“The news paper for people who love the north”

Late January 2013 Vol. 60, No. 4 $2.50 Digital Delivery

Michigan’s Conservation Sentinel Since 1953

Snow Country: Living in a “Winter Wonderland” Page 4

Michigan Reforms Mary Lou Sheppard New Law Allows Mining Tax Law 1933-2012 Wolf Hunting Page 1 Page 1 Page 5

Gov. Snyder Vetoes 2012 Reader “The Bringers Concealed Gun Bill Survey Results of Winter” Page 3 Page 3 Page 8

Happy New Year! 2013 Mary Lou Sheppard loses battle against cancer Mary Lou Sheppard, widow and longtime busi - “chemo brain” sometimes made it nearly impossible ness partner of former North Woods Call publisher for her to answer e-mail and otherwise operate her Glen Sheppard, died December 29 at her home near computer—or even talk on the phone—but she still Charlevoix. She was 79. enjoyed hearing from friends, loved ones and those She had battled cancer in recent months, undergo - she became acquainted with through The North ing treatment last summer. In August, however, she Woods Call . was told by her doctor that the treatment was not Despite her deteriorating health, she was report - working and that nothing more could be done. edly in fairly good spirits over the Christmas holiday. Since then, she has been at home, being cared for In fact, she was delighted by several well-wishes and by one of her daughters. In a recent e-mail to The cards during the yuletide season, according to her Call , Mary Lou said she planned to stay there “until daughter, Jackie Anderson. the end.” “Some days are good and some are not,” “Last August, she flew out to see my sister in Seat - she said, “but there will be no more chemo or radia - tle, “ Anderson said in a recent e-mail update. “They tion treatments.” had the best time. She really wanted to travel more Mary Lou & Glen Sheppard During the last several weeks, low energy and (Continued on Page 2)

Late January 2013 Vol. 60, No.4 $2.50 Digital Delivery North Woods Notes Happy New Year! GREAT LAKES REPORT: The Michigan Office of the Great Lakes released its annual State of the Great Lakes Report in mid-De - Michigan’s Conservation Sentinel Since 1953 cember. The report—compiled by the Office of the Great Lakes and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality—includes an intro - duction by Gov. Rick Snyder and discussions of such relevant topics as Mining severance tax the sustainability of systems, water quality, water use, aquatic invasive New law may hurt Michigan resource protection species, Great Lakes Fisheries, coastal wetlands, localized restoration ef - forts and shared governance as key to the Great Lakes’ future. Overall, Some Michigan conservation - The bills allow 65 percent of plore and invest in the Upper the focus is on cooperation and collaboration, and tangible improve - ists are concerned that a series of the revenue from the severance Peninsula, creating good-paying ments through restoration projects and partnerships. new bills signed by Gov. Rick tax to be retained by counties, jobs and inspiring economic de - SKI THE PORKIES: Porcupine Mountains State Park in Onton - Snyder could pave the way for ad - townships, school districts and the velopment in the region.” agon County is hosting cross-country skiing and snowshoeing by lantern ditional mining operations in the school-aid fund, officials said. As appealing as good-paying light on Saturday evenings in January and February. The one-mile trail state and make it harder for citi - The remaining 35 percent would jobs and economic development is rated “easy,” although snowshoeing at night can be a challenge. There zens and advocacy groups to stop go into a rural development fund are, conservationists say that the is a warming shelter where skiers can join the park naturalist for a camp - these activities in environmentally to support long-term regional eco - last thing state forests and natural fire and refreshments. sensitive areas. nomic opportunities, they said. areas need are large-scale mining SLED DOGS AT MUSKALLONGE: The 14th Annual Tahqa - The governor signed the six- “This is phenomenal news for operations to scar the land and menon Country Sled Dog Race was held January 5 at Muskallonge Lake bill package revising the tax struc - the people of the Upper Peninsula, pollute the waters of the Upper State Park. The race, which had been held at the Rainbow Lodge on ture for mineral extraction in late who need more good-paying jobs Peninsula. Besides, they say, the mouth of the Two-Hearted River for the past 13 years, was changed December during a ceremony at that the mining industry can promised financial returns for due to the 2012 Duck Lake fire, which swept through the northern sec - the Rio Tinto Eagle Mine in Mar - offer,” said outgoing state Rep. local governments often don’t tion of Luce County last spring, destroying the lodge and much of the quette County. Matt Huuki (R-Atlantic Mine), fully materialize and the State of trail system that the race had run on in prior years. “This is not going to help our who introduced the bills. “The Michigan stands to make the WINTER CAMPING: A handful of select Michigan State Parks are cause,” bemoaned one observer tax reforms will lower start-up lion’s share of any profit. offering a unique winter getaway experience—”yurts.” Yurts are sturdy, who is hoping to stop a proposed costs to encourage companies to Supporters of the legislation, round tent-like structures that have become popular alternative lodging open-pit mining operation south locate here while protecting exist - meanwhile, insist it is good for options for winter hikers and cross-country skiers. They are available of Newberry in the Upper Penin - ing mining jobs.” both local governments and new at the Porcupine Mountains State Wilderness Area and Craig Lake State sula. “This is transformative legisla - mining operations. Not only does Park in the Upper Peninsula, as well as at the Pinckney and Waterloo The legislation will place a tion that will have far-reaching it ease up-front costs for compa - Recreation Areas in the Lower Peninsula. They are equipped with bunk 2.75 percent severance tax on implications,” added Sen. Tom nies—they will no longer pay beds and mattresses, a table, chairs and wood stove. Cost is $60 per gross mineral value on specified Casperson (R-Escanaba) who taxes until they start extracting night, plus an $8 reservation fee. The yurts can accommodate four peo - non-ferrous metallic minerals helped get the legislation passed minerals—but it also provides ple. such as copper and nickel. The and was also on hand at the sign - local communities with stabilized CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP: The Au Sable Institute of Envi - tax replaces the property tax, cor - ing. “It is simple, fair, and trans - revenue for small townships ronmental Studies near Mancelona, Michigan, continues to play a lead porate income tax, sales tax and parent. As such, it is sure to throughout upper Michigan, they role in equipping Christian students for the important work of serving, use tax on mining companies. attract mining companies to ex - said. protecting and restoring God’s earth. In 2012, Au Sable added an Ap - plied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) course, grew its river re - search program and added two new graduate fellowship chapters at the University of Minnesota and the University of California-Berkeley, as well as 11 new graduate fellows. The institute is looking forward to continuing this work in 2013. For more information, or to contribute to the Au Sable Institute’s work, visit ausable.org. FUR-BEARER REGISTRATION: Several Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offices are offering registration hours for successful trappers and hunters during the 2012-2013 fur-harvester sea - son. Anyone taking a bobcat, river otter, fisher, marten, or incidental catch must bring the animal to a designated check station for examina - tion. For a full list of locations—including hours and contact informa - tion—visit www.michigan.gov/trapping. SPRING TURKEY APPLICATIONS: Spring turkey applications are now on sale through February 1. The application fee is $4. Hunters may apply for one limited-quota license, or purchase a license for Hunt 234, which does not require the application fee. Licenses can be pur - chased at any authorized license agent, as well as online at michigan.gov/huntdrawings. The turkey season runs from April 22 through May 31, with hunts lasting from seven to 39 days, depending on the hunt unit. A total of 114,290 licenses are available. TRAIL PLAN: A draft plan for motorized, non-motorized and water trails in Michigan can be viewed at the DNR’s State Parks and Trails and Pathways web pages. Comments will be accepted through Jan. 25. MOONLIGHT SNOWSHOE HIKE: The Pierce Cedar Creek In - stitute near Hastings will host a moonlight snowshoe hike from 7 to 9 Michigan Mines p.m. on January 25. Snowshoes are available for rent ($5), or partici - The mining industry has a long and storied history in the Great Lakes State, as evidenced by these crum - pants can bring their own. Hot chocolate and treats will be available in bling remnants photographed last summer at the old Cliffs Shaft mine in Ishpeming. Mining companies the visitor center after the hike. You can register by calling (269) 721- today have shown a renewed interest in Michigan—particularly the Upper Peninsula—much to the con - 4190, or at www.cedarcreekinstitute.org. The cost to non-members is sternation of conservationists and citizens whose zeal for protecting nature often outweighs the arguments $6, while members are free. for economic development and job creation. It’s unclear whether the practical need to use resources will (Continued on Page 2) triumph over the noble desire to preserve them, as has often occurred. (See related story on Page 2). Page 2 Late January 2013 The NorTh Woods CaLL

Mary Lou Sheppard dies after battle with cancer Our 60th Year: Looking Back to Jan. 27, 1954 (Continued from Page 1) in Charlevoix. August of 2011, she sold what was and thought that she would have Anderson said she talked to her left of the publication—basically — From the pages of The North Woods Call — more time to do so, but then the mother about these things and the name and latest mailing list— cancer hit.” even shared a few laughs over it. to the current publisher. Anderson said her mother was Mary Lou wanted to be cre - “I don’t know why you would doing “OK” before she got a can - mated, she said, then divided up want to take on all that work,” she The bridge & “progress” cer spot in her neck at the top of among her children. said at the time, clearly relieved By Marguerite Gahagan her spine. That spot was treated, “Whenever one of us travels, that she was finally getting out The far north woods will soon become closer to all people of the Anderson said, but the treatment she wants a little bit of her taken from under the constant grind of lower part of the state. weakened the neck so much that it with us and then spread some - the newspaper’s production sched - The north woods of the Upper Peninsula remain the last part of the broke. So, along with the cancer, where special,” Anderson said. ule. state’s green forests still not easily accessible to any but dyed-in-wool Mary Lou had a broken neck and That way, she said she will be trav - “Those who knew her best say sports enthusiasts. The recent decision by the Michigan Supreme had to wear a neck brace 24 hours eling with each one of us and see - she had a ‘heart of gold,’” said Court cleared the decks for immediate construction of the Straits of a day, seven days a week. ing something special.” Call Editor Mike VanBuren. “She Mackinac Bridge, a gigantic engineering project destined to open the “I think if she didn’t have the Occasionally, when her mother really seemed to be Shep’s com - far north country to millions of people in 1957. neck issue she maybe would have would get frustrated or upset, An - pass and the one who held the As Gov. Williams pointed out, the bridge “will mean much in the fought harder,” Anderson said, but derson would joke that she was business together all those years. promotion of Michigan prosperity and recreation.” the neck issue limited what she going to sprinkle Mary Lou’s There was a reason he often re - The expected flow of hundreds of thousands of travelers to the far could do and she couldn’t be left ashes someplace “yucky.” ferred to her as ‘The Boss.’ north will bring added business to many communities of the northern alone—which she hated. “I’d get that look only a mother “I very much enjoyed the time Lower Peninsula. Citizens of Atlanta will find themselves benefitting, Anderson said it was difficult can give you,” she said. I spent with her—both before and they believe, since roads near them will be kept in top-notch condi - to watch her mother go down so Mary Lou was preceded in after Shep’s passing—as I tried to tion. fast, but Mary Lou held up as well death by her husband, Glen, in negotiate with the two them over Other communities may find themselves scratching to keep the as could be expected and they had January 2011. The couple had a period of several years about The long-accustomed tourist trade they enjoyed so many years. a Hospice team helping with her been stewards of The North Woods Call’s future. I will treasure the The northern part of the Lower Peninsula has grown up in the past last wishes. Call legacy since 1969. lunches I shared with Mary Lou in 10 years. Lake property is expensive and scarce. Cabins dot the most As of this writing, no memorial After publishing a special me - the little Ellsworth restaurant they densely wooded areas. The heavy influx of hunters has resulted in services had yet been scheduled. morial edition in February of that frequented, and the encourage - more and more land being put “under wire.” There is an increased Arrangements were being handled year, she closed the business and ment and support she offered me feeling among many tourists that freedom to roam in the woods in an by the Winchester Funeral Home looked forward to other things. In during the past several months.” area now being built up spells an end to the “back to nature” they seek. Rushing for minerals in the Upper Peninsula The Upper Peninsula offers them that. The northern resort owners and communities may indeed have to There seems to be somewhat of The New York Times , Rio Tinto, the rush, too, searching for new seek ways of keeping their fans. The bridge will cut down travel time a mining renaissance in Michi - the world’s second-largest mining ore deposits and studying known immeasurably. The long, painful waits for ferries will end. More and gan’s Upper Peninsula, as mineral company, is going after nickle and ones. more people, rightly or mistakenly, will seek recreation, sport and re - extraction firms rush in to capital - copper near Big Bay and Mar - According to industry analysts, laxation farther north. ize on high commodity prices. quette, and expects to start pulling prices for copper, zinc, iron ore The opening of the bridge is scheduled for 1957. During the next With copper and other metals ore out this year. Elsewhere to the and other metals are likely to re - three years, complacency must give way to initiative, to promotion trading on commodities markets south, Hudbay Minerals, a public main strong and continue to feed and to community action if the golden avalanche of summer tourists at consistently high levels, com - mining company, is pursuing an this flurry of activity. and winter sports fans is not to be lost. panies are eyeing long-neglected estimated $225 million project to Among other things, opponents °** deposits for what could be billions mine precious and heavy metals, are worried about long-term dam - There is little likelihood that any community will become a ghost of dollars in profits. including, gold, silver, zinc and age to the environment and how town as a result of the Straits bridge. But there is good likelihood Many local citizens and con - copper. And Orvana Minerals, a sustainable a mining-led eco - that some communities will have to fight to retain their present sta - servationists, of course, are con - Canadian-based company, is seek - nomic recovery would actually tus quo. cerned about these activities and ing chalcocite in another project be. But supporters see it as a wel - Trained in modern American business methods, few individuals are scrambling to find ways to near Ironwood that the firm says come comeback for an industry will be content to live and work in a community having no prospect protect the land—if not stop the will create $2 billion in economic that historically helped shape the of growth, better economic conditions, or modern progress. mining altogether. activity over 20 years. social and economic contours of The construction of the bridge is bound to have many ramifications According to a recent report in Smaller companies are joining the region. on Michigan’s way of life. Support has been particularly strong in the western U.P. com - munity of Ironwood, according to Hunters and Wildlife Conservation reports, where dozens of iron ore Though often not widely rec - preserve private lands for habitat mines once employed thousands ognized for their efforts, hunters and lobby for legislation that ben - North Woods Notes of people. Many residents have are major contributors to wildlife efits wildlife. hopes that some of those mining conservation. How many other resource- jobs might return—if only tem - They help conserve and man - users can make these claims? (Continued from Page 1) porarily—to help reduce high un - age wildlife in three important LONG LAKE PROJECT: Thanks to a grant from the Michigan employment rates. ways. Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Con - Critics say that communities First, for many wildlife species, Wanted servancy is one step closer to a new recreation area in Long Lake Town - have exaggerated expectations for hunting helps maintain popula - ship near Traverse City. The Timbers Recreation Area—formerly the what mining will do for the local tions at levels compatible with Correspondents Timbers Girl Scout Camp—will provide residents and visitors an op - economy and warn that mining human activity, land use and We would like to hear from quality portunity to enjoy the Long Lake waterfront in a natural setting. It will towns never succeed over the long available habitat. For example, it writers & reporters interested in also provide options for fishing, hiking, kite-flying, wildlife viewing haul. U.P. communities, they say, helps limit deer browse in agri - contributing conservation-related and much more. would be better off diversifying. cultural areas and deer-car colli - news from across Michigan—par - HUNTER EDUCATION AWARD: Richard Woodbury of Hart, Others say that mining could sions. ticularly in the northern lower and upper peninsulas, and the capitol Michigan, has been named the 2012 Volunteer Hunter Education In - hurt water resources—especially Secondly, hunters pay for the city of Lansing. structor by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Woodbury Lake Superior—and that state and bulk of wildlife conservation started teaching hunter safety in 1997 and serves with his wife, Melissa, provincial laws protecting these across the country through the as coordinator of Oceana County’s hunter education efforts. The cou - resources are inconsistent and in - Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937, Display Ad Sales ple not only conducts hunter education classes, but also assists other in - adequate. which created an excise tax on We’re seeking self-motivated and structors in developing their classes and recruits additional teachers. The Keweenaw Bay Indian guns, ammunition, bows, arrows conscientious individuals who MEIJER INC. & CONSERVATION: Retail giant Meijer Inc. was Community, meanwhile, report - and other hunting-related equip - want to sell display advertisement for a percentage commission. recently presented with an award honoring the company as a partner in edly asked the United Nations last ment. This money—which is Michigan conservation. “Meijer is a valuable partner in our efforts to year to investigate and confirm matched by state hunting license increase participation in hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation,” said their rights to protect the land and fees—is then apportioned to state Advertisers resources. wildlife agencies based on the Reach your target customers with DNR Director Keith Creagh in presenting the award. “We’re pleased to a North Woods Call advertise - So the battle lines are clearly land area and the number of li - recognize this Michigan-based company for supporting the youth of this ment. Rates available on request. state and helping to keep our state’s outdoor tradition strong.” Meijer being drawn on a variety of fronts censed hunters in each state. has long been one of the state’s top license vendors and has supported and it remains to be seen where it Finally, hunters have banded Inquire at: many local programs aimed at getting Michigan residents outdoors, all leads. Conservationists say together in local sportsmen’s [email protected] Creagh said, but the company was singled out for a program it initiated that those with concerns need to clubs and national organizations in 2008 that pays for junior hunting licenses. make their voices heard—NOW! to raise funds for conservation, For updates. t-shirts & caps, Also follow us on visit ourwebsite at: Facebook, Twitter www.mynorthwoodscall.com & Blogger The NorTh Woods CaLL Late January 2013 Page 3

Bill could expand registration rules OKs streamlining purchases Guns targeted by U.S. lawmakers Governor vetoes concealed gun bill Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder last month vetoed legislation that Law-abiding gun owners would sporting purposes, as well as an - More government spending would have allowed concealed weapons in churches, schools and be required to submit to photo - tique, manually operated and per - would also be authorized, by pro - day-care centers. graphs and fingerprinting under manently disabled weapons. viding dedicated funding to the Senate Bill 59 would have permitted concealed pistol license hold - proposed legislation by U.S. Sen. But there’s more to it than she Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, ers who completed additional training to carry a concealed pistol in Dianne Feinstein (D-California). and her supporters might have Firearms and Explosives to im - places that are currently off limits under Michigan law. It would Feinstein said she and her staff American citizens believe. plement registration. have at the same time prohibited openly carrying guns in those have been working on the legisla - In addition to banning the sale, National Rifle Association places, while allowing permit holders to carry concealed weapons— tion for more than a year and transfer, importation, or manufac - (NRA) officials said that new gun unless the locations declared themselves weapons-free zones. Under planned to introduce the bill early turing of semi-automatic rifles, regulations will not make chil - the bill as passed, only private venues could have opted out, as could this year. handguns and shotguns that can dren—or anyone else—safer and college and universities with “constitutional autonomy,” according The bill ostensibly aims at stop - accept detachable magazines that a recently announced White to the governor’s office. ping the sale of more than 100 so- and/or fixed magazines that take House task force on gun violence Currently, Michigan law does not prevent a concealed pistol li - called “assault” rifles and more than ten rounds, the pro - may try to undermine the Second cense holder from openly carrying a pistol in these zones. handguns, while exempting more posed law would outlaw large-ca - Amendment to the U.S. Constitu - While Snyder rejected Senate Bill 59, he did sign two other bills than 900 hunting and sporting pacity magazines, clips and drums tion. that streamline the process for handgun purchase and eliminate re - firearms, the senator said. Fein - capable of holding more than ten “A gun is a tool,” said the strictions on interstate rifle and shotgun transactions to states con - stein authored the 1994 “Federal rounds. NRA’s Wayne LaPierre. “The tiguous to Michigan. Assault Weapons Ban” that ex - What bothers gun-rights advo - problem is the criminal.” Snyder’s veto primarily was based on the legislation’s failure to pired in 2004 and this latest effort cates most of all, though, is a pro - LaPierre said it makes little let designated public entities—such as schools, day-care centers, hos - at gun control would update that posed requirement for background sense to pile another law “on top pitals and churches—opt out of the new concealed carry provisions. earlier law, she said, checks, photographs and finger - of twenty thousand laws, when “While we must vigilantly protect the rights of law-abiding “It will be carefully focused on printing of anyone owning these most of the federal gun laws we firearm owners, we also must ensure the right of designated public the most dangerous guns that have types of weapons—including don’t even enforce.” entities to exercise their best discretion in matters of safety and se - killed so many people over the those who already legally possess “The average guy in the coun - curity,” the governor said. “These public venues need clear legal au - years,” Feinstein said, “while pro - them. try values his freedom, doesn’t be - thority to ban firearms on their premises if they see fit to do so.” tecting the rights of gun owners by While such weapons obtained lieve the fact he can own a gun is Snyder said he more closely scrutinized the bill in the wake of De - exempting hundreds of weapons earlier under existing law would part of the problem and doesn’t cember’s elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. He that fall outside the bill’s scope. be “grandfathered” in for current like the media and all these high- also pointed to memories of a fatal shooting in his college dormitory We must take these dangerous owners, they would still have to be profile politicians blaming him,” more than three decades ago as informing his decision. weapons of war off our streets.” formally registered under the Na - LaPierre said in late December on “This type of violence often leaves society with more questions Feinstein said the legislation tional Firearms Act. That includes NBC’s “Meet the Press” television than answers,” Snyder said. “The reasons for such appalling acts would protect legitimate hunters “positive identification”—includ - show. usually are numerous and complex. With that in mind, we must con - and the rights of existing gun own - ing photos and prints—as well as See Page 5 Viewpoint article sider legislation like Senate Bill 59 in a holistic manner. While the ers by “grandfathering” weapons certification from local law en - in this issue for more information bill’s goal is to help prevent needless violence, Michigan will be bet - legally possessed on the date of forcement as to a person’s identity about this bill and some addi - ter served if we view it through a variety of lenses. A thoughtful re - enactment and exempting hun - and the fact that his or her posses - tional perspective from the Na - view that examines issues such as school emergency policies, dreds of specifically named sion would not violate state or tional Rifle Association. disenfranchised youth and mental health services may lead to more weapons used for hunting and local law. answers and better safeguards.” 2012 survey results Michigan firearm purchases Call readers share broad range of outdoor interests The two gun-related bills that Snyder did sign were House Bill The 2012 Readership Survey has revealed a broad cent), Native American issues (18 percent), outdoor 5225 and Senate Bill 984. range of personal interests among members of The media (20 percent), wildlife management (62 per - Under House Bill 5225, sponsored by Rep. Paul Opsommer (R- North Woods Call community. cent), hiking (46 percent), camping (50 percent), ca - Dewitt), the permit to purchase was retained for non-concealed pis - An equivalent of 12.5 percent of current sub - noeing & kayaking (62 percent), bicycling (24 tol license holders who wish to purchase a handgun through a private scribers—or 50 people—responded to the survey. percent), bird watching (64 percent), mushrooming person-to-person sale. Those who took the opportunity to express their opin - (34 percent), snowshoeing (20 percent), nature study The Michigan Pistol Database, managed by the State Police, is ions ranged from a few who had never subscribed (6 (58 percent), sustainable agriculture (22 percent), also retained under the law and citizens can obtain a permit to pur - percent of respondents) to individuals who have been sightseeing (36 percent), parks & recreation (60 per - chase a handgun at any law enforcement agency, rather than only at subscribers for 30 years or more (18 percent). cent) and Michigan conservation history (72 percent). their local police or sheriff’s department. In addition, individuals The largest category of survey participants (36 per - “Probably the biggest surprise of the survey,” ac - who have a permit to purchase a handgun will now have 30 days, cent) have subscribed to The Call for 10 to 20 years. cording to VanBuren, “was the number of people who rather than ten days, to make the purchase. Eight percent of respondents have subscribed for less said they would be satisfied with receiving The Call The bill also eliminates the requirement for obtaining a permit to than one year, six percent for one to five years, 12 once-a-month, as opposed to the current twice- purchase for all handgun sales that occur through a federally licensed percent for five to 10 years and 10 percent from 20 to monthly schedule.” firearms dealer. 30 years. Twenty-two percent actually opted for monthly Senate Bill 294, sponsored by Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), Nearly all said they liked most aspects of the news - distribution, he said, while another 44 percent said eliminates restrictions on interstate rifle and shotgun transactions to paper—both design and content—and a similar num - “either is fine with me.” states that are non-contiguous to Michigan. Currently, Michigan res - ber reported that they planned to continue subscribing “That’s two-thirds of respondents who don’t seem idents may purchase rifles and shotguns in any contiguous state if to the publication. to be vested in the twice-monthly model,” VanBuren they conform to the Federal Gun Control Act, the regulations issued Sixty percent own a vacation home or recreational said. “Only twenty percent clearly said they wanted under the Act and the laws of the state in which the purchase is made. property—six percent of those located in southern to receive The Call twice-a-month.” Michigan, 44 percent in northern Michigan and 10 As current subscription trends suggest, most read - percent in the Upper Peninsula. ers still prefer the printed version of the newspaper— Forest plan review period extended “We appreciate the insights provided by everyone about two-to-one over the electronic option—and are Due to the complexity and im - DNR officials said. who participated in the survey,” said Publisher Mike willing to pay extra for that service. “Review of the plans has been VanBuren. “We had hoped to hear from even more About 16 percent of survey participants specifi - portance of its draft Regional State under way since early October,” people, but those who did respond offered valuable cally mentioned additional things that they’d like to Forest Management Plans, the said Bill O’Neill, chief of the information that will help us shape our news coverage see in The Call —such as even more coverage of cur - Michigan Department of Natural DNR’s Forest Resources Division. going forward. For the most part, we seem to be on rent environmental issues and greater “watchdog - Resources (DNR) has extended “While we’ve already received track with the subjects we have featured so far.” ging” of the Michigan Department of Natural the public review and comment great feedback, some interested in - Major interests were spread across most cate - Resources and the Department of Environmental period through March 8, 2013. dividuals and organizations have gories, with rivers and streams receiving the most Quality. Others suggested more emphasis on break - The DNR developed the three asked for more time.” mention (88 percent), and “other”—one percent sug - ing news; good photos; electronic links to govern - draft plans—which cover the east - The extension also gives the gested “climate change”—receiving the least (two ment agencies in news reports; “serial stories” that ern Upper Peninsula, the western DNR an opportunity to update percent). begin in one issue and continue in the next; more Upper Peninsula and the northern some of the harvest numbers in the Additional primary interests are as follows: about partnerships; interviews with “old timers (sim - Upper Peninsula—by seeking drafts, O’Neill said. The update Hunting (50 percent), fishing (70 percent), air ilar to what Marguerite Gahagan did in the publica - input from a diverse group of will provide a larger number of quality (46 percent), water quality (76 percent), en - tion’s early days); Ranger Rick-type educational stakeholders. This group repre - harvest acres for a number of ergy (40 percent), public policy (64 percent), inland pieces; information about Boy & Girl Scouting; time- sented government organizations, species, including aspen, he said. lakes (54 percent), boating (30 percent), rails to trails sensitive updates that need citizen action; and features outdoor recreation, the forest in - Those with comments should (28 percent), forestry (62 percent), the Great Lakes about watersheds. dustry, conservation agencies and submit them either via e-mail to (74 percent), environmental organizations (54 per - (See some specific reader comments on Page 4). citizens. Once finalized, the plans will forestplancomments@michigan. Become a North Woods Call partner provide long-term, landscape- gov, or by mail to DNR Forest Re - level direction for resource man - sources Division, Forest Planning Please join our efforts to keep readers fully informed about conservation agers “that will guide DNR and Operations Section, P.O. Box and outdoor issues by providing us with news tips and/or photographs. decisions about activities and 30452, Lansing, Michigan 48909- Send your tips, ideas and photos to: [email protected]. treatments on state forest land,” 7952. Page 4 Late January 2013 The NorTh Woods CaLL Snow country: Living in a “winter wonderland” Opinion Page Winter has finally arrived in Michigan and we’re settled in for at least three more months of North Woods Journal snow and ice. By Mike VanBuren Conservation Quote At least that’s the expectation— assuming we don’t have another “The purpose of conservation: The greatest good to the greatest year of unseasonably warm tem - heart and lungs. As a kid, there while trying to shield my face number of people for the longest time.” peratures and lower-than-normal was nothing like riding a Flexible from clumps of hard-packed snow precipitation. Flyer down a steep, snow-covered thrown from the horse’s hooves. — Gifford Pinchot Whatever happens, we’re pre - embankment, or gliding across an Ah, the wonders of childhood. pared for the worst (or best, de - icy pond on a new pair of ice I think winter is probably eas - Guns and Outlaws pending on your perspective). skates that came wrapped in paper ier to take in the far northern parts The snow blower is fueled and and ribbon on Christmas day. of Michigan, where there gener - When Michigan Gov. rick snyder vetoed legislation that parked in the garage, the wooden- But shoveling sidewalks and ally seems to be more and better would have allowed concealed weapons in churches, schools handled shovels are standing at driveways when I’d rather be snow. In many downstate loca - and day-care centers, his reasoning was understandable. after rapt attention nearby, and the doing something else—or help - tions, the snow too often seems all, it’s difficult to make a coherent argument in favor of broader heavy coats and boots are hogging lessly watching my $30,000 vehi - wet, dirty and unappealing com - gun rights in the face of what occurred recently at the sandy hook space in the closet near the back cle be eaten alive by excessive pared to the pure white fluffiness elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. door. county road salt—just don’t fit that one encounters in the true Yet, it is equally incoherent to suggest, as some have, that We even have a bag of rock salt into my current definition of fun. north woods. guns in and of themselves—a mere mechanical assembly of steel for those troublesome days when It could well be the length and In the northern Lower and hammers, springs, triggers and barrels—are somehow responsi - neither snow nor rain fall and slip - incline of my driveway that Upper Peninsulas, the culture and ble for the darkness found in human hearts. pery ice glazes the curving hill soured my mood toward winter, economy shifts with the advent of The root causes of this unspeakable mayhem run much that dominates our 200-foot-long but maybe I just come by it natu - winter to accommodate the regu - deeper than the constitutional right of citizens to keep and bear driveway. rally. larly replenished whiteness and its arms. society itself is broken and we’ve allowed evil in various The bird feeders have also been For as long as I can remember, related outdoor activities. Further forms to metastasize and spread across our culture. simply filled with seed and suet, and we my father has ranted and raved south, such inclement weather is adding to the myriad laws already on the books that regulate have stockpiled a generous supply against the miseries of winter. As just one more thing for people to weapons and outlaw violent assaults will not fix this problem. of shelled corn and wood pellets a kid—when I didn’t have any - complain about. and blaming those who have taken the appropriate classes, for the stove in our family room. thing better to do than jump out of I guess I’m no different than submitted to background checks, and voluntarily allowed police to These preparations are per - trees into snowdrifts—I didn’t anybody else these days. I love take their fingerprints so they could be legally licensed to carry a formed in a half-hearted manner quite understand this annual re - the snow when it’s fresh and pure, concealed weapon is counterproductive. these days, as the thought of snow sistance to polar air masses and but loathe it when it unceremoni - There are many millions of law-abiding gun owners across does not bring the same excite - lake-effect accumulation. ously clogs my driveway and be - this land who are as abhorred as anyone at the murderous ram - ment that it once did. Now it makes a whole lot more comes contaminated with salty pages we have witnessed at the hands of outlaws and malad - Age may have something to do sense. slush and dirty grime. justed miscreants. encroaching further on the rights of with this changing attitude—or But I think even my dad en - Each major snowstorm at once responsible citizens is not going to turn social misfits from their maybe the general wisdom that is joyed winter weather on occa - excites and disillusions me. diabolical desires. supposed to come with it. Cold is sion—such as when he would Years ago, when heavy snows Those intent on doing evil will always find a way—to the ever - painful, my brain suggests, and hook long ropes to our sleds and first fell on the forests and fields lasting shock and consternation of the rest of us. In fact, the higher temperatures are usually pull us down the road behind his near our home, I would curiously deadliest school massacre on american soil reportedly occurred better—within reason. 1949 Ford after big winter storms. follow numerous trails left by cot - in Chicago in 1958 when a student set fire to the school, killing 92 If I owned a ski lodge, snow I can still remember the rhythmic tontail rabbits as they traversed to children and three nuns. Closer to home—in Bath, Michigan, dur - machine, or plowing service, I rattling and crunching of steel tire and from the protective cover of ing 1927—a former member of the school board set bombs at would probably feel differently, chains as the old Ford yanked us low-hanging conifer branches and three schools, killing 45 (mostly second- to sixth-graders), in - but as it is I sometimes yearn for a along the rural byways near our thick brush piles. It was a clear cluding the bomber himself. warm beach in Aruba. home. sign that winter had arrived. We know that this is of little comfort to those wrestling with the Not that windswept snow and Once, an equestrian neighbor I don’t see so many rabbits current wave of tragedies. and gun critics sound credible enough frozen lakes are all bad. There’s did something similar for my anymore in the area where I live, when they say that the average sport shooter has no need for the something about winter that friends and me during an off-road but I remember the cottontails of firepower provided by semi-automatic weapons and large am - speaks joyfully of physical re - adventure that found our sleds days gone by and the happy aban - munition clips. That’s probably true, in most instances. newal and spiritual regeneration. tethered to her horse. That was donment with which they romped But we must remember that the second amendment is less And spring wouldn’t be nearly as more challenging, because each across the wilds of my youth. about hunting and target practice than it is about protecting indi - glorious if it wasn’t for the frigid rider had to hook his feet into the I sometimes replay this image viduals from tyrannical governments, foreign invaders and the weather that precedes it. next sled to pull it along. I was in in my mind and think about the seemingly growing number of bad guys in our midst. It is in those As an adult, snowshoeing is front—directly behind the many wonderful things of win - cases that citizens must have the weapons needed to defend one of my favorite outdoor activ - horse—bearing the collective ter—even as I gradually tire of the themselves and their families. ities. It is peaceful, exhilarating weight of the other sleds, holding annual hardships that always on that point, we agree with National rifle association exec - and filled with benefits for the on tight with my hands and feet, seem to accompany the season. utive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, who said, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” 2012 survey The Population Bomb A brief sampling of specific reader comments In one of former publisher Glen sheppard’s first editorials Here is a sampling of some “I am from the old school. I “So happy to have The North after taking over The North Woods Call in 1969, he pondered a comments that accompanied re - have great respect for the people Woods Call back.” letter from a Cheboygan mother of five who complained about his sponses to the 2012 Reader Sur - who started this movement—the position on population control. vey (See story on Page 3) : men and women who were once The North Woods Call “Is not a human soul more precious to God than that of ani - “As Shep would say, ‘Do known as conservationists (as op - mals?” the woman had asked. what’s best for the resource.’” posed to environmentalists). I be - Michigan’s Conservation Sentinel Since 1953 Population control, shep responded, is not to save the deer, “I want to know what’s hap - lieve there was a conscious effort fish, or quiet places. It is to save mankind from the problems as - pening to Michigan’s environ - to alter the focus from the former Published regularly by: Newshound Productions LLC sociated with too much pressure on a finite number of resources. ment from a source who loves to the latter. I believe environ - 5411 east de avenue That was nearly 45 years ago when the earth’s population was nature.” mentalists are the extremists of Kalamazoo, Michigan 49004.

3.6 billion. We continue to debate this issue today while human “Keep Michigan politicians this movement—the people who Telephone: (269) 342-8724 population grows exponentially—to more than 7 billion at last honest and environmental issues demand 99.7 percent compliance count. on one hand, who but God is to decide who lives and who transparent.” with objectives which, while laud - E-mail: [email protected] doesn’t. Yet an overcrowded planet can result in aberrant human “The North Woods Call has able, are economically unreason - Website: mynorthwoodscall.com behavior, competition for food supplies, excessive pollution and been great over the years. The ab - able. I prefer the gentler, more Online subscription: $35 per year numerous other strains on our “life support system.” solute death of good conservation sustainable efforts epitomized by and $60 for two years. This population growth was dramatically illustrated by an elec - and environmental reporting, and a very gentle man I once knew— Print subscription: $55 per year tronic map we once saw at the Monterey Bay aquarium in Cali - ‘muckraking’ is appalling.” Mr. Henry Westerville, former and $95 for two years fornia. The chronological map had a series of lights that came on “The Call is my favorite news - president of the Kalamazoo Lakes to show population density each year from the beginning of paper and keeps me informed on and Streams Association and Address changes: Please send $2 to cover costs. human history through the present. at first, the increase seemed all the most important topics.” many other such affiliations.” minimal, but quickly grew in brightness and intensity during suc - “It always came across as “When the previous editor Editor & Publisher: Mike VanBuren ceeding years, as mankind spread around the world and contin - ‘what is best for wildlife and the passed away, The Call stopped. I Publishers Emeritus: ued to reproduce. environment,’ as opposed to many have been waiting for it to return Marguerite Gahagan That’s a disturbing message for those of us who don’t like papers and magazines that seem to reunite my father-in-law with Glen and Mary Lou sheppard crowds. to support special interest groups, one of his favorite papers (which advertising rates upon request. We’re not sure how to diffuse this ticking time bomb, but it’s or the personal opinions of the he has read religiously over the A Newshound Publication worth thinking about the moral and ethical alternatives. writers.” years).” The NorTh Woods CaLL Late January 2013 Page 5 Viewpoint Feinstein goes for broke with new gun-ban bill The Wild Nearby The following opinion piece if they were assembled with no thing else equally far-fetched to By Tom Springer was issued as a legislative update more than one feature listed in the the features list. by the National Rifle Association law. Feinstein’s new bill would * Expands the definition of “as - and should be of interest to many prohibit the manufacture of the sault weapon” by including: Thunk-a-trunk: A Christmas gift North Woods Call readers: same firearms with even one of 1) Three very popular rifles: the features. The M-1 Carbine (introduced in guaranteed to make you see red Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal - * Adopts new lists of prohib - 1944 and for many years sold by Not until mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve Day was there finally a ifornia)—author of the federal ited external features. For exam - the federal government to indi - spare hour to inwardly prepare for the holiday. And to clear the head, “assault weapon” and “large” am - ple, whereas the 1994 ban applied viduals involved in marksmanship there’s nothing like a long walk in the country—away from everything munition magazine ban of 1994- to a rifle or shotgun, the “pistol competition), a model of the that jingles or bears a price tag. 2004—has announced that on the grip” of which “protrudes con - Ruger Mini-14, and most or all At least that should have been the case. But you know how we mor - first day of the new Congress, spicuously beneath the action of models of the SKS. tals are; it’s the everyday blessings that we most overlook, and the rou - January 3, she will introduce a bill the weapon,” the new bill would 2) Any “semi-automatic, cen - tine of this three-mile route was one of them. to which her 1994 ban will pale drastically expand the definition terfire, or rimfire rifle that has a Such over-familiarity is a pitfall of the rooted life. After 17 years on by comparison. to include any “grip—or any other fixed magazine with the capacity the same route you, too, could describe it blindfolded. You’d know On Dec. 17th, Feinstein said, “I characteristic that can function as to accept more than 10 rounds,” which neighbor’s house to covet and which cobbled-up barn repair jobs have been working with my staff a grip.” Also, the new bill adds except for tubular-magazine .22s. to pass judgment on. You’d know which untied dogs mean business and for over a year on this legislation” “forward grip” to the list of pro - 3) Any “semi-automatic, cen - which ones will merely yip their fool heads off. and “It will be carefully focused.” hibiting features for rifles, defin - terfire, or rimfire rifle that has an So on I trudged, lamenting about how much of our work and personal Indicating the depth of her re - ing it as “a grip located forward of overall length of less than 30 lives can drone along on autopilot. The grousing continued as I passed, search on the issue, she said on the trigger that functions as a pis - inches,” any “semi-automatic for the umpteenth time, the same three horses in the same poopy pasture. Dec. 21st that she had personally tol grip.” Read literally and in handgun with a fixed magazine A moment later, something jolted me out of my solstice doldrums. looked at pictures of guns in 1993, conjunction with the reduction that has the capacity to accept It was nothing unusual; simply a cardinal, that most common and or - and again in 2012. from two features to one, the new more than 10 rounds,” and any dinary of native song birds. Yet this one, as he darted across the road According to a Dec. 27th post - language would apply to every semi-automatic handgun that has like a scarlet comet, seemed at once the very embodiment of Christmas ing on Sen. Feinstein’s website detachable-magazine semi-auto - a threaded barrel. cheer. and a draft of the bill obtained by matic rifle. At a minimum, it * Requires owners of existing I was, in the words of C.S. Lewis, “surprised by joy.” The little (the National Rifle Association), would, for example, ban all mod - “assault weapons” to register bird’s effusive red was the only bright spot in a landscape somber with the new ban would, among other els of the AR-15, even those de - them with the federal government gun metal gray hickories and ashen gray white oaks. He was for that things, adopt new definitions of veloped for compliance with under the National Firearms Act moment—all two ounces of beak, claw and feather—the reigning king “assault weapon” that would af - California’s highly restrictive ban. (NFA). The NFA imposes a $200 of his forest. fect a much larger variety of * Carries hyperbole further tax per firearm, and requires an “How ‘bout that?” I blurted aloud. “What would a winter be with - firearms, require current owners than the 1994 ban. Feinstein’s owner to submit photographs and out cardinals?” of such firearms to register them 1994 ban listed “grenade fingerprints to the Bureau of Al - Such luminous encounters with the wild nearby tend to open the with the federal government launcher” as one of the prohibit - cohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex - mind’s eye. They quicken the senses and, for reasons unclear, are often under the National Firearms Act, ing features for rifles. Her 2013 plosives (BATFE), to inform the signs of bigger revelations to come. and require forfeiture of the bill goes even further into the BATFE of the address where the Sure enough, something truly unexpected showed up three minutes firearms upon the deaths of their ridiculous, by also listing “rocket firearm will be kept, and to obtain later. I was at the “dead coyote turnaround” (named for self-evident rea - current owners. Some of the launcher.” Such devices are re - the BATFE’s permission to trans - sons)—the place where I usually turn back for home. What stopped me changes in Feinstein’s new bill are stricted under the National port the firearm across state lines. was the sight of another bird with a head crest. Except this one was a as follows: Firearms Act and, obviously, are * Prohibits the transfer of “as - crow-sized 16 inches tall and of a kind I’ve not seen here before. * Reduces, from two to one, not standard components of the sault weapons.” Owners of other Picture a black, mini-pterodactyl that could have flown in straight the number of permitted external firearms Feinstein wants to ban. firearms, including those covered from the set of the Flintstones. Imagine a black-and-white striped face features on various firearms. The Perhaps a subsequent Feinstein by the NFA, are permitted to sell set below a flame-red, punker mohawk of Johnnie Rotten vintage. Add 1994 ban permitted various bill will add “nuclear bomb,” them or pass them to heirs. How - a two-foot wingspan and there you have it: the pileated woodpecker, the firearms to be manufactured only “particle beam weapon,” or some - ever, under Feinstein’s new bill, largest bird of its kind on the North American continent. “assault weapons” would remain The big fella flapped off (pileateds are too big to flit) into a silver Letter to the editor with their current owners until maple swamp by the road. As he did, the undersides of its wings flashed their deaths, at which point they downy white through the woods. Politics and the outdoors? would be forfeited to the govern - I sidestepped an empty quart bottle of Bud Light and eased into the ment. tall timber for a closer look. A host of birds had sought shelter there Editor, * Prohibits the domestic man - from the harsh north wind. Downy woodpeckers and nuthatches flitted I read with interest your response about the opinion page in a pre - ufacture and the importation of among the branches and pecked daintily at the trunks. Not so the vious North Woods Call. My reaction to your opinion was, initially, magazines that hold more than 10 pileated. He’d cock his head back at a 45-degree angle, then beak-slam why is he talking politics in an outdoor newspaper?” rounds of ammunition. The 1994 forward with a thunk that rang out like a hammer’s fall. The chips he left I do know that politics play a part in most outdoor issues in today’s ban allowed the importation of behind could have been made by a carpenter with a wood chisel. world. However, your choice of words in describing liberal/conser - such magazines that were manu - And what a racket his signature call made. Some birders maintain vative voting probably set people off as to “tiresome,” etc. factured before the ban took ef - that artist Walter Lantz based his classic Woody the Woodpecker car - I do know that I signed up for the “reincarnation” of The Call to fect. Whereas the 1994 ban toon character on the pileated. When you hear the half-loony “nuk, nuk, read about outdoor issues and legislation that affects the outdoors. protected gun owners from errant nuk,” you’ll be inclined to believe that he did. As the editor, you have the right to give your opinion, but not prosecution by making the gov - I stood and listened to the pileated’s stand-up routine until my frigid everyone wants to hear what you think. I, for one, would rather hear ernment prove when a magazine toes could stand no more. about issues that affect nature, rather than how one feels politically. was made, the new ban includes But it was Christmas Eve and obligations waited at home as did two no such protection. The new ban useful gifts: a warmer pair of walking shoes and a 35mm camera (my Sincerely, also requires firearm dealers to first that doesn’t use film). And now, thanks to the prescient ways of na - Woody Topp certify the date of manufacture of ture, a red-crested reason to use them both. Paw Paw, Michigan any larger than 10-round maga - zine sold, a nearly impossible Thanks, Woody. We hear you—and share your primary inter - task, given that virtually no mag- Gov. Snyder signs bill that est in the issues and legislation that impact the out-of-doors. (Continued on Page 6) Unfortunately, an often-corrupt political system is part of the re - source management equation and we all need to be open to various 2013 lake sturgeon opens door to wolf hunting ideas as to how we can better govern ourselves in a free society. season starts Feb. 2 Michigan is another step closer American tribes in Michigan are In our view, a lot of what passes for leadership, civic debate and to wolf hunting under a new law among those against wolf hunting, Lake sturgeon fishing and collective decision-making these days is rather pathetic—on both signed in late December by Gov. because the animal holds a special spearing on Black Lake in sides of the aisle. If we don’t stand together as responsible citizens Rick Snyder. status among tribal members and Cheboygan County will begin at to clearly identify and address this reality—wherever it exists—we Under the law, the Michigan figures prominently in their cre - 8 a.m. Saturday, February 2. will likely fall together as a society. Natural Resources Commission ation stories. All anglers must register to If that happens, it won’t much matter what we have done with has the authority to establish hunt - The number of wolves in participate—but just once for the our natural resources. ing seasons for the gray wolf. The Michigan is about 700, wildlife entire season. Commission was expected to get experts say, compared to just Early registration is from 2 to —Mike an update on the once-endangered under 300 a decade ago. 8 p.m. Friday, February 1, at the species at its regular meeting this The population has reportedly DNR Onaway Field Station. month. grown since the federal govern - A note to letter writers Those unable to register at that The Humane Society and other ment outlawed the killing of All letters must be signed. Please include your name and mail - time may do so at 7 a.m. each day opponents have been fighting the wolves four decades ago to keep ing address (e-mail address, too, if you don’t mind). of the season at either the entrance legislation for the past few them from going extinct in the We won’t publish street addresses or phone numbers, but we must booth to Onaway State Park, or a months. A number of Native lower 48 states. have them to verify that letters are authentic. No unsigned letters registration trailer located on Zol - will be used. It’s OK for your signature to be electronic. ner Road at Black Lake. Page 6 Late January 2013 The NorTh Woods CaLL Book Review: “Waiting for the Morning Train” By Bruce Catton The author laments the perva - 1972 siveness of automobiles and the Wayne State University Press “death” of Michigan’s wilderness Detroit, Michigan at the hands of the lumber barons, who in the final third of Here’s a thoughtful book by the 19th century were directing the late writer and noted Civil an industry that “had ceased to be War authority Bruce Catton that limited by the strength of man’s lovers of northern Michigan and biceps and the power of running those troubled by the ever-grow - water.” ing influence of modern technol - “In an unplanned, clumsy, un - ogy will want to read. recognized way (advances in It is simultaneously a boy - technology) had led the lumber - hood memoir and commentary men up to the edge of the headi - on the “progress” of man—a est, most dangerous knowledge story centered in Benzie County men had ever had—the knowl - and the adjacent region along edge that all the old limitations Lake Michigan’s eastern shore. are gone and that quite literally Catton grew up in Benzonia, he can do whatever he wants to a community built around a tiny, do,” Catton wrote. impoverished college, which There was something about later became an academy from the north country, the author ob - which the author graduated in served, that issued disquieting Hunting Milestones 1916. warnings about all this. A couple of Michigan hunters bagged their first white-tailed deer this past fall. It was a milestone for each. The progress that mattered in “To the south was the land of Ten-year-old Brien Keene of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (above), got an 8-point buck on September 22 dur - those days was more moral and the mound builders,” he said, ing the Michigan Youth Hunt—his first hunting experience. Brien is the son of Rick Keene and the grand - spiritual than material, and the “whose best efforts produced son of Carole and Charles Keene, also of Mt. Pleasant. Meanwhile, Shirley Schneider of Bliss, Michigan lessons learned there shaped Cat - nothing but unobtrusive scars on (below), harvested her first deer on the opening day of the 2012 firearm season—just four days shy of her ton’s values and personal per - the earth; and all about us (in the 70th birthday—at the family hunting camp near her home. Shirley’s brother—who was considered the spective throughout life. north) were the bleak acres of “camp counselor”—and his wife both passed away recently, and the buck was shot from an apple orchard Like many of us, Catton was stumps, the dying towns and the on their property. Shirley figures her brother sent the deer to her and who can argue with that? Although worried about such things as en - desolate farms that were being Shirley has hunted for many years, it was the first time she had actually fired at a deer. Her husband, vironmental decay, toxic pollu - given up—discards in a game Norm, was hunting with his son near Vestaburg that day and did not see his wife’s triumph. As a conso - tion and nuclear holocaust. But where most the players had lost. lation prize, however, he bagged his own deer that day. what troubled him most was that Now and then, these things de - people had apparently placed manded thought.” their faith in advancing technol - Catton pointed to Sleeping ogy, relinquishing control over it Bear Dunes as something that and mortgaging their future to it looks eternal, but is not. The with the same trust that earlier area’s constantly shifting sand generations had placed in God. shows that the earth is still being “The trouble with that kind of remodeled and hints that “the advance is that there is no end to spirit back of the remodeling it,” he wrote. “Development be - may be worth knowing.” comes compulsive. It is never What protected man in the old possible to call a halt. Once you days, Catton said, was his aware - have taken the first step, you ness that there were things he just have committed yourself to take could not do. the last—some day—even if the “Today, however, we can go last step goes straight off the anywhere and do anything,” he edge of a precipice. wrote, “and because the fabulous “The age of applied technol - machine we have created can ogy has one terrible aspect— neither be reversed, put in neu - each new technique has to be tral, or turned aside, we have to exploited to its absolute limit, go and do to the utmost limit, until man becomes the victim of which is as likely as not to be our his own skills.” own destruction. Viewpoint: NRA says Sen. Feinstein overreaches with new anti-gun bill (Continued from Page 5) than for the 11 detachable-magazine semi- weapon” ban (Sept. 13, 1994) through the trace be conducted. Given that existing “as - azines are stamped with their date of manu - automatic rifles and one other semi-auto - present, the number of “assault weapons” sault weapons” were exempted from the facture. matic rifle included in the list, the list has risen dramatically. For example, the 1994 ban and new “assault weapons” con - * Targets handguns in defiance of the appears to be pointless, because a separate most common firearm that Feinstein con - tinued to be made while the ban was in ef - Supreme Court. The court ruled in District provision of the bill exempts “any firearm siders an “assault weapon” is the AR-15 fect, any reduction in the percentage of of Columbia v. Heller that the Second that is manually operated by bolt, pump, rifle, the manufacturing numbers of which traces accounted for by “assault weapons” Amendment protects the right to have hand - lever, or slide action.” can be gleaned from the BATFE’s firearm during the ban would be attributable to law guns for self-defense, in large part on the * * * manufacturer reports. From 1995 through enforcement agencies losing interest in trac - basis of the fact handguns are the type of On her website, Feinstein claims that a 2011, the number of AR-15s—all models of ing the firearms, or law enforcement agen - firearm “overwhelmingly chosen by Amer - study for the DOJ found that the 1994 ban which Feinstein’s new bill defines as “as - cies increasing their requests for traces on ican society for that lawful purpose.” Semi- resulted in a 6.7 percent decrease in mur - sault weapons”—rose by over 2.5 million. other types of firearms, as urged by the automatic pistols, which are the most ders. To the contrary, this is what the study During the same period, the nation's murder BATFE for more than a decade. popular handguns today, are designed to use said: “At best, the assault weapons ban can rate fell 48 percent, to a 48-year low. Ac - * * * detachable magazines, and the magazines have only a limited effect on total gun mur - cording to the FBI, 8.5 times as many peo - Call your U.S. senators and representa - “overwhelmingly chosen” by Americans for ders, because the banned weapons and mag - ple are murdered with knives, blunt objects tive: As noted, Feinstein (intended) to intro - self-defense are those that hold more than azines were never involved in more than a and bare hands, as with rifles of any type. duce her bill on January 3rd. President 10 rounds. Additionally, Feinstein’s list of modest fraction of all gun murders. Our best * * * Obama has said that gun control will be a nearly 1,000 firearms exempted by name estimate is that the ban contributed to a 6.7 Feinstein makes several claims, premised “central issue” of his final term in office, (see next paragraph) contains not a single percent decrease in total gun murders be - on firearm traces, hoping to convince people and he has vowed to move quickly on it. handgun. Sen. Feinstein advocated banning tween 1994 and 1995. However, with only that her 1994 ban reduced the (relatively in - Call your members of Congress at 202- handguns before being elected to the Sen - one year of post-ban data, we cannot rule frequent) use of “assault weapons” in crime. 224-3121 to urge them to oppose Sen. Fein - ate, though she carried a handgun for her out the possibility that this decrease reflects However, traces do not indicate how often stein’s 2013 gun and magazine ban. Our own personal protection. chance year-to-year variation rather than a any type of gun is used in crime. As the elected representatives in Congress must * Contains a larger piece of window true effect of the ban. Nor can we rule out Congressional Research Service and the hear from you if we are going to defeat this dressing than the 1994 ban. Whereas the effects of other features of the 1994 Crime BATFE have explained, not all firearms that gun ban proposal. You can also write or e- 1994 ban included a list of approximately Act, or a host of state and local initiatives are traced have been used in crime, and not mail your senators and representatives to ex - 600 rifles and shotguns exempted from the that took place simultaneously. all firearms used in crime are traced. press your opinion ban by name, the new bill’s list is increased * * * Whether a trace occurs depends on whether to nearly 1,000 rifles and shotguns. Other From the imposition of Feinstein's “assault a law enforcement agency requests that a —The National Rifle Association The NorTh Woods CaLL Late January 2013 Page 7 Guy Kistler: An insistent voice for better water quality Outdoor Rhythms Michigan water quality may be Fighting the good fight: Kistler lamented that it was much better today than in years sometimes frustrating that other By Doug Freeman past, but it has taken continued Conservation battlers individuals and organizations did Without the efforts of countless vigilance by generations of con - not offer more help. individuals who have given time, servationists to make that happen. money and talents to conserve and “Frankly, I fought the battle all Protecting Habitat And there’s still more to be protect our natural resources, the alone (much of the time),” he We Michiganders are big on enjoying our outdoor resources, and done. world would be a much more un - said. “It was awfully hard to get many of us have an appreciation of what’s needed to maintain them. For more than a half-century, pleasant and unhealthy place to anyone into this at all.” Despite the currently fashionable outcries against “intrusive gov - Battle Creek native Guy Kistler live. The North Woods Call hon - But Kistler said he was satis - ernment,” my in-person observations have led me to believe that a well- ors these conservation soldiers was at the forefront of efforts to fied with the results of his efforts. run Department of Natural Resources—with all of it’s scientific, and will periodically profile some clean up southwest Michigan’s “There are laws in Michigan administrative, and enforcement capabilities—is a critical line of de - Kalamazoo River and bring about who made a significant differ - now that will take care of any sit - ence. If you know of someone— fense for the environment. stricter water pollution control uation— if you can get anybody past or present—who deserves Think what our state would be like without that venerable tax - laws in the state. this recognition, please let us to enforce them.” payer/user-funded agency. Unscrupulous people (ever met any of Year-after-year, Kistler studied know. Kistler finally passed the torch those?) would quickly strip our lands and waters of game and fish, with and lectured about the river and to a new generation of water con - no thought of renewal. I’ve seen this happen in several locations where the growing problem of water pol - an anti-pollution bill that once servationists during the mid- enforcement was cut back, usually due to lack of funding. The results lution across the state. He faced passed the state House of Repre - 1970s. were not pretty. off with the so-called Lansing bu - sentatives, making it a violation of Even then, he didn’t believe In some cases, bad actors even started removing trees illegally for reaucrats and lobbied hard to get law to “knowingly pollute” the that one of his most passionate profit, leaving patches of denuded countryside (aka. a degraded habi - “more teeth” in Michigan’s anti- water. concerns—the Kalamazoo River tat). Not catastrophic in small areas, but if no one is around to stop such pollution laws. “That burned me up,” Kistler —would ever be fully restored. activity it can become ruinous. Along the way, he was named said. “Can you imagine anyone “I can’t see where it will ever Pollution also damages the living things we depend on. Private com - 1969 “Water Conservationist of polluting and not knowing it? We be cleaned up to its natural state,” panies and even some communities are often desperate to achieve cost the Year” by the Michigan United got that word taken out of the law. Kistler said prior to his death in reductions, and few things lead to that end more rapidly than a disregard Conservation Clubs and “National Later, we got a more strenuous 1990. for pollution laws. Dumping toxic waste into rivers and lakes used to Water Conservationist of the law that really started things His reason: the sticky, toxic be a common practice until government regulations were formulated year” by the National Wildlife going.” sludge that covered the river bot - and enforced. Federation. Kistler said he first became tom—in some places several feet Private individuals and groups have worked diligently to become ed - But he collected more notoriety concerned about pollution when deep. ucated about such issues and to act as watchdogs in this area. The very than honors. he noticed a decline in water qual - “That’s why I say, with that possibility of being observed and identified tends to keep “bad guys” in “As you can imagine, the paper ity caused by industry, highway messy pollution, it will never check. mills didn’t like me a bit,” Kistler construction, agriculture and wash out,” he said. “The only As a former lab person and industrial chemist, I have some under - told North Woods Call Editor urban sprawl. way to ever clean it is to dredge it standing of the dangers posed by chemicals escaping into the environ - Mike VanBuren during a mid- “Being a fisherman and conser - out, but it would cost millions of ment. Fracking operations, we are learning, may poison and make 1980s interview for the Kalama - vationist, I was seeing the river dollars to do that. There are tons unavailable for use millions of gallons of water for literally thousands zoo Gazette . and the shape it was in,” he said. and tons of it. Even if they of years. In the event of excessive leakage or migration, toxic com - One paper mill executive threat - “It made me so mad, I decided I dredged it out, where would they pounds can cause local aquifers to become undrinkable, and sometimes ened to take his company and was going to fight. I didn’t know put it? People are not going to flammable. leave town if the firm was forced who, but I was going to fight want to spend millions of dollars Give me a strong regulatory agency any day—one that works hon - to clean up its pollution, he said. somebody.” in taxes to do that.” estly to protect resources for the long-term good of everyone. Profit- “My answer to him was: ‘Why Through the years, he became Nevertheless, Kistler continued making and job creation are vital, but we have to be smart enough to do don’t you go ahead?’ Then I said: a tough campaigner for a clean to encourage others to carry on those things with minimal harm to plants, animals and people. ‘Instead of spending all the environment. the fight. Private citizens—besides being an important set of eyes dedicated money to do that, why not be a “After a while, you get hard - “What a wonderful thing it to preserving habitats—contribute effort and money to many worthy good citizen and clean it up.’ He ened,” Kistler said. “You aren’t would be if the river were a clean conservation organizations. didn’t have any answers to that.” afraid of anybody or anything. … river,” he said. “People could It’s all about saving our fields and forests, backyards and empty lots, Kistler was 89 at the time of I didn’t care who I talked to, or build homes along it, swim and whenever and wherever we can. Landowners can help by not over-de - the Gazette interview, but some of how big they were. Anybody who fish like they used to. But as long veloping their property, planting trees and food plants for wildlife, put - the old fire returned to his eyes tried to be dignified and nice on a as there are individuals who want ting up brush piles in strategic locations, reducing all forms of erosion, when he recalled the many obsta - deal like this was making a big to destroy something, decent and avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and lawn products as much cles that water conservationists mistake, because there’s nothing things can never happen.” as possible. have had to overcome—such as nice about pollution.” Government and people working toward the same goals. Simple action plans. An innate respect for an environment that we depend on King Copper much more than we usually realize. The enhancement of hunting and This 9,392-pound piece of fishing opportunities, as well as the traditional outdoor aesthetics that copper ore on display in the have always made Michigan a great place to be. Those are things we historic Upper Peninsula need to keep working on. community of Calumet, Michigan, May our wild areas always remain so. is a reminder of the days when mining was king and entire com - munities grew up around the What happened to the CO field reports? industry. Today, there is much When this issue of The North Woods Call was being compiled, a more concern about the environ - fresh collection of bi-monthly conservation officer field reports was mental impact of mining than not readily available from the Michigan Department of Natural Re - there was during the early days sources. when Calumet was a thriving cen - To keep to our production schedule, we decided to not include ter of commerce—complete with them in this issue. an ornate theater that drew some The CO briefs will return next time. We apologize for any in - of the day’s biggest stars. Calumet convenience this may cause, but hope you enjoy a couple of the has bounced back in recent years other things on this page. with a wide range of community development activities and the Keweenaw National Historic Park managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The local theater Marketplace of the North is once again drawing major performers and the Upper Classified Ads Peninsula is attracting renewed interest from the mining industry. COMING SOON— From Nebraska Ranchers to Nashville Some are happy about this, while Rebels: The Story of the Glaser Brothers . a 99-minute “oral others fear that the ongoing battle history” about one of the more influential country music to protect the landscape, forests groups in Nashville history. For more information, visit the and water quality of the Great Newshound Productions page at mynorthwoodscall.com. Lakes State is becoming more difficult to wage. The North VIDEO & BOOK— Buck Lake Ranch: Nashville of the North . a Woods Call joins those who hope 78-minute documentary and 133-page softcover book about that common sense prevails as historic music park near angola, Indiana. $19.95 each; $35 residents look for more ways to for both, plus shipping & handling. For more information, see strengthen the economy and the Newshound Productions page at mynorthwoodscall.com. create new job opportunities. Published by Newshound Productions LLC, 5411 east de avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49004. First-class postage paid at Kalama- zoo, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. online subscriptions $35 per year and $60 per two years. Print subscriptions $55 per year and $95 for two years. PosTMasTer: send address changes to The North Woods Call , 5411 east de avenue, Kala- mazoo, Michigan 49004. M DOT Code: 8021-0068

Page 8 Late January 2013 The NorTh Woods CaLL Final Shot Winter advice Keeping safe in the outdoors Being outdoors in the winter or her head above the surface im - requires more attention to safety mediately, get breathing under than at other times of the year. control, attempt to breathe nor - Simply getting wet—or getting mally and work on getting out. lost in the woods—is much more Get to good ice (generally in significant when the temperature the direction from which you plunges into the single digits. came) and place your arms up on The best advice, according to the ice. Use your arms to pull Michigan Department of Natural your upper body onto the ice while Resources (DNR) officials, is you kick your legs in a swimming make sure someone knows where motion. you’re going, what you’re doing If you succeed in getting out, and when you’ll be back. initially roll or crawl along the ice. “Tell them your planned travel Do not get back on your feet right route and expected time of arrival away until you are sure you are on or return,” said the DNR’s Corpo - safe ice. Then immediately walk ral John Morey. “Then, if some - toward heated shelter. one is overdue, whoever has the If you are unable to get out of travel plan can contact 911 and the water, reach out as far as you give responders a chance to get can, hold on and yell for help. out and look for them right away. “If you see someone falls Ice should always be checked through the ice, make sure you do out carefully, according to Morey. not put yourself at risk when at - Always avoid areas where the ice tempting to assist them,” said is discolored, or there is vegetation Morey. “Call 911 immediately.” and other objects sticking up When attempting to reach some - through it. Use a spud to punch one who has fallen through the ice, the ice ahead of you as you walk, distribute your body weight by he said, and carry a rope in case laying on the ice. Toss a rope, or A Stormy Legend someone breaks through. reach for them with a pole, stick, Frigid winter winds bring warm thoughts of the legendary Stormy Kromer cap—a gargantuan replica of It is also recommended that an - or ladder. Don’t compound the which can be found on the outskirts of Ironwood in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula. The venerable glers carry spikes—ideally en - problem by breaking through the headgear was introduced in 1903, and has been a staple among outdoorsmen and railroad workers for cased in wood or plastic cylinders ice yourself. generations. The “windproof” caps were the brainchild of George “Stormy” Kromer, a semi-pro baseball for handles—so they can grasp the “Outdoor recreation can be en - player and one-time engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Kromer reportedly made many ice with them if they break joyable, invigorating and fun,” long, cold trips across the Great Plains and often had to stick his head out the window of a steam locomo - through. Morey said, “but, for it to be any tive to see where he was going. After the prairie winds stole his cap numerous times, Kromer asked his wife, Breaking through the ice into of those things, it must also be— Ida—an excellent seamstress— to modify an old baseball cap to better keep it on his head. Ida obliged, freezing water is extremely seri - first and foremost—safe.” the story goes, making a six-panel cap with flaps that could be pulled over the ears. Soon other railroad ous, Morey said. Anyone im - workers wanted the cap, too, and when Ida could no longer keep up with the demand, George hired a few mersed in icy water must get his —DNR Report employees and a business was born. The caps were first mass-produced at factories in Milwaukee and Kaukauna, Wisconsin, but the company was purchased by Jacquart Fabric Products in 2001 and the op - eration was moved to Ironwood. Today, residents of the Gogebic Iron Range sew new Stormy Kromer Caps in a factory near this display.

“The bringers of winter” Migration Day: The majesty of the tundra swan Electronic subscriptions: $35 per year, or $60 for two years By Doug Reeves directly over central Michigan, with a stopover on Assistant Chief Saginaw Bay. Wildlife Division The call of migrating tundra swans is unmistakable Print subscriptions: Michigan Department of Natural Resources and always makes me look up. It’s kind of a haunt - ing ow-ooh-ow-oh that I hear—very distinct from the $55 per year, or $95 for two years November 12 was Veteran’s Day, but it was also a Canada geese and sandhill cranes that are also in the spectacular migration day. area at that time. Details at www.mynorthwoodscall.com A strong cold front came across mid-Michigan dur - Tundra swans are vocal birds, too, seeming to call ing the early morning hours, accompanied by rain. as much during their autumn migration as Canada The rain ended about noon and the temperature geese do during spring. dropped from the low 50s into the upper 30s. I have observed significant swan migrations as There was a strong westerly wind—sometimes early as November 4 and as late as the Thanksgiving with significant shifts to the north or northwest—con - weekend. ditions just right for tundra swans to migrate. I have come to think of tundra swans as the And migrate they did! bringers of winter. They migrate overhead just be - I wish I knew how many flew overhead within fore things turn very cold and snow starts to appear. Caps & T-Shirts earshot of me that afternoon. I was outside much of Sure enough, on the morning of November 13, the the day and I saw the first flock at about 11:30 a.m. top and windshield of the car were snow-covered. $15 each, plus $3 shipping From then until nearly dark, there were only a few Soon the ponds would be covered with ice. minutes when I could not hear or see tundra swans. But the swans will return again in March. At some Order online and view sizes/colors at: Flocks varying in size from about a dozen to nearly point—shortly after the ice-out—several thousand www.mynorthwoodscall.com 80 flew all afternoon. It was truly spectacular. will stop over at Saginaw Bay on their way back One of the most substantial breeding areas for tun - northwest. Or send a check or money order to: dra swans is in western Alaska. Many of those birds You might want to make a visit to the east side of The North Woods Call , 5411 East DE Avenue migrate southeast all the way to the Atlantic coast, the bay about then to see and hear a true natural spec - Kalamazoo, Michigan 49004 where they spend the winter. That route takes them tacle.