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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 3
 MDNR’s new director,
By Tom Campbell...
Outdoor Reminders
Spring Turkey Permit
Reminder to all spring turkey hunt-
Daniel Eichinger
ers; the application period ends Feb.
1. This hunt is one of the best hunts
to introduce a new hunter or mentor a
young hunter. The 2019 spring turkey
season runs April 22 through May 31,
with several hunt periods to choose
from. You can purchase your applica-
tion online at E-license or anywhere
hunting licenses are sold. Application
fee is $5. Drawing results will be avail-
able online March 4. Leftover licenses
will be sold over-the-counter beginning
March 11.
Report Your Deer Hunting
Now that many have finished their
deer hunting for this year, the DNR
invites you to report your deer hunting
activity online (https://www.misurvey-
dnr.com). The information you provide
will help the DNR evaluate hunter
success and total number of deer taken.
If you still plan to hunt deer during
the January Urban deer management
archery season in Oakland, Wayne and
Macomb counties, please do not report
until after you are done hunting for the
entire year. Remember, it’s important
for all deer hunters to participate, even
if you do not hunt or harvest a deer.
The DNR survey results will be posted
on their website as soon as they are
available.
Winter Show Season
Woods-N-Water News will be par-
ticipating in the following shows this
winter, be sure to stop by and check
out the subscription specials...
January 25-27: Huntin’ Time Expo,
Delta Plex Arena, Grand Rapids
Feb. 28-March 3: Outdoorama,
Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi
March 8-10: O.L./Field & Stream Expo
Lansing Center, Lansing
March 14-17: Ultimate Sport Show,
Devos Place, Grand Rapids
SEASONS
Now – Jan. 31 -- Urban deer management archery sea-
son is in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. (On
public and private lands open to hunting).
Now - March 15 – Walleye and pike open in Lower
Peninsula inland waters
Now - March 15 – Walleye and pike open in Upper
Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters & St. Marys River
Now - Mar. 31 – Squirrel; Fox and Gray (black phase
included) Season
Now - Mar. 31 – Cottontail and Snowshoe Hare Season
Now – Mar. 1 -- Fox (gray and red) hunting state-
wide. Coyote hunting season is open year-round
Now – Jan. 31 -- Spring Turkey Hunt Application
period
Jan. 26 – Feb. 11 – South Zone; Dark and light goose
season
Feb. 2 – Black Lake sturgeon season (see boxed infor-
mation for details)
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
*Consult the Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digests, Fishing Digest, or
other species-specific hunting digests for a more complete list of dates
and regulations regarding each season or hunt period.
4 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
FIRST Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently
announced appointments for sev-
BUCK eral state agencies, including Daniel
Eichinger, who joins the DNR as the
department's new director.
Eichinger most recently served as
executive director of Michigan Unit-
ed Conservation Clubs, the nation’s
most effective state-based conserva-
tion organization. In that role, he led
MUCC’s return as a driving force for
conservation and our outdoor heri-
tage. Under his leadership, MUCC
revamped its organizational structure,
Drew Stewart has only been hunting for grew membership and launched new
seven years and in those years he’s taken programs to connect people with
three does. He’s certainly seen plenty of 6-8
point bucks, but always thought to himself, nature.
From 2007 to 2012, he worked in various capacities with the De-
“What would they look like next year? Let’s
let them grow.” partment of Natural Resources, first as legislative liaison, where he was
He’s learned all about deer, deer hunt- heavily involved in passing the innovative Recreation Passport to fund
ing, and buck activity from his three hunting state parks. Later, he helped establish the first Policy and Regulations
mentors; brothers Nate and Roy and Chuck
Unit for the agency’s Wildlife Division.
Willette. Gov. Whitmer called Eichinger "a trusted leader in the conserva-
The evening of Nov. 17 on the Willette
family property in Tuscola County, Drew tion of Michigan’s abundant natural resources and outdoor heritage"
watched a very large doe trotting with her and someone who "has the broad experience needed to bring innovative
tongue hanging out as if she had been run- ideas and also successful implementation of conservation efforts and rec-
ning for a significant distance. Sure enough reation opportunities here in the state.”
about 100 yards behind her was a beautiful Eichinger, who holds bachelor’s and master's degrees in fisheries and
buck in hot pursuit. Drew let the doe pass wildlife from Michigan State University, as well as a master’s of public
and put a perfect shot on the buck with the
feeling his heart was beating out of his chest!
administration, is eager to get started in this new role.
“Conservation is a team sport," he said. "I look forward to working
Drew realizes there are certainly lots of
bigger bucks harvested but for his first buck, with our partners to continue the thoughtful stewardship of the extraordi-
this 200-pound 9-point with a 20-inch spread nary natural and cultural resources that so deeply define us as Michigan-
and 9-inch tines is amazing. ders.”
Lake sturgeon season on Black Lake
One of Michigan’s for anglers to pick up
most anticipated an- their fishing identifica-
gling opportunities – tion flags and talk with
the annual lake sturgeon DNR staff about season
fishing season on Black logistics and sturgeon
Lake in Cheboygan populations,” said DNR
County – will start at 8
a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2.
fisheries biologist Tim
Cwalinski.
The 2019 total season Anglers are strongly
limit on Black Lake is encouraged to take
seven lake sturgeon. To advantage of the early
reduce the chance of registration Friday, but
exceeding that limit, officials will close the those unable to do so may register the next
season if one of two scenarios occurs: day at the registration trailer at Zolner Road
• The sixth fish is harvested. ending on Black Lake. Morning registration
• Five fish have been harvested at the begins at 7 a.m. each day of the season.
end of any fishing day. Anyone who successfully takes a lake
Daily season fishing hours are 8 a.m. sturgeon must contact an on-ice DNR
to 2 p.m. The season will end either at 2 employee and register the fish at the
p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, or when one of the Zolner Road trailer registration site.
above scenarios is met, at which point DNR Registration may include an examination
personnel on the lake will notify anglers to of the fish’s internal organs and removal
immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon. of a piece of fin tissue for DNA analysis
Registration is required to participate in and aging.
the season. The DNR Onaway field station Questions? Call the DNR’s Gaylord
(approximately 5 miles north of Onaway on Customer Service Center at 989-732-3541,
Route 11) will host early registration 2 to 7 visit michigan.gov/fishing or contact Tim
p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. Cwalinski, 989-732-3541, ext. 5072 or
“Early registration is a great opportunity Elyse Walter, 517-284-5839.
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 5

HUNTING
Drew Porter’s deer
season of a lifetime
Mark Sak page 8
Bill Brown’s -- BIG BUCK
Mark Sak page 18
Cover Buck...Siana Stanton
The Saturday
before Thanksgiving
Jerry Lambert page 20
A very successful fall
page 41
Unlucky Buck
Darryl Quidort page 60
MUCC’s Report:
Michigan is Number One
...page 32
Remembering that deer hunt
George Rowe page 76
Michigan Deer Camp Traditions
The Pigeon River Patriarch
Jake Dykstra page 78
FISHING
Bottom-bouncing below ice
Mark Martin page 14
NEXT BITE...
Running rough water
Gary Parsons/Keith Kavajecz
page 16
THE ‘SPINNER’ BITE
Mark Romanack page 26
Double Up On Walleyes
Kenny Darwin page 42
Required reading
for finesse success
Dave Mull page 49
COVER PHOTOS
Winter Goose-Kenny Darwin...page 12
Siana’s Buck-Jerry Lambert...page 20
Bear...Richard P. Smith...page 38
Walleyes-Kenny Darwin...page 42
6 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
Another Bucket List Destination
John Bergsma page 54
Trolling Speed
WINTER
TROUT
Mark Romanack page 56
Plan your fishing
Michigan calendar...
36 Hotspots
Mike Gnatkowski page 74
FEATURE
Infant Antlers
John Ozoga page 25
Black Capped Chickadee Jim Bedford...page 22
Jonathan Schechter page 30
Cover Story... Withstanding an assault of
Help design 2019 deer patch 2018 Bear Harvest “WIFE LOGIC”
page 37 Richard P. Smith page 38 Tom Carney page 50
Tawas Point Lighthouse $3.6 million to help Michigan Meanders...
Keeper Program battle invasive species Giants in the Earth
page 37 page 61 Tom Huggler page 52
Be prepared for winter The U.P. fight Dog Training...
page 71 against CWD continues It’s easier to train than to retrain
John Pepin-MDNR page 64 Len Jenkins page 70
Boat Smart...
Boat insurance
Capt. Fred Davis page 72
OPINIONS
Guest Column...
MDNR’s reflections on 2018 The Michigan Pheasant
page 80 Hunting Initiative
page 66
NEWS Dear Fish Diary...
Price to stop Asian Carp
February Free Fishing Weekend goes up again
page 21 Ron St. Germain page 67
Muskie harvest registration Mackinac Straits Corridor
page 21 Authority Line 5 agreement
New smelt regulations
WINTER GOOSE MDNR page 68
page 21 TACTICS New Governor investigates
legality of Line 5 deal
24 New Conservation Officers Kenny Darwin...page 12 Guest Column page 68
page 29
GUNS/AMMO
MUCC Report: Trotter MUCC’s new director
Michigan is number one! page 66 Black Powder Shooting Sports
Jobs created from Not a passing fad
Dennis Neely page 58
hunting, fishing purchases
page 32 PERSPECTIVE
Gun Chat...
Waxwings in Winter M1 Carbine
State forest road inventory Jerry Dennis page 40
Kathleen Lavey-MDNR page 36 Lee Arten page 73
FEBRUARY 2019
Woods-n-Water News
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DEPARTMENTS...
Trophy Pages. . . 62-63 Classifieds . . . . . . . 83
Michigan’s Premier Outdoor Publication
Late Season
GEESE
News/Op-Ed. . . . 66-68 Real Estate . . . . 84-89
2018
BEAR
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TROPHY
BUCKS
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Stanton WALLEYES P.O. Box 278, Imlay City, MI 48444
• Infant Antlers • Bottom-Bouncing Below Ice • Trolling
• The Spinner Bite • Winter Trout • Running Rough Water
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 7
 Drew
Porter’s
deer
season
of a
lifetime!
By Mark Sak

D
rew Porter had quite
a year. He married
the love of his life,
Hailey, in September,
received a promotion
at work then went out
and shot, not one, but two, trophy
whitetails with his bow. He is on
quite a roll. The 27-year-old Man-
chester man loves to hunt with his
father Mike and they have worked

Two giant bucks taken in one Michigan deer season, both by bow
and arrow, and the biggest buck, dubbed “The Ghost Buck,” was
taken during the late bow season, which is especially sweet for hard
core bow hunters like Drew Por ter of Manchester.

very hard to improve their family
property and adjoining lease to ac-
commodate their love of whitetail
hunting and it’s working.
This is a story of not one, but
two giant bucks taken in one Michi-
gan deer season, both by bow and
arrow, and the biggest buck, dubbed
“The Ghost Buck,” was taken dur-
ing the late bow season, which is
especially sweet for hard core bow
hunters. As the story line goes with
all four whitetail stories I have cov-
ered this year. Hard work and per-
sistence are the common threads in
harvesting these magnificent trophy
whitetails. Again, this story begins
years before the harvest. Four years
on the Ghost Buck and a year before
on the 11-pointer.
In October of 2017, Drew Porter
checked his trail cam and found
8 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
one lone picture of a very heavy
9-pointer. The buck carried good
mass throughout his rack and would
be named “Bullwinkle” by Drew for
obvious reasons. Unfortunately, it
would be the only picture he would
get until he shot the buck on Octo-
ber 13, 2018. Thinking this big nine
was just a wanderer during the rut,
Drew’s focus went back to other
deer including the Ghost Buck,
which he had seen on trail camera
every July since 2014.
On October 13, 2018 he climbed
into his furthest treestand situated
on the edge of a big hardwoods
and swamp that worked as a nice
funnel area. It was a sunny 40-de-
gree afternoon and the hunter was
enjoying the day when he first heard
Drew Porter bucks page 10
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 9
Drew Porter’s deer:
from page 8
some movement through the leaves.
Although he couldn’t initially see
how big the deer was, he stood and
grabbed his bow and waited to see
what was headed his way.
It didn’t take long for him to
see the big rack coming through
the trees. Amazingly the buck came
right in and when he walked under
the canopy of a close maple tree it
provided Drew the opportunity to
draw his bow. The buck cleared the
canopy at 20 yards and he could
see the great width of the rack. He
stopped facing Drew’s stand at
8-yards and began raking a tree. Af-
ter just a few seconds the big buck
either caught a current or just could
sense something was wrong and he
froze, then turned and made two big
bounds back the way he came. Drew
immediately grunted, and the buck
stopped to look back and was still
under 20 yards away. He put the pin
tight behind the buck’s shoulder and
released making a good hit right in
the boiler room.
The arrow snapped as the big
deer ran for the cattails and Drew’s
adrenaline took over. He sat down
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10 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
in disbelief but thought he may
have heard the buck crash. When
he started tracking, he found good
blood and the blood trail increased
as he got closer to the dead deer.
He found the buck approximately
50 yards from his stand. The
buck’s green score was 154 4/8
and it dressed out at 224 pounds.
It had an inside spread of 20 3/8
and its longest beam measured
23 2/8. A big, mature Michigan
whitetail.
Any hunter across the country
would be happy to have a 154 4/8
during their deer season, but of
course Drew still had the Ghost
Buck in the back of his mind and
still had a tag. He and his father
named this buck the Ghost Buck
because they only saw him on trail
camera pictures and never saw this
buck live on the hoof. He was a
respectable ten-pointer back in 2014
and then developed a nice split G3
on his right side and a split G2 on
his left side in 2015. Every year he
got some good early pictures then he
was gone until late November and it
always made Drew’s head spin. He
FIVE YEARS COVERAGE ON ALL NEW OUTBOARDS!
said he actually had dreams of see-
ing this buck on the hoof.
Four years of trail camera
pictures can do that to a guy. He
had one July picture of this buck
in 2018, then he did his disappear-
ing act until December 13 when the
buck again showed up on his trail
camera. The clock on the camera
recorded at 7:47 a.m., A daylight
picture! On December 17, Drew first
opted to muzzeload hunt a soybean
field as that is a high percentage
late season bet. As fate would have
it, his dad wanted to hunt and they
share the same smokepole, so Drew
grabbed his bow and settled into
his stand a little after 4 p.m. He was
taking in some squirrel action when
he heard the distinctive sounds of a
deer moving to the north of him. It
was evident the deer was trotting in
at a good pace so instead of stand-
ing he clipped on and pulled from a
seated position so he wouldn’t get
busted by the animal. The biggest
rack he ever has seen crested the
ridge in front of him and they were
eye to eye at 60 yards, but the buck
didn’t pick him up.
Drew thought he may angle to
the north but at the last minute he
angled directly towards his stand
location. He came in quartered
towards him at 30 yards and Drew
was able to stand unnoticed as he
trotted in. The buck stopped briefly
and presented the only chance to
shoot and Drew released on the tro-
phy. The arrow totally disappeared
in the buck’s vitals. He jumped sev-
eral logs and went down, bulldozing
another 45 yards until he could go
no more.
Drew was out of his deer
loving mind at this point, he
kept telling himself, “This isn’t
real, this isn’t real!” After regain-
ing his composure, he was able to
text his dad Mike. “It’s finished.”
Drew waited for his dad to come
to recover the Boone and Crocket
whitetail.
The buck scored 179 1/8. This
buck has it all; 12 scorable points,
19 6/8 inch inside spread with his
longest main beam measuring 25
inches. Brows almost matched at 5
4/8 and 5 6/8 inches, three tines over
ten inches and of course the deep
heavy splits on both sides.
One of the best things about the
harvest is how Drew valued his fam-
ily and loved the tradition provided
to him by his father. Tradition came
up several times in this story which
shows how important our actions are
upon our family and friends. Con-
gratulations on marrying the love of
your life, congrats on the promotion,
and congrats on a great deer season
Drew.n
1/19/2 - MI
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 11
WINTER GOOSE TACTICS
F
or a few seconds I could
not hear anything except
outrageously loud geese
honking and the raspy
sound of huge wings
zipping overhead just
a few yards away. That’s when I
shouldered my Benelli, picked out
a giant Canada, and
dumped him with the
first shot. The second
shot was a complete
miss. But the third
shot knocked the heck
out of a big gander
and he fell from the
skies along with
others my shooting
friends were boom-
ing. From a distance
our shooting
probably sounded
like the Spartan By Kenny Darwin
drum line on foot-
ball Saturday, booming nine loud
rounds at hellish fast speed.
As I rushed to retrieve huge
geese my mind drifted back to the
fast paced shooting action. It’s the
hottest gunning of the New Year and
the thrill of monster geese flying
point blank is exhilarating. You can
hear the whoosh of their wings. Try
this brand of waterfowling, expe-
rience the heart pounding action
first hand and you will quickly be
impressed with the warm fun filled
outdoor adventure. But there is more
to scoring on winter geese than
simply setting decoys in a field. If
your quest is to sample winter goose
hunting or you want to score on
more birds, listen up, I’ve got some
hot tips.
Michigan’s winter goose season
opener is January 26 this year and
runs through February 11. You will
need a small game license, a Michi-
gan waterfowl stamp and a Federal
waterfowl stamp as well as a plug in
your shotgun to keep shell capacity
at 3. Your stamps and license used
for fall hunting are good for the
special late season. Only southern
Michigan (Zone 3) has the late sea-
son and the daily bag limit this year
has been changed to five birds.
Our morning hunt began days
before the opener as we scouted
area fields and found a honey hole
loaded with geese. In the morning
headlights you could see thousands
of goose tracks in the snow as we
drove into the frozen cornfield and
set out decoys. We placed decoys
exactly where we had seen several
12 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
hundred birds feeding the day before
opener. But there is more to decoy-
ing wise geese than simply finding
their dining area. Here’s why.
Just take a peek at winter geese
in a field during winter. The first
thing you notice is very few birds
are standing. Most are lying on their
bellies with legs and
feet pulled tight into
their downy feathers
to keep extremities
warm. Next you will
see birds in a feed-
ing, resting or relaxed
position rather than
with heads up. This
means come winter
you can leave your
alert, upright, bull,
challenger, sentry
and callers decoys
in the shed. The
idea is to mimic
flocks of live birds, make your
decoy spread look realistic, alive,
and natural. This is achieved by
using shell decoys and others with
feeding, resting, sleeping or relaxed
profiles. Lifelike decoy spreads are
important for shooting success and
modern decoys with precise feather
detail and flocked bodies will bring
wild birds kissin’ close.
Just about any decoy will get
their attention if you scouted and
know exactly where to set up.
Above: One advantage of wearing
snow camouflage is birds cannot
see your outline. Plus when the
shooting star ts you can aim and fire
in any direction. Left: Set decoys
relatively close together 1-5 ft.
apar t in family groups with feeder
decoys at the end of a long “J” pat-
tern. Avoid stand up or aler t decoys
in winter. Geese in snow are relaxed
or feeding and seldom alarmed.
One trick is to match your spread to
the number of geese landing in the
area. If there are only a few, just a
couple dozen decoys will work. If
you are hunting pressured geese and
there are other hunters in the area
with decoys, go with a large decoy
spread.
The way you set up decoys in a
field has a big impact on results. Try
placing them in a long “J” shape or
fishhook pattern with stand up or
upright heads facing into the wind
at the main spread. This gives the
impression birds are walking toward
the main decoy feeding area. Now,
make certain to kick snow to bare
ground, tear up the field to make
it look like snow was disturbed by
feeding geese. This makes your
feeding circle at the bottom of the
“J” look like wild geese rooting
through corn stubble in search of
kernels. One of my deadliest late
season tactics is to drive my old
van in tight circles where I set out
decoys. I spin the tires, make donut
turns and rough up the soil surface
and expose bare dirt. This becomes
the bottom of the “J” where birds
are feeding. Place decoys relatively
close together in the feeding zone,
about 1-5 feet apart and have them
facing in every direction with the
long arm of the “J” facing the
feeding area. Geese attracted to the
spread will fly downwind, glide the
length of the “J” and attempt to land
in the feeding zone. Also try to keep
your decoys in a relatively tight area
which makes them look like a tight
feeding group.
Some hunters rely on flagging
to get the attention of distant flocks
and bring them toward decoys.
Others rely on motion stake decoys
that provide movement when wind
makes ’em waddle. During windy
weather wind socks catch the air
flow and waddle like live birds mov-
ing in your spread. Some move-
ment can keep birds funneling into
your spread.
Before you go outdoors you
need to consider how you will
conceal your position. Most savvy
hunters use layout blinds and match
the camouflage to the environment.
Snow camo works like dynamite
when fields are covered with snow.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of
blinds is you are protected from
wind, snow, sleet and rain. A wa-
terproof floor keeps you dry and
a polyester shell keeps you warm
when winter winds send most for
the comfort of the truck heater.
But I’m an old gunner and spent
a lifetime wearing camouflage cloth-
ing and laying in the decoy spread.
Snow camouflage is the trick for
unbelievable winter gunning and
it conceals your human outline. I
also wear water resistant clothing
covered with a Texas white throw
over. You’d laugh at my white goose
hunting suit with custom tan spray
design and blood stains on the knees
and legs. I also wear my ice fishing
boots, extra heavy stocking hat and
thick gloves. Now, here’s the kicker.
When weather turns nasty I keep
warm as toast by putting toe warm-
ers in my boots and finger warmers
in my gloves. Keep in mind some
days I set up decoys before dawn,
take a quick lunch break and stay
in the spread until sunset sends me
back to the ranch.
Rookie hunters make the mis-
take of using too high pitch cheap
calls rather than raspy adult goose
calls. If you want to get the atten-
tion of wary flocks, bring ’em close
and finish them with ease, you need
a quality goose call. Savvy hunt-
ers refrain from over-calling gun
shy seasoned geese. Most use a few
loud greeting calls, wait to hear a
reply from incoming birds and stick
with only a few clucks and relaxed
noises. On high windy days you
need a goose call with good volume
to get the attention of wild geese.
During calm, quiet weather it is a
good idea to call like crazy when
birds are coming but once they get
close stop calling and let the realis-
tic decoys bring them into easy gun
range. You will discover more wary
birds will decoy if you sparingly use
realistic calls.
Can you tell I’ve spent decades
lying in the snow hunting Michigan
honkers? I love the sport; enjoy the
fresh air of winter and long to hear
the distant cry of incoming geese
headed to my location. Sometimes
they simply see my decoy spread,
hear my loud single greeting call
and cup wings, lower landing gear
and make the long glide to touch-
down. Other times they react to the
spread by staying slightly out of
shotgun range as they slowly circle
the spread, eyeball every detail,
look high and low for telltale sign
of hunters and from the flock comes
a single deep-throated honk which
means danger in goose language and
the flock fades away. I hate it when I
spend hours lying in freezing condi-
tions and when birds finally arrive
they give me the thumbs down and
swing out of range.
So, what’s happening when wild
geese come close but seem to hang
up and intensely check out your
spread? I can tell you from experi-
ence the birds are hunter shy and
looking for decoys that don’t look
realistic or hunters not fully cam-
ouflaged. I think some birds are on
to stationary decoys and when they
get close they expect to see natural
movement like birds feeding,
walking or stretching wings.
But if decoys are dead still the in-
coming wary birds bounce
elsewhere.
Some hunters will flare wary
geese because their gun is not cam-
ouflaged. Nothing gets the attention
Sunset flock of geese moving ahead of a winter snow cloud.
of a wild bird like a shiny black
barrel complete with gloss finish
walnut stock. Some geese look for
hunter’s faces. Few colors in nature
are brighter red than a human face
in subzero temperatures. Still other
birds are checking out blinds to
make certain they blend with the en-
vironment and not sticking out like
a sore thumb. Other things to correct
include a coffee thermos setting out-
side a blind, a decoy knocked over
by a dog on the last retrieve, rookie
hunters that cannot control move-
ment, use of stand up alert decoys
and poor camouflage.
There will always be hunters
who argue the only load to use on
geese is #2 because they pattern
the best at 30 yards. That’s true but
plenty of late season shots are 40
yards and further. I like to use BBB
shot and often follow up the first
two shots with a number “T” pellet.
While patterns are not tight with
bigger shot the knockdown power
is off the hook. As for the T-shot it
is simply the best when you need
follow up shots on cripples over 45
yards away. When it comes to pass
shooting birds in marginal range the
Ts will reach out and break a wing
or put a hole in the boiler room at
unbelievable distances.
I’ve killed zillions of geese with
2 ¾-inch 12 gauge shells. Now I
know any waterfowler worth his
salt is dusting birds with 3 ½-inch
magnum loads from a Benelli Black
Eagle. As for me I view big guns
and super magnum shells as macho
overkill. Give me 3-inch shells and
my fast shooting Winchester SX3
and I’ll dump my limit at lightning
speed.
Don’t think for a minute there
isn’t fantastic winter goose hunting
on water. Sure I’m a cornfield
goose slaying nut but when ponds
and lakes ice over I can find plenty
of geese on the Grand River close
to Lansing. Other rivers holding
geese include the Tittabawassee,
Muskegon, White, Kalamazoo, St.
Joseph and many other open water-
ways.
Hunters who work the big rivers
often let geese fly into surrounding
fields to feed and then they set up
decoys along waterways. Full body
decoys are placed on shelf ice with
floater models close to where geese
roost come dark. When birds return
from fields the shooting fun is top
notch.
Hunting geese in snow squalls
is a riot. First, the crazy weather
gets them fired up and they become
active. Smart old birds like to sneak
under cover of snowflakes to feed-
ing locations. They use the blowing
snow and swirling flakes as camou-
flage to conceal their approach. Plus,
fresh snow that creates a whiteout is
when you wear pure white cam-
ouflage. Your human form is fully
hidden from the watchful eyes of
wary flocks that have survived all
the hunting seasons.
If I could pick the weather for
winter goose hunting I’d like a
winter thaw with strong southern
winds to bring birds from the south.
Then I’d like cold weather to freeze
fields and make them solid to drive
on with my van full of decoys.
Last I’d like fresh snow producing
a blanket of pure white to conceal
my outline and make decoys stand
out for miles. Hope I remember hot
coffee, licenses, shotgun and plenty
of shells.n
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 13
Bottom-bouncing below ice
Smack it and the fish will come…By Mark Martin
F
or anglers, the term
“bottom-bouncing” is
typically associated
with an open-water
tactic of pulling crawler
harnesses or live bait
very near bottom. But the term can
most definitely be used for ice fish-
ing as well, no matter what species
you’re after.
This is because, besides how a
fish’s lateral line picks up the tiny
vibrations sent out from objects
through water displacement, fish
also use their otoliths (ears) to zone
in on forage; especially those next
meals that are floundering on bot-
tom.
Overall, when ice fishing, you
are extremely limited in the areas
you’re able to fish within a water-
way - only the very spots directly
below the holes you drill, to be
exact. To get the attention of a fish
that may be swimming nearby, your
lure has to make a lot of racket. And
whacking bottom and stirring up a
little sediment really works won-
ders.
I’m sure you realize there are
lures of many makes and models
hanging on the pegged walls of your
favorite bait-and-tackle shop; some
manufactured with noise-making de-
vices built within them, while others
are boisterous in shape alone; some
even share a little of both.
But sometimes it takes more
than just a lure’s systematic wiggle
and jiggle to get a fish to notice
them. And that’s when you have to
hit rock bottom… literally.
Quiet Counts
Early on in the day, before get-
ting loud with my lures, I’m careful
to be the opposite of noisy. Instead,
I try to be as stealthy as can be.
Before the crack of dawn, I
crank up my new, ultra-quiet Strike-
Master Lithium 40v Auger and drill
as many holes as I can muster. This
insures me I’ll have at least one hole
punched over structure before the
bite starts.
The Lithium 40v Auger with an
8-inch cut only weighs 24 pounds,
and the 10-inch cut model only
weighs 27 pounds, yet has a lot of
torque. The 8-incher will bore up
to 100 holes on a single charge,
while the 10-incher will slice 70.
Couple its lightness and power with
the ultra-sharpness and shape of
StrikeMaster’s blades and I’m able
to drill holes quickly, efficiently and
quietly; essential in allowing time
14 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
The author, Mark Mar tin, caught this big walleye on a small Rapala
Shad Rap that was lured in by bouncing the bait on bottom.
for the environment to settle down
under me well before the sun rises
up over the horizon.
To increase the efficiency of
walking on ice, as well my own
safety, I use ice cleats on the soles
of my boots; all the while keeping
my footsteps as quiet as can be.
Although the traction on the sole of
most boots is excellent, the added
grip of spikes of any easy-on/easy-
off traction aid allows me to be the
most proficient I can be. Especially
on a smooth, slick icy surface. And
cleats with short spikes are much
quieter than the large fang-like
spears found on some ice walking
aids.
Now, Rather Than Later
As quickly as possible, I’ll walk
hole to hole and check for depth and
to see if there are any fish below
me with my Lowrance HOOK² Ice
Machine - a portable sonar and GPS
made with the avid ice angler in
mind.
What I am looking for besides
fish (obviously) is where hard
and soft bottoms meet, especially
adjacent to a drop off or a hump, as
these borders are what fish will most
often use to swim along.
These areas are easy to find as
hard bottom shows up as a thin,
brightly-colored line on the color
readout, whereas soft is thicker and
muted. And, of course, I can figure
out which way the bottom falls off
by paying attention to the depth
of each hole. But with an SD card
filled with Navionics mapping in the
unit’s card reader, that process is a
no-brainer.
Once the bottom transition areas
are found on my sonar, I can con-
firm what, exactly, it’s made up of
via my Quest HD Underwater View-
ing System – with a 1080p camera
paired with 7-inch waterproof high-
resolution color screen.
With the MarCum, I can see
firsthand the composition of the
lake’s bottom. What I’m often look-
ing for, especially in dingy water, or,
when the bite’s been off and the fish
are known to be lethargic, is rocks,
be it gravel or large boulders.
The reason? Simple, really. I’m
looking to get as close to structure
as I can.
Lured by Lures and Line
Overall, when jigging, I use line
with very little or no stretch. And
that’s one of many reasons I use
12-pound-test Berkley FireLine,
which I use as my main line. To
that, I’ll connect a 1-foot leader of
Berkley 10-pound-test Fluorocarbon
line, and I join the two via a small
Berkley Ball-Bearing Swivel. And
when ice fishing, I always connect
my lure to the fluorocarbon by a
Berkley Cross-Loc Snap, rather than
a snap swivel, as the latter adds too
much hardware and bulk to the rig.
Banging on bottom works well
with all my favorite lures, whether
they are metal jigging spoons or
hard-bodied baits.
One of the many spoons I like is
Northland’s UV Macho Minnow –
Kickin, which comes painted in six
different ultra-violet hues, includ-
ing glow-in-the-dark. It’s a heavy
lure and raps well against bottom.
And speaking of rapping, Rapala’s
Jigging Shad Raps and Jigging Raps
work wonders for creating chaos
on hard bottoms, as well. And I’ve
caught a lot of fish of all species on
Rapala’s newer Slab Rap, which
gives off a lot of vibration in the
water.
So, when’s the right time for
whacking bottom with your bait?
I like to thump bottom every few
minutes until a fish is either spotted
on my Lowrance or on the MarCum,
and then fish it as I normally would
off bottom. But tapping hard bottom
works well when a hole’s gone dry
and the fish have seemingly left the
area, or when I get a strike but the
fish missed the lure.
In the case of a missed strike,
I’ll drop the lure immediately and
rap it on bottom quite a few times,
then lift it up and let it set for a few
seconds; most of the time, fish will
either hit it as the lure flounders
and is kicking up silt, or, as it sits
motionless afterwards.
Bottom-Bouncer
Drawing attention to your lure
is often as easy as bouncing bottom
with it. But remember to be stealthy
in your approach, and then let your
lure be the loud device.
Drill lots of holes right away,
check for depth and bottom compos-
ite, then fish. If the fish leave or you
get a strike but miss, drop your lure
to bottom and let it bounce around.
The strike that occurs next might
just rock your world.
Mark Martin is a professional
walleye tournament angler and
instructor with the Ice-Fishing
Fishing Vacation/Schools (fishing-
vacationschool.com), who lives in
the southwest corner of Michigan’s
Lower Peninsula. Check out his
website at markmartins.net for more
information.n
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 15
 Next Bite...By Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz
Running Rough Water
I
t won’t be long before fisher-
men start to get “the itch.”
Cabin fever has set in, the
ice is getting thin, and they
all know that a great spring
bite is just around the corner.
For many, the “cure” for this itch is
getting serious about buying a new
boat or putting something new on
their current boat.
One thing to consider as you
begin to think about the best boat and
additional equipment needed to fit
your needs is how rough the bodies
of water you fish can get. Having the
right equipment and knowing how to
handle the boat in waves is essential
to prevent a pounding and to stay dry
during the ride.
Maintaining control of the boat
is critical when you are in waves.
This is where the WavePro boat seat
pedestal comes in. These pedestals
absorb the “shock” from the wave as
seat goes down, but it has a soft rise
that doesn’t spring you from the seat
on the way back up, allowing you to
maintain control.
When a lot of people look at
boats, especially a deep-v walleye
boat, they worry about hull weight.
However, in rough water, weight is
your friend! The boat will stay in the
water and cut the wave instead of
hopping it. Even if it cuts off six-
inches of the wave, you will have a
smoother and drier ride. Be sure if
you are buying a heavier boat you
are also buying a motor with the
maximum horsepower it is rated for.
The boat is going to need horse-
power to power through waves and
in the worst case scenario, so it won’t
stall as it is traveling up a very large
wave.
To handle a larger engine, good
transom strength is also important
when considering what boat to buy.
The new trend in fiberglass boats is
to no longer have a wall in the back
to mount the motor on, but instead
there is one solid piece to mount
either the engine or a jack plate for
the engine.
When traveling in waves there
are two things to consider. The first
16 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
is the direction the waves are run-
ning and the second is the equipment
to handle them. Again, the types of
lakes you fish will dictate the amount
of equipment you need to handle the
types of waves you will come up
against.
There are several different
directions that you can take a wave
on from. The first is going into the
waves. As you are choosing a boat,
you will want to take into consider-
ation if you will be fishing large bod-
ies of water such as the Great Lakes.
On lakes like these, there tends to be
longer spans between waves, which
means that a 21-foot boat would be
best suited for your needs. Shorter
boats will handle waves in smaller
bodies of water. Now, that doesn’t
mean you can’t take your 18 or 19
foot boat out in big waves, but as
soon as you can’t span the waves and
“run the tops” you will have to slow
down.
The other thing you have to
worry about when running into the
waves is keeping the boat as flat as
possible. The more you can do to
keep the attitude of the boat level,
the better your ability will be to run
in waves.
So how do you keep it level? One
thing that all boats have the ability
to do is trim the engine down. One
extra piece of equipment you can
add to your boat is a jack plate. On
our Nitro ZV21 we use the Atlas HD
Hydraulic Jack Plate to mount our
Mercury 350 Verado.
A lot of times when people think
of jack plates, they think they are
used to lift the engine to get it out
of shallow water or for getting to
top end speed (a couple extra miles
per hour). These are both valid uses
of a jack plate, but we like to use it
as a tool to keep the attitude of the
boat flat by using the plate to lift the
engine up while keeping the engine
trimmed under the boat. This is key
because not a lot of people use a jack
plate for this. It really helps in rough
water and more people would buy
them if they realized this.
Now we are going to take a
45-degree turn and talk about quar-
tering into the waves. The problem
with quartering the waves is that they
hit the front side of the boat hard.
Because the waves are not hitting the
bottom of the boat first, not only will
the waves be hitting hard, but the
water will be pushed ahead and out
right into the wind, so you will be
running into the spray.
So, to get a better ride when
quartering waves you’d like to be
able to lift the side of the boat that
is getting hit. To do this in the past
you would move people around the
boat to weigh down the opposite
side of the boat. A much better ap-
proach is the use of trim tabs. We use
PowrTran’s Pro Tabs. Trim tabs are
two plates mounted on the transom,
they tip down into the water and
make the bow of the boat tilt one
way or the other. These work won-
ders because you are able to change
the left or right attitude of the boat
without moving people!
The tilt is significant enough to
have these quartering waves hit more
of the bottom of the boat. On a boat
like the ZV19 and ZV21 and even
the aluminum Tracker Targa’s the
hulls have built in reverse chines and
strakes which throw the water out
flatter (thus a drier ride) and give the
hull multiple re-entry points (thus a
softer ride). By tipping the boat with
trim tabs, these hull features can kick
in and do their thing.
If you turn the boat another
45-degrees you will now be run-
ning the troughs (running the waves
sideways). How well you run the
troughs is really dependent on the
skill of the driver, because you have
to look ahead and see flat spots
between the waves. This is where
horsepower comes into play and it is
why you want max HP on your boat
(on our boat it is a 350hp Mercury
Verado), so when we see the hump of
the wave we can back off, get over it,
and then accelerate on the flat spots.
You can also use trim tabs in these
conditions. Just tweak them down a
little to put the down side away from
the wave. Learning to run the troughs
will come with experience.
If you make one last turn and run
with the waves, you might think it is
going to be easy from here on out be-
cause the waves are pushing behind
the boat. In smaller waves that’s the
case, but on big waves each one turns
into jumping ramp. Your boat will
go up and the bow will lift into the
air and then come down hard! This is
also where the most potential comes
for spearing the next wave (the bow
is pushed into – not over the next
wave). So how do we cope with
traveling with the waves? You can
literally try to keep the nose up by
trimming the engine up slightly. This
will help keep your bow on top of
the water because the engine is push-
ing it up. You will have to slow down
in this situation though because the
bow will also be pushed higher into
the air on top of the waves.
Some boats, like the Nitro ZV21
have a very buoyant/wide bow, so
when it hits the water, it will tend to
rebound quickly and not spear.
Now, if your boat tends not to spear
waves, one way to travel on follow-
ing waves more quickly is to try to
keep the boat tight on the wave by
using trim tabs. In this situation, put
them both all the way down so the
bow follows the wave instead of
hopping it. You can also raise
your jack plate a little bit. It should
be noted if you try to do too much
by giving it too much horsepower,
you can still spear a wave. You need
to know your boat and the accelera-
tion and trim tab combos that work
best.
Running rough waves takes good
driver skill, the right boat and is eas-
ier with the aid of some accessories.
But no matter what, is also important
to always wear a PFD while running.
There are a lot of inflatable versions
that fit nicely and will inflate when
you hit the water. In addition, always
be sure your kill switch is on when
running so the boat stops if you find
yourself in trouble.
Remember, you can never be too
careful when running the waves on
your way to your Next Bite!n
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 17
Bill Brown’s
BIG
BUCK
I
t’s been a stellar year for
harvesting trophy bucks
in Michigan. Just ask Bill
Brown of Lapeer. Listen-
ing to Bill tell the story of
harvesting this great buck,
it becomes very evident that every
one of us can and should learn from
this hunt. Bill harvested his spec-
tacular 177 5/8, 13-point Boone and
Crocket buck on his own property
near Lapeer on December 14 during
Michigan’s muzzleloader season.
Bill first saw this brute on Oc-
tober 2, 2017, and he never gave up
hunting this trophy, even though he
experienced long periods with no
signs of the big deer. In fact, he never
saw the buck during the
2018 bow or gun season and
had no trail camera pictures
of him. Many hunters would
have probably thought the
big deer was long gone and
settled on a smaller animal.
Most of us then would have
spent less time in stand
once we had one in the
freezer. The odds of
shooting a trophy obvi- By Mark Sak
ously go way down
with less time spent in the stand.
Bill stated there is a lot of hunt-
ing pressure in his area, and he
doesn’t have a huge tract of land,
but the buck made just enough ap-
A comparison of the buck’s shed to this year’s rack.
18 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
Bill Brown’s buck 13 pointer and has some outstanding character; 6 ½ inch circumference on the
bases and brows that were over 8 and 9 inches and tines that almost touch at the tops.
pearances at the right time, includ-
ing dropping part of his rack which
Bill found in March of last
year, to keep his hopes
up that this buck was still
around. In one encounter in
November of 2017, Bill’s
wife Carmen was headed
to work and driving down
their driveway when the
buck stepped out and stood
in front of her car.
Bill happened to be
in stand that morning
and watched her hit the
brakes and sit in the driveway for a
minute or two. She even took two
pictures of the buck standing in the
cut grass along side of the driveway.
Needless to say, Carmen found out
what buck fever is all about as she
was the first to officially shoot the
buck, even though it was a camera
shot.
It had to be very difficult to
sit through the 2018 bow and gun
season with neither hide nor hair of
this buck that had been a common
sight on their property in 2017. Bill
held out hope that the buck was still
around, telling Carmen, “Those big
deer have great hiding places,” and
he continued to pass other deer in
hopes the big 13-point would move
back through checking does.
On December 14, it happened.
Mid-Michigan was experiencing
several days of moderately foggy
weather, which is great deer hunting
as it makes moving around unde-
tected ideal for both deer and hunter.
Wind is usually close to dead calm
on these foggy days which allowed
Bill to get into his stand without
spooking anything. At 8:10 a.m.
he spotted a doe at approximately
50 yards. She was walking slowly
milling about and grazing a bit when
the big buck came into view. The
antlers stood out clearly in the thick
fog. He also was walking slowly as
Bill got his muzzleloader raised and
ready. He was tempted to shoot while
the buck was walking but luckily
the buck stopped right in front of a
pine tree giving him a great silhou-
ette and broadside shot in the heavy
fog. He squeezed the trigger and as
most muzzleloader shots go, he lost
the buck through the smoke of the
powder igniting. Bill started scan-
ning the area with his binoculars and
saw the buck’s big body and antlers
sticking up about 100 yards away
in some weeds. A wave of emotions
swept him as he sat in his blind and
started to pack up to get his hands on
this buck that he had hunted for 14
months.
The buck is a main frame 11
pointer and has some outstanding
character; 6 1/2 inch circumference
on the bases and brows that were
over 8 and 9 inches respectively
really grab attention. The length of
the longest beam was 24 5/8 inches.
The rack is deceivingly big as it has
a beautiful curve that almost brings
the spread of G-2s G-3s and G-4s to-
gether on top. Bill said the buck de-
stroyed an eight-inch diameter pine
tree that lined the Brown’s driveway,
so those antlers were very functional
as well as beautiful.
I have to say I am proud to do
this story for Bill as he is an old
friend and I have known both Car-
men and Bill since grade school in
Imlay City. I have always known Bill
to be good natured and he loves to
pull your leg a little. He didn’t let
anyone down here. Bill jumped down
from his stand and walked back to
his house telling Carmen he just
harvested a small 8-pointer. Carmen
went back with him to look at the
buck and as they walked closer Car-
men saw the big buck. “You got the
big one!” Same old Bill. Congrats
on the buck of a lifetime and driving
home the point that we as hunters
need to stay patient and focused. We
will see you in the CBM record book
my friend.n
 World Class
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 19
 Cover Buck...Back-to-Back Trophy Bucks...2017 and 2018
The Saturday before Thanksgiving
I
t was the Saturday before
Thanksgiving, 2017, when
Michigan State University
senior Siana Stanton was
doing what most college
students do who have a pas-
sion for hunting, sneaking in a deer
hunt while home on break.
Siana was hunting private
property in Branch County when
her proverbial “buck of a lifetime”
stepped out of thick cover. Even
though she could clearly see that he
was a very big buck and she was
gripping a Remington 12-gauge
shotgun, the buck was well out of
shooting distance and the anxious
hunter had to hope that the big buck
would close the distance before it
got too dark to shoot.
After a nerve-rattling hour
of torturous waiting, the heavy-
antlered brute slowly made his way
into a shooting lane in front of the
college co-ed and she took the shot.
The massive buck dropped
in his tracks and Siana
harvested her once in a
lifetime buck. This magnifi-
cent 10-pointer carried an
incredible amount of mass
through its heavy wide rack
and ended up with a gross
score of 150 Boone and
By Jerry Lambert
Crockett points.
Fast-forward
to 2018, and
Siana, now a college graduate, has
a little more time on her hands and
decides to take up bowhunting. On
the second day of the archery sea-
son, the novice bowhunter has a doe
approach her stand and she decides
to shoot if given the opportunity.
Eventually, the doe is standing
twenty yards away and Siana draws
her bow without being detected and
releases an arrow. The shot is good
and the doe only goes seventy yards.
Siana said, “I wanted to get
one deer under my belt to prove to
myself that I could get one with my
bow. It was a rush and I am now
hooked on bowhunting.”
In early November, Siana was
bowhunting along the St. Joe River
when she saw a beautiful symmetri-
cal 8-point with an incredibly wide
spread. This got her blood pumping
and became her number one target
buck.
On opening day of shotgun sea-
son, she had high hopes of shooting
this buck but news came in that the
neighbors across the river had shot
him. Pictures soon confirmed that
the wide 8-point was dead.
There were other “good” bucks
observed along the river so Siana
20 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
continued to hunt her river-bottom
stand and before long it was once
again the Saturday before Thanks-
giving. Siana naturally remembered
her good outcome from the previous
year and was hoping to duplicate the
feat in 2018.
She was only in her stand for a
few minutes before she saw a buck
approaching. She quickly identified
him to be the wide 8-point from bow
season and thought to herself, “Holy
crap, there he is.” The neighbor had
obviously shot another wide buck.
Stanton raised her gun and the
buck trotted off in the opposite di-
rection. Her thoughts now turned to
“Crap, I just blew it. I’m the worst
hunter in the world.”
Oh, the roller coaster of emo-
tions that can develop when a big
buck walks in and out of one’s life.
Fortunately, the buck turned
around and started coming directly
back towards her. She quickly got
her crosshairs on the buck
and waited for him to give
her a broadside shot. 2018 Record Book
He eventually turned 8-point buck
slightly and was quartering
towards her. Siana pulled
the trigger and made a good
hit on the deer’s left side.
She then watched him jump
over a log along
the river and dis-
appear in thick
cover. She got down, found blood,
and marked the spot.
Her dad heard her shoot, and
quickly called. Soon thereafter the
father-daughter duo took up the
blood trail and one hundred yards
later they walked up on the beauti-
fully wide 8-point. This incredible
buck sports an incredible 22 ½-inch
inside spread. Who would have
thought that there would be two
ultra-wide 8-pointers in the same
area?
Siana’s 2018 trophy scored close
to her last year’s buck. Whatever
the score, this deer is aesthetically
beautiful.
Siana had one more blessing
occur during this year’s deer season.
She learned that she got accepted
into Michigan State’s Veterinary
School. Obviously, she has a strong
love and desire to help animals.
I specifically asked her how she 2017 Record Book
would respond to people who could 10-point buck
be confused with how a future vet-
erinarian could also be a hunter. resulting in a quick humane kill. I is very demanding of one’s time, I
She responded, “I think that love that hunting is something that am quite confident that Miss Siana
hunters care about wildlife more my dad and I can do together. It’s Stanton will find a way to make it
than anybody. Hunters are true con- so relaxing sitting in nature among out deer hunting the Saturday before
servationists and the ones I know God’s wonderful creatures!” Thanksgiving 2019. Will she have a
all strive to make a good clean shot, Even though veterinary school three-peat? To be continued.n
 Mandatory muskie February 16-17
#MiFreeFishingWeekend
harvest registration Ready to experience some of the finest fishing around? Check out the

W
2019 Winter Free Fishing Weekend Saturday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb.
ith Michigan’s ice- helping them better manage those 17. Those two days, everyone – residents and non-residents – can fish
fishing season well fish populations. without a license, though all other fishing regulations still apply.
under way, the DNR The general possession season During this weekend, the DNR also will waive the regular Recre-
reminds anglers who for muskellunge is open through ation Passport requirement for vehicle access to Michigan’s 103 state
harvest a muskellunge that there is March 15 for all Great Lakes and parks. Several locations may be hosting official Winter Free Fishing
mandatory registration. The muskie inland waters and the St. Marys Weekend events perfect for anglers of all skill levels.
harvest limit is one fish per angler River. For more information, check Michigan has celebrated winter’s #MiFreeFishingWeekend every
per license year. out the 2018 Michigan Fishing year since 1994 to build awareness of the state's vast aquatic resources
A muskellunge harvest must Guide at michigan.gov/fishingguide and fishing opportunities. With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes
be reported within 24 hours of the or contact Cory Kovacs, 906-293- shoreline, tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, and 11,000
catch. Reports can be made online 5131, ext. 4071 or Elyse Walter, inland lakes, Michigan and fishing are a natural match.
through the DNR’s Harvest Report- 517-284-5839.n Learn more at michigan.gov/freefishing.
ing System (michigan.gov/regis-
terfish), toll-free by calling 844-
345-FISH (3474), or in person at
any DNR Customer Service Center
during normal state business hours
and with advanced notice of arrival.
Fisheries managers use the
registration information to evalu-
ate muskie harvest across the state,

New
smelt
fishing
rules

If you’re fishing for smelt this

year, make sure you know about a
legislative change, signed at the end
of 2018, that alters how anglers can
target smelt in Michigan.
The previous state statute let
people use any number of hooks at-
tached to a single line, while fishing
for smelt, alewife or other bait fish
in the Great Lakes or recognized
smelt waters. Now, anglers fishing
for those species can use no more
than three lines per person, with
no more than six hooks or lures on
G A Y L O R D
all lines. All hooks attached to an
artificial bait or “night crawler har-
MARCH ULTIMATE ellison
ness” are counted as one hook (note:
for crappie/perch rigs and umbrella
15-17 HUNTING place
EXPO2019
rigs, each hook is counted as part of
the total six allowed). This means
anglers may use up to six hooks on
one line or spread the six hooks out g ay l o rd h u nt i n g ex p o.co m
over up to three lines.
For more information on fishing
regulations, see the current Michi-
gan Fishing Guide, available at
fishing license vendors and online at
michigan.gov/fishingguide.n
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 21
WINTER
TROUT By Jim Bedford

W
hen the wind is howling, the
temperature is in the single
digits, and the snow is com-
ing down heavy, trout fishing
is usually not on the mind of
even a die-hard river angler.
But every winter we have many days when the air
temperature rises to near freezing or above and The author, Jim Bedford, admires a beautiful winter brown.
the itch to be on a trout stream becomes strong.
Luckily Michigan anglers have lots of trout water Some options are described and, of course, many year. Browns are stocked just below Pontiac and
that is open to year around angling. trout streams also receive runs of steelhead. there are steelhead smolts that didn’t migrate
As I write, this winter has already arrived. We will concentrate on the Lower Peninsula and became resident rainbows along with a few
While there have been some good sized steelhead because often river ice prevents fishing in the UP browns that probably moved down from Paint
this past fall, their numbers have been below par even when the weather breaks. Creek. Like many streams we will describe, the
based on the fishing of my steelhead buddies and The Clinton River in southeast Michigan is Clinton receives a run of steelhead and this is the
myself and the various fishing reports. So if you primarily a warm water stream but the reaches prime reason the river is open all year.
are finding the steelheading slow, it might be time just below Pontiac and the confluence with Paint Moving north on the east side, the Rifle River
to give winter trout fishing a more serious try. Creek down to Ryan Road does hold trout all is open all year for trout fishing below Sage Lake

CALL THE
HOTLINE

REPORT
FERAL
SWINE
TO REPORT FERAL SWINE OR FOR
MORE INFORMATION PLEASE
CALL: USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES AT
517.336.1928
OR
WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/FERALSWINE

FERAL SWINE 
DAMAGE AGRICULTURE,
NATURAL RESOURCES,
PROPERTY, PEOPLE AND
CULTURAL SITES 

22 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS

Road in Ogemaw County. This river is prone to
freezing in the winter but it will open up during
extended thaws, especially the upper reach which
also happens to offer the best trout fishing. The
size limit on all trout is 15 inches. Similar regula-
tions exist on the East Branch of the Au Gres
which flows parallel to the Rifle about 20 miles to
the east. The best trout fishing is found in the first
few miles below M-55, which is the upstream
limit for winter fishing.
All of the flies-only reaches of the Au Sable
and its branches are open to fishing all year.
Catch and release rules are in effect in the winter.
These reaches of the mainstream, North and
South Branches tend to stay ice free except dur-
ing very cold weather. Brook trout are present
in all three and they tend to be a bit more active
than the browns in the cold water.
At the top of the Lower Peninsula there are
three more trout streams open for catch and re-
lease winter brown and brook trout fishing. The
Ocqueoc River in Presque Isle County is open
from Barnhart Lake all the way to Lake Huron.
The best trout fishing is found in its middle reach
but you must wait for mild weather to thaw it out.
Ice is much less of a problem in the Pigeon and A February brown... Michigan anglers have lots of trout water that is open to year-round angling.
Sturgeon Rivers. The Pigeon is open from M-68
down to Mullett Lake in Cheboygan County and Dam south of Dam Road down to Lake Charle- freeze.
offers fishing for browns along with a few brook voix. More water is open on the pristine Jordan The Platte River in Benzie County is open
trout. Just to the west, the Sturgeon River is open River where you can fish from Graves Crossing from the US-31 bridge downstream. There is a
in the winter from Afton Road down to Burt down to the lake. It is catch and release for both good population of resident brown trout between
Lake. Brown trout are the main resident species browns and brookies in these streams but you can the upstream limit and Platte Lake. Single hooks
here but you will also encounter many small keep a rainbow or two for a winter trout dinner. are required here and the browns must be re-
rainbows and maybe a large one that has moved Further south, the Rapid River offers similar leased. Just to the south the Betsie River flows
up from Burt Lake. fishing. It is located just north of Kalkaska and is through Benzie and northern Manistee Coun-
Continuing our counterclockwise circle, two open from Antrim Pond down to its confluence ties. The best trout fishing is found between the
Lake Charlevoix tributaries are open in the win- with the Torch River. All three of these streams
ter. The Boyne River can be fished from the P. H. have strong groundwater influx and seldom from page 24

WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 23

Steelhead water: from page 23
upstream limit for winter fishing at
Kurick Road and U.S. 31. You will
find browns, rainbows and occasion-
al brook trout here. Unlike the upper
Platte, river ice can be a problem
here when we have prolonged cold
weather.
There are many miles of water
open to the winter angler on the
Manistee River. The lower river be-
low Tippy Dam is open all year and
the best trout fishing is between the
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The Sable River is open in the
winter for catch and release an-
gling downstream from Freesoil
Road with the best fishing near the
dam and High Bridge. Large num- upstream limit. The Pere Marquette
bers of browns are planted at Tippy is open to year around fishing below
and there is a 15 inch size limit. M-37 as is its Big South Branch.
Upstream there is catch and release It is flies only down to Gleason’s
angling for browns and brookies Landing and good trout fishing
in two long sections. It is lures and continues down to Walhalla. Check
flies only between County Road the Fishing Guide for special regula-
612 and flies only from M-72 to the tions below Gleason’s Landing.
CCC Bridge in Kalkaska County, The mid reach of the Big South
while you can use any method Branch offers the best winter catch
between U.S. 131 and M-115 in the and release angling for brown trout.
middle part of the river. While the White River freezes rela-
615 RW Harris Drive
Manton, Michigan 49663
Contact Jason or Kim Lutke
Phone: 231-824-6655
Fax: 231-824-9421
606 RW Harris Drive
Manton, Michigan 49663
Email: lutke_hydraulics@yahoo.com
Phone: 231.824.9505
Fax: 231.824.9506
tively easily you can catch browns
in the first few miles below
Hesperia during mild spells. Its
North Branch is less prone to icing
up and there is catch and release
winter angling from Arthur Road to
its mouth.
The Muskegon River between
Croton Dam and Newaygo offers
ice-free conditions for good winter
trout fishing. You can keep fish here
that are over 15 inches in length.
Upstream, two of its tributaries, the
Little Muskegon River and Tama-
rack Creek are open to catch and
release winter trouting.
Moving south there are several
Grand River tributaries that are open
all year. The Rogue River is one of
the best bets and is located north of
Grand Rapids, The best fishing is
in and the few miles just upstream
from Rockford. Crockery, Buck,
Coldwater, Fish, and Prairie Creeks
are smaller tributaries that you can
fish in the winter for trout. These
are all catch and release and
you should check the regulations
for the sections that are open.
In southwest Michigan the
Dowagiac River is the only sizable
stream where you can fish for trout
in the winter. You can keep browns
greater than 15 inches below the
dam near Niles but the upper river is
catch and release. Some additional
small streams where you can wet
a line for trout in the winter in this
part of the state are Augusta and
Portage Creeks and the Gun River
near Kalamazoo.
Winter water temperatures will
always be below the most active
range for browns and brookies.
But these fish still feed through the
winter. Fishing mild periods when
the water temperature is on the rise
is very important to your success.
Plan your trip for the later part of
a January thaw so that the shelf
ice will be gone or reduced. And,
concentrate your fishing on the
warmest part of the day from mid
to late morning to late afternoon.
This is one time of year when sunny
days are often better than cloudy
ones. Pick lures or flies that will be
a substantial meal for the trout and
give the browns and brookies a long
look at them.
Always dress in layers, wear a
warm hat, and make sure the top
garment is a wind and waterproof
hooded jacket. Boot foot neoprene
waders are ideal for ice water wad-
ing. Using a wading staff will help
prevent a frigid dunking.
You can get recent information
on stream conditions and fish activ-
ity by calling the DNR Management
Unit for the stream or streams you
are interested in fishing. The phone
numbers are listed in the Michigan
Fishing Guide that you get with
your license. You can also visit the
DNR on the web at www.michi-
gandnr.com.n
 Infant
Antlers
B
ucks typically start grow-
ing their first antlers in
spring, when about 11
months old. However,
some buck fawns grow
prominent pedicles topped with
small button (“infant”) antlers less
than one-half inch long, during au-
tumn, when six or seven months old.
The infant antlers, which
are essentially mineralized
tips of the pedicle, are cast
during winter before new
antler growth starts.
The growth of infant
antlers is a process totally
different than antler regen-
eration. “Because it is such
By John Ozoga
a gradual process,”
says Richard Goss,
“it is impossible
to pinpoint the exact point when
pedicle growth gives way to antler
development. The origin of the first
antlers is a phenomenon that is not
conveniently classified. Although
the histological events undoubtedly
resemble those by which subsequent
sets of antlers are regenerated each
year, the process is not an example
of regeneration because there has
been nothing lost to be replaced…In
this respect, the fawn’s initial antler
is a unique zoological structure.”
Most buck fawns grow promi-
nent pedicles by four or five months
of age. In the wild, how-
ever, only five to 10 percent
of them reportedly grow
polished button antlers. The
incidence of infant antlers
tends to be considerably
higher for well-nourished
pen-raised animals.
Harry Jacobson report-
ed that 20 percent
of the buck fawns
raised in the deer
research facilities at Mississippi
State University grew infant antlers.
He noted, however, that none of the
buck fawns “rubbed out” before the
end of January, and most not until
February or March.
Some buck fawns grow prominent pedicles topped with small but-
ton (“infant”) antlers less than one-half inch long, during autumn,
when six or seven months old.
I found the incidence of infant
antlers much higher in Upper Michi-
gan’s Cusino deer enclosure, where
84 percent of the supplementally-fed
buck fawns achieved polished ant-
lers. Unlike in the South, however,
the Michigan fawns polished their
antlers from late November until
early January, then cast them by late
February.
Reasons for the north to south
difference in the timing of infant
antler development is unknown.
Quite likely, however, the accelerat-
ed physical development of northern
fawns is an adaptation that enhances
their prospects for surviving the
harsh winter season.
Clearly, infant antlers are indica-
tive of an advanced rate of maturity
and achievement of puberty. Only
well-nourished buck fawns that
achieve some critical threshold
level of body weight and testes
development ever produce enough
male hormones to accomplish such
advanced sexual development.
Those that do so probably exhibit
velvet shedding, limited antler rub-
bing, and other behavior patterns
typical of young sexually active
bucks. Given the opportunity,
they are probably capable of
breeding.n

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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 25

THE
‘SPINNER’
BITE
Old and New Twists on the Erie Spinner Scene
T
hanks to several years of produc-
tive year classes, walleye fishing
on Lake Erie has never been better.
This fisheries is so good in fact,
fans of walleye fishing are catching
their limits on all sorts of lures and
live bait presentations. The age old favorite, drift-
ing and casting weight-forward spinners is even
enjoying a comeback on Erie.
Spinner fishing in its many forms has always
been and will continue to be one of the best
ways to target walleye in the spring and summer
months. The “spinner” bite typically gets going
when the water temperatures get to about 50 to
55 degrees in late April or May. All summer long
spinners continue to be the “go to” presentation
of countless anglers who know that every lure has
26 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
its day, but spinners work day in and day out.
The Bottom Bite
The first spinner bite of the year takes place
on the bottom. Immediately after spawning on
the shallow water reefs and in tributary streams,
the larger female walleye move out to the deep
water flats. Anglers who are targeting these fish
don’t have to go far. Some of the best action takes
place on flats directly adjacent to the most popu-
lar spawning reefs.
A lot of this action takes place in Ohio waters
near the Davis Bessie Nuclear Power Facility, but
post-spawn females can also be caught in Michi-
gan and Ontario waters. A two or three ounce bot-
tom bouncer sinker matched up to a 40 to 45 inch
spinner rig is lights out effective when drifted or
By Mark Romanack
Fishing 411 TV
slowly trolled along bottom.
Slow is the operative word here as lethargic
walleye are not in the mood to chase down food
at this point. I like to go as slow as possible and
still keep the spinner blade rotating. The best
speed for triggering strikes from these fish is
about 1.2 to 1.3 MPH on most days.
The early spring bottom bouncer bite is also
a game best played with smaller blade sizes. My
most productive blades are Colorado styles in
sizes 2, 3 and 4. These smaller blades spin well
at slow speeds and seemingly give off the “just
right” amount of flash and vibration to trigger
strikes from post-spawn walleye.
Suspending Fish
The bottom-bite on Lake Erie lasts through-
out the spring and summer months. My experi-
ence suggests that some walleye are always going
to be more comfortable on the bottom. As water
temperatures begin to warm, it becomes obvious
that more and more fish are found suspended in
the water column. In general, suspended fish are
active fish and the fastest bite is normally associ-
ated with these fish.
A bottom bouncer is the single best way to
target bottom loving walleye, but when these
fish opt to suspend in the water column, anglers
have lots of viable options for targeting these
fish. Snap weights are clip-on style trolling sink-
ers that marry up to special line clips produced
by Off Shore Tackle Company. The OR16 snap
weight clip looks like an ordinary pinch pad style
line release, but upon closer scrutiny a small
plastic pin is positioned between two rubber
pads. When the clip is opened and the fishing line
placed behind this pin, the weight is temporarily
pinned in place on the line.
This simple but critically important feature
allows anglers to place the snap weight anyplace
on the fishing line they desire. Separating the
weight from the trailing harness helps to create a
“stealthy” presentation. Where the snap weight
is placed on the line influences how deep the rig
will fish, but most anglers opt for controlling
fishing depth by simply using different size snap
weights.
Snap weights can be fished directly out the
back of the boat, but this unique slow trolling
presentation comes into its own when combined
with in-line planer boards. An in-line board is an
affordable and easy way to fish two or more snap
weight lines out each side of the boat.
The weights produced by Off Shore Tackle
for use with this trolling system are known as
guppy weights and can be purchased in kits or
sold separately. Guppy weights are added to the
snap weight clip using the provided split ring.
The guppy weights can also be used as a “keel
sinker” by attaching the main line to the front of
the guppy using a small snap and a 60 to 72 inch
long spinner rig to the tail of these weights with a
snap swivel.
Snap weights have been on the market for
many years and a host of anglers use them rou-
tinely to target suspended walleye with spinner
rigs. Tadpole Divers, also produced by Off Shore
Tackle, are resettable diving weights that are
popular among spinner fishermen. The Tadpole
dives and takes the trailing spinner rig along for
the ride. Similar to fishing the keel sinker version
of the guppy weight, a 60 to 72 inch spinner rig is
added to the back of the Tadpole Diver.
 Tadpole Divers are molded of non-toxic zinc.
A tow arm is molded into the head of the Tad-
pole. A round snap is in turn tied to the main line
and clipped onto this tow arm of the Tadpole.
When the snap slides into the elbow of the tow
arm the Tadpole will dive much like a crankbait
dives. When a fish is hooked, the snap slides
to the forward position on the tow arm and the
Tadpole stops diving and starts planing towards
the surface.
This unique design not only prevents anglers
from having to fight the diver while fighting fish,
if the fish escapes during the fight, the Tadpole
can be reset simply by giving it some slack line.
When fishing with spinner rigs it’s always a good
idea to reel in the Tadpole and check the bait if a
fish escapes. When using other lures like spoons
and shallow diving crankbaits, the resettable fea-
ture on the Tadpole comes in very handy.
Like snap weights, the Tadpole fishes best
when used in combination with in-line boards
used to spread out lines and cover the maximum
amount of water. Tadpole Divers are used like
snap weights to saturate the water column with
gear. The biggest difference between these two
bait delivery systems is the Tadpole is actually
diving, so they achieve more depth with less
line out than snap weights which simply achieve
depth based on lead length, weight size and troll-
ing speed. The first warm days of spring put post-spawn walleye on the bite and nothing catches
more fish than spinner rigs. Jake Romanack of Fishing 411 TV shows off a pair of Erie
How Deep Does That Dive? walleye that got too close to his custom tied spinner rigs. Mark Romanack photos
If this conversation regarding snap weights
and Tadpole Divers leaves you wondering how rigged as a segment or pre-determined amount lected. A little known fact about lead core trolling
deep does this stuff fish, the answer to that of sinking line tied between a backing line and is that by simply playing out more backing line,
always important trolling question is available a leader material. Modern lead core fishermen a modest lead core rig can be fished much deeper
in an affordable phone app known as Precision don’t agree on the best backing line options. Both than most anglers realize.
Trolling Data, LLC. Precision Trolling uses scuba super braids and monofilament can be used as For example a two color lead core rig that
gear and tactics to visually confirm how deep var- backing line. runs on average about 12 to 15 feet down can
ious lures and trolling gear are fishing on select Fans of super braids state that these lines are be made to fish 20 feet down by simply playing
lead lengths and trolling speeds. All the common thinner in diameter allowing more backing line to out more backing line. Using a line counter reel,
sizes of the snap weight and Tadpole Divers are be spooled onto smaller “walleye friendly” reels these longer lengths of backing line can be ac-
included in this handy phone app that is available than possible with monofilament. Proponents of curately monitored and duplicated.
for sale at the Google Play and iTunes stores for monofilament line fire back that monofilament The multi-species angler can rig up lead core
Android and iPhone users respectively. is less expensive and more user friendly to the segments that are not only productive for trolling
App users can purchase individual “Dive planer board releases commonly used in open spinner rigs for walleye, these same set ups can
Curves” for select lures or devices for a nominal water trolling applications. be used for targeting trout and salmon. Rather
fee. Precision Trolling Data also sells a more ex- The most common segmented lead core rigs than having “walleye” and “salmon” lead core set
pensive “Lifetime Package” that includes all the include 2, 3 4 and 5 color segments. It’s best to ups, I use 20 pound test monofilament as backing
data currently available in the app, plus published run a 2 and 4 color set up on one side of the boat line and 20 pound test fluorocarbon as leader ma-
updates are offered at no additional fee. Currently and the 3 and 5 color on the other. Setting the terial on 27 pound test lead core. This allows me
the PTD app has over 850 Dive Curves for a host shallower running 2 and 3 color rigs respectively to fish the same lead core rigs for walleye, trout,
of lures and popular trolling gear. To learn more on the outside board lines, makes it possible to salmon and steelhead without the need to make
about this app visit the www.precisiontrolling- hook a fish on an outside board line and reel in any modifications.
that fish without having to clear the inside board
data.com web page.
line. This is possible because the shallower run- A Word on Blades
A Few New Twists ning outside line will pass over top of the deeper Walleye fishermen tend to live and die by one
blade design. The Colorado blade is hands down
Bottom bouncers, snap weights and Tadpole running inside line.
Divers are all very popular and productive ways Lead core is a fish catching system, but not the most popular blade shape among walleye
to target open water walleye. Using lead core without limitations. Fishing with segmented lead fishermen. The No. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are the most
line is yet another way that anglers can get their core requires designating reels to that specific popular sizes, but there are many other blade
favorite spinner rigs to depth. Lead core is a sink- presentation, which of course requires a greater types that can help anglers catch more fish. On
ing line that features a soft lead wire core, with a investment in trolling reels. Line counter reels my boat I carry a wide assortment of Colorado
braided line coating that gives the line strength. are not necessary for fishing segmented lead core blades in different sizes and colors. I also carry
Like monofilament lines, lead core comes in in most circumstances because each reel has a a smaller assortment of Indiana blades, Willow
various break strengths. For walleye fishing ap- pre-determined amount of line spooled. Instead, style blades and Spin-N-Glo bodies for different
plications the 18 and 27 pound test sizes are the less expensive round-frame style level wind reels trolling applications.
most popular. Lead core line is “metered” by us- are often the most popular choice for lead core The Colorado blade does a very nice job
ing color bands every 10 yards so that anglers can trolling. when trolled from 1.2 to about 1.6 MPH. If troll-
easily determine how much line they are deploy- A line counter reel can be handy for some ing speeds exceed 1.6 MPH a Colorado blade
ing. Often referred to as “colors” a filler spool of unique lead core trolling applications. Lead core is going to start rolling and creating line twist
lead core contains 10 colors or 100 yards of line. line achieves diving depth based on how much
The most efficient way to fish lead core is line is deployed and also the trolling speed se- The ‘Spinner’ Bite page 28
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 27
The ‘Spinner’ Bite:
from page 27
issues.
For slightly faster trolling
applications ranging from 1.6 to
2.0 MPH the more narrow shaped
Indiana blade in the same sizes are
an excellent choice. Willow blades
can be trolled at even greater speeds
ranging from 1.6 to 2.5 MPH with-
out line twist issues.
At the other extreme, if troll-
ing super slow is needed to trigger
strikes, nothing beats the iconic
Yakima Bait Spin-N-Glo. A Spin-
N-Glo is a foam body with mylar
wings that spins at the slowest pos-
sible speeds. Available in a ton of
different sizes and colors, walleye
fishermen will find that the No. 8, 6
and 4 sizes are ideal for slow troll-
ing applications.
If One is Good...
A growing number of anglers are
using multiple blades on their wall-
eye trolling harnesses. I guess the
theory is that if one blade is good
than two blades must be better?
Creating more flash and vibration by
adding a second blade to a walleye
harness makes sense when fishing
in turbid waters or when fishing at
deeper depths where light penetra-
tion is limited.
28 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
On a recent filming adventure in
Lake Erie our Fishing 411 TV staff
noticed that using double blade rigs
produced fewer bites, but the fish
we were catching were larger than
rigs with single blades. “It’s hard to
say that double blade rigs will al-
ways produce bigger fish, but based
on our experience it sure seems
like a safe bet,” says Captain Jake
Romanack of Fishing 411. “Our best
double blade set ups were custom
tied harnesses using blades we
robbed from Rooster Tail Spinners.
The nice thing about Rooster Tail
blades is they are genuine silver and
gold plated so they have maximum
flash.”
Roll Your Own
A lot of fishermen prefer to tie
up their own custom spinner rigs.
The ability to select specific pre-
mium quality blade types, finishes
and hooks is huge for those who
take great pride in creating their
own rigs.
“The blade and the hooks are
the two most important parts of any
spinner harness,” says Captain Jake.
“Premium blade finishes make a
huge difference in how many bites
we get and using the right hooks
The author’s boat is ideally set up at the back for spinner trolling
applications. Spinner trolling is a game that can be as slow as 1.2
mph or as fast as 2.5 mph depending on the situation and blades
being incorporated.
ensures those fish will end up in the the sharpness category. Lazer Sharp
boat.” octopus hooks are also available in
Open water spinner rigs fall into a host of color options. The pow-
two categories. Rigs equipped with der coating finish on these hooks is
two No. 2 size octopus style hooks more durable than anodized hooks,
are best when fishing the bottom giving walleye fishermen lots of
with bottom bouncers. When target- choices when it comes to adding a
ing suspended fish, a harness that touch of color and that custom look
features a No. 2 octopus hook in the to their harnesses.
front and a No. 6 treble hook at the
back do a better job of landing the Summing It Up
fish that bite. Walleye fishing and spinners are
Hands down the Eagle Claw a match made in heaven on Lake
Trokar has the sharpest octopus Erie and just about anywhere else
and treble hooks on the market. walleye are abundant. Nothing is
Described as “surgically” sharp, the more basic than spinner rigs, but
Trokar hooks are wicked sharp. these days, anglers are fishing spin-
The Lazer Sharp series of oc- ners in more creative ways than ever
topus hooks are a close second in before.n
 24 New COs
T
wenty-four new conservation
officers have joined the ranks
of some of the most highly
trained law enforcement pro-
fessionals in Michigan.
One of the most selective law
enforcement academies in Michigan,
the Michigan Department of Natu-
ral Resources Conservation Officer
Academy held graduation in December
at the Michigan State Police Training
Academy in Lansing. Thirty candidates
initially were selected from nearly 500
applicants to be a part of Recruit School
#9 – the DNR’s 23-week training acad-
emy.
“This is the hardest academy in the
state of Michigan – not many people get
selected and fewer make it through,”
said Conservation Officer Timothy Bar-
boza, a Recruit School #9 graduate.
The graduating six women and 18
men were challenged mentally and
physically as they underwent training to
qualify for the Michigan Commission
on Law Enforcement Standards testing,
in addition to specialized training in
conservation law.
“Conservation officers have chosen to
not only protect our people and local
communities as first responders – they
have devoted their career to being front-
line defenders of our natural resources,”
said Chief Gary Hagler, DNR Law
Enforcement Division. “Our division
selects the most highly qualified candi-
dates to receive additional training that
no other law enforcement agency in the
state offers. Our officers are molded into
quality people who are embedded within
the communities they serve.”
“Conservation officers must be hon-
est with their actions and with the pub-
lic, passionate about helping Michigan’s
natural resources and humble in their
authority as an officer,” said Conserva-
tion Officer Anna Cullen, a Recruit
School #9 graduate.
While their primary mission is to
enforce fish, game and natural resource
protection laws, conservation officers
serve a unique role as certified peace
officers with authority to enforce all of
Michigan’s criminal laws. Because of
their specialized training and versatility,
conservation officers often are first re-
sponders to situations involving medical
emergencies, missing persons and public
safety threats.
“This job will give me the oppor-
tunity to talk to people who have been
hunting and fishing for longer than I
have been alive and learn from them,”
Barboza said. “It will also allow me to
help improve the public’s view of law
enforcement.”
“I am very passionate about being
able to teach younger generations to
enjoy and respect our natural resources,
as well as passing on the traditions and
Twenty-four new Michigan COs graduated in December.
heritage that I was taught at a young age several trips to specialized training loca-
– especially today, with technology con- tions throughout Michigan, including the
suming most young people’s time,” said Camp Grayling Training Center, the GM
Conservation Officer Jesse Grzechows- Proving Grounds in Milford and Ingham
ki, a Recruit School #9 graduate. County Jail, in addition to completing
The academy began each morn- scenario testing at several parks.
ing with physical training, building the Next month, Michigan’s newest
recruits’ strength to prepare them for conservation officers will begin their
physical fitness testing and the career probationary field training, partnered
demands of a conservation officer. with veteran officers, and receive addi-
Following physical training and room tional training prior to reporting to their
inspections, recruits received classroom permanent county assignments.
instruction and various skills training. “There are people who have lived in
Each week recruits were tested through a county for generations and know more
both written exam and mock scenarios. about it than a new conservation officer
In the scenario testing, recruits entered would,” said Recruit School #9 graduate
staged situations in which they had Nathan Beelman. “These contacts can
to demonstrate their learned skills to be a good way to learn about my new
resolve a conflict. community.”
The academy involved off-road Founded in 1887, the DNR Law
training to operate specialized vehicles, Enforcement Division is Michigan’s
such as four-wheel-drive trucks, ORVs oldest statewide law enforcement
and patrol boats – everyday tools used agency. Learn more about the work of
by conservation officers to patrol Michi- conservation officers at michigan.gov/
gan’s natural resources. Recruits took conservationofficers.n

Randy’s Hunting Center

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 Forest Warrior or Suburban Feeder Flirt?

BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE:
O
ur boisterous black-
capped chickadees
are well adapted
to life in the deep
winter
woods
of northern Michigan and
quite comfortable living a
suburban lifestyle. Some
of these inquisitive little
birds have never even seen
a human, while others think
nothing of landing on a
human hand to snack on
sunflower
seeds. The By Jonathan Schechter
secret of
their success is adaptability and
inquisitiveness, and during the cold
months a few tricks bestowed upon
them through eons of evolution.
Chickadees may be found in
any habitat that has trees or woody
shrubs, from hardwood forest and
cedar swamps and cattail marshes
to residential neighborhoods with
parks and golf courses, and
they are not strangers to ur-
ban lots with weedy fields.
With the arrival of the
snows of winter they seem
to favor mixed deciduous-
evergreen forests, espe- Patience may be necessary but it won’t take long for these clever and
cially near trailside forest inquisitive birds to fly in for a snack right from your hand. Author photo
edge; but perhaps I say that the matter is clear; chickadees are snack on frozen berries and search
because that’s a habitat I of- opportunists when it comes to habi- out the eggs and pupa of insects
ten wander
in winter
tat and housing opportunities and
Michigan is very much their home.
and explore nooks and crannies in
search of seeds they cached away
and share Small flocks of black-capped earlier. Even a decaying deer carcass
their companionship. chickadees, also known as bandit- is treat to tear at, a feast often shared
When spring arrives, the hollows ries, enliven our winter woods with with eagles and coyotes. Chicka-
in cottonwoods, birch trees and the cheery-sounding chick-a-dee-dee dees of course are common diners
abundance of dead and dying ash call notes as they fly from tree to at bird feeders and display a clear
trees beckons for nesting. Fact of tree and hop about the branches to preference for black-oiled sunflower

BE READY THIS
SEASON!!

517.617.6786
Steven L. Lamier huntin.it.info@gmail.com
Owner/President www.huntin-it.com
Come see us for Banks outdoor blinds
Manufacturer of Fine Northern Hardwoods
Firewood
Buyers of by the Semi-Load
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and gravity feeders
Buyers of Standing Timber
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of our
brad@billsbylumber.com or jim@billsbylumber.com
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jim@billsbylumber.com
Huntin-It, LLC
(616) 634-1522 or 544-9342 9851 West
2725 Larch Rd. • Harrison, MI 48625
(616) 634-1522 or (989) 544-9342
Territorial Road
2725 Larch Rd.
www.billsbylumber.com
Montgomery, MI 49255
FIREWOOD BY T H E
Harrison, MI 48625
(East of Clear Lake, IN)
www.billsbylumber.com

SEMI-LOAD WWW.HUNTIN-IT.COM
30 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS HuntinIt_70824 Hunting Guide 6/29/17 dr/dr/dr KPC Media Group PROOF
Corrections must be made by 2:00
Full Page #43 Machele 4-COLOR p.m. Thursday, June 22 or ad will be
assumed correct and run as is.
seeds and suet and provide endless
entertainment to humans as they
feed on suet clinging to it sidewise
or sometimes hanging upside down
to dine.
And for those who doubt their
inquisitive nature, simply find
yourself a quiet spot in the wood-
lands, or near a feeder that is almost
empty, and hold your hand out with
a handful of seeds. Patience may be
necessary but it won’t take long for
these clever and inquisitive birds to
fly in for a snack. The feeling of tiny
claws clinging to fingers or resting
on the palm of the hand is unforget-
table.
Winter is taken in stride by these
hardy birds for they are well dressed
for the occasion with the ability to
puff out their plumage, giving the
impression they need to go on a diet.
That’s a heat conserving mechanism
with air trapped around the downy
feathers which increases insulation
and prevents the loss of body heat.
When darkness falls and the woods
fall silent - except perhaps for the
hoot of owls and yips of coyotes
- they settle in for the evening.
Outdoor adventurers, birders and
biologists often wonder how these
tiny birds do more than just survive
in winter—they thrive.
Biologist Susan M. Smith, who
studied bird biology and behavior
for more than a quarter century at
Cornell University and Mount Holy-
oke College, explained it this way to
the National Wildlife Federation in a
2007 interview that still holds true.
“Carefully hidden food items, dense
winter coats, specially selected
winter roost cavities and, perhaps
most remarkable of all, the ability
to go into nightly hypothermia, thus
conserving large amounts of en-
ergy, greatly increase the chances of
survival.” Smith went on to explain
that the chickadee’s ability to go
into regulated hypothermia– some-
times referred to as a state of torpor–
enables it to actually lower its body
temperature, in a controlled manner,
to about 12 or 15 degrees F below
its normal daytime temperature of
108 degrees F. “This allows the bird
to conserve almost 25 percent of its
hourly metabolic expenditure when
the outside temperature is at freez-
ing.” The lower the outside temper-
ature, Smith found, the more energy
the bird conserved.
With winters in Michigan warm-
ing, and their habitat opportunities
expanding because of our land use
practices, the black-capped chicka-
dees in our midst will continue to
thrive as long as they find sheltered
roosting sites. Many of them hunker
down in abandoned woodpecker nouncements of “chickadee-dee-
nesting cavities, knotholes on the dee” while other times they sound
leeward side of trees and nesting off in a boisterous fashion as if they
boxes built for other species. And are locked in a room with dozens of
they sometimes excavate their own hungry high-strung house cats. One
shelter in soft rotten wood for both thing is certain; when chickadees
winter roosting and spring nest- are moving about in small flocks
ing. During mild winter nights, and singing their song, look to see
flocks may hunker down in thickets, what they see, for they pay close at-
swales and cedar groves that offer tention to their surroundings and are
shelter from the winds, but when the rarely silent when two legged, four
mercury really plunges they tend to legged or larger winged creatures
sleep alone in whatever cavity they enter their habitat. Nature-savvy
can find. tree stand archers take note that
Walk the snowy woods of chickadees announce the presence
Michigan in chickadee habitat, of almost all wildlife, be it an opos-
and that is most anywhere in sum strolling on a sunny winter
Michigan, and observant follow- day, a Cooper’s hawk at the forest’s
ers of nature’s way are sure to hear edge, or the proverbial ‘monster’
their characteristic chick-a-dee call buck scratching about for acorns
notes as the dawn of February draws or stretching upwards to browse on
near. Some naturalists claim that the white cedar.
intensities and number of ‘dees’ – One fact needs to be confirmed;
the end notes of the chickadee’s call our blusterous black-capped chicka-
– indicate how dangerous a preda- dees are not the fluffy little subur-
tor may be with more ‘dees,’ such ban feeder wimps that some people
as in “chickadee-dee-dee-dee-dee,” claim. They are in fact mighty
an indication of a more threatening forest warriors of the woodlands of
danger. Michigan.
I remain skeptical of that fact, Jonathan Schechter is a natural-
for I have trudged through cedar ist living in Oakland County who
swamps thick with chickadees and spends far too much time wandering
sometimes the chickadees barely the winter woods of Michigan in
pay any attention to me and let me the accompaniment of chickadees.
pass with just a few cheerful an- Email: Oaknature@aol.comn

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Customer savings of up to $9,600 off MSRP are available on qualifying cash or standard rate finance
WNW
purchases of select new Mahindra Tractors from participating dealers’ stock NEWS
inventory whenFEBRUARY 2019
bundled with 31
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may be shown.
 MUCC report…Michigan is Number One!
Jobs created from hunting, fishing purchases
Statewide economic impact supports 171,000 jobs, generates $11.2 billion annually!
A
first-of-its-kind study
released Monday by
Michigan United Con-
servation Clubs shows
Michigan ranks first
among the Great Lakes
states for jobs created from hunting-
and fishing-related purchases – and
generates more than $11.2 billion
annually.
The data also show 171,000 jobs
are created and supported annually
across Michigan by hunting and fish-
ing, putting those related activities
in the top 10 percent of the state’s
job-creation industries. The greatest
impact occurs in Southeast Michigan.
The economic overall effect is
more than twice as much as previ-
ous estimates from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, according to the
report.
Michigan United Conservation
Clubs commissioned the ground-
breaking study in partnership with
the Michigan State University Eli
Broad College of Business and with
funding support from the C. S. Mott
Foundation. The project’s goal was to
more accurately quantify the impact
sportsmen and sportswomen have on
Michigan’s economic well-being.
“The research results reflect that
the economic benefits for local com-
munities in every region of the state
by those who hunt and fish are vital to
continuing Michigan’s prosperity now
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and in the future,” said Amy Trotter,
MUCC executive director.
Findings from the MUCC-MSU
study were released during a news
conference at MSU’s Demmer Center
in Lansing that in addition to Trotter
was attended by Michigan Depart-
ment of Natural Resources Director
Daniel Eichinger; state Sen. Curtis
Hertel Jr., D-East Lansing; Bill
Demmer, director of MSU’s interna-
tionally acclaimed sports shooting
training facility that was the site of
the news conference; Jeff Poet, presi-
dent and co-owner of Jay’s Sporting
Goods and a member of the Michi-
gan Wildlife Council; and leaders in
Michigan’s business, conservation
and tourism sectors.
MUCC also hosted an afternoon
LLC.
European Hunt Dates:
 Pheasant and Mallard –Saturday, 11-3-18
 Pheasant – Saturday, 12-1-18
 Pheasant – Saturday 1-5-19
 Super Shoot – Saturday 2-23-19
 Pheasant – Saturday 3-2-19
 Pheasant – Saturday 3-9-19
 Pheasant – Saturday, 3-30-19
 Pheasant – Sunday, 4-7-19
 Pheasant – Saturday, 4-20-19
 Pheasant – Sunday 4-21-19
NO Small Game License Required!
Hunter Orange REQUIRED!
Friends • Family • Corporate
news media teleconference that
included Trotter; Eichinger; Dennis
Eade, executive director of the Michi-
gan Steelhead and Salmon Fisher-
men’s Association and a member of
the Tourism Industry Coalition of
Michigan; state Rep. Gary Howell,
R-North Branch, chair of the House
Natural Resources Committee; and
state Rep. Leslie Love, D-Detroit,
co-chair of the Michigan Legislative
Sportsmen’s Caucus.
The MUCC report is believed to
be the most comprehensive effort to
date measuring the annual statewide
economic impact by Michigan’s
700,000 hunters and 1.1 million
anglers: $8.9 billion from hunting and
$2.3 billion from fishing stemming
from purchasing gear and clothing,
booking hotel rooms, buying meals
and more.
“This is information the conser-
vation community has long needed
to improve our understanding of
the financial importance of outdoor
recreation,” Eichinger said. “MUCC,
Michigan State University and the
C. S. Mott Foundation deserve credit
for their valuable scholarship that
quantifies more clearly than ever
how hunting and fishing are essential
ingredients in Michigan’s diverse
economic stew.”
The report shows that for every $1
million spent on hunting- and fishing-
related purchases in Michigan, 19.61
jobs are created for state residents.
Michigan tops the Great Lakes states
by this measurement, followed by:
• Ohio, where every $1 million
spent on hunting- and fishing-related
purchases creates 19.58 jobs
• Minnesota, where every $1 mil-
lion spent creates 19.48 jobs
• Pennsylvania, where every $1
million spent creates 19.35 jobs
• New York, where every $1 mil-
lion spent creates 18.89 jobs
• Indiana, where every $1 million
spent creates 15.13 jobs
• Illinois, where every $1 million
spent creates 15.03 jobs, and
• Wisconsin, where every $1 mil-
lion spent creates 15.01 jobs
Previous estimates in Michigan
and other states are based on a nar-
row formula that was applied most
recently in 2011. Those estimates
were derived from survey results of
just 187 Michigan households and
showed hunting and fishing contribut-
ed $4.7 billion annually to Michigan’s
economy and supported 72,000 jobs.
The MUCC report is based on
2016 spending data and uses a new,
state-of-the-art economic modeling
formula to clarify in more precise
detail the contributions of hunting and
fishing to Michigan’s economy. The
findings are based on a more robust
analysis of data from the DNR and
the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Inspired by the report, members of
Michigan’s conservation, small busi-
ness, tourism and legislative sectors
called for state government leaders to
launch a bipartisan push in 2019 that
prioritizes more funding to:
• Prevent chronic wasting disease
from spreading among Michigan’s
deer herd
• Contain and remediate per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances – contami-
nants known collectively as PFAs that
have worked their way into Michi-
gan’s lakes, rivers and groundwater
– to ensure the state’s game, fish and
waterfowl populations remain healthy
and safe for human consumption, and
 • Increase the number of people for most of the wildlife conservation by more than half. In Nebraska, for example, a grass-
who hunt and fish in Michigan by and habitat restoration work done “Hunters and anglers foot virtu- roots education campaign is success-
promoting the sports’ benefits and by the DNR. But as the number of ally the entire bill for conservation fully utilizing a variety of hands-on
by appealing to more diverse audi- people hunting and fishing continues in Michigan and across the nation. activities, programs and Spanish-lan-
ences. to decline with an aging population, A continued decline in that base has guage messaging to engage families
“Because of the MUCC analysis, state leaders are concerned how the huge implications for how we manage in high-density Latino communities
people who never hunt or fish should resulting revenue loss will affect conservation of our forests and fields, and encourage them to become fish-
have a new appreciation for the eco- Michigan’s economy – and natural wildlife, our lakes, rivers and streams ing enthusiasts.
nomic power Michigan’s sportsmen resource conservation efforts. today and in the future,” Eade said. “We must work together to better
and sportswomen deliver and that A recent demographic analysis While the DNR, sporting groups promote the joys and opportunities of
helps make our state a great place to conducted by Michigan Technologi- and the state’s Pure Michigan cam- hunting and fishing in the Great Lakes
live, work and recreate,” Howell said. cal University shows the number of paign are expanding their outreach State to younger and more diverse
All told, hunting and fishing firearm deer-hunting licenses sold to attract younger hunters, minorities audiences if we want to grow partici-
licenses generate about $62 million a in Michigan has dropped nearly 21 and women, Howell and Love said pation and ensure these sports remain
year for wildlife and natural resources percent over two decades – from a they are committed to ensuring Mich- a key cog in Michigan’s economy,”
conservation projects in Michigan, 1998 high of 785,000 deer hunters to igan will explore more innovative Love said.
with more than $40 million coming 621,000 in 2017. By 2035, projections strategies to adjust to the state’s aging A copy of the MUCC-MSU report
from hunting license sales. By law, are that the late-’90s rate will be cut hunters and fishermen population. is available at mucc.org.n
that money is entirely dedicated to
wildlife management and conserva-
tion activities.
Michigan is one of the top states
in the nation for hunting license
purchases.
In comparison with all states
in the U.S., Michigan ranks 11th in
terms of job creation, resulting from
hunting and fishing expenditures by
residents and 15th nationally with
respect to job creation arising from
hunting and fishing expenditures by
out-of-state residents, MSU research-
ers found.
The MUCC report was authored
by Professor of Business Dr. Roger
Calantone, Demmer Legacy Profes-
sor Dr. Shawnee K. Vickery and Dr.
Joyce Wang, all within MSU’s Eli
Broad College of Business.
In Michigan, every region feels
the effect of hunting and fishing ex-
penditures, according to the report:
• Southeast (Wayne, Oakland,
Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Liv-
ingston, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair,
Sanilac, Tuscola and Huron counties):

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• South Central (Lenawee, Jack-
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Branch, St. Joseph, Calhoun, Eaton,
Barry, Kent, Ionia, Clinton, Shiawas-
see, Saginaw, Gratiot, Montcalm,
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Montmorency, Kalkaska, Craw-
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la, Clare and Gladwin counties): $960
million
• Northwest (Grand Traverse, Lee-
lanau, Benzie, Manistee, Mason and
Oceana counties): $440 million
• Upper Peninsula: $681 million
“It’s clear that small businesses
throughout the Great Lakes State rely
on hunters and fishermen to keep their
cash registers ringing all year long,” www.greenstonefcs.com
said Jeff Poet, president and co-owner
of Jay’s Sporting Goods and a mem-
ber of the Michigan Wildlife Council.
Additionally, license fees and
surcharges on hunting and fishing pay
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 33
 DARE TO
COMPARE!
Tony
LaPratt Tony LaPratt’s Original Ultimate Land

22
Management and Whitetail Boot Camp
with 2017
Michigan Ultimate Land Management
Bow Buck
- Whitetail Boot Camp -
WITH ANY OTHER LAND MANAGER AND WHITETAIL CLASSES

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK

YOURSELF BEFORE YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY AND YOUR TIME
#
1
How many properties have they Gordon Whittington says “There is
laid out? nobody doing anything like this. You are
I have done over 1,800 white- the first!”
tail land management properties. Stan Potts says “Tony, you don’t know
Ranging from 5 acres to 6,000 acres. what you just did, this will change every-
Gary Clancy Outdoor writer says, “Inten- thing in the whitetail world. The way we
sity. You can see it in the eyes of anyone
manage and hunt forever.”
who is totally focused on the task at hand.”

#
2
How many states have they
done land managements in?
As of today’s date, Tony
LaPratt’s ultimate land manage-
#
9 What do the top deer hunters
and writers think of them?
I take great pride knowing all
these individuals talk highly of
ment has been in 28 states. me and my business. Whitetail experts
like, Ted Nugent, Stan Potts, Gordon

#
3
How long have they been in Whittington, Steve Bartylla, Ron Spomer,
whitetail land management on Richard P. Smith, Dave Henderson, Gary
their own?
For 26 years I have been Tony Clancy, Fred Abbas, Craig Dougherty, Ed
Spinazzola, etc.
designing world class hunting
properties.
LaPratt Ted Nugent, says “Tony LaPratt is my
with 2018
4
new whitetail deer hunting guru, and I

# How many acres total managed? Michigan have been to the mountain top!”

#
10
I have walked over 300,000
management acres. Buck How long have they been

#
5
How long have they been at the
cutting edge of whitetail infor-
mation?
I have been leading the nation in
cutting edge information, manipu-
lating and influencing the habitats and bed-
7
#
How far have hunters trav-
eled to attend their whitetail
classes?
Hunters have come from 40
states and Canada to attend my Ultimate
Whitetail Boot Camps.
speaking for major deer
shows?
For 26 years I have been
a Keynote speaker at major deer shows
across the country, from Minnesota,
Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida,
Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois,

8
ding areas, to attract large mature bucks
#
Kentucky, etc.
for over 26 years.

#
11
Steve Bartylla Outdoor writer says, “Tony How many paid classes have
LaPratt, is the godfather of modern day they had? How long have they been
habitat improvements.” I have had over 118 paid written about?

6
classes. It is the most extensive My successes and discov-

# How many years have they

done paid classes?
For over 16 years I have had
whitetail boot camp in history. No other
organizations or individuals come close
eries have been featured,
and I have been the focus of multiple
articles for 28 years.
to presenting the material I present.
paid, scheduled classes that are
photographed and documented.
There is nothing out there even comparable to this amazing whitetail boot camp.
So if record book bucks are TRULY YOUR DREAM, THEN IT’S A NO BRAINER!
e c k O u t Our CALL LESA LaPRATT (AKA THE ALPHA DOE) TODAY!
Ch w
All-Ne e! Call 517-238-4566 or 1-269-832-0990
We b s i t 310 S. Angola Road • Coldwater, MI 49036
www.tonylapratt.com tony@tonylapratt.com
34 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
 THE ULTIMATE BUCK ZONING SYSTEM
...has set the whole whitetail world on fire again!
There has never been in the History of Whitetail Deer or Tony will be speaking at the
Whitetail Land Management anything this BIG! PERIOD! following 2019 shows . . .
MICHIGAN Gaylord Ultimate
“BUCK ZONING - Going To Change Everything!” Huntin’ Time Expo Hunting Expo
- Exclusively by Tony LaPratt Grand Rapids, MI Gaylord, MI
Mar. 15-16-17

12 #
15
Jan. 25-26-27
# What major publications
have they been featured in?
Have they ever been recog-
nized for their farming and Hillsdale
Conservation District
OHIO
Buck Master, Deer & Deer conservation practices? Northeast OHIO
Hunting, North American In 2000 Tony was recog- Hillsdale, MI Sportman Show
Whitetails, Michigan nized as Conservationist of the Year. Jan. 30 Jan. 17-18-19
Sportsman, Buck Fax, Whitetail Monster Outdoorama

#
16
Bucks and countless newspaper articles. Novi, MI
What kind of facilities do

13
aste
# Have they ever been fea-
tured on T.V. or radio?
they have?
The Whitetail Habitat Re-
Feb. 28, Mar. 1-2-3
Field & Stream: D o n’ t Wh e r
Anot !
search Center is a world Outdoor Life
Season
Michigan Out of Doors and
Pure Michigan as well as class facility. It is the only one of its kind Lansing, MI
countless radio interviews across to devote all of its resources and creative Mar. 8-9-10
the country. thinking into new discoveries and tech-

#
14
niques.

What have they accom-
plished on their own per-
sonal hunting land?
The Whitetail Habitat Re-
search Center unleashed the Ultimate
buck Zoning System at my amazing
Whitetail Habitat Research Center, which
17
# #
What kind of equipment do
they personally own?
Our equipment is from the
basic hand spreaders to the
most advanced planting equipment
19
Have they ever been asked
to represent hunters?
Yes, “Pure Michigan” con-
tacted me to promote and
assist hunters.

20
out there.
#
encompasses only 52 acres, with only 23

#
18
acres of that being woods. In the spring How long have they been
of 2014, we found 44 sheds, in 2015 – 46 How many acres do they consistent on trophy class
sheds, that’s 90 sheds in just 2 years! personally own? whitetails??
There is no other system that can come I own 52 acres with only Since 1987 I have been
close to this. 23 acres of woods. consistent on quality whitetails. That is
over 31 years in all, using my unique

2019 BOOT CAMP DATES

hunting and ULTIMATE Land Manage-
ment System.

• February 8-9 • April 5-6 • May 10-11

(Friday and Saturday)
• February 15-16
(Friday and Saturday)
• March 22-23
(Friday and Saturday)
(Friday and Saturday)
• April 12-13
(Friday and Saturday)
• April 26-27
(Friday and Saturday)
#
21
What have they harvested
(Friday and Saturday) on their own property?
My top ten whitetails are
from the Whitetail Habitat
Research Center Property. The average
rack is from 150-160 inches.

2019 COYOTE CAMP
• July 12-13
(Friday and Saturday)
“You Will Never Regret It!”
#
22
How many big bucks to
their credit?
• August 2-3 I have taken 50 big bucks
(Friday and Saturday) in 31 years.
For complete answers go to...
www.tonylapratt.com

TONY HAS BEEN CONSISTENT FOR 31 YEARS ON TROPHY CLASS WHITETAILS,

50 IN ALL, USING HIS UNIQUE HUNTING AND ULTIMATE LAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
Here is a small example of the Ultimate Buck Zoning System. Here, at the amazing Whitetail Habitat Research Center which encompasses
only 52 acres, with only 23 acres of those woods. In the spring of 2014 we found 44 sheds, in 2015 - 46 sheds, thats 90 sheds in just two
years! In 2016 I had 22 different bucks come under my stand on the same day! There is no other system that comes close to this!
- Tony LaPratt
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 35
 By Kathleen Lavey - MDNR

State forest road inventory completed

A
fter two years of
mapping and review-
ing the condition
of state forest roads
maintained by the
Michigan Department
of Natural Resources across both
peninsulas, an initial inventory that
provides a snapshot of the road
network is complete.
One significant result of that
work is a compilation of interac-
tive maps showing where off-road
vehicle use is allowed on Michi-
gan’s state forest roads, which will
be published online (michigan.
gov/forestroads) and updated each
spring after that.
“Forests roads are a resource
to help people get out and enjoy
Michigan’s public forests,” said
Deb Begalle, chief of the DNR’s
Forest Resources Division.
The inventory and road as-
sessment were required by Public
Act 288 of 2016, which provided
a time frame for inventory and
classification of roads. The law fo-
cused particularly on which roads
should be open to off-road vehicle
traffic.
Roads in the northern Lower
A state forest roads inventory was recently completed which created an online map source for the pub-
Peninsula were inventoried during
lic showing which roads are open and closed to off-road vehicle traffic statewide. MDNR photo
2017, and roads in the southern or closing certain roads to ORVs. 6,308.6 miles (84 percent) of roads ress and will be updated annually
Lower Peninsula and the Upper Various roads or road seg- open to ORV use, while 1,213.6 as DNR staff in the field monitor
Peninsula were inventoried during ments were proposed to be opened (16 percent) miles of road were road conditions or find mapping
2018. or closed to ORV use. Members closed by a land use order of the errors. There are some proposed
“Roads have always been of the public could drop a pin on DNR director. More than 2,000 changes currently under consid-
important to forest management, one of the maps to mark an area members of the public weighed in eration for the northern Lower
whether you are figuring out how and express their concern about it. on that decision. Peninsula, with a decision pending
to get forest products out of the They also could comment by email “We had hundreds of pin by the DNR director and Michigan
woods or if you’re trying to get out or mail. drops with people telling us every- Natural Resources Commission.
there for recreation and all of these Thousands of miles of state thing from, ‘This is a great idea, I Roads that are currently open
activities that people love,” said forest roads are now open to ORV can’t wait’ to ‘You guys are crazy, could be closed to ORVs or other
Scott Whitcomb, unit manager of use. this is going to cause problems,’” vehicles in the future if erosion
the Pigeon River Country State A total of 84 people com- Whitcomb said. threatens the forest or fish habitat
Forest in the northern Lower Pen- mented on nearly 5,600 miles of DNR road evaluations consid- in nearby waters, for example.
insula, who has been instrumental forest roads in the Upper Penin- ered user conflicts, the condition “Getting our forest roads into
in the road inventory. sula. There, 5,582.06 miles (99.1 of the road and a review of current an inventory system on the map
The inventory didn’t involve percent) of roads are open year- land use orders. An example is the gives us a baseline that we can
getting out and driving over every round; 50.28 miles (0.89 percent) Pigeon River Country State Forest. begin working with to manage the
mile of road – there simply wasn’t of roads are closed year-round and It’s home to Michigan’s elk herd forest better,” Whitcomb said.
time for that. Instead, the effort to 0.48 miles (0.01 percent) of roads and focuses on quiet recreation. Comments from the public
catalog the roads used computer are closed seasonally. “There’s a lot of public land will be evaluated each year. Sev-
mapping technology to consolidate There were 77 comments where ORVs are the best use,” eral criteria will be used to make
previously mapped roads into a regarding nearly 370 miles of for- Whitcomb said. “The Pigeon River evaluations, and recommendations
single, comprehensive database. est roads in the southern Lower management plan differs from will be reviewed by DNR staff
“We’ve been collecting infor- Peninsula. In that region, 8.95 other state forests in that it empha- members and the public before the
mation on roads for a very long miles (2.43 percent) of roads are sizes quiet recreation and scenic DNR director makes decisions.
time,” Whitcomb said. “What we open year-round; 285.92 miles values.” The goal is to have forest roads
did here was flip them into a new (77.67 percent) of roads are closed A few other northern Lower that are safe and provide access
platform online.” year-round and 73.25 miles (19.9 Peninsula areas that are focused on to various users, while ensuring
An interactive map and print- percent) of roads are closed sea- quiet recreation also are closed to that forests and waterways aren’t
able maps were provided online, sonally. ORVs. Those include Jordan Val- negatively impacted.
which were used to solicit public There are more than 7,500 ley, the Mason and Deward tracts Take a look at the road maps
comment on the road inventory miles of state forest roads in the and the Sand Lakes quiet area. and learn more about Public Act
and issues connected with opening northern Lower Peninsula, with The maps are a work in prog- 288 at michigan.gov/forestroads.n
36 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
 Help create design for
2019 Deer Cooperator Patch
S
ince the early 1970s, the
Michigan Deer Manage-
ment Cooperator Patch –
with a new look and design
every year – has been a collector’s
item for many hunters around the
state. The DNR again is asking the
public’s help in designing the next
patch.
“We had a great response last
year with over 200 submissions,” data about the state’s deer popula- signs may be done in any medium,
said DNR outreach assistant Emilie tion for a given season – things like but must be hand-drawn or printed
O’Grady. “We’re expecting this the age and sex of the deer taken, and include a maximum of seven
year’s contest to bring in even more locations where hunters have been colors.
creative designs.” successful, and an overall look at Complete contest information
The DNR provides the patch as herd health. and submission guidelines are avail-
a thank you to hunters who bring The contest is open to everyone. able at michigan.gov/deer under
their deer to check stations during Those interested in participating in Cooperator Patches.
hunting seasons. At check stations, this year’s contest should submit The winner will be contacted in
DNR staff members collect valuable their designs by Feb. 1. Patch de- early March.

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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 37
 he Michigan bear
harvest by hunters
during 2018 was the
lowest it has been for
the past four years,
according to prelimi-
nary registration figures released by
the DNR, but the low harvest does
not mean there has been a decline
in the bear population. In fact, there
are now more bears in the state than
there have been for many years,
according to DNR estimates. An
abundance of natural foods and less
than ideal weather conditions during
parts of the seasons contributed to
the decline.
Hunters only registered 1,489
bears in Michigan during 2018 sea-
sons, according to the DNR, com-
pared to 1,912 in 2017, 1,615 for
2016 and 1,718 during 2015. State
licensed hunters tagged
1,432 of the bruins regis-
tered during 2018 versus 57
by tribal hunters. A total of
1,141 of the bears regis-
tered last fall were taken
in the Upper Peninsula
(UP) and 291 were shot in
Lower Peninsula (LP) bear
management units (BMUs).
how many bears are present in the
state, as DNR bear specialist Kevin
Swanson explained at a Bear Forum
held in St. Ignace on December 14.
“A word about desired harvest
here,” he said near the beginning of
the meeting. “It could be referred to
as a goal harvest and exceeding that
goal is a good thing as long as the
abundance estimate and indicators
continue to be positive and support-
ive of that harvest.”
The bear harvest goal for 2018
was 1,555. This is the first time in
a number of years that the number
of bears registered has been lower
than the predetermined goal. The
same harvest goal was in effect for
2017 and it was exceeded by 357. In
2016, the harvest goal of 1,362 was
exceeded by 253.
That doesn’t mean too many
bears were taken by hunt-
ers during 2016 and 2017.
It means that hunters were
more successful than
expected due to a growing
bear population and lower
natural food supplies in
parts of the state. In other
words, even though the
harvest goal was exceeded,

By Richard P. Smith
Most of the
state’s bears
live in the UP.
On September 1, 2017, the DNR
estimated that there were 10,799
black bears more than a year old in
the UP compared to 8,000 in 1992.
Growth of the UP bear population
really accelerated starting in 2012
in response to a major reduction of
the number of bear licenses issued
by the state, which has remained
in effect since then. The number of
bears in the UP more than a year
old increased by more than 2,000 or
24% since 2012.
The LP bear population in-
creased at an even higher rate,
according to the DNR, going up by
72% between 2012 and 2017. There
were approximately 1,600 bruins
more than a year old in LP BMUs
during 2012 compared to an esti-
mated 2,957 by September 1, 2017.
Bear numbers have almost doubled
in that part of the state over a 5-year
period.
The DNR sets a bear harvest
goal by BMU to help them deter-
mine how many bear licenses to
issue for each. That goal is simply
a guideline to help control hunting
pressure. A number of variables
other than bear numbers can influ-
ence the harvest, as mentioned
above. Whether or not the harvest
goal is achieved has no bearing on
38 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
more bears
were added to
the population
through reproduction and recruit-
ment than the number removed
through hunting, allowing the popu-
lation to continue increasing.
Whenever natural foods are
abundant, the vulnerability of bears
to hunters is reduced because the
animals prefer fruits, nuts, berries
and grains (corn and oats) that don’t
have human scent associated with
them versus some of the same foods
placed at bait sites by hunters. There
were plenty of blueberries, raspber-
ries, wild cherries, feral apples and
acorns available for bears to choose
from during 2018 and there’s always
a selection of corn and oat fields
in agricultural areas. So bears visit
hunters’ baits less frequently when
there’s a bumper crop of natural
foods than they otherwise would.
And when they do visit baits, it’s
more often under the cover of dark-
ness instead of during legal hunting
hours.
Since most hound hunters rely
on baits to locate bears to chase,
reduced reliance on baits by bears
reduces the success rate of both
bait and hound hunters. Dog hunt-
ers who rely on finding the tracks
of bears where they cross trails also
end up with lower success rates
because bears don’t travel as much
Michigan’s black bear har vest was lowest in the past four years.
looking for food when what they
want is easy to find. Bruins simply
don’t cross as many roads under
those circumstances.
There’s also usually a reduction
in bear nuisance complaints associ-
ated with a good food year for bears.
This correlation was obvious in the
UP over the last two years. More
than 200 nuisance bear complaints
were recorded in the UP during
2017 compared to about 100 for
2018.
Due to the presence of almost
twice as many bears in the LP,
nuisance complaints remained high
there in spite of abundant natural
foods.
“The northern Lower Peninsula
had to implement an on-call sys-
tem to deal with nuisance bears in
2016 because bear complaints have
become almost unmanageable,”
DNR bear specialist Kevin Swanson
commented during the Bear Forum
in St. Ignace. “A dozen commer-
cial beekeepers called this week to
express concern over bear numbers
in the Lower Peninsula.”
Approximately 200 nuisance
bear reports were recorded in the LP
during 2016. They dropped slightly
to about 175 in 2017, but were back
up around the 200 mark again for
2018.
Another factor that plays a role
in reducing the bear harvest in the
LP even when bears are abundant
besides abundant natural foods and
weather is the short season. Bear
season was only open for nine days
in most LP BMUs. Some of those
days are reserved for bait hunting
and others for hound hunting. UP
bear seasons allow hunters to hunt a
month or more, if they choose.
Weather can really impact suc-
cess during short seasons if heat,
heavy rains and/or strong winds
affect one or more days of the hunt.
When it’s hot, bears tend to be less
active during daylight hours. The
same is true during high winds and
downpours. Many hunters don’t
like to hunt under these conditions
either.
Extended periods of poor
weather for bear hunting can also
reduce success in the UP. Tempera-
tures were hot during the first five
days of the UP bear season last fall,
for instance, which probably influ-
enced the number of bears killed
that week.n
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 39

 Waxwings
in Winter
O
ne
day in
early
Febru-
ary last year, my
wife Gail and I
went for a drive,
just to get out of
the house for a
while. It was the
height of cabin-
fever season, and
we were starved
for novelty. At
the last moment
we grabbed our
binoculars and a
camera in case
we ran across any
interesting birds.
We didn’t expect
to. In midwinter
in Michigan the
bird palette is usually pretty limited.
We were on our way home after
exploring ice floes that had piled up
along the shore of Lake Michigan
when we noticed a flock of birds
flying in and out of trees beside the
road. There was something unusual
about them, so we wheeled into
the driveway of the Baptist church
under the trees and stepped out to
take a look.
What we saw was the birding
highlight of the year. In the tops of
the maples and birches on both sides
of the road and especially in the
big shade trees above the cemetery
were flocks of Cedar and Bohemian
Waxwings. Hundreds of them. We
couldn’t have been more surprised.
Cedar Waxwings are among our
favorite songbirds, but we had never
seen a Bohemian. They’re common
across northern Canada and can be
found in the U.P., but are quite rare
here in the Lower Peninsula. The
flocks were about evenly divided be-
tween the two species, with perhaps
more Bohemians than Cedars. Many
were feeding ferociously on leaf
buds in the maples and red berries in
shrubs along the road.
Later, when we told our birder
friends about the incident, they were
surprised. Most of them had never
seen a bohemian waxwing in the
Lower Peninsula. The consensus
was that frigid
weather and
a shortage of
food in Canada
and the U.P.
had driven the
birds south
By Jerry Dennis
40 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
of the Bridge.
Nobody was
surprised when
we told them
that the birds
were gone the
next day and that
we had not seen
them since.
Why did it
thrill us? What is
it about encoun-
tering unusual
wildlife that
electrifies us? In
winter it might
be partly relief
from routine.
The buttery yel-
low and cream
bellies of the
Cedar Waxwings
and the rufous-
colored undertail coverts of the
Bohemians—as if they had sat in
raspberry juice—were delicious to
our famished eyes. It reminded me
of one of my favorite passages from
Willa Cather’s novel My Ántonia,
about cabin fever on the Great
Plains:
“In the winter bleakness a
hunger for color came over people,
like the Laplander’s craving for fats
and sugar. Without knowing why,
we used to linger on the sidewalk
outside the church when the lamps
were lighted early for choir prac-
tice or prayer meeting, shivering
and talking until our feet were like
lumps of ice. The crude reds and
greens and blues of that colored
glass held us there...”
Biologists say we’re hardwired
to notice the unusual. It’s how we
survived for the tens of thousands
of years before we invented rifles
and refrigerators. We glimpsed the
twitch of a saber-tooth’s ear through
the underbrush and knew it meant
danger. We saw spots of red on the
hillside across the valley and knew
it meant berries for dinner.
That gray winter day Gail and I
were famished not just for color, but
for variety. When it came to us like
an unexpected gift from a stranger
we did what any sensible person
would do: tucked in and enjoyed the
feast.
Writer and artist team Jerry Den-
nis and Glenn Wolff have been col-
laborating on books that celebrate
nature and the outdoors for nearly
thirty years. See what they’re up to
at bigmaplepress.com.n
A very successful fall

William Clayton of Salem ‘loves hunting in Michigan!’ He

had his best fall hunting season by far. He tagged out
on his doe permit and combo licenses with two very nice
eight-points, plus a fall Tom turkey with an 11 inch beard.

WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 41

 DOUBLE UP ON WALLEYES Wham! The hungry walleye smashed the jigged
spoon like a bulldog crunching a leg bone. I
reeled frantically to take up slack line when I
noticed on electronics another walleye eyeball-
ing my dead stick lure. I gave the set rod a little
jiggle and POW! I was into a double header with
five-pound walleyes on the end of both lines. It
was an ice fisherman’s dream come true...
By Kenny Darwin

O
r was it? I quickly
discovered how
difficult it is to land
one big walleye
while fighting an-
other. Fact is hook-
ing two can lead to double trouble
with no fish landed and your lines
tangled and heart pounding. You
know, I’ve been to this circus before
and learned to simply set the second
rod in the rod holder and land the
first fish. Next, I crank loose line
on the second and eventually put
that fat five-pounder on the ice too.
Yahoo! Two dandy walleyes fought
successfully, top shelf ice fishing
action that produced double wall-
eyes flopping on the ice at lightning
speed.
So, what was my secret? The
answer is easy, I’m fishing with two
rods and have an understanding of
how to attract and catch winter wall-
eyes two at a time. If your goal is to
experience ice fishing for walleyes
at an accelerated excitement level,
or you want to fill the box at light-
ning speed I’ve got some ice fishing
secrets that will produce fish like no
other.
My big water walleye ice fish-
ing training began over 30 years
ago when Saginaw resident and
ice fishing guru Don Leuenberger
took me under his wing. Don is the
brand of outdoorsman who appreci-
ates and respects the resource and is
never flamboyant, loud or bragging
about his record book catches. Don
sneaks up on winter walleyes using
a stealthy approach, keeping noise at
a low level and secretively slipping
baited lures into the strike zone.
From day one Don taught me how to
read the ice, identify unsafe cracks
and safety was a priority. But when
he would drill in and make holes for
fishing walleyes, he taught me how
and why to make three holes. The
center hole was for electronics and
the two side holes were for fishing.
Sounds simple, you just make
Author proudly displays 10-pound ‘hawg ’eye’ that fell prey to double rod tactics. two holes and fish two lures. But
42 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
there is a precise science to Don’s
proven double rod winter walleye
mastery. He has discovered how to
attract and hold walleyes in his area
and how to put them on the ice at
lightning speed while other anglers
are still struggling to hook their first
fish.
When I got into the sport I was
busy setting IGFA World Records
using light line tactics discovered
by the late famous guide rod maker
Dick Swan. I iced an eight-pound
walleye using two-pound leader that
set a world record for one year. I
eventually switched to 54-inch fly
rod tip blanks rigged with 10-pound
spinning reels and I began tuna
fishing walleyes, landing them all,
catching hundreds and winning
Shiver-On-The River contests with
10-12 pound monster fish. Part of
my success had to do with a two
rod jigging technique that I still use
today.
There’s more to this strategy
than simply keeping two baits in the
water, it offers an opportunity to use
contrasting lures and different jig-
ging styles. Sure, two rods enhances
your opportunity to catch multiple
fish but multiple lure appeal is one
huge advantage when ice fishing.
Some days they want it big and bold
and other days they will only nip
tiny presentations tipped with live
minnows.
Some folks think the trick is to
simply keep a second rod rigged
and ready to drop when you miss a
strike. The idea is to keep two lures
in the strike zone and give walleyes
a varied food source to choose from.
Fishing two rods simultaneously is
simply the best! Fishing two rods
side by side with lines in adjacent
holes will produce more walleyes
overall. The simple overriding factor
is you have two baits in the water at
one time, which tends to draw and
hold the attention of more fish than
a single line.
First, you gotta use electronics.
This is sight fishing at its finest and
requires electronics that show the
bottom, your lures and any fish in
the immediate vicinity. There are
many quality ice fishing electron-
ics available today like: Marcum
Technologies, Vexilar, Hummin-
bird, Garmin and more. Once you
are drilled in, have electronics and
lures in the water you center your
attention on the electronics screen,
searching for the slightest clue that
walleyes are near. Your electronics
will also show you any walleyes
near the lures and indicate how
they respond to different lures and
jigging techniques. When you have
fish following your presentation the
electronics will help you to keep the
lure in the strike zone slightly above
marks and help you to know when
to pause from jigging and prepare
for a strike. Without electronics you
Author’s ice fishing mentor Don Leuenberger, Saginaw, with fat 12-pound-
er he caught mid-day using skilled jigging tactics. Don loves ice fishing
from his heated shanty using custom rods, wearing cleated boots, latest
electronics and floor carpet to silence his movement and keep feet warm.
are fishing blind.
If I get on the ice in the middle
of the afternoon and the bite is
slow I use small #3 and #5 1 1/2
to 1 7/8-inch Swedish Pimples and
lively perch minnows. Drop them
to bottom and raise 12-18 inches
and set the rods in rod holders. I’m
effectively dead sticking but instead
of using plain hooks I recommend
small Swedish pimples. The trick
is two or three perch size lively
minnows on each lure, drop ’em to
bottom, raise and allow the lures to
stay motionless while the minnows
struggle on the hook. The mass of
struggling minnows twitching on
hooks draws walleyes from long
distances. Wary clear water walleyes
will swim under this presentation
by gliding slowly along bottom, fins
barely touching the sand. They show
Winter walleyes are lethargic, move toward lures slowly and frequently
only nip minnows dangling on a lure hook. You feel the take and set the
hook but the hooks are outside the fish’s mouth and he strips minnows.
If you miss the strike and fish gobble your bait, quickly put the second
rod to work and get the fresh minnows in the walleye’s face.
on the electronics as a bottom flicker
that changes to a thickening band
that soon changes to a full band
slowly rising off bottom. Avoid the
temptation to lift the rod out of the
rod holder and begin jigging, which
will spook fish. Instead slowly lift
the rod from the holder and keep the
lure stationary at the same depth and
simply jiggle the tip to get the min-
nows swimming radically.
Now, hold steady and watch
your electronics to see if the wall-
eye rises to sniff the minnows. If he
comes off bottom but does not strike
avoid the impulse to radically jig the
lure and once again only jiggle the
rod tip but this time slowly raise the
lure another foot. If the fish follows
but does not strike keep using a stair
step lifting action to draw walleyes
off bottom, get’em standing on their
tail in feeding position. Sometimes
you have to bring fish several feet
off bottom before they snap the bait.
If fish nip off your minnows simply
switch rods and get the second lure
rigged with live minnows in their
face pronto.
Many times you will hook one
fish and suddenly a second appears
on the screen. That’s when you get
the second lure in the strike zone by
watching electronics and positioning
the lure slightly above the mark on
the graph. Jiggle it, wiggle it and
slowly stair step upward and POW!
You’re into a double header.
When afternoon light dimin-
ishes, walleyes become active
and that’s when I switch to bigger
spoons and begin jigging. I use an
erratic two-foot jigging lift and al-
low the flashy lure to wobble toward
bottom. My lure of choice is a #1
1 3/4 inch Bay de Noc Do Jigger.
When I pull up a Do Jigger it has a
swimming action walleyes will fol-
low and when you let it fall the lure
flips on its back and flutters toward
bottom giving off loud vibrations
and sending flashes long distances.
As darkness approaches, switch
to two jigging lures and pump the
heck out of them. Dance ’em one to
five-feet off bottom and allow them
to fall and crash to bottom, which
mimics baitfish bottom feeding and
stirs up sand and debris. If a large
red band indicates a big walleye is
in your spread try to get a lure in its
face. Jig it, then stop and use tiny
wiggles to make the minnow bait
dance in the strike zone. Again use a
stair step jigging style to bring ’em
off bottom. Most of my strikes are
two to six-feet off bottom but some
crazy walleyes will chase the offer-
ing within a few feet of the surface
ice.
In past years when darkness fell
and the bite slowed I’d pack gear
and motor for distant lights along
shore. But today I break out my
Energizer head lamp and Moonshine
Super Glow 3/8 oz. lures in Bloody
Nose, Crab Face, Glow Perch and
more. I charge ’em up with the head
lamp and send them near bottom.
Night walleyes on the prowl are at-
tracted to the new super-glow colors
and slam offerings. Some nights the
hot bite on super glow lures begins
as darkness falls and heats up until
around 11 to midnight.
When the bite is going big guns
fishing two rods can be a pain in the
butt. Several outings last year found
me cranking a second lure out of
the way and only fishing a single
rod because walleyes were snappin.’
But I still rig two rods and keep the
second lure barely in the water to
keep the minnow bait fresh, lively
and ready to send down to the strike
zone when the main rod is not in
use. The best approach to catching
limits of walleyes is to determine
Double up page 44
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 43
Double up on Walleyes:
from page 43
if fish are active. If the bite is slow electronics quickly moves toward
use double dead sticks, when the the dancing spoon give it a light
strike begins, jig one rod and leave twitch, then pause and jiggle rod
the other stationary. If fish heat up tip to get the bait wiggling in his
keep both rods jigging and when the face and pause and wait for the bite.
strike goes bonkers you will dis- Sometimes walleyes will gulp your
cover more fish can be caught if you presentation but more frequently
use only one rod and have a second they will inhale the minnow bait and
rigged, ready, on standby. hook by venting water through their
Two rods give you a big advan- gills. Many times the lure is dan-
tage when ice fishing walleyes. If gling outside the walleye’s mouth
fish show on the screen and don’t as the fish pin point nabs the bait
bite you know to change lures or and snatches it between its teeth.
put on a fresh lively minnow. Some The strike is often a light tap and a
days a rattlin’ spoon like Northland sensitive rod tip is an advantage to
Buckshot will get them going or a detect nipping strikes. If the walleye
big flashy lure will cause aggressive is only holding onto the minnow
strikes. Given Michigan’s frequent and you feel the pressure and set the
cold front conditions you will hook you will miss the strike and
quickly learn the fine art of coerc- the fish gets a free meal. However,
ing non-biting walleyes to nip at a that’s when you place the second
small lure with subtle action. Oh lure slightly above the active fish,
yes, there are days when walleyes jiggle the rod to make the minnows
go into a negative mode and you come alive and wait for a second
simply can’t get them to bite. strike. With the two rod system you
Determining the right presenta- can even get strikes from neutral or
tion is very important and working negative walleyes. Erik Furseth, Okemos, with rod bent double fighting a bruiser walleye,
two rods gives you an advantage We all love hawg ’eyes that reaches down to gill his prize. Note his custom gold Do Jigger lure and
in selecting which lure and jigging are 30-inches long and show up on conduit rod holders attached to the side of his pop-up shanty. The large
black minnow bucket is used to keep minnows lively and prevent bait from
style is best. Keep the dead stick electronics like a nuclear submarine freezing. Kenny Darwin photos
below the jigging lure. Often active as they boldly march up to the lure
walleyes will swim kissin’ close and gulp the spoon with an arm automatically makes you violently evening because you are doubling
to the dead stick with live min- jolting tug on the rod. You know the jerk back. This frequently occurs your fish-drawing power and attract-
nows, get excited and charge the kind of strike that sends an adrena- when fishing two lines during prime ing the most active, aggressive fish.
jigging spoon. When a red band on line rush through your system and bite hours of early morning and late The idea is to attract as many fish
as possible when the light is low
and walleyes are actively roaming
Church Tackle Co. ALL MADE
IN THE USA
in search of food. During periods of
high activity you will up your odds
New for 2016!
WE DIDN’T INVENT THE PLANER BOARD, WE JUST PERFECTED IT! Locking Arm

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Your goal is to send maximum flash
Prevention Prevention
This clip may be mini but when it comes to holding power it’s second other applications and vibration through the water
only to it’s big brother, the original Lock-Jaw! Holds mono, super
braids, power pro, lead core or copper lines without damaging the line!
column and get the attention of
The Mini Lock-Jaw fits The Walleye Board, TX-44, TX-22, TX-12 & TX-6 1 7/8” Long
Replaceable Pad monster fish from long distances.
Pad
planer boards, but we recommend the full size Lock-Jaw for the TX-44. 1/2” Wide Locator holes for Line Protector inside
keeps line from making
Locator holes for
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To get ’em fired up use a radical
The Mini Lock-Jaw is designed to fit other side planers, drop weights and attaching
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WE DIDN’T INVENT CLIPS, contact with screw
Stingray jigging motion interspersed with
works for many other applications.
WE HAVE PERFECTED THEM! frequent pauses as you wait a
Part# 40620, 2pk Color - yellow Replacement Pads part# 40701 6/pk Diving Weight few seconds for a strike. Another
TX-007 Stern Planer & TX-005 Mini Stern Planer TX-44 Tournament Series Unique error-proof design allows anglers to put
more fish in the boat! Water strikes top surface, trick is to jig one spoon close to
The TX-44 is the first and the only in line planer to pull the large Divers,
(10 1/4” long, weighs about 3 oz) (7” long, weighs about 1.5 oz) Lead Core, Wire or Copper Lines and Heavy Weights. The size of the TX-44 forcing the Stingray downward. A fish on will bottom and the second two to
An all new type of planer! makes it harder for fish to pull the board under, however it is still easy to force the nose upward & Stingray to the surface.
Available in unpainted or painted. 2 snaps for
four-feet off bottom. Stair step
retrieve. The Vise Clip comes standard with the TX-44; especially
rch Tackle Co. designed for lead core & copper, makes accidental each weight included lures and watch for fish to slip
Chu E-Z Store Famous
release almost impossible. snaps off & on in seconds Lock-Jaw beneath the duo of dancing
TX-44 Tournament Series now Clip Size #1 - .7 oz
Easy to attach and remove.
for easy removal & storage
#40300
presentations. Once you notice
available which comes with a
Great for trolling in congested areas and more effective contour trolling along
Lock-Jaw Clip, Stainless Steel unpainted #40302 black fish coming slowly up, keep
drop offs contour lines, reef edges and weed lines in rivers, lakes or the ocean. Rear Pin and E-Z Store for easy moving the lure higher to entice
Effective for all species. Run more lines out the back of the boat by staggering
the Stern Planers. Run any distance from the boat yet maintain desired depth.
tow-arm removal. Part# 30630
(14” x 4 1/4” x 7/8”)
Size #2 - 1.4 oz fish completely off bottom. The
Standard TX-44 Part# 30610 Stainless Steel Rear Pin
further walleyes follow a lure above
EZ Store! For Your Planer Board Allows for easy Tournament Series bottom the more vertical they be-
#40303 unpainted #40304 orange
planer storage! Change
-22 SCop
RIGHT
ecia
l Upgrade Kit come and eventually their predatory
tow-arm & clips in a snap!
TXChurch Tackle odus, MI
strike instinct forces them to bite.
.S

Size #3 - 2.7 oz
hurchtackle.com
www.c

for TX-44, TX-22 &

Optional E-Z Store devise easily
TXChurwcwhwT.acchkulrchtackleo.codusm, MI
I hope you find time this season
The Walleye Board
-22 eSCop .S l
ecia

attaches to the Walleye Board, TX-44

LEFT

& TX-22 side planers. Slide the tow-arm off for storage or change Includes a Lock-Jaw Clip
to give ice fishing for walleyes a try.
to another tow-arm & clip then slide back on when you’re ready to E-Z Store & Stainless Please follow my suggestion and
fish again. Part# 40519 sold 2 per package 1 left & 1 right Rear Pin Assembly. (Part# 30640) #40305 unpainted #40306 chartreuse double your pleasure, double your
Please checkcheck
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44 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
 Celebrating Michigan’s Great Outdoors!

Bigg
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 SEMINARS AT THE
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THURSDAY NIGHT ONLY
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 Required reading
for finesse success
I
f you watch YouTube vid-
eos and read enough articles
about finesse bass fishing,
you get a lot of different
ideas of what people consider
“finesse” to be. Lots of guys
have different definitions, and I’m not
here to say anyone is wrong. But for
the sake of this column, here’s how I
define it:
“Finesse bass fishing covers any
presentation wherein the artificial lure
looks, acts, sounds and
feels like what a bass is
conditioned to eat MOST
of the time.”
Think of it as the op-
posite of getting a reaction
strike with a spinnerbait or
crankbait. It’s more akin to
“matching the hatch” like
trout anglers try to do with
hand-tied flies. Finesse
bass fishing might be By Dave Mull
more akin to fly fishing
for trout, but it’s not exactly the same
thing. The trout angler wants his flies
to look as much like the insects a fish
is eating as possible. The finesse bass
angler is more concerned that his rig
ACTS like what a bass has been eat-
ing.
One gentleman who I think would
agree with that assessment if he were
still alive is Charlie Brewer, creator
of the Slider Worm and proponent of
Slider fishing.
This winter, I bought the book
Charlie Brewer on Slider Fishin’. For
me, it was a true page-turner and I de-
voured its 112 pages within the space
of 24 hours. I plan to read it at least
one more time before next spring.
As mentioned in last month’s
column, the author, the late Char-
lie Brewer, belongs on the Mount
Rushmore of finesse bass anglers. He
developed the original Slider head
and worm in the 1960s, and promoted
it as an easy way to catch fish. First
published in 1978, his book extols the
“Do Nothing” method of fishing with
light line and the unique, flat jigheads
that Brewer developed to fish the
reservoirs around his home in Law-
renceburg, Tennessee.
The book is written as if Charlie
Brewer were sitting in the boat with
you, just laying out as much informa-
tion as your brain can absorb about
his style of fishing. He emphasizes the
“fun and enjoyment” that fishing is
supposed to be all about, and is pretty
convincing that Sliders can catch lots
of fish. He mentions “fun and enjoy-
ment” a lot, sometimes twice on the
same page. With its instructive text
and “hero” pictures, the book is a
great throwback to the days (not that
long ago) when guys brought chain
stringers full of big bass back to the
launch and everyone approved.
Slider fishing is as basic as bass
casting gets. It’s a simple concept Six and 4-pound are
with a whole lot of nuances that lead super light lines for most
to greater success. Basically, you just bass situations, but Charlie
rig a 4-inch Slider Worm on one of even explains how you
the flat Slider jigheads, cast it on 4 or can lead a fish away from
6-pound test monofilament and count its cover before sweep-
it down to the depth you want it to ing back to set the hook
travel. Then you reel slowly enough and fight the bass in open
to keep the worm and jighead at the water.
desired depth, focusing on not adding I plan to stick with the
any action. same spinning combos
Brewer came up with the tech- I’ve been using for Ned
nique after observing Rigs and other “modern”
minnows as they went finesse presentations:
about their daily business. 7-foot medium-light Shi-
He noted how they move mano Convergence rods Charlie Brewer on Slider Fishin’ for
smoothly, with little tail with the inexpensive Sedona spin- $6.95, plus shipping at the Charlie
action. He wanted his ning reels. I’ll probably keep using Brewer Slider Company’s e-com-
lures to do the same, and the braided Power Pro and 8-pound merce site, www.sliderfishing.com. To
notes that it’s not easy to Seaguar AbrazX fluorocarbon leader save shipping, you can order enough
keep your rod tip perfectly I’ve been using the last few years, jigheads and soft plastics to push your
still and reel your lure too. But I might spool up one rod order to more than $50, which makes
back without impart-
ing any action and that
with 6-pound mono to see if
straight monofilament works
shipping free. That’s, of course, what
yours truly did.
you need to practice. better for the Slider technique. Even if you decide to stick with
Sometimes you drag them through a After reading his book, I can’t wait heavy line, jigs, crankbaits, chatter-
school of suspended fish; sometimes to start casting some of those baits baits and the rest of modern-day gear
you, “polish rocks” as Brewer calls and trying the main techniques that that bass guys use to power-fish and
it, reeling your Slider Worm steadily Charlie Brewer teaches. cover lots of water, this book is still a
along the bottom, occasionally mak- You can get your own copy of fun and enjoyable read.n
ing bottom contact.
His book details how to alter his
Slider jigheads with pliers and side-
cutters to make them lighter for shal-
low fishing, and also explains how to
fish light jigheads and his method to
reach fish down 30 feet and beyond.
Hint: You reel really, really slowly.
You also can rig one of Brewer’s
worms on an open-hook jighead or
rig it so it’s weedless on a Slider head
that features an offset hook. While the
only lure that Brewer mentions in the
book is a Slider Worm, the com-
pany now makes flat-tail grubs and I
think Michigan bass will smash the
company’s 3-inch Bass Grubs on the
open-hook Slider heads.
As readers of this column might
recall, I’m a big proponent of using
the 2 3/4-inch Z-Man TRD worm
on a 1/20- or 1/15-ounce mushroom
jighead, and one of the effective ways
to catch bass and other species with
that lure is to just reel it slowly back
to you. Charlie Brewer has been doing
just that with his Slider Worms since
the 1960s.
The Slider gear of Brewer’s day
included short spinning rods—5 feet
long at the longest—and small spin-
ning reels, chosen because they are
lightweight and comfortable to use.
Charlie recommends taping the reel to
the all-cork rod handle, (known as the
Tennessee handle) to keep the combo
lighter and more comfortable in the
hand.
He also recommends using 4,
6 and 8-pound monofilament, with
6-pound the choice 75 percent of the
time and 4-pound about 23 percent of
the time. Eight-pound is rarely used.
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 49
 Withstanding an assault of

“Wife Logic”
F
ootfalls approached “You mean to tell me you don’t
from the rear. Too late. know how many guns you own?”
I had been discovered, “Well, now I do.”
and I knew what I was “Don’t you think if you have so
in for if this scene many that you need to refresh your
continued unabated. So, memory on how many you have by
I did the only thing I could do and counting them that you have too
closed my eyes real tight in hopes I many?” As hunters, we sometimes face the difficult task of convincing our
wouldn’t be seen. No help. “Huh?” better halves of our need to have a specific firearm for each type
SHE was there. “Sell some.” of game we pursue. Tailfeather Communications, LLC. photos
“Whatcha’ doin’, Tom?” my “I can’t. I need each one.”
wife Maureen asked. “For what?” needed to buy the same model gun I stand guns or hunting, but, you see
Still gazing at the open gun “Well, that black semiauto had borrowed there.” my dear, it’s nicer to own a gu––”
vault, I replied, “Nothin’” with 12-gauge Weatherby––” “Sell it. What about that one?” “Sell it. What about that one?”
enough emphasis to put the matter “I have no idea what you’re “That’s for pheasants.” She pointed to another matte
to rest. At least that’s what I thought. talking about. Just point.” “When’s the last time you went black 12-gauge, this one a pump
“No, you’ve been down here “Well that matte black one pheasant hunting?” with a shorter barrel and customized
for ten minutes just staring into that there I need for duck hunting.” “2013?” with a flashlight installed beneath
gun cabinet.” Then excitement built “Mmm hmm! And when is the “Couldn’t you use the same the muzzle and a shotshell holder
in her voice, “Are you thinking of last time you went duck hunting?” one for pheasants as you use for screwed into the side of the receiver.
selling some?” “Umm … I don’t know. I think ducks or for your other hunting?” “Zombie apocalypse.”
“Sell? What? No! I can’t do it was 2011 when I went to Alberta. Wife logic in action. “Sell.”
that. I was just counting how many But that was mainly for geese. “Well, I guess that seems rea- This line of questioning could
guns I have.” Anyway, I had such a good time I sonable to one who doesn’t under- have gone on interminably had I not

Mid Thumb Game Ranch

Southeast Michigan Bowhunters Chapter - SCI
28th Annual

Fund Raiser
Banquet
& Outfitter’s Party
545 West Burnsline • Melvin, Michigan 48454
M-90 between M-53 & M-19 -- Approx. 50 Miles North of Detroit
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Laurel Manor  39000 Schoolcraft Rd. in Livonia
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6:30 p.m. - Dinner followed by Live Auction
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Dinner: Filet Mignon  Boneless Breast of Chicken 

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Potato  Vegetable

(See Chapter Website for Auction Details after February 15th)

 Salad  Dessert  & More
WOODED-HEAVY COVER
All proceeds go to further SCI's wildlife conservation, education, humanitarian and governmental affairs
programs to ensure the future of North America's great wildlife management system and proud hunting
heritage. The Southeast Michigan Bowhunters Chapter of SCI is on guard to assist with funding and
manpower wherever animal-rights extremists threaten our sport. Your support helps us build a solid
NO LICENSE
future for sportsmen and wildlife. If you enjoy our sport as much as we do, we welcome you to attend this
gala event and to join Michigan’s most effective organization in protecting your “Right To Hunt”.
Mail Order Form to: Rich DeLisle / SCI-Tickets, 4810 N. Fleming Rd., Fowlerville, MI 48836
Email: 3839rich@gmail.com, Phone: (517) 545-4642, Cell (248) 345-1986
REQUIRED
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Ticket orders must be received by March 15th for advance ticket pricing!
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50 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
fiercely objected.
“It’s not fair for you to tell me
to sell these guns.” I made a pre-
emptive flinch away from her. You
know, better safe than sorry. “I need
them.”
“Need them for what?”
“Just in case. Like this one.”
I showed her another 12-gauge
semiauto.
“This one fits me better than
any of my other guns do. I can hit
anything with it. So, I can’t sell this
one. I need it in case I no longer
own the others.”
“So, why don’t you just sell
all of them except that one, then?”
Maureen asked.
Oh my goodness! You see that?
Trying to sneak in some more wife
logic in an effort to convince me
to talk myself into thinking it’s my
idea to sell – Egad! She’s making
me a headache.
But if she thinks she’s going to
get me to fall for that one, she’s got
another thought coming.
“Tom, I’ve got another thought.
How many guns do you own?”
“You stopped me at twenty-
seven.”
“Oh … my … goodness! Are
you kidding me? You really think
you need all of those? All twenty-
seven? What about this one? Why
is there a zip tie holding the lever
thingy open?”
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“That’s how it came when I got
it.”
“You shoot it like that?”
“No. That’s how the factory
sends them these days.”
“What? You bought a gun and
have never shot it?”
“The appropriate venue hasn’t
yet presented itself.”
“How many more have you not
shot?”
“Let’s see … One … Two …”
I stopped at six.
“Why do you buy all these
guns that you don’t use?”
“I didn’t buy all of them. Four
of them I accidentally won at Ruffed
Grouse Society and Pheasants For-
ever banquets.”
“‘Accidentally’? How does that
work?”
“I was just sitting there mind-
ing my own business. Not my fault
if they drew my ticket numbers.”
She shifted gears again.
“Let’s look at it this way, then,
Tom. How many guns have you shot
in the past year?”
“One. My grouse gun. But
shotguns are not like clothes that
you throw out if you haven’t worn
them in a year. You need to adjust
for the “opportunities for diverse
hunting experiences presented over
time” variable.
It took some rolling of her eyes,
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“OK, then. How many
have you shot in the past
five years?”
I took a moment to
calculate.
“One. But if you asked
about the past six years it
would be two. The grouse
gun and the replacement
grouse gun I bought but
can’t hit anything with that
I quit using. The last time I
shot it was six years ago.”
“So, why don’t you
sell the second one?”
You see? More wife
logic meant to daze and
confuse. But I parried her
with some logic of my own.
“But what would I use
if something goes wrong
with the first one?”
Maureen’s glare told Beloved shotguns are not like clothes you
me I had stumped her throw out if you haven’t worn them in a year.
beyond her willingness to be I haven’t shot yet. In Alberta, I
stumped. She took a moment herself borrowed a gun like that from the
to calculate. And then through lips guide, and I haven’t gone duck hunt-
as tight as a ventriloquist’s she spat, ing since then, as I previously said.
“And I suppose if I ask how many You never listen to me!”
of these guns you’ve shot in eight “That’s it, Tom! Just keep your
years, you’d say ‘three’ because guns. I give up.”
of that black one you used when “OK, thanks! Now if you’ll
you were duck hunting in Alberta. excuse me, I have to head to the
Right?” garage and count fishing rods. Care
“Well … not actually,” I help- to join me?”
fully offered. “That’s one of those “NO!”n
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 51
 GIANTS in the
EARTH
A
chain saw snarling wood to a nearby splitter.
in the neighborhood For a moment I imagined a
one winter morn- hunting party from the distant past.
ing prompted my They had killed a huge animal and
curiosity. the tribal village would
Who was have meat for weeks. The
cutting? What were they scene of triumph and joy
cutting and why? before me brought to mind
Deciding to snoop, I those flickering black-and-
arrived to a buzz of activ- white travelogues of my
ity. A half-dozen people youth: memories of pyg-
were swarming over an mies cutting up an African
enormous beech they had elephant, Eskimos butcher-
toppled. The ing a whale.
growl of not
one chain saw,
Michigan Meanders Similar
events prob-
but two, filled
the air. One
By Tom Huggler ably occurred
right here
man lopped in southern
naked branches while another dis- Michigan in the days when giants
sected the massive tree’s gray trunk. walked the land. The giants were
Other workers dragged away the mastodons and mammoths, and the
limbs and rolled the heavy wheels of hunters were Ice Age natives. To
Tom Carney
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52 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
Mastodon skeleton at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Natural History.
date, the oldest discovery is bones was recording his own history
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land County some 24,000 years ago, mastodons might have been in their
between the third and fourth glacia- last stage of existence.
tions that blanketed Michigan.
Radiocarbon dating suggests that
I recall reading a selection of
scientific papers called “Michigan’s
mammoths became extinct here, as
well as throughout the world, about
Ice Age Behemoths” that appeared
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of thousand years. long curving tusks.
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feet at the shoulder and weighed
eight to 10 tons. They ate as much as
700 pounds of vegetation each day
and lived to be 60 to 80 years old.
Mastodons were smaller, weighing
four to six tons and standing eight to
10 feet at the shoulder. Oddly, mast-
odon skulls were larger. Besides
size, scientists are able to tell apart
the two species by studying their
different tooth structure and shape of
ivory tusks.
You can see a skeletal mount of
a female mastodon at the University
of Michigan Exhibit Museum in Ann
Arbor. A larger mastodon, thought
to be male, is at the Highland Lakes
Campus of Oakland Community
College in Union Lake.
Whole and nearly whole skel-
etons like these are rare indeed.
Typically, researchers have only a
few bones and in some cases a single
tooth to go on.
Since the state’s first discovery
along Calhoun County’s Rice Creek
in 1834 or 1835, scientists have
documented more than 200 mast-
odon finds from 41 counties and
about 50 mammoth remains from
25 counties. Other finds from these
and other Michigan counties are not
species-specific. All locations have
occurred south of the 44th parallel
of latitude, or roughly below a line
from Ludington to Standish.
Originally subtropical animals,
the huge mammals wandered into
North America from Europe and
Asia across the Bering Land Bridge
as long ago as 18 million years. In
time they spread across the conti-
nent from the Arctic to Florida. The
arrival of their cold-loving descen-
dants in Michigan coincided with the
retreat of glaciers from the southern
Lower Peninsula.
Maybe the last ice wave hung on
too long for the right mix of plants
to grow in northern Michigan. An-
other theory suggests the creatures
were attracted to salt deposits (as are
modern-day elephants), which are
abundant in Michigan south of the
44th parallel.
Pollen studies from soils un-
earthed with bones tell researchers
a great deal about climate changes
and vegetation. About 13,000 years
ago when the first humans arrived in
Lower Michigan, ponds and sedge
marsh dominated the landscape,
and forest cover was scattered and
sparse.
As the weather cooled, spruce
forests appeared and then were
followed by pine and oak-hickory.
These changes allowed mastodons
and mammoths to live together for
about 4,000 years following the
glacial retreat.
Mastodons, though, had a
broader tolerance for diverse habi-
tats, ranging from needle-bearing
and broadleaf forests to swamps
and open grasslands mixed with
meadows. Mammoths, on the other
hand, roamed more treeless habitats
including prairie, tundra and taiga.
For this reason, mastodons may
have outnumbered mammoths in
Michigan by a five-to-one ratio. In
prairie Nebraska the opposite is true:
Mammoths had the upper hand by a
ratio of eight to one.
Most mastodon remains have
been found in swamps and bogs as-
sociated with peat, marl and muck.
Attracted to these lowland sites for
shelter and food in winter, the heavy
animals probably broke through and
could not free themselves. The partly
frozen mats of vegetation in these
“quaking bogs” became traps and
then graves. Acid conditions helped
preserve the hapless creatures.
There is no “smoking gun”
evidence that humans in Michigan
actually hunted either beast. Howev-
er, cut marks on bones and arrange-
ment of skeletons and other evidence
indicate they butchered the animals,
perhaps when they were already
trapped and dead or dying.
But there is no doubt that early
natives in Nebraska hunted mammals
with Clovis spear points designed for
killing big game. Researchers have
found similar “fluted” spear points in
southern Michigan. If active hunting
occurred here, it could have led to
the animals’ demise.
About 40 years ago an Ionia
County man found a mastodon molar
from the bank of a drainage ditch
a few miles north of my property.
Twenty years before that most of a
mastodon skeleton was excavated
only two miles south of my home.
I know these very giants, and
others like them, had to walk my
land.
To be sure, there were no chain
saws then. There may have been no
beech trees for them to rub against
or strip clean of leaves. All the
same, imagination insists the neigh-
borhood will never be the same.n

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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 53
 Another
Bucket List
Destination!
By John Bergsma

I
absolutely love going to Canada and
experiencing the pristine scenery and
unspoiled lakes that it offers. Last spring,
I was invited to visit a place that is truly
unique, Kesagami Wilderness Lodge.
This famed Northern Ontario lodge has
long been on my radar as a place I wanted to go.
It’s been known for decades as one of the best
“Big Pike” lakes anywhere in Ontario.
My trip began at Cochrane Air Service, and
after a very pleasant flight, I arrived to the service
that Charlie McDonald and the staff at Kesagami
are famous for. As we got off the plane we were
immediately greeted by Charlie and a gang of
attentive staff. They took all our gear directly
to our cabins while we took a scenic stroll up to
the main lodge for a fresh homemade breakfast The author, John Bergsma with a monster nor thern pike taken on this bucket list trip.
then we were shown our cabin and our guide was
waiting there to take us out for an exciting first the lake inside and out. This was the first of many pleasant surprises on
day of fishing! Jake, our guide, was flat out awe- I was here to just relax and catch fish. We this trip. Walleye fishing at Kesagami is as fast
some. He, like all the guides at Kesagami, knew warmed up on 20-30 walleye at the first stop. and furious as I have ever experienced. The cool

with your host

n B e r g sm a
Jo h Now on...
CBSSN: Saturday’s at 7:30 a.m January-March
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Online viewing at: www.fishermansdigest.com
Visit our website and find out about . . .
• Destinations • Fishing Reports •
• Our Show • Cooks Corner •

54 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS


thing about it was that it was simple fishing.
No live bait, we simply dragged small jigs and
brightly colored grub bodies. Our best bait ended
up being a Strike King crappie body called a
Shad Pole in the 2-inch size. The best colors were
Green/White, Pink/Green and the ever reliable
Chartreus/Green.
I used 1/8 oz. jigs. That is another awesome
thing about Kesagami, it’s not a deep lake. This
makes for easy fishing as you’re not having to
search the depths for fish, but rather just back-
trolling or fast drifting the edges of rock and
gravel flats. The numbers here are flat out amaz-
ing. The one day we kept track of our fish count,
we stopped at 176 walleye and many medium
sized pike mixed in. While advertised as a great
pike lake, this may well be one of the best wall-
eye lakes in Ontario as well!
The northern pike is the king of Kesagami,
and I got my fill of catching 30 to 43-inch pike.
This fishery is very exciting because it is a shal-
low water presentation, and there are so many
spots to fish. Basically, the entire lakeshore is
covered with pencil reeds and cabbage. Anyone
who knows pike fishing would just salivate at all
the perfect pike habitat. Miles and miles of shal-
low weeds, reeds and rock points and gravel bars
make for an endless number of great spots to fish.
There are a few baits that you should bring
with you. My top three producers were 4-6-inch
This recipe was provided by Chef Grant Bergsma at Fisherman’s Digest TV. For more recipes and excellent
video fishing reports check out www.fishermansdigest.com or on Facebook@Great Lakes Fishermans Digest.
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King 4.5-inch Rage Craw in white. I’ve come to 15.5 oz red beans
label this the “best pike bait” in the world. 15.5 oz can kidney beans
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worm hook, I rig the Rage Craw to fish weed- 14 oz white mushrooms (chopped)
less. There’s a groove already in the bait to help 1 Vidalia onion diced
you with this. You can fish it weightless in very 8 oz banana peppers
shallow water or peg some weight (1/8 to 1/2 oz.) 1.25 lb fresh ground pork
directly in front of the bait. How much weight 1.25 lb ground beef
depends on how deep you want to get. This setup 1 lb Country Smokehouse sausage
can be fished through any cover and pike and big of choice. quartered and diced
walleye simply crush it! ½ stick of butter
This is by far the best and easiest pike setup 2 oz garlic powder
I’ve ever tied on. The best colors are white or red. 2 oz salt
I fish this setup using a 24 inch 30 lb. Seagar flu- 4 oz chili powder
orocarbon leader. It’s durable and I’ve only been 1 oz pepper
cut off twice in two years of fishing this setup. 1 oz crushed red pepper flakes
The quality of the pike fishing was awesome. 1 tsp allspice
Our group caught dozens of pike from 30 inches
Directions
all the way up to my 43 inch behemoth. Most
Begin by melting butter in a large pot on
came in the shallow reed beds, but we did catch a
high. Once melted, add ground beef, pork,
few in the deep weeds that scatter throughout the
diced sausage and onions, and cook these in-
lake. My best day for size was a 34, 36, 39 and a
gredients on high for 5 minutes. Add the rest
43 incher. From the crazy attentive service, to in-
of the ingredients and bring back to a simmer.
credible food, to the best shore lunch, Kesagami
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 55
 TROLLING SPEED
Monitoring trolling speed both at the
surface and below the surface is how elite
anglers dial in trolling presentations. All
modern sonar/GPS units give excellent
Speed Over Ground trolling speeds, but
to get sub-surface trolling data requires
investing in a sub-surface probe such as
produced by Fish Hawk Electronics.

N
ext to target
depth, the most
important vari-
able associated
with trolling
can be summed
up in two
words... boat speed. Ironically most
avid trollers don’t fully understand
how boat or trolling speed pro-
foundly influences fishing success.
Understanding trolling speed is
also essential for anglers who plan
to mix two or more common fishing
presentations in the same trolling
pattern. Say for example you want
to fish bottom hugging lake trout
using the classic dodger and Yakima
Spin-n-Glow combination. This
rig fishes best at 1.7 to 1.9 MPH.
Mixing this presentation with a lead
core and spoon program wouldn’t
work out well as most spoons have
their best action at speeds above 2.0
MPH.
Understanding what trolling
speeds produce best with specific
trolling hardware is important, but
there is a lot more to understand
about trolling speed.
Triggering Strikes
Most serious anglers agree that
trolling speed is a decisive strike
triggering element. Because lure
action changes as boat speed is
increased and decreased, anglers can
fine tune a trolling bite by mak-
ing controlled adjustments to the
trolling speed. Often it only takes a
minor change in speed to literally
light up a bite!
This is precisely why many
trollers lecture to avoid trolling in a
straight line, but rather to troll in a
lazy “S” pattern. A wandering troll-
56 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
ing path is essentially speeding up
baits pulled on the outside turn and
at the same time is slowing down
those baits on the inside turn.
If while trolling the lazy “S” pat-
tern more bites are occur-
ring on the outside turn, this
is an indication that speed-
ing up the overall trolling
speed is in order. On the
other hand, if more bites are
coming on the inside turn
this is suggesting that slow-
ing down the overall speed
is in order.
On any
given day on
By Mark Romanack
the water the most productive troll-
ing speed is a mystery. The only
way to determine this variable is by
experimenting with speed until a
productive pattern emerges. Thanks
to modern GPS technology it’s
possible to monitor and also adjust
trolling speed down to variables of
just 1/10th of a mile per hour.
Making Small
Speed Changes
Historically, most open water
trolling chores have been conducted
with the help of a small gasoline
outboard commonly called the
“kicker.” Kicker motors these days
are largely four stroke outboards
that are noticeably finicky when it
comes to running at a consistent
RPM range.
Because four stroke outboards
don’t idle and slow troll at a con-
sistent RPM range, trolling speeds
tend to vary constantly while fish-
ing. Some might imagine this is an
advantage in terms of finding the
“most productive” trolling speed on
any given day. The problem is be-
cause the trolling speed is constantly
fluctuating, it’s tough to pin down
exactly what speed is triggering the
most strikes.
The solution to this
kicker motor problem is to
invest in an after-market
throttle control. Both wire-
less and hard-wired models
are on the market that use
a rheostat to stabilize the
speed and also to make
precise changes to trolling
speed. Panther
Marine Prod-
ucts is an in-
dustry leader in developing throttle
controls for outboard kicker motors.
Two Stoke Kickers
Many anglers might think that
the age of the two stroke kicker
motor has passed. The only two
stroke kicker still on the market is
produced by Evinrude, their 15 HO
E-Tec. Heavy duty, this engine was
built on the 25 HP E-Tec frame and
modified to create a kicker motor
that would bring to market some
critically important features.
The 15 HO has a push button
throttle control right on the tiller
handle. With a touch of a button,
the engine RPMs can be changed
in 50 RPM increments. This feature
makes it easy to dial in a specific
trolling speed and also to change
speeds quickly as needed.
The 15 HO also features a
reverse thrust prop that allows the
RPMs to be kept high, while at the
same time keeping trolling speeds
slow, slower yet and still slower.
This is one of the biggest problems
with four stroke kickers, they simply
can’t be idled down slow enough for
many fishing applications.
GPS Guided
Electric Motors
The gasoline kicker motor is the
workhorse of small boat trolling, but
increasingly more and more anglers
are also incorporating GPS guided
electric motors in their trolling
regiment. The advantages of these
electric motors are profound. For
one, because electric motor thrust is
controlled by a rheostat switch, it’s
possible to make and maintain very
precise changes in trolling speed.
Secondly, because these elec-
tric motors can be set to follow a
compass heading it’s possible to
duplicate productive trolling passes
in a way never before possible with
conventional trolling technology.
Thirdly, GPS guided electric
motors also allow anglers to set
down specific waypoints and pro-
gram the electric motor to navigate
from waypoint to waypoint. This
feature essentially allows the angler
to follow meandering weed edges or
drop-offs like a beagle following a
rabbit track!
The MotorGuide Xi5 uses the
unique Pinpoint GPS tracking
technology that allows anglers to
benefit from several critical trolling
functions including Heading Lock,
Route Playback and Cruise Control.
In the Heading Lock mode the unit
will follow a course and maintain
that course precisely. In the Route
Playback mode up to eight different
trolling routes can be programmed
and duplicated again and again.
The Cruise Control mode allows
for a trolling speed to be precisely
maintained while in Heading Lock
or Route Playback mode compensat-
ing for the effects of both wind and
current.
Two Motor Trolling
Since the invention of GPS
guided electric motors, a growing
number of anglers are incorporating
both a gasoline outboard and elec-
tric motor into their daily trolling
regiment. Depending on the target
trolling speed either a kicker motor
or a primary outboard can be used
to generate the desired speed. The
GPS electric motor is in turn used
to tweak trolling speed and also to
provide GPS navigation chores.
The Fishing 411 crew uses this
two motor trolling option routinely.
For salmon, trout, pike, musky and
warm water walleye fishing where
trolling speeds are 2.2 to 3.0 MPH
the primary outboard is generally
used in combination with the GPS
guided electric motor.
Many modern V6 outboard
motors have special throttle con-
trols that make it easy for anglers to
dial in specific trolling speeds. The
Evinrude G2 fly by wire throttle
controls can deliver amazingly re-
fined throttle adjustments. A digital
gauge clearly shows the percent-
age of throttle making it possible to
make adjustments as refined as 1%
of throttle!
For slower trolling speeds com-
monly used for targeting cold water
walleye, brown trout or lake trout,
a gasoline kicker motor is used in
combination with the GPS guided
electric motor.
When trolling at ultra-slow
speeds such as cold water crankbait
trolling walleye or live bait rigging,
trolling with just the GPS guided
electric motor is the ticket. A typical
36 volt electric motor will troll a
20 foot “walleye boat” for about 12
hours on a full battery charge.
Between the primary outboard,
kicker motors and GPS guided
electric motors, there are virtually
no trolling situations that can’t be
mastered with these products.
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Trolling
Speed at Depth
The trolling speeds indicated by
a GPS unit are of course the speed
over ground the boat is maintain-
ing at the water surface. Below the
surface things can be and often are
much different.
Subsurface currents are a
common problem associated with
trolling in the Great Lakes and other
deep water natural lakes. The Great
Lakes are actually a huge river
system, with the water flowing from
Lake Superior in the western Great
Lakes to where they drain into the
Saint Lawrence River.
Flowing steadily from a west-
erly to easterly direction, Great
Lakes anglers are faced with some
amazingly strong surface and also
subsurface currents. To complicate
matters, layers of water in the Great
Lakes tend to stratify further creat-
ing subsurface currents that are
impossible to monitor without the Retired Marine Jason Ostrander caught this impressive rainbow on
help of a subsurface probe. the author’s boat by paying close attention to both surface and
The Fish Hawk X4 Plus Depth is sub-surface trolling speeds. Mark Romanack photos
a probe that mounts to a downrigger
ball that effectively provides anglers X4 is it requires the use of a down- also show temperature preferences.
trolling speed, depth and critical rigger to deploy the probe. Fish A growing number of walleye an-
temperature information at depth. Hawk recently released a portable glers are also convinced that trolling
The system functions via a trans- sub-surface speed and temperature speed at depth is one of the most
ducer based signal eliminating any probe called the X2. This unit uses overlooked aspects of big water
need for special downrigger cables the same trustworthy probe used walleye fishing.
on the X4, but uses a short/stiff rod
to transfer data.
By monitoring the trolling speed
with a line counter reel to deploy the Summing It Up
probe. Braided line is loaded onto Trolling speed is one of those
at depth it’s possible to detect sub-
the reel and a special transducer fishing variables that seems straight
surface currents and make sure that slips over the line and runs about a forward, but in truth is a highly
trolling gear at depth is fishing at the foot under the surface. complex subject. Those anglers who
proper speed. Without the help of The transducer communicates embrace trolling speed as a means
electronics like the X4D unit an an- with the probe for critical tem- of triggering strikes are in the fast
gler is literally guessing what speed perature and trolling speed at depth track to fishing success. To the
his gear is fishing at depth. information. This data is displayed anglers who ignore trolling speed
Because a lot of trolling gear is on a portable LCD monitor. The and the impact it has on open water
highly speed sensitive, it’s critically whole X2 unit is small enough it trolling, maybe they would be more
important to know how fast gear is packs up into a handy carrying case, successful at golf?
trolling at depth. For example, most making it ideal for the small boat Mark Romanack is the host of
trolling spoons have their best ac- angler. Fishing 411 Television that broad-
tion at speeds from 1.9 to 2.5 MPH. The X2 not only provides the casts nationally on Sportsman Chan-
If at depth these lures fall below this small boat angler with critically nel and World Fishing Network.
threshold, the baits will have little important trout and salmon fishing Fishing 411 TV can also be viewed
action and produce poorly. data, this same information is being for free online at www.carbontv.com
The down side of the Fish Hawk used to target trophy walleye that and at www.myoutdoortv.com.n
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 57
 Black Powder Shooting Sports...

Not a passing fad

A
n inquisitive finger She nodded, then answered with a
tapped. “What can knowing grin. He worked his way
you tell me about this through the flow of people at the
gun?” the fifty-some- 2018 Woods-N-Water News Out-
thing gentle- door Weekend, held at the
man asked as Eastern Michigan State
his index finger slid along Fairgrounds in Imlay City.
the walnut stock of the “You’re a bird hunter, I
percussion, double-barrel gather?” I said as his wife
shotgun on the table. joined him.
“You’re a doubles “Yes, waterfowl, grouse
shooter, aren’t you?” I said and woodcock…and
with a smile. sometimes rabbits, too. I’ve
“Yes, I grew thought about try-
up with a Stevens
double 20-gauge.
By Dennis Neely ing grouse hunting
with a muzzleload-
The double-set trigger on a custom-made Dicker t rifle facilitates
quick ignition once the sight picture centers on the intended point
How did you er. Is that possible? of impact. After the shot, this new shooter exclaimed, “I gotta have
know? Is this gun for sale?” How Do I Get Started? one of these!” Wild River tree photos
“An educated guess. And no, This is a common question
it’s not for sale. We display these forty clubs that hold monthly black Learn Safe Handling
asked of folks in the black powder powder shoots. Some events are Another advantage of seeking a
muzzleloaders to show what’s avail- shooting sports. Everyone’s answer
able.” open to the public, others to club mentor is your shooting will start at
is a little different, but as the en- members only or prospective mem- an established muzzleloading range.
Not a minute before, the fellow thusiasm for burning black powder
in the camo hunting jacket with the bers. For most locales, a muzzle- Shooting on the “back forty” is fine;
bubbles forth, the explanations loading club exists within an hour’s however, the preferred method of
use-darkened suede patch on the touch on the same suggestions, in no
right shoulder gave a second, seri- drive or less. learning muzzleloading care and
specific order. The Michigan State Muzzle safe handling is at a range under the
ous glance at the table as he walked
by. He stopped quick, tugged at his Find a Mentor Loading Association’s website guidance of a qualified range officer
wife’s left elbow and spoke to her. Michigan is blessed with nearly (http://msmla.org/) compiles a and/or instructor. Just like modern
“State Shoot Schedule” with club firearms, the front-loading guns
locations and contact informa-

e n
have specific requirements for both

n J ki ns
tion. Each club has one or more loading and safe use.

e
knowledgeable individuals who Most Michigan clubs adhere to

L
concentrate on helping newcomers. the NMLRA’s “Rules and Regu-
A “loaner gun” for first-time shoot- lations,” which address not only
ers is never far away. In addition, match competition requirements, but

HUNT CLUB
the National Muzzle Loading Rifle
Association (812-667-5131) has a
network of field representatives in
each state ready and willing to assist
newcomers and veterans alike.
Relying on a mentor smooths
out the learning process and avoids
the frustrations and pitfalls of the
“trial and error” route. A mentor is a
Custom Gun Dog Training English Setters valuable resource when questions or
problems arise, or when searching
4989 Abbot Road • Reading, MI 49274 for a black powder rifle, shotgun or
pistol to purchase.
Hunts Conducted On
also present safe handling standards
in a simple, easy-to-understand
format. A designated range officer,
often holding NMLRA certification,
will be present for further assis-
tance.
Reasonable Expectations
Regardless of past experience
or marksmanship ability, embarking
on a black powder odyssey means
venturing into unfamiliar territory.
Allow for failures and setbacks, and
don’t expect pinpoint accuracy on

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58 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
the first shot. Burning charcoal is an
acquired habit that requires patient
practice to achieve a satisfactory
level of success—which is defined
by each individual.
Modern rifles, shotguns and
pistols all possess different ballistic
properties. They have strengths and
weaknesses, advantages and limita-
tions. Arms that use black powder as
a propellant have similar pluses and
minuses.
For example, a Civil War musket
or slug gun might be accurate to 500
yards or beyond; a heavy bench gun
or a German Schuetzen rifle is ca-
pable of a “50” at 200 yards; a fine
Pennsylvania longrifle might group
well at 150 yards; a choked, double-
barrel shotgun will break birds at 40
yards; and a French, smooth-bored
flintlock pistol will produce tight
groups at 25 yards. The capability
of each gun and the marksman who
controls it are the governing factors
when it comes to accuracy, just as
with modern arms.
Expect a Slower Pace
Plinking away with a .22-caliber
rifle, swinging a favorite over-and-
under on a true pair at the sporting
clays range or pinging steel silhou-
ettes with a couple clips of pistol
ammo relaxes and cleanses one’s
inner being. The same is true for
muzzleloading, but that exhilara-
tion is spread over 20 or so shots in
an afternoon. The time spent is just
as beneficial, but the pace is slower
and more deliberate.
Be Ready For
New Challenges
When many modern shooters
investigate the black powder shoot-
ing sports, they are “looking for
a change,” just as the upland bird
hunter was on that pleasant Septem-
ber Saturday.
Sights attract immediate
attention when a novice shoulders
a muzzleloader for the first time.
With a few exceptions, state and
national competitive matches
require sights that are consistent
with the original arms as they were
produced. Each category of historic
arms—bench rifles, chunk guns,
military muskets, trade guns—were
made with a specific style of sight. A
heavy reliance on open iron sights,
or some variation, is common. For
modern shooters who rely on scoped
arms, open iron sights are an adjust-
ment.
Some front-loaders employ
a “set trigger,” either single- or
double-set in nature. A set
trigger is a mechanical device
for releasing the lock by applying
a minimum of pressure, maybe
six ounces, on the trigger itself.
This is a vast improvement over
the simple trigger with a pull of
three pounds.
Trigger mechanisms vary, and
the intricacies of operation must
be studied before the first charge
of black powder tumbles down the
bore. The advantage of the set trig-
ger system is it allows the shooter
a quick, consistent dispatch of the
shot when the sight picture is per-
fect.
The notion that all muzzleload-
ers are “heavy” comes from the bar-
rel weight of the Hawken-style rifles
that were popular with the advent
of the muzzleloading deer seasons.
Barrel dimensions and bore diam-
eter determine a gun’s weight. This
holds true for rifles, smoothbores
and pistols.
The gun builders of two centu-
ries ago were conscious of weight
and use, just as manufacturers are
today. A classic Pennsylvania rifle
with a 42-inch swamped octagon
barrel (large at the breech and
muzzle with a thinner waist) offered
a balanced alternative to the earlier
straight barreled designs.
If a chosen style muzzleloader
includes a heavier barrel, today’s
shooter quickly adapts and meets
this challenge. When shooting
offhand the added weight becomes a
positive asset for those folks willing
to allow time to adjust their shooting
styles.
Cleaning is another area that
draws criticism from those outside
the sport. Experienced muzzleload-
ing fans consider the cleanup a part
of the nostalgia, just as modern
shooters take time to swab out the
bore and oil the action after a shoot-
ing session. Most mentors include
step-by-step instructions that sim-
plify the learning process, and for
many, cleaning is a time for social-
izing and good-natured kidding, too.
Keep a Shooting Journal
Once an individual’s curiosity
is tweaked, an “exploratory stage”
begins. This is a time of discovery,
a time for listening, learning and
taking notes. A blank-page jour-
nal, recipe cards, folded computer
paper or sticky notes placed in a file
folder all work. The idea is to record
fresh knowledge, both after the first
shooting session and as the journey
begins.
After purchasing that first muz-
zleloader, notes are invaluable when
one builds up his or her load and
learns about the foibles associated
with a specific black powder gun.
What’s Right For You?
For the upland bird hunter, a
reproduction double-barrel shotgun
was the best choice. The guiding
question is always, “What modern
arm do you like to shoot?” That
inquiry often leads to an overlooked
answer, “Then pursue your passion
with a muzzleloader!”
From there, the search for an
appropriate black powder arm can
begin. But realize that once the
plunge is taken, the black powder
shooting sports will become a long-
term journey…not a passing fad.
Now is the time to give the black
powder shooting sports a try, be safe
and may God bless you.n

Muzzle Loading State Events

Feb. 2 - MSMLA Annual Meeting: Eaton Rapids CC: 11 a.m.: 989-746-0723
Feb. 8-10 - Hog Rendezvous: Sauk Trail Long Rifles: Tecumseh: 517-879-3096
Feb. 10 - Woods Walk: Clinton River Muzzle Loaders
Detroit Sportsman Congress: 586-292-6821
Feb. 17 - Numb Skull Shoot: Bridgeport: 989-746-0723
For a complete 2019 shoot schedule, send a SASE or email to: Ron Fernwalt,
16808 Peach Ridge, Kent City, MI, 49330, or email Ron rbfern@triton.net
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 59
 Unlucky Buck
By Darryl Quidort

I
understand that over 60
percent of Michigan bow-
hunters are now using a
crossbow. Most of the rest
shoot a compound bow. I
guess that makes me the
oddball old guy that still hunts with
his old Black Widow recurve bow.
But that’s okay, I kinda like that
description.
For me, bowhunting is a close
range, intimate type of hunt. It’s
hunting that I actually prefer to do
alone. It takes time, sometimes quite
a bit of time, to get within close
range of an unalarmed buck with a
clear flight path for an arrow. That’s
part of the challenge that causes
me to slow down and enjoy the
whole hunting experience of sun-
rises, green pines, blue skies, falling
leaves, first frosts, and of course
buck rubs and scrapes. Successfully
taking a deer adds a sweet reward to
the enjoyment of bowhunting.
With my bow, I’m not a trophy
hunter. I make no excuse for the
small size of some of my buck’s
antlers because I don’t need a mea-
suring tape to determine if they are
a trophy. I feel that any deer taken
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with traditional gear on a well con-
ducted hunt is a trophy. My family
likes venison, and year after year
I’ve taken bucks with my simple
traditional archery gear. In fact, I’ve
kind of quit writing about it because
I’m not doing anything new or dif-
ferent; just bowhunting the way I
prefer to do it.
The ideal situation for me is a
completely relaxed, broadside deer movement ends during mid-morn-
at close range. The preferred shot ing. In the evening it seems like deer
is just behind the shoulder. A sharp movement just gets started when the
broadhead arrow that pierces both hunt is ended by darkness. Besides,
lungs will cause a quick ending. I’d much rather shoot a deer when
I don’t like to watch a deer die. there is plenty of time to track it,
Hopefully, they run just out of sight recover it, take photos, drag it out,
to crash. After giving them enough and hang it up without the need for a
time for a dignified death, I follow flashlight or lantern.
up and recover my deer. A buck I One morning last fall I was
took this past fall was kind of un- hunting in an area where deer travel
usual though; not the deer itself, just as they leave private ground and
the situation. cross over into a large tract of state
There is some sort of magic in land where they bed down for the
morning hunts. It just feels “right” day. Why they do that is a mystery
to be out there at daylight to watch to me. They’d be safer if they stayed
the sunrise for another day in the fall on the private land.
woods. I’ve taken far more bucks in Anyway, by daylight I was in my
the morning than on evening hunts. stand in the middle of a thick area
It seems that after daylight the hunt- that deer naturally move through.
ing gets better and better until deer It wasn’t long before a big doe and
two fawns came through. I didn’t
move a muscle as they went by me
at close range and continued on
without a clue I was there. That was
good, because other deer might then
follow the same route.
After a while three more ant-
lerless deer approached. As they
casually passed on the other side of
me that wise old doe noticed where
I had walked to my stand. That was
bad. But, a buck came along just
then and distracted her. That was
good. However, she soon decided to
solve the mystery of the track and
began to follow me to my tree stand.
That was bad. However, the buck
decided to follow close behind her.
That could be good if she brought
Zip
him within range. She advanced un-
til she was getting into good shoot-
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Lucky hunter.
Unlucky buck.
ing range when she became
tired of the game, turned and
slowly headed for the state land.
The buck, however, advanced
on my trail for a few more steps.
This was getting good. Then he
stopped and stared longingly at the
doe as she walked away. I figured
that he would turn and follow her…
and I was ready.
I drew my bow as he slowly
turned and shot when he was broad-
side. I shoot with both eyes open
and I clearly saw the arrow in flight.
The shot looked good, until he sud-
denly dropped down and spun away
from me at the sound of the string.
The razor sharp arrow, that would
have hit him in the chest, passed just
over his shoulder as he spun away
and hit him solidly in the back of
the head. To my astonishment, the
buck dropped like a heavy stone.
I expected that he might jump up
and run, so I quickly drew a second
arrow and shot him again. He never
regained his feet.
Some say it is better to be lucky
than good. Even though I felt that I
had made a good shot, it was pure
luck to get that deer. More than once
I’ve had them jump the string at that
distance and cause a complete miss.
This time dumb luck handed me a
punched tag, meat for the freezer
and a successful hunt. All I can say
is, thanks!
The buck did everything right.
His senses were true, his reflexes
were quick and his escape action
was sure. He was simply one un-
lucky buck.n

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60 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
 $3.6 million to help
battle invasive species
Several promising new developments to fight
invasive pests on land and in water...
T
he Michigan depart-
ments of Environmen-
tal Quality, Natural
Resources, and
Agriculture and Rural
Development an-
nounced that more than two dozen
projects will share $3.6 million in
Michigan Invasive Species Grant
Program funding.
The full list of grant recipients,
project descriptions and award
amounts is available on the Michi-
gan Invasive Species Grant Program
website.
Since its start, the program has
targeted four key objectives:
• Preventing new introductions
of invasive species through outreach
and education.
• Monitoring for new invasive
species and the expansion of exist-
ing invasive species.
• Responding to and conducting
eradication efforts for new findings
and range expansions.
• Strategically managing and
controlling key colonized species.
This year’s grant awards pro-
vide funding for several projects
involving promising new methods
of reducing the effects of terrestrial
(land-based) invasive species:
• Using new techniques to
increase development of beech trees
that are resistant to beech bark dis-
ease. These trees will be planted in
the Upper and Lower peninsulas.
• Grafting selected ash trees that
have survived the emerald ash borer
and testing them for resistance, with
the goal of developing stock that
could be used for restoration plant-
ings.
• Testing a newly approved
biological control, Hypena opulenta
– a moth from the Ukraine whose
larvae primarily feed on invasive
black and pale swallow-wort vines –
to determine its ability to establish,
reproduce and help control these
vines in Michigan.
Some of the grant dollars also
will support a range of efforts to
prevent and manage aquatic (water-
based) invaders:
• Understanding the effects of
European frogbit on Great Lakes
coastal wetlands and gauging the
success of hand-harvesting as a
management tool.
• Determining if the presence of
didymo (also known as “rock snot”)
in the Upper Peninsula’s St. Marys
River affects spawning locations or
success for salmon, trout and white-
fish, and if scraping and removing
the invasive alga will reduce its
spread.
• Increasing retailer adoption
and consumer awareness of the
Reducing Invasive Pet and Plant Es-
capes (RIPPLE) campaign through- Didymo (also known as “rock snot”), first documented in the St.
out the state. Marys River in 2015, is spreading and could be affecting fish habi-
Descriptions and photos of the tat in the area. MDNR photo
referenced terrestrial and aquatic
invasive species (and many others) invasive species. These CISMAs $9 million in funding. Thirty-seven
are available on the Michigan Inva- provide service to all 83 counties applicants responded to the full
sive Species website under Species throughout the state. Proposed out- proposal invitation, requesting $5.4
Profiles and Reporting Information. comes of CISMA projects receiving million in grants. Applicants were
Grant program background and funding this year include: asked to commit to providing at
progress • Surveying 11,000 acres of land least 10 percent of the total project
In 2014 Gov. Rick Snyder and and water. cost in the form of a local match.
the state Legislature designated $5 • Treating at least 3,000 acres to Learn more about invasive
million in annual funding to ad- eliminate invasive species. species – including control efforts,
dress invasive species. This support • Directly reaching more than species identification and educa-
substantially enhanced Michigan’s 20,000 residents and visitors tion and outreach opportunities – at
Invasive Species Program for through workshops, site visits and michigan.gov/invasivespecies.
aquatic organisms, supported a for- education programs. Michigan’s Invasive Species
mal program for terrestrial species, More than $9 million sought Program is cooperatively imple-
and initiated the Michigan Invasive • In response to a May 2018 mented by the Michigan depart-
Species Grant Program. request for grant pre-proposals, 63 ments of Agriculture & Rural Devel-
This cycle marks the fifth year applications were received in June, opment, Environmental Quality and
of program funding. To date, $18.5 seeking a total of approximately Natural Resources.n
million has been awarded to sup-
port 109 projects undertaken by
units of government, nonprofits and
institutions. Because of Michigan’s
Invasive Species Grant Program:
• More than 285,000 acres of
land and water have been surveyed
for invasive species.
• Over 18,000 acres have been
treated for invasive terrestrial and
aquatic plants.
• 147,000 people have been
reached with invasive species edu-
cation and promotion through direct
contact, including face-to-face inter- predator hunnting doesn’t need to end once the sun
actions at boat washes, workshops,
trainings and other events. goes down. with our exclusive nightsnipe hunting
• An additional 10,042,072 peo- lights you can safely and effectively target
ple were reached through grantees’ coyotes, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, wild hogs and
“passive impression” efforts in areas other predators at night.
including mail, newspapers, social
media and handouts.
“It’s clear that Michigan’s Expertise and sales in all Hunting
Invasive Species Grant Program is
accomplishing many of the goals
set for the program at the very
Lighting, Thermal / Night Vision scopes
start,” said DNR Director Keith
Creagh. “The fight to stop, contain
and handheld scanning devices.
and eradicate invasive species from
Michigan’s woods and water is criti- Contact us today! • 1(855) 766-4364
cal to the long-term protection of www.predatorhunteroutdoors.com
these valuable natural resources, and
this grant program is helping in that
www.predatorthermaloptics.com
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Support in every Michigan county
This year’s grants also will sup-
port 21 regional Cooperative Inva-
Preadtor Hunter Outdoors
sive Species Management Areas, the 166 S. Lake Pleasant Rd
network of partnership organizations
that work to manage and control Attica, MI 48412
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 61


TROPHY PAGE
Keeping it Alleysha
traditional; Gee took
Ralph her first
Kotecki Sr., buck on
72, of the second
Fruitport day of gun
took this season
nice 10- hunting
pt. Nov. 1 Atrium
hunting Co. This
state land 6-pt. beast
in Mecosta weighed
Co. with 200
climber pounds
tree stand with an
and 18 ½ inch
recurve inside Mike Lecklider took this monster
bow. spread. 8-pt. Dec. 8 in Huron County

Mark
Jahn of
Jeddo
took
this 6-pt.
north-
west of
Escana-
ba on
Father/Son success on the family farm in Nov.16.
Montcalm County; Brad Wilson of Livonia
took a pair of bucks; a 9-pt. on Nov. 15
and an 8-pt. on Nov. 16. Richard Wilson
of Northville took his 8-pt. with a cross- Kriss Hahn of Midland took this
bow on Nov. 3. 8-pt. on Nov. 27.
Conner Garett
Dove, 11, Hyde,
of Avoca hunt-
took this
Tate
Gerald ing with
nice 7-pt. Caverly his dad
Dove Mike,
during
Jr. from took
the took
Avoca this 8-pt. his first
youth
hunt took opening deer, a
with one this nice day of 6-pt.,
8-point using a
shot from firearm .44 mag
a Rem- buck on during
ington Nov. 18 season.
the
870 youth Matt Perkowski of
12 hunt. Clay took this buck
gauge. with his bow.

Niko
Voutsaras
took this
8-pt. in
Eaton
County at
Brother/Sister Successful Bear Hunts: Victoria
221 yards and Christopher Kavanaugh each took black
using bears this fall thanks to the help of their Grand-
his .450 parents who made sure their blinds were set up
Trevor Franks, 13, of perfectly and they picked them up every day af-
Seven-year-old twin Eldridge brothers of Bushmas- ter school in Petoskey to take them out hunting.
Paw Paw took this
Mt. Pleasant took a pair of bucks; (left) ter. Victoria, 13, took her 260 lb. bear during the first
6-pt. hunting VanBu- season. Brother Christopher, 14, took his bear,
Jaxson a 6-pt. and Jaydon an 8-pt. ren Co. Nov. 15. 175 lb. with a bow during the second season.
62 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
 

TROPHY PAGE

Rick Casey of Paw Paw had this

Andy Clouse took this nice
8-point hunting during the
archery season Nov. 9 near
Decker in the Thumb area.
Nate Nielsen of Brigh-
ton took this tall tined
8-point.
Trace Stolecki, 8, is now dandy buck on trail cam photos in
hooked for life on hunt- velvet and on Nov. 15 he took the
ing after taking his first 140 inch, 10-pt. buck.
deer, this nice 7-pt. in
Macomb Co. Oct. 19
with the help of his dad,
uncle, papa and cousin.

Noah James
Kuenker, Shevock,
14, took 13, of
this nice Cedar
7-pt. Spring
hunting took his
Nov. 15 biggest
with his buck Anthony Jekielek with his first career
ever this bow buck, a 9-pt. taken Nov. 11 and
grand- on Nov. 17 he took this wide 8-pt.
pa. year.
with rifle in Alcona Co. First time tak-
Brynn Anderson, Amanda ing two mature bucks. Management
12 of Grand Ledge Mortensen, 16, took paying off on his private land and is
took her first buck her first buck, a 6-pt.
hunting Eaton Co. in Montcalm Co. blessed and thankful for opportunity.
Matt
Eichorn Emily
took Jonathon Lantzer,
this 7-pt. Kepich took 14, took
hunting a spike
this nice horn, 5
opening 8-pt. buck minutes
day of on Nov. 24 later
firearm in Mason took a
season in County. doe with
Gratiot a cross-
County. bow.

Keith
Apple-
bee, 72,
took
his first
turkey
with a
cross-
bow.
And it’s
a rare Parker Mitchell
Elena Williams caught and smoky
released this 38” tiger muskie Paige Moyle of Alma gray! took this nice look-
while fishing Anchor Bay John Koresky, caught this caught this huge salmon ing 8-pt. hunting
with boyfriend Joe Raska, giant 50-inch muskie on in the bay of Sheboygan,
the best guide ever. Wisconsin.
Isabella County.
beautiful Lake St. Clair.
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 63
 The U.P. fight against CWD continues
W
hen a 4-year-old doe was con-
firmed positive for chronic wast-
ing disease in Dickinson County
in October, it was the first time
this deadly disease affecting por-
tions of Michigan’s white-tailed
deer herd had been found in the Upper Peninsula.
For many, including hunting groups and govern-
ment officials, who had been involved in cooperative
efforts over the past few years to inform the public
and prepare hunters for CWD’s potential arrival, this
eventual detection was anticipated.
However, for many others, news of the presence
of the disease was unexpected and shocking.
“This was no longer obscure and distant, some-
thing affecting only parts of the state below the
Mackinac Bridge,” said Terry Minzey, Michigan De-
partment of Natural Resources U.P. regional wildlife
coordinator. “This was now here in their backyard.”
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal nervous system
disease found in animals from the family Cervidae,
including deer, moose and elk. The disease attacks
the brain of infected animals, creating small lesions,
which result in neurologic symptoms. The disease is
always fatal in animals that contract it.
The announcement had come five weeks before
the Nov. 15 opening day of the firearm deer hunt-
ing season, followed by an initial flood of questions
from hunters, farmers, meat processors and others.
Many people wanted to know whether the DNR had
checked to see what other states had done to confront
CWD. In fact, Michigan is recognized as a leader in
battling the disease.
“While chronic wasting disease might be new to
some people, it’s by no means new to the DNR,” said
Russ Mason, DNR Wildlife Division chief. “Since
2015, when the first free-ranging deer was found with
CWD in Ingham County, we’ve been taking action
based on our surveillance and response plans devel-
oped in 2012.”
In the U.P., DNR wildlife biologists had been
conducting disease testing in Michigan counties bor-
dering Wisconsin, testing the heads of deer collected
from roadsides, found dead or shot on farms through
deer damage shooting permits.
“It was part of this testing surveillance effort
we had been working on for about three years that
led to the infected doe being discovered,” said Craig
Albright, the DNR Wildlife Division’s U.P. field
operations manager. “There have also been publicity
and information efforts, including billboards erected,
television programs and radio spots produced, and
fliers and other materials developed.”
A U.P. CWD Task Force created roughly three
years ago by Michigan Natural Resources Commis-
sioner J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon was convened
to help hunting groups, lawmakers and others under-
stand CWD, its effects on deer and measures – such
as mandatory deer testing or restricting of baiting and
feeding – that might potentially be ordered should
CWD arrive in the region.
The task force drafted recommendations to the
DNR and NRC, suggesting measures taken in the
U.P. should vary from those implemented in Lower
Michigan, based on a variety of differences in geo-
graphic and deer-herd dynamics.
“The task force delegates also serve as messen-
gers to their members and constituencies,” said NRC
Chairwoman Vicki Pontz. “Their getting out ahead of
everything was very helpful. Their proactive involve-
ment has been extremely important.”
A webpage containing multiple tools for CWD
education was created at michigan.gov/cwd.
In the fall of 2017, a CWD symposium was held
in Lansing, bringing experts together from around the
world to talk about the latest science on the disease
64 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
By John Pepin - MDNR
and best management practices. Not long after those
discussions, which were taped and provided on the
webpage, the Michigan Natural Resources Commis-
sion and the DNR announced the creation of a nine-
member CWD Working Group.
“This group was charged with developing recom-
mendations on additional actions to take to sub-
stantially mitigate CWD in Michigan,” Mason said.
“They reported their initial findings in January.”
For the next six months, the NRC and DNR took
to the road to solicit information from hunters and
others on deer regulations and management of CWD
in Michigan.
“We collected feedback at 11 public engagement
meetings held in cities across the state,” said Sara
Thompson, a DNR wildlife biologist and CWD logis-
tics coordinator. “We also gathered comments from
the public through an online survey and comment
periods at NRC meetings and other venues.”
Having collected and considered this public input,
gathered scientific data and evaluated the CWD
management approaches of other states, the DNR
presented a series of recommendations to the NRC
in June. In August, the NRC approved several deer
hunting regulations aimed at slowing the spread of
chronic wasting disease.
Two months later, when the deer confirmed with
CWD was discovered in Waucedah Township in
Dickinson County, the DNR took several immediate
steps to get a CWD response plan on the ground and
moving.
“The first thing we needed to do was to get a lot
more deer heads to test to find out how far the disease
may have spread,” Minzey said. “To do this we set up
two concentric surveillance areas centered around the
site of the infected deer.”
A roughly 10-mile-radius core surveillance area
– encompassing 661 square miles – was created.
Outside the core CWD surveillance area, the DNR
created a 75-mile-radius expanded surveillance area.
The DNR set goals to test 600 deer heads for
CWD from the core surveillance area and 300 more
from the wider area.
Landowners located within 2 miles of the infected
doe (index case) were offered free disease control
permits to shoot deer on their properties. Private land
antlerless deer licenses were also available in select
deer management units.
“We urged hunters to test their deer voluntarily,”
Albright said. “We needed to get a statistically viable
sample large enough to help us reliably predict our
conclusions about how far the disease has spread.”
The DNR increased hours at check stations within
the surveillance areas and constructed several drop
boxes for after-hours deer head submissions.
“The response from hunters was tremendous,”
Mason said. “We were able to meet and surpass our
surveillance goals.”
As of Dec. 7, lab staffers have tested 758 deer
from the core surveillance area and 675 from the
expanded surveillance area, with no additional CWD-
suspected positive deer found.
“Numerically, we reached our goals, but geo-
graphically, we have some gaps we need to fill to gain
a better understanding of the situation,” Minzey said.
Disease lab personnel produced a monumental ef-
fort to process thousands of deer throughout the year.
At the DNR’s Wildlife Disease Laboratory, per-
sonnel have tested nearly 22,000 deer for CWD this
year.
Meanwhile, since July, just over 16,000 deer
from across the state have been tested for CWD at
the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory – a pace set to break last fiscal year’s total
of 19,818.
To efficiently handle high-volume CWD testing
without impacting turnaround time of other tests,
the veterinary disease lab created a dedicated CWD
testing area this hunting season and trained additional
personnel to increase testing capacity. The laboratory
began planning for the 2018 hunting season several
months in advance, due to the anticipated increase in
surveillance and submissions from hunters.
“Our partnership with the Michigan Department
of Natural Resources, especially our close relation-
ship and proximity to the Wildlife Disease Labora-
tory co-located in our building, has been essential
to providing the support needed for the DNR’s
surveillance efforts,” said Rachel Reams, lab direc-
tor. “Regular updates from them helped us to plan,
purchase adequate supplies and arrange for staffing to
handle the number of samples this year. Even on the
busiest days, when our technicians were processing
up to 1,200 samples, they felt equipped to handle the
volume and turnaround time.”
No new regulation changes were imposed for
the 2018 hunting seasons in the U.P., following the
October CWD detection. A decision on supplemental
feeding of deer for this winter was postponed pending
results of the surveillance effort.
“In the weeks ahead, we will be looking at the
path forward to determine whether any emergency
measures are necessary that would produce changes
to hunting or feeding regulations for the U.P.,” Pontz
said. “We are currently in the second year of a three-
year cycle for deer hunting regulations. We wouldn’t
regularly consider changing anything until after three
years.”
Whatever is eventually decided, those decisions
will be made with the latest science, the informed
recommendations of DNR wildlife biologists and the
continued valuable input of hunters, the U.P. CWD
Task Force and the general public.
“We’ve all worked together as a successful team
thus far,” Mason said. “The best way forward is to
maintain that cooperation to help keep Michigan rec-
ognized among the country’s leading states in battling
this disease.”
Learn the answers to some frequently asked ques-
tions about chronic wasting disease. Visit the CWD
webpage for the latest updates, video lectures from
the symposium, surveillance area maps, the CWD
response plan and more at michigan.gov/cwd.n
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Michigan’s Premier Outdoor Publication
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 65
 Hot Topic...My Thoughts...My Views...My Opinions
Trotter MUCC’s new executive director
Dan Eichinger appointed to Director of MDNR...
I
n late December, Michigan
United Conservation Clubs
Executive Board named
MUCC Deputy Director
Amy Trotter the next execu-
tive director of the orga-
nization. Dan Eichinger submitted
his resignation and was appointed
as the new director of the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources
by Governor-elect Gretchen Whit-
mer, effective January 1. He served
as MUCC executive director since
2014.
“We are honored to have one
of our own be selected to such a
prestigious position like DNR direc-
tor,” said MUCC President George
Lindquist. “Dan’s passion for policy
and conservation is something we
are sure he will carry to his new ap-
pointment, and we look forward to
working closely with him in his new
post.”
Lindquist said the transition
from Eichinger to Trotter as ex-
ecutive director will run smoothly
The Michigan Pheasant Hunting Initiative
O
ne small group of
sportsman has suc-
cessfully worked
with our state
government and
the Michigan DNR
to put in place a change that could
ultimately greatly increase hunting
opportunities for small game hunt-
ers in our state. Our story starts
with one man named Ken Dalton,
a retired GM auto worker living in
Attica, Michigan.
A lifelong hunter, Ken saw the
number of ring neck pheasants
steadily decline from the 1970s
until now. With that he saw that the
number of people hunting pheasants
on public lands drop as well. Michi-
gan pheasant hunters were going to
other states when they could not find
enough birds here, even on private
land.
Many groups including Pheas-
ants Forever had programs to create
or improve pheasant habitat and
though these efforts were somewhat
successful the downward trend for
pheasant hunters seemed to con-
tinue. To counteract this Ken de-
cided to do something. He could not
stand the thought of young people
today not being able to chase rooster
66 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
because of Trotter’s institutional
knowledge and policy background
with the organization.
“Amy has dedicated most of her
professional career to conservation
and Michigan United Conservation
Clubs,” Lindquist said. “The board
is confident Amy will continue to
build on the foundation Eichinger
built and help to make MUCC a
21st-century conservation leader.”
Trotter said it is always hard
to lose someone as passionate as
Eichinger, but she looks forward to
working with him in his new posi-
tion to help promote and enhance
MUCC’s position regionally and
nationally.
“I look forward to leading the
organization I have been dedicated
to for the last 11 years,” Trotter
said. “Dan and I have known each
other for at least a decade, and we
are both committed to ensuring that
the agency and conservation and
hunting, fishing and trapping groups
are working together to conserve
Guest Column By Carl Griffin
pheasants as he did when he was
a boy. This led to his forming the
Michigan Pheasant Hunting Initia-
tive (MPHI) with a goal of estab-
lishing a state sponsored pheasant
release program so that experienced
or beginning small game hunters of
average means could successfully
bag pheasants on state land in South-
ern Michigan.
Ken reasoned if 20 other states
from Washington to Rhode Island,
including California, released pheas-
ants for their hunters Michigan
could as well. Making this a reality
became Ken Dalton’s mission. He
started a grass roots movement of
hunters who agreed with him and
went on to get the endorsement of
many local sportsmen’s organiza-
tions and the Michigan United Con-
servation Clubs (MUCC).
Ken faced many obstacles and
was told countless times that he
would never succeed but with the
help of individual members from
organizations like Pheasants Forever,
The Michigan Hunting Dog Federa-
tion, and Safari Club International
he forged on. He worked hard to
our natural resources and protect our
outdoor heritage.”
Trotter started with MUCC in
2007 as a resource policy specialist,
then policy manager and has served
as deputy director since 2015. Prior
to joining MUCC, Trotter was a
consultant for natural resources at
Public Sector Consultants, a non-
partisan public policy research firm
in Lansing.
Trotter earned a Bachelor
of Science from Michigan State
University in Lyman Briggs School-
Environmental Science and Man-
agement and an additional Bachelor
of Science in Resource Develop-
ment-Environmental Studies and
Applications. She also completed
the Natural Resources Leadership
Project and the Michigan Society of
Association Executives’ Academy of
Association Management.
Trotter is from Cheboygan,
Michigan and resides in Haslett with
her husband Marc and two daugh-
ters. She enjoys spending time with
convince state representatives and
senators that his ideas made sense.
Working with MUCC, wording was
drafted that found its way to the state
legislature where, as part of an ap-
propriations bill, it passed both hous-
es. When Governor Snyder signed
SB 601 it contained $260,000 for a
two year pilot to release pheasants
on public land for Michigan hunters
to pursue.
These special hunts could start
as early as 2019 but there is more to
the story. When the pilot program
proves to be successful it can grow
to include more pheasants planted
on additional state game areas. This
will require additional funding and
Ken is already working on getting it.
In 2017 the Unites States Fish
and Wildlife Service authorized
using Pittman-Robertson money
for the stocking of pen raised game
birds as long as doing that enhances
hunter recruitment, retention or
reactivation (3-Rs). It is classed as
Basic and Enhanced Hunter Educa-
tion funding and Michigan currently
receives around $4 million of these
dollars from the federal government
Amy Trotter, the next executive
director of MUCC.
her family in the outdoors, includ-
ing camping, waterfowl hunting
and is dabbling in native plants and
perennial gardening. She is also a
longtime member and volunteer for
Ducks Unlimited.
Since 1937, MUCC has been
committed to protecting the rights
of hunters, angler and trappers in
Michigan.n
yearly.
Ken is also working with the
state legislature on a plan for a
Michigan Pheasant Stamp. His vi-
sion is a program in Michigan that
is like Pennsylvania’s where 50,000
pheasant hunters buy a $26 stamp
for the right to hunt 220,000 pheas-
ants that are released on 90 state
game areas every year! The benefits
will be tremendous and include more
new hunters, older hunters going out
again, increased business for sup-
pliers and more money staying in
Michigan. The list can go on and on.
The lesson we should take away
from the MPHI success story is that
we, as hunters, can control our own
destiny when we work together
toward a goal and never give up. Our
state legislature, the DNR and the
NRC are not isolated unapproach-
able bodies that we have no control
over. Ken Dalton proved that. Be it
wolf hunts, dove hunts or sand hill
crane hunts, longer seasons, shorter
seasons, or antler point restrictions,
if an idea is sound and has enough
support it can become a reality.
For more info on The Michigan
Pheasant Hunting Initiative go to
www,mphi.info or call Ken Dalton
the Pheasident at 810-358-9373.n
 My Thoughts...My Views...My Opinions...My Humor
Price to stop Asian Carp goes up again
T
he “new” anti-Asian
carp plan is now up to
$778 million. Three
times the original
estimate given by the
Army Corps of En-
gineers less than a year ago. Quote
me: we’ll stop the Asian carp from
entering the Great Lakes region with
the same efficiency as the Wolverine
defense stopping a Gator touchdown
drive. We’ll score on these jump-
ing gems like the Spartan offence
against a Duck defense.
By the way, if you’re not a
football fan, neither of those two
things is very good. Actu-
ally, they’re really bad, aw-
ful in fact. But hey, we’re
not talking about a measly
$30-million that the Univer-
sity of Michigan has paid
Harbaugh to go 2-6 against
the power schools and 1-3
in bowl games. I guess
for $778 million someone
thinks we can finally defeat
Mother Nature.
It’s estimat-
ed that it would By Ron St. Germain
take about 3.3
billion to fix our roads. Add to that
deteriorating bridges, underfunded
schools, tainted drinking water,
tainted fish and wildlife, a growing
list of displaced workers and de-
prived senior citizens and here we sit
worried about a single fish and about
to spend upwards of a billion dollars
to stop it.
Recently the Governor gave
away $500,000 to three idealists
who presented ideas to stop the
Asian carp. The problem is, nobody
has a clue if these ideas will actually
work. These ideas consisted of ones
such as using deadly, harmful chemi-
cals that will kill “all” fish, including
the protected ones in a lock chamber.
How about propelled high
velocity exploding bubbles, strong
currents and my personal favorite,
a face recognition sorter. Like the
Asian carp won’t soon realize that if
they swim directly beside a common
carp, bass, or walleye they can get
past the monster collection device
and sneak into Lake Michigan. They
won’t figure out that if they swim
real fast before the face recognition
detects them, or even faster so the
sorter can’t catch them that they can
squirt through?
I’m not even convinced the
Army Corp’s overpriced lock
system is actually going to work.
Fish did get through their last idea.
Why would the Governor’s office
throw away $500,000 and conduct
a contest of unproven ideas if they
were 100 percent on board that the
Corp’s structure was going to work?
I think I’d rather bet on the Lion’s
making a Super Bowl than bet on
us stopping the Asian Carp. Illegal
immigrants might not make it over
Trump’s wall, but I’m waging a bet
that the Asian carp would as they
have already crossed land barriers to
unconnected waterways.
What is more likely to happen to
the average Michigan citizen? They
hit a monster pot hole and do dam-
age to their vehicle or to themselves
or others, or… they get smacked in
the face by a flying Asian carp?
Every year I like to ask the ques-
tion at least once. Every
year I never get an answer.
Since the 1800s when
invasive species began to
infiltrate the Great Lakes,
how many of the 180 have
we actually stopped?
My answer is 0.
Am I wrong?
I don’t understand then
why we continue to waste
money that could go to
better use on
trying to stop
something that
history has already proven is out of
our control.
I’m not a financial wizard. In
fact, I struggle to do my taxes. I still
stupidly pay for 270 channels when
I only actually watch about 10 of
them. The good news for you is that
I’m not in charge of our state budget.
But when I see us giving away mil-
lions of gallons of water to Nestle
for $200 during a time our Flint resi-
dents were begging for clean water;
when we’re going to spend millions
to keep probably the only safe eat-
ing fish in decades out of the Great
Lakes; when we can give away
$500,000 to ideas that are unproven
and most likely won’t even be used;
even my simple little non-numbers
mind see’s a huge problem.
Especially when the cost effec-
tive answer is to allow the Great
Lakes a chance to reestablish a sig-
nificant natural predator base, which
costs next to nothing. But, while
we continue to manage the lakes
for other preferred invasive species,
specifically salmon, it hampers the
chances of ever establishing a native
predator base that would attack the
invasive carp as well as gobies and
other unwanted invasives.
What we have is an impos-
sible strategic issue that stems from
the sole fact that “we” cannot stop
a single invasive species, not for
$100 and not for $778 million. The
invasive alewife has greatly contrib-
uted to the decimation of our native
predators. Alewives prey on native
predators that would in turn prey
on Asian carp and other unwanted
guests. The only fish that consistent-
ly dines on the alewife is the salmon,
which is also an invasive species
since it’s not native. Stop planting
salmon and the alewife population
will explode, further destroying
perch, walleye and other native
predator populations. It’s a vicious
never-ending unwinnable cycle.
The solution to the Asian carp
problem isn’t exploding bubbles,
fast currents, electricity, chemicals
or face recognition harvests. The
solution is to get rid of the alewives,
something we’ve been unable to do
since their arrival in the 1950s. No
alewives could mean no salmon, but
our predator base would rebound
and become the best defense against
the Asian carp and many other prob-
lem causing invasive species.
Or, change the Asian carp’s
name…I’ve been screaming about
this for 10 years. Call them the
St.Germain Silverfin for all I care,
just take carp out of it. Educate the
public on the edibility and nutrition-
al value of the Asian carp, because in
no way do they mimic the common
carp that has given the word carp a
bad name at the dinner table. Most
people at this point are not going to
put anything called a carp in their
mouth. Then, charge McDonald’s
to come harvest them for their Mc
St. Germain Silverfin or Filet O’
flying fish sandwiches. Start charg-
ing Nestle a fair price for harvest-
ing our water. Then take that $778
million and spend $55 million of it
to fix Flint’s water crisis and spend
the remaining millions on schools,
law enforcement, homeless vets, our
strapped retirees, roads, bridges and
whatever suitable issue we face. I’m
sorry, but if I’m in charge, I’m tell-
ing people how edible they are and
then I’m turning the public loose on
these things and they’ll be gone in
no time… FOR FREE!!!
In Nestle’s defense, I will state
that they have donated over 6-mil-
lion bottles of water to Flint since
2015 and are on board for more
donations this year. However, this
agreement didn’t come without a lot
of negative public pressure, and I’d
still charge them more than $200 a
year.
Think about this…you’re hiking
down a trail that leads to food and
you’re hungry. Along the path you
encounter exploding bubbles, strong
winds, lightning strikes, a face
recognition harvest machine and a T-
Rex dinosaur. Which of these things
are more likely to stop you from
finishing your hike? That’s right, the
T-Rex, because the T-Rex will eat
you. Once the public takes on a T-
Rex mentality with these fish they’ll
be gone…forever, and that’s another
thing we’ve proven throughout his-
tory. We can’t stop anything unless
we eat them. And it’s FREE… All
FREE… If people weren’t eating
them, then how can the commercial
fishing companies afford to pay $26
an hour for entry-level jobs?
Hmmmm, how ironic, we bail
out the auto industry and they thank
us by moving to China, while the
Chinese fish move here. The Chinese
have to import them back to their
country because their waters are so
polluted they couldn’t survive there
any longer. They took our jobs now
depend on us so they don’t starve.
Nobody sees a bargaining tool here?
We are supposed to trust that
our leadership is going make sound,
educated decisions with our money
based on ours and the environ-
ment’s best interest. While science
is still producing conflictive studies
as to whether the Asian Carp could
survive the cold waters of the Great
Lakes, I can tell them with convic-
tion that they won’t survive a hot
grill, fork and butter.
Funny fish stories wanted:
Strangest thing
you’ve ever caught...
Send a short description of your
“best or worst” fishing day, or worst
fishing-related adventure, or strang-
est thing you’ve caught to me. You
don’t have to write the entire story,
just a brief outline of what hap-
pened. If it has some humor to it
I’ll be getting in touch with you and
we’ll work on the completed story
together.
Contact - Woods-n-Water News col-
umnist Ron St. Germain by calling
(517) 626-2814, e-mailing DaPho-
toDude@aol.com. Visit the author’s
Facebook page www.Facebook.com/
BearwaveBooks.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:
Woods-N-Water News,
PO Box 278, Imlay City, MI 48444
Questions regarding Woods-N-Water News sub-
scriptions, newsstand sales, Outdoor Weekend,
stories, trophy page, contact our office
Mon.-Fri. 9 am-5 pm 810-724-0254
www.woods-n-waternews.com
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 67

Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority approves agreement to
build multi-use tunnel, remove pipelines from bottom of Straits
T
he Mackinac Straits Cor-
ridor Authority (MSCA)
approved an agreement
with Enbridge Energy
Limited Partnership to
build a multi-use utility tunnel
beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
The tunnel will house a replacement
segment for the Line 5 pipeline that
sits on the bottom of the Straits and
other utilities.
In addition, the authority, which
held its inaugural meeting in St.
Ignace, approved the transfer of a
property right that will allow En-
bridge to construct the tunnel in
bedrock beneath the Straits.
Also Gov. Rick Snyder and lead-
ers of the departments of Natural
Resources and Environmental Qual-
ity signed a separate agreement with
Enbridge. This Third Agreement car-
ries forward provisions of two previ-
ous agreements with the company
– one in November 2017 and one in
October 2018. The Third Agreement
requires Enbridge to undertake an
enhanced inspection and steward-
ship regimen. The agreement also
includes interpretations of the 1953
easement for the dual pipelines on
the bottom of the Straits, as well as
ongoing financial assurance require-
ments for the pipelines.
The approved agreements will
soon be posted on the mipetro-
leumpipelines.com website.
“From the beginning of this four-
year process, our fundamental goal
has been to protect the Great Lakes
Groups encouraged by Governor Whitmer’s
investigation into legality of Line 5 deal
M
ichigan Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer requested
an opinion from new
Attorney General Dana
Nessel on the consti-
tutionality of the recent legislation
passed in December’s lame duck
period and signed by former Gov.
Rick Snyder. The National Wildlife
Federation applauded the move as
the potential first step to fulfilling
the campaign promise made by both
Gov. Whitmer and Nessel to shut
down Line 5.
Beth Wallace, conservation part-
nerships manager for the National
Wildlife Federation Great Lakes
Regional Center, issued the follow-
ing statement:
68 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
Hot Topic in the Outdoors
against an oil spill through a solution
we know will work,” said Snyder.
“Today’s actions will result in
the removal of the oil pipeline from
the bottom of the Straits of Macki-
nac, maintain critical infrastructure
connections between our peninsulas,
provide energy security for residents
of the Upper Peninsula and northern
Michigan and create good-paying
jobs,” he said. “Enbridge will pay
100 percent of the costs for design,
construction, operation and main-
tenance of the tunnel, and will shut
down the current Line 5 segment in
the Straits once the tunnel is com-
plete.”
Public Act 359 required the
MSCA to enter into an agreement to
build a tunnel, provided the agree-
ment met certain criteria. In keeping
with those criteria, the agreement ap-
proved by the authority will:
• Include a plan for recruiting,
training and using Michigan workers
for the tunnel project.
• Allow for multiple utilities to
use the tunnel.
• Provide that the tunnel is built
to last and will contain potential oil
spills in the Straits of Mackinac.
• Limit liability for the state,
the authority and members of the
authority.
• Require that all necessary gov-
ernment approvals be obtained for
the tunnel.
• Prohibit the use of eminent
domain to acquire property for the
project.
“The National Wildlife Federa-
tion welcomes the announcement
from Governor Whitmer and
Attorney General Nessel that
they will be reviewing the
constitutionality of the Snyder/
Enbridge legislation. The last-min-
ute, lame duck legislation should
be scrutinized from every angle,
as many steps were missed in
rushing to finish a backroom
deal that leaves Line 5 open
indefinitely. We now have leaders
committed to protecting the
Great Lakes by moving toward
decommissioning Line 5 in a rapid
manner. We look forward to work-
ing closely with the Whitmer and
Nessel administrations to put the in-
• Ensure the state bears no cost
for design, construction, operation
and maintenance of the tunnel.
• Ensure that any privately
owned portion of the project – in-
cluding the above-ground entrances
and any utility lines within the tun-
nel – is subject to taxation.
• Reimburse the Mackinac
Bridge Authority for any net loss of
profit for leasing space for telecom-
munication lines.
The Tunnel Agreement contains
milestones for construction progress
as well as financial penalties for
Enbridge for missed deadlines, pro-
vided delays are within Enbridge’s
control. Once the tunnel is complete,
ownership will be turned over to the
MSCA, which will be able to lease
space within the tunnel to additional
utilities.
The increased stewardship
mandated in the Third Agreement
between the state and Enbridge will
apply unless there is a delay beyond
Enbridge’s control as defined in the
agreement. The Third Agreement
also requires that as soon as possible
upon completion of the tunnel and
construction of the Line 5 replace-
ment segment, Enbridge will deacti-
vate the dual pipelines in the Straits.
Previous agreements charge En-
bridge with:
• Replacing the portion of Line 5
that lies at the bottom of the St. Clair
River near Port Huron with a new
pipe in a tunnel beneath the river to
protect drinking water supplies for
terests of the Great Lakes, Michigan
businesses, and our drinking water
ahead of a foreign oil company.
Fortunately, feasible and cost-ef-
fective alternatives exist for the few
services Line 5 provides Michi-
gan, as outlined in detail by recent
London Economics International re-
ports. This action is a good first step
toward fulfilling Gov. Whitmer and
Attorney General Nessel’s campaign
pledges to decommission Line 5.”
David Holtz, communications
coordinator for Oil & Water Don’t
Mix said:
“The decision by Gov. Whitmer
to request that Attorney General
Dana Nessel conduct an indepen-
dent review of Public Act 395 is
a significant population in southeast
Michigan.
• Instituting accelerated risk-
reducing measures at 13 priority
Line 5 water crossings, in addition to
requiring actions at 68 other cross-
ings as identified with state input in
a previous Enbridge report.
• Assuring the Straits pipeline
is not operating when high waves
would severely hamper response to
a potential oil spill. Enbridge staff
must be present at the Straits to shut
down the line within 15 minutes –
even if power is lost – when wave
heights hit 6.5 feet for at least an
hour. The state will provide a new
radar system to supply better, real-
time wave-height data at the Straits.
• Assuring that at least $1.8
billion in financial assurance be
provided by Enbridge to respond to
a potential oil spill in the Straits or
anywhere along Line 5 in Michigan.
• Paying for cameras to be
installed at the Straits to support
new regulations from the U.S. Coast
Guard prohibiting ships in the area
from dropping their anchors – one
of the most serious threats to Line 5
and other utility lines on the bottom
of the Straits.
• Prohibiting heavy crude oil
from running through Line 5 and not
increasing the volume or type of pe-
troleum products that move through
the line.n
Submitted By
Michigan DNR
welcome news for anyone who cares
about protecting the Great Lakes
from Enbridge’s dangerous, high
risk oil pipelines in the Mackinac
Straits. Independent legal experts
who have examined this deeply
flawed and misguided law passed
by a lame duck legislature believe it
cannot withstand the kind of inde-
pendent scrutiny that the attorney
general’s office is expected to bring
to its review.n”
Submitted By
National Wildlife
Federation and
Oil & Water Don’t Mix
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 69
 It’s easier to train
than to retrain
Dog Training...By Len Jenkins
I
t’s always easier to train
than to retrain. If you want
to develop a quality gun
dog, analyze the training
process and start from the
beginning and progress
toward the finished product one step
at a time. Sounds easy, right?
Well, it is, provided you really
start from the beginning and build a
firm foundation of behaviors which
are reviewed, reinforced and re-
warded. The time to begin is when
you first get your dog and teach him
as an individual, thereby imprint-
ing on his mind the notion that his
purpose in life is to nurture and
preserve this acceptance.
After he knows his name and re-
alizes that he belongs to you, begin
the yard raining in which you focus
on teaching your dog to heel, whoa
and come when called. All the while
you’re doing this, however, you’re
building a relationship with your
dog which is based on love, accep-
tance and fulfilled expectations.
Each step of the training process
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is satisfying to you and your pup
because you both gain satisfaction
with each task learned. Because all
complex activities build from the
basics, thorough yard training is
crucial to long-term success.
Heel
The best way to teach your dog
to heel is to let him learn that the
collar and lead will not hurt him. If
he is a pup, let him wear the collar
and simply drag the lead around for
a while. Once you’re satisfied that
the lead doesn’t distress him, you
can hold the end and walk your dog
around, making sure that he enjoys
the experience.
When you start training your
dog to heel, use a conventional
leather or nylon collar. Then switch
to the spiked force collar provided
your dog is big and strong enough
to handle this device, a wonderful
means by which you can keep your
dog from lunging ahead, balking
and reacting to distractions around
him.
It is customary to heel the dog
on your left if you’re right handed
and on the right if you’re left
handed. To get your dog moving
forward, give a slight tug on the
lead. You want to make sure that the
collar stops causing discomfort once
the dog complies. For this reason it’s
important that the collar be properly
put on the dog. The collar should
slide through the end ring in such
a way that the collar will loosen up
once pressure is relieved.
When you start heeling, give
the command “Heel” to get the dog
moving forward. Proceed several
steps this way. When you plan to
stop, command “Whoa,” thereby
reinforcing (through repetition) your
command that the dog stop on whoa
and then resume walking when com-
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Star t training from the beginning and build a firm foundation of
behaviors which are reviewed, reinforced and rewarded.
manded heel. Do this over and over
again, praising frequently when the
dog properly responds to the com-
mands heel and whoa. If the dog
doesn’t want to stop on whoa, apply
pressure by tightening the spiked
force collar. If he doesn’t want to
get moving on heel, give a slight tug
on the lead. Just be sure to check the
collar, making certain that it loosens
up each time the dog complies.
Do not jerk harshly on the collar
because your dog will soon respond
when given slight tugs caused by
your wrist action. You don’t need to
pull and jerk hard with your whole
arm or body unless yours is a gross-
ly undisciplined older dog who was
never taught to heel. Always apply
just enough force—not too much.
Try to keep your lessons enjoyable
for both the dog and yourself.
During this stage it is impor-
tant that the dog learn the he must
always comply with your orders and
reap the satisfaction of your praise
when he heels and whoas nicely for
you. To obey routinely is vital be-
cause future training sessions will be
more complex. Let your dog get into
the habit of abiding by your orders.
This is tremendous carry-over value
in all subsequent lessons.
If yours is a flush dog (retriever
or spaniel other than a Brittany) you
can have the dog sit when you stop.
If you wish to teach the command
Hup to a spaniel, you can give this
command in place of whoa or you
can command sit. In no case, how-
ever, should you encourage a point-
ing dog to sit at this stage. Teaching
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whoa instead will facilitate teaching
the next lesson.
Whoa
Every good pointing dog must
whoa on command. This is ini-
tially taught in conjunction with
heel, but it also has applicability for
teaching a dog to hold point, back
another dog, or simply halt when
told to do so. Once whoa has been
taught while heeling, the handler
should be able to take a few steps
away from the dog and command
him to “Whoa!” In order to do this
you must establish eye contact with
your dog and maintain a serious,
no-nonsense, facial expression while
holding out the flat of your hand in
commanding, authoritative man-
ner. If the dog remains stationary on
whoa, return to him and praise him,
resuming heel and whoa together
as a way of relieving pressure by
returning to familiar learning.
If the dog will not stay in place,
catch him and briskly put him back
in the original location. If this does
not work satisfactorily, use the whoa
stake, a device which you can push
into the ground and thread a check-
cord through. Take the dog to the
vicinity of the whoa stake and the
pull the cord through, commanding
the dog to “whoa” after you walk
away. Once again, be authoritative
and establish a serious tone and eye
contact.
Once your dog knows that whoa
and halt or stay where you are,
you’re ready to teach come or come
here.n
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 Be prepared for winter
By Theresa Neal-MDNR

D
ealing with mild winter
conditions is sometimes more
challenging than preparing
for a whole lot of cold and
snow. A trio of visitors to Tahquame-
non Falls State Park in the eastern
Upper Peninsula were reminded of this
recently when a hike on a relatively
mild winter day turned into a hazard-
ous situation.
The incident underscores the
importance of being prepared for the
location and the wintertime conditions.
Early winter rain showers had
produced a sheet of ice that covered
4 inches of snow. This frosty glaze
encased park features, including the
4-mile-long trail between the spectacu-
lar Upper and Lower Tahquamenon
Falls. Three young men who attempted
the trail hike became stranded along
the banks of the wide, winding river.
After sliding down an embankment,
they were unable to get back up.
Their call to 9-1-1 from the remote
location went through. With flashlights
in hand, park rangers and emergency
personnel soon began their own trek
to try to rescue the men. Sheriff’s
deputies and EMS workers were there,
everyone to the relative safety of the
embankment.
“Fortunately, this situation has
a positive ending. Park rangers are
familiar with the terrain and were able
to organize the search efficiently by
asking the right questions to figure out
where the men were along the trail,”
said Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Manager Kevin Dennis. “Without park
rangers assisting with the search, these
visitors would have been exposed to
the cold even longer, with potentially
dire consequences.”
Even mildly cold environments
can lead to hypothermia. Symptoms of
exposure to cold conditions develop
quickly, including shivering, shallow
breathing, confusion and loss of coor-
dination.
All these concerns can be avoided
by wearing proper clothing and layer-
ing. Use the following checklist to
dress before winter activities:
• No cotton touching skin: The key
is to avoid cotton materials. Cotton will
absorb sweat and water and stay wet,
causing a person to become cold. Start
with a polyester-blend, or merino wool,
as a first layer, which will provide heat
or polypropylene socks are soft, warm
and lightweight. They don’t bunch up
inside boots and will keep feet warm,
even if sweating. Winter boots or
waterproof hiking boots are necessary.
Ice-traction devices can be invaluable
during mild winters, which are often
characterized by icy conditions.
• Snow pants or gaiters: Snow pants
are great for cold weather, but some
people opt to wear gaiters, which fit
over boots and cover pants up to the
knee. Gaiters keep snow and water out
of boots without the bulkiness of snow
pants.
Beyond dressing properly, tell
someone where you are going and
when you plan to return. Leave a note,
a text or a voicemail.
“Visitors to the most wintry of
our Michigan state parks should be
prepared for conditions when they
arrive, even if they only plan to stay a
few minutes,” said John Pepin, DNR
deputy public information officer. “A
quick walk to a scenic vista could be-
come a serious situation if unexpected
circumstances occur, perhaps leaving a
person injured or stranded, unprepared
to deal with nature’s elements.”
Not all of Michigan’s 103 state
parks have the steep terrain of the Por-
cupine Mountains, or the inherent dan-
ger of the Upper Tahquamenon Falls,
but all the parks possess the potential
for serious challenges for visitors who
arrive unprepared to deal with a variety
of changing weather-related conditions.
Visitors should make sure vehicles
are packed for an emergency during
winter adventures. Bring a shovel,
blankets, a bucket of sand or cat litter
for traction, a flashlight, water and
snacks. These items can help drivers
remove a vehicle from a ditch or snow-
bank or make the wait for help to arrive
more tolerable.
“Our park is open year-round, so
people can experience the waterfalls in
the winter,” Dennis said. “We encour-
age visitors to do their part and come
prepared for winter conditions. This
way, they can enjoy their visit, and
everyone can stay safe.”
The River Trail at Tahquamenon
Falls State Park is now closed due
to unsafe conditions until further
notice.n

TROPHY SPECIALISTS
along with state police troopers and the even when wet.
U.S. Border Patrol. All were risking • Fleece or wool sweater: Follow
that first non-cotton layer up with one

their own safety to affect the rescue of
the men.
“The trail was covered in glare
ice, especially the stairways,” said Eric
Johnson, a park officer who led the
rescue effort. “Despite walking slowly
and carefully, we all fell multiple
times. The ice, plus pitch darkness and
cold temperatures, made for a treacher-
ous situation.”
After two hours, the three men were
located, stranded at the bottom of an
icy ridge. One man was showing signs
of hypothermia, including confusion
and fatigue, and was struggling to
move. Emergency personnel formed
a human chain to pull the men away
from the river. They used ropes to get
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• Warm footwear: Footwear should
also start with a non-cotton sock. Wool are typically caught on most
charters for the perfect mix.

DETROIT RIVER WALLEYE FISHING

Experience some of the best
walleye fishing in the country.
This year’s walleye run is going
to be one of the best in years.
DON'T MISS OUT.
Reserve your date today.
Morning & afternoon trips
Early Spring yields larger
sized walleyes with some
trout and salmon mixed in for
good measure. Late spring
and summer produces limit
catches on most charters
with more pleasant condi-
tions and some perch, bass
and pike mixed in. We fish
both the inner and outer por-
tions of the Bay including the
Charity Islands.

734-475-9146
(5 hours) available.
Up to three people.

313-319-0100 or Greatlakesbassfishing.com www.trophyspecialists.com

WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 71
 Boat insurance
Boat Smart...By Capt. Fred Davis
T
his article may sound like it
may be boring BUT I am shar-
ing information with you that is
very important!
A call came in to my office from a
boat owner requesting salvage service
for a vessel beached in a sandy area.
I suggested an on-scene evaluation to
determine equipment needs and action
to take.
Upon my arrival, waves were break-
ing over the stern of a small craft and
immediate action would be necessary
to save the boat from being destroyed.
The owner said he had worked for hours
with a large group of friends and neigh-
bors attempting to recover the boat. I
quoted an hourly rate for labor and
equipment to recover and tow his boat
to the nearest ramp area. He responded
he had insurance and filled out the work
order contract.
My company removed and towed
the damaged boat to the nearest harbor.
I gave the owner his bill and he left,
believing all he had to do was send it
to his insurance company. Later, the
owner’s wife called and said they did
not have coverage. An adjuster advised
them and their attorney had another
opinion but said the bill had to be paid
because a contract was executed.
What’s In Your
?
??
Ol d Tac k l e B ox ??
? MORE BIG BUCK STORIES
Terry
McBurney,
Woods-n-
Water News
staff writer and
fishing tackle
historian, will
be setting up his
antique fishing
tackle displays at
the Outdoorama
in Novi and the
Ultimate Sports
Show in Grand Rapids.
With a lifetime of
experience in the fishing
industry and author of
many magazine articles
on antique tackle, he will
be answering questions
and offering free
appraisals at each show.
COME IN AND MEET THE EXPERTS
Novi Outdoorama Grand Rapids Ultimate Sports Show
Booth 5150 Booth #50 in The Grand Gallery
Feb. 28 - March 3, 2019 March 14-17, 2019
Suburban Collection Showcase
Novi, Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan
72 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
The question was, “Who would
pay?”
Boat insurance can be confusing.
Boats may be insured for various cover-
ages - in various ways, with various
companies. Boat owners need to take
the time to question and understand the
insurance they purchase. Boat values
(even small boats) are in the thousands
of dollars. The small print in your boat
policy needs to be understood.
Many people add insurance for their
boat to a homeowner’s policy where it
may be called “Yacht” coverage. Doing
this offers a savings but many home-
owner policies provide very limited
coverage. A few dollars saved on an
insurance policy can seriously jeopar-
dize coverage needed.
Below are examples of descriptions
of various boat policy coverages:
1) Most policies state “It is the re-
sponsibility of the owner to immediately
take necessary action to protect their
property from further damage.”
2) Some companies refer to
removal from a hard grounding as tow-
ing but in some cases, towing could
severely damage a grounded vessel.
Others correctly regard a hard ground-
ing as salvage; to avoid further damage,
special action was required.
Joining him
will be Dick
VanRaalte
of Starboard
Marine
Restorations,
Grand Haven,
Michigan who will
exhibit part of his
collection of vintage
outboard motors.
With over 25 years of
experience restoring
old outboards, as well
as wood and fiberglass
boats, VanRaalte will also
be answering questions
and offering free
appraisals. They are also
interested in buying old
sporting collectibles for
their collections.
DeVos Place
Shallow water groundings are unforgiveable. Do you have coverage?
3) Wreck removal is interpreted replacement. Often the insured have
differently and boat owners are unaware no idea what coverage they have until
of their responsibility. In most cases, a claim occurs. Insurance coverage
they are held responsible for removal is not an item you should skimp on.
of a wreck or any debris. Some insur- Pennies saved on a cheap policy could
ance companies pay all cost; others do cost you your boat if you encounter a
not cover wreck removal at all. Some major claim. In addition, you could
may pay off a total loss claim on the be left with a big bill to add to your
boat, but leave an owner responsible problems.
for removal of the wreck or any further If you own a high priced vessel,
liability caused by it. even though it’s only a run-about, it
If a wreck breaks up and its debris would be wise to purchase a standard
floats into the path of another vessel, yacht policy and avoid adding it to
liability can be extreme. your homeowners insurance. Boaters
4) Towing coverage has been added spend a lot of money on a boat, than
to most policies (usually to the nearest buy the cheapest insurance they can find
harbor). Carefully check your policy thinking (and hoping) they won’t need
because some companies offer no cov- it. They may feel secure because they
erage especially on small boats. are well schooled on safe boating and
There are many other variables proper navigation, but the unforeseen
in marine insurance coverage. If you can and does happen. Good insurance
purchase a full coverage policy, ask provides peace of mind as you enjoy
if replacement means “new” or “like” your watercraft.n
BOOKS/DVDS BY RICHARD P. SMITH
Great Michigan Deer Tales
Tracking Wounded Deer
Lots of NEW INFORMATION and ALL COLOR PHOTOS
Quantity Cost
____ *NEW* Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 7 ($16.50) _______
____ Tracking Wounded Deer - 3rd Edition ($25) _______
____ Black Bear Hunting - 2nd Edition ($40.00) _______
____ Walking with Whitetails DVD ($24.00) _______
____ Deer Hunting - 4th Edition ($35.00) _______
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 6 ($16.50) _______
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 5 ($16.50) _______
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 4 ($16.50) _______
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 3 ($16.50) _______
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 2 ($16.50) _______
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 1 ($15.50) _______
____ Deer Tales Set - 2/$28; 3/$40; 4/$50; 5/$60; 6/$72; 7/$82 _______
Please specify which books sent to the same address.
____ Stand Hunting for Whitetails ($19.00) _______
____ Understanding Michigan Black Bear - 2nd Edition ($20.00) _______
SEND FOR YOUR ____ Animal Tracks & Signs of N.A. ($23) _______
AUTOGRAPHED COPIES TODAY. ____ TOTAL _______
Name
Address
City State Zip
Phone #
Please remit by MasterCard, Visa, Check or Money Order.
Circle card type:
MC/Visa #
Expiration Date Signature
Make checks payable to: SMITH PUBLICATIONS
814 Clark St. • Marquette, MI 49855
www.RichardPSmith.com
 Gun Talk: M1 Carbine
T
he first M1 Carbine I
saw was in a house in
Papua New Guinea.
PNG was so humid
that linens, and things
that had to be kept
from mildew and rust, were kept in
closets with lighted incandescent
bulbs in them. We were visiting at a
Lutheran Mission station down the
coast from where we lived.
In the humidity controlled
closet was an M1 Carbine and some
loaded magazines. The carbine was
a remnant of World War II, and was
slick with oil. The rounds in
the magazines might have
been as well. The light in
the closet made the carbine
and the mags gleam. The
carbine made a big impres-
sion on me.
Back home, the Army
Surplus Store in a neighbor-
ing town had the usual
canvas gear, knives,
and boots. In the back
By Lee Arten
on the wall was an M1 Carbine. I
must have looked at it 100 times and
the price was $79. The store is still
there but there have been no car-
bines there for years. I don’t go in as
much as I used to.
While in high school, I met a
gun collector who had a large group
of carbines. I only got to see a few
but he told me about the various
makers of the carbines. One that
intrigued me was the jukebox maker
Rockola.
A bit later, someone tried to sell
me a carbine that had been issued
to the Coast Guard. It was in good
shape and I should have bought it.
As usual then, I was short of funds.
My gun collection was growing
but leaned toward .22s, grouse guns,
and deer rifles. Carbines didn’t fit
into any of those groups but I still
looked at them. My wife made me
happy by buying me a carbine as an
anniversary present. An aftermarket
version, it was made by Universal
in Hialeah, FL. Universals haven’t
always had a good reputation for
reliability. Mine is an early one and
has always worked well with fac-
tory ammo, but not as well with my
lighter reloads.
After plinking with it for a
while, I tried an NRA High Power
Rifle Match with the carbine. The
targets were set at 200 yards. I’d
seen claims that the carbine is only
a 100 yard gun. The bullets I fired at
the match all went through the target
point first, and my score wasn’t
much different than those
I fired with the Garand. I
shot another High Power
Match before going back
to the Garand. I noticed
that there was a distinct lag
between the pop of the Uni-
versal firing and the slap of
the bullets hitting the target
boards. Also, in prone
position, some of the
carbine brass flew over
my head and landed in the small of
my back. That made me laugh. If I
was in shape for match shooting I
wouldn’t hesitate to use the carbine
again.
The M1 Carbine was developed
during World War II to replace the
Colt pistol in .45 ACP for officers
and support troops. Six million
were produced, more than any other
US rifle made during the war. My
father was in the Army Air Corps in
Italy during World War II. He made
oxygen for the bomber crews, and
did the books for his detachment.
He had a carbine issued to him, on
paper, but said, “I never saw it.”
After the war M1 Carbines were
given to U.S. allies and used around
the world. The original carbines had
a flip up rear sight, a push button
safety, and no bayonet lug. Carbines
produced later had a lever safety, an
adjustable sight, and a mount for the
bayonet. Most of the original car-
The M1 Carbine is fun to shoot and good to train people with. It
can also work for match shooting.
bines were retrofitted with the new
sights and other improvements.
At the end of World War II a
selective fire carbine, the M2, was
fielded. A 30 round magazine was
developed to feed it and the maga-
zine catch was redesigned to hold
the heavier 30 round magazines se-
curely. The larger magazine did not
completely replace the original 15
rounders. Both are still available on
the surplus and the new magazine
market. I’ve never fired an M2 but
it is on my list of full auto firearms I
still want to try.
M2s tend to climb in full auto
fire. They and M1s are sometimes
decried as ineffective in combat.
They are recognized as easy to
carry, but said to be lacking in
power compared to full battle rifles.
Those who could shoot well com-
plained less than those who couldn’t
it appears.
Lt. Col. John George wrote
Shots Fired In Anger. The original
version contains a description of a
fight on a jungle trail when George
was with Merrill’s Marauders in
Burma. A former match shooter,
who spent time at Camp Perry,
George called his shots as he re-
treated down the trail. Several of the
Japanese troops that tried to flank
him died in the attempt.
George was carrying an M1
Carbine and shot it well enough to
get clear of the Japanese and back to
his own lines.
Since the matches I shot, my
carbine has mostly been used for
fun shooting. It’s also a good gun to
train young, or small, shooters and
those who aren’t ready for the noise
and recoil of a .308 or .30-06.
One Fourth of July I went to a
sandpit in the morning. My target
was a bowling pin that had been
worked over with a .45 pistol in pre-
vious practice sessions. I set the pin
at the base of a pile of sand, stepped
back 15 yards, and fired one .30
carbine round at it. At the shot the
pin split in two. One half remained
on the ground, the other half flew up
and over the berm. I’ve shot a lot of
pins with handguns, rifles, and shot-
guns. But I’ve never gotten the same
reaction from a pin with anything
but the carbine.n
Be sure to
check out the
Woods-N-Water News
OUTDOOR
WEEKEND
Sept. 6-7-8, 2019
Eastern Michigan
State Fairgrounds
Imlay City
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 73

H Fishing
alf the fun of a fishing vaca-
tion is in the planning. If
it’s a new destination you’ll
have to get maps, brochures,
recommendations on lures
and equipment and sugges-
tions on the best time to go. If it’s a
place you’ve been to before you begin
to reminisce about the big ones you
caught or that got away and the people
you met along the way. Either way the
anticipation builds long before you actu-
ally take the trip.
Following is a list of destinations
old and new that you’ll want to consider
for this year.
JANUARY
Saginaw Bay Walleyes
Cold weather locks up Saginaw Bay
by mid-January. A hot first-ice bite oc-
curs in depths from six to 12-feet all the
way from Linwood on the west around
to Sebewaing to the east on the inner
bay. First and last light produce the hot-
test action, although on overcast, cloudy
days fishing can be good throughout the
day.
Jigging is the most productive
method. Drill lots of holes and keep
moving until you make contact with
the roaming schools. Jigging spoons,
like Swedish Pimple and Do Jiggers, in
gold/orange, blue/silver and glow colors
are hot when tipped with a minnow or
minnow head. Anglers also score with
lead head jigs, Jigging Rapalas and
similar lures. A lift and drop cadence
seems to work best. Most ’eyes will run
from two to eight-pounds, but double-
digit specimens are common.
For live bait, tackle and fishing
reports contact Frank’s Great Outdoors
at (989) 697-5341 online at www.
franksgreatoutdoors.com.
Lake Independence Pike
Lake Independence is one
of the state’s premier locations
for giant pike. This Marquette
County destination regularly
gives up northerns that will
top 20 pounds. Hotspots are
off the mouth of the Yellow
Dog River, in Alder Bay on
the south side of the lake. Big
suckers sus-
pended below
tip-ups take
By Mike Gnatkowski
some monsters
in January.
For information contact the Mar-
quette Gander Mountain store at 906-
226-8300.
Lake Mitchell Crappies
Crappie numbers have exploded on
Lake Mitchell. Fish up to 17 inches are
not unheard of. Locate green cabbage
weeds that provide food and oxygen.
Try off Big and Little Coves in six to 10
feet of water. Minnow are the favorite
bait.
Contact Pilgrim’s Village & Resort
at 231-775-5412 or www.michiweb.
com/cadillac.
FEBRUARY
Higgins Lake Smorgasbord
It’s often February before 9,600-acre
Higgins Lake offers safe ice. When it
74 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
Plan Your
Michigan
Calendar
36 HOTSPOTS
does, ice anglers catch a mixed bag of
lake trout, whitefish, perch and smelt.
The lake trout action starts in 70 to
90 feet and moves deeper as winter
progresses. Live smelt, or blue or gray
shiners suspended below conventional
and Slammer tip-ups work best. The
trout will average two to three-pounds,
but leviathans topping 20 pounds are
taken each winter. Browns and rainbows
are available too.
Three to six-pound white-
fish can be caught right along
with the trout. Anglers chum a
hole with corn, rice or spawn
and then fish the bottom with
slip bobbers or jigs. Smelt can
be caught at night on teardrops
and wax worms. Use a light to
attract microor-
ganisms that at-
tract the smelt.
Perch numbers
are high in Higgins, but the size is small
right now. Use wigglers, wax worms or
minnows on bottom for the perch in 25
to 50 feet of water.
To book an ice-fishing charter on
Higgins Lake contact- John’s Frozen
Charters at 1-989-422-6745.
Lake Margrethe Bluegills
Lake Margrethe’s 1,920-acres near
Grayling have been hot for good-sized
bluegills the past few winters. A good
location is 300 yards out from the state
park in five to eight-feet of water.
Look for a defined weed line. Other
hotspots include South Bay and off
Eagle Point.
For more information contact the
Grayling Visitors Bureau at 1-800-937-
8837 or online at www.grayling-mi.
com.
Burt Lake Walleyes
Look for Cheboygan County’s Burt
Lake to produce some hot walleye ac-
tion in February. Most fish will average
15 to 20 inches, but fish pushing six-
pounds are fairly common. Try tip-ups
with shiners or jigging spoons and
minnows. Try 15 to 45 feet of water off
Kings and Colonial points.
For more information contact the
Indian River Chamber of Commerce
at 1-800-238-9325 or online at www.
irchamber.com.
MARCH
Big Manistee Steelhead
The “Big M” gets an early run of
steelhead. Steelheads blast upstream
with the first hint of spring run-off.
Some will be dark holdover fish; others
will be bright silver and fresh from Lake
Michigan. Fishing can be hot if we get
a short melt. Prolonged snowmelt will
send the river sky high and send steel-
heads blasting up to Tippy Dam. Work
the slow pools and runs downstream
from spawning areas. Good access
points are at Tippy Dam, High Bridge,
Bear Creek and Rainbow Bend.
Contact Captain Mark Chruma at
231-864-4051 for charter information.
Pere Marquette River Steelhead
The PM gets an early run of steel-
head. Without any dams the river warms
quickly. Fall-run fish will be fanning
beds on bright, sunny days in mid-
March. The flies-only section from
M-37 to Gleason’s Landing is popular
with fly fishermen. Drift fishermen and
drift boaters pulling plugs will have
good success farther downstream near
Branch, Sulak and Walhalla. Contact
Baldwin Bait & Tackle at 231-745-3529.
Houghton Lake Panfish
Last ice can produce some great ice
fishing. Look for bluegills, sunfish and
crappies to concentrate in the four to 10-
foot depths on the south end of the lake
where you find cabbage beds. Work the
entire water column with spikes or wax
worms for the bluegills and minnows
for the crappies.
Contact the Houghton Lake Area
Tourist & Convention Bureau at 800-
676-5330 or online at www.roscom-
moncounty.com.
APRIL
New Buffalo Cohos
This sleepy port is on fire for cohos
in April. Shallow water, thermal input
from factories and runoff concentrates a
hodgepodge of cohos and other salmo-
nids. Target the 10 to 30 foot depths.
In-line planer boards and divers pulling
spoons, body baits and crankbaits all
score. Orange is a favorite color. Try
small dodgers or flashers trailing black
flies too. The cohos will average one to
three pounds and feature flame red flesh.
Hotpots are all along the shoreline
from the pump house south of New Buf-
falo all the way to Warren Dunes State
Park. There is a DNR launch near the
mouth of the Galen River.
For more information contact the
Southwest Michigan Tourist Council
at 1-269-925-6301 or online at www.
swmichigan.org.
Belleville Lake Crappies
Impoundments of the Huron River
begin warming in April and crappies
head for the south-facing bays to spawn
and feed. Minnows school in the tepid
water and the specks aren’t far behind.
Contact the Ypsilanti Convention &
Visitors Bureau at 734-483-4444.
Menominee Brown Trout
Brown trout fishing has declined
around Menominee, but there are
enough browns to make things interest-
ing. In addition to brown trout the catch
is likely to include splake and walleyes.
Try off Hennes Park, Stony Point and
off the mouth of the Cedar River. Try
body baits off flat lines or behind in-line
boards in five to 20 feet of water.
Contact Nest Egg Marine at 715-
732-4466.
MAY
Tittabawassee River Walleyes
A cold spring finds plenty of post-
spawn walleyes still in the Tittabawas-
see come May. Most will be males that
will average one to three-pounds, but
fish up to eight pounds are available
some years. Slipping-the-current to ver-
tical jig is a proven tactic. Dragging jigs
across shallow flats works too. Some
anglers troll with crankbaits upstream
with good success.
Good access points are at Center
Street, Imerman Park and Wicks Park
on the Saginaw River. A good location
is just upstream from where the
Tittabawassee joins the Saginaw River.
Try near West Michigan Park, above
the Gratiot Street Bridge and near
State Street. Expect to catch a bunch
of other species too. For more informa-
tion contact the DNR’s Southern
Lake Huron Management Unit at 1-989-
684-9141.
St. Joe Kings
The warm waters of southern Lake
Michigan attract salmonids. Many target
the silvery cohos that average one to
three-pounds. Anglers wanting bigger
game will find kings around the color
line where the St. Joe River spills into
Lake Michigan.
Contact the Southwestern Michigan
Tourist Council at 269-925-6301.
Detroit River Walleyes
In recent year walleye fishing on
the Detroit River has been as good in
May as it is in April and you don’t have
to contend with nasty weather and boat
traffic. Most of the fish are smaller 17 to
19-inch males, which are perfect for the
fry pan.
JUNE
Lake of the Clouds Smallmouths
It’s worth the hike to fish Lake of
the Clouds in Porcupine Mountains
Wilderness State Park. You can access
the lake via North Mirror Lake Trail.
Bring your float tube or portage a canoe.
There is a cabin for rent on the lake.
All fishing is catch-and-release only.
The most fun way to catch the smallies
is on top water lures. Use a stop-and-go
retrieve. The fish will average two to
three-pounds.
Contact the park office at 906-885-
5275.
Onekama Steelhead
Current, wind and upwelling create
scum lines that collect bugs and at-
tract steelhead off Onekama. Use your
temperature gauge and Coast Watch
temperature maps to locate breaks. Fish
will be in the top 20 feet. Use in-line
boards, short cores and Slider Divers
with hot colored spoons. Look for birds
and surface activity. Expect rainbows up
to 16 pounds.
Driggs River Brook Trout
June is a great time to catch some
brookies for the frying pan on School-
craft County’s Driggs River, if you can
tolerate the bugs. The Driggs gives
up limits of 8- to 10-inch brook trout
to anglers using worms, spinners and
flies. Access can be gained off M-28 or
Driggs River Road.
JULY
Lake St. Clair Smallmouths
Lake St. Clair is a fixture in the top
10 of the B.A.S.S. Top 100. Smallmouth
fishing is on fire in July on Lake St.
Clair. Look for weed beds and channel
edges to concentrate fish. Try a tube jig
in pumpkinseed or silver glitter color.
Try off the Metro Beach access south of
the mile roads. On calm mornings top
water action can be fantastic. Expect 30
fish days with many in the two to four-
pound range.
Contact Lakeside Sports Shop at
586-777-7003.
Lake Michigammee Walleyes
One of the U.P.’s premier walleye
lakes. July finds Michigammee walleyes
feeding heavily. Try off the mouth of the
Peshekee River on the east end of Van
Riper State Park. Troll with bottom-
bouncers and crawler harnesses, jig
Lake Margrethe near Grayling has been hot for good-sized bluegills the past few winters.
with minnows or cast gold and orange
Rapalas.
Craig Lake State Park
Craig Lake’s 6,900-acre wilderness
area that’s worth the hike. Seven lakes
make up Craig Lake State Park and they
are loaded with muskies, pike, walleyes
and smallmouths. Catch-and-release
fishing only. Artificial lures only. Use
spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs.
Contact Baraga County Tourism at
906-339-4461.
AUGUST
Ludington Kings
If there is salmon fishing happen-
ing on Lake Michigan it’s happening at
Ludington. Schools of kings converge
on Ludington in August. The focus is
on Big Point Sable north of Ludington.
Chinooks and boats congregate on the
structure there. First and last light is
the best time. Use flashers and flies,
plugs and magnum spoons. Fish the
90 to 130-foot depths. When fishing
slows head west for a potpourri of coho,
steelhead and lake trout. South off the
Consumer’s Energy Project can be good
too.
Contact Captain Chuck’s II Inc at
231-843-4458.
Stannard Rock Lake Trout
Stable weather in August makes it
the perfect time to make the long run to
Stannard Rock. You can head out from
Marquette or the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Watch the weather, make sure your boat
is seaworthy and use common sense. Jig
with 2-ounce jigs with sucker meat or
troll for trout in excess of 30 pounds.
Contact the Marquette County
Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-
544-4321.
Pickett Dam Backwater Bass
An impoundment of the Sturgeon
River, Baraga County’s Picket Dam
Backwater is loaded with largemouths
and smallmouths. Try the drop-offs near
the myriad of islands and weed beds in
10 to 30-feet of water for bass that will
top five-pounds. Use top water lures.
SEPTEMBER
Manistee River Chinooks
Bronze-colored kings rush into the
Manistee River in September headed for
Tippy Dam. Anglers can intercept them
in the lower reaches of the river. Many
anchor at the head of a run and let Flat-
fish or Hot-N-Tots wiggle in the current.
Others toss spinners or back-bounce
with spawn. The best fishing is usually
at first light and again in the evening.
Anglers can gain access to the river
at Insta-Launch campground, Bridge
Street, Rainbow Bend or Bear Creek. A
daily fee is charged to launch at several
of these accesses. Find a deep run and
wait for the salmon to move through.
Position your baits to block their up-
stream movement.
For more information contact Insta-
Launch Campground at 1-231-723-
3901.
Lake Erie Perch
Perch move into the shallows and go
on a feeding binge. Use a perch spreader
and minnows and drift until you make
contact. Limits are common. Purchase
an Ohio license just in case.
Contact DoubleJay Sport Fishing 2
(517) 715-3620.
Greenwood Reservoir
Northerns & Walleyes
Cooling water makes for hot fishing
on Greenwood Reservoir in Septem-
ber. Northerns and walleyes put on the
feedbag in early fall. Look for pike off
Humenne Island and right off the boat
launch.
OCTOBER
Lake Cadillac & Mitchell Pike
Big pike go on the prowl on
Mitchell and Cadillac as waters cool in
October. Northerns in the 38- to 40-inch
range are common. Key is to locate
still-growing vegetation. Cast Husky
Jerks and big spinnerbaits over and
around the weeds. Mitchell is better for
numbers; Cadillac produces better fish.
Giant smallmouths are an added bonus.
For more information contact
Pilgrim’s Village & Resort at 231-775-
5412.
Lake St. Clair Muskies
Muskies begin migrating back into
the U.S. waters of Lake St. Clair in
October. Fall is a great time for trophy
fish. Speed trolling with giant plugs
covers water and produces fish. Expect
muskies in excess of 30 pounds.
St. Marys River Salmonids
The St. Marys offers a hodge podge
of trout and salmon in October. Fish the
rapids below the International Bridge.
Access via the Canadian side of the
river. Use caution wading. Expect
steelhead, Chinooks, lakers, Atlantics,
and more.
NOVEMBER
Lake Independence Walleyes
Marquette County’s Lake Indepen-
dence serves up hot walleye action just
before the lake freezes. Two to three-
pound walleyes are the norm, but bigger
fish are common. Key is to troll slowly
with bottom bouncers trailing body
baits like Rapalas and ThunderSticks.
Best colors include perch and fire-tiger
patterns. The ’eyes can be found relat-
ing to the 25- to 30-foot contours. Try
out from the public launch and near the
mouth of the Yellow Dog River. Look
for humps and subtle contour changes
that concentrate fish.
Muskegon Lake Walleyes
Stealth trolling with stick baits
produces trophy walleyes on Muskegon
Lake in November. Troll ultra slow
along the 12 to 17 foot contours. Rip
the lure forward and watch for a subtle
strike on the fallback.
Contact Shoreline Services at 231-
759-7254.
Tawas Whitefish
Whitefish move into the shallows of
Tawas Bay in November. Anglers line
the piers to catch the tasty whitefish.
Use slip bobbers and tear drops baited
with wax worms. The fish average two
to five-pounds. Limits are generous.
Contact the Tawas Bay Tourist &
Convention Bureau at 800-558-2927.
DECEMBER
Houghton Lake Panfish
Shallow 20,000 acre Houghton Lake
freezes early and provides some great
first-ice panfish action. Bluegill and
crappies populations have rebounded af-
ter the weeds were killed off a few years
ago. Try off the south shore and the area
known as “The Heights” in as little as
4 feet of water for slab ’gills. Look for
crappies to 14 inches in the same area,
but slight deeper water. Minnows work
best for the specks and larva for the
bluegills.
Hamlin Lake Bluegills
Hamlin Lake’s first ice bluegill ac-
tion is incredible. Try off Wilson Park
in six to eight-feet of water. Wax worms
work well early. Try orange or char-
treuse teardrops. Spot a tip-up for bonus
pike and walleyes.
Contact Captain Chuck’s II at 231-
843-4458.
Lake Gogebic Perch
Perch to 16 inches are not uncom-
mon on first ice. Work the 20 to 30 foot
depths with slip bobber with minnows
for jumbo perch and bonus walleyes.
Limits are common.n
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 75
 Remembering
that deer hunt
D
eer hunters often want
to keep the antlers
from the deer they
take each year. Hung
on the wall, those
antlers will bring back
pleasant memories of the
hunt. The antlers, after all,
are the reason we prefer
to take bucks, rather than
does, even though we rec-
ognize that we must harvest
some does every year and
even though we know that
the doe might produce bet-
ter eating. All does
a wide spectrum of length, diameter
and conformation. If you look at
the antlers from a deer that a fellow
hunter has taken, the eyes will light
up and that hunter will be able to
tell you how, when and where that
deer was taken and you
will soon know more than
you ever wanted to know
about that deer hunt. The With one screw in place, position the antlers carefully before drilling
bottom line is, the antlers for the second screw. George Rowe photo
preserve the memories of
those hunts so we do what you didn’t save the cape or hide with a stiff brush, removing all the
we can to save and display from the deer – the taxidermist can dirt and at least some of the stains
those antlers. come up with a replacement cape, left by hooking branches and trees.
If the deer which, of course, will cost you a The cleaned antlers will be

By George Rowe
look alike but ev-
ery buck is distinc-
tively different.
While they may look the same,
deer antlers are really unique. While
two fork-horns might look very
much the same, closer inspection
reveals that they are quite different.
Even spikehorns show growth over
is a truly grand
specimen, you
might want to get
the head mounted. You will have
to part with some important bucks
for that but if the deer has once-in-
a-lifetime antlers, you might want
to consider it. You can do this even
if all you have is the antlers and
little more money. The taxidermist
can also prepare a handsome mount
of just the antlers, putting them on a
wooden plaque with appropriate in-
formation inscribed on a little metal
plate. The going price for a basic
or standard head mount these days
will be at least $500. The tab for an
antler mount will run from $75 to $
150, depending on the quality of the
materials selected.
A skilled taxidermist can make
somewhere between white and tan
in color and they won’t be uniform,
being marked by many scars and
stains. Be sure all the matter next to
the bone has been removed or the
antlers will be a bit whiffy while
this material dries out naturally. You
can usually satisfy this requirement
by simply putting the antlers in an
unheated garage for a few weeks,
being careful not to put them where
mice or other rodents can get at

Superior Game Ranch repairs to a set of antlers, if a tine

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or even a whole side gets dam-
aged or knocked right off the skull.
The repair can be done so well that
you won’t be able to detect it. You
can buy an antler-mounting kit for
around twenty dollars or, you can do
it yourself.
The first step is to clean up the
antlers. Make sure your processor
has made the two cuts right so that
the back of the vertical cut will be
flush against the plaque. If not, you
may have to cut it anew, using a
Large Russian Boar carpenter’s hand saw or a band saw.
Hunts Available! Using dish-washing detergent in
the laundry tub or a suitable bucket,
scour the antlers and the skull plate
them. The little guys will nibble
away at the bone and can ruin a set
of antlers in a hurry.
The little bits of flesh and sinew
and gray matter will freeze and dry
out quite naturally and can then be
brushed away. If the skull plate has
been cut right, you should have a
nice covering of deer hair over the
part of the skull that will show. If
you prefer, you can remove that hair
and cover that area with a piece of
soft leather or fabric. The hair will
last for decades, however, if you
give it a spray of moth-killer once or
twice a year.
The next step is to prepare a
plaque. Chose a good flat piece of

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76 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS

almost any kind of wood. If you
want to get fancy, choose oak or
maple or birch but pine will do
about as well, if you stain the piece.
Using a hand-held jigsaw, coping
saw or a bandsaw, cut an attrac-
tive shape out of the piece of wood.
You might choose a shield, a circle,
an oblong or even the heart-shape
that suggests the track of a white-
tail deer. Sand the piece smooth,
remove the dust carefully, stain it
if you wish and then apply two or
three coats or polyurethane, sanding
lightly between coats.
Put a hang-up hole in the center
of the top of the plaque. Mounting
the antlers is a bit tricky. Place the
antlers on the finished plaque and
draw lines lightly around the outer
edges of the skull plate. Then, turn-
ing the skull plate over, see where
the screws must be placed in order
to hold the plate to the plaque. Mea-
sure the placement of the needed
hole on the plate and transfer that
measurement to the wooden plaque.
Do just one hole first and then
put that screw in and tighten it
just enough so that you can get the
antlers positioned just right on the
plaque. Now you can drill the hole
for the second screw and fasten it
in place. The antlers are very often
skewed one way or the other, in na-
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Family Hunting Success
ture, so you will have to compensate
with your anchoring screws to make
the mount look as nice as possible.
It is a rare rack that is entirely sym-
metrical.
It is nice to put at least a bit of
information on the plaque. You can
get fancy and put this on a metal
plate on the front or just put it on
the back with a felt pen. The infor-
mation might include the date, the
name of the hunter and where it was
taken and perhaps the weight of the
deer and any significant details (i.e.
Junior’s first deer or Dad’s first bow
and arrow buck).
If the hunters in the camp or the
household use a variety of weap-
ons to hunt deer, it might be nice
to identify the weapon on the front
of the plaque. This can be done
by drilling a hole and sticking in
a piece of the arrow or crossbow
bolt that took the deer or by drill-
ing a half-inch hole and sticking
a patched ball or sabot in the hole
or by cutting off the back end of a
brass cartridge case and sticking that Rick Adlen and his niece, Autumn Pratt had great success
in a hole, showing that the deer was
taken with a 30-06.
bowhunting Macomb County. Rick took a dandy 10-point on
Mounted on a wall in the family Halloween and Autumn took a pair of 8-points, the first during
room or den or even in the shop the youth hunt and the second hunting on Oct. 12, both with
or garage, the antlers never stop her crossbow. Rick’s nephew, Jake Adlen added to the family’s
reminding the hunter of that very success by taking a bear out of the Dead Stream Swamp.
special day in the woods.n
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 77
 Michigan Deer Camp Traditions
A series of stories about Deer Camps
in the Great State of Michigan...
The Pigeon
River Patriarch
B
ehind every successful tra-
dition stands someone that
was brave enough to take
the first step. Someone
was daring enough to try
something completely new
or venture down a path that
still had yet to be blazed.
Success isn’t a destination.
Rather, it’s a journey. It’s
a journey that involves the
sharing of the blessings that
have been rightfully earned
By Jake Dykstra
(through much trial
and error) with oth-
ers. In turn, these
grateful recipients
show a deep-rooted
Wildlife Realty
appreciation for
the path that has been paved before
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78 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
them, and they too pass along their
traditions to the next generation.
Often these way-makers don’t real-
ize the impact that they are making
at the time, but the results
often shape the lives of
many for years and years to
come.
This is certainly the
case with the deer camp tra-
ditions started many years
ago by Uncle Joe. When
visiting family in Gaylord,
Joe had stumbled
upon the Pigeon
River State Forest.
In awe of the vast
spans of forest,
the serenity of the
river, and the incredible amount of
wildlife, Joe vowed to return some
day to enjoy this slice of paradise.
Joe returned shortly thereafter.
Armed with no hunting experience,
no camp life, and no mentor of his
own, Joe returned with nothing but
a burning desire to become a deer
hunter in the Pigeon River State
Forest.
It took Joe several years and
countless solo hunts in the woods
before he harvested his first deer. As
time progressed, through trial and
error, Joe became quite an experi-
enced hunter. This became evident
when Joe’s sister requested that he
take her two boys, Ed and Chuck,
on his annual retreat. Not knowing
what to expect, Uncle Joe reluctant-
ly agreed to take his two nephews to
deer camp that year.
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Ed, Chuck, John, and Joe at the original tent camp in the 1980s.
Navigating the Pigeon River
State Forest was difficult in the early
days. Low temperatures and signifi-
cant amounts of snow would make
the main trail very difficult to travel.
With a previous knowledge of the
area, Uncle Joe drew upon past
experiences and set up camp along
a trail that was centrally located in
a single square mile block outlined
by multiple logging trails and two
tracks. This location would come to
serve its purpose well if one were to
lose their way —all they would have
to do is continue to take all right
turns or all left turns and they would
find themselves back in the middle
of camp.
Deer camp started as a 9 by 15
foot canvas tent waterproofed by
blue tarps. Once the tent was in
place, ropes were strung between
trees with a PVC skeleton erected
beneath. This would serve as the
structural support for a large aw-
ning. On the bitterly cold evenings,
Uncle Joe and his deer campers
would spread straw beneath the tent
for additional warmth and insula-
tion. It took half a day to set up
camp, and in addition a pit for the
latrine was to be dug. An outhouse
blind sat over top for privacy and a
shield from the wind.
A larger tarp was also draped
around and partially over top of the
fire pit. This would be where all
non-hunting related activities were
spent. A few years later Coleman
gas stoves and lanterns would be
used, but a campfire was always
blazing as the sole provider of both
heat and a means for cooking good
food.
Uncle Joe took the success of his
apprentices very seriously. He was
sincerely gratified when the young
Chuck and Ed took to hunting and
camp life. This marked the begin-
ning of their journey to becoming
true sportsmen. Uncle Joe always
Hunts made it known that any deer taken
on pressured state land was a true
trophy, and they should be treated as
such. Because treestands were not
legal at the time, the art of blend-
ing in a weather-resistant box blind
was also a useful lesson for the
up-and-coming hunters. Aside from
a tarp as the roof, these blinds were
constructed and concealed strictly
with forest materials.
Each hunting spot was named in
such a way that over time, every-
one could both relate to the blinds
or the trails leading there. Some
of these include the Elk Trail, The
Logging Trail, Sleepy Hollow Trail,
The Pine Needle Trail, and the Fred
Bear Stand. Many of these make-
shift ground blinds were fortified
amongst thick evergreens, dense
hardwoods, or unchartered swamps.
Uncle Joe’s decision to set up camp
and to name these trails accordingly
greatly eased the burden of learning
new territory for his young hunters.
Ed was first to capitalize on the
lessons shared by his uncle. A well-
placed shot with the 20 gauge pro-
duced a nice six-point buck. There
was much to learn on one’s first
deer, and under the direction and
supervision of Uncle Joe, Ed was to
field dress it himself. There is also
a sense of satisfaction that one feels
when the work of dragging their
harvest back to camp is complete.
This too, was a lesson that Joe felt
his young nephews must learn as he
once had.
Once back a camp, a very tired
but an extremely proud Ed stood
gazing beneath his trophy that he
had worked so hard to earn. This
would be Ed’s first and last deer.
His love for shooting with a camera
and camp life led him to other du-
ties such as the camp chef (much to
everyone’s excitement)!
On one of the earlier ventures
to the Pigeon River State Forest, a
vehicle had pulled up alongside of
Uncle Joe as he walked along one of
the trails. The party joyfully relayed
that a young man (Chuck) had
downed a deer about a mile away,
and they would gratefully offer their
services to help. Uncle Joe, never
one to set aside an opportunity to
teach a lesson to his nephews, po-
litely declined the offer and offered,
“Your first deer is the one that is
always remembered!”
 Quite some time later, Chuck,
proud as could be, came into camp
huffing and puffing, a good size deer
in tow. This was the start of Chuck
becoming an exceptional hunter,
one of the best Uncle Joe has ever
known.
Over the years, many friends
and family members have also tried
the camp, but many didn’t stick.
John did stick. Another family mem-
ber of Joe’s, John became an accom-
plished hunter harvesting numerous
deer, even with a bow. Mark, a
friend of Ed and Chuck growing up,
also began attending the annual deer
camp. Originally, Mark had spent
several years doing his own thing
before succumbing to the callings of
Uncle Joe’s deer camp. Mark is now
a crossbow expert and has almost
every gadget and convenience that a
hunter could possibly use.
As Uncle Joe’s deer camp began
to grow, so did their reputation with
the locals. Joe would always ar-
rive in an old and tired Oldsmobile,
deemed “The White Elephant,” a
few days early to claim the campsite
and get all set up. After Joe would
have the canvas and tent erected,
there was no mistaking that the
“Blue Tarp Bunch” had returned
for yet another year of hunting the
Pigeon River State Forest. The Blue
Tarp Bunch camp life also had a
reputation to be reckoned with.
A campfire was always roaring,
regardless of the time of day. Break-
fast was always eggs, toast, and a
meat of some kind. Corned beef was
an occasional treat that everyone
looked forward to. Usually after a
morning’s hunt, lunches would be
burgers cooked on the fire grate.
Dinners, however, were fit for kings.
Steak, baked potatoes, and veg-
etables were grilled over the fire. A
Dutch oven in the fire pit provided
many years of memories of Cornish
hen feasts that were piping hot at
a day’s end. The evening dinner
setting situated the table and chairs
around the fire pit; the table adorned
with a bottle of wine that would set
the tone for a hearty evening full of
fun and laughter.
Cold beer complimented the
evening with storytelling. On
nights where one of the campers
had scored a successful hunt that
day, beer can candles would be lit
to illuminate the buck pole. These
homemade lanterns would provide
enough light for more storytelling
and toasting. One of these stories
has gone down as legendary.
“One day Uncle Joe came hob-
bling into camp, clutching his leg,
hollering “Snake Bite!” Crying out
in agony, he instructed the green-
horns in camp to find the medicine
bottle from the box that resided be-
neath the camp table. As Joe made
himself more comfortable, someone
rushed him over the medicine bottle.
With a large swig, the pain was
promptly lifted from Joe’s face and
leg and he began to chuckle. Black-
berry Brandy sure does cure all the
“ailments” one may have, even if it
was just the cold that bit!”
There was always a good time to
be had at deer camp!
Chuck’s schedule has made
annual hunting trips difficult, but
he always made it a priority to
spend what little time he could
in the woods with his Uncle Joe.
Sometimes, Chuck would arrive late
after dark, only to leave the next
afternoon for another work trip.
What was uncanny, however, was
Chuck’s ability to produce with such
little time. Without question, before
Chuck would leave, there was a
nice buck hanging on the buck pole.
Such good fortune warranted Chuck
the nickname BBC (Big Buck
Chuck).
As time marched on, setting
up camp became more cumber-
some and difficult. In 2009 Chuck
purchased an old log cabin just
10 minutes away from the origi-
nal campsite. In rather dire shape,
Chuck spent a significant amount of
time renovating the new deer camp.
Chuck replaced damaged logs, put
a new roof on, upgraded the elec-
tric, added a glass door wood stove,
created a semi modern outhouse,
hung interior lighting, constructed
a loft storage area, and built a long
kitchen counter.
The hunting traditions have aged
tremendously since the acquisi-
tion of the cabin… in a good sense
though, much like the aging of the
cherished fine wine that was always
enjoyed at the Blue Tarp Bunch
dinner table. Some impressive deer
mounts adorn the cabin walls, each
with their own unique story from the
Pigeon River Forest. The addition
of a microwave and toaster are just
a few of the simple pleasures that
are gratefully welcomed both before
and after time spent in the woods.
The cabin has become a warm and
comfortable camp dwelling that is
now used year-round. A day camp
is still used at the original campsite,
for staging, lunches, and a warm
fire, but it is a joy to retreat back
to the cabin on cold fall and winter
evenings.
After decades of hunting, while
Uncle Joe has slowed a bit, his en-
thusiasm for hunting remains strong.
The last deer that he harvested he
gratefully accepted the offer to assist
dragging it back. Ed, although living
in Seattle, has only missed just a
few years in the Pigeon. Chuck, now
living in Texas, has less time than he
would like to spend up at the cabin
in the Pigeon River State Forest.
The original campsite configuration back in 1985.
His frozen vacuum-packed venison ago by Uncle Joe continue to guide
processed by Uncle Joe is shipped to others through the great outdoors,
him every year. Joe has considered now deep into a second genera-
this as part of the hunt and it brings tion of hunters. Chuck, Ed, Mark,
him great satisfaction to be able to and John are so grateful for the
share his hunting success with his willingness of one man to share his
family yet. knowledge about the outdoors and
Mark and John have started especially his love for the Pigeon
bringing up their boys to the Pigeon River Forest. The time spent and the
River now, and so a new genera- memories made along the Pigeon
tion of up-and-coming hunters has River are priceless, and they owe
begun. The tradition that started de- it all to Uncle Joe, the Patriarch of
cades ago by a man with a burning their Pigeon River deer camp tradi-
desire to hunt and the drive to start tions.
a deer camp of his own continue to “To many more years enjoying
flourish. The paths paved so long the Pigeon with you, Joe”...Chuck.n
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 79
MDNR’s reflections on 2018
F
or the Michigan De-
partment of Natural
Resources, 2018 has
been busy. The DNR,
with the help of many
partners, has made great
strides in its ongoing efforts to take
care of the state’s natural and cultur-
al resources and provide outstanding
outdoor recreation opportunities.
Here are a few highlights of how
the DNR spent 2018.
Providing Quality Outdoor
Recreation Opportunities
The DNR continued its work to
ensure excellent opportunities for
hunting and fishing, both of which
contribute billions of dollars to the
state’s economy each year.
Fourteen state-record fish have
been caught in Michigan in the last
10 years, pointing to the abundance
and health of our fish populations.
The DNR stocks more than 25
million fish each year, in more than
1,000 locations across both peninsu-
las. Forty percent of all recreational
fishing in Michigan depends on
stocked fish.
In 2018, the DNR expanded the
recently created Fishing Tournament
Information System – a statewide,
online registration and reporting tool
that makes it easier for tournament
managers to meet the requirement of
having all bass fishing tournaments
registered – to include all bass and
walleye tournaments. To date, the
system has received more than
2,000 bass tournament registrations
and results reports.
The DNR is continually improv-
ing habitat on the 4.5 million acres
of public hunting land it manages.
Hunters can explore seven managed
waterfowl areas, 19 grouse en-
hanced management sites (known as
GEMS) that allow walk-in hunting,
and more than 180 state game and
wildlife areas. These locations also
offer abundant wildlife watching
opportunities.
So far this year, hunters have
contributed almost $200,000 to
wildlife management by purchasing
Pure Michigan Hunt applications
that give them a shot at a prize pack-
age valued at over $4,000, as well
as licenses for elk, bear, spring and
fall turkey and antlerless deer, and
first pick at a managed waterfowl
area. The application period ends at
midnight Dec. 31.
Michigan’s 103 state parks
continue to provide the scenic
spaces, natural resources and access
to outdoor recreation opportunities
that attract tens of millions of people
every year.
With 12,500-plus miles of state-
80 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
designated trails and pathways – one
of the largest, interconnected trail
systems in the country – Michigan
is known as The Trails State. This
trails system offers plenty of social,
economic and health benefits, cater-
ing to a variety of users, including
bicyclists, hikers, ORV riders, cross-
country skiers, snowmobilers, horse-
back riders, paddlers and others.
The system also includes the
Iron Belle Trail, Michigan’s signa-
ture hiking and biking trail extend-
ing more than 2,000 miles from the
far western tip of the Upper Penin-
sula to Belle Isle in Detroit.
There was renewed interest
sparked in 2018 in the Iron Belle
Trail Fund Campaign, marked by an
event in Ann Arbor where more than
$10.5 million in private donations
was announced.
“Quality outdoor recreation
resources and opportunities mean a
lot to the people who use and value
them, and to the communities they
serve,” DNR Director Keith Creagh
said. “The Iron Belle Trail offers so
many beautiful places where people
make memories, improve their
health, and recharge their energy.
The state and our many partners are
on an ambitious time line to get the
remainder of these connected miles
in place.”
To date, the DNR and partners
have built and engineered more than
100 miles of new trail to complete
the Iron Belle Trail’s 1,422 miles
of existing hiking and biking trails,
with just over 600 remaining to be
connected.
In 2018, the DNR has been intensely
focused on mitigating impacts from
chronic wasting disease on Michi-
gan’s white-tailed deer population.
In October 2018, the Ralph C.
Wilson Jr. Foundation announced
a $100 million investment of parks
and trails in Southeast Michigan,
including segments of the Iron Belle
Trail.
With the creation of a new State
Water Trails program, the DNR
announced this month that eight
waterways, totaling 540-plus miles
flowing through more than a dozen
counties, have been selected as the
first state-designated water trails in
Michigan.
DNR Parks and Recreation
Chief Ron Olson said that water
trails are an increasing trend in
Michigan and nationally, as interest
in paddle sports and other water-
based recreation continues to grow.
Water trails feature well-devel-
oped access points, often are near
significant historical, environmental
Previous Pure Michigan Hunt Winner
Jim Bosscher of McBain, on opening
day of waterfowl season at Fish Point
State Game Area in Tuscola County.
So far this year, hunters have con-
tributed almost $200,000 to wildlife
management by purchasing Pure
Michigan Hunt applications.
or cultural points of interest and
often have nearby amenities like res-
taurants, hotels and campgrounds.
“These state-designated water
trails will encourage close-to-home
outdoor recreation and healthy life-
styles while boosting local econo-
mies, giving even more reason to
call Michigan The Trails State,” said
Paul Yauk, the DNR’s state trails
coordinator.
The DNR’s staffed shooting
ranges, located in southern Michi-
gan state parks and game areas,
made improvements to accommo-
date a growing number of shooting
sports enthusiasts. Updates this year
Brandonn Kramer poses with his
state record black buffalo, taken
while bowfishing on the Grand
River in Ottawa County this past May.
Four teen state-record fish have been
caught in Michigan in the last 10
years, pointing to the abundance and
health of our fish populations.
included expanding parking, adding
new handgun shooting stations and
installing a well to provide potable
water, with construction of new
accessible parking and walkways
planned at three ranges in 2019.
Looking to get outdoors in
2019? Check out michigan.gov/dn-
rcalendar.
Taking Care of Michigan’s
Woods, Waters and Wildlife
The “Good Neighbor Authority”
allows state natural resource agen-
cies to assist the U.S. Forest Service
and the federal Bureau of Land
Management on timber and water-
shed restoration projects across the
country.
In 2018, the DNR increased its
Good Neighbor Authority efforts
from the previous year, preparing
2,400 acres for timber sale and pro-
ducing 38,500 cords of wood from
the four national forests in Michigan
– the Huron and Manistee national
forests in the Lower Peninsula and
the Ottawa and Hiawatha in the Up-
per Peninsula.
This state/federal partnership
will grow to more than 7,500 acres
in 2019.
In 2018, oversight of the state’s
Registered Forester program trans-
DNR’s 2018 page 82
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 81


MDNR’s Reflections 2018
from page 80
ferred to the DNR from the Michi-
gan Department of Licensing and
Regulatory Affairs. The move was
part of a restructuring process for
this voluntary program that encour-
ages higher standards for Michi-
gan’s foresters.
Changes to the program include
an up-to-date online database and a
new complaint review process.
“The new program is the ideal
source for landowners to find highly
qualified foresters to help them
manage their forest land,” said Deb
Begalle, chief of the DNR’s Forest
Resources Division.
Nearly two-thirds of Michigan’s
20 million acres of forest are pri-
vately owned; the state manages an
estimated 4 million acres of public
forest.
The DNR also manages 360,000
acres of state game areas. At game
areas throughout Michigan, DNR
staffers have been harvesting timber
to create early successional forest
habitat.
The selective cutting of mature
pine and aspen stands encourages
the growth of young forests, which
provide vital habitat for ruffed
grouse, American woodcock, deer,
elk and golden-winged warblers.
“This important work may look
destructive while in progress, but
the result is outstanding habitat for
many game and non-game wildlife
species,” said DNR Wildlife Divi-
sion Chief Russ Mason.
Late in 2018, in partnership with
Pheasants Forever and the Hal and
Jean Glassen Foundation, the DNR
launched its new Adopt-A-Game-
Area program, which encourages
individuals and organizations to
sponsor grassland habitat projects
on state-managed lands they use and
value.
“Grasslands give important
benefits to both wildlife and people.
In addition to providing habitat and
food resources for many wildlife
species, grasslands also improve wa-
ter and air quality,” said Al Stewart,
DNR upland game bird specialist.
Stewart said grassland pollina-
tors, like bees and monarch but-
terflies, help to generate crops that
keep the country fed. Throughout
Michigan, many grasslands are
being converted to agriculture and
development. Grasslands now are
one of the rarest habitat types in the
world.
Expanded support of this pro-
gram, through sponsorships, will
82 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS
provide valuable nesting, brood-
rearing, foraging and winter habitat
for a wide range of wildlife, includ-
ing deer, turkeys, pheasants, ducks,
rabbits, songbirds and pollinators.
This year, the DNR has been
intensely focused on mitigating im-
pacts from chronic wasting disease
on Michigan’s white-tailed deer
population. This fatal disease has
been found in free-ranging deer in
Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot,
Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent, and
Montcalm counties.
Following public engagement
meetings and surveys, hunting
regulations were changed for the
2018 deer hunting seasons to ad-
dress concerns of CWD. The DNR
also provided additional staffed
deer check locations as well as drop
boxes for hunters to submit their
harvested deer for testing. More
than 30,000 deer were checked and
tested this year.
The coming year will see contin-
ued efforts to maintain the health of
Michigan’s deer herd. For the latest
information and updates on chronic
wasting disease, visit michigan.gov/
cwd.
The DNR also keeps a close
eye on the health of Michigan’s
fish, working continuously with
Michigan State University’s Aquatic
Animal Health Lab to be at the
forefront of disease identification,
but also regularly analyzing groups
of wild fish to test for diseases and
performing fish health inspections
at state hatcheries and on hatchery-
reared fish.
In 2018, the DNR’s Office of the
Great Lakes completed restoration
of historical environmental impacts
on the Menominee River, started the
Saginaw Bay Fish Reef restoration
project and made strides in imple-
menting goals established in the
Michigan Water Strategy.
The OGL staff also worked in
communities to protect coastal re-
sources, helped establish an alliance
of Great Lakes island communities
and facilitated the development of
shared harbor visions in waterfront
communities.
As it has each year since its
introduction in 2014, the Invasive
Species Grant Program – imple-
mented by the Michigan depart-
ments of Agriculture and Rural De-
velopment, Environmental Quality
and Natural Resources – provided
roughly $3.6 million in 2018 for
projects designed to prevent, detect,
eradicate and control invasive pests
on the land and in the water.
Because of this grant program,
more than 285,000 acres of land
and water have been surveyed for
invasive species; more than 18,000
acres have been treated for inva-
sive terrestrial and aquatic plants;
and millions of people have been
reached with educational informa-
tion about invasive species.
“It’s clear that Michigan’s
Invasive Species Grant Program is
accomplishing many of the goals set
for the program at the very start,”
said Creagh. “The fight to stop, con-
tain and eradicate invasive species
from Michigan’s woods and water is
critical to the long-term protection
of these valuable natural resources,
and this grant program is helping in
that fight.”
Protecting The State’s
Natural Resources/Citizens
Located in every county of
the state, Michigan conservation
officers are first responders who
provide lifesaving operations in the
communities they serve. They are
fully commissioned state peace of-
ficers who provide natural resources
protection, ensure recreational safe-
ty and protect citizens by enforcing
Michigan’s laws and regulations.
“A conservation officer has cho-
sen to not only protect our people
and local communities as first
responders – they have devoted their
career to being front-line defenders
of our natural resources,” said DNR
Law Enforcement Division Chief
Gary Hagler.
As community first respond-
ers, several conservation officers
were involved in lifesaving actions
during 2018, including saving a
woman from drowning, rescuing
people involved in snowmobile and
kayak accidents and those stranded
in Lake Huron and on the edge of a
cliff overlooking Lake Superior. As
a result, eight conservation officers
received the Michigan DNR Life-
saving Award.
The DNR Conservation Officer
Academy graduated 24 new conser-
vation officers in 2018. The new of-
ficers were selected from nearly 500
applicants to be a part of Recruit
School No. 9 – the DNR’s 23-week
training academy based in Lansing.
“Our division selects the most
highly qualified candidates to
receive additional training that no
other law enforcement agency in the
state offers,” Hagler said. “Our of-
ficers are molded into quality people
who are embedded within the com-
munities they serve.”
As Michigan’s oldest statewide
law enforcement agency, the DNR
Law Enforcement Division contin-
ues to expand its abilities to protect
our natural resources. The 252
officers budgeted for the 2019 fiscal
year is an all-time high.
Connecting People
With The Outdoors
Since the beginning of the 2018-
2019 school year, over 1,000 educa-
tors have received the DNR’s free
wildlife curricula for their class-
rooms, information that helps give
students an understanding of Michi-
gan’s wildlife and their habitats.
Kindergarten through high school
educators can get these resources for
use in the second half of the school
year. Featured species include wa-
terfowl, black bears and elk.
The DNR recently – after two
years of mapping and reviewing the
condition of the state forest roads it
maintains across both peninsulas –
completed an initial inventory used
to create interactive maps showing
where ORV use is allowed on these
roads. The maps will be available
online at michigan.gov/forestroads
and updated each spring.
Look for an early 2019 “Show-
casing the DNR” story detailing the
efforts to map state forest roads, a
resource to help people get out and
enjoy Michigan’s public forests.
The DNR’s work in providing
GIS products and services gained
national recognition at the annual
Esri User Conference, when the
department earned a Special
Achievement in GIS Award for its
innovative application of mapping,
data analytics and thought leader-
ship.
“Within the past 20 years, the
DNR has implemented an enterprise
GIS system to support the grow-
ing needs and challenges of caring
for Michigan’s natural resources
and connecting the public to those
resources,” said Dave Forstat, DNR
GIS manager and chief data stew-
ard.
“As web GIS has become more
prevalent, we’ve leveraged the bene-
fits of increased communication and
data accuracy to provide customers
with the best possible data on trails,
water, minerals, trees, wildlife, fish
and other areas.”
This includes online tools – like
the Open Data Portal, interactive
maps, story maps and customized
apps – aimed at connecting outdoor
enthusiasts and natural resources
professionals with the information
they need.
This is just a brief glimpse of a
year in the life of the DNR. More
information about the department’s
broad range of work to ensure
healthy natural resources and out-
door recreation is available on the
DNR website, redesigned in 2018 to
make it easier to use, at michigan.
gov/dnr.n
 Woods-N-Water News Classified Section
MISC.
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WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 83
 Real
Estate
Serving Oscoda, Tawas City, East Tawas, Glennie, Mikado, Greenbush, Harrisville, and
surrounding areas in Iosco and Alcona Counties! Let us guide you to your new home!

River
Waterfront on
52 acres
Property borders Au
Sable River and the
bayou. 2,658 feet of river
frontage, 746 feet of

33 ACRES OF Pages
bayou. Monster Bucks
taken yearly. Steelhead

NATURES BEAUTY
and walleye holes right
from the shoreline,
fenced and gated at one
border with waterfront
on the other. You have to see to believe! 70% wooded in Iosco County.
84-89
$190,000 081-18-0061WW
Unique
Northern
Michigan 111 N Sylt Road
Hunting Camp Lake Leelanau, MI
VACANT LAND – 33 ACRES: Untouched
All seasons hunting hardwoods, flowering brush, ferns and
and sporting lodge wildflowers. Natural habitat to local
on 120 acres and wildlife, including whitetail deer,
fully surrounded by bobcat, turkey, rabbit, and grouse.
thousands of acres of Excellent hiking and hunting! Beautiful
Federal land. This is the landscape of hill and valley, lowland
only privately owned and highland, woods and clearing.
property in sec 32. 1,700 GREAT
square foot lodge built POTENTIAL:
in 1991 sits at 1,150 feet above sea level—the 3rd highest point in a wonderful
Alcona County. Spectacular view of the woods in the valley below. homestead,
86 feet of covered porch faces south and west for great sunsets. A hobby farm,
generator provides power for the whole house. The refrigerator, lights or ‘up north’
and cook stove are propane. Water collection system provides 1100 hunters
gallons of water to service house and full bathroom. Up to 20 people paradise!

$279,400
have slept in lodge at one time. 120 acres of hardwoods, pines and
poplar. Many 4-wheeler and snowmobile trails. The deer hunting is
great. Truly a one of a kind property in Alcona County! Possible land
contract with 1/2 down and 5 yr balloon. Carolyn Telgard
$289,900 081-18-0076WW Realtor
Cell: 231-642-7117
Affordable carolyn.telgard@cbgreatlakes.com
Waterfront
Atlanta, Michigan 599-18-0060 - 1 bedroom; 1 bath; 1 story;
Home 1500 sq ft. This is a unique piece of property! 40 acres with state
Great cottage on Lake land on 3 sides and an 800 acre hunt club on the north border. There
Huron! Like the one is a 50 x 100 solid built pole barn with a 1500 sq ft self sufficient
you visited growing up home built inside, which is run on solar, and an LP generator and it
has a flowing well. There is a well maintained apple orchard that is
that Mom or Grandma fenced. Beautifully wooded property with a building site that has
owned. Get your slice an additional 1000 gal septic tank that will allow for a lodge looking
of paradise for little over the Blue Ribbon Trout Stream, the Gilchrist Creek of which there
is over 1000 feet of frontage. The Gilchrist Creek and the Greasy
$$ in Alcona County.
Creek meet on this property. There are 5 deer blinds set up for your
Open layout, 2 bedrooms, large sunroom. hunting pleasure. This property has produced numerous Big Bucks.
$110,000 081-18-0081WW The property also holds ample wildlife such as deer, bear, turkey,
partridge, bobcat, rabbits.... Don’t miss out on this one! $239,900
WWW.LIGHTHOUSEREALTYOSCODA.COM 12631 State St., P.O. Box 663
335 S State St, Oscoda, MI 48750 Atlanta, MI 49709
989-739-2050 989-785- 2600 aerorealestate.usa.mls.com
84 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS

Alcona/Alpeana County,
408+/- Acres, Incredible Retreat,
3 Lodges, Large Pole Barn, Beaver
Creek Frontage, Tons of Wildlife
$1,400,000
Calhoun County, 67+/- Acres
300 ft. All Sports Prairie Lake,
Tillable Acreage
$275,000
Jackson County, 537 +/- Acres,
Excellent Duck, Deer & Turkey Hunting.
Area of Other Large Property Owners.
“Man Cave” w/Game Cleaning Station.
$1,074,000
Newaygo County 4+/- Acres
Muskegon Riverfront, New cabin,
Beautiful landscaping, Secluded woods.
$220,000
Osceola County, 120 Acres, Trail
System, Near Reed City, Tons of
Deer and Turkey Sign, Food plot areas
$255,000
SELL YOUR PROPERTY WITH US!
BLAKE VER WOERT: 616-308-3122
JAKE DYKSTRA: 616-916-8354
CURT BRYAN: 616-745-2759
Arenac County, 40-acre parcel has
over 550 ft. of frontage on
Lake Huron/Saginaw Bay.
$185,000
Calhoun County, 80 Acres, Big Buck
County, Lots of Deer Sign,
Oak Ridges, Rolling Hills.
$275,000
I NG
ND
P E
Lake County, 7 Acres, Little Manistee
River Frontage, Cozy Cabin,
Great Hunting and Fishing
$125,000
38 Acres, Newaygo County,
White Cloud Cabin/Home, Five
Mile Creek Frontage, Deer,
Bear, Turkey, and Seclusion!
$169,000
Osceola County, LeRoy Twp,
141 +/- Acres, Easy access
to US-131, Large Pond
$211,500
Arenac Co, 167+/- Acres, 3,500+/- ft
Lake Huron, 6 Bedroom Lodge, Guest
Cabin, Great Duck & Deer Hunting.
$550,000
Gladwin, 142 Acres,
Fully furnished Deer Ranch.
The Rack Ranch
$835,000
Lapeer, 102 Acres, This property offers
room for multiple building sites and is
just 3 Miles from the city of Lapeer.
$340,000
80 Acres, Newaygo County,
Food Plots, Mature Timber Value,
Loaded With Deer And Turkey,
Economically Price!
$160,000
Osceola County, 163+/- Acres, Great
Trail System, Awesome Hunting,
Rolling Hills, Must See!
$245,000
Arenac County, Au Gres, 773.42 Acres,
Whitetail Paradise, Road/Trail System,
Large Pond, 10 Gun Shacks,
Awesome Deer Hunting Property.
$1,850/Acre
Isabella County, 80+/- Acres, Duck
and Deer Hunter’s Paradise, Over
a mile of Pony River Frontage.
$160,000
40+/- Acres Mecosta, Fenced
in pastureland and pond. Perfect for
equestrians and cattle owners!
$97,900
Newaygo County, 88 Acres, 2100 ft.
Pristine Muskegon River frontage.
Excellent hunting.
Fully furnished living quarters.
$575,000
I NG
END
P
Osceola County, Evart, 278 Acres,
Major Deer Sign, Multiple Food Plots,
Rolling Terrain,. Thick Bedding Cover,
Near State Land, Great Deer History.
$517,000
WWW.WILDLIFEREALTY.COM
15+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
& 70+ MILLION IN
MICHIGAN LAND SALES
52+ Acres, Benzie County,
Near Interlochen and Traverse City,
Great Road Frontage, Beautiful Calhoun County, 74 Acres,
Build Spots, Great Hunting, 1/2 Tillable ,1/2 Wooded,
Nation Forest Adjoins Property! Trophy Buck Genetics
$99,000 $275,000
Jackson County 38.14 Acres,
Log Home/Cabin, Tillable, Jackson County, 105+/- Acres, WRP
Timber Value, and 30 year old Program, Mature Hardwoods, Great
Walnut Timber Stands! Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Hunting
$255,000 $199,000
6+ Acres, Mis-
saukee County,
Secluded 34’x16’
Pole Barn - Deer
Camp! This is a
MUST SEE with
an incredible
track record of
harvesting
Midland County, 80 Acres MATURE
12 Miles to Mount Pleasant, Whitetails!
Excellent Hunting Price Right!!
$176,000 $55,000
Oceana County, 67 Acres, Great Deer
Newaygo County, 125 Acres, Three and Turkey Hunting, Tillable,
spring fed lakes, Excellent Deer, Thick Forest Floor, Food Plots, Pond,
Turkey and Waterfowl hunting Hunting Shack and Pole Barn.
$349,500 $159,000
Presque Isle County, 1,500 Acres, Roscommon County, 480+/- Acres,
High Fence Deer Ranch, 50,000+ sq. ft. High Fence Deer Rach, First Class
lodge, rolling hills, caretakers Lodge and House, 120’x60’ Pole Barn,
house, and pole barn. Quality Deer Herd.
$6,400,000 $2,900,000
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 85
 223 W. Main, Edmore MI 48829
www.eaglerealtymi.com

888.967.4140
LAKE ISABELLA: Cute 2009 Built Ranch w/
lots of storage. Includes deeded lake access to
Lake Isabella. MLS#18043948 - $218,000

TUBBS LAKE: Mobile Home w/75 Ft. of Private

Channel Frontage to Martiny Chain of Lakes in
Mecosta County. MLS#18031555 - $59,900

EDMORE: Doublewide on Sixth Lake. This larger ranch home

sits on an acre with channel/lake frontage. Great fishing and
you will be one of only a few with access. POLEBARN. $159,900

LEROY: 2010 Built 4 Bedroom Ranch home on the

Eastern shore of McCoy Lake in Osceola County.
60 Ft. of Water Frontage. MLS#18041901 - $98,900

BARRYTON: A total of 4 lots (one waterfront) come

with this seasonal cottage w/67 Ft. of Frontage to
Martiny Chain of Lakes. MLS#18034651 - $59,900

BASS LAKE MONTCALM COUNTY: Multiple lakefront and

lake access parcels owned by one of the original developers
of the area. Go to www.EagleRealtyMi.com for more detail.

VESTABURG: Log Cabin Cottage on shaded East bank

of all sports Rock Lake. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic
view of the lake. +Back Lot. MLS#18046701 - $117,500
EAGLE REALTY REALTORS® DO NOT CHARGE NO
ADMIN FEES OR MAINTENANCE FEES.
CALL US TODAY “WE WILL WORK FOR YOU”

Thinking of Buying or Selling?

CALL BRANDON | BROKER, LAND SPECIALIST (office) 269.357.7036 or (cell) 269.816.3010

MOSSYOAKPROPERTIES.COM
ALLY ING IV
E ING ICE ED
STICUCED LIST T LIST PR UC
R A
D ED NEW AC NEW D
R RE

Cass County Branch County Berrien County

Barry County 67.6 +/- acres 80.31+/- acres 94 +/- acres
99.6 +/- acres List Price $258,400 - An List Price $649,000 - List Price $279,000 - 94 +/- Ontonagon County
List Price $549,000 - exceptional mixed use 67.6+/- 40+ acres are tillable, acres of primarily wooded 80 +/- acres
Beautiful cabin parcel of ground in Cass County, woods, a pond, and EXCELLENT hunting property List Price $124,900 -
overlooking a spring Michigan with EXCELLENT a 4 Bed 2 full bath in Berrien County, Michigan Wooded acreage in the
fed fish pond on Hunting, potential building home with 2900 sq.ft. just South of I94, and directly Western Upper Peninsula
rolling wooded sites, and tillable ground of living space, and across the road from Point O’ with beautiful turn key
acreage generating farm rent yearly outbuildings Woods Golf Course D-style log cabin

EACH MOSSY OAK PROPERTIES OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

86 FEBRUARY 2019 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, MI 48739 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

“UP NORTH” HOMES AND COTTAGES

LITTLE CLEAR LAKE!!
Lovely 3-bdrm, 2 bath home that is move-in ready w/little
updates needed and 90 feet of canal frontage leading to
30 acre private lake! Open floor plan, newer appliances,
master suite, 31x15 deck with fantastic lake views!!
$59,900 1853977
OVER 3000 SQUARE FEET!!
This spacious 4-bdrm, 2.7 bath home is beautiful & well-
maintained. So many fantastic amenities, full walkout
bsmt, 2.5 ACRES, finished garage, large deck, privacy
fence, tasteful landscaping & above ground pool!!
$199,900 1837404
WELL-MAINTAINED!!
Move-in ready 4-bdrm ranch-style home on 30 ACRES,
w/garage, full walkout bsmt, 9x11 bonus room or office,
family room, master suite, deck, porch and beautiful
wooded views of property and your very own pond!!
$167,900 1853504
AN ACRE OF PROPERTY!!
Updated 3-bdrm on full bsmt w/laminate floors, newer
stainless steel appliances, family room, maintenance-
free lighted Trex decking, newer windows, newer doors &
newer siding and a 30x24 garage plus shed for storage!!
$134,900 1850717
20 ACRES!!
3-bdrm home on full basement with garage!! Some
recent updates include updates to kitchen and
bath. Outside there is a large covered deck w/
beautiful views and trails for walking or the hunter!!
$154,900 1840412

FANTASTIC LOCATION!!
This 2-bdrm home with attached garage sits on AN ACRE
of property and is just a short distance to all sports Lake
George. Has wood flooring, large front deck, full base-
ment, paved driveway and a second 24x28 garage!!
$69,000 1844224
WELL-INSULATED!!
Nice 3-bdrm home located in great recreational area near
many lakes and state land! Would make the perfect year
round home or an excellent weekend or vacation getaway!
Large fenced yard for your pets & deck for relaxing!!
$59,900 1851030
AMISH REMODELED!! 6.41 ROLLING ACRES!! 2.36 ACRES!!
Gorgeous 3-bdrm w/custom cabinets, mobile Beautiful 3-bdrm, 2 full bath home with great Spacious brick and vinyl 2-bdrm home with 1674 square
kitchen island, Amish built furnishings, FP, 2 room, AC, FP, master suite, garage, 3 sea- feet of living space, formal dining, some appliances, family
covered porches, oversized garage and all NES- son room, outdoor gazebo & stocked ponds room w/its own entrance, huge 72x39 heated 5-car garage
TLED ON 20 ACRES w/groomed trails & 4 blinds!! w/artesian wells!! plus 24x32 pole bldg, both wired for electric & much more!
$249,900 1855393 $139,900 1848506 $134,900 1848848

WEST BRANCH OF RIFLE RIVER!!
Beautiful 4-bdrm, 3 bath home on 10 ACRES!! Over
500’ of frontage on the gorgeous Rifle River for excel-
lent fishing and kayaking. So many great amenities,
including 2 garages! A must see home and property!!
$339,500 1852070
BEAUTIFUL LAKEFRONT!!
SPACIOUS CUSTOM BUILT 3-bdrm, 3 bath
home, large lot, full walkout bsmt, garage,
open floor plan, wood floors, AC, gorgeous
kitchen, master suite & so much more!!
$232,500
ACROSS FROM NAT’L FOREST!!
This 3-bdrm home sits on a deep lot with some shade
trees and has been freshly painted. On almost an acre
of land and located in great recreational area and not
far from lakes. Exterior of home does need some TLC!!
1854973 $45,900 1848661
38.84 ACRES!!
Immaculate ranch-style manufactured home w/3-bdrms, 2
full bath, open floor plan, formal dining, mudroom, master
suite, 30x40 garage and more. This property would also
make a great place for a hunting club or church retreat!!
$176,000 1851925
COZY GETAWAY!!
2-bdrm home on two lots w/garage that has
finished heated upstairs! Located in great
recreational area and has vinyl windows,
covered & enclosed porches & more!!
$27,900 1855290

ACROSS FROM LAKE!!
Well-maintained 2-bdrm home with a beautiful view of
all sports RIFLE LAKE and just across the road from 20
foot access spot! Spacious living area, hickory cabinets,
knotty pine interior, carport, deck, covered porch & more!!
$79,500 1847245
SPACIOUS CHALET!!
Over 2300 square feet of living space, 3-bdrm, 2 full bath
and 4-car garage. Home has beautiful views from multiple
decks & is located in great subd w/access to 2 all sports
lakes, golf course, tennis courts, trails, camping & more!!
$143,900 1846541
LOTS OF UPDATES!!
Nice 3, possible 4, bdrm home on OVER 1/2 ACRE, w/ga-
rage, newer metal roof, remodeled bath, newer windows,
newer well, laminate floors, gas log FP, appliances, snack
bar area, large yard w/fire pit & 3 miles from town!!
$79,900 1853056
1.25 ACRES!! LARGE DOUBLE LOT!!
Affordable 2-bdrm, 2 bath home w/large rooms, appliances, Cute 3-bedroom, vertical log home in great
lots of kitchen cabinets, generator, 16x14 sunroom, paved recreational area not far from lakes and State
circular drive, breezeway from home to 24x24 garge, newer lands. Wood stove, garage, screened porch
windows & newer roof & you can walk to State land!! and mostly furnished!!
$49,900 1849274 $49,900 1850311

WATERFRONT LOTS AND WATERFRONT ACREAGE

1.9 ACRES!!
Beautiful wooded property with frontage on
Turtle Lake, an 8 acre small fishing lake.
Also not too far from many other all sports
lakes and near State lands!!
$14,900
BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT!!
Nice partly wooded lot with vegetation to wa-
ter’s edge and 80” of frontage on private “no
motor” Fawn Lake. Also near other lakes and
the beautiful Rifle River!!
1835692 $15,900
RIFLE RIVER!! EXCELLENT FISHING!! 9.82 ACRES!!
Mostly cleared lot with some shade trees and Nice lot with frontage on the beautiful Rifle Great hunting acreage with property fronting
gorgeous views of the Rifle River. Great spot River and fantastic views or potential site for on Nester Creek and a perfect spot for your
for excellent fishing, kayaking and canoeing building your new home or vacation or week- home or hunt cabin. Electric at road with a
and potential site for building!! end retreat. Adjacent lot also for sale!! driveway and shed already at the property!!
1850114 $22,900 1843574 $22,900 1843577 $35,000 1851406

ELBOW LAKE!!
Nice waterfront lot and a fantastic spot for
building your dream home or vacation get-
away with 94 feet of frontage on 42 acre all
sports lake. Elec at road!!
$54,900
BEAUTIFUL LAKEFRONT LOTS!! SUPER SUBDIVISION!! 2.4 ACRES!! PLEASANT LAKEFRONT LOT!!
Over a half acre of waterfront property front- Almost 3 ACRES, with 250+ feet of water Nice property with frontage on Ogemaw Nice property and potential site for building
ing on popular, all sports Lake Ogemaw with frontage on Ogemaw Creek. Located in great Creek and in super subdivision with many your new home or vacation or weekend get-
gentle slope to water. Located in fantastic area and in subdivision with many fantastic nice amenities like natural gas and municipal away in great subdivision and with frontage
subd & potential bldg site!! amenities!! well & sewer and great spot for bldg!! on FLOWAGE LAKE!!
1846598 $69,900 1790612 $76,000 1855915 $81,000 1855918 $101,000 1763735

FOR MORE LISTINGS

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.CAHANES.COM
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 87
 YOOPER SPECIAL!
15 ACRE FARM. Well maintained 1500 sf, 3
bedroom home with a full basement. 28x160
pole barn w/workshop, concrete floors and
12’ doors plus a 40x100 storage barn. Land
is open and tillable with a 1+ acre pond.
Great deer, duck, goose & turkey hunting.
Splits available. $184,900 #316893
28 ACRES ADJ. STATE LAND! Remodeled with
BH&G style décor. Over 2100 sf featuring 4 bed-
rooms and 3 full bathrooms. Stone fireplace, all
seasons sun room, stone & stained-glass accents!
Includes a 30x40 pole barn with a sauna and
28x32 man cave-studio w/an 8’ covered patio.
Great hunting!! $236,000 #316334 (Cheboygan)

E6809 E SANDENE • IRONWOOD TWP 49911

80 Wooded Hunting Acres Renovated
GRAYLING LOG HOME ON 17 ACRES! Nearly 3000 149 SECLUDED ACRES! Trail roads, 11 estab-
4 Bdrm, 2 Full Bath, 2200 Sq Ft. Farm House. sf of living space, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, finished walk lished blinds, small clearings for food plots, trail
PRICE REDUCED $279,900 out basement w/family room & 2nd kitchen, wrap
around deck, 3-1/2 car garage w/heated workshop,
roads and a creek. Nicely wooded with a mix
of evergreens & hardwood, mostly high ground.
1 car storage garage, RV station w all hook-ups. Ex- Abundant game. Close to Hammond Bay Har-
cellent hunting! $329,500 #313950 bor. $159,000 #313641 (Millersburg area)
Near W
N

3,960 ft
Marlette S

40 acres of Hunting Bliss. Ranch home
with a full walk out basement, 3 bedrooms,
2 full baths, gourmet kitchen. All season
Sun room with separate entrance. Attached
3 car garage plus a 32’ X 48’ Pole Barn (can
fit 2 semi trucks) 14 ft doors. Deer, rabbit
& turkey are bountiful. There also is a small
pond and swamp area on the property.
Hunters Paradise is at 2152 Five Lakes Rd,
Metamora, MI 48455 $460,000
in Sanilac 121
County Acres
$ LOG HOME ON 15 WOODED ACRES. 13 ACRES W/PRIVATE LAKE & 380’
326,700 All the bells & whistles! 2 baths, stone ON THE OCQUEOC RIVER. Beauti-
OR fireplace, covered porch, 2 side decks, ful rolling parcel in a secluded setting.
Will $ private setting, 2 ponds, a 2.5 garage There’s a small cabin roughed in, a hunt-
consider 2,700 per acre with finished/heated workshop and ing blind overlooking the lake with its own
2nd floor PLUS a 30x50 pole barn too! deck, a well and electric hook ups for your
1,320 ft $188,800 #300943 (Millersburg) camper. Fantastic hunting. $99,900
all offers.
RE/MAX NORTH
Carol Steiger, Associate Broker
(231) 627-9991 Office
(989) 351-0110 Cell
email: carol.steiger@remax.net
846 S. Main, Cheboygan, MI
www.liveupnorth.com

88 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS

APPROX. 186 RANDY MINTO
NEW
250 DEER
ACRES Always Working Hard for You!

REALTOR
SANILAC COUNTY APPROX. 100 ELK Direct:
Amazing Applegate Hunting Preserve! 1/2 Million+ 810.449.1286 170 ACRES GENESEE COUNTY
Dollars Worth Deer/Elk Inventory Included in Sale. - OR - Amazing Ranch Home & Guest House,
Ranch Home & Lodge - Several Outbuildings Office:
Private Lake
*DV 810.653.4500
$1,250,000 *DV $1,650,000
SPECIALIZING IN UNIQUE, LUXURY AND LARGE RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES
DEER & NATURE LOVER’S DREAM PROPERTIES

NE LAPEER COUNTY 66 ACRES 370 ACRES

W

Beautiful Banquet Hall 10,000 SQ FT Fantastic Development Opportunity. Drummond Island - Cabin
Tuscola County Engineered Drawings Available & Cottage on Lake Huron
*DV $299,500 $419,000 $949,000
*DV *DV
COMMERCIAL BUSINESS/LAND
TUSCOLA COUNTY

LDCLUB
PARADICE HUNT
NEW
10 ACRES

SO
4.36 ACRES
$3,950,000
LAPEER COUNTY
Excellent Commercial New Construction, 2000 sq ft Open Floor
Landscape Business building site Plan, 4 BD, 2.5 BA, Covered porch
$129,500 *DV $49,500 *DV $309,000
1,120 ACRES
LAPEER COUNTY
OGEMAW & ROSCOMMON
COUNTIES
N D I N G CLARE COUNTY
PE
192 ACRES 60+/- ACRES
Beautifully renovated historic Victorian Bed Deer Hunter’s Dream Property, Multiple Cabin & 2 Mobile Homes,
and Breakfast with horse facilities. lodges-Homes-Pole Barns, 2 Private Lakes 1 Mile+/- on Muskegon River
*DV $1,490,000 *DV 15 Miles of trails, 11 heated Blinds *DV $149,000

NEW NEW
GENESEE COUNTY 36 ACRES
NEW
SANILAC COUNTY

GENESEE COUNTY
6 ACRES
5 Pole Barns, 2-Story Home, 55 acres + 38 Bonus Hunting acres,
Beautiful Home, Private Lake Great Business Opportunity Gorgeous Home plus Hunting cabin
*DV $425,000 *DV $450,000 *DV $459,000

30 ACRES LAPEER COUNTY 289 ACRES

SANILAC COUNTY 5-8 ACRES LUCE COUNTY

Deer Hunters Dream Property Great Building sites 1,800 SQFT Cabin, Completely Solar
Commercial Properties in Davison 700 acres of state land From $69,900 to powered, 90% Wooded
*DV $85,000 - $595,000 $119,000 *DV $89,900 *DV $349,000

D
SOL ACRES
24 LICENSED DEER RANCH SANILAC COUNTY
PRICE
REDU
TUSCOLA COUNTY 34 ACRES 60-80 DEER CED
Log Home, Pond, 30x40
GENESEE COUNTY 10-15 TROPHY BUCKS 40 ACRES
10 Acres+/- Pole Barn, Watertown Woodland Deer Ranch in Davison, 6-car garage, Gorgeous 3270 Sq Ft Ranch with
St. Clair County Township pond, 5 blinds, 3 lg feeders, Lg polebarn, 4BD, 3BA loft, built 2011, 2 Pole Barns.
*DV $139,900 *DV $249,900 *DV $849,900 *DV $399,000

DRONE
*DV VIDEO GO TO: MIDREAMPROPERTIES.com
OR CALL 810-449-1286
WNW NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 89
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• U.P. To Close Deer Season? • Walleyes For Warriors • Engraving A Legacy Stay Safe ent • Good Fish w anoada Goose • Staying eed •
on• MoreRifle • Embracing The Jig Pitching • Beaver
• Heat Loss Mechanisms • Modern Ice Fishing Electronics • Seasonal Memories
Ways To em gan’wswC.w ods-n-wFaollow Housoked
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90 FEBRUARY 2019 WNW NEWS

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