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The wilderness way
A NATURE
PUBLICATION FOR THE WALLNER FAMILY
Rick Wallner
- Writer, Editor, Publisher
Issue No.
1
May 19, 2003
 DAD vs. WALLY!!
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Our annual
Father's Day walleye fishing charter in 2002 was long on fun and fellowship,
but short on filling the cooler. Despite
the efforts of Steve Martin, Captain of the MI-Hi, and his mate, the fishing
was spotty. We were satisfied with the outcome,
even if we did not catch our limit.
We have been chartering with Capt. Steve for about 10 years
now, and have limited out most of the time.
The anglers for this excursion were Al (Dad Wallner), Ron, Bob, Rich,
Tom, Jacob, and I. The veterans of the group, Dad, Ron, Bob, Rich, and I have
been on all of the MI-HI charters. Other
than Tom and Jacob, Mr. Ed Young (Bob’s Father in law), and our good friend and
neighbor Ralph have joined us over the years. Dad, Bob,
Rich, Tom, Ralph, and I will be onboard when the MI-HI
leaves the dock on May 31st.
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RICK’S FIRST…BOB’S BEST
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It was about
5:05 pm., the second day of deer season 2002. I figured that there was only
about another ten minutes of day light left, so I started to relax in my hunting
chair. As I scanned the horizon, I noticed a deer come up over the ridge on my
left. It was about 100 yards away, but I had a clear killing field. Because
the light was dim and the giving the distance from my target, I could not
determine its size very well. I decided to attempt a shot. I raised my 270
Remington, put the cross hairs of the scope on the deer, and squeezed the
trigger. As I lowered my rifle, I saw the deer bolt back down the slope off the
ridge. I thought that I had missed another opportunity to take my first deer.
Just then, I heard another shot. It was my brother Bob.
I started toward the spot that I had shot at the deer.
Then I heard the words from Bob that I’ve waited 15 seasons for. He yelled “Rick
come over here and get your deer”. I can’t even begin to express how happy I
felt. Because I was recovering from ankle surgery, and the deer was on a steep
incline, Bob had to do the field dressing. Despite the fact that he had little
light to work with, he got the job done quickly. It turned out to be a button
buck, but I was thrilled to have just taken my first deer. |
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Bob’s big
moment came opening day at about 9:15 in the morning. We were in a couple of
our favorite ground blinds near Hubbard Lake and Trask Lake Roads. Our blinds
sat on a ridge about ¼ of a mile apart with a shallow valley between us. He
heard the rustling of leaves coming from behind him. He slowly turned and
observed a deer with its nose to the ground. He then spotted the antlers. A
BUCK! He didn’t have much of a shooting lane or much time. He waited for it to
walk into an opening between a couple trees and make a good shoulder shot. The
deer ran about 50 yards and then dropped. Bob had taken a buck during the 2001
season, but it could not measure up to this very nice six-point trophy. It will
be mounted.
Our double victory presented us with a need to celebrate.
So we went to our favorite restaurant in Hubbard Lake, the Mt. Mariah Inn.
After putting away the house specialty, a medium rare steak smothered in
mushrooms, it seemed only right to toast each other with a drink. Or was it a
couple of drinks? Maybe it was a few drinks! Hey, the number doesn’t matter. We
had fun and we earned it.
Two days later, our cousin Tom and my son Rich joined us.
We spent the next three or four days trying to get one or both of them something
to add to the “Meat Pole”. As it turned out, my deer was the last one seen that
week.
Deer Camp 2002 was the best ever. We can’t wait for the
start of the 2003 season. |
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RICK’S REMINDERS
*May 31, 2003 – Father’s Day Walleye Charter in Lake Erie
at Luna Pier
*July 1 to August 1 - Application for Antlerless Deer
Permit
*August 16 & 17, 2003 – Lake Michigan Salmon Charter at
Frankfort
(An all species
license is required)
*September 15 – Small game season begins
*October 1 to November 14 - Deer Bow season #1
*November 15 to December 1 – “THE SEASON” – Deer
Firearm
*December 1 to December 31 - Deer Bow Season #2
*December 15 to January 1 – Muzzle Loader Deer Season
CAMP TALK
EDITOR’S NOTE
A true outdoors man or woman does not
measure their success by what they may call the “Catch of the Day” or by the
game they have just harvested, but by how they bonded with nature and sharing
their experiences and good times with others. This is the code in which our
family believes and is commitment to when we are out in
”WALLNER’S
WILDERNESS”.
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