Hunting with Mike

I mentioned that I collect some of the limbs that beavers cut from trees and make walking sticks out of them.  Most of the ones I get have the bark already stripped off of them and are a shiny off-white.  These are just three of the samples that I had around the house.  Two of them I made for my grand kids, and the other one is my own personal stick.

On the fancier ones I use imitation eagle feathers, bead work, deer leather,arrow heads, and imitation grizzly claws.  Of course I have the liberty to be as creative as I want, and I can, and do, use other adornments also.  I use a wood burning tool to do the carvings.  I use various animal tracks and pictures of deer, turkey, elk, and bear on some of the sticks.  I designed an emblem of a beaver holding a limb with the word “beaver stik” below it.  I also use some Indian emblems and can personalize a name on them, like the ones in the picture.  Each stick comes from an area of the U.P. and are chewed on both ends, thus “Beaver Stik!”

On the more simple walking sticks I put the “logo,” a deer hide hand holding area, and a few burnt in sets of animal tracks.  Sticks range in price from $35.00 to $150.00 dollars depending how fancy or personalized the customer wants.  I don’t do it to make money.  It’s just something I enjoy and I usually put many hours into each one.  No two are alike.  It helps pass time during those cold winter months when there isn’t much hunting going on.

Beaver Stic logo, chewed ends, and some engraved tracks.                                  Mike

One thing that the beavers do an excellent job of, is make some wonderful trout habitat.  The water behind the dams are usually teaming with fish, as they swim downstream and are “trapped” by the dam created “beaver ponds!”  The water is most always the deepest next to the dams, and I have seen some that are 7-8 feet deep.  This creates a good source of food for the fish as everything comes downstream toward the dam.  It also is a food storage bin for the beaver, as they can snack on fish right out the beaver lodge door.  The creek that was dammed up near the bear camp is only 4-8 feet wide, but the dam has created a pond over 300 feet wide.  We fished just one area of this engineering marvel, so we left plenty of fish for the beavers.  The “brookies” don’t get enormous in these remote ponds, but we were catching 10-14 inchers.  Those are very nice size, and tons of fun to catch, even when you have to release them.

One of the beaver houses I found was right next to the edge of the pond.  His entrance was under water, but most of the living quarters was on dry ground.  These things are so well built I could stand on top of it and not do any damage whatsoever.  The local coyote, wolf, and bear population would have a hard time doing a “breaking and entering” on this homeowner!   I’m sure a hungry bear could make it through the mud and sticks, but the beaver would be long gone before the bear broke into the den.  Beavers are a marvelous creature, and an asset to the eco-system most of the time.  They do cut down many trees, but they are mostly “soft-woods.”  Of course sometimes an older hardier tree “takes a hit,” and that’s when the land owner stats thinking about beaver pelts.

Beaver lodge by the edge of the pond.

The beavers are thriving on the Baldwin property in the valley between the ridges.  We saw more sign of their presence than we ever have in the past.  Dick Baldwin used to trap beavers too help supplement the family income, but no one is trapping them now.  I personally found three beaver lodges, which means at least three different beaver families.  I’m sure there are more than that, as the one dam I found was at least 100 yards long.  Stop and think about that, 300 foot of engineered dam 4-5 foot high, in most places.  Not only do they build them, but they maintain them.

My great nephew Seth Ansel is standing next to a huge pine tree that is about a day away from laying on the ground.  This is the biggest tree we have ever seen beavers tackle.  They don’t use chain saws, but their front teeth.  Beavers teeth continue to grow their whole lives, and I can see why.  The word eager beaver is most fitting, as these industrious critters never slow down.  For two days I fished, standing on the top of Mr. Beavers dam.  My 215 manly pounds caused a slight breach in the construction project, as water flowed out from the backed up pond.  Each day I returned, the breech was repaired.  The beavers were probably about to get a lawyer and sue me for causing them extra work, so I found a different spot for my last day of fishing.

I brought back some “beaver sticks” from which I make walking sticks that I sell at craft shows.  I’ll post  pictures of some of my completed work one of these days.

Mike

I am happy to report that I “drew blood” on my bear hunt!  The only problem is  it was “MINE!”  While sighting my gun in I inadvertently (idiotically-stupidly) put my hand to close to the shell ejection bolt on my 742.  I actually saw a hunk of skin fly through the air after I made this rookie mistake.  Oh that hurts!

Anyway this is the only blood I saw, unless fish guts count.  No bear, but the baits were being visited.  Not always by bear, as we had several wolves come in on Wednesday evening at my brothers stand, and also had ravens and vultures pay us an unwelcome visit.  If anyone thinks hunting bear over bait is a slam dunk, they don’t have a clue what their talking about.

I (we) busted our butts from sunup till late in the evening.  It’s go, go, go all day long in order to make sure you’ve done everything possible for a successful hunt.   We bear hunters know there are no guarantees in this back breaking sport, but we keep coming back year after year.  I just love the Upper Peninsula, and the Baldwin family is such a joy to be around.  83 Year old Dick hasn’t slowed down very much, as he and his son-in-law Dale cut wood (cherry for veneer) for two straight days.  Gary’s new camp is coming along fine, and I got to see brother Greg one day.  He works for the Federal Fisheries Dept. and we don’t get to visit with him often.

The weather cooperated, but the bear don’t always follow our rule book.  We saw mink, beaver. snakes (didn’t even know they had any around there) partridge, porcupine, deer, eagles, and caught some fish.  So even without seeing a bear, we still had a great experience.  I’ll write about some of our adventures in the soon coming blogs.

I’m going to try and post a picture of a curious beaver that swam within 10 foot of me while I was fishing one day.” Mike

Getting ready to get outta Dodge.  It’s hard to believe that only two people are going north for a few days!  Seems I’ve got everything, but the kitchen sink stuffed one place or another.  Yes Tony is going, but Dean is going to have to wait for next year.  Were hoping the weather holds out for a little pike fishing before the evening bear hunt.  Haven’t heard anything from the guys that are hunting right now, but there isn’t much of an opportunity to make phone calls anyway.  Because of Tony’s job we have to be back for Monday morning.  I have a few stops to make before heading out, but I’m hoping for a departure time of around 1:00 p.m.

It will be several days before I’m able to blog again, but will update my hunt as soon as we get back.

Mike

Sometimes the best laid plans of Mice and Men go astray.  The bear hunt for 2009 seems to be unraveling fast, at least for brother Dean and Myself.  I was supposed to leave yesterday to freshen baits and set out a couple new ones, but brother Darryl and his son decided to go back up Monday evening and hunt Tuesday and Wednesday.  Since there was only one “hot” bait anyway they will be “chucking” that one up, and setting out a new one before they leave Wednesday evening.  I was going to wait till Dean gets off work early Thursday morning, and leave for the Upper Peninsula.  Now Dean tells me he’s 90% sure he won’t be going.

I’m working on getting Tony to go with me, but no matter I have to retrieve my 4-wheeler, which I left up there from summer vacation.  You think I’d be used to this by now, but it’s still disappointing when your expectations fall way short of what you had planned.  So my trip has been cut from 10 days to 4 days, and I may be going by myself.  Also I check the long range weather forcast for Marquette and it’s calling for two days of rain during my 4-day hunt.  The saga continues!

Mike

The bear hunters!  This was Justin’s first bear, and he did it the hard way with a bow.  There were three generations sitting in the stand the evening Justin arrowed this bruin.  Justin and his son Seth were in a double stand, and grandpa Randy was filming from another stand just a few feet away.  This bear came in so late that they didn’t get any film, but the evening before  nine different bear came in, and they are on film.

When old blackie came in, Justin could tell he was nervous, so he didn’t waste any time drawing down on him.  Randy said it happened so fast he wouldn’t of been able to film anyway.  Seth got to see his dad place a great shot from about 15 yards away.  Justin said he thought he heard the death moan just seconds after shooting the bear.  Sure enough he didn’t go but 30 yards, and piled up.  It’s probably a 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 year old boar with a very large head in comparison to his body size.  Live weight would be in the 200-225 pound range which is a respectable Michigan black bear representative.

Brother Randy said it doesn’t get much better than this.  Last year Justin filmed Randy getting his bear, and this year Randy is with his son when he “connects!”  It was a bonus having his grandson in the stand with them.  That is pretty cool.  Way to go Justin.

Mike

There are no guarantee’s when it comes to hunting.  No-matter how much time, effort, and money you put into it, it is what it is (hunting.)  You do your homework, you know your quarry, but you are still the “stranger” in the woods.  Your on Natures turf, and game animals all have a
“play-book” of their own.  They have survived for millennium, because they know how to adapt, and they have God given senses that are far better than ours.  It’s not enough to be more intelligent than your quarry, some good fortune helps, planning is good, but as I stated there are no guarantees you will put meat in your freezer, or mount a rack for your hat!

I say all that in order to “cover” for the guys that came home empty handed.  Darryl and Derek came home with only memories of “what might of been!”  The three baits ,set on State land, stopped being hit, and the only bait that was “hot” was the one Justin killed his bear on.  Derek hunted this bait the last two evenings, and had bear around him, but nothing presented a bow shot.  That’s why its called hunting bear, not killing bear.  Derek and his boys did hammer some very nice “brookies” but those “young-ins” had to get back to school, so they could grow up and be smart like their Uncle Mike.

Before they headed for home they “chucked” up two bait piles for Dean and Myself.  The dog hunters are in the woods now, and that could help determine if we are successful or not.  The long range forecast is calling for much cooler temps (good) but also several days of rain (bad.)  No-matter I plan on having a good time with my little brother and son-in-law Tony.  I still don’t have any pictures of Justin’s bear, but will post them when I do.

Mike

This picture goes back in the archives a few years.  Youngest brother Dean was 17 when he shot this 300 plus pound bear.  He’s now in his mid forties, and will be my hunting partner in less than two weeks.

Oh, I almost forgot!  Justin shot a bear Friday evening with his bow.  It’s his first bear, and he made an excellent shot on the bruin.  It only went 30 yards before piling up!  He shot it off the stand where they had seen 9 bear the evening before.  In looking at the videos they took, of those nine bear, it was determined that two of them were indeed shooters.  Sometimes it’s hard to tell how big they are when they come in alone.  That’s all I’m going to say about Justin, as I’ll wait to get some pictures of his hunt.

Darryl and Derek are still trying to connect, but the baits they were hunting have not had any activity in the last several days.  They still have a couple evenings before Derek has to be back to work at Cabela’s.

Mike

I didn’t hear anything from the guys last evening, and I don’t know if that’s a bad thing or not.  They only have phone service in a few areas, so maybe they didn’t have an opportunity to call.  Or they could be tracking one right now-wishful thinking.  Later in the day I’ll try and get in touch with them to see what went down last night.

I got my bow out the other day, and flung some arrows at my deer target.  I shot from 20 yards, and this is the result of my first arrow group.  I shoot with my fingers, as I have never been able to shoot a release consistently.  I had the target slightly quartering away, and all these arrows would of taken out both lungs.  Not bad after a 6 month layoff!  In this case “groupies” can be a good thing.  I still haven’t settled on a broadhead, so I’ll be tinkering with those choices today.  If I can get them flying as well as my field points I’ll be all set.

Been having major problems with my “man truck” and it’s beginning to look like I won’t even be able to drive it up north.  My brother Dean has a Ford Excursion I can borrow, but 10 miles to the gallon of gas isn’t what I was hoping for.  My truck has been in the shop 5-times in the last month, and is there now getting a fuel pump installed in the gas tank.  It’s cost me $1500.00 dollars in repairs in just a few weeks.  I’ve been seriously considering staying home (NOT.)  I’ll take the Excursion and just be glad I have a vehicle I can borrow.

Mike