Registered: Dec 2008
Location: Bangor, Michigan
Posts: 269

With the temp here in SW Michigan approaching 50 degrees yesterday, there was no doubt I had to get one more night of hunting this January thaw.
So, loaded up ole Joe and my new prospect Rocky and headed out in a light mist. Decided to hunt Almena Swamp. Dumped the dogs at 6:45. No strike for almost 10 minutes. They were DEEP! Decided to kind of "follow along" so not to lose hearing them. Well this track turned into along one - about 25 minutes. Down Camel Creek, across the road onto posted property and about 1/4 mile in. Leave the gun in the ditch at the road and head to the dogs. About this time a light mist turned to hard rain.
The walk to the dogs and throughout the swamp is a mixture of water and inch thick soft ice. So alot of stumbling and breaking of ice to get through.
Finally get to the dogs - coon seen. Would have loved to dump it to Rocky - 8 months old and doing good. Oh well, pet em up, leash em, and stumble back to the road and the truck.
Its now 8:30 - decide that the dogs needed a coon so dumped back in. Another 5 to 10 minutes before struck. This time its HOT. Rocky was leading the old dog and the both slammed the tree hard. Not quite as bad a walk in, not so much ice in this area. Coon setting atop a broken off tree. Dump it out. Female, must have been heading back to her den, but could not make it.
A very good job by my Rocky dog ( and ole Joe). Headed home by 9:30 with a smile on my face and aches in my legs.

__________________
CHRIS BAKER
TIMBER RIDGE KENNEL
Bangor Michigan

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Registered: May 2009
Location: southern MI
Posts: 45

I live in Mason, MI. just south of Lansing. We turned loose five times last night and had five on the outside. We hunted my bluetick named Diesel by himself all five drops and spent less than 45 minutes off the leash in three different woods. Not a bad night for the end of January.

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