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Outdoor Information
Turkey licenses
The DNR has released the 2016-2017 Michigan Fishing Guide, which includes rules and regulations effective April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2018.
Copies of the two-year guide can be obtained at any location where fishing
licenses are sold. This years cover photo is of Grand Havens north pier and
was submitted by Eric Zattlin.
As in the recent past, this years guide is intended to be useful to anglers
in the field by being printed on higher-quality paper to better withstand the
wear and tear of fishing in Michigan, produced in a smaller physical size to
better fit in tackle boxes, and printed in an easier to read font size. The 20162017 Michigan Fishing Guide also is available in a user-friendly, electronic
format online at michigan.gov/fishingguide.
The DNR reminds those who are outside enjoying the experience of seeing wildlife raise its young to view animals from a distance, so they are not
disturbed.
It is important to remember that many species of wildlife cache (hide)
their young for safety. These babies are not abandoned; they simply have
been hidden by their mother until she returns for them.
Please resist the urge to help seemingly abandoned baby animals, said
Hannah Schauer, wildlife technician for the DNR. Many baby animals will
die if removed from their natural environment, and some have diseases or
parasites that can be passed on to humans or pets. Some rescued animals that
do survive may become habituated to people and are unable to revert back to
life in the wild.
White-tailed deer fawns are one of the animals most commonly rescued
by well-intentioned citizens. It is not uncommon for deer to leave their fawns
unattended for up to eight hours at a time. This behavior minimizes the scent
of the mother left around the fawn, which allows the fawn to go undetected
by nearby predators. While fawns seem abandoned, they rarely are. All wild
white-tailed deer begin life this way. The best chance for their survival is to
leave them in the wild. If you find a fawn alone, do not touch it, as this might
leave your scent and could attract predators. Give it plenty of space and leave
the area quickly. The mother deer will return for her fawns when she feels it
is safe, but may not return if people or dogs are present.
Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured
wildlife. Unless you are licensed, it is illegal to possess a live wild animal,
including deer, in Michigan. A list of licensed rehabilitators can be found by
visiting mi.gov/wildlife or by calling your local DNR office.
SEASONS
Open All Year Pike and walleye season on Lower Peninsula Great
Lakes, Lake St. Clair & St. Clair & Detroit Rivers
Open All Year Catch-and-immediate-release bass season on all
Michigan waters open to fishing
Now-March 31 Cottontail/Snowshoe season
Now-March 31 Crow season
Now-April 15 Coyote hunting (see regulations)
Now-Dec. 31 Pure Michigan Hunt application period
April 18-May 31 Spring turkey season statewide (various seasons
and areas-check regulations)
April 25-March 15 Pike and walleye season on Lower Peninsula
inland waters
May 1-June 1 Elk and Bear license application periods
May 15-March 15 Pike and walleye season on Upper Peninsula
Great Lakes, inland waters & St. Marys River
May 23-Dec. 31 Catch and keep bass season on all Michigan
waters except; Lake St. Clair, and Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, which
opens June 20
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HUNTING
COVER STORY...
Best turkey decoy
Kenny Darwin page 8
Talking Turkey...Guns
Deer stand
location preparation...
Part I -- Tools
John Eberhart page 64
Michigan's treasure
Challenging the stubborn
Manistee steelies
Randy Jorgensen page 28
NEXT BITE...
Is this for real?
The walleyes think so
WOLF UPDATE
OPINIONS
...page 32
OUTDOOR NEWS
FEATURE
page 13
MORELS
Aplenty and tricks
to find them
A Michigan treasure
April 1-2
Raptor Watch Festival
Betty Sodders page 60
...page 80
MDNR page 69
Old Michigan
hunting guides
Embrace the
Sturgeon River
DNR Master
Angler Program
Bird dog attacked
by wolves
FISHING
016
ater News
MORELS
PERSPECTIVE
Trail reading
Aldo Leopold
Harvesting spring
female walleye
Brian Miller page 26
Communication vital to
entice Michiganders
outside
Rick Fowler page 70
Muzzle season
quiet time please!
Ed Spinazzola page 71
GUNS/AMMO
Guest Column...
The day of the
fly-fisherman
Michigan Meanders...
The streams of spring
Tom Huggler page 59
Gun Chat...
Useful holsters
DEPARTMENTS . . .
$13,000 Lure!
Hosmer Mechanical Froggie
Sporting Collectibles...
Terry McBurney page 78
To Find Them!
COVER PHOTO
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1
ER 20
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Michigans Premier Outdoor Publication
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Rifle Em pleseed Jig Pitc
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U.P. To Close Deer Season? Walleyes For Warriors Engraving A Legacy
ww anada Goose
Ways To
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The Ned Rig Bowhunting The Gun Opener Deer Stories Muskie Plants
Bear Hunters Short Changed Swim Jigs For Bass -- Work! Harnessing The Bite 5 oodcock Manag y Bass Mich
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8
By Kenny Darwin
gloomis.com
LET US
Fishing
License
BUY YOUR
THIS YEAR!
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Turkey decoys:
from page 8
that a receptive hen is laying down,
ready to breed and gobblers who see
the hen will charge within easy range
at lightning speed. A lifelike breeding pair ignites a mature gobblers
instincts, making boss gobblers aggressive. Some mature boss gobblers
are jealous about other toms breeding
hens on their home turf. This tactic is
deadly on huge gobblers with large
bodies and impressive beards or
spurs.
What I discovered is that decoyshy gobblers that refuse to leave
safety of cover will decoy with ease
if you use this system. Some hunters use a decoy flock, not me. Others
spend money on expensive decoys
that stand motionless and lack the visual cue to draw big gobblers. If I had
10
Scouting can put you on a big gobbler. Using soft cutts, yelps and purrs will get his
attention but decoys will bring them close and hold their attention long enough so
hunters can touch off a lethal shot. Kenny Darwin photos
calling to bring birds into shooting
range. Those who know the basics of
calling and use full fan decoys can be
assured gobblers will investigate their
set up. In most cases it takes skill and
patience to fill a turkey tag.
Most hunters use enticing calls to
get the attention of wild birds but far
too often smart gobblers move into
distant cover rather than approaching
hunters. The trick to get wild gobblers
to commit and walk into your spread
hinges on whether you understand the
importance of gobbler decoys with
tail feathers fully fanned. Few thrills
in hunting can match a big adult gobbler walking directly at you, coming
kissin close and the interesting courtship dance he performs around your
decoys. Sometimes aggressive gobblers will charge a full fan decoy with
a come fight me stare and immediately initiate a fight. Those sex crazed
gobblers can be wild and crazy birds
Andys Tackle
Melvindale, MI
Al and Bobs
Grand Rapids, MI
Lakeside Fishing
St. Claire Shores, MI
Hicks Outdoors
Clio, MI
Outdoorsman
Jenison, MI
Northwoods Outfitters
Pinconning
Tackle Haven
Benton Harbor, MI
Sportsmans Direct
Harrison Twp, MI
11
The
Early
Bird...
Michigans milder than normal
winter has a lot of ice fishermen
frustrated with the lack of good ice.
First ice came late and last ice was
over quickly, setting up a less than
desirable situation for those who
enjoy hard water fishing...
12
Adding Scent
GENUINE
SILVER
Another successful
year for DNR's Master
Angler program
24K
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1916 - 2016
A CANADIAN
CLASSIC
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www.williams.ca
13
Primetyme SQ 2.0
Bluetreuse Shad
14
LL_WNW.APR2016.indd 1
3/7/16 1:05 PM
offers two quick shots (if needed) and with sufficient patterns to 35 yards. It is also easy to quickly
load or unload in the field.
Spring turkey hunting opportunities began to
really pick up in the 1980s and better yet in the
1990s, including closer to home in my Thumb
area. It was during the Thumbs first early seasons
when my sons Jake and Josh were just into hunting
and lucked out on the draw. By that time nothing
larger than number four birdshot could be used for
turkeys, which wasnt a bad thing in my mind. It
was while patterning my sons 20 ga. shotguns that
I became really impressed with this smaller bore
for turkeys. Both pumps (one a Mossberg, the other
a Remington) proved to be effective turkey getters
out to 30 yards which works for me in the turkey
woods anytime. The fact is I often use a 20 ga.
today for turkey hunting because I appreciate the
lighter weight and recoil.
A point in fact about turkey guns is the local
girl youth hunter who used a single-shot H&R .410
to knock a gobbler spurs-up at just under 20 yards
thanks to the calling efforts of her father. The big,
mature gobbler never knew what hit him and to me
this scene is what turkey hunting is all about. All
firearms for hunting require the user to understand
any limitations and to stay within them before
touching the trigger. So the reality of what can be
The author, Tom Lounsbury, with his favorite turkey gun
determined a turkey gun is what the hunter has
these days, a camo-painted over/under 12 ga., choked
available and also what he or she is comfortable
with (my youngest son Joe still prefers to faithfully (standard) full and full.
use his Ithaca pump 16 ga.).
It is just that spring turkey hunting to me is the art
There is nothing at all wrong with a specialized of calling gobblers in close as possible and making
turkey gun and todays version are top performthe shot according to whatever shotgun is being
ers (and the ammunition is the best Ive ever seen). used, a done deal.n
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Good boat control made for a perfectly presented jig, which helped Mark Martin land
this nice walleye. David A. Rose photo
instant a walleye strikes before feeling
it.
A rod made just for jigging is essential, as well. Personally, I use Fenwicks EliteTECH Walleye spinning
rods built for vertical jigging - their
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with an ABU Garcia spinning reel.
The entire line of ABU Garcia
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By Darryl Quidort
18
This Texas Rio Grande turkey brought a smile to the authors face. It was taken with
his .40 caliber Southern style flintlock rifle.
Darryls .50 caliber flintlock was his first attempt at building a muzzle loading rifle.
until the ball leaves the muzzle can be
a problem, especially if the shooter
flinches when the powder in the pan
fires near his face.
Even though the range was a bit
farther than I liked, the sights held
perfectly steady on the big bird. The
shot felt right. I set the rear trigger,
slowed my breathing, and gently
nudged the front trigger. KA-BOOM!
As the gentle breeze moved the cloud
of black powder smoke aside, I saw
the hens running away. The big
gobbler was down though, with one
wing moving as if signaling me to
his location. Approaching gingerly, I
claimed my first Rio Grande turkey.
The birds coloring was beautiful. His
light tipped tail fan and light colored
rump feathers set him apart from our
darker colored Eastern turkeys. I
admired his 11 inch beard and sharp
spurs as I hoisted him over my shoulder for the walk back to camp.
The next morning I put the .50
caliber away and carried my accurate
little .40 caliber Southern squirrel
rifle. That beautiful little rifle was
built for me by noted gunmaker,
Dennis Priddy. Dennis made some
of the parts for the iron mounted
rifle himself, even turning the lock
and tang bolts on his own lathe. The
long, slender stock was formed from
a solid block of cherry wood. The
42 inch Green Mountain barrel is as
accurate as they come. If conditions
were right, I knew I could head shoot
a turkey with it just as well as I did
squirrels at home. I figured trying for
a head shot would result in either a
clean kill or a clean miss.
It looked like rain, and flintlock
rifles dont do well in a rainstorm, so I
elected to hunt from a pop-up blind on
the same ridge where I had hunted the
The authors Grandpas old black powder, breech loading, shotgun and the first game
taken with it in half a century.
19
By Richard P. Smith
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By Thomas Carney
The inside cover of Wildlife Conservation on the Farm with Leopolds Recipes for Rural Conserva-
22 tion along with the first page of the pamphlet, which introduces the concept and the collaborators.
What readers of Aldo Leopolds A Sand County Almanac recognize as his Sky Dance
essay first appeared in the pages of Wisconsin Agriculturist and Farmer .
instead with one unearthed from deep
within the essays interior. Rather
than being lost among many other
no big deal thoughts, it becomes
the essays single-most effective note.
For instead of the scientist telling
people what he thinks, the poet/philosopher shares what he feels:
23
24
This pike whacked one of the authors favorite big pike lures. It was a rainy spring day and this water wolf hit next
to the boat - on a brief pause and wham! What a run she made. Author photos
it might be an opportune time to try soaking dead
bait like a sucker or smelt.
Why Be So Pro-Active?
A Lesson Learned
THE ORIGINAL
4 SIZES, 28 COLORS
1-7/8 MIDGET through
3-7/8LARGE.
Classic nishes.
Glow
Orange #82
Favourite for
trout and salmon.
Time tested
and proven.
Two of the many pike Snowman (Keith Generotzke) and I caught this fine spring day.
Deadbait Quick-Set
Techniques And Spring Lures
An axiom: Day in and day out, live bait outperforms any lure or dead bait.
Right?
Well, not so fast! Although live bait works
great, most avid pike anglers agree that live bait
performs better at first ice but, surprisingly, dead
bait performs better during late ice time and during
a pikes spawning period prespawn to postspawn
periods.
During winter food is harder to come by, oxygen levels are low due to dying vegetation, and water temperatures are exceptionally low. This does
not make for speedy pike. They are lethargic and
hungry. Therefore, they become more opportunistic
in winter and into spring.
The term, waterwolves, is applicable to northern pike. Wolves are fierce predators and they also
scavenge for food. But so do pike. They will eat
dead prey on the bottoms of lakes.
This is why the duel technique of combining
casting and soaking a dead bait in the open waters
of bays, current areas, marshes, and more, are very
opportunistic techniques for catching spring pike.
This is also where stealth is very important in
cold, clear and shallow water. A pike hunter can
either drift or use his electric, bowmount trolling motor in his search for pike. Sometimes I use
the electric transom motor when I am trailing a
deadbait and casting for pike because I have better
control of my quick-set rig. Windy days are an
example.
Rigging a dead sucker or smelt is done with a
PROVOCATIVE
1 SIZE 8 COLORS
3 1/6 oz
Bait sh prole.
Ultra thin spoon.
Candied
Ice #47
Stamped in
spring brass to
maintain its
shape
NOTHING MATCHES
THE VISIBILITY
The ash of genuine silver
and 24k gold nishes
/williamslures
@williamsfishing
www.mooselook.ca
25
The spring walleye run only consists of 5-10 percent of the overall annual harvest. Author photos
By Brian Miller
26
This angler traveled from a nearby state to catch the two largest walleye of his fishing career.
Debunking Myths
In Conclusion
completely legal and the DNR biologist studies indicate that it has no
impact on the success of the harvest.
Its your decision, are you going to
keep or release?
For a complete guide to fishing
the Maumee River Walleye
Run check out the authors book
Fishing the Maumee River Walleye Run. Additionally the Maumee
River water levels and water
temperature are available at
www.maumeeriverwalleyerun.com.n
27
Michigans treasure
Anglers are fortunate to have so many outstanding rivers
By Randy Jorgensen
28
Easy, right?
Heres what I learned, the fish
only bite when you look away from
Author with a
steelhead caught
while float
fishing the
Manistee River.
Jim Adams and Capt. Larry Raney take time for a hot bowl
of soup, which is just one of the many details not forgotten
when fishing with Premier Angling Guide Service.
(upwards of 35 to 40 mph). Larry
fished hard all day long even though
the steelhead are known to be both
stubborn and spooky, we did boat
fish.
If you decide you would like to
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By following the lines instead of trying to get the jigs to follow the boat, youll find
it much easier to be successful at vertical jigging.
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changing their ways. Over the past decade, artificial baits have been proven
to be just as effective as their live bait
counterparts when it comes to catching walleyes.
They can also save you a lot of
time and hassle on the water. Artificials tend to be more durable on the
hook than live bait, so you save time
not having to re-bait as often. That
stay on the hook characteristic can
occasionally even get you a second
chance bite that you would not get if
you were using live bait.
For most early season vertical
jigging scenarios, a subtle action tail
will be your best choice. The Berkley
Power Jig Worm is a 3-inch worm
with a paddle on the back. This worm
is very limber, which means that you
dont have to put a lot of effort into
moving the bait to give it a lot of action. We prefer to stick with natural
colors to make the worm look more
like a real crawler.
Another go-to bait is the Berkley
PowerBait Minnow in the 2 or 3-inch
sizes, which mimic a real minnow
quite well. We often will double up
the baits, threading a 3-inch minnow
on the jig right up to the jig head,
followed by hooking a 2-inch version
through the nose. This tandem bait
set-up is deadly at times because it increases the lures profile, adds a little
extra action to the presentation, and in
the event that a short strike results in
30
31
Population Dynamics
32
Negative wolf interactions with humans are compounded by a deer herd struggling to recover
from the series of consecutive harsh winters. Rick Baetsen photo
in other parts of the U.P.
The migration of deer from the northern to the
southern parts of the U.P. was postponed by several
weeks this winter, which has been comparatively
milder than the past three.
The delayed deer migration is now over in
many areas so we will focus more of our survey
efforts in deer yarding complexes, places where
wolves frequent to prey on deer, Swanson said.
In the Lower Peninsula, over the past few years,
there have been persistent reports of sightings,
tracks and other evidence of wolves.
In March 2014, biologists with the Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians discovered tracks and
collected scat from what was presumed to be a wolf
in Emmet County. DNR biologists also visited the
site.
In September 2015, confirmation was received
from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario,
that the Emmet County scat submitted for DNR
analysis was from a male gray wolf. This marked
the second confirmation of wolf presence in the
Lower Peninsula since 1910. The first occurred in
2004 when a wolf collared by the DNR in Mackinac County was caught and accidentally killed by a
Legal Challenges
An aerial photograph shows par t of the Upper Peninsulas wolf population. Wolf surveys are
conducted every two years. A survey now ongoing is expected to produce a new minimum population estimate in April. MDNR photo
numerous sporting groups granted, among other
provisions, sole authority to the NRC to designate
game species.
Now Michigan law, the Scientific Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Act supersedes the ballot referendum voters passed to repeal the NRCs
power to designate game species. The commission
and the Legislature may establish the first open
hunting season.
In July 2015, the Michigan Court of Claims
dismissed a lawsuit by Keep Michigan Wolves Protected that challenged the constitutionality of the
Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
With the federal court appeal on the delisting
decision still pending, lawmakers in Washington,
D.C., have sought to remove wolves from the endangered species list through acts of Congress.
So far, none of the bills have been passed into
law.
Legislative Challenges
Between the wolfs Great Lakes region delisting in 2012 and the 2014 lawsuit decision, the
Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted to
allow a wolf hunt in three wolf management zones
in the U.P. to reduce wolf conflicts.
A total quota of 43 wolves was set, with all
1,200 available licenses sold. Trapping was not
allowed. Hunters killed a total of 22 wolves during
the hunt, which lasted from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31,
2013.
In response to the wolf hunt, Keep Michigan
Wolves Protected spearheaded two ballot referendums that were passed by voters in November
2014.
One of the measures repealed Public Act
520 that designated wolves as game species and
allowed for the establishment of wolf hunting seasons in Michigan. The second referendum repealed
Public Act 21, which gave the NRC the authority
to designate game species and determine hunting
seasons.
However, in August 2014, prior to the fall elections, the Michigan Legislature passed a citizens
ballot initiative called the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The initiative advanced by
Kevin Swanson, a wildlife management specialist with the DNRs bear and wolf program,
inspects a set of tracks on a back road in
nor thern Delta County. MDNR photo
If wolves were successfully delisted, the Michigan laws allowing the killing of attacking wolves
to protect hunting dogs and livestock would be put
back into effect.
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission
could decide to authorize a wolf hunt, following
sound science and provisions of Michigans wolf
management plan.
DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason
said people will be more comfortable living with
wolves if they or the DNR can take steps to resolve
33
By Jack Payne
34
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Fax 810.564.3143
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35
By Kenny Darwin
If you find mature morels that are bending over rather than standing straight and
36 stems have holes and are turning reddish brown they are old and starting to decay.
Edward Carlin with a handful of morels found in his yard located at a cottage along
the Lake Michigan shore near Whitehall. While grays are more flavorful, big whites are
easier to locate and often grow in open terrain, lawns, fields, ditches, fencerows and
more. Kenny Darwin photos
floor around the base and downwind
area. It can be an adrenalin rush identical to harvesting a big buck, catching a lunker trout or anchoring a boss
gobbler when you stroll up to a dead
tree and find morels growing by the
dozen. What fun!
Once you succeed with this
strategy it gives you a rush that keeps
you looking all day long, never bored,
energetically positive about being
outdoors. Although there is something
powerfully addictive about being outdoors on a warm spring day with birds
singing, plant life springing to life
and the sweet smell of Mother Earth.
Savvy hunters learn to cherish morel
outings and frequently take pause to
enjoy the environment, rekindle their
outdoor spirit and recharge their body
and soul.
Ill never forget a turkey hunting trip near Dansville State game
area when I spotted several elm trees
with bark starting to peel. I knocked
on the landowners door, got permission and soon stood in the middle of
a white phase morel patch that filled
my shopping bag to the brim. In
less than an hour I picked over 200
tasty morsels. Since then, I no longer
wonder aimlessly through Michigans
forests in search of mushroom, instead
I look for dead elm trees and search
beneath the decaying bark. Sometimes
the morels are hugging the base of the
tree and there times they are scattered
in a downwind pattern from dead elm.
When I venture into upper Michigan
I still concentrate on dead trees but
I shift to apple orchards or decaying
poplar and ash. You can instantly up
your odds for a bountiful harvest of
morels this season if you search under
dead and decaying trees.
Once you hit on locating mushrooms under dead trees you quickly
identify which trees produce. When an
elm is dying it produces ideal mushroom habitat for a period of about
three years. Few appear the first year
the tree is dead but when the bark
in thick cover and sometimes are difficult to see in leaves, fallen branches,
rolling terrain that has a lot of brush.
Yellows or whites are larger, easier to
spot, arrive later in the year and can
spring up overnight.
There is an art to spotting mushrooms. Dont rush in, take your time
and slowly scan around dead trees
and work in a semi-circle. Some hunters are gifted morel spotters others
need to find a few before they get the
hang of it. I like to carry my grandfathers old walking stick and use it to
move leaves and help scan the forest
floor. My walking stick is powerful medicine that makes me think of
years hunting morels with relatives
from long ago, it makes me reflect on
the true art form of stalking for mushrooms like a predator seeking hidden
game. Take my word for it; a walking
stick is a helpful tool. Mine helps me
to forget my hectic modern life, slow
my pace and become a more proficient mushroom hunter.
When you start picking, try to
not rip the fungi roots from the soil.
Pinch off the mushroom with your
thumb nail and leave the roots and
base to grow and regenerate in the
future. Savvy hunters carry an onion
Savvy mushroom hunters pinch off at base of stem or cut with a pocket knife to not
disturb the fungal root system, allow it to grow and regenerate next year.
bag and allow spores from the harvest
crop to drop on the ground and hopefully create more crops in the future.
Last year went in the record
books as one of the coldest springs
in history and then we had too much
cold rain. For me it was a tough year
for morel mushrooms. Too bad, because 2014 I found so many mushrooms that I got tired of eating them.
I hope 2016 has perfect weather and
yields a healthy crop and you take
my advice to help you locate a bushel
basketful.n
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37
Teaching on
By Jim Bedford
38
When tossing lures for steelhead or stream trout in small rivers casting accuracy
coupled with reading the water are real keys to success.
As a first step, it is important
to make sure your angler is well
equipped and properly dressed. If
your partner for the outing has his or
her own equipment make sure it is appropriate and in good working order.
Over the years I have accumulated a
bunch of loaner fishing rods and reels
so I am always ready to switch them
out if I think their outfit wont do the
job. Make sure they are dressed for
the weather and have remembered
their polarized sunglasses. Knowing
how important vision is when wading small rivers I will always have an
extra pair with me that will fit over
regular glasses if necessary.
As you start out, emphasize that
the goal of the trip is just as much
or more about learning as it is about
catching a fish. This is especially true
when I take beginners trying to catch
their first steelhead. To take some of
the catching pressure off, I remind
them they we are not fishing for pan
fish but rather a trophy rainbow trout.
Steelhead usually require some dues
paying and I will remind them of that.
While I will be trying real hard to
make them successful, some days just
dont work out with fish landed. When
such fisheries are available, it can be
very helpful to fish for steelhead in a
stream where trout and other fish can
Success - young anglers showing off a brown trout. Jim Bedford photos
ping off the spool and submerging it
for a minute or two while reminding
them that this is best done at home
just before you go fishing.
A big advantage of fishing with
your new or less experienced angler
is that they can also learn by observing what you are doing. Without
preaching tell them why you cast
where you did, why you let the lure
sink a little bit before beginning the
retrieve, why you let your lure sweep
across the current, and why you gave
39
By Jonathan Schechter
Ready to raft?
NO TIME
FOR A WEEK
AWAY?
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1/2 WEEK
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40
Late winter paddling on the Sturgeon River is a perfect mosquito-free adventure. Jonathan Schechter photos
an early spring paddle is best when
spiced with situational awareness,
and a little help from friends in the
know. Snow was steadily falling on
the February morning I walked into
the offices of family-friendly Big Bear
Adventures to meet my friends that
would accompany me on a winter
rafting adventure that would take me
beneath a canopy of snow-covered
evergreens and enable me to Experience the breathtaking beauty and
solitude of winter.
I am a skeptic when it comes to
poetic descriptions in any company
brochure. But these words turned
out to be so very true, as was another
comment from Pati Anderson, the
owner/manager of Big Bear, You will
see much more when trees are leaf-
less, and the raft will not flip. Anderson was right on both accounts, and
I was especially pleased with the not
flipping comment. As much as I push
the window a bit with my outdoor
adventuring pursuits, I am not fond
of going into the drink in winter, or
the early days of spring, even if the
river is an average of four or five feet
deep. Depth means nothing when
conditions can lead to a hypothermic encounter. And thats why I was
happy to have a guide. You might
want one too, and my guide, Sean
Boughner, was the right guy for the
mission.
If you are thinking, Ill wait for
a warm and sunny summer day to
raft or paddle you just might want
to think again. The closing days of
Deer casually watch the passing of rafts, and then head back into the hills.
Note
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Lodging choice abound and area sporting shops sell all your fishing
needs and provide tips on the hot spots. Great local shopping
and dining options make for a well-rounded trip to Benzie County.
For more information, call our office or visit our website at
800-882-5801 or www.visitbenzie.com
Spend
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800-882-5801
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By George Rowe
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Name
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46
By Bill Ziegler
Steve McMahon, formerly of Marquette, with a nice Lake Michigan tributary steelhead. Brad Petzke photo.
47
Walleye-salmon-trout!
By John Bergsma
Contact at 810-378-5632
DAILY 7 AM - 10 PM
80 ACRES, MOSTLY
WOODED-HEAVY COVER
TOWER SHOOTS
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Hog Hunts
Call For Availability
NO LICENSE
REQUIRED
Lake Huron lake trout and walleye caught trolling stick baits along the shore during
spring fishing. Mike Veine photo
On Select Weekends!
www.affordablepheasanthunting.com
Walkiewicz Farms
1-989-683-2749
The Tawas area offers a year round sport fishery. From panfish to steelhead, opportunities are endless. Ice fishing in Tawas Bay is great
for Perch or Lake Trout from the point to the state harbor. In spring the thaw brings the steelhead spawners into the lower Au Sable River,
just a short distance to the north. From mid-March through April you can experience an adrenaline rush hooking up with a fresh run steelie.
Hot-shotting with plugs to floating spawn bags many chrome beauties can be had. Starting mid-May, the Tawas area offers a mixed bagged
fishery. From Lake Trout to Atlantic salmon, steelhead to walleye, the area offers a very diverse catches. In late summer the offshore catch
begins to focus on the fall salmon & steelhead run. This continues until mid to late September at which time we switch to river fishing for
both species again until the river freezes in January. One of the best kept secrets of the area is the fall whitefish run by the Tawas State
Dock. This traditionally takes place on or around November 15. The author, John Bergsma will be fishing this summer with Gene Kirvan from
Calypso sport fishing and will give you a full story after his trip.
doesnt take long to get a good catch.
Next time you are looking for
something different try the Sunrise
Side of Michigan and the towns of Au
ing for his TV show. For great destination information, fishing reports or
to watch his show online check him
out at www.fishermansdigest.comn
a
m
s
g
r
e
B
n
Joh
49
50
largemouth bass have the ability to suppress walleye yearclasses, likely through preda-
tion.
A change in angler behavior - i.e. more catchand-release fishing - probably benefits the bass
population, too. Twenty-five or 30 years ago, more
people were keeping bass than they are today,
Tonello said. But if youre a tournament bass
angler, youll absolutely love Mitchell and Cadillac
because the bass fishing is terrific. Most boats in
most tournaments limit out. There are a lot of twoto four-pound bass in those lakes.
617-acre Fife Lake in Grand Traverse County
has been considered one of northwest Michigans
best lakes for walleye and smallmouth for years.
Surveys conducted there in 2013 seem to indicate
that largemouth bass are taking over there, too. Of
particular concern in the Fife Lake survey was the
absence of smaller fish. Another trend from the
2013 survey was that fewer fish were caught overall
than in 2001. This may have been due to colder
water temperatures in the 2013 survey, which was
conducted nearly a month earlier than the 2001
survey. Fewer panfish were caught in 2013, including only 83 bluegill compared to 547 in 2001. Also,
only a handful of bluegill younger than age five was
caught in 2013.
In contrast, the largemouth bass catch of
107 fish from the netting portion of the survey far
eclipsed the 2001 catch of only 18 largemouth bass.
It is possible that the increased largemouth bass
population has affected the abundance of bluegill in
Fife Lake, wrote Tonello. A similar trend has been
observed in Missaukee Countys 1,985-acre Lake
Missaukee and Mason Countys 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake. If youre a diehard bass fisherman, thats
good news. If you like to catch walleye and perch,
the trend is disheartening.
The cold, clear lakes of Grand Traverse County are known for giving up trophy smallmouth like the one Joe Balog is admiring.
scattered and the lakes intense clarity make fish
there spooky and they tend to hold deeper than
normal. Look for smallies to be clustered in the
shallows early in the season where rocks and shallow water soak up the spring sunshine. The brown
bass remain shallow into July. Casting with tubes or
pumpkinseed-colored twister tails is a proven technique. The same technique works well on the bass
in Green and Duck lakes, too.
Farther to the north, Traverse City Field Office fisheries management biologist Heather Hettinger said its pretty hard to beat lakes Charlevoix,
By Mike Gnatkowski
f youre a bass
angler in Michigan there probably
hasnt been a better time to practice
your sport. Bass numbers are thriving;
opportunities abound and appear to
be getting even better. Many lakes are
undergoing changes that have benefitted
largemouth bass and their numbers have exploded
in many Michigan lakes plus the Michigan Natural Resources Commission now allows catch and
release bass fishing year round and an earlier opener
on Lake St. Clair.
Be it largemouths or smallmouths, there are
plenty of options for bass aficionados in the Great
Lakes State. Following is a list of waters youll
want to wet a line in this season.
51
50
largemouth bass have the ability to suppress walleye yearclasses, likely through preda-
tion.
A change in angler behavior - i.e. more catchand-release fishing - probably benefits the bass
population, too. Twenty-five or 30 years ago, more
people were keeping bass than they are today,
Tonello said. But if youre a tournament bass
angler, youll absolutely love Mitchell and Cadillac
because the bass fishing is terrific. Most boats in
most tournaments limit out. There are a lot of twoto four-pound bass in those lakes.
617-acre Fife Lake in Grand Traverse County
has been considered one of northwest Michigans
best lakes for walleye and smallmouth for years.
Surveys conducted there in 2013 seem to indicate
that largemouth bass are taking over there, too. Of
particular concern in the Fife Lake survey was the
absence of smaller fish. Another trend from the
2013 survey was that fewer fish were caught overall
than in 2001. This may have been due to colder
water temperatures in the 2013 survey, which was
conducted nearly a month earlier than the 2001
survey. Fewer panfish were caught in 2013, including only 83 bluegill compared to 547 in 2001. Also,
only a handful of bluegill younger than age five was
caught in 2013.
In contrast, the largemouth bass catch of
107 fish from the netting portion of the survey far
eclipsed the 2001 catch of only 18 largemouth bass.
It is possible that the increased largemouth bass
population has affected the abundance of bluegill in
Fife Lake, wrote Tonello. A similar trend has been
observed in Missaukee Countys 1,985-acre Lake
Missaukee and Mason Countys 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake. If youre a diehard bass fisherman, thats
good news. If you like to catch walleye and perch,
the trend is disheartening.
The cold, clear lakes of Grand Traverse County are known for giving up trophy smallmouth like the one Joe Balog is admiring.
scattered and the lakes intense clarity make fish
there spooky and they tend to hold deeper than
normal. Look for smallies to be clustered in the
shallows early in the season where rocks and shallow water soak up the spring sunshine. The brown
bass remain shallow into July. Casting with tubes or
pumpkinseed-colored twister tails is a proven technique. The same technique works well on the bass
in Green and Duck lakes, too.
Farther to the north, Traverse City Field Office fisheries management biologist Heather Hettinger said its pretty hard to beat lakes Charlevoix,
By Mike Gnatkowski
f youre a bass
angler in Michigan there probably
hasnt been a better time to practice
your sport. Bass numbers are thriving;
opportunities abound and appear to
be getting even better. Many lakes are
undergoing changes that have benefitted
largemouth bass and their numbers have exploded
in many Michigan lakes plus the Michigan Natural Resources Commission now allows catch and
release bass fishing year round and an earlier opener
on Lake St. Clair.
Be it largemouths or smallmouths, there are
plenty of options for bass aficionados in the Great
Lakes State. Following is a list of waters youll
want to wet a line in this season.
51
Throwing lipless
rattlers in April
52
This bass ate a lipless crank bait on Michigans Austin Lake near Kalamazoo last April.
lure like a Red Eye Shad, especially
around weeds that offer some potential for a baitfishs escape.
Exactly how you let that Red Eye
fall is important, too. You really want
it to fall vertically, and that means on
a slack line. If you keep contact with
the lure so that you actually can feel
it as you let it fall, youll be letting
the lure glide toward you and not fall
straight towards the bottom. This usually is not as effective as letting there
fall straight down. Sure, bass being
bass, that glide might get more strikes
than a slack line fall. But usually,
letting the lure fall on a slack line is a
bazillion times more effective.
In April, in many of our Michigan
lakes, bass are coming up and feeding
as well as starting to check out spawning areas. Perfect places to find bass
are large flats with deep-water access
nearby and pods of weeds up on top.
Because lipless rattlers are heavy and
compact, you can cast them like a
bullet and a long wayanother reason
that they are a good tool now. You can
use them to cover a lot of water.
Red Eye Shads come in 1/4-, 1/2
and 3/4-ounce sizes and I generally
only throw the bigger two sizes in
spring. Much of the forage a bass eats
has survived a whole year and its bigger, so the bigger lures better match
the hatch on most waters. The other
reason, and you might have guessed
this, is the bigger baits fly farther
when I wind up and let the bait caster
rip, and I want to cover a lot of water
on each cast.
A 7-foot, 6-inch bait casting rod
maximizes long casts, and I like one
with an even, parabolic bend. I feel
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54
Blanket traders, like Mark and Joanne Dickinson (far left), spread a wool blanket or canvas tarp on the ground to
display the trade goods they had for sale. Wild Rivertree photos
in a white mop cap, blue petticoat and berry-stained
apron dickered with a trader for a new broom.
Across the way, a gray-haired woman outfitted in Indian dress shook out a red trade blanket
The smell of wood smoke perfumed the forest. Some participants camped in the shade of the hardwoods while others chose to dwell along the village streets.
David Connolly (left) and Butch Beltz (right) play a friendly game of cards in the early afternoon shade. The atmosphere at any rendezvous is always laid-back and relaxed, Beltz said.
rules for the shooting matches, knife and tomahawk
throwing contests and traditional archery competitions, along with a schedule of times and locations
for each event.
The Midwest booklet also included a map of
the entire rendezvous grounds, complete with a
grid of streets named after forest animals and
birds. Rather than separate the vendors on a designated traders row, the merchants were mixed
among the common camps.
Vendors sold trade silver, imported Venetian
glass beads, hand-sewn clothing, gun parts, rolls
of leather, forged knives and axes, brass, tin and
copper kettles, canvas goods, homemade soap,
beeswax candles and a host of other backwoods
sundries.
At the northeast corner of the canvas village, a
large walled tent housed a primitive kitchen with
three smiling cooks. On the patron side of a modest counter, rows of burgundy painted tables and
trestle-style benches formed a dining hall by day
and a candle lit tavern by night.
Skilled artisans plied their trade for all to see.
A lady spun wool into yarn; another finger-wove a
sash. A mother hemmed a daughters new petticoat;
a friend chatted as she made cordage with a lucet.
Children giggled and laughed as they played. A
woodsman cast lead balls beside the fire, and sitting
across from him, a militia-man swabbed the bore of
his Virginia fowler.
At the end of Bighorn Street a gentleman
scraped a cows horn smooth as he made a powder
horn. The candle maker dipped; the blacksmith
hammered; and the gunsmith carved. A stroll
through The Midwest, or any rendezvous, presents
visitors and attendees with a timeline of Americas
rich frontier heritage through a series of vignettes
of life from yesteryear.
The people at The Midwest didnt want a
rendezvous in a wooded area, because you cant lay
out the streets for the camps, Dennis Priddy later
said. But they came up to Michigan to look at
our site. Wed had a lot of rain. Roads were closed
flooded, but our clubs ground was dry. The soils
sandy here. They said We can make this work.
Volunteers from the club spent six months
preparing the site, clearing trees, trimming under-
55
By Mark Sak
opefully boaters
in Michigan will
be able to get on
the water soon. It is always a
longer winter when we have
a nice boat in the garage
and we start to see pictures on social
media of folks taking to the water in
other places. Our waters in Michigan
are nothing to toy with though. It
can be a very dangerous place. We
have all seen our share of boats being
towed back to launches and I have
towed a few in myself. Even the newest boats can have mechanical issues
so it is important steps are taken to
minimize these issues from happening. Now is the time to be preparing
or working the bugs out. Here are a
few tips I have learned over the years
to minimize these issues and decrease
potential critical situations on the
water.
Review all of the systems on your
boat. The batteries are an essential
focus during the preseason, especially
the cranking battery. All batteries
get weak as they age. It is advisable
they be tested under load. Cranking
over a 200 horsepower outboard puts
a whole lot of load on a battery. Just
seeing the green light on the battery
charger isnt enough. Most auto parts
stores can do this for free. Obviously
another way to test this out is launching on a smaller body of water and firing the engine up. I always back mine
in and start it while its on the trailer.
Does the volt gauge return to 12 to 14
volts if it starts?
If the volt gauge hangs around 6 to
8 volts the system either has a heavy
draw pulling on that battery or the battery is not being charged. This could
be a bad battery or a bad alternator. I
The author, Mark Sak had his boat rigged and ready to get on the early spring walleye.
pups that usually draw water from
the bottom of the transom to fill the
boats live wells with water. If any
water was trapped in these pumps for
any reason the cold weather can easily
crack the plastic pump or pvc line running to the outside of the boat. This
would have no different outcome than
having a hole in your boat and water
will most likely fill the bilge area very
quickly. Live well drains also fall into
this category as they drain water back
into the lake. A broken drain can fill a
boat up with water in 10-15 minutes.
Last but not least it is important to
Darrells
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57
A Michigan treasure
nation of experiences.
I used to hunt birds. Back in the
old days there were a lot of pheasants
but now they are mostly gone, he
said. In the late 60s we moved to the
country for the first time. We got a lab
and are now on our fifth one.
Stielstra began his guitar playing
by singing nursery rhymes to
his daughter Julie, who was
five at the time. That first
time I played the Ark in Ann
Arbor I played a song I made
up in the early 70s, he said.
Stielstra is one of those
rare individuals you meet
once in a lifetime that has
hardly any ego, are comfortable with whom they are and
a joy to be around.
They willingly share
their talent but are
reluctant to talk about their popularity
or accomplishments letting their music
speak for them. The newest song
Stielstra has written is about the UPs
Cutriver Bridge that crosses Highway
2.
Its beautiful around there in the
fall and was very moving for me to be
near it, Stielstra said.
Another Stielstra favorite is the
Manistee Waltz. Those that have flyfished this river will recognize familiar
names and places; Deward, Sharon,
Yellow Trees and others:
By Roger Beukema
58
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61
Dear Fish Diary - My Thoughts: Whether She Catches Any Fish Or Not...
62
Call Paul at
734-735-7271
www.dundeepheasantfarm.com
Dont treat her like she doesnt know anything, treat her like she knows everything.
Because she does, and the sooner you admit it, the easier your life is going to be.
orders before finally having to revolt
and do their own thing. So when
she reaches for a lure youre pretty
confident wont work, let her, because
you arent catching fish anyway. Its
not really mutiny, its boredom and
curiosity. This philosophy will only
humble you, because time after time I
get emails from women who have defied their know-it-all counterparts and
landed trophy fish using something
that shouldnt have ever worked in
the first place. Its called fishing not
catching. And sometimes it takes a
woman to defy all fishing logic.
And like it or not, that is exactly
what her intentions are on your fishing
voyage. She just wants to prove you
wrong. She will use that useless lure
for weeks and not catch a thing while
you limit out. Because the first time
she does catch something on that useless lure, youre going to hear...Ha, I
told you so!
It wont matter if you have caught
200 fish since she had been using that
lure. The point is, you told her it was
worthless and wouldnt catch a thing.
Ive seen this happen too many times
and know it to be true.
If she thinks smearing herself in
mayonnaise will keep the mosquitoes
off, then let her smear herself in mayonnaise. If she thinks dipping your
lures in jello will help you catch more
fish, then let her dip the lures in jello.
If she just wants to read a book
let her. You arent going to be right
anyhow so just let it go. Have fun, roll
with it brother you cant fight it so
why even try.
The point Im making here is to
just let her do her thing. We didnt
figure this fishing thing out overnight,
and she just might surprise you. And
whether she catches any fish or not,
SPRINGS COMING
www.CONTROLGEESENOW.com
63
about every
By John Eberhart used
conceivable location
roper location
preparation
can make the
difference in whether or not
you have success deer stories
to tell. While your on-foot
scouting only required the use of maps
and or a notebook, location preparation requires specific tools and a great
amount of physical labor. I finished
drywall for 14 years and like any
trade job, the more prepared you are
concerning tools; more thorough and
expedient the job will be done.
The ideal scenario is to be able
to pack in and carry the necessary
tools to totally prepare a location yet
be mobile enough to walk, wade,
or crawl through any type of cover.
Please note that I didnt say comfortably. Location preparation is a necessity that should be treated as a labor
of love and while you can dress at the
vehicle for comfort your preparation
ventures will likely not be.
Listed is the gear and tools required for properly and expediently
preparing hunting locations during
post season through May.
64
Saws
When it comes to saw blades the
cutting edge teeth on them make all
the difference in the world in cutting
time and sierra toothed blades, hands
down, outperform all others. I will
never look at a saw without a sierra
toothed blade and every saw mentioned has them. The length of the saw
blade also makes a huge difference in
cutting time due to the length of each
cutting stroke.
The author, John Eberhart, trimming loose bark from tree where he hangs in sling harness.
I have a 14 foot ($200) and a 21 foot
($300) extendable Silky saw and
neither has a rope pruner. They have
17-inch long blades making each cutting stroke very effective.
Corunna offers a couple extendable saws and the one I use is 14-foot
long when extended, has a tubular
fiberglass pole, a chain driven rope
pruner, and a 14-inch blade. Corunna
saws can be found or ordered at most
independent hardware stores for
around $50.
Hooyman offers a 5 and 10 foot
aluminum I-beam framed extendable saw and are commonly found in
sporting goods stores. The upside of
Hooyman saws is they collapse very
short with the 5 footer being 12 inches
and the 10 footer, 28 inches when collapsed. Their downside is they dont
come with a rope pruner and only
have a 7-inch blade or working stroke.
Backpack
On a typical location preparation
venture I carry everything other than
my extension saw and sheathed saw
in my backpack and like anything
else you get what you pay for when
purchasing a backpack. A well-made,
well-designed pack with well-padded
shoulder straps and padded waist
strap will aid in overall weight distribution and comfort when loaded.
For sheer comfort and the ability to take serious abuse, Bad Lands
packs are the best and they offer
many styles and sizes and come
with a lifetime unconditional warranty. I have used the same Bad
Lands daypack for over 20 years and
carry pointed tools, hatchet, 20 or
more sharp threaded edged steps and
oftentimes a cordless drill with extra
batteries and have yet to wear it out
beyond use. Its getting close however.
All the major stress point straps
are carried through to a second stitch
point and are reinforced stitched with
Kevlar thread. My favorites are their
Super Day and Recon ($150-$200).
Look at pack models that are
at least 1800 cubic inches and tall
enough to contain a hatchet and extra
sheathed saw.
A military pack would be my
second option as they are durable
whereas most inexpensive hunting
packs would wear out in a year or
two.
My Bad Lands location preparation pack is used exclusively for that
purpose as I use a Scent Lok carbon
lined backpack for hunting.
The following is a list of location
preparation tools and items carried
within my backpack:
Folding Handsaw
Ratchet Pruners
When I began using ratchet pruners ($10-$20) they were only available in the lawn & garden section at
hardware stores.
They work great for snipping
flimsy branches, brush, pricker
bushes, and stick weeds. Cutting any
of these with a saw usually requires
both hands, one to hold it in place and
the other to make the cut. With pruners that job can be done much faster
and with one hand.
The original Florian pruners are
my favorites but all brands work
about equally as well and are now
found in nearly every sporting goods
store.
Saws left to right are; a Coglan camp, Corunna camp, Corunna long folding, Corunna folding,
Wicked folding, and Realtree folding. Author photos
to the size of a softball, weighs a
a hatchet in a leather hammer loop
pound-and-a-half, and easily fits in
holder (found in hardware stores)
my hunting pack with all my other
and slide it on my belt next to my
layer garments and gear and I use the
sheathed saw.
same harness for every tree I have
No brand preference here but do
prefer a hatchet with a wide chopping prepared.
While I cant intelligently talk
blade and good handle grip.
about strap-on sticks, I do have
GPS
several brands of them that have been
For large public land areas you
given to me. While I dont use them,
may want to mark your locations on
I loan them out to my kids for bear
a hand-held GPS. For me this is just
hunting and they say the Lone Wolfs
a precaution in areas I dont hunt
are the lightest and best.
very often where there is always the
I use steps and while a bit more
possibility that someone removed my expensive, Cranford makes the
entry reflective tacks.
absolute best steps from a strength
and ease of use perspective, in every
Compass
category. Cranfords conventional rod
In dense timber and swamps
step ($5), single fold deluxe step ($5),
far from the sound of road traffic,
and double fold folding steps ($5.50)
its easy to get turned around and
are all simple to start and screw-in
I always carry a good compass for
and their folding steps have hardened
such occasions. Its also used when
pivot pins.
finished preparing a location to get a
Ive used every brand of steps
direct line to the road for making and
over
the years and while theyre
marking entry and exit routes.
much less expensive ($2 to $3 per rod
Belt
step) theyve all been very difficult to
A military style belt is used to
start into trees because they paint or
attach the sheath saw and hatchet
coat the threads.
to because they can be adjusted
Cranfords folding strap-on rope
(no gapped adjustment holes) to
steps ($10) are what I use on state
any length, theyre strong, and can
and federal lands as screw-ins are
quickly be adjusted when in awkward illegal. Climbing sticks also strap-on
positions while in trees.
and can be used anywhere as well.
Bow Holders
Cranford offers the best in this
category as well as the threads on all
their products screw in easier than
the competition. Since I face the tree
when hunting, I use Cranfords bow
and gun holder ($4) as they start and
screw in easily, dont bend in hard
trees, and are made of premium steel.
HME also offers a decent bow holder
($1.50) with easy to screw in tapered
threads.
Rope
A rope is used to pull my extendable saw up into the tree for cutting
out of reach branches in the tree that
could interfere with shooting lanes
65
Preparation tools:
from page 65
and it can also be used for hoisting
hang-on stands.
I carry a 40-foot, 3/8-inch diameter solid nylon rope (not poly core).
The large diameter rope is strong and
doesnt get tangled up as easily as
small diameter ropes do.
Reflective Tacks,
Ties, and Trail Markers
At no time and especially in the
dark do I want to take one step off
course when using entry and exit
routes that traverse through timber,
brush, marshes, or along difficult to
follow routes and use reflective markers to mark routes. In the 70s I bought
thumb tacks and put reflective fishing
lure tape over them.
White reflective tacks are offered
by many companies (around $5 for
50) and HME offers brown, and orange tacks as well, and HMEs are the
best because they use stronger pins on
their tacks and they rarely bend when
pushing into hard trees as many of
the other companies do. HME, Allen,
Eastman Outdoors, and Primos offer
white tacks and Hunters Specialty
offers white tacks and white reflective
bread ties.
The reflection from a white tack
can be seen from farther distances
than a brown or orange tack so they
are what I use most often.
Wherever trees, hard brush, or
hard-stemmed stickweeds are available I use reflective tacks and on limp
brush, tall weeds, marsh grass or cattails I use reflective bread style ties.
Hang-on reflective markers have a
much larger reflective area but due to
their cost and how easily they are for
other hunters to see, I dont use them.
I shy away from using flagging
tape for anything other than blood
trailing as its an eye sore in the
woods and an easy way for other
hunters to find and possibly set-up
near a location.
Knife
You never know when you may
need a knife.
Toilet Paper
66
Climbing Harness
This is the most important tool I
carry because when preparing trees
my life is supported by it. A climbing
harness has to be safe, comfortable
and allow you to have both hands free
for installing steps, cutting branches,
scraping bark, hanging sticks and
stands.
There used to be several climbing
harnesses on the market but due to
lawsuits likely from user error, liability insurance rates have skyrocketed
and hunting companies opted out of
the business. You cant fix stupid and
it only takes a few morons to destroy
a category for everyone.
The climbing harnesses I use were
made by API and they came with zippered side pockets for holding steps
and tools. I suggest Googling arborist
harnesses and choose one thats easy
to adjust. A company named New
Tribe makes a nice one called Aero
Hunter Evolution (is also a hunting
harness) and you can read some user
testimonials on the talk forum site:
saddlehunter.com
If needed side pockets can be
sewn onto any harness system at any
canvas or awning shop.
This completes my list of basic
tool requirements for location preparation but there are a few other items
I carry in my van just in case theyre
needed.
Chain Saw
Some private property owners
allow using a chainsaw and I carry
a 14-inch Stihl for those occasions.
When cutting shooting lanes a chainsaw can save a ton of time and energy. When tall trees are cut they have
to be cut into manageable lengths in
order to move them away from the
immediate area and a chainsaw will
make that job much faster and easier.
Canoe or Boat
On several occasions Ive used a
canoe or boat to access remote areas.
The best one person canoe is Radisons foam-lined, lightweight aluminum canoe and my 15-footer only
weighs a manageable 44 pounds and
came with oars and oar locks.
Next Month: Now you have the
equipment information; Johns preparation series continues in the May
issue with Location preparation.
John Eberhart is an accomplished
big-buck bow-hunter that specializes in heavy consequential hunting
pressure areas with 28 bucks listed in
CBMs record book from 19 different
properties in 10 different counties.
John produced a 3 volume instructional DVD series titled Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails and coauthored the books, Bowhunting
Pressured Whitetails, Precision
Bowhunting, and Bowhunting
Whitetails The Eberhart Way. They
are available at: www.deer-john.net.n
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67
TROPHY PAGES
Bryan Turner II (middle) caught this 42 inch, 20
pound northern pike Feb. 6 on White Lake with a
tip up and shiner fishing with (lt.) Justin Giddings
and Jeremy Holman.
Lilli
Stuart
bagged
her first
6-pt.
with her
crossbow at
11-years
old.
68
Ann M.
Lavery took
this beautiful 8-pt. Oct.
22, her second largest
buck with a
compound
bow!
Chris Robbins felt like he hit the lottery when he took this pair of 10pt. bucks on Oct. 2 in Antrim Co.
Jim Lyons
of Linden
took this 4
-year-old,
8-pt. with
a 17 inch
spread in
Manistee
Co.
Rob Koco of Westland took this 10pt. with a 16 1/4 inside spread on
Nov. 9 in Lake Co.
Nik Kenny
11, of Birch
Run, had
success
on his first
goose hunt,
thanks to
Ray Hoody
and gang.
Hunting
the
muzzleloader
season,
Joe Bastien, of
Columbiaville, took
the first
shooter he
saw since
Nov. 15,
this nice
trophy.
Xander
Traynor, 9
took this
dandy
8-pt.
buck in
Newaygo
Co. during
the youth
season.
State park interpreter Kevin Perry, left, works with a participant at an academy steelhead fishing clinic. MDNR photo
Academy director Ed Shaw instructs a student during a fishing class. MDNR photo
People want to learn about it, he said.
One big reason Smith got involved
at the academy is his interest in getting
kids and more women out on the ice.
That includes his wife, Teri, now in her
second year of ice fishing.
We always cater to children when
were out fishing, and often give them a
pole to help keep their interest, Berry
said.
Fellow academy pro staffer, and
Fish Bones Custom Lures owner, Matt
Peterson agreed.
We love the opportunity to teach
older people our techniques and tricks,
but most of all its about getting kids
out and showing them how easy it is if
you have the right equipment, Peterson
said. Get them off these Xboxes and
out in the field.
In addition to the expertise of the
academy pro staff, the DNRs own instructors bring considerable knowledge
to the table.
I give my staff a lot of credit.
Without them, the academy wouldnt
have happened, said Shaw, who cited
park interpreter and instructor Kevin
Perry as an example. Kevin knows
the Manistee River as well as anybody.
He can teach people what hes learned
in living here and fishing here for 30
years.
DNR wildlife biologists and conservation officers are also part of the team
that teaches students skills needed for
outdoor pursuits like bear hunting.
The Hunt and Fish Center had been
offering classes on outdoor activities for
several years. However, in 2014, Shaw
and his staff including Kevin Perry,
John Zakrajsek, Chuck Fales, Dennis
Hewitt and Ed Cieslinski originated
the academy.
More than 150 students many of
them new to hunting for bears attended the academys most recent bear
hunting clinics in August, the same
month the academy held its opening
ribbon-cutting ceremony.
One of those students, Eric Lardi,
ended up shooting a bear weighing over
300 pounds during a subsequent bear
hunt in Canada.
Lardi called the bear hunting clinic
an excellent introduction to hunting for
my grandkids.
The guides in Canada reinforced
everything said and I would not change
the class, Lardi said. The conservation officers experience was invaluable
to us, as to bear behavior and what to
expect.
Roger Kremers, a hunter and angler
from Rapid River who also attended
the bear hunting clinic, said he considers his day in the class well spent, even
though he didnt harvest a bear last fall.
Kremers said he learned a lot.
Very good information from the
biologist, Kremers said. He explained
very well how the bear population is
managed, how (the) DNR determines
the allotment of licenses, et cetera.
He said he also enjoyed the information provided by a DNR conservation
officer who explained how to take care
of a bear quickly following a successful
hunt and what to do with the bear hide.
Shaw said the Outdoor Skills
Academys unique brand of instruction
is bringing people from around the state
to Wexford County to attend classes. In
turn, the academy provides a boost to
the local economy.
The academys most recent Hard
Water School an ice fishing clinic held
in early January was filled to capacity, with about half of the participants
driving to Cadillac from locations as
far away as Farmington Hills, which is
just about 200 miles away in Oakland
County.
People are travelling in from other
parts of the state for classes, spending $400 or $500, Shaw said. Were
putting heads in beds people attending our programs are customers at local
hotels, restaurants and gas stations.
The next scheduled programs at
the Outdoor Skills Academy include
steelhead clinics April 2 and 9 and June
25, an open-water walleye clinic April
16, a turkey hunting class April 23, a
beginners fly fishing clinic May 21, a
beginners bass fishing clinic June 5 and
bear hunting courses July 30 and Aug.
7 and 13.
Peterson, who is also a duck and
goose hunting guide, said a late-summer
waterfowl clinic is in the works as well.
Students who take five Outdoor
Skills Academy classes get a graduation
certificate and their name listed on the
academy website. There is no age limit
for the class, but Shaw recommends
students be at least 8 years old.
There is a cost for most of the
classes ranging between $25 and $40;
others are free.
To learn more about
the Outdoor Skills Academy
or register for a class, visit
www.michigan.gov/outdoorskills.n
69
70
ideo games, computers and social media are just some of the outside influences pulling our children away from the
woods. The responsibility falls on all of
us, not just parents, but everyone that has
a passion for the outdoors.
There is nothing complicated about introducing
a kid to the outdoors.
In fact, its easy.
The hard part is keeping them interested, stimulating their attention during those early years can
be challenging.
Lane Walker
Even though the challenge is tough, its not
impossible. If you do it right, you might just have
a best friend and hunting buddy for life.
However, if it goes wrong, a child will see
hunting as boring.
There are some great ways to introduce kids to
the world of hunting and keep them interested, but
you might have to try some different approaches.
Not every youngster learns the same, or enjoys the
same things. As an educator for the past 14 years, I
have seen it firsthand. If your teaching isnt reaching the student, teach the way they learn best.
One key to keeping kids excited about hunting
Muzzle season,
quiet time please!
ten days.
Many deer hunters take advantage of the last few days of the rifle
season to fill the freezer. This is
good and should continue,
now lets give some of this
consideration to the muzzle
seasons.
Since the change in
our Zone 2 to start the first
Friday of December our
opening day experience has
significantly changed. We
are still experiencing
memories but not precious ones. We hunt
on private and some
heavily populated deer country and
practice serious Quality Deer Management since 1993, yet last years
opening day, 2015 our group of six
had three of us not seeing any deer
and for the first time. It got rather
warm later and nobody took venison
By Ed Spinazzola
One of the best investments you can make for your property is to schedule an
appointment with a natural resource professional to learn more about your forest.
potential long-lasting consequences
to the future health, productivity and
sustainability of certain private forestlands that are being over-looked? Are
there other alternatives to managing
the forest resource that better serve
the wildlife resource? Should private
forest owners be asking these same
questions before they set their actions in motion? At this point in time,
I would answer yes to each of these
questions.
As many of you will already
know, the term hinge cut refers
to cutting partially through a small
tree by only applying a back-cut so
that it can be tipped over, yet the
tree remains attached to the stump
and alive for a period of time. The
technique is commonly applied to
accomplish three objectives: 1) create
instant hiding places where deer will
bed; 2) provide a source of browse
in two formsfirst from the hinged
tree itself and secondly from the new
shoots and forage that spring up once
sunlight is allowed in; 3) and strategically felling trees to funnel deer past
a desired ambush location.
I have utilized the practice on
my own property albeit on a small
scale basis. Applying hinge-cutting
techniques to cull trees (undesirable species and those of poor form)
will increase deer cover, browse and
improve the overall health and quality
of the forest. Smaller trees generally
are more conducive to hinging and
far less dangerous to cut and tip over.
Some tree species are better suited to
hinging than others as well.
Hinge-cutting page 73
By Rick A. Lucas
CF CD Forester
71
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HUNT CLUB
Custom Gun Dog Training English Setters
HARD-FLYING PHEASANTS
In Good Cover
72
QUALITY ENGLISH
SETTERS
From 47 Years Of Selective Breeding
for
(Including Blues)
The author and his turkey caller and hunting buddy, his 7-year old
daughter pose with their 2015 spring turkey. Author photo
(Lunch Provided)
j.ohmer@yahoo.com
Enjoy
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73
Old Michigan
HUNTING GUIDES
By Jeff Pendergraff, retired Capt. MDNR
74
Top photo: A 1962 back tag hunting license. Bottom photo: Guide books from decades ago were much smaller than current hunting digests. Author photos
coyotes preying on fawns.
Small game license for a resident
was $3.10 and $20.10 for a non-resident.
In 1972, small game license went
up $5.10 for a resident and $20.10 for a
non-resident.
In 1974 and 1975 there was a combined digest for the two years. A deer
tag for a resident was $7.50 and $40
for a non-resident. An archery tag was
also $7.50 and a small game was $5 for
residents.
In 1976/1977 waterfowl digest a
state water stamp was $2.10.
Unfortunately, the 1976/1977 waterfowl digest was the last digest my friend
could find.
Its amazing how things have
changed. It wasnt until the late 1990s
that the law changed allowing hunters to
hunt from a raised platform.
The digests I looked at were very
small, just a few pages. Unlike today,
without the advertising and many more
pages!
In the 1976/1977 digest it lists the
Hunters Code of Ethics.
1) I will consider myself an invited
guest of the landowner, seek his permission, and so conduct myself that I may
be welcome in the future.
2) I will obey the rules of safe gun
handling.
3) I will obey all game laws and
regulations.
4) I will do my best to acquire those
marksmanship and hunting skills which
assure clean, sportsmanlike kills.
5) I will support conservation efforts
which can assure good hunting for
future generations.
6) I will pass along to younger hunters
the attitudes and skills essential to a true
outdoor sportsman.
They sound corny today when you
read them, but they are so true. If we
could just everyone to follow the Hunters Code of Ethics our sport would be
so much better off!
It took many years for the Sunday
hunting closures to be changed. The
camp deer permit which was abused by
OUTDOOR
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75
Jim Lyons of
Linden got this
black bear on
trail cam in
Manistee County.
76
Russ Videan of Tustin, Michigan sent us this trail cam of two small bucks
facing off.
Rick Krueger got
this picture of
a coyote in his
backyard using
a handheld trail
cam out his back
window.
Jake Hessler also sent us this ghostly pair of whitetail does fighting on their hind legs on trail cam.
Rich Perry of
Lowell was
able to get
this trail cam
picture taken
on public land
of a fawn
nursing.
77
Sporting Collectibles
By Terry McBurney
78
A near mint example of a green Hosmer Mechanical Froggie along with its original
box. Frank Baron collection
The underside of a Hosmer frog showing the belly plate, weedless hooks, stainless
steel center shaft and hinges. Michael Stevens collection
This extremely rare example of a Hosmer Mechanical Froggie in yellow with box sold
for over $13,000 at auction. Photo courtesy of Langs Sporting Collectibles
especially the smaller size, which retailed for less than $1. The Paw Paw
Bait Company did return the sample
of the Hosmer Mechanical Froggie to
him along with their rejection note.
John Hosmer, with his sons help,
invented and developed a classic lure
that was a marked improvement, a
better bait as compared to the frog
lures produced before theirs. Unfortunately, its complex design was difficult and expensive to produce. It also
must have proved hard to sell since it
was his only product. Furthermore, he
also ran into the challenge of getting
metal parts with the onset of WWII.
Regardless, his creation has proved to
be the most sought after mechanical
frog bait ever manufactured.
solder and glue were purchased locally. Final assembly was either done by
John alone or in tandem with his son.
Grandson, Jack, remembers many
Saturdays spent sitting on a stool in
his grandfathers basement listening
to the men talk while watching them
hand assemble the Hosmer Froggies.
This would move the timeline for
production starting in 1939 to at least
1946 and after WWII.
John did the final shaping of the
balsa wood parts, as well as all the
painting. The basic wood parts were
first given two or t coats of sealer
then painted with an oil-based paint
the final painting operation was a
coat of clear sealer to further seal and
waterproof the bait.
There were four different Hosmer
Froggie colors according to Walter
Hosmer. The most common color
was green frog with yellow and black
spots, while two other extremely rare
colors have been found and are in the
hands of a few fortunate collectors.
The first is a yellow frog with black
and red spots. The second is a silver
frog with black and yellow spots. The
fourth color mentioned by Walter
Hosmer in a 1988 interview was an
all-black model, which makes a lot of
fishing sense. An all-black Hosmer
Froggie would be the perfect lure
for night fishing. However, to my
knowledge, no black Hosmer Froggie
has turned up to date. To put this into
perspective, finding either a yellow
Froggie or a silver Froggie with a
box in very good condition, each lure
with box would sell for over $10,000
in todays market! Find the missing
all-black Froggie with a box in very
good condition, and the price could
double!
John Hosmer did patent his special frog. He applied for a patent on
May 22, 1939, just a month before he
caught the first black bass on his creation. Patent #2221381 was granted
to him on November 12, 1940.
No local or national ads appeared
to have been run promoting the Hosmer Mechanical Froggie, and no production records have survived, so no
one knows just how many John and
his son, Walter, built between 1939
and for a year or two after WWII.
John would have primarily sold them
locally in the Detroit area through
local sport shops or given them to
family and friends. The best guess is
less than five hundred were made.
The Hosmer Froggie that I appraised at the Novi Outdoorama was
owned by woman from Westland.
It originally was her fathers fishing
lure and was found in his tackle box
after he died. Her father had been
employed by the city of Dearborn and
worked in the department responsible
for surveying and engineering where
his path must have crossed with John
79
80
Brad Johnson, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife technician, releases a GPS-collared bull elk that will be tracked in northeast Michigan.
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81
f you want to develop your dog as a pheasant hunter, you should use
pheasants in your training regimen. Since the wild pheasant season is
very short and since there are very few pheasants anyway, youll have
to buy pheasants from a licensed gamebird breeder. This is all done
legally and the gamebird breeder will give you a shipping tag with his
license number and a date on it.
You can then use the pheasants you purchased for training your dog.
You can place the pheasant in a gamebird spring launcher which can
be operated mechanically or electronically depending upon the type of
launcher youre using. Place the launcher in the grass so its not visible to
the dog.
Then start working your dog downwind of the bird. When your dog
smells the bird as you work him into the scent cone, youll notice increased animation as he cocks his ears and extends his nose high. His general body language will tell you when he smells the bird. Whoa him. Place
the hitch around his hindquarters and tie your check cord to a sapling or
a whoa stake. Then flush the bird. You can shoot the bird once its in
flight. It was a lot of trouble setting all this up so dont miss the bird! If
you do, however, you cant go after the bird since once the bird is in the
wild he is then property of the state.
Now, if you do this on a licensed shooting preserve of dog training
ground, you can pursue the bird, relocate your dog and shoot the bird. Its
all legal. If you dont have a launcher, you can put the bird to sleep according to this procedure:
1)Tuck the head under a wing. 2) Hold the legs and thighs straight
back. 3) Holding the legs, grasp the tail by holding it down with your
thumb. 4) Place the bird flat on the ground with the breast down. 5) Place
your hand on the vertebrae just above the tail. 6) Let the weight of your
hand stay on the birds back (youll be able to tell when he falls asleep).
7) Make sure the bird remains still with both legs straight back. 8) Walk
away from the bird. 9) The bird should sleep for about ten minutes. 10) If
the legs move or the head comes out from under the wing, you did something wrong (you cant have any jerky movements as you put the bird to
sleep). 11) Try again youll get the right technique with a little practice.
12) After your dog is on point and holding, walk up to the bird and tap
him upward with your toe. 13) If your dog is a flush dog, let him flush the
bird. 14) If you do all this right, make the shot and drop the bird. 15) Have
the dog make the retrieve.
Now when you use pheasants in this manner, you must be smooth
and do the procedure just as described. If you dont do it exactly this way
it wont work. Since youre not going to dizzy or rock the bird, hell fly
hard and fast since he is not disabled in any way. If you miss the bird and
he flies off, youll get a good feeling knowing youve contributed to the
pheasant population (unless youre on a preserve). Hopefully youve purchased more than one bird. Try again. Practice makes perfect!
When you transport your birds have them in a low wooden crate so the
birds cant fly up against the top of the crate and scalp themselves. If you
dont have a crate, put the birds in a burlap bag. They wont get hurt.
If you want to purchase birds or if you want to see this technique
demonstrated, visit my preserve any Sunday bring your dog and shotgun. Youll be very pleased knowing that youve mastered this method of
planting pheasants for dog training or a hunt.n
82
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83
The Search
The Find
The authors pond turned out great too, with a bluegill and bass population already
The author is living the dream instead of just still dreaming. He walks right out the
back door to hunt, target shoot or fish, or enjoy other outdoor time. Author photos
bases as he sold us 14 acres of ground
not suited to farming, a small piece of
his large family farming operation.
We now had our property! We
closed on it in early 2013, not very
large to many people at 14 acres, but
big to those of us who never owned
more than a half-acre. Its beautiful
rolling terrain with steep woods and
marsh including adjacent pond potential, great location, road frontage and
even a perfect building site if we ever
got to that.
But Then
callofthenorth.com
Offering affordable,
exceptional, quality hunting
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ALERT
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"WINTER
CLEARANCE"
On Wood, Gas & Pellet
As the journey to accomplish the dream home out in nature accelerated, I started to
also obsess about making the once-in-a-lifetime effort even more complete and satisfying by trying to use almost entirely my home states sources of materials and work, and
leave a limited, nature-friendly footprint. OK, like the property itself these goals also
werent entirely noble. I simply needed to save all the money I could on utilities since
the project was already breaking the bank.
We used Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) manufactured by Porter SIPs in Holland,
Michigan, for the walls and roof. Surrounded by my favorite part of the project - cedar
log siding and interior cedar walls from Rapid River Rustic, in the UP. town of Rapid
River, using Michigan cedar from nearby cedar swamps. Insulated Concrete Form
blocks were used for the basement, from Harbor Design Center in Harbor Springs,
though I think the blocks themselves are manufactured in Elkhart, Indiana.
Heating and cooling is from a high-tech ductless heat-pump system designed for
cold climates, though were using a woodstove all we can in winter. The open layout of
the loft-style house distributes woodstove heat well. The approach also removed the
need for propane. We wanted to be less dependent on conventional energy sources so
electricity is the only utility. We might add solar panels or windmill power eventually
to help generate electricity. The heat pump is very efficient so far in terms of electric
costs, but currently seems to struggle if we dont also use the woodstove when temps
hit the single digits and below, which luckily isnt often in our part of Michigan.
All other sources were from Michigan, at least in the sense of the retail material sources, and definitely all the hands-on work. The major construction aspects,
an unusual build for our area with the SIPs, ICFs and cedar logs, were from Straight
Arrow Construction in Battle Creek, and all the subcontractors were from the area,
handled by either Straight Arrow or me. I did a fair amount of finish work and some
other aspects myself to save money, screwing much of that up and creating headaches
for others.
Incidentally the pond turned out great too, with a bluegill and bass population
already thriving while also serving as a wildlife magnet and the pond work was from
Mid-Michigan Ponds in Bath.
Overall this project of a lifetime just turned out fantastic, thanks to everyone involved, all of them my fellow Michiganders. Most of those I got to know along the way
were fellow outdoors enthusiasts as well, and we were all excited about accomplishing
this outdoors paradise. I almost cant believe we pulled it off and we couldnt be happier
with our dream house, property and pond and plan to enjoy the rest of our days here
in the great state of Michigan.
SPRING
BEAR HUNT
First in 17
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kubota.com
Goose Hunts
Youth Deer Hunts
Turkey Hunts Coyote Hunts
Whitetail Hunts
85
Questions/Answers
86
Editors Note: Tricia Autens column was incorrectly published in the March 2016 issue.
We apologize for the error and encourage readers to join Pretty Hunter and Williams Gun
Sight (in Davison) for a Ladies Self Defense Night, March 24, 6:30 call 248-770-7988 to
register. For more information; prettyhunter.com and williamsgunsight.com
recently have given a lot of thought to how prepared I would be if
someone were to break into our home, moreover, how prepared my
kids would be if faced with that situation. This thought has come
and gone over the years and I have shoved it in the corner, not doing anything about it, concluding that the likelihood of that happening is pretty slim.
Just because one might live in an area where folks dont ever lock
their doors and the crime rate is low does not mean that it wont happen. As for the families that live out on a quiet piece of property, a
few acres, complete privacy, they also are not exempt from bad people
coming onto their land.
God forbid anything like that happen to anyone, but what if it did?
How prepared would you be?
Where do you start when it comes to talking to kids about preparedness against bad people? Perhaps we enlighten them that BAD
PEOPLE do exist and help them to not be nave when it comes to this.
In the world today, we tend to think we protect, when a lot of times we
shelter our children from the world and they may not know entirely
what is out there. Help them to understand what could happen if a bad
person were to try and invade your home.
Then talk about where would be the smartest place in your home to
go if someone broke in. Because the reality is most of us didnt figure
in a panic room in the blueprints! I was really impressed when I had
this conversation with my clan! The input from the kids was logical
and made good sense, as a family we confidently determined what
part of the house made the most sense to
retreat to if someone uninvited entered.
Next step is talking about defense. I
am going to try and summarize the best
I can after doing some research I now
realize this could be a five-part article
itself! There some great suggestions out
there from various sources, formulating
what weapon would be the best for you
and your family, but every family and
their house have several variables that
are different. So what may work for Joe
Schmoe down the way who swears by his
super heavy, tricked out AK may not work
for you!
A few of my favorites are a 9mm with
a larger capacity magazine, intruders usually have help, so I increase my chances
of stopping all of them and ensuring my
familys safety. Furthermore, a 9mm with
13 rounds vs. a 45cal with 7 bullets could
save your life.
Another favorite gun that makes a
lot of sense for women and children is a
simple and light 20 gauge. I am going to
speak for most all women when I say that
if you are face to face with an intruder
and your children are behind you is that
one arm is holding that gun and the other
is on the children. So ladies choose a gun
that you can manage with one hand.
No matter what weapon you determine is best for you and your familys
safety, get to know your weapon! Use it,
and learn how to correct a malfunction.
Just having a gun in your house does not
make you proficient with it.
I sincerely hope this provokes some
thought when it comes to the safety of
your family in your home and what precautions and defense you may choose to
ensure that safety. Watch for more on this
topic in articles to come!n
WANTED
FOR SALE
A TEMPUR-PEDIC MEMORY
FOAM MATTRESS SET.
Clean. Never used. As seen on TV.
Cost $1700. Sell for $695. 989-8322401. M-4-14-TFN
................................................
AN
AMISH
LOG
HEADBOARD AND QUEEN
pillowtop mattress set. New. Sell all
for $275. 989-923-1278.
M-4-14-TFN
................................................
AMISH LOG BEDS, ANY
SIZE $199. 5 drawer log chest
$199. Good quality. Lowest prices in
Michigan. 989-839-4846. M-4-14TFN
................................................
LOG BUNK BEDS. $495. Amish
lodge furniture. Call Dan 989-8321866. M-4-14-TFN
................................................
TIMBER: Buying all types of timber, 5 acres or more, top price paid.
Cash in advance. Improve wildlife
habitat. Patco Forest Products, 989539-7588 after 6 p.m.
W-7-12/15
................................................
BOATS
40 SEASONAL BOAT SLIP
on the Cheboygan River/Island
Waterway. Private Dockominium
community. Bathhouse, water, electric, dedicated parking. Easy access
to Lake Huron, Mullet Lake, Burt
Lake and beyond. Steps to downtown, shopping, restaurants. $2000.
Call or text 517-712-0448.
B-3-2
................................................
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This effective advertising is simple to do, place your ad by . . .
Calling 800-387-7824 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
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Faxing your ad 810-724-8552
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Classifieds MUST be paid in advance of publishing; MasterCard, Visa accepted. Make
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T = Taxidermy
TK = Trucks
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W = Wanted
FISHING
POND SUPPLIES: Live gamefish for stocking. Large selection of
lake, pond and water garden supplies. Free catalog! Stoney Creek,
Inc., Grant MI, (800) 448-3873,
www.stoneycreekequip.com F-4-7
................................................
CANADIAN
FISHING
TRIP. Want to go fishing?
Book early and save. One of
Ontario's best multiple fish
lakes, fish for Walleye, Northern, Small Mouth, Lake Trout,
Perch and other fish. Well
spaced out log & framed cabins, boats have electric start 15
hp Yamaha 4 stroke motors,
depth finders and swivel seats.
$399 U.S. funds if booked before March with a group of 4 or
more (2 people per boat) www.
northernwalleyelodge.com or
toll free 1-877-434-2440. F11-TFN
NAME
ADDRESS
CITYSTATEZIP
DAYTIME PHONE NO.
VISA/MASTERCARD#EXP:
CLASSIFICATION OF ADMONTHS TO RUN
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
(7)
(8)
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(11)
(12)
(13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)
87
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$30.00
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$32.00
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$35.25
$35.50
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$36.00
$36.25
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$36.75
Enclosed is $for
words to runmonths.
RESORTS/RENT
HUNTING
KENTUCKY DEER HUNTS. I
provide four day hunts. Thousands of
acres. Farm stands. Lodging.
Nation's top big buck areas. $795.
270-213-0528. H-4-1
................................................
2016 MICHIGAN BLACK
BEAR HUNTS. Newberry/
Gwinn B.M.U. 1st, 2nd, 3rd seasons. Seven day hunt/lodging/
stands/skinning/tag/sealing
bear. Year around lodge. Great
area for fishing, grouse hunting
and 4-wheeling. Convenience
store, 39 years of business.
State and Federally licensed.
Contact: Tom Losiewski, North
Country Hunting Adventures.
1-269-330-0480. Like us on
Facebook. H-4-5
HUNTING
SEASONAL-ONLY CAMPING
Private, gated paradise on Big
Manistee River offers large, wooded
sites, full hook-ups, easy access to
Lake Michigan beaches. Long season. Gorgeous newly built sites!
Coho Bend - 231-723-7321
www.cohobend.com R/R-4-7
................................................
50 ACRES totally private lake in
Western Lake County near Branch
on 2000 acre family preserve. 3
bedroom cottage with boats, beach,
large dock, swim raft, swings, fire pit,
etc. Excellent fishing for bass, pike,
trout and panfish. Miles of streams
and hiking trails. Caretaker lives on
property 1 mile away. $950 week.
248-559-7744. R/R-4-2
................................................
PICKEREL
LAKESIDE
CAMPGROUND
AND
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
................................................
WANT TO LEASE
LOOKING FOR EXCLUSIVE
ANNUAL HUNTING LEASE in
SW or South Central MI. Minimum of
80 acres and will pay up to $25/acre
for quality habitat. Father/son combo
wanting to establish long term relationship. Over 20+ years of successful leasing relationship experience.
269-312-8761. HL-2-4
................................................
REAL ESTATE
CONDO LOT/PERMANENT
BOAT
SLIP.
$18,500. Build single ranch
later. Connected to 7 other
lakes = 18 miles of boating.
WATERFRONT lot/boat slip
$48,500.
eastshores@
torchlake.com. www.northernmichiganwaterfronthomes.com.
Cell 313-570-9362. RE-4-2
REAL ESTATE
61 ACRES, full-service cabin
sleeps 10, pond, creek, wooded,
secluded retreat, sheds and stands,
snowmobiling, Osceola County,
$159,000 989-365-3796, 616-2321734. RE-4-1
................................................
40 ACRE WOODED ACRE
PARCEL Excellent hunting 1320 x
1320 paved road frontage Jasper
Townshp Midland County Section 13
possible land contract asking
$99,900 call 989-681-3312 or email
carolaaldrich@yahoo.com RE-4-3
................................................
AN
ABSOLUTELY
IMMACULATE
HOME
THAT IS TRULY TURNKEY! This 3 bedroom, 2 bath
ranch has been meticulously
cared for over the last 11 years
of ownership with many updates
made to the home. Back deck
overlooking 2 acres which
backs up to a blueberry field for
added privacy. 2.5 car garage
and a new 12'x16' shed. This
place is ready to go! Call John
Stanley at (989) 876-8171 for a
tour today!
RE-3-3
LOG CABIN ON THE
MANISTEE RIVER (Fly Fishing
only section -- shallow river) family
fun all year around cabin,12303 Cold
River Dr SE, Fife Lake, MI 49633) 2
bedrms, with a large Loft and 1 full
bath 1100 sqft (TURN KEY) many
updates; metal roof, boiler heat and a
wood stove, 25x50 pole barn, 50 feet
from river see add on craigslist for
pics-under log cabin-northern MI.
734-395-5421 RE-4-1
................................................
PREMIER OUTDOORSMAN
PROPERTY. 20 wooded acres,
nature trails, borders state land by
McCormick Lake (rainbows, browns,
smallies). Montmorency County.
2008 Sweetwater home, log siding,
hickory cabinets, central heat/air,
walk-out basement, outside wood
burner plus hunting cabin and
garage. Wildlife paradise (deer, turkey, grouse, bear, elk). ORC trails
nearby. $195,000. 989-858-1182.
RE-4-2
................................................
40 ACRES. Wooded/brushy,
about 1/4 mile from Taquamenon
River. Surrounded on two sides by
miles of public land by Newberry.
Owner 231-215-3098. $45,000.
RE-4-1
................................................
15.68 ACRES, PINE-FILLED
FRONT, Sits high, over-looking a
wildlife bog. 50% wooded 518 x
1332 Goodland Twp. Lapeer
County $64,000. Just Land Sales
586-419-6716. Facebook.com/justlandsales. RE-4-1
................................................
GREAT 10 ACRE HUNT
CAMP. 2 Elevated blinds in place.
330 x 1324, 50% wooded. Lynn Twp.
St Clair County. $43,000. Just Land
Sales 586-419-6716. JustLandSales.
com RE-4-1
................................................
Classifieds Work!
810.724.0254
REAL ESTATE
DOGS
WATERFRONT RESORT: A
throwback to the past, this is a great
opportunity to own an operating
resort on the shores of Paradise
Lake just south of Mackinaw City.
Turnkey resort business comes with
professional website and large book
of repeat business and opportunity to
grow. Could make a fun family retreat
or operate as a business. #445607,
$394,900 Bill Winslow (231) 8385263 Coldwell Banker Schmidt
Realtors 420 Hoard St. Petoskey.
RE-4-1
................................................
16.79 ACRES TREE-LINED
FARMLAND, with 2 Road Fronts
641 x 1181 with 192 on Vandyke
Evergreen Twp. Sanilac County.
$62,500. Just Land Sales. 586-4196716. facebook.com/justlandsales
RE-4-1
................................................
134 ACRES CAPAC AREA,
is leased for farming, the other
is deer country. Huge sanctuary, lots
of ambush funnels. 2640 x 221940% wooded Mussey Twp. St Clair
County. $419,000. Just Land Sales.
586-419-6716. JustLandSales.com
RE-4-1
................................................
40
SQUARE
WOODED
ACRES, excellent hunting, a creek.
& 2 Rd. Frontages 1320 x 1320
90% wooded. Burnside Twp., Lapeer
County. $102,000. Just Land Sales.
586-419-6716. facebook.com/justlandsales RE-4-1
................................................
40 ACRES, 3 buildings, small
pond, 2 wells, cedar swamp, 70%
Wooded, Avery Twp., Montmorency
County, Atlanta, MI. $60,000. Just
Land
Sales.
586-419-6716
JustLandSales.com RE-4-1
................................................
SELLERS, It is time, to put your
Hunting Land, on the market. We are
here to help you. Just Land Sales.
586-419-6716. JustLandSales.com
RE-4-1
................................................
36 ACRES. Near Torch Lake,
Traverse City, Charlevoix. Mostly
wooded. 2 bdrm like-new home.
Quiet. Wildlife. $145,000. 9012
Manley Rd. Alden MI www.aldenproperty.shutterfly.com (269) 7205264. RE-3-2
................................................
40 WOODED ACRES - surveyed and fenced with three elevated
blinds. Gladwin, MI. Asking $72,000
Call 734-854-6904 and leave a message. RE-2-3
New Subscription
Renewal
(Please attach mailing label)
One year $29
&
P o s t a g e
I n c l u d e d
NAME
NAME
ADDRESS
ADDRESS
CITYSTATEZIP
CITYSTATEZIP
Check/Money Order Visa/Mastercard - Card #Exp. Date
Send to: Woods-N-Water News
P.O. Box 278 Imlay City, MI 48444
Or Call (810) 724-0254
GERMAN SHORTHAIR
POINTER PUPS: Males
and females available. Excellent hunting dogs and superb
family pets. Close working dogs
with strong point and retrieve
instincts. Reasonably priced for
the sporting family. Money back
guarantee. Eulenhof Kennels,
Gladwin, MI.
http://www.eulenhof.com
989-426-4884 D-3-2
Heres your
guide to
success!
88
SECTION
Pages 89-97
TIMING IS EVERYTHING!!!
VERY RARE LAKE FRONT - On Hillview Lake, east of Big Rapids, 23 acres,
cabin and 1700+ feet of waterfront. Family, Corporate, Development potential. $449,000
HUNTING AND
INVESTMENT PROPERTY
MUSKEGON RIVER SOUTH OF BIG RAPIDS - THE VIEW worth 10x the price,
great boating. Newly renovated. This is a Knock-Out Waterfront property. $169,900
YOUNGS LAKE - Delightful year round, 2-3 bedrooms, one bath. Great
view from both decks, 20x40 garage with work/shop area. $89,900
DISCOUNTED 35%
LAJAMBE
ENTERPRISES INC.
Jack Frizzell
(231)598-6700
http://jackfrizzell.fivestarmichigan.com
PARCEL #1
60 Acres Vacant Farmland
51 Tillable Acres
Small pocket of woods
Good mixture of soils
Plastic tile at 50 spacing
Good drain outlets
Not in PA-116
Farm NOT rented for 2016
Surveyed property
Section #19
Elba Twp.
Gratiot Co.
Section #24
Washington Twp.
Gratiot Co.
PARCEL #2 PARCEL #3
37.5 Acres vacant farmland
Approx. 25 tillable acres
Nice woodlot at back of farm
Good mixture of soils
Plastic tile at 50 spacing
Good drainage outlets
Not in PA-116
Not rented for 2016
Surveyed property
616-566-7713
EXCLUSIVE
RESORT FOR SALE
LOST ARROW RESORT
Hunting is
superb on
this land, at
least 1 deer
off it for the
last 25 years,
usually 3 or 4.
1320 ft X 3960
ft. Asking
$500,000. Call
Sharon @ 810441-6002 or
810-798-8591
$199,900
$500,000
Sharon LaFrance
810-441-6002
Im not #1, you are.
MAINSTREET
844 Van Dyke ALMONT
www
.landncanada.com
PENNEFATHER UNORGANIZED TOWNSHIP - 560 Acres mixed hardwood, Hunt cabin, trails, hills, bear moose deer.
$149900. Cdn = $107928. US Funds*
(705) 256-0680
Broker of record
DEER CAMP
89
Carole Porretta
3628 THORNVILLE
!
ED
UC
D
RE
5186 CURTIS
4363 THORNVILLE
3248 SUTTON
90
Genesee Rd...........$269,000
Elba Twp, 43 Acres
Medford Hills...........$55,000
Metamora Steeplechase Beauty
E Sutton Road.......$598,000
Metamora, 90 Acres
This 2000 cedar log cabin sits on a slight hill overlooking 120 acres of good hunting with
jack, red & white pines on mounds surrounded by cedar, spruce & tamarack. There are
trails though the land with 3 permanent hunting blinds. Bear, grouse & deer (incldg 2
commemorative bucks) have been taken here. The Sturgeon Hole Creek runs through &
is rated as a trout stream by the MDNR. The cabin is open & bright & comfortable enough
for hunters' wives! It was carefully built & meticulously maintained. There are 2 propane
cook stoves, a large bunk-style bedroom on the main floor, & more sleeping area in the
loft. There's also a sauna, an outhouse & a root cellar. The appliances, generator, & all
the (really nice!) furnishings are included. There's no human noise here to irritate, just the
birds & other sounds of Nature! Price GREATLY Reduced to $ 139,000
Metamora Golf and Country Club, Several lots available starting at $28,900
231-652-7000
- or -
231-250-8200
349,000
40 ACRES,
MECOSTA
COUNTY
12 Acre
Private Lake,
5,000 sq ft House
349,900
80 ACRES,
MIDLAND
COUNTY
House, Barns,
Pond, 25 Ac.
Tillable
NG
I
ND
E
P
Allegan County, 59+/- Acres. Good Trail Arenac County, 146 Acres Rifle River &
System, Excellent Deer & Turkey Hunting Saginaw Bay Access, Tri-Level House
$399,999
$99,900
G
IN
D
N
PE
Jackson County, 53.5+/- Acres 2,000 ft. Jackson County, 162 Acres CRP Program, 6 Elevated
Grand River Frontage, Trail System
Blinds, 115 Ac. Tillable, Pond, Big Buck Country
$199,000
$599,000
Lake Co, 5 Acres, 1,200 ft. Middle Branch Lake County, 330 Acres, Good Trail
Pere Marquette River, Rustic Cabin
System, Food Plots, Sm Creek
$68,000
$399,000
Mecosta Co 28 ac 1320
Chippewa River, Nice Cabin
$150,000
NG
I
ND
E
P
DI
EN
NG
Schoolcraft County,
2282 Acres Fox River Frontage
$570,500
WildLifeRealty.com
www.
91
FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY!!!
TARGET REAL ESTATE SPECIALIZES IN
WATERFRONT HOMES AND HUNTING PARCELS
WE REPRESENT BUYERS AND SELLERS
EAST TAWAS
WHITTEMORE
MLS#1806925
Listed at $259,900.00
MLS#1778247
Listed at $195,000.00
GREENBUSH - REDUCED TO $44,900, Nice square 40 acre parcel joining Federal and State land. This area has
proven to hold quality bucks over the past years, QDM is practiced here. MLS#1799955
GREENBUSH - $59,900, 45 acres of hunting land off the beaten path. This rolling parcel is heavily wooded with hardwoods and evergreens. Call today. MLS#1799569
GREENBUSH - $79,900, 50 acres of prime hunting land situated just north of Oscoda. Gated entrance to this park-like
setting wildlife sanctuary! Many trails for easy access, several additional cleared areas for camping, food plots or building sites.
There could be potential value in standing timber as well. Power and natural gas available at the road. MLS#1809059
MIKADO - $89,900, 61 acres of prime hunting land. Joins State land and agricultural land. Trails thru-out the heavily
wooded parcel with hardwoods and Tag Alders, and openings for food plots. MLS#1806759
EAST TAWAS - $125,000, 200 Of Lake Huron frontage accompanies this 9.87 acre parcel in AuSable Dunes Estates. Sandy beach frontage, partially wooded, some wetlands. MLS#1789219
AU GRES - $149,000, 71 acres of hunting land surrounded by other camps. Areas of thick swamp with some ridges and
road frontage with power. Lots of deer and turkey in this location. MLS#1809806
This is what you have been waiting for! OVER 150 FT. OF
LAKE HURON FRONTAGE!!! NICE SANDY BEACH FOR
EVERYONE TO ENJOY!! There are 6 vacation cabins and 1
residence with this property ranging from 1 bedroom to 3
Bedroom. 3 of the units have water frontage.Oscoda is a vacation destination for many with Huron National Forest close
by so your guest can hike, bike,
ATV, and fish, not to mention
that Lake Huron is at your door step for swimming. The AuSable
river is down the road for canoeing. There is an annual canoe
marathon in July. For the last 15 to 20 years the same guest have
returned to the resort. The rental season is between May-Oct. No
pets or smoking were allowed in the units. There is WiFi access
and cable for each unit. All appliances, furniture, and linen are
staying. There is a main home that is currently used as one of the
rentals. If you are thinking of being your own boss, this property
would be a great place to start.
TARGET REAL
ESTATE COMPANY
PROFESSIONALS
THOUSANDS OF
ACRES AVAILABLE
FROM $5500 TO $526,000.
92
Holly Caron
708.663.0968
Cheryl Almstadt
586.909.1142
$154,900 1083871
$209,000 1089107
$218,900 1089445
$149,900 1084088
$139,900 1086911
$63,900 1083817
$29,900 1088477
$185,000 1089004
$399,000 1090655
2 Bdrm, 1 bth home or camp. 10 Acres, great country setting. 26x50 Pole bldg. All appliances. Arnold.
$104,900 1090757
$59,500 1090852
$139,900 1090258
THE LAND
EXPERTS
YOU CAN
TRUST
CALL US FIRST!!
www.TrophyClassRealEstate.com
120 ACRES - WILD GROUND OFF THE GRID IN THE BIG SKY AREA OF THE UP
Located in the
Big Island Wilderness Area
and near Klondike Lake in
the UP. Cabin
has
water,
LP gas lights,
wood stove.
Rustic Lodge,
Bunk House,
pond, adjoins
National Forest & Lake 16,
tried & true
hunting, food
plots, tower
blinds.
4 Bedrooms/4 Baths.
Gorgeous walk-around
field-stone
fireplace,
high end interior finishes, pond with small
island, 30x64 Pole
building/workshop,
3
car heated garage,
finished walkout lower
level.
24 WOODED/TILLABLE ACRES
VISIT OUR
BOOTH!
4249 US 31
SOUTH TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49685
(231) 233-3575
VISIT OUR
BOOTH!
877-843-0910
93
statewiderealestate.net
Houghton
Marquette
Curtis
Manistique
Escanaba
Powers
Menominee
Marinette
Newberry
Fife Lake
Onaway
Hawks
Hillman
Alpena
Atlanta
Harrisville
Mio
Oscoda
Skidway Lake
Clare
Almont
Linden
Howell
HAWKS
8383 Hwy. 451, 49743
email: rita8383@yahoo.com
989-734-4846
ALMONT
844 Van Dyke Road
lafrancesharon@yahoo.com
810-798-8591 Fax: 810-798-8079
HILLMAN
14938 State Street, P.O. Box 98, 49746
email: statewidehillman@yahoo.com
989-742-4523 800-228-7856
Fax: 989-742-3931
CLARE
308 E. 5th Street, 48617
email: statewideclare@voyager.net
989-386-3396 Fax: 989-386-3800
HOUGHTON
500 Shelden Ave., 49931
email: dick@statewideofhoughton.com
906-482-6955 800-676-6323
Fax: 906-482-7699
CURTIS/NEWBERRY
Main Street, P.O. Box 305, 49820
email: swcurtis@sbcglobal.net
906-586-9606 Fax: 906-586-9607
ESCANABA
2209 Ludington Street, 49829
email: escanaba@statewiderealestate.net
906-786-1308 800-900-0777
Fax: 906-786-1388
94
FIFE LAKE
127 State Street, P.O. Box 190, 49633
email: swfife@charterinternet.com
231-879-4471 Fax: 231-879-4362
HARRISVILLE
430 S. US-23, 48740
email: sold@anjstatewide.com
989-724-5711 800-655-5735
Fax: 989-724-6833
HOWELL/LINDEN
1285 S. Michigan Ave., Howell, MI 48843
email: statewid@earthlink.net
517-546-9060 800-531-4449
Fax: 517-546-9148
IRON MOUNTAIN - KINGSFORD
112 S. Carpenter Ave., Kingsford, 49802
906-828-9079
MANISTIQUE
10 N. State Highway M-149
Cooks, MI 49817
906-644-2304
email: dekeysermary@yahoo.com
MARINETTE, WISCONSIN
1460 Marinette Ave., 54143
email: statewidemarinette@yahoo.com
715-735-9964 Fax: 715-732-1107
MARQUETTE
856 W. Washington, 49855
email: sw@statewiderealestate.org
906-228-9312 Fax: 906-228-8069
MENOMINEE
3631 10th Street, 49858
email: statewideone@newbc.rr.com
906-863-9905
Fax: 906-863-7935
MIO
102 West 8th St., P.O. Box 395, 48647
email: info@statewidemio.com
989-826-3292
Fax: 989-826-2108
ONAWAY
M-33 & M-68,
P.O. Box 478, 49765
email: bigdan@frontier.com
989-733-6522
Fax: 989-733-2427
OSCODA
335 South State St., 48750
email: lakehuronsw@chartermi.net
989-739-2050
Fax: 989-739-2280
POWERS
W3776 US2 & 41, 49874
906-497-4190
Fax: 906-497-5328
holly@statewiderealestate.net
SKIDWAY LAKE
2228 Greenwood Rd.,
Prescott, 48756
email: atlas@m33access.com
989-873-3601
Fax: 989-873-6914
IG RIVER
PROPERTIES
Whitetail Realty,
Lake City, MI
231-839-8142 or
office@lakecityrealestate.com
lakecitymirealestate.com
WEST BRANCH
M-33/M-55 OFFICE
1953 S. M-33
West Branch, MI 48661
HALE
OFFICE
ALE
S
R
O
Local: 989-345-2662
Toll Free: 800-535-6520
WEST BRANCH
LOOP OFFICE
ALE
S
R
O
www.CAHANES.com
Local: 989-728-2540
Toll Free: 800-495-2540
www.CAHANES.com
Local: 989-345-0315
Toll Free: 866-345-0315
1800427
1805259
1809936
1803086
SOOTHING
MULESHOE
LAKE!!
BEAUTIFUL
CUSTOM
BUILT LOG
HOME!!
ALL SPORTS
HENDERSON
LAKE!!!!
BEAUTIFUL
RIVER
FRONT!!
CANAL
FRONTAGE!!
$67,900
$89,900
$89,900
$99,900
$99,900
1808082
1811189
1809583
1802657
1784779
FOREST
LAKE!!
GREAT
TROUT
FISHING!!
POPULAR
SAGE
LAKE!!
TRANQUIL
'NO WAKE'
LAKE
SPECTACULAR
VIEWS!!
1800 square foot, 3-bdrm home, full walkout basement, all sports Lake Ogemaw, patio and deck for
relaxing, wood stove, appliances and much more!!
$119,900
$134,900
$139,900
$140,900
$159,900
1807867
1810533
1811285
1812240
OVER HALF
ACRE ON LAKE!!
ON CHANNEL
TO LAKE!!
330 ACRE
ALL SPORTS
LAKE!!
ALL SPORTS
LAKE
OGEMAW!!
$164,900
$164,900
$165,000
$179,900
$199,900
1797440
WATERFRONT
& ACREAGE!!
1798185
1795962
1799155
CANAL AND
LAKEFRONT
WATERFRONT
SALTBOX!!
IMMACULATE
MUST SEE!!
$219,900
$264,900
1798150
1801737
GORGEOUS
CAPE COD!!
BEST OF BOTH
WORLDS!!
68+ feet of frontage, all sports Lake Ogemaw, 3-bdrm, 4 ba, full walkout bsmt, garage, some furnishings, AC, FP, lakeside
patio, 2 docks and so much more!
10+ BEAUTIFUL ACRES and 369 water frontage on Silver Lake, 4-bdrm, FP, skylights,
custom cabinets, family room, garage, 2 pole
barns, gorgeous views!
$284,900
$289,900
$325,000
1797910
1808492
1811195
NEAR IT
ALL!!!
HOUGHTON
LAKE!!
1807454
1803706
JOHNSON LAKE
ACCESS!!
POSSIBLE 3
BEDROOM!!
LITTLE
LONG LAKE
ACCESS!
$22,900
$23,900
$43,500
$49,900
$49,900
1781909
BUSH LAKE
ACCESS!!
1791169
NOT TOO
FAR FROM
LAKE!!
$49,900
$55,900
1802608
1807023
NICE VIEW OF
HARDWOOD
LAKE!!
WALK
TO LOON
LAKE!!
1799953
ALL
SPORTS
GEORGE
LAKE!!
Deeded access with this cozy 2-bdrm,
on almost AN ACRE, large shed, movein ready, newer well & newer roof, some
furnishings, porch, deck & more!!
$57,900
$99,900
$124,900
WWW.CAHANES.COM
95
RANDY MINTO
REALTOR
1,095,000
Direct:
810.449.1286
OGEMAW COUNTY
Own your own Marina! Located on a 600-acre Private All-Sports Lake.
2 Large Storage Buildings, 16 Boat Slips, Turn-key operation. 225 ft of
Lake Frontage. Avalon Pontoon Dealer. $650,000
- OR Office:
810.653.4500
66 ACRES
DEER
&
NATURE
90 ACRES
AWESOME HUNT CLUB
OVER ONE MILE ON THE MUSKEGON RIVER
Over 500 feet on Muskegon River
$89,900
$239,900
LOVERS
156.66 ACRES
DREAM
PROPERTIES
ALCONA COUNTY
PRIME HUNTING!
128 ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY
Newly Renovated, 41 tillable acres, 3 ponds, 65% Wooded. Great
Development & Commercial Possibilities. A Rare Gem! $599,900
PRICE REDUCED
$1,350,000
34 ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY
80-100 DEER
20-25 TROPHY BUCKS
HURON COUNTY
LAKE FRONT
ALCONA COUNTY
$199,000
$185,000
257 ACRES
ENJOY OVER
11,000 ACRES
& 5 LAKES
200 ACRES
IN THE UP
ALPENA COUNTY
AMAZING
PREVIOUSLY
PHEASANT
PRESERVE
1/4 MILE ON
ST. MARYS RIVER
840 ACRES
CHIPPEWA COUNTY
Cozy log cabin with loft. Beach frontage. Secluded,
Great Hunting, Fishing, Boating.
$229,000
3 ACRES
GENESEE
COUNTY
10 ACRES
Beautiful updated,
2,000+sq ft home. 70% Wooded.
Davison.
$249,900
GENESEE COUNTY
MECOSTA COUNTY
Amazing setting, log home on
Chippewa River.
$235,000
SANILAC COUNTY
10 ACRES
OAKLAND
COUNTY
GENESEE
COUNTY
4,400 SQ. FT 6BD, 3.5BA LOG HOME, & Pool House. Great for entertaining
& Hunting. Deer Hunter & Nature Lovers Dream Property!
$389,000
MECOSTA COUNTY
32 ACRES
Rustic Log Home, Organic Farm,
11 tillable acres.
$99,800
$119,900
LAPEER COUNTY
86 ACRES
Fantastic Development Opportunity.
30-2 Acre Lots approx. Currently Zoned
agriculture. $595,000
120 ACRES
CLARE COUNTY
Prime Hunting & Nature Lovers Dream Property. 90% wooded, hardwoods,
pines & cedars. Nice hunting cabin built 2001. 2BD & 1BA. 5 Deer Blinds.
$299,900
480 ACRES
*McDonalds
96
110 ACRES
80 ACRES
Great Development Opportunity. Several Outbuild- Deer Hunters Dream Property, Private, 2-streams.
ings. 80-90 Tillable Acres. $449,900 Large Elevation changes. $275,000
KALKASKA COUNTY
Beautiful views at Camp Langlois, 2 cabins, Main and Guest, garage, 2 pole barns,
12+ blinds, 5 miles of trails and Grass Airstrip! Amazing property, very private, rolling
with nice hardwoods, Caboose bunkhouse, 20 miles SE of Traverse City. $899,000
157 ACRES
COMMERCIAL
US 10
MIDLAND COUNTY
810.449.1286
97
DAN DAN
LOG CABIN
FURNITURE
THEMATTRESSMAN.COM
CHECK
US OUT
ON THE
WEB!
7500
199
4 Drawer Chest
$
189
149
ONLY
29999
19999
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39999
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starting at
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99
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(989)-832-1866
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MORE SIZES,
SOLID WOOD,
AMERICAN MADE!
98
SPRING SPECIALS
Best Prices Of The Year!
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179
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Chene Anchor
Holding Power
Retrievability Durability
available at...
BEST CHOICE
SPORTS
CENTER
(810) 629-2291
Exit 84 on US-23
FLINT
EXIT 84
59
FREEWAY
SPORTS CENTER
FENTON
23
Hours:
Mon.-Fri. 9am - 6pm
Sat. 9am - 5pm
Closed Sunday's
PONTIAC
96
ANN ARBOR
DETROIT
SPORTS
CENTER
w w w. f r e e w a y - s p o r t s . c o m
sales@freeway-sports.com
STORE HOURS:
Mon. - Fri: 10am-7pm;
Sat: 10am-4pm; Closed Sunday
Michi-GUN
Available at:
Layaways Welcome
www.michigunandtackle.com