Fall 2019

www.michiganoutofdoors.com

MICHIGAN’S PREMIUM OUTDOOR JOURNAL SINCE 1947

Why We
Hunt with Dogs
$5.99 US | Fall 2019
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++PLUS++
Annual Convention recap|home water
The changing face of deer research
Official Publication of Michigan United Conservation Clubs
Fall 2019.indd 1 9/3/2019 11:17:47 AM
 We Are
Conservation
in action.

Find a VOLUNTEER WILDLIFE HABITAT project near you and sign up at

www.mucc.org/on-the-ground
Fall 2019.indd 2 9/3/2019 11:17:49 AM
Fall 2019.indd 3 9/3/2019 11:17:50 AM
 VOLUME 73, ISSUE 3
Each Michigan Out-of-Doors magazine features
one or two cartoons drawn by Michigan's-own
Jonny Hawkins. I hope they make you laugh as
much as they did us.

contents

7 DIRECTOR'S DESK
8 ON PATROL
12 MAKING A CONSCIOUS CHOICE DREW YOUNGEDYKE
16 THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATION CHRIS LAMPHERE
20 FOLLOWING A DOG DAVE VELDMAN
24 THE MOMENTS WE DON'T FORGET NICK GREEN
28 COVER FEATURE: WHY WE HUNT WITH DOGS ANDY DUFFY
34 THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER RUSS MASON
38 BEAR HOUNDS: A WAY OF LIFE CHRIS LAMPHERE
42 HUNTER CONSERVATIONIST JOE SCHWENKE
46 AFTER FATHERHOOD BLAKE SHERBURNE
50 MICHIGAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MONTH MICHIGAN WILDLIFE COUNCIL
52 STATE PARK HIGHLIGHT: FAYETTE HISTORIC STATE PARK MAKHAYLA LABUTTE
54 PART 2: HOW NATURAL RESOURCES POLICIES ARE CREATED CHARLIE BOOHER
56 MUCC ANNUAL CONVENTION RECAP MUCC STAFF
62 YOUR HOME PORT: ST IGNACE NICK GREEN
64 BACKWATER MUD MOTORS NICK GREEN
68 HOME WATER CALVIN MCSHANE
72 KING OF THE RIVER JIM BEDFORD
76 THE CHANGING FACE OF DEER RESEARCH JOHN OZOGA
84 DEER CAMP YEAR-ROUND MORGAN WARDA

STAFF REPORTS & MISC.
86 THE CAMPFIRE: A 2019 PHOTOSTORY OF CAMP SEASON MAX BASS
92 FLEDING THE NEST SHAUN MCKEON
94 THROWBACK: THE MIGHTY BEAGLE K.R. CRANSON
96 ONE LAST CAST NICK GREEN

2 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 4 9/3/2019 11:17:50 AM

 bAsecamp Nick Green, Editor
WELCOME TO MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS
MICHIGAN'S PREMIUM OUTDOOR JOURNAL
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you
more than he loves himself," wrote Josh Billings, a
19th-century American humorist.
For those of us who own hunting dogs, we
understand this truth. There is no debate and no need
to philosophically weigh the statement.
I wanted to lighten things up, at least on face
value, in this season's magazine. So, I chose the one
thing that, no matter what, will always make me
smile — dogs.
I grew up with dogs. Most were labs, but we had
the occasional stray, luxury breed or whatever other
troubled soul the neighborhood thought my stepdad,
a bona fide dog whisperer, could fix.
While we didn't hunt our dogs while I was
growing up, my stepdad taught me that dogs deserve
a piece of our heart.
Our dogs give us everything — undying love,
comfort in times of need, teach us to have a patient,
steady hand and provide us the realization that
everything good must come to an end.
My stepdad and I never really had conversations
about his love for dogs and how that blossomed. But,
each time a dog had to be buried under the willow in
our yard or out back on the rolling hill overlooking
the field, a piece of my stepdad died. He didn't need to
explain it to me; I just knew.
Fast forward through college and the "growing-
up" years, and now, I find myself with three dogs
of my own: Calvin, the old soul and wise small
Münsterländer; Summit, the eager and always-
willing-to-please German shorthaired pointer; and
Annie, the boss and perfectly-dispositioned Labrador
retriever.
I'm not exactly sure what I would be doing if
I didn't have my dogs. A woodcock banding story
I wrote for Cadillac News in the spring of 2017
sparked my interest in working dogs. From there,
I discovered a deep passion in upland hunting and
writing about it. In a sense, dogs are one of the main
reasons I became an outdoor writer, editor of this
magazine and duck hunter. Without them, I am not
sure I would be able to carry the passion I have for
Fall 2019.indd 5
Green's three dogs all hunt with him in the fields, aspen
stands and marshes throughout Michigan.
my outdoor pursuits through to the pages of this
magazine. I owe them everything; yet, they expect
nothing but a pat on the head or a face to lick in the
morning.
I hope you find a little piece of your four-legged
best friends, both current and past, in this issue. I
hope it helps you lighten up, see the bigger picture
and to remember that almost everything in this
world is better with a dog by your side.
It doesn't matter if you own a house dog, grew up
with dogs or maintain a hunting string of 30 dogs —
we can all agree that a tail wagging is second to none.
This issue will cover all kinds of dogs — hounds,
upland dogs, deer-tracking dogs, duck dogs and
couch dogs. As I write this, Calvin is asleep on my
feet under my desk at work. The places we find
inspiration are often so close and so overlooked.
Also featured in this issue is an in-depth look at
Michigan's hunter decline and what that means for
conservation in the state of Michigan.
Calvin McShane takes us to his home water in
what is one of the best pieces I have had the fortune
of editing in my short tenure at MOOD.
As always, please send me feedback on
this issue or past issues. My email is editor@
michiganoutofdoors.com.
Whatever hunting endeavor this fall takes me on,
you can bet one of my dogs will be there next to me.
Yours in Conservation,
Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 3
9/3/2019 11:17:51 AM
 DEAR EDITOR,

Just finished reading my fall edition

of Michigan Out-of-Doors, and
wanted to get with you on the new
design of the magazine.

MOMENTS of MEMORY
Call me old school, but I enjoyed
the magazine better the old way.
When I normally read the mag-
azine its from cover to cover,
although my passion is mostly deer
hunting ,and fishing I enjoy reading
about some of the other passions
as well.
The bedrock of conservation is taking care of our natural resources so that they can be passed
down to future generations. The natural resources that we conserve today were conserved for us
And I liked it better with the shorter
by generations of conservationists preceding us, and these generations are ever changing, ever
stories that I could read in just a
flowing. Here we honor the passing of one generation of conservationists to the next.
few minutes in the morning before I
head off to work.

I do like the larger print now that

In memory of
the years have been added to my
birth date, and the eyes don't do Nancy Dittmar
so well. But that could be obtained from
by reducing the picture
Doris sizes. I Reed,
& Cecelia have Amy Trotter, Ann Wood, Jennifer White, Glenn & Phyllis Ming and Deanna
been reading the magazine for Dittmar
probably over 40 years now, and
hunting, and fishing the out doors
for probably 10 years more than In memory of
that, and still find them both to be
refreshing, and joyful. I also liked Julia Demos
the smaller paper size of the old from
magazine, and soft covers for this Carl and Kathy Woloszyk
allowed you to fold the pages and
hold it in one had comfortably. I
know I'm only one person and like
your final story different from all
others, but I really like the old mag-
azine much better. And truly agree If you have recently lost someone you would like to honor here,
to Hunt Your Own Hunt. please contact Sue Pride at spride@mucc.org.

But do it ethically and honestly.

Sincerely, DeLoy C. Clark

Muckegon, MI

DEAR SIR,

Having recently finished reading the

new format magazine, my first im-
pression in a word is "slick". Upon

Fall 2019.indd 6 9/3/2019 11:17:52 AM

 LIFE MEMBER
Thank you to the following conservationists who have made a lifetime
commitment to conserving, protecting and enhancing Michigan's
natural resources and outdoor heritage by becoming Life Members
of Michigan United Conservation Clubs:

Edgar Brown of Willis, MI

Stephen Lintemuth of Lansing, MI
Richard Olsen of Montague, MI
Kevin Prediger of Indian River, MI
Joseph Seeber of Holland, MI
Jake Shinners of Saginaw, MI
Gregory Smith of Morrice, MI
John Stein of Ada, MI
Clinton H.W hite of Petersburg, MI
Adam Zdrojewski of Gladwin, MI
If you are willing and able to make a lifetime commitment to conservation, you can become a Life Member of
Michigan United Conservation Clubs with a $500 contribution to the organization.

Life members receive a lifetime subscription to Michigan Out-of-Doors, a Life Member MUCC ballcap,
a Life Member patch and a certificate commemorating your commitment to conservation.

Contact Sue Pride at spride@mucc.org or visit www.mucc.org/join_mucc and select "Life Membership."

Fall 2019.indd 7 9/3/2019 11:17:54 AM

 PUBLISHER
AMY TROTTER

EDITOR
NICK GREEN
editor@michiganoutofdoors.com

ADVERTISING
Nick Green Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) is a 501(c)(3)
edtior@michiganoutofdoors.com nonprofit organization founded in 1937 by sportsmen's clubs
from around Michigan to protect conservation from politics.
PRESIDENT Representing more than 50,000 members and supporters and
GEORGE LINDQUIST
approximately 250 affiliated conservation clubs, MUCC is the
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
largest state-specific conservation organization in the nation.
THOMAS HERITIER MUCC members determine the organization's conservation
policies through a robust grassroots process, which MUCC
VICE PRESIDENT staff works to implement by working with elected officials, state
GREG PETER and federal agencies, its members and the public. MUCC has
published Michigan Out-of-Doors since 1947 and operates
TREASURER the Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp in Chelsea, MI. Learn
FRAN YEAGER more about the full range of programs MUCC uses to advance
conservation in Michigan and become a member at www.mucc.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS org.
MIKE TAYLOR
PATRICK HOGAN
JAY MAKI
JANE FINNERTY
CAROL ROSE
MUCC Staff
DAWN LEVEY AMY TROTTER NICK GREEN
JACK VANRHEE Executive Director Public Information Officer
CHUCK HOOVER atrotter@mucc.org ngreen@mucc.org
RON BURRIS
SAM MORELLO MORGAN WARDA LOGAN SCHULTZ
DOUG KRIZANIC Wildlife Co-op Coordinator Digital Media Coordinator
mwarda@mucc.org lschultz@mucc.org
DAN MACUT
TERRY VUKSANOVIC MAKHAYLA LABUTTE SHAUN MCKEON
Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Education Director
mlabutte@mucc.org smckeon@mucc.org
Michigan Out-of-Doors (ISSN 0026-2382) is the official publication of
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), 2101 Wood St., Lansing
MI 48912, and is published quarterly. Telephone: 517.371.1041.
SUE PRIDE AMBER ALBERT
Receipt of this publication is through membership in MUCC. For Membership Relations Membership Coordinator
membership information, call 1.800.777.6720. Single copies available spride@mucc.org aalbert@mucc.org
to the public for $5.99 each. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing,
Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address
changes to Michigan Out-of-Doors, PO Box 30235, Lansing MI 48909.
AUTUMN CHRISTENSON MAX BASS
All advertising communications should be sent to PO Box 30235. AmeriCorps Volunteer Camp Director, Educator
Views expressed by freelance writers are their own and do not nec- americorps@mucc.org mbass@mucc.org
essarily express those of Michigan Out-of-Doors or Michigan United
Conservation Clubs. Copyright 2017 by Michigan United Conservation IAN FITZGERALD EMMA NEHAN
Clubs (MUCC). The Copyright Act of 1976 prohibits the reproduction of Policy and Special Events Assistant On the Water Coordinator
Michigan Out-of-Doors without written permission from Michigan United eneehan@mucc.org
Conservation Clubs. MUCC members may reproduce one copy for
ifitzgerald@mucc.org
personal use without permission. For permission to reprint a specific
article, and for inquiries, contact the editor at editor@michiganoutof-
doors.com.

Fall 2019.indd 8 9/3/2019 11:17:54 AM

 Crossing Boundaries Director's Desk
Amy Trotter, MUCC Executive Director

I am still coming down from the energy and excite-

ment surrounding our MUCC Annual Convention; my
first as the Executive Director. As I shared my annual
report (excerpt below) containing the many accom-
plishments of our staff and programs, I was honored to
also see the room come together over a most unlikely
topic — sewage! Not the flashiest, but as the owner
and operator of the highly-impactful Michigan Out-of-
Doors Youth Camp, it was one our camp director Max
Bass was swimming in at that very moment.
What happened next was unplanned and unex-
pected, but a true showing of what conservationists
can do when they unite. Tim Muir Jr. from the Lake
St. Clair Walleye Association (and our new Fisheries
Committee Chair) was presenting me a $1,000 check MUCC Executive Director Amy Trotter, left, watches as Tim
from his club to complete the pledge drive to repair our Muir Jr. pledges the first $40 to help fix the cooler at the
camp’s walk-in cooler (thanks to the many clubs and youth camp at the MUCC Annual Convention. Muir then took
individuals who helped us get to our goal!) when he took off his cap and passed it around the room.
the microphone. He heard me talk about the additional retired. Sometimes it requires boots, and sometimes it
facilities issues we had — things that need to be fixed requires suits. And everyone can make a phone call to
and maintained for a healthy and safe environment for take action.
our nearly 400 campers each summer. And then he took No matter how you came to conservation, we are
off his hat, put $40 in of his own money and passed it. in this together. We must defend against that small
As I completed my speech, the convention attendees percentage of people who don’t understand or don’t
pitched in more than $1,600 to help with our emergency share our same priorities. There are legislators who
camp sewage repairs. I was overwhelmed by tears for are true conservationists, and then there are those who
the first time that day, but not even the last. may hunt and fish, but they don’t bring their boots to
Conservation brings people together: it is some- Lansing and seem to forget about our shared priori-
thing that united all of us in that room, every reader ties. There are the antis who won’t be convinced of
of Michigan Out-of-Doors and member of MUCC, and anything, so we have to be a smarter and stronger force.
many more people beyond this organization and our But to do that, we have to remember we are in the same
circle of friends in the hunting, fishing and trapping boat, and we need to start rowing in the same direction.
community. Because if not, we just keep spinning in circles while
It doesn’t matter where you are from, what your conservation funding declines, we keep finding deer or
beliefs are, your religion, race, gender or even what fish across the state that we can no longer safely eat and
language you speak at home — conservation crosses we start to lose battles one by one.
boundaries. If I asked every Michigander to show us So, if part of your identity is conservation — join
your outdoors, all examples might look different. It us. If you are a native Michigander or an adopted son or
might be the wilderness of the Pigeon River, a state daughter of our Great Lakes State, join us. If your soul
game area close to home, quiet, mature forests or the is preserved and restored by immersing yourself in the
manicured gardens of a local park with a playground for outdoors, whatever your outdoors looks like, join us.
your grandkids. Your outdoors might include a foothold
trap, shotgun, a fly rod or even a crossbow. Or, maybe, Yours in Conservation,
it’s an RV, a popup, tent or hammock. Your outdoors
might be on the banks of a small stream, a backyard
pond, an inland waterway or the beaches and waters
of the Great Lakes. Some people’s outdoors may even
be some forsaken place off the grid where you measure
snow in feet rather than inches — or maybe that is just
our Yooper MUCC President George Lindquist. What
you consider your outdoors changes over time, too, but
I assure you, you can do conservation even if you are

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 7

Fall 2019.indd 9 9/3/2019 11:17:55 AM

 ON
PATROL
In each issue of Michigan Out-of-Doors, we highlight
some of the recent cases our brave Michigan Department
of Natural Resources conservation officers handle. You don't
want to find yourself on this list.
June 2 through June 15, 2019
That's a new one
CO Mark Zitnik was driving
up Wetmore Hill on M-28 when
he was passed by a pickup truck
going 70-plus miles per hour
(mph) in a 55-mph speed zone.
The CO activated his emer-
gency lights and siren, but the
vehicle did not pull over. The CO
followed the vehicle for over a
mile and a half before the truck
eventually pulled over.
At this time, the driver told CO
Zitnik, “You’re not a police officer,
you’re a Do Not Resuscitate,” as a
response to why he had not pulled
over when signaled.
The driver was issued a
citation for speeding and, at the
conclusion of the contact, under-
stood that conservation officers
are licensed peace officers.
CO's provide many benefits to a
community
While on patrol, CO Robert
Freeborn overheard local dispatch
send EMS to a remote location
where a subject was pinned under
a fallen tree and his condition was
unknown.
8 |www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 10
CO Freeborn was familiar
with the location and was only a
few miles away at the time and
responded.
Arriving first on scene, CO
Freeborn advised the responding
units of the exact location.
CO Freeborn, along with a
neighboring camper, were able to
cut and clear the portion of the
tree that was pinning the male
subject.
Once the subject was acces-
sible, CO Freeborn performed first
aid on the subject who had a large
laceration on the top of his head
and a possible broken shoulder.
Once the bleeding was under
control, CO Freeborn continued
to stabilize the patient until EMS
arrived.
Due to the remote location
and severity of his injuries,
the patient was airlifted to the
hospital.
You can't do that
CO William Haskin was called
from Wexford County Central
Dispatch about a deer that had
possibly been shot.
CO Haskin and Sgt. Howell
from Wexford County Sheriff's
Office responded to the location
and found deer hair and blood
where the deer had bedded down.
A witness said they saw the
deer get up and limp off and it
appeared to be injured.
After talking with several
people in the neighborhood, many
had heard the gun shot but didn’t
see anything.
CO Haskin was able to locate
where the deer had been shot and
interviewed the homeowner with
a clear shot to that location.
During the interview, the
suspect confessed to shooting the
deer because it was eating his
bushes.
CO Haskin submitted
charges to the Wexford County
Prosecutor’s Office requesting
charges for taking a deer out of
season.
This will spoil the fun for everyone
CO Mike Wells set up surveil-
lance along a powerline that has a
long history of illegal ORV activity.
CO Wells observed a dark color
SUV stop at the top of the gorge and
observed two male subjects exit the
vehicle.
CO Wells could hear them
discuss the many options they had
to drive down into the gorge as they
planned their approach to keep from
9/3/2019 11:17:55 AM
 getting stuck.
CO Wells then observed the
two subjects enter the vehicle and
illegally enter the gorge, driving
through the stream and up the other
side. A short time later, the vehicle
traveled back into the gorge, across
the stream and got stuck attempting
to exit the location.
As these two subjects attempted
to free their vehicle, a side-by-side
ORV arrived in the area, drove down
into the gorge and around the stuck
vehicle, through the stream and out
the other side.
The first two subjects finally
got out of the gorge and when the
side-by-side returned, CO Wells
stopped both vehicles and issued
them citations for the operation of
the ORVs through the stream.
Warnings were issued for
operating in an erosive manner
and closed area violations. One of
the subjects denied driving into the
gorge but changed his mind when
CO Wells showed him the video he
had taken on his cell phone.
Taking a gander out of season
CO Quincy Gowenlock received
a complaint regarding workers at
a local golf club who were riding
around in a golf cart and shooting
Canada geese.
CO Gowenlock responded to the
scene and, with the assistance of
the complainant, found an adult and
juvenile Canada goose freshly killed
and tossed in the tall grass.
The CO went to the pro shop
and requested to speak with the
manager. When questioned, the
manager had no idea that this had
happened.
He then began calling his
workers and was able to track down
the suspect. The suspect arrived and
admitted shooting both geese with a
pellet gun. Warrants are pending.
An impatient house call
CO Jason McCullough assisted
the Calhoun County Sheriff’s
Department and Marshall Police
Department with investigating a hit
and run vehicle vs. house accident.
Fall 2019.indd 11
CO McCullough, with the help
of some local witnesses, located the
vehicle at a residence.
The driver denied hitting the
house or driving on the sidewalk
even though there were still pieces
of the house lodged in the tire and
wheel of the vehicle.
After showing the driver the
house paint that was on the fender
of the vehicle, the driver admitted
to becoming impatient with a car
backing out into the road. The driver
stated they wanted to get around
the vehicle that was backing up and
decided to drive up and onto the
sidewalk.
Several additional witnesses
were interviewed, and the story
was verified. Fortunately, no one
was injured as the collision with the
house caused the deployment of the
air bags in the vehicle.
Kids must wear PFDs
COs Justin Muehlhauser and
Luke Robare patrolled Lobdell Lake
for marine activity.
Several vessels were stopped for
displaying expired registration.
In one event, upon stopping the
vessel, the COs noticed multiple
children under six years old not
wearing PFDs.
The owner was cited for the
violation and warned for the expired
registration. Later, the COs noticed
another vessel with an expired
registration for 2017.
Again, when the vessel was
stopped, there were multiple chil-
dren under six years old not wearing
PFDs. It was also discovered that
five of the occupants were under 21
and in possession of alcohol.
All the alcohol was poured out
and five minors were warned for
minor in possession. The operator
was issued a citation for the children
under six years old not wearing
PFDs and for operating on an
expired registration
Kidnapping Dogs
CO Nick Ingersoll was
dispatched by Monroe County
Central Dispatch to a water rescue.
Three individuals were enjoying
the nice Friday evening in Brest Bay
in Lake Erie when they stopped to go
swimming.
One of the individuals jumped
off the vessel and, by the time they
realized it, they were drifting too far
from the vessel and were unable to
get back. The vessel would not start,
so one of the other individuals on
the vessel jumped off the boat with a
rope and PFD and attempted to save
the person who was drifting away.
Both individuals were unable
to get back to the vessel, and
that is when the last individual
on the vessel called 911 for help.
CO Ingersoll along with Monroe
Township Fire Department,
Frenchtown Fire Department,
and Monroe County Ambulance
responded.
CO Ingersoll assisted with
the search of the two individuals
holding onto one PFD to stay afloat
and assisted with the search of the
stranded vessel. The vessel was
located approximately a mile and a
half from the shoreline of Sterling
SP with the stranded individual
on it by Monroe Township Fire
Department after being stranded in
the water for approximately an hour
after the time of the call.
Frenchtown Fire Department
was able to assist with locating the
two stranded individuals who had
drifted away from their vessel and
both were pulled from the water.
The individuals were suffering
from mild hypothermia but expected
to make a full recovery.
These reports are
randomly pulled from the
DNR Law Enforcement
Division's bi-weekly
reports.
Summer 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 9
9/3/2019 11:17:55 AM
 Pittman-Robertson Modernization Act
Would Strengthen Wildlife Conservation,
America’s Outdoor Heritage
Legislation enables state wildlife agencies to expand hunter recruit-
ment efforts and stabilize long-term funding for conservation

excise taxes on hunting gear, as we agencies each year for wildlife

By Drew YoungeDyke, National
Wildlife Federation
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July
11, 2019) –The Modernizing the
Pittman-Robertson Fund for
Tomorrow’s Needs Act (Pittman-
Robertson Modernization Act)
will strengthen hunter's, sports-
men’s and sportswomen's ongoing
support for wildlife conservation
and ensure hunting, shooting
sports, and outdoor recreation
remain central to America’s wild-
life heritage.
The new legislation, sponsored
by Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho),
would grow the ranks of hunters
who support conservation efforts
through excise taxes on firearms
and equipment. The Pittman-
Robertson Act was central to the
founding of the National Wildlife
Federation in 1936.
“The National Wildlife
Federation urges swift, bipartisan
passage of the Pittman-Robertson
Modernization Act. The bill will
help state agencies recruit future
hunter-conservationists, who will
in turn generate more revenue for
wildlife conservation,” said Collin
O’Mara, president and CEO of the
National Wildlife Federation. “Both
the National Wildlife Federation
and the Pittman-Robertson Act
were born out of the same historic
meeting in 1936, and we’re proud
to have helped lead the coalition
that passed it in 1937. This strategic
adjustment 82 years later will
ensure that America’s hunters
continue to be leading funders
of wildlife conservation through
bolster the ranks of sportswomen
and sportsmen across our nation.”
The Pittman-Robertson
Modernization Act would authorize
some funding from Pittman-
Robertson excise taxes on hunting
and shooting equipment to be
spent by state wildlife agencies
on recruiting and marketing to
hunters and recreational shooters
in order to reverse declines in
hunting participation, which
provides funding for wildlife
conservation.
The Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson
Act) has been instrumental in
recovering many of America’s
wildlife species since it was passed
in 1937. The purpose of the act
is to distribute an excise tax on
firearms and hunting equipment to
state fish and wildlife agencies for
conservation efforts. It includes an
11 percent tax on firearms, ammu-
nition, and archery equipment
that is apportioned to state wildlife
conservation and hunter educa-
tion. Since distributions began in
1939, it has provided $18.8 billion to
state fish and wildlife agencies, all
funded by hunters and recreational
shooters.
However, the number of
hunters has declined in recent
decades, from 14.1 million hunters
in 1991 to 11.5 million by 2016,
according to the National Survey
of Fishing, Hunting, & Wildlife-
Associated Recreation by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and
projections forecast that number
will continue to drop without the
efforts that the Pittman-Robertson
Modernization Act will allow.
The Pittman-Robertson
Modernization Act is co-sponsored
by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Doug
Jones (D-Ala.), Martin Heinrich
(D-N.M.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.),
Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Deb
Fischer (R-Neb.), Angus King
(I-Maine) and John Boozman
(R-Ark.).

10 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 12 9/3/2019 11:17:56 AM

 MUCC's OTG ("On the Ground") program is
in its sixth year, with multiple projects planned
across all ages and experience levels throughout
Improving Michigan's Public Lands Since 2013 the state. Volunteers participate in a variety of

Impacts
wildlife habitat projects on public land and are
provided an opportunity to engage in hands-on
conservation while learning about wildlife habitat
needs.
More than 2,500 volunteers have improved

2,075 2,844
fish and game habitat through weekend projects
that involve building brush piles, removing invasive
trees, restoring grassland habitat through native
Acres Improved Volunteers flower and grass plantings, hinge-cutting trees for
deer and snowshoe hare, installing wood duck

9,576
boxes, regenerating aspen stands, performing
river clean-ups and planting a variety of trees for
wildlife food and cover.
Volunteer Hours On Friday, September 6, we will be at the
Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area to improve
water quality and flow through the wetland by
*Data prior to 2016 is not available
removing woody brush from along the edges
of the dikes. A popular destination for a variety
of hunters, this area has become overrun with
woody brush that is preventing the dikes from
being properly maintained. This is an important
step in dike maintenance needed to continue
to provide quality habitat for waterfowl and
furbearing species.
There are plenty of opportunities to get outside
and volunteer for wildlife, no matter the season!
For more information on event dates, details
and to register, please visit www.mucc.org/on-
the-ground or contact MUCC Habitat Volunteer
Coordinator Makhayla LaButte at mlabutte@
mucc.org or 517-346-6456.

Fall 2019.indd 13 9/3/2019 11:17:59 AM

 Making a Concious
Choice

By Drew YoungeDyke

12 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 14 9/3/2019 11:18:01 AM

 Non-Lead Alternatives
Benefit Wildlife, People
D
ylan, a wirehaired pointing griffon, trotted ruffed grouse have been reported with lead poisoning
back to Jason Dinsmore holding a ruffed from ingesting lead shot, as well as raptors like bald
grouse in his ruffled muzzle. Jason, the eagles, hawks, and owls which ingest it through
regional director of conservation partner- predation of wounded game birds and scavenging
ships for the National Wildlife Federation and interim unrecovered birds and gut piles from deer.
executive director of the Minnesota Conservation “We recently had a bald eagle in Glacier Park test
Federation, took the grouse and pet Dylan — a positive for lead poisoning,” said Nicole Qualtieri,
successful retrieve. And one that won’t expose Dylan to the hunting and fishing editor for GearJunkie, who
the harmful effects of lead shot. lives in Montana and hunts with non-lead ammuni-
Dinsmore is one of an increasing number of tion. “Every time I see a bald eagle, I think about the
hunters and anglers switching to non-lead volun- Endangered Species Act and how this bird has come
tarily for human health, wildlife stewardship and back because we protected it. I think the idea of using
performance. non-lead as a protective measure feels like the right
“I started shooting non-toxic ammunition about decision.”
five years ago,” said Dinsmore, who hunts a variety of After bald eagle populations plummeted to just 417
species in Michigan and Minnesota, especially grouse pairs nationwide in 1963, DDT was eventually banned
and white-tailed deer. “It was an extension of the and bald eagles were protected under the Endangered
Leave No Trace ethic I was teaching my kids, and it Species Act. They recovered and were removed from
is about taking personal responsibility for being good Endangered Species Act protection in 2007 with 9,789
stewards of the habitat we hunt.” breeding pairs being reported. However, eagles are
Lead has been used for ammunition since the frequently found dead or dying of lead poisoning.
invention of the firearm, and its use for fishing goes The Minnesota Raptor Center estimates that it has
back to the Roman times. It is heavier than many found dead or had to euthanize 500 eagles due to lead
metals but also malleable and relatively cheap to mine
and produce. However, lead has long been recognized Mark Smith (left), NWF director of conservation partnerships
as a toxic substance for people and wildlife. Almost in the Great Lakes Region, Jason Dinsmore (center) and Lew
all modern shotguns are able to shoot steel (the Carpenter , director of conservation partnerships for the
cheapest alternative to lead shot in shells); however, it Rocky Mountain Region, pose for a tailgate picture after a
is important to be mindful of the age of your shotgun successful grouse hunt using steel shot.
and call the manufacture or a gunsmith if you are
unsure about the ability of your gun to shoot steel.
Other options include tungsten and bismuth for older
shotguns unable to shoot steel.
George Bird Grinnell noted harmful effects of
lead for waterfowl in the 1890s. Waterfowl ingesting as
few as one or two shot pellets can waste away and die
over several weeks. It wasn’t until 1991, though, that
a ban on the use of lead shot for waterfowl took effect
following a decades-long push from wildlife agencies
and the National Wildlife Federation and a phased-in
compromise proposed by the Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies. Since then, lead poisoning in water-
fowl has been greatly reduced. Even by 2000, less than
20 years after the ban, a study estimated a 64 percent
reduction in lead poisoning in waterfowl, saving an
estimated 1.4 million birds.
Waterfowl aren’t the only species impacted by
lead shot, though. Since the waterfowl ban took effect,
upland birds are more likely to have lead poisoning
than waterfowl. Of species we have here in Michigan,
upland game like pheasant, wild turkey, woodcock and

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 13

Fall 2019.indd 15 9/3/2019 11:18:01 AM

 poisoning. And as eagles continue to recover, there
are more of them which could come into contact with
hunters’ lead-shot gut piles or lost game birds, creating
more negative headlines for hunters when they’re
poisoned.
Lost lead fishing weights like sinkers and jig
heads are also a significant source of lead poisoning
for loons, which has been found in Canada geese and
mallards, too. Loons, as divers, can mistake sinkers
on the lake bottom for pebbles which they grind in
their gullet. They can also ingest it from lead jig heads
remaining in the fish they eat. Lead poisoning isn’t a
known issue for the fish, as they usually die from the
effects of the tackle remaining in them first.
And yes, even dogs can get lead poisoning: A 2016
Norwegian study concluded that dogs fed lead-shot
game meat could occasionally contain deadly levels of
lead exposure.
Humans absorb lead from ammunition when lead
bullets fragment into venison or lead shot remains in a
game bird.
A 2008 Minnesota Department of Health study
found lead fragments in ground venison donated to food
shelves. Studies have also found elevated blood lead
levels reported in individuals who frequent shooting Jason Dinsmore poses with a harvested woodcock he took
ranges often and who hand-load ammunition. In using steel shot over and his two dogs.
humans, lead can cause brain dysfunction, develop-
mental defects, chronic encephalopathy, neuropathy, National Wildlife Federation through its Lead-Free
anemia, attention deficit disorder and even death. Landscapes initiative.
How lead poisoning impacts any individual depends As part of the initiative, the National Wildlife
on the person, their age and the level of exposure, but Federation teamed up with Hunt To Eat, a hunting
it is most pronounced in children, whose brains are apparel brand, to produce a collaborative t-shirt
still developing and who absorb lead more easily than encouraging hunters to “Hunt Clean” with non-lead
adults. ammunition. Mahting Putelis, owner of Hunt To Eat,
“My goal in hunting is putting food on the table,” has used non-lead ammunition to successfully hunt elk
Dinsmore said. “I want to make sure the meal I’m for almost a decade.
providing for my family is safe, and I can’t say that “Copper bullets work just as well these days,” said
when I’m shooting lead.” Putelis, who lives in Colorado but grew up in Michigan.
Drew Gilbey, of Roseville, Mich., agrees. “They’re a little bit more expensive, but given what we
“I switched to copper for my muzzleloader and spend in gear everywhere else, using that slightly-more-
rifle,” said Gilbey. “I hunt for healthy meat, and it’s not expensive bullet is a drop in the bucket.”
healthy when I bite down on a chunk of lead.” Except for waterfowl, whether or not you, as an
In Michigan, non-toxic shot is required only for individual, choose to use non-lead ammunition and
hunting waterfowl — in line with the 1991 federal fishing tackle is solely up to you. Only you will know if
ban. However, the Department of Natural Resources the shot you take will impact non-game wildlife beyond
recommends using non-toxic shot for all small game. your target or end up in the wild game meal you feed
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies does your family or your dog, or if the fish that broke off
not advocate for restrictions on lead ammunition and your line or the sinker that fell off it will poison a loon.
fishing tackle unless population-level effects on wildlife Aldo Leopold wrote some words that may help with
can be demonstrated. This is difficult to establish, that decision in A Sand County Almanac: “A peculiar
though. A 2016 New Hampshire study estimated a 43 virtue in wildlife ethics is that the hunter ordinarily
percent reduction in the loon population due to lead has no gallery to applaud or disapprove of his conduct.
poisoning over a 24-year period. Whatever his acts, they are dictated by his own
Whether or not a population-level impact on a wild- conscience, rather than by a mob of onlookers. It is
life species can be shown or whether a state may adopt a difficult to exaggerate the importance of this fact.”
lead regulation, hunters and anglers can take personal Learn more about hunting and fishing with non-
responsibility to reduce their impact on non-target lead ammunition and tackle at www.nwf.org/
wildlife by voluntarily using non-lead ammunition and leadfreelandscapes.
fishing tackle. This is the approach encouraged by the

14 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 16 9/3/2019 11:18:02 AM

 inchester Ammunition offers multiple shotshells loaded with high-grade
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Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 15

Fall 2019.indd 17 9/3/2019 11:18:03 AM

 Officials looking to
Future of Conservation
as hunting, fishing revenues drop
By Chris Lamphere the amount of funding provided to Michigan Technological University.
Michigan has dropped from $22.2 “Given the demographic patterns,
There will never be another million per year in 2015 to $16.1 even with highly successful
generation like the Baby Boomers, million in 2019, a decrease of 27 recruitment and retention efforts,
whose unparalleled interest in percent. the number of hunters is likely to
the outdoors sustained a golden Figuring out how to bring more decline during the next 20 years.”
age of wildlife management and people into hunting and fishing “It’s a cultural change in what
conservation. remains a bit of a mystery, but the people do with their recreational
That age is slowly coming to cause of the decline is relatively time,” said Russ Mason, Wildlife
an end as Baby Boomers grow well understood, albeit grim. Division chief for the Michigan
older and become less active in the “A myriad of social, cultural, Department of Natural Resources.
woods, on lakes and on streams. and economic changes throughout “This isn’t just Michigan. (Hunting
Experts don’t think funding the 20th century typically earn is) tending to decline across the
will ever return to where it was a the brunt of the blame – urbaniza- country. After World War II, there
decade or two ago, but it could be tion, population aging, increasing was a huge increase in hunters.
stabilized before too much damage time demands from work and They had a shared language, values
is done. family, new competing activities, and activities. It wasn’t just a hobby
The question is how. complicated hunting policies, land for them.”
conversion (development) and Today’s generation doesn’t have
the perception of fewer animals those same values, Mason said,
Scope of the problem have all contributed to patterns which is one of the big reasons he
of decline,” reads a research thinks getting people involved in
Conservation is funded in
paper published a few years ago hunting is so tough.
Michigan primarily through
by the DNR in collaboration with “It’s a cultural phenomenon,”
license sales and allocations of
excise tax revenue by the federal
government.
Nick Green, public informa-
tion officer with the Michigan
United Conservation Clubs, said
license sales in Michigan have
been dropping by 2 to 3 percent per
year for years and excise taxes
also appear to be following suit or
staying static.
The Dingell-Johnson Act
apportions money based on an
excise tax on fishing gear, and it
has remained relatively consistent,
typically fluctuating between $10
and $13 million a year in Michigan
over the last decade.
The Pittman-Robertson Act —
which apportions tax money based
on firearms and ammunition
sales — is another story entirely:

16 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 18 9/3/2019 11:18:04 AM

 he said. “One event can’t change a
culture.”

What are the

ramifications?
Mason said explaining the
effect this problem could have on a
given person's day-to-day routine
is somewhat abstract, but it boils
down to a simple question: How do
you put a value on quality of life?
“The diversity and richness
of wildlife would go away without
competent natural resources
management,” Mason said. “It’s
difficult to convey the urgency of
it.”
Mason fears wildlife
conservation could become like
Michigan’s roads: falling apart
from years of inadequate funding,
eventually forcing state officials to
discuss emergency measures to fix
them.
As funds go away, so will the Alex Schaffer, of Dexter, poses with his first turkey. Alex is an adult onset hunter
ability to properly manage habitats who, after moving back to Michigan from California, decided to locally source his
and wildlife species, including protein.
those that are endangered. Water
bodies could become overrun with Returning to the woods litter.
Schaffer described what he
destructive invasive creatures such
Living in San Francisco, saw as “actively thoughtless,” and
as lamprey and carp, and ailments
California, Alex Schaffer saw one of the reasons he decided to
like chronic wasting disease and
firsthand the negative impact rekindle his interest in hunting.
tuberculosis could run rampant in
people can have on wild areas. Today, Schaffer lives in Dexter,
Michigan’s deer population.
“I never experienced that kind Michigan and is active in many
“If Michigan is going to be
of sprawl before,” said Schaffer, a different forms of hunting,
a destination — it has to have
32-year-old software engineer who including deer and small game.
these natural resources,” Mason
was raised in Pennsylvania. “It As his interest in hunting
said. “All other industries are an
takes an hour and a half of driving progressed, Schaffer said he
accident of our abundant natural
before you’re not surrounded began to pay more attention to
resources.”
by buildings (in San Francisco). philosophies that espoused a more
DNR Director Daniel Eichinger
Once buildings go up, nature’s not introspective approach to taking
agrees that conservation funding is
coming back.” game, along with emphasizing
essential, but the thing that keeps
Although he grew up in a the vital role of hunting in
him up at night is the apparent
hunting family, Schaffer lost conservation.
disappearance of outdoorsmen.
interest in the activity during high Contrary to some opinions,
“This is a mission business,”
school, preferring instead to spend Schaffer said he doesn’t think
Eichinger said. “It doesn’t really
his time playing video games and Millennials such as himself
matter how much money you have.
sports. are less interested than
It’s always been a partnership
After moving to California, previous generations in wildlife
between us and (hunters and
Schaffer started going hiking as a conservation.
anglers). They’re the ones who gave
way to escape the tedium of being It’s just that there are so many
rise to the conservation movement
indoors constantly. other interests competing for only
in the first place. They’re the
In the San Francisco Bay area so many hours in the day, Schaffer
keepers of the fire, the ones who
where he hiked, Schaffer said the said. Compound that with the
put their shoulder to the wheel. We
signs of human use were abundant ability to find others online with
would have no idea how to go about
and intrusive, including carvings the same interest, and people can
it without them.”
on trees, makeshift rock cairns and quickly become siloed from other

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 17

Fall 2019.indd 19 9/3/2019 11:18:05 AM

 Deer hunter numbers
(projections beginning in 2017)
Deer hunting license buyers (No.)

Bottom-up estimate #1 Bottom-up estimate #2 Top-down estimate

1,000,000
900,000
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025
2027
2029
Year
Graphs provided courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The top graph shows the decline, and projected
decline, of deer hunters. The right graph shows the age structure of deer license buyers in 1995 and 2010. Deer hunters are
the largest revenue source from license dollars.
endeavors. already have a relationship with the one-day hunting events don’t seem
Finding a mentor willing to outdoors or the hunting and fishing to lead to meaningful retention;
spend significant amounts of time culture. week-long events, on the other hand,
in the field with a new hunter can “We need to create bridges for have been shown to be much more
also be a barrier for many, Schaffer those folks,” Eichinger said. “To be effective.
said. present in those areas we haven’t “It isn’t harvest success that
90+ been present.”2000 1995 matters as much as building a sense
Approaching a solution Places like the Outdoor of community,” McKeon said. “They
80-84 Adventure Center in downtown feel like they’re wanted and engaged.
Schaffer is an example of Detroit bring the sights, sounds and This contributes to participants
smells of Northern Michigan to rating the experience better and
someone who was enticed 70-74back into
inner-city residents. builds momentum to join another
Age of license buyer

the world of hunting after a long

“It introduces folks to this event.”
hiatus — a success story60-64
for those
universe,” Eichinger said. “It’s To increase the availability
who are trying to figure out how
to create more outdoorsmen proven to work.” of these types of opportunities,
50-54and While successful in some ways, a McKeon is working with a number of
women.
Eichinger said as the enormous limitation of immersive experiences conservation organizations.
40-44
Baby Boomer cohort ages out, he is that they are difficult and They include the DNR, MUCC,
believes the number of hunters and expensive to scale, Eichinger said. Michigan Backcountry Hunters
anglers will “reset to a30-34
historical Shaun McKeon, education and Anglers, National Wild
norm.” director with MUCC, said figuring Turkey Federation, Pheasants
Although he doesn’t 20-24
believe out a way to expand these types of Forever, Quality Deer Management
there is one single way to bring more programs for adults between the Association and the U.S. Fish and
people into the fold, he10-14
said it will be ages of 24 and 45 has been one of his Wildlife Services.
important to build connections with primary goals. The goal is to pool resources in
people and communities 0-4 that don’t McKeon said they know that order to equip a fleet of trucks with

18 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com0 50,000 100,000 150,000

Number of deer hunting license buyers
Fall 2019.indd 20 9/3/2019 11:18:05 AM
 0-4
0 50,000 100,000 150,000
Number of deer hunting license buyers

stockpiles of hunting gear than

can be easily transported from one 90+ 2010 1995
place to another.
“We want to multiply success 80-84
across the state,” McKeon said.
“To create a snowball effect.” 70-74

Age of license buyer

60-64
Other opportunities
50-54
MUCC Executive Director
Amy Trotter said getting people 40-44
to transition from one hunting or
fishing event to another is called 30-34
“stringing the pearls” and is
integral to improving participation 20-24
and cultivating lifelong
outdoorsmen and women. 10-14
An example of this is the
0-4
Gourmet Gone Wild program,
which paired locally-harvested 0 50,000 100,000 150,000
meals with craft beer and wine,
creating a one-of-a-kind experience Number of deer hunting license buyers
aimed at marketing to the growing
locavore movement. This program
dovetailed into hunting events, Wildlife Act, which proposes to 2015 to1995 have conversations with its
establishing a connection between allocate90+
money to states to cover members regarding where those
the meal and the food source, Trotter the costs of managing species cuts would do the least amount of
said.
80-84
in greatest need of assistance, damage.
Another program that aims to although
70-74this is still being Of course, they also want to
reach out to the “missed generation”
Age of license buyer

considered by the Legislature at continue discussing how to turn

is the new Michigan Pheasant this time.
60-64 the tide and stabilize hunting and
Hunting Initiative, which will If conservation funding fishing numbers.
release pen-raised pheasants on 50-54
continues to decline, Trotter said To provide feedback on this
public lands later this year, with cuts inevitably will have to be made issue, Trotter said to contact
the ultimate intention of collecting 40-44 and MUCC wants
somewhere, McKeon at smckeon@mucc.org.
data on how to improve R3 efforts Steve Sharp (middle), R3 coordinator for the National Wild Turkey Federation,
— which stands for recruitment, 30-34
works with participants at a Learn to Hunt wingshooting event at the Rose Lake
retention and reactivation of Outdoor Center near Bath, Michigan.
hunters. 20-24
Fully capitalizing on these
efforts remains a challenge,
10-14
however, because funding doesn’t 0-4
exist at the state level to pay
someone to act as an overseer and 0 50,000 100,000 150,000
marketing coordinator, Trotter
said. Number of deer hunting license buyers
“The question would be:
what would be the return on that
12.08.2017
investment,” Trotter said. 2
MUCC members have suggested
ideas to bring in more revenue,
including offering youth hunt
discounts, although Trotter points
out that this would have to be
covered by some other source of
funding in the meantime.
A potentially large source of
new funding could come from
the federal Recovering America’s

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 19

Fall 2019.indd 21 9/3/2019 11:18:06 AM

 Following a
Dog

By Dave Veldman

20 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 22 9/3/2019 11:18:07 AM

 F
inding myself in a reoccurring situation in one of my oldest grouse covers, that
particular day was proving to be just as frustrating. After nearly two hours of
pounding every historically birdy cover I could think of, the time was drawing near
to call it quits and move on. More than 20 years ago when I first walked those federal
lands, it was almost too easy to find birds, and that we did — sans dogs. Since those times,
the lands have mostly been ignored, the flora has steadily grown older and the number of
birds has taken an inverse trajectory. Yet, in the name of tradition, I still find that same
piece of forest beckoning me to pay homage and give it an annual “one last try.”
Hoping a dip in a cool stream would rejuvenate the chocolate brown dog that was now
baking in the early-autumn sun, we hunted our way in search of flowing water. Rounding a
small patch of streamside cover where I had shot the first grouse over Corbin, I had finally
accepted defeat. After a quick dip and a drink, we began the trek back to the car. Our route
took us along a feeder creek through a stand of towering, mature row pines. It was a solemn
walk as we had only mustered one grouse flush all day, and the mid-morning heat was taking
its toll on both my aging dog and me.
Following along the high banks of the creek, there was little ground cover amongst the
carpeted floor of fallen pine needles. It was a sheer surprise when a mature bird bolted
from beneath some early-growth witch hazel, exiting stage left low and over the ravine as
it was pressured out by my leading lab. Instincts kicked in and with a quick right to left
swing, I emptied my bottom barrel and the bird dropped on the opposite embankment. Not
fully comprehending there was now a downed grouse, I had to send Corbin on a marked

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 21

Fall 2019.indd 23 9/3/2019 11:18:08 AM

 Photos by Dave Veldman, owner of
Sportdog Photography
path across the stream toward the
direction of the grounded quarry.
Time slowed down as he made his
way back across the water and up
the near side of the bank, bringing
the bird to hand in his gentle
manner. After praising him for a
fine retrieve, we paused silently by
the creek for a few moments.
One bird — that was it for the
day. That one bird taken in my
oldest covert made me stop and
reflect. There is nothing intrinsi-
cally special about shooting one
grouse, but I am a realist and know
that these may be the final scenes
of a play being penned right here
where it all began.
When I first brought my young
dog, Corbin, to this area nine years
22 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 24
ago, he had not yet been introduced
to wild birds. I was a first-time dog
owner and had no clue how to hunt
these native grouse over a dog.
The only advantages I had was I
knew the woods like the back of my
hand and knew where the grouse
were. So, I played guide to the dog,
and we hunted hard. The imprint
on my memory of Corbin’s first
grouse flush down by that stream
will stay etched in my mind long
after he is gone. It was a defining
moment for both of us. He real-
ized his true calling, and, for me, I
realized what I had unknowingly
been missing all these years — the
pure joy and pride of hunting and
harvesting a grouse over a bird dog.
What I didn’t know at the time
was where following that dog
would take me. Far beyond mere
walks among the aspens, it would
be a journey into conservation
and gaining an understanding of
healthy forest habitat management.
It would take me down a new road
of artistic expression and creation
that I could never have imagined
possible. It would allow me to
travel and see new places. Most
importantly, it would allow me to
meet so many incredible people
who not only share similar inter-
ests but who have become great
friends and mentors. Many people
joke about how in debt you will
become once you buy the puppy,
but I believe the most significant
debt I owe is one of gratitude.
9/3/2019 11:18:09 AM
 Since our first day in those
woods, we have been back to that
neglected, hallowed ground time
and time again. Sometimes, we find
success, but more often than not,
we leave empty-handed.
We have also covered a lot
of ground throughout the state
and put our share of birds in the
bag. He is by no means a polished
upland dog, and he leaves a lot to be
desired in the duck blind. However,
watching him mature his senses
and hone his abilities has given me
a whole new outlook on what we
have. We have learned along the
way how to use each other in the
woods and utilize silent communi-
cation that cannot be explained.
Corbin will never know the
impact of the journey he has led
me on. I have heard it said that you
only get one “once-in-a-lifetime
dog,” and if that is true, all the rest
will have a pretty big collar to fill.

"What I didn’t know at the time was where

following that dog would take me..."

Summer 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 23

Fall 2019.indd 25 9/3/2019 11:18:10 AM

 The Moments
We Don't Forget
W
e couldn’t quite find where the doodles
wanted to be. The tight aspen stand that
had been holding the birds was desolate
except for one grouse that we missed, of
course. My German shorthaired pointer, Summit,
worked the cover as enthusiastically and efficiently as
a one-year-old dog could.
Summit averages about 14 miles per hour in the
grouse woods, and for his first year hunting, that
caused some problems. He consistently overran his
nose — meaning that he was moving too fast, and
when he caught a scent and locked up, he was already
too close to the bird.
That morning, though, I was set to fix that with
some woodcock work. Woodcock can be a bane or
blessing for a young dog; it depends on how you look at
it. The bird holds so tight that it can lead to crowding,
yet that tight hold helps builds confidence in a young
dog and reaffirms a solid point.
After an hour or so of nothing in the aspen stand
that had produced woodcock throughout the week, we
moved toward the cut’s edge — mature conifer mixed
with some mature hardwood and ferns sloped down
into a forest pond.
Within two minutes of moving to the “open” cover,
Summit locked up. My friend David, a new hunter who
never had upland hunted, moved to Summit’s left and
the veteran of our group, Joe Schwenke, moved to the
right.
24 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 26
By Nick Green
Summit remained statue-still with his nostrils
slightly flaring to take in as much scent as he could.
His tail ran parallel to the ground and stood stiff. The
intensity of the point left no doubt that there was a
bird nearby.
Slowly, we moved in. The woodcock was about 20
feet in front of Summit when it rocketed upward from
the leaves making a ‘peep,’ ‘peep’ noise as it flew away.
David missed his first shot, and I was able to connect
on my first shot.
Immediately, Summit was on the bird, proudly
running back to my side with the bird in tow. He came
to the heel position and presented a beautiful retrieve
to hand. Something had clicked.
We continued on with no other points or birds to
show for the day. But, Summit had his first woodcock
point and retrieve under his belt.
Two days later, Summit and I entered the same cover
from the western edge. Immediately, pounding wing
beats let us know that at least two grouse would no
longer be available for our rendezvous. We continued
on.
About 60 yards into the cover, Summit started to
track a running bird. He slowed down, showed caution
and displayed a small glimpse of the shorthair I hope
he will become. A black flash in front of me to my left
let me know he was heading back toward the two-track
we had come in on.
What is this dog doing, I thought to myself ? About
9/3/2019 11:18:11 AM
 "For me, those spots will always
belong to my dog and those birds.
They serve as a reminder of what
our journey together will come to
be."

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 25

Fall 2019.indd 27 9/3/2019 11:18:13 AM

 30 seconds later, my GPS unit beeped to let me know
that Summit was on point. I made my way back out to
the two-track to find Summit standing on the edge of it
locked up.
Where was the bird? Had it crossed the two-track
and truly stopped? Did Summit lose scent if the bird
had crossed? These questions ran through my mind in
the blink of an eye.
I snapped a quick photo of Summit, and almost
simultaneously, thundering wings of a grouse broke
the silence and cleared the aspen tops. Dropping my
phone, I was able to shoulder, and I use that term
loosely, my shotgun and get a shot off at the bird’s tail
feathers.
Grouse will humble any bird hunter — I don’t
care if you are a 25-for-25 trap shooter every day of
the week. They are cagey, fly fast and reside in the
toughest covers to hunt. This is why upland hunters
refer to them as the King. But, on that day, I managed
to connect.
The bird tumbled through the air as it landed
about 40 yards into the aspen from where we had
formerly come. Summit stood steady to fall marking
the bird — something we had worked on in training,
but not something I had been reinforcing on wild birds.
26|| www.michiganoutofdoors.com
26 www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 28
My best guess is that he was as surprised as I was, and
that helped to keep him steady. But his intensity did
not wane.
I said, “Summit” and tapped him on the head.
With one leap, he cleared the two-track from where
his original point was and disappeared into the aspen
stand. Rustling and breaking branches shortly stopped
as he found the ruffed fellow. His soft mouth delivered
the bird to my hand.
There are certain moments in each hunting dog’s
life that we never forget — that first point, the first bay
on a rabbit, the first time a hound trees a bear and that
first retrieve on a duck, among others.
For me, the harvest of that woodcock and subse-
quent grouse will forever be etched in my mind. The
way the woods sounded as it woke up, the smell of an
autumn forest wafted through the crisp air and the feel
of the wet dew on the ferns as I knelt beside Summit
are what I’ll never forget.
I could take you to both of those spots right now.
And standing in those locations, you probably wouldn’t
smell what I smell or see what I see. For me, those
spots will always belong to my dog and those birds.
They serve as a reminder of what our journey together
will come to be.
9/3/2019 11:18:14 AM
 For more than 25 years Mike Avery has
informed and entertained hunters and
anglers across Michigan. His experience
and common sense philosophy have made
Outdoor Magazine the Number One
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Spring 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 27

Fall 2019.indd 29 9/3/2019 11:18:14 AM

 Why we
Hunt with Dogs
I
know precisely when I
became a hunter who
uses dogs. I was just a
kid, eight or 10, maybe.
We had a neighbor who
owned a brace of beagles.
He invited my brothers and me
along one summer evening while
he took them out for a run.
He ran the dogs on my parents’
property — 27 acres of creek
bottom, tag alders and young aspen
trees. A cynic might suspect that
he invited us along just so he could
run his hounds on my parents’
property, but that wasn’t it. I don’t
know that Bob ever asked my
parents if he could run his dogs
on their property, but those were
halcyon days when neighbors were
pretty much free to roam at will.
28 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 30
Our property had good rabbit
habitat; Bob’s property had been
farmed not so long ago and was as
barren as a freshly-cut hayfield. He
knew he was welcome to run his
dogs at our place.
So, I stood enchanted on the side
of a little hill and watched as his
dogs bawled below me on the trail
of a rabbit. I liked the enthusiasm
of the beagles, their friendliness
and their dedication to duty. I knew
that I wanted to have hunting dogs
someday.
I was certainly not alone.
Anthropologists can’t tell us when
people first forged a partnership
with dogs (although it may have
been the other way around). I’m
guessing that terrier-type dogs
were the first to join that symbiotic
By Andy Duffy
relationship with people and that
retrieving dogs and pointing dogs
followed. That’s conjecture, of
course. Still, our history with our
canines is long, maybe 20,000 years
long if the anthropologists are
right.
And not only is our history with
dogs long, it is celebrated.
Homer wrote of Argos, the
faithful hound that staved off death
for 20 years while waiting for the
return of his master Odysseus.
Shakespeare wrote of hounds
“slow in pursuit but matched in
mouth like bells. … A cry more
tunable was never holloed to nor
cheered nor cheered with horn. …”
Milton wrote of often “listening
how the hounds and horn heerily
rouse the slumbering morn.”
9/3/2019 11:18:16 AM
 of kids could play football without
a goal line, too, but that would take "And not only is our history
away a lot of the fun.
Dogs are the best hunting with dogs long, it is
buddies a person could ever ask
for. They’re never too tired to go.
They don’t have another obliga-
celebrated"
tion. They willingly get up early who gave us the cat before going
and hop in the truck. They never downstate to live near her daughter
stay home from a hunt to watch had the feline declawed when it was
Michigan play Ohio State. They just a kitten. Deprived of its claws,
don’t take shots that are rightfully the cat knew it was defenseless
yours. And, they do the grunt against dogs. She was terrified
work without complaining. Just when she moved in with us. The
ask your buddy to swim out and golden retriever seemed to sense
retrieve your duck and see how that the cat’s fear. She was careful never
goes. But a Labrador retriever or a to make a sudden move around
Boykin spaniel will be happy to do the cat. She would just raise her
it. ponderous head and watch when
Beagles go through the nastiest the cat slunk by her. I’m convinced
briar tangles imaginable to keep a she was doing everything she could
rabbit running. to assuage the cat’s trepidation.
Retrievers and pointers never Dogs have more sensibilities than
complain about switchgrass at the we might think. I know they ponder
field edges cutting them up. the meaning of life. My beagle has
When a raccoon bites a hound, convinced me of that.
the hound just keeps going back for Each year when the dog-training
more. season ends midway through April
Treat a dog properly and a dog and I can no longer let her run
is entirely non-judgmental. With rabbits, I watch her mope. Her
an appreciative wag of the tail, actions and her expressions show
they accept the medical attention clearly
that comes at the hunt’s end.
They never blame their owners
for taking them where porcupines
waddle or briars prick or anything
else, either.
Dogs have intelligence that
rivals most people’s.
Then we have the Jim
Oh, they can’t do algebra or
Kjelgaard books and Fred Gipson’s
anything like that. They
“Old Yeller” and “Savage Sam”
understand psychology,
and Wilson Rawls’ “Where the
though. They know
Red Fern Grows” and MacKinlay
how to get attention
Kantor’s “The Voice of Bugle Ann.”
just by looking
A person who grew up without
imploringly at a
reading books about hunting dogs
person. That’s a lot
missed out on a vital part of child-
more effective than the
hood.
temper tantrums
We don’t need dogs for our
we see kids
hunting, of course. Some people
throwing in
love stalking and spotting rabbits.
grocery stores.
In the northern states, deer hunters
Dogs have an
use dogs only to help them recover
intuition that is
their game. Grouse hunters who
simply amazing.
don’t use dogs shoot a lot of birds.
Lying on my living room floor
We can bait bear. We can row a boat
right now is a big, old golden
out to retrieve our ducks. My ques-
retriever. Under my computer desk
tion, though, is always this: Why
is an old, blue cat. The elderly lady
wouldn’t a person use a dog? Teams

Fall 2019.indd 31 9/3/2019 11:18:19 AM

 that she is wondering about her
existence. Is that all there is to life,
she wonders, to be confined to a
pen? She knows God made dogs for
better things than rotting in a cell.
And each year when I can finally
cut her loose and take her out for a
run, her excited wanderings would
make ardent opponents of gerry-
mandering go crazy, but they do
me a world of good. They do her a
world of good, too. You can see it in
her demeanor. She’s happy again.
Her life has a purpose again.
Let me back up a bit. I wrote that
dogs can’t do algebra, and maybe
they can’t. They certainly know
a thing or two about geometry,
though. They know, for example,
that if a pheasant is running down
a drainage ditch, they can make
a fast arc to block the bird for the
hunter. Dogs can extrapolate the
path of a tossed treat and catch it
with their mouth. They quickly
figure out the path of a tossed
Frisbee disc. If I could have figured
out the routes of moving objects
as well as a dog can, I might have
made my high-school baseball
team.
And dogs love with all their
heart, too.
I have an English springer that
follows me from one end of the
house to the other just to lie at
my feet. When I leave my office to
grab another drink from the refrig-
erator, she tags along. When I go
to the bathroom, she waits outside
the door. She knows my behavior so
well that she anticipates my every
move.
I arise in the morning and go
outside to put my bike rack on the
Erin and Kolleen Hildebrand snuggle with a beagle pup. Pups grow up to be great
car, and she follows. She tags along
hunting companions; companions that never beg off a hunt to watch a football
as I grab my bike from its perch
game.
and load it on the rack. She follows
when I go back inside to grab my know what it is. 300 million olfactory receptors.
water bottle. Then she follows no So far, I’ve hardly scratched the Compare that with the measly six
longer. She knows I leave without surface of what dogs do for us on a million or so that humans possess.
her at that point, and I never need hunt. In a nutshell, they trail, they Dogs even have a special pathway
to tell her to remain behind. The flush, they point, they tree and they in their noses designed for smelling
disconsolate look she wears on her retrieve. That’s a gross simplifica- instead of breathing. It’s no wonder
face, though, brings pain to my tion, though. they’re always sniffing things. They
heart and is almost enough to make First, of course, they discover learn things by sniffing, and we
me skip my bike ride. If anything things with their noses. They are should let them learn.
has a character more pure than a exceptionally adept at smelling A hunting dog’s duties don’t
dog’s or love more devout, I don’t things. Their noses possess up to end with smelling things, though.

30 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 32 9/3/2019 11:18:20 AM

 Hounds need to follow a trail.
Springers need to goad a bird into
flight. Pointers need to freeze when
they smell a grouse, and they need
to stay frozen until their gun-
carrying partner arrives.
Retrievers often need to do
all the above and then retrieve,
too. But breeds have overlapping
responsibilities. I have a rabbit-
hunting friend who had a couple
of beagles that would retrieve his
rabbits for him. Some retrievers
point.
Dogs help us recover game, too.
A couple of years ago, my
springer flushed a grouse in front
of my son-in-law. We saw the bird
fall at the shot and figured it was
dead. My springer, of course, went
right to the area but, instead of
finding the bird and bringing it
to us, she kept wandering off. We
kept calling her back to the area
where the bird dropped and telling
her to hunt dead. Then she started
ignoring our commands and
wandered off. We couldn’t call her
Fall 2019.indd 33
back.
We noticed she was making a
rough line, though. We started
suspecting that the bird wasn’t
dead. Then we could see the
grouse’s head occasionally poking
through the tops of the bracken
ferns a hundred yards off. My
springer caught it and brought it
back. When we were so obviously
wrong about the bird, my dog
had sense enough to ignore our
commands and do her job. The best
hunting dogs have intelligence and
an independent streak. Hunters
need to learn to trust their dogs.
Dogs know a lot more about
hunting than we do.
Sporting dogs learn to do a great
variety of things. I had the oppor-
tunity to hunt ducks last fall with
the editor of this magazine. His
dog Calvin, a small Munsterlander,
is amazing. I loved watching him
work and seeing the bond the two
forged with each other.
We ask a lot of our waterfowl
dogs. Among other things, they
need to retrieve fallen birds. They
often mark and remember the
location of several fallen birds.
They need to interpret and follow
hand signals to get to unseen falls.
I know some college graduates who
can’t do all those things.
And while I’m on the topic of
dog intelligence, I should mention
this: I was hunting rabbits with a
friend of mine. We watched as our
pack of beagles followed a trail to
a big brush pile where the rabbit
had taken refuge. The dogs poked
around but found the brush pile
impenetrable. Then one of my
friend’s dogs bolted out of the area.
She ran back up the trail the dogs
had just come down and jumped
a rabbit. The other dogs quickly
joined in the chase. Aghast, my
friend and I just looked at each
other in disbelief. His dog, Maggie,
obviously knew she had just gone
by that sitting cottontail while the
pack was on the other one’s trail.
When they could no longer run that
rabbit, she went back to run the
Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 31
9/3/2019 11:18:22 AM
 other rabbit. If we hunt with dogs
long enough, we’ll see things that
boggle our minds.
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be allowed to lie at our feet, sleep
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friend when we can’t take them
with us on vacation.
Some hunters might judge the
quality of a hunting buddy by the
caliber of eulogy he figures the
buddy can deliver at the hunter’s
funeral. Dogs can’t offer eulogies
in the traditional manner (and
Shop Local! we wouldn’t deserve the eulogies
they would offer anyway). They
show us their devotion every day
of their lives, though, and we know
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32
32 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
| www.michiganoutofdoors.com
MOODquarter19.indd 1 7/15/2019 5:19:03 PM
Fall 2019.indd 34 9/3/2019 11:18:23 AM
Fall 2019.indd 35 9/3/2019 11:18:24 AM
 The
Labrador Retriever
O
n the whole, I like dogs a lot better than I
like people. For one thing, unlike humans
or cats, dogs don’t hold a grudge and aren’t
judgmental. Some of you might feel the same.
If you do, then you’re in good company. Consider
the Ashinabee Creation Story. When Nanaboozhoo
was lonely and desired a companion, Kitchi-Manitou
sent him a wolf instead of a woman. While it’s true
that Nanaboozhoo might have been hoping for a
human partner (all the other animals had mates of
the opposite sex), it didn’t take him long to get over
his disappointment. After all, connubial bliss is only
a sometime thing and can be more trouble than it’s
worth. Suppose that God had fashioned a Labrador
retriever from Adam’s rib instead of Eve? There
might have been some downsides, but none of my dogs
have ever liked apples. So far as I’m concerned, Aldo
Leopold was right: “When you look into the eyes of a
wolf (or a dog), you see your own soul.”
34 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 36
By Russ Mason
My first lab was a rescue dog. Jet was his name,
and we were inseparable. Throughout middle school
and high school, we hunted or fished most every day.
I include ‘fished’ as one of our endeavors because Jet
appreciated live fish as food. Unless I was watching,
he’d steal them from my bucket or creel and swallow
them headfirst like a cormorant. Over the 40 years
since, there’s been Moses (he occasionally ate ducks
instead of bringing them back), Dolly (she ate lit
cigars if I set them down), Fish (she never met a
badger or porcupine she wouldn’t fight), Savannah
(she kept the local vet in business because she loved to
kill raccoons, one on one), Logan (the cat turd connois-
seur - I gave up Milk Duds once she showed up), Daisy
(a pillow-killing lap dog), and Belle (she gets ice cubes
and water from the refrigerator door —not nearly as
endearing as it sounds). Most of my dogs have been
females because I don’t like ‘fixing’ dogs (they aren’t
broke), and unless you ‘fix’ males, they tend to run.
9/3/2019 11:18:26 AM
 "I also appreciate the idea that Labrador retrievers,
at least genetically, are all mutt (just like me). The
breed originated on the island of Newfoundland (not
Labrador) from a random-bred mix of English, Irish,
and Portuguese working dogs."

Fall 2019.indd 37 9/3/2019 11:18:27 AM

 "To be clear, none of my
dogs have been (or ever
will be) field trial worthy.
My dog training is less
Richard Wolters and more
Ben Lily."
To be clear, none of my dogs have been (or ever
will be) field trial worthy. My dog training is less
Richard Wolters and more Ben Lily. I hate leashes,
and beyond the usual obedience and water retrieval
training, I let the pack bring young dogs up to
speed. Obviously, the strategy has its limitations. In
Philadelphia, my dogs became rat- and pigeon-killing
fools. If I hunted more often with others than alone,
my guess is I’d get lectured because I let my hunting
buddies do more or less as they like. But my somewhat
asocial style, coupled with my laissez-faire training
techniques, do produce companions that blind retrieve
in dense fog and almost never let cripples get away.
More than once, I’ve had one of my protégées bring me
ducks from a different spot or a completely different
direction than I thought they’d be found.
I also appreciate the idea that Labrador retrievers,
at least genetically, are all mutt (just like me). The
breed originated on the island of Newfoundland (not
Labrador) from a random-bred mix of English, Irish,
and Portuguese working dogs. Canadian maritime
36 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 38
fisherman created the breed to work offshore. In the
process, they created a good-looking, hard-working
amphibian that could retrieve cod nets from the ocean.
It wasn’t long before hunters recognized the
breed’s potential, and this North American creation
was polished in Europe. The first labs were imported
to England during the first decade of the 19th century.
The first English reference to the breed was in 1814,
the first painting in 1823 and the first photograph in
1856 (the Earl of Home’s dog, named Nell). The first
yellow lab on record was born in 1899 (named Ben of
Hyde), and the breed was recognized by the English
Kennel Club in 1903. Originally called ‘golden’ labs, the
English Kennel Club refused to recognize the breed
until the name was changed from ‘gold’ to ‘yellow’
because ‘gold’ isn’t a color (take that paint companies).
Chocolate labs were recognized in the 1930s. Curiously,
the English Kennel Club didn’t mandate changing
‘chocolate’ to ‘brown.’ Chocolate, apparently, must be
more popular than gold.
There are, of course, two Labrador retriever
9/3/2019 11:18:28 AM
 Labrador Retriever
6 Fun Facts:
1) Labrador Retrievers
are actually from
Newfoundland.

2) Labs are a versatile

hunting dog.

3) Modern-day labs
were originally bred to
retrieve and love water.

4) The lab is the most

popular breed in America.

5) Labs are used as scent

types. First, there are the ‘English’ dogs that tend to
detection dogs and
be stockier and ‘big-boned,’ with a denser coat and
a block head. Second, there are the ‘American’ dogs.
search and recovery
These have longer legs, tend to be less heavy and
often have a longer muzzle. Personally, I like the latter
dogs, too.
configuration. Partly, my preference is aesthetic,
but also, the American dogs have more stamina and
are better at chasing cripples through marsh grass
and shallow water. They’re also better in snow and
6) They come in three
in upland settings. Besides, the evidence suggests
that because the American style hasn’t been bred for
AKC-recognized colors:
conformation, they’re less likely to have the genetic
defects (hip dysplasia, night blindness) that plague
black, yellow and
many of the show breeds.
In the end, as always, I’ll offer that Leopold got
chocolate.
it exactly right. As a boy, he hunted with a lab and
pointed out that one of the things that truly separates
the accomplished hunter from the others is his or her
ability to drop their pride and just ‘follow the dog.'

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 37

Fall 2019.indd 39 9/3/2019 11:18:29 AM

 A way of
Life
By Chris Lamphere

F
or some, the idea of hunting with hounds brings to mind savage images of
salivating dogs chasing some terrified animal through the woods, culmi-
nating finally in a bloodbath as the animals rip their prey to shreds.
As experts on the practice will attest, nothing could be further from the
truth.
Tracking bears with hounds isn’t a fair-weather hobby aimed at amassing
trophies; it’s a way of life that revolves around the special relationship between
dogs and their masters.
Enthusiasts say the amount of time and money they put into training their
hounds — as well as the emotional investment they make in each animal — differ-
entiate the practice from any other type of hunting in Michigan.
Mike Thorman, of the Michigan Dog Hunting Federation, said at 72 years old,
he still has yet to kill a bear and doesn’t know if he ever will. It’s the satisfaction of
seeing his dogs successfully track down a bear that he relishes.
“If you’ve never been in that lifestyle, it’s hard to understand,” Thorman said.
“Once you get into hounds, it’s not about the kill. It’s like being a coach on a little
league team. Dogs aren’t like your children, but they’re somewhere in that line.
They’re part of your everyday life.”

Fall 2019.indd 40 9/3/2019 11:18:30 AM

 Thorman said there’s some-
thing almost “primeval” about the
feeling he gets accompanying the
dogs on a hunt — something akin
to the feeling he imagines people
thousands of years ago must have
felt when they first began domesti-
cating wild wolves.
Unlike ancient man, however,
modern hunters spend most of
their time in the field letting bears
escape as part of the training
process for their dogs.
Everyone does it a little differ-
ently, but the basics of training a
dog to track a bear are the same
and boil down to this: take them
out into the field and let them learn
through experience.
Training the dogs
Tim Dusterwinkle, with
the Michigan Bear Hunters
Association, said it’s important the
dogs are properly leash-trained
before taking them into the field.
When he’s deciding which dogs
to take on a hunt, Dusterwinkle
said he observes their social skills
among other dogs, as well as
children, as an indication of how
manageable they will be.
He also looks for other
attributes including intelligence,
stamina, courage, and gameness to
take part in the chase.
Dusterwinkle said he typically
brings six dogs with him at a
time, ranging in age from 1.5 to 10
years old. He said each dog plays a
different role in the hunt depending
on their experience and natural
abilities.
Once he finds signs of a bear
(more on that later), Dusterwinkle
said he’ll release his best “start
dog” — the one with the best
chance of jumping the bear.
It’s imperative for this dog to
have an excellent sense of smell, as
oftentimes they are working with
scents that are up to 18 hours old.
A dog able to track down a
bear from an old scent is often
referred to as a “cold nose” dog,
Dusterwinkle said.
Although most dogs can detect
an old scent, Dusterwinkle said it
Fall 2019.indd 41
takes intelligence for that dog to
connect that smell to the live bear
somewhere in the woods.
Dusterwinkle said he listens
closely to the animal’s barking.
When the barking becomes more
frequent and excited, it’s a sign he
is close on the bear’s trail. At this
point, he’ll release the rest of the
dogs.
This is when it’s important
for the hunter to also be smart,
Dusterwinkle said, as the dogs can
easily be misled by other smells,
depending on when they are
released.
“It’s all about timing,”
Dusterwinkle said. “It’s not as
simple as going into the woods and
letting them loose.”
When it’s clear the dogs have
the bear treed or cornered some-
where on the ground, the hunting
party makes its way to the site.
Once on scene, Dusterwinkle
said he’ll tie the dogs up nearby
and allow the bear to escape. He
makes sure the younger dogs get
a good view of the bear as it runs
away to drive home what they have
been tracking the whole time.
During the training season,
Dusterwinkle said he takes his dogs
out four to five times a week.
Locating a bear
Before any dogs are released on a
bear’s trail, hunters first have to
locate one.
Dusterwinkle said there are
several different ways hunters do
this: they look for paw prints on
two-track roads; they set up a bait
pile; and they “rig hunt,” which is
driving the dogs around in a truck
until they catch a whiff of a bear.
Thorman said one of the tricks
he uses when looking for tracks
— which are often difficult to see
because bears don’t apply much
pressure per square inch of their
paws — is to drag an old tire or
snowmobile track on the road to
fluff the dirt about a quarter of an
inch. This makes the tracks more
noticeable.
This practice is illegal in some
places, including National Forest
lands, Thorman said, but many
places allow it.
Mark Morse, a hound trainer
who lives near Traverse City, said
finding bears can often be quite
difficult, especially in the summer
months, when their feeding
patterns change with the ripening
of various berries.
To keep his dogs sharp year-
round, Morse said he tracks coyotes
in the wintertime. He said it’s
pretty amazing to watch the dogs
automatically make the transition
from tracking bears to coyotes,
seemingly as a result of snow being
on the ground.
The moment of truth
Like many hound trainers, Morse
said he rarely takes a bear himself
but helps others get into a position
for a clean shot.
Morse hunts with a group of
outdoorsmen and women each year,
and between them, they typically
have a couple of bear tags to fill
out.
While a bear will likely try to
make a break for it if they notice
any signs of a human in the area,
they also are quite distracted by the
dogs, which makes it easier for a
hunter to make an approach.
Before taking a shot, Morse said
Winter 2018
Fall 2019 | Michigan
| Michigan Out-of-Doors3957
Out-of-Doors
9/3/2019 11:18:30 AM

MUCC Digital Media Coordinator Logan Schultz poses with a bear he
harvested in 2015. Mark Morse, right, helped Schultz harvest the bear over
dogs.
he tries to determine the animal’s
size by getting it to cross a road
within his view.
Other ways of ascertaining
the animal’s size are by checking
out its ears and head, along with
examining pictures taken through
a trail camera or during a previous
training session.
In the Lower Peninsula, making
your way to where the dogs have
the bear cornered is usually pretty
straight-forward, as forest areas are
compact and segmented by roads.
In the Upper Peninsula, it can
be much more difficult to locate
the dogs, as the forests and
swamplands are much more
expansive.
Even with the use of GPS
collars on the dogs, Morse said it
sometimes can take several hours
to get to the site.
Morse said getting to the dogs
as soon as possible can be a matter
of life and death for the animals, as
the presence of wolves in the U.P.
has increased over the years.
“We’ve very much changed how
we’ve hunted (because of wolves),”
Morse said. “We’ve lost six dogs in
40 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 42
the last 10 years to wolves.”
Getting to the dogs immediately
is one of the ways they have
adapted to the threat of wolves,
Morse said. Another is to simply
stop hunting certain areas.
“We’ve let some nice bear go
over the years,” Morse said. “It’s
not worth losing a dog.”
While wolves are an ever-
present danger to dogs in the U.P.,
the bear itself is no slouch when it
comes to defending itself.
Morse said injuries to his dogs
from being bitten or swatted by a
bear usually are puncture wounds
to their rear ends.
One of the most common
scenarios is for the bear to spin in
circles as it wards off the dogs that
have surrounded it, barking and
nipping.
Injuries to dogs are mostly
minor,but once every five years
or so, a hound will be seriously
injured by a bear, Morse said.
As the hunting party inches
their way toward the bear, Morse
said they are careful to turn their
radios off so they don’t spook the
animal.
Generally, the entire hunting
party will stop a good distance from
the bear and dogs, and only the
person with the license will proceed
further for a killing shot.
Owing to the large amount
of fat that bears carry on their
bodies, it’s important to cool off
the carcass after the kill to prevent
decomposition of the flesh.
A trick that Dusterwinkle uses
is to place the animal in a stream
so the water cools off the carcass
before they move it.
Morse said some hunters pack
ice with them before the hunt in
the event they are able to take a
bear. He prefers to pump cold water
through a garden house into the
cavity of the bear to keep it cool.
Some hunters, like
Dusterwinkle, dress and quarter
the animal in the field. Others, like
Morse, prefer to drag the whole
carcass back to the truck.
He said three to four guys
will drag the animal using ropes
through the swamp and thick
woods. This is definitely hard work,
but Morse said it’s part of the fun
and adds to the camaraderie of the
experience for the entire hunting
party.
Criticisms of hunting bear
with hounds
Thorman, Dusterwinkle and
Morse all said one of the common
critiques they’ve heard from people
about hunting bears with hounds
is that they don’t think it’s very
sporting-like.
They all had a similar response
to this criticism, which goes
something like this: anyone who
says hunting bears with hounds is
easy or lazy has simply never done
it.
“It takes a lot of work and
dedication to train the dogs,” said
Dusterwinkle, who added that once
the dogs corner a bear, the hunters
often have to trek through miles of
dense forest and swampland before
they are able to reach them, not to
mention back again once the hunt
is over.
9/3/2019 11:18:30 AM

Morse said the notion that the
bear doesn’t stand a chance is also
a misconception, particularly in
Michigan, where there is a limit on
the number of dogs a hunter can
bring with them.
Thorman said another
comment he hears from some
people is that tracking with hounds
is cruel and causes psychological
harm to the bear.
He said this belief is predicated
on the idea that bear have similar
emotions of fear and anxiety as
humans do.
An analogy he often uses is
that of a rabbit, which would never
venture outside if it truly felt
fear the way humans do because
everything is trying to kill it.
“It’s so far from the reality,”
Thorman said regarding the idea
that hunting with hounds is a cruel
practice.
More than just a hunt
Jason Morrison, a Rapid City
resident who hunts bears with
hounds in the eastern U.P., said one
of the coolest things about tracking
a bear is being able to see areas of
the woods that people might not
have seen in a long time, if ever.
“It’s stress free,” Morrison said.
“All those things in life weighing
you down … when you hear those
hounds, they go away.”
As a lifetime bear tracker
whose father brought him along
on hunts as far back as he can
remember, Morrison said he
learned early the value of sharing
these experiences as a family.
Today, Morrison and his
wife take their 4- and 7-year-old
daughters on hunts with them.
“They like seeing the bears,”
Morrison said about his daughters.
“They also love just being with dad
and learning about Mother Nature.
We pick blueberries and look at the
plants and butterflies.”
Thorman and Dusterwinkle
agreed that sharing the bear
hunting experience with
youngsters, as well as everyone else
in the family, is one of the most
rewarding aspects of the sport.
“It’s a lot of excitement,”
Dusterwinkle said. “I haven’t taken
a kid yet who didn’t like it.”

"Education is your best defense"

Do a TICK CHECK
These guidelines should be followed during tick removal
Ticks are • Use fine point tweezers and protect bare hands with a
becoming an tissue or gloves to avoid contact with tick fluids.
increasing problem • Grab tick close to skin. DO NOT twist or jerk,
in our woods and as this may cause the mouthparts to break
backyards. Be off and remain in the skin.
aware of the • Gently pull straight up until all parts of tick are removed.
diseases they can You may have to tug gently several times.
spread and how to • After removing tick, wash hands with soap or waterless
prevent them. based hand rubs. Clean tick bite with antiseptic such as
an iodine scrub, rubbing alcohol, or water containing
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• Please save tick for testing. Call 888-784-5963 for
instructions.
Common Symptoms
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1-888-784-LYME (5963) Red rash * Neck stiffness * Forgetfulness
www.mlda.org Brain Fog * Mood swings * Facial paralysis
CFC #17513 (SECC) TW22 4558

Fall 2019.indd 43 9/3/2019 11:18:31 AM

 Hunter
Conservationists

By Joe Schwenke

"A gun, no matter how rare, a dog, no matter how brilliant, cannot mean fulfillment
without keenness in the man. It takes the sportsman’s edge honed fine, an “eye,” a
sense of what is good, the ear for what is right – the heart. There is something about
the wilderness, something in the blood that draws nourishment from the game."
George "Bird" Evans, An Affair with Grouse
42 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 44 9/3/2019 11:18:32 AM


T
he number of birds that
had fallen over the years
to this group of men could
very well be countless —
many seasons of hunting yielded
larger totals of game with each
passing fall. Now seated in chairs
surrounded by land belonging to all
of us, they laughed, poked fun and
told tales of passed days afield.
Two Dutch ovens gave off the
aromas of basil, thyme and pastry.
The garden salad was nearly
ready, and beefsteaks awaited the
hot, iron cooktop. The three staff
members of The Michigan Upland
Experience tended coals, set the
table and began to prepare and
serve a field lunch.
It was mid-morning before
everyone was introduced and
our plan for the day established.
Each veteran woodcock bander
paired with an Upland Experience
Fall 2019.indd 45
staffer and began to search the
surrounding covers for birds. The
spring sunshine made for warm
walking and good photography.
I walked along with Dennis and
his GSP, Huk, and the conversa-
tion seemed to take as many turns
as our wanderings through the
puddle-filled covers. Old shotguns
and new ones, trips taken, habitat
preferences, duck hunting, quail
shooting, snakes, frogs and
upcoming hunting plans all made
appearances in our exchanges.
Hours of walking and flushes
of single birds without broods led
us to conclude that we were still
early for this area. Success was
playing hard to get, but slowly,
persistence paid off.
Randy and Adam were on
the board first with a three-chick
brood, and Bob and Chris were
next with a lone hen. It wasn't
Photos by Adam Wilson
until the walk out to the truck in
the last cover that Dennis and I
found a broody hen, and with the
help of Bob and Chris, we found all
four chicks.
When a hen woodcock has
chicks with her she is considered
"broody." She will hold tight until
the danger is close, then lift off
dangling her legs and hovering
slowly away from the brood on
the ground. Any predator looking
for an easy meal will follow this
tempting target. When a broody
hen flushes near a woodcock
bander, everything slows down.
The dog is leashed and the
search for these small, golf-ball-
sized fuzzy chicks begins. Small
tiptoeing steps to the place of the
flush and a painstaking search of
every inch of wrinkled leaves and
sprouting stems begins. The yellow
and brown hues of downy feathers
Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 43
9/3/2019 11:18:34 AM
 blend perfectly into the shadowy This lunch had been sold at either food or shelter for grouse,
contrasts of sunlight and fallen auction by The Michigan Upland woodcock and so many other crea-
branches. The chicks are placed Experience to benefit the SW tures. Dennis Gulau had placed
in a mesh bag for safety as each is Michigan chapter of the Ruffed the winning bid and invited Randy
banded and has their bill measured Grouse Society's Drummer Fund. and Bob to celebrate their friend-
to determine their age — 14 mm Somewhere in our state on a future ship and fraternity as woodcock
long at hatching and 2 mm a day project, those funds will become banders.
growth. These four chicks' bills
measured 23 mm long and were
aged at 4.5 days old.
At day's end, Dennis, Randy and
Bob had accounted for no shots.
No birds were retrieved. And there
was no game to clean. No birds
were bagged unless you count the
little mesh bags that hold woodcock
chicks awaiting their little silver
ring. To these men, placing a band
on a recently-hatched chick is
every bit as thrilling as the twitter
of wings and the barking report
of a shotgun. Seven chicks and
one hen now sported new jewelry,
and each little band was a chance
to learn more about these birds as
they migrate through our state.

44 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 46 9/3/2019 11:18:37 AM

 Subscribe, become a member and get MUCC and
Michigan Out-of-Doors gear at www.mucc.org
and www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Get Michigan Out-of-Doors

by becoming a member of
Michigan United
Conservation Clubs
Visit www.mucc.org/join_mucc
or
Call Sue Pride at 517.371.1041

Affiliate Club members: Ask the person at your club who handles
membership about subscribing to the print edition
for a discounted rate.

Fall 2019.indd 47 9/3/2019 11:18:39 AM

 After
Fatherhood
By Blake Sherburne

46 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 48 9/3/2019 11:18:40 AM

 I
cannot remember catching my
first fish. I asked my dad the
other night, and he does not
remember either. I know that I
was ice fishing at an early age
because my little sister would not
be left home, and my parents
remember that dad had to change
diapers out on the ice. My sister is
almost two years younger than me,
so that means I was ice fishing
easily by age 17. I make that joke at
my sister’s expense because she
reads this column mostly to make
fun of me because she is a “profes-
sional writer,” whatever that
means. No, it means that I was ice
fishing by age four. When my first
fish came, though, we cannot
remember, but it had to be about
that age. I can remember my first
brown on a dry fly, though only
barely, and maybe only because we
have a picture of it and my dad
speaks of it often.
In this age of electronics, the
internet and a myriad of accompa-
nying distractions, I knew I would
Fall 2019.indd 49
have to hook my children on the
outdoors early. Luckily for me, my
son and daughter live to be
outdoors. My daughter is not yet
two, but first thing after breakfast,
she is over by the front door
hollering to be let out into the wild
blue yonder. My son, who is almost
four, has always been the same way.
The only time they complain while
outside is when it is time to come
back in. I do not know that we have
done anything right. I suspect we
just got lucky, although my wife
and I are outside often and their
day care provider is a saint who
gets them outside every day,
weather permitting.
We have fish pictures up in the
house, and I often watch fly-fishing
shows and videos in the living
room. Consequently, one of my
son’s first words was ‘fish.’ I knew
my duty to get my son hooked on
fishing would be easy. It would just
depend on me being patient enough
to take him. Dad and I took him
bluegill fishing last year when he
Ken Mlcek, left, sits on the bank of the Manistee River
with Sherburne's daughter, Llewelyn, during a suck-
er-fishing trip in the spring of 2019.
was only two. He was a bit too
young yet. He loved steering and
running around in the boat, but the
actual fishing escaped him. We
caught bluegills that day, but he did
not really seem to notice.
This season has been a different
story. He hit the ground running;
the excitement palpable. Our first
trip was with my fishing buddy,
Ken. We hit the Manistee River
hoping to catch a few suckers for
the pickling jar. We drove into one
of my favorite childhood spots at
the confluence of a small creek and
the Manistee. It features a nice,
sandy bank and easy current — a
perfect place for playing and
catching suckers. I took my whole
family, some steaks, hotdogs,
s’mores makings and Jacoby’s new
spincast rig. We only landed one
sucker. My children spent the day
getting dirty and wet, and Jacoby
practiced casting with a bell sinker.
He also spent a lot of time prac-
ticing dropping his new rod and
reel in the sand, which led to a
9/3/2019 11:18:41 AM
 junked spincast while I went to get the boat out of
reel and a the barn and to town for worms
frustrated and snacks. I told him I would be
three-year- back to get him, but my wife told
old boy. He me upon my return that he was
and his quite worried. “Daddy said I was
sister spent going with him, right?,” he asked
most of their several times in between bragging
time leading my to his little sister that he was going
wife through the to go fishing. His mother reassured
woods along the him, but he was almost worked up
creek. They both to tears by the time I got back. He
fell asleep with wet ran out to the truck as if to make
feet and dirty clothes sure that he would not get left
within minutes of behind. It made me regret that I
getting in the truck to had left him at all.
head home. I felt like my Kenny and I took him to a small,
dad must have felt 30 local lake we frequent. It has not
years ago with a son and fished well for bluegills the past
a daughter who could not couple years, and this year was no
stay out of the water and exception. We only boated a couple
played themselves to of fish, but Jacoby boated his first
exhaustion. — a rock bass of meager size but of
Before our next trip, great importance. He asked me
I left him home again and again what kind of fish it
with my wife was, and the next time we were at
getting his my parents' house, he was quick to
essentials brag to grandpa that he had caught
packed a “wock bass.” Dad was suitably
up for impressed and celebrated the event
us appropriately. Jacoby was walking
on air.
We went to that same lake a
couple of weeks later and struck
out. I loaded him up and took him
to an old standby, knowing that it
was a little too late in the season
and too hot for bluegills and bass
to be in shallows. I hoped that we
would be able to find enough to
save the day. We spent a good
amount of time motoring around
looking for fish, and I could see the
frustration mounting. We drifted
with bobbers and worms out while
we ate lunch, a welcome distraction
as our bobbers never even quiv-
ered. I motored to another spot,
saw nothing and was ready to
move on. Jacoby was not,
however. “Let’s try one more
time, Dad,” he said, making me
proud that he had the stick-to-
itiveness to keep casting. While I
tried to talk him into letting me
move us to a new spot, he
lamented, “Aw, we never catch any
fish.” I laughed and hugged him
and thought, ‘Boy, if you only

Fall 2019.indd 50 9/3/2019 11:18:43 AM

 Jacoby Sherburne practices casting in the
Sherburne's yard while his sister watches.

knew.’ A couple of weeks later found us a three-year-old boy on one. That is

Finally, I convinced him to try
one other small spot I knew. We
motored across the lake again and
anchored near a couple big beds of
lily pads. His second cast there led
to his first sunfish — a fish that he
cast for, hooked and fought all on
his own. The fishing was slow and
turned into casting practice for
Jacoby. He cast and cast while my
rigged rod sat in the boat so I could
give the same instructions over and
over again. “Reel up a little more.
You want your bobber close to your
rod tip. A little more. A little more.
A little more. Okay, grab the line
with your finger and open your
bail. Now, don’t forget to let go of
the line when you cast.”
On one of those many practice
casts, his bobber dipped under the
water again. “Oh, Dad. It’s stuck,”
he said. “Keep reeling, buddy,” I
told him. “That’s a fish.” A small
largemouth bass was soon to hand,
and Jacoby’s excitement was so
apparent that distant kayakers and
boaters were watching and giggling
at his antics. A small perch would
soon complete Jacoby’s Mud Lake
slam, and it was time to go home.
rowing out onto a friend’s private
lake. This little spring-fed lake
holds a decent population of small
brook trout and a few sunfish. The
fishing was immediately good. The
brook trout were eager and sunfish
are always eager. Jacoby was
determined to do all of his own
casting, so in between coaching and
unhooking his several brookies and
a couple sunfish, I was even able to
wet a line.
Over in one corner of the pond, a
decent fish kept popping on the
surface. I rowed over to try to see
what it was, and there was a big
school of sunfish there. I told
Jacoby, and he answered, “I don’t
want to catch sunfish, dad. I want
to catch brook trout.” I am almost
entirely a trout fisherman myself,
and I had to wonder what could
make my son prefer brookies over
bluegills.
Our next trip is still in the works.
Summer has finally gotten hot, and
the panfish have all gone deep, so I
am not sure where to take him. A
few days ago he told me that he
wants to catch a brown trout, but I
have not yet figured out how to get
my next project.
My daughter will be two in
December, so she is still a bit young
to join us on our adventures. My
family has a proud tradition of
women anglers. My great-grand-
mother was an excellent and
dedicated fly angler, and my
younger sister carries on that
heritage. My sister has landed the
only dry-fly-caught brown trout
over 25 inches that I have ever seen.
Just yesterday, I was watching
fly-fishing videos on YouTube, and
every time my daughter passed
through the living room, she
stopped to watch. Sometimes, it
was just to watch a river flowing by
and others she stopped to watch a
fish being fought and landed.
Finally, she ran over to my chair
and climbed up in my lap to watch
with me. My heart skipped a beat
when I realized that she was
forgoing playing with her brother
to watch someone else catch fish
with me. I am sure my daughter
will show the same interest that my
great-grandmother did and my
sister does. I just have to get to her
before the electronics do.

SUMMERSummer
2017 |2019| |Michigan
Michigan
MICHIGAN
Fall 2019 4947
Out-of-Doors 49
OUT-OF-DOORS
Out-of-Doors

Fall 2019.indd 51 9/3/2019 11:18:43 AM

 Michigan Wildlife Conservation Month
celebrates importance of hunting, fishing
W
hether it’s a doe in
the woods, pulling a
wriggling bass out of
a mist-covered lake or
watching in wonder as a family of
piping plovers scurry up and down
the shoreline of Lake Michigan,
if you live in Michigan, you know
that summertime is prime time for
getting up close and personal with
the state’s wildlife.
And this summer, that wildlife
connection became even stronger
thanks to July’s designation as
Michigan Wildlife Conservation
Month. It became official in June
after a special proclamation
was introduced by the Michigan
Legislature and then signed by Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer.
“Our state is recognized
throughout the country as a
leader in wildlife management,”
Whitmer said. “It’s important
for the public to know about the
essential role hunters and anglers
play in conserving, managing and
protecting Michigan’s wildlife.”
Celebrating success
The goal of the bipartisan
proclamation was to celebrate
Michigan’s wildlife success stories
and to emphasize that hunting and
fishing licenses – not state taxes
– are used to conserve the state’s
50 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 52
forests, water and wildlife.
“It’s crucial for hunters and
anglers to inform those who don’t
hunt or fish how important these
activities are to the state,” said
Matt Pedigo, chair of the Michigan
Wildlife Council. “If you’re hiking
the trails in Michigan or camping
in a wilderness area, you’re using
resources funded by hunters and
anglers. Not enough people realize
that – and Michigan Wildlife
Conservation Month helped us
spread this message and engage
with the public in a fun, friendly
manner.”
In 2018, hunting and fishing
licenses alone provided $61 million
for wildlife management. The
purchase of hunting and fishing
equipment added an additional $35
million for conservation. Hunting
and fishing also provide huge
economic benefits in all regions
of the state. According to a recent
Michigan United Conservation
Clubs study, hunting and fishing
annually contribute $11.2 billion to
Michigan’s economy and support
171,000 jobs, making the combina-
tion of activities one of the state’s
top 10 job-creation industries.
To commemorate the first-ever
Michigan Wildlife Conservation
Month, the council is hosting the
Michigan Wildlife Photo Mosaic
Wall, a traveling pop-up event going
through the summer and early fall.
This illustrates how people are
necessary for wildlife management
by letting Michigan residents liter-
ally become part of the conserva-
tion picture.
“Without wildlife management
tools in place, native Michigan
species would face a wide range of
problems, including overpopula-
tion, invasive species and disease,”
said Jeff Poet, vice chair of the
Michigan Wildlife Council. “A
big part of that management is
habitat restoration, which benefits
many species, such as Kirtland’s
warblers, wild turkey and elk.
Hopefully, this proclamation
will bring more visibility to the
wonderful work that’s being done in
the state to ensure our wildlife and
natural resources will be here for
generations to come.”
‘We’re all in it together’
The first Michigan Wildlife
Mosaic Wall was held at Comerica
Park during a Detroit Tigers game
on July 6. A photo booth was set
up within the park that allowed
participants to take photos and
print them as stickers with a
unique colored background. Each
sticker had an assigned place on the
8-by-4-foot board, so that as partici-
pants affixed their images, the
board eventually formed a mosaic
9/3/2019 11:18:44 AM
 image of a peregrine falcon.
A similar event was held Aug.
1 at John Ball Park Zoo in Grand
Rapids, with more locations in mid-
Michigan and across the northern
Lower Peninsula and Upper
Peninsula this month and next. The
other mosaic images include elk,
wild turkey and lake sturgeon.
“Each of the images was
selected to represent the unique
relationship that exists between
Michigan’s abundant wildlife, the
people who take care of it and the
people who enjoy it,” Pedigo said.
“The photo mosaic wall makes
everyone at the event feel like once
you look at the big picture, we’re all
in it together.”
A part of history
Michigan Wildlife Conservation
Month was timed to mark the
81st anniversary of the Pittman-
Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act, which ensured wild-
life management projects nationwide
MICHIGAN WILDLIFE COUNCIL
Created in 2013 by the Michigan
Legislature, the Michigan Wildlife
Council aims to highlight the
tremendous value and importance
of hunting, fishing and trapping
to the conservation of Michigan’s
wildlife, waters and public lands.
Funded via $1 from every base
license sold in Michigan, the council
seeks to build understanding
among the state’s non-hunting
and non-fishing residents through
videos, news and much more.
Learn more at
HereForMiOutdoors.org.
Fall 2019.indd 53
“It’s crucial for hunters
and anglers to inform
those who don’t hunt or
fish how important these
activities are to the state."
Matt Pedigo
Chair of the Michigan Wildlife Council
would be funded by the purchase of
hunting equipment. It also coincides
with the five-year anniversary of the
creation of the Michigan Wildlife
Council, a bipartisan-approved
panel dedicated to conducting
public education campaigns that
emphasize the importance of wildlife
management – and the role hunting
and fishing play in protecting and
enhancing Michigan’s wildlife and
natural resources.
“Today, in no small part because
of the council’s activities, research
shows more Michiganders than
ever are aware of the essential
role hunting and fishing play in
wildlife conservation,” said Sen. Jon
Bumstead, R-Newaygo, who spon-
sored the legislation that created the
council in late 2013.
Following the statewide tour,
the final versions of each Michigan
Wildlife Photo Mosaic will be
displayed at the Michigan History
Center in Lansing, effectively
making all participants a part of
Michigan history.
“Wildlife plays a central role to
Michigan’s history and culture,”
said Carol Rose, past chair of the
Michigan Wildlife Council and
current board member. “So even
though the conservation work in
Michigan goes on year-round, it’s
fitting that we devote July, the month
when most people are outdoors inter-
acting with wildlife, to celebrating
the conservation work that helps it
thrive.”
For more information on the
Michigan Wildlife Council – and
to find out when the Michigan
Wildlife Photo Mosaic Wall will be
coming to your neck of the woods –
go to HereForMiOutdoors.org.
HereForMiOutdoors.orgg
Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 51
9/3/2019 11:18:45 AM
 State Park Highlight:
By Makhayla LaButte
MUCC Habitat Volunteer
Coordinator
F
ew public lands rival
Fayette Historic State Park
and its rich combination
of Michigan history and
natural beauty. Seated on the
eastern shores of Lake Michigan’s
Big Bay de Noc in the Upper
Peninsula, this park boasts over 700
acres of public land just waiting
to be explored by historians and
outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Best known as a preserved 1867
historical townsite that was once
home to a bustling iron-smelting
village, visitors are given the
opportunity to go back in time and
catch a glimpse of post-Civil War
industrial life in Michigan while
taking in the stunning natural
views of the Garden Peninsula.
Although the Jackson Iron
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Fall 2019.indd 54
Fayette Historic
State Park
Company ceased operations at
Fayette in 1891, new life was
breathed into the abandoned
village in 1959 when the State of
Michigan acquired the land and
turned it into a state park. More
than 20 historical buildings and
features have been preserved
through the dedicated efforts
of Michigan DNR Parks and
Recreation staff and the Michigan
History Center. A majority of these
buildings feature interpretive
displays and signage which provide
visitors with an immersive experi-
ence that few other historical sites
are able to accomplish.
Some visitors and campers are
intimidated by the rural setting of
the park and how isolated it feels
from society, but trust me when I
say that is a key part of this park’s
charm. If you’re looking for an
original state park experience
that encapsulates the very best
Michigan’s natural resources have
to offer and aren’t afraid to stray
from the beaten path to experience
it, Fayette Historic State Park is the
destination for you.
Experience the iconic Sheldon
House at the center of the townsite,
where prestigious town visitors and
poor laborers alike found tempo-
rary refuge during their time in
Fayette. Or explore the beautifully-
preserved remains of the furnace
complex along the harbor where
pig iron was cast and shipped out
across the Great Lakes region.
Enter the preserved ruins of the
kilns and look up at the sky above
you before walking through the
company office, schoolhouse, opera
house and machine shop to further
capture the experiences of Michigan
settlers and immigrants from years
long passed.
Above all else, look northeast
across the harbor and take in
the iconic dolomite bluff that sits
proudly above the shimmering
waters of Lake Michigan. This
bluff evokes a sense of awe in all
who view it, but its significance far
exceeds the beauty of the white cliff
face. The bluff overlooking Snail
Shell Harbor (aptly named for its
shape) holds geological, cultural,
ecological and economic signifi-
cance in Michigan’s history. Part of
the Niagara Escarpment, a geolog-
ical formation that arcs across
the entire Great Lakes region,
this bluff hosts some of the oldest
trees in Michigan alongside other
rare vegetation and wildlife. The
9/3/2019 11:18:48 AM
 dolomite that makes up the bluffs with their accommodations simply exploring the history of the
also served as a key ingredient in and recreational opportunities. townsite, Fayette is the destination
the furnace complex during the Whether you’re interested in for you. As with all Michigan State
iron-smelting process that sustained camping, hiking, biking, swim- Parks, a Recreation Passport is
the town during its 24 years of ming, boating, angling, hunting or required for entry.
operation. Furthermore, portions
of the escarpment that are exposed
along the western shores of Big Bay
de Noc have yielded evidence of
Native American occupation on the
Garden Peninsula.
The historical significance of
the landscape doesn’t fade as you
leave the limits of the townsite.
While hiking portions of the five
miles of trails that wind throughout
the park and nearby picnic area,
visitors with a keen eye may also
observe the remains and ruins of
other buildings, churches, kilns
and cemeteries that were unable to
escape the weathering of time. Pair
these observations with epic views
from the top of the dolomite bluff, a
stroll among 1,000-year-old cedars
and all the wildlife viewing and
birding opportunities you could
ask for, and it becomes increasingly
clear why the Michigan State Park
system has so much to celebrate
during its centennial.
If you would like to plan a
visit to Fayette Historic State
Park, please familiarize yourself

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 53

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 How Natural Resources
Policies are Created

Part 2: The Legislature

By Charlie Booher power means that all policies regarding wildlife and
fisheries are under the jurisdiction of the legislature.
Former MUCC Policy Intern It is also what gave the legislature the authority to
establish the NRC. However, this structure of gover-
Lawmaking is a long and difficult process. It
nance is not unique to the state of Michigan.
can take many months or even years to conduct the
The wildlife and fisheries resources of any given
meetings, hold hearings and get the votes necessary
state are managed by the government of that state.
to make or change a law. The task of creating laws
This is rooted in Martin v. Wadell, a case that went to
falls to the legislative branch of government. Despite
the Supreme Court in 1842. Because this was a ruling
some of these responsibilities being delegated to the
made by the Supreme Court, it applies nation-wide.
Natural Resources Commission (NRC), many decisions
While this case was a dispute over oyster beds in New
regarding natural resource policies are made by the
Jersey, it has had widespread impacts on how we
state legislature.
manage species from grouse and woodcock to whitetail
We know that the NRC has the exclusive authority
deer. The ruling of Martin v. Wadell established what
to regulate the taking of fish and game in the state
is known as the Public Trust Doctrine, a key tenet of
of Michigan. The NRC can also designate game
North American wildlife management. Under this
species and is broadly tasked with oversight of the
set of principles, wildlife and sportfish cannot ever
Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). So where
be “owned” by an individual; they are owned by the
does the legislature fit in?
citizens of the state in which they occur as a “public
The management of natural resources in the
good.”
state is granted to the legislature in Article IV of the
Like I described in part one (Summer 2019 issue)
Constitution of Michigan. This explicit delegation of

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Fall 2019.indd 56 9/3/2019 11:18:52 AM

 of this series, the management of these public goods These have major implications for conservation, in
are set up much like a financial trust. The beneficiary that they have the capacity to very easily allow for the
of the trust does not manage the resources held within maintenance or degradation of natural resources.
said trust — that responsibility falls to a given trustee. The Appropriations Committees are distinct in
In this case, the citizens of the state are the beneficia- that they allocate funding for the entire state govern-
ries of the trust, and the government of the state acts ment — from infrastructure maintenance to wildlife
as the trustee. The trustee is tasked with maintaining habitat and hunter recruitment projects. All of the
or improving the trust (think state-funded Wildlife money that is spent by the government of the state of
Management Areas) and can allow the beneficiaries Michigan must be appropriated by these committees,
access to some of the goods held in the trust (allow for so they are incredibly powerful. This power extends
hunting and fishing licenses to be purchased). Even to natural resource issues, as all of the money that
with the NRC, the state legislature remains one of the is allocated to MDNR from the state goes through
most influential trustees in this system. this committee. Money that is allocated from this
For background and a quick civics lesson, the committee is not restricted for any particular use
Michigan state legislature is bicameral (bi=two, other than those mandated by the committee itself.
cameral=chamber). Like 48 other states, Michigan has Examples of this include leveraging money from the
a House of Representatives and a Senate that mirror federal government, maintaining the State Parks
the federal level (Nebraska has the nation’s only system and managing state wildlife areas. In short,
unicameral legislature). The House of Representatives money from the state is critical for natural resource
(Statehouse) is considered the “lower chamber” and conservation.
is made up of 110 members, whereas the Senate has 38 All of this may seem overwhelming or confusing,
seats. Members of either chamber must be 21 years old but it is important for us as conservationists to under-
and be elected by the members of their district. State stand how these systems work so that we can be heard
Representatives may serve up to three, two-year terms in the policymaking process. We must stay engaged
(six years total). State Senators are limited to two, and informed to have any hope of maintaining the
four-year terms of office (eight years total). Michigan places and traditions that we love. One of our state
is also one of only 10 states with a full-time legislature. legislators recently reminded me, in an awfully poetic
Each two-year term of a member of the Statehouse is way, that “eternal vigilance is the price that we must
considered a “Legislative Session,” thus we are in the pay for the continued conservation and preservation
100th Legislature (2019-2020). of our natural resources and outdoor heritage,” and
For a bill to become a law, it must pass by a margin he could not be more right. MUCC remains vigilant in
of 50 percent or more in a topical committee; then, Lansing on behalf of all sportsmen and women in the
pass by the same margin in the whole chamber. Then state of Michigan. Will you join us?
the bill, in the exact same language as passed, must do
the same thing in the other chamber. If a bill is passed
in the same form by both chambers (that is a minimum
of four times total), then it goes to the governor for
approval or veto. If the bill is signed by the governor,
it becomes a law and is assigned a Public Act (PA)
number in the permanent state statutes. If the bill
is vetoed, it could still become a law if it receives a
two-thirds majority vote from both chambers of the
legislature.
With this history and these rules in mind,
there are a few committees within the legislature
that have major impacts on wildlife and natural
resources: House Natural Resources and Outdoor
Recreation Committee & Senate Natural Resources;
House & Senate Agriculture; and House & Senate
Appropriations. Thankfully, these committees come in
pairs, with one in the Statehouse and one in the Senate
for each topic.
Like all other committees, legislators within
the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees
in both houses may put forward legislation that
is relevant to those topics. The Natural Resources
Committees are especially relevant, as they are
responsible for creating rules and regulations that
govern outdoor recreation and agricultural lands.

Fall 2019
Summer 2019||Michigan Out-of-Doors 55
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 Michigan United Conservation Clubs 2019
Annual Convention Recap
About 150 sportsmen, women
and conservationists came together
June 21-23 to debate conserva-
tion issues facing the state and
its wildlife at Michigan United
Conservation Clubs’ (MUCC)
Annual Convention.
MUCC’s 82nd Annual
Convention kicked off with an On
the Ground project in the Backus
Creek State Game Area and
culminated on Saturday afternoon
with the organization’s grassroots
process on full display at the
Lakeside Resort and Conference
Center in Houghton Lake.
In total, 22 member-drafted
resolutions were brought to the
floor for deliberation. Of those,
16 passed through the body and
were adopted as MUCC policy,
all corners of the state can come the allowance of more rods for
five were voted down and one was
together with one common goal in boating anglers; one buck tag
withdrawn.
mind — conservation,” said Amy per peninsula; the creation of an
Some passed resolutions aim to
Trotter, MUCC executive director. oversight committee for the State
broaden and sanction trap shooting
“The true grassroots process and Parks Endowment Fund; manda-
as a high school sport throughout
MUCC’s track record prove that tory deer registration after a deer
Michigan, call for research and
there is no other state-specific is harvested; and the allowance
solutions on PFAs issues as they
conservation organization in the of centerfire rifles in the limited
directly relate to fish and wildlife,
nation that achieves what we do.” firearm zone.
expand the hours that you are
During the 2017-2018 legislative Michigan Department of
allowed to use artificial lights
session, MUCC tracked 77 bills, Natural Resources Director Dan
when deer hunting and create a set
connected with legislators on 63 Eichinger was in attendance to
of criteria for Natural Resources
of those bills, secured passage of receive a commemorative plaque
Commission (NRC) appointments.
27 bills and helped to kill 13 bills. and tribute from the organization
For a summary of each resolu-
The organization carries this kind for the centennial celebration of
tion, please see page 58.
of weight in Lansing and nation- Michigan State Parks. Eichinger
Since 1937, MUCC has relied
ally because of its member-driven was also the day’s keynote speaker.
on member-drafted resolutions
resolution process. He talked about the importance of
to direct the policy work that the
“I know that when I step into keeping invasive carp out of our
organization performs in Lansing.
a room with a legislator or an great lakes, conservation being a
The organization requires a two-
NRC commissioner, I am speaking team sport and how important it
thirds majority vote for resolutions
clearly to the policies the MUCC is to instill a hunting and fishing
that would change state law or
membership wants to be enacted,” heritage in the next generation. He
require NRC action to help ensure
Trotter said. “We are the voice for also introduced his son Payton, a
the organization does not flip-flop
conservation-minded sportsmen fourth-generation MUCC member.
its policy stance in consecutive
and sportswomen in Michigan.” After a day of robust delib-
years.
In 2019, the resolutions that eration on resolutions, members
“Our Annual Convention is a
received the most contention, joined together Saturday evening to
time when our membership from
and ultimately failed, were: honor those among them who have

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 made significant contributions to
conservation in Michigan at the
2019 MUCC Conservation Awards
Banquet.
In total, nine award winners
were recognized (please visit mucc.
org to read why each winner was
chosen):
• Wildlife Conservationist of
the Year — Jim Sikarskie
• Unsung Hero — Stacy
Welling Haughey
• Ben East Award — Jason
Herbert
• Corporate Conservationist
of the Year — Jay’s Sporting
Goods and Jeff Poet
• Affiliate Club of the Year
— Muskegon Conservation
Club
• Educator of the Year — Kari
Roy
• Volunteer of the Year —
Alex Schaffer
• Fisheries Conservationist of
the Year — Tom Baird
• Conservation Officer of the
Year — Dean Molnar
Welling Haughey accepted the
Unsung Hero award from MUCC
Current MUCC Vice President, left, Greg
Peter and Past President and current
Region 5 Director Ron Burris volun-
teered to cook at Friday's kickoff picnic.
Fall 2019.indd 59
Left: The MUCC body weighs proposed resolutions during the business portion
of Annual Convention on Saturday, June 22. Top: MUCC Conservation Award
winners pose for a picture in front of Houghton Lake.
President George Lindquist. She
spoke about her grandfather, a
former DNR conservation officer,
being killed by bear poachers in
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and a
piece of forest that MUCC helped to
dedicate in his honor.
Since her return to Michigan,
Welling Haughey, now the DNR
regional coordinator for the upper
peninsula, has fostered and main-
tained healthy, working relation-
ships between Yoopers and the
DNR headquarters in Lansing — a
job that no one would envy.
A lifetime of service was also
recognized when now-retired
DNR Assistant Chief of Law
Enforcement Division Dean Molnar
stepped to the stage to accept his
award.
“Dean truly exemplifies what
it means to sacrifice family and
well-being in the name of conser-
vation,” Trotter said. “He would
travel home to see ‘his bride’ on
the weekends, while still helping
to build a law enforcement division
stronger than it has ever been.”
MUCC’s Annual Convention
concluded on Sunday with three
resolutions being voted on and an
announcement on the results of
the election of Executive Board and
Policy Board members.
New/reelected MUCC
Executive Board members include:
• Region 1 — Mike Taylor
(U.P. Whitetails of
Marquette County)
• Region 3 — Jane Finnerty
(Cadillac Sportsmen’s Club)
• Region 5 — Dawn Levey
(Ashley Sportsmen’s Club)
• Region 7 — Ron Burris
(Individual Member)
• Region 9 — Sam Morello
(Michigan Bowhunters
Association)
• At Large Director Region 5
— Jack VanRhee (Macatawa
Bay Waterfowl Association)
These board members will
serve two-year terms, with the
even-numbered regions up for
election in 2020.
The 2020 MUCC Annual
Convention will be in Sault Ste.
Marie at Kewadin Casinos from
June 26-28.
For a list of passed resolutions,
see page 58.
Winter
Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 57
2018 |
9/3/2019 11:18:55 AM
 2019 Passed Resolutions
#1: YOUTH CLAY TARGET RESOLUTION
Submitted by: Mark Hergenreder, Chelsea Rod and Gun
Club
• MUCC will endorse and promote the participation
of students in the Michigan High School Clay
Target League and will encourage all high schools
in Michigan to commit to permitting a high school
club to be formed in their district. MUCC will
encourage all affiliates to offer a learn to shoot
clay target opportunities for youth in their local
communities and will encourage the MHSAA to
recognize the Michigan High School Clay Target
League as a club sport. MUCC will encourage
the Michigan DNR to recognize the Michigan
High School Clay Target league as an educational
program that embraces the recruitment, retain-
ment and reactivation of hunting and shooting
sports participants.
#2A: RESOLUTION TO ALLOW TRACKING DOGS TO BE OFF
LEASH WHILE TRACKING BIG GAME ANIMALS
Submitted by: Michael Riepen, Et al., Michigan Deer
Track’n Hounds Tracking Club
• MUCC will support an initiative to amend the
Michigan Wildlife Conservation order to provide
added definition to permit registered trackers
to operate one dog at a time off-lead, for the goal
of recovering legally hunted big game animals.
MUCC will support and work with Michigan
legislature to amend any laws contradictory to the
suggested changes regarding allowing a registered
tracker to operate one dog off lead for the purpose
of recovering legally hunted big game animals.
#2B: RESOLUTION TO ALLOW REGISTERED TRACKERS TO
DISPATCH WOUNDED BIG GAME ANIMALS
Submitted by: Michael Riepen, Et al., Michigan Deer
Track’n Hounds Tracking Club
• MUCC will support an initiative to amend the
Michigan Wildlife order to provide or remove
language to allow registered trackers to dispatch
a wounded, legally hunted big game animal for
the goal of recovering or ending the suffering of
already wounded, legally hunted big game animals
in two specific cases: (1) the licensed hunter is
unable to walk through a densely wooded area due
to a temporary or permanent disability or medical
condition (2) the life or safety of the tracking dog is
in jeopardy. MUCC will support and work with the
Michigan legislature to amend any laws contradic-
tory to the suggested changes regarding allowing
registered trackers to dispatch wounded big game
animals under the 2 specific cases listed above and
to provide exceptions for the goal of recovering or
ending the suffering of already wounded, legally
58 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 60
hunted big game animal.
#3: MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
APPOINTMENT CRITERIA
Submitted by: Paul Rose, MUCC Past President
• MUCC will work with the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources, State of Michigan Legislature
and Executive office to develop qualification and
eligibility criteria which seeks to populate the NRC
with members who have a demonstrated interest
in both game and non-game fisheries and wildlife,
natural resource management, outdoor recreation,
a history of personal participation in these activi-
ties, and suitable educational and professional
background. Consideration for appointment
should be given to geographic distribution and the
diversity of relevant recreational participation
of its membership, as well as a balance among
those who have a declared political affiliation. This
emphasis on citizen participation should preclude
the appointment of former members of the
departmental management team of the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources, Michigan
Department of Environment, Great Lakes and
Energy, Michigan Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development and members of the Michigan
State legislature for a period of eight years
subsequent to their most recent date of service or
employment.
#4: MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN CWD AREAS (substitute)
Submitted by: Greg Peter, MUCC Vice President & Erik
Schnelle MI QDMA State Chapter President
• MUCC will encourage and support the funding
efforts of the NRC and DNR to perform research
into determining the best CWD management
approaches for Michigan’s CWD Management
Zones, and any additional areas where the
CWD threat is identified with surveillance until
sufficient data has been generated as to its effec-
tiveness. MUCC should stress the importance of
population control, harvest of the most likely to
be infected animals, habitat improvement, hunter
education and the role of the hunter/conserva-
tionist in this effort. MUCC should encourage the
issuance of antlerless permits and the establish-
ment of harvest goals, and in-season harvest
updates whenever possible, to decrease the density
of susceptible deer where appropriate. MUCC
should remain informed as to the design of field
studies in consultation with the biologists of the
DNR and other wildlife disease authorities who are
responsible for the scientific management of this
valuable resource.
#6: COMMERCIAL FISHING STATUE MODERNIZATION
9/3/2019 11:18:55 AM
 Submitted by: MUCC Fisheries Committee
• MUCC will work with Michigan legislature to
enact legislation that will update commercial
fisheries license fees to be commensurate with
the oversight that is required of the commercial
fisheries. This update to the statute should make
improvements that are protective of the fisheries
and sport fishing, including: protection of game
species (except whitefish) from commercial
harvest, governing how often commercial entities
check their nets and regulates allowable gear in a
manner that also takes into account the time of the
year and specificity of the net, increasing penalties
for disturbance of commercial fishing nets and
requiring appropriate markers for the location of
nets.
#7: TRIBAL TREATY NEGOTIATIONS
Submitted by: Thomas L. Heriter, MUCC Immediate Past
President, Saginaw Field and Stream Club
• MUCC will continue to promote and protect
hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities in the
State of Michigan while also seeking to improve
relations with Michigan’s Native American Tribal
members and leaders.
#8: USE OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT TO TRAVEL TO DEER
HUNTING SITE
Submitted by: Craig Larson, Dowagiac Conservation Club
• MUCC will work with the Natural Resources
Commission or the Michigan Legislature as neces-
sary to change the regulation to allow deer hunters
to use an artificial light to aid with the ingress
and egress to the hunting location and not be used
for spotlighting, two hours before and two hours
after shooting hours while carrying an unloaded
firearm or bow and arrow or unloaded crossbow
when traveling on foot to or from their hunting
location.
#9: WATER WITHDRAWAL FROM THE MICHINDOH
AQUIFER
Submitted by: Ted LoPresto, Hillsdale County
Conservation Club
• MUCC will work with the Great Lakes Water
Compact and the states of Michigan, Indiana,
and Ohio (who are members of the Great Lakes
Water Compact) to ensure that the rules and
processes of the Great Lakes Water Compact be
employed in this large scale use or diversion of
water of the Great Lakes. MUCC will work with the
Environmental Protection Agencies of the States
and Provinces of the Great Lakes Water Compact
and with the Federal Environmental Protection
Agency to ensure that the waters of the Great
Lakes are protected as dictated by the rules and
processes of the Great Lakes Water Compact.
#11: EXPANDED HUNTING OPPORTUNITY WHILE
MANAGING FOR A BALANCED DEER HERD
Submitted by: Rob Miller, MUCC Wildlife Chair
• MUCC will work with the DNR and NRC to change
the following: 1) The current definition of a
Fall 2019.indd 61
combo tag to read valid for the take of one buck
and one doe or two bucks with any legal method;
2) To continue to allow a combo buck tag option
in areas that would otherwise not allow the take
of a doe with any means (such as archery); 3) To
make available in all other areas either the new
combo or single buck tag; 4) To maintain hunter-
supported additional requirements in DMUs that
have supported such (such as APRs); 5) In areas of
special management needs such as disease or high-
density areas additional tags can be made available
per DNR recommendations or mandates.
#12: SPORT SHOOTING RANGES PROTECTION
MODERNIZATION ACT
Submitted by: David Van Lopik, Individual Member
• MUCC will work with the state legislature to pass a
law limiting or eliminating new and existing regu-
latory pressure aimed at sport shooting ranges via
local ordinances, prohibitive zoning changes and
regulations, planning commission issues, regula-
tions and changing tax formulas and taxes on new
or expanding sport shooting ranges: Provided the
sport shooting ranges meet or exceed nationally
recognized range standards at the time of develop-
ment on property they currently lease, own or
purchase in the future. New buildings will meet
existing building codes. Remodeled buildings will
meet building codes in existence when the original
structure or structures were built. The legislature
will update Michigan Law in regards to firearms
ranges, and allow new and existing sport shooting
ranges to work under the prior firearms range
laws and noise ordinances AND enact new laws to
protect existing ranges from nuisance complaints,
additional regulatory pressure, excessive local
ordinances, prohibitive zoning changes and regula-
tions, planning commission issues, regulations
and taxes on new or expanding sport shooting
ranges. The legislature should also enact and/or
create civil penalties for private citizen nuisance
complaints made to any governmental entity
toward a sport shooting range in which those
complaints or issues are addressed by Michigan
Law, or are based in Common Law.
#13: PFAS AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANT
Submitted by: Greg Peter, MUCC Vice President
• MUCC will support PFAS education for the public
and our affiliates as well as supporting the state
agencies to do the necessary research to better
address the issue. MUCC will work with other
organizations for which this is an issue of concern
to better facilitate the objective decision making
needed to find solutions to PFAS contamination.
#17: UNATTENDED CAMERA USE (TRAIL CAMS) ON STATE-
MANAGED LANDS
Submitted by: Paul Rose, MUCC Past President
• MUCC will work with the Michigan Department
of Natural Resources to develop a policy for the
use of unattended cameras (a.k.a. Trail Cameras)
Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 59
9/3/2019 11:18:55 AM
 on State of Michigan-managed lands which seeks
to limit their number and duration of use, and
further require that each camera deployed include
the name and contact information of the owner/
user. Unattended cameras used for DNR-sponsored
or DNR-approved research shall be subject to a
separate policy regarding their use.
#19: SPORTSMEN’S CLUB/SHOOTING CLUB FIREARMS
OWNERSHIP
Submitted by: Jack Letho, Individual Member
• MUCC will work with the Federal Government,
Michigan Legislature and the Governor’s office to
enact legislation that will legally allow organized,
incorporated sportsmen’s clubs and/or shooting
clubs to register firearms owned by the club.
#20: RESOLUTION TO ASSURE FAIR AND EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS DERIVED FROM GAS TAX
Submitted by: Tim Kobasic on behalf of the Hiawathaland
Trail Association
• MUCC will support an initiative to change the
Michigan Recreational Improvement Account
matrix of fund distribution to include only those
entities that directly contribute to the account via
the gas tax. The Michigan Legislature resolves to
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Fall 2019.indd 62
also amend the Michigan Improvement Account
matrix of fund distribution to establish as fair and
equitable sharing of said funds proportionate to
the current economic impact by unit sales, and/
or permit (license) unit sales, and/or impact on
tourism for the State of Michigan. A percentage
of all proportionate designated funds shall be
put aside for all related remuneration needs and
eligible for application and use by those county,
state and federal and highway management agen-
cies affected.
#21: COME HOME TO HUNT
Submitted by: Dawn Levey, MUCC Past President
• Michigan United Conservation Clubs will work
with the Natural Resource Commission and the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
to establish a discounted base hunting license,
hunt/fish combo, fishing licenses and the 7-day
small game/base for family non-residents, with
the exception of animals or birds that require a
separate license. Qualified non-resident will mean
a son, daughter, mother, father, grandson, grand-
daughter, step, adopted or natural to a current
resident of Michigan.
9/3/2019 11:18:56 AM
 On the Ground
Kicks off 2019 Annual Convention
By Makhayla LaButte
MUCC Habitat Volunteer
Coordinator

On Friday, June 21, a group of

20 volunteers composed of MUCC
staff, board members, and affiliate
club representatives came out to
Backus Creek State Game Area
(SGA) to enhance wildlife habitat
and kickoff MUCC’s 82nd Annual
Convention. After meeting at the
DNR Customer Service Center
in Roscommon, DNR Wildlife
Biologist Mark Boersen led the
group to the Backus Creek SGA to
get started with the project.
Upon arrival, Mark introduced
the project and the goals for the
management of the state game
area. Backus Creek SGA is unique
in its geography, as it encompasses
land with lowland and upland
forests, marshes, pine plantations
and grasslands. For this OTG
project, our volunteers helped the
DNR Wildlife Division support its
management plan for the area by
maintaining upland forest habitat
through the planting of mast-
producing tree species. A total of
35 trees comprised of hawthorn,
juneberry and three different
species of crab apple were planted
and caged north and south of
Backus Creek.
To accomplish this, the
volunteers split into two groups.
One group went to the planting
sites north of the creek while the
other stayed to the south along
the SGA access road, and by the
time lunch rolled around at 1 p.m.,
there were only seven trees left
to plant on the south side of the
creek. Despite the hot conditions,
volunteers remained motivated and
enthusiastic throughout the course
of the project and quickly divided
and conquered each task.
Mark Boersen was especially
pleased with the work completed,
stating that what our volunteers
accomplished in three hours would
have taken him and his staff two
weeks to complete with their busy
schedules. Our OTG volunteers
once again made a positive impact
on Michigan’s public lands — this
time impacting 30 acres of habitat
that will benefit ruffed grouse,
wild turkey, white-tailed deer and
a variety of other game and non-
game species. Projects like this
truly capture the power of partner-
ship in conservation.

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 61

Fall 2019.indd 63 9/3/2019 11:18:58 AM

 Your Home Port:
St. Ignace

By Nick Green

I
finished my ¾-pound Big “C” burger with cheese pike, walleye and trout can be found in the inland
from Clyde’s Drive-In as I sat on the tailgate waterways just a short drive from the city proper.
with the dogs and admired the Mighty Mac. My In addition to the many hunting and fishing oppor-
stomach wasn’t sure that a burger patty weighing tunities available to sportsmen and women, St. Ignace
almost a pound was the right pre-hunt meal as the also offers two unique fall events that are sure to keep
dogs and I prepared for an afternoon of grouse the family occupied while the hunters and anglers are
hunting. But, my conscious wouldn’t let me visit St. Bottom: An angler poses with a nice sized pike that one of the
Ignace and not stop at Clyde’s. many lakes around St. Ignace holds. Right top: Recreational-
Situated on the shores of lakes Michigan and vehicle enthusiasts cross the Makinac Bridge during the
Huron, St. Ignace is the perfect place for a hunter or annual Trek the Mighty Mac
angler to get away and experience Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula without the extensive drive the rest of the
peninsula takes to access.
For the dogs and I, St. Ignace provided numerous
hotel and motel accommodations and a basecamp to
access the east zone of the Hiawatha National Forest
— an expansive stretch of public land open to deer,
grouse, woodcock and bear hunting, among others.
Saint Martin Bay just north of St. Ignace also offers
ample opportunities for duck hunters who are drawn
to big water.
Although the “Yoop” is known for its hunting
opportunities, anglers shouldn’t dismiss St. Ignace as a
launching point for big-water fishing or tooling around
the many inland lakes throughout the Hiawatha
National Forest. Lake trout and salmon are two of the
main fish species sought on the big water, and bass,

62 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 64 9/3/2019 11:19:00 AM

 pursuing their quarry of choice.
The first such event is the Annual Richard Crane
Memorial Truck Show from Sept. 13-15. Vendors,
displays and, of course, semis will be on-hand for
event-goers to view, interact with and satisfy their
big-rig ambitions. The highlight of the weekend is
the Parade of Lights over the Mackinac Bridge. This
parade allows viewers to see a parade of lit-up semis
crossing the Mighty Mac — a picture-worthy event
that everyone should experience.
The next weekend, Sept. 20-21, the fifth annual
Trek the Mighty Mac event will be happening.
Recreational-vehicle enthusiasts from across the state
and country will converge on St. Ignace to show off
their four-wheelers, dirt bikes, utility vehicles and
off-road vehicles.
On Saturday (Sept. 21), the Mighty Mac will feature
what is probably the longest parade of outdoor recre-
ational vehicles in the nation. This is another one-of-a-
kind event that St. Ignace is proud to host and be a part
of — long cementing their commitment and dedication
to providing recreational-vehicle users a launching
point for the U.P. adventure of their dreams.
From St. Ignace, day-trips to Tahquamenon Falls
(the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River),
Woodland Dunes or the Soo Locks are sure to keep the
kids interested.
The Soo Locks afford children and adults the
opportunity to come within feet of a massive Great
Lakes freighter. And, a boat tour there will allow
participants to experience the 21-foot change in water
depth that the engineering feat accomplishes. The
locks, first opened in 1855, are thought to be one of the
greatest engineering feats of the 19th century, and they
connect Lake Superior with the lower Great Lakes.
A list of other activities, hotels and dining options
can be found by visiting www.stignace.com. The city’s
motto is “Your Home Port.” This is spot on when
considering your next U.P. adventure.
As is customary for my four-legged best friends
and me on our way home, we stopped at the Father
Marquette National Memorial bordering the west side
of St. Ignace. We paid homage to the man that founded
Michigan’s first European settlement and paved the
way for Michiganders everywhere. As the sun set over
the Mackinac Bridge, I was reminded just how lucky
we are in this state to have a place like St. Ignace —
Your Home Port. I look forward to returning every
year and seeing how many birds the dogs and I can
manage to stir up.

For more information about visiting St.

Ignace, visit www.stignace.com or call
(906) 643-6950.

Fall 2019.indd 65 9/3/2019 11:19:01 AM


D
uck hunters hunt in
secluded places — sloughs,
river bottoms, marshes
off lakes most don’t know
exist and shallow mudflats. We
go to great lengths to get to these
places.
Oftentimes, there are two
pieces of equipment that separate
watching ducks land 300 yards
away or being on the X: a boat and a
longtail mud motor.
Longtail mud motors are the
four-wheel-drive of boat motors.
They help navigate hunters
through duck-laden marshes filled
with logs, vegetation, lily pads and
many other hazards. An air-cooled
engine is mounted to a long drive-
shaft that can be lifted, turned,
used to leverage the boat over logs
or to dig down into mud to move
64 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 66
Mud Motors
hunters, dogs and gear to remote
locations.
In 2017, I bought my first duck
boat — a 1548 War Eagle with a 23
horsepower Backwater SWOMP
longtail. At that time, Backwater
was a new company to me. Since
then, I have now sold that motor
and upgraded to a 40 horsepower,
fuel-injected Backwater longtail.
For more than three decades,
longtail motors had remained,
mostly, unchanged. Since
Backwater burst on to the scene,
the folks there have been pushing
the limits of what a longtail mud
motor can do.
The guys at Backwater saw
the need to improve the longtail’s
function by using cutting-edge
materials, technology and innova-
tion. This constant innovation, trial
By Nick Green
and error and truly understanding
the need of today’s duck hunters
have placed them at the top of the
longtail food chain.
Revo-Clean lower bearing
system
Backwater's innovative design
starts with the Revo-Clean lower
bearing system. The Revo-Clean
system keeps sand, mud, weeds,
fishing line and other debris from
getting into and wrecking seals and
bearings by utilizing a spiral groove
machined into the driveshaft.
This groove allows the motor to
continuously auger out any debris
that makes its way into the bearing
housing. The Revo-Clean system
can be the difference between
9/3/2019 11:19:02 AM
 paddling your boat back to the
launch or filling your duck strap.
Surface Tracer cavitation
plate
My favorite innovation, and
something no other mud motors
have, is the adjustable Surface
Tracer cavitation plate. The plate
helps to keep the prop right at the
surface of the water and is the
reason Backwater motors gain
three distinct advantages over
other longtail mud motors.
First, the motor becomes easier
to handle because the operator isn’t
fighting with prop walking, digging
too deep in the water or coming out
of the water. A common complaint
Photo provided courtesy of BJ Lund
Fall 2019.indd 67
of longtail owners is the upper best performance. Having been in
body strength is takes to turn and several other boats with different
handle a longtail. The Surface longtail motors, I can comfortably
Tracer cavitation plate helps say that the Backwater SWOMP
alleviate much of the resistance series motors are the most
because the prop is at the top of the effi- cient at translating
water where the least amount of horsepower into
resistance is encountered. speed.
Second, with the prop running
as high as possible in the water,
Lite Frame
less wear and tear is placed on the
motor when an object is run over
The third
or hit with the motor. The motor difference
releases easily and drops back
between
into the water after the obstacle is other
cleared.
longtails
The last benefit of the
Surface Tracer cavitation plate
is speed. There’s no denying that
running higher in the water and
near the surface produces the
9/3/2019 11:19:02 AM
 "Since Backwater burst on
to the scene, the folks there
have been pushing the limits
of what a longtail mud
motor can do."
and Backwater’s SWOMP series is
the company’s bell-housing frame,
also known as the LITE series
frame. Instead of full-frame models
with three tubes surrounding
and supporting the driveshaft,
Backwater has eliminated two of
these tubes. This innovation creates
a motor that weighs less than those
with comparable horsepower,
contains less moving parts making
the design more dependable and,
with a setback pivot point, the
engine sits lower which allows
the prop to enter the water at a
shallower angle creating a more
efficient output of power.
Another aspect I truly appre-
ciate from Backwater’s motors,
and something that is a product of
all of their innovations combined,
is a smooth ride. Several boats I
have been in with other brands
of longtails vibrate enough to
knock the flocking off decoys. Both
Backwater SWOMP series motors
I have owned created almost no
perceived vibration throughout the
boat — something that makes those
66 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 68
4 a.m. runs to your duck hole a SWOMP series motors can be
little more enjoyable. purchased at Freeway Sports
As with any company worth Center in Fenton. Backwater
their salt, the guys at Backwater motors have become the company’s
are available and responsive to top-selling longtails. Give them
questions, comments or concerns. a call at 810-629-2291 to get your
When I received my 40 horsepower, Backwater motor ordered today.
the first thing I did was bend the
handle beyond usability backing
into the boat launch.
I sent an email to Jake Gilk For more information
from Backwater at 5:30 p.m., about Backwater motors,
received a response with an hour visit backwaterinc.com or
and had a new handle in the mail
the next day at cost. They take care email info@backwaterinc.
of their customers. com
Made in the U.S.A in Freeport,
Minnesota, Backwater stands
behind and warranties their
product. They understand that
there aren’t many other outdoor
pursuits that demand the kind of
equipment and dedication that
duck hunting does. They know
having your motor running in top
shape is the difference between
tomorrow’s limit or sitting on the
couch.
In Michigan, Backwater
9/3/2019 11:19:04 AM
 Game on!
Are you looking to take your outdoor experience to
the next level? We can help! GreenStone offers a
variety of loan options for recreational land of any
size. Contact your local branch office to learn more!

800-444-3276

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Fall 2019.indd 69 9/3/2019 11:19:04 AM

 Home
Water
W
e had no business
being on the stream.
The water was high
— dangerously so.
October blended into 31 days of
rain; the sandy soil of the Eastern
U.P. became a waterlogged sponge.
When Jack called and asked about
the prospect of his steelhead trip, I
withheld much of the truth. I think
I said something like, “Don’t worry,
it’s not that bad; this rain has had
to move some fish in.” Of course, it
had moved some fish in, but would
we be able to locate those fish in
flooded, dirty and surging water?
Maybe.
A week and a few more days of
rain later, the thermostat in my car
read 26 degrees around 5 a.m. Jack
and I split a thermos of coffee and
a package of gas station doughnuts
as my Tacoma crawled through
Fall 2019.indd 70
water holes and washed out roads
until we arrived at the stream
somewhere around sunrise. We
parked, donned waders, took our
final sips of coffee and peaked out
over a tall bank to survey the river.
Jack was skeptical — “Looks high,"
he said. I shook it off, told him it’s
always this high in late October (it
never is) and all we can do is fish
and see what happens.
We were standing in the
remnants of a not-so-long-ago
forest fire. The open landscape,
out of place for Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula, was beautiful and life-
affirming. What looked bleak years
ago is now vibrant with growth,
crawling with sharp-tailed grouse
and houses and, from the looks of
it, some sizeable whitetails. The
river, on the other hand, was well
out of its banks, dark, intimidating
By Calvin McShane
and skewing otherwise picturesque
scenery. Our first fishable run was
a wide curve, where the deepest
part is a trough in between where
we stood and the opposite bank.
I told Jack, “Now, your intuition
says to cast as far as you can, but
don’t. The sweet spot is right in
the middle, the first ripple, where
that fast water meets this slower
stuff. If fish have moved in, they’ll
be right there. I’m telling you.” As
I said this, I made sure to sound
as confident as possible. In reality,
we were standing knee-deep in a
patch of tag alders usually a foot
above the waterline, and my fishing
sensibilities were in total panic.
He waded out a bit further, just to
his naval, stripped out 20 yards of
10lb mono and pitched his spawn
bag and lead into the first ripple.
A few moments later, he felt that
9/3/2019 11:19:05 AM Mic
 oh-so-particular pause, snapped
back on his 8wt and had his reel
singing.
“How the hell did you know
that?” Jack asked.
“Magic.” But what I felt like
saying was dumb luck.
I often think about what it
means to be a great fisherman or
woman. I don’t mean someone
who is good at fishing. I mean
someone who IS an angler. Fishing
is part of their identity. The kind
of person who can catch fish in a
bathtub. The criteria is high; you
should think on it for a bit before
you bestow this title on someone
haphazardly. When I think of great
fishermen or women I know, I
notice a few things. First, they have
a knack for finding free time — true
connoisseurs of sneaking out of
work an hour or two early. Second,
they care just as much about the
trees, water quality, terrain, etc.
as they do about the fish. They get
the big picture. And third, which
I happen to find most important,
Michigan71Outdoors ad.indd 1
Fall 2019.indd
"Home water is the convergence of confidence and coincidence. It is
the lake in our backyard. The river down the road. The creek, ditch
and canal that taught us how to be an angler."
they have home water. They aren’t
the type of people who ride other’s
coattails. Rarely are they the ones
being taken out for a trip; that is to
say, they do most of the taking.
Now, these great anglers are
great replicators. They regularly
replicate earlier successes in
a variety of conditions. What
appears to be magic, isn’t magic
at all. I started to put this thought
together as I watched Jack walk
the tightrope with that acrobatic
fall steelhead I mentioned before.
It got me thinking that maybe I’m
not as dumb as I had thought.
I have fished up and down this
river nauseatingly over the years,
spending many days fishless in
much better conditions. But in the
past when I’ve struck gold, I’ve
never forgotten the details. Cold
night, fresh rain, four feet of water,
Summer 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 69
egg yolk bead, five Hail Marys —
you know, the important stuff. This
river had become more than a good
piece of water over yonder; it has
become my home water.
Home water is the convergence
of confidence and coincidence. It is
the lake in our backyard. The river
down the road. The creek, ditch and
canal that taught us how to be an
angler. My first home water was the
mouth of the Detroit River, where
I jigged for whatever would bite. I
have since moved on to rivers along
the south shore of Lake Superior.
And even though there are hotter
bites elsewhere, at some point the
race for glory becomes unending,
futile and sort of childish. Come
fall, I know I could be driving
around the state and getting
myself into better fishing, but
great anglers aren’t necessarily the
Lake Superior State University
in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has
over 60 degree programs including
Biology, Conservation Officer, Parks
& Recreation, and Fisheries &
Wildlife Management.
Surrounded by millions of acres
of forests and three Great Lakes,
our backyard creates the perfect
outdoor laboratory.
Enjoy hiking, skiing, kayaking,
fishing, and hunting…the
opportunities are endless.
When you visit our campus in the
beautiful Upper Peninsula, you will
discover this is where you belong.
10/29/18
9/3/2019 11:19:052:19
AM PM
 people with the most miles on their
tires; they are the people who make
greatness out of the lackluster. On
my home river, an angler passing
through maybe hooks two or three
steelhead on an afternoon in late
October — I hook six or eight. I
know that little riffle
everyone walks
70 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 72
by. Or how deep that "endlessly
deep" hole actually is. I know
where those mysterious two-tracks
lead. I know where to cross when
crossing seems possible only for
otters and trout. Better yet, I have a
lead on where steelhead will set up
when the river is out of its banks.
Those little know-hows add up, not
only on my home river but for my
fishing sensibility as a whole.
Great anglers are made
with persistence and attention
to detail. When other anglers
are hopping around from river to
river chasing dreams of grandeur,
the great angler is pounding the
same water in search of secrets
others wade by. They get to know
each stream, stretch and pool as
intimately as the water and fish
deserve. They serve justice to the
objects of other’s greedy fantasies.
This whole fishing thing means
more to them than just a few
photos with a couple monsters.
Great anglers are usually great
people.
The successes of my
fishing life are due to the
significant attachments I
have with the waters I fish.
The water means more
than the fish. I hardly
remember the fish
Jack landed on that
autumn morning, but
I will never forget
the smile on his face
and the screaming
of his reel. I will
never forget how
the river boiled
in anger while
we watched
grumpy-
looking
turkey
vultures
9/3/2019 11:19:07 AM
 circle a deer carcass on the oppo-
site bank. I have never felt so at
peace in such intimidation. That
moment is forever etched into the
history of the swift trough on the
lower end of my home water. I live
and die by this river. Hell or high
water, come fall, I am banking on
my home water and my own hard
work. John Gierach says this whole
trout fishing thing is about life and
death. Maybe, for the fish, it means
mortality, but for us, it means how
we live and die. When I look back
on life as a fisherman, I do not
want to be the type of person who
lived and died by how many fish I
caught, how big they were and how
many people knew about it. I want
to cherish the memories and the
knowledge of water and trout.
After Jack finally landed that
5-pound Lake Superior hen, he
returned to the same seam and
battled with another, even bigger,
chrome bullet. We didn't touch
another fish the rest of the day. We
never saw another soul either. We
heard a few trucks drive along the
bluff, only to turn around and head
out. They probably figured the river
was too high. And for them, they
may be right. But for me, on my
home water, I knew just enough to
ensure some remedial success and
a lasting memory. The most astute
knowledge comes from knowing
one thing intimately rather than
knowing 100 things half-assed. We
get one shot at this fishing life of
ours — there's no sense in blowing
it for petty bar bragging. Spend
it as the trout dictates, in life and
death. Because when it's all said
and done, you can have home water
or you can have no water.

"When I look back on life as a

fisherman, I do not want to be
the type of person who lived and
died by how many fish I caught,
how big they were and how
many people knew about it."

Fall2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 71

Fall 2019.indd 73 9/3/2019 11:19:09 AM


F
all is a busy time on
Michigan’s tributaries
to the Great Lakes. Four
salmon species and three
trout species run upstream in the
late summer or autumn. All spawn
in the fall except for the steelhead.
Almost all of Michigan’s steel-
head spawn in the late winter or
spring, but each year some of them
run rivers in the fall and spend the
cold months in the river waiting for
procreation time. It is not known
why a portion of our “Great Lakes
strain” of anadromous rainbows
run in the fall since they have no
physical or water level barriers
or even an extra-long distance to
travel like some of the West Coast
steelhead strains.
It is easy to believe that they
are following the salmon to feed
on their eggs. But it is rare to
72 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 74
King
of the
River
find eggs in the stomachs of adult
steelhead on their river migration,
and these fish were running in
the fall long before salmon were
introduced.
River-run steelhead stay
very aggressive throughout the
fall and are loaded with energy
because they are so far away from
spawning. It is unusual for them
not to fight a great battle when they
feel the resistance from your rod.
When the water temperature is still
in the upper 40s or 50s, they are
often very acrobatic and display a
never-give-up attitude. These traits
put the steelhead on a pedestal for
me. I have had many memorable
battles with these special fish.
About 10 years ago, I hooked
a steelhead above the second
coffer in the Grand River in Grand
Rapids. It sizzled line through the
By Jim Bedford
water and jumped several times.
Then it got serious and headed
downstream, ignoring rod pressure
and barreling over the cofferdam.
Since I couldn’t safely wade over
the coffer, I headed to the nearest
shore where I could safely get
past the small dam. The fish kept
taking line, and I was well into
my backing, so I waded after my
quarry as fast as I could. I got my
mainline back on the reel just in
time for the fish to decide to roar
over another cofferdam. This time,
I headed to the opposite shore to
get around the third coffer and try
to stay connected. Somehow, we
stayed connected, and I finally had
the steelie in my net after about a
half-mile chase over a half-hour
time span. Whew! I am sure I was
more tired than the steelhead.
Last fall, I hooked into a
9/3/2019 11:19:10 AM
 very frisky steelhead that tried
a different escape route. I was
fishing Prairie Creek, and there
were a couple of dead trees
leaning over the stream and the
creek was full of wood. I made an
underhand cast to a deep spot just
below a submerged log and let the
spinner sink for a second before
beginning the retrieve. Almost
immediately, a fish tried to take
the rod out of my hand and then
went skyward on the hook set. I
was standing about waist-deep in
the creek and suddenly looking
up as the steelhead put about 6
feet of air between itself and the
creek surface. It gained the same
altitude three more times, and I
was afraid it would come down on
the other side of a tree branch. On
the fourth leap, I had a onetime
experience in my many thousands
of hours of steelheading. The fish
grazed my head and bounced off
my shoulder as it came down. I'm
glad it was hooked on a spinner and
not a multi-trebled lure. Luckily,
the fish was now pretty tired, and
after a short run and a shorter
leap, I had the bright fish in my net.
Both steelhead were modest-sized
females around 8 pounds. I think
I am going to pass on receiving
another aerial attack from a
steelhead but will continue to crave
great aerial battles from these
special fish.
In most years, fall-run rain-
bows linger in the lower reaches
of the tributaries since there is
no urgency to get to the spawning
gravel. Low water levels also
tend to deter the fish from moving
upstream into the shallower
sections. Normally, the best fall
runs occur when we have periodic
heavy rains in late September
through mid-November. These
surges may put the rivers out of
shape for a day or two, but the high,
murky water will usually lure in
another batch of silver fighters.
Even when we have lots of rain,
autumn steelhead will tend to be
more concentrated in the lower
portions of the rivers and in the
larger tributaries. They have also
been known to travel up smaller
Fall 2019.indd 75
streams and into
headwaters during high
water and then retreat
back down when the
rivers clear and drop.
In addition to
large rivers, the
best streams for fall
steelies are those
with good natural
reproduction. Most
of the best ones are
in the northwest
part of the Lower
Peninsula and
are tributaries to
Lake Michigan.
These include
the north
branches of the
White and Pentwater,
Pere Marquette, Little
Manistee, Betsie, Jordan
and Platte rivers. On the
sunrise side, the Rifle and
the East Branch of the
Au Gres get good fall
runs but are prob-
ably more depen-
dant on rain than
the more stable-
flowing streams
of the northwest
corner.
In the Upper
Peninsula, most of the small
to medium rivers get really
low in the fall if rainfall is light,
and this hampers the runs of
steelhead. The Two Hearted prob-
ably gets the most consistent run of
these fish.
Even though eggs for our
hatchery program are taken from
spring-running fish, those rivers
that get big plants also support
good fall runs. The St. Joseph,
Kalamazoo, Grand, Muskegon, Big
Manistee, Huron, Clinton, Thunder
Bay and Au Sable rivers all attract
good numbers of steelhead in the
fall. The St. Joseph River can be
especially good because of the
large number of summer steelhead
smolts planted by Indiana. Many
of these Skamania strain fish wait
until fall to move upstream because
of warm river temperatures in July
and August.
9/3/2019 11:19:11 AM

Bob Bryans releases a fall steelhead he caught on a spinner.
Drifting spawn is by far the
most popular technique used for
steelhead in the fall, just as it is in
the spring. Skippers, especially
the immature ones, may actively
feed when they are in the river, and
you can’t beat single eggs or small,
dime-sized spawn bags for these
diminutive, but high-flying and
hard-fighting, steelhead.
Adult steelhead rarely actively
feed and usually don’t swallow the
bait. However, spawn and other
live bait such as wigglers and wax
worms still work well because fish
pick it out of irritation, memory or
curiosity, and then hold onto it until
you set the hook because it smells,
tastes and feels right to them.
A float or bobber can be your
best friend when drifting for fall
steelhead. The lower reaches of
the rivers are often full of wood
and other snags. Additionally, the
current may be so slow that it is
difficult to get a good drift when
bottom-bouncing. Add to the fact
that aggressive fall steelhead will
come up several feet to grab your
offering, and it is easy to see why
74 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 76
float fishing is so effective.
Slow action rods in the 9- to
11-foot range are ideal for drift
fishing. They should be made out
of high modulus graphite because
sensitivity is crucial to telegraphing
the light hits that often occur
when bottom-bouncing. The soft
action allows you to lob baits into
the holding water gently and then
cushion your line against the jumps
and dashes of these heavyweight
rainbows. An even longer rod is
often employed when float fishing so
you can keep most of your line off of
the water.
Spinning reels will work fine for
drift fishing, but many experienced
drift anglers opt for center pin or
casting reels. The reason is that
they allow you to extend your drift
by free-spooling. Their main draw-
back is the difficulty in casting light,
terminal rigs with them.
Fall-run steelies can also be
readily caught using lures that are
cast and retrieved. These fish are
assertive and don’t take kindly to
a shiny lure invading their space.
Weighted spinners and heavy,
highly curved spoons are the lures
used most often to entice a strike
from these silver migrants.
The weighted spinner is
especially tough to beat in rivers.
The flash and vibrations from
the spinning blade really turn on
fall-run steelhead. Spinners with
broad, domed or French-type blades
are best because they spin at slow
retrieves. Silver is usually the
best all-around choice for a blade
finish because it has a bright, white
flash and reflects light better than
nickel, chrome, brass and copper.
Normally, the surroundings and
river water are quite dark, so the
silver finish will really get the
steelhead’s attention.
Fluorescent tape on the back
of the blade along with brightly
colored beads, body components
and hook dressing will also help
make your lure more visible. Of
course, when the stream is clear and
the sun is shining brightly, you will
want to tone down and use a less
gaudy, smaller lure with a brass or
copper blade. Whatever the condi-
tions, remember to fish the spinner
as slow as you can yet still keep the
blade turning.
Plugs or crankbaits are also
great lures for autumn steelhead.
The traditional, high-action plugs
like Hotshots, Wiggle Worts and
Hot-n-Tots are usually held against
the current and backed down to
the fish. These lures can also be
cast quartering downstream and
retrieved sweeping against the
current. Minnow plug or stickbaits
like the suspending Bomber Long
A, Matzuo Snappy Minnow and
Rapala Husky Jerk are also effective
steelhead-catchers. The steelies just
don’t like another fish wiggling or
swimming in their territory.
Pick rods that are fairly stiff in
the butt to facilitate hook sets when
fishing lures. They should have a
light tip for casting and detecting
light hits, which can happen often
even though these fish are known
for slamming lures. Spinning reels
work best for casting and retrieving
lures, and you can use fairly heavy
line, 12- to 17-pound test, because
the fish will be focused on the lure
9/3/2019 11:19:12 AM
 and won't be line-shy.
November is the most depend-
able month for fall steelhead
action, but these fish begin to
enter the rivers in early October.
Cool weather and heavy rains key
the beginning of the migration.
Offshore winds at the river mouths
help by blowing the warm surface
water out and upwelling cold water,
which makes the lake thermally
comfortable for the steelies at the
pier heads and river mouths. Pay
attention to the weather and try to
hit your favorite Great Lakes tribu-
tary a few days after a good rain.
A call to a local tackle shop or the
DNR biologists in the area will yield
useful information.
Don’t pass up the chance of
catching the king of the river at
his autumn peak. If you haven’t
caught a steelhead or have only think about releasing all or most fall-running steelhead, and these
tangled with them in the spring, of your catch. Fall-running fish provide great river fishing all
you are in for a real treat. And, steelhead are likely to beget more winter.

Bottom: Jim Bedford releases a fall steelhead he caught using a spinner on a Central Michigan stream. Top: Terri Bedford
poses with a deer-season steelhead. Fall can be a great time to be on Michigan's rivers chasing steelhead. Deer hunting is in
full-swing, and an angler can have the river to themself if they put in a little effort.

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 75

Fall 2019.indd 77 9/3/2019 11:19:13 AM

 The Changing Face
of Deer Research
Are professors and universities
adequately preparing wildlife
managment students for work at
federal and state agencies?
W
ithout
warning,
the cedar
limb I was
perched on, 16 feet or so
above a well-used deer
trail, snapped with a loud
crack. Deer scattered in all
directions and down I went.
As usual, I was working alone
in Northern Michigan’s Petrel
Grade deeryard.
It was January 1968, and I had
undertaken a study to evaluate the
aggressive behavior of white-tailed
deer at winter cuttings. I already
had well over 100 deer individually
marked with numbered snare-type
collars, but few were mature bucks.
My goal was to selectively capture
more bucks using a tranquilizer
loaded capture gun and mark them
with ear tags and individually-
recognized collars. This was a fairly
76 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 78
By John Ozoga
easy task given the heavily
used deer trails leading to
a plentiful supply of felled
cedar browse at a logging
operation.
All it took was patience: wait for
the right deer to pass beneath my
perch, slowly lower the gun barrel
and plunk em’ in the rear end —
even without aiming. Normally,
they didn’t run too far and weren’t
particularly hard to find and
handle. In fact, it was so easy that I
entertained the idea of capturing a
smaller deer by hand, from a lower
position, simply by dropping on it
in bobcat style.
At any rate, I landed on my
back, narrowly missing a stump
protruding above a 3-foot deep
snowpack. I lay there a while rather
dazed, hurting all over, wondering
if I’d done any serious damage.
Luckily, I seemed to be OK — at
least I could stand and walk. Then,
I looked up, and there was my gun
stuck on a limb near where I’d sat,
requiring an agonizing trip back up
the tree to retrieve it.
9/3/2019 11:19:15 AM
 Thinking back future. While his comments apply passionate about what we do and
to wildlife management in general, adhere to a code of professional
Actually, I never really thought it’s quite easy to read between the ethics that sustains our credibility
much about those early days and lines and see how his concerns as biologists.”
how deer research had changed, apply to deer research and manage- Although deer research here in
until D&DH Editor-in-Chief Dan ment. Northern Michigan got its start
Schmidt asked me to reminisce “If our profession is to continue around 1930, funding and serious
a little: “How has deer research to progress and be relevant,” Miller research efforts started in 1937
changed?” he asked. Needless to said, “We must continue to value with the passage of the Pittman-
say, today the governing bureau- hunting — individually, biologi- Robertson Act for Federal Aid
cracy would frown upon such cally, socially and economically. in Wildlife Restoration. This act
dangerous employee behavior, and We work for the public as well as collected a federal excise tax on
I would be called in by the brass for wildlife resources, and we must hunting arms and ammunition
and severely admonished. Note: It continue to use the best available to be returned to the state for
would have been rather difficult science in decision making, remain research, land acquisition and
to buy a ladder stand for hunting
purposes in those days. In fact,
back then, I don’t believe elevated
blinds of any kind were even legal
for deer hunting in Michigan.
Even the way we handled captive
deer in the past would be unaccept-
able today. And we would not be
permitted to release surplus captive
deer into the wild, for fear of intro-
ducing diseases (even though such
things as CWD or TB have not been
found to occur locally). So many
aspects of deer research, manage-
ment and hunting have changed
over the past five or so decades. Of
course, deer and deer hunters have
changed, too, often unpredictably
so. Many of these associated trends
have undoubtedly benefited the
resource — but some have not, and
I’m concerned.

Trending toward political

correctness
While reviewing the recent
wildlife literature, I’m finding that
other wildlife professionals share
some of my specific concerns.
I found comments made by Dr.
James E. Miller, past president of
the Wildlife Society and recipient
of the cherished 2007 Aldo Leopold
award, particularly interesting.
In his award acceptance speech,
reprinted in the spring 2009 issue
of The Wildlife Professional, Miller
provided a historical sketch of
wildlife management funding,
highlighted technological advances,
discussed concerns for the profes-
sion and speculated a little on the

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 77

Fall 2019.indd 79 9/3/2019 11:19:18 AM

 habitat development.
As a result, the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) hired full-time wildlife
research biologists and housed
them at research stations. The
Cusino Wildlife Research Station,
located in Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula (UP), and the Houghton
Lake Wildlife Research Station, in
Northern Lower Michigan, concen-
trated their efforts on white-tailed
deer nutrition, physiology, behavior
and habitat management. Today,
there are no research biologists
stationed at those facilities, and
nearly all deer research in the state
is conducted through universities.
At the same time, it’s important
to recognize that fewer research
dollars are now generated from
traditional sources (i.e., hunters).
According to Miller, most comes
from directed research funding,
“thus influencing the culture and
results of wildlife research.”
At a research meeting, I once
was asked how I felt about research
involvement with universities. I
replied that we had good results
in some cases, but at other times
78 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 80
we devoted considerable time and
energy without learning much
that could be directly applied
to deer population and habitat
management — and we were
being criticized by management
for that reason. I might add that I
have the highest regard for most
wildlife biologists and consider my
association with Karl Miller and
Steve Ditchkoff a highlight of my
research career.
However, in recent years, despite
considerable financial support,
some university-guided deer
research has produced results
that merely support findings from
studies conducted by Louis Verme
and myself (assisted by one techni-
cian and two inmates). One such
three-year, university-sponsored
project acknowledged the involve-
ment of more than 60 individuals,
without once referring to the
critical importance of high-quality
deer wintering habitat in this
Northern region.
Jim Miller suggests that research
biologists are wandering off course
when he provided the following
warning: “Wildlife research
appears in recent years to have
become more directed toward
addressing politically correct
issues and in verifying a sponsoring
industry’s or agency’s claims for
its product. To remain relevant
and maintain our credibility with
a diverse public, of which hunters
are a part, the research base must
retain a strong focus on wildlife
habitat and population manage-
ment.” Although we serve the
public, Miller warns, there is a line
beyond which social and political
pressures must not dictate resource
management decisions
Technology
My first research project, initi-
ated in 1960, was a study of coyote
ecology on Beaver Island, located
in northern Lake Michigan. As
one might expect, the islanders
were convinced coyotes were
decimating their deer herd. During
the summer months, my wife
Janice and I trapped and tagged
coyotes and red fox and collected
scats for later detailed analysis of
seasonal food habits. Two of those
9/3/2019 11:19:21 AM
 coyotes eventually dispersed to the
Michigan mainland. There was
no high-tech radio telemetry gear
available for monitoring wildlife
movements in those days. During
the winter months, I relied on
tracking.
My typical day started (at
daybreak) with finding a fresh
coyote track and following it till
dusk, recording such things as
feeding habits, habitat use, social-
ization, etc. By the end of the day,
I often wound up miles from my
truck (if you’ve never done such a
thing, try following coyote tracks
for 200 miles some winter). During
the course of coyote investigations,
a friend of mine and I teamed
up to publish a 40-page bulletin
in the Michigan State Museum
series covering the mammals of
Beaver Island and another on
the mammals of nearby Garden
Island. I bring this up because it’s
a good example of how an alert
researcher, when engaged in field
studies, will see other opportunities
to expand our knowledge of a given
subject.
After completing a brief study
of deer wintering behavior in
Northern Lower Michigan, I
undertook more extensive studies
of wintering white-tails at Cusino
starting in 1964. My objectives were
to examine, in detail, the microcli-
mate of preferred deer wintering
habitat and determine how deer
use protective cover and how their
survival is influenced by weather-
related factors.
In those days, there were no deer
trail cameras or motion-triggered
activity monitors. There were also
no ATVs. Snowmobiles were avail-
able, but they weren’t exceptionally
reliable — mine broke down after
a few weeks of use, necessitating a
mile-long, snow-shoe hike just to
reach the study area. I contrived
a crude (Rube Goldberg-type)
mechanical deer traffic counter,
consisting of an alarm clock,
reset counter and spring-loaded,
mono-filament trip line. It certainly
wasn’t the fanciest device in the
world, and required frequent
servicing, but when positioned
Fall 2019.indd 81
on deer trails throughout the resource management agencies.”
deeryard, it provided a reasonably Clearly, fewer wildlife faculty
good index of deer activity — when members today are traditional
nothing comparable was available. “consumptive users” of wildlife,
Meanwhile, back at Cusino, I meaning there tends to be a reduc-
used a somewhat different trig- tion in emphasis on hunting and
gering system to tally activity traditional wildlife management
of deer in research pens while and an increased focus on conser-
measuring their daily food vation biology in the university
consumption. However, with an classroom. Miller contends the
electric power supply available, I most significant change is that
could wire triggering devices to an student demographics have shifted
event recorder and record hourly markedly since the 1990s. Prior,
rates of individual deer activity. most wildlife students came from
That particular system led to the rural backgrounds and had a grasp
discovery that doe activity rises of a land and work ethic.
sharply just prior to estrus, making In my case, for example, a
it a valuable tool when conducting serious interest in wildlife and the
reproductive studies. outdoors probably started when
In those days, biologists routinely I trapped my first muskrat and
conducted deer population
surveys and necropsied
vehicle-killed deer to deter-
mine their physical condi-
tion as well as reproductive
potential. Today, given analog
and digital computers, biolo-
gists use population modeling
to assess herd composition and
determine harvest rates via
elaborate data storage and analysis
procedures. There also is increased
emphasis on ecosystem and
landscape approaches to wildlife
management with a corresponding
de-emphasis of single-species
approaches — such as white-tailed
deer.
The research biologist
Technological advancements
have certainly enhanced deer
research performance, but not
without some drawbacks, though.
Nowadays, “It is too easy to become
an armchair biologist,” claims
Miller, “inextricably tied to, and
dependent on, computers and
complex mathematical models
to tell us what is happening and
what we need to be doing about
it.” Miller also suggests there is “a
significant disconnect between how
some educators and universities
are preparing wildlife students
and these students’ understanding
of the role and responsibilities
of most state and federal natural
9/3/2019 11:19:23 AM
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 snared a cottontail at nine or 10
years of age. I became quite profi-
cient at trapping coyotes, red fox,
bobcats, beavers, otters, mink and
weasels and hunted small game on
my own at the age of 15. In fact, the
local DNR office frequently directed
me to farmers who were having
predator problems.
Two years later, the neighbor
boy and I ran a pulpwood job for
an owner of considerable aspen
acreage. We cut aspen by hand with
buck saws (commonly referred
to as bow saws — no chain saws),
peeled it, used a small tractor for
skidding, loaded two broken-down
trucks (one with no license) by
hand (no hydraulic loader), drove
10 miles to a railroad loading deck
(no CDLs) and unloaded in railroad
cars by hand. This early experience
made it relatively easy for me to
communicate with wildlife and
forestry professionals and habitat
relationships at a young age.
From the 1990s to the present,
the majority of wildlife students
come from urban backgrounds,
with many having little or no
understanding of hunter’s biolog-
ical, economic and social relevance
to wildlife conservation. In fact, one
study found that hunting among
college wildlife students declined
by 10 to 60 percent during the past
30 years or so and students with
anti-hunting attitudes increased 30
to 50 percent.
If this trend continues, it does
not bode well for the future of deer
research, nor for deer population
and habitat management as we’ve
come to know it.
Changing emphasis
Whitetail abundance has fluctu-
ated wildly during the past 50 or 60
years. In fact, in the Upper Great
Lakes region, we’ve gone full-circle,
from too few deer during the 1960s
and 1970s to deer overabundance
during the late 1980s and early
1990s, back to low densities more
recently. Meanwhile, deer have
expanded their range, especially
in the Southeast, and seem to be
thriving in urban environments.
Fall 2019.indd 83
Understandably, deer research
emphasis has changed accordingly
to accommodate the resultant
positive and negative values deer
create. Most recently, there has
been increased research interest
in predation, disease, human-deer
conflict and deer population
management to satisfy hunters’
quest for quality.
During the course of a five-
year study designed to evaluate
the pros and cons of supple-
mental deer feeding conducted
in Cusino’s square-mile deer
enclosure, I became especially
interested in deer social behavior.
With the advent of Quality Deer
Management and spread of
diseases such as CWD and TB, it
became obvious that such knowl-
edge was lacking and critical for
scientifically-based deer population
management. The Cusino enclo-
sure served perfectly for deer social
behavior studies. We were able to
live-trap and handle each animal
for physical measurement, X-ray
does to determine pregnancy rates
and estimate breeding dates, and
radio-collar certain individuals for
annual monitoring. This permitted
me to select and study a reintro-
duced herd of a specific sex and age
that mimicked a given deer harvest
practice. This particular line of
study became an obsession with me
and continued until my retirement.
The deer hunter
As expected, the deer hunter
has changed considerably over
time, thus influencing deer
research in many ways. For one
thing, hunters are more educated,
more dedicated and more effec-
tive than ever before. They
also have higher expectations.
Unfortunately, new hunters are
not being recruited in sufficient
numbers to replace us old guys.
Not only are hunters still playing
a significant role in deer popula-
tion management, more of them
are also becoming involved in
managing private lands to enhance
deer nutrition and deer quality.
In other words, they are using
the information that research has
provided.
Although Jim Miller acknowl-
edged the vital role that hunters
play in deer management, he
offered the following criticism:
“We must acknowledge that,
unfortunately, more and more
active hunters seem to desire
instant gratification. It appears
they have been misled by outdoor
television shows, many of which
have become ‘snuff films’ whose
main motivation is to sell more
gadgets, including feeders and
mechanical and sensory attractants
— anything that will shorten the
time spent outdoors. We need to
further educate the public about
the real trade-offs (on both public
and private lands) that will be
necessary to maintain appropriate
habitats and populations to ensure
that wild places and wild things
can be sustained for future genera-
tions. We must find incentives that
encourage all or most of society to
support natural resource manage-
ment and sustainability, both
philosophically and financially.”
Communication
Communication, at all levels,
plays a critical role in deer research
and management effectiveness and
public acceptance of deer hunting
as a management tool. Fortunately,
surveys indicate 76 percent of
Americans approve of hunting,
and only 16 percent disapprove.
Since the 1990s, Miller has noted
“profound changes” in the way
wildlife professionals communicate
— indicating that we now regularly
communicate and share informa-
tion through email and computer-
based tools. As a result, he voiced
the following: “Some concerns
stimulated by changing technolo-
gies, philosophy and culture within
the profession include a decreased
emphasis on the availability of
printed publications and increased
emphasis on electronic publica-
tions and data sources that may not
adequately serve the profession.
Websites and blogs are
increasingly utilized as major
Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 81
9/3/2019 11:19:24 AM
 communication tools and
appear in vogue with many newer
members of the profession, yet
have not precluded the need for
targeted publications and critical
interaction with stakeholders.
Research information remains
important to private landowners,
managers and other users, and
it must be published or made
available in appropriate scientific
resources.”
The latest deer bible, “Biology
and Management of White-tailed
Deer,” edited by David G. Hewitt,
was published in 2011. The first
such all-inclusive book that
appeared in 1985, relied on 631
published articles concerning
white-tailed deer, whereas the 2011
version accounted for 834 such
articles published since then.
One measure of a researcher’s
accomplishments is his publication
record. Another is the frequency
with which his works are referred
to by others. My immediate super- I published my first couple As I said earlier, I have a great
visor, Louis Verme, always advised of magazine articles in 1958, but deal of respect (and even envy) for
me, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth then very few until 1985, when the most biologists conducting deer-
publishing.” Michigan DNR was having serious related research today, given the
The book edited by Hewitt will budget problems and threatened to sophisticated techniques now at
no doubt stand as the reference close Cusino. While discussing the hand. Most worrisome are trends
for white-tailed deer for years to pending crisis with my wife, Janice, I see taking place in education,
come. While reading the chapter she replied, “You researchers spend student and instructor background
on behavior, written by Karl Miller all your time talking to yourselves; and research project funding. With
and Randy DeYoung, I noticed the general public, and hunters in a reduced emphasis on hunting and
frequent reference to my technical particular, don’t have the faintest traditional wildlife management
as well as popular writings — at idea what you’re doing and why.” and an increased focus on pure
least 16 different manuscripts. She was right. In those days it was conservation biology, projects are
When I asked Karl why he referred rare to see an article in a hunting sometimes designed to yield politi-
to so many of my papers, he said magazine written by a wildlife cally correct answers.
“Because you’re the only one biologist. So began my career as an Like it or not, the past president of
who has done so much work.” outdoor writer. the Wildlife Society has criticized
Compliments such as that, coming all of us involved in deer and deer
from the world’s authority on hunting in one way or another. I
white-tailed deer behavior, were
Conclusions
probably could have done a better
more important to me than you can job — how about you? On the bright
Initially, I was rather apprehen-
imagine. side, remember, white-tailed deer
sive about tackling this subject of
Equally important is the are one of the most behaviorally-
deer research change — it's exceed-
conveying of technical information flexible mammals on the planet,
ingly complex. Furthermore, I had
in the popular form to the public. quite capable of adapting to seem-
a number of preconceived concerns
Scientific jargon must be translated ingly unbelievable environmental
and was admittedly biased in my
into useful and practical informa- hardships — humans included.
views. In fact, I felt overly critical;
tion available to the public in a Even so, no one really knows what
just maybe I was totally wrong.
manner that can be understood and the future holds for deer and deer
After reading the “Reflections” of
implemented. “This must happen,” hunting.
Dr. Jim Miller, however, I realized
said Miller, “to maintain critical
others much more knowledgeable
public support for wildlife research
about this subject than me shared
and management.”
my views.

82 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com

Fall 2019.indd 84 9/3/2019 11:19:27 AM

 Full Draw:
their normal summer routine. Patterning a white-
tail during this early season is far easier than the
November rut when every whitetail buck is traveling

Opening Day
chaotically and impossible to pattern. Michigan’s
woodlots and fields have yet to see the influx of small
game hunters and are still relaxed. Give those savvy
whitetails a couple weeks of human intrusion and
they quickly change their patterns and morph into a
By Tom Nelson more nocturnal creature. To many bowhunters, this is
labeled as the “October lull." Then, later in October, as
It was opening day of the Michigan archery the pre-rut begins, deer activity once again picks up.
season. I had elected to make a morning hunt on this Trail cameras are perhaps the best way to pattern
most sacred of days. Conditions were near perfect and keep track of deer movement and deer quality in
as the mercury hovered in the mid 50s, and a now- your hunting area. I also spend a lot of time sitting
brightening eastern sky held the promise of a clear in my truck with binoculars and a spotting scope
day ahead. I was situated 18 feet up in a ladder stand watching whitetails as the enter and exit crop fields.
overlooking a well-worn deer trail. Roughly 100 yards Both of these methods can give a savvy bowhunters
to my east was a lush, half-acre food plot of mine that insight as to where to hang a treestand or place a
was being visited regularly by hungry whitetails, ground blind. Once I determine that I am going to
including a couple of nice bucks. place a stand or blind, I try to do so well in advance of
What made this set-up especially appealing, at opening day. This gives the area plenty of time to calm
least to me, was there were three ancient white oaks down and return to normal. Then I stay out of the area
that were all within bow range of my stand. Better yet, until I decide to hunt that particular site. When wind
they were all laden with acorns. I had a couple of trail conditions warrant, I slip into the stand as covertly
cameras hung nearby, but one really did not need them as possible and begin my hunt. Remember, your best
to see that these oaks were drawing deer to the bounty chance of tagging your target whitetail is the first time
of acorns they were dropping. I had identified these you sit a stand or blind. Never risk a marginal wind —
mast trees and their stock of acorns back in August wait until conditions are perfect; trust me, it will pay
and quickly placed a ladder stand and trimmed some off.
shooting lanes. Then I eased out and stayed out, only In the early season, a whitetail's routine evolves
periodically checking my cameras at midday. around his food source. Daily travel is mostly to and
As dawn arrived and the sun was attempting to from feeding areas. With the rut still weeks away, life is
climb above the tree line, I heard the crunching sound pretty easy for whitetails. Take advantage of this time
of a deer eating acorns. I cautiously turned to my left by scouting smart and hunting extra hard the first
and chanced a look behind me. Two mature does and week or two of the season. Sure, the excitement of the
a pair of fawns were busy vacuuming up the tasty November rut is captivating to us as hunters, but do
acorns that littered the forest floor. The whitetails fed not forsake the early days of October.
past my position and slowly made their way off in the
direction of the food plot. I leaned back against the
tree trunk and was considering taking off my light
jacket when I heard the unmistakable sound of deer
hooves hitting the forest floor. Once again, I carefully
looked behind me and was greeted by the sight of a
nice buck heading my way and with a purpose.
Placing my release on my bowstring, I glanced
ahead to where I believed the buck would come
through and offer a good shot. As if he read the script,
the buck continued toward the chosen spot. As I came
to full draw, the buck stopped. With him broadside and
vitals exposed, I placed my 30-yard pin on his boiler
room and squeezed off the shot. Hit hard, the buck
made a short semi-circle and tumbled to a stop not
50 yards off to my right. Michigan’s bow season was
barely underway, and I was placing my tag on a fine,
antlered buck.
For decades, I have preached the benefits of
bowhunting the first week or 10 days of the season,
hard. In my opinion, there is no better time to tag a
mature buck or doe. Whitetails are still maintaining

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 Deer Camp Year-Round
By Morgan Warda
MUCC Wildlife Cooperatives Coordinator

One definition of hunting is the

pursuit of game. This tradition is
rich and long-lived in the state of
Michigan. Our natural resources
have been positively impacted by
hunters and license buyers (yes,
some people simply buy a license
to contribute to conservation)
for generations, which is why
protecting our hunting heritage has
become a top priority. As hunters,
we have a keen sense of responsi-
bility to sustain the outdoor world
that provides us so much. It is now
that I ask you, what else is it that
you are pursuing when afield?
At the top of the list, you will
most likely find meat, experience,
connectedness, peace and tradi-
tion. Everyone enjoys telling an
engaging story about how they have
been watching a buck for years and Wildlife Cooperatives bring together land owners to manage their respective
finally got their chance to take aim private land in coordination with one another. This allows the combined "coopera-
on him. The descriptions will play tive" to have a landscape-level impact on habitat and wildlife.
like a film reel. Listeners feel the
chilled fall air, see their breath and hunter make sound management As hunters, our demise will be
hear the first leaf ruffle as some- decisions. lack of recruitment. One way to
thing makes its way toward the Hunters share these moments counteract that is to ensure that
stand. They see the buck bow his with friends and family in deer people are enjoying themselves in
head and switch his ears, looking camp tradition. People gather the woods. Happy hunters are more
for any sign of threatening life. The over their love of the outdoors and likely to keep hunting themselves
story unfolds because the hunter anticipation for opening day. The and introduce someone new. The
did everything right. The wind was day of, everyone awaits the first idea behind a cooperative is to
calm, the buck presented himself phone call of success. There’s a bring like-minded people together
and the shot was silent and true. certain magic about those few days in a way that promotes a positive
As soon as the hunter composed spent at deer camp. The people get experience that leads to improved
himself, he made the best kind of you, and you have fans even among management. Cooperatives that
phone call. the friendly competition. trust each other and communicate
It is there that I stop you for What if it could be like that can have a greater impact on the
observation. The most memorable year-round? landscape than an individual
moment becomes not harvesting The Michigan Wildlife because they are actively moni-
the deer but living it with people Cooperatives Program unifies toring more land. This strategy
that share your enthusiasm in the hunters in a way that resembles allows hunters to have a better
name of conservation and cele- deer camp. The need for camara- understanding of the local deer
brating the rewarded dedication. derie and a love for hunting has herd and management techniques
Hunter perspective of conservation brought more than 5,000 private that would best fit their situa-
is deep and layered. The visuals landowners together to form tion. We call this collaborative
often presented show excitement wildlife cooperatives in the state, management.
over a kill when that kill represents and deer management hasn’t quite Collaborative management
hours invested into habitat and looked the same since. It’s about encourages people to share
herd monitoring that helps the people first and hunting second. information such as trail camera

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 pictures, habitat projects, resources
and experience. The more people
get involved in open discussions
about these topics, the more they
will see a direct benefit from
working with a cooperative. Habitat
will improve if the effort is put
in, the deer herd will be healthier
overall based on improved habitat
and a balanced management
system, and hunter satisfaction will
increase due to the interactions
between cooperative members.
Cooperatives keep consistent
communication throughout the
year through phone, email and
social media sites, which allows
for camaraderie to build. More
and more stories have come out
about multiple people following a
specific deer on their life journey.
When working with a cooperative,
there is some fun in that kind of
competition. It becomes about how
the group has worked together to
ensure the maturing of that deer,
and there is a deeper connection
with it. Even though each person
would love to be the one that
harvests the deer, there is a sense
of teamwork that comes out of
another member’s success. It’s
much more fun to celebrate than be
bitter.
I hope in the future you take
time to recognize what it is that you
are pursuing. That mindset helps
define the connectedness and could
even help you find what’s missing.
Don’t underestimate the power of
working with other local hunters.
Mutual understanding and like-
minded management efforts add a
whole new dimension to wildlife,
habitat and hunting. And who
could argue with having deer camp
year-round?

If you are interested

in starting a Wildlife
Cooperative in your area,
contact Morgan Warda at
mwarda@mucc.org

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 85

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 The CAMPFIRe

A photostory of the Michigan Out-of-Doors

2019 camp season

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 Conservation Through Education
Fledging the Nest
By Shaun McKeon
MUCC Education Director
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) has
long been a starting point for young conservationists
to get their feet wet in the professional world. Over
my seven years here on staff, it seems the door at our
organization has continued to open and close as young
college grads start their careers with us, and then,
after a few years, move on to the next stage of their
lives. During my time here, I have supervised and
worked with several interns, more than 100 seasonal
workers at camp and a handful of full-time staffers.
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Fall 2019.indd 94
One of the young conservationists I have had the
privilege of supervising in 2019 has been our Huron
Pines AmeriCorps Member Autumn Christenson.
Autumn started back in January and will be leaving
MUCC when her AmeriCorps service concludes in
mid-November.
For those of you not familiar with AmeriCorps, it
is a voluntary civil service program supported by the
federal government and aimed at engaging adults in
public service work. The overall goal is helping others
and meeting critical needs in the community; their
slogan is “getting things done.” The Corporation for
National and Community Service (CNCS) administers
9/3/2019 11:20:02 AM
 this program at the federal level. The CNCS then
distributes funds to the states who work with partner
organizations to create “Corps” and place members
into key areas of need around the state. In Michigan,
roughly 30 Corps are overseeing the work of members
all across the state. These groups are filling needs in
education, disaster services, economic opportunity,
veterans and military families, and environmental
stewardship.
In Autumn’s case, she is a member of the Huron
Pines AmeriCorps Program. Huron Pines, based
in Gaylord, is the only conservation-focused Corps
operating in Michigan. Huron Pines has placed about
25 members with partner organizations throughout
the state. Through this program, Autumn began
serving with MUCC. She has spent the last nine
months with us here in Lansing. Service members like
Autumn commit to a full-time service contract where
she serves an organization (in this case, MUCC) for a
total of 10 months accumulating 1,700 hours of service
to the community. Since this is technically a national
service position, Autumn earns a small living stipend
but is technically not paid. When people say actions
speak louder than words, AmeriCorps members
should be some of the first people to come to mind.
They serve our nation to make our communities and Left: (From L to R) Makhayla LaButte, Autumn Christenson and
resources better for the greater good. Autumn has Shaun McKeon pose for a shot during a habitat project. Top:
embodied selfless service from her first day here in Christenson learns how to properly maintain and sharpen a
Lansing. chainsaw while becoming chainsaw safety certified.
When we interviewed Autumn during the fall of of kids down at Cedar Lake to teach them about turkey
2018, she was a relatively recent graduate from MSU hunting. During her service, she has had the ability to
and had just completed an internship with the Quality learn new things; she has faced challenges and had the
Deer Management Association. During her interview, opportunity to grow from mistakes.
she talked about looking for a career opportunity It is a testament to Autumn and her character how
where she could learn more about conservation and seamlessly she has transitioned into different roles
have a direct impact on educating people about the throughout our organization. She has helped me
importance of wildlife and habitat. We knew right continue to grow as a supervisor and has helped to
away that she would be a strong candidate. While push me out of my comfort zone on a few different
serving with MUCC, she has been our engagement occasions in the name of creating a better habitat for
specialist, and we have given her a heavy load of wildlife.
responsibilities to manage during her time here. When I believe the experiences she has had will serve her
Autumn started, her job description said duties would well as she continues on her conservation journey.
include 60 percent On the Ground efforts, 30 percent As of this writing, she has plans to make the journey
outreach and education, 5 percent private land/cooper- to the wide-open spaces of the American West and
atives work and 5 percent all other duties as assigned. continue to be a passionate advocate for public lands
Nine months and well over 1200 hours into her service, and conservation.
those numbers have changed a few times. As she begins her new journey out west, the staff at
At MUCC, no day is the same; an example of MUCC will be sad to see her go. From day one, she has
the variety is in the mix of programs she has had fit in well with our team, and when her service ends, it
the opportunity to work with. During her service at will be odd to walk by her empty cubicle. Not only will
MUCC, she has learned to safely operate a chainsaw, we be losing a good friend, but Michigan is also losing
she has become certified in several environmental a great advocate for conservation.
education programs including Project FISH, Project To Autumn: From one AmeriCorps alumni to another,
Learning Tree and Project Wild. She has become a thanks for getting stuff done for America. You are
pesticide applicator through the state in three different appreciated. Your work has made a difference for
categories. She has helped on more than 20 habitat habitat and the natural resources of Michigan. Best
projects. She has planted 1,000s of trees, built wood of luck as you continue your conservation journey.
duck boxes, installed rabbittat, been featured on the Enjoy never having to do hours of federal government
radio, written weekly blogs and even braved the hordes reporting ever again — Shaun.

Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 93

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Throwback: The Mighty Beagle
By K.R. Cranson
When I was a kid of 10 or 12 my
dad had a pair of beagles, Penny
and Sukie. He and my two older
brothers hunted together—pheas-
ants during the fall and bunnies
all winter. When I was old enough
to hunt and became a member of
the family team, the two beagles
became my hunting partners, also.
Some of my best early memo-
ries are those warm October
Saturdays walking behind Penny
and Sukie through a farmer’s field
near Lansing. I doubt our beagles
were purebreds and certainly not
registered, but no one told them
these things were important. Penny
and Sukie lived to hunt.
As with many breeds, the origin
on the beagle is obscure.
Some evidence
suggests
Fall 2019.indd 96
This article was originally published in February 2001
it may be related to Greek scenting
hounds recorded in historical
accounts several hundred years
before Christ. Historians agree
that the scenting hounds of feudal
England were ancestors of today’s
beagle. To be considered a proper
English nobleman (or gentleman),
it was necessary to keep a pack of
hounds for hunting various game.
Sometime after the 1400s, dogs in
some hunting packs were called
“Begles.” a French word used to
describe small hounds.
One report indicates the term
“beagle” was in use by the end of
the 15th century in England. The
name appears to come from
Middle French,
perhaps
incorporating some Old and Middle
English and a Latin word for gullet.
The meaning is something like
“useless, or little value, or odd-ap-
pearing,” and it may have been
derived from a similar name given
to little hounds used to hunt small
game of “little importance,” such
as rabbits or hares.
By the mid-1800s, the breed
was well established and routinely
brought to the United States. Since
that time, the breed has been one
of the most successful. In
1953, beagles were
the most
9/3/2019 11:20:04 AM
 popular breed registered with the
American Kennel Club (AKC). They
have dropped to fourth or fifth
place with nearly 50,000 registered
in 1999.
Beagles have a fabulous sense
of smell, perhaps 700 times better
than that of humans! One owner
described a beagle as “a nose with
four legs.” The dogs’ main purpose
in life is to follow interesting
smells, and they are very good at
that. As a consequence, little else
is important, including roads, cars,
or other potential dangers. When
beagles are on a “hot scent,” they
seem to have little sense of such
hazards.
I learned this aspect of a
beagle’s nature firsthand through
a sad personal experience. My son
had been given a beagle puppy
when it was about eight weeks old.
Although a run and house had been
prepared for him and our yard was
completely fenced, he managed to
get out into the road when he was
a few months old. It was my unfor-
tunate duty to collect his remains a
few houses up the street where he
had been hit and killed by a car.
Beagle puppies have a birth
weight of a half pound to a pound
with an average of about 10 ounces.
If healthy, they will double their
birth weight in seven to 10 days
and triple it in two weeks. After
their eyes open (between 10
and 14 days, but it may occur
later) and their ears open (13
to 17 days), the puppies begin
walking around. Baby teeth
arrive in three weeks and
permanent teeth are in place
at six months. Pups are
started on soft food at about
three weeks, are given solid
food in six to eight weeks,
and are weaned shortly
afterwards. While the
average life expectancy
of a beagle is 14 years,
hunting or trail perfor-
mance tends to “peak”
at four or five years
old.
Color and patterns of a
beagle’s coat are thought to be
controlled by complex genetics.
Fall 2019.indd 97
Although many dog owners believe
all beagles are the typical black, tan
and white, there are actually many
color variations. In addition to this
tri-color combination, lemon or red
and white, a blue cast, and liver or
chocolate are also common. Thus,
coat color is of little consequence
among purebred beagles and is
not considered in any type of
competition.
Beagles are all-around
wonderful dogs: loving, caring,
funny, devoted, curious, single-
minded, tireless, and headstrong.
Some owners would add stubborn
to this list! One authority said:
“The beagle is a soft, warm
marshmallow encrusted with a
cast of steel…” Beagles have been
compared with small children,
especially because of their ener-
getic nature and desire to please.
Also, like a child, each dog has a
unique personality and tempera-
ment with the capacity to learn at
different rates. This is an important
aspect in selecting a beagle puppy,
and the training that must be
carried out before it becomes an
adult. This is true whether the
beagle is going to be a hunting dog,
pet, or both.
An old theory held that if a
beagle is a hunting dog it could
not be a pet. Many current owners
challenge that idea, however, and
claim that the family pet can also
be a great hunter. Good training is
the key.
Beagles and rabbit hunting
seem to be made for each other.
But, like most other dogs and
all hunting dogs, beagles must
be trained to ensure proper and
acceptable behavior as adults.
Training is divided into two
segments, yard and field. Yard
training is viewed as “basic
training” in which a beagle learns
to accept a collar, walk on a leash,
respond to voice commands, and
ride a traveling carrier. Shortly
after a pup is weaned it is time to
introduce him or her to a collar
and leash, usually at about six
weeks old. This is the first step in
teaching that you are in control.
Simple verbal commands such as
“come,” “sit,” “stay,” “down,” “no,”
and others are incorporated with
leash training or follow soon after.
Specifically, these commands are
used to influence the dog’s behavior
and movement, especially when not
under leash control.
Field training generally starts
at about six months and after
yard training is well advanced or
completed. The goals for this part
of a beagle’s education are to: 1)
find or start a rabbit, 2) identify
a scent line 3) follow a scent line,
and 4) remain under control
through voice commands. Several
new verbal commands (such as
“Tally Ho” when a rabbit has been
sighted) related to starting a rabbit
and following a scent line are
added to those learned during yard
training. In addition, the beagle
must learn to ignore the multitude
of other scents present (deer,
raccoon, skunk, etc.) and focus on
rabbits and hares.
This preparation may be
carried out with only the trainer
or by running a young beagle with
older, experienced dogs. Many
beaglers, however, do not like to
train with older beagles because
they fear the younger dog will pick
up bad habits and fail to gain the
independence so important in a
good hound. A major portion of the
dog’s first hunting season is usually
spent in this phase of training.
Throughout all this instruction,
the key to any training is based on
patience, simplicity, and repetition.
Praise and rewards given for
positive behavior is the rule—never
punishment—although a training
collar may be used if a dog has a
problem running off-game (deer,
squirrels, etc.).
Competition among beagle
owners is held on three levels: field
trials, conformation shows, and
performance shows. Conformation
and performance shows deal with
how closely a dog matches the ideal
physical model of a beagle and
how well the dog can demonstrate
its behavior training, respectively.
Often a conformation show will be
held during a field trial and awards
presented for both activities.
Fall 2019 | Michigan Out-of-Doors 95
9/3/2019 11:20:04 AM
 One Last Cast
By Nick Green
Editor
In June, Michigan United Conservation Clubs
member Jen Davis penned a blog detailing her volun-
teerism on public lands through the organization's On
the Ground (OTG) program.
Davis wrote, "Put your Saturday where your mouth
is," drawing inspiration from the depression-era
saying, 'Put your money where your mouth is.'
In today's conservation world, there are so many
organizations vying for your support — Ducks
Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters
and Anglers, the Ruffed Grouse Society, the National
Wild Turkey Federation and the National Wildlife
Federation, to name a few.
How do you decide which organization to support
or donate your precious time to?
The first step is to look up the mission statement of
the organization that you are considering volunteering
for or donating to and making sure that statement
aligns with your values.. In MUCC's case, our mission
statement is uniting citizens to conserve, protect and
enhance Michigan's natural resources and outdoor
heritage.
Next, you will want to decide how you are going
to give to this organization. Will it be through sweat
equity, donations, running for a leadership position,
fundraising or spreading the organization's message?
For most, the decision will be a mixture of all these
elements.
Personally, I prefer to give my oh-so-precious
weekends off to conservation organizations that are
having a tangible, immediate impact in my backyard
or on the public lands I hunt and fish. MUCC's On the
Ground program is a perfect avenue for this.
Since the program's inception in 2013, OTG
has positively impacted more than 2,000 acres of
public land, accrued thousands of volunteer hours
and enlisted more than 1,000 volunteers on both of
Michigan's peninsulas.
This isn't to say that I don't appreciate and belong
to organizations like Ducks Unlimited (DU), though —
whose mission is conserving, restoring and managing
wetlands and associated habitats for North American
waterfowl.
National, landscape-level management is
important for our species. And to do that manage-
ment, organizations like DU need money. Generally,
DU undertakes massive projects sometimes totaling
millions of dollars. That is their ask — donate money
to ensure the next generation will be able to enjoy the
species that thrive from healthy and vibrant wetlands.
For Michigan United Conservation
96 | www.michiganoutofdoors.com
Fall 2019.indd 98
"Put your Saturday where
your mouth is."
Clubs, our ask is a little more complex. Because the
organization works in the policy arena, on public and
private lands, and maintains the largest hunting- and
fishing-based youth education program in the state,
our needs stretch far beyond just money.
We need policy board members to help drive the
resolutions that dictate the organization's lobbying
efforts in Lansing and nationally. We need bodies for
OTG to build rabbittat and boardwalks for hunter
access. We need executive board members to help
ensure the organization remains fiscally viable and
to make directional decisions. We need champions to
spread the conservation message and ensure that the
next generation of conservationists will be afforded
the same amenities you were.
In summation, we need you. Whatever you can give
or wherever you can attend, MUCC depends on volun-
teers to ensure that we stay the largest and strongest
state-specific conservation organization in the nation.
Where we have lacked the past several decades is
marketing of all the great things we do. Many have
heard of MUCC as a conservation policy organization
and a juggernaut in that arena. But, that comes with a
price tag. It costs money to lobby officials and under-
take policy endeavors on behalf of sportsmen and
women in Michigan.
More and more people are starting to volunteer
for our public lands programs. Without volunteers,
those projects would not be possible, and game and
non-game species would not be benefited.
And, finally, we need a stable of consistent volun-
teers to donate time at our Michigan Out-of-Doors
Youth Camp to ensure that kids are learning about
hunting, angling, trapping, shooting and the conserva-
tion ethic tied to those endeavors.
To learn more about how to get involved in MUCC's
policy process or to volunteer for policy leadership
positions, email Ian FitzGerald at ifitzgerald@mucc.
com.
To become involved in one of our public land
habitat improvement programs, email Makhayla
LaButte at mlabutte@mucc.org or Emma Nehan at
enehan@mucc.org.
To volunteer or donate to our Michigan Out-of-
Doors Youth Camp, contact Shaun McKeon at
smckeon@mucc.org.
In short, "Put your Saturday where your mouth is."
9/3/2019 11:20:05 AM
 TAKE THE
TIME

REPORT
FERAL
SWINE
TO REPORT FERAL SWINE OR
FOR
MORE INFORMATION PLEASE
CALL: USDA WILDLIFE
SERVICES AT
517.336.1928
OR
WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/
FERALSWINE

FERAL SWINE
DAMAGE AGRICULTURE,
NATURAL RESOURCES,
PROPERTY, PEOPLE AND
CULTURAL SITES

This project was funded by the Michigan Invasive Species

Grant Program (www.michigan.gov/invasives).

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