To shoot, or not to shoot? That is the question.

One question that I must always ask myself, and I believe everyone should ask themselves when presented an option to shoot a deer is: How old is this deer? Is this deer too young? Should I try to shoot a deer that hasn't fully matured?
   Just because a deer may be legal to shoot, does not mean that you should necessarily go out of your way to shoot that animal. According to a page on umich.edu, they say that the average lifespan of a whitetail deer is from 2-3 years, but being able to live from 6-10 years if not killed beforehand. This shows that deer are being killed off very early on in their life, and while the population is sustainable, the deer are not fully maturing during their average lifespan. they are unable to reproduce or contribute to their environment to their fullest capability. I don't believe this is an issue everywhere you hunt, some areas in lower michigan have an abundance of mature deer in their population. When I hunt up north however in Atlanta, I do notice that while there is more forestry around, the deer are much smaller, and in much less abundance. This is most likely caused due to multiple issues including the food sources available to deer, being killed off by non-human predators, and being killed off too early by humans. I do believe we should be mindful of it. 
   Allowing the deer to mature allows for added protection to the sustained population of deer in the state, and it also allows for hunters to get more out of their kills because the deer will be larger and have more meat to salvage. 
   Some may argue however, and I completely understand and respect the argument that deer are very destructive animals. Deer love plants and vegetation, and are known for eating and destroying crops. Deer are very hard to keep out of gardens and farms because they are able to jump very high, making most fences useless. The deer will also get stuck in the garden fencing after after attempting to jump a high fence as well making for a rather unusual and stressful situation. Adding to the population could make it harder to control the deer and prevent them from getting into our crops, but there should be a balance. I believe that passing on smaller deer and allowing them a chance to grow up and contribute to the environment is important. When I drive up and down the thumb, I periodically see signs posted by the DNR that shows a graphic of a deer at different years in their life, and each year stands next to the last while also growing large and more mature throughout it's life. It really showed me what a difference just a year or two will make in the size of a deer, and how it really is worth it to ask yourself those questions when out in the woods about to pull a trigger. 

This isn't the real sign I viewed, but very similar and the same concept.

Setting Up Before The Hunt

In my first post I mentioned that one of the biggest problems that I faced, was not having a deer blind setup, and also not having a shooting lane (because it was rifle season)  prepared early enough before the season began. Now that I have gone through some of the rules and basics of how to be eligible to hunt, I will now follow up and explain what I should have done before my first initial hunt that I believe would have increased my chances of shooting a deer that first time out.

   First and foremost, I believe that my biggest problem (other than my own lack of experience) was not having a proper lane cleared out for hunting. I was on my grandparents property in Atlanta, MI. On the front of the property is grassy terrain with forest backdropping your look. Going into the forest a ways you step into swampy terrain, very wet and very thick. The only sort of "lane" I had at my disposal was down a couple of thin lines traveling north, the northeast, and the west lane which cut into my aunts property. the north lane traveled the farthest at maybe 75 yards at best, and and the others were no more than 25-50 yard lines. Maybe a couple of feet wide, it was hard to look at anything with fallen trees and branches in the way. I felt I didn't stand a chance.
   Ideally I should have spent the summer preparing for that day by going out and cutting down trees to make my lane wider and longer. at the very least I could have cut the brush, and smaller branches in the way ( I was a bit young then to be handling a chainsaw) in order to give myself a better view.

   The benefits also extend beyond yourself because deer tend to prefer open and clear pathways to walk, especially in the thick swampy woods where I was hunting. A couple of years ago I took it upon myself to properly clear out the lane during the summer and cut down trees to open up and extend my path. I took my dads chainsaw (brand new Stihl) and went to town, I made good progress but only got so far, I didn't get as far as I wanted to go but I did end up making it longer and a little bit wider (though not as wide as I hoped). Below are some pictures.

This is my clearing that leads to the New South Lane that I cut to extend my line

This was previously a thick wooded area that I followed to my blind, I used neon tape to find my way in the dark.

The End of the New South Lane "Fresh Cut"

Looking out to Blind

Walking down the South Lane

The North Lane, I didn't have enough time to properly clear it

Photo taken from my blind

Taken about a month after my initial large clearing my work was paying off.

Fresh Deer Tracks, Made my heart jump and was relieved that maybe I hadn't wasted my time.

   I was so happy to see the fresh tracks coming down my cut lane after spending 3 weekends cutting and clearing, I thought that maybe I would actually have a chance this year. I had to stop cutting after august in order to quite things down before hunting season began and get the deer comfortable with their new highway through the swamp. My blind was left in its original spot and I placed fresh ferns and pine around the outside to hide and shield any smells. It now lies in the middle of my hunting line, a north, south, west, and northeast line to hunt from, I was feeling better even though I didn't get to clear out the rest of my lines. Unfortunately in Montmorency county we are unable to bait/feed the deer due to disease outbreak control, but I tried to do what I could to prepare.

That is just one way you need to prepare to hunt though, besides just clearing a viewable lane, as I mentioned you should also hide your blind as best as you can, especially if you wait until the last minute to setup. Use branches, pine, and brush, fresh if possible so that the aroma from the brush will hide the scent of your blind. Deer have very sensitive noses and are easily alarmed when smelling foreign objects so this is a good way for a deer to miss you, you may also look at various hunting supplies stores and you can find various items that are said to block scents to avoid being spotted by deer.

If you are able to bait/feed the deer in your area, you should begin about a month or two before the planned hunting season begins. Again deer are very nervous animals and foreign objects easily make them feel uneasy. It is best to bait for a month or two beforehand so that you first allow time for the deer to find the food, and also to allow them to get comfortable enough to eat the food and come back to the same spot. It is also best to refill your food plots on a schedule and at similar time intervals so deer know when to expect a refill. The best method I believe is to purchase an automated food plot dispenser, this way a timer controls when food is released and you don't have to continue coming back.

There are many more tips that hunters know and use to better there chances of hunting, below is a link to an article I read that has a few good tips on how you can best prepare yourself for the hunt.

http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/big-game-hunting/6-blind-hunting-tactics-for-deer-hunters/

Michigan Deer Hunting Action Is Hot

Antler Geeks: Bowhunting in Michigan

I thought that this was an informative video on what hunting can be like in Michigan.



I

MI Hunting Rules and Regulations

There are many different guidelines to be followed when hunting in the state of Michigan. They vary from times allowed to hunt, or the type of weapon you must use when hunting, what you must wear when hunting, and more.
Click on the hyperlink below for an issue of Hunting and Trapping Digest 2016 from the Michigan DNR.
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/hunting_and_trapping_digest_461177_7.pdf 

Here is a list of topics covered in the 2016 Issue:

• Season Dates and bag limits pg. 4
• License Types and Fees pg. 8
• Also Explains Base License Fees and Military/Veterans and disabled Licenses pg. 8-10
• Zones, When and Where to Hunt Information pg. 11-13
• Also Includes Information on Proper hunting of public land pg. 14
• Hunting and Trespassing on Private Land *Important pg. 15-16
• Artificial Lights and Shining - Unlawful pg. 17
• ORV Regulations Related to Hunting pg. 17
• Equipment Regulations pg. 18
• Hunter Orange Requirement * 18
• Transportation of Firearms and Weapons pg. 19
• Hunting Season equipment Setup Regulations pg. 20-21
• Handgun Regulations pg. 21
• Tree Stand and Ground Blind Regulations pg. 22-24
• Youth Hunting Regulations pg. 25-27
• Hunters with Disabilities pg. 28-30
• Deer Regulations pg.31
• Deer, Antlered and Anterless Explained pg. 31
• Deer Licenses Explained pg. 31
• Deer Tag Antler Point Restrictions * pg. 32-33
• Deer Patches and Disposal Regulations pg. 34
• Special Deer Hunts pg.35
• Chronic Wasting Disease - Explained pg. 39
• Wildlife Diseases pg. 56-59
• Additional Hunting Rules pg. 60-66

Go to the address below for a complete list of rules and Regulations for Hunting in Michigan.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_37141-120756--,00.html

It is Important to note a few Key areas when Going through the digest issue:

1. Remember the proper season dates for which weapon you are hunting with.
2. Buy your License, Keep it with you always, Tag deer Immediately Upon Retrieval
3. Know your Zone, Hunting Times Vary slightly for each zone throughout Michigan.
4. Know where you are hunting, whether state, public, federal, or private land.
5. Do not Trespass onto strangers property.
6. Shining is Illegal and cannot be used to lure deer while hunting
7. ORV use is restricted during hunting hours
8. Some type of Orange clothing must be worn, and seen from all angles for safety purposes obv.
9. Have proper paperwork ready and with you at all times regarding weapons and firearms.
10. All deer must be checked by DNR Officials at proper Deer check stations throughout MI

• This is to ensure that the deer you are harvesting does not contain known diseases such as CWD (Chronic waste disease) or TB (Tuberculosis)

Picture of my friend Josh's Hunting Plot

Michigan Hunting Season Start and End

Wouldn't it be nice if we were all able to hunt year round. While hunting may seem boring to some, I enjoy sitting in a tree stand, and I would have no problem looking for the big buck all year round.   Unfortunately, that just isn't the case. It is necessary for us to have a designated hunting season however. If we were allowed to hunt year round the chances of game animals going extinct would drastically increase because some people just can't fill their freezers full enough. This is why we also have limitations on how many deer you are allowed to hunt during the year.

In Michigan regular season hunting begins on October 1st and will last until the end of the year, however, there are also pre-season hunting passes given, for several different occasions. Here is a detailed list of the Michigan hunting season for 2016 according the the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

• Early Antlerless Firearm                                
• September 17 & 18 
• Liberty Hunt (Youth and Disabled)                
• September 17 & 18
• Independence Hunt (Disabled hunters only)  
• October 13-16
• Archery (Main season)                          
• October 1 - November 14
• December 1 - January 1
• Regular Firearm 
• November 15 - 30
• Muzzleloading
• Zone 1 & 2 -- December 2 - 11
• Zone 3 -- December 2 - 18
• Late Antlerless Firearm
• December 19 - January 1

NOTICE: Season for All deer hunting officially ends on January 1.

If only it were as easy as knowing when you could go out to hunt. There is a little bit more to it then that. Aside from knowing when to hunt, you must also retrieve a Deer license/Tag from a licensing station (Usually a gas station, hardware or retail store, or other places that sell hunting gear). If you do not purchase a license and fail to tag your deer, The state of Michigan has the right to fine you up to 1,000 dollars including 90 days in jail, 1,000 dollars restitution for each deer harvested without a license, any license you do have will be revoked for the remainder of the year plus the next three years. It is always best to purchase your license before you go out to hunt and carry it with you at all times while hunting. In Michigan the Hunting License fees are as follows:

• Base License (Separate from Deer License but must be purchased in conjunction)
• Junior - 6.00
• Resident - 11.00
• Non Resident - 151.00
• Senior - 5.00
• Antlerless Deer/Junior Antlerless Deer License (Purchased with Base License)
• 20.00
• Non Resident, Second License or more - 170.00
• Deer License (Single License)
• Resident - 20.00
• Non Resident - 20.00
• Senior - 8.00
• Deer Combo License (Two Deer Licenses - Includes Restricted License for Antlerless)
• Resident - 40.00
• Non Resident - 190.00
• Senior - 28.00

Most of these fees are used to maintain the forestry and wildlife in the state of Michigan, some fees are also used to educate the public on benefits of hunting, and the impact of these activities on the conservation, preservation, and management of the states natural resources.

In my next post, I will continue to layout some of the rules and guidelines that must be followed when hunting in Michigan, there are many including time limitations, what you must wear, where you are allowed to hunt in the state, and more.

Introduction to my blog

09/19/2016

Introduction:

   I first began hunting with my dad about 14 years ago. I remember the first time hunting with my dad was for the start of the rifle hunting season for whitetail deer. It was the third week of November, I remember it being very cold, and a small amount of snow being on the ground at the time. My grandparents own about 10 acres of land in Atlanta, MI and my dad has had a small and very old trailer parked on the property for a long time. We use the trailer during the hunting season to stay and sleep, it is not much but it kept us warm and dry for the long weekends we spent up north. We spent 4 days in the cold swampy woods and went home empty handed. It was not the best first experience, but it was not the end of the world, and it did not dicourage me from going back out and trying again.

  Why, after 4 days did we not see one deer cross our path? What did my dad and I do wrong? The answer is quite simple, and the question is not really what we did wrong,  but what didn't we do. Some may say we just had a bad run of luck, but in truth I believe that the reason we did not see anything that weekend is because of our lack of preparation before the season began. There are ways to increase your chances of seeing and being able to take a shot at a deer. That is what I intend to address in this blog. Properly preparing for hunting season can make all the difference in the world and may greatly increase your chances of seeing and shooting a deer, some things you should do include clearing areas in the woods for clear sight and shots at a deer, and laying out food plots to attract more deer to the area. I will be addressing these topics more in depth throughout the blog in the coming weeks and months, including rules and regulations that must be followed in the coming entry later this week.