By Jack Payne
I could actually hear the crunching of acorns before I could see the deer. Early-season hunting demands attention to changing food sources.
For consistent archery success, always follow the food.
Early in the season, food sources include corn or bean fields, especially on private land. Acorns will quickly become a favorite for deer, and where I am hunting, some trees have already started dropping them.
Three of my ground blinds are located within a quarter-mile of a corn field, but all three are on public land. In addition to the corn are patches of oaks, and then the bedding area. Acorns will drop at various times through the fall. Keep track of the trees that are dropping acorns.
My morning hunt stands are located between a feeding source and a bedding area. My evening stands are much closer to a feeding area than a bedding area. Once again, the exact spot will change as the season progresses and depending on the wind conditions.
If you hunt near any type of wetland, additional food sources will be available. Tons of berries, lush green grasses or ferns, wild berries, and plenty of buds will be found. I love hunting mid-October until the season ends near areas that have buds appearing on soft trees and shrubs.
Hunting tight to this type of food source increases your window of opportunity. These damp areas are often located really close to a bedding area and the first spot a deer uses in the evening or the last spot in the morning.
Some of the bedding areas where I hunt are dense pines, thick clear cuts, and swales or swamps. My favorite locations are near water. The size of the swamp or cattail slough can vary from an acre to many acres.
Another overlooked bedding location is a high ridge. Thermal currents rise in the morning, and deer bedding on a ridge will not only see you, they will smell you. Keep this in mind when setting up a blind.
Thermal currents can and will derail the best laid plans.
Get into the habit of carrying milkweed with you or a powder puffer. Before you sit down and get comfortable, verify the wind and the thermal currents. Do not chance a hunt in a location with bad wind or poor thermal draft conditions.
I tie a piece of dental floss to my bow, and I carry a wind checker. Check and double-check the wind before plopping down. I am 100% camo-covered. I use a leafy head-net and a leafy top and bottom. I own three leafy tops, each with a different shade of color. I own a brown colored bottom, which is fine due to sitting tight to the ground.
Hunting on the ground is tough. The ferns are tall, foliage thick, and visibility short. I am hunting without a pop-up blind or a ground blind. Instead, I am sitting on a turkey lounge chair, tucked into the available cover.
The result often ends up with a deer nearly in my lap before I can see it. Now I have not been spotted by a deer, but I have been winded. Truth be told, I miss a tree stand but not putting one up. At age 69, this gets old.
The one blind that really does work is the Ghost Blind. This is a mirrored blind that reflects what is in front of it. I have the short model that works perfectly with a turkey lounge chair. The lower you sit to the ground, the better your success will be.
The Ghost Blind weighs around eight pounds, and it does pack fairly well. Last season, I used it a bunch with very good results. My goal was to eliminate as much weight as possible and set up as quickly as possible. The Ghost Blind takes perhaps a grand total of two minutes to set up.
Remember: follow the food, pay close attention to wind and thermals, and make these the keys to productive October archery hunts. For gear or advice, the folks at Bob's Gun and Tackle are ready to assist you.
I could actually hear the crunching of acorns before I could see the deer. Early-season hunting demands attention to changing food sources.
For consistent archery success, always follow the food.
Early in the season, food sources include corn or bean fields, especially on private land. Acorns will quickly become a favorite for deer, and where I am hunting, some trees have already started dropping them.
Three of my ground blinds are located within a quarter-mile of a corn field, but all three are on public land. In addition to the corn are patches of oaks, and then the bedding area. Acorns will drop at various times through the fall. Keep track of the trees that are dropping acorns.
My morning hunt stands are located between a feeding source and a bedding area. My evening stands are much closer to a feeding area than a bedding area. Once again, the exact spot will change as the season progresses and depending on the wind conditions.
If you hunt near any type of wetland, additional food sources will be available. Tons of berries, lush green grasses or ferns, wild berries, and plenty of buds will be found. I love hunting mid-October until the season ends near areas that have buds appearing on soft trees and shrubs.
Hunting tight to this type of food source increases your window of opportunity. These damp areas are often located really close to a bedding area and the first spot a deer uses in the evening or the last spot in the morning.
Some of the bedding areas where I hunt are dense pines, thick clear cuts, and swales or swamps. My favorite locations are near water. The size of the swamp or cattail slough can vary from an acre to many acres.
Another overlooked bedding location is a high ridge. Thermal currents rise in the morning, and deer bedding on a ridge will not only see you, they will smell you. Keep this in mind when setting up a blind.
Thermal currents can and will derail the best laid plans.
Get into the habit of carrying milkweed with you or a powder puffer. Before you sit down and get comfortable, verify the wind and the thermal currents. Do not chance a hunt in a location with bad wind or poor thermal draft conditions.
I tie a piece of dental floss to my bow, and I carry a wind checker. Check and double-check the wind before plopping down. I am 100% camo-covered. I use a leafy head-net and a leafy top and bottom. I own three leafy tops, each with a different shade of color. I own a brown colored bottom, which is fine due to sitting tight to the ground.
Hunting on the ground is tough. The ferns are tall, foliage thick, and visibility short. I am hunting without a pop-up blind or a ground blind. Instead, I am sitting on a turkey lounge chair, tucked into the available cover.
The result often ends up with a deer nearly in my lap before I can see it. Now I have not been spotted by a deer, but I have been winded. Truth be told, I miss a tree stand but not putting one up. At age 69, this gets old.
The one blind that really does work is the Ghost Blind. This is a mirrored blind that reflects what is in front of it. I have the short model that works perfectly with a turkey lounge chair. The lower you sit to the ground, the better your success will be.
The Ghost Blind weighs around eight pounds, and it does pack fairly well. Last season, I used it a bunch with very good results. My goal was to eliminate as much weight as possible and set up as quickly as possible. The Ghost Blind takes perhaps a grand total of two minutes to set up.
Remember: follow the food, pay close attention to wind and thermals, and make these the keys to productive October archery hunts. For gear or advice, the folks at Bob's Gun and Tackle are ready to assist you.
Trotter Out as Michigan United Conservation Clubs Chief Executive Officer
After a long and fruitful career with the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Amy Trotter is no longer serving in her role as chief executive officer of the organization.
The outdoor advocacy organization announced Trotter’s departure in a blog post Sept. 18. She had been with MUCC since 2009 and served as its CEO since June 2023.
In its post, the organization described Trotter as “a pillar of conservation advocacy. Her work to conserve, protect, and enhance Michigan's natural resources and outdoor heritage will impact generations.”
The MUCC executive board has appointed Mike Mitchell as acting CEO. Mitchell’s extensive background in lean manufacturing and strengthening teams in corporate and volunteer work will be greatly valued during this time of change. He brings a wealth of experience guiding teams through transition, and his skills and passion for conservation will guide MUCC through this time of change.
The search for MUCC’s next CEO has begun and more details will be released later this year, the organization said in its post.
In the meantime, the organization’s mission remains unchanged: to unite citizens to conserve, protect, and enhance Michigan’s natural resources and outdoor heritage.
The outdoor advocacy organization announced Trotter’s departure in a blog post Sept. 18. She had been with MUCC since 2009 and served as its CEO since June 2023.
In its post, the organization described Trotter as “a pillar of conservation advocacy. Her work to conserve, protect, and enhance Michigan's natural resources and outdoor heritage will impact generations.”
The MUCC executive board has appointed Mike Mitchell as acting CEO. Mitchell’s extensive background in lean manufacturing and strengthening teams in corporate and volunteer work will be greatly valued during this time of change. He brings a wealth of experience guiding teams through transition, and his skills and passion for conservation will guide MUCC through this time of change.
The search for MUCC’s next CEO has begun and more details will be released later this year, the organization said in its post.
In the meantime, the organization’s mission remains unchanged: to unite citizens to conserve, protect, and enhance Michigan’s natural resources and outdoor heritage.
DNR Proposes to Expand Deer Hunting, Improve Forest Diversity on Beaver Island
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites public comment on proposals to expand the deer hunting season on Beaver Island and to improve the island's forest diversity.
Proposal: Expand deer hunting season on Beaver Island
Deer hunters on Beaver Island would have an additional 20 days of antlerless-only hunting under a DNR proposal to help simplify hunting regulations and control the island’s deer population.
The proposal would add both early and late antlerless firearm deer seasons for the 2026-2028 hunting seasons.
Public comment on the proposal can be submitted through Oct. 31 to DNR wildlife biologist Jeremy Wood at WoodJ26@ Michigan.gov. In the email subject line, please indicate “Beaver Island Deer Proposal.” A summary of public input will be provided to the Natural Resources Commission, which has final authority for establishing deer hunting regulations.
Currently, the DNR allows the following deer hunting seasons on the island: Liberty Hunt, early and late archery segments, Independence Hunt, regular firearm and muzzleloader seasons.
Adding early and late antlerless firearm seasons would simplify regulations across the Beaver Island Archipelago and the remainder of mainland Charlevoix County.
The change would also address concerns about elevated deer densities on Beaver Island,which is impacting sensitive vegetation and limiting forest regeneration.
Proposal: Improve forest diversity on Beaver Island
The DNR is proposing multiple projects to improve forest diversity and wildlife habitat on about 240 acres of state-managed land on Beaver Island.
The plan consists of seven timber harvesting projects on both the east and west side of the island, all within the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area. The harvests would regenerate deciduous species such as aspen, birch and maple, improving age class diversity of the forest as well as wildlife habitat.
The proposals address outcomes for forest management identified in the Beaver Island implementation plan, which was developed in collaboration with the Northern Lake Michigan Islands Collaborative and finalized in May 2022.
The public can submit comments about the proposals online via the MI State Forest Application or by contacting DNR wildlife biologist Jeremy Wood at WoodJ 26@Michigan.gov until Oct. 15. In the email subject line, please indicate “Beaver Island Forest Proposals.”
In addition, an open house will be held from 3-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at the Beaver Island Community Center, 26215 Main St. Attendees can learn more about the forest management proposals, make comments and ask questions of DNR staff.
DNR Removes Swim Buoys at State Parks
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is removing swim buoys from many of its state park beaches. Once buoys are removed, the area is no longer considered a designated swim area and swimming is not recommended.
Photo courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Photo courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources
As the weather cools and the days shorten, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources continues the process of removing swim buoys and the Great Lakes flag system from many state park beaches.
Once buoys are removed – a process that always starts after Labor Day – the area is no longer considered a designated swim area. While the beach remains open to the public, swimming is not recommended, and beachgoers are urged to pay keen attention to weather and water conditions.
Swim buoys help mark the boundaries of swim areas, which are established to help identify locations with shallower water (less than 5 feet) and lower risks of dangerous currents and waves.
DNR staff inspects these buoyed areas approximately every two weeks and adjusts them as needed to maximize safety.
On-shore rescue equipment and safety signage will remain along those sections of shoreline through at least Oct. 1. Additionally, the emergency notification system at Grand Haven State Park will remain active, automatically notifying 911 when a life ring is pulled or the "call for help" button is pushed.
"Due to high winds, waves and rapidly changing water temperatures during the off-season, buoys are typically installed before Memorial Day weekend and removed after Labor Day," said Pat Whalen, Plainwell District supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “The flag system is also removed until the buoyed swim areas are established the next season.”
Visit Michigan.gov/BeachSafety for tips and information on safely visiting the Great Lakes, including buoyed swim beach locations, the beach flag warning system, Great Lakes currents (and how to escape them) and more.
For more information, contact Whalen at (269) 838-1196 or WhalenP1@Michigan.gov.
Once buoys are removed – a process that always starts after Labor Day – the area is no longer considered a designated swim area. While the beach remains open to the public, swimming is not recommended, and beachgoers are urged to pay keen attention to weather and water conditions.
Swim buoys help mark the boundaries of swim areas, which are established to help identify locations with shallower water (less than 5 feet) and lower risks of dangerous currents and waves.
DNR staff inspects these buoyed areas approximately every two weeks and adjusts them as needed to maximize safety.
On-shore rescue equipment and safety signage will remain along those sections of shoreline through at least Oct. 1. Additionally, the emergency notification system at Grand Haven State Park will remain active, automatically notifying 911 when a life ring is pulled or the "call for help" button is pushed.
"Due to high winds, waves and rapidly changing water temperatures during the off-season, buoys are typically installed before Memorial Day weekend and removed after Labor Day," said Pat Whalen, Plainwell District supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “The flag system is also removed until the buoyed swim areas are established the next season.”
Visit Michigan.gov/BeachSafety for tips and information on safely visiting the Great Lakes, including buoyed swim beach locations, the beach flag warning system, Great Lakes currents (and how to escape them) and more.
For more information, contact Whalen at (269) 838-1196 or WhalenP1@Michigan.gov.
Outdoor Truths: The Steadied Mind
By Gary Miller
My deer season opens in few days. I’ll be sitting in my truck instead of my tree stand. I’ll be heading to North Carolina to speak at a sportsmen’s dinner.
When I booked this event, I didn’t give one thought to it being opening day. Because in Tennessee and North Carolina, the temps will probably reach the 80s. And I prefer to hunt in camo instead of speedos.
This was not always the case (not the speedo part). In my early years of deer hunting, every day of the season held endless possibilities. And every day I stayed home, that was the day I thought the big one was going to come through. So, I would find a way to go early and often.
This was great until I found myself lingering a little longer on the pillow during the best part of the season. I had hunted so hard during September and October that when November came around, I stayed home on the days I should have been in the woods.
Today, a lot of things are different. The trail camera helps me determine if an early hunt is even needed, and the internet tells me what days each year are the best to be in the woods.
Most of all, I’ve simply learned to believe that my situation is not an exception, but the rule. That is, no matter how much I feel that I need to do a certain thing, I will most likely follow what the charts say instead of my feelings.
The charts have no emotions. They don’t even have thoughts. They just have truth. And I can decide whether I want to trust my emotions, thoughts, or truth. And that’s why I’ll probably not go to the woods very much until the end of October.
But let’s flesh out these emotions, thoughts, and truth. Because they are extremely important for our spiritual lives. You see, our thoughts and emotions are tied together. What we think shapes how we feel.
And how we feel shapes what we think. Negative thoughts fuel discouragement, while discouragement feeds more negative thoughts.
The same is true for positivity and hope. These are cyclical. If we are not anchored in something good and steady, we will live our lives on some roller coaster of anxiety and uncertainty.
What then should steady us? The truth about God and His ways. These truths remind us that He is good, and that He takes responsibility for our provision, protection, and purpose. And when we are certain about these things, our thoughts and emotions no longer control us.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
My deer season opens in few days. I’ll be sitting in my truck instead of my tree stand. I’ll be heading to North Carolina to speak at a sportsmen’s dinner.
When I booked this event, I didn’t give one thought to it being opening day. Because in Tennessee and North Carolina, the temps will probably reach the 80s. And I prefer to hunt in camo instead of speedos.
This was not always the case (not the speedo part). In my early years of deer hunting, every day of the season held endless possibilities. And every day I stayed home, that was the day I thought the big one was going to come through. So, I would find a way to go early and often.
This was great until I found myself lingering a little longer on the pillow during the best part of the season. I had hunted so hard during September and October that when November came around, I stayed home on the days I should have been in the woods.
Today, a lot of things are different. The trail camera helps me determine if an early hunt is even needed, and the internet tells me what days each year are the best to be in the woods.
Most of all, I’ve simply learned to believe that my situation is not an exception, but the rule. That is, no matter how much I feel that I need to do a certain thing, I will most likely follow what the charts say instead of my feelings.
The charts have no emotions. They don’t even have thoughts. They just have truth. And I can decide whether I want to trust my emotions, thoughts, or truth. And that’s why I’ll probably not go to the woods very much until the end of October.
But let’s flesh out these emotions, thoughts, and truth. Because they are extremely important for our spiritual lives. You see, our thoughts and emotions are tied together. What we think shapes how we feel.
And how we feel shapes what we think. Negative thoughts fuel discouragement, while discouragement feeds more negative thoughts.
The same is true for positivity and hope. These are cyclical. If we are not anchored in something good and steady, we will live our lives on some roller coaster of anxiety and uncertainty.
What then should steady us? The truth about God and His ways. These truths remind us that He is good, and that He takes responsibility for our provision, protection, and purpose. And when we are certain about these things, our thoughts and emotions no longer control us.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
Add a Fall Display to Your Garden, Front Steps or Balcony
An autumn display of mums, straw bales, pumpkin and ornamental squash dress up this landscape.
Photo credit MelindaMyers.com
Photo credit MelindaMyers.com
By Melinda Myers
Cooler temperatures signal a change of seasons and an opportunity to add some fall décor to the landscape. Garden centers are filled with fall favorites like pumpkins, ornamental squash, pansies, mums, asters and more. Don’t stop there, look for new ways to add a bit of fall to your front steps, balcony and garden beds.
Set the stage with small or large straw bales. They make nice backdrops and stands for potted plants, pumpkins, decorative squash and more. Once fall has passed, use them for winter mulch in garden beds and insulation for hardy plants overwintering in containers outdoors. Or save them for next summer to use as garden mulch or convert them into a straw bale garden.
Use corn stalks and broom corn to frame an entryway or add vertical interest in the garden. Secure them to a nearby post, tree trunk or sink a stake in the garden to use as a support.
Set pumpkins and large ornamental squash in the garden among perennials or to cover fading summer annuals. Place a few small pumpkins or gourds in containers or hanging baskets that are getting a bit thin on top. You’ll enjoy the added color and fall décor they provide.
Look for other ways to include pumpkins in your fall landscape. Remove the top, scoop out the inside, add some drainage holes and use it for a planter. Fill the pumpkin with a potting mix and plant or set a potted plant inside. Trailing pansies like cool wave pansies, small mums and asters, ornamental cabbage, or other fall favorites work well. When the plants fade and winter arrives, you’ll have a biodegradable pot ready for the compost pile.
Stack a few pumpkins or squash, one on top of the other, for added vertical interest. Or stack and fill baskets, pots and colanders and fill each layer with pumpkins and gourds. Add a few fall leaves or American bittersweet to the display.
Carve an opening in the side of your pumpkin and scoop out the insides. Create a fall or Halloween display or gnome house. Use faux moss, figurines and your imagination.
Welcome family and guests with a basket or container of dried plant material collected from your landscape. Scour your landscape for trees and shrubs with colorful berries. Collect a few flowering stems of ornamental grasses, dried flowers, and seedpods. Include some interesting twists to the arrangement with corkscrew willow, Harry Lauder's Walking stick or grape vines. Anything that looks good in the garden will add to your arrangement’s beauty.
Wire the stems together and secure onto a wire basket. Or secure your arrangement in pots and baskets that drain. Use chicken wire at the bottom and criss-crossed wires over the top of the container to form a secure base for the arrangement. Add a few rocks in the bottom, if needed, for a counterweight. Avoid windy locations that may topple or destroy your creation.
Once your display is in place, relax and enjoy a cup of hot cider or cocoa. Then start planning for your winter garden display.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is MelindaMyers. com.
Cooler temperatures signal a change of seasons and an opportunity to add some fall décor to the landscape. Garden centers are filled with fall favorites like pumpkins, ornamental squash, pansies, mums, asters and more. Don’t stop there, look for new ways to add a bit of fall to your front steps, balcony and garden beds.
Set the stage with small or large straw bales. They make nice backdrops and stands for potted plants, pumpkins, decorative squash and more. Once fall has passed, use them for winter mulch in garden beds and insulation for hardy plants overwintering in containers outdoors. Or save them for next summer to use as garden mulch or convert them into a straw bale garden.
Use corn stalks and broom corn to frame an entryway or add vertical interest in the garden. Secure them to a nearby post, tree trunk or sink a stake in the garden to use as a support.
Set pumpkins and large ornamental squash in the garden among perennials or to cover fading summer annuals. Place a few small pumpkins or gourds in containers or hanging baskets that are getting a bit thin on top. You’ll enjoy the added color and fall décor they provide.
Look for other ways to include pumpkins in your fall landscape. Remove the top, scoop out the inside, add some drainage holes and use it for a planter. Fill the pumpkin with a potting mix and plant or set a potted plant inside. Trailing pansies like cool wave pansies, small mums and asters, ornamental cabbage, or other fall favorites work well. When the plants fade and winter arrives, you’ll have a biodegradable pot ready for the compost pile.
Stack a few pumpkins or squash, one on top of the other, for added vertical interest. Or stack and fill baskets, pots and colanders and fill each layer with pumpkins and gourds. Add a few fall leaves or American bittersweet to the display.
Carve an opening in the side of your pumpkin and scoop out the insides. Create a fall or Halloween display or gnome house. Use faux moss, figurines and your imagination.
Welcome family and guests with a basket or container of dried plant material collected from your landscape. Scour your landscape for trees and shrubs with colorful berries. Collect a few flowering stems of ornamental grasses, dried flowers, and seedpods. Include some interesting twists to the arrangement with corkscrew willow, Harry Lauder's Walking stick or grape vines. Anything that looks good in the garden will add to your arrangement’s beauty.
Wire the stems together and secure onto a wire basket. Or secure your arrangement in pots and baskets that drain. Use chicken wire at the bottom and criss-crossed wires over the top of the container to form a secure base for the arrangement. Add a few rocks in the bottom, if needed, for a counterweight. Avoid windy locations that may topple or destroy your creation.
Once your display is in place, relax and enjoy a cup of hot cider or cocoa. Then start planning for your winter garden display.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is MelindaMyers. com.
