No Deer in IRAQ

[squirrel.mcgovern]

My name is James, i am 21 years old and am currently stationed in Iraq for a tour as an army reservist. The worst part about this place besides people trying kill us is the lack of wildlife. Hunting and fishing is what i miss most about the great state of michigan. This site helps me relax a little and forget about the every day stresses of war. If any body would like to respond to this email and tell whats up up with Michigans outdoors i would appreciate it. How was the turkey season this year? I should be chasing my gobbler right now but I guess chasing the bad guys will have to do.

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy, s.mcg-

A hearty welcome to the site!

Thank you a thousand times over for what you and your compatriots are doing for all of us......

Anything (besides fish and game) you guys need over there???

[Linda G.]

Hang in there, and know that every person on this site is behind you 100%, and pulling for you to come home soon to hunt and fish. We are all very proud of you and can't tell you how much we appreciate what you're doing for your country. My son served in Kuwait a few years ago, and I know how hard it can be for a Michigan sportsman to be in the Middle East.

Turkey season-well, I guess it all depends on where you hunt. In southern MI, judging from the photos on this site, it's been another good season. Lots of nice gobblers taken, despite the weather, which has been very wet and rainy. Just this weekend southern MI was hit with tornados, too many rain storms and up to 10 inches of rain in the last few days.

Northern lower Michigan, where I hunt, has been COOOLLLLD. We've only had a couple of decent days, and on those days we've killed birds, but overall, I would have to rate this season one of the worst, if not the worst, in many, many years, despite the pretty good numbers of birds.

The UP has pretty much been a disaster for turkey hunting thanks to the cold weather.

Morel season has not been stellar, either. Too cold.

Do you have a free subscription to Michigan Outdoor News? We are offering a free subscription to any service man on active duty to keep you up on what we're doing here at home.

If not, please contact me, Linda Gallagher, at Lindag10@hotmail.com, and I'll be sure to set you up. I need your full name and FPO/APO address.

Come home safe, soon, and get hold of me. Next year I would be proud to do the calling for your 2005 Michigan spring turkey hunt.

And Iraq isn't missing anything by not having deer-if they had deer it would only give them one more thing to fight about... :lol:

Again, hang in there, and know that everyone of us here in America is right behind you.

Linda Gallagher
Outdoor Writer

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

Welcome to the site Squirrel.

You'll be home before you know it.

Hopefully things go smooth and you are back in the hunt soon.

Funny how we always end up fighting in places that we would never want to live. LOL

Good luck our prayers are with you.

[Kevin]

Hey squirrel, welcome to the site, and thanks for what you are doing.
Get back here safe and sound.

[victor mi pro bowhunter]

wellcome to the site.

[Whit1]

Welcome to MS Squirrel!

Grand Rapids is my hometown (West Side) and I taught in the Wyoming Public Schools from '66-'72.. I've lied here in Manistee County since '72. Trout fishing and deer hunting are two of my outdoors pursuits. I love to prowl the trout streams up here. Rivers really have a hold on me.

Back in the 50's- early 70's I prowled Cedar Creek, Duke Creek, Rum Creek, and Stegman Creek north of GR. They used to be superb trout fisheries, but now, as you know, much of the surrounding land has been subdivided for homesites.

We were in GR yesterday to visit my mom. The Grand River is flooding. The drop over 6th St. Dam is about 3 feet right now with the river expected to go up another two feet before it's done rising. The area immediatly south of the fish ladder, yes, where you would stand to watch fish go over the drops, is underwater. Guys are fishing where normally you would walk.

As others have expressed, thanks for the job you and others are doing in Iraq and other areas of conflict around the globe. We live in a dangerous world and freedom is assailed in the name of ideologies whose base purpose is the destruction of liberty.

[Hunter333]

Welcome squirrel!!! This internet thingy is a great thing isnt it? There you are, so far away, risking your life and yet you can come here and sorta be at home!! Best of luck! Come home safe and sound!!

[Pinefarm]

Make sure you give everyone else over there a HUUUUGE "THANK YOU". And tell them that we MEAN IT!! We're with you guys 100%!
Can't you rig up some antlers on a goat or camel and let it loose? :lol:

[trout]

Keep up the good work James!
I'll gladly trade you one of those nifty squirrel guns you guys use for a few hunting trips around here :)
Keep yourself healthy and let us know when you come home too!
Btw give a BIG thanks to all the others serving the good ol USA.

[quest32a]

Thanks for what you are doing over there. Hopefully you will be home in time for deer season this year. And you will be rewarded with a monster for everything you have done!

[jk hillsdale]

Welcome to the site!

My family and I greatly appreciate your commitment and sacrifice. God bless.