Time sure flies these days. It seems like the spring turkey season just ended, but we’re already looking at fall and another fall turkey season here in Area J.
No one’s quite sure why we are once again having a fall turkey season here. With no organized feeding programs in this area any more, two horribly cold winters, and several late, cold springs, which along with a long list of predators has had a devastating effect on the last two nesting
The Pigeon River Country State Forest located in the northeastern portion of the lower peninsula is truly a very unique, publicly owned forest. Those who founded the Pigeon had a vision that it would remain as the last truly wild place in the lower peninsula of Michigan the BIG WILD. For over a decade the BIG WILD has been severely compromised by special interest groups and this is unacceptable to us.
Did you ever wonder what to say when you were giving up a volunteer position? The MWTHA is a good organization but after 20 years of writing articles as Ole Sarg I am hanging up my pencil. My mind takes longer and longer to come up with ideas to write about, so this is the last article that I’m writing.
This past March fellow member and great supporter Don Minier of East Leroy (Battle Creek area) passed away. Don was one of a very few who knew how to call up a gobbler during the very first days of turkey hunting. His reputation was well known among the rest of us would be turkey hunters. Don’s parents owned a restaurant north of Reed City in Osceola County and in the early days Don turkey hunted in this area. Each year he came to the Wild Turkey Hunters Rendezvous. If you attended our event Don met you at the door and was happy to collect your entrance fee.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third article by John Gunnall that has appeared in Michigan Turkey Tracks. (CONTINUED…)
At least monthly the Michigan DNR has published a column entitled “Cuffs and Collars” describing its actions taken against persons committing illegal acts in each of ten separate regions making up our state. Regulations being violated by those who have no regrets and take no responsibility for obeying rules have always been the primary justification for having DNR enforcement officers.
The following includes action taken by both the PM Chapter and MWTHA.
This past winter the Pere Marquette Chapter began our winter survival program on January 12. During the winter we purchased and distributed 15,000 pounds of shelled corn to 2,866 Wild Turkeys distributed over our 13 county area of northern Michigan. The program was concluded on March 21,2015.
The Grant Gobblers MWTHA Banquet was a hugh success and a terrific event. There were many games, bucket raffles, guns won (Gold Star Guns out of Edmore), great food (Chris and Leeann Hesse of PorkNStien) and five scholarships given out. Congrates gentlemen another fine event. ... See MoreSee Less
In the April 2024 issue of Woods and Water News there’s an in depth article by Millard Holton about apple tree cultivation. This got me to thinking about lending some hard learned things about apple trees that we have. We have about 26 apple trees I’ve planted on my property for personal use and what hits the ground the animals get. Millard is right about the mice, etc. wanting to eat the bark on young trees, for this we put repellent granules around the base at the beginning of winter. We have lost a few to this before putting the repellent down; it’s worth it. Repellent is a small price to pay, replacing the tree and start growing a new one is needless tree growth time lost. Also, we found out we need to put 6 foot high chicken wire fencing around the young trees with supporting posts. Again, chicken wire cost vs tree growing time when you need to replace a young tree that was eaten to the ground by deer… your call! By the way, keep the fencing up permanently to avoid the tree being a buck rub. Losing an older producing tree is a tragedy. I’ve learned to plant the trees that come in dirt in roughly 5 gal containers; bare root trees never worked out real good for us. We make a fairly big hole for the new tree and we found the best results by mixing about 10 bags of top soil like material into the existing dirt as we have predominantly sandy soil. Thanks, Millard for getting me thinking about this, I’ll bet your cider was delicious. ... See MoreSee Less
MWTHA State Chapter is going to have a general membership meeting May 19th, 2024, at the Clare Jay’s Sporting Goods in the Outback Room at 12 noon. The meeting will address, not limited to, the Charitable Gaming License rules, after banquet reporting “musts” and elections. Hope to see you there; Happy Hunting in the up-coming Turkey season. Gary Maas / MWTHA Pres. ... See MoreSee Less
What a great time we all had at the 26th Annual MWTHA Banquet at the Clare Church of the Nazarene last night. We handed out three scholarships: (pictured left to right) presenter Mark Todd - Morgan Bowers from Clare HS, Jaiden Sharrow from Farwell HS and Blake Davenport from Harrison HS. Also pictured is a small part of the kids who lined up to go across the stage to pick out their free gifts, and pictured is lucky “Polly” who was the first picked for the women’s free raffle table and decided to take the gun which was about as big as she is, lol. And, of course, we had a delicious dinner catered by Mack’s on Main from Gladwin. I must give a special shout out to “Johnny” from the Church of the Nazarene for all his help - he’s the best. Ask around and you’ll find out this is a great family oriented banquet night out. Thank you to everyone who came and to all our sponsors and workers who helped make this event possible each year. Certainly couldn’t do it without your help and support. ... See MoreSee Less
It is that time of year again. The Grant Gobblers are having their annual banquet March 22nd at Grant Community Church, doors open at 5:30 PM. For more info call Chapter President Brian Heminger at 616-291-1626. Also, of course, the North-Central Chapter is having their annual banquet March 2nd at the Clare Church of the Nazarene, doors open at 5:00 PM. For more info call Gary Maas at 989-588-1193. We look forward to two great MWTHA banquets and thank you for your continued support. ... See MoreSee Less