Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Stacykins]

I would think you should have a lot of places to hunt down your way. I always see a lot of deer down around Escanana. Archery gets tough when you can't even take a doe if you have to. I usually pass up small bucks to take a doe with my bow. This year I'm not seeing much at all. But it is nice to get out and spend time in a tree stand.
It's just like fishing it isn't always about catching just spending time.

I'm leery of going on State land to hunt, too many crazies out there who think it is theirs alone. I also won't pay $1200 to lease a parcel of land from people (what I was quoted this year). At that price, I could pretty much just stick an entire steer in the freezer. My first deer I got for the price of a hunting licence/tag, a couple bags of apples, and a single .44 bullet. But I was on family's land at the time, which is no longer any good hunting on. It is all open farm land with no trees, so nothing can make it out of the trees now that it seems like a dozen people go into the neighbor's woods now and clear it out.

 

[aart]

Not a hunter here but.....saw a couple yearlings(I think, they were small) dash/stumble/rumble out of the woods into the field, one knocking the other down, then running off out of my sight. It was funny, it got up shook it's head and stood there for a minute then took off.

Kinda wish I was a hunter, I can shoot - but only .22's, lots of deer and turkeys wander within 100 feet of my 2nd story living room window.
One screenless window to plink pest rabbits.
Would be a safe shot, I think, with nothing behind for 1000 feet or more if I had had the right gun.

Getting an odd colored small egg.....not sure who it is, thought I had them all accounted for, unless one of the pullets did not start laying when I thought she did...has a mottled yolk, so maybe some disease or malfunction.

Thunder, lightning, rain and 60 degrees....on November 18th.
Weird, and nice to have the windows open, but wonders.... what will the next next actual spring season feel like.

 

[mindylee]

I hunt lapeer county stateland and have been in the same exact spot and same ground blind for 23 yrs. Every yr is different when it comes to the amount of hunters in the woods. I sometimes get a deer and sometimes dont. The only thing i can honestly say that I have seen that really disappoints me is the decreasing amount of deer in the woods yr after yr. 10 yrs ago, i would see over a dozen deer a day. 20 yrs ago, 20-40 deer a day. Now a days, hardly any if or none at all.
And again, i am in the same spot since 1992. So i see the decrease impacts on our herd numbers.
I did however manage to get one, a older doe to put in the freezer. But anymore, i really feel guilty taking a deer as i know numbers are low. Way way way lower then Michigan state DNR is admitting due to over hunting and to many early hunts and doe permits issued. I only gun hunt. I buy 1 permit and once its used im done. That way i can still provide for my family, but not over hunt as well and add to the problems that MI deer hurds is dealing with.
I certainly believe that lower MI needs to stop doe hunting for a couple yrs and also limit 1 buck permit for a buck with regulations on size of antlers (3 on side/4 on other and bigger) like in the UP.
Just my thoughts and opinions...
And next yr I will begin practicing that opinion.

 

[SillyChicken]

I shot the only deer I saw on Monday night.

I have also seen the deer numbers drop considerably.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

I used to spend a lot on hunting...not any more. I mostly only bow hunt but this year with numbers down I haven't done much. I hunt real close to home as I don't want to spend tons of gas driving to throw bait down and maintain a"spot". I get a deer almost every year, but I don't trophy hunt. I just like venison in the freezer. Sorry I don't have a problem with state land most years. I rarely see another Hunter but this year for some reason a few found me.They are up from Lansing and some how they found my little two track in the swamp. They will be gone soon. I have been in the same spots since 1984...and 1997.

 

[bishopofchaos]

Anyone looking to get rid of a lavender Ameraucana rooster? Within an hour drive of lake odessa 48897?

 

[Opa]

When I sons were growing up I tried to spend as much time with them as possible. I wanted them to grow up confident, self sufficient, capable, and ready to face life. They all grew up possessing a great work ethic, compassion for others, and a very close family connection.

Last week my oldest sent me a picture of him sitting on a mountain top in Colorado, where he was elk hunting, captioned "putting to use the things you taught me". Certainly was good way for my day to start.

Yesterday I was wondering if he had gotten off the mountain before the snow storms blanketed that area and last night he called to tell me that he was home. He also thanked me again for all that I had taught him and said that knowledge saved his life on this trip.

They used to ask if I was afraid when I entered burning buildings. I replied that only a fool wouldn't be but never let fear stop you from doing what is necessary. Use it to focus on the situation and handle it.

He then related his experience on this trip that he felt he put that to use. He was riding his mule up a very steep incline. The farrier who had shod his mule just before the trip had left the shoes about 2 inches too long. Due to the steepness of the incline a rear hoof stepped on the "tail" of a front hoof which caused the mule to do a face plant into the loose rock trail.

Both Joe and the mule went sliding down the loose scree towards the edge of a precipice. After twenty or thirty feet Joe was able to free himself only to watch the mule continue down the mountain. Fortunately the mule only slid another 30' before coming to a stop against a large rock. The poor critter was laying on its back with a hoof entangled in a belly strap. A guick slice with a pocket knife freed the leg and Joe was able to get the animal back on its feet. After re-saddling and repairing the strap Joe was able to continue to the mountain top.

Afterwards when talking with his hunting partner, who had witnessed the near disaster, he said my Dad always told us never get scared until afterwards and carry a sharp knife.

I was glad to hear that he had handled himself so well and was extremely touched that he feels I contributed to his safety.

 

[Monstro]

So sad. That mama we found with the 3 chicks... She had more that were not with her. Opened the tack room door and found a pile of about 10. They must have not been able jump up on the ledge that goes under the door. We never even thought to look for more, thought theyd all be together.

 

[bigmrg74]

Switched out the nipple waterer for the heated waterer today in the coop. Need to get a few more things tweaked and reset the pen around the coop so that they have go out again during the day. And I'm really thinking about setting up some christmas lights in the coop for lighting. Just would need to find a timer and a splinter for the electric cord so I can keep the thermacube for the heated waterer and the timer separate.

 

[aart]

Switched out the nipple waterer for the heated waterer today in the coop. Need to get a few more things tweaked and reset the pen around the coop so that they have go out again during the day. And I'm really thinking about setting up some christmas lights in the coop for lighting. Just would need to find a timer and a splinter for the electric cord so I can keep the thermacube for the heated waterer and the timer separate.

I used a power strip....and have an indicator light on the thermocube.
Need a new pic of this, there's a cover on the nightlight now that only shows a dot of light.