Sportsman's Review: 2019 Outdoor Memories

N ’ S A M R S E T V R I E O W P S 2019 OUTDOOR MEMORIES A Review Of A Unique Year For Sportsmen ARTICLES BY JOHN RAFFEL

Supplement to

2

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

Barryton

Hunter Bags 11-Point Buck

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

BARRYTON -- Dave Livermore was among the successful 2019 buck season hunters on opening morning.

Livermore, an area Barryton resident, shot an 11-point buck with 24-inch rack spread.

He's the Pioneer's Big Buck Classic winner.

It's the biggest one he's shot. He was hunting on private property around the Barryton area on private property.

"It was the first big buck I saw. I had seen some little ones," he said. "I did know he was out there but I didn't realize he was as big as he was," Livermore said.

The Barryton hunter estimates he was hunting for two hours before the buck came in.

"My son saw him first and spotted him and said 'dad, big buck, big buck,"

Livermore said. "We looked over and he went over the hill. I got a quick glimpse at him. I realized he was the buck we were looking for. He came down the hill and we were watching him He made a lefthand turn, and came across the middle of the field about 150 yards out in front of us.

"It was pretty quick.

From the time we saw him to the time he was out in front of us, it was probably 15 seconds or so. He was moving pretty decent."

After one shot by Livermore, the buck moved about 15 yards and went down.

"I knew it was big but I didn't really know," Livermore said. "I didn't realize until I went down and got my hands on him. I knew he was good but didn't realize he was quite that big."

Dave Livermore shot his 11-pointer on opening day.

Livermore has been hunting for 20 years. He's 36.

Livermore took his son out hunting after that and shot a few does.

"My son shot a 7-point the next morning," he said.

"From what I heard from other people, it seems to be pretty good," he said. "We

actually saw less deer this year than normal. I think they were coming out more during the night than day. But we still did pretty good."

Woodland Taxidermy

Specializing in All Seasons of Professional Taxidermy!

Owner: Jeff Tyson

21960 Northland Dr. | Paris, Mi 49338 231-679-6591 | tysontaxidermy@gmail.com

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

3

Reed City Man Lands Two

Bucks During Firearm Season the first big buck to come out," May said. "But around 10:45, he comes walking REED CITY - Jason May out looking for does and I doubled his pleasure during hung some doe (scent) up. the deer firearm season.

He came out smelling and The 35-year-old turned. I got one shot off Reed city hunter bagged and double lunged him, and two impressive bucks on he ran about 45 yards. I opening day in the Upper found him and dragged him Peninsula on public land. back to my blind.

May was using a .300 "I thought I would sit Weatherby mag, for both because this was not the one of his bucks. The first one I had seen on my trail cam," he shot around 10:45 a.m.

The second one he shot It was an 11-pointer with 18- around 5:05 p.m. It was a inch rack span.

10-pointer with 20-inch "I had trial cam pics of a rack span. He finished 10 point and I was ready for second in the firearm

By John Raffel jraffel@pioneergroup.com

division of the Pioneer Big Buck Classic.

"At noon, a big 7-point came in but I didn't shoot him and thought I'd wait for something bigger," May said. "There were does, fawns and other little bucks. At 5:05, primetime for hunting, this other one came in before a doe.

He was chasing the doe, I got a shot on him doubleshouldered him and he dropped right away."

May has bagged plenty of bucks in his lifetime but this was the first time he hit two this close together.

Reed City's Jason May, during the rifle season, shot a 10-point and 11-point buck.

"I never shot two bucks in the same day," May said. "This will probably never happen again in my

lifetime."

May's family owns a farm near Remus and he usually bow hunts there.

It's A Whopper: Remus Bow Hunter Shoots 22-Point Buck

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

Hank Todd shot this 22-point buck during the archery season.

REMUS — It’s very likely Remus deer hunter Hank Todd won’t forget the 2019 archery deer season.

Todd bagged a 22-point buck with 23 1/2inch rack span on Oct. 30 at 8:35 a.m. at his brother’s property near 60th Ave. “It was making the scrape, I used the grunt call, he came in right where I wanted him to and I shot him,” Todd said.

It all happened within four minutes from the time Todd first spotted the monster buck.

“When he was coming towards me, I could see he was a big one,” Todd said. “I didn’t know how big. I was still shaking.”

He was 17-to-20 yards away when he took the shot.

“It ran approximately 45 to 50 yards,”

Todd said.

He took the buck to a taxidermist but hasn’t had the buck scored yet for officially record-breaking information. He said he entered a contest in Edmore and was beaten out by a 25-point buck.

Todd is 70-years-old and has been hunting for 55 years.

“I’ve shot a lot of big bucks but this is the biggest one ever,” he said. “My neighbor got a 20-pointer.”

Todd also shot a doe later. He shot an 8-point buck earlier in the bow season to end his 2019 buck hunting days.

“I don’t know about everybody but I saw an awful lot of nice bucks,” he said. “I think I was a pretty good season.”

61-Year-Old Hunter Shoots 11-Point Buck me," Cassidy said.

"I pulled the bow back and released and I hit him. He ran 50 yards BIG RAPIDS — It's a bow season and fell over."

Dan Cassidy will remember for a long Cassidy estimates he was 22 yards time. away when he took the shot.

The 61-year-old Big Rapids area "I did have to track him a ways," resident was bow hunting on Saturday he said. "It's one of the best bucks I've morning, Oct. 26, when he shot an shot. I was very excited."

11-point buck with 19 ½-inch rack span He took second place in the bow in Mecosta County. division of the Big Buck Contest.

"It's the first time I had seen that Cassidy indicated he had been out buck," Cassidy said. "He had been about seven times so far this season. hunting for awhile before he spotted it.

"Early in the season, I had seen He caught a glimpse of the deer quite a few deer," he said.

"In the last week and a half, I had walking through the woods and not seen a thing." grabbed his bow.

Cassidy has been hunting since he "He was walking right in front of

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

Dan Cassidy's reward for the firearm season was an 11-point buck.

was 12.

"I'm going to continue to hunt until I fill my tag," he said. "If I can do it during archery season, I will. If I have to go through rifle season, I will. I won't be selective. I've got two tags and I'd like to get another nice buck."

As for the firearm campaign Nov. 15-16, "from what I've seen so far, I would say it will be about an average season," Cassidy said.

"There's not a lot of deer but as many as I've seen the last three to four years."

4

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

Youth Hunter Downs 10-Point Buck

Vendor/donation list FIREARM 1ST PLACE Gift Certificate for new patient and a cooler full of “hunting weekend” items donated by Big Rapids Chiropractic

FIREARM 2

ND

PLACE

$100 Gift Certificate good toward food plot seed donated by Big Rapids Farm & Garden. $200 Gift Certificate donated by Rogers Jewelers.

Wildlife Innovation Mirage Trail Camera & 20 Pounds of Draves Whitetail Minerals donated

by Draves Whitetail Mineral Company.

YOUTH 17 & UNDER

Heath Cline, 11, of Paris bagged this 10-point buck on opening day.

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

PARIS — Heath Cline had quite a morning of hunting on opening day.

The 11-year-old Paris hunter bagged a 10-point buck with 19-inch rack span while hunting in the Newaygo area.

He shot it around 7:45 a.m.

He was the youth division winner in the Pioneer's Big Buck Classic.

He's a student in Big Rapids Middle School. He's had five bucks in his lifetime, two with a bow and now three with a firearm.

This was his first deer this year. Heath was hunting with his dad, Mike Cline.

"A buddy of mine knew

(the buck) was there," Mike Cline said.

It's the biggest buck Heath has shot.

"I was surprised," he said.

Prior to seeing the buck, Heath said he saw some does.

"It ran and I missed the first time," Heath said. "The second time I saw it and it tumbled over."

His shot came from 30 yards. His second shot put the deer down for good.

Seth Cline, his brother, has a tag and Heath indicated he'll focus on watching his brother hunt. Heath indicated there's a lot of deer out there.

It was about 25 degrees with wind and snow while the Clines were hunting.

Sixth-Grader Takes Home 10-Point Buck

1 Dozen Custom Arrows donated by Paris Archery $100 Gift Card donated by Goldstar Outdoors

Griffin Babbitt shot a 10-point buck with 17 1/2-inch rack span.

Paris Archery

We ai

mt op

leas

e!

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

STANWOOD -- Griffin Babbitt, 12, of Stanwood was a successful hunter on opening day around 5:30 p.m. in the Stanwood area. He used one shot from his .243 to bag a 4-point buck with 17 1/2-inch rack span.

It was on private property.

He's shot four deer in his lifetime and said he bagged an 8-pointer with a larger rack span.

Babbitt said he didn't realize it was out there until five minutes before he shot it.

"The six-point came out from the brush behind us," Babbitt said "My dad (Greg)

told me a big buck might come out. It came out in about five minutes and I shot it."

Babbitt said he was about 110 yards aways when he made the shot and connected.

"It went right down," he said.

Babbitt is strictly a rifle hunter.

"I have another tag." he said.

Babbitt is a sixth-grader at Morley Stanwood. Shooting the buck was the most exciting part of the hunt, Babbitt said .

It was cold but he persevered.

"There's some good ones out there," he said.

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

5

78-Year-Old Hunter Hits The Jackpot

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

BIG RAPIDS — Robert Palmer took advantage of his December hunting opportunity by shooting an 8-point buck with 15-inch rack span on the morning of Dec. 6.

He was hunting with a 30.06 in north-central Mecosta County on private property.

It's the first one he shot this year.

He was out through the Nov 15-30 rifle season. Normally he bow hunts but didn't get a chance this year.

"I wanted to get some venison for the winter and I knew I could take a doe at least, if I didn't take a buck," Palmer said. "I was pretty sure I could probably get a doe. I was lucky to have this 8-point buck walking along. He came out of nowhere. He was following a group of does and fawns who came from another person's property.

"I had not been scouting out the territory. The owner of the property had not seen this buck out there."

Stanwood Hunter First Entry In Buck Contest

Robert Palmer's prize this season was an 8-point buck with 15-inch span.

From the time Palmer saw the buck to the point he shot it, about 30 minutes elapsed.

"I initially saw it on other person's property," he said. "Then it crossed over onto the property I hunt on. It was standing around. It took forever before it finally decided to move out in the open so I could get a shot at it."

Palmer said he was 75 yards away when he shot it. He shot the buck in the heart. It went 10 yards and dropped."

Palmer is 78, from Big Rapids and said he's shot six deer in his lifetime and this is one of he bigger ones. He also shot a buck in the early 1980s and entered it in the Pioneer Big Buck Contest.

2020 SILVERADO 1500 TRAIL BOSS

The Next Century of Chevy Trucks Starts Here

Just 10 Money Saving Minutes From Grand Rapids

Bob Parker shot an 8-point buck in the Stanwood area.

By John Raffel STANWOOD - Bob Parker was very pleased with his first day of deer hunting.

The 63-year-old Stanwood resident was hunting in the Stanwood area with his 30.6 when she shot an 8-point buck with 16-inch rack span.

He was the first entry in the Pioneer's annual Buck Buck Contest. He shot the buck on his own property.

"It was the first deer that came through," Parker, who shot the buck around 7:30 a.m., said. "He had his nose down and was coming through the swamp. I waited. He got

about 60 yards from me. I shot him with one shot from the 30.06 and down he went. I didn't have to chase him.

"It's the best one I shot in my life. I shot a 7-point one about 12 years ago."

Parker didn't bow hunt but indicated he would go out again for firearm season.

"I think (the numbers) are down," he said. "It was in the 30s and he had tracking snow although he did not have to track the deer.

"I thought the weather was beautiful," he said.

YOUR HOMETOWN HEAVY DUTY TRUCK STORE YOU’LL LOVE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS!

616-887-1791 Corner of M-37 & Sparta Ave.

www.spartachevy.com

6

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

Morley Hunter Has Success During Rifle Season

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

MORLEY - Jonathan Bacon is among the successful 2019 firearm deer hunters.

He bagged his buck on Sunday, Nov. 17, while hunting in Mecosta County on the northeast side of the Haymarsh.

He used one shot from his Remington 710 series.

It was an 8-pointer with 12 ½-inch rack span. It happened around 5 p.m.

From the time he saw

the back to the time he shot it, about three minutes elapsed. It was a 40-yard shot. It took one shot and the deer went down immediately.

It's the first buck for the 36-year Morley resident.

Bacon had been out since opening morning. He also bow hunts but this was his first deer.

"It looks like he got hit during bow season," Bacon said.

Jonathan Bacon of Morley shot an 8-point buck Nov. 17.

13-Year-Old Bags 10-Point Buck On Nov. 17

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

RODNEY — Logan Cassidy is a 13-year-old hunter from Rodney who can count himself as a successful sportsman from the Nov. 15-30 firearm season.

Cassidy was hunting in Mecosta County on private property around 4 p.m. on Logan Cassidy a 13-year-old hunter from Rodney shot a 10-point buck with 18-inch Nov. 17 when he used his 30.30 to shoot a 10-point buck rack span during the season.

with 18-inch rack span.

Cassidy said he had been out hunting since 5 a.m., and met success 11 hours later. It's the sixth deer he's ever shot.

He used three shots from his 30.30 and hit it twice.

"I saw six does before this one," he said. "He came out of nowhere. I saw him chasing two does. He came through

and I couldn't get a shot. He was moving fast. He stopped in the middle of the brush. So I just shot."

The buck ran 20 yards before Cassidy was able to find him. It's the biggest buck he's ever shot.

"I was really excited," Cassidy said. "I couldn't hold still."

Veteran Bow Hunter Continues To Have Success

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

BIG RAPIDS —Paul Cole continues to have luck as a bow hunter.

The 67-year-old Big Rapids Rapids resident last year bagged an 8-point buck with 18 ¼-inch rack span.

He struck it rich again this year with an 8-point buck on Oct. 18. The rack span was 14 ½ inches.

"It was a nice deer," he said.

Last season, Cole

shot his buck around the Haymarsh area. This year, he shot an 8-pointer in Colfax Township. He had the night available and went to his treestand.

"This buck was hungry and was with another doe," Cole said. "He was headed toward another area and I made sure he had four points on one side. I pulled back and got him. He went about 100 yards. It turned

out pretty good. I had him cleaned up and ready to go before it started pouring. It worked out pretty good."

Cole didn't realize prior to seeing the deer on Oct. 18 the buck was in the area.

"He came out of a swamp about half a mile to the north and I'm pretty sure that's the direction he came from," Cole said. "He was hungry. I picked a good spot that night."

Big Rapids' Paul Cole has been among the area's most successful bow hunters.

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

7

Dnr Biologist Gives Favorable Reports On Deer Season

DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing provides a favorable report on the 2019 deer season.

Reliability comes in all sizes.

By John Raffel

"All our deer are healthy. We checked over 1,000 was a lot of success there. Bobcat hunting goes until in Mecosta County for (chronic waste disease) and all Jan. 1. Beaver and otter training season is open. Fur tested negative. Some good bucks were taken. People prices are still quite low."

BIG RAPIDS —DNR wildlife biologists like Pete stepped up and we had a good job on the antlerless As for December, "Any rifle can be used in the Kailing from the Paris field office found themselves take. We had a lot of harvest off of state land. It muzzleloader season this year," Kailing said. "This busy in December as the 2019 deer season officiallymakes Rugged versatility is what tractors perfect choicewas for getting was aKubota success benefitting fromthe our recent timber true last year as well. The whole county is open." came to a close. sales. The farmers did get some corn off before the Kailing indicated it probably doesn't increase the every done right.

And the payment plan is as efficient as the machines.

"We had a goodjob season overall," Kailing said. nowmuzzleloader season." number of hunters.

"We have preliminary numbers which showed us the Even though rifle hunters could hunt during "Today's muzzleloader guns are more Get $0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for 60 months. Visit us today. harvest in the northern Lower Peninsula was similar muzzleloader season, Kailing didn't see much sophisticated," he said. "We're trying to get more to last year. We won't have our final numbers in until increased activity from that. hunters out and increase our antlerless harvest the summer mailout survey. The weather was hit and "We check deer all the way up to Jan. 2 or 3," so we've liberalized the use of type of rifles during KailingKubota said. "We're done checking deer for thechoice year. muzzleloader season. Hunters can think of it as a miss the wholeRugged fall, from October to November to makes versatility is what tractors the perfect for getting Bobcat hunting and trapping was in December. There second firearm season." even December. jraffel@pioneergroup.com

Reliability comes in all sizes.

every job done right. And now the payment plan is as efficient as the machines.

Get $0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for 60 months. Visit us today.

Kubota and Landpride make short work of planting your food plot!

BX Series

B Series

Reliability comes in all sizes.

L Series

MX Series

Rugged versatility is what makes Kubota tractors the perfect choice for getting every job done right. And now the payment plan is as efficient as the machines.

Get $0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for 60 months. Visit us today.

B Series L Series

The Kubota L2501 will get your food plots done BX Series with ease, along with all your other chores.

Landpride 48” Food PlotMX Seeder Series • 8 Disc Blades – 16” Notched • 100lb spreader hopper capacity • Rear Packer Roller

Reliability comes in all sizes.

0 $

0%

$

60

%

Rugged versatility is what makes Kubota tractors the perfect choice for getting DOWN APR MONTHS every job done right. And now the payment plan is as efficient as the machines.

BX Series B Series L Series MX Series Get $0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for 60 months. Visit us today.

0 DOWN 0

60 MONTHS

APR

KENT EQUIPMENT $ % 0 DOWN EQUIPMENT 0 APR 60 MONTHS KENT

MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30AM - 5:00PM SATURDAY 8:00AM - 12:00PM MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30AM - 5:00PM SPARTA, MI 49345 KENT EQUIPMENT SATURDAY 8:00AM - 12:00PM MONDAY FRIDAY 7:30AM - 5:00PM SPARTA, MI 49345 616-675-5368 SATURDAY 8:00AM - 12:00PM 616-675-5368 SPARTA, MI 49345 616-675-5368

BX Series KubotaUSA.com

KubotaUSA.com

B Series

L Series

MX Series

KubotaUSA.com

© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2019. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 60 months on purchases of select new Kubota BX Series, B Series, L Series, and MX Series equipment © Down, Kubota 2019.Equipment: $0 Down, 0%B, A.P.R. financing up 60 months on DMC, purchases of select newDown, Kubota BX Some Series, B Series, MX Series equipment $0 0%Tractor A.P.R. forCorporation, 60 months Qualifying BX, L,dealers’ MX and M inventory [Exceptisfor M5, M6,to RB, DM, RACorporation, and TE Series$0 A.P.R. financing up to L60Series, months and on purchases of select new Kubota from participating in-stock available toM6s] qualifiedMH(M7), purchasers through Kubota Credit U.S.A.; subject to credit0% approval. exceptionsfor apply. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2019. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. fiofnancing forpurchasers to 60 on For purchases of select BXdealer Series, B Series, L Series, and MX Series equipment Example: 60 monthly paymentsto $16.67 per $1,000 fiup nanced.

Offer months expires 12/31/19. complete warranty, safety and new product Kubota information see or KubotaUSA.com. from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available qualifi ed through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval.

Some exceptions apply.

L2501from seriesparticipating equipment fromdealers’ participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval.

Some exceptions apply.

Example: 60 monthly in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply.

Example: 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 fi nanced.

Offer expires 12/31/19.

For complete warranty, safety and product information see dealer or KubotaUSA.com. payments of $16.67 $1,000 payments financed. Offer Terms subject to change. material is for descriptive purposeswarranty, only. Kubota disclaims representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability Example: 60per monthly of expires $16.672/29/20. per $1,000 financed.

Offer This expires 12/31/19.

For complete safety andallproduct information see dealer or KubotaUSA.com. from the use of this material. For complete warranty, safety, incentive offer and product information, consult your local Dealer or go to KubotaUSA.com.

8

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

Big Rapids Youth Has Successful Bear Hunt

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

Big Rapids High School student Eric Standen was a successful bear hunter in 2019.

BIG RAPIDS – Eric Standen is an accomplished high school goalie, having played last season for the Big Rapids Cardinals.

The 16-year-old Big Rapids student has also established himself as a capable bear hunter.

Standen shot a 150-pound bear in the Remus area on Sunday of the fall season. DNR wildlife biologist Pete Kailing acknowledged while bear hunting is open in the county during the limited fall season, shooting one is rare. The Gladwin unit east of U.S. 131, is where Standen shot his prize at property of family friends in the Remus area.

There was one other bear shot in the county by Davis Bridge, Kailing said.

“It’s uncommon to have two taken in one year in Mecosta County,” he said.

Standen shot the bear on Sunday

with the permit he had. His sister got a buck on Saturday. He’s been applying for the bear permit several years before he finally got it Standen said he had been baiting for the bear before it finally came in.

“We were probably in the bind an hour in a half or two hours,” Standen said.

He was hunting with his dad, Tim. “It started to get dark then we heard something behind us,” Standen said. “He slowly walked beside our blind and got on tap of the barrel and started eating. He sat down to eat and that’s when I took the shot.”

It was a 50-yard shot. One shot brought the bear down.

Standen has shot deer before but said shooting the bear “you had more adrenalin when you’re getting ready to shoot him.”

It was the only bear Standen saw.

“It was very special,” he said.

Anglers Anxious For Strong Ice Season

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

EVART — Evart's Paul Higgins is among the ice anglers chomping at the bit for some winter action.

Higgins said he went out on Dec. 13 at Lake Cadillac where there were four inches of ice.

"It's hit or miss," he said earlier this week.

"Cadillac just refroze again. It was all frozen and they lost all the ice

by Thanksgiving and it froze again. There's fish in the river at Manisteee.

I fished there a few times and it was hit or miss.

Other than that, I haven't heard a lot."

It needs to stay cold, Higgins said, although it may warm up this weekend south of Osceola County, resulting in shakier ice.

But Higgins is predicting "good solid ice" in northern Michigan counties in upcoming weeks.

Higgins made the most of his fishing opportunities during the summer and fall.

"We came over to Ludington (in mid-September) and fished the evening and morning," he said. "We had success fishing for salmon. The morning was slowed for us. I've got a buddy who has a camper. I brought the boat over. We're kind of tag teaming."

Higgins was the girls basketball coach at Evart, but currently is not coaching.

Does that mean more fishing?

"I hope so," said. "I did a lot this summer more than I've done in the past. For salmon, we haven't hit Lake Michigan. I've been fishing at Pere Marquette Lake right inside the pierheads. It's easy and if you hit it at the right time, there' a pile of fish.

It's a matter of getting them to bite."

At it gets colder, Higgins likes to go to Cadillac and Manistee.

"I'm up to fishing wherever I can get to and explore a little bit. There's still a lot of good fishing before the winter comes.

Bow and firearm deer season puts guys into the woods. There's great fishing, and there still can be."

Evart's Paul Higgins has been among the area's most active fishermen.

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

9

It Was Another Good Year For The Salmon Run

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

BALDWIN — The salmon run is a unique fall tradition in Lake County.

So far, it's lived up to its billing.

The last week or so there's have been lots of boats in Ludington," Doug Loomis, of Ed's Sport Shop in Baldwin said, in early September.

"There's been a lot of boats at Pere Marquette Lake. A lot are coming up. (Salmon) are already here."

"We've got salmon in the river right now," a spokesman at the Pere Marquette River Lodge said in late August. "We generally see salmon the last week of August through the first two weeks of October. So

we really get into the prime of our peak for that and the start of the season. "(In early October), the fish do come into the river to reproduce and pass away. As you get into late in the season, the fishing is still good but the fish start to get a little worn out and they're not as fun to fish for."

The salmon run, "in terms of events, is usually our highest in numbers," the spokesman said. "It depends on who you ask. Some guys like coming for trout fishing and some like coming for salmon. A lot of the people like to come for the bigger fighting fish."

Jason Frank, of the

Baldwin Tackle Box, calls the salmon run "usually the biggest thing for the town of Baldwin. The guides are starting to work pretty much every day now."

Loomis and Dylan Willetts of the Pere Marquette River Lodge both confirmed anglers have been having high success with good catches of salmon in the 20-pound range or higher.

It's expected to continue for another week or two.

As of mid-October the salmon run continues in Baldwin.

But probably not for much longer.

"People are going out for them," Loomis said. "There are

Ed’s Sport Shop’s Doug Loomis gave a favorable report on the salmon run

still some old fish, but we're getting some fresh fish coming in."

Jen Tulk of the Pere Marquette River lodge, called recent fishing "excellent."

"The river is coming down and it's good fishing right now" for both salmon and steelhead," she said.

Jake McMillon of Baldwin Bait & Tackle agreed.

"We still have fishable

numbers (of salmon) in select areas," he said. "We're starting to see some fall steelhead coming. We're kind of spread out throughout the whole system. Fishing remains productive, using egg patterns and nymphs. The inland lakes are fishing well. Pan fishing has been productive around weed beds and weedlines. Pike fishing is starting to pick up a little bit."

Randall Impressed With Opportunities For Sportsmen

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

PARIS — The warmer-thanusual weather for late December has outdoor enthusiasts encouraged over their opportunities for this time of year, and Kyle Randall, a Paris resident and host of the Wilderness Journal TV program, is expecting sportsmen to take advantage.

Deer hunting season was officially in its final days in midDecember, including the bow season, which ended Jan. 1.

"There's also the antlerless deer season, which gives people a chance to put more venison in their freezer, Randall said. But there's certainly reason for hunters to be

out, Randall said "There's certainly enough deer out there," he commented.

He added small game opportunities should continue in January and February for hunters looking for squirrels and rabbits.

Fishing is a mixed bag with anglers forced to forget about some lakes and possibly able to get on a few, although the recent arming trend has nullified that.

But Randall is hopeful of prospects in upcoming months.

"It was very spotty."

Those comments were from Randall specifically on the Nov. 1530 firearm season this year.

Kyle Randall is host of TV's The Wilderness Journal.

"There were a lot of disappointed people, but I think it had the fact to do with we had a change in the way everyone hunts," Randall said. "I think outlawing baiting hurt a lot of them. I've talked to people across Mecosta County and while a few of them had good luck, most of them did not.

"I know, personally, we had three young people out on opening day but that was three out of 11. All in all, I know here's some folks out.

This is supposed to be black power (muzzleloading) season. But in Mecosta County, anyway, you still use a regular firearm rifle because this is a CWD (chronic waste disease) zone. Those folks are still out hunting."

Hunting continued to the end of the month.

"There's a few deer being taken, but all in all I'm predicting the harvest will be down substantially," Randall said.

FINANCING AVAILABLE

HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS IN STOCK

Corner of M-37 & Sparta Ave., Sparta, MI Hours: Mon-Thur 9-8, Fri 9-6, Sat 9-3

616-887-3456

www.spartachevytrailers.com spartatrailers@gmail.com

10

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

Sochocki Keeps Busy With Outdoor Scene

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

BIG RAPIDS – It was a busy spring of watching baseball for Mark Sochocki.

But the Evart resident, who is director of the Big Rapids Housing Commission, has been able to get in his necessary dosage of hunting and fishing.

Sochocki is an avid Great Lakes fisherman, who also has sons playing Evart baseball and was busy watching the Wildcats during the spring.

“I went over to Saginaw Bay twice this weekend walleye fishing,” he said, during an interview in the spring. “It was really good. We went on the east side out of Sebewaing.

Fishing has been really good lately.

“And I shot a turkey

Monday morning (May 27) just down the road from our (Evart) farm on the neighbors’ property. It was a big bird. It’s been tough. I didn’t hunt much because of baseball games. It seems like we’ve having one every day.”

Sochocki was really impressed with the size of his bird.

“They were really active,” he said. “It came across a 40-acre cornfield. I called for about 15 minutes. It got to where I could shoot at it.

"As far as outdoor activities go, I've had a busy last part of 2019," Sochocki said. "I really didn't get much hunting in until November and had a couple of memorable hunts. First, I traveled back

Evart's Mark Sochocki had a successful deer hunting season.

to the Thumb, in Caro, to be exact, to pheasant hunt with my former baseball coach who is 82 years old and still hunting pheasants almost every day of the season. We had an unexpectedly good hunt where we shot three roosters.

"I did also manage to take a nice 8-point buck this year

on our farm on opening day of the firearm season, Nov. 15, around 7:30 a.m., which is the first deer I've taken on our place since 2012."

December was very interesting for Sochocki.

"I made a trip out to Nebraska in mid-December with my oldest son, Lane,

to bird hunt and had a great hunt." Sochocki said. "I think we ended up shooting 17 roosters and 11 quail which was better than we expected because the area we were hunting in Nebraska was severely impacted by major flooding last spring."

Baldwin Hunter Enjoys 70th Year

By John Raffel

jraffel@pioneergroup.com

Baldwin's Jim Warren shows off the success he had during deer season.

BALDWIN — It was a unique 70th year of hunting for Baldwin's Jim Warren.

This was the word from Warren's grandson, Tyler Clugston, also an active hunter and fisherman.

"This year was a pretty special deer season for grandpa (Jim Warren)," Clugston said. "For the first time since the early 2000's he's tagged out. In late October, he shot a nice 6-point with his crossbow and then notched his second tag on a heavy framed 7-point on the last day of rifle season with his Winchester .308.

"We've had that particular deer on trail camera for the past few years and figured it to be 4 1/2 years old, a nice mature Lake County buck.

"On the last day of

muzzleloader season he took an old doe to fill out his private land doe tag, wrapping up the 2019 season."

For Clugston and Warren, it was a fun season.

"Usually I do most of the hunting and harvesting during deer season," Clugston said.

"But it was special for me to see grandpa have such an amazing season. This year marked his 70th year of hunting and he added three more trophies to a very very long list of impressive Michigan Whitetail harvests.'

"Now we're just waiting for the ice to thicken up so we can get after some bluegills."

Warren was anticipating doing some muzzleloading season hunting with his grandson. He added his grandson

was successful during the bow season and also with some fishing activities.

Clugston bagged a 7-point buck with a crossbow in Pleasant Plains Township.

"We're waiting for muzzleloader season now and hoping we get some good thick ice so we can go fishing," Warren said. "I see one of the lakes have a little skim ice over it, but that's about all.

I usually have on my property 8 or 9 people who came up hunting but they didn't come up this year; there's no baiting.

"On my trail cam 2 to 3 in the morning, I'm seeing deer. On Nov. 25, I had three bears out in back. They're still out and hungry but I don't think they are anymore."

Pioneer Sportsman’s Review 2019

11

Become Part Of Our Family Learn more at haworth.com/careers @haworthinc Equal Opportunity Employer – Disability/Vet/Minority/Female