OT: Any mgohunter's out there?
It has been painfully slow as late on the blog so I thought I would try this and see if it got by the mods. I figured that since many of the fans here are probably from the midwest there are likely some hunting enthusiasts on the here and wondered if they would like to share a favorite story (short) or maybe a great hunting tip that has bagged them some nice game.
For my part I will say that I come from a long line of hunters. The men and women in my Father's family were all hunters and it was something he loved to do as well...until we came along. For whatever reason he could never get my brother and I interested in it. We would rather be playing sports so being the amazing Dad that he was, he dropped hunting in favor of becoming our baseball, hockey, volleyball and soccer coach.
After I moved out and got married I began to feel like my relationship with my Father was...I don't know...it just wasn't as strong as it used to be. I thought a lot about how I could fix it and after a great deal of thought I remembered how much he used to enjoy hunting.
I called him up one night and asked him if he wanted to take his gun course and hunter's safety course with me and we could start hunting together. I had no idea at the time what an impact that would have on our relationship.
After we took the course we hunted together all the time and through all the various seasons (deer, waterfowl, birds, rabbits, bear etc). I always loved my Father, but now we were becoming best friends as well. The times trudging through the bush, sitting in blinds, taking the boat across the lake...we made a lot of memories from our time on the hunt.
My Father passed away two years ago and some of the fondest memories I have of him now are of the two of us out huntinig. What a difference one decision can make in a persons life and how different could my relationship with my Father have been if I hadn't asked him to do that. Hunting can be an awesome thing on many levels, so I ask the mgocommunity, share a story, share a tip...let me know who the hunters are out there.
hunting is hunting. There could be some college age guys on here who could learn from your stories...let them fly!
beat me to it. I was going to say only Cougars on the weekends.
your avatar is one of your harvests.
Finch?
Really cool story. I've only been hunting once in my life, but I appreciate your story. I don't think you need your closing comment, though. Most of the posters here appreciate a well written OP, even if it isn't directly about UM sports.
As I said in the OP, my Father's family all hunted together, it was a family thing. Every holiday they would get together and go hunting and on one particular holiday they all went rabbit hunting. There were at least 10 of them as my Father told me.
In the interest of the story I list a few of the parties: My Father, Grandfather, Grandmother, Great-grandfather, grandfather's brother and grandfather's brother's wife.
Apparently the dog wasn't feeling well this one morning so my great grandfather was playing the part of the dog. Going out into the woods and trying to push the rabbits out to the hunters. After a while my father saw what he thought was a rabbit running through a thicket and whispered to his aunt who was next to him. He didn't shoot because he wasn't sure of what he saw, but his aunt swung around and unloaded both barrels of her 20 gauge double barrel shotgun into my great grandfathers legs (her father-in-law).
Thankfully she was a good distance from him and not a great shot so the damage wasn't severe, but needless to say, my great grandfather didn't play the hound anymore when my great aunt was around.
Thats a great anecdote. My family does a bit of hunting out here in AZ (quail, dove, and duck) and its always great bonding time. Although some people may not fully understand hunting, everyone can appreciate quiet time in nature with your loved ones. Some of the best conversations occur when you remove yourself from the distractions of life and live in the moment. haha that was my Emmerson tangent of the day..
just being out in nature is great. I know my mother used to always laugh when we would come home empty handed (which happened a lot) and call us the great white hunters. Some of my best memories are the talks we would have on trips when we wouldn't shoot a thing.
Funny how hobbies tend to whither on the vine during grad school huh?
what are hobbies? what is free time-- hell, what is time? Where am I? How am I? GAAAAAA!!!!
and just do the opener of gun because it's tradition. Same reason as you why I'm not a fan of the first week of firearm season: too many dumbasses. I do enjoy the muzzleloader season, however.
Sorry to hear about your father. My dad is an avid hunter and I can remember the look in his eyes when I told him, at age 15, that I didn't want to hunt anymore. I don't regret not hunting, but, I missed a lot of time with my father (and free hunting trips around the country!). You are lucky to have had those moments and memories.
I do, however, have a trip, twice a year, to my parents' winter home in Arkansas where my dad, my wife, and I go trout fishing. I'll remember that all my life.
As an aside, a couple years ago my father was shooting his bow, I chuckled when he missed the target (which never happens -- according to him). He looked at me and said "what are you laughing at, you can't even pull it back". Two near bullseye shots later, he just looked at me and said "Nice shooting. You were always a good shot..... what a waste." Now that's a memory I'll always have.
The day I shot my only buck was the greatest day of my life. It was also a great memory of my dad when he was still alive. Since I been to U of M have not been deer hunting but would never be the same anyway. My senior year of high school I went partridge hunting 3-4 days a week. Such a great time. Hopefully I can start fishing this summer. Any good places to go near Ann Arbor?
but my dad never did.
He tried it once or twice and actually shot a deer and then said he did not like the idea of having to gut it. So...he never did it again. In his defense...even the least little bit of blood makes him woozy. Gutting a deer involves A LOT of blood. He still loved deer season and hearing all the stories and eating venison and deer salami but he never did go out again.
I on the other hand have hunted all my life and while i dont have any true trophy deer, i have bagged my share of nice bucks and does. It is really great meat.
Hunting is a wonderful pursuit and makes me think of simpler times in this high-tech, always in touch world that we have now.
Thanks for the post OP.
Gutting a deer...reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me a few years back. He's a UM grad and an avid deer hunter. His brother-in-law was an OSU alum who had never been hunting but kept pestering my friend to take him. So he finally took him deer hunting. His doofus brother-in-law kept making noise and scaring the deer away, but my friend finally did get the buck he had been tracking. The OSU guy asks where the cooler is. My friend says it's back at the cabin and OSU guy looks crest fallen. My friend asks why the long face, and the guy says he really has to poop in a bad way. My friend points out that maybe people in Ohio poop in coolers, but we don't do that around here...besides, out here in the middle of the woods, you don't need a cooler. So he convinces the guy to climb a tree and hang his a$$ over the branch. The guy is so tired from the early morning hunt, he falls asleep. Meanwhile, my friend guts the deer and puts all the guts under the tree the guy is sleeping in. About an hour later the guy comes up to my friend and my friend asked if everything was all right. He replied, in a self-satisfied way, "well, I shit so hard I shit my guts out, but with the help of God and this here stick, I was able to get them all back in!"
This meme is starting to get overplayed
I got when I was 15 on the apple farm I grew up on. He was about 315 pounds before we dressed him and the taxidermist said the spread on the antlers was 19 1/2", which was a quarter inch shy of the state record at the time.
My wife loves my deer. She named him Fred. We have lived together for 9 years now in two separate houses and he lived above the mantle in both houses. I am thankful she hasn't banished him to the basement or garage like she did with my pool table or all the other cool stuff I had before we got married.
When we moved to Columbus, I didn't want Fred to get damaged in transit, so he rode in the cab of my truck with me. I had him strapped into the passenger seat, and we got more than a few double takes while on the expressway. I'd pull up next to cars on I-71 and ride next to them at the same speed, and eventually, every person I passed looked, looked again, and busted up laughing. It was a fun ride. (cool story, bro)
That is a nice looking buck! I wish we grew deer like that around here.
advantage. The Apple farm I grew up on was 600 acres and 400 of it was an orchard with around 500 apple tress and 150 or so pear trees and a river running along its northern edge. We used to drive through the orchard at night with a spotlight and count how many deer we would see. The highest number we hit in one given night was 37. With all that land, food and freshwater around, they certainly made themselves at home (this property was approximately 14 miles from Downtown Cleveland, so although it was a 600 acre estate, it was essentially in a suburban area, so the deer must've loved the quiet of the orchard as opposed to dodging traffic just a half mile away)
How does one become a Michigan fan growing up 14 miles from downtown Cleveland?
in Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. My Father's family is all over the state. We moved to Cleveland before I turned 1, but Pops made sure I wouldn't ever be a Buckeye.
I was born in that very same hospital. I
Both my kids were born there, too.
Very nice deer you took there, and boy am I jealous of your hunting ground. In case anyone on the board isn't aware, apples are something like crack rocks to deer. I'm out here on state land in Michigan, battling the other savages for a little corner of the woods, while waiting for a drunk to mistake me for a record buck.
He does describe an amazing setup there. I don't have nearly the area where I hunt or the attractions. I used to use apples to try to get deer to come into the area but there were a number of apple trees all around, so nothing seperated my spot from that of any other.
My Father suggested one day that I try carrots because when his carrots are growing in the garden that is what the deer target more than anything else. I took his advise and it was incredible how many carrots the deer went through. Sadly, they tended to feed late at night when I couldn't shoot them.
One season my brother-in-law and I decided to by a 500 lb bin of carrots to dump in the field prior to hunting season to try and get the deer coming there instead of other areas. I damn near passed out when we went there the next day (less than 24 hours after we dumped the carrots) and over half were gone....250 lbs worth of carrots! They went through the 500 lbs in less than three days.
We were so amazed we decided to dump another bin and stake it out that night to see how many deer were actually feeding there. That night we saw a minimum of 22 deer but could have been more (that was just the most we saw at the carrots at one time).
We also found that when carrots were around they left the apples alone almmost entirely.
I started hunting with my father when I was young. I still hunt with my family members. It is a great bonding experience. Those who don't hunt always focus on the killing. Hunters know that is secondary. For instance, the success rate for deer season in Michigan used to consistently run around 18-20%. Yet, millions of people go hunting religiously to be in nature and spend time with family and friends even though the vast majority of time they will not have a "successful hunt" if it is narrowly defined as harvesting the animal.
My wife is from southern California, and nobody in her family hunted or even had a gun. I used to take her to the shooting range when I practiced to get ready for the season. She enjoyed shooting and eventually wanted to take the Hunter's Safety class. I took it again with her. Now, she is a passionate hunter, and we have hunted all over both domestically and internationally. We have always been pleased with the quality of our fellow hunters and the guides/staff of the outfitters. It is a great way to experience nature and interact with others in a meaningful way.
The only thing I like about living in Ohio is the deer hunting. The deer herd down here is amazing. I have some truly majestic photos taken by my trail cam from last fall.
My family owns a little over 100 acres in Jackson County and I have taken many deer there over the last few years since I have started hunting. Finally got my first bow kill this fall with a nice 7-Point. Shooting them with a gun is a thrill, but the adrenaline rush from a bow kill is even better.
Nothing like letting the arrow fly, watching it connect, and then sitting in your tree stand for the next twenty minutes shaking because of the rush.
I got my first bow kill this fall. It dropped right in its tracks. I sat in my tree stand for 20 minutes, shaking because of the rush. I also tried to take about 100 pictures with the camera phone.
Hunting runs through my veins probably even more than Michigan football. Turkey-hunted this morning (unsuccessfully), as a matter of fact.
My father was a naturalist, as was my maternal grandfather. Both lightly hunted, but placed more emphasis on conservation and environmental responsibility. I try to follow in their footsteps, but more of my efforts are geared towards growing and killing deer than either would have preferred.
My big passions are upland bird-hunting and waterfowling.
mgohunter's what?
I don't know what it is about the apostrophe but that is the one rule of the english language that I have never figured out. Honestly, I can start a central line in a patient with my eyes closed, but ask me whether an apostrohe belongs in a given word and I am absolutely lost. My apologies to the mgoreadership.
A doctor reference in a post about language/hunting. ;-)
I openly admitted to being dumb when it comes to the apostrope, I didn't want people to think I was entirely dumb....lol
And just so you know, I gave you that +1 funny so I am capable of laughing at myself too!
Because I don't think you're doing it consciously, saying "hey, I'm a doctor, not a (fill in the blank), damnit!". I just wanted to show you how it unconsciously comes out in conversation, and how the rest of us would "know", even if you're not intending to let us know.
I don't really see the point of hunting, but it's been an entertaining and heart-felt thread.
I don't hear that phrase much around here but is one of my favorites when I visit my family over in England. Nicely done.
On the thread, I must say it has received a lot more attention than I thought it would. I am quite surprised at both the volume and content held within. Thanks to all who contributed.
but have always wanted to go. My dad used to hunt with his father but when my brother and I were younger my mom made him stop going. Any advice for a complete novice on how to pick up hunting a few decades into his life?
My lack of knowlege makes the idea intimidating, but I have spent a great deal of time outdoors in the SE as a fishing guide (never understood how I've fished through the low country but never have hunted), any tips would be appreciated!
I recommend starting with a hunter's safety class. In most states you need the certificate to obtain a hunting license unless you are grandfathered in because of your age. For many states the class is free. Depending on whether you have a gun or how familiar you are with one, you may wish to also take a firearms class to be comfortable handling and shooting one. Also, this is an opportunity to try different guns.
Since you are a fishing guide, you know the importance of a guide, especially for the novice. Find a good one through your friends or clients-many fisherman hunt as well. You will have to determine what type of hunting you wish to do- waterfowl/upland birds or deer. Talk with the guide to determine if he is someone with whom you would like to hunt. Explain that you are new to hunting to ensure he is willing to be patient with a novice. Also, you may need him to provide firearms for you. Be sure to ask about that and whether there will be an extra charge.
If you have a friend or family member to go through the process with you, you will find it more fun. But even if you have to do it alone, you will enjoy the experience, and you will find others to hunt with in the future. Good Luck.
Thanks for the insight, tons of help. Unfortunately I was a fishing guide in an old life, sitting behind a desk in Chicago now. But, I should be able to find some old connections that would be helpful, now I just need to find someone to learn with me.
I'm a late starting hunter too, but luckily I have a friend who's an avid hunter to help show me the ropes. The guys and gals at your local conservation club might be a good resourse. Taking your hunter's safety course there is a good way to make a connection, and to scope out the club to see if it's something you would be interested in joining.
Look up a local rod and gun club, there are usually a bunch of guys and gals who are members that can help out new people. You would have the distinct advantage of being able to trade hunt trips for fishing trips. You should also make sure to take hunter safety. Most of the other students will be in 5th grade so you might feel a bit like Billy Madison but it is worth the effort. My wife took hunter safety a few years back and said it helped get over her apprehension. Also, gutting a deer after someone shows you how to do it is way easier than learning on the fly.
I work as a fish and wildlife biologist in northern Michigan which is a fantastic job when not writing grants. The only real annoyance is that 90%+ of the people in this line of work in Michigan are MSU grads. Maybe Joe Bauseman will get a job up here and liven things up. But it is all worth it to be able to work outside and do projects that benefit both game and non-game species. I spent the weekend turkey hunting and have a freezer full of tasty dead birds and mammals I shot and butchered that were not adminstered with hormones or antibiotics or kept in a tiny cage or six inches of feces in a paddock.
And for all your non-hunters reading this who think that Ted Nugent speaks for the hunting community please keep in mind that he is a fucking blowhard moron. While he makes great points from time to time about getting more people involved with the outdoors and hunting most of the air he exhales is meant to maintain his persona and rack up speaking and appearance fees. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but most non-hunters I meet have a hunting = Ted Nugent heuristic that needs to be corrected.
If Bauserman's shooting is anything like his passing, you want him as far away from Michigan as possible.
I remember my dad taking me and my brother out on the family property before we could shoot. One opening day of deer season (my second favorite day of the year behind The Game), we were all walking back to our truck when a huge 8 pointer walked out in front of us. That was my dad's first buck. My brother shot one almost in the same spot as him. I had to go out to Iowa to get mine... Regardless, it brought us all together unlike anything else. I would give hunting a try. You'll be hooked....wait...that's fishing...
I'm definitely no hunter but decided to go with a buddy who was a crazed animal killer (I only went along, didn't actually have a gun to hunt). He always got excited about turkey season and I figured, hey, turkeys are incredibly ugly birds so why not! I'm so glad I did because like BiY said, its a great bonding experience being outside and having time to just sit around and whisper.
So, anyway, the morning goes by and not a damn peep unitl we were just about to pack it up and head home. My buddy had been calling and calling and finally a big gobbler answered. He kept making contact but never got any closer to us so my buddy got frustrated and ordered that we advance on our bellies. So we crawled up over this small ridge and saw a whole field full of turkey (plural?). They were probably 100 yards away and there was no way we could get any closer so my buddy yelled "NOW!" (like I was supposed to know what that meant). He jumped up and sprinted towards the birds and started blasting from his hip. Of course you had to be there to appreciate the visual but, needless to say, seeing a 250lb college linebacker running after 20 freaked out birds with a gun blasting away is something you'd never forget. I laughed my a-- off for a good 10 minutes.
To make a long story short, there are probably 10 turkeys in West Virginia limping around, riddled with shotgun pellets but all still very much alive.
that's irresponsible as hell. Glad you're not hung up on it, but in the hunting community what you described would be seriously frowned upon.
Dishonorable, and practiced by losers like Ted Nugent and other poachers. If you don't have a kill shot, you don't take it, so there isn't some injured animal dragging itself around in the woods until it dies. Hunters like your friend give the sport a bad name.