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By Glen Wunderlich

Our unusually warm November has given all of us opportunities to get those outdoor tasks finished before Mother Nature’s bitterness descends upon us.  We’ve had plenty of time to rake leaves, clean gutters, or in short, to do anything outdoors.  For the deer hunter, however, the mild weather can be a blessing or a curse.

With firearms deer season beginning November 15^th and relatively mild weather predicted, hunters will spend more time afield than they would under more trying conditions.  At the same time, however, deer tend to move less, because they don’t require as much “fuel” to fight the elements. 

As evening light fades and you are presented with an opportunity to take a deer, here are a few considerations to ponder before releasing that bullet or broadhead.

If nighttime temperatures are above 40 degrees F, bacteria within the animal can grow rapidly.  How much time you have to recover the deer depends on just how warm the air becomes and how well the shot was placed.  If ever there was the need for a clean dispatch, it is now.  Although a heart or lungs shot will be fatal, a mortally wounded deer can run several hundred yards before expiring.  While such a short jaunt may seem relatively inconsequential, without adequate light, the recovery task can be downright daunting.

The high-shoulder shot can anchor a whitetail in its tracks, but it takes precision to pull it off.  A shot a bit high can mean a clean miss.  In addition, with the perfect high-shoulder shot placement, be prepared for some significant meat loss.

Make sure to watch the deer as long as you can after the shot and try to find some trailing blood while there is still light.  Control the urge to pursue the animal right away, because it could mean you’ll push it even farther into cover.

For tracking in the dark, you’ll need dependable light, which should include extra flashlights and batteries.  Marking a blood trail with toilet paper or paper towels in the brush can also aid recovery missions by connecting the “dots” and projecting a path forward. 

Having access to a tracking dog can be invaluable.  I’ve even used dogs that have never tracked anything and have had success, because they all have a sense of smell better than we can imagine.  Just make sure to follow the rules, if you use dogs for recovery.  It is illegal to do any shooting after dark, unless you are with a certified dog tracker.

You may opt to employ the use of trained blood tracking dogs.  The website is www.deertracknhounds.com  and fees are negotiable.  Write down some phone numbers from the site in advance to save precious time later.

Back at camp, you’ll want to skin the deer as soon as possible.  Having access to ice or a walk-in cooler at the processor’s shop will be necessary, so make sure it’s part of the planning process.

Obviously, things don’t always go according to plan, but in the event they don’t, a little forethought may mean the difference between a spoiled adventure and some fine eating.  Be smart, be safe, and good luck.

Next month, the Natural Resources Commission will vote on whether to allow centerfire for nighttime predator hunting. At its meeting yesterday, the NRC amended the proposed order to eliminate a provision that would have required expensive Generation 2 night optics, as it was asked to do by MUCC, the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association and Michigan Predator Callers for Centerfire at Night; and raised the caliber restriction up to 6.5mm (.264).

By Glen Wunderlich

Before getting into this week’s topic, a brief update is in order on the beavers’ dam building reported last week.  As you may recall, some beavers along the Osburn drain in Shiawassee County had constructed a dam in the culverts under our public road, threatening a flood.  The DNR issued a nuisance permit to me, and accordingly, a friend set two traps, as the only legal means of control.

A county employee returned my telephone call on Monday after the Friday message and, as promised, sent a backhoe and operator to clear the dam.

Shiawassee County on the job

  A valiant effort cleared one culvert but was unable to get the adjacent side open.  The following day, a county pickup truck and workers finished the job manually.

Since then, a beaver has been spotted on camera

and the dam is being rebuilt.  Plans are to reset the traps when the trapping season begins November 10th and the nuisance permit expires.

Eager and relentless beaver killing poplar trees

Photo Taking Tips

With firearms deer season a bit over a week away, there will be plenty of picture taking in the works.  How you prepare could make the difference between a tasteful remembrance and a tasteless afterthought.  Here are some ideas to put your trophy in the best light for the years to come.

It’s always best to get photos of any animal and hunter before field dressing.  Sometimes we don’t think about it, but once that knife does its work, it limits what can be tastefully captured.  Understand that a picture of an open chest cavity may be fine for your hunting pals, but it has no redeeming value to anyone.  Blood in the picture is to be avoided, as much as possible.

A field-dressing kit can be kept at the ready replete with paper towels, water, disposable rubber gloves, knives, etc – and, of course a camera.  A quick wipe down before field dressing that eliminates or minimizes blood or wounds is necessary.  Put the tongue back in the deer’s mouth and try to focus on the head of the animal, along with that of the hunter.  And, while you’re at it, get that baseball cap’s visor tipped back before snapping the shot.  Look for anything in the scene that detracts from the subjects. 

And, that brings me to why we want to capture the moment afield:  because the back of a pickup truck or hanging on a rope doesn’t measure up to quality.  Clean up your background or move to a better location.

The digital age allows us take as many photos as we wish.  A good trick used by pros is to use the “burst” mode on your camera.  Yes, it will take several pictures that appear to be the same.  However, merely pushing the button can cause movement in the camera and thus can mean blurred results in the first photo in the string, or the only photo without burst mode. 

Keeping your light source behind you and onto the subject is a good place to start.  Watch for casting your own shadow over scene.  Change perspectives and be sure to get some shots from low angles. 

If you’d like to include your firearm in the photo, make sure the action is open and that the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction.

Get close.  Filling the frame in your viewfinder with only your subject matter is always better than using the zoom feature.  In most instances, people don’t really want or need to see the entire body of the deer in the photo.  Concentrate photo composition on the hunter’s face and the head of the deer.  Even in daylight, using a flash can provide better pictures, so try it with and without the flash.

With a little forethought, a good photo can be enjoyed long after the venison vanishes.