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
Friday, October 3, 2008
DEER FIXES TRUCK !
By: Ray Hansen
It happened again as my wife and I were returning from town yesterday evening. A deer ran into the side of her car not far from our home along the Escanaba River here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We were going along about forty miles per hour when two of the sleek animals suddenly jumped across the road in front of us just fifteen or twenty feet away. A third darted out of the heavy woods, but began to turn around as we passed it. It seemed that its rear hoofs banged the side of the Honda as the deer wheeled about. I caught a glimpse of it running back into the low cedar growth so it seemed alright. The car was not damaged either, so the outcome of this “meeting” was not bad.
It’s that time of year again. The early fall season when deer start roaming around more. A time when they are often found in fields near roads as they forage heavily in anticipation of upcoming cold weather. In November, the annual rutting season will arrive and bucks will be chasing does and as a result, paying less attention to safety. All this means an increase on car/deer collisions. Driving slower and remaining watchful is very important now.
Hitting a deer can cause major damage to a vehicle, and can even result in injured people. Sometimes drivers will swerve to avoid deer and lose control of their vehicles. Once in a while they will hit another vehicle while trying to miss the deer. As I said, this is a time to drive slower and stay alert.
Once in a while a humorous story comes out of car/deer accidents. One such incident happened to me. I had a 1996 Dodge truck at the time. The driver’s door was slightly damaged from someone backing into it in a parking lot. Each time I opened that door it made a loud “clunk” because the hinge was not aligned properly after the accident.
During the November rut season I was driving this vehicle to a friend’s home along a country road in the Upper Peninsula. Several deer jumped across the road in front of me at a distance, so I had plenty of time to slow down. As I neared the place they crossed, a smallish four-point buck stood in the ditch, looking off in the direction the others had run.
I came to a complete stop and simply watched the buck. In a few seconds he bolted directly toward me, then ran headfirst into the driver’s door with a loud bang. Bouncing off the truck’s side, he stumbled off the road, recovered for a few seconds, then ran into the woods in the direction he had come from. The animal seemed alright, and I simply continued driving to my friend’s home as a slow pace. I laughed at the thought of the story I had to tell – the deer had run into me, I didn’t hit him - but the best was yet to come!
When I parked in the driveway and opened the door to get out of the truck, it no longer clunked! Not believing what I heard (or more correctly did not hear) I opened and shut the door several times. It did not make the annoying noise it made prior to the buck running into me. He had repaired my truck! And at no charge! What a mechanic! I wish they were all like that.
Seriously though, most stories about deer strikes are not going to have happy endings like this. Be more watchful at this time of year, and slow down a little. This practice helps avoid a lot of trouble.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
It happened again as my wife and I were returning from town yesterday evening. A deer ran into the side of her car not far from our home along the Escanaba River here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We were going along about forty miles per hour when two of the sleek animals suddenly jumped across the road in front of us just fifteen or twenty feet away. A third darted out of the heavy woods, but began to turn around as we passed it. It seemed that its rear hoofs banged the side of the Honda as the deer wheeled about. I caught a glimpse of it running back into the low cedar growth so it seemed alright. The car was not damaged either, so the outcome of this “meeting” was not bad.
It’s that time of year again. The early fall season when deer start roaming around more. A time when they are often found in fields near roads as they forage heavily in anticipation of upcoming cold weather. In November, the annual rutting season will arrive and bucks will be chasing does and as a result, paying less attention to safety. All this means an increase on car/deer collisions. Driving slower and remaining watchful is very important now.
Hitting a deer can cause major damage to a vehicle, and can even result in injured people. Sometimes drivers will swerve to avoid deer and lose control of their vehicles. Once in a while they will hit another vehicle while trying to miss the deer. As I said, this is a time to drive slower and stay alert.
Once in a while a humorous story comes out of car/deer accidents. One such incident happened to me. I had a 1996 Dodge truck at the time. The driver’s door was slightly damaged from someone backing into it in a parking lot. Each time I opened that door it made a loud “clunk” because the hinge was not aligned properly after the accident.
During the November rut season I was driving this vehicle to a friend’s home along a country road in the Upper Peninsula. Several deer jumped across the road in front of me at a distance, so I had plenty of time to slow down. As I neared the place they crossed, a smallish four-point buck stood in the ditch, looking off in the direction the others had run.
I came to a complete stop and simply watched the buck. In a few seconds he bolted directly toward me, then ran headfirst into the driver’s door with a loud bang. Bouncing off the truck’s side, he stumbled off the road, recovered for a few seconds, then ran into the woods in the direction he had come from. The animal seemed alright, and I simply continued driving to my friend’s home as a slow pace. I laughed at the thought of the story I had to tell – the deer had run into me, I didn’t hit him - but the best was yet to come!
When I parked in the driveway and opened the door to get out of the truck, it no longer clunked! Not believing what I heard (or more correctly did not hear) I opened and shut the door several times. It did not make the annoying noise it made prior to the buck running into me. He had repaired my truck! And at no charge! What a mechanic! I wish they were all like that.
Seriously though, most stories about deer strikes are not going to have happy endings like this. Be more watchful at this time of year, and slow down a little. This practice helps avoid a lot of trouble.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
WHAT DO PARTRIDGE EAT?
BIRD HUNTERS AND DEER HUNTERS CO-OPERATE
By: Ray Hansen
One of the wonderful things I get to observe from a treestand while waiting for a deer to pass within range is other wildlife going about its normal daily routine. Here in Michigan the small game season opens September 15th each year, and that includes Ruffed Grouse. Hunters who hit the woods with pointing dogs each fall call these gamebirds Partridge, and I frequently exchange information with a handful of these guys.
They want to know where I have seen birds, and I want to know where they are seeing deer. And since I simply watch Partridge walking through the woods without shooting them – I’m hunting deer after October 1st – I get to see them feeding. Hunters with dogs never get this chance because the dog points the bird and the hunter moves in to flush it and hope for a clear shot as the partridge rockets away. In the heavy forest cover found hereabouts, the Partridge wins this contest most of the time.
Anyway, from my treestand I have seen these birds consume a variety of foods including leaves from apple trees, buds from the branch tips of aspen (poplar) trees, clover, wintergreen berries, small leaves from fruits like wild strawberry plants, and a small, round black berry that I believe is hackberry.
I have also watched them pick at apples when I hunt near wild apple trees, and I think they catch beetles or grasshoppers at times. I’ve watched them bite and peck in grassy areas and I’m not sure if they chasing bugs or eating the grass itself. When near oaks, I’ve seen them grab acorns but I can’t imagine how they could swallow one. Maybe they target the smaller acorns.
Of all these grouse treats, I have most commonly seen them forage on apple and aspen leaves or the buds from these trees. I often advise grouse hunters to look for places where these trees grow close to a water source, since these spots typically provide gamebirds with all their necessities in a setting where heavier cover offers them security.
Places where wood cutting has taken place two to five years ago are potentially great spots. Here in the Upper Peninsula, poplar (aspen) starts refilling the cutover tracts the following year. Small trees with tender new buds grow in profusion. In addition, the left over branches and brush are usually piled throughout the cut area and grouse use these brushpiles as cover.
Deer also like these “second growth” spots as they are called. I recall hunting near Channing, Michigan one year when I put up a treestand in older growth forest right long the edge of a cut area. In the course of a five-day hunt, two of us tagged bucks thanks to bird hunters.
As the hunters put out their dogs on the edge of the cut nearest the old logging road, deer would move out ahead of the pointers. In nearly every case, the deer would simply circle back through the older timber – and sometimes past my stand – to get behind the bird hunters. The guys looking for partridge often failed to see the deer, or didn’t care because they were not hunting deer. They sure did me a favor though. It made my hunting a lot easier!
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
By: Ray Hansen
One of the wonderful things I get to observe from a treestand while waiting for a deer to pass within range is other wildlife going about its normal daily routine. Here in Michigan the small game season opens September 15th each year, and that includes Ruffed Grouse. Hunters who hit the woods with pointing dogs each fall call these gamebirds Partridge, and I frequently exchange information with a handful of these guys.
They want to know where I have seen birds, and I want to know where they are seeing deer. And since I simply watch Partridge walking through the woods without shooting them – I’m hunting deer after October 1st – I get to see them feeding. Hunters with dogs never get this chance because the dog points the bird and the hunter moves in to flush it and hope for a clear shot as the partridge rockets away. In the heavy forest cover found hereabouts, the Partridge wins this contest most of the time.
Anyway, from my treestand I have seen these birds consume a variety of foods including leaves from apple trees, buds from the branch tips of aspen (poplar) trees, clover, wintergreen berries, small leaves from fruits like wild strawberry plants, and a small, round black berry that I believe is hackberry.
I have also watched them pick at apples when I hunt near wild apple trees, and I think they catch beetles or grasshoppers at times. I’ve watched them bite and peck in grassy areas and I’m not sure if they chasing bugs or eating the grass itself. When near oaks, I’ve seen them grab acorns but I can’t imagine how they could swallow one. Maybe they target the smaller acorns.
Of all these grouse treats, I have most commonly seen them forage on apple and aspen leaves or the buds from these trees. I often advise grouse hunters to look for places where these trees grow close to a water source, since these spots typically provide gamebirds with all their necessities in a setting where heavier cover offers them security.
Places where wood cutting has taken place two to five years ago are potentially great spots. Here in the Upper Peninsula, poplar (aspen) starts refilling the cutover tracts the following year. Small trees with tender new buds grow in profusion. In addition, the left over branches and brush are usually piled throughout the cut area and grouse use these brushpiles as cover.
Deer also like these “second growth” spots as they are called. I recall hunting near Channing, Michigan one year when I put up a treestand in older growth forest right long the edge of a cut area. In the course of a five-day hunt, two of us tagged bucks thanks to bird hunters.
As the hunters put out their dogs on the edge of the cut nearest the old logging road, deer would move out ahead of the pointers. In nearly every case, the deer would simply circle back through the older timber – and sometimes past my stand – to get behind the bird hunters. The guys looking for partridge often failed to see the deer, or didn’t care because they were not hunting deer. They sure did me a favor though. It made my hunting a lot easier!
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
OPENING DAY DEER HUNT
Author's note: Today was the first day of the bow hunting season for deer here in Michigan. I was out in the woods, and this is how my hunt went.
Before moving here to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I rarely had an opportunity to hunt deer on the opening day of the bow season. Most years, I took a week away from wherever I was living and working, and drove here to hunt. Being here permanently has changed things in many pleasant ways. Today was one of these nice advantages.
I drove to Duane Deno’s house well before sunrise, to haul him and his hunting gear out to an area where we placed tree stands well before the season started. He and I have known each other for about fifty years and have spent a lot of time chasing deer together.
Light rain fell during the drive, but skies cleared (temporarily) when we reached the woods. His stand is named the “Pocket Stand” because it overlooks a very small open pocket surrounded by heavy woods. My stand is called “Birch Hill” because it is a very small rise of higher ground surrounded by low ground, marsh, and swamp. The rise holds some very scenic live birches, along with maple, spruce, and cedar.
Dead birch trees lay scattered across the rise as well, like so many deceased soldiers on a battlefield. Trails cross the spot, some of which look like cow paths from many years of use by deer. A bear stays around the spot, occasionally raiding old, wild apple trees and breaking their branches to get at the fruit. We only get to see this animal as photos on the trail camera we sometimes set there. As with most bruins, this one is secretive and mostly roams at night.
We had to cut our stay somewhat short today because the wind kicked up so hard that it swayed the trees we hunted from. The strong gusts would not have knocked us out of the stands, but it made aiming very hard with all the movement it created. By noon we walked back to the truck. This was the first day, and we’ll have plenty of other opportunities.
We both could have taken deer shortly after getting settled in. By 8:45 a.m. I had seen four different does pass by. Three stayed about fifteen minutes within range of my bow as they browsed on some plants that grow only on Birch Hill and a few other spots in the area. These plants have leaves that look like maple, but I’m not sure what kind of vegetation it is. About one to two feet tall and quite leafy, it sprouts on sunny openings. The stem is tough and I can hear deer pulling them out by the mouthful even when I can’t see the animals themselves.
Duane had a doe near his stand as well, but it stayed one and one-half hours, forcing him to stay quite still so it would not get spooked and run off. In a way, the doe acted as a live decoy. Duane hoped a buck would happen by, but it was not to be. We usually take a doe apiece to help keep the herd in balance, then concentrate on finding bucks later in October or early November. They are much more active at those times.
So our opening day was a success even though we did not fill a tag. Being out there before sunrise and watching the woods come alive around you is an experience I guess I’ll never tire of. I’ll have plenty more to write about as the season progresses. Keep watching this blogsite for additional reports.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
Before moving here to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I rarely had an opportunity to hunt deer on the opening day of the bow season. Most years, I took a week away from wherever I was living and working, and drove here to hunt. Being here permanently has changed things in many pleasant ways. Today was one of these nice advantages.
I drove to Duane Deno’s house well before sunrise, to haul him and his hunting gear out to an area where we placed tree stands well before the season started. He and I have known each other for about fifty years and have spent a lot of time chasing deer together.
Light rain fell during the drive, but skies cleared (temporarily) when we reached the woods. His stand is named the “Pocket Stand” because it overlooks a very small open pocket surrounded by heavy woods. My stand is called “Birch Hill” because it is a very small rise of higher ground surrounded by low ground, marsh, and swamp. The rise holds some very scenic live birches, along with maple, spruce, and cedar.
Dead birch trees lay scattered across the rise as well, like so many deceased soldiers on a battlefield. Trails cross the spot, some of which look like cow paths from many years of use by deer. A bear stays around the spot, occasionally raiding old, wild apple trees and breaking their branches to get at the fruit. We only get to see this animal as photos on the trail camera we sometimes set there. As with most bruins, this one is secretive and mostly roams at night.
We had to cut our stay somewhat short today because the wind kicked up so hard that it swayed the trees we hunted from. The strong gusts would not have knocked us out of the stands, but it made aiming very hard with all the movement it created. By noon we walked back to the truck. This was the first day, and we’ll have plenty of other opportunities.
We both could have taken deer shortly after getting settled in. By 8:45 a.m. I had seen four different does pass by. Three stayed about fifteen minutes within range of my bow as they browsed on some plants that grow only on Birch Hill and a few other spots in the area. These plants have leaves that look like maple, but I’m not sure what kind of vegetation it is. About one to two feet tall and quite leafy, it sprouts on sunny openings. The stem is tough and I can hear deer pulling them out by the mouthful even when I can’t see the animals themselves.
Duane had a doe near his stand as well, but it stayed one and one-half hours, forcing him to stay quite still so it would not get spooked and run off. In a way, the doe acted as a live decoy. Duane hoped a buck would happen by, but it was not to be. We usually take a doe apiece to help keep the herd in balance, then concentrate on finding bucks later in October or early November. They are much more active at those times.
So our opening day was a success even though we did not fill a tag. Being out there before sunrise and watching the woods come alive around you is an experience I guess I’ll never tire of. I’ll have plenty more to write about as the season progresses. Keep watching this blogsite for additional reports.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008
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