The kayak is a very specialized canoe which was first invented about 5,000 years ago by indigenous Inuit, Aleut and yupik people. It was constructed using a driftwood or whalebone frame that was covered with animal skins waterproofed by animal fat. Called a “qajak” (hunter’s boat), it was used to hunt sea mammals in frigid Arctic waters and was major means for survival in a harsh and often unforgiving environment. They were tailormade to fit the user who wore a special waterproofed skin jacket called a “tuilik” that was attached to the kayak and prevented … Read More
Connecticut Valley Arms – celebrating 55 years and going strong with continual new products and innovations
Connecticut Valley Arms (CVA) was first formed in 1971 to manufacture traditional sidelock muzzleloaders that were offered fully assembled or in DIY kits, both of which became immediately popular with American shooters. The timing couldn’t have been better because the revival of using muzzleloaders for hunting was gaining a steady following. Thompson Center Arms (T/C) had come out with their “Hawken” rifle in 1970, and being none too pleased with shotgun slug performance back then for local deer hunting in the shotgun zone (where muzzleloading rifles were allowed), I had opted for a .54 caliber. … Read More
Silence Can Be Golden
A growing trend in the shooting world has been the use of suppressors to quiet matters down and be a bit easier on the ears. Suppressors reduce sound intensity and are often called “silencers” which is a misnomer, because depending upon the ammunition being used, matters aren’t totally silent. It relates to whether the ammunition is supersonic which will feature a loud sonic “crack” exiting the barrel, or subsonic which will lack the noticeably sharp crack. While a couple of “silencer” patents by Swiss inventors appeared during the 1890’s, the first commercially successful introduction was … Read More
My First Year In The Tree Saddle
Are you thinking about getting into saddle hunting but just haven’t been convinced that it’s right for you? Last weekend, my hunting partner, Steve and I took to the woods with my two black labs and removed our climbing sticks and bow hangers from the last three of the five trees we prepped for bow season last fall. Our season was very successful. In fact, even though Steve did not harvest a deer from his saddle, he did fill both his Michigan buck tags for the very first time in his life. As for me, … Read More
Archery deer hunting using both arrows and bolts (aka quarrels)
Thanks to the new accurate system of requiring hunters to register (online or by phone) their deer harvested in Michigan on a regular basis during the various deer hunting seasons, the DNR can keep daily and accurate tabs on matters. When I talked to a Wildlife Biologist at the Bay City DNR Office on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 10:30 am to check on matters, a total of 295, 054 deer had thus far been harvested. Due to the ongoing January 2-31 extended late archery deer season, the total number of the deer being harvested … Read More
Fickle weather during December deer hunting adventures
December, in my mind, is the ficklest month of the year when it comes to weather. There are times the transition of fall into winter can get a bit confusing, while the weather makes up its mind to go one way or another. As a kid, I can remember when winter arrived, it usually brought lots of snow, and stayed until spring, but it seems like that predictability is all in the past these days. Being outdoors a lot, I’ve seen a steady transition, at least in my neck of the woods, of matters tending … Read More
Rifles for deer hunting are the most popular in southern Michigan today, but don’t sell shotguns short.
The shotgun has played an important role throughout the history of firearms. From matchlock and flintlock “fowlers” to today’s wide array, shotguns can be considered as multitask tools because they can handle a wide variety of shot, including heavy duty buckshot, and even solid projectiles for a heavier and very effective “punch”. This was originally a large lead round ball, but it was usually not consistently accurate at long range. All of this would change when Karl M. Foster, who wished to help American hunters put meat on the table during the Great Depression, developed … Read More
Fine memories of handgun hunting adventures with “Lorraine”
Cover Pic: Author and his 1987 Thumb 8-point buck he shot with “Lorraine” on the first opening morning handguns were allowed for deer hunting in Michigan’s Shotgun Zone. In 1974 I travelled to Williams Gunsight in Davison with the goal of purchasing a .44 Magnum Ruger Super Blackhawk revolver, having the intention of using it for big game handgun hunting adventures. I had already enjoyed hunting rabbits and squirrels with a Colt .22 single-action revolver and was hoping to take a step up for bigger game animals, such as deer and black bear. I soon found … Read More
Folding knives are a safe and handy way to carry a sharp edge
The first knife I ever carried was a small, bone-handled pocketknife with a single two-inch blade. This occurred a couple years before I even started school, and I was allowed to carry it. I looked upon it as a status symbol, because just about everyone I knew carried a pocketknife, even my mother. It is a handy item to have readily available, especially on a farm. And yep, folks, back then, I always carried a pocketknife even in school as it was a natural part of my dress and a necessary “working tool”, a fact … Read More
.41 Great Lakes – a new and truly amazing straight wall cartridge
When Michigan’s Shotgun Zone became the Limited Firearms Zone in 2014, it would completely change the complexion of deer hunting in southern Michigan, and other midwestern states with shotgun zones would soon follow suit with similar formats. A key feature is that only straight wall cartridges .35 caliber or larger, with a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and maximum case length of 1.80 inches are allowed. This is a straightforward approach which is easy to understand, and I do appreciate it. This would easily allow handgun-related calibers to be used in rifles, and I … Read More
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