[deagansdad1]

Theres gold there also?

With snap backs like that you'll fit in here just fine lol. Hunting on this island sounds like an adventure if nothing else lol.

 

[Chessieman]

Sounds like some ****xx tasting Venison.

 

[Cork Dust]

Missed the question, its not lack of law enforcement on the island, its at the mainland launch. Thats where the carnage occourred .

Humans are an interesting critter; when they find something they love, they very quickly move to love it death...and it's always the result of someone else's actions when retrospectively analzed from 5,000 feet.

You missed one key point in your second person rendition. The mainland launches are both PRIVATE facilities. Correct? Thanks for incrementally nudging them toward closure to the public or invitation to use only. The guys who worked to get them opened for public access via a launch fee are long dead, so who cares about their legacy. Julus and Martin are basically the last of the old guard still alive who fish there. The guys you mention are best kept at arms length. Over the years they never have engaged me. I extend them the same curtousy, not folks I would seek-out as freinds or enemies. I know a bit more of their backstory than you...which is odd, because it is a matter of public record via court documents and received extensive media coverage at the time. The sport hunter at the center of the controversy has a pretty convoluted backstory as well. Who woulda thunk that they would interact to create a unpleasant result and future outcome?

In a left-handed way, what you sketch out reads very much like a specific localized effort to practice QDM principles to manage deer on acreage the SOM has basically designated as a make no effort to manage timber resources on their acreage due to the cost of enacting and directing any cuts for hardwoods or cedar. Get a larger proportion of the deer older to survive winter by managing for older bucks and a stable social heirarchy for both sexes. John Ozoga wrote an interest piece titled: In Search of Monarchs in a sportsman's publication that used to exist here in the Upper Peninsula. He essentially outlined sound population biology management principles and approaches and then compared them with parallels within what QDM proponents advocated- very broad overlap with the central focus on what he often referred to as restoring and managing 'the Green Barns' also referred to as deer yards in that era. Now they are DWCs. John's focus and emphasis wasn't on large racked bucks dominating a herd structure, he was arguing that having a large(r) cohort of deer that were sexually mature and older limited the impacts of long severe winters or those that linge well into spring on overwinter mortality. He is very fond of repeating that it takes a lot of effort to starve an adult deer to death.

We have just come through a deer season that underscores the broad benefits of that approach. What if, sport hunters engaged and supported the same or a broadly similar approach to mainland deer management? Why would this not generate similar results...? Sure couldn't be lack of concensus and adherence among them. How is this broadly different from the events you outline, just more violently enforced?

Much of the island is exposed dolomite limestone as well as all of the shoreline. I used to over-night freqently in the harbor-of-refuge which is surrounded by private land onshore when I fished out of my Conquest 235 when fishing down there. Did the same thing at St. Martins until I sold the boat when the salmon fishery declined to its ebb. No one destroyed my vehicle on the mainland or my trailer even though I came onshore on occasion. My principal effort was to avoid the summer drunks salmon fishers. I know the MDNR forestry technician that did the last SOM forest inventory down there on both Big and Little Summer through fishing in Maaistique, his home port. He is also an avid deer hunter. We compared notes on estimated deer density. Big Summer has roughly six square miles surface area. We both set deer density per square mile at 12-15 animals. Time has passed since 2012 when the forest compartment management document was written. With no cutting on the roughly 1,300 acres of public lands, I doubt if deer numbers have improved, more likely outcome based on seral stage progression rates. If you apply the upper bound deer density, you arrive at a total population of around 90 deer with an unknown sex ratio. That sure ain't a trophy buck behind every tree, or even every twelve trees... Yes, if the hunter population is low, around roughly a half dozen, older larger deer get shot more frequently.

Pretty reminiscent of what happened on St.Matin Island as well...

 

[onebad800]

I plan to check it out next summer for the fall, never heard of it before

 

[BlackRhino]

“…You missed one key point in your second person rendition. The mainland launches are both PRIVATE facilities. Correct? Thanks for incrementally nudging them toward closure to the public or invitation to use only...."

Dude, I didn’t miss any points. I simply told a story I watched play out years ago at work. I heard from both sides as I was friends with them all. Unfortunately, it left longtime friend, enemies. Who I am referring to is not the “controversial” hunter under scrutiny. Just a handful of work friends that wanted to hunt it.

Yeah I am nudging them...wtf? I don’t know any of the people, nor will I ever.

I couldn’t care less what happens up there, and I don’t know the rules (or care) nor the people (remember I stated I didn’t go). I've never been there and never will. From what I understand, there’s more than one can of nuts up there.

I have to say, thx for the other multiple paragraphs though, but again I have never been there nor will I. What happens up there will never affect me.

All I did was tell a story that I was unfortunately stuck in the middle of, because they were all friends at the time. Simple as that, don’t “read” anything into it.

 

[BlackRhino]

...because it is a matter of public record via court documents and received extensive media coverage at the time. The sport hunter at the center of the controversy has a pretty convoluted backstory as well. Who woulda thunk that they would interact to create a unpleasant result and future outcome?....

Huh? These guys were not associated with any media. This happened at least 20 years ago.

I do see/read some sensitivity and it does shed some light on the current "vibe" up there. Makes it that much more intriguing...

 

[BlackRhino]

Also, "second person rendition"? What exactly does that mean? Are you calling me a liar like I was up there and experienced this first hand?

Calm down buddy, you are getting all worked up for nothing.

 

[Beater69]

The comment about shooting a deer over another man's bait is why I never want baiting to be allowed on Public land ever again. Entitlement

In Michigan, people will never stop baiting. Too much money involved from local businesses and a way of life with Michigan hunters. I'm with you as I have food plots but the neighbors bait and they see the deer. So obviously, I have to play the game too.

 

[Beater69]

I have a work friend that has hunted that island forever. He has family there so he was good. He wouldnt speak of anything for years then one year he shared some pics of the bucks he and his party shot. They were huge!

The following year some mutual friends decided to go give it a try. They asked me to go and I said I didnt think it was worth the effort.

They got blanked but what they showed up to at the dock was worse. Both trucks and a boat trailer had all their tires slashed. If I remember, one of the trucks (new) got keyed as well. That was total bullschit! If it was my truck someone would have paid a price.

The locals suck (broadbrushing) for the most part. You want to hunt there, watch your ass.

Either way, its a good hunt but its miseraable to get there and set up from what I understand.

My buddy fishes out of the parking lot in Fayetteville he said that one spring every truck and trailer that had Wisconsin plates, had slashed tires. Locals . I have heard the stories, and I own hunting property locally. I wouldn't go there unless you want an armed fight. Not worth it to me. Local law enforcement knows the players and don't want problems with them. Been this way for 50 years. Local law enforcement doesn't want their houses burnt to the ground or their tires slashed either. It isn't fair to the tax payers of Michigan, but everything in life isn't fair. 🤬

 

[thill]

My buddy fishes out of the parking lot in Fayetteville he said that one spring every truck and trailer that had Wisconsin plates, had slashed tires. Locals . I have heard the stories, and I own hunting property locally. I wouldn't go there unless you want an armed fight. Not worth it to me. Local law enforcement knows the players and don't want problems with them. Been this way for 50 years. Local law enforcement doesn't want their houses burnt to the ground or their tires slashed either. It isn't fair to the tax payers of Michigan, but everything in life isn't fair. 🤬

Another newbie. Welcome.
I have to laugh at the idea of law enforcement being scared for their houses being torched. Give me a break! These types of stories are exactly why you’ll see an inflow of new people heading to the island. And everyone will be ready for whatever comes their way and they’ll be armed (with cameras).
Please pass the popcorn, the show is getting good.

 

[bowhunter426]

These horror stories of vandalism are probably the island private land owners.

Want to really put your life and property in danger, come hunt Ottawa County public land. I hear they shoot up your vehicle

 

[bucknasty11208]

Cant be that many people that live on that island. I looked on google maps and could see probably a dozen or less dwellings.

 

[BlackRhino]

Another newbie. Welcome.
I have to laugh at the idea of law enforcement being scared for their houses being torched. Give me a break! These types of stories are exactly why you’ll see an inflow of new people heading to the island. And everyone will be ready for whatever comes their way and they’ll be armed (with cameras).
Please pass the popcorn, the show is getting good.

I have a guy that lives next door to me, we were once somewhat friends. He was in a motorcycle club in Flint called the Fly in Wheels. He was no joke. Now I see hospice showing up at his house in the last few days.

The sad thing, I live in a suburb of flint. whenever he acted up and assaulted someone, the police would never breach his residence. I asked the cops, why wouldnt you go in? The answer was always "we dont trust the inside of his house".

So eat your popcorn, it happens.

 

[FivesFull]

I have a guy that lives next door to me, we were once somewhat friends. He was in a motorcycle club in Flint called the Fly in Wheels. He was no joke. Now I see hospice showing up at his house in the last few days.

The sad thing, I live in a suburb of flint. whenever he acted up and assaulted someone, the police would never breach his residence. I asked the cops, why wouldnt you go in? The answer was always "we dont trust the inside of his house".

So eat your popcorn, it happens.

Not wanting to breach the residence of a known violent career criminal that is likely armed is way different than not wanting to arrest someone because of fear of retaliation. They still showed up at his house right? They still arrested him? They just didn’t want to put themselves in danger and if push came to shove the swat team would have went in

 

[stevieblunder]

Cant be that many people that live on that island. I looked on google maps and could see probably a dozen or less dwellings.

No, when they say locals they are talking about residents on the mainland, mostly the garden peninsula. I have heard my entire life that they are a different breed and have no use for outsiders.

 

[gatorman841]

My buddy fishes out of the parking lot in Fayetteville he said that one spring every truck and trailer that had Wisconsin plates, had slashed tires. Locals . I have heard the stories, and I own hunting property locally. I wouldn't go there unless you want an armed fight. Not worth it to me. Local law enforcement knows the players and don't want problems with them. Been this way for 50 years. Local law enforcement doesn't want their houses burnt to the ground or their tires slashed either. It isn't fair to the tax payers of Michigan, but everything in life isn't fair. 🤬

Better hunting in Wisconsin and fishing for salmon why would they come here?

 

[BlackRhino]

No, they didn

Not wanting to breach the residence of a known violent career criminal that is likely armed is way different than not wanting to arrest someone because of fear of retaliation. They still showed up at his house right? They still arrested him? They just didn’t want to put themselves in danger and if push came to shove the swat team would have went in

Wrong. They would show up, but unless he was caught outside he was never arrested. They would knock on his door and he would tell tell them to get lost. After a while theyd leave.

This guy hid in my trees and ended up hitting my nephew (while I was on vacation) with a billy club. Split his forehead wide open. All because my daughter had our family over and apparently they played the music too loud. After attacking, apparently he got out from under my son in law and other nephews and made it home and locked himself in the house. It wasnt until I got home and called him out of the house a day later, I called my cop buddy and he arrested him outside. I asked my cop buddy why they didnt do it last night and he said they werent to sure what was gonna happen. BullSchitt.

The beautiful thing is, karma. I dont wish people dead, but him... what he's going thru now he's not going to get away with. I keep waiting for the bone wagon to show up...

 

[bucknasty11208]

No, when they say locals they are talking about residents on the mainland, mostly the garden peninsula. I have heard my entire life that they are a different breed and have no use for outsiders.

Ahhh, gotcha.

 

[Cork Dust]

“…You missed one key point in your second person rendition. The mainland launches are both PRIVATE facilities. Correct? Thanks for incrementally nudging them toward closure to the public or invitation to use only...."

Dude, I didn’t miss any points. I simply told a story I watched play out years ago at work. I heard from both sides as I was friends with them all. Unfortunately, it left longtime friend, enemies. Who I am referring to is not the “controversial” hunter under scrutiny. Just a handful of work friends that wanted to hunt it.

Yeah I am nudging them...wtf? I don’t know any of the people, nor will I ever.

I couldn’t care less what happens up there, and I don’t know the rules (or care) nor the people (remember I stated I didn’t go). I've never been there and never will. From what I understand, there’s more than one can of nuts up there.

I have to say, thx for the other multiple paragraphs though, but again I have never been there nor will I. What happens up there will never affect me.

All I did was tell a story that I was unfortunately stuck in the middle of, because they were all friends at the time. Simple as that, don’t “read” anything into it.

No you don't know any of the people, or any of actual events, drivers, or background circumstances influencing those events. So, why are you offering commentary implying that you do? You are correct on one very important point...you don't care what happens there. As Ron White pointedly states it: ' (you) have the right to remain silent, just not the ability.'

You offered-up a story as representative of what is happening that is actually not. The ramps that provide access to fisherman, cruisers, hunters etc. are privately owned in Fairport. Access was negotiated and respected decades agp by a small group of fisherman. Traffic has increased annually. As more idiots, many of them from as far away as Minnesota and Ohio show up who think that dropping some dollars in the pay box buys them the right to abuse that access on and off the water, largely via drunken behaviors, the ramp owners have begun discussion around closure to the public or restricted use by the public. Two summers back a barricade was erected to slow the drunks down as they bombed back after closing the bars because of some close calls. Among the island cabin owners are a group with criminal records, well documented in the state-level media, you somehow are unaware of. Apparently, you believe that no one involved DIRECTLY with events there, fishers, hunters, law enforcement, fish and game enforcement personnel can read your running commentary. Oh, tha's right, you don't care... Is it the water in Flint?

 

[BlackRhino]

Cork.....READ!

What exactly is your problem?

As I stated, I know both sides, the hunter that regularly has hunted the island their family for their lifetime, and the group of guys that decided to hunt there one weekend ~20 years ago. I was told (by both sides) their version of the story. If you don’t believe it, I don’t really care.

You tend to really get "sideways" on this. Accuse me of not knowing and causing issues, then you go off on multiple paragraph rants that mean nothing.

Relax.