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2208 W. M-37
Hwy.,
Hastings, MI
2 Miles West of
Hastings on
M-37 & M-43
Phone 269/945-4106
bAsecamp
by Drew YoungeDyke, Editor
Michigan Out-of-Doors
DKY
Editor:
Mr Smith's article about getting
lost, and found is great, I want to tell him so.
Thankk you to Mr. Pisani, too, he is a good
sport.
I read it with anticipation, looking for details of how Mr. Smith and Pisani
got out of the woods, and for bear lore.
Especially interesting are " the noise and the
scent left by people would clear any bears
out of the area" and " Mr Pisani marked
our course of travel to make sure we could
find our way back to the point when we
first knew we were lost". I regularly hike in
Newaygo county. I had a close encounter
with a bear near White Cloud in the spring
of 2015, and bear sightings are on the
increase here.
Earlier this spring I was lost off the
North Country Trail for a short time. It was
going to be dusk soon, and I did find my
way by using a similar system to their flags.
So you see I had some things in common
with them. Just weeks later the Geraldine
Largay story broke when her body was
found 2 years after her disappearance on
the Appalachian Trail in the thick Maine wilderness. This shook me up and I wrote to the
NCTA and asked them for information about
wayfinding, i.e. how not to get lost or how to
find yourself when you do get lost. The result
is a post about my experience on their blog
called staying found on the NCT.
Typically I don't read Michigan
Out-of-doors but today picked it up and
Editor:
First thought on seeing the Fall issue
was "Oh S--- ! What have they done now!"
A few seconds later I begin to think
better ....
Print size and font are better,
though WE still have issues with some
print-over-color/graphics that is difficult to
decipher.
All the good departments are there
... really nice lineup to read ...
But I am blown away at the quality
of the articles!
First read was "Know Trespassing".
I cannot praise Nicoll and Mitterling enough
for their concise clarity, no-nonsense,
no-geewhiz, practical approach. And you
address both sides, hunter and owner! The
authors can have a good second job writing
articles. Can you condense that into a
handy reference pamphlet?
Every article I've read after that
seems better than your usual high standard.
If going to quarterly issues is what it takes,
I'll accept that.
Thanks for a good issue.
Russell Ayers
Editor:
Just a short note to tell you that I
received my copy of the Fall Edition magazine on Friday. Since then I've barely put
it down! I really enjoy the new format, the
added content, and the stories & information
it contains. Already looking forward to the
next edition!
From one hunter to another, thank you and
keep up the good work!!
Dan Mark, Waterford Township
LETTERS
Editor:
"let me know what you think"
I like the new magazine. Size and
paper type is easy to read / handle.
It is like another periodical that I
read that changed to the same formatting,
style and size- 'Sport Pilot' is the magazine
of the Experimental Aircraft Assoc.(EAA).
Stories were good (as usual). On Patrol has
always been my favorite go-to first.
On the negative side, I thought
that cover picture image of some young
person aggressively 'humping' really turned
me off. Who want's to see that on the
cover of Michigan Out-of-Doors? It seems
nowdays the pics and the ads lean towards
aggressive -macho mean action. No sign
of happiness on his face. It is much like the
'Volunteer for Wildlife' as on the inside cover: dark, aggressive men walking. Much
like those ATV/UTV as in other magazines
consisting of mean looking riders in search
of some wild game or adventure.
I'm 67 years old and exercise
regularly on bicycle in the good weather
months and Nordic-Track in the winter. I lift
(minimal) weighs and do other core-muscle
maintenance exercises. I used to hump a
back-pack much like that of the pictured
individual in Vietnam. A the beginning of
a mission it weighed about 80 pounds and
thereafter got lighter as I used up ammo and
C-rations.
I have been a part of our Michigan
Out-of-Doors since Mort Neff back in the
1950s and 60s. I drew a bear tag this year
and will mentor a 15-year old neighbor to
whom I passed my permit to. I harvested
a bear previously and don't want/need
another.
'The work begins after the trigger is
pulled'
Just my opinion.
David Bruski
Editor:
Here is a strong vote no for the
new magazine format. You have changed
our Michigan magazine into an elitist national publication. Nebraska deer? Louisiana game farms? Whelen cartridges? Only
four times a year?
Ted Ehlert
WINTER 2017
39
28
DEPARTMENTS
2 | BASECAMP DREW YOUNGEDYKE
3 | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
7 | DIRECTOR: UP TO THE TASK DAN EICHINGER
10 AROUND MICHIGAN STATEWIDE CONSERVATION NEWS
12 | PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD
15 | ON PATROL CHRIS ENGLE
20 | FIREARMS: MAINTENANCE SCOTT CRAWFORD
30 | THE THROWBACK: TRAPPING STAYS A HARDY SPORT 1969
34 | GEAR REVIEW: TENZING TZ3000 BIG GAME HUNTING PACK DREW YOUNGEDYKE
50 | YOUTH STORY: WHY I HUNT LYLA LUOTO
74 | THE CAMPFIRE SHAUN MCKEON
102 | THE WILDLIFE DREW YOUNGEDYKE
DEER MICHIGAN SPECIAL SECTION
58 | OLD SCHOOL OPENING DAY DREW YOUNGEDYKE
64 | A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC LAND WHITETAILS RICHARD P. SMITH
68 | FULL DRAW: BOWHUNTING LATE SEASON WHITETAILS TOM NELSON
70 | CONTROLLING THE COLD TOM NELSON
72 | RUT PREDICTING TONY HANSEN
FEATURES
22 | CENTERFIRE AT NIGHT SCOTT CRAWFORD
24 | THE COYOTE HUNTERS DARIN POTTER
4
32
52
99
84
PUBLISHER
DAN EICHINGER
Since7
193
MICHIGAN UNITED
MUCC CONSERVATION CLUBS
TM
EDITOR
DREW YOUNGEDYKE
editor@michiganoutofdoors.com
2101 Wood Street | PO Box 30235 | Lansing, MI 48909 | 517.371.1041 P | 517.371.1505 F | www.mucc.org
Uniting Citizens to Conserve, Protect and Enhance Michigans Natural Resources and Outdoor Heritage
MUCC Staff
DAN EICHINGER
Executive Director
deichinger@mucc.org
AMY TROTTER
Deputy Director
atrotter@mucc.org
DREW YOUNGEDYKE
Chief Information Officer/
Michigan Out-of-Doors Editor
dyoungedyke@mucc.org
LOGAN SCHULTZ
Digital Media Coordinator
lschultz@mucc.org
STEPHANIE RUSTEM
Project Manager
srustem@mucc.org
ANNA MITTERLING
Wildlife Co-op Coordinator
amitterling@mucc.org
SARAH TOPP
Wildlife Volunteer Coordinator
stopp@mucc.org
TAYLOR RENTON
Gourmet Gone Wild Manager
gourmetgonewild@mucc.org
SHAUN MCKEON
Education Coordinator
smckeon@mucc.org
LINDSAY ROCHEFORT
Membership Coordinator
llaserra@mucc.org
SUE PRIDE
Membership Relations&
Tracks Coordinator
spride@mucc.org
JEANNE ESCH
Creative Services
Director's Desk
Up To The Task
MOMENTS of MEMORY
The bedrock of conservation is taking care of our natural resources so that they can be
passed down to future generations. The natural resources that we conserve today were
conserved for us by generations of conservationists preceding us, and these generations
are ever-changing, ever flowing. Here we honor the passing of one generation of conservationists to the next.
Nancy Heritier
Tommy Pengelly
TM
MUCC
LIFE MEMBER
Thank you to the following conservationists who have made a lifetime
commitment to conserving, protecting and enhancing Michigan's
natural resources and outdoor heritage by becoming a Life Member
of Michigan United Conservation Clubs:
AROUND MICHIGAN
UP
Genetic testing on
tissue samples from
two cougars poached
in the Upper Peninsula shows the two animals likely came
from a population found generally in
South Dakota, Wyoming and northwest
Nebraska.
This genetic research lines up with what
weve presumed previously, that cougars found in the Upper Peninsula are
males dispersing from this population
east of the Rocky Mountains, said Kevin Swanson, a Michigan Department of
Natural Resources wildlife management
specialist with the agencys Bear and
Wolf Program. These males dispersed
from the main population are looking to
establish new territories.
Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed 35
cougar reports in the Upper Peninsula,
but so far there remains noThe cougar
shown was poached in Schoolcraft
County in 2013. This is one of two male
cougars the Michigan DNR sampled
tissue from for genetic analysis. conclusive evidence of a breeding population.
No reports have been confirmed from
Lower Michigan.
Cougars are an endangered species in
Michigan protected by law.
The U.P. cougar confirmations were
derived from trail camera video, photographs, tracks, scat or in the case of the
two males poached, carcasses.
historic range.
At one time, cougars lived in every
eastern state in a variety of habitats
including coastal marshes, mountains
and forests. They were native to Michigan, but were trapped and hunted from
the state around the turn of the 20th
Century.
Thirteen western states allow cougar
hunting and the North American cougar
is listed there as a game species.
The DNRs Report All Poaching hotline
(1-800-292-7800) offers money to
tipsters. Information may be provided
anonymously.
To learn more about cougars in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/cougars.
SLP
11
State Representative Triston Cole (R-Mancelona) took State Representative Harvey Santana (D-Detroit) and their families
on a bear hound training run rlier this fall in Sparr, northeast of Gaylord. Now that's the kind of bipartisanship we love to
see!
Got a great photo from the field? Send it to editor@michiganoutdofdoors.com with a short caption and you might see it
here in a future issue!
Thank You!
by Chris Engle
ON PATROL
15
Depew (center) chats with elk hunter, Bill Blohm (left), of Akron, and his guide, Gary Haskill (right) of Johannesburg. Conservation officers assist wildlife biologists with checking and sealing animals killed during Michigans highly regulated elk season,
wherein hunters must immediately call and report when theyve shot an elk and where.
Patrols like these are often in response to
complaints from law-abiding fowlers undercut by early shooters. On this morning, the pond is teeming with quacking
mallards and whistling wings overhead,
but theres not a single hunter here and
7:07 a.m. passes without a shot. A few
moments later Depew starts his truck
and sneaks out, flicking his headlights
on only when his tires hit pavement.
Stealth is one of a COs most powerful
tools you may already know this if
youve ever been ticketed and is at the
top of Depews bag of tricks.
People are out here hunting and they
dont think that something is looking for
them, he said. It behooves me to be as
silent and as sneaky I can in a location. A quarter of the time Im watching
someone and theyll never even know
it. Just because you dont see us doesnt
mean were not there.
When fall salmon runs draw anglers to
After stopping the lead ORV in a group in Indian River for no trail permit, Depew interviews the Ohio operator whom he suspects has been drinking. The legal limit for blood alcohol is the same as driving a car .08 and this operator blew .07 on
a breathalyzer after partying the night before. He was ticketed for not displaying a trail permit and his sober passenger was
asked to take the wheel.
of a hilltop tower. In the back of one
of the hunters trucks was an antlerless
bull, already field dressed and bearing
an orange kill tag on its hind leg.
17
FIREARMS | Maintenance
by Scott Crawford
Take care of your tools and your tools will take care of you,
my grandpa would tell me.
This simple advice would be repeated throughout my youth. It
did not matter if he was talking about his lawn mower, power
tools, or a simple hammer. Years later, that one sentence of
advice would be chiseled into my head forever.
As I sat on concrete floor on a hot fall day in southern California, I listened to a Marine who fought
in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. For
those that do not know, the warriors
who fought that battle received the
nickname Frozen Chosin. It may be
the coldest battle any American has
ever fought in. In the story the Marine
told, he would often say how extreme
the conditions were: below freezing,
deep snow, and no cold weather
gear or equipment. He would tell
us how he and others struggled constantly to maintain their
firearms. He described their firearm maintenance as dedication to preservation of self and unit. Meaning, they had to do
it, or they would perish. As the elderly Marine spoke I heard
my grandpas words in my head again thinking of how similar
they truly were. Just five years after the Battle of Chosin Reservoir my grandpa would become a Marine as well. And the
lessons from that battle were fresh in many Marines memory.
As Marines we pass down a high standard of maintenance for
our tools of the trade.
Fast forward to now, imagine that the sun has set on a cold
fall day, you may have just climbed down from your stand
on opening day. Frost may be forming on the ground and
you know tomorrow morning will be
colder. You return to camp and you
seek your hunting buddies to see how
they fared on opening day. If you
have been hunting long enough or
know many hunters, you surely know
or have experienced some kind of
malfunction with a firearm. We have
heard it all before: my muzzleloader had a hang fire; my shotgun
misfired; frost froze my action, and
so on. My first question, and one many of you ask first is, did
you clean it? and typically the answer is no. In many cases,
properly maintaining your firearm can prevent you from telling
the story of how the big one got away.
Centerfire
at Night
by Scott Crawford
magnified optic was a chip shot for him. With the reaction
of the coyote, Ronnies ability, and the evidence of a blood
trail, I ruled out shot placement. That left me with one other
variable: type of shot.
In Michigan it is currently illegal to hunt coyotes at night
with a centerfire rifle. Centerfire rifles have a longer range
and more kinetic energy than a rimfire cartridge. In my
opinion, decision-makers have not fully grasped the
benefits of using a centerfire cartridge at night. Like most
mammals in Michigans woods, the coyote is more active at dusk and dawn. Combining their keen senses with
the cover of darkness has allowed the coyote to become
a more effective hunter. The coyote in Michigan is only
surpassed by wolves in the north and humans as apex
predators. Coyotes are found in all 50 continental states
in all types of habitat, even the urban areas of big cities.
With urbanization ever-encroaching on natural habitat,
animal and human conflict rises. In many areas around the
state, we have reports of coyotes
attacking pets in suburban backyards. One of the tools used to
help keep balance is hunting.
Now, if you have not seen or shot a coyote yourself, typically when shot they will try to bite the location of the bullet
that helps with identifying where the shot was placed. This
particular coyote did just that. Ronnie and I have been to
the range many times with each other and I have seen him
shoot beyond 300 yards with ease. A 120-yard shot with a
22 MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS | WINTER 2017
TM
MUCC
Michigan United Conservation Clubs
Policy on Centerfire Rifles at Night
At MUCC's Annual Convention in June of 2016, the representatives
from sportsmen's clubs and individual members from around the state
adopted a policy resolution to support the use of centerfire firearms
for nighttime predator hunting.
The resolution was proposed by Chris Kettler of the Michigan
Trappers and Predator Callers Association, and joined MUCC into
a push spearheaded by the MTPCA and a startup grassroots group
of predator hunters called Michigan Hunters for Centerfire at Night,
primarily led by Merle Jones, Bob Abbott and Dennis Cronk.
The action authorized by the policy resolution reads,
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Michigan United Conservation
Clubs (MUCC) work with the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) and the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to remove the
nighttime centerfire firearm restriction and permit their use for predator hunting anytime, day and night."
Armed with this directive from MUCC members, staff now advocates
for the removal of the restriction on centerfire firearms for nighttime
predator hunting.
This is an example of the MUCC policy process at work. Members
propose policies, representatives from clubs and for individual
members vote on the policies, and if they are adopted, staff works to
implement the policies in state law or regulation.
It is the united voice of MUCC's membership speaking through this
grassroots democratic process which gives MUCC its ability to move
the needle on its members priorities.
Learn more or join MUCC at www.mucc.org
COYOTE
hunters
by Darrin Potter
Coyotes are proliferating everywhere in Michigan, and they didnt do that by being dumb. Coyotes
have a well-earned reputation for self-preservation. Last Spring, the Michigan Natural Resources
Commission approved a year-round coyote hunting season, implementing a 2006 Michigan Untied Conservation Clubs resolution sponsored by the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association. With more coyotes than ever and an unlimited opportunity to hunt them, Darin Potter
interviewed two veteran coyote hunters for tactics on how you can help manage their population.
The Hunters
Scouting
You cant call to a coyote that doesnt exist. Blindly walking
into an area that is void of any coyotes can be frustrating, and
it only wastes your time and effort. Therefore, it is essential that
you do your homework and scout several areas before the
hunt so that you have options to choose from.
Joshua Mapes, founder of Overdrive Outdoors in West Michigan, explains that there are several effective ways to scout an
area before heading out to hunt.
One is to walk or drive the area or surrounding areas to look
for tracks or scat. Another way is to use locator sounds, usually a siren or coyote howls (pack howl is common) and wait
and listen for a response.
These vocalizations will help you determine their home range.
One afternoon during the winter, I was on public land checking my beaver traps when I noticed two pair of coyote tracks
on the frozen lake. Then on that same day I heard a pack of
coyotes howling and yipping around 2:00pm. These vocalizations helped me determine their home range and provided
me with some valuable information that allowed me to head
back to this location for a morning hunt. Nothing gives you
more confidence in an area than real time coyote music nearby.
25
Calling
Looking for either an electronic or hand operated coyote call
online or in a sporting goods store can be overwhelming if
youre unfamiliar with which ones work the best for fooling
a wary coyote. I recall the first hand/mouth-call I bought,
which imitated coyote vocalizations. After only a couple of
times blowing on the call I felt it was time to head out and try it
on a coyote. I later found out that this was a big mistake.
Typically, we see a lot of guys using vocals when they dont
know what they mean, said Mapes. Basically, people try to
go out and challenge howl at another coyote, but if they use
the challenge howl for too long it starts to sound like a warning instead of a challenge. They just blew the stand, simply
because they didnt know what they were saying.
Choosing the type of call to use throughout the season is also
a critical part of being successful.
According to Mapes, Prey distress works year round as does
pup distress, because they will always be hungry, and they
will always be protective or want to investigate an injured
coyote.
Mapes explains the pros and cons of using electronic and
hand calls:
It is standard practice for us to ALWAYS have hand calls
with us. The versatility of hand calls is unmatched. Sometimes those sounds can be changed with how you place your
teeth on the reed, or how much air flow you use, which is just
enough to entice that wary coyote out of cover. With enough
practice, you can do any sound you want without having to
scroll through a remote and finding it. This is very nice, especially when you have your eyes on a predator that just wont
break that cover.
The prey sounds we use vary. Sometimes we use sounds
that dont make sense for the area, such as jackrabbit here in
Michigan. I like to use bird sounds when I am hunting for fox
or bobcat, but they also call in their fair share of coyotes. Rabbit is the easiest to mimic on hand calls, and they are the most
common sounds played on electronic calls as well.
However, although extremely effective, hand calls can
sometimes blow your cover against a wary coyote. When
using hand calls the sound is emanating from the hunter, as a
predator approaches they will be looking towards the source
of the sound, which is you, said Mapes, therefore, movement, both of using the call and having to possibly release a
call and pick up your gun may foil a call in.
To help remedy this, purchase an electronic predator call.
Electronic callers allow you to move that sound source away
from you making it less likely that an incoming predator is
looking your way, said Mapes. They allow you to strategically place the sound source to guide the predator into an ideal shooting location. We like to place an e-caller upwind out
to 50 yards or so depending on the terrain and other factors.
When using a shotgun the e-caller should be placed close to
the hunter, to guide the predator into close range, which is
required for a shotgun.
About seven years ago I purchased an electronic call for
around $40. Even though I have called in a bobcat with it,
the volume was too low for luring in coyotes from a long dis-
DECOYS
Decoys, when coupled with calling, can
be a deadly combination when hunting
wary coyotes. Some
decoys attach directly
to your electronic call
or can be staked into
the ground separately. With a remote
control, these toppers
can move at different speeds adding visual confirmation to the
decoy. Life-size stand alone decoys such as a coyote or fawn
can also be the ticket to bringing them in close for a shot.
Mapes likes using a decoy when calling to coyotes. He
explains, We prefer a decoy that is absolutely quiet, regardless of whether it is call mounted or stand alone. Decoys
are excellent for keeping that predators attention focused on
something to allow you to position for the shot. Generally, the
decoy is placed very close to the caller if it is a stand-alone
type.
SETUP
The timing and location of your setup is extremely important
if you want to add some coyotes to your fur shed. According
to Mapes, First and last light and after dark are considered
prime time, this is when they are generally most active, though
with the right strategies they can be called any time of day.
Best location is where they are at any given time considering
predators move a lot. That being said, types of terrain that
are good to set up on include fence rows or wind breaks,
field edges, small clearings,
and areas surrounding thick
cover.
COYOTES
27
Why I Became A
COYOTE HUNTER
by Rob Harrell
I scan the horizon for any sort of movement as the chilled air cuts through my
facemask. As I sit motionless with my
.223 tucked at the ready and supported by a pivoting bipod, I glance to
my left and finally see the animal that I
have been preparing for. He kicks up
the white powder as he trots in a half
moon pattern around my game call at
roughly 200 hundred yards. Curiosity,
mixed with hunger, has led him this
far, but instinct cautions him to come
any closer. As I center him through my
Nikon, I realize he has shifted his focus
from the game call to me. His ears
pointed to the heavens and his razor
sharp eyes cut through me like a knife.
I slowly slide my trembling hand down
my rifle and position my index finger over the trigger. I exhale
one last time as my 200 reticle centers on his chest. I squeeze.
As if hitting the rewind button on an old VCR, lets take a step
back and discuss what led me to this moment. All my life,
January 1st in Michigan meant two things; the end of the
Whitetail Deer Season and the start of the countdown until
Spring Turkey Season. What was once the worst time of the
seating positions, etc. Again, these are luxuries that I took advantage of that our fathers and grandfathers never had access
to. Within a few months of research I was ready to attempt
my first coyote hunt.
I have to admit, watching predator hunting television shows
gave me a false confidence as I drove down to the property
for that first evening hunt. Watching half a dozen coyotes get
shot in a 30 minute episode makes hunting these critters look
way too easy. I learned that lesson quickly as the Wiley
Coyote made short work of humbling this rookie predator
hunter. None-the-less, my initial experience was filled with
excitement and anticipation.
Fast-forwarding back to my encounter. Ive got him in my
crosshairs and I slowly squeeze the trigger. As the concussion
from my rifle echoed through the calm fields and the cluster
of birds scattered out of the wood-line, I loaded another shell
and slowly stood up. As my boots crunched through the frozen beans and snow I approached with caution and my rifle
remained focused on the animal that dropped right where he
once stood. The feeling and emotion that went through me as
I knelt down next to him is a feeling that I have never experienced before as a hunter. His winter coat mixed with grays
and browns was full and soft to the touch. However, there
was no 10 point rack to lift up and hold. There wasnt an
immediate need to eyeball the length of his beard and spurs,
nor was there any band above his foot. I learned that the
reward of taking a large healthy male coyote is not the life of
the animal that you have just taken, but rather its lives of other
animals that are being saved that provides the reward. One
less obstacle for whitetail fawns to navigate around. One less
hungry mouth that the turkeys need to shelter themselves from.
And one less mature male to breed the females and further
increase the local population.
TRAPPING STAYS A
HARDY SPORT (1969)
Generous Seasons
Mink and muskrat trapping seasons are very
Trapping is a pursuit which built America, especially the Great Lakes generous. In the Upper Peninsula traps may be
region. In 1969, we kicked the year off with an otter on the cover
and the first article in the issue about trapping, written by Field Editor
Gordon Charles. Keep in mind that the season dates and regualtions
are from 1969 and have changed since then, but we thought this was
an interesting snapshot of trapping in Michigan almost 50 years ago.
Please make sure to check the current edition of the DNR Trapping
Guide for current season dates and regulations.
When all the figures are in for the 1968-69 seasons it may
develop that trapping has enjoyed an upswing since fur
prices are climbing rapidly. This is especially true of the
"long" furs, such as coons and foxes. Recent payments
for pirme adult foxes have run as high as $11 apiece in
Midwestern markets, while coons have brought as much as
$7.25 for large, well-furred pelts.
Congratulations to the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association! In August, the MTPCA hosted
the National Trappers Convention in Kalamazoo
where they were awarded the National Trappers
Association's Affiliate of the Year Award.
The Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association is a 100% affiliate of Michigan United Conservation Clubs and has been an extremely active
organization in advocating for the rights to hunt, fish
AND trap!
Recently, a number of their MUCC resolutions have
been implemented by the Natural Resources Commission and the Legislature into current hunting and
trapping regulations, including:
Allowing the use of #3 and #4 buckshot at night;
A year-round coyote hunting season; and
Elimination of the 300-foot "no trapping without written permission" zone around buildings.
Additionally, the MTPCA advocated for the recent
regulation allowing the use of firearm suppressors at
night.
As of publication, an MTPCA-sponsored resolutiong to
allow centerfire rifles for coyotes at night had yet to be
acted upon. MUCC will continue advocating for this
change until it happens.
31
Trapping
N Christmas
by Jacob
VanHouten
This ones a beauty. Did you skin and stretch him yourself?
he asked.
No, I think Ill just wait here, you go ahead itll be fine he
said. So I entered through the small side door of the garage.
It was dark inside with a small overhead light bulb hanging
from a beam with a pull cord attached. Mr. Corson was stand32 MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS | WINTER 2017
With that he moved on to the next raccoon pelt the sick one. He said that
the pelt was mangy but that he would
give me 50 cents for it anyway. I was a
little bit disappointed, but I did understand.
Okay, lets go into the kitchen and talk
business, he said, and I gave one last
hopeful glance out the window only to
see Dad still standing in the same spot,
smoking a Chesterfield cigarette.
I was on my own.
After leading me into the house through
the garages side door, Mr. Corson sat
down at a small kitchen table, opened
a large green-colored leather bound
ledger, and began writing very slowly.
Can I see your trapping license? he
asked.
I dug into the pouch of my red hooded
sweat shirt and produced the crumpled
document. He copied down my name,
address, date of birth and license number. Then he entered into one of the last
two columns the number and kinds of
pelts, and then he wrote a dollar amount
in the last column. I couldnt quite make
out what the numbers were, but the total
looked big to me. I waited for him to
finish, and as he did, he took out another book that looked like a fold-over file.
It was the first time I had seen a real
business checkbook.
Well son, you put up some mighty fine
fur and I am proud of the care youve
shown in handling it properly, he said
while looking me straight in the eyes.
He was talking to me as if I was his
equal, somehow, and I had to look him
right back in his eyes.
Fur prices are low this year, he started
with as he began writing out the check
with his red ink pen. But Im going
to give you top dollar for what you
brought in today.
He finished, carefully tearing the check
from the book and handing it across the
Continuing the trapping traditions through adulthood, author (on right ) with a beaver pelt.
33
GEAR REVIEW |
Tenzing Tz3000
Big Game
Hunting Pack
by Drew YoungeDyke
Tenzing TZ3000 Big Game Hunting Pack | $330 MSRP as shown | www.tenzingoutdoors.com
GEAR
35
Michigan Out-of-Doors
by Drew YoungeDyke
It's that time of year. Whether looking for the perfect gift to get the outdoorsman or woman in your
life (or wondering what to drop a hint about for yourself), these outdoor products are sure to put a
smile on the face of anyone unwrapping them. .
Two Way Fillet Fish Cleaning System ($39.99)
Those who know me know I can't catch a fish to
save my life. But Dave Mull, editor at Great Lakes
Angler, catches a lot, and he took one look at the
Two Way Fillet at the Association of Great Lakes
Outdoor Writers annual conference and knew
it would work right away. The patent is in the
reversible clamp that fits into the end of the board,
making cleaning your fish a breeze.
Available at www.filletboard.com
37
JADA JOHNSON
THE GIRL BEHIND
BIG BOYS TV
EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEW with
Michigan Out-of-Doors
by Drew YoungeDyke
In early October, I got the chance to sit down with Jada Johnson, who co-hosts Big Boys TV on the Sportsman Channel
with her dad Kevin Johnson, at their studio just outside Gaylord, Michigan. Even more impressive than that, though, is the
time she spends mentoring new female hunters of all ages through her all-girls boot camp. It was just a few days into Michigan's archery season and she was fresh in from a moring hunt waiting on a buck she'd been watching for years, still in
camo. We talked with about a wide range of issues, from the growing influence of female hunters and her role models and
favorite hunts, to issues like the Michigan Youth Hunt, how she feels after a kill, how to approach non-hunters, and even
quality deer managment. Her honest answers throughout the interview were refeshing and appreciated. You can watch Big
Boys TV on the Sportsman Channel Sundays, July through December at 7:30am and 2:00pm. - Drew YoungeDyke, Editor
(Michigan Out-of-Doors): COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE
ABOUT YOURSELF?:
41
I REALLY
LIKE ELK.
IT'S JUST SO
LEAN AND
SO GOOD.
I LOVE IT.
"am i going to
be able to make
this perfect shot?"
WINTER 2017 | MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS
43
Our cutoff age is about 10 and really weve had girls from 10 years old to
ladies in their fifties who come. I want any girl, any woman who is interested in
learning about the outdoors to come. Theres so many times when theres wives
who husbands go off to deer camp, and they dont even get a taste of deer
camp because its boys camp. Ive had a couple different ladies who come
who say, My husband just wont take me, so if they wont take me Ill learn
myself, and Im just like, Props to you, girl, Im going to teach you everything I
know!
DO YOU THINK YOULL STILL BE DOING THE CAMP IN FIVE YEARS?
Yeah, I do. I love the TV show, but even if the TV show didnt work out, I would
continue to do my boot camp. That is what I am truly passionate about. I love
the girls. I love getting to know the girls. I have a passion for kids as well, so
to be able to work with kids for two whole days about my passion is the best
feeling in the world.
LOTS OF GIRLS LOOK UP TO YOU. DID YOU HAVE FEMALE HUNTERS AS
ROLE MODELS FOR YOU AS WELL?
Yeah, actually my biggest role model growing up was Tiffany Lakowski. She has
been in this industry for so many years. She and Lee, their TV show was one of
the first ones on the Sportsman Channel and I had always went to the different outdoor shows and Id see her and she was always very friendly, always
smiling, shed answer any questions you had for her, so I always watched her
47
Amy Trotter
Kayla Moore
Mancelona, Michigan
Elk!" and we see three cows running down the draw into the
water trough. With no hesitation, I drew up my Mossburg
308 and dropped a 575 pound cow. Right after, my dad
dropped his 550 pound cow. All in all, I wouldn't have traded the trip for anything. Being with my family and friends as
well as a successful hunt made it a trip of a lifetime
Autumn Stawecki
47
BETHY WILLIAMS
by Sarah Topp, MUCC Wildlife Volunteer Coordinator
Even being born and raised the small town of Negaunee in
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Bethy Williams was not
exposed to hunting by her family or friends.
In the 29 years I had been living there, I had gone fishing
only a few times here and there. Sarah introduced me to
everything from compound bows and traditional bows to
shotguns, rifles and handguns. I had some training with assault
rifles in my six years of experience with the military. In a total
of eight months I suddenly found myself the new owner of a
fishing pole, a compound bow, a Mossberg 500 shotgun, a
Glock 42. says Williams.
The first time I taught Bethy how to shoot a compound bow
was at the Sharonville State Game Areas Shooting Range
after we had completed one of MUCCs Wildlife Habitat
Improvement Programs events in the area. She was a natural;
by the end of a two hour session, she was hitting vital zones
at 15, 20, 25, and 35 yards almost flawlessly! I think she
was hooked on archery since then and also acquired the
confidence to try out hunting with me in the upcoming archery
season for deer on public land.
Bethy proudly purchased her first hunting license; an
apprentice license for antlerless deer in Ingham County. We
tried to fit in as many introductory hunts as possible, finding
time around both of our work and project schedules. There
were a few very early morning hunts in the Dansville State
Game Area during the week where we were undisturbed by
other hunters; weekends were a different story as the woods
48 MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS | WINTER 2017
Sashikala
Kumarasinghe
CHAMPION ARCHER | by Drew YoungeDyke
I was waiting in line to shoot the apple off a deer target's nose during
the Rinehart 100 at the Saginaw Field & Stream Club in September
when I met Sashi Kumarasinghe. She was a champion archer on the
national team for Sri Lanka, here to study at Northwood University.
She got into archery first through competitive pistol shooting. She is
a second-generation competitive shooter, as her mother was also
a competitive pistol shooter. She was attracted to the challenge of
archery, though, and said that the most important part of it, for her,
was the mental toughness to concentrate on being perfectly consistent, shot after shot, bringing to mind the Cam Hanes mantra, "It's all
mental."
She was motivated to try field 3D archery after the shoot, as she saw
a dramatic difference in shooting such a range of target distances,
angles, and sizes, verses the consistent conditions which exist in
Olympic archery. As for giving bowhunting a try? We'll see.
49
Why I Hunt:
H
T
U
YO
An
Open
Letter
to
anyone
y
r
o
St
who Just Doesn't Get it
This story originally appeared
as a blog on the Michigan Youth
Conservation Council page.
We saw it shared on Facebook
and immediately reached out
for permission to publish it in
Michigan Out-of-Doors because
it so perfectly hit the mark on why
we hunt.
What was surprising was that
such a well-written piece could
have come from a teenager;
however, that shouldn't have
been surprising because the
Michigan Youth Conservation
Council is comprised of
some very bright future
conservationists.
by Lyla Luoto
I dont hunt for the sport of it. I dont get my kicks rifling down furry
woodland animals to prove my dominance as a species or to compete
against other hunters. I dont do it for the trophy; some people do, but
this isnt about other people. This is about why I choose to go out into the
woods and take the life of an animal.
51
Casey Keefer
Chris Keefer
Jason Brown
RUSTED ROOSTER
Behind the scenes with the Keefer Brothers and the team
behind the hit shows Dropped and Rival Wild
by Rob Harrell
For 5 years now Midland, Michigan has been the home
to arguably the most ground-breaking outdoor production
company that the industry has ever seen. Rusted Rooster
Media was founded by three talented individuals who came
together, shared their dreams, and have turned those dreams
into reality.
Jason Brown, Chris Keefer, and Casey Keefer discovered they
shared a key commonality when they met each other for the
first time. No, it wasnt that they can all grow perfectly sculpted beards. Rather, it was their passion and drive to raise the
standards of outdoor television, production, and media.
If you arent familiar with their work, just turn on the Sportsmans Channel or Outdoor Channel and within minutes you
will find yourself watching a show or an advertisement that
they had a hand in. Their award winning series Dropped
and Rival Wild are what they are most known for today.
However, what many people dont know is that these two hit
outdoor television shows are just the tip of the iceberg and
represents just a small fraction of their entire portfolio of work.
What lies beneath is an entire foundation of production and
media sweat equity supporting their careers in this industry.
53
Without having a name for the series, they pitched the idea
to the producer at the Sportsman Channel. As they were
explaining the premise, the Producer replies So you basically
get dropped in Alaska and then picked up a month later?
Before they had an opportunity to respond, the Producer
steps out for a phone call. Chris turns and whispers Thats
the name of the show; Dropped. Without hesitation, Casey
and Jason agreed on the spot and when the Producer walked
back into the room, Chris picked up the conversation in an
adlibbing manner and says Yeah, so the show is called
Dropped The Producer replies Dropped, yeah I really like
that name and right then, the hit TV show was approved by
the network. It wasnt until later down the road, that the Keefers and Jason ultimately told the Producer that he unknowingly, was the one who came up with the name of the show.
THE ROOST
THE VISION
What makes Rusted Rooster so special and so successful is
the drive behind each one of these guys to be one step ahead
of the industry at all times. A common theme in their work
is that all of their films tell a story. At the end of the day,
theres more to every hunt than just pulling the trigger. Theres
comradery, theres the things you see when youre out there,
and theres the people that you share it with," Casey explains.
The premise behind Dropped was to showcase their entire
adventure on what its like being out in the wilderness for 30
days without food and minimal gear. Whether they were able
to harvest any animals or not, the goal was to bring all of the
viewers to Alaska with them.
Their other hit show, Rival Wild, brings the action a little
closer to home. Chris and Casey travel the Midwest chasing
mature whitetails and the show focuses again on telling a
story. This show portrays the brothers' history with the deer,
their strategies in hunting certain deer, and the tactics used to
harvest the bucks on their hit list. Its no coincidence that more
and more hunting shows are following this format and Rusted
Rooster is proud to be part of leading this trend.
55
WHATS NEXT?
Rusted Rooster recently added a fourth partner to their team,
Mark Peterson, host of Cabelas Instinct, owner of Cabelas TAGS and Worldwide Trophy Adventures (WTA). Jason
explains that Bringing Mark on board was a great fit and
we are excited about the future with Mark on board and the
opportunities that lie ahead.
With all of their success, Rusted Rooster and its affiliate
companies are even more excited about what lies around the
corner. Currently working on projects with Nat Geo Wild and
the Discovery Channel, the opportunities seem to be endless.
When you watch their shows, remember that these arent just
a couple of TV Show Hosts who spend their lives traveling and
hunting for a living. These are extremely talented hard-working men who have earned their way to the top of the industry.
Jason summed it best by saying Every day I wake up and
cant wait to come into work."
To follow their journey or to learn more about their work,
visit www.RustedRoosterMedia.com and www.KeeferBros.
com. Special thanks to Jason Brown, Chris Keefer, and Casey
Keefer.
Old SCHOOL
Opening Day
By Drew YoungeDyke
DEER
59
DEER
61
DEER
63
Lessons
from
e
m
i
t
e
f
i
L
A of
by Richard P. Smith
public land
Whitetails
Richard P. Smith was named the 2016 Dave Richey Communicator of the Year by the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association. He is the author of numerous hunting books including the
Great Michigan Deer Tales series, Deer Hunting, Stand Hunting, Tracking Wounded Deer, and Animal Tracks and Signs of
North America.
the region the past two years. Last winter was a mild one,
with excellent deer survival, resulting in tremendous fawn
production this year.
The winter before started early with a major snowstorm, but
then moderated and ended early over most of the UP. The
exception is the portion from Munising to Sault Ste. Marie
north of M-28. That section of the UP suffered a third
severe winter in a row, resulting in some of the lowest deer
numbers in the region.
DEER
SCOUTING
IS THE KEY
TO SUCCESS
County map books for the state are the best way to locate
state and federally owned public lands in the UP. Each type
of holding is color coded. On the map book I have, state
land is dark green in color and federal or Forest Services
lands are light green. Lists of private land enrolled in the
Commercial Forest Act can be found on the DNR website.
Owners of Commercial Forest Act lands agree to allow
the public to hunt and fish their property in exchange for
reduced tax rates.
WINTER 2017 | MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS
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Full Draw |
Bowhunting
Late Season
WHITETAILS
by Tom Nelson
Slowly I drew my bow and came to full draw. Then just as
slow, eased it down. Yeah, I told myself, I can still draw
it comfortably. It was late December and the when I had
left my truck some 2 hours ago, the mercury was hovering
around that freezing mark. Now with the sun setting I was
sure that it had dropped significantly. Factor in the steady
northeast breeze and it was down right painful. sitting in
the now bare maple tree. Less than another hour I told
myself and I will be back in the truck cranking out the heat.
Was this late season whitetail hunt really worth it?
Ask any experienced whitetail hunter what his or her preferred time to hunt whitetails is and most will chime in with
either the pre rut or the rut, being their favorite time to bow
hunt whitetails. Both are excellent times to be in the field
in pursuit of antlered bucks. The prerut has bucks ready
to breed checking out the local does. They are not locked
68 MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS | WINTER 2017
down with does quite yet and are traveling in and out of
their normal core areas and becoming more and more
careless everyday. The rut has otherwise reclusive bucks
moving all day long in search of receptive does. Both
periods are excellent times to fill your deer tags, but more
often than we want to admit, sometimes Lady Luck does not
smile on us.
A great percentage of bow hunters stow away their gear
once gun season starts. This is quite common as many bow
hunters are two season hunters that also particapate in
Michigans firearm season November 15 thru the 30th.
When the late bow season opens December first, many of
us are either tagged out, worn out or just too busy with the
approaching Holidays. Still many others believe that all the
deer are now nocturnal and are laying low, thus decreasing any chance of bow bagging one. In my observations
DEER
Locate a food
source with
Nearby cover
I have several small food plots that are planted specifically for late season hunting. They are surrounded by
dense cover that afford protection from the cold along
with an easy access to and
from these small plots. Perhaps
the most difficult problem of
late season hunting is finding a
suitable tree to place a stand. I
always try and find a tree that
affords at least some cover
from sharp eyed does and
bucks. Conifers are my favorite along with large diameter
oaks. But, often choices are
limited to less than perfect
trees. This is when ground
blinds, both permanent and
portable come into play. As
long as they are placed long
before you plan to bow hunt
from them, to let deer become
69
Controlling the
COLD
One of the most important keys to filling your late season
deer tag is your ability to stay out in the field hunting,
without succumbing to the cold. Michigans liberal
whitetail season affords deer hunters with the opportunity
to hunt into December a month that as a hunter you can
expect a wide range of weather. As Mother Nature starts
throwing sleet and snow along with frigid temperatures
at us, whitetails begin to feed in earnest in anticipation
of the upcoming winter. This need to feed, increases
deer movement and makes it an excellent time to fill the
freezer. As whitetails attempt to stack on the calories and
increase their fat reserves, savvy hunters are doing their
own best to figure out how to stay warm in these adverse
conditions.
We as modern hunters are most fortunate with the many
by Tom Nelson
choices of insulated clothing available today. As a
novice hunter 40 plus years ago, I wore mostly cotton
and wool clothing for warmth. Albeit wool still offers
excellent insulation, it is a bit heavy and bulky. Cotton
although light weight is almost useless when it gets wet
or damp from excursion and can and will make you
colder. Thankfully we now are blessed with a wide array
of hunting clothing that utilizes modern high tech fabrics
that eliminates moisture and still has excellent insulating
properties. Factor in wind stopper fabrics available
in many hunting garments and you are on your way to
staying comfortable in even the worst of weather.
You can have the most expensive, heavy insulated cold
weather jacket available and still be uncomfortable
when hunting in the cold. Staying warm starts with
dressing in layers. Start with a light weight base layer.
Fabrics such as polyester or fleece makes a great first
layer. This is a crucial layer for staying warm so buy
the best base layer you can afford. The second layer
should be a mid weight fabric such as Thinsulate, fleece
or the like. I prefer a garment that again is light weight
for this second layer. Try to find a form fitting second
layer to decrease any possible bulk. This will pay off
when you try to draw your bow or shoulder your firearm.
The final layer is the outer shell . This will be your heaviest
layer and for good reason. This is the layer that should
resist, rain, wind and most of all cold. Look for a outer
layer coat or jacket that while still affording good
insulation benefits, is still quiet. Many outer layer coats
incorporate an outside fabric that that can be stiff and
noisy. Sure it helps block the wind and is durable, but it
also might alert deer to your presence when you move
about. Look for a coat with a hood as it is a major
benefit when it comes to keeping you warm. . Your head
is the number one source of heat loss when you are out
hunting. Wearing a good insulated cap is great, but for
real warmth on those blustery December days, pulling
a hood over your head is a life
saver.
still wear felt pack boots when sitting for hours to keep
their feet warm. These boots are bulky and a pain to
walk far in. With light weight rubber boots available with
up to 2000 grams of insulation, there is no excuse for
wearing uncomfortable and bulky boots when hunting.
Slide a pair of Merino wool socks over your feet and
slip into a pair of well insulated boots and you can sit
all day. If your feet are extra sensitive to the cold, add
a chemical foot warmer to each boot. Recently, heated
insoles have been introduced that slip into your boots
and can be turned on and off with the aid of a remote
control. If your feet start to get chilly, simply turn on your
insoles for an hour, then when warmed up, turn them off.
These insoles are rechargeable so there are no batteries
to mess with.
DEER
Staying Warm
Starts with
Dressing
in Layers
BDR
Farm Services
Johannesburg, Michigan
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989.370.8721 | kyoungedyke@gmail.com
Food Plots|Excavating
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71
Rut Predicting
by Tony Hansen
I look forward to the rut prediction articles in major hunting magazines as much as the next guy.
From Field and Streams annual Best Days of the Rut to
Outdoor Lifes Rut Forecast to the Deer and Deer Huntings
rut forecasts based on Charles Alsheimers lunar theories, I
read them all and Id be lying if I said I didnt pay any attention to the advice they give in regards to the best days of
the rut.
But heres the thing: Those predictions are very seldom
correct. Some years, theyre pretty close. But other years,
like last season for example, they couldnt possibly be more
wrong.
I am not trying to paint myself as a predictor. Im not. But I spent a fair amount
of the rut in four states last year South
Dakota, Michigan, Ohio and Kansas
and this is what I observed in regards to
the rut: It was a classic trickle that had its
first peak on or around November 3 and
another two weeks later. In between things
were painfully slow.
I dont know why it turned out that way. But I can say with a
high level of confidence that Ive never seen a more pathetic
excuse for a rut. And thats not sour grapes. I had one of the
best seasons Ive ever had. I killed two bucks and both were
pretty good ones. I almost had a third to boot.
But I didnt kill those bucks because they were rutty. I killed
them because I was in the right place at the right time.
Simple as that.
The rut was a stop-and-start affair since the last week of October. If you happen to be sitting in a stand in the right area
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The CAMPFIRe
by Shaun McKeon, MUCC Education Director
Mike Leonard, a volunteer with Safari Club International, instructs youth in firearm safety and marksmanship.
With the warm summer days behind us and the gate closed
for the season at camp, it is time to switch gears to outreach
season. In the early fall, mainly September and October
there are opportunities galore to get kids outside and learning
about hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation. Every
weekend there are youth events going on all over the state.
These events are great ways to spend a day outside as a
family getting excited about the upcoming seasons and they
are designed to be lots of fun for the kids.
This season was the busiest season I have been a part of.
Over the course of 4 weekends I was able to represent
MUCC at nine of these outdoor events encompassing roughly
1,500 miles of travel around the state. In total, between these
nine events I was able to speak with roughly 8,500 people.
I was able to talk about the work we are doing with youth
at MUCC through camp and TRACKS and also hold several
seminars to teach kids wildlife identification and about
Michigan waterfowl. I covered events in Bay City, Clayton,
Imlay City, St. Johns, Muskegon, Marquette, Sault Sainte
Marie, Lansing, and St. Joseph.
74 MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS | WINTER 2017
outdoor skills.
With hunting seasons open around the state, the youth day events wind
down so people can take their new skills out into the woods. A youth
day is a great start to peak a kids interest, but what really gets them
hooked is having the chance to actually go out into the woods and go
hunting. If you know a youth who wants to get outside take them with
you, pass on the tradition. Remember its best to hunt with your kids,
not for them, and nobody frames pictures of their kids playing video
games.
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Goose
Hunting
by Bob Gwizdz
79
goose season.
I think its a smart trade, if for no
other reason, it keeps us from
educating more geese by trying to
scratch out a five-bird limit in winter.
Im reminded of a hunt I made with
Joe Robison a DNR biologist and
an excellent goose hunter during
the 2015 late goose season. We
were out early, in Monroe County,
and had set up with about 100
decoys by shortly after first light.
The weatherman was calling for
morning snow and after two days
of blue skies, Robison figured the
81
In
preventing
Aquatic
invasive
species!
TM
MUCC
LATE
SEASON
SQUIRRELS
by Bob Gwizdz
The first three trees that Daisy
barked on didnt appear to have
any squirrels anywhere near them.
For one, youngsters could hunt small game at 12-yearsold back then, but had to be 14 to hunt deer, so plenty
of dads broke their kids in on squirrels. It gave the
youngsters an opportunity to learn how to handle a
firearm safely and, generally speaking, to see some
game. Squirrels are fairly ubiquitous about all it takes
to find squirrels is a wood lot and back in the days of
small family farms, just about everybody knew someone who would let them hunt. (And there was always
public land, too.)
85
GIVE INVASIVE
SPECIES
THE BRUSH OFF.
Clean Your Gear Before Entering
And Before Leaving The Recreation Site.
TM
MUCC
Help Prevent The Spread
Of Invasive Plants And Animals.
REMOVE plants, animals & mud from boots, gear, pets &
vehicle.
CLEAN your gear before entering & leaving the recreation
site.
STAY on designated roads & trails.
USE CERTIFIED or local firewood & hay.
89
Dave picked out spots that were accessible for Tom. They could still get deep
in the woods via boat, and they were
incredible spots. Tom couldnt believe
how many different bears they had
coming into the baits over 11 unique
bears at one site! Tom noted that while
bears were feeding on the bait piles,
raccoons and other critters were there
BUYING ALL
TYPES OF TIMBER
(989) 539-7588
after 6 p.m.
me that not only he has gotten a bearhunt under his belt; he has plans to go
down to hunt deer in Indiana with two
of his granddaughters Dessie and
Dara. Something just months ago Tom
had considered impossible. A man
who had lost so much hope, now has
found strength and drive to do things
he thought were just past memories or
impossible dreams.
We give each other a hard time sometimes arguing about APRs, baiting,
hounds, crossbows. But in my
experience, at the end of the day, we
can all rally around our passion for the
outdoors and the special wild critters
that inhabit our fields and forests. We
are blessed to live in Michigan where
opportunities are endless, and our
hunting family is vast. As we continue to get deeper into our fall hunting
seasons, lets remember that each hunt,
each moment is one of a kind. Each
individual has a story and a passion for
hunting, fishing, and/or trapping. At
the end of the day, the opportunities
we all have fuel us to get up go to work,
plant some trees, build a blind, train
our dogs, or just sit and chat with our
fellow outdoor enthusiasts.
I propose a toast: Cheers to you Tom!
Congratulations on your bear, but
more so - Tom and Dave - cheers to
friendship.
989/289-2329
Timber Appraisals / Log Sales
Timber Purchasing / Firewood Sales
91
fishing
93
Short rods
are required
for those
who fish
from small
shanties
game fish and, truth be known, I know some guys who
prefer to use tip-ups for perch simply because they
allow them to fish three lines effectively. And they can
always be used in conjunction with hand-held rods,
too.
Although Department of Natural Resources data is
scant, theres no doubt that panfish mostly bluegills,
but crappie and perch, too make up the vast majority
of ice angling outings. (Id guess it at about 90
percent.) Theres a simple reason why panfish,
especially bluegills, are almost ubiquitous. You can
find them in most lakes across the state; its less likely
that a lake wont have gills than it will, and often
those that dont have perch. And they all make fine
table fare.
For the most part, bluegills can be found in relatively
shallow water, often associated with weed beds, early
in the season. As winter progresses, the fish tend to
move deeper. Bluegills tend to relate to the bottom
at first ice, but will suspend as winter lengthens.
Most bluegill anglers begin with simple baits, either
teardrops or flies, sweetened with spikes (fly larvae)
or wax worms and begin fishing just off bottom,
95
Lake Leelanau
Narrows Resort
by the bridge between
North and South lakes
GREAT FISHING!
reservations call:231-256-9496
WATERS EDGE
RESORT
Munuscong Lake/St. Marys River
~ Raber, Michigan ~
watersedgeraber@gmail.com
www.watersedgeup.com
Saginaw Bay
Poised
for a
breakthrough
ice season
e
ey
la l
by
Jeff
Nedwick
82 MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS | FALL 2016
fishing
FIGURE 1
Fish approaching from far away will first appear on the fish
finder as a small thin line that sits just below the bottom signal
(figure 2). As the fish approaches the bait, the line will start to
bounce, grow thicker, rise toward and eventually through the
bottom as the fish enters the area directly below the transducer. Although it will appear that the fish has risen from below
bottom, it was simply closing the distance to the lure and
thereby shortening the length of the sonar echo.
Sixty years later and Lowrance still offers portable ice fishing
sonar units but todays units provide infinitely more precise
views of the lake bottom and fish.
Martins years of ice fishing on Saginaw Bay has provided
him with an opportunity to witness firsthand how effective
these modern portable fish finders are at locating fish. Many
new units feature a combination of low, medium and high
frequencies capable of detecting fish far to the side of the
anglers hole. This technology is incredibly powerful as long
as the angler interprets it correctly.
Such is the case with fish that are detected far to the side of the
hole. These fish often appear below or embedded within the
bottom signal of the fish finder, making them very hard to see.
FIGURE 2
WINTER 2017 | MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS
99
OPEN
WATER
WINTER
ANGLING
Winter fishing for most Michigan anglers translates into fishing
through a hole in the ice. But last winter we found that for
much of the season safe ice was questionable, especially in
southern Michigan. And for those that love to fish flowing
water there are lots of rivers open to year around fishing for
steelhead and anadromous brown trout. And, many of these
streams are also home to resident trout. Lake run brown trout
and steelhead remain active even when the water temperature
drops to 32 degrees or less. Stream resident trout are most
active when their environment is between 50 and 65 degrees.
You wont find any streams with water that warm right now but
luckily trout will still feed, although less frequently, when the
water is much colder.
An event that I have written about before helps describe a
reason trout might actively feed in surprisingly cold conditions.
My partners and I arrived at the Pere Marquette River to fish
for steelhead in January only to find floe and anchor ice in the
stream. This showed us that the river water was super cooled
below 32 degrees. Since we had driven a long distance we
decided to give it a try anyway. Initially we had no action
and ice in our guides and even on our lures made fishing
difficult. We were about to surrender when a steelhead
grabbed my spinner and spurred us on upstream.
by
Jim Bedford
The air temperature rose into the 20s and this allowed the
influx of ground water to overcome the ability of the air to
super cool the stream. The anchor ice began to lift off the
bottom bringing some of the sand and small gravel with it.
In the process insect nymphs and other invertebrates were
dislodged and the brown trout were quick to notice and filled
their stomachs. It was bonanza time for the angler who had
braved the cold as the steelhead turned on along with the
resident brown trout. Enduring anchor ice is still not much fun
so try to fish the warmest parts of the day whenever possible
midmorning through late afternoon is usually the best time to
be on the stream. Sunny days are often better than cloudy
ones when all other factors are equal. If possible try to plan
your outing during a mid-winter thaw or at least when we are
experiencing some milder weather. If the thaw causes a bit of
snowmelt runoff, that is all the better.
Another testament to the fact that stream browns can be
active occurred more recently. I was fishing Prairie Creek for
steelhead on an early February day and only managed one
smallish five pound steelhead on my way upstream fishing
with silver spinners. On my way back downstream I re-fished
some of the better holes with minnow plugs but found no more
steelhead. But when I fished the hole where I had caught the
WINTER 2017 | MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS 101
STAYING WARM
Staying comfortable is important to
enjoying a winter trout and steelhead outing. Always dress in layers
topped off by a jacket that is both
windproof and waterproof. It may be
too cold to rain, but melting snow can
get you wet, too. A warm hat is also
very important since a bare head is a
top avenue for heat loss. I detest fishing with gloves on but sometime it is
just too cold. Fingerless wool gloves
have been the compromise that
works for me but there many other
choices. Taking a break and putting
your hands under your armpits can
help. Likewise, moving to another
spot can warm you up. Of course
the adrenalin rush of hooking and
landing a steelhead or nice brown is
the ultimate in warming up.
Boot-foot neoprene waders are
ideal for winter wading. Boot-foot
is the key as water pressure tends
to squeeze stocking foot booties
around feet and decreases their
insulating qualities. You can get by
with breathable boot-foot waders by
wearing lots of layers under them.
Be sure to take your time and wade
carefully. Taking a spill in the summer
might only be a nuisance but falling
in the river in January can end your
trip pretty fast. A wading staff can be
very helpful in keeping you upright.
Studded soles can aid in dealing with
ice and slippery rocks. Felt soles are
often not a good winter choice because snow sticks to them and builds
up, making it difficult walking on the
bank when you change locations.
While the Sturgeon River does not
receive steelhead from the Great Lakes,
it does get a run of rainbows and
browns from Burt Lake. It is open to
fishing in the winter from Afton Road in
Wolverine down to Burt Lake. Moving
toward the sunrise side, the East Branch
of the Au Gres and the Rifle River offer
year around fishing for steelhead
and resident brown trout. Lake run
browns seem to making a comeback
in these streams. The East Branch is
open downstream from M-55 and the
best trout fishing is found in the first few
miles below M-55. The Rifle is open
for winter fishing downstream from
Sage Lake Road. And, again, the best
fishing
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Northern Michigan Guide Service
& Claybank Outfitters
1-231-882-7266
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frontage offers 45 semi-rustic sites and 4 clean modern
cottages. www.LakeCamp-Cottages.com 231-7457268
PERE MARQUETTE RIVER: Furnished cabin for rent
located just 5 miles west of Baldwin with private access to
the Pere Marquette River. Great for fishermen. 616-8919644 or visit our web site at www.thetroutpost.com
WINTER
MAGIC
Steelhead
Roger Hinchcliff is the author of The Steelhead Manifesto
The Great Lakes has the largest Steelhead population on planet
earth. Its no secret were truly blessed to have the fishery we do.
But during the winter most are snuggled up next to a fireplace
somewhere inside or maybe a heated ice shanty. But then theres
the hard core steelhead angler that fishes all winter long. Snow,
ice, slush and numb fingers are the norm sometimes. These
anglers are obsessive, patient and even half-crazy said by most.
This group of anglers is just a different breed and even accused of
almost being cult like.
Those who know winter time steelhead will tell you its their favorite time of the year and with the right clothing and gear time on
the water is very doable. With that being said getting these fish
to bite sometimes can also drive an angler insane. These fish are
cold-blooded and this is one reason why winter steelhead fishing
can be tough sometimes; the fish often become less active. In
addition, youre dealing with over fished fish, which have been
fished over for weeks or even months.
Those winter anglers that know and practice this religion will tell
you if youre lucky, this can be some of the best fishing of the
year. Now that I have peaked your interest lets delve into how to
catch them and enjoy your time on the water.
By Roger Hinchcliff
Matt Lubaway
Custom Rods
Custom graphite
rods
Antique restoration
and rod repairs
Grizzly Flies
by Schottsie
Todd A. Schotts
Custom Fly Tyer
GrizzlyFlies@yahoo.com
248.410.4164
www.grizzlyfliesbyschottsie.com
888-939-6667 or 231-745-6667
Lodging, cabins and river guide service on the
Pere Marquette River.
Fish for salmon, steelhead, trout on the Pere Marquette, Manistee, and Muskegon Rivers.
Flyfishing or spin tackle.
Federal & State licensed and insured guide.
Owners: Clint & Debi Anderson
www.redmooselodge.com
THINK SMALL
The rule of thumb here is an easy one.
Think small or go home thats it. Everything must be down sized. The right
presentation has to be slow and low.
The strike zone in the Fall or Spring goes
COLOR
Steelhead are the most color conscious
fish on planet earth, in my opinion. The
color choice while fishing can make all
the difference in the world.
For example: The color Chartreuse
doesnt work all the time in winter conditions. Sometimes it can be way too
bright in cold, low clear water during
the winter in my opinion. This color is a
better option in low light at dawn and
dusk.
But during the day instead opt for more
natural subtle tones and colors. Such
as white, olive and black. One highly
over looked color by anglers during
low clear water periods is the color red.
That tip alone was worth the reading
this article I promise. Next Hot Pinks,
Purples and Orange are staples of the
steelhead world under an overcast sky.
Color choices can change throughout
the course of a day. So just because
one color was working in the morning
doesnt mean mid-day thats going to
work. If bite slows just changing the
color of your offering can make all the
difference in the world.
of a marabou jig sometimes are irresistible to winter fish. Out West these sizes
are extremely small to them but the norm
here in the Great Lakes. These jigs are
my favorites because of an awesome
color palate and 2X strong hooks are a
must for the prize fighting steelhead.
Even small flies tied with a tungsten
bead such as a black stone fly or green
cadis under a float can be deadly
during the winter bite. The colder the
water the smaller your offering should
be.
PRESENTATION
EQUIPMENT
The Winter Steelheader must down
size everything including leader. Most
fishing
CONCLUSION
If you think small, cover the run thoroughly and change colors often, youre
going to land more fish. While youre
out enjoying the peace and solitude this
winter, be sure to dress right and dont
forget to bring along a Hot Thermos of
Coffee or Soup. This can warm you up
on a cold winters day. Also a camera
is a must have. Some of the best photos
are winter time steelhead with a snow
covered back drop.
Nothing will make you a better fisherman than time spent on the water. I
hope these tips have been beneficial
to you and help you catch more prize
fighting steelhead this winter. Remember
always practice CPR Catch, Photo and
Release. Think about that then next time
you release a fish. True happiness just
left your hands. So get out this winter
and enjoy our rivers and streams, life is
good here. The winter magic awaits you.
(734) 781-0030
(734) 781-0030
WINTER 2017 | MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS 107
by Drew YoungeDyke
thank you!
2016 gun-a-month & mucc
board raffle firearm
CENTERSHOT GUN RANGE
Dorr, MI
www.centershotgunrange.com
DICK WILLIAMS GUN SHOP
Family Owned & Operated Since 1967
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501 Salzburg Ave., Bay City, MI
www.duncansoutdoor.com
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Mason, MI
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