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By Louie Stout
Hunter’s 100-year-old Deer Mount Is One for the Record Books
Back in the early 1990s, Bill Nielsen was looking for some loose antlers that he could use to help rattle in bucks during the mating season.
For those who don’t know, a deer hunter will bang a pair of antlers together to imitate two bucks fighting over territorial rights when there are females around. Such a tactic can call in a big buck that has already claimed that turf.
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By Louie Stout
Leo Economakos with 15 lb. walleye
Leo Economakos is an avid walleye angler.
But like most Michiana fishermen, he just loves to fish. That’s why he was fishing off the St. Joseph, Mich. pier on Lake Michigan two weeks ago. He had time to kill, so he decided to grab his gear, some spawn, and go after winter steelhead.
“I heard some guys were getting some steelhead, so I figured I’d go give it a try,” said the St. Joe retiree.
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By Louie Stout
The stellar Michiana deer harvest that ramped up during the bow season has continued and is destined to be the best we’ve seen in six years.
Deer harvest for St. Joseph, LaPorte, Elkhart, Marshall and Kosciusko counties during the firearm season was up 24 percent compared to the five-year average. For the season, this region is up 20 percent.
“There has been an upward trend in those counties for the past five years,” said Moriah Boggess, Indiana deer biologist. “In fact, we’re seeing that trend across northern Indiana.”
Statewide, the harvest is up 6 percent overall and 8 p`ercent during the firearms season.
Through last Wednesday, the statewide harvest was about 4,500 shy of eclipsing last year’s mark with the muzzleloader and special antlerless seasons remaining.
St. Joseph and Elkhart counties have already eclipsed last year’s season harvest by nearly 100 deer, Kosciusko had equaled it while LaPorte and Marshall trailed last year’s total harvest by 70 and 50 deer respectively.
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By Louie Stout
Scott Crocker with his trophy buck
Scott Crocker had seen the brute before.
His trail camera on the small slice of woodlot in a Berrien County urban area revealed the big buck traveled through the area at various times.
But Crocker knew that if he were to get a shot at the 12-pointer, conditions would have to be right. That’s why he had only hunted the property twice this season.
“During my lunch hour one day, I looked at the trail video and saw the deer was still around after the opening of gun season,” said the Niles hunter. “But I knew I needed a northeast wind for me to be set up properly and have a chance.”
Crocker had shot some nice deer off the five-acre lot that lay in close proximity to houses. That’s one reason he hunted with a crossbow.
“It’s all a timing deal when hunting urban deer,” he said. “It’s very difficult to pattern deer in these areas because they move a lot, going from woodlot to woodlot.”
As luck would have it, a northeast wind was forecast for Friday but it would shift on Saturday.
It might be his best and only chance to see the big deer during the season.