The Michigan Sportsman Forums - Blogs http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php Michigan hunting, michigan fishing, michigan trout fishing en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:10:23 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg The Michigan Sportsman Forums - Blogs http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php The Game http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=665 Thu, 16 May 2013 23:58:31 GMT They call it 'the game'. Many of the hunting dog clubs out there are all about the individual achievement of each animal. While you may sometimes run with another dog and handler, you are competing for an overall win. NSTRA field trials are run a little different. The National Shoot to Retrieve Association is all about beating your opponent on the field. Each successful bird find and retrieve is worth points. You have one goal, and that is to find the birds before your brace mate does, in a half hour. Of course, getting to the bird first is just the start. From there you need to have near flawless dog handling if you want to earn the points. NSTRA is fast paced, and shows off the best a dog has to offer. The dog-handler relationship has to be finely tuned. To win, a dog has to be on its game, and it has to be consistent. The handler too, must manage their dog in a way that lets the judges know that they are in control, but are not controlling.
Continue Reading... ]]> Daveldman http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=665 Spring Turkey 2013 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=664 Sat, 04 May 2013 03:22:25 GMT Michigan spring turkey season. There is perhaps no taste more bittersweet in the outdoors than that of a kill on opening day. Why is success... Michigan spring turkey season. There is perhaps no taste more bittersweet in the outdoors than that of a kill on opening day. Why is success bittersweet? Because one is then forced to wait an entire year before the pounding heartbeat is felt in one's throat as a majestic bird takes his final fatal steps. Here is my story of my opening day...

As is customary for me, my hunt began not as shooting light dawned at 6:10 am today, but rather weeks ago through hours and miles of scouting. Through this effort, I had located several birds in the 3 year old age class and above, any of which I’d be happy to take. Strategic camera placement and tons of time glassing had me very familiar with these hook-spurred opponents whom I intended to face when the first pitch was thrown.

As the stars slowly lost their battle with the advancing daylight, the first gobbles shattered the crisp morning air. My hunting partner Adam and I crept towards the gobble that was separate from the group – The one that was far less frequent than the others – That of a dominant bird I had named “Whitey”.




30 minutes after fly down, Whitey finally stopped resisting our calls and crept in, his head looking like a snow-covered blue jay floating through the timber. At 38 yards, he stopped as he approached the ridge we were situated on and craned his head to see the ladies that were wooing him.

Click - Safety off. Brush obscured my shot which was still highly makeable, but not a sure thing.

I attempted telepathic cross-species communication - “One more step to the left my friend, one more step.”

Apparently my telepathy skills are in need of a checkup, because Whitey made an about face and gobbled his head off as he headed back from whence he came. All of our calling efforts failed after he decided he had come far enough.

Steeerike one!

Adam and I elected not to push him and instead backed out. There were other fish in this sea.

We took a slow walk back to the truck as gobbling subsided. With the toms henned up, experience had taught us that our best chance at a mature bird – even better than first light – would be after the hens went to nest mid-morning. A short drive in the truck to a mid-morning strut area and we were at it again.

An hour into our second setup, a hen skirted from her nest beneath an autumn olive as we approached a CRP field. Almost immediately thereafter, I spotted the second target of the day, a king with 7 hens in his harem. This would not be easy…

We setup just short of a rise and began to call. Approximately 20 minutes later the bird entered my range, the only sound he made was his spitting as he strutted, his steps muffled by the soft white pine needles. A gobble never left his beak.

40 yards.

Click. Safety off again…

Once again I was presented with a very makeable but slightly obstructed shot.

“Just hit that clearing champ. I promise you won’t feel a thing.” I thought some political telepathy might work…

The seven flesh and blood hens traveling away from me were a little more convincing than Adam and I, as I let the bird move off towards them.

Damn.

Steeerike two!

Back to the truck again we trounced, deciding to head into Whitey’s territory from a different direction. With the memory of a 1981 IBM computer, the bird had undoubtedly forgotten about the morning encounter.

Just before 11:00 am and immediately following a series of broadcast calling as we approached his home, a bird erupted with a series of deep gobbles. Adam and I quickly and quietly peeled off the ridge and circled around to the opposite side. The bird was obviously lonely and looking for some company, as his gobbles got louder and louder.

Crunch, crunch, crunch. Pfffffffft…. A bird in full strut entered our view at 50 yards. It wasn’t Whitey, as evident by the bar on his fan, but this boss appeared to be even larger.

“Dude I can see his spurs from here!” Adam whispered to me. A calming effect this did not have on my already tense nerves.

My new opponent searched for us yet again, this time in the clear.

“You’re in my wheelhouse bro…”

Click. Safety off, thrice today.

I gave Adam the signal to stop him.

“CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK!”

I settled my sight on his neck and exhaled slowly...

GRAND SLAM!

At once, Adam and I exploded from the tree to our fallen opponent. I put my hands on him and this time, I know he heard me.

“Thank you Sir, it was a fine game!”



















]]> Firefighter http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=664 To the dirt bags....... http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=663 Wed, 01 May 2013 14:00:38 GMT These type of people are all over. Went to some state land i often hunt a couple years ago to pick blackberries with my nephew. Came across 3 empty... These type of people are all over. Went to some state land i often hunt a couple years ago to pick blackberries with my nephew. Came across 3 empty clay pigeon boxes, a bunch of empty shell boxes, and empty shell casings. We picked up all the trash and took it to a dnr office. One of the clay pigeon boxes had a receipt taped to it showing they were purchased from a local Walmart store earlier in the day with a credit card. DNR employee said to just dump the trash in a dumpster. No investivation. Probably would have been easy to track the person who bought the stuff since time, register number and last digits of credit card were on receipt. ]]> kek25 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=663 Is the Ice OFF Higgins? http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=662 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:04:42 GMT ---Quote (Originally by northern michigan boy)--- Not yet Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire (http://www.outdoorhub.com/mobile/) ---End...
Quote:
Originally Posted by northern michigan boy View Post
Not yet


Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire
Ice is off as of this morning per DNR park officer ]]> Ice Badger 13 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=662 4/17 vets park launch pic http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=661 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 04:47:45 GMT ---Quote (Originally by DeafBuck)--- On River Rd near Cheboygan River or Cheboygan Bridge .... ---End Quote--- More south of River Rd
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeafBuck View Post
On River Rd near Cheboygan River or Cheboygan Bridge ....
More south of River Rd ]]> DeafBuck http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=661 To the deer hunters here on the waterfowl forum http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=660 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:25:17 GMT
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shiawassee_Kid View Post
go ahead. qdmaman been around here long ass time, he don't care what your opinion is as neither do i.

being his ID is qdmaman and hes promoting QDMA, theres nothing shocking to his post at all. not sure why everyone freaks out, this is an outdoors site...he's just drummin up support for what he thinks is right. kinda reminds me of SW guys (belly and SBE) trying to get hunts in january all the time. I wish they would goto the whitetail forum and unleash their fury over there.
Hunters fighting amongst hunters is the last thing we need. Duck hunters need deer hunters and they need us. We cannot rely on the money waterfowl hunting brings to the state, simple as that. I enjoy hunting ducks/ geese and deer. Hunting anything is better then being in the woods ]]> craigrh13 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=660 The field bred english setter room http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=659 Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:06:29 GMT [QUOTE=Glenmorangie;4552978]THE Field Bred English Setter Room thread should NEVER not be found but on page one and toward the top. That's its natural place.

Bump

[IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab279/cashabc123/Max/image-1.jpg[/IMG] ]]> Glenmorangie http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=659 The Official 2013 Higgins Lake thread http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=658 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:10:12 GMT ---Quote (Originally by gills)--- On Saturday the smelt were biting during the day in front of Big Creek. Barely off the bottom. They were biting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by gills View Post
On Saturday the smelt were biting during the day in front of Big Creek. Barely off the bottom. They were biting better at dark but well worth the time in the day. Fourty two feet of water. At dark they were mostly 20 feet down to bottom, but 20 feet was the key area. We had a headlight shining down the hole. I was doing well with a orange glow hali and a glow tear drop until I lost it. I then had on a white/chartruse hali with 1/2 sabiki rig and my buddy had a green hali and a couple of single gold hooks. He was way outfishing me. I switched a single silver hali and it made a huge difference. I don't know if the sabiki rig was too heavy of a line or if it was the color of the hali (I did catch some on the sabiki but not near what my buddy was catching). As soon as I swithced it was an immediate difference. I'm sorry I waited for half an hour or so before I switched. We left at midnight and they were still biting great. Didn't want to leave but had a 2 hour drive. A great time as always!

Thanks a lot gills! ]]> BOHUNTER1 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=658 Loomis SJR723-where to buy http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=657 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:32:43 GMT
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom1955 View Post
I've got a brand new Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth series with the split grip for sale. 6'3" MHF. Very light and sesitive.
$75.00.

I would be interested where are you located ]]> billgiffin http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=657 Loomis SJR723-where to buy http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=656 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:29:26 GMT
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom1955 View Post
I've got a brand new Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth series with the split grip for sale. 6'3" MHF. Very light and sesitive.
$75.00.

I would be interested where are you located ]]> billgiffin http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=656 Blamer in Chief http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=655 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:07:38 GMT :evilsmile ---Quote (Originally by Sasquatch Lives)--- My eight year old daughter called Obama the worst president ever in front of my liberal... :evilsmile
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sasquatch Lives View Post
My eight year old daughter called Obama the worst president ever in front of my liberal father in law!!!! Ha Ha Ha Thought he was gonna flip! She said I've got more money in my piggy bank that our country does..............and she's right!:rant:
]]> doublell http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=655 holloway http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=654 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:58:01 GMT Anyone been out there recently? Anyone been out there recently? ]]> outdoor101 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=654 Salt river parking is free they shoud not be charging public road http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=653 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:05:09 GMT :yikes::yikes::yikes: ---Quote (Originally by dmrbigeshott)--- They are on the E side of Jefferson, north of 22, just south of the Salt. They do... :yikes::yikes::yikes:
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmrbigeshott View Post
They are on the E side of Jefferson, north of 22, just south of the Salt. They do give generous scoops when you buy minnows but the guy who works there Sunday mornings said he doesnt even fish?
]]> St.Clair Flats Outlaw http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=653 <![CDATA[Gino's 2/12/2013]]> http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=652 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:02:17 GMT ---Quote (Originally by salmonslammer)--- Thanks for the report.... but, good god man, that was tough to read. Hit the space bar once in a...
Quote:
Originally Posted by salmonslammer View Post
Thanks for the report.... but, good god man, that was tough to read.

Hit the space bar once in a while... or buy a comma.

Looks like next week I get to go play on the pond... Hope to have some good news.

Buy a comma...lol ]]> Big Jim http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=652 Ruger Blackhawks 1950 early model http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=651 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:55:06 GMT Image: http://http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/image102.jpg ---Quote (Originally by Kevlar)--- Thinking about selling this...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevlar View Post
Thinking about selling this ruger blackhawk .357 mag. It's a early model 1950's. Not sure what the value of this firearm is? I know it's a early serial number and is the 3 screw model. It had a 9mm cylinder that came with it at one time but I don't have the extra cylinder. Firearm is in really good condition and I would but its condition at about 85 to 90 percent.
]]> Kevlar http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=651