West Michigan Outdoor 2019 by Hearst Midwest

WEST MICHIGAN OUTDOOR

2019

A supplement to the Pioneer, Herald Review, Lake County Star, and River Valley Shopper

West Michigan Outdoor 2019

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Bow hunters will face new challenges By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director The consensus appears to be deer hunting season is going to be a good one. It all starts with the bow season on Oct. 1. “I think the quality of bucks have definitely improved over the past couple of years,” Tanner Havens, of Frank’s Sporting Goods in Morley, said. “We’re getting bigger and better bucks. It will be a little tougher with the four on one side rule. Those who have been managing deer and letting them grow up to that 2 ½ and 3 1/2 year ago should prosper from that this year.” DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing agrees. “Bow season looks good,” he said. “We have an abundance of acorns in this year. I’m getting

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good reports in Mecosta and Newaygo County. We need to remind hunters there is a baiting ban in place. Antler development has been good generally. Crops are late.” Billie Milligan, of Paris Archery indicated the new hunting regulations could have an impact. “How the season is going to go, it’s up in the air,” she said. “Guys are saying they’re seeing some nice racks.” “The big thing is having four points in one side for the rack in Mecosta County,” Warren Elka, of Triggertime Outfitters, said. He added when the rut is at its peak late October and early November is when hunters will especially be out. Hunters should refer to the DNR hunting digest for more details.

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Firearm deer season opens on a Friday By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director The biggest day of the year for hunters is on a Friday this year. This is when the firearm season, Nov. 15, opens. “There’s going to be a lot of guys taking that extended weekend off,” Tanner Havens, of Frank’s Sporting Goods in Morley, said. “Taking that Friday and the following Monday off gives you a fourday weekend and gets a lot of guys in the woods.” DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing agrees. “Most people like a Friday and weekend opener,” he said. “The antler point restriction

Billie Milligan, of Paris Archery, indicated the Friday’s firearm opener could have an impact on the Nov. 15-30 season. Hunters should consult the DNR hunting manual for all rules and regulations for the season.

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

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It will be the 11th year for the Southern Mecosta Whitetail Management Association’s buck pole in November. (Pioneer file photo) By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director

free lunch will get a raffle ticket to win a prize as well.”

It will be the 11th year for the Southern Mecosta Whitetail Management Association’s buck pole.

The association focuses on quality deer management.

“Our co-op covers four townships,” Wolf said. “Anybody that’s in our coop area is welcome to come. Everybody that brings a deer to hang onto the pole gets a prize. People that just come to watch and get a

“The healthiest buck will have the nice rack. We tend to let the year and a half bucks go and harvest them at 2 ½, 3 ½ and 4 ½ after that.”

“It’s about creating a balance deer herd The pole, at the Hinton Township Hall, will be up and running starting at noon on Nov. and harvesting enough does, Wolf said. “Deer are like fish in a fish bowl. Too many 16. fish in a fish bowl aren’t going to get very Harold Wolf is the president of the SMWMA pole, which has had success every big. You want the appropriate amount to year. have enough food and habitat.

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Hunting observers predict favorable small game season to stop the dwindling rabbit population. I’ve been seeing Pioneer Sports Director a lot more rabbits than ever Small game season opens on crossing the road here.” Sept. 15, and local hunting DNR wildlife biologist Pete observers predict it could be a Kailing is optimistic with decent one. small game prospects. “I think it’s been improving “It should be a good year in the last couple of years,” for them too,” he said. “For Tanner Havens, of Frank’s squirrels. If there’s a good Sporting Goods in Morley, acorn crop, it’s good hunting. said. “In this store, we’ve For rabbits, with a good been stressing the guys to do habitat, there should be an abundance as well.” some trapping on coyotes By John Raffel

“I knew some people squirrel hunt but I haven’t really heard of anything about that right now,” Billie Milligan, of Paris Archery, said. “I know people are talking about doing it.” It could be a good season for grouse and squirrels, Warren Elka, of Triggertime Outfitters said. “Most guys don’t go after rabbits until the first couple of frosts hits. Grouse will be that first week and the following week when woodcock opens.”

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Fall turkey season shows promise By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director Most observers would contend fall turkey season doesn’t quite draw the numbers as the spring season. But it does draw some interest among local hunters. “Guys I’ve sold licenses to in the past have had a pretty successful hunt,” Tanner Havens, of Frank’s Sporting Goods in Morley,

said. It still doesn’t quite compare with the spring season, DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing agreed. “There’s a fall turkey season but it doesn’t get a lot of attention,” Kailing said. Before the spring hatch there was not good. We had a lot of cold weather in April.” Hunters who didn’t get their bird in the spring have

a change for redemption in the fall. “Is not real big and it’s limited,” Warren Elka of Triggertime Outfitters in Big Rapids said. “Not a whole lot of people will hunt turkeys in the fall. There’s not a lot of demand in licenses being bought for it.” Hunters should check the DNR digest on turkey season rules and regulations.

West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Salmon run major event in Lake County

Doug Loomis, of Ed's Sport Shop in Baldwin is expecting another successful salmon run. (Pioneer file photo) By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director The salmon run is a unique fall tradition in Lake County. It’s expected to continue its rich tradition this fall.

“(In early October), the fish do come into the river to reproduce and pass away. As you get into late in the season, the fishing is still good but the fish start to get a little worn out and they’re not as fun to fish for.”

The last week or so there’s have been lots of boats in Ludington,” Doug Loomis, of Ed’s Sport Shop in Baldwin said. “There’s been a lot of boats at Pere Marquette Lake. A lot are coming up. (Salmon) are already here.”

The salmon run, in terms of events, is usually our highest in number,” the spokesman said. “It depends on who you ask. Some guys like coming for trout fishing and some like coming for salmon. A lot of the people like to come for the bigger fighting fish.”

“We’ve got salmon in the river right now," a spokesman at the Pere Marquette River Lodge said in late August. “We generally see salmon the last week of August through the first two weeks of October. So we really get into the prime of our peak for that and the start of the season.

Jason Frank of the Baldwin Tackle Box calls the salmon run “usually the biggest thing for the town of Baldwin. The guides are starting to work pretty much every day now and there's some customers starting to show up. Between now and mid-October, it will be pretty busy."

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Fall fishing offers numerous opportunities By John Raffel

looking forward to that.

Pioneer Sports Director

“I’ve heard a lot of guys are looking to do walleye fishing

This area frequently provides some of the best fishing during the fall months.

come hunting season. I hear they get some bigger ones later in the year as it gets colder

“I think there’s going to be

water. It should be a good year

quite a few salmon coming in

coming up as well.”

especially below Croton. It’s usually about the first October when we get a good run of salmon,” Tanner Havens, of

Billie Milligan, of Paris Archery indicated fishing reports she’s heard have been slow.

Area anglers hope for a strong fall season. (File photo) doing,” Milligan said.

on the river with the Pere

time hunting during the fall.

“The thing is salmon and late

Marquette. Fall walleye fishing

“Most people in the fall go

steelhead coming through,”

is good this time of the year.”

Warren Elka of Triggertime

Jeff Greene, of Rodney, is

he said. “I don’t think there’s a

after salmon and steelhead,”

Frank’s Sporting Goods in

“There’s a lot of local lakes,

Outfitters in Big Rapids, said.

among the area’s avid anglers,

whole lot of bluegill and bass

Morley, said. “I’m definitely

but I don’t know how they’re

“It should be pretty good

although he spends a lot of

fishing in the fall.”

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Ice anglers hoping for improvement this winter By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director Jeff Greene of Rodney calls last winter of ice fishing “the second worst winter I’ve had” in the last 10 seasons. It was tough to catch fish last winter.” Popular ice fishing lakes include Haymarsh, Hillview

Anglers anticipate a better ice season this year. (File photo)

and Mecosta. Jerry Mondrella, will be 83 in January and hopes to continue ice fishing. He has hit the Bitely and Reed City area but tends to stay local. He tends to ice fish only. “Last year wasn’t that good,” Mondrella said. “They were hard to come by.”

Hunters set for bear season By John Raffel

of Frank’s Sporting Goods in Morley, said. “It takes around Pioneer Sports Director seven years. Lake, Osceola and Newaygo counties are looking Bear hunting isn’t too prevalent in this area, although at 14 years to get a tag. Guys who do get a tag seem to have the population seem to be up in Newaygo and Lake counties a good time.” and all points north. Bear activity is light in Mecosta County. “It’s really tough to get a tag, at least where I’m here in the Gladwin unit,” Tanner Havens,

For bear hunting, “the further north, the more activity you

get,” DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing said. “There’s actually more tags for the Baldwin zone which is in Lake County and that sort of area,” Warren Elka of Triggertime Outfitters in Big Rapids said. Hunters should check the DNR manual for more information on the bear hunting season.

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Hunters expecting a favorable waterfowl season By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director Waterfowl hunting has been a favorite local fall hunting activity for many years. “I honestly haven’t seen a big number of geese around this area,” Tanner Havens, of Frank’s Sporting Goods in Morley, said. “Ducks, I’ve seen quite a few of, and that’s typical. Goose hunting, I haven’t seen as many.” DNR wildlife biologist Pete

Kailing reminds hunters to check the DNR Waterfowl digest. “It’s always a big opener at Haymarsh and Martiny,” he said. “It’s pretty crowded on that duck opener (Oct. 15). M-20 is the divider between two zones.” Warren Elka, of Triggertime Outfitters, Big Rapids, pointed out how popular the sport has been in the area. “It’s a pretty big thing with ducks and geese,” he said. “They do an early waterfowl season.”

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Trappers ready for another season By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director “I know last year coyotes were up and that amounts to the effort to knock them out,” Tanner Havens, of Frank’s Sporting Goods in Morley, said. “Prices for coyotes were going

numbers in check.” DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing noted there was a trappers workshop on Sept. 7 to educate individuals about the sport. Warren Elka, of Triggertime Outfitter, said his store has customers who trap.

pretty good this year. Guys in this area

“There’s not a lot of people who do it

understand what it’s all about. It’s

anymore but there are a few,” he said.

really not about making money. It’s

Trappers should consult with the DNR

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Bowen expects another favorable deer season locally By John Raffel

Pioneer Sports Writer Colton Bowen won’t soon forget the 2018 deer rifle season in Mecosta County. The 30-year-old Harrietta resident was hunting in the Stanwood area on Nov. 16, 2018, when he bagged a 7-point buck with 16 1/4-inch rack span. He used one shot from his 30.06. “That was definitely one of the biggest ones I’ve shot,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything

about our trail cams yet. I’m sure it’s going to be another really good year. I’ll probably be hunting on the same spot”

buck,” he said. “I waited for him to come out from behind a tree. I took a shot, he ran 10 yards and went down.”

Bowen said it was the first time he had seen this buck. His dad saw the buck on the landowner’s trail cam.

Bowen said he was about 100 yards away when he took the shot.

“We hunted on an 80-acre farm in Stanwood,” Bowen said a year ago. “Between opening day and before I saw that buck, we probably saw, He spotted a doe but didn’t see between me and my dad and (another hunter) close to 100 anything by it. deer in those two days alone.” “I turned around and looked Bowen indicated he’ll be doing in front of me and saw this some bow hunting this season. “We went out opening day and both saw a lot of deer,” Bowen said a year ago. “We went out the day after opening day.”

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Tustin resident enjoys duck, deer season By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director Marshall Wickens lives in northern Osceola County and loves to deer and duck hunt. It’s why he’s looking forward to another fall season.

Marshall Wickens is an avid deer and duck hunter. (Pioneer file photo)

“Those are probably the biggest two I do,” Wickens said. “I just rifle hunt now.

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Ducks are going to be good. We’ve had a lot of water so the potholes are holding good nesting habitat. “Deer looks like it’s going to be good also. Deer hunting in my particular area has improved a lot really since the antler point restriction was put into effect a few years ago. We’re seeing more bucks than ever before.”

Wickens hunts both in the Tustin area, and Mason County.

duck hunting. When we’re deer hunting, it has to be more of a solitary kind of thing.

“Duck hunting for me is more of a low pressure thing and is fun to do with retrievers and with my family, my wife and my daughter,” Wickens said. “For us, we enjoy the comraderie of socializing with family and friends as we’re

“I’ve taken three of my largest four bucks just in the last three years. I’ve had a 10 and two 8-pointers. I attribute that to the antler point restriction. In my camp we’re seeing larger bucks than we ever have before.”

Trappers receive instruction By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director Joe Velchansky of the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association was at a trapping seminar conducted on Sept. 7 at the Mecosta County Rod & Gun Club.

a trapper education instructor for the DNR.” Trapping expert Carl Meissner said there were 21 attendees at the annual fall trapping seminar.

Velchansky is from Stanton.

“Almost all of them were new people who have not been here before,” he said. “There were a lot of kids. They learned a lot about trapping raccoons and covered everything from beaver to fox to muskrats and coyotes. We talked about the damage that the overpopulation of some of these species would do to some of the native wildlife and other native habitat issues.

“I’m the convention coordinator for the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association,” he said. “I’m also

“We also taught them how to release animals that are non target species or have no value to trap. We’re also teaching

His subject at the seminar was land trapping. “I gave some instruction for raccoon trapping on land, plus fox trapping and coyote trapping and coyote control,” he said.

Joe Velchansky, of the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, was at a trapping seminar conducted on Sept. 7 at the Mecosta County Rod & Gun Club. (Pioneer photo/ John Raffel)

them how to call in predators such as coyotes and fox and bobcats.”

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Barryton trapper enjoys uniqueness of sport By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Writer Barryton’s Carl Meissner realizes as a trapper, he’s among a rare group of sportsmen. But he rather enjoys it. He’s been doing the sport for seven years. “I helped a retired buddy of mine who needed help and didn’t feel comfortable trapping in the cold by himself,” Meissner said. His favor animal to trap is the beaver.

Kyle Randall, of Paris, is host of TV's Wilderness Journal. (Pioneer file photo)

TV outdoor host predicts unique hunting and fishing seasons By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director Kyle Randall, TV host for The Wilderness Journal, has some unique thoughts about what various aspects of the outdoors holds in store for the area. The deer season could be special. “As far as the deer numbers, in this area, I would say they’re good to very good,” Randall said. “Of course the new rules on baiting and animal-based scents will have an effect. I think the greatest effect will be on archery hunters. Overall, the firearm hunters will mitigate some of that. “I think we’ll see a better than average firearm season

because there are good deer number and a lot of hunters will wait to participate in the firearm season. The youth hunt (Sept. 14-15) was a week earlier and I suspect they’ll do very well.” With other species, the woodcock and grouse numbers “are about average” Randall said. “They’re certainly not at a high, but there’s plenty of geese being taken in the earlier goose season. It should be a good hunting season save the fact many will change the tactics they use for deer hunting.” On bear hunting, “from what I know, those that have a permit are doing well,” Randall said. “The dog training is going well. Numbers of bears especially in the Lower Peninsula are substantially up. I suspect it

will be a good season.” Fall fishing has had mixed results. “Up until recently, fall fishing, especially in the rivers, has been going quite well,” Randall said. “The recent inclement weather will make that quite difficult. We’ve received quite a bit of rain recently. The water temperatures are cooling off. The bass fishing should get quite good going into the colder months. Many people turn their focus to hunting. Those that are fishing will have less competition and should have pretty good results.” As for ice fishing, “the key is early dependable ice,” Randall said. “If we have another year where it warms and thaws and freezes, you have a situation fish are moving deeper.”

“There’s a number of different ways you can pursue trapping them,” he said. “They also do a lot of damage, so by trapping them, you’re keeping the numbers down so they’re not destroying hillsides and flooding up farmlands and flooding over roads.”

Carl Meissner

“They’re plentiful,” he said. “And I have time to do it. On land trapping, by law you need to check it within a 24-hour period.”

your trap, you avoid certain traps that may catch more than what your target species traps. We have a dog proof trap. You can put them out to catch raccoons and maybe possums. But dogs won’t go into them. So you don’t worry about somebody’s dog getting into the trap.”

To be a good trapper, “most of it is being aware of your surroundings and understanding if there’s other area animals that might go into

Meissner said trappers are “a quiet circle of people. You can do it with people but it’s also something you can do alone.”

He also likes trapping muskrats.

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

Brian Wolak has been deer hunting 34 years.

Sportsman relishing 34 years of deer hunting By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director Brian Wolak is anxiously anticipating another successful deer hunting season. He’s been hunting for 34 years, since he was 12 years old. It was a unique hunting season for him last year.

firearm season in late afternoon on Nov. 24. He wound up taking second in the Pioneer’s Big Buck Classic. He was hunting in the Paris area on private property and used one shot from his .243. It was a 10-point buck with 19 1/2inch rack span.

“It was one of the biggest ones I’ve The veteran hunter bagged the shot,” Wolka said last year. “For 30th deer of his lifetime during the me in Michigan, it’s definitely the

biggest. There’s one in Montana that was bigger.” Wolak said he ‘kind of’ knew the buck was out there prior to his hunt. “We saw it on trail camera,” he said. Wolak said it was getting dark and he was checking legal shooting hours and was able to find the deer at the last second.

“He came out and started walking right toward us,” Wolak said. “I was about 50 yards away. That’s where he stopped and I shot him. He ran and we didn’t see any blood and were basically looking for him on our own. But we found him 50 yards away.” Wolak said he also bow hunts. “I think they’re both equally fun,” he said of bow hunting vs. rifle hunting. “I just love to hunt.”

This season, “may be a little slower and may be a little harder,” he said. “You might see bigger and better bucks with the no baiting rule.” Wolak hunts mostly private land. “I do like hunting public land,” he said. “It’s mostly deer hunting. I have (small game) hunted in the past but haven’t had time. I wouldn’t mind getting into that.”

West Michigan Outdoor 2019

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Jim Jacobs is a longtime local deer hunter. (File photo) By John Raffel Pioneer Sports Director Veteran hunter Joe Jacobs is anxious to see what kind of success hunters have this season. "The big change will be with the no baiting," he said. "We're going to have to go back to being hunters not waiters. My location, I hunt from a blind. I've got good trails. I've got fields they go into and come out of and a water hole nearby. It's looking good for me." Jacobs last year bagged an 8-point buck with 16-inch rack span on Nov 26 while hunting at a deer camp in Osceola County near the

Hersey area. He used one shot from his 30.30. He was hunting around 5 p.m. that day and said he’s shot many deer in his lifetime. “I had seen a few deer before this one,” Jacobs said. “In fact, I think I almost saw this one on opening day. I could see movement, I saw antlers. All of a sudden there was a shot. Someone from another property had taken a shot at it. It appeared he had not hit it.” But the deer Jacobs wound up shooting had a broken leg. “That’s one of the reasons I shot it,” he said “I was in the process of closing up my blind because it was getting

dark. It was behind a tree but I could see the antlers sticking out. It was a legal deer for that county. When it moved I could see it was crippled and I thought I should probably do him in. When he moved in front of my blind about 25 yards away, I shot it and he dropped right there. I was surprised when I got to it how big it was. It did have a broken front leg.” Jacobs said his 2018 buck was slightly smaller than his very best. He's been hunting 60 years. "I used to bow hunt but I haven't in a long time," Jacobs said. "In my younger years, I hunted small game and did some trapping."

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West Michigan Outdoor 2019

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Brett White is expecting another good deer hunting season.

old Hersey resident said she was hunting on her home area on private property. “It’s definitely is the biggest,” buck she’s shot, White said.

During the 2018 firearm deer hunting season, White bagged an 8-point buck with 15 5/8inch rack span while hunting early Friday morning on Nov. 16. She used one shot for her seventh lifetime deer.

She was out around 6 a.m.

When she talked about the event a year ago, the 18-year-

noticed it was a big one and

and shot it less than two hours later. “I had seen some other ones, then I saw this one appear on top of a hill,” White said. “I brought my scope up and shot it.”

As for 2019, “it looks pretty good,” she said. “We’ve got a few big bucks out here. In some spots there’s not as many bucks there. I think it will be a good year.” She rifle hunts and occasionally uses a muzzleloader. She hasn’t yet bagged a buck with a muzzleloader. “Getting a buck makes you happy because of all your time going out there is well spent,” White said.

West Michigan Outdoor 2019

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