Jack-o-lanterns and whitetail deer have something in common because Halloween is the key timeframe when the whitetail rut in Michigan starts warming up. It is a time when using various deer vocalizations, as well as rattling, can pay dividends for hunters. I’ve been using deer vocalizations and rattling for quite some time, and knowing what call to use, and when, was a trial-and-error learning process. Calling in whitetails remains to be my favorite deer hunting technique, and today there are even how-to DVD’s available along with a wide array of deer calls, and with something … Read More
“The Chamber Flashbacks” – Holly Holy
By now, if you’ve been following our Chamber of Flashbacks, you might wonder how it is that Ross has made it this far? This final Ross feature is a tribute to his lovely wife, Holly. We consider her to be practically a saint for all she’s endured, thus our title track, Holly Holy. (Neil Diamond fan here.) Throughout his career and even in retirement, Ross marches to the beat of his own drum. This means that he fills his time how he chooses and is very much an individual thinker. Sometimes with “genius,” it’s difficult … Read More
A Bear Hunt To Remember
I will miss the call of the Raven and the sound its wings made as it took flight. I will miss the hoot of the owl, and the feeling that I felt as I wondered what might be lurking in the woods around me as I waited patiently for a Michigan Black bear to appear. My friend Andy drew a first-hunt bear tag for Michigan’s Red Oak unit in 2023, and he harvested a bear the last night of his hunt with Gary Morgan and Wild Game Dynasty that year. As for me, well I … Read More
Life Is A Highway
There has been a lot of traffic at our place in recent months, so much so, that a particular song came to mind… “Life is a highway. I want to ride it all night long,” by Rascal Flatts. Even at dusk and dawn, we’re enjoying the unexpected wildlife sightings from our front row seats, though for the late night jaunts, we can only guess. They nonchalantly parade past our sliding door as if they own the place, and in reality, it is theirs, as they were likely here first. We share this outdoor paradise. We’ve … Read More
Liberty hunt memories – deer camp jokes and paybacks
Ever since the Liberty hunt came into being, I’ve made a point of taking a kid out hunting during it, and I have some fine memories in doing so. It was 8 years ago when 13-year-old Dale Skinner of Akron took a Hunter’s Safety class I was helping with. He was seeking to get a hunting certificate, but having recently lost his father, he had no one to take him hunting, and yep, folks, I gave him an invite. Whenever the occasion occurs, my wife Ginny and I call our home “deer camp”, and during … Read More
A lucky lady and her dandy Michigan bull elk
Due to the odds, drawing a Michigan elk tag is a matter of pure luck. It only took me 36 years (of faithfully applying each year) to finally draw a tag in 2020. Up until then, I had always applied for “bull only”, but getting a bit long in the tooth caused me to apply for “any elk”, and I drew an antlerless-only license, and I was mighty glad and excited to receive it in the mail. I had the early elk season which is divided into three 4-day periods in August, September and October, … Read More
The Chamber of Flashbacks – Sploosh!
No one makes a Grand Entrance quite like Ross Chambers. Gary and Ross were to meet up to pregame for bear hunting season, with much preparation to be done. His first trip to East Lake was a memorable one as around midnight he turned off East Lake Road with his red Ford Ranger pickup, which Ross affectionately referred to as his DeRanger, and proceeded to go down the boat ramp directly into East Lake with a Sploosh! In his defense, it was dark out and with no artificial light, it does get a lot darker … Read More
While You Were Sleeping
Did you ever stop to think about what goes on in the great outdoors at night? Thanks to trail cams, we have at least a hint of a notion. This is especially true of nocturnal creatures, or as the 1972 debut record album by the rock band, Edgar Winter Group title says… They Only Come Out At Night! So fine dining is definitely a moonlight activity for these creatures. My dad had plenty of stories to share about his efforts to protect his garden during the night hours. Living on the edge of the woods … Read More
The Chamber of Flashbacks – coming soon!
If you’ve ever been to a WGD hunting camp, you may be familiar with the name Ross Chambers, affectionately known as Palley. Though a highly skilled guide, Ross is also known for providing comedic relief in camp from time to time. The cost of admission to his show? It will cost you a highball! But perhaps most entertaining is the legend of Ross himself, as he and his antics become the stuff of lore! Countless stories have been shared over the years, so many in fact, that we’ve decided to feature a weekly column for … 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