Hunting with Mike

This is a picture of one of our first bear hunts over 30 years ago. Thats me on the left when I weighed a respectable 170 pounds. Brother Darryl in the middle and my dad is on the right. As you can see long hair and sideburns were in style back then, and evidentially it was very warm that year. This year (2008) marks 30 years of hunts without the “Patriarch” of our family leading, guiding, praising, and cajoling his six sons. It almost seems the older we get the more we miss his influence on our lives!

My dad used to have a orange hunting cap that he wore during most of our hunts, and after he died it became a much sought after keepsake. In the previous blog I am wearing that hat during one of our deer hunts. It may seem strange, but that hat smelled like my dad for many years after he departed for Gloryland. No one wore it for years, as it almost seemed sacrilegious to do so! Since I was in possession of “dad’s hat” at the time, and hadn’t shot a deer in several years, I decided wearing it would bring me good luck. At this point in my life I don’t believe in “luck” anymore, as it leaves everything in life to “chance”kind of like a crap shoot. I’ve come to understand that a righteous man’s steps are ordered by the Lord, and nothing happens, in my life that catches God off guard or unawares. That being said; wearing the hat didn’t put a deer on the game pole that year, but it did give me a sense of unbelievable closeness to my dad, as I sat quietly in my little piece of paradise under an old oak tree. Wearing that hat has evoked so many memories and “conversations” with my dad, that I just couldn’t keep it to myself.

Come deer season you never know which brother will be wearing “papa bears” old orange hat. We’ve come to realize there is no “magic” in that hat, like there was in Frosty the Snowman’s, but there is something very very special about that old K-Mart hat. Whoever wears it is not guaranteed a big buck, or even a deer for that matter, but the chances of a “visitation” from the ‘best dad in the world, are assured! My dad, the memories, the hat-they are priceless. Cherish those around you that make your life unique and complete, and who love you unconditionally.

Mike

In preparing to do this blog I was going through my pictures I have stored on my computer.  As I turned page after page, filled with awesome wonderful memories, my heart could not help but be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving.  I have had a “blessed” and rewarding life, and am still walking in the Sonshine of Gods love.  <<< I spelled it that way on purpose!  I may have posted the above picture before.  It’s the six Ansel brothers carrying out the family fall hunting tradition in Lewiston Michigan, minus our beloved father.  Camp was never the same after he took his “rest” from earthly toil.  We have 19 kids between us, and trust me the legacy lives on!

I am almost speechless to think of all the joy I have had with my father and mother, and how I just happened to marry the “right” women!  Six bundles of joy that have given me 20 lifetimes of “thrills and chills” not to mention unconditional love.  10 grandkids and counting.  I hope I’m still around to stomp through the fall leaves with them, as I tell stories of past “dangerous” encounters with bear, and deer, and skunks!  My five brothers, and all the hunting memories I share with them.  (two of them will be going on the upcoming bear hunt.)  I have had the privilege to hunt, and fish, in seven different states and two provinces.  Not bad for a “factory rat pipefitter” who always tried to balance family, church, work, and recreation, so as not to be to “one sided” on any of life’s priorities!  Over the years we’ve had friends, (like the Baldwin’s,) who have graciously let us use their hunting camp, as our base of bear hunting operations for over thirty years.  I managed and played softball for thirty one years, and even won two “state championships” during that time.  I’ve whitewater rafted the mighty Colorado river twice, and was able to do it with a couple of my grandkids.  I’ve had the honor and privilege to have a father son relationship with 92 year old former Olympic boxing coach Joe Giarmo.  He helped me fix my son’s “not running” car just today-what a guy!  Vacations at my brother-in-laws Pat’s place in Manistee, friends of many years (Ed and Linda,) my great neices and nephew’s, spiritual mentors from all walks of life, and a wife that would always believe in me, and her family, no matter how bleak things may have looked!  I am blessed!

Mike

This is one of the over 40 bear the Ansel family has taken around the Marquette Michigan area. This one was taken about 250 yards from camp. In fact at least 8 of those bear were taken within a stones throw from camp. Have we seriously depleted the bear numbers in this area, or are we just managing the numbers, due to overpopulation?

Just a few years ago Dick Baldwin had an encounter with a bear that had killed a fawn just 150 yards from camp. Dick was cutting wood, and old blackie didn’t want him around his fresh kill, so he chased Dick back to his truck. The Baldwin camp gets used quite a bit, but it hasn’t seemed to keep the bear away. Paw prints on the windows, tracks in the road, signs of bear “snooping” around are all indicators of a healthy bear population.

Bear need a certain amount of space (territory) to call their own, in order to keep a balance and harmony within the “bear community!” Each dominate male bear will mark his “turf,” and if need be, defend it from intruders. When a young boar reaches maturity, he needs to establish his own territory, as the dominate bear will no longer tolerate him in his domain! Because of civilization’s encroachment on our “wild” areas some of these bear domains may overlap one another, while other bear may have to seek out a territory closer to suburban dwellers.

Many years ago the “anti-hunting crowd” came to Michigan, (there still here) and filed a law suit concerning the bear population, and bear hunting in Michigan. Due to their efforts bear hunting regulations were changed, and bear hunters could no longer buy a “over the counter” bear license. We now have a strict quota system which relies on a “bear lottery” in order to “draw” a bear license. In my opinion this isn’t working, and here is why.

Thursday August 7th. Monroe Evening News front page-”Another Michigan Wildlife Nuisance: Black Bears!” Now this is the fourth major article I’ve seen this year concerning the encroachment of black bear into territory normally “void” of their presence. In this most recent article Terri Cook, from Jackson county, had a confrontation with a bear in his front yard. Jackson county is several counties removed from traditional bear habitat! Recently Battle Creek police shot and killed a bear roaming the streets of the city’s suburbs Ada, Grand Rapids, Flint, and even the state capital Lansing have had bear stories make the news. In several cases these nomadic wanders have been hit, and killed, by vehicles.

It doesn’t surprise me that the increased sightings, shootings, and bear vehicle accidents began their increase shortly after the anti’s got involved in Michigan’s bear management decisions. Now our states D.N.R. officials are scrambling to come up with a solution to a problem that probably shouldn’t be! As far as I’m concerned you can lay these, very dead, “innocent never hurt anybody bears” squarely at the feet of the misguided “protectors” of “brother bear!”

This year we have three permits for the Marquette area, and we are going to do our best to help “manage” the bear population. If we are fortunate enough to harvest, take, “kill” a bear we will make some great hormone free sausage, steaks and roast out of the critter. It will not be thrown in the county dump after being shot 10 times by a policeman, or hit by several different cars on I-75! (Happened in Flint) It will feed several families this winter, and free up some territory, so the bears don’t have to look for a suburban dwelling place. It will be revered and remembered around our campfire, and the camaraderie of the hunt will continue to bind us together with nature, not against it!

There is a portion of scripture that says Peter saw heaven opened and a great sheet appeared to him, “And in it were all kinds of four footed animals of the earth, wild beast, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, ‘Rise Peter; kill and eat’ The Ansel family is so looking forward to our sanctuary and retreat at the lovely Baldwin camp, and if we are blessed beyond measure, we will “Rise kill and eat!”

Incidentally Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have recently reported an overwhelming increase in bear numbers in their states. The last reported bear sighting in Iowa was three years ago, and so far there have been five sighting just this spring-not traditional bear country!

Blessings Mike

How in the world did I get talked into this? Inside a cave, deep underground is not the place for a “super claustrophobic” person to be. I am so bad I only fly when I have no other choice. I hate being “locked” up in an airplane, elevator, small confined area of any sort, so why did I venture into the “bowels” of the earth? Two words “manly pride!” You see I had some of my family with me, including a couple grandkids, and I didn’t want them to think I was a “sissy!”

The guide, for this Colorado cavern, assured me the cave was well lit and ventilated. Believe me it was with fear and trepidation that I took my first step into this underground coffin! I kept saying to myself :what could go wrong?”

Well halfway into our little tour we were going through a very narrow corridor (going down) when we encountered a group going in the opposite direction! We came to a screeching halt, cramped like sardines, where we couldn’t go forward or backwards. You talk about some tense hyperventilating minutes! Right then and there I promised “God: that if he would get me out of this “tomb” I would never do anything so stupid in my life again. Well God did His part, but I can’t say that I’ve held up my end of the bargain. My wife assures me I haven’t, and she’s pretty much knows “most every” stupid thing I’ve done!

Mike

Campfires are such an important part of our family vacations. In fact I have a campfire pit in my back yard, and we use it often. Usually we set the tent up and spend a night or two with the grandkids, but I lost it (the tent) last year in a howling storm. One of these days I’ll make it back to Cabela’s and replace it.

We did several bonfires while on vacation, and of course you can’t have a bonfire without smores. The kids love it, but it is a little nerve wracking trying to keep 10 grandkids from falling in the fire! We tell stories, roast marshmallows, and laugh and carry on till the wee hours of the morning. It doesn’t matter that we all smell like smoke, but one bathroom does cause somewhat of a problem when everyone wants to wash up for bed! My brother-in-law has about a 5-year supply of wood stacked up behind the cabin due to the straight line winds that blew through here last year. It was nice not having to cut wood ourselves. We were going to due hot dogs over the fire, but the ladies wanted them on the grill. We used charcoal, and not propane, and they were really good. Will have to do that more often.

Mike

This is the Boardman river as it flows through the north side of Traverse City. It enters from Lake Michigan, in between the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula, and adds such a scenic picture to downtown Traverse City. We spent the better part of last Friday walking among the shops, parks, and beaches before we stopped at Scalawags for a fish dinner. My wife got the whitefish and I got the whitefish/perch combination. The food was great and the atmosphere was, shall we say, very nautical.

One thing I wanted to do while we were there was visit Kristine Shreve from the “Hunt Smart Think Safety” blog. She works for Gunsafety Innovations out of Traverse City. I asked for a phone book while in a shop, and called the number listed. I tried twice, but both times the operator said that number had been disconnected. We then tried my wifes cousins, that happen to live in the area, and just as I was getting their address my cell phone went dead! I don’t have a car charger, so we didn’t get to contact them either. Sorry Kristine we would of loved to buy you lunch. Now that I have all the pertinent information we will do it next time around.

We really enjoyed our drive along the Old Mission Peninsula, and the lighthouse, and the Old Mission country store. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many cherry’s! It baffles me how they grow so hardy in such a northern location. Traverse City is a wonderful representation of the beauty and grandeur of Michigan’s Water Wonderland.

Mike

This is Margie and Travis who work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service out of Ludington Michigan. They work for the Federal government, as part of the Dept. of the Interior. They were in the process of taking down statistics concerning the water flow variances in the Little Manistee river. Through their calculations they can determine how much lampricide needs to be released to kill the sea lamprey larvae found in many Michigan streams including the Little Manistee!

The lampricide, or TFM, as it’s called, has been tested since the 1950’s, and scientist have determined that it is nontoxic and has minimal effects on aquatic plants, invertebrates, fish, and wildlife. At the concentrated levels applied Travis assured me that TFM is not harmful to humans. Approximately 175 Great Lakes streams are treated, at regular intervals, to kill sea lamprey.

Sea Lampreys are a parasitic invader of all the Great lakes, and the U.S. and Canada have been diligently working through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to eradicate these foreign pests. The sea lamprey attaches itself to lake trout, steelhead, browns, salmon, walleye, whitefish, yellow perch, catfish, and burbot. Their round mouths form a sucking disc filled with sharp teeth and a rasping tongue. Once attached they “saw” their way through the fishes scales, and then feast on the “host fishes” blood and body fluids! I have seen several trout and salmon scarred and disfigured by these “blood sucking Dracula’s” of the sea! Trust me it is not a pretty sight! Statistics show that, under some conditions, only one out of seven fish attacked will survive. The Great Lakes fishery has been severely effected by these ocean invaders, that can have a life cycle of 5-8 years. During this cycle a single lamprey can destroy up to 40 pounds of fish. The Lake Trout populating has been one of the hardest hit, by these underwater vampires, as their numbers have drastically declined!

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, in cooperation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, undertake sea lamprey control on the Great Lakes. Currently several different methods are being used to combat the attack of the sea lamprey during different stages of it’s life cycle. The lampricide is probably the most used method, but it is very costly. Lamprey barriers, trapping, and the sterile-male-release technique are also used to try and control lamprey populations.

If any readers would like more information about sea lampreys you can contact the Great Lakes Fishery Commission or visit their website at www.glfc.org. We all owe a big “THANK YOU” to the men and women who are on the front lines of this battle to take back our fisheries from this foreign invader. And thank you Travis and Margie for enlightening me on this slimy, invasive, destroyer!

Mike