLake
HuntHunting Lake
GolfFrontage
Guest
Frontage Golf
Golf
House
Hunting
Guest House Lake
Pole Frontage
Barn HeatedGolf
Blinds
Pole
GuestBarn
Guest HouseSnowmobile
House Pole
Pole Barn Skiing
Barn Heated
Heated Blinds
Blinds

Parcels C & D on survey are 11.81 wooded acres on a private spring fed lake in
Mecosta County. This is a hunter's and fisherman's paradise complete with 705
feet of lake frontage. The Southwest corner of the property is 80 feet above lake
Cor
level and gently slopes downward to an expanding vista of lake frontage. All por Great
ate
Ret
lake front property surrounding this lake is owned by five individual owners. reat
!
There is privacy galore! But, if you prefer more action, Chippewa Lake, an all
sports lake, is only one mile away. There is a well on the property (condition
unknown). Motivated seller! SEV is over $65,000.00 This land would make an
excellent hunter's retreat, fisherman's camp or a campground. It has to be seen
to be appreciated.
For more information call Visit www.tedschweitzer.com
Visit www.tedschweitzer.com to learn
learn more.
734-325-3103 or 989-463-2975 Visit www.tedschweitzer.com to
to learn more.
more.
Ted
Ted
Visit Schweitzer
Schweitzer
www.tedschweitzer.com to learn more.
Ted Schweitzer
Thomas B. Camp Alma, MI 48801
Call or Text: (231) 645-5656
Call or
Call or Text:
Text: (231)
(231) 645-5656
645-5656
Ted Schweitzer
E-mail:
E-mail: ted@tedschweitzer.com
ted@tedschweitzer.com
E-mail: ted@tedschweitzer.com
Call or Text: (231) 645-5656
E-mail: ted@tedschweitzer.com

Heritage Exclusive Marketing Agents for Northeast

House Michigan Properties
RealtyPC Located in the Heart of the Huron National Forest, on the
Personalized Service is the Difference
Shores of Lake Huron and the banks of the AuSable River

5621 Deer Trail, Curran 3022 Winter Sports Dr, Premier Greenbush Resort
840 sf, 2 bed, 1 bath Cabin Glennie. 980 sf, 3 bed, 1 300 feet of sugar sand Lake
perfect for that Up North bath with full basement. Huron frontage, 24 rental
Getaway. Convenient to all Price reflects condition, units that include 8 luxury
your favorite hunting and being sold As-Is. Make this suites overlooking the lake.
fishing spots. Move in Ready your Up North Gem! Newly Large owners home, play-
with partial basement. Listed $23,000. For More ground & recreation building.
Newly Listed $31,900. For Information Text R332817 to Well established clientele.
More Information Text 52187 Call for more info
R363857 to 52187

3576 Chippewa Dr, 4082 W Lake St, Glennie. AuSable River Frontage
Glennie. 700 sf, 1 bed, 1 800 sf, 2 bed, 1 bath Log 1300 sf, 4 bed, 1.5 bath Dam
bath Turn Key Cabin with 50 Cabin with 100 feet on Keepers Home with 160 feet
feet on Hunters Lake. Enjoy Vaughn Lake. Does need on the river. Canoe/Kayak
taking in the views from your some TLC, you can make right out your front door and
Sunroom or from the large this your hidden Gem. New a 2-car garage to store
lakeside deck. New $62,900 listing $79,900 For More everything in. Newly Listed
For More Information Text Information Text R340005 to $132,500 For More
R308077 to 52187 52187 Information text R363856 to
52187

106 Fiske St, Lincoln. 900 Hunting Camp, Hillman 155 Atchison Rd
sf, 2 bed, 1 bath with partial 1700 sf, 4 bed, 2 bath with 830 sf, 2 bed, 2 bath with full
basement. Remodeled several other structures finished Walk-out basement.
home in city limits with perfect the entire family Mobile home on 2 acres with
fenced in yard. Add your hunting trips. Just over 9 2 car garage. Great
refrigerator and this is Move- acres with Millers Creek Hideaway or year-round
in Ready. Newly listed running through. Will need living. New Listing $38,500
$49,900 For More some TLC, being sold AS-IS For More Information Text
Information Text R364905 to New $60,000 R346408 to 52187
52187

9304 B Maryland St 7617 Woodlea, Oscoda 4736 Arbutus Trail

1260 sf, 3 bed, 1.5 bath with 1600 sf, 3 bed, 2 bath in 1560 sf, 4 bed, 1.5 bath with
partial basement in the Lake Wood Shores. Enjoy full finished basement. 2 car
Villages of Oscoda. 2 car all the amenities from Lake attached garage, fenced in
attached garage with access Huron Access to the Golf yard with Deck and Access
to large park and clubhouse. course. 1 car attached to Lake Huron. Bring your
Priced to Sell $59,500 garage completes this appliances and this one is
For More Information Text Move-in Ready home. New Move-in Ready. New
R363855 to 52187 $124,900 Text R364899 to $120,000 For More
52187 for more information. Information Text R328143 to
52187
Call 800-650-5566 - Glennie or 800-982-0102 - Harrisville - www.HeritageHouseRealty.com
96 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
Good hunting and fishing!
Sunny Cove
100 Hunting
Preserve
* Subdivision
East of canal

Acres,
795 N 1st St And

Saginaw Bay
Use your smart phone and a QR Code P.O. Box 499 229 Lake George Ave
Harrison MI 48625 Lake George, MI 48633
Reader App to see all of our listings
* 989-539-2261 989-588-6171
Dyked & CLARE COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Farm
WHERE THE NORTH BEGINS...

Isolated Dredge Open 7 Days * Established in 1953

* www.harrison-realty.com
756 Dodge Lake Avenue 520sf cabin

Wetland
has clean, open interior, 1BD, 3/4
bath. Free standing enclosed porch,
www.buyhr.co
1.5 car gar access BHSC $25,200 E-mail: office@harrison-realty.com
200+ gated acres available for yearly lease. Planned boat docks with power and For Photos Text R267922 To 52187
offsite boat ramp. mile canal with 2 dredged channels to the Saginaw Bay, casino
within 4 miles. Camp sites with power. Perfect for hunt clubs! References needed.
EMAIL DJRMVP@GMAIL.COM BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
20 A off Harrison Avenue Build on
7105 Shorewood Trail 10 acres with nhn Lily Lake 100 acres of Hunting
20 wooded acres at the SW edge of
electric pole, driveway, campsite, shed Heaven, rolling, woodsy ,some
Harrison. Plenty of property for the
access to Springwood Lake. Close to tillable, surveyed, just off blacktop,
avid outdoors person. $28,000
stateland too. $28,900 more land available. $180,000
For Photos Text R242878 to 52187
For Photos Text P704236 To 52187 For Photos Text R343895 to 52187

Lincoln, MI, WATER ACCESS, Inland Lake: 1
bed; 1 bath; 1 1/2 story; 800 sq ft. Very unique
160 acre Northeast Michigan recreational
property. Your very own lake with the best
waterfowl hunting in Northern Michigan.
Trails and deer hunting locations scattered throughout with beautiful
views of the Lake. 24 x 24 Log Cabin with loft and all the comforts of home.
You will not find another one like this. MLS 157-14-0043 $389,000
Lincoln, MI, HUNTING LAND: 80 acres
+/-; 1320 x 2640. Great hunting camp lo-
cation with and abundance of Deer, Tur-
key, and Small Game. Quiet location on a
private road 3/4 mile off of county road.
Small solid cement block cabin will be a great spot to start making
memories with family and friends. MLS 157-16-0007 $89,400
105 Traverse Bay Rd, Lincoln, MI 48742 (989) 736-8171 www.bycerealestate.com
Black River, MI, HUNTING LAND: 200
acres +/-; 3960x2640. This quality of land
is hard to find with trails and food plots
throughout. Great deer quality and num- 449 Sunny Ridge Road 40 wooded 228 Elder 43+ acres with log cabin 10620 Cranberry Lake Road 6.5
bers. Newer cabin with all the comforts of acres adjoining stateland, newer log and 7 deer blinds, 32x40 pole barn, 1 Acres w/1150'Cedar River along 2
home, power, 3/4 bath, small garage area for tools and equipment. Unlimited cabin, wood stove, hickory cabinets, 6 car det gar. Field stone fieplace sides, secluded chalet has lots of light
inch well, deer blinds $149,900 $152,000 + garage & pole barn. $199,900
family memories could be made here and Lake Huron Access is close for the big For photos Text: 876736 To: 52187
For Photos Text R321262 to 52187 For Photos Text R92287 to 52187
Lake fisherman. This is a great value, see it soon. MLS 157-17-0008 $299,900
Barton City, MI, HUNTING CAMP: 4 beds; 1 bath; 1 1/2 story;
2350 sq ft. For the sportsman this is heaven in the north woods.
Some of the best hunting in this county with 4 miles of estab-
lished trails, deer blinds and food plots. 1/2 mile of 1st class trout
fishing with the Comstock River running through and a large pond in the yard at the lodge . The lodge
is very nice and could be used as a year round residence. 3 garages and a shed to store all the tools and 2551 Harding 80A with creek, 30x40 6195 22 1/2 Road Hunting Camp Lot 387 Birchwood Drive 60x175ft
toys. See this unique first class Northeast Michigan Gem today! MLS 157-16-0044 $409,900 polebarn with heated workshop & 14ft Awaits. All set with rustic cabins and wooded lot in Lake of the Pines to
lean to. 1760sf, 3BD, 2.5BA great natural food plots. 192 acres with build on or use for all the recreational
floor plan. $235,000 seclusion. $299,900 amenities. $2,000
For Photos Text P949552 To 52187 For Photos Text P729876 To 52187 For photos Text P885682 To 52187

Recreational Property Leaders List and Buy with the Experts

www.TrophyClassRealEstate.com
877-843-0910
Lake Michigan Frontage Pristine 80 of Lake 25 Acres on Little Manistee
with wooded acreage! Michigan frontage with River with custom home
Dense wooded terrain to sandy shoreline, this Log Home! a craftsman delight as finishes are more like
property will supply a life-time of recreational The views are incredible and the artstained glass, Tulikivi stove, hand crafted
fun! Up to 4 Acres of land with bluff views, 3 bed/2 bath home is cozy and inviting. specialty accents built in, 3 bed/2.5 baths.
Fish this famous river and hunt the
stairway to shoreline and heavy diverse forest. Nestled on private wooded lot! wooded ground that borders each side.
Options to purchase Lots A B & C separately.
ALLEGAN COUNTY LAKE COUNTY
MANISTEE COUNTY #16051578
#1814190 #16041271
$199,000 TO $629,000 $775,000 $575,000

120 Acres with Cabin on 339 on beautiful Lake 16.5 Acres on

Manistique River Miramichi with Comfy Home! Pine River
Serene wilderness, large cabin with All-sports lake, pan fish, water sports, with Home!
120 acres of hardwoods, pines and a association amenities. Nearly turn-key, 2000 of river front brings turkey & deer.
slice of gorgeous river front. Hunt, fish setting is private, home is year-round, 3 bed/ Hunt grounds and live well in spacious home,
and have the comforts of home! 2 baths, walkout, decking, boat lift, 40x80 and 34x70 pole barns. Lots More!!
SCHOOLCRAFT paddle boat and aluminum dock. ARENAC COUNTY
COUNTY OSCEOLA COUNTY #16051918
#1828689 #17012169 $249,000
$149,000 $190,000

200 on Houseman Lake 155 on Lake of the Woods 710 on Pere Marquette
with Inviting Home! with great house! River with Charm-filled
No-access 40 Acre lake, 4 bed/3 bath Quiet channel living on Lake of the Woods Cabin!
home, 2 fireplaces, alarm system, private (289 Acres All-Sports). 3 Bedrooms/1-1/2 Home sits nearly at waters edge, deck with
setting, fantastic views and near public baths, 2-1/2 car garage, open floor plan, dock hot tub, loft area, 2 Bed/1 bath. A rare and
lands for year round recreation! and jetski lifts. A great offering! enjoyable offering for those who appreciate
NEWAYGO COUNTY VAN BUREN COUNTY tranquility on the river.

#17017127 #17017647 LAKE COUNTY

#17022743
$259,900 $210,000
$190,000

GRAND HAVEN TRAVERSE CITY

233 WASHINGTON, SUITE 202 GRAND HAVEN, MI 49417 4249 US 31 S TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49685
(877) 843-0910 (231) 233-3575
WNW NEWS JULY 2017 97
 DAN DAN LOG CABIN
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THEMATTRESSMAN.COM 802 ASHMAN ST., MIDLAND
98 JULY 2017 WNW NEWS
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