Hunting and the Outdoors

   I was watching a Ted Nugent hunting show and I heard him say "I hunt because I'm a hunter". I'm sure he has been asked many time why he hunts. I've never been asked that question. I like Ted's answer, but I can't really call myself a hunter. Ted really is a hunter. He lives and breathes it. I love to hunt, but it's more like the best damned hobby in the world. It involves many things that I enjoy. Experiencing the woods in pleasant and challenging weather. Spending time with friends and sharing the hunting experience. There is also something intangible and instinctive that compels me to hunt. I don't know what it is. I can't completely explain it and I don't have to explain it. It gets in your blood. I think that's what Ted was talking about.
  My first hunting experience was like most every other hunters. I was with my father when I was 12 years old. I remember following him and trying to place my feet in his footsteps as we walked through the snow. I see now how symbolic and important that was for me. He introduced me to hunting and I am grateful. I have many memories of time spent hunting with family and friends. Funny how many are of the times in trying weather when we froze our asses off or got rained on for two or three days.
   I don't know how many pictures there are of my father posing next to a dead deer. Quite a lot I guess. It's not about the numbers for him, he worked way to hard to become an avid hunter. He just shows up at hunting season and for miles deer toss and turn in their beds. He used to say he can smell 'em. He has a knack for hunting deer. For him, it's never about the antlers either. Although he's put his hands on some nice ones. He tracked his first buck for hours. It found itself cornered in an area with a fence on one side. Out of frustration it turned, lowered it's antlers and charged him. He shot it as it approached. It slid in the snow and stopped within the reaching distance with his rifle. That was in the early 1950's in western Pennsylvania. True story. That was his first buck. Kinda hard to top that one.

Northern Michigan approx. 1997

Southern Ohio

Hunting and the outdoors does get in your blood. My sister also enjoys the outdoors. She hunts a little and loves to fish. I took her ice fishing on Lake St. Clair in Michigan.  

Notice the 20 mph winds. February 2003 Anchor Bay. Tell me she's not a gamer!

One hour before this she was in a Jo Ann Fabric.

First Whitetail deer

I purchased my northern Michigan hunting parcel in May 1995. My first hunting experience there was the fall bowhunt of 1995. I know there were several of us there although unfortunately I don't recall everyone. However, anyone who was there that year will more than likely remember the events of that hunt as my first Whitetail was taken.
    I chose to hunt an area that required me to drive from camp each morning and evening. My first deer happened on an evening hunt. I remember typical pleasant fall weather. I was sitting and waiting in my treestand as the daylight was winding down. I saw movement out in front of me and saw three deer headed my way. I stood up and prepared and they were quickly within range. All does. They seemed spooked but slowed down when they arrived within bow range. I drew back my arrow and aimed at the broadside deer. I let the arrow fly and connected. All hell broke loose and they all bolted. My truck was parked up a small hill on the other side of the pines just 200 yards away. The deer I shot ran up the hill toward my truck. I could see where she fell from my treestand.  As daylight began to fade, I climbed down and headed up to the deer. She made it a very short drag to the truck. I was so excited and anxious to show my friends I didn't even field dress the deer. I put the tailgate down and got inside the bed and lifted her in. She probably breathed he last breath 10 minutes prior. The short ride back to camp took 5 minutes.
   I arrived at camp with my deer. All of it. A medium sized or smaller female deer. I was lovin' it. Of course everyone there wondered why the hell I would bring a deer back to camp that wasn't field dressed. I had no good answer for that one. Except that I had never done it before. So as darkness fell, on the outskirts of camp I field dressed my first deer in front of all my friends. A few grainy snap shots were taken. A video may still exist that chronicles how to field dress a deer with lots of laughs.

First entry

Hello fellow hunters. I got a great idea from john Girard and I'm attempting to give it a shot. My intention is to create a record of our hunting experiences over the years. I invite all of my friends to share their Michigan hunting stories, experiences, pictures etc... Of course any hunting or outdoor experiences are welcome and they are not limited to hunts in Marilla Twp.