By: Jim Kushner. Nov. 15 2023 marked the 50th year that I have been in deer camp(s) throughout the State. Based on that I decided to hunt this season with the same gun I used back then. It is a Marlin model 336 in .35 Remington, it still has the same Weaver 4x scope that came with the gun the Christmas I received it. That was a great Christmas gift but it sure was difficult having to wait almost a year before I could actually use it. Well, “carrying” it may be a better description. … Read More
A Methodical Deer Tracking Effort Can Minimize Mistakes
By: Jim Kushner. I want to share this story because even after several decades of deer hunting I learned a little something from the experience. It was opening day, Nov. 15, 2022. I had not seen a deer all morning and it was nearing noon. Suddenly, a deer popped out of thick cover and walked across the back of the field I was watching. I brought the gun up and looked through the scope and determined it was a doe. A few seconds later another deer stepped out from behind the same doe I was … Read More
2019 Challenges Have Turned Into Measures Of Success…the rest of the story!
By: Jim Kushner. Since I was planning to hunt the field behind my house this deer season I decided in late October to put a trail camera out in likely crossings. It was easy enough to drive them out & check them occasionally. The first location produced only one sighting, the doe was so close that all I could see were here ears and the top of her head. I moved it to a different spot and saw a few does. Because of my situation the camera stayed in the same spot until Dec. 1st … Read More
This Should Be My 46th Deer Season!
By: Jim Kushner. This should be my 46th deer season. I started hunting with my Dad & older brother on State land. We stayed for the first week of the firearm deer season in the family camper. It was a tradition to hunt there that started before I was born, that particular spot was always where they set up camp & even though it was on state land & a fairly well traveled dirt road I do not remember there ever being anyone else camping there. Maybe it wasn’t the great spot that we always … Read More
Death Of A Gun Safe?
By: Jim Kushner. A couple of weeks ago I was educated about the old saying “you get what you pay for”. In this case that applied to my Cannon gun safe. I don’t mind mentioning the brand name because this is all absolutely true. I bought my safe from a chain store and as safes go it was neither cheap or expensive. The electronic keypad was easily programmed and it runs on a single 12 volt battery. After a few years I noticed that the battery would wear out quicker than the one before it. … Read More
An Ontario DIY Bear Hunt
By: Jim Kushner. Soon after buying a cabin in Ontario I learned that a non-resident could legally hunt moose & bear without an outfitter/guide within the game management until that their property was in. It wasn’t long before I had recruited a good friend to help me try and get my first black bear. That summer we fished and we scouted likely spots and we collected bait, mostly old doughnuts that we packaged tightly and froze. It is legal to use barrels etc. to bait bears in Ontario and I happen to have a 35 … Read More
A Backpack Fishing Adventure
By: Jim Kushner. Not long after moving to northern Michigan I found myself quickly becoming friends with Matt,a local guy. Our common interests, hunting & fishing was of course one of the things that ignited what would become one of those rare friendships that lasts a lifetime. Matt became one of those friends who will spend his days off helping you when you really need it, one of those friends who says “whats mine is yours” and means it. Of course it was not always that way. When I first found out about Matt’s interest … Read More
Persistence Pays Off For Turkey Hunting
By: Jim Kushner. During my first few years trying to bag a gobbler, I learned a couple of important things about turkeys and hunting them. First, you must find out where they are. That means scouting a short time before season opens. I’ve scouted a spot several weeks in advance, only to return later and find the turkeys had moved on or had become call-shy because other hunters had been there ahead of me. That doesn’t mean you won’t see turkeys there. One year I found a small piece of state land with several toms … Read More
A look back at the christening of Wild Game Dynasty (ELO)
By: Jim Kushner. The summer after Gary first purchased his place at East Lake I helped him out with some demo & remodel. The “priority project” was removing a really old tub & toilet and replacing with new plumbing and shower stall. The old pipe was black metal and came apart (more or less) in our hands. Seriously, it was as old as it was ugly! My friend, Matt, also helped out with the project. When fall rolled around we planned a 4 day hunt with Gary. I believe we were the first to actually … Read More
Converting a Remington 870 into a Handy Defense Gun
By: Jim Kushner. Back around 1980 I bought my first shotgun, a used Remington 870 Wingmaster “Magnum” 12 gauge with a 30 inch full choke barrel. Having little intention of waterfowl hunting I quickly bought a shorter barrel with a mod. choke. These were fixed chokes, no screw in choke tubes back then. Last year I was wiping down the old 870 and asked myself when was the last time I even carried it. My only bird hunting has been for upland birds and a 20 ga Special Field has become my favorite for that. … Read More