BLIND READER
By: Ray Hansen
I do something while hunting deer that cuts my chances for success. At the same time it probably lets me see more deer over the long run, so I believe things even out. That “thing” is reading while I’m out in a “deer blind”. Here’s the deal:
First of all, I am seldom hunting out of a permanent blind. Most of the time I pull some tree trunks, branches, and brush together to create a ground blind that offers at least partial concealment. I also backpack a sort of “curtain blind” which is a camouflaged “tarp” that can be instantly tied in place to provide cover. Using this approach allows me to hunt anywhere, and quickly respond to changes in deer movement, new food sources, or an increase in rut phase activity.
Whether I’m in a shack (seldom), in a semi-permanent brush blind (occasionally), or sitting behind the curtain blind (frequently), I get the same benefit from each: I’m harder to see and deer are easier to see. In addition, the blind allows me to get away with movements I would not be able to use if sitting out in the open. What movements? Well… using binoculars for example, getting a drink of water, or making a few notes about the hunt for reference when I write about the day’s experiences.
I can also read a book, which helps me spend extra hours in the woods, and hopefully see more deer. When do I avoid reading? If rutting activity has deer moving all day; at prime morning and evening hours on any day; when weather changes foretell deer movement; when I’m calling or rattling; and anytime I “sense” that deer are in the area.
Here’s a tip about choosing books to help pass the time. Select copies that can survive wet weather, be jammed into a backpack, can be dropped to the ground repeatedly, can stand dirt between the pages, and are cheap. Where are these available? I go to the local Goodwill store and browse the paperback section.
One year I found a worn copy of “Best Short Stories of 1965” and bought it for nostalgic reasons. I graduated high school that year, and joined the Air Force the next. Funny, the book’s original price was 75 cents. I bought it for 89 cents. I also bough a copy of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Folger Library Edition (paperback, same price.) I figured it would be therapeutic since Hamlet was dealing with the loss of his father as I was that year. The final purchase was a compilation of Hemingway’s short stories, always a good read in the woods.
The final consideration is how to space your reading. Read a few sentences then scan for deer? A paragraph then scan? One page, five minutes of scanning, another page, and so on? Well… I put my sense of hearing on “high alert” and read about a paragraph at a time, with random periods of scanning thrown in. Anything I detect by sound is watched, scrutinized, listened to more carefully, and identified to my satisfaction before continuing to read. Squirrels, partridge, porcupines, rabbits, and common birds all make noise.
As an example, I heard something moving intermittently through the alders east of my spot while reading Hamlet this November. I strained to hear its movement better, then identified the sound of antlers lightly bumping into the tag alder branches. Turned out it was only a four-point buck: “Hark, who goeth there? ‘Tis merely a four. Let him pass”.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Note: A friend from the Milwaukee area called me last night to say that he and his wife just purchased a new boat. He stated that the dealer they bought it from mentioned that due to recent storms, some hurricane damaged boats might show up on the market and that potential buyers need to be careful before finalizing a purchase. That made me think about how to get some protection against getting a bad vessel. A recent news release from BoatU.S. offers some great advice on this subject, and I am passing it along here.
USED BOAT BUYERS BEWARE:HOW TO STEER CLEAR OF A HURRICANE DAMAGED BOAT
ALEXANDRIA, VA, October 7, 2008 -- By the time the new owner of a nine-year old, $35,000, 24-foot fishing boat approached the BoatU.S. Consumer Affairs Department for help, it was too late. Shortly after purchasing the vessel the new owner discovered that the boat had been subjected to "excessive trauma" from a hurricane that caused serious structural damage. Unfortunately, the new owner was now left with only one expensive option: litigation.While buying a used boat is never easy, recent hurricanes could lead to an increase in the number of hurricane-damaged vessels for sale on the used boat market. While many boats are properly repaired and sold, sellers don't always tell the whole truth and sometimes just finding out whether a boat has been hurricane damaged can be difficult - especially if cosmetic repairs have been made. Here are some tips that could help protect you from inadvertently buying a hurricane damaged vessel:
Vote "independent": Having a survey done by an independent surveyor is key. In the case of the 24-foot fishing vessel, the new owner hired a surveyor - who was recommended by the dealer - for the pre-purchase inspection. The true extent of the hurricane damage was never fully revealed until after the boat's new owner, who lived in another state many miles away received delivery, became suspicious, and then hired his own surveyor.· State line shuffle: Anyone wishing to obscure a boat's history need only cross state lines to avoid detection. That's because unlike automobiles, there are few states that have laws requiring the titles of junked or salvaged boats be "branded" as such. And only 36 states even have a requirement that powerboats be titled. In the case of our 24-footer, the boat was damaged in Texas when a hurricane struck. The absence of salvage title allowed the unscrupulous seller to simply trailer the boat to Ohio to list it for sale with a dealer. A seller who is not willing to document where a boat has been berthed or registered for the past few years should be a red flag that extra vigilance should be taken during the inspection and pre-purchase survey.
Fuzzy "background" checks: Although a few Web sites purport to provide comprehensive background information about used boats, consumers should be skeptical, since there is no one national clearinghouse for boat information, short of checking the records of each boat by calling the boat registration agencies in every state. And be aware that even if you do that, state boat registration records do not include information about accidents or insurance claims.·
"As Is" could mean "expensive": Protections afforded consumers by federal warranty laws and state implied warranty provisions are limited when products are sold "as is". Without a thorough inspection and pre-purchase survey, you may not find any storm-related damages until something major happens and new repair efforts reveal their true extent. And your insurance policy won't cover the repairs since most don't cover pre-existing conditions. If you do buy "as is", consider adding a statement in the sales contract that says the seller has revealed everything they know about the boat's existing or repaired damages.
Eyes Wide Open: For certain buyers, purchasing a hurricane damaged vessel may be appealing, provided they have the time, budget and sweat equity needed to facilitate repairs. However, knowing it's a "hurricane boat" is a must.
For more information on boat buying or to get a free copy of the BoatU.S. Guide to Buying and Selling a Boat, go to http://my.BoatUS.com/consumer
About BoatU.S.:BoatU.S. - Boat Owners Association of The United States - is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 650,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a group-rate marine insurance program that insures nearly a quarter million boats; the largest fleet of more than 500 towing assistance vessels; discounts on fuel, slips, and repairs at over 885 Cooperating Marinas; boat financing; and a subscription to BoatU.S. Magazine, the most widely read boating publication in the U.S. For membership information visit http://www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.
USED BOAT BUYERS BEWARE:HOW TO STEER CLEAR OF A HURRICANE DAMAGED BOAT
ALEXANDRIA, VA, October 7, 2008 -- By the time the new owner of a nine-year old, $35,000, 24-foot fishing boat approached the BoatU.S. Consumer Affairs Department for help, it was too late. Shortly after purchasing the vessel the new owner discovered that the boat had been subjected to "excessive trauma" from a hurricane that caused serious structural damage. Unfortunately, the new owner was now left with only one expensive option: litigation.While buying a used boat is never easy, recent hurricanes could lead to an increase in the number of hurricane-damaged vessels for sale on the used boat market. While many boats are properly repaired and sold, sellers don't always tell the whole truth and sometimes just finding out whether a boat has been hurricane damaged can be difficult - especially if cosmetic repairs have been made. Here are some tips that could help protect you from inadvertently buying a hurricane damaged vessel:
Vote "independent": Having a survey done by an independent surveyor is key. In the case of the 24-foot fishing vessel, the new owner hired a surveyor - who was recommended by the dealer - for the pre-purchase inspection. The true extent of the hurricane damage was never fully revealed until after the boat's new owner, who lived in another state many miles away received delivery, became suspicious, and then hired his own surveyor.· State line shuffle: Anyone wishing to obscure a boat's history need only cross state lines to avoid detection. That's because unlike automobiles, there are few states that have laws requiring the titles of junked or salvaged boats be "branded" as such. And only 36 states even have a requirement that powerboats be titled. In the case of our 24-footer, the boat was damaged in Texas when a hurricane struck. The absence of salvage title allowed the unscrupulous seller to simply trailer the boat to Ohio to list it for sale with a dealer. A seller who is not willing to document where a boat has been berthed or registered for the past few years should be a red flag that extra vigilance should be taken during the inspection and pre-purchase survey.
Fuzzy "background" checks: Although a few Web sites purport to provide comprehensive background information about used boats, consumers should be skeptical, since there is no one national clearinghouse for boat information, short of checking the records of each boat by calling the boat registration agencies in every state. And be aware that even if you do that, state boat registration records do not include information about accidents or insurance claims.·
"As Is" could mean "expensive": Protections afforded consumers by federal warranty laws and state implied warranty provisions are limited when products are sold "as is". Without a thorough inspection and pre-purchase survey, you may not find any storm-related damages until something major happens and new repair efforts reveal their true extent. And your insurance policy won't cover the repairs since most don't cover pre-existing conditions. If you do buy "as is", consider adding a statement in the sales contract that says the seller has revealed everything they know about the boat's existing or repaired damages.
Eyes Wide Open: For certain buyers, purchasing a hurricane damaged vessel may be appealing, provided they have the time, budget and sweat equity needed to facilitate repairs. However, knowing it's a "hurricane boat" is a must.
For more information on boat buying or to get a free copy of the BoatU.S. Guide to Buying and Selling a Boat, go to http://my.BoatUS.com/consumer
About BoatU.S.:BoatU.S. - Boat Owners Association of The United States - is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 650,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a group-rate marine insurance program that insures nearly a quarter million boats; the largest fleet of more than 500 towing assistance vessels; discounts on fuel, slips, and repairs at over 885 Cooperating Marinas; boat financing; and a subscription to BoatU.S. Magazine, the most widely read boating publication in the U.S. For membership information visit http://www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
WINTER BIKING
Author's note: We have had frost on the truck's windshield several days already here in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. That made me think about the upcoming winter season, and how much different I look at things since the days when I was growing up here. This blog looks at one of the ways we coped with the snowy season as kids.
Ice Doesn’t Stop Innovative Michigan Youths
By: Ray Hansen
Growing up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the kids I hung out with were an innovative bunch. Seems like we were always solving some kind of challenge, or learning some sort of woods-craft. We often practiced what we called “survival techniques”, and could whittle whistles from poplar branches, create and run a snare line for rabbits, or preserve minnows to be used for brook trout fishing by salting them.
Something that vexed us one winter was how to navigate icy roads on our bicycles. We wanted to get to the skating rink, or down to the frozen quarries to fish through the ice, but what if we wanted to go there after school during the week? The walk was just a bit too long for most weekdays. We needed a way to ride our bikes on ice.
The solution came to us on a day when we were poking around one of the abandoned houses that weren’t so uncommon in those days. One of the guys found a long piece of what was called “stoker chain” back then, and naturally we took it back to an old chicken coop behind one of the gang’s homes, where we stored these simple treasures.
Whether by consensus, creative inspiration, or by comparing our bike tires to car tires which used chains for traction during the winter, we hit upon an idea: make tire chains for the bikes!
The rest was simple. A length of stoker chain, a piece of bailing wire, and a pair of pliers were the only necessities for the project. We wrapped the chain in a tight spiral around the bike tires, and connected two free ends with a tightly twisted piece of bailing wire.
This experiment didn’t provide traction like riding on dry pavement, but it worked! You just had to take it a little easier than you would while riding in the summer. Of course, telling kids to “take it easy” was as futile as telling country dogs not to chase cars. Better to let the bumps on the head from crashing on icy roads teach them!
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
Ice Doesn’t Stop Innovative Michigan Youths
By: Ray Hansen
Growing up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the kids I hung out with were an innovative bunch. Seems like we were always solving some kind of challenge, or learning some sort of woods-craft. We often practiced what we called “survival techniques”, and could whittle whistles from poplar branches, create and run a snare line for rabbits, or preserve minnows to be used for brook trout fishing by salting them.
Something that vexed us one winter was how to navigate icy roads on our bicycles. We wanted to get to the skating rink, or down to the frozen quarries to fish through the ice, but what if we wanted to go there after school during the week? The walk was just a bit too long for most weekdays. We needed a way to ride our bikes on ice.
The solution came to us on a day when we were poking around one of the abandoned houses that weren’t so uncommon in those days. One of the guys found a long piece of what was called “stoker chain” back then, and naturally we took it back to an old chicken coop behind one of the gang’s homes, where we stored these simple treasures.
Whether by consensus, creative inspiration, or by comparing our bike tires to car tires which used chains for traction during the winter, we hit upon an idea: make tire chains for the bikes!
The rest was simple. A length of stoker chain, a piece of bailing wire, and a pair of pliers were the only necessities for the project. We wrapped the chain in a tight spiral around the bike tires, and connected two free ends with a tightly twisted piece of bailing wire.
This experiment didn’t provide traction like riding on dry pavement, but it worked! You just had to take it a little easier than you would while riding in the summer. Of course, telling kids to “take it easy” was as futile as telling country dogs not to chase cars. Better to let the bumps on the head from crashing on icy roads teach them!
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
MISCELLANEOUS OUTDOOR OBSERVATIONS
10-05-08 BOWHUNT REPORT
Duane Deno and I headed out to our bow hunting stands again before sunrise on October 5 – the same two we hunted on opening day. As we settled in well before sunrise, a pair of owls decided to see which one could out-hoot the other. Duane’s stand is several hundred yards southeast of mine and one of the birds was somewhere between us, while the other was about 75 yards west of my spot.
As the sun came up, several ravens flew over. They circled the spot where the owl closest to me seemed to be perched, and began cawing to attract other ravens. Somehow in “raven language” they put the word out that an owl was there and soon several dozen of the black birds arrived. They harassed the owl for about thirty minutes before it left, flying below the tree canopy to stay out of reach.
These two species seem to be deadly enemies, and they sure make a lot of noise when ravens or crows find one of the predatory birds roosting. At times I’ve seen a hundred or more crows circling around a tree where an owl sits.
On this morning, the noise was somewhat welcome, because it was so calm that no other noise existed. When this happens, deer are much more likely to hear some faint sound made by hunters in a treestand, and avoid the area. I always prefer at least a light wind that rattles branches on days when I climb up into a stand.
As for deer, I had two approach from behind me, offering no shot. Both were does, and seemed large enough to take if a shot had been possible. Duane saw one, but had no shot either.
PARTRIDGE IN THE CRABAPPLE TREE
I was outside shooting my bow at a target a couple days ago, when a partridge flew past me and landed at the base of a crabapple tree in my yard. The russet colored gamebird picked at some apples that were lying on the ground, and strutted around looking for other bits of food.
I often scatter a few handfuls of dried corn kernels in the yard to keep bluejays, rabbits, gray squirrels and other wildlife around where I can watch them from the house. I think some other birds and animals have learned to listen to the sounds bluejays make when feeding, because the jays are always noisy. That commotion seems to let the others know a feeding opportunity can be found there.
“RIVERSOUND”
From time to time my wife and I have noticed changes in the sound of the river as it flows past our home. This is essentially due to the water level. When low, it rushes over some rocks and around others, creating more aerated swirls and tiny falls on sharply edged rocks. Its sound then is higher pitched, lightly rushing in the slightly deeper mid-stream channel. Birds that eat fish are seen more frequently under low water conditions because they can spot their prey easier and they communicate their excitement in shrill screeches that echo up and down the river corridor.
When higher, the river moans and groans under the heavier flow. Broad sloshing accents the current as it splits around larger, rounded boulders. The once shallow riffles that tinkled with melodic riverspeak, now gurgle and rumble with deeper baritone watersong.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
Duane Deno and I headed out to our bow hunting stands again before sunrise on October 5 – the same two we hunted on opening day. As we settled in well before sunrise, a pair of owls decided to see which one could out-hoot the other. Duane’s stand is several hundred yards southeast of mine and one of the birds was somewhere between us, while the other was about 75 yards west of my spot.
As the sun came up, several ravens flew over. They circled the spot where the owl closest to me seemed to be perched, and began cawing to attract other ravens. Somehow in “raven language” they put the word out that an owl was there and soon several dozen of the black birds arrived. They harassed the owl for about thirty minutes before it left, flying below the tree canopy to stay out of reach.
These two species seem to be deadly enemies, and they sure make a lot of noise when ravens or crows find one of the predatory birds roosting. At times I’ve seen a hundred or more crows circling around a tree where an owl sits.
On this morning, the noise was somewhat welcome, because it was so calm that no other noise existed. When this happens, deer are much more likely to hear some faint sound made by hunters in a treestand, and avoid the area. I always prefer at least a light wind that rattles branches on days when I climb up into a stand.
As for deer, I had two approach from behind me, offering no shot. Both were does, and seemed large enough to take if a shot had been possible. Duane saw one, but had no shot either.
PARTRIDGE IN THE CRABAPPLE TREE
I was outside shooting my bow at a target a couple days ago, when a partridge flew past me and landed at the base of a crabapple tree in my yard. The russet colored gamebird picked at some apples that were lying on the ground, and strutted around looking for other bits of food.
I often scatter a few handfuls of dried corn kernels in the yard to keep bluejays, rabbits, gray squirrels and other wildlife around where I can watch them from the house. I think some other birds and animals have learned to listen to the sounds bluejays make when feeding, because the jays are always noisy. That commotion seems to let the others know a feeding opportunity can be found there.
“RIVERSOUND”
From time to time my wife and I have noticed changes in the sound of the river as it flows past our home. This is essentially due to the water level. When low, it rushes over some rocks and around others, creating more aerated swirls and tiny falls on sharply edged rocks. Its sound then is higher pitched, lightly rushing in the slightly deeper mid-stream channel. Birds that eat fish are seen more frequently under low water conditions because they can spot their prey easier and they communicate their excitement in shrill screeches that echo up and down the river corridor.
When higher, the river moans and groans under the heavier flow. Broad sloshing accents the current as it splits around larger, rounded boulders. The once shallow riffles that tinkled with melodic riverspeak, now gurgle and rumble with deeper baritone watersong.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
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