Mossy oak at Cabelas

Well the Michigan Mossy Oak Pro Staff which includes several of us Upnorthjournal crew spent the weekend of April 10th and 11^th at the cabelas in Dundee Michigan for the spring turkey weekend.

The event was pretty cool with having a few other vendors present, people could check out all the stuff for their turkey season needs. The weather outside was just as nice too which might have had an effect on the amount of people that showed up. Which seemed to be light in the morning but picked up a little in the afternoon?

The Michigan pro staff helped out in the camo section and it was also nice to hear the stories of customers as they looked through the camo choices. Some were even looking for the new infinity pattern by Mossy Oak as well.

I met a man looking for a light weight set of camo for his bear hunt this coming September he told me all about the last hunt he had for bear and he was excited to be going back for more so good luck to him this fall!

Let me just also add that spending 8 hours in cabelas is like a kid in a candy store for the outdoor enthusiast there are so many choices for everything it is incredible from scopes to ammo to fishing to Archery from rest to safety vest just about everything and anything you could want and go broke in doing so.

I did walked out with a new set of camo that was a heck of deal and I could not pass it up.

Well that is a quick rap on the weekend at cabelas!

 

Remember when you're in the outdoors "aim small miss small"

Shooting PSE Bows!

On Saturday April 3^rd PSE (www.pse-archery.com) Representative Paul Penix, Jim Beasley owner of Spots hooter Archery in Holly, MI (www.spotshooterarchery.com) and Team spot shooter Mark Salsgiver hosted the Michigan Upnorthjournal crew for a chance to shoot the line of PSE bows.

Being able to shoot the entire lineup of bows was a cool thing when you are trying to choose the right bow for yourself and then having Paul, Jim and Mark there was a great advantage.

Paul's vast knowledge of the Bow line was great and he answered any question you had and with the added help from Jim and Mark made the importance of shooting each bow you wanted even more so.

We all took our turns just shooting different bows feeling them seeing how they all feel in your hand when you shoot how the release feels something that I highly recommend to do when you are going to go out and buy a bow you should shoot as many as you can to get the different feel of each one because frankly they are all different and even more important go to a good bow shop where they want to help you and not just sell you the equipment!

I myself was able to shoot the Super Short, Axe 6 and the Vendetta XL and XS models they were all great bows each with a little different feel, shot and release will let you all know which I have chosen when I get it in.

Having the Pro group there helping you out not just with the bow itself but helping in your form with hand position to feet stance helped us all out.

I want to thank Paul Penix and to Jim Beasley for the use of his great archery shop and also Mark Salsgiver

For spending the time with us and passing on some of their knowledge to us.

 

So remember when you in the outdoors "aim small miss small"

Good bye March madness hello April!

Well as March madness gives way to April showers here in Michigan it is time to get ready for spring turkey hunting up here in Michigan. With our season running late April to the end of May and my tag for May 10^th time to get out and do some scouting

With some of our fellow up north journal hunters already hunting away in the southern states and hear of Nancy Jo's Adams success down there it only adds to the blood flow to get out there and start some scouting around the area.

Will start our scouting by walking some areas from last year to see if the birds are in the area with all luck they will be. We will check our maps and look for new areas in case they are not.

Overall the turkey population I think had a good winter but with the improving population of the coyotes around here will also be checking to see if they are denting the turkey populations as well.

This will be my second year of turkey hunting and thanks to mike Adams for last year getting myself out there and showing me the ropes and hope I remember all the little tricks he showed me so this year,

I hope to have a few more first time hunters out there to see if we can get them a nice first time turkey.

With all that going on we also will have some fishing season openers at the end of April and we are going to do our best to get out and get some time on the water fishing for some walleyes and or trout so the upcoming months should be filled with some fun outdoors activities

So stay tuned and see how our fishing and scouting go as we march up to the Turkey season here in Michigan!

Happy Birthday To Erica!!!

This week this blog is dedicated to the Birthday Girl!





Erica!

Happy Birthday Erica!

Happy Birthday!

March 14, 2010


Just wanted to dedicate this blog today to my wife on her birthday.





Happy Birthday Deb!!


And to mention what a great gift i picked out for her

Mossy Oak seat covers for her truck!

Visit to Outdoorama

Well I just got back from a day at the 2010 MUCC Outdoorama in Novi, Michigan.

Both my family and I had a great time!

We arrived at 11:30 am to see the crowd was picking up by noon and the turnout was a nice site to see. These shows to me are a good place to get the juices flowing about getting out into the great outdoors. With some side shows and seminars, you could just find a little of everything.

The Air Dog Show by Milt Wilcox (former Detroit tiger pitcher) was a crowd pleaser and the fact a pit bull won the master division, was pretty cool. As always, there were some great looking labs and pointers as well.

For the kids, the climbing wall and the big old sand box to play in were popular as well. So was the live exhibit with various animals.

If you were looking for an outfitter for where ever and whatever, this was the place for sure. There was also no shortage of boats to step on and get the feel for them.

An added bonus was with your admission to the outdoor show. With admission, you could get into a log home show; giving some great ideas for your home and your own great outdoors.

Vendors were there to add some retail sales to the show. I picked up myself a few lures and a nice fishing pole. I can't wait to use them this summer out on the water.

That was my experience this past weekend at the outdoor show here in Novi, Michigan and I just wanted to let you all know how it went!

Until next time…

 

As I always say "aim small, miss small" when you're in the outdoors!

2010 Iceout!

Well the 2010 Houghton lake Ice Out is history and let me tell you, it was a blast! I was only up there for the one day but the weather, the people and just being outdoors, was a great time.

We arrived in Houghton Lake to a great sunrise and blue sky morning. The ice was 21 to 24 inches thick and we were set for our first stop. My cousin Bryan DeFauw and I went to Lymen's on the lake to pick up some bait and to find out where the Up North Journal crew and friends were at in the sleeper shanties. The people at Lymen's were awesome to say the least. They were friendly and courteous and even provided a taxi service out onto the ice to get you to the shanties.

Upon our arrival, we met up with the UNJ crew and a few friends from Talkhunting.com that joined us from the south to try their hand at ice fishing.

Bryan with Mike from Talkhunting!

Bryan and I discussed our plan for hitting the lake with our tip-ups and proceeded to re-tap a few holes close by the shanties. With our limit of lines in the water, we enjoyed the warming weather and waited and watched for our flags to take off from the tip-ups.

After about a hour we had our fist flag. Bryan took it and pulled in a nice 20 inch pike. It was nice but under sized to be a keeper and so he let it free. A few minutes later, I got my first fish; a small perch that thought he was bigger than what he really was .Bryan also pulled in another small perch.

Bryan with the first Pike

With the fishing slow an employee of Lymen's stopped by and chatted and gave the group some tips as to wear to go on the lake. So, we split up into a few small groups and headed out further out onto the ice.

Heading out about a mile further, we drilled and set up a few more holes and enjoyed the afternoon in the sun. Still, the fishing was slow but we did manage to get a few more pike through the ice; all about 20 inches, still under sized.

Dan checking a line

As the day came to a close, with the light clouds moving in, and the sun setting the day ended. It was time to head back home. Even with no keepers, it still was a good day out on the ice

With all the day's events and great time, how can you not look forward to the next" ICE OUT 2011"

?

Mike adams working the camera!