Trying to get Wipfli an Early Season Turk

I've never met such ungodly conditions while turkey hunting in my life, and of course these circumstances came when I was trying to guide Wipfli to his first turkey kill.  We hunted hard for three days, and actually had above average action.  Almost every little mini-hunt we executed produced some action, and on two occasions we had a tom move in to within just out of shooting range.  The fact remains that these birds are super henned up right now and it is virtually impossible to call them off their hens to within shooting range.  On one of these encounters, a tom appeared to be coming in perfect to my decoy spread, but just as this occurred, the weather switched from a snowy/drizzle and 15 mph wind to a complete blizzard/white-out situation with sideways blowing snow aided by 35 mph winds.  One of my decoys actually was taken up by the gust and blew away.  The tom eventually lost interest and decided instead to take safety from the weather.

I'm 95% sure I caught a brief stint of frostbite.  When I thawed my left foot out in the shower, a good portion of it was black. 

Moving around in the woods was TOUGH, breaking through the snow up to above my knee every third step, which of course resulted in a good lather of sweat build-up. And after sitting for a time, the lather froze to what felt like ice on my body.  We then came up with the brilliant idea of using snow-shoes, turning out to be extremely helpful. (Never thought I'd see the day when I'd actually need snowshoes to hunt turkeys). 

Our best opportunity came on Saturday when the skies cleared and the birds became more vocal.  I worked this particular bird for a good hour when finally he made a move towards us.  But, of course, he stopped just behind the bushy field-edge about 40 yards from us, never made another sound and disappeared forever.  I know he had a couple hens with him, and I guess he didn't find my beautiful hen decoys sexy enough. 

What are you gonna do?  Good thing my tag isn't until mid-May....should be prime hunting by then.

Inagrual Meeting of Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc.

Northwoods Chapter of Muskies, Inc based in Minocqua, Wisconsin.
Visit us online at http://www.northwoodsmuskies.com/

 

Muskie Inc. was founded in 1966 to promote muskie conservation and education in hopes of solidifying a high class sport fishery throughout its range.  There have been several chapters of the organization that have sprung up over the decades, but now, the newest chapter has finally been established in the possibly the most high profile region of muskie angling - the Northwoods of Wisconsin.  Other focal points of the organization include promoting muskellunge research; supporting the abatement of water pollution; maintaining records of habits, growth and range of species; and also to disseminate muskellunge information; and to promote good fellowship and sportsmanship among lovers of the sport.

 

Chapter 61 Membership benefits include: tournaments, contests, social outings and banquets, guest speakers, monthly meetings, "lake learn" sessions, youth fishing and education initiatives and much more.

 

For membership information or questions, please email durkeenick@yahoo.com

Here are some snapshots of the first ever meeting of chapter 61



Back to Fishin Mode

Finally back up in the Great Northwoods, after some much needed r 'n r I figured I should try to get back into fishin mode.  Started by drillin a few holes, and naturally, thy bounty got slayed.  Still a good 20 inches of ice up here which means some excellent spring crappie slaying will undoubtedly occur over the next couple weeks.

Last Day at Purgatory

It's been an epic winter in Colorado, and sadly it's the last day the mountain is open.  Gettin weird and catching some vitamin D is all one can ask for.  Time to hit the road and get back to the Northwoods of Wisconsin for an inevitably epic summer of slaying thy bounty, cuttin trees down, and gettin weird!

Booter Day!

Dano's new sled is perfect for finding spots like this.  We built this monster booter and were getting 75-100' of air.  IDEAL.

McCormick's Maze

Over a foot of fresh blower pow at Purg, I think I'll take first chair over to the Maze.  Face shots on the reg!

Sleddin powder stashes in the mountains

Muskie Hunts - 2012 Highlights

View with headphones for the ultimate experience!

This inspiring compilation of heart pounding muskie footage is the latest video from Northwoods Way Outfitters. To ensure the complete excitement of the video from beginning to end, I had to keep it brief by only showing the absolute best footage from 2012, all filmed on the muskie waters of Northern Wisconsin. In this video, there was no room for extra filler footage of bloopers and us goofing, which gives it a more serious tone. Enjoy! Please check back to this site on a regular basis to repeatably get blown away by awesome Northwoods content and to learn better how to slay like we do.  Click on the above page, titled 'Guide Service' to explore trip options. 

A machine created by the gods

Had to repost this vid because it decided not to work anymore from my old link.  Features possibly the best machine ever created in the history of human kind, possibly even created by the gods.  Knowbody knows for sure.

San Juan Mountains

Skiing San Juan Trees, Fresh Southwest Powder

30 inches of fresh powder!!

Ice Climbing

Ouray, Colorado

Our buddy out here is huge into ice climbing, Senior Mielke.  We took a little trip up to Ouray last weekend to see what this crazy sport is all about.  Not gonna lie, it ended up being far more extreme than I had ever foreseen.  The first image below is of the ice sheet we battled.  After repelling down, the only way out is to climb the ice out; it was 135 ft.  After some serious cramping in my arms, some gnarly bruises on my knees, and a nice soak in the hotsprings, I'd say it was well worth the madness.

Durango, Colorado

Me and Dano packed up the truck a few weeks ago and headed out west, to Durango, CO.  We weren't really sure how long we were going to stay, but right now it looks to be for the rest of the winter.  I picked up a job at the local ski resort, got a free season lift pass, now it looks like we are going to be ski bums this winter in the San Juan Mountains. 

GET SOME

Big Removal - Extremely Technical

https://www.facebook.com/ben.michlig#!/photo.php?v=10102765168127840&set=o.207451529280592&type=2&theater

Just click on the above link to view a clip of a gnarly pine removal.  The roof was actually built around this tree years ago.  It simply had to come down.  Dano's Tree Service.

First Ice Research

There's only about a two week window when you are able to take a picture such as this one - first ice walleyes with the fish proving the short-stack of ice in the picture.  It is simply a classic time of year, and a classic pic to boot.  Here, we tried this inaccessible (to most people) lake I'd always had on my back burner, finally got out there after about a mile through the woods on an unmarked trail; ended up icing 5 nice walleyes, completing our research sampling for the day.  

Finally some bigger guys

Finally pickin up some healthier specimens.  The top one is a 24, and the bottom one is a 22.5.  Nothing huge, but it has been becoming more promising for trophy caliber fish, partly because we are focusing more and more of our attention on big fish water lately.  The night before I had an absolute pig bend one of my trebbles at the hole, I had her pinned under the ice for a second....she was the first truely nice one Ive had on this year, seriously, the thing bent my trebble.

Early Action

First Ice Walleyes

It's that time of year again, y'all. 

Climb, Cut, Stack

Dano's Tree Service

Four Oak Trees

Many people assume that tree work is strictly a three-season activity, but in fact, taking care of your trees  during the winter season can potentially be more benificial.  Firstly, we try to avoid cutting oak trees during the growing season because of the high risk of a tree disease called oak wilt.  Oak wilt occurs when insects quickly attack freshly cut oak trees, making it susceptible to hardship and insect infestation. Secondly, it is much easier to handle and dispose of branches when they don't have leaves.  Don't hesitate to contact Dano's Tree Service during the winter months, when prices are more competitive and your tree work will be completed by the time you take your next visit to your lake house.

Before/After Images of oak prune

Pruned this oak tree for the Lac du Flambeau Historical Society.  Needless to say, it needed a great deal of work.  Now it will survive to a much older age while nicely complementing the newly restored historical building.

Before....

After....