Liberalized Hunting Season Proves Success of Elk Project

When Kentucky wildlife officials released a handful of elk in the eastern mountains in 1997 to kick off an ambitious, long-term restoration project, its success was anything but certain. At the time only two states east of the Mississippi River had established free-ranging elk herds: Pennsylvania had a few hundred elk and Michigan about 3,000.
But John Phillips was thinking big. Then the deer program coordinator and large-animal specialist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, he became the agency's elk specialist by default and was one of the architects of the restoration program that has soared beyond anyone's expectations.
During the early years a couple thousand elk were transported from several Western states to Eastern Kentucky. They quickly adapted to the rich habitat, and the herd has grown to about 9,000.
As a result, the Fish and Wildlife Commission recently voted to increase the number of elk tags offered for the 2009-10 hunting season to 1,000, including 250 bull tags. This year 400 tags were available. Ten were offered in 2001, the first year of legal hunting.
Phillips foresaw the day when 1,000 permits would be available. He just didn't see it happening so quickly.
"No, I didn't see (the herd) doing this well this soon," said Phillips, who is now retired from the state agency and serves as executive director of Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry. "It is just growing much faster then we thought it would. I thought the commission would be able to offer that many tags. I just thought it would take longer."
Elk tags are allotted in a drawing. The nonrefundable application fee is $10 for residents and nonresidents. Hunter who are drawn are required to buy an elk tag ($30 resident, $365 nonresident).
Nearly 34,000 hunters entered the lottery in 2008. Phillips was one of them. Like most who applied, he's still waiting.
"I hope I'm drawn next year," he said.

The commission also approved a special youth elk hunt for Sept. 26-28 at the Paul Van Booven Wildlife Management Area. Five either-sex elk permits will be available to hunters 15 and younger. Application dates will be April 1-30, and the $10 fee will apply.
Youth hunters also can apply for the regular elk lottery. The deadline is April 30. Apply at http://www.fw.ky.gov/ or where licenses are sold.

Winter Wildlife

Wildlife adds significantly to the thrill of winter recreation. Winter sports lead to remote areas where sportsmen are often gifted with prime views of seldom-seen birds and animals.
Unfortunately, sports enthusiasts can harm or even kill the animals they observe, simply by their interest. Coming closer to an animal to see it better usually causes an animal to run. This, in turn, uses up valuable energy and fat in the season when food is scarce and the animal needs to rest to survive. Fat is needed for metabolic fuel and to sustain body temperature in extreme cold. Unnecessary movement caused by escape from a predator in wintertime, or the fear generated by a human disturbance, speeds the loss of fat reserves and decreases the chances of an animal's survival.
Remember: Be sensitive to the needs of animals.

Stop and go around them or wait for them to move. Avoid close contact with wildlife.

Minimize noise.
Help animals conserve their food supply.

Avoid damaging brush, trees and grass.

Little nutritional food is available in the dormancy of winter.
Respect wildlife's privacy.

Stay on established routes or trails.

View birds and animals from a distance.

Americans Love Bison, but Don't Know the Risks They Face

Americans are out of touch with the fact that the American bison, or buffalo, is in trouble as a wild species, but they do love them as an important symbol of their country, and as a meal on the dinner table.

These views were expressed in a public survey released by the Wildlife Conservation Society at a national conference on restoring bison populations in North America held last week in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The survey is part of an effort spearheaded by the American Bison Society, which is a program of the Wildlife Conservation Society, based at New York's Bronx Zoo.

The American Bison Society aims to achieve ecological restoration in the next 100 years by encouraging government agencies, conservation groups, ranchers, and others to do all they can to restore the bison's ecological role as an important species.


The national survey asked 2,000 Americans more than 50 questions about bison to gage public awareness about this iconic species, as conservationists grapple with how to best restore populations to the American West and elsewhere.

The survey showed that fewer than 10 percent understood how many bison remain in the United States.


American bison (Photo © Julie Larsen Maher courtesy Wildlife Conservation Society)
More than 74 percent of those surveyed believe that bison are an extremely important living symbol of the American West, and more than half view the bison as emblematic as a symbol of America as whole.

Before European settlers arrived in North America, at least 30 million bison are estimated to have roamed the Great Plains and grasslands from Alaska to Mexico. Bison dominated the prairies for nearly 10,000 years, shaping the land with their grazing patterns and migrations.

They were wiped out by commercial hunting and habitat loss that resulted from the settlers' westward expansion.

While an estimated 500,000 bison remain in the United States, most of those animals live on private ranches, with only about 9,000 plains bison considered free-ranging in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. An additional 7,000 free-ranging wood bison live in Canada.

Today, the genetically purest descendants of those wild bison are the targets of a government campaign that has slaughtered over 5,000 wild bison since 1985. Domestic cattle have encroached into the bison's native range, which raises the specter of disease transmission from bison to cattle. Despite the fact that there has not been one case of Brucella abortus transmission from wild bison to cattle, bison are not tolerated outside Yellowstone National Park by Montana's livestock industry and the state and federal agencies that back them.

The National Park Service, U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Montana Department of Livestock permit and participate in the killing of American bison within and migrating from Yellowstone National Park.

Yet the Yellowstone population, unlike most other bison populations held in the public trust, are genetically pure Bison bison, unmixed with cattle breeds.

"The results of this survey clearly show that the American public wants more to be done to restore the bison," said Dr. Kent Redford of the Wildlife Conservation Society. "We know it will take decades of strategic planning and a wide group of stakeholders will need to take appropriate action."

Wildlife Conservation Society is calling on the federal government to better coordinate management of bison across federal agencies, take down barriers to the production and sale of ecologically raised bison meat, and work with Canada and Mexico on bison management.

Progress is already being made, Redford said. For example, last month, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced an initiative that will work with state, tribal and agricultural interests to strengthen bison conservation efforts to help bison recover and thrive.

Forty percent of survey respondents said that they have tried eating bison and 83 percent of those said it tastes as good or better than beef.

Redford said, "The survey also showed that one road to bison conservation may be a pragmatic, market-based approach, namely to grow sustainable markets for wild, free-ranging bison meat."

The three-day conference entitled "Building blocks for bison ecological restoration," was co-sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society, American Prairie Foundation, Linden Trust for Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, Safari Club International, and World Wildlife Fund.

The conference was attended by more than 100 participants and covered all aspects of bison ecological restoration. It was attended by representatives from U.S. federal, state and Canadian agencies, private ranchers, and indigenous groups.

Ecological restoration will likely take a century, says the Wildlife Conservation Society, and will only be realized through collaboration with a broad range of public, private and indigenous partners.

Ecological restoration of North American bison would occur when large herds of plains and wood bison can move freely across extensive landscapes within all major habitats of their historic ranges, said Redford. It would include bison interacting with the fullest possible set of other native species, as well as inspiring, sustaining and connecting human cultures.


Wood Bison Reintroduced to Alaska to Conserve the Species

Fifty-three wood bison were transported from Elk Island National Park, Alberta, to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) in June, 2008. This is an occasion to celebrate as it has taken nearly 15 years to bring wood bison across the national border. State, federal and private partners are collectively working to restore wood bison populations in their historical range within Alaska’s interior.

Radiocarbon dating and paleontological records show that wood bison were present in Alaska for more than 400,000 years, but disappeared from the Alaskan landscape nearly 200 years ago. Wood bison numbers declined to less than 1000 animals in Canada by 1900. Wood bison were listed as endangered by both Canada and the United States when legislation was passed to create an endangered species list.

Today, over 4,000 wood bison range in healthy free-ranging herds in Canada. Wood bison have been down-listed to threatened under the Canadian Species at Risk Act. To help ensure their long term survival, the Canadian Wood Bison National Recovery Plan recommends reestablishing one or more populations in Alaska to help secure the future of the subspecies.

The movement of animals to Alaska is only the first step to free-ranging populations of wood bison. When bison stepped foot onto US soil, they walked into a two year quarantine at the AWCC facility. All animals received rigorous USDA disease screening and have met health certification requirements prior to their relocation. Their health will continue to be monitored until federal and state veterinarians approve their release.

The state of Alaska has conducted habitat assessments and identified three areas that are suitable to sustain a population of 400 or more wood bison. These areas include Minto Flats, Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, and the Lower Innoko/Yukon River area. While bison are under quarantine, preparations will continue to l be made to release the wood bison into one of these areas and continue the restoration of a free-ranging herd of wood bison in Alaska.

Additional conservation benefits include ensuring the genetic integrity of the subspecies and enhancing Alaska’s biodiversity within the interior grasslands. If the conservation effort is a success, a number of socio-economic benefits should also be realized, such as wildlife viewing and tourism, subsistence use, and hunting.

The SCI Foundation, SCI Kenai Peninsula Chapter, and the SCI Alaska Chapter have been central to funding the maintenance of bison while in holding in Alberta, disease testing, construction of the AWCC holding facility and hay barn, and assisting with the regulatory processes necessary to move this rare species into the United States.

Safari Club International Foundation’s Sensory Safari to visit the 2009 Annual Hunters’ Convention

Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) will bring the Sensory Safari, its most interactive exhibition and one of its top education programs, to students of the Washoe County School District of Reno, NV throughout SCI’s 2009 Annual Hunters’ Convention. SCIF’s Sensory Safari Trailer is a hands-on mobile exhibition with specimens of the world’s most incredible animals for students to enjoy.

SCIF’s Sensory Safari exhibit will be stationed at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center’s north parking lot from January 21rd – 24th, 2009 from 10 AM. until 2 PM daily, weather permitting.





















All Washoe County School District principals will be offered an invitation for teachers and students to view the spectacular wildlife.

The hands-on learning experience is being delivered in a 45-foot Sensory Safari Trailer provided by SCI’s Redding Regional Chapter (California). The van contains over 30 taxidermy exhibits, including a fully mounted Grizzly Bear, shoulder mounts of various Springboks, Blesboks and Bushbucks along with Cape Buffalo, Kudu, Sable and Zebra rugs.




Children are encouraged to touch and feel the animals so that they can better understand what these incredible animals are really like. The Sensory Safari creates the opportunity to approach big game animals and learn more about them through touch, particularly for children who are sight impaired.


“Bringing wildlife to America’s youth is one of the most effective ways of encouraging children to get outside and enjoy nature,” noted SCI President Merle Shepard. “The Sensory Safari Exhibit is one of SCIF’s most effective wildlife education tools. It really is amazing to see how all children can experience wildlife in such a real and up-close setting,” added Ron Bartels, Co-Chairman of SCI’s Sensory Safari & Disabled Hunter programs.

If you are interested in learning more about the positive experiences had by youth or are looking at getting the Sensory Safari to come to your group in the West Michigan area contact MsSnarky@comcast.net, or nation wide please contact SCI Foundation’s Humanitarian Services Department, www.safariclubfoundation.org .

Cold Weather Hunting Tips

I hunted for Musk Ox north of the Artic Circle
and found the true meaning of COLD.


I hope these ideas help keep you warm no matter where or what you are hunting.


1. Dress in layers. Carry some of your heavier, warmer hunting clothing to your stand and put it on once you get there. That way you won't get all sweaty and wet before you even get on stand. Believe me, if you get wet, then cold, your done. You might as well go back to camp and start all over. Also; fallow all hunting regulations pertaining to the color of your outer hunting clothing for safety.
2. Once you put on your outer hunting clothing, seal as best you can all exposed openings; neck area, wrists, waist, pant cuffs, top of head and etc..
3. Have some wool hunting clothing on. Not right next to your skin, maybe after a layer or two. Wool will retain most of its insulation qualities even when it is wet. I like to carry a wool sweater or two with me to my hunting stand and put them on under my hunting jacket when I get there.
4. Wear a light weight hunting cap to your stand. Then once there, put on a good quality thermal facemask and a wool/insulated cap on over that. I prefer a wool stocking cap or something very well insulated with ear and neck protection. This way you can stay nice and toasty.
5. Long underwear - I use layers of Military long underwear. If it is good enough for our men and women in uniform, it is good enough hunting gear for me. You can buy the more expensive and cute stuff if you want.
6. Gloves and mittens - Get the good stuff. I like light weight gloves inside of mittens that let you extend your fingers out for shooting that trophy deer. You can get waterproof items if you want. I have found in our climate it is often to cold for ice to thaw, but sometimes it does, so I have both just in case.
7. Hunting Boots - Can you say "spend the money!" Don't be cheap here. In real cold weather - below zero degrees F. - I wear ice fishing packs that have rubber soles! My feet stay warm! The good ones are rated for over -100 degrees F. In real cold weather I have no problems with them as long as they stay dry. Which means keeping them dry or drying them every night while your dreaming about that trophy deer. There again, if you have to carry them to your hunting stand and then put them on, do it.
8. Use those chemical small 8-10 hour heaters in your gloves/mittens, boots, pockets and wherever you may need a spot of heat. There cheap, only a buck or so for a pair. Well worth it.

Cold Weather Car Car Tips

The leaves are falling, the air is crisp, and pretty soon old man winter will set up shop for his favorite time of year. As you stock up on firewood, tack on the storm doors, and tune up the piano for family holiday gatherings, don't forget to take similar steps to prep your car for the busy and blustery months ahead.While this may include stocking the family car with holiday CDs and tapes, I'm actually referring to your winter car care routine. When temperatures plunge, and snowy, wet conditions rule the road, every part of your car has to work harder to perform at its best. Before Jack Frost's first nip at your nose, here's a quick "to do" list to help your car weather the winter weather.
Tire Tips

Family responsibilities and holiday preparations can keep you in perpetual motion this time of year. Whether it's trips to the airport or shopping excursions to find that perfect gift, a good set of tires is essential to safe winter driving. Make sure your tires are properly rotated and aligned, and also check tire tread - tires should not be worn down to less than 2/32 of an inch for normal tires and 5/32 of an inch for snow tires.

An easy way to check is to take a Lincoln-head penny and insert it head first into the most worn part of your tire tread. If you can see Abe's head, he may be telling you to get a new set of tires. If so, consider buying a set of all-season tires with a traction rating of A (the highest rating) versus B or C, to better grip the road in snowy conditions.

Cooling System Checklist

When the white stuff hits, make sure you have plenty of the green stuff — antifreeze. Antifreeze can be one of the trickiest parts of your winterizing routine because, even though it has a strong green color, the additives could be worn out. This can cause the inside of your radiator to rust and if you are the type who "just adds water" when the level is down, your antifreeze mixture may have lost its ability to withstand freezing temperatures. You may have worthless green gunk under the hood! A good rule of thumb is to replace your antifreeze every two years. If you're not sure when your antifreeze was last changed, you can easily check its endurance and freeze point with an antifreeze tester (they cost less than five dollars at any auto parts store). But if you're not a do-it-yourselfer, have it checked at a quick oil change or other service provider. They have more accurate and reliable testers.
When it is time to replace your antifreeze, look for a product that prevents cold weather freeze-ups at temperatures well below -30 degrees Fahrenheit, like Zerex® 5/100 Antifreeze Coolant, or, if you're currently using an orange coolant (recommended for most newer model GM vehicles) use Zerex* Extreme TM Life 5/150 Antifreeze Coolant.

Remember that antifreeze needs to be diluted with water in a 50-50 mixture, or you could opt for a pre-mixed solution, like Zerex® Ready to Use Antifreeze Coolant. To round out your cooling system checklist, make sure that waterpumps and thermostats work, check radiators and hoses for cracks and leaks, replace the radiator cap, and test heaters and defrosters for proper operation.

Oil To-Dos

Another way to help your car endure three months of cold starts in sub-zero temperatures is to change your oil grade. Check your owner's manual and use the lowest recommended grade for the best all-weather protection, fuel efficiency, and energy conservation. For most passenger cars the proper grade is 5W-30 and for the newest model Ford vehicles, 5W-20.
You also might want to consider adding a synthetic blend motor oil to your vehicle this winter. Synthetic oils make starting a cold engine easy. They resist build up of cold temperature sludge, helping your engine run better and longer, even in the most arctic-like weather.
Battery Basics

No one wants to cap a weekend spent skiing on the slopes by waiting for a tow in two feet of snow. You can help prevent unwelcome disasters by making sure your battery is up for the cold weather challenge. Make sure terminals are clean and tightened — you may even want to clean around terminals with an old toothbrush and a homemade mixture of baking soda and water.

Keep in mind that you should replace your battery every three to four years, but if you suspect your battery won't survive the season, have a trained technician check it out. If it is time to shop for a replacement battery, look for a model that offers more starting power, higher cold cranking amps, and reserve capacity to provide electrical energy when the engine isn't running.

Seasonal breakdowns and costly repairs can really put a damper on "the season of good cheer," so take time now to ensure your vehicle is in top condition, and be prepared for emergency situations. Before you go dashing through the snow, stock your trunk with, jumper cables, rock salt (to melt ice), an ice scraper, a can of tire inflator and a blanket. Keep your mobile phone charged and at hand. This way, at least your car won't be the source of any holiday headaches.

Message to Gun Owners just in time for the NOVEMBER 4TH VOTE!!

As a gun owner, trap and skeet shooter, hunter and sportsmen I had to pass this along to all of you who respect and value our right to gun ownership.
This is a link to listen to a podcast on this same issue from the Illinois Rifle Assoc. President.
Listen to the interview from the Ill NRA President podcast at iVoices.org.

420 E. Locust,

P.O. Box 637, Chatsworth, IL 60921
Phone: (815) 635-3198 or (815) 635-3166

Fax: (815) 635-3723 Website: http://www.isra.org/

Dedicated to education, safety training and support
of Illinois firearm owners

October 10, 2008

Fellow Sportsman,

Hello, my name is Rich Pearson and I have been active in the firearm rights movement for over 40 years. For the past 15 years, I have served in the Illinois state capitol as the chief lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association.

I lobbied Barack Obama extensively while he was an Illinois State Senator. As a result of that experience, I know Obama’s attitudes toward guns and gun owners better than anyone. The truth be told, in all my years in the Capitol I have never met a legislator who harbors more contempt for the law-abiding firearm owner than Barack Obama.

Although Obama claims to be an advocate for the 2nd Amendment, his voting record in the Illinois Senate paints a very different picture. While a state senator, Obama voted for a bill that would ban nearly every hunting rifle, shotgun and target rifle owned by Illinois citizens. That same bill would authorize the state police to raid homes of gun owners and forcibly confiscate banned guns. Obama supported a bill that would shut down law-abiding firearm manufacturers including Springfield Armory, Armalite, Rock River Arms and Les Baer. Obama also
voted for a bill that would prohibit law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one gun per month.

Without a doubt, Barack Obama has proven himself to be an enemy of the law abiding firearm owner. At the same time, Obama has proven himself to be a friend to the hardened criminal. While a state senator, Obama voted 4 times against legislation that would allow a homeowner to use a firearm in defense of home and family.

Does Barack Obama still sound to you like a “friend” of the law-abiding gun owner?
And speaking of friends, you can always tell a person by the company they keep. Obama counts among his friends the Rev. Michael Pfleger - a renegade Chicago priest who has openly called for the murder of gun shop owners and pro-gun legislators. Then there is his buddy Richard Daley, the mayor of Chicago who has declared that if it were up to him, nobody would be allowed to own a gun. And let’s not forget Obama’s pal George Soros - the guy who has pumped millions of dollars into the UN’s international effort to disarm law-abiding citizens.

Obama has shown that he is more than willing to use other people’s money to fund his campaign to take your guns away from you. While a board member of the leftist Joyce Foundation, Barack Obama wrote checks for tens of millions of dollars to extremist gun control organizations such as the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence and the Violence Policy Center.

Does Barack Obama still sound to you like a “friend” of the law-abiding gun owner?
By now, I’m sure that many of you have received mailings from an organization called “American Hunters and Shooters Association(AHSA)” talking about what a swell fellow Obama is and how he honors the 2nd Amendment and how you will never have to worry about Obama coming to take your guns.

Let me make it perfectly clear - everything the AHSA says about Obama is pure hogwash. The AHSA is headed by a group of left-wing elitists who subscribe to the British view of hunting and shooting. That is, a state of affairs where hunting and shooting are reserved for the wealthy upper-crust who can afford guided hunts on exclusive private reserves. The AHSA is not your friend, never will be.

In closing, I’d like to remind you that I’m a guy who has actually gone nose to nose with Obama on gun rights issues. The Obama I know cannot even begin to identify with this nation’s outdoor traditions. The Obama I know sees you, the law abiding gun owner, as nothing but a low-class lummox who is easily swayed by the flash of a smile and a ration of rosy rhetoric. The Obama I know is a stony-faced liar who has honed his skill at getting what he wants - so long as people are willing to give it to him.

That’s the Barack Obama I know.

Sincerely,
(original signed)
Richard A. Pearson
Executive Director
Illinois State Rifle Association

Autumn in my neck of the woods.

I love fall, the cool crisp air, the bright blue sky, and the smell of the falling leaves in the woods.

I know people that get depressed in the fall knowing that winter is just around the corner. Not me, I love the fall, to me it is nature at it's best. Just walk through the farmers market, the wondrous display of crisp apples, colorful squash, sweet cider, pumpkins, and flowers, the smells and sights are great. It's sings of Mother Nature at her best. Stop your car at the next park you see, walk into the woods, look down at the beautiful carpet of leaves beneath you feet and listen to them as they fall, I bet you never knew that you could hear the leaves fall in the woods. Look up into the trees you may be lucky enough to see a woodpecker hiding one of it's nuts in the bark of a tree, or a chickadee flitting thru the trees, or a squirrel enjoying the bountiful harvest of juicy acorns. To me fall is natures way of saying, "I worked hard this summer, now I lay my bounty at your feet, and so you allow me to rest and renew over the winter so that I may provide for you again beginning with the first sunny yellow daffodil, through the last sunny head of the fall sunflowers". As I write this I can look out my window into my own yard and see the beauty of fall and it makes me look forward to the earths winter renewal sothat next year I can again marvel at the beauty outside my window. I hope you enjoy these pictures I took this fall of the beauty of Autumn in my little corner of the world.
Susie

"Our House" Hunting Season Up-Date

It's been month since I said the long goodbye for hunting season. And it has been and interesting month at that.

It's been a little tense at home for the past month of hunting season, the early goose opener was not very good. It seems that it was ' to hot, not enough wind, to much breeze, geese where slow to migrate, some "crazy" goose hunters got out to late and messed it up for everybody else, the geese were to high, the geese flared early, or they were staying in the fields', and maybe for some other reason I forgot, but no shots fired on opening day is really ugly for life at home.

Luckily there was a break for bear season. Third season in the Upper Peninsula, Braga area. This year John applied as a 'group' with my brother Scott and nephews Bill and Brian. Thank goodness they got permits. The preparation for that at least dulled the disappointment of early goose season. And bear camp was up in the same area John plans to be for the early UP duck opener and I know he was planning on scouting some duck lake locations when not in the bear blind.

This bear hunt was a big event, John and Scott had both taken numerous bears but this would be Bill and Brian's first bear hunt. Scott of course had been telling bear hunt horror stories for weeks and both of the new hunters were a little apprehensive to say the least. Uncle John followed the lead and it was a wonder that either of the nephews even went.

After loading what looked like enough gear, coolers, sodas, camo, ammo, guns, boots, cookies, Twinkies, apples and bear bait for months into Scott's 'dually' pick up, they waived goodbye and pulled out. I did the happy dance and rushed in to call my sister-in-law Kimmy to tell her they were finally off. I had to leave a message for Kimmy who I’m guessing was already dancing a jig in the back yard with a nice glass of Merlot in one hand and the TV remote in the other.

I have to tell you about my sister-in-law the 'saint'. I could not have picked a better sister-in-law if I had gotten to do it myself. I love Kimmy like she’s my own sister. Not only is Scott a royal pain the rear, but, as much as I love them, both of the boys are way to much like him. John often says he is glad he was nice to them as little kids because at 10 years old one of them was already looking down at 6' tall Uncle John. Both of Kim's boys are well over 6' and neither one of them tinkerbells. I would never tell Kimmy this but she is definitely a better woman than I am, to have tamed my brother.

Back to the bear hunt. They pulled out about 5pm as everyone involved in the preparation sighed in relief. They were already planning where they would be stopping for supper, and making sure the sodas and snacks were within 'reaching over the seat' distance. It was all quite on the home front for the evening until about 10pm when John call to say all the reports about the gas pumps not being able to take credit cards for over $100, were wrong. It was a little hard to hear on the phone with all the laughing in the back ground, but I finally did get the message that at the gas station, John had slid his credit card in the pump and headed inside to the 'boys' room and to re-stock the cooler . When he returned the tank was just topping off at $105, to the laughter of the Smith men. Oh well, just add that to the new scent-loc bear hunting suit, the zip up the side camo rubber boots, the mesh camo face mask/hat, the new and improved bear ammo, license, motels, guide, processing, tanning and taxidermy, and it only brings the cost of the bear meat from a measly $87.65 per pound to $88, a bargain at twice the price, which may be what it really is, but I'll never ask……...I'm afraid to know.

Back on the road again, since there is no way they could make hunting camp that night they make plans to get a motel for the night. As 'luck' would have it, just at the time for a motel the Indian Casino came into sight, what are the chances of that happening? And they had a vacancy at the motel next door, imagine that. After settling the boys in one room, the 'men' in the other room found they were still wide awake and might just kill some time next door at the casino. It appears from the sketchy details I got that this was sort of like the Custer’ Last Stand…..the Indian's won. $90 a pound bear meat, and climbing.

Early morning back on the road. Breakfast and a couple of stops at Cabela's, or Jay's Sporting Goods, and/or Normans and that bear meat has dropped dramatically in price. John called home all excited he had spent $200 on a "big sale" of sporting goods. According to the story I got, if he had bought at regular price what he got would have cost well over $500, so already this trip he has made money!! I seem to remember that same philosophy not working for me at the big shoe sale, but I must have been figuring mine wrong. Sounds like they are having a great time, making money, and haven't even got to bear camp yet.

Later that morning they arrived, Ron the Bear Guide has their blinds ready, the bears were hitting the baits and it was a go for that evenings hunt. They unpacked and settled in with all the gear, and got dressed in camo for the hunt. I got a call as they headed to the blinds, everyone was excited.

I waited for the evening call, and waited and waited, it had been dark for hours here and no call.
Finally it came, Brian had a bear, John was so excited he could hardly talk. I had hardly hung the phone up when Kimmy called to tell me Brian had a bear, then Mom called to say Brian had a bear, there was as much excitement here as there.

I have no idea what time they got done admiring the bear, taking pictures, hearing the story, and sharing the success, but I am sure they were dead tired when they hit the bed and equally as sure that none of them went right to sleep.

The next morning they took the bear to the DNR station to be weighed and checked in. Then headed out to check the duck situation in the Upper Peninsula. It was nice to know that they didn’t forget the woman at home, as both Kimmy and got a rock for our flower bed from the hunting area.

Soon it was time to get ready for the evening hunt again I got a call that they were headed to the blind, John,. Scott and Bill would be hunting and Ron the Guide and Brian would be checking the other baits and looking at new areas. Some of the hunters were in new blinds that hopefully had more promise than the night before.
Shortly after dark I get a call from John’s Hunt Phone, I was sure another bear was down. But no, this time a whole new situation had developed. The evening had turned cloudy, the night was pitch black, and during the walk back to the road John had gotten turned around in the woods and was lost. He couldn’t get back to the blind, or find the road, and it was to dark and to thick in the woods to find his way. At least he was smart enough to stop where he was and wait. I am not sure what I was suppose to do 600 miles away except reassure him that he would be found. I did I call the guide and tell him that John was lost and needed him to come get him, well actually I left a message as his phone was off. I called John back and told him that I had left a message for the guide. During this call the story began to unfold, it seems that John had driven to the blind after dropping Scott off and was going to come out and pickup Scott at dark, while the guide and Brian picked up Bill from his blind. John had sat in the ground blind instead of the tree blind and got turned around on the way back out to the road. Since he knew the road should only have been a couple hundred yards away in the right direction, and an 18 mile cedar swamp in the wrong direction, and he thought he had gone a couple of hundred yards he determined he was lost. Having hunted all over the world in every kind of terrain possible this was such a shock to John, he was a little panicked. I talked to him from 600 mile away trying to calm things down and he settled down and lit a fire. I was hoping he didn’t ignite the entire UP was upset as he was. We talked so long that his battery was getting weak and he decided to shut down and turn on in half an hour if he hadn’t been ‘rescued’ by then. During all of this I was dreading Scott finding out that John had gotten lost and the harassment he would have to take or years to come.

In the mean time Ron and Brian gotten to Bill’s blind to find that Bill had bagged a bear, after they loaded the bear and got back to the meeting location, and no John & Scott, they figured one of them had a bear so they headed that way.

When they got to Scott’s blind…...no Scott. After waiting for the sound of John and the truck to come for him after dark, Scott though John might have gotten a bear and decided to walk out to the road. You guessed it……...he was lost too. Scott had thought to carry his blind chair out with him and after realizing he was “turned around”, he just set up his chair and waited to be found. After locating Scott in the pitch darkness, less that 100 yards from the road, they set out for John expecting to find him dragging out a big bear. Instead they found him about 100 yards from the road beside a roaring bonfire. Brian said it looked like Uncle John was settling in for the night. Fortunately for the adults who had both been lost, the second new bear hunter had bagged a bear, and that was to focus of the rest of the evening.

Since both Bill and Brian were successful in their first bear hunt, and John and Scott had both had enough bear hunting for a long time, they came home 2 days early with 2 great bears, and 2 happy first time bear hunters. Neither adult harassed the other for being lost and both of the boys were smart enough to keep their mouth shut too.

I can tell you that if John ever hunts bear or anything else in the woods he will be sporting the best compass and GPS that money can buy, because was he so eloquently puts it “being lost sucks”.

I myself, am glad the rest of the season is waterfowl hunting. No matter which direction you go in the boat, your going to hit shore!!!

Susie

GOLDFINCHES

Goldfinches are a delight to watch in any backyard. These beautiful bright yellow birds have an interesting habit of mating later in the season than most birds. Most will mate from late June to September. Their late mating season is due to the food sources they prefer to give their young. This is the time of year that weed seeds and thistle begin to ripen. You will usually see more activity at your thistle feeders during the late summer as they busy themselves with mating, building their nests and raising their young...that takes a lot of energy!
Range and Habitat Goldfinches feed primarily on weed seeds, and sometimes insects when they are available. For this reason, goldfinches love weedy fields, orchards, open woodlands, thickets and roadsides, especially if they contain patches of thistle and sunflowers.

Goldfinches are sociable and will visit backyard feeders in hungry flocks of 30 or more. Thistle or Nyjer seed is the preferred food of Goldfinches. It's easy to provide thistle in specially designed thistle/finch feeders, since the seed is so small these work best.

Store your thistle seed in a cool area or refrigerator to preserve it. Hang your thistle feeder at least 15 feet from other feeders and water sources. Hang it 4-5 feet in the air in a brushy area if possible.
Black oil sunflower seed is also enjoyed by goldfinches.

Goldfinches nest later in the season than most species. This is when their favorite food, thistle seeds ripen. The females also line their nests with the down of thistle. They tend to build their nests and mate from June through August. Goldfinches, which mate in monogamous pairs, like to nest in forked branches up to 30 feet high, usually near water. Females often return to the same site. The female will build a small bowl-shaped, tightly woven nest with grass, lining it with plant down.
A source of water is important. Goldfinches love to bathe. Offer water in a bird bath, with a dripper or mister. Plant thistle, dandelions, sunflowers, coreopsis, cosmos, service berry, birch, hornbeam, sweet gum, mulberry, hemlock, zinnias, elm and alder as garden food plants.

My Annual "Goodbye" to my Husband

It's that time of year when I say goodbye to my husband. He puts on his big rubber pants, camo clothes, picks up his Thermos, what seems like a months worth or groceries and sodas, puts on his necklace of duck and goose calls, and the one of leg bands, loads his ammo, guns, binoculars and decoys, into his pride and joy a 30' fully camo, duck grass covered, 60 horse powered, fully carpeted, "Duck Buster Assault Barge".


Oh, and did I forget to mention the stove and propane heaters. He does all this in the darkest, coldest part of the wee early morning hours as his alarm went off at 4:30am and he had been laying awake for an hour, waiting for the first beep that signaled opening day of the long awaited 'waterfowl season'.

This is something I can only sit on the sidelines and watch, I have never been bitten by this bug. I do my best to just stay out of the way for the months of preparation. I close the door at 6:30 am when be bounces out of bed to watch "Water Dog" or “Whistling Wings”, I try my best to comfort our little Jack Russell when the duck and goose calling practice begins, and I just vacuum around the decoys, and pick up the little pieces of twine left after trimming ends off the knots that tie on the decoy weights. I try to be nice when in the heat of the moment he forgets the time and wakes me at midnight from a sound asleep beginning a loud round of 'calling in the flock' with a new snow goose call. I have even quit trying to explain the fully assembled camo lay-out blind in the living room, and the calls lining the sink in bathroom. I tried not to look surprised when he came home with workout weights from the clearance rack, so proud of himself at the great sale he found, only to find out that now he would be buying a melting pot and molds to make his own decoy weights in the kitchen. I even got in the spirit a little after a year of duck boat camouflage grass in the living room, and I remodeled a bathroom into a duck blind and put the duck grass behind the toilet, this had the added advantage of eliminating the questions about those duck calls on the sink too. It also made a good place for the great invention of a hip boot/wader dryer, this contraption stands about 4 foot tall, with 2 pvc tubes sticking up into the air to hold the wet waders, and a glorified blow dryer to dry these boots out in time for the next days hunt. The new 'blind' bathroom with over head fan works great, because as I was surprised to find out swamp water, duck weed, and crushed cattails don't smell to good as they dry, and the dryer has enough out-put to disperse this fragrant air through out the house in very little time.

I can always tell goose season is getting close when all the batteries in the house get pushed into service for flashlights in the “Barge”, and every candle lighter finds it’s way into the propane stove box along with several pans and numerous kitchen utensils. The picnic basket loses all of it’s plastic plates and the fridge gets loaded with soda in plastic bottles. Some days even the front yard gets into the spirit as the 'spread' of decoys gets an evaluation before opening day.

I noticed a couple of days ago that the top of the freezer has become a re-charge haven for ‘robo-ducks’, this wonderful invention is a decoy on a stick, with whirly-gig wings that run off a rechargeable battery. It seems that one robo-duck is either lonely or afraid of the dark while in the marsh, as it needs several friends to keep it doing it’s job. All those friends with their batteries and of course the extra batteries ‘just in case’ have left several of the items in the house without extension cords. But hunting as I have found over the past 32 years has different priorities. During hunting season my hair dryer, my small office and kitchen TV, my bedroom radio, my phone re-charger and my curling iron all give up their extension cords to recharge robo-ducks. This year I have noticed a new addition to the top of the freezer, several cans of “Great Stuff”, this highly desirable can holds a kind of liquid Styrofoam, that swells up and become hard when dispersed. This is used, I am told, to fill small steel shot size holes that sometimes get in decoys unable to get out of the way in time. It is required to keep them from sinking or rolling on their side after one of these encounters. It seems that a little “Great Stuff” goes a long way as I noticed a box of several exploded decoys bursting from the seams with oozing Styrofoam globs.

In preparation for the pre-dawn departures of the 30’ “barge” behind that tank of a truck he drives, I have moved all the hanging flower baskets, the yard decorations, the house number sign and several of the large rocks that line the drive way. Last year, I found out this entourage requires an extremely large turning radius, increased dramatically it seems in the dark during 4:30am departures.

Since Labor Day is the opening day of early goose season and the last day of waterfowl in Michigan is February 1st, this is a long goodbye, I looked at John’s calendar hanging beside his camouflage recliner, between his mounted Buffleheads and Green Wing Teal and just below the Pintails, to confirm the dates. I see lots of highlighted dates, 5 days in Alabama duck hunting, a trip to the east coast for sea ducks between Christmas and New Years Day, and a trip to Mexico’s Laguna Madre with 10 other hunters in January, this trip according to the calendar seems to include a stop at the Dallas Safari Club Fundraiser and a hog hunt on the way home.

I also see a few days set aside for bear hunting in the U.P. with Scott, Bill and Brian in September, I am guessing this one will involve a few hours of scouting for waterfowl ’honey holes’ for opening day in the U.P. And I did notice the big smiley face on November 15 for opening day of firearm deer season, it definitely looks like a long goodbye.

I guess as soon as I say goodbye at 4:30am on Labor Day I had better start cleaning out the freezers for the 2008 bag limit. At least I know that the Muskegon Rescue Mission and places like Teen Challenge will be glad to see me coming with donations to their kitchens. And I had better go shopping for freezer bags and a new extension cord for my seal-a-meal.

Squirrel Rifle Tune-Up

Written by Steve Galea
Few game animals challenge the small-bore marksman like bushytails. To be consistently successful, you need to stack the odds in your favour.

When it comes to squirrel hunting, I'm a rifleman. Sure I see the practicality in using a shotgun, especially in the early season when the foliage is up and the squirrels are in the trees; but, the truth is, I love .22 caliber rifles and I'll take them afield any chance I get.
Besides, a .22 is precise, inexpensive to practice with, and doesn't damage meat like a shotgun might when the shots are close. If you ask me, the .22 calibre rifle was made with the challenge of squirrel hunting in mind.
Even so, before you go out in the squirrel woods, you should give your squirrel rifle and your own shooting skills an honest assessment and then a tune-up. My own squirrel tune-up routine isn't very complicated or even expensive for that matter, but it is thorough. Accuracy and knowing your effective range are the primary objectives; everything else is a distant second.
This is because, as we all know, the vitals in a squirrel (the head or just behind the shoulder) are not exactly huge targets, especially when the animal is 40 to 50 yards away, and acting jittery. In fact, I can't think of another hunting weapon where accuracy is nearly as important. And if you hunt outside your effective range, accuracy will always suffer. Here then are a few things that you might consider to make the most of your squirrel rifle and skills.
The Rifle
They say you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. This old saw also applies to squirrel rifles too. The unit you start with should be dependable in the field, easy to carry in the woods, and above all inherently accurate.
The last characteristic is the most important; I'd much rather have a tack driving single-shot than a repeater that's much less exact. After all, if you place your bullet precisely, only one shot is needed.
What is accuracy in a squirrel rifle? After fine-tuning and practice, I can shoot half-inch groups or better at 50 yards with my favourite squirrel rifle. I've never needed much more than that although many rifles and shooters are capable of it.
Optics
There are legions of squirrel hunters who like to keep things simple. They'll go afield with iron sights and do quite well. I've got a lot of respect for those guys; heck, I once used iron sights too. But back then, when it came to longer shots, it was definitely a hit or miss proposition.
A quality scope allows you to aim more precisely and increase your maximum effective range. These days, I use a quality scope on my .22. It allows me to aim more precisely and increase my maximum effective range on squirrels. Once you get the hang of using a scope, you'll never go back. Target acquisition, even on a moving squirrel is fast.
Mine is a fixed 4 X 32 unit designed specifically for .22 calibre rifles. This means it has a 50-yard parallax setting and adjusts 1/4-inch per click at 100 yards too. It's lightweight and balances well on my rifle. Even more important, it's fogproof and waterproof.
Many riflemen are fans of variable scopes such as 3-9 X 32s. There's nothing wrong with them, and I suppose if an undisturbed squirrel gives you a chance to dial in to the higher power, there might even be an advantage to them. On the flip side, they tend to be a little more expensive, and I'm not sure that they provide significant practical benefits at typical squirrel hunting ranges.
In the end, personal taste and the terrain you hunt in should dictate your choice.
The Bullets
Most rim fire enthusiasts consider the .22 long rifle bullet the only one for eastern gray and fox squirrel. Many, myself included, prefer a copper-jacketed hollow point bullet weighing anywhere from 36 to 40 grains. With well-placed shots, these put squirrel down quickly -- which is always an important consideration since a wounded squirrel might run off to a nest or knothole or even hang up high in the crotch of a tree.
When I'm about to fine tune my rifle for the field the first thing I do is buy several boxes of .22 cartridges that fall into the description previously mentioned. I try to get a variety of different bullet designs from various manufacturers.
I shoot groups with all of them until I determine which brand and type my rifle prefers. Of course, during testing all things should be equal including ranges, cleaned barrels, technique and good rests. After testing, you'll find one or two brands that will stand out as the best, meaning that they shoot tighter groups more consistently.
Take your time in this experimentation, and you'll be rewarded with a good hunting bullet that makes the most of your rifle's accuracy. After that, get to know what it does at different ranges. This selection process can make the difference between a full and empty game bag.
Shooting Aids
When in the field, I'll always try to use a rifle rest. This makes even more sense when confronted with small targets such as squirrels. Limbs or tree trunks, cedar rail fences, and the like all work fine, but these days, more often than not, I carry a set of shooting stix. They're handy as a pocket in a shirt and provide the rest required to make longer shots.
There are several excellent commercial models available but they're not difficult to make either; any on-line search will provide proven designs. In either case, make sure your sticks are long enough to allow you to make high angle shots too.
If you decide to use shooting sticks -- and I highly recommend that you give them a try -- it doesn't hurt to practice with them so that you don't waste time setting up when confronted with an undisturbed squirrel within rifle range.
Effective Range
these processes and gear are meant to help you become more accurate with your rifle within practical squirrel hunting ranges. But what is practical hunting range?
For me, this means the maximum range that I can consistently hit a 2-inch circle in field conditions. With an offhand shot, your limit might be 30 yards or so. When shooting from a sitting position with a good rest you might be able to reach out to 75 yards or more. Naturally, it differs depending on the shooter, his rifle, and several other factors. But you'll never know any of this until you go out and do some serious paper punching.
I take along a laser range finder, paper targets, and a lot of ammunition to determine my limits. You can forego the rangefinder, but it is nice. Some metallic rim fire targets are also just about the right size and fun to practice on.
The point is if you know your effective range, you're far more likely to make clean kills. If a squirrel is outside of that distance, you then have a good idea how much of a stalk you need to make before it's inside your practical range.
Conclusion
Few game animals challenge the small-bore marksman like bushytails. They're skittish, small, and crafty. To be consistently successful, you need to stack the odds in your favour. A simple tune-up like this can make all the difference when your only shot of the day is sitting unawares on a high limb some 60 yards away. Give it a try. Your game bag will thank you.

NO DEER BAITING IN LOWER PENINSULA

August 26, 2008
In the wake of Monday's announcement that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been confirmed in a three-year old privately-owned white-tailed deer in Kent County, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is acting immediately to implement provisions of the state's Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD.
Among the provisions is an immediate ban on all baiting and feeding of deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula. DNR conservation officers will step up surveillance and enforcement efforts on baiting. Baiting and feeding unnaturally congregate deer into close contact, thus increasing the transmission of contagious diseases such as CWD and bovine tuberculosis. Bait and feed sites increase the likelihood that those areas will become contaminated with the feces of infected animals, making them a source of CWD infection for years to come.
Additionally, the provisions include a mandatory deer check for hunters who take a deer within Tyrone, Solon, Nelson, Sparta, Algoma, Courtland, Alpine, Plainfield, and Cannon townships, which contain the CWD surveillance zone.

All hunters who take a deer during any deer hunting season this fall within the CWD surveillance zone will be required to visit a DNR deer check station so that their deer can be tested for CWD. The DNR currently is seeking locations for additional deer check stations in the area to make it more convenient for hunters. To prevent unintentional spread of CWD, the only parts of deer harvested in the surveillance zone that will be allowed to be transported out will be boned meat, capes, and antlers cleaned of all soft tissues.
In addition, all transport of live wild deer, elk and moose will be prohibited statewide, including transport for rehabilitation purposes. Currently, there is no live animal test for CWD, and infected animals often show no signs of illness for years in spite of being infectious for other animals. Movement for rehabilitation purposes may speed geographic spread of the disease.
The DNR will act immediately to test an additional 300 deer within the CWD surveillance zone in Kent County. The DNR will be cooperating with local officials to collect fresh road-killed deer, and will be urging deer hunters participating in the early antlerless season on private land in September to comply with the mandatory deer check.
Landowners in Kent County CWD surveillance zone who would like to obtain disease control permits to cull deer from their property and assist with the collection of deer for testing should contact the DNR's Wildlife Disease Lab at 517-336-5030. Permits will be available immediately upon request. Landowners who do not want to cull deer, but want to participate in the collection of deer for testing, can obtain assistance from the DNR in culling deer.
DNR officials reminded citizens that, to date, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk to humans, nor has there been verified evidence that the disease can be transmitted to humans.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose. Most cases of the disease have been in western states, but in the past several years, it has spread to Midwestern and eastern states. Infected animals display abnormal behaviors, loss of bodily functions and a progressive weight loss. Current evidence suggests that the disease is transmitted through infectious, self-multiplying proteins (prions). Prions are normal cell proteins whose shape has been transformed, causing CWD. The disease is transmitted by exposure to saliva of infected animals. Susceptible animals can also acquire CWD by eating feces from an infected animal, or soil contaminated by them. Once contaminated, soil can remain a source of infection for many years, making CWD a particularly difficult disease to manage.

WEST MICHIGAN DELTA WATERFOWL RAFFLE

2008 West Michigan Delta Waterfowl Boat Raffle

For our Grand Prize we've partnered with Sport Fisherman Center, Muskegon's premier boat dealer to bring you a wonderfully loaded 648 War Eagle boat. This boat features Max-4 camo, gun boxes, lights, 20hp four stroke Yamaha motor, and trailer valued at over $8,000!!!

If that wasn't enough...We also have three fine shotguns in this raffle.

1st Prize is a Browning Gold Superlite 12ga. Shotgun-Delta 2008 gun of the year.

2nd Prize is a Viper 12ga semi-auto shotgun by tristar.

3rd Prize is a Pardner camo 12ga. pump shotgun by H&R.TICKET PRICE:

$50 PER TICKET ONLY 300 TICKETS ARE BEING SOLD!!!
DRAWING WILL BE HELD OCTOBER 1ST, 2008,

7:00PM AT SEAWAY GUN CLUB,

3400 W BARD ROAD, NORTH MUSKEGON, MI 49445.

CONTACT SUE FOR TICKETS

MsSnarky@comcast.net

(231) 777-3037

Grand prize winner responsible for tax, title, registration, and pick up of boat from dealer in Muskegon Michigan.

**If less than 175 tickets are sold, drawing becomes a 50/50 raffle.

Who's Who, Downy or Hairy Woodpeckers

The most obvious difference is size. The hairy woodpecker is about 1/3 longer than the downy and weighs almost 3 times as much!

Yet when you see one alone, without the other for comparison, it can be tricky to identify it on size alone.

So look at the bill. The downy's bill is tiny in proportion to the head.

The hairy's bill is large. Here's a thought experiment. Mentally turn each bird's bill around, so that it points toward the back of the bird's head. How far across the head does it appear to extend?

The bill of the downy woodpecker (a female in this case, on the left) is noticeably shorter than the width of the head. The bill of the hairy woodpecker (which happens to be a male, on the right, with red on the back of his head), goes almost the full width of the head. That's the most reliable way to tell the two apart. Even if you see one alone, at such a distance that you can't evaluate the bird's size, you'll be able to notice how long the bill is compared to the head. Another clue is the white outer tail feathers. On the hairy woodpecker, the outer feathers are pure white. On the downy, there are usually black or gray spots along the sides of the white outer tail feathers. You can just make out the dark spots on the side of the downy woodpecker's tail in the photo above.

Their calls distinguish them also. The rattling call of the hairy woodpecker is mostly on the same pitch. But the downy's call drops down (for downy) in pitch.

In each species, the male and female are about the same size. If you see a big difference between the size of two of these woodpeckers, you'll know you're looking at a downy and a hairy, not male and female of one species.

DEER TRACKS

The size of a deer track will help you to determine the size of the deer. As a deer grows, their feet will grow accordingly. Big mature bucks will leave big and deep tracks. In soft ground the dew claws will show on both bucks and does. Rounded tips on hoofs are a result of hoof wear usually due to rocky or other abrasive surfaces and has little to do with weather the deer is a buck or a doe.

When analyzing deer tracks in shallow snow, look to see which deer are dragging their feet. It is believed that bucks drag their feet to conserve energy. In deeper snow all deer will drag their feet. Another trick for snow tracking is to watch for antler impressions in the snow. When a large buck is checking the trail for a doe in estrus, his horns will sometimes leave an impression in the snow. This will also show you how wide his antler spread is.

Once you have found a good track in the snow, you can follow it to find travel routes, feeding areas, watering areas and bedding areas.

When a deer walks, they will place their back hoof in the track of their front hoof. If the second track falls slightly to the outside of the first, it is probably a doe because a doe's hind quarters are wider than her chest. The wider hind quarters of a doe are required for giving birth. If the second track falls slightly to the inside and short of the first track, then it is probably a buck track since a buck's chest is wider than his hind quarters and his body is longer.

Catfish Success

Try your hand at catfishing it's great fun.
My nephews Brian, Bill and my brother Scott had a great afternoon fishing, this is a fun family event.

Catfish Fishing in Michigan

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.


Catfish Fishing Lakes In Michigan

Many rivers in Michigan have catfish. They can also be found in ponds and small lakes across the state. The larger schools tend to come from major bodies of water including Brevoort Lake, Fletcher Pond, Hamlin Lake, Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake, Hubbard Lake, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.



The Michigan state record channel catfish was caught from Houghton Lake and the Maple River gave up the state record flathead catfish.

Most catfish are considered bottom feeders to one extent or another. They will generally eat anything that can get in their mouth. Their strongest sense is smell which they use to locate potential food sources. Capitalizing on this sense is the primary weapon in your search for these creatures. Aggressive catfish have been caught on most types of fast moving bass lures so don't under estimate their ability to catch live bait.

Fishing for Channel Catfish
Channel cats can be caught most any time of year except in extreme cold water conditions. The best time of year tends to be spring and fall followed by summer and lastly winter. Channel catfish favor crawfish and small fish, so look for them at varying depths where there is rock or gravel that attracts the crawfish or other forms of cover that attracts baitfish and other small fish. In the warmer summer months catfish can be found in areas with moss, which they feed on.



Fishing For Flathead Catfish
Flatheads are caught primarily on bait like live shiners and chubs and only occasionally on cut or prepared baits. They are the second largest of the catfishes and lie in cover of submerged logs or other large structures. Prime fishing time for catching flathead catfish is after dark.

Catfish Baits
If it resembles food in any way and emits scent or an odor it is likely to attract the interest of catfish. Every ardent catfish expert has their own secret recipe. The ingredients range from natural prey of fish and fowl to non-food items like soap and chemicals. Chicken, shrimp, liver and stink baits are the most common ingredients. The long whiskers of the catfish are always in search of an easy meal.

Suet Log Feeder

This Suet Log Feeder is very easy to construct. You will need a log, a screw on hook and perches. Here are some instructions, but you can use your own ideas the birds will still use whatever type of log feeder you construct.
Cut a log that is approximately 9 1/2-10" in circumference with a length of 16". The log shown in the picture on the right is of white-barked birch. The log does not have to be straight. This log is slightly bent.
Drill a hole that is 1 1/4" round all the way through to the other side.
Start at the top of the log.
Drill another hole, again 1 1/4" round all the way through, but this time turn the log so that it does not line up with the first hole that was drilled. See Picture.
Drill the next hole, below the second hole.
Drill the last hole, but align it with the first hole that was drilled.
(optional) Drill 8 holes, 1 1/2" in depth (not all the way through). The perch holes should be 1/4" below the 1 1/4" round holes that hold the suet. Perches should be at least 3" in length. Insert the perches and tighten.
Screw the hook at the top for hanging.
Fill the 1 1/4" holes with Suet. That's it!

Here is a suet recipe that you can use, as it cools and begins to get hard pack into holes or freeze in something that will fit your size holes.

Birder's Delight
1 Pound Suet cut in small pieces
1 Cup Yellow Cornmeal
1 Cup Rolled Oats
1 Cup Chunky Peanut Butter
1 Cup Mixed Wild Bird Seed
1 Cup Hulled Sunflower Seed or Chopped Pecans
Preparation:
Melt suet over low flame.
Stir in ingredients.
Pour or pack into molds, feeders, or saved suet plastic containers.
Refrigerate until hardened or freeze.

No-Wobble Tray Feeder

Creatures great and small will enjoy dining at this sturdy, portable feeder.

If you enjoy seeing a variety of animals feeding in your backyard, this easy-to-build triangular feeder is all you'll need to attract a crowd.
Cardinals and other "tray feeders" will love it...and the low platform will attract birds that feed close to the ground like dark-eyed juncos and mourning doves.
You'll also see plenty of squirrels and chipmunks, so keep the tray well stocked with cracked corn. (If these furry critters can count on a reliable food supply here, they'll be less likely to disturb other feeders set up only for birds.)
One of our Birds & Blooms editors came up with the idea for this unique triangular feeder. The three legs prevent wobbling no matter where you put it in your yard. Plus, it's lightweight enough to move with ease.
Here's What You'll Need...
One 8-foot 2 x 2
One 3-foot 1-inch x 8-inch board (or 4-foot 2 x 4)
One 2-foot-square piece of metal window screen
2-1/2-inch and 2-inch galvanized deck screws
Waterproof carpenter's glue
Masking tape
Recommended Tools...
Table or miter saw
Heavy-duty stapler

Start with the Tray
1. To make the seed tray, cut three 24-inch lengths from
an 8-foot 2 x 2 with 60° opposing angles on each end (remove
30° on each cut).
2. On a flat surface, fit the pieces together with the
edges overlapping and temporarily fasten them with carpenter’s
glue. Hold the joints tight with masking tape.
When the glue is dry, drill a pilot hole in each corner and
secure with 2-1/2-inch deck screws.
3. From a 2-foot-square piece of screen, cut out a triangle
that fits the frame, extending about halfway between
the inner and outer edge of the frame. Staple the screen to
the wood securely, leaving about 1 inch between staples.
4. For the legs, rip three 2-1/2-inch widths from a 3-foot
1-inch x 8-inch board. Cut each piece to 16 inches. If you
want a more finished appearance, bevel the tops of the
legs 15°. The legs can also be made from 2 x 4’s to reduce
warping.
5. Position a leg so it bridges the joint of the frame (see
plan and photo at right). Then predrill two holes for the
screws, being careful not to hit the screws holding the seed
tray together.
6. Use 2-inch deck screws to attach each leg to
the frame. (To make the tray a little sturdier for
chunky wildlife, you can glue the leg joints with carpenter’s
glue before driving the screws.)
Now fill the tray with seed and cracked corn—it
shouldn’t take long for the neighborhood critters to
discover the banquet you’ve set out for them!