Hunting with Mike

We are home from our week at my brother-in-laws cabin near Wellston. It was a different vacation for me as I was laid up most of the time with a “bum” knee. I hobbled around the best I could trying to entertain grandkids but just couldn’t do everything we normally do.

The weather had been in the 90’s the day before we arrived, but dropped into the hi-60’s low 70’s the rest of the week. We still went to Lake Michigan swimming several times. Kids don’t seem to mind the cold like the adults. Everyone (except me) took a drive up to Traverse City for the cherry festival and spent the day there. Kyle caught his first sunfish, and his dad caught a few brook trout. Tony, Quinn, and Nina rafted part of the Little Manistee, and also jumped off the rope swing a few times. Played “uno” a lot, ate good healthy meals, and had a big bonfire. The girls went shopping while the guys watched the boats come into the river from the lake.

The deer we saw all looked to be in great shape with one of them being a velvet covered 8-pointer. The turkey population has really taken off in that part of the state, as we saw lots of hens and little ones. Nadia and Quinn saw a huge black bear in the back yard, and got everybody all excited, until the neighbor called for his Rotweiller to come home! All in all we had a good time, but its nice to lay my head on my own pillow in my own bed-amen.

Thanks Brett for the great blog you did while I was gone. I’ll have to see if I can do more guest blogs in the future.

Mike

 Well, this is a first for me. My brother Mike, asked me, out of all his brothers, to write a short article on his blog. With a little hesitance, I asked Mike what I should write about. Mike told me to use my imagination, not to worry about it, just write about one of my hunting expeditions, he said, take a shot at it, maybe you’ll hit something. Well, I can take a jab pretty well, so I’ll do as my brother asked of me. I’ll take a shot at this. I probably should have reminded Mike, that it was his younger brother, Brett, who bagged a buck several years before Michael ever bagged his.

The truth is, I do like to hunt, and I’m just not as competitive as most of my brothers are, when it comes to hunting. I do hold many fond memories while hunting with dad and my brothers. I’ll never forget the years of hunting the Northern Michigan Black Bear, and the fishing that went along with it. Normally our bear hunting at the Baldwin Camp would produce many bear, and along with the bear would come many hunting stories. I’m not sure which brother would add the most to his tale, regarding his evening hunt, but those guys were always seeing “record size bear”.

For several years while hunting with my dad, and brothers, I learned that Michigan had some “record bear”. For my first couple years while hunting in the great upper, I didn’t see a record anything. I kept wondering to myself, “Why are they telling me this, just to keep me interested”. I later figured part of it out. My brothers would always tell me and Brad, that they were going to take care of us. I think what they were saying, was that for the next few years or so, we are going to put you at the least desirable spot, we finally figured that the older brothers had paid a price when it came to getting things together, baiting, extra trips to the upper, etc. and as they filled their tags, then Brad and I could slowly move to a more desirable spot. Like most everything else, you have to start somewhere, and it’s usually at the bottom.

After a few years of a little guidance from dad and the brothers, I finally bagged my first bear with a bow. I remember it being a great moment, and the excitement that followed during the tracking was almost as exciting as the hit.

When it comes to being competitive in the woods, well, I’ll just leave that to them. I now, would much rather film my son or daughter filling their tags. One of my proudest moments, while in Canada, I call it “God’s Country”, I was able to witness my son take his first black bear. I have not been able to take my daughter bear hunting; however, I have taken her deer hunting. I look forward to the time when I will someday witness her tagging her first deer.

I hope that I have, and will continue to show my son and daughter, that there is much more to hunting than just grabbing the bow, setting up, and then taking a shot at your target. A successful hunter will scout an area, learn the trends of their prey, and commit to having patience while being in the woods.

Thank you for allowing me to share some of my thoughts. I look forward to your writings as it certainly stirs up some memories. Until next time, everyone be safe.

The white-tailed deer is named for one of its most distinctive features, the large white tail or “flag” as us hunters like to call it. The reason we call it a flag is because when alarmed up goes the flag and off run the deer. To any deer in the area a raised white tail (sometimes along with some vocalization) means danger. The color of the deers upper body and sides change with the season, from a reddish brown in summer to a buff in winter. Its belly and the underside of its tail are completely white, and it has a white patch on its throat. A deer sheds its hair twice a year, its heavy winter coat giving way to a lighter one in the spring, which is replaced again in the fall. A fawns coat is similar to that of an adult, but will have several hundred white spots which will disappear by the time it is 4 months old. These are just a few of the features of the wonderful design of the master arcitect “GOD!”

Mike

I Just came from Cooks Sportland where I put in for the fall elk and turkey seasons. I love to go to Cabalas, but Cooks is one of my favorite places to be. Especially when you’ve just come from a “butt wippin” on the golf course. My sneaky little brother Darryl sucked Randy and myself in again by pretending he was old, feeble minded, and a rank amature.

Anyway this is just a reminder that your turkey and elk applications have to be in by August 1st. In the fall, hens as well as toms, are fair game Remember if you fail to draw a permit you can still buy one over-the-counter if there are leftover licenses in another unit. Also if there are any left-over licenses after Sept 17th. anyone may purchase them on a first come first serve basis. An elk permit is another story. To draw one of those is like hitting the “lotto.” I’ve applied for around 30 years now and I’m still waiting to get that congratulatory card in the mail. Can’t win if you don’t apply!

My family and I will be leaving on vacation tomorrow so it may be 6-7 days before I get back to blogging. There are no computers where we will be going. Bye-bye!

” In my last writing I mentioned the two deer I saw wearing velvet “head gear.” As a hunter sometimes I just assume everyone reading this blog knows just exactly what “velvet” is, and how bucks (and sometimes does) get their antlers. My wife always reminds me “never assume anything-always check it at least twice,” yeh like the back door lock.

Anyway bucks grow their first set of antlers as yearlings during the spring and summer months. Antlers are made up of true bone that starts growing in mid-March to April. As the antlers appear, they are covered with a soft coating of blood vessels and nerves called “velvet.” Growth continues until August or September. At this time bucks rub the velvet off on trees, bushes, fence post, or the ground revealing the hard bone antlers. Hunters “scout”, prior to deer season, looking for these tell-tail signs that a buck is in the area. One can be quite sure that a large “rub”, on a large tree, is a large buck. The size of a bucks antlers depends on the age and nutritional intake, along with genetics. Bucks don’t keep their antlers year-round, usually shedding them in January and February. It is extremely rare, but one-half of one percent do not shed their velvet at all. There! Now were all on the same page-maybe!

Mike

Just the other evening I saw two bucks together. Both deer were wearing a growing set of velvet antlers. One buck was going to be narrow, but very high, and the other was just a forkhorn, so far. At this stage of their developement its hard to determine the deers age, but down in the southern part of the state a 1-1/2 old deer can sport a nice 8 point rack. Nutrition is important to a deers antler development as well as genetics and overall health. There is so much food for the deer around here that the winter starvation index doesn’t even come into play. Southern Michigans deer herd is looking pretty good according to the latest report by the D.N.R. We should be in for an excellent deer season.

Mike

Randy Redmond that is. My wife mentioned that she saw Randy last evening while out shopping. I haven’t seen him in awhile, and it was good to hear he seems to be doing well. Sportsmen ,and hunters in particular, create strong bonds among themselves. They cherish the good memories they have, of one another, while spending that special season in the field. Many of Randy’s early deer hunting years were spent with the Ansel clan around Lewiston. He was my little brother Darryls best friend, so my mom and dad took him in and treated him like one of their own. My dad would take Randy’s money at “poker”, just like he would take “mine”, and my mom would fuss over him and tell him about Jesus, just like she did us! (I’m glad I listened to her-after awhile)

The years have certainly flown by, but every now and then I get to hear a tid-bit about “Levi.” (Randy’s nick-name) He’s turned into quite an accomplished hunter especially where wild turkeys are concerned. My brother Darryl is with out a doubt the best turkey caller I know, except for maybe his son Derek, and according to Darryl Randy is “almost” as good as him. Now knowing Randy he probably thinks he’s better, and as long as he’s not around two or more of the Ansel “boys” he might be! Just remember “Randall” we pulled your pants off once, we can do it again! (It was Randy’s first buck-a tradition of sorts)

Anyway I’m glad to hear your doing well. May your arrows fly true, and your lines never tangle, and may your long beards be lovesick, and your bucks be in rut. God bless you Randy, and thanks for the memories.

Mike

This next Tuesday my wife and I will be leaving for my brother-in-laws (Pat Boylans) place just east of Manistee. He owns a cabin about 200 yards away from the Little Manistee river. What a beautiful well crafted place it is. Pat can do anything when it comes to building or just plain being handy. He’s one of the most talented men I know. This gorgeous “cabin” of his started off here in Monroe, with the walls being pre-fabricated in his work shop. With the help of brothers, brother-in-laws, (me) nephews, and some friends he put up a to-die-for place in just a few months. I love taking my family to that area of the state.

I’m looking forward to kayaking the Little Manistee, jumping in the river from the rope swing, going to Lake Michigan swimming, and relaxing with a good book. But you know what I’m looking forward to most of all? Spending time with a few of my children and grandchildren. Fun on vacation was ment to be shared, and who better to share it with than your loved ones. The only “downer” about our trip is that not all of my kids can make it up next week. Oh yeh, did I mention the big bonfires we have at night? Marshmellows never tasted so good! Vacations are the ultimate stress reducer. I think my wife and I are primed and ready for next Tuesday. Hope you all have a enjoyable and safe vacation yourselves.

Mike

In 1977 my dad retired from his job at the National Life Insurance Co. He was a staff manager, and 57 years old at the time. Health problems (lifelong smoker) would led to this early “out” for him. I remember we got him a fishing rod and reel as a retirement gift,as he loved to go back to Toledo Beach Marina and fish around the boat docks. The last summer that he was with us, my dad, my three girls, and myself took the lawn chairs back to the marina to “wet” a line. It was over the 4th. of July holidays, hot and just a little windy. My girls had a great time pulling up the sunfish and bluegills that accepted their worm offerings. Dad got such a kick out of the “oohs’ and “aahs” coming from his gleefull grandkids that he almost became a little kid himself. I remember every now and then a gust of wind would come up, as the girls hoisted their trophies in the air. The wind would blow the dangling fish here and there and sometimes slap one of them in the face. My dad enjoyed so much these seemingly insignificant memories, that have, for whatever reason, etched themselves in the “not so fertile soil” of my memory bank. I thank God that my first three knew their Grandpa for those few short years. He loved his little princesses, and he loved to tease them too. My last three missed the opportunity of being around the worlds greatest “grandpa, and dad” that was ever knit in the womb of a mother. I think he could of taught them so much about LOVE and LIFE. My family (and the world) lost a vast resource of unconditional love when dad departed.

Cherish those times you have with family, friends, and loved ones. Wring every last ounce of love you possibly can from those that God has placed in your lives. We all have been giving a certain, and varying, amount of time before the manufacturer has a recall. Don’t waste your time - embrace it!

Mike