According to the Field & Stream blog article by Scott Bestul Montana’s Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has decided that trail cams or game cams as they are often called are subject to the following:

“It is illegal for a person to possess or use in the field any electronic or camera device who’s purpose is to scout the location of game animals or relay the information on a game animal’s location or movement during any Commission adopted hunting season.”

     What bothers me even more is the chatter that this has created on F&S’s comments below the article.  Once again we see an elitist faction criticizing anyone for using a camera.  If you don’t want to use one that is fine, but don’t slam someone for choosing to do so.  If it is legal then I have no problem with it.  What I do have a problem with is the groups of so called hunters attacking each other!  This serves no good what so ever.  Once again something as simple as a camera is coming between us and dividing us!  Instead of banding together for the common good we find it necessary to tear each other apart!  When is this bull going to stop?  Our outdoor heritage is slipping away right through our fingers and we are the ones to blame!  There is no one else to point the finger at!

     Back to the law at hand, how can the state tell someone on their own land that they cannot use a camera to catch a trespasser, keep an eye on predators that might be killing their livestock, tell biologists that they cannot use them to do studies, see if a deer you took a shot at and couldn’t find is still around the area, watching the progression of growth on a deer’s antlers, or simply taking photos to enjoy them, etc…..?  This stupid law has more far reaching ramifications that I feel no one has even given any consideration to see what ill affects this might have on good law abiding outdoors men!

   For more information on this law, NRAhuntersrights.org has their take on it as well!

Contacts: Jennifer Kleitch 989-785-4251, ext. 5430 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014 DNRE Asks for Help From Public to Detect Presence of Wolves in the Lower Peninsula The Department of Natural Resources and Environment today announced it will conduct a survey in the northern Lower Peninsula Feb. 16 through March 12 to detect the presence of gray wolves in this area of the state. Survey teams will be searching areas where the public reports observing a wolf or wolf tracks during the survey period. Priority will be placed on the most recent reports and reports with potential wolf evidence. “The purpose of the survey is to both verify the presence of wolves where we have previously confirmed animals and to detect new occurrences in other areas,” said DNRE Wildlife Biologist Jennifer Kleitch. “Given the low probability of observing a wolf or tracks in the Lower Peninsula it’s helpful to have as many eyes looking as possible. That’s why public reports are important.” The DNRE is asking the public to report wolf sightings that occur during the survey period to the Gaylord Operations Service Center at 989-732-3541, ext. 5901. Observation reports can also be submitted online year-round at www.michigan.gov/wolves. The Web site also contains identification information for wolves. “It’s imperative that observations are reported in a timely manner so we can work with fresh evidence. If the public finds what appear to be wolf tracks, they should preserve the physical evidence and disturb it as little as possible or take a photo of the tracks with a ruler,” Kleitch said. “If someone has a photo or video of a wolf in the Lower Peninsula, we’re interested in that as well.” Wolves began naturally returning to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula via Canada and Wisconsin in the early 1990s. Since that time populations have increased and continue to expand their range. Evidence of range expansion into the Lower Peninsula came when a gray wolf was accidentally killed in Presque Isle County in 2004. More recently, the DNRE verified two wolf observations in 2009 in the northern Lower Peninsula as a result of a video and trail camera photo taken by Michigan citizens. The DNRE is partnering in this survey effort with USDA Wildlife Services, the Little Traverse and Grand Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and Central Michigan University. The DNRE is committed to the conservation, protection, management and accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations.

Nancy Jo Adams

Marti Davis

     Nancy Jo Adams who is one of the newest members of the Up North Journal staff has teamed up with Marti Davis to form Team Artemis for the Whitetail Challenge!  Be sure to follow Nancy Jo’s and Marti’s adventure by checking out the daily blog entries to see if they arrowed the big buck!  You can check it out by going to Nancy Jo’s Up North Journal bio page and clicking on her blog link.  Nancy Jo is the hunter for this team and Marti is the videographer capturing all the exciting footage of the hunt!  Good luck to the first all female team to take on the Campbell’s Outdoor Challenge!

     We recently purchased a new washer and dryer that is of the front load variety.  I gathered all of my non-carbon based camo together last week to do my ritual scent free washing of the clothes.  When I put my Dead Down Wind laundry soap in the dispenser for the machine, that is when I noticed that these new machines have in the same dispenser a separate compartment for bleach and fabric softener.  I looked in there and noticed that there was a good amount of residue in them!  Yikes!  Fabric softener has perfumes in it!  The last thing I need is to smell pretty while sitting in my stand!  No comments from the peanut gallery!

     I removed the tray and took it to the sink to rinse it out which was pretty simple, but after rinsing it still smelled like fabric softener.  So I grabbed some of the new Dead Down Wind E-Live Downstream odor terminator and sprayed down the entire soap dispenser.  It killed most of the smell but not all, so I gave it another shot and then a third just to be sure.  It did the trick!

     I replaced the soap dispenser confident that it had no lingering residue or odor from the previous wash cycle and began my ritual washing!  Even if you have one of the older top load style washers be sure you clean the fabric softener dispenser!  Clean it completely and make sure there is no scent coming from it!  It is ok to smell good, but not in the deer woods!

Mike Adams, UNJ Founder

      About four months ago the Up North Journal crew launched a new website to prepare for the new outdoor show Beyond The Wild.   That new web site was the beginning of the transformation that we as the UNJ crew were about to make.  Since that time we have added several new staff members to give you a view of the outdoors from all over this nation.  We didn’t want to just focus on the Michigan area, we wanted this new adventure to encompass what hunting, fishing and the outdoors looked like from several different perspectives as well as from several different states. 

     With that goal in mind we knew it was time for a new look and feel for the UNJ experience, so we came up with a new logo to showcase what we were about.  The logo you’re looking at is fresh as well as bold.  It completes what we are focused on, a broad range of animals as well as a wide range of the outdoors.  The whitetail deer is hunted all across this nation and is well recognized, the Canadian goose has flyways from east to west and the Trout is fished all across this country.  These three species cover the nation and are pursued by many outdoorsmen and women, and that is why we chose them for our new logo.  The circle that surrounds these animals on the logo completes the circle of seasons that gives us the opportunity to pursue them.  The black and white color scheme is simple yet bold, which explains who we are.  We are simple everyday outdoorsmen and women but we are also bold in what we stand for, the right for all to enjoy the outdoors.  Right in the middle of it all is the Up North Journal name which is right where we want to be, in the middle of it all!

     Take a moment to stop by and look at the new layout and if you’ve never been to our website www.upnorthjournal.com, stop by and spend a few moments to see what we have to offer.  We have 13 active blogs from fellow staffers who want share their outdoor experiences with you.  Featured on our front page is our weekly podcast “Up North Journal” which can be played directly from our site along with our new outdoor show “Beyond The Wild” which is a monthly show that can also be played right off of our front page.  The Up North Journal staff is “Changing Lives One Outdoor Adventure At A Time”!

PRODUCT WARNING NOTICE: WINCHESTER® 17 HMR AMMUNITION

Winchester Ammunition
8/21/2009PRODUCT WARNING NOTICE

WINCHESTER® 17 HMR AMMUNITION
DO NOT USE WINCHESTER® SUPREME® OR SUPER-X® 17 HMR RIMFIRE AMMUNITION IN SEMI-AUTOMATIC FIREARMS. No other calibers of rimfire ammunition are subject to this warning.

Winchester 17 HMR ammunition is manufactured in accordance with standards issued by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI). Winchester has been notified by its supplier that 17 HMR rimfire ammunition is not suitable for use in semi-automatic firearms. The use of this ammunition in a semi-automatic firearm may cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable, and subject the shooter to a risk of serious personal injury. 17 HMR ammunition is suitable for use in quality firearms in good condition that are not semi-automatic.

If you have any questions concerning this warning notice please contact your firearm’s manufacturer or call Winchester toll-free at 866-423-5224 (U.S. & Canada), write to the address below, or visit our website at www.winchester.com.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

WINCHESTER AMMUNITION August 21, 2009
600 Powder Mill Road
East Alton, IL 62024-1273

     By now your probably asking yourself, what the heck are you talking about here?  What I’m speaking of is the recent passage of a law allowing crossbows to be used liberally in the upcoming Michigan hunting seasons.  Before, during and after the discussion and passage of this new law there was a strong force opposing this and another that strongly supported this law.  I did some research on the subject by looking at what the weapon was, what other states have faced since they allowed them, and then I looked at what both sides were saying before I formed an educated opinion on them.

     Once the new rules were voted on and passed I began to think about what arguments both sides used to sway the Legislature into seeing their side of the equation.  I thought about why I thought this would be a good weapon to allow people to hunt with and looked at some of the problems that might arise along with the arguments of the non-crossbow hunters.  It was then that I thought about doing a field test of my own to see what arguments held water and which ones were a wash!

     Since I had no experience using a crossbow or hunting with one for that matter, I thought I could be as unbiased as they come to try and figure out just how viable a weapon this would be.  So I began the task of contacting each and every crossbow manufacture that I could find to see if they would be willing to allow us to shoot, test, and hunt with their offerings.  I had three companies step to the plate and take the challenge.  The first company was Ten Point, they allowed us to put their “Titan” crossbow to the test.  Next was PSE, which chose to offer the Sidewinder out of their stable.  The third company to take the challenge was Excalibur which selected their Phoenix recurve crossbow to be put up against the other two companies.

     Each of the three crossbows have very different features that distinguishes them from one another, yet they all still offer the crossbow hunter or shooter the basics in what one would expect in a newer crossbow package.

     The first experience we had was with the Titan from Ten Point during a spot and stalk hog hunt at a hunting enclosure, basically we had live practice.  I thought that this would be a good opportunity to see what a crossbow could do, so I took one of our staff members along and allowed him to use the Titan for his stalk.  Chuck who used the Titan had never spent any time with a crossbow before, so he didn’t have an informed opinion one way or another.  We took some time for him to practice with it at the archery range and get familiar with the gear before heading out to the field with it.  Let me stop right here and say this:  We should have spent much more time practicing with it before heading to the field, just as we should if it were a bow, shotgun, or rifle!  That was one of the first myths that was being spread about crossbows, “they are too easy to shoot, they shoot like a rifle”.  Many people assumed or misstated the fact that they were so accurate and easy to use that you could just pick one up and if it had a scope on it you could hit the field running.  Wrong!

     After spending a day at the archery range shooting and practicing we thought that we could just hit the field running with it, although Chuck did get his hog, we later found out during testing that you need to spend time with the crossbow practicing to become proficient with it.  Just like any other weapon of choice you need to spend time with a crossbow to improve your accuracy and safety skills with it.  I will get into that later, but when Chuck took his hog, he was at close range when he placed the shot on it.  This crossbow shot just shy of 300 feet per second when we later tested it with a bolt and fixed three blade broadhead combined weight of 418 grains, the same setup as what Chuck used in the field.  We expected that this bow would have had a pass through shot at less than 20 yards, that wasn’t the case.  Chuck placed the shot just behind the front shoulder and it didn’t exit the other side what so ever, this with a 175 lb. Limb package.  The Titan was the fastest of the three weapons we shot, so this claim of super powered strength is not exactly what some are claiming.

     The Titan was unique from the other two crossbows in the fact that it had a draw assist device on the unit.  This allows the shooter to use a hand crank to draw the string into the cocked position.  This is a very important feature that we will cover later in this review.  When the crossbow is cocked the safety is automatically placed in the safe position.  This is a very important safety feature on this weapon.  The Titan also sported a 40mm multi dot scope for distances of 20, 30, and 40 yards respectively.  With an 11 1/8″” power stroke, it boasts a 300 feet per second speed which is close to what we tested it at.  Our chronograph speed was 298.7 fps with a total bolt & head weight of 417.9 grains and 287.9 fps with a bolt & head weight of 466 grains.  This crossbow weighs in at 7lbs 12 oz without any accessories, which is in the middle for weight for the three companies we tested.  The Titan HLX package starts out at around $519 and can be built with extras depending on the features you want with it.

     The next piece of gear we obtained was the Excalibur Phoenix of which I wrote a first impression review on earlier this season, you can find that review here.  This crossbow was different from the first two in the fact that it sports recurve limbs on it which boast a draw weight of 175 lbs.  They advertise a speed of 305 feet per second with a 14 ½” power stroke, but we measured speeds of 285 fps with the 417.9 bolt and 280 fps with the 466 grain bolt respectively.  The Phoenix must be drawn by hand or with the aid of a cocking draw string.   The safety on the Phoenix must be engaged manually every time it is loaded unlike the other two offerings.  This is the lightest of the three crossbows we shot, coming in at 6lbs 3oz.  This is due to the stock thickness being machined down, thus keeping the weight at a minimum.  This crossbow starts out at $519 and can also be built with extras as you see fit.  The model we obtained came with the “Lite-Stuff” package, which included a scope, quiver and bolts for a total of $770.

     Last but not least is the PSE Sidewinder XB.  This crossbow has compound bow limbs with a draw weight of 185 lbs.  The Sidewinder has a power stroke of 12 ½” which produces a claimed speed of 310 feet per second.  Once again we saw something a little different with the two bolts we shot.  The bolt that weighed in at 417.9 grains chronographed at 317.6 fps and the bolt weighing 466 grains came in at 301.3!  The Sidewinder must be drawn manually also or with the aid of a draw string, it also locks the safety in the on position when cocked.  This is the heaviest of the three crossbows weighing in at 8 lbs.  The Sidewinder comes in a package deal that includes a scope, quiver, and bolts  for $400.

     That covers the basics, now let’s get to the other aspects of our test.  When we set this up for the accuracy and penetration testing we did so with a bench rest shooting vice and an uncompromised broadhead shooting block.  We took a new broadhead and placed it on the bolt for each penetration shot we did for each crossbow with the two different weighted bolts we used.  The Excalibur Phoenix with the 417.9 grain bolt penetrated 15 7/8″ in the block and the 466 grain bolt penetrated 16 7/8″ deep.  The Titan from Ten Point with the 417.9 grain bolt penetrated 18 7/8″ in the block and the 466 grain bolt penetrated 20 1/8″ deep.  Last is the Sidewinder from PSE  and with the 417.9 grain bolt we had a penetration of  19 5/8″ in the block and with the 466 grain bolt we had a penetration of 19 5/8″ deep .  Why we obtained the same depth with this last crossbow we haven’t figured out, except for the fact that there might have been a harder spot on the target with the last shot?   

     When it came to the accuracy test we had an interesting dilemma.   We began to shoot the Excalibur by hand cocking the crossbow, we soon saw accuracy results all over the page with one eventually missing the target completely!  Remember we were shooting off of a bench rest gun vice!  We then started looking at how the crossbow was loaded and cocked.  It was then that we realized something was wrong when we saw that the serving on the string was longer on one side of the rail than the other after being cocked.  I called the Excalibur factory rep and explained what was happening.  He told me that there was virtually no way to hand cock any crossbow and get any consistency out of them.  What happens he explained, is that everyone is either right or left hand dominant which leads to one pulling harder on one side of the string than the other.  This leads to power loading or over cocking one side of the crossbow than the other, thus ruining your accuracy!  This is very important to understand since it caused us to completely miss a target at 20 yards!  Imagine what could happen in the field, either a missed game animal or worse yet an injured game animal!  The rep also explained that this could happen with a string aided cocking device if the string hooks and guides are not placed directly against the rail before you start to load the string.  So much for once again picking one up with no practice and heading to the field like some do with a rifle!

     Once we got the loading issue worked out, everything started to fall into place.  At a distance of 20 yards we saw all three bows basically shoot groups of 3″ to 4″ groups.  Not what I would call the accuracy of a rifle by any stretch of the imagination!  We found one other surprise while shooting these crossbows, especially with the PSE and Ten Point Packages.  Both of these crossbows came with scopes that had multiple dots or crosshairs for distances of 20 yds, 30 yds, and 40 yds.  The gap or what we archers refer to as pin gap was pretty wide.  With that being said, if you tried to shoot out to 60 or 70 yards or even 100 yards you would have to aim so high to get the bolt to fly to that distance you wouldn’t be able to see the target through the scope!  These crossbows might shoot out to those distances if you arc them high enough, but how in the world are you going to see your target through the scope?  Accuracy and distances of 100 yards like a rifle myth? Busted!    Then naturally the next argument will be that the TAC 15 by PSE claims 400 fps and 100 yard accuracy.  The State of Michigan has put an end to that argument as well.  They will not allow any crossbow that shoots over 350 fps to be used for hunting.  The Michigan DNR has said that they will ticket anyone who is caught with a crossbow that the manufacture claims will shoot over 350 fps, PERIOD!

     We did a comparison shot with a Bowtech Guardian set at 66 lbs, 29.5″ draw with a 29.5″ Carbon Express Aramid KV arrow @ 273 grains with a measured 106 grain broadhead.  We chronographed the bow at 280 fps with  a penetration of 23″ from a total arrow weight of 379 grains.  We saw better penetration with the conventional compound than that with a crossbow!  I can hold tighter groups with my compound also than what we experienced with a crossbow on a shooters bench!  One of the biggest things that everyone that was around us when we shot them noticed immediately was how loud the crossbows were!  That was their first comment, “Man that thing is loud!”  Noise is a huge concern for hunters who have to take their game up close and personal.    With those observations, I will stick with my compound bow until I can no longer effectively use it.  Then I will gladly take up a crossbow  to hit the field with.  I want to take the most effective tool to the field to use legally that I can when I’m pursuing game.

     While shooting these crossbows, one of my staff members had his daughter with us as did I also.  We naturally thought that these would be good choices for youth who couldn’t pull a high enough draw weight on a bow to effectively take a deer, so we had them try out all three crossbows.  Both of the girls liked the PSE Sidewinder for the simple fact that there was less hand shock from the forearm and stock.  Even though it was the heaviest of the three it was the favorite of the two girls.  We also had them try to draw  the string manually and with the draw string aid with no luck!  The only crossbow they could load themselves was the Ten Point Titan with the draw assist hand crank.  With that said, a parent would definitely have to be afield with them to aid them with handling of the crossbow.  This alone teaches parental supervision!

     Some other observations we found were mostly related to safety handling of the crossbows.  We found ourselves handing the loaded crossbows to each other to place into the bench rest and the person on the receiving end more than once started to grab the rail thought the already loaded strings!  Also, YOU MUST keep your thumb and fingers down off of the rail when shooting!  I have seen more than one instance where a shooter has lost the tip of a finger or thumb that got in the way of the cables or string coming down the rail!  Last point of safety we thought of, it might not be wise to use these in a simple treestand since you must bend over the crossbow to pull the cocking aid draw string or to manually load it by hand.  Doing so could cause one to become unbalanced and lose your footing or balance in the treestand!  If I were going to hunt out of a treestand, I would want a crank style device to load the string!

     All in all, I don’t feel that the people who spoke out against the crossbow issues have anything to worry about.  These are not the magic weapon of choice that they claim them to be.  They do have a place in our woods and should be welcomed to encourage those who can’t take advantage of the archery season for what ever reason to now do so.  Since I have spent some time shooting these three crossbows, I have learned a lot about them.  They are not like a rifle so don’t treat them like one!  They will not shoot accurately over a long distance and they are not quiet by any means.  Most newer compound bows can out perform them with a little practice.  A lot of people who are speaking out against them claim that crossbow shooters have an advantage by having the string pulled back and locked, which they do, but is that any reason to keep them out of the archery season?  I think not!  Modern compounds are more effective than a crossbow so should they too be disallowed from the woods?  Traditional archers have an advantage of an easier let down if busted by an animal than that of a compound shooter who has a hard time letting down with out a jerking motion once the cams roll back!  Should we disallow the traditional shooters for that advantage?  We can find an advantage or disadvantage with any weapon of choice.  Instead of knocking down one another, we need to be supporting one another instead!  The anti’s don’t have to fight us if we are killing our own!   No matter what weapon you choose to take into the field this fall, remember to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!  When you get done with that, practice some more!

     The device allows you to put a small micro camera on the dogs head for videotaping his every move.  It allows you to see the hunt through his eyes, which gives you a whole new perspective and appreciation for man’s best friend.  Below is a 10 minute music clip with a hunt from New York and one from Iowa that George Lynch, his crew and more importantly his dog Buck went on last year with the new gear. 

     If you would like more information on the device you can contact George Lynch through his website at www.Lynchmobcallsinc.com.

     The Up North Journal Team has launched their new website and they invite you to stop by and check out the new digs! You can find it at the same ‘ol place: www.upnorthjournal.com you will find a new interactive video panel that will play their most current video and will eventually have the most current episode of their upcoming new video show. You will also be able to click the link to take you to the archive page of all their videos. Not only does it have the video player but it also offers an audio panel that has the most current episode of their podcast with a scrolling banner with an outline of the current show. The link below the player also takes you to an archive page of past episodes for download or playing right from the site.

     The site is not 100% completed but the important items are there, so keep looking for further updates to the site and bios on the prostaff pages. When your finished taking the tour, be sure to drop them an email and let them know what you think about the new digs!