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
THE ICE STORM OF ‘25 -ONE YEAR LATER-
The historic ice storm of ‘25 is behind us, but what are the lingering effects one year later? The effects are still a visible spectacle in many areas. What seemed less evident during the flourishing summer months when the deciduous trees were full with their yearly display of leaves would prove to be a ruse. As these leaves dropped in their usual fashion, having served as a masquerade of sorts, especially once winter was in full swing, the ugly truth was exposed as the inner ruins of the forests stood before us. Once spring arrives, … Read More
TICKS AND LYME DISEASE – “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”
Enjoying the great outdoors is so beneficial to our emotional and physical health. But how might those feel who’ve fallen victim to the effects of Lyme disease? We’re going to take a deep dive into this important topic. It seems the occurrence is on the rise, though that may well be due to better diagnostics. For many years, diagnosing this disease would prove to be quite difficult leading to missed or delayed treatment, leaving many victims suffering with the long-term effects of what can be a devastating disease. We would later learn that Lyme disease … 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
WHEN MICE MAKE HEADLINES: The Trilogy
You know life has slowed down when the big excitement of the day is an in depth discussion about unusual mouse encounters. Being a wildlife blog, we took liberties here by including mice as a part of the wildlife kingdom. To kick things off, let’s start with a story I wrote a few years back, but never published, about a crazed mouse whose munchies attack was such that being lured into the first trap where his leg became entangled would not deter him from further pursuing another midnight snack…. Or could there be more to … Read More
Dealing with The Big Chill
Michigan has had some rather mild winters in recent years, but this year has been an eye-opener. At least in my Thumb area, it has been an up and down matter, sometimes featuring freezing rain and soon followed by snow, often lots of it, usually accompanied by strong winds creating drifting and whiteouts. In fact, I’m amazed by the strong, sometimes erratic, winds which have become unbelievingly common this winter. Yep, folks, snow coming down backed by 30-60 mph winds can get a bit interesting! I will never forget the Thumb in experiencing a balmy … Read More
WGD Podcasts 2.0!
About ten years ago I decided to take Wild Game Dynasty on a journey to explore the world of Podcasting. The beginnings were certainly exploratory…at least from a technical point of view. I have been blessed to converse with so many interesting and knowledgeable people as a result of this adventure. With nearly 250 episodes from such a variety of hunting, fishing & outdoor enthusiasts…much was learned and new friendships were established. Over the past year, I have taken what might be described as a bit of a sabbatical from podcasting. After much thought, I’ve … 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
Michigan’s most popular opening day – November 15th
The truth be known, I never bought a Michigan hunting license of any kind until just before the firearms deer season in November 1963. Being a Thumb farm kid back then, a hunting license wasn’t required for hunting small game on your family’s land where you resided, and I had started hunting pheasants, squirrels and cottontails with my granddad’s single-shot .410 at an early age. Yep, folks, I was a bit annoyed when I had to wait until I was 14 years old to go deer hunting. I bought my deer license at the Albee … Read More
The Science of Buck Fever
It’s opening day of Deer Season 2025, at least for gun hunters. So much preparation and anticipation goes into this annual activity. For some, it involves year round scouting. As the days of the hunt draw near, serious planners consider not only deer sign, but wind direction. As such, they would do well to have back up sites ready to go based on this factor alone. For those hunters fortunate enough to have a shooting opportunity, their next challenge is surviving a sudden surge of adrenaline that at times does not serve them well at … Read More