Hunting with Mike

All I can say is “Wow!”  The smiling hunter is Brian Stephens posing with the Southwest Ohio buck he shot during muzzleloader season.  It’s an 18 point non-typical, and is the new Ohio state muzzleloader record.  He shot it on Nov. 30th. which is the opening day of Ohio’s shotgun season.  Muzzleloaders are legal to use during this hunt.  After the mandatory drying period the buck was officially scored at 232-5/8 points.  That beats the old record by almost 8 full points.

The Stephens buck has a left main beam that measures 35-1/8 inches, which is the longest ever recorded under the Boone and Crockett scoring system.  The right beam measured 34-1/8 inches on this impressive Ohio monster.  This is a world class whitetail that actually came from a county (Highland) that is not as well know as some of the Southeastern Ohio (big buck) counties.  Everyone agrees that it’s not something in the water that is producing large bucks from Southern Ohio.  “You have to have good genetics, good food sources, and let them get old enough to produce a deer like this,” said Todd Haines, an Ohio Wildlife manager.

I’d probably drop dead from a heart attack if I saw something in the woods like that.  I never read what the G-2’s or G-3’s measured, but they look to be every bit of 13-15 inches.  You might even think “I can’t shoot that, I don’t have an elk permit!”  Anyway my congratulations to Brian for his well placed shot, and for being in the right place at the right time.  That is one beautiful buck!

It might not look like much meat for the freezer, but let me tell ya this was one tough hunt.  Anyone who attempts to take small game, with  traditional archery gear, is not going to bring home beau-coup game animals.  Check out my quiver, and you’ll notice a few arrows missing.  I’m not wearing them in the picture, but I had a pair of white pants on when I started.  Besides falling down a few times, I went through more brier patches than I want to think about.  The pants got torn, muddied, and wet.  I ended up removing them, or what was left of them, and set them on a bush.  I picked them up on my way back fron “the hunt!”

Anyone who has ever tried to sneak up on a squirrel with a recurve (longbow) knows he has to get close.  In my case very close.  I had taken two shots from about 20 yards, and missed, losing one of my arrows.  The snow was “crunchy”  making for a slow tedious stalk.  There were many squirrels in the woods, but they weren’t exactly cooperating with my game plan.

I finally saw one going into a hole, at the base, of a dead tree.  He would come out every so often to look for something to take to his nest.  I moved within 8 yards while he was inside the tree.  The first time he came out I missed clean, and spooked him back inside for a least 20 minutes.  I figured this was my best chance to get a year end Fox squirrel, so I stayed put.  When he finally came out again he went under a dead tree before I could draw.  He was partially hidden by a big limb, but I could see his body, so I let one fly.  Bingo, a squirrel for the roaster!   There isn’t much meat on one of these little varmints, but I’m sure no one will be fighting me over the “spoils” from the roasting pan anyway!

In my time in the woods I saw plenty of squirrels and squirrel tracks, but not one set of rabbit tracks.  This is traditionally a rabbit haven.  However I did see several sets of coyote tracks.  Could be why the rabbits are disappearing.  I decided to set up my pop-up ground blind on the edge of a small opening, where there was a lot of  “yote” activity.  I’ll give them a few days to get used to it, pray for snow, then see if I can’t get one within 22 mag. range.

I still would like to put a rabbit or two in the pot, along with the squirrel, but honestly I’m glad squirrel season is over.  I ruined my pants, lost about $20.00 dollars worth of arrows, and scratched my hands  on the many  pricker bushes I waded through.  I also kept getting my bow hung up in the branches, vines, and underbrush, of the thick woods.  Hey I guess it beats sitting in the rocking chair watching “Oprah!”

Mike

This is my mother Betty Louise Ansel (Greer) who hails from Sault St. Marie Canada.  Her and my dad Norm raised six (6) boys.  She has 19 grand-children and 31 great grand-children.  I guess that’s why we all affectionately call her “Grannie.”  She’s fast approaching the mid-eighty mark on the calendar, and has been without “Papa Bear” (my dad) for almost 32 years.  She lives independently, and still drives her little red neon once a week to the beauty shop, where the girls all adore her.  Her snow white hair is “what you see is what you get!”  No color highlights here.  Her dad Kelly also had snow white hair.

As you can see from the pictures mom inherited the high cheekbones from her grandmother (Plains Cree) but got the white hair from her Irish Dad.  She had gorgeous auburn hair when she was younger.  She never knew her Indian grandmother, as she died very young, and her mother passed away when my mother was just three years old.  She was raised by her fathers mother (her grandmother) and never experienced a mother/daughter relationship.  Her grandma was “old school” and her dad was busy trying to keep his large family afloat.  Mom’s brothers and sister were raised by various family members, so even the sibling aspect of childhood was splintered.  Mom has a great outgoing personality, and never met a stranger.  Her zest for life, and love for people, has kept her smiling throughout the years.

If you check out the lights shining in mothers window, you’ll see her Christmas tree is still standing!  Thank God it’s artificial, cause it has another two months to go.  However, there was a day when we would haul out her real tree, to the garbage, without a needle on it.  She loves Christmas and she loves her Christmas trees.  She also is a totally “wacko,” over the top, hockey nut.  She’s a tried and true Red Wing fan, and never misses a game.  In fact we avoid visiting when we know a game is being televised.  She has a lot of “kin” and many friends, but one in particular has met her every need.

He has “filled” in the hours, days, months, and years.  He has actually been closer to her than a brother, as their relationship is rock solid.  He’s been her confidant, guide, counselor, friend, father, and even her healer.  He’s never left her or forsaken her.  He’s showered her with mercy, and imparted grace and truth into her life.  He’s made her wise concerning her destiny, and sown compassion and joy in her heart.  He’s there each morning for her, and he will not sleep, as he watches over her in the night.  He helps her fight loneliness and self pity.  He watches her coming and her going.  He puts a hedge around her life, and whispers love songs in her ear.  He holds her in the palm of his hand, and when she walks through the “fire” she will not be burned.  He’s her advocate (lawyer) as He stands in the gap on her behalf.  He is altogether lovely, Holy and Just.  He is Almighty God, her Everlasting Father, her Savior, her Friend.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  He is her all in all, and his name is “JESUS!”

My mom, even though she is a “squaw,” has been a warrior in the Kingdom of God for many decades.  she is a women of prayer, and has intimate conversations with her Lord and Savior.  God has heard her plea on many occasions, as miracles surround her prayers.  She is an example to her seventy six children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She still comforts us all, and defends us like a “mother bear” even when were wrong.  She is a virtuous woman and we (her family) are truly blessed to call her Mom, Grannie, and Gigi.

Love You Mother

Mike

Have you seen the latest “nut-case” idea from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA?)  They are putting pressure on the organizers of Pennsylvania’s Groundhog Day festival to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a robotic stand-in.  In case you don’t know “Phil” is a real live groundhog that has one great “gig” going on.   The PETA extremist say that it’s unfair to keep poor old Phil in captivity, and subject him to huge crowds, bright lights, and thousands of revelers.  Punxsutawney is a tiny town located about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, and On Feb. 2nd. will hold its annual Groundhog Day celebration.  Phil will be taken out of his climate controlled environment, after his State inspection by the Dept. of Agriculture, and watched closely for his prediction of an early or late spring.  He will be handled with “kid gloves” and adored by the thousands of spectators, for a very brief time, before being returned to his expensive burro.

Seems PETA would rather have Phil live a “normal” groundhog life fending off coyotes, foxes, disease, and extreme weather conditions.  I guess they think it would be much better if Phil met his “natural” fate under the wheels of an 18 wheeler, or poisoned by pesticides.  I like the comment given by William Deeley, president of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.  In his response to PETA he said ” Phil is being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania.”  If only Phil could speak for himself I’m sure he’d tell the “I’m looking for publicity people” to “go jump in a groundhog hole, I never had it so good!”

If you go along with PETA’s way of thinking it’s only a small step to shut down zoo’s, nature parks, and aquariums.  Anything that isn’t natural according to “their” meaning of what is natural?  If you do just a small amount of research you will see the very radical ideas these misguided individuals adhere too.  Many members are vegans, and would like to force you to be one also.  A few years ago they put on a big push to curtail fishing in Michigan, cause “fish have feelings to.”  They are also one of the groups that filed suit over legal bear hunting in Michigan.  Instead of over the counter bear licenses our state now has  the “lottery” system.  Along with that “lottery” system we now have black bear roaming (and being shot by police) in city’s like Grand Rapids, and most southern counties where they have expanded their territory.

Peta has suggested that the good people of Punxsutawney invest in an “animatronic model of a groundhog.  Personally I think members of PETA ought to get a life.  Go build an orphanage in Haiti, help out at soup kitchen, mentor a parent-less child, campaign against the killing of defenseless unborn babies, and come to the realization that people “have feelings to!”  Punxsutawney Phil may need to get a good attorney, in order to be able to live his life out, “in the style he’s accustomed to.”  “PETA take a hike!”

Mike

Chief 10 Bears in all his glory, or is that gory?  Seeing how I’m on a roll with American Indian lore I though I would share some news I heard from my cousin, Tommy “Tomahawk” Douglas yesterday.  Tom is my mothers nephew from Canada, and makes his living as a writer, (history and travel) editor, and columnist.  Tom is like a detective when it comes to researching any subject.  He is quite well known in the literary circles in Canada, and his name is all over the Internet.  I tell you all that to give credence to what my cousin told me yesterday when I asked him about our Native American roots.

Rumors have floated around about my mothers heritage ever since I can remember.  Her mother died when she was just three (3) years old, and she knew nothing of her grandmother (Jenny Montgomery) or her husband, who’s last name was West.  My mothers mother Irene had a brother, Richard West, who I met several years ago in Sault Ste. Marie Canada.  Uncle Dick lived to be 96, but it seems he had a secret he was able to take to his grave.

Cousin Tom told me that before my mothers brother (Gordon) died he told him that Jenny Montgomery was a full bloodied Cree from Manitoba.  She was Uncle Dicks mother, and my mothers grandmother.  Evidently Uncle Dick was ashamed of his heritage and was able to somehow destroy any records from the Montgomery side of the family.  Cousin “Tomahawk” felt Gordon was telling him the truth, and tried to research the family tree, but kept running into a dead end at Jenny Montgomery.  There seems to be no records of her to be found.  Back in those days many people tried to hide their Indian heritage.  I’m sorry to say that Great Uncle Dick was evidently one of them.

Tom had written the memoirs of an Ojibway Indian from the Wawa area, and had numerous Metis and Ojibway friends.  While doing his research for his book, he related, to a wise Ojibway women, his dilemma in tracing his Native American roots.   She said to him “If you have been told that you have Indian blood in your veins and if you feel in your heart that it is true, then it is true!”  Cousin Tom then told me that he has no qualms about telling people he is one-eighth Cree, and that if I accept the Ojibway woman’s advice i can proudly say the same.

I wish Uncle Dick would of embraced his Indian heritage, but for now I will “bask” in the wisdom of an old Ojibway woman.  The documentation may end at the name of Jenny Montgomery, but in my heart of hearts I know I am connected to the earth with Native American blood.  This information has brought a great freedom to my Spirit, as my ancient heritage calls my name from the shadows of the past.

Chief 10 Bears

One-Eighth Cree is Good Enough for Me

This is not the greatest picture of my Indian “dance stick.”  In the winter months I like to make “reproductions” of Native American items.  While at the Soaring Eagle Resort last week I saw a couple of these at the museum.  They were for sale, and ran around $400.00 dollars.  Of course they were made by the hands of a true “Native American,” and were very nice representatives of a Regalia dance stick.

The one I made has a real turkey foot on the end, tied with sinew.  I then added some beadwork followed by a whole rabbit skin. (middle section)  From there I wrapped deer leather with a beaded rosette attached.  I then tied an imitation eagle feather with turquoise beads around the rabbit fur.  I finished it off with another small piece of white rabbit fur and a leather tassel on the end.  I used a “beaver stick” that I collected on my fall bear hunt, as the starting point.  It turned out quite well, if I do say so myself.  The one I looked at in the museum had a reproduction eagle claw, which was cool, but my “real” turkey foot is also “cool!”

I have several real bear claw necklaces I’ve made, along with arrows, tomahawks, gourd rattles, quivers, talking sticks, walking sticks, lances, and a few leather items.  One of these days I’ll take a picture of them all and post them.  Everything I make I use when I do my Native American talks at the schools.  The kids always are very interested in what “Chief 10 Bears” has to say about the original occupants of our nation.  I enjoy sharing with them things about subsistence living, like trapping, hunting, and fishing.  Trust me, most schools have a totally different agenda when it comes to looking at these area’s in a positive light.  I’ve even been known to bring a little “jerky” with me, and make it available to those (usually boys) who want to give it a try.  The Native Americans simple way of life,  love for the land, and the creatures that inhabit it, still makes good sense today.  We must be good stewards of all the natural resources created for our use and our pleasure.

Mike

Recently my wife and I accompanied our daughter (Tara) son-in-law (Glen) and grand-son (Kyle) to the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant Michigan.  The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe opened the resort in 1972.  To say this has been a successful business venture would be a gross understatement.  Presently the Chippewa Tribe is the largest employer in Isabella County.  Additions and new projects are under construction on a year round basis.

We were there for a “Mohawk” carpet convention (how fitting) and weren’t interested in helping the Tribe with their ambitious expansion goals.  However we did enjoy the lovely pool, and my wife and I even walked through the snow to sit in the outdoor hot-tub!  The walkway was heated so at least our feet stayed warm.  It was quite refreshing, and the outdoor gas fire pit added a special touch, as we relaxed in the swirling heated bubbles.  Lunch and dinner were compliments of  Mohawk, and it was very good.  This resort spares nothing in amenities or first class accommodations.  Even the silverware was real silver (at least they had me believing it was.)  We enjoyed fresh pastries from a little shop in the lobby, and visited the gift shops and cafeteria.

The highlight of the trip for us all  was a visit to the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways.  This craft shop, museum, cultural center just opened in 2004, and from what we saw is the hidden jewel at the Chippewa Resort.  Evidently everyone else was gambling as we took a tour almost by ourselves.  The Native American history and realistic displays were of the highest quality.  There were even two small movie theaters showing films about the Anishinabe culture.

You may not know, but I am a Native American “wanna-be!”  My mother and her relatives are from Canada.  She is the only one from her family to become an American citizen.  The talk of Cree Indian blood running through my ancestors veins has always intrigued me.  Because records could not be found to prove Native American blood I am left an “outcast.”  The hardy nature, dark features, and high cheekbones of my mother and her relatives certainly would give credence to a few cells of Indian DNA.   Three of my great uncles were bush pilots, and two of those were part of the Antarctic expeditions.  The Cree language is similar to that of the Anishinabe (Chippewa) and are part of the biggest gathering of Native Americans called First Nations.  I felt honored to speak with several of the Native Americans working at the complex.

I highly recommend laying off the slot machines, forget blackjack, skip the roulette wheel, and head on over to the Cultural Center.  You will be enlightened, and its a place your whole family can enjoy.  Not only that, you won’t have to take out a second mortgage to get home!

I plan on doing a follow up blog related to my “rumored” Native American heritage in the future.
Mike

Sure now you show up and stand 20 feet away from me.  I saw this nice 8-point a few weeks ago as I traveled the back country of the north woods.  He looked healthy, and no worse the ware for being on the “wanted list” for over three months.  It’s a good thing that many of these nice bucks do make it through the season or we would all have to eat more beef.  I think that by the time a buck gets to be 2-1/2 years old he’s already got his Bachelors degree in out smarting hunters.  The really mature bucks (4-1/2 on up) have a Doctorate in eluding the dinner table or den wall.  All I can say is it’s a good thing for the “rut!”   Most of those “bad-boys taken during deer season are caught off guard, cause they have their mind on the ladies.  Can you imagine that?

Right now I should be well into some coyote/fox hunting, but the weather isn’t cooperating.  We have had very little snow, and the temps have been on the way up.  Supposed to rain tomorrow with a warming trend heading our way.  I hate rain in the winter!  If it’s going to be winter I want snow and lots of it.  Michigan usually does get It’s share of the white powder, but my area doesn’t seem to get dumped on as much as the rest of the state.  (South-East corner)  Oh well we still have a good while to go before the daisy’s start popping up, so I’ll just bide my time.  Those “yotes” and foxes will still be chasing whatever critter they can sink their teeth into, and hopefully I’ll be chasing them shortly.

Mike

If you get out your magnifying glasses you may be able to see my grandson Login in this picture.  Just this fall he started BMX bike racing, and he’s loving it.  Of course he’s a chip off the old block, as his dad was a legend, at his local track, when he was a kid.  Login lives in the northern Chicago suburbs of Gray’s Lake, but does his BMX riding in Wisconsin.  It’s only about a 20 mile drive , and the indoor track is alot of fun for the whole Horwitz crew.

Just this past Sunday Logan “bumped” up to the next age group (6 year old’s) and took a third place trophy.  Not bad for a novice riding 5 year old.  Logan has placed in just about every race he’s been in, and will have to get a bigger bedroom to hold all his awards.  Login is quite a neat little guy, and I’m so happy he’s my grandson.  Keep having fun little buddy, but don’t get to much air under those tires.

On a side note my daughter Megan reported that two weeks ago they spotted two cougars (mountain lions) on their way to the track.  They were still in Illinois and quite shocked to see the two big cats running through the snow.  Both Meghan and Mark confirmed that they were cougars, and she even reported the sighting to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  There should be plenty of deer for the big cats to dine on, so maybe they will leave the cats and dogs alone for the time being!  I’ve done alot of hunting in my life, including out west, and I have never seen a mountain lion.  Amazing to think my daughter lives just north of Chicago and she sees two of them!

Mike

Now as I look at this picture of elk steaks on the grill, I almost feel guilty for having the abundance of  food, water, and housing me and my family enjoy.  Man we have it good in this country!  As one watches the news coming out of Haiti your heart can’t help but be touched by the devastation to that heavily populated island.  Millions of people have had their lives turned upside down, and for most of them it will never be the same.

We had two young adults from our church escape the earthquake by just two days.  They arrived back in the United States  days before the earthquake hit, and are still awaiting word about the orphanage they were helping at.  Haiti had an over abundance of orphans before the quake, and those numbers are bound to increase dramatically due to this disaster.  Our pastor has called for a church meeting to pray and explore the best way that we, as a congregation, can help.  I hope everyone that reads this will do something to help elevate  the pain and suffering these unfortunate fellow brothers and sisters are going through.  Just a little from alot will help in great ways.

Pray for relief supplies to reach those in need, for order to be restored, for more lives to be saved, and for a sliver of hope to appear to this forever changed country.  Take time to be thankful for all the blessings we have that sometimes are taken for granted.  Hug your wife, kids, and grandkids, smile at your neighbor, complain less about your circumstances.  It could all change “In the blink of an eye!”

Mike