Fred Bear: Father of Bowhunting

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By Glen Wunderlich

The alarm was set to become obnoxious at 4:30 am, but I was already up. The workman-like routine entailed making a tank of coffee, a sandwich, and a covert retreat to my spacious turkey blind. The fourth morning of the late turkey season had me wondering what type of wildlife antics would unfold before my eyes; the first three sessions did not disappoint.

First, the setup. An old hoop blind – the type that is impossible to twist back into toting shape – and large enough to accommodate two occupants and/or gear. In this case, I’d be hunting alone, so a tripod and consumer-grade Canon Vixia movie camera would occupy the window to my left.

The chosen site is in heavy soil and, as often the case in springtime, it’s wet. To combat the moisture, a layer of plastic is put down with a moving blanket over the top. Poof. A comfy living space for a long morning.

The enclosed blind keeps me and my gear dry, and before wondering what type of wimp I’ve become, I don’t know anyone who’d sit in the rain for 6 hours and risk ruining cameras. The innate beauty of even an old, sun scorched, off-color hideout is that it allows a hunter to laugh at the weather and dumbfounded animals.

I mention dumbfounded, because that’s the impulse of whitetail deer that come upon a lifeless, synthetic, but otherwise seemingly normal turkey.

Something’s not right about this

They’ll stomp their hooves and jump around in an effort to elicit some type of response. Nothing. Never. But, it sure gives me a phenomenal close-up view of the health of the local herd. A bevy of bucks sport giraffe-like antlers covered in velvet and travel together in a group. They sure seem to appreciate those luscious legumes we planted for them last fall.

And, then a coyote appears sunlit atop a ridge and standing broadside only 100 yards away. Dang it. Sure would like to save a few fawns by taking it out, but another day. Another day for sure. Today, I’m after drumsticks.

It’s easy to forget the purpose sometimes, however. Eastern bluebirds, crows, sandhill cranes, catbirds, robins, and even a few geese to keep this birder’s eyes and ears occupied. And, while aiming the camera at a couple of Canada geese, a hurried noise erupts to my right.

Here comes one outraged turkey hen marching purposefully toward my cheap rubber accomplice. So, when is the last time you’ve seen a live performance of the Mexican Hat Dance? Several complete agitated circles around the intruder and a few more choice utterances, and the satisfied boss hen ate a path into the field right in front of me. And, it’s all going on Youtube (in due time).

Pulling the trigger on a gobbler would be anticlimactic. It always is. But, for now, the show goes on.

By Glen Wunderlich

With Michigan’s deer numbers on the decline and our coyote population on the rise, our Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has taken a bold step to combat this disappointing trend by lifting protections on coyotes. Effective immediately, coyote hunting season is open year-round in Michigan, thus bringing us in line with other states in the Midwest region. In addition, raccoons, opossums, foxes and coyotes now may be taken at night with number 3 and 4 buckshot.

Coyote Pup Taken with Lapua Sub-Sonic .22 Ammo

Nighttime furbearers can be taken with a bow and arrow, crossbow, a rimfire firearm .22 caliber or smaller, or a shotgun with loads other than buckshot larger than number 3, slug or cut shell. Centerfire rifles still may not be used to take furbearers at night.

These refreshing changes to common-sense game management tools couldn’t come at a more appropriate time, insofar as Michigan’s new crop of fawns will begin to be born at any time. It is the first 10 days of a fawn’s life, when fawns are most vulnerable to predators and when coyotes do the most damage to our deer herd.

A newborn fawn’s only defense against attack is to remain motionless, while it instinctively calms its heartbeat from 175 beats per minute to about 60 beats. The slower and deeper breathing has the effect of reducing airborne scent in an effort to remain “invisible” to predators’ noses.

Often, humans will encounter newborn fawns bedded, because that’s what they do for some 95 percent of the first 10 days or so. It’s important to understand that the mother doe has not abandoned her offspring, but will return to nurse her fawns during the day. If ever we should adopt a hands-off policy for wildlife, it is at this precarious time in the life of a deer.

However, spring is also the time that mated pairs of coyotes are not only feeding themselves but 4 to 7 of their pups. Opportunistic coyotes are omnivorous and will eat about anything including small mammals, plants, and insects. Defenseless fawns, however, are always on the spring menu.

If you choose to hunt coyotes, here are the remaining rules to keep in mind.

*Dogs may not be used to hunt coyotes April 16 through July 7.

*Nighttime hunting season dates now match the daytime hunting season dates by species. No longer do we have conflicting dates just because we may choose to hunt at night.

*Portable artificial lights may be used throughout the open nighttime season of the target species.

*Nighttime hunters must use the aid of a game or predator call and/or dogs while hunting at night. Dogs may not be used from April 16 through July 7. While hunting with dogs at night, a firearm, crossbow or bow and arrow may be loaded at the point of kill only.

*To hunt coyotes, Michigan residents must have a valid base license, and nonresidents must have a valid base license and a valid fur harvester license. Residents hunting other furbearing species will need a base license and a fur harvester license.

* A license or written permit is not needed. Raccoons and coyotes may be taken all year on private property by a property owner or designee when the raccoons or coyotes are doing or about to do damage to private property.

I am left with one wish: to learn the difference between a coyote with good intentions and one determined to do damage. For now, I’ll have to be content with some head scratching.

The Natural Resources Commission, at its monthly meeting in Lansing, Michigan, earlier this month, approved new coyote and nighttime furbearer hunting regulations.

Effective immediately, coyote hunting season is open year-round in Michigan. Please note that dogs may not be used to hunt coyotes April 16 through July 7.

Nighttime hunting season dates now match the daytime hunting season dates by species. Coyote and opossum hunting are open year-round. Raccoon hunting is Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, and fox hunting runs Oct. 15 through March 1.

Raccoons, opossums, foxes and coyotes now may be taken at night with 3 and 4 buckshot. Nighttime furbearers can be taken with a bow and arrow, crossbow, a rimfire firearm .22 caliber or smaller, or a shotgun with loads other than buckshot larger than number 3, slug or cut shell. Centerfire rifles may not be used to take furbearers at night. Read more