Starting with this year's licensing season, children under the age of 10 will be allowed to hunt and fish while in the company of an adult at least 21 years of age.
The $7.50 Mentored Youth Hunting license will be a package to include small game, spring and fall turkey, two deer tags-any deer-, a furbearer trapping permit and an all-species fishing license.
Youth hunters must hunt within arms length of their mentor. In other words, in very close proximity. And the mentor is responsible for all that goes on during the hunt, including safety and proper gun handling.
The question, is 10 and under too young to handle firearms, will have to be answered by parents or mentors. It will be up to those people to judge whether a particular child is mature enough to be trusted on a hunt.
Taking a youngster out to hunt carries with it a lot of serious responsibility on the part of the mentor if this program is to be successful.
And what about those adult hunters who already feel the woods and fields are too crowded with "special seasons" for young hunters? They will have to be convinced that this is a good thing and worthy of at least a trial basis.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Morel mushrooming-more info
Picking morels requires you to be observant. Anyone can do it, it's just a matter of training yourself to actually see what is around you.
Probably you'll begin by looking at the ground directly in front of you. Gradually, your gaze will extend out and little ahead of where you are walking at a slow pace.
Oh, that walking stick? Leave it at home. You're bound to lay it down at some point while investigating what appears to be morels, then walk off without it.
Another good tip, this one from personal experience is when you find one mushroom take some time and look closely at the area around the find.
Chances are if you find one, there will be others close by. Learn all you care to know about morel mushroom hunting, preservation and cooking at Outdoorama next week in Novi. Visit www.outdoorama.com for more information.
Probably you'll begin by looking at the ground directly in front of you. Gradually, your gaze will extend out and little ahead of where you are walking at a slow pace.
Oh, that walking stick? Leave it at home. You're bound to lay it down at some point while investigating what appears to be morels, then walk off without it.
Another good tip, this one from personal experience is when you find one mushroom take some time and look closely at the area around the find.
Chances are if you find one, there will be others close by. Learn all you care to know about morel mushroom hunting, preservation and cooking at Outdoorama next week in Novi. Visit www.outdoorama.com for more information.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Morel hunting-another sign of spring
Yes, it's still too early to get out looking for morel mushrooms. But those attending next week's Outdoorama, Feb., 23-26 at Novi's Suburban Collection Showplace can learn plenty about how to hunt, harvest, cook ad preserve morels.
Morel expert Theresa Maybrier has been studying and picking morels since she was 17. She's even kept detailed records and journals about her experiences over the past 50 years.
These mushrooms like warmer temperatures; between 60-80 degrees. They don't like especially hot weather, therefore, doing better in northern climates.
Overall, morels are found in 22 states including Alaska and can be found in the spring as the ground warms and days get longer.
Hunting begins in Illinois, Indiana, and other nearby states before gradually moving north into Michigan. Maybrier says we have some of the best hunting conditions due to all the forests and public land.
Learn the correct way to hunt morels and how to help preserve this much sought after treasure by attending one of Maybrier's seminars. Happy morel hunting!
Morel expert Theresa Maybrier has been studying and picking morels since she was 17. She's even kept detailed records and journals about her experiences over the past 50 years.
These mushrooms like warmer temperatures; between 60-80 degrees. They don't like especially hot weather, therefore, doing better in northern climates.
Overall, morels are found in 22 states including Alaska and can be found in the spring as the ground warms and days get longer.
Hunting begins in Illinois, Indiana, and other nearby states before gradually moving north into Michigan. Maybrier says we have some of the best hunting conditions due to all the forests and public land.
Learn the correct way to hunt morels and how to help preserve this much sought after treasure by attending one of Maybrier's seminars. Happy morel hunting!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Thoughts of bump boards; No-Mo around the corner!
Spring is in the air, at least in some peoples minds. The morel lady, Theresa Maybrier of Team Morel will be attending Outdoorama beginning Feb., 23. Hunting morels is definitely a spring activity.
So is the annual No-Mo kayak fishing tournament, now several years old but in it's second year of benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation.
That's where those bump boards come in. Bump boards are measuring devices like rulers, used to tell how large a fish is.
In the No-Mo, set for May 6 this year, fish are not brought to the ramp for a weigh-in, as such. They are placed on an approved ruler/bump board, a photo is taken of the fish, the measurement and the bump board, then downloaded when the weigh-in begins.
It's the assembling of all of this equipment that puts one in the mind of spring. So does the annual Quiet Water Symposium in Lansing at MSU, March 3.
Contact Chris LeMessurier at chris@kayakfishthegreatlakes.com for No-Mo entry info. Or see us at the Symposium.
So is the annual No-Mo kayak fishing tournament, now several years old but in it's second year of benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation.
That's where those bump boards come in. Bump boards are measuring devices like rulers, used to tell how large a fish is.
In the No-Mo, set for May 6 this year, fish are not brought to the ramp for a weigh-in, as such. They are placed on an approved ruler/bump board, a photo is taken of the fish, the measurement and the bump board, then downloaded when the weigh-in begins.
It's the assembling of all of this equipment that puts one in the mind of spring. So does the annual Quiet Water Symposium in Lansing at MSU, March 3.
Contact Chris LeMessurier at chris@kayakfishthegreatlakes.com for No-Mo entry info. Or see us at the Symposium.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Ice fishing school in new location.
There is ice for ice fishing to be found in Michigan. That's why Mark Martin went to "plan B" and moved his annual school from Saginaw Bay to Cadillac. He also changed the name of the school to Inland Ice Fishing Vacation School.
Beginning this weekend, students- who were notified ahead of time of the change-met in Cadillac to register and attend a seminar before heading out on the ice of Lakes Cadillac or Mitchell.
"There is over a foot of ice out here," Martin said via telephone. "There wasn't ice on Saginaw Bay. Nothing you would want to walk on anyway," he added.
Besides having ice, anglers will be able to park in adjacent parking lots and walk out to fish instead of riding on ATV's or snowmobiles.
With smaller walleye being taken on tip-ups and eater-size crappie hitting, the fishing should be decent. "Some people were disappointed at not being able to fish the bay. But this is going to give them not only a variety of fish, but conditions too," Martin said.
That variety includes outside bends, weeds and weed edges, conditions not found on Saginaw Bay. And instead of picking up and moving a couple of miles, on Cadillac and Mitchell that move could be just 50 yards.
Beginning this weekend, students- who were notified ahead of time of the change-met in Cadillac to register and attend a seminar before heading out on the ice of Lakes Cadillac or Mitchell.
"There is over a foot of ice out here," Martin said via telephone. "There wasn't ice on Saginaw Bay. Nothing you would want to walk on anyway," he added.
Besides having ice, anglers will be able to park in adjacent parking lots and walk out to fish instead of riding on ATV's or snowmobiles.
With smaller walleye being taken on tip-ups and eater-size crappie hitting, the fishing should be decent. "Some people were disappointed at not being able to fish the bay. But this is going to give them not only a variety of fish, but conditions too," Martin said.
That variety includes outside bends, weeds and weed edges, conditions not found on Saginaw Bay. And instead of picking up and moving a couple of miles, on Cadillac and Mitchell that move could be just 50 yards.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Warm weather can launch day be far off?
Like many of you, when the outside temperatures get warm as they are today, and the sun shines, I cart thinking of launch day and all that needs to be done to get off on a good foot-eh, make that paddle.
Another thing the weather brings out in me is the urge to begin camping. I know it's still too early to set a tent up; although some camp right through the winter, the idea is definitely there.
Henry Goodman from Berkley wrote a nice letter in response to a column I wrote on camping and moving up from a tent to a pop-up.
Suffice it to say that Goodman contends setting up and taking down a pop-up is a lot of work. Since owning two, he's moved to a travel trailer then on to a fifth wheel which he currently owns.
Still on the lookout for the next best thing to camp in, he's an avid attendee of the camper shows and continues to follow the ads for RV's.
He offers some good advice. "Carry a small pocket tape measure with you an check the thickness of mattresses. Lay down on the bed to be sure it's comfortable," he advises.
We'll definitely check bedding out at the Marvac Detroit Camper and RV Show Feb. 8-12 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
I'll be the guy with the tape measure.
Another thing the weather brings out in me is the urge to begin camping. I know it's still too early to set a tent up; although some camp right through the winter, the idea is definitely there.
Henry Goodman from Berkley wrote a nice letter in response to a column I wrote on camping and moving up from a tent to a pop-up.
Suffice it to say that Goodman contends setting up and taking down a pop-up is a lot of work. Since owning two, he's moved to a travel trailer then on to a fifth wheel which he currently owns.
Still on the lookout for the next best thing to camp in, he's an avid attendee of the camper shows and continues to follow the ads for RV's.
He offers some good advice. "Carry a small pocket tape measure with you an check the thickness of mattresses. Lay down on the bed to be sure it's comfortable," he advises.
We'll definitely check bedding out at the Marvac Detroit Camper and RV Show Feb. 8-12 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
I'll be the guy with the tape measure.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Lake "X" fallback lake for ice school
Mark Martin has plan B in effect. That's just in case there isn't ice for his Ice Fishing Vacation School next month. For information visit www.markmartins.net.
For years the fishing on the Bay has been iffy at best for the ice school. Until this year, if ice wasn't good for the class, it had to be cancelled.
"This year I've got plan B. I found Lake X," Martin said. In the event conditions won't be good enough on Saginaw Bay, all registered anglers will be notified of the change and given information as to the new lake.
"I've checked it out and all of the services we need; hotels, restaurants, bait shop and most important, good lake access are all in place," Martin said.
This Sunday's column has more information on the school along with the dates and a partial schedule as to the way the event will be presented.
If you want to learn more about ice fishing, the Ice Fishing Vacation School may be a good bet. But you'll have to get your reservation in soon as space is limited.
For years the fishing on the Bay has been iffy at best for the ice school. Until this year, if ice wasn't good for the class, it had to be cancelled.
"This year I've got plan B. I found Lake X," Martin said. In the event conditions won't be good enough on Saginaw Bay, all registered anglers will be notified of the change and given information as to the new lake.
"I've checked it out and all of the services we need; hotels, restaurants, bait shop and most important, good lake access are all in place," Martin said.
This Sunday's column has more information on the school along with the dates and a partial schedule as to the way the event will be presented.
If you want to learn more about ice fishing, the Ice Fishing Vacation School may be a good bet. But you'll have to get your reservation in soon as space is limited.
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