Deer Park Lodge

Sharing the hunt

Once again, the time just after Thanksgiving proves to be a time when deer hunting finally comes together for me. Friday night I am sitting in my blind on a beautiful evening just after 2-3 inches of snow had fallen. I can just feel it - something will happen tonight.

About 4:30, with a south wind blowing in my face. I hear this deer, starting to blow a warning that something is not right. I cannot see this deer, but I am rather perplexed as to why this deer is making the noise it is, because it is downwind of me. I am thinking there is no way this deer is smelling me.

After another loud blow, I see it running away up on the ridge - damn what is the problem? I kid you not - 45 seconds later a large wolf emerges from the thickets, right where this deer was. I get a good look at it for a couple of seconds and then it moves through one of my shooting lanes and disappears. I'm telling you this thing was bigger than Abbott (our Bernese, seen here on my right) and moved with a very dominate stagger. What a beautiful animal. The first one I have seen up north here, and only my third in Michigan.

At this point I am thinking I might as well pack my bags and head home with this big guy in the neighborhood. But the night was much too pretty to leave, so I just sat there waiting for something else to take place.  Who would of guessed that 20 minutes later I catch movement right where all the other action was occurring. I threw up my binocs and saw a deer with antlers coming through the woods into one of my shooting lanes.  Well, needless to say, that was the last mistake this eight pointer made. I dropped him on the spot.

So with meat in the freezer I will ease up on my  hunting time a bit. Oh, but wait, I have one more tag to fill!

All is well in Deer Park!!!

Mike

Image courtesy USFWS

The buck stops with Bob!

It's now four days into the rifle deer season.  The weather has stayed cold and we have been blessed with a little bit of snow covering the ground. As usually happens, there is more snow south of us about six miles than there is up here along the Lake Superior shore line.

A few deer have been taken but no reports, yet, of a monster buck being dropped.  The men over at Musky Lake Lodge have done well and now have five  bucks hanging, the biggest a nice six pointer. But, perhaps the neatest story of the weekend came from my good buddy, Bob, who is hunting his new property down at Pine Stump.  Bob is not, by his own admission, a serious or very good hunter. He broke down and bought a license this year because he had a couple of buddies coming up with him. 

Reluctantly, Bob did what most do on opening day, got up early and was in his blind by 6:30. After a couple of smokes and a cup of coffee (plus a couple of short walks outside the blind to get rid of the coffee), Bob spots a doe working his way. Shortly behind her is a nice sized 3 pointer. After throwing several pieces of lead in the air Bob finally drops his buck with a perfect shot to the neck.  Bob is now thinking this deer hunting is pretty easy stuff!!!!

Muskallonge Lake has had a skim of ice on it more than once already.  It won't be long until it gets froze over for the winter, and the ice fishing can get underway. We haven't had any real exciting bird observations lately.  I heard a Barred owl the other night while hunting and, of course, hunters have reported sitings of grouse and pileated woodpeckers. It does seem that we never did really see any decent number of flight ducks this year.  Have they not come through yet, or are they just not there? That is a good question.

We will be closing the store down just prior to Thanksgiving until late April . We will be keeping the cabins open and ready to go though.  We still have several cabins available throughout the winter. Give us a call and we'll be glad to accommodate you.

Keep checking back, as we plan on keeping regular postings on this site to keep you updated on snow and trail conditions, and to keep you posted on what's new and happening in beautiful Deer Park.

As always, we appreciate your visits,

M & M