AUGUST 2017 $4.

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Woods-n-Water News
Michigans Premier Outdoor Publication
Michigan U.P.'s

MOOSE
Population Increasing
Clinton County
COUGAR

Can
SALMON Wolves
and
SLAMMIN' Coyotes
Coexist
Summer Preparation for with
fewer
DEER HUNTERS Deer?

Bovine Tuberculosis Battle Gearing for Trout Worming Bass

Train To Hunt Saginaw Bay's Walleyes Something About a River
Oak Savanna Restoration Drop Shot Smallies Aquatic Invasives
www.woods-n-waternews.com Like us on facebook Follow us on
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 3
 By Tom Campbell

Field Notes...
Bryce Mar tin,
BIG 11-years-old
caught this 21 plus

BASS
inch, 7 pound 2
ounce largemouth
bass in a small lake

A
couple quick reminders; August
1 is the deadline for fall turkey
permits, antlerless deer permit
application period is July 15
August 15, the special early season teal
hunt is Sept. 1-10. Plus theres plenty of
great fishing to take advantage of. Check
out what Bryce Martin caught (right).
And of course a reminder that the
Woods-N-Water News Outdoor Week-
end is just a few weeks awaySept.
8-10, held at the Eastern Michigan State
Fairgrounds in Imlay City. Weve put
together a great event this year and are
really excited about our tremendous deer
hunting seminar line-up with the addition
of John Eberhart to the seminar schedule!
John specializes in bowhunting heavily
pressured areas, with 30 bucks listed in
CBMs record book from 19 different
properties in 10 different counties. Hes
also taken 19 P&Y class bucks from 13
different properties (check out his story
on entering and exiting your hunting
stands page 48).
Joining John on the seminar stage
again this year will be land and habitat
improvement expert Tony LaPratt, food
plot specialist Ed Spinazzola and Adam
near Millington on
Lewis with his seminar topic; Breach- a rubber worm!
ing the Whitetails Last Defense! Learn
the new techniques and tactics of sound
concealment.
Of course one of the most popular
seminars; the proper field dressing and
skinning demonstrations of big game by
Steve and Sue Francis and family, own-
ers of Country Smoke House in Almont.
Their seminars have been so popular
they will be back again this year along
with venison cooking demonstrations.
The seminars have turned into sort of an
everything you need to know about what
to do after you shoot your deer!
Another of the many exciting events
taking place at the Outdoor Weekend Scheduled to give coyote trapping semi- management stage.
is the return of the Trappers Associations. nars is Trent Masterson, a Michigan trap- Outdoor Weekend show hours are
Theyre helping us celebrate and per who has been trapping for 30 years. Friday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.
understand our outdoor heritage and He has trapped across the Midwest, North to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
the very important role trapping plays. Dakota, Arkansas, New Mexico and Imlay City is located between Flint and
The National Trappers Association is Arizona. He is the Past President of the Port Huron; the Eastern Michigan State
committed to defending and promoting Mid-Michigan Independent Trappers As- Fairgrounds is on M-53, a half-mile north
the safe and ethical harvest of furbearing sociation and MTPCA Board Member. He of I-69 off Exit #168. Admission is $8
mammals and to the preservation started trapping muskrat and beaver near per person and kids 12 and under free and
and enhancement of their habitats. his home in SE Michigan. He is a control free parking. For more information check
This years Outdoor Weekend will trapper, specializing in urban coyote. our Woods-N-Water News facebook page,
focus on predator control with an em- Experts in the field of calling and hunting website www.outdoorweekend.net or call
phasis on coyote trapping and hunting. coyotes will join Trent on the predator 810-724-0254.n

SEASONS St. Joseph and Kalamazoo rivers test clean

July 15 Aug. 15 Antlerless deer application period
July 29 MDNR Outdoor Skills Academy, bear hunt-
ing clinic, Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center, 10
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $30
Aug. 5 MDNR Outdoor Skills Academy, bear hunt-
ing clinic, Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center, 10
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $30
Aug. 1 Aug. 28 Reserved waterfowl application period
Aug. 1-Sept. 30 Crow season
Sept. 1-Sept. 10 Experimental teal season statewide
Sept. 1-Sept 30 Early Canada goose season
Now-Aug. 1 Fall turkey permit application period
Open All Year Pike and walleye season on Lower
Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair & St. Clair &
Detroit Rivers
Open All Year Salmon and trout season on Great
Lakes, St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair & St. Clair &
Detroit Rivers
Open All Year Catch-and-immediate-release bass
season on all Michigan waters open to fishing
Now-Dec. 31 Pure Michigan Hunt Application
Now-March 15 pike, walleye, muskie seasons on
Lower Peninsula inland waters
Now-Sept. 30 Trout and salmon on inland Type 1
and 2 streams and Type A & D lakes
Now-March 15 pike, walleye, muskie seasons on
Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters and St
Marys River
Now-Dec. 31 Bass; catch and keep season on all
waters except; Lake St. Clair, St. Clair and Detroit
Rivers
Now-Dec. 15 Muskie season on Lake St. Clair, St.
Clair and Detroit Rivers
Now-Dec. 31 Bass; catch and keep season on Lake St.
Clair, St. Clair and Detroit Rivers
MJC MJC
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4 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
for invasive silver and bighead carp
An 8-pound, 27-inch-long silver carp was netted in the Illinois Waterway 9 miles
from Lake Michigan, some 27 miles beyond the electric barrier system!
Concern in Michigan is high after capture of a silver
carp in the Illinois Waterway
The MDNR announced environmental DNA (eDNA)
sample results from the St. Joseph and Kalamazoo rivers
show no signs of invasive silver and bighead carp.
According to DNR fisheries biologist Nick Popoff,
none of the 260 eDNA samples collected May 1 and
analyzed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicated
the presence of genetic material for silver or bighead
carp. Results and maps of the 200 survey sites on the
Kalamazoo River and the 60 sites on the St. Joseph
River are available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Services Midwest Fisheries website. Video of eDNA
sampling is available on the michigan.gov/invasivecarp
website.
The eDNA surveillance program a collaborative
effort between the Great Lakes states and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service since 2013 samples high-priority
locations for the presence of bighead and silver carp
genetic material.
Invasive carp thrive and reproduce in large, warm-
water rivers with ample flow, said Popoff. Michigans invasive carp from entering Michigans waters. The
southwestern Great Lakes tributaries provide suitable
habitat and sufficient food, in the form of algae, to sup-
port these species.
The Grand, St. Joseph and Kalamazoo rivers have
two additional monitoring events scheduled this summer,
with lab results expected in July and August. The eDNA
monitoring program is a part of the early detection
efforts outlined in Michigans Asian Carp Management
Plan.
Along with our participation in the eDNA surveil-
lance program, we continue to be diligent with early
detection efforts, such as conducting fish population sur-
veys, increasing awareness among anglers, and maintain-
ing an invasive carp reporting website for anglers to
share any suspicious catches or observations that occur
during their outings, said Tammy Newcomb, the DNRs
senior water policy advisor.
Concern about the possibility of invasive silver or big-
head carp reaching Michigans waters was heightened by
the June 22 capture of an 8-pound, 27-inch-long silver
carp in the Illinois Waterway. The fish was netted by a
commercial fisher participating in a scheduled Asian
Carp Regional Coordinating Committee monitoring
event.
The silver carp was caught just nine miles from
Lake Michigan, some 27 miles beyond the electric barri-
er system meant to keep the fish from entering the Great
Lakes.
If invasive carp prevention measures fail, the Great
Lakes and Michigans waters could sustain major eco-
logical changes, causing losses to the $7 billion commer-
cial and sport fishing industry. The potential for injury to
recreational boaters and swimmers from leaping silver
carp also could negatively affect the states $38 billion
tourism economy.
Michigans commitment to protecting the Great
Lakes from the threat of invasive carp has taken the
form of a $1 million investment in innovation. The
Invasive Carp Challenge michigan.gov/carpchallenge
will solicit ideas from around the globe to help stop
challenge, offering cash prizes for feasible prevention
methods, is scheduled to open in mid-July 2017 through
InnoCentive, a leader in crowdsourcing for federal, state
and private sector solutions.
If invasive carp are detected in Michigans waters,
the state is prepared to act with a plan of intensive
monitoring to locate fish populations, netting and
electrofishing to capture and remove the invasive fish,
and if necessary, applications of rotenone, an aquatic
pesticide.
Controlling and eradicating aquatic invasive species
is an extremely costly, difficult and long-term undertak-
ing, with no guarantee of success. Preventing invasive
carp from entering the Great Lakes is a far better pros-
pect, said Newcomb.
Popoff commented, We need to remind everyone
out on the water to keep an eye out for unusual fish and
report potential invasive carp sightings to www.michi-
gan.gov/invasivecarp.
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 5

HUNTING
Summer setup for
OPENING DAY SUCCESS
Brian Miller page 14
10 Essentials for
whitetail success
Adam Lewis page 30
TRAIN TO HUNT
Drew YoungeDyke page 40
Summer scouting whitetails
Bob Fratzke/Glenn Helgeland
page 60
Brave Hearts 3-D archery
Patrick Bevier page 68
New outdoor gear for fall
Tom Carney page 88
FISHING
SALMON SLAMMIN
Kenny Darwin page 8
The One...Two Punch
for August walleyes
Gary Parsons/Keith Kavajecz
page 16
SPOOKING
DEER
John Eberhart...page 48
Mega sliders for weedy
LARGEMOUTH
Dave Mull page 20
Getting the drop
shot on smallmouth
Mark Romanack page 28
Trolling shouldnt
be troublesome
Mark Martin page 32
COVER PHOTOS
By Rick Baetsen
The U.P.s Moose...page 18
Clinton County Cougar...page 35
Wolves vs. Coyotes...page 56
6 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
Keep bears wild Dear Fish Diary...
page 61 This will quack you up
Ron St. Germain page 84
Oak Savanna Restoration
Working for Wildlife This angler knows
MDNR page 78 how to hook em!
Betty Sodders page 85
Sporting Collectibles...Part II
Go-Ite Manufacturing The return of porcupines
Terry McBurney page 82 Sharon Kennedy page 92
Taking a new adventuresome
step into Nature OPINIONS
Tom Lounsbury page 90 Ethanol and Boating Update
Bovine Capt. Fred Davis page 74
Tuberculosis OUTDOOR NEWS
Battle Are APRs a concern with
the presence of CWD?
Michigan duck stamps
MDNR...page 64 and prints available Dick Zook page 75
page 33 Do you really want to
Gearing up for summer trout
Man sentenced in eat that CWD deer?
Mark Romanack page 36
illegal deer baiting case Stephen King page 75
Fisherman Digest... MDNR page 34
Mid-summer bass/walleye
John Bergsma page 46 Cover Story... Saginaw
Red Hot Summer Eyes
DNR confirms cougar
in Clinton County Bay
George Rowe page 62 page 35 Walleyes
WORMIN BASS
Kenny Darwin page 70 PERSPECTIVE
Schools in for summer Michigan Meanders...
Bill Semion page 93 Something about a river
Tom Huggler page 22
Best fish to stock in your pond
Ron Kinnunen page 94 Kayaking: First lesson is safety
Roger Beukema page 43
FEATURE Michigan Pheasant Restoration
Initiative annual report Michael Veine...page 12
The U.P.s Moose
page 53
Bill Ziegler page 18
CWD? Deer have survived
Keeping outdoor Cover Story... for millions of years!
writers in headlines WOLF vs. COYOTE
Ed Spinazzola page 76
John Ozoga page 56
Randy Jorgensen page 24
Saying goodbye to Conservation Officers GUNS/AMMO
faithful friend saving lives
Darryl Quidort page 26 Jeff Pendergraff page 58 Gun Chat...
Pin shooting returns!
Trapping... The amazing Praying Mantis Lee Arten page 52
How to traditionally Jonathan Schechter page 66
dye and wax traps Traditional Black
John Chagnon page 44 Saginaw Bay a year Powder Shooting...
after new regulations The end is just the beginning
Book Review... Mark Sak page 67 Dennis Neely page 96
Wildlife 911: On Patrol
DEPARTMENTS...
Drew YoungeDyke page 54
AUGUST 2017 $4.00
Woods-n-Water News
Trophy Page. . . . . . 72 Classifieds . . . . 98-99
Michigans Premier Outdoor Publication
Michigan U.P.'s
MOOSE
Letters/Op-Ed . . 74-77 Real Estate . . 100-109
Population Increasing
Clinton County
COUGAR
1-810-724-0254
www.woods-n-waternews.com
Can
SALMON Wolves
and
SLAMMIN' Coyotes
Coexist
P.O. Box 278, Imlay City, MI 48444
Summer Preparation for with
fewer
DEER HUNTERS
Deer?
Bovine Tuberculosis Battle Gearing for Trout Worming Bass
Train To Hunt Saginaw Bay's Walleyes Something About a River
Oak Savanna Restoration Drop Shot Smallies Aquatic Invasives
www.woods-n-waternews.com Like us on facebook Follow us on
www.facebook.com/woodsnwaternews
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 7

 SALMON
SLAMMIN
King salmon can grow to monster propor tions in Lake Michigan and recent baitfish data indicates a strong alewife hatch and this year you
F
can expect some 30 pound giants. With coho and chinook salmon on the move this month you can expect outstanding fishing. Author photos
ew Michigan fish can compete
with the fighting power of a
runaway king salmon. Their strike
is savage and line stripping runs
illustrate raw power of the purest
form. Sometimes they feel like
they are going to rip the rod from
your hands, and the long drag-
sizzling runs make the veins in your arms almost
explode. Catching them is downright exhilarat-
ing, exciting, a hoot, absolutely a blast.
Although the biggest draw for most anglers is
fresh fillets soaked in olive oil and sprinkled with
Montreal Steak seasoning and grilled to perfec-
tion. The eating is off the hook fantastic and the
thrill of landing a big salmon is downright addic-
tive. When the kings are snappin and the crew is
fired up from the fast-paced fishing excitement,
few fishing thrills can be more entertaining.
Ya gotta love it when big dogs are engulfing
lures and you fill the ice box with huge silvery
prizes from the depths of Lake Michigan. At
times the catching evolves into a slam-fest as you
cooler up. But this fishery is ever-changing and
savvy anglers use new fishing tactics to outsmart
wary fish. If your goal is to catch more and big-
ger salmon this year, Ive got some good news.
For many Michigan fishermen, the quest for
salmon peaks during summer when July blends
into August and schools of huge silvery salmon
patrol Lake Michigans coastline. Gone are the
8 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
days when the main run hits the coast in July and
the fishing explodes until early September. Today
the best fishing occurs offshore in deep water
lairs during the dog days of July and early Au-
gust. Then, as the season progresses, there will be
hit or miss spurts of good fishing along the coast
and at rivermouths.
Pre-Dawn Attack
Salmon go on a feeding spree as the morning
sun illuminates the eastern horizon. Im talking
super early morning when you need your boat
lights running for safety. In order to cash-in on
the hottest feeding period, you need to leave the
dock at 5:30 a.m. and have glow lures in the wa-
ter when it is still relatively dark.
Some mornings you play hell trying to set all
your lines because salmon are super active and
gulp every presentation. At times it makes little
difference what you run; plugs, spoons, meat,
flies and more, they slam them all. Well, long as
it glows. I mean pre-dawn salmon are suckers
for lures that glow, and manufacturers like Moon
Light offer lures that get the attention of hungry
fish.
Follow my advice and I guarantee you will
be pulling fish to the net when you need a light
to see them. Take my word for it, pre-dawn bites
come often and you will be surprised how many
big fish you put in the box while other boats are
just clearing the pier heads. Some days you have
By Kenny Darwin
your limit before daylight and the bite goes tube
city as other boats and the breaking morning sun
arrive.
This requires a lot of preparation to have
rods rigged, breakfast aboard, hot coffee avail-
able and a sharp crew scanning the horizon for
others boats fishing in the darkness. Setting lines
without tangles means you need deck lights or a
miners headlamp in order to get lures in position
and rods set without tangles. Keep in mind that
running and fishing in the darkness is not for the
weak-of-heart or those who are susceptible to sea
sickness.
Meat Treat
Beyond question, the number one method
for harvesting boatloads of summer salmon is
meat fishing. Im talking about trolling meat
rigs behind attractors. Most anglers use a variety
of glow attractors like the Dreamweaver Spin
Doctor with trailing baitfish in a plastic holder.
Michigan fishermen have taken a page from west
coast salmon anglers, and we are converting to
use of trolling bait. The attractor sends loud vi-
brations through the water that attracts trout and
salmon from long distances. The trailing meat rig
has a whip-like action that salmon are drawn to,
and when they get a smell of the fresh meat they
smash the hook.
Salmon slammin page 10
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 9

Salmon slammin:
from page 8
Most captains use meat rigs behind downrigger
balls and the attractors sent down deep into the
strike zone. When water temperatures cool and
salmon suspend closer to the surface, captains
employ super copper lines set far behind the boat
and pulled using in-line surface planer boards.
Church and Offshore planer boards take the of-
fering far to the side of the boat far from boat
shadow and engine noise.
Bait consists of herring cut into a strips or
used whole. Some folks use rainbow smelt or
alewife. Cut bait will target those neutral or nega-
tive fish and is the most productive day pattern
available to big water anglers eager for a box full
of salmon. Some anglers are convinced it is the
aroma of the fresh fish that guarantees strikes
when other tactics fall flat. With cut bait trailing,
salmon get a whiff of real baitfish and they zoom
in for the kill. Fact is salmon smash cut bait be-
cause it smells, feels and tastes like natural food.
Im convinced its the powerful scent trail that
makes fish strike.
One summer trick is to troll cut bait offerings
10-20 foot off bottom. This tactic gets the atten-
tion of salmon hugging bottom when the sun is
bright. Often predator fish will lay low during the
day and seek comfort of cool water found below
baitfish. When evening approaches, they come
out of hiding. But with cut bait you can getem
shaking during mid-day.
Parallel the Bank
Savvy captains run to the 100 foot band and
set lures at the desired depth where salmon are
feeding. Sometimes warm water sends fish to
deeper water, but as a general rule 100 foot deep
is the golden depth to begin trolling. Use a troll-
ing pattern parallel to the 100 foot drop off and
navigate at a faster speed going with the current
and slower when the current is in your face. Best
salmon trolling speed is 2.1-2.5 mph. Its a good
idea to experiment with trolling speed and direc-
tion until you hit on the best pattern. Sometimes
salmon want a 3 mph fast speed and other days
2.0 mph is ideal.
Peak Trolling
The largest salmon of the entire year are
usually caught in late July through early August.
This is prime trolling time because big fish are
busy putting on the feedbag prior to running area
streams. Monster kings are four years old and
feed three times daily. Feeding patterns are dic-
tated by Lake Michigan water temperature. Ideal
fishing occurs when warmer water stacks on top
of cooler water and a layer of high oxygenated
water is in the center. This becomes the feeding
zone or thermocline with 40 degree water on
bottom and water temperatures in the 50s in the
zone. If storms or wind stacks cold water along
the shore you can expect good fishing in skinny
water. Extreme heat with prevailing westerly
winds can stack 70 degree water along the 100
foot bank and send salmon to deep water lairs.
I agree 100 percent with my mentor Dr. Stan
Lievense who made public the philosophy that
water temperature in the 50s is key for excel-
lent salmon fishing. Stan always maintained that
salmon prefer 55 degree water, and his theory
has been put to the test enough to make fishing
history. Savvy anglers seek thermoclines where
warm water sets up over cold water and a high
10 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
oxygen middle area holds baitfish. Beneath the
surface of Lake Michigan in summer lies an
almost supernatural zone of water that attracts
salmon and provides fantastic fishing almost dif-
ficult to imagine. This unique underwater column,
the thermocline, represents a potential fishing
goldmine of angling opportunity where water,
baitfish, current, algae and ideal water tempera-
ture collide. At times you can actually identify the
thermocline with fishing electronics that show a
band of clear water underneath high oxygenated
more cluttered water. Some folks use modern
sophisticated electronic to locate the thermocline
and keep lures in the zone.
Sometimes the layer is narrow, only a few
feet thick and other times it is a large band etched
with thousands of black boomerangs on your
electronics. Best thermoclines often set up after
warm summer water is stacked on top of cold
water caused by southwest winds. Thermoclines
develop long before fall turnover on the Great
Lakes, find it and you can count on some salmon
slammin fishing fun.
Skinny Water Salmon
Summer storms with high winds and heavy
seas from the northwest can cause an upwell-
ing of icy cold deep water, destroy the feeding
thermocline and cause salmon to seek out natal
spawning streams. Pick the first day after a heavy
blow and explore the pier heads with plugs and
you are likely to encounter silvery salmon on
the prowl. Again, water temperature is the key
to salmon migrations, and if the water along the
beach is in the 50s you can count on salmon in
skinny water. Often a north blow brings them
charging the river outlets by the thousands, some
simply charge rivers and others hold in the skinny
water until water temperatures hit the 60s. Michi-
gans Betsie River, Pere Marquette, Big Manistee
and Little Manistee have early summer runs of
big kings that make the move from deep water
Great Lakes lairs to natal streams in summer. If
you can intercept the migrating, runs you can
catch the largest salmon of the entire year.
High winds from the east can cause warm
Lake Michigan surface water to slip seaward and
be replaced with cold water. This is an upwelling
Hooking and landing a salmon double header can provide the brand of fishing excitement
that is guaranteed to bring you back for more.
in the purest form, and along with the cold water,
salmon are drawn to the beach. The longer the
blow, the higher the wind speed the more likely
water will turn over and become cold almost
overnight. Schedule an outing during this period
and salmon are often stacked close to shore in the
narrow band of cold water.
Skinny water salmon go bonkers for J-plug
style lures. Try glow varieties during low light
conditions and run them 10-20 foot below the
surface. One of the hottest shallow water salmon
tactics going is copper wire line used to take
plugs 15-20 foot deep far to the side of the boat
using in-line planer boards. Some captains use
surface hugging spoons and plugs during this
period and run multiple lines, often four on each
side of the boat, in an effort to fool skinny water
monster salmon.
Crazy Piers
Pier head trollers have a big advantage over
other trollers because when conditions are ideal
summer salmon are attracted to Michigans major
river outlets found at St. Joseph, Saugatuck,
Grand Haven, Muskegon, Ludington, Manistee,
Frankfort and Boardman River outlet. At times
the fishing can be downright crazy as skinny wa-
ter trollers and pier fishermen all work the same
relatively small area. Few sights are more hectic
than boats tangling lines with pier head anglers as
hooked salmon run crazy. But at times is seems
every salmon in the big lake has charged to a
small area where warmer stream water converges
with the cooler Great Lakes surf. When salmon
hit the river mouth, the action can be top notch
with hundreds of big fish schooled into a relative-
ly small area. But this is salmon slammin at its
finest with constant fishing action on small boats,
charter vessels and pier bound anglers.
What about you, do you have a plan for
catching more and bigger salmon this year? With
Michigans DNR planting fewer fish it looks like
we will have two more years of good salmon fish-
ing. After that we will have to pack our traveling
bags and go to Milwaukee or Lake Ontario for
hot salmon action. Believe me, fighting those
30 pound monsters in the Milwaukee harbor is a
blast, but thats another story.n
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 11
 Saginaw Bays late summer walleyes
Heres the scoop on the hot locations and productive fishing techniques to
really cash in on this fantastic, world class fishery...By Michael Veine
D
uring late summer
some of the best fish-
ing for Saginaw Bays
walleyes occurs in
the outer Bay, which
is considered the
waters to the north of a line drawn
between Point Au Gres and Sand
Point. While its true that late spring
and early summer serve up some
phenomenal walleye fishing on the
Bay, oftentimes the outer Bays peak
fishing is a bit later in the season
compared to the Inner Bay.
I fish all over in the Bay
throughout the spring and summer.
Last year, my clients experienced
the best fishing of the year during
August when maximum catches of
fine walleyes was the norm even
with the new eight fish limit. Im
talking about a cooler full of fish
every outing: coolers so heavy that
muscles were strained dragging it to
the fish cleaning station.
Indeed, these are some of the
heaviest average size walleyes from
the Bay all year, and oftentimes the
fishing pressure then is low com-
pared to earlier in the season. Read
on for the scoop on the hot locations
and productive fishing techniques to
really cash in on this fantastic, world
class fishery.
Last year, one of my longtime
charter clients, Bob Vanitvelt,
booked a charter with me for late
summer. He wanted to take his
grandkids out fishing on their fam-
ily vacation. Bob has been fishing
with me for about 20 years and
had always wanted to fish out by
the Charity Islands, but he usually
booked trips early in the season
before the walleyes move into that
area en masse, so we fished else-
where. When I told him the morning
of his charter that we were heading
north of Big Charity, he was espe-
cially excited.
The water was a flat as a pancake
that morning when we motored the
15 miles out to the fishing area, so
the run out was a fairly quick one.
Soon after setting lines, I pointed the
boat towards the very fishy waters
where we had quickly limited out
with a mess of dandy walleyes the
previous day. I deployed a spread of
spinner/crawler rigs taken to depth
with bottom bouncers.
The first fish we hooked was a
sheephead, but a few minutes later
we connected with our first walleye,
and one of the kids reeled in the nice
22 incher catching his first walleye
ever. Everyone was certainly happy
with that fish; however that walleye
12 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
Last year the author experienced the best fishing of the year during
August when maximum catches of walleyes was the norm with some
of the heaviest average size walleyes from the Bay all year!
would end up being our smallest one
for the entire day, with most of them
in the 24 to 26 inch range and some
bigger ones too. We trolled along in
one long, straight track and hooked
up with singles, doubles and triples
all along the way. It was non-stop
action until we had limited out, and
we finished up the day by trolling
into a massive school of walleyes
that loaded up every lure in the
water with a chunky fish. We also
got into some huge smallmouth bass
there, too, for a nice bonus.
around Little Charity Island south
waters there warm up too much.
instance last year, when a big wind
When and
Where to Fish
Anglers can often find good
fishing at the Outer Bay about
all spring and summer. When the
waters warm up the Inner Bay to the
point where walleyes migrate north
en masse though, is when the Outer
Bay really gets interesting. The
timing of that migration varies from
year-to-year but usually occurs dur-
ing mid to late July, with the month
of August usually seeing a lot of fish
in that region too.
During July, the shallower waters
to Sand Point often load up with
walleyes. When the shallows warm
up past 80 degrees though, those
fish head further north, often setting
up around Big Charity Island.
At first the fish will concentrate
in the very rocky near shore areas
there, but they move deeper as the
Eventually, if the waters keep warm-
ing, they move further north to yet
deeper waters. Its not uncommon
for huge schools of walleyes to form
in those deepest waters of Saginaw
Bay in depths to 100 feet or more.
There are always exceptions to
these guidelines though. Take for
storm during August blasted the Bay
and really cooled down the water
north of Big Charity. We had been
catching fish there like crazy for
days, but then after the big blow
they were gone. The walleyes had
moved back southward and for the
rest of August we enjoyed awesome
walleye fishing south of the islands.
Techniques to
Load Up on Walleyes
When the walleyes are shallow
(less than 20 deep) its hard to beat
a spinner/crawler rig pulled behind
a bottom bouncer. Those shallow
water walleyes typically relate fairly
close to bottom, so spinners down
in their faces get lots of attention.
When the water is warm though,
there will be lots of sheephead,
catfish and other undesirables
around, so to help reduce the junk
fish hookups, I like to use heavier
weights than normal and troll faster.
Speeds of 1.8 or higher seem to
really improve the walleye to junk
fish ratio.
Also, trolling at those speeds al-
lows anglers to mix in some crank-
baits and spoons to spice things
up. I really like the original Storm
Hot-N-Tots for this kind of trolling,
with flashy chrome patterns being
an excellent choice in that heavily
stained, green water.
Spoons also work great on some
days though, with Moonshine silver
backed spoons being my favorite
brand for that task. Spoon patterns
with purple and pink get lots of
bites. These days though, with the
eight fish limit, I find myself run-
ning meat a lot more than in the past
because it is just more consistent
from day-to-day.
In the rocky humps and reefs
around Big Charity Island, those
spinners with bottom bouncers
are especially deadly. The ever-
changing depth makes it tough to
get anything else close to bottom
without snagging on rocks. When
trolling there, I adjust the setbacks
so the lures are able to come close
to bottom in all the depths of the
area and just adjust the speed up
and down to lift or lower the lures
as the depths change.
I like to run an eight rod spread
on my charters with six lures run
behind Church Tackle Walleye
Boards and two more right off the
gunnels (flat lines). The Walleye
Boards are the best Ive seen for
running heavy weights behind the
boards, which is often necessary.
When I fish the deep waters north
of Big Charity, we often mark
fish right on the bottom in waters
80 to over 100 feet deep. To
reach those fish, I deploy 5 or 6
ounce bottom bouncers and let
out setbacks of 150 or more feet of
line. Those Walleye Boards handle
up to six ounces of weight just fine,
and Ive even used eight ounces
before with no problems. If you
cant find those ultra-heavy bottom
bouncers, a trick Ive seen work
well is to hook two bottom bounc-
ers together.
Often times though, in those
VF
deepest waters of the Bay, walleyes
will suspend in the water column as
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they chase schools of baitfish. This
is when the fishing there can be
world class. I like special spinner/
crawler rigs for this type of fishing.
They feature two treble hooks and
a large, silver dollar size spinner
blade for maximum attraction in Late summer of-
that rather clear water. ten provides an-
Dont be surprised if you tie glers young and
into some big steelhead in those old with a blast
haunts, too, so dont skimp on
the line; 15 pound test should be
of quality fish-
considered minimal. When trolling ing during the
in deep water, it is often necessary last of the warm
to troll very slowly. I typically putt weather fishing
along at 1.0 mph or less out there. season. Often
Most anglers use fish style, inline times though, in
weights for suspended spinner fish- those deepest
ing. I, though, prefer to use simple waters of the
rubber core sinkers to take the lures Bay, walleyes
down to the fish. will suspend
Late summer often provides an- in the water
glers with a blast of quality fishing column as they
during the last of the warm weather chase schools
fishing season. Heavy concentra- of baitfish. This
tions of walleyes in the Outer Bay, is when the fish-
with most of them being larger than ing there can be
average size specimens, are the big world class.
draw. All those chunky fish are a
welcome change, adding more ex-
citement when a board goes crash-
ing back. Its one of my favorite
fisheries in Michigan.
The author offers fishing charters
specializing in Lake Erie and Sagi-
naw Bay walleyes. Contact Mike
Veine at www.trophyspecialists.com
or 734-475-9146.n
4136 Lapeer Road Port Huron,MI 48060 (810) 985-7733
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 13
 Summer setup for
Dont expose
your secret spot
use the

OPENING DAY SUCCESS

outpost
the stealth feeder

Blends into
Surroundings What are you doing during the summer months? By Brian Miller

T
AS SEEN ON
MICHIGAN here is nothing like
OUT OF getting a crack at an
DOORS early season buck.
Pinpointing a white-
tails movement then
capitalizing is like
SQUIRREL playing a perfect chess game. Mak-
RESISTANT ing this all happen isnt luck. In
reality, killing mature bucks comes
CAP down to a 365-day-a-year endeavor.
Even in the hot summer days there
are important steps that put you
closer to harvesting a mature buck.
Right now is the time to get
prepped, scout, and discover what
holds changed. Taking steps in the sum-

20 lbS mer to pinpoint and pattern mature

bucks is what creates deer hunting
corn legends. You cant barge into the
woods! Its time to use stealthy tac-
tics long before the hunting seasons
actually open. Lets discuss four
techniques to get a crack at a bruiser
opening day whitetail. Low impact
techniques that produce big results.
Long Range Glassing The authors early season success was from preparation and planning.
Glassing whitetails during the iors, such as vocal responsiveness, mer evening. The more you glass
summer months has always been a interactions with other deer, exact the more you realize how deer use
great way to pinpoint bucks. With movement, attitude and demeanor. the land. Youll also start to notice
the onset of trail cameras, many All of these things can be used later that the biggest bucks are hard to
DURABLE
BROADCASTER
hunters have gotten away from to help me exploit weaknesses.
Even in August, we can cause
pinpoint.
spending time on glass. I feel that Some days are just better for
is a detriment to a hunters overall havoc for hunting the early season. glassing. Weather fronts really push
Great For whitetail knowledge. There is so During this time I like a lower im- deer into the open. Watch a soybean
PUBLIC or PRIVATE much more I can learn by glassing. pact. Glassing fields from a distance field in the evening after a good rain
Land Hunters I start to pick up on specific behav- is a safe way to scout on a hot sum- and youll begin to see lots of activ-
ity. While glassing I often focus on
Carry Sack Holds the hidden fields that cannot be seen
20 Pounds from the road. Dont be afraid to
For Easy Refill hide in some nearby corn or setup in
an observation stand to get a better.
Programmable Timer
Drop 1# / Day
Lasts Up To 3 Weeks
High Tech
Surveillance
Hanging Wire & Throw Line There is no quicker way to get
INCLUDED me excited about a hunting location
With Metal Throwing Disc then finding a big buck on my trail
camera. Cameras have become a hot
topic and for good reason. There is
nothing like getting a 24/7 snapshot
of an area. Deploy a dozen cameras
across several properties and youll
begin to start an inventory of the
local bucks.
www.outpostfeeder.com
Ive had enough success to
know that some bucks stay in a
outpostfeeder@gmail.com summer pattern in the early season.
Its important to remember that not
See us at the all bucks stay in this pattern.
Woods-N-Water News When using trail cameras, its all
about low impact use. Set cameras
Outdoor Weekend! Glassing can really help a hunter understand specific whitetail behaviors in locations that can be checked
that can be exploited during hunting season. Author photos without interfering with travel
14 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
 While using trail cameras make sure to
use restraint while checking them so you
dont spook deer before opening day.

routes. Some rules that I live by are
to avoid crossing multiple trails, put
them in easy access locations, only
check then occasionally, and stay as
scent free as possible. In all areas
Im moving to a black LED light to
ensure my intrusion is not detected.
My hunting ground gets pres-
sure, so using moderation is impor-
tant. Many times I let my cameras
collect data for a month before pull-
ing a card. Since Im not using the
data tomorrow, allowing them to sit
for a longer duration gives me a low
impact. Its often takes a longer time
frame to get good amounts of data
that will cause havoc on the entry.
All The Right Moves
Getting prepped now during the
summer doesnt mean that plans
wont change. While continuing to
glass right before the season, there
might be an adjustment needed. A
new buck appeared, a stand goes
cold, or neighboring hunters cause
deer to disappear.
Dont sit back, make the change.
That might mean moving a stand
and hunting a new section of the
woods. Use the information that you
gathered throughout the summer to
decide what is the right move. There
are no guarantees that the deer you
watch in August will be there in
October. However, Ive had enough
successes over the years to keep tar-
geting early season bucks. They tend
to have enough of a pattern to make
them vulnerable. These four sum-
mer strategies will get you one step
closer to an opening day buck.n

MJC Archery
anyway. In areas that Im scouting,
less time might be important.
Premium Early
Season Food
During the early season, the
lush green forest and standing fields
mean that food is everywhere. It
doesnt take much for a whitetail
Michigans Carbon Express Arrow Experts
to find something to eat. However,
there are always some premium
food sources around that draw
crowds of whitetails.
During the summer months is
the time to assess all crops, both on
and around your hunting grounds.
Some hunting locations are only hot
every third year when the crops are
in the perfect rotation.
In agricultural areas, freshly
planted clover is amazing. Catego-
rize the crops and how they will
impact your hunting. Clover fields
along with soy beans can be a hot
commodity during the early season.
Corn provides some early season se-
curity and a buffer to human traffic.
Also get an assessment on the
acorn and wild apple crops for the
year. Taking some binoculars will
help you locate bumper crops of
acorns. White acorns are preferred
but dont produce every year. When
food is limited, isolated food will
provide a concentration of activity.
Double Check
When September is upon us,
whitetail intrusions need to be ex-
tremely cautious. I pull back from
doing any hard-core scouting or trail
camera usage. Mature bucks dont
need to know they are being hunted
before the season begins. Often
times hunters have good intentions
while scouting, but unfortunately it
has a negative impact. Therefore,
any last minute tree stand prep
needs to happen during the summer
months. A quick check will ensure Stocked with a wide variety of Carbon
new growth hasnt closed a shooting
lane. Express products; arrows, crossbows, quivers
Beyond checking stands, ensure and more. We have it all, including the
that entry and exit routes are clear
of debris. I am using ditches and KNOWLEDGE you cant find anywhere else.
terrain to enter into a stand. During
the summer its easy to carry in a
chainsaw to clear debris. This makes www.MJCarchery.com
it easy to quickly clean up anything
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 15
Next Bite...By Gary Parsons & Keith Kavajecz
The one...
two punch
Walleyes in August arent always
eager to bite, but if you hit them
with a one-two punch, chances
are you will find success!
D
uring this time of
year on many bodies
of water, the walleyes
are relating to struc-
ture. This includes
both sunken islands
and deeper drop-offs.
The first punch that you think of
throwing is the trolling crankbaits
punch; targeting fish that are relating
to and suspended near these types
of structure. Quite often by trolling
along the edge, just above rocks,
or to the outside, just over the mud
basins you will be able to trigger
a bite. It is important to keep your
baits a few feet off of the struc-
ture part of the bottom and follow
the edges of the deep rock lines if
possible. This isnt a time to troll
around all willy-nilly.... Boat control
and accuracy is the key!
When trolling smaller lakes
with smaller walleyes, we will use
Berkley Flicker Shads and Flicker
Minnows usually in sizes 5 through
7. Youll be able to more accurately
target proper depths with the The
Precision Trolling App as this
simple to use phone app will tell
you how much line to let out to get
the lure to the desired depth.
If you need to get the lure
deeper than what the natural dive
curve of the bait will allow, use Off
Shore Tackle weights to get it where
it needs to be. Also use Off Shore
boards to target the suspended fish
that lie suspended just to the outside
of the structure edge.
If your favorite lake has larger
walleyes, like many of the Great
Lakes, or for instance, Lake of the
Woods, you should use larger baits.
A #9 Flicker Shad is a lure that you
can use on occasion, but the #9 and
#11 Flicker Minnows should be
your bread and butter!
When it comes to speed, go as
fast as you can, but still consistently
catch fish. The faster you can troll
means the more water youll cover
throughout the course of the day. If
the water temperature is hovering
around 70 degrees, try trolling from
16 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
2.0 to 2.2 mph. If it is below 70
degrees, slow it down to 1.4 to 1.8
mph. Once it gets above 70, experi-
ment with speeds up to 2.5 mph.
There are a couple of things that
really aid catching walleyes during
this type of bite. The first is having
really good mapping, so you can see
where the rock bars and long points
are. With Navionics SonarChart
Live you can actually update your
maps (if youre using a Lowrance
HDS Gen 3 or Carbon unit)in real
time! This is an awesome feature,
allowing you to map out detail on a
piece of structure that you otherwise
would not be able to see!
Trolling the edge of structure is
where the Lowrance Sonar Struc-
tureScan features, with SideScan,
really gets a workout. Youll be
able to view structure, game fish,
and baitfish off to the side of the
boat. When fishing this type of bite,
use your SideScan to look for the
distinct rock to mud or sand edge.
Between the mapping and sonar,
along with good boat control youll
always be able to stay on the edge.
There are many times that
August fish will stay tight to rocks
or drop-offs and this is where your
second punch comes in. Up until
a few years ago, it was thought that
the only way to catch walleyes on
this deep rock slope and edge was
to troll right over their heads. If the
fish were active, they would come
up to hit the bait. Now when you
see fish relating tight to bottom you
should go for the reactionary bite by
tossing a Moonshine Shiver Min-
now at them. This is a really cool
way to fish!
When targeting large walleyes,
youll want to use a size #3 Shiver
Minnow, but before you head out
fishing, replace the small ice
treble on the belly of the lure with
a Mustad #6 KVD Elite Triple Grip
Treble (model TG58BN). This hook
gives the bait a bigger bite for
better hooking and the inward bend
of the hook helps keep fish on. For
lakes that have smaller walleyes use
There are many times that August fish will stay tight to rocks or
drop-offs and this is where your second punch comes in.
the size #1 and #2. You will not
have to change those hooks as they
work well right out of the box.
The line to use on your spin-
ning gear for this presentation is the
bright colored 10-12lb. test Berkley
Nanofil in Hi-Vis Chartreuse. This
will help you to see when the bait
makes contact with the bottom.
Since this is a no-stretch line, it is
sensitive enough to feel everything
the lure comes in contact with.
Nanofil is also a thin diameter line,
so it there isnt a lot of loop in the
line when fishing in the wind. This
line also provides for great long
distance hook-sets and is strong
enough to fight fish that hit hard!
To help cut down on visibility
of the line to the fish, reduce lure
tangles, and to add some protec-
tion from abrasions when running
across zebra mussels and rocks, use
a 3-foot leader from the main line to
the lure of 10lb. test Berkley Trilene
100% Fluorocarbon.
Look for your fish first! This is
done by driving around structure
elements on the lake while graphing
for fish with your sonar units. With sure if you feel weight on the line as
Lowrance units, when you mark a
fish, or preferably a small group of
them, you can scroll back on the
sonar and place a waypoint directly
on the marked fish. You can now po-
sition your boat to cast to those fish
using the waypoint as a reference.
When fishing in rough condi-
tions, move upwind and anchor,
or in calm conditions move to the
side and cast to your located fish.
A highly accurate trolling motor,
like the MotorGuide Xi5, plays an
important role in this type of fishing.
Once positioned, put the motor in
Anchor Mode to hold the boat in
place. If you want to move a few
feet in any direction use the jog
feature to put you where you want
to be.
Your rod cadence is extremely
important. Start by sweeping the rod
up about three feet; almost to the
point of snapping it up. Doing this
makes the lure dart to the side.
Follow this by immediately
dropping the rod tip to give it slack
and let the bait glide as you reel in
the slack line. The instant the lure
hits bottom, repeat this cadence.
Most bites will come on the drop
while there is slack in the line. Be
you go to make the next pull to set
the hook hard to bring in your Next
Bite!n
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 17
 2017 Update...
The
U.P.s
Moose
T
he 2017 Michigan
DNR moose survey in-
dicates an encouraging
modest increase in the
core area of the west
central U.P. moose
range. This years moose population
estimate indicated 378 moose in the
core population area; up from 285
in 2015. This is a good sign since
the 2015 moose population survey
indicated a 28 percent population
decline.
Dr. Dean Beyer of the Michigan
DNR Wildlife Division monitors the
Michigan moose population. In a
February interview, Beyer said their
wildlife staff had completed the
aerial moose survey in the core high
density plots of the primary moose
range. He went on to say melt-
ing snow conditions hampered the
staffs visibility of moose
against the snow which
caused them to curtail the
survey before completing
the low density plots. Good
snow cover makes the
moose stand out against the
background vegetation and
cover.
As a result, an overall
population estimate could
not be generated in
direct comparison to
previous surveys By Bill Ziegler
Beyer said. Instead,
Wildlife Division staff calculated
a population estimate trend for just
the high density plots over time.
Beyer said in the past, the core
zone supported 80 to 90 percent of
the moose population. He contin-
ued, The western U.P. moose range
covers about 1400 square miles in
parts of Baraga, Iron, and Marquette
Counties.
This years survey indicated a
moose population of 378 moose
compared to only 323 in 2015 and
451 in 2013. The DNR research-
ers believe if the survey would
have been completed on the entire
western moose area, it would have
yielded a population estimate
of between 420 to 470 animals.
Beyer stated from 1997 to 2007 the
U.P. moose population was growing
by 10 percent a year. He went on
to say that from 2009 to 2013 the
18 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
This years moose population estimate indicated 378 moose in the core population area; up from 285
in 2015. Bill Ziegler photo
moose population only grew by two
percent per year.
Beyer explained the DNRs sur-
vey efforts have been focused on the
western UP moose population that
was re-introduced in the Moose
Lift program. Beyer explained
that the moose herd in the eastern
U.P., likely number fewer
than 100. The source of
the eastern UP moose is
not known for certain. It is
possible that a few scat-
tered moose remained from
native moose, although it
is also likely some moose
immigrated from eastern
Ontario or the western
U.P. Moose also maintain
a strong population
in Michigans Isle
Royale National
Park.
The research biologist said the
ratio of moose calves to cows in the
population is an important param-
eter. He stated, In recent years,
this ratio averaged 59 calves per
100 cows and was consistent with
estimates of calf production and
survival determined by monitoring
radio-collared cows from 1999-
2005. The calf to cow ratio in-
creased slightly to 47 calves per 100
cows this year after dropping to 42
per 100 cows last survey.
In 2011, the DNR Moose Hunt
Advisory Council, a legislatively
created council, investigated the po-
tential of a moose hunt in Michigan.
The council felt a moose hunt was a
feasible option provided the moose
surveys indicated that the moose
population continued to grow at a
sustained growth rate of over three
percent per year.
In recent years, concern has
been growing among wildlife
management agencies across the
southern tier of the US moose
range. Minnesota has had a stable
moose population with a carefully
regulated hunting season for many
years. According to the Minnesota
DNR, their moose population has
dropped 52 percent since 2010. On
the southern tier of the moose range
state wildlife conservation agencies
like New Hampshire and Montana
have also reported a decline in their
moose population.
The Minnesota DNR reports
they had two geographically
separate moose populations. The
northwest Minnesota moose popu-
lation dropped dramatically since
the 1990s from about 4000 down to
about 100 recently. The northeast-
ern Minnesota moose population
is also dropping from a recent high
of about 8000 as recently as 2006,
down to about 3000 in 2013.
Although a number of factors
are likely to have contributed to
Minnesotas moose decline, Min-
nesota DNR suspended their 2013
moose hunting season as a precau-
tion. Tom Landwehr, Minnesota
DNR Commissioner, said it is now
prudent to control every source
of mortality we can as we seek to
understand the causes of population
decline.
Minnesota DNR wildlife re-
searchers are currently conducting a
comprehensive study to determine
the factors that have led to a major
decline in their moose herd.
Early results indicate there are
several factors affecting the Min-
nesota moose population decline.
Lou Cornicelli, Minnesota DNR
Wildlife Research Manager, said
preliminary results indicate the
factors likely causing the decline
are complicated. It appears that a
combination of parasites/disease and
wolf predation, are important causes
they have found so far.
Their early research indicates
that about one third of the adult
moose mortalities are from
wolf predation. Although it is
important to note that 33 percent
of the wolf predated moose had
underlying health conditions that
likely made them more vulnerable
to predation. Minnesota moose re-
searchers are currently focused
on moose calf survival rates and
moose nutrition. Recent moose
calf mortality study indicated
wolves killed about 75 percent of
the 40 calves that were collared
for the study.
Additional Minnesota moose
research indicates that the warm
winter weather stresses moose
nutrition. It appears the more time
winter temperatures are above 23o F
moose do not eat enough to remain
well nourished.
Although the 2017 moose popu-
lation appears to be up modestly,
there is still concern about long
term U.P. moose population trends.
Retired Michigan DNR Moose
Biologist Rob Aho said the moose
have not filled all the available
U.P. habitat. A good qualitative
indicator that moose have reached
their population potential would
be when the moose occupy the
entire good moose habitat. Future
moose population surveys will be
necessary to identify any long-
term trend for Michigans moose
population.n
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 19
 Mega sliders
for weedy
By Dave Mull
ongtime bass fans will
remember one of the
first finesse baits to get
popular was the Charlie
Brewer Slider Worm.
Born in the late 1970s in
Middle Tennessee, its still a popu-
lar lure among some anglers and is
quite similar to some of the Ned Rig
tactics that have caught on across
the bass universe.
Basically, the Slider is a sort of
do-nothing technique where the
angler casts a 3- or 4-inch worm,
counts it down to the depth he wants
and then simply reels, letting the
lure glide back to him. The do-
nothing retrieve also works with
Pegging a 1/16-ounce Top Brass weight with a bobber stop to the
nose of a soft plastic lure creates a gliding action and helps the
lure come through weeds.
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20 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
the 2 3/4-inch soft plastic T.R.D
worms on a 1/16-ounce jighead.
Both techniques are designed to
present a lure as naturally as pos-
sible, to mimic something the bass
is accustomed to eating. When you
think about it, most of the things
we throw for bass do quite the op-
positethey have rattles, flashing
blades, a pronounced wigglethey
do all they can to let a bass know
that its there, ready to eat.
Consider this: Not many of the
things a bass eats would survive
very long if they acted like many of
the things we throw at bass. Min-
nows, small panfish and crayfish A gliding 8-inch worm retrieved slowly through the tops of sub-
spend their days going about their merged weeds without any additional action enticed this dandy
largemouth to bite for writer Dave Mull.
business as quietly as possible. If tackle would do the job.
they make too much noise, they Charlie always said that there
get eaten by something bigger than is no magic lure. Its the technique
they are. Bass and other gamefish or method used. (Its) the size,
are accustomed to eating things that weight, and the way the lure is pre-
are trying to hide, too. Thats why I sented that makes the difference,
think a diminutive Ned Rig works, according to the www.sliderfishing.
and thats what Charlie Brewer said com website.
was why his Slider Worms on their But what about when bass hang
flat heads worked so wellthey out in thick weeds, which they do
were acting natural, sliding in- this time of year in Michigan?
conspicuously, not calling a lot of Our friend Buck Mallory, a Michi-
attention to themselves, much like a gan touring bass pro who has
minnow innocently cruising along. contributed to Woods-N-Water
Charlie Brewer did a lot to News, told me about a rig that
promote the technique through he put together that worked great.
articles in various magazines Although it seemed to work for
and made it clear that although the same reason that Ned Rigs and
his company made lures that Sliders work so well, it can be used
worked, any small lure and light on much heavier tackle. Bucks
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 Mega-Sliders include an 8-inch Split Tail Worm from Go2
Baits and a Missile D-Bomb. Large, 4/0 and 5/0 wide-gap
hooks match well with these lures.

do-nothing, gliding rig is consider- not trying to stand out.

ably bulkier than the 2 1/2- to 4-inch Thats certainly the case with the
skinny lures that anglers use with downsized MidWest Finesse rigs I
Ned Rigs and Sliders. still like to to throw, but that are not
I wanted something that practical for fishing around thick
looked and acted more like an vegetation, whether thats lily pads
injured bluegill for pitching around or coontail and cabbage. The hooks
pads and skipping under piers, are just too small and you cant boss
Buck told me on a recent fishing a good fish around with 8-pound test
trip. So I put a Missile D-Bomb, a when it gets into the dense greenery.
sort of flat creature bait with wiggly Mega Sliders have a lot of
tails, on a 4/0 wide gap hook and potential. The whole concept needs
added a real small split shot right at more experimentation, which I am
the nose. It stays horizontal in the more than happy to do the rest of
water-like a bluegill on its side the summer.n
and bass jumped all over it.
Next trip to D & R Sports in
Kalamazoo, I picked up a couple
packs of D-Bombs and a packet of
1/16-ounce brass worm weights
made by Top Brass. I figured a
conical weight might come through
weeds more cleanly than a split shot
would. Plus, pegging it in place at
the soft plastic lures nose with a
bobber stop would not damage the
line, which a split shot could do.
On July 4th, wife Kathy and I
headed to a local, small Southwest
Michigan lake for a few hours of
evening fishing and I had the op-
portunity to try the rig. Buck was
rightthe lure stayed nice and flat
and horizontal in the water and
did glide as it fell. Unfortunately, I
didnt have the packet of 4/0 wide
gap hooks I thought I did, so I
rigged the D-Bomb on a bigger 5/0
Zoneloc wide-gap hook. It worked,
but the first bass I caught caused the
twin flappers at the rear of the lure
to tear off. The hook was just a little
too big and had to pierce the thin
plastic at the base of the tails.
The lake we were fishing has
lots of pads and great weeds that
come out of 8- to 12-foot depths but
stop about 4 feet below the surface.
Not wanting to tear up another
D-Bomb right away, and because
I used to catch some nice bass on
large worms, I put an 8-inch Spit
Tail from Go2 Bait Co. on the 5/0
hook. Id bought a pack while at
Kentucky Lake in June, and not
used any, and figured they just
might get bit.
The resulting rig made kind of a
gliding presentation that was great
at sliding right through the top parts
of the weeds. After several casts and
reeling back with a simple, slow
retrieve without adding any action, I
felt a bite and set the hook. After an
ROSY BROTHERS INC.
exciting tussle that included a few 5727 DRYDEN ROAD
jumps and surges of the drag, I slid
the net under a dandy bass of about DRYDEN, Michigan 48428
5 pounds. Kathy took a few quick
pictures before I put the beauty back
in the water.
810-796-3770
So I think theres something
to this idea of a do-nothing sort of
silent retrieve with low-action baits,
lures that arent doing a lot to attract
bass other than acting like what a
bass normally eats, being quiet and
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 21
 MICHIGAN MEANDERS...
Something about a
River
I
f I ever bought recreational
property, a river would have to
run through it. Lakefront real
estate is fine but theres some-
thing about watching water
that passes this way only once.
I read somewhere that the ancient
Japanese would tie a crazy man to a
riverbank tree and release him when
he became sane again.
Years ago I scattered the
ashes of a neighbor friend
along a tiny stream that
connected our land. That
rivulet emptied into a creek
which, in turn, flowed into
the Grand River, Michigans
longest Great Lakes tribu-
tary at more than 250 miles.
I like to imagine
by now Wilfred is By Tom Huggler
rounding DeTour
Village on his way to Niagara Falls
and the Gaspe Peninsula en route to
where only God knows.
If you enjoy canoeing as much
as I do, then you know the joy of
discovery, the Whats around the
next bend? anticipation and the
thrill of seeing a blue heron stalking
the shallows or a mink with a sucker
in its mouth.
Tioga River in the Upper Peninsula.
22 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
Last summer my son and I paddled
along the Grand River near Port-
land, along with other Cub Scouts.
We were in the lead canoe when
a huge eagle sprang from a dead
limb and flew across the river. The
brown-headed bird was too large for
an immature bald eagle. I checked
with a DNR wildlife biologist who
confirmed that golden eagles were
in the area. We would not
have known that were we
not there, on the river.
All rivers and streams
share language. Sometimes
they whisper to us, and
sometimes they shout, es-
pecially in spring when the
flow is bank full and beyond
the banks and there
are riffles and rap-
ids and twists and
turns. Personality is another thing I
like about rivers. No two are alike,
and each is memorable. Inland lakes
are born. They grow up, become old
and die. Rivers never die and are
often the lifeblood of lakes.
No wonder the late Verlen Kru-
ger, a Michigan man who paddled
more than 100,000 miles up and
down North Americas major rivers,
Chapel River emptying into Lake Superior. Tom Huggler photos
as well as those on other continents,
said all rivers were earths arter-
ies.
As a five-year old, I lost a big
pike or bass while fishing with my
dad on the Thunder Bay River in
Alpena. He had gone up to the car
for cigarettes and left me to watch
our rods, propped in Y-shaped
sticks along the bank. Suddenly my
pole began jumping. Grabbing it,
I screamed and held on. Dad ran
down the bank, a Phillip Morris
bobbing in his mouth, arriving just
in time to see the line break with a
twang.
Growing up in rural Genesee
County, I spent a lot of time duck
hunting on the Flint River and trap-
ping muskrats there and on the Cass
River upstream from Vassar. Three
high school pals and I spent a week
camping and fishing on the Flint
River from its headwaters up near
North Branch. We might as well
have been in wilderness because we
saw no one for the first three days
of our journey. When we finally
reached Columbiaville, we sold the
carp we had caught for a quarter
each to luckless shore anglers.
The little streams always held
intrigue to boys with frog spears and
fishing poles. Now, so many years
later, I can still smell spearmint that
grew along with watercress and
duckweed in quiet pools along a
pasture stream. We trapped muskrats
from that creek in fall and winter,
and I once caught a small mink and
then her mate, a large male, the next
day.
We called it Johnsons Creek
for the farmer who raised Angus
steers along the upper reach. I
knew every turn, every nuance,
of that little flow until it disappeared
into the Flint River a couple miles
away.
Butternut Creek, which rises
in northeast Genesee County and
empties into the Flint River, now
part of the Genesee Recreation
Area, awaited discovery for us boys.
We trapped the Butternut, seined
minnows to use for pike bait in the
gravel-pit pools upstream from Mt.
Morris Road (now the Mounds ATV
area), and camped along its banks.
Nothing brings out the Huckle-
berry Finn in each of us like worm
fishing for brook trout along feeder
streams of northern Michigans
famed rivers such as the AuSable
and Manistee. I did plenty of that,
too, as a young man and still enjoy a
quiet stalk for little brookies among
the shadow and shine of small
streams.
Every August a group of us
fathers take our sons on a canoe/
camping trip down a Michigan river.
Last year we floated the beautiful
Pine River, a tributary of the Man-
istee; this summer we will run the
South Branch of the AuSable and
then tour the main stream. The Mus-
kegon, Manistee and Pere Marquette
have produced memorable discover-
ies. So many rivers in Michigan.
so little time.
We take for granted all the mov-
ing water we enjoy in this state,
some 36,000 miles of navigable
streams. Back in the 1990s, I re-
searched those rivers and their tribu-
taries for a pair of books I wanted to
write. Some of those little streams
rarely see a boot print or a canoe
keel on their sandbars. It took 10
years to produce Fish Michigan50
Rivers and 50 More Rivers.
Michigan is home to more
streams than I have room to men-
tion. I just returned from a trip
across the Upper Peninsula where
abundant rainfall has recharged the
Perch, Rock, Slate, Jumbo, Presque
Isle, Carp, Sturgeon, Laughing
Whitefish and Chapel rivers to name
just a few.
Something about a river begs
discovery. Here you can find your
own special places.n
SALE GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 23
 Keeping outdoor writers in headlines
M
ark Sak and the Michigan Outdoor
Writers Association are making head-
lines. They are giving people in the
outdoors a reason to talk about the organization.
The attention brought to itself and its members
is good news.
Dont misunderstand...neither Mark or
MOWA find themselves in scandal or contro-
versy. They just stood up and shouted, Hey,
look at me!
Sometimes you have to do that. MOWAs
Hall of Fame is a winner for all.
Times have been tough in recent years on
Michigans outdoor writers. Technology has
seen to that. The world of the outdoor business
changed and changed fast.
There is still a need and desire for outdoor
information, its just that today we want it in
small doses, bite-size. We want
our information fast and well, we
want it when we want it.
We can Google most anything
and get an immediate answer.
Its just the way it is.
The hand-held devise, the
smartphone is replacing what
were once powerful daily
newspapers. Many of those have Mark Sak of Imlay City looking at the first induction of Michigan Outdoor Writers Associations Hall
of Fame honorees. Mark was instrumental in making the Hall of Fame happen. MOWAs Hall of
By Randy Jorgensen Fame is housed in the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac Michigan.

THUNDER HILLS
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24 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
now closed, taking talented outdoor
writers with them. Michigan is a
state with abundant outdoor oppor-
tunities and certainly no shortage
of skilled writers, photographers,
videographers, radio announcers and
TV hosts.
Outdoor writers I know today
are left to hanging their heads in
sheer frustration, remembering what
once was. Stories to tell and no
place to put them.
Now, not everyone has forsaken
the written word for the glitz of
smartphones. But we all know we
should find a way to develop new
skills to survive in todays outdoor
business.
This brings me to Mark Sak,
past President of the Michigan Out-
door Writers Association, (MOWA).
He grew up in my neck of the
woods and loved the hunting and
fishing sports. Mark also has an ap-
preciation for writing, photography
and is a skilled videographer.
And I can tell you when Mark
gets his arms around a project he
will not let go until its complete.
As President of the Michigan
Outdoor Writers Association, Mark
spear-headed an effort to create a
Hall of Fame to honor past and
present members of the organiza-
tion. An organization which
has little trouble picking from
many notable and popular outdoor
Mark Sak addressing the MOWA members and honorees at the Carl
T. Johnson Center in Cadillac where the Hall of Fame can be viewed.
personalities.
In June of this year, at the sum-
mer meeting of MOWA, Marks re-
lentless determination, with the help
and approval of his board, inducted
its first class of honorees. He and
his board also secured the Carl T.
Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center
in Cadillac to house what is sure to
be an impressive display of deserv-
ing Michigan outdoor communica-
tors. It is staffed and run by the
Department of Natural Resources
and MOWA will have an entire wall
to honor those men and women they
have and will select in the coming
years.
Mark and his board in creat-
ing the MOWA Hall of Fame not
only preserves our outdoor heritage,
but also gives us another reason to
talk about outdoor enthusiasts and
personalities like, Fred Bear, Mort
Neff, Don Lockman,Tom Huggler
and Larry Kelly.
In fact, award winning outdoor
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writer and author Tom Carney,
Woods-N-Water News editor, Tom
Campbell and I started throwing out
other names who someday should
and or perhaps shouldnt be induct-
ed into MOWAs Hall of Fame.
Aside from those already
inducted we threw out names like
Howard Shelly, Ted Nugent, James
Crow, Bob Garner, Tom Opre, Dave
Richey, Herb Boldt, Gordie Charles
and Jerry Chiapetta, all who were
powerful outdoor story tellers and
masters in newsprint and film. And
there are many others who are
still making a living in the outdoor
field like, Mark Romanack,
Jimmy Gretzinger, Jenny Olson,
Dave Rose, Mike Avery, Denny
Geurink, Richard Smith and
Jerry Dennis.
Im certain you all have your
own list of outdoor writers or film
makers youd like to see in the Hall
of Fame.
So thanks Mark Sak for your
contribution to honoring Michigans
outstanding outdoor communicators.
Youve given us a reason to look at
the past, treasure our outdoor life-
style and keep the art and business
of outdoor communicating fresh in
our minds.
It keeps the business of the
outdoors in the headlines. And the
outdoor industry needs all the atten-
tion it can get!n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 25
Saying goodbye
to a

faithful friend
W
hen do you say
good-
bye?
Yeah,
the
roof
leaked a little, but Id fixed
that before and could fix it
again. The linoleum floor-
ing was cracked and curled
up around the edges. The
By Darryl Quidort
cupboards were
dinged up and the
table had a crack
in it. The plastic skylight vent had
seen too much sun and was cracked
again, but Id replaced it before and
could replace it again. The screens
though, they were full of holes that
let mosquitoes and blackflies in.
I couldnt find a place that could
repair them. Maybe it was time.
The good thing about our old
camper was just that, it
was old, not new. In fact,
it was old enough to vote.
We didnt have to baby it,
coddle it, or protect it. We
could just use it without
a thought that something
might get scratched, dented,
or torn. We loved that old
camper!
While driving
an empty pickup
home from the
camper sales, where we had just
unloaded our old friend for the last
time, we reminisced about the good
times we had shared. Then, seeing
the empty place in the yard where
our camper had spent many years
patiently waiting to go on the next
great adventure, we realized that it
Our old friend camped along the Blue Ridge Parkway in days gone by.
was really gone. It seems strange
that a little camper could affect your
emotions so.
The old camper seemed nearly
new when we got it second hand
many years ago. Our maiden voy-
age was a jaunt through six states
and a leisurely drive the full length
of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We
liked the advantage of a low profile
for driving, then cranking up the top
for camping. The small camper had
everything we needed, stove, refrig-
erator, furnace, even a tiny bath-
room. Being self-contained allowed
us to camp nearly anywhere. And
we did! National Forests, state land,
off the beaten path campgrounds,
and many State Parks were all home
to us in our camper.
Like Jonah, she once spent three
days in the belly of a large ferry boat
on our way up the Inside Passage
to Alaska. After emerging from the
darkness of the ships hold, camp-
ing in the wilderness was a breeze.
A pullout along any road was our
campsite. We enjoyed the scenery,
caught fish, viewed wildlife, and lis-
tened to the wolves howl that sum-
mer. On that trip alone we hauled
the camper over 11,600 miles.
We were north of the Arctic Cir-
cle when the mosquitoes attacked.

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26 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS

They werent the normal mosquitoes
that buzz annoyingly around your
ears. They were small, kamikaze
type mosquitoes that nailed you
in force and without warning. It
was shock and awe. We couldnt
keep them out of the camper. Even
with all the windows closed, cur-
tains zipped up, and plastic bags
duct taped over every outside vent,
swarms of mosquitoes still got in.
We couldnt get any sleep. They
literally drove us out of the area.
The camper once weathered a
tornado in Sleepy Hollow State Park
where the wind rocked us from side
to side and rain pounded the roof
while trees fell in nearby campsites.
Walking through the campground,
in the calm after the storm, we
witnessed the damage. Yet, our
little camper stood there, as proud
as the Queen Mary, as if to say, no
problem.
Four Canadian Provinces and
five states were crossed on a trip on
the Trans-Canada Highway to visit
the Canadian Rockies. From the
north woods of the Rainy Lake area,
across the seemingly endless canola
and wheat fields of the Canadian
Plains, to the majestic mountains of
Banff National Park, it was a trip to
remember. We even went canoeing
on beautiful Lake Louise and took a
walk on the huge Athabasca Glacier.
Come November, Id load the
camper with treestands, climbing
sticks, shovel, axe, and a pole saw
and go bowhunting. While camped
at the end of the trail for a week or
more, Id use a lantern for light (and
heat) to save the battery. It always
felt good to stretch out in my warm,
dry sleeping bag with the sound of a
cold rain or sleet rattling on the roof
just above my head.
That little camper was tough
too! She backed down a steep ramp
to launch a fishing boat many times.
Making it to the top of Mount
Arvon, Michigans highest point,
was nothing compared to getting
into camp in the Laramie Mountains
of Wyoming on a hunting trip, or
the high country of Montana on a
sheep hunt. She never complained
about the dings and dents I caused
her by throwing in several tree
stands, climbing sticks, and a buck
deer on top of the load for a trip
out of the steep hills of Southern
We have an exciting maiden voyage planned for our new pickup camper.
Ohio. Our camper faithfully en-
dured the 90 degree heat, without
any shade, at the National Muzzle
Loading Rifle Association shoot in
Southern Indiana and she withstood
weather so cold that I had to wear
my Mickey Mouse boots inside
the camper while deer hunting in
November. Our old camper stood by
us through dust so thick on the haul
road to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, that it
eventually got into every cupboard,
drawer, and even stopped keys
from turning in locks. She also
brought us safely through a terrible
rain storm in Michigans Upper
Peninsula where the campground
flooded and we were forced to
drive flooded roads in four wheel
drive to escape.
Yep, we did it all, family vaca-
tions, weekend archery shoots, hunt-
ing, fishing, mushrooming, explor-
ing, and even camping in friends
driveways who didnt have room for
us inside.
No regrets, except that its over
now.
But wait. We pick up our new
camper next week. Oh, we know it
will never be the same, but the new
camper is similar to the old one,
and it has some modern virtues that
the old one never dreamed oflike
hot water. And, yes, we do have a
maiden voyage planned.
With any luck we will see you
on down the road.n

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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 27

The author enjoys catching and also releasing summer smallmouth bass. Drop shot rigging has become his go to method for catching
I
smallmouth in the clear waters of Michigans many inland lakes and also the Great Lakes. Mark Romanack photos
n August some things are just
a given. In the eighth month
of the year, its going to be
hot and muggy just about
everywhere in the Great Lakes
region. I deal with the heat
by wearing a T-Shirt, shorts and
sandals. I also rig up my favorite
spinning rods with
drop shot hooks
and sinkers.
The drop shot
rig hit the world of
bass fishing a few
years ago as a light
line alternative to
traditional dog
days of summer
tactics like Carolina
rigging. The beauty
of this simplistic
but versatile pre-
By Mark Romanack
sentation is it puts
the fun back into
summer deep water
prospecting for bass. Even better,
this technique also works exception-
ally well for deep water walleye and
even lake trout.
The truth be told, nothing is
more fun than hooking and landing
a quality smallmouth bass on a light
action spinning outfit. The power of
a smallmouth bass is only equaled
by their airborne hijinks.
The Perfect Drop Shot Set Up
Lots of manufacturers produce
rods marketed as drop shot sticks.
In general, these spinning outfits
are going to feature a soft light or
medium/light tip, fast action and are
normally a little over seven feet in
length. Matched up with a 30 or 35
28 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
sized spinning reel, the drop shot rig
can be fished on either fluorocarbon
line or super braid depending on the
situation.
Fluorocarbon Line
The advent of fluorocarbon
lines designed not as leader material
but as a main line has dramatically
changed how most
lines are so soft they tend to bunch
anglers approach
bass fishing. Be-
cause fluorocarbon
has less stretch
than monofilament
or co-polymer
lines, it is more
sensitive and helps
telegraph strikes
better. The other
advantage of fish-
ing fluorocarbon
line is this stuff is
super tough and
abrasion resistant
when fishing around rocks and other
cover.
If all that wasnt enough to
convince anglers to switch over to
fluorocarbon line, this stuff is nearly
invisible in water, making it the
perfect line for fishing in clear to
slightly stained waters. If fluorocar-
bon line has a down side it would be
the price. Good quality 100 percent
fluorocarbon lines are about 50 per-
cent more expensive than monofila-
ments or co-polymers.
I recommend using fluorocarbon
line as the main line when fishing
drop shot rigs in water up to about
20 feet deep. For deeper water ap-
plications, the superior sensitivity of
super braid lines comes into play.
Super Braid Lines
A lot of anglers lump both fused
and braided lines into the super
line category because they have
similar features. The difference
between fused and braided lines
is that fused lines are softer, flat in
shape and they dont spool as evenly
or cleanly onto spinning reels. Fused
most popular hook size among bass
up on the spool and hamper the
function of the reel drag.
Braided super lines made from
Spectra fiber have a body and or
memory similar to monofilament
line, and as a result they load onto
spinning reels nicely without bunch-
ing and they also cast exceptionally
well. Because true braids have near
zero stretch, they are amazingly
sensitive and the ideal line for drop
shot fishing in deeper waters. Most
anglers will find that 10 to 15 pound
test braid makes an ideal main line
for drop shot rigging. At the termi-
nal end, a three foot leader of 10 to
15 pound test fluorocarbon leader
material is used to tie on the drop
shot hook and also the necessary
drop shot weight.
The leader of fluorocarbon can
be terminated to the braid using
either a Double Uni Knot or a small
swivel.
Drop Shot Hooks
The popularity of drop shot
rigging has spawned a number of
hooks designed especially for this
presentation. Similar in shape to an
octopus and also wacky worm style
hook, drop shot hooks tend to have
an even greater hook gap and are
produced on thin wire that pen-
etrates very easily.
Hands down the sharpest and
most coveted drop shot hook is
produced under the Trokar brand-
ing of Eagle Claw hooks. The Helix
TK230 Drop Shot hook features
a hook on a swivel for easy rig-
ging. The No. 1 is the largest and
anglers.
Going with a larger hook size
provides the angler lots of options
in regards to the types and sizes of
soft plastics that can be fished from
these hooks. When smaller drop
shot hooks are used, they must be
matched up with small and thin soft
plastic baits.
Drop Shot Weights
Bass fishermen being well....
bass fishermen, they have their own
weights designed especially for drop
shot rigging. Often these are made
of expensive tungsten that is heavier
than lead, smaller in size, but about
three times more expensive.
Being a walleye guy and
proud of it, I use lead drop shot
weights and carry two types in my
tackle box. For fishing in rocks, I
favor pencil style weights that fish
among rock structure with very few
hang ups compared to round or bell
shaped weights that tend to wedge
into the rocks.
The 1/2 ounce size is about
perfect for most situations, and I can
easily cut the weight down with a
pair of side cutters if I need to for
fishing in shallow water.
For fishing in gravel or scattered
rock or along weed edges, round or
bell shaped drop shot sinkers work
very well. Again 3/8 and 1/2 ounce
size weights are the most common
sizes for drop shot rigging.
Drop Shot Plastics
One of the advantages of fish-
ing a drop shot rig is this set up
fishes well with just about every soft
plastic on the planet. Most anglers,
however, zero in on the most subtle
action plastics including split tail
minnows, small jerk plastics, do
nothing worms, finesse worms,
shad bodies, beavertails and flat tail
grubs.
Split tail minnows, jerk plastics,
shad bodies and beavertails are nor-
mally nose hooked. Finesse worms
and do nothing worms can be nose
hooked or wacky rigged with equal
success.
Live Bait
While any self-respecting bass
guy would rather eat dirt than use
the nightcrawlers than come packed
in it, live bait has a place in drop
shot rigging. During cold front
conditions when the bite can often
be very tough, using either live
nightcrawlers, leeches or minnows
in place of soft plastics can and does
produce a few more bites. The prob-
lem with live bait is it is delicate and
doesnt cast very well. Of the big
three in live baits, leeches are by far
the most durable option for casting
with a drop shot rig.
Live bait is also a superior op-
tion when targeting other species
besides smallmouth bass with a drop
shot rig. For walleyes, a leech on a
drop shot rig should be outlawed it
is so effective. For lake trout, a 3 to
4 inch shiner minnow on a drop shot
rig is lights out.
How Much is too Much Weight
Anglers who fish drop shot rigs
are forever arguing about the just
right weight sizes for various fish-
ing conditions. Unlike jig fishing,
where it is often important to fish a
jig that is just heavy enough to find
bottom, a drop shot rig fishes differ-
ently.
When the drop shot sinker hits
the bottom and the angler gives a
little slack line, this unique rig is
fishing plastic or live bait virtually
weightless. The size of the weight
used is not critically important to the
presentation, so long as the angler
can easily find bottom.
The best advice when selecting
drop shot weights is not to fret over
the weight and simply to use enough
to make it easy to detect the bottom
in whatever water depth is being
fished.
Pitching or Vertical?
Again, the beauty of fishing a
drop shot rig is the versatility. This
rig can be cast or fished vertically
directly below the boat with equal
success. In clear water where a fish
might spot the boat and become
spooked, casting is the best ap-
proach. In deeper water or stained
waters, fishing vertical is the ideal
means of using sonar to spot indi-
vidual fish and then drop right down
on them and catch them.
In deep water situations (25 feet
and deeper) its very common to see
an individual fish on the sonar, drop
down and catch that fish. This hap-
pens so often, I have come to call it
see fish, catch fish when filming
TV episodes for the Fishing 411
series on World Fishing Network.
Nothing is cooler than calling your
shot, and when drop shot rigging its
possible to call your shot often.
Its all in the Wiggle
Many anglers who fish drop The drop shot rig has emerged as a light line alternative to traditional
shot rigs routinely spend a lot of bass tactics like Carolina rigging. Jake Romanack caught this impressive
time trying to impart action to the bronze back while filming an episode of Fishing 411 in Lake Huron.
soft plastics by shaking the rod tip drop shot rigging is the angler keeps mouth fishing in the summer when
in various ways. Often the wiggle the rod still, compared to jigging, these fish are often found in deep
gets credit for triggering strikes and is in better position to concen- water. Even better, the same rigging
that likely would have happened
trate on feeling the subtle bites. In method is likely to produce a host
even if the rod were held still. If my opinion, its about twice as easy of bonus fish like walleye and even
you have a nervous twitch and cant to detect bites on a drop shot rig as lake trout in the hands of creative
hold the rod tip still, by all means a similar plastic fished on a jig. This fishermen who arent afraid to dip
shake to your hearts content. Ive alone is reason enough to jump on into a live bait container.
found, however, that just the natural the drop shot bandwagon. In short, drop shot rigging is a
movement of the boat is more than bass tactic that works on a host of
enough to stimulate strikes when Wrapping It Up other species. Even better, this light
drop shot rigging. Drop shot rigging is hands down line approach puts the fun back into
One of the biggest advantages of the best way to approach small- deep water fishing.n
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 29
 10 Essentials for whitetail success
Whether it is a presentation,
sporting event, job interview,
may be hunting, and learning any quirky thing
you can about them that will give you an edge if
they show back up in a few months.
or in this case a hunting

4
Acquire New Spots: Its so easy to
season, much of success boils get lazy, and just sit back on the couple
down to preparation... decent spots you have to hunt, but nows
the time to do the opposite. Hit the back roads,
explore new public land locations, and knock
By Adam Lewis

I
firmly believe the extent to which you
prepare, you will find success, and that as
much as 90 percent of success is based on
it. Many times, however, we hunters un-
derestimate this critical success principle
on doors to maximize your options this fall. You
never know when a spot will go dead, or get hot,
and the more options you have during season the
more chances at success you have. Competition
is high, so get on it now or someone else will be
sitting in the honey hole spot instead of you!

and suffer the predictable consequences
(mediocre success, frustration, and further com-
plaining). Good news is, regardless of past habits
or experience level, you can start leveraging the
preparation principle to your benefit right now.
So here are ten summer essentials to help make
this fall possibly your best whitetail hunting
season yet!
Before I dive into this I will say each person
may have a different list of top 10 essentials. This
is what I will be focusing on this summer, and
what I feel will give me the best results with my
particular hunting situation. Keep this in mind,
5
Re-secure Permissions: At the same
time, dont assume the farmer up the road
that allowed you to hunt the last ten years,
will automatically this year. Make an effort to
visit, maybe do some work around the place, and
re-ask permission for this hunting season. Make
them want to keep you around, and make sure it
is still fine to hunt all your properties this coming
season. Ive known hunters left high and dry due
to having a property leased out from under them.
Dont let it happen to you, dont make assump-
tions, re-secure permissions!

6
and the fact that every hunters situation is dif- Set Up Camp: One of the most excit-
ferent. Nevertheless, I think you too will benefit ing parts of hunting for me is anticipation,
from these practices. and planning. If you do not participate in

1
a hunting camp, I highly suggest the idea of The author, Adam Lewis with a dandy buck!
Plant the Plots: Yes, everybody talks starting one. This is easy to do with family and

about them, maybe too much, but nows
the time to get them set. Having a high
quality food source is a major factor to drawing,
keeping, and seeing whitetail in your area. They
dont have to be huge or require a lot of expen-
sive equipment to be effective either. Just turning
over a little soil, and scratching in some no-till
mix will be much better than nothing. Get them
friends, makes great memories, and really adds
excitement to the season. Planning meals, whos
bringing the tent, reminiscing on how Uncle Joe
destroyed the outhouse back in 02, and yes some
good deer taken can really take a good season
and make it a great one. Get this tradition started
now by setting up some camp plans!
9
Map Out Routes: This is what I feel is
the number one mistake of hunters. Not
carefully mapping out entry and exit routes
ahead of time. Analyze, brush, and plan out how
you will get into and out of a location or all your
prep will be for nothing. If you overlook this,
you can expect to spook deer, increase hunt-

7
set this summer and give whitetail a reason to be Ditch 2D: Shooting a good 3D course ing pressure, and help the neighbors shoot that
hanging around your stand come fall! might be nonessential to many, but it is buck youre after. Also, a stand may be placed or
brushed-in differently depending on the time of

2
Equip Equipment: Preparing equipment
is not something to be done the night before
opening day, or on your way out the door
to hunt. This takes time, attention to detail, and
definitely on my list, and I know it makes
for better hunters. First, theres the excitement of
an event with a bunch of other hunters all com-
peting to do their best (making you tighten up
your skills so you dont embarrass yourself). Sec-
year you plan to hunt it. Get this set in the field
now, so come hunting time all you have to do is
get in and hunt via your carefully planned, extra
stealthy route!

should be done months in advance. What if your
stand has a faulty component? You need adequate
time to fix this, and any other issue you may find.
Go over gear with a fine tooth comb and make
sure all is working in prime condition. Check for
safety, charge all batteries, sound-proof all your
plastic and metal so you dont have to think about
10
ond, the realistic situations and shots on life-like
targets prepare you in ways that flinging arrows Set Realistic Goals: Its hard to
at a bale of hay just cannot. It really forces you to hit a target if you dont even know
get a better grasp on your equipment, and helps what youre aiming at. Its also hard
mentally prepare you for moment-of-truth type to hit a target that doesnt exist. Setting goals for
scenarios. Shoot a 3D course this summer! your season (age class, number, desired loca-
tions to harvest deer, etc.) is a good idea and

8
this at game time. Equip your equipment now for Finalize Trips: Are you taking any trips helps put a target in front of you. It helps clarify
success! this fall? Near or far, many of us are. Make what you will and will not accept, and helps you
say no when you should pass, and yes when that

3
Take Inventory: This can be a very
exciting time of year, one where bucks
literally grow right before your eyes. Use
trail cameras on field edges and food sources
(places with easy access and no intrusion) and
start watching the antlers grow! Keep a journal
of bucks, where they show, what you feel their
home range is now while they are highly visible
from the road and other easy access points. Yes,
they will change patterns come fall, but will be
close to the area, and when pressure is on may
return. The point here is learning the animals you
30 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
sure to finalize these plans so you have
no surprises when youre ready to hit the road
in November. Landowners appreciate knowing
when you will show up, and it also is a good time
to secure that time off work well before anyone
else may (some jobs limit numbers of people on
leave at one time, and may deny you if you wait).
If youre using an outfitter, take a few moments
to confirm your payment, dates, and reservations,
making sure these align with your time off work.
Mistakes happen, weve all heard these stories,
so finalize your trips so you dont become one of
them!
right buck steps into sight. However, dont allow
someone elses goals to become yours. You have
to know your land, your hunting opportunities,
and set realistic goals for YOU. Dont get hung
up on watching 150+ inch Iowa bucks on TV
and expect to have that on your ten acre parcel in
Pennsylvania (that is unless you know you have
that buck hanging around). Goals are good, when
they work for, not against you, so set realistic
ones!
So leverage these ten summer essentials, and
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 31
 Trolling shouldnt be troublesome
Theres not a doubt line out and motoring around until
you get a strike.
in my mind that First is locating where in the
trolling, no matter water column the fish are, and then
making sure you get a lure in the
what species one is same zone while using the right
targeting, is the equipment. After that, its all about
speed and direction. Ignore any of
technique employed these and you wont catch nearly the
by more anglers number of fish you would have had
than any other...
you made sure all were in proper
order.

By Mark Martin Peek-A-Boo!

T
There are two ways to figure
out the location of fish in the water
he fact is, out of all the column: by trial and error or with
professional walleye sonar. Personally, I prefer the latter
tournaments I par- of the two.
ticipate in throughout A lot has changed in electronics
the United States over the past few years, and all to
and Canada, trolling the anglers advantage. My Low-
is practiced more than any other rance HDS-12 Carbonone mount-
method; always has been and, more ed to the dash board of my Lund
than likely always will be. Pro-V and another at its bowis
And theres nothing wrong with proof perfect.
that in my book. Thats because Of course, Lowrances ultra-
trolling, by far, allows an angler sensitive traditional sonar will show
to cover more water in a shorter me fish if they are under the boat,
amount of time than any other; thus whether they are on bottom, near
lures and bait are seen by more fish bottom or high in the water column.
in a shorter amount of time. And And the unit is so responsive that
even if the bite is off, a lure being I can see minnows, aquatic insects
trolled will often trip whatever trig- and even zooplankton, which will
ger it is in a lackadaisical fish thatll help me determine where the fish
make them strike when nothing else are even when Im not marking
will. them.
But when you get right down to You know that clutter you Crawler harnesses, like this one by Nor thland, take their fair share
it, trolling is more than just letting a often see on at the top of the screen? of fish if they are trolled correctly.

Church Tackle Co. ALL MADE

IN THE USA
Thats all the aforementioned
aquatic life, as well dust and pollen,

New for 2016!

WE DIDNT INVENT THE PLANER BOARD, WE JUST PERFECTED IT! Locking Arm mixed within the warm water at the
easy to open & close
Locking Arm surface. The area where the clut-
Lock-Jaw
Adjustment Adjustment Screw

easy to open & close

Mini Lock-Jaw
Screw ter stops and a clean screen starts
For drop weights & Release Release Hole for drop weights
is where the thermocline is - that
or other applications
This clip may be mini but when it comes to holding power its second other applications Prevention Prevention

only to its big brother, the original Lock-Jaw! Holds mono, super
is, where the warm and cold water
braids, power pro, lead core or copper lines without damaging the line! meet. This is where most any fish
Replaceable
The Mini Lock-Jaw fits The Walleye Board, TX-44, TX-22, TX-12 & TX-6 1 7/8 Long Pad
Pad that swims suspended in the water
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
attaching to side-planers column will be, no matter the spe-
The Mini Lock-Jaw is designed to fit other side planers, drop weights and attaching
to side-planers
WE DIDNT INVENT CLIPS, contact with screw
Stingray cies. And this is the level you want
works for many other applications.
WE HAVE PERFECTED THEM!
Part# 40620, 2pk Color - yellow Replacement Pads part# 40701 6/pk Diving Weight to get your bait to.
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,
Another key feature of many
Lowrance sonars is StructureScan
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 HD, as well StructureScan 3D,
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.
retrieve. The Vise Clip comes standard with the TX-44; especially Available in unpainted or painted. 2 snaps for which allows me to see out to the
rch Tackle Co. designed for lead core & copper, makes accidental each weight included sides of my boat in two-dimensional
Chu E-Z Store Famous
release almost impossible. snaps off & on in seconds Lock-Jaw
Clip Size #1 - .7 oz form. With StructureScan on I can
TX-44 Tournament Series now for easy removal & storage
Easy to attach and remove.
available which comes with a #40300 see baitfish as well the game fish
Great for trolling in congested areas and more effective contour trolling along unpainted #40302 black themselves near the surface. And
Lock-Jaw Clip, Stainless Steel
drop offs contour lines, reef edges and weed lines in rivers, lakes or the ocean. Rear Pin and E-Z Store for easy
Effective for all species. Run more lines out the back of the boat by staggering
with just a couple swipes of the
tow-arm removal. Part# 30630 Size #2 - 1.4 oz touch-screen I can move the cursor
the Stern Planers. Run any distance from the boat yet maintain desired depth. Standard TX-44 Part# 30610 Stainless Steel Rear Pin (14 x 4 1/4 x 7/8)
over the marks on the screen and
EZ Store! For Your Planer Board Allows for easy Tournament Series then place a waypoint over the fish,
planer storage! Change #40303 unpainted #40304 orange
-22 SCop
RIGHT
ecia
l
tow-arm & clips in a snap!
TXChurch Tackle odus, MI
.S Upgrade Kit without ever having to motor over
Size #3 - 2.7 oz
hurchtackle.com
www.c

for TX-44, TX-22 & and potentially spooking them.

Optional E-Z Store devise easily
When spotting fish on the sonar,
TXChurwcwhwT.acchkulrchtackleo.codusm, MI

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 I like to look at the GPS portion of
to another tow-arm & clip then slide back on when youre ready to E-Z Store & Stainless the screen as wellwith a Navion-
fish again. Part# 40519 sold 2 per package 1 left & 1 right Rear Pin Assembly. (Part# 30640) #40305 unpainted #40306 chartreuse ics mapping program showing in
Please check with your local tackle shop first, if they dont carry our products visit us at www.churchtackle.com to view all the back groundand take note
of our great American made fishing gear, or call us at 269-934-8528 to request a catalog. of the structure the suspended fish
32 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
are holding near. Once determined,
I can scan the Navionics map and
figure out similar areas where more
fish may be, and check those areas
out for signs of game fish.
In Your Face
I admit there is what seems to be
a million different lures made that
will catch fish when trolling. My
two best bets for catching more fish,
however, are Rapala crankbaits and
Northland spinners (aka: crawler
harnesses).
Getting crankbaits to the same
level the fish are at when trolling
is the easier of the two. Rapala, for
example, make it easy by listing the
dive curves of all their lures on their
website at Rapala.com. And while
nothing beats a Rapala Shad Rap or
Down Deep Husky Jerk for troll-
ing, you really need to check out the
Scatter Rap series in both of these
lures. The ultra-erratic action of all
the Scatter Rap series really tips a
fishs trigger, especially when the
bite is slow.
Spinners, on the other hand, take
a little more effort on an anglers
part to get into the strike zone, but
its not hard to do with the right
weight system. An in-line weight,
such as Church Tackles 5/8-ounce
K-1 In-Line Bead Weight, tied on
about six feet in front of the spinner,
will be enough to get the spinner
down. To get it deeper, just let out a
little more line, or, slow down.
Berkley 10-pound-test Trilene
XT, spooled onto an ABU Garcia
5500 LC (line counter) reel and Fen-
wick trolling rod is my choice for
trolling both cranks and spinners.
The combination is light enough
for walleyes yet sturdy enough
to handle in-line and stern planer
boards.
I also use this same rod and
reel combo when pulling Sufix 832
Advanced Leadcore - a thinner-
than-normal leadcore that gets down
deeper with less line out due to its
narrow diameter, and great for get-
ting crankbaits and spinners deeper.
Church Tackle makes an array of
different sizes of planer boards for
every need, from their most popular
Walleye Board (dont let the name
fool you even salmon anglers dig
this one), up to the TX-24 Super
Planer Board (built to handle hard-
pulling rigs such as Dipsy Div-
Michigan duck
stamps and
ers and the like) and down to the
TX-12 Mini Planer Board and TX-6
Magnum Mini Planer Board (both
prints available
perfect for small lures).
Also, the TX-007 Stern Planer
is a device that allows you to let the
perfect amount of line out so as to
get your lures running at just the The Michigan Duck Hunters As-
right depth, all the while youre able sociation (MDHA), in cooperation with
to let out more line directly behind the MDNR, introduces the 2017 collec- The winning 2017 Michigan duck stamp
the boat to get your offering farther tor's edition Michigan duck stamp and features a pair of nor thern shovelers.
away and keep from tangling with prints. The Michigan Waterfowl Stamp Program, established in 1976, has become
your in-line boards. an icon for waterfowl hunters and wetland conservation enthusiasts. During the
past 41 years, the program has gained popularity with collectors and conserva-
Get With It tion groups throughout the United States.
The two problems I see more The MDHA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to waterfowl and wetland
anglers make when trolling is they conservation, coordinates the program in partnership with the DNR. Proceeds
troll up wind and dont pay enough from stamp sales will be used to fund MDHA projects, with 10 percent used to
attention to their speed. Not good. match DNR funding for purchasing, restoring and enhancing wetlands.
Always (I repeat: always) troll The 2017 Michigan duck stamp features a striking pair of northern shovelers,
with the wind. painted by Guy Crittenden. Crittenden, a wildlife artist from Richmond, Vir-
Although my 9.9-HP kicker mo- ginia, has won the Virginia duck stamp competition four times since 2005. He
tor is powerful enough to push me won the Connecticut and the Michigan duck stamp competitions in 2014 and
into the wind, I can have better con- 2015, respectively, and has placed as high as fifth in the prestigious Federal Duck
trol of my speed when trolling with Stamp Contest.
the wind. And with the aid of my Purchasing Michigan waterfowl stamps and prints helps to ensure continued
conservation of wetlands and waterfowl habitat. To learn more about the Michi-
Lowrance GPS, I can easily speed gan Waterfowl Stamp Program and supporting conservation efforts in Michigan
up or slow down to 1/10-MPH when through the purchase of limited-edition signed and numbered prints and collec-
the waves are at my transom. tor's edition stamps, visit www.michigan.gov/waterfowl (under Additional Re-
Over all, crankbaits run best at sources and then Michigan Waterfowl Stamp Program). Purchasing the stamps is
speeds of 1.5 to 2.5 miles per hour, voluntary and does not replace the state waterfowl hunting license.
while spinners get bite more at a MDHA also will mail individuals who purchase a 2017 waterfowl hunt-
slower .07 to 1.5. Always troll with ing license a free copy of the stamp (subject to availability) if they send a self-
either crankbaits or spinners, not a addressed, stamped envelope with a copy of their Michigan waterfowl hunting
combination of both. license to: MDHA Waterfowl Stamp Program, P.O. Box 186, Kawkawlin, MI
48631.
More Than
Meets the Eye
When you get right down to it,
trolling is more than just letting a
line out and motoring around until
you get a strike. First, locate where
in the water column the fish are, and
then making sure you get a lure in
the same zone while using the right
equipment. After that, go the right
direction and pay attention to your
speed. Ignore any of these and you
wont catch nearly the number of
fish you would have had you made
sure all were in proper order.
Mark Martin is a touring wall-
eye tournament angler and instructor
with the Fishing/Vacation Schools,
who lives in southwest Lower Mich-
igan. Check out his website at mark-
martins.net of more information.n
Time to think of prevention of
those beaches, golf courses,
condo grounds, parks and
recreation areas.
ULTRA CONCENTRATED CONTROL
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Its time to order your
summer Control to rid those
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Remember when the grass starts
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ULTRA CONCENTRATED CONTROL!
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 33
Man sentenced
in illegal deer
baiting case
A
Saginaw County man
was fined heavily, or-
dered to serve jail time,
probation and commu-
nity service, and had his
hunting privileges re-
voked when he was sentenced recently
for deer hunting violations he commit-
ted during the fall 2016 firearm deer
hunting season. Dexter James Sysak,
40, of Merill was convicted by a
District Court jury in April of multiple
hunting violations, dating back to
Nov. 29. He was sentenced June 21.
Sysak had taken a dump truck of
sugar beets and two dump trailers of
corn and placed them on his hunting
property, said Michigan Conservation
Officer Joseph Myers, who investi-
gated the case. The actual measure of
bait was impossible to count but was
estimated at two-and-a-half tons.
Myers said conservation officers
were alerted to a complaint of over
use of bait via an anonymous tip to
the DNR Report All Poaching hotline
(800-292-7800) on Nov. 27.
The following day, officers went to
the area, which turned out to be an old
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golf course property owned by Sy-
sak near the Gratiot-Saginaw county
line. Myers said he found access to the
site using a county road easement.
I saw a hunting blind on the
right and I could see an orange object
through the trees, Myers said. It
was a grain trailer full of corn with the
door broken off and about 100 gallons
of corn on the ground.
Corn was spread over a wide area.
Myers said he kicked a hard object
while walking, which was a sugar
beet.
There was a 150-yard cobble-
stone road of sugar beets making a
J-shape around the blind, Myers said.
It looked like an individual had drove
onto the property and just dumped the
sugar beets out of a truck.
With no name on the blind and
no one at the site, Myers didnt know
who owned the land or the property.
He decided to return the next day,
Nov. 29.
There was a truck parked there. I
walked up to the blind and there were
four individuals in the blind, Myers
said.
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The amount of bait was impossible to count but was estimated at two-and-a-half tons.
Myers said he saw Sysak pick up District Court 65B in Ithaca in Gratiot
a hunter orange vest as Myers ap- County, where Sysak was found guilty
proached the blind. by the panel of six jurors on all three
After interviewing Sysak, Myers charges against him. Those misde-
determined the bait, far in excessive of meanors included an over limit of bait,
the 2-gallon limit, had been in the area failing to wear hunter orange and tak-
for some time. ing a deer by an illegal method.
Sysak also admitted to me that Myers said Sysak admitted the
he had taken a 9-point buck over the facts necessary to prove the case
illegal bait, making it an illegal deer, during his testimony at trial. He also
Myers said. I seized evidence and admitted he had rented a dump truck
cited the suspect. to place the bait on the property.
Myers said Sysak showed him the Sysak was sentenced June 21 to
gun he used and where he shot the serve 45 days in jail, fined roughly
deer from. He also told Myers which $15,000, including $6,500 reimburse-
meat processor the deer had been ment for the deer and ordered to
taken to, a place just a couple miles serve 90 hours of community service
down the road. to the DNR once his jail sentence is
Myers contacted the processor and served. He was banned from all DNR
recovered the deer meat and antlers. activities during his 2-year probation
Sysak pleaded not guilty. term. All sport license privileges were
A jury trial was held April 28 in revoked through 2022.
The meat from the deer will be
given to needy families in the com-
munity.
There were extensive terms
set for Sysaks probation. If any of
those terms are violated, it would be
grounds for Sysak serving up to 1 year
3415 South Portage
in jail and potential lifetime revoking
of his hunting license privileges.
Jackson, MI 49201 Michigan conservation officers
(517) 740-6833 are fully commissioned state peace
officers who provide natural resources
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protection, ensure recreational safety
and protect citizens by providing
general law enforcement duties and
lifesaving operations in the communi-
ties they serve.
Learn more about Michigan con-
servation officers at www.michigan.
gov/conservationofficers.n
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16-3004
 DNR confirms
cougar in
Lower Peninsula
T
he MDNR has confirmed
the presence of a cougar
-- also referred to as a
mountain lion in Bath
Township, Clinton Coun-
ty. This is the first time
the presence of a cougar has been
verified by the DNR in Michigans
Lower Peninsula.
On June 21, 2017, a Haslett resi-
dent took a photograph of an animal
from his vehicle in Bath Township
near the DNRs Rose Lake State
Wildlife Area. The individual reported
that he spotted a large cat in his head-
lights as the animal attempted to cross
a road. He captured the photograph as
the cougar turned back from the road
into an area of thick vegetation.
The picture was made available
to the DNR June 26. A field investi-
gation ensued. DNR biologist Chad
Fedewa and biologists from the
DNRs Cougar Team reviewed the
photo and visited the site where it was
taken, determining that the animal in
the photo was a cougar.
Even with this verification, ques-
tions remain, especially regarding the
origins of the animal, said Kevin
Swanson, DNR wildlife specialist
and member of the agencys Cougar
Team. There is no way for us to
know if this animal is a dispersing
transient from a western state, like
cougars that have been genetically
tested from the Upper Peninsula, or if
this cat was released locally.
Cougars originally were native to
Michigan, but were extirpated from
Michigan around the turn of the last
century. The last time a wild cougar
was legally taken in the state was near
Newberry in 1906. Over the past few
years, numerous cougar reports have
1-800-700-2628
been received from various locations
throughout Michigan. Until this time,
all confirmed sightings or tracks have
been in the Upper Peninsula. Since
2008 a total of 36 cougar sightings
have been documented in Michi-
gans U.P. To date, the DNR has not
confirmed a breeding population of
cougars in Michigan.
Cougars are protected under the
state Endangered Species Act and
cannot be harmed except to protect
human life.
Interested landowners within the
area of the recent Clinton County
sighting may wish to place trail
cameras on their properties. The DNR
encourages citizens to submit pictures
of possible sightings for verification.
Observations should be reported at
mi.gov/eyesinthefield. If you find
physical evidence of a cougar such
as scat, tracks or a carcass, do not The photo submitted to the DNR from a Haslett resident shows the
disturb the area and keep the physical cougar is just behind the mailbox on the right side of the road.
evidence intact. Please include any
photos with your report.
The odds of encountering a cougar
JOE THOMAS PRO SERIES ROOSTER TAIL
in the wild are very small, and attacks
on humans are extremely rare.
DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY
FOR BASS
Should you encounter a cougar:
Face the animal and do not act
submissive. Stand tall, wave your
arms and talk in a loud voice.
Never run from a cougar or other
large carnivore. If children are pres-
ent, pick them up so they cannot run. Classic Rooster Tail w/HD
Do not crouch and get on all Split Ring & Pre-Sharpened
fours. Black Nickel Hook
If attacked, fight back with what-
Pulsating Hackle/Tinsel
ever is available. DO NOT play dead. Dressed Hook Attracts Fish
Report the encounter to local
authorities and the DNR as soon as Genuine Silver,
possible. Brass and/or
Painted Blades
To learn more about cougars, visit
mi.gov/cougars.n
This new Rooster Tail was designed with
input from professional angler Joe Thomas
and built specifically for bass and schooling
stripers. Special components make it extra
strong to handle the toughest fish, and it features all the
attributes that make Rooster Tail so productive. Available in two sizes,
and ounce for long casts and fast retrieves, the Joe Thomas Series
Rooster Tail comes in 12 finishes hand-selected by Joe Thomas.
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 35
Gearing up for summer trout
W
hen most anglers
in Michigan
think of trout
and salmon,
they conjure up
images of the
sprawling Great Lakes. The great
state of Michigan also hosts a lot of
trout fishing and even some salmon
fishing opportunities quietly nestled
away in a handful of inland fishing
jewels.
The northern half of Michigans
Lower Peninsula is dotted with a
host of clear water trout lakes that
harbor lake trout, rainbow trout,
brown trout and one even supports
an excellent population of Atlantic
salmon! All of these lakes are deep
and cool enough to support trout and
small enough that an angler doesnt
need a charter boat sized craft to
get in on the fishing fun.
Marks Favorite Trout Lakes
Living in Northern Michigan
most of my life, Ive spent a consid-
erable amount of time targeting trout
in half a dozen different fisheries
including Crystal, Higgins, Torch,
Burt, Mullet and Green lakes. All of
these inland gems serve up a mixed
bag of trout species, and Torch Lake Rainbows like this one abound in many Michigan inland lakes. Across the nor thern half of the Lower Peninsula
is home to a thriving population of there are a dozen or more lakes that produce great trout fishing action in the heat of summer.
Atlantic salmon thanks to stock- Lake Trolls or Cow Bells test fluorocarbon leader material. A inches long and is sometimes used
ing efforts provided by the fisheries One of the more traditional and couple small beads are slipped onto by anglers trolling inland lakes.
and wildlife students of Lake State unique trout fishing attractors is a the leader, and the Spin-N-Glo add- Dodgers are used in combina-
University in Sault Ste. Marie. rig known as the lake troll or cow ed with the narrow end towards the tion with a host of terminal tackle,
Other noteworthy trout waters bell. These rigs are a series of blades bead. A simple loop knot terminates including Spin-N-Glos, Wobble
include Elk, Big Glen, Walloon, that rotate around a three to four the rig and makes it easy to attach to Glos, squid bodies and trolling flies.
Charlevoix and North Lake Leela- foot length of steel wire. Normally, the back end of the lake troll. In most cases, the best results are
nau. The stocking reports for these at one end a trolling keel or rudder A lot of guys take pride in mak- achieved when these rigs are 12 to
waters are a matter of public record keeps the rig running straight, and at ing their own lake trolls, but Yakima 18 inches in length. Using a longer
and anglers can study up on what the other a leader is added and either Bait and Luhr Jensen also produce leader tends to deaden the action
species have been stocked and when a small spoon, stickbait or Spin-N- commercially available models that and typically doesnt produce as
by visiting the web page www. Glo body is used at the terminal end. work great on inland trout. The well as keeping the leader in that
michigandnr.com/fishstock/ for The Spin-N-Glo produced by downside of most lake trolls is they critical 12 to 18 inch range.
details. Yakima Bait Company is pull hard in the water and often A host of companies produce
Fishing Tactics hands down the favorite detract from the enjoyment of fight- dodgers, but some of the most popu-
In August the surface trout bait of those fisher- ing fish. My favorite is the Yakima lar are available from Luhr Jensen,
waters of all these lakes man who prospect the Rooster Troll which comes in four Yakima Bait and Pro Troll.
range north of 70 degrees, depths of these natural models and features genuine silver Other Attractors
which means cold water lakes. The iconic floating/ plated Rooster Tail blades. The Lake trolls and dodgers are the
species like trout are forced spinning Spin-N-Glo baits smaller sizes of the Rooster Trolls primary attractors used to target lake
to seek out deeper and cool- come in 10 different sizes pull through the water with far less
trout, steelhead, browns and Atlantic
er waters. The good news is plus white, black, silver, resistance and put the fun back into
salmon. A third option is gaining in
trolling for inland lake trout.
By Mark Romanack
when trout are glow, char- popularity here in the Great Lakes
forced deep, treuse and pink Dodgers and wildly popular everywhere
they tend to wing con- Dodgers are another attractor along the Pacific west coast.
concentrate in the deeper basins of figurations. Together, the wing and that is deadly effective on trout. The Big Al Fish Flash is trian-
the lake, making them pretty easy to body color combinations available These blade style attractors swing gular in shape and spins on its own
find with the help of modern sonar. number into the hundreds, making back and forth in the water and are axis thanks to a ball bearing swivel
The bad news is catching these them a favorite of just about every- designed to imitate the flash that on the nose and another at the back
fish requires some specialized troll- one who trolls for trout. occurs when trout and salmon slash of the attractor. Unlike other attrac-
ing gear that presents select baits The most popular Spin-N-Glo into a school of baitfish. tors, the Fish Flash generates con-
at target depths that are routinely bodies for inland trout fishing are The larger size 0 is about 11 siderably more flash that pulls fish
as deep as 50 to 120 feet below the the No. 8, 6 and 4 sizes. When inches long and is the most popular from a greater distance. Because the
surface! Some of these lakes present fished behind a lake troll, the Spin- size among trout fishermen. The Fish Flash generates so much flash,
unique jigging opportunities, but N-Glo is rigged by first snelling a 00 is about eight inches long and smaller sizes can be used which in
the majority of these fish are caught No. 6 or No. 4 treble hook onto an is the second most popular size. A
trolling with a variety of attractors. 18 inch leader of 10 to 15 pound third and small size 000 is about five Gearing up for trout page 38
36 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 37
Gearing up for trout:
from page 36
turn reduces drag and makes fight-
ing fish more enjoyable. The four
and six inch sizes have become the
most popular with trout and salmon
fishermen.
Fish Flash is different from
some attractors in that it doesnt
impart action to the trailing lures.
The best baits to fish in combination
with the Fish Flash are lures that
have their own action, like stickbaits
including the classic floating Rapala
Minnow, wobbling body baits like
the iconic Wordens Flat Fish and a
host of trolling style spoons.
A 72 inch leader between the
lure and the Fish Flash is considered
perfect for most clear water trolling
situations. In stained or off color
water, the leader can be shortened to
about 40 inches.
Riggers Rule
All three of the attractor rigs
outlined here are best when fished in
combination with a downrigger for
controlled depth fishing. Lake trolls
and dodgers fish best at speeds from
1.6 to 1.9 MPH. Fish Flash works
well at dodger speed and also
performs well at faster speeds up to
about 3.5 MPH. monitoring the downrigger arm to
Because the Fish Flash can be
fished faster than other attractors,
it fishes nicely with spoons and in
combination with other fast paced
fishing presentations.
The typical set up when troll-
ing lake trolls and dodgers is to
run them 10 to 20 feet behind the
downrigger weight. The Fish Flash
can be fished tight to the downrigger
weight, but many anglers feel this
presentation fishes best when longer
25 to 50 foot leads behind the down-
rigger weight are employed.
The pre-dawn is the perfect time to be hitting the water for summer trout.
Any time the author is fishing downriggers for trout or salmon he is also
using the Fish Hawk speed, depth and temperature probe to find cooler
pockets of water trout concentrate in. Authors photos
38 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
All three of these attractors require
the use of a heavy tension downrig-
ger line release. The OR8 Heavy
Tension Downrigger Release pro-
duced by Off Shore Tackle Compa-
ny based in Port Austin, Michigan is
considered the line release all others
are judged upon.
This popular line release works
beautifully with monofilament,
co-polymer and fluorocarbon lines
ranging in size from 10 to 25 pound
test.
Suspended or Bottom Fish
The attractor rigs outlined here
fish great for both suspended fish
and bottom hugging trout. When
targeting trout on or near the bot-
tom, its best to set the downrigger
weight so it clips the bottom every
few feet, kicking up a cloud of silt in
the process. This closely replicates
what it looks like when a school of
trout are actively feeding on the bot-
tom and stirring up sediment.
Accomplishing this delicate
balance of bouncing the bottom
with the downrigger weight is best
achieved by stationing an angler
at each downrigger and closely
determine when the ball is hitting Jake Romanack of Fishing 411 caught this beautiful lake trout from Hig-
the bottom. By lifting or dropping gins Lake while trolling a stickbait in combination with a downrigger.
the downrigger weight slightly as
the water depth changes, the angler Avid trout trollers carry a spare wobbling plug or spinner. When a
is effectively keeping his gear in the downrigger weight, termination kit fish is hooked, the snap slides to the
critical strike zone. and wire cutters on board, so if a front of the tow arm and the Tadpole
Fishing attractor rigs on the bot- ball is hung up on bottom and lost, trips and is no longer diving, making
tom is a delicate balance that takes the set up can be quickly replaced. it easy to reel in fish without having
a little practice and experience to Downriggers do the heavy lift- to fight the resistance of the diver.
master. Its important to avoid drag- ing when it comes to fishing trout The Tadpole Divers have been
ging the ball on the bottom, yet it is and salmon on inland lakes, but tested by Precision Trolling Data
just as important that the downrig- there are other options available to (www.precisiontrollingdata.com)
ger weight comes in contact with the creative fishermen. and the fishing depths documented
bottom every few feet. Poor Mans Downrigger at common trout trolling speeds.
For the angler who doesnt own These poor man downrigger
downriggers, a couple simple to set set ups can be fished as flat lines
up and inexpensive trolling rigs are straight out the back of the boat or
useful for targeting trout in deep an angler can fish them in combina-
water. A basic three way rig with a tion with in-line planer boards to
24 inch dropper line attached to an gain a little more outward coverage.
eight, 12 or 16 ounce lead weight The standard sized in-line boards
and a 60 to 72 inch leader of fluo- will handle the No. 3 Tadpole, but
rocarbon line is a good way to troll the Magnum and larger size dropper
spoons, wobble baits and spinners. weights are best fished on the SST
This rig is simply fished straight Pro Magnum, a larger board de-
out the back of the boat with enough signed for fishing heavy gear.
line out to make contact with the
bottom every few feet as trolling. Summing It Up
Another option is to fish a No. 3 The dog days of August force
or Magnum sized Tadpole Diver by trout to seek out deeper and colder
Off Shore Tackle. These simple to water. Michigan has a host of inland
use and affordable divers are made lakes that offer up great trout fishing
of zinc and simply attach to the opportunities. Even better, these
fishing line using the supplied heavy fisheries are easily accessible in
duty snap. small fishing craft and even pontoon
The snap goes on the tow arm of boats.
the Tadpole, and when the snap is The best way to beat the heat is
positioned in the elbow of the tow to get out early and get out often.
arm, the diver is engaged and dives. Michigans inland lake trout fishing
A leader (50 to 72 inches) is run off opportunities are nothing short of
the back of the Tadpole to a spoon, amazing.n
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 39

 Part 1

The western
Pennsylvania hills
evoked both eager
anticipation and
dread as I watched
them through the
window of my SUV...

I
m glad Im not
you, my dad
joked from the
passenger seat.
I knew what to
expect, though:
Id run them last summer with a
100-pound sandbag in my back-
pack. This year would be different,
but I hoped it wasnt too different.
Because it was one of the best ex-
periences of my life. I couldnt wait
to do it again.
My dad and I were headed to The Traditional crew (lt-r t) Tex Grebner, Ransom Traylor, Joe Edwards, Drew YoungeDyke, Cole Plese,
the Train To Hunt Challenge at the Ronnie Senior. Tex Grebner photo
Ambridge Sportsmens Club, west hunting season. grouped together, and that helped
social media, 3D archery shoots
of Pittsburgh, which hosted last Make no mistake: the day of us form a bond. Last years Train
and the Archery Trade Association
years event, the first east of the To Hunt National Champion in the
(ATA) Show. This year, though, I the challenge itself does not get
Mississippi River. The Train To
entered in the Traditional Division, you ready for hunting. Its in the Traditional division - Illinois Tex
Hunt Challenge is a
since Id de- preparation for the competition. For Grebner of Tex Grebner Outdoors
competition testing
cided last fall example, without Train To Hunt, it on YouTube - shot with us. To il-
archery, strength
to switch from would be easy to procrastinate until lustrate both the growth of Train
and endurance,
combining ele- a compound summer to get serious about getting To Hunt and the increasing inter-
ments of CrossFit, to a recurve proficient with traditional archery est in traditional archery, though,
trail-running with bow for bow- equipment. But I signed up in Janu- consider this: last year Tex was
a pack (known as hunting. ary, so Ive known since then that I the only traditional archer at the
rucking,) and 3D After com- had this competition awaiting me in Pennsylvania challenge; this year
archery. It began as peting last June. So I practiced - a lot - includ- there were six of us. Along with
a fitness program year, I knew ing shoots at Tomahawk Archers. Tex and I were Ransom Traylor of
founded by owner that I wanted And I kept up with my physical Battle Creek, Joe Edwards from
Kenton Clairmont to compete conditioning at Spartan CrossFit in Ohio, and Ronnie Senior and Cole
of Washington, a again. But I East Lansing and CrossFit Tree- Plese of Pennsylvania. Cole is actu-
serious western had serious Town in Ann Arbor, along with ally a member of the host club and
mountain bowhunt- doubts about trail-running with a weighted pack. Ronnies 5-year old daughter Izzy
er who used to own my abil- On the morning of the competi- kept us entertained all morning. For
a CrossFit gym. ity to become tion, athletes and spectators were all the testosterone, Train To Hunt
It has grown into proficient treated to the most epic opening to really is a family event.
sort of a CrossFit enough with an athletic event Ive ever wit- The shots in Train To Hunt are
Games for bow- a traditional nessed. While the National Anthem not like shots in regular 3D archery
hunters and has bow to hunt was sung, Col. Paul Cravy of the tournaments. Theyre as tough as
spread around the in October, let United States Army - and a Train shots in the Total Archery Chal-
country. alone compete To Hunt athlete - parachuted out of lenge but with a twist. At some
the sky with a giant American flag
By Drew YoungeDyke
When against other shots, archers would have to draw
we pulled traditional suspended from his waist pack. He kneeling, stand and shoot. Or draw,
into the archers landed just as the anthem ended, move to the left or right, and shoot.
parking lot of the Cobblestone Inn, at Train To Hunt. But thats ex- while members of the club set off Shoot two targets in ten seconds.
I was happy to see Tim Bunao, actly what Train To Hunt is about: fireworks. God Bless America! Shoot while kneeling or sitting.
who was in my heat last year in the preparing for hunting season. It That set the whole day off on Shoot at an extremely close target
Mens Open Division. Most of us provides a mid-year gauge of how the right foot as athletes started at a steep angle. Draw and hold for
who competed at the 2016 chal- ready your most important piece of on the 3D archery course. All 30 seconds before shooting. While
lenge have kept in touch through equipment - your own body - is for six traditional bowhunters were it sounds crazy, these are actually
40 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
the shots we encounter while hunt-
ing. And by practicing for these
shots in the competition, we train
ourselves to make these shots while
hunting.
This happened for me last fall.
At the end of a four-day back-
pack bowhunt in the Pigeon River
Country, I glassed a valley from a
ridge with my binoculars. As a still-
hunter, I had already blown a dozen
stalks and missed two deer with The Traditional athletes ready for the tire pull to star t the Challenge Course. Dennis YoungeDyke photo
my compound, one a short shot due
to misjudging the distance and the
other hitting a branch in front of
the doe. As I glassed, I saw a doe
walking through cover in the valley.
I crept down the hill and sat down
behind a brush pile from a logging
operation years ago. I watched it
bed down and waited about a half
hour until it got up. As it started up
the hill I was on, I lay with my back
against the hillside. When its head
was turned away, I drew, but then
it looked my way. I had to hold my
CROSSBOWS
draw for about forty seconds until it
looked away again, then I raised up,
found my spot and shot, dropping
it on the spot. I gutted it out while
two bull elk fought each other sixty
yards down the valley. Without
practicing to hold my draw all year
for Train To Hunt, I dont know if
I would have had the confidence,
skill or strength to make that shot.
I shot okay during the 3D shoot,
making a few that felt perfect
and many more where foam was
home. At the end, I was sitting at
third, but it was close enough that
the Challenge Course would deter-
mine the final standings. Michigan
was doing well in the Mens Open
in the 3D, too. 2016 Pennsylvania VISIT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED
champ Ray Bickel from Vassar CARBON EXPRESS DEALER
http://carbonexpresscrossbow.com/pages/dealer-locator
- dubbed the Beast of the East -
was in second place and Gaylords
Alvin Sitkeiwicz was tied for third.
The Challenge Course was
composed of five CrossFit-style
THE BEST
physical challenges followed by
a 300-yard run and a shot at a 3D
CROSSBOW READY TO HUNT KIT
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I started out the Challenge
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Train To Hunt page 42
W A RNING! To avoi d se r i ous i nj ur y and l e ar n about saf e hunt i ng t e chni que s, use r s must r e at he i nst r uct i ons and w at ch t he vi de os at w w w .saf e ar r ow .com pr i or t o shoot i ng any cr ossbow bol t .

WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 41

Train To Hunt:
from page 41
Course sprinting and held first place
for the first few challenges, which
werent too bad for me because
they were exercises we regularly
perform at CrossFit. I slowed
down after I missed a shot and
had to do ten burpees, followed
by the sandbag getups, which I
struggled with. I fell to third as
we started the trail course, and
I never caught up.
The trail course was brutal.
Much of it was too muddy to run
without slipping, or so steep that
I didnt have the juice left to run,
walking instead. Even the down-
hills were too muddy to run. On the
drier stretches, though, like most of
the competitors, I dug down deep
and ran - including right through
a mud puddle I thought was ankle
deep until I sunk to my chest! I
never broke stride, splashing mud
clear up to the underside of my hat
brim. I sunk my last shot in the
ten ring, sprinted to the finish and
jumped in the pond.
It was another amazing experi-
ence, made all the better by the old
friends I saw and the new friends
42 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
I made. Alvin Sitkeiwicz finished
sixth in Mens Open and eighth
overall, impressive for his first run.
Michigan did well on the podium,
too: Jeffery Proctor of Manchester
finished third in Super Masters
(age 50-plus), Adriano Rosa of
Grand Rapids finished first in Super
Masters, Ray Bickel finished first in
Mens Open and first overall, and
I earned third place in Traditional
and a trip to the National Finals in
Colorado.
And how did it go at National
Finals? Youll find out next month
in Part 2!
Drew YoungeDyke is the
regional communications coor-
dinator for the National Wildlife
Federation, a board member for the
Michigan chapter of Backcountry
Hunters and Anglers, a member of
the Association of Great Lakes Out-
door Writers, the Michigan Outdoor
Writers Association, and the former
editor of Michigan Out-of-Doors
magazine. His first article, Back-
packing in Short Time, appeared in
this publication ten years ago this Drew YoungeDyke draws on the close-up extreme angle shot, mim-
month.n icking a treestand shot. Dennis YoungeDyke photo
 KAYAKING: First Lesson is SAFETY
W
ith the popular-
ity of kayaking
finally hitting
Michigan, its
no wonder
when traveling
to see so many kayaks on rooftops,
in truck beds and strapped to trailers.
Often, people are car topping one.
Ive seen as many as three on roof
racks with a stack of them on a trailer
being pulled behind.
There are several factors that
make kayaking a growing sport. First
they are affordable. Many big box
grass to the waters edge, loaded with
equipment you choose to take, then
slipped in the lake, ready to go. The
days of backing your trailer up in
line while at the ramp are over. With
light dolly wheels, you can
pull your boat to the edge of
the ramp out of the way of
larger boats, and slide it in
without any disruption.
However, there are some
considerations when pur-
chasing a kayak, the most
important being your safety.
If you think all you need is
wearing an approved PFD, buckled
up while on the water. The old excuse
for not wearing a life jacket was they
were too hot or bulky and uncomfort-
able. Somewhere in the history of
fishing, BASS led the way
by requiring participants in
their tournaments to have a
PFD on whenever the big
motor was running. Severe
penalties for not wearing one
could go so far as disqualify
a contestant from the tourna-
ment.
In Michigan, the popu-
use and the most important part,
enough flotation to save your life in
the event of an unexpected accident.
Theres even a model that resem-
bles a horseshoe that drapes around
your neck. Slide your arms into straps
to keep the thing in place; snap the
waist strap and youre ready to go.
Flotation for these models may
be by one of two methods. Either
the person wearing the PFD pulls a
handle that activities a CO2 canister,
inflating the device or the activation
occurs on its own once the PFD gets
wet.

stores carry a variety of yaks in dif-
ferent sizes, colors and price ranges.
People are realizing they can spend
relaxing time on the water paddling
around or fishing without spending
large amounts of money.
Next is portability. Generally,
there is no need for a heavy-duty
trailer with a winch to load your boat.
These boats are light enough that one
person can slide a kayak into the bed
of a pickup truck or up onto a roof
rack of the family car.
Launching is another activity
simplified by using a kayak. You
really dont need the typical launch
or boat ramp to get the boat into the
water. Kayaks can be dragged across
By Roger Beukema
a $200 yak and
a $50 paddle to
take on salmon
on one of the
Great Lakes or paddle to that far
away island youve admired from
shore along the Thumb, hold those
thoughts. Recently, there have been
far too many articles written about
kayakers who are long overdue and
have gone missing. Eventually their
boat will show up, either washing up
on shore or floating out in the middle
of a lake. The boater may show up
too, more often than not minus a PFD
or life jacket.
Chalk up another fatality that
could have easily been avoided by
lar Michigan
Kayak fishing
Trail is a firm
supporter of
this rule. Anyone participating in an
event and caught not wearing a PFD
is automatically disqualified. Take it a
step further and the principals of the
organization will not accept pictures
of any fish without a person wearing
a PFD while holding the fish.
Yes, PFDs were hot and bulky.
But these days with newer technology
the choices are many making sure of
a good, proper fit, comfort and ease of
movement when wearing one, enough
pockets to carry every conceivable
tool or camera one could expect to
Life jackets dont come any sim-
pler or more comfortable than that.
So now that you have one be sure to
wear it.
Before using your boat, take a
lesson or by all means go with some
friends that have experience. And
preferably paddle with a buddy when
you go out.
You wouldnt think of hunting
without a gun or bow, nor would you
try to ski without the proper gear.
Wearing a PFD is in the same catego-
ry. Make it a habit or religion to wear
it and wear it properly when kayak-
ing. Have a safe trip.
Email the author at dutch-
beuk12@gmail.comn

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 Modern Products And Methods Have Evolved To Simplify Process...

How to traditionally dye and wax traps

J
ust about every successful
trapper I know dyes and
waxes their traps prior to
trapping season. Like so
many things in
this day and age
of modern conveniences
and instant gratification,
modern products and
methods have evolved to
simplify the dying and wax
process. These new prod-
ucts and methods have been
around for quite a few years
have used Dakota Line water based
dip with good success on both land
and water traps.
For over 40 years, I have pre-
ferred to traditionally dye
and wax most of my traps.
I find it does not take much
more time than using some
of the trap dips previously
mentioned; and for me,
the traditional methods do
a superior job of keeping
my traps in speedy order,
camouflaged, and odor-

By John Chagnon
and they include less. I have much
products that better piece of Dips, dyes and waxes for the trapper. Author photos
are mixed with mind setting a
gasoline or water. Traps are dipped traditionally dyed and waxed trap ties of traps. sion to not fire on smaller rodents.
in the mixture to form a protective and it is part of a confidence level 2) Heat Source I use a propane Until you get a feel for that amount
coating on your traps. that I feel really helps my catch rate burner or 3 cement blocks and hard- of tension, there is a tool called the
Speed Dip comes in brown and every year. wood fire for heat source. Sullivans Trap Tester on the market
black and is mixed with unleaded You will need the following 3) Trap Dye Commercially that can help you, or you can make
gasoline. The exact directions are items and materials to properly tra- available logwood black or red, a lead weight of the aforementioned
printed on each can. It has been my ditionally dye and wax your traps. powder or crystals. Free if you can weight. Any inline shock springs
experience that the gasoline based 1) Boiling Pot I use a 55 gal- gather Sumac Berries, Tag Alder, or or extra swivels should also be
dips are okay to use on water traps, lon steel drum, removing the top 2/3 Maple Bark. installed prior to dying. Insert a nail
however, I just do not like the idea of the drum. I have also used a 25 4) Trap Wax Available in between the jaws of all foothold
of gas odors on my canine line. I quart stock pot for smaller quanti- white, black, and yellow. All work type traps to allow the dye and wax
great. to penetrate all areas of the trap.
5) Wax Melting Pot Just larger All the methods of treating traps
than your largest trap. have one thing in common, and that
Superior Game Ranch 6) Location to hang traps outside
to dry.
7) One nail for each trap to go
is that they require the trap to have a
light coat of rust to properly absorb
the dye. So, for those dyeing used
Route 3 Box 163 Cornell, MI 49818 between each traps jaws so dye and traps that already has a coat of rust,
wax can penetrate. you only need to remove excess dirt
Incredible U.P. of Michigan The very first thing a trapper and rust with a wire brush. To get
must do prior to dying and waxing a light coat of rust on factory new
Hunting Opportunities traps is to make any modifications traps, I cover them with water in
Private farmland in south Marquette or adjustments that are going to be the boiling pot and bring the water
done to the traps. Coilspring type to a boil. Simmer for 30 minutes.
County Michigan, fully guided traps should be adjusted so they set The factory oil and dirt will rise to
bow and firearm hunts in flat and have a pan tension of be- the top of the pot, so add water to
hunting preserve for: Elk, tween 1 and 2 pounds for fox and overflow the factory oil and dirt.
coyote trapping, and lighter for traps
Whitetail Deer, Buffalo, Wild Large Russian Boar that will be set in the water.
Place the traps in a shaded area on
the ground outside for a few weeks,
Boar, Red Stag & Fallow Deer. Hunts Available! These settings allow the trapper spraying with a light water mist
to cover the trap with bedding mate- occasionally to make the rust form
rial at the set and have enough ten- quicker and more evenly.
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44 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS

 After all your traps have a light
coat of rust, you are ready for the
trap boiling dye pot. I recommend
choosing a day with light winds
and no rain as I almost always dye
and wax traps outdoors. Yes, it
means sacrificing one great fishing
day to take care of your traps. The
good news is if you start early on a
Saturday morning, you should have
plenty of time for a fishing trip or
barbeque in the afternoon. The light
winds make it much easier and safer
to control the propane or wood fire
you are using to heat your trap boil-
ing pot.
Place your logwood trap dye or
natural material (sumac berries or
maple bark) in a burlap sack and
tie closed. Place the sack of dye
into the boiling pot. Most bags of
logwood dye will tell you approxi-
mately how many traps it will do. In
my 1/3 barrel, I usually place about
three pounds of logwood dye or five
pounds of other natural material.
I then add water, staying approxi-
mately one foot from the top of the
boiling barrel. Light the propane
burner or hardwood fire and bring
the water to a boil. The traps can be
placed in the boiling pot as soon as
the water is added.
As the water heats up, you will
see your dye darken the water.
After you bring the mixture to a
boil, I simmer for a hour. Some
dirt or oil may float to the top of
the water, so I add a couple of five
gallon buckets to overflow the stuff
I do not want to pull my dyed traps
through. After 30 minutes, turn off
your heat source and let the water
cool down. Once the water is cool
enough, you can remove your traps.
The traps are then hung to air
dry and are ready to wax as soon as
completely dry. There are two meth-
ods of waxing traps. The first, which
is my preferred method, is using a
double burner and melting enough
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wax to completely cover your larg-
est trap. The other is melting wax on
top of the boiling water in the trap
dye pot and pulling the trap thru the
wax.
I prefer to not wax body grip
type traps. I simply dye them. If you
do wax the body grip type traps,
make sure for safety to remove any
wax on the trigger mechanism. I dye
and wax all foothold type traps (i.e.
coilspring, longspring, and jump
type traps).
Your double burner is made
by placing the wax in your wax-
ing container, which is just large
enough to submerge your largest
trap. This container is placed in a
larger container with water and a
metal separator in the bottom to
place your waxing container on. It
is highly recommended to use the
double burner as the wax cannot get
hotter than 212 degrees. Using your
propane cooker, bring the water to
a boil. After the wax is completely
melted, dip your trap into the melted
wax, completely submerging, and
let remain for 2-3 minutes. I con-
nect the trap to a piece of wire in
order to lower it in the melted wax.
Slowly pull trap out of the wax and
let any excess drop off. They will
quickly dry and be ready to store in
a wooden box or plastic tub, ready
for trapping season.
There should be a clear coat of
wax with no heavy white buildup
of wax after removing the trap from
the wax. If not done properly, you
have to repeat the above process
and let the trap remain a little longer
in the wax before removing. All
foothold traps should have the wax
removed from the dog and notch
area of the trap; otherwise the traps
will fire prematurely and be difficult
to keep in the set position.
A final note on liquid dips; even
though I prefer to traditionally dye
and wax my traps, sometimes I want
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to add traps during the season, so I
do occasionally use the quicker dips.
The job will not be as nice since the
dips do not do well on brand new
traps without rust. However, it does
help protect them from rusting and
offers minimal camouflage and is
better than just simply setting the
traps in the elements.
In the next couple of months
of the Michigan Woods-N-Water
News, watch for articles as I share
my methods for trapping Michigans
abundant furbearing animals. We
will start off with some sets and
methods that will help you trap fox
and coyote. Hopefully, you had time
to read this and the previous articles
I wrote and you will be ready to
harvest some wall hangings or earn
a little extra money for Christmas
presents.
The 2017 Michigan Trappers &
Predator Callers Association Con-
vention will be held August 18-19 The authors boiling trap pot is
at the Osceola County Fairgrounds, a 55 gallon barrel cut down.
in Evart, details www.mtpca.com.
They always have a lot of trapping more information go to: PcsOut-
supply vendors and great trapping doors.com and LenonLures.com. I
demonstrations. If you get a chance, always welcome calls from fellow
stop by my booth and say hello. For trappers (989) 569-3480 ext. 225.n
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The range consist of ten pop-up targets which appear for approximately
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challenge to the hunt.
The range is set up for Rimfire Rifles (all .17 and .22 calibers). The shoot-
ing distance is approximately 140 yards which creates a fun challenge for the
shooter. We also have a new 25 yard, .22 caliber handgun shoot. Shooting
tables and shooting bags are furnished. Two to four shooters per one hour hunt
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Targets fall when they are hit
For more information and to schedule a hunt
Call 616-755-1473 or 616-527-1355
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 45
 Mid-summer bass
and walleye combo
Greenwood Reservoir
Marquette County
Well if you are looking for some-
thing new and scenic to experience,
then I have just the spot! Greenwood
has been a very good and reliable
fishery for getting nice catches of
solid smallies as well as
eater-sized walleye. Many
inland lakes get tough in
mid-summer, but not Green-
wood. This body of water
gets better as the summer
progresses.
Walleye on Greenwood
are not tough to figure out.
They are weed oriented fish
By John Bergsma
that cant seem to
resist a crawler
harness. Heres
my go to presentation. First; I
would position my boat just outside
the main weed line using a light bot-
tom bouncer and spinner. I slow troll
the harness trying to stay close to
the weeds but not buried into them. I
have found that red beads with either
a gold, chartreuse or orange #3 Colo-
rado blade has always put fish in the
boat. The fishing here isnt tough but
with your host
n B e r g sm a
Joh
Visit our website and find out about . . .
Destinations Fishing Reports
Our Show Cooks Corner
46 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
stay on the fact that later in the year
the same fish may slide out into a bit
deeper water away from the weeds. I
still get them, but have to go heavier
and use a 2 oz. bouncer.
The bass on the lake are tradition-
al in their movements. I concentrate
on deep structure and weeds. The fish
seem to be in and around the
weeds in the mornings and
are very catchable using a
weighted worm rig. My fa-
vorite here is the Strike King
Shimmy Stick in the Sweet
Tater Pie color. I will either
fish it weedless or wacky
style on a 1/8 ounce jig head.
The deeper struc-
ture fish are easy
to catch on slow
worked coffee tubes. If you need
more information, the Wilderness
Sport Store in Ishpeming can get you
up to speed on Greenwood.
Lake Leelanau
Traverse City Region
This is and always has been one
of my favorite lakes. The walleye
fishing on this lake is so diverse but
lets concentrate on the mid-summer
period. Trolling is definitely the best
bet for limits of great eater-sized fish
on Leelanau. There are two distinct
patterns to talk about. The first is
the early morning shoreline weeds.
This bite works best when long lin-
ing shallow running stickbaits. My
favorite baits are the #9 and #11
original Rapala in silver/black or the
Strike King Walleye Elite Jerk bait in
the natural shad color. This is much
overlooked but is a fun and different
way to catch Leelanau walleye!
The most popular trolling method
is crawler harnesses and spinners for
suspended summer fish. I typically
target the fish that are 15-25 down
over deeper water. Number One Off
Shore Tadpoles and harnesses are
a sure bet to get these fish to bite.
Trolling speed is usually from 1.2-1.5
mph. Your Precision Trolling app will
help you know how much line to let
out based on speed and target depth.
The bass on Leelanau are weed
and structure fish. These smallies are
feisty and hard hitting. Early morning
fish are very active on jerk baits and
spinner baits. The fish will quickly
slide out to deeper edges on points
and can easily be caught on drop shot
rigs and weighted worms. The 5 inch
Strike King Ocho or Zero in Pumpkin
green w/gold or purple fleck are great
colors. This has always been a solid
fish producer and is just challenging
enough to make you a better angler.
Portage Lake
Manistee County
This is truly one of the most beau-
tiful small lakes that flows right out
into Lake Michigan. This constant
refreshing of the water and baitfish
into Portage makes this fishery a
wonderful option for big bass and
steady walleye. The bass fishing is
very unique, in that it has an equal
population of largemouth and small-
mouth. The very strong weed beds
hold great supplies of bass up to six
pounds. The fishing here is a worm
oriented bite with a drop shot also
working very well. This lake is clean,
so casting is important when working
the shallows.
Some of the better bass spots are:
ing stable weather patterns you can
pick up the speed. In-line boards are
a must, and the Off Shore Tackle
OR-34 works great for all trolling
applications.
Camp Quetico
Atikokan, Ontario
I just returned from an early June
trip to Camp Quetico, and all I can
say is WOW! This is truly one of the
most unique and exciting trips I have
ever been on. I could drive there eas-
ily and fish with my boat on many of
the 40 lakes that Barry and his staff
guide on. The other very fun aspect
was that some of the days I went with
our groups guide to much smaller
lakes that were quite remote and just
crushed the fish.
The smallmouth bass fishing is
nothing short of incredible in this
area of Ontario. We caught 10 fish
per day in the 4-5 pound class and
tons of 2.5-4 pounders.
The walleye fishing is very tradi-
tional rod in hand fishing. We casted
shad raps and #11s in the morning
and jigged live bait as the day went
on. I loved seeing eagles and wildlife
all over the place.
The main camp is located on
Eva Lake which is not only a great
bass lake but offers lake trout fish-
ing as well. The accommodations are
newer and clean, and the food at the
main lodge was outstanding. This is
definitely a trip worth taking and I
will come back again. If you have not
ever checked out this great camp, go
to www.campquetico.ca
Summer is the time to get out and
take you and your family fishing. If
you want a great fishing report, fol-
low my Facebook page or online at:
www.fishermansdigest.comn

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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 47
 SPOOKING DEER
Entry and exit routes to your hunting stands...
A
topic that likely gets the least
amount of media ink or discussion,
yet is one of the most critical as-
pects of successfully taking mature
bucks anywhere is the; making,
marking, annually manicuring for
noise associated with, and correct daytime use
per location of entry and exit routes.
Unless its a kill article, I typically go off on
an extensive, lengthy tirade about the vast differ-
ences between the hunting skillsets and work re-
quired to take mature bucks in heavily pressured
areas vs. that of taking them in lightly pressured
or kill criteria managed areas because the differ-
ences are stark and absolute.
Spooking deer however, is spooking deer, no
matter where you hunt. And when specifically
targeting mature bucks, phenomenal hunting
locations on any type of property can be ruined if
invasive routes that spook deer either going to or
exiting your location are used.
There is a difference, however, between the
security cover landscape mature bucks in heavily
pressured areas require for daytime movements
versus that of what mature bucks in lightly pres-
sured and managed areas do. In heavily pressured
areas, entry and exit routes will typically require
a lot more work and definitely more forethought
because the few mature bucks that exist have
been programmed by us to avoid us at all costs
otherwise theyd likely be dead.
Ive hunted in lightly hunted states and can
guarantee that every aspect of the hunt in such
areas is much easier and requires much less work
and forethought to be successful.
Michigan is the most heavily pres-
sured bowhunting state in the country,
and when pursuing those few and far
between mature bucks, youll have
higher percentage kill opportunities
when you plan out and use non-inva-
sive routes or do whatever is neces-
sary for access, than if you walk short,
direct and convenient routes that may
potentially ruin that hunt and,
By John Eberhart
in turn, lower your odds on
future hunts at that location as
well.
Its very common for me to spend more time
properly creating and marking entry and exit
routes than actually preparing a new locations
tree and its shooting lanes. It must also be added
that unless I get free permission on a new piece
of property or check out a new piece of public
ground in the summer, at least 90 percent of my
new location preparation and entry and exit route
work is done during post season prior to the end
of April or spring green-up.
After a location is set-up, several questions
need to be answered before considering your
routes in and out, which are oftentimes different.
48 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
What time of season is the location best suited
for? Is it a morning, midday, evening, or all
day hunting location? Is it a destination feeding
location such as a mast or fruit tree
that may bear food in the fall? Where
might the deer be when youre ap-
proaching or departing the site? How
can I get there and depart with the least
chance of spooking deer? And some-
thing thats very important, exactly
what is your honest evaluation of your
scent control regiment?
Hunting locations should always
be prepared knowing exactly
what time of season and time
of day they are best suited for,
and very frequently I base my decision on what
time of day they get hunted strictly on when I can
access them with the least disturbance impact.
The goal is to always enter and exit through the
areas where deer are least likely to be at that
specific time.
For instance, I have several locations pre-
pared next to isolated apple trees and a few others
at white oaks within timber with some security
understudy, but not enough to bed in for the day.
There are typically deer at or loitering close to
these destination feeding locations prior to day-
light, so these locations are all evening locations,
Michigan is the
most heavily pressured
bowhunting state in
the country and when
pursuing those far
and few between
mature bucks, youll
have higher percent-
age kill opportunities
when you plan out
and use non-invasive
routes or do whatever
is necessary for
access! Author photos
as morning entries would spook deer feeding at
them.
The downside is that I often have to wait until
there is a break in the after dark feeding activity
at these locations before I can exit them, and its
rare that I dont spook something on my way out,
no matter the exit route. None of them get hunted
more than three times per season in an attempt to
not shut down the daytime feeding activity of the
does that attract mature bucks to the location for
reasons other than just feeding.
On morning hunts, prior to daybreak entries
must be such that you avoid crossing or going
along edges of short crop fields, through oak lad-
en timber, or by or to fruit trees, all of which are
where deer may be feeding, otherwise you may
spook the very deer youre trying to kill. When
pursuing mature bucks, spooking any deer within
earshot will get their attention and very likely
cause them to alter their movements or prema-
turely head to their bedding area before daybreak.
This does not go unnoticed by other mature deer
within earshot of any spooked deer as they have
lived and know the gig.
Morning entry routes should be through ter-
rain features where deer are least likely to be at
night, such as along swamp edges, weed fields,
groomed routes through brushy areas, timber
Entry and exit routes page 50
 Arguably there is no one more adept at consistently
filling his tags on heavily pressured trophy whitetail
bucks than John Eberhart. I would like to think that
after 40 years of pursuing whitetails across North
America that I know a thing or two about bowhunting
them. However, there is one whitetail expert out there
who's advice I still heed when I hear or read it and
that is John Eberhart. John knows whitetail deer and
what it takes to consistently be successful, year after
year. As I mentioned earlier, when John talks, I listen.
Tom Nelson, Host
American Archer TV Show

"John Eberhart is the most impressive whitetail

hunter Ive ever met. His ability to dissect hunting
properties and target specific animals is legendary.
John is also an extremely effective hunting educator
who is always willing to share his tips and tactics with
others. His skills and abilities make him one of the
most popular guests on my Outdoor Magazine Radio
show.."
Mike Avery

Real deer hunting experts are the guys who can kill
John Eberharts Whitetail Workshops free-ranging deer on their own, and do it through hard
work and determination, not through a fat wallet or a
friend who happens to be a land baron. I've been un-
believably fortunate to have known and learned how
to hunt from a handful of true whitetail pioneers. John
Eberhart is near the top of the list. His no short-cuts
and Scouting Properties approach to hunting pressured deer is among the
best I've seen in my 20+ years with Deer & Deer Hunt-
Whether hunting public land, free permission, family owned, leased, managed or previously manipulated properties, or travel hunting; attending one of ing, America's First and Foremost Whitetail Source.
John Eberharts Whitetail Workshops or having John scout your property will provide the insights to make you a serious threat to any buck you pursue.
Dan Schmidt, Editor-in-Chief
Hunters spend a lot of money on upgrading equipment, hunting gadgets, vehicle upkeep and gas thinking it will make them more successful; and that cant Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine
be farther from the truth. Theres truth to the old saying, its not the bow, its the Indian.
I was brought up in a hunting family and blessed
Workshops are 2 day events with the in-field day taking place on a property Johns hunted 9 seasons and took 5 record book bucks from. John will show his with a curious mind and a strong desire to learn.
locations and explain: location preparation, stand heights, shooting lanes and entry and exit routes, primary scrapes, hunting with bedding areas, proper Having been in the hunting industry since 1991, Ive
seasonal and daily timing, strategies, techniques and tactics for each location, scent control and much more. discussed hunting techniques, tactics and observa-
tions with many industry writers, TV and video hunting
Why John to scout your property? In 53 seasons hes scouted 17 public parcels, dozens of free permission properties in Michigan, and has taken 57 mature personalities, and guides. Most agree that due to
bucks from them. Hes scouted 13 properties on his 21 out of state trips and took 19 P&Y bucks from them. The real qualifier is hes never paid to hunt their cunning behavior and ability to adapt, that tak-
anywhere, choosing to exclusively hunt heavily pressured public land, free walk-on, and knock on doors for free permission properties. ing a mature whitetail buck in a pressured area is the
ultimate trophy. No hunter has shown more insight,
Begin utilizing your scouting and hunting time to its fullest potential by attending an Eberharts Whitetail Workshop or having John scout your property. fortitude, in depth knowledge and had more success
on pressured mature bucks than John Eberhart. If I
Workshops will take place near Edmore Michigan on . . . had new land, wanted to learn the best way to hunt
an existing property and otherwise wanted my best
July 29-30 August 12-13 August 19-20 September 23-24 opportunity at taking trophy bucks, John would be my
go to person for guidance. Johns advice has aided
me on taking specific bucks and made me a better
For information on John Eberharts Whitetail Workshop or for John to scout your property please visit: overall hunter; knowledge I may never have gained
even in 100 years of hunting! Invaluable lessons!
www.deer-john.net or www.eberhartswhitetailworkshop.com or contact John by phone Greg Sesselmann
Founder and Inventor of Scentlok Technologies
in the evenings at: 989-644-6067 or e-mail at: deerjohn51@gmail.com

WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 49


Entry and exit routes
from page 48
without mast or fruit trees, edges of standing
corn, down a creek bed, ditch, or gulley. Basical-
ly before daylight entry routes should be through
areas deer may transition through after daylight
to be less vulnerable or areas where deer will
eventually bed for the day.
Oftentimes a morning hunts entry route
shouldnt be used as the exit route because the
deer have moved from where they were before
daylight and may now be bedded at or very near
your entry route and every attempt must be made
not to or spook as few deer as possible.
Evening entry routes are much easier to deci-
pher because deer will typically be more confined
within some form of security cover or within
known bedding areas. You can walk across short
crop fields, through open areas, or through ma-
ture open timber with no understudy because deer
will likely not be bedded in those areas during an
evening entry.
After dark exit routes, however, are often-
times different than the entry route because
after dark most deer will have likely moved into
the open feeding areas or will be transitioning
through the open areas you entered through. After
dark, mature deer dont require security cover to
transition through.
If you hunt the same location both mornings
and evenings, your prior to daybreak entry route
should also be your after dark exit route and your
late morning exit route should also be your early
evening entry route.
I love hunting within bedding areas where
mature deer spend most of their day, however, I
only hunt these locations during the first day or
two of season and then during the rut phases only.
If youre strictly a morning or evening hunter
and cant sit all day, interior bedding area loca-
tions are nearly impossible to hunt without being
detected with either your morning departure or
your evening access.
When hunting within bedding areas, there
should be a strategic plan for an all-day hunt
with at least a 1 hour prior to daybreak en-
try and half an hour after dark exit so as not to
spook deer bedded within them. For all-day hunts
within bedding areas, both your entry and exit
need to be in pitch dark when deer that bed in
them are likely to be feeding elsewhere. When
hunting such areas, the same non-invasive route
can be used for access and departures.
Another aspect of entries and exits that gets
no ink or footage is that in heavily pressured ar-
eas, spooking deer with your exits can be nearly
as detrimental as spooking deer with your entries.
Once a hunt is over, many hunters pay no
mind to the amount of noise they make get-
ting out of their tree and exiting the area, or the
amount of light they shine through the woods
with their high lumen flashlights or headlamps
after dark. Do this a time or two and any poten-
tial mature buck activity at that location during
daylight may completely dry up, not to mention
the possibility of having a mature buck take on
more nocturnal movement patterns that can affect
your entire season in that area. Even altering doe
activity by spooking them after dark, effects fu-
ture buck activity as all mature buck movements
during the rut phases revolves around current doe
activity.
50 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
Ive had the opportunity to hunt with sev-
eral seasoned hunters that have been somewhat
consistent at taking mature bucks out of state,
yet have had minimal success on mature bucks
in their home state of Michigan, and while Ive
kept my mouth shut, have been shocked by some
of their entry and departure routes, how bright a
light they used, and how noisy they were once a
hunt was over.
Because I exclusively hunt public and knock
on doors for free permission properties where
there are other hunters, and my morning entries
and evening exits are always earlier or later
than the other hunters so as not to spook deer,
on many occasions Ive witnessed other hunters
enter and depart on severely invasive routes and
ascend and descend their trees with high lumen
headlamps shining wherever their heads turned.
Unknowingly to them, they were spooking deer
because on morning hunts they would oftentimes
escape past me and ruin my hunt as well.
Entry and exit routes cleared through brush
require a lot of work and can take a long time
and portions of the route will likely end up as
portions of deer runways as mature deer typi-
cally travel the path of least resistance as long as
theres adequate security cover to warrant it.
On all routes and especially those through
brush, tall weeds, marshes or anyplace any piece
of your clothing will be coming into contact with
vegetation, human odor is an instant issue.
When targeting mature bucks in heavily pres-
sured areas, any trace amounts of human odor left
along a route is a huge issue as mature deer will
react to it, lowering your shot opportunity per-
centages. When choosing and or making routes,
if your scent control regiment is inadequate
youll leave a residual scent ribbon of odor and
this is especially true when walking through tall
grasses, weeds, marshes, or brush where youll
have no option but to brush against vegetation.
Always make every attempt to make routes to
avoid crossing runways and that are through the
least amount of tall vegetation.
Prior to adopting my current scent control
regiment, I would leave a faint scent ribbon of
human odor along my entry route. Typically
whenever a mature buck would hit my entry route
he would immediately turn and leave. Mature
does reacted a bit differently as some would stop
for a moment before exiting the scene and others
would stop, stomp the ground leaving their strong
interdigital gland odor which was a danger sign
to other deer, maybe snort, and then exit in the
direction they came from.
With my current scent control regiment I pay
zero attention to wind direction and am not in any
Its about using proper
entry and depar ture
routes so as not to alarm
any deer or any more
deer than possible, of
your presence. Its really
simple, the better pre-
pared you are, the more
successful youll be.
manner concerned about odor left behind during
an entry. I still occasionally have deer stop when
they cross my path, but they do it out of curiosity
because they can detect that the earth, grasses or
weeds had been disturbed, but they cant smell
who the perpetrator was.
After they sniff the ground for a moment or
follow my path a brief distance trying to catch the
identifiable odor of the culprit that recently took
that route, they lose interest and in the same casu-
al state in which they came in, go on about their
business. If your scent control is such that mature
deer do this when they intercept your route, your
scent control regiment is pretty darn good.
I used to use the best non-scent soaps, sham-
poos, deodorants, clothing detergents, and scent
eliminating sprays but they were and still are
severely inadequate as a total scent control pro-
gram. Deer are far more tolerant of human odor
in the heavily pressured areas you and I hunt.
Another prime objective for entry and exit
routes is to mark them.
After the summer growth of vegetation and
foliage your routes may look much different
than when you prepared them during post season
when everything was bare, making them very
difficult if not impossible to follow in the dark.
The ideal scenario in the dark is to follow an
exact route and not take one step outside it and
subtle reflective tacks and bread tie markers make
it easy.
Struggling in the dark to follow a route cre-
ates more noise, stress, anxiety, makes you sweat,
and makes you more likely to wander off your
route and contact more vegetation and brush
which depending on your scent regiment, can
leave additional odor. None of which are good.
On public lands and knock on doors for permis-
sion properties where there will be other hunters
you dont know, the last thing you want to do is
put white reflective tacks every few yards to your
locations as white tacks are easy to spot in the
daytime. If youre not concerned with other hunt-
ers finding and following your markers, definitely
use white tacks because their reflection can be
seen farther than any other colored tacks.
In areas where youre concerned about other
hunters following your tacks and finding your
locations, use HMEs brown reflective tacks
because they blend in well with tree bark mak-
ing them difficult for other hunters to see during
daylight.
In marshes, tall weeds, and through brush
with limp branches, use Hunter Specialties reflec-
tive bread ties. Make sure to cut back branches,
new buds, and other vegetation that would other-
wise grow or leaf out during summer and block
the view of your tacks or ties.
When marking routes, whenever a sharp turn
is required, put two tacks in the tree, this will
let you know to search right or left for the next
marker.
The goal is to space markers so they are easy
for you to follow with whatever lumen light you
use, yet difficult for someone else that doesnt
know the route. At home in the dark, test the
reflection distance of whatever tacks and ties you
use with your hunting flashlight to assure marker
spacing is adequate. Personally I use a single
AAA battery penlight which is sufficient for
locating tacks in the dark without shining a bright
beam through the area.
Once routes are finished, make notes on your
aerial photos or maps as to your entry and exit
routes to each location. I do this by making dots
along each route with the tip of a black marker.
Depending on the difficulty of the route and how
frequently you hunt it, after a few hunts you may
not need the notes, but there have been times I
hadnt hunted a location in a couple years and the
notes came in handy.
Once I finish preparing new locations and
entry and exit routes on a given property during
post season, I go to my previous seasons loca-
tions and trim new growth in shooting lanes and
in the tree, clean up deer runways and my entry
and exit routes of dead debris, and where needed,
replace reflective tacks to assure easy accesses
and exits for the fall season. These practices are
complete by early June.
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While its nearly impossible to achieve in
heavily pressured areas where security cover is
typically a requirement for daytime mature buck
movements, the perfect scenario for an entry
route is to be able to walk the last 100 yards to
your location without touching any brush or tall
vegetation.
I have several locations in timber with dense
understudy that require a more stealthy entry than
normal because they are either within earshot of a
crop field or run along the edge of a swamp/bed-
ding area. Prior to season while utilizing the same
scent control regiment as during a hunt, as quietly
as possible I walk those entry routes and pick up
twigs and small branches that have fell on them
and lay them to the side and also trim any head
height overgrowth with snips.
Something really interesting and quite differ-
ent is that in heavily pressured areas the snapping
of a twig on a pre-dawn entry can spook nearby
deer and make the difference between receiving
a morning opportunity or not. Quite the contrary,
on my out of state hunts in lightly hunted areas
where there are a lot of mature bucks vying for
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breeding rights, my pre-dawn concern with snap-
ping a twig is that it will get the attention of a dis-
tant buck and cause him to come see what made
the noise. Its just another world in some states.
In summation, its not about unnecessary long
walks, its about using proper entry and depar-
ture routes so as not to alarm any deer or any
more deer than possible, of your presence. The
best entry route to a location may be that direct
short route and yet the best exit route from that
same location may be four times the distance and
through a totally different part of the property.
Its really simple, the better prepared you are,
the more successful youll be.
John Eberhart is an accomplished bowhunter
specializing in heavy consequential hunting
pressure areas. In his 53 seasons hes scouted
17 public land parcels and dozens of free
permission properties in Michigan and has
taken 57 mature bucks from them. He has
never paid a dime to hunt anywhere, choosing
to exclusively hunt heavily pressured public
land, free walk-on, and knock on doors for free
permission properties without using bait. John
is offering two-day in-field/classroom Whitetail
Workshops that will take years off your deer
hunting learning curve by showing you in the
field what it takes to put yourself on the best
bucks whatever the area youre hunting has to
offer. Learn more about his workshops, scout-
ing properties, instructional books and DVDs at:
www.eberhartswhitetailworkshop.com or www.
deer-john.net.n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 51
Gun Chat: Pin shooting returns!
F
rom 1988 to 1998 I spent
a week each June at the
Second Chance Bowling Pin
Shoot in Central Lake, MI.
Richard Davis, head of the
Second Chance Body Armor
Co., dreamed up, and ran, the event
from 1975 to 1998. The first few
shoots were only for police, but by the
mid-seventies Davis had opened it up
to regular folks. I found out about the
match in the late 1970s in an article
by policeman, trainer and author,
Masaad Ayoob. But it took
me years to actually attend.
Once started, I kept on until
the shoot ended in 1998.
I never thought it would
return. But something very
like the old match was held
this year.
June 9-16 Richard Davis
and his son Matt held The
By Lee Arten
Pin Shoot. It was spon-
sored by Armor Express
of Central Lake, Matts
company. The events were a bit dif-
ferent than the old match. They were
held on what was The Back Range
(practice range) at the old shoot.
Richard Davis had a lot of work done
there. The range has tall, thick berms,
new pin tables, and an improved
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52 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
rifle and shotgun range. Ive shot on
ranges from Kalamazoo to Keweenaw
County and the new setup is one of
the most impressive private ranges
Ive seen.
I went to the match to shoot pins
and to see who else from the old shoot
would attend. Other shooters seem to
have had the same idea. Many conver-
sations started, I remember you...
or You look familiar, but I cant re-
member what your name is... (I said
both things myself.) In the 18 years
since the Second Chance
shoot ended, some of us aged
a bit. One shooter got around
on crutches and several used
canes. Everybody I saw
shot pretty well, despite the
years that had passed. I shot
more accurately than I used
to, but was slower. With a
year to practice maybe I can
do something about
the slowness. There
were also first-timers
at The Pin Shoot. One looked a lot
like someone I used to see at Second
Chance, but it was his first match. He
said, if its at all possible, it wont be
his last.
Since Id brought a box of poorly
crimped reloads, I shot badly with my
Author shoot-
ing the 12 X 12
event at The Pin
Shoot. Kathleen
Ar ten photo
.41 Magnum M57 and M657 revolv-
ers on my five pin event. I did better
with my pin gun in one of the shoot
offs, but not well enough to beat ei-
ther of the two men shooting on either
side of me. I didnt leave any pins on
the table in that shoot off, and didnt
hit any of the blue no-shoot pins
either. The second one was single-
elimination and I lasted just one table.
I missed one pin and my pin gun,
which had been running perfectly, had
a failure to go into battery on the third
shot I fired. I cleared the table but it
took me 12.6 seconds which was way
too slow.
I competed in one shotgun event,
shooting slugs at targets out to 90
yards. My Mossberg had been sighted
in for deer at 50 yards and Id shot it
out to 100. I had little trouble hit-
ting the steel targets, but wasnt fast
enough to get all of them in the
allotted 90 seconds. That event
looks simple, but is deceptive.
(Note: bring a semiauto shotgun
and wear a PAST recoil reducer
next year!)
I spent a lot of time, and money,
on the commercial row at the Sec-
ond Chance Shoot. It was the place
to get magazines, gun parts, and see
and handle custom guns made by the
gunsmiths who set up tents and trail-
ers there. I also got some gun work
done while I was at the old shoot.
There was no commercial row at the
2017 Pin Shoot but there may be one
at later shoots.
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Some gunsmiths were at the shoot
as observers, or participants. One
fixed a minor problem with my pin
gun that had me stumped for too long.
If there are smiths doing business at
the 2018 Pin Shoot, Ill bring a couple
of guns to get worked on.
I remember being stressed about
clearing tables at the old shoot. This
year, at least, I was so glad to be
shooting pins again, that I had fun no
matter what happened. That seemed
to be the general attitude at The Pin
Shoot this year. I heard a few minor
complaints, but no arguments during
the entire shoot. Science fiction writer,
Robert Heinlein, wrote, An armed
society is a polite society. At The Pin
Shoot we were extremely well-armed,
and quite polite.
The Pin Shoot had something for
almost every shooter. A new event
that caught my eye was called The
Big Push. It required a heavy caliber
handgun. Shooters had to clear three
pins off of a 14.5 foot long table.
Most shooters used revolvers but I
saw a couple try it with pistols, one
a 1911 type in .50 GI caliber. I didnt
enter because I dont own a hand-
gun in a large enough caliber. That
problem may be fixed before the next
shoot.
Descriptions of the pin sets, the
events, and videos from the old shoot,
can be found at www.pinshoot.com.
There may be new events at the next
match. Richard Davis has a year to
think some up.n
 Michigan Pheasant Restoration
Initiative annual report available
M
ichigan Pheasant
Restoration Initiative
coalition partners
recently compiled a
2016 annual report,
now available at
michiganpheasantsforever.org/habi-
tat.
Highlights of the report, which
details the initiatives accomplish-
ments in 2016, include:
Sixteen pheasant cooperatives
actively are working, with 14 more
cooperatives currently in develop-
ment.
On state game areas, 2,053
acres of grasslands were enhanced,
308 acres of grasslands were estab-
lished, 310 acres of food plots were
planted and 380 wetland acres were
enhanced.
Michigan Pheasant Restoration
Initiative coalition partners helped
to enhance 5,567 acres of grass-
lands, establish 621 acres of grass-
land, plant 14,326 acres of food
plots, enhance 233 wetland acres
and restore 1,691 wetland acres.
The Michigan Department of
Natural Resources provided techni-
cal and financial assistance to 31
landowners, with 1,138 acres of
improved habitat. MPRI Farm Bill
biologists provided technical and
financial assistance to 566 landown-
ers, with 5,639 acres of improved
habitat.
There are currently 173 proper-
ties and 15,841 acres enrolled in the
Hunting Access Program, which of-
fers public hunting opportunities in
urban and agricultural areas. Five of
these properties, totaling 529 acres,
were added in 2016.
One hundred and twenty acres
of potential pheasant habitat have
been purchased as part of Watkins
Lake State Park and County Pre-
serve in Jackson County, and 300
acres of potential pheasant habitat
were acquired in northwestern Mon-
roe County.
Over $400,000 was granted to
MPRI projects through the Wildlife
Habitat Grant Program, and more
than 1,451 grassland acres were
enhanced.
The DNR received a $500,000
Competitive State Wildlife Grant
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-
vice to study grassland management
techniques. Funds will be used over
the next three years to monitor the
impact of prescribed fire and disking
on plant and pollinating insect diver-
sity in established grasslands.
The MPRI coalition offered
121 education and recruitment
events, with nearly 7,500 partici-
pants, in 2016.
The MPRI coalition contin-
ues to make great strides in restor-
ing habitat, providing access and
introducing young people to outdoor
skills, said Pheasants Forever re-
gional coordinator Bill VanderZou-
wen. We are busy setting goals for
the second five years of the MPRI
Pheasant Plan. We all need to be
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The Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative, a coalition of conser-
vation par tners, is working to restore and enhance Michigan pheas-
ant habitat, populations and hunting oppor tunities.
advocating for conservation provi-
sions in the next Farm Bill that af-
fect more farmland wildlife habitat
in Michigan than all other programs
combined.
The Michigan Pheasant Resto-
ration Initiative is a conservation
initiative to restore and enhance
Michigan pheasant habitat, popula-
tions, and hunting opportunities on
private and public lands via pheas-
ant cooperatives. The initiative
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28. Ruger American bolt action 450 bushmaster
29. Benelli Nova pump vent rib 20 ga.
30. STIHL 12 Saw w/battery/chg
31. Remington 870 cantilever slug gun 20 ga.
32. Ruger American bolt action 30-06
$
150
33. H & R Pardner pump walnut vent rib 20 ga.
34. Ruger American bolt action 450 bushmaster
PER GUN 35. Savage bolt action w/scope 30-06
36. Mossberg semi auto 25 round magizine 22
37. Tri Star over under Setter vent rib 410
38. Browning semi auto Buck Mark 22
39. Ruger American bolt action 450 bushmaster
40. Savage bolt action tactical tan 308
41. Ruger American bolt action 30-06
42. Tri Star Hi-gloss semi auto vent rib 12 ga.
43. Henry lever action walnut 22
44. Ruger American bolt action 450 bushmaster
73. Ruger American bolt action 223
74. Weatherby Hi-gloss semi auto vent rib 12 ga.
75. Savage 93 bolt action 17 HMR
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77. Tri Star Hi-gloss semi auto vent rib 12 ga,
78. H&R Pardner pump walnut vent rib 12 ga.
79. Ruger American bolt action 30-06
80. Taurus Judge revolver 45/410
81. Ruger American bolt action 450 bushmaster
82. Browning semi auto Buck Mark 22
83. Bushmaster AR-15 semi auto 223
84. Ruger American semi auto pistol 45
85. Savage 220 bolt action slug gun camo 20 ga.
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87. H & R Pardner pump walnut vent rib 12 ga.
88. Tri Star Hi-gloss semi auto vent rib 12 ga.
89. Ruger American bolt action 30-06
90. Savage bolt action tactical tan 223
91. Ruger American bolt action 450 bushmaster
92. Mossberg 7 shot home defense shotgun 12 ga.
93. Ruger LCP semi auto pocket pistol 380
94. CVA fully rifled slug gun 20 ga.
95. Remington 870 pump vent rib 20 ga.
124. Mossberg 7 shot home defense shotgun 12 ga.
125. Ruger American bolt action 30-06
126. Henry lever action walnut 22
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133. Ruger American bolt action 450 bushmaster
134. CVA single shot rifle 44 mag
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137. Winchester Super X field walnut pump 12 ga.
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140. Smith & Wesson stainless semi auto 9mm
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146. Henry Golden boy lever action 22

September 1ST - September 25TH, 2017 45. STIHL 12 Saw w/battery/chg

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98. STIHL 12 Saw w/battery/chg
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 53
Wildlife 911: On Patrol
Book Review...By Drew YoungeDyke
M
ost of us have now heard of the
poacher sentenced to jail in June
for illegally shooting a deer over
a dump truck load of bait. While
the penalties are new, the illegal
practice is not. Retired conserva-
tion officer John Borkevich once caught a poacher
who shot a buck with a rifle during bow season
over a 2,000-pound bait pile! Borkevich vividly
describes incidents like this from throughout his
storied 27-year career as a Michigan conservation
officer in his new nonfiction book, Wildlife 911:
On Patrol, published by Arbutus Press in Traverse
City.
Wildlife 911: On Patrol is a collection of de-
tailed stories from his career, each story standing
on its own as a separate chapter. This format serves
the book well, as readers can read one story at a
time, if they wish. Or rather, if they are able. Like
a Netflix binge, its hard to stop at one: If youre
not careful, you might spend the whole day turn-
ing pages to find out what adventure Borkevich has
next! Thats what makes this book so enjoyable:
it doesnt read like a dry police report. Its honest,
humorous, and heartfelt, but also intense, making
you realize that our conservation officers are law
enforcement officers, and often find themselves
in the most dangerous situations we ask of law
enforcement; after all, most of their interactions
involve subjects already holding firearms.
Many stories from Wildlife 911: On Patrol
dramatically illustrate this concept. Borkevich once
had to sneak into a situation and arrest five unli-
censed poachers, in possession of bullet-proof vests
and in full camo during firearm season, with an
actual centerfire sniper rifle - in the shotgun zone.
Another story details a response to a breaking and
entering call ending with a struggle over a Saturday
Night Special the suspect was trying to pull out
of his pocket. Perhaps the most harrowing found
Borkevich rounding the corner of a barn to find a
poacher pointing a rifle at him. This story also dem-
onstrates the amazing restraint and cool head our
conservation officers must possess, as Borkevich
refrained from pulling his trigger, got the subject to
drop the rifle, and - after a struggle - placed him in
handcuffs.
Not all of the stories are as dramatic, but rather
ironic and humorous, especially when poachers are
caught but dont yet know it. So many of the stories
begin with a tip or an observation while Borkevich
is on patrol. Evidence is observed. The subjects are
questioned. Almost everyone starts with a lie, most
of which Borkevich already knew was a lie. When
he debunks the first lie, a second is given, then a
third. Once the truth of what happened is admitted,
an excuse is given. Once that excuse is debunked,
a second or third is given until, finally the truth is
admitted.
This should be a good lesson for every sports-
man that you cannot fool a conservation officer.
They spend more time in the woods than anyone
other than the wildlife, and their full-time job is
to catch people breaking the game laws. They go
through training, then develop that training into ex-
perience over decades to become expert at it. They
know how to sneak through the woods and watch
you with binoculars when you dont know theyre
there. They know how to spot the evidence that
tells them exactly what happened no matter what
you tell them. Whatever lie you think you can tell
54 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
them, theyve already heard it. Whatever excuse
you give for your actions, theyve heard that, too.
If you didnt already know it, reading this book
should make you realize that the only course of
action in the woods is to follow the law and respect
the animals.
That respect for the animals is apparent
throughout Wildlife 911: On Patrol. While some
hunters may view the purpose of a conservation
officer as being out to get them, their purpose is
the conservation of our fish, wildlife and natural
resources. Borkevich writes with genuine empathy
about having to put down a deer hit by a car, and
with genuine anger and frustration at poachers who
thrill-killed dozens of deer to let them waste. Our
conservation officers are not adversaries to hunt-
ers; they are partners in conserving our wildlife by
diligently enforcing the laws which protect them.
I think one of my favorite stories in Wildlife
911: On Patrol is called Auto Parts Litter Case.
As Borkevich and his father, Walt - who was rid-
ing along as a volunteer CO - were patrolling the
Port Huron State Game Area during Spring Tur-
key season, they noticed a van moving slowly, as
if the driver was looking for place to road hunt.
Approaching the van, they saw no shotgun in the
shotgun seat but rather old auto parts, and realized
the driver was looking for a place to dump them.
While working for Michigan United Conserva-
tion Clubs organizing public land wildlife habitat
projects - mostly on state game areas - I saw many
such dump piles defiling our states public lands,
and theres little that makes me angrier. Some of
our projects included volunteers removing trash
like that, so I know how much hard work is in-
volved in cleaning up what should have never been
there in the first place.
Thats why I read with delight as Borkevich
describes telling the driver that, since hes clearly
not a poacher, they needed to investigate poaching
activity in the Lapeer State Game Area and drove
away, only to double back through the woods and
watch the van as the driver dumped every last auto
part over a hill into a creek. Borkevich stopped
him before he could drive away and they made
a deal: Borkevich would only write him a ticket,
instead of arresting him, if he went down the hill
and retrieved all of it. The litterer agreed, each trip
taking over twenty minutes down and up, and the
COs laughed when the litterer stopped to throw
up before resuming the clean-up - saving twenty
volunteers a future Saturday better spent enhancing
wildlife habitat!
Perhaps Borkevichs most lasting legacy will
not be what happened on patrol catching bad be-
havior, but rather his contribution to deterring that
behavior in the first place. While Borkevich had
retired by the time the excessive baiter received a
jail and restitution sentence in June, he had a hand
in it.
In 2011, Jim Pryce of the Tri-County Sports-
mens Club in Saline brought a resolution to the
Michigan United Conservation Clubs annual con-
vention to increase restitution fees on antlered deer.
In 2013, that resolution had blossomed into a leg-
islative package which did that and also increased
fines for recreational trespass. In 2015, that model
was used for another legislative package which
increased poaching penalties and restitution fees for
other species including elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl
and eagles. During my time working for Michigan
United Conservation Clubs, I was privileged to
work on passing both anti-poaching packages as
part of my communications responsibilities for the
organization.
What I didnt fully realize until reading Wild-
life 911: On Patrol, though, was how much that
first anti-poaching bill originated as an idea from
John Borkevich as a necessary policy change
based on his years of experience in the field. I
knew that once Jim Pryce heard about the problem
from Borkevich at a district meeting at MUCC, he
became a tireless champion of seeing it through.
The problem was that poachers disproportionately
targeted bucks with big antlers - clearly not poach-
ing for meat while passing up does - and yet the
penalties were the same. At the same time, fenced
captive cervid shooting operations charged $10,000
or more for a trophy buck, creating an incentive
for some poachers to break the rules to get a tro-
phy buck. Borkevichs solution: tie the penalty to
incentive. The bigger the buck, the bigger the fine.
He writes about talking about the idea at nu-
merous meetings and sportsmens clubs, enlisting
Pryce, Ron Pinson and Ray Peltier to help make it
happen. Their grassroots push worked, the law was
passed, expanded, and now - as we can see - its
actually starting to get enforced. When Michigan
headlines circulate the country for our tough poach-
ing penalties - whereas we used to be known for
our weak ones - the smarter poachers (an oxymo-
ron, perhaps) will go somewhere else, start follow-
ing the rules, or else pay the price.
Its easy to see why John Borkevich was
awarded as the Michigan Conservation Officer of
the Year and the Shikar Safari International Wild-
life Officer of the Year during his exemplary career.
Whats special about this book, though, is not just
the bravery, judgment, diligence and skill exhib-
ited by Borkevich during these stories, but how it
reflects on all our conservation officers and what
we ask them to do on a daily basis. It should be a
required read for every hunter, angler, trapper, and
especially every student attending hunters safety. I
know it will have a place at my deer camp.
Wildlife 911: On Patrol can be purchased online
at www.wildlife911officer.com or at stores, shops
and businesses throughout the state including Jays
Sporting Goods and Cops and Donuts, both with
locations in Clare and Gaylord, Gander Mountain,
Williams Gun Sights and other locations through
Michigan.n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 55
 WOLF vs COYOTE
Can coyotes and wolves coexist
in the Northern Great Lakes
Region with fewer whitetails?
For example, according to Michigan DNR wildlife biologist
Kevin Swanson, there were only three wolves in the Upper Penin-
sula (UP) of Michigan in 1989. Today, there are a little more than
600 wolves in the UP. About the same numbers have been tallied in
northern Wisconsin and they are doing even better in northern Min-
nesota. In addition, wolves recently reintroduced to such areas as
Yellowstone National Park seem to be thriving.
Its important to recognize, however, that newly introduced or
recovering mammal species typically achieve artificially high num-
bers only to decrease somewhat later and level-off at a lower density.
Even white-tailed deer living in southern parts of Michigans
UP have recently exhibited this phenomenon, going from low By John Ozoga
killed deer within 24 hours after abandonment by wolves. Although
wolves occasionally killed coyotes, the investigators found no evi-
dence of wolves actively searching for coyotes. Neither was there any
evidence that coyotes adjusted their movements to avoid wolves.
In areas where elk serve as the major winter food for both wolves
and coyotes, wolves tend to kill the elk while coyotes scavenge the
remains. Because predation on large prey, such as elk, involves con-
siderable risk of injury and is likely energetically expensive owing to
a low rate of success, there is no apparent advantage in killing prey
if coyotes have a good quality food that can be scavenged. However,
it may be a different story when both predators must exist pri-
marily upon smaller prey such as deer.

D
Coyotes are more proficient at finding and killing newborn fawns whereas
wolves are more adept at capturing adult deer. Rick Baetsen photos
espite their inherent behavioral differences, gray wolves
and coyotes share one common dietary interest: white-tailed
deer. Where they coexist, at least on northern range, venison
serves as the primary winter food for wolves and coyotes,
and its availability may ultimately determine whether popu-
lations of both predators flourish or fail.
Generally speaking, wolves are more adept at capturing
adult deer whereas coyotes are more proficient at finding
and killing newborn fawns. Coyotes also tend to be more omnivorous -- mean-
ing they eat vegetable as well as animal materials -- and tend to rely on scav-
enging deer remains, whereas wolves are more inclined to seek live prey.
Needless to say, if they could compatibly share the same range, wolves and
coyotes would make a deadly deer-killer team. The important question is, of
course, since wolves also kill coyotes when given the chance (just as coyotes
kill foxes), can the two canids coexist? Or, as wolves re-establish themselves,
and become more socially organized, as they appear to be doing, will they
gradually crowd-out coyotes?
Although some biologists may argue the point, the best evidence indicates
that the relative abundance of all three species, predators and prey -- has de-
clined during the past 5-10 years throughout the northern Great Lakes region.
Determining reasons for such possible trends are even more arguable.
History
The coyote was originally an animal of the western prairie, before the white
man arrived with ax and plow. Since then, it has greatly extended its range --
in spite of mans traps, guns, and poisons. Indeed, mans past failed efforts to
control coyotes seems to have created a super coyote.
In fact, pioneer ecologist Stanley P. Young suggested it may have been
mans persecution that encouraged the coyotes spread through the centuries.
Today, coyotes can be found from well into Central America to near Point
Barrow Alaska, eastward to Hudson Bay, New Brunswick, Maine, and across
most of the western and Midwestern U.S. Most recently, coyotes also have
invaded the Southeast, where they are now abundant and highly controversial.
Gray wolves, on the other hand, have not fared so well in the presence of
man. This canid occurs throughout the arctic and formerly occurred southward
throughout the United States (except for the Southeast) and into Mexico. How-
ever, man extirpated wolves from almost all of the southern part of its North
American range by the early to mid-1900s.
Due largely to improving habitat, human tolerance, reintroductions, and a
number of contributing factors we dont fully understand, wolves have made
an impressive comeback in the past couple of decades across portions of their
former southern range.
56 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
densities in the 1960s to ridiculously high densities (of 100 deer
or more per square mile) in some areas during the 1990s, to sharply reduced
numbers in recent years.
As wolves disappeared in the past, coyotes quickly moved in to occupy the
vacated range. Now, the reverse seems to be taking place; wolves are moving
into reclaim range coyotes have occupied for the past 100 years or more.
Some biologists support the view that wolves will replace coyotes in certain
areas. Others suggest the clever coyote will learn to coexist with wolves.
There is scientific evidence to support both views.
The Isle Royale Story
Historically, wolves may have played an important role in replacing coy-
otes on Isle Royale, located at the west end of Lake Superior. In less than 60
short years, the coyote arrived on Isle Royale, prospered for a time, declined,
and then disappeared altogether.
Coyotes probably reached Isle Royale by traveling over the ice from the
Sibley Peninsula region of Ontario, a distance of 15 miles, about 1906. (This is
about the same time coyotes were first observed in Michigans UP.) Despite the
less than favorable habitat for them, coyotes flourished on the island, reaching
peak numbers of about 150 animals, in 1948.
Coyote numbers on Isle Royale began to decline starting in 1949, about
the time wolves reached the island. The decrease in coyote numbers also came
with a crash decline in the beaver population, a die-off of moose, and a low
snowshoe hare population. Coyotes disappeared from Isle Royale in 1957 or
1958, probably due to a reduced food supply and direct killing by wolves.
Coyote-Wolf Interactions
In Manitoba, Canada, researcher Ludwig Carbyn observed that wolves
frequently killed coyotes but did not eat them. He found no evidence that coy-
otes avoided wolves during most of the year, but definitely did so from mid- to
late-winter.
Carbyn theorized that differences in snow conditions, and learning on the
coyotes part, may be involved in the coyotes changing response to wolves as
the winter progressed. When snow is deep and soft, coyotes are hindered more
than wolves. However, since coyotes often trailed wolves through deep soft
snow, Carbyn rationalized although coyotes may avoid wolves after a refrac-
tory period, they may actually trail them at a safe distance in search of food.
Since wolves are territorial and may even kill their own kind when bound-
aries are trespassed, buffer zones exist between wolf territories where few
wolves travel. Coyotes sometimes find these buffer zones safe havens. In Car-
byns study, coyotes were not always safe from wolves while in the buffer zone
when wolf density was high. However, overall coyote survival appeared to be
greater there during years of only moderate wolf density.
In another Manitoba study, researchers found coyotes scavenging wolf-
If deer are the preferred prey, then coyotes lose the oppor-
tunity to scavenge wolf kills because wolves preying on deer leave few remains
-- at least during most winters.
Findings from studies conducted by Minnesota researcher Glen DelGuidice
add a new twist to this story. Apparently, during especially severe winters (i.e.,
deep snow for 4 to 8 weeks), wolves exhibit surplus killing of deer with no or
low consumption of the carcass. Under such conditions wolves may kill many
more deer than normal and benefit coyotes by leaving more for them to scav-
enge. Therefore, coyotes may learn to cope with wolves, and may even benefit
from the larger canids presence.
Declining Numbers
We have no dependable estimate of coyote numbers in Michigans UP and
wolf estimates seem questionable. Nonetheless, all indicators suggest that both
predator species, as well as deer numbers, have declined rather sharply in this
northern region during the past 5-10 years.
The most acceptable figures Ive heard, relative to coyote abundance, is
that the UP has harbored somewhere around 0.8 to 0.9 coyotes per square mile
(or roughly 14,000 coyotes) in the past. While this estimate seemed to be ac-
ceptable a few years ago, trappers and hunters now typically report a scarcity
of coyotes. (Keep in mind, biologists in the southeastern United States report
far greater densities in their area -- as many as 3 to 4 coyotes per square mile.
This too, is probably what might be expected for a newly established predator,
but probably never did occur at such high densities in the Upper Great Lakes
region.)
Assuming coyote observation rates reported in the Michigan UP 2016 Deer
Camp Survey provide a reasonable index to trends in coyote abundance, then
UP coyote numbers have declined by about 38 percent from 2009 to 2016.
Likewise, the number of coyotes shot by camp survey hunters dropped from 47
in 2012 to 21 in 2016, a 55 percent decrease. Probably more importantly, since
predator harvest contests have become popular, hunters now complain about a
scarcity of coyotes.
According to the Michigan DNR, wolf numbers, as determined from track
surveys, have also decreased steadily in recent years, from 687 during the
2010-11 winter to 618 during the 2015-16 winter (a 10 percent drop).
Meanwhile, regional deer numbers have continued their roller coast trend,
peaking after a series of mild winters only to plummet following one severe
winter. However, as predicted, the lows have become lower and so have the
highs. Although Michigans UP probably harbored around 600,000 whitetails
in 2000, that number dropped to less than 300,000 by 2010.
Most recently, back-to-back severe winters in 2007-08 and 2008-09, and
again in 2013-14 and 2014-15, erased short term deer population gains follow-
ing easy winters. Buck hunter success rates followed accordingly, decreasing
from above 30 percent to about 15 percent in recent years.
Needless to say, if they could compatibly share the same range, wolves and
coyotes would make a deadly deer-killer team.
The past two winters have been especially easy on whitetails in Michigans UP,
assuring maximum winter deer survival as well as excellent newborn fawn sur-
vival, resulting in modest gains in suppressed regional deer numbers. Whether
wolf and coyote populations increase or decrease as a result, remain to be seen.
Reasons
Identifying the reasons for declining whitetail numbers on northern range is
relatively easy: being linked to excessive natural deer mortality during winter
as well as resultant high mortality of newborn fawns, which are related directly
to the frequency of prolonged severe winters and the poor status of coniferous
deer wintering habitat.
Likewise, given the importance of white-tailed deer in the winter diet of
wolves, and the pronounced fluctuations in deer vulnerability depending upon
snow depth, one would naturally expect wolf reproductive success to follow
a similar, lagging trend. That is, wolves should prosper during a tough winter
and exhibit good reproductive success the next spring, but may not do so as the
result of mild winters, especially if deer densities are low.
Furthermore, it may be that wolf densities in northern areas like Michigans
UP have already peaked, and will level off at their current numbers (or maybe
even go lower), especially if deer densities remain low. However, there are also
reports of excessive illegal shooting of wolves and even instances of distemper
that could also be important factors influencing wolf population dynamics.
Explaining the apparent low coyote numbers in Michigans UP could be
more difficult. Given the coyotes highly diversified (i.e., omnivorous and scav-
enging) diet, I find it very difficult to believe that their annual recruitment rates
are totally dependent upon the availability of venison.
Likewise, I would expect mans impact on coyote numbers to be negligible.
Dont forget, the species survived well for many years despite 3,000 to 4,000
coyotes being bountied annually, even when deer densities were especially low,
as in the 1960s.
Conclusions
The gray wolf is definitely coming back to re-claim historic range it lost to
coyotes decades ago, and just maybe coyotes are paying the price. What will
happen to coyotes in the future is anyones guess. Some predict the demise of
coyotes, whereas others believe coyotes will adjust, and maybe even prosper,
in the presence of a more dominant canid. I suspect the outcome will vary from
one area to the next, depending upon a host of environmental circumstances
-- and just maybe the availability of vulnerable whitetails will be a major player
governing the outcome.n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 57
 WOLF vs COYOTE
Can coyotes and wolves coexist
in the Northern Great Lakes
Region with fewer whitetails?
For example, according to Michigan DNR wildlife biologist
Kevin Swanson, there were only three wolves in the Upper Penin-
sula (UP) of Michigan in 1989. Today, there are a little more than
600 wolves in the UP. About the same numbers have been tallied in
northern Wisconsin and they are doing even better in northern Min-
nesota. In addition, wolves recently reintroduced to such areas as
Yellowstone National Park seem to be thriving.
Its important to recognize, however, that newly introduced or
recovering mammal species typically achieve artificially high num-
bers only to decrease somewhat later and level-off at a lower density.
Even white-tailed deer living in southern parts of Michigans
UP have recently exhibited this phenomenon, going from low By John Ozoga
killed deer within 24 hours after abandonment by wolves. Although
wolves occasionally killed coyotes, the investigators found no evi-
dence of wolves actively searching for coyotes. Neither was there any
evidence that coyotes adjusted their movements to avoid wolves.
In areas where elk serve as the major winter food for both wolves
and coyotes, wolves tend to kill the elk while coyotes scavenge the
remains. Because predation on large prey, such as elk, involves con-
siderable risk of injury and is likely energetically expensive owing to
a low rate of success, there is no apparent advantage in killing prey
if coyotes have a good quality food that can be scavenged. However,
it may be a different story when both predators must exist pri-
marily upon smaller prey such as deer.

D
Coyotes are more proficient at finding and killing newborn fawns whereas
wolves are more adept at capturing adult deer. Rick Baetsen photos
espite their inherent behavioral differences, gray wolves
and coyotes share one common dietary interest: white-tailed
deer. Where they coexist, at least on northern range, venison
serves as the primary winter food for wolves and coyotes,
and its availability may ultimately determine whether popu-
lations of both predators flourish or fail.
Generally speaking, wolves are more adept at capturing
adult deer whereas coyotes are more proficient at finding
and killing newborn fawns. Coyotes also tend to be more omnivorous -- mean-
ing they eat vegetable as well as animal materials -- and tend to rely on scav-
enging deer remains, whereas wolves are more inclined to seek live prey.
Needless to say, if they could compatibly share the same range, wolves and
coyotes would make a deadly deer-killer team. The important question is, of
course, since wolves also kill coyotes when given the chance (just as coyotes
kill foxes), can the two canids coexist? Or, as wolves re-establish themselves,
and become more socially organized, as they appear to be doing, will they
gradually crowd-out coyotes?
Although some biologists may argue the point, the best evidence indicates
that the relative abundance of all three species, predators and prey -- has de-
clined during the past 5-10 years throughout the northern Great Lakes region.
Determining reasons for such possible trends are even more arguable.
History
The coyote was originally an animal of the western prairie, before the white
man arrived with ax and plow. Since then, it has greatly extended its range --
in spite of mans traps, guns, and poisons. Indeed, mans past failed efforts to
control coyotes seems to have created a super coyote.
In fact, pioneer ecologist Stanley P. Young suggested it may have been
mans persecution that encouraged the coyotes spread through the centuries.
Today, coyotes can be found from well into Central America to near Point
Barrow Alaska, eastward to Hudson Bay, New Brunswick, Maine, and across
most of the western and Midwestern U.S. Most recently, coyotes also have
invaded the Southeast, where they are now abundant and highly controversial.
Gray wolves, on the other hand, have not fared so well in the presence of
man. This canid occurs throughout the arctic and formerly occurred southward
throughout the United States (except for the Southeast) and into Mexico. How-
ever, man extirpated wolves from almost all of the southern part of its North
American range by the early to mid-1900s.
Due largely to improving habitat, human tolerance, reintroductions, and a
number of contributing factors we dont fully understand, wolves have made
an impressive comeback in the past couple of decades across portions of their
former southern range.
56 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
densities in the 1960s to ridiculously high densities (of 100 deer
or more per square mile) in some areas during the 1990s, to sharply reduced
numbers in recent years.
As wolves disappeared in the past, coyotes quickly moved in to occupy the
vacated range. Now, the reverse seems to be taking place; wolves are moving
into reclaim range coyotes have occupied for the past 100 years or more.
Some biologists support the view that wolves will replace coyotes in certain
areas. Others suggest the clever coyote will learn to coexist with wolves.
There is scientific evidence to support both views.
The Isle Royale Story
Historically, wolves may have played an important role in replacing coy-
otes on Isle Royale, located at the west end of Lake Superior. In less than 60
short years, the coyote arrived on Isle Royale, prospered for a time, declined,
and then disappeared altogether.
Coyotes probably reached Isle Royale by traveling over the ice from the
Sibley Peninsula region of Ontario, a distance of 15 miles, about 1906. (This is
about the same time coyotes were first observed in Michigans UP.) Despite the
less than favorable habitat for them, coyotes flourished on the island, reaching
peak numbers of about 150 animals, in 1948.
Coyote numbers on Isle Royale began to decline starting in 1949, about
the time wolves reached the island. The decrease in coyote numbers also came
with a crash decline in the beaver population, a die-off of moose, and a low
snowshoe hare population. Coyotes disappeared from Isle Royale in 1957 or
1958, probably due to a reduced food supply and direct killing by wolves.
Coyote-Wolf Interactions
In Manitoba, Canada, researcher Ludwig Carbyn observed that wolves
frequently killed coyotes but did not eat them. He found no evidence that coy-
otes avoided wolves during most of the year, but definitely did so from mid- to
late-winter.
Carbyn theorized that differences in snow conditions, and learning on the
coyotes part, may be involved in the coyotes changing response to wolves as
the winter progressed. When snow is deep and soft, coyotes are hindered more
than wolves. However, since coyotes often trailed wolves through deep soft
snow, Carbyn rationalized although coyotes may avoid wolves after a refrac-
tory period, they may actually trail them at a safe distance in search of food.
Since wolves are territorial and may even kill their own kind when bound-
aries are trespassed, buffer zones exist between wolf territories where few
wolves travel. Coyotes sometimes find these buffer zones safe havens. In Car-
byns study, coyotes were not always safe from wolves while in the buffer zone
when wolf density was high. However, overall coyote survival appeared to be
greater there during years of only moderate wolf density.
In another Manitoba study, researchers found coyotes scavenging wolf-
If deer are the preferred prey, then coyotes lose the oppor-
tunity to scavenge wolf kills because wolves preying on deer leave few remains
-- at least during most winters.
Findings from studies conducted by Minnesota researcher Glen DelGuidice
add a new twist to this story. Apparently, during especially severe winters (i.e.,
deep snow for 4 to 8 weeks), wolves exhibit surplus killing of deer with no or
low consumption of the carcass. Under such conditions wolves may kill many
more deer than normal and benefit coyotes by leaving more for them to scav-
enge. Therefore, coyotes may learn to cope with wolves, and may even benefit
from the larger canids presence.
Declining Numbers
We have no dependable estimate of coyote numbers in Michigans UP and
wolf estimates seem questionable. Nonetheless, all indicators suggest that both
predator species, as well as deer numbers, have declined rather sharply in this
northern region during the past 5-10 years.
The most acceptable figures Ive heard, relative to coyote abundance, is
that the UP has harbored somewhere around 0.8 to 0.9 coyotes per square mile
(or roughly 14,000 coyotes) in the past. While this estimate seemed to be ac-
ceptable a few years ago, trappers and hunters now typically report a scarcity
of coyotes. (Keep in mind, biologists in the southeastern United States report
far greater densities in their area -- as many as 3 to 4 coyotes per square mile.
This too, is probably what might be expected for a newly established predator,
but probably never did occur at such high densities in the Upper Great Lakes
region.)
Assuming coyote observation rates reported in the Michigan UP 2016 Deer
Camp Survey provide a reasonable index to trends in coyote abundance, then
UP coyote numbers have declined by about 38 percent from 2009 to 2016.
Likewise, the number of coyotes shot by camp survey hunters dropped from 47
in 2012 to 21 in 2016, a 55 percent decrease. Probably more importantly, since
predator harvest contests have become popular, hunters now complain about a
scarcity of coyotes.
According to the Michigan DNR, wolf numbers, as determined from track
surveys, have also decreased steadily in recent years, from 687 during the
2010-11 winter to 618 during the 2015-16 winter (a 10 percent drop).
Meanwhile, regional deer numbers have continued their roller coast trend,
peaking after a series of mild winters only to plummet following one severe
winter. However, as predicted, the lows have become lower and so have the
highs. Although Michigans UP probably harbored around 600,000 whitetails
in 2000, that number dropped to less than 300,000 by 2010.
Most recently, back-to-back severe winters in 2007-08 and 2008-09, and
again in 2013-14 and 2014-15, erased short term deer population gains follow-
ing easy winters. Buck hunter success rates followed accordingly, decreasing
from above 30 percent to about 15 percent in recent years.
Needless to say, if they could compatibly share the same range, wolves and
coyotes would make a deadly deer-killer team.
The past two winters have been especially easy on whitetails in Michigans UP,
assuring maximum winter deer survival as well as excellent newborn fawn sur-
vival, resulting in modest gains in suppressed regional deer numbers. Whether
wolf and coyote populations increase or decrease as a result, remain to be seen.
Reasons
Identifying the reasons for declining whitetail numbers on northern range is
relatively easy: being linked to excessive natural deer mortality during winter
as well as resultant high mortality of newborn fawns, which are related directly
to the frequency of prolonged severe winters and the poor status of coniferous
deer wintering habitat.
Likewise, given the importance of white-tailed deer in the winter diet of
wolves, and the pronounced fluctuations in deer vulnerability depending upon
snow depth, one would naturally expect wolf reproductive success to follow
a similar, lagging trend. That is, wolves should prosper during a tough winter
and exhibit good reproductive success the next spring, but may not do so as the
result of mild winters, especially if deer densities are low.
Furthermore, it may be that wolf densities in northern areas like Michigans
UP have already peaked, and will level off at their current numbers (or maybe
even go lower), especially if deer densities remain low. However, there are also
reports of excessive illegal shooting of wolves and even instances of distemper
that could also be important factors influencing wolf population dynamics.
Explaining the apparent low coyote numbers in Michigans UP could be
more difficult. Given the coyotes highly diversified (i.e., omnivorous and scav-
enging) diet, I find it very difficult to believe that their annual recruitment rates
are totally dependent upon the availability of venison.
Likewise, I would expect mans impact on coyote numbers to be negligible.
Dont forget, the species survived well for many years despite 3,000 to 4,000
coyotes being bountied annually, even when deer densities were especially low,
as in the 1960s.
Conclusions
The gray wolf is definitely coming back to re-claim historic range it lost to
coyotes decades ago, and just maybe coyotes are paying the price. What will
happen to coyotes in the future is anyones guess. Some predict the demise of
coyotes, whereas others believe coyotes will adjust, and maybe even prosper,
in the presence of a more dominant canid. I suspect the outcome will vary from
one area to the next, depending upon a host of environmental circumstances
-- and just maybe the availability of vulnerable whitetails will be a major player
governing the outcome.n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 57
 Conservation Officers saving lives
By Jeff Pendergraff, retired MDNRs Law Enforcement Division Captain
In October 2016, Conserva-
tion Officer Ken Kovach of St. Clair
County was the first to respond to a
report of a self-inflicted, accidental
gunshot wound at a residence in
Wales Township. The victim, who
was shot through the arm when his
pistol fell out of its holster, was
lying on the lawn, bleeding and in
poor condition when Officer Kovach
arrived. The officer immediately
applied a tourniquet and stopped the
bleeding until emergency medical
personnel arrived.
Conservation Officer Greg
Patten of Muskegon County re-
sponded to a February 2016 emer-
gency dispatch about someone
having fallen through the ice on
Black Lake. Officer Patten found
the victim in the water up to his
chest clinging to the ice, reported
it, and then donned his snowmobile
flotation coat and proceeded onto
the ice. He tossed the man a rescue
rope, instructed him to put it around
his body, and kept tension on the
line, keeping him from falling below
the surface of the water until other
responders could help him pull the
victim to safety.
Conservation Officer Isaac
Tyson of Branch County was on a
joint patrol with a Branch County
marine deputy in July 2016 when
they received a call about an uncon-
scious man face down in the water.
By the time the pair arrived on the
scene, the man was sitting in a boat
and appeared fit. About an hour
later, however, the officers heard
screams from the same area, stating
that the man had fallen unconscious
in the boat. Tyson climbed into the
boat, found the man unresponsive,
he assisted bystanders and carried
the subject into the patrol boat.
During transport, the victim stopped
breathing. Officer Tyson began CPR
and, when the victim was lifted to a
dock, the officer discovered the man
had an obstructed airway. Once the
airway was cleared, the man began
breathing.
Conservation Officer Richard
Cardenas of Barry County respond-
ed to an October 2016 call about a
suicidal subject who had told his
mother he planned to jump off the
MacArthur Bridge into the Detroit
River. Officer Cardenas spotted the
subjects vehicle and saw the man
pull over, exit the vehicle, climb
over the railing, and jump. The of-
ficer immediately radioed dispatch
and then climbed the railing to spot
the man struggling in the water and
calling for help. Officer Cardenas
retrieved a rescue device, threw it
to the man who was sinking, pulled
58 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
MDNR COs honored for their lifesaving effor ts; (lt-r t) Richard
Cardens, Ken Kovach, Isaac Tyson and Greg Patten. MDNR photos
on the line to bring him back to the
surface, and then instructed the man
in how to secure the device to keep
himself afloat. Officer Cardenas held
the line in place to keep the man in a
position that allowed him to breathe
until a Detroit Harbormaster vessel
could reach him.
Michigan Department of
Natural Resources Conservation
Officer Patrick Hartsig rescued a
10-year-old boy who had run away
from his family near Gladstone in
Delta County. The incident was
reported at about 4 p.m. The boy
had run away in an area, which is
situated south of Gladstone, along
Lake Michigan. To reach the lake,
the boy had to cross four busy lanes
of traffic on US-2. His mother last
saw him heading east across the ice.
Hartsig had been working snowmo-
bile patrol in adjacent Alger County.
On my way home, I heard a
call on Delta dispatch of a runaway
special needs boy that was some-
where south of Gladstone, on the ice
on Little Bay de Noc, Hartsig said.
I checked in with dispatch as I was
near Hunters Point and launched
my sled. Hunters Point has a boat-
ing launch site on the Stonington
Peninsula side of the bay.
With Conservation Officer
Hartsig being out there on a regular
basis, he had up-to-date accurate
knowledge of potential bad ice ar-
eas, said Lt. Eugene Skip Hagy,
a district law supervisor with the
DNR Law Enforcement Divisions
district 2, which covers the east-
ernmost six counties in the Upper
Peninsula. Normally, there is a
shipping channel open in this area,
but he knew it hadnt been used in
a few weeks, which allowed a more
direct response.
It wasnt long before Hartsig
located the boy.
I found him with no shoes on,
wandering around about a mile
away from shore, Hartsig said.
There was no one around him.
There was one old ice shack. No one
was in it.
The boy was wearing jeans, a
shirt and a jacket, but had no hat or
gloves and his stocking feet were
wet and cold.
He was crying, he was scared,
Hartsig said. I asked him where
he was going and he said he didnt
know. He said his feet hurt.
Hartsig, who is a first aid in-
structor and former paramedic, took
off the boys socks and warmed his
feet. He then put his own boots,
gloves and snowmobile helmet on
the child. Hartsig sat the boy in front
of him on the snowmobile and the
two sped across the ice to the Michi-
gan State Police post in Gladstone,
which is situated not far off US-2,
along the lakeshore.
There, the boys mother, a
county sheriffs deputy and an am-
bulance were waiting.
Pats quick response, while
having the right tools, training, and
local knowledge of his work area,
turned a bad situation around before
it could get worse, said Sgt. Jerrold
Fitzgibbon, who oversees conserva-
tion officers, including Hartsig, in
Alger, Delta and Schoolcraft coun-
ties. This could easily have ended
poorly for the boy had Pat not been
there and located him as quickly as
he did.
MDNR CO Mike Evink res-
cued a man in Schoolcraft County
who was overcome with carbon
monoxide while trying to save a
homeowner. A delivery man for
Suburban Propane had gone to
fill a propane tank at the home of
59-year-old Ronald Haug. Arriving
at the house in Inwood Township,
the driver noticed Haug on the floor
of his garage. The 55-year-old de-
livery man went into the garage and
tried to revive Haug with cardiopul-
monary resuscitation. He also called
emergency operators at Central
Dispatch.
He told the dispatcher he was
getting dizzy and couldnt do CPR
any longer, Evink said. Dispatch-
ers then lost contact with him.
Evink, who had been at Indian
Lake State Park, roughly 15 miles
away, went to the home, driving
his four-wheel-drive patrol vehicle
through 5-6 miles of unplowed
roadway to reach the house. Once
there, he saw footprints leading into
the garage.
I opened the service door to the
garage and saw two individuals on
the ground, Evink said.
Evink said the delivery man
had a pulse and was breathing, but
was unresponsive. Mr. Haug had no
pulse and also did not respond. The
men had been overcome by carbon
monoxide, a colorless, odorless
toxic gas.
The delivery man was barely
alive, said Lt. Eugene Skip Hagy,
a DNR district law supervisor out of
the Newberry office. Mike opened
the big garage door and worked to
get the victim fresh air and kept try-
ing to get him conscious.
An ambulance with advanced
life support paramedics from Manis-
tique Public Safety got to the house
at 4:24 p.m., about 15 minutes after
Evink had arrived.
Had Mike not arrived when he
did, there would have likely been
two fatalities, Hagy said.
The efforts of CO Evink
demonstrate the types of lifesaving
incidents our officers can be called
to respond to at any given moment,
said Lt. Pete Wright, acting Captain
for the DNR Region 1 Law Enforce-
ment Division. He is a great ex-
ample of the capable type of person
we train our officers to be.
Four days earlier, in a search
and rescue incident, Evink was
involved in aiding two stranded
snowmobilers in Alger County who
say he and U.S. Forest Service law
enforcement officer David Tem-
breull saved their lives.
David Vorhes, 64, of Trenary
and Mike Lasley, 56, of West
Bloomfield were riding east of Mu-
nising in a backcountry area in Burt
Township.
We were stranded out south of
the Kingston Plains when we placed
a 911 call to (the) Alger County
Sheriff around 6 p.m., Vorhes said
in a message commending the ef-
forts of the two officers.
Vorhes said the two riders were
broke down and lost, off trail in 4-5
feet of snow, along the Clyde Lake
Road, north of Trail 88 and 43,
south of the Adams Truck Trail.
 It was blowing and cold that
night, Evink said.
One of the snowmobilers had
just crossed a lake and buried his
sled in snow coming off the ice. The
second rider went to get help and his
machine broke down.
The engine seized, Evink said.
Arriving in the area deputies had
picked up from cellphone signals,
Evink and Tembreull began fol-
lowing snowmobile tracks into the
woods and, eventually, footprints.
Somehow they were able to
find us, showing exceptional recov-
ery skills, noticing our footprints in
a gully then following them until
towed to a place where it could be
retrieved the following day.
Vorhes said this added about two
hours to the rescue effort and the
two snowmobilers were cold, but
coherent. The riders began to warm
up as they helped in the work to get
the sleds out of the woods.
If they had been stuck out there
all night they would have been
in pretty bad shape, Evink said.
Their extremities were pretty cold.
With shared areas of respon-
sibility, and with an emphasis on
inter-agency cooperation, the U.S.
Forest Service law enforcement offi-
cers and conservation officers often-
the trooper.
These are just a few examples
that have taken place in the past sev-
eral months. There are many more.
Our COs have equipment that a lot
of other police and first responders
dont have access to and many times
have this equipment with them on
patrol such as 4x4 patrol vehicles,
ATVs, and boats just to mention a
few. They are highly trained in all
aspects of law enforcement includ-
ing first aid and CPR.
Author is Jeff Pendergraff,
retired Captain from the DNRs Law Patrick Har tsig MDNR CO hon-
Enforcement Division.n ored for his lifesaving effor ts.

they came upon us, Vorhes said.
Evink said the officers found
Mike Evink MDNR CO honored for
his lifesaving effor ts.
the two riders in a makeshift shelter
they had fashioned under a pine tree.
We had no illumination, light or
any sort of emergency preparedness
kit a cardinal sin when venturing
out in any conditions into the remote
Upper Peninsula, Vorhes said.
The officers activated their
patrol lights to let the snowmobilers
know they were police approaching.
After freeing the snowmobile
that had been stuck in the snow, the
officers and the snowmobilers rode
about a half mile to the place where
the second sled was broken down.
Determining the engine would not
start, they unhooked a belt so the
track of the sled would freely spin
and the machine could then be
Hendrickson Waterfowl
times work together in cooperation
to achieve our various management
goals, said Tembreull, who is from
LAnse and has worked with the
Forest Service for the past decade.
On the night of the search and
rescue, Tembreull and Evink were
conducting a joint patrol looking for
RUDYARD,
registrations and safety violations. MICHIGAN
These two incidents are exam- IN THE EASTERN
ples of the important role Michigan UPPER PENINSULA
conservation officers play in lifesav-
ing and search and rescue operations Affordable
throughout the state, said Gary
Hagler, chief of the DNR Law And Fun Guided
Enforcement Division. Conserva-
tion officers are well-trained and Goose And
routinely respond to a wide range of Duck Hunts
situations where people find them-
selves in need of assistance.
Throughout my career, COs
have saved many lives every year
while carrying-out their duties. One
of the most memorable lifesaving
situations was in 1994 near Glad-
stone. A Michigan State Trooper
had stopped to assist a vehicle in the
ditch. The driver of vehicle opened
fire on the trooper wounding him.
Gunfire was exchanged between the
wounded trooper and the gunman.
Conservation Officers Pete Wright
and Darryl Shann arrived within
minutes. They observed the gun-
man standing next to the troopers
car on his tip toes trying to locate
Ryan Hendrickson 906-298-1781
the trooper who had taken cover
behind his patrol vehicle. Both COs
confronted the gunman and shot him
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 59

 Summer
scouting
whitetails
By Bob Fratzke, with Glenn Helgeland

T
his is only part of the
year-round scouting
you should be doing,
but it is an important
part. Whitetails have
different habits or pat-
terns in the spring, coming into
summer, once the season begins,
within the season, right after the
season. Continual scouting is a lot
of work, but its worth it. You know
whats in the area. That does a lot
for your confidence, and ought to
greatly help your shooting opportu-
nities.
You will find with continual
scouting that you will change your
Aluminum
habits. You will find yourself con-
tinually looking for food sources
and weather and cover and telling
yourself that deer will do this or
that, or wont do it, and then youll
go check. The whole thing gets to
be a passion more than a game.
Now, in summer, everything
is green, fully leafed and growing.
Crops are up and, fortunately, the
corn isnt too high yet. This is the
time you want to begin evaluating
deer in the area you plan to hunt.
Evaluate them from a distance and
cover as much territory as you can.
Dont mess around in their habitat.
Crop rotation and growth are im-
The author says 90 percent of his time in woods and fields is scouting
and only 10 percent hunting. Kenny Darwin photo
portant. Crop rotation will change seasons in my notes, I know that
from year to year, and it will have a cornfield, for instance, in one
a definite effect on deer and their location will attract more deer than
movement patterns. You need to a cornfield in another location that
take note of various crop locations isnt too far away. You can learn the
if youre going to hunt there the first same thing, if you work at it.
week or so of season, because the Dont wait until crops, especial-
deer will still be coming to those ly corn, get too tall. By July, bucks
fields to feed. should have a good enough rack to
Later, when the alfalfa or soy- let you know how theyre basically
beans or corn are gone, youll be going to look in the fall, and youd
ready to shift with the deer. You better be doing your looking now.
can waste a lot of time and mess up Beans will be ok, but after this time
what little hunting you will have if corn generally is too tall and hides
you spend much time searching for the deer. With daylight saving time,
the deer every time they adjust to you can get out there with good light

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a changing food supply or foliage
change.
When you know where the crops
are and how/where/when deer move
to them, you can change your stand
(Built with) Aluminum I-Beams location(s) correctly and immedi-
ately. One year of scouting wont
give you the best information on this
15-FT TO 50-FT because you wont have informa-
and do the necessary evaluating.
This works best with binoculars
or a spotting scope from a pickup
truck. If you will hunt on property
where you must get permission to
hunt, get permission to travel in
certain places during scouting. If
youre on your own land, the prin-
ciples are the same but you most

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tion on the previous year and wont
be able to anticipate deer feeding
movement changes. So, to get re-
Single Axle, ally specific, you need to work on
Tandem Axle, Tri-Axle, cumulative notes and experiences,
i.e. more than one year.
Bass Boat and others Crops are different. Deer like
some better than others. Because
I have the information from past
likely wont need to cover as much
territory.
You can travel farm roads and
field paths (with permission). You
wont tear up the farmers fields,
which is a point in your favor, and
you wont drive in those areas on
rainy days for the same reason. Tell
the farmer when youll be there, so

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he wont wonder about the vehicle
moving around the back of his land.
If something does happen to his
field, youre going to get the blame
for it unless he knows for certain
that it wasnt you who did the dam-
age.
If the crops arent too high, you
can cover at least twice the territory
in the evening just by driving and
looking, stopping to glass animals
when you see them. They will be
in their summer movement pat-
terns. You arent going to disturb
them much, if at all. They might
move back into the woods, but they
usually will be back out five to 10
minutes later and resume feeding.
The main thing is to cover
enough area to know where you
have a given amount of good bucks,
so you will know where to hunt.
Once the corn gets too high, it cov-
ers a good 50 percent of my general
hunting area. Corn is natural habitat
for deer. They live in it more than
we think they do.
Sometimes you can climb up in
an old windmill or an abandoned
silo or a tree that is strategically
placed to let you see a long distance.
Theres one old silo I spot from once
in a while that is fantastic. I can see
for a year from it.
Another good area to spot deer
is an alfalfa field a few days after
it has been cut. The new, green,
tender regrowth must be like candy
to the deer.
What do you do with trail cam-
eras? How well do you know the
area? How can you minimize your
scent trails and movement to place
them?
Place trail cameras where you
think they will record the most
deer movement, check them infre-
quently, stay on your ATV when you
do check, wear thin acrylic gloves
when you touch a trail camera.
This is all to minimize alarm fac-
tors your movement, frequency
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of movement and your scent trail.
Cameras that can connect with a
computer will let you stay out of
the deer movement areas once the
cameras are installed, but they arent
the cheapest things, and I think
live-action scouting is more fun. It
certainly gets you more involved.
Remember that too much move-
ment through deer travel areas
means that you will pattern yourself
and push deer into nocturnal move-
ment or to move to another area.
You want bucks to be in sum-
mer social movement patterns when
hunting season opens. You want
several stand locations to have stand
selection flexibility with winds from
different directions, and to help you
avoid over-hunting any one area.
You want to know where and when
deer move, to minimize your travels
(and scent trails) through hunting
areas hanging treestands as you
prepare for the better hunting times
to come, such as the rut.
Bob Fratzke is a bowhunter who
lives, breathes and thinks about
whitetails year round. He says 90
percent of his time in woods and
fields is scouting and only 10 per-
cent is hunting. This low percentage
comes about because his scouting is
thorough, done pretty much year-
round (minimally just before season
opens); he has built a multi-year
file on habitat and crop conditions,
and he has many stands set up so
he can adapt quickly to changing
conditions (foliage loss, food source
changes, wind direction, etc.), at the
same time being sure he does not
over-use any of them.
This article is excerpted from
the Scouting Year-Round chapter of
Taking Trophy Whitetails, a 142-
page how-to book by Bob Fratzke
with Glenn Helgeland. To order
direct, call 262-242-3530. For more
details on this and other books and
pricing, please visit www.targetcom-
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Quality Porting Since 1971
Keep bears wild
The DNR asks residents to help keep the states up-
north icon a wild animal by keeping bears at a distance.
With many people (whether they're seasonal visitors or
year-round residents) outdoors and enjoying northern
Michigan in the summer months, removing bird feeders
is an easy answer to bear problems.
When situations occur concerning a bear, some
form of food has usually attracted the bear into the area, said DNR wildlife
communications coordinator Katie Keen. The common element is usually a
bird feeder seed, suet and even hummingbird feeders. The good news is a
homeowner can choose to take control of the situation.
Michigans estimated black bear population is over 12,000 adult bears
2,000 in the northern Lower Peninsula and 10,000 across the Upper Peninsula.
Typically, black bears are shy animals, but they have a great sense of smell and
can remember a food source. As a result, a black bear will go places it normally
wouldnt if a food reward is available.
In addition to bird feeders, pet food, garbage, barbeque grills and bee hives
also can attract bears. Pet food should be stored indoors, as should garbage un-
til the time of pickup. Garbage that is set out the night before can attract bears
and can have more of an impact than just an overturned garbage can.
Bear are smart, so we have to be smarter, said Keen. They are wild ani-
mals that are unpredictable and can travel many miles. Your habits can affect
those around you, and a bear that loses its natural fear of humans because food
has been introduced can end up being bold or dangerous and may need to be
put down.
Michigans bear population generally is found in the northern half of the
Lower Peninsula and across the Upper Peninsula. Bears eat most items found
in the forest, including plants, berries, nuts, acorns, insects and, occasionally,
small mammals. Because bears will eat most anything, their behavior and nor-
mal travel patterns will change if an easy food source is discovered.
Dont wait for the first time a bear knocks down your bird feeder or gar-
bage can; be proactive and dont let a habit form, said Keen.
Bear population and distribution are managed through regulated bear hunt-
ing. Michigans bear hunting seasons vary by bear management unit, with the
first 2017 season starting Sept. 8. A total of 7,140 bear hunting licenses will be
available this fall. Bear hunting licenses are distributed through a preference
point system.
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 61

By George Rowe
T
here are a few walleye
fishing myths that need
to be dispelled. One
of those is that walleye
fishing is more dif-
ficult in the hot sum-
mer temperatures. Another is that
walleyes go deep when the water
is at its warmest. And, still another
is that walleyes cant be caught in
the bright light of mid-day, in the
summer. All are more or less false.
Walleye fishing, in my humble
opinion, is almost at its best in Au-
gust with fishing only better in the
fall. The fish seem easier to locate
and easier to catch and, most of the
time, we seem to catch larger fish
in August, after being plagued with
sub-legal fish in the earlier summer
months.
There is little walleye fishing
that is quite up to an August morn-
ing, with the lake flat as a mirror and
showing every dimple of a feeding
fish or a minnow working at the sur-
face. Many different fish species are
busy at dawn, driving the minnows
to the surface and feeding on them
noisily and with vigorous splashes.
Bass, pike, walleyes, trout, suckers,
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62 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
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carp, and some other rough fish feed
right along with the nobler species,
dining on minnows. The really
noisy and splashy feeding distur-
bances are most likely made by bass
and suckers, but the walleyes will
break the surface too, as they drive
minnows to the top.
If you spot suckers breaking the
surface, you might expect to catch
walleyes below them. Apparently,
the suckers disturb the bottom, at-
tracting minnows which, in turn,
attract the walleyes. The walleye
disturbances are probably those that
are just a swirl and sometimes, you
can see the minnows frantically try-
ing to escape from something just
below the surface. While this action
is most readily seen and most often
seen in really shallow water water
only six to eight feet, it can be seen,
on occasion, in water as deep as ten
or twelve feet or even deeper. It
seems evident, however, that the
deeper the water, the less likely you
are to see surface action.
The surface feeding action is
most often seen on fairly shallow
flats. There will be some weeds on
the bottom but this is not water that
one would characterize as densely
weedy. The weeds will be in large
patches with a fairly clean bottom
in between patches. It is important
to remember that, if there are no
weeds, there will probably be no
minnows and thus no predator fish.
As the day warms and the sun
gets up and brighter, the fish may
move to somewhat deeper water and
their feeding may get less active and
certainly less obvious, but they will
continue to feed and they can still
get caught. A fairly good pattern and
one likely to succeed would be to
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start out in water perhaps eight feet
deep and then move gradually to
water up to ten or twelve feet deep
by mid-morning.
By late morning the best fish-
ing is likely to come to an end as
the wind picks up and the surface
action is difficult to spot. It will
also be complicated by wakes from
jet-skis and water skiers as the water
sports set wakes up and take to the
lake. There is no question that the
water that is being chopped up by
water sports provides poor fishing.
Sometimes, however, you can find
a portion of the lake that is not be-
ing assaulted by fast boats and find
peace and quiet and fish.
It will also pay dividends to
move around a great deal, espe-
cially if you dont find fish at the
first couple of spots you try. This
is a good sign that the run and
gun technique is appropriate. Any
good walleye lake will have a great
number of spots that could hold fish.
There is no sense belaboring any of
them, however, if they dont quickly
show some evidence that there are
fish there. If you have two anglers
casting, there should be some sort of
sign in about ten minutes of casting
in a new spot. If not, get moving
again.
On a given day, you can fish five
or six spots in an hour and all of
them could have the same desir-
able characteristics. Lets say that
the first productive spot you fished
was 12 feet deep with scattered
bottom weeds and a slight drop-
off into 14 feet close by. It made
abundant sense, then, to try other
similar spots, moving down that
bank. If, however, you dont have
fairly immediate success in any such
spot, keep moving. It would be a
most unusual day if every such spot
produced, so you have to try many
spots to put some fish in the cooler.
If the similar spots dont pay off,
then it would be time to try some
slightly different areas perhaps
a bit deeper or perhaps a bit
weedier. One of those changes
should do the trick, and dont be
afraid to try water that is even
more shallow, even during the
middle of the day.
There have been a number of
days when trying water only 10 or
11 feet deep in the middle of the day
produced some walleyes. Another
good tactic during the middle of
the day is to slow down. If you are
jigging or casting a plug, try cutting
your speed of retrieve way down.
Walleyes are lazy predators and if
they are off their feed at all, only a
very slow presentation is likely to
get a taker or two.
August provides walleye fishing
that is really quite good and, next
month, it will be better yet.n
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 63
 BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS...
a disease still worth fighting
DNR continues to work to eradicate bovine TB...
By Kelly Straka - MDNR
A
fter more than two de-
cades of study and test-
ing white-tailed deer
for bovine tuberculo-
sis, Michigan has be-
come world-renowned
for its research and expertise on
managing this serious contagious
disease. Over this time, MDNR
wildlife managers have learned a
great deal, including that continued
assistance from hunters and others
remains vitally necessary to making
significant gains in battling bovine
tuberculosis into the future.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious
disease caused by certain bacteria
that attack the respiratory system
of animals and humans. There are
several types of tuberculosis, but
bovine tuberculosis (bTB) can infect
the widest variety of animals and is
what wildlife managers have been
trying to eradicate from white-tailed
deer in Michigan.
Michigan is one of the leading
experts in management and infor-
mation related to bTB, said Kelly
Straka, DNR state wildlife veteri-
narian. We are the only state in the
nation that has bTB established in
wild deer.
Although originating and typi-
cally occurring in cattle, bTB can
infect nearly any mammal, including
humans. Bovine TB is caused by the
bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (M.
bovis), which is part of the Myco-
bacterium tuberculosis complex.
64 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
This disease is contagious and
can be debilitating to deer. Severely
infected animals can struggle to
even breathe, Straka said. By not
eradicating this in the herd, we risk
the spread of the disease to new
areas of Michigan and into our wild
elk herd.
In addition, this is devastating
to cattle producers. Trade restric-
tions, expensive testing and quaran-
tines can lead to the loss of family
farms and are a terrible burden on
Michigans economy.
Bovine TB is spread primarily
through the exchange of respira-
tory secretions and saliva between
infected and uninfected animals.
This transmission can happen when
animals are in close contact with
each other.
Bacteria released into the air
through coughing and sneezing can
spread the disease when inhaled
by uninfected animals. In addition,
food items contaminated with the
saliva of an infected animal can
transmit bTB to uninfected animals
when they eat the contaminated
feed. This is the primary way that
cattle and deer infect each other.
Michigan Detected
TB in the Early Years
Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic
disease that can take years to devel-
op. The strains of bTB now present
in Michigan are not native to North
Technicians at the MDNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory in Lansing
examine a white-tailed deer. MDNR photos
America, but were brought here by
human movement of infected cattle
from Great Britain in the 1700s and
1800s. In the 1920s, nearly a third of
cattle in Alpena and Alcona counties
tested positive for bTB. In 1975, a
single hunter-harvested white-tailed
deer in Alcona County was found
positive for bTB. At that time, it was
thought that bTB couldnt sustain
itself in wild deer. Nearly 20 years
passed before a hunter harvested
Michigans second bTB-positive
deer in Alpena County in 1994.
Since 1995, Michigan has been
testing white-tailed deer for bovine
tuberculosis year-round. Michigan
has the longest- running continuous
wildlife TB surveillance program in
the world.
Most Michiganders, and even
most policymakers, dont realize
how much weve learned about
bTB in the last 20 years, said Dan
OBrien, veterinary specialist with
DNRs wildlife disease lab. The re-
search weve done here in Michigan
is respected around the world.
Other countries dealing with
similar outbreaks of bTB continue
to watch our situation with great
interest. At this point, we know
what it will take to get rid of bTB.
Whether we as a state will choose to
make that happen though is still an
open question.
To date, nearly 900 of over
230,000 deer tested in Michigan
have been positive for bovine
tuberculosis. Seventy-eight percent
of these TB-positive deer have been
from a core area Deer Manage-
ment Unit 452 in the northeastern
part of Michigans Lower Peninsula,
where the counties of Montmorency,
Alpena, Oscoda and Alcona meet.
However, bTB is endemic (i.e.
self-sustaining at a low level) across
all four of those counties, and in
Presque Isle County. Ninety-seven
percent of all the bTB-positive deer
ever found have come from that
five-county endemic area. Antrim,
Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet,
Iosco, Mecosta, Osceola, Otsego,
Roscommon and Shiawassee coun-
ties also have had deer test positive
for bTB.
We continue to commit time
and resources to fighting this dis-
ease. This year, we are reinvigorat-
ing the message that we still need
help, Straka said. This is a chronic
disease, and we need all Michi-
ganders to be on board for the long
haul.
An Effective Disease
Management Tool
Hunting has been the primary
tool for managing bovine tuberculo-
sis in Michigan.
The majority (93 percent) of
land in DMU 452 is private and is
known locally as club country,
said Brian Mastenbrook, DNR
wildlife field operations manager.
One of the primary reasons to own
this land and be club members is to
hunt deer. We work with as many of
the clubs as we can on all aspects of
deer herd management.
We appreciate the coopera-
tion of the club members and all the
other hunters throughout DMU 452.
Hunters have been responsible for
reducing the disease prevalence by
over 50 percent between the mid-
1990s and now.
Recently, the Michigan Hunting
Access Program expanded into the
northern Lower Peninsula spe-
cifically to open more land to deer
hunting. The program leases private
lands and makes those lands avail-
able to anyone with a valid hunting
license.
The Hunting Access Program,
along with a couple of private land
habitat grant opportunities, is a
way for us to talk with more people

about deer management in this
area, Mastenbrook said.
The DNR reminds all hunters to
get their deer tested. A deer can look
healthy and still have bovine TB.
In fact, over 60 percent of
the bTB-infected deer weve ever
tested have had no signs of disease
a hunter would recognize, Straka
said.
Working Together
For Success
Despite many efforts over the
years, bovine tuberculosis has not
gone away. In 2016, 29 deer and six
cattle herds tested positive for the
disease.
Since the first TB-affected
cattle herd was discovered in June
1998, there have been a total of 69
cattle herds, five feedlots and three
privately owned cervid facilities
found to be infected with the Michi-
gan strain of bovine TB, said Rick
Smith, assistant state veterinarian.
The agencies responsible for
managing deer and cattle popula-
tions include the Michigan DNR,
Michigan Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development and U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Together
these agencies are working col-
laboratively on new approaches to
combat the disease.
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Deer infected with bovine tuberculosis may
have multiple pea-sized tan or yellow lumps
on the inside of the ribcage.
Many of these new methods are
implemented at the grassroots level;
cattle producers are encouraged to
strengthen bio-security practices
at their farms, hunters are asked to
harvest deer and private landowners
are offered incentives to open their
properties for hunter access.
Michiganders
Called To Action
The state agencies involved in
bTB management are committed to
doing their part, but cannot regulate
the disease to eradication.
Michiganders need to educate
themselves about this disease, and
find out ways they can help, said
Russ Mason, DNR Wildlife Division
chief. Whether you are a hunter
submitting samples for surveillance,
or a cattle producer fencing off feed
to prevent cattle/deer interactions,
its these everyday actions that can
affect change over time.
This is not a problem for just
deer hunters, or cattle farmers, or
even residents in the northern Lower
Peninsula; this is a problem for
everyone in Michigan.
The DNR is urging hunters to
submit heads for testing from all
deer harvested in the following
counties: Alcona, Alpena, Cheboy-
gan, Crawford, Huron, Iosco, Lake,
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Presque Isle and Roscommon. The
testing is offered free of charge.
Infected deer may not show
chest lesions. Deer carcasses with
chest lesions suspected to be evi-
dence of bovine TB should be sub-
mitted from anywhere in the state.
A list of DNR deer check stations
is available at www.michigan.gov/
deer.
DNR wildlife managers encour-
age anyone who sees a deer with
this type of infection to contact the
DNR so the carcass can be exam-
ined. Hunters may check their deer
or elk TB lab results at www.michi-
gan.gov/dnrlab
Field-Dressing
There are signs of bovine tuber- laboratory testing.
culosis hunters may observe when In the years since bovine tu-
field-dressing a deer. Lymph nodes berculosis was discovered in wild
in the animals head usually show white-tailed deer in Michigan,
infection first and, as the disease much has been learned about this
progresses, lesions may begin to contagious disease. The DNR and
develop on the surface of the lungs other agencies working to eradicate
and chest cavity. In severely in- bovine tuberculosis from our state
fected deer, lesions can sometimes encourage Michigan residents to
be found throughout the animals educate themselves about this afflic-
entire body. Deer with severe TB tion and do what they can as indi-
may have tan or yellow lumps lining viduals and groups to help fight it.
the chest wall and in the lung tissue. For more information on bovine
Deer showing this type of infection tuberculosis, visit www.michigan.
should be submitted to the DNR for gov/emergingdiseases.n
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 65
 Terror of the Insect World:
The Amazing Praying Mantis
T
hey are one of the
most fearsome preda-
tors ever to stalk plant
earth. They may be
lurking in your vegeta-
ble garden right now,
just waiting for the perfect moment
to strike. Or they might be
inches away from the lure
box watching your hand
approach. Their forelegs
have sharp spines. When
the time is right, they posi-
tion for the kill and lunge
with lightning fast speed.
The prey is grabbed, and
impaled with those deadly
By Jonathan Schechter
forelegs
---and then
consumed,
while still alive.
Summer has started with a
sizzle, and environmental condi-
tions are excellent for the pray-
ing mantis, an odd looking insect
that has walked the earth since the
Cretaceous Period. The fossil record
confirms some evolutionary changes
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66 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
occurred over the past 100 million
years that added to their success as
the ultimate modern day hunting
machine, most noticeably those ef-
ficient prey grasping spines on their
forelegs.
The life cycle of the praying
mantis is very much like
those of many other insects,
with three stages known as
incomplete metamorphosis.
It starts with the egg, then
its the nymph, and then
finally the adult. In autumn
the female praying mantis
deposited her eggs, some-
times hundreds of eggs, on
a twig in
a location
that pro-
vides a degree of coverage and then
secretes a strange foamy substance
that resembles brown Styrofoam
that quickly hardens. This odd ap-
pearing egg case blends rather well sky is rarely witnessed, but nature
with the twig and is properly called
an ootheca. Tree leaves fall, snow
swirls and months slip by. June
BIGGER
& great adaptation when a superbly
BETTE
THAN
R
EVER!
The common name praying mantis is descriptive and loved by kids.
arrives, and our ravenous praying
mantis nymphs work their way out
of their ootheca and see the light of
the world for the first time.
They appear looking just like
miniature adults and are indepen-
dent on emergence with an excel-
lent appetite and no time for family
bonding. The first meal of many of
the hungry little ones is a sibling.
The first moments of life under the
savvy adults that notice their winter
egg case keep a watchful lookout.
My nature-savvy friend Wendy
captured one of those images and
shared it.
After the, I am going to eat my
brother or sister stage is over, the
survivors disperse and move on to
bigger and better things. If it moves
and they can grasp it, its dinner.
Crickets, grasshoppers, honey bees,
and other insects, bugs and beetles
of all species are part of the never
ending smorgasbord. Occasionally
small frogs, and even flightless birds
flopping on the ground become prey.
Life is fast, rough and tough in
the heat of the summer, for these
tiny creatures that look like prehis-
toric beasts from another age, but
evolution has been kind to them.
Unlike humans that struggle to turn
heads even 90 degrees to see what
is just outside our field of vision,
the mantis can spin its head a full
180 degrees and be instantly aware
of, and wary of anything that ap-
proaches.
That head swivel ability is a
camouflaged mantis is waiting for
a meal to come wandering by from
any direction. We lack the flexible
joint they have between their head
and the pro-thorax that functions
like a swivel. Give us another 100
million years of evolution and per-
haps we too will develop that ability
and give truth to those timeless
words Moms say to their children,
I have eyes in back of my head.
The head swiveling ability also
makes it tough for a young entomol-
ogist to grab one for a closer look.
But sometimes when a summer day
is cool, and the mantis just seems to
amble across the edge of a trail, its
as simple as bending over and pick-
ing it up. Perhaps its a full stomach
that adds to temporary sluggishness.
But more often than not, they see us
coming and evade and escape, for
they have two large compound eyes
with multiple lenses that give these
amazing creatures excellent periph-
eral vision, and three simple eyes
located between the compound eyes
that are best for detecting motion.
Sometimes a mantis finds a hu-
man shoulder, or hand a good place
to explore, to the delight of many
children.
Headless Males Make Good
Lovers is the name of a fascinating
book about natural history oddities.
It is not fiction, and author Marty
Crump explores the fact then while
mating the female mantis sometimes
uses her swiveling head ability to
bite off the males head. The males
body does not stop fulfilling its
function and the romantic moment
carries on. Recent research has con-
firmed that this activity of decapitat-
ing her partner is more common in
captive mantises than free roaming
ones. Bottom line: In the wild, 70
percent of the time the male lives
after mating, but not for long. Most
praying mantises never reach their
first birthday.
The common name praying
mantis is descriptive and loved by
kids. When those deadly forelegs are
in their folded position, this creature
with five eyes and a habit of eating
its siblings appears to be in ritual-
ized prayer. Perhaps a better name
would be preying mantis, for this
super hunter is a master at catching
its prey. Lucky for us, the big ones
are only about five inches long. A
five foot long praying mantis would
make a summer walk a flash back to
a Jurassic Park style world.
Jonathan Schechter lives in
Brandon Township and hikes fear-
lessly amidst the habitat of the
praying mantis. E-mail: oaknature@
aol.comn
Saginaw Bay a year after new regulations
T
his October will mark
the one year anniversary
of the walleye regulation
changes on Saginaw Bay
and the Saginaw River.
The early indications of
these changes are very favorable. Ive
fished the bay several times this spring
and summer and we have seen some
very healthy walleyes thus far, and
as usual several year classes mixed
together.
The weather has actually been fa-
vorable for walleye health this season.
The temperature of the bay through
the Fourth of July has hovered in the
low 70-degree range which is optimal
for these fish. Warmer temperatures
tend to chase the baitfish out to cooler
waters, and there have been many hot
years that fishing comes to a halt by
mid-summer as the waters are just too
warm. The fish that once were being
harvested during this warmer period
have lost a good amount of weight
and almost arent worth gassing up
the boat to chase. The combination of
cooler water and high water levels,
as well as a positive baitfish envi-
ronment, has anglers pulling some
healthy and may I add sassy walleyes
into the boat.
Another interesting species has
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continued to show up in creels this
far this year and that is some beauti-
ful jumbo perch. Most arent being
targeted by perch anglers, but are
biting on walleye baits like crawler
harnesses. On a trip over the Fourth
we actually had a jumbo
pull the planer board back.
That is a nice perch. The
change in perch regulations
will only help this fishery as
the daily limit was dropped
from 50 to 25 fish per person.
Twenty-five jumbo perch and
eight beautiful little walleyes
should certainly keep any
angler happy.
Another thing we By Mark Sak
noticed is the fishing
is very good from Quannicassee on
the south end of Saginaw Bay all the
way to Au Gres on the north end.
Most of the fish are pretty similar in
size throughout the system although
the potential for a big walleye prob-
ably remains better the farther north
they go. Anglers in Au Gres are still
throwing back sub-legal fish under 13
inches in those northern waters, and
we caught a plump 4-pounder down
near Coreyon Reef in the south end.
There are schools on the east and
west sides of the bay, so interestingly
anglers wont find big packs of boats
anywhere. Boats seem to be scattered
everywhere, but all are seeing good
success in filling the live well.
Boat launches are in great shape
as water levels are the highest they
have been in years. As of
July there were still some
concerns launching out of
the Saginaw River as the
flooding that hit Midland so
severely had caused a lot of
debris to float up into the bay,
so it is still imperative that
boaters be aware of floating
wood when running. The cur-
rent in the river is finally
starting to slow down
as of this writing, but a
lot of water ran into the bay in a very
short time in late June. On our trip
the water clarity at Coreyon Reef was
much better than expected, and we
could see that famous white tip at least
five feet down in the water column.
Most presentations are producing
fish on the bay, both crankbaits and
spinners. Colors have really not been
that important. We utilized bottom
bouncers and crawler harnesses on our
most successful trip, but soon real-
ized we could take just as many fish
on snap weights with harnesses. (We
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run the bait back approximately 12
feet, attach a 1 1/2 ounce snap weight
to the line, then run it down and let it
hit bottom once, then send it all out
on an Off Shore planer board). This
presentation allows the forward mo-
tion of the boat to allow the harness to
ride up slightly in the column which
allows us to do some s-curves or tight
turns without catching the many zebra
mussel clumps on the bottom. Snap
weights are a little easier to deal with
than bottom bouncers especially when
netting an unusually feisty walleye
trying to run under the boat. We
caught fish on perch colored, brown
and white harnesses.
If this weather pattern contin-
ues and the temperature in the bay
stays relatively cool, this bite should
continue at least until mid-August. It
is certainly a great time to get out on
the bay and get some fantastic eaters
in the freezer. There arent a lot of
opportunities to keep 13 to 15 inch
walleyes, and these fish are by far
the best to eat. As always, watch the
weather closely as storms can blow up
quickly.
For current fishing reports on
the Bay give Franks Great Outdoors
a call, they are usually right on the
money. Ill see you on Saginaw bay.n
CALL FOR DETAILS
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 67
 L e n Je n ki n s Public Welcome...

HUNT CLUB Brave Hearts

3-D archery
Custom Gun Dog Training
4989 Abbot Road Reading, MI 49274
www.facebook.com/LenJenkinsHuntClub

TRAINING
W
ith a slight Vasos added that they hope to
stretch of the bring more disabled soldiers to the
Custom gun dog training on a 200 acre licensed preserve. imagination its a facility including those training for
scene straight out Paralympic competitions.
Includes: Training ~ Lunch of Juras- Aaron Keiser, Camp
One hunt at conclusion of each training session sic Park. Cuervo pro staffer and
A young boy and his father course designer said, This
$100 per session using the only weapons at
their disposal-recurve and
is the second season for the
course. We tried to set it up
(34 recommended) compound bows-in an at- to imitate realistic hunting.
tempt of fend off a charging Weve cleared shooting
Followed by a lanes but the targets are
Velociraptor dinosaur.
full day hunt This scenario did not in a natural setting which
occur on a ficti-
By Patrick Bevier
participants seem
tious tropical to really like.
CALL NOW! 517.283.1559 island where DNA
manipulation has
The variety of
targets is impres-
recreated the long-lost giant reptiles, sive and range from a cinnamon

Elysian Fields
but among the rolling hills of the
10% Discounts Maple River valley in Pellston.
for all reservations The father and son are Paul and
signed by 9-1-17 HUNTING PRESERVE Cameron Bricker of Petoskey. Their
adventure involved target practice at
WHITETAIL DEER HUNTS the remarkable 3-D archery course
at Brave Hearts Estate. Fortunately,
Hunting Lodge in Bellevue, Michigan the aforementioned raptor is one of
the targets and is made of self-heal-
ing foam rather than talons, teeth,
Bow, Pistol, Rifle and scales.
The course boasts 30 different
or Shotgun Hunts targets and is both creative and chal-
lenging. It resulted from a partner-
ship between two veterans-oriented
No License non-profit organizations: Operation
Injured Soldiers (OIS) and Camp
Required
Cuervo. The generous folks at
Camp Cuervo, as well as the Huron
Pointe Sportsmans Association and
Guaranteed Lapeer Sportsmans Association,
Trophy or have donated the majority of the
top-of-the-line targets by Rinehart
No Pay and Delta Mckenzie. Camp Cuervo
- an organization whose mission it
is to increase troop morale through
Discounted archery has sent archery gear to
Doe Hunts Specials military bases all over the world
and sponsors shooting competitions
bear to a wild boar and a turkey to a
mountain lion. Theres even a carp
that has apparently evolved from
an aquatic to a terrestrial creature.
An interesting anecdote is that the
morning after placing the black bear
target, the gentlemen noticed that a
tree near the target was laced with
black bear claw marks. Obviously,
a resident bear was scoping out the
new intruder in his territory!
Eight-year old Cameron said,
I really like walking the trails with
my dad. My favorite target I shot
was the carp!
Veterans can shoot the course
for free but the public is also very
welcome. A $10.00 donation is sug-
gested that helps maintain the course
and for the purchase of new targets.
Theres a cash box, scoring cards,
insurance forms, and other informa-
tion just inside the office door of the
big red barn west of the house. A
bonus is that anyone filling out the
paperwork is automatically entered
in a raffle for a Lonesome Wind
longbow courtesy of Camp Cuervo.
The course covers a one mile

For the Best Deal on a NOW! throughout the U.S (campcuervo.

org).
loop of well groomed trails that
meander through lush forests, marsh
Call For a Deal Camp Cuervo president John Va-
Deer Hunt Contact Us . . .
lands, and high terrain grasslands.
sos said, When we went to set up The meadows have been planted
the course, the response from local with acres of crops to attract wildlife
and state sportsmen was incredible. by the Tip of the Mitt Quality Deer
(517) 803-9893 (517) 881-7088 People came together and provided
almost $30,000.00 in materials and
Management Association.
If youre a veteran with a 100%
www.elysianwhitetails.com labor for the Brave Hearts course.
Even the Michigan State Police
disability, become a member of OIS
and join them for the Liberty Hunt
donated a few targets! at Brave Hearts the weekend of
68 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
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Father and son duo of Paul and Cameron Bricker draw on a raptor
target at the Brave Hear ts 3-D archery course in Pellston.
September 16-17 (injuredsoldiers.
org). The property features 5-easily
accessed deer blinds, including a
new handicapped-accessible blind
crafted by the building-trades stu-
dents from Petoskey High School.
There will be plenty of helpers at
the facility during the Liberty Hunt
to assist disabled hunters. Brave
Hearts will also serve disabled
veterans during the Independence
Hunt October 19-22, 2017. Hunters
odds are great as the rarely-hunted
property harbors several large bucks
and plenty of doe. Contact OIS at
(248) 437-3130 with questions or to
register for either hunt.
So, if you like to shoot a bow
(no crossbows allowed because of
the damage they can do to the tar-
gets), or need some practice before
deer season, mosey on over to Brave
Hearts to give it a go. The course
is open Thursday through Monday
on a self-serve basis for walk-ins.
Brave Hearts Estate is located at
4171 Ely Road in Pellston. Its just
two miles west of US-31 down from
the airport. Park your vehicle in
front of the red barn and check in
at the office. More information is
available at the Brave Hearts 3-D
Archery Course Facebook page.
For those veterans who are
more interested in waters rather
than woods, Brave Hearts is hosting
walleye-champ Mark Martin and
his pro staff, wholl be taking par-
ticipants walleye and perch fishing
on Burt Lake. The event is on the
weekend of September 16-17 and
registration is necessary. Give OIS a
Poly Furniture and
ring to sign-up.
Brave Hearts Estate was donated
Campfire Supplies and Rings
to OIS by a philanthropic Korean
War veteran. Soldiers, and their
families, stay completely free and
are treated to a relaxing bed-and- Relax In Style!
breakfast style experience. Caretak-
ers Paula and Mike Brown are two
of the nicest and most accommodat-
ing folks you will ever come across.
If you decide to shoot the
course, or to join Brave Hearts for
any of the veteran hunting or fishing
events, I guarantee it wont be your
last time visiting this one-of-a-kind
facility!n
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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 69
WORMIN
BASS
Strategies That Work
By Kenny Darwin

B
ass finesse tactics work better than
dynamite in Michigan, especially
when the big hogs are in skinny
water. Im not talking about long
distance casting small tubes on
Lake Charlevoix for smallies. My
target is largemouth in southern Michigan lakes,
ponds, reservoirs and backwater river flats. Im
looking for fish that are spawning or in shallow
water looking for an easy meal. For this brand of
bass fishing use a stealthy approach.
Ya gotta love modern electric motors that
allow you to sneak along the shore, casting to
fish you spot while wearing polarized sunglasses.
Success hinges on spotting fish before they detect
you, make a long distance cast, plop a squirm-
ing worm in their face and watch as their strike
instinct kicks into high gear and they charge the
slow falling presentation and gulp the offering.
Thats when you set the hook, lean into the rod
full force and jam the hook through their boney
jaw. They immediately respond with an acrobatic
leap and splashdown that sends an adrenaline
rush through your body. Some shake the hook as
they twist and turn while airborne; others hit the
calm lake surface with a resounding splash and
sprint for any structure where they can tangle the
line in weeds, around docks, tree branches, rocks,
stumps and more.
I perfected the technique of stalking bass
while sneaking along the banks of Sanford Lake,
Wixom Lake and the Tittabawassee chain of
lakes while growing up in Midland County. Pro
fishermen would admit my stalking methods are
deadly but scoff at the fact I used live crawlers
handpicked under the cover of darkness from
Midland Country Club. Id use only big mature
crawlers big as snakes and Id keep them alive,
cool, out of direct sunlight. A size #4 Eagle Claw
style 151 bronze hooks with baitholder barbs was
inserted through the worms collar and threaded
up the shank to hide the hook. My spinning rods
were medium heavy action and I used 6-10 pound
mono line.
I would hook dozens of bass in a single day
by patrolling sunken stumps, logs, edges of
weedbeds, or any structure that attracted bass. It
was exciting to see the telltale largemouth black
horizontal lateral line, cast to the unsuspecting Hawg bass, like this 6 pound 8 ounce monster largemouth taken by Jesse Livingston from
fish and witness the take. Some bass would gulp Ionia, can be caught from shore, boat or dock using worms. Kenny Darwin photos
the wiggling crawler on the fall, others would
allow the tempting live twisting meal to touch the offering by venting water through their gills balling your live bait presentation and the solid
bottom and when the crawler slithered across bot- at lightning speed. Few thrills in fishing are more thud of the strike as the bass sucks the rig off
tom to escape thats when watching bass inhale impressive than a lunker bass tipped vertical eye- bottom and swims toward cover.
70 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
 But few serious bass fishermen or tournament
pros use live nightcrawlers. They replace the
deadly bait with plastic imitations. As summer
arrives most bassin men fish deeper water using
jigs to take plastic worms to likely bucketmouth
hideouts. Perhaps the deadliest tactic going
pound for pound against all the other lures is
Texas rigged worms. As summer progresses most
switch to Stanley, Bass Pro or Arkie heavy jigs
and use craw worms as trailers.
I cut my bass catchin teeth fishing with K &
E black plastic worms with weedless wire hooks.
Id sneak kissin close to lily pad beds or thick
weeds and cast the worm into open pockets. With
this deadly presentation the worm sinks slowly,
twisting and wiggling toward bottom. Bass found
close to structure see the falling worm and charge
out of the shadows to attack the slowly sinking
lure. Some strikes occur shortly after the worm
begins its decent, others happen when the twist-
ing lure is half way through the water column,
but more often than not the strike comes shortly
after the worm touches bottom. You can increase
hook ups by giving the rod a slight twitch which
causes the worm to wiggle on bottom.
Polaroid sunglasses will enhance your
chances of seeing more bass because the polar-
ization cuts the glare off the water and allows you
to see fish. It is a riot to toss out the worm and
Author, Kenny Darwin, with a dandy bass
taken on his favorite purple worm. Worms
can be fished fast or slow, in shallow or
deep water from ice out until ice up and
bass absolutely love em.
Powerful electric bow mounted motors allow bass fishermen to sneak into ideal casting
position. This angler is casting close to a thick lily pad field that holds some large bass.
watch a big bass charge the offering, slam on the
brakes and remain inches from the worm and fol-
low it toward bottom. Its a full blown rush when
a big bass is facing you and the polarized glasses
allow you to see the big mouth open and suck in
the worm at lightning speed. Fishing eyewear is a
way of life for those who hunt any species. Gotta
have them for those clear water smallies on Char-
levoix Lake, eyes in Lake Leelanau, great whites
on the Detroit and bronzeback in the Kalamazoo.
One of the biggest bass I have ever landed I spot-
ted with the aid of sunglasses in the shallows of
Gun Lake.
By using huge pectoral fins a largemouth bass
can remain in any position and move any direc-
tion by sculling water. Once the strike instinct
takes over a largemouth will smash the lure by
charging close, biting and engulfing the slithery
creature by venting water through its gills. Some-
times they follow the worm until they are straight
up and down and you can see them pound bottom
on the take as they kick up a cloud of bottom silt.
Savvy bass anglers use the slow-fall worm
trick when bass are in shallow water. Once they
move to deeper water the best strategy is a Texas
rig. This is nothing more than placing an egg-
shaped sinker ahead of the lure. This allows you
to make long distance casts and drag the lure tight
to bottom. 1/8-1/4 ounce bullet-shaped weights
are ideal for most medium water fishing. When
bass move to summer lairs larger 1/2-3/4 ounce
weights are needed. Texas rigged worms take on
an action of their own as the lead taps bottom and
sends electric vibration the length of the worm.
Rods should have enough back bone to set
the hook into the boney mouth of a largemouth.
Try 6-7 foot rods with a stiff midsection and butt.
Length can be a matter of choice. I loved catch-
ing bass on my 10 foot Swan steelhead rod.
Shorter sticks provide good feel and fit better into
boat rod lockers.
Savvy bass anglers use 14-20 pound braided
line that casts with ease and is strong enough to
cut through weeds. Most attach a barrel swivel
to the braid and use a clear fluorocarbon leader
18-48 inches long. The fluorocarbon line is tough,
has high-stretch toughness but is super clear and
fish cant see it. Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible
and has great knot strength.
There are hundreds of plastic worms on the
market ranging in size from 4-12 inches, for most
Michigan conditions I prefer the 6 inch size but
use the 7 inch length when the fish are active.
Some pros are nuts about some of the fancy
colors available like Junebug, Watermelon, Motor
oil, Copper reuse Goby, Green Pumpkin and zil-
lions more. Some folks dip worms in garlic scent
or spray with crawdad, baitfish or other flavoring
and scent.
Ive had good luck with most scent products
and prefer a worm that has a twister tail. As for
color, Im sold on two main colors when it comes
to attracting and catching largemouth bass; black
and purple. I understand why black is unbeliev-
ably affective because it mimics a leech, lamprey
or bottom dwelling worm-like critter. Black
is also a bright color that bass can see even in
colored or stained water. But I dont understand
why largemouths prefer purple colored presenta-
tions. There are no purple worms in the wild, no
grape colored leeches or lamprey. But for some
strange reason bass go bonkers over purple col-
ored worms across the entire state of Michigan.
At times bass want a dark colored purple offer-
ing; especially when night fishing or when water
is stained. When the clouds blow away and the
sun is bright, bass seem to prefer a light purple or
grape worm.
Plastic wormin is one tactic that is guar-
anteed to help you catch more and bigger bass.
Sometimes you need to flip em into shallow wa-
ter holes found in dense weed beds, or pitch em
near docks or lily pads. When the fish go deep try
parallel casting and drag worms along bottom in
10-20 foot depths. In deeper water use electronics
to find fish and free spool until the Texas rig hits
bottom. Drag the worm along bottom giving it an
occasional 6-12 inch hop to attract fish.
Preparing to go bass fishing can be as com-
plex as you want to make it. Basically you can
get by cheap just buying hooks, weights and
worms. Much of fishing has nothing to do with
catching; but experiencing fresh air, exercise,
camaraderie and enjoying Michigans great out-
doors. Setting the hook and feeling the powerful
pull of a big bass is a bonus.n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 71


TROPHY PAGE

Tricia Krause from Hillsdale

Ashley Johnston with a big
17 lb. Lake Huron Laker.
She caught this during the
Proking Tournament out of
Harbor Beach.
Brianna Neumann, drift fish-
ing for the first time in the
Detroit River, caught this 5 lb.
fresh water drum which put
up a tough fight!
showed the men how goose
Lorraine Schluentz of
Armada caught this large- hunting is done!
mouth bass, June 29 on
Lake Mitchell.

Brothers Brady (5) and Jonah Crainer (2)

with two panfish they caught in Ogemaw
County. That bluegill was Jonahs first fish!

Carol Brinks of Ham-

Frank Kinnunen and Blake Wasilkowski
opening day double in Isabella Co.
Logan Johnson, 9, with ilton took this tom
his first turkey! The April 18. It had an 11
tom had an 8 1/2 inch inch beard, hunting
beard, 3/4 inch spurs, Allegan Co.
hunting Oscoda Co.

John S. Majewski took his turkey on May

6 and it weighed 21 lbs. 10 oz. with an 11
inch beard. His wife Sandy took hers May
27 and it weighed 19 lbs. and had a 9 Brendan Kriefeldt of Bay City
inch beard. caught this monster 49 inch
northern pike in Saginaw Bay!
Olivia Russell, 9,
harvested this
beautiful bird
with a crossbow SEND US YOUR
TROPHY PHOTOS
hunting with her
father in Montcalm
County. It was 22 C.J. Baldwin, 10, caught this 25 inch wall-
lbs., had a 10 in. eye and Chase Hartman, 12, caught this
beard and 1 in. 33 1/2 inch pike on Saginaw Bay. During
spurs. First Russell
to shoot a turkey!
that day in June they caught 14 walleyes, 4
perch and 4 pike!
wnw@pageone-inc.com
72 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
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Woods-N-Water News
Michigans Premier Outdoor Publication
www.woods-n-waternews.com
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 73
 Letters, My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...
Ethanol and Boating Update
M
y research and in-
vestigation regard-
ing ethanol dates
back to 2012.
Since, I have writ-
ten five commen-
taries that have generated over 100
comments. Clearly the subject is of
great interest to all boaters. I thought
my readers at Woods-N-
Water News would want to
share what I have learned
along the way. In no way
is my research the final
analysis of the topic I
invite everyone to seek out
additional information. Be
sure to review my caution
at this articles conclusion.
In April,
Boat Smart...
2015 appre-
By Captain Fred Davis
hensions and
warnings
regarding
introduction of E-15 (15% ethanol,
85% gasoline) were discussed by the
boating industry. They cited current
reports of damage from the use of
E-10 (10% ethanol, 85% gasoline)
ranging from carburetor failures and
fuel line leakage to extensive engine
damage.
The RFS (Renewable Fuel
Standard), set over a decade ago in
2005, mandated the EPA dictate -
at that time, an increasing number
of gallons of ethanol be blended
into the countrys fuel supply each
year. Numbers of gallons were to
be achieved by certain target dates.
The incentive was to increase the
I disagree with Smiths deer recommendations
We need to write about predator control and improving habitat in the U.P.
Dear Woods-N-Water News:
I realize everyone is entitled
to their own opinion. For Richard
Smith to write that the U.P. buck
rules have devastated the U.P. deer
herd, in my opinion, is just plain
nuts!
So, the tough winters, uncon-
trolled wolves, and other predators,
along with a lack of good winter
habitat had nothing to do with it.
No, it must be the three points
on a side rule that we put on one
tag that is responsible, according to
Smith.
In the three years that the U.P.
Predator/Prey Study was in the
mid-snowfall zone, none of the
fawns survived the first winter,
74 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
amount of renewable fuel we use
and decrease dependence upon fos-
sil fuels.
In 2005 Congress was convinced
adding renewable fuels, most dis-
tilled from corn, would provide air
quality benefits being called for and
reduces our dependence on for-
eign oil. What they did not foresee
was that their directives
to auto manufacturers to
increase MPG and overall
efficiency of their engines
would reduce fuel demands
dramatically. Thus there is
less gasoline to mix with
increasing ethanol blends.
Fast forward twelve
years; the EPA planned
another
increase, up
to 15 percent
blend of
ethanol for
2017. According to federal law an
agency is required to seek public
input before moving forward on a
proposed directive.
In June of 2016 they did so and
an outraged deluge of comments
were delivered from those who had
already experienced expensive fuel-
system failures. Manufacturers of all
engines; boats, motorcycles, lawn
mowers, chain saws, generators, and
numerous other small engines re-
sponded. They reported they made
adjustments to allow for use of E-10
but would not be able to prevent se-
vere damage that could occur from
the use of E-15 blended fuels.
and only 37 percent of the collared
does survived that winter. Only 11
percent and 13 percent of the fawns
survived the next two winters. Is it
any wonder why our U.P. deer herd
was not growing?
All these bucks Smith claims
we lost, were lost as fawns. Fawns
are the first to die in any tough
winter. This is exactly why we need
a good spread of age classes of
bucks in our herd. After a buck has
made it through a winter or two, it
is much more likely to survive. We
pretty much lost three age classes
of deer during those tough winters.
Just where would we be if we
counted on yearling bucks as the
primary breeder like we had before
Final Renewable Fuel Volume Standards
*2018 Biomass Based Diesel Standard is Final
**EPA sets annual standards for total renewable fuels and advance renewable fuel
volumes. Conventional or non-advance volume requirements are the difference
between total and advance volumes.
Before the 2017 deadline, due to
pressure from various groups, E-15
was distributed to 700 stations in 29
states even though the damage po-
tential caused by it was commonly
known. The EPA dictates that E-10
remains the limit for passenger vehi-
cles older than model year 2001 and
other non-road engines and vehicles
that use gas, including boats.
Many states have refused to
allow the dispersal of E-15. Many
manufacturers have deemed it il-
legal and dictated warranty termina-
tions would occur for engines found
to contain it. In response to public
outcry, the EPA slightly reduced the
mandate, but unless Congress passes
legislation altering or repealing the
Renewable Fuel Standards, they
are required by law to continue the
mandates (see graphic).
If the EPA cannot adjust its man-
these buck rules went into effect?
In the past, we counted on buck
fawns to make it through the win-
ter, so they could be the primary
breeder the next fall. They then
were shot. We had very few other
age classes of bucks. We are just
too efficient at killing them.
In any wildlife population, you
want a good spread of age classes
of both sexes, to help sustain the
population through events such as
the winters that took out so many
deer. The U.P. buck rules have
helped do just that. If anything,
they may not be strict enough. His
comments on Lower Michigan deer
management are similarly out of
touch.
dates wont the federal requirements
lead to destruction of innumerable
engines?
The amount of ethanol-free fuel
REC 90 is limited and extremely
expensive and the new Butyl fuel is
yet to be determined as an adequate
correction. It too is in short supply
and even more costly. There appears
to be a Tug of War between those
who will benefit from the higher
blended fuel and those who wish the
entire RFS repealed.
My advice is; Be careful when
you fuel, determine what you are
going to put in the tank. Many gas
stations are offering E-85 (15%
ethanol, 85% gasoline) as a less
expensive fuel. Do not fuel your
tank with the cheaper E-85. No
matter how much stabilizer you add,
chances are you could destroy your
engine and void your warranty.n
Instead of dividing sports-
men, perhaps Mr. Smith could find
something useful to do with his
writing skills. We need help getting
wolves delisted, other predators
managed, our deer fat going into
winter, food and cover in our deer
wintering complexes, and early
green up foods available when they
break out in the spring. Maybe he
could write something on these,
real issues. After reading Smiths
opinions on deer management, Im
not sure of his credibility in any
of his other writings. Repeating
something over and over does not
make it true.
George Lindquist
Negaunee , MI
 Hot Topics In The Outdoors...My Thoughts, My Views
Are APRs a concern with the presence of CWD?
W
hitetail deer
movement,
deer popula-
tion density,
and deer hunt-
ing are impor-
tant factors in understanding the
transmission and control of chronic
wasting disease (CWD). There are
several important points to consider.
This information was presented to
the Natural Resources Commission
at the May meeting.
There is speculation that year-
ling whitetail deer that disperse may
be cause for the spread of CWD.
This is due partly to test results from
different locations around the coun-
try that indicate the buck population
has a higher prevalence for CWD
than does. Do bucks really have
a significantly higher prevalence
rate for CWD than does or is that
an assumption based on test data
from various locations, with many
variables, differing geographic sizes,
and differing sample selection at dif-
ferent times of the year?
This certainly bears further
research and study before drawing
that conclusion. There are still many
Do you really want to eat that CWD deer?
B
efore we get too far
into this, I want to note
that at the moment,
most officials are still
saying that there is no
danger of contract-
ing any disease from eating a deer
contaminated with Chronic Wast-
ing Disease. And, I do not want to
cause a panic. But, on the flip side,
I am starting to see indications that
all involved are not all that sure of
themselves.
A lot of this comes from a
recent Eastern U.P. Citizens Advi-
sory Council meeting (EUP CAC).
There, DNR Wildlife Biologist
Terry Minzey related some new
information about CWD. He talked
about a study that is being done over
in Alberta, Canada. Minzey stated
that in this study, they had taken 18
small monkeys and exposed them
to CWD in various fashions. Some
of which by feeding them CWD
infected deer meat.
The really interesting part is that
some of the monkeys have now con-
tracted this disease. The really scary
part is that the reason they used
the monkeys is that they are really
closely related to people, biologi-
Guest Column By Dick Zook
questions related to the available
information on CWD, test sampling
technique, and other testing results
that do not indicate that bucks have
a higher prevalence than does. There
are several factors to consider to
better understand the possibilities.
Yearling Buck
Dispersal Spreading CWD
Yearling buck dispersal is only a
piece of deer movement that occurs
that may lead to the spread of CWD.
Consider that fawn recruitment on
an annual basis can vary widely
depending on conditions and avail-
able food.
An annual population increase
can vary, generally with an esti-
mate between 20-30 percent annual
increases in deer population being
reasonable at fawn recruitment time.
That would leave 10-15 percent
of the deer population as yearling
bucks less additional mortality from
hunting season through the winter,
and then available to disperse.
It is generally recognized that
a very high percentage of yearling
bucks do disperse from their home
cally.
If you dont By Stephen King 30Also,or more years.
know, CWD is a
disease that infects deer. It affects
their brains and causes them to act
rather unusually and then wither
away and die. Once contracted,
there is no known cure. And, it is
always fatal.
This disease has been garner-
ing a lot of press lately in this area
because the DNR is fighting a battle
to keep CWD out of this state. At
the moment, it is running rampant in
some western States. And, has got-
ten a serious foothold into Wiscon-
sin.
The problem is that once it gets
into an area, it is extremely hard to
get rid of. Actually just about impos-
sible. In one piece I read, they took
an area that they knew was contami-
nated, like a barn, and cleaned it.
The way they do with most things.
Hot water, chlorine, detergents and
the like. Didnt faze it. A year later
and it was still there. This was in a
controlled area. Once it gets into the
soil in an area, it stays there.
For a very long time. At the
moment, the current thought is that
it stays active in the soil for at least
territory. The distance will fluctu-
ate from the adjacent forty acres to
many miles, or as far as the yearling
buck wants to travel. The distance
would be dependent on numerous
factors which include; finding favor-
able nutrition, security, cover and
social conditions. It would be rea-
sonable to expect that most yearling
bucks would travel only as far as
needed to satisfy those conditions.
This is generally considered to be a
one-way trip.
Deer Movement in General
Now expand the scope of this
discussion to deer movement in gen-
eral throughout the year, to include
deer migration for winter (thermal)
cover and available food (nutrition),
and for adult bucks roaming during
the rut.
The annual migrations of a high
percentage of deer in large geo-
graphic areas of the Upper Penin-
sula to winter yarding areas many
miles from their home range occur
for winter thermal cover and avail-
able food. This leads to very high
deer densities and exposing deer to
from what
Ive read, theyre
really not so sure about this. Im
thinking it may stay active for a lot
longer.
You see, CWD is not like other
diseases. With most other diseases,
there is a bug, or bacteria, or a virus.
These are little bitty critters that can
be killed. Thats what all the hand
washing and food safety is about.
Killing off the bad germs.
But, the culprits in CWD are
actually things called Prions.
(Pronounced either PRY-ON or
PREE-ON) They are some nasty
little things. They are described as
a folded protein. What that is ex-
actly, I dont have a clue. But, what
I have learned is that they are nasty.
At least the bad ones are. Ap-
parently, we all have them in us.
However, they are normal ones. The
CWD prions are not normal. They
cause the various diseases associ-
ated with them. How they do this is
that a bad prion changes the good
ones. In a way I have not heard to-
tally explained, they cause the other
prions to fold.
To me, this sounds a lot like
transmission of disease.
Winter migrations that congre-
gate deer for cover and food occur
throughout the state but on a lesser
scale for distance and size of yard-
ing area. Smaller migration and/or
deer congregating in winter cover
occurs for extended periods in the
northern Lower Peninsula even dur-
ing normal winters.
The southern Lower Peninsula
sees deer congregating in wet lands
and river corridors during the winter
near their agricultural home range.
Again, this congregates a high
percentage of the deer herd every
winter, resulting in high densities,
close contact and drastically higher
risk of disease transmission. This
is considered to be a round trip and
would provide for transfer of disease
in both directions. It is probable that
deer migration in general constitutes
more of a risk of disease transmis-
sion than dispersing yearling bucks.
Also consider the annual rut
when adult bucks roam widely
outside of their home territory for
up close and personal contact. Adult
APRs and CWD page 76
dominos. Like, when they are all
standing, one flops over and causes
the rest to flop over. That may be a
bit over simplified. But, it kind of
explains it.
These are things not a lot of peo-
ple are talking a lot about. Yet. But,
I clearly remember a few years back
and the Mad Cow disease thing.
Everybody was saying this could
not be passed to people. Then, a few
people over in Britain, I believe, got
sick. They wiped out a few million
cows. Really bad time to be a cow.
Now, they are saying CWD
cant be passed to humans. And, yes,
I believe everything the government
tells me. Yeah, right!
No matter. What is clear is that
we really need to do everything we
can to keep CWD out of Michigan.
As of now, there are a few affected
deer that have been found in Lower
Michigan. In a corridor that seems
to be following the Grand River.
And, remember, once CWD gets
established, it is almost impossible
to eradicate. At the moment, there is
no known way.
Now, at the EUP CAC meeting,
Eat deer with CWD? page 77
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 75
 Letters, My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...

CWD? Deer have survived for millions of years!

P
robably everyone that
has read about this
awful CWD problem
has read that all deer
that have been exposed
to CWD have expired
from the contact. How many deer
have been exposed to CWD on pur-
pose for research?
Obviously I cannot know the
exact number, but what I have read
its only a few, five or six for a test
but never numbers like two or three
thousand. We have all been told that
all deer exposed to CWD in a re-
search program have died of CWD.
What about the deer chosen for this
research, where did they come from?
I found little scientific reasoning in
the location of the deer chosen or
the number of deer chosen to die.
Im not a trained biological research
professional, but I think I was gifted
with some common sense. Wouldnt
it make sense to choose deer that are
in the core of a serious CWD pan-
demic but deer that appear healthy
and are mature?
Wouldnt it make sense to get
serious in finding adult
deer that are immune to
CWD? Forget five or six
deer for CWD research, we
need to think in thousands.
I believe we will find those
few special bucks and does
and not stop until we do!
In controlled large fenced
in areas let the
immune bucks
and does produce
By Ed Spinazzola
immune fawns. Check the fawns
for CWD immunity and place the
chosen ones right in the middle of
a CWD core area. This is not a five
year program, it may be for decades.
Our deer are precious to all and they
now need our help.
I was part of the Deer and
Turkey Spectacular last February in
Lansing along my longtime friend
Dr. Grant Woods of deer Man-
agement fame who was also was
giving seminars. My wife Patricia
and grandson Joey Burk invited
Dr. Woods for dinner and it was a
great time for all. As we sipped on
good wine, Dr Woods asked me my
thoughts on CWD.
What! My name doesnt
start with Dr. But he asked
and I said, deer have been
here for millions of years
and have evolved to what
they are today due to their
ability to adjust to the
changing environment.
If there was an
animal catastro-
phe the last three
animals to survive would be the
cockroach, coyote and the white-
tailed deer.
I continued, Patricia and I
toured northern Canada and Alaska
in 1988 and visited the Fairbanks
Natural Science Museum. I knew
about the huge blue wood bison and
saber tooth tiger display and was
excited to see it. We did and that
bison was huge. This display was
presented as animals during the ice
age. A glassed in display caught my
eye. This was in the prehistoric pe-
riod area. It was a skeleton of a small
deer, aged at three million years old.
There were no antlers but the buck
had upper ivory tusks, was noted to
be a mature deer and no bigger than
a terrier dog.
I mentioned a prehistoric lake in
present day Kansas. A massive vol-
canic eruption took place in present
day Yellowstone National Park five
million years ago and laid down six
inches of ash a thousand miles
away in this Kansas lake. Most
animals go to water when suffocat-
ing. The state park at this lake holds
skeletons of horses, camels many
predators and yes terrier sized deer
with ivory tusks. Thats five mil-
lion years that we know of deer
evolution. How many other animal
species can you count that survived
for that length of time and are still
around?
That Kansas lake story alone,
five million years convinces me that
we will find CWD immunity.
Ed Spinazzola, is an associate
with Tony LaPratts Land Manage-
ment for more information call
586-784-8090 or see our web sites
www.deerattraction.com or www.
tonysulm.com.n

APRs and CWD: from page 75 Action to Control

buck movement during the rut for
personal contact could be a bigger
risk for disease transmission than
yearling buck dispersal.
There certainly are unknowns
that require further research and
study. However there is one thing
that high deer density and close
contact brings to light and that is a
population reduction by harvesting a
high percentage of does is the high-
est priority action that is needed.
Then lower deer density will most
likely result in reduced probabil-
ity of contacting or transmitting
CWD, and healthier deer, possibly
with more resistance to contracting
disease.
Wisconsin Situation
Wisconsin is one of the states
Unresolved Questions
Did the lack of an APR in Wis-
consin slow the spread of CWD?
Did Wisconsin have the support of
the state or local elected offices?
Did Wisconsin gain the needed sup-
port of the hunting community in
trying to reduce the population?
How many deer are dying of
CWD and being consumed in the
field by predators, and in what buck-
to-doe ratio?
Are most of the buck samples in
other states obtained from hunters
when bucks are being targeted?
Did other states have limited doe
harvests making it difficult to draw
a reasonable conclusion? How do
these questions affect the testing re-
sults, and the logic of conclusions?
or Contain CWD
This discussion does not cover
the whole CWD plan, but there are
several very important points to
consider. Extensive testing must
continue to help facilitate any suc-
cessful actions. All of the efforts and
action by the MDNR must continue
if not expand, particularly as relates
to communicating with the hunt-
ing community. There are two very
important high priority actions that
must occur to eradicate, contain or
minimize the expansion of CWD.
First, the depopulation of cap-
tive facilities and a significantly
reduced population of wild and
free ranging deer in a CWD zone
as a minimum must occur for any
success to be achieved. A reduced
whitetail deer population in the
southern Lower Peninsula is critical
to reducing the spread of CWD.
Second, the willing support of
the hunting community to harvest
the deer and reduce the populations
is essential. Hunting and harvest of
does is the only tool available on the
scale needed to reduce populations.
Also, with reduced populations the
deer movement in general would be
expected to diminish by numbers
and reduce the concentration. Elimi-
nating an APR is, at best, a second-
ary action and is unlikely to reduce
the spread of CWD.
What do we want Michigans
results to look like three to five
years down the road, and what ac-
tion needs to be taken NOW as our
best chance for success? Further
study may help and may alter an
action plan, but waiting while the
disease spreads out of control is
unacceptable.n

My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions

with very high rates of infection
over a large geographic area and
continuing to spread. The harvest
of yearling bucks in Wisconsin for
the 2015 year is shown as 55
percent of the total harvest in the
QDMA Whitetail Report. This is
listed as the highest of both the
Midwest and country wide. Obvi-
ously there is neither an APR
harvest regulation in place nor
much voluntary application of an
APR. The spread of CWD in
Wisconsin is alarming if not disas-
trous for the whitetail deer herd
and the hunting community.
76 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
There are many factors here
that have not been sorted through
or considered to be able to conclude
that an APR needs to be eliminated
for helping to reduce the transfer of Share your thoughts, views, opinions or short stories with
CWD. Woods-N-Water News readers by emailing
Bovine TB Comparison
Are Bovine TB and CWD simi- wnw@pageone-inc.com or mail to
lar in cycle, prevalence, and how the Woods-N-Water News, PO Box 278, Imlay City, MI 48444
disease is spread?
Has buck prevalence been iden-
Questions regarding Woods-N-Water News subscriptions,
tified as a problem for TB control in newsstand sales, Outdoor Weekend, stories, trophy page
Michigan?
Has yearling buck dispersal been
contact our office Mon. - Fri. 8 am-5 pm 810-724-0254,
identified as a factor to spread TB www.woods-n-waternews.com or facebook woodsnwaternews
outside the control zone?
 Hot Topics In The Outdoors... My Thoughts, My Views (continued)

Deer Baiting to remain legal in Plant native predators!

Iosco, Presque Isle Counties Dear Woods-N-Water News:
They found an Asian carp above
systems MAY 23, 2016).
So we can watch Asian carp
For the time being, deer hunting with bait will remain legal in Iosco the electric barrier, the same barrier swim across the electric barrier and
and Presque Isle Counties based on action the Natural Resources Com- they told you they always could. maybe wait for years for the Bran-
mission (NRC) took at their meeting June 8 on Michigan Technological Schools of small fish always den Road, lock thing. Or we can
Universitys Campus in Houghton on some DNR deer hunting recommen- have been able to cross the barrier. plant native species/predators and go
dations. The FED proved it, warned you but on the offensive for invasive spe-
The DNR recommended a ban on baiting in those two counties in we kept using it, maybe the Asian cies.
an order that was presented for information at the NRCs May meeting carp wont get across with the other They told you what could hap-
in Ludington. The recommendation was made because deer that tested
positive for TB have come from Presque Isle County each of the last four fish? The USGS says to control pen, and it did! We have a chance to
invasive species you have to plant be proactive with Asian carp or do
years. A whitetail that had TB showed up in Iosco County during 2016.
Commissioner JR Richardson from Ontonagon, who is on the Com- native species, because if you dont nothing.
missions Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, made a motion to amend the the ecosystem will be vulnerable to Sincerely,
order to eliminate the ban on baiting in those two counties, which was sup- subsequent reinvasion, by the same Tom Matych
ported and approved unanimously by the four commissioners who were or additional invasive species (Eco- Twin Lake
at the meeting. The other commissioners present were Chairman John
Matonich from Gogebic County, Christine Crumbaugh and Louise Klarr.
We voted to allow baiting in Iosco and Presque Isle Counties because
the US Department of Agriculture currently lists these counties as TB
free, Crumbaugh commented after the vote was taken. We want to be
Eat deer with CWD: from page 75
consistent with the USDA. We dont know how long baiting will remain Terry also talked about pending So, the big issue is finding a cure.
legal in those counties. Legislation that was introduced Or, at least finding a way to stop
Matonich echoed his fellow commissioners comments saying, We by the late Rep. John Kivela of the spread of this disease. Next, we
want to be consistent with the cattle world. Marquette raising the penalties for can slow the spread by not moving
Presque Isle and Iosco Counties were originally included among the bringing in a CWD tainted deer. Or, contaminated deer. This is something
counties where baiting for deer was illegal when the TB Zone was estab- a deer from areas known to have we can do now. Dont go hunting in
lished. But when the USDA changed the TB status of Presque Isle and cer- CWD, such as Wisconsin? Coat the an affected area and bring that deer
tain townships in Iosco County during 2011, baiting was legalized in those perpetrator in honey and stake them home.
areas. The USDA accredited all of Iosco County as TB-free in 2013 and over an anthill. Probably wont hap- Which brings us back to that title
the NRC subsequently legalized baiting in the remainder of that county. pen. But, what we are talking about question, Do you really want to eat
By Richard P. Smith is potentially an end to deer as we that CWD deer? Think about the
know them. sick monkeys.n

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 DNR and Partners; Oak Savanna Restoration in Southwest Michigan...By the MDNR
Working for Wildlife
P
icture yourself in a beau-
tiful parklike setting with
scattered, sprawling oak
trees framed against a
brilliant blue sky. As you
bring your eyes toward
the ground you see a blanket of
wildflowers punctuated by clumps
of grasses as far as the eye can see.
The air is sweet with nectar, and
you see countless butterflies and
notice deer and turkeys foraging in
the distance. You hear the sweet trill
of a multitude of birds and feel a
breeze through the leaves of the bur
oak in front of you.
This is how one settler described
walking through an oak savanna in
southern Michigan.
Tallgrass prairie and associated
savanna were at their continental
boundary in southern Michigan
when white settlers arrived and had
largely disappeared before scientists
could describe them, Kim Alan
Chapman and Richard Brewer, of
the Department of Biological Sci-
ences at Western Michigan Univer-
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78 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
Logger Al Nor throp removes trees for timber sale at the Preston Road Savanna Project at the Three
Rivers State Game Area in western St. Joseph County. MDNR photos
sity, said in their scientific paper ecology of prairie and savanna in
on the history, classification and southern Lower Michigan.
Chapman and Brewer said the
historical extent of upland prairie,
wet prairie and savanna in Michigan
was estimated to be 2.23 million
acres, with savanna constituting 78
percent.
Today over 99 percent of these
original savannas are gone, said
Ken Kesson, a Michigan Depart-
ment of Natural Resources wildlife
biologist for Berrien, Cass, St.
Joseph and Branch counties. This
is unfortunate, as many wildlife spe-
cies use savannas for all or part of
their life cycle.
Savannas provide valuable habi-
tat for many wildlife species such as
Karner blue butterflies, eastern mas-
sasauga rattlesnakes, upland sand-
pipers, prairie voles, wild turkeys,
white-tailed deer and fox squirrels.
Savanna, a fire-maintained
plant community co-dominated by
herbaceous plants and trees, was
called oak openings or oak barrens
by European settlers, depending on
the type of soil and tree species,
according to Chapman and Brewer.
Given the historical abundance
and modern rarity of prairie and
savanna in Michigan, their ecologi-
cal status is of great scientific and
conservation interest.
Check out a community abstract
on dry-mesic prairie, associated with
oak savanna, in southern Michigan
For More Information from the Michigan Natural Features
and Dates Call Inventory at www.michigan.gov/
989-785-4034 dnrstories)
www.limberlostfarms.com In southwest Michigan, the DNR
Wildlife Division has identified
savannas as a priority ecosystem for
habitat restoration and management.
Consequently, savanna manage-
ment is occurring on many of the
state game areas and sites on private
lands throughout the area.
One example of work being
done on public land is the Preston
Road Savanna Project at the Three
Rivers State Game Area in western
St. Joseph County.
This unique project highlights
how partners from the private and
public sectors can work together to
complete an excellent restoration
project that benefits wildlife species,
provides a valuable boost to Michi-
gans economy and offers excep-
tional recreational opportunities for
state game area visitors.
The Preston Road savanna was
historically a black oak savanna.
In evaluating the site during
the summer of 2015, DNR staff
identified scattered, large, open-
grown oak trees and several savanna
indicator species in the understory,
Kesson said. These observations
indicated the site may respond posi-
tively to restoration and manage-
ment efforts.
During the spring of 2016,
Northrop Logging, a local timber
company, approached the DNR
about the possibility of harvesting
hardwood chip material from state-
managed lands.
DNR staff recognized the op-
portunity to work together with
the timber company and capitalize
on the new, local market demand
for chip material to remove trees
that had invaded the Preston Road
savanna site.
Its nice to have the opportunity
to work close to home with the local
land managers, said Al Northrop,
owner of Northrop Logging. It
saves us money in trucking and pro-
vides a good product that we need.
The harvested wood chips even-
tually will be used by another local
company from Holland, Michigan
to create wood pellets for heating
homes across the Midwest.
The DNR strives to work with
local companies and organiza-
tions to achieve mutually beneficial
goals, Russ Mason, DNR Wildlife
Division chief, said. Partnerships
such as this enable us to accom-
plish projects that otherwise may be
impossible or too costly to complete
independently.
The timber harvest and chipping
process was completed this spring,
and further restoration efforts have
been initiated. The process of clear-
ing the woody debris left from the
timber operation is currently under-
way.
At the same time, the DNR real-
ized an opportunity, through another
partnership, to enhance wildlife
habitat in at the Crane Pond State
Game Area in neighboring Cass
County.
The agency worked with En-
bridge Energy Partners, L.P. and
Pheasants Forever to leverage
mitigation funds from an Enbridge
pipeline replacement project to
receive additional funding to favor-
ably impact the site.
With funding from Enbridge
Energy and Pheasants Forever we
were able to improve local habitat
conditions in the same area where
habitat was impacted by pipeline re-
placement thereby balancing local
impacts with local improvements,
said Mark Sargent, DNR Wildlife
Division southwest region supervi-
sor. This was an excellent example
of preparation meets opportunity,
and in 2016 the project began.
The site soon will be treated to
combat invasive species. Previously
farmed openings will be planted
to generate a high-quality savanna
restoration mix of plant species.
Areas that have plants that could po-
tentially help rejuvenate seed banks
will be allowed to regenerate.
Habitat rehabilitation at the site
will require continued management
for several years, but in the end, the
result will be a quality oak savanna
for the people of Michigan to enjoy
and visit for generations to come.
The project would not have
been possible without strong part-
A restored savanna in Cass County with a diverse mix of established restoration plants.
nerships involving the private sector but especially the oak openings, tion groups and natural resource
to accomplish the clearing work, which were a dominant ecological agencies to identify, protect and
and through the generous support of feature of southern Lower Michigan. restore large blocks of oak openings
Enbridge Energy and coordination Since oak openings existed in southern Michigan, especially
through Pheasants Forever, Kesson on a large scale, small reserves are those that contain other prairie and
said. insufficient to represent former eco- savanna plant communities.
Projects like the Preston Road logical processes and encompass the For more information on
savanna work demonstrate how majority of animal and plant species DNR Working for Wildlife
strong partnerships can be used to characteristic of oak openings. projects, visit www.mi.gov/
affect quality management of state The writers urged conserva- workingforwildlife.n
lands.
There are many other projects
in the DNRs southwest region
that also highlight how the DNR is
working for wildlife by cooperating
with conservation partners, local
communities, businesses and orga-
nizations.
Habitat destruction has a ma-
jor impact on game and non-game
animals, including threatened and
endangered species. Strengthen-
ing ecosystems, in this case oak
savanna, through habitat work is
critical to the survival of Michigans
wildlife.
Chapman and Brewer said,
Michigans extensive savannas
defined much of southern Lower
Michigan and were characterized by
a complex interaction of fire, tree
canopy cover, and herbaceous plant
diversity.
Soils, landscape setting,
drought, and other disturbances in-
fluenced these interactions. The oak
grubs found in Michigans savan-
nas and described by early writers
are now understood as essential for
perpetuating the tree canopy of fire-
maintained savannas.
These remnants represent less
than 0.1 percent of Michigans his-
torical prairie and savanna acreage.
In their Prairie and Savanna in
Southern Lower Michigan: History,
Classification, Ecology which
was published in the Michigan Bota-
nist Chapman and Brewer said,
given this historic loss of habitat,
any remnant should be protected,
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 79
 TRAIL CAM/OUTDOOR PHOTOS
Join us in sharing interesting and sometimes rare trail cam
and/or outdoor photos with our readers.
Send your photos to: wnw@pageone-inc.com (please submit in jpeg format)

Ken Balls trail cam photo of

a wary Newaygo Co. bobcat.

This bear attacked the backyard bird feeder This jake captured on trail cam by Dwayne Maurer in
of Douglas Baker in Gladwin. Huron Co. seemed to be yelling back at the camera.

This coyote was taking a

break in Rex Corbetts food
plot near Wolverine.

Ken and Dawn Ball of Newaygo County

captured this doe and fawn on their trail
cam.
A thirsty black bear getting a drink in Lake County
outside of Baldwin was caught by Mike Albers trail
cam.

Kraig Staples of Millersburg

Young and old can take up setting trail cams.
Three-year-old Rickie Perry picks the tree
to hang his trail cam and got this beautiful
photo of a doe and her fawns near Lowell.
has trail cam that just keeps
capturing great wildlife pho-
tos. Top, a young bull elk and
bottom a black bear.
Tom Spillanes trail cam caught this fawn at his cabin
in St. Helen.

80 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS

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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 81
 Sporting Collectibles...

The Go-Ite Manufacturing Company

I
PART II
began my Go-Ite Manu-
facturing story in last
months Woods-n-Water
News where I covered
the companys begin-
nings in Kokomo, Indiana
and introduced Rexford Hite and
George Goin who combined parts
of their last names to create Go-Ite
Manufacturing. They began
by inventing the Go-Ite
Gasometer, a better way
to measure the amount
of gasoline and to fill the
early model gas tanks that
were housed under the
front seat cushion of Fords
and Chevrolets. The patent
By Terry McBurney
application for
their better auto-
mobile gas filler
and gauge was
made on March 24, 1919, and ads
were run in 1920, 1921 and early
1922, so production only lasted in
all likelihood no more than about
three years.
This all changed in March 1922
when the first Go-Ite fishing ad was
run in Field and Stream magazine
introducing the companys Indiana-
style teardrop reels and Water-Plane
metal baits in plain and feathered
models. Other spring-summer ads
soon followed, appearing in both
Outers Recreation magazine and
Field and Stream. These ads fea-
tured line drawings of both their
teardrop reel and spinners along
with excellent descriptive copy.
Their spring-summer 1923 ads ap-
peared in Outdoor Life, National
Sportsman, and Forest and Stream
but were much smaller in size. The
1923 ads promoted only the title
Reels-Baits-Lines-Etc. along
with a simple line drawing of the
teardrop reel. The ads also invited
anglers to write for descriptive
literature, though no copies of this
early paperwork are known to exist.
One last note about
George Goin. His name
was tied to the Go-Ite
Gasometer patent along
with his partners name, but
George and Rex apparently
went their separate ways
at this time. There is no
mention of George being
involved in Go-
Ite Manufactur-
ings fishing
tackle.
The Go-Ite reels made in Ko-
komo came in two sizes: a smaller
teardrop reel that measured 4
-inches in diameter and weighed
4-oz. and the larger size that mea-
sured 5 -inches in diameter and
weighed 6-oz. They came packaged
in two-piece cardboard boxes with a
photo of the reel on the top and were
stamped KOKOMO, INDIANA.
Two different versions of the
boxes have been found - one had
Goite printed as one word and the
other variation had the more com-
mon elongated diamond logo with
the Go-Ite name. Regardless of
which size reel, Kokomo-made reels
are rare and hard to find.
A happy Minnesota angler holding up a nice stringer of walleyes all
caught on his Go-Ite teardrop reel and steel rod, circa late 1940s.
Both reels were one-piece die-cast
aluminum construction along with
assorted metal parts - shafts, wash-
ers, springs, a cast aluminum reel
foot, an agate line guide, and a soft
wool washer used to retain oil. Rex
Hite in all likelihood owned the
different dies to make the aluminum
castings, and he presumably con-
tracted out the work over the years
to different firms that specialized
in aluminum die casting wherever
he was living at that time. Once the
basic part came out of the mold, it
had to be de-burred, cleaned, and
polished, though removal of the
excess material on the outer edge of
the rim did result in small variations
in the diameters of Go-Ite reels.
The aluminum reel foot was cast
straight, flat, and pointing to the
right. The main shaft assembly was
a copy of the assembly on the Cole-
man reel and remained unchanged
throughout Go-Ite reel production. assembled the finished product from
The interesting little brass name
plate was riveted to the foot and had
PATENT APP FOR and KO-
KOMO, IND stamped on it. The
Go-Ite slogan -- A REAL REEL --
was also stamped on the name plate.
The only change over the years
was that the location changed from
Kokomo to Flint and finally to
Birmingham.
The same was true for Go-Ite
metal baits. The bodies were
stamped out by different contractors
over the years using dies that Rex
Hite would have supplied to them.
The other parts were purchased such
as treble hooks, swivels, the tell-tale
red wooden beads, as well as wire to
make the metal shafts. At that point,
all that was required was assembly
whether it was a reel or one of their
metal baits.
Finished product was then boxed
and ready to be shipped. The com-
pany could easily be moved from
city to city based on where Rex Hite
was working. Rex owned the molds
and the dies, but not the machinery
needed to make the parts. He sup-
plied the molds and dies and then
those parts.
Sometime in mid-1924 Rex, his
wife Golda, and their three chil-
dren Lorraine, Joseph, and Robert,
moved from Kokomo, Indiana to
Detroit where Rex went to work for

A Go-Ite ad from 1923 promoting Go-Ite reels, lures and line (July One of their first ads after they moved from Kokomo to Detroit in 1924 pro-
1923 Outdoor Life ) moting their free catalog for reels, lures and line (July 1924 Outdoor America ).
82 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
GM as a pattern maker. The family
lived at 7437 14th Street in Detroit,
a residential area less than a mile
southwest of nearby Henry Ford
Hospital. Go-Ite Manufacturing
also changed to the same address
with their first Detroit ad running in
the July 1924 issue of the Outdoor
America magazine. The companys
Detroit ads were the same small ads
as the 1923 and 1924 Kokomo ads
but with two key changes. FREE
CATALOGUE ON TACKLE was
featured at the top of the ad along
with a postage stamp-sized drawing
of the new Go-Ite catalogs front
cover. The drawing of the teardrop
reel was dropped from the ad. No
copy of this first Detroit catalog is
known to exist, though a second
Detroit catalog cover has been dis-
covered featuring a canoeist fighting
a fish under the title A Battle with a
BIG one.
It is important to note that no
Go-Ite reels were stamped with De-
troit on the brass name plate or on
the cardboard box even though Rex
Hite and his family lived in Detroit
for about three years. Presumably,
the product that he sold during this
period all was made and stamped
with Kokomo.
Rex and his family remained in
Detroit for about three years during
1924, 1925, and 1926. When they
moved again, this time to Flint, they
took Go-Ite Manufacturing with
them. The first Go-Ite Flint ads ap-
peared in the April and May 1927
issues of both Outdoor America
magazine and Field and Stream and
were the same small ads as were run
under the Detroit address. The June
and July ads, however, featured the
Water-Plane metal baits for $1 and
offered a free catalog showing the
complete line of Go-Ite tackle with
no mention of reels in the ads!
I have been unable to find any
Go-Ite ads from 1928 through 1934,
a seven year period when Rex Hite
and his family were living in Flint
where he was again working as an
automotive pattern maker. The Great
Depression began in late in 1929,
which certainly would have had a
major effect on whether Rex was
willing to advertise and sell his Go-
Ite reels, baits and fishing line.
It was a tough time to be a small
business, with millions of Ameri-
cans out of work, as well as little
demand for most new fishing tackle.
Our economy bottomed out in 1932
and 1933 followed by four years
of rapid growth, and then Go-Ite
Manufacturing started advertising
fishing tackle again sometime in
1935. Apparently, Rex recognized
that times were improving and
there was again a call for his fishing
products. This decision would have
been made sometime the year before
and production would have started
as well on a significantly expanded
lineup of Go-Ite tackle products.
The one exception was a single
ad run in the June 1929 issue of
Popular Mechanics classified ad
section promoting an amazing new
invention! The classified ad read:
$150-$200 WEEKLY. Amazing
new invention brings new riding
comfort to coach owners! Grab this
quick. Over 16 million prospects.
Go-Ite, Flint, Michigan. The ad
was looking for salesmen to sell
the Go-Ite E-Z Riding Coach Seat
Springs, which were improved
replacement buggy springsand
supposedly making the roughest
road smooth again!
These first new Flint ads fea-
tured just the Junior 4-inch size tear-
drop reel for $4.95 and the Regular
5 -inch teardrop reel for $6, as
well as a free catalog. The Go-Ite ad
in the April 1936 issue of Field and
Stream, however, introduced two
additional new reels: the 4 -inch
Junior Fly and Bait Combination
Reel, which sold for $6.50 and the 5
-inch Special reel with a larger
250-yard capacity for lake trout,
salmon, and deep trolling for $6.95.
A new 16-page Go-Ite Manufac-
turing Flint catalog was introduced
at the same time. A few rare copies
of the impressive catalog exist. It in-
troduced a wide array of innovative
products including the two new reels
mentioned above, the Daisy plastic
fly box, two versions of a rod and
stringer holder, three different quali-
ties of silk casting line, two pages
of bamboo casting and fly rods, a own right?
larger assortment of Water-Plane Feel free to contact the author
metal baits, and a new wood bass at antiquefishing@comcast.net
bait named the Fish Fooler that with your questions. Photographs
was reminiscent of South Bends are important, so please send them.
top-selling Bass Oreno wood lure. They help me with identification and
There was also a full page of give me an idea of the condition of
testimonials highly recommending the item.
Go-Ite anti-backlash reels including Next month: A closer look at
my favorite customers letter, which Go-Ites tackle manufacturing in
reads: Have just returned from an Flint, as well as Go-Ites move
eight weeks fishing trip through to Birmingham, Michigan after
the northern part of State and have WWII.n
shown the GO-ITE reel to a great
many fishermen. Most everyone
wanted to know where I bought
mine, or where they could secure
one. I referred them to Simmons
Hdwe. Co. or through their local
dealer. I have three other reels of the
best makes, but for casting, trolling
or even still fishing, there is no reel
for me like the GO-ITE from Flint,
Mich. - signed by F. H. Fritz of
Luverne, Minnesota.
There was also a full page pro-
moting a booklet entitled Fishing
Secrets at the back of the catalog
filled with information on How,
When, Where - [for] Successful Bait
Casting for Bass and Pike. The
booklet was written by an unnamed
authority on bait casting for bass
and pike and guaranteed any begin-
ner or professional to catch more
bass and pike than ever dreamed of
using the Go-Ite Method.
The book was $1, or free with
the purchase of a Go-Ite reel or the The front cover from possibly their
equivalent in other Go-Ite tackle. second Detroit catalog. No copies
No copy of the Fishing Secrets of this catalog have sur vived
booklet is known to have survived, only the front cover.
though I would enjoy reading it and
finding out who wrote it. Was the
unknown fishing authority Rex Hite
who was quite a fisherman in his

A rare large-sized ad from Flint,

The front cover of the Flint Go-
Ite catalog featured many happy
Go-Ite anglers. The 16-page Go-Ite
One of the first Go-Ite ads after the company moved to Flint, Michigan featuring catalog was most likely published in
their Water-Plane metal baits (July 1927 Outdoor Recreation ). 1935 or 1936.
which promoted five different
Go-Ite reels and offered the free
Fishing Secrets booklet with the
purchase of a Go-Ite reel (Febru-
ary 1937 Spor ts Afield ).
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 83
 The strangest thing you ever caught while fishing Continued...

This will Quack you up

Dear Fish Diary: ing his fishing area. He hesitated,

I
n February, I launched my
search for readers to write
to me about the strangest
thing theyve ever caught
while fishing. As the stories
come in, Im sifting through
them and getting some pretty good
laughs. I got this idea after I read
about a fisherman in Miami, Florida,
catching a kilo of cocaine off the
coast of Miami. If youve had an
odd catch, I certainly want to hear
about it.
So far youve met Nancy Has-
call, of Ostego, and got the hilari-
ous story of her adventure catching
and releasing a bat while fly fish-
ing. Youve met Mark Leegstra, of
Grayling, who mysteriously caught
a fawn, the extraordinary story of
Paul Kazmierski, the Grand Rapids
man who caught a pair of expensive
prescription glasses and actually
found the owner and returned them.
There was the confession of Tom
Matych, who as a child caught a gas
can that had a bullhead stuck in it
and threw the gas can back into the
lake and has harbored a lifetime of
regrets for doing so. Last month we
met Jim Samuelson, the Dearborn
man who in the middle of the night
caught and reeled in an entire boat
with another fisherman aboard.
This month I have to sadly
expose the mishaps of a child. Al-
though Rick Weidman, of
Middleville, is no longer
a child, this horrific event
happened to him when he
was.
Keep in mind, this is
a seven-year old child. At
seven, your fishing skills
arent exactly the greatest
even if youre fortunate
enough to grow
By Ron St. Germain
up having ac-
cess to a lake
all summer.
At that age, the lake is like a giant
candy box and you just cant get
enough of casting into it to see what
you might reel in. You will fish from
sun up to sun down and quite often
by yourself because your parents
just cant keep up with your enthu-
siasm.
That is exactly what Rick was
doing on this fine day. Fishing by
himself, repeatedly firing a clear
popper into the giant candy box
called Orchard Lake and anticipat-
ing a strike from anything. But what
struck wasnt exactly the anything
Rick had in mind. Oh sure, Rick
saw the family of ducks approach-
stopped his fishing for a moment
and watched them swim by. When
he felt they were out of his range,
he made a cast, but as
hell admit, he wasnt First, he had to scale 300 steps?
exactly the best aim at
this stage of his fishing
life. Realizing his errant
cast landed a bit too close
to momma duck and her
ducklings, he began to
retrieve his popper as fast
as a seven-year old can.
Poppers dont
exactly reel in
smoothly. They
go left, they
go right, they go underwater, they
bounce and they pop, pop, pop all
the way back to you.
At some point in his hasty retreat
he snagged a weed, then suddenly,
the weed became a ducklingoh
no. Somehow, Rick had poked his
popper into the webbing of a duck-
lings foot. I dont care how old you
are Rick, you have just committed
the ultimate water-foul. He did the
right thing, he continued to reel in
the duckling despite momma duck
now going berserk.
So now what?
Well, he did what every seven-
year old would do in the face of a
mad mallard, he put a rock on his
pole and ran for help with the duck-
ling still attached to the popper.
Ricks run for his mom and dad
wasnt your ordinary run for help.
What? 300-steps? Are you kidding
me? That duckling would have been
pike or bass bait by the time I got to
the top of those stairs. It might have
been fully grown by the time I got
back to it. But it is okay, Rick prob-
ably didnt notice the long uphill
journey because of the tears pour-
ing from his eyes and the panic in
his mind. When he got to his place
looking for his father, he was told
his dad was down the road Ugh
Rick pushed on, down the road, sob-
bing, hoping to get help for his little
feathered catch.
Rick finally found his dad, and
together with a friend, they made it
back to the lake with baby duck still
hooked and mom still quacking up a
storm. A friend of Ricks father used
a flannel shirt to shield the holler-
ing hen while his father unhooked
the duckling and released it back
for the family reunion. Obviously
Ricks nerves have still not settled
down from the episode but he gets a
feather in his cap for a heroic effort.
I wonder if after all of this Rick
has ever used a popper while fishing
again. I wonder if Rick was a better

No Electricity? Keep Your Food Cold!

cast than hell admit and couldnt
defeat the temptation of trying to
hook a duck with that seven-year
old mentality. I wonder if the web-
bing on the ducklings foot ever
healed, or if there is still a hole in its
foot. I guess the only way to truly
know is if you are out fishing on
Orchard Lake near Baldwin, and
you see a duck swimming in circles,
well, that would be Ricks fault.
Ri-duck-ulous, wouldnt you
say?
Funny fish stories
wanted: Strangest thing
youve ever caught...
With A Propane Fridge You Can Send a short description of your
best or worst fishing day, or worst
Keep it Cold. Anywhere. fishing-related adventure to me.
You dont have to write the entire
And Relax. story, just a brief outline of what
happened. If it has some humor to it
No Electricity Required! Ill be getting in touch with you and
well work on the completed story
together.
Contact - Woods-n-Water News col-
For more information call 866.825.4013 umnist Ron St. Germain by calling
Diamond Refrigerators, 7295 50th Ave., Sears MI 49679 (517) 626-2814, e-mailing DaPho-
toDude@aol.com. Visit the authors
www.diamondrefrigerators.com Facebook page www.Facebook.
com/BearwaveBooksn
84 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
 This angler knows how to hook em!
I
ts certainly not often that a that he was positive he had seen the
story drops out of nowhere man years back at the resort. He
and literally falls in your lap; was correct.
however, that is exactly what Later in the day, Bud stopped
recently took place. I was down to the rented cabin and talked
with a friend, Bud Thomas, with the guys, asking if they would
who had just picked up a trailer load like to be interviewed for a story
of cedar half logs for remodeling his in Woods-N-Water News? No
cabin on Raber Bay and we were hesitation. All agreed. So our story
getting gas at the station begins...
in Cedarville. A club-cab In February of 1969,
pickup truck pulling a John Kailing was working
boat drove up to the next as a lineman for a Lower
gas pump. As three of the Michigan power company
men exited, they stretched and as the crew was switch-
muscles as though cramped ing from old wire to new,
from a long journey. Bud something went dramati-
asked, Where did you fel- cally wrong! Electricity
lows come from? Their arced and entered Johns

By Betty Sodders
answer was Reed right arm, exiting
City, some four his left thigh. His
hours southwest arms and hands John Kailings (second from left) fishing companions included his
of the Mackinac Bridge. The next were severely burned plus there was son, Matt, Travis Wilson and Brian Her vy all of Reed City.
question was, Where are you head- a wound on his thigh in the shape of
ed? That answer was surprising! a flying dove. Unbelievably, at this on the inside of the arms not the and breakfast, lunch and dinner
The fishermen were on their way to point, he was still alive. Skin grafts outside. A decision to remove the vexed him beyond imagination.
Dans Resort, just a few doors down were required to cover the electric- damaged arms was the next move. Johns a big man and he had to be
from Buds cabin on Mikes Land- itys exit area. As we talked, I learned that John spoon fed! In his own words John
ing Road, Raber. As bad as things appeared, John Kailing was an active outdoors per- explained his dilemma! The nurses
We noted that the last man to faced greater problems with his son whose pursuits included hunting aide would put 3 peas on the spoon
leave the vehicle had two hooks for arms and hands...they were healing and fishing.
hands and Bud nudged me to advise from the inside out; skin forming Johns hospital stay was lengthy Angler knows how page 86

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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 85
 I asked John Kailing what he a week. This trip, however, just a

Angler knows how: would consider to be a good days

from page 85
like I was a baby. I became angry.
In no uncertain terms, I ordered the
hospital staff to see that I got two
breakfasts, two lunches and two
dinners...every single day...and that I
was fed with a tablespoon.
That burst of anger began Johns
determination to overcome the odds
stacked against him. Upon receiv-
ing his prosthesis hooks; there were
few things John could not figure out
how to handle. Some things, how-
ever, were virtually impossible. One
proved to be putting a night crawler
on a crawler harness or a minnow
on a hook.
Frustrating as it must have been,
it is now second nature for his fish-
ing buddies to keep an eye out for
when John needs bait.
John can launch the boat by
himself, but it is difficult and since
he rarely fishes by himself, fish
friends provide what is needed to be
done.
fishing on the St. Marys River. He
replied, I havent ever had a bad
fishing day up here yet. I dont care
if we get a single fish or not for it is
being up north that counts. I love it
John added to the conversation; here. Over the years Ive caught a
Following the accident, I started lot of fish, mostly walleye. I am just
fishing again around 1988-89. It an average angler. If I dont catch
took a lot of practice. I was not any fish I know I probably will next
ashamed to sneak into one of the time out. Favorite sport! I like to
fish hatcherys ponds where I caught fish Round Island waters...a virtual
my share of fish. honey hole at times!
I have trouble baiting a hook. I used to like fishing for blue-
If I use a worm, I cannot feel it gill at Paris. And one time, I did not
and before I know, the claw (hook) realize it, but I could have earned
squashes it or puts a hole through the title, Master Angler having
it. Same holds true for putting on landed a trophy-sized 19-1/2 inch
a crawler. Also, I use a specifically speckled bass. I must admit that was
designed fishing rod. a good tasting fish. It was winter
There was a time when we and I caught him through an 8 hole
did not stay at Dans Resort; as for while ice fishing.
five or six years we rented a mobile Johns fishing companions in-
home on Raber Bay from a friend cluded his son, Matt, Travis Wilson
(Royce) who wasnt much of a and Brian Hervy all of Reed City.
fisherman, but he loved being out in Its fish camp time...that is evident.
the boat. Upon his passing, his wife .. laughs are hearty and frequent
asked if we would take his ashes out while I am conducting the interview
into the river to his favorite fishing with John. I learned all four men
hole near Round Island. Of course take turns cooking meals and with
we agreed. We deemed it an honor. cabin chores. They usually stay
weekend. At least three trips north
a summer rounds out their U.P.
fishing trips. I asked which of the
four is the best fish finder. Reply :
Brian for walleye and pike. Who
was the best fish hooker? Of course
that answer was John, as he had the
equipment.
Before we touch on Johns other
out-of-doors pursuits, I asked the
gang of four one more question,
Who has the best fish story? Got
an instant response! Brian Hervy!
The whopper fish tale took place
later in the very day we met the
four fishermen at the gas station in
Cedarville. It went like this...
All four fishermen were in the
boat, fishing late in the afternoon.
Brian snagged something with quite
a bit of weight behind it. Upon
reaching the surface, the men were
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in its gill. One of the anglers told
Brian to jerk the hook out and as he
did the flesh fell away and putrid
gasses were suddenly released.
They had probably been more or
less stoppered up due to the other

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86 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS

fish blocking the pikes airway. The
stench was so strong and disgust-
ing that immediately Brian vomited
several times. By far, all the men
stated that it was the worst odor ever
encountered and they vacated the
area...at fast throttle.
On a previous fishing trip, the
four men pulled up a large catfish
out of Raber Bay and did not know
what species of fish it happened to
be. It proved to be 30 inches long,
and when one of the anglers put
his line down a few minutes later,
he landed a second catfish of ap-
proximately the same size. Once on
shore, they learned they had taken
two nice catfish, and one of the lo-
cals claimed catfish were good eat-
ing and filleted the fish and pan fried
them, with the visitors claiming they
had eaten no better fish. Delicious
was the verdict.
Later, I asked John if he had
ever become involved with other
handicapped individuals and he
stated that he did work with a buddy
of his who lost an arm in a snowmo-
bile accident. The man was a good
mechanic. He chose to work with
just his good arm, rather than use his
prosthetic hand. Johns one wish has
Semi-guided Rifle and Muzzleloader Whitetail
hunts still available this fall on FREE RANGE
400-acre farm in northern Michigan.
2017 SUMMER FUN PACKAGES STILL AVAILABLE!
MENOMINEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
UPPER PENINSULA
Sandra, General Manager 313-410-2204
Perry, Outfitter 906-241-9653
www.whitetaildeerhuntinglodge.com
John Kailing and Brian Her vy along with author during the inter view.
been that in the past, he would have
worked with handicapped adults.
Immediately, Johns fishing crew
stated that he has served as a role
model for many others as well.
It is absolutely amazing what
this man has accomplished. He
related that he drives semi-trucks,
works with farm and heavy equip-
ment, and claims that he has done
some work with an electric welder
that you just would not believe.
(I believe!) At that point in the
interview, John smiled and advised,
After I lost my hands, it didnt take
long to adapt to using the hooks,
and then the man said in a loud
voice, I wanted to be outside...I
wanted to fish...I wanted to hunt!
John hunts squirrels and deer.
Again, his disability requires a
modified firearm that employs a
pistol grip for his 30.06. He cant
feel the trigger. He must maintain
complete eye contact concentration
on that deer to judge when to fire
the gun. He claims he is so
accurate that no deer has gotten
up following his shot. Remarkable!
One morning he shot a nice 8-point
buck. All he could pick up was
the white around its nose, white
around the deers eyes and its
horns. He located the white
throat patch and fired a shot at
250 yards. Deer down. Later the
same day, a 7-point buck was also
downed.
I asked this man with the mar-
velous spirit for life, what advice he
had for others with severe handicap
challenges.
His reply, Live life to the full-
est! Never lose your sense of humor.
Laugh at yourself when you do
stupid things. Never give up.n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 87
New outdoor gear just in time
for the new hunting seasons
A
s the calendar moves each
of us closer to our favorite
autumn pursuits, heres a
look at a few items meant to
help us enjoy them.
Fishpond
www.fishpondusa.com
Horse Thief Tote
16-ounce waxed cotton canvas
exterior fabric
100 percent recycled plastic
fabric for interior lining
18 x 9 x 16.5 inches
For a do-it-all bag that nicely
blends form with function, the Horse
Thief is tough to beat. Its waxed cot-
ton construction offers both
a smart look and durability.
The low profile, molded bot-
tom helps keep it clean and
enables it to stand up.
On a 2,600-mile road
trip, the bag performed well
as an overnight bag. Some
other potential uses: stor-
age bag for hunting or dog
gear, foul weather
By Tom Carney
or beach gear, travel
food just about
anything.
C Fox Kennels
cfoxkennels@gmail.com
616-520-5151
Best Collar
Handmade
One-inch wide Herman Oaks
bridle leather
Extra Heavy (14 ounces per
square foot) tallow load
Bridle-quality brass buckles and
ring
Customized sizing available
Delivering the classic look, this
collar is designed to last a dogs
lifetime, according to builder Tim
Fox of C. Fox Kennels in Sand Lake,
Michigan. The leather is tough, but
the heavy dose of tallow makes it
very flexible. A total of eight rivets
secure the loop that holds the buckle
and D-ring in place. Include your
own collar tag with your order, and
Fox will rivet it onto the collar for
free. Call for sizing instructions. Price
includes free standard shipping.
Otis Smart Gun Care
www.otistec.com 800-684-7486
Ripcord
Lightweight
Standard 8-32 threaded ends ac-
cept accessories
Available in most gauges
Ever find your firearms barrel
in need of a quick cleaning? The
Ripcord can help. The fibers of the
Nomex cord act as both a brush and
a patch to loosen and capture fouling
particles. Near the rear (breech) end,
the cord envelops rubberized balls
that collapse just enough to squeeze
into the barrel but then expand
88 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
enough to keep the material in con-
stant contact with the barrels walls.
Two of us tested the Ripcord on two
shotguns we thought we had put away
clean. The Ripcord found more dirt
and left the barrels shining.
PEET Shoe Dryer, Inc.
www.peetdryer.com
800-222-PEET (7338)
Peet Dodorizr Module
Quiet and safe meets EPA and Horse Thief Tote C Fox Dog Collar Otis Rip Cord
OSHA ozone standards
Energy-efficient
This item works! I tested it on a
pair of daily-worn, smelly, fleece-
lined slippers and then, in combina-
tion with the PEET Original
Dryer, on a pair of hunting
boots. After a few hours,
each pair came out smelling
as fresh as a morning breeze. Irish Setter
The module is not lim- Ravine Boots
PEET Dodorizr Module Peregrine Field Gear
ited to hunting boots. Use
it year round on ice skates
or running shoes or in a
duffle bag of smelly hunting
clothes or hockey
gear. Blair Peet,
President of PEETs,
advises: Put the module in the bag,
zip it up, and let it work for a few
hours. He also mentions hanging it
in a small closet, or with the appropri-
ate adapter, using it to rid the wet dog Dogtra L.L. Bean Pack ORCA Podster Gumleaf Vikings
smell in hunting vehicles that must
double as date night transportation.
Synthetic Shotgun Holster Available sizes: 8-12, 13, 14 in
L.L.Bean Pockets for up to five boxes of D and EE widths
www.llbean.com 800-441-5713 shotgun shells (up to 3 inches) Heights: 7 or 9 inches
Maine Warden Day Pack Dual insulated water bottle holders My primary criterion for evaluat-
Available in two sizes Combo unit comes with 5-gallon ing boots hinges on the answer to a
Body water-resistant ripstop green bucket and Big Bear Silent Spin simple question: At the end of the
polyester bucket lid seat day, are my feet as happy to be wear-
Base TPU-coated, waterproof How many times have you had to ing them as they were at the begin-
400D double-ripstop nylon take a break from juggling or for rear- ning? With the Ravine, the answer
Hydration compatible, bladder ranging your armload of gear on the is a resounding Yes! You can read
sold separately way to your dove field? The Venture about their specs at the Irish Setter
Suffice it to say this: Maine State Bucket Pack transports all of that website. What I can tell you is Ive
Game Wardens gave input on this except for your gun while keeping never found a more comfortable boot.
packs design, and it will become your hands free. Its as simple as it Period. On my first two days of test-
standard issue for them. looks: a 5-gallon plastic bucket with ing I wore the boots over 20 hours for
At 22 inches tall, my torso ex- camouflaged fabric cover that features various activities, and my feet came
ceeds the recommended length for the gear pockets, D-rings and a padded out smiling.
large size vest (16 to 21 inches). Plus harness for carrying on your back. ORCA Coolers
my arms arent as flexible as they Great for not only the dove field but www.orcacoolers.com
once were. As a result, I cannot reach also the deer or duck blinds, ice fish- 888-640-6722
any of the packs pockets without ing hotspots, turkey woods and so on. Podster (8 colors and Realtree Max-5)
removing it. Thats the only nega- The optional shotgun holster rides Backpack cooler
tive I can report. There are plenty of on the bucket or on the hip, support- 14.25-quart capacity = 7.5
pockets for a water bottle, extra gear ing the weight of the shotgun while pounds of ice with a dozen 12-ounce
or clothing or lunch. A padded fleece the hunter is waiting at the ready. cans
pocket is good for optics or electron- Think in terms of blockers at the Maximum load = 28.5 pounds
ics. The packs fit is fully adjustable, end of a pheasant field, clay shooters This is the daypack-size version of
and the raised, mesh back panels offer awaiting their turns, grouse hunters ORCAs Pod cooler. It has most of the
cooling, ventilated support. The bag taking a break or waterfowl hunters in same features such as padded shoul-
is great for any day trip: over trails, knee-high water. der straps, cross-chest adjustable T-
in a canoe or boat, through the deer strap and plenty of MOLLE webbing
woods, out on the ice. Irish Setter for keeping important gear handy.
Peregrine Field Gear www.irishsetterboots.com This is the perfect size for a full day
www.peregrinefieldgear.com 888-738-8370 away from your base site with plenty
800-595-3850 Ravine Boots of room for several water bottles,
Venture Bucket Pack and Quick-Shot Lightweight hunting/hiking boot a full lunch, some treats and a nice
 Preserving your land wealth,
afternoon snack. The Podster comes handler. The e-collar function can be
in many colors to make it suitable for disabled anytime, if preferred. ensuring your legacy
family picnics, the beach, tailgating, The app is available at both the
etc. One caveat: The top of my test App Store (iPhones) and Google Play
model would not stay open, forcing (Android phones).
me to hold it with one hand while Gumleaf USA
loading it with the other. The folks at www.gumleafUSA.com
ORCA told me, We are working to 844-486-5323
make the next production of the Pod- Viking
ster to open and stand like the Pod. Handmade from all natural gum
Dogtra rubber
www.dogtra.com 310-534-0101 Accommodates calves up to 20
Pathfinder Tracking & inches in circumference
Training System I own knee-high boots that cost
9-mile line-of-sight range more than the Vikings and some
Fully waterproof that cost less. None are as comfort-
For dogs as small as 35 pounds able. What makes these the best in
Maps of hunts sent to home my book is the combination of the
computers Vikings expandable gusset in the top,
Three components make the the generous sizing scheme and the
Dogtra Pathfinder work: the collar, neoprene lining (5mm in the foot-
the connector and the smartphone.
The smartphone, of course, is not
bed, 4mm in the upper). The gusset
opens up plenty of room for easily
Is There Unseen Value In Your Land?
included. stepping into the equally roomy boot Your real estate, whether its productive farmland or an up-north wood-
Getting up and running was as no gymnastics required. The lining lot, can be an asset or a liability, depending on your specific circumstanc-
easy as downloading an app to the both makes it easy to slide into and es. All too often, landowners are unaware of the wide range of programs
phone and switching on the collar and out of the boot and delivers a nice, and planning options available to preserve their wealth and right.
connector. The setup is simple, espe- cushioned fit. The non-slip sole with
cially if you are only tracking a single all-terrain grip offers traction Ive
dog. Plus, once the user downloads never felt in other knee-highs. The Bill Vandercook Your land has more than
the app, the Pathfinder works without air-cushioned heel and forefoot Principal and Consultant development value.
using cellular data. There are no extra plus the wonderful arch support Landowners Planning Conservation Planning
navigation packages to purchase. add a degree of comfort Ive never and Resource Group, LLC
I also liked how the collar sends before experienced. These are great Property Tax Exemptions
a vibration signal when the dog is on for any outdoors activity you can Lapeer, MI Conservation Design Developments
point. imagine: duck, deer, bird and turkey 810-614-0899 Estate Planning
The Maps feature gives up-to- hunting; early season boating or bill@lprgllc.com Easements
date terrain and satellite views. The fishing; dog training. The Viking
compass shows the dogs direction
of movement and distance from the
is also available in womens
sizes.n www.lprgllc.com

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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 89
 Tuscola Countys Murphy Lake State Game Area...
Taking a new adventuresome step into Nature
M
urphy Lake is
located in south-
western Tuscola
County and is tru-
ly a literal geologi-
cal wonderment.
Glaciers created what is a known as
kettle lakes (deep gouges filled
with water) all over various parts
of Michigans Lower Peninsula, as
they ground their way slowly along.
During the process they made what
is known as the Millington Hills
between Mayville and Millington,
and as a result a deep canyon was
sculpted out entailing seven kettle
lakes close together, what we can
consider as being a geological phe-
nomenon, if you will.
Settling that part of the state dur-
ing the mid-19th century would start
changing the picture in a surpris-
ingly dramatic fashion, as can be
readily pictured all across
our country as it began to
grow in leaps, and eventu-
ally in great bounds, to
what we have today. Early
settlers would try damming
some of the kettle lakes
to help raise water levels
to get timber to the Cass
River and thus
on to lumber
mills. However, By Tom Lounsbury
it wasnt until
the 1940s or so that a dam would be
built to create what we know today
as Murphy Lake.
My first Murphy Lake connec-
tion occurred in the early 1960s
when my eldest sister Joyce and
her husband Jim Schad purchased a
motorboat. They lived in Clio and
Murphy Lake was a great central
location to come and join them and
enjoy some fine times with the new
motorboat, and in fact I learned to
water ski behind that boat on Mur-
phy Lake. There is a small island in
the lake, and I can remember enjoy-
ing some fine picnics on it. Other
than that, it was my only introduc-
tion to Murphy Lake.
My late father was the Tuscola
County Drain Commissioner during
the early 1970s and I can remember
it was part of his duties to control
the water level of Murphy Lake,
something I believe is still the case
for the Drain Commissioner today. I
do remember muskies being planted
in the lake, but they were removed,
as well as a major attempt was done
to eliminate carp, and walleyes were
also introduced. Actually, I havent
been anywhere near Murphy Lake
for some time now.
90 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
Then I recently got a call from
Miles Willard of Mayville to come
and join him on a nature hike in the
area near Murphy Lake, known as
the Murphy Lake State Game Area
(SGA). I do know for a fact that the
Murphy Lake SGA was right at the
forefront when the state decided to
form SGAs in southern Michigan.
The ground selected for the SGAs
was because they had proven to be
pretty much unsuitable for agricul-
ture, and what better way to use
them, than for conservation prac-
tices which allowed public access.
This in my mind was a fortuitous
government decision that saved
certain areas from ongoing progress,
and in the case of the established
Murphy Lake State Game Area, pro-
tected a precious and unique jewel
of nature for all to enjoy and savor,
something I was about to be intro-
duced to firsthand.
Miles Willard is a
retired Reese school teacher
who grew up in the Fran-
kenmuth area, and when the
opportunity presented itself,
he purchased some wooded
property over 40 years ago
near his beloved Murphy
Lake SGA, an
area that has
drawn him in
and where he Naturalist Miles Willard of Mayville with a bear-clawed beech tree deep
spends practically every day pos- into the Murphy Lake SGA. The claw marks have some time on them and
sible exploring and discovering new the annual growth of the tree makes them larger. They were most likely
things. Miles can clearly be de- made by a young male black bear. Tom Lounsbury photo
scribed as being a naturalist, and he moving and colorful little lizard that dragonfly species had shown up
is a down to earth naturalist I truly is brown, blue, green and turquoise. in the Murphy Lake area just five
appreciate. He is an avid hunter and We loaded special equipment years ago called the spatterdock
fisherman and performs his own into my Jeep for our adventure that darner. This particular dragonfly
taxidermy on matters he wishes to included a long handled butterfly net requires spatterdock (also known
preserve. He has a complete and to be used for catching dragonflies as bullhead) water lilies in order for
realistic grasp of the circle of life, if need be, something I had told the female to lay eggs. The female
and an undying desire to learn all he Miles I was especially interested has a small hook on the end of its
can about nature and share it with in (ever since I had a strange water tail which is used to make a small
others. I considered it an honor to bug crawl out the water in front of slit in the stem of the water lily and
accompany him on an exploration my face while I was lying prone an egg is then deposited in it. So
of the wonders of nature found in on a rock and photographing a bull we went off in search of dragon-
the hinterlands of Tuscola Countys moose eating water lilies on Isle flies at various ponds. During our
Murphy Lake. On my part, it was Royale, and the water bug pulled search at one pond, Miles pointed
truly a learning experience. apart and a scarlet red dragonfly out a Blandings Turtle resting on
Before our nature trip, Miles crawled out. It unfurled its trans- a log complete news to me in my
showed me pictures on his laptop of parent wings and I watched insect knowledge of turtles, as well as a
various bird species he has photo- blood course down invisible veins salamander (this area is well known
graphed in the Murphy Lake SGA and soon the dragonfly flew off to for its salamanders).
including unique warbler hybrids join other flying scarlet dragonflies While we were traversing one
which reproduce. He also showed and I was left mystified by what I well wooded back road Miles
me the photos he had just taken of had just witnessed. I never did get a wanted to know if I wanted to see
a very unique lizard which can only good photo of that moose, but I have a bear-clawed tree and I was all for
be found in Michigan in this locale no complaints. Miles wonderful it. We parked near a foot trail and
on a certain hillside. It took Miles wife Marilyn had also packed a big hiked through an absolutely splen-
45 years of trying, but he finally lo- lunch for us to eat in the field, so I did mixture of trees which included
cated the six-lined whip-tailed race knew right off we were in for a day a large stand of hemlock. Along the
runner (hopefully I spelled all that long adventure.
right from my notes) which is a fast Miles Willard had told me a new Nature page 92
ANY SEASON ANY REASON

We are now a STIHL Power Equipment Dealer

3859 US 31 North, Brutus, Michigan 49716
231.529.6155
info@maplebaymarine.com www.maplebaymarine.com
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 91
 The return of the porcupines
T
he porcupines have
returned. I was hoping
this summer they would
stay in the woods where
they belong, but I guess
that was too much to
ask. Recently I was awakened at three
in the morning by a hungry gnawer.
It was a familiar sound I had heard
many times before and it meant only
one thing. A porcupine was enjoying
an early morning snack, and he wasnt
dining on any of my trees. He was
much closer than the nearest white
pine.
In the 1950s, my uncle planted
thousands of pine trees on his prop-
erty right across the road from me, but
do you think the porkies are interested
in pine trees? Not a chance. They pre-
fer my porch steps or an assortment of
plywood in my garage because both
are easy to reach. Theres no need to
exert energy by climbing a tree when
all they have to do is saunter to one
place or the other. My garage heaves
during the winter or when the frost
comes out of the ground or whenever
it feels like it, so theres a 12-inch
gap between the garage door and the
cement. Easy access for a nocturnal
wanderer.
Well anyway, when I heard the un-
mistakable rhythm of gnawing I went
through the usual routine. I forced
myself awake, got out of bed, put on
heavy clothes, pulled on tall rub-
ber boots, grabbed the flashlight and
battery operated lantern, reached for
the club, and
tracked down By Sharon Kennedy He told me to
stun the critter
the intruder.
This has been my routine for three
years, and Im getting awfully tired
of it.
Theres something about my place
that attracts unwanted creatures. With
the exception of the fellow I recently
ran off, most of the creatures have
four legs. The list of pests is fairly
long including skunks, raccoons, wea-
sels, groundhogs, moles, and voles.
Occasionally I get a friendly visit
from a wayward moose or a fright-
ened yearling bear. I reach for my
camera that always has dead batteries
so I miss getting a photo of the latter
two. I can handle just about anything
that happens to come my way except
the porcupines.
Last summer was a banner year
for them. The first time I heard gnaw-
ing was a night in May at 11 p.m. I
grabbed a flashlight and ventured out.
Im not afraid of the dark, so I scouted
around my place and didnt see any-
thing until I came to the west side of
my mobile home and the four wooden
steps leading to the back porch.
My flashlight shined on the back
of a huge porky busily consuming the
bottom step. I had my cell phone with
me and called my brother who lives
down the road on property that once
pastured our Herefords during the
summer. Ed always instructed me to
call him immediately if I saw a por-
cupine because they are destructive.
if I got close
enough to him. That was no prob-
lem as porky was so focused on his
chewing he paid no attention to what
was going on behind him. I gave him
a good whack and he ran underneath
the steps. I managed to keep him at
bay while waiting for Ed to arrive and
finish the job.
I tried all sorts of tricks that sum-
mer but nothing worked. I baited live
traps with chunks of salt because
someone told me porcupines liked the
taste of salt, but the ones around my
place played catch with the chunks.
I went to Tractor Supply and bought
nasty smelling stuff guaranteed to dis-
courage any form of rodent. Unfortu-
nately, the spray didnt have any more
effect than the salt did. I sprinkled
grains of commercial repellent, but
that didnt work. The only thing that
worked was my club.
I checked with the DNR and was
assured it was okay to take any mea-
sure necessary to protect my property.
Seems crazy, doesnt it, that porcu-
pines would prefer 45 year old green
porch steps or pieces of plywood to
the abundance of bark available on
my side road, but thats the way it is.
Four more times that summer I
was awakened by porcupines. Once
again at my back steps, twice in my
garage, and once when two noctur-
nal boys decided to engage in a fight
underneath my bedroom window.
From the racket they were making, I
thought the ghosts of Muhammad Ali
and Joe Frazier had arisen from the
dead and were having a rematch. The
first time I cornered a quilled intruder
I was scared, afraid he would shoot
me full of quills. By summers end,
all fear had vanished.
When I was awakened a few
nights ago by the familiar sound of
gnawing, this time I had a new plan.
During the winter, the fellow I ran off
brought over his shotgun and showed
me how to use it. Id had enough of
calling my brother in the middle of
the night and decided it was time
I took matters into my own hands.
Id never killed anything in my life
unless you count house flies, mosqui-
toes, and mice in traps, but enough is
enough.
I threw on my clothes and boots
and strapped a light to my hat.
Although my hands were shaking, I
loaded the shotgun and stepped into
the night. The porcupine was gnawing
underneath my steps. I took aim, fired,
and downed him on the first shot. I
reloaded and shot again and finished
him off.
Now if anyone thinks I was too
hard on the porky, get over it. Either
that or give me your number and Ill
call you at 3 a.m. You can rush over
and rescue the poor varmint from the
hands of a 70 year old woman, but
be forewarned because my eyesight
isnt so good and my aim is a little bit
shaky.n

Nature:
By Tom Lounsburys
from page 90
way various songbirds were singing
out to which Miles readily identi-
fied the species. He also introduced
me to wild ginger and hog peanut,
woodland plants I had seen before
but didnt know their names. We
were on a bend in the trail when
Miles told me to cut off to the left.
When I reached a proper angle it
didnt take me long at all to spot
the bear-clawed beech tree. Id seen
these before and this was not a fake
produced by someone. Male black
bears do this to mark their territory.
The claw marks had some time on
them, and due to the natural growth
of the beech tree, they looked bigger
than they originally were.
For a fact a male black bear
had been illegally killed in the near
vicinity several years ago, and black
bears do occasionally venture into
the Thumb. There are no fences to
keep them in what is commonly
referred to as black bear country,
and young males are known to do
92 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
walkabouts to find new territory
when larger males drive them away.
Back on the road, Miles guided
me to a small kettle lake he called
Spencer Pond and what a breath-
taking sight it was. It was complete-
ly covered with water lilies involv-
ing both species found in Michigan
which are the typical one that is a
big white flower and the spatterdock
(aka bullhead) that is a yellow round
flower the size of a golf ball. The
water lilies were matted together so
thick I watched red-wing blackbirds
walking across them with no fear of
getting their feet wet.
Then as if on cue a female spat-
terdock darner dragonfly flew over
our heads and landed down on the
stem of a spatterdock water lily just
a few feet away, and began making
a slit in the stem with the hook on
her tail to lay an egg. I was trans-
fixed watching this amazing fact
of nature, much like I was when I
witnessed a scarlet red dragonfly
climbing out of a water bug husk.
While we were ending our
unique adventure and driving slowly
along, Miles asked me to suddenly
stop and back up. He let me know
he had heard a male hooded warbler
which were very rare to the Thumb
and had just been sighted for the
first time this spring (it is normally
found much further south). Miles
got out, and put a small recorder on
the ground sending out the same
sound I was hearing in the distant
treetops. Pretty soon I spotted the
bright yellow breast of a small
bird flitting through the dense tree
branches overhead. It was a male
hooded warbler checking out to see
what other male had just invaded his
territory.
Needless to say folks, this was
another first of many firsts for me
that day discovering new things
entailing the unique fauna and flora
of the Murphy Lake State Game
area. According to Miles it also is
one of the richest mushroom ar-
eas in the state and features every
variety found in Michigan, and even
one usually found only in Florida. It
didnt take me long to figure I hadnt
even scratched the surface after only
spending a day with naturalist Miles
Willard.
Whether or not he realizes it yet,
he just may have a frequent tag
along in the future, who is full of
questions. There is nothing bor-
ing about making new discoveries
in nature and learning all that can Naturalist Miles Willard of Mayville
be learned. Especially from a great explaining the natural vir tues of
teacher.n wild ginger.
 Schools in for summer
Two-Day Walleye Clinic at Bay City State
Recreation Area will repeat next May...
By Bill Semion
T
here are lots of mis-
conceptions out there
about how, when,
where, with what
and any combination
thereof, that it takes to
be a successful walleye angler. So
many variables that it will take you
potentially years to learn.
So when you decide its time to
know more, youd best go back to
school. Take lessons from some of
the best in the business at catching
these often finicky, Ill-hit-this-
color-lure-or-rig-combo-today-but-
just-try-it-tomorrow-buddy-and-
youre-out-of-luck-fish. And thats
where a team of anglers assembled
by Michigan walleye master Mark
Martin comes in.
Martin, whos well-known
for his series of winter ice fishing
schools each February at various
lakes around the state, hosted nearly
30 anglers at a soft water walleye
clinic in May, coordinated by the
DNRs Valerie Blaschka, interpreter
at Bay City State Recreation Area,
and the Saginaw Bay Walleye Club.
The two-day event combined
classroom work and a day on the
Saginaw River with Martin and
other anglers, including Saginaw
Bay walleye guide Brandon
Stanton, West Michigan captain
Pat Bentley, Southeast Michi-
gan walleye charter captain Mick
Broughton, Millington-based Ken
Rice, and Kyle Buck, Muskegons
Great Lakes Guide Service, who
along with Martin, compressed de-
cades of knowledge theyve learned
on the water, and gave it away to
the attendees.
As Martin told the class, they
were learning from their years of
making mistakes and by-guess-and-
by-golly experience honed into a set
of techniques and tips, so they, the
students, could head onto the water
this summer armed with new ways
to catch their favorite game fish any-
where walleye lurk, and hopefully
improve their odds at coming back
with a limit.
The inaugural class proved so
successful in both the learning and
catching that Martin said he will
have at least one and likely two
more classes in May 2018 at Bay
City. Anyone interested should
contact Blaschka now to get on a list
thats already forming. See the end
of this article for contact informa-
tion.
Bay City and the Saginaw River
are natural spots to host a spring
school, Martin said. The fish are
all stacked up in that locale after
spawning, and the location is safe.
Were protected in the river, and in
any class I put on, its always safety
first over fishing, he said.
One need only to see what he
was referring to in the days just
prior to the event. It was a non-stop
blow on Saginaw Bay proper. No
one could get out. But on the lower
Saginaw River near the mouth,
where students would apply what
they learned, the water was dead
calm and bank-to-bank full of post-
spawn fish eager to chow down and
help out. You could walk across the
bottom on fish in places, there were
so many.
The first days session took place
in the auditorium at the Saginaw
Bay Visitor Center in the Recreation
Area. Each instructor explained a
different aspect of fooling walleye.
Heres a taste of what students
learned.
Get or Update Your
GPS/Sonar System
Charter captain Brandon Stanton
began by stressing the importance
of a good GPS system, especially
on water like Saginaw Bay, which
can go from calm to boat-trashing in
minutes.
The newest charts are so much
more detailed, if youve never used
these fishing before. Consider the
wind directions, too. Wind pushes
bait, Stanton said. Watch that new
plotter for inside turns in contour
lines, and finger-like contours of the
bottom. Theyre ambush points for
walleye after bait and for you after
walleye.
Thats where Im going to start
fishing. The fish will be on the back
sides of those. Find those steep
drops, and troll with the waves. Very
seldom do I troll into the waves,
Stanton added. Go where the food
is, and youll find fish.
Rods
If you spend any good money
on rods, said Capt. Mick Brough-
ton, spend it on your jigging rod.
You have to be able to feel that little
tick that means a fish just said
hello to your bait. He recommended
Denali for their design, imbuing
it with extra sensitivity. And, no
leaders for jigs. Fill your reel with
sensitive 8-pound test line like Fire-
line, and tie it directly to the jig. No
leader needed.
While Mark Mar tin pitches jigs in the bow of his boat along the spoils
island off the Saginaw Rivers mouth, walleye clinic attendees show off
what they pulled from the Saginaw River on the second day.
River Jigging those line counters on your reels to
Now that youve got a good jig- be accurate. Measure line against
ging rod, hold it waist level or lower them and see what you find.
with the tip pointed towards the wa- Marks Go-To Tips
ter, said Ken Rice. On the Saginaw Here are some of the things
River, - to -ounce weight works Martin touched on during his time:
best, but on the Detroit or St. Clair, When using Fireline or other
make it - to 1-ounce to hold it to superline, secure the first wrap on
the bottom in the swift, up to 8-mph your reel with tape. The line is so
current. When casting on lakes, slippery that it will eventually slip
use lighter weights, like 1/8-ounce, on the spool. Line color also has
or lighter, to hop it off submerged no bearing, so choose that yellow
weeds where walleye might be set- Fireline if you like.
ting up that ambush. Try plastics, he Leave a tag end of line when
said, which he fishes 99 percent of making knots. No fish is going to
the time. worry about a small bit of line when
On our trip with Martin on the its also seeing an entire length of
Saginaw, jigged Wyandotte Worms line going to your reel, he said.
and Northland Impulse plastic glow- Use 1/16-ounce jigs in the weeds
in-the-dark paddletail worms caught so it will land and work from one
the most fish, along with lures like weed to another. And, try those stern
Berkleys Flicker Shads, trolled planer cones you may have seen. He
upstream. invented them. They work.
If you get a snag, you should Day Two
be setting the hook because thats
At 6:30 a.m., we all met at Bay
what a fish feels like. You dont City State Recreation Area, then
know. If it is a snag, hold the reel caravanned to the DNR boat launch
spool and point the rod at the snag.
at the Saginaw Rivers mouth. Each
Youll either straighten the jig hook, captain piled students aboard, and
which can be re-bent, or youll lose
for the next six hours, they learned
it, but not your line or the rod. by doing, techniques from running
Tie Crawler Harnesses planer boards upstream with lures
Pat Bentley likes to make his and river jigging downstream, to
pitching jigs towards shore, lake
own night crawler harnesses rather
than buy. Its cheaper. So when you trolling, and more.
spot fish up high in mid-day, which By the end of the day, Martins
means active, probably feeding, fish, boat had 11 walleyes aboard, most
youll be ready. taken from the river trolling Flicker
Shads upstreamthe day before, it
Use ball bearing swivels. Youll
pay more, but youll be troubled less was a combo of jigging and up-
with line twist. Choose your depth, stream trollingwhile the others
he said. At 2.8 to 1.3 mph, plan on a got fish using other methods.
half-foot of depth for every foot of Whether they were able to feel
line. So, in 30 feet of water with fish that tick of a fish on a line, or
marking at 13 to 15 feet, put about learn a smidgen more to make them
30 feet of line out on your deepest more successful wherever they
rod to find fish at 15 feet. returned after the clinic ended, each
Bottom-bouncer weights arent. of the 28 left with more knowledge
Dont place them on the bottom, than they could ever accrue on their
but rather 1-2 or so feet above. own. From some of walleye-doms
When using crawler harnesses, hook best.
crawlers as close to the nose as pos- When You Go
sible with the first hook and keep If youre interested in next
them as straight as possible on the springs clinics, contact the DNRs
harness. Valerie Blaschka at the Bay City
Store those harnesses around State Recreation Area at 989-667-
pieces of pool noodlesan old trick 0717, or email blaschkav@michi-
to avoid tangles. Lastly, dont trust gan.gov.n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 93
 Whats the best fish to stock in your Michigan fishing pond?
By Ron Kinnunen, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator
I
ts the time of year to
evaluate the type and quan-
tity of fish to put in your
farm pond. This is a critical
decision as it will dictate
the quality of fishing in the
pond for years to come. Many make
common mistakes when stocking
fish into their pond that include
stocking the wrong type of fish spe-
cies or the wrong combinations of
fish species that are not compatible
with each other.
Warm-Water Ponds
If you have a warm-water pond
it is best to stock largemouth bass.
A common mistake when stock-
ing largemouth bass is to also stock
bluegills with them. Many think that
stocking the bluegills will provide
forage fish for the largemouth bass
and enhance their growth. Bluegills
have the tendency to overpopulate
the pond, monopolize the food
supply and stunt out in growth.
Largemouth bass in our northern
climate have a difficult time keeping
bluegill populations in check. When
stocking largemouth bass, it is best
94 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
to have an established minnow
population that they can forage on.
These minnows can include fathead
and bluntnose minnows.
Bluegills are many times
stocked in Michigan ponds as the
sole fish species. Several years of
good fishing will occur after initial
stocking of bluegills, but over time
they will overpopulate the pond,
severely depleting the food sup-
ply, resulting in decreased growth
rates that are not conducive to good
quality fishing. Even as the growth
of the bluegills decreases, they will
still remain very prolific producing
even more bluegills which will tax
the food supply.
As an alternative to stocking
bluegills, some will stock hybrid
sunfish which is a cross between a
green sunfish female and bluegill
male. This hybrid cross results in
the production of mostly male fish
which can reduce reproduction in
the early years resulting in larger
growth and better quality fishing.
But over time reproduction will
occur and the quality of the fishery
will be reduced.
Cold-Water Ponds
If you have a cold-water pond,
you can stock trout. The best spe-
cies to stock are brook and rainbow
trout. These two fish species can
also be stocked together. Avoid
stocking brown trout as they are
difficult to catch, and as they grow
they will eat other trout making it
difficult to restock your pond. When
stocking trout do not stock any other
species of fish with them including
minnows. Minnows will compete
with trout for feed and reduce their
growth rates. For trout, there is no
need to stock forage fish. There
are plenty of natural foods, such as
aquatic insects, that inhabit the pond
on which the trout can feed.
Avoid Cool-Water Fish
Avoid stocking cool-water fish,
such as yellow perch, walleye, and
northern pike in ponds. These fish
need large open water systems and
will not do well in ponds. Yellow
perch, like bluegills, are prolific
breeders and can soon overpopulate
a pond, monopolize the food source,
and stunt out.
(423) 638-2825
Rainbow trout, such as these, are used to
stock cold-water ponds. Author photo
And never use grass carp to solve
excessive aquatic plant growth prob-
lems as it is illegal to possess this
fish species in Michigan.
Reprinted with permission from
Michigan State University Exten-
sion. Michigan Sea Grant helps to
foster economic growth and protect
Michigans coastal, Great Lakes
resources through education, re-
search and outreach. A collaborative
effort of the University of Michigan
and Michigan State University and
its MSU Extension, Michigan Sea
Grant is part of the NOAA-National
Sea Grant network of 33 university-
based programs.n
Woods-N-Water News Presents...
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225
OVER

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Seminars, Puppies
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O u r O u t d o o r He r i ta ge !
Celebrat i n g
September 8 - 9 - 10 th th th
Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds - Imlay City

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WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 95
 Traditional Black Powder SHOOTING...

The end is just the beginning...

D
avid Maddox con-
centrated on count-
ing. He stepped to
his right and wrote
the number of
5-Bull Buffalo
targets on the in-
ventory form, then
turned back. His fingers gripped
the 2-Bull Buffalo targets and
pulled the stack a few inches out
from the narrow shelf on the right
side of the Michigan State Muzzle
Loading Associations shoot
trailer. His thumb started leafing
through the thick paper sheets.
Randy MacInnes walked
around the open end of the trailer,
saw his good friend counting tar-
gets and hollered out, Seven!
Maddox pursed his lips, glared
at MacInnes and feigned a disgust-
ed reply, Ya just had to do that,
didnt ya?
I felt obligated, MacInnes The official scores are posted on the outside of the registration trailer at the end of the MSMLA State
quipped back with a broad grin on Championship matches. Many competitors keep a list of their matches and the scores they fired to
his face. Maddoxs thumb returned compare to the posted results. Wild River tree photo
to the top of the pile. each shot count. at next years shoot. that reflect a multitude of outdoor
A calm silence hung over the The protocol is different for Folks started walking to the activities.
grounds at the Columbiaville each competitor and for those who clubhouse for the final presenta- The Columbiaville Sportsman
Sportsman Club. It volunteer their time tion ceremonies. The meeting Club was founded in 1949 and is
was just after noon on and efforts to make a room was warm and inviting. dedicated to promoting sportsman-
a sunny July Sunday. given shoot possible Mounted deer, caribou, bison, fly- ship, education and gun safety for
The range was closed; whether local, state ing pheasants and landing ducks both muzzleloaders and modern
the 2016 MSMLA or national. But at the adorn the walls, interspersed with arms. Known as the Clan of the
State Championship end of each event, ev- trophies, plaques and memorabilia Wolverine, the majority of the
Shoot was over. A hus- eryone gathers as one
band and wife oiled family, knit together
their flintlock rifles at by a common affection
the loading bench in for the black powder
the shade of the cov- arms of our forefa-
ered offhand shooting thers, a
line.
Not far
away,
By Dennis Neely twinge of
curiosity
and an ap-
com- preciation for exceptional marks-
petitors milled around, waiting for manship.
Eric Hoskinson to post the official
As Hoskinson posted the final
match results on the clipboards
that hang on the outside of the tallies, Brotherton began packing
white trailer. Inside, Maddox con- away the shoot supplies. Were
tinued the inventory, and in the far actually starting preparations for
end, Jim Brotherton scored the last next years state shoot, Maddox
few targets from the final relay. said. Counting the unused targets
In the black powder shooting is the first step in that process. In a
sports, little fanfare is given to while, Eric will give me a match-
what happens after the competition shot count. We compare our begin-
ends. Instead, the emphasis centers ning and ending inventories to that
on the beginning, on proper count, and that gives us guidance
preparations, planning out the for ordering targets. When we
shooting sequence for the chosen leave today, the trailer will be Jim Brother ton (left) presented the first-place medal for the 25-
matches and of course, making ready to open up for registrations yard Offhand Any Metal Sight match to Joe Valentin (right).
96 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
clubs events feature black pow-
der competitions. The well-kept
grounds offer ample camping for
shooters and their families. The
ranges provide shooting challenges
out to 100 yards.
Old friends and new sat around
the white tables, swapping stories
and a few tales of woe. Up front,
four tables displayed the various
traveling trophies and six neat
rows of stacked medals.
If I can have your attention,
David Maddox said in a loud,
but friendly voice, we are ready
to go with the presentations. For
those of you who do not know me,
Im Dave Maddox, the outgoing
A pleased and surprised Matt
Crum holds the 2016 MSMLA
State Gun, a Hawken rifle made
by Mike Sullivan. Each year the
association raffles off a rifle or
smoothbore custom made by a
Michigan gun-builder.
president of the Michigan State
Muzzle Loading Association. Will
you please stand for the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Being a large shoot, the list of
matches was long. The top three
shooters in each match received a
medal and a hearty round of ap-
preciative applause as they came
forward. In some cases a bit of
good-natured kidding followed a
humble thank you. Eric Hoskin-
son thanked Maddox for not read-
ing my scores aloud.
In the tomahawk throwing
event, Alan Pichan and Russ
Anderson tied with perfect scores
after ten throws. Anderson won the
throw-off, but the two old friends
kept the banter alive all the way
to the podium. I thought about
throwing one in the dirt, Ander-
son said as he gave Pichan a firm
handshake, but I couldnt do that
to you.
MSMLA match commit-
tee chairman Serge Bourdeaux
stepped forward after the pistol
medals were awarded. He spoke
of an individual who had given
25 years of service, compiling all
of the scoring on his computer,
maintaining the match record files
and posting them on the MSMLA
website (msmla.org). Bourdeaux
called Eric Hoskinson forward
and told him that Match 34, the
25-yard pistol and revolver match,
would be permanently named in
his honor.
Its about the only match
Eric can shoot each year, David
Maddox said as everyone in the
Jaden Wright points out his scores to his mother, Nicole. Jaden won
the MSMLA Junior Championship for the second year in a row.
room rose and offered a standing aggregates.
ovation. Randy MacInnes came forward
Traveling trophies were to name the 2016 Spirit of Roy
awarded for twenty aggregates. In Keeler Society recipient. He noted
the black powder shooting sports, that five Keeler Society members
an aggregate is a combination of were present at the awards cere-
scores from similar matches. Jaden mony. MacInnes listed the accom-
Wright won the Junior Champion- plishments of the societys choice,
ship for the second year in a row. how they first met, and then named
His grandfather, Jim Galiger, said Ira Thumma. When he gained his
Jadens mother, Nicole, won the composure, Thumma expressed his
Junior Championship twenty-five thanks and said, I havent been
years before. this happy since a helicopter lifted
I started Jaden shooting black us out of Chu Lai.
powder when he was six, Galiger The last part of the program
said, and he has the potential to is when someone wins this mag-
be a real good competitor. Ni- nificent gun, Maddox said as he
cole was about nine when she held up the 2016 MSMLA State
started. She won both the Spring Gun, a .58-caliber, percussion,
National Junior Championship at Hawken-style rifle custom made
the NMLRA (National Muzzle by Mike Sullivan. Each year the
Loading Rifle Association) and the association introduces the state
NMLRA Junior Championship at gun at the Lapeer Contemporary
the first Winter Nationals held in Muzzleloading Arms & Accoutre-
Phoenix, Arizona, in 1992. This is ments Show. A limited number of
really special for our family. raffle tickets are available, and the

Muzzle Loading State Events

Matt Crum won the Michigan drawing is always held at the end
State Championship, the Offhand of the state shoot.
Championship, the Light Bench Lyle McGregor spun the drum
Michigan State Muzzle Loading Association State Shoots
Championship and the Roy Keeler around and around. Jaden Wright
Aggregate. The admiration of his reached in and grabbed one orange
fellow competitors came with a ticket and read the name: Matt
August 3-6 - 54th Annual Frontier Shoot healthy dose of ribbing, and unbe- Crum. The hooting and hollering
Grand Valley Cap n Ballers: 616-681-0164 or 269-792-4384 knownst to anyone, Crum had one started right off as Crum jumped
August 12 - Muzzleloader/Rimfire Woods Walk more surprise in store. up and headed for his prize. I am
A fellow who only uses his one lucky dog today, he said with
White River Muzzleloaders: 616-218-7037 first name, Jeffrey, won the a broad smile. Thank you, all.
August 12-13 - Primitive Rendezvous: Columbiaville Sportsmans Novice Aggregate. This aggregate Some folks lingered and
Club: 810-793-7799 or 810-223-3956 was designed by Joe Valentin for talked, others quietly slipped away
newcomers who have never and started breaking down their
August 13 - Woods Walk: Clinton River Muzzle Loaders: placed in an adult MSMLA aggre- campsites, resolved that the five-
Detroit Sportsman Congress: 586-731-6088 gate before. The course of day shoot was finally over.
fire includes five matches: three In the black powder shooting
August 17-20 - MSMLA State Shotgun Championship: Grand Valley shot offhand, one using cross- sports, the shoot continues on after
Cap n Ballers: 269-370-0095 or 616-836-5760 sticks and one from the bench the final shots are fired, the white
August 18-20 - NMLRA Michigan Rifle/Pistol Territorial: rest position. smoke clears and the targets are
Beaverton: 301-256-7784 Now you have to play with scored. Yes, little fanfare is given
the big boys, David Maddox to awards ceremonies, yet some of
August 25-27 - 31st Annual Rendezvous: quipped as he shook Jeffreys the best stories follow, for the end
Benzie Sportsman Club: 231-378-2145 hand and gave him the trophy. A is just the beginning
shooter can only win the Novice Give the black powder shoot-
August 26-27 - Fun Tyme at the Range (Women only): Championship once, after that he ing sports a try, be safe and may
Grand Valley Cap n Ballers: 269-792-4384 or she must compete in the regular God bless you.n
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 97
 Woods-N-WaterNews Classified Section
MISC. MISC. FOR SALE TAXIDERMY HUNTING HUNTING
A TEMPUR-PEDIC LOG BUNK BEDS. $495. 2016 KUBOTA LT3901HST. FOR SALE: Extra-large Utah ALCONA COUNTY/ 2017 BEAR HUNTS. Baraga
M E M O RY FOAM Amish lodge furniture. Call Dan 6 LAND PRIDE ROTO mountain lion rug 8ft. by 5ft. $3,300 HUBBARD LAKE, MI unit Copper Harbor area. 1st and
MATTRESS SET. Clean. Never 989-832-1866. M-4-14-TFN TILLER. 6 WOODS BRUSH call 517-543-6260. T-6-3 HUNTING: Bow, Rifle, 2nd hunts available. Contact Chris
used. As seen on TV. Cost $1700. .............................................. HOG (7 MO. OLD). FRONT .............................................. Muzzleloader, Bear, Youth, at (734) 765-9325.
Sell for $695. 989-832-2401. M-4- LOADER W/BUCKET. Late Doe, Grouse, Turkey, keweenawbearhunts.com. H-7-2
EVERYTHING Still Under Warranty!
WANTED BOATS
14-TFN Duck, Goose WITH CAMP! ..............................................
.............................................. 989-724-8228. FS-8-3 FISHING: Walleye,
AN AMISH LOG .............................................. Perch, Bass, Trout, Pike U.P. BEAR HUNTS
HEADBOARD AND QUEEN TIMBER: Buying all types of tim- POND SUPPLIES: Live game- 1987 20 FT. STARCRAFT
ber, 5 acres or more, top price paid. BOAT. Inboard. Boat in excellent WITH CAMP! FREE: Hub- OVER BAIT. Amasa Baraga
pillowtop mattress set. New. Sell all fish for stocking. Large selection of bard Lake House Summer Gwinn BMU'S 50+ years ex-
for $275. 989-923-1278. Cash in advance. Improve wildlife lake, pond and watergarden sup- shape, needs a little floor work.
habitat. Patco Forest Products, Complete and ready to go fishing. Vacation with 6 day hunting perience. Bear Paw Outfitters.
M-4-14-TFN plies. Free catalog! Stoney Creek, minimum. Build your own hunt- Call Dan the Bearman 1-906-
.............................................. 989-539-7588 after 6 p.m. W-9- Inc., Grant, Mi. 800-448-3873, Totally equipped - too much to men-
tion. $6,000. Call 810-417-1829. ing/summer vacation combo. 204-9743. H-8-1
AMISH LOG BEDS, ANY 12/16 www.stoneycreekequip.com FS-5-6 Scout/Hike/Bike camp property
SIZE $199. 5 drawer log chest .............................................. .............................................. B-8-4
during your FREE SUMMER
$199. Good quality. Lowest prices ..............................................
VACATION. Only 6 Hunting/ ALBERTS BEAR GUIDE
in Michigan. 989-839-4846. M-4- Subscribe Today! Summer vacation slots avail- SERVICE. Bergland and Baraga
14-TFN
.............................................. (810) 724-0254 FISHING able. Couples/Families wel- units. Federal license, 25 years
experience. Cell 906-231-9136,
come. Summer Lake House
available without hunting. Home 906-827-3731. H-5-5
Details 586-260-0719. H-5-7 ..............................................
To reach an immense outdoor market use the . . . ALL INCLUSIVE house-
keeping packages and cabin
Woods-N-Water News Classified rentals on remote Algoma
Lake. Train-in or Boat-in only -
1-2 BUCK HUNTING CLUB
MEMBERSHIPS IN
BEAR HUNTS: Baraga
Unit. Be our guest at AA
LODGE. All inclusive. 5 day
Classified ad rates: $30 for the first 20 words Canadian Funds -519-636-3697
Every word over 20 is .25 per word -- Box your classified, $5 additional charge www.foxsdenlodge.ca F-4/17-
N O R T H E A S T E R N hunts. Second hunts available.
MICHIGAN Quality club, camp Call Roy 810-691-3373. H-8-1
TFN and facilities (also turkey, small
This effective advertising is simple to do, place your ad by . . .
Calling 810-724-0254 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm game) West Branch - Hale area.
Email your ad to wnw@pageone-inc.com Tremendous value and opportunity. BERGLAND UNIT. Guided
Faxing your ad 810-724-8552
CANADIAN FISHING Stag. $1,375 per year. See: dynami- bear hunts over bait. State and
TRIP. Want to go fishing? Book cra.com or phone federal licensed bear guide. Call
Complete your Classified online at www.woods-n-waternews.com
early and save. One of Ontarios Dan 989-893-5819. H-8-3 Rich 715-663-0459 or www.upbear-
Mailing your ad to Woods-N-Water News, P.O. Box 278, Imlay City, MI48444 best multiple fish lakes, fish .............................................. hunt.com H-5-4
Classifieds MUST be paid in advance of publishing; MasterCard, Visa accepted. Make for Walleye, Northern, Small ..............................................
check/money orders payable to Woods-N-Water News. Classified ads can not be Mouth, Lake Trout, Perch and
other fish. Well spaced out log ATTENTION U.P. BEAR
billed and once a classified is processed no refunds can be made. Limit of 75 words. HUNTERS: Top of the Line
& framed cabins, all boats have BALDWIN UNIT BAIT
All classifieds posted to our website FREE! electric start motors, fish finders Guide Service offers excellent BEAR HUNT. Private lands
and swivel seats. Upgrade hunting opportunity for black 2 hunters max. Alan McDon-
Use one of these useful classified categories... boats and motors available. 6 bear hunters in Newberry man- ald 231-750-8569. H-8-2
A = Archery FW = Firewood RR = Resorts/Rent days/nights $445.00 U.S. funds agement area. Fully licensed
ATV = ATVs G = Guns RVC = RVs/Campers
per person with a group of 4 or guide offers unlimited day hunt-
B = Boats H = Hunting SM = Snowmobiles
more (2 people per boat) www. ing. Lodging available. High RAYS U.P. HUNTING Over
D = Dogs HL = Hunting Leases T = Taxidermy success rate. For information 25 years experience guiding for
F = Fishing HW = Help Wanted TK = Trucks northernwalleyelodge.com
F = Free M = Miscellanous TR = Trailers or toll free 1-877-434-2440. or references call Bruce at 906- deer and bear. Baited stands in
FP = Food Plots RE = Real Estate W = Wanted F-1/17TFN 477-6983 or 616-566-0183. Amasa, Baraga, and Bergland
H-7-3 Units. Lodging Available. Call Ray
SEPTEMBER 2017 CLASSIFIED DEADLINE JULY 31, 2017 at 906-265-9420 or cell (906) 284-
2216. Licensed and Insured. H-1-
BEAR GUIDE SERVICE: 12/17
CLIP AND MAIL
HUNTING Newberry and Gwinn BMU, we hunt
Woods-N-Water News Classified Advertising all 3 season. Lodging and food
included. 50 yrs. experience. 231-
..............................................

(Please print clearly. We are not responsible for unreadable orders.) HUNT WITH BEAR
Make sure phone number is included in your ad!
MOUNTAIN LLC THIS FALL
NAME FOR YOUR 2017 BEAR
HUNT. We only have a few spots
ADDRESS remaining for the 1st and 3rd hunt
periods. We look forward to hunting
CITYSTATEZIP on an expanded area of private Just outside of Seney Wildlife site. We have provided guide
property this fall that is in the heart
DAYTIME PHONE NO. of prime bear territory. Baraga BMU,
Private land only hunts, check out
VISA/MASTERCARD#EXP: that entire time. References
our website www.mibearhunt.com.
References upon request. Give us a
CLASSIFICATION OF ADMONTHS TO RUN
call at 800-676-9821 or call Lead
Guide Derek at 906-458-3754.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
H-8-1
(7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12)
...............................................
BALDWIN UNIT BEAR
HUNTS Manistee Benzie County
(13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)
Only 4 people per season, mostly
private properties few state land,
(19) (20) $30.00 $30.25 $30.50 $30.75
call or text Last Stand Guide Service
$31.00 $31.25 $31.50 $31.75 $32.00 $32.25
231-920-2462. H-8-2
...............................................
$32.50 $32.75 $33.00 $33.25 $33.50 $33.75 KENTUCKY DEER HUNTS -
$795.00 I farm and have thou-
$34.00 $34.25 $34.50 $34.75 $35.00 $35.25 sands acres in West KY, my farms
have high numbers of deer and I
$35.50 $35.75 $36.00 $36.25 $36.50 $36.75 only will be having a few hunts. 4
days for management in Sept. and
Enclosed is $for Nov. My farms have many bucks, More information call 989-600-
150 class and up. Call for trail cam
words to runmonths. BOX MY CLASSIFIED - $5 Extra
picks 270-213-0528. H-8-1
email: wnw@pageone-inc.com website: www.woods-n-waternews.com
98 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
620-0398. H-8-3
..............................................
2017 MICHIGAN BEAR
HUNTS: Newberry/Gwinn.
Refuge. High success rate.
33 years. State and Federal li-
censed and experienced. Guar-
anteed active baits. 6 nights, 5
day hunt includes lodging and
at 906-293-5650 leave a mes-
meals. Start at $750. Bow and
rifle deer hunts. $125 per day.
906-439-5242.
www.buckspportinglodge.com.
H-5-6
RED OAK UNIT Bear hunters
guide service available. Honest and
reliable. Michigan Bear-n-Elk
Adventures. 231-924-6319. H-8-1
..............................................
BEAR HUNTS OVER
BAIT Newberry Unit, ar-
chery and firearm hunters.
Stands are set to your liking.
Classifieds work!
8672. H-8-1
CAMERON'S LITTLE
TWO HEART BEAR
GUIDE SERVICE We pro-
vide both bait and hound hunts
in the Newberry area only and
we guarantee you an active bait
services in excess of 45 years
and have hunted the same area
given upon request. Call Kip
sage and we will return your
call in the order it was received.
H-6-3
NORTHERN ONTARIO
BEAR HUNTS: Booking now for
Spring and Fall of 2017. Includes
comfortable cabin, boat and motor,
baited stands. Very experienced
guides. High success rate. 3 hours
from the Soo. References on
request. $960 U.S. 705-869-3272
www.texasandsons.com H-10-
12-16
..............................................
(810) 724-0254
 Woods-N-WaterNews Classified Section
BAIT
BLACK BEAR HUNT/
GUIDE SERVICE. Red Oak
area. Dogs or bait. Call 989-
448-1938. BT-7-3
RESORTS/RENT
PICKEREL LAKESIDE
CAMPGROUND
COTTAGES Baldwin area
1,425 all sport lake frontage, 45
semi-rustic sites, four clean modern
cottages. www.lakecamp-cottages.
com 231-745-7268. RR-4-6
..............................................
S E A S O N A L - O N LY
CAMPING Private, gated
paradise on Big Manistee River
offers large, wooded sites, full
hook-ups, easy access to Lake
Michigan beaches. Long sea-
son. Quiet and peaceful.
COHO BEND - 231-723-
7321 www.cohobend.com.
R/R-3-8
HUNTING LEASE
GLADWIN HUNTING
LEASE 78 acres prime hunting
north of Gladwin, lease as whole or
two parcels. Property managed for
wildlife and maintains 5 miles of
trails. West Parcel 40 and North
Parcel 38 contiguous acres.
Contains oak/maple/pine/cedar/
hemlock grove with sandy trout
stream and ravines. Bow/gun and
deer/turkey/small game/bear.
Natural food plots alfalfa/clover/ber-
ries/acorns. Camping options near-
by. Option to renew. $4600 or
$2400. Contact (810) 919-9936.
L-8-1
GOOD HUNTING/FISH-
ING! 200+ gated acres avail-
able for yearly lease. Boat
docks with power and offsite
boat ramp. mile canal with 2
dredged channels to the
Saginaw Bay, casino within 4
miles. Perfect for hunt clubs!
References needed. Email
DJRMVP@gmail.com by
appointment only. Please see
our ad on page 102 of this issue
of the Woods-N-Water News.
HL-8-3
JACKSON 104 ACRES sur-
rounded by 3500 acres unhunted
state prison land. Big bucks taken.
Corn and beans surround. Call 248-
978-7673. HL-4-6
WANT TO LEASE
FAT H E R / C H I L D R E N
GROUP LOOKING FOR
LEASE. Will consider any size
lease, location, with or without
cabin/barn. Terms/price negotiable.
Experienced hunters, responsible,
ethical and will make improvements
if desired. Jay 248.396.8322.
WL-7-3
email: wnw@pageone-inc.com website: www.woods-n-waternews.com
REAL ESTATE
153 ACRE DEER CAMP, run-
ning water, electric off Co. Road.
Land locks hundreds of acres off
state land. Deer migrate through
property. 5 min. from 3 lakes in Cur-
tis, MI. 989-390-0846. RE-8-1
..............................................
80 ACRES - Sanilac County, Ar-
gyle Twp (thumb) - 40x48 insulated
polebarn cabin (finished/furnished),
AND 4 condo blinds, 2 ladderstands
$350,000 Deer hunters dream! 50
heavily wooded, 30 lightly surround-
ed by 3 sides farmland for deer, tur-
keys, rabbit, pheasant. Large pines,
pond, culverts, streams. Significant
lumber with hardwoods, birch, pop-
lar, apple, pines. Electricity, furnace,
well, septic, propane. Tractor & rid-
ing mower Kris 586-202-2366. RE-8-1
..............................................
UP PROPERTY,
MACKINAW CO. 126
acres, 3200 ft. on Lake
Milakowkia at the end of private
road. Your private paradise. If
interested call 989-324-8668.
RE-7-2
WATERFRONT CABIN FOR
SALE: Well built, remote UP.
Seney, MI area, Schoolcraft County,
Main Branch Fox River, 7 1/4 acres,
surveyed, fish for brook trout, hunt
deer, bear, grouse, rabbits. $35,000
Owner 269-795-9727 Or Northcoast
Realty List #CC-154. RE-8-3
..............................................
283 ACRES WOODED WITH
20 ACRE LAKE. Lapeer boy
scout camp 21,000 sq ft of homes,
cabins, and buildings $1,250,000
Call Mark Mitchell at Cooper Com-
mercial 810-348-0503. RE-8-2
..............................................
180 ACRES CHIPPEWA
COUNTY: Hunt, fish, hike or
snowmobile. 180 acres with
trails, blinds, and food plots.
Adjoins thousands of acres of
public land, 13 miles south of
Sault Ste. Marie, less than 2
miles to boat launch and the St.
Mary's River. E.U.P. hunting
and fishing camp, the 1100 sq.
ft. home and 32x42 garage will
satisfy most as a year round
residence. A great buy at
$250,000. Call 989-390-0362.
Details Craigslist and Zillow.
RE-8-3
JUST REDUCED! ESTATE
SALE: 60 acre farm located on
state highway East of Adrian MI. In-
cludes 1,235 sqft 3 bdrm., 1.5 bath
ranch on full basement with one car
attached garage. 42 x 30 Bldg., ap-
prox. 23 acres tillable, approx. 36
acres woods. Call Diana at Faust
Real Estate, LLC 517-270-3646.
RE-8-1
..............................................
VERY COOL COTTAGE
RIGHT ON THE BEACH OF
LAKE MICHIGAN. Awesome
wood floors and stairs. Great atmo-
sphere. Big Trees. Naubinway, MI
$175,000 Call 989-751-7472. RE-
8-2
REAL ESTATE
LOG HOME ON 22
ACRES - 3 bedrooms, 3 full
baths, 2 full kitchens, main floor
master and laundry, 36 inch
doorways, 4 plus garage/barn
with loft. $380,000 Betty Pierce,
Remax Lakeshore 616-638-
5528. RE-8-1
OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS
DREAM COME TRUE! Updat-
ed 4 bedroom home on 80 acres
with 2 ponds, minutes from Torch
Lake, marinas, skiing, snowmobil-
ing, hunting, fishing etc. $299,900.
MLS # 1833959, 2151 SE Torch
Lake Dr., Bellaire, MI 49615. Con-
tact Jen McKolay, Coldwell Banker
Schmidt Realtors 231-384-1921.
RE-8-1
..............................................
LAND FOR SALE: 10 acres in
Lake County, MI. Well, spetic, elec-
tric access. 25x40 pole barn - backs
up to state land, near 10 cup motor-
head trails. $38,000. 231-342-8028.
RE-8-1
..............................................
167 ACRE HUNTING/FISH-
ING RESORT OR RESI-
DENCE. Two bd 2 bath home with
fireplace and A/C. Large barn style
garage with guest quarters up. Trout
stream with 2 drive across bridges,
several food plots, blinds, great trail
system. Curran/Hubbard Lake area
$299,000. Joe Arbaugh, Century 21
Eagle 989-370-6317. RE-7-2
..............................................
HUNTING PROPERTY: 160
ACRES Rolling hills 80% wooded
with markeable hardwoods, pine,
birch and cedar. Excellent hunting;
artesian streams with brook trout, a
3.5 acre lake for fish and waterfowl,
established blinds and food plots.
Access by paved road with electric.
A wide choice of building sites. Rose
City area, Rose Township, SEC 21.
Owner 989-820-5858. RE-7-3
..............................................
10 WOODED ACRES 6 miles
east of Alden and Torch Lake.
Ideal camping - recreation spot.
Driveway, cleared site, no power.
$27,900, $1,000 down, $350/mo
11% land contract, www.northern-
landco.com, Northern Land Co.
231-258-5100.RE-7-2
..............................................
LAKE COUNTY 80 ACRES.
Sportsmans paradise. Headwaters
Pere Marquette River. Partially
wooded, 25 tillable acres, some
marsh, blacktop road. $159,000.
Call 231-832-4552 weekends. RE-
7-3
..............................................
MODERN CABIN FOR
RENT ON BEAR CREEK - a
trout, salmon and steelhead stream.
Sleeps 5, private access available.
Call 231-590-1136. RE-4-6
..............................................
FOR SALE - Approximately 95
wooded acres with half mile front-
age on premiere trout, salmon
and steelhead stream in Manistee
County. $4,000 per acre. Call 231-
590-1136. RE-4-6
..............................................
DOGS DOGS DOGS
BIRD DOG TRAINING by bird
GERMAN SHORT HAIR GERMAN SHORTHAIR
dog Hall of Famer David Grubb.
POINTER PUPPIES POINTER PUPS: Males
David has trained over 5,000 gun
Born 6/4/17 impressive blood and females available. Excel-
dogs. We are now working on wild
lines; parents Abbe Lane Rollin lent hunting dogs and superb
birds. Let David use his expertise to
Dozer and Willow Creek family pets. Close working
train your dog for this fall. We train
Dazzln Dayla. Great disposi- dogs with strong point and
labs too. Only $450.00 per month
and this fee includes everything.
tion and excellent hunters.
Males $800 and Females $850.
retrieve instincts. Reasonably
priced for the sporting family.
English Pointer and English Setter
Call 586-255-2628.RE-7-2 Money back guarantee. Eulen-
Stud service available. Please call
hof Kennels, Gladwin, MI.
248-860-1009. D-8-2
http://www.eulenhof.com
.............................................. LLEWELLIN SETTERS, 989-426-4884 D-8-2
Daybreak Llewellins has pup-
Classifieds pies and started dogs available.
Subscribe
Excellent bird dogs and family
Work! companions.
daybreakllewellins.com Today!
Contact Kevin 989-291-7915
(810) 724-0254 Located in Sheridan, MI D-8-2
(810) 724-0254
Heres your
guide to
success!
It is estimated that 10% of all the fishermen
catch 90% of the fish. Regardless of which group
you fall into . . . theres a sure way to up your odds
. . . simply try new fishing waters. Fish where few
fishermen ever fish.
Michigan is loaded with great fishing waters . . .
many of them over-looked. From the AuSable River
to all of the Great Lakes tributaries to the Pere
Marquette River . . . thousands of miles of streams,
lakes and rivers are now easy-to-locate on one
map.
Professor Higbees Stream Map of Michigan is the
first and only highly detailed map of its kind. This
new 4 foot by 4 foot color map shows virtually all
for the 35,000 miles of Michigan streams & lakes on
both peninsulas. Thats almost two times the earths
circumference!
STREAMMAPOFMICHIGAN is available either
rolled or folded. And, in heavy gauge clear lamina-
tion, write-on-wipe-off surface with brass eyelettes
for easy hanging, rolled only.
ROLLED $26.00 FOLDED $26.00 LAMINATED $46.00
T a x & P o s t a g e I n c l u d e d
NAME
ADDRESS
CITYSTATEZIP
Check/Money Order Visa/Mastercard
Card#Exp. DateSignature
Mail To: Woods-N-Water News
P.O. Box 278 Imlay City, MI 48444 (810) 724-0254
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 99
 PINE LAKE PROPERTY - PRICE REDUCED!!
$70,000.00 DON'T MISS THIS ONE!

Parcels C & D on survey are 11.81 wooded acres on a private spring fed lake in
Mecosta County. This is a hunter's and fisherman's paradise complete with 705
feet of lake frontage. The Southwest corner of the property is 80 feet above lake

level and gently slopes downward to an expanding vista of lake frontage. All
lake front property surrounding this lake is owned by five individual owners.
PAGES 100 - 109
There is privacy galore! But, if you prefer more action, Chippewa Lake, an all
sports lake, is only one mile away. There is a well on the property (condition
unknown). Motivated seller! SEV is over $65,000.00 This land would make an
excellent hunter's retreat, fisherman's camp or a campground. It has to be seen
to be appreciated.
For more information call
734-325-3103 or 989-463-2975

Thomas B. Camp Alma, MI 48801

FOR SALE MID-MICHIGANS LARGEST
NATURAL, SPRING FED LAKE & PROPERTY!
425+ acres of prime land in the Heart of Central Michigan
LUMBER, ALL RIGHTS INCLUDED GAS, MINERAL, TIMBER...
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WELCOME,
Local Buyers Preferred! Serious Inquries only: (810) 629-9376

100 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS

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

WE NEED LISTINGS 40+ ACRES AND LARGER

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

Alcona County, 240 Acres,
House, Barns, Pond, Stream, Food Plots
$499,000
Antrim County, 52+/- Acres Calhoun County, 67+/- Acres Calhoun County, 70+/- Acres
Alpena County, 316+/- Acres, Good Trails Rolling Hardwoods, Pole Barn Branch County, 43+/- Acres, Big Bucks, Calhoun Co, 61 Acres 300 ft. All Sports Prairie Lake, House, Pole Barn, Pond, River, Calhoun Co, 86+/- Acres
Lodge sleeps 10, Professionally Managed Forest with Living Quarters, Excellent Hunting Cold Creek Crosses Property, Nice Woods 2,500 ft. St. Joseph River, Excellent Hunting 1/2 Tillable, 1/2 Wooded Elevated Blind 750 ft. Frontage on Prairie Lake,
Big Buck Hunting, Outbuildings
$439,000 $129,000 $136,500 $129,000 $275,000 $289,000
$349,000

I NG LD I NG
END S
O
END
P P

Iosco County, 783+/- Acres, Jackson County, 51+/- Acres Kalkaska County, 40 Acres, Mecosta County, 40 Acres Excellent Midland County, 80 Acres
1 Mile Frontage Tawas Lake, Kunze Missaukee County, 80 Acres Newaygo County, Newaygo County, 30 Acres, 2 Bedroom,
River Crosses Property, 5 Bedroom Log Big Bucks, Wildlife Pond, 1/2 Cabin, Barn, Trout Pond, Deer, Turkey & Small Game 12 Miles to Mount Pleasant, Pond, Professionally Managed 5+/- Acres Frontage 1 1/2 Bath Mobile Home, 24x28 Pole
Lodge, 3 Miles from East Tawas Tillable Leased, Warming Shed Excellent Hunting Hunting, Good Trail System Excellent Hunting Forest, Food Plots on White River Barn, Adjacent to National Forest
$1,250,000 $169,000 $115,000 $88,000 $176,000 $129,500 $38,000 $99,000

LD LD
O O
S S

Newaygo County, 36+/- Acres Newaygo County, 40+/- Acres Newaygo County, 40 Acres Newaygo County, 40 Acres Newaygo County, 60 Acres Newaygo Co, 80 Acres Newaygo County, 80 Acres Newaygo County, 80 Acres
Farm Land, M-37 Frontage, 1000s of Adjacent to Federal Land, Remote 32x48 Pole Barn with Water & Heavily Wooded, Excellent QDM, Trophy Bucks Rolling Hardwoods, Great Rustic Cabin, Pond, Nice
Electric, 20 Ac Old Apple Orchard, Close to Federal Land, Pole Barn,
acres Public Land 1/2 mile Away Location, Small Lake 20 Ac Hardwoods, Great Hunting Hunting, Building Sites Harvested, Great Parcel Great Hunting Hunting, 2 Bedroom Mobile Woods, Good Trail System
$50,400 $80,000 $199,000 $60,000 $90,000 $140,000 $150,000 $129,000

LD
O
S

Newaygo County, 80 Acres Newaygo County, 125 Acres, Three Newaygo County, 240 Acres, Oceana County, 100+/- Acres Osceola Co, 54+/- Acres Osceola County, 167 Acres Presque Isle County, 47+/- Presque Isle County, 80 Ac
4,600 ft. White River Frontage, spring fed lakes, Excellent Deer, Adjacent to State Land, Good Trail System Remote Property, Nice Forest, 650 ft. Frontage Nice Cabin, Good Trail Acres, 2 Bedroom House, Pole Creek Frontage, 24x24 Garage,
Great Hunting and Fishing Turkey and Waterfowl hunting Food Plots, High Deer Population Good Deer Population All Sports Grass Lake System, Excellent Hunting Barn, Excellent Hunting Excellent Hunting
$189,000 $375,000 $384,000 $150,000 $225,000 $389,000 $99,000 $90,000

www. WildLifeRealty.com
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 101
 Good hunting and fishing!
Sunny Cove
100 Hunting
Preserve
* Subdivision
East of canal

Acres,

Saginaw Bay
*
Lake Property Dyked &

Farm
269 ft. frontage on beautiful Lake St. Helen, Roscommon County, Michi- Isolated *
Dredge
gan. 725 ft. South side, 640 ft. North side, has Riparian Rights, 24x36 pole
barn, heat, well, electric hot water, septic, zoned commercial, D.E.Q. ap- Wetland
proved for 135 slips, located at 9400 Monroe Rd. Asking $425,000. Land 200+ gated acres available for yearly lease. Planned boat docks with power and
contract possible. offsite boat ramp. mile canal with 2 dredged channels to the Saginaw Bay, casino
within 4 miles. Camp sites with power. Perfect for hunt clubs! References needed.
Call Denis at 989-387-0504 St. Helen, Michigan EMAIL DJRMVP@GMAIL.COM BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Call 810-724-0254
To Place Your
Ad Today!

Near

Choose your
Marlette
in Sanilac 121
County Acres

own adventure.
$
375,100
Will OR
consider $3,100 per acre
all
If you are looking to finance land off the beaten offers.
path, Greenstone is the lender to help you get it
done. We offer a variety of loan types for country
acreage and recreational land of any size. Leave
your options wide open and contact your local
GreenStone office for more information!

800-444-3276

www.greenstonefcs.com

102 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS

HUNTING LAND FOR SALE

BRANDON CROPSEY CHUCK KEEFER EDMUND NOGASKI JAKE EHLINGER

Broker, Land Specialist Agent, Land Specialist Agent, Land Specialist Agent, Land Specialist
Michigan Central Michigan Northern Michigan Southeast Michigan
(269) 816-3010 (989) 600-4112 (231) 330-4107 (517) 937-2118
MICHAEL TURNER SHAD WOODRUFF SHAWN KELLEY TONY HANSEN
Agent, Land Specialist Agent, Land Specialist Agent, Land Specialist Agent, Land Specialist
Eastern Michigan West Central Michigan Southeast Michigan Central Michigan
(248) 770-4898 (989) 330-4032 (586) 292-1812 (269) 420-9510

CONTACT AN AGENT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BUYING AND

SELLING HUNTING, FARMLAND AND TIMBERLAND

whitetailpr operties.com
Whitetail Properties Real Estate, LLC | dba Whitetail Properties | Nebraska & North Dakota DBA Whitetail Trophy Properties Real Estate LLC. | Lic. in IL, MO, IA, KS, KY, NE & OK - Dan Perez, Broker | Lic. in AR, CO, GA,
MN, ND, TN, SD & WI - Jeff Evans, Broker | Lic. in OH & PA - Kirk Gilbert, Broker | Lic. in NM & TX - Joey Bellington, Broker | Lic. in IN - John Boyken, Broker | Lic. in LA, MS, GA & AL - Sybil Stewart, Broker | Lic. in TN
- Chris Wakefield, Broker | Lic. in TN - Bobby Powers, Broker | Lic. in AR - Johnny Ball, Broker | Lic. in SC - Rick Elliot, Broker | Lic. in NC - Rich Baugh, Broker | Lic. in MI - Brandon Cropsey, Broker

WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 103


Lake View Resort
Drummond Island MI
FOR SALE
One modern 3 bedroom fully furnished cabin with
full deck overlooking Potaggannising Bay. This
building also features a full basement a rarity on
the Island lovingly known as The Rock.
Five modern 2 bedroom housekeeping cabins
fully furnished.
104 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
795 N 1st St And
Use your smart phone and a QR Code P.O. Box 499 229 Lake George Ave
Harrison MI 48625 Lake George, MI 48633
Reader App to see all of our listings
989-539-2261 989-588-6171
CLARE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
WHERE THE NORTH BEGINS...
Open 7 Days * Established in 1953
Parcel A&B Stockwell 10 acre
www.harrison-realty.com
parcels covered with mature trees.
Build, hunt, or camp. Each listed for
www.buyhr.co
$27,500 all 20 acres for $45,000 E-mail: office@harrison-realty.com
For photos Text: T101324 To: 52187
30 Red Pine Ridge Tamarack Ridge
30 ac Huckleberry Trail 30 acres in 80A Clare Avenue Great price for all
Estates is a site condo development at
middle of nowhere great place for around hunting. Plenty of wildlife and
the Tamarack Golf Course, an 18 hole
wildlife to call home. Adjoins state has some low areas.. Trees are a good
course in the heart of Michigan.
land, near river. $61,500 mix. $96,000
For Photos Text: T101145 To: 52187
For Photos Text R294423 To 52187 or photos Text: T101213 To: 52187
nhn Ball Avenue 10.10 wooded 4705 Mostetler Road 200 acres with NHN Arnold Lake Road 46 +/- acres
acreage close to town, lakes, and state roads and trails, perfect for the on a paved road with a nice mixture of
land, Great camping or building outdoor adventures and business hardwoods and pines across the street
location. $21,500 opportunities. $1,000,000 For photos from State Land. $89,900
For photos Text: T537878 To: 52187 Text: T1610162 To: 52187 For Photos Text: T101202 To: 52187
22.1 Acres Temple Drive This rolling 10159 Richardson Dr 1115 ft on the f803 Stockwell 2.5 Acre parcel with
wooded parcel is located on a winding Muskegon River with 23 acres for well, septic, electricity and a 32x32
country paved road in a desirable hunting and seclusion. Camp or build, pole barn. There is a 3/4 bath in the
location near town. $70,000 use trails from here. $75,000 shed. $35,900
For photos Text P664628 to 85377 For Photos Text R404530 To 52187 For Photos Text R298304 to 521887
This property is the ultimate Fish Camp
with plentiful perch, pike, walleye and bass
waiting to be caught. Or hunt for ducks,
small game, deer and bear in season.
Lake View Resort on Drummond Island boasts 275
feet of waterfront along with 200+ feet of crib dock and
dredged slips overlooking some of the best fishing, boat-
ing and paddling waters in the UP! Cement boat ramp
on-site.
Locally owned and operated for 47 years! The owners
attention to detail shows in the local art showcased in
every cabin, along with the beautiful landscaping lov- Contact:
ingly maintained throughout the property. Large area of
undeveloped land on the upper level for expansion.
Steve & Karen Kemppainen
32033 E Tourist Rd
This is a great property for large family retreats, fish and/ Drummond Island MI 49726
906-493-5241
or hunt camps or the perfect setting for group retreats/
association. Roam 1.62 acres!
 WEST BRANCH HALE WEST BRANCH
R S ALE R S ALE
M-33/M-55 OFFICE F O OFFICE F O LOOP OFFICE
1953 S. M-33 3160 North M-65 2575 S. I-75 Business Loop,
West Branch, MI 48661 Hale, MI48739 West Branch, MI 48661
10 miles north of I-75 exit 202 Gateway to Huron National Forest 1 mile north of I-75 Exit 212

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

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

WATERFRONT HOMES

BORDERS STATE LAND!!
3-bedroom, 1.7 bath lakefront home built in 07 on TRANQUIL HELMER
LAKE! Open floor plan, partly finished basement, wood stove, knotty pine
cathedral ceilings, covered deck and patio area, AC, family room & more.
Excellent year round home with beautiful views and 64 of water frontage!!
$154,900 1833744
SILVER CREEK FRONTAGE!!
Affordable weekend or vacation getaway or cozy year round 2 bedroom
home. Sits on 1.5 PARTLY WOODED ACRES with trails and nice views.
The 24x30 garage for storage has a metal roof and lean to. Located in
excellent recreational area and not far from many lakes and State land!!
$39,900 1833833
WATERFRONT CHALET!!
77 of frontage on all sports LAKE OGEMAW, 3-bedroom, 1.7 bath, stain-
less steel appliances, like new counter tops and cupboards, wet bar, work-
shop, spacious deck, covered patio, balcony, recently painted garage,
deep lot with some landscaping, fantastic views and gentle slope to water!!
$159,900 1833645
PENINSULA ON DEAD END ROAD!!
3-bedroom home on all sports LAKE OGEMAW has views galore, AC,
open floor plan, wood stove, appliances, full walkout basement, 4 car
garage, roadside carport, side deck, front covered and uncovered patio
areas, lakeside 3 season room, boat dock, some furnishings & more!!
$269,900 1834261
UNIQUE LAKEFRONT PROPERTY!!
Spacious 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath home on full basement w/garage plus
COZY 2 BEDROOM GUEST COTTAGE! 130 feet of water frontage on
WEST TWIN LAKE, fantastic views, most furnishings to stay and large
screened porches on both homes!! This is definitely a must see property!!
$279,000 1833785

WATERFRONT HOME LEVEL TO LAKE!!
Spacious 4-bedroom home with 86 of frontage has appliances, wood
floors, FP, updated bath, AC, family room, newer roof, paved driveway
and garage. The covered lakeside porch runs the entire length of the
home and offers beautiful views of private ALL SPORTS LAKE OGEMAW!!
$279,900 1833767
SPECTACULAR VIEWS!!
3-bedroom, 1.7 bath home on two level lots with 100 feet of sandy frontage
on 471 acre ALL SPORTS LOON LAKE!! Fantastic covered deck to savor
the beautiful views, detached garage with electric and work bench area &
just over a half acre of property!! Super nice waterfront year round home!!
$179,900 1818975
SUPER NICE SUBDIVISION!!
2-bdrm home with 178 feet of frontage on all sports, private FOREST
LAKE!! Full walkout basement, open floor plan, a bath on each floor, central
air, skylights, appliances and garage. Subd has so many great qualities in-
cluding security, beautiful common areas, sandy beaches and boat docks!!
$160,000 1811285
BEAUTIFUL CAPE COD RIVERFRONT!!
3-bdrm, 2.5 bath home on 8.8 ACRES with 1170 feet of frontage on
the gorgeous Au Gres River!! Home has hardwood floors, fireplace,
central air & so much more! There is also a heated garage w/upstairs
& two sheds, a fenced area & extensive decking with fantastic views!!
$285,000 1798150
PRIVATE LAKE!!
Nice waterfront home on FOUR LOTS with frontage on FEEDING GROUNDS
LAKE!! Newer furnace, open floor plan, fireplace, heated sunroom and beauti-
ful views!! Home sits on 2 partly wooded lakefront lots and there is a garage on
2 additional lots. Great year round residence or spacious getaway!!
$97,900 1830216

ALL SPORTS LAKE!! SOUTH DEASE LAKE!!
Beautiful 4-bdrm lakefront home with frontage on HENDERSON LAKE!! Cute 2-bdrm home with frontage on all sports 269 acres lake!! 56 feet of
Full walkout basement, lots of windows for natural light and fantastic views, water frontage, large back deck with beautiful views, fenced yard, arte-
large deck for enjoying the outdoors and views, a garage with electric for sian well, fire pit, 8x14 storage shed and a dock for your boat. This home
storing your Up North toys, a shed at the waters edge & a boat dock!! would make an excellent year round residence or super nice getaway!!
$174,900 1829140 $119,000 1829341
RIFLE LAKE WATERFRONT HOME!!
3-bdrm home with tons of charm on 1.53 PARTLY WOODED ACRES!!
100 feet on all sports 183 acre lake, 3 season porch, fireplace, knotty
pine interior for that Up North feel & mostly furnished! There is also a
garage, 2 decks, incl one at waters edge & a boat dock and boat lift!!
$169,900 1832417
POPULAR LAKE OGEMAW!!
You will relay enjoy relaxing on your own sandy beach on this all sports lake
and 90 feet of water frontage!! Move in ready with some appliances and
furnishings. There is also 2 garages for lots of storage, a deck and a porch
for enjoying the outdoors, a blacktop drive, boat dock and much more!!
$169,900 1825235
ELBOW LAKE WATERFRONT!!
Nice 3-bdrm ranch style home on channel to all sports ELBOW LAKE!!
Lots of great amenities including large kitchen with convenient island,
pantry and breakfast nook, garden tub, walk-in closet, detached garage,
wrap-around deck, beautiful views, an ACRE of property & a pond!!
$157,000 1810533

HOMES ON LOTS AND ACREAGE

NESTLED ON 1.45 ACRES!!
Nice 3-bedroom, 2 full bath home and attached finished garage. Built in
2004, well-maintained, move-in ready, appliances, full walkout basement
plumbed for another bath, front and rear decks, beautiful views, and not
far from town for shopping and restaurants and also near State land!!
$164,900 1833813
BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM BUILT!!
Spacious 3-bedroom, 3 bath home ON 10 ACRES and full finished walkout
basement, family room, office/4th bedroom or den, newer metal roofs on
home and 38x40 garage, fantastic kitchen w/snack bar, main floor laundry,
wrap-around decking with great views & trails thru-out property!!
$219,000 1834486
ALL SPORTS GEORGE LAKE!!
Cozy 2-bedroom cottage with access to 186 acre lake, 17x7 sunroom
for relaxing, loft area for your guests to sleep, garage on separate lot for
your Up North toys and in great recreational area. Needs some TLC
& fixing up, but would make an excellent vacation/weekend getaway!!
$47,000 1833419
21.9 ACRES!!
4-bedroom well-maintained home nestled in the woods with 3000 square feet,
2.5 baths, FP, newer windows, AC, knotty pine interior, master suite, mud
room, family room with 2nd fireplace, deck with great views, heated garage &
access to MORRIS LAKE!! This property has it all and is a definite must see!!
$299,000 1833576
70+ ACRES!!
Fantastic hunting property with lots of wildlife in the area, a pond and 30x40
barn style outbuilding for storage. Home has 3 bedrooms, some appliances
and furnishings and 1200 square feet of living space. This is the perfect
place for the nature enthusiast or excellent spot for your hunt camp!!
$249,900 1816928

GORGEOUS COUNTRYSIDE LIVING!!
Spacious 5-bdrm home, full finished basement, open floor plan, modern
kitchen with eating area and pantry, built-in bookcases, convenient mud
room, cathedral ceilings, family room, large closets in all bedrooms,
bonus 18x12 storage room, deck, oversized garage & 32x52 barn!!
$199,900 1832736
SECLUDED FOR PRIVACY!!
Large 4-bdrm, 2.5 bath home on 3.3 PARTLY WOODED ACRES!! Open
floor plan, tongue and groove ceilings, full walkout basement, family room,
work area, ceramic tile floors, kitchen with some appliances & island, formal
dining, carport plus detached garage for your vehicles and blacktop drive!!
$189,000 1832169
LAKEFRONT LOT INCLUDED!!
You will enjoy private access to no motor FAWN LAKE with this super
nice 3-bdrm home with oversized garage. Move-in ready on 2 lots with
great amenities including laminate and tile floors, central air and beautiful
custom oak cabinetry. You can walk to lakefront lot just down the road!!
$175,000 1832940
SECLUDED HUNTING CABIN!!
2-bdrm cottage that is the perfect spot to have your hunt camp nestled among
18 WOODED ACRES and ADJACENT TO STATE LAND!! Some appliances,
wood heat, propane lights, gravity tank, excellent hunting and a great variety
of wildlife in the area. Awesome rustic spot for your hunt camp!!
$64,900 1805656
OVER AN ACRE OF PROPERTY!!
Large 4-bdrm home, full partly finished basement with newer wood floor-
ing and newer roof in 2016. 2 car garage plus a shed for additional stor-
age, nicely landscaped, and a nice deck for enjoying the outdoors and
views. Nice rural setting yet not far from town for shopping & restaurants!!
$154,900 1830864

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

FOR MORE LISTINGS

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.CAHANES.COM
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 105
 WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES!

ALL OFFERS WELCOME!!!

Offices Serving Lower &
EXECUTIVE WATER FRONT HOME ON LAKE HURON

WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES! WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES!

WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES! WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES!
CANADIAN WATERFRONT AND FOR SALE: This four bedroom home is situated less than

Upper Michigan
RECREATIONAL PROPERTY. 30 miles from the US/Canadian border in a private country
CLOSE TO SAULT STE. MARIE, setting, in a quiet bay. The lot is 200x750. Home totally
MICHIGAN BORDER remodeled. This property has unequaled sunsets facing

Bringing people and places together since 1945 *LAND CONTRACTS southwest with deep water for pleasure craft boating on
Lake Huron in the North Channel. $999,900.00 US.
AVAILABLE O.A.C.*
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TODAY! EXCLUSIVE LAKE HURON WATERFRONT & WATER-
BEAR GOOSE VIEW ESTATE LOTS LOCATED IN THESSALON,
statewiderealestate.net DUCK MOOSE ONTARIO 50 MILES EAST OF SAULT STE. MARIE,
WOLF WHITETAIL ONTARIO ON HIGHWAY 17 EAST: Lighthouse Point
serviced with hydro, telephone, sewer, water, gas, cable on
BEAR SEASON OPENS AUG. 15TH paved street. Airport, marina and hospital in area. No
Houghton
AND GOOSE SEPT. 1ST time limit for building. Waterfront lots 100 478 frontage, water-
view lots 80 frontage. Prices from $11,900.00 US and up.
Marquette OTHER PROPERTIES AVAILABLE!
Newberry
Curtis TROPHY DEER & BEAR AREA 160 ACRES: Tower road property. Well Treed, hunting and
Iron Mountain Manistique WITH GREAT FISHING!!! recreation property. Two miles off year-round maintained
road. 25 mins East of Sault, Ontario. $69,900 US.
Gladstone NO GUIDE OR
Escanaba Onaway OUTFITTER REQUIRED!
Powers Hawks
MACDONALD PROPERTY: 759 acres with hunting camp,
Menominee Hillman Don't Be Shy, Make An Offer. 25 miles east of Sault St. Marie Ontario, property is gated,
Alpena LOOKING FOR OFFERS!!! isolated and wooded, with a four bedroom, two-story pole
Marinette
Atlanta
Mio Harrisville DESBARATS LAKE AND RIVER PROPERTY: This 5.5 barn. 20-acre lake and 2 streams. Great Bear Hunting!
acres is on a year-round road with power. Only minutes Two Deer plots! Five deeds, no guide required, under-
from the Village of Desbarats which is 35 miles east of priced at $259,900 US. Terms available, excellent buy!
Sault, Ontario. Great Walleye and Northern Pike fishing TWO 10 ACRE SAND BEACH LOTS (these lots have it
Skidway Lake
and good Whitetail hunting. Asking price is $24,900 US.
all): 60 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie each lot has 300
400 ACRES OF ROLLING HARD-AND SOFTWOOD frontage on Bright Lake near highway 17 East (lake area
HILLS: Large beaver pond and creek runs thru property, approx. 24 square miles), year round access with power to
Almont next to above property if more acreage is required. property. This inland lake has perch, bass, walleye and
Property is great for bear hunting, white tail and grouse. northern pike. Priced to sell at $99,900.00 US (lot #2) and
Linden
Four miles off year-round maintained road. $124,900 US. $109,900.00 US (lot #3).
Howell

LAJAMBE OFFICE: (705) 248-9663 CELL: (705) 941-8355

FAX: (705) 248-1110

ENTERPRISESINC. Frank Lajambe

Contact Your Nearest State Wide Real

flajambe@lajambe.com
715 Finns Bay Road www.lajambe.com
Echo Bay, Ontario CAN POS 1C0
Estate Office To Buy or Sell In Michigan WOW CHECK THIS OUT! DISCOUNTED PRICES!
*Prices subject to change.

ALPENA HILLMAN MARQUETTE

1100 W. Chisholm, 49707 14938 State Street, P.O. Box 98, 49746 856 W. Washington, 49855
email: alpswre@speednetllc.com
989-356-2142 Fax: 989-356-2144
email: statewidehillman@yahoo.com
989-742-4523 800-228-7856
email: sw@statewiderealestate.org
906-228-9312 Fax: 906-228-8069
Luxury
Luxury Recreational
Recreational Property
Property
Fax: 989-742-3931
184 acres in Gaylord, Michigan
184 acres in Gaylord, Michigan
ALMONT
MENOMINEE 184
184 acres
acres in
in Gaylord,
Gaylord, Michigan
Michigan
3631 10th Street, 49858
844 Van Dyke Road
HuntHunting
FishLake Frontage Golf
HOUGHTON
lafrancesharon@yahoo.com 500 Shelden Ave., 49931
email: statewideone@newbc.rr.com
906-863-9905 Hunting
Hunting Golf
Lake
Lake Guest
Frontage
Frontage House
Golf
Golf
810-798-8591 Fax: 810-798-8079 email: dick@statewideofhoughton.com Guest House Pole Barn Heated Blinds
906-482-6955 800-676-6323 Fax: 906-863-7935 Pole
GuestBarn
Guest HouseSnowmobile
House Pole
Pole Barn Skiing
Barn Heated
Heated Blinds
Blinds
Fax: 906-482-7699
CURTIS/NEWBERRY MIO
Main Street, P.O. Box 305, 49820 102 West 8th St., P.O. Box 395, 48647
email: swcurtis@sbcglobal.net email: info@statewidemio.com
906-586-9606 Fax: 906-586-9607 HOWELL/LINDEN 989-826-3292
1285 S. Michigan Ave., Howell, MI 48843
email: statewid@earthlink.net Fax: 989-826-2108
ESCANABA 517-546-9060 800-531-4449
2209 Ludington Street, 49829 Fax: 517-546-9148 ONAWAY
email: escanaba@statewiderealestate.net M-33 & M-68,
906-786-1308 800-900-0777 P.O. Box 478, 49765
Fax: 906-786-1388 IRON MOUNTAIN
231 East A. St. email: bigdan@frontier.com
Iron Mountain, MI 49807 989-733-6522
Fax: 989-733-2427 Cor
GLADSTONE 906-828-2525 por Great
1401 Delta Ave., Fax: 906-828-2727 ate
Ret
Gladstone, MI 49837 email: steve@multistatewide.com reat
POWERS !
906-825-9000
email: judy@statewiderealestate.net W3776 US2 & 41, 49874
MANISTIQUE 906-497-4190
10 N. State Highway M-149 Fax: 906-497-5328
HARRISVILLE
430 S. US-23, 48740 Cooks, MI 49817 holly@statewiderealestate.net
email: sold@anjstatewide.com 906-644-2304
989-724-5711 800-655-5735 email: dekeysermary@yahoo.com
Fax: 989-724-6833 SKIDWAY LAKE
2228 Greenwood Rd.,
Visit www.tedschweitzer.com
Visit www.tedschweitzer.com to learn
learn more.
HAWKS MARINETTE, WISCONSIN Prescott, 48756 Visit www.tedschweitzer.com to
to learn more.
more.
8383 Hwy. 451, 49743 1460 Marinette Ave., 54143 email: atlas@m33access.com
email: statewidemarinette@yahoo.com 989-873-3601 Ted www.tedschweitzer.com
Ted
Visit Schweitzer
Schweitzer to learn more.
email: rita8383@yahoo.com
989-734-4846 715-735-9964 Fax: 715-732-1107 Fax: 989-873-6914
Ted Schweitzer
Call or Text: (231) 645-5656
Call
Call or
or Text:
Text: (231)
(231) 645-5656
645-5656
Ted Schweitzer
E-mail:
E-mail: ted@tedschweitzer.com
ted@tedschweitzer.com
E-mail: ted@tedschweitzer.com
106 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS Call or Text: (231) 645-5656
 Recreational Property Leaders 12 Wooded Acres
List and Buy with the Experts with Chalet-Style Home
Stunning 360 degree view from

www.TrophyClassRealEstate.com
decks and balconies will captivate
you in this 3000sq ft 3 Bed/3 Bath
2002 home. Features include

877-843-0910 knotty pine and cedar finish

interior throughout, rustic maple
kitchen cabinetry, granite counter
tops, cathedral ceiling with open
floor plan. Fantastic views of Lake
Michigan & Portage Lake. 3 Car
attached garage, upstairs loft/
sitting area for outside viewing
and master suite also has outdoor
balcony. Additionally, grocery
70 Acres with waiter between floors, new HE
Pristine A- Frame Cabin furnace, established & fenced
Excellent hunting history, mix of garden, deer food plots, 12 x 20
hardwoods & pines, open areas, ft. (double door) shed, 31 x 14 ft
wetlands. 3 bed/1 bath cabin/ walk-up over garage attic, very
home can service you all year large finished basement/rec. room.
long! Private setting!
OSCEOLA COUNTY MANISTEE COUNTY
$169,900 $443,200

First Lake Frontage 34 Acres and Pere 10 Acres on

& Tidy Home Marquette River Strawberry Lake
2 Bed/1 Bath immaculate Frontage! with Classy Home
home, stunning views, All worlds come together Solid home with 5 bed/3 baths,
access to 4 other lakes, river front, wooded property, 453 of lake frontage, wooded
beautiful property, garage,
spacious deck, w/o LL. Make diverse foliage and terrain. acreage surrounded by Pere
it turn-key as furnishings are This is a definite jewel that Marquette Forest. Hunt, fish,
available to purchase. attracts deer and small game! mushroom hunt & more!
MONTCALM MASON OSCEOLA
COUNTY COUNTY COUNTY
$119,900 $150,000 $399,000

78 Acres Rare 155 on Lake of Oxbow Lake with

offering in this area! the Woods with Contemporary Home!
Be ready for next hunting great house! Quiet, private wooded setting
season! Wooded, food Quiet channel living on Lake with 3 bed/1 bath home on
plots, trails, elevated blinds of the Woods (289 Acres All- nearly 2 Acres. 24x36 Garage,
throughout and small Sports). 3 Bed/2baths, 2-1/2 1 car pull-thru garage. Extra
bunkhouse. Trail cam shows car garage, open floor plan, Well, fish cleaning station.
lots of activity! dock/jetski lifts. A great offering! Fantastic Value!!
MUSKEGON VAN BUREN LAKE COUNTY
COUNTY COUNTY $159,900
$163,000 $199,000

21.64 acres & 655 19 Acres High Producing 10 Acres with

of private Lake Blueberry Property Stunning Log Home
Huron Frontage!! 28x38 building provides dry Allegan County Forest on 3
You will relax in this peaceful and quiet storage. Freshwater well, sides, 2 bed/3 bath, 3-car
bay setting. Let the rolling waves of pond, diesel water pump, garage, stone fireplace, rec
Lake Huron lull you to sleep. The cedar
overhead irrigation, local room, hobby room, energy
and pine trees provide a pleasant UP
North aroma and offer much privacy. management available. Land efficient and supremely built.
Near marina and historic lighthouse. Contract possible. Hunt whitetails & turkey. Come
home to a grand style of living!
PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY VAN BUREN COUNTY
$335,000 $159,000 ALLEGAN COUNTY
#1831541 $375,000

24 Acres in Empire 22 Wooded Acres 40 Acre Off the

Township! with Spacious Home Grid Hunting Camp
Rolling topography, mix of Private rolling grounds to Cabin with generator, LP
hardwoods and evergreens. hunt, 4 bed/4 bath, 3 car system, well/septic, 2 wood
Fronts Empire Hwy & garage, 30x40 pole barn. stoves. Sleeps 14, adjoins state
Kitlinger Rd. Enjoy nearby Commercial bldg w/ 10x20 land for hunting, grouse, deer
Sleeping Bear Dunes and bear. Shed/workshop. Near
billboard faces US 27. Unique
ATV snow trails and Fox River.
National Lakeshore and the Property with Multiple uses!
quaint town of Empire! SCHOOLCRAFT
CLARE
LEELANAU $288,500 COUNTY
$89,900 $89,500

GRAND HAVEN TRAVERSE CITY

233 WASHINGTON, SUITE 202 4249 US 31 S
GRAND HAVEN, MI 49417 TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49685
(877) 843-0910 (231) 233-3575
WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 107
 Your Dream Come True!! Amazing Family, Deer Hunting &
SANILAC COUNTY, MI
Custom built Post & Beam House Snowmobiling Retreat on 80 Acres
2 story home - 4 bdrm., 3 bath
Gorgeous front porch and very large back deck over 2700 sq.
feet finished loft over garage
250 sq. ft finished basement -stunning design, MUST SEE
40x64 Horse Barn -w/heated room, water, and bathroom
24 X 40 Pole Barn
50 Acres w/ Large Pond
15 acres tillable and tiled -Great for Organic Farm land
Fenced in Heated in ground pool w/large deck
EXCELLENT HUNTING GROUND MASON COUNTY

Osentoski 528 State St, Caro, Michigan 48723 All Wooded with 3BD/2BTH Cabin, 10ft. Basement, Poured and

616-437-7176
Office: (989)673-7777 Concrete Overhead Door with
Realty Fax: (989)673-7800 Walkout. Sheridan Township.
Tavis Osentoski (989) 551-2010 Asking $289,000

Nancy L. Fritz BUYING OR SELLING?

nancy@nancyfritz.com You cant make a better choice than us!
www.nancyfritz.com www.stoneycreekoutdoors.com
Attention Hunters! 103 breathtaking acres full of wildlife! Includes deer Eaton County
blinds, a beaver pond & trails! Corner parcel, no close neighbors! Owner will Eaton County-100 Acres
look at all offers! Millington Twp, Millington MI $209,900 465+/- Acres with custom built log home
This is one of those properties that There are irregular shaped
Private lake & 8.78 wooded acres! Great fishing, swimming, snowmo- doesnt come along very often. fields for food plots. All this
biling, hiking and hunting! Gorgeous rolling acreage, Otisville MI $74,400 How would you like to own 465
acres of deer hunting paradise!! $2,500,000 make for a pretty nice set up
for all types of hunting. $575,000
209 Acre All Sports Murphy Lake Frontage! 2.49 wooded acres APR ZONE!! Missaukee County Clinton County Waterfront
w/80frontage! No close neighbors, the entire East shore of the lake is State 123 Acres with Log Home Vacant Land-67.76 Acres
J. McLeod
Land, wildlife galore! Terms Available. Millington Twp, MI $174,900 Are you looking to start a northern This is a great recreational piece of ground that you dont see come
Michigan deer camp in the Antler around very often. I have personally fished and waterfowl hunted on
Hunt from your front porch! 8.4 Wooded acres! Wildlife galore! Property Point Restriction zone? This area is
$374,900 this piece and both are pretty good.
$249,900
Realty Inc.
touches State Land! Completely updated 2 bedroom home! 3931 Oak Rd, the new big buck zone of Michigan.
Vassar, MI $117,900 MORE AVAILABLE PROPERTIES ON OUR WEBSITE!
400 of frontage on All Sports Murphy Lake! Gorgeous 3 bdrm, 2
Millington
Brokered By:
Stoney Creek
bath home w/2 car gar & 24x28 pole barn! Nice patio at waters edge where Outdoor Properties, LLC WEICHERT, REALTORS

989.871.4567
Property Mart Southgate Plaza
you can dock your boat for easy access to summer fun! 7762 Osborne Drive, St. Johns, MI 48879 800 S. BR 127
Millington, MI Cell: (517) 819-6344 St. Johns, Michigan 48879-1649

ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY!

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

Looking for Affordable Vacation Property? LAND CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE

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

108 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS

 3 Bdrm, 1 bth home. 240 Acres. Built 2005. 3 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. 78 Acres adjoins State land. 1 Bdrm, 0 Bths, Camp. 125 Escanaba River. 42
1200 Sq. Ft., fireplace, gar, sauna, trails. Rock. Power on site. Two power ponds. Shed. Stonington. Plus Acres for hunting and recreation. Cornell.
$399,000 1090655 $95,000 1101570 $114,900 1101607

THOUSANDS OF 1 Bdrm, 1 bth, garage w/loft. 194 Ft on Little

Bay de Noc. Stonington.
1 Bdrm, 1 bth cottage. Gorgeous sand beach.
Swimming! Small cottage. Stonington.
2 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. 18 Acres.
2 Car gar with deer blinds. Ensign.
ACRES AVAILABLE $109,000 1102049 $129,900 1102261 $55,900 1097355
FROM $5200 TO $526,200.
Escanaba
2209 Ludington Street
(906) 786-1308
1 Bdrm camp. 40 Acres. Nice high ground. 2 Bdrm, 0.25 bth Camp. 80 Acres, Wilson 2 Bdrm, 1 bth A-Frame. Lake front Chalet,
Great hunting. Well built. Perkins. Creek, well, power, trails, pristine. Powers. great fishing and boating. Manistique.
Powers $84,900 1101098 $129,000 1100747 $150,000 1101361
W3776 US 2 & 41
(906) 497-4190

Gladstone
1401 Delta Ave.
(906) 825-9000
1 Bdrm, 1 bth cozy cottage near Stevens
2 Bdrm, 1 bth, 22 acres. Cabin built in 2010. Hard- Lake. Elec. Generator included. Deck. Cozy 1 bdrm camp on 4.2 acres. Electricity.
wood Impoundment frtg. Great fishing. Hardwood. Gar. Wetmore. Outbldgs. Furnishings included. Stonington
$89,000 1094330 $64,000 1102479 $41,000 1099277

Heritage Exclusive Marketing Agents for Northeast

House Michigan Properties
RealtyPC Located in the Heart of the Huron National Forest, on the Shores of
Personalized Service is the Difference Lake Huron and the banks of the AuSable River
405 E Church, Harrisville 4265 North Lake, Glennie
1750 sf, four bed, 2 bath 1600 sf, 3 bed, 2 bath
Victorian right in downtown Manufactured with large Pole
Harrisville. Own a piece of Barn and spacious deck
history with this move in overlooking 150+ feet on
ready classic. Reduced North Lake this place is
$119,900. For More perfect to relax. Newly listed
complete Information Text $189,900 For More
R306384 to 52187 Information Text R40412 to
52187

4082 W Lake St, Glennie. AuSable River Frontage

800 sf, 2 bed, 1 bath Log 1300 sf, 4 bed, 1.5 bath Dam
Cabin with 100 feet on Keepers Home with 160 feet
Vaughn Lake. Does need on the river. Canoe/Kayak
some TLC, you can make right out your front door and
this your hidden Gem. New a 2-car garage to store
listing $79,900 For More everything in. Newly Listed
One of northeast Michigans premier resorts located Information Text R340005 to $132,500 For More
52187 Information text R363856 to
on 300 feet of Lake Huron sugar sand beach, half 52187
way between Oscoda and Greenbush. Includes 16
cottages with one or two bedrooms, 8 luxury beach Hunting Camp, Hillman Lake Shore Dr, Glennie
front suites, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom owners or 1700 sf, 4 bed, 2 bath with 820 sf, 2 bed, 1 bath with 50
managers home, recreation building, onsite laundry several other structures feet on North Lake. Enjoy
perfect the entire family the view from the finished
facilities, playground and paved parking. This nicely
hunting trips. Just over 9 Sun Room or sit out on the
wooded site is over 463 feet deep. Great rental acres with Millers Creek waterside deck. $139,900
history with several repeat clientele. The lakefront running through. Will need For More Information Text
luxury suites include deluxe furnishings and dcor some TLC, being sold AS-IS R332823 to 52187
similar to some of the finest Bed and Breakfast New $60,000
homes. Each with their own wet bar, king size bed
and oversize whirlpool tub. Cottages feature knotty 7161 E Trails End Jewel Lk Rd, Barton City
pine interiors, full bathrooms, separate heating, 3 Bed 1 Bath 1000+ sf with 1000 sf, 2 bed, 1 bath with
cable television, internet, and complete furnishings 800+ ft on Au Sable River. 50 gorgeous feet on Jewel
right down to the silverware. Social Hall for family 20+ acres with Guest House Lake. Fully remodeled with
gatherings can accommodate 110 guests. This is an and Detached Garage. So Loft bedroom without losing
much to enjoy and so much the rustic feeling. $140,000
active turn key business opportunity that only more to see. $190,000 For More Information Text
comes around once in a lifetime. Priced to sell with For More Information Text R303406 to 52187
owner financing available to qualified buyers. R213446 to 52187

Call 800-650-5566 - Glennie or 800-982-0102 - Harrisville - www.HeritageHouseRealty.com

WNW NEWS AUGUST 2017 109
 DAN DAN LOG CABIN
FURNITURE
THEMATTRESSMAN.COM
WHOLESALE TO THE PUBLIC CHECK
US OUT
ON THE
WEB!

Queen Size Log Headboard $

7500
Queen Log Bed $19999
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199
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THEMATTRESSMAN.COM 802 ASHMAN ST., MIDLAND
110 AUGUST 2017 WNW NEWS
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