Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.

2treks · August 17, 2011, 11:19:00 AM

I just picked up the mail and have my letter that says "Dear Successful Applicant.
I am pumped up!
I can take either sex deer and my period is the last 5 days of 2011, Dec 27-31 2011.
Anybody else have a tag for the refuge?
This is the first tag I have drawn in 5 years for the SNWR, This could be good. Now I have to be sure to save a buck tag.
Alright, I gotta go build a new "Special" bow.

Stay Tuned,
Chuck

hardwaymike · August 17, 2011, 11:39:00 AM

Chuck I have never hunted deer in there but have shot waterfowl there in the early fall. That is if you can keep your eyes in the air instead of watching all the bucks running around,lol. Good luck out there. I might just start putting myself in the drawing next year(that is if I can remember the right day to do it,LOL). A army buddy of mine lives right on the north side of it in St.charles and he sees lots of those big bucks every year. Hope you do good out there. Mike

2treks · August 17, 2011, 02:19:00 PM

OH Yeh! My old buudy Ted drew the same tag, he is a SNWR expert. Ted also invited me to KS to hunt with him. This turned into a good day.
Thank You
Chuck

Mike Vines · August 17, 2011, 03:59:00 PM

I look forward to hearing about your soon to be successful hunt. You should write down your hunting story and submit it to the MLA Editor to be put In Sticktalk.

T Folts · August 17, 2011, 04:22:00 PM

I've spent a bunch of time there duck hunting but never put in for the deer hunting. Have a blast and save a buck tag cause they gots some nice ones in there.
Terry

Jack Shanks · August 17, 2011, 04:42:00 PM

Chuck,

I put in most years including this year. It sure isn't anything like it was thirty years ago. I didn't draw a tag last year but the year before I hunted five days without seeing a single buck.

This is the last year for prefference points. Next year it is a random drawing and everyone will have the same chance.

2treks · August 17, 2011, 06:27:00 PM

I first hunted it about 10-11 yrs ago. I saw some nice bucks out to far and when I did see does(everyday) they would be flocked up 100 together. I hope to put in a solid 5 days of hunting this year, past years I had a tuff time getting up there.
If any of you kind souls have any hidy-holes you wanna share with me,send a PM.

Mike Vines · August 17, 2011, 06:56:00 PM

Can a guy small game hunt up there? If so, I wouldn't mind joining you (far away from you deer hunting) or even doing a small deer drive once you get the terrain figured out where your going to be hunting.

bentpole · August 17, 2011, 07:24:00 PM

Nice!

2treks · August 17, 2011, 07:45:00 PM

You cannot get on the refuge unless you have a permit. One scouting day in Sept and then limited hunters from OCT 1 thru Dec. Then it's closed till next year. They run deer-turkey and waterfowl hunts. It is about 10-12,000 acres I think.

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Shiawassee/
Check it out,it is a cool place.

DBGJR · August 17, 2011, 07:48:00 PM

Mike, if you don't have a permit you are not allowed to go on the Federal land not even to just go for a walk.They only allow permit holders 2 days to scout and that is in early September. I've hunted it a few times the last time 10 years ago lots of deer and lots of nice bucks.From what i hear from other hunters not as many deer as in past.
Dick

leftyfred · August 17, 2011, 08:13:00 PM

Good luck Chuck! A poem!

Yellow Dog · August 17, 2011, 08:27:00 PM

Chuck, my hunting partner and I drew hunt 203, December 1-5, either sex. This will be around my 15th season hunting the refuge in the past 25 years. Before the point system I could draw a doe tag almost every year. Spend 5 days in there grunting in big bucks taking pics and getting real serious about a doe on the last day. It's a very special place indeed. Good luck on your hunt. I'll shoot you a PM, I live about 15 minutes from the refuge

Sean Butler · August 17, 2011, 08:49:00 PM

special bow? more special than a that long walker you had?

2treks · August 17, 2011, 09:00:00 PM

Oooh Yehh Sean, I got me some special wood tucked away up on the top shelf.

Mike Vines · August 17, 2011, 09:21:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Two Tracks:
Oooh Yehh Sean, I got me some special wood tucked away up on the top shelf.

I'm really looking forward to seeing this one.

hardwaymike · August 17, 2011, 09:50:00 PM

Me too!

owlbait · August 17, 2011, 10:48:00 PM

Hoping for great success for you Chuck. Are you building a Longwalker or one of your "new" bows. I shot Chuck's prototype at GLLI and it was amazing!

2treks · August 18, 2011, 06:44:00 AM

Thanks Owlbait, I wish I could have shot with you and KH. the bugs would have made me run sreamin' tho.
I started making the parts last night for the new bow. I hope to glue it up this week yet, I have to get some customers happy first tho.
What do they say? A cobblers son.....

justracey · August 18, 2011, 07:22:00 AM

Awesome Chuck Good luck