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Posts by TR Michels

Circumstances Affect Gobbling

Circumstances Affect Gobbling

Since the first week of April I had heard turkeys gobbling in the woods across from the house, but my license wasn’t good until mid-April. Not being able to hunt I had to be content to listen to the birds, and watch them feeding in the corn field south of the barn where the neighboring […]

First Snow Deer Hunting

First Snow Deer Hunting

I always look forward to the first good snowfall of the deer season. Snow on the ground not only makes the deer easy to see against the white background it also makes for easy tracking. The story of where the deer moved and what they did is very evident in new snow. So when we […]

Understanding Geese

Understanding Geese

Understanding Geese by TR Michels article copyright Shortly after I began guiding goose hunts in 1987 I met Dr. Jim Cooper, one of the most highly respected waterfowl researchers in the world. He is an Associate Professor of Wildlife with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at the University of Minnesota, and has studied Canada […]

Understanding Elk

Understanding Elk

Understanding Elk by TR Michels article copyright Understanding what type of habitat elk prefer; where they like to bed, what they like to eat, and what they use for escape cover, can help you locate productive areas to see, and hunt, more elk. Habitat Elk are grazing animals; therefore they are primarily a species of […]

June Deer Management

June Deer Management

June Deer Management by TR Michels article copyright Whitetail bucks and does should be on their summer home ranges by June, and the does should be done fawning this month. It’s time to start working on habitat improvement: fertilizing, mowing, spraying, and clearing trails and paths. Antler Growth If you want to see more big-racked […]

Spring Turkey Calling

Spring Turkey Calling

Spring Turkey Calling by TR Michels article copyright When I hear the first sounds of the turkeys in the spring, just before daylight, I tree yelp softly to get their attention. If there are hens roosted nearby they may respond with their own tree yelps, toms often gobble. If you aren’t fully awake yet the […]

Tracking And Stalking Deer

Tracking And Stalking Deer

Tracking And Stalking Deer by TR Michels article copyright I first picked up the deer tracks on the south side of a 120 acre wood lot. I was fairly sure the tracks were made by a buck because they were on a rub route, not on the more heavily traveled trail the does used. The […]

Duck Hunters

Duck Hunters

Duck Hunters by TR Michels article copyright Each fall as the cold descends upon the northern lands many species of waterfowl begin their migration south to warmer climates. Duck hunters also begin their yearly migration. They leave their everyday lives as farmers, laborers, clerks, doctors, lawyers, businessmen and the thousands of other jobs that occupy […]

Stand Placement for Whitetails

Stand Placement for Whitetails

Stand Placement for Whitetails by TR Michels article copyright A deer stand is where you choose to hunt, and can be any location where you wait for the animals. It could be near a tree, rock, or hilltop; or it could be a treestand, tripod or ground blind. The main purpose of a stand is […]

Whitetail Security Factors

Whitetail Security Factors

Whitetail Security Factors by TR Michels article copyright During my study of white-tailed deer I discovered that deer are affected by several meteorological conditions that I call Comfort Factors. Many of these same factors also affect the health of the deer and can be considered as Security Factors. Deer rely on their sense of smell, […]