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Spring thaw reveals last fall’s hunting mystery

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Jim Braaten

I’ve been waiting a few weeks to post this one hoping my friend would come through with some additional pictures. Seems last fall a buddy and his son were watching two nice bucks on their trail cameras hoping to get a shot at them during the Minnesota archery season. To no avail, the deer just disappeared and nobody else hunting the area reported any sightings well into the fall season.

Of course, when you get pictures on your trail camera this can be sort of a teaser. Yet, the mystery grew intriguing because two nice bucks literally vanished and left a bunch of hunters scratching their heads as to where the deer could have disappeared to.

Well, lo and behold, last month (March 13^th to be exact) one of those hunters stumbled upon the answer. He was down by his lakeside dock when a peculiar sight caught his attention. What he found was the skeletal remains of two nice deer, horns locked, decaying in the grass. No doubt these two boys were in the heat of the battle during last season’s rut when they met their unfortunate demise.

Some might say the pictures are rather gross in appearance. Others might say the pictures show a disturbing sight where two fine bucks in the prime of their life succumb to an unfortunate occurrence of nature. Either way, the pictures show that nature is not always kind to its inhabitants. It also shows that nature can provide lots of drama for those who care to learn and discover more about it.

The pictures I had hope to also include in this blog were some of the living shots my buddy took with his trail camera. I thought that would be a fine way to pay tribute to these once nice bucks. Time being of the essence, I decided to finally publish these pics anyway without the other shots.

Now that last fall’s hunting mystery is finally solved it’s time for new storylines to develop in the woods. Still, the story of these two bucks locked in battle will remain in local deer hunting lore for many years to come. For this group of hunters they read and hear about this sort of thing happening all the time in the woods. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to actually live it first-hand.

Filed under: Hunting, Natural History | 2 Comments »

Step Back In Time At This Destination

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Jim Braaten

Some might wonder how you can do a destination review when you’ve never visited a specific place. It’s a good point. But when that destination is Seven Pines Lodge located in western Wisconsin the reputation of this historic landmark definitely precedes it. Indeed, if you’re looking for a sportsman’s get-away experiencing life much like it must have felt back in the early 1900s…than this place is your unique retreat.

Imagine spending your next vacation in a rustic lodge that reflects a lifestyle that has been far removed from our modern world. Spend your afternoon wading through a small trout stream much like President Calvin Coolidge did nearly eight decades ago. In fact, if you’re looking for a quaint, fly-fishing experience that is steeped in rich sporting history then the Seven Pines Lodge is in a class by itself. Spend your days on the water in search of the elusive trout…then relax in the evenings at the lodge by kicking back near the fireplace with a fine cigar in one hand retrieved from the cigar cellar and perhaps a glass of cognac in the other. Certainly, it’s places like the Seven Pines Lodge that help us connect with our sporting heritage by occasionally allowing us to take a few steps back in time…and to dream.

Honestly, I defy any flyfishing angler worth the cost of their fancy gear to look at this promotional video for the lodge and tell me that they don’t want to immediately book a stay. Seriously! If you are looking for a total experience of a lifetime and not just another fishing trip…how can the Seven Pines Lodge not capture your imagination and peak your interest?

Most times when I choose lodging accommodations I’ll admit that I generally seek out the most modern facilities I can find. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been fooled into thinking that a resort was going to be nice and it turned out to be a dump. Generally, you can avoid this unpleasant occurrence if you know the accommodations are newer and as a result are more likely are “kept up.” But that is not always the case.

The Internet is great way to get fooled by having expectations elevated only to discover upon arrival that reality comes nowhere close to matching those lofty hopes. At the Seven Pines Lodge you don’t have to worry about that. In fact, the few people I’ve discussed this place with who have been there have all agreed that the Seven Pines Lodge surpasses all expectations and that one can be assured of having a good time. In few places can you spend a few days enjoying the relaxing aspects of life while at the same time feeling as though you are living amidst so much fascinating history.

No, I didn’t book my stay at this great place during the upcoming vacation season. Unfortunately…or I suppose fortunately, depending on how you look at it…my vacations are already planned out for the upcoming months. Yet, you can be darn sure that the Seven Pines Lodge will be topping my list of places to visit during 2007. I might suggest that you consider adding it to your list of places to someday visit, too.

Filed under: Fishing, General Outdoor Topics, Natural History | Comments Off

In This Case It’s Not Just The Size That Matters

Posted on January 17, 2006 by Jim Braaten

If you live in the Northern states near waters where the coveted fish known as the muskie lurks, by now you have undoubtedly heard about the heated controversy. Oh, this is certainly not a new controversy…just an old one that keeps rearing it’s ugly head from time to time. Since 1949 to be precise.

It all started back in the summer of 1949 when an angler named Louis Spray caught what many believe to be the world record muskie – a record that has stood for over half a century. But not everyone believes those accounts…and perhaps with good reason if you dig a bit deeper into the story. Problem is, how do you dispute a record claim when all you have to go on as evidence these days are a few sworn affidavits and photographs of the monumental catch?
Muskie
That doesn’t mean this record-setting story is without its distracters. In fact, several groups of knowledgeable researchers have recently tried to once and for all shoot some holes into this colorful story and have the long-standing record listing disqualified. But in an 8-0 vote, the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame elected to keep the record as it now stands and to once again deny the contesting testimony of those who have their strong doubts of its legitimacy.

As for me, I really don’t know what to believe. On one hand it is a classic fishing story with the lead character cast perfect for the part. If Mr. Spray aspired to gain notoriety for his achievement…well, he certainly did that. A full 56 years after his famed catch and even 20 years after his death…the legend lives on to be perfect fodder fitting for any lake country tavern debate.

But here is something that is much more clear. I ask you this…why are the directors for the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame all comprised of residents who live in and around Hayward Wisconsin? Here is a self-proclaimed organization that strives to be the clearinghouse for all of our North American angling records and yet the leaders totally lack geographic diversity. Why? Is it out of convenience to conduct organizational affairs…or does the organization have some ulterior motive that perhaps has a slight bias toward tourism in the heart of Wisconsin’s lake country? As an angler who likely will never see his name listed on their record books…I still want to know.

Personally, I feel the famed tale of Louis Spray’s fish will continue to grow until someday when the record is broken and then few people will care about it at that point. Truth is, sportsmen have an uncanny interest in and affinity toward whatever is number one in the record books. Whether its the biggest buck ever shot or some other spectacular record breaking sportsman event…the clamor that persists over the sporting achievement has few equals.

Perhaps this is why the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame wants to find every reason to justify Spray’s fish. Until the next better fish comes along the focus of attention and angling spotlight remains on the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward for being the site of this record-breaking catch. It’s easy to establish that the community of Hayward has a vested economic interest in seeing the current record endure any challenge to the claim. It’s also easy to substantiate a claim that most of the directors who voted to uphold the record potentially stand to gain by any tourism dollars that might filter into the community based on the area’s decades old big fish reputation.

Now understand that I am not stating that any improprieties HAVE occurred in the past with the Hall or its directors…but, it should be a paramount priority for this group to be organized in such a manner not to even give that perception. C’mon, we’re not talking about a good ol’ boys club here…we’re talking about a non-profit organization entrusted by all of us to be the guardians of our fishing heritage. Indeed, it’s time for the Hall to clean up its act and diversify the leaders who govern. If the records it holds are marred with controversy and persistent doubt, then it might as well fold because its losing credibility and respect among the people it needs the most – the angling public.

In the minds of many anglers, Louis Spray has an asterisk by his name because his record-setting entry is suspicious, to say the least. In my mind, the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame will also have an asterisk next to its name until it proves to the angling world that their recognition program is above reproach.

In my opinion it wasn’t Louis Spray and his angling claim that was on trial most recently…rather, it was the highly questionable manner in which his record seemingly endures the test of time in the Hayward, Wisconsin community.

Filed under: Fishing, Natural History | Comments Off

When A Craftsman Dies…The Entire Outdoors Mourns The Loss

Posted on January 8, 2006 by Jim Braaten

I would guess that the typical outdoorsman probably wasn’t aware of Joe Seliga’s existence and the lifetime contribution he made to the canoeing world. As such, I must admit that I was not aware of who he was until recently, either. Nevertheless, his death just days before Christmas last year serves as a reminder that slowly the outdoor world is losing the very folks whose name is synonymous with quality and craftsmanship.

This blog is not directly about Joe, because how do you memorialize someone whom you never met and really don’t know much about except for what you’ve read. For additional information on Joe, all you need to do is check out a blog that now serves to honor his life achievements. Or better yet, conduct a Google search and the name will show up scattered throughout canoeing literature and history.

Instead, this blog is to remember all the “Joes” of this world who have made tremendous contributions to the outdoor world…but are slowly passing on thus completing their living legacies. Consider the likes of Fred Bear, Bob Allen, and a host of lesser known names like E.J. Dailey…all folks who have passed on recently but not before they carved out a niche in the outdoors by perfecting a quality product and creating a legacy that now bears their name.

Unfortunately, we do not always take the time to appreciate and understand what outdoor heritage we are losing with the passing of our older generation. I fear we no longer live in a world where a person would devote an entire lifetime to perfect and develop a quality product that somehow benefits the entire outdoors world—either directly or indirectly.

Today, we live in a disposable world where quality is not always important. If an item doesn’t last…it only gives us an excuse to buy the newest, greatest model a few years later. I also think that subconsciously some of us outdoorsmen expect to only get a few years of use out of the outdoor products we buy. Seemingly gone is the more frugal attitude of our parents and grandparents where a hunting vest was expected to last a lifetime, a fishing rod didn’t get replaced until the current one broke, a dull knife always got sharpened, not replaced…and so on.

Not too long ago Northern Minnesota lost a craftsman world renowned for his handmade snowshoes. At the time of his death, he had a waiting list that would have placed him well past the century mark if he was to finish all the orders he had taken for his quality snowshoes. His name now escapes me…and a Google search was unsuccessful in locating the details of his legacy, but imagine the world wanting something that you produce and willing to wait for years until you get a chance to produce it. Simply incredible.

There’s a certain pride in owning a product known to be the best…and not mass produced on machinery. Maybe it is a hand-crafted fly-fishing rod for which you wouldn’t dare tell your spouse exactly how much you paid…or maybe it’s a one-of-a-kind turkey call that was crafted and carefully tuned by some expert known for his abilities with the calling championships to back it up.

Next month I will be going to the annual SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show) and I will predictably see 1,000’s of items that are mass produced and stamped out by machinery. Rare is the show booth that features a craftsman who takes a bare chunk of wood and slowly develops his wonders into an outdoor masterpiece. I’m not saying that these folks are not still out there…but they are part of a dying breed that someday we will all surely miss.

During the coming year look for ways how your outdoor escapades could be enhanced by using the equipment crafted by a noted artist of their trade. Whether it be a custom made knife, a shotgun that is beautifully transformed by some detailed checkering and metallic in-lays by a quality gunsmith, or whatever your interest may be. The point is the outdoors experience is truly enhanced and thus better appreciated when you take pride in the equipment you use.

And if you’re lucky enough to find a craftsman in such demand, such as Joe Seliga and his canoes, consider yourself fortunate when the waiting list to receive such an item is only a few years long. During the years to come, finding folks such as Joe will grow increasingly more difficult to discover.

Filed under: Natural History, Outdoor Personalities, Outdoor Potpourri | Comments Off

An Interesting Day In The Outdoors World

Posted on April 28, 2005 by Jim Braaten

It’s not too often the news seems to be filled with weird stories about nature, but certainly the past few days have seen some interesting developments regarding animals reported both locally and around the world. Take a look:

TIGERS ATTACK MINNEAPOLIS WOMAN

It seems about 35 miles away from where I live this morning a woman was attacked by four tigers when she was cleaning their pen. The victim was flown by Mayo ONE to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester where she reportedly remains in serious condition. Allegedly the property on which she was working has had numerous zoning violations in the past for raising exotic pets. Authorities are now considering additional charges against the property owner in light of this new incident.

EXTINCT WOODPECKER REDISCOVERED IN ARKANSAS
Ibw
On a much brighter note, we are now learning that a species of woodpecker, the ivory-billed woodpecker last confirmed sighting in 1944, has now again been rediscovered in the Big Woods of eastern Arkansas. The bird, once in great demand for its brilliant plumage, has been thought to be extinct for nearly 60 years. In fact, the bird is one of a handful of bird species that was believed to have become extinct during the last Century. But no more, sufficient confirmations through independent sightings, including one on video tape, serves as proof the bird very much still exists in the wild. Bird enthusiasts around the world are rejoicing in this recent discovery.

GERMAN TOADS EXPLODING WITH NO EXPLANATION

On the European side of the globe we also learned today that German toads are literally exploding with no logical explanation. The toads reportedly will swell up and eventually *POP* obviously killing them. To date, more than a thousand toads in one pond have perished in this manner when their stomachs expand until they suddenly burst from the increased pressure. Scientists have examined the toads and the water from the pond but as of yet offer no logical explanation.

PLAY IT WHERE IT LAYS…MAYBE!!
Gator
And finally, one of my favorite wildlife stories actually occurred last week but wasn’t widely reported on until this week. You know the cardinal rule of golf…play the ball where it lays. Well, it seems three old duffers were playing golf down in South Carolina when one of them teed off and bounced the golf ball in such a fashion that it landed on the tail of a big old alligator. I know what you’re thinking…but no, the golfer did NOT play the ball where it landed. Instead, his better judgment dictated that a “ball drop” was probably a more prudent option to continue under the circumstances.

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Natural History, Nature (General), Outdoor Potpourri | 1 Comment »

You’re A Sportsman…But Are You A Woodsman?

Posted on April 25, 2005 by Jim Braaten

WOODSMAN: A man who works or lives in the woods and possesses skill and experience in matters relating to the woods; as in hunting, fishing, or camping.

It never ceases to amaze me how many sportsman are not very woods savvy. Example: If you were sitting at the base of a tree turkey hunting this morning could you identify what type of tree it was? Likewise, you might have heard some owls hooting in the early morning…can you tell what species of owl was making that noise? Or perhaps everywhere you looked this morning the woods was covered with these delicate white flowers…any idea what type of wildflower it was?

These are some of the little skills that makes a person a total woodsman. Oh sure, you don’t have to be able to name the thorny brush you clear away from the deer stand to make you a successful deer hunter. Or you don’t have to be able to read the stars in the early morning sky to make you a more productive duck hunter. Or tell the type of clouds moving in to make you a better fisherman, but possessing those skills does make you a better, more well-rounded outdoorsman.

When you get beyond the hunt itself and begin appreciating all of elements of nature it can turn even a bad day spent outdoors into something worthwhile. Gaining a deeper appreciation of the beauty and mysteries of the outdoor world can be a very enlightening experience. Moreover, when you begin paying attention to the details found in the woods I believe it also trains your senses to begin observing other aspects that most certainly can increase your hunting success.

For many years I’ve had a fascination with the early spring plants that pop up on the otherwise brown forest floor. Some, like the wild leek, are edible and can be eaten as part of a lunchtime treat when turkey hunting. Many others are simply there for your viewing enjoyment.

Yesterday morning, while walking through a nearby woods, I snapped the following plant pictures with my camera. Note this is a great way to learn about plants and other elements of nature. Take a picture of it…then come home using a guidebook to identify it.

One of the pictures, the Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily, is a rare plant species in that it grows only in a small area and no place else in the world. Plants or animals like this are called “endemic.” In this case the plant is known to only grow in about a 25-mile area covering two Minnesota counties. Even finding the plant is a rare discovery since the flower is mixed with white trout lilies and the tiny blossom measures about 3/8”…but for any of this to be meaningful or important you need to know the history of the plants and animals in your area.

Dwarftroutlily

(Click on the thumbnail images below to see the larger images.)

Filed under: Natural History, Nature (General) | Comments Off

This Is One Sweet Time of The Year

Posted on March 25, 2005 by Jim Braaten

Admittedly, one of the few times in my life I have trespassed onto another’s property was back 25+ years ago when I was at the ripe old age of 15. I was a curious, troublemaking kid who along with my best friend, Mitch, decided we had to experience something this landowner had on his property.

It was a Sunday morning in early spring located in a woods which sloped steeply down towards the road. Suddenly, much to both of our horror…a truck approached and our gig was about to be busted. Mitch and I ran for what seemed like an hour uphill to vacate the property. Finally, in complete exhaustion, we paused to catch our breath with heartbeats still racing along at a hyper tachycardic pace. We agreed this little scare took at least 10 years off of our young lives. But, it was worth it to satisfy a curiosity.
Mapletap
What intrigued us so much we just had to be out in this particular woods? It was spring…the snow was melting…and the sap was running. It was sugaring time in the maple woods and nothing was going to deter Mitch and I from experiencing this interesting outdoor activity. Or at least not until that truck approached.

That very next year we mustered the courage to ask the landowner if we could try tapping a few trees ourselves. Permission was granted, but we were told to go higher up on the hill where the present tapping wasn’t taking place. Not a problem. Since we only had about 5 spiles to begin with, we found such instructions quite livable given we were finally officially in business collecting sap to make maple syrup.

Our first lesson came in tree identification. Simply finding a suitable tree in the woods does not alone make it a good candidate for tapping. As Mitch and I first discovered, tapping into a basswood tree doesn’t produce the same results. Oh, I can only imagine the belly laugh those old time syrup producers must have had seeing us tapping indiscriminately into the wrong trees. But, that is how youngsters learn. Eventually, we were able to discern which were the maple trees and soon the flow was underway.

Tapping maple trees, besides being lots of fun mixed with hard work, is a very interesting activity. Did you know it is one of the only commodities that is produced solely in North America? Indeed, there is some historical dispute over the matter…but some sources say that when the explorers started arriving the Indians taught the technique to the explorers. Other say it was vice versa. Either way, the fact remains it is a North American activity that has long been a rite of spring in many woodlots.

For those who only have a basic understanding of the process, you collect sap from the trees daily and eventually you need to reduce out the excess moisture by a process called evaporating. When the sap is in its rawest form, it usually contains about two percent sugar making it only discernibly sweet when tasted directly from the tree. But with the long condensation process, eventually the sap is evaporated down to a highly concentrated sugary substance with a pleasingly nice maple taste.

All of this is hard work…especially if you don’t have the proper equipment and do it as a hobby. It takes on average about 45 gallons of raw sap to boil down to make one gallon of pure maple syrup. As I recall, if you are doing it over an open fire evaporating down 45 gallons of sap is a day-long project in itself.

Moreover, raw sap doesn’t keep for much more than a few days. That’s why the best sugarbushes have a system (some even have a pipeline) where the sap flows immediately to the evaporator and during this time of the year it can be a very busy process.

Would-be maple producers know that the sap flow is at its best during the time of the year when the days are warming above freezing, but the nights still dip below the freezing mark. Once the flow begins…it can go on for several weeks…but once the buds start popping out on the trees it’s time to pull the taps.

To me, tapping maple trees is one of the earliest signs that springtime cannot be far away. I’ve seen people tapping trees in urban areas right along busy city sidewalks…as well as out in the “sugarbush” far from any paved road. It’s hard work…it’s best done with others to assist you…but the rewards can be quite sweet, to say the least.

If you live in maple country you deserve to experience this interesting rite of spring. If you don’t want to invest in the equipment or involve yourself with that much work…check out a local nature center. Many of them have maple sugar programs where you can be as hands on as you want to be. Some might even allow you to taste the delicious fruit of your labors some call liquid gold.

Filed under: Natural History, Nature (General) | Comments Off

Strange Winter Weather

Posted on January 2, 2005 by Jim Braaten

Wow…what a strange winter we’ve been experiencing up here in Minnesota. Unseasonably warm and dry for a good part of November and December…and then finally it turned cold for a period just before Christmas. I have to believe that more than any other state in this country, Minnesota has some of the most variety when it comes to weather.

I know this might be hard for someone in warm Florida or California to believe, ‘cause they think that Minnesota stays cold and snowy for 10 months each year…but did you know that we are now in one of the longest stretches where there has been no snow in our history? Indeed, as we enter the new year much of at least southern Minnesota is still brown and in some areas we have not see the ground even covered completely white as of yet this year. Strange.

Of greater concern, however, is the blast of freezing rain we experienced on New Year’s Day. I hate to see rain come down in the form of freezing rain. It is so damaging to our wildlife, particularly to the pheasants. When it rains and then immediately freezes these poor birds will actually have their eyelids frozen shut and will die quickly. Furthermore, if the birds do not have proper shelter to hide from the onslaught of the rain…they can literally freeze in place and then die. There’s no doubt about it…freezing rain definitely affects the pheasant population with some severe consequences.

Of course, other wildlife populations suffer, too. When you get about a half inch of frozen ice on everything it gets that much more difficult for all creatures to break through the ice barrier just to get to their food sources. Whether you’re a squirrel foraging around for nuts or grain, or even a turkey trying to scratch up some remnants from a corn field…life is not made any more easy by dealing with freezing ice.

Typically freezing ice will occur either early in the cold season or late in the spring…but not generally during the time of the year when we take down the old calendar just to hang up a new one. Usually by the middle of the winter…and by most accounts you could call this period of time the middle of winter…we would have had at least a foot of snow (total accumulation) with above freezing temps several weeks in our rear view mirror, so to speak. But alas, this is Minnesota…and with our “theater of seasons” you can pretty much expect almost anything to happen. Not too many years ago I remember the temps even reached into the 70s in January…and a few golfers took advantage of the opportunity to play a few holes.

It has to be particularly frustrating for our ski operators and our snowmobilers who just have not had decent winters in recent years to even make those activities worthwhile. I suppose the best thing that can be said to most people who own a snowmobile is that they won’t be wearing them out. Still, it has to be frustrating to make payments on a toy all year long and then have the season of operation now reduced to less than three months long. I guess that is why I never bought a sled and opted instead for an ATV. It just seemed to make more sense to buy a toy that you can almost guarantee use for at least nine months each year…and if you’re lucky and the snow doesn’t get too deep…even longer.

No, the winter of ’04-’05 has certainly started out to be an unusual one for some of us in the upper Midwest. So far we’ve been lucky and much of the snow has either gone north of us or to the south of us. I guess dodging most of the storms thus far has been a benefit. But wildly fluctuating temps is not always what us winter sportsmen like to see when it effects wildlife…and furthermore, for those who like to ice fish the best ice is made with prolonged periods of deep cold temps with little snow. Not with temperatures that are cold for part of the week and then above freezing several days later.

That’s right…I need to remember this is Minnesota. I’ve been celebrating the fact that we have not had to deal with much snow so far this year. But a quick glance at the new forecast might put an end to my wishful thinking…indeed; the next four out of five days have snow in the weather forecast wither colder temperatures on the meteorological horizon. Ah, Minnesota!!!!

Filed under: Natural History | 1 Comment »

Contemplating Life from the Deer Stand

Posted on November 7, 2004 by Jim Braaten

I consider myself one of the lucky sportsmen in life…I own my own farm that has roughly 160 acres of rolling hills, meandering river, and patches of woods scattered here and there. Most hunters would likely conclude that this farm is a whitetail hunter’s paradise, and you wouldn’t find much argument there from me, either.

Even so, I don’t take any of this land ownership for granted because my family has a history that is rooted as deeply into the soil as many of the mature trees that now tower over me in the stand. Indeed, when I sit out in the deer stand I can’t help it think about life in the future…as well as life in the past.

When my great-great grandfather first immigrated to America back in 1856, it was an interesting struggle. As his son, Ole Olsen Braaten, mentioned in his memoirs:

“The western part of Goodhue County…was for the most part settled the year before we came, so there was not much land to choose from. The lucky ones had a little to get started out with, but most of us were short of money. Father had only $50 left…. For this money he bought a cow for $40; a flour sack, an ax, and a shovel for the rest. With winter at the door, the outlook was bleak. Three weeks later Father found 120 acres of land, where he built our home. Little Cannon River flows through the land, and the fish we caught there were our main sustenance for that first winter.”

Today as I leaned against a tree near the river bank I could see in the clear water some nice sized suckers or red-horse fish swimming in the stream. The very sight of those fish brought back fond memories of my youth spent fishing for these rough fish, but it also made me think long and hard about the sacrifices my ancestors made just for my family to even be here today. Knowing that those fish played an integral role in my family history and survival somehow makes the outdoors where I recreate a little more significant to me than I am sure it means to most sportsmen who do not have the same lineage with the land.

But later in his memoirs is one of my favorite passages that truly has the most significant meaning to my sportsman tradition with this family farm:

“We were in daily contact with the Indians, but they were a friendly tribe of Chippewa’s. Father traded them a rifle. Right after that they had killed three deer and decorated the rifle with three silk ribbons. We traded several things with them, and often were given venison. Usually they came by our house in the evening, carrying a deer. They had their winter camp a half-mile into the woods. It was very good hunting ground for them here…the landscape was magnificent: you could call it ‘Norwegian.’ There was an abundance of wild grapes, plumbs, choke cherries, gooseberries, and other fruit.”

Each time when I go out hunting in my woods I read and re-read that passage in my mind several times. I can’t tell you what an incredible feeling it is to know you are deer hunting on the very land that your ancestors hunted and commingled with the Indians on a mere 148 years ago. How many sportsman can say they have such a connection with their past…and even so, how many of those sportsman know any of the hunting history of that land? I bet very few actually are as lucky as I am.

Today, even though a deer never did pass my way I still had plenty to think about. Oh sure, there’s all the things that are currently going on in one’s life…but then there’s also the many truly fascinating historical events that I know about this farm where I hunt. Others who hunt here might just see this land as an opportunity to connect with nature for a few hours during the year. Yet for me, I not only have the connections with nature to contemplate…but I also have that one that links me to my ancestry. Yes, indeed, I truly am one lucky sportsman and I don’t take any of it for granted.

Filed under: Hunting, Natural History | Comments Off

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Spring thaw reveals last fall’s hunting mystery

Step Back In Time At This Destination

In This Case It’s Not Just The Size That Matters

When A Craftsman Dies…The Entire Outdoors Mourns The Loss

An Interesting Day In The Outdoors World

You’re A Sportsman…But Are You A Woodsman?

This Is One Sweet Time of The Year

Strange Winter Weather

Contemplating Life from the Deer Stand

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